February 2020

Florence's...

Service For Life !

Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living

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

Can We Be Friends?

It’s not always easy to make new friends as adults, when we’re settled into routines and see the same people every day. Remember when it was as easy as saying “Hi, let’s be friends”?

In today’s Service For Life ! ® Free consumer newsletter, you’ll learn some ways to meet people who enjoy the same things you do. You’ll also learn about when and how to help your grade school-aged children with their homework, simple money-saving habits you can use every day, tips to avoid the worst effects of jet lag when you travel – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more. But first… Here’s are the sales statistics for the Beach/Marina area, which includes Mandalay shores, Hollywood Beach, Silverstrand Beach, Mandalay Bay, Seabridge, Westport, The Colony, HarborWalk, HarborsWest, C.I.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)

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 62 75 70 67 80 2.7 4.02 2.13 4.49

January

17 21 21 14

14 thru 1/20

63 84 53 91 70 84 63 69 80 88 60 87 74 107 54 108 83 112 70 128 102 102 97 122 112 103 92 125 106 95 95 126 107 96 81 115 93 61 87 100 83 63 79 93

February 14 18 12 15

3.03 3.95 2.59 3.37 3.69 3.9 2.51 4.5 3.58 4.72 2.42 5.46 3.8 4.99 2.82 6.98 4.73 4.19 4.2 7.04 5.27 4.26 4.1 6.88 5.11 3.82 4.21 7.04 5.18 3.83 3.67 6.3 4.52 2.4 4.13 5.74 4.06 2.45 3.81 4.71 3.64 2.54 3.32 4.3

March

18 34 28 14 17 18 19 20 23 20 31 18 21 44 22 11 24 22 15 24 22 30 32 29

April May June

July

August

September 26 29 23 27

October

24 28 16 15

November 19 23 19 14 December 22 11 12 22

Coming Up: Costa de Oro Townhome (largest) in The Colony. (approx. 2700 sq ft) Madeira (largest single level) with garage attached (Ambassador) in The Colony(approx. 1368 sq ft) A Great Plan C in HarborWalk end unit beautifully updated (approx. 925 sq ft) Call or email for more information . I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals. Enjoy your issue!

Warmest regards, Florence

Florence Gadbois CA DRE#01040021 RE/MAX Gold Coast

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

Florence’s…

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



Selling Your Home Soon? You’ll need my Free Consumer Guide titled, “6 Steps For Selling Your Home For TOP DOLLAR.” Call me right now 805-701-8410 to get a copy…

5 Ways Adults Can Make New Friends

February 2020 Oxnard, California

When we were kids, making friends was as straightforward as marching up to a new face and asking if they wanted to play. As adults, however, forging new friendships can be a little more challenging. Here are a few things to try when you want to expand your circle of like-minded friends:  Join a Book Club: Look for local groups that already get together and do things you like to do (substitute “book club” for “knit night,” “jogging group,” “wine tasting,” or whatever else you enjoy). Meetup.com is a great place to start.  Do Volunteer Work: When you’re passionate about a cause, it’s wonderful to hang out with others who are, too. Chances are there’s a food bank, animal shelter, or library near you that has an active volunteer program.  Take a Class: Many community colleges have night classes on hundreds of subjects, from gardening to languages to art history. Craft shops often have regular classes, too, like embroidery or wood carving. And, of course, an exercise class at your gym is always a popular spot to meet new folks.  Go on An Organized Tour: There are tour operators that specialize in trips for solo travelers—and it’s not hard to bond with a fellow adventurer on the same trip. Just be sure the trip you’re taking is geared toward people traveling alone (you don’t want to end up the only single traveler in a group of couples).  Host a Friends-of-Friends Gathering: Invite some good friends over with the stipulation that they each bring a good friend you don’t already know. Everyone’s been vetted by someone you trust, and multiple people get to expand their friend network. No matter which method (or methods) you try, remember that just showing up isn’t always enough. Someone has to start talking! Be prepared to introduce yourself to people with a compliment or question to strike up a conversation about your mutual interests. Coming Soon! Costa de Oro (largest) in The Colony – 3 beds 3 baths appx. 2700 sq ft Madeira (largest single level) in The Colony attched garage – appx. 1368 sq ft HarborWalk Plan C – end unit nicely updated – appx 925 sq ft

