The Worst Places To Find Local Real Estate Information   Stories on TV about the national real estate market are misleading to Americans.  This is because there is no such thing as a "national real estate market". Consider the latest American Housing Survey.  It found that there are 124,377,000 homes in America spread across: 50 states, with More than 30,000 incorporated cities, and with An innumerable number of neighborhoods And yet, the media repeatedly groups all 124 million homes into one giant lump and then gives an analysis.  No matter how you slice and dice the data, a home in Oregon can't be compared to a home in Mississippi.  This is why national real estate statistics are somewhat useless. To get real estate analysis that matters, look local instead.  And I don't mean stats fr... 08/22/2008

The Median Home Sales Price Fell Nationally, But "National" Data Is Irrelevant   Each month, the National Association of Realtors® releases a study called the Existing Home Sales report.  It's a detailed look at "used" home sales data from all four regions of the country. One of the key findings in each Existing Home Sales report is something called the "median sales price", the statistical price point at which half of the homes in the U.S. sold for more, and half sold for less.  Last month, the median sales price in the United States fell to $215,100, off 6.1 percent from a year ago.  But, just because the median sales price is falling doesn't mean that housing is necessarily in the doldrums.  Real estate is tied to local markets and the national statistics rarely make sense when appli... 08/17/2008

It's still a Buyer's Market for Inland Empire home sales. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 signed by President Bush in late July offers encouragement to home buyers to jump into the market now, before rising interest rates rise and seller-financed down payment assistance programs end October 1, 2008. July home sales statistics are due to be released this week and will be reported on my website; you can click on http://marketreport.ilajosephs.com for a direct link. I'm also adding a new section to my weekly report this week. Look below for a comparison to home sales data for February 17, 2008, and see the changes that have taken place in the past six months. The following information was compiled from information reported in the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service... 08/17/2008

Homes Sold: Eleven previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, during the week ending August 9, 2008, and 31 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly were listed as pending during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by real estate professionals in the Inland Empire.                                      Homes for Sale: The MLS said 42 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 817 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on August 10, including 536 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 281 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 292 of homes currently on the market w... 08/10/2008

Homes Sold: Twenty-one previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending August 2, 2008, and 36 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly were listed as pending during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by real estate professionals in the Inland Empire.                                      Homes for Sale: The MLS said 34 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 821 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on August 3, including 543 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 278 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 292 of homes currently on the market wer... 08/03/2008

Homes Sold: Seventeen previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending July 26, 2008, and 31 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly entered escrow during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by real estate professionals in the Inland Empire.                                      Homes for Sale: The MLS said 68 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 839 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on July 27, including 554 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 285 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 282 of homes currently on the market were vacant. O... 07/27/2008

Homes Sold: Sixteen previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending July 19, 2008, and 29 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly entered escrow during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by real estate professionals. Homes for Sale: The MLS said 45 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 827 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on July 20, including 545 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 282 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 282 of homes currently on the market were vacant. Of the homes for sale in Rancho Cucamonga, 240 were listed as... 07/20/2008

No matter what the market, people will continue to desire to live in Rancho Cucamonga, as it remains one of the most prestigious cities within San Bernardino County. Comparatively speaking, the Rancho Cucamonga housing market continues to post brisk sales.In of June 2008, 142 single family homes and a total of 37 condos/townhomes sold, up 43 from last month.  My overall view of the market is still going slip even though it appears to be getting a little summer stability. CLICK HERE for the San Bernardino County market report. Closed Sales for June 2008: Up 5 from last month100 Single Family Homes25 Condos/TownhomesPending Sales for June 2008: Up 11 from last month225 Single Family Homes56 Condos/TownhomesCurrent Actives as of Today's Post: Down 20 from last month564 Single Family Homes1... 07/13/2008

Fifteen previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending July 12, 2008, and 39 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly entered escrow during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by its members. The MLS said 49 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 833 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on July 6, including 546 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 287 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 284 of homes currently on the market were vacant. Of the homes for sale in Rancho Cucamonga, 253 were listed as "short sales" and 95 were being  sold by t... 07/13/2008

Sixteen previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending July 5, 2008, and 21 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly entered escrow during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by its members. The MLS said 43 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 851 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on July 6, including 556 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 283 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 295 of homes currently on the market were vacant. Of the homes for sale in Rancho Cucamonga, 248 were listed as "short sales" and 104 were being  sold by t... 07/06/2008

    FHA Wants To Eliminate No Down Payment Loans     Mortgages that allow consumers to put little if any money down when buying a home have largely disappeared as a financing option available from private lenders.  But they are still available-and growing more popular-through a government backed program.   That's raising concerns among critics who blame no-money-down mortgages for many of todays housing market woes.   And while federal housing officials are moving to end the practice, for now home builders are promoting the programs to move unsold inventory. These programs are made possible due to down-payment assistance programs run by nonprofit organizations like, HART and others.  These programs are funded largely by home builders and also by private homeowners desperate to sell.  Th... 06/30/2008

