newbies: Selling Broker Commission $1 - 05/17/07 08:05 PM
What do you do when you see the commission offered is $1?
Let's say you've been sending listings to a prospective buyer for months.  They've finally gotten pre-approved and want to start going to look at houses.  They give you a list of the homes they want to see.  By chance, while checking availability, you notice that the commission offered to the Selling Office is $1. 
This presents quite a dilemma.  How can anyone honestly work for $1?  That won't even buy more than a few miles worth of gasoline.  So, how do you handle it?
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Marlene Bridges, REALTOR®  800 777-1775
South Orange … (15 comments)

newbies: Cell Phone Phenomenon - 05/12/07 06:58 AM
In Steve Martin's 1991 movie, L.A. Story, there is a scene where he and his girlfriend (Marilu Henner) are riding down Rodeo Drive.  The top of their Mercedes is down and they're both on cell phones.  The frame widens to show other cars with everyone in the cars on their cell phones.  The movie audience howled with laughter.  Fast forward to the 2000's...This is no longer an uncommon scene.  There are some great articles here on the rain about cell phone etiquette, but nowhere have I seen this discussed.
Today, it's not uncommon to see a group of teens or generation xers … (7 comments)

newbies: IRS ~ DIRTY TRICK - 05/02/07 04:59 AM
Late Friday afternoon, I found out that the IRS had placed a levy on my earnings.  I frantically called my CPA.  No answer.  So, I thought, "What the heck, I'll call the 800# for IRS and see if by some slim chance there's somebody I can talk with".  I was surprised that once I had waited on cue for about 5 minutes, a live person answered my call.  We were able to resolve the matter quickly and agree that the IRS actually owes me money, not the other way around.
Well, that's the good news.  I was able to reach someone and … (20 comments)

newbies: Clear As Mud - 04/28/07 05:26 AM
On a recent trip to another state to shop for investment possibilities, I was reminded how important it is that we are clear in the way we communicate the information on our listings.  We enjoy some differences in the way we communicate from state to state.  Not only are our speaking styles different, so is our vocabulary.  This can cause confusion for the visiting prospective buyer. For example, I made an offer on a property that was located on a type of street I'd never heard of before.  I've heard of streets, lanes, highways, avenues, etc.  Well, this was called a trace.  What the … (8 comments)

newbies: CAN A LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT GET A GOOD BUY ON INVESTMENT PROPERTY? - 04/22/07 02:45 AM
Jennifer Steck's post on How Does A Realtor Buy A House?  Was a great step-by-step, how-to-article.  One of the points I'd like to explore is how as licensed agents can we actually get a good buy on a house?
The market I work in is in Southern California.  I'm currently in another state looking to buy some investment property.  I made an offer on a property earlier this week.  And, of course I had to disclose that I'm a licensed real estate agent. 
The question I have for all of you on AR is---Do you think that as a licensed agents we have the same chance … (0 comments)

 
Marlene Bridges, Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate (Village Real Estate Services, Inc.)

Marlene Bridges

Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos|Laguna Real Estate

Laguna Hills, CA

More about me…

Village Real Estate Services, Inc.

Office: (949) 363-0901

Mobile: (714) 745-2592

Marlene Bridges, Realtor®

Certified Residential Specialist®

Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

Real Estate Services

Orange County, California

(Area surrounding Disneyland)





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