READY, SET, GO!

It’s that season nationwide where brilliant well known speakers dig in to come up with something motivational to speak to graduates about. A wide variety of good advice will be given. It can set all of us to thinking about our own lives. I like to apply some of this advice to my own life and see how I’m doing since it’s never too late to learn something new.
To begin with, we all know the saying, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” True. But given that we all need to have a Plan A we need to be flexible enough to switch to Plan B or even C as backup which might end up being
better anyway. After all, if we don’t have a road map, how can we get to our destination? As the song goes, “You got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?” And if we don’t even have a destination determined we won’t know where we’re going and wonder aimlessly in circles.
So, I’ve been pondering some of the advice I’ve heard recently and measuring how and if I’m staying on track in my own life goals and dreams.
Graduates are being told how to be successful. But what is success? How can it be measured? Is it owning a bigger car than your friend or neighbor, having a good looking spouse or date, being the highest paid in your department, having more money than anyone else, the highest grades, being popular? These things are nice but can they be guaranteed to bring happiness and security in the long run? Surely, all of us have known people who have these achievements who are not “happy”.
Well, as usual, I have a few opinions of my own I’d love to share and, hopefully, you do too. Let’s look at a few recent comments from a motivational convention in Anaheim that boasted of highly successful people: guests such as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Michael Phelps and Rudy Giuliani. Here are some tidbits of inspiration they shared:
“Relentless preparation in everything you pursue is everything. Build yourself up so you are prepared when disaster arrives in your life. Do the things that you have to do on the days you don’t feel like doing them. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how we grow”. Ok. Let’s say that all helps you build a career and physical, financial security. So far, great ideas.
I think being happy requires more than the above. I believe in a strong work ethic, of course. No entitlement mentality here. You earn your own way. No one owes you a living.
But I would emphasize strongly the ability to adjust to your circumstances. Things are not always going to go our way even with the best of efforts. Adjusting helps us grow up no matter how old we are. That shows character. Figure out what skills and talents we have and pursue them with a passion in every area of our life. Let’s not leave out the spiritual side of your life either. Happiness does not necessarily mean a lofty height of perfection. Happiness means enjoying the trip.
It’s ok to feel uncomfortable once in awhile’ to make mistakes. That’s how we stretch and grow.
Don’t settle. Try something new no matter what age we are. We’ll be a more interesting person. For example, I’ve decided as a way to keep my mind sharp, I have returned to my piano in the late evenings after decades of ignoring it. I never was that good at it to begin with but I enjoy it. Pure escape. It’s hard to worry about anything else when I’m concentrating on the next 4 measures. So, I’m memorizing my favorite tunes that I never had time for before. I joke that I play for my own amazement. Yes, there are clunkers all over the place but my kind husband doesn’t seem to mind. (Is he tone deaf or just kind?). So far, to my joy, I’ve memorized “Satin Doll”, “Take 5” (jazz) “The Entertainer” (Scott Joplin, ragtime) and now am working on the tricky (for me) “Moonlight Sonata”. Boy, do I look forward to that as often as I can get to it. I’ll bet you have a favorite thing you could make time for. Maybe gardening? Walking? You name it. Think about it. What I’m working on is having balance between work and play. It can go a long way to giving us a good attitude quickly followed by happiness. We then see that life will have its fun moments and refresh us for those days of really hard work. We learn that we can have a life. Time for work, hobbies friends and family.
But, somehow, we have to hang in there to make all this happen. My kids grew up with this quote on the refrigerator door which can work for all of us.
“Press On”
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
(Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the US (1872-1933)
Join me in the life long goal of balance and hang in there. We can all be ready for the future with some of these tips. I’m sure you can add oodles to the ideas above. Enjoy your springtime with all its many possibilities.

962 words
Quote at bottom of page one “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”
ADS
FOR SALE (STANDARD SALE)
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
21072 Galbar Circle, HB, S/Atlanta, E/Brookhurst $649,900
Unique 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2000 SF
Master Plus 2 Bedrooms, Family Room Down
Spacious Living Room, Vaulted Ceiling, Brick Fireplace
Peaceful Courtyard in Front, Shady Patio in Back
Ideal Location: Cul de Sac Street.
Backs to Bike & Dog Trail. 1.5 miles to the Beach
TWO FAMILIES COULD LIVE HERE!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES! You are welcome.

FOR SALE….BRINGING NATURE INTO YOUR HOME…
Beautiful Deane Gardens Home with Miles of Windows, Standard Sale.
Sliders and Atrium. Unique 8 Foot Walls Provides Utmost Privacy.
Allows You to Leave Your Windows Open and Let the Greenery Shine In.
9362 CANDLEWOOD DRIVE, HB, S/Adams/W/Bushard. $799,000
4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Hard to Find Large Master Down
LIKE A MODEL HOME. 2149 SF
Granite &Cherry wood Floors, Scraped Ceilings, Crown Molding
Fabulous Kitchen, Family Room, Dining Room
Most Windows Newer, 2 Story Vaulted Ceilings
Spotless, Sparkling Pool. Large Yard. UTMOST PRIVACY!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES. You are welcome.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
PARK HUNTINGTON
9591 LASSEN CIRCLE, S/Adams, E/Bushard
Catalina Model 2540 SF, SOLD $735,000
4 bedrooms, 3 Baths, Living Room,
Family Room--New French Doors
Large Bonus Room, Some Wood Floors
S & S Construction Forest-Like Peaceful Yard
Cul de Sac Location.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
LOVELY FASION SHORES
21211 AMBERWICK LANE, S/Atlanta, W/Brookhurst
4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths. $655,000
Large Master and 2nd bedroom Down
Newer Roof, Lovely Walled Yard.

MARKET UPDATE
We are in a slow recovery mode in home sales in South HB for now. Short sales and REO’s continue to pop up as owners’ variable rates go up every 6 months and these comps have a pull on our prices. However, the good news is buyers are out, especially this time of year, because they see that rates are going up (already have) and they will qualify for less as they continue up. Plus the tax credit buyers can get for buying now will end 4/30/10. It’s not just first time buyers who benefit from this (up to $8000) but those who have owned their home for over 5 years who can get a credit of $6500. Also a standard sale is highly sought after. That means it’s not a short sale or REO which is long and difficult to get through.
At my open houses, that is the first question buyers ask me. Is this a normal sale?
Some have been through the agony of waiting months to hear back from a bank on an offer only to find out they lost out. The 4 homes you see here area all standard sales.
The bottom line is it’s a great time to sell because the buyer pool will shrink as rates go up since they will qualify for less.
Give me a call for more information. I’d be glad to help you.

COYOTE ALERT
None have been spotted in the south HB area as far as I know this spring. In other years they have come down the 2 river beds. Across town, however, HB has actually hired a trapping company to catch and kill coyotes that some residents say have become moiré aggressive. Our police chief says sightings or incidents have more than doubled in the last 4 years. Neighborhoods near the Bolsa Chica wetlands and Central Parks have had incidents where coyotes are not afraid of humans. So, be on the alert with your small pets and small children. It’s a good idea to bring your pets inside at night and not leave food and water dishes outside. Keep an eye out. Better safe than sorry.

BIG DOINS’ COMING UP AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
This sounds like fun!
Saturday, May 1st 2010, 8 AM to 1 PM
21400 Magnolia, HB
“Flash from the Past Car Show”
Proceeds to benefit educational Programs at Edison
There will be more than 150 entries.
Your donations will help the school greatly!
Don’t miss it!
HUMOR CORNER
If it weren’t for stress, I’d have no energy at all.
Everyone has a photographic memory.
Some, like me, just don’t have any film.
Whatever hits the fan, will not be distributed evenly.
If the shoe fits, buy a pair in every color.
Never be too open-minded. Your brains may fall out.
Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
anymore than standing in a garage will make you a car.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Some days are a total waste of make-up.
Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
Junk is something you’ve kept for years and
throw away 3 weeks before you need it.
DID YOU KNOW?
That all my homes for sale are on over 30 websites to reach buyers? Most have 20 or more photos with them! Marketing is everything!
That you can view the entire MLS by going to AnnieBaker.com, a state of the art website?
UPDATE ON “OUR” PUPPY FIONA
Actually, she is daughter Stacey’s pup. She became one year old February 20 and is over 50 pounds now and still growing. She loves to visit our house, go to the doggie park and play. Here’s a photo of her. Isn’t she a sweetheart? And now she has a new “cousin”. Her name is Sparkle, 11 weeks old, soft and cuddly velvet and she’s a blond Lab. She came with our kids over to meet Fiona for a birthday party. Here the two are enjoying their chew bones together.
UPDATE ON “Wesley the Owl”
So many of you have asked how
Stacey’s book is doing. Thanks. It’s becoming an animal classic. Has been published in Chinese, in China. In Germany, it was featured in their Reader’s Digest and in one of their condensed books. Stacey continues to speak to animal lover groups here, Arizona, Colorado and beyond at book stores and Audobon groups. It remains one of the top 10 in the nature category on many websites. Amazing.
She’s working on her next book now.

Ready, Set, Go!

It’s that season nationwide where brilliant well known speakers dig in to come up with something motivational to speak to graduates about. A wide variety of good advice will be given. It can set all of us to thinking about our own lives. I like to apply some of this advice to my own life and see how I’m doing since it’s never too late to learn something new.
To begin with, we all know the saying, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” True. But given that we all need to have a Plan A we need to be flexible enough to switch to Plan B or even C as backup which might end up being
better anyway. After all, if we don’t have a road map, how can we get to our destination? As the song goes, “You got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?” And if we don’t even have a destination determined we won’t know where we’re going and wonder aimlessly in circles.
So, I’ve been pondering some of the advice I’ve heard recently and measuring how and if I’m staying on track in my own life goals and dreams.
Graduates are being told how to be successful. But what is success? How can it be measured? Is it owning a bigger car than your friend or neighbor, having a good looking spouse or date, being the highest paid in your department, having more money than anyone else, the highest grades, being popular? These things are nice but can they be guaranteed to bring happiness and security in the long run? Surely, all of us have known people who have these achievements who are not “happy”.
Well, as usual, I have a few opinions of my own I’d love to share and, hopefully, you do too. Let’s look at a few recent comments from a motivational convention in Anaheim that boasted of highly successful people: guests such as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Michael Phelps and Rudy Giuliani. Here are some tidbits of inspiration they shared:
“Relentless preparation in everything you pursue is everything. Build yourself up so you are prepared when disaster arrives in your life. Do the things that you have to do on the days you don’t feel like doing them. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how we grow”. Ok. Let’s say that all helps you build a career and physical, financial security. So far, great ideas.
I think being happy requires more than the above. I believe in a strong work ethic, of course. No entitlement mentality here. You earn your own way. No one owes you a living.
But I would emphasize strongly the ability to adjust to your circumstances. Things are not always going to go our way even with the best of efforts. Adjusting helps us grow up no matter how old we are. That shows character. Figure out what skills and talents we have and pursue them with a passion in every area of our life. Let’s not leave out the spiritual side of your life either. Happiness does not necessarily mean a lofty height of perfection. Happiness means enjoying the trip.
It’s ok to feel uncomfortable once in awhile’ to make mistakes. That’s how we stretch and grow.
Don’t settle. Try something new no matter what age we are. We’ll be a more interesting person. For example, I’ve decided as a way to keep my mind sharp, I have returned to my piano in the late evenings after decades of ignoring it. I never was that good at it to begin with but I enjoy it. Pure escape. It’s hard to worry about anything else when I’m concentrating on the next 4 measures. So, I’m memorizing my favorite tunes that I never had time for before. I joke that I play for my own amazement. Yes, there are clunkers all over the place but my kind husband doesn’t seem to mind. (Is he tone deaf or just kind?). So far, to my joy, I’ve memorized “Satin Doll”, “Take 5” (jazz) “The Entertainer” (Scott Joplin, ragtime) and now am working on the tricky (for me) “Moonlight Sonata”. Boy, do I look forward to that as often as I can get to it. I’ll bet you have a favorite thing you could make time for. Maybe gardening? Walking? You name it. Think about it. What I’m working on is having balance between work and play. It can go a long way to giving us a good attitude quickly followed by happiness. We then see that life will have its fun moments and refresh us for those days of really hard work. We learn that we can have a life. Time for work, hobbies friends and family.
But, somehow, we have to hang in there to make all this happen. My kids grew up with this quote on the refrigerator door which can work for all of us.
“Press On”
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
(Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the US (1872-1933)
Join me in the life long goal of balance and hang in there. We can all be ready for the future with some of these tips. I’m sure you can add oodles to the ideas above. Enjoy your springtime with all its many possibilities.

