I just read a post about the expected 4th of July celebration in Washington DC and the surrounding area.  I am not linking the post as it was a nice post and my point is not to criticize that post, but to really think about where the best 4th of July celebration will be. It this area as in many others around the country Fireworks displays are being curtailed due to budget issues.  As is typical Washington DC is continuing to spend money that the rest of us do not have. I thought about a very special 4th of July weekend I had about 11 or 12 years ago.  You need to understand my birthday is on the 3rd so this is always a big time of year for me.  Well that year my first marriage was having big troubles and my wife and I at the time were separated.  I was lonely and depressed.  To get my m... 07/01/2010

In the Rain Drop today there was a great post on Compromise by Kristen Wheatley, "Is Compromise really the Best Idea?" I think there are plenty of times in life when compromise is right and/or you should set down and examine what you really want out of a situation.  But the entire thing reminded me of a story:   One cold Winter day a hungry bear was out looking for some food and a cold hunter was out looking for a warm fur to wrap around him.  Well the hunter comes across the bear in a meadow and gets the drop on him.  The hunter aims his gun and gets ready to shoot and the bears says, "Wait, what do you want." So the hunter being the compassionate guy tells the bear he needs a fur coat to keep warm and survive the winter.  The bear explains that he is hungry.  Then the bear suggest tha... 06/29/2010

The big clash over the US Constitution is a Living Document vs. a Permanent Document. There are those that argue the Constitution is a Living Document designed to change with the times.  They feel it is a document that can be adapted to meet the changing culture and times. On the other side are those that feel the document is a Permanent Document and you need to look for the original intent.  Most would agree there is flexibility to meet a changing world, but that the values, intent, and limitations of the Constitution are Permanent Features that can only be changed by amendment. The problem with a Living Document approach means that a small number of people (Judges) can limit my freedom and take away my rights based on thier interpretation of the changing values they believe are going ... 06/28/2010

This is Janson (who I could not get to smile for a picture) wearing his favorite Dinosaur Jammies that is mom made for him a Christmas. Today Janson is 6 and he is a big boy!  Janson is my 4th of 6 boys and was a big surprise and a real gift from God born 16 months after his brother Weston. Janson says he is tough and "faster than a Raptor."  He likes Dinosaurs.  He wrestles and plays baseball and just completed his first year of Kindergarten being home schooled.  He wants to play soccer in the fall.  This year was also his first year in Royal Rangers as a Ranger Kid.  Janson learned to ride his bike in about 10 minutes. Each of my kids is special in someway.  Janson will never tell me he loves me and fights me every step of the way, but he always wants to go with me when I leave.  He b... 06/25/2010

Beware of Bankers Bearing Gifts The other day I was talking with a client about Listing his home as a Short Sale.  As a responsible Realtor with an SFR designation I was also talking about the alternatives to a Short Sale and possible consequences.  One of the things that came up is he had refinanced his home.  This was part of a loan modification effort and he had refinanced with his current lender and took no cash out.  The modification has not helped him with his basic problem of needing to relocate for family and work issues.  An important fact about the "modification" was that the loan is no longer a purchase money loan, which makes it a recourse loan.  If they borrow gets foreclosed on the lender can now pursue the homeowner for losses on the loan.  Laws may vary from state to sta... 06/25/2010

Brentwood California Homes for Sale This Report focuses on single family Brentwood California Homes for Sale by looking at currently available Brentwood California Homes for Sale and comparing them to sales of Brentwood California Homes for Sale in April and May. Right now there are 194 Brentwood California Homes for Sale with an average price of $467,829.00 and a median price of $359,450. The homes have been on the market an average of 65 days and are priced at $201.00 per SF.  However, there are 7 homes priced at $1,000,000.00 or more, some with land.  This homes really skew the stats.  If we look at the other 187 homes alone the average price is $377,284.00 and a median price of $356,000.00.  Those homes have an average price of $167.00 per SF and have been on the market an average o... 06/23/2010

