Summer is here- the weather is hot and so is the real estate market for ocean front property on the central coast.  We are blessed with several distinct and desirable beach communities- Pismo, Shell,  Avila , Morro Bay, Cayucos just to name a few. Each neighborhood offers something a little different from all the others. Climate differs dramatically from the south and north county beaches. The southern beaches (Avila, Pismo and Shell) offer warmer weather year round and sprawling boardwalks popular with visitors and locals alike. The north county beaches are often cooler and allow for more privacy for the owners. Residents in Cayucos and Morro Bay avoid the summer rush and enjoy striking views and smaller beaches. Despite their differences, they all have one thing in common: NOW is the... 07/08/2013

We went over to a family party in Paso Robles yesterday.  We had a great BBQ and plenty of the finest San Luis Obispo bottled wines.  We waited for the fireworks to go off over Barnie Swartz Park, and later found out that the fireworks were cancelled due to no funds.  This real amazed me!  What kind of a town can't afford fireworks!  Well it seem positively Un-America to me!  If we would have passed the hat to raise money for the fireworks I would have thrown in $100 and the same with my relatives.  What a bummer!  Well here is some virtual fireworks to replace the real ones!   What's up today-  Nonfarm Payrolls       The June employment situation largely came in better than expectations-at least on the payroll survey portion. Total Nonfarm Payroll jobs in June increased 195,000 after r... 07/05/2013

We want to wish all a Happy 4th Of July!  Be safe and enjoy yourselves.     What's ahead today- U.S. Trade Balance,Jobless Claims               The U.S. Trade Balance in May widened sharply. Exports were down and imports were up. But the rise in imports was not just in petroleum, indicating some improvement in domestic demand even as export demand softened. The trade gap jumped to $45.0 billion from $40.1 billion in April. Expectations were for a $40.8 billion gap. Exports fell 0.3 percent, following a 1.3 percent gain in April. Imports rose 1.9 percent in May after a 2.4 percent boost the month before.Jobless Claims are trending lower but only very gradually. Initial claims in the June 29 week fell 5,000 to 343,000 which is just below the Economist consensus for 345,000. The 4-week ave... 07/03/2013

Downtown Pismo Beach is one of the most vibrant locations in San Luis Obispo County. Potential homebuyers looking for real estate in Pismo Beach should be drawn to its eclectic aesthetic and community. Purchasing a home or condo in this neighborhood offers a front-row experience to a beautiful beach popular with tourists year round. The weather here is rarely anything but moderate with the exception of a marine fog that usually burns off by mid-day.  Most properties are within walking distance to the sand and can be surprisingly affordable. Smaller homes and condos with ocean views start in the $300-400,000 range. A condo on Price Street with a secluded courtyard, unobstructed views of the ocean and 884 Square feet recently sold for $360,000.  You will also find stunning properties tha... 06/28/2013

 I listened to a great interview of Kevin Watters the CEO of JP Morgan Chase Mortgage.  He talked about the Jumbo loan market coming back.  Chase Mortgage is the 2nd largest jumbo loan provider.  He informed us that the private capital investors are back in the jumbo loan security market.  For the last 5 years a jumbo loan has been difficult to get, but with the securitization it should be easier.  Kevin Watters said the jumbo loans were of high quality, with substantial down payments, great FICA scores, and good appraisals.  Great to hear this!  It will make it easier to sell our inventories of million dollar plus homes and estates. To see our  inventory of fine homes, please visit our web site at  www.myslohomefinder.com   What's up this week: light Calendar, Markets looking for FOMC ... 06/10/2013

The S&P Case Shiller Index showed that house prices rose 10.9% in March when compared to March of 2012. This is the biggest increase since April of 2007.  Prices were up in 15 of the 20 city markets that they follow. Phoenix was up the most with a 22.5% increase San Francisco was 2nd with a 22.2% increase Las Vegas was 3rd with a 20.6% increase I know our market in the San Luis Obispo County- Central Coast Region of California is up about 17%! Interest rates are rising and if they go high enough it may slow the sales and price increases!   Go to my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your Central Coast home search needs.     The Week Ahead:Revisiting Familiar Battlegrounds, for Better or Worse                             Home prices were accelerating strongly going into what pr... 05/28/2013

