Arcadia

Arcadia Events – April – Santa Anita Derby 5k, Easter Egg Hunts, and More…

Looking for family fun in Arcadia in April? Try these events including the Santa Anita Derby 5k run, Easter Egg Hunts, a Junior Golf Tournament, and a Family Nature Hike at Eaton Canyon.

Friday, April 6, 2012
Teen Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
The Arcadia Par 3 Golf course is hosting a special Easter Egg Hunt for teens starting at 8pm on April 6, 2012. The best thing about it is it’s free! Bring a flashlight!

Saturday April 7, 2012
Santa Anita Derby Day 5K
At the Santa Anita Derby Day 5K, you get to run alongside your favorite jockey on a beautiful course finishing at the Santa Anita finish line. Participants receive free parking, admission, race program, and a clubhouse pass for future admittance to the Great Race Place. After the run/walk, you can enjoy live music, healthy snacks, and vendors of all kinds, while you wait for the horse racing to begin. Be sure to stay and watch the “Gateway to the Triple Crown,” the Santa Anita Derby. Find out more here.

Arcadia – Eggstravaganza!
Every year, the City of Arcadia hosts a free Easter Egg Hunt for kids. This year, the hunt will start at 11am on Saturday April 7, 2012 at the County Park on Santa Anita Ave. Make sure to get there early for this exciting event!

Friday, April 13, 2012
Kid’s Night Out
Kid’s Night Out is a special event for kids to make new friends. Snacks, movies, activities, games and supervision is provided for all participants allowing parents to have an evening out or an restful evening at home. Children must be aged 4 and above.

When and Where: Community Center 6pm-11pm
Cost: $15.00 per Child

 Saturday, April 21, 2012
Arcadia Junior Golf Tournament
Like golf and want to compete on Arcadia’s Par 3 course? Admission is only $9.50 for the event. You can register at the golf course itself. Located on Live Oak and 6^th Avenue in Arcadia.

Where: Arcadia Par-3 Golf Course, 620 E. Live Oak Avenue  Arcadia, CA 91006, Phone: (626) 443-9367
Details: Register at the course. On the day of the event, check in by 1:30pm

Saturday, April 28,2012
Family Nature Hike
Love the great outdoors? Participate as a family in a Nature Hike through Eaton Canyon in Pasadena. Board a bus leaving from the Community Center at 8am for a day of fun!

Where: Eaton Canyon. Meet at the Community Center at 8am.
Fee: $15/person

Arcadia

Windstorm Cuts Through San Gabriel Valley

A fierce windstorm cut through the San Gabriel Valley late evening last Wednesday and into the morning on Thursday (November 30 and December 1). The wind blew over trees, electric poles, and debris that caused damage to cars, homes, sidewalks, and caused power outages throughout the area. Our office had power restored early Saturday morning but many of the busier streets still had broken signals. As of Saturday, newspapers were estimating that power would be restored by the end of the Sunday.

The hardest hit areas were the cities of Arcadia, Pasadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, Temple City, Sierra Madre. Here are some pictures I took of the area as well as an interactive incident map (Link).

Arcadia

Just Sold for Full Price! Spacious and Immaculate Arcadia Townhome

This Beautiful Arcadia Townhouse Resides in a Desirable Neighborhood with Award Winning Arcadia Schools…Immaculately Maintained…Located Conveniently within Walking Distance of Markets, Holly Avenue Elementary School, and Arcadia High School, this Townhouse is Perfect for those who want to be near some of the Area’s Finest Amenities…the Intelligent, Spacious Floor Plan Features Large Windows for Plenty of Light and an Open Layout for a Spacious Feel…This Roomy Townhouse Boasts 3 Large Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths in an 1,712 Square Feet Floor Plan… The Interior Offers a Large Living Room with Fireplace and Plenty of Storage and Built-In Shelving, and a Formal Dining Area…A Roomy Kitchen offers an Abundance of Storage Cabinets and Plenty of Counter Space…The Huge Master Suite Offers Large Closet and Separate Bath…Two Other Spacious Bedrooms have Balconies and Large Closets…This Magnificent Townhouse Offers a Perfect Blend of Traditional Style, a Spacious Floor Plan, and Modern Convenience!