A Moving Experience - The Nuts and Bolts As I have talked about in my prior post I am a junk collector I hate to throw anything away.  So moving, organizing and cleaning can be tough on me.  The other night after moving big stuff and going through boxes all day I decided to organize my tools while relaxing in front of the TV.  I had cleaned out the tool draws and have several tool boxes.  They were organized at one time, well you know how that goes. Going through the boxes there were odd nuts, bolts, nails, screws, brackets, etc.. and I could not bring myself to throw out something that has some use, but sort them!  Well not time for that.  I did throw out some things, but I still have the big plastic tub of odds and ends.  The tools boxes are better organized with more room, so I did g... 06/22/2010

The response to many crisis these days, and now the Gulf Oil Crisis, is to treat it as a legal problem.  Now I have great respect for the rule of law, but it is no longer the rule of law we have so much as being ruled by lawyers.  No doubt there should be some legal consequences in regard to the Gulf Oil Spill, but the solutions we have seen from the government have seemed to be more about the law than about practical solutions. It has been about getting money from BP.  The sad thing here is the law actually provides a great deal of protection for BP, that BP has waived and our government ignores.  Should our government have provided such legal protection?  I do not know.  I do know the Constitution prohibits ex-post-facto laws, but this is ignored. The government is protected with sove... 06/20/2010

I had my son washing windows at the old house today, getting ready to put it on the market.  The windows do not look too bad, but he left his news papersthat he used to clean the windows laying all over the place.  (Ranger does not like Hair Cuts and this job was left half done.) I think this is typical of teenagers (especially the younger ones) and I explained to him that clean up was part of the job.  He is not finished until he has cleaned up.  As a Realtor and a Broker my job is far more than helping you buy or sell a home.  There is lots of paperwork and details.  My job is not complete until all of your work is complete, all the paper work is taken care of, and you have completed your sale or purchase.  I have a team of people I work with, but I am your point of contact from start... 06/20/2010

My wife and I do not put much into Mother's Day or Father's Day, except for my step mother out parents and grandparents are gone.  The older boys may do or say something and the younger boys will probably put together a little something with the other parent to teach them they owe respect and duty to parents. I have 6 boys though and I can tell you everyday is Father's Day for me.  Being a father has been my highest goal in life.  It is a tougher job than I thought, but I would never go back.  Sometimes on line I will refer to my kids in less than a postive tone.  However, those of you with kids may understand that when I refer to them as sneaky disobiediant barbarians or such that there is love even in that statement. I have noticed a trend in our culture.  On Mother's Day it often fal... 06/20/2010

Even with lap tops and smart phones so we can work on the go almost anywhere, using the lap as a desk, I think most of us still have a work place. I often hear the term, Work Station, Unit, Cube, and I am sure there are others.  For me it is an Old Fashioned Desk. Desks come in many types and varieties, most designed as modern computer work stations and often module in nature.  Many desk look nice, but are little more than press board with a veneer over them. I think for most of us our Desk reflects who we are.  I actual have two that I am fond of.  They are not the fanciest or maybe even the most practical, but I like them. My favorite desk is an old fashioned teachers desk.  About 15 years ago when doing work as a PI and Claims Adjuster I had an office over a classic bar that must hav... 06/18/2010

I have just about got the house cleaned out.  (Well except for the garage).  I need to wash a few windows and get the carpet cleaners in.  My Brother - in - law will spot paint for me over the weekend.  (I am not allowed to handle paint brushes). The hardest part about the moving was not the big stuff - but the small stuff.  All the details of picking up stuff and cleaning, then the minor repairs. I need to clean out the backyard still, not hard and hopefully have it on the market next week.  I do not have too much left in the garage and am leaving that for last. If you are looking for "A Moving Experience" I would love to provide you great service as your Broker and Realtor. 06/18/2010

What does your Home of the Future Look Like? Home builders are constantly doing research about how taste are changing and what people want in homes.  New technology often influences these designers.  Here are some things I see being put in many homes of the future: Most people think homes will get smaller.  I think they will get larger.  Although times are tough now and people are cutting back the long term trend it towards telecommuting and working at home.  This takes space.  Look for homes of the future to have 2 or even 3 spaces that can be used as offices and or class rooms for home schoolers. In Brentwood Ca new homes are required to have sprinkler systems.  I see this coming in many new homes. I do not know if Solar Power will become the power of the future, but I suspect within ... 06/16/2010

