Feng Shui Influences How Bay Area Houses Are Priced

Feng Shui Influences How Bay Area Houses Are Priced

The Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog is pleased to welcome guest author, San Mateo California Realtor, Leonore Wilkas of The Wilkas Group. 

Living on the San Francisco Peninsula as I do, with our large Asian population, we find all kinds of Asian influences creeping into our daily lives. One of the biggest is Feng Shui, a Chinese mysticism of sorts, where it is believed that your life can improve by doing little things within your living environment through the placement of furniture, artwork, or even the front door of a house. It’s a serious business around here with many experts helping Realtors and non-Asians prepare their houses for sale so that the house will sell quickly.

Having harmony in life promotes wealth, prosperity, good health, and chi - the movement of the air around you. The Chinese are superstitious people. If they believe the Feng Shui is bad at a property, they will not look at it, or seriously consider buying it unless they think the bad Feng Shui can be over come.

Numbers play a big influence in Feng Shui

Certain numbers can prevent someone from even considering a property unless they can have a Feng Shui master come and correct the chi of the house. In our area, the number 8, believed to mean wealth, is often seen within the listing price of a home. Asians believe that numbers can create harmony within the house. If the price of the home reflects certain numbers such as 1, 6, or 8, it is considered to be positive so it’s very common to price homes with the number 8 somewhere in the price, for example you might see a house listed at $618,988, $888,888 or $1,886,688. The worst numbers to use are 2 and 5 and if I, as an agent, want to attract a buyer who follows Feng Shui, I will avoid them, if I can.

But, that’s only part of the issue with numbers. What do you do if the house number is considered bad Feng Shui? What if the numbers are really bad like 4, 13, 24, or 104? You can’t exactly change them, can you? No, not if you’re trying to sell the house, so you must use little Feng Shui tricks to provide protection to the property.

Have you ever noticed houses with two large lion-type animals sitting at the front entrance to a house in your neighborhood or city? These are called Foo dogs and they’re placed there to protect the house from bad chi.

If you’re unlucky enough to have house numbers that are considered bad chi you place a circle around your house numbers and protect the chi.

When you see wind chimes anywhere near the entrance of a house, it is considered good luck. Is there a birdbath or water feature somewhere in the front or back yard? They may be trying to improve the chi, or energy, of the house.

The power of Feng Shui is believed in by a whole lot of people on this planet. Many other cultures have similar beliefs. The Japanese and Indians also look at numerology in their daily lives. Japanese like odd numbers like 3, 5 and 7. The Indians believe in a Destiny number that is the total number for your birthday. If you were born on March 1^st, 1968, the numbers would be written out like this: 03.01.68 = 18, 1+8 = 9, and 9 would be your Destiny number. Numerology has been around for thousands of years and is believed by millions of people.

What are the lucky numbers for Feng Shui?

8, 18, 28, 38, 48, 54, 68, 80, 84, 88, 99, 168, and 108.

The number 8 is considered lucky because of how the word sounds in Cantonese. It sounds a little like the word faat (more like you saying phat) and it means prosperity and abundance. Something we all wish for, right?

What are the unlucky numbers?

4 - is considered the worst number because when it’s spoken in Cantonese it sounds like the word for death.

13 - if you add 1+3 it equals 4.

24 and 104 are also considered unlucky.

7 is considered unlucky, too!

Next month, on August 8^th, or 08.08.08, the Chinese people will be trying to either get married on that date or hope to deliver their babies on that date, because of these auspicious numbers. This might be the reason that the Olympics will start on this date.

I have had clients bring in a Feng Shui master to make simple corrections to houses with bad numbers. I have also seen people request a number change from the city and post office. Sometimes this is the easiest thing to do.

Does the number 8 help sell a house faster? Who knows? I try to put at least one 8 in every listing price I have. I do notice that we see a lot of Asian’s coming through our open houses, so maybe it is helpful. Realtors are superstitious, too, so anything that we can do to help our clients sell their homes we’re probably going to try. As long as it’s legal, that is!

Contributed by: San Mateo Realtor, Lenore Wilkas; author of the San Mateo Real Estate News Blog

Posted on July 12, 2008 20:45:00 by Laurie.Manny

Southern California Living - Long Beach and Pasadena

The Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog is pleased to welcome guest author, Pasadena California Realtor, Irina Netchaev.

Southern California Living - Long Beach and Pasadena

Many home buyers are looking to relocate and move to Southern California to enjoy our beautiful year-round sunny weather and be close to both snow and ocean. 

The hardest question of all is whether to buy a home in a beach community like Long Beach or to find a home in a foothills city like Pasadena.

Both, Long Beach and Pasadena are excellent places to live.  Long Beach, California has a beautiful selection of homes for sale in wonderful neighborhoods like Belmont Heights where you can buy a home for around $800,000 and be a few short blocks away from the beach.

