: February 2008

Dear friend Donna Yates tagged me to find a "hidden gem" in the rain. It didn't take too long!

I'd like you to meet Lissa Uder. Lissa is part of the RE/MAX Professional Realty Team in Lebanon, MO. She is showing signs of developing a full-blown addiction. I've Created A Monster...I'm Truly Sorry!

Lissa covers the gamut from serious Wanna KISS?......Keep It Safe Silly! to fluffy Best Excuses For Sleeping At Your Desk.

Lissa began her AR journey on January 16 and is off to a terrific start. Please make her feel welcome.

I now pass the torch to Chris Fisher. Please help us find the next hidden gem!

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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Our nation, though relatively young, is rich in history. Arcadia Publishing has done a phenomenal job with a series of books called Images of America. With more than 3400 titles in the series, chances are pretty good there's a title that chronicles your area's history.

This is a great portrait of my home town. The book covers the early days of Murrieta, its people and commerce and is packed with wonderful photos. It is dedicated to E. Hale Curran, who took many of the photos in the book and collected others. It makes a great coffee table book and an ideal closing gift.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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I spent a few days in Key West, Florida for my best friend Tom Sawyer's wedding. I have been there several times and am always captivated by its beauty and spirit. The above sign shows Key West's official philosophy. I think it's hard to beat.

If the opportunity to visit the Florida Keys and Key West in particular comes to you, don't let it pass you by. I'll share a few more pictures from this incredible visit.

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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As you may know, I'm a big fan of Inman News' Real Estate Connect. I registered for this July's conference while I was attending the New York Connect in January. If you'd like to know why I'm so passionate about this conference, let me point you to a post from Active Rain's Bob Stewart: What did I learn at Inman?

Here is an opportunity to connect with the brightest minds in our industry and see their vision of what lies ahead in this changing market. Not only that, the Inman team is soliciting input for what you would like to see offered. This is an excerpt from the subscriber email yesterday:

Here are just some of the major subjects we’re looking at covering:

• Global buyers and the impact of foreign money on U.S. real estate
• Bulls vs. Bears debate when housing market will recover
• Opportunities to crack the foreclosure market
• Controversial debate over a national MLS
• New customer channels on Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace
• What's hot in blogging and Internet marketing
• How to innovate in the online rental space

If you’d like to suggest a topic, speaker or sponsor, we wanted to remind you that you too can submit your ideas for this year's event.

Please email them to connectsf08@inman.com and we’ll review all submissions.

Besides that, I don't know of a better opportunity to network with your fellow bloggers. Jeff Turner, Brian Brady, Jeff Belonger, Brian Block, Desiree Daniels, Pat Kennedy and many others were all in attendance in New York. Plus you can meet the Active Rain team - Bob Stewart, Jon & Sara Washburn, Matt Heaton and Jerry Van Galder.

The sooner you can register the better because rates will increase. I also have a feeling there could be another AR gathering or two.

Tom Plant, Murrieta Real Estate Expert – GRI, e-PRO – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – 951.907.9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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I believe this shot says it all. Here are the newlyweds immediately following what may have been a three minute ceremony on the helipad at Southernmost House in Key West.

My friend Mary, her son Gabriel and I stopped for dinner at the Conch Republic. Raw oysters, conch chowder and key lime pie.... yum! From there we walked the length of Duval Street, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico to Tom & Kelly's wedding.

The setting could not have been more idyllic. The weather was perfect. 250 friends of the bride and groom celebrated for about three hours. Our time at Southernmost House ended with a Junkanoo parade down Duval Street to the Bottle Cap bar for more dancing. This is one wedding whose memories I will forever treasure. Tom & Kelly, I wish you lifetime of bliss.

Tom Plant, Murrieta Real Estate Expert – GRI, e-PRO – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – 951.907.9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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If you take a close look, you'll see the pelican at the top. A lucky catch! I'm in Key West for my best friend Tom Sawyer's wedding. Yes, that is his real name. Meet him once and you will love him. Kelly Capone does. She's marrying him this evening at Key West's renowned Southernmost House.

If you haven't had the pleasure of a visit to Key West, I implore you to do so. A tiny area with 24,000 residents has such an incredible wealth of things to see and do. It is, by the way, America's only frost-free city!

Tom Plant, Murrieta Real Estate Expert – GRI, e-PRO – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – 951.907.9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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First of all, my apologies for my lack of posting. This year has been a blur so far. Shortly after returning from Real Estate Connect in New York, I packed my bags again to head for the 6th annual Feat Fan Excursion to Negril, Jamaica. No, I'm not asking for your sympathy. As you can see it was absolutely gorgeous. About 400 die hard Little Feat fans took over the Grand Lido, Negril for four days of concerts and a whole lot of fun.

Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon repeated as a guest artist and fit in perfectly. The local group The Overtakers played, as did Rootz Underground. Peter Rowan and son Lowell added their touch Monday night, and several musicians who were in town for the Chinese New Year bluegrass music festival played as well. What a wonderful time.

Well, at least I'm home for a while now. I don't go anywhere until this Thursday when I take off for Key West for my best friend's wedding!

Murrieta Real Estate Expert – Tom Plant, REALTOR® - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (951) 907-9701

It would be my honor to show you the incredible Temecula Valley, a place I’m very proud to call home.

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