Camarillo Life & Real Estate

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A Great Tool For Every Realtor: Neat Receipts

Neat Receipts: A Must Have Tool For Every Realtor



I consider myself a pretty organized person.  However, between all the business related receipts and business cards I collect each month, my organized system can fail me occasionally.

Most of us keep those business receipts tucked away until time allows us to organize them into necessary categories for tax time. And who hasn't found a few receipts faded and/or torn?

Business cards are another stack I try to attack and organize when time allows. I just returned from Blog World 2008 and with the number of business cards I brought back with me, they'll need a new Rolodex of their own!

Neat Receipts to the Rescue:   
Neat Receipts is a software and a handy scanner that can help organize and simplify your life. You can scan all your receipts, bills, and business cards into your PC while Neat Receipts stores everything in an appropriate folder on your PC.

All those business cards that are fading can now be scanned and stored in Outlook or ACT and later can even be exported to your mobile phones.

 

"NEAT Receipts is the ultimate tool to manage your business and personal finances. It scans, reads and organizes your receipts, bills, business cards and more - then stores everything in a database on your PC. Get ready for an organized, digital life!"

The price of this nifty tool: $149.95 for Neat Receipts Version 3.0


Where can you purchase Neat Receipts?
Neat Receipts can be purchased at NeatReceipts.com or you could purchase your copy at: Neat Receipts

  • Staples
  • OfficeMax
  • Office Depot
  • Amazon.com
  • Costco
  • Sky Mall
  • Buy.com
  • TigerDirect.com
  • Fry's Electronics
  • Best Buy
  • Target.com
  • Ritz Camera.com
81 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 25 2008 08:17PM

24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day in Ventura County

California Annual Coastal Cleanup Day in Ventura County




Saturday, September 20, 2008
9:00 am-Noon



Saturday, September 20, 2008 is the 24th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Began in 1985, California Coastal Cleanupthe California Coastal Cleanup Day is now one of the largest annual volunteer events on the planet.


In Ventura County many individuals, schools, and companies volunteer to participate in restoring the beautiful Ventura County coast and waterways at the same time as the rest of the Californians.


Last year over 60,000 volunteers participated and removed 900,000 pounds of garbage from beaches all over the State of California (source: California Coastal Commission).


In order to participate in this State-wide event you would need to pre-register with your local Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Planner, or simply show up at any of the drop-in sites listed below.


Please remember to wear comfortable shoes, clothes, a hat, and plenty of sunscreen.



2008 Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Day Drop-in Sites For Beaches:
  • Oil Piers: Exit at Seacliff, North one mile, meet near stairs.
  • Rincon Parkway: Meet at Emma Wood State Beach entrance.
  • Emma Wood Group Camp: Meet at Kiosk.
  • San Buenaventura State Beach: San Pedro Street entrance and follow the signs.
  • Seaward Beach: End of Seaward Avenue.
  • Surfer's Knoll: Meet at Spinnaker Drive.
  • Silver Strand Beach: Meet at north end.
  • Ormond Beach: Meet at Reliant Energy Plant.
  • Mugu Rock Beach: Meet in parking lot near rock.
  • Mandalay Beach: Meet at Basketball Court.
  • McGrath State Beach: Meet at parking lot.


2008 Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Drop-in Sites For Inland Waterways:
  • Moorpark: Meet at Villa Campesina Park. Call: 805-517-6257.
  • Thousand Oaks: Meet at Borachard Park (near high school). Call: 805-449-2386.
  • Camarillo: Meet at Mission Oaks Park parking lot. Call: 805-388-5338.
  • Camarillo: Calleguas Creek. For meeting location Call: 805-388-5338.
  • Simi Valley: Meet at the corner of Erringer at Royal. Call: 805-583-6462.
  • Fillmore: For location call: 805-524-1500 ext 321.
  • Ojai: HWY 33 turnouts between Matilija Road and South Matilija Road.
Source: California Coastal Commission

Copyright (c) 2008 By Mana Tulberg, All Rights Reserved.*24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day in Ventura County *


Image: Ca State Parks.
4 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 18 2008 09:50AM

WHY DO THE BANKS DO SUCH A TERRIBLE JOB OF SELLING FORECLOSURES??

