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Leimert Park
One thing about relocation is you get to explore all the wonderful new areas around you. When you get settled into a place you become a bit blind to the things around you that tourists make it a point to see, so I am taking advantage of all the wonderful new history and soaking it into my spirit.
In my research of interesting areas in Los Angeles, I stumbled upon a section of town that I now look upon with wonder and excitement. Leimer Park! Where on earth have I been since moving here? This is an area I should have found first!
The area is rich in "African-American" history. It's rooted in the arts and community. Now that is what I am talking about! Known as a hub of jazz, this is one place I will be spending the majority to my time. Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald were once residences here!
There have also been many well-known films that were shot in Leimert Park such as John Singleton's "Baby Boy" and the filmed directed by Martin Lawrence "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate". Not to mention several success shows!
The Real Estate has a history of its own. Touting mansions among the average Joe. The average price range in the area is around $350,000 but they contain so much more living space than the more "ooo la la" neighborhoods of Los Angeles. A treasure within a treasure....Leimert Park, here I come.
To learn more about the historical area check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leimert_Park,_Los_Angeles
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When Will the Housing Supply Normalize?
"Realty Goddess" note: I hate predictions, they depend on who is the person with the prediction. The real estate market changes every single day and those of us in the trenches are fighting the good fight, but I thought this one was worth sharing"
The housing supply is expected to normalize in two to four years, Barclays Capital projects, assuming that household formation rates increase to 1.1 million and construction remains slightly above 2011 levels.
Household formation–which is a reflection of population growth and housing affordability–has drastically dropped since 2007, reaching about 300,000 to 500,000 per year. Historically, the rate is about 1.25 million.
Home prices will likely see a 1 percent appreciation this year (that’s after falling 3 to 4 percent through March), Barclays Capital estimates. It is also projecting a 1 percent price appreciation in 2013, followed by 2 percent to 3 percent appreciation levels.
But to reach those goals, the housing supply needs to continue to shrink first. Our region in the Sierra Foothills of Placerville, California is experiencing a low supply in the under $300,000. price range. This is the primary market for first time home buyers and cash investors. So we’re off to a supply, demand race for the spring market?
Source: “Barclays: Housing Supply Could Normalize in 2014,” HousingWire (3/2/12) by Bud Zeller
3 Ways Homebuyers Kill Their Own Real Estate Deals
Here are three ways homebuyers are defeating their own deals in today's market:
1. House hunting too long. As many as 60 percent of the homes for sale in some markets are short sales. Many other listings are bank-owned (also known as real estate owned or REO) properties, and those homes tend toward two extremes: terrible condition, or so nice at such a low price they receive multiple offers.
Even the nicer, nondistressed homes on the market can end up in and out of contract over and over again due to appraisal or other lending-related issues.
As a result, it is not at all bizarre to hear homebuyers today say they've been house hunting for a year, 18 months, even two or three years. When you house hunt that long, you become susceptible to house hunt fatigue, which causes irrationally extreme overbidding out of sheer exhaustion.
Alternatively, it can cause you to settle for whatever house you can get, even if it doesn't actually meet your needs -- then spend the next 10 years obsessively spending to upgrade, improve, repair and furnish the place to try to make it more like the home you actually wanted.
Both of these outcomes negate and deactivate the bargain you stood to score.
To avoid house hunting too long, it's uber-important to get and stay clear on the differences between what you want and what you need, and to work with a local real estate professional you trust.
Look to your agent to get and keep your expectations centered in reality, so you can make more strategic decisions throughout your entire house hunt, like house hunting in a price range where you're likely to both find homes that will work for your life and be successful in your efforts to obtain one.
2. Making lowball offers way too low. Overbidding seems like an obvious way to cancel out the bargain potential of your deal. But making excessively low offers -- offers sellers couldn't afford to take if they wanted to -- can have the very same result.
Buyers who think they can operate strictly on the basis of buyer's market dynamics -- without realizing that most sellers will need to make enough to pay off their mortgage or at least receive the fair market value for their home -- are cutting off their own noses to spite their faces, all in the name of trying to score an amazing deal.
Note to "lowballers": If you don't actually secure the home, the superlow price you offered is no deal at all.
3. Freak-outs, stress, drama and mayhem. Once was, it was mostly the buyers uneducated about the homebuying process who tended to freak out and stress the most, especially at the top of the market. These were the folks who found themselves defeated at every turn by buyers who knew what they were up against and were prepared to make their best offer on their first offer.
Fast forward, and now the norm is for buyers to spend much more time reading up on what to expect, but the inundation of information can create brand new mindset management challenges.
Almost every buyer is stressed about whether they can qualify for a loan, and about buying into a down market. Some buyers try to apply national headlines about home prices being depressed to the superlocal dynamics of their neighborhood market.
This is unwise if you happen to be, for example, trying to buy a home in the boomtown real estate markets of Silicon Valley. Others go the opposite direction and deny that the basic truths about, say, buying a short-sale listing will actually apply to them (attention homebuyers: buying a short sale usually takes a long, long time).
The emotional freak-outs that result from having your expectations shattered, sometimes brutally, in the course of buying a home often lead to panic-based and fear-based decisions, which can be costly in the short and long term. Additionally, the stress itself can take a toll on your ability to be productive at work, and can even impair your relationship with your mate, neither of which are worth any deal you think you stand to strike.
Again, managing your expectations by working with a trusted broker or agent you feel comfortable relying on to understand the market in your neck of the woods and the type of transaction you want to pull off is essential to downgrading the role emotion plays in your real estate decision-making.
Call Laura Key today to schedule a one on one appointment to learn more! 310.866.8422 or email Laura.A.Key@gmail.com
Source: http://lowes.inman.com/newsletter/2012/02/02/news/175752 by Tara-Nicholle Nelson
The Most Important Short Sale Facts!!!
Do educate yourself. This is THE most important thing you can do. Short sales can be complicated. You need every bit of information you can get when you jump into the short sale process.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you drag your feet and hide from the fact that you’ve stopped making mortgage payments, it will cost your credit rating and it will put any chances of a short sale in risk.
Do be diligent. There have been very closable short sales that fail because the homeowners either stop responding to their agents, stop returning paperwork, stop returning phone calls, stop caring, etc. It can be a difficult process, but at the end of it you will be free of the mortgage, the upside-down house and your financial future will have a better foundation.
