June 2022

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 Solar Panels Really Worth The Investment?

Residential solar panels are becoming more common, and they can save you quite a bit on your energy bills — but there are some big up- front costs. In today’s Service For Life ! ® Free consumer newsletter, you’ll learn some of the ways you can lower the initial costs of solar panels and see a return on your investment sooner. You’ll also learn tips for learning about new technology without getting frustrated, how to incorporate simplicity in your home design and decor, and ways to help older children adjust to the addition of a new baby — plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more. Here’s what’s happening in your neighborhood. Below 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 . Note: Inventor less than 6 months is considered a seller’s market; more than 6 month’s a buyer’s.

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

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

January February

March

April May June

31 18 8 22 22 11 22 34 15 24 46 30 32 29 32 28 23 27 45 27 16 15 49 26 19 14 19 25 12 22 29 18

9 thru 5/14

70 128 78 28 97 122 80 18 92 125 62 34 95 126 51 20 81 115 34 16 87 100 41 20 79 93 32 21

4.2 7.04 4.38 0.62 4.1 6.88 4.05 1.23 4.21 7.04 4.78 0.73 3.67 6.3 1.5 0.62 4.13 5.74 1.8 0.9 3.81 4.71 1.23 0.875 3.32 4.3 0.89 0.897

July

August

September

October

November December

Just sold the downstairs Madeira model in The Colony (Ambassador Series) with attached garage for $955,000. That is the highest sale price for a Madeira this year. In April there were 23 closings in the beach/marina area, 3 were in The Colony and two of those 3 were RE/MAX sales. Also, I have a San Tropez townhome coming up. Call me for more info. 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…”



Buying A Home Soon-for the first time? Get my Free Consumer Guide, “Top 10 First -Time Homebuyer Mistakes to Avoid.” Call me right now at 805-701-8410 for details…

Can Solar Really Save You $$? Adding solar panels to your home’s roof can dramatically reduce your electricity bills, though the initial investment may be substantial. It’s important to do your research before diving in to make sure that investment will pay off sooner rather than later. Look for incentive programs. There is a federal tax credit for homeowners who install a solar photovoltaic (solar) system before December 31, 2023. It’s a 26% tax credit if you install before December 31, 2022, and 22% for the following year. Your state may offer a rebate or tax credit, and your local utility may also offer rebates. Learn more about the federal tax credit at energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics Get competitive bids. The EnergySage site (energysage.com/) lets you see multiple bids from solar providers. There are more than 500 companies in the site’s database, all of which have been pre -screened. Use the solar calculator. EnergySage also has what it calls a “Solar Calculator” ( energysage.com/solar/calculator/), which gives you an estimate of what your potential monthly savings might be if you added solar panels to your house based on your current monthly electric bill. Consider leasing. Buying outright is increasingly popular with homeowners, but leasing solar panels is also an option. With a lease, you don’t pay for the system or its installation. Instead, you pay a monthly leasing fee to the installation company. If you end up generating more energy than your house consumes, some states even allow you to sell some of that energy back to the grid. Once you’ve calculated your monthly savings and gotten a bid, you can see how long it will take until you recoup your upfront costs. Warning Before You Sell Your Home... Don’t put your home on the market without my Free Consumer Guide titled, “ How To Avoid 7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home .” My exclusive report will give you all the facts for a fast, top dollar sale. Get your free copy by calling me at … 805-701-8410.

