OVERCOMING REAL ESTATE LOSSES

Visit Me at My New Blog Address

2008-05-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

(This blog is continued at Whine Country Chronicles.) Now that I've conducted my virtual garage sale, it's time for a new beginning. This will be my last post on "Overcoming Real Estate Losses." It's practical to move at this time of year. You know, the time when, traditionally, real estate sales are up and inventory moves briskly. Here in Temecula, however, I may be the only person relocating--

Virtual Garage Sale

2008-05-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Even in our most desperate of times during our financial struggles while owning the apartments, we never had to sell off any of our meager belongings. Now, I guess it's the thing to do. Since I'll be moving to a new blog address in a few days, I'd like to embark on this on-line odyssey. Here are some of the valuables that I have to offer: A potted plant that was very attractive when we received

No Post

2008-04-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

No post today. I've been dealing with an appendicitis scare with my teenager for the past two days. We have some of the test results back, but not all. Right now, there's no emergency. It may be infected lymph nodes. Hope to be back here tomorrow.

Crime Rate in Temecula Increases to One

2008-04-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

We like to rent our videos from Red Box. They have them all over, but we go to the one at the grocery store.After I dropped my son off at soccer practice last night, I had to return our overnight movie rental ("Snow Buddies"). I called my husband and asked which store I should take it to. He said that it didn't matter. I was directly between two Albertson's--the one on 79 South (which has been

No Coffee? Blame the Housing Market

2008-04-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

Starbucks is blaming their lackluster sales on the rotting housing mess in California and Florida. No, it's not because there's a Starbucks on every street corner in the United States and abroad. It's because of housing.Excuse me, but how many people do you know who would give up their first born before sacrificing their cup of coffee in order to save money? I mean, coffee is vital. You can't

The Best Way to Market Your Unsalable Property

2008-04-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

Driving the back way past Whine Country and Lake Skinner toward French Valley, I noticed many properties for sale. Unusual? Nah. Most of them had signs like this one:A bit further down the road, however, this seller used a miniature billboard to attract potential buyers. It's clearly seen from the adjacent busy road (there was also a small sign that said "No Trespassing", but for you, dear

Commercial Fire Sale

2008-04-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Don't say I never gave you anything. Here are some hot REO commercial property listings from my area. Notice the impressive 0% occupancy rate on the first one.I really feel for the previous owners because we could have been in the same situation. But we didn't wait to sell off our albatrosses.Don't you all put your offers in at the same time now.$649,900Foreclosure - Bank Owned 25014 Las

Please Don't Outlaw My Utilities

2008-04-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

I'm breathing a sigh of relief because celebrities are going green--some for real. Everyone's favorite 80's mermaid, Daryl Hannah, is walking the talk:“She’s been off the grid for years. She has a small home in Colorado and a place in the mountains of Malibu. Her shower is outside. Her living room is outside. It’s a small cabin. She’s 100 percent organic. She grows her own food.“But she’s not

Blossoms in Bloom

2008-04-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for months to tell you about this, but I didn't want to spoil it before it actually happened. This is my favorite time of year here in Whine Country for one reason--orange blossoms!There is nothing like the smell of orange groves blooming in the spring. I can't imagine that Heaven smells better than this. I thought that, in year's past, it had happened in March, so I've been

Scars

2008-04-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

(This post contains information of a religious nature. For those who are easily offended by organized religion, you may want to skip down to the paragraph that starts with "Speaking of soccer". For those of you opposed to organized sports and organized religion, please exit now.)Much to the consternation of my friends and family, I have my voice back! It was so bad when I wrote the post that I

Credit Isn't Just Bad for the Consumer

2008-04-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'd rather own a small cash-based business than a large one that relies on credit from it's suppliers. It's such a shame that so many retail chains, which I've been familiar with since I was a child, are at risk of going out of business.Borrowing money doesn't just get the average Joe in trouble:. . . chains regularly borrow large sums to cover routine expenses, like wages and electricity bills.

Trying Not to Slap Them Together

2008-04-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends who read my blog tell me that they can "hear" my voice in my writing. They say that they can picture me having a conversation with them. But what happens if I lose my voice? I mean for real.Several years ago, I lost my voice for six months. It used to disappear for a few days after a cold, but six months was a wee bit long. So I saw an otolaryngologist, who put a small camera

Themes & Transitions

2008-04-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

I started this blog to show that devastating events don't have to destroy our lives. They're just a part of how our personal history will be written one day--and they serve to strengthen our faith. Most of all, I want others who have had similar experiences to know that they aren't alone, and, more than likely, are financially better off than I am.This is post 164 since last September. The theme

What Housing Crisis?

