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    <title>Santa Monica Real Estate and the Surrounding Westside</title>
    <link>http://activerain.com/blogs/ginnymcgonigle</link>
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/618399/santa-monica-city-council-votes-to-prohibit-panhadling-in-third-street-promenade-</guid>
      <title>Santa Monica City Council Votes to Prohibit panhadling in Third Street Promenade </title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;section&quot;&gt;Last week the Santa Monica City Council voted to prohibit panhandling in the Third Street Promenade area.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;section&quot;&gt;Specifically, the Council has barred panhandling from the benches and chairs along the Third Street Promenade.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;section&quot;&gt;If you have visited the Third Street Promenade then you know that the benches and the chairs are oftentimes monopolized by the homeless population.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I think this is a good step forward.&amp;nbsp; From my experience, when the homeless/panhandling monopolize the benches and chairs on the Promenade, not only does it limit where patrons can sit, but it feels intimidating and unsafe to me as well.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I think this can only help shop owners in the area and create a safer environment for the Promenade in general.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ginny McGonigle&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomfinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:55:27 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/618399/santa-monica-city-council-votes-to-prohibit-panhadling-in-third-street-promenade-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/617188/market-update-west-los-angeles</guid>
      <title>Market Update - West Los Angeles</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Market Update - June - West Los Angeles&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Ginny McGonigle&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Http://westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;img title=&quot;Market Update June Westside&quot; src=&quot;http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/7/6/9/7/ar121746075779675.jpg&quot; height=&quot;600&quot; alt=&quot;Market Update June Westside&quot; width=&quot;800&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:36:14 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/617188/market-update-west-los-angeles</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/583723/santa-monica-real-estate-update</guid>
      <title>Santa Monica Real Estate Update</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Read What is Going On in Santa Monica, California with regard to Real Estate.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Santa Monica is a beautiful and wonderful community to live in. Subsequently, it has seen significant appreciation in the last several years. This has resulted in a strong market for the City. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Currently, there are more Buyers looking while the inventory is starting to increase.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;This makes for a better climate for buyers.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; Santa Monica stats as of Monday, July 7, 2008:&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; active Single Family Home listings = 110&lt;br /&gt; ranging from $429,000 to $15,999,000&lt;br /&gt; average list price = $2,585,976&lt;br /&gt; average square footage = 2,618&lt;br /&gt; average price-per-square-foot = $1,021.69&lt;br /&gt; average days-on-the-market = 67&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; active Condo / Townhome listings = 168&lt;br /&gt; ranging from $305,000 to $6,995,000&lt;br /&gt; average list price = $1,020,934&lt;br /&gt; average square footage = 1,397.04&lt;br /&gt; average price-per-square = $746.99&lt;br /&gt; average days on-the-market = 68&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; There are tremendous opportunities for Buyers in Santa Monica, moreso than in the past as the inventory has increased.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; The inventory has continued to increase in the last few months while the average &quot;Days on the Market&quot; has also increased significantly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;The rising interest rates play a factor in all this as well. The anticipation of higher rates is prompting many Sellers to sell now, and is prompting many Buyers to buy now. It is even better news because the interest rates seem to have stabilized. It is important to remember however that interest rates are still historically low and therefore a good time for Real Estate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Ginny McGonigle&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; &amp;lt;!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &amp;lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:48:50 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/583723/santa-monica-real-estate-update</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/566405/california-illinois-file-suits-against-countrywide-wow-how-did-this-all-happen-l-</guid>
      <title>California &amp; Illinois File Suits Against Countrywide - Wow! - How did this All Happen?l </title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Just last Wednesday, Countrywide Shareholders approved a merger with Bank of America just as California &amp;amp; Illinois filed suits against Countrywide claiming that Countrywide steered consumers into loans that were risky and costly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;This taken from an article that appeared today, June 25, 2008 on MSNBC who has done a piece on this story.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;&lt;strong&gt;Lawsuits&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt; The California lawsuit, announced by state Attorney General Jerry Brown, accuses Countrywide of deceptive advertising and unfair competition for emphasizing low introductory loan rates while hiding risky or costly terms, and of routinely pushing borrowers to refinance quickly. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; It also said the company ignored complaints from consumers who did not understand the terms of their loans or believed they were conned by brokers trying to meet unrealistic sales targets. &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; The Illinois case demands that Countrywide fix or rescind unfair mortgages, and make restitution to foreclosed homeowners. Attorney General Lisa Madigan said the state wants to &quot;hold Countrywide accountable for its conduct.