December 2022

Florence's...

Service For Life !

Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

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

Do You Want To Save Money On Your Cell Phone Bill?

We’re all looking for ways to save money, and every little bit counts, right? In today’s Service For Life ! ® Free consumer newsletter, you’ll learn how you can save money on your cell phone bill every month.

You’ll also learn tips for buying off -brand items instead of name brand, mistakes to avoid while packing your kids’ lunches, and how bring serenity into your home to create your own private sanctuary – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more! Here are the sales statistics for the beach/marina area, which includes : Mandalay shores, Hollywood Beach, Silverstrand Beach, Mandalay Bay, Seabridge, Westport, Port Marluna, The Colony, HarborWalk, HarborWest, CI Waterfront Homes, Harbour Island.

Closed Escrows

Active Listings

Listing Inventory (months)

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 21 14 23 20 13 12 15 11 13 13 28 14 17 20 27 19 20 17 18 23 31 18 8 22 20 22 11 22 34 26 15 24 46 30 17 32 29 32 28 19 23 27 45 27 14 16 15 49 26 16

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 70 67 80 22 21 2.13 4.49 4.14 1.19 0.92 53 91 92 23 21 2.59 3.37 4.68 1.55 0.525 63 69 89 17 12 2.51 4.5 4.68 0.53 0.92 60 87 90 14 22 2.42 5.46 4.9 0.86 0.88 54 108 93 29 21 2.82 6.98 4.29 1 1.27 70 128 78 28 30 4.2 7.04 4.38 0.62 1.86 97 122 80 18 47 4.1 6.88 4.05 1.23 1.69 92 125 62 34 37 4.21 7.04 4.78 0.73 1.65 95 126 51 20 35 3.67 6.3 1.5 0.62 1.85 81 115 34 16 37 4.13 5.74 1.8 0.9 2.03 87 100 41 20 39 3.81 4.71 1.23 0.875

January February

March

April May June

July

August

September

October

November December

19 14 19 25 12 22 29 18

5 thru 11/27

79 93 32 21

3.32 4.3 0.89 0.897

Note: for the first time in one and a half years we have a listing inventory of 2 months at the beach/marina.

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. Enjoy your issue and 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…

Lower Your Cell Phone Bill As the cost of living continues to rise a lot of us are searching for ways to save money on our monthly bills, including the cell phone bill. Here are a few things to try that might help you lower your cell phone bill for months and years to come: • Auto pay : A number of wireless carriers reward their customers who opt for automatic bill payment by offering discounts off of their monthly bills. For example, Auto Pay customers receive $10 off at Verizon, $5 off at T Mobile, and between $5 and $100 at AT&T. • Make your plan work for you : Take some time to really look at what your plan covers and make sure it’s a right fit for you. For example, if you travel a lot and are crossing international borders, opt for a plan that includes international coverage. On the flip side, if you’re staying closer to home, make sure your plan reflects that. • Go with prepaid : If you own your phone, prepaid wireless plans may be a fit at a lower cost. Mint Mobile offers data plans ranging from $15 to $30 a month, and Verizon- owned Visible’s unlimited data plan goes for $30 . Pay upfront and be done for the year with AT&T’s 12 -month, 16GB prepaid plan at $300 for 12 months. • Just ask : Experts suggest simply asking for a discount. Call your carrier and ask, “What can you do to lower my monthly bill?” You may find that after looking at your plan and asking a few questions the customer service rep will have ways for you to save. Follow up with, “What else can you do to lower my bill?” and you could find yourself saving $30 to $80 monthly. • Bonus savings : Be sure and take advantage of the bonus savings available through wireless carriers. Verizon offers complimentary subscriptions to Hulu, Discovery Plus, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for six months for customers on select plans, and T-Mobile includes Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and Paramount Plus streaming for free with select plans. 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 at… 805-701-8410

December 2022 Oxnard, California

Inside This Issue…

Tips To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill …Page 1

Is It OK To Buy Off-Brands? …Page 2

Kids’ Lunch Mistakes To Avoid …Page 3

Ways To Bring Serenity To Your Home …Page 3

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

How Can I Secure A Low Interest Mortgage Rate?...Page 4

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

Word(s) 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!)… dawn chorus (common pronunciation) noun Meaning: the birdsong at sunrise, especially in spring and summer. Dawn chorus was added to Merriam-Webster in September 2022. Sample Sentence: I awoke to the lovely sounds of a dawn chorus outside my bedroom window. Have A Laugh Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon? Great food, no atmosphere. How To Clean Your Fireplace As cool temperatures settle in, it’s time to warm up by the fire. Before you strike a match, make sure your gas or wood-burning fireplace is clean and ready for the season. • If your fireplace is gas, turn off the valve and give the burners time to cool completely. If your fireplace is wood-burning, remove burnt wood and any ash that has collected. • Vacuum up dust and debris from around the fireplace and its vents. Clean glass doors with glass cleaner and paper towels. Clean pokers and other tools with a scrub brush, dish soap and water. • • Quotes To Live By… “ Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.” – Edith Sitwell, poet “ To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” – Aristotle, philosopher •

