In the News 
 
Existing home sales are up again, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), which reported that sales for existing homes increased by 3.6 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units, compared to May’s revised rate of 4.72 million homes. June’s sales were only 0.2 percent lower than the 4.9 million-unit pace NAR reported for June 2008. 
 
“The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “We expect a gradual uptrend in sales to continue due to tax credit incentives and historically high affordability conditions.” 
 
In line with the optimistic home sales data, the Conference Board reported that its index of leading economic indicators for the United States was up 0.7 percent for June, the third straight month in a row. May enjoyed a 1.3 percent rise and April experienced a 1 percent increase. Over the past six months, the Board says the U.S. index has increased 4.1 percent (annually). 
 
The Conference Board’s index tracks how the U.S. economy is performing via a collection of key data points, such as new orders, jobless claims, money supply, average workweek, building permits and stock prices. 
 
“The recession has been losing steam since the spring, although very large job losses continue,” said Ken Goldstein, economist at the Conference Board. “Nevertheless, confidence is slowly rebuilding. Financial markets are less volatile. Even the housing market is stabilizing. If these trends continue, expect a slow recovery this autumn.” 
 
Per Goldstein’s comments on the job market, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration reported that seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims were at 554,000 for the week ending July 18. This marked an increase of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. That said, the four-week moving average was 566,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average of 585,000, according to the administration. 
 
This week, monitor the headlines for information on consumer confidence (July 27) from the Conference Board; orders for durable goods (July 29) from the Census Bureau; and the gross domestic product (July 31) and personal income and consumption (July 31) from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. 
 
Donna Turpin 
 Sales Manager 

 

 

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Nancy & Heather Cloward

Prudential California Realty

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Nancy@NancyCloward.com or Heather@HeatherCloward.com

 

 

We are seeing strong buying activity, particularly in those boom and bust markets, where prices have declined significantly. Buyers
         are coming in and fighting over properties ­ there is multiple bidding in California and Florida,² says Lawrence Yun, chief economist with
         the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. 
 
Sales of existing homes are soaring as many investors and first-time buyers purchase distressed properties.  Yun estimates that
         about 50 percent of current sales involve distressed properties, and he expects the trend to continue as foreclosures rise in the months
         ahead.
 
Although some economists predict home prices will continue to decline in the coming months, California's median home price rose for the Fourth consecutive month in June, posting the largest
monthly increase on record for the month of June.
 
Some buyers are trying to time the bottom of the market and purchase once it appears that prices are consistently and steadily rising.  Many housing forecasters advise against this approach as buyers should not view
their homes solely as investment opportunities.  Historically, the average annual rate of return on a home lived in for five years or more is nearly 12 percent, based on data C.A.R. has collected over the last 40 years.

 

 

 

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Nancy & Heather Cloward

Prudential California Realty

Direct: 949-495-2819 or 949-228-4523

Nancy@NancyCloward.com or Heather@HeatherCloward.com

 

 

 

What to eat when you eat bar food

Bar food can be a diet disaster since it’s often fried, greasy, and cheesy. But let’s face it: Sometimes you’re out at happy hour with coworkers, grabbing drinks with the girls, or watching a game with the guys and your stomach is rumbling. Those fries smell delicious, plus if you don’t eat something you’ll get way too tipsy way too fast. Hey, we get it! Follow these Skinny rules while sipping and snacking and you’ll save hundreds of calories:

Don’t drink your calories: Unless you’re drinking red wine, skip colorful beverages. Instead of ordering hard liquor with juice or regular soda (240-250 calories per drink), stick to a calorie-free mixer like club soda or enjoy a glass of wine or champagne for 120 calorie per 5-ounce serving.
Save: 120 calories per drink!

Know your chicken: At 940 calories and 70 grams of fat for 10 chicken wings — not including the blue cheese! — you’re better off ordering grilled chicken skewers or chicken satay. Eat three skewers: Each contains only 90-100 calories and 1-3 grams of fat, plus has more meat to fill you up.
Save: 640 calories!