Check out out the link below for the most expensive home for sale! It's a $190 million, 12 bedroom, 7.5 bath.  It has 13,500 sq. ft. and one whole floor for "staff". Real Estate commission is $9.5% Any buyers out there!  I have your real estate agent!   http://www.charter.net/tv/3/player/vendor/Zazoom%2C%20LLC/player/fiveminute/asset/gnrc_19880734 05/26/2013

Pismo beach is known for many things- sand, surf, shopping, dining, and luxury real estate. Real estate in Pismo Heights features the best of both worlds- quick access to the beach, but seclusion from traffic and tourists.  People are drawn by the proximity to one of California's best beaches and the beach-town community that surrounds it. For the thrill seeker, there are sand dunes to take your ATV or buggies just a short drive away. For a more relaxed pace, there is fine dining nearby and a golf course just down the freeway. It is hard to miss these striking homes to the east of the 101 freeway perched on the hillside overlooking the oceanfront. Gated communities pepper the area which offers homeowners the peace of mind that their investment will be well guarded. Whether you are look... 05/21/2013

Remarks by Ben Bernanke have made the markets nervious.  He is talking about possible rate increases in the future, and who knows if he will have another term on the Fed.!  Late payments for home mortgages have dropped by 21% from last year at this time.  Go to my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your home search needs in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Templeton, Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, Los Osos, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Avila Beach, Grover Beach, Nipomo, and Oceano California.   Last weeks action:Ben Bernanke, Treasuries Making The Market Nervous       Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speech at Chicago Fed banking conference, 9:30 ET. The 10 year bond yield has increased from 1.62 to 1.88, just in the last two weeks.       Dow is trading... 05/11/2013

Mortgage rates are unchanged from yesterday.  There is a big debate whether we are in an inflationary or deflationary economy.  It all depends on how much money printing we have out there.  It looks like Japan is dumping huge amounts of money into the economy to get their economy jump started from its malaise.  It has had very litttle growth in 20 years.  Are we the next economy to have the "zombie" banks and corporations?    The Day Ahead:Manufacturing, FOMC       The manufacturing sector continues to sputter a bit with the latest indication coming from the PMI manufacturing index which, at 52.1, is nearly unchanged from the mid-month flash reading of 52.0.Strength in details masks what is a headline slowdown for the ISM index to 50.7 from 51.3.Construction Spending unexpectedly dropp... 05/01/2013

Today it was reported that pending home sales were up 1.5% and this was the highest in 3 years per the NAR.  It is something that all of us have noticed, and now we can see the numbers come out. Go to my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your real estate needs in , and Shell Beach California. What's up this week: FOMC and ECB Announcements; Employment Situation and More       Personal income for March came in a little softer than expected while spending posted marginally higher. Personal income rose 0.2 percent after a 1.1 percent boost the month before. Analysts projected a 0.4 percent increase. The important wages and salaries component advanced 0.2 percent, following a 0.7 percent gain in February. Large monthly swings in income growth continued in March from fiscal cliff ... 04/29/2013

Recent report was released by the NAR that said the March existing home sales were down by 5%!  I believe it!  There just isn't the inventory out there to have sales in the March 2012 range.  However the price year over year was up 10%!  We are back to a buyers market!   Visit my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your real estate needs in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Templeton, Pismo Beach,  Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Oceano, Santa Margarita, and Grover Beach California.  The Central Coast! The Week Ahead: Light Calendar, Treasury Auctions, EU Headline Potential       Supply of existing homes on the market is still low, which is a negative for sales but a big plus for prices. Sales for March came in at a 4.92 million rate, down 0.6 percent from February and below the ... 04/22/2013

Rates are slightly lower today!  I appears that there are more deflationary issues coming up and the Fed. may have to keep rates low to deal with them!  We have seen China's economy slowing and this has hurt all the commodities, especially gold and silver. Our thoughts and prayers are with those victims and families of the Boston tradegy!  It really makes you realize how dangerous a world we live in! See our web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your real estate needs in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Templeton, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, and Pismo Beach California.   The Day Ahead:Calendar is light today, only the Beige Book   The Beige Bookis produced roughly two weeks before the monetary policy meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee. On each occasion, a different Fed dis... 04/17/2013

