May you get all the treats you deserve!
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Palm Springs California Area Real Estate
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Happy Halloween!
[caption id="attachment_1571" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Halloween Wishes"]
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
StageCoach Festival Tickets On Sale Today
April 27-29th 2012 will be the sixth anniversary of the Country music festival in Indio. New in 2012 will be the additional day of music on Friday. The first time the two day festival has been expanded.
April will be chock full of Music since the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will now span two big weekends in a row just before Stagecoach.
Major acts from the world of country Music including Brad paisley, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Rogers and many more will fill the Empire Polo Club grounds to capcity.
[caption id="attachment_1541" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Post for 2012 Stagecoach Music Festival"]
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April will be chock full of Music since the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will now span two big weekends in a row just before Stagecoach.
Major acts from the world of country Music including Brad paisley, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Rogers and many more will fill the Empire Polo Club grounds to capcity.
[caption id="attachment_1541" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Post for 2012 Stagecoach Music Festival"]
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Personal Service and The Right Questions To Ask?
Are You Asking The Right Questions?
In our self-service world where we pump our own gas, check ourselves out at the grocery store and fix our own drinks at fast food places it is easy to forget the importance and the “why” of personal service. Service delivered by a professional in their field is enhanced when you understand Personal Service and the Right Questions to ask.
The analogy I often use with people who want to do it themselves is an oil change. I am a reasonably intelligent guy. There is probably a good book published that could tell me exactly how to change the oil in my car, step by step. But the reality is I don’t want to change the oil in my car. I don’t know how long it would take, I don’t know what tools I will need, I wouldn’t know what to do with the oil once I changed it an on and on. If anything did not seem right I would not have a frame of reference to know if it was typical or not typical. More importantly I would not have anyone to ask, whose opinion I trusted. I would rather go to the oil change place and pay the fee and have them do it right in about 30 minutes.So to people who want to sell their home on their own or shop for a home on their own I say “go for it”. It is not rocket science. The information is all out there. If you want to put it all together and understand it and how it applies to you I am sure that can be done. That is not said tongue in cheek or with sarcasm . I have worked with buyers and sellers who were very devoted to the process and although they worked with me, their grasp of the issues was excellent. However, these people were the exceptional few and something tells me that they can probably change their own oil!
To the rest of the world, those of us not up for a do it yourself oil change, I suggest that the value of a professional is to help you ask the right questions. Providing the framework to structure the questions and the issues you
should be asking about.In the troubled Real Estate market that we are in today knowing the right questions to ask is vital. Almost everyone I personally encounter has a unique set of issues. There is far too much at risk to rely on hunches or a best guess. Look for the professional who will help you, educate you, frame the issues for you and lead you to ask the questions.
If the professional you have chosen can't do that for you that is a strong clue that they may not fully understand the issues themselves. When confronted with a person who simply wants to sell you something that is your first sign that it is time to move on to someone else.
Searching out the professional whose valuable guidance and personal service helps me ask the right questions is the only thing that works for me.
Do You Know The Right Questions To Ask?
Are You Asking The Right Questions?
In our self-service world where we pump our own gas, check ourselves out at the grocery store and fix our own drinks at fast food places it is easy to forget the importance and the “why” of personal service. Service delivered by a professional in their field.
The analogy I often use with people who want to do it themselves is an oil change. I am a reasonably intelligent guy. There is probably a good book published that could tell me exactly how to change the oil in my car, step by step. But the reality is I don’t want to change the oil in my car. I don’t know how long it would take, I don’t know what tools I will need, I wouldn’t know what to do with the oil once I changed it an on and on. If anything did not seem right I would not have a frame of reference to know if it was typical or not typical. More importantly I would not have anyone to ask, whose opinion I trusted. I would rather go to the oil change place and pay the fee and have them do it right in about 30 minutes.So to people who want to sell their home on their own or shop for a home on their own I say “go for it”. It is not rocket science. The information is all out there. If you want to put it all together and understand it and how it applies to you I am sure that can be done. That is not said tongue in cheek or with sarcasm . I have worked with buyers and sellers who were very devoted to the process and although they worked with me, their grasp of the issues was excellent. However, these people were the exceptional few and something tells me that they can probably change their own oil!
