18 Real Estate Professionals that FAIL at Marketing...

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - I wish I kept the picture I took of a bus bench that was suppose to read "Going The Extra MILE For You" but instead some changed it to "Going The Extra MILF For You"... Yes it was a real estate agent locally in Diamond Bar... LOL!

Click HERE to see pictures of 18 other advertising/marketing fails in real estate...

$16.65 Billion Settlement Paid By Bank of America

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - Bank of America is trying to finally rid themselves of the foreclosure nightmare it inherited when it bought Countywide Home Loans by agreeing to pay a record $16.65 billion.

My personal experience with Bank of America during the foreclosure waves was not good. They were unorganized and their staff did not care, my opinion. The reality was that they were no different than most other banks at that time. Short sales were a huge burden on everyone, from the homeowner, to the home buyers, investor, realtors, etc.

With foreclosures dwindling down nationwide hopefully that timeframe in real estate can be slowed written into the history book and we all move on to bigger and brighter days.

For the full L.A. Times article click HERE

All Cash Offers Decline in Q2

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - In the 2nd Quarter of this year, all cash offer declined. As prices have increased, the profit margins have tighten. Investors are starting to hand on to their cash while they are waiting for prices to drop. The amount of profitable investments are far and few in between.

On the bright side, this means that there is less competition for home buyers. With the increase in inventory and decrease of buyers, well that mean better odds for the home buyer to find their home faster.

For the full article click HERE

Broker paid $150k thinking he bought a house but ended up with an empty lot...

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - This story is why I don't do auctions...

A broker, yes real estate broker, he should know better, saw a picture of home and bid on it. Well luck would have it, that he won the bidding war with a $150k bid but when we got to the property he learned that he actually bought an empty lot. The picture he saw was the picture of the neighbor's home, he's lot does not even have water connections...

The sale is final and it's an expensive lesson for the poor real estate broker...

For the full article click HERE

Free L.A. County Fair Ticket TODAY ONLY!

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - Donate blood today at the Los Angeles County Fair Blood Drive at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, 601 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

All donors receive a FREE ticket to LACF!

Man Pleads Guilty to Murder of Ohio Real Estate Agent

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - One of two men has pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson, and kidnapping in connection with Vivian Martin's death on Sept. 20, 2010. Grant Cooper was charged and agreed to pleaded guilt and testify against Robert Brooks, the other man charged in Marin's slaying. Plus Cooper will avoid the death penalty.

Real Estate Professional Martin was lured to show her listings where she was robbed and strangled to death. The house was then set on fire.

Fellow agents, SAFETY FIRST! Though some of my clients look at me funny when I knock at vacate homes or when I walk slowly around corns when showing homes, I don't care, SAFETY FIRST. Please take the safety of yourself and your client seriously.

For the Realtor Magazine article click HERE

L.A. County Fair End of Summer Concert Series

AlfonsoGomezBorker.com - This year's End of Summer Concert Series is stacked with great artist and acts! Below is the list:


August 29 - Zendaya with special guest Trevor Jackson
August 30 - Flip Fest Monster Truck & Motocross Stunt Spectacular
August 31 - Charlie Wilson
Sept. 1 - David Nail & Easton Corbin with special guest Jamie Lynn Spears
Sept. 4 - Neon Trees with special guest Cher Lloyd
Sept. 5 - War
Sept. 6 - Pentatonix with special guest The Filharmonic
Sept. 7 - Robert Tapia & Irene Davi
Sept. 10 - Third Day & MercyMe
Sept. 11 - Boyz II Men with Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds
Sept. 12 - Styx
Sept. 13 - R5 with special guest Ryland Lynch
Sept. 14 - Jennifer Nettles: That Girl Tour 2014 with special guest Brandy Clark
Sept. 17 - Cheap Trick & Kansas
Sept. 18 - George Benson & Chaka Khan
Sept. 19 - The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston & Blue Lovett with special guest The Brothers Johnson featuring George Johnson & special guest Lenny Williams
Sept. 20 - Martina McBride: The Everlasting Tour with special guest Dustin Lynch
Sept. 21 - Ramon Ayala y sus Bravos del Notre
Sept. 24 - Jason Derulo with special guest Luke Christopher
Sept. 25 - Monster Truck Mayhem featuring Robosaurus
Sept. 26 - Heart
Sept. 27 - LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip with special guest Salt-N-Pepa
Sept. 28 - Earth, Wind & Fire

If you don't see anything you like, you simply don't like music...

For ticket information click HERE

Fairplex Summer Drive-In featuring Despicable Me 2

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com

Aug 15, 2014

Fairplex Summer Drive-In featuring Despicable Me 2

Location: Fairplex main lot

Come enjoy a good old-fashioned drive-in movie with friends and family

There's food trucks, beverages and some Los Angeles County Fair giveaways

7 p.m.