&quot; &lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt; California filed its lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, while Illinois filed its case in Cook County Circuit Court. Mozilo is a defendant in both cases.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;My question is how did we get to this?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;How did this all happen?&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Where was the regulation in all this? Countrywide did 1 out of every 6 loans over the last 5 years. Just seems to me that economists and professional lenders had to have known this mortgage crises was inevitably coming, snowballing, &lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;yet they did not stop it.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Right? Or am I missing something?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ginny McGonigle&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;westsidehomefinders.com&quot; title=&quot;Westsidehomefinders&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:23:42 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/566405/california-illinois-file-suits-against-countrywide-wow-how-did-this-all-happen-l-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565410/thinking-about-buying-in-venice-here-are-some-thoughts-about-why-you-might-want-to-</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in Venice?  Here are Some Thoughts About Why You Might Want To!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/565289/Thinking-About-Buying-in&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Thinking About Buying in Venice?&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/565289&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/565289&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for Venice Listings and home buying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:18:29 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565410/thinking-about-buying-in-venice-here-are-some-thoughts-about-why-you-might-want-to-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565396/thinking-about-buying-in-mar-vista-here-is-why-you-should-really-think-about-that-now-</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in Mar Vista?  Here is Why You Should Really Think About That Now..</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/565289/Thinking-About-Buying-in&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Thinking About Buying in Mar Vista?&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/565289&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/565289&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for Mar Vista Listings and home buying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:01:53 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565396/thinking-about-buying-in-mar-vista-here-is-why-you-should-really-think-about-that-now-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565394/thinking-about-buying-in-bel-air-here-is-why-you-should-think-about-that</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in Bel Air?  Here is Why You Should Think About That</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/565289/Thinking-About-Buying-in&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Thinking About Buying in Bel Air?&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/565289&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/565289&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for Bel Air Listings and home buying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:59:09 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565394/thinking-about-buying-in-bel-air-here-is-why-you-should-think-about-that</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565390/thinking-about-buying-in-malibu-here-is-why-you-should-really-think-about-that-</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in Malibu?  Here is Why You Should Really Think About That...</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/565289/Thinking-About-Buying-in&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Thinking About Buying in Malibu?&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/565289&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/565289&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for Malibu Listings and home buying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:56:21 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565390/thinking-about-buying-in-malibu-here-is-why-you-should-really-think-about-that-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565388/thinking-about-buying-in-brentwood-here-is-why-</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in Brentwood?  Here is Why.</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/565289/Thinking-About-Buying-in&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Thinking About Buying in Brentwood?&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/565289&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/565289&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for Brentwood Listings and home buying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:53:34 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565388/thinking-about-buying-in-brentwood-here-is-why-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565387/thinking-about-buying-in-west-los-angeles-why-now-</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in West Los Angeles? Why Now?</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/565289/Thinking-About-Buying-in&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Thinking About Buying in West LA?&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/565289&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/565289&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for West Los Angeles Listings and home buying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:51:22 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565387/thinking-about-buying-in-west-los-angeles-why-now-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565289/thinking-about-buying-in-marina-del-rey-</guid>
      <title>Thinking About Buying in Marina del Rey?</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Now is the time.&amp;nbsp; If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.&amp;nbsp; We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't let this opportunity pass by.&amp;nbsp; Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact me for Marina del Rey Listings:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:03:22 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565289/thinking-about-buying-in-marina-del-rey-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565257/thinking-about-buying-in-santa-monica-opportunity-is-knocking-and-it-is-knocking-hard-</guid>
