Power of Consumer Complaints Brings Eggnog Latte Back to Starbuck's Cafes Recently the Team Leader at my real estate office posted something on Facebook saying he was so unhappy that the Eggnog Latte had been retired.    I normally get the Pumpkin Latte but then I started seeing more complaints and even at events and classes, people were upset and sharing that they had retired their favorite drink, the eggnog latte. I kept hearing about Eggnog Lattes everywhere! The new holiday drinks included the new Caramel Brulee to replace the loved Eggnog Latte.  So this morning on the national TV news at 6:00am, they were discussing the Eggnog Latte. I thought to myself "This is getting serious when the newscasters at the New York desk are discussing Eggnog Lattes being retired from Starbucks. So... 11/06/2014

Decorate Your Yard for Fall with Scarecrows I love the fall season and like to add a touch to my yard. Just makes it seem a little more fall like and the scare crows make me smile.    Here is a big couple who keep an eye on my big pots. I found these at Big Lots on sale.   Tootie, my little chihuahua, enjoys the scarecrows too.      Then I went to the dollar store and bought these scarecrows  for $1 each and stuck them into the small pots.   Here is a cute photo with the hummingbird sipping nectar so do not worry about the scarecrows scaring off the birds....not going to happen! The birds are probably laughing at them.   Thanks for Reading my Real Estate Blog and Happy Fall   11/05/2014

Tips to Save Energy and $$ this Winter   Winter has come early so it is a good time to think about saving energy in your home which in turn will save you money and this is something we all want to do.     Water Heaters:  If your water heater is old, it might be worth it to buy a new one that is more efficient and has a built in water heater blanket. Make sure to turn your temperature down to 120 degrees and if it is in a cold, drafty room, put a water heater blanket on to keep the temperature hot.     Programmable Thermostats: Heating and cooling your home uses more energy and costs you more than any other area in your home. This takes up almost half your entire utility bill so by installing a programmable thermostat to help you adjust your home's temperature when you are there or durin... 11/03/2014

Pet Owners Spend $350 Million on Halloween Costumes Annually It was announced today that in the United States, people spend over $350 Million Dollars on pet costumes every year. Plus, since Halloween falls on Friday this year, more are likely to buy costumes and decorate than usual.       The National Retail Federation estimates that Halloween Spending including candy, decorations and costumes for a total of $7.4 billion dollars for 2014. Amazingly, Halloween is not even in the top 5 for most money spent annually.   ·      Keep the “chocolate candy and all other treats away from your pets. Chocolate can be poisonous and too much sugar can make them sick. ·      Put the dogs up ahead of time so they do not run and bite someone coming to the door as little kids and their costumes/props ca... 10/31/2014

All My Clients Are Important and Get Special Treatment  Recently I had a couple call me to list their home and said they lived in another state and they were looking for a Realtor who could take care of any and all emergencies to get the home sold. I told them I promised to do whatever needed to be done to sell it as quickly as possible and for the best price possible.   Their home was in the neighboring city but at the far end of the county area and ended up being 28 miles each way. I went to view the home and met the tenant who gave me the keys. In the next week I was busy getting the house ready to sell.     Carpets had to be cleaned so I met the man there and came back 1.5 hrs later to pay him. Moved the furniture around to make it more appealing. Staged the home with accessories I ... 10/30/2014

32 Safety Tips to have a Terrific Halloween Halloween is full of fun and can be a little scary. Be sure to supervise small children and warn your teens to be careful. The observance of Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts, devils and goblins. Over the years, Halloween customs and rituals have changed dramatically. In the United States, the first official citywide Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minnesota, in 1921. Today, many of the young and young-at-heart take a more light-spirited approach. Glowing skeletons and lighted Jack O' Lanterns decorate homes, while children dressed in all kinds of costumes begin flocking out onto neighborhood streets in search of treats. Make this year's holida... 10/27/2014

