Rising housing, gas and food prices are driving people out of their cars and back into town...

The Economy is Hitting Home

The Economic Squeeze

Watch this interesting 2 minute video by ABC News, Diane Sawyer.

Rising housing, gas and food prices are driving people out of their cars and back into town...

The mortgage crisis combined with rising housing costs related to the sub prime crisis are really starting to hit home for many Southern California residents who still commute. With the price of gas now topping $4.50 per gallon at most Southern California stations this is becoming a very serious issue. I drive an SUV (which I still love, sigh...). Yesterday I spent $143 to fill the tank; can you say OUCH?!? That equates to over $600 per month in gasoline for me and I rarely leave the Long Beach area! Looks like I am going to have to think about a smaller, more fuel efficient car pretty soon.

By the way, has anybody else noticed that a tank of gasoline isn't going as far as it did? It seems to be burning up a lot faster these days. I asked a friend who works at one of the refineries about it, he mentioned that they are adjusting the ethanol content in the mix which causes the fuel to burn faster. Gee thanks George W!

Buffalo NY Realtor Colleen Kulikowski has not only noticed less miles per gallon, she reports that Mobil Oil is advertising no ethanol in their mix up in her area.  After experimenting she is seeing a better return on her miles per gallon.  Definately something to consider when deciding where to pump that liquid gold!  Hey Mobil, is that nationwide?  Or just up in Buffalo?

Many homeowners have faced or are facing foreclosure due to adjusting mortgages, which few can afford. This combined with the rising cost of gasoline, food (have you checked out the prices in the supemarkets lately - good grief) and just about everything else has just about everybody rethinking just about everything.

Many homeowners are interested in downsizing their homes, are seeking affordable housing and are moving closer to their places of employment; or are seeking ways to work remotely from home.

Long Beach Real Estate is affordable and beach close.  Oh and by the way, we have better weather down here at the beach.  Cooler in the summer, wamer in the winter.

What are you doing to ease the effects of the economy?

Posted on June 22, 2008 19:04:50 by Laurie.Manny

Seeking California Heights Historic Home For Sale

If you are thinking about selling and have a Historic California Heights Home that is not yet on the market, I have a specific, highly qualified "A" credit buyer, with a large down payment, who may be interested in purchasing your home. This is not a solicitation to list your home. This buyer is quite real, as am I. This is not the first time I have reverse prospected a Long Beach home for a buyer looking for something a little extraordinary.

The buyers are a young professional couple, both doctors, who are purchasing their first home with a large inheritance. They have a sizable down payment, FICO scores in the 800 range, are already pre-approved, are ready to purchase and pay market price. All they need is the right home.

They have been in escrow on another home in the California Heights Historic District. Inspections revealed large problems with the home, none of which was the seller willing to remedy in any way. The home was priced at market, which was too high once the actual condition of the home was revealed.

We are seeking a Historic California Heights home in good and solid condition. That doesn't mean it has to be perfect, but several serious structural issues proved to be too much to deal with. The home should be at least 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, Spanish style is preferred, but we are not limited to this style, wood floors, coved ceilings, garage, lot size is not as important as condition. Historic status is a major plus.

 Homes are sitting on the market for long periods of time, many not selling at all. If you are thinking about selling your California Heights Historic home at any time in the near future, it would not be a waste of your time to call me to discuss the possibilities. Just think, a quiet easy sale and no trail of people coming through your home for months on end.

What I propose is very simple. If you already have an exclusive Long Beach Realtor®, have them give me a call. If you do not already have a Realtor or would like to save a substantial sum of money on commission, I can make this very appealing to everybody.

Call Laurie for details (562) 212-5420

Posted on May 29, 2008 20:59:28 by Laurie.Manny

Things to do in Long Beach California - June 2008

Things to do in Long Beach California - June 2008

March 2-October 5...Rancho Los Cerritos Tours

Times: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Free - Every 1st Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

June 1; July 6; Aug 3; Sept 7; Oct 5; Nov 2

Celebrate the seasons with a guided tour of the Rancho's lush grounds. Learn the history of the gardens as you stroll past vibrant flowers in bloom & delight in refreshing citrus fragrances.

Phone:  (562) 570-1755
Admission:  Free
Location:  Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

June 1-4...PTCUser World Event 2008 at the Long Beach Convention Center. 

June 6 & June 13...Shark Lagoon Nights at the Aquarium of the Pacific

June 6, 7, 8... Sesame Street Live!  When Elmo Grows Up at the Terrace Theater

Read more »

Posted on May 26, 2008 22:31:45 by Laurie.Manny

Former Long Beach City Council Members Home-Sold in Foreclosure Auction

The Wall Street Journal reports:  The Sacramento home of Rep. Laura Richardson was sold in a public auction two weeks ago for $388,000. The Southern California Democrat bought the house for $535,000 with no money down in January 2007 and owed nearly $575,000 to Washington Mutual when the mortgage was sold earlier this month at a significant loss to Red Rock Mortgage Inc.

