Summer Fun……Visit Knott’s Berry Farm in Southern California       Summer is almost here and kids are going to be out of school soon. Here is one of my favorite places to visit that are nearby, reasonably priced and just a great time for families to go and have some “Kodak Moments”.    For the little ones, they have Camp Snoopy which has many smaller activities and a petting zoo area.   The Bear-y Tales event, ride the Knott's Railroad around the park, the amusement Park with many roller coaster rides and try out the new Boardwalk 2013.   This is a park for everyone with an 'Old West' theme. Lots of good food and don't forget to get a jar of Knott's Jelly while you are shopping.       Knott’s Berry Farm 8030 Beach Blvd. Buena Park, CA 714-220-5200 www.knots.com/ FACEBOOK   Kristin Hamil... 05/17/2013

Hello everyone! Check this video out of all my past clients and all the great things they have to say about my services. One of my clients Andrea is a seasoned investor. She has had many hard transactions where other lenders failed I was able to step in and get the deal closed. Tina is a past client of mine. She was highly satisfied with her loan. I was able to set her mind at ease knowing she was qualified so she could focus on finding the perfect home. Alex is a very experienced Realtor that I often work with. Alex knows that I am aggressive and work hard to for all our clients.I will always look at all possible scenarios for my clients to make sure they will benefit in the long run. If you have any questions about buying, selling, or refinancing Call me Teresa Tims, TheSoCalLoanPro.com 05/15/2013

  Remember our MIA's & Veterans Bike Run-California to Washington DC   May 15-26, 2013 riding across the USA   Run For The Wall organization recognizes the sacrifices and contributions made by all veterans who have served our nation. Veterans of recent conflicts and those currently on active duty are especially welcome to join us as they ride for those who cannot. Hundreds of veterans and military supporters have arrived in Rancho Cucamonga for the 25th annual Run for the Wall motorcycle ride to Washington D.C. in honor and remembrance of military prisoners of war and those missing and killed in action. The run is to raise public awareness toward helping pushing the government to locate, identify and relocate the bodies of service members killed in action and still unaccounted for in pl... 05/14/2013

 ©Summer Fun....Going to the Zoo in Southern California© If you are looking for something exciting to do this spring/summer, then go to one of the local zoos in Southern California. It is a fun place to take kids or just go because you love zoos and animals. We go 3-4 times a year and anytime we are on vacation, we drop in on the locale zoo.   Here are some local zoos for your entertainment in the Southern California area.   San Diego Zoo Being the largest zoo of its kind in the state. They have a reputation to maintain a great zoo with countless animals living in their own habitat and they do this very well. They have a very rare Panda baby that you won't forget. The Gorilla area is something you will remember for a long time. If the parking lot if getting busy look for collage kids ri... 05/10/2013

Today I would like to share with you how you can refinance your home with ZERO equity. If you have a home that exist within the USDA boundary lines, you may be able to qualify for a low interest rate with very low monthly mortgage insurance as long as its in a qualified zone. Most of the qualified zones are rural zones. Here are some USDA areas in So Cal. Indio -Cabazon Desert Areas Cherry Valley- Beaumont (small area) High Desert- Victorville,Adselanto,Phelen, Hesperia, etc Lake Elsinore- Wildomar/Menifee, Murrietta(small area) So if you have been trying to refinance and don't have the equity you need to pick up the phone and call me Teresa Tims , TheSoCalLoanPro.com. 05/07/2013

Summer Fun...the Carousel at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa  Fun in Costa Mesa at the South Coast Plaza Carousel                         This is a fantastic mall to come and shop; many children stores and a fantastic toy store. Two wonderful carousels to ride on and a fun zone. And who doesn't love to come shopping with Mom & Dad.         Over 260 stores, 6 anchor stores, 30 restaurants, and carousel rides for the kids.                                     Concierge Desk, Money Exchange, Personal Shopper Services, VIP Discounts, Valet Parking and much, much more.   South Coast Carousel Plaza Costa Mesa CA 92626 (888) 782-8888 Email: Southcoastplaza.com Website 1 Website 2 Facebook Kristin Hamilton DRE #014092138 Keller Williams Realty – I am a full time agent and deal in all types of re... 05/06/2013

