See below for more details.
Party at my house next week
The link is live.
Already made sales this morning.
Thank you Heavens I am so blessed.
What a great Valentines Day.
2/14/2011
Novel live on Amazon, stores soon
Toxic Assets
See below for more details.
Party at my house next week
The link is live.
Already made sales this morning.
Thank you Heavens I am so blessed.
What a great Valentines Day.
See below for more details.
Party at my house next week
The link is live.
Already made sales this morning.
Thank you Heavens I am so blessed.
What a great Valentines Day.
2/01/2011
Powder Blue Mailer
 THIS IS A SCAM |
| KRAMER AND KASLOW SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS? not. |
Did you receive your second innocent looking baby boy blue mailer from Kramer and Kaslow Law today?
http://www.ripoffreport.com/attorneys-legal-services/kramer-and-kaslow/kramer-and-kaslow-chris-fox-an-fe5e2.htm
They promise you $75000.00 and you won't have to pay your mortgage back to Chase or Bank of America or Wells Fargo... But they have not filed any lawsuit on the behalf of any Borrowers, yet. They are just looking for customers to give them a $ 5000.00 retainer.
Anything that looks too good to be true, probably is.
1/29/2011
Stay on Track
It is brain patterns and neuro pathways we build.
Write the goals - for work , heath, life in 5 years.
Keep acting along the lines of production, action, and courage.
Resist temptations.
Know your true heart and you will succeed.
Photograph copyright Caroline Gerardo all rights reserved
1/28/2011
Orange County Sparks a Recovery?
It's spring and I feel the turn. It will be 79 degrees here today. I can see a Goldrush of people in the NorthEast who might be tired of shoveling snow moving here. How can we attract them? Jobs?
1/27/2011
Freddie MAC Guest Speaker
2011 REALTOR SUMMIT
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Frank Nothaft
Chief Economist for Freddie MAC
Dr. Nothaft will address national and local economic conditions and the real estate environment
DATE: February 7th 2011
The Doubletree Hotel
8:00 AM - 12 PM Breakfast will be served
RSVP: caroline.barbeau@cox.net
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Frank Nothaft
Chief Economist for Freddie MAC
Dr. Nothaft will address national and local economic conditions and the real estate environment
DATE: February 7th 2011
The Doubletree Hotel
8:00 AM - 12 PM Breakfast will be served
RSVP: caroline.barbeau@cox.net
1/25/2011
1/23/2011
Rent or Buy?
Is it time to buy or rent?
Timing is everything.
The choice should be a business decision not an emotional one. If the bank tells you your ratios are too high, take it as a blessing that this is not a sound selection at this time.
Pros:
Buying a house is a tax deduction (assuming you need a deduction).
Owning a house gives you the freedom to stay as long as you like and do what you want.
Cons:
If you are thinking employment promotion or moves upward- you will be stuck with location.
Often you can rent cheaper, but with a limited palette and expect increases.
Solutions:
Buy less than you think you can afford which allows breathing room.
Put as little down payment as you might and let the insurers’ bear the worry.
Shop very carefully for a deal.
Take your time. Do not fall in love with a house it is just a thing.
Enlist expert representation and investigate everything.
Everything in the universe falls apart- have a budget for those older items in the house.
Timing is everything.
The choice should be a business decision not an emotional one. If the bank tells you your ratios are too high, take it as a blessing that this is not a sound selection at this time.
Pros:
Buying a house is a tax deduction (assuming you need a deduction).
Owning a house gives you the freedom to stay as long as you like and do what you want.
Cons:
If you are thinking employment promotion or moves upward- you will be stuck with location.
Often you can rent cheaper, but with a limited palette and expect increases.
Solutions:
Buy less than you think you can afford which allows breathing room.
Put as little down payment as you might and let the insurers’ bear the worry.
Shop very carefully for a deal.
Take your time. Do not fall in love with a house it is just a thing.
Enlist expert representation and investigate everything.
Everything in the universe falls apart- have a budget for those older items in the house.
