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contents july/[ugust 2010 ^_p[rtm_nts

4 the real estate brief a note from rosemary how not to sell your home 5 out and about experience sd sd padres july/august schedule 6 family corner bargain hunter thoughts from moms and dads 7 et cetera where’s rosemary delish 8 minutia useless knowledge bravo bites rosebud’s garden 9 front porch pickin san diego symphony summer pops 10 domiciles from east county to coast

From the Front Porch Compliments of: The Joles Group Rosemary Joles Realtor 619·405·7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 8310 La Mesa Blvd. La Mesa, CA 91942

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the real estate brief Hello again everyone and greetings from lovely downtown La Mesa! This issue of From the Front Porch brings great news for the San Diego real estate market. Drum roll

please….San Diego is no longer considered by lenders as a declining market! What does this mean to buyers? One it’s easier to get financing than we’ve seen in the last 3 years. It also means prices are starting to creep back up so if you’ve been sitting on the fence waiting for the market to hit bottom you’ve missed that train, it left in mid 2009. We’ve seen an increase of average home prices by 15% over last year. Don’t get me wrong there are still some great deals to be had! I’ve especially seen some fabulous buys in downtown San Diego condos. For homeowners it means your going to start getting some of that equity back that you’ve lost. If you’re in a position of having to sell and you owe more on your home that the current market value, we have begun seeing a trend of banks being much more willing to do short sales and getting them done in a much shorter period of time than in the past. This is great news for buyers too, no more waiting 6-18 months to see the home you want finally be approved for that short sale. In other parts of the state and country we are seeing the luxury market also beginning to recover. San Francisco is one of those areas. In the past I’ve seen San Diego follow San Francisco’s lead so my thoughts are we are going to begin seeing more sales in the 2 million plus market.. Time will tell of course. I’m still hearing that many banks are holding onto shadow inventory (homes that are ready for foreclosure) but I still haven’t seen a huge increase of foreclosure inventory so who knows what's up with that, other than the banks. If you have any specific questions about your real estate situation please give me a call. Until next time!

how not to sell your home!

When I worked in retail many years ago I was amazed at how taking a plain dress from hanger to manikin and accessorizing it would cause the dress to literally fly off the shelf. The same concept applies to a home. It is crucial to show a home at it’s very best, accentuating the positives and detracting from the negatives. With over 90% of buyers starting their search for a home on the internet don’t make the mistake of having your home show up like the photos above. You owe it to yourself and your pocketbook to have the home staged. If you’re thinking of selling your home please give us a call. Professional staging is always part of The Joles Group marketing plan!

a note from rosemary

What was the agent thinking by putting this photo on the multiple listing service? This kitchen looks like it has no storage space. Clearing off the countertops would have done wonders!

We had the countertops sprayed with a granite look finish to get rid of the 70’s dated brown tile. A few well placed accessories and this kitchen shows beautifully. Definitely more appealing!

Actual MLS Photo

Staged Kitchen

Mission Bay: Paradise Point Resort and Sea World La Jolla: La Jolla Cove Coronado: Glorieta Bay Carlsbad: Legoland San Diego County Fair : Del Mar Fairgrounds San Marcos: Bradley Park Poway: Poway High school San Diego: San Diego Bay Ocean Beach: Ocean Beach Pier Summer Pops: Embarcadero Escondido: Grape Day Park Santee: Town Center Community Park Downtown: Petco Park After the Dodger/Padre game All fireworks are on the 4th of July at 9 Rancho Bernardo Spirit of the Fourth Parade, Festival & FIREWORKS!! (9:00 am 3:30 pm) You'll see marching bands, flag twirlers, dignitaries, veterans, beauty queens, horses, and more. Location: Webb Park

