Downey, CA

Well here's the truth America! Your favourite realtor hasn't been in the real estate business long! To be truthful it's only been about 2 years and a few months...that little time span is enough to tell you that it's been a struggle and I have learned so much in such little time. I recently took a regular sale, yes that's right I didn't stutter a regular seller who can choose to sell his home if the price is right without have a bank tell him what's right or wrong. Well before I took this listing, I was working and still continue working with buyers. These buyers were overly qualified in the sense that they were definetely able, ready, and willing! With 20% down payment, and making offers based on comparative market analysis with criteria like 3 months solds, 1/2 mile radius, and the best comparables for the property and financing. One of my clients wrote 7 offers over the course of four months till we got one accepted. Another wrote 5 offers in one month and got accepted the 5th time. Here's where it get's fun the most recent client wrote a total of 17 offers over the course of 7 months, of the 17 offers we made 2 offers got accepted but we cancelled on one due to vandalism on the property and the bank not wanting to pay for the repairs. Now I have a regular sale listing and within 4 days of being on the market I have a total of 24 offers! I listed the property at $299,000 and have received offers at over 10% of the asking price. This home will go into escrwo after only being 10 days on the market! A lot of the agents are telling me that they hate this game that they keep getting into, which is multiple offers on one listing. Not only are the offers good and highly qualified but the main problem is there is a lot of dual agent representation going on. I have heard agents tell me of a time when you would just write an offer for the list price and then open escrow. Well the only buyers market I know is multiple offers, no return calls from agents, weird requirements from listing agents in regards to financing. At the end I am a surviving real estate agent but surviving of what? I guess a false belief or mystery that was once flashy cars, expensive suits, and lavish lifestlyles...... till that market comes, don't expect me to cry cause you have 7,825 offers on the second day you listed your cash only bank owned property, the only thing you can expect is a greatly written offer by an agent who has never seen those brighter days you all talk about! Happy to be in a thriving real estate market!

-Benny Chavez

Carlos R. Arvizu Sr. California writes:

The problems were facing today such as jobs, the economy, the housing market, and national security far outweigh the President of the United States desire to pass a bogus health care package down our throats, especially the 1000 plus pages of garbage.

Politicians be prepared to lose in the 2010 elections, regardless of your party affiiations, be you a democrat, republican or indepndant, the American people can only take so much and if you dare pass legislation such as the crap you have on the table right now.

Americans can only take so much abuse. Once you back us up into a corner, our patients only goes so far, don't expect the American public to buy into this outright fraud against every hard working American.

President Obama and the gang of thieves may have some believing that they are the for the working people, but in reality they are lining their pockets with Silver, from all the lobbist pushing that bogus health care bill. In fact our elected offifial just chastised that Congressman from South Carolina; Joe WIlson for exercising his Rights to Free Speach guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States, by calling the President a Liar. Granted it may have been an embassament to the President, none the less, the President does lie, he's a lawyer, they munipulate the truth to their benefit. Pres. Obama is a Liar A ruling set in 1983 proclaimed that anyone needing medica care cannot be denied assistance.

The Congressman from South Caroina was absoultely right when he called President Obama a Liar. Illegal aliens will be entitle to use health care under a 1983 ruling.

This is really a joke, when you have the trial lawyers lobbist, Insurance companies lobbist and self serving politicians writting all the crap in this latest bill that they are trying to shove down our throats. Greed and corruption.

I am a conservative democrat, and I will be watching my congressional representative in the 34th Congression District to see if she rubber stamps this hog wash. She will diffinately have a lot of resentment toward her re election in 2010 s the sleeping giant may have been awakend.

Carlos R. Arvizu Sr

It looks like we let the "Fox in the Hen house" Am I the only one to see through this mess. The Federal Reservve caused this mess, yes the Federal Reserve.

Back in the last Quarter of 2005, Chairman Greenspan had the chance to re-correct the market to a slow and soft landing by stopping the quarter point increases in the Fed Funds Rate. It takes normally 6 to 9 months for the market to react, instead the FEDS Choose to stop raising rates well into 2006 and took a wait and see attitude for well over a year plus several months to make a move to lower rates to counter act and the market.