962 words
Quote at bottom of page one “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”
ADS
FOR SALE (STANDARD SALE)
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
21072 Galbar Circle, HB, S/Atlanta, E/Brookhurst $649,900
Unique 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2000 SF
Master Plus 2 Bedrooms, Family Room Down
Spacious Living Room, Vaulted Ceiling, Brick Fireplace
Peaceful Courtyard in Front, Shady Patio in Back
Ideal Location: Cul de Sac Street.
Backs to Bike & Dog Trail. 1.5 miles to the Beach
TWO FAMILIES COULD LIVE HERE!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES! You are welcome.

FOR SALE….BRINGING NATURE INTO YOUR HOME…
Beautiful Deane Gardens Home with Miles of Windows, Standard Sale.
Sliders and Atrium. Unique 8 Foot Walls Provides Utmost Privacy.
Allows You to Leave Your Windows Open and Let the Greenery Shine In.
9362 CANDLEWOOD DRIVE, HB, S/Adams/W/Bushard. $799,000
4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Hard to Find Large Master Down
LIKE A MODEL HOME. 2149 SF
Granite &Cherry wood Floors, Scraped Ceilings, Crown Molding
Fabulous Kitchen, Family Room, Dining Room
Most Windows Newer, 2 Story Vaulted Ceilings
Spotless, Sparkling Pool. Large Yard. UTMOST PRIVACY!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES. You are welcome.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
PARK HUNTINGTON
9591 LASSEN CIRCLE, S/Adams, E/Bushard
Catalina Model 2540 SF, SOLD $735,000
4 bedrooms, 3 Baths, Living Room,
Family Room--New French Doors
Large Bonus Room, Some Wood Floors
S & S Construction Forest-Like Peaceful Yard
Cul de Sac Location.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
LOVELY FASION SHORES
21211 AMBERWICK LANE, S/Atlanta, W/Brookhurst
4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths. $655,000
Large Master and 2nd bedroom Down
Newer Roof, Lovely Walled Yard.

MARKET UPDATE
We are in a slow recovery mode in home sales in South HB for now. Short sales and REO’s continue to pop up as owners’ variable rates go up every 6 months and these comps have a pull on our prices. However, the good news is buyers are out, especially this time of year, because they see that rates are going up (already have) and they will qualify for less as they continue up. Plus the tax credit buyers can get for buying now will end 4/30/10. It’s not just first time buyers who benefit from this (up to $8000) but those who have owned their home for over 5 years who can get a credit of $6500. Also a standard sale is highly sought after. That means it’s not a short sale or REO which is long and difficult to get through.
At my open houses, that is the first question buyers ask me. Is this a normal sale?
Some have been through the agony of waiting months to hear back from a bank on an offer only to find out they lost out. The 4 homes you see here area all standard sales.
The bottom line is it’s a great time to sell because the buyer pool will shrink as rates go up since they will qualify for less.
Give me a call for more information. I’d be glad to help you.

COYOTE ALERT
None have been spotted in the south HB area as far as I know this spring. In other years they have come down the 2 river beds. Across town, however, HB has actually hired a trapping company to catch and kill coyotes that some residents say have become moiré aggressive. Our police chief says sightings or incidents have more than doubled in the last 4 years. Neighborhoods near the Bolsa Chica wetlands and Central Parks have had incidents where coyotes are not afraid of humans. So, be on the alert with your small pets and small children. It’s a good idea to bring your pets inside at night and not leave food and water dishes outside. Keep an eye out. Better safe than sorry.

BIG DOINS’ COMING UP AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
This sounds like fun!
Saturday, May 1st 2010, 8 AM to 1 PM
21400 Magnolia, HB
“Flash from the Past Car Show”
Proceeds to benefit educational Programs at Edison
There will be more than 150 entries.
Your donations will help the school greatly!
Don’t miss it!
HUMOR CORNER
If it weren’t for stress, I’d have no energy at all.
Everyone has a photographic memory.
Some, like me, just don’t have any film.
Whatever hits the fan, will not be distributed evenly.
If the shoe fits, buy a pair in every color.
Never be too open-minded. Your brains may fall out.
Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
anymore than standing in a garage will make you a car.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Some days are a total waste of make-up.
Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
Junk is something you’ve kept for years and
throw away 3 weeks before you need it.
DID YOU KNOW?
That all my homes for sale are on over 30 websites to reach buyers? Most have 20 or more photos with them! Marketing is everything!
That you can view the entire MLS by going to AnnieBaker.com, a state of the art website?
UPDATE ON “OUR” PUPPY FIONA
Actually, she is daughter Stacey’s pup. She became one year old February 20 and is over 50 pounds now and still growing. She loves to visit our house, go to the doggie park and play. Here’s a photo of her. Isn’t she a sweetheart? And now she has a new “cousin”. Her name is Sparkle, 11 weeks old, soft and cuddly velvet and she’s a blond Lab. She came with our kids over to meet Fiona for a birthday party. Here the two are enjoying their chew bones together.
UPDATE ON “Wesley the Owl”
So many of you have asked how
Stacey’s book is doing. Thanks. It’s becoming an animal classic. Has been published in Chinese, in China. In Germany, it was featured in their Reader’s Digest and in one of their condensed books. Stacey continues to speak to animal lover groups here, Arizona, Colorado and beyond at book stores and Audobon groups. It remains one of the top 10 in the nature category on many websites. Amazing.
She’s working on her next book now.

Ready, Set, Go!

It’s that season nationwide where brilliant well known speakers dig in to come up with something motivational to speak to graduates about. A wide variety of good advice will be given. It can set all of us to thinking about our own lives. I like to apply some of this advice to my own life and see how I’m doing since it’s never too late to learn something new.
To begin with, we all know the saying, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” True. But given that we all need to have a Plan A we need to be flexible enough to switch to Plan B or even C as backup which might end up being
better anyway. After all, if we don’t have a road map, how can we get to our destination? As the song goes, “You got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?” And if we don’t even have a destination determined we won’t know where we’re going and wonder aimlessly in circles.
So, I’ve been pondering some of the advice I’ve heard recently and measuring how and if I’m staying on track in my own life goals and dreams.
Graduates are being told how to be successful. But what is success? How can it be measured? Is it owning a bigger car than your friend or neighbor, having a good looking spouse or date, being the highest paid in your department, having more money than anyone else, the highest grades, being popular? These things are nice but can they be guaranteed to bring happiness and security in the long run? Surely, all of us have known people who have these achievements who are not “happy”.
Well, as usual, I have a few opinions of my own I’d love to share and, hopefully, you do too. Let’s look at a few recent comments from a motivational convention in Anaheim that boasted of highly successful people: guests such as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Michael Phelps and Rudy Giuliani. Here are some tidbits of inspiration they shared:
“Relentless preparation in everything you pursue is everything. Build yourself up so you are prepared when disaster arrives in your life. Do the things that you have to do on the days you don’t feel like doing them. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how we grow”. Ok. Let’s say that all helps you build a career and physical, financial security. So far, great ideas.
I think being happy requires more than the above. I believe in a strong work ethic, of course. No entitlement mentality here. You earn your own way. No one owes you a living.
But I would emphasize strongly the ability to adjust to your circumstances. Things are not always going to go our way even with the best of efforts. Adjusting helps us grow up no matter how old we are. That shows character. Figure out what skills and talents we have and pursue them with a passion in every area of our life. Let’s not leave out the spiritual side of your life either. Happiness does not necessarily mean a lofty height of perfection. Happiness means enjoying the trip.
It’s ok to feel uncomfortable once in awhile’ to make mistakes. That’s how we stretch and grow.
Don’t settle. Try something new no matter what age we are. We’ll be a more interesting person. For example, I’ve decided as a way to keep my mind sharp, I have returned to my piano in the late evenings after decades of ignoring it. I never was that good at it to begin with but I enjoy it. Pure escape. It’s hard to worry about anything else when I’m concentrating on the next 4 measures. So, I’m memorizing my favorite tunes that I never had time for before. I joke that I play for my own amazement. Yes, there are clunkers all over the place but my kind husband doesn’t seem to mind. (Is he tone deaf or just kind?). So far, to my joy, I’ve memorized “Satin Doll”, “Take 5” (jazz) “The Entertainer” (Scott Joplin, ragtime) and now am working on the tricky (for me) “Moonlight Sonata”. Boy, do I look forward to that as often as I can get to it. I’ll bet you have a favorite thing you could make time for. Maybe gardening? Walking? You name it. Think about it. What I’m working on is having balance between work and play. It can go a long way to giving us a good attitude quickly followed by happiness. We then see that life will have its fun moments and refresh us for those days of really hard work. We learn that we can have a life. Time for work, hobbies friends and family.
But, somehow, we have to hang in there to make all this happen. My kids grew up with this quote on the refrigerator door which can work for all of us.
“Press On”
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
(Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the US (1872-1933)
Join me in the life long goal of balance and hang in there. We can all be ready for the future with some of these tips. I’m sure you can add oodles to the ideas above. Enjoy your springtime with all its many possibilities.

962 words
Quote at bottom of page one “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”
ADS
FOR SALE (STANDARD SALE)
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
21072 Galbar Circle, HB, S/Atlanta, E/Brookhurst $649,900
Unique 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2000 SF
Master Plus 2 Bedrooms, Family Room Down
Spacious Living Room, Vaulted Ceiling, Brick Fireplace
Peaceful Courtyard in Front, Shady Patio in Back
Ideal Location: Cul de Sac Street.
Backs to Bike & Dog Trail. 1.5 miles to the Beach
TWO FAMILIES COULD LIVE HERE!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES! You are welcome.

FOR SALE….BRINGING NATURE INTO YOUR HOME…
Beautiful Deane Gardens Home with Miles of Windows, Standard Sale.
Sliders and Atrium. Unique 8 Foot Walls Provides Utmost Privacy.
Allows You to Leave Your Windows Open and Let the Greenery Shine In.
9362 CANDLEWOOD DRIVE, HB, S/Adams/W/Bushard. $799,000
4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Hard to Find Large Master Down
LIKE A MODEL HOME. 2149 SF
Granite &Cherry wood Floors, Scraped Ceilings, Crown Molding
Fabulous Kitchen, Family Room, Dining Room
Most Windows Newer, 2 Story Vaulted Ceilings
Spotless, Sparkling Pool. Large Yard. UTMOST PRIVACY!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES. You are welcome.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
PARK HUNTINGTON
9591 LASSEN CIRCLE, S/Adams, E/Bushard
Catalina Model 2540 SF, SOLD $735,000
4 bedrooms, 3 Baths, Living Room,
Family Room--New French Doors
Large Bonus Room, Some Wood Floors
S & S Construction Forest-Like Peaceful Yard
Cul de Sac Location.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
LOVELY FASION SHORES
21211 AMBERWICK LANE, S/Atlanta, W/Brookhurst
4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths. $655,000
Large Master and 2nd bedroom Down
Newer Roof, Lovely Walled Yard.

