To me this is one of the keys to success in real estate. 1. Be ready to go at all times. Even if you are at the grocery store, hairdresser, restaurant, answer the phone and make an appointment soon to meet with the clients. Be dressed appropriately and full of energy. Know the inventory so you can spring into action with minimal preparation. 2. Be willing to go. You cannot be too tired, too busy, too lazy, too sick, too uninterested. Real estate is your life and passion and it shows. Be willing to do what it takes to get the deal done even if it means working 7 days a week, even if it means writing 5+ offers, even if it means showing 30+ houses, even if it means doing 6 open houses a weekend, and even if it means more. 3. Be able to go. Stay physically fit and full of energy. Have your ... 04/07/2013

Sellers - please come to the party. Now is the time to sell your house. Most buyers with cash and a 10 day close will not pay full price. Also  - you want a quick close, not a 45 day close so your friends can use your vacation home one more time. Also- I sell real estate, not furniture or golf carts. Prices are increasing but not much. Please understand this is a great time to sell your home. When you get offers close to the asking, my advice is to take the money and run. 04/05/2013

Stuft Pizza - they have alot more than just pizza - a favorite of the locals El Ranchito - Mexican - fun and good food Teddy's - Mexican - a great value and fun for breakfast, lunch, and dinner too Arnold Palmer's -- American high end cuisine - there are replicas of Arnold's trophies, photos, and Master's green jacket Hog's Breath - great happy hour and honky tonk piano music Old Town Coffee - great coffee, sandwiches, muffins Wine Bar - wine tasting and light fare Lavender's - fine dining with a great bar and patio dining too - delicious and beautiful Old Town Grille - Great place to meet friends for good food and drinks Solano's Bistro - Fine dining inside or out   04/03/2013

How often have we heard this? Also- how often have we found their perfect house? How often do they buy their perfect house? It truly does happen and that is the most rewarding part of this business for me. I love to put people in their dream. When I first meet with clients I make a list for them of what they want in their perfect house. Then I show them the list when they fin a home a home they like and we check off the list.  This does help me to sell homes. 04/02/2013

Springtime Snow in La Quinta   There may still be snow in other parts of the country, but when you live in La Quinta, this is the closest thing we have to "snow"!  Hope you are enjoying the lovely spring weather and all of the beautiful flowers and cactus now blooming in our California desert!  The photo on the left is in front of our Intero La Quinta office- and the one on the right is my view of the fallen "snow"! Stop by and see us in Old Town and we'll show you around!  04/02/2013

This month Wells Fargo Bank is offering a FREE credit report to all. Just go into the bank and request the credit report as offered in local ads. You can get expert insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your credit. What can you do to maintain good credit? What can you do to improve your credit? Not often do you get a FREE no obligation credit report. 03/31/2013

La Brasserie Bistro in La Quinta at the corner of Hwy 111 and Washington keeps getting better!  We met with clients a few nights ago and had such a wonderful time! La Brasserie has happy hour each evening with reduced plates and discounted drinks.  Some favorites of ours are  the MOULES MARINIÈRE P.E.I. STEAMED MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE, SHALLOTS AND HERBS 8 / 6 HAPPY  If you order the Mussels... you must accompany them with the    BRASSERIE FRENCH FRIES PARMESAN, PARSLEY AND TRUFFLE OIL 6 / 5 HAPPY                        We also love the SHREDDED DUCK CONFIT “TACOS” ORANGE GASTRIQUE 8 / 6 HAPPY hour GRILLED CHEESE & SHORT RIB SLIDER PICKLED CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND BABY SPINACH 8 / 6 HAPPY hour   CRISPY CALAMARI TOSSED WITH COLESLAW AND SWEET CHILI SAUCE 8 / 6 HAPPY hour   La Brasserie was n... 03/30/2013

I have lived at Trilogy La Quinta for 2 years. I knew I liked trilogy before moving here as I had sold a lot of homes here. I had no idea how much I would like living here myself. The development is pristine. It is peaceful and quiet. The people are friendly. There is plenty to do. A real benefit for me is the sidewalks throughout the development as I love to walk. There also is an indoor walking track for the hot days of summer. I also enjoy the yoga a fitness classes. The lap pool and relax pool are wonderful. You feel like you are at a 5 star resort with showers with spa shampoo and conditioner and even plush towels, hairdryers, and q-tips. There is a wine club, cards, crafts, coffee bar, excursion trips, first class golf, and even a delicious restaurant and bar. For first class livi... 03/30/2013

It took a whopping 10 days to get this newly listed home in La Quinta into escrow. Located in the La Quinta Cove, on an oversized corner lot, this home is a diamond in the rough. I suspected the offer would be from an investor, not because it was priced low, but because it needs some work.The offer that came in is very appealing to the sellers because it's a very short close, and the buyers are taking it as is. The home was left to the sellers upon their mother's death, and although a lovely property, they are eager to move on.I still thought it would take a bit longer to get an appropriate offer. Preferably cash, a quick close, and the buyer that could see past the needed TLC. That's exactly what we got. Sometimes it's better to take an offer with the perfect terms, as opposed to a sli... 03/28/2013

