CENTRAL COUNTY   COSTA MESA Coming up February 9-11, 2012 is the Pacific Symphony Presents: "Valentine's Day with Roberta Flack". Just in time for Valentine's Day, Grammy Award winner Roberta Flack visits Pacific Symphony with her intoxicating romantic ballads including "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly With His Song," "Feel Like Making Love" and "Tonight I Celebrate My Love." Flack remains one of only two artists (the other is U2) to win back-to-back Grammy Awards for Record of the Year. For more information you can call 714-755-5799. FOUNTAIN VALLEY Nothing to report HUNTINGTON BEACH February 5, 2012 is the Surf City (Pacific Shoreline) Marathon. This exclusive oceanfront course is a California Dream! Run on Pacific Coast Highway past the famous Huntington Be... 01/06/2012

  South County   ALISO VIEJO Nothing to report DANA POINT It’s never too early to start planning for Valentine’s Day. Coming up February 14, 2012 from 4:00-6:00pmtry this unique and romantic way to celebrate Valentine's Day! You'll sail aboard the 95' Dana Pride at sunset as we search for whales, dolphin and other marine life set against the beautiful Orange County coastline. Chocolates and Valentine's Day treats are included as well as a complimentary glass of champagne for guests 21 and over! Enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail from our cash bar as well! Be sure to make reservations at one of Dana Point Harbor's many romantic restaurants for after the cruise and you'll have an unforgettable evening! For reservations or more information you can call 949-496-5794. LAGUNA HILLS Nothing ... 01/06/2012

Michael Caruso | Michael Caruso Real Estate Group | (949) 753-7900 11 Emerald Gln, Laguna Niguel, CA Stunning Ocean Views on Bluff Top! 4BR/4+1BA Single Family House offered at $1,799,888 Year Built 1993 Sq Footage 4,139 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size 13,949 sqft HOA/Maint $335 per month DESCRIPTION Ocean Ranch, Laguna Niguel… Perfect Bluff Top Location You’ll own the views from this perfect perch, set high upon a bluff top. Sensational 4BR 4BA Floor Plan nearly 4,200 sqft with an Entertainment Room, Bonus Room and Family Room plus explosive wide open Ocean Views from the front and back of the property. Comfortable yet elegant, extensively remodeled throughout, inclusive of Marble and Travertine Floors, Customized Spiral Main Staircase and... 01/05/2012

I came across this information while browsing the web and I just think it is very important to touch on & be aware so that we can prevent this from happening. Don’t fall victim to unscrupulous con artists trying to take advantage of unknowing, financially troubled home owners.  These scammers usually promise mortgage loan modifications or reduced monthly payments for upfront fees.  In most case, charging upfront fees or payments for these services is illegal.  According to the Federal Trade Commission, these offenders review foreclosure notices in newspapers, the Internet and public files to identify potential victims.  Scammers who place ads online, on television, and in newspapers claiming to “stop foreclosure now” and offering “money back guarantees” are suspect and should be review... 01/05/2012

A savvy seller wants to know what turns buyers off, so they can get their homes sold as quickly as possible, for as much as possible.  But buyers take note–there is minefields of seller turn-offs you can trigger that hold the potential to keep you from getting the home you want at the best price and terms, or to unnecessarily complicate dealings with your home’s seller.   If you think all of today’s sellers are under the gun and will just put up with whatever behavior buyers dish out, be aware that there are still many multiple offer situations in which buyers have to compete with each other to get a home–buyers who trigger these turnoffs tend to lose in those scenarios.  Also, avoiding these seller turnoffs can create a transactional environment of cooperation and avoid things turning... 01/04/2012

Do you remember when it was called Electronic Mail & very few used it? Well Email has become an essential part of your life & an essential part of your real estate practice and can be a great tool if managed well.  These guidelines can help you communicate more effectively with clients and other contacts in your daily life.    1. Organize and Prioritize. Create prioritized folders with a labeling system that makes sense to you. Customize folders for "Reply ASAP," “To Do,” "Friends," etc. Searching for buried email is a time waster, so shift messages to their respective folders as soon as you open your inbox.    2. Act Now. More often than not, your clients have come to expect a response within 24 hours, and preferably within the same working day. The first time you see an email, respon... 01/03/2012

