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Fight the Nesting Instinct
2008-03-08 08:00:07
The nesting instinct is typically characterized by the irrational behaviors of women during and after childbirth. Its symptoms are also common among newly-weds and young couples. This irrationality often entails purchasing a home with or without sound financial prudence. As a woman, I understand that and accept responsibility for the financial and/or emotional trauma our [...]
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Can’t See the Forest for the Trees
2008-03-07 08:00:46
44 E. Forest Ave. Asking Price $1,350,000 ::: Sq-ft 2,200 Purchased Price $506,000 ::: Lot Size 7,570 Purchased Date 08/24/2005 ::: Beds 4 Days on Redfin 140 ::: Baths 2.75 $/Sq-ft $614 ::: Year Built 2007 20% Downpayment $270,000 ::: Area Santa Anita Income Required $337,500/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $6,825/month ::: MLS# W07152876 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% “brand new under construction…convenient location, near stores, shop & transportation…homes will be ready until early next year” Looks like these sellers listed the house last year before it was even completed. [...]
Read more: Trees

Carried Away with the House
2008-03-06 08:00:26
705 Carriage House Dr. Asking Price $3,500,876 ::: Sq-ft 5,755 Purchased Price $1,953,500 ::: Lot Size 25,157 Purchased Date 07/24/2002 ::: Beds 5 Days on Redfin 4 ::: Baths 6.5 $/Sq-ft $608 ::: Year Built 2002 20% Downpayment $700,175 ::: Area SantaAnitaOaks Income Required $875,219/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $17,700/month ::: MLS# W08004196 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% This beautiful property is located in the “exclusive guard-gated community of Anoakia Estates” up in the Santa Anita Oaks area. Too bad they want $3.50MM for it when they paid just $1.95MM five [...]


Empty McMansion #6
2008-03-05 08:00:42
619 Rosemarie Dr. Asking Price $1,280,000 ::: Sq-ft 3,150 Purchased Price $480,000 ::: Lot Size 7,440 Purchased Date 11/21/2003 ::: Beds 4 Days on Redfin 56 ::: Baths 4.5 $/Sq-ft $406 ::: Year Built 2007 20% Downpayment $256,000 ::: Area Baldwin Stocker Income Required $320,000/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $8,090/month ::: MLS# W08004196 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% $1,280,000 (asking price) - 6% commission - $480,000 (purchase price) -$598,500 (construction costs @ $190/sqft) - $103,785 (carrying cost @ $2,035/month x 51 months) = approx. $21k profit Purchase Price $480,000 Purchase Date 11/21/2003 1st [...]
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Empty McMansion #5
2008-03-04 08:00:48
333 E. Las Flores Ave. Asking Price $1,738,000 ::: Sq-ft 3,954 Purchased Price $788,000 ::: Lot Size 9,417 Purchased Date 08/23/2006 ::: Beds 5 Days on Redfin 32 ::: Baths 5.5 $/Sq-ft $440 ::: Year Built 2008 20% Downpayment $347,600 ::: Area Santa Anita Income Required $434,500/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $8,787/month ::: MLS# A08015473 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% “THIS MAGNIFICENT BRAND NEW CUSTOM BUILT ARCADIA ESTATE IS A SHOWCASE OF LUXURY, TOP QUALITY WITH EXQUISITE DESIGN AND IMPECCABLE CRAFTSMANSHIP. 5 SUITES, 2 DOWN STAIRS. MASTER SUITE HAS JACUZZI TUB, [...]
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Empty McMansion #4
2008-03-03 08:00:25
322 Leda Ln. Asking Price $1,999,000 ::: Sq-ft 4,450 Purchased Price $779,000 ::: Lot Size 9,840 Purchased Date 11/03/2006 ::: Beds 5 Days on Redfin 45 ::: Baths 4.5 $/Sq-ft $449 ::: Year Built 2008 20% Downpayment $399,800 ::: Area Santa Anita Income Required $499,750/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $10,107/month ::: MLS# W08008865 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% Welcome back to another week at Arcadia Housing Blog. Today I will continue to document yet another empty, equity burning McMansion. Like #3 from last week, this brand new construction is also listed [...]
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Inventory and Market Report - 3/1/08
2008-03-02 08:00:53
Zip Codes: 91006, 91007 Current Market Listings as of March 1, 2008 Properties for Sale: 263 (+16)* Median Listing Price: $779,000 (+0%)* Weekly Foreclosure Update Properties in Foreclosure: 14 (+3)* Properties in Pre-Foreclosure:61 (-1)* *+/- is compared to previous week’s data. January sales figures are in: Number of homes sold: 32 (+3 from Dec. 2007) Median sales price: $687,500 (-13% from Dec. 2007) In one month [...]
Read more: Inventory