      <title>Thinking about Buying in Santa Monica? Opportunity is Knocking and it is Knocking Hard!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Now is the time!&amp;nbsp; Currently, there are 290 listings in Santa Monica inclusive of condos and single family homes. The inventory is vast and the pricing is fantastic.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This buyer's cycle does not come about very often - probably every 15 years or so - so if you are thinking of buying - please contact me - &lt;a href=&quot;westsidehomefinders.com&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;westsidehomefinders.com&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opportunity is knocking, and it is knocking hard!&amp;nbsp; Don't&amp;nbsp; pass this market by.&amp;nbsp; Buy into it!&amp;nbsp; You'll thank yourself 3 years down the road!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:51:00 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565257/thinking-about-buying-in-santa-monica-opportunity-is-knocking-and-it-is-knocking-hard-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565175/for-all-buyers-out-there-opportunity-is-knocking-and-it-is-knocking-loudly-</guid>
      <title>For All Buyers Out There - Opportunity is Knocking!! And it is knocking Loudly!</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;blog_entry_wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;blog_entry&quot;&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;overflow: auto; position: relative; width: 100%;&quot;&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;margin-top: 2px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;../../blogsview/557909/Look-Who-Is-Buying&quot; rel=&quot;bookmark&quot;&gt;Look Who Is Buying America&lt;/a&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt; (&lt;a href=&quot;write/557909&quot;&gt;edit&lt;/a&gt;/&lt;a href=&quot;delete_entry/557909&quot;&gt;delete&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As we struggle with the mortgage crises here within the United States, there is a huge amount of foreign investors coming in.&amp;nbsp; Why? They see the value and they see a rare opportunity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I am always saying these days - it is not the 'real estate' market that is the problem, that is housing or the amount of persons wanting to buy.&amp;nbsp; It is the lending market that&amp;nbsp; is making things so difficult for people to&amp;nbsp; get&amp;nbsp; loans.&amp;nbsp; Subsequently, there is a tremendous interest from foreign investors because of this and the weak dollar. IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY AND YOU WANT TO, YOU SHOULD.&amp;nbsp; We are in a cycle that only happens about once every 15 years.&amp;nbsp; If you are thinking about buying in the Los Angeles area contact me - &lt;a href=&quot;westsidehomefinders&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;westsidehomefinders.com &lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;AMERICANS' LOVE AFFAIR with real estate may be cooling, but thanks to falling home prices and the weak dollar, attention is heating up from another group of suitors: foreign investors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;Foreign buyers have long looked to certain U.S. markets &amp;mdash; say, high-end properties in cosmopolitan Manhattan or sexy South Beach Miami &amp;mdash; as investment opportunities. These days, however, real estate professionals report increased international interest in a much larger range of properties &amp;mdash; from $60,000 single-family homes in South Florida's inland neighborhoods to $1 million waterfront villas located just miles from the Canadian border in Washington State. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #000099; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000099; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;Despite  all the hoopla, though, foreign buyers alone will hardly help the U.S. crawl out  of the current housing mess&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;, says Mike Inselmann, president of national housing consultancy Metrostudy. Unsold inventory in some areas is so abundant that it cannot be absorbed, even with increased interest from our neighbors north of the border or overseas. &quot;I wouldn't say it's the elegant solution to the housing inventory problem, but I do think it'll play a minor role,&quot; he says. &quot;Maybe bigger in some markets than others.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;According to Michonski, foreigners can at least bring to the U.S. market what it's been lacking most in the past months: &quot;They'll provide a psychological support of confidence,&quot; he says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Look who's buying now: a  snapshot of foreign buyers of U.S. real estate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;1. Where they come  from:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #000099; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000099; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;Mexico:  13%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;United  Kingdom: 12%&lt;br /&gt;Canada: 11%&lt;br /&gt;India: 6%&lt;br /&gt;China: 5%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;2. What they  buy:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Single-family homes: 78%&lt;br /&gt;Condos or  apartments: 22%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;3. Where they  buy:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Florida: 26%&lt;br /&gt;California:  16%&lt;br /&gt;Texas: 10%&lt;br /&gt;Arizona: 6%&lt;br /&gt;New York: 4%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;4. How much they  spend:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Median purchase price: $299,500 (National  median purchase price for 2006: $221,900.)&lt;br /&gt;28% of foreign buyers purchased  homes under $200,000&lt;br /&gt;48% spent $200,001 - $500,000&lt;br /&gt;18%: $500,001 - $1  million&lt;br /&gt;7% spent over $1 million&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;5. How they  pay:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Take a mortgage: 69%&lt;br /&gt;Pay cash: 28%  (In the overall market, only 8% of home purchases are cash-only.