Arcadia

Sold in 9 Days! Gorgeous North Arcadia Home With Spectacular Views

This Gorgeous North Arcadia Home is Situated in the Prestigious Highland Oaks Area…Spectacular City Light Views…Immaculately Maintained, this Spacious Home Offers an Intelligent, Bright Floor Plan with Five Bedrooms and Two and a Half Baths in 2,641 Square Feet of Living Area…Recessed Lighting Throughout and Rich Wood Floors Downstairs…Large Formal Living Room with Large Windows to give Plenty of Light and a Fireplace with a Traditional Wood Mantel…Spacious Formal Dining Room with Beautiful Parquet Floors and Shimmering Chandelier…Remodeled Kitchen with Newer Cabinets and Counters and Spacious Breakfast Nook… Huge Family Room offers Cozy Fireplace, Built-in Wood Shelving, Wet Bar, and Large Sliding Glass Doors with Views of the Sparkling Pool and Backyard…Spacious Master Suite Upstairs offers His and Her Closets, and Fully Remodeled Bath…All Bedrooms Offer Plenty of Light and Closet Space…All Baths Remodeled with Newer Cabinets and Gleaming Marble Countertops…Private Yard is Perfect for Entertaining with Built-in Barbeque, Serving Counter, Professionally Designed Pool and Spa, and Plenty of Space for Guests to Relax…Separate Laundry Room with Sink…Huge 3 Car Garage with Plenty of Storage…A Truly Magnificent North Arcadia Home!

Arcadia

Sold for Over Asking! Spacious Townhome in Prestigious Highland Oaks

This Spacious, Two-Story, North Arcadia Townhome is Located in the Prestigious Highland Oaks Area…This End Unit Features a Bright and Airy Floor Plan with 3 Large Bedrooms and 2.5 Baths in 1,752 Square Feet…Built in 1988 with High Quality Materials, Immaculately Maintained, and Recently Painted…Spacious Living Room with Large Windows and High Ceilings…Open Dining Area with Shimmering Chandelier…Wood Floors Throughout the Downstairs…Bright Kitchen Features Wood Cabinets, Plenty of Counter Space, and a Breakfast Nook Overlooking the Patio and Yard…The Open Family Room Features Views to the Grassy Common Area and a Brick Fireplace…Spacious Master Suite Complete with Fireplace and Walk-In Closet…Master Bath Offers a Spa Tub, Separate Shower, and Double Sinks…Two Other Large Bedrooms…Large Two Car Attached Garage with Storage Cabinets…Separate Laundry Room…a Wonderful Townhouse in Prestigious North Arcadia!

Arcadia

Local 4th of July Celebrations in the San Gabriel Valley!

Celebrate America’s Independence Day with your family, friends and neighbors on July 4th, 2011! Several cities in the San Gabriel Valley Area hold July 4th events to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Come out to your local event to participate in fun family activities and marvel at the spectacular fireworks shows.

San Marino

The City of San Marino will hold its Annual Fourth of July Celebration on Monday, July 4 at Lacy Park (1485 Virginia Road). This event will feature game booths and bingo, a community parade, stage entertainment and a fireworks display at approximately 9 pm.

Entrance to the activities in the park require a wristband purchase -
San Marino residents – $5; all others $15.  Children under 2 are free.

If you only want to catch the fireworks, do what other local residents do, and set up along Huntington Drive or on the median for free.

For more information about the event, please call (626) 943-2627.

Pasadena

Pasadena’s famous Rose Bowl hosts the city’s annual Fireworks extravaganza, “Family Fun on the 4th,” the 85th year for this community tradition. There will be food, activities and a Fun Zone for children, admission to the Fun Zone will be free. The show inside the Rose Bowl stadium will begin at 7:00.

Parking Lot opens at 8:00 a.m. admission is $20 per car
The festival starts at 2pm, with stadium gates opening at 6 and live entertainment including bands, motorcycle stunts begins at 7, until the main event.

Fireworks show begins at 9:05pm

General Admission Tickets $13 each, children 7 and younger are free; active military with ID FREE entry.
Preferred Admission tickets are available for $25 each.