I am Renter
2008-03-01 08:00:44
There are renters and home owners. I am currently a renter. Why? Because – 1) Market prices are way over and above the fundamentals 2) It’s cheaper to rent than to buy a home of similar caliber 3) No strings attached I am a renter and I’m not ashamed to declare it. In the olden days, homeowners were well [...]


Empty McMansion #3
2008-02-29 08:00:16
415 W. Palm Dr. Asking Price $1,999,000 ::: Sq-ft 4,475 Purchased Price $765,000 ::: Lot Size 9,480 Purchased Date 08/01/2006 ::: Beds 5 Days on Redfin 7 ::: Baths 4.5 $/Sq-ft $447 ::: Year Built 2008 20% Downpayment $399,800 ::: Area Baldwin Stocker Income Required $499,750/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $10,107/month ::: MLS# A08026688 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% Today marks the 3rd day of our Empty McMansion series and this one just came on the market last week. Compared to the last two properties that needed over $500k for [...]


Empty McMansion #2
2008-02-28 08:00:06
1103 S. 8th Ave. Asking Price $2,880,000 ::: Sq-ft 7478 Purchased Price $750,000 ::: Lot Size 27,063 Purchased Date 04/19/2004 ::: Beds 7 Days on Redfin 113 ::: Baths 7.5 $/Sq-ft $385 ::: Year Built 2007 20% Downpayment $576,000 ::: Area Near Monrovia Income Required $720,000/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $14,561/month ::: MLS# A07162003 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% “Brand New Luxurious Estate at Prestigious location in Tree Street.” Riiight. Since when did 8th Street become a prestigious location? The seller would certainly want potential buyers to think that it’s prestigious when [...]
Read more: Empty

Empty McMansion #7
2008-03-12 09:00:33
1800 Lee Ave. Asking Price $1,658,000 ::: Sq-ft 5,000 Purchased Price $758,000 ::: Lot Size 10,500 Purchased Date 10/21/2005 ::: Beds 4 Days on Redfin 3 ::: Baths 4.5 $/Sq-ft $332 ::: Year Built 2008 20% Downpayment $331,600 ::: Area Santa Anita Income Required $414,500/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $8,383/month ::: MLS# W08035337 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% “Brand New home in a quiet cul-de-sac, great curb appeal, 4 spacious bedroom suits, (two upstairs, two downstairs), 4.5 baths, family room overlooking backyard, upstairs tatami room and 2nd family room (or den), [...]
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The Foreigner Rescue Scenario
2008-03-11 09:00:35
Many have used what I like to call the ‘foreigner-rescue-scenario’ as the primary reason why Arcadia and other cities in the San Gabriel Valley will be essentially immune from the housing crash. I happen to disagree and would be remiss if I simply dismissed it without a closer examination. When kool-aid drinkers state [...]
Read more: Foreigner , Rescue

A Long Way To Go
2008-03-10 09:00:35
271 Longley Way Asking Price $898,000 ::: Sq-ft 2,300 Purchased Price $850,000 ::: Lot Size 14,460 Purchased Date 02/28/2007 ::: Beds 3 Days on Redfin 86 ::: Baths 3 $/Sq-ft $390 ::: Year Built 1947 20% Downpayment $179,600 ::: Area Baldwin Income Required $224,500/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $4,540/month ::: MLS# W07176926 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% This property looks like a flip that never happened and now the sellers are desperately trying to get out unscathed. In the description it says “seller have plans for approx. 800 sqft master 4th [...]


