Bernanke's refinanced twice recently

Ben Bernanke lives in a three-bedroom, 2,100-square-foot, attached town house near the Capitol. It has an appraised value of roughly $850,000, not far from the $839,000 he paid for it in 2004. A public record search shows he owes $672,000 on the home, after refinancing his mortgage twice. 

One refinancing was in late 2009. The other was in late September, shortly after the Fed announced a new program, known as "Operation Twist," which aimed to drive down long-term interest rates. 

After a decade in Washington, Mr. Bernanke doesn't seem to have been swept up by the nation's capital. 

He doesn't read books about the financial crisis. When asked in September if he had seen a recent HBO movie about it, he said he hadn't: "I saw the original."

San Diego房租上涨，despite 房价下跌。

最近看了一下，发现圣地亚哥的租房市场需求强劲，最近好几个4S的3000尺single family homes 都轻松租出去了，一般在$3300/month 左右。Townhouse 也很好租，加上现在的低利率，买房出租是一个不错的选择。当然好几个邻居都是因为relocation/回国，但是能租出cover mortgage and tax, 省去了他们的后顾之忧。

以Carmel Valley 一个小区为例，在2006年时，我们在那里租房，1900尺townhouse, 月租$2200, 售价为$720k左右；5年后的现在，在Zillow上看了一下，月租$2800, 售价$620k.
WOW, 房租涨了25%， 尽管房价掉了15%！
而同时30年房贷利息由6% 降到现在的4.25%甚至是3.875。

Bright Water New Release

All on Quail Run

Lot 7 -- 910k (Plan 3AR) 5937
Lot 8 -- 898 (2DR)  5729
Lot 9 -- 916 (3XBR) 5500
Lot 10 -- 890 (2CR) 5500
上面几个lot是西北朝向小view.
Lot 37 -- 851 (2C)  6646
Lot 36 -- 822 (1B)  7577
Lot 35 -- 857 （3CR) 8659

2D Bar Code of My Contact Info

用你的Smart Phone scan 一下看。

The Economist: Rising From the Ruin, on Housing Recovery in US

There is an article about US housing pointing to possible recovery. I'm never really into this kind of prediction but it never hurts to listen to someone's opinion especially from a well respected journal as "The Economist".

A few excerpts from the article:

• The potential for a strong housing recovery lies in the depths of the bust. Fewer homes will be added to the housing stock this year than in any year since records began in 1968. In September the inventory of newly built houses for sale fell to its lowest level since record-keeping began.
• Rental markets, by contrast, look far stronger. Nationally, rents rose 2.1% in the year to August, in stark contrast to house prices;Rising rents help housing markets heal on both the supply and demand side, by encouraging renters to consider buying and through the movement of supply into the rental market, easing the glut of houses for sale.
• However, The macroeconomic environment remains troublesome. Foreclosures are falling, but they continue to place downward pressure on prices. 
• A new analysis by Goldman Sachs argues that housing can “punch above its weight” in recoveries. Rising house values boost confidence and spending. A housing recovery should also give monetary policy more traction; low interest rates do less to perk up the economy when housing markets are depressed. Indeed, the Federal Reserve is considering nudging recovery along by buying mortgage assets, which should ease the flow of credit to borrowers.

三宅一生

有一款香水，“三宅一生”，清冽恬淡，沁人心脾。

朋友调侃道说，三宅一生，女人一辈子就是在三所房子里度过：小时候，在父母的房子里；长大后，在丈夫的房子；老去后，在儿女的房子里，静静看日出日落，怀想倏忽的这一生。
 
女人一辈子就是三间房。多少女子的青春在三宅里蹉跎，红颜苍老，多少故事上演？女人这辈子，大概是注定要和房子纠缠不清的。 

不过呢，现在的人可是不甘心困于“三宅一生”了，房子是越多越好。

这世上很多东西是不能过头的，即使是爱情和金钱，但一般人总是希望这两样东西越多越好。有的人对于房子，更是胃口难填。

Pines in 4S Ranch

It's really hard to find something with backyard facing south or at least south-west. Luckily, all my buyers at Pines got one :-)

Who are the Top 1% Income and What Do They Own

Mother Jones has this story about the top 1% income: what their occupations are and, more interestingly, what type of equity they own.

