The Next Residential Housing Boom? Might Be In Your Own Back Yard!   "PRACTICAL HOUSING" FOR THE FUTURE?      With an excess of 77 million “Graying Baby Boomers” (1946 – 1965) in the final stretch, over 100 million X’rs (1966 – 1982) and the Y’rs (1983 to date) in the field of play “PRACTICAL HOUSING” just may be the Buzz Word for the foreseeable future.     Boomers are down-sizing for more practical and accessible single story homes that they can comfortably and safely navigate. Or they're vying for more modest "Multiple Seasonal Options" i.e. a 2nd or vacation home/s if they can afford them.   Xr’s are trying to figure out how to Xhale their “underwater mortgages” and still have enough left to Inhale a more modest and humble lifestyle.   While Yr’s are Y-ning because they can't affor... 09/18/2014

Does Peaceful, Tranquil, Charming,   Rich, Safe & Diverse Appeal To You?     Are you looking for a great place to live and raise your family, take long walks or bike rides, be at your favorite surf break in less than 30 minutes, see the beautiful blue Pacific from your sun deck, become friends with nice neighbors and become a vital part of a great community?   We actually know our neighbors quite well as we've lived in the same home for the past 34 years. I can't count on one hand the number of folks who have moved out since we moved in and most have been here even before we moved in. Some since the 20's. The only way folks in my neighborhood seem to leave is boots up.        I also can't count on one hand the amount of folks that have divorced. Seems like the families who move into or ... 08/26/2014

  Information Regarding Mold   and Water Damage     As General and Manufactured Home Contractors, a Manufactured Home Dealer & Developer, Real Estate Broker and Expert Witness we have dealt with some pretty ugly Mold related issues over the years. We hope you find the following information useful and hope you never have to suffer the ravages of mold damage and its many ill effects, costs, inconveniences and even displacement.     The following FAQ's are from the  California Housing & Community Development's TITLE 25 Mobilehome Parks Act, Mobilehome Residency Law (MRL).   This is being presented in its unedited and    unabridged format with minor enhancements for   easier reading.   Skip to Main Content Contact HCD | Feedback/Comment | Subscribe to Email Lists Statewide search: Search th... 08/16/2014

Don't settle for less!  This beautiful home has 2,693 sf, 2 years young, nice upgrades, hardwood floors, granite, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bath, fireplace, large lot, view fencing with big views, in Vista, San Marcos school district, just 7 miles from the beach. The weather here is nearly perfect. Open the windows almost everyday. Breezes everyday. Go to the beach everyday... Orange tree, grapefruit tree, lemon tree, lime tree and apple tree. Heated spa, stamped concrete pad and fully landscaped yard. Perfect for entertaining. No mello roos!!! Developed by Watt Companies, with its tree-lined streets and pedestrian-friendly pathways, this is a community of 44 single family homes, located in North San Diego. Amber Woods neighbors shopping, schools, and entertainment. The homes featured three flo... 08/11/2014

Always be respectful inside a homeowner's personal residence.  Do not touch things, do not sit on their furniture, do not open their refrigerator, and do not peek inside drawers, cupboards, or medicine chests.  Hopefully, you did not bring your children with you, but if you did, make sure they do not touch ANYTHING.  It is nearly impossible for children to keep their hands to themselves.  They just get so excited when they see new things, and cannot resist playing with them!If the residents have cats or dogs, be aware of the family’s wishes and be mindful not to let the pets go out of the house.  Otherwise, you may be chasing that dog down the street and trying to corral him back into the house.  Use the restroom before you leave the office to view houses, so you won’t have to use the r... 08/01/2014

  Guajome Park Academy Guajome Park Academy is now a K-12 school. Starting classes August 12th! GPA is a project based school pushing culture, hands on learning and the arts into the average school day.  Even though a public school, GPA has a small class setting with only 1500 students throughout the k-12 program. GPA also offers an Independent Study program for grades K-12. Guajome Park Academy facilities are new and clean, spread out with multiple class rooms, amphitheater, lunch area, and two-story GYM.   Since 1994 GPA has been welcoming students from diverse backgrounds, different personalities and wide ranged ethnicities to share the learning experience together. From exchange students, Cinco De Mayo days, and German, Spanish and International house your child will get a full unde... 07/21/2014