The Feds found themselves chasing the market with large moves to lower rates back in September of 2007,the market got out of control, to complicate matters, the other entity that controls Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was to blind to see that the Conforming Loan Rates did not reflect the market value in which those entities purchased loans from the primary mortgage market, thus many lenders got caught with their pants down, because the GSE and the Federal Reserve were not in sync, coupled with the SEC and the Supervision in both Houses of Congress failed meserably.

Now a new Federal Reserve Chairman, New Treasury Sectrary and a New President all are making it worst. If you want to fix it, lets not overly regulate and already fragile system. Lets look at the underline problems, Banks, MBS, and Collateral Debt Obligations.

Many lenders have foreclosures that can be salvaged by turning these mortgage related instruments that are non performing assets and converting them to producing assets by simply leasing out these problem REO's on their books to tenants, who want to buy using lease with an option as a method of buying in the future.

Give them a credit for their Down payment, while they are paying a higher than market rents to be applied when and if they exercised their option to buy in 2 or 3 years from now. Values would move upward and they would have time to clean up their own financial situation if credit and down payment was an issue, obviously that would be conditions to the credit. But that works.

Carlos R. Arvizu Sr.
thedon1950@aol.com

Recently, Senator Alex Padilla,D San Fernando introduction or revival of SB407 Point of Sale retrofit requirement that all sellers of residential real estate would be burden with a cost that has far reaching affects that many homeowners can ill afford. This is not the time when homeowners have been facing a deep resission, high unemployment, and for what, another backdoor buracractic department to collect fees for the state.

Perhaps Senator Padilla doesn't reconize the real problems of the state, it's called living within your means. Cut back on salarlies and those expensive trips he's been taking, perhaphs if stayed a home, maybe he'd realize his low flow toilet requires him to flush it 2 and 3 times to make it go down, what ever the case, maybe he's in bed with those energy retrofit companies.

Regardless Senate Bill SB 407 does not come at the right time. The real problem is the lack of thinking of the consequences, that's how we got into this mess in the first place. I don't know what behind Senator Padilla's agenda, but I think it imposes more harm than good, especially at a fragile time like this for the real estate industry and to impose this burden on all California property owners who want to sell their home or investment property is darn right ill responsible on the part of Senator Padilla.

If you want to solve the shortage of water and help solve the global warming issue and envormental problems that we are facing, try desalination plants to add ocean water to our water systems and pipe in water to desert areas to plant trees and other oxigenated plants that displaces carbon dioide. Now thats something to work on. If we tried some constructive thinking instead of ways to create backdoor taxation, we would be better off. I hope comon sense prevails and SB407 is defeated. Comments are welcomed.

Thank you.
Carlos R. Arvizu Sr

thedon1950@aol.com

#7 Be Discreet: Marked by exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint.

The House Warming:

After the sale is over and we have been PAID comes the house warming party and the chance to Prospect your Buyer's ENTIRE Sphere of Influence. Your Client already knows that you are the GREATEST Realtor in your area (otherwise they would have gone with the other guy) and has, likely, at your suggestion...mentioned you to everyone that she/he knows.

Realtors Beware:

Be careful to discuss with your Buyer whether it is okay for you to discuss very personal details such as purchase price and/or monthly payments.

Bragging Rights?

Even though you may have gotten your Buyer deal of a lifetime, some people just are very personal/private about financial matters. In order to avoid a strained relationship, talk about this ahead of time. Most of the time the Buyers are fine with sharing the information to help you get new clients and they will respect you more for asking them in advance!

I Invite You:

This is #7 of a series of 150 Great Traits for Realtors. I will post a new post every 1-5 days. Your input is what will make this series work. Thanks for subscribing and for your comments.

If you know of clients who may need some help in the So California, feel free to send them to my site:

www.SanGabrielValleyHomeSearch.com

Be sure that you send me an e-mail with you and your clients' name and information. I pay 25% for referrals...so let's get to work. Thanks-- velascomark@yahoo.com (626) 392-9499 Direct