When It’s OK To Buy Off -Brand

If you’re looking for ways to save money, I have an idea for you – consider buying off-brand items instead of brand names, especially when it comes to grocery shopping or stocking up on household items. You may be surprised at just how much money you can save. It’s been proven that shoppers can save 15 to 30 percent off their grocery store bills when they choose store brands over brand names. What’s more, the FDA requires the same standards of production for many items, regardless of whether they’re brand names, store brands, or generic. The experts have even gone so far as to declare products that we should always buy generic, including prescription drugs, food storage containers, baking mixes, diapers, and even fresh produce. • Baking : Opt for the store brands of sugar, flour, salt and spices and you can save up to 400% off name brands on the same shelves, many of which can cost four times as much as the generic. • Cleaning : Rather than paying more to fund advertising spent by name brands, choose store brand and generic household cleaners that hold the same punch. Whether it’s oven cleaners, bleach, or detergents, chances are the lower-priced items are just as effective as their higher-priced equivalents. • OTC Meds : If you’ve got a cold or a headache, the last thing you want to do is worry about getting the best deal. Take comfort in knowing that the FDA requires that all store-brand medications have the same active ingredient dosage and safety measures as the brand-name medicines with which they're up against. Decision made! • Craft and Gift Supplies : Wrapping paper, gift bags, glue, paint and greeting cards can all cost quite a bit more with a name-brand attached. Generic or store brands are just as good, and gift recipients won’t be looking for a name brand on items like these. Check out these tips to hold on to more of your hard-earned money:

“Wisdom comes with winters.”

– Oscar Wilde, poet

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

Kids ’ Lunch Box Mistakes During the school year you set your kids up for success as much as you can –making sure their homework’s finished, helping them get a good night’s sleep, and trying to avoid chaotic mornings. Another way to pave the road to academic success is providing lunches to fuel their school days, but it’s not always easy. Here’s a look at common kids’ lunch mistakes, and simple solutions for a successful lunch for everyone. 1. Stay the course : A school lunch isn’t the time to introduce your kids to new foods. Rather, pack familiar foods that they recognize and that will make them feel comfortable during what can be a crazy and tiring day. 2. Keep it light : There may be a lot of distractions at lunchtime – recess, anyone? Don’t be tempted to pack too much to eat. Instead, choose quick bites that serve as fuel-on-the-go. 3. Pack the protein : Go easy on the carbs and sugars. Whether it’s a PB&J, ham and cheese, hummus, or string cheese, be sure to include protein in your kids’ lunches. Not only will it keep them feeling full, protein will help them stay focused through the afternoon.

Brain Teaser… What do an island and the letter “t” have in common?

(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 . Stop Cookies From Sticking There’s nothing better than home made cookies, except eating them, that is! If you’re doing a lot of baking this holiday season, here are a few tips to keep cookies from sticking to the baking tray. • Line the tray with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat. • If you don’t have parchment paper or a silicone mat, grease baking tray with cooking spray or shortening. If oven does not cook evenly, rotate baking tray at least once to ensure an even bake. Remove baked cookies from the tray as soon as they can hold their shape; cool thoroughly on a rack. If a cookie does stick to the tray, ease it off with a thin metal spatula. Did You Know? A snowflake can take up to two hours to fall from a cloud to the ground. • • Shop-Small Websites “Shop small” and “shop local” are phrases we hear a lot this time of year. These websites will allow you to do just that, without leaving the house. www.etsy.com – The original online marketplace for makers, crafters, and artisans. • • Pre-heat oven thoroughly.

FREE Consumer Help Is Just A Phone Call Away Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE. Ask about my “ Insider’s Free Resources ” by calling me at: 805-701-8410

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!

