We have been blogging for quite some time now and have been able to convey the point of the "how we do thing".  Time after time, when we are interviewing clients we are finding out how "not to act".  They tell us stories that send chills up our spines.  I can compare it with some of the stories from the victims that I had interviewed with the LAPD.  I cannot imagine treating someone "another human being", in some of the ways that have been described to Paris and I, either in Real Estate, or when I was full time with the LAPD.

Blogging has its advantages, if you do any kind of search about Real Estate in Santa Clarita or a variation there of, including different cities with Real Estate, you will eventually come across Paris911, Connor MacIVOR, Paris MacIVOR, REMAX of Valencia, REMAX of Santa Clarita or our one of many blogs.  The point being that if you are looking for the subject matter experts when you are about to embark on a journey that will cost you more money than you have ever spent, or are looking to sell something that is the most expensive you have ever purchased, you must choose your representatives wisely.

Do your research, look around, kick the tires, even take it for a test drive.  But if you are faced with the "must move now" approach or the "impending doom" approach to the Real Estate Venue or market.  I would suggest running from out of your coat (Biblical).  Don’t stick around to see what else that agent has up their sleeve.

Enter Realtor.com and their blog solution, called a Featured Blog,  that is tied with one of our sister sites and Paris911.com, which I has aptly called TopProducing911.com.  You have information contained on the site that is specific to the producer of the site, a sister company of Realtor.com.  There is a lot of good information for you there if you are considering buying or selling a home.  You can also get back to Mother, Paris911.com.  Advantages, I know of no other agents that are running two fully independent Real Estate Websites and the other INTERNET marketing that we have in place.  That means much more exposure for your home and must more ready access to the homes on the market.

Give it a try and you will see.  Remember, we have several independent Real Estate Value engines so you as a seller can get a market snapshot of what is going on in your neighborhood and as a buyer can see where prices, were and where they are going.  Anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley - punch in the city preceded by a www. and then followed by the city name and a 911.com.  Example:  www.Valencia911.com or www.SantaClarita911.com - After you enter that URL in the browser bar- you will be taken to a place where the information obtain is real time, directly from the source and will get on your end in about 30 minutes.  It is a great resource for our clients, past, present and future and we look forward to earning your trust and eventually your business. - CONNOR with HONOR

Paris and I are with REMAX of Valencia for one reason and one reason only - We are indeed the biggest and sell more Real Estate than Anyone.  So, here is a Valencia Home that is over 2000 square feet for less than 400K  Here is the description:  

Built in 1975 with a lot size of 4525, you can’t go wrong, check out the media displays below and give us a call to view this wonderful property.  Connor 661.400.1720 or click on the talk with me now for more information to your left.  Searching for Real Estate in the Santa Clarita Valley and want access to the Real Live MLS from the Southland Association of Realtors?  Go to www.SearchRE91.com.    If you are looking to see how this property stacks up against others on the market, or want to view what is going on in your neighborhood or one of interest in the Santa Clarita Valley, type in the name of any Santa Clarita Valley City followed by a 911.com and you will be taken to a Market Snapshot Portal that The 911 Team has created.  Example:  www.Valencia911.com

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"If you give us 30 minutes we will deliver to you a Real Time, Direct From the Source, No Filtered Data, To Your E-mail, Market Snapshot for any city within the Santa Clarita Valley and Beyond."

That is almost as good as, "you give us 30 minutes and we will give you the world…".  Never the less, we want you to know that we have the best tools in the industry and we are all about playing it forward.  So if you live in one of the four areas that our full board of Realtor memberships reach, you can be assured that after you put the property information into the Specific HomeValue911 Snapshot block, in 30 minutes you will be looking at what is going on in that community.

This will generate data that is, as I said, directly from the source and you will be able to check out any and all perceived competition that you my have when you decide to put your home on the market with a 911 team member.  Whoa - The911Team - Gotta love that(an epiphany when writing a post).  OK, back to it, We have Santa Clarita Valley and the cities there in covered.

To access the Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate portal and get the results of "You give us 30 minutes and we will give you the Real Estate Snapshot", all you need to do is type in the name of one of the local cities followed by a 911.com - Example www.StevensonRanch911.com.

