Random Thoughts & Opinions

Aug 24th	Does Yahoo Real Estate Provide You With The Best Home Search Tools For Santa Barbara Real Estate?
2009	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions

Millions of Users Can’t Be Wrong...Or Can They! Yahoo! Real Estate reportedly attracts more than 5 million unique visitors per month. The Entire Yahoo! Network is one of the most trafficked internet destinations worldwide. The Yahoo! Network reportedly reaches 88% of home shoppers and 84% of homeowners. For general real estate information and news, I would like to point out that Yahoo is a wonderful resource.  I myself search here when looking for certain information and include myself as part of their network stats.  Real Estate Portals such as Yahoo, Trulia and Zillow are great to get started with and to gather general information... Read more

Tags: yahoo real estate santa barbara

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Aug 2nd	Joke Commentary by SmartMoney.com – What Realtors Don’t Say to Their Clients
2009	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

I recently came across this article published by SmartMoney.com about supposedly "10 Things Your Real Estate Broker Won't Say" that to me is simply a joke. My First impression...What a lie and what a cowardly article by SmartMoney.com.  The reasons for this thinking by me are simply this: all of this is wrong/not true for any good agent no one takes claim for the article written (it is written by Staff) there is no where to comment back about these claims/points made Note: I tried to contact someone about this at SmartMoney.com and got no where...so in the end just thought I would post my... Read more

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Jul 3rd	Happy July 4th, 2009 Santa Barbara CA – Fireworks Information
2009	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

**All information provided by the city of Santa Barbara Location and time of the fireworks this year (2009)? Beginning at 9 p.m., Saturday, July 4th, another spectacular fireworks display sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara will take place at west beach (between the Harbor and Stearns Wharf). This year the Fireworks are being produced by Pyro Spectaculars and "The Show" is scheduled to last approximately 22 minutes and consists of 1500 "you know whats". Viewing is open to everyone and free of charge. Food and Drink Throughout the day you can come down to the beach and enjoy the food, beverage and craft vendors along... Read more

Tags: 4th of July santa barbara, santa barbara ca 4th of july, santa barbara fireworks

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Jun 21st	Happy Father’s Day from Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice
2009	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

  Happy Father's Day Read more

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Jun 5th	What’s In and Out with Regards to Santa Barbara Real Estate in 2009
2009	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

What's In and What's Out for Home Buyers and Sellers here in 2009? A lot has changed here in just 12-15 months with regards to how home buyers and sellers are approaching real estate here in Santa Barbara CA. This got me to thinking about some of these noticeable changes that I wanted to share below. What's In Buyers that were waiting on the sideline. Those that had been waiting out the market transition to finally get off the fence are starting to do so.  For many, price benchmarks have been reached and pending sales are jumping. Smaller home renovations. Many sellers are... Read more

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Apr 23rd	Are Trulia and Zillow and Realtor.com the Best Place to Search for Santa Barbara CA Real Estate? – NO!!
2009	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions

Over the last year I have been in contact with numerous people that have been spending their time searching for Santa Barbara Real Estate on sites such as Trulia.com, Realtor.com and Zillow.com.  To me this is understandable since they are all powerhouse sites if you will, have loads of advertising behind them and overall do a pretty OK job for certain things. The problem I have with being a consumer/customer is that these sites represent a sort of Wal-Mart approach...meaning they try and do cover most everything, but not in the greatest depth, detail, expertise and accuracy.  Sure, if you are... Read more

Tags: realtor.com homes for sale santa barbara, trulia santa barbara real estate, zillow homes for sale santa barbara, zillow santa barbara real estate

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Mar 31st	A Few Noticeable Real Estate Trends That We are Seeing Here in Santa Barbara, California – April 2009
2009	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

1.  Borrowers are still having a harder time getting a mortgage. During the housing boom from 1999 to 2006, mortgages were more than easy to obtain by almost anyone.  Today, the daily news now shows that these risky lending practices have come back to bite the companies who profited from millions of bad loans, and many of the larger mortgage companies (including giants such as Countrywide, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) have landed on tough times.  As a result, U.S. banks have tightened their lending standards and for the most part are still hesitant except for very well qualified buyers... Read more