Bring Serenity To Your Home

Our homes should be our sanctuaries year-round – a place in which to escape, recharge, and reenergize for whatever may come our way. Discover a few ways to bring serenity to your home, without breaking the bank: • “A place for everything, and everything in its place” isn’t just a saying, but a way of living. Reducing clutter in your home alleviates anxiety, helps you sleep better, and encourages a happier environment. • Carve out some space for a reading nook, whether it’s a comfy chair tucked into a corner, a window seat with fluffy pillows, or a chaise with a throw blanket for a warming embrace. Flip on a nearby lamp and you’re read y to dive into the latest novel for some quiet “you” time . • Bring the outdoors in with fresh flowers, potted plants, or an armful of tree limbs loosely arranged in a tall vase. Glimpsing these bits of nature within your home will boost your mood, reduce stress, and make for a healthier, happier you.

www.storenvy.com – A place for independent brands to sell their wares.

www.amazon.com/Handmade – The power of Amazon backs independent makers on its Handmade platform.

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 word 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: Fran Hafelfinger of Newbury Park.. In what popular ‘90s TV series was there a character called Carlton? a) The Simpsons b) Flash Forward c) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air d) The X-Files The answer is c) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which streamed 1990-1996 and has just made a comeback, 31 years later! Now, let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.

Brain Teaser Answer: They are both in the middle of water.

Wrap Gifts Like A Pro You’ve found the perfect gift and now it’s time to wrap it, but how? In addition to taking your time, here are a few tips to giftwrap like a pro. • Place the gift in a box to avoid odd shapes to tackle. • Pre-cut tape to leave hands free for wrapping. For a real pro move, use double-sided tape. Measure the gift with wrapping paper before cutting to avoid coming up short. Add an extra inch or so for overlap. • Fold the cut edges of wrapping paper for crisp lines. Add a wow factor (or cover up any mishaps) with a decorative bow. Tie on a gift tag and voila – your gift is ready to give! • • 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 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. • Say This 3 Times Fast … The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.

Which object does a male penguin gift to a female penguin to win her over? a) Ice cube b) Feather c) Fish d) Pebble

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. How can I secure a low mortgage interest rate?

A. Securing a low mortgage interest rate helps make your monthly payment more affordable and saves money over the life of your loan. Besides using a larger down payment, here are three things to do to secure a low mortgage interest rate: 1. Compare multiple lenders and meet with your top three. Review the application process and your credit report to start working on any issues you may have. The higher your credit score, the better prospect for a lender you will become. Lenders will review the various loan programs with you. 2. Your debt-to-income ratio should be below 36 percent before you apply for a mortgage. The lower it is, the greater your eligibility for a higher loan amount. 3. Don’t make any drasti c changes such as changing jobs or making large purchases on credit cards. You want lenders to see you have a stable job history and ability to make the payments.

To learn more, call me to request my Free Consumer Report called “7 Secrets For Saving Tho usands When Financing.”

Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to call me at 805-701-8410. Perhaps I’ll feature it 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

Majorca

2 2

2 2

1217 1627

Martinique

$749,888

2200 Martinique

Capri

$769,000 $740,000 $752,962

Martinique

2

2

1113

Martinique

Market Average

Properties Pending …

Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

Martinique

2 2

2 2

1113 1113

Martinique Phase I) Martinique (Phase I)

$695,000

**2143 Martinique

$730,000

2175 Martinique

2

2

1113

Martinique (Phase I)

$875,000 $766,666

Market Average

** Contingencies in place

Sold Propert ies… (10/01/21 Thru 11/29/22) Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft.

$/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold 02/17/22 10/21/22

2015 Majorca

$779,888 $739,000 $780,000

$730,000 $739,888 $750,000

1368 1113 1114

$533.63 $664.77 $673.25

Madeira

2355 Martinique 2125 Martinique

Martinique (Phase I) Martinique (Phase I)

08/23/22

1914 Majorca

$699,000

$765,000

1217

$628.59

Martinique

01/24/22 11/22/21 08/03/22 06/17/22 11/12/21 09/02/22 06/24/22 11/16/21 08/31/22 02/03/22 05/25/22 03/15/22 02/23/22 04/01/22 02/18/22

2307 Martinique 2305 Martinique 2327 Martinique

$799,888 $799,000 $795,000 $803,888 $815,000 $819,888 $820,888 $849,888 $839,000 $845,000 $849,000 $849,888 $862,500

$780,000 $790,000 $795,000 $805,000 $807,000 $805,000 $812,500 $820,000 $835,000 $836,000 $849,000 $849,888 $867,750 $875,000 $891,800

1459 1113 1368 1368 1368 1368 1549 1627 1368 1368 1459 1459 1628 1807 1627

$534.61 $709.79 $580.72 $589.48 $661.46 $524.53 $504.00 $610.30 $611.11 $581.90 $582.51 $533.34 $484.23 $548.13