4S Ranch Schools Top of the line!

API 864 for Del Norte HS!

Oak valley middle school honored as California Distinguished School

Stone Ranch -- Highest API for Elementary School in Poway District

1分之差

Monterey Ridge Elementary celebrated 15 point API growth by pushing Principal Dr. Newman into a water tank.

今天 Today is a sad day...

乔布斯走了谁主江湖

Carmel Valley now and then 2008

2008 was a dramatic year for DMUSD. In February, the board bought out 10-year Superintendent Tom Bishop’s contract. Bishop’s departure led to some mixed emotions with district employees and parents. Trustee Linda Crawford’s emotions were not mixed. She resigned from her post after Bishop’s ouster, ending her 11-year term. Candidates were then scouted in a nationwide search, eventually finding new Superintendent Sharon McClain.

• A revision of Flower Hill Promenade’s expansion plans reveal the UltraStar Cinema will be replaced with a Whole Foods Market.
• Canyon Crest Academy graduates its first senior class in June. In October, they celebrated their first homecoming and their new mascot, Rupert the Raven, was unleashed.
• The Pacific Highlands Ranch Station 47 opened for service.
• The Hilton Garden Inn in Torrey Hills opened nine months after a fire completely destroyed the Inn while it was under construction.
• Torrey Corner opens on East Ocean Air Drive and Carmel Mountain Road, the site of the controversial Chevron station. Zip Fusion Sushi, Love to Dance and Bank of America are among the tenants.
• Ocean Air Community Park held a groundbreaking ceremony with hundreds of neighbors in attendance.
• PHR Town Center plan was finally approved by the planning board after months of review. The project, at the empty lot on Carmel Valley Road and Village Center Loop Road, will feature 286 residential units along with a boutique grocery store, shops, office space, restaurants and a movie theater. The board estimated a 2013 opening.
• Cathedral Catholic football team made its first appearance in the State Championship, claiming the Div. II title 37-34. Standout running back Tyler Gaffney set a state bowl record, rushing for 339 yards and five touchdowns on 33 carries. He now plays for Stanford.

Now and Then: Carmel Valley back in 2007

Many will remember 2007 as the year of the firestorm. 


As the Witch Creek Fire blazed in the neighboring communities of Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Santa Fe, many Carmel Valley residents were evacuated from their homes on Oct. 21. It was an exhausting and nerve-wracking few days as Carmel Valley was never specifically mentioned in TV fire coverage and people just weren’t sure if their homes would be safe or not. 

• Despite years of development and hopes as well as a $2.7 million fundraising campaign, the YMCA of Encinitas cancelled plans for a Torrey Hills facility, citing insufficient community support. The projected 38,000 square ft. facility was expected to be a recreation center and pool on a 4-acre parcel of Torrey Hills Neighborhood Park.

• Torrey Pines High School football coach Ed Burke announced his retirement after 21 years. During his 21 years, he recorded a 182-60-5 record, winning eight league championships — five Avocado and three Palomar titles — and four CIF San Diego section titles in 1992, 1997, 2003, and 2004.

• Carmel Valley’s Northwestern Division police station had a grand opening celebration on March 22. In June, Kathy Healey was named the captain of the station.

• An early morning fire destroyed the nearly completed Hilton Garden Inn on Vista Sorrento Parkway. The fire caused about $8.5 million in damages and destroyed 30 parked cars. It also damaged the Hilton Homewood Suites next door.

• Ocean Air School opens with Gary Wilson as principal.
• The Grand Del Mar Resort opened, a $270 million resort on 380 acres including a golf course designed by Tom Fazio.

Now and Then: Carmel Valley back in 2005 & 2006

• The former University of San Diego High School’s new $50 million Cathedral Catholic High opens, as does Sycamore Ridge School.

• The Scripps Health Clinic on Valley Centre Drive opens as does the Vons in Torrey Hills alongside Starbucks and lunchtime favorites Subway, Joey’s Smokin’ Barbecue, Daphne’s and Pick-Up Stix.

• Carmel Valley roads’ congestion is discussed as commuters look to avoid traffic on the 56.

• Del Mar Heights Road bridge is opened, linking Del Mar Heights to Carmel Valley Road and the neighborhoods around Canyon Crest Academy. The bridge not only made for faster commutes but also provided wildlife under crossing.




