California Home Strategies Officially Launches!

I am excited to announce that California Home Strategies is officially launched. It has been a collaborative effort to bring to you “Real Estate Strategies We All Can Understand.”

California Home Strategies will provide the most current mortgage news and finance tips. I will deliver the how to’s of mortgage finance, definitions, product announcements and just straight forward information you can count on.

I am also pleased to let you know that California Home Strategies has lined up several guest bloggers and interviews with supporting business owners. Over the next several months you will find information on the following and much more:

Tax Tips regarding how title is held for married couples in  California

Simple Credit Tips to Manage your FICO score

Common short-sale mistakes and tips to a successful short sale

Tax ramifications on a foreclosure or short sale

Landscape secrets to keep your yard looking fresh

How to balance work and life so that you can enjoy your Home

How to add hours to your day

Strategies for the Real Estate Investor

I will also have free newsletters, e-books, guides to your purchase or refinance , checklists,  market navigation techniques, local statistics, video tips, video tutorials and more. You will not want to miss all the awesome content that will hit this site. Before you leave to day make sure that you sign up for RSS news alerts. You will be notified when new material is published so you don’t miss out.

The lineup of guests is unreal. I have been very fortunate to have some of the industries best agree to contribute and share some of their secrets. We will also have contributors to help you build and maintain your wealth and preserve the equity in your home. College Funding advisors, Financial Planners, Life Insurance, down to your home and auto. I care about much more than just your mortgage. Networking tips and opportunities for you to increase your own business will also be published as my colleagues share their success stories. How they got their business to where it is at today.

I want to take a brief moment to thank Sierra Friend for her instrumental help in the development of this blog from concept to creation to a moving work in progress. I highly recommend checking  her out if you are considering a blog or are looking to take your business to the next level.

Thank you for stopping by today and getting a taste of what California Home Strategies is going to bring to you. Remember, to subscribe before you leave. You will be happy that you did that is my promise and commitment.

House Hunting! 6 survival tips to help avoid house hunting blues.

Early this morning I got up just like I do every day and went through the morning routine. Coffee, reading, breakfast with the kids etc. You know the routine. Then I left to go to work for the day. While I was leaving the house the wierdest thhing happen to me. As I walked to the car my neigh bor was walking back to his house from the mailbox. I don’t talk to this neighbor very often. He is an older retired guy. As I was getting in the car he said to me: “Go Get Em! Don’t Stop Now.” Many of you may be asking the following question; What does this have to do with House Hunting?

Survival Tips

1) Accept the support around you – Talking only to your spouse or your colleagues about the frustrations of the offer righting stagge of the game can lead to more frustration. Talk to your professionals and ask them to explain to you why responses are so slow. Why the bank does not seem to care that you are trying to do the right thing by only submitting one offer at a time. Ask your professional to explain what may be an effective offer and why is it so hard to get in contract if it is a buyers market. Your professional should be able to help you at least understand the why of the above which will releive some of the frustration.

2) – Enjoy the Hunt – Make the house hunt a game. Enjoy the process of the whole thing. Write down items that you like from each of the houses on paper. Write down the qualities you must have and the items that you would like. Talk to your partner about how to work on the projects together and what colors you would do etc. It could very well be a long hunt. You have waited 20 plus years in most cases so dont get so excited that you forget to enjoy the process.

3) – Plan for It – If you have a written plan for the process that you fit into your normal calender then it does not disrupt ytour life so much. Schedule a time that you have specifically set aside for the viewing of homes. Schedule it like you schedule the gym or work or playdates for the kids. By doing this you avoid the feeling that the hunt has taken over your life. It helps to keep you from having the feeling that your life is off track and you are unorganized.

4) Know that you will be rejected – One of the hardest things to cope with is the rejection of an offer that you thought was a winning offer and the house was “EXACTLY” what you were looking for. Just like finding your life partner it will take work. It will take practice. It will take time. You have to lose some to learn what you don’t want and what you do want. When you do find the right partner or house in this case it is a constant work in progress. There will always be something that you would like to change or work on. You have to grow with the house and as you change you will want some things to change about the house. Don’t get discouraged by rejection get Encouraged. You are one step closer to your goal.

5) – Do not be in a hurry - You cannot rush such a major decision. You will be setting yourself up for disappointment. Just think about how often you hear a person say that they rushed into marriage and it was the wrong choice so they got divorced. Divorce is painful and can change someones life. Same with your house choice. Do not rush to get a tax credit or the interest rate that you have to have. All that will be there when the house you find comes around. whether you are 30 or 50 you did not miss the boat.

 6) – Be Emotionless – Yes, I know that this is much easier said than done. A better thing to say may be “don’t have unrealistic expectations.” Many times when you write your first offer you mentally move in. This means that when it is not accepted you have to move out or breakup. The song says “breaking up is hard to do.” If you leave out the emotion of the purchase and keep your furniture in your current residence until the loan is on record the process will feel better. I am not saying to not be excited I am simply saying to control the excitement. Contain to an acceptable level for you to handle. Try not to be too high or too low as each has its drawbacks.

Now that you know what to do in order to stay away from the House Hunting Blues I will leave you with the same words that my neighbor uttered to me this morning in the 36 degree weather “Go get em! Don’t Stop Now.”