2008-04-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

I just read an article about how developers in other states are going out of business and leaving homeowners stranded in unfinished communities. This is understandable, considering that there is a major decline in the value of real estate right now. It also makes sense that builders would hold off on starting any new projects in fear that they'll be stuck with massive amounts of inventory.Well,

Does Helping Your Neighbor Help Yourself, Too?

2008-04-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

No time for an original post today, but here's a perspective about the bailout. I don't necessarily agree with all of it (like the complete innocence of buyers and the conspiracy by lenders)--I just thought you'd find it interesting (this link also has a question about gold):As Congress moves ahead with efforts to fix the mortgage mess — and head off another million or more foreclosures — a lot

Random Updates

2008-04-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, so I thought it might be a good time to update you on some things that I've mentioned on this blog. (We're watching our friend's kids--lots of fun, but I don't have time to thoroughly edit. If you find anything glaring, let me know and I'll change it.)Business Business is booming! We changed the name of our company. To accomplish this successfully, we are using both names during a

Should I Be Worried?

2008-04-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

We received this from our homeowners association for our Texas house (the following has been edited due to grammatical errors):Due to the recent hail storm, there may be significant damage to peoples' homes. The board is already aware of homes which will need to have their roofs replaced. If you need to have your roof replaced as a result of the Saturday, February 16, 2008, hail storm, you do not

The Uglies

2008-04-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's rare that I leave my house without "getting ready". I'm sure the definition of that phrase is different for everyone. For me, it means putting products in my hair, dabbing on a little make-up, and dressing so that I don't like I just rolled out of bed.The entire process usually takes me about seven minutes. Actually, it could take me much longer, but I only get seven minutes to complete my

Whine Country Deals

2008-04-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

I owe an apology to a reader who left me this comment a few days ago:Another Investor said...OK, so how much does a decent horse property in Whine Country cost now? THAT would be worth moving for...I meant to respond, but then I forgot. So, to make amends, I'm giving the comment its very own post--right here, right now.I have many items to write about lately, and I try to put my ideas down as

GreenPoint Wants to Know: Trouble With Your Payments?

2008-04-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is on the GreenPoint Mortgage service web site (GreenPoint doesn't exist anymore, but Capital One offers access to that site to continue it's financial services, like paying your mortgage online):Are you having trouble making your mortgage payments?We may be able to help. ; )If you are having difficulty making your mortgage payments due to circumstances beyond your control (like the

Beans, Beans . . .

2008-04-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

I had a more serious real estate post for today, but, frankly, I'm tired of being so somber this past week. I've been wanting to tell you about a new addiction that my family has--especially my young children and my husband.It's not a computer game. It's not Sudoku (my husband got over that as soon as I bought him the giant book full of puzzles). It's not a toy. It's not drugs or alcohol, thank

Smokin' Deals

2008-04-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

(If you've accessed this blog for the first time today because you've heard that it's entertaining and witty, DO NOT read this post! Click on any other link in the Archive column on your right.)I wrote another reply in the thread about my blog on the San Diego Creative Investors Association yesterday, and someone asked me for examples to support my statement about breaking even or flowing

Who's Paying Your Blogger?

2008-04-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

In my posts, I frequently give you links that apply to the topic. I imagine that you click on them to see what the heck they're about (if I didn't tell you already). If I ever promote a product or service, you may think that I really believed in it. But what if you found out that I was getting paid to slip those links into my blog . . . and I didn't tell you?This recently came my way:Blog for Pay

Biggest Loser

2008-04-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

I thought that, once our CPA completed the taxes, the total of how much we lost would be clear. Well, it's just not that simple. After seeing what he had to do, it confirmed for me that I would never try to fill out my own returns again (I used to do it before we started buying rentals). It's not just the fact that each of our returns (for various LLC's, state taxes, business, personal, other

Auction House Advice

2008-03-31T08:29:00.000-07:00

(Update for "Heard It Through the Grapevine". Here is my reply on the SDCIA message board.)I received this message from a friend today:Hi Carol,Here is the link for the home auction that I was telling you about on Saturday. I would like to get your thoughts on this.REDC (Real Estate Disposition Corporation) Thanks.This was my reply:We've never been to an auction house event before. The only

