Our nation, though relatively young, is rich in history. Arcadia Publishing has done a phenomenal job with a series of books called Images of America. With more than 3400 titles in the series, chances are pretty good there's a title that chronicles your area's history.This is a great portrait of my home town. The book covers the early days of Murrieta, its people and commerce and is packed with wonderful photos. It is dedicated to E. Hale Curran, who took many of the photos in the book and collected others. It makes a great coffee table book and an ideal closing gift. Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701 It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home. Subscribe in a ... 02/26/2008

 Sometimes in the course of my busy schedule, and I'm sure yours as well, I have one of those days where Mr Murphy's law shows up and things not only go wrong they go sideways. Today was one of those days and I will not go into detail but I had big problems with an escrow and my clients are great people and working together the issues were resolved but my brain was fried by the time I arrived at home.  Upon arriving at home I was greeted by my wife who does have a job and our two dogs who really are a little bit spoiled and I guess their job is to sleep but they do make us laugh. After grabbing a favorite beverage and going out onto our patio to relax and unwind the dogs kept running up to me wagging their tails as fast as they possibly could until I broke into laughter as it seemed to ... 02/25/2008

Every year about this time it's been my custom to provide you a market overview. Twelve, fifteen years ago this column wasn't much fun to write. Then it got pretty entertaining for awhile between 1996 and 2005. Nowadays it's not that much fun either, but makes for an interesting read if you don't have anything better to do. Let's start local, shall we? Look at that nice spike back in Q2 '04. Temecula sold an average of 202 homes every month that quarter while Murrieta came in close behind at 180. In '05 we experienced another run-up starting with the springtime selling season that reached its peak in August of that year selling an average of 178 homes a month in Temecula, 168 in Murrieta. In '06 there was a mini-spikelett starting off the springtime season but it disappeared faster than... 02/25/2008

This Murrieta, California vacant property you are about to view had been on the market for approximately one year.   After many price reductions and still no luck, Sirva, a relocation company, took the advice from The Hensley Group, Inc in December 2007 to home stage this property. Six weeks after home staging by 1st Stage Property Transformation, the property received an offer and is now currently in Escrow!  :)Realtor's, What are you waiting for???   Don't Delay.....Stage Today!!!   :)  This Murrieta California Vacant Property was home staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation.  Please email  Janice@1stStage.net or call me at 951.704.0597 for a free home staging quote.  Home Staging all of Riverside County Inland Empire. 02/08/2008

It's a wintry morning in Murrieta. The mercury dropped to 25 overnight. Fortunately it doesn't get that cold that often here. Last year we had a nearly two week stretch of sub 30 nights that wreaked havoc on the tropical foliage. I love this time of year. The air is crisp and the sky is crystal clear. Rain is in the forecast for this week, and as we're in a drought, any we get will be welcome. Tuesday I'll head off to Indian Wells for the California Association of REALTORS® business meetings. One of the things I love about living in the Temecula Valley is the small town feeling you get, but still having the proximity of Palm Springs, San Diego and Los Angeles. Ain't life grand? Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701 It wo... 01/20/2008

Last Christmas, we were invited to potluck with our friends in Quail Valley. Everyone agreed on a ham, so I headed over to Honeycutt Farms. I had stopped in once to try their split pea soup (delicious!), but hadn't yet tried their ham. It was a hit! Everyone loved it, there were plenty of leftovers, and I made an incredibly tasty black bean soup with the bone.Debbie and I went back to try their breakfast a few weeks later and it was absolutely delicious. Their bacon, sausage and ham with eggs and biscuit breakfast is guaranteed to satisfy any hunger pangs you might have. They're also open for lunch and dinner. If you're looking for down home cooking at very reasonable prices, you've got to check them out.I introduced myself to owner Cheryl Dorfner. She told me the restaurant has been in... 01/15/2008

