Kendyl's Open House

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Do you love to watch HGTV?  There are so many shows that deal with the process of buying and selling homes.  This means, as a nation, we find this drama compelling - and it is high drama, make no mistake.  I have a front row seat, each and every day.

Last night I saw “Buy Me”.  It was like watching a slow motion train wreck.  Awful and horrifying, but I couldn’t look away.  This episode dealt with a young man who needed to sell his bachelor pad in a very dodgy neighborhood before his adjustable loan zoomed higher than his monthly paycheck.  Here are some of the “train wreck moments”

• Admits on camera that he is trying to “fool” the next buyer

  • The young man talks about how he bought this home in winter when the streets were quiet.  When spring came along, the bums and gangs and undesirables came out in droves and he realized he had made a mistake.  He plans to sell in winter so that the next buyer will also be fooled.  This is 16 different kinds of stupid.  If he actually sold the home, do you think the new buyer is going to be happy to see this show?

• Hires his friend who just got his license

  • A small home, in a challenging area, with a financial disaster deadline is not a good first project for a new Realtor!  On top of this, you can clearly see how the situation affected the friendship as time wore on.  Bad News Bears!!!

• Sets the price too high - foolishly tries to go for a profit.

  • Considering all the negatives disclosed on camera, there was no reason to try to goose the market!  He should have priced aggressively and gotten out.

• Waits 6 months to reduce the price - 6 MONTHS (’Nuff said)

Ultimately he takes the home off the market, breaks relations with his Realtor friend, refis his adjustable loan and has his girlfriend move in with him.

Buying and selling residential real estate in Glendale is high drama for almost everyone.  Your house is a huge part of your life and your finances.  Don’t make these mistakes.

(”House Keeping” … this is a real estate blog… **snerk**… get it?)

Ok, “nuff grins.  I just wanted to point out a couple of new features at Kendyl’s Open House.

I’ve added some toys to the right sidebar - have you noticed?  The web is an amzing place and I keep finding cool stuff…

First up is the Mobile Blog feature.  You have to scroll down just a little bit.  If you input your cell number and hit the “Send to Phone” button you will get an message on your phone that will have a link to this website.  Hit that link and my blog should pop up on your phone! Now, the question is… why in the world would you want to do that?!  Because….

The second new feature is 12 Second Thoughts.  As I go about my Real Estate Day I see cool homes and interesting stuff.  Especially on the Foothill Tuesday Caravan and the Wednesday Glendale Caravan.  I plan to video 12 second long clips about any homes that I see that I think are excellent in some way.  I might even put the listing agent on the spot - as I did with Diana Walker, to tell me why the house is excellent.  There’s no telling how often I will post these little gems.  Why only 12 Seconds?  Because anything longer is just boring.

I’ve had the Search Feature up for a while.  Do you know why it is there?  Let’s say you just noticed a For Sale sign in the neighborhood, but didn’t see anything on my blog.  Just type the address in the search bar and if there is any comments in past blog posts, they will pop up like magic!

One last thing.  I am only 10 days away from my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  (There’s even a 12 Second clip of me and my walking buddies).  Have you donated?  We are walking 39 Miles in 2 Days and I am even racing back to Glendale to do an Open House that Sunday.  Crazy, huh?  So crazy that you’ll support me with a donation?  Click here to donate... it is so simple!!!

Olympic Logo

Today is an incredibly auspicious day. What does auspicious mean? It means, “promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable: an auspicious occasion”. Why is it a good date? I will tell you.

The number 8 is a seriously good number in the Chinese culture. (Did’ja know I am Chinese? Yep. I know you thought I was just plain old American. People like me are known as Bananas. Yellow on the outside and white on the inside. HA HA HA HA!)

The word for eight is BA. This sounds like the word for prosperity which is FA. Or, as my mother tells the story, BA sounds like money clinking around. However you slice it, this is a really good day start a new business or life project (like get married), go gambling, or… BUY A HOUSE! (I just could not resist)

This is why the Chinese government chose this auspicious day to start the Olympic Games in Beijing. The opening ceremonies will be off the hook. I can’t wait for you to see the incredible pageantry of Peking Opera or Chinese Dance or the wonderous Kung Fu Artists.

I was in a classic and folk Chinese dance troop for many years and I had the pleasure of dancing for the LA Olympics back in 1984. Our event was a tiny side show compared to what you are going to see tonight.

Don’t miss it.

I’ve been on such a rant lately that I’ve neglected the business at hand - so let’s do the numbers!

Northwest Glendale Real Estate Hot Sheet

Click here for chart explanation and disclaimer

1645 Cleveland is that one story on the corner of Cleveland and Cumberland. I know that the price looks ridiculously low - this is one of those short sale “fantasy” prices. It is a fantasy because the bank will never accept that price. The agent is trying to create a multiple offer situation and pressure the bank into accepting something and approve the short sale. I can’t fault the listing agent, really, they are doing their job. However, I can caution any would be buyers - don’t buy into the fantasy!!! You will ruin your chances of recognizing a legitimate, obtainable deal when you actually see one!!

217 Cumberland - leasing was the best thing they could have done. Really.

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Ok, brag time! I am proud to introduce my latest listing, 1031 Marion Dr.

Click Here for a slide show!

This character Spanish is in the “hip and cool” Adams Hill area, close to the Adams Square with mini park and hi-tech Library. It has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, den, workshop and huge laundry room. Outdoor spaces include an intimate entry patio, spa patio and 2 level backyard. The remodeled home enjoys copper plumbing, new 50 year roof, seamless gutters, sub-zero refrigerator and updated electrical panel. With over 2000sf of physical living space, this is a ***DEAL ALERT*** at $649,000.

I am holding this awesome home open for broker’s caravan tomorrow, 10AM- 2PM (non brokers are certainly welcome!) and for the public Sunday, August 3, 2PM- 5PM. Come on by!!!!

If Realtors did nothing but sell homes we would be very boring indeed!  Why are we on a backhoe?  Stay tuned.  First, let’s do the numbers.

Northwest Glendale Real Estate Hot Sheet

Click here for chart explanation and disclaimer

The MLS is being cranky this morning - no house pictures today.

939 W. Mountain is one of the small homes that hug Brand Park’s hillside.  You need to climb several steps to get to it and there is very little yard in the back.  You know this house because it had a black BMW on blocks in the driveway for several weeks.  This is bank foreclosure and hard to find, since the agent listed it in the wrong zip code.

1243 Norton is an LOL house - clean, but essentially original.  I’m glad to see it is finally in escrow.

300 Parkwood is back on the market?!  This ranch style home has a large family room facing a lovely pool.  Located on a quiet cul-de-sac in a little known neighborhood off Valley View, I think this is a terrific buy for someone.

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Me and my gals are training hard for our Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, September 12 and 13th.  We were doing the Arroyo Seco Rosebowl Loop when we saw this cool backhoe and climbed aboard.  From left to right is Liz Johnson, Paula Walker, me and Tracy King.

We will walk 39 miles over 2 days, so you can bet we are taking our training quite seriously!  I have a new fund raising goal of $5,000!  Please click here and donate. The money not only helps us find a cure but also helps provide local, under-served women, with preventative care.

Thank you for your support!