What's Going On With The Real Estate Market? - Oct 16 07:34 PM
It seems like I am asked this and many other questions from both buyers and sellers on a daily basis. Are home prices going to continue their decline? Are interest rates skyrocketing back to 10%? Are lenders going to keep going under? What about foreclosures?
There is no simple answer, yet hundreds of experts on the subject. I don't claim to be a so-called expert but I don't see how these "experts" can sit behind their desk ...
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Camarillo Real Estate, 23rd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day - Sep 06 06:07 PM
23rd Annual California Coastal/ Inland Waterways Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 15, 2007 is the annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. This is a volunteer affair to help keep California beaches and waterways clean. The event originally started in 1985 and now it is considered by Guinness Book of World Records as "the largest garbage collection" event in the world. (Source: California Coastal Commission)
Participating in the coastal clean up is fun and rewarding. In Ventura County the event will take ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Green Waste Recycling in Ventura County - Aug 14 07:51 PM
Ventura County Leads the Way in Green Waste Recycling
The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, states that each county in the State of California must divert 50% of its waste away from landfills by the year 2000. Since then, Ventura County has taken a stand to help improve the California environment in many different ways.
The process that makes Ventura County noticeably different from other California Counties is our extensive Green Waste Recycling. As one of ...
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The Wall Street Journal Reports The Housing Crisis is Over! - May 25 04:55 PM
For a change we are hearing some good news being reported in the news. It would only be natural that it should first be reported in the Wall Street Journal. As the voice for San Diego Real Estate, it pleases me greatly to bring you this good news as first reported in the journal and now in The Real Estate Text Book.
Before you go out and begin borrowing money against your equity and redecorate the house with all ...
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What Are You Going To Do When They Come For You? - Nov 12 04:23 PM
Land Trusts by Bill Roberts
The LAND TRUST is a venerable estate planning tool and a tremendous privacy shield.
It was developed in England hundreds of years ago and was brought to this country by Chicago Land Title and Trust in the 1890s.
The primary purpose of a LAND TRUST is to provide anonymity in the ownership of real estate. Privacy and anonymity are getting more difficult in this modern technological age. People have learned how to "snoop" on ...
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The California Foreclosure Process & Timeline - Jun 27 01:59 AM
The following time-line is applicable for California Non-Judicial Foreclosures under a deed of trust. Foreclosures begin when the Trustor (borrower) does not make the monthly payment to the Beneficiary (Lender).
The first missed payment is a technical default, but in practical terms, most Beneficiaries do not begin the process until the third payment is missed.
If the Beneficiary cannot resolve the defaulted payment amount with the Trustor through forbearance or other loss mitigation measures, the ...
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Money Problems Threaten Homeowners' Marriage - Sep 07 12:53 AM
"I don't know what to do any more. She and I are hardly speaking and on top of the money problems our marriage is being threatened as well. Is there any hope for us to get out from under this huge payment? "
I was painfully reminded of how money problems are the greatest cause of divorce this week. Both of the families that are being threatened by bad financial decisions came to me for advice as ...
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Is This A Typical Loan Scenario? - Dec 11 06:31 PM
Is This A Typical Loan Scenario? by Bill Roberts
The other evening I sat down with a woman who was concerned about her mother's mortgage. She wanted to see if she should (or could) refinance her home.
I went through all the documents for her latest loan which was made a little over a year ago. She is not behind on payments but she is struggling to make the full payment each month.
The loan is a Pay ...
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Sellers: The price is right (isn't it?) - Sep 26 02:53 AM
Sellers and world... I can't fool you! We are in a soft market and there are just some things that we need to work on to "drop the denial" and come to grip with the fact that we have to work harder at preparing, listing, marketing, negotiating and accepting "what it be like".
Before you stop reading and think that this is going to be a downer.... keep reading. This is an attempt to emphasis the fact ...
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A Home Staging Consultation Can Save You Money! - Jun 04 06:42 PM
My client got a 1000% return on her investment of a paid home staging consultation!
A few days ago, my assistant Terri and I went to do a home staging consultation on a nice two story home in Sunland, CA. I talk and Terri takes notes and measurements. The homeowner showed us around the main floor, and we discussed the necessary repairs and improvements she and ...
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Real Estate Agents working together.....a success Story :) - May 09 08:52 AM
How many times have we wanted a sale to go through only to lose it for some small reason, or because the Agents couldn't work together. I know Real Estate Sales are just that....sales, but aren't they also about negotiating?
Sale #1 - I closed today on contract that was only supposed to be 7 days....it was about 21. I had both clients, so I can't even say that it was issues with another Agent. It would be ...
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SOLD in only 4 days! $1.495 Million House - in our "down" market- - how great is that! - Apr 10 09:37 AM
Check out this latest We Stage Sacramento Staging SUCCESS Story!
We were contacted to Stage a very dated 1970's house in the area, that was full of wood - flooring, paneling, huge wood bar, etc. The sellers had done some updating and remodeling through the years - mostly in the Master bath. The house had a great floorplan for entertaining, and a wonderful location with a golf course and cul-de-sac location. We worked our magic - ...
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Mortgage Rates Report: August 8, 2007- Lock Your Loans - Aug 08 10:42 AM
Home buyers should lock-in their interest rates. The mortgage-backed securities market is responding to two events and mortgage bonds are dropping.
The Federal Reserve Bank did not raise the Discount Rate yesterday (as expected). Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke spent very little time discussing the mortgage liquidity crisis and talked about containing inflation more. We see this as positive because it shows that we have a Fed Chairman who is calm, amidst a crisis.
