DRESS THE CHILD, 2011

DRESS THE CHILD, 2011


Okay, so today was the amazing event DRESS THE CHILD which is hosted every year by the amazing group of women who call themselves the La Verne San Dimas Chapter of the Soroptimists.  


This is the "16th annual" event which is held at the San Dimas Target Store.  And for the last years, Susan Snyder has been the chirwoman of this wonderful event.  (Standing ovation!)  She is stepping down and not one, but two women will be in charge next year.  What does that say about how big this job is!





The event itself is for children who may be under priviledged in the Bonita Unified School District which covers both La Verne and San Dimas.  And this is the third year I am lucky enough to be involved as a volunteer.


The kids are bussed to the store, two schools at a time and each volunteer walks with one child, men with boys and women with girls.  The child has a sheet with all of their sizes written down so we have a clue what to buy.  And each child gets a complete outfit, somtimes more than one (we have a certain number of dollars to spend on each child).  They get new shoes, undies and socks as well. 

This year, even Costco got involved!  Each year in the past except last year, the kids have all received back packs as well.  And so this year, Costco stepped in and donated all the back packs!  How is this for teamwork!


And speaking of teamwork, we had MANY groups represented as volunteers.  (You know I have to list them all, or as many as I can remember, so skip this part if you want.)  Of course the LA Verne San Dimas group of Soroptimists, the San Dimas Sherriffs and volunteers, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A group of TEAM Networking, and both the San Dimas Chamber of commerce and the La Verne Chamber were represented.  



This year, I had a mother who took the time to write a thank you note on her permission form.  It really touched me that this means so much to so many parents as well as the kids.  Naturally, me being me, I wrote back to her and let her know how special her daughter was.


Anyway, if you get a chance to get involved in something like this, it will enhance your life as much as it does theirs!  See what's happening in your community.  And if you're thinking of moving into ours, please feel free to call a local real estate expert (me)!  I will be more than honored to assist you.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

Highs and Lows - San Dimas - September 13, 2011

Highs and Lows - San Dimas - September 13, 2011

Okay, so here are the highs and lows of San Dimas today.

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Highest Priced Home     $ 3,000,000

Lowest Priced Home      $    169,900

Average                          $    269,000

# Of Active Listings                 101

Sold Homes This Week             5

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU:  You now have more information about what's happeing with the SAN DIMAS REAL ESTATE MARKET so you can make an informed decision on whether this city is right for you and if the prices fit into your budget.  

The other thing you can learn from this information is the saturation rate of the existing active real estate listings.  The saturation rate is determined by the amount of sales in a week and the number of listings available for sale.  So in this case, there are 101 homes being actively marketed by Realtors for sale.  If you divide those 101 by the number of homes sold this week, you have your saturation rate.  This means that if you placed your home on the market to sell you can expect it to take a little over 20 weeks to complete the sale of your home.  That is if no other listings come into the real estate marketplace during that time.  And we all know how likely that is, now don't we...

HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU:  If your price is competitive and your home is in relatively decent shape you can have it sold in as little as one day or as much or more than the 20 weeks.  It also depends on the agent you are using.  The more aggressive your agent's marketing plan is for your home, the more exposure your home gets and you can see that would have a great impact.  On the other hand, if you use someone who merely puts your home on the MLS and does nothing more, it will most likely take a little more time to sell.  

If you are a buyer, this means you have a bigger selection to choose from and you have a better chance right now of getting an offer accepted.

CONDOS/TOWNHOMES

Highest Priced Condo         $ 369,000

Lowest Priced Condo          $ 160,000

Average                               $ 269,000

# of Active Listings                      18

Sold Condos This Week              1

So if the same holds true for CONDOS, then it would take approximately 18 weeks to sell your condo or townhome.  And a buyer only has 18 to choose from right now.  It seems that during these trying economic times, people are really not doing much in the way of buying or selling a condo.

And, as always, if you have real estate questions or need to buy or sell a home, please feel free to call me, a local real estate expert.  I will be honored to assist you.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

The Day After

The Day After


 Okay, so I had to turn the news off yesterday as I couldn't stop crying.  (I know, I'm such a mush-mess.)  It's because I remember this day, as many of us do, like it was yesterday.  And I don't have to be reminded by the news.  Really, those kids reading their father's names and then saying that they were police officer's really killed me.


But, as many of you know, I was working for Red Cross during this time.  I think many of you don't know that American Red Cross is considered a first responder unit just like police or fire.  So when this happened, I was required to report to the office as fast as possible.  This was the beginning of more than 45 days of fundraisers, volunteers and various behind-the scenes events.  Many more than 12 hour days and seven days a week.  I'm surprised that after this was over my family still knew who I was!


