February 2024

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 You Making The Most Of All Your Employee Benefits?

Beyond the usual health insurance benefit, there is often a long list of other benefits your employer may have available for employees. In today’s Service For Life ! ® Free consumer newsletter, you’ll learn about some of the benefits you might have overlooked. You’ll also learn about the kinds of foods to include (and exclude) in an anti -inflammatory diet, a few ways you can improve your home theater setup, and the best savings and investment accounts to start for children – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more.

Here are the sales statistics for the beach marina area, which include: Mandalay Bay, Mandalay Shores, Hollywood Beach, Silverstrand Beach, Seabridge, Westport, Harbour Island, Port Marluna, The Colony, HarborWalk, HarborWest, C.I. Waterfront Homes.

LISTING INVENTORY (months) 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 CLOSED ESCROWS ACTIVE LISTINGS

January February

23 20 13 14 11 13 13 20 17 20 27 16 17 18 23 10 8 22 20 11 22 34 26 15 46 30 17 17 32 28 19 17 45 27 14 11 49 26 16 13 19 25 7 11 29 18 15 5

80 22 21 22 20 4.14 1.19 0.92 1.48

5 thru 1/28

92 23 21 26 89 17 12 28 90 14 22 30 93 29 21 34 78 28 30 35 80 18 47 37 62 34 37 36 51 20 35 34 34 16 37 32 41 20 39 31 32 21 33 23

4.68 1.55 0.53 1.54 4.68 0.53 0.92 1.83 4.9 0.86 0.88 2.1 4.29 1 1.27 2.27 4.38 0.62 1.86 2.55 4.05 1.23 1.69 2.48 4.78 0.73 1.65 2.23 1.5 0.62 1.85 2.27 1.8 0.9 2.03 2.97 1.23 0.875 2.19 1.62 0.89 0.897 1.26 1.5

March

April May June

July

August

September

October

November December

I just listed the largest floor plan in the Colony – 2355 Vina del Mar, asking $1,595,000 and 2041 Majorca, an Antigua floor plan with 3 decks asking $929,000. 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!

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…”



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 at 805 701-8410 to get a copy…

Overlooked Employee Benefits

The array of employee benefits your workplace offers may be more expansive than you’d think – and learning about your benefits package can save you quite a bit of money. Beyond the baseline of medical insurance coverage, some companies offer tax-free healthcare spending accounts (like Healthcare Spending Accounts- HSAs and Flexible Spending Accounts- FSAs) that you can take advantage of. Your employer may even make contributions to it for you. You probably are aware of employer-matching programs to maximize contributions to your 401(k). Some companies, though, go above and beyond with a variety of less familiar benefits you can (and should) make the most of. Here are just a few of them. • Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) may include things like free or discounted financial advice, legal advice, counseling services, substance abuse treatment, and help with estate planning. There’s a huge range of other discounts and free benefits that can fall under the EAP umbrella, such as hotel stays, rental cars, gym memberships, public transit passes, and mobile phone plans. • Parental leave is common these days, for both mothers and fathers. Additionally, some companies offer benefits for family planning services like fertility treatment and adoption assistance. You may also have a medical leave benefit, which you can use to care for an ailing family member. • Getting time off for both vacation and illness is fairly standard. Some companies offer employees time off for volunteer work, meaning you wouldn’t have to use vacation time to volunteer. And, if you work in a field that encourages and supports sabbaticals, you may have the option for an extended break from work — and still have a job to return to. • Many organizations recognize that furthering an employee’s education and training benefits the company as much as the employee. Even if your workplace doesn’t subsidize tuition for advanced degrees, they may cover or reimburse the cost of training programs, certifications, and other professional development opportunities. If it isn’t listed in your initial offer, ask! If the development is relevant to your job, the company may agree to pay for it even if it’s not standard. Thinking Of Buying A Home Soon? If you’re planning to buy a home in the next 6 months, you’ll want a copy of my Free consumer guide, “ 7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Next Home .” My report will help you avoid frustrations and costly pitfalls when buying a home. Simply call me to get a free copy: 805-701-8410

