On Reciprocity   On Reciprocity The word and the concept has me thinking.  Once again.  It's a word and a concept that I have known for a long time.  I distinctly recall hearing about it again when joining ActiveRain.  The importance of reciprocity.  The why.  The whens and the hows.  Much of those early days in this forum are but a mere blur.  I may not always or consistently fully practice reciprocity here.   But there it is and as light bulb moments often do it takes on so many definitions when it comes to this forum.  I digress.  Off onto a tangent.  Anyway.   Reciprocity certainly has plenty of real life implications.  Maybe it goes back to long ago far before AR.  I remember hearing about the importance of the golden rule as a very young child.  Do unto others...  In the real wor... 08/04/2019

On June 10, 2019, Realtor.com reported that in Pasadena, California median list price was $998,000 in June of 2019 slightly down from $999,000 in May of 2019, but unchanged 0.0% or from $998,000 in June of 2018. While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $908,000 in June of 2019, rose 6.0% from June of 2018 in Pasadena, California.Houses stayed 51.00 days in the market in June of 2019 decreased from 52.00 days in May of 2019, but declined from 50.00 days in June of 2018 in Pasadena, California.The median listing price per square foot of a home and a condo was $595.00 in June of 2019 gained from $587.00 in May of 2019, and higher 1.0% from $590.00 in June of 2018 in Pasadena, California according to Realtor.For complete more detailed information about Realtor.com’s latest homes... 07/15/2019

  Ah To The Ides Of July     Ah To The Ides Of July  Perhaps it's a case of being dissatisfied as merely the seventh month of the year.  Or maybe July has an inferiority complex-of-sorts about being known as not much more than the place where the United States holds its Independence Day celebration year after year after year.  Who knows how these things start?  Or why.  Without special commemoration of certain days would we even notice?  Kinda like a tree falling in the forest when no one is around?  Why not claim July 15 as a very special day if we want? I mean it seems "special" days are a given.  Kinda like a participation trophy.  I digress... No longer doomed as an "also-ran" to March with its own and better publicized "ides" event(could it be about that "go fund me" effort?  Who k... 07/15/2019

  Maybe It Was Some Crossed Wires     Maybe It Was Some Crossed Wires   Although I thought I knew the meaning of the idiom I checked the definition of "crossed wires" in The Urban Dictionary to make sure.   I found it to be or become confused, mistaken or mentally disordered(about something).  An allusion to telephone wires being wrongly connected.   Effective communication is not an easy one to master at times I am sure many can agree.  Misinterpretations are present.  Unintentionally and perhaps otherwise.   A bad connection can occur on multiple levels.   You know...stuff happens.   Crossed wires came to mind because effective communication is so important.  I mean communication is clearly a part of our everyday life.  How we speak.  But far beyond that.  A smile.  That nod.   Or shr... 07/12/2019

  On Being Civil  \ On Being Civil   This is not a political post. But I guess it could be construed as such if your mind works in that way.   I think of the reach far beyond that particular world and more of what happens closer to home.  In our own backyard.  And around the corner.  The topic of civility happens here. In this forum. And obviously beyond the border of it.   By the time I stepped foot in high school, there wasn't a class specifically called "Civics" on the curriculum.  I guess that course name had long been abandoned in our district. While it might not have been of interest to all it's one that needed discussion.  Then.  Now.   I digress. So much for civics class and onto civility.   My mind wandered and I found this quote:   Civility, politeness, it's like a cement in a... 06/29/2019

In June of 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,792,583 in May of 2019 lower 9.4% from $1,998,453 in May of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,277,000 in May of 2019, down 1.7% from $1,299,000 May of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 594 active listing of homes and condos in May of 2019 up 7.9% from 499 listing in May of 2018; While there were 3.2 months available inventory of homes and condos in May of 2019, rose 22.9% from 2.6 months of available inventory in May of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,384,902 in May of 2019 gained 8.2% from $1,280,038 in May of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $1,020,000 in May of 2019, increased 12.0% ... 06/26/2019