I woke up today to see that gold and silver had dropped like a rock.  It appears that China is slowing down!  The Euro Zone is slowing down!  And it appears to me that the U.S. is also slowing down! Visit my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all the areas in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Templeton, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach California.   What's up this week: Limited Calendar                 Activity is slowing this month in the New York manufacturing sector where the Empire State index is down more than 6 points to plus 3.05.The upswing for the new home market may be a very short one based on the housing market index which fell 2 points to a much lower-than-expected 42. This is the lowest reading since October and the outcome, for the second straight month, is below E... 04/15/2013

    With today's job report being so bad, the mortgage interest rates are lower.  Is it due to the sequester or is it from Euro Zone problems?  I would say the government cuts are the main reason.     What's up today: Very Disappointing Job Reports           Today's employment report was very disappointing even though the unemployment rate eased-for the wrong reason. Nonfarm payrolls rose to a meager 88,000 from 268,000 in February.Private Payrolls increased 95,000 from 254,000 in February,. expectations were for a 200,000 gain.   The unemployment rate edged down to 7.6 percent in March from 7.7 percent the prior month. The consensus projected a 7.7 percent unemployment rate. The decline was due to a drop in the labor force.The U.S. trade balance in February unexpectedly narrowed somewh... 04/05/2013

It seems that with every deflationary event that happens around the world our Fed. has to keep interest rates low or even lower them.  How long until this hits the inflation numbers?  Cyprus is no exception!  Plus what is the total amount of money that has disappeared off the face of the earth due to stock losses, home equity losses, job loses or lower wages, higher taxes, higher health care costs, wars that go on forever and no one paying for them, just pass the bill on to our kids!  Also what I have noticed lately, how many of our kids can buy a house similar to their parents?  Mine can't unless I subsidize them!  Makes you wonder what is going to happen to housing when the baby boomers have to sell due to down sizing or other causes. Check out my web page at www.myslohomefinder.com f... 03/27/2013

I hope you all are doing well and had a great weekend.  Looks like the interest rates are going up! What's up this week: FOMC and Eurodrama Back in Action           The Housing Market Index was one of the first to indicate rising strength in the new home market. But lately the report has been slowing which is not a positive signal for future growth.Advanced indications on the new home sales market have surprisingly and unfortunately turned lower the last two months. Home builders are blaming lack of available lots and lack of available credit for a two point downturn in the housing market index to 44, off from a recovery peak of 47 hit in December and January and further below breakeven 50 to indicate that more builders describe conditions as bad than good.a proposed Bailout of Cyprus w... 03/18/2013

T.G.I.F. to all!  We hope all your open houses go well over the weekend! See my web site for all your San Luis Obispo home search or sales needs- www.myslohomefinder.com Friday's news:Enough Data to Digest Until Next Week           Higher energy costs boosted headline CPI inflation in February but the core rate was somewhat moderate. The Consumer Price Index for February jumped 0.7 percent, following no change in January. The latest reading came in higher than the median forecast for 0.5 percent. The core CPI-excluding food and energy-softened to a 0.2 percent rise after increasing a strong 0.3 percent in January. The consensus expected a 0.2 percent gain.The first look at the manufacturing sector in March is mostly positive. The Empire State Index, at 9.24, is well above zero to indica... 03/15/2013

When real estate occupies most of your day (as it certainly does mine), you find yourself receiving no end of information. Some summarize points of view that are available elsewhere; some provide original information that isn’t particularly relevant to our local market. One piece that gets more than the usual quick-scan-then-into-the-recycle-bin treatment is the HPI Data Report. It comes in once each month from the demographers at CoreLogic ®. This group knows what they are talking about: among other things, they collect the most comprehensive property database in the U.S. Last week was relatively quiet on the news front, so when they checked in, I was able to give their report a thorough going-over. What I found: Holy smoke! Prices of homes for sale nationwide made the biggest year-ove... 03/12/2013

I hope that everyone has a great week!  Last weeks data showed us that employment is picking up and so are prices.  Just go to the gas station or the supermarket and look at the prices!  Eventually the Feds. are going to have to raise the interest rates to fight inflation.  When they pull away the spiked punch bowl filled with low interest rate punch, we are going to see rates shoot up! Visit my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your San Luis Obisp home search and sales needs. Employment rates are up! Unemployment Rates down! Payroll Jobs all coming up!           The jobs market has improved more than expected with a sizeable gain in payroll employment. The Unemployment Rate declined to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January. Market expectations were for a 7.8 percent unemplo... 03/10/2013