Mira Mesa 4th of July Parade, Fun Day & FIREWORKS!! (11:00 am-9:00 pm) Dignitaries riding in decorated cars, marching high school bands, pancake breakfast and continue with an entertaining fun-filled day. Location: Gil Johnson Community Park Lake Murray Music Fest & FIREWORKS!! (9:00 am- 9:30 pm) People can lay out blankets in a picnic-type setting and enjoy ongoing music, tasty food, and non-alcohol beverages. Location: Lake Murray Community Park 4th of July University City Celebration (8:00 am 7:00 pm) The day begins with a 5K run/walk and a pancake breakfast. Then it happens: continuous music, dancing, food, beer, a bike & pet parade, scavenger hunt, rock walk, jumpers, pony rides, sack race, dunk tank, a monkeybridge, and more. Location: Standley Park Scripps Ranch 4th of July Parade & Festival (10:00 am 1:00 pm) High School bands will sound off in a marching beat setting the pace for floats and local businesses and performing groups to follow in step. Besides creamy-cool ice cream and tasty hot dogs, there will also be DJ music, clowns, face painting, and three inflatable jumpers. Location: Hoyt Park

out and about

SD Padres

experience sd

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FESTIVALS FESTIVALS FESTIVALS

FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS!

“A mother's arms are made of tenderness

and children sleep soundly in them”.

-Victor Hugo

“Well I just crossed a new threshold of adulthood. Yes I just did a flying catch and sacrificed my very own hand to stop my daughter’s vomit/spit-up from hitting our brand new soft and plush carpet. Score: Daddy’s Carpet-1 Jade-0 The battle is won, but the war is not over”! -Chris Gallegos

thoughts from moms and dads

One of the best places to save money is your monthly grocery bill. Here are some tips to help you reduce this necessary experience.

1. Don’t go to the store hungry. You’ll spend so much more if you are, so don’t do it! 2. Use that store loyalty card and make sure that your phone number is connected to it so

that when you forget the card you can use your phone number. Note: You can also download coupons to your card! No more clipping.

3. Create a weekly menu around the specials. This is a great way to try new recipes.

4. Purchase fruits and vegetables when they are in season. They’re cheaper and taste better too.

5. Use coupons. Before you roll your eyes and say I don’t have time to cut coupons. There is now several sites online that you can print your coupons. Couponmom.com is one of them. This site also has tons of ways to shop smart.

6. Watch the weekly sales flyer from your grocery store and stock up on the specials and shop specials only. (You can see them online too.) Add your coupons to the specials price and you will save tons!

7. Create a price booklet of 50 items that you purchase continually. Why? It will help you know when an item is truly on sale.

8. Purchase non-grocery items at places like Target or Walmart. It may be more convenient to pick these items up at the grocery store, but you’re paying a whole lot more for that convenience.

9. Brown bag it to work. Save $6.00 a day in an account getting 6% interest and in 10 years you will have saved $19,683.72.

10. Save the money. Total up what you save on your grocery bill and put it into a savings account for your retirement, vacations, special purchases etc. Saving just $25.00 a week will give you $7535.16 in 5 years at 6% interest. Europe here we come!

bargain hunter bar·gain [bagr-guhn}] -noun 1. an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost: The sale offered bargains galore.

10 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Bill

family corner

Stacy Gallegos and her sleeping daughter Jadeyn Daughter and granddaughter of John and Fran Carroll. Photo Credit: Chris Gallegos

A note from Rosemary: As much as I would love to show off my grandbaby every month...I would hate to be accused of being one of “those” kind of grandparents. So I thought

it would be fun to show off your children/grandchildren! Submit your photos of moms and dads with their wee ones

and they could be featured in upcoming issues of From the Front Porch Journal!

Email your jpeg to: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com. Please

include the names of parents, children and grandparents!

Chris Gallegos and his beautiful daughter Jadeyn. Son and granddaughter of Walter and Terry Gallegos Photo Credit: Stacy Gallegos

delish

where’s rosemary?

I love exploring this beautiful county that we live in. In every issue of From the Front Porch you’ll find a photo of different places that I’ve been in San Diego County. Your goal is to figure out where I took the photo? Submit your guess by August 15th, 2010 and the first correct answer will win a $20 gift card to the restaurant of their choice! You can email them to: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com or mail them to 8310 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91942. Thanks for playing!

et cetera

Grill corn to your liking, with husk or without, soaked or not.

Once cooked, drizzle or brush with a vinaigrette that’s two parts olive oil to one part fresh lime juice and just a tiny bit of lime zest. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and chopped cilantro on top, season with a bit of cracked black pepper and salt if you’d like. That’s it. It couldn’t be easier!

Grilled Corn w/ Feta & Lime Vinaigrette

Photo and Recipe Credit: Matt Armendariz

Los Penasquitos Adobe Ranch 12020 Black Mountain Rd.

San Diego, CA 92129 858-484-7504

No winners for the May/June issue!

where was rosemary?

