Laguna Niguel, CA

Senator Dick Ackerman was a guest presenter at an Orange County Realtor Association event where he awarded Michael Caruso with a California Legislature Resolution to recognize the work Michael performed while serving as 2007 President for the Association of Realtors.

The Orange County Association of Realtors is the 16^th largest Realtor Association in the USA. Michael Caruso served during a very challenging year for the industry. He remained focused and intent on member services and community involvement. While serving, Michael initiated 3 new committees to assist in facilitating the needs of the membership. One new committee is the "Media Relations Task Force" which is responsible for building a better bridge of communication between the Association and the media. Another important committee is the "Emergency Preparedness Task Force" which is responsible for facilitating safety measures and emergency strategy during times of natural disaster or local emergencies. The 3^rd new committee is the "Past President's Advisory" which is comprised from the previous sitting presidents within the past 10 years so as to offer guidance and counsel to the sitting president as well as develop success strategies for the Association of Realtors.

When asked about his service to the Orange County Association of Realtors Michael said "This is an experience I will cherish forever...and it is quite a huge undertaking and responsibility".

Michael Caruso has been a real estate Broker owning his independent real estate office since 1994. Prior to that he worked for very successful franchise offices in the Long Beach area. He is committed to the real estate profession. Michael Caruso can be reached at 949-753-7900 or through his web site at MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com. Michael is an ardent community volunteer and also serves on the Executive Advisory Board at Cal State Fullerton. Feel free to contact Michael at any time with your real estate questions.

Broker Michael Caruso has found a creative way to help rebuild the inventory at Orange County's Second Harvest Food Bank. Caruso has successfully created and now tested a method whereby he requests that agents bring a can of food when they come to view his listings that are featured on "Broker Tour" in various areas of the county. Michael put this system into effect this week while serving lunch at his new listing located in San Juan Capistrano at 27492 Silver Creek and has gathered about $200 in financial contributions as well as filling a barrel with canned food and dry food items. "A can of food for the charity is their ticket to get in in order to view my new listing, then I feed them lunch while they are there at the home", Michael said.

Michael asked a representative from Second Harvest Food Bank to join him so as to launch this effort and help introduce the program. Representative Lorina Smith was anxious to put forth an effort to increase attention to this important cause. These items will no doubt be helpful as food bank inventories are hitting very low levels. Due to the current economic conditions, the number of families in need has increased substantially while the number of donations has diminished. The results of these two dynamics can be devastating.

Caruso said "We have initiated some momentum here. People have a better understanding of the challenge that faces us. Some Realtors have now agreed to place donation barrels in their offices and Affiliates have joined the effort to help increase attention at their holiday functions".

Michael Caruso has been the Broker/Owner of Orange County Real Estate Services since 1994 and prior to that he worked with several large franchise offices. He is an ardent community volunteer and has served on numerous C.A.R. and N.A.R. Committees as well as having just served the Orange County Association of Realtors (16^th largest in the USA) as their 2007 President. He can be reached at 949-753-7900 or through his website: MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

"I hope we take this food drive campaign to new heights during the holiday season and throughout the New Year", Michael said. "This is a serious time in our lives and in history, and people need to think more about helping each other".

Well, where has the time gone? Seems it's 2003 all over again except we've all aged 6 years.

Recent reports from October sales and value analysis indicate real estate values have hit the mark they were at in 2003. This week the stock market hit levels last seen in 2003.

So what are the key essential differences as we embark upon 2009 and important bench mark values are at 2003 levels? Pretty simple.

1) There was momentum in 2003

2) There was optimism in 2003

When things seem at their worst, they probably are. There is only one place to go and that is up! Think upbeat. Today, our President said..."This situation didn't create itself overnight and it won't be solved overnight" The key is...it will be solved. But people want immediate gratification, immediate cures, immediacy is a way in which we have been groomed during the past decade or so.

This is going to take a little more time. But expect fiscal stimulus that will rock your world and get things back on a positive track. It is important to stay on a personal positive track at the same time.

Your comments are welcome.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

The iconic American Buffalo resides in a very unusual place...the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. In the 70's the San Diego Zoo gave 12 of these Bison to the base. Since that time they have multiplied and currently the herd stands at about 150. They are simply left alone to roam about 38,000 acres of the 125,000 acre Marine base. These are the plains bison and they are genetically pure, larger than their counterpart the woods bison.

This elite group is one of three such herds nationwide. And they are healthy. They have been randomly tested and all are disease free with no heavy metals in their system despite living on an active base, and no signs of inbreeding. Oh yes, they get in the way at times during drills and everything stops for a few moments while horns sound to scare them off.

Because of over hunting the bison in North America fell from a population of millions to just a few hundred by 125 years ago. The majority of bison living today are privately owned in herds of less than 1,000 and are generally fenced in small areas according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, which manages almost 7,000 bison in 7 national wildlife refuges and five national parks.

It's great to see these splendid animals survived the ravages of the 1800's. Your comments are welcome...

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

No, this is not a trade in the NBA...

Anaheim seems determined to honor their word and the state mandate that 20% of their power be "green electricity" for households by the year 2012.

After a bit more testing is completed the Utah power plant will send Anaheim 11 megawatts of power beginning in 2009 from the Raser Power Plant, which boasts zero carbon emissions. A spokesman from Raser said that 95% of the equipment they use to make geothermal green power is from machinery we've had for many years. They run huge air conditioners backward...only 5% of what they use to obtain this green power is new technology.

A geothermal generator uses heat from underground hot water to produce electricity.

My only question is why can't we do this locally and not ship it in from another state?

Your comments are welcome.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRBS CRS GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors