Palos Verdes Lifestyle - Norma Toering's PV Real Estate Blog

The ancient ruins of Egypt are historical and amazing, but it is the people that reveal the soul of any culture and country.  Egypt is no different.  Enjoy a few photos of the people of Egypt.

 

 

 

 

Roadside fruit stand and donkeys pulling cart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oranges, oranges everywhere!  They were delicious.

 

 

Musicians at the entrance to restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap Meet Cairo style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I should have cropped out the guy's head--but it is time to go home...and this picture reminded me of how hot it was the day we went to the Valley of the Kings. After all, it was the Sahara Desert!

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

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I'm getting ready to list a New York Style Loft Single Family House that in its previous life was a Plain Jane Little Suburban Tract House.  As chance would have it, another Plain Jane Little Suburban Tract House is next door and it is on the market for $1,175,000.  Let me add both homes have incredible ocean views.

The sellers are pondering over the listing price I gave them--so I cannot reveal it here, but it will be competitively priced. We are definitely offering the buyers a choice.  There's the sleek,swanky loft look, which may not be for everyone, and there's the original tract home waiting to be transformed into something special--big project but probably worth it.

 

It will be interesting to see which one sells first. I'm taking bets; want to place one?  Oh, I should say Plain Jane has been on the market for a few weeks and no one has offered to take her to escrow yet!

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

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A buyer recently told me she was quite comfortable waiting for the right house and the right price in this BUYERS MARKET. I gently explained in her price range Palos Verdes is experiencing a SELLERS MARKET. Yes, it is true. There are over 30 Palos Verdes homes under $1.2M in escrow. I am not sure she believed me, so I turned to my trusty backup--MLS statistics and compiled a short report. Yes, the numbers support what the sales were already telling me.

Here is the bottom line: If a Palos Verdes home is priced appropriately and under $1,200,000 the buyers will come:

Buyers want the coastal location.

Buyers want the Palos Verdes Unified School District.

Buyers love the lower prices.

Buyers love the lower interest rates.

Buyers do not want to miss an opportunity to buy while prices are lower.

Homes under $1,000,000 are the most popular with buyers and some are even receiving multiple offers!

Are prices as low as they will go, who knows? I do know there are some wonderful opportunities for buyers who want to enjoy life in Palos Verdes and all it has to offer.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

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Palos Verdes Real Estate Search - More information on Palos Verdes

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True story: Last weekend a well-dressed prospective customer strolled into my open house, smiled at me, took the flyer I offered, and said, "Oh nice flyer! You're someone I could work with."

This Choosy Customer went on to say she immediately ruled out an agent who gave her a 'sloppy flyer' because, "If I'm going to spend three million dollars I have the right to be picky." And she does.

Prospective clients have keen senses when sniffing out an agent to represent them, and they use them:

The eyes take it all in: As a real estate agent I want people to see my brand. A bad first impression often ensures I will not have a chance to change a customer's mind. The sight test begin with me, my style and the products I use to represent me (flyers, business cards etc.).

Can you hear me, now? Effective communication will draw a client closer, soon they will be doing more than listening, they will ask questions, give personal information and size me up as someone worthy of their time--or not.

What's that smell? There is no easy way to say this, but if it is not coming from the house, it might be the agent. Too much perfume, or too much garlic can make people step back and question if they want to subject their nose to repeated assaults by selecting a smelly agent to work with.

Check your vibe: From the moment a prospective client sees you they are forming an opinion of your character, your knowledge, your integrity and your ability to meet their needs. They are getting a feel for you as their potential agent. The interview is finished if they are not comfortable with you.

No one wants to walk away with a bad taste in their mouth.

More blogs about a real estate agent's life from Norma.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

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Palos Verdes Real Estate Search - More information on Palos Verdes

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There is a down and dirty side to a career in real estate, and I am not talking about the schemers and less than ethical people we encounter as we go about the daily business of listing and selling real estate. How dirty are you willing to get to close a deal?

Yes, I dress for success, but I'm not afraid to dirty up my look to satisfy a client's questions and concerns. Early in my career a veteran agent taught me a lesson I never forgot. She was the listing agent of a home I wrote an offer on. Long story short, our inspector discovered a crack in the foundation, and we called in a structural/geological expert to assess the situation. Ms. Listing Agent showed up with her coveralls, suited up and crawled under the house to see the problem with her own eyes. Talk about shock and awe!