MARKET UPDATE
We are in a slow recovery mode in home sales in South HB for now. Short sales and REO’s continue to pop up as owners’ variable rates go up every 6 months and these comps have a pull on our prices. However, the good news is buyers are out, especially this time of year, because they see that rates are going up (already have) and they will qualify for less as they continue up. Plus the tax credit buyers can get for buying now will end 4/30/10. It’s not just first time buyers who benefit from this (up to $8000) but those who have owned their home for over 5 years who can get a credit of $6500. Also a standard sale is highly sought after. That means it’s not a short sale or REO which is long and difficult to get through.
At my open houses, that is the first question buyers ask me. Is this a normal sale?
Some have been through the agony of waiting months to hear back from a bank on an offer only to find out they lost out. The 4 homes you see here area all standard sales.
The bottom line is it’s a great time to sell because the buyer pool will shrink as rates go up since they will qualify for less.
Give me a call for more information. I’d be glad to help you.

COYOTE ALERT
None have been spotted in the south HB area as far as I know this spring. In other years they have come down the 2 river beds. Across town, however, HB has actually hired a trapping company to catch and kill coyotes that some residents say have become moiré aggressive. Our police chief says sightings or incidents have more than doubled in the last 4 years. Neighborhoods near the Bolsa Chica wetlands and Central Parks have had incidents where coyotes are not afraid of humans. So, be on the alert with your small pets and small children. It’s a good idea to bring your pets inside at night and not leave food and water dishes outside. Keep an eye out. Better safe than sorry.

BIG DOINS’ COMING UP AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
This sounds like fun!
Saturday, May 1st 2010, 8 AM to 1 PM
21400 Magnolia, HB
“Flash from the Past Car Show”
Proceeds to benefit educational Programs at Edison
There will be more than 150 entries.
Your donations will help the school greatly!
Don’t miss it!
HUMOR CORNER
If it weren’t for stress, I’d have no energy at all.
Everyone has a photographic memory.
Some, like me, just don’t have any film.
Whatever hits the fan, will not be distributed evenly.
If the shoe fits, buy a pair in every color.
Never be too open-minded. Your brains may fall out.
Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
anymore than standing in a garage will make you a car.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Some days are a total waste of make-up.
Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
Junk is something you’ve kept for years and
throw away 3 weeks before you need it.
DID YOU KNOW?
That all my homes for sale are on over 30 websites to reach buyers? Most have 20 or more photos with them! Marketing is everything!
That you can view the entire MLS by going to AnnieBaker.com, a state of the art website?
UPDATE ON “OUR” PUPPY FIONA
Actually, she is daughter Stacey’s pup. She became one year old February 20 and is over 50 pounds now and still growing. She loves to visit our house, go to the doggie park and play. Here’s a photo of her. Isn’t she a sweetheart? And now she has a new “cousin”. Her name is Sparkle, 11 weeks old, soft and cuddly velvet and she’s a blond Lab. She came with our kids over to meet Fiona for a birthday party. Here the two are enjoying their chew bones together.
UPDATE ON “Wesley the Owl”
So many of you have asked how
Stacey’s book is doing. Thanks. It’s becoming an animal classic. Has been published in Chinese, in China. In Germany, it was featured in their Reader’s Digest and in one of their condensed books. Stacey continues to speak to animal lover groups here, Arizona, Colorado and beyond at book stores and Audobon groups. It remains one of the top 10 in the nature category on many websites. Amazing.
She’s working on her next book now.

Ready, Set, Go!

It’s that season nationwide where brilliant well known speakers dig in to come up with something motivational to speak to graduates about. A wide variety of good advice will be given. It can set all of us to thinking about our own lives. I like to apply some of this advice to my own life and see how I’m doing since it’s never too late to learn something new.
To begin with, we all know the saying, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” True. But given that we all need to have a Plan A we need to be flexible enough to switch to Plan B or even C as backup which might end up being
better anyway. After all, if we don’t have a road map, how can we get to our destination? As the song goes, “You got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?” And if we don’t even have a destination determined we won’t know where we’re going and wonder aimlessly in circles.
So, I’ve been pondering some of the advice I’ve heard recently and measuring how and if I’m staying on track in my own life goals and dreams.
Graduates are being told how to be successful. But what is success? How can it be measured? Is it owning a bigger car than your friend or neighbor, having a good looking spouse or date, being the highest paid in your department, having more money than anyone else, the highest grades, being popular? These things are nice but can they be guaranteed to bring happiness and security in the long run? Surely, all of us have known people who have these achievements who are not “happy”.
Well, as usual, I have a few opinions of my own I’d love to share and, hopefully, you do too. Let’s look at a few recent comments from a motivational convention in Anaheim that boasted of highly successful people: guests such as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Michael Phelps and Rudy Giuliani. Here are some tidbits of inspiration they shared:
“Relentless preparation in everything you pursue is everything. Build yourself up so you are prepared when disaster arrives in your life. Do the things that you have to do on the days you don’t feel like doing them. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how we grow”. Ok. Let’s say that all helps you build a career and physical, financial security. So far, great ideas.
I think being happy requires more than the above. I believe in a strong work ethic, of course. No entitlement mentality here. You earn your own way. No one owes you a living.
But I would emphasize strongly the ability to adjust to your circumstances. Things are not always going to go our way even with the best of efforts. Adjusting helps us grow up no matter how old we are. That shows character. Figure out what skills and talents we have and pursue them with a passion in every area of our life. Let’s not leave out the spiritual side of your life either. Happiness does not necessarily mean a lofty height of perfection. Happiness means enjoying the trip.
It’s ok to feel uncomfortable once in awhile’ to make mistakes. That’s how we stretch and grow.
Don’t settle. Try something new no matter what age we are. We’ll be a more interesting person. For example, I’ve decided as a way to keep my mind sharp, I have returned to my piano in the late evenings after decades of ignoring it. I never was that good at it to begin with but I enjoy it. Pure escape. It’s hard to worry about anything else when I’m concentrating on the next 4 measures. So, I’m memorizing my favorite tunes that I never had time for before. I joke that I play for my own amazement. Yes, there are clunkers all over the place but my kind husband doesn’t seem to mind. (Is he tone deaf or just kind?). So far, to my joy, I’ve memorized “Satin Doll”, “Take 5” (jazz) “The Entertainer” (Scott Joplin, ragtime) and now am working on the tricky (for me) “Moonlight Sonata”. Boy, do I look forward to that as often as I can get to it. I’ll bet you have a favorite thing you could make time for. Maybe gardening? Walking? You name it. Think about it. What I’m working on is having balance between work and play. It can go a long way to giving us a good attitude quickly followed by happiness. We then see that life will have its fun moments and refresh us for those days of really hard work. We learn that we can have a life. Time for work, hobbies friends and family.
But, somehow, we have to hang in there to make all this happen. My kids grew up with this quote on the refrigerator door which can work for all of us.
“Press On”
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
(Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the US (1872-1933)
Join me in the life long goal of balance and hang in there. We can all be ready for the future with some of these tips. I’m sure you can add oodles to the ideas above. Enjoy your springtime with all its many possibilities.

962 words
Quote at bottom of page one “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”
ADS
FOR SALE (STANDARD SALE)
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
21072 Galbar Circle, HB, S/Atlanta, E/Brookhurst $649,900
Unique 5 Bedroom, 3 Bath, 2000 SF
Master Plus 2 Bedrooms, Family Room Down
Spacious Living Room, Vaulted Ceiling, Brick Fireplace
Peaceful Courtyard in Front, Shady Patio in Back
Ideal Location: Cul de Sac Street.
Backs to Bike & Dog Trail. 1.5 miles to the Beach
TWO FAMILIES COULD LIVE HERE!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES! You are welcome.

FOR SALE….BRINGING NATURE INTO YOUR HOME…
Beautiful Deane Gardens Home with Miles of Windows, Standard Sale.
Sliders and Atrium. Unique 8 Foot Walls Provides Utmost Privacy.
Allows You to Leave Your Windows Open and Let the Greenery Shine In.
9362 CANDLEWOOD DRIVE, HB, S/Adams/W/Bushard. $799,000
4 Bedrooms, 2 Baths. Hard to Find Large Master Down
LIKE A MODEL HOME. 2149 SF
Granite &Cherry wood Floors, Scraped Ceilings, Crown Molding
Fabulous Kitchen, Family Room, Dining Room
Most Windows Newer, 2 Story Vaulted Ceilings
Spotless, Sparkling Pool. Large Yard. UTMOST PRIVACY!
WATCH FOR OPEN HOUSES. You are welcome.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
PARK HUNTINGTON
9591 LASSEN CIRCLE, S/Adams, E/Bushard
Catalina Model 2540 SF, SOLD $735,000
4 bedrooms, 3 Baths, Living Room,
Family Room--New French Doors
Large Bonus Room, Some Wood Floors
S & S Construction Forest-Like Peaceful Yard
Cul de Sac Location.

SOLD to Multiple Offers
LOVELY FASION SHORES
21211 AMBERWICK LANE, S/Atlanta, W/Brookhurst
4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths. $655,000
Large Master and 2nd bedroom Down
Newer Roof, Lovely Walled Yard.

MARKET UPDATE
We are in a slow recovery mode in home sales in South HB for now. Short sales and REO’s continue to pop up as owners’ variable rates go up every 6 months and these comps have a pull on our prices. However, the good news is buyers are out, especially this time of year, because they see that rates are going up (already have) and they will qualify for less as they continue up. Plus the tax credit buyers can get for buying now will end 4/30/10. It’s not just first time buyers who benefit from this (up to $8000) but those who have owned their home for over 5 years who can get a credit of $6500. Also a standard sale is highly sought after. That means it’s not a short sale or REO which is long and difficult to get through.
At my open houses, that is the first question buyers ask me. Is this a normal sale?
Some have been through the agony of waiting months to hear back from a bank on an offer only to find out they lost out. The 4 homes you see here area all standard sales.
The bottom line is it’s a great time to sell because the buyer pool will shrink as rates go up since they will qualify for less.
Give me a call for more information. I’d be glad to help you.

COYOTE ALERT
None have been spotted in the south HB area as far as I know this spring. In other years they have come down the 2 river beds. Across town, however, HB has actually hired a trapping company to catch and kill coyotes that some residents say have become moiré aggressive. Our police chief says sightings or incidents have more than doubled in the last 4 years. Neighborhoods near the Bolsa Chica wetlands and Central Parks have had incidents where coyotes are not afraid of humans. So, be on the alert with your small pets and small children. It’s a good idea to bring your pets inside at night and not leave food and water dishes outside. Keep an eye out. Better safe than sorry.

