Carmel Valley Real Estate Blog

Mount Soledad overlooks La Jolla and is home to the Mount Soledad Cross.  The land and the cross have experienced a long term controversy over the involvement of religion in government.  The cross was erected in 1954 and is 43 feet tall including the base and 29 feet across.  According to Wikipedia, there were three other crosses on the site before this final one.  The first cross was erected by private citizens from La Jolla and Pacific Beach in 1913 and was stolen in 1923.  Replaced, it was allegedly burned down by the Ku Klux Klan.  The second cross was erected in 1934 by a private group of Protestant Christians from La Jolla and Pacific Beach, but was blown down by strong winds in 1952.  The third cross was installed in 1954, but stormy winds damaged the 29 foot cross and it was replaced with the one standing today. 

In 1989, the City of San Diego was sued, charging that the cross violated the California Constitution and the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  In 1998 the City of San Diego sold the cross and the land it stands on to the nonprofit Mount Soledad Memorial Association and the site became the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial.  Over the last 20+ years there have been many federal and state court delays, rulings against the cross, and finally in 2008 the U.S. Federal Judge ruled, "The Court finds the memorial at Mt. Soledad, including its Latin cross, communicates the primarily non-religious messages of military service, death and sacrifice.  As such, despites its location on public land, the memorial is Constitutional."  The ACLU has appealed the decision and the case is now with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal. 

The views of San Diego from this site are stunning with 360 degree views of ocean, city, mountains, bays and even to the hills of Tijuana, Mexico.  The memorial is equally impressive with loved ones displaying, with pride, pictures and military records of those brave men and women who honored us with their military service.

For me, Mount Soledad is a place for quiet reflection of what is our past, our present and our future, and is truly an inspirational place to visit...

 

                        

To view any La Jolla, California home for sale or rent, contact us anytime at 760-567-9100 or visit our La Jolla Real Estate website to learn more about La Jolla and its developments.

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

The table below, with information provided by Freddie Mac, shows the annual average commitment rates and points for 30 year conventional fixed rate loans from 1970 to present.  When you tell your clients that the interest rates are at an all-time "historical low", show them this table to demonstrate it! 

YEAR               RATE                   PTS                                   YEAR                     RATE                       PTS

1970               7.60                        n/a                                 1990                     10.13                      2.1

1971               7.55                      n/a                                   1991                      9.25                        2.0

1972               7.38                      0.9                                   1992                      8.39                       1.7

1973               8.04                      1.0                                   1993                      7.31                       1.6

1974              9.19                       1.2                                   1994                      8.38                       1.8

1975              9.05                       1.1                                   1995                      7.93                       1.8

1976              8.87                       1.2                                   1996                      7.81                       1.7

1977              8.85                       1.1                                   1997                      7.60                       1.7

1978              9.64                       1.3                                   1998                      6.94                       1.1

1979             11.20                     1.6                                    1999                      7.44                        1.0

1980             13.74                     1.8                                    2000                      8.05                        1.0

1981             16.63                     2.1                                    2001                      6.97                        0.9

1982             16.04                     2.2                                    2002                      6.54                        0.6

1983             13.24                     2.1                                    2003                      5.83                        0.6

1984             13.88                     2.5                                    2004                      5.84                        0.7

1985             12.43                     2.5                                    2005                      5.87                        0.6

1986              10.19                     2.2                                   2006                      6.41                        0.5

1987              10.21                     2.2                                   2007                      6.34                        0.4

1988              10.34                     2.1                                   2008                      6.03                        0.6

1989              10.32                     2.1                                   2009                      5.04                        0.7

                                                                                             2010                      4.96                        0.7

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

The San Diego night sky will soon be filled with displays of fireworks on the Fourth of July!  Residents from all over San Diego will be able to view fireworks in a variety of locations including:

La Jolla Cove- Annual event guaranteed to be fun for all!  Located at the Ellen Browning Scripps Park at 1180 Coast Blvd. with fireworks display beginning at 9:00 p.m.   Phone:  858-456-1700

Annual Big Boom Fireworks Show- Fireworks displays from barges placed near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Seaport Village and the Embarcadero starting at 9 p.m.   Phone:  619-686-6200

SummerPops- Concert with Marvin Hamlish at the Embarcadero Marina Park South.  Gates open at 6 p.m. and concert at 7:30 p.m.   Phone:  619-235-0804

Maritime Museum - Fireworks, picnic dinner and live music aboard the Berkeley Ferry located at 1492 No. Harbor Drive.  Check in at 5:00 p.m.   Phone:  619-234-9153

Hornblower Cruises & Events - Dinner cruise, fireworks viewing and live music from 7 to 10 p.m.  Boarding takes place at 6:30 p.m.   Phone:  888-467-6256

Coronado Fourth of July Celebration - Daylong events include a 15K run, 5K run/walk and rough-water swim.  July 3rd downtown Coronado parade at 10:00 a.m. and July 4th fireworks at 9:00 p.m.