Why change ...
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Real Estate Versus Other Investments - Jul 15 11:58 AM
Statistics, News Flashes and blah blah blah......................
The Real Estate market is up!
The Real Estate Market is down!
We're in for a bubble crash!
All phrases we have heard as of the past year about the real estate industry and what is going on. And to be honest, typically by analysts that are not in the industry, don't have a full understanding of real estate and manipulate numbers to make a point and stir the pot!
Unfortunatly, their false pretenses ...
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Foreclosures in California Will Be Reduced! - Nov 22 04:26 PM
Good News for Real Estate is here! Finally there is hope for Homeowners with adjustable real estate loans...keep reading!Happy Thanksgiving! There is some good news for those facing Foreclosure in Real Estate for the Sacramento area and all over California for that matter. This week, Governor Schwarzenegger met with 4 of the largest loan servicers who are servicing subprime loans. The Governor asked these loan servicers to voluntarily agree to NOT adjust mortgage rates on their subprime loans which constitute 25% of their ...
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Day In The Temecula Wine Country - Oct 05 08:23 PM
One of the things I love about having company is that you get to see things and go places you normally wouldn't. After enjoying a delicious lunch at Sushi House I took our friend Paula from Palm Beach to see the Temecula Wine Country.
Our first stop was at Keyways Winery. The tasting room is lovely. The new owners have done extensive remodeling. We tasted a few wines, enjoyed their port the most of and continued on our ...
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San Diego Fires - Submitting an Insurance Claim: Providing Documentation - Oct 29 09:24 PM
Many folks in San Diego County (and north of us) have lost their homes, or had significant damage due to the fires that are continuing to burn. Now the "fun" begins - trying to submit a claim and receive some reimbursement for your losses from your insurance provider. AND providing some documentation for your claim.
It was strongly recommended at the time the fires were burning for homeowners to take digital photos of all the rooms in ...
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Cruisin in California....What? - Jun 07 04:02 PM
Realtors® drive a lot. In town, on the freeways, expressways, motorway or whatever you may call it. I am always intrigued by the way people drive in different states, regions, cities, and even some shopping mall parking lots, (I nominate Trader Joe's parking lot in Lafayette, CA. as the most dangerous).
I live and work in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area, and have driven the highways and city-ways for decades so I'm ...
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Luxury Homes in and Around Sacramento California - Aug 12 11:16 AM
Ever wondered what the top priced homes look like in Sacramento?
In the Sacramento County area, Elk Grove, CA comes up with the highest priced Real Estate and what a beauty she is for $5,950,000. Want to helicopter in...not a problem, here. This 10,000 square foot home, listed by Lyon RE has the makings for a secluded well presented palatial estate on 61 acres. Need a helicopter pad? Not a problem...want to view the pool under water from ...
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Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R's) - Why You Should Read Them Before You Buy - Jan 09 12:24 PM
Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions -
What are CC&Rs? The covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) are the governing documents that dictate how the homeowners association operates and what rules the owners -- and their tenants and guests -- must obey. These legal documents might also be called the bylaws, the master deed, the houses rules or another name.
These documents and rules are legally enforceable by the homeowners association, unless a specific provision conflicts with federal, state ...
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Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Sonoma County, California - Sep 15 03:57 PM
Hi Paris,
When you sidled up to me at the party and whispered, "You're hot!", and I told you I'd been happily married for thirty years, I thought that would be the last I would hear from you. I was pleased to get your letter talking about how much you already like the wine and food lifestyle in Healdsburg. It's not every day Paris Hilton is looking for a home in Sonoma County. I've put together an ...
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Retirement Planning For Baby Boomers - Dec 11 06:33 PM
Retirement Planning For Baby Boomers by Bill RobertsI have written extensively about the retirement planning process. All the way from assessing your needs, to where it's all going to come from, to where you will spend it.I would recap all that here but I think I did a pretty good job the first time around so I'll just point you to all the right places to read it for yourself.Assess the SituationWould You Give $10,000 For ...
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If You Haven't Saved Enough Money to Retire You Better Read This - Nov 05 06:22 PM
If You Haven't Saved Enough Money to Retire You Better Read This by Bill Roberts
Why? Because....
Building up an estate that can supply enough income to maintain your lifestyle after retirement is the desired goal.
A lot of us have puny IRAs that don't seem to grow fast enough to ever throw off enough income to keep us, if they grow at all.
Why Is That?
Well, it is probably because we have the money in our Individual Retirement ...
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The Case For Buyers Using a "Buyer's Specialist" - Sep 07 09:49 AM
Buyers, once the step-child of real estate, are what is keeping the market alive in Del Norte County and with prices dropping and seller's accepting lowball offers, buyers are stepping up to the plate to purchase.
Buyers, consider working with an agent that focuses specifically on buyers and I'll give you a great example of why.
A lovely couple had picked out a homethey were interested in and went to a nationally known real estate office and ...
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Short Sale Agent in Crescent City/Del Norte County - Apr 27 11:09 PM
Short Sales in Del Norte County - Why you need to use an agent experienced in this niche of the market.
I just closed on a very difficult escrow and no surprise, it was a short sale. There were so many people involved, but only one that had experience with this niche of the market and that's what saved the day in the end.
What is so different about a short sale?
You, the owner, may be signing acceptance ...