1/18/2011
If you save junk long enough, it is still junk
Son thought we could sell them to one of the online companies that advertise, “We buy used cell phones.” Well after making his list and entering the old pager, ancient Nokias and all this junk the total value was less than two dollars.
He packed them up because his middle school, Niguel Hills collects them and ships them to needy children. This is better than having them sit in a drawer waiting to be on the Antiques Roadshow.
1/16/2011
Commercial Vacancies Rising
All the big stores gone. Broadway, Buffums, Bullocks, Butler Bros, City of Paris, Fedco, Fedmart, Fedway, Gottschalks, Harris, Hinshaws, I Magnin, Joseph Magnin, May, Mervyns, FC Nash, Pragers, J W Robinson, Sage, Zody's.
77000 square feet available - has been empty almost three years over a lawsuit. Who would brave to open a big box store?
OCJAAF Season is Over LNLL already starts
Friday night we turned in our football gear at the La Paz field. Cowboy football season is over.
"This is the last time we will walk up this hill," my son paused as we carried the conflict jersey, pants and gladiator gear all clean to be stored for another team next year.
We could buy the helmet for fifty dollars, but son decided it was better to let someone else wear all his stickers for A's and share the good fortune. He wrote a tiny note inside in permanent ink.
"Never give up."
"This is the last time we will walk up this hill," my son paused as we carried the conflict jersey, pants and gladiator gear all clean to be stored for another team next year.
We could buy the helmet for fifty dollars, but son decided it was better to let someone else wear all his stickers for A's and share the good fortune. He wrote a tiny note inside in permanent ink.
"Never give up."
The image is just a little shaking, but I think that quality does it justice.
P.S. BASEBALL season already started. LNLL We are the Beavers. Our mascot doesn't sound too inspiring.
1/15/2011
1/12/2011
my camera has a mind of it's own
Accidental Self Portrait
Don't you love it when you are holding your camera and it just does what ever it wants to see.
Reflections before the snow. So Blessed not to be in New York this week. May everyone keep warm. Here the temperature is 78 in Orange County and I am sitting in the sun without a sweater.
1/09/2011
1/05/2011
Laguna Canyon Flood images- cleanup of mud, debris and what now?
Dig in and work.
The animal shelter appears devastated. No dogs or cats died in the flood, but they were actually swimming. Temporary quarters are being arranged and they are in need of donations of blankets, dog beds and toys. Call me if you can’t deliver I will pick up and drop off.
The marine Mammal center looks worse.
The best solution I can recommend is major fundraising to rebuild these structures on concrete piers, assuming another flood will happen in ten years. There are several contributing factors to the long term mess: 1. A variety of individuals and municipalities own the land and creek 2. It is a natural flood basin 3.Building of the 73 highway did not accommodate large enough catch basins for runoff and actually cause more spillage over the sides 4. Water goes where it wants to go.
Back of kennels- debris has been scraped.
Dig in and work.
The animal shelter appears devastated. No dogs or cats died in the flood, but they were actually swimming. Temporary quarters are being arranged and they are in need of donations of blankets, dog beds and toys. Call me if you can’t deliver I will pick up and drop off.
The marine Mammal center looks worse.
The best solution I can recommend is major fundraising to rebuild these structures on concrete piers, assuming another flood will happen in ten years. There are several contributing factors to the long term mess: 1. A variety of individuals and municipalities own the land and creek 2. It is a natural flood basin 3.Building of the 73 highway did not accommodate large enough catch basins for runoff and actually cause more spillage over the sides 4. Water goes where it wants to go.
Back of kennels- debris has been scraped.
1/02/2011
12/29/2010
Link for $25 off items not shipping at CSN
Twenty five dollar free gift certificate : “modern furniture” to http://www.allmodern.com/
CSN stores has some wonderful prices and selection on hardwood and stone flooring. Since you are most likely the same as myself, we can’t sell so be happy in your home there has been no better time in the past twenty years to complete home improvement projects.
At this time of year, when contractors are hungry for work I can recommend an excellent Flooring contractor: Terry Schleede (949) 433-3282
I purchased these barstools from CSN for less than $75 and saw them at Restoration Hardware for $ 198 X 2 = $396each and on Ballard Designs for $ 129 each =$259.
