When I had mentioned earlier, in part 1 ,that I was institutionalized, I did not mean for it to be taken in the negative.  There is a lot to be said that is positive about the way I conduct our business and the relational and ethical approach I have.  I am not without my lines in the sand.  I have certain standards that I will never compromise that are carryovers from the way in which I was raised and the last 17 years with the LAPD.

Some are thinking, all cops are bad.  You should never operate in absolutes.  Those that do are having to live a terrible existence.  There is good and bad in every field and endeavor in life.  You probably have some crappy family members.  But for the most part all of the rest are fantastic.  That is no different in Law Enforcement.  Good and Bad - With the way Internal Affairs operates, the bad get cut short most of the time.  If mistakes and errors are of the mind and not of the heart, most people under the scrutiny of discipline weather fairly well.  But if someone is walking out there in the position of a Law Enforcement Official, trusted with deadly force and in a position of power, that has a black heart, stand by.  He or she will be judged most harshly.  There is no secret curtain or "cone of silence".  Maybe in the past.  But today it is very difficult to have secrets.  The point is this, how much do you Truly trust someone?  Enough to lose your family over?  Lose your job?  Risk losing your only means of support?  At least in my mind, no act of malice or blackness of heart is worth any of those losses.  But again, I am still in the game and am thankful for everything on a daily basis.

I have brought 12-16 hour days into our Real Estate Business that is headquartered in the Santa Clarita Valley.  I get up at 0400 and do my "road-work", returning home to shower and check what requests have come in and have to be worked on.  I then go to my book and write blogs about what struck me on the preceding day or maybe something came to mind during my walk or shower.  I am out the door and at the office, usually the first there in the early AM.  I go over any requests that are pending and make sure that everyone has been answered and no question is left hanging.

I used to leave my office door open.  Not anymore - Not that I don’t like the company, but people that are full and hate and rage bother me.  I like positive.  I just never want it to be said that I was unwilling to assist someone with a personal problem.  That is fine and I do that as a Peer Counselor with the LAPD - Still.  But, I don’t need someone coming in my office complaining as why I have business and they do not.  My response is the same, maybe you should work a little harder…  The ones that complain the most usually roll into the office about 1100am, get a vendor to take them to lunch, and then roll out about 2pm.  And they are wondering the whole time why they are not busy. 

The worth ethic reflects a Agent’s drive to gather more business.  The Relational ethic - reflects the agents ability to keep that business and have it grow in a referral form.

Paris was speaking with a couple of other agents in the industry yesterday.  I overheard them ask her, "So how is business"?  Paris said, "business is fine."  Then one of ladies started with how incredibly busy they are, how they have so many buyers and so many sellers, how they can believe we are "just fine" when they are about to be "number 1".  I never do that!!!  I don’t care how much I have been blessed with, I never want to be responsible for someone else falling down.  I want to uplift, I want to help that person be positive, not use "B.S." to tear them down.  But I guess that is what the "industry" creates.  I refuse to have that "crap" grow inside me or our business.

I really like it when others do well.  I have no problem with someone being ranked higher than me.  In fact, I don’t notice.  I just focus "like a laser" on what we are working on and who we are working with.  Customer service and client care from a Law Enforcement perspective - Giving unselfishly - Wanting to play it forward - and being able to fire 6 shots in 3.5 seconds, two right, two left, and two right - all touching in the 10 rings.  -CONNOR with HONOR

Please see our new - Real time - Market Snapshots compiled and using the actual data from the source, the Local Boards of Realtors.  For Cities within the Santa Clarita Valley just type in the city followed by a 911.com. EX:  www.Valencia911.com, www.StevensonRanch911.com, www.CanyonCountry911.com etc… 

REMAX of Santa Clarita - is indeed somewhere we are very proud to work.  Even with being Independent Contractors, there is a huge amount of power and ability that gets transferred to our client by merely the relationship we have with REMAX and our Client with us.

Doubt it?  Well we have been involved in Law-Suits where our clients were not given full disclosure prior to escrow closing.  Time passes and they call Paris or I.  They feel comfortable even after escrow closes - Due to our stressing the importance of keeping an open door with all of our clients.  Befriending almost all of them at some point during the transaction.  So they call and we jump to action.  Digging through the files, making phone calls and speaking with attorneys.  The attorney’s that REMAX uses are not your run of the mill, garden variety, Attorney’s.

REMAX of Santa Clarita and REMAX of Valencia happen to use Steven Spierer - Who is one of the best Real Estate attorney’s I have ever encountered. How many have I encountered.  With my 17 years with the LAPD and being a court qualified expert in several subjects, I have crossed path’s with a few.  When we have people that need an attorney he is at the top of my list of 1. 

