Labor Day Weekend Events 2012

It's that time of year to go all out and celebrate the last few days of summer! So grab your gear and head on out to these Labor Day events.

Los Angeles County Fair
The LA County Fair kicks off Labor day weekend and runs for a full month.  Live music, rides, livestock, gardening and gadgets galore.

When: Sat-Mon Aug 31-Sept 3, 2012 then Wed-Sun Sept 5-30 2012
Where: The Fairplex in Pomona, 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768, off the 10 Freeway
Cost: $17 adult, $12 child 6-12, $14 senior, Free 5 and under.  Season pass $29.99 at Walgreens
Parking: $15 General, $30 Valet

The Taste
This food and wine extravaganza, sponsored by the LA Times and Food & Wine, includes 5 different culinary events.  This year all 5 events are at Paramount Pictures Studio in Hollywood. 

When: Saturday - Monday of Labor Day Weekend
Where: Paramount Pictures Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Cost: Advance $50 per event

Orange International Street Fair
Love this event! Four city streets are blocked off around the traffic circle in Old town Orange.  A craft fair is arranged around the circle and street segments are converted into streets of the world with appropriate food and entertainment.  Nine stages include an Irish Stage with some of the best local Irish bands, a Greek Stage, German Stage, Mexican Stage, Polynesian Stage, English Stage and All American Stage as well as a Children's Stage and activities.  

When: Labor Day Weekend, Fri-Sun, 5-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm
Where: Plaza Square, Chapman and Glassell in the City of Orange.
Cost: Free
Parking: Some street parking. Lots are available for a fee.  Everyone in the neighborhood rents out parking spaces for the festival, so look around for rates. 
Note: Very family friendly festival during the day but evenings becomes crowded with college kids, bar hopping crowds, and people enjoying the liberty to drink on the streets (must buy a wristband).  

Long Beach Greek Festival
Live music by the Olympians, exhibit dancing and social dancing, Greek food and product booths, children's games. 

When: Labor Day Weekend Sat - Mon, Noon-9pm
Where: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 5761 E Colorado St, Long Beach 90814
Cost: $3 adult, children 11 and under FREE

Fiesta Hermosa
Three-day arts and crafts festival with 270 vendors, live music, and a kiddie carnival
When: Labor Day Weekend, Sat-Mon 10am-6pm
Where: Hermosa Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach 
Cost: FREE

This Month in Real Estate | August 2012

Want to know just how important the power of being pre-approved is? Find out in this edition of This Month in Real Estate!

California Home Sales and Prices Higher in July!

California home sales and prices data come in strong in July.  Last month, the median price reached a near-four-year high, according the California Association of Realtors® (C.A.R).  July 2012 median price was the highest since August 2008, when the median price reached $352,730.  

Interest rates continue to remain at a historically low in July with 30 year fixed mortgage interest rates averaging 3.55 percent.  Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged at 2.69 percent in July.  

The median number of days to sell a single-family home dropped from 43.4 days in June to 43.2 days in July. It took a median of 51.9 days for a home to sell in July 2011. 

For more information or to see July 2012 Data Chart for Existing Single Family Homes and Sales, click here. 

Control your air conditioner from your phone!

Trying to keep your power bill low this summer? It can be easy as a opening up your smartphone app! 

How does it work?  The air conditioners are connected to a smart plug which controls the flow of electricity to the AC and wirelessly connects to the Internet. 

Let say that you were in a hurry in the morning and you forgot to turn off the AC. Oh no! With this new technology, you can remotely turn AC from work through your phone or online.  Perhaps you would like to come home from work to a nice cool AC home.  Turn on the AC from your phone or online before returning home.  

Our Featured Listing has this great high-tech feature!  Click to view the property! 

Through an Appraisers eyes: What your home is really worth

Appraisers have a different approach value your home that the banks can use to extend credit to a borrower.  It's a "make it or break it" sale or refinance.  Appraisers say the following five areas are where homeowners often misjudge the worth of their home. 

1. The Outside

Appraiser sees: Overgrown bushes and chipped paint.

What he does: Slices as much as 3% off the value of an average-size home. 

Why: Curb appeal is primo. And an unkempt yard is a sign that there may be other issues.     If your neighbors are meticulous about grooming, the more your appraiser will downgrade the value of your home.  

2. Basic Systems

Appraiser sees: A brand-new roof.

What he does: Nothing.

Why:  Just as a knee replacement won't make you look 20 years younger, a new roof, furnace, or boiler isn't considered an improvement to your home.  However, if your roof is in disrepair, replace it. Signs of leaks or discoloration can knock a significant amount off the home's value. 

Be advise, that a new roof may not help you in your appraisal but could help you chances of a quick sale.

3. The Basement

Appraiser sees: A recently finished basement with a half bath.

