• Jan. 23 | CRMLS Training – East (Rancho)
• Jan. 24 | Developing a Complete Financial Plan – East
• Jan. 25 | Basics of Setting Up Social Media (video description above)
• Jan. 26 | Create Landing Pages That Convert – Free
• Jan. 26 | 10 Low-Cost Marketing Ideas Lunch & Learn – Free
• Jan. 27 | Notary Masters w/ Exam

Republicans Take the Reins

REALTORS® are gearing up for what is expected to be a busy first three months of the legislative season as a new Congress and new Administration tackle a number of priorities that affect real estate, including tax reform, the Affordable Care Act, regulatory reform, reauthorization of federal flood insurance, and what to do about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. READ MORE

5 Tips for Facebook Popularity

With our class on “Basics of Setting Up Social Media” coming up Wednesday (a Featured Class above), it’s an ideal time to also look at ways to increase your Facebook popularity. How do you get people’s attention? Here are 5 ideas:
1) Share more content: Gather and share the best content related to your industry from other sources. Take the Kitchen Redo article in this issue, for example. It’s the type of post that will get a client’s attention. READ MORE

Fraud Alert: Short-Sale Scam in LA

Taking someone’s money the old-fashioned way has reappeared in short sale scams in Southern California. The alleged scams appear to follow the same basic format. To protect short sale buyers, remember to include a Short Sale Addendum (C.A.R. Form SSA) in the offer. The default agreement is that the buyer is not required to submit any deposit to escrow until three days after receiving all short sale lenders’ written approval. READ MORE

Harvey Jones Kitchens

Redo Inspires Healthy Habits?

Many homeowners who remodel their kitchen tend to develop healthier lifestyles, according to a Houzz Kitchen Trends Survey. Of more than 2,700 homeowners surveyed, 33 percent who completed a kitchen renovation say the project prompted them to cook more meals at home, eat less takeout, and consume more fruits and vegetables. READ MORE

Water Conserving Plumbing Fixtures for 2017

New 2017 laws require installation of water conserving plumbing fixtures if you own a single-family home, and it is built before 1994, whether or not it is being sold. For more on changes and forms to use Click Here.

Keep Your Home California Preserves $2.5 Billion in Economic Activity

For every dollar issued to help homeowners through the California Housing Finance Agency’s (CalHFA) Keep Your Home California homeowner assistance program, a total of two dollars worth of economic activity is preserved within the state’s economy, according to a new report from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. READ MORE

Change Your Password … if yours is in Keeper Security’s Top 20 list of most commonly used passwords:

1. 123456 5. 111111 9. 123123 13. 123321 17. 1q2w3e4r

2. 123456789 6. 1234567890 10. 987654321 14. 666666 18.654321

3. qwerty 7. 1234567 11.qwertyuiop 15. 18atcskd2w 19. 555555

4. 12345678 8. password 12. mynoob 16. 7777777 20. 3rjs1la7qe

In Case You Missed It…

Kuri the home helper.

Home Products in Spotlight at CES

Kuri the robot and the “smart mirror,” which can play music, TV shows, display weather and news, and even allows you to scan emails, are among the hot products at the Consumer Electronics Show.
READ MORE

Fraud Warnings Issued to Agents

A security company has issued a warning to real estate professionals about a growing scheme. Criminals are hacking into their emails and sending messages to clients to wire down payment funds to fraudulent accounts. READ MORE

Lower Mortgage Insurance Premiums Good News
for Buyers

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced that the FHA will lower its annual mortgage insurance premium, which is good news for home buyers. “With recent hikes in interest rates, the expected average savings of $500 this year will help offset the higher cost of home-ownership for many prospective home buyers and put them on the path to achieving the American Dream,” said CAR President Geoff McIntosh. READ MORE

Give It Up for Success in 2017

Make 2017 your best year yet in the real estate business. That may mean giving up some bad habits standing in your way. Entrepreneur lists 9 Things You Need to Let Go of For Success in 2017.

Do You Make a Sale & Scram?

Communication initiated by an agent might be enough to turn a lead into a sale, even if it takes years before the client is ready to buy or sell. Agents can take the opportunity now to cultivate relationships with past and potential clients, so that when it is time to move, they know who to call. READ MORE

Tasks to Tackle During Slow Months

Many real estate professionals are bracing during the slow winter months for a dip in sales. There’s still plenty to do, however, to keep your business from freezing while you wait for consumers to return to the market in spring. Click Here for 5 chores to add to your winter checklist.

Client Tip: Some Homeowners Due Money After Foreclosure

Because of the demand for affordable residences in markets such as ours, where home prices are surging, some homes sold at foreclosure auctions are netting more than what the lender is owed. Once debts, liens, and fees are paid off, the homeowner who’d fallen behind in their mortgage payments is entitled to the remainder. But if a homeowner doesn’t know their rights, the money could go uncollected. READ MORE

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