The deal is you can find cheaper.  But there is usually a lot riding on a Real Estate Transaction gone bad.  I want the best for my clients, because that is how we run our own business.  Steven Spierer will give you that security that you want.  He will also provide the best legal services available.  I can attest to this because as Realtors we are not impervious to the frivolous lawsuit.  Attacks on our character or other in our industry that are wanting what we have worked so hard for, cheating for a piece - It amazes me, who used to think I had seen it all.  It has happened to us in the past and I am not saying it will not happen to us in the future.  But from what I know from our own past experience, Steven Spierer is the best because of our own personal victory.  He can and will do the same for you.

I started this blog to speak about a new 911 engine that I have been working on that has each and every city in the Santa Clarita Valley listed with the city name and the 911 following with the .com.  Have at it.  I have color coded the 10 sole and separate URL"s with the particular cities that they represent.  How does it work? 

OK, you live in Saugus CA.  You want to check on what is going on in your neighborhood and need information. All you do is go to www.Saugus911.com and enter your information and address with some other information into the form, in about 30 minutes the computer will generate, with data obtained from the source, a Real Time Market Snapshot of your home with the others in the area.  Comparing apples with apples is the best approach when it comes to Real Estate.  So there you have it.  I suppose the example I should have used because of the title of this post would have been www.CanyonCountry911.com.  You can have at that one as well!!!  Like I said, any one of the cities in the Santa Clarita Valley.

There is also a Community report and school form there where you can compare zip codes with zip codes.  You can also just check an single particular zip code and not do the comparison by just entering one zip code.

When it comes for searching for Real Estate in Canyon Country which is located within the Beautiful Santa Clarita Valley, you have to go no further.  I have put together a data feed that has its origination from the Actual Southland Regional Association of Realtors and its Multiple Listing Service.  This is the arena that all agents have to input their Listings into as soon as the pen is put to paper - Or at least within 48 hours of being signed.

You will notice that you can view the properties for sale and get all of the information necessary to make a decision whether or not you are going to want to move forward in looking at it.  But even before that you need to answer a lot of questions regarding price, market, your situation, the new credit requirements and the like.  

Give us a call and take part in out 40 minute market update at out office, 25101 The Old Road, Santa Clarita CA, 91381.  You will be glad you did.  We will cover a lot of topics and everything that has to do with the current situation in the Real Estate market.  And of course as we always say - There is never any obligation, nor high-pressure or closers that will work you.  We will educate you and catch you up to date with the current status of events even if you are a veteran home buyer.  Rules, laws, and other Real Estate related items changes on a daily basis, it is nice to be made aware on how that could effect you.

Back to Canyon Country Homes for Sale, I have provided three links below.  The First is a Virtual Gateway that has every listing that is on the market LIVE in Canyon Country California.  I have split the gateway into three parts that are price divisions.  If you do not see a listing that you saw somewhere else on line, on the link or the Feed that I am obtaining from the actual Board of Realtors - Then I would suggest that particular property is no longer available or might never have been.  Give me a call and I will do the RE-Con on it. 661.400.1720.

Click on this Link Banner to go to the Virtual Gateway that has all of the Canyon Country Active Listings posted for your review.

If you are interested in having the search curtailed and viewing only Foreclosed, REO (Real Estate Owned - Bank Owned) and other properties that are in various stages and types of distress, click on this link bar.  You will find why our being members of 4 different Boards of Realtors Benefits you, our client.

Finally, click here to search at your leisure, I have a search engine that uses a map interface and should be almost real time.  Have a look see and you will also notice that we don’t require any information to search all day long and get all of the information - That is how we run our ship!

If you have never purchased a home before there are several things in which you must be made aware:  whether Santa Clarita Real Estate or other areas in which Paris911 Serves:

1.  It is not "normal" to pay your agent a commission in order to have them help you find a home and write the offer.
As a rule of thumb our commission, when representing buyers, is paid by the Seller.  That is the price of admission to having owned real estate and wanting to sell it.  As a seller you will bear the responsibility of paying both Agents commissions.  The one that you have chosen to represent you and market, subsequently bringing the other agent and buyer to your home and successfully closing escrow.  You also pay the Other agent that brings the buyer.  In most markets this fee is 6%, which is allotted 3% per agent or side of the transaction.  A seller will also pay their own fees as they relate to title and escrow.  Usually one (1%) percent of the sales price for each fee - These are set fees and have little wiggle room.  So rough numbers has a seller paying 8% total to sell a home without considerations and discounts.