Don’t stop taking care of your home. Yes, you will be moving, but if you stop mowing the lawn or keeping the place tidy, that unkemptness will discourage any potential buyers.
Do keep paying your HOA dues! Any unpaid HOA dues will need to be settled either before or at the close of a short sale escrow. Sometimes the buyer or the first lien mortgage bank will contribute to these outstanding bills, but not every time. And Home Owner Associations will send your defaulted HOA bill to a collection lawyer who will slap you and your property with their own outrageous charges.
Don’t rent your home out. In these economic times there are unsavory renters, many of them lost their own homes, that don’t mind giving you the first month’s rent and a security deposit, only to never pay you another payment. You lose the house to foreclosure, but they live rent free for the foreseeable future.
Do your homework when choosing a real estate agent or broker when you go to list your house for a short sale. The wrong short sale agent can ruin your chances of avoiding foreclosure. Short sales require diligence, confidence and an unmatched work ethic. Find that short sale REALTOR that knows her stuff, knows how to work and knows exactly what the banks want to approve your short sale.
Don’t think that you need a real estate agent that knows your neighborhood to short sale your home. In a short sale transaction, it’s about the short sale negotiation and working relationship with your lender(s), not that your home’s location is special compared to the listing around the corner. Out-of-area agents easily price properties using a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). In fact, banks regularly pay agents and real estate brokers a minimal fee, usually $50 or $75, to price out-of-area properties for them. Your local neighborhood real estate agent may not be the right person. You need a tough and knowledgeable short sale specialist.
Do expect to move soon, or not for months. When your home receives an offer that is just the start for your short sale transaction. But the bank could decide to approve your short sale right away, which means you may only have 30 to 45 days to relocate. But, the approval process could take up to three to six months!
Don’t move prematurely. It makes no sense to pay rent while your home sits empty. Communicate with your agent and keep updated on where the short sale process is.
Don’t stop paying your water bills, sewer bills or trash bills! Any unpaid bills may slow down or stop the short sale process.
Do consult your tax man or even a tax attorney when considering a short sale. Even the best short sale agents are not legally allowed to advise on tax implications of your particular situation, and the best short sale real estate agents don’t. A tax accountant CPA or real estate attorney has a better understanding and the legal right to advise you on such matters.
Don’t think that you must have a real estate attorney to execute your short sale. Most times these lawyers don’t understand real estate or the short sale process as well as an experienced short sale agent does. In fact, many if not most of these lawyers offering short sales require an upfront fee to process your short sale. real estate agents and brokers only collect commissions from the proceeds of the sale, which comes out of the bank’s pocket, not yours.
Do let your real estate agent put a yard sign in the yard. Yard signs tell buyers trolling streets looking at neighborhoods and houses that yours is a possible candidate.
Don’t make viewing appointments unavailable and hard on buyers and their agents. The more potential buyers that see your home the better chance of short selling it and avoiding foreclosure. Make that home as available to buyers as possible!
Do yourself a favor and remember that millions of Americans are going though their own short sale, or unfortunate foreclosure. This economy is dreadful, and many are experiencing financial hardships and your particular situation is nothing to be ashamed of.
Don’t apply for a home equity line of credit or any other type of credit. If you own other properties that have equity, refrain from pulling money out of any of them during a short sale approval. Your bank and any of your bank’s back-end investors will dig deep into your credit history and find this activity. This kind of action says you are just out for your own financial bottom line, and yes, they will take offense to that.
Do a quick pick up of toys, laundry and any other items lying around when a buyer’s showing appointment is scheduled. Buyers will criticize your messiness like your mother-in-law, and worse, it could affect their offer which in turn could affect your short sale!
Don’t make the mistake of thinking a foreclosure is not much worse than a short sale. It is. A foreclosure will decimate your credit; it will keep you from owning another home for years and it will be a part of your financial incompetence far more than you hope it won’t.
Do keep your hardship letter short and sweet. Explain your situation as-matter-of-factly as possible. Then your bank will look at your finances, tax filings and other documents to verify and support your story. But DO NOT include in your hardship that you bought your home for more than it’s worth. The bank does not care your home is underwater. The bank is losing money too.
Don’t strip the house of its fixtures or other potentially valuable assets. Taking the pool system, or the ceiling fans or the beloved touch-action faucets will degrade your home’s marketability, and for what? A few hundred bucks will not make the financial blow of foreclosure any softer.
Do all your paperwork and return to your real estate agent in a timely matter. Short sales can die if the proper paperwork is not supplied. It’s a silly way to screw your short sale, but it happens all the time.
Don’t use a short sale negotiating company. They will charge you large upfront fees that they don’t have to return to you even if they do not complete the short sale. And these companies aren’t held up to the same Department of Real Estate code of ethics that real estate agents and REALTORs are. In fact, some banks will not work with them!
Do call and communicate with your bank(s) and let them know you are attempting a short sale. They have thousands of mortgages defaulting, and if they don’t know you are pursuing a short sale, your property may automatically be classified as a pre-foreclosure. Not keeping your mortgage holder informed of the status of your short sale can help expedite your house to foreclosure which will not help your short sale.
Don’t violate the bank’s At Arm’s Length requirement for the short sale. The Arm’s length agreement required from the short sale lender prevents you from “renting the house back”. To avoid any fraud or risk that can result in the bank coming back at you for the balance of your loan. Do it by the book and follow the rules. The risk is not worth it.
Do know that credit card companies may decide to pull your credit due to foreclosure. When a foreclosure shows up on your credit, it says that you are in financial distress and your credit risk increases dramatically.
Don’t think you can’t short sale if you own other properties. This is a common mistake many multiple property owners make. A bank will more than consider a short sale even if you own two or more homes.
Do clean the home and property when you move out. Remove any trash, debris and take or dispose of any of your personal property. The condition of the property before transfer can have a negative effect on the buyer and their desire to own the home, and give them a reason to back out. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and Sold Short Sales!
Don’t assume the information about short sales you read on the internet is always correct. There are many real estate professionals, and many not-so-professional individuals, giving advice regarding short sales. Some do not have a clue how to handle a short sale, let alone give advice on the subject. Your best bet is to call and talk to any prospective short sale experts. Get a feel of their knowledge base and real estate confidence, and above all else only hire a real estate short sale agent with experience.