I always get asked this question . . . what are closing costs? and are closing cost are necessary? Closing costs are a part of all real estate transactions. My easiest explanation for closing costs are that they are two-fold. The first part of closing costs are third-party legal fees.These things only happen one time when you initially purchase your home. Such things include title fees, escrow fees, lender fees, and appraisal. The second part of closing costs are things that happen over and over or you might hear them being refereed to as recurring costs. These items include taxes, insurance, and prorated interest. Closing cost can be safely be estimated about 3% of purchase prices from 250k -400k and 4-5% with prices around 100k. I hope I've answered your questions on the subject . . W... 04/26/2013

  Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is Finally Here April 21, 2013 8:00am-5:30pm The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Race is finally here!     It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day so be sure to stop by as it is one of the biggest events in the country and so exciting to have it here in our own backyard. If you can't make it, watch it on TV.   Sports Venue and Stadium 300 E. Ocean Blvd Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone (888) 827-7333 Website http://www.gplb.com and Facebook.   Kristin Hamilton DRE #014092138 Keller Williams Realty – I am a full time agent and deal in all types of real estate transactions. Trusts, Probate, Short Sales, Standard Listing, Single Family Homes,  Apartments 1-4 units, Duplexes and Condos. I am also an experienced REO agent. I sell real estate in the Riverside... 04/21/2013

                Baseball-One of America’s Favorite Sports                                          “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” This is baseball season so no matter what state you reside in or what your favorite team is, go watch a baseball game or two or three. The season has just started and there are a lot of games to be played.   California has 5 teams and I usually make an Angel’s game and a Dodger’s game even though the New York Yankees have been my favorite team since I was a little girl.   Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes so don’t be left out. Go to a game; get some popcorn, pizza, a hot dog and maybe a beer. Have a good time and be nice to everyone.   Take your entire family or go with some friends. Have a good time as it is one of America’s favorite sports.   ... 04/16/2013

  Red Hawk and Great Blue Heron Nests of Eggs- Watch Now on Live Cams   If you love birds and want to watch the live bird cams of the Red Hawks and the Great Blue Herons, go to these links.   This is a picture of the live cam of the pair of Red Hawks located at Ithaca, New York. They have 3 eggs and the chicks should hatch about the end of the month.   http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/16/Red-tailed_Hawks/       This is a picture of the live cam of the pair of Great Blue Herons also located at Ithaca, New York.   http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/8/Great_Blue_Herons/   The Cornell lab of Ornithology is a great website to find out so much about birds.  Take a look at the live cams and ENJOY!   Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/birdcams             *All Pictures from Cornell Lab ... 04/10/2013

Its no surprise that values are going up, I'm sure you have been hearing that all over the media; and guess what its completely TRUE. It couldn't be a better time to refinance into a conventional loan . Did you know you can refinance conventional with ZERO equity? If you have a USDA loan you can. Also if your property is upside down and you mortgage is owned by Fannie or Freddie Mac, we can refinance you. This is also known as the HARP REFI, call me to see if you qualify.   When refinancing into a conventional loan the value of the property is extremely important. We like to send our loans where they use a full fee appraisal so the value can be on point. Of course the usual credit and income come into play like always. Remember im a mortgage broker and have access to the lowest fees and... 04/04/2013

    Easter Quiz.....Test Your Knowledge 1. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that certain activities should never be performed on Good Friday because they would bring bad luck. Which of the following is one of those tasks? a) bathe b) cook red meat c) get a haircut d) do the laundry 2. Traditionally, what should you do on Easter Sunday in order to ensure you’ll have good luck in the coming year? a) attend church services b) wear a new piece of clothing c) get a haircut d) kiss your father 3. The tradition of the Easter Bunny, a rabbit who lays colored eggs for children to find Easter morning, began in which European country? a) Spain b) Switzerland c) Germany d) England 4. Dyed eggs of a particular color were once given to children on Easter Sunday in the belief that they would protec... 03/31/2013

  Grasshopper Desperately Needed Help with Website & Domain   Grasshopper Desperately Needed Help with Website & Domain   I wrote a post asking for help as my website is 9 years old and only updated once about 4 years ago. I also have eEdge and KW.Com but I do not have the bells and whistle program through Market Leader.   So I decided I must update my website to get more leads and to get better Google juice. One concern was that Superlative pays for my domain every year so would they own my name and ask for a big fee to get it back?   I wrote a post on ActiveRain and many wonderful members contacted me via comments and emails. So many that I just have not been able to reach them all yet. I really appreciated all the assistance but one member stood out. Sharon Parisi who works for Kelle... 03/29/2013

