May-June From The Front Porch Journal 2010

S@N DIEGO COUNTY’S

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HUMPREY’S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

IT’S TH@T TIME OF YE@R S@N DIEGO’S SPRING G@RDEN TOURS

S@VE MONEY REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY T@XES

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mom & ^[^ thoughts

contents

m[y/jun_ 2010

^_p[rtm_nts 4 the real estate brief a note from rosemary ca tax credit basics property tax relief

5 out and about spring garden tours sd padres may/june schedule

6 family corner bargain hunter thoughts from moms and dads

7 et cetera where’s rosemary delish

8 minutia useless knowledge bravo bites rosebud’s garden

9 front porch pickin humphrey’s concert series

10 domiciles from east county to coast

From the Front Porch Compliments of:

Rosemary Joles Realtor 619·405·7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 8310 La Mesa Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91942

the real estate brief a note from rosemary

ca homebuyer tax credit the basics

Greetings from sunny La Mesa!

I hope each of you are doing well. It’s May and can I say I just love this time of year? Not to hot, not to cold, absolutely perfect weather! If you’re thinking I’m having a whining fest here I am not. San Diego is beautiful all year round. Spring time just happens to be my favorite time of year. Driving along our freeways is even a treat with all of the flowers strutting their colors of fuchsia, orange, pink, red and purple.

I’m frequently asked by people about San Diego’s real estate market and they’re thinking it must be really bad for real estate agents right now with all that they’re hearing and seeing via the media. They’re shocked when I tell them the market is moving along quite well. Depending upon area and pricing we are seeing homes sell quickly and they generally have multiple offers on them. Southbay’s Chula Vista is selling the quickest with home inventory being less than one month. The coastal areas are still recovering from the downturn, yet areas like La Jolla are still seeing homes selling in the 1.6K and under range. The market that has not recovered is the 2 million and up market, which is most of the coastal region. Not that there aren’t some sales in this market, it’s just not clipping along like the 500K and under range in the rest of the county. With the expiration of the 2009 Federal home-buyer tax credit, it will be interesting to see what happens. (The armed forces still get another year to take advantage of the tax credit by the way as long as they were deployed outside their home base for at least 90 days.) My prediction is we still are going to see buyers purchasing, based solely on the great prices we’ve seen here in years in San Diego.

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I hope you enjoy this first issue of From The Front Porch Journal. If there is anything that you would like to see in future issues or you would like to give me feedback feel free to call or email me.

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Until next time,

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a must read Reduce your property taxes!

Have your property values dropped since you purchased your home? Not sure if they’ve dropped since you bought? Did you know that you can request a reassessment of your property taxes? Call or email Rosemary today to get a free evaluation of your homes value and a link to the form you need for submitting your request to the San Diego County assessors office. Don’t wait! The deadline for submission is May 14, 2010.

Rosemary Joles · 619-405-7673 · Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com

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The state of California extended the $10,000 homebuyer tax credit.

March 25, 2010 AB 183 was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Allocated $200 million for contracts executed between May 1, 2010-December 31, 2010 Homes must close escrow by no later than August 1, 2011.

Tax credit is for first time buyers of existing homes and for any buyer of new home construction.

The 200 million will be split evenly between new home and existing home purchases.

Home has to be a qualified principle residence.

Buyer will have to occupy the home for 2 years or payback the credit.

Credit is $10,000 or 5% of the purchase price whichever is lesser Tax credit has to be applied over 3 successive tax years. Beginning with the tax year the home is purchased in. (A maximum of $3333.00 per year) Tax cannot reduce the regular tax below tentative minimum tax (TMT) Tax credit is given on a first-come first-served basis.

Taxpayer must be 18 years or older Taxpayer or their spouse cannot have purchased from a relative.

Taxpayer cannot have been a dependent of another taxpayer the year of the purchase.

To learn more about the 2010 Tax Credit go to www.ftb.ca.gov/

out and about spring garden tours Mission Hills Garden Club Garden Walk $25 in advance; $30 day of event; children under 12, free. San Diego horticultural pioneer Kate Sessions will be remembered in this year’s garden walk through the Bankers Hill area. A dozen gardens that reflect Sessions’ design influence and plant passions will be showcased.

Info: missionhillsgardenclub.org.

