The Best Real Estate Deal? Where do you get those?

June 17th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, Flipping Houses No Comments »

There has been a lot of talk about where you can get a better Real Estate Deal.  I think a more important question is where in the heck to you get a good Real Estate Agent?

My dad always used to say that in life you need three things:

  • GOD
  • A Good Doctor
  • A Good Attorney

I would add a good Realtor as well.  Not that we are as educated or qualified as any one of those three.  But I would say that being able to use another’s money(the banks) to purchase an item that will gain value, more so than typical earning ability, that is something that we want to keep an eye on and have someone that is sharp representing us.  Sharp, not like a spoon, but like a Samurai sword that has a blade that has been folded over 300 times, sharp.

When you are purchasing Real Estate, you might be doing it for the Tax break that is important no doubt.  But in the long run what is going to happen?  You will be making money.

Just ask you parents what they paid for their home.  Mine paid $7,000.00.  Today it is only work $75,000, but that is in a small town in the Mid West.  I have heard of some of the homes in Southern California selling for the low teens.  Today the owners have to bear the burden of that property being worth over 1 million dollars.  Even today in this depressed Real Estate market. 

Not such a bad return.  Even when the market was very hot recently - we saw housing prices increase thousands of dollars a month.

You now have a chance to buy near the bottom of the market.  Interest rates are low and the house prices are on the decline.  That will leave you in a fantastic position, one that will not return for several years.  So you might want to take advantage of that.

With all my best - CONNOR MacIVOR - The Realtor that keeps you at the center. 

Let me do the hunting.  Let me set you up with a search for properties that would make good investments.  Let me work the numbers and speak with you about properties that cash flow themselves.  We are members of 4 boards of Realtors - I am sure we can find something in one of those databases that does that very thing.  Make you money.  My Best…. 

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Opening up the old brain bucket

June 7th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, CONNOR with HONOR, RE/MAX of Santa Clarita, RE/MAX of Valencia No Comments »

So, as you probably know, about 1 year ago, I met Jeff Turner(Dark alley’s OK) via Martin Rodriguez(Play it forward Lender), and as I have written before, they had opened up my mind.  If you really want to get somewhat of a good grip on the Real Estate Marketing and promotion of your brand and yourself and services to your clients all you have to do is read some of the places where Jeff is and has written about the INTERNET and other various subjects.

www.Tinyurl.com

This resource is something that is wonderful - You need to try this.  If you are a active Blogger in the Real Estate community or in some other environment - Then this could be what you have been looking for to keep your re-directs and Hyper linking fresh and nevou. 

There is not an attempt to mislead - Just an attempt to change it up.  Keep something that might have become stale - and make it fresh.  Kind of like putting hard bread in the Microwave - It makes it fresh again. (as with the bread - this is to a point, after the repeated microwaving - it becomes like rubber and bounces)

So ladies and gentlemen - Some others that are working in the Real Estate industry hate it when I do this - Give those precious secrets away to the competition.  Hogwash - All knowledge is out there, all you have to do it take hold of it as it passes you above your head.

Please enjoy this resource - It is kickin…

Don’t forget to see our mother site - www.Paris911.com - which equates to the tiny URL of:  http://tinyurl.com/57svhc

LOL - OK - Let me do a Tiny URL conversion with a couple more big ones so you can really see the result.  We have the Foreclosure Radar feed that we operate through our mother site and a few other places - Here is the regular address:  http://www.paris911.com/default.asp_Q_f_E_cpg_A_pg_E_Foreclosures Which became :  http://tinyurl.com/6988fm

A little better - Now - there could be a confidence issue with this resource - especially with the non-INTERNET folks - I don’t think that the "tiny URL" sounds threatening - But just be on the safe side - you can send a preview address:  http://preview.tinyurl.com/6988fm

That will give your visitor - a pre screening of where this link is going to end up.  "Cover your Eyes Ethel!!!" 

