2009-03 Dena Land News

Spring is the time for renewal

So finally on March 20, Spring arrives with

the promise of birds, gardens, green grass, and

probably a bit more rain. Most people love

Spring and the sense of renewal it brings with

it.

No wonder Spring is the best time to sell a

home and (of course) the most popular time to

buy one.

This year is no different. We are seeing the

usual influx of Spring buyers and sellers. This

year promises to be a Super Spring for both buy-

ers and sellers. Although there is still a generous

supply of homes on the market and some great

values out there, we expect to see a slight tighten-

ing of the market and, with it, rising home prices

later in the year. Loan rates are so low right now,

it’s not surprising. If you are ready to buy, don’t

delay!

Linda Lane-White (626) 786-1231

www.lindalanewhite.com

Spring Is The Best Time To Sell Your Home!

N ew jobs, retirement, and maybe just a taste for change,

these are some of the life circumstances that make you

want to sell your home.

Here's the good news: There are buyers out there, and if you

want to snag one, you have to start with the be-

ginner steps and move on to the advanced ones.

Traditional selling tips still apply:

Start now. Spring is usually the best time to

sell, but there will be no other timing advantages.

Fix up and clean up. Don't do expensive renova-

tions, but paint it and make it completely clean.

Declutter. All of it. Keep only enough furni-

ture to make the house livable and put the rest in

storage. That includes knickknacks, family photos, and more.

Clean out your drawers and closets. You want your closets

and cabinets to be spacious. More advanced steps include:

* Set a realistic price. The housing market changes naturally

over time. A good price involves many factors including know-

ing recent sales prices in the neighborhood and understanding

what features of your home increase its value. A good Real-tor® can set the price and make it attractive enough to attract

serious buyers to your property. * Promote your property. The Realtor® pays the usual

marketing costs, such as newspaper want ads. Mailings

can get to be pretty pricey, but if there’s enough com-

mission built in to the Listing Agreement, your Agent shouldn’t scrimp. Your Realtor® should also post your

home in blogs like Active Rain, Twitter, Facebook,

MySpace, etc. * Your Realtor® should also make sure that your

house is shown on real estate Web sites such as Trulia,

Zillow, and Cyberhomes, Eppraisal and Realtor.com

are some of the best ones.

* Accept a reasonable offer. A house is only worth what

someone is willing to pay for it.

Save Hundreds at the (Toilet) Tank

DENA LAND NEWSDENA LAND NEWSDENA LAND NEWS

Linda Lane-White

“Singing” Realtor ®

CA Lic #01091347

Notary Public

March 2009

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY LINDA LANE-WHITE—KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY

SERVING MY HOMETOWN OF ALTADENA/PASADENA AND OUTLYING AREAS

Water conservation is becoming a household neces-

sity due to more states declaring drought emergencies

each year.

Plus, not only does water conservation help the

environment, but it also puts less strain on the pocket-

book. Repairing a leaky toilet can save up to 200 gal-

lons of water a day or more than $365 a year on your

water bill, depending on the varying cost of water in

your area and the severity of the leak.

One way to identify a leaky toilet is to add a few

drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the toilet is not

running and the coloring seeps into the toilet bowl, it signals a

leak at the flapper. Another simple way to recognize toilet

leaks is to install a Fluidmaster Leak Sentry Fill Valve or

Leak Guard Fill Valve on your toilet. After detecting a leak,

these valves “lock” the refilling of a tank without dis-

abling the toilet.

Homeowners are made aware of the leak because

they have to push the lever twice to flush the toilet.

Other signs that a toilet is leaking include the sound of

running water and the toilet turning on and off without

being flushed. You may need to replace the flapper, the

handle, or adjust the water level in the tank to make

sure water isn’t being wasted in your toilet.

For additional tips on toilet repairs, water conserva-

tion and information on products that save water, money and

make an environmental difference, go to www.

fluidmaster.com/waterconservation.

Ground beef Across

1. "___ do you do?"

4. 007, for one

7. Commuter line

9. Ad headline

10. Jerk

11. Support, with "up"

12. Read the riot

act to

14. Dental bit

15. Venus __

19. "How ___!"

20. Arch type

22. Frau's partner

23. "This is fun!"

24. Cry in cartoons

25. Mar. follower

Down

1. "48___"

2. Diamond Head

locale

3. Chicken

4. Delhi wrap

5. Trudge

6. "Sure"

8. Congressional

persuader

9. Songbird

13. Same old,

same old

15. At liberty

16. Lie in ambush

17. Turkish title

18. Chick's sound

19. Cafe alternative

The headline is a clue to the answer in the diagonal.