BIG DOINS’ COMING UP AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
This sounds like fun!
Saturday, May 1st 2010, 8 AM to 1 PM
21400 Magnolia, HB
“Flash from the Past Car Show”
Proceeds to benefit educational Programs at Edison
There will be more than 150 entries.
Your donations will help the school greatly!
Don’t miss it!
HUMOR CORNER
If it weren’t for stress, I’d have no energy at all.
Everyone has a photographic memory.
Some, like me, just don’t have any film.
Whatever hits the fan, will not be distributed evenly.
If the shoe fits, buy a pair in every color.
Never be too open-minded. Your brains may fall out.
Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian
anymore than standing in a garage will make you a car.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Some days are a total waste of make-up.
Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
Junk is something you’ve kept for years and
throw away 3 weeks before you need it.
DID YOU KNOW?
That all my homes for sale are on over 30 websites to reach buyers? Most have 20 or more photos with them! Marketing is everything!
That you can view the entire MLS by going to AnnieBaker.com, a state of the art website?
UPDATE ON “OUR” PUPPY FIONA
Actually, she is daughter Stacey’s pup. She became one year old February 20 and is over 50 pounds now and still growing. She loves to visit our house, go to the doggie park and play. Here’s a photo of her. Isn’t she a sweetheart? And now she has a new “cousin”. Her name is Sparkle, 11 weeks old, soft and cuddly velvet and she’s a blond Lab. She came with our kids over to meet Fiona for a birthday party. Here the two are enjoying their chew bones together.
UPDATE ON “Wesley the Owl”
So many of you have asked how
Stacey’s book is doing. Thanks. It’s becoming an animal classic. Has been published in Chinese, in China. In Germany, it was featured in their Reader’s Digest and in one of their condensed books. Stacey continues to speak to animal lover groups here, Arizona, Colorado and beyond at book stores and Audobon groups. It remains one of the top 10 in the nature category on many websites. Amazing.
She’s working on her next book now.

SMITTEN

She arrived late last Sunday night at John Wayne Airport. She was terrified. Traumatized. She had never been away from the Colorado Rockies in her whole life. Never been away from her brothers and sisters or even her mother and father for that matter. Never been in a house, a car, a crate or an airplane. When the cargo department brought her out to us she huddled in the back of her crate shaking with fear from the unfamiliar loud noises. Who were we, peering in at her? Could we be trusted? She is Stacey’s beautiful new puppy, Fiona (which means fair-haired). A Colorado Rocky Mountain dog, a hybrid, 3/4th Great Pyrenees and 1/4th Anatolian Shepherd. She was given to Stacey from her friends in the Rockies, the idea being Fiona will live here with Stacey, the animal lover, until Stacey can move back there, hopefully within a year. This new hybrid was bred to protect their humans from wildlife…mountain lions, bears and the like. It is their nature to be gentle and protective. Little Fiona, we think, must have been the runt of the 5 puppy litter because she is shy, contemplative and cautious. And who could blame her? Such a sweet, gentle soul with those big black eyes set in a soft white face as if she had on black eyeliner with snow white eyelashes. Our hearts melted immediately and we went into protective mother mode determined to make her happy.

We talked to her, cuddled her and gently got her into the car and home to Stacey’s house into a quiet environment as quickly as possible. But what a loving, not so little fluff ball she is! She gently licks your hand when you pick her up and cuddle her with no doubt in her soulful eyes that you will be kind to her. She does tremble a bit from fear with each new situation, though. As frightened as she is, she never tries to snap or fight us when we guide her around but, instead, cuddles in our arms.
The first few nights Stacey has slept outside on her patio with her since she howled at being left all alone for the first time in her life. Now, she sleeps better and is settling in. On her own, she has selected part of the planter to go potty, which is very convenient…and polite of her. It doesn’t occur to her to jump up, nip, or rip and tear, yet. She’s beginning to play with her toys and tosses a ball in the air and attacks it like a kitten. She never had toys before, having lived in the ranch coral with her family up until now. I think she will be adjusting for awhile. I try to imagine what it must feel like to be ripped away from those wonderful snowcapped mountains without so much as being able to give your own opinion of the change.

It’s been only 5 days since she arrived and we are totally smitten with her. How can that be? What a loving, sweet little lump of white fluff she is. And how surprised I am at how she tugs at my heartstrings! Indeed, I’ve had a hard time writing this because I am so amazed at how much I love her in such a short time How can that be? We think she’s still homesick. Tuesday we took her to the Doggie Beach near Golden West and PCH. Fiona was frightened of the sound of the surf and the sand, begging us to go up to the grass. She nuzzled under Wally’s arm for protection. (see photo). But we sat for awhile and she relaxed some as Stacey finally got her to walk down the beach closer to the water. Yesterday we took her to the Doggie Park on Edwards. Did you see the article in the paper that HB is one of the most pet friendly cities in the nation? Doggie Park was perfect! Fenced in so you can let your dog run, complete with wood shavings, shady trees, water dishes and friendly dog lovers.

What is it about puppies, anyway, that conjures up all this instant love in us that rings all the bells in my heart? And why is it that we think they are so cute? Is it because they don’t know how cute they are? Whereas a human, say a teenager, or even an adult, knows when they are cute and how to be cute. But a puppy is guileless, oblivious to their appeal.

Then too, for me, Fiona crowds into the cockles of my heart bringing up so many joyous memories of raising puppies when my girls were little. But, with my working hours now, it wouldn’t be fair to have a pet. But for Stacey to have a dog, and they live only 8 blocks away, well, isn’t that sweet? Indeed, sometimes early in the cool of the morning Stacey walks Fiona over here to grandma’s house (me) to get petted an SMITTEN

She arrived late last Sunday night at John Wayne Airport. She was terrified. Traumatized. She had never been away from the Colorado Rockies in her whole life. Never been away from her brothers and sisters or even her mother and father for that matter. Never been in a house, a car, a crate or an airplane. When the cargo department brought her out to us she huddled in the back of her crate shaking with fear from the unfamiliar loud noises. Who were we, peering in at her? Could we be trusted? She is Stacey’s beautiful new puppy, Fiona (which means fair-haired). A Colorado Rocky Mountain dog, a hybrid, 3/4th Great Pyrenees and 1/4th Anatolian Shepherd. She was given to Stacey from her friends in the Rockies, the idea being Fiona will live here with Stacey, the animal lover, until Stacey can move back there, hopefully within a year. This new hybrid was bred to protect their humans from wildlife…mountain lions, bears and the like. It is their nature to be gentle and protective. Little Fiona, we think, must have been the runt of the 5 puppy litter because she is shy, contemplative and cautious. And who could blame her? Such a sweet, gentle soul with those big black eyes set in a soft white face as if she had on black eyeliner with snow white eyelashes. Our hearts melted immediately and we went into protective mother mode determined to make her happy.

We talked to her, cuddled her and gently got her into the car and home to Stacey’s house into a quiet environment as quickly as possible. But what a loving, not so little fluff ball she is! She gently licks your hand when you pick her up and cuddle her with no doubt in her soulful eyes that you will be kind to her. She does tremble a bit from fear with each new situation, though. As frightened as she is, she never tries to snap or fight us when we guide her around but, instead, cuddles in our arms.
The first few nights Stacey has slept outside on her patio with her since she howled at being left all alone for the first time in her life. Now, she sleeps better and is settling in. On her own, she has selected part of the planter to go potty, which is very convenient…and polite of her. It doesn’t occur to her to jump up, nip, or rip and tear, yet. She’s beginning to play with her toys and tosses a ball in the air and attacks it like a kitten. She never had toys before, having lived in the ranch coral with her family up until now. I think she will be adjusting for awhile. I try to imagine what it must feel like to be ripped away from those wonderful snowcapped mountains without so much as being able to give your own opinion of the change.

It’s been only 5 days since she arrived and we are totally smitten with her. How can that be? What a loving, sweet little lump of white fluff she is. And how surprised I am at how she tugs at my heartstrings! Indeed, I’ve had a hard time writing this because I am so amazed at how much I love her in such a short time How can that be? We think she’s still homesick. Tuesday we took her to the Doggie Beach near Golden West and PCH. Fiona was frightened of the sound of the surf and the sand, begging us to go up to the grass. She nuzzled under Wally’s arm for protection. (see photo). But we sat for awhile and she relaxed some as Stacey finally got her to walk down the beach closer to the water. Yesterday we took her to the Doggie Park on Edwards. Did you see the article in the paper that HB is one of the most pet friendly cities in the nation? Doggie Park was perfect! Fenced in so you can let your dog run, complete with wood shavings, shady trees, water dishes and friendly dog lovers.

What is it about puppies, anyway, that conjures up all this instant love in us that rings all the bells in my heart? And why is it that we think they are so cute? Is it because they don’t know how cute they are? Whereas a human, say a teenager, or even an adult, knows when they are cute and how to be cute. But a puppy is guileless, oblivious to their appeal.

Then too, for me, Fiona crowds into the cockles of my heart bringing up so many joyous memories of raising puppies when my girls were little. But, with my working hours now, it wouldn’t be fair to have a pet. But for Stacey to have a dog, and they live only 8 blocks away, well, isn’t that sweet? Indeed, sometimes early in the cool of the morning Stacey walks Fiona over here to grandma’s house (me) to get petted and spoiled. And for Stacey, who misses Wesley the Owl who died 4 years ago, Fiona is a joy for her, too. Wesley lived 19 years, as you may know from the book.

On the bright side, Fiona is lucky to have Stacey as a mommy since she is so in tune with animals and nature. Fiona will eventually be a happy California dog. One could do worse than move to the nicest beach in the whole wide world and be adored by all of us.

Maybe Fiona wins my heart because pets, like nature, get us back to the basics. No pretences, just unconditional love and playfulness. Can’t we all use a lot more of this in our lives? And can’t we learn a lot about the simple, sweet trust a puppy has and treasure never violating that love and trust? Maybe we could do a better job as humans if we practiced some of what our pets teach us. Maybe that’s the reason for having a pet. Welcome home, Fiona! We love you!
------------------------------------------------------------------
I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven’t got the guts to bite people themselves.”
----------------------------------------------------------
d spoiled. And for Stacey, who misses Wesley the Owl who died 4 years ago, Fiona is a joy for her, too. Wesley lived 19 years, as you may know from the book.

On the bright side, Fiona is lucky to have Stacey as a mommy since she is so in tune with animals and nature. Fiona will eventually be a happy California dog. One could do worse than move to the nicest beach in the whole wide world and be adored by all of us.

Maybe Fiona wins my heart because pets, like nature, get us back to the basics. No pretences, just unconditional love and playfulness. Can’t we all use a lot more of this in our lives? And can’t we learn a lot about the simple, sweet trust a puppy has and treasure never violating that love and trust? Maybe we could do a better job as humans if we practiced some of what our pets teach us. Maybe that’s the reason for having a pet. Welcome home, Fiona! We love you!
------------------------------------------------------------------
I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven’t got the guts to bite people themselves.”
----------------------------------------------------------
NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE 7/18/09
If you live in the LA CUESTA or FASHION SHORES neighborhood areas south of Atlanta, between Brookhurst and Bushard OR SURROUNDING AREAS and want to participate in the neighborhood garage sale Saturday 7/18, give me a call and I’ll drop off a garage sale sign to head shoppers down your street. The VILLA PACIFIC Town homes next door are also participating.
In this economy, garage sales are quite helpful both for sellers and buyers!

MARKET UPDATE

More help is coming to Huntington Beach first time buyers. The City Council voted7/6/09 to put a little more than $1 million toward helping moderate-to-low-income households who preferably already live or work in HB to purchase a home in the city. The council also voted to cancel a city program to buy foreclosed homes, fix them up and sell them. Loans up to $100,000 are available with certain low income qualifications required. If you know of anyone who could be helped by this, contact Sydney Stone at 714-536—5901.

SHOULD YOU TRY TO MODIFY YOUR MORTGAGE LOAN?
I’ve received numerous calls from home owners in the area asking me if it is wise to pursue modifying your mortgage loan. Here is the answer. If you have had a decrease in your income, lost a job, suffered illness and high medical bills, for example, it is wise to call your lender. Ask for the loan modification department. Be persistent and be prepared to document all your income and assets. You likely will not get a reduction in the amount you owe, but you may get a lower monthly payment via a temporary reduction in your interest rate or an extension of your loan term. Consumer groups advise AGAINST paying a company to do this for you because some will take your money and do nothing. The Department of Real Estate has a list of companies and people to avoid at www.dre.gov/con_drs.asp. However, they do not monitor law firms.