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Source:  National Association of Realtors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Book Antiqua';&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  _[]__________&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: green; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: green;&quot;&gt; &amp;cedil;...&amp;cedil;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt; /&amp;nbsp; /&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; _&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  /\___&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: green; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: green;&quot;&gt;,&amp;middot;&amp;acute;&amp;ordm;&amp;nbsp;  o`&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt; /__/___/_\___//___/\&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: green; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: green;&quot;&gt;``)&amp;uml;(&amp;acute;&amp;acute;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; |&amp;nbsp; | [1] | | [1] || [1]  ||&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #804040; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #804040;&quot;&gt;l&amp;plusmn;&amp;plusmn;&amp;plusmn;&amp;plusmn;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #804040; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #804040;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #008040; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #008040;&quot;&gt;&amp;cedil;,.-&amp;middot;&amp;sup2;&amp;deg;&amp;acute;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;cedil;,.-&amp;middot;~&amp;middot;~&amp;middot;-.,&amp;cedil;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; `&amp;deg;&amp;sup2;&amp;middot;-.  :&amp;ordm;&amp;deg;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;clearer&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;clearer&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:42:07 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/565175/for-all-buyers-out-there-opportunity-is-knocking-and-it-is-knocking-loudly-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/563045/first-time-home-buyers-why-buy-now-</guid>
      <title>First Time Home Buyers - Why Buy Now?</title>
      <description>&lt;div class=&quot;postcontent wrap&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;entry&quot;&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you are a first time home buyer and are toying with the idea of buying a home but are on the fence with your decision, here are some important things to consider.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Rents are Outrageously High! Here in Los Angeles you can&amp;rsquo;t find a decent rental under $1500 and that would get will probably get you a small one bedroom - if that.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;All the money that you spend on rent is gone forever. You will never see that money again and you will not benefit from any tax breaks as you do when you own your own home.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Owning your own home will start helping &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;YOU&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt; financially by building up equity rather than you helping your landlord build his.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Home ownership, the equity it builds, is the primary and strongest source of an individual&amp;rsquo;s personal wealth. It is indeed the central nest-egg.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Now is a &lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;FANTASTIC&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; time to buy.  The market is cyclical and it is &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;now YOUR&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt; turn to reap its benefits.  Don&amp;rsquo;t miss out!&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So get pre-approved and start looking at the vast inventory available. Get out of your rental and start building your personal financial equity. Do not miss this unique opportunity. It is your turn now to step into the American Dream!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ginny McGonigle - ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;a href=&quot;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&quot; title=&quot;Westsidehomefinders&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:13:32 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/563045/first-time-home-buyers-why-buy-now-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/562803/reminder-about-earthquake-preparidness-los-angeles</guid>
      <title>Reminder about Earthquake Preparidness - Los Angeles</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;With the recent heat wave that struck Los Angeles over the weekend, the term 'earthquake weather' often comes to mind.&amp;nbsp; I don't think scientists have ever found a link between severe&amp;nbsp; heat&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;earthquake&amp;nbsp; activity&amp;nbsp; but nonetheless we still think of it, &lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;reference it to each other and wonder about it.&lt;span&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Subsequently, it is a good reminder to us to make sure we are better prepared if there is an earthquake.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And by the way, coincidently, there was a 4.0 earthquake in the Greater Los Angeles area of San Bernadino this morning so I thought I would post a blog about earthquake preparedness. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Below is taken from the American Red Cross on things to do to prepare for an earthquake.&amp;nbsp; It is a good thing to be reminded of these instructions every now and again.&amp;nbsp; Stay safe.&amp;nbsp; &lt;a href=&quot;mailto:ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&quot;&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.westsidehomefinders.com/&quot;&gt;http://www.westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tips Taken from The American Red Cross&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;P&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;repare a Home Earthquake Plan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Choose a safe place in every      room--under a sturdy table or desk or against an inside wall where nothing      can fall on you.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Practice DROP, COVER, AND      HOLD ON at least twice a year. Drop under a sturdy desk or table, hold on,      and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm. If there's      no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away      from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. Teach      children to DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON!&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Choose an out-of-town family      contact.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Consult a professional to      find out additional ways you can protect your home, such as bolting the      house to its foundation and other structural mitigation techniques.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Take a first aid class from      your local Red Cross chapter. Keep your training current.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Get training in how to use a      fire extinguisher from your local fire department.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Inform babysitters and      caregivers of your plan.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Eliminate Hazards, Including--&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Bolting bookcases, china      cabinets, and other tall furniture to wall studs.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Installing strong latches on      cupboards.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Strapping the water heater to      wall studs.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_3_,00.html&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit For Home and Car, Including--&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;First aid kit and essential      medications.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Canned food and can opener.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;At least three gallons of      water per person.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Protective clothing,      rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Battery-powered radio,      flashlight, and extra batteries.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Special items for infant,      elderly, or disabled family members.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Written instructions for how      to turn off gas, electricity, and water if authorities advise you to do      so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn natural gas service back      on.)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Keeping essentials, such as a      flashlight and sturdy shoes, by your bedside.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Know What to Do When the Shaking Begins&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON!      Move only a few steps to a nearby safe place. Stay indoors until the      shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit. Stay away from windows.      In a high-rise building, expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to go off      during a quake.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;If you are in bed, hold on      and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;If you are outdoors, find a      clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the      ground.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;If you are in a car, slow      down and drive to a clear place (as described above). Stay in the car      until the shaking stops.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #003366;&quot;&gt;Identify What to Do After the Shaking Stops&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul type=&quot;disc&quot;&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Check yourself for injuries.      Protect yourself from further danger by putting on long pants, a      long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes, and work gloves.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Check others for injuries.      Give first aid for serious injuries.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Look for and extinguish small      fires. Eliminate fire hazards. Turn off the gas if you smell gas or think      it's leaking. (Remember, only a professional should turn it back on.)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Listen to the radio for      instructions.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Expect aftershocks. Each time      you feel one, DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON!&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Inspect your home for damage.      Get everyone out if your home is unsafe.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Use the telephone only to      report life-threatening emergencies.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:55:42 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/562803/reminder-about-earthquake-preparidness-los-angeles</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/562708/marina-del-rey-historical-society</guid>
      <title>Marina del Rey Historical Society</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;This was published in our local newspaper the Argonaut which covers Marina del Rey, Westchester, Playa, Santa Monica and Venice.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;This was a wonderful event for our community.&amp;nbsp; The exhibit showed many historical photos of the coastline through Santa Monica, Venice and Playa del Rey as well as other historical information on our cummunity.&amp;nbsp; It is vital to keep these&amp;nbsp; events&amp;nbsp; alive and going for it shows us&amp;nbsp; our past as a community which in turn should help our future.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&quot;New Marina del Rey Historical Society has premiere exhibit at local bakery&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Marina del Rey Historical Society showed the public a selection of photographs, documents and publications from its collection on Saturday, June 14th at Massimo's Delectables on Washington Boulevard in Del Rey. The collection also contains many historical photos of the surrounding coastal areas including Venice, Ocean Park, Santa Monica, Playa del Rey, Mines Field - the current site of Los Angeles International Airport - and the Howard Hughes Airport - now Playa Vista.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As historical material is collected into exhibits and retrievable electronic outreach, Marina del Rey Historical Society members say they hope to &quot;keep the past alive for community pride&quot; as well as create the database for a continuing historical record of Marina del Rey and the surrounding area.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Since the historical society's collection is electronically filed, personal contributions, such as printed material and documents, can be scanned to files and the originals will be returned to the donor. Credit for the contributions will be listed and included in the captions.&quot; Argonaut June 19, 2008&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:03:10 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/562708/marina-del-rey-historical-society</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/560593/heat-wave-in-los-angeles</guid>
