December 2021

Florence's...

Service For Life !

Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living

If you're not already a subscriber to my free e–newsletter e - mail me at Florence@bchrealestate.com to sign up

Florence Gadbois, Realtor CA DRE#01040021 (805) 701 - 8410 E - mail: Florence@BchRealEstate.com

Are Your Food Choices Impacting The Planet?

What you put on your dinner plate can, it turns out, have an impact on the overall health of both your body and the planet. In today’s Service For Life ! ® Free consumer newsletter, you’ll learn several tips to make your diet more eco-friendly. You’ll also learn suggestions to reduce your childcare costs, how to know if a credit limit increase on your credit card is a good thing, and ideas for relaxing activities that aren’t about eating or drinking anything– plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more. Here’s are the sales statistics for the Beach/Marina area, which include Mandalay Shores, Hollywood Beach, Silverstrand Beach, Mandalay Bay, Seabridge, Westport, The Colony, HarborWalk, HarborWest, CI Waterfront Homes and Harbour Island. Note: Inventory less than 6 months is considered a seller ’ s market; more than 6 months, a buyer ’ s.

Closed Escrows

Active Listings

Inventory (months)

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 21 21 14 23 20 18 12 15 11 13 34 28 14 17 20 18 19 20 17 18 44 22 11 22 34 22 15 24 46 30 30 32 29 32 28 29 23 27 45 27 28 16 15 49 26 20 31 18 8 22

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 75 70 67 80 22 4.02 2.13 4.49 4.14 1.19 84 53 91 92 23 3.95 2.59 3.37 4.68 1.55 84 63 69 89 17 3.9 2.51 4.5 4.68 0.53 88 60 87 90 14 4.72 2.42 5.46 4.9 0.86 107 54 108 93 29 4.99 2.82 6.98 4.29 1 112 70 128 78 28 4.19 4.2 7.04 4.38 0.62 102 97 122 80 18 4.26 4.1 6.88 4.05 1.23 103 92 125 62 34 3.82 4.21 7.04 4.78 0.73 95 95 126 51 20 3.83 3.67 6.3 1.5 0.62 96 81 115 34 16 2.4 4.13 5.74 1.8 0.9 61 87 100 41 20 2.45 3.81 4.71 1.23

January February

March

April May June

July

August

September

October

November December

23 19 14 19 11 12 22 29

18 thru 11/20

63 79 93 32

2.54 3.32 4.3 0.89

As of the date of this publication, we have one in escrow at the Colony due to close in December, and one currently on the market. I have one coming up in HarborWalk. The owner is updating and it will probably be on the market after the first of the year. I have buyers looking for a lower level with no stairs and an oversized patio/back yard. Give me a call if you are thinking of selling. I may have the buyer just waiting for the right unit to come along. Finally, I want you to know, that you may call me for any reason. And please let me know if a friend, family member or neighbor needs a caring, experienced real estate professional to help in buying or selling. I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals. Happy Holidays!

Warmest regards, Florence Florence Gadbois DRE #01040021 RE/MAX Gold Coast

Get Free money-saving home tips at my web site: BchRealEstate.com

Florenc e’s…

Service For Life ! “Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living…”



Here’s free advice if you’re buying or re-financing your home. It’s my Free Consumer Guide titled, “7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home.” Call me at 805-701-8410 to get a copy…

