Pay It Forward - January Reporting Post OK, Pay It Forward Angels, this is where you will write your SINGLE comment with the link to your Pay It Forward posts for January. IF YOU MISSED THE REPORTING POST FOR DECEMBER, OR STILL NEED TO REPORT YOUR DECEMBER POSTS, HERE IT IS: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2003011/pay-it-forward-december-reporting-post We have 5 Sundays falling in January, so you will need to post the links to your 5 posts here. I've created a sample on the first comment below to give you a template.   Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale   01/04/2011

Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Studio City Home Search-Studio City is located in the southeast San Fernando Valley. Highway 101 is the major freeway linking the area to Hollywood and the western valley. Access to other parts of the city is also provided by Laurel Canyon Blvd, Coldwater Canyon and Ventura/Cahuenga Boulevards. Ventura Boulevard is where the bulk of its commercial activity resides. Search the Studio City MLS right here for FREE-No need to log in to search the Studio City Home Search. You can search by price, rooms or map. All listing are up to date. Copyright © 2010 By Stephen Munson-Munson Realty Southern California Real Estate –Homes In Los Angeles For Sale*Homes In Los Angeles For Sale-Studio City Home Search* 12/21/2010

There is often a lot of confusion with various boundaries in Los Angeles and particularly in the San Fernando Valley. This next series of blogs will help define the boundaries of various neighborhoods. MAP OF STUDIO CITY BOUNDARIES View Studio City (STUD) in a larger map   Mills Realty has provided this interactive map, based on the official City Council maps, for your convenience. Buyer and Seller are advised to check the official LA City Council maps to determine the actual boundaries of the various communities. Links to all San Fernando Valley BoundariesArleta, Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Hidden Hills, Lake Balboa, Mission Hills, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacoima, Panorama City, Reseda, San Fernando, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, S... 11/16/2010

Pay It Forward - I helped finance another small business person on Kiva.org this week! I just lent out another $25 of micro financing this week. About 2 years ago, I became a member of www.kiva.org KIVA is an AMAZING online micro-financing organization that helps finance small business people in impoverished countries. It is SO cool. You lend money to people in the different countries, and they pay the money back in installments. Once the money is paid back, you can lend it out again to another person in need to help them start their small business. You can only lend out a maximum of $25 per recipient, and the total amount of the micro-loan is comprised of however many individuals lending the $25 each. To date, I've lent out at least a dozen or more micro-loans of $25, and they have all... 11/14/2010

Congratulations to our Pay It Forward Accountability Angels for October 2010 - 2,500 Bonus Points Our Pay It Forward Accountability Group kicked of their initial month like gangbusters! You really should read the hundreds of kind and thoughtful things our Angels did for people this month! You can see the group's posts for the month or even join our group by clicking here: http://activerain.com/groups/payitforwardgroup The rules are you must post one blog per week about something nice you've done for someone.  It could be anything from making a donation, helping someone in need, re-kindling a long-lost relationship, or as simple as just saying hello to somone you've never met before. The posts are due no later than each Sunday at 9PM Pacific Time.  Your blogs MUST have the words "Pay It ... 11/03/2010

Pay It Forward - Our first donation to KW cares this week. We made our first donation to the KW Cares foundation as new agents. Not too bad, we were the highest bidder for some concert tickets for $170.00, so it was very nice to have something in return for our donation.   10/24/2010

Homes In Los Angeles For Sale- Studio City Property Search-Studio City is located in the southeast San Fernando Valley. Highway 101 is the major freeway linking the area to Hollywood and the western valley. Access to other parts of the city is also provided by Laurel Canyon Blvd, Coldwater Canyon and Ventura/Cahuenga Boulevards. Ventura Boulevard is where the bulk of its commercial activity resides. Studio City earned its name in the 1920s when Mack Sennett moved his studios from a neighborhood known as Edendale (near modern Echo Park) to a property near Colfax Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. His sound stages, Mack Sennett Studios, were later renamed Mascot Pictures Studios, Republic Pictures Studios, MTM Enterprises Studios and today are known as the CBS Radford Studios. Some residents w... 10/19/2010

