Put Yourself Out There I was invited to a backyard BBQ in Fullerton last month.  I had spent the morning working in my garage and I had years & years…and boxes & boxes of books for the library/study I had hoped to one day set up and call my own.  I realized that was an unlikely thing to happen now, especially with the rise in popularity of e-readers like my Amazon Kindle – which I love.  Over dinner, I spontaneously asked Mary if she knew who might appreciate all of the books.  Her first thought was a used book store owner with a heart for economically-challenged readers.  Then she turned to the woman sitting next to her and asked her if she knew who might appreciate the books.  The woman was ecstatic! It turned out; she is a volunteer at the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital.  The voluntee... 07/12/2013

There are countless programs and training coaches out there that advertise the ability to help you earn millions with just a small investment of X. Most of these tactics that you are paying for include advice on how often you should knock on doors, make cold calls, etc. What surprises me is that these are still the methods we are exercising to try and earn business. Sure, they might work sometimes, but when is the last time you bought anything from someone who knocked on your door? Here in California, it's not often. I recently wrote an article that was published for REALTOR Magazine's YPN Blog on a few ways to focus on connecting the dots in other ways: http://ypnlounge.blogs.realtor.org/2013/06/25/how-to-earn-6-figures-in-1-month/   More so than this, I suggest really looking into how... 06/25/2013

LACK OF NEW ANAHEIM HILLS CA REAL ESTATE LISTINGS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL Active real estate listings remained in neutral between April and May 2013, with the number of homes for sale in Anaheim Hills rising by less than 3% month over month.  The mix of listings was also virtually unchanged, leaving very few distressed sales for bargain hunter buyers. The low inventory level and lack of new listings is highly unusual for this time of the year and could be an indication that Anaheim Hills homeowners are content to stay where they are, and happy to have made it through the recession in one piece. By the end of May, 2013, the overall number of pending home sales in Anaheim Hills fell month to month, and as compared to one year earlier. This was to be expected, given the lack of inventory. Closed... 06/22/2013

Anaheim Hills Golf    Anaheim Hills CA 92807  Anaheim Hills Golf Course is a Public golf course, but feels like a Private Golf Course. The rates are very reasonable, the conditions and location of the course are great. The fairways offers a challenging yet spectacular plays.  I have always enjoyed playing golf at the Anaheim Hills Anaheim Hills Ca 92807 course. I love the views and the scenery as well. For nearly 40 years, Anaheim Hills Golf Course has offered a fun, accessible and challenging par-71 course with memorable drives and eclectic terrain. The course also has a large club house and banquet hall with spectacular views. The Score Grill cafe is fun place to eat. The course also offers a  bar for all  the hard work at the course!           Here are some helpful links to the Anahe... 05/30/2013

We constantly hear about the "local expert" or the "#1 Agent in town" - Who cares?! Not the client. With so many claims of being the best, you're just another one getting lost in the shuffle. Prospects want to know why not what. I personally like to have client stories published on my website so people can see what they're getting. With all else aside, whether the sales skills are a bit rusty for converting prospects or you're brand new to the business, I suggest one simple thing to remember to ensure a positive experience and encourage future business. I recently wrote the following article that was published today in REALTOR Magazine's online blog: Young Professional Network (YPN) Lounge: http://ypnlounge.blogs.realtor.org/2013/05/30/what-is-the-key-to-real-estate-success/ 05/30/2013

Record Low Inventory And Sales Prices Push Higher In Anaheim Hills CA There was little change in the Anaheim Hills CA real estate market between March and April 2013. The inventory of homes for sale in Anaheim Hills remained at record low levels for this time of year and the majority of April 2013 real estate sales closed at or above the original list price. Active Real Estate Listings in Anaheim Hills CA = 73 Highest and Lowest Priced Real Estate Listings in Anaheim Hills CA Lowest priced property for sale in Anaheim Hills, CA - $200,000.00 Highest priced property for sale in Anaheim Hills, CA - $5,900,000.00 Anaheim Hills CA Active Real Estate Listings By Property Type: 56 Single Family Residence 17 Condo/Townhouse 0 Other (Land, Mobile Home, Mixed Use Property, etc...) Anaheim Hills ... 05/29/2013

