Myth #1:  Once a potential buyer sees the inside of your home, curb appeal won't matter. Truth:  If you do not have nice curb appeal, the buyers may never see the inside of your home.  Often, buyers and their agents do drive-bys before deciding whether a home is worth previewing.  Remember, there's no second chance at a first impression.  Always keep the lawn mowed, shrubs and trees trimmed, remove weeds and put toys and clutter away. Myth #2:  Minor repairs can wait until later. Truth:  Most buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready.  If your home does need numerous repairs, the prospective buyers will probably offer less money or ask for allowances to make the repairs.  Usually, the cost for you to make the repairs yourselves will be much less than the buyers will ask for ... 02/25/2009

To all of you prospective homeowners who have been sitting on the fence, now is the time to purchase a home and quickly!  Home prices are the lowest they have been since 2003, interest rates are phenomenal, and Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac are raising their mandatory fees, toughening credit score criteria and down payment rules as of April 1.  If you find a home immediately and do a 30-day escrow, you might get in under the wire. Most major lenders are already tacking on the higher fees. Under Fannie & Freddie's new guidelines, even if you have very good FICO scores, if you can't come up with a 30% down payment, there will be what they call a "delivery" - aka penalty -- "fee" at close of escrow. A buyer with a FICO score of 699, even with a 25% down payment, will get hit with a 1.5% delive... 02/25/2009

The Paso Robles Swim & Tennis Club will not be completed until spring, but they will be having an open house at Cafe Vio, 1111 Riverside Road in Paso Robles, on Saturday, February 28th from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm.   Saturday is the last day to received 30% off of registration fees, so come meet their staff and enjoy treats and drinks.  The plans for the club will also be available for viewing. Cafe Vio serves delicious soups and sandwiches, smoothies, pastries, lattes and mochas.  It is a great place to enjoy friends, relax with a cup of coffee and connect to the internet.  (805) 237-2722. For more information about the Paso Robles Swim & Tennis Club, visit their website or email Sara@pasoroblesclub.com. If you would like to search the MLS for listings in and around Paso Robles, visit my w... 02/25/2009

I wrote the book on stopping foreclosure.  I really did!  I wrote an eBook last year, based on my own research and my experience helping homeowners to save their houses (or short sale). So is safe to assume that I know everything about the topic?  No way!  In the past year, I've been learning a LOT more.  Some things which hadn't even been invented last year.  And this industry has taken some crazy, unexpected turns.  It's kind of like the wild, wild west -- whoever gets there first claims the territory, and whoever has the biggest gun, makes the rules.  Last year, I thought that writing a book would solve a lot of homeowners' problems.  They would have many solutions at their fingertips.  Lenders and banks would be willing to offer loan mods with affordable payments. But my scope was n... 02/22/2009

Monday, February 16, 2009 City Council to Set Goals; Be There on February 21st! The Public was not well represented last Wednesday night when the Paso Robles City Council had a special workshop to set goals to help them through the upcoming budgetary process later this Spring.After a review of where the accomplishments of the last 8 years by City Staff, Meg Williamson and Ron Whisenand, City Manager Jim App gave a sobering reviewing of the City's financial condition.  Although the City is looking at a cumulative $9 million in negative expenses over income over the next three fiscal years, thanks to several years of careful budgeting and accumulating reserves, Jim is hopeful that the actual negative can be held to a cumulative of $4.638 million.  How the City will have to address that ne... 02/18/2009

The Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show, hosted by Cal Poly students, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend at the Paso Robles Event Center, and it is free to the public. 350 entrants aging 9 to 21 will be showing five species of animals and competing for $43,000 in payouts and $40,000 in prizes.  This is one of the largest junior livestock shows in the Western United States. For a schedule and further information, visit their website or call (805) 756-5398. If you would like to search the MLS for listings in and around Paso Robles, visit my website. If you have any real estate questions or general questions about Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo North County, please contact me via email or call me at (805) 235-0234 for more information. It starts with a dream... 02/16/2009

Well, the answer to that question depends on where you live.  The best time to prune roses is just before the rosebush breaks dormancy after the last frost.  In my case, the right time is when I find the time after January 1... Pruning allows you to create an attractive shape and desired size that fits into your landscape, and it is also the foundation of a healthy bush producing well-formed flowers. Whatever kind of rose you are pruning, always cut away the dead wood.  The dead wood will not come back to life, and it is unattractive and harbors diseases. When pruning, cut at sharp 30 - 45 degree angles, and make all cuts down to a cane, to the base of the bud union or to a strong outside bud or bud eye on stem nodules.  A bud eye is a small bulge with a tiny eye and a horizontal crease... 02/15/2009