 

Dilemmas with Ventura County Short Sales and Foreclosures

Earlier this year our Real Estate Company in Oxnard was involved in representing two past clients in Ventura County. Shortly after listing their beautiful Ventura County homes, both of our clients informed us that, due to unforeseen circumstances, they had fallen behind on their house payments. We immediately requested that their lenders consider a short sale and provided their lenders with all of the necessary paper work.

After the lenders approved the Short Sale on these Ventura County homes, we received offers on both homes. In both cases the offers were very close to the asking price. However, the lenders, in both cases, acknowledged the receipt of our offers, but did not proceed with the sale of our listings.

Eventually, both of these Ventura County homes were foreclosed on by their lenders. We ended up with dissatisfied potential buyers and home sellers who have a foreclosure record on their credit.

My active rain colleague, Lenn Harley, an experienced broker from Rockville MD, has written a fantastic article that describes the frustrations of all Realtors, Home Sellers, and Home Buyers that are involved in Short Sale transactions. Please take a moment and read this insightful piece;  

 

Via Lenn Harley:


                                                 * * * *  HARD CORE REAL ESTATE TALK  * * * *

FAX THE OFFER TO 222-555-8888.  YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY DECISIONS IN 2-8 WEEKS.

Over the past year, we've read many posts by real estate agents and brokers detailing their frustration trying to SELL foreclosure or short sale listings.

LET'S SET THE STAGE.

  • Buyer is fully approved for more than the list price.
  • Buyer is non-contingent and ready to take possession.
  • House has been on the market for more than 6 months.
  • House has been reduced in price from $379,900 to $299,000.


Buyer's Agent has a few questions about the existence of other offers and tries to contact the listing agent.  Buyer's Agent gets Listing Agent's voice mail with the instruction:  "Fax offers to 222-555-8888.  You will be notified in 2-8 weeks of any decisions.

BUYER'S AGENT WRITES AN OFFER FOR THE BUYER AND FAXES IT TO THE LISTING AGENT FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MLS LISTING. 

  • Buyer waits 3 days and calls his agent. 
  • Buyer:  "Have you heard anything?" 
  • Agent:  "No, the agent says it may take weeks to get an answer."
  • Buyer:  "Call the listing agent and tell them that if we don't hear something in 24 hours, we'll buy something else."
  • Agent:  "I'll do that and get back to you."


AGENT CALLS LISTING AGENT AND LEAVES THE MESSAGE THAT THE BUYER IS WAITING 24 HOURS FOR A RESPONSE OR THEY WILL BUY SOMETHING ELSE. 

No response from listing agent in 5 days after leaving many telephone messages.  Buyer instructs his agent to withdraw the offer and show him other properties, IF the buyer's agent is lucky.  Often, a buyer will hold his agent responsible and move to another buyer's agent.  This is one of the reasons so many experienced buyer's agent decline to work with buyers who include foreclosures in their search for a home to buy.

The above is a "worst case" scenario.  But, the result is the same in that the property has been listed for months, has lost significant value and there is a viable buyer and offer on the table that goes nowhere.

WHY DIDN'T THE LISTING AGENT RESPOND TO THE BUYER'S AGENT'S CONTACTS?  Because the listing agent:

The listing agents has no authority to negotiate for the bank.

The listing agents has no management authority to do anything other than transmit the buyers contract offer.

The listing agent has many listings from the same mortgage company and would be bogged down all day on the phone if they took a personal contact approach.

The listing agent has given the foreclosure listings low priority because the mortgage company listings pay far less than consumer listings.

WHY DOESN'T THE MORTGAGE COMPANY THAT FORECLOSED ON THE PROPERTY ACT IN WAYS THAT WOULD MAKE THESE PROPERTIES MOVE FASTER??

BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!

The mortgage company employee that is in control of the portfolio of foreclosures,

  • is NOT a real estate agent, real estate broker,
  • has never sold real estate,
  • has no understand of the real estate market,
  • does not have any experience negotiating real estate sales,
  • is a salaried employee and will receive a pay check no matter when the properties in their portfolio sell or for how much.
  • final decisions for price, terms and conditions for ratified contracts is not in the authority of the loss mitigation clerk communicating with the listing agent.
  • final decisions on contract approvals are often scheduled weekly or bi-weekly by committee. 


The primary reason these transactions are so difficult for the buyers agents, buyers and listing agents is because the neither the mortgage company nor their representatives communicating with the listing agents have no experience selling real estate.

