Michael Sciacca

Orange County Real Estate Agents Needed

Oxford Realty, an internet based real estate brokerage is currently hiring real estate agents in the Orange County area. We are in search of team members with motivation, ethics, and energy.
We are currently offering a very competitive commission option.

Flat fee
$279 a month fee to Oxford Realty and Agent keeps 100% of commission on every deal.

Position Includes:
Individual web page on Oxford website
Errors and omissions insurance
Extensive web marketing and advertising
Oxford marketing blog training and access
1,000 premium double sided personalized business cards
Oxford will purchase your first custom "For Sale' sign
Oxford will purchase your first Supra lock box
Experienced broker to help with any situation
Advanced Marketing training

All applicants must have a California Real Estate License and be a member of Orange County Association of Realtors (or willing to join).
e-mail: info@oxfordrealtyoc.com

Visit our website at Oxfordrealtyoc.com

Orange County Assisted Living

Senior Living in The OC

Your first thought about Orange County might not be that it's a great place to spend your retirement years. But Orange County's approximately 350,000 residents over the age of 65 disagree. In fact, Orange County has a slightly higher percentage of seniors (65 plus) than the overall state of California. In 2008, 11.2% of California's population was 65 and older, compared to 11.4% in Orange County.

Of course, seniors living in Orange County have access to several great beaches, including the famous Huntington and Newport Beaches. But if beach-going isn't your thing, not to worry. The OC has a variety of activities to appeal to any senior lifestyle – whether you choose to live an active lifestyle well into your retirement years, or if you're looking for rest and relaxation.

Orange County assisted living residents who enjoy the outdoors can take a stroll through the 124-care Craig Regional Park, which features picnic tables and benches for people watching or enjoying lunch while appreciating the small pond, two creeks and beautiful rose garden. Those avoiding the beach to avoid the sun will appreciate Craig Park's abundant shade. Likewise, Irvine Park offers a beautiful setting with plentiful shade, in addition to a variety of wildlife.

For art connoisseurs, Orange County senior living is ideal. The Orange County Museum of Art offers Target Free Second Sundays, when admission is free on the second Sunday of the month. A variety of exhibits are featured throughout the year, so a visit certainly isn't a once-and-done deal. For more arts appreciation, seniors can visit The Bowers Museum of Culture and Art, Fullerton Museum Center, or the Santa Ana Artist Village Art Walk, which is held on the first Saturday of the month, free of charge. While you're there, choose from a selection of fine dining establishments.

Theater buffs have no shortage of options for entertainment. Several local colleges and universities offer theater productions, including the University of California in Irvine, Chapman University, Fullerton College, and Concordia University in Irvine.

Go whale watching at Newport Landing, or enjoy a fun-filled day of shopping at South Coast Plaza, Brea Mall, or The Block at Orange. Whatever your pleasure, Orange County is certainly not just a place for the young. The young –at-heart? Perhaps, but aren't we all?

Orange County assisted living

Oxford Realty

Investment properties in Aliso Viejo, CA

In today's market, there are quite a few lucrative investment properties in Aliso Viejo. Today I would like to Feature the "Coronado" complex off Aliso Creek rd. This is a complex of mostly 2 and 3 bedroom condos that are selling from the high $200,000's to the low $300,000's. These are tremendous deals since many of the units are currently renting for over $2,000 per month. Many of these properties are capable of positive cash flow with a 20% down payment. It has been quite a while since positive cash flow investments were available in Orange County. To get more information about investment properties in Aliso viejo, CA visit our website or contact mike at info@oxfordrealtyoc.com

As a broker, agent motivation has been a major concern for me since my company opened. I constantly encounter two problems: 1. Some agents appear to be unmotivated and do not take a proactive approach to selling property. 2. Agents are extremely motivated by only MONEY to sell property (which causes ethics problems and hurts company morale). The majority of the issues I face on a daily basis revolve around these two problems. After much research and self reflection, I have concluded that the motivation issues are caused by my leadership. My brokerage was structured similar to most brokerages in the country in that we compensate and motivate our agents with tangible rewards (mostly money). If you sell property, you are rewarded, if you don't sell property, you are not rewarded and often punished (fired). This is motivation using extrinsic motivation. Over the last 40 years, increasing amounts of research have shown that extrinsic motivation is not the most affective way to achieve results from employees who must use brain power (not assembly line workers). Study after study have shown that extrinsic motivation often times reduces productivity, which is contrary to its intent.

I have begun to subscribe to a new form of leadership to motivate my agents - intrinsic motivation. This is the motivation that comes from within. The type of motivation that fills our human urge to do things well and create self fulfillment. The same motivation that draws us to the challenge of putting together a puzzle or solving a crossword. As humans, we receive no tangible reward for completing these puzzles, but receive a sense of accomplishment when we complete them.

I have begun to incorporate intrinsic motivation as a part of our company culture and I am amazed! I do not use only intrinsicmotivation (I still have tangible rewards), but we have a real focus on the inner motivation. The positive results are numerous. Company morale is way up. Agents have a healthy level of competition, but there is a real sense of "team" in the office. Productivity is up. Agents have more fun, think more creatively, and collaborate more often.

Orange County real estate agents

Why live in Orange County

I recently returned from a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma with my wife and kids. While we were there, we had a wonderful time. We swam in the pool (85 degree water), we stayed in a lake house (lake front home with dock costs under $300,000), we played in the back yard ( 1 acre lots are common and affordable), and we lit a plethora of fireworks in the drive way (pretty much every firework is legal there).

About half way through the trip I began talking with a store clerk while purchasing a toothbrush at the Rite Aide. He could tell I was not from Oklahoma and asked where I was from. "California" I answered proundly, "Orange County, California." "If you don't mind me asking" he said "why do you live there?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well" he continued "The cost of living is triple what it is here, but the pay is only about 60% higher. It's crowded, smoggy, It takes 45 minutes to get anywhere, you have an under-performing education system and your government is going bankrupt."

"So you've been there before" I said with a laugh. I paid for the toothbrush and left.

It was not until later that night, while I lay in bed that I began to really think about what that store clerk had said. Why do I live in Orange County?

Over the last week I have spent a considerable amount of time pondering this question. Is it the weather? ... No, the weather is nice, but it is not the reson I live here. Is it the beach? ... No, I don't frequent the beach as much as I would like. Is it the glamorous Orange County Life style? ... Nope! Then, finally, last night the answer came to me.

It's the character of Orange County that makes me love to live here. It is the only place in the country that defines itself by county. Every other person in the country answers where they live by either a neighborhood, city, state or country. But not us. We live in Orange County, The OC. A county so diverse in each corner yet we share a certain identity. We have one of the most republican Cities in the country and one of the most democratic, yet we define ourselves as the same (from Orange County). Often, the character of Orange County not apparent to the outsider. It sometimes hides behind the new strip malls and the homogenized planned communities. But it is there! Sometimes the deepest character is the hardest to see.

So, to the rest of the country who thinks we are crazy for living hear, I asked to to give it a try and then see if you can leave.

Orange County Real Estate Agents