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Sacramento 7th in the Nation for Foreclosures - Oct 06 10:48 AM
The Sacramento Bee, highlighted a family who lost their home recently to an adjustable rate mortgage. This is common place with many home owners today all over the country and especially here in and around Sacramento County. Sacramento County ranks 7th in the Nation for Foreclosures.
Many of the adjustable rates are resetting to 7, 8 and 9 percent interest. Hello....something needs to be done, here!
As an example, a family whose house payment was $950 per month, now struggles ...
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Is Searching for the Perfect Home an Exercise in Futility? - Jan 28 11:21 PM
Are you looking for the perfect home in Del Norte County, or any market, but are new to the area, or better yet, live outside the area?
If so, you need to use a local REALTOR who knows your market!
A very nice man who was standing in front of a home, called a local agent for a showing. While they were looking at the listing, the agent asked a lot of questions and knew of the perfect home to meet this clients ...
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Guide to East Bay Farmer's Markets - Nov 27 03:45 PM
If you live in the East Bay and live for fresh locally-grown produce, then you are in luck. There are more Farmer's Markets in our region than you could ever believe. You can get fresh lettuces and peppers and berries and oranges and almost anything your heart desires at a local Farmer's Market every day of the week (Except Mondays...the farmers need a day off, too!).Here is a quick daily guide to East Bay Farmer's Markets. ...
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Household Issues that Scare Buyers - Oct 26 06:48 PM
You may have heard, most of the U.S. real estate market is experiencing a buyer's market. A buyer's market is a market where conditions favor buyers i.e. there are more sellers than buyers in the market. As a result buyers have ample choice of properties and may negotiate lower prices. A buyers market may be caused by an economic slump or overbuilding.
With a plethora of homes to choose from, buyer's may be easily frightened away from homes that have ...
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“Check Your Appraisal” - Aug 24 10:19 PM
….was the heading on yesterday’s email from Wells Fargo Wholesale. This is a heads-up to Realtors and home buyers… Fast Rewind In mid July, FannieMae issued Announcement 07–11, entitled Collateral Valuation Practices and Declining Markets. Here are several key points from the memo:
FannieMae’s Desktop Underwriter (DU) Version 5.7 released July 22, will now generate a message when it thinks that a property is located in a declining market.The appraiser must also indicate when the property ...
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Southern CA Wild Fires & the Importance of Property Coverage - Oct 22 12:34 PM
I'm sure most of you followed the news coverage on Sunday with respect to the Malibu and Canyon Country wild fires. Here are some of the headlines... In a recent article from the Los Angeles Times: Winds Drive Southland Wildfires "Thousands of Southern California homes could be at risk in coming days as powerful Santa Ana winds continue to stoke wildfires, fire officials said." In another article from ABC News: "A huge fire being driven ...
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5 Reasons To Use An Orange County Real Estate Virtual Tour! - Aug 27 11:32 AM
Here are the TOP 5 REASONS to use an Orange County Virtual Tour, when selling/listing your next home!
Gas prices are still through the roof! Do you think someone would rather drive all around Orange County, sifting through homes to find the right one? Or...do you think people would rather search for homes online and narrow their findings down to a few options that "REALLY STUCK OUT TO THEM!" Now, you're getting more SERIOUS people looking at your home ...
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The Impact of Homeowners Associations on Home Buying Decisions - Aug 12 02:45 AM
When is a $900,000 home more expensive than a million dollar home? When the $900,000 home comes with a $533 per month HOA fee.
If you bought a one million dollar home in Silicon Valley using a 30-year fixed-rate principal and interest mortgage with a 7% interest rate and 20% down payment, your monthly payment would be $5,322. The same terms on a $900,000 Silicon Valley home would be $4,790. The difference per month? $532.
The HOA provides ...
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Marin County Real Estate August 2007 Update (Homes For Sale & Price Ranges) - Aug 11 10:51 AM
The number of homes for sale (inventory) in Marin County, California continues marching upwards. There are 689 active listings (down from 701 active listings this time last month). We are off the high water mark for the sheer number of homes for sale in Marin-although we are likely to see an uptick of homes on the market in September.
The graph below breaks down the current number of homes for sale in Marin County, California, as of August 1, 2007, along with ...
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Is Equity in a Home in Long Beach, CA a Good or Bad Investment? - Jun 20 03:00 AM
I started my career as a Financial Advisor on Wall Street. At the young age of 25, I managed over $20 million in client assets. That was back when $20 million was really worth something, too. We used a litmus test for investment analysis that I'd like to share with you, the Long Beach home owner.
Liquidity, Safety, Return (and to a lesser extent,) Tax Status. The LSR-T litmus test helped us match specific investment choices ...
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Staging Arcadia, CA; A Gallery Of Wallpaper - Jun 20 06:33 PM
Recently I have been working with a local realtor, in the San Gabriel Valley, advising her on recommendations for preparing her listings for the market. I met the realtor and homeowner at one of her proposed listings in Arcadia, CA a few weeks ago, to view the house and take photos.
Well, to my surprise, the house was covered top to botton in wallpaper. A "Gallery of Wallpaper" is how I like to put it. Every inch, every room; some of the ceilings even had wallpaper ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Ventura County's Museums - Jun 20 12:35 AM
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Interviewed by Local Newspaper Because of AR Blog - Jan 11 12:00 AM
I would like to share an exciting experience that came my way because of my Active Rain blog.
I was contacted by a local newspaper reporter asking me if I would assist her with an article on the forecast for the Del Norte County real estate market for 2008.
