by Roberta Murphy Paul Michael at Wise Bread swears that this lawn tonic recipe will do wonders for grassy yards, especially since it is the secret recipe of former Colorado golf groundskeeper Tim Heffron. It is also a recipe shared each year on his local Colorado station. Pauls article offers much more detailed explanation of how each ingredient works, but well provide his secret recipe here: Gather from your…
The Mortgage Graveyard: RIP
by Roberta Murphy The inevitable has happened. Fallen mortgage companies now have their own graveyard and we can also see those headed in that direction. Want to know which mortgage lenders are dead, struggling or being acquired? The Mortgage Daily has created a new online destination: THE MORTGAGE GRAVEYARD Here we can see the fallen, the failing, and those that have been acquired all the way back to 1999 -and…
The Home that Heals Itself
by Roberta Murphy Nano technology to repair homes damaged by an earthquake? A home that heals itself? It boggles the mind, but Knauf, a German building manufacturer, is working with several universities on that very technology. They are building a luxury tech villa in the mountains of Greece with special walls containing nano polymer particles that liquefy when under pressure. This liquid then flows into the building cracks, where it hardens into solid material. (For those…
La Costa Dream Home
by Roberta Murphy Its no secret that I am a fan of the Chopra Center and of the La Costa Resort and Spa or that I am a Realtor living in this coastal Carlsbad paradise. I have a special affection for the old Rancho La Costa and for the legendary homes surrounding the La Costa golf course. And we just obtained a listing for a very special La Costa property….
Easy Test for Spoiled Food?
by Roberta Murphy Science Daily reports today that a consumer test kit may soon be available that will quickly reveal whether you are approaching spoiled food that is safe to eat. Researchers at the University of South Carolina report that their dipstick test has a 90 percent accuracy rate and could help prevent many of the illnesses and deaths caused by food poisoning. These food-borne ailments sicken several million people…
Sleeping under the Stars
by: Roberta Murphy in the luxury of your own bed and awakening to blue skies and scattered clouds. Sounds like heaven to me. And it might be a reality for a luxury camper, or someone clever enough to commission magical artwork from a talented artist such as Rip Read. Sleeping under the stars is now a possibility because StarMurals Startist, Rip Read, has returned to Southern California from his sojourn…
Street and Neighborhood Gossip….
by Roberta Murphy Well, sort of. Web 2.0 and interconnectivity has drilled down to a new level of local, with the online premier of Street Advisor this week. This fun site allows residents to rate and write about the streets on which they live. The reviewer can rate the livability of the street, the neighbors, convenience to shopping, medical care, schools and restaurants and more. But is it really gossip?…
Short Sales in the Luxury Home Market
by Roberta Murphy Some of the more difficult listing appointments our group encounters these days are ones that involve short sale conditions. In this situation, the seller owes more on the property than what it is worth in the current market. A year or so ago, we were having to explain how short sales worked to anguished sellers. These days, sellers call us, say they are underwater with their mortgages,…
Newspapers and Real Estate Bubble Rant
by Roberta Murphy San Diego Vacancy Rates the Highest Since ˜95 headlines the San Diego Union Tribune. Those are words that should should send shivers down the spine of San Diego real estate investors, homeowners, home sellers, and potential home buyers throughout the county. But smart home buyers and savvy real estate investors should know by now to read between the lines and below the headlines. If we take the…
Yoga at the Chopra Center
by Roberta Murphy I have staked out early mornings as time for myself and dedicated it to yoga at the Chopra Center in Carlsbad. No real estate clients, no family, no phones, no intrusions. That slice of time belongs to me. Six mornings a week, in the cool, quiet hours before dawn, I arise, shower and head down the hill to the La Costa Resort and Spa for an hour…
