Long Beach Elementary Schools Win California Distinguished School Awards in 2008

Long Beach Elementary Schools Win California Distinguished School Awards in 2008.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack OConnell today announced that 343 exemplary California public elementary schools from 189 districts in 39 counties have been selected as 2008 California Distinguished Schools.

The entire list may be viewed at:  California School Recognition Program.

Congratulations to the 5 repeat Long Beach winners for their success!

Special Congratulations to First Time Long Beach Winners of this prestigious award:

Emerson Parkside Academy

Patrick Henry Elementary

Robert E. Lee Elementary

This year, the selection criteria for the Distinguished School program were more stringent than ever. Schools wrote a substantive narrative application and then were subject to an extensive site validation.

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Posted on April 15, 2008 12:00:00 by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report- April 14, 2008

I'm still floating mortgage rates, unless my clients are closing within 14 days.  I"m cautiously floating because of the volatility in the market.  Fundamentally, mortgage rates shouldn't have a whole lot more room to come down; the Fed cuts are probably coming to an end.  Something much more drastic than the Fed open market activities will be needed to pull us out of the recession. 

Yep.  I said the R word and have been since last fall.  I'm not scared of the recession; I welcome it.  Here's the trick for mortgage rates.  The weak dollar has world investors believing that the Fed's easy money policy is inflationary...

UNTIL...

the recession hits them.  Make no mistake about it, the economic slowdown is a global phenomenon.  Canada and the UK are following suit by cutting rates.  I think the world wide recession will lower oil prices and provide some much needed relief to the American consumer.

Nothing says it like pictures.   I'll show you some charts, to see how I'm thinking. 

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Laurie Manny Long Beach Realtor (562) 212-5420
Main Street Realtors Belmont Heights 244 Redondo Avenue Long Beach California 90803
Long Beach Real Estate Blog Long Beach Real Estate Website

 

http://www.lauriemanny.com/002D14

Posted on April 13, 2008 20:52:44 by Brian.Brady

Selling Your Long Beach Homes and Condos - 8 Deadly Mistakes

8 Deadly Selling Mistakes

Selling Your Long Beach Homes and Condos

1 - Overpricing Your Property

Every seller wants to get the highest possible price for their Long Beach homes. Ironically, the best way to do this is NOT to list your property at an excessively high price!  A savvy seller will understand the long term damage that chasing the market down will inflict upon them.

Read also: 

• My Long Beach Home Won't Sell-Are YOU Chasing the Market Down?
• Chasing the Market Down - Are You Guilty?
• Selling Your Long Beach Home 
• Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Home in a Down Market 
• Downtown Long Beach Condos Wont Sell... 
• Selling Your Long Beach California Home? Its A Whole New Game! 

An overpriced home or condo will cause prospective Long Beach buyers to choose to view other more reasonably priced properties.  As a result, overpriced homes are not selling, and sellers are finding themselves chasing the market down.  Never a good position to be in. 

Read also:

• The 7 Dangers of Overpricing Your Long Beach Homes and Condos

Overpricing your Long Beach home and chasing the market down will eventually cost you much of the equity in your home and could send you into a short sale or foreclosure situation.

Read also:

• Hiring YOUR Long Beach Realtor 

2 - Confusing a Re-finance Appraisal with Actual Market Value

When equity is present re-finance appraisals often reflect overly high prices.  Unfortunately quite a bit of this has gone on in recent years leading sellers to believe their Long Beach properties are more valuable than they actually are.  Lenders allowed this tragic behavior to encourage re-financing.  Naturally many sellers want to believe the re-finance appraisal is a real indication of their homes value, however nobody is better qualified to determine market value than your local Realtor®.

Working with your Long Beach Realtor®, looking at the comparables, and properly assessing the value of your home is the safest way to insure that your home is priced competitively for today's volatile real estate market. 

3 - Not Staging Your Home

With so many homes on the market in Long Beach, and so few qualified buyers shopping, it has become critical to put your best foot forward.  Staged Long Beach properties just look better than their competition.  Buyers are no longer interested in purchasing homes or condos that need much in the way of upgrading, nor do they always have the after purchase funds to do so.  Most are barely willing to paint.  They no longer have to do any of this to get a good buy in today's market, nor do they always have the after purchase funds to do so. 

Read also:

• Long Beach Homes-Issues for 1st Time Home Buyers 

A messy or dirty home is a turn off to buyers, they will either leave or make a very low offer, it will cost you a lot of money in the sale, if you sell at all. 

If you cannot afford a professional stager the many articles below will assist in placing your home in the best possible condition prior to placing it for sale. 

Read also: 

• Why Stage Your Long Beach Home or Condo?
• Curb Appeal On A Budget
• Preparing Your Long Beach Homes for Sale - Home Staging Tips
• Long Beach Home Staging-Define Your Long Beach Homes with Color!
• Redesign Home Staging for Your Long Beach Homes
• Staging Your Long Beach Homes
• Stage Your Long Beach Home to Sell
• Long Beach Home Kitchen Remodels
• Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels
• Remodeling Your Long Beach Homes?
• Long Beach Real Estate - Seller Tips - Preparing Your Home For Sale 

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Posted on April 06, 2008 23:01:15 by Laurie.Manny

Emerald Villas - Downtown Long Beach - 555 Maine Avenue

Emerald Villas - Downtown Long Beach Condos

555 Maine Avenue

Downtown Urban Living

The beautifully appointed Emerald Villas Condominiums are a delight to visit.  Zen like gardens greet you in the main entry, which lead to a beautiful community pool, spa and barbeque in a lovely and lush, tropical setting. 

Quiet and peaceful is the tone here. 

A community rooftop deck sports a fantastic view of Downtown Long Beach.  Come home to a good workout in the community gym after a long day at the office.  Emerald Villas is located one short block from the beautiful Cesar Chavez Park and walking distance to:

• Pine Avenue
• East Village Arts District Outdoor Mall
• The Pike
• Rainbow Harbor
• Shoreline Village
• The Beach
• Area Restaurants
• Area Entertainment
• And more...
  

This beautiful Downtown Long Beach Condo Complex is convenient to all shopping, dining and entertainment in the Downtown Long Beach area and is convenient to all freeways. 


Emerald Villas Condos has 123 units, most of which are 2 bedroom, 2 bath units, with several 3 bedroom, 2 bath units.  The units have great floor plans and all contain air conditioning, fireplaces, balconies and in unit washer/dryer hook-ups. 

2008 Statistical Information for the Emerald Villas Condominiums

There are currently 3 condos available for sale at the Emerald Villas, 2 are pending and 1 has closed escrow in 2008. 

Available units can be viewed here: 

Emerald Villas Condos For Sale-555 Maine Ave-90802-Downtown Long Beach Real Estate

(Live feed from the SoCalMLS)

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Posted on April 06, 2008 15:15:40 by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Real Estate 1st Quarter 2008 Market Report

Long Beach Real Estate Sales

1st Quarter Market Report 2008

The spring home buying season is in full swing here in Long Beach.  Prices have become very desirable, and many properties are in high demand receiving multiple offers.  Strong offers have become highly sought and are being accepted quickly.  All Cash, large down payments and little to no concessions by the seller have become the order of the day for the more highly desirable properties. 

First quarter average single family home sale price: $ 516,014. 

Average 70 days on market.

Long Beach Condo Sales are up as well. 

Average selling price for the first quarter is $356,026.

Average 66 days on market. 

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Posted on April 05, 2008 16:15:57 by Laurie.Manny