I had the honor of being sought out by this home owner to list their gorgeous home. The views are just amazing on this property from almost all angles. I am trying to get the word out on this beautiful executive style home…I already have someone coming for their second showing tomorrow, but I want to let as many people know about it as possible, so please feel free to pass it along to colleagues, friends and neighbors who might be looking to buy or sell real estate in North San Diego County. Thank in advance!

Christine Wade | San Diego Previews Real Estate | 760-390-1641 563 Seeforever Drive, San Marcos, CA The Address Says It All – Views Galore From This Secluded Executive Style Home on 3.09 Acres! 3BR/2.5BA Single Family House offered at $739,000 Year Built 1990 Sq Footage 2,697 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size 134,600 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION 3 BR / 2.5 BA on Private 3.09 Acre Usable Lot – Zoned for Horse & Agricultural Use, freeway close, near university and new hospital (under construction now). ***Buyer to verify all info prior to close of escrow. All information deemed accurate but not guaranteed. Agent license number: 01442002 see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central heat - Fireplace - High/Vaulted ceiling - Walk-in closet - Tile floor - Family room - Living room - Dining room - Dishwasher - Stove/Oven - Attic - Laundry area – inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES - Executive Style Home Shows Well With Grand Foyer, Large Rooms and Open Floor Plan - Honed Travertine Tile and Neutral Carpet Throughout - Kitchen Boasts High End Appliances - Large Private Loft / Library on Second Floor with Master Suite - Jetted Tub in Master Bath - Large Laundry Room With Craft / Desk Area Includes Lots of Storage and Built-in Ironing Board - Cupboards, Closets and Storage Galore! - Raised Vegetable Garden - Parking Isn’t A Problem With Large, Newly Done Driveway, 3 Car Garage and RV Parking - Concrete Shake Style Tile Roof ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Curb appeal! Plenty of Parking! Views from Patio! More Views! Family Room Grand Entrance Contact info: Christine Wade San Diego Previews Real Estate 760-390-1641 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Dec 9, 2009, 12:25pm PST

Don’t get me wrong, I love living here in Vista, CA (been living here since 1984 now!)…they don’t call it the World’s Climatic Wonderland for nothing afterall…but I really and truly get a tad bit homesick every year about this time…

And mothers know everything.  No really, they do.  My mom just sent this picture of a dirt road back home, Northern Vermont, to me on my iPhone.  Isn’t it pretty?  Granted, I have tons more from previous years…and waxed leaves…the whole works that she sends me every year…some are artwork quality…this one was just out as she was driving around and thought of me.

So, since I’m sharing what fall means to me (the start of the holidays, the smells of pumpkin spice and cinnamon, beautiful fall leaves, crisp cool evenings…), I thought I would open up a post where everyone could post a picture…of what fall means to them…with a brief text description.  Don’t be shy…hijack my post.  I would love to see any other northern US leave shots as well…I love landscapes.  But any photo will do as long as it embodies what fall means to you.

OH…and THANKS, Mom!!!  I needed that!

TIP:

5 Ways to Get More Readers to Your Blog

As a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, blogging, and how to make it more effective are one of the topics most often discussed with my clients.  Here are 5 Ways to Get More Readers to Your Blog:

1. You’ve had this drilled into you since you were a little kid…“mind your Ps and Qs”…once you do have a reader visit your blog and leave a comment…if possible, reciprocate – find your way back to their blog, read some posts, comment…thank them for visiting your blog about XYZ (you can leave a link in your signature), and invite them back again.
2. Visit the competition…do a search to find out which the most popular blogs are on your topic of interest…visit them.  Read and comment, again, make sure your url is in your signature.  Don’t hijack their blog…that’s rude…but do contribute and let people who are reading that competing blog know that you are an intelligent source for info as well on this topic.
3. PING – Make sure that your blog is set up to inform / ping search engines and sites like Technorati when your blog has been updated.  This definitely brings more visitors…make sure your subject lines of your blog posts include your keywords as often as possible.
4. When reading other people’s blogs, if they happen to inspire you to write a post of your own…let them know.  Use a trackback…it lets the original author know that you appreciated their content and may even result in a backlink back to your own blog…backlinks help the search engines decide how relevant your blog is.
5. Go where your target audience hangs out and participate!  If you are a real estate agent, there are most likely neighborhood websites for your area, message boards, etc…you should be hanging out there and participating amongst your potential clients.  Always have the link to your blog in your signature.  Answer questions for your area on Trulia and Zillow or other sites…these are people directly looking for info on your area of expertise.  And don’t even think about forgetting Localism!!! You should get as many community posts for your area as possible.  You are sharing your community and advertising yourself through your knowledge and insights…just remember to only post quality…if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right!!! 

FAMOUS QUOTE: 
“Only a man’s character is the real criterion of worth.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

TIPSY:

Cotton Candy Martini

With all the Fall Festivals and Fairs still going on, cotton candy is in abundance…and while we may feel silly walking around with a big ol’ stick of the stuff (not me…I’m proud to be a Cotton Candy Fanatic!), we can make a fun and festive drink with it!  Here’s the recipe:

• 1 shot (oz) X-Rated Fusion
• 1 shot (oz) Kettle One Vodka
• 1 or 2 shots (to taste) of pure cranberry juice
• 1 bag cotton candy (preferrably pink for color consistency)
• martini glasses
• crushed ice

If you’re serving this at a party, have all the martini glasses sitting out on a tray and fill them with cotton candy…it’s a fun look when guests arrive.  The recipe above makes one drink, so figure out how many guests you need to serve and make up a pitcher before they arrive.  Store it in the fridge or in a carafe in a bucket of ice…you want it COLD.  As they arrive, walk them to the tray of glasses, pour them a martini over the cotton candy and watch it melt…have a cool stirring stick available.  It’s fun…it’s different…and it’s yummy!  (Note:  If you want it sweeter, use cranberry juice cocktail instead of the pure cranberry juice…make a test batch before your party to make sure you are happy with the taste of the recipe.)

OK – please post comments and tell me what types of “Tips” you would like to see covered here in the future!!!  (You can post other comments too of course…like after you try the Cotton Candy Martini!)

Hi, everyone…just a quick rant here this morning…I know I can’t be the only one out there who has their contact form (which is meant for client and preclient contact) abused by spammers.  So I thought this would be a fun blog to see how many dumb things people hijack our contact forms for.  Here’s mine:

1. Job Applications! – I am a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, not a staffing service, I am not going to hire you!  If I do occasionally need to outsource some work, I will do so to other professionals who I have met via online networking and who I have come to trust their integrity and the value of their work…not to spammers who hijack my contact form!
2. Adult Product Sales – Yes…I have gotten those emails through my contact forms…’nuff said!
3. What’s Your Contact Form Nightmare???  Let’s add it here!

Thanks for letting me rant!