Alternatives to the Standard Six Percent

(Los Angeles Times, 9/26/2004)

An increasing number of real estate agents and brokers are competing with one another by experimenting with rebates, hourly rates and flat fees as alternatives to the 5% to 6% commission typically charged.

A Foot in the Door

(Los Angeles Times, 10/24/2004)

Becoming a landlord in Nevada while remaining a tenant in California may feel backwards, but some Southland renters are doing just that, staying put as tenants while purchasing their first properties out of state.

Million Dollar Trailers

(Los Angeles Times, 2/13/2005)

The value of mobile homes within walking distance of the surf in the Los Angeles area has shot up tremendously in the last few years, reflecting a dramatic change in status for dwellings once counted among the dregs of the housing market.

In Search of the American Dream

(Ventura County Star, 3/20/2005)

The American Dream was changing 34 years ago when Hunter S. Thompson went searching for it in his seminal novel "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream." Some say it's the picket-fence fantasy of home ownership. But how can that be?

Assembly Required

(Los Angeles Times, 6/12/2005)

Forget the archetypal mobile home — the squat, boxy, double-wide that resembles a giant bar of soap. The new generation of factory-built housing can have multiple stories and feature hip designs. Is it the key to the housing crisis?

Quick Connections

(Los Angeles Times, 4/9/2006; Chicago Tribune, 04/16/2006; and Orlando Sentinel, 04/23/2006)

Cellular text messaging and podcasting are being embraced by real estate agents looking for new ways to connect with clients.

Solar Energy Heats Up Market Value

(Los Angeles Times, 7/30/2006)

Much the same way that an increasing number of drivers are seeking out fuel-saving hybrid and electric vehicles, real estate agents say they have begun to notice more homeowners and buyers putting a focus on solar power and energy efficiency.

Going FSBO

(Los Angeles Times, 8/13/2006)

Saving money is the big appeal for many who choose to sell a home as a "fizzbo" — the colloquial pronunciation of the acronym FSBO, meaning "for sale by owner." But this is not like clipping coupons. It's work.