  Breaking The Ice   Breaking The Ice   This term may have different meanings around the country and during certain times of the year.  But I was pondering things while going through some questions in the ActiveRain Q&A section recently.   While answers often depend on the details of a situation, the location and so many other factors much can be solved or resolved with a conversation.   A meaningful dialogue.  You know, just talking.  One person starts and then another listens, then responds.  You likely understand the concept.  Probably have even practiced it from time to time.  Successfully too I imagine.   It can happen in real estate and in all forms industry-related.  On ActiveRain.  And most importantly, in real life.  Not so difficult.  Well, so it seems.  Breaking The Ice can c... 05/26/2019

In May of 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,823,230 in April of 2019 down 4.2% or from $1,902,291 in April of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,277,500 in April of 2019, higher 1.8% from $1,255,000 April of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 582 active listing of homes and condos in April of 2019 gained 27.4% or from 457 in April of 2018; While there were 3.7 months available inventory of homes and condos in April of 2019, increased 43.6% or 2.6 months of available inventory from April of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,217,312 in April of 2019 declined 5.6% or from $1,289,843 in April of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $944,000 i... 05/21/2019

  And The Subject Was Roses   And The Subject Was Roses   The other day arrived with the sound not of a gentle pitter-patter but somewhat more intense. Definitely not a light rain or just a drizzle.  In Southern California we have experienced more precipitation than usual and most of us are grateful for that.  The usual walk as dawn was breaking that day would  be postponed. In the scope of things to be concerned this really is not an issue. At least I didn't think so. Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns.  I am thankful that thorns have roses.                                                                                                                                                                                                             Alphonse Karr   Late... 05/20/2019

  On Adaptability    On Adaptability  I assume we can each appreciate the importance of adaptability in our lives.  A quick look at the Internet shows us this definition from Oxford Dictionaries that adaptability is the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.  Easier defined perhaps than is actually practiced in real life.   Let's leave the definition as the goal I guess. As is often my way of discovering and exploring things around me I look to quotes by others for some insight.  Today, I share three quotes from people of diverse backgrounds.    All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability.  The truth is outside all fixed patterns.                                                                                                          Bruce Lee  Adaptab... 05/16/2019

 Something Like Mondegreen    Something Like Mondegreen   I don't know how it happened.  I mean I can't point to the exact moment or the specifics of the most recent example.  Mondegreen is the word(as defined by Merriam-Webster online) used to describe the mishearing or misinterpreting of words.  For me this is typically evident with music but it can occur when writing or speaking too.  I mean this happens all the time mind you.  But enough to be annoying.  And funny too.    I explored this self-diagnosed malady in an ActiveRain post in 2014 -  "Last Night I Dreamt of Some Bagels" .   I still "suffer" from it. Those around me - when not giggling or raucously laughing - are still witnessing it too.  Suffering I imagine in their own way.    These days mondegreen occurs for me while ponde... 05/14/2019

Kickback Friday: we were visiting Vroman’s and look what we saw at the door…. Most of you who read my blog post know that Diane just got back from Boston, MA. We had some errands to take care of and after it we decided to go to Vroman’s  our favorite book store in Pasadena. At the same time, we thought it would be a good time to introduce Holly or dog  to Vroman’s as well.Much to our surprise, we were greeted with a Sign at the entrance door. Well, check it out! Diane and I  were very excited.Now keep in mind our favorite pastime is books and wine. Not that we need an excuse to go to Vroman’s, instead it is just one more reason to visit.Keep in mind the Los Angeles Times Festival of  Books was not that long ago i.e.: five weeks ago, and here we are feeding our addictions, more books to ... 05/03/2019

  Click Here For The Answer    Click Here For The Answer   Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.  Let us not to seek to fix blame for the past.  Let us accept the responsibility for the future.                                                                                                                                       John Fitzgerald Kennedy   It may be too easy to ask questions when a little research and perhaps more importantly some soul searching can lead us to the right outcome.  Maybe it's more complicated than that.  Or maybe it's just that simple.  Straight forward.  Putting all the positives and the negatives on the virtual white board and determine some possible answers.  Brainstorming.    This is not a political post.  It... 04/16/2019