Working Both Sides

2008-03-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was faced with these headlines from the business section:~Egg McMuffin inventor Peterson dies~Housing advocates protest Bear Stearns bailout~New home sales fall to 13-year low~Mortgage bankers cleaning up mess they made~Too soon to look for housing market bottom~Court: Accounting doomed New Century~Economy nearly stalled at end of 2007 ~Oil tops $107 ~Bus tours show off

Heard It Through the Grapevine

2008-03-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

When I first created this blog, it was all about the traffic. How do I start a support group if the investors who need support don't know about me? So, I would poke around on other blogs and leave relevant comments that included my site address. This was all fine and dandy until I was pegged as a flipper and enemy #1. That wasn't accurate in any way, but it happened nevertheless.For those reasons

Glutton for Punishment

2008-03-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

I haven't written about real estate for a few days. Gee, I wonder why that is? I made the mistake of reading all the bubble blogs on the same day (the kids are on break, after all, and I had some serious catching up to do). How much of "the economy is melting and real estate is worthless" can a poor soul take? Sometimes I have to slap myself (quite literally, I'm afraid) in order to snap out of

R.I.P, Honey Bee

2008-03-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry MamaE, but the exterminator came out this morning. Your dreams of running a raw honey operation from your backyard and chewing beeswax gum have been dashed.For the deal of $150 (he charged me $200 last time), the bug man returned to finish the job he started in November. I tried to get him down to $100, but no can do. He said that, to keep them out this time, we (read: husband) should spray

Great Selling Point: FREE Honey!

2008-03-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Who says that there's a bee shortage?Family has so many bees living in walls of home that honey drips out, discoloring wallpaperAssociated PressLast update: March 12, 2008 - 9:45 PMSAN MARINO, Calif. - The situation at the Stathatos house on Virginia Road is getting sticky. So many bees live in the walls of the stately Tudor home that honey drips out of the walls, discoloring the wallpaper in the

A Promise that Lasts Forever

2008-03-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to focus on real estate, the economy, or even our business when we are so close to Easter. Last year like now, we were still debating whether or not to keep our apartment buildings (even as they were listed with agents). We would be convinced to sell them because we had been paying into them every month since the closings in 2005. Then we'd hear the promises of our property

I Just Have the Sharpest Scissors

2008-03-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

I did something yesterday that I haven't done in years. I took my three youngest boys to the barber.I usually cut their hair myself. Even though we are on Easter break, I find myself busier than ever. One reason is that I have a list of tasks that I need to complete for our promotional products business. We just fulfilled a huge order for several stores in San Diego (YIPPEE!). Our new strategy

Attempt to Flip and Go Broke

2008-03-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

My friend (the same one we traveled with--yes, the couple still talks to us after spending four days straight attached to our hips) told me about a commercial he heard on the radio for the "Flip and Grow Rich" program. I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it yet, but I assume it has something to do with Armando Montelongo from A & E channel's "Flip this House."Regardless of who is behind

Are You a Guest or a Host?

2008-03-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

I had another adventure this weekend. It wasn't a vacation like last weekend, that's for sure.My friends, who moved to Virginia, had bought a preforeclosed house in Temecula before we met them (because if we knew them at the time, we would have tried to talk them out of it). They were trying to save the house of a couple with a young child. The agreement was that my friends would buy the house

Perfect Present

2008-03-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

After spending fifteen minutes an entire week searching for the perfect present for my husband's birthday this weekend, I think I finally hit paydirt. This shirt says "B4 you even Ask..." ~Yes, these are all my children and they're awesome! ~Yes, we have television; we just don't need it! ~No, this is not some sort of daycare; it's 24/7! ~Why should we fix it if it's not broke? ~Yes, we know

Things That Make You Go "Huh?"

2008-03-13T07:08:00.001-07:00

I've been busy for the last week (well, except for my little vacation) being inundated with information about an inane verdict by a California judge that homeschooling is, technically, illegal. Huh?I would give you a link right about now, but the information that I've received has been pieced together slowly and isn't all in one place. There are many facets of the

Thanks to the US Dollar, NYC Real Estate is Hot

2008-03-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

Isn't New York real estate always hot? Now our dwindling dollar makes it especially appealing to people who don't live in this country.Many worry that the real estate market in the US will never recover. However, if foreign businesses and private parties are dumping millions of dollars into New York properties, I'm confident that we don't have much to worry about. I'm more concerned with

Unreality TV

2008-03-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

My disdain for the media's slanted views has been revealed many times on this blog. It takes much effort to read or listen to a news article and then be forced to decipher where the truth lies. I need to pay attention to what the political views of the station or site owners are, the personal opinions of the journalist, what sources are used, etc, before I'm able to interpret the information