Don't Go To Sleep & Never Wake Up Because You're Stupid!!   Did you know that more people have died in PRE HUD (Built before June 15, 1976) "Mobile Homes" & "Trailers? because they didn't take heed to the message below?   These old homes are like MATCH BOXES  waiting for someone to lite a match and throw it in the box.   Don't Go To Sleep & Never Wake Up Because You're Stupid!!     Call On Us Anytime To BE Your Go To Guys For   Information & Knowledge About   MANUFACTURED  HOMES          800 909-1110 JOHN ARENDSEN 760 815-6977 onthelevel@cox.net   Scott Arendsen 760 415-1923   scottarendsen@mac.com JANIS ARENDSEN 760 415-1982 06/28/2014

Just Love Them Dishes In The Tub!   Another very important repost by Donald Hester.  Rub a dub dub... about them dishes in the tub!    BY DONALD HESTER Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: June 26, 2014 06:24 AM Rub a dub dub... about them dishes in the tub! Douglas County Home Inspections   Okay here another thought for all of us out in Home Inspection land and Real Estate professional.   With the new version of the Electrical Code the outlet for the dishwasher will have to be GFCI protected, this does not mean just a receptacle, and outlet from Article 100 is, "A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment." Which means receptacle outlet, lighting outlet, or hardwired. Per NEC 210.8 Ground-Fault Ci... 06/26/2014

Home > Blogs > Debbie Laity > Debbie Laity's Blog What is the Difference Between a Manufactured Home and a Modular Home    This is a repost by Debbie Laity. As a Manufactured Home Dealer, Contractor and installer and as a Real Estate Broker specializing in the Factory Built Housing Industry I was very impressed with Debbie's overall knowledge of this very complex and controversial industry. This post will definitely clear up any mis understandings about this industry.   BY DEBBIE LAITY Real Estate Agent with Cedaredge Land Company EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: March 10, 2013 10:00 AM What is the Difference Between a Manufactured Home and a Modular Home? Both types of construction can be found in Colorado. As a real estate agent, I hear people using the terms interchangeably all ... 06/21/2014

Septic Systems and Bedrooms- Here is the poop on it.    BY DONALD HESTER Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: June 12, 2014 07:24 AM Septic Systems and Bedrooms- Here is the poop on it.  Chelan Real Estate Inspections   So you are looking at a home or trying to sell a home that is on a septic system. A crucial question needs to be asked. How many bedrooms was the septic system designed for? This may affect just how the home should be listed.   If your septic system (on-site waste system) is designed for 3 bedrooms then you have a 3 bedroom home no matter how many bedrooms there may be or anyone thinks there should be.   I just did a home inspection that was listed as 4 bedrooms but the septic was designed for 3 bedrooms. This will be record... 06/17/2014

My Neighbors Are Putting My Family, My   Home, My Possessions At Risk       A Picture Says A Thousand Words.       I truly love most of my neighbors. We've all been together in this lovely, quiet and charming country neighborhood in the North San Deigo Rural Community of Vista for decades. But I just get so frustrated  sometimes when I see this. You would think that with all the devastating fires San Diego has just experienced that folks would be on the MITIGATION BANDWAGON       NOT!!       What you see in these photos has been accumulating year after year for the past couple of decades. the local fire department had to cut back their fire prevention program due to lack of funding. Now our community only has one person, a city employee, left holding the bag for the entire community and... 06/11/2014

GFCI’s and Garages, got them all protected?     Donald, Thanks once again for your valuable contributions to our industry. This is very applicable to the Factory Built Housing industry. Especially in older Mobile/Manufactured Home Parks/Communities and especially old "Trailer/RV Parks" where folks have jerryrigged all kinds of Micky Mouse electrical outlets to service their washer & dryers, outdoor refers, lighting, etc. Another home run for me to share with the http://activerain.com/groups/manufacturedhomes.    BY DONALD HESTER Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: May 27, 2014 06:40 AM GFCI’s and Garages, got them all protected? Douglas County Home Inspection   As a requirement of Washington State SOP for Home Inspectors we are to identify... 05/29/2014

FYI: Recall of Nest Smoke/CO combo alarms due to arm wave silence.    Another Bell Ringer by: Love his stuff!   BY DONALD HESTER Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: May 21, 2014 02:41 PM Recall of Nest Smoke/CO combo alarms due to arm wave silence.   Nest Labs is recalling their Smoke/CO Alarms due to a failure to sound an alert. \ These alarms can be controlled by a computer or a smartphone using a wireless network. The issue is the “Nest Wave” function. Turns out you may accidently silence the detector by waving your arms. This is sort of the “clap on- clap off” feature of these device.   Homeowners who have these devices already connected should confirm the update to disable this function has been installed at the "Nest Sense" area of th... 05/29/2014

