Real Estate Information Archive

This reminded me of a friend of ours who's sister was texting and looked down and crossed to double line and  had a head on collusion. She is no longer with us she was killed instantly

AT&T's Txtng & Drivng Campaign Urges Consumers That It Can Wait. This documentary featuring families affected by texting while behind the wheel is being distributed to educators, government officials, safety organizations and public as part of an educational awareness campaign. Learn about the risks of texting while driving and take the pledge to stop texting and driving http://www.itcanwait.com. Learn more about the It Can Wait campaign at http://www.att.com/itcanwait.

Video presented by: Carol & Jim Chamberlain Preferred Home Brokers Brea, CA

Father-Daughter Dance is Pajama Jammin'
Friday, June 14, 2013
Brea Community Center
Starts 6:30 P.M.
$18.00 per person
Girls 4-18
Call 714-990-7100
Breakfast dinner to be served by Kiwanis Club

This is a great way to start the Father Day Weekend with a special night out with your "Best Girl". Don't forget to to wear your fussy Bunny slippers along with your colorful pajamas. Kiwanis will be serving up a big breakfast. There with games, raffles and more surprises. If you would like a picture at the event Artistryfoto will be there taking photos at 7:00 P.M. for just $5.00.

You can order tickets at the Brea Community Center front counter or call 714-990-7100 to place your order.

Brea Community Center 
695 E Madison Way
Brea, CA 92821
(Corner of Madison & Randolph)
714-990-7100

Home Buyers love Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. These sites have all the homes for sale! They also have a lot of old information.  That is wherein the problem lies. Carol loves working with buyers and has for 27 years. She is just as excited about finding the “right home” for her buyers now as she was when she first started selling real estate in 1986. The single biggest waste of time for her is looking up properties that buyers have found on one of three mentioned websites above, just to find out that they are either in escrow or have closed escrow, and some of them even months ago.

 I looked up properties for sale in Brea on Zillow this morning (May 14, 2013, 6:20 AM) and it said there were 220 properties (results). Now when I go on our local MLS board (CRMLS) we have 33 properties that show as active listings for sale (May 14, 2013, 6:23 AM).  Zillow shows 7 times more properties for sale and 7 times more the disappointment for buyers when they call on a property and find out it’s either in escrow or has sold months ago.

No wonder buyers are confused and don’t know who to trust when looking for a home.  The buyer calls an agent about a property or properties only to find out it’s sold. I know I would begin to wonder who’s telling the truth, or why an agent doesn’t want to show me these homes. Sit down with the agent you are working with and have them look up properties for you on the websites above and then on his or her local MLS provider.  You will be shocked at the discrepancy; I guarantee it will be an eye opener.

Buyers, don’t give up hope, most agents have links to their local MLS providers where the information is up to date. On our website (NOCRES.com) all property searches will have a listing status:  Active, Taking Back Ups, Pending, or Hold do not show.  If the listing status is active the odds are pretty darn good you can make an offer on the property.  A listing status of “Taking Back Up” and “Pending” means that an offer has been accepted by the seller and it is under contract and in escrow. A “Hold Do Not Show” status means that the property is effectively off the market for any of a number of reasons and thus, not available for an offer.

If you are looking for a great agent in Brea or North Orange County CA I highly recommend my wife Carol Chamberlain at Carol@carolandjim.com or 714-726-3166/text

Looking for something to do in the evening this summer how about going to a show or listening to a concert and its all FREE. Each year City of Brea provides both venues starting in June and ending in August. There is something for young and old. All the movies are rated G or PG, and the concerts have a wide varity of different music.

Concerts in the Park start July 10, 2013, with Symphonic Winds of the Pacific. if you would like more information click here for all the concerts dates and times.

Brea Family Film Festival starts June 21, 2013, with Shrek rated PG for more informationation on dates and times click here. 

On average each you around a 170 people die from C O (Carbon Monoxide) produced by non-automotive consumer products says the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission.  C O is called the “Invisible Killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.

As of January 1, 2013 rental property in California is required to have a C O detector in the home and all residential property is required by law to have a C O detector too when it is sold after January 1, 2013.

 What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and power washers also produce CO.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?
Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include: 

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness 

High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:

• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Loss of consciousness
• Ultimately death 

How should I install a CO Alarm?
CO alarms should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. CPSC recommends that one CO alarm be installed in the hallway outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area of the home. CO alarms may be installed into a plug-in receptacle or high on the wall. Hard wired or plug-in CO alarms should have battery backup. Avoid locations that are near heating vents or that can be covered by furniture or draperies. CPSC does not recommend installing CO alarms in kitchens or above fuel-burning appliances.

What should you do when the CO alarm sounds?

Never ignore an alarming CO alarm! It is warning you of a potentially deadly hazard.