Inventory and Market Report - 3/7/08
2008-03-09 09:00:37
Zip Codes: 91006, 91007 Current Market Listings as of March 7, 2008 Properties for Sale: 200 (-63)* Median Listing Price: $758,000 (-2.7%)* Median Sales Price for Homes in Arcadia Weekly Foreclosure Update Properties in Foreclosure: 14 (+0)* Properties in Pre-Foreclosure:64 (+3)* *+/- is compared to previous week’s data. Interestingly enough, 63 Arcadia homes came off the market this week. How many of these were [...]
Read more: Inventory

Under $900k in the Highlands
2008-03-14 09:00:26
1528 N. Santa Anita Ave. Asking Price $888,000 ::: Sq-ft 1,751 Purchased Price — ::: Lot Size 8,800 Purchased Date 1954 ::: Beds 2bed+den Days on Redfin 7 ::: Baths 2 $/Sq-ft $507 ::: Year Built 1954 20% Downpayment $177,600 ::: Area Highland Income Required $222,000/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $4,490/month ::: MLS# A08034464 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% During the heydays of the RE boom it was next to impossible to find something in the Highlands for under $1MM. Today we have a listing on the slopes of Santa Anita [...]


REO on Colorado for $265/sqft
2008-03-13 09:00:01
307 E. Colorado Blvd. Asking Price $859,000 ::: Sq-ft 3,243 Purchased Price $1,088,000 ::: Lot Size 7,296 Purchased Date 11/14/2006 ::: Beds 5 Days on Redfin 4 ::: Baths 4 $/Sq-ft $265 ::: Year Built 1991 20% Downpayment $171,800 ::: Area Near Monrovia Income Required $214,750/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $4,343/month ::: MLS# 22106998 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% Today’s profile is a prime example of how stupid lending practices create massive bubbles and thus massive losses. In this case, the bank takes the hit and the squatters get a dinged [...]


Community Profile - Peacock Village
2008-03-17 09:00:18
This will be the first of several community profiles showcasing different areas in the city of Arcadia. The idea is to provide a general overview of distinct communities so that readers who are not familiar with the area have a better understanding of these places. While this has been on my to-do list for weeks, [...]
Read more: Peacock , Village

Inventory and Market Report - 3/15/08
2008-03-16 09:00:03
Zip Codes: 91006, 91007 Current Market Listings as of March 15, 2008 Properties for Sale: 257 (+57)* Median Listing Price: $769,000 (+1.4%)* Weekly Foreclosure Update* Properties in Foreclosure: 15 (+1) Properties in Pre-Foreclosure: 72 (+8) *+/- is compared to previous week’s data. Although there is no shortage of data and reports showing that Souther California’s median home prices have dropped at record rates, [...]
Read more: Inventory

