The first annual Peacock Relays will be taking place on July 11 at the Arcadia County Park. It begins at 3 pm, and all kids aged 13 and under and their parents are welcome to attend a free day of recreational relays, including water balloon tosses and wheelbarrow races. The purpose of the event is…
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Rattlesnake Season is Here: Message from the Arcadia Fire Dept.
Rattlesnake season is here and anyone living or walking in the hilly areas should be extra careful of these poisonous snakes. Rattlesnakes are easily identified by their broad, triangular heads, narrow necks, relatively heavy bodies and multiple bands of rattles on their tails. Like all cold-blooded animals, rattlesnakes prefer cool and shady places. They are…
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Dancing Around Default
Is there hope for the real estate market? Yes, and she called me the other day. Hope and her husband bought an ‘architecturally significant’ home near the top of the market as a rehab investment a couple of years ago. Current market value is $775,000 (down from $1,000,000), and escrow is not closing, even after…
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Rabies in the Park
Have you noticed the banners across Las Tunas between Kauffman and Golden West? There are two, side-by-side: ‘Wednesday Concerts in the Park,’ and ‘Rabies Clinic.’ Isn’t it great that you can go to the park and get bitten by some random rabid dog on Wednesday, and then go for your rabies shot on Saturday? That…
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Think Outside the Boring, White Box
We’ve all been faced with the dilemma of choosing a paint color for a small room. Whether it’s a bedroom, a den, or even the living room, the challenge seems to be brought on by the desire to make a room feel larger. Common theories on making a small room seem roomier have brought many…
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Seller Financing on Steroids
Does seller financing give you the willies? There are usually a couple of reasons the average seller (or even real estate professional) is uncomfortable when it comes to seller financing. In fact, many react as if the concept is not only marginal, but borderline illegal. I’m always a bit confused by this, as seller financing…
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When Even 'Free and Clear' is Too Much
I recently received this email: “Dear Dawn, I saw your recommendations in the Tribune article on waiting for Recovery. My question to you is should we sell our home now or next year? We bought this home 7/2007 for $950,000. We have spent $150,000 plus. The last project is to have the outside of the…
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Alleged Gunman Escapes Arcadia Police Standoff
On the evening of June 21, the Arcadia Police Department responded to an urgent 911 call reporting a gunman in an Arcadia home, only to discover after a seven-hour standoff that the alleged suspect had already vacated the premises. Around 10:50 p.m. Sunday, police received a call from a resident of the 1700 block of…
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Arcadia Municipal Workers Reduce City Budget Deficit
In response to the city’s concerning budget shortfall, Arcadia’s police officers, firefighters, and other municipal employees have conceded to reduce their annual salaries and forgo certain health benefits, a move that city officials hope will significantly reduce the deficit. Arcadia is not the first city to implement such a policy. In light of the state’s…
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Buying REOs with Repairs Needed
Using the FHA 203k loan By Steve Aranda If you’re out shopping for a home today, chances are you’ve had to learn some insider jargon that you would never have heard of two years ago. Terms like Short-Sale and REO seem to be the words of the day in today’s real estate market. And if…