SHOULD YOU TRY TO REDUCE THE TAXES ON YOUR HOME?
You probably just received your Property Value Notice in the mail, as we did. That tax as of 1/1/09.
Your tax bill will come in September. If the Taxable Value is greater than the property’s Market Value on 1/1/09, you may want to file an appeal. The deadline for an appeal is 9/15/09. Don’t wait until you get your bill. THERE IS NO NEED TO PAY A COMPANY TO REQUEST A REVIEW FOR YOU. Call me and I’d be glad to tell you what your property was worth as of 1/1/09. Generally, if you bought in the last 3 years in the higher market, you may benefit with an appeal. If you’ve lived there a long time, however, it may not benefit you to appeal since taxes are based on your original value plus a lawful annual inflation factor of no more than 2% a year. New construction on your property (room additions, pools, spas, patio covers) that occurs after you bought it is valued at full market value as of the date of completion. Also, it must be your principal residence. For more information go to www.ocgov.com/assessor or call 714-834-3821.

INTEREST RATES are the lowest since May.
Lots of buyers are out there now wanting to buy before school starts. Multiple offers are common especially on bank owned or short sale property. Cash is king since an all cash offer does not require an appraisal. Investors, however, are now required to keep a home for at least 9 months to avoid “flipping” a house. Depending on whose prediction you read, we are very near or approaching the bottom of the market. If a buyer waits too long, he will look back and realize he missed his opportunity. Now is the time to buy. MY SELLERS ARE GETTING OUT NOW SO THEY CAN BUY UP OR DOWN AT A LOWER PRICE.

INTERESTED IN SELLING?
Please save yourself a ton of money by calling me LONG BEFORE YOU SELL. My newest sellers called me 6-12 months before putting the house on the market saving them $50,000+ as I guided them through what upgrades to do and WHAT NOT TO DO.

KEEP AN EYE OUT TO HELP NEIGHBORS OR PARENTS
WHO MIGHT BE HAVING A STROKE.
Here are some easy guidelines to determine if someone is having a stroke:
Remember STR (as in stroke…Smile, Talk, Raise arms))
1. As them to Smile. If they can’t smile, or if it’s lopsided, that’s a symptom of stroke.
2. Can they tell you their name? Is their speech slurred? Talk
3. Can they Raise their hands over their head?
4. Can the victim stick his tongue out? If twisted or goofy, it’s a symptom
Health professionals tell us if a stroke victim gets help within 1-3 hours, it can be reversed.

OH DEAR! SHOW THIS TO YOUR FRINEDS & FAMILY WHO RENT

RENT 10 YEARS 20 YEARS 30 YEARS
$1000 $155,282 $411,003 $832,258
$1500 $232,923 $616,550 $1,248,387
$2000 $310,564 $822,067 $1,664,517
$2500 $388,254 $1,109,790 $2,080,646
$3000 $$465,846 $1,233,100 $2,496,694

If you RENT
There are no interest payment deductions.
The rent may increase at any time.
You need to get landlord approval for any changes.
You have no capitalization. Your money disappears forever.
Your rental is temporary and subject to 30 day notice.
If you BUY
Excellent deductions for the mortgage interest you pay.
Your mortgage payments could be fixed.
Decorate, make changes, enjoy changes without any prior approval.
The money you capitalize on your property is like having a savings account with a high interest rate. The value of your property will probably increase over time.
Your house will become a home; it will not be a temporary living situation.
You are not at the mercy of the landlord.

CONGRAULATIONS TO EDISON HIGH SCHOOL!

Edison High School won a silver metal this spring and the number 8 slot on the OC Register’s 2009 rankings of OC County’s Best Public Schools.
Named a California Distinguished School twice, including this year, Edison prides itself on building character in students, including its athletes.

WANT TO RATE YOUR SCHOOL?

Go to www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/index.asp and under API reports, click “district level”. You can find the API Growth Report to see how your school and neighboring schools did.

HUMOR CORNER

“When Insults Had Class”

“He had delusions of adequacy.” (W Kerr)
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” (C Darrow)
“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
(W. Faulkner said about E Hemingway)
“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”(Mark Twain)
“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” (Oscar Wilde)
“I am enclosing 2 tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend…if you have one.
(G B Shaw to W Churchill)
Answer: “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second…if there is one.”
(W Churchill, in response)
“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.” (Stephen Bishop)
“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” (J Bright)
“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.” (F Tucker)
“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” Mae West
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” (O Wilde)
“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”(G Marx)
Thanks to Barbara Nevins for emailing me the above.
FOR SALE

Stunning Home in Rossmoor Community
5 Car Garage!
Totally Rebuilt 2000
3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2200 SF Approx.
Gourmet Kitchen, Viking Range, Granite Counter Tops
Huge family Room, Master Bath with Whirlpool Bath and Sauna
High Ceilings, Inside Tract Location
Great Schools
$949,000
COMING SOON
One of the Prettiest Homes in all of Park Huntington
Remodeled Beauty. Stunning Kitchen
Watch for Open House soon!



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NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE 7/18/09
If you live in the LA CUESTA or FASHION SHORES neighborhood areas south of Atlanta, between Brookhurst and Bushard OR SURROUNDING AREAS and want to participate in the neighborhood garage sale Saturday 7/18, give me a call and I’ll drop off a garage sale sign to head shoppers down your street. The VILLA PACIFIC Town homes next door are also participating.
In this economy, garage sales are quite helpful both for sellers and buyers!

MARKET UPDATE

More help is coming to Huntington Beach first time buyers. The City Council voted7/6/09 to put a little more than $1 million toward helping moderate-to-low-income households who preferably already live or work in HB to purchase a home in the city. The council also voted to cancel a city program to buy foreclosed homes, fix them up and sell them. Loans up to $100,000 are available with certain low income qualifications required. If you know of anyone who could be helped by this, contact Sydney Stone at 714-536—5901.

SHOULD YOU TRY TO MODIFY YOUR MORTGAGE LOAN?
I’ve received numerous calls from home owners in the area asking me if it is wise to pursue modifying your mortgage loan. Here is the answer. If you have had a decrease in your income, lost a job, suffered illness and high medical bills, for example, it is wise to call your lender. Ask for the loan modification department. Be persistent and be prepared to document all your income and assets. You likely will not get a reduction in the amount you owe, but you may get a lower monthly payment via a temporary reduction in your interest rate or an extension of your loan term. Consumer groups advise AGAINST paying a company to do this for you because some will take your money and do nothing. The Department of Real Estate has a list of companies and people to avoid at www.dre.gov/con_drs.asp. However, they do not monitor law firms.

SHOULD YOU TRY TO REDUCE THE TAXES ON YOUR HOME?
You probably just received your Property Value Notice in the mail, as we did. That tax as of 1/1/09.
Your tax bill will come in September. If the Taxable Value is greater than the property’s Market Value on 1/1/09, you may want to file an appeal. The deadline for an appeal is 9/15/09. Don’t wait until you get your bill. THERE IS NO NEED TO PAY A COMPANY TO REQUEST A REVIEW FOR YOU. Call me and I’d be glad to tell you what your property was worth as of 1/1/09. Generally, if you bought in the last 3 years in the higher market, you may benefit with an appeal. If you’ve lived there a long time, however, it may not benefit you to appeal since taxes are based on your original value plus a lawful annual inflation factor of no more than 2% a year. New construction on your property (room additions, pools, spas, patio covers) that occurs after you bought it is valued at full market value as of the date of completion. Also, it must be your principal residence. For more information go to www.ocgov.com/assessor or call 714-834-3821.

INTEREST RATES are the lowest since May.
Lots of buyers are out there now wanting to buy before school starts. Multiple offers are common especially on bank owned or short sale property. Cash is king since an all cash offer does not require an appraisal. Investors, however, are now required to keep a home for at least 9 months to avoid “flipping” a house. Depending on whose prediction you read, we are very near or approaching the bottom of the market. If a buyer waits too long, he will look back and realize he missed his opportunity. Now is the time to buy. MY SELLERS ARE GETTING OUT NOW SO THEY CAN BUY UP OR DOWN AT A LOWER PRICE.

INTERESTED IN SELLING?
Please save yourself a ton of money by calling me LONG BEFORE YOU SELL. My newest sellers called me 6-12 months before putting the house on the market saving them $50,000+ as I guided them through what upgrades to do and WHAT NOT TO DO.

KEEP AN EYE OUT TO HELP NEIGHBORS OR PARENTS
WHO MIGHT BE HAVING A STROKE.
Here are some easy guidelines to determine if someone is having a stroke:
Remember STR (as in stroke…Smile, Talk, Raise arms))
5. As them to Smile. If they can’t smile, or if it’s lopsided, that’s a symptom of stroke.
6. Can they tell you their name? Is their speech slurred? Talk
7. Can they Raise their hands over their head?
8. Can the victim stick his tongue out? If twisted or goofy, it’s a symptom
Health professionals tell us if a stroke victim gets help within 1-3 hours, it can be reversed.

OH DEAR! SHOW THIS TO YOUR FRINEDS & FAMILY WHO RENT

RENT 10 YEARS 20 YEARS 30 YEARS
$1000 $155,282 $411,003 $832,258
$1500 $232,923 $616,550 $1,248,387
$2000 $310,564 $822,067 $1,664,517
$2500 $388,254 $1,109,790 $2,080,646
$3000 $$465,846 $1,233,100 $2,496,694

If you RENT
There are no interest payment deductions.
The rent may increase at any time.
You need to get landlord approval for any changes.
You have no capitalization. Your money disappears forever.
Your rental is temporary and subject to 30 day notice.
If you BUY
Excellent deductions for the mortgage interest you pay.
Your mortgage payments could be fixed.
Decorate, make changes, enjoy changes without any prior approval.
The money you capitalize on your property is like having a savings account with a high interest rate. The value of your property will probably increase over time.
Your house will become a home; it will not be a temporary living situation.
You are not at the mercy of the landlord.

CONGRAULATIONS TO EDISON HIGH SCHOOL!

Edison High School won a silver metal this spring and the number 8 slot on the OC Register’s 2009 rankings of OC County’s Best Public Schools.
Named a California Distinguished School twice, including this year, Edison prides itself on building character in students, including its athletes.

WANT TO RATE YOUR SCHOOL?

Go to www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ar/index.asp and under API reports, click “district level”. You can find the API Growth Report to see how your school and neighboring schools did.

HUMOR CORNER

“When Insults Had Class”

“He had delusions of adequacy.” (W Kerr)
“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” (C Darrow)
“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
(W. Faulkner said about E Hemingway)
“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”(Mark Twain)
“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” (Oscar Wilde)
“I am enclosing 2 tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend…if you have one.
(G B Shaw to W Churchill)
Answer: “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second…if there is one.”
(W Churchill, in response)
“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.” (Stephen Bishop)
“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” (J Bright)
“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.” (F Tucker)
“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” Mae West
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” (O Wilde)
“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”(G Marx)
Thanks to Barbara Nevins for emailing me the above.
FOR SALE

Stunning Home in Rossmoor Community
5 Car Garage!
Totally Rebuilt 2000
3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2200 SF Approx.
Gourmet Kitchen, Viking Range, Granite Counter Tops
Huge family Room, Master Bath with Whirlpool Bath and Sauna
High Ceilings, Inside Tract Location
Great Schools
$949,000
COMING SOON
One of the Prettiest Homes in all of Park Huntington
Remodeled Beauty. Stunning Kitchen
Watch for Open House soon!

GET OUT AND GO!