Mission Bay Yacht Club - Boat parade, jazz band and other entertainment with fireworks at 9:00 p.m.  Located at 1215 El Carmel Place, Mission Bay.  Phone:  858-488-0501

Ocean Beach Fireworks off the Pier - 31 years of fireworks for this annual event!  Located at Ocean Beach Pier at the end of Newport Avenue and fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m.    Phone:  619-226-8613

Paradise Point Resort - 9th annual "All American BBQ & Fireworks Extravaganza"  - BBQ begins at 6:00 p.m. with a carnival and lots of kids' activities.  Located at 1404 Vacation Road in Mission Bay.  Phone:  858-274-4630

Mira Mesa Community Park at the Gil Johnson Recreation Center located at 8575 New Salem Street.  Noon to 9:00 p.m. featuring a parade, family activities and fireworks.  Phone:  858-538-8122

Santee Town Center Community Park- Featuring "Santee Salutes" with activities starting at 3:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:00 p.m.  Located at 9400 Cuyamaca Street.  Phone:  619-258-4100 x. 201

San Diego County Fair - Del Mar Fairgrounds at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd with fireworks starting at 9:00 p.m.  Phone:  858-755-1161

For more details or information regarding specific events, please contact the number of the community.  Happy Fourth of July everyone!

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

It appears that finally the Red Roost and Red Rest beach cottages are going to rest in peace in the memories of what was once La Jolla's new seaside artist colony.  The California bungalow-style cottages purportedly influenced the styles of renowned architects Irving Gill, who built many homes in La Jolla, and Frank Lloyd Wright. 

Located at 1179 and 1187 Coast Boulevard, these two homes have been the center of legal disputes for years.   Apparently the owner wanted to bulldoze them and develop the land into timeshare units and the city and historical society wanted to keep their historical integrity intact.  So these historic cottages, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, sat for over 25 years in disrepair and litigation.  It is widely rumored that the owners had withheld maintenance in the hopes that the cottages would simply disintegrate.  If true, the owners almost got their wish when the cottages became the target of vandalism and large chunks of concrete were thrown onto the roof of the cottages.  An arsonist was arrested on charges of trying to burn the cottages down in 2002. 

While many have criticized them as "eyesores", there are those of us who remember when they were beautiful red California beach bungalows that signified the seaside lifestyle of La Jolla.  With the legal challenges finally settled a new chapter will begin for the valuable land where they have sat for over 110 years.

According to the real estate agency handling the sale, the asking price is $10 million per property. 

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

"Cleaning for a Reason" is a non-profit foundation formed to offer FREE house cleaning for women undergoing cancer.  They recruit maid services in different cities nationwide to become partners in this free service.  There are currently 706 partners in 50 states, including Canada.  What a wonderful  gift! 

If you know any woman currently undergoing Chemo or treatment for cancer, please pass the word along that there is a cleaning service that provides free housecleaning once a month for four months while she is in treatment.  A doctor's note confirming the treatment and a participating maid service in her area will arrange for the service.  They are truly "making a difference one home at a time"!

Check here for your area and San Diego's participants include Cleanology and The Maids Home Services.

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

"Taste the Fun" at the San Diego County Fair this year!  The Fair is open now through Monday, July 5th and closed on Mondays, June 21 and 28.  My daughter, Kim and her friend Lizzy, were there yesterday and said that this year's theme of "Taste the Fun" is very appropriate!  Nothing like the huge assortment of fair food to choose from!

The Grandstand Stage events are always entertaining and Friday, June 25th is Michael Jackson Day and Julio Iglesias is performing at night.  Tonight, one of my favorites, Kenny Loggins is performing so we are heading over to see him and to try out some of the delicious fair food!

The San Diego County Fair is located off of Via de la Valle and at the Del Mar Racetrack.  Admission is $13 for adults, $7 for seniors over 62, $7 for children 6 - 12 years and ages 5 and under are free.  Parking is $10 per vehicle at the Fair's paid parking lots.  Admission gates open at 11:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. during the week and 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

A special thanks to Kim Laxson for the photos!

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

Our nation is experiencing unprecedented foreclosures and defaults in our communities.  These foreclosures can greatly impact a community that is governed by a Homeowner Association and who rely on all members paying their dues.  Recently I read about a community in Florida, Brittany's Place , where only 12 of the 96 units are paying homeowner's dues due to foreclosures and other financial problems.  The 12 homeowners are now being asked to pay special assessments to cover the cost of the community's operating expenses and basic maintenance.  It is reported that the assessments now are so high that the remaining homeowners may be driven into default and foreclosure themselves.