Inside This Issue…

How To Make New Friends As An Adult…Page 1

How To Help Grade Schoolers With Homework…Page 2

7 Easy Ways to Save Money Every Day…Page 3

Tips to Avoid the Jet Lag Haze…Page 3

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

How Do I Find The Right House For Me?...Page 4

Call 805-701-8410 or email for more information

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!)… Meaning: informal term for a real estate trend in which millennials are moving from the city to suburbs (as long as they’re walkable and have a thriving town center) Sample Sentence: Young people who want affordable housing and older generations looking to downsize are helping to create—and sustain— “hipsturbia.” It takes time and energy cleaning the shower door to a sparkling finish— here’s how to keep it that way. 1. Apply a coat of Rain-X to the interior of the door (it’s not just for your windshield!). 2. Keep a squeegee handy to get rid of excess water after each shower. Key To Clean Screens When the vacuum brush isn’t enough to get stray pet hair and dust bunnies off window and door screens, there’s a simple solution to clean screens— lint rollers . Roll the sticky surface of a lint roller slowly over the screens, on both sides, to remove all the excess bits of debris from the mesh. Quotes To Live By… “Deep and simple are far, far more important than shallow and complicated and fancy.” –Fred Rogers “I think you should take your job seriously, but not yourself—that is the best combination.” –Dame Judi Dench “Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet to see who they really are.” –Will Ferrell Reduce Water Stains On the Shower Door hipsturbia (hip-STUR-bee-ah) noun

How to Help Grade Schoolers Succeed With Homework Homework, a given by the time a student reaches high school, starts early for most students. Teachers even send home assignments with kindergarteners. It’s important for parents to establish healthy routines around homework, and that includes knowing when—and how—to help your young kids complete their homework assignments.  Location, location, location: For many young children, doing homework tucked away in their room isn’t ideal. Setting up at the dining room table while you’re making dinner means they’re not lonely or distracted by toys, and you’re available to answer questions.  Goal-setting: Some kids benefit from creating a task list for the day— and perhaps even an order in which to do things. And, as an incentive, you might withhold screen time until certain goals are met.  Question the questioner: When your child says they don’t understand an assignment, ask what they think it means. When they ask how to spell something, ask how they think it’s spelled (and point them to a hard copy of a dictionary for kids). This gives you a chance to provide gentle guidance or encouragement while still letting kids think things through.  Limit the lifelines: If your kid asks for help constantly, try limiting the number of questions they can ask on a given day to three. They’ll be more apt to try to solve problems on their own to save those precious lifelines.  Redirecting: In some cases, rather than helping your kids finish all their homework, it’s best to let them turn in something that’s incomplete so they can get assistance from the teacher. This helps establish a pattern for future homework questions in high school and beyond, when the teacher may be the only source of guidance.

Above all, remember it’s crucial for children to learn how to do their own homework—don’t do it for them!

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

7 Simple Money-Saving Habits Saving money isn’t just about getting a great deal on a big purchase or putting a percentage of each paycheck into a rainy day fund. Make saving money a daily habit with some of these small steps: 1. Change the time when you normally go out . Happy hour and movie matinees cost less than dinner or evening showings. 2. Find out what your library has to offer . You know about the books already, but your local library may also have a multitude of movies, magazines, CDs, museum passes, and even a “library of things” (think kitchen or gardening tools) you can check out for free. 3. Make double batches of dinner for next-day leftovers or freeze the extra for nights when you might otherwise get take-out. 4. Choose fabric over paper . Keep a stash of cloth rags in the kitchen to use instead of paper towels. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones. 5. Shop secondhand . Browse local thrift stores, garage sales, or check out online auction sites like Ebid.net . 6. Set up an auto-transfer to savings accounts or IRAs . An automated bank transfer will help build your savings with zero stress. Even a small amount, bi-weekly or weekly, is better than nothing. 7. Eat more veggies . Meat generally costs more, so swap it out for more vegetables. Beans, for instance, are filling and crammed with nutrients. Minimizing the Effects of Jet Lag You’ve planned and saved for a vacation, and the last thing you want is to spend half of it feeling groggy. Here are things you can do before and during your trip to mitigate the impact of jet lag, which is caused by traversing several time zones and affects your internal clock. Be well-rested when you get on the plane. Being overtired before a flight can make jet lag worse.  Try to adjust to the new time zone gradually over a few days.  Drink lots of water. During your flight  Steer clear of caffeine and alcohol—dehydration exacerbates jet lag.  Adopt the new time zone’s sleeping and eating schedule as soon as you board.  Keep drinking water. When you arrive  Engage in physical activity (walking is enough!) and get outdoors as much as possible.  Stay awake until sunset—no napping.  Drink even more water—no kidding! It’s the best medicine. Before you travel  Here’s A Free, Valuable Resource… Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling At BchRealEstate.com

