I Am Proud To Be An American

By Lee Greenwood

Come out and enjoy the Long Beach Fireworks spectacular from the Queen Mary, in Downtown Long Beach, scheduled for 9:00 PM, this is not a display that you want to miss. You will want to reserve a space for viewing early in the day because the shoreline areas become a huge parking lot as traffic comes to a grinding halt until the show is over. The Queen Mary will be hosting an all day event 10 AM to 10 PM, with live bands and many children's activities. For more information, call 435-3511 or visit www.queenmary.com.

Happy Independence Day

Have a Safe Holiday

Laurie Manny

(562) 212-5420

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden and Koi Pond

at California State University, Long Beach

Spend a Relaxing Afternoon

Feed the Koi

Dedicated in April 1981, the garden was built through the generosity of Mrs. Loraine Miller Collins. The contribution was made in memory of her late husband, Earl Burns Miller, for whom the 1.3 acre plot is named. Following three years of planning, in cooperation with California State University Long Beach, Mrs. Collins selected Long Beach landscape architect Edward R. Lovell to design the garden. In preparation for the project, Mr. Lovell visited similar gardens in Japan and in the United States. READ MORE.....................

LONG BEACH REAL ESTATE

Belmont Shore Long Beach

June 2007 Events

June 3, 2007 - 10 AM through 4 PM

Arts & Crafts Fair

25 or more local artist's show and sell their unique arts and crafts. A great place to pick up that "little unique something or other".

June 27 and 28, 2007 - 5:30 PM through 9 PM

Stroll & Savor

Enjoy the shadow art of Long Beach as you stroll and sample of the flavor of Belmont Shore, while you dine your way through Second Streets fabulous restaurants.

Ticket books of 12 may be purchased at:

• Mail Boxes Etc...
• Caffe La Strada
• Archibalds
• Front of Washington Mutual (day of event)

Downtown Long Beach Condo

Several months ago I received a call from a woman I had met 2 years prior. At that time she was thinking about selling her Downtown Long Beach condo. It was an investment property, little was owed on it and it was cash flowing nicely, I advised against the sale - in a hot sellers market. It was a good investment, was paying off nicely and was great retirement income. She could easily purchase without selling that condo.

Recently the same woman contacted me again. She wanted another investment condo. It had to be in one of two specific buildings, had to be on the 4th (top) floor and had to be a rear one bedroom unit with loft and a Downtown Long Beach view. There were none available. Fourth floor condos, like these, were not often available. I assured her that all was not lost.

Over the next few days I sent letters to the owners of the one bedroom with Downtown view, loft units, in those 2, and 3 other similar buildings. The owners were advised that I had a 'specific' buyer, who was very well qualified, looking for a specific unit - theirs. The letter stated that I was not necessarily looking to list their property, that this was a genuine request, not a mass mailing, if they were thinking about selling, at any time in the near future, to please contact me - as soon as possible.

About a week later I received a call from a very nice gentleman who owned the exact unit we were searching for. He had already relocated out of state, had a relocation company and had listed the unit, and of all wonders - it was not yet on the market, is this perfect or what?

Read the whole story...............

Long Beach Real Estate

Summer in Long Beach California

Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool

Lazy days and cooler temperatures are a normal summer, if you live in Long Beach California. Unlike the hell of the valleys and the inland empire, in Long Beach the breeze travels in over the ocean cooling the air as it wafts in over us divinely. Most homes anywhere near the beach don't even have air conditioning. For the most part we don't need it. We have adapted to our lovely weather.

Does that mean it doesn't get hot in Long Beach? Not on your life! It can get absolutely molten here, and does, but usually only for about 2 weeks of the year total. I keep a window air conditioner in my garage, which I can pop into a bedroom window in a hot minute, if necessary. I think I used it a grand total of 5 nights over about 5 years when it was just unbearable.

Even with our lovely climate our homes do hold in the heat, and an attic temperature can reach in excess of 120 degrees, holding unwelcome heat in your home. Our homes can stay uncomfortably warm until about 10:00 PM, while the air outside is cool. Using fans to move air through your home can help but doesn't really cool down the house, because the air in the attic is still cooking.

Solution:

A whole house fan installed in your attic is the way to go in your Long Beach home. Open some windows, turn on the whole house fan. It pulls the cool air in from outside pushing the existing air in the home up into the attic which pushes the molten attic air out of the home. Let the fan run for about 10 minutes and all of the air in both your home and attic is refreshed and as cool as the outdoors.

Whole house fans are easy to install. They are designed to fit between the joists in the attic, either 16" or 24". The opening for the fan, usually installed in a hallway ceiling, is approximately 14.5" by 22.5". Easily installed, if you are handy.

The bonus? You save big on your electric bill. A 5 ton air conditioning unit can use more than 6000 watts per hour. A typical whole house fan uses only about 118 to 600 watts, and you are only running in for short bursts several times a day to refresh the air.

Personally I think it pays to have a whole house fan installed even if you have air conditioning. Air conditioning is not necessary most of the time down here at the beach. It is really nice to be able to keep cool, fresh air running through your home, to be able to keep your windows open and to be comfortable in your home.

Enjoy your summer, and stay cool.