For Sale...Agoura Estate with Panoramic Views!!!

Cielo Farms For Sale! 21+ Acres with Vineyard and nearly 9000 SF estate!

10 things NOT to do in a listing appointment

BLINDS WiDE OPEN -day 382 Envious

A while back we attended a birthday party of a dear friend and client celebrating his 75th birthday and to close out his party, he stated "this may seem a bit awkward to say, but I'm envious of my own life." It was an amazing party any those words now ring in my head constantly. Tonight while enjoying a warm, beautiful and breezy evening at M Cafe with my 3 gifts/girls, I could only reflect on my friend's statement; "I'm envious of my own life." Yes, I do have a good life, a super fun job, lots of friends and so much more, but these 3, happy, healthy, beautiful, funny and oh so loving daughters and I said healthy, make my life pretty special. So yes, I am envious of my own life. Kelsey came home from Dallas, so we surprised Miley and when she saw her big sis, it was like the stadium lights at the Rose Bowl turned on! Taking pictures, corn ball (a game at the restaurant), great food, stories, Kinsey boasting about how many likes she will get on Instagram, and the peace of knowing all is well with the 3. The day began with a little flag football, merged into mid day house showings, twighlighted at the cafe, and will end with a humble prayer, a wink in the mirror and dreams of ,"Man alive, I'm envious of my own life!!

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 382 Home Ownership and Boat Ownership

So following the rains of the last few days, I was left to ponder boat ownership and the costs vs. rewards. As you can see, there will be some costs in the next few days because with anything that requires some type of technical savvy, I am not your guy. Oh, the good times on the boat; the parties on the water, towing the kids around the lake on the paddle boards, back and forth to the rope swing, throwing a line out for a bass and then there is this morning's image. Certainly, there will be a rehab fee of some amount just to get it going, the motor is probably shot, that batteries have been underwater for two days and some seats need new upholstery. Here are the alternatives; untie it, let it float over the dam to Malibu, sink it and use it as a fishing reef or get out the checkbook. It's the same thing with your home, the answer is always get out the checkbook. As much as we would like to just let it go sometimes or scream, the benefits of home ownership are as sweet as the benefits of boat ownership. So get out the checkbook, fix the recent roof leaks, the plugged yard drains, the broken ice maker and just think of all the good, fun times yet to be had (and tax write offs) in your beautiful home/boat!


This is Dave, from the McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 380 Just Another Day in Paradise

Yeah it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Lyrics from Phil Vassar's Song

Quite fitting for our new listing in North Ranch

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 379 Hall of Fame

How many of us are called by our high school to be inducted into their Hall of Fame? Most of us are remembered for our funky hair, clever "notes" from home, funny teeth or outstanding disco dancing.  Dave was honored last weekend for his distinguished high school and collegiate football career. Amazing! He still has it! Congratulations Dave!

This is Laurie, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN-day 378 A Market Reality

Beautiful end unit townhome in Newbury Park;one day on the market and 5 offers. Love when that happens!
This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 377 Termite, Appraisal & Fire

Just your regular realtor day: Termite at 9:00, appraisal at 9:30 and whoa...Brush Fire at 10:00. Good news, no termites.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 376 Action Jackson

Jackson is making us all look bad on Malibou Lake. He buys a house out on the lake, decides to rig up and here are the results. A nice 3 plus pounder right off the dock. Just think about the next 15 years he has ahead of him on the lake with mom, dad and grandma..a great life, a special way of life and a life of unchartered waters yet to navigate! Welcome Jones Family to Malibou Lake!