Meet Jimmy McMillan - The Candidate from "The Rent Is Too Damn High" Party! He is a candidate in the New York governor's race. Althought the race is expected to be dominated by Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino, Mr. McMillan sure is causing alot of fireworks along the way!  And alot of laughs too. Check out his recent speech during the debate:   Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale 10/19/2010

How do you "Pay It Forward"? - I want to hold YOU accountable.............2500 Bonus Points Per Month I am proposing to put together a weekly blog where our ActiveRain peeps can tell everyone how they "Paid It Forward" this week. Ever done something really nice for someone out of random, genuine concern for them? I want to know about it and share it with everyone. If you are the type that like to blog strictly about business, great.  You can share something that you did for your clients or associates that was a very kind gesture. If you are the type that like to blog about something other than business as a distraction, great.  You can share something you did with your family or friends what was a genuine act of kindness or goodwill. Here is your platform! I want to start an ActiveRain ... 10/10/2010

Putting Zillow to The Test: My $948.60+ Adventure - Day 51 - Update Alright, peeps. So I'm 51 days into my 90-day benchmark with Zillow. Here is my activity listed on Zillow:   Here are my contacts thus far: Contact #1 - Another who wanted me to come to his open house Contact #2 - Same realtor wanting me to come to his open house Contact #3 - A prospect who wanted a showing on my Goodbee St. listing - non-responsive / dead end. Contact #4 - A prospect who wanted a showing on an REO property in my Zillow paid zip code (Yes!) Contact #5 - Zillow Executive asking me how I was doing so far (I'm flattered!) Contact #6 - A prospect who clicked through to telephone me to inquire about the same REO property in #4. We were doing great until I informed him I was not the listing agent, and he beca... 10/01/2010

AAA Credit Screening Services - A great, affordable, reliable credit screening service. I used to get all of my credit screening done by the mortgage brokers that I work with. But then, when I needed to get a credit report for a lease client, my mortgage broker told me that they do not run credit reports for lease clients any more, just for those who were looking to obtain a loan on a property. So that led me in the direction to find a credit screening service. I found AAA Credit Screening Services. I've been using them for about a year now, and they are GREAT! I have a very simple, half-page credit request form that my prospective tenant fills out, and after I email it to AAA Credit Screening, I get the credit report back within 2 hours or less! They are really great.  It costs about $... 09/05/2010

Just when I thought I've seen it all, then I see this. A friend of mine sent me this video.  I had thought that I've seen just about every stupid pet trick there was, but this is actually quite amazing. I mean this "dance routine" lasts about 3-4 minutes!  To see a dog do something like this is actually kind of mind-blowing to see they have the capacity to remember such a long sequence. Anyway, I though you all would enjoy:   Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale     09/02/2010

Welcome to Ralph's Weekly Feature: Two Truths and a Lie: Guess Which One Is The Lie? Each week, I'm going to feature one Active Rain Member, with their photo, and what they are going to do is tell you 2 Truths about them and 1 Lie. The object of the game is to guess which of the 3 bits of trivia about them is a lie! I will post the answer in that same blog at the end of the week on Fridays so you can all find out! It's a great way to get to know your fellow Active Rain members and staff. This week, we will be featuring: Richard Ruggaber Originally from Toronto, Canada, Richard is a Realtor with the John Aaroe Group in Los Angeles.  He was previously with Prudential California Realty for many years before coming over to the John Aaroe Group.  He was on the relocation team as well as the... 08/29/2010

Vacant homes do not stimulate the economy........and their "ungy" I am optimistic about all that the government and banks are doing to try and make homes and loans affordable, and make short selling a property easier for a homeowner who has no other sensible alternative. As we all know, homes that sit vacant over time, on the simplest level, are just not attractive (or as my little neice would say, they're "ungy") But not only are they an eye sore and a cause for depression within the neighborhoods that they are in, more importantly they do not help stimulate the economy, which is really needed right now. A homeowner living in a home who is paying their mortgage are contributing in many ways: They are paying interest to the banks, who in turn invest their money in the national markets T... 08/28/2010

