National Park Week April 20-28, 2013 National Park Week April 20-28, 2013   Did you know that National Park Week is April 20-28, 2013?   Did you know that there are 401 national parks? That they include seashores, battlefields, historic homes, archeological sites, and spectacular natural areas?   Did you know there is at least one national park in every state?   Did you know that 99 percent of counties in America have recreational facilities such as playgrounds and trails funded by the National Park Service's Land & Water Conservation Fund?   So, if you are looking for something fun and fantastic to do with family and friends, head out to America's national parks where millions of stars light up the dark night sky, deer and antelope (and a few other critters!) play on the wide open ra... 04/16/2013

Orangecrest Riverside Real Estate Report April 2013 What is the big story in Orangecrest Riverside? Just as it is throughout the Inland Empire Inventory levels are low and wily sellers are responding to the buyer demand with higher listing prices. We are witnessing the philosophy of supply versus demand in action. The shift in the Riverside real estate market has led sellers to an ideal scenario - low interest rates combined with buyer enthusiasm has resulted in multiple offers and bidding wars. Orangecrest Riverside Background: Orangecrest is a community of newer homes built in southeast Riverside. It is home to award winning schools, nationally recognized parks and a new community center. Active Listings: 10  Back-up Listings: 42 Sold Listings: 27 (listings sold from March 1 - April 1... 04/15/2013

QHB (Qualified Home Buyer) seeking Single Family Residence! Yikes....it's crazy out there and all I want to do is buy a single family home in Riverside, California. I've submitted multiple offers (14 and hoping the next will be lucky 15.) I jump out of bed at the sound of my phone pinging with new email alerts. (Trying to be the first buyer to view and get my offer in first.) I've stopped negotiating, my agent started writing full price offers on # 7.( We are even coming in 5 -10% above list). I'm not even asking for concessions.(No home warranties, no closing costs, nothing, nada). So why is it I just can't win the home of my dreams? They tell me it's now a seller's market and buyers everywhere are trying to take advantage of the 2004 pricing we are seeing right now in Riverside, Calif... 04/10/2013

  ©Anaheim Angels- Go and Support Your Team this Season©     On Tuesday April 9 at 7:00 pm go to a home game and see the Angels play Oakland Athletics at Angel’s Stadium. ‘Opening Night’ promotions an Angel’s wall calendar to enjoy for the entire year.   No matter who your team is, go and support them. There are 162 games so you will have many chances to bring the kids or just come with friends. Enjoy Baseball 2013!   Here is a picture of Spring Training in Arizona. My friends went to see  an Angel’s game but a huge storm hit and the game was cancelled. Spectators were being hit with golf ball sizedhail.   To buy tickets click here. Go Angels! California is a dream come true state no matter what your needs or wants are. We have year round warm weather, beautiful beaches, rustic mountain... 04/02/2013

Short Sale Riverside Home Most now understand what the Short Sale Process is now considering most of the real estate market in California consists of short sales and foreclosures. But do you know how a Riverside Short Sale will specifically affect you and your family's financial future?Every Riverside Short Sale is different, with varying outcomes and options because of circumstances, the type of mortgage or mortgages that are on the home, the lender or lenders these mortgages are with, and more. The best way to understand your specific situation is to talk in detail with us. You can call or email us using the information at the bottom of this article. Or you can visit our Real Estate Short Sale Formula by clicking here: Can I Short Sale My Riverside Home?We understand how difficult the... 04/02/2013

  Remember Cesar Chavez on March 31....a Labor Leader in America Born: March 31, 1927 Died: April 23, 1993   Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers. During the 20th century he was a leading voice for migrant farm workers (people who move from place to place in order to find work). His tireless leadership focused national attention on these laborers' terrible working conditions, which eventually led to improvements.   Cesar Chavez was born in North Gila Valley, near Yuma, Arizona. He was one of six children. His parents owned a ranch and a small grocery store, but during the Great Depression in the 1930s they lost everything and at the age of 6, he had to start picking fruits and vegetables. Cesar Chavez and his family became migrant farm... 03/30/2013

Easter Egg Hunts in the Inland Empire on March 30, 2013     Chino Hills- Easter Egg-citement- 11-2:00pm! Participate in a variety of activities including egg hunts, an egg decorating contest, pictures with the Easter Bunny, crafts, musical entertainment, a craft fair, and refreshments to purchase. No outside baskets or bags allowed. The City will provide bags for egg hunts.   Fontana - Easter Egg-citement @ Jessie Turner Center. 10-1pm! Come out and participate in the Easter Egg Hunts, games, crafts, and even a visit from the Easter Bunny!   Fontana- Easter Eggs-perience @ Cypress Neighborhood Center. 10-12pm! Play games, participate in the Easter egg hunt, and be sure to take a picture with the Easter Bunny.   Fontana- Easter Egg-travaganza @ Don Day Center. 10-1:00pm! Be part of our E... 03/29/2013

