Archive for May, 2008
Trash Talk- A Path to Greener Living
May 30th, 2008 categories: The Greener Side
I know most of us care about the planet and feel a responsibility to leave a better place for our children and theirs. If you’re like me, you are always thinking about how to be more efficient; biking when you can to save the auto trip, following everyone around the house turning off lights after them, bundling up in a sweater rather than turning on the heater or using the ceiling fans rather than the air conditioning. It’s become a habit for most of us to consider our impact on our environment. One thing that still gets to me each week is the amount of waste we produce as a family. Sure, we recycle everything we can but still our family of four (plus Max, our Black Lab and third son) fill two 33 gallon containers with trash headed for the nearest landfill. Can we do better? Here are a few ideas from ‘Green Living for Dummies‘ that may help;
- Buy Less
There’s a novel idea! I must admit I hadn’t thought of that. But consider all the stuff you bring home each week that isn’t really essential and that most likely, sooner than later, you’ll be figuring out how to dispose of. This is also a great way to get your children to abstain from the “new toy of the week” (or day). If your kids are like mine, they have more than they can use already. This of course goes for Mom and Dad too. Be aware of each thing you purchase and consider whether it’s the best use of your money, space and ultimately waste.
- Buy Better
So let’s assume you cannot live without that new pair of shoes. And you shouldn’t. Go ahead and indulge but consider the quality of what you are buying. Will it last, or after a month or two, will you be needing to dispose of it and replace it? While less expensive products might seem like a good deal at the time, if they don’t have a long enough life span, you waste much more money than you allegedly saved. You’ll find yourself back to the stores, not only replacing the cheap crap you just threw out but probably picking up some more that you don’t really need, you know, to get the most out of your trip to the store! Not to mention the environmental and humanitarian issues that are at stake when you buy products that are produced so cheaply. How do you think they save so much money producing them…
- Be Mindful of the Packaging
Be aware of the packaging included in the items that you buy, particularly if it’s not recyclable. Shop at stores that sell loose items or use refillable containers. An example of this is our local Jimbo’s, a grocery store offering organic foods and bulk items. We fill up on granola and yogurt covered pretzels, just to name a couple of treats, from the bulk dispensers. If you’re really thinking ahead, use the plastic bags from last weeks purchase of granola and yogurt covered pretzels this week. Dedicate a kitchen drawer to the storage of clean plastic bags that you can reuse (remember to always throw out any bags used for raw meat or other items can carry bacteria). When buying juice or water for your family, buy larger containers and send your little ones off with juice or water in reusable plastic bottles. Same with lunches- avoid the prepackaged cheese and crackers and opt for the Mom-packaged type. These small adjustments will not only save tons of waste, it will save you tons of money too! Also, it’s best to avoid aerosol cans whenever possible as they are not recyclable. Choose pump spray bottles instead. And of course, take your own reusable bags to the grocery store. Many stores sell them (or visit the next trade show that comes to town and load up on cloth shoulder bags for free! You’ll be doing a little advertising for the provider as well).
Here’s a few statistics to get you motivated in a Green way;
From Green Living for Dummies
“According to the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA), more than 245 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated every year in the U. S. – that’s 4.5 pounds of solid waste for every person in the country, each and every day. That’s the most trash generation per capita of any country in the industrialized world. (Canada is second at 3.75 pounds).
The EPA reports that municipal waste included 34 percent paper, 13 percent yard trimmings, 12 percent plastics. The rest is a mix of metals, rubber, leather, textiles, glass, wood and other waste.
The good news is that of most of the municipal waste that’s generated, almost a third of it is recovered and recycled or composted. Just over half of it ends up in a landfill, while 14 percent is incinerated. The amount that’s recycled is significant, and in fact, the U.S. is one of the leading industrialized nations when it comes to recycling.”
Today we’ve dealt with mostly papers and plastics. Stay tuned for another post where we will dive head first into composting, figuratively speaking of course. Thanks for reading on and Stay Green!