Move over mozzarella: Gooey mozzarella sticks dipped in marinara sauce are a bar food fave. But at 230 calories and 15 grams of fat in just two, you might want to reconsider. Order a shrimp cocktail and eat five shrimp dipped in cocktail sauce for only 100 calories and 1 gram of fat.
Save: 130 calories!

Push the peanut bowl aside: Salty chips, popcorn, and nut mixes are popular bar snacks that are too easy to mindlessly snack on. Grab a small handful (about ¼ cup, which has 150 calories and 10 grams of fat) and step away from the bar. 
Save: At least 150 calories!

Be smart about burgers: Instead of a large burger with fries (over 750 calories and 35 grams of fat) order a grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad to save 450 calories and 25 grams of fat. Or go ahead and get a slider or two. And remember, taking off the top half of the bun and skipping the cheese saves you 150 calories per mini burger.
Save: About 300 calories!

Nix the nachos: An order of nachos with cheese can run you 850 calories and 50 grams of fat — ouch! Order tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa instead. Put 10 chips on your plate with 2 tablespoons each of guacamole and salsa for a 200-calorie treat with 15 grams of fat.
Save: A whopping 650 calories!

Check out the chili: With just 150 calories and 6 grams of fat per cup, chili’s a good choice full of fiber and protein. Just avoid heavy toppings (cheese, sour cream and nachos chips) to keep it healthy.  
Save: 600 calories compared to a burger and fries!

 

By Skinny and the City

 

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Nancy & Heather Cloward

Prudential California Realty

Direct: 949-495-2819 or 949-228-4523

Nancy@NancyCloward.com or Heather@HeatherCloward.com

 

 

We hope you will find the following snapshot of local Real Estate inventory interesting. The table represents aggregated values based on MLS data for the specified date.    Housing Inventory Snapshot May 28, 09   Average List Price Median List Price Average Days On Market Los Angeles County, CA Single Family under $600K $312,337 $299,000 119 Single Family over $600K $1,410,028 $999,000 119 Condo/Townhome under $400K $224,567 $214,900 122 Condo/Townhome over $400K $661,240 $569,000 116 Orange County, CA Single Family under $1M $593,874 $599,000 106 Single Family over $1M $2,921,025 $1,895,000 137 Condo/Townhome under $600K $298,812 $280,000 107 Condo/Townhome over $600K $1,166,342 $950,000 128 Riverside County, CA Single Family under $700K $218,915 $189,999 136 Single Family over $700K $1,140,688 $895,000 194 Condo/Townhome under $500K $147,286 $129,000 121 Condo/Townhome over $500K N/A N/A N/A San Bernardino County, CA Single Family under $700K $216,565 $175,000 126 Single Family over $700K $1,340,687 $1,075,000 164 Condo/Townhome under $450K $174,903 $175,000 113 Condo/Townhome over $450K N/A N/A N/A MORTGAGE. National Averages (May 28, 09)* 30-year fixed Rate - 4.99% APR - n/a% 15-year fixed Rate - 4.76% APR - n/a% 5/1 ARM Rate - 4.23% APR - n/a% * Mortgage rates were collected from publicly available sources (yahoo.com) on the date stated. The accuracy of the information and the availability of these rates are not guaranteed by the publisher. Rates are provided for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice. Actual market interest rates may vary.

If you know someone who is considering buying or selling a home, please give us a call. We will provide professional & courteous service along with knowledgeable guidance through the process.

 

Please contact us for any further questions

 

www.TheClowardTeam.com

 

Nancy & Heather Cloward

Prudential California Realty

Direct: 949-495-2819 or 949-228-4523

Nancy@NancyCloward.com or Heather@HeatherCloward.com

 

 

Wedded dish

A wedding is supposed to be all about love. But somewhere between the third course, the sixth toast, and that second piece of cake (come on, you’re celebrating!), you’ll start to feel like it’s all about love handles — yours, specifically. 

Whether your hosts go for a traditional sit-down dinner or a trendy buffet, the key for you is smaller portions. You’ll feel like you tried a little bit of everything without feeling stuffed to the brim. Read on for our tips on what to eat. And don’t forget — wear comfortable shoes so you can burn off your dessert on the dance floor. 

