Banning, CA

LOCAL REALTOR® AWARDED CRB DESIGNATION

Banning, 12/8/2008 - Larry McRae, a Banning member of Sun Lakes Realty, was awarded the coveted CRB (Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager) Designation conferred by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB).

The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB), an affiliate of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is the professional organization for brokerage management. The Council is dedicated to providing quality professional development programs, products and services that continually enhance the management productivity and profitability of its more than 7,000 members.

The CRB Designation is recognized throughout the industry as the highest level of professional achievement-a symbol of excellence in brokerage management. The most successful brokerages are owned or managed by professionals having the coveted CRB Designation. In the state of California there are approximately 180,000 Realtors®, and of those Realtors® only 418 have the CRB Designation. Of the 25 cities in Riverside County, Larry McRae is one of only 22 with the earned Designation and the only Realtor® within the San Gorgonio Pass.

The Council awards the CRB Designation to those individuals who successfully complete the requirements and demonstrate excellence in real estate brokerage management. Candidates must complete academic and professional courses covering such topics as finance, marketing, training, recruiting, and strategic planning.

Larry McRae is the Broker/Owner of Sun Lakes Realty at 300 S. Highland Springs Ave Ste. 2K in Banning., a member of the INLAND VALLEYS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Larry McRae has also served as the Banning Chamber of Commerce Vice President, President of the Banning Kiwanis Club, Director for the BBCV Board of Realtors, and Chairman of the City of Banning Board of Appeals Commission.

Sun Lakes Realty - 951-845-7378

Banning CA, Stagecoach Town USA. It's been a long time coming for us to really get some new Development, especially in the heart of the city. Eighth Street and Ramsey is one of the major Intersections of town. It leads to the 243 to Idyllwild, and to Downtown Banning. Locals use this street to circumvent the train tracks, and to get to the High School on the South side. Any of the older Banning Residents remember the old Dairy Queen that used to be on this corner, but that was a long time ago.

Eighth Street is one of the major exits off the Freeway because of the underpass, but it has been neglected for years.

Different projects were proposed, and I for one am very glad that the gas station with Truck Wash didn't go in there. What a nightmare it would have been trying to go straight, or make that turn with trucks coming out onto 8th.

Anyway, we heard a Rite-Aid was going to go here for quite a while before Construction started. Then all of a sudden I saw this Building too. It seems to dwarf the gas station, and it takes away some of the Mountain Views, but it's so much nicer than an empty lot. The corner of 8th and Ramsey has changed in the last couple of years....

We have an I-HOP, Jack -in- the -Box, now a Drug Store, and this Big Building which I heard is going to be a Dental Office. Yes, this corner has finally benefited from the City of Banning's Infrastructure work.

I would like to thank Duane and all his Crew, and the other City staff that helped to change this blighted corner into a nice Commercial area for all of us.Thanks Duane, Thanks Mayor Salas, and all the people on the City Council and Planning Commission. Banning is finally getting some new business, and this new Development helps the residents of Cabazon, White Water, the Rez, and especially all of us that live on this side of town.

By: Kathy McGraw -CELLing Realty in Riverside County and Authoring the California Real Estate and Life

Blogging helps us to let others know who we are, and what we have to offer, whether it's hard core skills, or inspirational messages. But do you really trust the person you are reading? We can learn so much if we are open to new ideas, and take the time to see who is behind a blog. Staging was a term I had never heard of until I joined Active Rain. This Real Estate Network has so many different fields of expertise.

I read some Staging and Feng Shui articles but it wasn't until I looked on my County Dashboard that I saw there was a Stager near me. Janice Sutton of 1st Stage Property Transformation lives and works in Murrieta/Temecula.

I read her blogs, liked what I saw, and made contact. The first time last year that we attempted to stage a very needy house didn't work out. But a few weeks ago, I gave her a call again. One of my listings wasn't getting any activity and I was running out of options. Wanting a fresh perspective I called Janice. We set up an appointment for her FREE Consultation, and she gave me her opinions.......

Oh you should have heard me....

• "Oh no" I don't think my Seller would want to do that !"
• "But I like that Turquoise carpet"
• "What ? You want to take down all those expensive window coverings?"

Oh my I sounded like it was my house. This lasted about 10 minutes before I caught myself, and realized I called a Stager for Advice....so why was I being resistant? So I shut up and listened!!!

I still wasn't sure how I was going to approach my Seller to paint and re-carpet, and I couldn't give his name and number out without his permission.

But first I had to believe in what Janice was saying......and I did, as Staging is her area of Expertise.

Don't get me wrong....I was pretty protective of my client, and I wanted to save him as much money as possible, while getting help with the listing. I figure this wasn't going to be an easy task, but I would give it my best shot, and that's exactly what I told Janice.

I did call the Seller, and explained about staging, why I thought it would be in his interest to do as the Stager recommended, and the cost involved. I really thought he was going to refuse to relist, and just send me on my way. Not only had we not gotten the House Sold in 6 months, but now here I was asking him to pay out even more money. But actually he wouldn't be paying more money in the long run, just the first upfront fee for Staging, and paint and carpet. He said he'd think about it and let me know......and it didn't sound encouraging.

A week went by, and I got an email.....he decided to Stage his home.

I let Janice know and it didn't take long before she had the painter out there, and the carpet guy.

It was the same day the carpet guy finished that Janice was out there setting things up.

I was amazed at the energy that she had, and the way things were already starting to look when I got there. Furniture, plants, taking down the window coverings to let in more light; Staging.....she obviously knew what she was doing, and that's what I wanted.

Now that all her work is done, it's time for me to do mine :)

I did say this was a transaction with 3 Active Rain Members......

• First....Melinda Jones from Sun Lakes Realty in Banning gave me the referral. Working together in the past, and trust that I would do whatever I could for the client has resulted in several referrals from Melinda.
• Second.....That would be me :)
• Third Janice Sutton of 1st Stage Property Transformation in Temecula- a city about 45 minutes from the property.

Professional Respect and Working Together for the common goal of helping the client......Yes 3 Active Rain Members Working together.

I just love what Janice did with this home........and of course I thank Melinda for the Referral.

How about you, do you trust other Real Estate Professionals, or people that work in fields that are associated with Real Estate?

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty in Riverside County and Authoring the Blog California Real Estate and Life

Dori Lopez, Manager of the SGP Copy Shop, is a graduate of Banning High School, and currently attends Crafton College. One of her goals is to use her music to help others....she wants to study Music Theraphy. This is Dori's 1st Performance in a Theatre Procuction, and you can see how proud she is. Well we're proud of her also....

As a tribute to Dori, I am buying a couple tickets to her performance to be given away to the first 2 people to personally congratulate Dori through this Blog Post.

All you have to do is go to the Copy shop..SGP Design...at 515 Ramsey St (across from the old Laundrymat) and ask Dori what Instrument she will be playing in Damn Yankees.

The first 2 people that come back onto this blog and answer the question win a ticket to her performance. The tickets will be available for pick-up at the Copy Shop on Wednesday.

Damn Yankees will be performed Friday and Saturday at 8PM starting this Friday the 29th and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty