La Quinta Real Estate Blog

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. 

Sign of the times?  Today while at Fashion Valley Shopping Center in San Diego, I was surprised and disappointed to see that Saks Fifth Avenue is going out of business here in San Diego.  Years ago when I was in college there was a Saks Fifth Avenue on Girard Avenue in La Jolla, along with an I. Magnins nearby.  Then Saks moved over to Wall Street for a short period of time before Brooks Brothers came in. 

The salespeople told me that Saks has closed all their San Diego locations, but we can still shop at the one in Orange County, California.  It seems like all the stores that I used to shop at are now gone or have merged with other larger chains... Robinsons, May Company, Broadway, Buffins, Walker Scott, I. Magnin, Joseph Magnin, Bullocks, Marshall Fields and others are now gone. 

I am not saying that change is not a good thing, but there seemed to be so many more choices of stores years ago.  In the words of Bob Dylan, "The times they are a changin'"...

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. 

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. 

Mission Bay Golf Course is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting.  A Ted Robinson design, this 18 hole executive course was opened in 1955 and sits on 46 acres adjacent to Mission Bay.  The course measures 2,719 yards and is a perfect distance and challenge for beginner golfers or golfers who want to work on the "short" game.  There are four par 4s and everything else is a par 3, anywhere from 50 to 150 yards.  The course is narrow which accounts for the many "FORE"s yelled out while we were playing.  For those non-golfers, "FORE" yelled out means to duck because a ball is headed in your direction.  My parents took my brothers and I out to play this course when we were teenagers and this is where we learned to play golf. 

My daughter decided that this summer would be the summer of improving her golf game.  She has a great swing, but just can't seem to connect with the ball.   So yesterday I took her to the Mission Bay Golf Course to meet with her new instructor.  It was the first time I have seen the golf course in over 30 years and it was exactly the same.  "Exactly the same" is sometimes a good thing and in this case not such a good thing.  The building and surrounding facilities, although the same structures as I remember, now look like they should be condemned.  The gardens surrounding the pond and clubhouse were full of foot high weeds.  The course and driving range were "scruffy" and looked neglected. 

San Diego has a financial crisis like most of the municipalities in the United States and I understand that there are not enough funds to cover city properties, but we are also the home of Torrey Pines Golf Course and Balboa Park Golf Course, both city owned/managed golf courses.  Torrey Pines is a money maker for the city, but it is also not as golfer friendly to new golfers as Mission Bay Golf Course.   In June 2006, the San Diego City Council approved Mayor Jerry Sanders' "Five-Year Business Plan for Golf".  A plan designed to govern the operation of the city-owned golf facilities, but was controversial due to the significant increase in green fees paid by the locals.  The plan from 2006 was to include a new irrigation system, upgrade the driving range, make building improvements, electrical upgrades and practice area upgrade.  According to the plan there is actually a Golf Operations Manager for the City of San Diego, currently Mark Marney.  In a recent interview with the Union Tribune, Marney stated "Some of those projects have not moved as fast as originally anticipated."  

Based on my observations, there appeared to be some pretty easy ways to "spruce up" the surroundings.  Weeding andtrimming the rose bushes and surrounding gardens, sweeping the grounds, organizing and removing old flyers in the announcement box, removing debris, washing the windows of the clubhouse are just a few of the things that I saw that would show a "pride of ownership" or a sense that the people who work there care about where they work and how it looks.

Maybe the city would allow a "community event for golfers" that would bring the many talented locals (gardeners, painters, carpenters etc..) out to help get the property back into good condition, thus improving revenues for the city.  If you are interested, contact Mark Marney, San Diego's Golf Operations Manager with your ideas!  His number is (858) 552-1634. 

Mission Bay Golf Course is located at 2702 N Mission Bay Drive (between De Anza Rd & North Mission Bay Dr), San Diego, CA 92109  Phone:  (858) 581-7880

Tee times are from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and lights are on until 10:00 p.m.  Practice range hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Green fees vary for City of San Diego Residents and Non-Residents.  Click HERE for current fees.

Night of golf?   Could be fun but bring your weed whacker in your golf bag and let's spruce up this city treasure!

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 long family weekend, ended as it should have with a visit to my parents' gravesite at Riverside National Cemetery.   My father was a career Air Force Officer and my mother served in the Women's Army Corps.  My father earned the Legion of Merit along with several medals, and although a Harvard MBA with honors, he elected to serve his country instead of working in the private sector.   I am blessed to have been their child and there isn't a day that I don't miss them or think of something to share with them. 

Today is Memorial Day and my husband, children and I felt honored to have been at the Cemetery today.  Every single grave site had a flag placed on it, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier's flag was at half-mast, there were fly-overs of a variety of Air Force planes, passing motorcycle veteran's groups that flew their flags and there were many, many families visiting the resting places of their loved ones or friends who gave of themselves so that we can live free. Yesterday, May 30th, volunteers read the names of 5,500 people who were buried there since last year's Memorial Day.  

We are proud to be Americans and we are so grateful for people like my parents and so many others that served and serve our country.  God bless America...

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 weekend at Lake Arrowhead started on Thursday and Friday we headed up to Big Bear, but Saturday and Sunday were reserved for our days on the lake.  Lake Arrowhead is a private lake and the cabin has a boat dock.  While my children kayaked, my husband sat on the dock fishing and I walked the trail part way around the lake and took pictures.  There was a fishing contest this weekend and we were told that the HOA had stocked the lake with trout and bass. Well... my husband caught two bass while on the lake and although he caught and released, it has made for a major fish tale for future family get togethers! 

If you are in the mood for a weekend getaway, next weekend should be a blast from the past with the 26th Annual Antique and Classic Wooden Boat Show on Saturday & Sunday (June 5th - 6th) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  And afterwards there is the Summer Concert Series at the Lake Arrowhead Village. 

If you are looking for a cabin retreat there are quite a few homes available in Lake Arrowhead for sale and now is a great time to buy there! 

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. 

No pun intended with the title.  Okay, maybe a little.

I am reading lots of articles about crooked locksmiths.  This problem has cropped up in recent years.  You need a locksmith, look in the phone book or do an Internet search, and a local phone number pops up.  And you think you are calling a local locksmith who miraculously can come right over.

What has happened instead is that you have been routed to a clearing house in another state that sends someone to your house who is not licensed and has no idea what he is doing.  And later your house is visited when you least expect it.  And with or without a key to your house.

The locksmith industry is alarmed by this trend.  And necessarily!

You have become easy pickings!

The locksmith industry thinks the solution to this is CONSUMER AWARENESS!

Can I cut through the clutter and list some things you can do to be more aware?  These are some things to look for when the locksmith shows up, in no particular order.  If you see some or all of these things, get another locksmith!

• He shows up in an unmarked car - BIG RED FLAG.
• There is a local phone number, but no local store locations.
• He does not have the "right tools for your job."
• The business has a generic, innocuous name:  Locksmith USA
• There is only one, or maybe no, local store locations.
• He demands cash payment.
• The final bill is substantially more than was quoted over the phone.
• He doesn't speak English.
• The work is shoddy looking.
• The final bill presented has a business title with an an address in another state.
• Instead of picking the lock, he recommends drilling out the lock set and putting in a new one.

My locksmiths (I use two) have many store locations in many local cities.  One I started bowling with in 1987 and have used him ever since.  They both have excellent reputations and are licensed.  Not all states require licenses for their locksmiths.  Hopefully yours does. *

My recommendation:  Don't get taken for a ride.  And certainly DON'T put yourself in a position to get visited at a later date by someone who is not coming over to help you with your lock problems.  Do a little research and get a good guy over to your house.  Not someone you will come to regret!

*  Only 14 states require locksmith licensing:  Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.