Something magical happens every summer on the Central Coast. Ordinary parks and plazas around San Luis Obispo County turn into outdoor music meccas - cool concert venues where local music lovers can get their groove on. "Everybody just lets their hair down and has a good time," said Doug Groshart, lead vocalist and keyboard player for The JD Project.    Starting this month, there are plenty of options for free outdoor music - ranging from Concerts in the Plaza in San Luis Obispo to the Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series in Grover Beach. There are also concert series in Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles and Templeton. Each series has a different setting and a different vibe. San Luis Obispo residents start their weekends with music at Mission Plaza. Saturday concerts at Atascadero Lake ... 06/04/2009

On May 20, I had to say goodbye to my best friend for 17 years, my little white pom/poo Roxie.  What a sad day.  She was my real estate assistant and always rested in her doggie bed on the table behind my desk at my home office helping me prepare contracts and handle phone calls.  When we could get away, we would go for our walks which we both thoroughly enjoyed.  A friend sent me an article written December 17, 1940, from the perspective of the dog that has passed away.  A particular passage spoke to me.  It said:  "One last request I earnestly make.  I have heard my Mistress say, "When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one."  Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another.  It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to h... 06/03/2009

HUD No. 09-072Lemar Wooley(202) 708-0685www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm For ReleaseFridayMay 29, 2009 ---------- DONOVAN ANNOUNCES RECOVERY ACT'S HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT CAN IMMEDIATELY HELP THOUSANDS OF FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS TO BUY A HOMEFHA plan will stimulate new home sales and help stabilize housing market WASHINGTON - Speaking to the National Association of Home Builders Spring Board of Directors Meeting, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow homebuyers to apply the Obama Administration's new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit toward the purchase costs of a FHA-insured home. Donovan said that today's action will help stabilize the nation's housing market by stimulating home sales across the co... 06/03/2009

You've heard of those THIEVES who hijack real estate "for sale" listings from Craig's list and "rent" them out?  Collect the security deposit via wire or bank account, and then disappear, leaving the renter with no money?  And no house? Well, one of my favorite clients, "Kent" called me yesterday.  He's renting an apartment right now, planning to buy a house in the future (using my fabulous real estate services, of course).  He's moving to a new rental and wanted me to check it out for him. Kent said that his friend Shelly applied to rent a house, gave the deposit to the "landlord", and then found out she had been SCAMMED because the fake "landlord" took the money and ran!  So she was out of a deposit and nowhere to live! So Kent knows I have ALL the info at my fingertips.  He gave the ... 05/20/2009

Well I'm starting my blog.  I don't know what to say right now but I wanted to put something on my blog so how about this ... it's always a good time to buy real estate.     05/05/2009

Today I got a surprise phone call from David Patterson, fellow AR member and real estate broker at Keller Williams in SC.  He said he's been following my AR blog and wants me to participate in his radio show on SUN May 3rd.  I am honored that David Patterson, a fellow AR member, has selected me to help with his radio show today.   Listen ONLINE to The David Patterson Show this Sunday at 1:04 PM EDT (that's 10:04 am Pacfic Time) at http://budurl.com/dpshowonline. Our main topic will be "Evaluating & Buying Houses based on a Neighborhood", taken my AR blog as follows: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1044492/Home-Buyers-How-to-Evaluate-a-Good-Neighborhood-when-Buying-a-House   I have 10 pages of notes ready, so you'll get to hear some interesting stuff.  I plan to discuss: Disclosing death... 05/02/2009

Thomas Moore @ReoProfessor and @TrevorMoore have created something very special:  A virtual office for real estate brokerages!  Since I'm the virtual office guru, I just had to take a test drive. Also known as the "Realtors® All-in-One-Portal" eBrokerHouse at http://www.ebrokerhouse.com/ delivers a clean, crisp, simple interface to keep your office running even when you're not there. >>> For Realtors® who handle REOs, this seamless back office allows you to track REO listings and manage reimbursements for repairs, utilities, & HOA Associations.  Gotta make sure you get paid!! >>> For agents that do BPOs, how do you keep track of all of those BPOs, when they are due, what agent is doing what BPO, and IF you've been paid for it?  This system takes care of all that for you. What else do yo... 04/09/2009