June 2022 Oxnard, California

Inside This Issue…

Save Money With Solar …Page 1

5 Tips To Help You Learn New Tech Skills …Page 2

Benefits Of Simplicity In Home Decor …Page 3

Helping Older Children Adjust To A New Baby …Page 3

Answer This Trivia Question and You Could Win $75 Gift Card for Lure Restaurant...Page 4 I’m Wasting Money On Rent And Want To Buy A Home. How Can I Get Help With A Down Payment?...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!)… druthers (pronounced DRUH-therz) noun Meaning: a person’s choice or preference Sample Sentence: If I’d had my druthers, I would have taken a year or two off between high school and college to really figure out what I wanted to study. The Proof Is In The Pudding While the phrase "the proof is in the pudding" does have its origins in food, it's not the sweet treat you might expect. Pudding in the 14th century was a savory dish akin to sausage, with all sorts of animal parts ground up and cooked inside the animal's stomach. And, since food handling safety was unheard of, you'd only know if dinner was going to make you ill (or even kill you!) if you ate it. Wordle: Leveling Up Are you a Wordle (a very popular online word game) player who wants more of a challenge? Tap the gear icon on the upper right corner of the Wordle s creen and you can activate “Hard Mode.” Hard mode requires that you use any yellow or green letters from prior guesses in every guess after that. Meaning, if your first guess, “steam,” gives you a yellow “e,” every subsequent guess must contain an “ e. ” Qu otes To Live By… “Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.” – Khalil Gibran, Poet “Freedom is something that dies unless it’s used.” – Hunter S. Thompson, Journalist “One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like.” – George Carlin, Comedian

Tips To Learn New Tech Tricks

Just when you think you’ve got a handle on the latest gadget, it seems like there are six new ones coming out. And, yes, that can be extremely frustrating — especially when tech jargon makes even relatively simple tasks sound like rocket science. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed every time you try to learn how to use the latest gizmo or program, you’re not alone. Luckily, many of the same learning techniques that make it easier to master any new skill can apply to learning new tech skills, too. Remember : It’s not hard, it’s just new. 1. Add in something you enjoy. Start with a favorite hobby or topic and you’re more apt to stick with it through the learning curve. If you’re an avid gardener, for instance, maybe you want to learn how to use an app on your new, confusing phone that helps you identify plants and how best to care for them. 2. Take baby steps. It’s easy to lose focus quickly if you’re getting overwhelmed, so set a series of small goals rather than one big one. Take breaks after each goal is met, so you can return to the next part of the process refreshed and ready to focus again. First goal: learn now to turn the darn thing on! 3. Choose teachers wisely. Just because someone is an expert with the latest gadget doesn’t mean they’re good at teaching anyone else how to u se it. If you have a friend or family member who you know is patient and good at explaining things, ask if they’d be willing to help you learn.

4. Do, don’t just watch. You’ll have a better chance of retaining what you learn if you actually do it, rather than just watching your teacher do it.

5. Practice. Once you’ve learned a skill, it’s important to keep that knowledge fresh by using your new skill —don’t set it aside for a week and forget everything you learned.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thanks to all of my clients and friends who support my practice and graciously referred me to your friends and neighbors. Rather than pester people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. I couldn't do it without you! Coming Up: San Tropez Townhome (approx. 2100 sq ft) 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and attached oversized 2 car garage. Call Florence for more information. 805-701-8410

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

Design With Simplicity With home decor, the word “simplicity” may conjure images of starkly modern interiors with hard, polished surfaces and not much in the way of color. But simplicity can be a part of any design aesthetic — it’s just about the idea that “less is more.” First – clear the clutter. Clutter makes it difficult to focus, as your attention bounces around and can actually make you feal stressed. Next – ask yourself what the purpose of the room is. If it’s to relax in front the TV, start removing items that don’t add to that purpose. If it’s to sleep, maybe remove the TV and any other distracting items. Keep editing! Look at each item and remove any that don’t have a purpose. This clears floor space for ease of movement and helps you choose a few statement pieces that don’t compete with one another. So why choose simplicity? Rooms that incorporate simplicity feel more open, which can reduce stress and encourage relaxation. Spaces that are less cluttered are easier to clean, too, which means you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the room. An organized home also means sudden house guests don’t cause cle aning anxiety.

Brain Teaser… When it comes to telling time, sundials have the fewest moving parts. What timepiece has the most?

(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 . The Language Of Flowers Red roses mean, “I love you,” but the list of other flowers that mean something is impressively long. Interpreting flowers (“floriography”) was popularized in the Victorian era, when a carefully chosen bouquet could convey a secret message. Variegated tulips mean “beautiful eyes,” purple hyacinths me an “please forgive me,” and rhododendrons mean “beware.” There are even two flowers that have to do with dancing: Ivy geranium means “your hand for the next dance?” while viscaria simply asks “will you dance with me?” Websites To Learn Math For some, understanding math equations is easy. If you’re in need of a little extra tutoring, though, here are some websites to help you learn about math. openstax.org/subjects/math : On OpenStax, you’ll find peer -reviewed textbooks on dozens of subjects, including math, and it’s totally free. They’re even available in Spanish as well as English. brilliant.org : Brilliant offers a different way to learn math (and science), through “hands -on, interactive problem solving” instead of lectures. codecademy.com/catalog/subject/math : Learn specific subjects you’ll need to further your coding skills with the mathematics section of Codeacademy. Find more flower meanings here: https://www.almanac.com/flower meanings-language-flowers

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!