New Home Construction in Brentwood California!  New home construction has always been near and dear to my heart.  My passion for real estate started early as a child.  I have fond memories of our family building our very first newly constructed home.  Everything from picking our lot, to watching our foundation being poured, then the excitement of our home beginning to take shape and finally moving in.  Those were all memories that will stay withme forever.  It wasn't a surprise to my family when I decided to go into real estate sales later in life.  I am a Realtor/Buyer Specialist now working with Schweller Properties in Brentwood, CA.  www.schwellerproperties.com  My family and I have been living in Brentwood for 10+ years now and we have been fortunate to see how this town has develop... 06/15/2010

A couple of weeks ago I wrote of post on Equity Purchases in California and how this law could impact Short Sales.  Even those there is no equity in a Short Sale purchase the Equity Purchase laws appeared to still apply.  The equity purchase laws protect the homeowner (and the homeowners equity) from predators when they are in Foreclosure. I ran the issue past CARS (California Association of Realtors) Legal Hotline.  According to the Legal Hotline it is not a Equity Purchase if no Notice of Default has been filed.  Furthermore if the property is in escrow at the time the notice of default of filed the Equity Purchase Laws do not apply.  This is a very good reason to start your short sale as soon as possible.  When the Home becomes an Equity Purchase most agents are no longer legally qua... 06/15/2010

A quick story to provide insight and protection for you and the people you feel safe introducing to us. 06/14/2010

Most of the heavy stuff was out, but there was just a lot of junk in the nursery and the bonus room we used as the class room and play room.  I was getting ticked as the kids seemed to think dad would handle everything.  My 13 year old has actually been pretty good help moving some big stuff. So dad blew up and got them all moving.  The four oldest anyway that includes at 5 and a 7 year old.  Although the two little ones twaddled a lot every time they went up and down the stairs carrying a game or some light box was one time I did not have to walk up or down the stairs. We got the fish tank and the bird moved.  Tomorrow patching, painting and cleaning begin.  The wife is now out getting them the reward.  Pizza, Ice Cream and Soda. 06/13/2010

Well I am working hard on my move.  There were some issues with the old house that I blamed on my kids not taking care of things properly and being to rough on things.  They include: Some of the kitchen cabinets needed repair as the fascia boards came loose/off and I was to fix the drawers. The double doored Pantry has a spring mechanism to hold it in place when the door is closed.  Those springs tended to break and the doors started to split at the top. The Double doors on the Master Bedroom do not lock well and tend to have problems where the two doors meet. Well the new house is in the same development and built about the same time.  It is a different model, but has many of the same features.  Guess what it has all of the same problems as outlined above.  I guess it was not just my k... 06/10/2010

There is an old saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned."  Now how many people would bend over to pick up a penny today?  I don't know, I might in some circumstances for others it might not be worth it at all. John Madden tells the story about him seeing John Matuzak throw a $20.00 in the toilet and then go in after it.  When he asked him what he was doing Matuzak said, "Well I dropped a quarter in by accident, but I was not going in after a measly 25 cents." I cannot resist picking up little Lego pieces.  I love Lego and the options kids have today with Lego far exceed anything I ever had.  The amount of money I have spent on Lego sickens me when I think about it.  But it is also probably one of the best investments I have made in my kids.  I get a little frustrated buying them nice m... 06/08/2010

You know those dings and dents around the house that have a special found memory?  Sometimes they are measurements of the kids on bedroom wall or hand prints in the concrete.  Well for me it is other things. I am the father of 6 boys (13, 11, 7, 5, 2 and 4 months).  They are conniving, disobedient, noisy and dirty.  And yet you cannot help but love them.  When they finally fall asleep and you tuck them into bed they are beautiful.  As a father I have learned my magic kisses can heal wounds.  So I will take them as they come. They have left there own special marks on our last house.  As I move two come to mind.  When we moved in the carpet was thick and clean (it had been a model home); it was a joy to run through it barefoot.  Well when we were in for only a few weeks the boys decided t... 06/07/2010