Home Sales Decreased 28.7 Percent in October....

The median price of an existing single-family home in California increased 2 percent in October and sales decreased 28.7 percent compared with the same period a year ago, C.A.R. reported today.

"While it appears that home sales have stabilized over the past three months, it's too soon to say whether or not the market has bottomed out," said C.A.R. President Colleen Badagliacco. "We do expect smaller year-over-year declines in home sales for the remainder of the year."

According to the report, the median price of an existing, single-family detached home in California during October 2006 was $548,680, a 2 percent increase over the revised $537,930 median for October 2005.

Also last month, closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled 443,320 at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 28.7 percent compared with the sales pace recorded one year earlier and down 0.3 percent from home resale activity in September.

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, dated November 29, 2006.

First-Time Buyer Housing Affordability Index Stands at 24 Percent

The percentage of first-time buyers in California able to afford a median-priced home stood at 24 percent in the third quarter of 2006, compared with 28 percent for the same period a year ago, according to C.A.R.'s First-time Buyer Housing Affordability Index (FTB-HAI).

The minimum household income first-time buyers needed to purchase a home at $478,710 in California in the third quarter of 2006 was $98,890, based on an adjustable interest rate of 6.58 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 $3,300 for the third quarter of 2006.At 39 percent, the High Desert region was the most affordable C.A.R. region in the state, followed by the Sacramento region at 38 percent. Santa Barbara was the least affordable region in the state at 14 percent, followed by Monterey at 17 percent.

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, dated November 30th, 2006.

fashion show ~ charity ~ fundraiser ~ a day in the park!!

Good Evening!!

How are you doing?

Today we enjoyed a great time at the Sheraton Fairplex .... Here is our picture with Santa Claus and our tuxedo's on....as well as our shopping winter casual look.

It was a "sellout" and I was privileged to be a part of it.

Also, it's Bill Ruh with his Louis Vitton Garment Bag that we're all jealous of!!

Well, hope you have a great night....I have more work to do and am preparing for some stuff tomorrow as well....and hoping to get to bed at a decent hour tonight. The holidays can be exhausting....so take care of yourself and GET YOUR REST!!!!

Monday Morning....San Bernardino Rentals.....Appr

Hi There!!

Hope you're feelin' back in the swing with things......Here's an interesting rental article about a new "control" that is being put in place for San Bernardino....


City to keep eye on rentals

Picconi's Last Night in Rome....Walk by the Church of the Resurrection....Ice Cream Cone

***This was taken from my journal from my vacation back in October.....more than a month ago already!!

October 22, 2006 701PM

Ciao Ciao!!

Just got back into my hotel and am getting ready to call my family from here and my cousins from yesterday....I have had a really nice day here in Roma!

Got into town, went to Via Del Curso ~ my favorite street here, then took it down to Piazza Venezia.....looks kind of like an Italian Version of THE WHITE HOUSE.

Then did a bit more shopping on Via Del Curso ~ it runs straight into PV, spotted another model photo shoot...and this model looked familiar....she was very tall, wearing a poofy dress/skirt (?) and was of course, very thing. The American photog, was coaching her and telling her to jump into the street, he would say, "Jump" and she had to look like she was having fun...it was fun to watch, alot of people seemed to stop for a minute or at least "double take".....

Then came back to my hotel, rested....oh, and on my walk went down to Piazza Del Popolo, Piazza of the People, and it looked the "The Departed" ~ is that what it’s called with Leonardo DiCaprio, that just came out....well in PDP, they had the structures from large tents that they had up, and also, a really large, poster-like picture of the movie advertisement....yesterday, when I was with my cousins in Lucca, they had mentioned that Leonardo had been in Italy, I believe Roma? So anyway, I think he was there yesterday or Friday....also, had a coffee and breakfast at a cafe called "Metropolitan" which I believe is part of the movie theater right next door, so maybe, just maybe, he went there for the premier. I wonder how many times the actors have to see their films ~ at premiers?

