Congratulations to our Winner for August: Larry & Sheila Nassau They guessed 3 out of 4 weekly featured members correctly! 1,500 Bonus Points!! This month's "Liar" posts were from featured members:Kwee HusetJane GrantJerry NewmanDonna Bosze To join the group, click here: That should be it for this blog series.  It's been a fun and interesting series for almost 2 years of learning some fun facts about your fellow ActiveRainers, but as with most things it's time to move on to more new and exciting things that ActiveRain has in store. Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in the fun! Below are the results for this months posts, players with correct guesses, and the tally of guesses: Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale 09/13/2011

What software/program/website do you use for your database? Just wanted to take a poll of my ActiveRain Peeps to see which program or website you use for your database. Are you happy with it? Does it allow you the marketing and communication features that you are satisfied with? Is it easy to use? What are some of the outstanding features? Is it affordable? Are there features that you wish it had or feel it's lacking? Is it just a database tool or does it have other administrative features? Let me know, Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale 09/11/2011

$299,000 - Amazing Master Suite Townhome in Sherman Oaks!Bedrooms: 2Bathrooms: 3Parking Spaces: 2Year Built: 1993School District: Los Angeles UnifiedSquare Footage: 1,520 Agent Name: Adam BrettPrice: $299,0005242 Kester Ave 6Sherman Oaks, CA 91411View MapAmazing townhome with 2-car attached garage in Sherman Oaks. Arched entry greats you into this tri-level townhome complete with private access 2 car garage, rooftop deck, vaulted ceilings in the master suite, fresh paint and more. Located in the interior of the building with no noise from surrounding streets, you won't find another home at this price with these amenities. There are dual master suites with private baths, and an additional powder room on the main floor. The living room is MASSIVE complete with fireplace - opening to the g... 09/09/2011

For the first time in our career, my partner and I have 12 escrows in the pipe! Between our own listings, our buyers, and the short sales I am facilitating, we have 12 transactions in escrow. And we have six more in the works! Because of the extremely hard work and diligence we've put in over the last year, and the GREAT positive energy from being part of the John Aaroe Group,  we are out-of-control busy and have hired a 2nd assistant to help with the real estate transactions and marketing.  (and she is amazing!) I have all my my short sales on a online platform that is extremely powerful that helps me track every element of the short sale, all contacts, and keeps everyone who is a party to the transaction updated instantly. We also signed up for a real estate all-in-one marketing/datab... 09/04/2011

Looking to network with other agents?  Don't forget to look in your own back yard....... Many of us are here on ActiveRain to not only post our blog entries, but to network with other agents in other regions and states. I can testify first hand that I've received several referral clients through ActiveRain that I have closed successfully (plug, plug....) But I just want to remind everyone not to forget your own backyard. I.E. - what have you done lately for the other agents at your office?  Have you reminded them of your comaraderie as a fellow agent with the same broker?  When is the last time you've done something as a gesture of goodwill for the other agents in your office(s)? Try doing something nice for them soon.  Bring in some light nosh to the next office meeting.  Buy a round o... 08/30/2011

Thank you SO much to the group members of our ActiveRain Masterminds monthly challenge! Each month, the group members and team members of our ActiveRain Masterminds challenge step up to the plate and collaborate with their team members to come up with solutions to the issues we post in the challenge each month. The quality of experience and insight to some of these solutions is probably some of the best reading on ActiveRain. As the founder of the group, I have pushed to have the amount of bonus points for ALL participants (not just the winners) be worthy of the time that they put in. I just want to take the opportunity to thank all of the members who participate in this challenge each month for their time. It's their solutions that they post each month that spark positive changes in ou... 08/20/2011

  So you are in the mood for something scrumptious and not sure where to go, well then get yourself to the Café Bizou in Sherman Oaks, California! The Café Bizou is located at 14016 Ventura Boulevard in Sherman oaks and has locations in Pasadena as well as in Santa Monica for your ultimate dining experience. The Café Bizou offers so many delicious dishes for every one with all different tastes and preferences for a decent price for every budget. Let your taste buds enjoy a delicious entrée in a warm and friendly atmosphere with family and friends! The Café Bizou is perfect for hosting birthdays, business meetings, celebrations of any kind and so much more. For more information regarding the Café Bizou please visit the link provided: http://cafebizou.com/ Sounds like a great way to celeb... 08/17/2011