The reason I write THE DAY AFTER is because one of the most memorable events to me happened the day after.  As many of you will recall, we ALL thought there would be many survivors pulled out of the mess.  So people came to the blood banks in droves to donate blood - all for those survivors.  The Pasadena Blood bank had a line around the block, it was so insane.

And one little boy, whose name I never learned, had his birthday THE DAY AFTER.  So on September 12, 2001, this little boy had his mom bring him and his birthday cake to the blood bank.  Do you know what he did?  He passed the birthday cake out to those people waiting to donate.  It was all he could think of to do.  And when they ran out of cake, they went to the store and bought more.  What a selfless little boy and what great parents to have taught him so well.
So while I have heard many stories about this event, this is one that will always stick with me... And I personally will never forget.


Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:5-7

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

My Two-Day Holiday

My Two-Day Holiday...


Okay, so every year, I think this is our 13th, my mom, my daughter and I go to a Women's Conference called WOMEN OF FAITH.  This year my neighbor, Lenora, went with us as well. So, in case you've been wondering, this is where I have been the last couple of days.


The conference is held at THE POND (now called Honda Center, but it'll always be the POND to me!) and we kind of have our pattern down now.  We know the fastest and best way to get in and out after years of practice.  And this conference is so uplifting and incredible.  







There are usually six speakers, one dramatist, and a well-known singer for the concert on Friday night.  This year was no exception.  We had Andy Andrews, best selling author and the first male speaker at the all women's conference.  Sandi Patty and amazing woman, singer and speaker, Marilyn Meberg who is sensational, Lisa Welchel from Facts of Life who this year showed a clip from the time she kissed George clooney on the show! (She said it had nothing to do with her talk, but she just wanted to show it!) And she actually brought the actress who played Mrs. Garrett to the event.  It was great!  This year a new addition was Kurt Warner's wife, yep, the quarterback and she was amazing. Brenda Warner has been through it all!  From a handicapped son, to an unfaithful husband and now she's mom to seven, yep thet's right, seven kids!  Brenda was even once a Marine!  And last but certanly not least, my favorite, PATSY CLAIRMONT.  I call her the Christian woman's Erma Bombeck.  And if you're too young for this stuff, you missed IT!  Patsy is always hilarious and keeps us all in stitches.


The Dramatist this year was Katharine Everett and she was so marvelous.  You didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  The singer who did the Friday night concert was Mandisa - you may remember her from American Idol.  She totally ROCKED THE HOUSE!  And this year as an added surprise, grammy winning singer Amy Grant joined us and gave a really truly heartfelt concert complete with a new song she wrote just after her mother died in April.  She's so good.  I loved the way she joked about her country singer husband, Vince Gill.


So if you're in or near a city that these wonderful women come to, I encourage you to go to the link above and sign up for 2012.  It's worth your Friday night and Saturday just to get re-energized.


The "front porch" picture left to right (taken from my front row seat):  Sandy Patti,Marilyn Meberg, PATSY CLAIRMONT, Brenda Warner, Mandisa and Katharine Everett.  Lisa Welchel was up on stage speaking and Andy Andrews was taking a break.  Amy Grant came only on Saturday.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,

Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

Linda's Most Amazing Pizza Series #2

Linda's Most Amazing Pizza Series #2

Okay, so it's time for the next PIZZA REVIEW.  If you missed the first one, you can read itHERE.  I have always loved pizza in any way shape or form.  I even love the frozen kind so I can cook it crunchy like I like it!  Maybe it's because when I was growing up neither of my parents liked pizza so I could only have it when they were going out for the night.  Pizza is the next best thing to Mexican Food!

Anyway,  my husband's favorite pizaa is at a full-service Italian Restaurant called PIZZA N STUFF.  PIZZA N STUFF is located in La Verne - right in my neck of the woods.  I'm convinced that my husband likes it because he doesn't like to drive very far for anything.  We tease him about living inside of a 6-mile radius bubble.

The reason I like PIZZA N STUFF is for their pizza with lots of things on it.  You know when you go to a pizza place and they overcook all the veggies like bell pepper?  I HATE that!  But at PIZZA N STUFF the veggies come out just right, almost crunchy one would say.  (LOL)  We usually get pepperoni, pineapple (for my husband), bell pepper and onion.  It's really good, and you probably have to eat it with a fork as it's so think and covered in toppings.

My daughter and I love to get the house salad covered with cheese and their famous Italian dressing.  It's so good.  Besides, then we don't eat so much yummy pizza.

So, for more information on PIZZA N STUFF, go to THIS webpage.  And to try it, call me, we can always make a party out of it!

