San Marcos, California To Shut Down Debris Site!

Recent complaint's from parents claim that students are getting sick from dust. The San Marcos Unified School District has shut down a site used to sort debris from demolished San Marcos High Building after parents of an elementary school next to the property complained that their children were getting ill. I think we'll have to go back to Plan "B" and reassess what we're doing, said a representative from the San Marcos Unified School District to a group of parents who had gathered for an afternoon meeting.

The site next to the elementary school has been used to sort material from the remodeling/demolishing of materials from San Marcos High School. The debris site is directly across the street from the elementary school and is surrounded by a fence. Large piles of wood and twisted metal are visible near heavy machinery used to grind the debris into material to be recycled.

This information is offered courtesy of Crescent Moon Realty, Inc.

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February is Museum Month in San Diego. There are forty museums participating this year, including many of those in Balboa Park. Sponsored by Macy's, this is your opportunity to take the family to some great museums for just half price.

Museum Month was founded in 1989 and has become an extremely popular event. Over 23,000 passes were distributed last year by Macy's, which is where you have to go to get a Museum Month pass. The pass lets up to four people get into participating museums for half price, once per museum.

Here are the forty great museums participating in Museum Month:

• Adobe Chapel Museum
• Barona Cultural Center & Museum
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
• Coronado Museum of History & Art
• Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
• Gaslamp Museum at Wm. H. Davis House
• Heritage of the Americas Museum
• La Jolla Historical Society
• Lux Art Institute
• Maritime Museum of San Diego
• Marston House & Gardens
• Mingei International Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Downtown
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
• Museum of Making Music
• Museum of Photographic Arts
• Oceanside Museum of Art
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
• San Diego Air & Space Museum
• San Diego Archaeological Center
• San Diego Automotive Museum
• San Diego Botanic Garden
• San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
• San Diego History Center Museum & Library
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• San Diego Museum of Man
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Serra Museum
• The New Children’s Museum
• The San Diego Museum of Art
• The Warner-Carrillo Ranch House
• Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center
• Timken Museum of Art
• USS Midway Museum
• Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
• Visions Art Museum
• Water Conservation Garden
• Whaley House Museum
• Women’s Museum of California

There are fourteen Macy's stores in San Diego County. Click here to find the one closest to you.

Hope everyone has a good time!

Originally posted at
Mission Valley Living — You still have time for Museum Month!

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1. How Sellers can prepare for a Buyer's home inspection (Guest post by Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector)
2. Mission Valley Living — Friars Mission community
3. Mission Valley Living — Friars Hollow market update
4. Out & About San Diego — 22nd Annual San Diego Jewish Film Festival
5. Mission Valley Living — Friars Hollow community
6. Mission Valley Living — Fashion Hills market
7. Mission Valley Living — Fashion Hills community
8. Out & About San Diego — The Food and Water Bowl XX cat show
9. Mission Valley Living — Creekwood at River Run market
10. Mission Valley Living — Creekwood at River Run community
11. Mission Valley Living — City Scene market
12. Mission Valley Living — City Scene community
13. Foul language in the MLS
14. Short update on Russel Ray, Eric Cooper, and Jim Frimmer
15. San Diego Mission Valley condos for sale — Woodspring (January 18, 2012)

I’m Off to Preview Homes for Relocating Buyers, and I’ve Got My Preview Kit with Me

I do a fair amount of previewing of homes, especially for relocating buyers who do not know the area and are not nearby to explore.

I expect you do the same, even for clients in your area.

So often what sounds great to the buyers in the MLS turns out not to be quite what they want, because of location, views, interior configuration, or other issues. I don’t want to waste their time when they are in town for a house-hunting trip.

And I like to be prepared, if time permits, so we don’t walk into a home based on MLS info and find it not at all like it is described, or to find some other condition that is conveniently not mentioned – the autobody shop next door, the room called a bedroom without a window or closet.

Previewing helps me better understand my clients’ needs and I can provide feedback to them. I also get to know the neighborhood.

So what do I take in my House Preview Kit?

MLS SHEETS WITH ALL THE DETAILS – I can verify accuracy of information, like number of bedrooms and baths, and other details.

CAMERA – a must, as I always take a bunch of photos to share with buyers who are out of the area (I ask permission). So often the MLS has only a few photos that really are not helpful. And I take photos of the exterior, the yard, the neighborhood, and views (if any).

VIDEO CAMERA – my new camera takes great HD video but I still like my Flip camera in terms of ease, and the size of the video file. Buyers enjoy getting a video tour of the home and of the nearby area.

MEASURING TAPE – you never know when you might need it, and some buyers have had very specific size requirements that are not addressed in the MLS – the width of a hallway or a particular door. I always remind them that they should check this out themselves, too.

