The good news is that sales are up over last year and despite the loss of a seller, their is a gain of the buyer. They buyer is getting great deals and helping the sellers out. The Sellers are able to take a Short Sale Sale and start over. The buyers are able to buy at the bottom of the market
and start with a home instead of a rental and everyone wins.
When you see the storm, dont look at the problems it causes but the rainbow after, the positive replenishing of the drinking water and nourishing of the land and plant life. Your outlook on things can actually change the results and the direction of your life
Marlene Dietrich, Tony and Mike
You Grow Old because you Stop Laughing
Posted January 22, 2010
Read and Enjoy
Reporter interviewing a 104-year-old woman:'And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?'
the reporter asked.
She simply replied, 'No peer pressure.'
The nice thing about being senile is You can hide your own Easter eggs.
I've sure gotten old! I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement,
New knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes
I'm half blind,
Can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine,
Take 40 different medications that
Make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts.
Have bouts with dementia ..
Have poor circulation;
Hardly feel my hands and feet anymore.
Can't remember if I'm 89 or 98.
Have lost all my friends. But, thank God,
I still have my driver's license.
I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape,
So I got my doctor's permission to
Join a fitness club and start exercising.
I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.
I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down,
and perspired for an hour. But,
By the time I got my leotards on, The class was over.
Marlene Dietrich, Tony, and Mike
Perspective can change Quality of Life
Posted January 21, 2010
One day , the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip , the father asked his son , "How was the trip?"
"It was great , Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah , " said the son.
"So , tell me , what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us , but they serve others.
We buy our food , but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us , they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added , "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have , especially your friends! and know that it is only your perspective that can make things better or worse!
Marlene Dietrich, Tony & Mike
Choosing the Best Realtor For You……
Posted January 20, 2010
Trust your Realtor, they represent your best interests in your transaction, financially and legally. Some Listing Agents offer you money from their commission to sway you to use them, that doesn’t replace experience and professionalism. It’s important that you feel comfortable with your agent, how well do you know them. The money you saved isn’t enough if you end up paying more and loose the knowledge of an experienced agent. There are a lot of agents that are trustworthy so it must be a case by case basis. If you find a good agent that you feel comfortable with, then stay with them and let them do their job. Loyalty works both ways, your Agent is investing their time, energy and money to get you that perfect home! It is in your best interest to see the homes your Agent recommends, to give you a chance to see properties in person and give your Agent a better idea of what you want and what you don’t.
On line photos make a place look so good, then you personally see the home and it looks completely different. Buying a home is an emotional purchase, you must walk into it to know whether this feels like a good fit for you. Every buyer starts with a list of “wants and needs” and the more homes you see the more that list evolves into the home of your choice. Narrowing down the best floorplan, what builder you like, what city or school district you prefer, adjusting the price range; all of these variables take an incredible amount of time and that is what you depend on your Agent to do for you.Home Prices Predicted to Rise Over 6% this Year...
Posted January 4, 2010
Predictions are being made from many companies and many different levels but they all are saying "We have hit bottom and are on the rise" not a large amount but a NORMAL amount.
Santa Ana Based First American CoreLogic Predicts 6.75% increase to occur in local homes prices over the next 9 months ending in October 2010, a smaller increase than those predicted in past months.
A UCLA forecastor has projected that home prices could climb as much as 16 percent in 2010, while others expect prices to increase by no more than 2 percent to 3 percent, if at all.
The important thing to take away with this is that we are nolonger going down in price. NOW is the time to BUY. Everyone is now predicting in Orange County that prices have hit Rock Bottom
in fact we saw an increase at the end of 2009 so we have past bottom.Home prices declined 5 percent in October from the year before, compared to a 6.7% year over year price drop in September.
When you exclude sales of distressed homes, the index of home sales dropped 5.8 percent in October. Distressed sales tend to pull home prices up because of the heightened demand for those residences.
With interest still CHEAP and prices on the rise, Now is the time to buy. Contact us anytime for assistance with your purchase
Marlene Dietrich, Tony & Mike
Dazzling Lights and Decorations in Newport Harbor
Posted December 7, 2009
The Waterfront Home Decorating Competition starts again giving the Boat Parade decorating competition for Light, The Ring of Lights competition usually involves 50-60 homes that go all out to light up the skies with Christmas lights and animations to entertain us and give us yet another free evening of enjoyment. They become more and more elaborate every year.
There is even a resident who dons a Christmas Tree outfit, wrapped with lights which are bright from batteries.
