Another one gone...

Where did this month go?  SO looking forward to 2011.  I have a lot to look forward to and cannot wait to start this next book (not chapter) in my life. 

I will never apologize for being happy.  Ever. 

Appreciating the much deserved smiles...

Pacific Shores Huntington Beach

Welcome Pacific Shores Huntington Beach

Imagine waking up every day at the beach...

Vote for Emily for Cardinals Cheerleader to go to the Pro Bowl!

Pro Bowl voting for the players is already underway.   Here’s your chance to vote for the Cards’ Pro Bowl cheerleader!

Fans votes — for either Allie, Taryn or Emily (pictured below, left to right) — will be factored into this year’s selection for the Cards’ representative to the Pro Bowl. So give it a shot:


VOTE FOR EMILY! 

5 Reasons You Should Use a Real Estate Professional

by The KCM Crew on November 9, 2010 · 11 comments

in For Sellers,Pricing

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Should you spend the money on a real estate commission or save that money by selling your home by yourself? That is a question many home sellers ask themselves. Today, we want to discuss why it is crucial to have a true professional guiding you through the minefield of challenges that exist in the current real estate market.
The housing market today is more challenging than it has ever been and seems to be becoming more difficult each day. What impact will foreclosures have on prices? Which loan products that were available just last month are no longer available? How do you convince perspective purchasers to pull the trigger on an offer when everyone is telling them that they should see another 100 houses before they make a decision? These are tough questions for a trained, experienced professional.  The lay person would find it almost impossible to keep abreast of this rapidly evolving industry.
Here are five important reasons to use a real estate professional:

1. Pricing Is Difficult

Just a few years ago, you didn’t have to worry about overpricing your home. If it was too high, all you needed to do was wait as historic appreciation was taking place. The situation is quite different today. With experts calling for another drop in home values, overpricing your property will cost you time. In this market, time costs you money. A professional real estate agent will discuss how increasing inventory could dramatically impact the value of your property in the months to come. They will help you set the right price in today’s market.

2. Negotiating Ability Is Crucial

Buyers today have an almost unlimited supply of homes from which to choose. They realize that puts them in a great negotiating position. Most buyers are now being represented by an agent. Sellers need to also be represented by a professional expert trained to negotiate real estate contracts.

3. Mortgaging Is Key to the Deal

The biggest impact of the housing market collapse is that lending standards are much stricter today than they were a few short years ago. Rules are constantly changing. Even FHA has gone through a guidelines overhaul in the last several months. You need a real estate expert who has teamed up with a knowledgeable mortgage professional to make sure that the buyer in the deal is in fact capable of obtaining a mortgage. Losing time with an unqualified buyer costs you money in a market where prices are falling.

4. Your Family’s Safety

We have always found it puzzling that the same person that will lock every door and window and set the alarm today will then allow total strangers into their house tomorrow. The real estate industry trains its practitioners to take steps to protect themselves and their clients. Take advantage of putting a person between you and the person calling on an ad or yard sign.

5. You Probably Have More Important Things to Do

Selling a home could turn into a full time job. Learning the necessary disclosures, coordinating the dates of your closings, dealing with a challenge regarding your appraisal and re-negotiating the offer after an engineer’s report are just a few of the concerns you may face. You would probably be better of spending that time with the items important to you and your family and leaving the challenges to your agent.

Bottom Line

To make sure the sale of your home is handled professionally – hire a trained professional. In the long run, you will wind-up with more money in your pocket and have less challenges with the move.
We missed one of the most important reasons to use a professional – Exposure to Potential Purchasers.

5 Reasons You Should Sell Your House TODAY!

by The KCM Crew on October 19, 2010 · 18 comments

in For Sellers,Pricing

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Selling your house in today’s market can be extremely difficult. It is for that reason that every seller should take advantage of each and every opportunity that appears. Each fall, such an opportunity presents itself. This fall, that opportunity may be just too good to pass up.
Below are five reasons you should consider when pricing your house to sell in the next 90 days. Meet with your real estate agent and mortgage professional today and see whether it is the right move for you and your family.

1. Entering this time of year, the buyers are more serious.

We all realize that buyers are not quick to pull the trigger on the purchase of a home today. There is no sense of urgency with the supply of eligible properties at all time highs. However, at this time of year, the ‘lookers’ are at the stores doing their holiday shopping. The home buyers left in the market are serious and are more apt to make a purchasing decision. Less showings – but to more motivated purchasers.

