Monarch Ridge Townhomes at Monarch Dunes Golf Course

10/15/2021

Foreclosure activity remains far below historical levels. Even with similar increases over the next few months, economists do not appear concerned.

04/28/2021

https://www.facebook.com/1638290827/posts/10222434156916237/?d=n

04/23/2021

As a Realtor that often sales high-end homes, I hear about how hard it is to live in SLO County because of the cost of housing.

So many things affect the price of housing. Low inventory and high demand are driving prices up across the nation, as are low interest rates. Predictions are that as Covid fears decrease, more homes will come on the market and inventory will increase.

We live in a County that works diligently to provide alternative housing programs. It absolutely true. When production costs go up, those costs are passed along to the home buyer. The hardest hit are minorities and low income. We all have a part to play in supporting our community.

A lesser discussed fact that drives the price of homes up is the cost of lumber. The U.S. consumes 50 billion board feet per year, and we produce 35 billion board feet of wood per year. Some feel that the lumber yards took a calculated gamble that the housing industry would slow down during the pandemic. Instead, demands for housing increased. It was a struggle for them to turn things around and get production back on track with the building industry. As with everything else - supply and demand has driven the lumber costs up.

Now, it seems that the lumber industry is caught up with production and enjoying a big profit margin. It also seems to some that they aren't in a big hurry to reduce those margins to help the industries that they support.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, all building materials are up 11% with steel mill production increasing by 38% since December 2020. Lumber is up 300%.

What can you do? Make your voice heard. And I'm not talking about a soliloquy on Facebook. Do something to get results.

Follow the links below to easily locate and send a letter to Governor Newsome, your State Senator, and your Assemblyman.
Let them know what increasing lumber prices is doing to our community.

At the National level, go to https://www.house.gov/representatives to find and locate your Representative and https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm to contact your Senator.

12/13/2020

My great listing in Santa Maria!

Paquet Photography, LLC has several photos, a virtual tour, listing details, and additional property information about 1433 Marsala Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93458

02/04/2019

FYI friends...

Why it may be Time to go Gray When it comes to painting a room, there are so many colors to choose from. One color is always a winner – gray.

02/03/2019

Are you thinking about finishing your basement. Here's what you should know.

Should You Finish Your Basement? When you were shopping for a house, you were probably so focused on the number of bedrooms, the size of the living room and the layout of the kitchen that you didn’t give much thought to the basement. An unfinished basement can be a great place for storage, but fin...

02/02/2019

Even though top-loaders are less expensive, a front-loading washing machine may be the way to go. Here’s why...

5 Ways to Buy the Right Washer and Dryer For better or worse, laundry is a big part of our lives, so making the right investment in the best possible laundry appliances is critical. In her recent blog for Consumer Reports (CR), Kimberly Janeway offered the following five steps from CR test engineer....

02/01/2019

Here are some of the major differences between debit and credit cards.

Differences between Debit and Credit Cards Using a debit card has one major advantage over a credit card — you’re paying with money you already have in the bank and avoiding debt. But a debit card doesn’t improve your credit score, among other things. Which card should you use when shopping? H...

01/31/2019

If you’re trying to improve your credit score, this is a must-read!

Know What Goes Into Your Credit Score You’re probably well aware of how important your credit score is. A good score grants you access to loans and favorable interest rates, and opens up many different possibilities for a healthy financial future. But do you know how your credit score is determine...

01/30/2019

Between your personal needs and personal finances, there are many factors to consider.

Expert Insights: What Factors Should Determine Whether I Decide to Move or Remodel? Your personal needs, preferences and finances are all factors. If you’ve lived in your home awhile and prefer to stay in your school district or neighborhood, improving your existing space may work best for you. If...

01/29/2019

What's the friendliest city to visit in America? Read on!

Planning a Getaway? Check Out 'the Most Welcoming Places on Earth' When it comes to travel, the world really is your oyster, as jet setting to locations around the globe has become accessible and often affordable to more adventurers and explorers than ever before. But with so many options in front o...

01/28/2019

Passing this on!

01/27/2019

Check out these tips for protecting yourself from porch pirates.

Package Thieves Hitting Your Neighborhood? How to Stop Them The problem with buying something online and having it delivered to your home is that even though the package gets to your doorstep, it still may not get into your hands. Millions of packages are stolen from front porches or doorsteps each....

01/26/2019

Did you know?

What Determines Your Home's Value? The value of your home is influenced by price, time, and market conditions. As your local real estate professional, my goal is to assist you in the determination of the value of your home by giving you current, factual data on the market conditions and the average....

01/25/2019

Is your home on the market? Avoid theft with these tips.