Tickets on sale at the Rose Bowl Ticket Booth (Gate B)
Weds. June 29th – Sun. July 3rd
10 am – 5 pm
Mon. July 4th – 10 am – 9 pm

For additional Information please call (626) 577-3101

Alhambra

Almansor Park is host to the city of Alhambra’s annual 4th of July event. Admission is free, and there is plenty of room to have a picnic and several local vendors selling patriotic goods and treats.

Parking will be at a premium. Pay lots will be available at the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA and the Emmaus Lutheran Church, and limited handicap parking will be available in Almansor Park’s lower parking lot.

Most importantly, the fireworks display starts at 9:00 p.m.
Location: 800 S. Almansor St., Alhambra CA

West Covina

This 4th of July celebration is to benefit The Muscular Dystrophy Association. There will be carnival rides, games, and food from 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. There will also be live entertainment by Sangria from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Fireworks show to follow.
Location: 1625 W. Durness St., West Covina 91790
Entrance fee $1.00 beginning at 2:00 p.m.
For additional information please contact Community Services Dept. (626) 939-8430.

Pomona Fairplex

This fireworks show starts at 9:20, and is preceded by a wild Monster Truck and motocross stunt show.

Location: 1101 W. Mckinley Ave., Pomona 91768

General Seating $15.00
Trackside Bleachers $17.50
Reserved Box Seats $19.50

Children 2 and younger FREE
Buffet at the Top of the Park $45

For additional information call (909) 623-3111 or visit their website.

Arcadia

Sold for Near Asking Price! Stunning and Luxurious in North Arcadia

This Beautiful Highland Oaks Home is Situated in an Area of Prestigious North Arcadia known for both its Excellent Schools and its Serene, Natural Environment…The home offers a Huge Front Yard and Spectacular Mountain Views from the Outside…An Intelligent, Bright Floor Plan Complete with Large, Floor to Ceiling Windows that Bring in Tons of Natural Light and take Advantage of the Beauty that Surrounds the Property…With 4 Spacious Bedrooms and 2.75 Baths in 2,731 Square Feet of Living Area, the Home Offers an Open Feel and is Situated on a Huge, Flat 14,940 Square Foot Lot…Newer, Hardwood Floors throughout the House…The Living Room features High Ceilings and a Stone Fireplace that Completes the Room…the Dining Room features Wall-Height Windows and Views of the Yard…A Roomy, Remodeled Kitchen opens to the Family Room and is complete with Newer Cabinets, Plenty of space on the Gleaming Granite Countertops, and Stainless Steel Appliances…the Spacious Family Room features Vaulted Ceilings, Large Windows, and Brick Fireplace…Two Master Suites that both include a Private Yard Area and Baths with Double Sinks…Separate Laundry Room…Backyard Features a Huge, Sparkling Pool and a Large Patio Area that is Perfectly Suited for Entertaining…Truly a Wonderful Home in Arcadia!

Arcadia

Closing Your Sale the Easy Way

Even though every transaction has unique challenges, there are ways you and your agent can make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible to get you to an easy closing.

Eliminating Surprise Costs and Issues
Throughout the escrow process, sellers will provide both reports and disclosures to a buyer that are either required by law or used to ensure a safer transaction. The 3 reports that a seller will typically provide are:

1. Natural Hazard Disclosure – Consists of a series of maps showing if the property is in a special hazard zone such as an earthquake zone, a flood zone, or a high fire severity zone.
2. Preliminary Title Report – Shows any issues affecting the title of the property. This will show shared spaces (like a shared driveway), utility access, and most importantly the report will show current loans, mechanic’s liens, or judgments against the property.
3. Termite Report – A detailed report showing evidence of termite infestation. This will also show required repairs to damaged areas if there are any.

Many agents will order these reports once an offer is received or accepted but I always advise clients to complete the disclosures and to order these reports right when the property is listed, before there’s even an offer. This means that before you even begin negotiations on an offer you are aware of any issues with the title of the property and have calculated the cost of the termite work. It’s not uncommon to discover a lien that was not cleared correctly or an unexpected issue on the title of the property. Most of the time, these issues are easy to address but they require time to do so, making it essential to know as soon as possible to avoid delaying the sale. Another benefit is that you can provide these reports to the buyer the day they accept and possibly shorten some of the contingency periods. Plus, all the reports are free, even if you don’t close.