I promise you that just a little winter after Christmas sprucing up your Orange County Home will feel joyful and bring prosperity this New Year. God Bless and let us all plan for a profitable 2011!
CSN stores has some wonderful prices and selection on hardwood and stone flooring. Since you are most likely the same as myself, we can’t sell so be happy in your home there has been no better time in the past twenty years to complete home improvement projects.
At this time of year, when contractors are hungry for work I can recommend an excellent Flooring contractor: Terry Schleede (949) 433-3282
I promise you that just a little winter after Christmas sprucing up your Orange County Home will feel joyful and bring prosperity this New Year. God Bless and let us all plan for a profitable 2011!
12/16/2010
Mortgage After Short Sale Foreclosure
FHA insured mortgages are generally available to borrowers whose property was foreclosed on or given a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure after a 3 year waiting period. However, if the foreclosure of the borrower’s main residence was the result of extenuating circumstances, which now includes a twenty percent year after foreclosure if you have since established good credit.
Back To Work Program: You will need to show you had a job loss, serious illness that made you take off work, had to move locations for a job or catastrophe that caused you to get behind. You can’t just have stopped making payments because you didn’t want to pay on an upside down house.
Buy a home with a VA loan in just 2 years after foreclosure.
If you are a Veteran and have Certificate of Eligibility and DD214 you may qualify to purchase a new home in as little as 2 years after foreclosure or short sale.
BUYING A NEW HOME AFTER A SHORT SALE?
Can I Buy A Home Again After A Short Sale?
Millions of Americans suffered through short sales in the last few years. You may not need 20% down payment to go conventional
It is important to get your credit back in line, as FICO score does drive the interest rates. Ask me about my free programs to help increase your FICO score.
The good news is that if you have short sold your house in the past, it is possible to get into a position to get a new loan in as little as only a few months after your short sale. If you did a short sale and had to pay anything to Fannie Mae in California you may be due a refund.
We have a down payment assistance fund that can give you 5% of the sales price as a gift to buy a home under $ 500000.00 in Southern California. This is coupled with a FHA loan.
You read that right: some loan programs allow you to get into a new mortgage loan in as little as 12 months after a short sale and you may not even need a down payment.
12/15/2010
A Chainsaw for Christmas?
Best Christmas gift I ever received was the smile on my newborn’s face nineteen years ago. The worst was when my ex-husband bought me a chain saw. That is another story. My built in refrigerator door bladder is still leaking air after my attempts to “fix” it.
I am very “handy.” I can repair just about anything. I operated a crane and calculated maximum loads of a bridge, built commercial and residential buildings but I now prefer to hire someone to fix the refrigerator. The problem arrives in perceptive image- by this I mean the repairman sees a blonde woman in a flowery house who weighs 110 pounds and he thinks I have no idea. This can be useful or costly on the bottom line of the bill.
So how do you budget shop for a repair on anything?
1. Recommendations from neighbors ( as proximity limits your options to hire someone who might have to charge for his or her travel time).
2. Browse the internet and enter the City name with your repair item. Look on UTUBE for repair videos.
3. I don’t have a phone book at home anymore so that is out of the question.
4. Ask other contractors or general contractors for a recommendation.
5. Ask someone at the local hardware store, see if they have a bulletin board.
The next step is contacting them, describing exactly what you need and asking for an estimate of cost. They can tell you the hourly labor cost but often they have no idea what parts might be necessary to repair your appliance or thing from a telephone call.
Then there is the waiting for them to show up for the appointment. When they arrive try not to be so agitated about them being late, this is only going to waste time of their hourly labor cost.
Lead them directly to the problem, which hopefully you have cleared the area for space to work.
Then watch and learn something out of the way.
Unfortunately, the repairman went through the same steps I had tried and the door seal worked for three days, and now the freezer is back to meltdown. So now what?