I know you don't really want to be reminded as I, too, hate this time of year, but it is time to pay your taxes or get a refund if you're lucky. If you purchased, refinanced or sold your home during 2008, don't forget to provide a copy of your HUD-1 Settlement Statement to your tax preparer.  This document is hidden somewhere amongst the myriad of papers provided to you by the title company at close of escrow, and at the bottom left-hand corner, you will see "HUD-1."   This is a breakdown of all fees and points associated with your loan.  Some fees and/or points paid may be tax deductible.  Check with your tax professional. Also, please, please, please, do yourself a favor!  Save all receipts for improvements to your properties in a safe place, and keep them on all homes you have owned... 02/15/2009

In this age of financial turmoil, bank failures/bailouts and foreclosures, having good to great credit has become even more important.  Mediocre credit scores may not prevent you from purchasing a home, but your other qualifying factors better be great.  And be prepared to have to accept a higher interest rate than that afforded to A+ borrowers. Credit scores will affect which loan programs are available to you.   VA or FHA programs may be more forgiving of credit scores and allow for a smaller down payment than conventional programs.  The fact that the interest rate might be a little higher may be offset by tax benefits and hopefully increased value of the home after some period of time. Credit is only one of the 5 major issues considered by underwriting when deciding whether to approv... 02/13/2009

"Raindrops keep falling on my head, but that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red...  Crying's not for me!  Oh, I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining, because I'm free...  Nothing's worrying me..."  Okay, if you don't recognize this song, I really am getting old! Well, according to the local weather service and what I've been seeing of late, February looks to be a rainy one, and I say, "Bring it on!"  San Luis Obispo County has been experiencing a drought for the last several years which has caused a water shortage in the county. Although we sit on top of a huge aquifer, more and more water is being used to irrigate vineyards and other agricultural endeavors, and without replenishment, the water table will continue to drop.  So, therefore, let it rain... So far, the sto... 02/12/2009

STEP 2: GET READY TO SHOP FOR HOUSES •   Research neighborhoods.  Drive around neighborhoods where you would live.  Find out about their schools, services that are important to you, and other statistics. •   Interview 3 lenders as recommended to you by friends, family, or co-workers.  Select 1 to serve you. •   Get pre-qualified.  Complete the loan application form (1003) and turn it in to your lender, along with the credit check fee.  The lender will show you what type of loan is best for you, what size loan you qualify for, and how much cash you will need for your downpayment.  (Yes, even zero-down loans and VA borrowers need a cash down payment.)  Your loan size will determine what price of houses you should shop for. •   Ask your lender to calculate your complete monthly payment (PI... 02/08/2009

If you are thinking of renovating or redecorating your home, the best investment would be the kitchen and bathrooms.  These are the two rooms most likely to increase the likelihood of a sale. A light and cheerful kitchen will catch the attention of buyers every time.  The same holds true of bathrooms.  Lighting is very important, and for many, skylights provide the perfect answer. Ample storage in both the kitchen and baths is another plus for buyers.  Kitchen islands provide additional cabinets and storage, and a pantry (preferably walk-in) is a must for any high-end kitchen.  Roll-out shelves in the kitchen and baths allow for easy access and better organization.  Wine refrigerators, wine racks, built-in refrigerators and refrigerated/heated drawers are becoming the norm in new homes ... 02/04/2009

On February 19th, Stage 5 of the Amgen Tour featuring seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer will begin in Visalia at 10:00 am and will end with a sprint down Spring Street in Paso Robles with the finish line being at the City Park (11th & Spring)  near the Paso Robles Inn between 3:00 & 4:20 pm. The route is roughly as follows:  The race starts in Visalia and heads west on Highway 46 east before merging onto Highway 41 west and traveling through Shandon and Creston.  Riders will then turn right onto Creston Road, left on Charolais Road, right on South River Road, left on Niblick crossing the bridge and then right onto Spring Street for a downhill fast and exciting finish. There will be ample room for up-close viewing practica... 02/04/2009