$6.9 Million For A Laguna Niguel Compound This $6.9 million compound in Laguna Niguel is quite unique.  This home is actually the guest home on a lot with unique potential.  The home is in Bear Brand on Morning Dove and sits on a 16 acre lot.  The buildable pad is 50,000 square feet.  The home is listed by Jerry LaMott.  There are plans for the buyer of a 11,000 square foot home single level.  This is a once in a life time opertunity.  If you need information on estates in the California Rivera call us  01/01/2012

If you are considering a home purchase, be sure you don’t go it alone.  Buying a home in today’s market requires help and guidance from a real estate professional.  With multiple parties involved in most real estate transactions, pursuing a home alone, whether new or re-sale would make you feel like a goldfish in a pool of sharks.   The following are some excellent home buying tips to consider and questions to ask when selecting a real estate agent to look out for your best interests: First and foremost, select an agent who will represent you exclusively.  This type of representation will only happen if you choose an agent who represents buyers in their business. The real estate agent’s experience and negotiating skills are paramount to your success.  Be sure to ask how long they have ... 12/31/2011

  Buyers have a long list of what they want when home shopping, but one of their biggest desires: A good deal. "And no matter where a seller prices their property, they’re looking to negotiate," president of the MetroTex Association of Realtors, and having served as past President of the Orange County Association I agree. But that’s not all they want. Bankrate.com recently asked real estate professionals to chime in on the top desires of their buyers when home shopping. Here are four things that made the list of top home buyer preferences: 1) Homes that are in good condition. "There’s not a lot of flexibility in that," says Ron Phipps, president of the National Association of REALTORS. Many buyers now take the attitude: "I’d rather spend the money getting into the house" and not have t... 12/30/2011

On the 12th day of Christmas, Caruso sent to me – 12 of the best Real Estate Social Media sites available! 1. Facebook: One of the fastest social networking sites. Facebook is one of the easiest ways of finding prospective customers within any given area. Using Facebook, we can target very specific groups according to our business needs; such a high level of targeting is not a possibility with other social networking sites or community sites. We can find our customers based on specific set of criteria including place, age etc. 2. Localism: This is a very niche based community site. At Localism, we can interact with the local merchants. This is one of the best examples of social networking at a micro level. People of the same place can get together to share the happenings of their commu... 12/29/2011

"Be thankful for the fact that you're alive and that you have another day to enjoy life to its fullest!" 12/29/2011

  On the 11th Day of Christmas Caruso Gave to Me, 11 Tips for Making Good Real Estate Videos  These tips are not necessarily meant for home tours, but rather for sharing content on a website, blog, Facebook or Twitter. A good video can help build trust and convey professionalism for your brand, while a bad video can accomplish the opposite. 1. Keep the camera steady. If it looks like there is an earthquake, you need to find someone else to hold the camera (or invest in a tripod). 2. You don’t need to buy a professional camera. You can use a basic handheld camera that takes both photos and videos. Most cameras are good enough to post on YouTube. The Flip is outstanding for videos. 3. When you film, make sure you record at the middle or higher size on your camera - not the smallest size.... 12/28/2011

  Due to the Christmas Holiday we were not able to finish off Caruso's 12 Days of Christmas! We left off on day 9 - so to contiune the fun.....   On the 10th Day of Christmas, Caruso Sent to me – 10 Elements of a successful real estate business plan!   A full business plan allows you (an individual or business) to detail a strategic operating plan, define and execute your value to customers and others in the market, and develop a robust financial model that details what you need to accomplish in order to meet your projections. This is an extremely valuable personal process and document. You will find that a business plan is also a valuable tool if you want to bring on a business partner or get in sync with existing partners or employees, and if you ever want to raise money, it will like... 12/27/2011

