There’s been a lot of hoopla surrounding the Royal Wedding this week, and the real estate community has joined in on the fun. Throughout the week, I received numerous emails and blog posts from colleagues around the globe who have creatively integrated the royal wedding into their businesses. Many have shared their childhood dreams of growing up to be a Princess (surprisingly, no one expressed dreams of becoming a Prince…I blame Disney for that!) or their adult dreams of working as the Royal Family’s Realtor!

One of my favorites was entitled “Will and Kate – Above the Clouds”

The author asked the question? “If Will and Kate ventured across the pond to buy a home, what might be the perfect match for them?”

The answer? Her listing of course, “Above the Clouds is an 18,000 square foot, 15 acre property located in Stowe, Vermont offering quiet elegance and local craftsmanship…and ample room for Kate’s hats, Will’s Ducati bike, new heirs and the Royal Protection Squad.” And according to the author, “The approximately £8.82 million price ($16 million) would hardly put a dent in the royal coffers.” I thought it was very clever…and since I don’t think that Will and Kate will actually venture across the pond, Above the Clouds is still available…give me a call if you’d like to purchase your very own castle!!! I’d love to help you :)

One of my least favorites expressed how stressful it would be to actually represent a Prince and Princess in a real estate transaction. How stressful it would be to try to find a suitable home, in a neighborhood that would meet their needs. The pressure to find the best inspectors and the best lenders (which the majority of Princes and Princesses probably wouldn’t even require), to cross every “t” and dot every “i” in the contract, disclosures and other paperwork…to make sure that everything went smoothly.

My response: WHAT?!? Isn’t that what Realtors are supposed to do for EACH OF THEIR CLIENTS…ALL OF THE TIME?  Isn’t that what “fiduciary duty,” means? Isn’t that what we owe our clients? Our absolute best. Isn’t that why we take so many continuing education classes and network with other professionals? Isn’t that why we got into this business in the first place? To help people with one of the biggest purchases of a lifetime…to help make their fairy tale dreams come true! I can honestly say that I give each of my clients my very best…whether they’re purchasing (or selling) a castle or a condo, I treat them like Princes and Princesses!  So I guess I can safely market myself as the Realtor who represents Princes and Princesses!

And on that note…drum roll please…I wanted to let you know that I’m working with a REAL, LIVE Princess right now! One of the fairest in the land!!! My oldest daughter is buying her first home…and I’m fortunate enough to be working with her and her future Prince! Their royal wedding will be taking place in September…stay tuned!

Take for example the family who was looking for an open floor plan with all of the bedrooms on one level…they ended up purchasing a Victorian style home w/cozy rooms and bedrooms scattered throughout the house. They declared upon seeing the home that it was “perfect” for them! “How did I know?”  they asked.

Or the young man who was looking for a home within walking distance of his office…he ended up purchasing a home on the other side of town that was close to the river and the bike trails. He declared upon seeing the home that it was “perfect” for him! “How did I know?” he asked.

Or the family who was downsizing…they ended up buying a home with the separate 5-car garage. Declaring upon seeing the home that it was “perfect” for them and all of their toys! “How did I know?” they asked.

One of my favorites was the family who was relocating here from Canada. They explained to me what they were looking for in a home, and I put together a handful of properties to show them while they were in town. I found the perfect home for them…at least I thought it was “perfect.” I showed it to them first because I was so excited for them to see it! To my absolute surprise, they didn’t LOVE it…in fact, they told me that it wasn’t at all what they were looking for. They wanted hardwood floors throughout the house and white cabinetry in the kitchen…those were their “must haves.” They were so focused on those two things, that they were unable to really see the rest of the house.  And in their defense, they were not familiar with the homes in the area…they needed to see what else was available. Long story short, two months and 40 showings later, they realized that the first home that I had shown them was truly “perfect” for their family. Hallelujah, I really did know what they wanted after all! Thankfully, the home was still available and within the month they were moving into their new home…not before having hardwood floors installed throughout the house and white cabinetry installed in the kitchen, however!

