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!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 364 Dylan's Day

Well, here he is, the youngest member of our group. It's Dylan's birthday today and I must confess he has grown up to be a fine young man, exceptional realtor and a great nephew. He does have the weakest throwing arm of all of the boys but we won't hold that against him. Happy Birthday big guy!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 363 Bob McLaughlin's Memorial Service

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BOB MCLAUGHLIN

A memorial celebration in my dad's honor will be held at Calvary Community Church (5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village) on Friday, January 11th at 11:00am with a reception following from 1-3 at the Malibou Lake Mountain Clubhouse (29033 W. Lake Vista Dr., Agoura). In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the WOUNDED WARRIORS FOUNDATION.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN = day 362 Kick Some Bass

Did a little fishing this New Year's morning! Not bad at all. She went about 6 pounds and now off to lunch and football. 2013 is shaping up just fine!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 361 Xmas Exchange

Every year our family does an exchange of hand made gifts. Last year I was a complete failure attempting a candle. This year hiking around, I came across a cut down Oak Tree and found the pieces of bark that I have made into planters, one sitting and a couple hanging. I think they will be a hit this year, redemption from last year, I hope. Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to all.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 360 This Old Guitar.....Follow up.

A few days back I posted a blog to and about my dad. I entitled it "This Old Guitar" after the John Denver song because the song reminded me of my dad and the lessons and love that he gave us. At 1:31 this afternoon, looking out over the lake he loved, he passed. I thought this was a fitting shot of him to post, long jumping as a senior at Fremont High. Fitting, because he believed that he would leap into eternity and this is my shot of my dad leaping into forever. He was the best dad!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 359 The Honey House

The little gem next door to the folk's house is on the market. So many thoughts and memories when a neighbor decides to sell, especially the next door neighbor. This home ties 5 what we call laker kids, to all of us, plus one very special lady. She has poured her life and love into this home and it truly reflects a passion for nature and life. Yes it's old and needs a little work but there is heart & soul in this home. I once earned a 10 gallon jar of honey by helping harvest the honey from the bees that were kept on the property. I probably got stung 30 times in that hour but it was a great life lesson...I would never grow up to be a beekeeper, but I still love honey from the honeycomb!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 358 This Old Guitar

John Denver wrote a great song titled "This Old Guitar". In this song Denver writes about the old guitar and the things the old guitar taught him.  As I sit at my parent's house tonight with the morning rushing us into a new day, I could not help but to reflect back on the life that the stud in the middle of this family photo lived and the things he taught us.  This photo is before 3 more grand kids and 2 great grand kids.  Yes, my dad is battling to live after a long bout with Parkinson's disease but most recently a massive stroke.  His will is strong but the body is weak.  Sitting next to the old stone fireplace, the stories, lessons and love echo though my chambers like a shout across the lake on a still quiet evening.  If you know the Denver song it begins with "This old guitar taught me to sing a love song" and it strums its way through some other magical lyrics.  This song makes me think of my dad.  He taught us everything!  He taught us to work, he taught us to laugh, he taught us to love, he taught us to sacrifice, he taught us to fish, he taught us to tie knots, he taught us to be respectful, he taught us to honor others, he taught us common sense, he taught us to camp, he taught us courage, he taught us discipline, he taught us how to swim and dive and as you can see, he taught us most everything any child would need.  You see, my dad was not a brilliant or learned man, but he was so much more.  Compassionate, simple, practical, kind, caring, wise and strong in body, mind and spirit.  My dad is a great dad and before he passes, this life, his life, needs the praise, he so well deserves.  My dad does not need this but I do.  His life counted, his life counts and my life, my brothers and sister and all our kids are filled with the DNA of one strong, loving and special man. Dad, we are so grateful for the life you gave us, the lessons you taught us and the life we have shared with you. You were and are that old guitar in our lives!

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

BLIND WIDE OPEN - day 357 Our New Neighbors

We moved to a new office behind Costco in Westlake Village a few months ago. Right next door they are building a huge complex with a Target, a new Total Woman gym and several restaurants. We are happy to have them as our next door neighbors. They are clearing the land for construction and we have a front row seat. Future plans? Maybe a gym membership, first dibs on Target sales and fresh sushi!!!!!!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 356 Giving Back

This Saturday the 1st of December, Keller Williams Westlake Village is having a holiday boutique. What a perfect time to pick up some unique gifts for your friends and family and at the same time contribute to our "KW Cares" charity fund. A great cause and a lot of fun! Please join us this weekend!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 355 Easy Pickens!

