ANDEE'S CORNER

Coldwell Banker - SO WHAT?

May 25th, 2009

When I first got my California Real Estate License, I interviewed a bunch of different companies in an attempt to decide where I wanted to hang my hat.  My criteria was pretty simple.  I wanted a company/office that:

  1. Had a strong brand name
  2. Offered lots of education opportunities
  3. Had full-time versus part-time agents
  4. Had a brick and mortar office
  5. Had a well known, seasoned Broker
  6. Was customer focused.

Now let me tell you, there are some great independent and franchise companies in this area.  It was not necessarily and easy choice but the one that met ALL of my above criteria was Coldwell Banker Liberty Realty in Morro Bay and  I couldn’t be happier with my choice! 

We have two office (I work out of both of them), one in Morro Bay and one in Cayucos.  Our Broker, Shirley Lyon, has been in Real Estate for ever and is still practicing.  In addition, she is extremely involved in the local Assocation and the local communites.  Shirley has seen just about everything in her many years of practicing and is always willing to help her agents.

The office is awesome too.  For a group of people that are actually competitors, this office is amazing.  Everyone is very supportive, offering to go above and beyond in everything from floor time, to helping each other when someone is sick, to referring leads to the appropriate agents.  It’s a unique situation and office and I’m proud to be a part of it.

The Coldwell Banker name brand has been around for 102 years - WOW!  In addition, Coldwell Banker:

  • Has offices in 47 countries on 6 continents.
  • Is rated #1 by consumers in terms of a company you can trust and depend on.
  • Among the top 760 firms in the nation.
  • The most innovative real estate firm.
  • Has the broadest spending in the industry.

Amoung other many numerous items, all of these combine to make a company that is forward looking and dedicated to customers - both buyers and sellers - with honest, integrity, and committment.  It is a place that I am proud to call home!

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Atascadero’s First Relay for Life

May 23rd, 2009

sunkenMy beautiful town of Atascadero is hosting their very first Relay for Life.  For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is where we walk for 24 hours to raise money to help fight cancer for American Cancer Society. 

My children and I got involved a few years ago when my brother was diagnosed and consequently died of lung cancer.  Everyday, I seem to meet more and more people or know more people that have one form of cancer or the other.  My hope is that through our donations, focus and attention we can stop this disease in its tracks.  To me, the Relay for Life is a very rewarding, emotional and inspirational event.  My goal this year is to raise $500.  If you can help, that would be AWESOME.  If not, send your prayers for a successful event! atascadero-sign

There are a couple of ways to contribute:

Donate money directly at  http://main.acsevents.org/goto/andeenast 

2.      luninary

            Purchase a luminary for someone you know who is a cancer survivor, has cancer or has died from cancer.

3.    Come to the event and purchase the little items each booth has available – varies by booth but you typically see – food, water, pins, hats, etc.

4.    Go to one of the fundraiser events posted on the website  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=18970

5.    Join our team!

My daughter, son and I will all be walking – we usually are the ones that walk through the late (or early) morning hours.

If you are in Atascadero, please come by and walk a lap with us, join in the activities and see the luminaries.  It is truly a moving experience.

See you there! 

P.S.  If you call me early on Sunday, I will probably not answer - I will be sleeping…. zzzzz

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Posted in Central Coast Communities | 2 Comments »

Buy of the Week - Cayucos

May 15th, 2009

I haven’t done one of these in quite a while - not because there haven’t been any deals but mostly because I have been swamped with other things.  It’s no excuse but it is the truth…. Sooo moving forward, here is what I consider the deal of the week in SLO County:

What’s better than being right on the beach?  sb-view2

sb-viewHow about 180 degree ocean views.  And what if you could get those 180 degree ocean view for around $525,000?  

And what if for that price you also got 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms,sb-bedroom1 and over 1800 square feet living space? 

AND what if all of that was located in Cayucos? Oh yeah, it also has a fire place for those chilly Pacific evenings… sb-fireWould you still be interested?   YES!  Then you better pick up the phone and call me now before this one is gone!

sb-outside2767 Santa Barbara

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$1,500 Tax Credit for Home Improvements.

May 11th, 2009

If you are planning on doing any upgrades to your SLO County home in 2009 or 2010, check out the new tax credits for energy efficient home improvements.   You can get up to a $1,500 tax credit for:

  •  Heating/Air,
  • Windows,
  • Doors,
  • Insulation,
  • Water Heaters,
  • Biomass Stoves (what the heck is that?) and
  • Roofing projects. 

Geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systesm receive 30% of the cost and have no maximum limit.

