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Featured Property: 520 West California Blvd., Pasadena, CA

1907 Classic Craftsman
Offered at $1,795,000

Listed by Ted Clark & Partners, this historic four-bedroom, four-bath craftsman home was built in 1907 by Frederick C. Grable & Clarence Austin of the architectural firm Grable & Austin. Situated just a couple miles from Old Pasadena and the famous Rose Bowl, this 9,000 square foot, classic home has been fully updated for modern living appeal.

The home’s ambiance pays homage to the craftsman era, featuring period hardware on the windows and doors, Millwork that has been replicated true to the time period, and vaulted ceilings for additional light and height that blend seamlessly with the historic look and feel.

In addition to the external design updates, there have also been internal updates that bring this period home into a fresh and current era. The home features Solar panels that generate enough electricity to run the entire property, leaving no electric bill, a Lifesource water filter, 18” fiberglass insulation, and a saline pool with a new gas heater and equipment. These major updates ensure this home runs like new.

Throughout the main level of the home you will find two bedrooms, a kitchen, a fully remodeled dining room and living room, and a den. The lower level features a family room with a fireplace, a mini kitchen, large laundry room, a newly remodeled full bath, and two additional bedrooms with beautiful French doors leading to the back yard. The brilliantly landscaped grounds boast a beautiful pool, lawn and patio.

If you are interested in learning more about this property, please visit: http://www.tedclarkandpartners.com/listings/details/49/520-west-california-boulevard
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Featured Property: 1691 East Mendocino Street in Altadena, CA

Gentleman’s Farm
$2,495,000

This stunning, five-bedroom, six-bathroom Mediterranean Estate listed by Ted Clark & Partners is located in Altadena, California, about a half mile east of the Altadena Golf Course.  Built in 1927, this classic estate features extensive grounds, orchard, and organic gardens.  Situated on a 29,700 square foot lot, the home is full of Mediterranean architectural details, including beamed ceilings, ceramic tile, clay, and hardwood floors.

The main house has been skillfully crafted and beautifully decorated, boasting 4,900 square feet. In addition to its five bedrooms and six tastefully remodeled bathrooms, you will find a formal entry of wood and elaborate tile stairs, guest/maid’s quarters, a breakfast room, a recently remodeled kitchen featuring gorgeous marble counters, and a butler’s pantry.

Numerous balconies and French doors lead to the outdoor living spaces, including an open patio, covered porch, an in ground, heated and filtered pool and spa, and a 950+ square foot studio providing the perfect atmosphere for any creative hobby or passion.

If you are interested in learning more about the property featured above, please visit: http://www.tedclarkandpartners.com/listings/details/54/1691-east-mendocino-street

 

 

Our Top 5 Favorite iPad Apps for Business

Here at the American Trust Escrow blog, we post Technology Tips designed to help you, the REALTOR®, grow your business, keep up to date on the latest technologies, and move you forward into the new era of real estate.

 

It’s interesting to think that just over a year ago no one had an iPad.  After its release in the US in April 2010, Apple has sold more than 15 million iPads (including the just released iPad 2).  With over 65,000 apps in Apple’s App Store, the iPad makes it easy and fun to work while you’re on the road.  Have you considered purchasing an iPad for your business?  The days of lugging around a heavy laptop are over!

There are thousands of apps to download in Apple’s App Store, but where do you begin?  We took a look at some of our favorite apps for business and chose our Top 5:

 

 

Dropbox: FREE
With no complicated interface to learn, you can easily transfer files from your computer right to your iPad.  Dropbox is the easiest way to store and share files online, without having to email anything. No matter where you are, files saved on one computer can be viewed on multiple devices, such as other computers (Macs or PCs), phones, and your iPad.  When a file is updated on one computer, Dropbox will automatically save the changes on all other devices. It’s a must-have app for any real estate agent. 

 

Keynote: $9.99
Apple says Keynote is “the most powerful presentation app ever designed for a mobile device”, and we’d have to agree.  If you spend a lot of your time sitting down with clients, Keynote is the simplest way to run a powerful presentation.  Keynote allows you to view and easily edit your presentation, share by exporting to Microsoft PP or PDF format, arrange objects on your slides by simply dragging them on the canvas, create sophistic animations, and more.

