South County   ALISO VIEJO TOMORROW Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 2-4 pm come for Teacups of Love with Mom. Mothers and daughters will create wonderful memories together, while sipping afternoon tea, sharing delicious finger foods, and choosing delectable pastries. Enjoy an elegant atmosphere, while dining and creating your own spring craft. For more information you can call 949.643.6700. DANA POINT Sunday May 13, 2012 from 10:00AM to 12:00PM is the annual Mother's Day Champagne Cruise! Join Dana Wharf Sport fishing on Mother's Day for a two-hour Mother's Day Sunday Coastal Cruise aboard the newest addition to our fleet, the Ocean Adventures catamaran. This holiday trip will depart Dana Point Harbor and cruise up the coastline to Laguna Beach. Champagne, fresh seasonal fruit, juices, pas... 05/11/2012

  Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction… The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for APRIL: The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range: 2012   54 listings closed escrow              2011   38 listings closed escrow             The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range: 2012   47 listings closed escrow 2011   35 listings closed escrow The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+Range: 2012  9 listings closed escrow                   2011  8 listings closed escrow                    Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and t... 05/10/2012

Getting ready for Cinco de Mayo!!!   Salud, pesetas, amor y tiempo para gozarlos!  Happy Cinco de Mayo, everybody!  Enjoy!    05/04/2012

Mama said there would be days like these…I loved this song, and the lyrics ring very true, today.  Sometimes you have good days. Sometimes you have bad days, and other times, you feel like a failure. But I have to remind myself that it’s just all part of the business that I’m in, the Real Estate business.  This last weekend, was a tough one.  My stress level rose and my patience suffered. But as any professional, you have to accept the good with the bad and most importantly, not lose your cool.  Don’t let them see you sweat.  Just put out those fires, keep focused and breathe.  The hardest part for me is feeling like I failed somehow, even if it was completely out of my control.  I need to remind myself, that there would be days like these. Sometimes you feel great, and sometimes you f... 04/30/2012

  In the United States we are lucky to have easy access to some of the safest treated water in the world – just by turning on the tap.   We wake up in the morning, take a shower, brush our teeth, grab a cup of coffee and head out for the day. Water is an important part of our daily lives and we use it for a wide variety of purposes but do we really understand how much we use? The average American family of four uses roughly 400 gallons of water per a day at home. Roughly 70 percent of this use occurs indoors. Nationally, outdoor water use accounts for 30 percent of household use yet can be much higher in drier parts of the country and in more water intensive landscapes. For example, the arid west has some of the highest per capita residential water use because of landscape irrigation. ... 04/21/2012

  Butterflies play a critical role in maintaining the health of our environment. They help pollinate fruits, flowers and vegetables; provide food for other animals; and enchant children and adults alike with their beauty and flight. But like many other creatures, more and more butterflies are becoming endangered as the wild places they inhabit are lost to development or as they fall victim to pesticides. Here's what you can do to help bring the butterflies back: Garden for wildlife. Grow plants butterfly caterpillars like to eat. In many cases, these will be plants that are native to your region; they'll attract native butterflies as well. Consult local gardening directories or contact your nearest agricultural extension agent for planting recommendations. Choose nectar-rich plants. Fi... 04/17/2012

Laguna Niguel Real Estate Market Report-What is My Laguna Niguel Home Worth? The Laguna Niguel real estate market is going through an inventory shortage, as you can see from the graph, the inventory is down 64% from a year ago, and almost 50% from February. The demand for housing is high and the homes for sale in Laguna Niguel is very low. So what does that mean? It means that it is a seller's market! What we are finding homeowner's, even those that have to put their home on the market as a short sale, they are putting their homes on the market, and as long as it is priced right, within a matter of days have multiple offers from buyers. In these multiple offer situations, it is allowing homeowners to get the most for their home in the shortest amount of time! So if you have been wonderi... 04/15/2012

  As you know social media has taken over. I know I have done posts in the past about incorporating social media into your business, but everyday it’s changing and updating so I thought I would do a little refresher course. After researching though the internet & going over past social media post, here are 30 ways your business should leverage Social Media.   1. Look for Potential Board Members on LinkedIn. This year, go out of the norm by heading to professional social networking site LinkedIn and look around for potential board members. It is always difficult to find a cocktail of talents in a real world scenario so LinkedIn becomes a great repository where you can mine for and find board members. Whether you are looking for executive board members or a board of advisors, LinkedIn ha... 04/14/2012

  South County   ALISO VIEJO Coming up Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 6–8pm is the annual Family Fun Carnival Night for JDRF. Join us at the Club for our second annual Family Fun Carnival Night benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation! JDRF is the worldwide leader in funding research to cure type1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly and lasts a lifetime. The night will include carnival games, prizes, cotton candy, face painting and much more! Don't miss out on this fun-filled event for the entire family, and help us educate and find a cure!  Members and Non-Members: $10 minimum donation per person. Children will receive a pair of JDRF shoelaces and t-shirt and unlimited carnival booth visit. For more information or to register, please ca... 04/13/2012

Lisa goes into the confessional booth at her church and says "Blessme father for I have sinned, I have taken unfair advantage of thegenerosity of a very kind and handsome man." The priest says "is that you Lisa?" "Yes Father Leahy, it is me." "Who was the man you took advantage of?" "I can't tell you, Father Leahy, because I do not want to embarrasshim." Father Leahy asks "Was it Sean O'Malley?" "No father." "Was it Ken Shaughnessy?" "No Father Leahy." "Was it Johnny Gavin?" "No Father Leahy, I just can't tell you." Father Leahy says "I approve of your perseverance but you stillhave to atone for your sins. Your penance will be to say five HailMarys." Lisa goes back to her pew where her friend Janet asks in a whisper"What did Father Leahy give you?" Lisa replies "he gave me fiveHail Mar... 04/12/2012