May 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Artist Studio and Garden Tour $20 This annual Mother’s Day weekend tour sponsored by the San Dieguito Art Guild will visit eight artist’s studios and gardens in the Encinitas area. Host artists, members of the guild, will showcase their work and that of several guest artists.

Info: offtrackgallery.com.

May 8-9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Secret Garden Tour of Old La Jolla $50 ($40 LJHS members) Now in its 12th year, this popular tour keeps its gardens secret until the day of the event. As in previous years, the tour’s sponsor, The La Jolla Historical Society, promises several gardens and homes that reveal the often secluded charms of this seaside community.

Info: lajollahistory.org May 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

San Diego Floral Association Historic Garden Tour $15 in advance; $20 day of tour In honor of Kensington’s centennial celebration this year, the Floral Association tour will visit six historic gardens in this central San Diego community. Among them are two homes and courtyards by architect Richard Requa with gardens by Milton Sessions and an exotic garden of South African cycads by legendary designer Sinjen. Info: (619) 232-5762 May 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SD Padres MAY 2010 MON

TUE

WED

THUR

JUNE 2010

FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

1

TUE 1

MIL 5:35 2

3

MIL 1:05 9

4

COL 7:05 10

11

HOU 11:05 16

17

12

18

SF 7:05 24

6

19

14

SF 12:45 20

LAD 7:10 26

STL 7:05

15

21

22

SEA 7:10 28

STL 3:35

WSH 7:05

8

PHI 4:05PM 14

LAD 5:35

TOR 7:05PM 21

SEA 7:10 29

WSH 5:35

2

NYM 7:05PM 7

HOU 4:05

LAD 7:05

LAD 7:10 27

STL 7:05

8

HOU 5:05 13

SF 7:15

SF 7:05 25

7

COL 7:05

SF 7:15

LAD 1:05 23

5

COL 7:05

WED

15

TOR 7:05PM 22

TB 4:10PM 28

COL 7:05PM

3

29

COL 7:05PM

16

NYM 10:10AM 17

TOR 3:35PM 23

TB 4:10PM 30

COL 12:35PM

11

SEA 7:05PM 18

BAL 7:05PM 24

TB 9:10AM

SAT 5

PHI 4:05PM 10

NYM 4:10PM

FRI 4

NYM 3:35PM 9

NYM 4:05PM

THUR

25

FLA 4:10PM

SUN 6

PHI PHI 4:05PM 10:35AM 12

SEA 5:35PM 19

BAL 5:35PM 26

13

SEA 1:05PM 20

BAL 1:05PM 27

FLA FLA 4:10PM 10:10AM

family corner

thoughts from moms and dads

bargain hunter bar·gain [bagr-guhn}] -noun 1. an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost: The sale offered bargains galore.

energy efficient appliance rebate program The California Energy Commission has allocated $35.2 million for the California Appliance Rebate program. The program began April 22, 2010. Three residential appliance categories were selected to be eligible to receive rebates:   

Clothes washers rebate $100 Refrigerators rebate $200 Room/window air conditioners rebate $50

These rebates are in addition to the federal tax credits. www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index.

To qualify, the appliances must be ENERGY STAR listed, meet CEE tier standards, and certified to the Energy Commission as meeting all state and federal appliance efficiency standards.

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on.

Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom –Author unknown

Please visit www.cash4appliances.org/ for more info.

Rochelle Halama and her daughter Claraissa. Daughter and granddaughter of Rosemary and Todd Joles.

Photo Credit: Jodi Marsolek

No one told me that I would be too knackered by the evening to want to go out, even if we do get a babysitter. No one told me that I'd never be able to look at a cardboard box again without wondering what I could turn it into with a bread-knife and sticky tape. No one told me that my idea of an outfit for a four-year-old girl would be met with snorts of derision from mother. No one told me that I would have to wrestle with Dr Seuss at seven in the morning. Everyone told me becoming a father would change my life. But nothing could have prepared me for it.

-Tim Rushby-Smith Times writer and father of Rosalie, 4 Gary Wheeler and his daughter Claraissa. Son-in-law and granddaughter of Rosemary and Todd Joles

Photo Credit: Rochelle Halama

where’s rosemary?