How to Make Your Diet More Eco-Friendly

It’s impossible to ignore all the news about climate change, and yet you might not realize that one thing all humans do can have an enormous impact on the health of the planet — eating . The foods we choose to cook and consume have economic as well as environmental costs, and it’s important to take them into account. Author Michael Pollan’s famous diet advice is as solid as it is succinct: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” In other words, choose real foodstuffs over processed foods, don’t overdo it, and prioritize plant -based foods over meat. The industrial food system is responsible for a whopping 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions, and nearly half of that comes from animal agriculture. Reducing meat consumption is a great way to lessen your diet’s environmental impact. And before you purchase fish, consult the Seafood Watch website or app (seafoodwatch.org/recommendations) to make sure you’re not about to buy something on the “avoid” list. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be extremely eco-friendly, but even an entirely plant-based diet has potential environmental drawbacks. Transporting fresh zucchini to, say, Minnesota in January has a huge carbon footprint. Eating what’s in season where you live is always the best option. Look for farmers markets or a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) resource. Local Harvest has directories for both farmers markets (localharvest.org/farmers-markets) and CSAs (localharvest.org/csa). Some of our favorite things, like chocolate and coffee, can have negative environmental impacts when produced on an industrial scale — but simply choosing fair-trade chocolate and coffee reduces that impact in a big way. Palm oil is increasingly hard to avoid these days, as it’s found in a huge variety of everyday foods, but its production devastates tropical rainforests. Read the labels on foods before you buy and try to avoid anything that doesn’t clearly indicate the type of oil it contains (corn oil, sunflower oil, etc.) —if it’s not stipulated, it’s probably palm oil. It turns out that an eco-friendly diet is not only healthier for the planet —it’s also healthier for us. Save Thousands When Buying A Home… Did you know there’s a free consumer report revealing ways to save time and money when buying a home? It’s called “ 8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding and Buying Your Next Home ,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning to buy soon. Get your free copy by calling me a t… 805-701-8410

December 2021 Oxnard, California

Inside This Issue…

Eating Better For Yourself — And The Planet …Page 1

Cutting Childcare Costs …Page 2

Credit Limit Increases: Are They Good Or Bad? …Page 3

6 Relaxing Activities (That Don’t Involve Eating Anything) …Page 3

Answer This Trivia Question and You Could Win $75 Gift Card for Lure Restaurant...Page 4

What Homework Should I Do Before I Get A Home Loan?...Page 4

Get Free money-saving home tips at my web site: BchRealEstate.com

Word of the Month… Studies have shown your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word, so you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)… burgeon (pronounced BUR-jun) verb Meaning: start to increase or grow at a fast pace Sample Sentence: Once she committed to practicing for an hour each day, her juggling skills began to burgeon. Finger Lickin’ Good? Taking inspiration from its famous slogan, KFC launched chicken-flavored nail polish in 2016. There were two flavors —“Original Recipe” and “Hot and Spicy”— and they were only available in Hong Kong. The Original “Quarantine” In 14th-century Venice, a busy trading port, every ship was required to remain anchored in the lagoon for 40 days before crews were allowed to disembark or unload their cargo. This was specifically meant to keep diseases (such as the plague) from decimating the island city-state. The word “quarantine” comes from the Italian word “quaranta,” meaning “forty.” Currently, In A Parallel Universe… Where are all these extra single socks coming from?? Quotes To Live By… “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President “No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.” – Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist

7 Ideas To Trim Childcare Costs

As any parent can attest, childcare accounts for a gigantic chunk of a family’s budget. While it’s not exactly something you can simply cut, there are some things you can do to ease the financial burden. • Family Members : Extended family nearby who are retired and willing to help, even if it’s only a day or two each week, can help you save money on daycare. • Securing Daycare Early : When there are multiple daycare options in your area, do your research well in advance and reserve a spot ASAP. If you wait too long, the best (and, often, most affordable) ones will be full. • Alternating Work Schedules : If either you or your partner has a flexible work schedule, it could be relatively easy to take turns looking after the kids. • Nanny-Sharing : Hiring a nanny can be expensive, but if you share the cost with another family (or two) it could be a cost-effective solution. • Dependent Care Accounts : Look into your insurance options at work. If you have a dependent care flexible spending account, you can normally contribute up to $5,000 annually (married couples/single/ head of household; pre-tax) for childcare costs. For 2021 only, the limit was raised to $10,500 with the American Rescue Plan. • Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit : If you don’t have a dependent care account, you can normally claim up to $6,000 per year ($3,000 per dependent) with the child and dependent care tax credit. For 2021, families can claim a max of $16,000. Visit https://www.irs.gov (search ‘child and dependent care tax credit’) for all the details on what expenses qualify. • Investigate Subsidies : In some cases, childcare subsidies may be available to you through work, school, or military service. This map

can direct you to what’s available in your state: https://www.childcareaware.org/resources/map/

“A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”