Where does that leave us - In the know - REMAX of Santa Clarita and REMAX of Valencia - coupled with the Paris911 Team - We have your six covered.  That is a good thing…  Don’t forget to visit me on active rain!!! - What a neat resource!  http://www.activerain.com/blogs/paris911 (regular) : http://tinyurl.com/6neuo3 (tiny). -Connor with HONOR - I am off to Twitter this Blog post - That is something that I had my mind opened up to recently by, you guessed it - JT with www.RealEstateShows.com or in a tiny fashion: http://tinyurl.com/5z9nev

Twitter Feed Location where I am going to make my first attempt to post this blog:  http://tinyurl.com/6hgtck  

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Foreclosures by Zip Code - Santa Clarita and Beyond

June 6th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, Foreclosures, Foreclosures and More No Comments »

If you have not tried it yet - and you are looking for distressed, auctioned, bank owned, corporate owned, or repo’d properties for sale or in some other configuration - Then look no further.  The Paris911 Team at REMAX of Santa Clarita and REMAX of Valencia want to bring you the following resource so you can see for yourself what is going on in your neighborhood or somewhere you want a great deal on a home.

Just click on the tab and you will be transported to a page that is all about The Paris911 Team and a Foreclosure Service.  You will be able to input zip codes - But you will only get street names and cities etc. - To obtain all of the info, due to in some cases other brokers having possession of the listings, you will need to click and send.  No worries though - I am the only one that gets this notification - and if you know me I am nowhere around the "high pressure" element.  In fact I write about how that is something I despise.

So sit back and let your fingers do the walking with regard to Foreclosures in the Santa Clarita Valley or some other area around California.  If I am a member of the board where you are searching (Check here for where The Paris911 Team personally works)- I can get you all the data and send it back to you within a few days (a bit overwhelmed here…LOL - Which is good).  But I will pay you the courtesy of a notification that I received your inquiries. - CONNOR with HONOR

Our Foreclosure Radar - The Paris911 Team

Don’t Forget to check on the Updates on Mom or on our Fantastic Daily Updated News Feeds!!!

http://paris911news.com - For News Updated Daily
http://Paris911.com - Our Mother Site

Why work out before you get inside??

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Embracing Technology - Or each Other?

June 6th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, Advertising 1 Comment »

We all have priorities and we should always hold true to them.  But I would throw caution to the wind and make sure that you review the list of things that you embrace and the things you are being true too!

It is too easy to become distracted and to not do your part in the "play it forward" realm on this planet.  To walk a bit too fast, so much so, you don’t have time to smell the roses or even the coffee.

Ultimately - It might not be considered "vogue" to contemplate the time after we leave this world.  But it does deserve a bit of thought.

With as much Honor as I can muster - Connor MacIVOR - REMAX of Santa Clarita/REMAX of Valencia and The Paris911 Team.

Don’t forget to see our new listing book presentation - http://connormacivor.listingbook.com

It is one of the most wonderful sources for great Real Estate Information anywhere, please stop by and say hi to Mother - www.Paris911.com

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Active Rain and The Paris911 Team at REMAX of Santa Clarita gets a Face Lift!

June 5th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain No Comments »

It is no secret that when it comes to Real Estate networking sites Active Rain is tops.  Enter Stage left - Jeff Turner - and his brilliant mind - I cannot believe that he is not partly responsible for making Active Rain as strong as it has become.

I blog - and in seconds I am hitting the search engines in very obscure places - that is where I want to be.  Of course it is nice to be where the top few are on search and keyword terms - But to be everywhere as well - That is what the long tail search is all about.

Utterz - Twitter - UTube - Active Rain - Mobile Blogger - Flickr - It is all fantastic and wonderful for our business.