Tags: santa barbara outdoors, santa barbara real estate agents, santa barbara real estate trends

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Mar 28th	Is Zillow’s “Zestimate” a Reliable Guide to Your Santa Barbara Home’s True Value?
2009	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions, Seller's Resources & Advice

Over the last several years, the prolific amount of real estate information on the Internet has allowed the consumer to gather a lot of valuable information on their own.  Many of these tools have educated both buyers and sellers in whatever stage they might be in with regards to potentially buying or selling a home. One popular tool that I have run into as well and that has been brought to my attention by several clients is "the evaluation tool" which allows homeowners to receive an "estimate" of their property's value.  The best known of these tools is probably the one... Read more

Tags: santa barbara home value, santa barbara real estate agent, zestimates, zillow home value

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Sep 15th	Where is the Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Today?
2008	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

Questions that are asked of me quite often these days are..."How is the market doing right now?...or Where do you think we are with the real estate market here in Santa Barbara?...or Do you think we have reached the bottom with the real estate market in Santa Barbara?" As the Santa Barbara real estate market continued its torrent pace from 1998 through 1996, there were many "experts" along the way that predicted the peak at many various stages.  Some as early as 2001 and all points in between up until 2007.  Obviously none of them were correct until the early months of 2007. Now on the flip-side of... Read more

Tags: real estate in santa barbara, real estate market in santa barbara, santa barbara real estate, santa barbara real estate agent, santa barbara real estate market

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Jul 4th	Are $5 Gas prices effecting Santa Barbara CA Realtors and/or their clients?
2008	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

Everyone has been talking about the continuing rise in gas prices we have experienced here in the first 6 months of 2008.  If you are not one of us, then you are on a wonderful extended vacation somewhere abroad...hope you are having a great time!!! In California, with our higher taxes on gas and higher costs of producing cleaner fuel, we see some of the highest prices in the entire country.  So where does this put Realtors here in the Santa Barbara area who depend on their vehicles every day as part of their job to look at the inventory and to drive clients around. Additionally, what are... Read more

Tags: realtors in santa barbara, santa barbara ca realtors, santa barbara mls, santa barbara real estate agent, santa barbara realtor cars

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Jun 26th	Little Known Advantages of Blogging Realtors – Santa Barbara and Montecito CA.
2008	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions, Seller's Resources & Advice

A few years ago blogging was almost an unknown in the real estate business. Here and there a few Realtors and other real estate professionals were blogging, but not to the extent that is seen today.  In the Santa Barbara and Montecito CA areas, there is currently very little blogging done by Realtors. To me this is very interesting since the use of the Internet continues to expand as THE MAIN TOOL (an often the main starting point) for buyers and sellers to search for homes, gather information about areas, learn real estate tips and meet potential real estate agents. For most buyers and sellers, I feel... Read more

Tags: advantages of a realtor blog, real estate blog montecito, real estate blog santa barbara, real estate blogger santa barbara, santa barbara blogger, santa barbara realtor

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May 28th	Need Baby and Toddler Equipment on Your Next Santa Barbara CA Vacation?
2008	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

Are you planning a vacation or visit here soon to the Santa Barbara and Montecito CA areas and are worried about all the items you have to haul.  Why not Relax and let Santa Barbara Baby Company help you take care of the family. Santa Barbara Baby Company offers premium brand rental equipment and supplies. Their service is designed to help parents enjoy their visit to the Santa Barbara area.  Start your vacation by traveling with the luxury of minimized baggage.  From infants to toddlers, they'll make your stay in Santa Barbara more enjoyable.  Free delivery of baby and toddler rental gear... Read more

Tags: santa barbara baby company, santa barbara baby equipment, santa barbara baby rental gear, santa barbara ca vacation, santa barbara toddler equipment

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