The Pumpkin Patch in Yucaipa is Fun for the Entire Family     If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, stop in at the Pumpin Patch off the I-10 Freeway and Live Oak Canyon Road. So many fun events to do here for the entire family, school groups,  organizations. I am planning to go there this weekend and pick out the "Perfect Pumpkin" to carve for Halloween.             Anyone can go to the local market for big box store to purchase a pumpkin but something special about walking through the vines and finding the right one that sit straight and is worthy of my carving.                                      So many events here including: Walking through the corn patch which can be fun and S-C-A-R-Y.... Taking a wheelbarrel out to roll your prize pumpkin back in Visit the Pet ... 10/24/2014

Yucaipa Home Sales So Far in 2014 As you know, and most of the nation knows, we have been on a real estate rebound since the market crash of 2007 and 2008. The recovery was fast and swift, and home prices seemed to shoot up over-night. Sales have slowed since but keeping an eye on the trends and numbers is still a good thing. Here's a great chart of the Yucaipa home sales and the days on the market the Yucaipa home sales typically last. This is a great chart to watch and study. Like anything, when prices jump, buyers get wary and start backing off. This has happened since the recovery. But enough time has elapsed for more buyers to slowly get back into the market. As you can tell in the graph, the recovery period from July 2012 to July 2013 had Yucaipa homes for the shortest time on the... 10/07/2014

Finding Relief from the Heat This week we are experiencing triple digit heat and even the critters in the neighborhood are looking for shade and water.                            Getting a drink from the gutter water after sprinklers run.    This bunny hides in the shade of our front yard daily.   This is a water fountain and the birds were swimming and splashing here. This picture was taken at the Redland's Target store. We see coyotes in the day time and hear of attacks with mountain lions and bears nearby plus we have had a rash of rattle snakes.  The lack of food and water has drawn the wildlife closer to homes this summer.   Thanks for Reading my Real Estate Blog..... California is a dream come true state no matter what your needs or wants are. We have year round warm weather, beau... 09/14/2014

Final Super Moon in 2014..Spectacular               Last night we experienced our final, 4th, Super Moon of the year. What this means is that the large and bright full moon was actually 31,000 miles closer than it is normally.  I am a Realtor in the Inland Empire of Southern California and the view was spectacular. We had a few clouds but that is because we had rain a few hours before and the clouds gave it character.    Thanks for Reading my Real Estate Blog.......... 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. If you are looking for a home in southern California, please contact me. I am a local California Realtor, live in the Inland Empire community and aware ... 09/09/2014

I showed a listing to a client yesterday in Yucaipa, California. On the listing it said the property could be funded with any type of financing, and specifically specified that FHA financing would be fine. As any real estate agent that has processed a FHA sale in the last few years knows, there are certain inspection guidelines that will be followed if the buyer wants to finance the home purchase with a FHA loan. I won't divulge the address or the agent's name because I don't believe in slanderous behavior, but clearly this house would not pass even an easy FHA inspection. The entire interior of the home was painted. Really. The walls, fixtures, door handles, plugins, switches, pipes.... EVERYTHING! The house was built in the sixties, and the front of the drive-thru garage was converted... 08/31/2014

Happy Belated National Dog Appreciation Day National Dog Appreciation Day on August 26th has been celebrated every year since 2004.  The purpose of the holiday is to show appreciation for the millions of the dogs in the U.S. that keep us safe and bring us comfort and companionship. We must not forget the dogs who are service animals and work for the police departments.              Here are 13 suggestions: Adopt a dog from your local shelter or pure breed rescue organization. Volunteer at your local shelter and offer to walk a dog or play with a dog, clean cages or anything else they need help with. Have a safety check of your home to make sure it’s safe for your dog and others.Make sure the dogs cannot get out of your fence in the yard. Donate blankets, food and toys to animal welfare ... 08/28/2014

Important Moments of History  in the USA • August 23, 1966 – Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first photograph of Earth from orbit around the Moon.   August 22, 2007 – The Texas Rangers rout the Baltimore Orioles 30–3, the most runs scored by a team in modern MLB history.   August 17, 2008 – American swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals in one Olympic Games.   August 18, 1920 – The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, guaranteeing women's suffrage.   August 19, 1909 – The first automobile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.   August 21, 1959 – United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union.   August 21, 1961 – Motown releases what would be its first #1 h... 08/27/2014

