Robert Schmalz's (eaton9) Blog

I thought I would move away from Real Estate with a post that everyone should read and take as a call to arms. I heard a little bit of it on the radio and then read the article in the NY Times (Of course in the Internet versions). I am not going to go into the details of the testing if you would ...

How do you meet and capture buyer clients. Looking for buyers for a Santa Monica House or a Brentwood Condo is probably no different than looking for clients in New Jersey, Florida, Chicago or Peoria. There are a few basic ways, I will name three, and I am sure you can add to the list. Meeting Di...

HAVE YOU WASTED 3 OR 4 MONTHS TRYING TO BUY A SHORT SALE AND DID NOT GET THE TRANSACTION DONE? THIS POST IS FOR YOU In today’s Santa Monica Real Estate Market Short Sales have become a very popular vehicle for buyers to purchase a house at below market value. However there are two things to look ...

I heard the chant ” Times R A Changin” when Dylan first sang it. It was a mantra that proved so true. So now in my life of selling and marketing the mantra still holds. Marketing in Cyberspace is a whole new challenge for me. Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and maybe 20 other social media sites call...

I posted a few weeks ago about arms length transactions and to be on the look out for the "tricks of the trade" especially when it comes to you being on the line and signing the affidavit that all banks require. i received a few questions regarding this topic and I thought I would write a short p...

One of the hardest things about trying to Market/SEO a listing in one of my farms is the name of the town. There are 3 Brentwoods, one in Northern California, One in Tennessee and my area which is a western suburb of Los Angeles. So when I am trying to get the word out about a Brentwood condoo or...

This is probably the hardest job in representing a buyer. Can he afford a $3,000,000 Ocean front Santa Monica House or should he be looking for a $500,000 West LA Condo What makes this so difficult is that the banks are handing out Pre Qual letters that are in reality only a form of teaser to get...

Why do buyers let the banks and mortgage brokers get the upper hand in the lending process?  I find that amazing especially in my area, West LA Real Estate, where a Santa Monica Hous usually starts at $2,500,000 or a Brentwood Condo is well over $1,000,000 Buyers who qualify for this these types ...

I posted a few weeks ago about the need for an Excusive Buyers Contract and wouldn't you know it I have a a case where I now need it. Do I have one, yes. This buyer dragged me around for 5 weeks and we have been working short sales. He apparently met one of our esteemed brothers who said that if ...

I thought it would be interesting for members and house hunters to see some of the special listing that are available in my market, West LA Real Estate. I specialize in distressed houses so I thought I would show one of the homes in Bel Air ,that I list on my website as a Brentwood Short Sales, t...