The ActiveRain Masterminds monthly challenge for July is complete, and the judges scores for each team are in! If you missed this months challenge, you can read each teams entry here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2411905/activerain-masterminds-challenge-july-2011-tenant-occupied-short-sales-which-is-the-best-approach-to-take- If you are new to the ActiveRain MasterMinds and want to learn what the monthly challenge is all about, you can click here about how to join and what the rules are: http://activerain.com/groups/ActiveRainMasterMinds Put your own team together and be part of the Creative Mindshare to coming up with solutions to issues in our industry! Each month, the members of the winning team will receive BONUS POINTS, and everyone else who participates will receive BONUS POINT... 08/11/2011

Congratulations to our Winner for July: Dee Mayers Dee guessed ALL FOUR weekly featured members correctly! 1,500 Bonus Points!! This month's "Liar" posts were from featured members:Barbara HansleySusan GouldingGayle Rich-BoxmanStacey Smith To join the group, click here: http://activerain.com/groups/2truthsandaliegame Each month if there is one member who has the most correct guesses, they will receive 1,500 bonus points. If there is a tie, each member who ties will receive 1,000 bonus points each. Once again, thank you Praful Thakkar for your assistance with the tabulation. Check out our current post of "2 Truths and A Lie"!! If you haven't played yet, then try this month! It's alot of fun and a great way to meet some of the other members on ActiveRain and maybe getting some bonus point... 08/11/2011

  If you want a delicious breakfast and not sure where to go, then get yourself down to Jinky’s Café in Sherman Oaks, California! Jinky’s Café is located at 14120 Ventura Boulevard, Suite C in the beautiful Sherman Oaks area. Jinky’s Café has so many scrumptious delicious meals to offer all of their customers with all different tastes and preferences, at a delicious price to boot. Jinky’s Café has other convenient locations in Agoura Hills, Studio City and in Santa Monica. You can enjoy a delicious meal while catching up with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere. For more information regarding Jinky’s Café please visit the link provided: http://www.jinkys.com/ Are the pictures making you hungry yet! 08/10/2011

No, Mr. Bank, I don't want half of a short sale, I want a WHOLE short sale............ I recently initiated a short sale with Bank of America on Equator.  I uploaded the preliminary docs. As customary with Bank of America, the borrower must phone in themselves to request whether or not they want to pursue a HAFA short sale. This morning, I received an email stating that the file had been removed from the system. I could not understand why, so I contacted BofA.  They informed my that the borrower had declined the short sale. I knew something was wrong, because that could not be true. Well, the issue is that the borrow speaks limited English, and is working with a close friend for interpretation. Apparently, when the BofA rep asked the borrower if they want to pursue a HAFA short sale, sh... 08/05/2011

Sherman Oaks Ca /Neighborhood Boundary Map Click the plus+  or  the  minus-  to zoom in or out  and see the neighborhood boundaries  View Sherman Oaks (SO) in a larger map The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Studio City to the east, Van Nuys to the north, Encino to the west, Bel Air and Beverly Hills Post Office to the south. Sherman Oaks is situated along the Los Angeles River, Ventura Freeway, San Diego Freeway, Beverly Gle Boulevard, and Sepulveda Boulevard. The southern boundary has always been Mulholland Drive. The western boundary is Firmament as it crosses Ventura Blvd. The current northern boundary is Oxnard and the eastern boundary is Coldwater Canyon Avenue from Burbank south to Magnolia where it jogs west so as to reach Fulton Avenue at Ventura Boulevard The line then foll... 08/01/2011

If you want a to beat the heat and hang out somewhere fun this summer, then head out to the Sherman Oaks Galleria in Sherman Oaks, California! The Sherman Oaks Galleria is located at 15301 Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. Whether you are looking for specialty shops, a place to stuff your face, ice skating, catch a new flick or just want a place to hang out the Sherman Oaks Galleria is the place to go. While you are at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, be sure to check out “Restaurant Row” which consists of 12 various and delightful restaurants that will satisfy your tummy as well as your wallet. For more information regarding the Sherman Oaks Galleria please visit the link provided: http://www.shermanoaksgalleria.com/ What a great way to spend the day and cool off from the heat! 07/27/2011