   On the 9th day of Christmas Caruso gave to me - 9 Tips on Building Your Real Estate Blog!  The trick is to not think about things in terms of a “blog” versus a “website.” That’s terminology that you and I use. The end consumer on the other hand just knows that “this” site (your site, whether on WordPress or not), happens to contain the information that they were searching for on Google. When choosing a domain name, don’t obsess over having a keyword rich domain. Instead, go for something short and memorable. You’ll drive SEO in other ways. Write 5, 10, or even 20 blog posts prior to launch. You want to make people feel like they couldn’t possibly read everything in one sitting. So they’ll have to subscribe and/or return another time (then another, and another). Don’t know what to tal... 12/22/2011

On the 8th Day of Christmas Caruso Gave to me – 8 Questions to Ask Yourself before Buying a House!   Is it time to buy a home? The right of home ownership is an integral part of the American dream but thankfully, does not have to remain merely a dream. Like most dreams, desire is important and is the first ingredient. If you have the desire to own a home, you have already satisfied the most important step to home ownership. Because your home is a financial asset, the desire for equity appreciation over time is certainly part of the dream. Besides gaining equity during some real estate cycles, pride of home ownership and financial security result from buying a house. Home ownership dates back to early American heritage. Our constitution providing freedom for home ownership strengthens o... 12/21/2011

We have some visitors! We saw them on a slope in Laguna Niguel, off Niguel Rd. & Clubhouse. There were twice as many as you see in the photo. They've been clearing all the grass & shrubs. Aren't they cute?! Hope you're all enjoying this wonderful Holiday Season! "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." ~ George S. Patton 12/21/2011

  On the 7th Day of Christmas Caruso Gave to Me – 7 Social Media Tips for Real Estate Agents!   If you are a real estate agent, then understanding how to use social media to draw in business is not difficult. There is a whole world full of ways to get your name out and among people that may become a potential customer and bring you their business. Let’s discuss the seven social media tips for agents.Tip #1: Beneficial Real Estate Sites: You can use a social media site set up exclusively for real estate professionals like Active Rain, to help aid you in connecting with people that are local and within your community. Sites like this one is geared towards you particular field of Real Estate and networking.Tip #2: Facebook How To’s: Register and use a site such as Facebook. This site is g... 12/20/2011

On the 6th Day of Christmas, Caruso gave to me ~ 6 Holiday Tips for Keeping Your Pets Safe! If your pets are anything like mine, the holidays are a festive time with a house full of goodies – from the edible to the not-so edible. To help keep your pets safe from holiday mayhem, I've put together some tips with help from the Humane Society of the U.S.      ·   Gate off the tree or arrange ornaments up higher on the tree: Keep holiday decorations away from pets. Tinsel, bows, ribbons and wrapping paper can be tempting chew toys for pets but can damage their digestive systems. Remember to keep tree ornaments out of your pet's reach. ·    Create a safety zone: Provide your pet with a quiet, out-of-the-way room during holiday parties. Though some pets may enjoy socializing opportunities, ot... 12/19/2011

    On the 5th Day of Christmas Caruso Sent to Me – 5 Fundamentals of Real Estate Marketing.    Real estate marketing is based on fundamentals which are often overlooked because real estate sales are considered by many people to be sales work. It is actually marketing because the customer cannot be sold until the real estate agency understands the customer, and what the customer wants. 1. The first Fundamental is Research. Effective marketing requires thorough research, and it is difficult to do too much research. Research is the first and most important of the fundamentals because it is the beginning of knowledge. You cannot advertise or create a web site to attract clients without knowing everything about your audience. It would not be practical to market a property to people earning ... 12/19/2011

  Happy Saturday Active Rain! We had our Holiday Party yesterday on the Hornblower in Newport Beach.  We took a lunch cruise around the harbor. It was a beautiful day.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect Holiday Party! We ended the day with a white elephant gift exchange & homemade spiced apple cider.  Looking forward to a grand New Year! Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday! " Failure is only a temporary change in direction to set you straight for your next success. Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly..." 12/17/2011