She found my website, read my blog and determined I would be helpful after reading my monthly market reports, end of the year summary report and 2008 market forecast.
I enjoyed the ...
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The Foreclosure Crunch - May 07 10:14 AM
This is part Three in a Four part series of articles detailing the changing mortgage market.The Foreclosure CrunchThe Foreclosure Crunch is closely related to the LTV Crunch.In fact, both crunches fuel on each other.I would suggest you first read the LTV Crunch before you dive into this easy concept.Now where to start?Hmmmmmm .....Let's start with the 3 TRILLION in Adjustable Rate Mortgages that we know are just about ready to change, or recast in the next ...
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Did you hear the news? - Oct 09 11:42 AM
Sellsius just announced their 12 Women Real Estate Bloggers for 2007! Congratulations to:Ines Hegedus-GarciaLaurie MannyMaureen FrancisKristal KraftFrances Flynn ThorsenRhonda PorterTeresa BoardmanRoberta MurphyKris BergSharon SimmsMissy CaulkDiane CohnGo check out the great story over at Sellsius Real Estate BLOGSee the 2006 Winners here: Top 10 Women Real Estate Blogger award. ...
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What a Difference a day makes in Real Estate - Jan 07 11:50 PM
Today started just like the past few days, expect the rain had stopped. They say it never rains in Southern California, but it does, and it did. Today though, the storm has passed......moving on over to Arizona.
Today in Banning, California the sun was shining, and the Mountains were full of snow....a nice day. It got even nicer as the day went on.
A friend called and asked if I wanted a referral, but I had to meet her right ...
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Ready To Hire A Sign Twirler? - Jul 08 08:25 PM
A while back I commented on David L. Britt's post Real Estate Tips: Referrals. He had compiled a great list of resource types. I had received a call that day from a fellow chamber of commerce member asking me if I knew any professional sign twirlers. I mentioned this in my comment on David’s blog. David’s response was – what’s a sign twirler? It never occurred to me that this was not a national thing. Sign ...
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What you believe is how you perceive! Thinking long term is the secret! - May 13 09:17 AM
I have been accused of being too optimistic about the future of real estate and I consider that to be a compliment. As professionals, we have an obligation to ignore the headlines and provide intelligent, well researched alternative thinking for our buyers and sellers. I was recently asked, "What do you tell your buyers"? I tell buyers, real estate is not just location, location, location. It's also about Duration, Duration, Duration. Right now there is an abundance ...
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Warehouse of the Year! - Jan 12 03:26 PM
If there were such an award, I think I would have a pretty good crack at it, although my friend Jo Potvin of Design to Market in Cincinnati, OH would give me a run for my money (Take a Peak at our Warehouse). My company, Moving Mountains Design & Home Staging, outgrew our previous location - my guest house and carport. It took me a while to find it, but on December 15, 2007 I leased a warehouse in ...
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They want it ALL and they want it NOW...or they move on. - Apr 05 10:20 AM
Am I missing something or are a very large percentage of today's buyers a very different breed than in the recent past?
As I see it:
Today's buyers want:
-updated features in homes to include:
~flooring
~light fixtures
~appliances
~cabinet finishes
~plumbing fixtures
~high-end countertops
~and much more
Today's buyers do NOT want:
~sculptured two-toned carpeting
~vinyl flooring
~shiny brass light fixtures or plumbing fixtures
...
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Camarillo Real Estate, Golf Courses in Camarillo - Aug 26 09:03 PM
With 2 private and 2 public golf courses, our small city of Camarillo offers the Golf admirers a variety of courses to enjoy.
The prestigious Spanish Hills and Las Posas Country Clubs, offer 18-hole championship play, elegant clubhouses and restaurants to the citizens of Camarillo and the surrounding Ventura County areas.
Courses open to the public include Sterling Hills Golf Club and Camarillo Springs Public Golf Course.
Spanish Hills Country Club
Open in 1993, the 18-hole "Spanish Hills" course in ...
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How To Sell A Business, A Reprise - Jan 01 06:26 PM
How To Sell A Business by Bill RobertsAs a Business Opportunity Broker, I found it useful to write a book on “How To Buy A Business.” This article is a distillation of some of the main points of that process as affects a broker selling businesses. The first thing a Business Broker needs to do is interview the seller. Keep in mind that 90% of businesses put on the market DO NOT SELL. The seller needs ...
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Lose a Limb Or Slowly Bleed to Death? - Nov 23 10:44 PM
Pretty graphic title. I'm a little more in-your face than most pundits. Neither of those scenarios sound good, in fact, both are horrific. California's going to bleed...hell, it's bleeding already.
I wrote an article about the California Governor's brokered deal with loan servicers:
Is this measure politically motivated? You betchya. The Governator is taking care of his own, regardless of the inequities it levies on the rest of the country. The lenders are in a bind so they’ll ...
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Silicon Valley Farmers Markets - Mar 18 12:24 AM
One great way to spend weekend mornings is to check out the freshest produce, delivered right into your town by the local Northern California farmers. Not only do you get to pick from the best fruits and vegetables the area has to offer, but you also help your dollars go back into the local community.
The Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association publishes a detailed calendar to where you can find the local farmers markets (and what vendors ...
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My "Green" Orange from Orange County, CA - Aug 28 08:00 PM
What's a CSA? Farms like to describe CSA (Community Supported Agricultural) as a partnership between a food grower and a food consumer. Generally the partnership is between a local organic farm and a community of supporters that together wish to preserve the agricultural life and heritage of their community as well as guarantee for themselves a reliable, healthy and safe source of food. CSA’s were originally created by a group of food consumers who were ...