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California New Home Market Edging Toward Recovery
May 28th, 2008 categories: Our Market
Our two most recent articles on the Real Estate market dealt primarily with previously owned homes or resales. Today’s news is from the New Home front and it’s another bit of good news. It looks as though the New Home market in California is bottoming out. The persistent slide of new home values may well be coming to an end as it seems that demand is stronger today than it was this time last year.
During March, 3,565 new homes and condominiums were sold in California subdivisions tracked by the Costa Mesa based Hanley Wood Market Intelligence (HWMI), a company that surveys and publishes new home market analysis for the home building industry. This equates to a 49 percent drop from 2007 levels BUT while a significant decline, the drop is a significant improvement from the year-over-year decline of 57 percent in February.
March 2008 new home sales were 12 percent higher than levels seen in February. Now, March is typically and stronger sales period than February so the increase this year makes sense. What didn’t make sense was last year’s numbers when March sales lost ground to February sales. This anomaly was more evidence that the market was in decline and it continued to a greater degree with each passing month. This year, now for the third consecutive month, the year-over-year decline in new home sales has shrunk, suggesting the market is bottoming out.
Robert Rivinius, the California Building Industry Association’s President and CEO, said the statistics should send a message to both prospective homebuyers who have been on the fence for the past 18 months and to policy makers.
“As the market decline appears to be coming to an end, it is likely that incentives and further price drops will also be coming to an end. And with inventory levels falling and housing starts at their lowest since World War II, it is also quite possible that as buyers return to the market we will see prices harden quickly. Prospective buyers should take advantage of the buyer’s market while they still can”, Rivinius said.
“But to help guarantee that the housing industry rebounds as quickly as possible, creating jobs and higher tax revenues for government, policy makers need to act quickly to enact reforms that will spur sales and new construction”.
He said Congress needs to pass economic stimulus legislation now being debated that would make permanent higher guaranteed loan limits and creating a temporary tax credit for homebuyers, and the the state Legislature needs to quickly pass CBIA-sponsored legislation to give builders more time to begin construction on already approved projects and to defer collection of impact fees until a home is sold.
We have seen the tremendous impact the home building industry has on our overall economy over the past two years. As this critical market begins to recover, a plethora of supporting industries follow including manufacturing. Just think of all the new products created to support a vibrant new home industry…
For buyers interested in purchasing a new home, time is of the essence. And as with all things, it’s not what you know but who you know. If you know JB Home Sellers, you have a much better chance of getting your very best deal on the best new home available in your desired area. We know our way around the industry and will take the steps necessary to make sure our clients get the most out of their purchase dollar and this buyer’s market. Call today and let us help you LOVE where you live!
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C.A.R. Reports Entry-Level Housing Affordability Rises 18% Points In First Quarter
May 26th, 2008 categories: Our Market
LOS ANGELES (May 20)—The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 44 percent in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 26 percent for the same period a year ago, according to a report released today by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).C.A.R.’s First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index (FTB-HAI) measures the percentage of households that can afford to purchase an entry-level home in California.
C.A.R. also reports first-time buyer indexes for regions and select counties within the state. The Index is the most fundamental measure of housing well-being for first-time buyers in the state. The minimum household income needed to purchase an entry-level home at $356,350 in California in the first quarter of 2008 was $67,830, based on an adjustable interest rate of 5.65 percent and assuming a 10 percent down payment. First-time buyers typically purchase a home equal to 85 percent of the prevailing median price. The monthly payment including taxes and insurance was $2,260 for the first quarter of 2008.
At $67,830, the minimum qualifying income was 30 percent lower than a year earlier when households needed $96,500 to qualify for a loan on an entry-level home. Recent decreases in home prices and mortgage rates have brought affordability into better alignment with income levels of the typical California household, where the median household income was $50,700. The First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index rose 11 percentage points in the first quarter of this year compared to the fourth quarter of 2007 due to a .56 point decrease in the mortgage rate and a 14.3 percent decrease in the entry-level median home price.