In April of 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,803,807 in March of 2019 dropped 6.1% or from $1,920,908 in March of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,200,000 in March of 2019, down 0.4% from $1,250,000 March of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 513 active listing of homes and condos in March of 2019 gained 23.3% or from 416 in March of 2018; While there were 4.8 months available inventory of homes and condos in March of 2019, increased 31.5% or 3.7 months of available inventory from March of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,303,796 in March of 2019 gained 13.4% or from $1,149,245 in March of 2018; While, median sales price for a home and a condo was $1,042,5... 04/09/2019

As I mentioned in my previous Post, this Investor client wanted to know what the demographics were in Pasadena before she was ready to buy some Investment Property. Now with that said, I did some research and at the same time felt this would be a great Blog Post to share for others as well.Looking at the Average Sales Price, looks like the Single Family Market is pretty strong in Pasadena when it comes to price increases. Hence it would be a good investment even if you only look at the year over year price increases.Inventory has increase slightly but not enough for all the ney sayers to say that the market is going to change from a Seller's to a Buyer's Market. I just do not see that as a trend in the near term.When people ask me how is the Real Estate Market the first place I look at ... 04/06/2019

I have been working with an out of area Investor and she was focused on Los Angeles, but then decided to investigate other pockets. Now with that said, she wanted to know the following question:  What are the community statistics near Pasadena City College? Needless to say I thought hard before I addressed the question, but when I did I thought this would be a great Blog Post for others who might be interested in the same question. So with that said let's look at some of the answers: I was amazed to see that the age group within a mile from the City College is not mostly in the late teens and early twenties. Does that mean more College Students are commuting from other locations? Clearly an intersting question is raised. Now this inspired me to look at what the demographics look like ne... 04/06/2019

 And Then He Cried Out "I Lost On Jeopardy!"     And Then He Cried Out "I Lost On Jeopardy!"   It has all the elements of high drama some might say. Who would have thunk this would happen when Endre Barath, Jr. announced this ActiveRain Chalenge for March - Book Smart?   So many posts(many quite clever)have been shared about the painting Endre showed us in his challenge annoucement post. Some mysteries and insights have been revealed(there's been more intrigue for this challenge than we typically see on AR quite frankly).  And now on March 30, 2019 this interpretarion of the painting by Paul Julien Freed can finally be told. Well, at least it's my interpretation and that qualifies as one of the rules of this challenge. It's a true character study and the subject is quite the character. ... 03/30/2019

Pasadena Ca Real Estate, 44 homes were sold in February, this city market is thriving, the demand is very strong and home listing prices keep rising. One of the sales had notice of default.                    03/30/2019

In March of 2019, PFAR.org reported that an average list price for a home and a condo was $1,804,780 in February of 2019 declined 2.3% or from $1,847,276 in February of 2018; While, median listing price for a home and a condo was $1,120,000 in February of 2019, lower 3.9% or from $1,165,000 February of 2018 in Pasadena, California.There were 509 active listing of homes and condos in February of 2019 jumped 25.7% or from 405 in February of 2018; While there were 5.2 months available inventory of homes and condos in February of 2019, rose 23.1% or 4.3 months of available inventory from February of 2018 in Pasadena, California.An average sales price for a home and a condo was $1,229,041 in February of 2019 up 6.3% or from $1,156,652 in February of 2018; While, median sales price for a home... 03/15/2019

 Yes But Which Half?   Yes But Which Half?  Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half                                                                                                            John Wanamaker   You may know of John Wanamaker as the Philadelphia merchant(1838 - 1922) or perhaps of the department store that once bore his name.  His quote on advertising is a long time favorite of mine.  It's as apropos for retail as it could be for real estate or any business.    The reason to advertise is as varied as those who own a business.  In any chosen field. To generate traffic and sales.  Attract new customers while retaining existing ones.  To introduce a new product.  You could add others as the reasons are plentiful.  We learn.  We m... 03/14/2019