Then came back to the hotel, took about a one and half hour nap, got up, took a few photos in my room (uh, ummmm lol) and then took off to Castel San Angelo first, then walked the bridge, taking photos (the bridge leads directly over it and crosses the Tiber River) of each statue on it, then ended up in Campo Di Fiori, which I had been there a few years back, so knew that I was in it, took a pic of the fountain there ~ I believe that it’s in an Audrey Hepburn movie or Cary Grant (but not sure!!).....then went to Piazza Navona, my favorite, for an early dinner and some red wine. It was packed, took lots of photos, there was alot of entertainment going on in the piazza and then tried to relax.

Then, headed on a walk~a~thon, all over, passing S. Agostino Church, where the resurrection, I believe, took place or something like that (?), then headed up to The Spanish Steps, passed a few American Stores and big name Italian ones (they’re all around The Spanish Steps), took lots of pictures, then walked down Della Croce, (which was referenced in "Talented Mr. Ripley"), then ended up on Del Curso again, for an ice cream cone.

Now by this time, my tootsies were tired, even in my Nike’s......so decided to hang out there a bit, sitting and watching the world go by.....and then eventually made it back here.
Ok, enough said.....lol

Tomorrow morning the driver is picking me up at 515AM and I have a wake~up call at 435AM...hopefully it all goes as planned.....and then I will be on my return trip home...how exciting (!!)...I’m headed to London Heathrow Airport on my way back to LAX....then Papa has the shuttle picking me up, bringing me to his house, then I suppose he’s bringing me home.....? I hear that my bmw is home, so he must have returned it....thought he still had it and I’d take that....but whatever works.

Going to try to download some photos before I make my calls...from today. Night!!

what we do for charity?

Can you (not speaking about you directly, but you in general) find it in your hearts this holiday season to do something for someone else who may be more needy than you?

Do we have any type of obligation to help those who are less fortunate than us?

Should we just treat our neighbor as ourself and is that enough?

These are things that I'm thinking about today.....Have an appointment shortly, then going to go and donate my time, services and even some of my precious belongings to an organization that may be able to do some good with them......Have done the research this morning and I'm hoping that it helps someone who may need it.

Are we investing wisely??

Got a great article yesterday on this and will have to post it here.....let me see if I can find it quickly....Yeah!! Here it is: Click below....

Click here: Six dumb investing moves NOT to make at year-end - Blogging Stocks

Make a difference out there somehow for someone today!!

Ciao Ciao,

Todd

Pic: Me in Santa Monica, End of November, 2006.

A Special Day....

Today my family and I enjoyed a great Thanksgiving Lunch....complete with Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Yummy Gravy, Cranberries, Papa's Best Garlic Bread and Tuscan Tomatoes speckled with Basil and Garlic....Yummmmm

All of the food was WONDERFUL!!

Yvette's house looked adorable as usual....she's the best hostess!! (Aren't her dimples cute!!)

GREAT JOB, YVETTIE!!

Fleeting Moment in Orange County, California

Last weekend, I was fortunate to enjoy a fleeting moment in Laguna Beach, California and The OC!!

Got to eat at the Beach House Inn in Laguna....and on the balcony overlooking the sea and sand....it was so nice, Thank You Beach House Inn!!! (this was a day to be 'thankful' for!)

Found this railing on a little bluff near Laguna Village while walking around town after lunch.....and thought it was great!

I also got to see a fairly famous red head while down in the OC.....more to follow.

Hope you all enjoyed your "Thanksgiving"....today.

Love what Lindsay Lohan says about Robert Altman!!

This is so perfect (the reflection below) on Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

My Best,
Todd

Her (Lindsay Lohan's) complete, unedited statement follows:

I would like to send my condolences out to Catherine Altman, Robert Altman's wife, as well as all of his immediate family, close friends, co-workers, and all of his inner circle.

I feel as if I've just had the wind knocked out of me and my heart aches. If not only my heart but the heart of Mr. Altman's wife and family and many fellow actors/artists that admire him for his work and love him for making people laugh whenever and however he could.