    The effect of noise on humans In humans, it's been shown that exposure to moderately high levels of noise for an eight hour period can increase blood pressure and cause other cardiac issues - even if the person is not particularly consciously disturbed. Noise pollution can also cause gastric problems. Sometimes a person doesn't even realize their body is stressed by noise until the noise is no longer present - they just feel a sudden sense of relief. Exposure to excessively loud noise over long periods can also lead to partial deafness. Approximately 10 percent of people living in industrialized areas have substantial hearing loss and youngsters in the USA have an impaired hearing rate 250% higher than their parents and grandparents. Noise also lies at the root of some violence - ma... 04/07/2012

      South County   ALISO VIEJO TOMORROW , Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 7am-11:30am is the Community Spring Celebration & Pancake Breakfast. This annual celebration includes Egg Hunts, Visits with Peter Rabbit, Face Painting, Bounce Houses, DJ Entertainment & Arts & Crafts. Pancake breakfast 9-11 in Town Center. For more information you can call 949-243-7411. DANA POINT TMORROW, April 7, 2012 from 9-10am hop on down to Dana Point and enjoy a morning of fun spring time activities, which include: Children's Games, Petting Zoo, Easter Bunny Visits and a Egg/Candy Hunt for ages up to 10 years. Don't forget your cameras and empty basket to hunt for the goodies! The event is located at Pines Park & Sea Canyon Park (34941 Camino Capistrano & 33093 Santiago Drive). For more information you ca... 04/06/2012

    Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction… The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for FEBRUARY: The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range: 2012   43 listings closed escrow              2011   27 listings closed escrow             The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range: 2012   25 listings closed escrow 2011   25 listings closed escrow The Laguna Niguel Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+Range: 2012  5 listings closed escrow                   2011  6 listings closed escrow                    Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment ... 04/05/2012

By 2020, 80 million American will be over 65 years of age, 1/3 of household age 65 to 74 will be headed by women. Realtors should market to senior housing needs for seniors which include:   -Convenience to grocery stores and medical facilities -Access to public transportation -Homes that are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant or designed for aging-in-place -Proximity to social centers, libraries, universities   04/04/2012

Happy Saturday Active Rain! And happy last day of the month! Can you believe we are ALREADY done with March?! Where is the time going? That's why it is SO important that we enjoy each day & try to live life to the fullest.    I know you are use to see beach & sunset pictures so this photo is a little different.  It was taken in Northern California from a lookout spot in the Oakland Hills. Our world is so amazing, there are always new places and new things to see. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend & much success for the next month!   Bring on April!   "The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work."  ~ Richard Bach 03/31/2012

  A lady was walking past a pet store when a parrot said, ''Hey,lady! You're really ugly!" The lady was furious and continued onher way. On the way home, she passed by the pet store again and the parrot once more said "Hey, lady! You're really ugly!" She was incredibly ticked now, so she went into the store and said that she would sue the store and kill the bird. The store manager apologized profusely and promised he would make sure the parrot didn't say it again. The next day, she deliberately passed by the store to test the parrot. "Hey, lady!" it said. "Yes?" "You know."   ha ha ha! Happy Friday!     03/30/2012

  There are some real estate agents that swear by direct mail marketing and some agents that swear at it.  As a homeowner, I get other agent’s mailers and marketing pieces periodically. I collect these marketing samples not because I am interested in buying or selling real estate, but because I am interested in their marketing messages. Most agents assume that the internet is the place to be and focus the majority of their marketing efforts on on-line marketing. As much as I do online marketing I feel direct mail can be just as effective if you have the right marketing message. Here are a few examples I have gathered throughout the web of direct mailing – the do’s & the don’ts. Just Sold, Just Listed – This is the typical real estate mailing. It’s good to know that houses are selling a... 03/29/2012

  Buying a home can be stressful. As a real estate agent, you get to see home buyers at their best — that is, the joy they feel when they step into their new home. But you first usually have to see them at their worst — the stress and tension they may feel in trying to find that perfect house. That puts you in role as adviser, friend, and counselor.   As a salesperson, you might be wondering what your customers really think about the home-buying process, and what, exactly, they expect from you beyond helping them find that ideal house. The bottom line: They expect a lot. The National Association of REALTORS® conducted a survey that shows what buyers want from their agents.    Here are the five biggest expectations; 1.   Help finding the right home to purchase. 2.   Help negotiating the... 03/28/2012

    As winter begins its transition to spring, the weather will soon become warmer and our water habits will start to change. It’s natural for MNWD customers to use more water in the warm spring and summer months, but it remains critical all year long to use only the water you need. Follow these four simple steps this spring to become more efficient with your water use:   1.)    Tune-up your sprinklers: Make sure your timer is set to only water a maximum of three days per week, replace any broken sprinkler heads and adjust the spray so there is n overlap or watering of your patio or sidewalk. 2.)    Add California-Friendly plants to your garden: As you begin to replant this year’s garden, make sure to add in California-Friendly flowers and shrubs. These plants come in a wide variety of ... 03/27/2012

  Ever wanted to know what is behind those standard phrases in job ads? It is all being revealed now, just read on...   The real meaning of words in Job Ads   COMPETITIVE SALARY: We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.   JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY: We have no time to train you and you'll have to introduce yourself to your co-workers.   SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC, FUN, HARD WORKING, PEOPLE: ....who still live with their parents and won't mind our entry-level salaries.   CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE: We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up; well, we don't shave around here and wear our tats with pride   JOIN OUR DYNAMIC TEAM: We all listen to nutty motivational tapes.   MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED: You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.   SOME OVERTIME R... 03/22/2012