Return to Makin Island   What Memorial Day Is Really All About................Lest We Ever Forget Those Who Gave So Much For All We Have Today.     A true story about 19 marines killed on an island (defending against the Japanese).     They had to retreat, so asked the islanders to please bury the dead for us. This of course was WWII.     Years later, they checked and found a man who had been a teenager then and remembered where they were buried.     They sent a C-130 and an honor guard     over there and found all 19 had been buried with their helmets on, their rifles in their hands, in perfect condition. The islanders had really done a wonderful job.         As they were loading the bodies, a voice from out of nowhere started singing "The Marine Hymn" - gave everyone goose bumps.    ... 05/25/2014

Today's    "FACTORY BUILT HOUSING TECHNOLOGY"       For Tomorrow Blu Homes was founded with the goal of making better homes for American families—better built, better to live in and better to maintain. We began after funding a two-year graduate study on the future of housing with the Rhode Island School of Design that found prefabricated homes to be the best way to consistently build quality homes, with little impact on the environment. But our founders wanted to look beyond the traditional prefabricated home and applied aerospace technology from MIT to craft our homes in an entirely new way. Precision-built homes utilize patented, folding steel-frame technology to create spacious, open homes that are built to high aesthetic and environmental standards produce a higher-quality end produ... 05/23/2014

Recall of Nest Smoke/CO combo alarms due to arm wave silence.    Another great post by: Boy does Donald really know how to nail his topics!   BY DONALD HESTER Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: May 21, 2014 02:41 PM Recall of Nest Smoke/CO combo alarms due to arm wave silence.   Nest Labs is recalling their Smoke/CO Alarms due to a failure to sound an alert. \ These alarms can be controlled by a computer or a smartphone using a wireless network. The issue is the “Nest Wave” function. Turns out you may accidently silence the detector by waving your arms. This is sort of the “clap on- clap off” feature of these device.   Homeowners who have these devices already connected should confirm the update to disable this function has been installed... 05/23/2014

My family built a modular home in Cupertino three years ago. The experience was positive.       This is a repost by the gentleman below. He was commenting on a thread from a Trulia Question I participated on. I thought it was a very honest and real answer coming straight from a resident and not from a RE professional or someone directly in the Factory Built Housing Business   http://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/Is_it_risky_to_build_a_modular_home_that_meets_Cal-435858   Tinoresident, Home Owner, Cupertino, CA I cannot comment about selling a modular home in Cupertino. My family built a modular home in Cupertino three years ago. The experience was positive.To my knowledge, we are the second family in our neighborhood that built a modular home.   In 2008, on the way home, I saw a ... 05/20/2014

I Just Love Donald Hester's Style and Will Continue To Repost Him.   Baby it’s cold outside, put another log on the fire… in the garage!    BY DONALD HESTER Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC EMAIL  SHORT URL              Share: March 05, 2014 06:46 AM Baby it’s cold outside, put another log on the fire… in the garage!   As home inspectors we often have to not only know a lot little things, then there is also the looking at the big picture.   On Douglas County home inspection a little while back I noticed what a not so uncommon installation. A wood stove installed in the garage.                                                   The general rule is that solid fuel–burning appliances should not be installed in any location where gasoline, flammable vapors or gases are present ... 05/14/2014

Are You Getting The Most Out of Your Real Estate Investment? HOUSING FOR THE FUTRUE? The next residential housing boom just may surprise you…. With an excess of 77 million Baby Boomers (1946-1965) in the final stretch and over 100 million X'rs(1966-1982) and Y'rs (1983 date) in the field of play PRACTICAL HOUSING SOLUTIONS just may be the Buzz Word for the foreseeable future.   Boomers are down-sizing for more practical and accesable single story homes that they can comfortably and safely navigate or multiple seasonal options if they can afford them.     X'rs are trying to figure out how to Xhale their underwater mortgages and still have enough left to Inhale a more modest and humble lifestyle while Y'rs in many cases haven't even left home yet. Bottom line Housing almost two hundred... 05/13/2014

Experts Predict A Pervasive  & Growing Trend For Today's Homeowners     This is further evidence that the significant growth in   "Accessory Dwelling Unit" aka "ADU's",   "Granny Flats", Mother-In-Law Flats, Casitas, etc, is evolving from a mere cottage industry (PUN INTENDED) to a full blown 21st Century   GROWING HOME TREND If you have a home that qualifies for an "ADU" You may have some real added value built in to your investment and don't even realize it.    Check out this article from:    Family Fusion The PulteGroup survey shows that nearly a third of householders are expecting an adult child or aging parent to move in with them. By Teresa Burney A PulteGroup survey shows multigenerational households could double in the foreseeable future, creating a need for homes with more spac... 05/13/2014