• The $86 million San Dieguito Lagoon Restoration kicks off, restoring a valuable wetlands environment off Via de la Valle.
•Notre Dame Academy opens
• CV planning board member Laura Copic leads the local fight on preventing the Sunrise Powerlink, a proposed 120-mile “energy superhighway.” from coming through the heart of the community. In 2008, an alternate route was selected for the Powerlink, bypassing Carmel Valley. Construction began on the route in late 2010.

Now and then - Carmel Valley in 2003 & 2004

Carmel Valley celebrates its 20-year anniversary. The first building permits for Carmel Valley were issued to Pardee in 1983 for the initial phase of 5,000 homes, Pardee eventually acquired about a third of the 4,360-acre Carmel Valley planning area along with Baldwin Homes.

• Ground breaks on the new Canyon Crest Academy and on its neighbor down the street, Cathedral Catholic.

• Ground breaks on St. Therese of Carmel parish and neighboring Notre Dame Academy.

• Arson fires of four homes under construction in Torrey Highlands and Carmel Valley caused more than $1 million in damages. The arsons are attributed eco-terrorist group Earth Liberation Front. Another arson, considered a hate crime, is committed at the Congregation Beth Am, causing $35,000 worth of damage.

2004

• Local planning groups oppose a proposed Home Depot in Sorrento Valley. Groups are also up in arms over lights at the Carmel Valley Community Park South. The park, which would become Ocean Air Community Park, wouldn’t open until 2009—with lit basketball courts and ball fields.

• Earl Warren Middle School turned 50 years old and ground breaks on Sycamore Ridge School.

• In July, the last 4.5 miles of State Route 56 opens, linking Interstate 15 with Interstate 5. City Councilman Brian Maienchein said, “This will allow people to get home five or 10 minutes quicker…and just have time for their quality of life rather than sitting in traffic.”

• Canyon Crest Academy opens in September to 372 students. Half of campus remained under construction and students attended in portables in the parking lot.

• San Diego Jewish Academy unveils the 10-foot high menorah on their campus.

• The Carmel Mountain Road bridge is completed, paving the way for the $35 million Torrey Hills Vons Center to begin construction in the late fall.

Now and then - Carmel Valley in 2001 & 2002

• The Solana Beach School District aimed to buy 10-acres of Pardee-owned land next to the Carmel Valley Library for a third Carmel Valley school Solana Pacific.

• St. William of York parishioners in Carmel Valley raise funds to build a new church—the church, St. Therese of Carmel, would open in 2008. Canyon Hills Community Church also begins an expansion, it is now known as Grace Point.

2002
• Vista Sorrento Parkway opens as well as Carmel Knolls Park and the Torrey Highlands Dog Park.

• The tug-of-war continues on the vacant Townsgate Drive site as Pardee even proposes building a theater to enhance Carmel Valley’s town center. SBSD still wants 10 acres for a school and parents protested Pardee for blocking the sale of the land

In December, the district voted to condemn the land, giving them the right to seize the land from Pardee under eminent domain at fair market value. The district breaks ground on the new school in 2003.
A lawsuit isn’t settled until 2004, when Pardee got $41 million for the land—SBSD originally wanted to pay $24 million.

•City Council voted that 56 acres of Del Mar Mesa would become part of the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP). The acquisition brings the total acreage preserved on the Mesa to 344 acres.

• More than 150 people attend heated Del Mar school district meetings on boundary changes to alleviate an overcrowded Ashley Falls School, ending a period of open boundaries in the district. Also in the Del Mar school district, early Wednesday dismissal begins.

• The San Dieguito Union High School District is concerned about an overcrowded Torrey Pines High, with 3,200 students expected in the fall.

• A new gate is placed at the entrance to the Carmel Mountain Preserve to prevent vehicles from wreaking havoc on 300 acres of protected open space.

• Torrey Hills Community Coalition fights the placement of biotech projects near their elementary school.

Now and Then: Carmel Valley back in 2000

• Ground breaks on the San Diego Jewish Academy.

• Sage Canyon School opens.

• Torrey Pines High School turned 25 years old.

• Pardee Homes sells its visitor center property on El Camino Real for $900,000. It's skate park later.