DO CALL Laura Key at 310.866.8422! I am a Short Sale Expert! HAFA, Making Home Affordable, and many more programs, just give me a call, I will help you through this difficult time!
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Source: Garrigus Real Estate Blog
The Joys of Life! Om Shanti
I really enjoy sharing all the wonders of real estate with you. I know you just can't wait to read my blogs about foreclosures and short sales. It's such an exciting world and I know you hang on every word like a soap opera, (SMILE) but what I love the most about blogging is I can share my own personal world with you. I am more than a Real Estate Agent, more than a wife, more than a mother....I am a being with dreams, hopes aspirations and goals. We all are and although we all have important roles in our life they all fall apart if we don't take care of "self"!
Since moving to Los Angeles, I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend new things. I have always been interested in meditation and on Wednesday evenings I have been attending classes at the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga center. What a blessing and it is also FREE.
In this busy world, I feel its important to have some time of calm and peace in your day and meditation has so many benefits! So as I learn and grow in this adventure I will share it with you along the way. If you are interested in mediation the Brahma Kumaris Yoga Meditation centers have locations across the world! You can check out their official website at: www.bkwsu.org
Even though I have started with the Braham Kumaris Yoga, there are so many other types of meditation, so if one does not fit your personality you have many to chose from. Check out these types of meditation: Mindfulness Meditation, Spiritual Meditation, Focused Meditation, Movement Meditation and Mantra Meditation. Here is a great beginners website: www.fitsugar.com/5-Types-Meditation-18949375
My beginning goal is just to be able to quiet my mind and block out outside distractions. Sounds easy right....well, I'll let you know how that works out for me.
I am enjoying my journey and I hope you share in my adventures, it seems I have become a California girl quite quickly!
Om Shanti (I am a peaceful soul)...and I hope you are too!
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Actress Jodie Foster has sold home in Beverly Hills Home
The Los Angeles Times reports that actress-producer Jodie Foster recently sold her Beverly Hills home. The home was first listed at $9.975 million in April 2011, but reportedly sold for $8.3 million in November. Foster is best-known for her roles in movies including The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, both of which made her an Oscar-award winning actress. She has recently directed and starred in films including Carnage and The Beaver.
The home was reportedly built in 1949 and sits on nearly an acre of land. The main house has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, while the guesthouse has two bedrooms. The Times says the home has an East Coast vibe with climbing roses and red brick accents. Other features of the home include a tennis court and swimming pool.
Sources say Foster will likely be moving into another California home as she continues to work as a producer in the Los Angeles area.
From Today's Real Estate news on January 4, 2012
The Realty Goddess has Landed at 360 Realty!
The Realty Goddess has landed at 360 Realty in Los Angeles CA! www.360Realty.com
5900 Wilshire Blvd #2900 Los Angeles, CA 90004
800-399-9659 x361
Halloween in West Hollywood
Warning...this blog post is a long one! After you read you will see why it had to be! Prepare yourself for Halloween in West Hollywood!
I have always enjoyed the Halloween holiday. I loved going trick or treating when I was a child, and I loved handing out candy to the neighborhood kids when I became an adult. I would even throw a treat in for the parents by giving them cups of hot apple cider so they could continue on the journey with their kids, but my husband, well....he LOVES Halloween! Every year he gets into the season and plans cool outfits and ways to celebrate the holiday in true fashion. He would even dress up to hand out candy to the kids! But THIS year no candy for the witches and warlocks because it was our first Halloween in Los Angeles, the city where movies are made and the party never dies!
As the days got closer you could feel the excitement in the air. Never had I seen SO MUCH to do over Halloween. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) had an exhibit with Tim Burton's wonderfully twisted creations which we did not get to attend because it was sold out, the costume stores were full of wonderful and freaky things to delight the eyes and there seemed to be hayrides, mazes and haunted houses EVERYWHERE. I had resigned myself to just handing candy out this year but hubby had other plans. He was so excited that I got excited so on Halloween day he ventured out and obtained two great costumes for us so we could celebrate in the festivities of the Halloween Carnival in West Hollywood.
Ah yes, West Hollywood holds one of the largest Halloween parties in the world! This party rivals Marti Gras in SO MANY ways. Little did I know this would be one of the best Halloween's of my lifetime.
The evening started with my husband picking me up from work so we could get a jumpstart on the evening. He also wanted to show me the treasures of his Halloween shopping. I was going to be an Egyptian and he had obtained the needed items to pull it off, at the last minute to boot! How he manages to get these costumes is beyond me, but the labor of his day showed. All I needed was a little bit of makeup and I was set for the evening! We headed home and started the dress up! I know, I know...you want to know what he dressed up as, but you will have to wait on that for now!
We had been warned not to drive and that it would be best to catch the Metro. So we routed our way and planned our time carefully so we could jump in the pool of ghoul as soon as possible. I am so glad we live close to the Metro, we headed to the station dressed to the 9's. It was an evening of treats for the eyes. It seemed everyone was headed to the same party so the train was full of ghosts, vampires, princesses, ax murderers and a host of other creatures. One short ride to the bus stop and the night amped up. There must have been 100 dressed up people waiting on the bus to get to the party. All of us checking each other out, buzzing and ready to get the party started right. After two buses PACKED full of people passed us up, it was our time to cram into the bus like sardines. I am sure we were over capacity, there was NO way you could not get to know the riders around you intimately in some way because you had no choice of being pushed together. As we bounced and bobbled down Santa Monica Blvd we chanted out street names, laughed together and helped create the pre-atmosphere of the night, even the bus driver was cool and sang out the stop names as we got closer.
Final stop....FAIRFAX and SANTA MONICA, we all poured off the bus and streamed in droves to the party. You just can't take it all in, so much to see, so much music, the lookie loo's, the street vendors with yummy smells of hot links, and my appreciation of the flats I had decided to wear instead of heels! (HA) Yes a girl can only go so far in heels at a party like this!