ActiveRain MasterMinds Challenge - July 2011 - Tenant Occupied Short Sales:  Which is the best approach to take? OK, MasterMind Groups. Time for you to do what you've done best: Develop the best solutions. Here is the challenge for July, 2011: Tenant-occupied short sales are a very delicate situation.  There are so many variables to consider with several interests in the property from different parties.  It may even be possible for a buyer to inherit an unwanted landlord-tenant situation without their consent in some cases. Your team's solutions must be posted HERE on this blog post no later than August 5th, 9pm Pacific Time in order for the team to be assigned the bonus points.  (I am allowing 4 more days than usual due to the late post this month) Also, you must list each team member ... 07/20/2011

So you are looking for a great restaurant that serves delicious food that you can sink your teeth into and not sure where to go, well then get yourself down to the Marmalade Café in Sherman Oaks, California! The Marmalade Café is located at 14910 Ventura Boulevard in the neat town of Sherman Oaks. The Original Marmalade Café opened its door in 1990 in Santa Monica, California and started out as a catering company. This awesome place became so successful that the owners opened quite a few more locations all over Los Angeles County and in the Santa Barbara area as well.  Each of the Marmalade Café’s locations serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner to satisfy your hungry appetite! The Marmalade Café offers so many mouthwatering sooth your soul entrées that your taste buds will be begg... 07/19/2011

On our trip to Canada this week, we spent some time with Richard's family. It was great, we did some sight seeing and also went over to Niagara Falls, which is beatiful. I'll be writing some blogs with pics this week all about that journey. In the meantime, during our stay there, Richard and I went out and bought some plants and flowers and did some planting and cleared up some weeds in a certain part of his Mom's house and planted a large bed of flowers. I love gardening, and Richard's mom was thrilled. 06/17/2011

Just want to formally announce - I am NEVER answering a phonecall again that comes up as restricted!! I just received my LAST hangup from a restricted number. I hate when that happens!  It really burns my buns!! But I refuse to let it affect the positive energy around me, so therefore I am cordially announcing to God and everyone's grandmother that I will no longer be answering my cell phone if your phone number comes up as restricted. So if you need to have your outgoing number set to restricted, fine.  But you'll have to leave a voicemail with your call back number otherwise you'll have to look into the skies and look for flying pigs before you see me answer a restricted phone call. So there ya go. All "O"-fficial and all........ Much love and positive energy, The Ralphster   Los Ange... 06/14/2011

If you need a night out to kick your heels up, then the Oaks Tavern is just for you! The Oaks Tavern is located at 13625 Moorpark Street in the beautiful Sherman Oaks area. At the Oaks Tavern, everyone can let their hair down and kick up their heels, while enjoying some awesome cocktails and fun entertainment with their family and friends! Don’t miss out on the “Summer Kick Off Party” on June 25th, 2011 to bring in the summer season. So grab your grass skirts and celebrate with Oaks Tavern’s luau style, equipped with Mai Tai’s, awesome pool table and so much more! For more information regarding the Oaks Tavern please visit the link provided: http://www.theoakstavern.com/The_Oaks_Tavern/Home.html What a great way to bring in the summer season!   06/13/2011

   So you are looking for some yummy sushi to eat and not sure where to go, why not dive into some sushi at Nami Sushi in Sherman Oaks, California! Nami Sushi is located at 4454 Van Nuys Blvd. in the Sherman Oaks area. Nami Sushi welcomes everyone from all walks of life that has an appreciation for great sushi, fantastic service and incredible prices! Nami Sushi offers so many awesome dishes that will make your taste buds beg for more! For more information regarding Nami Sushi please call 818-986-7060. What a great way to tantalize your palate! 06/13/2011

Sherman Oaks Short Sale Are you behind on your mortgage payments and have already tapped your credit cards, friends and family? Getting out from the weight on your shoulders can seem impossible, but moving on is exactly what you are going to need to do. If you are considering a short sale then call Simon Mills of Mills Realty who will guide you through your Sherman Oaks Short Sale. Mills Realty will show you how you can relieve yourself from the debt of your home without any out of pocket expenses. Your lender will pay our fees, so our program will truly cost you nothing out of pocket. It makes no difference who your lender is or how many loans you have on your property Simon Mills of Mills Realty will guide you through your Sherman Oaks Short Sale. Our goal is to make the process as st... 06/10/2011