Alien Lawn Pests Attack Danawoods
November 13, 2008
Crows are on the rampage! And yes, they have found a new way to annoy us, in addition to their “singing” and other more messy inconveniences. A number of our friends and neighbors in Danawoods have noticed crows tearing up their lawns!
No, the crows are not planting vegetable gardens or building nests. But if you have crows tearing up your lawn, they may actually be alerting you to a different problem entirely – grubs!
As it turns out, crows actually hear the grubs feeding on roots and thatch. So, in the process of feeding, crows and other birds (and skunks, too) do more damage to our lawns than even the bugs that are eating away at the roots.
To eliminate this problem, it is not necessary to mimic the tactics of Bill Murray in Caddyshack. We’ve seen scarecrows, windmills, and metalized foil streamers appearing in Danawoods. These measures are designed to dissuade the crows from feeding, and from ripping up our lawns in the process. The other way to deter the crows? Eliminate the food source through use of pesticides – kill the grubs, and with no food to attract the crows, then there will be no more crows.
More information is available on the internet. A book from Scotts’ Lawns provides some information (the link should take you to page 102). On about.com, we found this article regarding crows and grubs.
Excerpts from the October Minutes
November 13, 2008
Here are some highlights from the October meeting of the Danawoods HOA Board of Directors:
Trees: The Board reviewed a request from a resident to remove/trim large trees in the common area. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried to approve sending a response letter from the Board explaining that the Board reviewed the request and has voted to agree with the response sent to her by the Landscape Committee.
Pool Area: The Board reviewed a request from a resident to return the $100 deposit for using the pool facility. A motion was made, seconded and carried to deny the request to return the deposit of $100 due to the resident not picking up the trash during or after their party in the pool area.
Holiday Lighting: A motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried to approve management to research a vendor to handle the holiday lighting project and to approve the plan if the cost totals $600 or less.
We Have a New President…
November 11, 2008
At last, the presidential election cycle has ended. The new team is meeting with the old team, and preparing for the January transition.
Opinion is mixed as to whether or not the new administration and its policies will have a significant impact on the economy. If and when it does, everyone agrees that even with fast action, the changes to our nation’s financial condition will be gradual. The U.S. economy is more like a cruise ship than a speedboat – turning things around is a slow process, not a one-day event.
But with all this uncertainty, did you know that in Orange County there are 217 homes in escrow right now priced above $1,000,000, including 55 of these priced above $2,000,000? In a high-priced market, such as ours in Orange County, these numbers admittedly don’t impress. But…you may not realize, per the Southern California MLS, compiled by us today, that there are 3,639 properties in escrow priced under $1 million! Now that is an impressive number, and one worth highlighting. 3,639 homes in escrow….although fewer than in the market a few years ago, that’s still a surprising figure.
Picking a bottom in the market is often considered to be a “fool’s game”. If you think that we’re close, now might be the time to begin accumulating real estate again. Call us at (949) 240-5892, or send us email us to discuss your plans!
Celebrating Veterans’ Day
November 11, 2008
The older I get…the greater the impact has been on me of the value of the men and women who serve and have served our country.
Maybe this is because I have met so many military families and veterans over our many years as a Realtor, many of whom have entrusted us with their real estate business. We get to know them and hear their stories…we get to know their families.
Veterans live on our street, go to our church and teach our children. Their wisdom and integrity are undeniable. Their contribution to our society and culture are critical. I never quite know what to say to veterans on this day. “Thank you for serving our country” seems terribly inadequate for their service and sacrifice.
My nephew, Chris Saenz will be starting basic training in the Navy tomorrow. This native Californian will get to experience Chicago and the Great Lakes first hand! Please keep him in your prayers as well as those who are currently serving our country. To all the veterans and military families in our neighborhood…a great big thank you from The Roknich Family!
“Love where you live…live where you love!
It all begins at home!”
Buy Real Estate with Your IRA?
November 10, 2008
Yes, it can be done! You can buy real estate for investment purposes in your retirement account. But let’s start with the caveats: first consult your financial advisor, your attorney, and of course, your spouse! We’ll handle helping you locate and purchase the property!
Not every account or account holder is eligible. Those of us with self-directed IRA’s are among those with the option of investing our retirement funds in a variety of products other than stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
For many years, it has been possible to benefit from the real estate market through investment in real estate investment trusts (REIT’s). REITs have been attractive for many reasons, including professional management, high dividend payouts, and appreciation of the underlying assets (the shopping centers, apartment buildings, office complexes, and so on). But now, in addition to REITs, investors can take a more direct route to owning the underlying property.
Of course, there are restrictions and rules. But some of the categories of real property, eligible for these programs, include:
- Single-family and multi-unit homes
- Apartment buildings & co-ops
- Condominiums
- Commercial property
- Improved or unimproved land
This article on real estate investing within retirement accounts from Investopedia is a good starting point for more information about this topic. Contact us or give us a call at (949) 240-5892 to discuss your goals and visions for increasing your real estate portfolio while prices are low.
