Your home must be every buyer's dream home...        There is a point where improving your home doesn't pay off.  Don't get too carried away with repairs and replacements.  A REALTOR will show you competing properties on the market so you can make sound judgments on what improvements to make on your home.   Minor repairs can wait...        Most buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready.  You would be very surprised at what most homes look like during broker caravan.  They look like model homes!  Do not mean to scare you, but it is true...  In this market, you need to put your best foot forward from Day 1!  "You never get a second chance at a first impression."   Curb appeal is not important...        Buyers will probably never make it through the front door if the outside doe... 08/29/2008

This past weekend, my husband, myself and our two Jack Russell Terriers took a trip up to see family in Concord. We were there for a dinner to meet the agent I referred my parents to who sold their ranch property in Suisun on Friday, a family reunion on Saturday, and a trip to Gualala on the coast Sunday where my parents are considering buying vacant land for a place to park their trailer so they can "get away" from the city on occasion. The dinner with my parents' agent and his wife turned out really nice.  Both were really friendly, and the agent had a great sense of humor, so I can see why he got along with my parents so well.  My parents' escrow turned out to be a bit of a nightmare, because there was a cloud on title, but the agent did a great job of navigating through it and tryin... 08/28/2008

The 17-day contingency period is a very important protection for the buyer.  Activities during this period may include obtaining a loan, reviewing disclosures, an appraisal, desired inspections and any other matters that may affect the purchase.  Allowing the buyer this inspection period helps to insure that the buyer will be happy with his/her purchase and hopefully will not feel inclined to sue anyone after close of escrow. During this 17-day period, the buyer has the right to cancel the contract and receive back the deposit.  The contract does not require a reason to be given for the cancellation.  In fact, it is probably best not to give a reason.  You can simply use CAR's (California Association of REALTORS) Cancellation of Contract to cancel the agreement. If the buyer fails to re... 08/27/2008

        REVIEW OF HOME SALES & MEDIAN HOME PRICES ON STICK-BUILT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN NORTH COUNTY       (UNDER $1M)     JANUARY-JUNE 2008 VS. JANUARY-JUNE 2007     PASO ROBLES                   SALES      AVG.DOM            HIGH             LOW          MEDIAN 2007 228 117 $208,000.00 $940,000.00 $472,500.00 2008 230 111 $156,000.00 $780,000.00 $383,750.00 2008/2007 2 -6     ($88,750.00) % DIFFERENCE 1% -5%     -19%   Reports from escrow companies and county records indicate that the highest number of foreclosures in San Luis Obispo County is occuring in Paso Robles.  Could it be due to this factor that we are seeing a 1% increase in the home sales of stick-built single-family residences in the first half of 2008, when compared with the sales in 2007?  It may be possible. Additionall... 08/22/2008

Remove, put in safe place, all valuables, jewelry, money & prescription drugs Unclutter counter tops Clean your home top to bottom Make any necessary repairs, such as touch-up painting Open up your house, the lighter and brighter the better Play soft music Make sure your home smells good, maybe baked chocolate chip cookies Adjust thermostat to a comfortable level Arrange for your pets to be in a safe place or preferably gone Clean and straighten the patio Manicure the lawn Clean the front door or paint Remove all clutter from the entrance area Remember, you don't get a second chance at a first impression! If you have any real estate questions or general questions about San Luis Obispo North County, please contact me via email, call me at (805) 235-0234 or visit my website for more info... 08/19/2008

The grand opening of Two Little Birds Bakery in Paso Robles took place on Friday.  The bakery is conveniently located at 1210 Park Street near the city park.  Lauren Galena is the proud owner and plans to offer homemade goodies from baked goods to cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, breads to muffins, croissants and cinnamon rolls.  In addition, the bakery will offer Joebella Coffee, expresso and blended expresso drinks. A big welcome Two Little Birds!  I bet this bakery is going to be a real hit with the locals and tourists.  Can't wait to try the cinnamon rolls... If you have any real estate questions or general questions about San Luis Obispo North County, please contact me via email, call me at (805) 235-0234 or visit my website for more information. 08/19/2008

                                                        This economy is definitely taking its toll on many marriages, and it is even tougher on divorces. Divorcing couples may not be able to sell their homes 1) in a timely fashion or 2) for enough cash to pay off their mortgages, home equity lines and credit cards. Job losses and today's tougher mortgage standards make it harder, too, for one spouse to buy out the other. Couples can try and hang onto the home until the market improves, but that is forcing two people to live in the same household and share finances when they don't want to be together. Also, if one of them stops paying on the mortgage, it can cause housing and credit problems for the other spouse. If one spouse can qualify to take over the payments and buy out the other, ... 08/17/2008