For city living at its best, but still close to the beach, then a Downtown Long Beach Condo is waiting for you.  Downtown Long Beach has gone through extensive revitalization and there are many high and low-rise condos and lofts with spectacular views which can be purchased for as little as $69,990, or for as much as $2,699,999; many of which are high rise luxury condos on the waterfront (prices based on 2 and 2+ bedroom units).  Downtown neighborhoods vary greatly in price.    

Of course, Long Beach wouldn’t be Long Beach without the Queen Mary, the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, East Village Arts District, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach Museum of Art, and you’re just a ferry away from Catalina Island and the Port of Long Beach where all the wonderful cruise ships are waiting to take you to romantic destinations.

Long Beach is also 35^th largest city in the nation and the 5^th largest city in California.

Pasadena California is about 35 miles away from the beach, but is nestled in the San Gabriel Foothills.  If you decide to buy a home in Pasadena, you’ll be minutes from hiking trails and a short drive to the mountains where you can enjoy winter skiing.

Old Town Pasadena has also undergone an extensive revitalization over the last 10 years.  Beautiful live-work lofts are being built, as well as a nice selection of condos and townhomes are available for sale ranging anywhere between $600,000 to over $1,000,000.  Pasadena’s business center is located in the South Lake District where you can buy a 1 bedroom condo for as little as $400,000 and be steps away from great restaurants and boutiques.

Pasadena is full of historic neighborhoods and has many historically designated landmark districts like; Historic Highlands , Bungalow Heaven and Madison Heights.  Homes for sale in Pasadena are available starting at $500,000, but average closer to $955,000. 

Pasadena is known, amongst other things, for the Rose Bowl, The Tournament of Roses Parade, Norton Simon Museum, CalTech and is close to Descanso Gardens and Huntington Library.

Pasadena is the 160^th largest city in the nation and is the 6th largest city in Los Angeles County, and the main cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley.

When you are ready to start your home search next to the beach, please visit  Long Beach Real Estate Resource Center and if you want to live next to the foothills, please visit Pasadena Real Estate Resource Center for all your Southern California real estate needs.

Contributed by:  Irina Netchaev - Pasadena California Realtor with Keller Williams.  Irina specializes in selling Homes in Pasadena.

Thank you Irina!

Read Also:  2008 Tournament of Roses

Posted on July 11, 2008 15:49:56 by Laurie.Manny

Home and Garden Tours from Long Beach California to Buffalo New York

Home and Garden Tours from Long Beach California to Buffalo New York

Long Beach also has several public gardens for its residents to enjoy nature’s beauty:

• Rancho Los Cerritos
• Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens
• Long Beach California Japanese Garden and Koi Pond
• El Dorado Park Nature Center

Do you live in a Long Beach Condo and crave a garden of your very own? Guess what you are in luck! You too can enjoy planting a garden and growing flowers and vegetables. Conceived in 1976, the Long Beach Community Garden provides membership to Long Beach residents for just $50 a year. A grass roots organization run by its members helps keep this organization running.

The Long Beach Community Garden Association is located at 7600B E Spring Street in Long Beach, across from Animal Control. Thousands of pounds of produce from the gardens feed the less fortunate of our community through the generous donations of the members of the Long Beach Community Garden. The association invites you to their annual Tomato Festival Saturday, July 26, 2008, 11 AM - 2 PM.

• Read Also: Long Beach Organic Gardens

Not interested in the public gardening program? Want to enhance your Long Beach Condo patio? Try filling planters with flowers! Bring a little bit of garden beauty to your home. Enhance your Long Beach home by showing pride in it.

• Read also: Patio Gardening

Contributed by: Colleen Kulikowski - Buffalo NY Realtor of Hunt Real Estate ERA - specializing in Western New York Real Estate.

Thank you Colleen!

Posted on July 10, 2008 18:06:42 by Laurie.Manny

Selling YOUR Long Beach California Homes and Condos

The Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog is pleased to welcome guest author, Portsmouth New Hampshire Realtor, Ann Cummings.

Are you a Long Beach homeowner thinking of selling your home or condo?   

Just as correctly pricing homes in the Portsmouth NH area is super important in this market, proper pricing from the start for Long Beach condos and homes is vital as well. 

The asking price you and your professional REALTOR set on your home or condo is the single most important component of getting your home or condo sold.  We all know the  condition and the location are both key components, however the price you put on your property is the critical factor as that takes into account both location and condition. 

To help you determine the correct price for today’s market, you need the advice from a full-time experienced REALTOR.  Your Long Beach REALTOR® will use their experience, knowledge of the market place and market conditions, and their professional track record to provide you with a market proposal which will help you to both come up with a competitive position for your property.


The factors that go into determining the best competitive pricing position for your property are:

• Condition of your home or condo
• Location of your property
• Market conditions at that time
• Any repairs and/or improvements that might be needed
• Your motivation level and your time frame for selling

Your initial market position - asking price - will determine your success in getting your home or condo sold. 