Robert Altman made dreams possible for many independent aspiring filmmakers, as well as creating roles for countless actors. I am lucky enough to of been able to work with Robert Altman amongst the other greats on a film that I can genuinely say created a turning point in my career.

I learned so much from Altman and he was the closest thing to my father and grandfather that I really do believe I've had in several years.

The point is, he made a difference.He left us with a legend that all of us have the ability to do.

So every day when you wake up.

Look in the mirror and thank god for every second you have and cherish all moments.The fighting, the anger, the drama is tedious. Please just take each moment day by day and consider yourself lucky to breathe and feel at all and smile.

Be thankful. Life comes once, doesn't 'keep coming back' and we all take such advantage of what we have.When we shouldn't.....

Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourselves' (12st book)

– Everytime there's a triumph in the world a million souls hafta be trampled on. – Altman

Its true.

But treasure each triumph as they come. If I can do anything for those who are in a very hard time right now, as I'm one of them with hearing this news, please take advantage of the fact that I'm just a phone call away.

God Bless, peace and love always.

Thank You,
"BE ADEQUITE"
Lindsay Lohan --->

Luxury Home Values Hit Record Highs in Three California Markets

The value of high-end homes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego posted record highs in the third quarter of 2006, according to the First Republic Prestige Home Index™, which tracks homes valued at more than $1 million in key California markets.

Despite the record highs, rising inventories and longer sales cycles kept luxury home price appreciation to single digits in all three markets. In Los Angeles, which previously experienced 14 consecutive quarters of double-digit, year-over-year price appreciation, luxury home values increased 4.4 percent to $2.37 million.

The values of luxury homes in San Diego and San Francisco also recorded modest gains last quarter, rising 5.4 percent and 4 percent, respectively. According to the index, the average luxury home in San Francisco is now valued at a record $2.96 million, while the average luxury home value in San Diego is $2.18 million.

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, dated November 23rd, 2006.

U.S. Leading Index Continues Upward Trend

U.S. leading index, a key barometer of economic conditions, increased for the second consecutive month in October, The Conference Board recently reported.

The index increased 0.2 percent last month and now stands at 138.3 (1996=100), 0.6 percent below the high of 139.1 reached in January.According to the report, the leading index has declined in five of the last nine months and signals slow economic growth in the coming months.

Throughout the year, declining housing permits have negatively impacted the leading index, offsetting positive contributors such as real money supply and consumer expectations. The coincident and lagging indexes, which measure current and past economic activity, respectively, also increased in October.

The coincident index edged up 0.1 percent to 123.7, while the lagging index rose 0.2 percent to 124.1.

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, dated November 23rd, 2006.

Watching Real Estate....

WATCHING REAL ESTATE:

"If people respond to a cooling in housing prices by cutting back on home spending it could get ugly out there in the rest of the economy very quickly," said Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics in Los Angeles. "This would turn a bad housing market into an abysmal one."


MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Housing Declines Should Be Moderate.....Economists Say.....

Found this article and thought you may find it interesting and see that economists and analysts are repeating this over and over.....which is GOOD NEWS!!!


Housing declines should be moderate, economist says

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

FROM

YOUR REAL ESTATE

PROFESSIONAL,

Todd

PIC: This is the top of the wall of the wall that surrounds, Lucca, a city in the Tuscan region of Italy....Check out the Autumn Leaves......

Footprints In The Sand....Happy Thanksgiving ....Turkey or Chicken this year? PUMPKING PIE IS A MUST!!

Hi Everyone!!!

Hope that you're having a great day.

I am fighting a tiny flu......hopefully will be better by weekend's end.

I am planning lots of family time (as long as my cold doesn't get in the way) tomorrow and am done shopping....and yes, Have gotten my favorite, Pumpkin Pie!! And whipped cream.

Wherever you find yourself this weekend, I hope it's a safe, and very enjoyable time.

Here's a poem that I got as a reminder from my friend, Anita. Thanx for the all important reminder, Anita, that we're not always the one who's carrying ourselves.....maybe we should turn things over to a higher power more often?