  Rancho Cucamonga, CA HomeValues   "How it Really is!"     Yes the truth is finally out that there are 4 Values to the same house!  In a real estate transaction there are usually 4 different values for the same Rancho Cucamonga home. The reason for that is you have the seller, buyer, realtor and appraiser all looking at it from different perspectives. 1. Seller - "I NEED to get this much $ from my home" "I put $50,000 in upgrades and I want it all back" "My house is the best home in the city" etc.. etc.. 2. Buyer - "It's going to cost us at least $10,000 to put new carpet in this 1,300 sq ft house and another $5,000 for paint" "This 3 year old roof is going to need replacing soon" 3. Realtor - "Based on the current market activity in this neighborhood your home should sell for...." 4. ... 03/28/2013

Rancho Cucamonga, CA - Single Family Residential Market Report for February 2013.By Brad Rachielles.All are saying that we are past the real estate bottom and that now is a great time to buy a home. Let's take a look at what is happening in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. in February, 2013.Rancho Cucamonga  has a wonderfull mix of community feeling, heavy industry, huge entertainment venues, highrise buildings and world class shopping. It's strength is in the community feeling, great schools, rapidly expanding shopping and access to the major metro areas through our interstates and trains.With spectacular mountain backdrops, Cucamonga is within an hour of beautiful desert expanses with cactus and fantastic rock formations. Or, you can be snow skiing in nearby resorts. Add this to the major sports... 03/20/2013

  ©The Beauty of a Lighthouse©     Kristin Hamilton  DRE #014092138 Keller Williams Realty -I sell real estate in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties commonly called the Inland Empire. I am a trained and experienced Short Sale agent. If you are looking for a professional and experienced agent, I am just a click away. Google me at Kristin Hamilton-Real Estate Agent. Homeowners and Buyers both will find my services top notch and successful. Call me to sell your home; both traditional and short sales.   California is a dream come true state no matter what your needs or wants are. We have year round warm weather, beautiful beaches, rustic mountains and desert communities. If you are looking for a home in southern California, please contact me. I am a local California Realtor, live in the ... 03/17/2013

  Here are the February, 2013 Sales Statistics for Median Sales Price in Rancho Cucamonga.   Single Family Detached Homes, February, 2013       $365,000 down $5,000 from January, 2013. (as of March 17, 2013, number is at $385,000)       Rancho Cucamonga Condos/Townhomes February, 2013   $175,000 down $27,000 from January, 2013 (as of March 17, 2013, number is at $202,500)     For additional information or the statistics for your city, I'm here to serve all of your real estate needs. Have a great week! 03/17/2013

Gangsters & Mysteries at former Bed & Breakfast in Lake Arrowhead     The ‘Bracken Fern Manor’ at 815 Arrowhead Villa Road was originally built by famous Mobster Bugsy Seagel. This former B & B is located about 3 miles outside of Lake Arrowhead, CA and has been said that the inn still maintained all the charisma & ambiance of the Roaring '20s.   It was originally called Club ‘Arrowhead’ and first opened on July 4, 1929 and cost 1.3 million to build. The Club catered to the rich and glamour of Hollywood by offering gambling, illegal liquor, and prostitution. It also offered extravagant amenities such as an olympic size swimming pool, skiing, tennis courts, a bathhouse, and so much more.   After proving to the mob that this gambling club was so successful, that Bugsy was soon able to con... 03/05/2013

  Work from Home vs. Return to the Office   As many have heard recently Yahoo just recently ordered all employees that had been working at home to now return to the office. This has caused a lot of upset and controversy with many employees.   For several years, other businesses have had a flexible work arrangement with employees including Bank of America, Amazon, Facebook and Best Buy but most employers have found they get more work production by bringing their employees back to the office for their 8 hours a day.   The benefits of the work at home work week is that many can continue to make a living after having small children. Due to increased day care costs, it has become more effective for some employees to work at home if possible. Many do their jobs on a computer and can be discip... 03/01/2013

Cooking Lessons at William Sonoma… We made Ravioli We signed up for some FREE cooking classes at William Sonoma in the Victoria Gardens Mall in Rancho Cucamonga. They have a kitchen in the front and conduct the classes an hour before the store opens. There were about 30 people and everyone seemed to have a great time and we all got a taste. Of course I bought two “Ravioli Cutters” but need to buy the attachment for my mixer. It was an expensive “Free” class when I found out how much the attachment is. But it will be fun to make for the holidays and special occasions.    Here are the final results and it was very tasty too. Thanks to “Chef Linh” of William Sonoma. Stop in and find some pans or utensils for your kitchen. Or even better, sign up for a class. 12514 S Mainstreet Rancho Cucam... 02/27/2013