At 64 percent, Sacramento County and the High Desert region were the most affordable areas in the state. Monterey was the least affordable area in the state at 29 percent, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area at 30 percent. Read the rest of this entry »
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North San Diego County Real Estate Statistics
May 23rd, 2008 categories: Our Market
You saw the Wall Street Journal article about the housing market having bottomed out ( and if you haven’t seen it, scroll down to the subsequent article). There is local evidence of our market showing signs of stability. According to HomeDex, a service of the Board of Realtors, we can see that single family detached median home prices in North San Diego County actually increased 4.08%, from $490,000 to $510,000, from March to April, 2008. That’s a first in a long while. For the rest of the county, median prices stayed constant at $410,000 in the single family home arena. North County single family detached home prices are down from April 2007 by almost 20% making homes much more affordable overall but it seems that declines in prices have at least temporarily stalled out. This is good news for sellers and should be sending buyers a message. Timing is everything.
More good news is that median days on the market also decreased in North San Diego County for single family detached homes from 58 days in March to 46 days in April 2008. The average days on the market fell as well from 83 days in March to 74 days in April 2008. Remember, the difference between median and average; The median has the same number above as below and the average is all of the data averaged together. Either way, this spells less time on the market which means demand is increasing at a greater rate.
I have been in the North San Diego County Real Estate market for over 20 years now and have seen numerous market shifts. I personally have purchased properties at the high of the market and at market lows and most of those properties I still own and all are still profitable. History shows us that once our San Diego market begins to take off, it has tremendous elasticity. We live in a part of the world that is virtually incomparable; beautiful naturally, a comfortable climate, a vibrant and diverse economy. It’s no wonder that when the market shifts for the better, everyone wants a piece of the action. Ours is a momentum driven market and when the ball starts rolling, look out- everyone’s chasing it. That’s why prices shot up so quickly and dramatically during the last rally.
Now, home prices around the county have dropped up to 20% from the highs of 2005 and in some cases 30% where home builders have drastically reduced their new inventory. And it looks like prices are beginning to stabilize. For me, that means it’s time to buy! Today, we are seeing investors coming back into our market; particularly in the coastal areas. They recognize the opportunities that exist in this market and activity is starting to rev up.
I hope you too will take advantage of the opportunities that are beginning to take shape. Give 
a call and let us help you find the right deal to add to your financial well being!
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“The Housing Crisis is Over” says the Wall Street Journal (by Cyril Moulle-Berteaux)
May 20th, 2008 categories: Our Market
There seems to be more of that good news I was going on about earlier. And this time it’s coming from a darned reliable source; that’s if you believe the Wall Street Journal knows a thing or two about money and our economy. Here’s an article from May 6, 2008;
”The dire headlines coming fast and furious in the financial and popular press suggest that the housing crisis is intensifying. Yet it is very likely that April 2008 will mark the bottom of the U.S. housing market. Yes, the housing market is bottoming right now.
How can this be? For starters, a bottom does not mean that prices are about to return to the heady days of 2005. That probably won’t happen for another 15 years. It just means that the trend is no longer getting worse, which is the critical factor.
Most people forget that the current housing bust is nearly three years old. Home sales peaked in July 2005. New home sales are down a staggering 63% from peak levels of 1.4 million. Housing starts have fallen more then 50% and, adjusted for population growth, are back to the trough levels of 1982.
Furthermore, residential construction is close to 15-year lows at 3.8% of GDP; by the fourth quarter of this year, it will probably hit the lowest level ever. So, what’s going to stop the housing decline? Very simply, the same thing that caused the bust: affordability. Read the rest of this entry »
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A Successful Home Expo 2008
May 15th, 2008 categories: Community Happenings, Our Market, The Greener Side
On Saturday, May 10, JB Home Sellers attended the 2008 Home Expo at the San Diego Convention Center and it was a success for everyone who attended. This expo was more informational than it was decorative with speakers all day discussing topics such as the right time to buy a home, getting your home For Sale Ready, which loan is right for you and the advantages of going green.