• $24 million sports center in Carmel Valley—Pacific Athletic Club.

• New home construction booms and planning begins for Pacific Highlands Ranch. Construction begins on Signature Point, the housing complex across from Del Mar Highlands Town Center


• A group called FANGS, Families Against Neighborhood Gas Stations, opposes a Chevron gas station planned for East Ocean Air Drive and Carmel Mountain Road. The fight continues until 2002, when Chevron abandons their plans.

• Torrey Hills Community Park opens.

4s Ranch 一篇很好的介绍文章

这篇文章是我的一个客户在bbs写的。 4S孩子的活动特别丰富多彩。课后班有育才，园泉，新东方。游泳有Noonan，Pacific。各种体育班就更不用说了。左邻右舍的中国人大家可以互相照应，孩子今天这里串串门，明天那里兜兜，十分快乐，家长也省心。公园更是一个赛过一个，那个著名的Water Park现在围上了高高的是非本地居民不许入内的。 老人们也很幸福，今天去图书馆打打麻将(图书馆长是中国人），明天去Monterey Ridge小学前的菜地垦垦荒，再到公园里去跳跳舞，打打牌，唠唠嗑。 白领们六七十万就可以住3000多尺的新房，购物比CV方便多了。 我觉得唯一不好的就是上班开车可能远了点， Mello Roos高了点。另外中国人多，孩子竞争可能有点激烈，但另一方面来说，学区以后一定会更好。父母心态好就没事了。 4S是设计得奖的社区，那么多精明能干的中国人都选择在那里安家一定是有他们的道理的。 （虽然我不住在4S,我的朋友大部分住那里。因为我住的有点远，错过了许多饭局。他们经常问我后不后悔没给他们做邻居。其实我现在一个星期还是往那里逛好几次的。） 原文的连接在这里 http://www.mitbbs.com/bbsann2/chinese.faq/SanDiego/apartment/rent/M.1321840813_2.y0/%5B%BA%CF%BC%AF%5D+%D3%D0%C8%CB%D7%A14S%C2%F0%3F

胡掰一下

看了一下，7月份看过的房子，基本上都pending了。说明咱看上和房子还都不错?

天上掉馅饼

是不可能的。

好deal都是有reason的。

其实也没有什么好deal, 所谓的好deal, 买到的人其实不一定喜欢。 还在后悔。

所以别再找好deal了。 找你喜欢的房子。

因为，那是你的家。

每天早上起来，你庆幸自己住在这里。 而不是另外任何一个房子里。

圣地亚哥的小学介绍

San Diego School District and Schools

圣地亚哥的学区，公立学校不错的，按地区算:

Carmel Valley (92130 对应的学区是Del Mar Union, Solona Beach)

Rancho Panasquitos  ( 92129 对应的学区是Poway)

4S Ranch ( 92127 对应的学区是Poway)

Scripps Ranch (92130 对应学区是San Diego Unified）

La Jolla (92037 对应学区是San Diego Unified)

圣地亚哥的公立小学优秀的很多， 比较著名的像Carmel Valley的 Sage Canyon, Ocean air, Carmel Creek, Torrey Hill, Ashley Fall, Sycamore Ridge.  Poway的Creekside, Deer Canyon, Stone Ranch。 Scripps Ranch的Dingeman, Ellen Browning。

不过要注意的是，基本上除了Carmel Valley, 其他地区并不是所有的房子所处的位置都能进好的学校。 而且，好学区和好学校又是有区别的。进了好学区（比如Poway) 又不一定能进的好学校。 

小学这里是从K开始，相当于国内的学前班吧。 小学毕业有的学校是5年纪，有的是6年纪。 Carmel Valley 的小学都是一直到6年纪。 从7年纪开始是才初中。 从9年纪开始是高中， 高中4年。 而Poway和San Diego United的小学全部是到5年纪。 到了6年纪就是初中。 这是个很重要的区别。 我个人觉得，对于男孩来说，早一点去上初中也没有什么不好，女孩子晚一点去上初中没有什么不好。 当然，每个孩子的情况不同。 比如说，我有的客户从外地搬过来，他们那里和poway学区一样也是6年纪初中，搬到这里去CV 上学的话她要重新回小学去上学了，小姑娘就觉得不高兴。  题外话， 对孩子的信心有些小打击噢。

