Live at the Beach

PLAYA DEL NORTE (MEASURE W)

2008-10-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

Still on the fence about the North Beach Project? The LAB will be holding an informative presentation at the Talega Swim and Athletic Club on Thursday OCtober 9th at 6:30pm. They will discuss how their plan will revitalize and improve North Beach for local residents and help you be prepared to vote.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to 949.498.7744 or ritschel1@cox.net.

You can also visit www.pronorthbeach.org for more inforation.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

9. Ethical treatment. Every member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a customer of a REALTOR®, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. It is mandatory for REALTORS® to take the Code of Ethics orientation and they are also required to complete a refresher course every four years.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

8. Buying and selling is emotional. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

7. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

6. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

4. Benefit from their negotiating experience. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

3. Find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

WHY SHOULD YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

2. Get objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH A REALTOR

2008-09-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

1. You’ll have an expert to guide you through the process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH A REALTOR®

2008-09-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Our next blog segment will review the nine reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A REALTOR

2008-09-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.

1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.

2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS® — which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training — are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.

3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.

4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.

5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.

6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive.

7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.

8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.

9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.

10. What’s your business philosophy? While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent.

Article compliments of NAR

HOW TO EVALUATE A REALTOR

2008-09-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

According to the National Association of Realtors, the first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR® .

You should then ask:
- Does the agent belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region.
- Does the agent have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.
- Is real estate their full-time career?
- What real estate designations does the agent hold?
- Which party is he or she representing--you or the seller? This discussion is supposed to occur early on, at "first serious contact" with you. The agent should discuss your state's particular definitions of agency, so you'll know where you stand.
- In exchange for your commitment, how will the agent help you accomplish your goals? Show you homes that meet your requirements and provide you with a list of the properties he or she is showing you?

DOWN TO THE WIRE

2008-09-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

HOME OWNERS WORKSHOP
LOAN MODIFICATIONS, SHORT SALES,
NEW REAL ESTATE TAX LAWS

Short Sales, Foreclosures, Deed-in-lieu-of Foreclosures
Erin Riley & Cecilia McDermott
Realtors, Distinctive Coast Properties

Loan Modifications
Letty Val Verde, Sr. Loan Consultant, Mark 1

Short Sale Escrows
Judy Norris, Escrow Officer, Tiempo 2

New Tax Laws for 2007-2008 and Credits
Chris Basom, Your Money Matters inc. CPA

SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Limited Seating Register Today!
949.290.7791 / 949.283.1722

HOSTED BY:

Distinctive Coast Properties
209 Avenida Del Mar Suite 104
San Clemente, CA 92672

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHOICE

2008-09-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

The variety of brokerage business models in today’s real estate industry affords the homeowner a greater range of options than ever before. But no matter which option is chosen, before signing a Listing Agreement or otherwise engaging the services of a REALTOR® and agreeing to compensate them, homeowners should understand exactly what services will, or will not, be provided.

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF A REALTOR

2008-09-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

There are nearly 200 typical actions, research steps, procedures, processes and review stages in a successful residential real estate transaction that are normally provided by full service real estate brokerages in return for their sales commission. Depending on the transaction, some may take minutes, hours, or even days to complete, while some may not be needed.

More importantly, they reflect the level of skill, knowledge and attention to detail required in today’s real estate transaction, underscoring the importance of having help and guidance from someone who fully understands the process – a REALTOR®. And never forget that REALTORS® are pledged to uphold the stringent, enforceable tenets of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics in their professional dealings with the public. Not every real estate licensee holds REALTOR® membership. Make sure yours does!

THE REALTOR COMMITMENT

2008-09-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

Through it all, the personal and professional commitment of the REALTOR® is to ensure that a seller and buyer are brought together in an agreement that provides each with a “win” that is fair and equitable. The motivation is easy to understand. For most full-service brokerages, they receive no compensation unless and until the sale closes. By contrast, there are firms that offer “limited services” in exchange for an up-front flat fee, or perhaps offer a menu of pay-as-you-go or “a la’ carte” options. Some even offer a sliding scale ranging from limited to full service. In these cases, the compensation of the REALTOR® is based on these reduced service levels with the seller bearing full responsibility for all the other steps and procedures in the selling process.