Shining a Light on Showing Safety: Protect Your Valuables Selling your home can be a time-consuming process, especially when it comes to cleaning and organizing before last-minute showings. While it may seem as if your to-do list is a mile long, it’s important to take the time to secure your valua...

01/24/2019

Here are some tips on making your home pop with paint. Which project do you want to take on?

The Possibilities of Paint: How to Revamp Your Home’s Exterior If you’re hoping to up your curb appeal or just give your home a face lift, then you may already know that fresh paint is the easiest and most cost-effective route. "Just add a pinch of a new paint color here and there.  It's a simp...

01/23/2019

These are disclosed, generally, by the seller.

Expert Insights: What Kinds of Things Are Considered Material Facts? The following examples often qualify as “material facts” that must be revealed by sellers about their homes: Damage from wood-boring insects Mold or mildew in the home Leaks in the roof or foundation walls Amount of property ta...

01/22/2019

Your home could suffer damage during the winter months that could affect its value, so take these steps.

Key Winter Prep That Will Protect Your Home's Value Protecting your home’s value means taking good care of it during the more demanding winter months, especially if you’re eyeing a spring sale. According to the Appraisal Institute, winterizing your property will go a long way toward reducing fut...

01/21/2019

Great information!

Are You Safely Heating Your Home? Those of us that live in areas that get cold in the winter, know all about the joys of home heating. But, have you ever stopped to wonder if your heating system is safe?

01/20/2019

Putting off your retirement might be worth it. Here's how to find out.

Why You Might Want to Delay Your Retirement If Social Security benefits are your only means of paying for retirement, then you’re probably best off collecting them as soon as you are eligible. But if you can hold off a few years, the benefit increases substantially. Claiming Social Security at age...

01/19/2019

Don't call a handyman for basic home repairs. Here are four things every homeowner should know.

Homeowners: Know How to Complete These Basic Tasks Owning a home is infinitely rewarding but issues do pop up, and there’s no need to call a handyman every time something goes haywire. The home repair experts at HGTV suggest four things every homeowner should know how to do: Change smoke detector ...

01/18/2019

What is your biggest distraction? Here's how you can focus on the job at hand.

On the Job: How to Get More Done Each Day It happens to the best of us. You look at the rising list of emails in your inbox, the blinking light on your phone, the increasing number of unread texts, and panic sets in. You’ll never catch up, let alone get ahead. Believe it or not, some simple adjust...

01/17/2019

No. 6: Rinse the sink!

6 Quick Bathroom Cleaning Tips Keeping your bathroom sanitary doesn’t have to be a chore. With the right cleaning techniques, you can enjoy a sparkling bathroom without spending all day cleaning. Here are six cleaning tips for a fresh bathroom:1. Shine your mirror Your bathroom mirror can get pret...

01/16/2019

Here are a few tips for forward-thinking.

How to Be a Proactive Homeowner When it comes to ongoing home maintenance, there are times when homeownership can be expensive—but there is no substitute for the sense of pride and comfort you achieve from living in a space that is truly your own. That said, it’s true that from the day you move ...

01/15/2019

Directly purchasing can be risky.

Expert Insights: What Are the Disadvantages of Buying Foreclosures? Buying directly at a legal foreclosure sale can be risky. Among the disadvantages: There is no financing. You need cash, and lots of it. The title needs to be checked before the purchase. If not, you risk assuming a seriously defici...

01/14/2019

Looking to vacation on a budget? There are plenty of international travel destinations you can go to for just $30 a day.

The Best Vacation Destinations for the Budgeting Traveler Traveling can get expensive, easily costing $100 to $200 per day, per person between food, transportation and accommodations. By forgoing top-notch hotels, expensive restaurants and other luxuries, you can spend a lot less and still have a sa...

01/13/2019

Were you aware?

Have a Vacation Home? Get the Right Insurance While you probably have your insurance needs covered on your primary residence, what about your vacation home? Be sure to consider the following when covering your vacation home.

01/12/2019

I'm here if you have questions!

The Perils of Overpricing Your Home The basic forces of supply and demand are evident in these survey results that compare the average percent difference between the asking prices of homes and the actual selling prices. As your real estate professional, I thought you'd appreciate this easily digesti...

01/11/2019

Are you thinking about your retirement yet? It's never too early to plan...

Boomers Share 5 Lessons on Retirement The unanimous advice from Baby Boomers when it comes to retirement? Expect the unexpected. A survey of 1,200 investors conducted by Capital Group, revealed the many facets of retirement, including what causes sticker shock, the factors that affect why people end...

01/10/2019

For those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, where are you supposed to begin?

Eco-friendly Kitchen Features That Won't Break the Bank Eco-friendly features are all the rage today as homeowners commit to living greener lives. But for those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, where do you begin?   For many, the answer is the kitchen. The central hub of the home, the kitc...