Hello! This Friday I have a very special guest who will be attending our WEREP (West End Real Estate Professionals) meeting.  As a matter of fact, I have two very special guests! The first one has her Broker's License, used to manage 6 Century 21 real estate offices in Southern California and has been in the business over 30 years.  I am looking to have her shed as much light, wisdom, hope to my group of real estate professionals. The other special guest has been a top listing agent for REO properties the past two years, works very hard and is exceptionally organized and knows how to get a job completed in an extraordinary fashion.... If you were to come to the meeting (or not), what would you ask them? Thanks for participating!! T 07/10/2010

  It's summer, the market is hot - prices are down, interest rates are down; you've got the homebuyer's fever and you're wondering when or even if you should consider jumping in to this uneasy market. You love Rancho Cucamonga and know you want to live here.  This is where I can help!  Here are four tips for buying in Rancho Cucamonga in today's market. This advice may seem a little old school, but perhaps old school is the best school of thought!1. Save for a good Down Payment- You may be leery of putting a big down payment on a mortgage in a declining market. But, as the market continues to stabilize, a 10%-20% down payment could pay off! Lower payments and better interest rates could benefit you up in the long run.2. Buy within Your Budget- It may be tempting to "go big" when you fin... 07/08/2010

I am here working out of my home office today and can't ignore the beautiful sound of the windchimes on my porch.  It inspired me!! Isn't it funny how you can get a great feel when you hear something as simple as a windchime? It made me start thinking about "staging" my client's homes. Here are my Questions: 1)  Do we recommend a nice windchime on our upcoming listings? 2)  If so, Front/Back Porch or both? (or neither) What are your thoughts on windchimes?  I normally leave them or thin them out if they have too many (more than two).  But this made me think to actually tell them to add a windchime, especially if the area they live in gets an afternoon breeze! Windchimes are a very personal touch, or can be.  I actually have one that has crystall/acrylic looking prisms on it with crosse... 07/06/2010

  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics show that over 300 children under the age of 5 drown in a swimming pool every year and that almost 2,000 children annually are treated for submersion injuries. If you have small children or you have a pool, following some simple safety procedures and tips could prevent those you care about from becoming a part of these statistics. Install a self-closing pool gate. This is first and foremost for any pool owner. For a little one, it can act as a final barrier between the house and your pool. Considering its modest price, this may be the single best investment a family with a pool can make. A rigid pool cover is also a great tool, but it should always be used in conjunction with the self-closing gate. Prepare yourself for emergencies... 07/05/2010

Rancho Cucamonga Did You Know . . .   July 4th, Independence Day is more than a day to consume large quantities of grilled foods and enjoy firework displays.  It's often surprising just how many people miss a key component of this 4th of July weekend: truly celebrating Independence Day.  Here's a little history on Independence Day that goes back to the middle of the 1700s.  The 13 colonies created First Continental Congress in direct response to the Boson Massacre. The Congress first met in September of 1774 and drew up a list of grievances against the crown which became the first draft of a document that would formally separate the colonies from England. Unfortunately, for the next eight years, colonists fought fervently in the Revolutionary War. During that time, the Second Continenta... 07/02/2010

  Are you Looking for a way to celebrate the 4th of July in Rancho Cucamonga? Oh my gosh, there are so many fun things to do in Rancho Cucamonga on the 4th of July this year - I don't know how I'm going to choose!  For starters, Saturdays mean Fireworks at The Epicenter in 2010 where fans will enjoy a post-game Fireworks Extravaganza after each of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes' 11 Saturday home games. On a fun side note, there will also be Season Finale Fireworks on September 2nd at the Epicenter. There is also the an all-day event at the Auto Club Speedway in nearby Fontana that begins with a Car Cruise and the Stars & Pipes Motorcycle ride and concludes with a gigantic fireworks spectacular (which, as usual, promises to be the biggest show in the Inland Empire)!  Check out my earlier p... 07/02/2010