Knowing the Areas of Possible Delay
The two most common sources of delay in a real estate transaction are the loan approval process and obtaining the HOA documents for a condominium complex, townhouse complex, or a planned community. One of the most important duties for an agent is to keep the transaction progressing, especially in these two areas of delay.

Overestimate the Time Needed to Move and Clean the Property
A common issue that occurs before closing is that physically moving takes longer than expected and the owner needs additional time to move and clear the house. When that happens, it becomes messy because now the buyer is paying the mortgage and may request to be reimbursed, he may have already given notice to his landlord, or he may have to reschedule the moving vans, or even furniture and appliance delivery.

My best suggestion is to hire professional movers and to overestimate the time required to move, especially if you’ve lived in the home for a long time. My clients who sell always tell me how much stuff they didn’t know they had. Also, homeowners have a duty to leave the property clean and free from debris, so also make some time to take care of that as well. The last thing you want to do is to have to go back to haul away debris during your move to your new home. The smoothest moves have always happened slowly, with the owners starting from the offer acceptance date with throwing away or donating unneeded items until the contingency removal date when the real packing begins.

Lastly, before you leave your former home, forward your mail, stop all utilities, say goodbye to your neighbors, and if you had a good experience with your Realtor, don’t forget to recommend him to anyone you know, he’ll appreciate it.

Happy Moving!

Previous: Offers and Negotiation: How do we make the most out of every offer?
Table of Contents: Mark’s Selling Guide

Arcadia

The 5 Most Important Factors in Negotiating an Offer

So you have an offer on your home, great! What’s important in the offer and how can you make the most of it?

The Negotiation Starts Before the Offer is Written
The truth is that even though two offers that may look exactly the same on paper, they can have very different amounts of negotiating room and very different chances of even closing. It’s important to understand the buyers who are making offers on your property more deeply than just financials and a loan approval. A couple good starting points are:

1. Why are they moving? Are they upgrading/downgrading? Why? Is it because they have a new baby on the way or because their youngest just got married and they’re downgrading from a larger home? Are they moving because of a job transfer?
2. Why did they choose your specific home? Is it the area? Are they moving for the schools or a single school in particular? Do they have relatives nearby? Maybe even on this street?
3. What do they do for work? Are they self-employed or do they work for someone? Where is their place of business?
4. Do they have a timeline? Maybe because of a job transfer or because of a new baby on the way
5. Have they made a lot of offers? On which particular properties? Why did they not get those properties? Your agent should know why that property sold, a rough idea of how much activity was on that property, and how their offer compared to the offer that was eventually accepted.

These questions can serve as a starting point for why they like your home, their motivation to purchase, and an idea of their financial ability to close the transaction. Once they do write an offer, there are a few important factors to consider when you consider an offer.

Price is Only One Factor
Most of today’s contracts are very sophisticated and usually include detailed terms that may have a substantial effect on the smoothness and ability to close the transaction. A good Realtor will address these 5 important factors when negotiating on your behalf:

1. Price, Down Payment, and Deposit – Price is always important, but the price won’t matter if the transaction doesn’t close. In today’s market, loans are much harder to qualify for, which means the amount of down payment is a huge factor in whether a buyer can even obtain a loan. Experienced agents will know down payment and income requirements for current mortgage loans and will be able to spot any red flags before you start negotiating, especially in multiple offer situations. The deposit amount also shows how committed a buyer is. If a buyer intends to complete the transaction and the deposit goes towards the down payment, why not request the largest deposit possible?
2. Contingencies – Buyer’s will have a period of time, 17 days by the standard C.A.R. contract, to inspect the property for any defects, request any repairs to be done, obtain an appraisal and to get their loan approved. During this period, the buyer can cancel the contract for the reasons above without risking his deposit. Usually, the shorter these time periods are, the better it is for the seller since once these periods are up, they can feel safe planning their next move. Sometimes buyers will make offers contingent on the sale of their home, which typically isn’t favorable for sellers.
3. Condition of the Property – The standard contract we use in my market states that all sales are AS-IS. However, in the majority of all transactions, a buyer will do an inspection and request repairs to be done on the property. Sometimes these can be minor repairs but there are many cases where these repairs will cost thousands. This is another instance where a little bit of foresight can save you money. If your real estate professional knows about the items in your home that aren’t in good, working condition, he can address those issues up front during the counter offer stages when the buyer is more willing to make concessions to save you repair costs later on. In some cases, you may even be able to have the buyer do an inspection and accept the complete condition of the house before you open escrow.
4. Closing Costs – Both buyer and seller pay closing costs to complete a real estate transaction. The common practice in my market is that the seller will pay their portion of escrow fees, owner’s title insurance policy, transfer taxes, a natural hazard report, mandatory termite work, and a 1 year home warranty for the buyer. In some cases, buyers will request the seller also credit some money for closing costs or in multiple offer situations, may even offer to pay for some of the costs that sellers typically pay, such as termite or home warranty.
5. Closing and Possession – The date you close escrow is when all the funds are distributed to sellers, buyers, the title company, and service people and may differ from the possession date, which is when you actually hand the property over to the buyer. Make sure these fit your timeline, taking into consideration the time you need to find your next home or rental, and the time you need to physically move.

So you’ve negotiated a great offer and now you want to open escrow. How does this whole escrow process work?

Next: Tips to Ensure a Smooth and Successful Closing
Previous: Maximize Your Price: It starts before you even get an offer
Table of Contents: Mark’s Selling Guide

Arcadia

Maximizing the Selling Price of Your Home

If there’s one key to getting the highest price for your home, it’s exposure. As with selling anything, the more customers who are willing to pay for a product, the higher the price the product will demand. In addition to the number of buyers who go through the home, the features, benefits, and condition all have an effect on what a buyer is willing to pay. Buyers who see your home as being different, unique, or special are willing to pay more for it to outbid other buyers. So the two biggest questions that your real estate agent should be able to answer are:

How do I get as highest number of people through my home to get the best offer possible?
Every qualified buyer who walks through your home is a chance to sell. This means that the more qualified buyers that visit your home, the better your chances of selling and the higher price you’re likely to get. This is where your agent comes in.

A skilled professional will have a strong real estate marketing plan to get buyers excited about your property and motivated enough to make in person visits. The number of in person showings is the key number in determining the quantity and quality of offers a property will receive. Agents need to know the numbers for specific markets in order to know when to adjust. For example, in the Arcadia real estate market, that number is 5-8 showings per week for a good chance of selling quickly. Any less and the chances of getting an offer declines, but more may mean you might even get multiple offers.  My marketing plan is specifically design to encourage as many buyers to enter and tour the property as possible.

How do I make more of the buyers who visit fall in love with my house?
So you’ve gotten the right number of showings, how do you turn more of those showings into offers? I’ve had clients who listed their home with another agent and started with over 15 showings per week and finished with less than 1 per week after being on the market for over 6 months, all while receiving zero offers. A few months later, after listing with me and preparing the property for sale, the owner received a full price offer in two short weeks.

What made the difference? Pre-listing preparation. Preparing a home for sale is one of the most overlooked and important considerations before selling your home. Preparing to sell your home is much like preparing to sell a car. Before you sell a car, you wash it, vacuum the inside, remove the clutter, and show that it’s been kept in good condition, and it’s the same with a home.

Most of the homes I list, even newer ones, need some amount of preparation to be in showing condition. The exact amount varies from home to home, but you only have one chance to make that first favorable impression on a buyer’s mind, so make sure it’s completely ready before buyers see it. Otherwise, you may risk losing that buyer who would have been willing to pay the highest price. Your agent should not only provide a list of things to do before you put your home on the market but should also be able to refer you quality professionals to get the job done, if it’s required.

Now that you’ve gotten tons of visitors and an offer or maybe even multiple offers, how can you make the most of the situation?

Next: Offers and Negotiation: How do we make the most out of every offer?
Previous: Listing Your Home: How do I get started? What are the costs involved?
Table of Contents: Mark’s Selling Guide

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