 

GoodReader for iPad: $4.99
The super-robust PDF reader and #1 selling non-Apple app for the iPad last year in the US.  Read virtually anything, anywhere.  With GoodReader for iPad, you have the ability to mark-up PDFs and sync your files with remote servers.  In addition to handling PDF & TXT files, GoodReader supports MS Office, iWork, HTM and Safari web archives, hi-res images, audio and video.

 

HootSuite: FREE
HootSuite is the perfect social media tool combining Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare into one elegant and powerful interface.  Spread messages, monitor conversations, and track results right from your iPad.  With HootSuite, you have the ability to send and schedule Facebook and Twitter posts, manage campaigns, schedule updates, and see click-through stats for all of your social networks.

 

Noterize: $3.99
Noterize allows you to view and annotate any available PDF or PowerPoint document. The built-in web browser enables direct importing of files from the web, while integration with Box.net and Dropbox makes transferring documents between your computer and iPad as simple as can be. The app currently supports distribution via Facebook, Twitter, Google Docs, Box.net, Dropbox, and email. You can even choose which specific pages of a document you would like to share, and the order of those pages in the document.

New California Real Estate Laws – Part 1

Several new laws affecting the real estate industry became effective this year.  In a previous post, we discussed SB 931: Short Sale Deficiency Protection for Sellers, in which lenders who have agreed to a short sale will not have the ability to obtain a deficiency judgment against the seller after the short sale is completed (applying only to first mortgage loans). 

In this series of posts, we will highlight and give an overview of the other laws that also went into affect in January.

 

 

Foreclosure Protection for Tenants:
Senate Bill 1149 states that tenants that remain in a property after is has been foreclosed must be provided a notice of their statutory rights for one year, and must be explained in a separate cover sheet or included in a 90-day termination notice. This law also prohibits a landlord from harming a tenant’s credit score by revealing unlawful detainer records, unless the landlord prevails in court. Read More

Energy Efficiency Audit in Home Inspection Report
Effective January 1, 2011, a home inspection and inspection report may include a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) home energy efficiency audit if requested by a client. The inspection may be performed by a home inspector who meets the HERS regulations requirements. REALTORS are encouraged to provide the HERS booklet that explains the statewide HERS program to residential buyers. Read More

QR Codes in Real Estate Marketing

Tuesdays, here at the American Trust Escrow website, we post Technology Tips designed to help you, the REALTOR®, grow your business, keep up to date on the latest technologies, and move you forward into the new era of real estate.

Today, QR codes, or “Quick Response” codes, can be found in newspapers, magazines, brochures, billboards, even on the back of business cards. Think of them as “image hyperlinks” in the form of a bar code. Businesses and marketers use them today to take their consumer to a customized URL using their cell phone.

How does it work?

Any person with a smart phone can take a picture of the QR code (using any QR code reader software). After the photo is taken, the software will direct the user to a specific landing page associated with that particular code. These codes can be scanned from printed ads, signs, t-shirts, even computer screens. By scanning a QR code, smart phone users can access a wealth of more detailed information while on the go.

This technology is being used in many different markets, and is especially making its presence known in real estate marketing. Real Estate agents have incorporated QR codes on “For Sale” signs, large window ads, flyers, etc. The possibilities are endless. Once someone scans the code, the customized URL they are directed to could feature details of the home for sale, a view of the floor plan, colorful photos, a video of the inside, a map showing details of the location or additional properties around the area, etc. They could even be given a way to contact the listing agent immediately.

QR codes make it easy for prospects to get information on properties instantly and easily. Instead of remembering an advertised URL, it’s so much more convenient to simply take a photo on a cell phone and be redirected within seconds to the customized URL. There are many different QR code generator websites, such as www.qrstuff.com and www.interlinkone.com, and QR code reader software, such as I-Nigma, Optiscan, and QuickMark. Generate your free code today to begin using the latest strategies and trends in real estate marketing.