The following is the Best of the Best business for home improvement, home related businesses, entertainment, and dining, according to the Antelope Valley Press on 4-16-08 Real Estate Services: AV Escrow Company 661-942-9514 Countrywide 661-951-8100 Thomas Insurance Services 661-948-8059 Home improvement: Metro Floors 661-942-1185 CPR Carpet Cleaning 661-726-9911 Lowe's 661-341-9000 Bill's Landscaping 661-945-3554 Wagner Cement Pools 661-940-5466 Town and Country Overhead Garage Door 661-949-0400 Adams Painting 661-272-0937 KJI Plumbing 661-272-5719 Furnishings, electronics, and home services: Sit N Sleep 661-225-9549 Best Buy 661-274-7991 Michaels 661-723-1713 Aven's Furniture 661-942-1103 Sears 661-265-6950 ADT Security 661-722-0655 Antique Asylum 661-272-5665 C&D Heating and AC 661-948-0788 Dewey Pest Control 661-948-4503 Velvet Touch upholstery Shop 661-942-3233 Party City 661-349-8455 New Homes and apartments: KB Homes 661-219-2754 Apartment Complex 43032 30th St W Lancaster 661-943-2438 This is my favorite, THE BEST EATING PLACES. : Denny's 661-951-1898 Hometown Buffet 661-267-6366 Cascades 661-272-9082 Steer and Stein 661-274-2311 Great Wall 661-942-7048 Starbucks 661-266-2314 Best of Europe Deli 661-943-0257 Marie Calanders 661-945-6958 In-N-Out 661-786-1000 Cold Stone's 661-726-4661 Malhi's Indian Cuisine 661-945-8009 Olive Garden 661-266-7927 Big Tuna Japanese 661-942-6699 El Toreo 661-948-2240 Round Table 661-945-6677 Green House 661-723-3522 Outback 661-274-9607 The Whole Wheatery 661-945-0773 Entertainment: Lancaster Performing Arts Center 661-723-5950 AV Fair 661-948-6060 Marie Kerr Park 661-267-5611 Rancho Vista Golf Course 661-272-9903 Coaches Sports Bar 661-942-8919 661-256-7563 I hope you are able to use this. I will be putting up my own list of places I have been and listing my top places, in another post. Some of the above I agree with and some I don't, but I wanted to share what others think. THe Antelope Valley has allot to offer to a wide range of ages, likes, tastes, and relaxations. I would love to hear your feedback on what you like. Enjoy getting to know the AV. Any questions: Earl "The Pearl" Sorrells Coldwell Banker Hartwig 661-400-9485 |
Antelope Valley's "Best of the Best" 2008
2 comments • Earl "The Pearl" Sorrells-Palmdale, Rosamond, Lancaster • April 29 2008 10:35AMBuyer and sellers are still closing deals.
In the market we are in, negotiation is very important; sellers want to sell their home, and buyers want to buy. There are others key things to making both sides happy: being creative, diligent, getting things done-inspections and repairs,etc..-, being flexible, and persevering. Also, you both need to have Realtors who are working for you, to make sure that all is getting done in the proper time lines, keeping you informed on what is going on, and really has your best interests in mind. It is always a team effort to make sure that the job gets done, and done right. In the negotiation, there is some give and take on the buyers side and the sellers. In this market, both sides need to feel they got a good and fair deal. Also, there needs to be an open line of communication between all parties. The days of pulling fast ones is, for the most part, over- thank goodness. Banks are watching appraisials and loan information, appraisers are tightening their appraisals, buyers are making more inspections and really making sure that what they see on the outside is what is on the inside, and there is allot of inventory out there. Buyers are not going to steal properties right now, and sellers are not going to make huge profits, but the two parties must come to a reasonable price, and keep personal feelings that someone is trying to get over on the other out of the picture. This market is an even playing field. No one really has a clear advantage over the other. The seller wants the most possible for their home, and the buyer wants to pay as little as possible for the home. Somewhere in the middle is often a winning strategy. Make sure that you are flexible enough to explore all options, especially in the area of financing. Some sellers are willing to give credit towards closing costs, carry a second for the buyer-so that they will not need a jumbo loan or more money down, throw additional things into the sale, or other concessions, etc... Explore all options before calling the deal dead. This goes for your Realtor too. Ensure that all parties are communicating at all times. If an issue comes up have your Realtor talk to theirs and get things ironed out immediately, so things can get back on schedule. Sometimes deals will not go in your time, due to things that are outside of anyone's control, but be flexible, and all will work for the good of both parties. Enjoy the process. For any questions, feel free to contact me at: Now is a perfect time to buy. |
4 comments • Earl "The Pearl" Sorrells-Palmdale, Rosamond, Lancaster • April 19 2008 09:38AMBad inspection- disclose it.