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Ventura County Real Estate: E-Waste Managment in Ventura County - Sep 07 01:37 PM
Each year in the State of California thousands and thousands of electronic items become out dated and are regarded as electronic waste. Electronic waste (E-waste) consists of electronic products that were used for data processing, telecommunications, or entertainment in private households and businesses that are now considered obsolete, broken, or irreparable. (Wikipedia)
In January, 2005, the State of California made it illegal for residents and businesses to place their electronic E-waste in the trash by banning electronics ...
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Staged, Showed, SOLD! Staging sells in Woodland! - Sep 09 01:02 AM
Ok so you get a call for a Victorian. "Lori we need colors, hardware and Staging for the Woodland Victorian Stroll in 3 weeks. Yikes!!! Luckly, I have been through this before with these Renovators/Flippers "Staged, Showed, SOLD! Staging sells in Sacramento!" I have to admit... they are who I want to work with... very professional, honest, and they do a great job!This particular project was on a strict schedule, it had follow guidelines for Historical property, it ...
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What Mortgage Crisis? - Nov 25 07:53 PM
What Mortgage Crisis? by Bill Roberts.Let's face it. If the market hadn't gone flat and then turned south we wouldn't have a mortgage crisis.There is an old saying "a rising tide lifts all boats." Do I need to explain this to you?If The Fed hadn't raised rates so fast most of this wouldn't have happened. Flippers could have gotten out of the market. The prices might have stopped going up, but would have only gone sideways ...
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Losing Your Home.....Your Hopes and Your Dreams - Dec 19 05:06 PM
Today is a sad day for many people in Riverside County, and across the United States. It is the Holidays, a time for goodwill, peace, and everything else that is supposed to be good in the world. But for the people that lose their homes it is anything but a happy time. And what about the pets, the kids, the families that can no longer afford to pay their bills, or their mortgages. There are different reasons people ...
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My New Video on How to Prepare Your House for Sale - Jun 29 07:42 PM
Of all my 500 or so articles on About.com, the one about preparing your home for sale is swiped the most often and plagiarized practically daily, so I figured this was a good piece to do a video on. (Note to plagiarizers: everything on the Internet, unless specified otherwise, is copyrighted.)
I cover the top ten crucial details on how to get your home ready for sale in my article. The video goes a couple steps ...
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A little bit of the Old West- Land :) - Mar 08 03:53 AM
Saturday afternoons I used to watch old cowboy movies ~ The Rifleman, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, and so many others. I loved watching these movies. So today when I was making my Real Estate Show on land for sale in Riverside County, I chose the Western Music. I enjoyed listening to it so much that I changed all the Picture Titles to complement the music :)
I love the tune, it makes me want to get in ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Zoning Fees - Sep 11 11:13 AM
The Ventura County Planning Department is one of many departments within the Ventura County Government system. The function of this division is to regulate County Plans, Zoning Codes, and to write plans for Local Coastal Programs. The Ventura County Planning Department has no jurisdiction within Ventura county's cities. However, the unincorporated areas outside the cities within Ventura County are regulated by the planning department.
As a home owner in Ventura County, when you are considering to apply for ...
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Single Home Websites...A Selling Tool or Just Another Way to Impress a Seller? - May 22 10:52 AM
I have been introduced to several different companies in the last few months promoting "Single Home Websites". Basically you can have an individual URL like www. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.com for each of your listings and supposedly have them be on the top of the search engines. Although I am not sure how that works. How will the listing be found floating around out there on the web. I do not know many buyers that just search ...
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Ventura County Events for Month of August - Jul 28 11:29 AM
Local Happenings
August Events
Source: www.venturatoday.net
Ventura County Fair
Dates: August 1-12 from: 11:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m.
Carnival Wristband Days Thursday, August 2; Monday, August 6 Tuesday, August 7; Thursday, August 9 Wristbands are sold for $25 from 11AM until 6PM Good for unlimited rides until 7PM!
Price: Adults $8., Children $5
Location: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
McNish Classic Boat Race
Start time: 12 noon at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard.
(805) 985.7292.
Viewing of boats: ...
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How is Business in Your Neck of the Woods? Sacramento is Going Gangbusters! - Apr 16 09:32 AM
I swear, grumble, grumble -- swear words that I can't print -- I can't keep up with the offers and counters. OK, I can. It just seems like I can't. Every offer involves at least 3 to 5 counters or more. And I've written so many this week. I was hauling out the trash last night for early morning pick-up when it suddenly occurred to me, "Wait a minute, I have an offer out that's going ...
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WARNING - Bathroom Talk: It Will Turn You Green - Nov 16 09:55 AM
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Of Pools and Puddles... - Jun 22 11:18 AM
Long term mortgages and the rates and terms they carry are determined by a couple of different factors.While many people mistakenly think the Fed's control mortgage rates they are in fact determined by Mortgage-backed securities (M.B.S.).M.B.S.'s are created by pooling loans and selling bonds with coupons based on the mortgage rates. 60% of the mortgage bonds in the U.S. are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. We've all heard of them before ...
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California Foreclosure Answers....call Now - Jan 18 02:48 PM
Last month I wrote about People that are losing their homes Losing Your Home.....Your Hopes and Your Dreams. That Post didn't have any answers, and there were a couple people that wrote in about their own circumstances. They needed something: advice, answers, hope.....
