Alisa's Blog

I've officially been here full time since October 24, 2009 (off and on before that)...and I'm pleased to say that I've really fallen in love with this area. It isn't just the openness of it, the trees and natural surroundings I now live in but mostly it's the people. Huntsville, Texas has some of...

I'd like to tell you a little bit about Marti Coates!  Marti was our realtor when we purchased our home in San Jose, CA 25 years ago.  When we began getting our house ready to sell I naturally thought of Marti...she made such an impression 25 years ago that I'd never forgotten. You see when we fi...

Some of you may know my story and if you don't that is okay too! To make this a little shorter and eliminate some of the gorey details let me just say that I am changing my marital status and as a result put my house on the market to sell.  The resulting search for a realtor acceptible to both of...

Right now I am working to get my house ready for sale...I'm getting a divorce (but that's another blog) and we will be selling the house.  Unless a buyer comes with a cash deal then an appraisal will be ordered. Now it's too bad that I didn't sell it two years ago but you know what they say about...

It's that time again....our children and grandchildren will be back in school.  Two things come to mind: First, please be careful out there driving in school zones.  Remember to stop for school buses, watch for those little ones who might dart out. Be prepared to stop quickly.  Second, how about ...

This is an organization that anyone can join -- no cost -- and it lets you post items you would like to give away...any thing and everything -- people read the posts and contact you by email to make arrangements to pick up whatever it is you have to donate. I've seen baby items, clothes, Books, B...

Our bath room seems to be plagued with ants in the summer and I really, really hate those commercial ant sprays...well, I took a spray bottle and filled it about 2/3rds full of water.  Then I put about 1/4 cup of plain dish soap in it. The kind you use to hand wash dishes not dish washer soap. I ...

The other day I was searching for comps for a property here in San Jose that I was doing an appraisal on. Now I love that there are so many photos so we can actually see what the upgrades are to homes -- especially the kitchen and bath photos but that isn't what I am writing about. (Please keep p...

I received an order to appraise a home for purchase in Lathrop, California.  As it turns out it is a foreclosure and vacant.  Now I am a member of two MLS's but I do not have a lock box key for either so I was to call the buyer's agent to get access.So, first thing I do is call Doris Johnson of P...

Joseph Coffaro -- Thank you!I'd been trying to get placed on the FHA approved appraiser list since September 9 th, 2007 without much luck. My application had been sent in twice -- something like finding a deep well that has no bottom....I could just toss it down the hole with the same results.  I...