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 375 Follow the Light to Tomorrow

On the drive home after viewing "The Croods" with my 2 daughters, we came around the corner and right there in front of the car was the message from the movie...Follow the Light.  Right there before us, there it was: Pursue the light, stay away from the darkness and live your life...Great movie, fun, great message and what a visual to drive home with. The light represented tomorrow and how true that is, so here is tomorrow, leave the past behind and follow the light! What great things lie ahead of us tomorrow.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, see you tomorrow and still keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 374 On the Rocks

Coming Tuesday on the MLS is this cool custom, built "On the Rocks." Superb location with fantastic views of the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains with Sugarloaf Mountain front and center. 3 + 3.5, views from everywhere, and comfortable living on all levels. All this for under 900K. Check out all the pictures and details at www.themclaughlingroup.com.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 373 Wow in Woodland Hills

Awesome new listing that will be available to see on Saturday. Fantastic yard, pool, sports court, BBQ, lawns and all this comes with a classic ranch style at over 2800 sq. ft. remodeled and gorgeous. Woodland Hills never looked so good and felt so comfy! Check out all the photos at www.themclaughlingroup.com

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 372 Wings

A joint adventure with The McLaughlin Group and The Marx Team at the Camarillo airport with Mark Beushausen a fellow KW agent and accomplished pilot. A great day with lunch at the cafe amongst all the top gun pilots, an entirely different culture and atmosphere. It's like lunch at the Rock Store with all the bikers or dinner at Old Place with the locals. I must say that the girls were more enthused with the lunch crowd consisting of multiple pilots with call signs similar to "Goose," "Maverick," and "Ice," but so be it, Dylan and I were able to take comfort in the knowledge that going 500 miles per hour is not nearly as exciting as placing a lock box on the front door of  a condo. In all seriousness, being up close, next to some of those jets was really cool. Maybe we will sell a house for some pilot and exchange services so we can get our wings. I'd love the group to have to call me "Raptor."

This is Raptor, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 371 Grab Your Pot O Gold at Vintage

Only 4 left of what is sure to be one of the best estate communities in our area. This rainbow appeared last week while I was showing and I was accused of staging the setting. Gosh, I wish I had that power but right after that we opened the door to another one and in the back yard, there were 3 deer. Who needs furniture when you have nature staging things for you. Hurry, only 4 pots of gold left.

This is Dave from, The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 370 Take a Ride

Life is a roller coaster. Close your eyes on the way down and keep your eyes wide open on the way up! Jump on! Happy Valentine's Day.

This is Laurie, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 369 Pure Bliss

Welcome to suburban solace in this Newbury Park secret! This home has a fantastic floor plan with 4/4.5, plus a downstairs bonus room adjacent to a full bathroom, huge upstairs loft and an additional bonus room/office. Another highlight is the wrap around backyard sanctuary with honeysuckly vines covering all the romantic sitting areas, BBQ w/ sit up bar, stone fireplace, pool and an exotic multi colored show from the poolside spa! See more at www.TheMcLaughlinGroup.com!

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 367 Brewster Beauty

Exceptional buy in Tarzana 4+2 Pool and spa, 829K. Fun to post these when it will probably sell in a minute! 4600 Brewster Drive. Check it out on TheMcLaughlinGroup.com

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 366 Giving Back

Chris Hendricks from On Q financial and The McLaughlin Group were able to make a 4k donation to the Agoura High Charger Club as a result of an affiliation with Community Funding Solutions. We take 20% of our commission and give back to the local schools. We hope this program grows and grows. The schools need the funding and what a great opportunity to help with the athletic programs.  My daughters are benefiting from these programs and hundreds of other kids, and the lessons that athletics provide parallel the lessons in life, so we will continue to help support these great programs.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 365 Group Getaway

What a superb day for the group last week. We cleared the schedules and boarded the Amtrak to Santa Barbara. What looked liked a dull drizzly day turned into a goal oriented day of team build up and team fun. Up and down State street with a bite here, a sip there, a chocolate delight consumed and all the while talking real estate.  All of us discussed what we would like to do in 2013 personally and professionally and the group came out swinging with some big numbers. It's so nice to see motivated people aim high, leave the comfort zone and shoot for the stars. I will say this as the leader of the group, if the numbers come in, I'm in big trouble... For next year will not be on steel rails, rather, the getaway, will be on aluminum wings at 35000 feet with a bite here and a few sips there. Here..(raise the glass) is to THERE!

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!