The Poem, "Footprints in the Sand"

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one setof footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I Carried You."
The Poem
Footprints in the Sand
by Mary Stevenson
Learn about the new song and CD,"Footprints in the Sand"by Mark Hargrave.

Monday AM ~ "Press" for Charity Fashion Show ~ Last Week's Financial News ~ Local Real Estate Market Article

Hi There!!

I'm in the process of getting some "press" done on the upcoming fashion show that I've volunteered to be in....

It's the 30th of this month and trying to raise more moolah for the charities that it benefits....actually trying to find out which charities that they are?

I'm going to call them right now....and see if I can't find out....



Here is some financial data that I received this am from Karen Vogel @ American Home Mortgage 909.466.1290 ext. 118.

Last Week in the News

Led by big declines in auto and gasoline costs, producer prices fell 1.6% in October, tying the record decline set in October 2001, the Labor Department reported November 14. Core producer prices -- excluding energy and food -- fell 0.9%, the largest retreat in 13 years. Economists expected producer prices to fall 0.5% and the core rate to rise 0.1%.

Consumer prices fell a bigger-than-expected 0.5% in October, following a similar decline in September. Analysts had predicted a 0.3% decrease. Core consumer prices -- minus energy and food -- rose 0.1%, the slowest pace in eight months. The Consumer Price Index is up 1.3% in the past year, the slowest rate of inflation since June 2002.

Retail sales slid 0.2% in October, largely due to plunging prices at the gasoline pump, the Commerce Department said November 14. Excluding gasoline sales, retail sales would have been up 0.4% in October.

Construction of new, single-family homes and apartments fell 14.6% in October to an annual rate of 1.486 million units, the lowest level in more than six years, the Commerce Department reported November 17. Applications for new building permits declined 6.3% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.535 million, the lowest level in nine years.

Sparked by falling interest rates, mortgage applications increased 4.3% in the week ending November 10, the best showing since January of this year, the Mortgage Bankers Association
reported November 15.

Initial jobless claims decreased by 2,000 in the week ending November 11, suggesting the labor market remains favorable, the Labor Department said November 16.

This week look for updates on leading economic indicators on November 20.

AHMLR-061007395

ALSO, Here is an article that was written about our "Local Markets"....

Have a great Monday Everyone!!

In housing, it's the local market that counts

INLAND EMPIRE MARKET REMAINS STRONG

Happy Saturday Night!!

Here's a great article about the Inland Empire Real Estate Market and hope to see you soon!!

Yours,
Todd

Inland Empire market remains strong

Venice, Sicily and Croatia......

This was my Italian shaped Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), which was one of my signs to go to Europe this year....Look, it's the shape of Italy....see the boot.....amazing!!

Just up and getting ready for my workday..just finishing my organic flourless toast with jelly and morning coffee.....it's chilly outside today!!

How are you doing?

If you're coming to visit and see pics of my European/Mediterranean Trip.....after you're done scrolling down here, you may want to go to the archives and check October, 2006. There are pics from my visits to Venice, Croatia and Sicily/Taormina. My hair is much shorter there too.....so no laughs!!

Have a great Friday and Weekend.....My Friend!!

Todd

LIVORNO ~ LUCCA ~ LUCCA'S BEST BILLBOARD ~ END OF A PERFECT DAY WITH MY COUSINS IN TUSCANY

PICS: Train Station in Livorno, the port city for our Tuscany trip.

Me in front of My Dad's Drafting School in Lucca, Italy (Tuscan Region)

Old Church in Lucca.....Notice the gold Virgin Mary on the church

Lucca's Best Billboard (Horse Included...hehe)

My Cousins from the Tuscan Region waving at me while I boarded the Carnival Liberty.



October 22, 2006
745AM

Good Morning!! I’ve been up for just over an hour now....started getting woken up around 6am because they were already disembarking passengers who had early morning flights! Couldn’t help but hear the pages for different "groups", etc.