Brain Teaser… We are two sisters, one dark and one fair. In our twin towers, we make quite the pair. One is from land and one from the sea, tell us, can you, who are we? (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 . Did You Know… That lemons contain more sugar than strawberries? The only reason lemons aren’t sweeter than strawberries is that the former also contains lots of citric acid—which gives the fruit its characteristic sour taste. Produce By The Numbers Did you know that the little stickers on your fruit and veggies tell a story? The 4- or 5-digit numbers contain details about how the food was grown.  Organic produce numbers are five digits long and start with a 5.  Non-organic produce numbers are four digits long and start with a 4. If it’s a genetically-modified (GMO) crop, the 5-digit number starts with an 8. You probably won’t see these at the store (GMO crops are mostly used as ingredients in other items). Online Crafting Resources Are you crafty, or would you like to be? Besides Pinterest, there are other great web-based resources for all things craft. craftster.org – A site focused on off- beat, “indie” DIY projects. Though officially closed, the thousands of projects are archived for you to view. makeandtakes.com – Projects for adults, kids and recipes to create in the kitchen. totallytutorials.blogspot.com – Tons of tutorials for all kinds of crafts from crochet to outdoor decor, and you can submit your own to share with the community. 

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

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

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.

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: Joel Hyatt of The Colony was the winner of the drawing. To enter the drawing, call text or email the correct answer to this month’s question. Last Month’s Question: Which real-life shipwreck inspired Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick?” a) The Two Brothers b) The Essex c) The Charles Carroll The answer is b) The Essex. Launched in 1799, the ship was sunk by a sperm whale in 1820. Only eight of the original crew of 20 survived, found drifting at sea in a small whaleboat three months after the ship sank .

Brain Teaser Answer:

Salt and pepper!

Bee Kind To Bees When making gardening plans, don’t forget to provide drinking water for valuable pollinators like bees and butterflies. Creating your own bee watering hole is easy—and, if you use colorful marbles, it’s an attractive addition to your landscaping. Fill a shallow dish (like the base of a planting pot or even an aluminum pie dish) with small rocks or marbles. Pour water into the dish, making sure the tops of the rocks or marbles are exposed so the insects have somewhere to land. 3. Check the water level regularly (especially when it’s hot and the water is evaporating more quickly). 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 CA DRE#01040021 RE/MAX Gold Coast 805-701-8410 Florence@BchRealEstate.com BchRealEstate.com 2. 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. 1.

So let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.

Which of these cities did a volcano destroy in 79 AD? a) Pompeii and Atlantis b) Micenum and Mt. Vesuvius c) Pompeii and Herculaneum d) Micenum and Mt. Vesuvius

Call Me At 805-701-8410 OR Email Me At Florence@BchRealEstate.com And You Could Be My Next Winner!

Real Estate Corner…

Q. How do I find the right house for me?

A. Make a wish list of everything you would like to have in a new house. Then make a list of everything you don’t like in your current home. These two lists will give you a good idea of where to start, and help you analyze your needs. Buying a home requires making some compromises. You may not get everything you want, but make sure to get what you need. For example, when buying a home, the neighborhood should be your main consideration. Is the house in a neighborhood that you like and feel safe? Will you have a reasonable commute to work? Does it have a good school system? ( Not only is this important if you have children; it will impact the resale value of your home down the road .) Does the area have the amenities that you’re looking for (parks, stores, and library) within a few miles?

Want to learn more? Ask for my Free Consumer Report called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Buying.” I’ll send a copy right over to you.

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….

