Get Your Financial House in Order

I have something on my mind, and chances are it involves you, if you are a parent.

Are you aware that if something were to happen to you and your partner, and you do not have a will with an appointed guardian for your minor children or dependents with special needs, the state will appoint one for you?   Without the will, you grant strangers or other family members the opportunity to decide what is best for your children.  We all know that deciding who should be legal guardian of your children is a difficult one.  And we all know that taking the steps to complete your will, trust, durable power of attorney and advanced medical directives is a "to do" item that frequently gets pushed to the bottom of the list. 

Typically, we go through life believing that misfortune happens to everyone else, right?  But the truth of the matter is that we are all subject to the same curve balls life seems to throw around.   And right now, they seem like they are flying, don't they?  Imagine if a family you knew lost both the mother and father leaving behind minor children. The couple had no will and no trust,  so the estate goes through probate and legal guardianship of the minors is left to the decision of the courts.  Think about it...

So you see, this is serious.  If you do not have a will, advanced directives, or a living trust, it is time for you to get your financial house in order.   Time for you to step up, take responsibility, and make these decisions for your family and your children, now.  Being prepared is a gift that you give to your loved ones and who better knows what is best for your family, than you?

So, here is what you need:

1.  Durable power of attorney - authorizes someone else to act on your behalf
2.  Advanced medical directives - allows someone to make medical decisions for you or treatment you want
3.  Will - disburses property to heirs, names executor of your estate and legal guardian of your children 
4.  Letter of instruction - informal document used to express your thoughts regarding what is in the will
5.  Living Trust - allows your estate to avoid probate

Luckily we work with many preferred business partners.  To help you get your financial house in order, we suggest calling Angela Hawkeotte or Boyd Hudson with Adams, Hawekotte & Hudson at 626-583-8000 OR Vanessa Terzian with The Law Offices of Vanessa M. Terzian at 818-864-6174.

You'll be glad you made the call and relieved that you finally have your financial house in order.
 
Cynthia

An Evening on the Town

When we sold our house last October, we ended up in temporary housing as waited for the new house to close escrow and work to be completed.  After reviewing our temporary housing options, we landed in an Oakwood apartment at the Pasadena Gateway Villas located at Locust and Lake Avenue.  The real upside of turning our lives upside down for two months was that we were able to enjoy Pasadena’s urban life style.  And enjoy it, we did!

At the end of our stay, I arranged a pub crawl, which was an idea I stole from our good friends Alfred and Robyn Navarro.  If you are looking to organize a fun evening in the near future, follow our lead.  You’ll have a terrific time and all within just a few miles of your home.

The evening began at the apartment where we all met.  Since we were living only steps from the Lake Avenue Metro Gold Line, we took the Metro to the Del Mar Station.  We started at the Luggage Room Pizzeria for cocktails and pizzas, which were heavenly.  The main idea for the evening was to stop briefly at several predetermined restaurants and bars (walking to them all) to enjoy an appetizer, a drink, and hopefully lots of laughs.

Next, we headed around the corner to the Congregation Ale House on Del Mar Boulevard.   I have always loved this piece of real estate, and the owners have done a fantastic job with the decor and menu (their now 3^rd location).   There are hundreds of brews to choose from and a delicious menu which seemed to satisfy everyone.

We then headed up to Green Street where we made a last stop at the Dog Haus Biergarten, now its second location in Pasadena (there is a theme here, have you noticed?).  We found a few open tables inside, ordered drinks, and soon realized that a band was performing for the evening.  I really don't think I could have planned the evening any better since it just happened to be the evening the Past Action Heroes were playing.  Ever heard of them?  They play primarily 80's cover music, and they are a lively group!  So much fun in fact, that most would have preferred to close down the place if it wasn’t for the fact that we had a hand full of kids back at the apartment and a babysitter to get home.

So, the evening was a success!   A group of friends, enjoying each other’s company at some fabulous new eateries in the city we all love and appreciate.  Pasadena is a treasure, and it is just waiting for you to go exploring and to have some fun of your own!

Win your Day with Miracle Fitness

It's 5:15 am and I have hit the snooze button for the first time - it is Monday.  I drift in and out of sleep for the next 15, well honestly 20 minutes, until I decide that I can not squeeze in one more second. It is time to get up. This is my ritual every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is always the same waking game I play, but the reward is great. See, I head down to,Victory Park about 4 blocks from our house for my 5:45 am strength training workout with Lisa Wolfe, the owner of Miracle of Fitness and her many dedicated followers. This month marks a year and half since I began training with her.

Lisa's company, along with hundreds of other small businesses, are what makes Pasadena so unique.  Small business commerce is alive and kicking in our community and there truly is something for everyone here. So for me, I would much rather workout outdoors, in my own neighborhood, and at the same time support someone who has the spirit and drive to go live out her passion. And as bonus, I have met some of the most amazing women and men who live right in my neighborhood and who have joined me on this journey of  "winning the day".

Lisa offers one-on-one, small group training and “Bootcamps” out of Victory Park, so give her a call and join us sometime. It is never too late to get started or re-started and you'll never regret missing a few minutes (or an hour) of sleep since you'll be witness to some of the most amazing sunrises, be reminded of the bountiful blessings, and grateful for the new friends who have entered your life.

Now, go win your day!

Cynthia

February 2012 Sales Up for Pasadena Single Family Homes

Just so you know, or in case you were wondering just where the housing market is right now, let us bring you up to speed. The February sales for single family homes in Pasadena for the month of February 2012 is up 47% over 2011. 53 homes sold in 2012 compared to 36 in 2011. That is good news and surely driven by the historically low interest rates providing opportunities for first-time AND move-up buyers. Additionally, the average price per square foot for 2012 AND 2011 is $394.00. If you are thinking about selling your home, the average time on the market is approximately 88 days, up from 77 in 2011. Sales are up over last year, however, the median price has decreased from $602,500 in 2011 to $554,500 in 2012. Are prices going down, you ask? We think they are stable, since the sales of 3 bedroom homes nearly doubled this year. These homes sold at an average of $675,000, bringing the median down. We'll be keeping a very close watch on this in the months to come.

Is it a good time to sell or buy? Yes! There is a sale going on, so now is the time to take advantage of the lower prices and fabulous interest rates. Inventory is low, and so buyers are just waiting for the right house to come on the market. To prove my point - a recent NE Pasadena listing on Paloma Street priced at 899K generated 24 offers! Prices are stable and there are tons of deals to be had as long as you are financially qualified and prepared.

Drop us a line if you would like us to provide you an evaluation of the current value of your home (not what an appraiser has told you) so that you too, can come up with a realistic plan. This is the time to find your dream home - a once in a lifetime opportunity. We sold and bought this year and would love to share our story with you. We landed back in our favorite NE Pasadena neighborhood, just 2 blocks from our old house and are grateful that our journey led us back to one of Pasadena's best kept secrets.

Data Courtesy of TrendVision