– Groucho Marx, Comedian

Get Free money-saving home tips at my web site: BchRealEstate.com

Is A Credit Limit Increase Good? Most credit card holders have received a congratulatory letter notifying them their credit limit has been increased. While a higher credit limit might sound good, there are some things to think about to determine whether it’s the right idea for you. You can call the card company and ask them NOT to raise the limit if you choose. ➢ Impact on Credit Score : A higher credit limit can improve your credit score over time, but only if you keep roughly the same balance . Credit scores consider your debt-to-credit ratio, so charging more when your credit limit goes up can make your credit score go down. ➢ Rewards Potential : If you stay on top of your credit card bills, having a higher credit limit can earn you bigger and better rewards — like cash back or airline tickets. ➢ Alternative Sources of Credit : Having a couple of credit cards gives lenders a fuller picture of your ability to repay loans. If you already have multiple cards, a credit limit increase might be the best option. If you only have one card, maybe open a second credit card account instead.

Brain Teaser… What is full of holes but can still hold water?

(See page 4 for the answer.)

What’s My Home Worth? If you want to know your home’s current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit . Request this “no charge” in -depth home value analysis by calling me at: 805-701- 8410 . Old-Fashioned Skin Care Witch hazel may have been a staple in your grandmother’s medicine cabinet, but it’s still useful today. Thanks to its high tannin levels, witch hazel can help alleviate skin ailments like inflammation, itching, and burns. The astringent quality also means it can help fight acne. When shopping for witch hazel, choose an alcohol-free option to avoid drying out the skin too much and apply a little bit to a small patch of skin (not the face) to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction. Color Scheme Websites Whether you’re redecorating a room, designing a website, or just looking for inspiration to add pop to your wardrobe, there are several websites that help you create beautiful color schemes. Coolers : coolors.co/ The Coolers site (also available as an app and a Chrome extension) creates color palettes based on images you can upload, or you can simply browse their endless array of popular color schemes. Muzli : colors.muz.li/ With Muzli’s color palette generator, you start with one color and Muzli offers options for other colors that coordinate well with it. Colormind : colormind.io/ Like many similar websites, Colormind will produce color palettes based on images you choose or offer random color schemes for inspiration — but Colormind lets you save the colors/lock them until you land on a palette you love.

FREE Consumer Help Is Just A Phone Call Away

DID YOU KNOW … Unlike most real estate agents, I DON’T spend my time pestering people with phone calls or bothersome interruptions to find good clients. Instead, I dedicate 110% of my time and energies to providing such outstanding service, people naturally think of me when a friend or family member needs help buying or selling a home. THANKS for your referrals!

Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE. Ask abou t my “ Insider’s Free Resources ” by calling me at: 805-701-8410

Everyday Relaxation Even though modern life has countless benefits (most people these days aren’t churning their own butter, for instance), those benefits come with countless additional stressors. Everyone feels pressed for time, and self-care often takes a back seat. Next time you need a break from the everyday grind, here are some relaxing activities to try that don’t involve eating or drinking anything. • Meditating : Simply resting quietly for a few minutes while concentrating on your breathing helps relax the body and mind. • Reading : Put down all the electronics and get lost in a good book. • Working on a Puzzle : If you have the space, keep an in-progress puzzle available at all times for when you want even just 10 or 15 minutes of relaxation in the middle of a hectic day. • Organizing : Many people find cleaning and organizing their spaces extremely relaxing, both the process and the result. • Doing an Art Project : Grab a coloring book and a set of colored pens or pencils. Take a sketchbook on your next walk. Learn origami. Play your favorite instrument. • Playing a Game : Shuffle a deck of cards for a game or two of solitaire. Pick up the newspaper’s crossword puzzle. Or, if you have friends or family around, get everyone involved in a fun board game.

Get Free money-saving home tips at my web site: BchRealEstate.com

Thanks For Thinking of Me! Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the wo rd about my services.

“Who Else Wants To Win $75 Gift Card for Lure Restaurant ?”

Guess who won last month’s Trivia Question? I’m pleased to announce the lucky winner of last month’s quiz. And the winner is …drum roll please: Joni Holland of Oxnard won last month ’ s drawing.

Brain Teaser Answer:

A sponge!