Foreclosures hurt everyone and can ruin the new and resale markets in your community.  Often times the banks that control the mortgage don't pay the HOA dues until they actually own the units and we know how long that can take.  This problem can be compounded by owners who haven't been foreclosed upon yet, but stop paying their HOA dues when they see what is happening around them.

Here is a list of items you might want to ask your real estate agent to find out for you:

1. Ask to see the HOA rules, regulations, CCR's and HOA budget and make sure you can live with the rules and finances.
2. Check to see if the reserve funds in the HOA are adequate.
3. Ask how many units are behind in their HOA dues.
4. Find out how many units are in foreclosure or default.
5. Inquire about impending special assessments.  Ask about previous assessments, when, how much and what for.
6. Find out how many vacant units there are and who owns them - does the developer own many still?
7. Research the reputation of the developer - do they have a track record of seeing their developments through to completion?
8. Check out the neighborhood and find out what might be developed nearby.

If there are a sizable number of units in default or foreclosure and not paying their dues, you may want to reconsider your purchasing a home in that development.  No matter how great a "deal" it is, buyers cannot afford to be in a community where only a few pay the expenses for the entire community.  Due diligence is crucial before buying in a development with a Homeowners Association.

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

In today's market anything our clients can do to make their home "sparkle" and sell quickly for top dollar is important.  Sometimes the simplest changes can have the most impact.  Kitchens are perhaps the first choice for clients to improve on; however I also think that bathroom improvements can help!  Here are a few ways to make bathroom improvements that don't cost a lot!

Color - Take your bathroom from ordinary white to a splash of color.  Remember that cool colors can create a calm and peaceful environment and dark colors can be warm and inviting.  Once the walls are painted you can add accent color to the cabinets, trim and hardware.

Accessories - You can change the look and functionality of your bathroom by adding less than $100 in accessories.  Install new towel racks, soap dishes, hot and cold faucets in any style that suits your taste.

Storage & Space - We recently were at a home that had mirrors over the sinks that turned on poles and the backs of the mirrors were actually open medicine cabinets.  A great & contemporary space saving idea!  Add new accessories for additional space such as towel bar hooks, towel rings, shelves and robe hooks.

Shower Stalls - Recently several hotels we have visited showed the new trend in showers with curved shower curtain rods.  Switching from a straight rod to one that curves outwards can add up to 7 inches of elbow room!  Next best item on our list is the Australian style rain shower head and multi functions - that will get you singing in the rain while you are thinking of your next Active Rain blog post!

Try these tips and hopefully your "remodel lite" home improvements will make a significant impact on your home!

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

Are you wondering how you can make money with your current home or real estate?  Here are some interesting ways to use real estate to boost your finances - but remember to check with your local zoning laws, local regulations and homeowner's associations to see if any of these ideas will work for you:

1)  Home Businesses

Consider working where you live - hairdressers, craft makers, auto mechanics or any home-based business would work, including Realtors.  Also, it may provide you an opportunity to take a tax deduction.  If you are not self-employed, maybe ask your company to allow you to telecommute at least some of the time.

2)  Extra Space or Multi-Family Homes

Consider renting a portion of your home, which may allow you to live there rent free, if the rent covers your mortgage.  Does your home have a mother-in-law suite, or two master bedrooms, or any rooms with a separate entrance and space for a small kitchenette to give you or your tenant their own space.  Retirees, single professionals or families with unused rooms would be able to profit from having a tenant.

3)  Garage Space & Parking

In our community, parking spaces are hard to come by.  If you are not using your garage or space, rent it out for a monthly fee.  Also, if you own a large parcel of land, consider renting parking spots to RV owners, boat owners or campers.

4)  Storage

Storage warehouses are making a huge profit over our need to store our "stuff".  Your garage, basement or attic space can make a great storage area for renting out.  Check with your local storage providers for the going rate and then offer your space at a bargain discount!  Be sure that you are covered by your insurance and draw up a contractual agreement before renting the space so you are not liable for any damages.

5)  Vacation Rental

If you have ever gone on VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) you will understand that renting your home as a vacation rental is big business!  If you like to travel, have relatives or friends you can visit for long periods of time, then what a great way to earn income while you are having fun.  If you own a second home or have home that is empty, you might consider furnishing it and renting it out - there are now vacation rentals in almost every city in the United States and you can advertise it for free on Craigslist in your area.

If you have any other ideas on how to make money with your current real estate, feel free to share them. 

To view La Jolla developments, custom estates & La Jolla condominium communities, visit our comprehensive website at www.LJ-Homes.com.  Contact us anytime at 1-760-567-9100, we are here to help you find the La Jolla home of your dreams or sell your home for top dollar!

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Susan Laxson. All Rights Reserved. Information from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.