So, bit the bullet, which will serve me well tomorrow when I think I need to be at the airport by 6am, so leaving Roma around 530am if I recall? I made arrangements before the trip almost two weeks ago, twelve days ago.

Well, I survived!!! It was a really enjoyable trip....glad I could take you with me.....sometimes I had nightmares, sometimes I was happy to be alone, sometimes not. Overall, got lots of special memories, met a few new friends, and just really "got away", which was the important part. They have wake~up call service on the ship, in the staterooms, and I just cracked myself up. Used it a few times, but I was already up and showering when the phone would ring, so never had or got the chance to answer it. Well, just got my wake~up call a few minutes ago, and I cracked myself up. I answered "Hello" and it was saying, "This is your wake~up call."....FUNNY PART IS: Haven’t answered a phone in soooo long, that I forgot what it was like!!!!
I left a generous tip for my Room Attendants!! They were simply awesome!

Yesterday spent the day with a few of my precious cousins from the Tuscan Region in Italy. OMG, it was the best day I had from my trip. What a way to end it, too.

Got to see where Papa went to Drafting School in a city called Lucca...which incidentally is also where Puccini, composer of operas: Madame Butterfly, Turandot and La Boheme, was born. It was a small town, and large, all in one. The part I visited were the walled parts. I trammed into town in Livorno....bussed to the Train Station, Trained to Pisa, then another train to Lucca and then my cousins picked me up in Lucca ~ at the front of the train station.

I could barely stop fidgeting while on the last train, I was so excited. Besides for spending the time with my cousins, it was a very emotional day....just seeing the history of where Papa went to Drafting School ~ the same building and all, after how many years??? Well, at least 40!
So, you can imagine....and it being in another country than where I was born and where we both live now...I wished he could have been there to share it with me....and seen the look on his face......Priceless. He did hook me up with my cousins, by giving me their numbers, which was perfect....didn’t know if I was ready to do something that would reveal my family history to me....I know that probably sounds strange, but I do need to gauge what I allow in.....to continually give me the sense of control that I need....since losing my Mother in such a tragic way...funny, how many things and reasons for why I am the way I am in life, can point to just that one incident. I miss her! And Bella, too....

I told my cousins, Gloria and Alberto, that Bella was gone and they had seen her last July, so after talking about it for a while.....I think they realized how special she was to me.....and of course, were sympathetic and at the same time didn’t know what to say, which was totally fine.
I’m surprised that they haven’t gotten me off the ship yet, it’s almost 8am....I’m sure my number Blue 33 is coming soon. I’m going to sweep the room one last time, to be sure that I’m not leaving anything.

Guess what? It’s a sunny day in Civitavecchia, which means Roma will also be Sunny for my last day (in the sun)...hehe

The Sun Comes Out in Cannes!!! Carrot Cake on The Carnival Liberty

Here is another entry to my journal.....from my trip in October, 2006.

October 20, 2006 1027PM

Well, managed to get another load of laundry done tonight!! Can’t believe this...and people are still complaining about how much the cruise cost, blah blah, this should be included! I am like, if you didn’t want to pay for the cruise, why did you??

I am very thankful to have my laundry done....no dirty clothes right now....will have my workout clothes from tomorrow morning and then maybe Sunday morning, but no biggie, trust me! I’d rather have that ~ than have a full luggage full of dirty clothes!!

So, am partially packed also...while drying the laundry, I reconciled my onboard bill, more than I had expected, but only due to a few excursions....mainly Taormina, Sicily, which I’m thrilled that I got the opportunity to be there!

Emailed my family a got my emails from a few friends/clients...it is actually fun that I can say, "Yah, I’m here in the Mediterranean and they are like, ‘have fun, Todd! You deserve it.....’ , Very Nice! Thank You, you know who you are! It just so happened that you emailed me at the right time, so I was able to communicate back with you.

Papa has setup a shuttle at LAX (how thoughtful, huh?!!!), to pick me up Monday afternoon.....and I’m not looking forward to having to deal with traffic, etc. Am definitely taking a Dramamine about 1 hour before landing in LA, to avoid car sickness on the shuttle, once through Customs....