The excitement mounts. Graduations happening and kids of all ages will be out of school. All of us who work are looking for a little get away time whether it is for a few days or weeks. Summer is here at last! Long days and sunshine! Yippee! And we can all get away to somewhere no matter what our budget range is because there are so many opportunities out there. Anything from camping at modest fees or crusies now at greatly reduced prices. Most travel and hotel rates are at an all time low due to the recession. My family, for example, has a tradition every year of “camping” Farris style for 4-6 days in Sequoia National Forest. It’s our Farris form of modified camping (my married name is Farris). In which we reserve a campsite months ahead, pitch a tent there, but we also rent a cabin. So, we can play by the stream all day, fish, sing songs (I’d better get my guitar out and start practicing) but when night comes, we can adjourn to our cabin where we have access to a hot bath and warm beds away from any flies or even bears? But I digress.
Recently I attended one of Laurie Venn’s fabulous monthly luncheons (the “hostess with the mostess”) in which some shared tips on traveling and packing. Some I knew and some were new to me. So, whether you’re going camping economy style or cruising the world I thought you’d find some of these tips useful.

So, here we go! First, some packing ideas from an experienced traveler, Judy Zeller. It’s helpful to wear identical shirts (husband, wife, kids) when in crowded places like Disneyland or even a cruise not only to find each other but for others to help find a misplaced family member. Wear your heaviest shoes to avoid using suitcase space and weight. Use a backpack with your purse in it and also include a change of clothes in case any luggage is ever lost. A newspaper bag can hold a pair of sandals for inside the plane. In your carry on also have a change of clothes for dinner, bathing suit, labeled medicines and vitamins. less than 3 oz bottles of necessary lotions, sun lotion, toothpaste, brush and make-up. Place your pajamas on top. Use a fanny pack for quick access to money, ID, small camera, and a zip lock bag with nuts, etc. for snacks. I use a money belt strapped under my shirt for my cash and credit cards. If flying, empty your water bottle until you get through security, then fill it at a water fountain.
Always place a strap around each luggage bag and hook under the handle. If possible, paint your name all over the strap or on the luggage to make it easy to find at pick-up. Leave your baggage unlocked but take a lock so you can lock your valuables in it at the hotel or cabin. Inside the top of your luggage or carry on, place your favorite pillow or neck pillow or deflated beach ball. Take several empty shopping bags along and use the hotel plastic bag for dirty laundry. Take a green garbage bag to cover your bags in case of rain. A half roll of toilet paper with the cardboard center removed is handy in your purse for the many places where there is none. Nail polish should go in a double plastic bag. In your large suitcase, place your jewelry in a plastic bag in a sock and push it well down into a shoe. Don’t take your most treasured jewelry with you. Some travelers take an old blouse or shirt, and old underwear to leave behind making more room in their luggage for any purchases. A long skirt is handy most anywhere and a white blouse or shirt matches most anything. Your own beach towel, if it fits, can go in the bottom of your luggage. (Some hotels charge for beach towels). I usually take extra hangers and clothes pins to pin hotel curtains together at night. A small flashlight is handy too. Any health care papers should be copied and included along with copies of your passport, credit cards and accommodations. Leave copies of all this with a friend or family member. We always put our names, addresses, destination and phone numbers inside each suitcase in the top lid for easy identification.
You can get lots of information on line. Travelsmith.com has lots of travel stuff. Carol McConnell, owner of Around the Globe Travel, HB shared these tips with us: To figure your costs of a trip, consider 4 factors: transportation, lodging, food and entertainment. Decide which is the most important and how you will budget each of them. Use reputable companies when traveling. It is well worth it to buy insurance in case you get sick or hurt and can’t make the trip .Always check your flight before going to the airport to make sure it didn’t cancel or is late... Southwest Airlines does not charge for baggage. On a cruise, get to the port the day before the ship leaves in case your flight has any delays. If you’d like to talk to Carol regarding a trip, she can be reached at 714-536-5118. She owns this reputable company.
Of course, if you want to stay locally for a vacation, there are tons of places to go within easy driving distance here…Laguna Beach, San Clemente, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc. Even just a day away doing something different can break up the work week nicely. Wally and I can’t wait to go boogie boarding in San Clemente on a week day as soon as the water is a little warmer. Life is short. Enjoy where we live.
The bottom line is, I hope you get away in one way or another and leave all your worries at home. Most of what we worry about will never happen anyway!
Make it a happy summer!
On vacation, we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings. Erma Bombeck
MARKET UPDATE
You don’t have to take my word for it. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train. As the garbage man said, “Things are picking up!” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave his most optimistic prediction May 9, ’09 saying he expects the economy to start growing again this year even though more jobs will disappear. Check out these quotes: “U.S. Economic Growth Seen Resuming in 3rd Quarter” (Reuters), “The Worst Is Over” (Money News), “The Return of the Homebuilders” (CNNMoney), “Housing Market may Be Healing Itself” (Forbes).
These are not my words. I track only Orange County California. And I can verify that buyers are out in droves wanting to by while the rates are delicious. I spoke with a buyer this morning who was not aware that you can get a good, solid FHA loan for 3.5% down, 5% rate, depending on amount and credit scores. He thought everyone had to put 20% down nowadays. What is good is that the adjustables (ARM) and stated income loans that got so many people in trouble are gone. Lots of buyers are unaware VA has a terrific loan with low rates that you can use many times! And first time buyers can get credits up to $18,000 and more. I see short sales and foreclosures drying up in our county at a much faster rate than what we had thought due to 5-10 offers per house or condo! I’m alerting all my buyers to buy now since we don’t know how long these rates will last. I don’t want them looking back over their shoulder later and seeing that they missed this golden opportunity.

For this reason, my office is giving a
BUYER’S SEMINAR, JUNE 6TH,
to help buyers learn about all the current loan programs,
different benefits and credits available.
THE SEMIANR IS FREE BUT THE INFORMATION IS PRICELESS!
Seating is limited so call me to reserve your seat.

ADS
SHAPELL SOLD (SAME AD AS BEFORE)
222 LINCOLN IN ESCROW (same ad)
220 LINCOLN, HB, AVAILABLE
$899,999, 2650 SF
3 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Living Room, Family Room, Dining Room, Huge Bonus Room (Mountain View)
Large Master, Fireplace, Balcony
NEW ON THE MARKET
9601 ERSKINE, HB, $669,000
South of Indianapolis, East of Bushard
One Block from First Christian Elementary School
3-4 Bedrooms, ONE STORY, Over 1500 SF
Living Room, Family Room, Cozy Fireplace, Newer Roof
Center of Tract, Steps to Park

UPDATE ON “WESLEY THE OWL” by Stacey O’Brien
Many of you have asked how the sale of her book is going. Well, it’s being sold in 12 countries now, and translated into 8 languages. Stacey is still out speaking to various bookstores, universities and nature centers around the nation. The paperback version of “Wesley” comes on the market in July. A miniature stuffed replica of Wesley can be found and purchased on
www.WesleyTheOwl.com
HUMOR CORNER

Graduation day is tough for adults. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come home as contemporaries. After 22 years of child rearing, they are unemployed. Bombeck

On vacations, we hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies and the sand out of our belongings. Bombeck

Sign in an Auto Repair Shop: If you are grouchy, irritable or just plain mean there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you. If you watch, $10 more, if you make suggestions, $20 more, and if you help, $50 more.

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. Bernard Meltzer

Some of us learn from other people’s mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people. Zig Ziglar

Human beings are the only creatures on the earth that allow their children to come back home. Bill Cosby

For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked. B Cosby

Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery. E Bombeck
How come anything you buy will go on sale next week? E Bombeck

My kids always perceived the bathroom as a place where you wait until all the groceries are unloaded from the car. Erma Bombeck

IT IS WHAT IT IS

IT IS WHAT IT IS

I love that phrase. It smacks of dealing with reality, of accepting exactly what is and even implies, “Now how are you going to deal with it?”

Take the economy, for example. It is what it is. Many of us have lost a lot of future retirement money in 401K’s (now laughingly called 201K’s), college funds for the kids; money saved for a car or needed repairs for the house. Many are busy trying to figure out how many more working years this economic downturn will add on to their lives because of investment losses. This unexpected hit in the gut with the economy adds even more anxiety to our already loaded plate of concerns regarding our family’s health, getting along together, having enough time together and the stresses of work and school. We don’t need anymore weighty issues putting stress on us.

Well, in my travels chatting with friends and clients, I’m seeing a trend that is quite refreshing as a result of all the bad economic news. There is a pleasant return to the basics. What are they?

I’m glad you asked! Enter the simple stuff of life. The free stuff takes center stage. For example, Wally and I went for a walk on the beach yesterday. The sun was out after some cold, cloudy days. There were kids and adults on bikes, rollerblades and people of all ages just lying in the sun soaking it up. We strolled along, bought an ice cream cone and split it. We talked with many pet owners and petted their wonderful wagging-tailed friends out for a stroll. We met two Border collies strutting their stuff inviting attention with each wag as if they were the self appointed welcoming committee. Several people had their beautiful Golden Retrievers sitting at the snack bar sharing their ice cream cones with them. The exuberance of the wagging tails reminded us of how lucky we are to be here. We sat and watched phenomenal waves crash in the distance by the pier and felt the cool breeze brushing our cheeks. Just getting out of the house and walking away from the cell phone reconnected me to my handsome husband as we chatted away with small talk. I think I’d forgotten how charming he can be. At
the pier yesterday there was the inevitable exotic Congo drum players rhythmically pouring their hearts out and providing a tropical island feel to the sunny day. It was almost Hawaii without the airfare!