February 2024 Oxnard, California

Inside This Issue…

Maximize Your Employee Benefits …Page 1

Food And Inflammation …Page 2

3 Tips For Setting Up A Home Theater …Page 3

The Best Kinds Of Savings Accounts To Start For Children …Page 3

Answer This Trivia Question And You Could Win $75 gift card for Lure Restaurant...Page 4 What Options Do I Have Besides Refinancing If I’m Struggling To Make Payments?...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!)…

Anti-Inflammatory Eating Not all inflammation in the body is bad — occasional inflammation helps our immune system function properly. When the body doesn’t return to its baseline and inflammation becomes chronic, that’s a problem. The bad news is that chronic (or systemic) inflammation has been linked to an increased risk for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. The good news is that one of the best ways to reduce inflammation is easy to do: adopt an anti-inflammatory diet. It may not surprise you to learn that many of the foods that can cause or aggravate inflammation are things that we already know we should limit in our diets — think processed or deep-fried foods, foods high in trans fats or added sugar, red or processed meat, and refined carbohydrates like white bread. In many cases, though, people don’t necessarily need to eliminate everything on that list from their diets (unless there’s a specific allergy). Instead, it’s often a matter of reducing foods that can cause inflammation and increasing foods that help manage inflammation. Experts say that diets with lots of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, and polyphenols can help reduce inflammation. That includes things like olive oil, salmon, legumes, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies — and even coffee and dark chocolate. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s like both the Mediterranean diet and a diet known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). Changing what we eat is an incredibly powerful wellness tool, to alleviate inflammation and myriad other ailments —but it’s important to talk with your doctor or a licensed dietician before you embark on a diet overhaul. It’s good to be informed about your options, but it takes a medical professional to apply general tips and guidelines to your specific health needs. This article from Harvard Medical School offers more tips for an anti inflammatory diet: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/quick start-guide-to-an-antiinflammation-diet

esoteric (pronounced eh-suh-TARE-ik) adjective

Meaning: difficult to understand, by design, without elite or special knowledge

Sample Sentence: It’s always reassuring to talk to a mechanic who explains things plainly rather than the esoteric language of internal combustion engines. A Hairy Situation Anyone who wears necklaces and has hair that hits the neck knows the feeling of a stray hair (or three) getting caught in a necklace chain from time to time. This may not hurt your skin very much, but detangling the hair from the chain can be a challenge. It turns out, though, that a hair remover originally introduced in the 1940s solves this hairy problem. Apply Nair cream to the hair knot and let it sit for 10 minutes before rubbing it off, and then rinse the necklace completely to make sure there isn’t Nair left behind. And if your jewelry is silver, be cautious — one of the key ingredients can potentially tarnish silver, so do a spot check before you begin. Quotes To Live By… “Never do things others can do and will do if there are things others cannot do or will not do.” – Amelia Earhart, Aviator “Because you don’t live near a bakery doesn’t mean you have to go without cheesecake.” – Hedy Lamarr, Actress

“When I understand myself, I understand you, and out of that understanding comes love.”

– Jiddu Krishnamurti, Philosopher

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

3 Tips For Home Theater Setup Having a home theater makes everything you watch more enjoyable, whether it’s an Oscar -winning movie or your favorite reality show. But even if building a high- end theater system isn’t in your budget, there are a few things you can do to greatly enhance your current setup. • The size of the room matters. Not only do you need to ensure adequate distance between the seats and the screen, but you also need to consider how sound travels through the space. The room’s shape matters, too: Rectangular rooms are better than cube-shaped rooms for home theater sound. This article explains the “golden ratio” for acoustics in a home theater, which you can apply to your own space: https://thehometheaterdiy.com/home-theater-room-dimensions/ • Sound system improvements are among the easiest enhancements you can make to your existing setup. Soundbars are relatively inexpensive and simple to use , and they don’t require much space. Experts suggest choosing a sound bar with three or more channels, which acts more like surround sound with multiple speakers. Most budget options have two. • Being able to control light in a home theater is important. Blackout curtains on the windows are a great start, but don’t overlook the color of the walls and ceiling — dark colors are recommended. 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 Savings Accounts For Children Starting a savings or investment account as an adult is good, but starting one as a child is better. You can start saving for a child’s education or even retirement as soon as they’re born— whether the baby is yours, a family member’s, or a friend’s. Here are a few ways to save money for kids. ✓ College savings plan: A 529 college savings plan is the easiest way to save for a child’s education. These allow money to grow tax -deferred — and if it’s spent on the specified list of education -related expenses, the withdrawals are free from federal income taxes, too. You can contribute to an existing one or set one up on behalf of the child. Learn more about 529 plans here: https://www.savingforcollege.com/college-savings-201 ✓ Roth IRA: A retirement fund for a baby might seem strange, but starting a custodial IRA early means even small contributions will grow exponentially over time. It can be a great way for children to learn good financial habits. Learn more about custodial Roth IRAs here: https://www.investopedia.com/open-a-roth-ira-for-someone-else-4770855 ✓ Savings account: Any adult can open a good old-fashioned savings account for a child, provided a parent or guardian is the main person on the custodial account. This kind of bank account grows with the child as they begin to earn their own money and is another good way to build positive money habits.

