Author: Igor Nastaskin
California homeowners Rank No. 1 in Home Owner Happiness
A new survey by HomeAdvisor has found that California homeowners ranked No. 1 out of 36 metro areas when it comes to homeowner happiness. The top three reasons? Affordable, well-functioning homes offering enjoyable accommodations; a sense of diversity, safety and a strong neighborhood network; and practical commutes and access to important accommodations and services. Los Angeles, in particular, ranked No. 2 behind San Francisco among the survey’s “Five Happiest Cities” in the recently released Home Happiness Survey, which polled 18,000 homeowners in 36 metro areas to determine how their overall happiness is influenced by where they live. The index assigned Los Angeles homeowners an A- “happiness score,” with eight out of 10 homeowners saying, “It’s the best place to live.” In addition, the Angelenos surveyed said they had been in their homes an average of 35 years and 88 percent said they have renovated their homes. The affordability factor was where Angelenos scored their lowest happiness score, with just 52 percent saying the average $759,000 home price is “reasonable.” When it comes to community, 70 percent of Los Angeles residents said they feel safe, 65 percent trust their neighbors, 63 percent feel they have good fire, police and medical services, and 62 percent have neighbors they enjoy. Meanwhile, 54 percent said they feel their community is racially diverse and 55 percent said their community is religiously diverse. As for commuting, 82 percent of Angelenos said they have easy access to highways and live within one hour of a major metro area, 60 percent have a reasonable commute, and 55 percent live close to work. Seventy-seven percent said they have access to shopping to meet their needs.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Local Resident Stands Up for Victims
Growing up in Guatemala in a home with domestic violence, Riviera resident Ericka Gonzalez vowed at the age of 8 that she would do something about it. And she has. In fact, Ericka has done so much to help domestic violence victims that she was honored recently as Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women. Ericka’s work with domestic abuse victims began decades ago when she began volunteering at the Rainbow Services in San Pedro, a domestic violence agency that aims to keep families safe. That led to volunteering at the Women’s Shelter of Long Beach. In 2002, she began volunteer work at the Redondo Beach Police Department Domestic Violence Victims Advocacy Program, where she now serves as coordinator. “Our goal is to support domestic violence victims in every way we can, including helping them find shelter, providing them with counseling services and even accompanying them to court,” said Ericka. “It’s very rewarding and a privilege to help others.” Ericka recalled a recent case of a mother who had a restraining order against her abusive husband. While she was away from home, the man cleaned out her house taking everything in it. Thanks to the donations of volunteers, within days the woman once again had furniture, groceries and clothes for her and her child. She also had a supportive network of help to keep her out of the cycle of future domestic violence. “We have a very supportive community and government here in the South Bay,” said Ericka. “People want to help, so it’s just a matter of reaching out and letting victims know we’re here for them when they need us.” Ericka, her husband, David, and their two children, David and Ninabella, have lived in the Riviera for 18 years, and plan to call this area their lifelong home. The Redondo Beach Police Department Domestic Violence Victims Advocacy Program offers a team of volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Specially trained volunteers are able to quickly offer support to victims and to educate them about the cycle of violence. A candlelight vigil to raise awareness about the fight against domestic violence will be held October 22 at 6:30pm at the Redondo Beach Civic Center in honor of October’s domestic violence awareness month. To reach the program, call 310-379-2477, ext 7-3.
What do Baby Boomers Want Most?
When seeking to purchase a home in a new community, buyers ages 55 and older are keen on sites near amenities such as shopping, dining, medical services and entertainment, with affordability and open layouts also coming in strong. That according to new research by the real estate media firm Hanley Wood and national homebuilder and developer Taylor Morrison, which includes findings from a focus group held with buyers who are ages 55 and older as well as a separate survey gauging the values, preferences and attitudes of recent homebuyers in the same age group. “Information gleaned from the focus group helps set the stage on what the 55-plus homebuyer desires in a new home and how the industry should be building its homes,” said John McManus, editorial director of Hanley Wood’s Residential Group. “These influential buyers want a fresh start in a vital, connected, accessible new-home environment.” Key findings uncovered in the research: The top three factors that influence the purchase of a new home include area/location (50.2 percent), price/affordability (37.4 percent) and the layout of the home (19 percent). When building or shopping for a new home, quality of construction (9 percent), a safer neighborhood (8.4 percent), better floor plans (8.2 percent) and architecture/overall design (8.1 percent) led the way. The top three most important rooms or areas in a home included the kitchen (82.8 percent), master bedroom (59.2 percent) and a great room (36 percent). Technology also is important to Baby-Boomers, including wireless security systems (7.1 percent), lighting that senses and adapts to you (6.3 percent), and integrated home technology such as smart thermostats and lighting controlled by a smart phone (6.2 percent). Based on their findings, Hanley Wood and Taylor Morrison are set to unveil the NEXTadventure Home at the 2017 International Builders Show Jan. 10-12 in Orlando, Fla. Crafted with the help of some of the industry’s leading architects, designers, thought leaders and manufacturers, the 2,268-square-foot home will include outdoor living features (including a pool, fireplace and summer kitchen), along with a large kitchen island, super shower, beverage center, secondary bedroom (called “a snore room”) and walk-in pantry.
Millennials Calling for New Energy Products and Services
Millennials not only want to be the first to sign up for the latest energy-related products and services, but they also are seeking a seamless experience from their energy providers, says a new survey by Accenture. This consumer demand demonstrates that millennials will drive much of the future value for energy providers, according to the global professional services company’s seventh annual survey of energy consumers, The New Energy Consumer: Thriving in the Energy Ecosystem. The survey—which explored the views of almost 10,000 respondents across 17 countries—found that millennials bring a strong influence on key consumer engagement trends amid an increasingly complex set of competitors vying for energy products, services and experiences. According to the survey: • 24 percent of millennials are classified as early adopters, compared with 17 percent among the 35-54 age group and 7 percent of those ages 55 and older. In addition, 22 percent of millennials said they wanted to experiment with new technologies, which was higher when compared with other age groups (15 percent for those aged 35-54 and 6 percent for those 55 and older). • Millennials are very receptive and far more likely to consider distributed energy resources products and services after receiving related information—87 percent compared with 60 percent among those 55 and older. Almost 80 percent said they’d be more satisfied if offered an in-home digital assistant and monitoring service that suggested customized new products and services offers, compared with 62 percent of respondents 55 or older. • When it comes to in-home energy management, 61 percent are likely to sign up for an application to remotely monitor and control home elements in the next five years versus 36 percent of those 55 and older. Notably, 56 percent of millennials (twice as many as people 55 and older) are likely to sign up for solar panels in the next five years. • Millennials attach more importance than older demographics to a personalized experience across digital channels, as well as access to the latest digital technologies that enable them to interact with their energy providers. In addition, 83 percent would be discouraged from signing up for additional products and services if their provider could not provide a seamless experience. • 41 percent of millennials interact more frequently with their energy provider using social media, and they would also be more satisfied if they could log into their provider’s portal via social media credentials. • 77 percent of millennials would be interested in an online personalized marketplace to select and purchase energy-related products and services. Additionally, a little more than one-third would be interested in, and willing to pay for, automated home solutions.
Three Ways Buyers Can Come Out on Top in a Sellers’ Market
According to the Zillow’s Q2 2016 Market Report, U.S. homes are selling at an average of a week faster than they did a year ago. That means home shoppers should be prepared to move quickly in a competitive housing market. The supply of homes for sale is almost 5 percent lower than it was a year ago, and 38 percent lower than its peak level in 2011. With fewer available options, home shoppers are moving quickly to buy homes, with the average U.S. home closing after 78 days on the market (and 64 days in Los Angeles). Here, three tips from Inman to help homebuyers navigate a strong seller’s market: 1) Be prepared Fill out pre-qualification forms completely and provide your lender with all of your important documents before looking for a home. You also should be ready to put down earnest money, with most agents requesting at least 1 percent of the purchase price of the house. If you need to borrow that amount, you should talk to your lender and follow directions on how to borrow that money so it won’t interfere with the loan. 2) Make sure to look at all of the costs Talk to your lender about monthly payments and know what your total payment will look like using more than an online mortgage calculator. These often don’t include private mortgage insurance (PMI), and if you’re putting down less than 20 percent of the home’s value, your payment will include PMI. You also should consider what the payment looks like with property tax and HOA included. 3) Keep in mind that cosmetic changes can be made easily Don’t be too picky about things that can be changed. In a tight market, you might lose the perfect house just because you don’t love certain aspects of a home. Consider asking the seller to pay for some of the closing costs so you can use that cash for a few upgrades before moving in, like new carpet, window blinds and bathroom faucets.
