Powerful Words to Live by.....

The most destructive habit.........Worry
The greatest Joy...........................Giving
The greatest loss..........................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work............Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.... ...Selfishness
The most endangered species.....Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource.....Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"....Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome....Fear
The most effective sleeping pill...........Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease......Excuses
The most powerful force in life...........Love
The most dangerous pariah..........A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer......The brain
The worst thing to be without.... .....Hope
The deadliest weapon........................The tongue
The two most power-filled words....."I Can"
The greatest asset..........................Faith
The most worthless emotion.........Self-pity
The most beautiful attire...............SMILE!
The most prized possession.......... Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication........Prayer
The most contagious spirit.............Enthusiasm

Everyone needs this list to live by...
AND SMILE !!!

Aragon meets with California Association of Realtors Vice President & Chief Economist

I had the pleasure today of meeting again with Leslie Appleton -Young. She is the Vice President and Chief Economist for the California Association of Realtors. Our meeting focused on 2009 projections and also discussed what were the primary causes of our real estate downturn.

For the most part, it will be rough waters for the rest of 2009 and possibly into 2010 with another significant phase of the sub-prime loans becoming due in 2010.

For sellers, it could mean another potential downturn in values depending on where you live in California. In prime areas such as Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica as an example, these market areas may actually stabilize much faster than in other parts of the country, but the projections are that we may still be more than a year away from local market stability.

OK - Now for the good news! I do have an excellent financing resource that will help you navigate through your mortgage questions and YES most likely get you a great loan! You just need to know where to go instead of just assuming that you wont be able to get a loan. More and more people are coming to my open houses and saying the same thing " Great House, too bad no one can get a loan" These are the same people that most likely have not even tried to be pre-qualified. Last week , I sent two buyers to my lender and YES they did get Pre-Qualified and even Pre-Approved! It's time to get your facts straight as it pertains to your situation. Pricing is back to 2005 levels and the time is now!

Call, Text or Email me to talk Real Estate at anytime!

Selling Road Map

Let's get to the nuts and bolts of home selling.

Understanding your expectations is key for your agent to make sure that your needs are being met every step of the way. Here are some questions that can help you:

1. Communication. How important is regular communication with your real estate professional? What information is important to you? How often do you want to be contacted, and what is your preferred method of staying in touch?

2. Motivation. Why are you considering selling your property at this time?

3. Time frame. Is there a certain date by which the sale of the property needs to close? How flexible are you with the time frame?

4. Relocation assistance. Will you need information or assistance in moving to a new area?

5. Home selling decisions. Are there any other individuals who will be involved in your property sale decision?

6. Price. Do you have specific expectations as to the selling price of your property? If so, what do you base this figure on? Do you anticipate a certain amount of the net proceeds from this sale?

7. Expectations. What are your expectations from your real estate professional? What specific services and support do you look forward to receiving?

Prepare to Sell

Each property has special features that may interest buyers. Here are some questions that can help you:

1. What do you feel are the most appealing features of your property?

2. What features does this property have that differentiate it from other similar properties?

3. What changes to you see important that need to be made right away to make your property as saleable as possible?

4. What do you regard as the most attractive features of the surrounding neighborhood?

5. Are you prepared to do improvements if necessary for a successful sale?

Set a Price

The most important thing to do is to get current comparable property information. Getting sales prices from last year does not reflect current conditions. If a buyer is financing your property, most banks are looking at comparable sales over the last three months, not 6-12 months. It is important to be thinking in-line with how the banks are looking at your home to make sure that you are priced accurately and to limit potential appraisal issues once your property is in escrow.

Rod will show you properties that best compare with your property for best results.
Market sensitive pricing can be the key to maximum market exposure and, ultimately, a successful sale.

The existing pool of buyers determines a property’s value on:

1. Location, design, amenities and condition.

2. Availability of comparable (competing) properties.

3. Economic conditions that affect real property transactions.

Factors that have little or no influence on the market value of a house include:

1. What price the seller paid for the property.
2. The seller’s expected net proceeds.
3. The amount spent on improvements.

Buying Road Map

Before you start sending out housewarming invitations, there are steps you should probably take to make sure you're going to fulfill all the obligations necessary to make this new home possible.
First order of business, of course, is to find the house. http://www.rodaragon.com/ is a great place to start. On this website you can: Search the MLS, get great tips on buying, selling and getting a mortgage, and when you are ready to go to the next step, schedule a free consultation with Rod.