Real Estate Ray's Blog

     I am always making lemonade.  Well, maybe not literally, but when things take an unexpected turn, I do look to change course and make the best of it.  You know that I like to cook so about three months ago I dedicated myself to cooking for the family more.  I cracked open a Middle Eastern Cookbook, Ottolenghi, by Yotan Ottolenghi and explored many new dishes.  My dad and I made homemade pasta for the first time.  To do it, we pulled out his circa 1999 pasta machine, STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKING, and used it for the first time.  I also made my first grapefruit margaritas; a little tequila, a little Grand Marnier, fresh juice from grapefruits right off the tree, fresh lime juice, honey and cracked ice, all vigorously shaken.  Much better than lemonade!

                   Kasheri, Cauliflower fritters, Chicken with Saffron                  Homemade Pasta

 The Elixir of the Gods, Grapefruit Margaritas

     I have been making lemonade in the work world too,  figuratively speaking.  My wife and I completed a 1031 exchange right in the middle of all the chaos and we spent almost four weeks in Goodyear, AZ painting and furnishing the new property.  We also enjoyed a little hiking with Brian England.  It is now in the marketing phase and ready to rent.  PebbleCreek Living, Home Ready to Rent!

     There has been plenty of time to take online courses too.  I am about halfway through with my continuing education courses and have earned two new designations;  The Senior Real Estate Specialist and The Accredited Buyer's Representitive.  They help round out my other desigations; The Graduate Realtor's Institue, e-Pro and Certified Negotiating Expert. 

     Our eXp Realty of California, Inc. office was introduced to a home auction site that looks like a novel way to sell homes so I took their Homebids Certification class.  I planned to sell my listing using the Homebids process, but it sold too quickly.  Next time!

     Most importantly, Marquita Ward-White, approached me regarding the prospects of working at eXp Realty and joined forces with me.  She runs an excellent open house and has a listing coming on the market with more to follow.  She loved the prospect of joining in on all of our online training and engaging with our online office.  She was also intrigued by the opportunity to earn stock in the company.  I am helping her with three months of marketing to help her get off on the right foot.

     It looks like I need a different lemonade recipe now.  It was great while it lasted, but the clothes are getting a little too tight.  I am back to a healthy diet, going to the gym two times a week and running with my friends at Runnin for Rhett three times a week.  My lemonade making has to go sugar free for a while!

For those of you looking for some great cookbooks, one of these is a must:  Plenty, Ottolenghi, or Jerusalem, I understand, Plenty More, is excellent as well, but I do not own that one...YET!  My favorite of the three, Ottolenghi.  If you get it, try the Cauliflower Fritters. They are outstanding.

Thank you to Carol Williams and Anna Banana Kruchten Arizona's Top Banana! for creating this month's ActiveRain Challenge.  When I first read about it, I thought, "what have I done?"  It turns out that sometimes you have to take a look back to know.  It has been busy!  Also, I know this contest was about a certain event, but I am so tired of it, I did my best to allude to it, but not name it.