Disclosures?    What or How do you disclose that the house may be haunted?   What is the most you've had to facilitate when selling one of your listings? The most I've had to disclose was that people had died of natural causes.  Nothing Major, at all. I'm curious though and was particularly inspired by this photo and thought, 'I wonder who or what any of you have sold and how you disclosed, etc.?' This could get interesting..   06/04/2010

Who wants to be in the business another 5 years or more?  What do you think is going to help you get there?  I'm curious....and of course, thinking about my own longevity as a Realtor and Real Estate Professional.  Do you ever think about this?  Am I the only one? Would it be because...(??) BRAND AWARENESS PAST CLIENTELE SAW ONE OF YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS SOMEWHERE MET YOU AT AN OPEN HOUSE KNOWS A PAST CLIENT OR SOMEONE IN YOUR SPHERE CLEVER MARKETING TECHNIQUES (ONLY YOU POSSESS) These are all EXCELLENT WAYS to CAPITALIZE on connecting with your next client.  Alot of you may or may not have been in the business more than 10 years.  If you have, or haven't, you know the power of knowing someone and the power of the almighty internet. What is the best way to get your groove on in this market... 06/01/2010

Upland CA median home prices showed a gain over median prices in April 2009, according to DataQuick, which compiles statistics from county records.  The service reported that 23 Upland homes in Zip Code 91784 sold during the month of April 2010, with a median price of $510,000, up from the March 2010 median price of $468,000; no condominiums in that Zip Code were reported sold in April. Single-family home sales in Zip Code 91784 were up 17.4 percent from April 2009, when the median home price was $434,000.  In Upland Zip Code 91786, 32 homes were sold in April 2010, with a median price of $293,000, down from the March 2010 median sales price of $294,000, according to DataQuick; six condominium sales were reported sold in April, with a median price of $200,000. Single-family home sales i... 05/31/2010

  I certainly do not mean to offend my fellow Real Estate Professionals, but sometimes I can't help but wonder.   Recently at a continuing education class, I met a colleague who is new to the business and is now trying to acquire some investment property with her husband.  After a brief conversation we had with other licensees in the class, she pulled me aside to ask some questions.  She told me about some concerns she had regarding her current transaction. It turns out that she had being trying to purchase property with the help of her broker.   She sent out several viable offers that would surely be considered acceptable by a short sale lender.  However, not one of her offers was accepted by the listing agent.  Someone in her circle suggested that she use the listing agent to represen... 05/23/2010

Sales Price: $600,000   Status: Closed!  Bank Paid Fees: Escrow, Termite $3900.00 (Partial), 6% Commission, Delinquent Property Taxes, NHD, Area: Upland, Ca Comparable Properties: $480,000-$650,000 Sellers: Loss of Business Income due to Economy, kids in College, Adjustable Rate Mortgage with a Principal Balance at $782,000. Bank of America canceled this file 5 times, one of the events occurred when the Negotiator gave me 24 hours to submit an updated Hardship letter, yet she misspelled the receiving Negotiator's name on the email account that I was to send it to.  Another Negotiator that had the file reported that I should have an approval by the early part of the following week, and when I phoned for status on Monday I discovered he had been transferred to the Loan Modification Dept. ... 05/17/2010

Well, let me see if any of us has a crystal ball...Is there a crystal ball or two in the room? How many times have I heard we are at the bottom of the market in California...and then, I have this funny feeling that things are not at the bottom yet...or that we can expect the unexpected almost....anyone else feeling the same? When asked if we're at the bottom, what do we say?  I was asked that very same question tonight while on a listing appointment with new clients and I felt kind of relieved that they believed and agreed with my response. What do you tell people who ask you this?  Especially if you're in Southern California...but even if you're not, feel free to respond. Happy & Successful Week!! 05/17/2010