Adventures

2008-03-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered."--G.K. ChestertonA few weeks ago, friends invited us to vacation with their family in Yosemite National Park. Since I'd rather die a slow and painful death than camp--especially in the freezing cold--we decided that we would go in together on a cabin rental inside the park. My

Having a Housekeeper Is Overrated

2008-03-06T06:48:00.000-08:00

As I ran around the house throwing things under beds and into closets, my options for hiding our junk were limited. You see, I was getting ready for the housekeeper.No, I wasn't embarrassed that the housekeeper would see a mess in my home. I would put items in their places (or at least out of the way) so that she would be able to do her job. I didn't want to pay someone to "neaten" up my house. I

Why Are Mortgage Rates Jumping?

2008-03-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

I sit here staring out my window and appreciating the flowering plum trees in full bloom. It's so green here because of all the rain this season, but the flip side of that is the overabundance of weeds--everywhere. I haven't noticed if any of the foreclosures in town are suffering from too much overgrown grass rather than the pervasive yellow, dying lawns. I'm hoping that someone will buy them

Throw Aways

2008-03-04T06:16:00.000-08:00

Rarely a day goes by that my baby doesn't throw something of value into the trash. It's our fault. We never can resist the urge to teach our toddlers where the "trash" is. It's easy to pick up a piece of wrinkled paper left by one of my older children, hand it to the baby, and say, "Go throw this away for Mommy, please." They gladly run over to the trash and, on tiptoes, watch it fall as they

VeggieNet

2008-03-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

(My eleven-year-old thought of the title of this post when I told him what I wanted to blog about.)Well, we've finally entered the 21st century. I now have a faster Internet connection! I'm not sure what it's called, but it goes through our cell phone service provider. It's cheaper and faster than satellite. My husband and son attached a little cell phone-looking device, called a "card," to my

I'm Free Again!

2008-02-29T05:27:00.000-08:00

Congratulate me! My husband bought a new old car yesterday--finally!After looking for months at many different models, he decided on a '97 Lexus with 172,000 miles on it. The owner was asking $5,750. The Kelley Blue Book was $6,400, and my husband negotiated down to $5,000. Since this Lexus model was made by Toyota, we know that it'll last for several more years. I'm really surprised by how

Growing Pains

2008-02-28T06:20:00.000-08:00

As you know, my husband and I started a promotional products company last year to help us overcome our real estate losses. We have been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of opportunity available to us. It's just a bit too much.To get our feet wet, we took on many very small accounts here in Temecula. It's great to get to know these customers and work closely with them (that's my husband's job), but

Foreclosure Auction

2008-02-27T06:35:00.000-08:00

How would you like this job? Would it be worse than being an undertaker? It's kind of depressing to make the final decision as to when a person's home is taken away. It's true that the auctioneer wasn't the one who decided to borrow more than he could afford and then not make the payments. Yet I wouldn't have warm fuzzies at the end of every work day after officially taking kids' homes away from

Neighbors, Part II

2008-02-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

We moved to that old house by Jack Murphy Stadium after escrow closed and quickly learned that there were no "parents" at the home across the street. The men were independent and in their mid-twenties sharing a home--and they were anything but quiet. We got along very well with them, being in our twenties ourselves. However, it was a constant loud party atmosphere. One day they came over and

Neighbors, Part I

2008-02-25T06:55:00.000-08:00

Back in the day when houses actually cost money, the adage was that location was the determining factor in the value of real estate. I'd like to add that the type of neighbors also plays a role in whether or not a buyer finds your area attractive.We've had our share of unique and interesting neighbors in the various places that we've lived. Most of the time, we don't know who we're going to get

Owned By Credit

2008-02-22T06:39:00.000-08:00

Coincidently, I found two news articles about credit cards yesterday. This one is about some of the bad card policies out there. While this story explains legislation that will provide consumer protection against unscrupulous credit card practices.I think I'll go back to my college and professional employment days (do I even remember them?) to perform some analysis on these news stories. It's

Frugal Tips

2008-02-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was asked by a reader to provide some frugal tips that I've found useful in my everyday life. I don't consider myself frugal. I'm just cheap. With all the money that we lost in real estate, I don't have the luxury of buying much of anything. I'm allergic to spending money on stuff that I don't need. My children have taught me that shiny new merchandise in the store mysteriously

Where Will My Stimulus Money Go?