 

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Santa Clarita Real Estate News with Remax of Valencia

May 21st, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, Foreclosures, Foreclosures and More, REMAX website No Comments »

Real Estate News - Mainstream Media, the blitz to serve a lot of different masters, we have all seen it before and we are seeing it now.  There are a lot of sources out there for news - When you are looking to do something within the Real Estate Realm.  Some agents abandon the website, they abandon the giving of free, no obligation information.  Dare I say it has been known to happen that too much information might sway you from what you have been told by some of the, not so honest, in the Real Estate industry.

So, where is The Paris911 Team at this point - www.Paris911.com - that is a cracking, very pretty, huge amounts of information, no holds barred, super duper, Real Estate Website.

How about www.HomeValue911.com - This is where we have housed all of our Home Value Widgets - They are each feed from the 4 boards of Realtors that we are full members of.  You will obtain true market value on the properties you are interested in, your own or another.  Buyers and Sellers have a great resource.

Local Santa Clarita Websites - Each city in the Santa Clarita Valley followed by a 911.com, I have placed custom widgets that draw their data real time, directly from the source, the local board of Realtors.  Try it, an example would be - www.Valencia911.com, www.Saugus911.com, www.StevensonRanch911.com, or www.Castaic911.com

News - Real Estate Related news, whether you are interested in the Santa Clarita Valley or somewhere else in the United States of America, having great news as a resource is truly a benefit.  News written by the experts from the various Real Estate Fields.

Here is the best way - I had this built recently because I am all about information and the dissemination of - www.Paris911news.com

Paris911 News.com is a fantastic resource that has a lot of our engines and our "full disclosure" way.  REMAX of Santa Clarita and REMAX of Valencia are who and we are The Paris911 TeamConnor with HONOR

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Are Pre-Foreclosures a better deal? REMAX of Valencia and The Paris911 Team explains…

May 16th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, Advertising, Foreclosures, Foreclosures and More, RE/MAX of Santa Clarita, RE/MAX of Valencia No Comments »

You are all about capturing that ’smoking’ hot deal.  You have been around at work and have heard what all of the locker room gossip is about.  Hey so and so got a smokin hot deal with a foreclosure.  Where did they get such a deal - From www.MoreThanForeclosures.com.  Ok, sorry I could not resist.  The questions that you need to ask is how much fat is there still on that property that is on the market.  What does the seller look like, with regard to hardship?  How much is the bank going to lose if the Short Sale sells for the current asking price?  What about the agent - Has the agent had experience with short sales?  How is the agents reputation amongst their peers?  

With short sales, was the agent responsible for the taking advantage of other agents with regard to the Bank’s agreement on commission?  (this one hits home)  We work hard on these keeping time lines and frames - But we feel that everything should be 50/50 - I wish everyone did that is in this industry.  But if that was the case Paris and I would have a chance of losing you as our clients.  Whew - I suppose I am glad it is what it is!  Don’t Forget to see what is going on at http://connormacivor.remax.com and http://parismacivor.remax.com.