In order to keep up with our clients and their requests, I am currently working on HomeValue911.com which will have all portal widgets on the page with the 4 community reports - Another service by Top Producer Systems and my friends at LinkUSystems and LinkURealty.  Top producer produces the Market Snapshot - I program the data - LinkUSystems and LinkURealty are my HTML and web Designers and they(More specifically Danny Valdez - Visionary and Designer extraordinaire) will place these on a custom page for me.

Can’t Wait and you are not interested in the Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate Venue?  I have all of the snapshots that were programmed onto the home page to your left on our home page of http://blog.paris911.com - This was programmed and placed by those nice folks at Kinetic Knowledge - Kristen and Chris - Hey, if you are looking for a stand alone and custom blog - Even if you are in the Real Estate business - Competition is very healthy - Check out their Custom Blog - It has worked for Paris911 and The911Team!  It can work for you.  If you are a private party person - They you should check it out as well - Talk about not breaking the bank, it doesn’t.  You will be amazed what you will pay for something that hits like Babe Ruth’s bat connecting with a baseball - Each and Every post.

This is the case as long as I am on target, topic, consistent and persistent about my passion, Real Estate, Google loves me and so do the other Major Search Engines.  But this has only come about as a result of utilizing the Kinetic Knowledge Blog.  Try it, "Remember, you give us 30 minutes and we will deliver a Customized Market Snapshot to your E-mail - look at my blog home page - and in the future at www.HomeValue911.com. -CONNOR with HONOR

Here is a chart that depicts Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate activity for a three year period to date.  Escrows opened and escrows closed.  We have almost double the amount of listings that were put into escrow in 2006 versus 2007.  You will also see an intersecting line in the Number of Closed Escrow figures in about February of 2006 and 2007.  At this point the statistics pass one another criss crossing and what was that time in history?

That was about the time when the sub-prime lender fell out.  Where does that leave us to date with Real Estate in the Santa Clarita Valley and Beyond?  We are about 16 month’s of inventory at this point - If properties kept selling as they are now.

Only 99 homes closed during January of this year, 2008.  This was down 42.4 percent when you compare this figure with the 172 single family residences that recorded.  This is a record - How close to the bottom are we?  Before this, the prior low record was 105 back in September of 2007.  If you want to see where the high point was, you only need to look at June 2005 to see that there were 405 home sales recorded.

Before this January the last record held was in September 2007.  That is the time that the last of the "pinks" were shipped to those of us that had those funky adjustable rate mortgages that were on the increase.  Which brings us to the present.  March of 2008, in the Real Estate Market this is about the benchmark 6 to 7 month point where the banks that are holding bad paper can move and evict the homeowners.  Putting those properties on the market in Foreclosure status.  However, from what I am reading that is the last volley of Foreclosures.  We still have the short sales to contend with. However, we have been experiencing some good on our end because we are well versed in the Short Sale process, and specialize in that trade, - We have a definite advantage.  We have been able to retain Short Sale property listings without having the Bank reassign the property to a foreclosure or REO agent in the typical 6 month time period.  Which is also a help to our Sellers Credit! 

The numbers that I have been quoting were applicable to single family residences - When we are talking condo’s those numbers were at 31 recorded, which happens to be over 50% down from January of 2007.  This is a record as well.  Comparatively we have to look back to November 2007 to see that 38 condominiums closed.  For the Record High?  April 2003 we recorded 204.

What we are seeing from our buyers is that they are looking for a "steal" and our sellers are constantly trying to catch up with this declining market.  There are people that are needing to move property.  Death, Divorce, Disease, and Job Loss are several factors that create a bind in people that are the catalyst for them needing to sell.  If they don’t need to - Then they should wait and sit tight for a few years until they are right-side up again on their equity.  To Short Sale properties - Because of a hardship, our experience has been that the banks are not in agreement to even discuss the matter until there are a few 30 day mortgage lates.  If you were to do the contacting yourself - They would tell you that.  They don’t want you going out to purchase another home while you are letting your current slide and the bank bear the brunt of the financial loss.

Are there opportunities out there in the Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate Market.  I have seen a lot of investment opportunities and even regular Re-Sale homes and Condo’s that offer the ability to be purchased and rented for a slight profit.  Having someone make your mortgage payment is indeed a plus.  However, this is with the future in mind.  If you are looking to buy we would want to still be below market with any offers written.  (This would depend if there is any competition on the field with any particular target property.)  We will show you projective goals and work out the net-sheet with you in mind.  The tax breaks and the low interest rates are a plus with this current real estate market.