      <title>Heat Wave in Los Angeles</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Wow!&amp;nbsp; I can't remember it being this hot.&amp;nbsp; I am in Santa Monica and my car tempature read 93 at 10:30 this morning.&amp;nbsp; Remember, be very careful with your pets.&amp;nbsp; Give them plenty of water and do NOT leave them in the car.&amp;nbsp; Even 5 minutes is too long in this heat.&amp;nbsp; There was a story of a dog who died being left in the car so just be careful.&amp;nbsp; Let's hope this heat wave passes soon!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;westsidehomefinders.com&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:04:21 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/560593/heat-wave-in-los-angeles</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559903/young-women-win-girl-scouts-highest-awards</guid>
      <title>Young Women Win Girl Scouts' Highest Awards</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;This is so impressive.&amp;nbsp; With so much negative press these days about our youth, this is a very nice and refreshing read on the young women of Santa Monica.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;Taken from the Argonaut on June 17, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;Local young women earn Girl Scouts' highest award&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;Ninety-six members of the Angeles Girl Scout Council in Santa Monica have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. This award reflects the highest level of achievement to which high school-age Girl Scouts can aspire.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Angeles Council honored the ambitious teens at a recognition banquet earlier this month.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;The girls, who are from troops throughout the council's 101 communities, were recognized for their work in earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scout achievement.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nationally, only 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts (grades ten to 12) successfully complete the award requirements.&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;To earn the award, in part, the young women proposed and executed a Gold Award community service project, which is the culmination of the work a girl does to fulfill a need in the community, create change and have a long-term effect in inspiring others.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Gold Award project is, by design, a lasting one that benefits the community and further prepares each girl for her future life and career, said a Girl Scout spokesperson.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The girls, in turn, learn leadership, organization and planning skills, communication and time management. Each award candidate is required to complete 30 hours in a leadership role, 40 hours in career exploration and 60 hours in the planning and execution of her project.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This year's Gold Award recipients created projects that focused on topics such as helping the environment, maintaining community history, motivating youth, encouraging healthy habits, preserving wildlife and appreciating art and culture.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The projects have also been a benefit for the girls in developing leadership skills, according to the Angeles Council.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;I feel that the highest award in Girl Scouts was a challenge, but I feel a sense of accomplish-ment now that I have put so many hours into making a difference in my community,&quot; said Troop 639 Gold Awardee and Burbank High School graduating senior Tally Roth, who has been a Girl Scout since the first grade. &quot;And I feel good about the example that I am setting for the younger girls.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Angeles Girl Scout Council is a nonprofit organization that is supported solely by the community it serves.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Information, (310) 450-3720 or www.angeles.org/.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:14:27 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559903/young-women-win-girl-scouts-highest-awards</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559884/santa-monica-teen-film-fest-returning-for-the-3rd-annual-show</guid>
      <title>Santa Monica Teen Film Fest returning for the 3rd annual Show</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;This is a very fun and good community event to attend.&amp;nbsp; Try to attend if you can although it is very warm here in Santa Monica this weekend! :)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Announcement in the Argonaut June 19, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Santa Monica Teen Film Fest returns for a third annual show&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;The third annual Santa Monica Teen Film Festival returns to the Miles Memorial Playhouse and the Santa Monica Library's Main Branch at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 21st, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22nd.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Twenty films chosen from among more than 70 submissions from across the country will be screened at the festival, with awards given for &quot;Best of the Fest,&quot; &quot;Best Documentary,&quot; &quot;Best Animation,&quot; and &quot;Best Music Video.&quot; Ten films will be screened each night, with a special &quot;Audience Choice&quot; award after both showings.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;The festival is a cross-departmental Santa Monica City program created entirely by City staff. It is meant as a way to encourage, mentor, and to provide an opportunity for teens who are interested in a career in the film industry.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Admission is free. Information, (310) 458-8634.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:55:36 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559884/santa-monica-teen-film-fest-returning-for-the-3rd-annual-show</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559879/sunday-june-22nd-save-the-date-santa-monica-main-street-summer-soulstice-event-</guid>
      <title>Sunday June 22nd Save the Date: Santa Monica Main Street Summer SOULstice Event!</title>
