Sonsie Conroy, Energetic, Knowledgeable Realtor -

Eight years ago this month, we moved into our new-to-us home in The Meadows, a small, easily-missed, but simply wonderful development on South Higuera, across from the Trader Joe's shopping center. Most people think we live in Creekside Mobile Home Park, or the Los Verdes townhome development. Nope . . . we're right in between those two areas, bounded by the creek to the west, and just a couple of miles from downtown SLO.

Most of these homes were built in the early 1980s, by several different developers. Some lots were left vacant, later to be used for custom homes. In recent yeawrs, there has been a lot of remodeling, expanding, and general home improvement activity, as these 30-year-old houses get facelifts.

Since there is only one entrance/exit, privacy is ideal and safety is enhanced for kids on bikes and skates and older residents using walkers or wheelchairs.

At least once a year, we get together for a community garage sale (always a great success), and during the summer we hold a neighborhood block party at the little pocket park bordering the creek, Several of the neighbors set up barbeque , others bring folding tables and chairs and an awning or two, and everyone contributes a dish (salad, dip, veggies, etc.) for the feast.

In the winter, one neighbor hosts a Ladies Holiday Coffee just before Christmas. I've been attending this event for at least five years, and always enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones. Other women host product parties, prayer circles, you name it. People chat with the neighbors when they're out walking their dogs or riding their bikes. We look out for each other's houses when our neighbors are away. Kids love my corner to set up their lemonade and cookie stand during the hot summer months.

In short, The Meadows is everything many of us think has disappeared from city living: Friendliness, warmth, safety, and FUN.

By now, most of us have gotten used to using our blue barrels to recycle many kinds of household waste, from newspapers to aluminum cans to milk cartons. But what about some of the new rules concerning batteries, fluorescent bulbs, etc.?

The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) is implementing the "SLO Take Back Program" for household batteries, fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Nearly every retailer throughout San Luis Obispo County that sells household batteries or fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) will now take those items back from the public for free. Consumers who want to shop green can now safely and easily recycle these products.

More than 300 local businesses are providing this free service to the public. Participants range from national chain stores such as Costco and Kmart to local stores such as Farris Lighting. Nearly every retailer who sells either batteries, fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in San Luis Obispo County is participating. A complete list of businesses where you can safely recycle these items appears when you click on the link above.

Participating in the "SLO Take Back Program" is free, easy, and there is no limit to the number of batteries, fluorescent tubes, and (CFLs) you can drop off. Bring them to any of the participating retail stores during regular store hours. You can either put the items in a special collection container or give them to a store employee. This is an ongoing, free service provided to the public. Small businesses in San Luis Obispo County can also participate but must call (800) 400-0811 to make an appointment.

Household batteries should be fully discharged. Lithium batteries should have tape placed on the metal contacts. Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) should not be broken and should be carefully placed in the collection containers to prevent breakage.

Household batteries, fluorescent tubes, and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are considered hazardous because they contain mercury. It's illegal to throw away these items in your garbage or recycling can, or to dispose of them at a landfill. You can be confident that disposing of these items at the "SLO Take Back Program" locations will mean the items will be sent off to be properly manage--which includes recovering the mercury.

Paso Robles was hit early and hard by the economic issues dogging the state and this county, but it is in the midst of a strong recovery. Flooded with REOs and short sales early on, the inventory has steadily decreased and well-priced homes are receiving multiple offers in some situations. At the moment, judging only by the housing inventory, the Paso Robles area has actually entered "sellers' market" territory.

The asking price has steadily decreased, steadily approaching the actual sales price, which is another sign of a developing sellers' market.

Finally, the price per square foot has held remarkably steady over the past twelve months:

It looks like the market in Paso is poised for a hot spring and summer in 2012, which is great news for sellers.

These beautiful coastal communities are still struggling to overcome economic issues and begin a real estate rebound. Looking at single-family homes, condos, and PUDs, prices have drifted downward since the first of the year. Price per square foot has gone from $337 to $262 at the end of November.

Prices on for sale versus sold homes have been somewehat erratic. For sale prices have maintained an average in the low to mid $700,000 range, while sold home prices have jumped from $554,000 to $429,000 to $639,000, finally ending up at $452,000 at the end of November.

The big improvement, however, has been in the inventory of available homes for sale. This has dropped from a high of 12.3 months in January to about 7.5 at the end of November, signaling that the extreme buyers' market is easing off a bit. However, the situation won't really change until the inventory is below 5 months . . . a sign that a sellers' market is just around the corner.

There has been a large number of REOs and short sales to be absorbed, and with slow sales, this is taking a long time. The large gap between asking price and selling price indicates that sellers still are not biting the bullet and lowering prices to match the market, which also serves to slow sales. Hopefully, spring will see more activity in the local real estate market in Morro Bay and Cayucos.

Arroyo Grande is stagnant right now. Prices are drifting downward (bumping along the bottom, as a colleague says), inventory is still rather high (indicating more of a buyers' market), and average sold price has dropped quite a bit. It seems that there is still a lot of inventory to be absorbed, and sellers still are not pricing their homes to move. It may be another six months before this South County community picks up in sales and inventories drop.