On the way to the party, we decided we would stop into Hamburger Mary's to grab a burger, it was one of the places we had wanted to stop so tonight would be a perfect complement! YUMMY, YUMMY and more YUMMY. I can't tell you how HUGE the burger was but I was only able to eat a 4th of it and another patron decided it was worth a photo! Blue Cheese, Onions, Sauces, the bun, oh my....I ate like the Egyptian Queen I was! And all around us a free show of people dressed in costumes, we saw a "Lucy", a pirate, a flasher, Aladdin, and more than I can recall, and that was just the people standing in the line for the restroom!
Belly's full, still full of anticipation and ready to let loose, we finished off our meal and joined the parades of people headed to the main attraction. The beauty of this night is the feeling of oneness. Everyone was happy, not a fight in sight. People taking photos with strangers, talking to each other like old friends and helpful if you had a question.
Then BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's get this party started! The streets opened up to the masses. Wall to wall crowds, all moving and grooving to the free music provided for soundtrack of the night. West Hollywood KNOWS how to throw a party. There were stages on each street, music pumping, people smoozing. If I thought I had seen the best of the costumes on the way to the party, I was sadly mistaken. Some people just know how to do it up right. Now obviously you have the people who like to dress sexy, or want to just see people's eyes bug out, and you can bet there was plenty of those....but those who love Halloween to the core, well they just know how to blow the mind. It's Hollywood ya'll, city where movies are the blood pulse of the town. Most are performers at heart and dedication to this holiday makes them rise to the occasion. My favorite of the night was the creepy zombies that would make your blood cold. Check out the one who would really made me take a triple take.
As we headed into the pulse of the party we let it all go, my stresses of the day, GONE! Now was MY time to be something else, walk the walk, talk the talk and just enjoy my world around me. As you can see from my photo below, I had many laughs that night.
We had a goal, we were headed to the Troubadour where there was no cover and dancing! Mind you, this was about a mile away from where we entered the adventure so the parade was ON. We pushed, bobbed, weaved, pulsed, ooo'ed and ahhh'ed at the eye candy all around us, enjoying the time together, experiencing this new world together! My hubby is a tall man so it was to our benefit that people tend to move out of his way when we are in thick crowds such as that night! I grabbed hold to his hips, conga line style and off we went. Every once in a while we would stop to breathe and take photos! This Halloween had to be documented!
Finally we arrived at the Troubadour and we danced, danced, danced and DANCED! Oh, did I mention we passed LaToya Jackson on the final block? Well we did and she was dressed up as a sort of clown, her voice was unmistakable and she was TINY. (I digress) Anyway, it was time to head back home, it was about 1am and the crowds had started to clear. The confetti of the night showed on the streets and those who did not want the night to die still walked up and down getting every second of the time crammed into their memories. The hike back to the bus stop was just as adventurous as the journey there only now it was police chasing hot dog vendors down the street, and sirens in the background. Nothing serious, just the city putting into place the rules and regulations for ending the party. There was even a riot guard ready for action in case of trouble! OH MY...PARTY OVER
Tired but happy, we tracked on. Once we met our destination we had a brief encounter with a very drunk gentleman who decided that my hubby would be his best friend for the rest of the night. He took phones calls, only to give the phone to us for tell the person on the other end that our new friend was just too happy" to talk, we finally had to ditch him because he thought he was coming home with us!
Finally at our bus stop we waited along with other the other tired party people, we crammed on the bus, and endured the loud rantings of another drunk gentlemen of the night and fought the heavy eyes we were starting to feel. Home, oh yes, HOME. Happy and home! What an evening, and I am so glad to share it with you! Our first Halloween in West Hollywood and the experience is one to share with the masses.
Oh, I guess I can let you in on what hubby was....he was a ZOMBIE FOOTBALL PLAYER! Done up all the way, he got all sorts of gasps and looks through the night, enough to make him one happy creature of the night! (don't ask, he won't let me upload a photo!---party pooper)
It was 3am before we were able to crawl into bed with visions of ghouls playing in our head, but not before one more treat from my loved one, we enjoyed a bag of Coconut M&M's to end the evening. Thank you hubby, oh what a treat it was.
So now you see why this entry was so long, and I hope you felt it was worth your time to share with me! I enjoyed sharing my time with you!
To see more of the 2011 West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnival visit: http://www.weho.org/index.aspx?page=845
Peace, love and blessings from the Realty Goddess!
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HELLO....Life is Calling
We live in an "instant" world and I think that has caused us to be a society of selfish, inpatient and sometimes uncaring people. Life steps in sometimes and decides to slow you down whether you like it or not. During this "Lull" in my career it has made me appreciate the little things in my business and in my life. It's the little things that matter. Like taking a few minutes to just breathe and be grateful for the little things.
Have you ever just stopped what you are doing in your busy world and just "LOOK". I mean, REALLY look! Yesterday I was walking my pups and decided I needed to stop looking down. I made a HUGE effort to slow down and look at the things around me. Guess what I saw? BEAUTY. California is beautiful. You do not have to be by the beach to appreciate the simple beauty among the hustle and bustle of city life. Now, I am not sure you know that I am a true country living girl. Not cowboy rodeo type, but rolling country side, bluegrass, garden fed, run through the yard barefoot, type of girl. When I grew up, I had fields to play in. I remember laying in the grass and just watching the sky and finding animals in the clouds. Somewhere along the way we stop this process. We get caught up in business, in life, in raising children, being a wife, being everything to everyone. In that tornado of life you forget there is a beautiful world calling out to you. Things get rushed and pushed to the next day, only to find your list never gets done.
SCREECH...back to the walk? I stopped to breathe. Here is what I saw. Tall, lean, majestic palm trees, wonderful vines full of pink delicate flowers, a clear blue sky and the smells of home cooking coming from the homes around me. There were kids playing in the front yards, laughter coming from the distance, a church bell calling people to worship, you know...the little things you tune out in the busy daily life that you lead when trying to get to your next destination. So now, I have decided that each day I am going to take at least 15 minutes to just hold my head up and use my true eyes to see.
