Winston's Real Estate Blog and more

Over the past couple weeks I have noticed the number of offers on properties have decreased dramatically. Properties were having 20 or more offers and now I am noticing that properties are having 3 or 4. 

• Could it be that now that the holidays are coming that people are putting their attention elsewhere instead of real estate?
• Could it be that too many people got discouraged because they kept having their offers rejected?

So I was browsing the LA Times this evening and I saw an article for a retailer that does a little dumpster diving and frequents estate sales to find that perfect piece of antique you just can't find at Ikea. Hence the name, This Is Not Ikea. 

I went to their website and they seemed to be having a little trouble due to the high volume generated by the LA Times article. 

I took an interest to this article because for the past couple months I've been treasure hunting at numerous antique shops and yard sales. I think I need that sticker that says, "I brake for yard sales", lol. 

The owner of TINI states that they purchase antiques but not your grandmas antiques unless she was cool, lol. 

Check them out and tell them Winston sent ya. They have an eclectic collection of yesteryear.

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About the author:

Winston Westbrook is a licensed California Realtor and Notary. He buys and sells real estate in the city of Victorville, Hesperia and Apple Valley. This is the new Gold Rush. Call him today with all your real estate needs. His realty office is conveniently located off the 15 freeway and Palmdale Road. 

What choo talkin bout Willis?

Well, let me splain Lucy, lol. The title to my rant blog came to mind a couple days ago when I noticed how so many people were still paying monstrous amounts of property taxes.

I remembered about how Ronald Reagan stood up to Gorby and asked for the Berlin wall to be torn down. Who knows if the Berlin Wall would of been torn down if he would not have asked.

Brings me to my point at hand. There are too many things in life that don't get taken care of if no one stands up and says something about it. "Ask and you shall receive" goes the verse in the bible. 

My friends ....PLEASE ASK FOR YOUR PROPERTY TAXES TO BE REDUCED!

During the peak of our last real estate cycle, here in California and the rest of the United States, property taxes were monstrously high for people just getting into a home or some type of transaction that triggered the re-assessment of property taxes. Counties across the nation were loving the increase to their tax roll. Do you think they want to give up those taxes that easily? Hells no they don't!  

Unless you have been in a cave with Osama Bin Laden since 2001 you know that property values have plummeted across the nation. If you live in state that allows you to appeal your property taxes then by all means get up and do it. 

I don't know about you but I hate paying taxes.

So Winston, how do I appeal my property taxes to have them reduced or re-assessed??

I found some great instructional videos showing you step by step on how to appeal your property taxes and get your property re-assessed. These videos were created by the California State Board of Equalization. Doesn't matter if you live in California or any of the other 49 states. You can still learn what you have to do to prepare yourself for that battle with the tax man. 

CLICK HERE for the free and easy instructional videos from the state of California. 

These videos walk you through the process of preparing and presenting your Assessment Appeal of your Property Tax Assessment at your county Board of Equalization or Assessment Appeals Board.

PAY LESS TAXES MY FRIENDS!!

Winston Westbrook is a licensed California Real Estate Broker and Notary Public servicing the cities of Victorville, Adelanto, Hesperia, Apple Valley and the surrounding Victor Valley High Desert communities of Southern California in the County of San Bernardino. 

Oh and by the way if you liked this post then do me a favor and click the little red flag right below so I can get featured one day. Thanks everyone

Back when I was in Jr high I remember gasoline being around 70 cents or so. I know I know, I just dated my self there, lol.  Well my grandma would toss a Lincoln at me and tell me to fill up the tank. Those days are over. With gas reaching around 5 dollars a gallon last summer here in southern California who knows what this coming summer will bring. 

Gas prices right now seem to be decent but I remember a time when everyone was going crazy cause gas prices were going to hit a dollar a gallon. People were in an uproar. They threatened boycotts and such but that never seems to come to fruition. Then they went crazy when gas was going to hit 2 dollars. I believe when the oil companies want to bring gas prices up, they take then so high that when they bring them down you think it's a bargain but wait you were just complaining about that bargain 6 months ago. It's all psychological. Sales tactics on the masses.

Ok well enough of the rant. If you want to find the cheapest gas prices in your local area just go to GasBuddy.com. I stumbled upon this website some time ago and thought I would share it with the Active Rain community. I know that driving around and showing clients houses for sale can use up some gas in that Hummer of yours. The least I can do is show you where to find the lowest price gas, lol. Either that or just go totally green by showing houses on bicycles. Hey that might not be a bad idea, lol. 

Gasbuddy.com is:

• It's 100% Free
• No sign ups or email address required 
• Find gas in your local area around the United States including Hawaii, Alaska and Canada
• Used by many major news agencies to report on low gas prices in their area
• Get prices for regular, mid, premium or diesel 
• Works in the city you live in.