To the rest of the world, those of us not up for a do it yourself oil change, I suggest that the value of a professional is to help you ask the right questions. Providing the framework to structure the questions and the issues you
should be asking about.In the troubled Real Estate market that we are in today knowing the right questions to ask is vital. Almost everyone I personally encounter has a unique set of issues. There is far too much at risk to rely on hunches or a best guess. Look for the professional who will help you, educate you, frame the issues for you and lead you to ask the questions.
If the professional you have chosen can't do that for you that is a strong clue that they may not fully understand the issues themselves. When confronted with a person who simply wants to sell you something that is your first sign that it is time to move on to someone else.
Searching out the professional whose valuable guidance helps me ask the right questions is the only thing that works for me.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Why Helping Underwater Mortgage Holders Is Big Deal
RELIEF FOR SOME:
This week the administration came up with a new plan. Their intention is to help people who are currently living with a
mortgage on a home that is worth less than the face value of the loan, get a lower payment. For those who don't follow home lending very closely, the problem right now is that if you owe say $150,000 on your home and it is only worth $120,000 then you are shut out of refinancing to take advantage of the historic low interest rates.
Right away I started hearing negative comments that this would "help as few as 250,000 homeowners" but certainly no" more than 1 million." That this just was "not enough" and would "never help the economy to the extent that it needs to be helped." And on and on and on.
First I would like to say ....come on people, just stop it! The negativity is not helping and since when is helping up to 1,000,000 people stay in their homes NOT a good idea? I bet it is going to feel like a real good idea to those people. I bet the banks will appreciate having up to 1,000,000 loans no longer at risk of default. Most of all I think we should note that there are several very fair parts of this proposal. First, homeowners have to be current on their mortgage. No one can say that bad behavior is being rewarded. Secondly, no one is getting any principle reduction it is just a rate reduction. The program will simply help get around some rules about loan to value ratios that where set in place in different economic times.
Personally I think the administration should be given some credit for coming up with a proposal that is pretty positive. It is not a giveaway - it will not be another program to throw money at. It is an adjustment of terms that will create a relief valve for hundreds of thousands of homeowners in a troubled economy. Sure there is more to do but this is a pretty reasonable step in the right direction.
THE DIRTY TRUTH:
As a full time Real Estate agent I can tell you very clearly what I see. It is very easy to paint one big picture of struggling homeowners as either deadbeats who won't pay their bills or unfortunate scenarios of health issues and job losses. But there is a big middle ground full of people that do not fall into either category. Every week I sit with people who are on the edge. They see homes just like theirs selling for $100,000 less than they paid. They have huge financial pressures on them. They are struggling with pay cuts, layoffs, increased work loads and rising health care costs. It may not seem "responsible" but I have to tell you these people are seriously contemplating walking from their mortgages.
Sure they can make the mortgage this month and perhaps next month but they are on edge. There is a temptation to go that route. They feel so close to the breaking point they are actively considering it ..they are thinking "it wouldn't be so bad to have to rent for awhile" These people are your friends and neighbors. The receptionist at the insurance office, the retail store clerk, the cable TV installer, the retired couple next door who sees their nest egg dwindling much faster than they ever imagined it would. We can insist that what they are thinking about doing is not right - not fair - but IT IS REALITY.
THE REALLY BIG DEAL:
This is why the current proposal is such a big deal. By preventing the "on edge" section of the population avoid this choice there is a much larger ripple effect. Preventative rather than reactive. By putting several hundreds dollars a month back into household budgets, with a policy change not a giveaway, we are taking a step towards housing market stability that is much bigger than people may realize.
This week the administration came up with a new plan. Their intention is to help people who are currently living with a
mortgage on a home that is worth less than the face value of the loan, get a lower payment. For those who don't follow home lending very closely, the problem right now is that if you owe say $150,000 on your home and it is only worth $120,000 then you are shut out of refinancing to take advantage of the historic low interest rates.Right away I started hearing negative comments that this would "help as few as 250,000 homeowners" but certainly no" more than 1 million." That this just was "not enough" and would "never help the economy to the extent that it needs to be helped." And on and on and on.