Today I heard about Operation Hope......a Non- Profit Organization in Los Angeles,that has a Mortgage Hotline that is supposed to help California Homeowners that are at risk of losing their homes to Foreclosure. Everyones situation is different, but ...
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Mortgage payment got you weighed down? - May 17 01:13 AM
Are you feeling bogged down by your mortgage right about now? Consumer's who purchased homes in the real estate buying frenzy of 2005 are now suffering sticker shock as they find their homes are no longer worth what they paid.
This is something we are all used to when we purchase a car, but certainly not a home. Aren't homes supposed to put a bunch of money in our pockets in just 6 months or less so we ...
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Has Voting Gone Out of Style or is the Public More Apathetic? - Jun 03 04:50 PM
I'll be the first to admit that some political races can be a bit annoying and, for that reason, sometimes people lose motivation to vote. But today is California's statewide primary election. In Sacramento, for example, we are voting for mayor, a few other positions and two propositions. The polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM.
My husband and I went to our local polling place about 1 PM today. The place was ...
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Instant Patio - Aug 08 05:51 PM
Outdoor space, no matter how small, is truly a valuable extension of the living space. A bit of patio, well presented, can add tens of thousands to your sales price and is relatively easy and inexpensive to put together. After one day and $1,500, this patio was party ready. Here are the key elements for success: Refresh the background: New paint makes a concrete patio look clean and well-maintained. For a wood deck, have the surface ...
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I Don't Have to Sell Every Home in Ventura County!!!! - Apr 28 05:02 PM
That's right, I don't have to sell every home in Ventura County.
Since the Federal Government's announcement of a raise in the conforming loan limits, home buyers in my area, Ventura County, seem to have come out of their shelter. Open houses are packed again with prospective home buyers and inquiries from interested home buyers in Ventura County are pouring in. Whereas 8 months ago my open houses would have 1-2 groups of interested home buyers, recently ...
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What Do You Think About Kitchen Garbage Disposals? - Jun 27 08:42 PM
I am remodeling my kitchen at long last. I've done every other room in the house, and this is the last room. I've saved it for last until I have made a big chunk of cash -- and let's just say the second quarter of 2008 has been extremely kind to me. As I reminded my husband, I bought a home about 12 years ago for the same price as this kitchen remodel. Which, of course, ...
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Despite Severe Drought, San Diego County Water Authority Says No Mandatory Restrictions - Jun 22 12:21 AM
A few weeks ago, our Governor declared that state wide drought conditions are now severe and ordered the Department of Water resources to transfer water to the areas with the severe shortages as requested.
Meanwhile, back in San Diego County, the San Diego County Water Authority declares that despite the drought and despite the plan for the drought that they developed in 2006, they are not going to mandate restrictions but would rely on the first ...
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Please introduce yourself to my friend and co-worker, Andy Mazur!! - Mar 20 07:38 PM
Hello all,
It is my pleasure to introduce the Active-Rain community to a gentleman who works in my office. His name is Andy Mazur. He is a great Realtor, having been in the business for a few years. He is funny, smart and I consider him a colleague and a friend.
He is an expert in the Coachella Valley and has also done business outside of our area. He will be a great asset to this community.
http://activerain.com/andymazur
Let's give ...
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You've got to be kidding......Fire Danger in Riverside County, California - Dec 16 11:54 PM
Back in October CA was on Fire....literally. Then in November Malibu was on fire again. Peoples lives were in turmoil, and anyone that lives in CA knows of the dangers we face every year. Well, now it is December, and guess what.......
I saw this sign last week up on the Banning Bench in the Pass Area of Riverside County California, and couldn't resist..... Low TODAY!!! Sometimes a Picture is worth a 1000 words .....:)
The Banning Bench (CA) is one of the ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Underwood Family Farm - Sep 18 11:35 AM
One of my family's favorite local farms to visit is Underwood Family Farm, located in Moorpark, Ventura County. We have spent many hours for different, but memorable occasions in this farm. Occasions such as school field trips, pumpkin patches, birthday parties, visiting the animals at the petting zoo, and weddings.
At Underwood farm you can find a variety of vegetable or fruits. You can either purchase the already picked produce or pick you own fruits and ...
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Enjoying Your Orange County Home & Garden While Protecting Our Natural Resources - Oct 06 11:28 PM
According to the Family of Southern California Water Agencies, the average home owner in Southern California uses twice the amount of water in our gardens than necessary.
To cut down on water usage without sacrificing your plantings here are a few tips:
Water before 8 am. This will reduce evaporation.
Avoid runoff and water waste on slopes, heavy clay areas, and silty soils - turn on the water and time how long it takes before you see runoff ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Working in Ventura County - Sep 21 10:14 PM
Ventura County's economy has grown more diverse in the past 20 years. Once known for its oil and agriculture, Ventura County now has a great economical assortment. The expanded economy of Ventura County is strong in finance, insurance, manufacturing, and high-tech companies.
According to California Employment Development Department, the following companies are some of the major employers in Ventura County:
Sorted in alphabetical order by company name
From the America's Labor Market Information System (ALMIS) Employer Database, 2007 1st Edition
...
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California vs Texas - Sep 03 10:33 PM
I think I have to say Texas wins! Living in the San Francisco Bay area has many, many advantages. The weather, the things to do, the weather (or did I say that already), the proximity to both beach and mountains, the scenery, the culture, the jobs and the list goes on....
So why did I get depressed when a good friend sent me a listing from her neighborhood? Check it out:
Almost 4700 square feet of beautiful ...