You can find great deals on homes at any stage in the foreclosure process – preforeclosure, the foreclosure auction, or post-auction (from banks and investors) – but it’s often a case of the early bird getting the juiciest worm. By purchasing the property directly from the homeowner in preforeclosure, you reap several benefits, including the following:
•           A lower price, because you’re not competing against other investors in open bidding.
•           An opportunity to inspect the home, because you can make your offer conditional upon the home passing inspection. (When you buy at auction, the homeowners may not let you inside prior to the auction to inspect the home.)
•           Assurance that you are buying the home and not just a mortgage. When you bid at a foreclosure auction, you are buying a mortgage, not a home. If you bid on a second mortgage by mistake and do not also buy the first mortgage, you could lose your stake in the home and any money you paid for that mortgage. Buying directly from the homeowner assures you that you are buying the home.
•           Security that you won’t lose the home in redemption. If homeowners have the right in your state to redeem their home (buy it back) after the sale, you could lose it to the homeowners or to another investor (working with the homeowners) even if you win the auction. If the homeowners sell to you, they have no right to redeem. 
You can find homes in preforeclosure by reading the foreclosure notices every week they are published. By law, foreclosure notices must be published for a number of consecutive weeks prior to the sale in a local newspaper or county legal news publication. Check with your county’s register of deeds to find out in which publication(s) the foreclosure notices appear, and then subscribe to at least one of those publications.
To reduce the competition even more, you may want to consider learning about preforeclosures even earlier in the process – before the foreclosure notice or notice of default is published and becomes public knowledge. To obtain early notice, try the following techniques:
•           Network with attorneys who work with distressed homeowners in bankruptcy, foreclosure, divorce, and probate. These attorneys often have to help their clients liquidate assets.
•           Network with other real estate and mortgage professionals.
•           Tell everyone you know that you are an investor who purchases homes for cash. Better yet, create your own business card and give it to everyone you meet. People will know they can turn to you if they ever need to sell in a hurry.
•           Treat distressed homeowners with compassion and a sense of fairness and do a good job rehabbing the home. By treating people right and doing good work, you earn a reputation that speaks well of you. People who need to sell their home in a hurry will come to you rather than another investor who has a less stellar reputation.
•           Advertise that you buy houses for cash. You can post an ad in the local newspaper and hang flyers and signs around town (assuming this is acceptable in the area where you want to buy homes). Before you advertise, however, make sure you have the financing and resources in place to handle several properties at once.
Remember to choose your investments wisely. You won’t get every house you see, nor should you want every house you see. You can afford to be picky and patient – wait for the right opportunity to come your way. And do your homework to make sure it is the right opportunity for you.  Ralph R. Roberts, GRI, CRS is an experienced real estate investor and consultant and the author of Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons).

It has been said that there are more than one way to skin a cat.  With the Short sales that have been mentioned, it depends on whether or not you can get a better deal.  With foreclosures it has been our experiences that it can go either way.  It depends on where the property is related to selling price and what is owed to the bank.  It also depends on how the hardship package is put together, and whether or not when the bank gets to the short sale folder, is there anything missing?

Does the agent that is involved know what he or she is doing?  Are they part time agents?  Do they have something else they are doing to supplement their income, instead of throwing all of their eggs into one basket? 

If you are going to approach the steps of a short sale, which is also known as a preforeclosure - Then be ready for a battle.  Remember, that most agents have not, or are not clear on the requirements so the file, once it appears, on the desk of the officer at the mitigation department of any bank, it is processed without any delay.  If it is missing something, what then?  It goes back to the bottom of the file and the Mitigation officer continues to work the real foreclosures.

Please check out the www.HomeValue911.com website and make yourself at home.  You can also take any city in the Santa Clarita Valley and put a 911 following it then have that followed up by a .com.

There is not better way to discover the comparable value of your home, or a home that you are interested in.  Don’t forget to search for homes at www.Paris911.comCONNOR with HONOR.

santa clarita real estate - don't get stung

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The Paris911 Team Expands once again at REMAX of Valencia

May 16th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, CONNOR with HONOR, Saugus Real Estate 1 Comment »

We have had several growth spurts in the last 10 years since we became Realtors, this one is a bit different, because between 2000 and 2006 it was hard not to make a good living as a Real Estate Agent, or some other vendor that has their place in the Real Estate Services community.

This time it is different.  It is true that the amount of escrows that are closing have diminished.  It is also true that in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles area, Ventura County, Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita Valley that we have experienced a huge influx of Foreclosures, REO’s, Short sales and other types of distressed properties.  How many?  Check out our Foreclosure Radar at www.MoreThanForeclosures.com and enter a zip code - You will be amazed at how many are in your neighborhood - If you are a buyer or seller this is the best information obtainable and the best thing it is related to the current Real Estate market.

During this time when others are falling hand over fist with regard to their business.  Our hearts go out to them.  We are always willing to help in these times and have an open door policy for buyers agents.  We know that our product is superior in regards to follow up, reputation, customer service, and the other necessary parts of Relational Based Real Estate that have made The Paris911 Team a success.