OK. I made a choice and this was the new auto I decided to buy....... For those of you that read my blogs, you'll know that I posted a blog last week asking everyone's opinion on a good, economical car to buy that is great on gas mileage. I had currently owned a Prius and was looking at other manufacturer's autos also. Well, I guess I just caught the dealership on a slow day because they offered me a REALLY good deal. And each time I said I would think about it and come back another time, they kept adding something in or reducing the price in order for me to buy the car right there and then. Well, I decided to buy another Prius!!  I bought the 2010 model. I bought the package with the sun roof, solar panel, leather seats and built-in navigation (I HAVE to have that for showing property ... 08/25/2010

So I think I may look into getting a new car - any suggestions from my Active Rain Peeps? I currently have a 2007 Toyota Prius.  I love my car! However, I think I may start to look for a new vehicle.  My obvious choice is to get a new Prius. But I'm always open to suggestions from people with insight and/or experience with their own vehicles. Any great or bad experiences you've had? Any great deals, or new 2011 vehicles you've read about that sounds amazing? I would like to stick to a Hybrid, but I'm still open to something that gets GREAT gas mileage. Let me know what you think. Thanks! Los Angeles Homes For Sale Los Angeles Condos For Sale Los Angeles Townhomes For Sale   08/22/2010

Got an accepted offer on an REO property for my buyers.....with a pleasant surprise.... We wrote a good, strategic offer for my buyers on a bank-owned REO property.  We got a counter which was do-able, and signed off. And then, as customary, we received the bank addendum.  We read that with a fine tooth comb, and nothing that is out of the ordinary for a bank addendum.  (VERY important to read the bank addendum carefully, multiple times) However, there was an additional addendum entitled "Notice Regarding Buyer's Right to Select Escrow Agent and/or Title Insurer" About a year ago, the laws changed in the state of California, specifically CA AB 957 - Buyer's Choice Act -  that mandate the buyers to have the right to choose escrow and title.  I wrote a blog about this a while ago. I was p... 08/13/2010

Lupe Soto Realtor in Studio City HABLO ESPANOL assisting buyers and investors own real estate in STUDIO CITY. Are you looking for fixer uppers, bank owned, short sales, probate sales, regular sales, you have found the right place.  Free home search tool.  When YOU are ready please contact Lupe to schedule showing. Easy home search with results! STUDIO CITY CONDOS & TOWNHOUSES FOR SALE click hereincludes full property address, photos, description and more STUDIO CITY HOMES FOR SALE, click herewith full property address, photos, description and moreFREE HOME SEARCH TOOL - ANY AREA - ANY PRICE - ANYTIME 24/7, click here   Lupe Soto Realtor will help you locate the home or condo you wish to purchase and then help you own it!     08/01/2010

Economists were expecting a month-over-month increase of 5.5. The National Association of Realtors reported yesterday that sales of previously owned homes rose an unexpected 7.6%. That continued a yearlong rise in housing activity and marked the highest number of sales recorded since November of last year. It also follows economic news signaling the possibility that the United States may be on the economic mend. Government spending has helped spur factory production. A rising stock market and an improving job market have led to greater consumer optimism, which has stimulated spending. Further reports on housing and durable goods orders, due out later this week, will likely give consumers even more reason to feel confident that a recovery is at hand. Zillow noted last week, U.S. homeowne... 05/26/2010

Some people say we're now entering a bad real estate market. I disagree. I think we're entering a great market. A bad one is when amateur investors become real estate experts and they bid up prices. They make housing expensive for homeowners, often adding little to no value to the property. They simply muddy the waters and make a valuable investment, a home, expensive. It's the amateurs who come late to the party -- and who eventually donate their money back to the professionals. What I'm saying is: Now is the time to turn pro. Now is not the time to be an amateur. It's the amateurs who jump in when the market is hot. It's the professional who comes in when it's cooling down. Get the message? When the red-hot bull market of real estate was beginning to overheat, you didn't have time to ... 05/19/2010