The incredibly tragic bombings at the Boston Marathon have given us all time to reflect.  It was eerily similar to the Olympic incident in Atlanta and it certainly tore the scab off of the 9/11 tragedy.  It was a particularly tense half hour before I found out a good friend of mine, running in the race, was safe. Nevertheless, we all got up the next day; every one of us.  Why?  Because we are full of faith and hope.  That’s right, hope.  Do you recognize how often you tap into that energy?  You hope that it’s going to be a good day.  You hope this is your last call for service for the day.  You hope someone you love is waiting for you at home.  I think we tap into our Hope far more often than we consider.  Whether you are dealing with something significant or something relatively minor,... 05/23/2013

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS AT THE LOWEST LEVEL SEEN IN YEARS Anaheim Hills real estate listings fell once again, after a slight increase in the previous month. As of the end of March 2013, the number of homes for sale in Anaheim Hills fell to the lowest level in years, leaving home buyers with few options and little bargaining power. The hope is that, as prices continue to rise, more equity home sellers will be able to list their homes for sale, and buyers will have more inventory to choose from. However, as we begin to enter the typical "home selling" season of spring and summer, we haven't seen any signs of a major increase in available properties in Anaheim Hills. Active Real Estate Listings in Anaheim Hills CA = 65 Highest and Lowest Priced Real Estate Listings in Anaheim Hills CA Lowest ... 04/18/2013

Below are some interesting charts complied from the Orange County MLS. Do these charts represent the trends of the beginning of the end of this Seller's market? We will have to wait a few more months to find out, however now is probably one of the best opportunities for Orange County homeowners to sell above market value.   As can be seen from the chart below, the number of new listings hitting the market each month has been increasing steadily since December 2012. Is this upward trend in new listings month over month going to continue? If it does continue what does it mean to sellers?   An increase in new listings each month means one thing, eventually more inventory for buyers to choose from and less money for sellers. It is a basic economic concept, supply and demand. If this trend c... 04/05/2013

"My friend is a Realtor and said he will give me half of his commission if I use him" We have all heard this before. Those pathetic words that make your blood boil because you've been slapped in the face with utter ignorance...again. To the consumers out there, listen up. And listen damn good. You've obviously been around long enough to have heard the phrase, "You get what you pay for". Why not take that for what is really means? Let me explain by using an example that has held true in my own life. For about a year now, I have been on a manhunt, searching for a great accountant. One that understands real estate, can limit tax liabilities, is creative with shelters, and most importantly, advises me on what to do rather than wait for me to ask questions. I have met with about half a dozen... 04/03/2013

The Real Estate Transaction: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?  "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." While Edward Murphy was referring to the use of new measurement devices, his rule can be aptly applied to the real estate transaction without a hiccup. From the very first step – getting preapproved for a mortgage – to choosing a real estate agent to the close of escrow, the process is full of pitfalls. If you're considering the purchase or sale of a home, it's a good idea to know what could go wrong during the process. While some problems are hard to anticipate, others happen with enough frequency that they offer lessons, allowing you to become informed and, hopefully, help you to avoid some of the biggest problems.   Choosing a Real Estate Agent Your real estate agent is the driver ... 04/01/2013

That's exactly it. We're distracted by the next ticking tock, notification beep, all caps whatever and cannot seem to find the snooze or "SHUT THE F#&% UP" button in our daily routine. It's evident we live and die by our mobile devices - iPad, iPhone, iPaidTooMuchForThisDistraction Rather than chasing the immediate carrot dangling in front of us, including (but not limited to) showing houses on command, answering every call (even when in the middle of something else), and/or clicking refresh on our e-mail until we're blue in the face, perhaps we should spend our time utilizing those wrinkles in our brain. Establish the HOW in whatever our business goal may be. I suggest identifying an end-all goal for a specific time period. I frequenlty use End of Year or even End of Quarter milestones... 03/31/2013

"Let's just put it on the market and see what happens?" - Not a Selling Strategy   Every real estate professional has heard this sophisticated marketing technique from a seller or two.There are many reasons why this technique doesn't work, and will probably fetch less than market value. For a full explanation, on why this doesn't work and a description on an effective strategy, please contact me privately. However, the most obvious reason of why this is a non-strategy, is because: "As REALTORS, we have access to information and resources which allow us to accurately determine home values today."   In other words, access to information is readily available to everyone including"would be" buyers and their agents, so people aren't just going to voluntarily pay more than what the home is wo... 03/29/2013