I really didn’t buy alot...most little things, got in Venice. There were a few things, even in Cannes today, that I would have loved to have and bring home to people or for my own home even, however they were glass and Toddy doesn’t want to be transporting glass or even bringing it on his carryon.

Finished off the Carrot Cake that I bought earlier tonight from the Jardin Cafe...it’s the local coffee shop onboard where you can get a Latte, Tazo Chai Latte (Stacey!) or just add flavors. It’s very reasonable...also, they have some killer desserts. Earlier this week I had the Marble Cake (yellow cake with some chocate cake in it also, to look kind of like marble) and sprinkled with Powdered Sugar....reminded me of my Nonna (Grandmother) and she used to make that!
Also, had the Carrot Cake piece tonight, and it was delish! Had it in three sittings, throughout the evening....knew that I couldn’t leave it in my stateroom frig over night....or that it wouldn’t last, I should say. (big smile)

Well, just preparing for tomorrow.....and thinking to arise early, workout, having breakfast room service again (CANNES ROOM SVC PIC HERE TOO), and hoping that’s easier on me...and makes me feel more like a Prince, eh?

I am definitely going to look for a few things in Rome upon my return on Sunday....want to get something for the people who’ve been watching my stuff while I’ve been away.....also, want to get something for PD.....missed her birthday, and her and I had discussed actually coming sometime to Tuscany together (which tomorrow I will be in that region ~ port is Livorno ~ not much there, but close to Florence, etc.)....so hope to find something for them....

Papa attended school in Lucca which is just outside of Pisa, so since our boat arrives at 7am in Livorno, thinking to arise early, get my workout in and be off the ship by 945am or 10am at the latest.....then get transportation over to Lucca (the walled city of Lucca and I remember you can walk on the walls, they are like 5-10 feed wide ~ I remember back in 1979 seeing students jogging on them!)....and just check out Lucca and try to actually find the school where Papa went....it’s important to me, so hope it works out ok.

I will probably telephone some cousins (3rd, I think) that I have who live near there....they were out visiting a year ago....and at least say Hi....oh, have to remember to pack their phone numbers....anyway, I’m going to say Buona Notte for now....

Picconi Arrives in Cannes, France ~ The French Riviera

This is from my journal on my vacation in October........


PICS: Me along the coastline of Cannes, France.

A pic of the purse shop that Debbie and I shopped in for her family members and I think I bought something?

Oh, Yes, I bought a soap, made in France.

A pic of the cafe where we had our sodas, notice the doorway sculptures of men holding the door up.....

Me outside Hotel De Ville....with water behind me......what a great little area of the city this was right by the water (too!!) ....


October 20th, 2006 304PM
hello!!
just got back to my room from a great lunch.....the rice with chicken that the Carnival Liberty had today had an amazing flavor....Yummy!! Very healthy lunch with my new friend, Debbie, from Salem, Oregon. She manages apartments and hairdresses there both part time, also works at a bar/restaurant two days a week. We enjoyed our time in Cannes, France today and I met her on the tender (A Boat that takes us from our boat, to shore) on the way over to Cannes this morning around 1130am.

While there, we shopped for a few souvenirs, got Yvette something, then went to a cafe. The French were all very courteous and kept looking at me....Cannes was a very friendly town. We had beverages ~ at a Cafe that had guys holding up the outside, corners of the exterior of the cafe....we sat outside, it was gray all day here, but warm enough, not even enough to wear my beanie...had put it on, then immediately (within 10 minutes) took it back off....

Debbie had Coca Cola Light, which as I think I may have said before, is basically our Diet Coke and I had a coffee (Americano) .....The servers there each were nice and carried with them a certain charisma.

Anyway, we strolled around a bit more, took a couple more pics, I met some other gals on my cruise, who took my pics outside of an official looking hotel ~ which had a columnar monument outside with a female angel of some sort or saint, can’t remember now, but anyway she took my pic there, while Debbie waited.