Yes, that's all spiritual and stuff. (giggle) But I noticed when I made that decision it made it easier to study the material in front of me. I even stopped to think how blessed I am that I can even take my Real Estate Course online. Really...no joke...just a few years ago you would have to go to classes but I have the luxury of sitting in front of my computer and getting it done in the comfort of my home. Which made me think of how I do business. I have a cell phone, a fax machine, a copy machine in my home and IN MY CAR! I am a fully functionally office where ever I am. If I need to look up a property or a fact it is at my fingertips. Who needs the World Encyclopedia book set anymore. Yes, indeed, this Realty Goddess is blessed and happy to live in a world where I can access info at a snap of a finger, but for this weeks lesson I am glad my spirit called out to me and made me slow down.
Because of this little spiritual awakening, I finished my course, passed the school test and now I am awaiting a state exam test. I'll keep you updated!
Peace, love and blessings from the Realty Goddess!
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Reflections of the Journey.....Denver to Los Angeles
My life consists of a few things at this point. Studying, walking my pups, and looking for jobs. Now I know that does not sound very exciting, but there is some lessons to be learned in my daily items.
First, California real estate is very different than Colorado real estate. Some of what I have learned in the past five years has to be unlearned and re-learned in a different way. Now, this isn't a bad thing, just a difficult thing at times. The excitement of learning new things, new rules, new areas get's me all tingly inside, but taking the practice tests frustrates me so much at times I just have to get up and leave the house. Hence, the walking of the pups. I don't think they have been walked this much in their whole lives! I am sure they hope my frustrations get the best of me at this point, but I digress!
So I have a hump to get over, ok....I can handle that, but can get I get over it quickly and move on because I am SO ready to get to work.
This "downtime" in my real estate career has made me realize just how much I LOVE what I do. The thrill of helping someone buy their first home excites me. I think I get more excited than my clients at times. The idea that I have been a part of something so important and life changing makes me want to do it even more. My clients are more than "clients" they become friends and what more can a "people loving" person ask for? I have photos of my clients first babies, graduation photos, Christmas cards, thank you notes, etc. The list goes on and on! I LOVE IT. And all that excitement just comes from being a buyers agent. There are new thrills on the listing agent side. Makes my teeth buzz!
All this leads to my revelations of the job market. You see, you don't just get your real estate license and promptly close on a house the next day. (I WISH!) You have to find the clients, let the relationship bask in the listing or searching, go through escrow, financing, closing...etc. You know all the background noise that is necessary to get to the really fun stuff. You didn't think it was all just confetti and party horns did ya?
So, back to the job topic. I was a secretary for over 15 years before becoming a Realtor, so I just KNEW I would not have any issues with finding a part-time, full-time, temp job while I am building my other part of my life. I just thought I'd sign up with a few temp companies and everything would be fine. Guess what folks....NOT. At this point I have over 275 resumes out and I have three temp companies in my pocket, who have yet to produce any job, not even a one day job! This unemployment thing....well, it's real. There are so many people unemployed and looking for any type of work that I am in the many numbers who apply for any job they see. Cover letters, resume's, online posts, interviews (if you can get them) are what most unemployed fill their days with. It is a very eye-opening experience and it makes me feel so much more for my clients when they let me know they have lost a job. It's so simple to say, Oh you will get another one" when in actuality it may be months before they find one. So all this will just prove to make me more compassionate to my clients in the future.
I don't know what tomorrow may bring on the job horizon but I do know this girl is not wasting any time with getting her real estate testing complete.
But in the meantime....can a sister get a job? Resume is ready and waiting!
Peace, love and blessings from the Realty Goddess!
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Tickling the Taste Buds
Well, it's been a few weeks and the dust of moving has settled a bit. I am only living out of a few boxes now and the furniture will be moved into the new place in just a week or so. For now, I have the needed items and I am taking the time to go through the boxes one more time to scale down my belongings.
My apartment is adorable. Hardwood floors, lots of space, a parking spot and only three other neighbors. I am trying to adjust to the sounds and lights that always seem to be swirling around me. It is SO different from living in your own free standing home.
It's been quite the "whirlwind". From the time I rolled into the city I feel like I am "ON" and the "OFF" switch is broken. So much to see, so much to do and so much to EAT! Where do you begin in this City of Angels?
My neighborhood is FULL of wonderful Korean Restaurants. Korean food is one of my FAVORITES, it tickles the taste buds with joy! The first Korean BBQ I tried was so wonderful I had to just sit in awe as I finished up my plate. $10.99 for a three meat BBQ feast that had my lips smacking. Each meat was seasoned so differently and marinated in pure delectable bliss. OH SO YUMMY! I cannot forget to mention the delicious Kimchi! Cabbage, spinach, radish, tofu....spicy, sweet, tart. MAN OH MAN!
A girl could lose her figure living here. Got to make sure that does not happen! Anybody got a good workout program!?
Just imagine, I just talked about ONE place in this post! It's going to be a beautiful life!
Until next time, peace, blessings and joy from the Realty Goddess.
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Los Angeles BABY....
I made it! Road dust behind me, new beginnings before me! I was one tired Realty Goddess there for a minute! I had the pups as my road warriors and we had some good fun but now we are now in "LaLa" land. Our first night was off to a bumpy start. When we arrived I had to find a hotel. I was surprised to see most of them charge up to $25 extra for each dog! REALLY??? They are Shih Tzu's people! Both of them together don't make one medium dog! We got past that hurdle...thank God for www.hotels.com!
After some really good rest and relaxation I was ready to hit the day. Time to find a place to live! I got up early, hit the craigslist posts and lined up my day! Going from homeowner to renter is quite the shock. Especially in LA where you pay more in rent than you do for your mortgage and you only get a fourth of the square footage.
First order of the day "Koreatown". I like the area but the parking situation is an eye opening experience. I found a few good places but how am I going to deal with two cars? Sigh...well, a couple of possibilities but no dice just yet.
Today is North Hollywood (NoHo) and West Hollywood (WeHo). We shall see what the day brings!
You always hear stories of the traffic in LA. Yes it's pretty bad, I was in traffic at 9:30pm on a Saturday night, but for right now I am cool with it. We will see how I feel about it when I have appointments to get to! We will save that story for another day.
I have been told by many people that I need to put my "LA" face on. Everyone who knows me also knows I have a soft heart and I still have the Prospect, Ky mentality. I don't really know what an "LA Face" is right now. I just know I hit the ground running and found I needed to still step up my speed a little bit! (smile)
It's alright, this Realty Goddess is protected by much larger hands than people know!