Our full time Administrative Office manager is ready to make the leap with The Paris911 Team.  So, in order to keep my flow - Paris and I have not separated me from the Waiting Room with our Office Manager and I have made my way down the floor and do my work from Suite 215.  It is not a show piece - But with the offices in REMAX of Santa Clarita and REMAX of Valencia, being commodity’s, this will do until a office with a view becomes available.

I will be able to keep our INTERNET marketing working 24/7 and our Listings new and fresh - Calls will abound in a space where I don’t have to hold my voice down.  Did I mention that My extension will change - We are going to keep the current ones - But I will have a new one in this office - Forwarding all of my calls to my cellular so I am always available for any of you out there.

Just recently we did a wonderful thing and placed the Real Estate disclosure market, without the need for personal information, at one of our sister sites.  I have also attached a portal to each home for sale in the cities that compose the Santa Clarita Valley - Acton, Agua Dulce, Canyon Country, Valencia, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Newhall, and How about Saugus?

Here is the portal that I was speaking about for Saugus CA - Real Estate for sale just click on this link and you will be taken away to a portal that has every single active listing in the city of Saugus in the Santa Clarita Valley.  One more tool - www.Saugus911.com Home Value at its very best…

Many thanks and we hope to help serve you very soon - Connor With HONOR

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Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate Update - Paris911 - First Time Buyers - 04/05/2008

April 5th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, Foreclosures and More, Kinetic Knowledge, Real Estate Searches No Comments »

We represent a lot of first time buyers, some have said that we have a majority of first time buyers within the Real Estate community.  The reason we have been so fortunate to be representing first time buyers in this dreary market, is simple, we do not rush anyone into anything.  Furthermore, we do our best to explain every part of the home buyer process so there is no misunderstanding.  We make the first experience, whereas so many "firsts" are terrible memories, something memorable and of such a positive nature, you want to tell everyone you know about it.  So our referral business is booming as I type this entry.

What you will need to see if how many homes fit the criteria you are looking for.  Also you need not be steered from any, you need to have the ability to view all the available homes for sale so you can make the best informed decision.  We want to insure that your experience when buying any Real Estate is such that you feel safe and secure returning to us in the future when you have earned some equity and want to move up. 

Reporting from Castiac which is located at the north end of the Santa Clarita Valley off of the 5 freeway, currently as of 04052008, I am reporting that there are 268 active listings in Castaic CA - Average price being $552,683 and the Median price of $414,000.  www.Castaic911.com

How about Valencia - Valencia is currently reporting 451 active listings, with an average price of $555,806 and a median of $469,900.  If you are interested in Valencia check out www.Valencia911.com and give us 30 minutes and we will give you the "Market conditions" into your e-mail.

Stevenson Ranch Real Estate and its community is reporting a total of 124 listings for sale with its average price being $641,394 and the median price of $609,000.  www.StevensonRanch911.com

Newhall reporting in at 293 active listings, average price of $465K and the median price of $358K.  www.Newhall911.com

How about Canyon Country you might ask?  Well we are at a whopping 624 active listings on the market as of the date of this blog with a Average price of $479,452 and a Median Price of $375,000.  www.CanyonCountry911.com

Don’t forsake the Saugus - Here we go, the numbers tallied reveal 345 active on market listings, an Average price of $527,445 and a Median price of $479,000.  www.Saugus911.com

Agua Dulce is reporting 74 active listings, average price of $1,030,382 with a median price of $749,900.  www.AguaDulce911.com

Finally Acton - within the Santa Clarita Valley or at least within this particular board of Realtors - Reporting 161 Listings for sale as of the moment of this blog - Average price of $658,953 and a median price of $529,000.  www.Acton911.com

The numbers tell a tale and give us a call to find out more.  If you are a first time buyer, now is your time.  Let us walk you through the "home buying" experience with  no hassle and set up a Buyer/Investment meeting with regard to Real Estate.