Overall, very pleasant and low key day....Oh, just as I’m writing this, blue is appearing in the sky....YEAH!! May have to go up and take some pics of the French Riviera...we’ll see. Going to work on the pics I have from today first.....ciao ciao!

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$109 -- San Diego 4-Star Hotel over the Holidays
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Source: Wyndham San Diego at Emerald Plaza

$279 -- Caribbean 5-Night Cruise on World's Newest Ship
http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?ld=101268685
Source: Norwegian Cruise Lines

FAST FACTS

Calif. median home price - September 06:
$553,050 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R.
region September 06:

Santa Barbara So. Coast $1,025,000 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R.
region September 06:

High Desert $329,040 (Source: C.A.R.)

Calif. First-time Buyer
Affordability Index - Second Quarter 06:

23 percent (Source: C.A.R.)

Mortgage rates - week ending 11/9:

30-yr. fixed: 6.33%; Fees/points: 0.6%
15-yr. fixed: 6.04%; Fees/points: 0.6%
1-yr. adjustable: 5.55%; Fees/points: 0.8%

(Source: Freddie Mac)

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, dated November 16th, 2006.

AMERICANS VIEW HOUSING AS A STRONG INVESTMENT

As the housing market continues to stabilize, homeowners across the country rate their homes as their most valuable investment, according to a recent study conducted on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Nearly seven of 10 homeowners list their home as their top investment, while 11 percent rate 401(k) and other retirement accounts as their best investment.Eighty-one percent of homeowners also remain confident that the value of their home will increase during the next five years, while 13 percent felt their home value will decline.

"We are in the midst of an inevitable adjustment following the housing boom of 2004-2005 when housing market activity soared to unsustainable levels," said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. "Housing demand should stabilize in short order and the downward adjustment to housing production should run its course by mid-2007.

The market that emerges from this correction will display good balance between supply and demand and move to a healthy and sustainable trend based on solid underlying fundamentals."

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, dated November 16th, 2006.

SIX CALIFORNIA CITIES LISTED AMONG AMERICA'S 25 SAFEST

Six cities in the state of California -- more than any other state -- are among the top 25 safest cities in America, according to the 13th annual Safest City Award. California's "safest" cities are

Mission Viejo (#3),
Irvine (#7),
Thousand Oaks (#11),
Lake Forest (#15),
Simi Valley (#17),
and Chino Hills (#21).

Brick, NJ, was named "America's Safest City."The Safest City Award is based on a city's rate for six basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

All cities with populations of 75,000 or more that reported crime data to the FBI for the six crime categories were included in the rankings. In this year's survey, 371 cities were considered for the award.

**Taken from the California Association of Realtors Bulletin, Dated November 16th, 2006.

George Michael....Offer on Corona Home....

Hi!!

Have you heard the new George Michael Song....?

"This is Not Real Love"....Click below for the link.....


http://www.georgemichael.com/audio/index2.php

(the dance mix, I've just heard today, is phenomenal!!)

www.GeorgeMichael.com <I'm working on putting together an offer on a property in Corona.....Hope to have something back before the weekend......Keeping my fingers crossed for my clients and I.

Night!!

two new articles....

PIC: Wish it were my birthday again!!



Greetings and HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!

Here are two new articles.....for your consumption.

Have a great one!!

Todd

Region's home prices hold firm

Cooling Off

Horoscope....Boroscope!! Taking the lead.....YES!!

Dear Todd,

Here is your horoscope
for Monday, November 13:

A matter at home needs a firm touch, and you're the one who should step up and take control of the situation. When you assume the lead, many of the nagging details will fall into the right place at the right time.

back on the market? Victoria Gardens & Ontario Mills

Hi There!!

How was your weekend???

I was able to enjoy some work and also, managed to squeeze some shopping in at a local mall....actually two local malls.....I know, I still can't believe I hit both this weekend (!! LOL)....

Victoria Gardens and Ontario Mills......