Earthquake and Natural Disaster Preparedness....Be Ready Califorinia has had a lot of shaking going on this weekend as Napa had a 6.0 earthquake. Many other states have earthquakes and it is always better to be prepared. If you live in a Hurricane, Tornado, or Flash Flood state, you can prepare just like the residents who prepare for earthquakes. It is so important to be ready for natural hazards that can happen at a moment's notice. Before an earthquake: Build an Earthquake kit and make a family communication plan. Secure items in your home that could fall during a quake, especially heavy objects and overhead light fixtures. Make sure water heaters, refrigerators, furnaces and gas appliances are strapped to the wall studs or bolted to the floor. Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or fo... 08/25/2014

Have You Ever Seen an OREO Cow? I have a lot of friends and co-workers who know I blog so they send me pictures when they find something unusual and they know I love animals so here is something very interesting.   This picture was taken in Montana by Theresa Guiterrez.    This is called an OREO Cow and it is black in the front and back and a thick white middle......just like an Oreo cookie.   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. If you are looking for a home in southern California, please contact me. I am a local California Realtor, live in the Inland Empire community and aware of the local market. I am here to help you find a home or to sell the home yo... 08/18/2014

Landscaping in Urban Areas Where There is No Front Yard                 When you live in urban areas, apartment living, townhouses or condos and you still want to have some color in your front yard, find some pretty pots and colorful trees and flowers to make your space beautiful and also it will give you some "Curb Appeal". Thanks for Reading my Real Estate Blog..... 08/17/2014

  This Month in Real Estate by Kristin Hamilton for August 2014 Home prices have begun to rise and home sales are up from last month. The market is definitely recovering. For more information Click Here,  This data compiled by Keller Williams.    Thanks for Reading my Real Estate Blog......    If you are interested in buying or selling, call me for a consultation. If you are  underwater on your mortgage, or having problems making your payments, I can assist you in a short sale to relieve the burden.  Kristin Hamilton-CalBRE #01492138 Keller Williams Realty–Women's Council of Realtors®– I am a full time agent and deal in all types of real estate transactions. Trusts, Probate, Short Sales, Standard Listing, Single Family Homes, Apartments 1-4 units, Duplexes and Condos. I am also an exper... 08/12/2014

If you're wondering if either buying or renting a home in Yucaipa is better for your future, you're not alone in asking that question. As real estate agents that work in Yucaipa, we have a few tips for you to consider before jumping in: Can you afford it? This isn't a question you answer on your own. The best way to determine if you can afford buying a home is to consult a trusted mortgage broker or lender. They not only can help you determine if you can buy, but how much you can spend! Does purchasing a Yucaipa home fit your lifestyle? Do you have a family, or are you single and socially active? Would you like the upkeep and landscape maintenance or would you rather spend your time doing other things? These are serious questions that you should answer honestly. Is your job or career se... 08/09/2014

Moments in History  for  August Including Betty Boop August 9, 1930 – Betty Boop makes her cartoon debut in Dizzy Dishes. Betty Boop was so popular but some cities banned her like Philadelphia as being too risque so when she returned a few months later, she had lost her garter. Betty Boop merchandise is very popular still today as they sell clothing, purses, stationary, jewelry and other memorabilia with the popular wide eyed girl. Betty was known for saying Boop-Ooop-a-Doop in a sexy manner. August 3, 1936 – Jesse Owens wins the 100 meter dash, defeating Ralph Metcalfe, at the Berlin Olympics.   August 3, 1900- The Firestone Rubber Company was founded.   August 4, 1958 – The Billboard Hot 100 is published for the first time. August 5, 1957 – American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the ... 08/09/2014

Do You Know What Is On Your Credit Report? Find Out Free - Really!!! So I was going through my email today, and came across an email from Trans Union reminding me that I hadn't signed into my account with their website to review my credit report since last year. I check my credit reports and my wife's once a year just to be sure there's nothing on them that I don't know about. But before you rush off and buy a peek of your credit reports, either through the so-called free credit report websites, or pay the credit bureaus themselves, I've got a well-known secret to share with you- Thanks to a federal law, everyone single person is entitled to one free credit report from each of the credit bureaus per year. Yep. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all are required to allow you access to your... 08/05/2014