Who doesn’t want to save that kind of money in this kind of economy? 

To be sure you maximize the amount, check out the details at www.energystar.gov BEFORE you start your project.

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Santa Barbara Fires

May 10th, 2009

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Santa Barbara impacted by this latest wildfire.   The devastation is impossible to even imagine especially for us not living with it each day.   Santa Barbara has sure had more than its share of wildfires lately.  I hope this one will be the end of it for years to come!

For those who have been concerned and calling, San Luis Obispo County has not been impacted.  The fire has not come as far north as Morro Bay.  You can see smoke in the air in Santa Maria area but not much north of there.  

For those who live in San Luis Obispo County, please make sure to protect your homes by trimming the native brush, grasses, etc that grow close to your homes.  Our area is dry and we have been very fortunate that we have not had any major forest fires for quite a number of years.  Let’s do our part to do what we can to prevent them! 

Which means - I need to go weed whack my hill…..   Off I go!  Practicing what I’m preaching!

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Posted in Central Coast Communities | 1 Comment »

Central Coast Mother’s Day

May 10th, 2009

Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful mothers! 

If you are looking for something fun and a little different to do - Morro Bay is hosting it’s Best of the Bay Dog Show from 3 - 5 pm.  It’s beautiful, warm, and sunny so take the family, pack a picnic and go enjoy the dog show, the Embaradaro and the beach with the majestic rock.  Perfect day for kayaking or sailing.

ENJOY!!

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Perfect Massage - Earthtones in Paso Robles

April 24th, 2009

 

Spring has finally sprung in San Luis Obispo County.  The wild flowers and bulbs are blooming, the grass is growing, the birds are chirping in the tree and the chipmunks are grabbing acorns.  Time for new personal growth, for interior spring cleaning, exterior yard work and garden planting.  Lots of stooping, digging, hauling, carrying, moving, walking, pushing and many other ‘ing’ words as well.  All these additional activities while maintaining your normal work  load

If you are like a lot of us, this time of year you are sore in places where you didn’t know you could be sore.  The internal stress goes up a bit and because of the additional load, you feel more tired.  For me, the muscle soreness almost always shows up on the left side of my body - in my back and hip.  As a result I am aways on the hunt for the perfect massage in SLO County.  One that works out all my muscles - especially the problem areas - puts me into a deep sleep in the middle of it and moves the energy around so that leaves me feeling serene, relaxed and at peace for the rest of the day.   Now that is what a massage is all about.

Fortuanately for me, a couple of years ago I stumbled onto just that perfect massage or massage therapists.  At the time this therapist was in the lovely little town of Atascadero but has since moved their business to the bustling mecca of Paso Robles, just  short 10 minute drive away.

EarthTones Center for Healing
Phone:  (805) 238-4413
Email: Earthtoneswb@aol.com
Location: 1319 Park Street, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo

Here’s how to experience this amazing, perfect massage…  Call Earthtones at (805) 238-4413.  If a guy answers - that would most likely be Greg - tell him you want to book a massage with his lovely wife Mary.  If a lady answers, it is probably Mary so she can book you.  Tell them that you read about them on my website….  

Then on the day of your appointment, drive to 1319 Park Street.  Now make sure to leave a little time either before or after your appointment so you can browse the local art work and very cool items in the gallery.  Make sure to drink lots of water afterward!  Then let me know if that wasn’t one of the best massages you have ever gotten.earthton_shop_004-194x226

I couldn’t tell you exactly what it is the Mary does but I can tell you that whatever it is, you will walk out a different person than when you walked in.  Oh yeah, I think I forgot to tell you that this perfect massage will cost you LESS than $100. 

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Posted in Central Coast Communities | 2 Comments »

Vacation Rentals as a Real Estate Investment

April 18th, 2009

Before I even say anything here - let me make one thing perfectly clear - I LOVE VACATION RENTALS.  Ok, now that I got that off my chest, let’s talk about vacation rentals as Real Estate Investment in a non-emotional, logical manner. 

For those of you that are uncertain, a vacation rental is a home that is rented on a per night, week or monthly basis but only for the short term.  The rates charged for vacation rentals are usually double or more what you could get for a long term rental but are typically less expensive than staying in a hotel with all the amenities of a vacation rental.  There is no daily maid service like in a hotel/motel.  Some come fully stocked and furnished (you only need to bring your clothes, your family and your food) and some you have to bring linens, towels, pots & pans, etc. 