I have also noticed that our buyers are becoming more and more active.  This is not due to a high pressure approach to the selling of Real Estate.  If I have a fault it is that I am careful not to rush anyone into the commitment of being homeowners.  When they are ready I know it by them telling me.  But the tax advantages are worth it especially when you are at claiming 0 and 0.  That write off is very important.

With regard to the prices of single family homes and the median price point - homes during January fell below the $500K point for the first time in three and 1/2 years.  The Southland Regional Association of Realtors reports, "The median price of single-family homes sold during January fell below the $500,000 for the first time in three and a half years. The median price of $460,000 was down 21.8 percent from a year ago and well below the record high of $643,000 set in April of 2006."  "Similarly, the condominium median price fell below $300,000 for the first time in three and a half years with the $284,900 January median down 20.9 percent from the prior year. The record high of $397,000 came two years ago in January 2006."

“It will take several more months before we can be certain,” said Jim Link, the Associations chief executive officer, “but we believe the market is near or at the bottom of this cycle and we fully expect resale activity to pick up in the weeks and months ahead."

Active Listings at the end of January in the Santa Clarita Valley totaled 2,163.  That figure is up 22.9 % from 1 year ago. 

Where does that leave you.  That leaves you to call us to set up a buyer interview today, so we can help you plan for your future.  We also have an upcoming Real Estate Investment Seminar go to www.REIS911.com to register.

We will be covering a lot of different options to help you to look at properties from an investment viewpoint. - CONNOR with HONOR

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone, here is a Market Snapshot where the listings are by City within the Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate Community(reports).  Data obtained from the local Board of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service, Compiled by Yours Truly - CONNOR with HONOR.  I must say I have curtailed my style with the bolding and all of the underlining since I was gently educated by one of our local bloggers, Jeff Wilson with www.scvtalk.com.  LOL, I still love his quote and wish I would have thought of it: "It makes my eyes bleed"…  That is GREAT!!!!  OK, enough of my sentimental side, here are the current Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate Active Listing numbers at 1631pm on 03/17/2008:

Castaic has 289 active listings on the market, the average price of which is $546,988.00 with a Median price of $419,000.00.

Valencia has 442 active Listings on the market, the average price of which is $558,922.00 with a Median price of $475,000.00.

Saugus has 360 active listings on the market, the average price of which is $489,000.00 with a Median price of $489,000.00.

Canyon Country has 649 active listings on the market, the average price of which is $492,368 with a Median price of $385,000.00.

Newhall has 305 active listings on the market, the average price of which is $489,250.00 with a Median price of $399,000.00.

Last but not least:  Stevenson Ranch has 128 active listings on the market, with the average price being $635,106 and the median being $599,900.00.

I am curious about how April 1st of this year will kick this inventory off and start getting it moved out so we can return to a "normal" market.  That is when the new loan amounts are going to be in effect.  That is kind of like saying a "routine" traffic stop.  Or a "run of the mill" "garden variety" domestic violence call.  But not to worry, nothing ever stays the same.  CONNOR with HONOR

I have finally put this together for all of our customers, past, present and future.

Just choose one of the indepent Market Snapshot Engines Above or you can Also Request Community Reports for each community and their schools.

Open houses, according to the National Association of Realtors, do not do much to help sell those properties.  But if the agent that is representing the seller does it correctly, they sure do get people that are interested in purchasing Real Estate showing up at the front door.

My approach to conducting an open house is simple, I want to give the visitor enough room to ask questions and to be curious about what the various aspects of this home are.  How the home is different and whether or not the the price is something that is reasonable or our of their reach.  The buyers that are visiting open houses are very well educated these days.  It is not necessary to have them from the moment of "hello".  What is important is to convey to them that you are indeed the agent that they cannot find anywhere else.

Some of the points you will need are following, you need to make sure you are up to date on the tract activity, number of homes for sale, currently, 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years ago.  You will also need to compare where the market is now "current down - up - buyers - sellers - foreclosure etc." and when the last time,that was similar to the current market condition, was and why, comparatively, they are different, if they are.

You will need to be the Subject Matter Expert on which ever area you are holding an open house in.  Remember, you are only to have a few minutes to make an impression.  I would recommend some type of handout as well.  Something with the target property on it, but even more, something of use.  I have pens, I go through over 3000 pens a month, not just at open houses either.  I give pens to everyone I can.  Pens are great and not as intrusive as business cards.  The card indicates some sort of commitment that you are wanting.  Pens, write on paper.  The business card has no other use but to remember who you are, and were, the keeper of the card.  The pens, still continue to write on paper. 

