Does the Economy Have you Down?

With all the negativity in the news and maybe even in our own personal finances, it seems all doom and gloom. I work in an industry caught in the middle of all of it. Some of my favorite clients, who I consider friends, are on the verge of losing their homes. Times could be considered 'tough', especially when we compare to the last decade or so of easy flowing money and what that means to most of us. I personally have a much tighter budget this year and even though we still have business, it is taking much longer for most transactions and getting things done. What to do? Take yourself out of your problems and help someone eles's problems! I personally volunteered and worked all day on a construction site, framing (yes, me framing) for a condo project for Habitat for Humanity today. I busted my rear hammering nails and moving lumber to help someone I don't know have a real home sometime in the future. It felt good afterwards and I know one day my tiny little part will have helped someone asking for help.
We are in general so blessed compared to so much of the world or even some of our not too distant neighbors, that we lose sight of that and start complaining! It picked me up and I hope you find some group that you can volunteer your time, even if it is only for the day. Just do it! You won't regret it. See: http://www.habitat.org/ for how you can help). See photos of my day below:

Fire Sprinklers to be Required in New Homes

I read that Fire Sprinklers will be required for new homes nationwide starting the 1st of the year in 2011 (just a little over 2 years from now). This will be for one and two family residences and townhomes. Great for saving lives and giving more minutes for most residents to escape and be safe. Not so great for the building and real estate industry since high installation and maintenance costs will result. Costs obviously will vary by community, but the Fire Protection Research Foundation says sprinkler systems run an average of $1.61 per square foot of space covered. That would mean for a home of 2,000 square feet an added cost of $ 3,220 extra for builders, and probably more for the end user, the home buyer. Even though this is a cost issue as is most safer ways of living. Safer cars cost more, safer homes will too. I like the idea of having fire sprinklers after seeing a huge increase in major fires in many cities in every part of California and many other states and countries. Information from the Wall Street Journal, Anjali Athavaley (09/23/08)

Oceanside - Battle at Sea

Oceanside Harbor had a great re-enactment of a Pirate Ship Battle last weekend ! Canons were shooting, guns were fired, smoke was blowing. It was a sight to see. If you didn't get to see it, I would schedule it for next year. There was also lots of fun other stuff happening at the http://www.oceansideharbordays.com/ weekend event including lots of food and live bands. I was fortunate enough to see one called LeperKahnz that played interesting Irish-Reggae-Experimental that was fun. According to the local papers about 40,000 people show up for this event every year.

California homes Sales Up!

Hello! Despite a huge amount of financial gloom in the news there are still people buying homes! The trend for the last three months has been a sales volume holding over 400,000 homes sold each month. Although this is a good amount, prices have yet to start going back up. The city of Carlsbad where Top Agent's main office is located had a price decrease from a year ago of -6%. Many cities show a larger drop, such as Oceanside showing an average drop in value of -35% in one year, but one must put this in perspective that these sales are from a large amount of foreclosures and short sales and are not necessarily an indication that all homes are worth 35% less. Many good areas are holding stronger value, but owners are not selling at this time. On the other spectrum are cities such as Del Mar and Solana Beach with increase sales price of 20% to 61%!! Since there were not a huge number of sales in each of these areas, some higher ends sales can tilt the percentages.

Anyway, from my perspective the rates are now so inexpensive (under 6% for excellent credit) and the prices are low, a good number of investors are looking back into the California market if they didn't previously over speculate. Several first time home buyers now can afford a real place to own that couldn't before. If you want to move up, do it now while you can retain that lower property tax rate and find that perfect home that may not have been available to you when the market sold homes in days. Now is the time for many buyers to get in ownership and build real equity over the long term before this opportunity vanishes for another decade or so.

Open your Front Door From your Office!

A new door locking system that can be activated or deactivated with a cell phone or on the Web is sure to find real estate professionals as its biggest fans. The Schlage LiNKsystem can be wirelessly set and opened via the Internet or from a mobile phone or a computer.Users can remotely lock or unlock the deadbolt on a door door; as well as change, activate or disable the locks using a secure four-digit code. Users also can open a door using the lock’s keypad. And if all else fails, the locks can be opened and relocked with an old-fashioned key.
Through an online portal, homeowners also can program user codes for specific days and times, receivenotifications when certain codes are used and track codes that have been used in a 90-day period. A Schlage kit, which the company says is a first, includes the lock and the wireless bridge to communicate with the lock.It sells for $299, plus there's a $13 monthly fee to use the applications that let the locks be controlled remotely. It will be available in October. Source information taken from: The Associated Press, Catherine Tsai (09/03/2008)

I used a similar code lock when I lived in Sweden which was great since I never neeeded to carry a key with all the layers of clothes and things I carried with me in the cold winter. I didn't have direct access through a garage like many people do in California. Also this code could be changed or a special code given out to the housekeeper or a maintenence person could be given and change after the work was done. I loved having this system and now with remote access it makes life one step easier. Have the neighbor water the plants while you're out of town or such. I love Technology to make my life easier!!

What are your thoughts??
carin aka www.SwedishViking.com

New trend in the works? Paparazzi-Proofing?

According to a Los Angeles times article dated the 19th of August, there is a new trend in high rise condos that is being started by a builder who has a condominium under construction on Wilshire Boulevard near Hollywood. It is billing itself as the first paparazzi-proof building. Named "The Carlyle", the 24-story tower, icludes "Israeli-trained VIP" security guards, private elevators that open directly into apartments, and high hedges that shield the swimming pool and yoga lawn from photographers. The pitch of the building is supposed to prevent viewing from neighbors in nearby buildings. The Carlyle is scheduled to open in 2009. Priced from $2.9 million to $20 million for one of four units on the penthouse floor. So far no named stars have been reported. But if they named who was going to live there, it would be less Paparazzi proof wouldn't it?

My opinion is that this isn't really something new, but a twist on marketing. Even if you aren't in the same class as Angelina Jolie, most people still desire as much privacy as possible. Walking into a condo or house with neighbors viewing in your main windows is usually a turn off and most will opt for the condo with distance views or a house that looks over the golf course and not directly into the neighbors masterbedroom. But it comes down to the old adage: How much are you willing to pay for it ?? What is your opinion?

Carin
http://www.swedishviking.com/