Rep. Richardson, a former Long Beach city council member, bought the home after winning a seat in California's state assembly. She maintains her primary residence, a four-bedroom home, in her Long Beach district. Months later, Rep. Richardson ran in a hard-fought election for the congressional seat, which was vacated when the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald died from cancer. To fund that campaign, Rep. Richardson lent herself more than $75,000 and stopped making payments on the Sacramento home around the same time. 

Read more »

Posted on May 23, 2008 04:05:05 by Laurie.Manny

Memorial Day Weekend in Long Beach California

Memorial Day 2008 - in and around Long Beach California

Start Your Engines?

Not!

With the high cost of Gasoline many are planning the holiday weekend closer to home this year.  If you are planning a trip you may find the AAA fuel cost calculator to be a handy tool. 

Long Beach provides many wonderful forms of entertainment making it easier to play close to home. 

Things to do in Rainbow Harbor:

• Rent a speedboat
• Rent a jet ski
• Bicycle Boats
• Rent a Kayak
• Go Sailing
• Fishing
• Whale Watching
• Scuba Dive Charters
• Private Charters
• Yacht Charters
• Harbor Tours
• Harbor Cruises
• Private Charters
• Tall Ship American Pride Educational & Charter Tours
• Romance Charters
• Aqua Link
• Aqua Bus
• Dream Cruises
• Educational Expeditions to Catalina & Channel Islands
• Rainbow Rocket-Ride
• Guest Day Mooring Area
• Dockside Boat & Bed - Spend the night on a Yacht

Things To Do in Long Beach:

• Shoreline Village / Rainbow Harbor
• RMS Queen Mary
• Aquarium of the Pacific
• Harbor Breeze Cruises
• Scorpion submarine
• Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Cruises
• The Tallship American Pride
• Long Beach Sport Fishing and Whale Watching
• Catalina Express
• The Pike
• Gameworks
• East Village Arts District
• Museum of Latin American Art
• Pine Avenue
• Romantic Gondola
• Luxury Yacht Rental
• Party Cruises
• Romantic Gondola Ride - Naples Island
• Earl Burns Japanese Gardens at UCLB
• Long Beach Museum of Art
• Cohiba Club on Pine
• El Dorado Nature Center
• Long Beach Parks
• Long Beach Fire Department Museum
• Rancho Los Alamitos -Historic Ranch and Gardens
• Rancho Los Cerritos
• Wayfarers Chapel

Local Beaches of Long Beach California:

Alamitos Beach from Alamitos to 15th Place. You can glide, ride or stride along the waters edge on the main beach from Alamitos Avenue on the west to 54th Place on the east on the 3.1-mile, 17-foot-wide Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path. Two six foot lanes are for bicycle traffic and one five foot lane is for pedestrians. You can rent skates, bikes, umbrellas and beach chairs at Alfredos.

Bayshore Beach at 5415 E. Ocean Blvd. offers access to Alamitos Bay and other diversions such as:

• basketball,
• volleyball
• handball courts
• play equipment for the kids

Belmont Plaza Beach at 4000 Olympic Plaza is close to the bike path and Belmont Pier. Be sure to get a front row seat (bring your own chair!) for exciting California Beach Volleyball Association events.

Belmont Shore Beach from 39th Place to 54th Place, and Peninsula Beach from 54th to 72nd Place offer long stretches of white sand, volleyball courts and beautiful scenery.

Colorado Lagoon at 5119 E. Colorado St. offers calm waters, picnic areas and a nautical themed playground.

Junipero Beach from 15th to 39th Place can be conveniently accessed from Ocean Blvd. on Junipero Avenue which ends at a beach parking lot.

Marine Park at 5839 Appian Way is known as 'Mothers Beach because of its popularity among families with small children. All ages can relax and enjoy the day with shallow, calm waters, a lifeguard station, restrooms and play equipment.

The next chance you have to spend a day at the beach, remember that some of the best ones are right here in Long Beach.

History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states...Read More>>>

Memorial Day Events in Long Beach California:

May 26...Memorial Day Picnic on the Lawn of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Downtown Long Beach 

Times: 11a.m. - 1:30p.m.

Join us for a Memorial Day Picnic on the Front lawn of the Aquarium.  Menu:  Grilled Rosemary Tri-tip, Honey BBQ Chicken, Chipotle BBQ Ribs, Hot Dogs, and much more.  Cost:  Members- Adults - $16, Kids 3-11  $9,  Non-Members-Adult $26, Kids 3-11 $19.  For your reservations and more info call 562/590-3100.

Fly the flag at half-staff from dawn until noon in observance of the holiday. 

Memorial Day Ceremonies, Forest Lawn - Long Beach, Paradise Mosaic Forecourt, Long Beach, CA.

Highlights include color guards, bagpiper, a wreath placement ceremony, roll call of deceased veterans, Presidential Proclamation, a parade of flags by local veterans, and patriotic music.  For more information, call: (800) 204-3131 ext. 4743.  

Going out to Celebrate? 

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Posted on May 22, 2008 23:02:36 by Laurie.Manny