Help Kids Adjust To A New Baby Having a child is nothing short of life-changing and adding a second kid into the mix is a completely different kind of challenge — both for you and for your older children. Here are a few tips to help your littles adjust to the idea of a new baby sibling. • Explain that the family is growing, using age-appropriate language. There are lots of kids’ books that can help with this. • Talk about what the baby will be like when it arrives. Prepare your kids for things like how much babies may cry, how newborns spend most of their time eating and sleeping, and how long it takes for babies to become playmates. • Involve your child with caring for baby. This could mean handing you a clean diaper when you need one, choosing a new outfit, or helping to entertain during playtime. • Your child may be jealous of the baby. Reassure them that being a big sister or brother isn’t always easy, and that more kids in the family doesn’t mean you love them any less. It’s also great if you can carve out a little time to spend with your older children without the baby, doing something they enjoy.

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

Thanks For Thinking of Me!

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

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: Mike Davis of Pasadena won the drawing. How many European countries have capital cities on the coastline with the Atlantic Ocean? a) zero b) one c) two d) three The answer is c) two. The capital cities of Portugal (Lisbon) and Iceland (Reykjavik) are both on the Atlantic Ocean. So Let’s Move on To This Month’s Question In Singapore, it’s illegal to chew gum. Which of these is also illegal in the country? a) running out of gas on th e highway b) using someone else’s WiFi c) wearing camouflage d) climbing trees

Brain Teaser Answer:

An hourglass

Fido’s Filthy Food Dish According to the FDA, you should be washing out your dog’s food bowl with soap and water after every meal — just as you do for your own dishes. Harmful bacteria can flourish in an unclean dish, which can make both you and your pet sick. The FDA also recommends washing the food scoop after every use and washing out the water bowl every few days. This Pun’s For You There's a guy in town who walks around talking to himself using only figurative language. 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. We call him the Village Idiom.

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. I’m wasting money on rent and want to buy a home. How can I get help with a down payment?

A. There are ways to get a down payment, including the following:

• Look into local or federal government programs. They expire or change frequently, so ask your REALTOR ® about any programs that may apply to your area and situation. • Have the seller finance you . Some sellers may be willing to help you buy their homes in something called a “seller take - back.” • Use a financial gift from a relative. Tax law allows gifts of up to $16,000 a year to be given without tax consequences to the giver or recipient (see IRS publication 950). You can get a gift from two parents without them having to pay a gift-tax, which brings the total up to $32,000. Depending on the type of loan, who qualifies as a family member varies slightly so be sure to read the IRS information. For more information and tips on how to get a down payment to purchase a home, ask for my Free Consumer Report called “4 Quick Ways To Buy A Home With Little Down.”

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

Martinique Martinique

2 2

2 2

1369 1113

Madeira

$795,000 $849,900 $822,450

Martinique

Market Average

Properties Pending …

Address Majorca

Bdrms

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Floor Plan

Asking Price

2 2

2 2

1368 1369

Madeira

$825,000

San Tropez

Madeira (Ambassador) $845,000

$835,000

Market Average

Sold Propert ies… (05/01/21 Thru 05/16/22) Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft.

$/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold 06/14/21 07/21/21 09/17/21 02/17/22

2216 Martinique

$675,000 $659,888 $725,000 $779,888 $700,000

$400,000 $691,000 $725,000 $730,00 $734,000

1459 1217 1368 1368 1368

$274.16 $567.32 $529.97 $533.63 $536.16

Antigua

1933 Majorca

Martinique

2105 Martinique

Madeira

2015 Majorca

Madeira Madeira

2345 Martinique

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

1914 Majorca

$699,000

$765,000

1217

$628.59

Martinique

01/24/22 09/15/21 11/22/21 05/28/21 11/12/21 11/16/21 06/25/21 02/03/22 03/15/22 02/23/22

2167 Martinique 2307 Martinique 2161 Martinique

$779,888 $799,888 $799,888 $803,888 $820,888 $699,000 $839,000 $849,000 $849,888 $875,000

