Foreign Buyers See Big Bargains in U.S. Real Estate

Foreign investors are finding plenty of deals in the U.S. when it comes to real estate, and, as such, more international investors are flocking to key states to buy their piece of the American Dream. 

Source: “Housing More Affordable Than Ever ... for Foreign Investors,” MSNBC.com (Jan. 13, 2012)

The top destinations of foreign investors for U.S. real estate purchases are: 

1. Florida: Thirty-one percent of all home purchases in that state are made by foreign buyers, with most coming from Cuba, Haiti, and Colombia.

2. California: 12 percent of all home purchases (most coming from Mexico, the Philippines, China, India, and Vietnam)

3. Texas: 9 percent of all home purchases (most coming from Mexico, India, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines)

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。