Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 14, 2015

B6

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


BENEFITS ON BOTH SIDES

There are new rules regarding short sales meant to improve the experience for both sellers and buyers, 
but the legalities and legwork can overwhelm even the most savvy. Of course, that's where the real 
estate agent shines, handling the paperwork and the phone calls, leaving you to focus on your move.

Keep in mind that if you're expecting to buy a home on short sale, you can get a great deal, but don't 
expect miracles from a bank that has agreed to accept a price lower than what the sellers owe on their 
mortgage. These short sales often generate multiple offers, and if a home has been approved to sell for 
$200,000, don't expect to waltz in and offer $125,000.

The real advantage of a short sale deal is that the home will likely be in much better physical condition 
than its foreclosure counterpart. Often, a foreclosed home will have been abandoned for months, and 
perhaps trashed before being vacated. A short sale property in better condition is in and of itself a 
benefit with real value that offsets any lower price you could offer on a foreclosure.

And for sellers, a short sale preserves your dignity, reduces some of the stress, and won't damage 
your credit history as much as a foreclosure. Whether selling or buying, consult an agent for the best 
results.


HOW LIVING WILLS BECAME A WAY OF LIFE IN 
ONE AMERICAN TOWN 

With just over 50,000 residents, La Crosse, WI is a lot like most other small towns in America – but 
one thing makes La Crosse stand out: 96% of La Crosse residents who have died had an advance 
health care directive (also commonly called a living will) in place. Nationally, only about 30% of 
American adults have an advance health care directive in place. 

Actually, there are two things that make La Crosse stand out: the town also has lower healthcare 
costs than any other place in the U.S. And these two things – a high percentage of residents with 
advance directives and lower healthcare costs -- are inextricably linked.

According to a recent NPR story, all this came about because of one man: Dr. Bud Hammes, 
Medical Humanities Director at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse. Dr.Hammes often found 
himself sitting with families of terminally ill patients, trying to figure out what to do next. He said 
the conversations were excruciating: “Did mom ever say anything to you?” “Do you know what dad 
wants?” He felt the moral distress of those families and it was palpable. 

Dr. Hammes knew these scenarios could easily be avoided, since most patients were usually sick 
for years. So he started training nurses to ask patients early on if they wanted to sign an advance 
directive, and over the years, planning for death has become a way of life in La Crosse.

And the lower healthcare costs? Dr. Hammes said the reduction in spending was a complete 
accident; simply a byproduct of letting people make their own choices. He said that when you let 
patients choose and direct their own care, they often make a much less expensive choice. 

Making end of life plans is one of the easiest, and yet most comforting things you can do for your 
family. To make things as stress-free as possible for your loved ones, contact our office to schedule 
a time for us to sit down and talk. Because this planning is so important, I’ve made space for the 
next two people who mention this article to have a complete family estate planning session at no 
charge. 

Call 626.355.4000 today and mention this article or visit us at www.GarlettLaw.
com for more information.

INSTAGRAM IS HELPING FIND FOREVER 

HOMES FOR RESCUE DOGS 

Instragram is used for many things. Families 
and friends share their stories through photos. 
Businesses leverage it as a life-style branding tool. 

 One of the best uses of Instagram is when it 
champions a great cause. 

 I recently met a non-profit called Hand in Paw. 
They work very hard to place dogs they rescue 
into loving homes. I actually ended up adopting 
the world’s greatest dog from them but that’s 
another story. Instagram is helping them get the 
word out in a powerful way. 

 Every weekend you’ll find Hand in Paw at 
Unleashed in Monrovia. They bring 3 dogs who 
need homes. Messages go out on Instagram 
sharing the background stories of the dogs with 
great photos. I’ve seen people from Long Beach 
drive to Monrovia to adopt a dog because of an 
Instagram post! 

 The content from Hand in Paw just comes 
natural because they are so passionate about what 
they do. They don’t carry around fancy cameras 
and have long committee meetings to discuss 
what they should post next. They take great 
photos from their smart phones, write a quick 
comment and get the word out. 

 Instagram and social media is part of their 
every day operation. They are consistently telling 
their story, showing what’s going on behind the 
scenes, and getting the word out to the people 
who love dogs! They just do it and get the job done 
– finding nice people to adopt great dogs!

 About MJ: MJ and her brother David own 
HUTdogs, a creative services business that 
specializes in Internet Marketing strategies 
and Social Media. They offer social media 
management services and help their clients 
build a strong on-line presence. “Like” them 
on Facebook for trending news in social media, 
internet marketing and other helpful tips, www.
facebook.com/hutdogs.

 Sign up for their upcoming classes, webinars 
and presentations at: www.hutdogs.com/
workshops/schedule 


Square Footage per Assessor: 7,313 Lot Size: 32,841 / .75 Acre 
5 Bedrooms / 7 Baths Year Built: 2010 
Guest/Pool House w/ Kitchenette & Bath: 500 Square Feet Taped 
Offered for sale at $4,688,000 
See more at www.3151EastCalifornia.com 
OWNED AND OPERATED BY NRT | Pasadena South Lake Office 
©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. 
Owned and Operated by NRT, Incorporated. Coldwell Banker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by the 
seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with the appropriate professionals. 
Exclusive Listing Agent 
“tink” 
CHENEY 
Catherine “Tink” Cheney 
Previews Estates Director 
Cell: 626 233 2938 
tinkcheney@earthlink.net 
www.tinkcheney.com 
CalBRE# 01173415 
3151 East California, Pasadena 
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