$780,000 $780,000 $802,500 $805,000 $812,500 $814,000 $835,000 $849,000 $849,888 $850,000

1522 1459 1459 1368 1549 1368 1368 1459 1459 1628

$512.48 $534.61 $550.03 $524.53 $595.00 $610.30 $581.90 $582.51 $522.43

Antigua Antigua Antigua

1937 Majorca 2007 Majorca

$588,.02 Madeira

Antigua

2043 San Sebastian

Madeira (Ambassador)

1913 Majorca

Madeira Antigua

2377 Martinique

2257 Martinique 2311 Martinique

Antigua

Capri

09/22/21

2287 Martinique

$850,000

$850,000

1628

$522.43

Capri

09/20/21

4427 Antigua

$862,500

$867,750

1628

$533.34

Capri

04/01/22 02/18/22

4687 San Sebastian

$869,888

$875,000 $891,800

1807 1627

$484.23 $548.13

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 05/04/22 07/16/21 04/26/22 07/30/21 07/07/21 12/21/21

1910 Majorca

$899,000 $875,000 $1,195,888 $1,245,000

$907,000 $955,000

1557 1369

$585.54 $697.55 $496.43 $527.54 $841.94 $804.08 $761.52 $563.97

Antigua

2003 San Tropez

Madeira (Ambassador)

2110 Vina del Mar

$1,150,000 2409 $1,245,000 2360 $1,305,000 1550 $1,420,000 1766 $2,050,000 2692

Cannes

2244 Cannes

Vina del Mar

1985 San Sebastian $1,299,000

Antigua (Ambassador)

4760 San Sebastian 2211 Vina del Mar Market Average

$1,595,888 $2,050,000 $ 874,369

Capri (Ambassador)

Costa de Oro

$ 874,114

RE/MAX represented buyer, seller or both . Properties as of May 16, 2022 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

LaBrea

$795,000 $800,000 $899,000 $900,000 $848,500

1135 1319 1401 1474

T-3

3504 Sunset

T-2

Sunset Sunset

Villa Villa

Market Average

Active … Accepting Back Up Offers Address List $

Sq.Ft

Floor Plan

Harbor Blvd

$540,000 $540,000

781

Plan A

Market Average

Sold Properties (01/01/2021 – 05/16/2022 Address List $ Sale $

Sq.Ft. $/sq.ft

Floor Plan

Date Sold

2939 Harbor 3035 Harbor 2957 Harbor 3414 Sunset 3134 Sunset

$495,000 $490,000 $565,000 $589,500 $649,500

$525,000 $540,000 $572,000 $589,500 $620,000

925 781 925

$567.57 $691.42 $618.38 $519.38 $670.27

Plan C Plan A Plan C

03/24/21 09/29/21 03/25/22 04/01/21 02/25/22 07/30/21 04/06/21 07/21/21 08/18/21 10/14/21 07/09/21 08/06/21 07/16/21 03/30/22 08/30/21 02/25/22 08/25/21 04/16/21 12/17/21 03/11/22 11/01/21

1135

T-3

925

Plan C (end unit)

2947 Harbor

$650,000

$632,500

1198

$527.96

Plan D

4534 LaBrea

$639,900

$650,000

1135

$572.69

T-3

4514 LaBrea 3110 Sunset 2943 Harbor 2949 Harbor 3013 Harbor 4531 La Brea 2943 Harbor 3354 Sunset 3224 Sunset

$659,000 $690,000 $699,000 $769,000 $769,000 $800,000 $797,000 $825,000 $865,000

$680,000 $689,900 $700,000 $755,000 $764,000 $800,000 $817,000 $845,000 $865,000

1319

$515.54 $745.83 $584.31 $630.22 $677.30 $568.99 $681.96 $542.01 $617.42

T-2

925

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

1198 1198 1128 1406 1198 1559 1401

Plan D Plan B

Villa

Plan D (end unit)

Villa Villa

3364 Sunset

$899,000

$899,000

1485

$605.39

Villa

3241 Harbor

$925,000

$925,000

1517

$609.76

Villa (end unit)

4505 La Brea

$950,000

$960,000

1401

$685.22

Villa

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 $609.18 Bold: REMAX Represented Buyers, Sellers or Both $755,212 $748,970

The information referenced has been provided by the Ventura County MLS Corporation’s MLS as of May 16, 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