Excuse Me?
2008-03-15 09:00:05
504 W. Naomi Ave. Asking Price $1,600,000 ::: Sq-ft 3,542 Purchased Price $533,000 ::: Lot Size 0.44 acres Purchased Date 01/07/1993 ::: Beds 3 Days on Redfin 16 ::: Baths 2 $/Sq-ft $452 ::: Year Built 1951 20% Downpayment $320,000 ::: Area Baldwin Income Required $400,000/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $8,089/month ::: MLS# A08030241 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% * * * * * subject is listed for land, the existing old house, plus a newly approved project plan, its more than 7100 sqft. luxious contemporary [...]
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Coronado Disconnect
2008-03-19 09:00:23
825 Coronado Dr. Asking Price $980,000 ::: Sq-ft 1,914 Purchased Price $733,000 ::: Lot Size 7,344 Purchased Date 07/05/2005 ::: Beds 4 Days on Redfin 17 ::: Baths 3 $/Sq-ft $512 ::: Year Built 1948 20% Downpayment $196,000 ::: Area Peacock Village Income Required $245,000/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $4,955/month ::: MLS# A08031233 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% “ARCADIA SCHOOL DISTRICT. FACING SOUTH. GORGEOUS HOME LOCATED ON A GREAT STREET IN THE PEACOCK VILLAGE, PRESTIGIOUS AREA, NICE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE HOUSE IS ELEVATED ABOVE THE STREET LEVEL AND HAS GOOD CURB APPEAL. [...]


Camp and Wait
2008-03-18 09:00:26
525 Campesina Rd. Asking Price $1,950,000 ::: Sq-ft 5,279 Purchased Price $1,548,500 ::: Lot Size 0.33 acres Purchased Date 07/21/2006 ::: Beds 6 Days on Redfin 103 ::: Baths 5.25 $/Sq-ft $369 ::: Year Built 1989 20% Downpayment $390,000 ::: Area Peacock Village Income Required $487,500/yr ::: Type SFR Est. Payment* $9,859/month ::: MLS# 22102844 *Estimated monthly payment assume 20% down, 30-yr fixed @ 6.50% Since I featured Peacock Village in yesterday’s community profile, it’s only fitting that we profile properties in that area this week. Today we have a modern home on the north side of [...]


33 Awesome Body Enhancement Photoshop Tutorials [Digg]
2008-03-08 16:24:50
Human body retouching - a collection of the 33 best Photoshop tutorials.
Read more: Digg , Tutorials

Credit Markets Meltdown - Mortgage Crisis [Digg]
2008-03-06 14:04:46
As this new era of easy money and massive leverage emerged, the thought that risk is limited and easily manageable permeated investors’ mindsets. Hedge fund managers, mortgage bankers, and Wall Street leaders were earning unprecedented amounts of money.
Read more: Crisis , Digg , Markets , Meltdown , Mortgage

Crest Mouthwash: "I Woke Up With Brown Spots On My Teeth" [Digg]
2008-03-04 14:33:14
After using Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash she woke up with brown spots on her teeth and no sense of taste...
Read more: Brown , Digg

100+ Essential Resources for Web Developers [Digg]
2008-03-04 09:12:14
We’ve put together a list of over 100 resources to help make your life as a developer easier; where to find snippets of code, sites that automate processes, cheat sheets, lessons, useful tools and a couple of silly videos to give your brain a break if you make it through to the end.
Read more: Developers , Digg , Essential , Resources

How To Choose A Font [Digg]
2008-03-03 16:56:00
Nice.
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40+ Excellent Freefonts For Professional Design [Digg]
2008-02-25 11:27:35
40+ high quality type faces for display and body type. Lots of cool faces that could be used in your next web or print design project. Enjoy.
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The McMansion of McMansions [Digg]
2008-02-21 16:45:26
$4.7 million dollars. No ocean view, tiny lot and front-loaded garage. Would you buy this home?
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9 Cool (and Useful) Mods for iPods and iTunes [Digg]
2008-02-20 20:16:13
Your iPod is more like a miniature computer than you might think. After all, it has a screen, keys, storage, and an operating system. And just as with any PC, you can add new features, overhaul the OS, update the interface, and personalize it to your heart's content.
Read more: Digg , iTunes , Useful

What Google's phone effort could be [PICs] [Digg]
2008-02-20 08:57:51
Back when speculation was still rife about the Google "gPhone," fans photoshopped what they thought a Google competitor to the iPhone should look like. Now, with phone prototypes based on Google Android starting to appear, it will be interesting to see if any look like these early designs.
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