      <description>&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;Please see this article in the Argonaut describing the event.&amp;nbsp; Bands, food, pony rides for the kids - a fun event in Santa Monica.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;Article taken from the Argonaut June 19, 2008.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;headline&quot;&gt;Get to the 'Main' event&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;The eighth annual Santa Monica Main Street Summer SOULstice is returning to the area with live bands, pony rides and a scavenger hunt from 11 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Sunday, June 22nd on Main Street between Pico Boulevard and Marine Street, Santa Monica.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Produced by the Main Street Business Improvement Association, the event began as a way to extend the farmers market.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;&quot;This started eight years ago, in 2001 before Sept. 11, when (the Business Association) decided we wanted to keep the people who showed up to the farmers market on the street for the rest of the day,&quot; says Gary Gordon, executive director of the Business Association and event organizer.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;By doing it every year and improving it every year it got to be an event in its own right, with people coming from all over the county for it.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;p class=&quot;content&quot;&gt;The event features a day of activities, with various tribute bands, sidewalk sales, a scavenger hunt, a petting farm, pony rides for children, face painting and balloon twisting by Rockie the Clown.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&quot;I don't know of anywhere else where this many tribute bands and show bands have been gathered in a single afternoon,&quot; Gordon says.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Among the 16 bands will be tributes to Bob Dylan, Madonna, Prince, Steely Dan, Heart, Cars, Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, Grateful Dead, and the Police.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Activities will be held in parking lots, courtyards and on select side streets. Several Main Street stores will also be hosting activities throughout the day.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For a full schedule, a scavenger hunt clue sheet, and more information, see www.mainstreetsm.com/.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:49:26 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559879/sunday-june-22nd-save-the-date-santa-monica-main-street-summer-soulstice-event-</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559216/if-you-are-looking-to-buy-in-santa-monica-or-the-surrounding-westside</guid>
      <title>If you are looking to buy in Santa Monica or the surrounding Westside</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Please visit my website at: http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I am a native Californian.&amp;nbsp; I grew up in Pacific Palisades and have lived in Marina del Rey and Santa Monica as well.&amp;nbsp; I currently live and sell real estate in Santa Monica.&amp;nbsp; Thank you.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:20:57 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559216/if-you-are-looking-to-buy-in-santa-monica-or-the-surrounding-westside</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559206/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-even-with-ferris-wheels</guid>
      <title>Out with the Old - In with the New - Even with Ferris Wheels</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;On May 5th the famous ferris wheel on Santa Monica pier was taken down and dismantled.&amp;nbsp; A new one with 160,000 very colorful led lights has taken its place.&amp;nbsp; Slowly but surely many landmarks are taken down and replaced.&amp;nbsp; The Brown Derby for example - the famous restaraunt that was the&amp;nbsp; 'talk of the town' for so long - said its goodbyes a few&amp;nbsp; years&amp;nbsp; ago.&amp;nbsp; Both the Brown&amp;nbsp; Derby&amp;nbsp; and Santa Monica's Old Ferris Wheel were key landmarks in Los Angeles and were placed in many movies over the years.&amp;nbsp; It is sad to see these famous things and places taken away from our city.&amp;nbsp; Only the memories and film clips will remain!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;clearer&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:14:37 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/559206/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-even-with-ferris-wheels</link>
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      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/557909/look-who-is-buying-america</guid>
      <title>Look Who Is Buying America</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;I sell real estate in the Los Angeles area.&amp;nbsp; I found this article very interesting.&amp;nbsp; As we struggle with the mortgage crises here within the United States, there is a huge amount of foreign investors coming in.&amp;nbsp; I am always saying these days - it is not the 'real estate' market that is the problem, that is housing or the amount of persons wanting to buy.&amp;nbsp; It is the lending market that&amp;nbsp; is making things so difficult for people to&amp;nbsp; get&amp;nbsp; loans.&amp;nbsp; Subsequently, there is a tremendous interest from foreign investors because of this and the weak dollar.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;AMERICANS' LOVE AFFAIR with real estate may be cooling, but thanks to falling home prices and the weak dollar, attention is heating up from another group of suitors: foreign investors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;Foreign buyers have long looked to certain U.S. markets &amp;mdash; say, high-end properties in cosmopolitan Manhattan or sexy South Beach Miami &amp;mdash; as investment opportunities. These days, however, real estate professionals report increased international interest in a much larger range of properties &amp;mdash; from $60,000 single-family homes in South Florida's inland neighborhoods to $1 million waterfront villas located just miles from the Canadian border in Washington State. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #000099; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000099; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;Despite  all the hoopla, though, foreign buyers alone will hardly help the U.S. crawl out  of the current housing mess&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;, says Mike Inselmann, president of national housing consultancy Metrostudy. Unsold inventory in some areas is so abundant that it cannot be absorbed, even with increased interest from our neighbors north of the border or overseas. &quot;I wouldn't say it's the elegant solution to the housing inventory problem, but I do think it'll play a minor role,&quot; he says. &quot;Maybe bigger in some markets than others.