Do you know the difference?

Does being licensed by the Department of Real Estate mean that your agent is a REALTOR®?

No. Having your sales license and being a REALTOR® are different things.

But does being a REALTOR® means that you are a DRE licensee?

Yes. In order to be a REALTOR®, your license must be in good standing with the DRE.

Then what is the difference between an agent and a REALTOR®?

Simply passing the state test to be licensed by the DRE does not automatically make one a REALTOR®. In order to use the term REALTOR®, one must be a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). By joining NAR, they are automatically members of their location Association of Realtors and adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

So how does that benefit me?

The National Association of Realtors is a professional trade group that holds it's members to a strict Code of Ethics (COE) and Standards of Practice.

The COE & SOP can be found here: 2007 Code of Ethics.

As a REALTOR®, we have a duty to treat our clients, the public and other REALTORS® with honesty, fair dealing, integrity and respect.

Is your agent a REALTOR®?

Elk Grove Market Watch

24 Hour Market Watch for zip codes 95624, 95758 and 95757



There were 81 transactions total with almost 42% of the activity going towards price reductions. Next in line was the number of new listings coming onto the market with 19.75%. Properties put on pending sale was at 12.3% with some listings coming back on the market. Out of the 81 transactions in the past 24 hours, six of them were reported sold.

Check traffic online

I check the traffic before heading out so I can avoid potential delays. Save your gas and your time, check Sacramento Traffic here.

They also have a page for the Bay Area as well as Southern California.

Happy Father's Day!

I would like to take some time out to wish all the fathers and father-figures out there a Happy Father's Day.

Best Regards and Stay Safe out there!

Slow down...

I ran across this video and this great website that posts talks from different people across a broad spectrum of disciplines. The website is http://www.ted.com/. Here is one video from one video in regards to the fast paced world we live in and how we should slow down once in awhile.

About this Talk
Speed, notes journalist and author Carl
Honore, has become a combining form: speed dialing, speed reading, speed
walking, even speed dating. Modern life is stuck on fast-forward to such an
extent, he notes, quoting Postcards from the Edge, that "even instant
gratification takes too long." But there's a backlash brewing, he says, as
everyday people start putting the brakes on. He concludes with the results of
his own attempt to get in touch with his "inner tortoise."

New Homes in Elk Grove

If you live in the Elk Grove, CA, then you have no doubtedly noticed the increase in traffic and new homes being built left and right. If you drive Elk Grove Blvd (EGB as my friend calls it), you'll notice the large community going up between Big Horn, Bruceville, EGB and Whitelock or Poppy Ridge or whatever they call it now (They changed the name around a couple times for the pure joy of confusing everyone).

I was previewing the new homes going up and I walked into sales trailer of Tim Lewis Communities whose community is called Amberleigh at Madeira. The thing that amazed me about this builder is that they are a California Green Builder.

The friendly sales associate gave me information on what they do that makes them a green builder and here is what caught my attention: Solar panels integrated into the roof. I'm not sure how they do it, but it's being done. She said that SMUD will buy back the energy you do not use during the daytime (at the rate they charge customers) and if you need it, will sell it back to you in the evening. This could possibly lower your monthly electric bill.

She told me that they were the only builders that she knew of that was doing this. Hopefully more builders will follow suit and try and involve everyone in the renewable energy movement.

Well hello

>Who are you?

Hi, my name is Joshua Espiritu.

>What are your qualifications?

I am a Department of Real Estate licensed salesperson in California and a member of the Sacramento Association, California Association and National Association of Realtors (more commonly known as SAR, CAR and NAR).

>What is the purpose of this blog?

To keep you informed of what is going on in the real estate market of the greater Sacramento area as well as events that I may find interesting going on in the area.

>What if I don't see something I want more information about?

By all means, please let me know. I would be more than willing to answer any questions or concerns that you have. If you have any community events you would like for me to post about, let me know as well.

Welcome

This is the first post for the City Center Realty blog.

We will be updating periodically.