Peace, love and blessings from the Realty Goddess!
Follow me on twitter, facebook, google+ and foursquare! Maybe we can share some laughs and smiles along the way.
Related articles
- The Realty Goddess is Moving from Denver to Los Angeles (realtygoddess.wordpress.com)
- The Other Side of the Coin...Realty Goddess Goes Landlord (realtygoddess.wordpress.com)
- Countdown to Los Angeles...Going with Love (realtygoddess.wordpress.com)
Something about Night Driving....
What a whirlwind I am in. Not a bad thing, just a "moving forward" type of life change. Last night after packing all the final boxes and taking care of the final loose ends, my pups and I jumped on the road to a new life. Most people I know don't like to drive in the dark, but me...well there is something about it that refreshes me. Sure I was tired, I drove for about four hours before it was time to pull over, but it was time and when you listen to your heart, it will tell you things you don't second guess.
We hugged our neighbors necks - hard - in these last few days. I let the tears flow as I remembered all the memories we created together. Our neighborhood has changed over nine years. We've had old friends move, new friends move in, kids graduate, and some special spirits make their final life transition. I thought of all these things as I drove down I-70 in the dark. The darkness covered me and allowed me to wrap myself in the comfort of letting tears flow. It was so appropriate, I don't recall seeing the moonlight at all. Maybe Mr. Moon decided he would give me a little time behind the wheel in peace.
Colorado has beautiful mountains, they can take your breath away if you just sit and look at them sometimes. But my night driving kept my mind focused on the things flittering through my mind. Even the wildlife along the way knew to just stay clear of me. I had to be allowed to plow through without the guilt of harming one of God's creatures. Even the little bunny, who was directly in my path dashed quickly back into the whirlwind of tall grasses. Whew... I thought he was going to be "SPLAT" but I (or should I say "it") was spared. All in all it was a refreshing and cleansing night. I let it all go as I slipped past the mile markers. Memories of a beautiful place and wonderful friendships.
Finally it was time to rest these weary bones and find a spot to lay it all down. God is good and I can't say it enough. I thanked Him as I closed my eyes and let it all slip into dreamland. "Today was a good day" was my last thoughts.
This morning I awake refreshed, bright eyed and bushy tailed. My pups greeted me with love (as always) and we just sat for a while in silence. Silence - sometimes you just need silence! Silence OVER....Up and at em, wash the night away in a warm stream and get on with the day.
As I sit here, sharing a little piece of my life with you, I am sitting with two warm pups at my feet, a warm morning breeze blowing across my skin and the sunlight rays soaking through my smiling face. What lies ahead is an adventure. Something new, something exciting. New friends, new memories and blessings -- Look at me! I am going to be a California girl! I'm not sure Cali is ready for me but I am going to take the bull by the horns and reach for the dreams I have floating in my heart. For now....it's a new day....and it's going to be a new life!
There is something about day driving....but that story is for another day!
Peace, blessings and love from the Realty Goddess!
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The Joy's of Moving...NOT!
When will this ever end? In just a few short days we are pulling out of Denver yet I stand here in the AM among open boxes, rooms still not completely packed and I am losing my mind. How on earth do my real estate clients do it?
I spent some time with a wonderful neighbor yesterday and she said she has moved 26 times in her life! WHAT???? Please...moving gods, shoot me now! I do not EVER want to do this again.
Funny how you can build a ton of things you think might be of value to you someday! Sure...I really needed that button from a dress I wore in 2000! Hey, you never know when that stuff might come in handy, right? NOT! At one point, I stood in the middle of the kitchen, shut my eyes tight and screamed out "I NEVER WANT THIS MUCH CRAP AGAIN" I must admit, it felt GOOD to let that out with so much emotion! However, somewhere in that scream my secret desire was that everything would magically pack itself! When I opened my eyes...it was still there. I guess there are no moving fairies.
Oh sure...you do things to help keep you moving along. The iPod is on constant play. I'm working and packing to Prince, Adelle, Rolls Royce, Busta Rhymes and a music variety that would make your head spin, but I keep finding stuff that I don't need and the packing tape makes my hands numb and we have YET to book the truck, AND THE BOXES KEEP COMING AND COMING AND COMING....(breathing heavy now) Ok, 1-2-3 breathe in...breathe out....*sigh* Now where is my permanent marker, I gotta mark these boxes or else I will never know what I packed!
Maybe I can take a nap at some point today...oh wait...we sold the bed! How refreshing to know I can share my madness with you!
Until next time my precious ones...love, peace and blessings from the Realty Goddess.
Countdown to Los Angeles...Going with Love
We are in final countdown stage! Just a few more short days and we will be loading the pups, packing the truck and heading to the City of Angels. The excitement is killing me. Some days I feel I am going to pop, others I am shaking in my boots!
We are in MAJOR pack mode. We have sold most of our furniture, cleaned out old papers, wrapped up business, hugged and kissed neighbors and wore ourselves out packing.
I was able to take a break from it all for just a few hours. I had some very good friends throw me a "farewell" party. I don't see it as a goodbye so I refuse to call it that. As we all sat around the table, eating, laughing and sharing stories I opened my spiritual eyes and let it all soak in. These people love me and I love them! Life is so much more than business, sometimes we just wake up and walk through our days like zombies, but every so often you get to stop and smell the flowers with those you love. My eyes are tearing up, my heart is full and I am blessed beyond compare.
So today, no talk about property managers, renters, or real estate. Today my post is dedicated to my friends. Who took the time to share just a few minutes to warm my heart and send me off with love.
I thank you, I cherish you and I will never forget the warmth of your hugs and smiles.
There are big ships and small ships. But the best ship of all is friendship. ~Author Unknown
Peace love and blessings from the Realty Goddess!
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Other Side of the Coin Pt. 3...Realty Goddess Turns Landlord
Renting our home has become quiet an adventure! I scheduled three showings on one day. I try to keep the showings to a certain window time just to keep the madness down a bit.
There are PRO's and CON's of living in our house while it is being advertised for rent. Pro's...I am here most the time so if I put an Open House sign outside people can just come on in. Con's...I had to put a sign on my door that says "do not disturb the occupants" for the times we will not be showing. Someone actually rang our bell at 8:45pm one evening asking to see the house! People are amazing!