What large island is a district of Denmark? a) United Kingdom b) Singapore c) New Zealand d) Greenland

Educating Siri Did you know that you can teach Siri how to pronounce things she’s getting wrong? The next time your iPhone’s virtual assistant mispronounces a name (that includes names of streets), reply with, “That’s not how you pronounce…” and Siri will ask you how to say it properly. She’ll repeat it back to you until you confirm she’s gotten it right. It’s easy to forget about the shower head when cleaning the bathroom, but it can often benefit from some deep- cleaning — especially if you have hard water. Fill a plastic bag with equal parts water and white vinegar, securing it so the shower head is submerged. Leave it in place for about 30 minutes to avoid damaging any finishes. Rinse and dry. THANK YOU for reading my Service For Life ! ® personal newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Your constructive feedback is always welcome. AND… whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you… Florence Gadbois DRE #01040021 RE/MAX Gold Coast 805-701-8410 florence@BchRealEstate.com BchRealEstate.com Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale. Deep-Clean Your Showerhead

The answer is d) Greenland. The largest island in the world, Greenland spans over two million square kilometers.

So l et’s move on to this month’s trivia question .

In 1884, a Canadian chemist patented a food that’s become a U.S. kitchen staple. What was it?

a) sliced bread b) potato chips c) peanut butter d) breakfast cereal

Call Me At 805-701-8410 OR Email Me At florence@BchRealEstate.com And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!

Real Estate Corner…

Q. What homework should I do before I get a loan to buy a home?

A. Here are three big tips many people don’t consider when buying a home:

• Understand how much home you can afford . Calculate the two numbers bankers and mortgage lenders use to determine the how much they will loan to you: payment-to-income ratio and debt-to-income ratio. • Understand the basics of home financing. Your ability to afford a home will be related to its price, your down payment (and the amount you’ll finance), the int erest rate and points of your loan, the term and the type of your loan. Study these items and the relationship between them. • Save thousands by making your own mortgage acceleration payment schedule. Take your current monthly mortgage payment of principal and interest and multiply that number by 13. Divide that total by 12 to get your new “accelerated” monthly payment.

Want to learn more ways to save money? Ask for my Free Consumer Report called “7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home.”

Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to call me at 805-701-8410. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!

Get Free money-saving home tips at my web site: BchRealEstate.com

Florence’s….

Colony MarketWatch ™ Here’s Neighborhood Home Information For The Colony To Help You Evaluate The Value Of Your Investment. ”

Homes Currently Active …

Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

4427 Antigua

2

2

1617

Capri

$899,000 $899,000

Market Average

Properties Taking Back Up Offers … Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan Martinique

Asking Price

1914 Majorca

2

2

1217

$699,000 $699,000

Market Average

Properties Pending …

Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

Martinique

2

2

1459

Antigua

$799,888 $799,888

Market Average

Sold Propert ies… (01/01/21 Thru 11/18/21) Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft.

$/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

2216 Martinique 2242 Martinique 2375 Martinique 2317 Martinique

$675,000 $619,000 $639,888 $699,000 $659,888 $699,000

$400,000 $605,000 $625,500 $685,000 $691,000 $705,000

1459 1113 1113 1627 1217 1368

$274.16 $556.15 $561.99 $421.02 $567.32 $515.35

Antigua

06/14/21

Martinique (Phase I)

01/14/21 02/04/21 01/20/21 07/21/21

Martinique

Capri

1933 Majorca

Martinique

2171 Martinique

Madeira

03/02/21

2105 Martinique

$725,000

$725,000

1368

$529.97

Madeira

09/17/21

2345 Martinique

$700,000

$734,000

1368

$536.16

Madeira

07/09/21

4482 Antigua

$739,000

$744,500

1217

$611.75

Martinique

09/22/21

1994 San Tropez

$749,000

$756,500

1217

$477.38

Martinique (Ambassador) 09/29/21

4480 Antigua

$749,000

$764,000

1550

$493.22

Antigua

03/10/21 04/27/21 09/15/21 05/28/21 11/12/21 11/16/21 06/25/21 09/20/21 04/06/21 03/18/21 07/16/21 07/30/21 07/07/21 03/23/21 09/22/21

2370 Vina del Mar 2167 Martinique 2161 Martinique

$789,888 $779,888 $799,888 $803,888 $820,888 $699,000 $875,000

$780,000 $780,000 $802,500 $805,000 $812,500 $814,000 $850,000

1627 1522 1459 1368 1549 1368 1628

$479.41 $512.48 $550.03 $588,.02 $524.53 $595.00 $522.43 $529.48 $558.95 $496.43 $841.94 $804.08 $677.92 $559.94 $522.43