Just $5 per car - no passenger limit

Enter Gate 15 on Arrow Highway

No Project Left Undone

Coolest Cities in America

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - According to Forbes’ list of “Coolest Cities in America”, California is a cool place to live. Out of the top 20 cities, California holds 8 places:

  # 5 San Francisco
# 6 San Diego
# 8 Riverside
# 12 Oakland
# 14 Sacramento
# 16 Los Angeles & San Jose tied
# 20 Santa Ana

 Rankings are based on factors like arts and culture, recreation, diversity, local eateries, population age and migration rates

To see the complete list on Forbes.com click HERE

2 Men Charged in Deadly Agent Carjacking

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - I've been working in real estate for over 15 years and every time I read about one of these agent attacks it really upsets me. There they are working, trying to make a living and some punks want to take advantage of vulnerabilities of a real estate agent. Unfortunately most of the time, it's the female agents that get targeted. Some criminal will call on they're yard sign and make an appointment to see the vacate house and that's were it starts...

In this case, in Philadelphia, an agent was carjacked and forced into the back seat of her SUV. These pucks took turns sexually assaulting her and later they lost control of the vehicle and ran over a family who happened to be standing there instantly killing three... 7, 10, 15 year old kids. These two criminals have been arrested and are facing life in jail, good!

For the full Realtor.com article click HERE

If there any agents reading this PLEASE READ BELOW for some Real Estate Agent Safety Tips:

Real Estate Agent Safety Tips

1. Careful with Personal Info

Don’t advertise your home address. Consider a Google Voice phone number to separate work calls on your personal cell.

2. Verify Customer Information

Ask for identification, address, and references from people before a showing. Require a signature and phone number even at Open Houses.

3. Enlist a Coworker

Whenever possible, have someone from your office join you for private showings.

4. Announce Your Showings

If you can’t have someone tag along, make sure at least a couple people know your location and expected return time before a showing.

5. Scout Locations Early

Check out neighborhoods before you meet someone there to ensure you are familiar with the area. You don’t want to rely on a faulty GPS.

6. Keep Phone in Hand

Keep your phone in hand during private showings with an emergency contact on speed dial.

7. Keep Customer in Sight

Walk behind clients. It lets them feel ownership over the potential buy and allows you to keep a safe distance.

8. Pay Attention to Exits

Know where the exits to the house and neighborhood are. Keep doors unlocked during showings.

9. Take a Self Defense Class

Go the extra mile by taking a class that will prepare you for any potential danger.

10. Trust Your Gut

If you’re uneasy about a situation, see your way out of it. Don’t worry about upsetting the customer.

Ex-Fannie Mae worker sentenced to 15 months in prison in kickback case

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - During the foreclosure nightmare we lived through, it was hard enough to get short sales approved but there was always a not so secret world of kickbacks. I had listing agents trying to ask for kickbacks and there was bank employees that would hint about kickbacks in order to get the deals approved faster and they would offer a lower purchase price.

Now there is a little, very little, justice for all of us that did the transactions the legal and ethical way. An ex-Fannie Mae worked received 15 months in prison for asking for kickbacks. This type of crime did not get enough attention. This ex-worker would ask for kickback for the short sale approval time to be shortened and for the purchase price to be reduced drastically.

Unfortunately, there were many others that did not get catch but this is better than nothing...

For full L.A. Times article click HERE

Zillow Acquistion of Trulia, what this really means

AlfonsoGomezBroker.com - Last week Zillow.com announced the acquisition of Trulia.com for $3.5 Billion in stock. When I first heard this announcement I was surprised but then it made sense. The fact of the matter is that in our capitalistic economy you can either beat your competitor or else you can buy them. Right or wrong, that's the way business is run now-a-days.

What does it mean to the consumer? In the world of super-giant stores and banks, this merger will be "just another day". I believe consumers will continue as usual. The online consumer will benefit the most from the acquisition because they will now have one place to find most homes for sale. One thing most home buyers and sellers need to know is that Zillow.com and Trulia.com are NOT REAL BROKERS OR AGENTS. They are a marketing company. They don't charge any money to the consumer but they do charge real estate professionals to provide them the online buyers and sellers leads.

What does it mean to real estate professionals? At this point there is no argument about it, beat them or join them... I pick the latter. Zillow.com will control the majority of online leads and there is no "beating" Zillow at their game. I believe it is now time to embrace the fact the Zillow.com is here to stay and if consumers like this site, well I better get to know and love this site too. Many agents will want to fight this notions but it's a losing battle.

Real estate professionals will learn to adapt and overcome or die...

For the full Zillow.com announcement click HERE