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

Homes Currently Active …

Address Antigua

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan Martinique

Asking Price

2 2

2 2

1217 1368

$539,888

2202 Martinique

Madeira

$599,000

2206 Martinique

2

2

1368

Madeira (upper level)

$649,000 $595,962

Market Average

Active Taking Back Up Offers… Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

2103 Martinique

2

2

1368

Madeira

$539,000 $539,000

Market Average

Pending Properties…

Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

San Sebastian

2

2

1218

Martinique (Ambassador)

$579,888 $579,888

Market Average

Sold Properties… (01/01/19 Thru 01/20/20) Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft. $/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

2382 Vina del Mar

$499,000 $535,888 $569,888 $539,000 $589,000 $579,000 $605,000 $599,888 $615,000 $665,000 $678,000 $729,000 $835,000 $999,000 $959,000 $1,125,888 $1,175,888 $1,299,000 $539,000

$504,000 $518,000 $525,000 $535,000 $575,000 $579,000 $580,000 $590,000 $605,000 $625,000 $670,000 $709,000 $812,500 $939,000 $949,000 $535,000

1113 1217 1549 1113 1368 1450 1627 1368 1459 1627 1780 1550 1550 2360 2360 1113

$452.83 Martinique (Phase I)

10/31/19 01/03/20 08/06/19

2055 Majorca 4431 Antigua

$425.64 Martinique $338.93 Antigua

2223 Martinique

$480.68 Martinique (Phase I)

02/28/19

2305 Martinique

$480.68 Martinique (Phase I)

05/15/19

4463 Antigua

420.32

Madeira

07/08/19 05/17/19 05/03/19 01/03/20 03/30/19 10/29/19 11/20/19 04/15/19 12/11/19 05/10/19 08/26/19 01/03/20 11/06/19

4446 Antigua 2031 Majorca 2204 Martinique 2351 Martinique 2361 Martiique

$373.79 Antigua $356.48 Capri $431.29 Madeira $398.81 Antigua $384.14 Capri $376.40 Capri

4421 Antigua

4711 San Sebastian 4674 San Sebastian 2222 Cannes Square 2353 Vina del Mar 2123 Vina del Mar 2127 Vina del Mar 2315 Vina del Mar

$457.42 Antigua (Ambassador) $524.19 Antigua (Ambassador)

$397.88 Vina del Mar $402.12 Vina del Mar $444.92 Vina del Mar

$1,050,000 2360 $1,100,000 2149 $1,300,000 2139

$511.87 Cannes

$607.76 San Tropez

06/07/19

$745,333

$721,078

$435.06

Market Average

RE/MAX represented buyer, seller or both . Properties as of January 20, 2020 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 Check out my Colony Web Site: http://THECOLONYATMANDALAY.COM

Florence’s

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

Homes Currently Active …

None

Properties Accepting Back Up Offers …

None

Pending Properties …

None

Sold Properties (01/01/19 Thru 01/20/20) Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft. $/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

3132 Sunset 3043 Harbor 3130 Sunset 3111 Harbor 3061 Harbor 3304 Sunset 2949 Harbor 3634 Sunset 3450 Sunset 3444 Sunset 3136 Sunset 3135 Harbor 3131 Harbor 3201 Harbor 3380 Sunset

$415,000 $425,000 $479,000 $499,000 $525,000 $549,900 $575,000 $595,000 $610,000 $639,000 $627,000 $729,000 $699,000 $779,000 $795,000 $596,060

$405,000 $445,000 $440,000 $489,000 $495,000 $549,000 $560,000 $565,000 $595,000 $611,000 $615,000 $700,000 $701,000 $779,000 $785,000 $582,800

925

$437.84 $394.50 $484.32 $433.51 $438.83 $372.20 $467.45 $428.35 $451.10 $414.52 $513.36 $499.29 $466.71 $524.57 $532.20 $452.44

Plan C Plan B Plan C Plan B Plan B

12/13/19 07/03/19 09/30/19 12/05/19 07/11/19 05/22/19 12/13/19 07/26/19 09/27/19 09/09/19 08/26/19 03/25/19 07/18/19 08/12/19 07/08/19

1128

925

1128 1128 1475 1198 1319 1319 1474 1198 1402 1501 1485 1485

Villa

Plan D

T-2 T-2

Villa

Plan D

Villa (end unit)

Villa Villa Villa

Market Average

Bold: REMAX Represented Buyers, Sellers or Both

The information referenced has been provided by the Ventura County MLS Corporation’s MLS as of Jan 20, 2020. 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.

To See HarborWalk floor plans go to my HarborWalk web site: http://HarborWalkCondos.com