by Jeff Pittman | Feb 13, 2017 | Buyers
The Best Places To Retire In Southern California and Beyond You have worked hard your entire life, saved up a bit of a nest egg, and now you are ready to enjoy it. That means retirement is coming, and along with that comes the important decision about where you would like to live out your golden years. There are so many options whether you’re relocating a few cities away or across the country. What’s important is to start getting an idea of what your ideal retirement community should include. Here’s a quick list of popular retirement spots within Southern California and across the country to give you a start. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Southern California real estate is expensive, but you can find great communities hidden within for a much smaller price tag. According to Trendgraphix, the average sold price for real estate in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties is $615,000. First of all, these retirement communities clock in way below the average sale price for SoCal. Second of all, these communities specifically offer great senior living facilities, city amenities, and laid-back lifestyles ideal for retirement. PALM SPRINGS Palm Springs real estate is ideal for seniors because of the warm temperature and wide array of amenities. In fact, there are tons of desert communities within Riverside County that are ideal for second homes and retirees. The average sold price is for Palm Springs real estate is $393,264. Palm Springs has a bustling downtown nestled against the impressive Mt. San Jacinto, and is surrounded by well-established neighborhoods with a mix of eclectic architectural styles. The area is also home...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 27, 2017 | Weekly Quote
“It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.” ~ Scott Belsky, Behance co-founder
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 27, 2017 | Events
Events In Orange County February 2017 Love going to fun local events in Orange County? Then check out our list of all the exciting stuff happening this February 2017 in Orange County. Highlights include the Socal Winter Brew Fest and the Surf City Marathon. Let the fun begin! TÊT FESTIVAL 2017 Friday, January 27th – Sunday, January 29th tetfestival.org You can celebrate the Lunar New Year at the OC Fair Grounds this weekend before we welcome the month of February. The Têt Festival is the largest in the world and attracts over 60,000 guests including hundreds vendors all weekend long. Enter the Phở eating contest, watch the Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant, enter the Talent Show Competition or shop and eat your way through all of the booths. Têt Festival volunteers contribute thousands of hours planning and organizing in order to help bring the festival to life. SOCAL WINTER BREW FEST Saturday, February 4th 12PM-4PM socalwinterbrewfest.com Held at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, the Socal Winter Fest will feature tastings from over 60 brews from breweries across the country. Among the award-winning will be limited seasonal winter beers from select breweries as well as specialty hard cider. Ticket gets you unlimited craft beer, live music and access to LA and OC’s favorite food trucks. Are you ready to feast on unlimited seasonal brews? SURF CITY MARATHON & HALF MARATHON Sunday, February 5th 6AM-1PM runsurfcity.com Source: Flickr Celebrating over 20 years of running Surf City, California’s classic oceanfront marathon is back again. In Southern California style, the Beach Party will be in the finish area, right next to PCH where...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 25, 2017 | Buyers
4 Things To Ask Before Buying A Home With A Pool When buying a new home, there are so many details to consider, questions to ask, and decisions to make. And if the home you have your eye on happens to have a pool, it leads to additional considerations. If you’ve always dreamed of summer barbecues that make a big splash and are shopping for a home with the pool, here are four questions to ask before buying. 1. DOES THE POOL ADD VALUE TO THE HOME? The answer to this question will be very specific to your region, with pools adding the most value in places like Southern California (score!) and western areas with warm weather. Whether a pool adds value also depends on its age and condition. Also keep in mind that if you’ve always wanted a pool, purchasing a home that already has one will typically cost less than installing your own later. 2. WHAT ARE THE INSURANCE COSTS? The increased cost on your homeowner’s insurance for a house with a pool can be substantial. You should opt for an umbrella liability policy covering between $300,000 and $1 million in liability insurance. Keep in mind that you’ll be liable for any accidents that result from the pool, substantiating the need for this costly coverage. 3. DOES THE POOL COMPLY WITH ALL REGULATIONS? Not only will a pool be uninsurable if it fails to comply with all valid state and local regulations, it will also be unsafe for you and your guests to enjoy. Make sure that you have all the details about the construction of the...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 11, 2017 | Homeowners
Cleaning Tips For A Spotless Home Most people wait until the spring to begin deep cleaning their home. However, for those of you who want to get your home back to comfy cozy after all of the holiday craziness, it’s important to focus on a clean home first thing in the new year. By taking time to clean your home now, you can make sure that you are starting the year off on the right foot. Here’s how to create space and make your home sparkle and shine like new. WIPE DOWN BASEBOARDS Sounds like a random place to start, but it’s probably something you’ve been overlooking since, well, forever. The baseboards are an easy place for dust to hide and can reduce the air quality in the home, which can lead to allergies for you and your family. That is just one reason why it is essential for you to wipe down the baseboards with a wet towel to ensure that you wipe up all of the dirt and prevent it from circulating back into the air. You also could use some general cleaning liquid or dusting supplies if you really want to leave your baseboards sparkling clean. PURGE WHAT YOU CAN To free up space in your home and make it easier to feel at ease, you’ll need to purge the home of items that haven’t been used in the last year. From old jeans to children’s toys, you can round up the items to ensure that they’re sold or donated to remove clutter that has accumulated throughout the year, according to payless.com. If you purge the...
