Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report for August 15, 2008

Posted on August 14, 2008 23:07:36 by Laurie.Manny

Are YOUR Granite Countertops "HOT"? -Long Beach Real Estate

Are your Granite Countertops “HOT"?

Granite Countertops are one of the top selling points for homes and condos.  In a recent article “Words that Sell Homes”, it was disclosed that the word Granite was one of the 7 top words that help sell a home. When thinking about a Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodel, it is the Granite counter-top that is the finishing touch.  Will you go dark or light?  A lot of texture or more sedate? Domestic or Imported? Almost everybody loves granite countertops. 

Recently the NY Times published an article raising questions regarding harmful levels of radon gases being emited by the breadown of uranium in the many varieties of granite countertops.  Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.

Having read through many of the articles available on the internet most suggest that the countertops emitting the highest levels of radiation seem to be those imported from Brazil and Namibia.

The Marble Institute of America has said such claims are “ludicrous” because although granite is known to contain uranium and other radioactive materials like thorium and potassium, the amounts in countertops are not enough to pose a health threat.

If you have granite countertops and are concerned whether radon or radiation is a problem you can:

1. Contact the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (aarst.org). Testing costs between $100 and $300.
2. Find a certified technician at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site at epa.gov/radon, as well as from state or regional indoor air environment offices, which can be found at epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html.
3. Radon test kits are available from the National Safety Council  (or call 1-800-SOS-RADON).  Some home improvement stores sell test kits.  To find a qualified testing or mitigation contractor, contact your state radon office or either of the national private radon programs.

Articles on the subject you might be interested in reading: 

• What’s Lurking in Your Countertop? - NY Times
  
• Granite Countertops A Health Threat? - CBS News
  
• Radon in Granite
• Could your granite countertops be leaking radon gas?
• Granite Countertops & Radon Gas

Posted on August 13, 2008 18:34:28 by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Mortgage Rates for August 11, 2008

Long Beach Mortgage Rates for August 11, 2008.

Loan amounts up to $417,000:

All rates offered to the borrower with 1 point cost. Rate quotes assume a Purchase transaction with a 20% down payment, 720 credit score, and full income Qualification. Rates are subject to fluctuation. Custom rate quotes and rate Lock advice are available by calling (858)-777-9751.

Remember the song “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealer’s Wheel? It was background music for a particularly Gruesome scene in the Quentin Tarantino movie, Reservoir Dogs.

Wall Street bond traders are singing that tune and it’s bouncing mortgage rates all over the place. They’re scared because they feel that “somethin’ ain’t right” with the underlying loans held by Fannie and Freddie. Still, the US Treasury Secretary has pretty much guaranteed that the government will back Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should the dung hit the blades.

Wall Street bond traders are singing that tune and it’s bouncing mortgage rates all over the place. They’re scared because they feel that “somethin’ ain’t right” with the underlying loans held by Fannie and Freddie. Still, the US Treasury Secretary has pretty much guaranteed that the government will back Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should the dung hit the blades.

While the treasury securities market has been somewhat stable these past few weeks, mortgage-backed securities are bouncing all over. Some days ,they act like treasuries and the spread narrows. Other days, they act like junk bonds and the spread widens. If you listened to my “dog on a leash” analogy, imagine a rabid animal running away from a scared owner one day and a docile pet running and cuddling with him the next.

Like the song, says, we’re “stuck in the middle” which means, in my mind, we’ll see mortgage rates rise a bit, to the 6.5% level, then drop to the 6.0% level. We still haven’t seen the full effect of the Russian invasion to Georgia. The American response will be much more than a Bush and Putin exchange at the Olympics. Georgia is a SERIOUS U.S. ally with a major oil pipeline running through it. The Russian attack was clearly unprovoked and part of a concerted effort to weaken the US dispute with Iran.

We’re locking loans that are closing within 10 days with an eye towards locking late August closings some time next week (when mortgage rates come back down).

Long Beach mortgage rates report is offered courtesy of Brian Brady.  Contact Brian for more information about a home loan.

Posted on August 11, 2008 10:32:22 by Laurie.Manny

Parking Solutions for Downtown Long Beach

Downtown Long Beach Parking

Impacted Parking Areas

The re-development of Downtown Long Beach and the multitude of new high rise buildings are certain to complicate an already difficult parking shortage.  Many of the historic condos in Downtown do not have any parking available at all.  Residents rent monthly spots in available asphalt lots at fairly reasonable monthly rates, but with land at a premium how long will these lots remain available?  Where will the owners of these condos, local business owners, guests and customers park? 