If the alarm signal sounds do not try to find the source of the CO:

• Immediately move outside to fresh air.
• Call your emergency services, fire department, or 911.
• After calling 911, do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for. DO NOT reenter the premises until the emergency services responders have given you permission. You could lose consciousness and die if you go in the home.

Should CO alarms be used in motor homes and other recreational vehicles?

CO alarms are available for boats and recreational vehicles and should be used. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association requires CO alarms in motor homes and in trailers.

"Do's" for carbon monoxide detector placement:

• Place detectors in or near sleeping areas - where the sound of an alarm will easily wake people up
• Place detectors on each level of a residence
• Place detectors as per manufacturer instructions
• Carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air and over time distributes throughout a room, so a detector can be placed at any height in any acceptable location - preferably at eye level and definitely where the alarm can be easily heard
• For added protection, place a carbon monoxide detector 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) from the furnace as well as other fuel burning sources
• in unheated basements, attics or garages
• in areas of high humidity (bathrooms, showers, laundry areas)
• where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.
• near vents, flues or chimneys
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of heating and cooking appliances (which can give off a small volume of carbon monoxide when starting up which can trigger false alarms)
• near forced or unforced air ventilation openings
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of corners or areas where natural air circulation is low
• where they can be bumped and damaged
• where directly exposed to weather

"Do nots" for carbon monoxide detector placement:

To avoid damage to the detector and to reduce false alarms, do not place carbon monoxide detectors:

• in unheated basements, attics or garages
• in areas of high humidity (bathrooms, showers, laundry areas)
• where they will be exposed to chemical solvents or cleaners, including hair spray, deodorant sprays, etc.
• near vents, flues or chimneys
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of heating and cooking appliances (which can give off a small volume of carbon monoxide when starting up which can trigger false alarms)
• near forced or unforced air ventilation openings
• within 6 ft (2 meters) of corners or areas where natural air circulation is low
• where they can be bumped and damaged
• where directly exposed to weather

 For more information us the link below to go to the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission website.

 http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Carbon-Monoxide-Information-Center/Carbon-Monoxide-Questions-and-Answers-/

1. Homes have increased in value and the demand is up. There was a 10.1% increase in home values in November to $180,000 average from a year ago per National Association of Realtors. Nine consecutive months of home price increases accross the U.S.

2. Record low loans will be a thing of the past. Rates will be increasing to 3.5-4% says senior Analyst Greg McBride with Bankrate.com. Now, barring any unusual changes in the economy interest rates should hold steady. Cost of getting a FHA will mostly likely increase this year. Reserves are at all-time lows and with the Federal Housing Administration Fiscal Solvency Act of 2012 it gives them authority to raise premiums to build back up its reserves

3. Inventory of existing home down again in November by 3.8%, fewer distressed properties for sale, and lowest inventory since 2005.

4. New rules to protect home buyers from predatory lenders. Ability to repay rule, which takes place in January 2014 but most lenders will put in place this year. This should stop the risky practices such as interest only and "No Doc" loans that help create this mess in the first place. To many loans in the past set the buyer up to fail with loans they could never afford.

5. Home-Equity loans are back. Just like home loans, home equity loans have been going down too.  Home prices appear to be going up again lenders will be competing for your home equity business.

6. There are less and less distressed home deals to buy. Banks are giving distressed homeowners a chance to stay in their homes by giving them principal reductions as a way of avoiding short sales. 

7. New construction is up a whopping 27% over a year ago. Record low interest and increase in employment has spurred builders to break ground on new home projects.

8. You missed the bottom of the home sales market but prices are still at record lows. It’s time to check with a Realtor to see if it’s right for you to buy a home now. If you wait too long you may find the market will pass you by again.

Call Carol at 714-726-3166 or Carol@carolandjim.com

I can't figure out where is the best place to install a carbon monoxide 
detecter. Some you can plug into a wall plug, some say mount near 
bedrooms on the wall, and they have combination detecters for both 
carbon monoxide and smoke detectors which you install high on a wall 
or ceiling.

So where is the best place to install a carbon monoxide detector 
according to the National Center for Bitoechnology information (NCBI) 
in conjunction with the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, Virginia 
Mason Medical Center, Seattle WA 980101 did a test by introducing 
carbon monoxide at the top, middle, and bottom of a Plexiglass 
Chamber and found and over time the gas spread equally throughout the 
Plexiglass chamber. This web address provides information on the 
test: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

So it doesn't matter where you place the detecter just make sure it 
is not obstructed by curtains, furniture, etc., and outside of sleeping 
areas at any level on the wall.

Best rule, read the directions for the carbon monoxide detector you 
purchased. If doesn't state what level on the wall to install you 
can choose the best location on the wall for you. If you have small children you 
might want to consider placing the detector on the middle of the wall 
or higher to keep away from little fingers. 

