Home Seller FAQ’s-Is it smart to "test" the market with a higher offering price at first? Answer: It does neither you nor your agent any good to list a property overpriced. But why not test to be sure? Here's why: Because you will lose precious market time and you risk an over all lower final sales price. You can not ignore the comps (recent comparable sales) and your Realtors advice. Testing high signals a greedy seller and buyers have way to much to choose from right now. They will wait and hit you below the belt once you finally drop your price. Overpriced Homes-Sell Slower, For Less and often not at all. I maintain that you’ll shoot yourself in the foot by overpricing your home. Your home will almost always sale at or above market value by pricing at or below market value.   Follow ... 01/05/2011

12 + 1 = 23 Remember the New Math? Try This... 12(months) +1(one extra payment--principal only) equals 30(year original loan) - 7(number in years of savings) 23 HUH? Did you know that there is a way to save a lot of $$$ on your mortgage?   Did you know that if you make just one extra payment a year (of course this is a principal payment solely) you will cut seven years off your mortgage---instead of a typical 30 year mortgage, you could own your home outright in just 23 years!  No mathematicians were harmed in this example although they may be shaking their heads. Always check with the appropriate professionals your to verify how this will effect your individual financial situation. Check with your non-human companion should you wish to try this experiment with their domicile. 01/03/2011

Q: How do I know how much I should price my home for sale? A: The truth is, price is determined by your local real estate market, not by your Realtor®, and not by you. Of course you ultimately decide how much you want to price your home for  but that doesn't mean it will sale at that price or at all. In fact when you insist that your property be priced above the current market, your property will likey not sell. A good Realtor will not take your Listing over priced, mostly because it is a huge waste of their resources. Remebmer, your agent carry's the cost of marketing your home, he or she does not get paid unless it sales. If your home doesn't sale, they are out those expenses. Not a smart move on their part. And, if you find a real estate agents,who despite market value, agrees to ta... 01/03/2011

The weather report for today was iffy for the Parade of the Roses.  The weather folks had predicted a strong chance of rain, however, they were wrong, and the parade is continuing as we post this blog.  Hopefully, the rain will stay away until after the game, or even go away all together!  Have a wonderful day, Ron & Alexandra - WATCH VIDEOS-  Buzz-Worthy Luxury Real Estate Websites  Personal Branding Case Studies   Company Branding Case Studies  About Language of Luxury - JOIN THE LOL COMMUNTIY -  GET FLUENT. GET AFFLUENT!  Linked In, Facebook, Active Rain  Broker Agent Social, Proxio, Real Town, & Bigger Pockets  Follow Us on Twitter: LuxuryMarketing 01/01/2011

Home Seller FAQ’s | Home Needs A Lot Of Work-Can It Still Be Listed For Sale? Q: My home needs work but I simply don’t have the resources now to fix it up. Can It Still Be Listed For Sale? A: Without a doubt your  homecan be sold in any condition. The key to marketing and pricing homes in distress is to getting real honest about where it stands in the market. There's an old saying in the Real Estate business: "Any home will sale, at the right price!" The home in the photo to the left is an extreme example but indeed, there would be a buyer for this too! There are many buyers out there who love a challenge and would be happy to turn your home into their project. However, you must price your home accordingly to allow for the new buyer to come in and work their magic. There’s no need to fe... 12/29/2010

Home Seller FAQ’s | Must I have a lock box on my home? Answer: Having a lock box on your home dramatically increases the chances your home will sell. Making your home as accessible as possible to agents and their clients is absolutely crucial. In fact, many agents representing buyers have a "no lock box-no show" policy and will "skip over" or make homes with no lock boxes the last they show their buyers. It's just too inconvenient to make appointments when there is so much inventory out there. Today’s “state of the art” lock boxes track every agent that comes into your home. Additionally, they can be set to specific times in which to be accessed providing you with privacy when you need it. Follow this link to more Home Seller FAQ's Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson-Munson Realty Southe... 12/27/2010