Looks like we may be putting this property back on the market this week, if we don't have the loan documents anytime now from our current Buyer that we're in escrow with....I sure hope this works out for the current buyer.....well, off to run errands, buy more supplies (my printer ran out of ink) and hopefully make it to the gym, run more work errands, etc....

IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING YOUR DUX IN A ROW TODAY!

Landing Latinos

Hi There!!

Here's another article that I found regarding the contributions to American Home Sales, made by the Latino Culture.

I'm having a great Autumn/Fall afternoon....THIS is my FAVORITE time of year.....

Enjoy!!

Click below for the article.


Landing Latinos

Building Slowing in Cold Market.....Palm Springs, CA USA

(CLICK ON UNDERLINED PART)
Building slowing in cold marketThe Desert Sun - Palm Springs,CA,USA... need to focus on the basics as a builder," Robert Perryman, president of Ashbrook Communities' Desert Division, told fellow builders and real estate agents at ...


MORNING EVERYONE!!

Hope you're enjoying my new blog button on my homepage of my website!

It's definitely Fall Weather and Hope you have the kind of day that you want to have.


Your Real Estate Professional,
Todd

Repossessed Properties, Headache (and The New Face of Prada)

Hello!!

I have had this terrible headache all day today, since early this am....I'm sure it may have something to do with the long hours I've been working, trying to get some work stuff done.

Here's a pic that I took just after I visited Taormina on my vacation....and thankfully, this day was not having a headache!!

I played with it a bit....and no, IT'S BY NO MEANS MEANT TO BE A REAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR PRADA. IT IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.

I hope you have a great Tuesday night, everyone.

ciao ciao~~

Housing Market to Rebound Article.....

Here is an exciting article....Hope that what they are saying is true.


Housing market ready to reboundInland Valley Daily Bulletin - Ontario,CA,USA... The Metrostudy report said the Inland Empire made up 46 percent of the ... housing market continues to mirror the changing national real estate market," Johnson ...


Have a Successful Tuesday!!

Your Real Estate Professional,
Todd

ROOM SERVICE ~ COFFEE ~ GRANOLA ~ YOGURT ~ AND TV!! WHAT A LIFE

Wish my life was like this at home!!!

After Barcelona, I had another port, Cannes, France.

This is me eating my yogurt and granola with lots of coffee and wheat toast the morning of Cannes.

This was the first real day that the sun was scarce.....we did manage to get the Sun to peak it's head out around 3pm or so.....and the French Riviera shined!! I can't imagine what that would look like during the International Film Festival...Pure Chaos!

Well, I'm tired and will continue loading stuff in the next few days.....hopefully!

Night My Friend....

I L U N

Hospital by 6pm, More Barcelona....The Power of Prayer(s)

PICS:

A photo shoot taking place outside a Barcelona Department Store on the sidewalk.

A Barcelona Piazza with the Fountain.

The Barcelona Port Building.

Altar inside a Barcelona Church.

Candles ~ Mine is the yellow one behind the center of the circle, right side.



While going from town to town, I entered churches whenever possible....and lit a candle or two in each of them.....

This was a very spiritual trip and I hope that the development and things that I learned stay with me for a very, very long time.

I don't think that I told you yet....but, towards the end of my trip, I found out, actually the night before I left Rome, back for the USA, that Papa was having a major surgery. He made the family not tell me, but since I called the night before, I asked him about how things were going with the doctors and got it out of him....No doubt, I did get quite, um, alarmed, that he was going under the knife while I would be 30,000-40,000 feet in the air.....scary.

Luckily, all went well and I was able to enter his room at the hospital around 6pm the afternoon that I arrived (well, by that time it was evening)....He looked great and he's doing well so far.....I'm so thrilled.

Not knowing that he had made plans to have his surgery, it was a great coincidence that I was lighting candles all across Europe in churches and praying...I Thank God for his hand in Papa's surgery...I know, I'm not trying to preach or anything, it was just a great coincidence and they say there are no accidents in life, right?