Inspections are very important to the sellers and buyers; and to the banks. All parties want no problems. But, there will be times that problems arise, that neither the sellers or buyers were aware of. There isn't a house on the market that is perfect. All houses have some sort of problems. So, just because some things come out in an inspection, doesn't mean you have a bad deal. You need to know if there are any problems and how serious they are, and how much it will cost. A home inspector will make any recommendations they feel are needed to be looked at. I highly recommend that the buyer follows up and does any other recommended inspections and get estimates for the needed repairs. There is an inspection contingency, in the purchase agreement, that gives the buyer time to do any needed inspections. The inspections must be done in the alloted time. Remember, just because an inspector thinks there may be a possible problem, doesn't mean there is. That is why you have specialist check it out. Allot of sellers are doing home inspections before listing their home. They do this so that they can get anything that is needed to be fixed, fixed; or at least know what might come up. Make sure that you disclose anything you find. You don't want the buyer coming back and suing. Disclosure laws will very from state to state and area to area. Check with a knowledgeable Realtor, who knows the area and the laws about disclosures. Now is a perfect time to buy. |
5 comments • Earl "The Pearl" Sorrells-Palmdale, Rosamond, Lancaster • April 13 2008 12:27AMPrice your home right from the start.
Today's housing market is a challenging one, but can also, provide opportunities to the sellers, if their home is priced right. Allot of sellers have a hard time with the reality that prices in even their neighborhood may have dropped in the last couple of years. Some sellers will come to the realization that it would be better to wait for the market to come back, before listing their home. This is great if you can. Always talk to a Realtor who knows your area, before you decide to wait or sell. This is a great market for buyers, who want to move up, or enter the market place. If you have a home to sell, and want to move up, now may be a great time. You may not get as much for your home, but you also, will pay less for a new home. In a hot market, you may get more for your home, but you would have to pay more also. "NEW HOMES" are a great value in most places also. Most of these "NEW HOME" tracks deal very well with your Realtor, who may be able to get you a better deal or get more stuff thrown in. Always use a qualified and knowledgeable Realtor. This could be a great time to sell your older home, and jump into a NEW HOME, without paying the high prices they were and will be again. There is allot of competition out there amongst home sellers, right now. You have the home selling market at hand, April- May. This is when allot of people decide to sell, beside the foreclosures and investor owned properties. So pricing is key. Today's buyers are price-conscious. The more they have to choose from, that are similar to what they want, price will be very important. Even if you have the best home in the neighborhood, if your price is out of line, buyers may go for the cheaper homes and figure on doing upgrades. If your price is too high for the market, it will just sit there and frustrate you. Even the best Realtor can't sell an over-priced house, in today's price-conscious market. There are too many choices. Buyers now are buying for the long term. People looking to make a quick profit are still waiting for the market to drop a little more. Long term buyers are more cautious about what they buy, since they realize that what they buy might drop in value before going up. These buyers are less apt to make compromises, since the selection is pretty good, in most areas. Homes that contain the items that most buyers want, will hole their value better in a slower market, than homes that have certain characteristics, that only appeal to a few. ie smaller size, less bedrooms and bathrooms, dated kitchens, dated homes, different floor plans, location, stairs, etc...Homes with less desirable items can sell better in a market with a low inventory, or if the price is right. You will have to take into consideration the deficiency when pricing the home. This is also, very important to keep in mind when you look at what other homes have sold for in the last couple of months. (I say last couple of months because we are in a changing market, and homes that sold previous to that are not a good comparable.) Also, the condition of your home will be questioned more so, in this market, than in a sellers market. A home that has some maintenance issues will sell, if priced right. However, a home that is in good repair and has great curb appeal and is clean, will sell better and faster, and for a little higher price. You want to draw others to your home, and have it a place that they can see themselves moving into right away. If there are repair issues that cannot be taken care of, you will need to consider this when setting a price. You want your home looking it's best when it hits the market, and being priced right. You will get the most activity on your home in the first couple of weeks of it hitting the MLS, so it is imperative for it to look it's best; for it to be as move in ready as possible. Now, what if there hasn't been any recent sales in your neighborhood? If you put it on the market and the price is too high, be ready to lower it immediately. Price reduction are common in our market. It isn't a bad thing. You want to be in-front of the pricing curve to keep your home enticing. Allowing your home sit around too long on the market at a high price will cause buyers to question. This could also, result in a much lower sales price, if other home prices drop around you. Again, pricing is key. Consult a well informed Realtor in your area, one that knows you market. Out of area Realtors will not, necessarily, know your particular area. Any questions you can contact me at: Now is a perfect time to buy. |
2 comments • Earl "The Pearl" Sorrells-Palmdale, Rosamond, Lancaster • April 11 2008 02:42PMContent © 2009 'Frequent Contributors'. Design © 2009 ActiveRain Corp.
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