2008-02-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

I'm sure the thought that my family will make a killing when the government hands out free money has crossed your minds. I don't know how much we'll receive, but early reports indicate that we may get as much as $3,300 ($600 for each of us plus $300 for each of the seven dependents). Do we have to stand in line for that or will they just send it to us? I hope the check clears.Anyway, does the

Oh, Cow Pie!

2008-02-19T12:06:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling bad about my last post. I'm a relatively consistent person, who would rather die than break a commitment. Even though I really only have to answer to myself, I promised that I would write a "column" every Monday through Friday. Fortunately, at this point in my day, the planets have aligned and the clouds have parted so that I have an opportunity to jot something to publish now.I

Rotting Mess

2008-02-19T06:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the posts I write come easily--with many waiting in the queue for publication. Sometimes not. This is a "not" week--already. I've enjoyed waaay too much birthday (nod to the Berenstain Bears) this past weekend. It's been a continuous celebration, and now I'm tired and tapped out. I can homeschool and care for the kids. I can help run our business and the household. I can go to the

Up, Up, and Away . . .

2008-02-16T21:56:00.000-08:00

Sorry, folks, no time to post today. We're going up to play in the snow and we're leaving soon, so I have to get myself and several children ready. I'm not used to bundling them up for this type of activity, so they may end up looking like homeless Pillsbury Doughboys.I did want to update you on my friend who used the How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days program. She sent me an e-mail stating that

How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days

2008-02-15T06:42:00.000-08:00

In November, we had a book club meeting for the kids at a house of an acquaintance in Hemet. She has a 1900 square foot home on 2-3 acres, with several out buildings. She said that they'd been trying to sell the house for a year, but no one was coming by to look at it anymore. They'd had it listed with an agent and then went FSBO.In January, the same homeowner sent out a group message asking for

Where's the Berry?

2008-02-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

Happy St. Valentine's Day wishes to all of you! I'm blessed to have the love of my life to share this day with--I hope the same is true for you. My kids have a party today, so we had to stop at Wal-Mart last night to buy some candy to attach to the cards that they made for their friends. When we pulled into the parking lot I thought that it was either Christmas Eve or that they were giving

Durability is #1

2008-02-13T05:58:00.000-08:00

By society's standards, we have a big family. If any of you have friends--and, no offense, but that's a big "if" for some of you--you know what it's like to levitate to people who have similar interests. So, we find ourselves surrounded by families with six, seven, eight, and ten children. This is normal for us. You can imagine what's it's like when we have a get-together at our home. If I invite

Am I Supposed to Disclose That?

2008-02-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

I did a double-take when we passed by. I was innocently enjoying a gorgeous drive through Whine Country when I saw a "Bank Owned" add-on stuck to the Realtor's "for sale" sign. It was a very well-maintained two-acre (or so) estate. Don't get me wrong. I would bet that many of the estates for sale in this area are REO, but they just don't advertise it. I have a very hard time determining which

Misc. Non-Post

2008-02-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

It was such a BEAUTIFUL weekend here in Whine Country that we played worked hard on the property all weekend. The temperature has peaked in the mid to upper 70's for the past few days. It's been like Grand Central Station here since Thursday--and I wouldn't have it any other way. Thus, I had no time to develop a post for today. Instead, I give you this picture of a portion of our view. The hot

Good News?

2008-02-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like the government "stimulus plan" is on it's way to final approval. But is the part about raising the maximum government-sponsored loan limit to $729,750 really a good idea? It's true that these types of loans will enjoy lower interest rates, but will they help the homeowners already in distress? I don't think so. I think these higher limits will "help" others get into houses

Where, Oh Where, Could My License Be?

2008-02-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

I lost my driver license. (No, I didn't make a mistake--it's "driver license.")My husband brought home our one vehicle early enough for me to take four of the kids to Wal Mart yesterday. After seriously contemplating every item in the store for hours, I loaded up the carts Beverly Hillbillies style, and headed for the checkout lanes. When everything was totaled up, I swiped my credit card (

Don't Leave Home Without It

2008-02-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

As a mother, there are certain favorite items that I never leave home without. Many of them also come in handy for me as a business owner and real estate investor. Every mom has one or more important necessities that she has by her side at all times. Below are some of the things that I consider indispensable.Baby wipes clean everything. As a matter of fact, I think I use them more for purposes

Where Have All the Stories Gone?