Fifteen previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending June 28, 2008, and 34 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly entered escrow during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by its members. The MLS said 44 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 856 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on June 29, including 577 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 279 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 303 of homes currently on the market were vacant. Of the homes for sale in Rancho Cucamonga, 236 were listed as "short sales" and 103 were being sold by ... 06/29/2008

Hope you're all having a great, awesome, positive week. If not, and you need some help, I found this today....and wanted to share it with you. http://www.skyradionet.com/bestcoaches.cfm   I love the fact that you can listen to some of our "Best Coaches"....like Tony Robbins for FREE. Tony grew up nearby to where I live and I have always found him to be helpful and inspirational. There are many more Coaches on this website. Bookmark it and save it for a rainy day....even if it's in the Summertime. Hope you find this to be helpful.....I love it!! Todd     06/26/2008

There are some Realtors in California (northern and southern) who are having Repo Bus Tours. They meet at 9am, load up their bus with potential Buyers and away they go. Have any of you tried this?  I am not sure of their closing rates?  I'd be curious to hear any feedback you have on this or if you know for a fact that it is working?? I have contemplated doing Repo Seminars instead....where Buyers could come get educated about Repo Homes and the in's and out's of purchasing them and the process, what to expect, etc. I think this will work better for me...but am still staying open. Thanks for your feedback. Night 06/24/2008

I talked with the gal that I purchase alot of my marketing materials with a few months back and I remember in the conversation, she mentioned, "Todd, you should do some stuff in green...Everyone is going green now!!"... Well, it finally sunk in. Now I have ordered my new notepads in green, light green paper with Kelly Green Imprint colored ink. Also, have contemplated doing my post-it's in green or with alot of green on them. Also, green pens.....You can do everything in GREEN.  LOL It's not only good to be aware of conserving energy, gas, paper (except for the pads!!), but it's also important to be able to market yourself and grow your business.  If you can do this and also be current with a public awareness, more power to you!! 06/24/2008

Karen Mansour, fellow member on Active Rain was asking what are people doing....I commented and have copied it into an entry here..... I am:  1) Getting new pads (pick them up tomorrow, "going green with them" ~ green ink on light green paper)  I will be throwing pads with a flyer in a bag to the 10-15 properties surrounding REPO listings, soliciting Buyer activity.  2) Had Tshirts made.....and getting ready to send out about 100 of them to past clients...even some of the ones that I haven't spoken with in a long time.  3) Made bookmarks.  There are 4 different ones and added a photo to each one of them.  3 out of the 4 photos I took myself and put a little blurb about the picture....laminated it, punch a hole witha  hole puncher, tie a ribbon at the top, and will be mailing those out w... 06/24/2008

This week, on Wednesday, on the Today Show, watch for inspirational and motivational author and coach, Eli Davidson....she's going to be on TV. We were lucky enough at our local Caravan to have her speak earlier this year. She offers "practical" advice to accomplish your goals, stay focused, remove obstacles...in short, I appreciate the motivational coach that she is and has been for me..... If you ever get a chance to meet her, or read her book, I would recommend it.... Go Eli!! BTW, You can find her book on www.Amazon.com "Funky to Fabulous" by Eli Davison   06/23/2008

It's important to keep yourselves out there.....I was just blogging today and ran into a client who saw me and they said they were going to tell everyone at their meeting tonight (that they were going to) about their Realtor and how hard I work at keeping my name out there and staying active and in the public eye....and.....wow, it's great to have a place to market ourselves and for free (and our listings)....Thank you ActiveRain..... 06/23/2008

How are your sales in this heat?  Southern California has been getting record heat and I love it....just kind of worried a little that people don't want to be out in the heat. I am thinking to change my "showing hours" and advertise that I show homes when it's cooler...LOL Seriously!!  It's worth a shot.  I think I will call it, "Summer Hours". I actually, for some reason, have brainwashed myself from about 18 years ago, that when it rains, I sell homes.  So now, I guess, it's time for another BRAINWASH. Whatever works... Let's cook up some SUMMER SALES AND STAY MOTIVATED. CHEERS AND HERE'S TO MORE SALES FOR US ALL!!   06/23/2008

Seventeen previously-owned homes closed escrow in Rancho Cucamonga during the week ending June 21, 2008, and 29 Rancho Cucamonga homes reportedly entered escrow during the week, according to the Inland Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service, which shows listings and sales of previously-owned homes reported by its members. The MLS said 57 new Rancho Cucamonga listings were added during the week, for a total inventory of 873 previously-owned homes listed in Rancho Cucamonga on June 22, including 572 single-family homes with no monthly fees and 286 condominiums, town homes and single-family homes in associations. The MLS listings indicated 296 of homes currently on the market were vacant. Of the homes for sale in Rancho Cucamonga, 240 were listed as "short sales" and 101 were being  sold ... 06/22/2008