Real estate agents and brokers sell a lot of real estate.  We know how to manage a real estate transaction.  We also know that the bank or mortgage company property owners have no experience or knowledge about selling real estate and getting the contract to the settlement table. 

  • They have never been to real estate school.
  • They do not have a real estate license.
  • They have never showed a home to buyers.
  • They have never written an offer for a buyer.
  • They do not understand the industry standards for real estate brokerage.
  • They do not understand that "time is of the essense" when selling homes.
  • They have never presented a contract to a seller.
  • They have no understanding of the real estate market.
  • They do not understand the limitations of the "as is" clause.
  • They have no knowledge of real estate brokerage.
  • They have no knowledge of condition or inspections.
  • They have no understanding of disclosure.
  • They have no understanding of presenting offers, counters timely.
  • They get paid whether or not the contract closes.
  • The bank addendum is ignorant of state required seller disclosures and consumer protections.


The skill sets required for employees of the mortgage companies for loss mitigation representatives are not transferable to real estate sales or real estate brokerage. 

FACT:   BANKS AND MORTGAGE COMPANIES DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SELL REAL ESTATE.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Lenn's Blog

3 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 18 2008 09:34AM

In Memory of Ventura County Metrolink Victims

In Memory of Ventura County Metrolink Victims


On Friday, September 12, 2008, your plans for that evening, weekend, and life were brought to Chatsworth Metrolink crasha violent halt in the collision of your commuter train with a Union Pacific train in Chatsworth, California. We all watched hopelessly as live coverage of the crash captured the brutal horror you experienced.  We prayed for your names to remain on the list of the living.   

 

 

 

 

To the 25 victims of this horrific crash and to their families:
You are missed even though we believe you are in a better place. Your family is blessed to have an additional angel watching over them now. Your loss has shaken our community and has brought us together to remember you as the outstanding citizens you were. Your life was not lost in vain; rather it awakened interest in a flawed system. Many will have to answer and we will not rest till they do.  

Metrolink injured

 

 

To the 135 injured passengers of Friday's crash:
We pray for your fast and complete recovery.

 

 

 

Emergency Workers

 

 

To the rescue personnel:
Thank you for your extraordinary efforts and may you never have to experience working another such tragedy in your life time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name Of Ventura County Victims

 


Copyright (c) 2008 By Mana Tulberg, All Rights Reserved.* In Memory of Ventura County Metrolink Victims *

 

Photos: Los Angles Times

16 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 15 2008 04:06PM

Representing Home Buyers in Ventura County REO Market

Working With Home Buyers in Ventura County REO Market



This year Ventura County's Real Estate Market, like many other real estate markets all over the Bank Owned Homecountry, presented more and more Bank Owned Homes/REO Homes to Home Buyers. It is sad, but true that as the number of bank owned homes increase home prices decrease. Recently home buyers have gradually come out of their shells and become more aggressive.

Unfortunately Ventura County's bank owned homes are represented by only a handful of Realtors. As I talk to more Realtors in the Rain, I have come to realize that most communities in the country are represented by just a few Realtors as well. Depending on the size of your community and the distribution of REOs in your community, these REO Realtors are over-worked and spread thin. Some are so busy and unavailable that once you do get a hold of these Realtors, you forget what you had called them for. LOL. I mean no disrespect to my fellow Realtors, but I am encouraged that you have been too busy to return the interested buyers' calls.  

Currently I am representing 2 home buyers who originally called our local REO agents. After several attempts and no results, these home buyers contacted me :0) They found my Active Rain posts and Localism posts very helpful and informative.

As you may have guessed by now I have no REO listings, but have written several posts for home buyers on what they should expect when presenting an offer on a Short Sale Home or a Bank Owned Home. I have changed my services and blogs with the times to match the needs of the home buyers and home sellers in my community.

In today's market, home buyers need to be more diligent than ever. To most home buyers Short Sales and Bank Owned Sales/REOs are a new approach to purchasing a house. As a Realtor, it is my job to inform the local home buyers of the changing market conditions and ease their apprehension. If not me, then who?