I do not own a pair of coveralls, but I do show up for all home inspections. I ask the inspector to personally point out any areas of concern. I offer to arrange additional inspections if the situation calls for it. Due diligence does pay off in client satisfaction and trust.

Example: Many of the homes in my area are on septic tanks, and yes, we inspect and certify those too. Years ago a listing agent had the septic tank inspected without telling me when the inspection was to take place. I received a letter from the septic tank company saying on such and such date they were engaged to inspect the septic system--end of letter. No certification--red flag. I called the company to request certification. The owner sheepishly told he could not comply because he could not find the septic cover lid to inspect the tank!

Believe me, we found the septic tank before I allowed escrow to close! I scheduled the re-inspect and I was there with my camera to document for my buyers the location and the condition of the tank. It was a smelly, dirty job, but I did it, and I'm happy to report the septic tank is functioning just fine.

More blogs about a real estate agent's life from Norma.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Palos Verdes Homes for Sale Blog - Palos Verdes Property Website
Palos Verdes Houses for Sale Search - More information on Palos Verdes

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Rancho Palos Verdes Horse Property Blog - View Homes for Sale in Palos Verdes Estates Blog -
Palos Verdes Neighborhood Market Reports - Moving to Palos Verdes -
Needles RV Park, Motel and Land for Sale - Coachella Valley Equestrian Luxury Estate Lots for Sale

Isn't this a buyers market? Are sellers giving their properties away? Good questions.

I like my clients and customers to be informed, and I work very hard to make sure they have up-to-date information on the real estate market. Sharing my "insider secrets" is one of the perks of working with an agent who is a bit of a statistic fanatic. Blame the statistics course I took in college, but those numbers do tell the story--sometimes more than one story.

Take today. I passed along to a buyer the "insider news" that some homes under $1,000,000 in Palos Verdes are receiving multiple offers,and I expect this phenomenon to increase as more first time buyers enter the market and the trickle up effect comes into play. This prospective buyer believes the buyers market is a big comfortable blanket covering all of Palos Verdes. Not so.

Here's what the numbers say:

Single Family Homes under $1,200,000 are experiencing a Sellers Market.

Single Family Homes from$1,200,000 to $1,500,000 are in a Buyers Market.

Single Family Homes from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 are in a Neutral Market.

Single Family Homes priced over $2,000,000 are in the strongest Buyers Market I have ever worked.

These are the facts, they are not sprinkled with fairy dust.

So the market you'll be working with in Palos Verdes depends upon the price of the home you will be selling or purchasing.

A little confused? Based on a the current listings in each price range, and the current properties in escrow it is easy to determine not only the local market activity, but the absorption rate in each price range.

We have several different and distinct climates on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and it appears we have several different real estate markets too.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Palos Verdes Homes Blog - Palos Verdes Property Website
Palos Verdes House Search - More information on Palos Verdes

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Monday is great day to attack my "To Do" list. Today, after working my weekend leads, contacting clients and servicing my listings I decided it was time to join Facebook.

I joined Twitter a few weeks ago, and although I'm still working on finding people and remembering to update it with some regularity, people are finding me. At first, I felt a little silly posting little snippets of my day, but I'm beginning to see the value in those little updates of what is happening and how I'm handling it. Actually, I think it is probably theraputic for us Type A agents and a good tracking device of how we spend our time.

With Facebook and Twitter up and running my social networking goals for 2009 are almost complete. Now the real fun begin--maintaining and maximizing the value for myself and my followers. Gee, that's a big responsibility and will require commitment and great content--every day.

Don't worry Active Rain, I won't neglect you. And to all my peeps, you know where to find me!

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Palos Verdes Homes for Sale Blog - Palos Verdes Property Website
Palos Verdes Houses for Sale Search - More information on Palos Verdes

Subscribe via ActiveRain - Subscribe via Email - Start your own blog on activerain!