从小学说起，大家都知道美国的教育普遍重视教学的过程。 小学的K， 1年纪做很多的手工。 剪贴，粘，画画， 没有条条框框，自由发挥。 很多人觉得美国小孩都不学习，上课特别随便。 其实不是的。 小学对小孩子的洗脑和培养纪律性还是相当的重视和的。上二年级，三年级之后强调Reading, 增强词汇量，还有理解力。 作文也很重要。 同时数学也加强了很多。从二年级开始，学生可以参加gate考试， 就是智商测验。 Poway和San Diego United 都有gate program, San Diego United的gate program叫Seminar program。 能进gate program对孩子也是学习上的一个鼓励和动力。

小学的作业不多，每天基本上要求阅读，老师非常鼓励和强调读书的重要性，像我女儿现在一年级，一周才有一次作业，但是每天都可以从老师在教室里面的图书馆里面借书拿回家看。 

怎么衡量一个学校？ 加州有一个指数叫做API， Academic Performance Index. http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/

这个指数每年9月公布，并不是单单根据学校的学生考试成绩来的，他还会看学校成绩相比去年的增长。 每个学校的API报告是公开的。 数据包括这个学校学生的总人数， 其中各个族裔有几个人， 每个族裔的API的分数是多少。 和上一年相比的情况。 举例说明，Carmel Valley的最好的小学之一Sage Canyon, 他全校的API是982分， （相对于其他小学950都算是高的了， 这个分数是远远领先）。 他们学校里面亚裔有138个，亚裔的API是993， 而西班牙裔是966， 白人是974.  说明这个小学各个族裔的学习成绩差距不大。 有的小学这3中族裔的分数可是远远拉开的，这个就不举例了。

固然，大部分人判断一个学校的好坏都盯着学校的API。 这个是硬指标。 是数据。 而我个人觉得，一个学校的软性指标才最重要。 首先，老师最重要。 一个有爱心，负责，有经验的老师比任何考试成绩说明问题。 其次，学校的学生构成，家长，家庭构成。 学校的PTA（家长老师联合会）是不是很活跃，能为学校的各种活动拉经费和摇旗呐喊。 一个很强的PTA能积极参与到学校的方方面面，团结所有的家长为学校添砖加瓦，集思广益的组织有趣的课内课外活动。 让学生有更强烈的归属感和自豪感，能也交到各种好朋友。 对孩子的成长非常有好处。

一个搬到湾区的客户的来信

我一个客户搬到湾区了。 今天给我发来了一个email,  她让我给post到我的blog上 --
=======================================================================

我已劝说好几个中国妈妈别再来搅乱弯区的房市，给我们这些工薪阶层带来更大的压力。但她们居然不熟悉圣地亚哥。你帮我看着XXX的房子，有机会我还要回来。

最近我们在买房，真是惊叹于湾区人民的富裕。关键是有市场，这还是符合价值规律的。一百多万的房子，竟然经常见到cash-buyer。而且有不少竟是在卖投资房。几年前当我们刚刚来到湾区的时候，还认为自己的工资比较高，又是双职工，在湾区整套像样的房子，过上富足的生活不成问题。几年下来终于认识到，在湾区只凭工资吃饭是很紧张的。湾区人有钱，为什么？不是工资高。因为湾区的工资没有比其他地方翻倍，但是房价翻了一倍都不止，又是高物价，高税收的城市。湾区有钱人应该是这几种：
1。公司高官。湾区公司太多了，都是高科技新贵。公司多，高管也多。（中国是高官有钱，美国是高管有钱！）
2。Start-up 多，成功的Start-up相应地也多。一旦一个Start-up成功，就会造就若干，甚至上千的平民富翁。(Google 是个例子，Facebook应该也快了。)
3。还有亚洲各国的富豪，尤其是中国的高官，新贵。他们要来美国置业，当然首选湾区。因为华人社区好，华人服务好，天气好。
4。还有各级从商的人们。就买卖房屋上说，湾区的房屋agent，贷款agent就多如牛毛。并不是说这些人都有钱，但是这些人中间走在食物链上端的那部分，哪个不是腰缠几百万。
所以生活在湾区，若要舒舒服服地买栋房，一定要成为有钱人。不然，只有两条路：搬离湾区，或者背着重债住在小黑屋里。

