Housing forecasts could grow upwards of 8-12% in 2011 says Billionaire investor.

Hedge fund star John Paulson, who made his fortune betting against the housing industry during the real estate meltdown, now sees things somewhat differently.   He was quoted in a recent conference call to investors:

"If you don't own a home today, now is the time to buy one," Paulson said, "adding that people may want to consider buying a second house or helping relatives buy one.

Housing prices, he said, will likely grow 3 percent to 5 percent this year and increase by 8 percent to 12 percent next year"  

 

 

 

Installing protective window film. Blocks 99% of UV Rays and 50% of solar heat.

This is a great way to block out much of the UV rays (99%) and nearly half of the sun heat.  Installing window film on your home can also help prevent belongings from fading from the constant sun.  Some films are virtually transparent and nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.  This also an energy efficient way to keep your home cool or warm from the elements outside.   Take a look at this "how to video" with step by step instructions on how to install this material....

 

Protect your stone or tile and prolong the life of your materials.

It's very common that many homeowners have stones, travertine, tile or other materials in their home that have never been sealed or need an additional coat.  This is an inexpensive procedure and can be performed fairly quickly.  You can purchase the sealer at your local home improvement store.  Protect the life of your stones, grout linesand prolong your investment by applying sealer.  Here is a simple "how to video" that will walk you through the process step by step.

You can set your own tile. This is easier than you think

Here is a free tip how to improve the value of your home.  Laying ceramic tile in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry is a great inexpensive way to boost your home value.  I have done this several times and it has been a fun project and pretty easy job.  You can rent a tile saw from your local home improvement store for the odd shaped areas.  Take a look at this "how to video".

Bathrooms sell homes. You will be the only one with this Bathroom in the neighborhood.

This is a great how to video.  A little creativity goes a long ways and will give you competitive advantage in your home.

SHORT SALE VS. Foreclosure.

 

 

What are the consequences of a Foreclosure vs. Short Sale?  That is a great question and should be considered before making a decision to sell.  There are many benefits to listing your home as a short sale as opposed to letting it go to foreclosure.  Today's seller should be educated between the two options and will empower them and reduce their fear if they know the difference.  Contact us for a confidential consultation.  We close over 90% of our short sales.  Trust a professional.

 

1 out of 10 homes in the U.S. are in or nearing foreclosure

I am sure that all of us know some one that is either in or nearing this situation.   We have the tools to stop the foreclosure and to save credit scores.  If you or someone you know is facing this situation, please contact us the professionals.  Please forward this to someone you know who is facing this situation.  We can get the deal done.  We close over 90% of our short sales!

 

 

 

Click Here for more info...

Here is our newest website for Short Sale info....

Image by TheTruthAbout... via Flickr

Everyone knows someone that is experiencing this right now.  We created this site to help people with one of the biggest decisions of their lives.  If you know someone that needs help, please send them our way, we will take good care of them. 
http://shortsaleyourhomeaz.blogspot.com/

This is one the best post I've seen about painting. WOW! So simple and what a difference a little bit of paint can do!

The Primary Colors!

http://www.dana-made-it.com/2010/08/home-improvement-everything-you-need-to.html

You can find this mid-range brand at Home Depot

This is an example of clean lines & nice contrasting colors

Lowe's carries this brand, good quality.

This is a great way to get the most out of your rooms and brighten up your home on a very thrifty budget.  I love these idea.  My cousin Dana, spent hours working on this and it turned out so great. Way to go Dana, (and Casey).  Keep up the great ideas.

Get your supplies handy.  The sureline edge roller is the greatest invention ever!

Quite a selection.  Don't get overwhelmed, lots to chose from.

Save money on your electric bill with this easy change!

Here is a great way to save money on your electric bill with a simple change.  Many utility companies have a program that will allow you to receive a discounted rate on off peak times during the day and a higher rate during the peak times of the day.

My company (SRP) is called "Time of Use".  We have been using this for several years have saved hundreds even thousands of dollars over the years.  We simply called the power company provider and asked them to put us on this program.  We use our major applicances in the off peach times, such as washing maching, dishwasher (pool pump if you have it) etc.

This month we saved $67 just my switching over!!  See below...

Free Tip to conserve your water heater!

Here is a "free" tip to keep your water heater running in top shape and work at it's full capacity.   YOU can do this and save yourself a $100 plumber trip charge.