Anaheim Hills Ca Luxury Homes for Sale  Widely regarded for it's high standard of homes,quality schools and pristine locations, Anaheim Hills CA has evolved as an affluent town with many million dollar homes and estates. Luxury Communities Like the Summit Pointe,  Peralta Hills and the Belsomet Community offers homes well over $1,000,000 to nearly one listed right now for almost $6,000,000 in prestgious Peralta Hills. There were 28 homes sold in 2012 that were more than a million dollars - two every month! This is more than sufficient to understand the value Anaheim Hills  has to offer for high-end living. Are you looking forward to Luxury Home in Aanaheim Hills  area? Will you be looking to buy a Luxury Home in Anaheim Hills Ca or the surrounding cities?  Here are a few of the luxury h... 03/24/2013

Anaheim Hills 92807:   Comparing February 2013 to February 2012, pended sales are up 4.9%, while homes available were down 58.4% Closings were exactly the same as a year ago Months of Inventory/Closings (2.1 months) and Months of Inventory/ Pended Sales (1.1 months) indicate a low supply and high demand The average price per square foot has increased from a year ago from $221 to $261 The sold/list price differential was 1%   Anaheim Hills 92808:   Comparing February 2013 to February 2012, pended sales were down 3.4%, while homes available were down 58% Closings were down 28.6% over a year ago Months of Inventory/Closings (1.9 months) and Months of Inventory/ Pended Sales (1 month) indicate a low supply and high demand The average price per square foot increased from $254 to $269 The sol... 03/15/2013

Let's throw it back. Remember playing musical chairs? (Nod your head...this is going somewhere). The real estate market has heated up to the adult version of the game. The only difference is it's considered frowned upon to literally push someone to get the house you want...instead you need to let your offer do the talking.  Well, we've been seeing it everywhere. And perhaps hearing it too much..."Intentory is low, huh?" Don't confuse low interest rates with the common misconception of it being a "Buyer's Market". We can observe the opposite is true in the current market when viewing the supply and demand curve amongst Buyers and Sellers. It's simple, really: 1. Money is cheap and Buyers want a home...NOW!  2. # of Buyers > Homes Available 3. People will pay a premium to get the home the... 03/09/2013

Creating Indoor and Outdoor Transitions  Even if your outdoor space is limited to a tiny patch of concrete outside your back door, when planned as part of a cohesive design with the rest of your home, an outdoor space of any size can have a big impact.  Most people wouldn't dream of neglecting the transition between two interior spaces of their house, from their kitchen to their family room for example. The two areas should flow together and complement one another, right? Then why do we treat the transition to our outdoor spaces any differently? By thinking about the indoor/outdoor transitions of your home in the same way you do that walk from the kitchen to the living room, you can make your home both more functional and beautiful.                                                       ... 03/06/2013

Have you ever wondered how every single real estate brokerage can claim they are #1? Simple answer: misleading statistics. If you want to be #1 at anything, call a statistician and you shall be #1. However, what is most surprising to me as a managing broker are the offices that use this as a main recruiting method. In my opinion those brokerages need to focus more on making every agent in their office #1, and less on the aggregate production of the other 500 agents in the office. Because let's face facts, the overall production of the other agents in the office is putting $0 more in the agent's pockets, but sure is putting a lot in the brokerage's pocket. Yes, I agree it does feel good to be part of a reputable and recognized organization and I believe in name brand recognition, that is... 03/05/2013

Is your pager number still on your business card? Perhaps you retrieve contact information through the yellow pages? Still dialing up to Prodigy to retrieve your e-mail? If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, you are probably the culprit requesting the irrelevant information mentioned in the above subject line.  Should I use a Polaroid or have the check sent via Horse and Buggy? Help me understand how a copy of a check to accompany an offer is needed over a current bank statement; or even useful at all for that matter. In this day and age, I have yet to meet an Agent who does not require the deposit to be sent directly to escrow after acceptance (and usually wired for that matter). So what happens with the copy of the copy of the fake EMD we sent you? Oh, it gets used for noth... 03/04/2013

PRICES RISING AT A STEADY PACE IN ANAHEIM HILLS CA Month over month, Anaheim Hills real estate listings increased by 10%. However, when compared to the number of listings available one year ago, there were 55.2% fewer homes for sale in Anaheim Hills, California in February, 2013. Due to the ultra low inventory level of active property listings, buyers have been left with little to choose from, especially in the entry level price range of $500,000 and below. Bidding wars have become quite common and, as a result, prices have been rising at a steady pace. It is definitely a seller's market in Anaheim Hills, California. Active Real Estate Listings in Anaheim Hills CA = 77 Highest and Lowest Priced Real Estate Listings in Anaheim Hills CA Lowest priced property for sale in Anaheim Hills, CA... 03/03/2013