  This is my understanding of a 203K FHA Rehab Loan, but please confirm with a qualified loan officer. On the 203K Rehab Loan, FHA will loan up to 115% of appraised value. The percentages are 3% down, 97% financed, and the additional 15% can be used to rehab the property. That means 15% of appraised value can be used to add appliances, paint, fix the roof, whatever... This is a pretty nifty program if you are purchasing a fixer-upper or a REO (bank-owned) property as frequently these homes have been abused before being vacated. The home has to have a Certificate of Occupancy, be at least a year old, have been occupied during that year, and then the repairs have to be done by a licensed General Contractor. There are 8 to 10 inspections throughout the process amounting to fees between $8... 08/16/2008

Heads up first-time home buyers! Recently, the loan limit for FHA was increased to $680,000. Here are some of the reasons it would be to your benefit as a first-time home buyer to meet with a qualified mortgage specialist with regard to whether you qualify for a FHA loan: High loan-to-value. 97% financed and only 3% down payment FHA is very liberal on credit scores accepting as low as 580 Allow gift funds with some additional requirements Allow non owner-occupied co-borrowers and will consider their income for qualifying No adjustments to interest rates for high loan-to-value Loan on manufactured homes as long as on permanent foundation on owned land and home 1976 or newer "A Paper" pricing = great interest rates Acreage okay if price is reasonable for the area FHA Loans can be done on ... 08/15/2008

Water your lawn only when it needs it. Watering frequently can be very harmful to your lawn. A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on it. If it springs back up, you don't need to water. Deep-soak your lawn. Don't sprinkle. Deep watering encourages deep and solid root growth. Water during the cool parts of the day. Don't water at dusk as that promotes growth of fungus. Early morning is much better. Adjust your sprinklers to insure you aren't wasting water on walkways. Avoid watering when it is windy. Turn off the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket with soapy water to wash your car, and then use the hose to rinse. Use a broom to clean sidewalks. Using water to clean off a sidewalk uses hundreds of gallons of water. Check your pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings ... 08/14/2008

•51.       Mail out school calendar information - holidays, events etc. •52.       Order stamps with clients new address as a closing gift. •53.       For a holiday gift - give a bottle of wine in an attractive package to all buyer and seller clients you have worked with this year. Put personal labels on the bottle, Compliments of.... •54.       Purchase Holiday Cd's with your information on them to give to clients •55.       Buy a new home ornament with the year on it for all buyers who you have represented this year and bring it as a pop by gift. •56.       Deliver all gifts large and small personally to your client! Build the relationship •57.       You can purchase a bottle of wine with a picture of the home you have sold to your buyers. Give as a year end closing gift •58.       Wr... 08/09/2008

I came across this website complements of a future client today: http://www.pasorobleswaterproject.com/  We were chatting about the effects of the water pipe line and what effect it will have on her bill. Right now she told me her water is around $7.00 plus $40.00 in additional fees. Did I mention she is a senior? Once everything is in place her water bill will be right around $200.00. Now I maybe off by some some change but the numbers are close. I can't imagine the effect this will have on our senior community. It is also going to effect those barley getting by in this economy. Check out the site for Nacimiento Water Project, Water Conservation, Videos, Discussions,and much More. 08/07/2008

This is one of the views from Calcareous Winery on Peachy Canyon Road in Paso Robles. It's one of the reasons Laura and I love the area so much. In fact, we've visited there three times in the past two months. Paso Robles has a rich history. Jesse James went there to visit relatives and recover from a gunshot wound in the city's mineral baths. Today, wine dominates the area. In fact the number of area wineries doubled between 1993 and 2002. There are well over 100 wineries there now. When we arrived Friday July 25, we were treated to an unexpected surprise. The California Mid State Fair was underway and from across the street we were able to hear Steely Dan performing live! Saturday was devoted to sight seeing and wine tasting. We began the day at Tobin James Winery, which is quickly b... 08/07/2008

I want to share a bit about what I learned the other day from Brett Noel. He  a Success Coach in our Keller Williams office in Paso Robles. He is one of those people that when he explains something, I think "Why didn't I do that or "Why didn't I thinkof that? On this particular day I was in a regular KW class, not a coaching class or in a coaching session. Brett starts to talk about building your database and holding an Information Open House.You would do this in your own front yard. Now I farm my neighborhood, so I'm thinking Have everyone come to you not the other way around, WOW, I kind of like that! Now I have kind of taken this and ran with it. I've decided to do it in one month. I will follow up and let you all know. My point of this blog was: This is what you get from a Success C... 08/06/2008

I'm an agent with Keller Williams Realty North County in Paso Robles California. My Name is Lisa Long and I can be reached at (805) 610-4314. Visit my website to find out more about me and the great community I live in.  One thing all my clients notice about me is I will go that extra mile. I strive to have every client feel as if they are my only client. I'm a believer in strong communication and I always use a Transaction Coordinator because I feel I should be using my time to do what I do best and that's Real Estate and caring for my clients.   If your looking for a local Real Estate agent in Paso Robles, San Miguel, or Templeton and I sound like the kind of agent you want to referrer your clients to please give me a call. www.centralcaliving.com   08/04/2008