I really do appreciate your comments and feedback to my blog posts. It’s good to know that someone is actually reading them! The response to my last post was overwhelming; I received so many phone calls, texts and emails, but not one comment on the blog itself. Hmm?!? Wonder why? Seriously, I do wonder why people are so hesitant to click on the link and “please leave a comment.” I guess if I truly were a mind reader, I’d know the answer to that question…more proof that I’m “just a Realtor!” Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like me to be your Realtor …and if you think you know the answer to the question, please let me know…please leave a comment :)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (and taking a cue from the movie Groundhog Day), there simply isn’t a better way to introduce this, than to repeat myself…so bear with me!

“Wow, life’s been a bit of a whirlwind lately…which should come as no surprise to any of you; since I haven’t updated this blog since July October! I know, I’m not supposed to say that  (just in case someone stumbles upon my website for the first time…I’m supposed to make them think this is a regular occurrence!), but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’ve built my business working with the most fabulous clients in the world, and almost exclusively by referral. Thank you, thank you, thank you…and please keep them coming. I promise to continue to take great care of whomever you entrust to my care.” “Since July October… [copied from blog entry dated 10/29/10]

It’s true, “Since July October,” my world turned upside down! And not simply due to the unrest in our economy and the effect that it has had on the real estate market…which has made my job very interesting by the way! There is little dispute among the general public that Realtors are a necessary commodity in navigating their way through the “mess (and opportunity) of real estate!”

In November, I lost my very best girlfriend…who also happened to be my younger sister. She died very suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving a hole in my heart and a laundry list of action items…talk about tyranny of the urgent! Just about everything took a backseat to caring for the needs of her family. My colleagues and the team that I have built around me stepped in to help with my active buyers and sellers, and our family “circled the wagons.” She left behind an incredibly wonderful husband and two of the most fabulous teenage girls you’ve ever met, and it has been a humbling privilege to be actively involved in their lives! It is also a humbling privilege to be involved in yours…I mean that with the utmost sincerity! Thank you.

I continue to spend much time with my brother-in-law and nieces, but I am back in the office and back to work “full-time.” My clients have been well cared for over the last couple of months, by myself and others, but admittedly, my marketing (and blogging) has been neglected…as a result, I’m feeling a bit disconnected from you. As we enter February, I’m looking forward to touching base with you more often and am asking for your help by way of your continued referrals. I promise to take great care of whomever you send my way.

It’s Groundhog Day…thank you, Punxsutawney Phil!

No shadow…Spring is near! This will come as welcome news to family and friends in the midwestern and eastern United States who are buried under several feet of snow today! It will also come as good news to many of my selling clients who are waiting “until spring” to put their homes on the market…and my buying clients who have been waiting for the inventory to be a bit less sparse throughout Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay and the surrounding communities.

Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to make your real estate dreams come true…and Happy Groundhog Day!

Until August 1, the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento is transformed with canival rides, exhibits, entertainment, food and more. With a huge variety of activites, you’re sure to find something for you.

Live musical performances from Martina McBride, The Village People, “Weird Al” Yankovic and everyone in between. See Howie Mandel’s comedy show, get hypnotised in front of the audience or claim your 15 seconds of fame in the Karoake contest.

There will also be many demonstrations, livestock shows and exhibits (my personal favorite is the Fur and Feathers Exhibit where you can see see chicks hatching from eggs right before your eyes).  Days of Dinosaurs, a new exhibit this year, features more than a dozen life-sized dinosaur robots, skeleton replicas and interactive areas. Check out all you can do at the fair at www.bigfun.org.

Tickets are $12 general/$8 kids 5-12. Don’t forget parking at $10 a car. But if you buy your tickets online by Friday, you can save some serious money.

Galleries typically hold openings between 6-10pm. Especially if you are driving, arrive early, park, and get on foot as soon as possible. Or better yet, take lightrail. Midtown is usually un-drivable by 7pm.

Folsom has caught on to Second Saturday fun and hosts its own Art Walk the second Saturday of each month. Stroll Historic Sutter Street and enjoy art, live entertainment, wine tasting and more from 4-9pm.

Busy this Saturday? Roseville has their Saturday Art Walk on the Third Saturday just for you!

May is National Bike Month

Work in Sacramento? Swing by the Capitol Bike Fest on the West steps of the State Capitol between 11am and 1pm for dozens of booths with everything you’d like to know about bicycling, staffed by cycling organizations and bike shops. You can enjoy music, ice cream and free bike safety checks on your lunch break. There will even be bike valet parking!

