STEP 3: FIND A HOUSE •   Set an appoint with your Realtor® to view houses.  Drive by the fronts of the houses.  Any houses or neighborhhods you don't like, cross off your list.  You don't want to waste your time going to view a house with your Realtor®, and once you get there, decide you don't want to view the inside.  That's why you should drive by first. •   Select 5 to 7 houses to view and send this list to your Realtor® at least 1-2 days in advance (houses which are occupied must be scheduled at least 1 day ahead). •   Bring your earnest money deposit (usually $1,000) check to your Realtor®'s office.  Your Realtor® should make a copy of your check, crossing out the confidential info at the bottom (routing and checking account #s). •   Meet your Realtor®, who will provide you with a... 02/08/2009

What makes your house a home? The warmth of the atmosphere, as reflected in your home furnishings. Each decoration is part of an intricate ensemble.  Some ways to update your home, making it feel fresh while keeping your favorite pieces of furniture: • Choose a consistent design, theme, overall feeling, or color scheme to promote harmony between old pieces and new furnishings. • Take everything out of the room you want to redecorate. Select only a few favorite pieces to keep. Put them back into the room in a new arrangement. • Keep only the furnishings you really love or which have sentimental value. Sell, donate, or trash the rest, don't keep clutter. • Find new items which blend in with your existing furnishings, yet create a contrast. Today's home fashions call for a mix, rather than... 01/16/2009

"The Generosity FactorTM" by Ken Blanchard is the intriguing story of the Broker, the Driver, the Executive, and the Bag Lady.  The HEART secret is revealed, and you will find out the difference between Success and Significance.  Generosity means giving of our four resources: 1. TIME 2. TALENT 3. TREASURE ($) 4. TOUCH Discover that each day provides new opportunities to impact the lives of others. Every day we can find countless ways to make someone's life better.  Giving may mean sacrifice. But the rewards - emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and financially - can outweigh the sacrifices.  To discover the joy of giving, pick up a copy of "The Generosity Factor" today. By giving to others, you also get a return: joy in giving, peace of mind, and satisfaction that your resources are... 01/13/2009

A total of 82 single family homes and 15 condos sold in Pismo Beach and Shell Beach in 2008. The average list price of homes sold was $990,900 and average selling price was about $895,000. The average list price of sold condos in the area was $622,620 and average selling price was was $586,000. Listings that sold were on the market an average of 112 days. Average price per square foot for Pismo Beach and Shell Beach condos was $399, and average price per square foot of sold homes was $458. None of the condos sold were short sales or REOs, and only 3 of the homes sold were 3 REOs, and only one was a closed short sale. So, out of a total of 97 sales, only 4 were directly related to the foreclosure epidemic; this represents approximately 4% of the overall sold market. If you would like a l... 01/13/2009

Before I married my husband, I had never heard of Sweet Potato Pie.  Or black-eyed peas.  Or collard greens with turnips.  Or hot-water cornbread. If you haven't had the opportunity to experience sweet potato pie, it looks EXACTLY like pumpkin pie.  But don't be fooled; the texture is thick and hearty, unlike the smooth, creamy texture of its cousin the pumpkin pie.  Both are classic American favorites, depending on what region or culture you're from. Today, this Thanksgiving day, I'm thankful for: The food feasts of cultural variety we can choose from The opportunity to work with folks from all cultures and backgrounds Having a career in which I can help families make better financial decisions for their future Being able to work from my home office and set my own schedule Living in a ... 11/27/2008

(June 28, 2008) On the road in and around AND 3 hours away! Central Coast a good drive, and worth it too! Day at the beach discovering new people and new foods! Pismo Beach and the ever delightful Shell Beach. Area Event for this area can be found at http://www.classiccalifornia.com/calendar.htmWe took in the Shell Beach Farmers Market. Area goodies and great music as well as great views of the bluffs - no foolin'. LOL!Met and chatted with the local organization that is promoting the Shell Beach Improvement Projects http://www.sbig.org/ and a local business woman who bridges the world with crafts from around the world. http://slovillages.com/As the day went on we took ourselves to the local outlet malls and then on to the main drag of Pismo Beach! What a great time!We took in the beauti... 10/14/2008

REVIEW OF HOME SALES & MEDIAN HOME PRICES ON STICK-BUILT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN PISMO BEACH       (UNDER $1M)     JANUARY-JUNE 2008 VS. JANUARY-JUNE 2007 PISMO BEACH             SALES AVG.DOM HIGH LOW MEDIAN 2007 52 119 $995,000.00 $425,000.00 $757,500.00 2008 39 161 $975,000.00 $381,500.00 $665,000.00 2008/2007 -13 42     ($92,500.00) % DIFFERENCE -25% 35%     -12%    Buyers, who bought in Pismo Beach during the first six months in 2008, probably enjoyed the lower prices when comparing prices to the same period in 2007.  The median home price during this period decreased by 12% from $757,000 to $665,000.  Overall, home sale prices are lower.    During January-June 2008, home sales in Pismo Beach dropped by 25% from 52 home sales to 39.  At the same time, the average number of days tak... 08/23/2008

The Central Coast of California offers a wide range of housing for those who want their own little piece of the coastline.  From a one bedroom "beach shack" in Oceano or Grover Beach to a million plus beach estate with panoramic ocean views in Pismo Heights; everyone can find their perfect vacation beach home on the Central Coast. "Beach shacks" as they are dubbed locally, or "beach bungalows" start as low as $200k and go upward depending on their condition and location.  At the lower end, many beach bungalows are priced without the value of the home considered, as structural issues make some borderline "tear downs."  Potential purchasers should be prepared to put between a 20%-33% down payment on this type of house, as some lenders will see this as the purchase of a lot (and thus a ris... 05/11/2008

Pismo Beach California is an incredible destination for fun activities on the Central Coast of California. A recreation and tourism town with more than 65 restaurants and over 30 inns, hotels, motels, and RV parks. Visitors will enjoy a myriad of activities including bicycling, golfing, walking through the Monarch Butterfly Grove, horseback riding on the Pismo Beach dunes and beach, tennis, bowling, scuba diving, hiking, exploring tide pools, and miles of beautiful beaches. The 1200 ft. Pismo Pier for walking, sightseeing, fishing or enjoying the great Pismo Beach sunset. Pismo Beach holds many special events; the 4th of July Fireworks Show, Band Review, Clam Festival, Car Show and Dixieland Jazz Festival. The Pismo Beach Dunes offer fun and activities for the whole family: Horseback R... 06/02/2007

Pismo Beach Area Market Survey - Homes for Sale Summary Listings as of 05/07/07 at 8:10am Property Type  Residential    Property Subtype  SFR Stick Built   City  Pismo Beach Statuses  Active, Contingent Active Listing Price Range  Quantity      Average DOM   $550,000 thru $599,999 3 182   $600,000 thru $649,999 5 125   $650,000 thru $699,999 4 106   $700,000 thru $749,999 2 58   $750,000 thru $799,999 2 44   $800,000 thru $849,999 3 72   $850,000 thru $899,999 4 55   $900,000 thru $949,999 3 248   $950,000 thru $999,999 4 159   $1,000,000 thru $1,249,999 9 83   $1,250,000 thru $1,499,999 12 111   $1,500,000 thru $1,749,999 5 142   $1,750,000 thru $1,999,999 8 100   $2,000,000 thru $2,249,999 2 17   $2,250,000 thru $2,499,999 4 175   $2,500,000 thru $2,749,999 2 230   $2,750,000 thru $2... 05/07/2007