Surf Stomp Party at the Powerhouse preparing for another sell-out event!

This year will mark the 5th Annual Surf Stomp Fundraiser Party at the Powerhouse for Keep Del Mar Clean (http://www.keepdelmarclean.org/), a small community-based non-profit that organizes beach cleanups, donated cigarette receptacles to the City, and launched a visual campaign for park and beach areas reminding the thousands of beach go-ers not to litter.

The Surf Stomp fundraiser has become an extremely popular sell-out event for Del Mar and area residents that are environmentally conscious and love Del Mar beach. The event will be held on Saturday night, September 20th, 2008, from 6-10pm. Attendees enjoy live music by Semisi & Fula Bula (http://www.fulabula.com/), Hawaiian style dinner by Mo's Island Grinds (wwwmosislandgrinds.com), beer by Karl Strauss Brewing Company (http://www.karlstrauss.com/), fabulous wine, favorite local bartenders, dancing and raffle and silent auction opportunities. Tickets are $60 in advance. The event is for 21 years and older. The event will be held at the oceanfront Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center located at 1658 Coast Blvd, Del Mar. For tickets & information call: 858-775-4350.

Keep Del Mar Clean is collecting raffle and silent auction donations for this event. If you have a business that you would like to expose to 150+ environmentally conscious adults, call or email: Dara at 858-775-1872 or email dara@keepdelmarclean.com.

Where else can you go on a Saturday night for dinner, dancing and fun all with an oceanfront setting for $60 each!?! Do something different! Come join a fun group of folks that care about keeping our beaches and environment clean!

Helping Keep Our Beaches Clean!

Wondering what to do with the family this weekend? How about picking up trash? Okay, it may not sound like fun but it actually is! It's a great family outing and a great example to set for your children.

This Saturday, May 31, bring the family to join me and Keep Del Mar Clean at the Del Mar Powerhouse Park for the Beach Cleanup & Family Picnic. Arrive at 9am. Cleanup participants enjoy a post-cleanup Family Picnic with delicious food sponsored by Souplantation, Games by a Teacher who really knows his games, Prizes, and Boat Rides by the Del Mar Lifeguards! You must participate in the cleanup to enjoy the fun, food and games so grab your sunscrean and head on down!

For additional info and to pre-register, visit: http://www.keepdelmarclean.org/ or call: 858-792-9091

Taste of Humanity Food & Wine Benefit for Women for Women International

If you like good food & wine you should know about a fun event coming up next Thursday night at the Del Mar Powerhouse Community Center. It's the oceanfront building next to Jake's restaurant on Coast Blvd.

It's called Taste of Humanity and it's to benefit Women for Women International, they are a non-profit organization that helps women surivivors of war, and rape as a weapon of war, all around the world. Did you see the story Anderson Cooper did on 60-Minutes call 'The War Against Women'? Anyway, that's what the fundraiser is all about. Helping these women rise above the horror of being brutally raped, having their children raped, their families watch, being dragged around and forced to be sex slaves, and more horrific instances.

The evening is not heavy and depressing, rather a festive event to celebrate what Women for Women International does for these women so they can lead productive lives and provide for their family. FIVE San Diego restaurants will provide food including: Alborz (Persian), Star of India (Indian), La Vache (French), Sushi on the Rock (Japanese), and Villa Capri (Italian), in addition to many delectable desserts.

More than FIFTY Silent Auction items and TWENTY FIVE Raffle items will add to the fun plus a Grammy Nominated virtuoso guitarist, Joaquin Lievano.

Tickets are 100% deductable and cost $100 per person in advance. For more info visit http://www.tasteofhumanity.com/ or call 858-775-1872.

See you there!

Holiday Wonderland in Del Mar

'Tis the season for wonderful events for adults and children!


This Sunday, December 2nd, 2007, the Del Mar Village Association holds the 2nd Annual Holiday Wonderland in Del Mar. Entertainment and activities include: Strolling Carolers / Santa Claus / Tastes at Del Mar Restaurants / Face Painting / The Famous Holiday Cake Walk / On the Edge Dance Performance / Theatrical Production / Rad Hatter / BMX Stunt Riding Exhibition / Holiday Gift Bazaar –shop for unique holiday items and gifts! / Horse & Carriage Rides / Music throughout the Village / Train Rides / Obstacle Course / Cotton Candy / Popcorn / Kid’s Fun Zone / Multiple Kid’s Arts & Crafts / Activities for Kids of all Ages!

For additional information visit: http://www.delmarmainstreet.com

The Waiting Game - What Buyers Don't Get

Most of the buyers I talk to lately all say they are waiting a few more months before they start looking. The primary reason they give is because they feel that prices are still dropping. This seems like an intelligent enough response as who wouldn't want to pay less for the same home if all they have to do is wait a few months?

What usually stumps them is when I ask them how much more do they anticipate prices will drop? Assuming a home is now $650,000, how much do they expect it to be in 3, 4, 5, 6 months if it has already been reduced from prices a year ago by say, $50,000? If you are a waiting buyer, think about this so that you know when it is time to act so you don't get caught in the procrastination game forever. While enjoying the benefits of home ownership, many owners groan when they recall how much of their hard earned money was dumped paying rent over the years as they dragged their feet. Renting is not a bad thing as it is a wonderful temporary option but it has no future benefits.

If you are renting while you wait it is important to calculate your anticipated savings accurately. Once you answer the question above as to how much you expect to save by waiting, subtract from that number the total rent you will have paid for those waiting months. What you probably cannot calculate without help from your accountant is the tax savings that you would have received from home ownership in those months. In the end, the savings anticipate d by waiting may not be as drastic as you expect, particularly if interst rates increase from today's rates.

What buyers really don't get is that sellers don't set the prices. Real estate agents don't set the prices. As a whole, buyers set the prices. Typically buyers wait until Spring. It is historically the busiest time of the year for sellers to sell and buyers to buy. Because of this, sellers prefer to sell their homes in the spring because they can usually sell their home for around the asking price, assuming it is not over priced.

If all the buyers wait until Spring, as is historically the case each year, the demand increases which then allows sellers to hold to their desired price since there's a good chance another buyer will come along. In the current market, there are fewer buyers so sellers are eager to make an offer work since it may be their only offer until Spring comes around. So, waiting buyers, isn't it possible that you could get the same price on a home today as the price you are waiting and hoping to get in 3-6 months? In doing so, you would also get the tax benefit sooner and be able to take advantage of the low interest rates.

If you are a buyer, you may still choose to wait but at least you 'get it' and understand some of the potential losses and gains of the waiting game.

Either way, while you wait, educate yourself on home prices in the areas you might want to buy in. You can search the mls and access free buyer/seller reports from endless sources on the internet including http://www.4sdhomeinfo.com. When you are ready, or even before you are ready, arm yourself with a good Realtor!

Venturing Into the World of Blogging

As the founder of http://www.4sdhomeinfo.com/ I know how important it is for our clients and our future clients to have an online source for quality San Diego real estate information, where they can easily navigate the web site for all San Diego home listings in the mls, access mortgage calculators, school information, articles and reports for home buyers and home sellers. So it is today that I have ventured into the world of blogging to further open the lines of communication and information to first-time home buyers, repeat buyers, investors and existing home owners including those thinking about selling. We appreciate your visits to our web site http://www.4sdhomeinfo.com/ and http://www.4sdhomeinfo.blogspot.com/ and appreciate any feedback you have on how we can meet and exceed your expectations for quality real estate information.