Upland High School student Karissa Burgos is one of 15 graduating high school seniors in the country to win a $1,000 college scholarship from SuperSibs! SuperSibs! Is a national non-profit that supports, honors and recognizes brothers and sisters of children with cancer. Burgos's sister, Allison, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002. She founed Gifts for Hope, an organization that provides gifts for teen patients and their siblings at the City of Hope Hospital. "I know the feeling of waiting long hours in waiting rooms with nothing to do, and hopefully my efforts can make a difference in the life of another cancer patient or sibling," Burgos said. She has been a member of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life team for six years. "We felt that Karissa was deserving of the $1,000 sc... 04/26/2010

Ten thousand California first-time and repeat home buyers who are in escrow by the end of this month can get both a federal tax credit and a state tax credit. To claim the federal tax credit of $8,000 for first-time home buyers and $6,500 for repeat home buyers, you must be in escrow by April 30 and complete the purchase by June 30. The new California tax credit expires on Dec. 31 or whenever $100 million has been used. It allows home buyers to claim up to $3,333 in tax credits each year for three years. The tax credit is equal to 5 percent of the purchase price, or $10,000, whichever is less. Unlike the federal tax credits, the state program is not refundable - if you owe less than $3,333 in state taxes, the state keeps the balance. Contact us for additional restrictions. Only 3 weeks ... 04/10/2010

Three supermarkets and WalMart are a short drive from Lemonwood Villas in northwest Upland CA, but sometimes a meal is more enjoyable if someone else did the cooking, so it's fortunate that more than a score of restaurants are located a mile or so from Lemonwood Villas in Upland CA.  Hometown favorites in Mountain Plaza at the corner of 16th Street and Mountain Avenue, a few blocks north of Lemonwood Villas in Upland CA are Graziano's and Rancho Los Magueyes, where you'll find exceptional Italian and Mexican cuisine. In the same center, the décor and menu at Legends will transport you back in time to the 1950s and Claro's Italian Market carries a variety of specialty foods.  Restaurants are also located south of Lemonwood Villas on Foothill Boulevard - Route 66 - and there's a wonderful... 04/02/2010

Residents of Lemonwood Villas in Upland CA can stroll walkways and trails, chat with neighbors and enjoy the sights and scents of ever-changing floral displays. Spring is particularly colorful at Lemonwood Villas. Late winter magnolia blossoms have given way to roses and other brightly colored flowers.  The Lemonwood Villas HOA welcomes visitors and returning homeowners with a colorful display at the 14th Street entrances. The streets of Lemonwood Villas take you past many trees adorned with bright yellow lemons surrounded by carpets of emerald grass. If you're on foot, visit beautiful Dunderman Park in the heart of Lemonwood Villas. There you'll find playground equipment, lush grass and beautiful flowers, benches to sit on, and - of course! - lemon trees.  Many Lemonwood Villas home ow... 03/31/2010

Living in northwest Upland CA, east of Los Angeles, Lemonwood Villas residents have many options for education, from kindergarten to advanced degree programs. Lemonwood Villas is served by the Upland Unified School District, which this year is celebrating 100 years of public schools in Upland. Lemonwood Villas students can attend  Sycamore Elementary School, Pioneer Junior High School, and Upland High School. All have high academic ratings. Upland Adult School offers opportunities for residents who need additional schooling. Savvy home buyers know public schools are an important measure of a community's character. Parental and city support of basic education bolsters school spirit and encourages children to excel. Higher student scores in standardized tests makes local neighborhoods lik... 03/28/2010

Lemonwood Villas in Upland, CA, is a Planned Unit Development (PUD) with a unique and somewhat whimsical character. Streets have names like "Bark" and "Twig" and "Leaf" and are laid out like the branches of a tree, with homes along the branches and curled around cul-de-sacs shaped like imaginary fruit.  This is a charming community of one- and two-story detached homes with large, irregular lots, and quick access to lush greenbelts and an almost hidden park. No need for gates here - no one tries to save time by cutting through Lemonwood Villas twice. You can't hear traffic noise either, though busy Mountain Avenue, Benson Avenue and the 210 Freeway are a short distance away. Instead, fix a tall glass of lemonade, sit back and watch the air show of small planes and bi-planes headed for ne... 03/25/2010

