Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

According to CareerBuilder.com, the three most common months people receive a promotion are January, July and September.  Experience shows many people find and move into their next home within 6-12 months of getting a new job or promotion. More responsibility, extended working hours and longer commute times can be offset by living in a house closer to the office. Moving quickly will diminish time pressure and let family and friends enjoy well-earned financial rewards together.  The next time you're in a conversation with a friend, family member or neighbor and they tell you they finally got that promotion, please don't keep me a secret - take our your cell phone, look up my number and call or text me immediately. My service is designed to help people find the home that best fits their situation. 

Just like you do an annual tax return, it's equally important to do an "Annual Home Review". Your home may be your biggest investment, so it's critical to keep up-to-date on the answers to these five crucial questions: 1. What have homes near you sold for, and how does this impact you today? 2. What new tax laws give you deductions or credits on home improvements? 3. What's happening in your neighborhood that will impact the value of your home? 4. What changes have occurred in your life that will alter your goals over the next five years, and how to prepare now to take full advantage of them? 5. What's occurring with your current mortgage, and what new possibilities would benefit you now?  The next time you are in a conversation with a friend, family member or neighbor who is talking about their home's value, remember the future always belongs to the person who prepares. I am completely prepared to help you and the people you care about. Call o...

If you’re selling a home, choosing your real estate agent is an important decision. The agent you should work with is one that both understands your goals and objectives and also sees the importance of meeting your needs. Your agent is the key to a successful real estate experience. Choosing the right agent doesn’t have to be a painful experience, but it should involve some questions. Start the process by asking your friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. Look at agent reviews on websites like Yelp to see what others are saying. When you’ve narrowed down your list, select two to five agents to meet with for a preliminary interview. Once you’ve selected a few agents, it’s time to start the interview process. Avoid real estate agents that promise unrealistic attainable suggestions. For example, don’t hire the agent that gives you the highest list price, just because he or she gave you the highest price. Instead, use these questions as a guide to helping you find the mos...

The weather outside is probably not … you know what … so the holiday season in Southern California can be downright delightful. Without the snow and chill, visitors might think our region is short on holiday traditions. But they should think again. Want chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Find them in the many neighborhoods where homeowners outdo each other by adorning their houses with spectacular light displays. With no slush to drive through and comfortable nighttime temperatures, families can marvel at the illuminated residences every evening now through New Year’s Day, and sometimes beyond. Many residents offer hot chocolate, cider, coffee, cookies, and other homemade treats at nominal prices in their driveways. Check hyperlocal online sites for lists of the best streets to cruise, including maps and directions. As for regional traditions, we’ve rounded up some of the most enduring and unusual in each county, from south to north. Get out there and have a jolly old time! San...

I’m inspired by the following story to set some New Year’s resolutions, not only about being kind to others, but also about being kinder to myself. What do you think? Here’s the story: On the way back from work every evening, more often than not, there would be a homeless man standing at the exit ramp of the freeway. He waved at every car. He was always happy and smiling and sometimes almost dancing. Every day after work I would gather my spare change, and put it aside to give to him if I saw him. A feeling of joy would come over me whenever he was there as I came off the ramp.   He had that effect. His joy was infectious. Occasionally the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His answer would always be the same, “I’m blessed!”   Then one day I was called into my boss’s office and told that I was being let go due to some mistakes I had made on a recent project. Needless to say that on my way home that day I was upset...

A wise old man told a joke to a group of friends. Everyone laughed. After a moment, he told the same joke again. This time, only a few people laughed. He repeated the same joke over and over again. When there was no more laughter, he asked, “You can’t laugh at the same joke over and over again, but why do you keep crying over the same things over and over again?” When no one could answer, the old man explained: “When we hear a funny joke, laughter grabs a hold of us and moves through us. After we laugh, the novelty of the joke wears off and we automatically let go and move on. When faced with life’s sorrows and upsets, most of us do the exact opposite. We tend to hold on to the negativity – experiencing the same upsets over and over again. The secret to a happy life is learning to experience your tears like laughter. Let your upsets move through you freely, and then let go and move on. 

The production of tears in continuous. People create tears to lubricate and protect the eyes. Tears flush the eyes of debris and microorganisms. They also deliver oxygen and nutrients to the eye the same way blood does for the rest of the body. Humans are the only animals that seem to cry for emotional reasons, although there are reports of elephants shedding tears in grief.