Carlsbad Real Estate Agent Releases Home Photography Tutorials

Encinitas, CA December 19, 2007 — Recent declines in home values have forced some homeowners to sell "by owner" in order to minimize commissions and avoid losses. Since most homeowners take few real estate photographs, they discover that they need to improve their pictures to sell their homes quickly and for top dollar. To fill this need, Carlsbad real estate agent and professional photographer Margaret Hokkanen has released free on-line tutorials that share her years of experience and secrets in taking home photographs for real estate marketing. See http://www.EncinitasCarlsbad.com/page.cfm?page=Photography to view the tutorials.

Developed by a leading real estate agent, these tutorials step the reader through the process of taking superior home photographs. They give practical tips about what to do, and include exercises so sellers can visualize what is right and wrong with a photograph. Homeowners can apply these tutorials to taking pictures of their homes. The tutorials encompass camera equipment, specialty topics like low altitude pole aerial photographs, and provide particular focus on family rooms, kitchens, and baths. (See http://www.EncinitasCarlsbad.com/page.cfm?page=Photography&Topic=Bath for an example.)

"As head of a leading real estate team, I know what homeowners are feeling," says Hokkanen, "and that some people are in a difficult position to avoid taking a loss. As a professional photographer and real estate agent, I had valuable insights that homeowners could apply today for their home marketing." Hokkanen explains "The tips/advice in these tutorials will help people take better pictures, and the resulting marketing will exceed much of the real estate marketing found in flyer boxes today."

Recognized for her photography, brochures and home tour DVDs, Hokkanen is known as one of San Diego County’s top real estate marketers. With nearly ten years of experience as a full-time portrait and wedding photographer, Hokkanen is one of a very few real estate agents with formal photography training and work experience.

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Building Protection from Power Outages is now Cost Effective with ESL's StormSwitch(TM)

Corona, California — ESL Power Systems, Inc. has introduced StormSwitch(TM), a line of ready-to-install commercial manual transfer switches engineered to provide safe, easy portable generator hook-up when utility power is lost.

Once professionally installed by an electrician, StormSwitch™ provides a new level of preparedness for any commercial building. During an extended power outage, StormSwitch™ makes it simple and safe to manually connect the building to a portable generator with single-stab power cords for a fraction of the cost of a permanent onsite back-up power generator system.

“The use of portable back-up power generators is growing quickly in answer to recent natural disasters that have led to long-term power outages,” said Denis Crawford, CEO of ESL Power. “The StormSwitch™ 3020 Series meets the NEC® requirement for transfer switches and provides an economical commercial solution for emergency power loss. ”

StormSwitch™ combines a robust commercial-grade transfer switch with color-coded cam connectors for quick connection to a portable power generator. Integral utility and generator manual disconnects are interlocked to prevent cross connecting the power sources. Disconnects are supplied as either molded case circuit breakers or switches. The unit features a safety-interlocked door and dead-front panel.

The 200A StormSwitch™ 3020 Series is UL Listed as a Manual Transfer Switch in accordance with UL Standard 1008. Products Listed under UL Standard 1008 comply with NEC® Article 702 requirements for optional standby systems. StormSwitch™ has undergone environmental, temperature, endurance (6000 operations for the 200 ampere unit), and short circuit testing ensuring end users that this durable transfer switch will provide dependable, safe emergency power connection.

The 400A StormSwitch™ 3040 Series and the 600A 3060 Series are projected to be available by early 2008.

The StormSwitch™ Web site – www.StormSwitch.com – provides additional product specifications for electrical and construction professionals who seek a safe solution for portable power connections.

ESL Power Systems, Inc. (www.eslpwr.com) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of modular safety-interlocked electrical power connections. ESL also develops customized power distribution systems for many diverse industrial applications where safety, dependability, and durability are required.

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Survey Finds Consumers Trust Real Estate Agents

Despite a slumping national real estate market, an over-whelming majority of consumers trust real estate agents to handle their property dealings and will use agents services in the future, a survey has found.

The survey was conducted by the independent research firm Housing Predictor, which forecasts housing markets in more than 250 local housing markets in all 50 U.S. states. The study was conducted the first two weeks of December.