Live further from a bike trail? You and your family can still participate. From 6 to 10am, Sacramento County Regional Parks is hosting a Park ‘N’ Ride. They will waive parking fees at four American River Parkway locations to encourage people to try parking and riding along the beautiful American River Parkway. There will also be energizer stations at some locations with free coffee, bagels and juice and a chance for riders to purchase an annual pass to parks and be entered in a raffle to win a custom-fitted bike! Check out the online flyer for all the details.

Want to see how it’s done? Check out the Tour of California before it ends on May 23rd. The race was here earlier this week, but is moving down south. As my husband is an avid cyclist, he was there to catch all the action and took this video of the peleton riding through El Dorado Hills.

I was fortunate enough to see part of the race up close and personal. As I was sitting on the patio at Starbucks in Sacramento writing an offer for a client,  the cyclists rode right past us.  It was very exciting! Even if you missed it in person you can still watch, their website is impressive and allows you to watch the race live. 

We are lucky to have so many beautiful trails; take advantage of them this month!

Good news for the luxury home market! “Amenity-laden properties at the top of the market continue to command just as lofty prices” according to a Forbes article this week. 

“Two of last year’s homes [from their most expensive home list] have been sold–no small feat in a down economy. But neither commanded anything near their sky-high asking prices. The massive Bel Air mansion Le Belvedere, which went on the market in early 2009, was quickly reduced from $85 million to $72 million. The discount worked: It is currently in the escrow stage of a sale for an undisclosed price.”

While most of us are not looking to buy or sell triple-digit million dollar homes, luxury homes are beginning to sell again in our area too. As a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, I posses the skills and experience necessary to sell your luxury home or help you buy the home of your dreams.

At the very least, it is always fun to look at the fanciest home in America

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Remember there’s no apostrophe when you tell your family and friends.

1. Karen’s Bakery
705 Gold Lake Drive #340, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: M-F, 6-11am, Sat 7-noon
A Folsom staple, Karen’s Bakery offers a huge selection of homemade baked goods and breakfasts. My recommendation is the Granola with Vanilla Yogurt and Fresh Berries, although it’s hard to go wrong with much on the menu. Slightly pricy and certainly not a traditional breakfast (they only serve eggs scrambled), Karen’s has a gourmet feel and plenty of charm. They even have great coffee and espresso drinks!

2. The Purple Place
363 Green Valley Road , El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Breakfast Hours: 7-11am daily
Yes, I know this is technically in El Dorado Hills, but it so close (and delicious) that it makes the cut. Better known as a Biker Bar, The Purple Place has a café that serves a mean breakfast. I’ve heard raves about their Ooey Gooey Coffee Cake, but I prefer to stick to the basic eggs and toast (and occasional mimosa). The most traditional diner on the list, the staff is always friendly and the food is very reasonably priced.

3. Early Toast
25075 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: 7am-2pm daily
If you’re looking for an international inspired breakfast (albeit, Americanized), look no further than Early Toast. They have a nice selection of crepes and Mexican inspired fare (the owner also owns Mexiquite) and is the only restaurant in Folsom where I order an omelet (Vegetable Omelet, sans Sour Cream). They have large portions and heavy food, so make sure you go hungry!

4. It’s a Grind
2770 E. Bidwell Street and 189 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: M-F 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 6:30a-10pm
I must admit, if there is anything that I find lacking at most breakfast places, it’s the coffee. So when I want a great cup of coffee to go with my breakfast, I head over to It’s A Grind. Surprising as it may seem, the Folsom locations have delicious homemade quiche, and I absolutely love their Vanilla Nut coffee. Comfy chairs and free Wi-Fi make this a surprising, but very worthy, breakfast choice.

5. Mary’s Gold Miner Café
426 E. Bidwell Street, Folsom, CA 95630
Breakfast Hours: M-F 6am-2pm, Sat-Sun 6am-3pm
Gold Miner Café has all the basics and then some, my favorite being the Buckwheat Banana Pancakes. This place is kid-friendly and always packed. If you’re looking for a traditional, small town diner, this is the place for you. It’s a bit of a greasy spoon and a little more expensive than you’d expect, but it seems to be the place to see and be seen by Folsom residents. Christina Mendonza is a regular

Did I miss your favorite? Let me know where you like and why so I can check it out. Like I said, I’m always looking for a great breakfast.