2.  Your fee’s as a buyer or closing costs are going to be about three things:  
      A.  Your part of Title fees (Usually 1 % of the purchase price or there abouts)
      B.  Your part of Escrow fees (Usually 1 % of the purchase price (this is an estimate))
      C.  Your Lender’s fees (the origination fee for your loan - Appraisal - Document preparation - The list goes on and on depending on the Lender and their Hunger)

3.  You can pay your closing costs in a few different ways:
      A.  Cash
      B.  Check
      C.  Borrowing the money from a relative or friend
      D.  Having the closing costs incorporated into the loan.
      E.  Have the Seller Pay the closing costs.

Let me bring your attention to #3-D, "having the closing costs incorporated into the loan".  This is by far the most popular option for most new home buyers.  IN A HOT MARKET.  OTHER WISE KNOWN AS A SELLERS MARKET. Understanding that for every $10,000.00 financed your payment will change in the area of $50.00 to $75.00 a month - You have a decision to make regarding the hard money you have saved in the bank - Which, for that matter, is not very easy to save and having the closing costs incorporated into the loan.

Another option regarding closing costs is, #3 -E, "having the seller pay the closing costs".  This option is what is the most prevalent at this time in this market and date of this post.  This is a Buyers Market without a doubt.  So in this market you make an offer of let us say $300,000.00 and then ask the seller to pay your closing costs which rough numbers would be 3%, or $9,000.00.  You would still Borrow $300,000.00 to purchase the home, the seller would then clear $291,000.00 (300,000(purchase price) - 9,000(your closing costs) = 291,000(Seller’s Net). 

We have to explain and stress the fact that as a buyer your don’t pay our commission, the reason that this chaps my hide and is so stressed upon by Paris and I is because we have had a huge amount of clients in our office that did get conned into paying their agent an additional fee when just buying a home.  Usually their first home and thereby that agent made more than their "own fair share".  

What if you were working with an agent that had a group of 17 other top producing agents that were holding over 70% of the buyers that are in the market for Real Estate - I’m talking in the market and wanting to buy NOW!  Whether as first time buyers, moving up, investors, reallocators or any other possible scenario that you can imagine.  I would think it would be a plus to hitch your trailer to that Agent and the group that he or she is a member of. 

Enter Stage Left - T.R.E.A.T. - Top Real Estate Agents Together.  Website and communal Blog is coming in the future.  Here you will be able to list your home with an agent that is part of this exclusive network of Top Producing Agents from some of the largest Real Estate Companies in the Santa Clarita Valley.  Names like RE/MAX, Realty Executives, Keller Williams, and others. The group has an exclusive buyer program where we are able to bring sellers and "pre-approved" buyers together in very short time periods. 

This will become a business model within the Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate community that will be envied for a long time to come.  Check back often to see how it will develop and the success stories related to hitching yourself to a T.R.E.A.T. Agent on the Network. - CONNOR with HONOR

Hey Gang…  I am waiting until the numbers are tabulated with the 3 respective Boards of Realtors that Paris and I are members of.  We have memberships at the San Fernando Valley Association of Realtors - Santa Clarita Valley is included in that one.  We are members of the Ventura County Board of Realtors - Associate and Full Multiple Listing Members.  Also we have our membership at the Antelope Valley Board of Realtors.  This means that we have the local specific search results and the access to the listings that those boards have on the Multiple Listing Service. 

There are not very many agents that have multiple areas that they represent.  Some say they work in different areas - But very few would spend the money and time to join and learn about all of the different variables that different geographical markets have to offer.  There are huge differences between the market in Thousand Oaks when compared with Palmdale.  Looking in Los Angeles when compared with Stevenson Ranch is also a huge difference in what you can find for your dollar. 

I read, digest, re-read, and learn on a daily basis the numbers, statistics and what the current market conditions are for each of these specific areas and the cities that they are composed them.  It is like eating well balanced meals.  It makes you healthy and complete.  Working on the numbers and writing these blogs that have to do with all of these different market conditions - makes me a much more complete Realtor.

All My Best and I wish to thank those that have allowed me to earn their Trust and eventually their business - I would hope to have the same opportunity with you - Looking for a Realtor - I would like you to interview me!

There are a lot of resources out there in the world wide web where you can look for homes and real estate that are for sale.  But where do you search? Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, Google, Oodle, Craigs List, Google earth, Yahoo or elsewhere?