It all brought to mind the master plan I had drawn up in my head several weeks ago. Determined not to let the media news drag me down, I resolved to listen to only one newscast per day. I don’t need to hear about the self-entitled CEO’s and their underserved bonuses and bailouts. I can’t do anything about GM in my personal life. So why listen to it numerous times a day? My plan is simple but it works for me and my friends, too. First of all, I will only listen to one or two news casts per day. If I’m in the car, as you know, the news blasts away at the top of every hour and half hour. Do I need that? No. I’ve turned to FM music or my music CD’s (yes, I love Elton, jazz, country…all of it. I even sing along with it while no one else can hear and be horrified.) Such a simple thing, but it lifts my spirits. Secondly, I’m making sure I get good care of myself like getting enough sleep, giving up reading late into the night Thirdly, ok, the old adage…more fresh fruit and veggies every day and always the struggle to drink more water. My logic is that if I’m feeling good, it keeps my energy up and keeps me upbeat. I’m really trying to lay off the sugar stuff…the donuts and beloved chocolate. For I cannot eat just one little piece of dark chocolate. Noooo. One piece leads to another and another, etc. I hope you have a lot more self control than I do.
So, as I do the basics of taking care of myself and my family, all our spirits are lifted. We go on. Americans do that. We’re famous for it. Our history is filled with inspiring stories of everyday Americans who work hard to earn the good life. All is not doom and gloom. Everyday life is good. Remember the old song, “The moon belongs to everyone. The best things in life are free. The stars belong to everyone, the gleam there for you and me. The flowers in spring, the robins that sing, the sunbeam that shines, they’re yours, they’re mine. And love can come to everyone. The best things in life are free.” Ah, yes! We can distribute buckets of love to everyone around us, even a smile to the local clerk in a store…all that for free! So, my friend, take good care of yourself especially at this time so that you will feel so energized that you’ll splash warmth, grace and love everywhere you go! This too will pass. Life is good. Turn off the stressful news and enjoy what you have and those you love. That’s what matters most.
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QUOTE BOTTOM OF 1ST PAGE:
“Don’t let failure go to your heart and success go to your head.” (Will Smith’s grandmother)
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AND NOW, SOME GOOD NEWS! Home owners, this is for you!(There’s light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train.)
You probably won’t be reading this in the newspaper or on line for several months or even longer. This is my experience the last month as I go out with buyers to shop for a home. This will affect some of you as you decide to sell in this supposed “difficult market”. What my buyers and I are finding is that because there are so many short sales, foreclosures and bank owned properties and the lenders and banks have so many files stacked on their desks it’s taking months after an offer is submitted before the buyer hears back on his offer causing much stress on the three or four poor buyers waiting to hear. Why? Well, for starters, files are severely back logged because they have fired so many employees thus double loading the lenders that are left. Secondly, and you probably don’t know this, agents list a house for whatever price they feel appropriate…usually low to attract a load of buyers If it is a short sale (which means the owner owes more than it is worth), the agent and seller have no idea what the bank will actually accept. Example: say a house is listed for $515,000 in South County where I have spent many days with one of my current buyers. The owner owes $625,000 or more (thus the term short sale). The listing agent has no way of knowing what the lender will accept until an offer is submitted by a buyer and the agent submits it to the bank. Many buyers come running thinking they are getting a fabulous price. Of course, they even come in much lower than the $515,000 theorizing it’s a buyers market. Quite often, the bank (lender) will let that offer and many others on t he same house sit there waiting to get a higher offer. Frequently, by the time he gets back to the several buyers, it has been months and the buyer has given up on that one and gone elsewhere. For example, a recent home I found for my buyer closed escrow early March. Guess when he wrote his first deposit check when we submitted the offer? August 1 of 2008! All the other buyers had given up, couldn’t wait that long not knowing if their offer stood a chance and went elsewhere. Worse yet, if a buyer has to sell his home, his potential buyer will not wait for that seller to find the next home if the counter says, “subject to seller finding a new home”. A smart buyer has figured out that it could take months for that seller to hear back from the bank his offer is submitted to. I’d say 80% of what my buyers looked at this month has been in this situation. Well, here’s the good news that you won’t see in the papers for months because DataQuick and the papers only gather statistics of homes going into escrow and solds.
Enter the new star in the crown of the seller category who has everything going for him. He is called the Equity Seller. This means he has lots of equity, is a normal sale, doesn’t have to wait in line with his lender to approve his sale and, most of all can close his sale in a normal fashion. That means length of escrow is negotiated quickly, price is agreed upon between buyer and seller with a normal counter offer within a few days, proof of funds is checked and the house closes escrow after the usual disclosures. The delightful news for that seller is that agents rush to his listing in droves. How do I know that? Because a recent listing of mine, even in this supposed “bad” market sold over price to four good offers in a short three weeks. Agents anxiously called me before they showed it in happy disbelief that it was not a short sale or repossession. Could they actually close before they lost that buyer or he gave up and looked elsewhere, they asked. Sure thing! Then, as my seller and I shopped for him, I was making the calls to find out with each short sale how long it would take to hear back from the lender. If they take too long, my buyer will lose his buyer! The bottom line is that the Equity Seller is king. He gets the first showings and the first chance with the buyers. If you are an equity seller, and you’ve owned your home more than, say, 6-10 years, you can get in on selling to one of these hot buyers who are swarming now because of the fabulous rates, some under 5% depending on their credit scores. Lenders are telling us that these are the lowest rates we may see in our lifetime. Further, first time buyers can get up to $8000 as a tax credit and FHA and VA have an 18 month “forbearance” clause in case the buyer loses a job or is ill. He can renegotiate either a lower payment or pay only taxes depending on his situation. And the State has tax credits too. At a recent open house I held in downtown HB, I went loaded with all this new loan info and I have more buyers on my plate than I can even get to. This atmosphere will not last forever. And smart buyers know it. Equity Sellers are seizing this opportunity to sell and get where they need to go and buy for less. In fact, my happy seller sold his home over list price with four multiple offers. What a breath of fresh air! Call me if you would like to enter the rarified air and take advantage of being an EQUITY SELLER! Life is good!
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ADS
FOR SALE. SOLD!
S & S Beauty reigns in Garden Grove
13321 SHAPPEL STREET $430,000
Charming ONE STORY Upgraded 3 bedroom 2 bath pool/spa beauty.
Open floor plan, large country upgraded kitchen & baths, newer tile floors and neutral carpet. Large living room with remodeled brick fireplace, recessed lights, house wired for stereo. Roof 5 years new, 40 year warranty. Pool & spa resurfaced and retiled 1998.
Pool heater 8 years new. Inside tract location.
This home with its beautiful architecture simply will not last!

BRAND NEW DREAM HOME
DOWNTOWN HUNTINGTON BEACH
222 LINCOLN AVE
BLOCKS TO THE BEACH. HAS IT ALL!
$995,000
Best price and one of the few absolutely new never lived in beach home.
3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2445 SF, huge granite kitchen, walk-in pantry, family room, fireplace, Laminate floors downstairs. Large master, balcony, view of mountains.
Huge bonus room, balcony. Two car garage with sun deck. Home pre-wired for Sound, Alarms, Cable Satellite. One of the few all new homes under $1 million downtown.

HUMOR CORNER
(With apologies to God, all mother’s everywhere and our great kids)

God said, “Do NOT eat the fruit!” “Why?” “Because I am your Father and I said so!” God replied wondering why He hadn’t stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God say His children having an apple break and He was ticked!
“Didn’t I tell you not to eat the fruit?” “”Uh huh”, said Adam. “Then why did you?”
“I don’t know”, said Eve. “She started it,” Adam said. “Did not!" Did too! Did not!”
Having had it with the two of them, God’s punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven’t taken it, don’t be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you? (You know, its good old free will we each have)





THINK ABOUT IT!
1. You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children’s parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.
ADVICE FOR THE DAY
Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.
AND FINALLY
If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
“Take 2 aspirin and keep away from children!!!
Other Humor quotes: Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does!
Or
We’d worry less about what other people think of us if we knew how little they did.

WHAT IS LOVE?

WHAT IS LOVE?

February is regarded by some as the over commercialization of romantic love. Sell those cards, donate to the candy industry big time, pay double for the red roses and some restaurants double their prices that day, Yes, Valentine’s Day can have some pretty negative connotations. For some, that day is too painful. They’d rather not be reminded of lost relationships due to brokenness or death, or never having loved at all.
I see it a different way. The whole month reminds me of the importance of thinking about every kind of love, not just romantic, that we need so desperately to experience as individuals and as a nation.
Indeed, life can be pretty dry and boring without loving someone and hopefully many someones. Living without loving is like a car trying to function without oil, grinding away and getting overheated until it just burns out.
Oh yes! There is certainly a place for romantic love! Bring it on! How exciting it is! The first attraction! The great unknown. Where will it lead? The discovery that he is interested too! The pursuit. Should I be hard to get? Casual? Or fall into his arms right away? What do I want from this attraction? Am I ready? Is he? Is this just a lark or marriage material? Does he have the right qualities? Is it a match? Do we have enough in common? Could it last? The adventure careens down the bumpy road and either crashes and burns or takes off like a rocket ship lighting the night sky that lasts even sometimes into a 60 year marriage. But at the start, who knows? Ah, the wonder of it all. The books, the songs by the thousands attest to this great adventure.
Ok. Enough already. Hopefully these great romances expand over time to include other loved ones in their lives. If it’s a healthy love, it will have room for extended family, friends and community and not be isolated. For we all need to love not just ourselves but many people in order to have a fulfilling life. Some fear any kind of love due to some sort of damage. But to fear love is to fear life. And those who fear life are already dying. So, loving and the giving of it breed happiness not just to those who receive it, but to the one who gives it.
So, what is this thing called love? Here are a few famous quotations which attempt to define it. “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” (R. Henslin).
“When I speak of love, I am speaking of that force which all the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality.” (Martin L. King)
In my opinion, love is what you do. It is not always a warm fuzzy feeling and frequently does not start with that warm fuzzy feeling. Love is an act of reaching out to another to help, to befriend, to stand by, to listen to whether we feel like it or not. Where we see a need, fill it if we can or find someone else who can. Love is being a channel of help. After doing what we see needs to be done, the love feelings of joy will come along afterward. Good enough. But we are not to wait for the warm fuzzes first. “Love never claims, it ever gives.” (Gandhi). Therefore, love is giving whether there are exciting feelings or not. There is great power in love. The Bible gives some universal truths about love no matter what religion you are. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things.” (1 Corinthians 13 4-7)
Liking one another is not enough. Love is the glue that holds this world together. In these difficult days with maybe more to follow, it benefits each of us to see beyond a traditional Valentine’s Day and seize the opportunity to help a hurting world whether it be a next door neighbor, friend at school, co-worker or loved one. We can reach beyond ourselves. What an opportunity. If we look for the opportunity, and then do the right thing, the love feelings will follow. We can experience love in all its dimensions all year long. That will bring each of us all the contentment we could ever want. I challenge myself and you to be the one to reach out to others and not wait to be reached out to. Let’s enjoy the full range of all kinds of love. It will be a better world if we do.
Quote bottom of first page: “Love, the Answer to the Problem of Human Existence.” (E. Fromm)

DO YOU KNOW A SENIOR CITIZEN?
Will you be a senior citizen sooner than you think? Do you have a loved one who is a senior citizen? I have developed a particular interest in the life changes facing seniors as I have worked with more and more of them these 16 years. My first concern is how vulnerable they are and how they need to be protected. Some are scared as they face the complete changing of their lifestyle. They’ve been independent their entire adult life. They drive, shop, work, visit when they want to and have been in charge of their finances. As old age beckons them, some of the independence slips away. As I have met with widows, widowers and couples typically their biggest concern is that they want know what all their options are when they can no longer maintain their present home. Will they have to eventually go live with a relative even far away from their friends? And yet they are tired of maintaining a home and are lonely to boot. Well, I don’t want my seniors to ever feel trapped so I’ve started these last few years investigating options so that when I meet with one of them I can recommend ideas. If they want to sell, and move to a smaller place, most have quite a bit of equity to live on. Most want to remain in Huntington Beach where their friends are and some have bought darling one story condos in the lovely Huntington Landmark gated senior community. I’ve been there many times showing seniors the clubhouse, the many activities and available transportation to shopping, field trips and local churches. Often, they are lonely in their old house with neighbors at work all day while they sit home alone. If they don’t want to buy, there are rentals available there too. I have several clients who now live in Carmel Village, an assisted living facility across from Mile Square Park. Last month I visited 2 facilities on Florida Street in HB. One is a high rise independent living apartment building where rent is charged according to income. I liked that idea. The assisted living across the street is gorgeous. Last week I visited the beautiful 5 year new Sunrise Senior Living on Yorktown. One of my recent clients is moving there. Rates vary widely in all these places depending on size of room, and how much assistance is needed. It is well worth looking into all this way ahead so that your loved one or you never feel trapped. There are lots of options out there for seniors. Another option to consider before you are a senior is Long Term Care Insurance which can provide some help for seniors who may need care at home when the time comes. I believe the more options people have, the less fear of the future they will experience and the transition into that new phase of life will be easier and happier. God bless our seniors that they may enjoy those golden years.