One of the day’s speakers was Nate Kredich of the USGBC or US Green Building Council, and he gave a compelling discourse on the many advantages of Green design. He spoke about how Green design doesn’t always cost more but it always saves money. If you are building a new home, the orientation of the home on the lot can make it much more energy efficient. Situating the majority of windows on to the north and south will maximize light without the heat. Choosing home sites with public transportation opportunities and with available life style options such as restaurants and grocery stores within walking or biking distance can save many auto trips per day and cut down on energy use and carbon emissions. Nate spoke about Energy Star appliances and windows that will save thousands of dollars per year in energy costs.
Each day as more of us become Green conscious and take action to become more energy efficient and Greener Consumers, prices of Green products go down due to increased supply coming on to the market. These days, building a Green home is practically cost neutral when you calculate the savings in water and power. But it’s not neutral to our planet- it’s a tremendous benefit and once everyone acts with a Green conscience, it will be a better place indeed.
Also speaking at the Home Expo was Russ Valone of Market Pointe Realty Advisors. Russ is an industry icon and once again shared his valuable insights on our regional Real Estate market. Russ confirmed that while it’s still a buyer’s market today, shifts are taking place and increased activity is cutting into the supply on homes on the market, both new and resales. Smart buyer’s today are making tremendous buys in the market and those on the side lines cannot benefit unless they take advantage of the opportunities that exist today.
JB Home Sellers and their sister companies Pacific Shoreline Home Building, Inc and Pacific Shoreline Electric, Inc had a great show and made many new friends while manning our booth and visiting booths around the convention center. Standard Pacific Homes was there showcasing their beautiful new homes at the ‘Green’ Del Sur community; Bridgewalk, Cabrillo, and Avaron. At 4S Ranch, Gianni by Standard Pacific offers townhomes starting in the low $400,000’s. These are a few of their new home communities around San Diego and we highly recommend Standard Pacific Homes to all of our clients. In fact, call us today and we’ll take you to the new home that best suits your needs.
So fun was had by all at this year’s Home Expo. Please give us a call and let us help you “LOVE where you live“!
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A Historic First
May 14th, 2008 categories: Our Market
Did you know that this is the first time in US history that home prices and interest rates are low at the same time? That must be what they mean by a Buyer’s Market. But, it’s only a Buyer’s Market if you’re a buyer…
And people are buying. In the last 15 days in San Diego County over 1800 homes listed in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) have sold or gone from being an active listing to pending sale. That’s 300 more homes sold in the same amount of time than one month ago. Over 400 homes have sold in Coastal North County, cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and La Jolla in the past 30 days after having been on the market an average of 64 days.
In speaking with a local Realtor at the 2008 Home Expo at the Convention Center last weekend, we learned that multiple offers are common place in today’s market and in some cases, prices are actually being bid up. How’s that for a turn around?!? The homes garnering this sort of attention are priced right and they show well. Our inside scoop Realtor shared with us that she is seeing this happen regularly, often times on the first day the home is listed in the MLS.
At the Home Expo, we listened to Pete Reeb of Reeb Development Consulting, and his analysis of New Home prices and his discourse on “When is the Right Time To Buy” a new home. Pete says there are basically three types of markets; Hot Markets, Cold Markets and Transition Markets. Today, buyers can pretty much call the shots due to the Colder Market Climate. According to Pete, there are approximately 1000 new homes in inventory in San Diego county today. Considering the current demand for homes, and the fact that home builders have cut back so dramatically on starting new homes, this inventory will be depleted in approximately six to nine months. When supply and demand are basically equal, this is known as ‘Equilibrium’. Now “Equilibrium’ doesn’t last long and we typically don’t realize it’s behind us until after the market has changed course. So what happens six to nine months from now?
We think we have seen the worst of this market and that once we have reached ‘Equilibrium’, prices will be firm and sellers will have more control in the transactions. Remember, it’s only a Buyer’s Market if you’re a Buyer. I didn’t come up that great line but I appreciate the wisdom in it. I hope you will too and take advantage of this amazing historic time in our local Real Estate market.
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