Capri

Antigua Antigua Madeira Antigua

1937 Majorca 2007 Majorca

2043 San Sebastian 2311 Martinique

Madeira (Ambassador)

Capri

2287 Martinique

$850,000

$850,000

1628

Capri

2101 Martinique 2125 Vina del Mar 2110 Vina del Mar 1985 San Sebastian 4760 San Sebastian 2223 Vina del Mar Market Average

$925,000

$925,000

1747

Capri

$1,150,888 $1,100,000 2059 $1,195,888 $1,150,000 2409 $1,299,000 $1,305,000 1550 $1,595,888 $1,420,000 1766 $1,599,888 $1,570,000 2360

San Tropez

Cannes

Antigua (Ambassador)

Capri (Ambassador)

Vina del Mar

$ 874,376 $ 871,339

RE/MAX represented buyer, seller or both . Properties as of November 18, 2021 and may not be listed by RE/MAX. Information herein has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change

Florence’s…

MarketWatch ™ “ Here’s Neighborhood Home Information For HarborWalk To Help You Evaluate The Value Of Your Investment. ”

Active Listings… Address

List $

Sq.Ft. Floor Plan

3128 Sunset Lane

$559,000

925

Plan C

Market Average

$559,000

Properties Accepting Back Up Offer s… Address List $

Sq.Ft. Floor Plan

La Brea La Brea

$869,000 $950,000 $909,500

1485 1401

Villa (end unit) Villa (end unit)

Market Average

Sold Properties (07/01/2020 – 11/18/2021 Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft. $/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

3110 Sunset

$456,800

$465,000

925

$502.70

Plan C (end unit)

08/17/20 03/24/21 09/29/21 04/01/21 11/18/20 07/30/21 07/20/20 07/31/20 04/06/21 10/08/20 07/21/21 08/18/21 10/14/21 11/16/20 07/09/21 08/06/21 07/16/21 08/30/21 09/03/20

2939 Harbor 3035 Harbor 3414 Sunset 3644 Sunset

$495,000 $490,000 $589,500 $639,500

$525,000 $540,000 $589,500 $625,000

925 781

$567.57 $691.42 $519.38 $424.02

Plan C Plan A

1135 1474

T-3 T-2

3120 Sunset

$642,000

$625,550

1198

$522.16

Plan D

2947 Harbor

$650,000

$632,500

1198

$527.96

Plan D

4506 LaBrea

$675,000

$635,000

1474

$430.80

T-2

2967 Harbor 4534 LaBrea

$649,000 $639,900 $669,000 $659,000 $690,000 $699,000 $749,900 $769,000 $769,000 $800,000 $825,000 $850,000

$642,000 $650,000 $660,000 $680,000 $689,900 $700,000 $725,000 $755,000 $764,000 $800,000 $845,000 $850,000

1198 1135 1319 1319 1198 1485 1198 1128 1406 1559 1489 925

$535.89 $572.69 $500.38 $515.54 $745.83 $584.31 $488.22 $630.22 $677.30 $568.99 $542.01 $570.85

Plan D (end unit)

T-3

3480 Sunset

T-2 T-2

4514 LaBrea

3110 Sunset

Plan C

2943 Harbor

Plan D (end unit)

3320 Sunset

Villa (end unit)

2949 Harbor 3013 Harbor 4531 La Brea 3354 Sunset 3125 Harbor

Plan D Plan B

Villa Villa

Villa (end unit)

10/20/20

3364 Sunset

$899,000

$899,000

1485

$605.39

Villa

08/25/21

3241 Harbor

$925,000

$925,000

1517

$609.76

Villa (end unit)

04/16/21 11/01/21

3264 Sunset

$900,000

$1,052,750

1485

$708.92

Villa (end unit)

Market Average $560.81 Bold: REMAX Represented Buyers, Sellers or Both $707,195 $714,085

The information referenced has been provided by the Ventura County MLS Corporation’s MLS as of November 18, 2021. The listings and sales are not exclusive to RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors and may have been represented by others. Display of the MLS data is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed by the MLS and prices are subject to change.

See HarborWalk floor plans at: HarborWalkCondos.com