The beauty of vacation rentals is that you don’t have to deal with long term tenants.  With a vacation rental, the people that rent your home are usually happy because they are going on vacation and are usually happy when they leave because they were just on vacation.  So you very seldom deal with unhappy tenants.  Plus, because of the short term stay, they pay you a premium for the use.   Plus there is usually some down time (off season time) which allows you to use the property if you so desire.  Usually once the property is established, if it is in a great location, you will have repeat customers and less down time.

The biggest problems with vacation rentals as a real estate investment is it is very difficult to make them positive cash flow and the wear and tear.  The best vacation rentals are of course located in vacation destination spots - beaches, ski resorts, gold destinations, etc.  Properties in these areas because of high demand typically have properties that are offered at a premium.  Because your competition is the local hotels, there is a limit to the amount you can charge.  But the number one problem that I have consistently run into is the local government.

For some strange reason (or at least one I haven’t figured out), local city governments do not like vacation rentals.  Considering that vacation rental owners pay property taxes plus use or room taxes and attract visitors who spend money and bring in additional city revenue, I have never been able to understand why more citites don’t incourage vacation rentals.  Oh and not to mention the salaries or money we pay to contractors, businesses, etc to keep our vacation rentals updated.  I do understand the quality of life issue in some neighborhoods but that should be relatively easy to address or at least one would think…beach

My latest foray has been with the Lincoln City, OR.  I own a cute little 3 bedroom, 2 bath vacation rental that is a couple of blocks from the beach.  It is not full but does have a steady stream of people in and out of it.  For the past five years, I have used one of the local property management companies and everything has been great.  Then this year, I sent in my $105 Vacation Rental Fee expecting to receive my Vacation Rental Permit (as I have for the past 5 years) and knowing that if there were any issues or an inspection that the property management company would handle it (just as they have for the past 5 years).  So bascially, I didn’t worry about it.  

That was a mistake.  Lincoln City recently hired or promoted a new person to handle the vacation rental permit process.  Apparently he Timothy Novak does not really like vacation rentals or doesn’t see the value of them.  I can’t tell you how many people I talked to that said that Timothy had canceled their permit this year.   Talking or arguing with him was a total a waste of time.  A man with power, he says no and that’s what you get - nothing.  Thanks for paying the $105, I don’t care if you have had a permit for 5 years,  I don’t care if you have been paying property taxes and room taxes and other fees, I don’t care if you have been helping support our tourists, I don’t care.

Then out of the blue a Vacation Rental permit shows up.  Issued from Timothy’s office!  YAHOO!  I call All Season Vacation Rentals - all excited.  AND then another letter - OOPS, we made a mistake.  Well, it atually said “Due to a clerical error” - you do not really have a permit and IF you try to rent it, you will be in violation of blah, blah, blah with a daily fine of $1,000 plus a 10% enforecment fee.  THEN I get another letter saying for additional fees, I can apply for a long term rental permit.  What??? 

Ok, so now I am selling my vacation rental home in Lincoln City, OR.   I guess the city just can’t handle the additional revenue that it brings in.  They seem to be only interested in the fees that I pay hense the additional fees and no refunds ever.   I know I can’t handle dealing every year with a city that sees no value to what I bring to the table.  BUT, if you want a darling home in Lincoln City, call me!!front-view  living-room

I have owned three vacation rentals over the course of my real estate investing career - one in Lincoln City, Oregon; Scottsdale, AZ; and one in Cayucos, CA.    I think I will get out of the vacation rental business….  DANG  - I LOVE VACATION RENTALS.  But like the terminator said - “I’ll be back”….

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Posted in Investors | 15 Comments »

Fish Tacos - Cayucos Ruddell’s Smokehouse

April 18th, 2009

Ok, while I’m on the subject of fish tacos…  Another amazing place to try out the delectible Central Coast tacos is in Cayucos, at Rudell’s Smokehouse.   I’m going to bet that you have NEVER had fish tacos like Jim makes.

Jim Ruddell buys most of his fish locally and personally smokes it all himself.  His smoked fish is the BEST.  If you don’t believe me stop in and buy/try some.   I’m not exactly sure what he uses but it is delicious and fresh and healthy (well, I think smoked fish is healthy - all the fish oils and stuff - sounds healthy to me).  So anyway, Jim buys this fish and smokes it.  On any given day, you never know what type of fish he may have but you do know he will have fish (he also has chicken and pork or some other kind of meat - I’ve only ever eaten the fish, guess I really should try some of his other stuff too - I just know that my son (he’s 13) doesn’t like fish but he loves Jim’s other tacos….  Ruddell’s usually has Salmon, Yellowtail (my favorite), Albacore, sometimes smoked oysters and whatever else he can buy. 