Space, truth, and unfocused attention is what is important.  If someone is currently working with a Real Estate agent.  Then you will need to redirect their conversation and include their "mystery" agent.  Stop the hunt, these people are already someone else’s.  Be weary taking and working something that is not yours.  That is coveting, and could cause you problems in places you don’t realize.  Have some code and make sure that you extend that "code" to those who choose to utilize your services in the home buying and or selling process. 

If you are a code enforcer, as am I, within the realm of the Real Estate Re-sale community, then you will understand that it is up to us to change the view that the majority of consumers have with regard to Real Estate Agents.  The way we do that is by developing a Relational approach versus a Transactional approach to this business of Real Estate.  Making sure we focus on the client and their needs instead of the commission.  If you have the relationship, you will have all of the commission you will ever want, without having to play the "predator". "Don’t you think there are enough "predator’s" in the world? - CONNOR with HONOR

So, you have been mulling over the idea of becoming a Real Estate Agent?  I think I might be able to help you.  First things first.  Have a moment of self reflection and see if the 100% commission lifestyle is for you.  You cannot be faint of heart and need to have a drive that is beyond explanation.  You also need a stable support system in place.  That support system coming from your parents, church, family, kids, self, you have to have a support systems that you can fall back on if times turn tough.  You will also need about 6 months at the minimum to 1 year of savings.  As you are gathering these essentials to start a position within the Real Estate Re-Sale Field, you will also need to set up a time to take the necessary courses to gain admission to take the state exam. 

Allied Real Estate Schools is something I have used for license Renewal.  Paris just recently finished her Brokers course and will be taking the Brokers State Exam in the next few weeks.  We have plans you know!!!  Back to you.  When we started to look around over 10 years ago for a Real Estate course, we went with a Century 21 in Castaic.  They were offering Real Estate Salesperson Courses and we sat through about 10 evenings and one Saturday, 30 days after that we had a prep course then the next weekend the State Exam.  We both passed the first time out.  If you do not, don’t fret.  The State Exam for Real Estate Agent is a bit tricky.  If you are in a Law Enforcement Field now, you get a feeling of tricky when you take those promotional examinations.  But the Real Estate Exam is even more so difficult.  You might have a question that has 4 correct answers.  You will want to pick the one that is most correct.

Whichever course you take, make sure there is also a preparation course that is the weekend before your scheduled state examination.  These hinge on word association, and are invaluable.

After you pass your state exam, you will be notified by mail.  But the INTERNET will have the results posted before you get the aforementioned notification in the mail.  You will also start getting a huge amount of mail from different companies wanting you to come and work for them.  Most of these companies figure you are worth a couple of deals.  If you don’t produce then they let you go.  It seems cruel, but that is the way it is.  You could also go and work for a Real Estate Agent or Team as a Buyers agent.  This is where you need to be much more careful when you choose to whom you are going to hitch your trailer.

Do they understand the team concept?  Are they looking to train you?  What is the split they are offering?  Will they give you incentives the more productive they become.  What kind of rules are being brought to the table.  Also, in order to do this you will need to do some self-evaluation as well.  Are you the type of person that will run for the door once you are trained?  Have you set your sights on the furore and desiring to go on your own as soon as you are able?   What ever your decision or future intension’s - you must be honest to the agent that you are going to be a buyers agent for.  It is very important that you are up front as equally important that they are as well with you.

Can you make it in Real Estate?  Even in this market can you survive?  Yes.  Absolutely.  You just have to Want It!  Victory can already be yours if it is what you want.  Keep playing it forward and keep making sure you have your eyes focused on your front sight.

Interested in being a buyers agent?  You can give me a call and we can set up an interview for you.  We must warn you, we are extremely picky when it comes to having people associated with us.  Our Clientèle demands that we are.  Also, we have strict rules and guidelines that you would have to agree to and follow.  But I do know for a fact you would not be able to do better anywhere else. 

-CONNOR with HONOR 

Are you on the hunt to find that home that you have been looking for on line and during your futile search on www.Realtor.com?  Looking for Santa Clarita Real Estate check out www.SCV911.com.  Is it something that you are about out of rope about, feeling stress and wanting to know if your true dream home is out there?  I have a suggestion.  First Things First!  Give us a call or shoot us an e-mail and let us schedule you an appointment to come to our offices and meet.