 

Related articles:
 
Short Sales and Bank Owned Homes in Ventura County-How They Work
Real Estate Terms For Ventura County Home Buyers
Ventura County Real Estate Summery-First Half of 2008


 
Copyright (c) 2008 By Mana Tulberg, All Rights Reserved.* Representing Home Buyers in Ventura County REO Market *

 

Search for homes in all of Ventura County

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14 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 14 2008 06:19PM

I Wore Black Today

I Wear Black on 9/11


I did not lose any relatives or friends on that horrific day. I did not know anyone personally who looked9/11 Victims upon this world for the last time that day.  But for the past seven years I have heard their stories, seen their pictures, and heard their names. Now they are all, 2974 of them, my heroes and loved ones.

On the day I lost my friends, I watched in awe their heroic acts. When the nation was asked to attend their houses of worship the next day at noon to pray and show support for the victims of 9/11, I cried so hard that the community assumed I had lost someone in the attacks. Yes, I had lost heroes who had been there all my life, but I did not appreciate the bond between us. Now they are gone and one thing I can do to respect their memories, families, and life is to wear black on the day their life was cut short. I have done and will continue to participate in programs to keep my friends' memories alive. For today, 9/11/2008, and for many 9/11s to come I will wear black.

We all live next to each other in a neighborhood, town, county, state, but all under the same flag. None of us knows what the future holds. As a nation we need to appreciate each other and bury all of our differences. We are all what each other have.  

 

  Copyright © 2008 By Mana Tulberg, All Rights Reserved.* I Wore Black Today*  

11 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 11 2008 09:23PM

Camarillo Joins the Reverse 911 Operation

Reverse 911 in Camarillo


In order to understand the significance of this new 911 system, it is important to understand the idea behind Reverse 911.

What Is Reverse 911?Reverse 911 Logo
Reverse 911 is a telephone-based communication system which may be used in case of an emergency to notify the residences and business owners in a community. The system contains both listed and unlisted phone numbers. If your phone is busy during the emergency calls, the system will continue calling until it gets a free signal. In case an answering system picks up the phone, the system will leave a message about the related emergency. (source: Reverse 911)

"REVERSE 911® is a communications solution that uses a patented combination of database and GIS mapping technologies to deliver outbound notifications."

Reverse 911 are used all over the country, in schools, crime solving (Amber Alerts), and businesses to keep the lines of communication open.

In Camarillo the Reverse 911 system is operated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services (OES).

According to OES many listed and unlisted land lines of At&t and Verizon customers in the city of Camarillo are already entered into the Reverse 911 program. However, if you wish for your Cell Phone number to be added to the Reverse 911, you would need to contact the OES at: (805) 648-9283 OR visit www.CountyOfVentura.org and click on the Reverse 911 logo.

 

20 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 09 2008 11:41AM

Camarillo Heights Real Estate Market Report for August 2008

Camarillo Heights Real Estate Market Trend


The area outlined in the map below is known as Camarillo Heights by the citizens of Camarillo and the Ventura County Data Share.

Map of Camarillo Heights


There are 75 developments in Camarillo Heights and a few more under construction.

 

Below is a detailed real estate market report for Camarillo Heights for the month of August, 2008.

Note: The SOLD PRICE in the reports below does not reflect the sold price of the homes listed. The report below shows the homes that are currently listed in Camarillo Heights and the houses that have sold in the month of August.


Camarillo Heights Single Family Homes: From 08/1/2008-08/31/2008 

Active: 9

Pending: 3

Sold: 5

Total: 17

 

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Square Feet

List Price

Selling Price

Days on Market

Minimum

2

0.00

1

$465,500

$480,000

5

Average

4

0.00

2,200

$650,688

$580,149

27

Median

4

3.00

2,438

$619,900

$540,745

18

Maximum

5

0.00

3,337

$899,000

$785,000

155


From the 9 homes listed for sale in August in Camarillo Heights:
2 homes are short sales
0 homes are bank owned/REO homes

From the 3 homes pending sale in August in Camarillo Heights:
0 homes are short sales
1 home is a bank owned/REO home

From the 5 homes sold in August in Camarillo Heights:
1 home was a short sale
0 homes were bank owned/REO homes

 

Camarillo Heights Condos/Townhomes: From 08/1/2008-08/31/2008

Active: 1

Pending: 0

Sold: 0

Total: 1

 

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Square Feet

List Price

Selling Price

Days on Market

Minimum

2

0.00

945

$265,000

 

13

Average

2

0.00

945

$265,000

$0

13

Median

2

2.00

945

$265,000

$0

13

Maximum

2

0.00

945

$265,000

$0

13

Source: Ventura County MLS

 You may also want to read:

Camarillo Heights Real Estate Market Report for July 2008

 

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2 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 06 2008 08:14PM

Santa Rosa Valley- Camarillo Real Estate Market Report for August 2008

Santa Rosa Real Estate Market Trend, August 2008

 

For years, the Santa Rosa Valley has been a desired area of Ventura County to reside in. The serene and beautiful communities away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities make Santa Rosa a great place to call home in any market.  