Worst day since Oct. 08 - DJ 掉 513 点

double dip的谣言要成为预言了。

buyer们普遍缺乏信心。

加上贷款上限下调。

人心惶惶～

日子还要过，上有老下有小的我们房子也不能不买。

买了的现在也来不及后悔。 赶紧趁着rate好抓紧refin吧。

这就是市场，有人说是机会，有人唉声叹气, 有人无动于衷。

我们能做什么？

和买房无关。

动车的事情。 谁看了都心痛。

我们能做什么呢？

只能做好自己。

中国什么时候能以人为本？ 希望这一页别那么容易就翻过去。

纽约时报今天转载广为流传的微博：
中國，請停下你飛奔的腳步，等一等你的人民，等一等你的靈魂，等一等你的道德，等一等你的良知！不要讓列車脫軌，不要讓橋樑坍塌，不要讓道路成為陷阱，不要讓房屋成為廢墟。慢點走，讓每一個生命都享有自由和尊嚴。每一個個體，都不應該被這個時代拋棄.

Case-Shiller housing data: April 2011

Market	MoM Change	YoY Change	Peaked In...	Change from Peak	Prices Last at This Level in...	# of Months of Decrease
Phoenix	0.1%	-8.8%	Jun-06	-55.9%	Jan-00	0
LA	0.3%	-2.1%	Sep-06	-38.6%	Sep-03	0
San Diego	0.4%	-4.3%	Nov-05	-38.3%	Dec-02	0
Bay Area	1.7%	-5.5%	May-06	-39.5%	Jan-01	0
Denver	1.5%	-4.1%	Aug-06	-12.8%	Aug-01	0
DC Area	3.0%	4.0%	May-06	-25.6%	May-04	0
Atlanta	1.6%	-3.5%	Jul-07	-25.3%	Mar-00	0
Chicago	-0.4%	-8.6%	Sep-06	-34.7%	Mar-01	8
Boston	-0.2%	-4.2%	Sep-05	-19.4%	Sep-02	9
Las Vegas	-0.7%	-6.2%	Aug-06	-58.9%	Mar-99	7
New York	0.8%	-2.8%	Jun-06	-23.9%	Jan-04	0
Portland	0.1%	-9.2%	Jul-07	-28.8%	Sep-04	0
Dallas	0.5%	-4.0%	Jun-07	-10.4%	Apr-02	0
Seattle	1.6%	-6.9%	Jul-07	-29.7%	Aug-04	0
20 City Index	0.7%	-4.0%	Jul-06	-32.8%	Apr-03	0

Tight Credit Continues to Shut Buyers Out

For example, Amy Menell told The Wall Street Journal how a bank denied her for a home loan, despite her credit score being above 800, no debt, and having a down payment of more than 50 percent of the cost of the $400,000 home. However, Menell, who was in the process of finalizing a divorce, works as a real estate agent and didn’t have much income in 2009. While her business has picked up since then, she did not have the two years of documented income the banks wanted to process her loan application.

Other qualified buyers coming with good credit scores and credit histories are also finding themselves unable to get a home loan. Those who are having the toughest time are those who have seen their incomes drop or interrupted by a time of unemployment and self-employed applicants. Lenders don’t appear to have plans to ease credit soon either. Nearly four in 10 banks reported even tighter mortgage lending standards for the 12-month period ended in February, according to a survey by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Terramar 2011

Funny: the Great Wallet of China

Rezone for Poway school district affecting 4S Ranch

Poway school District excludes two older communities (Bernardo Point and the Summit) got voted "yes" yesterday at board meeting. Bernardo Point was selling for higher price because they are gated and no mello-roos. They have easy access to Monterey Ridge too. They are now assigned to Turtleback Elementary School. H

Monterey Ridge currently enrolls 956 students. Next school year MRES will have 1,120 students. By 2017/18, it is expected to have 1,416 students!!

高压线

经专家鉴定

这个是10万伏的高压线。 有辐射，但是还好。

My client was on Union Tribune

Click here to see the whole article.