We have access to three other boards of Realtors - with the property searches from the source - Give us a call today to find out how we can help make your dreams a reality.  Also check out our, no obligation, search engine - www.SearchRE911.com or www.SCV911.com, if you are a public official - I.E. Law Enforcement or Fire Department or Teachers, we have search engines for Real Estate curtailed just for you.  Have a look.  CONNOR with HONOR

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My Realtor.com Blog was “Featured” - Thanks!!!

March 25th, 2008 Connor MacIVOR Posted in Active Rain, RE/MAX of Santa Clarita, RE/MAX of Valencia, Realtor.com 4 Comments »

It is no secret that I am running several different blog platforms.  My Favorite is of course the one that is offered at www.KineticKnowledge.com, Chris and Kristen are fantastic and it is getting more hits each and every day - I am getting calls generated from the content alone and closing escrows as a result - But I am also writing a few posts daily about how I think Real Estate could be revamped and have a better reputation.  How getting a better reputation starts at the Agent level.  It is my mission to try to get the "high-pressure salesman" out of this business. 

I have just entered into one that is sponsored by my use of a Top Producer Website - Our sister site to Paris911.com - Top Producing 911.com.  Two fully independent websites you may ask?  Well that would simply equal more exposure for you and your property.

We have been 10% owners of the Santa Clarita Valley on Realtor.com for about 8 months.  We are flying two banner ads that redirect folks that are looking for homes to our mother site of www.Paris911.com.  We also have our membership upgraded to a Show-Cased Spot on www.Realtor.com.  That also draws much more attention to our listings that our clients trust us with.  No matter where you are in Southern California - We have probably sold a home there.  We have sold homes from Lake Elsinore, to Pomona - to Bakersfield - to Oxnard - and of course in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita Valley.  The way that I have consistently viewed our business is that if someone is going to trust us with their Real Estate - The least we can do it make ourselves available.  I love the job and the thrill of taking a listing that I have been trusted with and making it viewable to the masses all over this place we call Earth and Home!!!

So, no matter where - I can find and attract buyers to your home.  That is what it is all about.  80% of all buyers view homes that they are interested in on the INTERNET before calling an agent.  I want to capture that entire audience.  I want your home seen by all of those people that are looking for homes on the World Wide Web.  By the amount of hits we get at Paris911.com and on our Blog - The amount of fresh leads that are looking for homes to purchase - I know that I am doing my part of the job!  It is phenomenal and we are blessed.

Here is the e-mail I received when Realtor.com told us that I was featured as part of their Short Sale presentation and information.  I was Honored - CONNOR with HONOR - Why did we Choose RE/MAX of Santa Clarita and REMAX of Valencia to hang our hats? - Because they are the best tool in the box!
_________________________________________________________________

Dear Connor MacIvor,


Congratulations! Your blog article "Short Sale Experts - Divisions - Specialists"  has been featured on
Let’s Talk Real Estate which is featured on the REALTOR.com ™home page.

We hope you continue to be an active blogger on REALTOR.com as we know our consumers are very interested in reading about and commenting on fresh, dynamic and relevant subjects similar to what you posted earlier this week.

Some other topics we know folks are always interested in talking about include: Buying & Selling, Mortgage & Money, Opinion & Insights, Technology Talk, Community Profiles, Home Improvements (e.g. make ready for sale, post-move quick fixes) and REALTORS® Impacting Lives (e.g. community service, etc).

To learn more about the REALTOR.com™ Featured Blog service please check Let’s Talk Real Estate daily or add it to your RSS feed so you can keep up with what your fellow   REALTOR.com ™bloggers are saying.

 

Thanks for your contribution and feel free to email us with questions!

-Alex

REALTOR.com Blog Team

http://talk.realtor.com
____________________________________________________________


Watch where you point that thing - Its Loaded!

 

 

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