Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Sun City Palm Desert Sales Activity

Presently there are 185 active listings in the community from $265,000 for a Maui (1010 sq. ft) to a Tuscany on the golf course for $$996,000 (3399 sq. ft)

Since August 1, 2007 there have been 13 homes ,in escrow, from $299,000 for an Opal (1548 sq. ft) to $1,150,000 for a Marseilles on the golf course (2938 sq. ft).

Since Sept. 1 there have been 17 homes that have closed escrow from $265,000 for a Gorham (1167 sq. ft.) to $592,000 for a Victoria on the golf course.

Of the pending and sold escrows, 20 were priced between $265,000 and $399,000; 4 were between $400,000 and $500,000; 6 were over $500,000.

Please feel free to leave your comments for me--on any of my blog spots.

Timely Words

Daylight Saving Time ends this Nov. 4. We will get an extra hour of sleep only to lose it next spring. Remember to turn your clocks back, Saturday night before you go to sleep.

Who is in charge of the "official time in the US? It is more complicated that you might think. Both the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U..S. Naval Observatory maintain atomic clocks, and their readings help to formulate what is called the Universal Time Coordinate (UTC). The time reported by these two services is so precise that it never differs by more than 0.0000001 seconds

Friday, October 26, 2007

Times Have Changed

At the Coachella Valley State of the Real Estate Market meeting on Tues Oct. 23, Real Data Strategies president , Patrick Veling, the shift in the real estate market means that agents and sellers must adjust how they do business.

Statistics shared outlined the valley's recent tough times:
Total homes sold in the valley are down 53% from two years ago.
The average price of sold homes vs. last yer is down in every valley city except Indian Wells, Indio and Palm Desert,
Though upscale homes are holding up solidly in the current market, communities with largely median and below median priced homes are finding the going rough.
Many valley cities have home and condo inventories that would take one to two years to exhaust at the current pace.
Desert Sellers are encouraged to drop prices.
The glut of homes on the market is good for buyers. Loans are available albeit with a great credit score and a down payment.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Outdoor lighting

If you are thinking of adding outdoor lighting for security or entertaining there are some things to think about:

Outdoor lighting consumes huge amounts of electricity and contributes to global warming .

The keys to energy and environmentally efficient outdoor lighting are selecting the proper type of bulb, light fixture design and shortest on-time period. As you would indoors , use fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lights outdoors. These are 4 times more energy efficient than standard incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.

For security, consider using motion detecting lights--they are on for only short periods of time.

Openings

99 Cent Store is opening in Cathedral City . Burlington Coat Factory is also opening Nov. 2.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Counter Intelligence

Granite is SOOO 2006. concrete, glass and stone are gaining ground as popular materials for countertops. Concrete's biggest advantage is, that it can take any shape and it's not as pricey as some other natural stone materials. Beause it is cast in molds, it can include subtle texturing and decorative objects such as pieces of metal, fossils or glass. If you are using concrete in the kitchen, consider placing raised strips of metal cast into countertops to support pots and pans near the sink and cooking areas.
For those who crave ultra-modern design, another option is glass, which comes in nearly limitless colors, shapes, thicknesses and textures. And, because it is nonporous, it is stain-proof and hygienic and can handle hot pots without cracking. Since it s translucent, it can be combined with other design elements, such as glass over aluminum or decorative tile embedded into the slab. Installing lighting under the counter creates added drama and elegance.

Finally, consider engineered stone, which is slightly cheaper than granite. It is made from quartz crystals and polymer resin, so it's nearly maintenance free. Plus, it is heat and cold resistant, mildew-free, stain-resistant and harder than most things you put on it, so it won't scratch.

If you have seen any of these materials on countertops, let me know. I would love to see the effect of these countertop materials.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Thought for the Day

Friedrich Nietzeche: "You have your way, I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

Friday, October 5, 2007

What is CRS?

Have you wondered what the designations mean after my name?

CRS--Certified Residential Specialist--It is a designation received after taking many college level courses on various aspects of the real estate market and is also based on the number of homes sold. There are only 3% of agents, nationwide, who have earned this designation.

SRES is Senior Real Estate Specialist--devoted to helping seniors in the real estate market and requires a course in learning to take care of seniors in this area.

Do you know the difference between a real estate broker and a real estate agent? A broker must take 6 college level courses in such areas as appraisal, finance, office mgt., etc. I earned my broker's credential in 1978 . I have owned an office, with 3 partners, in the San Fernando Valley. At this time I working under another broker's license instead of operating my own office.

If you have an questions, feel free to email me or call me at 760-285-7676

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Great Opportunity for Sun City Residents

The Palm Springs Museum has invited Sun City Residents to visit the museum, free, on Friday Oct. 26. They will serve breakfast in the gardens. Be there or be square at 10.:00 AM.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Charlie's California Fresh

We had lunch today at Charlie's California Fresh,. What a delight!!!! The staff is wonderful, the food even better and healthy to boot. We shared a Calabacitas Chicken Salad that neither of us could finish. Their philosophy is "Thatyou are what you eat. Therefore our creative chef uses only the freshest ingredients to bring you wholesome, low-fat and nutritious entrees and treats"

It is not only healthy it is tasty and wonderful!!

You can find them at : 75-130 St. Charles Pl. , Palm Desert --760-341-2990

Website :www.charliescaliforniafresh.com

Only open breakfast and lunch from 8 AM-2PM

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Housing News

The Desert Sun today had the "Housing Crisis" on the front page with a huge article about tumbling prices. There are 8417 homes on the market in the Coachella Valley so buyers have plenty of options and considerably more barbaining power than in years past, analysts said.
That put a downward pressure on prices in many communities.
One upside of the stagnant or declining home values is that the valley continues to rank as relatively affordable compared with many other cities in CA and natonwide.
The current fluctuations in real estate and mortgage markets have temporarily made Palm Desert more affordable than last year--great for retirees, first time home buyers and 2nd home buyers. if you know of someone thinking about retiring here have them call me. There are bargains out there.