Stop and think how easy we have it on Thanksgiving compared to these three characters. We swing by the market and pick up a turkey, yams, pumpkin pie and some egg nog and sit around and enjoy family and football. I came across these three this morning trying to rustle up some chow for the day. I was a little slow with the camera otherwise you might have seen a rat being finished off. Everyday they battle for survival and we have the luxury of calling Dominos. Let's just say we have much to be thankful for. Happy Turkey Day or Happy Rat Day! I'll take the turkey option but I'm quite sure they would too!

This is the Coyotes and this is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 354 A Sunny Day in November

Two generations apart and what they must see. At 5 years old Grandpa's president was FDR and Miley's is Obama. The national debt in 1933 was 23 Billion and for Miley it's nearly 17 Trillion. One's generation was yet to visit the moon and one will have an opportunity for round trip airfare to and fro. A life full of abundance that flowed over with family and love and one still to live with uncharted paths yet to walk. This was a sunny day in November where these different generations met, where the little ones kicked and ran and the older ones sat and smiled and life was good, whole and all that it should be. Sunrise and sunset all captured after the Sensational Skittles tied the Jolly Lollies on a Sunny soccer Saturday in November!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 353 Where Did 2012 Go?

Already making the 2013 McLaughlin Group marketing budget....
Already planning the Thanksgiving holiday....
Already sweating the cash availability for Christmas....
Already ready for that economic turnaround.....
Already curious for the November 6th results....

Time, can we slow it down, or is it a sign that we are just having too much fun?

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 352 Historic Landmark

Check out this cool Victorian for $349,000, close to the beach and downtown Ventura. Built in 1910, it was recently renovated yet it resembles its original historic appeal. 

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 351 Welcome to the Lake

Welcome the Jones family, new owners of two Malibou Lake Homes. I hope that their son's memories of living at the lake will be as rich as mine.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 350 Journey to Two Heavens

Okay, so "you all"(Texas speak) saw the post down in Texas of Kelsey and I hanging out but I need to say that Kels did have to study at times throughout my stay.  During one such break, I sped North a little over an hour oustide of Mckinney to visit Max....Quick background; Max grew up on the lake directly across from us, along with 3 other friends, Keith, John and Ken. Some others came and went but we would be called the originals, as if we were all water birthed in the depths of our lake. When I say we go way back, I mean 49 years. Whether it was fishing, the rope swing, marco polo, snake hunting, shooting the rapids, football, soccer, baseball, we had the very best of childhoods. A friend asked me, "is Max your friend?" How do you explain a bond and a childhood that is really unexplainable to most. It might stir distant memories for some about a long ago, far away summer camp but for us, it was our reality and it was an everyday camp.  Fast forward; from downtown Dallas the landscape evolves and rather quickly, from city, to suburb, to wide open territory and in that wide open territory, you will find Max and his family, nestled on 26 acres alongside a dirt road, that is, County Road 4460 or some crazy number like that. From what I could tell, a very quiet and peaceful lifestyle, not for all, but heaven for Max. On the backside of his 26 acres is the snake house; full of all types of creepy crawlies and slithering rodent eating serpents. Dragons, snakes, crocodiles, tarantulas all housed within this  2000 sq ft facility. Did I mention he has some lethal ones as well and I must say, I was a tad nervous. Cobras, Copperheads, Rattlers oh my! (Wizard of OZ). Max's Serpentarium was a dazzling display of Max's lifelong passion for snakes and his heaven. I was amazed and grateful for the opportunity to catch up with a lifelong friend. Fittingly, we ended our visit with some Texas BBQ and I sped South from wide open territory, to suburb, to city, and then to  my heaven (Cowboy Stadium) and all her angels.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 349 Being Away

Being away in our business is always a challenge; You're not around to show properties and answer all the calls, however, the business rolls on without you. Other agents are still showing your properties and offers are being made without you. I guess the message is to all salespeople...just shut up and the houses will sell without your input...Being away may have to be in my plans more often.
TCU VS. SMU in a downpour in Dallas.

