Green Real Estate Appraiser

Wages in San Diego County grew at the slowest annual rate among the nation’s 10 largest counties in the third quarter of last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday.

From the third quarter of 2013 to the third quarter of 2014, the average weekly wage rose 0.8 percent to $1,030. San Diego’s gain over the year was less than half the rate of inflation, which increased 1.8 percent locally in the third quarter.

“That’s very slow,” said Esmael Adibi, economist at Chapman University in Orange. “This is obviously one of the biggest concerns that economists have, that if the wage growth doesn’t pick up speed, then it means people’s earning are not growing as fast and in a way that in turn is going to slow down spending growth.”

San Diego’s pace trailed the nine other largest counties, with the next-slowest county being Maricopa in Arizona, which includes Phoenix, where pay grew 1.8 percent over the year to $914 per week. This is the second consecutive quarter in which San Diego County has boasted the slowest wage gains among the top 10 regions.

read more at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/mar/19/bls-wages-jobs-pay-salary-economy-hiring/

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

For a second year, San Diego’s Master Gardeners have partnered with The Flower Fields in Carlsbad to create a demonstration garden that showcases water-wise plants from Mediterranean climate zones.

The 1,200-square-foot garden at The Flower Fields includes plants from the Mediterranean Sea Basin, South Africa, California and Australia. The exhibits also show garden design trends and effective gardening methods endorsed by the Master Gardener program. The garden is planted, managed and staffed by Master Gardener volunteers.

Other exhibits include a Grass Mosaic Garden with a variety of low-water grasses; succulents woven into a vibrant living tapestry; a culinary herb garden with herbs from all the Mediterranean climate zones; and a California native garden.

The demonstration garden will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until May 10 at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad. It’s included with your Flower Fields ticket, which is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $6 for children 3-10 (children under age 3 are admitted free.

theflowerfields.com

Here are five tips to get the most out of your open house visit:

1. Do your homework

Unless you’ve stumbled upon an open house while on a drive, take time to research the home you’re going to visit online.

Before you set foot in the house, rule out any potential deal-breakers. Do you have concerns about the schools that serve the area? Is the garage too small for your needs? Is the neighborhood not walkable enough for you? Home listings on websites like Zillow.com, Realtor.com and Trulia.com offer lots of details on homes and neighborhood information that can help you determine whether it’s worth it to go to an open house.

2. Bring proper tools

Be sure to carry a tape measure, notebook and a camera. You’ll need these, especially if you plan on hitting several open houses in one weekend, because you will likely want to follow up with the sales agent later on specific questions.

The tape measure will come in handy, to gauge space for beds and other big furniture pieces.

Remember an appraiser can help you when it comes time to negotiate.  Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com  for your appraisal questions.

read more at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2015/02/14/open-house-tips/23240255/