Q My husband

and I have been

casually looking for

houses for sometime.

Now we are very

serious about buying.

How can we narrow

down our choices?

A There are so

many wonder-

ful properties on the

market right now, I

am glad you are

thinking in this direc-

tion. The fact is you

just have to create a

mental filter.

First, decide what

features of the house

you must have. This

is sometimes differ-

ent than deciding on

location or neighbor-

hood. What features

of the house itself do

you require? To take

an obvious example

if you have two chil-

dren and you need

three bedrooms, it

really doesn't matter

how much you like

the neighborhood if

the house isn't right.

On the other hand if

you would like a spa

bathroom, but you

find a three bedroom

house in the right

neighborhood at the

right price, will the

lack of a spa be a

deal killer? If so,

then a spa bathroom

is something you require.

That brings us to the next filter. What would

you like to have in a house but could live with-

out? These items can constitute a tie breaker.

For example, if you want a 2-acre lot and you

would like to have a large fenced area for your

dog, then if you are deciding between two ac-

ceptable houses, the one with the fence might

cinch the deal.

Finally, you come to a list of 'absolutely nots.'

This is the most important list to the real estate

agent, who will then have an idea of where not

to look. Be sure your list of absolute negatives

are accurate.

If you build your mental filter before you be-

gin to look, then you probably won't have to

look too long at too many houses. But if, after

searching, you still haven't found something,

you might take time to reexamine your priori-

ties.

When you do find a house that meets your

priorities and makes you heart beat fast, take it!

Don't wait to see if there is another dream

house around the corner. When you see your

dream, snag it, or someone else will!

Dena Land News—Linda Lane-White • Keller Williams Realty (626) 786-1231 • www.lindalanewhite.com

CEEDUB

CONSTRUCTION

RESIDENTIAL & LIGHT COMMERCIAL

With over 30 years of experience, we work with you

to achieve your dream.

Call Today For A Free Estimate

(Licensed/Bonded/Insured)

(626) 786-1229 CHRIS WHITE, OWNER

Ca Lic #883002

www.ceedubconstruction.com

Ask an Expert

Birthday Wishes This Month

Go Out To:

Ibarionex Perello—5th

Bonnie Anderson—5th

David Lane—6th

Linda Lane-White—10th

Ann Albert-Braun—25th

Gilda Jordan—25th

Active Adults Corner Trust Linda Lane-White as your Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

Dena Land News—Linda Lane-White • Keller Williams Realty (626) 786-1231 • www.lindalanewhite.com

Pasadena Senior Center St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Monday, March 17 at noon . Rummage, Craft & Bake Sale

Saturday, March 21 Pasadena Golf Classic

Monday, March 23 For information about the events above, contact Cynthia at (626)

685-6724, or cyn-

[email protected]

INGREDIENTS:

1 table-

spoon vegeta-

ble oil

1-pound

leg of lamb,

cut into ¾-

inch cubes

3 cups beef broth

2 cloves garlic,

minced (or ½ teaspoon

garlic powder)

1 teaspoon dried

rosemary or marjoram

leaves

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 cups peeled pota-

toes, cut into ½-inch

cubes

1½ cups carrots, cut

into ½-inch slices

1½ cups celery, cut

into ½-inch slices

½ cup chopped onion

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oil in a

large skillet over

medium heat.

2. Add lamb and

cook until brown,

about 5 minutes.

3. Add beef broth,

garlic, rosemary or mar-

joram, and pepper.

4. Bring to a boil; re-

duce heat to low. Cover

and simmer 20 minutes or

until meat is tender.

5. Stir in potatoes, car-

rots, celery, and onion.

6. Return to boiling;

reduce heat. Cover; sim-

mer about 30 minutes or

until vegetables are ten-

der.

Makes about seven (1¼

cup) servings

Irish Lamb Stew

New Therapy Slows Progression of Alzheimer's

Using the drug memantine plus cholinesterase inhibitor drugs, doctors

at Massachusetts General Hospital found their Alzheimer's patients had a

significantly lower rate of cognitive impairment than other patients in

their study.

In 10 to 15 percent of patients, symptoms were reversed or partially

reversed. In others, development of symptoms was slowed. Patients in

the study were tracked for two-and-a-half years. Then, using computer

projections, they were able to predict what their progress would be four

years after beginning the study.