Who doesn't want to do Short Sales?  Why Not? I'm not sure if my video worked here...I will also try to embed another way into a blog post.  Anyone know how to embed a video that is posted on youtube into a blog entry? How many times do people not list with you because they are thinking that you don't do short sales.  This has no doubt happened to me, so today I decided to load a video onto my youtube channel and facebook telling people that I do them.  Why not? What is the power of advertising? Have a great night!!   06/29/2010

The last time you took clients out, did you happen to hear them ask for a single or two story?  Why do you think that is?  Are the Baby Boomers or next generation getting ready to settle into one of their last homes of their life?  Are they tired of the stairs?  Do they want to save on their utilities and not have to hear or cool a second floor?  Single Story homes have many advantages...Besides the obvious, they: 1)  Save your knees 2)  Save you from running downstairs or upstairs to get what you just left there. 3)  Have a certain ambience and you don't have to reach so high to clean the cobwebs out of the corners or change the recessed lighting fixture. 4)  what else?  Add Yours Here.... Thank You to whoever invented Single Stories.  Two Stories are amazing....too!  There are defini... 06/29/2010

He's got the whole world, in his hand....remember that??  Well, what about you've got the whole light, in your hand?!!  How many times have you noticed that when you perceive positive things happening, they do? GIVE US YOUR LAST SUCCESS STORY.. How did you get that listing SOLD so fast?  How was that Your Best Open House? Are you shocked at your closings this year so far?  (for better or for worst) Believing you can do something is half the fun.  Why not B E L I E V E ? Get it sold, T O D A Y . You can do it...especially if you B E L I E V E. BLESSINGS!   06/28/2010

  Some people will need us and our professional expertise more than others.  Others will come in and out of our professional lives and we'll never see them again. Is it all about the money?  Is it about making a difference?  What's in it for YOU? I have found that when I know why I'm in a position or what I'm here to do, that I can do better at it. I believe that it's all part of the journey that we're here to make a difference.  1) What do you believe?  2) How do you perceive your service?  3) How do you differentiate your service from other real estate professionals? Something juicy to think about this weekend....   HAPPY WEEKEND MY FRIENDS.  LET'S MAKE IT A GREAT ONE!   06/26/2010

How many times have you worked really hard on something, and had it NOT work out?  This is more of a personal blog post this morning....so I hope you don't mind?  Through thick and thin.. Who has been the singlemost person or people who you knew you could trust???  For me, it's my family. Can any of you relate? No matter what your religion, I Thank God each and Every Day for them.  They have been the kind of "family" that I need to thrive, survive and stay alive. Who believes that we choose our families? There are thoughts that in life you "choose" your family...and there have been certain thoughts (uh ummm lol) that you can't choose your family!  I thoroughly believe that you "do" choose your family, and it happens before you are incarnate.  I am so thankful and happy for my family.  ... 06/25/2010

Spacious 2nd floor studio approx 550 SQ FT of living space. Located in the beautiful Sunscape community. Nice size balcony, laundry room close by, laminate floors, and condo is available for immediate move in. Call Ann for a showing appt. (714) 588-7676.  On approved credit 400 deposit and 750 rent lease negotiable.  06/24/2010

July 4th at the Auto Club Speedway Rancho Cucamonga will be presenting fireworks to celebrate Independance Day. Rancho residents receive special $7 tickets while kids 6 and under get in free! Active military personnel and their dependants also get free admission. Tickets are available at Central Park 11200 Base Line Road in Rancho Cucamonga (corner of Base Line Road & Milliken Avenue). Tickets purchased the day of will be adults $15.00, juniors $10.00, and kids 6 and under are free.  Click HERE for more details on the Red, White & Cruise Event. 06/17/2010

Your Vacation Checklist for Home Security   Your home is your greatest investment, and you’ve spent a lifetime acquiring your possessions. Don’t let inadequate vacation planning result in disaster. If you think ahead, you can ensure your family a perfect return home - with everything just the way you left it.   Stop the Mail - Having the mail stopped is one of the most important tasks on a vacation checklist. Mail can be stolen, and even if it is never touched by a would-be mail thief it can pile up within just a few days. A mailbox overflowing with mail, junk or otherwise, is a sure sign that no one is home, and it is an invitation to have the home robbed or the mail stolen. Have it stopped days before leaving to insure it is no long delivered to the home and available for delivery or ... 06/08/2010