DROID – there are several reasons. First, if I want to quickly upload a photo or video I can (and it helps if my brain goes dead and I forget the digital and video cameras).

Also, have YOU ever walked a potential buyer through a home on the phone? I have, many times. I have found it useful to get the buyer(s) on the phone while I am touring so I can describe things as I see them and answer their questions in real time.

Lastly, there are sometimes important questions that often come up that require a quick call to the listing agent.

BUYER FILE – this has all my notes, copies of MLS sheets, and in particular those details the buyers have told me are a MUST HAVE that may be something I won’t necessarily remember. And if the buyers have completed the Lifestyle Questionnaire or What’s Important in Your Home Search Questionnaire I have those bits of information to check out while previewing.

NOTE PAD – gotta have something to jot notes down, questions, or to sketch out a rough floor plan.

On my way now to see a few things for several sets of out-of-state buyers. Thanks for stopping by!

Let San Diego Gas & Electric Help You Save Energy & Money!

We've all heard the saying "age is nothing but a number." Words to live by --except when it comes to your appliances. For example a refrigerator built before 1990 uses up to 50% more energy than a newer model. Consider swapping out your old fridge or freezer through San Diego Gas & Electric Appliance Recycling Program and get cash back---plus free pickup. To schedule your pickup, visit sdge.com/recycle. Other programs and services designed to help you save energy and money include.

Incentives for energy-savings upgrades. If your home is drafty, replacing your heating and air-conditioning system will do little to help if you're losing air through leaky windows. Energy Upgrade California makes it easier to make comprehensive "whole house" upgrades with up to $4,000 for select home improvements. To Schedule an in home assessment with a participating contractor, visit sdge.com/energyupgradecalifornia. Help with your energy bill. Will San Diego Gas & Electric Energy Savings Assistance Program, qualifying renter and homeowners can get free energy-saving appliances and home improvements. Qualifying residents can also get up to 35% savings on monthly energy bills through the CARE program. To learn more about San Diego Gas & Electric assistance programs, visit sdge.com/assistance.

Home energy survey. Find out where your home is using energy with San Diego Gas & Electric free Home Energy Efficiency survey. Based on your results, you'll get a personalized report including tips on ways you can save. To take the survey visit sdge.com/myaccount or call 1-800-411-7343 to request one by mail.

This information was offer courtesy of Crescent Moon Realty, Inc.

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What Happened in the Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Report in January 2012?

As a buyer or seller in the Rancho Santa Fe real estate market, having information about the current market conditions will enable you to make an informed decision regarding what to do with regard to buying or selling a Rancho Santa Fe home.

The Rancho Santa Fe real estate market is very localized, and the most expensive community, on average, in San Diego County. Knowing what is going on in the market with regard to inventory and sales is important for making a buying or selling decision. Finding comparables for determining price for either a listing or a purchase can sometimes be tricky since many high-end properties are unique.

READ MORE:

Rancho Santa Fe - Luxury Home Buyer's Paradise in San Diego

Walkable Neighborhoods – Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Near Ranch Santa Fe Village

Rancho Santa Fe Homes – The Crosby: Golf Community Extraordinaire

Here is a summary of the Rancho Santa Fe real estate market for January 2011 based on information provided by the MLS (private sales are not included). These data are deemed reliable but are not guaranteed.

As of the end of January there were 13 homes in the Rancho Santa Fe real estate market with a Contingent status (i.e., short sale and REO homes that had offers being reviewed), the same as last month, and these are included in the Active statistics below.

As of January 2011 there were 226 Ranch Santa Fe homes for sale (95% of these are detached), just 4 fewer than last month. This represents an inventory of 10.3 months for attached homes (down from 16.1 months in December), and 15.7 months for detached homes at the current rate of sales (based on a 6-month period), which is up from 10 months in December.

The number of Rancho Santa Fe homes coming on the market in January increased significantly to 34, up from 13 last month, with 13 homes going pending during the same period, about the same as last month (14).

READ MORE: How Important is Inventory when Buying or Selling? Very!!

Data are based on information provided by the MLS for homes that went under contract in the last couple of months. If you would like more details about the Rancho Santa Fe real estate market with regard to current activity as well as the specific areas such as Fairbanks Ranch and the Covenant, please let me know.

SEARCH FOR HOMES FOR SALE IN RANCHO SANTA FE CALIFORNIA

READ MORE:

Rancho Santa Fe Homes – What Happened in the Ranch Santa Fe Real Estate Market in December 2011?

Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale – What Happened in the Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market in November 2011?

Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale | Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Reports for October 2011

Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale | Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Report for September 2011

Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale | Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Report for August 2011

Rancho Santa Fe Homes for Sale | Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Market Report for July 2011