Antigua

Martinique (Phase I)

Madeira

1937 Majorca 4481 Antigua 2005 Majorca 2007 Majorca 2017 Majorca 1913 Majorca

$588,.02 Madeira

Madeira Madeira Antigua Madeira Madeira Antigua Capri

1990 San Tropez 2377 Martinique 2257 Martinique 4427 Antigua

Antigua

Capri

4687 San Sebastian

$869,888

Capri Capri

4681 San Sebastian $895,000

04/27/22

2121 Martinique

$899,000

$899,000

1368

$656.68

Madeira

03/23/22 05/10/22

1910 Majorca

$899,000

$907,000 $940,000

1557 1217

$585.54 $771.76

Antigua

4726 San Sebastian $940,000

Martinique (Ambassador) 10/06/22

2003 San Tropez

$875,000

$955,000

1369

$697.55

Madeira (Ambassador)

05/04/22 10/21/22 08/30/22 04/26/22 08/11/22 07/20/22 12/21/21

1954 San Tropez 2214 Cannes Sq

$987,000 $1,200,000 $1,245,000 $1,989,888

$1,002,000 1628 $1,240,000 2059 $1,245,000 2360 $1,900,000 2360 $1,900,000 2139

$615.48 $602.23 $527.54 $805,08 $888.27 $761.52 $630.91

Capri (Ambassador)

San Tropez

2244 Cannes

Vina del Mar Vina del Mar San Tropez

2303 Vina del Mar

2315 Vina del Mar $1,999,000

2211 Vina del Mar Market Average

$2,050,000 $ 955,240

$2,050,000 2692

Costa de Oro

$ 952,197

RE/MAX represented buyer, seller or both . Properties as of Nov. 29, 2022 and may not be listed by RE/MAX. Information herein has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change

To see Colony Floor Plans: TheColonyatMandalay.com

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

Harbor Blvd Harbor blvd

$550,000 $725,000 $637,500

781 925

Plan A Plan C

Market Average

Sold Properties (07/01/2021 – 11/29/2022 Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft. $/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

3035 Harbor 2957 Harbor 3046 Sunset 3134 Sunset 4514 LaBrea 3110 Sunset 2943 Harbor 4534 LaBrea 2949 Harbor 3013 Harbor 4531 La Brea 3204 Sunset 2943 Harbor 3354 Sunset 3540 Sunset 3224 Sunset 2947 Harbor

$490,000 $565,000 $595,000 $649,500 $659,000 $690,000 $699,000 $699,000 $769,000 $769,000 $800,000 $850,000 $797,000 $825,000 $900,000 $865,000 $650,000

$540,000 $572,000 $595,000 $620,000 $680,000 $689,900 $700,000 $725,000 $755,000 $764,000 $800,000 $810000 $817,000 $845,000 $850,000 $865,000 $632,500

781 925 925 925

$691.42 $618.38 $643.24 $670.27 $515.54 $745.83 $584.31 $638.77 $630.22 $677.30 $568.99 $606.71 $681.96 $542.01 $576.66 $617.42 $527.96

Plan A Plan C Plan C

09/29/21 03/25/22 10/07/22 02/25/22 07/30/21 07/21/21 08/18/21 10/14/21 08/08/22 07/09/21 08/06/21 07/16/21 10/12/22 03/30/22 08/30/21 06/14/22 02/25/22 08/25/21 08/25/22 12/17/21 06/09/22 03/11/22 11/01/21

Plan C (end unit)

1198

Plan D

1319

T-2

925

Plan C (end unit) Plan D (end unit)

1198 1135 1198 1128 1406 1401 1198 1559 1474 1401

T-3

Plan D Plan B

Villa Villa

Plan D (end unit)

Villa

T-2

Villa

3364 Sunset

$899,000

$899,000

1485

$605.39

Villa

3131 Harbor

$975,000

$925,000

1502

$615.85

Villa

4505 La Brea

$950,000 $999,997

$960,000 $999,997

1401 1489

$685.22 $671.14

Villa Villa

3145 Harbor

3125 Harbor Blvd $999,000

$1,000,000

1489

$671.59

Villa

3264 Sunset

$900,000

$1,052,750

1485

$708.92

Villa (end unit)

Market Average $617.35 Bold: REMAX Represented Buyers, Sellers or Both $781,763 $776,315

The information referenced has been provided by the Ventura County MLS Corporation’s MLS as of Nov. 29, 2022. 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