2008-02-05T07:20:00.000-08:00

I've noticed something strange in the headlines for the past few days. I couldn't find one article about real estate. Not one. After digging around, I found this article last night. But it's so unworthy of being news and so boring that it doesn't really count. There was the story in the business section about obscene ads displayed in the mall. Why target one retailer? Hello! They're everywhere in

Car Woes

2008-02-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

(Spell check doesn't seem to be working on Blogger lately. I do my best, but I apologize in advance for any glaring spelling errors ; )We need a new car. Not a "new" new car, but an "old" new car. We've only bought three brand new cars in the course of our 23-year marriage, and don't ever intend to do it again. Can you say "waste of money", boys and girls? At least it is for us. We drive our cars

Tax Rules

2008-02-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy that it's Friday--and I'm more tired than ever. You see, the "little" business we started less than a year ago is exploding (that's why I don't have the total of our losses yet--it may be a while). We are a full-fledged promotional products company now and work with any item anywhere. Our compressed tees are becoming the current rage in the other areas that we've expanded to. And, to

Boy, Oh Boy!

2008-01-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

No time for a real post today. We've been very busy acclimating our new male Doberman to our family!! Yes, he's here and he's a perfect fit. Although he looks exactly like one of our dogs, he's even larger than she is. They haven't stopped playing since he got here. As in most relationships, our girls are bossing this boy around. Our oldest female has been barking at him like an angry seal to

Foreclosure Pets

2008-01-30T07:03:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we're going to meet a pure-bred Doberman who may end up in our family. It was an unexpected surprise when this lead came my way. We aren't looking for another dog, but having a male Doberman is something that we've been considering for about a year now. Just my kids and I. My husband loves all animals, but isn't sure that we need yet another big pet. After all, he humored me about the

Gimme A Break!

2008-01-29T06:54:00.000-08:00

Here is a bit of old news from last week. I had seen it on the MSNBC headline page, but didn't have a chance to click on it. Then, yesterday, I wanted to check out the local road conditions (not that I'm able to travel anywhere because our old Toyota, with over 250,000 miles is, more than not, dead--RIP). The combination of a fire spanning many miles and the unending rain of the last week has

And the Answers Are . . .

2008-01-28T06:34:00.000-08:00

It's Monday and I know you've all been standing around, anxiously wringing your hands together for three days, waiting for me to post the answers to these obscure fascinating MLS terms. Well, the time has finally come! Correct your own papers---and no cheating.1) FROG--Family Room Over Garage 2) TMTL--Too Many To List3) BTSA--Bonus To Selling Agent4) GLFP--Gas Log Fireplace5) WBFP--Wood Burning

Quiz

2008-01-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

It's quiz day, so find a seat, get your pencils ready, and no talking until the bell rings. Below are acronyms used in MLS ads around the country. Tell me what they stand for, if you so dare to guess (no fair searching the Internet). I'll give you the answers when I post again on Monday (try not to miss me too much for the next three days--but I'm super busy with our new business and the kids).

Inflation Causation

2008-01-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

About all I can do with these important economic terms is rhyme them with something else. Not helpful, I know, but a talent nevertheless. That's why we have people who can break down these expressions into simple explanations like this one.Let me get this straight--we may be in a recession, or headed into one, because housing and other factors are tanking, but we better be worried about inflation

A Little Too Little, A Little Too Late

2008-01-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

In October of last year, some of you may remember the complaint that I filed against our incompetent "management company" (and I use that term lightly here) with the local apartment association in Kentucky. Eight days later I received a reply stating that the Executive Committee would be meeting in a week to consider my complaint and they would get back to me. Of course, I knew that the

Whatever Happens In Vegas Stays in the Suitcase

2008-01-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

As you know, in order to help us overcome our real estate losses, my husband and I started a business about seven months ago. Last week, my husband attended a promotional products convention in Las Vegas. The rep for the association that was sponsoring the event told him to make sure that he brought something to carry all the samples that he was sure to pick up there. There would be 5,000

Recession Impressions

2008-01-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

As I sat through the long wait of filling the gas tank of my 12-seater van yesterday, I noticed that gas prices are still quite high. At the Costco on Overland and Ynez in Temecula, the regular unleaded was $3.119 (can we just round it to $3.12, already?). The damage was to the tune of $92.03.House prices are dropping. The stock market can't make up it's mind, but seems to be getting lower, yet

Your House Can Be A Movie Star

2008-01-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered where TV shows, movies, commercials, and print ads find the properties that they use for their productions? Well, lose sleep no more--location agents. Yes, real estate can be represented by a different type of agent than what we're used to. Specifically, your house can be marketed to location scouts for a variety of uses.So, if your house looks like thisor this or this or,

Want A Timeshare? Just Charge It!