Recently a friend and I were discussing the parking problems in Downtown Long Beach now and projecting into the future.  As we discussed potential solutions it occurred to me that the solutions themselves were very problematic.  

Vertical Parking and other parking solutions involve a lot of equipment.  Equipment is expensive to both purchase and run, breaks down, requires parts that are not always immediately available and requires trained engineers and mechanics.  What happens when your car is parked on level 5 and the equipment breaks down? What if the part is not immediately available and needs to be imported from Japan?  Would there be a manual over-ride system to bring your car down to ground level? How could all of this be kept affordable?

Many of the systems exhibited in these videos showed fully automated parking structures.  Who do you call when the systems fail?  What happens if it is very late at night?  There I go assuming the lots would be open 24 hours, I am still such a New Yorker sometimes!  But seriously, how could they not be open 7 and 24? 

Tonight I watched many videos from around the world displaying parking systems for both small and large spaces.  While watching I realized that every one of them showed 1 car being easily and quickly parked or retrieved.  It was so simplistic it made me laugh.  I remember an evening in Manhattan when a group of us went to see a show.  The last parking lot with any space available was in a very thin and very tall building with an elevated vertical parking system.  They charged a whopping $60 to park the car and that was 8 or 9 years ago.  We waited well over an hour to retrieve the car.  All of the shows let out at about the same time and the lots were inundated. 

The other thing that really struck me while I was watching these videos was the desolation of the parking lots.  I couldn’t imagine retrieving my car at 3:00 AM without experiencing a great deal of fear. 

I can only imagine the stress levels of people waiting for their cars to be delivered to them when they are late for an appointment.  Imagine having to wait for 10 or 15 cars before yours is delivered!  Downtown has a large workforce most of which finish their work day between 5 and 6 PM.  How long would it take for them to get their cars out of these lots? 

We didn’t come up with any solutions, but it was an interesting conversation and has my wheels turning (pun intended). 

What do you think?

Update 9/3/08

The owner of Apex Skypark in Anaheim contacted me about the concerns expressed in this post.  As a manufacturer of Robotic Parking Solutions and a company currently involved with the City of Long Beach in an effort to bring these solutions to us, I offered them space on this site to respond. 

Please visit their article at:

Downtown Long Beach-Belmont Shore-Parking Solutions-Long Beach California

Posted on August 03, 2008 03:01:43 by Laurie.Manny

1611 E 3rd St-Alamitos Beach Home For Sale-Long Beach Real Estate

Alamitos Beach Home For Sale

Long Beach California Real Estate

1611 East 3rd Street

Alamitos Beach

Long Beach California

I recently viewed this beautiful Victorian Style Alamitos Beach Home and was impressed by the ambiance of the home and by the gleaming wood floors throughout.  This home is walking distance to the beach and local shops, is warm and inviting, and has a nice floorplan.  The outdoor areas are quite private and are conducive to entertaining.

It was the Master Bedroom Suite that was the hook in this lovely home; soaring ceilings and a sizable private sitting room, which could double nicely as a nursery, and master bath, that just stole the show. 

Maybe it was the romantic arbors or the brick walkways in the large rear patio area, or perhaps it was the spa and gazebo or the BBQ, but I could see the future owner of this home wanting to spend a lot of time outdoors at this home. 

If you are shopping for a spacious home near the beach this home is a must see. 

• 4 bedrooms (3 upstairs, 1 downstairs)
  
• 3 full baths
• Wood flooring throughout
• Fireplace
• Cathedral ceilings
• Ocean breezes
• Walk to the ocean
• Bay Windows
• Formal Dining Room
• Breakfast Nook
• 2 pantries
• Laundry with washer/dryer - in house
• Lighted attic
• Automatic gates
• 2 car oversized garage and additional gated parking.
• Cable and Satellite ready
• Security system
• Water Softener
• Forced air heat
• A/C ready

Offered at:  $675,000

If you would like an appointment to view this home, call Laurie at (562) 212-5420.

Posted on August 02, 2008 15:56:19 by Laurie.Manny