Somebody once told me that the day that my Nonna dies, will be the day that Todd grows up! Well, that was one of the smartest, most insightful things that someone has ever said to me... It seems that since Nonna passed early in 2009, My world has completely changed. Have you ever had something like that happen to you? How do you get it back? Well, most of you know that it will never be the same.... For me, just like you, I couldn't do anything about it and soon realized I had to go with it. My world ~ has changed forever. Well, the same has happened with the real estate market. Seriously. It's kind of has been changing since the mid to second half of 2006, and hasn't stopped since. New prices in your neighborhood, New Guidelines for financing Conventional and FHA. No more Zero Down Paym... 06/06/2010

  I've been Selling Real Estate since 1992.  Prior to that I did accounting....and prior to that I was a Grocery Store Bagger, Liquor Store Stockboy & worked in Fast Food places, like McDonald's and Otis Spunkmeyers!  Most of our lives we've all, in one way or another, been in CUSTOMER SERVICE. Isn't it funny how one step leads to another? Plus, Still Selling Real Estate!!!  (that is and always will be my first love)  My Questions to You, are.. 1)  What would you add to my list above? (in title)  2)  Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?  3)  What will you be doing and if doing the same job, how different will it look?     06/06/2010

Did anyone else see this?   I was on my FB this morning and looking at a friends page.  Well, she had this website that sounded interesting.  Are you into nature?  Trees?  Well, this website focuses on them.  Well, my friend said that if I wanted to feel better, then I may need to go outside.  GREAT ADVICE.  TOTALLY AGREE. The website says this too.   (I don't know about you, but I feel better already, just looking at these pictures?!!) Further, I could just go on this website, enter a zip code and it would tell me what I could do in that area.  I thought this was QUITE UNIQUE! The website is: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/want-to-feel-more-alive-study-shows-you-need-to-go-outside.php     Check it out or pass it on...LET'S ALL FEEL GREAT! HAPPY WEEKEND 06/05/2010

  Have you ever run into that Agent who is always expecting the worst?  (nevermind Agent, that person lol)  They may be sitting just outside your office, at the front desk or on the other end of the telephone tomorrow.  What are you going to say to them?  How are you going to "be" with them?  How do you make a difference?  Afterall, we are "Active Rain"....We see no bounds, we can jump higher than most.  And we can inspire, affect and/or bring others with us all day long!! ...I digress. Well, I met them about a billion times this week....and they were not very realistic either!  Wasting their time on pipe dreams and for what?  How important is it that I stay positive....and not allow these people to derail me..(????)....that's what I kept telling myself anyway. POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS = ... 06/04/2010

Have any of you been "carrying" the escrow load?  Why, oh why, don't people know how to do their job?  I think we need to be focusing on putting our best feet forward, especially now!  We are soooo lucky to have an escrow to think and/or be working on, right?! I believe this also includes escrow, title, loan officers and most of all Realtors...We NEED to Stick Together!!!  Hello.....  lol So what gives?  Why is it that there are Realtors who aren't carrying their weight?  What is the right solution for this?  I have not come up with it.  I just know that I want my escrows to close and will do whatever I need to ~ whether it be making calls or pulling strings for recording so a lock doesn't expire, etc.? What happened to good, old-fashioned hard work?  It isn't THAT HARD, IS IT?   WISHIN... 06/02/2010

  WHY DO YOU NEED TITLE INSURANCE? Title Insurance is essential in protecting you as you make the most important investment you'll ever make - the investment in your home. A Title Insurance policy provides you with an indemnity contract that reimburses you for any loss that you would incur if someone asserted a claim against your property that is covered by the policy. How can there be a title defect if the title has been searched? Title insurance is issued after thorough research of the public records. But even the most thorough research cannot absolutely assure that no title hazards are present, despite the knowledge and experience of professional title examiners. In addition to matters shown by public records, other title problems may exist that cannot be discovered through research.... 06/01/2010