Green Real Estate Appraiser

San Diego – Free wildfire safety workshop start tomorrow

Posted on August 2, 2019 | Leave a comment

Hot, dry summer weather means an increased risk of wildfire — in residential areas as well as wildlands. The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County is offering “Fire Operations in the Wildland Urban Interface,” several free workshops focusing on the particular risks of residential areas that are next to open space, which is called the Wildland Urban Interface.

The workshops are:

— 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Warner Springs Elementary School, 30951 Highway 79, Warner Springs. Hosted by the Los Tules/Warner Springs Fire Safe Council.

– 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 24, Fire Station 79 – Palomar Mountain, 21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mountain. Hosted by the Palomar Mountain Fire Safe Council.

— 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 25, Lake Morena Community Church, 29765 Oak Drive, Campo. Hosted by the Real East County Fire Safe Council.

Lunch and light breakfast will be provided.

The one-day workshops are free to local residents, representatives of Community Fire Safe Councils and CERT members. Participants will learn the principles used by firefighters to suppress wildland fires and protect structures in the Wildland Urban Interface.

The in-depth courses also teach fire behavior prediction and how to apply this knowledge to the community’s topography, fuels and weather, as well as the fire-safe condition of homes. Attendees will also learn valuable survival tips in the event of a fire.

The courses will be delivered by Thomas Shoots, Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority.

Registration is required. To register, visit the “Events” page of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County website: http://firesafesdcounty.org/events; or contact Britney Munoz at (619) 562-0096 or britney.munoz@rcdsandiego.org

San Diego home price gains LAG behind nation

Posted on July 31, 2019 | Leave a comment

The increase was the third-worst performing in the 20-city index and behind the nationwide average gain of 3.4 percent. It represents a continuing reversal for America’s Finest City, which had been experiencing annual home price increases of 7.3 percent at the same time last year — and was one of the top-gaining metro areas in the nation.

On the plus side for homeowners, San Diego metro’s home prices are still increasing and it is no longer the worst-performing metro in the closely-watched index. Seattle home prices were down 1.2 percent annually and San Francisco had a 1 percent increase, the lowest in California.

San Diego metro’s fate fits into a national trend of slowing price appreciation, especially for the most expensive markets. Analysts point to years of rising prices outpacing wages as a reason why the home market has cooled, even in spite of lower mortgage interest rates and near-record low unemployment.

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Foreign buyers flee the US housing market

Posted on July 23, 2019 | Leave a comment

Top states for foreign purchases were Florida, California and Texas

China’s currency controls, as well as international tensions between the U.S. and a slew of countries traditionally thought of as our allies, are putting a crimp on America’s real estate market by thwarting demand from foreign homebuyers.

Purchases by Chinese people, the biggest share of foreign buyers, plummeted 56% in the 12 months ended in March, while British home purchases tumbled 48%, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors. Chinese people bought $13.4 billion of American homes during the 12 months ended in March, compared with $30.4 billion a year earlier.

Canadians, the next-largest group of foreign buyers, purchased $8 billion of homes, compared with $10.5 billion a year earlier. Buyers from India were No. 3, with $6.9 billion of purchases, down from $7.2 billion. The U.K. was No. 4, but saw the second-biggest decline: Brits purchased $3.8 billion of homes, down from $7.3 billion a year earlier. Mexico was No. 5, at $2.3 billion, a decline of 45% from $4.2 billion a year earlier.

Measuring all foreign purchases, the total dollar volume plummeted 36% to $77.9 billion, according to the report. Foreign buyers paid a median price of $280,600, about 8% higher than the median for all existing homebuyers.

The rankings of the states that got the biggest share of foreign purchases remained the same as in past years: Florida was first, followed by California, Texas, Arizona and New Jersey.

Other tidbits from the report include: 41% of foreign buyers paid all-cash, compared with about 20% for the overall market. Also, 76% of foreigners purchased a single-family home or townhome, and 44% purchased a property in a suburban area.