What he does: Adds about 2% to the value of the home.

Why: Yes, your finished basement adds value but don't expect it to count like a first floor space.   

The addition of a bedroom and a quarter bath on the ground floor could increase your home's value by up to 20%, especially if you've got only one other bathroom.  

A below ground basement normally isn't included in the square footage of the home.  This rule applies to outbuildings like pool-house casita, painting shed, or studio. 

4. The Market

Appraiser hears: Two nearby homes just went into contract above their asking prices.

What he does: Nothing

Why: While a broker might pump up a home's asking price based on the sense that the market is "hot," by and large, appraisers are bound by the data of recent comparable sales. 

What if prices are suddenly up in your area, and you're nervous that your house won't appraise for contact price? In that case, you might want to delay your appraisal until one of those recently contracted sales closes. 

5. A Remodel

Appraiser sees: An expensive, custom-made, built-in entertainment center.

What he does:  Makes a negative adjustment to the valuation

Why: Renovations that are at all trendy or not in keeping with the historical period of the home will be assessed at the cost of ripping them out. 

Timeless improvements, such as a deep sink or new wooden cabinets in the kitchen, will add value.  

So if you're thinking of remodeling, contact me for today's buyer's wish list when looking for a home. 

Source: Money.cnn.com

Open House Pick for Aug 12th Weekend

Come and take a look at this completely remodeled home! 

Improving housing markets in 80 metropolitan areas

In the last six months, the housing market has improved in 80 metropolitan areas according National Association of Home Builders and First American.  Their survey shows that there has been improvement in housing permits, employment and house prices for at  six consecutive months.  

Here is the list of the 80 metropolitan areas. 

Gadsden, AL

Fayetteville, AR

Jonesboro, AR

Phoenix, AZ

Prescott, AZ

Hanford, CA

Boulder, CO

Washington, DC

Dover, DE

Cape Coral, FL

Deltona, FL

Miami, FL*

North Port, FL

Orlando, FL

Palm Bay, FL*

Pensacola, FL

Tampa, FL

Hinesville, GA*

Rome, GA

Warner Robins, GA

Ames, IA

Iowa City, IA

Boise City, ID

Bloomington, IN

Columbus, IN

Evansville, IN

Muncie, IN

Terre Haute, IN*

Bowling Green, KY

Houma, LA

Monroe, LA

Springfield, MA

Bay City, MI

Detroit, MI

Grand Rapids, MI

Monroe, MI

Saginaw, MI

St. Cloud, MN

Columbia, MO

Jefferson City, MO

Joplin, MO

Kansas City, MO

St. Joseph, MO

Jackson, MS

Burlington, NC

Goldsboro, NC

Jacksonville, NC

Bismarck, ND

Fargo, ND

Grand Forks, ND

Lincoln, NE

Vineland, NJ

Syracuse, NY

Canton, OH

Columbus, OH

Sandusky, OH

Springfield, OH

Tulsa, OK

Erie, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

Florence, SC

Greenville, SC

Clarksville, TN

Knoxville, TN

Austin, TX

Dallas, TX

Houston, TX

Laredo, TX

Lubbock, TX*

McAllen, TX

Midland, TX

Odessa, TX

San Angelo, TX

San Antonio, TX

Texarkana, TX

Victoria, TX

St. George, UT

Parkersburg, WV

Casper, WY

Cheyenne, WY

*New this month

Dropped this month

Tuscaloosa, AL

Grand Junction, CO

Anderson, IN

Jackson, MI

Greenville, NC

Hickory, NC

Williamsport, PA

Jackson, TN

Brownsville, TX

Source: Housingwire.com

OPEN HOUSE PICK for AUG 5th

A beautiful Mediterranean style home that has all the comforts of a brand new construction home in Sherman Oaks. This wonderful property offers exceptional features, from the inviting front door and striking details on the outside, to the modern comforts and advanced home features.  4755 Cedros Ave offers a gourmet island kitchen, large master suite, spacious backyard, large laundry room, built-in computer station, covered patios with outdoor ceiling fan, RV parking, tankless water heater, and a beautifully landscaped front driveway.  

Come take a look this Sunday before the listing hits the MLS on Monday!

4755 Cedros Ave, Sherman Oaks

1-5pm

See you there!

To view floor plan, click here. 

Gwyneth Paltrow in escrow on a spectacular Windsor Smith-designed mansion

According to TMZ, the actress paid close to the $10.45M ask, which it reached in April after an $800K price reduction. The property, built last year, was originally put on the market for $11.96M in Sept.  the 8,000-square-foot "Federally inspired" house has six bedrooms, eight baths, kitchen cabinetry inspired by sycamore trees, Calacatta-marble kitchen countertops, and a master dressing room with a tub smack dab in the middle. 


To view additional photos on curbed.com, click here.