Only homes seen from the water are eligible for the Ring of Lights contest. For 101 years the Boat parade has been going on but the people on the boats have not had any other lights to enjoy except other boats until the Ring of Lights contest started. Only in the last couple of decades have the homes on Balboa competed with the Boats with their dazzling lights and other decorations and animations.
The Balboa Bay Club will host a dinner and auction for the winners of the Ring of Lights and the Boat Parade which will be chosen December 14th.
Take the family and enjoy an evening walking around Balboa Island's Perimeter and see the homes and the boats.
Marlene Dietrich, Tony and Mike
RED FRIDAY and Our Troops
Posted December 2, 2009
Have you heard, as have I, that Red Fridays will be coming. This is a show of support for our troops. They are looking for the "Silent Majority" to be no longer Silent.. They are looking for having us Voice our love of God, Country and Home. Many Americans are simply wanting to recognize that the vast majority of America do support our troops. The belief is that starting this Friday
and continuing every Friday until the troops all come home; everyone show their support with a deafening message that...Every Red-blooded American who supports out men and women a far, will wear something RED to show solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect.
A sea of Red will show our troops that we do support them and thank them for their efforts of providing us with the Land of the Free to live in, even with this economy it is a Great place to live.
Marlene Dietrich,Tony and Mike
Posted December 1, 2009
Water taxis are big in Florida, Australia and Venice and now we will be getting them in Newport Harbor. The purpose among a few, is to reduce DUI's and Vehicle traffic in the Harbor.
It will be a novelty which may end up being a growing transportation. It is to start with 2 Taxis which carry between 18-28 passengers in loops around 6 stops traveling in opposite directions and each trip would take about 20 minutes.
Another Option being explored is the point-to-point route, where 2-3 docks on opposite sides of the harbor are connected by 1-2 vessels, each carrying between 30-90 passengers. This trip would take about 10 minutes.
The other option would be an ON CALL service, where taxis would be dispatched as needed to a different public or private dock throughout the Harbor
They are only exploring the idea of testing this Water Taxi Service in Newport and it certainly wont be right away with the economy and no Federal help yet. The Test run should be either Summer of 2010 or 2011.
Do we need this? It could cut down on the traffic on Balboa Peninsula and Island; and maybe even the Harbor. If it does cut down on DUI's that would be a blessing also.
Marlene Dietrich, Tony and Mike
SANTA CLAUS CHRISTMAS LETTERS AT MACY'S!!
Posted November 30,2009
Don't forget to write you letter to Santa Claus this year. Macy's is repeating their Santa Letter box in there stores again this year. Newport Beach Fashion Island Macy's along with the rest of the Macy's stores will have a Special Santa Letterbox for you children, and you if you like, to drop of any Christmas letters addressed to "Santa At The North Pole". Make sure this holiday you bring you stamped letter. Macy's will count them up, and for each letter received, they will DONATE
$1.00 to the MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION , up to $1,000,000. then they will bring them to the Post Office for mailing to SANTA, and together, we will collect a MILLION reasons to Believe.
For More information visit www.Macys.com/believe to learn more
This is a great way to help the MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION grant wishes for those children with life-threatening disease. Put a smile on their faces with a small effort on your part by writing those letters to Santa
We donate our free time to granted Wishes and we can vouch for the smiles it puts on those children's faces when their little WISHES are granted
Thank you and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from
Marlene Dietrich Tony and Mike
HOLIDAY SEASON KICKOFF!!
Posted November 25, 2009
What a pleasant surprise when we walked into Roger's Garden in Corona Del Mar last week and was greeted by a young lady handing everyone a nice glass of Merlot to stroll and sip and enjoy the Christmas decorations. It was amazing and entertaining and quite the social affair. We even had our little puppy with us, who by the way was quite a chick magnet. If I had only known when I was single.
The Newport Beach Boat parade is coming up. Walking around Balboa Island looking at all the decorated homes. There is even a home on Balboa Island that the owner starts 2 weeks before Thanksgiving to get it done so that starting Thanksgiving night He can turn it on. He even stands outside his home to tell everyone about everything so you don't miss anything he has done. Huntington Beach has a boat parade. Naples has a Gondola ride through the canals with homes all decorated. Its not free but it is inexpensive. They supply the cheese, salami and bread and you can bring wine or soft drinks . You tour the canals and sometimes if you are lucky your gondolier will sing under the bridges, where you are suppose to kiss your significant other.
Many cities have many free and inexpensive things to enjoy in our County. If you are unaware, contact me and I will be happy to send you a list of events to enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Times from