2. If you are moving up, you can save thousands.

The Chicago Tribune stated in an article last week that sellers who want to ‘trade up’ should act now:

It could be a bigger house, different neighborhood or a better school district, but it comes with a higher price tag. Do the math; this might be the right time.
A home that was once worth $300,000 may now be worth $240,000 in a market where prices have fallen 20 percent. Wow, you think, the seller is taking a bath. But that seller may also be a prospective buyer who wants a house that once was valued at $400,000. With an equivalent market drop and a realistic listing price, that house may now sell for $320,000. So, in effect, the person is losing $60,000 on the sale of one home but coming out ahead $20,000 on the purchase of another.
Keep in mind the spread may be even greater. There’s a smaller pool of potential buyers for more expensive homes, so sellers may be more willing to cut their price to get a deal done.

3. Interest rates just fell again – to 4.19%.

Professor Karl E. Case, the founder of the Case Shiller Pricing Index in an article in the New York Times last month actually did the math for us:

Four years ago, the monthly payment on a $300,000 house with 20 percent down and a mortgage rate of about 6.6 percent was $1,533. Today that $300,000 house would sell for $213,000 and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with 20 percent down would carry a rate of about 4.2 percent and a monthly payment of $833 … housing has perhaps never been a better bargain.

4. You beat the rush of inventory that is coming next year.

Every year there is an increase of inventory which comes to market from January through April as homeowners put their houses up for sale in preparation for the spring market. As an example, here is the number of listings available for sale in each of those months in 2010.

• January – 3,277,000
• February – 3,531,000
• March – 3,626,000
• April – 4,029,000

You won’t have to worry about this increasing competition if you sell now.

5. You have less ‘discounted’ inventory with which to compete.

This year, sellers of non-distressed properties have been given an early holiday present. With banks declaring a suspension on the sale of many distressed properties (foreclosures), there has been a large supply of discounted properties removed from competition. No one knows how long this self imposed moratorium will last. However, while it does, every homeowner has a better chance of selling their property.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to sell in the near future, there may not be a more opportune time than this fall. Serious buyers, great move-up deals and less competition from foreclosures creates the perfect selling situation. Don’t miss it!

Happy Birthday to the One Who Gave Me Life!

Birthdays have always been a big deal in our family.  Your favorite cake is made for you.  Mine was always cherry chip with cherry frosting.  I'm certain my family cringed every year because they weren't as passionate about it as I was.  You get to pick what you want for your birthday dinner.  Your family expects a birthday wish list from you and everyone gathers to watch you open all of your birthday presents.  We've always celebrated them surrounded by the ones we love. 

Sometimes there are geographical challenges to this.  Today is no exception.  I may not be able to watch you blow out the blaze on top of a cake today but I am with you always.  I am just as much a part of you as you are a part of me.

Happy birthday to the one who gave me life and who continues to remind me what it feels like to be unconditionally loved.  You are loved beyond words...

Empowering You All Ways: Moratorium on Bank of America Foreclosures

Empowering You All Ways: Moratorium on Bank of America Foreclosures: "Here is an article I read today on DSnews.com, Bank of America is now the fourth bank nationwide to place a moratorium on their foreclosure..."

Pink Lemonade

My daughter just "helped" me make some pink lemonade kool-aid.  It is the undisputed best flavor ever made, with grape a close second.  Funny how something so simple can bring out a smile...Maybe because it reminds me of being a child when life was easy and when my daddy was still alive.  Or maybe because it was my son's beverage of choice when he was younger and I couldn't get him to ingest much without hurling but he loved the pink lemonade.  He used to call it pink memolade (or just "memo").  Or maybe because it reminds me of sharing it during this last summer's beach bike rides and picnics.

Regardless, it's just nice to have a reason to smile.  It's been long over due... 

Just breathe...

Very necessary.

pa·tience  (pshns) n.

1. The capacity, quality, or fact of being patient.

Synonyms: patience, long-suffering, resignation, forbearance
 

These nouns denote the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint. Patience emphasizes calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay.

I am still learning how to be...I know George is taunting me somewhere.  I can hear the snickering.  Obviously I'm being tested and it's fine.  I am who I am and I feel what I feel.  It is what it is.

And I am loved...

10.10.10

Before this month started, I was truly hoping it was going to be an exceptional month.  It certainly HAD to be better than September was.  That month was forgettable.  Actually, that month needs to be blocked out completely.  So, here I am...ten days into October and it isn't any better than September was.  GAWD...