My client was signing contract that day when Union Tribune came to the site for an interview. That is really cool~

“Jumbo” Mortgage is Set to Expire in Oct, 2011

On Oct. 1, the maximum loan amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is set to decrease from $729,750 to $625,500. This might make mortgages more expensive or more difficult to get for buyers in high-cost areas, MSNBC.com reports.

For example, after Oct. 1, a borrower who seeks a government-backed mortgage for a $1-million property may have to come up with a $370,000 down payment instead of $270,000, Rob Chrisman, a mortgage banking consultant from San Rafael, Calif., told MSNBC.

Up until 2008, any loan more than $418,000 was considered a jumbo loan, but that later swelled to $625,500 and then was temporarily set at $729,750 (which expires at the end of September).

Once the current jumbo loan limit expires, lenders who want to make loans over $625,500 either will have to hold onto the mortgage themselves or find a private investor to purchase it.

Terramar 2011 Summer

2 new subdivision in - Pines & Willows

Here is what I heard -- there were 6 builders including CA west (builder for Andalucia and Monte Luz) bidding for the last lot in 4S and Pulte homes won the bid.

So there they are -- with 2 new subdivision coming up in 4S Ranch. I sure hope this is the last development in 4S. Monterey Ridge has over 1,000 students already! Still growing. Dr. Newman said at one site council meeting that he would really reluctant to build those trailer classrooms but eventually he gave up.

Pines: 2679 sf to 3262 sf. (I really liked their plan 3) High 600K to Low 700K.

Willows: 3353 sf to 3586 sf Low 700K to High 700K. Total homes 50. Tax & Mello Roos 1.9%.

Where Are We in This Housing Market?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

我个人的感觉是，如果您需要购房自住，现在是很好的买房时机，因为现在的房价和2009年初基本持平。如果投资并能达到正现金流，现在也是很好的时机。如果已经有房或rental，应该转向其他比房地产更好的投资方向。

中国的房地产泡沫和两难。Housing bubbles in China

Empty cities and malls in China. On one side millions of unoccupied houses, on the other side, millions can't afford one.

美国人的收入金字塔

Thought the picture is eye popping.

Another set of data, the top 1% in US account for 25% of total income, and command 40% of total wealth.

记我们4S Ranch 图书馆的馆长

地处4S Ranch的商业中心，并且存有丰富的中文书以及中文影碟的图书馆，是住在4S Ranch的居民的好去处。  去图书馆泡，可以去看书，还可以参加各种丰富多彩的活动，更可以认识很多志同道合的朋友。 

最特别的是4S Ranch图书馆的馆长June Zhou, 是一位大家都很爱戴的女士。 她热心，勤力， 负责， 为4S的中国人社区做了很多的事情。 周馆长的耐心是有目共睹的， 她总是不厌其烦地回答大家的各种问题， 有好多人宁愿多等一会也要找她借书。尤其是老年人，都觉得周馆长没有任何架子，总是和蔼可亲，有求必应。 

周立青馆长是从上海师范大学英文专业毕业的。 毕业后来到美国在State of New York Stony 攻读图书馆专业。 1993年拿到硕士学位之后就在纽约的皇后区的图书馆工作，这里是全美最大的图书馆之一。 周馆长在这里工作了5年， 积累了丰富的图书馆工作经验，尤其是和少数族裔打交道的经验。 因为皇后区的图书馆非常注重为新移民搞活动，办各种帮助他们适应美国生活的学习班。 之后周馆长随先生搬到新泽西州， 一个机缘巧合她找到了一份在图书发行公司的工作。 这个工作促使她到全国各地的图书馆出差，帮助当地的图书馆做引进新书的工作。 这个工作她一做就是5年。 在这5年里学到了很多选书的门道，怎样根据不同大小，面对不同的读者来选取不同的藏书。 通过这份工作她也积累了很多的人脉和关系。 当时，正好圣地亚哥这里开建一个新的图书馆在Rancho San Diego。 通过帮他们买新书，她第一次和圣地亚哥结缘了。 2004年，先生转来圣地亚哥工作， 刚好圣地亚哥的图书馆有一个空缺， 而这个职位又刚好是经手买书的职位。 简直就是perfect match!  就这样，周立青全家就搬来了美丽的圣地亚哥。 

