ActiveRain Community

 I need to read more clearly....Sometimes my head works harder than my fingers..  Have You Listened to Yourself Lately? How About Reading What You Wrote on Social Media? Do You Even Care?When we’re having an in-person conversation, words often flow, we are probably more natural than what share online. When we are honest, we speak our minds freely with the other person. The setting is private, it is just two people, no other ears or eyes are in the midst.However, when we are in an “attack mode” and put the other person down every chance we get, I don’t think they will just sit there waiting for the next punch. Below is from Merriam-Webster Dictionary;   Pput down verb Synonyms & Antonyms of put down (Entry 2 of 2) 1 to express scornfully one's low opinion of he has the annoying habit of ... 07/28/2020

Being a Carrollton Texas First Time Homebuyer makes you have to consider your options before you buy. The first thing you will need to consider is what your long-term goals are with being a home owner and how your goals fit in with that plan. One goal could be to stop paying rent that just increases after every lease you renew.Buying your own home first is one of the happiest times of your life! However, a lot of paperwork and time goes into it and finding a lender with great reviews will ease much of the stress. But, the satisfaction you get from your first home closing is something you will never forget! The benefits of being a Carrollton Texas First Time Homebuyer greatly outweighs renting for the following reasons:          Greater privacy.          Homes typically increase in value... 07/28/2020

 You got it.. Right now the nail head.  Another Monday filled with the challenges of being productive and finding a way to be a source of help to someone needing our services.  My business brain needed a break so I decided to switch over to the creative side and login to ol active rain and come up with something to blog about.  I'm a competitive person so I decided to issue an Active Rain Acronym Challenge.  When you get some down time and you feel froggy I want to see if anyone can jump and beat my acronym for Active Rain.  Simple and plain as that.  We all are serious probably 90% of the day so let's take that final 10% and have some creative fun.   Always Commit To Improving Value Education Reputation And Intellectual Needs   Until next time.............I'm Out......Dropping Mic  Chr... 07/28/2020

Hi Everybody!Happy Sunday to you.I've got a little something different for you today.  It's called spaghetti bake and I got this recipe many years ago from a friend.  Try it out and let me know if you like it.Spaghetti Bake INGREDIENTS        1 pound spaghetti, cooked two minutes shy of directions and drained        1 pound ground beef        1 medium onion, chopped        2 cloves of garlic, minced        Kosher salt and pepper to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper)        6 cups Marinara Sauce        8 ounces cream cheese, softened        2 cups ricotta cheese        1 cups shredded mozzarella cheese        parsley, chopped (optional as a garnish) INSTRUCTIONS     Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.     In a large skillet add the beef or sausage, onions,... 07/26/2020

Veterans now have access to a new VA renovation loan to refurbish or remodel their homes.  This loan program is available for new home purchases as well as for remodeling homes currently owned by the veteran.  It is estimated that over 50% of homes nationally are 40 years or older, and in the current housing market many homes are in need of updating, addressing deferred maintenance, or improving the energy efficiency of homes to lower utility costs.VA loan benefits include the following unique advantages:  a.  up to 100% financing, b.  no mortgage insurance, c.  up to $ 35,000 in renovation funds escrowed, d.  all renovations must be completed within 60 days of closing, e.  you can close on a purchase or refinance in the “as is” condition, f. you can borrow against the future value of t... 07/28/2020

integrity 1: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY 2: an unimpaired condition : SOUNDNESS3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESS (Merriam-Webster) Lack of integrity negates trust! Yep! Only you know your own, personal “standards” and only you can preserve these personal sacraments. Similarly, only YOU have the power to Honor these promises to yourself . . . or not. When you compromise your personal standards, you break trust with yourself. Trust is slow to earn and fast to disintegrate. No one is exempt from these realities. We tumble through life making choices. While some folks might argue that their transgressions from the “standard” were accidental – that they un(sub)consciously erred. I don’t allow this leni... 07/28/2020

Last week-end I went to my son's house to swim with Beautiful Beckett and Handsome Hudson and enjoy Sunday night dinner with the family. Beckett made me a wonderful heart plaque and Hudson made me a colorful creative creature. Both are special treasures I have now on my desk at home. I'm truly blessed. "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."  Maya Angelou"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."  Albert Einstein 07/28/2020

Hi Everybody!I have been asked what are some of the questions that I ask when hiring a virtual assistant (VA).  Here they are.  I'll show you what I ask and I'll also tell you why. Do you have any real estate experience? I want to know if they've been in our field and what that experience is.  It's not necessary, but it can be a plus What languages do you speak?Most grow up knowing English or have a working knowledge of it.  That depends on what you want them to do.  I ask this because I might need Spanish, French, whatever and if they know it, that's one less thing for me to have to deal with.  This isn't really important, but I ask. Have you ever hired or fired anyone?I want to know what their aptitude is and I may need someone hired to expand.  It also let's me know if they can lead ... 07/28/2020

 The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear. It is the storm within which endangers him, not the storm without. Ralph Wald Emerson   Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, cause your mind to dwell on peace and joy. - Ernest Holmes. You can't change the past but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain. - Vivian Greene Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. - Buddha     07/27/2020

It is that time of the year when renovations are due. You need to liven up your entryway. The living room wall is covered in kid’s handprints. Their heights are still marked even though they have grown well past that now.You are overwhelmed with the decision-making process. Do you hire a professional painter or leave it as a DIY project? This choice is down to how experienced you are as a DIYer. How much confidence you have in your abilities?Also, how large is the project? Do you need to replace the carpets, cushions, curtains, and the rest of the decorative elements? Or is it just a case of a touch up?Browsing through interior trends is a promising starting point. You can find inspiration for any home-related queries. Cabinetry finishing, color palettes that go well together, and top a... 07/28/2020