  One of the Most Expensive Penthouse Apartments in US.....for Sale Soon   This Manhattan Penthouse occupies the top 3 floors of the Pierre Hotel. Features includes Chandeliers in most rooms, an enormous Marble Staircase, 5 Fireplaces, 4 Terraces, a fantastic view of Central Park, a Ball Room including a Harp.   This home currently belongs to the widow of Martin Zweig who passed away last month on February 20, 2013. If you will remember Zweig was a successful financial investor and predictor of the Stock Market Crash of 87. They bought this home in 1997 for $54 Million.   You ask what the price is for this lovely home? This lavish penthouse price is listing for a mere $120 Million Dollars.   Kristin Hamilton  DRE #014092138 Keller Williams Realty -I sell real estate in Riverside and San... 03/22/2013

  The Surf Scoter Duck also known as Skunk Head     We stayed in San Diego this week and enjoyed the wildlife near our hotel in Point Loma, San Diego, CA.   Kristin Hamilton  DRE #014092138 Keller Williams Realty -I sell real estate in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties commonly called the Inland Empire. I am a trained and experienced Short Sale agent. If you are looking for a professional and experienced agent, I am just a click away. Google me at Kristin Hamilton-Real Estate Agent. Homeowners and Buyers both will find my services top notch and successful. Call me to sell your home; both traditional and short sales. California is a dream come true state no matter what your needs or wants are. We have year round warm weather, beautiful beaches, rustic mountains and desert communities... 03/20/2013

Is Your Riverside Home Underwater? Short Sale that Riverside House!Riverside Short Sales are nothing new. In fact, most of the Riverside housing market consists of short sales these days.If you’re struggling to make your mortgage payments on a property that is worth half the value of what you purchased it for? This is NOT the American dream. No one wants to lose their home to foreclosure. And no one wants to sell them home if they don’t want to move. But doing nothing and letting the bank foreclose, or staying with a home that is financially crushing is not the way to support your family.A Riverside short sale may be the best option for you. But how can you know without talking to a Riverside Short Sale Expert (That’s us!)? Have you considered a loan modification instead of a short sale... 03/20/2013

 Do You Know Why March 20th is Called ‘The First Day of Spring…Fun Facts?   The first day of spring is also called the vernal equinox. “Vernal” and “equinox” are Latin terms meaning “spring” and “equal night”     First Day of Spring--Above and Below the Equator The vernal equinox, which occurs on March 20 or 21 each year and signals the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, is also the autumnal equinox—the first day of autumn—in the Southern Hemisphere. Conversely, the autumnal equinox in the north, which occurs in late September, is the first day of spring south of the equator. ·        If you were standing on the equator during either the vernal or autumnal equinox, you would see the sun pass directly overhead, the only two times in the year when that is true. ·        The two e... 03/19/2013

Grasshopper Needs Some Advice on Getting a new Website   I have had the same website since I started real estate and frankly, I need a new one quick.   Everyone seems to have nice boxes for visitors to click in but I do not.   I must give my notice within the next month as they just have a 30 day window before it expires.   So does anyone have any good recommendations for a web site? I am not looking for anything super expensive but just want something that does the job for a fair price.   Second Question: I pay the company $15 per year for my domain name. So how does this work? I do not want to lose my domain. HELP!                                      Kristin Hamilton  DRE #014092138 Keller Williams Realty -I sell real estate in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties commonly called th... 03/18/2013

List it High Right off the Bat! Yeah...the spring selling season is upon us, so seller's "lets play ball." I am recommending that Riverside seller's come out swinging aggressively. Riverside, and the Inland Empire's, low inventory levels have caused major changes in the Riverside real estate landscape. The capricious winds of change are whistling through the city and it has become a seller's market! Supply versus demand, combined with low interest rates and pent-up demand (Californian's traditionally move every 5 - 7 years) have combined to create a fantastic selling opportunity for Riverside sellers. I am counseling clients to prepare their homes and list it high right off the bat. However In a frenzied rush to get the most dollars for your home do not overlook the caveat - prepare you... 03/18/2013