HUMOR CORNER
One of life’s mysteries is how a 2 lb. box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.
The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.
A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills. She has 14 kids but doesn’t really care anymore.
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers.
Amazing! You hang something in your closet for awhile and it shrinks 2 sizes!
I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That’s my idea of a perfect day!
Sign on refrigerator: The last time I cooked this almost no one got sick.
HOUSEHOLD TIPS (Thanks to Laurie Venn’s luncheon group)
To avoid odor when cooking fish, cabbage, onions, etc. place a small bowl of vinegar by the stove. It works. I tried it.
To remove onion odor from hands, rub hands on a stainless steel spoon.
There’s a wholesale flower shop on Brookhurst before McFadden on the right in a strip mall. Good discounts.
To form chocolate curls on top of a cake, use a potato peeler.
To avoid white flour marks on cupcakes or cake, use cocoa mix instead to powder the pan.
Saran Wrap boxes and foil boxes have a tab on each end that, when pressed, keeps the roll in place.
MARKET UPDATE
These are the lowest rates we may see in our lifetime. This is the kind of market I started in real estate in 1992. Oh, how we all wish we had bought up investment property then for our future retirement! There are lots of foreclosures and short sales available in desirable areas in both single family homes and condos. If you are interested in investigating investment property I have a special system I can put you on where you will receive regular updates to preview. I can do the homework for you to see if there is even more flexibility available. There can be great advantages for buyers at this time. But this won’t last forever. Don’t miss out. That rental home can be paying for itself until you retire. Call me today for more information.
SAVE THE PLANET AND SAVE A BUCK
1. Keep a mug in your office instead of using paper cups.
2. use sponges or rags instead of paper towels.
3. Make sure bottles and tins are clean before putting in the recycle bin.
4. Refill pens and pencils, don’t toss them.
5. Use razors with replaceable blades instead of disposable ones.
6. Put an end to the paper or plastic dilemma-bring a cloth shopping bag to the store.
7. Rent, borrow and share items used infrequently.
8. Turn off lights.
9. Change out your light bulbs to compact fluorescent.
10. Use a power strip to turn off office equipment.
11. Buy energy efficient appliances.
ADS
The same. Lake Pending, Alisa Pending
ATTENTION Park Huntington Homes
Did you know you can get a copy of your floor plan by visiting AnnieBaker.com and also search for property all over the county?
USE CAUTION AT BELLA TERRA MALL, HB
I received an email regarding a woman who said her car, a Tahoe, had the door lock popped out in broad daylight and her navigation system stolen in the parking lot at Bella Terra Mall. She said the police said it was a common occurrence. However, I could not verify the information anywhere so I only forwarded it to a few friends in the HB area with a suggestion that they be careful there. Another email said someone’s nephew had been mugged but, again, I could not verify it. Finally, Neta Short, who I’ve known for ten years, emailed me to say that over the winter break she dropped off her 15 year old with several friends to see a movie at Bella Terra. When the kids were going into the 6 o’clock movie they saw a gang fight in the arcade in the theatre. One boy was jumped by others, they said. Paramedics came and the kids saw a victim on a stretcher. When the movie was over the kids waited in the parking lot for another parent to pick them up and they saw another stretcher and police arresting some boys for a stabbing near the Juice Shop. Her drop offs have ceased. I was not a direct witness to any of this but I pass it along so that you, my readers, may be aware and will use caution at Bella Terra until further information. I have seen nothing in the paper yet so still cannot verify any of it except what I have heard from Neta, a reliable source.
WHAT IS LOVE?

February is regarded by some as the over commercialization of romantic love. Sell those cards, donate to the candy industry big time, pay double for the red roses and some restaurants double their prices that day, Yes, Valentine’s Day can have some pretty negative connotations. For some, that day is too painful. They’d rather not be reminded of lost relationships due to brokenness or death, or never having loved at all.
I see it a different way. The whole month reminds me of the importance of thinking about every kind of love, not just romantic, that we need so desperately to experience as individuals and as a nation.
Indeed, life can be pretty dry and boring without loving someone and hopefully many someones. Living without loving is like a car trying to function without oil, grinding away and getting overheated until it just burns out.
Oh yes! There is certainly a place for romantic love! Bring it on! How exciting it is! The first attraction! The great unknown. Where will it lead? The discovery that he is interested too! The pursuit. Should I be hard to get? Casual? Or fall into his arms right away? What do I want from this attraction? Am I ready? Is he? Is this just a lark or marriage material? Does he have the right qualities? Is it a match? Do we have enough in common? Could it last? The adventure careens down the bumpy road and either crashes and burns or takes off like a rocket ship lighting the night sky that lasts even sometimes into a 60 year marriage. But at the start, who knows? Ah, the wonder of it all. The books, the songs by the thousands attest to this great adventure.
Ok. Enough already. Hopefully these great romances expand over time to include other loved ones in their lives. If it’s a healthy love, it will have room for extended family, friends and community and not be isolated. For we all need to love not just ourselves but many people in order to have a fulfilling life. Some fear any kind of love due to some sort of damage. But to fear love is to fear life. And those who fear life are already dying. So, loving and the giving of it breed happiness not just to those who receive it, but to the one who gives it.
So, what is this thing called love? Here are a few famous quotations which attempt to define it. “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” (R. Henslin).
“When I speak of love, I am speaking of that force which all the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality.” (Martin L. King)
In my opinion, love is what you do. It is not always a warm fuzzy feeling and frequently does not start with that warm fuzzy feeling. Love is an act of reaching out to another to help, to befriend, to stand by, to listen to whether we feel like it or not. Where we see a need, fill it if we can or find someone else who can. Love is being a channel of help. After doing what we see needs to be done, the love feelings of joy will come along afterward. Good enough. But we are not to wait for the warm fuzzes first. “Love never claims, it ever gives.” (Gandhi). Therefore, love is giving whether there are exciting feelings or not. There is great power in love. The Bible gives some universal truths about love no matter what religion you are. “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things.” (1 Corinthians 13 4-7)
Liking one another is not enough. Love is the glue that holds this world together. In these difficult days with maybe more to follow, it benefits each of us to see beyond a traditional Valentine’s Day and seize the opportunity to help a hurting world whether it be a next door neighbor, friend at school, co-worker or loved one. We can reach beyond ourselves. What an opportunity. If we look for the opportunity, and then do the right thing, the love feelings will follow. We can experience love in all its dimensions all year long. That will bring each of us all the contentment we could ever want. I challenge myself and you to be the one to reach out to others and not wait to be reached out to. Let’s enjoy the full range of all kinds of love. It will be a better world if we do.
Quote bottom of first page: “Love, the Answer to the Problem of Human Existence.” (E. Fromm)

DO YOU KNOW A SENIOR CITIZEN?
Will you be a senior citizen sooner than you think? Do you have a loved one who is a senior citizen? I have developed a particular interest in the life changes facing seniors as I have worked with more and more of them these 16 years. My first concern is how vulnerable they are and how they need to be protected. Some are scared as they face the complete changing of their lifestyle. They’ve been independent their entire adult life. They drive, shop, work, visit when they want to and have been in charge of their finances. As old age beckons them, some of the independence slips away. As I have met with widows, widowers and couples typically their biggest concern is that they want know what all their options are when they can no longer maintain their present home. Will they have to eventually go live with a relative even far away from their friends? And yet they are tired of maintaining a home and are lonely to boot. Well, I don’t want my seniors to ever feel trapped so I’ve started these last few years investigating options so that when I meet with one of them I can recommend ideas. If they want to sell, and move to a smaller place, most have quite a bit of equity to live on. Most want to remain in Huntington Beach where their friends are and some have bought darling one story condos in the lovely Huntington Landmark gated senior community. I’ve been there many times showing seniors the clubhouse, the many activities and available transportation to shopping, field trips and local churches. Often, they are lonely in their old house with neighbors at work all day while they sit home alone. If they don’t want to buy, there are rentals available there too. I have several clients who now live in Carmel Village, an assisted living facility across from Mile Square Park. Last month I visited 2 facilities on Florida Street in HB. One is a high rise independent living apartment building where rent is charged according to income. I liked that idea. The assisted living across the street is gorgeous. Last week I visited the beautiful 5 year new Sunrise Senior Living on Yorktown. One of my recent clients is moving there. Rates vary widely in all these places depending on size of room, and how much assistance is needed. It is well worth looking into all this way ahead so that your loved one or you never feel trapped. There are lots of options out there for seniors. Another option to consider before you are a senior is Long Term Care Insurance which can provide some help for seniors who may need care at home when the time comes. I believe the more options people have, the less fear of the future they will experience and the transition into that new phase of life will be easier and happier. God bless our seniors that they may enjoy those golden years.

HUMOR CORNER
One of life’s mysteries is how a 2 lb. box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.
The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.
A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills. She has 14 kids but doesn’t really care anymore.
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers.
Amazing! You hang something in your closet for awhile and it shrinks 2 sizes!
I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That’s my idea of a perfect day!
Sign on refrigerator: The last time I cooked this almost no one got sick.
HOUSEHOLD TIPS (Thanks to Laurie Venn’s luncheon group)
To avoid odor when cooking fish, cabbage, onions, etc. place a small bowl of vinegar by the stove. It works. I tried it.
To remove onion odor from hands, rub hands on a stainless steel spoon.
There’s a wholesale flower shop on Brookhurst before McFadden on the right in a strip mall. Good discounts.
To form chocolate curls on top of a cake, use a potato peeler.
To avoid white flour marks on cupcakes or cake, use cocoa mix instead to powder the pan.
Saran Wrap boxes and foil boxes have a tab on each end that, when pressed, keeps the roll in place.
MARKET UPDATE
These are the lowest rates we may see in our lifetime. This is the kind of market I started in real estate in 1992. Oh, how we all wish we had bought up investment property then for our future retirement! There are lots of foreclosures and short sales available in desirable areas in both single family homes and condos. If you are interested in investigating investment property I have a special system I can put you on where you will receive regular updates to preview. I can do the homework for you to see if there is even more flexibility available. There can be great advantages for buyers at this time. But this won’t last forever. Don’t miss out. That rental home can be paying for itself until you retire. Call me today for more information.
SAVE THE PLANET AND SAVE A BUCK
1. Keep a mug in your office instead of using paper cups.
2. use sponges or rags instead of paper towels.
3. Make sure bottles and tins are clean before putting in the recycle bin.
4. Refill pens and pencils, don’t toss them.
5. Use razors with replaceable blades instead of disposable ones.
6. Put an end to the paper or plastic dilemma-bring a cloth shopping bag to the store.
7. Rent, borrow and share items used infrequently.
8. Turn off lights.
9. Change out your light bulbs to compact fluorescent.
10. Use a power strip to turn off office equipment.
11. Buy energy efficient appliances.
ADS
The same. Lake Pending, Alisa Pending
ATTENTION Park Huntington Homes
Did you know you can get a copy of your floor plan by visiting AnnieBaker.com and also search for property all over the county?
USE CAUTION AT BELLA TERRA MALL, HB
I received an email regarding a woman who said her car, a Tahoe, had the door lock popped out in broad daylight and her navigation system stolen in the parking lot at Bella Terra Mall. She said the police said it was a common occurrence. However, I could not verify the information anywhere so I only forwarded it to a few friends in the HB area with a suggestion that they be careful there. Another email said someone’s nephew had been mugged but, again, I could not verify it. Finally, Neta Short, who I’ve known for ten years, emailed me to say that over the winter break she dropped off her 15 year old with several friends to see a movie at Bella Terra. When the kids were going into the 6 o’clock movie they saw a gang fight in the arcade in the theatre. One boy was jumped by others, they said. Paramedics came and the kids saw a victim on a stretcher. When the movie was over the kids waited in the parking lot for another parent to pick them up and they saw another stretcher and police arresting some boys for a stabbing near the Juice Shop. Her drop offs have ceased. I was not a direct witness to any of this but I pass it along so that you, my readers, may be aware and will use caution at Bella Terra until further information. I have seen nothing in the paper yet so still cannot verify any of it except what I have heard from Neta, a reliable source.