The survey comes at a time when the U.S. real estate market is at the height of a nationwide slowdown, and in the beginning of a financial storm that could worsen over the next few years. Foreclosures have hit all-time record levels as a result of the credit crunch and real estate sales have slowed throughout the majority of the nation. But home owners surveyed realize by more an 8 to 2 margin that real estate agents offer a valuable service.

Only 18% of those surveyed said they did not intend to use a real estate agents service in the future, which indicates that agents are doing a good job in the representation of the public buying and selling real estate.

A small number of consumers expressed disappointment with their previous agents service, indicating they would try to sell or purchase property on their own when the time comes to make such a move. However, the majority of those felt that their agents’ worked to represent their best interests.

By the end of the year more than two million homes throughout the nation will be foreclosed as a result of the nation’s subprime lending crisis, and higher mortgage payments home owners are unable to afford. The foreclosure rate has doubled and is expected to worsen as more than 2-million additional adjustable rate mortgages are reset in the next 18 months.

The crisis has broad implications for the national economy and economists increasingly believe the series of problems will send the U.S. economy into a major recession, which could be the worst since the Great Depression.

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2ndhome® Marketing Network Launches New State Pages

2nd Home Marketing Network Adds New State Pages

To better serve the resort and second home market, the 2ndhome Marketing Network is developing new State Pages, which will offer up-to-date information and links on vacation home markets across the U.S.

As we build and add to these local content pages, we welcome input from owners of second homes and from real estate professionals selling vacation and resort properties.

If you are an agent or broker with specialized market knowledge, here is a great chance to reach affluent potential clients with news on your area. If you are a second homeowner and want to tell us what makes your vacation home community special, let us know. Market-specific comments and links about recurring cultural events, activities, restaurants and other items of interest in second home communities are welcomed.

When looking at vacation home communities or for places to retire, potential buyers want to have access to in depth information about the local market that they are considering. Many elements enter into the decision about where to buy, not least of which have to do with climate, cultural activities, accessibility and other amenities. The more local information that can be made available to these prospective buyers, the more likely they will consider purchasing property in a given community.

Get in on the ground floor as we build our local content pages. Help us explain what it s that would attract vacation homebuyers and retirees. Make a case for your area and about your services and expertise in the region.

To view our current State Pages, go to 2ndhome.net and click on ‘Information by State’ on the left hand side of our homepage. To contribute content about your area for possible inclusion in our State Pages section, use our ‘Contact Us’ feature at the bottom of our home page.

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Sydney Financial Offers Homeowners 2nd Mortgage During Holiday Crunch

Sydney Financial Group is now helping homeowners take out a 2nd mortgage as a quick way to manage expenses and debt. Studies show consumers are more likely to accrue high-interest credit card debt during the holiday season (November – January). Fortunately, those who take out a 2nd mortgage can consolidate their existing debt and protect themselves from high-interest payments. Instead of relying on credit cards with interest rates of 12%, 24%, or higher, homeowners can receive a 2nd mortgage with a significantly lower interest rate (often ½ the prime credit card rate or less).

Sydney Financial offers their 2nd mortgages alongside a comprehensive program to help homeowners pay down their home loans, eliminate debt, and save for retirement. During a time when financial irresponsibility has lead to a nation-wide mortgage crisis and unprecedented levels of personal debt, Sydney Financial provides consumers with a comprehensive, all-in-one solution to becoming financial independent.

Here’s how their unique 2nd mortgage program works:

• First, a current homeowner applies for and receives a 2nd mortgage. The 2nd mortgage is generally easier to qualify for than a home loan.

• Second, Sydney Financial helps the customer convert the 2nd mortgage into a specialized “mortgage checking account.” This account, first made popular in Australia, is used as the customer’s primary checking and savings accounts.

• Third, the mortgage checking account is used to consolidate consumer debt (such as credit cards or car loans) and pay off the original home loan in less time. Not only do consumers have access to a low-interest fixed-rate loan, the interest on the 2nd mortgage may be tax deductable since it is a part of their home loan.

Homeowners currently using Sydney Financial’s 2nd mortgage program have found that it not only helps them with their current financial situation, it prepares them for financial freedom in the future.

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