Back to the smoked fish taco…   The tacos are made with a grilled flour tortilla.  I think that when Rudell’s grill the tortilla, they put a little cumin on it (I’ve tried it at home but it is not the same).  Then they have a special mayo sause they use (not much, just a little coating), then whatever smoked fish you ordered, then tomatoes, then lettuce with bits of apple and celery.   The apple is always a pleasant surprise as it adds just a light sweet crunchy taste to the smoked fish. 

The smoked fish tacos are around $5 or $6 each but are huge and one is plenty for a meal.  I usually buy two and take one home with me for dinner.  Rudell’s also offers great smoked fish salads and sandwiches and chips.  You can also just buy packages of the smoked fish to take home and eat on crackers, make your own fish tacos, or sandwich.

Rudell’s Smokehouse is a tiny little ’shop’ that sits at the end of businesses farthest from the Cayucos pier.  There are 3 or 4 tables outside but no inside seating.  Sometimes on Sunday a bunch of local muscians stop by and have a jam session.  There is always a bowl of water for any four legged friends.  Now Rudell’s may not look like much from the outside but trust me on this - you just have to try - just once!

Gosh, talking about Ruddell’s has made me hungry for a smoked fish taco…..

  Here meet JIM Ruddell.  Tell him I said hi when you get there!!

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Posted in Central Coast Communities | 5 Comments »

California Housing Market Rebound - Real or Illusion?

April 6th, 2009

Finally, some good news is coming out of the California Housing Market.  The California Association of REALTORS ® (C.A.R.) reported positive trends in single-family home sales and the ‘experts’ start screaming rebound or turn around, the worst is over!  Since I’m typically a fairly positive person and would love it if the market had actually turned, I’m trying to figure out why I’m not jumping up and down and calling all my customers to tell them the great news…

 The Reality is…

In January 2009, C.A.R reported an increase in sales of 100.8% for existing, single-family homes sales in January 2009 compared to January 2008 while the unsold inventory decreased to 6.7 months from 16.6 months a year ago.  In addition, the average days a house was on the market declined from 70.8 days to 49.9 days. This is the first time since October 2005 that the California Housing Market has seen existing home sales of over 600,000 homes and a 14% increase over the previous month.    

With the possibility of positive cash flow properties and volatile stock market, many investors are also starting to buy again in California. 

These are all good signs right?  Right!  Yes!!

Light at the End of the Tunnel or Illusion? 

While most of the indices for a turnaround seem to be trending positive, there are a few that are concernin and not being talked about.  For example, in the California Housing Market, home prices were down 40.5.  The median house price was down to $254,350 over last year and 9.5% over December’s median price of $281,180 median price.   That doesn’t bode well for the people who bought at the top of the market – even the ones that are still paying their monthly mortgage payments.   The Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington estimated that 30% of homeowners between 45 and 54 years of age, owe more on their mortgages than their homes are currently worth.  How much longer are they going to continue to pay their mortgages when they owe way more than the home is worth? 

And what about the unemployement rate?  Last I heard, that was still going up.  What happens as more people lose their jobs?  Won’t that negatively affect the housing market?

Most analysts predict that the California Housing Market will continue to see price declines throughout 2009 and probably into 2010.  The hope is that the decline will not be as steep as it has been over the previous year and will eventually taper off, signifying an end to the price drop and the beginning of stabilization and eventually increase.  I think I agree.  Prices aren’t dropping as quickly - that is good.  They are still dropping - that is not so good (unless of course you are an investor or in the market for a new home).

The one major wildcard that deserves close scrutiny and analysis for the California Housing Market is still the homes going into foreclosure (sorry, I just had to bring that word up again).  Due to the Federal Mortgage Loan Modification Plan, many banks have been trying to work with distressed homeowners to keep them in their homes.  A lot of these properties will not qualify and will eventually end up in being foreclosed.  

Conclusion

Although not everyone agrees that the California Housing Market is rebounding, most analysts and people that watch the California Housing Market agree that the worst seems to be over.     If the banks decide to dump a huge number of deeply discounted foreclosed houses on the market all at one time, we will see much lower prices than we do now. 

I personally do not think the worst is over.  I think we have one more big wave of foreclosures that are going to hit in the next 12 to 18 months.  When that happens, get your check book out!

The Central Coast has stayed fairly strong with minimal foreclosures compared to some of the other counties in California.  Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Los Osos have held their prices remarkedly well.  Santa Maria on the other hand has had more than it’s fair share.  With that said, there are great deals in all of these communities.  What about a bay front lot for under $200,000? 

 

 

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Posted in Investors, Short Sales & Foreclosure | 2 Comments »

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