In short, the marketplace truism is that “you get what you pay for.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF A REALTOR

2008-09-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Surveys show that many homeowners and homebuyers are not aware of the true value a REALTOR® provides during the course of a real estate transaction. At the same time, regrettably, REALTORS® have generally assumed that the expertise, professional knowledge and just plain hard work that go into bringing about a successful transaction were understood and appreciated.

Many of the most important services and steps are performed behind the scenes by either the REALTOR® or the brokerage staff and traditionally have been viewed simply as part of their professional responsibilities to the client. But, without them, the transaction could be placed in jeopardy.

WHY USE A REALTOR?

2008-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Not every real estate agent or broker is a REALTOR®. That term and the familiar Block “R” logo are trademarked by the National Association of REALTORS® and can only be used by those who are REALTOR® members through their local association of REALTORS®.

While all REALTORS® are state-issued licensees as agents or brokers, the major difference between a “real estate licensee” and a REALTOR® is that REALTORS® have taken an oath to subscribe to a stringent, enforceable Code of Ethics with Standards of Practice that promote the fair, ethical and honest treatment of all parties in a transaction. Non-member licensees have taken no such oath and are not morally bound to the ethical practices and principles set for in the REALTOR® Code. For that extra measure of peace of mind, ensure the individual seeking to represent you is both a real estate licensee and a REALTOR®.

STAGING YOUR HOME - FINAL STEP

2008-09-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

Now that you've accomplished the most important tasks, there is one left. Take a walk through your house. Remember when you bought it? What did you think as you looked around? What do you like and dislike. Assess your own property as though you were looking to buy it. What improvements could be made to enhance its appeal?

Now that your home is ready to sell, have you considered how you are going to choose a Realtor?

STAGING YOUR HOME - CURB APPEAL

2008-09-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is the new real estate buzz word but it's true. A healthy, neat, trimmed and well maintained yard and flower beds are key to getting the buyers up to the front door. The last thing they want to see is your “stuff” all around an uncut and untrimmed lawn.

A little effort in this area with some extra help from a professional will pay big dividends. A well maintained exterior plants the seed of a well maintained home in the mind of the buyer.

STAGING YOUR HOME - PAINT

2008-09-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

While your favorite colors may be turquise, orange and sunshine yellow, they may be a complete distraction and turn-off to the buyers. You may be a Dallas Cowboy's fan while a potential buyer is an avid Greenbay Packers fan. Your favorite wall paper may not be on the buyer’s “best” list.

The best way to present a home is for the wall colors to be painted a neutral color. This goes for the outside as well – a loud or non-neutral color may just keep the buyers from even stopping to see the inside.

STAGING YOUR HOME - PETS

2008-09-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Your pets are a loving member of your family but for the buyers their presence, food and boxes are generally a turn-off.

Every trace of their presence should be removed so, once again, the buyers are not distracted from the prime objective – viewing your home in the best possible light.

STAGING YOUR HOME - CLEAN

2008-09-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. We can't say it enough. A dirty house an immediate buyer turn-off. Much like the kitchen and bathroom have the highest remodel value, they are also the two most important areas to clean. If you have not deep cleaned all counter and tile surfaces to a spotless condition, you stand the chance of having the buyers walk right back out the door. (Quick tip - glass cleaners like Windex make sealed tile and stone surfaces shine)

Another critical area is the floors - all carpets and rugs. Without question, they must be either replaced or steam cleaned as a dirty carpet is the number one buyer turn-off.

Windows - Nothing is more distracting to a buyer than to be looking at a view through a dirty window. It's understandable that you've been looking at the same view for years and a little smudge on the window doesn't bother you but you want to showcase the view. A little investment here will pay big dividends … what you don’t see is often more important that what you do see.

STAGING YOUR HOME - DECLUTTER

2008-08-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Clutter, both inside and outside your home makes it extremely hard for the buyers to visualize moving into your home. Your knick-knacks may have significant value, personal or financial, but potential buyers don't know that. Besides, do you want to take the chance of having someone handle your priceless artifact and drop it? Pack all those precious mementos.

The clutter will directly affect the buyer’s ability to focus on your home and they will most likely overlook your key selling features. In addition, clutter has the affect of making your home appear smaller than it is. Removing the clutter makes your home feel open and spacious.