Cocktails
That fancy signature cocktail with sugar rim? Depending on ingredients, it could cost you anywhere from 250-500 calories! Instead, stick to light beer (each bottle has about 110 calories), wine (120 calories), a wine spritzer (half white wine, half sparkling water for half the calories), or champagne (97 calories per 5-ounce flute). A vodka and soda will also do the trick for 65 calories. A word to the wise: Tonic or another sugary mixer will add about 120 calories per drink. 

Appetizers
Skip anything fried, for obvious reasons, and the cheese and meat plate (each ounce of cheese has 100 calories — and it’s hard to stop at 4 or 5 chunks). Instead, snack on crudités (avoid the creamy dressing, which packs on extra calories and saturated fat), lean protein if there’s a meat carving station, and seafood. Go for sashimi or classic shrimp cocktail (a bargain at only 125 calories for six shrimp, including a tablespoon of cocktail sauce). 

Main course
When you fill out your card, choose a baked or grilled lean protein such as sirloin, fish, or chicken. See if you can ask for sauce on the side. Don’t let the presentation of those potatoes fool you — no matter how well they’re plated, they’re still 260 calories per cup, without butter or other sauce! Request a double portion of the veggies instead so you’re not tempted by the starchy side. And of course, a green salad (dressing on the side) is always fair game — giving you lots of fiber to fill you up faster. At a buffet, stick to one protein and two veggie sides. Skip the starches like pasta, rice, and potatoes, which are full of empty calories.

Dessert
Treat yourself — it is a celebration after all! If there’s a chocolate fountain, dip a few pieces of fruit, a pretzel, or a couple of marshmallows for a small treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth. For the cake people: Make sure you get a piece from the middle, where there’s less frosting, which could save you up to 150 calories compared to an end piece. On buffet tables of sweets, opt for a handful of mixed nuts, which are usually scattered amongst the baked goods. Remember to always drink coffee or tea to fill you up and keep your hands from reaching for more cookies. And if your hosts provide baked goods for the next morning on your way out, politely decline. No need to take extra calories home! 

From Skinny and the City

 

Please contact us for any further questions

 

www.TheClowardTeam.com

 

Nancy & Heather Cloward

Prudential California Realty

Direct: 949-495-2819 or 949-228-4523

Nancy@NancyCloward.com or Heather@HeatherCloward.com

 

 

 

 

Eat this dessert now

Summer’s right around the corner, which means more fruit! Put it to good use by making fruit salad. It makes a great post-barbecue dessert — and good breakfast leftovers (mix it into yogurt) for the next few days. This berry fruit salad recipe packs a nutrition punch: It’s also chock full of antioxidants and phytochemicals, which help fight cancer, heart disease, and age-related eye damage. Plus, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries have the highest fibercontent of all fruits. Not a fan of berries? Feel free to substitute whatever fruits you like; mangos, kiwis, apples, bananas, and pineapples all make great additions. 

If you’re feeling a bit lazy, buy a bag of frozen mixed berries or fruits and defrost them overnight in the fridge. They’ll taste pretty close to the real thing — and be just as nutritious — without all that chopping. 

Berry Fruit Salad

Serves: 6

Total time: 10 minutes 


Ingredients:

• 1 pint strawberries, de-stemmed and chopped
• 1 pint blackberries
• 1 pint blueberries
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½ cup raspberries
• 4 tablespoons walnuts, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons shredded coconut
• 10 mint leaves, for garnish  

Instructions: 

1. Put strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries in a bowl.
2. Add in orange juice and lemon juice. Gently mix.
3. Top with raspberries (so they won’t get smashed), walnuts, coconut, and mint leaves.
4. Serve in bowls or martini glasses.

Nutrition content:
Per serving (about 1 1/4 cup): 116 calories, 3 g fat. 1 g saturated fat, 23 g carbohydrate, 7 g fiber, 2 g protein, 278 mg potassium 

 

 From Skinny and the City 

 

Please contact us for any further questions

 

www.TheClowardTeam.com

 

Nancy & Heather Cloward

Prudential California Realty

Direct: 949-495-2819 or 949-228-4523

Nancy@NancyCloward.com or Heather@HeatherCloward.com