在圣地亚哥的图书馆， 周馆长负责帮助各个分馆选购图书， 和各个出版商，发行商打交道。 要说到选书， 这里的学问也很大。 不同的地区，不同的人口分布，有完全不同的需要。 还有不断的根据书的出借情况不断的及时调整。 2008年4S Ranch的分馆open, 她也负责帮助这个新的图书馆来挑选图书。 当时研究人口分布图的时候，周馆长发现4S非常的多元化，主要人口有印度人，中国人，阿拉伯人，伊朗人，菲律宾，越南，更有很多的法国人和意大利人。 了解了人口分布，对于选书买书就有的放矢了。  

2009年周馆长来到4S Ranch出任馆长的时候，图书馆完全没有任何针对中国人的活动。 她主动和Local organization 联系， 让他们派老师来免费教来探亲的老人们学英文。 这个活动得到了积极的响应。 随后她又联系了一周一次的公民班。 随着本地华人的不断增多， 大家都反映缺少一个聚会和搞活动的场地。 在周馆长的大力支持下， 每个月的第一个星期一，“相聚图书馆”。 而每次都有一个主题，比如做饭， 种花， 中医。 都是大家感兴趣的话题。 来参加的人越来越多。 成为了社区的中国人，尤其是老年人相互交流的中心。 而且每年的中秋，新年，春节， 图书馆都要装饰的漂漂亮亮， 大家聚在一起，其乐融融。 每次周馆长都对老人们亲切招呼， 让大家感到很温暖。 渐渐地， 社区里的中国人都知道周馆长，很多老人不懂英文，就要等着让周馆长帮他们借书。 

除了给社区中国人办的活动，4S Ranch其他的活动也很丰富多彩。 本地人参与到社区图书馆的热情很高， 各种文化的节日都有相应的庆祝活动。 每年的夏天搞的阅读计划，都是整个county图书馆的Record breaking。 在County的33个图书馆中， 4S Ranch的是面积最小的，但是书流量一直排名第九名。 在总馆的例会上也经常被表扬。 每个月都有3万5千本书的书流量， 是相当可观的数字。 而且这个数字一直在不断增长，因为社区的人数一直在增长， 每天都有新搬入社区的人来办理图书证。 

周馆长为了社区的中国人的文化活动， 尽心尽力， 还特别订阅了世界日报和大家都很喜爱的华人。 

Celebrities Face Foreclosure Too

The rich and famous are finding they aren’t immune to foreclosure. In the last six months, actor Nicolas Cage, baseball legend Julius “Dr.J” Erving, and hip-hop artist Chamillionaire have gone through foreclosure proceedings, Reuters News reports.

Morgan Brennan of Forbes.com says strategic defaults are becoming more common among celebrities--that’s when a party walks away from a home because of its big loss in value, even though they have enough money to pay the mortgage.
That’s what Erving did. He said his Utah mansion was drastically underwater and so he stopped making his mortgage payments last fall on the home.
"All price points have been hit by the foreclosure crisis,” Brennan told Reuters News. “The rich and famous have not been excluded from that. There are a handful of people in the luxury real estate category that are experiencing foreclosures as well."

$232,000 per bottle

Three 1869 bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild, which sold for $232,000 per bottle at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on October 30, setting a new worldwide auction record for wine

买酒的也都是Asian, 买房的也是。 乱观感。

Testimonial: Portilla

Connie is very knowledge about the market. She's especially familiar with the Carmel Valley and 4S Ranch markets. Although she was taking an oversea vacation at the beginning of our house hunting process, she made sure that we were taken cared of by another Realtor. What's amazing is that she is so familiar with the houses in the market, that whichever house we had questions, she could tell her her impression from memory via email. She has many clients, that is why she is familiar with the market. She is always responsive whenever e ask her questions. We selected Connie also because she was never hesitate in offering her candidate opinion of the houses that she showed, which provides us a helpful neutral perspective in the selection process. She was also very resourceful and provided good referrals for mortgage brokers, carpet cleaning, etc. She also helped us negotiated $4000 with the bank for the short-sale house we bought, which was not easy, and we appreciate her tenacity in helping us get each dollar back. The other thing that was really great about Connie is that she helped us rent out our other house without charging us anything. That house was rented out around Christmas time, which was a slow month for house renting. We love Connie and will not hesitate in recommending her to others.

Inflation in College Tuitions