Sheila Rasak's (sheilarasak) Blog

So this weekend we had stunning weather at the beach here in Oxnard, CA and I decided it was time to hit the streets, check out a few open houses, and check out the "competition" and how they sit open houses in an area that I live in. This area is dominated by two agents who shall remain nameless...

Quite often I have an out of area friend who knows I'm a Realtor and either writes or calls me to see if I can shed some sort of light on various topics relating to home selling or buying. Being in real estate for over 25 years has taught me at least two things with the first being "disclose, dis...

When  we're not servicing our clients most of us are busy doing what we in the industry call "lead generation". You know, keeping our already busy day busy with generating new clients to service and keeping the ball rolling (okay, a girl can hope). I believe in using a wide variety of resources w...

Just when is "enough is enough"? Only the homeowner knows for sure! I've come across so many people with more stamina than a two year old throwing their best temper tantrum. Don't get me wrong, I understand the mentality of home ownership all too well and know in my heart that when it comes to no...

If you click this link from February of this year, you'll see what tends to be on the list of the "must haves" in buyer choices when selecting a home. http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/108701/the-10-must-have-features-in-todays-new-homes.html;_ylt=AhdKsJzXvGz9U4lFWkQ0Y8Vfo9IF;_ylu=X3oD...

"Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm"...I can't help but think of today's real estate market when I hear that song. We're especially hard hit here in California and seriously, what goes up must come down, and it did, big time. As in the song's title, "Who'll Stop the Rain", ...

I have to say since I reentered the residential side of real estate, I've not lost my momentum from day one. Each day I wake, I seem to have a day filled with the typical Realtor duties like, lead generation, lead follow up, client contact, lender negotiation, sales meetings, geo farming, etc. My...

Recently I've had the unfortunate opportunity to work with several sellers who not only have been facing financial hardship, but dealing with the side effects that the stress has put on their bodies. In my last short sale transaction, a couple who are in their mid-sixties came to me with a mounta...

I get it folks, we all like to use our friends if they hold a real estate sales license, but let's face some very real facts here: You the consumer are about to purchase what might be your largest single investment, your home. Working with an agent who has never been to that area or maybe doesn't...

You know, I have to hand it to them, those lenders are quite crafty when it comes to approval letters and short sales. I've been through H E double toothpick and back with the best of them, yet it never ceases to amaze me that they think they can cut my income without neotiating or at least gaini...