2008-01-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the reader who sent this little nugget my way. How about owning this penthouse (you need to click on the "penthouse" link at the top) at an "exemplary address" in Manhattan for a week every year? The best part? You can charge it on your American Express card! Prices for this timeshare range from $40,680-$121,400. And, if you buy before March 31, 2008, you get ten times the Hilton

Good News!!

2008-01-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

After close observation and analysis of recent activity (and a reader tip), I'm happy to report that the "fake" searches linking to my site are . . . well . . . fake! The trolls have been busy gobbling up the rat bait--so now I know for sure and I won't worry about being associated with illegal activities anymore. Their "rallying attacks" and fake comments (that are so obvious I don't publish

Fake, Fake! It's Just a Joke!

2008-01-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

You will not believe the search that has brought traffic to my blog: "fake foreclosure"! This must be some kind of a joke. Who would search for a fake foreclosure? I mean, when I blogged about the businesses that I would start if a venture capitalist gave me a million dollars, it was all in good fun. I was merely creating the most absurd business ideas that anyone could ever think of (if I were

All I Really Need to Know About Investing I Learned in Kindergarten

2008-01-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

While contemplating the lessons that we all try to impress upon our children, I have come to the conclusion that investing in apartments follows the same rules as the popular book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum.(Property Managers) Share everything, even your parking lot with the complex next door.(Owners) Play fair, unless you're trying to sell a property. (

Surprise, Surprise

2008-01-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a shocking article. Not really. "Prices will continue to fall in 2008." "Rebound forecast pushed back to 2009." Well, I have even more shocking news for you, folks. I don't think we'll have any rebound in 2009. Prices may start to level out, but a rebound? No. Let's put a personal spin on an earlier market decline in order to determine how this current downturn may play out.We bought our

Feeding An Army

2008-01-09T06:58:00.000-08:00

I've stated many times that during the height of our financial crisis, we only bought food and other necessities. Last night, as I was making dinner, it dawned on me that I probably spend more on groceries alone than others spend for food and luxury items. So maybe our total output is the same as others who may not be as prudent in their purchases.As I washed the three hearts of organic romaine

Apartment Envy

2008-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, a Naval reservist friend of ours took our family and a few others on a tour of his frigate (why do I always feel like I'm cussing when I say that?). His wife invited another friend of hers. I had never met the other friend before, but I knew that she and her husband bought a 20 unit complex for around $500,000 in Tennessee a few months ago. After learning of our experience, our

It's Hammer Time

2008-01-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

Whew! It was a long descent, but I finally made it down from Friday's soapbox. I feel much better now. Well, it's January and our accountant sent us our tax organizer last week. My husband has been working on the year-ending books for our LLC's. It's time to hammer out those fateful numbers. I'm hoping to have the tragic news of our total losses to you by the beginning of February or sooner.Talk

Boyz 2 Men

2008-01-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

(Quick update: I'm still getting links from Google by people looking for "fake" pay stubs. If that's you, please reconsider your actions.)11DSome of you may be asking, "What's 11D?" I had the same question when I saw that a few hits to my blog were coming from there. I found that my blog was linked in this post (my site is linked to the word "bloggers" only). The post is about the "sub-culture"

I Stuck My Hand Where?!

2008-01-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

I had an embarrassing situation with my toilets, specifically one--the half bath. It had a permanent stain around the water line. I'd say that it was the inevitable Southern California hard water deposit, but this mark was black. Looked like a dirty toilet. I would scrub that sucker and blast it with bleach. I even used the best toilet cleaner that I've ever come across, the new Clorox one.

Would You Like Some Cheese With That Whine?

2008-01-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

(Well, I'm still being linked from Google searches for "fake pay stubs," but no one has been brave enough to explain the rationale behind needing one. What a seedy business! If I have any new info, I'll let you know.)I am so partied out! I can't even begin to tell you how many celebrations my husband, children, and I have attended, or will be attending over the course of two weeks. Don't get me

Do I Look Like an Ostrich?

2007-12-31T08:53:00.000-08:00

I feel as though I've been digging my head in the sand. I had no idea that, when I wrote my last post about liars and thieves, there was a real market out there for deceiving lenders (unless it's the mortgage brokers and banks who fabricate the proof of income).Over the last couple of days, my blog has been linked from Google search results that requested fake documentation. Here are some of the

Fake Pay Stubs?!!!