Remove all clutter from the entrance area. Manicure the lawn. Clean patio and decks. Clean front door or paint. Adjust thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Arrange for your pets to be in a safe place, or preferably gone.  Remove dog dishes if you can and cat boxes.  (Personally, I love pets and I own them myself -- 4 outdoor cats, 2 indoor dogs and 2 horses -- but this is a major turnoff for a lot of buyers; especially if the pets are indoors.) Play soft music. Turn on lights in all rooms. Make sure your home smells good; maybe candles, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or bread. Clean your home top to bottom. Open up your home.  The lighter and brighter, the better. Remove clutter from all countertops. Remove and put in a safe place all valuables: jewelry, money, guns (yes, we ... 01/26/2009

Feel free to use any color bell peppers for this recipe -- the more color, the better -- and also adjust seasonings to your taste. 6 Bell Peppers of any color, pith removed and cut into 1/4" strips 5 Tbs of light olive oil 4 Tbs white wine vinegar 2 Tbs sugar or more 3 Tbs capers 4 Tbs chopped olives 1/2 Tsp dried oregano Salt & Pepper to taste Saute pepper strips in olive oil.  Stir in vinegar, sugar, capers, olives, oregano and salt & pepper.  SImmer uncovered until peppers look translucent and are cooked & slightly soft.  Adjust seasonings as necessary. Peppers may be served hot or cold... If you would like to search the MLS for listings in and around Paso Robles, feel free to visit my website. If you have any real estate questions or general questions about Paso Robles or San Luis O... 01/26/2009

  The following are the sales reports for the Central Coast of California as of December 20, 2008: Single Family Residences Listed:        1,658 Solds Per Month:                                 296 Failed Per Month:                                256 Sales Pending:                                   742 Percent Selling:                                  54% Months Supply:                                   5.6 Days on Market:                                  89 List to Close:                                     129 List Price:                                  $529,000   For Paso Robles specifically: Listed All Active:                                 238 Solds Per Month                                   38 Failed Per Month                                  40 Percent Selling:               ... 01/26/2009

When you are in the process of interviewing lenders, the Good Faith Estimate is a document that is provided to you by each lender that lists all fees paid before closing, all closing costs and any escrow costs you will encounter when purchasing or refinancing a home. The lender must supply this to you within 3 days of your loan application to help you make an accurate assessment of which loan company is charging the least amount of fees and points. To make sure you won't become a victim of loan fraud, be sure to follow these steps when you apply for a loan: Be sure to read and understand all documents before you sign them. If you do not understand them, ask the loan officer to explain them to you. Do not overstate your income. Do not sign any blank documents. Never sign loan documents ... 01/26/2009

When staging your home for sale, don't forget to stage the front of your home for curb appeal.  Remember, the first time a buyer is going to be introduced to your home is probably going to be a photograph on the Internet via a Multiple Listing Service or an agent's website.  Whether they decide they would like to preview your home in person is going to be based upon their first impression.  Remember, you never get a second chance at a first impression... Likewise, even if the buyers' first impression is an actual visit, if your home and landscaping don't look fresh and tidy, they are very likely to drive on by and not even take a look at the inside.  You could have a perfectly beautiful interior, but if the exterior looks tired and neglected, they may mistakenly believe that the interi... 01/25/2009

Continuing on with my previous blog entry about local farmers markets, I thought it would be apropos to provide you with my favorite Minestrone Soup Recipe.  Of course, you can add or delete almost any vegetable and still wind up with a fabulous, hearty winter soup. The same goes for whatever carbohydrate you wish to add, whether it be pasta noddles, beans -- or better yet -- both!  I would still add the pureed butter beans for flavor and to thicken the soup whether you add pasta noodles or additional beans. I would, however, stay away from adding green beans, unless you plan to eat the soup within 2 days, as green beans tend to spoil quickly and can cause food poisoning. Ingredients Enough olive oil to coat bottom of soup pot  (I prefer light, but your choice) 2 large onions cut in lar... 01/19/2009

Although produce is limited during the winter months, I thought you might like an updated local farmers market schedule for the Central Coast since the weather has been so fabulous...  It is fun to get out and at least buy some fresh flowers or winter vegies for a sumptuous homemade soup that can be frozen for the winter rains we hope are coming. ARROYO GRANDE Spencer's Market Parking Lot on the corner of Grand and Courtland.  Wednesdays 8:30 - 11:00 am. Village Gazebo area.  Saturdays 12:00 - 2:30 pm.  Usually have live entertainment.  For info, call (805) 489-6597. Old Port Fisheries at corner of Brisco and Grand Avenue Thursdays 3:00 - 6:00 pm.  For info, call (805) 541-3474. ATASCADERO SUNKEN GARDENS in historic downtown Colony District Wednesdays 3:00 - 6:00 pm.  For info, call (80... 01/19/2009