Oxnard, CA

Good Morning! It's Sunday October 11th... Brandon's (my husband) birthday today!! Happy Day!!

I had an "ahh ha" moment recently and I thought I'd share it with you! I was reading about a famous mountain climbing resort over in the Swiss Alps. They have this one "beginner mountain," and several times a month, different companies bring their employees as a group to climb up the mountain together. It's a special exercise that is meant to build camaraderie and teach teamwork.

It's about an eight-hour hike to the top of the mountain so the group normally gathers at the base about eight in the morning. At the beginning of the morning, they are really fired up and enthusiastic. Everyone can't wait to make it to the top and have their picture taken together to celebrate their accomplishment. It's a pretty unique accomplishment...

About halfway up, there's a little restaurant. So the group goes into the restaurant, takes off their hiking gear, sits down by the fireplace and eats lunch. It's a very warm, cozy setting. Here's the interesting part; The article said that on average - after they had gotten warm and comfortable, less than half of the people continued climbing the mountain! It wasn't because they weren't able to do it, nor was it too difficult! It was simply because they had gotten comfortable. They lost their motivation to press on and excel. In essence, they tasted a little bit of success and they thought, "Well, this is good enough..."

A lot of times, this is exactly what we do in our lives. We have a goal or a dream. It could be a goal to pay off credit cards, a plan to lose some weight - or a vivid dream of owning your very own home! At first, you may start off excited and strong, getting your Loan Officer all the paperwork he/she asks for right away, finding homes to look at online, and courageously signing the Offers your Realtor writes - but over some time and a few unaccepted Offers, complacency settles in. The apartment you're renting may not be a bad place to live, but it's not where you're really supposed to be. It's just average; just good enough.

My ahh-ha moment happened when I realized that we are created for more than average! We are created to excel! You are created to stretch your faith - believe we can achieve the unseen, and celebrate our accomplishment at the top of the mountain!

Maybe today, you've taken a little break. Maybe you're comfortable where you are but I want to encourage you to put your hiking gear back on. Stir yourself up! Don't settle for halfway; decide to go all the way. You keep climbing, believing,and pressing forward into that wonderful new Home that God has in store for you!

What next? That's the question Dr. Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics was attempting to answer for the audience attending the Oxnard Economic Outlook put on by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce I attended this morning.

Dr. Thornberg explained that the biggest issue is the national economy-a lot of uncertainty out there for a lot of reasons. Basic economic indicators are not that hard to read, but to figure out what Fed Chairman, Ben Bernanke, President Obama and Congress will do and how that will impact the recovery, well, that's hard. Clearly, he says, we're at the bottom, the question is how strong will the recovery be? He says according to the "Public Opinion Meter" the recession is over. Dr. Thornberg is not so sure. The economy today is 4% smaller than a year ago. Across the board, unemployment is stabilizing but that just means that job losses are lessening, not reversing. But the silver lining is that as bad as unemployment is in California, it is in better shape than the United States.

So what shape will the recovery take? He said some are predicting a "V" shaped recovery-a quick rebound. Others are predicating a "U" shaped recovery, basically the same but not quite as quick. Then there is the cruel "W" shaped recovery which I don't need to elaborate on or the "L" shaped recovery that isn't a recovery at all. Whichever you pick, Dr. Thornberg wryly states it will certainly be an "S" recovery, as in SLOW. He explains that underlying problems are not fixed. Some relief for symptoms, yes, but that the road to health will take some time.

Dr. Thornberg also does not believe home prices have bottomed out completely, despite the widely watched Case-Schiller Index showing home prices in many markets have had an increase. He attributed some of that increase to seasonal buying, low interest rates and low inventory. He stated that 15% of all homes mortgages are either delinquent or the properties have been foreclosed on and still owned by the banks. There is also much craziness in the commercial real estate market but we don't hear about it as much since much of that is handled in back rooms. And he doesn't think that low interest rates will continue for long. His emphatic message was if you were thinking about a refinance, DO IT NOW. We may be seeing inflation in 1 to 1½ years and interest rates will go up. He pointed out that FHA is a disaster and so is Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the major sources of home financing in the U.S.) and were it not for the Fed buying the bonds to support them they would be in serious trouble. This cannot continue indefinitely.

But despite his warnings, Dr. Thornberg thinks the longer term outlook for California is good and may emerge much stronger from this crisis. In the meantime...there are no easy fixes.

Remember this house?  Appropriately dubbed the "House of Doors", doors, and more doors!

Yes, the same house that also had a bath tub immediately adjacent to the master BED (not room, BED)

Yes, the very same house with oddities such THIS ?!?!

Well, nay-sayers of Home Staging,  I am here to state that even though the average days on the market for this BEACH community is 146 days - this one is under escrow in just 48 days AFTER Staging! HA!

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Platinum Home Staging, Inc.   Home Staging Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, West Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Wood Ranch, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Malibu

 

CONCERTS BY THE SEA
SATURDAYS AT PENINSULA PARK
CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR
4 TO 6 PM

Channel Islands Harbor's Summer Concert Series is set against a summer sky with the sparkling water as the backdrop. Visitors can enjoy a wide array of musical entertainment offered every Saturday! Musical selections will include Rock, R&B, Jazz, Boomer Rock, Rockabilly/50's Surf Music, and Country Rock. Located next to the Casa Sirena Hotel and the Hampton Inn.

This Concert Series and parking are FREE.

August 22 - Cadillac Angels, Rockabilly/50's Surf MusicAugust 29 - Kacey Cubero, Country Rock

BRING YOUR BLANKETS, PICNIC BASKETS AND LAWN CHAIRS (Subject to cancellation due to weather)
This event is produced by the Channel Islands Harbor Foundation, Inc.

For further information call the Visitor's Information Line at (805) 985-4852 or http://www.channelislandsharbor.org/Events.cfm

Recently I posted a blog about a rather awkward location for a "door" in a home we recently Staged in Oxnard, CA Mandalay Beach. The Owner had aptly dubbed the home, "the house of doors" and she hit the nail on the head.

The following is a series of pictures ALL from the SAME ROOM - which happens to be the first room & first impression of the home ~ The ENTRY! Count 'em with me: and a 1, and a 2, and........yes, there are 10 doors/entrances into this ONE room.

#1 - Coat Closet

#2 - FRONT DOOR to home

#3 - One of two entrances to garage

#4 - Another closet

#5 - Second entrance to tandem garage

#6 - Storage closet

#7 - Sliding door to a tiny court yard

#8 - Yet another storage closet

But wait, we're not done!

#9 - Hallway to the Guest Bedrooms

Yes, a Fireplace to boot

#10 - Stairs leading to the 2nd floor

WHEW!

You certainly can't say that this house doesn't have enough storage!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. Home Staging Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, West Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Wood Ranch, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Malibu