 

Chances are this is related to sediment build up. A "flush" of the water heater may be all that is required.

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Follow these steps to flush your water heater:

CAUTION: The water is hot and there is danger of being scalded. Use caution and keep children and pets away from the area when flushing water heater.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Freddie Mac to auction off foreclosed Phoenix houses.

http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/clicktrack/email.php/9381869

This book will change your life!

Cool-Stuff-They-Should-Teach-In-School

Some close friends of mine Kent and Kyle Healy, wrote this book several years ago about things that they felt would have been very helpful to learn in school that were never taught to them. Things like, learning work work hard, how to make money, be your own boss, deal honestly with others, making a good 1st impression and so forth. The amazing part is that they wrote this book in High School! These are simple ideas that can be implemented into your daily life and can benefit all ages.

My son (11 years old) and I, after reading this book, began to get some bolts of creativity rush through our brains. (Forgive me while a proud Dad gloats about his son). We came up with a landscape business that he could run, this summer. Instead of playing video games all day long, he committed to get up and make some money. In a very short period of time he had picked up several weekly clients and was making regular deposits into his bank account earning more per hour than most high school kids with a car. He had caught the bug and his business was off! Check out his blog at www.cleancutlawns.blogspot.com

We all want our kids/grand kids to become smarter and more successful than us. I personally believe if we could just teach our kids to work hard, then our job as parents is a success. This book is a must if you want to propel your kids and your life to the next level. Great job Kent and Kyle! This book has changed my son's destiny. What better gift could a parent receive?

Does money grow on trees?

By far my favorite aspect of Real Estate is passive or residual income. Our parents have taught us that money does not grow on trees. They are correct. It doesn't grow on trees, but it does grow on real estate. How would it be if each month you could look into your bank account (money tree) and money was deposited from someone else, but you had not worked that day? Isn't that what a money tree does? It grows each season and then you harvest the crop (money) when it's ripe.

I have a confession to make, if I were addicted to anything the closest thing I could come to is passive income. I love working hard to acquire the right piece of real estate that will consistently pay me each month regardless of how hard I am working. At times I feel guilty that someone is willing to work so hard to pay their rent or mortgage payment and I am able to collect that from them with little to no work. This is truly my "happy place" to create this kind of income. I want you to have this to.

It's not always rosy. At times, toilets break, rents come in late, pets make messes, but every job has it downsides. These are all issues that can be overcome with good management and a close eye on your investment. The reality is most tenants are great people and take great care of the place, while 1 of 10 is the problem tenant that everyone is telling their horror story about. I really enjoy my tenants, for the most part they are great families and have been very pleasant to deal with.

So kids tell your parents to plant their "Real Estate Trees" in the backyard and start making some passive income today!

Real estate is my passion. It is fun to look at homes and "dream" about what it would be like to live in this house or what if our kitchen looked like that? Today's buyer is looking for more and more ways to get information about real estate, but doesn't want to have to bother a real estate agent with questions when all they need is a little bit of information.

I have created this site to provide more education and "how to" guides to today's buyer & seller. The goal is to empower them when the time comes to purchase or sell their home. Education is the key + action is the key to making money in real estate. It also helps us eliminate fear. Let's be honest, it is scary buying a house. I have personally done it many times and it seems that each time I get butterflies in my stomach. We don't want to make a mistake, we want to get a good value, we want to make a good investment, will my family (wife) be happy in this home. These are all common thoughts that go through people's minds during a real estate transaction.

I hope that this blog will provide you with the tools that you will need to be successful when the time come to buy or sell your property. I hope to be part of this transaction. I love real estate so much sometimes I forget I am working. Enjoy the education, more to follow...

Our 1st Investment! A decade ago.

Here is our 1st real estate purchase. Closed the deal in December of 2000. This catapulted my career and love for real estate. My wife and I purchased this home in Orange County, CA for just under $200/foot! We made $10K on our 1st deal and we never looked back!

My 1st post

I have been inspired to create this blog to help educate and to create awareness to homeowners and landlords regarding the real estate environment. Over the last decade we have seen large swings in the real estate arena. Fortunes have been made and lost all in the last 10 years. Overall. I believe that real estate, whether it is your primary home or a rental can provide the safest and greatest investment for your future.

I hope to help educate, future and current homeowners, and investors become competent regarding their decisions towards home ownership. I hope you enjoy this and that it helps you feel empowered when the time comes for you to make the largest investment of your life.