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

Blinds Wide Open - day 347 Breakfast of Champions

This is why we stay on top of our game. Delivered escrow paperwork to KW and gang and there spread before me was the nutritional elements this body requires. After a quick chat and catch up on the recent acquisition of a certain large mega agent, I sat and enjoyed my breakfast. Olympic athletes, high powered executives and this realtor know how to feed the mind, body and soul to survive the rigors of our chosen professions.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 346 We've Got New Digs!

Keller Williams Westlake Village has moved to a brand new state of the art office at 30700 Russell Ranch Road, Suite 200 in Westlake Village. We literally ran out of room for all of our agents in the old building and were so lucky to find this new home. Our building is down the road from Costco, on the second floor, with beautiful mountain views. Please stop by and visit if you are in the area. We’d love to show you around.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 345 Moving Time

One thing I can't stand is moving. When I see it happening on a weekly basis and the chaos that is generally nvolved, I think most of you would understand my feelings. Now the time has come for us to move to our new offices and tonight at Staples, that ill feeling came over me. Standing in line with boxes, I started to think about the wires, cords, computers and stuff that will be put into boxes, carried out, carried in and then unpacked and put back into place in the new office. Now here is a piece of advice I always give sellers that are moving; "In a couple weeks you'll forget about all of this." What a bunch of malarchy! The dread is building and I am wondering how I can slip out in a couple of weeks and just dump it on the group. So for all of you that have heard that line, forgive me, I realize how absurd that is. Packing and unpacking is awful.

 Since I consider myself  more of a half full glass guy than half empty, (am I?, always questioning that) my goals for the move will be simple and here they are: 1. less stuff moves with us than what we have now. 2. My desk will remain free of clutter. And finally number 3. the day couch will be for sitting and relaxing and not ever used again as a file cabinet.

In a couple weeks, I'll forget all of this ever happened.

This is Dave, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate! That's me on the couch :)

BLINDS WIDE OPEN -day 344 Rancho Relief!

Congrats to the new owners of Rancho. I have to confess there were many times that I felt this would never happen. A medical emergency almost nixed the whole deal, but thankfully, a successful  procedure, smooth recovery and cool heads prevailed on all sides. Now the new owners are getting married in the backyard and all the turmoil will soon be forgotten. Two new journeys begin for two families, one in Arizona and one on Rancho road!

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 343 Priceless!

Priceless..............Miley & Jemmaly hangin in Avalon.
"Jemma, do you want to dig for some sandcrabs?" "Not really Miley, I just want to grab one of those boats and cruise."

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 342 Tetons to Texas

6 Years ago from the Tetons scanning through the old photos and wondering where the time went. Now realizing the tall one on my left is heading off in 3 weeks to Texas. From the Tetons to Texas in 6 years but I swear it was just a couple of weeks...I will savor the last few weeks with this awesome and amazing daughter of mine.

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 341 Conejo Valley Dreamin

What’s not to like about Southern California?
For most of us, it’s a short jog or bike ride to find the perfect hiking trail or fishing hole. If you’re so inclined, you can check out weekly Farmer’s Markets from Newbury Park (on Saturdays), to Westlake Village (Sundays). And what better way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or better yet, “I’m glad it’s summer and I live in Paradise” by having lunch at one of the restaurants at The Landings and watching the swans glide by?
Some may call it luck, others might say how cleverly they’ve planned their lives. Whatever the reason, on a breezy afternoon, with the sky a mellow blue, it’s time to admit the Conejo Valley is a small slice of nirvana!\

This is Sandy, Laurie's mom, from The McLaughlin Group, keeping it real in real estate!

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 340 Who Lives Longer?

Can your personality affect how many birthdays you celebrate? Maybe so, according to a body of research evaluating the role our outlooks can play in life span. Of course, it's important to remember that many factors, from genetics to lifestyle, work together to determine life expectancy -- but researchers have found that these six personality traits, in particular, are more common in those who lead longer lives.

CONSCIENTIOUS
EASY TO LAUGH
SOCIALLY CONNECTED
OPTIMISTIC
HAPPY
EXTROVERTED

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 339 You Gotta Love It!

My son, Ryan, has played baseball since he was 4 years old. Now 22 and still in it, he digs this quote. All you athletes out there, do you relate?

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

BLINDS WIDE OPEN - day 338 What Do All These Famous Actors Have In Common?

Answer: They all sat on the shores of Malibou Lake.

Click here to see what else sits on Malibou Lake!

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