This is my first attempt at blogging so I hope you will give me a few weeks to get this blog to be a useful tool for you.  I have been a REALTOR® for 29 years and I love to share my excitement of this great career with new agents and clients I meet.  The last few months have been a challenge for many homeowners and I try to help as many as I can.  The media is having a great time spreading all the negative aspects of our marketplace but I see many reasons to smile and to say we are doing OK.  Many areas of The Inland Empire have had tremendous equity growth in the last few years.  Now that we are returning to a more normal market homeowners will have to adjust to the normal cycle of the real estate industry.  My husband and I bought a new home 4 years ago and were amazed at the high equity we gain in just a few years.  Sure I have lost some of that equity this year but this home is still the best investment we have made.  We have lived in many states and many homes many of which gained us no or little equity after years of home ownership.  Coming from Michigan we still love the California marketplace.