Yesterday I took my daughter Ally to the Cardinals Jr. Cheer practice.  She was finally old enough to participate.  Last year, she missed the age requirement by less than a week.  She wanted to follow in her cousin's footsteps and she was even "practicing" around the house for weeks.  The smile she had on her face yesterday more than made up for the ridiculous past 8 weeks I've been living.  She was having an experience of a lifetime.

Sad to then go to my son's football game where his obvious frustration over playing on a losing team had hit its limit.  I've never seen Riley want to quit something before.  Unfortunately, that time has come...

I should be sitting on a beach in Cabo right now with a drink in my hand.  Changes happen that are sometimes beyond our control.  Sometimes you'll never know why.

Telling someone you love, respect, and adore them isn't enough.  You need to SHOW them.  Always.  ALWAYS...

Full circle? We'll see...

Missing my 5th star...my ONE.  More than I should...but I do.

Amy Mabante is now part of Keller Williams Realty in 2 states!

It’s the job of every real estate professional to know just what the right move is.
I wanted you to be one of the first to know that I have made the move to real estate leader, Keller Williams Realty.  I will be working for Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners in Glendale, Arizona AND Keller Williams Elite Realty in Irvine, CA.

I look forward to sharing some of the great new tools and training I now have access to with you!

While you may not have heard of Keller Williams Realty, they are the 3rd largest real estate company in the U.S.! With the new marketing and technology tools that this switch gives me – I have a more powerful platform to list, market and sell properties, taking my work with both buyers and sellers to the next level.
You’ll start to see my new red signs all over town soon!
Remember, if you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling real estate, please let them know that I can help.


Have a 5 star day!

http://www.5starday.com/

The Best Medicine

There is something to be said about the way children can play and laugh and have absolutely zero cares in the world except what their next snack might be.  Last night I watched my daughter revel in her after-dinner cookie as if it were the best thing she had ever tasted.  The smile and the satisfaction on her face was worth every one of the last 6 bites of her dinner I had to bribe her to consume. 

Why can't grown ups just willingly swallow our last 6 bites of whatever if we know something good is going to happen for us?  Eternally a pessimist?  Perhaps...Clearly I need to work on that.

This time I'm jumping in feet first so I can continue to breathe with my head above the water.  Then once the water calms I'll be relaxed enough to smile as if I too am enjoying that cookie.

Happy Sunday!

7012 W MARIPOSA GRANDE Glendale Home for Sale - RE/MAX Professionals Real Estate

7012 W MARIPOSA GRANDE Glendale Home for Sale - RE/MAX Professionals Real Estate

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Pass and Pass!

I passed both my state and national real estate sales license exams! 

Another step in the direction towards where I need to be!

February is in the history books!

Wow!  I'm done with February!  This month flew by!  A lot has happened during the past 5 weeks!  I went back to school to get my real estate sales license.  I only have one class left and will be testing this week and next.  I have a few job offers already and also have some other opportunities as well.  Knowing how to make life be a positive thing in this lame economy makes everything else seem unimportant.

I am looking forward to this next chapter in my life!  Thank you to those who continue to make me smile!

Be who you are and say what you feel because people who mind don't matter and people who matter don't mind. ~ Dr. Seuss

Another day closer to where I need to be...

2010 will be MY year!

Completely off topic of work (for once!), I wanted to take a moment and write about this new year. Most of you know how 2009 was quite a life changing experience for me. It was filled with a lot of sadness for my family but a tremendous amount of personal joy as well. As difficult as this year was, I know that I am a stronger person because of it and I am more focused on the kind of life I was meant to have and WILL have THIS year. 2010 will be a year to remember for me for many years to come. I know that I will need to be patient for the amazing things that are about to happen to me, but they WILL happen.

Thank you to the special people in my life. Thank you to my mom, Trish, for giving me words of encouragement and wisdom to help me get to the life she knows I need and deserve. Thank you to old friends who continue to be my sanity and have made me laugh harder than I have in years.  Thank you to my children for continuing to be the amazing little people they are and for showing me that I have a purpose.

I'm especially thankful for learning that soul mates DO exist and that love can find you when you least expect it.

Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow. Albert Einstein"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." Albert Einstein
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." Albert Einstein

"Learn from yesterda Albert Einstein
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." Albrt Einstein\\\\\