2007-12-28T06:57:00.000-08:00

Has anyone seen this web site?"WELCOME TO (web site deleted by me)NEED A LOAN, BUT CANT VERIFY A JOB OR INCOME???Or if you work on commissions and you need to insure the loan CLOSES !!!IF YOU CANT MAKE IT, NOW YOU CAN FAKE IT!!FINALLY, A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT WILL CREATE PERSONALIZED PAYCHECK STUBS INSTANTLY! We all know that it takes money to make money! But what happens when you "REALLY" dont

On the Third Day of Christmas . . .

2007-12-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

The houses that I'm highlighting here are ones which I would buy myself today if I were in a position to invest in more single family homes. If you're interested in either of the Southern California properties, and need an agent, call Jeff Rose. He's not your average agent. He's honest, nice, and smart. Best of all, he puts you in control--never the other way around. He doesn't know that I'm

After Christmas Fire Sale

2007-12-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day is over (although the 12 days have just begun), and you know what that means--stores are having huge sales to reduce their inventory so that there's room for the spring and summer items.Well, as you know, there are some great real estate bargains out there, too. I'm going to spend some time compiling the equivalent of after Christmas fire sales for houses and post it later today.

Tidbits

2007-12-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

Do any of you have toddlers? Do any of you have toddlers AND a Christmas tree? Have those with the latter decorated said tree with said toddler? We did. And this is what we got:Is this the same effect as buying all of your rentals in the same development? _____________________________________________CartoonThis is a perfect example of a marriage between a bubble blogger and me (if I could even

Inside the Loss

2007-12-21T07:46:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it's like to foreclose on a property, and I hope that I never do. But the stress that we experienced this year over our finances and failed apartments was worse than anything that we had faced before.One of our rules for investing, and that we taught others when giving presentations or personal counseling, was that you should never borrow more equity from your home to buy rental

Do You Really Want to Know?

2007-12-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

In the past few days, I've tried to respond to some of your comments shortly after I published them, but many had escaped before I could post. So, please bear with me as I play catch up today. I suspect that most of what was written was rhetorical, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Did any of the properties cash flow? From what I could gather from your posts even the 5 core properties appeared to

T-I-C, Anyone?

2007-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

(Tomorrow's post will respond to some of the questions and statements that have been published as comments over the last few days. Stay tuned . . . )For some unknown reason, I've been thinking a lot about T-I-C's today. No, it's not because all of the activity on my blog has left me with involuntary facial spasms. It's because, if we had ended up with any profits from selling those albatross

Let's Recap

2007-12-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

Well, wasn't yesterday an adventure for us all? I have to say, I don't know what was worse, dealing with all the mean and vulgar comments or shoveling up the dead chickens. But it's a new day! Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and confirm what I said about bubble blogs. It was a bit disconcerting to field comments from people who, obviously, had not read my blog. I published them

Shoulda Stayed in Bed

2007-12-17T08:38:00.001-08:00

I dragged myself out of bed this morning--no choice of my own. The baby was up and, try as I might, she wasn't going back to sleep. She and I have been dealing with head colds and it hasn't been a walk in the park. I usually write my posts the night before, but I was too tired to do it yesterday. I woke up wondering what I'd write about today. It seems that all the Advent events that we've been

Predictions

2007-12-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

Not one to be pessimistic (after all, "optimism" is in the subtitle of my blog), I just have to comment on this article about NAR (the National Association of Realtors). I think their outlook is a bit more than optimistic. For the NAR to say the the market is on the verge of stabilizing, is a desperate attempt to speak it into being. Do they really think that saying it will make everyone believe

Doom and Gloom Bubble Blogs

2007-12-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

I recently found the underbelly of the real estate market downturn. No, it's not fraudulent lenders. As I've said before, I've been reading these doom and gloom bubble blogs. One is even written by a renter! This niche is new to me--really. The sad thing about these blogs is the joy in reporting how bad the market is right now. I guess they've been predicting it for quite some time and feel

Who's The Idiot This Time?

2007-12-12T06:56:00.000-08:00

If you've read some of my earlier posts, where I explain my disappointment (to put it lightly) in our choices of property managers, you'd know that I don't think too highly of them. Frankly, most have no brains or just don't use them.Our first apartment PM in KY was also the agent who sold us the slum. She was referred to us by another agent, who was trying to sell us a different shanty, as a

Our Secret's Out!

2007-12-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

Part of the reason that I'm so optimistic after such a catastrophic financial loss is the hope that our new business brings us. I told you in an earlier post that we were designing a hot new product that the retailers are excited about. We've been marketing and selling it for a few weeks now, so I thought that it was time to let you in on it, too.First, I want you to guess. What type of