If your price is too high, all the best marketing efforts in the world won’t get that property sold.  Buyers aren’t dumb, and neither are their agents - both will recognize that the price is just wrong. 


Here are some big areas of concern if your Long Beach condo or home comes on the market in the wrong pricing position:

• Those buyers who are already in the market will know right away the price is wrong - they’ve been looking and know the market.
• Area REALTORS will be reluctant to show your property because there are too many other properties to choose from that may be priced better.
• You’ll end up staying on the market longer than you would have had you priced it correctly to start with - and this will cause buyers to wonder what’s wrong with your property because it hasn’t sold yet.
• Longer stays on the market need repositioning - price adjustments - just to get showings. And extended stays on the market usually end up costing you more money in carrying costs, lost opportunities, and more. We refer to that as “Chasing the Market Down”.
• Even if you did find a buyer who, for whatever reason, chose to pay the too-high price, the bank or mortgage company’s appraiser will likely cause the sale to be re-negotiated. Lenders today are not interested at all in lending money on properties that are not priced properly for the market conditions. And this could lead to financing falling apart for that buyer who wants to buy your home.

Long Beach California REALTOR, Laurie Manny, wrote an excellent article for consumers in her Downtown Long Beach Market that applies to real estate sellers everywhere. Her article is entitled, “The 7 Dangers of Overpricing Your Long Beach Homes and Condos“, and is a great for anyone thinking of selling their home or condo.


Experienced professional REALTORS are in the know about the current market conditions - and this is the perfect reason why you should have a professional work with you to get your Long Beach CA home or condo SOLD!

Contributed by:  Ann Cummings - Portsmouth NH REALTOR of RE/MAX Coast to Coast Properties - specializing in Portsmouth New Hampshire Real Estate Homes Condos.

Thank you Ann!

Posted on July 09, 2008 06:50:16 by Laurie.Manny

Its Time to Purchase Your Own Home - Long Beach California Real Estate

The Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog is proud to welcome guest author Bruce Mulhearn.

Bruce T. Mulhearn is viewed as one of the most profound thinkers and analysts in the real estate profession.  He obtained his real estate license in 1960.  In addition, he is a recipient of numerous professional designations from the National Association of Realtors including Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI), Certified Residential Broker (CRB), and Certified Residential Salesman (CRS).

A native of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, he has been a U.S. citizen since 1964.  He is recognized nationally for his contributions as one of the foremost instructors in the industry.  He is president and founder of Prudential California Realty, Mulhearn Group, which opened in 1967 and has grown to 21 offices with some 800 sales associates and is ranked as one of the top 100 real estate firms in the U.S.

“It’s Now Time to Purchase Your Own Home!”

Crystal balls are in short supply.  Depending on which periodical, newspaper clipping, or sound bite you receive, speculation on the future runs rampant.  Nobody can provide an exact picture of the future with any degree of accuracy.  One thing that’s for sure-the housing crisis varies dramatically depending on what part of the country you live.

On a national basis, California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida have been hit the hardest with value reductions; however, in retrospect, these are the four states that had by far the most appreciation within a five-year period from 2000 to 2005.

When a headline screams out, “Median Price in California Drops 30% in One Year,” that in itself is startling.  The median price in California has fallen to $339,000.  That’s the steepest monthly decline in two decades.  But in return, it draws in a tremendous amount of first-time buyers who now see the homes as affordable.   They are no longer priced out of the market.  What we’re seeing are prices in 2008 that reflect the same price in 2004.  At the height of the market in May 2007, the median price was at $484,000.

Overall in California, property values increased in that five-year period approximately 114%.  In the past 12 months, according to Data Quick, yes, the property values have decreased 30%.  This can be misleading.  In the urban areas of Los Angeles and the other seven Southern California counties, the amount was closer to 20%.  However, in the high desert, Inland Empire, and parts of Riverside County, the rate of depreciation was sometimes in excess of 40%.  In these Inland and high desert markets, there has been-in some cases-an over correction, and now they are having multiple offers coming in from investors and first-time buyers in the lower price ranges. 

The Inland market for Southern California, which has been hit the hardest-in all likelihood will post the highest sales this year than all other areas.  In addition, residential income property in this market too has its great benefits because of a number of people who have lost their homes through foreclosure-needing a place to live.

In the month of May, there were a total of 33,000 homes sold in California down 11% from a year earlier, but 38% of those resale homes were foreclosed properties.  FHA financing has really skyrocketed.  Buyers can get into homes with a 3% down payment up to a loan amount of $729,000.  There’s an old cliché, “There’s no reward without risk."  Obviously in life anything that we do provides some risk, but I truly believe this is the time to purchase.  Interest rates are extremely low, there’s a large inventory of homes to choose from, and many anxious sellers-including the banks. 

Author:  Bruce Mulhearn 

Posted on July 08, 2008 17:46:06 by Laurie.Manny