In doing so you will be able to align your ducks for the best Real Estate decision making that you can possibly achieve.  We will discuss what it is to purchase a home, rates, taxes, write-offs, closing costs, various Real Estate Related roles, investment properties, out of state properties, and our Exclusive Referral Program.  Do you know someone that is wanting to purchase Real Estate or sell some of the same?

I feel the need to explain how honoring this would be to Paris and I.  Also we have a "good faith" way of demonstrating Gratitude.  That is something that has not been surgically removed like in some others.  We swill understand the meaning of that word and would like to explain to you what we mean. 

Give us a call and schedule an appointment so we can show you how we operate.   THE WORDS "FREE" and "NO OBLIGATION", describe the Real Estate Seminar.  In addition check out www.REOTool.com for foreclosures where 4 boards of Realtors operate.  If you are wanting and wondering if it would be better for you to Rent versus Own a home - Then check out www.Renter911.com.  Furthermore, if you want your own specific list of Foreclosed properties curtailed to a specific city or neighborhood - check out www.MoreThanForeclosures.com.  Are you a Law Enforcement Officer - Deputy, Teacher, Firefighter or EMT that is wanting to see when that HUD program the Good neighbor next door was going to take off and how to align yourself to take full advantage of the 50% off program for those professional oath takers.  Check out www.TheGoodNeighborNextDoorProgram.com and you will be delighted.

Searching on your own can happen via our Google Mapping solution at www.SearchRE911.com you can do it yourself and never have to worry about us capturing your data and using it against you in way of personal gain. 

It has been signed, into being something that will happen, on February 17.  Apparently, those powers that be have 30 days to finalize the package.  What is the economic stimulus package was designed to do.  Looking at it from a lay-person’s perspective - It should be able to kick start the housing market and allow other factors that depend on Real Estate to start to move and increase. 

Here are some of the things that are on the table:

When you borrow over 417K you are in a jumbo loan configuration - That means that those 10 year bonds are sold on the foreign market are is how these items are being bought and sold - Thereby making that interest rate for the Jumbo loan product more than the main line under 417K loan amount.  If they do indeed agree that the $417,000 figure should be increased to where the rumors lie - That would be somewhere, depending on local economic figures, at $750,000.  What would be the charge for borrowing money - Where would the banks make their money.  Would there be a loss recorded being able to capture a $750,000 loan amount at 5.5% interest? These are questions that pop into my mind - Oh Ye (me) of So Little Trust.

Also they are talking about increasing the FHA loan amount.  $360ish"K" is where that is.  If they did increase that figure to over $550K, then that would open the market to people wanting to purchase homes in those amounts.  But, we still have the qualification process and the restrictions that have been put in place by those regulators.

Long Term Survivability - This package is only good for one (1) year.  That should put some hot pokers to those buyers that are on the fence.  But the underwritten allowances would allow for this to increase for another year (one) after a "study" was conducted. 

Is it a good thing?  That one is tough question to answer and would take more "sheepskins" than I possess.  However, being a person that people can talk to helps my drive and mission.  To bring you the very best in Real Estate in Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley and both Ventura County and Los Angeles.  I also want you to know your loan is covered.  I do not originate loans.  But for a buyer, where your closing costs are only made up of Title, Escrow and the Lender’s fee, it is important for us to have a handle on the Loan Process and what to educate you to look out for.  That is what we do - We want you to have that Good Faith Estimate generated from the lender you choose - We also want you to have a copy of your credit report made - We want to have a look see on what you have been given by any lender.  There are a lot of good lenders in the world - as their are a lot of good Realtors.  But with the good, we have the bad entering stage left in droves. 

One thing that I cannot stand, is any type of injustice being done on another by someone that deems themselves superior or is superior.  This is why I have strived so long to produce positive results as a Los Angeles Policeman 1990-2007.  Why I still am an Active Reserve Officer (Twice a Citizen).  This is the primary reason that I have entered this profession, of Real Estate, back in 1998.  I hate to see injustice and wish to make all of the wrongs done to those of us that cannot protect ourselves or understand the right from wrong.  If I have one mission in life, it is to make sure everyone has a great experience in any and all Real Estate Transactions - Never being slighted, or viewed as the next meal ticket by one of those predators. - Enough of the Soap Box - CONNOR with HONOR

I hope you realize this is a training DAY!  - But funny just the same…