Brain Teaser… How would you turn six into an odd number without doing any math?

(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 . Updated Plant Zones Many gardeners know their plant hardiness zone by heart. If you’re one of them, you may need to update your information: the USDA updated its map in late 2023 to reflect the changing climate. You can find out what zone you’re in by entering your zip code o n the USDA’s website: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ iPhones with iOS 17 is the ability to edit iMessages after sending. Just press and hold on that message and you’ll be presented with options to “Edit” or “Undo send.” Editing the note is straightforward, but if the recipient doesn’t also have iOS 17, they’ll still see the text you originally wrote. Beauty Dupes Websites Many high-end beauty products are the same as cheaper products, with literally only a change in packaging or name. Finding those duplicates (not to mention other comparable products) is easier with websites like these. Skinskoolbeauty.com: This database has more than 46,000 products, so you can easily search for cheaper alternatives for many expensive products, comparing exact ingredients. Temptalia.com/makeup-dupe-list: Makeup dupes listed here are largely crowdsourced, and search options make it easy to find what you’re looking for. SkinSort.com: This database has detailed information about product ingredients. Scroll down a product page to the “Alternatives” section to find dupes or similar products. Take It Back One of the new tools available on

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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. Brain Teaser Answer: Take the “s” off the written word and you’re left with IX— which is the Roman numeral for nine. Or, turn it upside down! Sanitizer Lifespan? It may seem counterintuitive that hand sanitizers, those little ubiquitous bottles, can expire. Alcohol, which is one of the main ingredients in many hand sanitizers, starts to evaporate when a bottle of sanitizer is opened. Keeping these containers closed between uses can help ensure the product’s effectiveness for longer, but you should also keep an eye on the expiration date on the bottle. The Magic Word The etymology of “abracadabra” isn’t totally clear, but the earliest use of the word is as a purported miracle cure for certain deadly ailments — including malaria. In the 2nd century C.E., the Roman emperor Caracalla’s personal doctor prescribed wearing an amulet with the word “abracadabra” to anyone who had malaria. 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 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.

“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: Carl Ludwig of The Colony. This band’s biggest hit reached number one on airplay charts in 1995, but it wasn’t even available as a single at the time. What’s the band? a) TLC b) No Doubt c) The Rembrandts d) Boyz II Men The answer is c) The Rembrandts. The duo reco rded the song, “I’ll Be There For You,” for the sitcom, “Friends,” which debuted in 1994. So let’s move on to this month’s trivia question. This famous Italian volcano is among the oldest active volcanoes in the world, and it remains one of the most active today. What is its name? a) Vesuvius b) Vulcano c) Stromboli d) Etna

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

Real Estate Corner…

Q. What other options do I have besides refinancing my home loan if I’m struggling to make payments? A. If you’re “underwater” on payments, you may decide to move out of your home. Here are some options to consider: • Rent the property. This will help you make your monthly mortgage payments but you’ll still pay for maintenance on your property. • Do a short sale. This involves selling your home for less than you owe on the loan. The bank may forgive the difference between what you owe and the final sales price the buyer pays. • Do a Deed-in-lieu of Foreclosure. You give your home back to the lender in exchange for forgiveness of the mortgage. You may still have to pay the difference between what the bank sells the home for and what you still owe, plus legal fees. Many banks won’t consider this until a short sale has been attempted. Before you do anything, talk to an expert about your problem, including a REALTOR ® , a foreclosure counselor, a tax expert, a credit counselor and/or an attorney.