Rancho Palos Verdes Horse Property Blog - View Homes for Sale in Palos Verdes Estates Blog -
Palos Verdes Neighborhood Market Reports - Moving to Palos Verdes -
Needles RV Park, Motel and Land for Sale - Coachella Valley Equestrian Luxury Estate Lots for Sale

Today, as I chatted with an open house attendee, the sky opened up and a ray of sunlight burst through the heavy gray clouds and illuminated his main concern with pulling the purchase trigger--FEAR.

Breaking It Down:  This prospective buyer did not know the market statistics for the area.  He did know them for his home area (about 1 hour away and world apart from the coastal area of Palos Verdes), and his area is drowning in a sea of short sales and foreclosures.  Real Estate is local---very local.  Drive an hour and the market changes, often dramatically.

 

Buying It Up:  The prospective buyer's neighborhood is crawling with investors offering 50 cents on the dollar.  The buyers in my area are nearby residents who are thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase in a neighborhood that only a few years ago was out of their financial grasp.  They are families looking for top notch schools.  They are seeking a lifestyle.

 

Collecting Cash:  Many residents in Palos Verdes have lived in their current home 20 to 30 years.  Many (I recently read 35% of homes in my area are owned free and clear.) are retired or it is looming on their horizon.  Many purchased their property for less than $100,000.  They are still equity rich; and the bank is not breathing down their neck.  They long to be closer to grandchildren, travel or downsize to a carefree condo.  They are cashing out and taking advantage of spectacular deals in the local desert. Personal needs is driving their decision, not the economy.

 

 

I spent about 30 minutes with one prospective buyer.  I showed him recent sales, pending sales and active listings in the neighborhood.  We discussed the local economy, his personal economy and the needs of his family. At the end of our conversation he was no longer ready to throw up his hands in frustration.  Instead, I hope he will raise his hands in victory and conquer his fear of the market.

He walked away informed.  Will he buy a home in Palos Verdes?  That is for him to decide, but he now has the tools to make a rational decision based on real local facts, not media hype.

 

Education and knowledge is a powerful antidote for quelling fear.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Palos Verdes Homes for Sale Blog - Palos Verdes Property Website
Palos Verdes Houses for Sale Search - More information on Palos Verdes

Subscribe via ActiveRain - Subscribe via Email - Start your own blog on activerain!

Rancho Palos Verdes Horse Property Blog - View Homes for Sale in Palos Verdes Estates Blog -
Palos Verdes Neighborhood Market Reports - Moving to Palos Verdes -
Needles RV Park, Motel and Land for Sale - Coachella Valley Equestrian Luxury Estate Lots for Sale

At 3:15 today I received the sweetest call. For those of you who read Granddaughters, Life Lessons and Listing Appointments the election was held today, the votes were tallied and my granddaughter called to inform me she is now President of the Student Body of Vista Grande Elementary School in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ahhh, if you don't succeed the first time, try, try again. She did, and this time her efforts were rewarded. She's no quitter and there's a life lesson here for everyone. Whether you are in fifth grade or your fifth decade, the ability to keep trying until you succeed is an admirable quality.

Sometimes success means we must work harder, prepare more thoroughly and risk failure in order to achieve our goals. If we do not take the chance, we will never know if we can pass the test.

It was a trying week in real estate with deferred listings and reluctant buyers, but this weekend I will hold two open houses, show another short sale, write an offer on a bank owned property and continue to fight the good fight. I'm a former teacher and I love a good test.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Palos Verdes Homes for Sale Blog - Palos Verdes Property Website
Palos Verdes Houses for Sale Search - More information on Palos Verdes

Subscribe via ActiveRain - Subscribe via Email - Start your own blog on activerain!

Rancho Palos Verdes Horse Property Blog - View Homes for Sale in Palos Verdes Estates Blog -
Palos Verdes Neighborhood Market Reports - Moving to Palos Verdes -
Needles RV Park, Motel and Land for Sale - Coachella Valley Equestrian Luxury Estate Lots for Sale

I found the current day living quarters in Egypt as interesting as the ancient pyramids. Check out the real estate in Egypt.

 

 

 

 

 

Apartment living in Cairo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The high-rise life in Cairo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cairo townhouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home along the Nile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apartments in Alexandria

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country home in Memphis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Village home interior