I am very “handy.” I can repair just about anything. I operated a crane and calculated maximum loads of a bridge, built commercial and residential buildings but I now prefer to hire someone to fix the refrigerator. The problem arrives in perceptive image- by this I mean the repairman sees a blonde woman in a flowery house who weighs 110 pounds and he thinks I have no idea. This can be useful or costly on the bottom line of the bill.
So how do you budget shop for a repair on anything?
1. Recommendations from neighbors ( as proximity limits your options to hire someone who might have to charge for his or her travel time).
2. Browse the internet and enter the City name with your repair item. Look on UTUBE for repair videos.
3. I don’t have a phone book at home anymore so that is out of the question.
4. Ask other contractors or general contractors for a recommendation.
5. Ask someone at the local hardware store, see if they have a bulletin board.
The next step is contacting them, describing exactly what you need and asking for an estimate of cost. They can tell you the hourly labor cost but often they have no idea what parts might be necessary to repair your appliance or thing from a telephone call.
Then there is the waiting for them to show up for the appointment. When they arrive try not to be so agitated about them being late, this is only going to waste time of their hourly labor cost.
Lead them directly to the problem, which hopefully you have cleared the area for space to work.
Then watch and learn something out of the way.
Unfortunately, the repairman went through the same steps I had tried and the door seal worked for three days, and now the freezer is back to meltdown. So now what?
12/01/2010
CITY Laguna Niguel GONE WILD
THE SIGN SHOULD NOT READ EXIT IT SHOULD SAY DEAD END
WHY IS THIS RIDICULOUS PALACE BEING BUILT?
WHY WOULD THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL NEED 10000 feet of PLANNING DEPARTMENT WHEN THERE IS NO CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING AND NO RAW UNDEVELOPED LAND REMAINING? WHO VOTED TO SPEND TEN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS IN THIS THE THIRD GREAT DEPRESSION? HOW MANY PEOPLE EVER WENT TO A CITY MEETING IN EXCESS OF TWENTY ATENDEES? DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY WASTED ON ANOTHER TAJ MAHAL? SELL THIS MONSTROSITY FOR A LOSS AND MOVE ON.
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY IN LAGUNA NIGUEL WHERE WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CONSTRUCTION ECONOMY BASED ON SOME TIME LONG GONE PAST WHERE TAX REVENUES WERE CLIMBING.
11/16/2010
Re-Think the Open House Concept
Rethink a new kind of open house. Get the seller ready before you start the listing:
1. A pre-appraisal is good. The seller might benefit from a bank style appraisal which is the standard they will be held to close a deal. Only list a home where the Seller is realistic about their home and their market.
2. Empty the garage, half the closets, sell or donate it all. Remove
religious, personal, smelly items, unique art, and make it more vanilla.
3. Paint neutral. Stage if they can afford it.
4. Wholesale flower planting. Supply the pots and the wholesale
Annuals arrive in a truck. One solid block of color.
5. Scrub clean every surface.
In Laguna Beach Realtors still drive together and visit open houses on preview. I believe I have seen the inside of every home on my “paper route.” Be cooperative and helpful to other agents and let the deals flow your way. This gives me an advantage not only in knowing the neighborhood, what the planning commission might approve, what the traffic is like on school mornings, but an edge above the others.
If City/HOA ordinance does not allow signage – get a dancing teen in a house costume twirling a sign. Get your lender, your title representative to review the last details before the open house, before the listing is in the MLS. Market outside of the box. Invest the time and attend the open house.
Have 200 people to walk through the open house. Start the buzz about that amazing Realtor and that great listing. Sell the home the first three weeks. I am not saying serve cookies. Serve yourself and add some new spice to the idea of foot traffic.
1. A pre-appraisal is good. The seller might benefit from a bank style appraisal which is the standard they will be held to close a deal. Only list a home where the Seller is realistic about their home and their market.
2. Empty the garage, half the closets, sell or donate it all. Remove
religious, personal, smelly items, unique art, and make it more vanilla.
3. Paint neutral. Stage if they can afford it.
4. Wholesale flower planting. Supply the pots and the wholesale
Annuals arrive in a truck. One solid block of color.