RE/MAX Homes & Estates Pre-Foreclosure Division  (714) 588 -7676 ∙  www.remaxann.com   If you are in a situation where: • You lost your job • Your Medical Expenses are too high • Just went through/going through a divorce • You are behind on your payments • You have no equity • You can't afford the cost of selling your home • Your income has been reduced • You are in foreclosure   WE CAN HELP YOU! It's easy and doesn't cost you any MONEY! Our services are Free!!! WHEN THE DEBT EXCEEDS YOUR HOME'S VALUE... we can help is with a SHORT SALE.   Benefits of a Short Sale: • Avoid Foreclosure • Avoid Bankruptcy • Reduced damage to your credit • Postpone your foreclosure sale date • A short sale will stay on your credit approx 3 years • BE FREE of financial and emotional burdens!     We are lice... 03/03/2010

I'm sure every inspector has had that desperate call from a potential client something to the effect of "I hired this contractor to do an addition on my house, now the roof leaks, it's been patched...". Sound familiar, I get this all the time. Just the other day I received such a call, during the inspection it was clear to me that the client had experienced a series of frustrating engagements as follows:   The General Contractor that was hired for the project rarely supervised the job. He reportedly sent unqualified, unlicensed workers with illegal citizenship status. This condition led to multiple code violations and poor craftsmanship. The city Building Inspector had never performed a visual inspection of above the roof line. All of us contractors are guilty of this scenario; The city... 02/08/2010

Why not make some "Mail Box Money" while you are blogging? Click Here! 02/06/2010

I thought I might try the direct approach. I am new to this AR thing and have a  huge learning curve to go through. So instead of trying to feign some superior intelligence or "slick" blog. I will just come out and say it - I operate a well established, reputable Inspection and Consulting company. If you are a Real Estate agent and in need of an Inspector that is reliable and professional, give us a shot at your business. If you are an inspector and need coverage while on vacation, during an emergency, or just can't handle your volume - consider API for coverage.  02/05/2010

Well we have finally come into the current century and joined the blogging community. At API we have relied on word of mouth and cold call marketing in the past. With todays economy and fly by night, underbidding inspectors - relationship building with reputable Realtors is more important than ever. After all the old saying, "you get what you pay for" still prevails. It has been my experience that poor Agents, attract poor Inspectors! After many years of trial and error, I am pleased to find a community of highly responsible professionals that value good moral fiber. We are looking forward to developing many sound business relationships on Activerain in the years to come.   02/05/2010

Southern California is seeing steady, month over month gains in housing appreciation. If you enjoy reading that as much as I do, I'll write it again, just so you don't have to go back. Southern California is seeing steady, month over month gains in housing appreciation.   What is even more impressive is that these gains were realized in what has historically been two of the worst months for sales, November and December. The link below is from today's Los Angeles Times. Positive headlines are incrementally, but steadily showing up more and more. Keep your head's up. You just might see the price of your home doing the same thing.   Southern California housing market strengthens in December - latimes.com 01/19/2010

How many of you have been out house hunting and seen some bank owned properties that look like this: They are usually the ones that the "creative" REO agent describes with terms like " Needs a little TLC" or "Handyman's Delight". In reality, the description should be "Bring your own hand sanitizer. This ones a dump". The problem is that if an investor buys that lil gem,fixes it up and sell it, he's labeled as a "flipper".  In today's market that's equivalent to sporting a scarlet letter A from years past. The punishment for such a heinous act is that, as a flipper, you aren't allowed to re-sell that renewed, improved property for 90 days. If your reaction is ...HUUUHHHHHHH???... you're not alone.Luckily, FHA has come to its senses..well at least on this point. Starting 2/1/2010, and wit... 01/18/2010

MUSIC TO MY EARS Signs of life in the home-building industry - latimes.com Who would ever have thought it? The thrill of street closures, the sweet sounds of construction crews pounding away at what-the-hell o'clock in the morning and giant vehicles full of lumber&roof tiles...it's starting again, and it's music to my ears. The industry is waking up and new construction is popping up.This is just another sign that the housing market is gaining a foot hold in stability. 01/13/2010