For Greater Sacramento folks who enjoy life along the American River, a visit to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center adjacent to Carmichael’s Ancil Hoffman Park provides the perfect opportunity.  Admission Free – But a $2.00 per adult and $1.00 per Child Donation is Recommended! Parking is $5.00 per car.  Effie Yeaw Nature Center consists of 77 acres along the north side of the American River Parkway.  In addition to a museum, the center provides self-guided interpretive trails - an opportunity for those interested in learning about the American River ecosystem. The Center acts as a nature preserve for deer, fox, coyotes, squirrels, wild turkeys, rabbits, snakes, and a variety of birds. There are rattlesnakes in the area, so it is important to be cautious when you walk the area. LOCATION: The ... 07/26/2020

Clay Station Rd, Wilton, CA 95693Incredible opportunity to own 26 acres right off of Clay Station Rd. Right across the street from The Ranch by JTS Homes this could be an opportunity for development, to build your dream home on a fantastic flat lot, or use it for crops. The possibilities are endless.Jake DaRosaCell#: 916-402-5786BRE#: 01704082Email: jake@sacrealestatesearch.com 07/27/2020

We Are Live! www.Facebook.com/AaronjRice 07/27/2020

3908 John W Young St, Sacramento, CA 95834Welcome Home! This bright and open 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home is loaded with upgrades including a quartz countertop, stainless steel appliances, and sink, modern laminate flooring on the main floor, newer vinyl flooring on the second floor and more. Recently built in 2017, it offers a two-car attached garage with 1309 sqft of living space. Each bedroom has an attached full bathroom with the master offering a dual vanity and walk-in closet. Upstairs has a laundry area, closet, cabinets, and a perfect shelf to decorate to your liking. This home also has an outdoor patio area with gates on each side. Perfect for small pets or a child's play area! This home is conveniently located in downtown Sacramento, restaurants, and the freeways. Don't miss t... 07/28/2020

 I'm on the Board of the NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals) Seattle Area Chapter. Have been, on and off, for years. I've stepped into a new role, Secretary, this year. Can ya imagine that Secretary involves a LOT of paperwork? Yup. And our chapter has a goal of going paperless. So I'm working my way through six (uuuurrrrrrgggh) binders, two of them too large for me to hold in one hand (double uuuurrrrrrgggh) and seven thumb drives to see what's obsolete, what needs to be digitized. Some of the decisions are soooooooooooo easy - digital file of a logo we retired in 2017  - oh yah, HISTORY. Some of the keeps are equally easy - documents the chapter has to maintain in accordance with our charter with our National headquarters. And then there are the Wh... 07/27/2020

It’s exhausting to live the life of someone you are not! Yet, many of us do this for the purpose of “furthering a career” or “keeping up with the Joneses” or to “belong” to a group hoping to gain fame and fortune by osmosis. Guess what? I believe you already have everything you need to be famous and worthy. This was “baked into you” upon conception. Of course, you’ve honed yourself through the years based on on your accumulation of experiences and relationships, but you’ve never changed who you are at your core, and we love the REAL you more than any doppleganger. Even the most exact doppleganger is different than the original at the core. So . . . If you find yourself anxious, tense, overwhelmed, tired, confused, scared, bored or any number of energy depleting emotions, I hereby presci... 07/27/2020

 Spacious and magical lot in a superb location of Point Reyes. Within minutes to downtown. This home is sun drenched staarting in the morning through the evening. Has a Koi pond, stand alone work office, separate she shed, the Main home is cozy with high ceilings, chefs kitchen, and several other amenities. This home can be sold now at $4.5 Million to qualified buyers by appointment only!    07/23/2020

I’ve been having vivid dreams lately. I understand many folks during this pandemic are. In my latest dream I was setting a bottle adrift with a message inside, somewhere along the California coast near Half Moon Bay. I can’t recall my specific message scripted on the parchment inside, but after waking, it gave reason to contemplate what it could be. I’m wondering what sort of message most of us would put in a bottle to set adrift on a sea of mankind. Certainly, in today’s 2020 world of raucous incongruent happenings on a near daily basis, there are many ponderings to act as inspiration.Would we put in contact information – “If you find this message, please contact me at 555-1212?” Or perhaps, your thoughts wonder about the future, and you pen the words, “Do I still need to wear a mask?”... 07/13/2020

 I like the fact that was brought out on posts...that "Loose Lips sink Ship".YOu never know who is reading what.. Peace One of the things you learn working in corporate America is you never know where what you write will end up.  Emails get forwarded, then forwarded again, and again, and again.  The domino push has started. Suddenly your "private" audience of one is now an entire department and subject to a Reply All cloudburst, and there's no walking it back! Things written as a joke or in confidence can easily wind up as Exhibit A in a lawsuit against the company. So needless to say, that mindset transfers over to me in real estate. I've seen agents forward things to their clients that kick the proverbial beehive. An agent provides showing feedback that the "master bathroom is WEIRD!"... 07/27/2020

We Realtors rely on each other to successfully sell and close home sales. Our “jobs” are multifaceted, and I sometimes think that some Agents and Principal Brokers lose proper perspective – They develop amnesia – lose sight of the forest for the trees. We confuse the difference of winning battles vs the war. We forget that we CAN “pick our battles” . . . We can choose which bones to pick! We can, with vigor, negotiate in good faith to “win” for our home buying/selling clients with civility and respect. We can do this without petty squabbles which invariable have the same deliverables as rocking in a rocking chair . . . It keeps you moving but doesn’t get you anywhere useful. Throughout my 27 year career as Real Estate Sales Professional, Principal Broker, and owner of Pareto Realty, I’v... 07/20/2020