Come to the 5th Brea Baptish Church Car Show to be held March 23, 2013 at Birch and Flower in Brea CA 9AM to 3PM.

You will see 100 hundred of the finest pre 1976 cars, hotrods, Woodys, Panels, Muscle cars, Lead sleds, etc.  There will be gourmet food trucks, vendors, Blues Brothers & original film car, The Tank one of kind motorcycle, working farm and big trucks, and much more.  Its a fun day for the whole family.

If you would like to show your vehicle click here to download a printable flyer with registration form. 

One of the area’s most popular attractions, the Mission San Juan Capistrano is located on Ortega Highway about an hour south of Los Angeles. Orange County’s only Mission, the site documents and preserves over 230 years of Native, Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. history. It also serves as a fun and educational resource for visitors of all ages. People from all over southern California travel to the Mission to discover bygone eras and to take part in various special events such as the Saint Joseph’s Day celebration and the annual battle of the Mariachis festival.

Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1775 by Father Lasuen in order to bring Christianity to the Native peoples of California. Natives were encouraged to join the Mission and convert to the Spanish Catholic way of life. By 1806, the Mission’s population had grown to over 1,000 people.

Over the next several decades, however, the Mission suffered a decline due to natural disaster, illness, and Mexican rule. Things began to improve slightly after the U.S. won the Mexican American War in 1848, and several territories, including California, became part of the United States. By the early 1900s, a number of artists, photographers, visionaries, and wealthy individuals had taken an interest in the decaying site. Restoration and preservation efforts began in earnest in the 1910s and continued throughout the 1940s.

Today, the preserved adobe Mission serves as a historic landmark and museum. It sits on 10 acres of grounds and gardens and features audio tours, educational tour booklets, exhibits, and historical re-enactments. Daily activities include Koi fish feeding, guided tours, and the Mission’s award winning audio tour. (There’s even one for children) Native American Basket Weaving takes place on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, and on weekends, visitors can pan for gold and make their own adobe bricks.

Museum exhibits change frequently, so there’s always something new to discover, such as the historic artifacts, rare paintings, and religious documents featured in the August Mission Treasures exhibit. Depending on the time of year, visitors also can enjoy the Mission’s outdoor concert series, Music Under the Stars, or spend an adventurous night camping on the museum’s grounds.

Veterans and current military get free admission on Labor Day weekend. For more information, including current hours and exhibits, visit the Mission at http://www.missionsjc.com/.

Wish you could experience the thrill of flying an F-16 Fighter Jet or a Boeing 737-700? Now you can, at Flightdeck, Anaheim’s most popular flight simulation center.

Consistently rated one of the top 10 things to do in Orange County, Flightdeck’s flight simulation center features nine fighter jet simulations and one Boeing 737-700 flight simulator.

Whether you want to take control of a commercial jet or fight in air-to-air combat while maneuvering in the air at 600 knots, Flightdeck has the experience for you. Inexperienced pilots typically start with the FOX-1 Mission flight. Returning customers can experience the FOX-2 Mission, which builds on FOX-1 and includes additional air-to-ground combat. FOX-2 pilots have their choice of eight different aircraft, including the F-14 Tomcat and the MIG-29. Both missions are 45 minutes long.

Customers looking to experience an increased challenge can participate in the three-hour Viper-1 program. After three blocks of highly personalized instruction, pilots test their ability to perform a combined skills flight in a simulated combat environment. Training includes taxi and take-off, formation take-off, basic landing procedures, air combat maneuvers, air-to-air munitions, target acquisition, SAM Missile avoidance, and more.

While the majority of Flightdeck’s simulations are for one pilot only, parents and children, couples, and friends can ride together in Flightdeck’s newest addition: the F-111. This exciting new simulation takes place in an actual F-111 Fighter Bomber cockpit known as the “Aardvark.” Co-pilots sit side-by-side as they fight to avoid opponents, stay in the air, and hunt for bogeys. (Minimum age with adult supervision is 7)

Always dreamed of flying a commercial jet? Check out the 30, 60, and 90-minute options available for Flightdeck’s 737 flight simulator. The true-to-life, 180-degree wrap-around screen lets you see the world through a real pilot’s eyes, as you taxi, take off, climb, cruise, descend, and land in the midst of a variety of weather conditions. Experienced flight instructors guide you through the basic controls and teach you how to go through the pre-flight inspection. The 90-minute package may include an in-flight emergency and/or a diversion to another airport. With the 737-700 simulator, anything’s possible! 

Classroom training and in-flight instruction take place before each simulation to ensure participants get the most out of each experience. Group events, including birthday parties, bachelor parties, and corporate team building exercises, are available. Pilots must be at least 11 years old and 4’11” tall, unless accompanied by a parent in the F-111. Reservations by telephone are required. For additional information, visit Flightdeck at http://www.flightdeck1.com/.