5. Scrub clean every surface.
In Laguna Beach Realtors still drive together and visit open houses on preview. I believe I have seen the inside of every home on my “paper route.” Be cooperative and helpful to other agents and let the deals flow your way. This gives me an advantage not only in knowing the neighborhood, what the planning commission might approve, what the traffic is like on school mornings, but an edge above the others.
If City/HOA ordinance does not allow signage – get a dancing teen in a house costume twirling a sign. Get your lender, your title representative to review the last details before the open house, before the listing is in the MLS. Market outside of the box. Invest the time and attend the open house.
Have 200 people to walk through the open house. Start the buzz about that amazing Realtor and that great listing. Sell the home the first three weeks. I am not saying serve cookies. Serve yourself and add some new spice to the idea of foot traffic.
11/11/2010
Orange County Jobs Improve Just a Little
“Orange County leads a very slow recovery in California,” said Jerry Nickelsburg, senior economist, UCLA Anderson Forecast. “Growth in Orange County manufacturing, professional, scientific, technical and leisure and hospitality services has been more rapid than in the state as a whole. However, overall, the county's employment picture is only marginally improved from the depth of the recession.”
11/10/2010
11/03/2010
10/30/2010
SAVE money
Opt out of overdraft charges with every checking account
Join a credit union to get one of their cheaper rate VISA or Mastercard
NEVER pay for a service to follow your credit
Pay a bank to run your tri-merged report to prepare to refinance or buy
Work on improving your FICO score by reallocating debts to less than 69% of line
Opt out of credit card offers 1(888) 567-8688
Refinance with little cost while the rates are down
Cut US stock market exposure and sell some
Trade/ bargain/ stop buying
10/29/2010
Halloween Dinner
2 Tablespoons good olive oil
Chopped fine 1 onion ( maui sweet if you can find)
6 smashed plum fresh roma tomatoes
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried oregano (or 1 ½ fresh)
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups coarse corn meal (polenta)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 sausages- I like the turkey ones but mix sweet/hot/flavored
Get your grill hot and throw on the sausages whole . (Ten minutes)
In a large skillet medium heat warm the olive oil add onion and sauté about 4 minutes
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, fennel seeds raise heat cook abou
7 minutes.
Have one of your children get the sausages off the barbeque and place them in an oven proof pan.
Put them in the oven to stay warm on lowest temperature (200)
At the same time in another sauce pan heat the chicken stock to a boil. Wisk and stir the corn meal into
The hot broth and lower heat to lowest setting. Stir about 14 minutes.
Add the tomato sauce into the creamy thick polenta.
To serve- the polenta is spooned on the plate and the sausages are cut in half.
The polenta will be somewhat orange- you might want to add orange bell pepper on the grill if you really want to be fancy (sliced and rubbed with olive oil grill in about 4 minutes)
Salt and pepper to taste - red chili flakes if they will eat hot
10/25/2010
Drip Mail Campaign
Direct mail used to be the mortgage standard to connect with our farm list. However, the cost to mail in printing, paper organizing and United States postage has increased not proportionate to how income has fallen. I miss my junk mail.
I received few or no direct mail campaigns with this last refinance interest rate drop. Is it because so many of the thousands of Mortgage Companies in Orange County have closed? Perhaps this is a contributing factor. Why do the remaining banks and direct lenders in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach no longer even drop me junk mail in a plastic zip lock bag?
I saved all the offers for mortgage rates that arrived in my mailbox, door jam and thrown on my front pergola. Why would I save the papers? Quarterly I laid them all over my living room floor and asked my two best consumers (my teenagers) which ones were visually appealing. I gave the remaining pile of four winners to my Mom (a generation above consumer) to pick her top two. This provided market information. Most of all it gave me what to copy. Is not that what Pablo Picasso said? “Combining the best from smart artists gave him creative input.” So please put me back on your mailing list. I am preparing my next advertising campaign and with so few competitors, perhaps my neighbors in Beacon Hill will actually call me.
Drip mail campaign- will Dana Point residents hate it if I put in a baggy and put them on every drive way?