Do you have a question related to real estate or home ownership? Please 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. ”

Active Listings …

Address

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

2041 Majorca

2

2

1550

Antigua

$929,000 $995,000

1925 Majorca

2 3

2 3

1627 2670

Capri

2355 Vina del Mar

Costa de Oro

$1,595,000 $1,595,000

Market Average

Active Listings – In Escrow Accepting Back Up Offers … Address Bdrms Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

2017 Martinique

2

2

1440

Antigua

$950,000 $950,000

Market Average

Sold Propert ies… (01/01/23 Thru 01/27/24) Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft.

$/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

2223 Martinique

$699,000

$664,050** 1113

$596.10

Martinique (Phase I)

02/17/23 06/15/23 01/06/23 01/27/23 05/23/23 11/14/23 05/25/23 03/22/23 02/16/23 04/26/23 01/19/24 07/05/23 10/10/23 10/18/23 10/27/23 10/27/23 05/12/23 06/28/23

2212 Martinique 2200 Martinique

$695,000 $769,000 $729,888 $749,000 $795,888 $799,000 $839,888 $949,888 $999,900 $839,000

$685,000 $700,000 $725,000 $739,00 $795,888 $799,000 $840,000 $875,888 $884,000 $892,000

1113 1627 1217 1217 1218 1217 1459 1550 2692 1627

$615.45 $432.90 $599.74 $607.23 $653.44 $655.99 $575.74 $565.09 $328.38 $548.25 $653.96 $533.04 $468.67 $598.89 $706.39 $529.66 $548.25 $650.58

Martinique (Phase I)

Capri

1965 Majorca 1905 Majorca 2043 Majorca 4475 Antigua

Martinique Martinique Martinique Martinique

2227 Martinique

Antigua Antigua

1931 Majorca

2360 Vina del Mar 2151 Martinique

Costa de Oro

Capri

2067 Majorca

$839,000

$892,000

1627

Capri

2135 Martinique

$899,000

$890,000

1368

Madeira

4481 Antigua 1971 Majorca

$895,000 $965,000 $965,000 $984,000

$895,000 $960,000 $965,000 $975,000

1217 1801 2059 1628

Martinique

Capri

2335 Vina del Mar 2263 Martinique

San Tropez

Capri

4700 San Sebastian $1,246,888 $1,150,000 1628

Capri (Ambassador)

2123 Vina del Mar

$1,285,000 $1,250,000 2360

Vina del Mar

08/25/23

2337 Vina del Mar

$1,450,000 $1,300,000 2360

$550.85

Vina del Mar

04/26/23

$ 824,860 $ 847,096

$566.74

Market Average

RE/MAX represented buyer, seller or both.

Florence represented buyer, seller or both

**Does not include buyer agent commission

Properties as of January 27, 2023 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

Sunset Lane

$789,000 $789,000

1475

Villa

Market Average

Active Listings… In Escrow Accepting Back Up Offers Address List $ Sq.Ft Floor Plan Sunset Lane $729,000 1135 T-3 Market Average $729,000

Sold Properties (01/01/2023 – 01/27/2024 Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft. $/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

4536 La Brea 2957 Harbor 3330 Sunset 3140 Sunset 3225 La Brea 3604 Sunset 3224 Sunset

$699,000 $699,000 $799,000 $749,000 $899,000 $899,000 $865,000

$675,000 $690,000 $692,500 $730,000 $825,000 $859,000 $865,000

1135

$594.71 $745.95 $469.49 $564.14 $555.56 $651.25 $617.42

T-3

11/02/23

925

Plan C

02/02/23 01/04/24 08/31/23 11/21/23 06/30/23 02/25/22 03/21/23

1475 1294 1485 1319 1401

Villa

Plan D

Villa (end unit)

T-2

Villa

3544 Sunset

$995,000

$997,000

1474

$676.39

T-1

3241 Harbor

$1.049,000

$1.040,000

1518

$685.11

Villa

05/05/23

3380 Sunset

$1,177,000

$1,100,000

1475

$745.76

Villa (end unit)

08/28/23

Market Average $618.12 Bold: REMAX Represented Buyers, Sellers or Both $845,857 $795,928

The information referenced has been provided by the Ventura County MLS Corporation’s MLS as of January, 27, 2024 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