Friday night Boz Scaggs came to the Midstate Fair in Paso Robles for Jazz Night. I was fortunate enough to be offered 2 tickets from a friend who happened to have a table. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to sit so close to the stage, so of course we decided to go. Add to that how much I enjoy Boz Scaggs and his band, and you know I was a happy camper. The first time my husband and I saw Boz was 32 years ago on New Year's Eve at the art deco Paramount Theatre Downtown Oakland, Ca. Construction on the Paramount began in late 1930. The Paramount Theatre was one of only three theatres built by the Publix chain on the West Coast. It was not only the last Publix house but was also the last very large moving picture theatre built on the West Coast and is now the largest of th... 08/03/2008

Daily Schedule - August 3rd ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS 5:00 PM, MAIN GRANDSTAND ARENA THE MAGIC OF CHRIS LOPEZ 5:30 PM ALBERTSONS/PEPSI HEADLINER STAGE OZOMATLI 6:30 PM & 8:30 PM BUDWEISER FORT FRONTIER STAGE J PARSON 7:30 PM ALBERTSONS/PEPSI HEADLINER STAGE DJ KARAOKE 9:30 PM FRONTIER TOWN TOYOTA LIVESTOCK AREA/EQUESTRIAN EVENTS ROUND ROBIN SHOWMANSHIP 8:30 AM, LIVESTOCK PAVILION COUNTRY RODEO 9:00 AM, EQUESTRIAN CENTER PEE WEE SHOWMANSHIP 11:00 AM, LIVESTOCK CONTEST OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES YOSEMITE JAZZ BAND 12:00 PM, MAIN QUAD ZOO TO YOU: LEOPARDY! 3:00PM AND 5:00 PM CULLIGAN PONDEROSA STAGE WINETASTING, PETIT SYRAH 4:00 PM, THE MARKETPLACE SALSA CONTEST 5:30 PM, MAIN QUAD FEATURED WINEMAKER 6:00 PM, THE MARKETPLACE Remember, there are shuttle bus stops all along Spring Str... 08/02/2008

Well, Folks, this will be brief. Boz Scaggs is headlining tonight for Jazz Night at the Midstate Fair. We were lucky enough to inherit 2 tickets for a table on the main floor (okay, it is dirt, but it is a table) a couple of days ago, so we will be leaving here in another hour or so to enjoy the evening. Hadn't planned to go since we saw him about a year ago, but tickets up close and with a table? Heck, yeah, we're up for it! Will post tomorrow and let you know how it all went, but I think I can tell you it will be awesome! 08/01/2008

And you thought the cowboy always won? Daily Schedule - August 2nd ENTERTAINMENT THE MAGIC OF CHRIS LOPEZ 5:30 PM ALBERTSONS/PEPSI HEALINER STAGE DAVE AGUALLO 6:00 PM AND 9:30 PM FRONTIER TOWN GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS 6:30 PM AND 8:30 PM BUDWEISER FORT FRONTIER STAGE SAWYER BROWN & THE COUNTRY RODEO FINALS 7:00 PM MAIN GRANDSTAND ARENA THE BLIMP PILOTS 7:30 PM ALBERTSONS/PEPSI HEADLINER STAGE TOYOTA LIVESTOCK AREA/ EQUESTIAN EVENTS COUNTRY RODEO 8:00 AM, EQUESTRIAN CENTER JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION 8:00AM, LIVESTOCK PAVILION SALE OF CHAMPIONS 12:00 PM, LIVESTOCK PAVILION OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES PAMPERED CHEF COOKING DEMO 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 PM HOME ARTS BUILDING ZOO TO YOU: LEOPARDY! 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM AND 7:00 PM CULLIGAN PONDEROSA STAGE WINETASTING, WHITE RHONE 4:00 PM, THE MARKE... 08/01/2008

Daily Schedule - August 1st ENTERTAINMENT DANCERS OF AMARA 5:30 PM ALBERTSONS/PEPSI HEADLINER STAGE DAVE AGUALLO 6:00 PM FRONTIER TOWN BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 6:30 PM & 8:30 PM BUDWEISER FORT FRONTIER STAGE AN EVENING OF MUSIC AND WINE WITH BOZ SCAGGS ( I will be there!) AND SPECIAL GUEST DAVID JOCOBS-STRAIN PRESENTED BY MISSION COMMUNITY BANK 7:00 PM, MAIN GRANDSTAND ARENA A.F.R.O 7:30 PM ALBERTSONS/PEPSI HEADLINER STAGE DJ KARAOKE 9:30 PM FRONTIER TOWN TOYOTA LIVESTOCK AREA/EQUESTRIAN EVENTS WRANGLER JUNIOR GYMKHANA 8:00 AM, EQUESTRIAN CENTER BEEF SHOWMANSHIP 8:00 AM, LIVESTOCK PAVILION REPLACEMENT HEIFER SALE 6:00 PM, LIVESTOCK PAVILION OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES DESIGNERS CHOICE BASKET DEMO 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 PM HOME ARTS BUILDING ZOO TO YOU: LEOPARDY! 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM AND 7:00 PM... 07/31/2008