We've all seen the commercial with the duck quacking... AF-LAC! He quacks.  Everyone's talking (er, quacking) about AFLAC!  Just what is it?  AFLAC is supplemental insurance, designed to pay cash directly to you when you get hurt.  This cash fills the gaps that your health insurance doesn't cover - exams, physical therapy, accidents, rehabilitation, ambulance, and travel.  These benefits act as a safety net for accidents or illness.  AFLAC can be combined with any health care plan, helping to cover your co-pays and deductibles, or it can be purchased as a stand-alone product.  It is NOT insurance or a substitute for insurance. Who needs AFLAC?  Individuals and families can benefit from supplemental insurance, which is 100% portable and non-cancelable.  It can be paid individually or thr... 03/30/2009

The snowball is gathering momentum as it rolls down hill.  It's turned into an AVALANCHE!  My friend Kevin Kendrick sent me an email today with the latest Foreclosure news from CNN as follows: NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The foreclosure picture suddenly darkened again in February ... More than 74,000 homes were lost to bank repossessions during the month, up from 67,000 in January The worst hit state was South Carolina, foreclosures skyrocketed 254% compared with last February. Second was Arizona, with one filing for every 147 households, up 23% from January. Next is California, with nearly 81,000 filings, had more than any other state, with a rate of one for every 165 households. Florida had more than 46,000, one for every 188 households. Other hard hit states were Idaho (one in 358), M... 03/16/2009

Compliments of Dena Cagliero from First American Title Company, this chart shows that there were only 126 closed sales in January 2009, which is down from a high of 249 closed sales in January 2005, when the market was peaking.  This is for the total real estate sales that closed escrow in the County of San Luis Obispo, California.  This includes Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Avila Beach, Los Osos, Cambria, Cayucos, and more. This chart's a little difficult to read, if you want the full-size version, please contact me.  THANKS! Join my new AR group and post your blog at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice Regina P. BrownBroker, Realtor®, e-ProAuthor of eBook "Stop Foreclosure Fast: Solutions to Save your House" Text copyright © 2009 R.P. ... 03/02/2009

Eliminate surprises and hurdles during escrow by ordering Home Seller Reports when first listing your property on the market.  Listed below are the advantages of ordering each type of report in advance. 1. Appraisal · Price your property correctly at the very beginning, when most qualified buyers are viewing it. · Help buyers see the value of your property. · Demonstrate a better value in the market. · Increase showings of your property. · Give you and your agent confidence. · Other agents are eager to show your property. · More likely to get full price offer. · Reduce surprises and pricing problems in escrow. · Guarantee a faster, smoother closing. · Make seller feel secure during escrow. · Stimulate buyer confidence. Once in escrow, if the appraisal comes in low,  the buyer will proba... 02/16/2009

In 2008, a total of 276 homes and condos sold in Arroyo Grande, CA. 243 were single family homes, and 33 were condos or in planned unit developments. Average home price was approximately $648,000, $331 per sq ft., and sold after 130 days on market. 54 of the sales were bank owned properties (REOs), and 10 were closed short sales. So, a significant amount of sold listings (a little over 20%) were foreclosure related. The lowest resale home price was a 2 bedroom, 2 bath, bank owned twin home in an age restricted community that was 1064 sq. ft. and sold for $190,000. $650,000 would have purchased a new 3 bedroom, 4 bath, 2330 sq. ft. lakeside home with granite countertops and a golf cart bay in the gated golf course community of Cypress Ridge. The average price for condos and PUDs was abou... 02/09/2009

STEP 1: PREPARE FOR HOME OWNERSHIP Here's some easy things you can do to prepare yourself BEFORE searching for that perfect home: •   Write down your financial goals, both short term and long term.  For example:  Buy a house within 1 year; Be debt-free within 10 years.  Get the entire family involved in this process!  If everyone is focused on the same goals, then it's easier to make sacrifices together. •   Prepare a monthly family budget.  Your housing payment should be no more than 1/3 of your gross monthly income.  Your monthly debts (including car payments, child support, and credit card payments) should be 10 - 15% of your income.  Contact your financial planner for assistance. •   Upgrade your credit score.  Get a copy of your credit report free at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.  Re... 02/08/2009

When it comes to your assets, charitable gift planning offers the best of both worlds. You enjoy the use of your assets now, including a tax deduction, and your favorite charitable organization receives your assets upon your death. For example, you own investment property, and your children are financially set, so they really won't need the property after you die. You transfer the property to a trust, which then sells the property and pays you an income for your lifetime. When you die, the property goes to the charity named in the trust, for example, your church. You pay no capital gains tax on the sale of the property because the trust is exempt from income taxes. Also, you receive a charitable deduction for the value of the charitable interest at the time you set up the trust. Contact... 01/16/2009