First I would like to say ....come on people, just stop it! The negativity is not helping and since when is helping up to 1,000,000 people stay in their homes NOT a good idea? I bet it is going to feel like a real good idea to those people. I bet the banks will appreciate having up to 1,000,000 loans no longer at risk of default. Most of all I think we should note that there are several very fair parts of this proposal. First, homeowners have to be current on their mortgage. No one can say that bad behavior is being rewarded. Secondly, no one is getting any principle reduction it is just a rate reduction. The program will simply help get around some rules about loan to value ratios that where set in place in different economic times.
Personally I think the administration should be given some credit for coming up with a proposal that is pretty positive. It is not a giveaway - it will not be another program to throw money at. It is an adjustment of terms that will create a relief valve for hundreds of thousands of homeowners in a troubled economy. Sure there is more to do but this is a pretty reasonable step in the right direction.
THE DIRTY TRUTH:
As a full time Real Estate agent I can tell you very clearly what I see. It is very easy to paint one big picture of struggling homeowners as either deadbeats who won't pay their bills or unfortunate scenarios of health issues and job losses. But there is a big middle ground full of people that do not fall into either category. Every week I sit with people who are on the edge. They see homes just like theirs selling for $100,000 less than they paid. They have huge financial pressures on them. They are struggling with pay cuts, layoffs, increased work loads and rising health care costs. It may not seem "responsible" but I have to tell you these people are seriously contemplating walking from their mortgages.
Sure they can make the mortgage this month and perhaps next month but they are on edge. There is a temptation to go that route. They feel so close to the breaking point they are actively considering it ..they are thinking "it wouldn't be so bad to have to rent for awhile" These people are your friends and neighbors. The receptionist at the insurance office, the retail store clerk, the cable TV installer, the retired couple next door who sees their nest egg dwindling much faster than they ever imagined it would. We can insist that what they are thinking about doing is not right - not fair - but IT IS REALITY.
THE REALLY BIG DEAL:
This is why the current proposal is such a big deal. By preventing the "on edge" section of the population avoid this choice there is a much larger ripple effect. Preventative rather than reactive. By putting several hundreds dollars a month back into household budgets, with a policy change not a giveaway, we are taking a step towards housing market stability that is much bigger than people may realize.
Rancho Mirage Neighborhood Clean Up
Tomorrow is the last day to call for an appointment for pick up of your extra
[caption id="attachment_315" align="alignright" width="112" caption="Palm Trees and Sunshine in The Coachella Valley"]
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trash - electronic items - furniture and larger items that are not generally accepted in a normal pickup.
Be sure to call 760-340-2113 or email customerservice@burrtecdesert.com to set your appointment.
If the curbside by appointment does not work for you there will be drop off sites. One is at the Rancho Mirage Public Library. There are two other sites just for greenwaste and wood drop off one at the SW end of Magnesia Falls Drive and the other at the East end of Cypress lane.
Best of all you can dispose of all these items free of charge.
Please note: Burrtec and the City of Rancho Mirage cannot accept hazardous waste at these sites. You will need to call 760-324-2374 to schedule a free pick up or take them to the Saturday only collection center in Palm Springs. Located at 1100 Vella Road the center is open Saturdays only from 9am to 2pm.
[caption id="attachment_315" align="alignright" width="112" caption="Palm Trees and Sunshine in The Coachella Valley"]
[/caption]trash - electronic items - furniture and larger items that are not generally accepted in a normal pickup.
Be sure to call 760-340-2113 or email customerservice@burrtecdesert.com to set your appointment.
DROP OFF SITES OPEN ON October 29 -2011
If the curbside by appointment does not work for you there will be drop off sites. One is at the Rancho Mirage Public Library. There are two other sites just for greenwaste and wood drop off one at the SW end of Magnesia Falls Drive and the other at the East end of Cypress lane.
Best of all you can dispose of all these items free of charge.
Please note: Burrtec and the City of Rancho Mirage cannot accept hazardous waste at these sites. You will need to call 760-324-2374 to schedule a free pick up or take them to the Saturday only collection center in Palm Springs. Located at 1100 Vella Road the center is open Saturdays only from 9am to 2pm.
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