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;According to Michonski, foreigners can at least bring to the U.S. market what it's been lacking most in the past months: &quot;They'll provide a psychological support of confidence,&quot; he says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Look who's buying now: a  snapshot of foreign buyers of U.S. real estate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;1. Where they come  from:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #000099; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #000099; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;Mexico:  13%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS; color: #333333; font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11.5pt; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;United  Kingdom: 12%&lt;br /&gt;Canada: 11%&lt;br /&gt;India: 6%&lt;br /&gt;China: 5%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;2. What they  buy:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Single-family homes: 78%&lt;br /&gt;Condos or  apartments: 22%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;3. Where they  buy:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Florida: 26%&lt;br /&gt;California:  16%&lt;br /&gt;Texas: 10%&lt;br /&gt;Arizona: 6%&lt;br /&gt;New York: 4%&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;4. How much they  spend:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Median purchase price: $299,500 (National  median purchase price for 2006: $221,900.)&lt;br /&gt;28% of foreign buyers purchased  homes under $200,000&lt;br /&gt;48% spent $200,001 - $500,000&lt;br /&gt;18%: $500,001 - $1  million&lt;br /&gt;7% spent over $1 million&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Trebuchet MS;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';&quot;&gt;5. How they  pay:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;Take a mortgage: 69%&lt;br /&gt;Pay cash: 28%  (In the overall market, only 8% of home purchases are cash-only.)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Source:  National Association of Realtors&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Book Antiqua';&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  _[]__________&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: green; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: green;&quot;&gt; &amp;cedil;...&amp;cedil;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt; /&amp;nbsp; /&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; _&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  /\___&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: green; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: green;&quot;&gt;,&amp;middot;&amp;acute;&amp;ordm;&amp;nbsp;  o`&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt; /__/___/_\___//___/\&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: green; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: green;&quot;&gt;``)&amp;uml;(&amp;acute;&amp;acute;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #0000a0; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; |&amp;nbsp; | [1] | | [1] || [1]  ||&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #804040; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #804040;&quot;&gt;l&amp;plusmn;&amp;plusmn;&amp;plusmn;&amp;plusmn;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #804040; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: #804040;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times New Roman; color: #008040; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 10pt; color: #008040;&quot;&gt;&amp;cedil;,.-&amp;middot;&amp;sup2;&amp;deg;&amp;acute;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;cedil;,.-&amp;middot;~&amp;middot;~&amp;middot;-.,&amp;cedil;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; `&amp;deg;&amp;sup2;&amp;middot;-.  :&amp;ordm;&amp;deg;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000a0;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;clearer&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:27:48 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/557909/look-who-is-buying-america</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/557780/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-including-santa-monica-s-famous-ferris-wheel</guid>
      <title>Out with the Old - In with the New! Including Santa Monica's Famous Ferris Wheel</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;On May 5th the famous ferris wheel on Santa Monica pier was taken down and dismantled.&amp;nbsp; A new one with 160,000 very colorful led lights has taken its place.&amp;nbsp; Slowly but surely many landmarks are taken down and replaced.&amp;nbsp; The Brown Derby for example - the famous restaraunt that was the&amp;nbsp; 'talk of the town' for so long - said its goodbyes a few&amp;nbsp; years&amp;nbsp; ago.&amp;nbsp; Both the Brown&amp;nbsp; Derby&amp;nbsp; and Santa Monica's Old Ferris Wheel were key landmarks in Los Angeles and were placed in many movies over the years.&amp;nbsp; It is sad to see these famous things and places taken away from our city.&amp;nbsp; Only the memories and film clips will remain!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:03:56 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/557780/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-including-santa-monica-s-famous-ferris-wheel</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://activerain.com/blogsview/557398/if-you-are-a-buyer-looking-to-buy-in-west-los-angeles</guid>
      <title>If you are a Buyer looking to buy in West Los Angeles</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Please contact me.&amp;nbsp; I specialize in working with buyers in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Marina del Rey, Brentwood, West Los Angeles and the surrounding cities.&amp;nbsp; It is an absolute wonderful time to buy.&amp;nbsp; Check out&amp;nbsp; listings at&amp;nbsp;  http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Ginny McGonigle (Keller Williams Realty/Santa Monica)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:53:06 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://activerain.com/blogsview/557398/if-you-are-a-buyer-looking-to-buy-in-west-los-angeles</link>
    </item>
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