What I am slowly realizing is this...I am having a hard time taking myself out of ownership. I notice when I show our HOME I have a story to tell about our house. I know our neighbors, I love this neighborhood and this little red brick house is a place full of memories. Brick, mortar, nails and wood are what constitutes a physical house, but what YOU put in it makes it a home! This is what is making it so hard for me. Renters come in, they walk through, they have their comments (all good so far) they open closets and cabinets and it feels...well, it feels...SO BUSINESS. Stiff and stale. I can't wrap my head around that. Even though this will not be owned by our renters, I want to know they will have wonderful memories of the time they spend here. I want them to care and love our home and treat it with the respect it deserves. Gosh, I am such a hopeless romantic even with houses!
When I have buyers, that is what I picture for them. Memories, love and laughter, a place where you come and lay your burdens down. A place to cherish and relax. Is it so wrong to want that for my renters as well?
It all boils down to this...it does not matter if you own or rent...EVERYONE DESERVES A WONDERFUL PLACE TO CALL HOME!
Our home has not found its perfect fit yet, but I know it's calling out to the right ones. Showing our home has made me cherish my memories even more. Every Christmas we had major family dinners, sang around the piano, decorated our home, baked cookies for our neighbors and loved ones. We were the home to "BE" for the holidays! We raised our child here, had BBQ's, supported our neighborhood. We laughed, cried, sang and danced here. So I am taking this time to reflect on these things and I am letting the blessings wash over me daily. It is my hope that the next occupants have the same wonderful feelings we had over our nine years here.
Now if we could just decide on a property manager....UGH!
For now, we keep showing and interviewing....tune in next time for the next exciting episode of Realty Goddess Goes Landlord.
Blessings, peace and love from the Realty Goddess!
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Are Your Affairs in Order?
DEATH...ok, I said the big bad word and now that the shock is over, let's chat about it a little bit. We all do not like to think about it, but it's just a part of this wonderful journey called "LIFE". I know some of you would like to live forever but the fact of the matter is, we don't. Now I am not going to get into a spiritual debate on this subject, that is not it's purpose. The purpose of todays post is to discuss having your affairs in order for when you are no longer here.
I have helped a few families with estate sales in the past. Some have been completed with no issues and others have almost torn families apart. The easy transactions were because someone took the time to plan and execute the correct paperwork needed to assist their families in wrapping up their affairs. There is nothing more sad than to witness chaos and fighting among family members when no plan has been established.
Do you own a house? Have you written a will for your heirs? Do you know if you die and leave no will what could possibily happen? Are you married? Do you have children? Have you always wanted to donate your estate to a church or university, etc. Estate planning is not just for the "stars" and "wealthy".
Yes sir/ma'am...I got you thinking huh?
I am in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM an attorney. I respect the profession but it's not for me! But I have to share with you that I do see some "not so pretty" sides of Real Estate when there is a death in the family and members are left behind to put it all back together again.
There are so many online resources to start your initial search of this subject. Just "google" What happens to my property when I die" and you get a ton of educational articles. Remember each state and even each county can have different rules on estates, so I advise you to call an Estate attorney, create an estate plan and once that is done you can get back to living, knowing you have taken care of your loved ones when you are gone.
Here are two good sites to start your research. http://wills-probate.lawyers.com/wills-probate/What-Happens-if-I-Die-Without-a-Will.html and http://legalities.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/benefits-of-estate-planning-and-trusts-in-the-us/
I always end with saying "blessings and love" and this time I want you to show your love and share your blessings with your loved ones by starting the process of your estate affairs.
Follow me on this blog, facebook, google+ and foursquare. I hope I make you smile, laugh or just relax for a few moments in your day. Love and Blessings from the Realty Goddess.
Other Side of the Coin Pt. 2....Realty Goddess Turns Landlord
Alright, I must admit, the shaking and sweating has not really stopped since my last post. Now that I am on the other side of the coin, I can REALLY put myself in my client's shoes.
Let me tell you where we are. I have made a virtual tour of my home. Wanna see it? http://www.zingding.com/856585 There you go! Ok, so I am advertising and showing my precious little home. Being in the business, I know how important it is to have a good property manager. Little did I know just how hard that would be. We have interviewed four and three out of the four actually followed up with us. Every property manager sees things differently and only two of the four belong to NARPM. That's the National Association of Residental Property Managers. http://www.narpm.org/
When working with Property Managers, it's important to know they will be working for YOU. So ask for a copy of their property management agreement before signing anything. Ask questions, do your research, do NOT just pick the first one you find. Do they run credit checks, what are the up-front charges, do they handle payments electroncially, can they handle evictions if things go wrong, will they help in finding good repair people for issues and if so is there a cap on getting those done with your approval...(whew, see what I mean?)
You will need to make sure all possible tenants are screened appropriately. It's important you know the rental history and credit history of the person living in your home! I get conflicting info on this but I feel it's important to do a background check as well, but that's the HOMEOWNER SIDE OF ME!
Will you take pets? If so, will there be limits to what kind, size, how many? Will you require a full months deposit? Will the tenants be responsible for utilities? These are just a few of the questions you will have to answer if your decide to rent your property out. Be prepared!
Alright, so we are showing our home now. I have had about 500 hits on my virtual tour. (yes rental vacancy rate in Denver is about 1.4%; VERY LOW) I have now shown my home to about 15 people but I have no applications as of yet. That's ok, it's only been advertised a few days. In my case, I am the one showing my home. That has been an interesting adventure. Tenants want to tell your their background and negotiate immediately but I have to step back, take a deep breath and say, you will have to fill out an application, write a letter if you want to explain anything that might pop up and do the proper procedures for an application. I show leasing property all the time but now I have to remember that the same procedures apply even though this is MY home. I am still Laura Key, REALTOR®, (that's Realty Goddess to the world) and that means I have ethics and housing laws to uphold. I stand by my profession and I will uphold all my duties. I LOVE my job and I want to keep it, nothing unethical is worth risking my license.
So bring it on....it's a new journey and a new adventure. I shall keep you updated as we go along.
To be continued.....
Follow me on this blog, twitter, facebook, google+ and foursquare. Maybe I will make you smile a little during your day, maybe I have some education for you or maybe I can just allow you to take a little breather from your hectic day! Love, blessings and peace from the Realty Goddess!
