If I had to say three things Santa Maria California was known for it would be strawberries, tri-tip barbeque, and now its wine country:  • Strawberries are honored at the yearly Strawberry Festival. And although the number of strawberry stands has decreased over the years, you can still get some of the best strawberries in the country from Santa Maria fields. • As for barbeque, well, it took awhile for me to realize that barbeque was a big deal here. My mom is from Texas, and for me barbeque ain't barbeque unless there is sauce on it. Santa Maria barbeque is a different kind of animal. No sauce, red oak, salt and pepper. That's Santa Maria style. Just take a run down Broadway on Saturday or Sunday and follow the smoke and you'll find some. Barbeque lunches and dinners are a fundraising ... 02/06/2010

It's been said that "Baseball is America's past time, but Football is America's passion."  Do you agree?   I completely agree.  Being an avid Football fan in the country gives one permission to emotionally express yourself in fanatical ways, otherwise unacceptable in our jaded, day-to-day culture. That said, Whose colors and jerseys will you be wearing this Sunday...The Colts or The Saints??  As a Steeler, fan, I am rooting for the AFC COLTS, but those NFC SAINTS have had an AMAZING year, and Santa Maria's very own Mark Brunell has a shot at a Superbowl ring!  Mostly, I am looking forward to a GREAT game!! 02/05/2010

The California Association of Realtors Housing Affordability Fund announced the creation of a Mortgage Protection Plan for first time home buyers. This program was developed to give first time buyers some incentive to buy homes in an uncertain economy. Although buyers don't seem as if they need any further incentive to buy right now, with bidding wars and multiple offers the usual situation in the Santa Maria and Lompoc markets, when this program was conceived buyers were very hesitant to enter the housing market. So, this program was meant to give some assurance to those on the fence about buying. Eligible buyers who enter into a contract for purchase after April 2, 2009, and close before December 31, 2009 can apply for the program. It provides limited assistance to buyers who buy thei... 01/31/2010

Short sales are not typical sales by any stretch of the imagination. In a short sale, the seller asks the bank to allow a sale even though they owe more on the mortgage than the property is worth. Accordingly, the seller is not permitted to take any proceeds from a short sale. In a "normal" sale, sellers have a vested interest in getting the highest price for their home. A higher offer means a bigger net for the seller. In a short sale situation, sellers tend to be more concerned with relieving their financial pressure by finishing the short sale, rather than obtaining the highest possible offer. Indeed, since some banks take 2 -4 months to process a short sale, just getting to the finish line with any interested buyer is quite an accomplishment. However, short sale sellers should still... 01/31/2010

Here is my system for quick and simple end-of-year tax filing. Using this system, I have current profit-and-loss calculations available at any time. As a big bonus, I complete my bookkeeping by December 31st each year — my business deductions are ready for my accountant to prepare my tax return early! When you have a simple system and make a good habit of sorting frequently, you will feel less stressed, less overwhelmed, and much more productive. Not to mention that you’ll probably save a few hours each week by NOT having to search for “lost” stuff! Any time you need something important, it’s right there at your fingertips. A. Incoming Sorting System B. Daily Working Files C. Working Files – in File Cabinet D. Reference Files – in File Cabinet E. Archive files – Boxed Up in Storage Stay... 01/11/2010

Here is you link to your January 2010 Real Estate Newsletter, with my compliments:   http://realtytimes.com/c/pamadkisson   Great local and national, up-to-date real estate news! Pam Adkisson 01/02/2010

At 12:01am, in both Edwards and Festival Cinemas.  Reminiscent of Star Wars, lines are forming NOW!  I will be there, waiting anxiously for the second movie in the Twilight Saga-New Moon.  This is crazy and silly and SO MUCH FUN!!  I'm sure I will see some of you out there this evening! With a caravan on our listing in the morning, I am going to need some french press espresso!! 11/19/2009

Would love to get local feedback on local hauntings here in the Santa Maria Valley.  Many have heard of the White Lady who haunts the trees near Pioneer Park, the hauntings at The Santa Maria Inn and Santa Maria High School Ethel Pope Auditorium.  Please feel free to add your own here and, have a Happy (and Safe) Halloween!! 10/31/2009

Paso Robles faces Righetti at Warrior Stadium tonight in a Pac-5 showdown in high school area football.  7:30pm.  Traffic could be heavy at Foster and Bradley, with the St; Joe/PV game across the street!! 10/23/2009

This Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, the St. Joseph Knights host Pioneer Valley in a matchup of two undefeated Santa Maria Valley varsity football teams. Kickoff time is 7:30 p.m. on Al Maguire Field at St. Joseph's Jay Will Stadium. A live webcast of the game will be available at www.santamariatimes.com. Elliott Stern will call the action. The pre-game show will start at 7 p.m.   For all you football lovers, this game promises to be a great matchup!! 10/22/2009

The heat is incredible here on the California Central Coast!  Here are a couple of ways to beat the heat this weekend: This weekend,  Oct 16, 17 and 18, Goleta celebrates its history as a lemon growing region with the annual Lemon Festival at Girsh Park (Glen Annie exit, behind Costco).  Carnival rides for the kids starts this evening.  Live entertainment is featured, craft vendors, beer, wine and LOTs of lemony foods! The Festival is FREE, though there are some fees for rides.  FOr more information, call 967-4618 or visit www.lemonfestival.com -AND-   The Santa Barbara Beer Festival is BACK!  More than 30 Western Breweries participating, brews from as far away as Italy and Alska represented!  Saturday, Oct. 17, From 12 noon to 5pm, at Elings Park (Los Positas exit).  The festival is pr... 10/16/2009

The Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce is seeking vendors for the Sixth Annual 50+ Expo set for 10am to 2pm, Tuesday, November 17, at the South County Regional Center, 800 W. Branch Street, A.G. The trade show features Health, Fitness, leisure, and business services for seniors, their caregivers, and those wishing to retire in comfort someday. Free flu shots and health screenings will be offer at information booths.  Admission is FREE and FREE refreshments will be served. Businesses interested in showcasing their products and services at the event can contact the Chamber at 489-1488, or info@agchamber.com Pam Adkisson 10/13/2009

The Rock and Roll Diner, at 1300 Railroad St. in Oceano, is helping raise funds for breast cancer awareness through a special Pink Menu through the month of October-Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 10% of Pink Menu meal proceeds will be donated to organizations promoting Breast Cancer Awareness. For more information, call the diner at 805-473-2040  10/13/2009

The Santa Maria Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Santa Maria Noontime Kiwanis, People for Leisure and Youth (PLAY), community art groups hosted a fantastic event yesterday in downtown Santa Maria.  I am only sad that we do this but once a year! I would love to see a Thursday, Friday or Saturday downtown monthly event like this. maybe on a smaller scale, possibly rotating, like a Chamber mixer, except community wide. The cameraderie, good food, beer, wine and entertainment, in a family oriented environment, is a perfect formula for great social interaction in our community!  Really appreciated...great job!!     10/04/2009

Buying a condo in Santa Maria, Ca. can be tricky. Now something that people are starting to look at are condos since they are usually a lot cheaper than a home.  Just don’t forget that condos you have an Association fee that can be as little as $100.00 to as much $300.00 that is on top of your mortgage payment.   But the big thing is whether that condo will qualify for an FHA loan because if it does not that means you may have to put down more money.  Usually at least 10% vs. 3.5 % down.  So rather than waste your time since you may not have that kind of money to put down just go to this website and find out if that condo complex is on the FHA website.   So main thing for example on a 100k condo its a lot easier to put down $3,500.00 than it is $10k.   Go to:  https://entp.hud.gov/idap... 08/18/2009

Rich Levin, top real estate trainer, sent me a great article that I just had to share!  It's called "The Four Required Skills to Work with Buyers" and says "there are four distinct skills you need to develop to take full advantage of this tremendous opportunity with buyer leads:" Contact the leads Convert the leads into appointments Develop and conduct a winning buyer presentation Stay in touch with the leads until they buy from you or you drop them First you need the habit and discipline of contacting enough of the leads that you generate to reach your goals.  Most Agents generate enough leads to reach their next level of production.  What they lack is the habit of following up on all the leads they generate. When you get a lead, call it that minute.  If you can't that minute and most ... 06/28/2009

Don't you just hate it when someone posts slander or gossip about you in an online public forum?  Well, if they're professionals, they shouldn't.  Why? Because professionals have the courtesy to approach others directly.  Professionals, like us ActiveRain members, don't back-bite, gossip, slander, act passive/agressive, be a "sissy" by not confronting people, or whatever you want to call it. So what do you do when you have an issue with an ActiveRain member or a colleague?  How should you vent your complaint? Go to the person -- phone works best (email is often taken out of context because there's no tone).  State your concerns in a non-threating way.  Listen, and ask for clarification.  You'll be surprised that at least 1/2 the time, the situation was NOT as bad as you thought.  And it... 06/14/2009

I received this email from California Association of Realtors® Newsline today: "U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan recently announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow home buyers to apply the administration's new $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit toward the purchase costs of a FHA-insured home. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers home buyers a tax credit of up to $8,000 for purchasing their first home. Families can only access this credit after filing their tax returns with the IRS. Home buyers using FHA-approved lenders can apply the tax credit to their down payment in excess of 3.5 percent of appraised value or their closing costs, which can help achieve a lower interest rate. "Currently, borrow... 06/03/2009

Recently I was blessed to attend a real estate investment seminar, Real Wealth Investor Expo with Scott Whaley.  I highly recommend that ALL serious real estate agents attend investment seminars to educate yourselves.  You (hopefully) have clients who are real estate investors, and you should learn their techniques and tools of the trade.  So you know what they're talking about and can relate to them.  And serve them better by knowing how their industry works. Scott Whaley at http://www.realwealthinvestor.com/ hosts an annual expo and brings in the best of the BEST speakers: Robyn Thompson, "Queen of Property Rehab" Bruce Norris, highly respected real estate investor and trainer Alan Cowgill, top advisor on private funding Kaaren Hall, Entrust, experts on self-directed IRAs Jeff Adams, ... 05/26/2009

I just received a counter offer back on a Bank of America property (formerly Countrywide) with a new twist that I haven't seen before in REO contracts. Countrywide officially became Bank of America Home Loans about two weeks ago. I've sold quite a few Countrywide REOs and was used to how they did things. However, it appears that the switch over to Bank of America has changed some things. This counter offer indicated that an "over list price offer shall not be contingent upon property appraising at purchase price." So, if you bid over the purchase price, you must be able to and willing to pay that price regardless of what the property appraises for. On the one hand, this may discourage buyers from overbidding properties and then hoping that the appraiser will save them from their own bad... 05/21/2009