LA VERNE LIVING!

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

Claremont Real Estate Market Watch - September 3-8 2011

Claremont Real Estate Market Watch - September 3-8 2011

Market Watch

New Listing (8)
Price Change (8)
Back On Market (0)
Backup Offer (2)
Expired (7)
Pending (0)
Sold (5)

Better late than never - here is this week's CLAREMONT MARKET WATCH.  Not bad for a holiday week!

Eight new listings means that people are gaining confidence in the CLAREMONT REAL ESTATE MARKET.  And it seemd to me to be picking up as well.  And five have actually made it through the sale process and become a closed sale.  This is also good news, especially because it's hard to close during weeks with a holiday in them.

There are also seven expired listings which means that the home did not sell in the time allotted by the seller.  This could also mean that the home did not get approved by the bank for short sale and is being foreclosed on.  There could be many reasons for an expired listing.

This week there are no homes "back on the market."  Let me take a moment to explain this.  I strongly believe that homes are going back on the market due to the short sale process and the time it is taking for the banks to finally get around to making a decision.  It can take anywhere from 30 to 120 days to get an approval from the bank to go ahead with the short sale or decline it.  Now, let me say that this is a definite improvement from the "early days" of this real estate slump.  In those days (ya, like it was 50 yrs ago, right?!!?) some short sales were taking up to a year and sometimes even longer to go through.

So, needless to say, if you are a buyer and your offer is accepted by the seller (the homeowner) this does not mean that the sale will necessarily go through.  This means that the offer is submitted to the bank for an approval.  The bank may take up to four months (yes still) to give approval or denial.  

Instead of wasting time waiting for a specific home, buyers are putting in multiple offers.  If one home gets approval first, the buyer then backs out of other offers and therefore the property goes "back on the market". Of course, there are other causes, like loans that were denied, etc., but the main cause right now seems to be those crazy short sales.  So the fact that no homes in Claremont ended up "back on the market" is amazing and a good sign that things may been looking up for the real estate market.

And eight price changes, what can I say.  This is still an issue in Claremont and I have been harping commenting on this for weeks now.  But to be fair, sometimes the banks dictate the price on short sales and foreclosures so sometimes they request the price change.

And, as always, if you have real estate questions or need to buy or sell a home, please feel free to call me, a local expert.  I will be honored to assist you.

CLAREMONT LIVING!

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

La Verne Real Estate Market Watch - September 3-8 2011

La Verne Real Estate Market Watch - September 3-8 2011

Market Watch

New Listing (14)
Price Change (10)
Back On Market (2)
Backup Offer (6)
Expired (5)
Pending (5)
Sold (3)

Okay, so better late than never - here is this week's LA VERNE MARKET WATCH.  Not bad for a holiday week!


Fourteen new listings means that people are gaining confidence in the LA VERNE REAL ESTATE MARKET.  And it seemd to me to be picking up as well.  And three have actually made it through the sale process and become a closed sale.  This is also good news, especially because it's hard to close during weeks with a holiday in them.


Pending homes mean that five homes are now in escrow and on their way to becoming closed sales.  There are also five expired listings which means that the home did not sell in the time alloted by the seller.  This coukld also mean that the home did not get approved by the bank for short sale and is being foreclosed on.  There could be many reasons for an expired listing.  Also, there are six homes that have offers submitted to the bank and are taking back up offers only.



And there are two labeled "back on the market."  Let me take a moment to explain this.  I strongly believe that homes are going back on the market due to the short sale process and the time it is taking for the banks to finally get around to making a decision.  It can take anywhere from 30 to 120 days to get an approval from the bank to go ahead with the short sale or decline it.  Now, let me say that this is a definite improvement from the "early days" of this real estate slump.  In those days (ya, like it was 50 yrs ago, right?!!?) some short sales were taking up to a year and sometimes even longer to go through. So, needless to say, if you are a buyer and your offer is accepted by the seller (the homeowner) this does not mean that the sale will necessarily go through.  This means that the offer is submitted to the bank for an approval.  The bank may take up to four months (yes still) to give approval or denial.  So instead of wasting time waiting for a specific home, buyers are putting in multiple offers.  If one home gets approval first, the buyer then backs out of other offers and therefore the property goes "back on the market". Of course, there are other causes, like loans that were denied, etc., but the main cause right now seems to be those crazy short sales. 

And ten price changes, what can I say.  This is still an issue in La Verne and I have been harping commenting on this for weeks now.


And, as always, if you have real estate questions or need to buy or sell a home, please feel free to call me, a local expert.  I will be honored to assist you.


LA VERNE LIVING!

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website