    Come and see the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena, California! You will get to see the most beautiful floats decorated with roses, flowers and exotic natural materials from around the world. The very first Tournament of Roses dates back to 1890. It was started by members of the Pasadena Hunt Club. The members were former residents of the East and Midwest and wanted to showcase their new home’s milder winter weather. For more information regarding the Tournament of Roses parade take a look at this link: http://www.tournamentofroses.com/roseparade/ What better way to show off your hometown’s weather by having a festival and parade of roses, while the parade makes its way down Colorado Blvd! 12/27/2010

Homes For Sale Pasadena CA-Pasadena Map Search-Search the Pasadena MLS by Map at no fee and with no log-in. Search by Zip, City or neighborhood. Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson,Munson RealtySouthern Californa Real Estate –Homes For Sale Pasadena ca*Homes For Sale Pasadena CA-Pasadena Map Search* 12/26/2010

    Homes In Los Angeles For Sale- Search The Los Angeles MLS-Search the Los Angeles MLS right here for FREE-No need to log in to search the Los Angeles Home Search by your choice of the following options: Price Rooms Neighborhood Zip Code Map. Address Size MLS # All listing are up to date, becaue this IS direct MLS information.   Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson-Munson Realty Southern California Real Estate –Homes In Los Angeles For Sale*Homes In Los Angeles For Sale- Search The Los Angeles MLS* 12/25/2010

  Home Seller FAQs|How do I get My Tenant To Cooperate With My Sale? Question: I have a tenant in my property and I would like to sell. How do I do this without disturbing them or at least minimally disturbing them? Furthermore, how do I get them to cooperate with my sale? Answer: Selling a home with a tenant can be challenging, especially when they will not cooperate. The best thing to do is to get them on your side. How do you do that? Offer them incentives to keep the home in good order and to cooperate fully by guaranteeing them their deposit back in full or some other financial incentive they cannot pass up. Of course they will only get this reward if you close escrow and let’s face it, if you DON”T close, you personally don’t get any reward. I’ve had several clients use this strat... 12/24/2010

Home Seller FAQs-Question:Do Absentee owners need to be present (same city, state or country) to sell?My property is in Los Angeles but I live out of state. Do I need to be present to list my home? Answer: If you live out of town or even out of the country, not a problem. All of the paper work can be done with electronic signatures via email. That includes the Listing itself all the way through to the close of the transaction. Once the listing has been taken, arangements will be made to gain entry to your home to take measurements, photographs and any pre-listing items that need to be done. We have sucessfully closed tranasactions from a far away as Eqypt so you do not need to be present. Follow this link to more Home Seller FAQ's Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson-Munson Realty Southe... 12/23/2010

Ready For A Top Notch Movie Experience? You've Gotta Try Gold Class Cinemas In Pasadena, CA. This is not just about the movie. This is truly about the whole experience. Truth is, the very first time I tried this place, the movie I saw was absolutely awful. The experience was by far the best I have ever had. Located at 1 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA  along Miller Alley in the heart of the trendy, upscale Pasadena, Gold Class Cinema boasts an experience of pure indulgence. It is best to reserve your seats before going as there are limited seats in each theatre. When you buy your tickets online, you can actually pick which seats you want, just like online airline tickets! Before your movie you can sit in the lounge and have drinks and appetizers of all sorts.  Once inside the theatre, ... 12/21/2010

Homes For Sale Pasadena-MLS Search-Pasadena's unique neighborhoods include: Old Pasadena, Garfield Heights, Bungalow Heaven, Hastings Ranch, South Pasadena and many more. In these neighborhoods you will find many classic examples Home Styles including:Craftsman, Tudor. Spanish and Mediterranean style architecture. Search the Pasadena MLS right here for FREE-No need to log in to search the Pasadena MLS. You can search by price, rooms or map. All listing are up to date Homes For Sale Pasadena Ca- Search by Price Homes For Sale Pasadena-$300-$400K   Homes For Sale Pasadena-$400-$500KHomes For Sale Pasadena-$500-$600KHomes For Sale Pasadena-$600-$700K  Homes For Sale Pasadena-$700-$800KHomes For Sale Pasadena-$800-$900KHomes For Sale Pasadena-$900K +   Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson,Mun... 12/20/2010

Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Example Of "Fixer Upper" Flyer/Fact Sheet-Click Flyer For Full Size View: Flyers are placed in a box attached to the sign post in your front yard. Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson-Munson Realty Southern California Real Estate –Homes In Los Angeles For Sale*Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Example Of "Fixer Upper" Flyer/Fact Sheet* 12/20/2010

Homes For Sale Pasadena Ca-Charming Pasadena Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $337,000 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1144 sqftLot: 4,725 sqft Location Corson St.Pasadena, CA 91107USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Stephen Munson Munson Realty Southern California Real Estate(877) 636-0444getinthehouse@gmail.comhttp://www.getinthehouse.com Listed by: Munson Realty Southern Californa Real Estate | Listings are current and those of this and other brokers Our recent listings Highly Upgraded Burbank CondoRenovators Dream-Perfect First HomeHomes For Sale Pasadena Ca-Bungalow-Wood Floors,Fire Place-Fixer- 3% Down HomePath ProperyHomes In Los Angeles For Sale- 3 B... 12/17/2010

Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Example Of Condo Flyer/Fact-Click Flyer For Full Size View: Flyers are placed in a box attached to the sign post in your front yard. Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson-Munson Realty Southern California Real Estate –Homes In Los Angeles For Sale*Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Example Of Condo Flyer/Fact Sheet* 12/17/2010

Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Example Of A Property Flyer/Fact Sheet: Flyers are placed in a box attached to the sign post in your front yard. Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson,Munson RealtySouthern Californa Real Estate –Homes For Sale Pasadena ca*Homes For Sale Pasadena Ca-Example Of A Property Flyer/Fact Sheet* 12/15/2010

It's just weeks away to "The Granddaddy of Them All" in Pasadena, California Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game Saturday, January 1, 2011   In order to prepare --- here is a small list of eating establishments from informal to formal from A to Z (well, most of the alphabet) a variety of cultures Azeen's Afghan Cuisine, Arroyo Chop House, Avanti Café, All India Grill, Bistro 45, Beckham Grill, Buca di Beppo, Bar Celona, Boiling Pot, Burger Continental, Big Mamas, Bonnie B's Smokin' BBQ Heaven, Bodega Wine Bar, Celestino, Café Bijou, Cabreras, Café Verde, Cheesecake Factory, Counter, Cameron's Seafood, Choza Mama, Central Park, City Thai, Cheval Blanc, Dereks, Dona Rosa, Domenicos, El Chollo, El Portal, Elements, Five Sixty One, Fu-Shing, Green Street, Gales, Gerlachs, Gyu-Kaku Japanese Grill... 12/09/2010

Fight to Keep Your Home Mortgage Interest Deduction!!! CALL TODAY (202) 684-2466 Congress is voting on Friday to take away the “Home Mortgage Interest Deduction” in order to balance the budget. It is important that YOU call your Senator and ask them to vote NO against eliminating the “Mortgage Interest Deduction,” otherwise it will cost you thousands of dollars in taxes starting in January!!! I just called, waited on hold for a few minutes. Hope you are able to do the same, this is very important. Please pass along. Take away Milionares Tax Brakes instead !!!!!!!!!!!!!     http://www.JohnVostenak.com John Vostenak, Realtor, CA Broker, Lic#: 00871958 CENTURY 21 Ludecke Inc. • 20 E. Foothill Blvd , Suite 105 • Arcadia, California 91006 USA Direct Line, Google Voice Mail: 1-626-408-2266 • ... 12/09/2010

Pasadena Symphony Holiday Look In Home Tour and Boutique was a great, I had the pleasure of covering it for Crown City News this weekend. The Women's Committee of the Pasadena Symphony Association hosted the 43rd Annual Holiday Look In Home Tour and Boutique this weekend.  This year the committee of over thirty volunteers selected four unique homes, two in the historic district of San Marino and Pasadena, both originally developed by railroad magnate Henry Huntington.  The Boutique, located at the Pasadena Convention Center, featured holiday decor, unique treats, beautiful purses and trinkets, wine and so much more. For the minimal price of $35.00 Pasadena Symphony supporters stood in lines out the door for their moment to walk-thru these architecturally diverse masterpieces.  I was for... 12/06/2010