Diets That Lower Cholesterol

Researchers reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine were

surprised to find that a low-carbohydrate diet improves the ratio of total

cholesterol to HDL (good) cholesterol more than a low-fat diet.

Low-fat diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, recommend no more

than 30 percent of calories from fat. They restrict calories and promote

whole grains, vegetables and fruit.

Low-carb diets include the Atkins diet, which helps people lose weight,

but also improves cholesterol ratios.

As always, eat your oatmeal and try eliminating saturated fats and

greasy foods from your diet.

Altadena Senior Center 560 E Mariposa, Altadena

Every Thursday in March at 9am there is Free Income Tax Service March 18 9:30-11:30 Free Health

Counseling For more info: (626) 798-0505

INGREDIENTS:

4 green bell peppers (or

red for a sweeter taste

and festive color)

1 4-ounce package pep-

peroni slices

1 medium tomato, diced

4 medium button mush-

rooms sliced

1/2 cup of diced yellow

onions

1/2 cup diced black ol-

ives

8-ounce pack-

age of Moz-

zarella cheese

2 teaspoons of

olive or ca-

nola oil

1 teaspoon of

pizza spice

DIRECTIONS:

Cut the top off of

each pepper and remove the

seeds and white interior

ribs.

In a large bowl, thor-

oughly mix all other ingre-

dients, with the exception

of the oil. Stuff the mixture

into the peppers and drizzle

1/2 teaspoon oil over the

top of each. A small portion

of cheese may also be saved

to sprinkle on the top of the

pepper. Bake at

350 degrees in a

pre-heated oven

until the cheese

is melted and

the outsides of

the peppers start

to wrinkle.

Serves four.

Crustless Pizza

Recent Area Sales (Derived from PFAR MLS) ***Linda was buyer’s agent!

Who do you know right now who’s looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate? Give me a call or send me an E-mail. I’m never too busy for your referrals to friends or family.

Disclaimers: All real estate information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal. Neither

listing broker(s) nor this company shall be responsible for typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. If your property is currently listed with another

real estate broker, this is not a solicitation of that listing.

Dena Land News—Linda Lane-White • Keller Williams Realty (626) 786-1231 • www.lindalanewhite.com

Days On Market Sale Date

List Price

Sold Price Address City/Area

Bed/ Bath

Home S.F

Lot S.F

15 02/05/09 $ 319,777 $ 325,000 2785 Fair Oaks Ave Altadena 3/1 1208 8205

28 03/02/09 $ 384,900 $ 440,000 1272 E Loma Alta Dr Altadena 3/2 1780 7994

20 02/11/09 $ 438,500 $ 450,000 1747 Roosevelt Ave Altadena 2/1 1287 7432

7 02/26/09 $ 453,900 $ 477,000 939 Parkman St Altadena 3/2 1606 6966

106 02/27/09 $ 599,900 $ 611,000 3000 Santa Rosa Ave Altadena 3/2 1785 14440

283 02/12/09 $ 1,375,000 $ 1,500,000 1375 E Mendocino St Altadena 5/3 3601 35375

262 02/09/09 $ 2,749,000 $ 2,300,000 9000 Meredith Pl Beverly Hills 5/6 4140 25260

23 02/02/09 $ 425,000 $ 417,000 2437 E Curtis Ct Glendora 2/3 1727 Condo

186 02/02/09 $ 849,000 $ 840,000 234 Inverness Pl Glendora 4/3 2238 11840

88 02/17/09 $ 584,900 $ 605,000 2942 Stevens St La Crescenta 3/3 1884 5955

44 02/06/09 $ 1,075,000 $ 910,000 203 N Arden Hancock Park 4/2 2433 7450

23 02/02/09 $ 699,000 $ 660,000 2421 Walgrove Ave Palms - Mar Vista 3/2 1544 5850

123 02/20/09 $ 1,399,000 $ 1,300,000 745 Oak Knoll Cir Pasadena (SE) 3/3 2699 10398

19 02/02/09 $ 639,500 $ 602,000 1766 Old Grove Rd Pasadena (NE) 2/2 1470 5345

49 02/19/09 $ 725,000 $ 715,000 1275 Hastings Ranch Dr Pasadena (NE) 3/3 1800 7564

73 02/12/09 $ 630,000 $ 630,000 420 Esplanade #10 Redondo Bch 2/3 1762 1916

180 02/24/09 $ 265,000 $ 259,000 11212 Michelin Dr*** Riverside 4/3 2016 8276

19 02/02/09 $ 630,000 $ 595,000 2002 Via Esperanza San Dimas 4/3 2223 23722

7 02/20/09 $ 1,199,000 $ 1,225,000 821 Rollin St South Pasadena 3/2 2308 23889

144 02/04/09 $ 729,900 $ 657,000 7255 Tranquil Pl Sunland/Tujunga 4/5 3415 33977

When Buying or Refinancing...