Might I suggest another option.  There is one true feed that is Area Dependent and where Licensed Realtors have to join in order to Sell properties.  That is the Local Board of Realtors.  There is a system in place where every property listed for sale is entered into.  This service and information is probably pretty elementary (so forgive me if you already know this) - it is Called the Multiple Listing Service.  Depending on where you are searching for homes and on who’s site, will depend on how often their site is updated.  Sometimes the larger Home Search Engine Companies are a bit behind on their updates due to the huge amount of traffic that they have.  In some cases bigger is not better!

I have searched for the past 7 years, since theINTERNET was something that has grown from a small sapling to the entire world being coverd with trees that have a root system that communicates over all distances at the speed of light.  I found a service that is updated several times a day and that has the simplicity of use.

Every property listed for sale as far as the map covers is on this search engine - It is tied directly to the Local Boards of Realtors and to the Multiple Listing Services.  Here is another bit of difference between the way we operate our search engine and the way others in this industry might operate theirs.  We don’t want any of your personal information to search for homes.  I have said this on previous posts and will continue preaching it until I can get my point to all of the world.  I want you to use us not because I am sending you stuff and using high pressure sales tactics to get you to purchase a home.  I want you to use me because you think "Connor with Honor" is the best person for the job of representing you!  Here is what you will find by going to any one of our specific search sites.  Enjoy the ride and Good Hunting!

February 9^th, 2008, save the date. If you play poker, or want to attend one of the years premier events, this is a fund raiser for Canyon High School Basketball Team, then you need to RSVP. Only being advertised 2 days we are filling up quick. So come one and come all and let us make this an event that the kids will remember forever.

Chef Cameron McClean from Wild Honey Catering will be doing the eats. He is utterly fantastic and has catered for us at one of our premier events when I resigned from 17 years from the LAPD. He is fantastic and my guests have utilized his services since. You will be amazed with his talent, culinary skills, and his attention to every detail. So give him a shot when you have a catering assignment to dispatch and he will make it happen for you. Cameron McClean – Hurley72@tmail.com – 661.312.1245.

Ok, now onto the Texas Hold-um tournament: This is a fantastic opportunity for you to let you hair down (I won’t be, I have none.). Bring the family and let your talent be shown with Texas holdup and other games that will all be vamped to make the Canyon High School Basketball Boosters better for the kids. Give Wayne Edwards a call 661.478.5797 or log onto www.HoopShooters.net to check out the festivities.

CONNOR with HONOR.

I think we have you covered. Let us know when we can help you!!! Whether your request is within the Santa Clarita Real Estate Community, Antelope Valley Real Estate, San Fernando Valley Real estate, Conejo Valley Real Estate or Elsewhere, we have your six covered.

MLS "Agency" specific search sites:
Marines:    http://paris911.com/911/usmc911.asp

Air Force:    http://paris911.com/911/usaf911.asp

Army:        http://paris911.com/911/army911.asp

Navy:        http://paris911.com/911/navy911.asp

Coast Guard:    http://paris911.com/911/uscg911.asp

LAPD:        http://paris911.com/911/lapd911.asp

LASD:        http://paris911.com/911/lasd911.asp

OCSD:        http://paris911.com/911/ocsd911.asp

LAFD:        http://paris911.com/911/lafd911.asp

LACoFD:    http://paris911.com/911/lacofd911.asp

PSR:        http://paris911.com/911/lapsr911.asp

CHP:        http://paris911.com/911/chp911.asp

Teacher:    http://paris911.com/911/teacher911.asp

SCV:        http://paris911.com/911/scv911.asp

Relocation:    http://paris911.com/911/relocation911.asp

SearchRE:    http://paris911.com/911/searchre911.asp

Informational Forums and Forms:
GNNP:        http://paris911.com/911/thegood_neighbor.asp

Renter911:    http://paris911.com/911/rentals.asp

REIS911:    http://paris911.com/911/reis911.asp

Tract Codes:    http://paris911.com/911/tract.asp

Foreclosures:    http://paris911.com/911/foreclosure.asp

Blogs:
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Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate:                    Santa Clarita Real Estate and Beyond:
http://howdoupt.blogspot.com                http://paris911.wordpress.com

RE/MAX of Santa Clarita:
http://paris911offer.blogspot.com

RE/MAX of Valencia:
http://paris911.blogspot.com

Real Estate in Valencia
http://paris911realestate.blogspot.com

Homes for Sale in Santa Clarita
http://paris911-macivor.blogspot.com

REMAX of Santa Clarita:
http://vanenciarealestate.blogspot.com

REMAX of Valencia:
http://paris911-realtor.blogspot.com

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Santa Clarita Real Estate:
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Valencia Real Estate:
http://paris911.typepad.com/valencia_real_estate