It has been declared by Parliament that sending a letter with a postage stamp

bearing the likeness of the queen (or king) is an act of treason if the stamp is

stuck on upside down. Todd Joles is a handyman by day, a passionate luthier by night, mandolin/bluegrass aficionado by choice, and a purveyor of this useless knowledge. His wife Rosemary threatens it’s going to get him into Jeopardy training one day.

rosebud’s garden

Bravo Says: Never judge a dog's pedigree

by the kind of books he chooses to chew. Bravo is the mischief making, yet adorable fur-person of Rebecca and Shayne Johnson. Grand puppy to Todd and Rosemary Joles, he spends most days working at getting peanut butter out of his Kong, by night he terrorizes toilet paper rolls, while still looking cute and innocent to his owners.

bravo bites

useless knowledge

Rosemary is passionate about low-water gardening in San Diego. She loves creating gardens that look like lush water thirsty gardens, yet need very little moisture to maintain them. Her other passions include real estate, lattes spending time with family and friends, reading, music and laughter!

botanical name: passiflora common name: passion vine

Likes: Sun to partial shade Hates: Intense summer heat Blooms: Blue, Purple, Red, White, Yellow Negatives: Parts of it can be poisonous

If a man is alone in the garden and speaks, and

there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

minutia

Photo compliments of: Rebecca Johnson

June 26

Tux ‘N Tennies Summer Bash Starring Toni Braxton

August 6-7 Bravo Broadway Rocks

July 2-4 Star Spangled Pops

with Marvin Hamlisch August 8

Burt Bacharach The Look of Love

July 9-10 Kool and the Gang

Get Down On It August 13-14 Leann Rimes

July 11 The Flying Karamazov

Brothers Comedy, Juggling, Music

August 20-21 Jodi Benson

July 15 Viva Mariachi August 22 Pop Goes Classical

Passport to the World A Night in France

July 16-17 Abba Mania August 26 The Music of Queen A Rock Symphony

July 22 Distant Worlds

Music From Final Fantasy August 27-28

Michael Feinstein The Sinatra Project

July 23-24 Michael Cavanaugh Sings the Music of Elton John

And more September 3-5

1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular

July 29 Sha Na Na

July 30-31 Motown’s Greatest Divas

Starring Radiance

August 1 Tiempo Liebre

Sizzling Cuban Salsa

For more details on the Summer Pops visit this site: http://www.sandiegosymphony.com/summerpops/downloads/SP2010_SeasonDetails.pdf There are also FREE concerts in San Diego County. For A Free Summer Community Concert Schedule email or call Rosemary at: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com / 619-405-7673

san diego music from

classical to

bluegrass

front porch pickin

Approved Short Sale · Mount Helix · $360,000 4 Bedroom 3 Bath · 2131 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

House w/guest cottage · North Park · $620,000-$640,000 2 Bedroom 1 Bath · 850 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Colonial Mansion · Alpine · $899,000-$945,000 5 Bedroom 4.5 Bath · 4831 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Views of El Capitan · Alpine · $439,000 4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 1829 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Charm Galore · Point Loma Heights · $699,000-$750,000 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1222 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Stunning Bay Views · Coronado · $1,299,000-$1,350,000 3 Bedroom 3 Bath · 2309 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

domiciles

from east county to the coast

Traditional Sale · Fletcher Hills · $499,000-$525,000 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1572 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

2009 Build · Alpine · $499,000-$599,000 3 Bedroom 3.5 Bath · 2724 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Executive Home · Point Loma · $1,399,000 5 Bedroom 3 Bath · 2985 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Georgian Colonial · Loma Portal · $850,000 4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 1950 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Rare Waterfront · Point Loma · $4,500,000-5,500,000 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bath · 4990 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Downtown View · Loma Portal · $899,000-$925,000 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1529 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

THE JOLES GROUP

Rosemary Joles In Harmony With Your Dreams

Sales · Leasing · Staging 619·405·7673

Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com

Windermere Pacific Coast Properties 8310 La Mesa Blvd. · La Mesa, CA · 91942

2850 Womble Rd. Ste. 102 · San Diego · CA 92106

$599

K-649K

VALLEY CENTER

FLYNN SPRIN

GS

SOLD!

$189

,000

GOLDEN HIL

LS

$175

K-195K

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