1. Assess your debt - always payy off credit card debt first 2. Set a monthly financial target- Adjust your lifestyle to match whatyou bring in each month. Allow for savings as well. 3. Identify smart savings. For example, cancel you cable for a month or so if you need money. 4. Look ahead. Plan for the worst. Understand that you will need a new car in three years. Expenses do increase as fees raise. 5. Prepare for the worst. What do you do if there is no income for several months? 6. Develop a savings habit. Keep plugging away with continual savings. 03/27/2013

I text and call so many people a day and very few answer the phone and many do not even call back. It is scary to think how much of my life I spend waiting for people to call back or calling them again. I was raised to have the common courtesy to answer the phone or call people back promptly.  Now more than ever, follow through and follow up is the key to success in business and life too. Please call me back - thank you 03/27/2013

  The Hideaway Golf Club is a private golf club in La Quinta with two championship courses designed by Clive Clark and Pete Dye, developed by Discovery Land Company.  I played there yesterday with friends and was reminded over and over of the incredible beauty there!  The membership is a vital part of the club... it is first class, but also casual and fun!  For more information about the Hideaway Golf Club give me a call and I'll show you around! SEARCH FOR HOMES AT THE HIDEAWAY 03/27/2013

Spring has Sprung in La Quinta!   I captured this beautiful bougainvilla in full spring bloom on my way home from golf at La Quinta Country Club a few days ago!  it is now whispering...it is SHOUTING that SPRING has SPRUNG in La Quinta! Our inventory of homes for sale has also blossomed!  If you are looking for a golf course property or second home at La Quinta Country Club, or in the desert area give me a call for a list of homes for sale  or visit my website SchoweProperties.com! 03/25/2013

A few days ago I played with friends at La Quinta Country Club and captured this shot of the crazy contrails overhead from the 8th green.  We have had such a nice warm beginning of spring!  Hope you are keeping warm-- if your are in the cold weather and snow in other parts of the country!  Come see us in La Quinta! 03/24/2013

I learned many years ago that planting red, yellow, and pink flowers helps sells homes faster. People like the color. The home stands out more and has better curb appeal. Flowers in the backyard make a difference too. People remember the home better and it feels fresh, clean, happy. Find this out for yourself. Drive down the street and see which homes look the best to you. Most of the time, the homes with flowers stand out as the most inviting. I was surprised when I first found out that color of the flowers makes a difference too, but over the years I see that res, yellow, and pick are the colors most preferred by buyers. Start planting now for your own enjoyment and to get your home sold faster and for more money too. 03/24/2013

There are many sellers who say they want to sell their home but overprice the home and then wonder why it does not sell. In La Quinta, Ca., our market is stable but not rising so overpriced homes are sitting. I am shocked by how many agents take overpriced listings. It must make then happy to see their sign in the yard or maybe they think they will pick up a buyer? I think it makes the listing agent look silly to price a home more than 10% over the market price and the price it will appraise. The homes that are clean and neat and well maintained and priced at the market or alittle lower sell fast. The others are sitting. If you truly want to sell your home, be sure it is priced to sell. 03/24/2013

I have good luck with vacation renters for the most part, but recently I am surprised by the damage that has been done to some vacation homes. It makes me wonder how these people treat their own home. 1. Leave water marks from putting plants on fireplace hearth 2. Pillows on couch ripped 3. Stain on wood dining room table 4. Lipstick or paint on dining room chair 5. Paint on backyard rocks 6. Pile od garbage bags in the garage 7. Nail holes in walls from crepe paper nailed to wall for a birthday party 8. Scratch on stainless refrigerator 9. Pee stains on bedroom comforter 10. Scratches on living room furniture 11. Marks and scrapes on walls 12. Patio slider will not lock 03/21/2013

2 La Quinta Pet Events This Weekend  Friday Tail Gate Parties - NEW TIME! 6:00pm Meet and Greet 6:30pm - Dog Walk around the Park Casual get togethers for pets, owners, doctors staff and friends on Friday evenings in the park. Meet under the Blue Umbrella, across the street from the new Village Park Animal Hospital  on Eisenhower and Montezuma. All owners and leashed pets are welcome to join in for snacks and a nice walk. No RSVP required, and we'll keep this up until it's just too hot!  *Note the later time for working dogs and owners! Saturday, March 23, 10AM - 4PM: Strut Your Mutt Event in La Quinta Park Village Park Animal Hospital  and AquaPaws La Quinta will have a booth at this fun event in the park. Come on by and say hi! If you would like to register your pet for any of the co... 03/20/2013

Now is the time to buy HOMES!!!! This is the time to invest in real estate. There are great deals available and the return on investment is 8% or higher annually, not even including tax write offs. There are many people who need to rent and want to rent so buy, buy, buy! Example - Buyer a home for $250,000 in North La Quinta, California ( number are approximations) Downpayment $100,000 Loan $150,000 Payment $800 month Taxes $300 Miscellaneous $200 Total costs per month $1300 Rent $2000 per month Positive cash flow $700 per month or $8400 per year. 03/19/2013

I have sold over 2400 homes in 12 years. Now more than ever I am seeing nervous buyers. It is so silly as this is a great time to buy a home. This is a near perfect real estate market. Prices are low. Interest rates are low. They are great homes available for sale without even having to buy a distressed property. Investing in real estate is providing better return on investment than most other investments both short term and long term. Pull the trigger. Take action now and buy a home. Be bold,not nervous. You will be so glad you bought a home for financial reasons and also for economic benefits. 03/19/2013