One week before Christmas I got wonderful news that a house that I staged got an offer 3 weeks after it was listed.  I just blogged about this yesterday.  Going, Going, GONE! The Staged Mobile Home Sold!!! Today I received an email from my client/realtor Dexter Padilla RiverRock Mortgage Realty  which reads: Great news! We just went into escrow on the property a couple of days ago, so I'll keep you posted once all conditions are cleared so you can remove the furniture.   Additionally, the selling agent loves the furniture and is thinking about buying it. This property was staged October 25th and is now in Escrow!!!  2 months after being staged! I am thrilled! The kids were still asleep...it's 11:30am....teenagers....and my husband is at an appointment.  I want to just SCREAM!!!!!  But i... 01/04/2008

I taught my first blogging class months back at my Coldwell Banker office. Gene Wunderlich and I are not only in the same office, we are both directors of the board of The Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS®. I'm this year's board chairman, Gene will be next year's chairman.Gene took my class, began a blog here, and then got busy doing other things. Gene is passionate about politics. He's the reason I upped my RPAC contributions and why I ran for the board. He's actively involved in the fight against mortgage fraud as you'll discover when you visit his blog.Let's welcome Geno into the fray. I know you'll enjoy getting to know him.  Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701 It would be my honor and privilege t... 12/14/2007

Are you ready? December 21 is the date that Murrieta city officials have chosen to re-schedule the Winter Wonderland Snow Festival. Festivities will take place at the California Oaks Sports Park starting at 8am with the Murrieta Firefighters' Association's pancake and sausage breakfast. After breakfast, the kids will get a chance to play in 30 tons of snow! Sleds will be provided. Santa will be on hand for photo ops. Adults can shop locally at the Holiday Craft Fair. Activities continue until 1pm.Happy holidays, one and all! Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701 It would be my honor and privilege to show you the beautiful Temecula Valley. My goal is to over-deliver on what I promise. 12/12/2007

<!-- .slogan {font: bold 10pt Verdana,serif;color:#156739;} .slogan {font:normal 17px Georgia,Times,sans-serif;font-style:italic;color:#114888;} --> Let's Say Thanks! Let's join our voices here at Active Rain and Support our Troops and LetsSayThanks and send a quick post card from you and your families! A dear Active Rain member challenged us all to do our part and post within our own communities and send a postcard to our troops! Xerox has made this an easy challenge to do with their user friendly site. It's easier than composing an email. I want to challenge all of Murrieta, the beautiful Temecula Valley and surrounding areas and my blogging community to share your well wishes to those sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers who have spent time awa... 11/30/2007

I think it's safe to say you'll be glad you don't live next door to the Simkins family. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Robert and Phoebe are nice folks. It's just that when you spend $20,000 on props and get a featured article in the Press-Enterprise, there's bound to be quite a bit more traffic in the neighborhood. The Simkins 9th annual haunted house is open from 6-11pm today and 6-midnight tomorrow at 36215 Castellane Drive. The year's theme is "Season Of Hell". Admission is free, but donations are accepted.Murrieta Real Estate Expert - Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701 10/30/2007

Well, we are now in a buyers market.  Interest rates are still low.  So....where are all the buyers?  I am working with several future buyers who are just on the sidelines......watching what the market is doing....There is still quite a bit of uncertainty out there.  Between what the media is telling everyone and what the stock market is doing.....people that don't have to buy or sell are going to wait.......So, what can we do?  I think the best thing we can do as Realtors is not list those homes that we know are not going to sell because they are over priced.  The inventory is so high, that buyers are almost overwhelmed....they can take all the time they want to "look".  There is almost too many homes to choose from.  So, let's do the market a favor......DONT list a home that you know ... 09/28/2007

Last week I finished a home staging job for a Murrieta occupied home.    The upstairs bonus room already had been furnished but needed a "stager's helping hand" to bring back the "BONUS" in BONUS ROOM.  It was a lot of fun and the results, in my opinion, were dramatic.  In this case, all that was needed was lots of decluttering, removing the busy worn couch cover, a few pillows accessories and VIOLA! Remember, staging doesn't have to cost a lot to allow potential buyer's to visualize themselves living in a home for sale. As I have written and witnessed, Sometimes a little staging goes a long way!  :)                                             Contact Janice Sutton  with 1st Stage Property Transformation located in Temecula Murrieta for Home Staging one of your biggest Investments!   Ja... 09/21/2007