  Victoria Grove - Riverside CA - Home Sales Activity - March 2013   If you are interested in current real estate activity in Victoria Grove Riverside CA, read on.  This information is as of March 16, 2013.  If you are thinking of selling your Victoria Grove house, it is a terrific time to sell because there is such a low inventory of houses for sale in the Inland Empire, particularly in Riverside and Corona. On the flip side, it can be a challenge to find a house if you are looking in the area as there are fewer houses for sale at this time.   There are only four houses currently for sale (active listings) in Victoria Grove in Riverside California.  That is compared to 10 active listings at this time last August.  Of the houses currently for sale: one short sales, two standard sales an... 03/16/2013

  ‘Little Girl with Fishes’ Fountain   My family member is in the hospital in San Diego at the Scripts Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. We went to see her yesterday and I was fascinated by the beautiful fountain at the entrance of the hospital. So there I was taking a few pictures before we entered. The fountain shows the life-sized “Little Girl with Fishes” who dances in a fountain outside the hospital’s main entrance.       Later I found that the hospital has a Wolfstein Sculpture Park and Healing Gardens with 31 sculptures donated by the Wolfstein Family. When I go back tomorrow, I am going to go find the gardens with my camera.   You don’t have to be ill to come to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla located at 9888 Genesee Avenue in La Jolla, CA.   T.J. Dixon & James Nelson created th... 03/16/2013

Riverside New Construction Springing into the Selling Season The builders are gearing up and all signs point to a fantastic selling season in the Riverside/Inland Empire area. The real estate selling season has officially begun as builders, determined to capture a percentage of eager buyers, move aggressively to answer the pent up demand. Riverside new construction builders offer three different communities appealing to a wide segment of buyers, many from the neighboring Orange and Los Angeles counties, attempting to expand their purchasing dollars. Riverwalk-Vista is a master planned community with homes ranging from luxury to entry level. Riverwalk-Vista's entry level community, Promenade by Woodside Homes, will be releasing phase 5 this weekend. Expectations are high the homes will b... 03/11/2013

Are there Harmful Chemicals in the Blue Box Mac & Cheese?   Yesterday on the news, Vani Hari and Lisa Leake, both food bloggers and mothers, who are petitioning the Kraft Company to remove the Yellow Dye 5 and Yellow Dye 6 from their popular product Macaroni & Cheese. They claim that the dyes are dangerous and can cause many health issues; hypertension, allergies, hives and tumors.   They brought up a good argument though. The product is sold in Europe but the Yellow Dyes 5 & 6 are banned there so they sell it under the name ‘Cheesy Pasta’ and claims it tastes exactly the same but is not the dark orangey-yellow color. They also sell it in a red box instead of a blue box but it is otherwise identical except for the dyes.Europe thinks the dyes are unsafe so why does USA think different?  ... 03/11/2013

Former Artist's NY Cottage & Paintings Worth 30 Million Dollars       In 2007, two investors bought a former artist’s home, Arthur Pinajian 1914-1999, which included a shed full of boxes. The relatives sold the boxes containing artwork, drawings, and personal journals to the buyers for an additional $2500 over the selling price of the Bellport cottage home of $300,000.     One of the owners just couldn’t toss the painting and held onto them. He later had them restored, framed and appraised. What a surprise when just recently they found the works of art to be worth approximately 30 million dollars.      Apparently it had been the wishes of Pinajian for his relatives to throw out his painting at the landfill when he died. Luckily the relatives held onto them and thought they were getting... 03/09/2013

Riverside sellers leap into the spring selling season with a well planned selling strategy and marketing plan! Riverside homes gained a 20.6% appreciation over last year as reported by the California Association of Realtors.  If you are a Riverside homeowner now is a great time to put your home on the market. The low interest rates, 3.5% for a 30-year fixed rate loan as of today, are enticing buyers from Los Angeles and Orange Counties to the Riverside/Inland Empire area seeking to purchase the home of their dreams. What are buyers looking for in Riverside Homes? Resale - The median price in Riverside is $240,840. First time buyers are seeking homes in established neighborhoods with excellent school districts. Orangecrest Riverside a community of newer single family homes built from 199... 03/07/2013

Remembering Riverside Police  Officer Michael Crain     Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain was fatally shot in the line of duty while on patrol when a dangerous fugitive drove by and ambushed him and his partner Officer Tachais, who was critically injured but luckily survived.       That was the message on 02/13/2013 as law enforcement officials from all over the state of California joined family and friends in mourning the death of the 34-year-old Riverside Police Department officer who was killed in an ambush by an ex-LAPD officer fugitive. At the time of Crain’s funeral, there was a nationwide manhunt to find his killer so many officers across the nation could not attend.       Over 1,000 people, including Gov. Jerry Brown and state Attorney General Kamala Harris, gathered at th... 03/07/2013