I received few or no direct mail campaigns with this last refinance interest rate drop. Is it because so many of the thousands of Mortgage Companies in Orange County have closed? Perhaps this is a contributing factor. Why do the remaining banks and direct lenders in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach no longer even drop me junk mail in a plastic zip lock bag?
I saved all the offers for mortgage rates that arrived in my mailbox, door jam and thrown on my front pergola. Why would I save the papers? Quarterly I laid them all over my living room floor and asked my two best consumers (my teenagers) which ones were visually appealing. I gave the remaining pile of four winners to my Mom (a generation above consumer) to pick her top two. This provided market information. Most of all it gave me what to copy. Is not that what Pablo Picasso said? “Combining the best from smart artists gave him creative input.” So please put me back on your mailing list. I am preparing my next advertising campaign and with so few competitors, perhaps my neighbors in Beacon Hill will actually call me.
10/23/2010
Foreclosure or Deed in Lieu or Short Sale for Laguna?
WHEN IS MY HOUSE GOING TO BE WORTH WHAT I PAID in 2006?
More foreclosures coming in Laguna Beach October 23 2010 some with ocean views like mine:
Y Place 3 bed 3 bath $1,103,000.
Seacliff Drive 4 bed 5 bath $ 8,250,00.
Saling Way 2 bed 2 bath $355,794.
Oriole Drive $767,520.
Cliff Drive $968,379.
CORPORATIONS ARE MORE PROFITABLE THAN IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. They are not adding new talent. They ought to be buying infrastructure when the economy is cheap but they are holding off. GDP is shaping to look more positive.
Industrial Production also is improving slowly.
Retail for certain sectors is rising. Take a look at an Apple Store, they are busy. Very hgh end retail such as Tiffany's will be busy for Christmas. Stores in Laguna Beach like Stella's closed this week. Pinky Wear in Dana Point closed up shop on a Sunday night and "they go in the night" leaving the place stripped with no relocation sign. Cheaper fast food with a five dollar lunch is also coming back up; however, every great restaurant in Orange County is struggling. I pray that Jack's in Dana Point, Mayur in Corona Del Mar, Dana Kai in Laguna Niguel and Daria in Costa Mesa weather the storm.
States still in big trouble:
CALIFORNIA HAS POCKETS OF HOPE and Areas still with Black Clouds ahead.
Everyone around me is timid. The lady at Happy Nails talks about taking Prozac.
SORRY BUT WE ARE NOT IN A RECESSION. WE ARE NOT IN A DOUBLE DIP. We are at year three of THE THIRD GREAT DEPRESSION.
The good news----we are pulling out of it. We will have slow growth for two more years but my house value is not coming back until 2017
I invested $1,800,000. in my house in price and improvements It is worth $940,000. today. Loss of $860,000.00 cash. Payments are $ 7600 month or $91,200 annual. If I make the payment eight years three months I might break even.
LOWEST HOUSING STARTS SINCE THE GI BILL. Why? You can buy a house inland Orange County for $240000. Now. You can buy a house in Laguna Beach for $ 400000. You can buy a three bedroom house in Riverside for $100000. A builder can not sell a new house for $100000.
SO WHAT TO ALL THOSE BORING GRAPHS TELL US:
CALIFORNIA FORECLOSURES CONTINUE WITH
INLAND AREAS HIT THE MOST
Properties with view seem to fair better
Unsold new housing inventory is declining because nothing new is being created
CALIFORNIA NEEDS JOB RECOVERY. Recovery HAS NOT BEGUN for Service/ Retail/ high tech/ entry level/white collar/ etc. employment. There are few postings for jobs from $60000.- $90,000. Companies are making their employees work longer hours and no claim overtime. Employees do not ask for raises and do not move to seek advancement because they are often stuck in their upside down home. Companies are not offering transfer packages to employees to buy out their upside down home. More foreclosures are on the way before the summer.
SO WHAT TO I DO WITH MY HOUSE?
Arizona Nevada Michigan Florida Georgia Illinois and California…
Vacation Photograph
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Photograph of C. G. Barbeau on vacation with Tony R Smith celebrating his pomotion to Simmons Bedding.
10/21/2010
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