As summer winds down, I wanted to remind you that Murrieta's "Movie In  The Park" series is continuing in Town Square Park. This Saturday night it's the Wizard of Oz and Saturday the 22nd they'll be showing Charlotte's Web. What a great way to spend an evening with your family and get the opportunity to make new friends. Movie show-times run from 7 - 9 pm. 09/05/2007

It's funny. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and had you told me 10 years ago I would be a resident of Southern California I probably would have asked you what you were smoking. The twists and turns life takes us on is an interesting process, to say the least.To condense a long story, my wife and I went to Mexico for a long weekend in the year 2000. She's a jazz singer and wound up singing at a local night club. Three months later she returned to put on a concert at the same place and that weekend, we wound up buying a home in Mexico! We flew home, put our San Francisco house on the market, and moved to Mexico.This will down the road lead to stories of how I got into real estate, my adventures south of the border, etc., but for now I'll tell you we decided to move ba... 08/22/2007

                   I was thrilled to learn that not only did this Murrieta vacant home sell in less then 1 week (see original blog Gettin' Busy Bloggin' ) after home staging with 1st Stage BUT the new owners wanted to BUY some of the FURNITURE  and ACCESSORIES also!!!  Can you see the smile on my face? :) As a Murrieta, CA Home Stager I made the business decision to buy all of my inventory. Don't get me wrong, owning your own inventory has it's advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage for me was being able to offer competitive pricing.  The biggest disadvantage is moving and storing the furniture.      The first reason why I decided to buy all the furniture and accessories instead of renting is because of the price.  I wanted to make Home Staging affordable for everyone.  I know... 08/20/2007

Thursday 9-13-07  Where did the summer go.  I can't believe it is fall already when the temperature outside is in the high 90's.  At least the evenings are beautiful and warm.  I just came back from Cleveland, Ohio following a family wedding, an engagement party for my other niece and a Large Family reunion with all 6 brothers and sisters and their kids.  Yikes we take up a lot of room.  My poor husband was not use to all the Hearns attending every meal together from Restaurants to home parties.  He is worn out.I on the other hand had a BALL.  My family is so much fun they should have a TV show about them.  They don't even realize how funny they are because they are use to everyone falling down laughing and having a Great Time.Now that it is time to get back to work I can only reflect o... 08/10/2007

Are bank owned homes worth the savings?I asked myself this question yesterday while i was showing bank owned homes with the realtor I work under to a couple clients. We chose three homes, and set out having no real idea of what kind of condition these homes would be in, etc. But we did have a client who insisted on buying bank owned.We traveled to the first home which was in Murrieta CA 92562 . It was a wreck. From the moment we pulled into the driveway the overgrown lawn with weeds as high as a foot seemed to come at us from all over the lawn. We walked inside to find black carpet, (Yes from dirt) holes in the walls, the front door was broken off of the support, a half gutted kitchen with remenents of an old stove and filthy oven, and needless to say, we quickly left the home.The secon... 08/06/2007

  Its literally amazing whats going on in my local market! I just returned from the Real Estate Connect in San Francisco and decided to stop by and say hi to a friend. As I was walking up to his home I noticed an open house sign advertising a bank owned "steal". Being that I am always in the market to buy if the price is right I decided to take a closer look. Walking down to the home was a joke. 7 out of the 18 houses on that particular street had dead lawns. The street looked like it was a ghost town! As I walk up to the home an over zealous Realtor walks up to me immediately telling myself why I must buy this home. She tells me it sold last year for $660,000 And that the buyer put money down and how solid of a home it was. I grabbed a flyer and realized the asking price was $440,000. ... 08/04/2007

Today I was checking in on AR and my AR associates and to my surprise I read a blog from a Keller Williams realtor Michael Garcia, GRI that I worked with in June that was titled Stage that Home and he mentioned me. (Blushing) Michael posted..... So, I approached the seller about this idea. I have had a few offers on the property, but none worth talking about. I also have a buyer interested in the property too. But I couldnt get them to see any vision for the home. The seller asked me to get a few bids and accepted one with 1st Stage Property Transformations. Oh yea, the cool thing is, I found Janice here on activerain! Can you believe it? She did a fantastic job and had such great vision on how the home might look and put into action. I e-mailed the picts to my buyer and to other agents... 07/26/2007