bnicolas' Blog: All Categories

Ever had a buyer that came to you and only wanted to buy "a deal". Their expectations were somewhat unrealistic but as a positive thinking salesperson you eagerly take on the challenge, you search for days/weeks/months then find them a property that fits their criteria exactly, in the best neighborhood in town, the exact lot size and architectural style that the client wanted and is the lowest priced active listing in a 3 mile radius. You call the client to see the property even this pickiest of picky clients can't repress their sheer joy and excitement because they've found the exact home they've been looking for. You go back to your office to write the contract and the client wants to put an offer in at 50 cents on the dollar of the current list price…

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Away from the hustle-and-bustle of Los Angeles, the city of Long Beach offers a variety of neighborhoods for potential property buyers. All of them are close to the city’s four miles of shoreline. Long Beach is located east of San Pedro and west of Seal Beach.  Besides the close-knit residential enclaves, Long Beach offers plenty of recreation, including Aquarium of the Pacific, the annual Grand Prix race, the Long Beach marathon and Rainbow Harbor shops and restaurants. Residents enjoy free recreation by simply going to the beach or walking and biking down more than three miles of paths that line the beach. The city is home to major employers including Epson America, Molina Healthcare, Scan Health Care, and Polar Air Cargo as well as California State…

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The city has good schools, great shopping and a wide variety of recreational activities. Many of its schools score high on the state’s Academic Performance Index. Furthermore, the city is home to one of the region’s largest malls in the Del Amo Fashion Center. The city provides plenty of fun by running 47 parks and scheduled activities throughout the year. Torrance homes range from simple entry level homes on its eastern Harbor Gateway region to multi-million dollar beach front property with Ocean Views in the Southwestern tip referred to as the Hollywood Riviera.  Even in a slow economy Torrance real estate listings are always in high demand.  Torrance is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and Lomita, Rolling Hills Estates, to the South.
 

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Hip Hop group, N.W.A.’s 1988 album, “Straight Out of Compton,” paved a path for dozens of gangster rappers who popularized the idea that Compton was filled with crime and danger.  While their musical talents were widely applauded, the rappers did not portend what would happen to Compton Property.  The city of Compton has had a troubled past but in recent years much has changed.  In 2006 Compton was declared an Enterprise zone and the entrance to the city which was for years a refuge for homeless has been converted into a $65 million dollar shopping center.  The city's current Mayor, Eric J. Perrodin, launched a PR campaign with the slogan "Birthing a New Compton" in 2007 in an effort to revive the self-esteem of the citizens. 

The city of Compton has a…

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Norwalk is filled with surprises, facilities, activities and a sense of community that often surprise outsiders. These elements - community activities like the annual September 16th festival, ethnic eateries, a city boxing ring, skatepark and nature center, make Norwalk real estate somewhat of a diamond-in-the-rough. So many people in the city work together to make sure Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus get to greet children each year from their sleigh. And year-round, there’s a citywide push to keep seniors and students equally active.  Norwalk is centrally located, 16 miles south of Los Angeles, but close enough to be linked to it by public transportation. Norwalk homes are bordered by Downey on the Northwest, Bellflower on the Southwest, Cerritos and Artesia… Read Full Post

More than eighty years ago, a developer drew buyers to South Gate by picking them up on a bus from different points in Southern California. These days, the draw to the city isn’t a bus, but rather the strong Latin American immigrant culture. Ninety-two percent of South Gate is Latino; only 13 percent of its residents speak English at home. South Gate, which derived its name because of its relative position to Los Angeles, continues to welcome newly-arrived residents. South Gate homes for sale average less than $300,000. It’s not only residential buyers that are interested in South Gate real estate. Commercial investors have planned a $175 million outdoor mall called The Gateway. The center will have 2 or 3 large retail stores as well as several sit-down… Read Full Post

 

Imagine living in a city packed with so many shopping options that you’d never have to leave to buy just about anything. The city of Lakewood home of the Lakewood Center, one of Southern California’s largest regional malls and other retail outlets affords its residents that opportunity.  Check out this shot of the Lakewood Center from 1950!!!     A restaurant row on Candlewood Avenue and numerous movie theaters create options for owners of Lakewood homes. The city also hosts one of the largest ice rink facilities in the Western United States and has superb public parks for family fun as well as organized activities.  Public pools offer classes, diving and water aerobics. It’s not that Lakewood merely sounds all-American; it actually stands out as a… Read Full Post

"Carpe Diem"

For some this means "Do your homework", for others it means "I have a license to rip you off and its your job to protect yourself against my evil, unethical and immoral ways"

So many shady operators out there, and thanks to the internet they are all just one url into your web browser away.

Since the REW community has IMH[brown-nosing]O some of the most savy internet professionals in the world I wanted to make this post to hopefully open up a discussion that others could reference to prevent making financial, legally exposing and reputation destroying mistakes (like this).

Here are my top 10 steps to make sure you are doing business with a reputable Real Estate Firm online.  What are yours?

Don't be lazy, do your homework, no need to…

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