RIS Media: Millennials: Want to Own, Less Sure It Makes Financial Sense
For the fourth year in a row, millennials are the largest share of homebuyers at 35 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors. But do they think ownership makes good financial sense? RIS Media examined data from the NAR’s most recent Housing Opportunities and Market Experience Survey to determine millennials attitudes toward home ownership. Here’s what they found: • When asked the question, “Thinking about housing and homeownership, in general do you believe buying a home is a good financial decision, or not?,” those buyers aged 34 and younger were the least likely out of all the generations at 85 percent to say that they believed it was a good financial decision. The main reason this generation doesn’t currently own a home is because they don’t feel they can afford it (57 percent), followed by needing the current flexibility of renting rather than owning (24 percent). Twenty-six percent feel they would become homeowners if their financial situation improved, while 40 percent felt they would make the move to ownership if their lifestyle changed (getting married, starting a family, etc.). • Nearly half of millennial respondents are renters (48 percent) and a fourth (25 percent) live with someone else. However, when asked, “Do you believe homeownership is part of your American Dream?,” 88 percent of millennials answered yes. This is larger than both the 35-44 and 45-54 cohorts, although it falls short of the 55-64 and 64-and- over cohorts. Ninety-six percent of those buyers aged 34 and under want to own a home in the future, which is the largest share of all the generations. This suggests optimism about the housing market and their ability to buy in the future, even if they are facing current market difficulties. • When asked about their outlook on the U.S. economy, 60 percent of those 34 and under thought it was improving—the largest share of all the generational cohorts.
Home-Buying Myth Busters
We’ve all been there. You’re looking to buy a house when well-meaning friends and family pop out of the woodwork to offer you guidance. While they’re just trying to be helpful, their advice often can send you down the wrong path. To protect you from jumping into the market armed with ill-conceived knowledge, realtor.com gathered the worst home-buying advice people have heard and explained why these sayings often are incorrect: Hold off, home prices are going down Predictions that the housing bubble is going to burst again have persisted for years. No one knows what the future holds, so if you want or need to buy a home, the time to do it is now. With a lack of inventory and the busiest time of the year approaching, home prices aren’t going to decrease anytime soon. You don’t need to use a real estate agent In a fast-moving housing market, an experienced real estate agent is indispensable. Your agent not only will know about properties long before you do, he or she also will be able to guide you through all of the paperwork and point out potential problems that could cost you more in the long run. An agent’s knowledge and experience also will help you get the house you want at the best price. Just use the listing agent to represent you The seller’s agent represents the seller. You need someone in your own corner who has your interests in mind and is working to get you the best deal. Make a lowball offer and negotiate up from there Making a major lowball offer often can start negotiations off on the wrong foot with the seller. You also might wind up paying more in the end than you would have if you had you been more reasonable in the beginning. Serious buyers and sellers know what homes are worth. Never pay full price You don’t want to pay full price if a home is overpriced. After you determine whether the house is worth the money after studying the comps your Realtor provides, paying full price may be the only way to get the home in a seller’s market. Remove contingencies to make your offer stronger In a competitive market, it’s tempting to let safeguards like home inspections and title clearances slide. While sellers dislike contingencies, they’re designed to protect you against catastrophes—like buying a house with toxic mold or liens that will cost you thousands of dollars. Don’t bother hiring a home inspector A home might look fine at an open house, but it could be filled with issues that only a pro can uncover. Saving a few bucks by not hiring an inspector could cost you loads down the line, even with a home warranty from the seller.
Getting to Know Your Riviera Neighbors: Lisa Lunzer and a Life-Long Career in Insurance Sales
When Lisa Lunzer graduated from college she knew she wanted a career that would allow her to work flexible hours and earn a fair living wage. She also knew she wanted a career that involved a product or service she truly believed in. A job selling health and life insurance fit the bill to a tee. “My parents and grandparents all suffered from major illness, so I knew firsthand the benefits of having good life and health insurance and I’ve believed in those products my whole life,” says Lisa. “So it was an easy choice for me to go into the insurance business straight from college. That was 38 years ago and I’m still an insurance broker.” Much has changed in the insurance industry in the decades since Lisa entered the workforce, most recently with the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. “The health insurance business has gone through much turmoil and many changes in the last decade, and it’s certainly not the industry it once was,” said Lisa. “However, I’m determined to roll with the changes and do the best I can to help my clients with the insurance products available.” The flexible hours of Lisa’s job were ideal when her two sons were growing up, allowing her to be involved with their activities and always home when school was out, yet still get her work done. Today, she’s finding those flexible hours are just as valuable as she spends time with her grandchildren. “My clients aren’t surprised to see emails sent at 4:00 am from me,” says Lisa. “I get up early or stay up late to get my work done so I can be there for my family. It’s a win-win.” Lisa and her husband, Dave, moved to the Riviera from Seattle in 1986. They were looking for a community that would foster a family lifestyle and fit in with their personal values of family first. When they happened upon the Hollywood Riviera they knew they found the perfect place to raise their sons and live out their Golden Years. Both of their sons attended our local schools – Riviera Elementary, Richardson Middle and South High —– and then went on to earn engineering degrees at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Their granddaughters will also attend Torrance Unified Schools. “Health and life insurance give people peace of mind,” said Lisa. ”But so does where you live. And living in the Riviera gives me and my family a real sense of comfort. It’s something I’m grateful for every day.” Click Here to read Igor’s full Newsletter on Scribd.com – http://www.scribd.com/LiveInHollywdRiviera