Malibu, CA

There are many things to consider as you prepare to list your home for sale. First, you should always consult a local, reputable Realtor who is familiar with your neighborhood and current market conditions. They can offer you data on homes that have recently sold and that are listed which will be invaluable when deciding on your final price and sale terms. In addition, here are some basic tips that will help get you started.

Most real estate professionals agree that it is a good idea to get a pre-listing home inspection. No matter who ends up purchasing your home, they are going to ultimately conduct an inspection anyway. Purchase contracts are written up "subject to" a satisfactory property inspection in most cases. As the seller, you should know if there are any problems ahead of time so that you can avoid potential stumbling blocks down the road. If there are any problems, you have the opportunity to hire a contractor to make any necessary repairs. Make sure the inspector you use is licensed and/or certified if your state requires it. One of the benefits of ordering your own inspection is that it can potentially be used for the purchase transaction. By making it available to any potential buyers, it may encourage them to waive the inspection contingency.

Maximize your home's curb appeal. Some tips include keeping your lawn trimmed and healthy looking, planting colorful flowers, painting trim and/or any faded areas as needed, washing your windows, cleaning the gutters and chimney, replacing any roof shingles, and keeping your garage door closed. It's also a good idea to look for any major cracks in the sidewalk and driveway and repair if needed. In the interior, one of the first things you can do is get rid of excess clutter. Clean out your closets, garage, basement and attic. Make sure your shelves aren't overly crowded. If you need to rent a storage facility, it is well worth the money. Inspect your walls to see if a fresh coat of paint is needed. These things will make your home look bigger and brighter. Don't forget to shampoo the carpets and wash all tiles. Make sure that any old or worn fixtures in the bathrooms are replaced, and keep a set of new towels to be brought out during open houses. It's also a good idea to "disassociate" yourself from your home. Take down all the distracting family photos. Remember, a new buyer sees your home as potentially theirs, not yours. To save time, consider hiring a professional cleaning service to come every week while your home is on the market. This will keep it in tip-top shape and free you up to take care of other things.

Taking a little extra time to prepare your home for sale by doing a few simple things could give you the advantage over the next seller. As always, if you need help or advice, just respond to this email.

Crumbs Bake Shop of Malibu, Beverly Hills, New York & Chicago

Do you ever discover something or some place that has been in front of your eyes, but did not notice it before? Well yesterday we did that exactly. We were strolling in Malibu at the Cross Creek Mall. Had a great sandwich (food for another blog postJ) so we saw this sign to Crumbs Bakeshop, we wanted a cup of good coffee. I am not a big fan of the Chain Coffee shops so I am always on the search for small good coffee establishment. So with that my eyes were perked up when we saw this sign.

Turns out it is a Cupcake Establishment and Coffee is just an Oh BTW we do that too. As we were there mesmerized by the huge selections and various size of Cupcakes needless to say we walked out with two Lattes and two Cupcakes. Turns out they have a Shop walking distance to my Office in Beverly Hills, almost next to another famous Cupcake Establishment. Now I understand what “Cupcake Wars areJ) all about.

So without taking away from this establishment’s history, I found out that they started in New York, I probably read about them, but it did not stick in my head. Well guess what now they did. I will not forget them. So check out this pictures and in case you are wondering one is a Carrot Cupcake and the other is a Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie Cupcake (mine).

So please click on the link and check out their 50 different selections as well as their many locations. The cupcakes were moist and delicious. Well worth the money. http://www.crumbs.com/

If you are a consumer who is considering buying or selling a home, investment real estate, vacation homes, or beach properties in Southern California, Los Angeles, Century City, Westwood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Venice or Malibu. Feel Free to give me call at310.486.1002or email me at homes@endrebarath.com or visit one of my websites at http://www.endrebarath.com Your Pet Friendly Realtor. I contribute a portion of my commission to Local Animal Rescue Organizations.

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you are surviving the week and ready for the weekend ahead.

I have been meeting with Bobby Lehmkuhl, Malibu Association of REALTORS President 2012, and the M.A.R. Education Committee members over the past few weeks regarding my participation and contribution to the Education Committee.

Needless to say, I have accepted the honor of sitting the Chair for the Education Committee. I look forward to bringing my passion for technology and Real Estate education to my fellow REALTORS! We are looking forward to having the trainers from the Apple Corporation hold an iPad training later this month.

Brad Anderson, from Zillow and Activerain, will hopefully be gracing us with his technology insights in the next few months. Brad, I look forward to our conversation tomorrow!

Have a great evening everyone! I look forward to reporting back with helpful information from our training sessions!

We work as a team and combine our extensive real estate experience, powerful resources and connections to benefit you whether you are looking you buy or sell a home in today's exciting and lucrative real estate market.

Call us now to get started on the road to buying or selling your next home. 310.459.8191 x366 or email mywestsidehomefinder@gmail.com

To preview the finest real estate and the best deals on the Westside of Los Angeles including Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Century City, Marina Del Rey & Mar Vista please visit our website: http://www.westsidehomefinder.com/ When you are ready to view the properties or just have a question, please contact us: 310.459.8191 x366 or mywestsidehomefinder@gmail.com

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New home sales fell 2.2% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000 units from a revised rate of 314,000 units in November. Compared to a year ago, new home sales are down 7.3%. On a year over year basis, pending home sales are up 5.6% and pending home sales, a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts, fell 3.5% in December after a 7.3% increase in November. On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales are up 5.6%.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending January 20 fell 5%. Refinancing applications decreased 5.2%. Purchase volume fell 5.4%.

Orders for durable goods, which are items expected to last three or more yearss, rose $6.2 billion or 3% to $214.5 billion in December. This increase surpassed the 2.2% economists had anticipated and follows a 4.3% surge in November. Excluding volatile transportation-related goods, orders posted a monthly increase of 2.1%.

According to ICSC-Goldman Sachs index, retail sales fell 1.4% for the week ending January 21. Retailers saw sales increase 2.8% on a year-over-year basis.

The Commerce Department announced that gross domestic product, the total output of goods and services produced in the U.S., increased at an annual rate of 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011. This follows a 1.8% pace of growth in the third quarter of 2011. For all of 2011, initial reports indicate the economy expanded 1.7%.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose by 21,000 to 377,000 for the week ending January 21. Continuing claims for the week ending January 14 rose by 88,000 to 3.554 million.

Upcoming on the economic calendar are reports on the housing price index on January 31, construction spending on February 1 and factory orders on February 3.