Below is a detailed real estate market report for Santa Rosa valley for the month of August, 2008.

Note: The SOLD PRICE in the reports below does not reflect the sold price of the homes listed. The report below shows the homes that are currently listed in Santa Rosa Valley and the houses that have sold in the month of August.

Santa Rosa Valley Single Family Homes: From 08/1/2008-08/31/2008

Active: 10

Pending: 2

Sold: 6

Total: 18

 

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Square Feet

List Price

Selling Price

Days on Market

Minimum

3

0.00

2,395

$936,900

$855,000

5

Average

4

0.00

3,710

$1,480,261

$1,203,333

54

Median

4

3.50

3,231

$1,192,000

$1,127,500

16

Maximum

6

0.00

7,407

$3,499,000

$1,850,000

336

From the 10 homes listed for sale in August in Santa Rosa Valley:
1 home is a short sale
0 homes are bank owned/REO homes

From the 2 homes pending sale in August in Santa Rosa Valley:
0 homes are short sales
2 homes are bank owned/REO homes

From the 6 homes sold in August in Santa Rosa Valley:
0 home was a short sale
1 home was a bank owned/REO home

 Source: Ventura County MLS


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0 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 06 2008 08:13PM

Central Camarillo Real Estate Market Report for August, 2008

Central Camarillo Real Estate Market Trend

The area outlined in the map below is defined as Central Camarillo by the Ventura County Regional Data Share.

Map of Central Camarillo

There are 128 developments registered for Central Camarillo, with Pleasant Valley 1 & 2 in Old Town Camarillo being the oldest development and Meadowbrook apartments the newest community.

Below is a detailed real estate market report for Central Camarillo for the month of August, 2008.

Note: The SOLD PRICE in the reports below does not reflect the sold price of the homes listed. The report below shows the homes that are currently listed in Central Camarillo and the houses that have sold in the month of August.

Central Camarillo Single Family Homes: From 08/1/2008-08/31/2008 

Active: 16

 Pending: 19

 Sold: 19

Total: 54

 

 

 

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Square Feet

List Price

Selling Price

Days on Market

Minimum

2

0.00

1,030

$329,900

$329,900

4

Average

4

0.00

1,644

$433,583

$410,418

69

Median

4

2.00

1,644

$412,400

$400,000

21

Maximum

5

0.00

2,684

$629,000

$509,000

427

 

 

 

 

 

From the 16 homes listed for sale in August in Central Camarillo:
4 homes are short sales
6 homes are bank owned/REO homes

From the 19 homes pending sale in August in Central Camarillo:
3 homes are short sales
10 homes are bank owned/REO homes

From the 19 homes sold in August in Central Camarillo:
3 homes were short sales
6 homes were bank owned/REO homes

 

Central Camarillo Condos/Townhomes: From 08/1/2008-08/31/2008 

Active: 6

Pending: 3

Sold: 3

Total: 12

 

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Square Feet

List Price

Selling Price

Days on Market

Minimum

2

0.00

959

$299,000

$257,720

6

Average

3

0.00

1,336

$369,008

$290,907

56

Median

3

2.25

1,252

$342,500

$305,000

29

Maximum

3

0.00

1,901

$559,500

$310,000

217

From the 6 Condos listed for sale in August in Central Camarillo:
2 Condos are short sales
1 Cond0 is bank owned/REO

From the 3 Condos pending sale in August in Central Camarillo:
2 Condos are short sales
0 Condo is bank owned/REO

From the 3 Condos sold in August in Central Camarillo:
0 Condos were short sales
1  Condo was bank owned/REO

Source: Ventura County MLS 

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0 comments • Camarillo CA Real Estate Agent/ Mana Tulberg • September 06 2008 08:12PM