Call Peter First Peter Cosfol

& Augusta Financial

Get Pre-Approved Senior Loan Officer Augusta Financial is a service oriented mortgage company that specializes in residential

financing. We have many loan programs to help our clients with all of their mortgage needs.

Peter offers the best pricing with the lowest fees!

Peter will personally address all of your questions and concerns regarding the loan process!

Augusta Financial makes the loan process seem easy!

Augusta is both Broker and Mortgage Banker!

We offer In-house processing and funding!

It’s a GREAT time to Refinance!

(661) 260-2970 Office · (661) 291-2234 Direct · (818) 281-1466 Cell

Four Reasons

Why You Should

Stop Renting!

If you have not bought a house for

three years, the United States govern-

ment is about to hand you $8,000.

There is one catch. You have to in-

vest in the American Dream and buy a

house.

Luckily, if that is what you want to do

anyway, you appear to have hit a minia-

ture jackpot.

Last year's Housing and Economic

Recovery Act offered new homeowners

a $7,500 tax credit if they bought a

home before June 30. According to that

plan the $7,500 tax credit would be re-

paid over 15 years with annual payments

of $500 added from the borrower's in-

come tax bill. But, thanks to Congress

and President Barack Obama, this past

month that amount changed to $8,000

AND it doesn’t have to be paid back if

you stay in your home for 3 years.

For first time homeowners, this prom-

ises to be a one-time bonanza during the

best time in history to buy a home. Call

me for more information on this credit.

Here are just some of the reasons why

the cost of housing will probably never

be more economical.

1) Inventory of new

homes is tightening.

That means there are

fewer new homes for

buyers to buy. It's basic

economics: When the

supply goes down, the

price goes up.

2) Congress is moving to close off the

dribble of foreclosures on pre-owned

homes. Again, with fewer houses going

on the market via foreclosure, the supply

of homes will go down and price in-

creases will soon follow.

3) Interest rates are fantastic right

now. The best borrowers can now get 30

-year mortgages at rates under 5 percent.

4) Obama's promised new stimulus

packages will likely extend and sweeten

deals for homeowner.

The fact is that now might be the best

time in your life to buy a home.

First-time home buyers, especially

young people, may have never seen their

credit score or even considered their

credit worthiness, but when they want to

buy a home, that changes.

These days, a credit score of 700 is

usually considered a good starting point

for a home loan. However, FHA loans

may be more lenient.

But the most important thing is to

start immediately to establish, build or

improve your credit.

Here is our One-Year plan for better

credit that works for everyone, not just

first-time homebuyers:

1. Go to annualcreditreport.com and

look over your free annual report from

each of the three credit reporting agen-

cies. Look for errors. Then immediately

take steps to correct them.

2. Pay your bills on time. You must

never be late even once. One of the

most common comments bill collectors

hear from young borrowers is: I have the

money, I just forgot to pay the bill. Stop

forgetting. You must establish an iron-

clad history of paying your bills on time.

3. Work on getting your credit bal-

ances below 50 percent of your maxi-

mum credit limit. That raises your score.

If you balances are below 30 percent, it

raises your score again.

4. If you don't have a credit card,

look into establishing a secured card.

With a secured card, you send the card

company a deposit and then they send

you a credit card. You can only use the

card for the amount on deposit. But when

you get the card, you should use it. Buy

something, and then make your payments

perfectly.

5, Don't apply for a store account

every time the clerk says you can save 10

percent. Each time you fill out an appli-

cation, the company hits your credit re-

port. Inquiries like these count against

your credit. Don't make applications for

credit unless you actually need it.

6. If you have unused credit accounts,

don't close them if you are planning to

apply for a mortgage. That can actually

make your score drop.

7. During your credit improvement

year, don't buy a car. Lenders don't want

to see buyers committed to several large

credit accounts. Never finance a car be-

fore you try to take a mortgage.

8. Plan to open three new credit ac-

counts during your credit improvement

year, even if they are secured accounts.

Be sure to space your new accounts by

three months. Use each account and pay

each off COMPLETELY every month.

This is the kind of credit management

that improves your credit score AND

teaches you how to manage credit.

