Outdoor Living in San Diego

Being an enormous animal lover has brought me many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors from walking and playing with my rambunctious Vizslas to being comforted by watching my collection of exotic finches perch, chatter and flutter about in my backyard. I love watching the birds that come into my backyard that aren't my own private finches as well.

There is something special about the outdoors in San Diego...and being able to watch the variety of bird life we have in the area from hummingbirds to goldfinchhes and wrens.

Here are some tips to make your backyard a bird haven any time of the year:

1. Attract Through Landscape - Flowers that bloom in different seasons, especially reds and bright colors. Fruit trees and Vines and hedges all attract birds.

2. Provide a little bit of Extra Help with Food - Birds linger longer if there is a source of food. Try using suet in the winter and seeds in warmer weather.

3. Water Sources - Use water features in your yard to attract birds. Ponds. Water Fountains. Bird Baths.

4. A Home to Call Their Own - Birds like safe locations to build their nests in so why not provide one for them in your own backyard. A slanted roof keeps birds dry. Hang them high, at least 10 feet from the ground. Make sure they are secure and stable in strong winds and stormy weather. And make sure the opening is big enough for the birds, but small enough to keep predatory birds out so that they can't enter and steal the chicks.

Being outside enjoying a walk through the park with my dogs, or walking along the beach or even just in my own backyard brings me peace, serenity and joy after a hard days work in real estate. I appreciate the outdoor lifestyle I enjoy here in San Diego.

The "QR" Generation is Now...

If you are reading this and are clueless to what "QR" means then you were like me a few days ago when I first saw what looked like a fancy sort of bar code that mobile phones can scan over and get information from. In this high-tech world we now live in, with instant mobile information at our fingertips, yet another new technology has emerged.

"QR" codes...short for Quick Response. The perfect solution/tool for anyone who wants information right NOW!

All you need is a smartphone and an app that enables the phones camera to 'read' the "QR" code, instantly sending you to images, information or websites that marketers want you to see. I noticed the "QR" code in a real estate magazine and can see how valuable this innovative technology is and how it would enable homeowners to get up to the minute information into their hands. I can see that soon "For Sale" signs in front of homes will be a thing of the past. The "QR" generation will be a paperless trail, making these codes not only an informational tool but a green tool as well.

Most of the apps for "QR" readers are free or very inexpensive and easily downloaded to your phone. The most popular ones are: QuickMark for iphone, Bee Tagg or UpCode for BlackBerry and ShopSavvy for Android.

I think there will come a day when all advertisements, tags and signs will have a code enabling consumers to instantly purchase products from their phones. Imagine flipping through a magazine and seeing jeans you like, scanning the "QR" code with your phone, ordering the size you need and having them shipped! Think of how Christmas shopping would be a breeze without the hassle of fighting the crowds. I can't wait to see where this new technology takes us...

Endless opportunities are just around the corner with the "QR" generation!

Harmonious. Intriguing. Inviting. Majestic.

I love being a realtor and when I am out and about gathering listings, creating brochures, postcards, e-marketing, and digitally marketing homes on trulia, zwillow, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Google, The Telegraph, openhouse, cyberhomes, frontdoor, homefinder, JamesList, PropGoLuxury, to name a few...I am constantly thinking of how harmonious, intriguing, inviting and majestic each property is that I list and that my company lists.

This is the essence of what I represent:

Harmonious - This is the luxury of nature. Where home blends seamlessly with its surroundings, allowing you to do so as well. Where the environment is not just a back drop but an essential component of the beauty of the home. A setting that is a glorious balance of light, landscape and sky.

 Intriguing - Some homes arouse curiosity. A sense of wonder overcomes one to know what lies beyond lit doors and windows. It captivates with its fascinating and compelling qualities and draws you into a world that is at once vibrant and comforting.

Inviting - A home that welcomes you, an extended invitation encouraging you beyond its entryway into unique rooms, passageways and outdoor spaces. It draws you in, insisting on relaxation and repose while gently suggesting you be inspired.

Majestic - A world that conjures up regality. One of stately dignity. It defines what is awe-inspiring, a landscape that takes your breath away with its vastness. It is sky-high mountains, never-ending water and green pastures as far as the eye can see.

Tranquil - A home of tranquility. One that allows you to relax, that whispers soothing harmonies and present serene vistas. It is a peaceful setting where contemplation occurs and uncertainty disappears.

And it is here that homes embody the rich tapestry of varied lifestyles, distinct settings and diverse locals. It is here that utmost quality is considered intrinsic, providing the framework for who I am and represent.

This is the essence of what I do as I represent buyers and sellers...

This is the essence of Extraordinary....

By 2012...20% of all searches will be run from a mobile device...

The Sotheby's International Realty brand has partnered with Smarter Agent, the leader in mobile real estate technology, to co-develop the Sotheby's International Realty mobile application...SIR mobile. This provides the connectivity needed to effectively run our office, Coast Sotheby's International Realty business today.

The SIR Mobile application is available as a free download from all major app stores for all mobile devices putting GPS enabled real estate searches in the palm of your hand, from anywhere your mobile device works.

Text: SIR TO: 87778

Now you have access to search the most unique and extraordinary properties from coast to coast, right at your fingertips.

The Sotheby's International Realty app introduces the latest technology to help you research a future home purchase or rental, while connecting you to some of the most lifestyle-rich homes highlighted under the "Featured Homes" section in the main menu including waterfront, mountain, golf, metropolitan and country living...just to name a few.

SIR Mobile features:

• Save your search or favorite properties to view later
• Send a property to a friend via text or email
• Use the "sent to a Friend" feature to forward the app to any cell phone user via text message
• Select the "Call to See" option to connect with a Sotheby's International Realty real estate professional who will field any inquiries or schedule a home tour
• View full-screen, high quality, color property photos

On a side note:
I don't consider myself too technologically savvy but I am open to moving forward with using my mobile device and the SIR app in furthering my connection and productivity with real estate and clients.

About the Sotheby's International Realty brand:
Since the founding of the Sotheby's auction house in 1744, the Sotheby's name has earned a renown as a marketer for many of the world's most valuable and prestigious possessions. The Sotheby's International Realty brand began in 1976, in part to serve clients desiring a complete package of estate disposition services, and soon became known for representing extraordinary real estate throughout the world.

The Business of Extraordinary Living Continues

Sotheby's International Realty has a collaboration with The Wall Street Journal that offers an exciting array of opportunities to showcase the homes represented by the Sotheby's network given more and more consumers turn to The Wall Street Journal for its insight into the global financial and economic landscape. Visitors to the real estate section of wsj.com continues to increase at a rapid pace, where traffic alone to their real estate page has increased by 38% representing 1,000,000 viewers per month.

As an extension of Sotheby's International Realty relationship with The Wall Street Journal, they have negotiated an effective online program with the TimesOnline, producers of the United Kingdom's top quality daily and premier Sunday newspapers. Through a combination of banner ad units running on The Sunday Times (www.thesundaytimes.co.uk) and property of the week text links which run on The times (www.thetimes.co.uk), Times Online will deliver 1.5 million targeted impressions against an internationally elite audience, reaching across Continental Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the Far East.

The collective goal of Sotheby's International Realty is that consumers visiting The Business of Extraordinary Living micro-site on The Wall Street Journal, enjoy learning more about the Sotheby's brand and our commitment of artfully uniting extraordinary homes with extraordinary lives.

Most of all my goal is to help people learn more about real estate - both as one of the best long-term investments they can make and more importantly as a home that meets the strong demands of their lifestyle and reflects the incalculable value of the life within it.