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Declining Market Fallout - Agent Sued Over Loss of Equity - Ummel vs. Little - Jan 22 10:20 AM
Has anyone been following that lawsuit going to trial on Monday in San Diego where a homeowner is suing her agent because she bought at the peak of the market? The homeowner, Marty Ummel, has been picketing her agent's office for more than a year. The agent, Mike Little, Re/Max, is also in the lending business and arranged the financing for the home Ummel bought. It seems that Ummel bought a home based on an appraisal ...
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The Raw Facts on Default, Pre-Foreclosure, Short Sale and Foreclosure - Dec 30 12:42 AM
Below is a list of power-packed posts filled with informational facts about being in Default, finding yourself in the pre-foreclosure process and having to do a Short Sale and some helpful tips on how to avoid Foreclosure. By reading this information you will know the timelines, procedures, advantages and disadvantages of each stage. You will find options that will help this rocky road a little easier to control.
This will help homeowners/sellers that are in trouble and ...
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Open Letter to Home Buyers: Is it the right time to buy a home? - Oct 21 12:22 AM
If you're a potential home buyer, you are probably asking yourself that question every day. Is it the right time to buy a home today? Should I buy that condo or townhouse now? When IS the right time to buy a house or condo anyway? Well, to generalize, its always a good time to buy. If it is going to be your primary residence and you are planning to stay a few years, oh, and you ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Affordable housing in Ventura County - Sep 16 12:14 AM
According to the recent reports from California Association of Realtors (CAR), the prices of homes in Ventura County are still too high for most homebuyers. The current report indicates that the real estate market in Ventura County has dropped by 30% in August of 2007 from last year. With the Median Ventura County home prices being at $600,000, there appears to be a lack of affordable housing in our county. Ventura County is ranked 114th out of 125 ...
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Los Angeles Home Staging Company Forms Strategic Alliance with North Star Moving - Jun 08 07:05 PM
Los Angeles home staging company, Moving Mountains Design & Home Staging has formed a strategic alliance with Chatsworth, CA based moving and storage company North Star Moving.
I first found out about Ram Katalan and North Star Moving from an article in Fortune Small Business Magazine titled Moving On Up. When I read the article, I realized this guy Ram was one smart cookie. After realizing that the imploding real estate market in Los Angeles County ...
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My First Blog - Mar 05 09:23 PM
While the word "blog" is one I am familiar with, I never really blogged before. I hope I am doing it right. My friend, imrov and stand-up comic Mel Aubert ( http://www.melaubert.com/) loves to blog about everything. But it was not until today when I met Brad Andersohn from Placer Title in Fairfield http://www.theescrowguy.com/that I realized there was a cool place to do some Real Estate blogging.
I had put some real estate videos on youtube, ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, Top Ventura County Attractions - May 05 05:10 PM
Summer is coming and it's time to plan those summer activities. If you are in our neighbourhood here are some of the activities that Iwould highly recommend for you and your family to consider.
Ventura Beaches
Ventura's beautiful coastline is ideal for swimming, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, sailing, and the best surfing in Southern California. Some of the most popular beaches are: Emma Wood State Beach, Faria Beach, Hobson Beach, Marina Park, Rincon Beach, San Buenventura State Beach, ...
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Contractors and Your Business - Jun 16 07:30 PM
This is a part of our job that I am sure many more experienced Stagers and Redesigners are used to but it has been a real learning experience for me being new to the business. There are so many things to consider when you are handling the details of a job for a client when specialized work is needed. As you handle all these details for your client, it makes their Staging/Redesign experience way less stressfull and this should definitely be one ...
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What Good Is A Neg Am Loan? - Jan 20 11:04 AM
What Good Is A Neg Am Loan? by Bill RobertsThere is a lot of talk lately about people getting stuck with PAY OPTION ARMs that are really negative amortization loans. The general consensus seems to be that the mortgage industry really took advantage of people with these types of loans. It is said that they allowed people to buy "more house" than they could afford.WEALTH BUILDER LOANWell that is one of the purposes for a properly ...
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Life in Exile: San Diego is Once Again Burning - Oct 22 08:34 PM
As soon as the sun set last night, the Santa Ana winds picked up to hurricane force, howling across our attic, whistling in through our windows, and straining against our garage doors. I tried to sleep, but I grew more and more uneasy as I looked at the night sky. The brown smoky layer reflected the moonlight and the streetlights cast a strange glow. After I gave up on sleep, I turned on the TV and began to ...
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Hello fellow Active Rain members! - Feb 22 11:29 PM
This is officially my very first opportunity to be a real life, home staging "blogger"!
Maybe my kids will think I'm cool now. Anything's possible! I'm an optimist.
Actually, It feels like I've been a part of the real estate community for years, since my husband is a long time mortgage broker. Prior to starting my staging business, I owned a business that worked with Realtors and Title companies, as well. So, beyond the design/staging, which is ...
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Is It Fake or Real? - Nov 26 11:35 PM
This post reminds me a little of the classic commercial - "Is it live or is it Memorex?"I suppose that's a bit dated; we have so many more options in fakery these days.Why, there are fake teeth, flowers, fingernails, a variety of prosthetic devices, breasts (well, at least implants), seasonings, colorings, paintings which are forgeries, fireplaces, synthetic fabrics, synthetic stone, cakes, jewelry, gemstones, and so on.And here in California (and I'm sure elsewhere) we have fake ...