A well-designed landscape is a pleasure to the family, enhances a community, and adds tremendously to a property's value.  Don't wait until you're ready to sell your house.  Landscape it now and enjoy the beauty of your home. Landscape design is different than gardening.  It involves much more than placing trees, shrubs, and other plants on the property. It's an art which creates conscious arrangement or organization of outdoor space for aesthetic satisfaction and atmosphere enjoyment. Garden and landscape design incorporates the following: Stonework (flagstone, retaining walls, boulders) Water Features (waterfalls, ponds, spas, pools) Irrigation & Drainage Planting & Trimming Fences, Gates, Iron Work Lighting Decks, Balconies, Patios Driveways, Paths Enjoy your yard by landscaping now,... 01/13/2009

We've all seen those REO and Short Sale listings with the disclaimer, "Seller to choose escrow/title company."  Is this legal?  Maybe not.  Lenders selling properties, AND SELLER'S AGENTS REPRESENTING THOSE LENDERS, better be cautious not to violate RESPA!  Lender/sellers CAN select the escrow company, but the buyer is FREE to use ANY title company he selects. From the CA real estate legal update, here is the memo I just received: "PRACTICE UPDATE: REO LENDER CANNOT REQUIRE BUYER TO PURCHASE TITLE INSURANCE FROM ANY PARTICULAR COMPANY "No seller can require that the buyer purchase title insurance from any particular title insurance company. This rule pertains to transactions involving a federally-related mortgage loan for one-to-four residential units as defined under the Real Estate Se... 01/04/2009

Character      More than anything, creditors want to know your character. That is, they want to know something about your nature or disposition. Who you are is not so much your name, the kind of residence you have, or the city you live in - although this is, no doubt, important information that will be required of you. Rather, your "credit character" is determined by what, if anything, you have done in the world of credit through the present. It's not what you can say about yourself that matters but what your past actions say about you.       Things you will need to consider in the area of character include answers to the following questions: ·   Do you have a checking and/or savings account? How long has it been established? What do your activities in these regards look like? Do you ha... 09/30/2008

REVIEW OF HOME SALES & MEDIAN HOME PRICES ON STICK-BUILT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN FIVE CITIES       (UNDER $1M)       JANUARY-JUNE 2008 VS. JANUARY-JUNE 2007     ARROYO GRANDE                       SALES AVG.DOM    HIGH    LOW MEDIAN 2007 136 126 $998,000.00 $261,131.00 $610,000.00 2008 107 152 $975,000.00 $249,480.00 $513,500.00 2008/2007 29 26     ($96,500.00) % DIFFERENCE -21% 21%       -16%    A review of the home sales and prices in Arroyo Grande for the first six months of 2008 over the same period in 2007 shows that the median home price has declined by 16%, from $610,000 to $513,500.  Except for Avila Beach, most of South San Luis Obispo County fell by 11-12%.  As such, Arroyo Grande has suffered the second highest decrease at 16% in South San Luis Obispo County. During this peri... 08/23/2008

Have you visited the Historic Village of Arroyo Grande? Arroyo Grande has successfully cultivated a terrific downtown area with shops galore. Throughout the year, the Village hosts exciting entertainment events as well as fabulous food festivals. And, every Saturday there is a Farmer's Market from noon to 2:30pm. Bookmark the Village website to keep track of the regular events held at this locale. Bookmark and search for Arroyo Grande Listings on my website. I specialize in helping people buy bank owned properties on the Central Coast. Let me show you how to take advatage of this market. Contact Tni LeBlanc of Mint Properties today at (805) 878-9879 for a free 15 minute buyer consultation! Tni LeBlanc tni@mintprop.com (805) 878-9879 www.MintProp.com 11/28/2007

FARMER'S MARKET -  Every Saturday at 12:00 noon to 2:30 p.m. Farm fresh produce, food, artists and entertainment.STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL  -   An annual Memorial Day Weekend event that started in 1983 and draws thousands of people to the Central Coast premier festival.  Hundreds of arts and crafts, food and games, vendors add to the festivities.  Ten areas with continuous free entertainment, and of course Strawberry treats of every variety.    4th OF JULY - At the Rotary Bandstand, Nelson Green, enjoy a free concert with hotdogs, lemonade and ice cream.ARROYO GRANDE CAR SHOW - Last Saturday in July and one of the largest car shows on the Central Coast with more than 300 cars on display.  HARVEST FESTIVAL AND PARADE - During the last weekend of September, another famous tradition in Arroyo Gr... 10/29/2007