Category Archives: Real Estate

Researching the Perfect Neighborhood

Posted on December 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Reprint from San Diego Union Tribune 12/11/2011

There’s an episode of the hit TV series “How I Met Your Mother” where the characters of Marshall and Lily decide to buy a home in a neighborhood they are unfamiliar with, only to learn later that it sits down-wind from a sewer plant. The message is obvious. A buyer must do his or her due-diligence on prospective neighborhoods to make the best real estate decisions.

For starters, investigate the local school district as good schools boost your property value. Research the closest parks and community center and consider how busy streets impact the neighborhood.

Profiling the perfect neighborhood also involves meeting the prospective neighbors. Walk through the area and say hello to people, and ask them for their impressions of the neighborhood. While you’re at it look around. Are there lots of kids on the block? Do people walk or jog through the neighborhood at night? A neighborhood can speak volumes by itself.

Don’t forget to map out your stores and restaurants in the area. You may be used to a five-minute drive to the local grocery store, only to find out that your new home is 25 minutes away from the nearest place to buy milk. Of course, find out if your potential new home is part of a neighborhood association bearing regular fees, and if your community has lawn or construction restrictions.

A good agent can furnish you with a wealth of local information, and will take you on a tour of the closest commerce centers, restaurants and shops.

With a little ground work you can help ensure that your dream house is surrounded by a dream neighborhood.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only.

Overseas Investors Buying US Homes – BEWARE

Posted on December 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

First we cannot stress more that this is the time you need to speak with someone who has no interest in the transaction. This is where the real estate appraiser comes in. For example if you see a house on the internet in San Diego but you are in Australia you need an appraiser to inspect the property and give you their opinion of value. Appraisers usually do not work with agents (we do not recommend having an agent involved in the transaction recommending the appraiser); we are an independent body, heavy regulated by the government and again we have no interest in the sale; we receive no commission from the sale. Contact the appraisers at: www.socalappraisalserv.com for a valuation. For appraisers outside of Southern California contact Southern California Appraisal Services and they will direct you to ways of finding a qualified appraiser in the area. Is it worth $400+ US for an appraisal on an investment that could be in the millions?, you bet. The appraisal will probably help with negotiation, and peace of mind. Si habla Espanol.

Thinking it might be time to buy one of those el cheapo US properties? You’ll find there’s no shortage of experts here to help you.

Faint stirrings – and I do mean faint – in the US housing market seem to have ramped up the marketing of apparently cheap houses to Australian investors. But some things aren’t cheap at any price and this is one gift horse that needs to have its mouth carefully examined.

A property consultant and consumer advocate, Neil Jenman, says the most compelling proof that this is a dangerous game is that many of the country’s big-name property spruikers are now spruiking US product. Obviously having decided this is more profitable than flogging overpriced units on the Gold Coast, they’ve linked up with US promoters to offer one-stop-shop services to Australian investors dazzled by those cheap US prices.

Which is where the second warning bell should sound.

Disclaimer: For Information and Entertainment Purposes Only

How to Prepare for Santa Ana Winds

Posted on December 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Q. What are Santa Ana winds?

Named after Southern California’s Santa Ana Canyon and a fixture of local legend and literature, the Santa Ana is a blustery, dry and warm (often hot) wind that blows out of the desert. In Raymond Chandler’s story Red Wind, the title being one of the offshore wind’s many nicknames, the Santa Anas were introduced as “those hot dry [winds] that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch.

Prepare:

Learn and teach safe fire practices:

Build fires away from nearby trees or bushes.
Always have a way to extinguish the fire quickly and completely.
Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
Never leave a fire-even a cigarette-burning unattended.
Avoid open burning completely, and especially during dry season.

Protect your home: All vegetation is fuel for a wildfire, though some trees and shrubs are more flammable than others. To reduce the risk, modify or eliminate brush, trees and other vegetation near your home. The greater the distance is between your home and the vegetation, the greater the protection. Leaves, trash and other combustible materials should be cleared from underneath sun decks and porches. Find more information on ways to protect your home at www.fema.gov/hazard/wildfire/wf_prepare.shtm#3.

Learn and teach safe fire practices:

Build fires away from nearby trees or bushes.
Always have a way to extinguish the fire quickly and completely.
Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.
Never leave a fire-even a cigarette-burning unattended.
Avoid open burning completely, and especially during dry season.

If you have an exterior television antenna or satellite dish, tighten it up or remove it for a short while. These things have been known to fly off and leave you with nothing but some exposed wires.
Check roof shingles annually. Some people keep a small stack of extra shingles to replace the ones we lose every year.
Duct tape: it isn’t exactly a pretty choice, you can reinforce your windows with duct tape. The wind would blow and stretch our windows inward, but they’d never break.
Check and tighten shutters.
Keep all trees and bushes properly trimmed and away from windows. Keeping outdoor debris clear, you’ll be helping reduce the chances of a large fire spreading.

The one thing the Santa Ana winds will bring is the opportunity for you to check for insulation gaps in your windows and doors, so with the winds departure today, maybe this weekend is a good time to get insulate your windows.

Disclaimer: For information and entertainment purposes only.

Category Archives: Real Estate

Researching the Perfect Neighborhood

Overseas Investors Buying US Homes – BEWARE

How to Prepare for Santa Ana Winds

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