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Manufactured Homes/Mobilehomes - Jul 03 07:04 PM
Since a Manufactured home is not considered to be real property and is considered to be personal property, there is no title insurance nor do you go through a title company. Everything is handled through the Department of Housing and Community Development. The following is a short list of the different types of modulars that are put through escrow.Manufactued Home (Mobilehome) - A structure desinged and equipped for human habitation, transportable in one or more sections ...
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California is having a heat wave ~ Enjoy the Beach - Jun 20 02:56 AM
Yes once again California is having a heat wave. I live in Southern California and two days ago we almost broke the record of 116 degrees for this time of year, but we only got to 114. Only got to 114....boy does that sound funny :)
Anyway, one thing that California is known for is it's beaches. So during the heat waves, or when it is unbearably hot inland, people flock to the beaches. The temperature at ...
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On Offer #12 -- The Nehemiah Home Buyers Are Going Into Escrow! - May 21 09:35 AM
Doug and Shereen, the Nehemiah home buyers I wrote about several weeks who were struggling to achieve the dream of home ownership, have finally received acceptance on an offer. It made me so excited that I found myself walking around in circles, thrusting my fists into the air and screaming, "Yes, yes" followed by -- yeeeoooowww-- "sorry I stepped on your tail, kitty."
A few days ago, Doug and Shereen were feeling discouraged. We had not ...
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What the Heck are Story Poles? - Jul 09 04:09 PM
Have you ever driven around one of the coastal communities and noticed a series of tall white poles, or perhaps 2 X 4s, in a vacant lot or in the yard of an existing home? You may also have noticed ropes or wires running between them and they may have had a series of different colored flags or ribbons hanging from them.
[photo at left taken in Solana Beach]
These are known as Story Poles (a local company ...
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Humboldt County California, Photos - Apr 21 09:02 PM
I remember when I was a kid growing up in Detroit, Michigan my parents and I would go on a camping trip up north every summer. There was always so much to do there and so many sites to see. So when I moved to Humboldt County, California almost 8 years ago I felt like I was a kid again, but this time I was one of those folks you see who actually lives in one ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, New Method to Fight Crime - Oct 01 01:51 AM
You have probably heard of Neighborhood Watch Programs, a national prevention council, and you might even have seen the signs in your neighborhood. Now, two cities in Ventura County are adding a new approach to fighting crime.
The Senior Deputy, Joe Evans, in the City of Thousand Oaks has introduced a new project called "City Watch" in the fight against crime. Thousand Oaks Police Department's crime prevention office has sent 5000 emails to the residents in the ...
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Ventura County Real Estate, What are Private Transfer Taxes? - Sep 10 12:43 AM
A new practice, initiated by the California home developers is spreading across California and the rest of the Nation. Private Transfer Taxes are covenants imposed by developers which require a fee to be paid every time a property within the development is re-sold.
When planning to develop an area, it is essential that builders please various big organizations such as environmental groups and small local companies. One way builders gain their support is through financial assistance. However, instead of ...
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Buying an Older Resale Home can save you money - Jan 15 11:36 AM
Homes for sale in Riverside County:
Everyone wants a deal in todays Market.....everyone wants to know they waited just long enough, but not too long to get the best deal possible. Well, here is a home that just came on the Market, an older resale....listed for way less than the previous owner bought it for. It is an REO....the Bank owns it now, but why would this house save you money?
Brand new homes do not necessarily mean the best ...
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Choosing your own year.....what will you paint for 2008 - Dec 30 02:45 PM
Have you ever heard that we can make our life whatever we want it to be? Well, to a certain extent that is probably true...We can close the 2007 Agenda, and Open a New Page.......we all start off with a Blank Canvas.....a brand new year.......
A blank canvas.........think of the excitement, the wonder of the finished product. Think of all the colors you can mix, or you can keep it simple and just sketch in Black and ...
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Can You Do It Hands-Free? You'd Better, If You are in California - Apr 17 06:56 PM
We are, of course, speaking about cell phone usage. But can you do it hands-free? You’d better if you are in California. It seems as if just about everyone in a car here in California has a cell phone and is on it while driving down the road. You pretty much tell by the driving – they sit at green lightsmove more slowly down the road than anyonechange lanes without signals (lots of other folks ...
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How Low Can You Go? - Jan 31 06:29 PM
How Low Can You Go? By Bill RobertsI've been hearing a lot of criticism of the NAR's campaign that now is a good time to buy real estate. It seems that these self-professed experts on economics and the real estate markets think that this campaign reflects badly on Realtor's® because they say the market is still heading south.I'd like to know what makes them so expert on the actions of markets. Did they sell houses when ...
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How Much Should I Offer For Your House? - Jan 07 10:55 AM
How Much Should I Offer For Your House? by Bill RobertsWe are well into a BUYER'S MARKET. Some people think this means that you can "steal" any piece of property that catches your eye. It doesn't matter what the seller wants, or needs, or even what the comps are. You smell blood. Just make a low-ball offer. If you make a hundred low-ball offers, some poor schmuck will accept it. He accepts it because he has ...
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My Dream House - Dec 14 06:55 PM
My Dream House by Bill RobertsThis is an entry in the ActiveRain Eco-All-Stars' "Pink" Challenge/Contest, "Building Your Dream House Using 5 Elements of Green Technology If Money Were No Object."I am not an artist or an architect so there are no drawings. You have to close your eyes and imagine it.My dream house (and I've been dreaming about it for years) is built into (not onto) a fairly steep hillside. The house faces south in order ...
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