Credit Score 700:

8 Steps To A High Credit Score and New Home

Dena Land News—Linda Lane-White • Keller Williams Realty (626) 786-1231 • www.lindalanewhite.com

Pasadena Market Center

445 S. Fair Oaks Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

Cell: (626) 786-1231

Home Office: (626) 798-2382

Fax: (626) 296-1979

[email protected]

Home Office: 519 Alameda, Altadena

I n T une Wit h Your Needs

If You Would Like To Receive This

Newsletter on a Regular Basis for

Guaranteed Delivery (Snail or E-Mail)

Call me or send me an E-Mail...LLW

Linda Lane-White “Singing” Realtor® CA Lic #01091347 (since 1990)

Notary Public (since 1987)

Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated

www.lindalanewhite.com

Search the MLS on my web site!

March Happenings in Dena Land Every Thursday in March 2pm or 3pm or 4pm Guided Tours of the Wrigley Mansion (Tournament of Roses House). 391 S. Orange

Grove Blvd., Pasadena. 626/449-4100 or www.tournamentofroses.com FREE

Every Saturday and Sunday in March 9am to 12pm Help take down Christmas Lights on Christmas Tree Lane. Bring the whole fam-

ily. School service groups are welcome and can obtain credit. Donuts and coffee in the morning. Lunch at noon for the weary! Call

Linda for more information 626/786-1231.

Mar 5 3pm You’re In the Enterprise Zone—Now What? Join Enterprise Zone Manager, Melissa Alva, Dan Lien of Community Bank

and others in a workshop that will explain what benefits are available and how you can access tax credits for employees, purchases

and more. Melody Soul Food Café 755 E Washington, Pasadena. 626/795-3355 www.pasadena-chamber.org FREE (Linda Lane-

White benefited from being in the Enterprise Zone—ask me how)!

Mar 8 and 15 7:30-10:30pm Robert Kyle and his Brazilian Trio will be performing at the Pasadena Jazz Institute at Paseo Colorado.

260 E Colorado Blvd #206, Pasadena. 626/398-3344 or www.pasjazz.org

Mar 7 12pm John Muir High School Class of ‘79 30 year Reunion Planning Meeting. Muir Library. Call Linda for info 626-798-2382.

Mar 8 Daylight Savings Time. Move clocks ahead 1 hour. Don’t forget to change your smoke detector batteries.

Mar 9 8pm Stephen W. Hawking: Why We Should Go Into Space. Insights into the birth of the universe, black holes and the future of

human race. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E Green, Pasadena 626-395-3834 www.events.caltech.edu $10.00

Mar 10 All Day—Linda Lane-White’s Birthday!

Mar 13 3:30pm View Madagascar Escape 2 Africa at the Altadena Library 600 E Mariposa. 626-792-3148 FREE

Mar 14 8am 3rd Annual Whole Foods Market Pasadena Triathlon. Open to all—experienced or not. Rose Bowl Aquatics Center

310/821-7898 www.pasadenatriathlon.com $75

Mar 17 12pm St. Paddy’s Celebration. Enjoy corned beef and cabbage and performance of Irish songs. Pasadena Senior Center 85

E Raymond Ave., Pasadena 626/795-4331 www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org

Mar 19 5pm Pasadena Chamber Mixer at La Grande Orange. 260 S. Raymond, Pasadena 626/795-3355 www.pasadena-chamber.org

Mar 21 8:30am Musical Circus: Fiddler in the Room. Classes in ceili dancing for children. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E Green.

626/793-7172 or www.pasadenasymphony.org FREE

Mar 21 (through May 10) 9am Jurassic Journey for Kids. Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Dr, La Canada 818/949-4200

www.descansogardens.org Free with admission.

Mar 21 1:00pm Imagine: The Beatles Tribute Band kicks off Descanso Garden’s Spring Show on the lawn. Bring blankets and picnics

for this event ONLY. 1418 Descanso Dr., La Canada 818/949-4200 www.descansogardens.org Free with Garden Admission.

Mar 22 6am Join Team 5 Acres for the Kaiser Permanente Pasadena Marathon. There’s also a half marathon, a 5K, a 3.1 mile run/

walk and a Bike Tour. Go to http://www.team5acrespasadena.blogspot.com/ for more info or call Susan Silverman at 626-798-6793

x2279 or [email protected]

Mar 29 9am California Style: Johnson, Kaufmann & Coate: Drive-Yourself House Tour. 651 S. St John Ave., Pasadena 626/441-6333 or

www.pasadenaheritage.org $32 in advance for members or $36 for general public. $40 on the day of the event.