The Other Side of the Coin...Realty Goddess Goes Landlord
I have been in Real Estate for five years now. It's had it's up's and it's down's but I really can't see myself doing anything else (besides singing of course) I love people! I love helping others start new chapters in their lives. My clients become my "friends" and I have experienced wonderful things in this career. I've seen babies born, marriages, retirements, and everything in between that cause changes in other's lives. I pride myself on repeat business and referrals! I have counciled people on the hardships of facing foreclosure, living through a short-sale and relocations.
One thing I have just “dabbled” in is rentals.
Enter the “Jaws” theme song……
When I joined my current company, Cliffdwellers Real Estate (www.Cliffdwellers.net) I came in with a STRONG wind! I think I might have frightened my managing broker, Tony Cline. I am pretty wild in spirit! Cliffdwellers also does property management for the Denver Downtown area and manages over 200 properties. With that being said, one thing I was not too excited about was doing leasing. I never really wanted to try it, I only wanted to be a listing and buyer’s agent.
In the last year, I started doing leasing reluctenly. For some reason “renters” and I just did not have the “relationship” that a buyer or a seller and I experienced. I'd make appointments, confirm them and find myself standing outside for 30 minutes waiting for people who just did not show up! Ah, yes, leasing is a different type of beast in real estate.
However with the housing market being what it is right now, there are more renters than buyers. Long story short….I jumped in the renters pool - both feet first. Slowly I got my groove, I had a plan and before you know it I was helping renters find a cool place to live and opening new doors in my business. I am proud to say I have opened another door to my future and have also created more friends in this new avenue. Why are some things so scary at first, then you conquer them and look back and say….Oh, what was I so afraid of?
Enter a NEW ROAD! (Now you must sing “follow the yellow brick road” in your head) Can you see that music is the soundtrack of my life? But I digress….
As everyone knows now, we are moving to Los Angeles in just a few short weeks. We currently own our little red brick home. We have made memories here, we have touched every single room and made it ours. We take pride in our house and LOVE our neighbors. So, what to do, what to do????
It would not be wise to sell our home in this market, so now the Realtor becomes the Landlord! Time to rent! Now my knees are shaking, I’m wiping sweat from my brow and I am a bit sick to my stomach. It’s so easy to guide others in my business. I’ve worked with investors many times over. Fix and Flip (no problem) Fix and Rent (no problem) BUT MY HOME….PROBLEM!
(To be continued….Tune in next time for the adventures of the Realty Goddess turns Landlord)
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Not enough time...bucket lists
Isn't it amazing that when you live in a city you do not take the time to really go learn what is going on around you? I was born and raised in Prospect, KY (Louisville) and I never attended the Kentucky Derby. Oh sure, I enjoyed the other activities such as "Thunder Over Louisville" the "Chow Wagons" the "Parade, and other fun stuff, but for the actual Derby Event, well...I kept putting it off.
It's the same with Denver. I got here, I got excited, I saw a few things such as the dinosaur footprints, Buffalo Bill's Grave, etc, then I got busy and just put things off. I was working 40 hours a week at my secretarial job and the weekends were full of cleaning and restocking the fridge. Time kept rolling, I started to put off things I really wanted to do and now the time is near to leave for a new adventure.
Today, I decided to take a walk in the sunshine. Really, I was FORCED to take a walk in the sunshine. I was slaving away at a file, minding my own business then the air conditioning kicked on. EEEEK! Enough already....I needed some warmth. I digress...back to the walk. I decided to drive until I found a nice spot to bathe in the sunshine. I ended up around the St. Lukes hospital area. Lots of great homes to look at, still downtownish and some nice little spots to sit outside and breathe a little bit.
As I sat in the sun and let it wash warmth all over me, I decided I would just walk down the street and grab some lunch at Thai Basil on 18th. The walk would prove to be so much more than a quick run to grab lunch. The restaurant was about five blocks away and I decided to walk the neighborhood to increase my "steps" for the day.
When you are in the "hustle and bustle" of the day you tend to focus on your task and ignore everything around you. Something was different for me today. I decided to look up and be totally aware of my surroundings. Oh the beautiful things I saw. There is an apartment house located near 18th and Williams that had so such style I had to stop. Old film cameras surrounded the building and you got a sense of "style" and what it would look like inside. I let my imagination run wild. I imagined Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and all the beautiful silent stars in their glory walking the grounds in a 1940's 1950's era. Who cares if it was true or not, my imagination was awakened. When we grow up, we tend to forget we have imagination. Why?
I walked a few more blocks and my nose was rewarded with the scents of roses and lilac from all the beautiful flowers that aligned the sidewalk. Due to all the rains our trees and grass are bright green and stand tall and strong. In just a short 30 minute walk my spirit was uplifted, my imagination was active and I felt a gratefulness wash over me.
I only have two weeks left in "The Mile High" city. One of my regrets is that I never got to do some of the things I wanted to do on my personal list. Even though I have done more than I imagined, there is just so many wonderful things to experience here.
So, what lesson have I learned to take on my journey to Los Angeles? Well, I think I am going to be a tourist for a while. A good friend gave me a book called "Top 10 Los Angeles" I have flipped through it already and started planning my list. Every since I was a little girl I wanted to visit the LaBrea Tar Pits. I have decided to make that one of the very first things I will do! The feeling of knowing a "bucket list" item will be so easily accessible is stimulating! Oh the things I have on my list!
You want to know why I feel this move will be different? I have YOU to hold me accountable! I know you are following me, I know you will expect the reports and I know if I don't do them you will ask me why!
For now, my next two weeks are filled with kissing friends goodbye, packing, studying and winding down business.
I am no way a "writer" but for some reason knowing I have things to share with you makes this a brand new adventure and I look forward to sharing this journey. It will include a little bit of this and a little bit of that but it will be honest and forthcoming!
Thank you to everyone who called, emailed and commented on my announcement of moving to Los Angeles. Your kind words and encouragement are a blessing!
Remember....We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.-- Teilhard de Chardin
Make sure you keep in contact with me through this blog, facebook, twitter, google+ and foursquare. Maybe I will make you "laugh or smile" in some way! Blessings from the Realty Goddess!