I love exploring this beautiful county that we live in. In every issue of From the Front Porch you’ll find a photo of different places that I’ve been in San Diego County. Your goal is to figure out where I took the photo? Submit your guess by June 15th, 2010 and the first correct answer will win a $20 gift card to the restaurant of their choice! You can email them to: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com or mail them to 8310 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91942. Thanks for playing!

et cetera fresh fruit with creamy orange grand marnier sauce 2 cups sour cream or greek yogurt Zest of 2 oranges 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1/2 cup light brown sugar 2 tbsp Grand Marnier Whisk the above ingredients together.

3 cups sliced strawberries 1 cup raspberries 1 cup blueberries 1 cup blackberries 1 cup orange slices 1 cup diced mango

delish Toss fruit together in a large bowl.

When ready to serve, toss fruit with the sauce. Spoon into red wine or parfait glasses and top with a mint sprig. Yummy and beautiful.

Thanks to Theresa Nadzam of Santee for this refreshing summer recipe. She credits a chef at Great News in Pacific Beach for this awesome dish. Do you have a great recipe that people love whenever you serve it. Share it with us and if it’s published you will receive a $5.00 gift card to the Nordstrom’s Photo Credit: Theresa Nadzam E-Bar (Espresso bar)

minutia A species of sponge called the red sponge can be pushed through a piece of fabric so that it is broken into thousands of tiny pieces. But the animal does not die. Rather, all the pieces reassemble until the sponge returns to its original form. Now, if only humans could do that when they go to pieces!

Todd Joles is a handyman by day, a passionate luthier by night, mandolin/bluegrass aficionado by choice, and a purveyor of this useless knowledge that his wife Rosemary threatens is going to get him into Jeopardy training one day.

useless knowledge

Bravo says: Every boy who has a dog should also have a mother, so the dog can be fed regularly.

bravo bites

Bravo is the mischief making, yet adorable fur-person of Rebecca and Shayne Johnson. Grand puppy to Todd and Rosemary Joles, he spends most days working at getting peanut butter out of his Kong, by night he terrorizes toilet paper rolls, while still looking cute and innocent to his owners.

Photo compliments of: Rebecca Johnson

botanical name: euphorbia flanaganii common name: medusa head Likes: Sun to partial shade and containers Hates: Being too wet or too cold Blooms: Chartreuse in midsummer Negatives: Milky sap can irritate skin

rosebud’s garden

Photo compliments of: www.happenstancegarden.blogspot.com

“Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.�

Erma Bomback

Photo compliments of: www.succulentchic.net

Rosemary is passionate about low-water gardening in San Diego. She loves creating gardens that look like lush water thirsty gardens, yet need very little moisture to maintain them. Her other passions include real estate, lattes spending time with family and friends, reading, music and laughter!

front porch pickin humphr_y’s ]on]_rts \y th_ \[y

san diego music from classical to bluegrass

domiciles

Views of Cowles Mountain · San Carlos · $295,000 2 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1302 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Gardener’s Dream · Fletcher Hills · $300,000 3 Bedroom 1 Bath · 1074 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Unique Home · Del Cerro · $439,000-$459,000 4 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1546 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Mild Fixer · Mount Helix · $469,000 3 Bedroom 3 Bath · 1995 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Charm Galore · Point Loma · $649,000 2 Bedroom 1 Bath · 1075 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Liberty Station Beauty · Point Loma · $847,500-$869,000 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 2687 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

from east county to the coast

Gleaming Harwood Floors · La Mesa · $279,000-$329,000 2 Bedroom 1 Bath · 950 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Contractor’s Special · La Mesa · $324,000-$369,000 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1526 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Lender Owned Townhome · Del Mar· $479,000 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 1472 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

2009 Build · Alpine · $499,000-$599,000 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 2724 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Beautiful Remodel · Point Loma · $1,239,000 4 Bedroom 2 Bath · 2096 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

New Orleans Influenced · Point Loma · $1,695,000 3+Bedroom 3 Bath · 3440 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

THE JOLES GROUP Rosemary Joles

In Harmony With Your Dreams

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Sales · Leasing · Staging 619·405·7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com

Windermere Pacific Coast Properties 8310 La Mesa Blvd. · La Mesa, CA · 91942 2850 Womble Rd. Ste. 102 · San Diego · CA 92106