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Market Update For February 0
The start of the year ushered in a wave of good news about a hot stock market, higher wages and an active home sales environment. At the same time, housing prices have continued to rise, and the low inventory situation and affordability crunch has been particularly hard on first-time buyers struggling to get into the market. Nevertheless, buyer activity is easily outpacing seller activity in much of the country, 
culminating in relatively quick sales and low supply. Demand definitely remained strong this month.
New Listings were down 15.8 percent for Single Family homes and 19.9 percent for Townhouse-Condo properties. Pending Sales decreased 46.3 percent for Single Family homes and 42.9 percent for Townhouse-Condo properties.
The Median Sales Price was up 5.9 percent to $630,000 for Single Family homes and 3.4 percent to $410,500 for Townhouse-Condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 7.4 percent for Single Family units and 13.0 percent for Townhouse-Condo units.
Unemployment has reached pre-recession levels, and Americans remain optimistic about finding quality employment. This matters because job growth and higher paychecks fuel home purchases. Unfortunately, that won’t matter for potential buyers if price appreciation outpaces income growth and if mortgage rates continue their upward trend. Sellers are getting a generous number of offers in this market. The worry for sellers then becomes that there will not be a generous number of homes to choose from when they become buyers.
Seven Gables Real Estate Named Most Innovative Brokerage by Leading RE 0
From 550 companies with over 4,400 offices in 65 countries throughout the world, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World has just Seven Gables Real Estate the prestigious honor of Most 
Innovative Brokerage.
I am so very proud to be a part of a company that has an ongoing commitment to always being innovative and on the cutting edge for the benefit of both its agents and our clients. Whether it be the latest in technology or marketing, Seven Gables Real Estate is leading the way!
For more information on how Seven Gables and I can help you market and sell your home, please feel free to email me at BarbaraGrandolfo@aol.com or call 714-801-0827. Our passion is your success!
Real Estate News
Kathy Griffin asks for restraining order against CEO who launched tirade Comments Off on Kathy Griffin asks for restraining order against CEO who launched tirade
LOS ANGELES — Kathy Griffin has filed a request for a restraining order against her neighbor Jeffrey Mezger, the CEO of KB Homes, following an obscenity-laced tirade he unleashed in response to a complaint to police about noise at his home, apparently generated by his grandchildren.
The documents filed in Los Angeles County Court Thursday ask a judge to protect Griffin from her neighbor, the celebrity news website Blast reported. The Blast obtained legal documents that show her boyfriend, Randy Bick, also filed a restraining order against Mezger and his wife, Sandra.
The Huffington Post published audio of the incident earlier this week. Mezger can be heard screaming profanities at Griffin and Bilk, using the F word liberally and lobbing C bombs.
KB Homes announced Thursday that Mezger’s bonus will be reduced by 25 percent because of the tirade.
“Jeffrey Mezger has always conducted himself in a professional manner during his tenure at KB Home,” according to a KB Home filing Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“He has been a very effective CEO and a great leader for the company. Mr. Mezger has the full and complete confidence of the board. However, Mr. Mezger’s recent behavior in his personal dealings with a neighbor is unacceptable and a negative reflection on KB Home,” the KB Home directors said, adding that Mezger has been told that “any similar incident” would be cause for termination.
KB Home issued a statement to the Huffington Post, saying Mezger “regrets losing his temper over a supposed noise complaint involving his three young grandchildren in his swimming pool around 8 p.m. on Saturday, while they were being supervised by their mother and grandmother. He apologizes for the language he used, as it does not reflect who he is or what he believes.”
Retail-restaurant roundup: Stater Bros. to close store, AT&T opens Apple-like store, $1 deal at Nekter Comments Off on Retail-restaurant roundup: Stater Bros. to close store, AT&T opens Apple-like store, $1 deal at Nekter
AT&T opens concept store
A new AT&T concept store in Newport Beach is looking to broaden its reach with more modern entertainment merchandise such as virtual reality and streaming devices.
The store, at 4225 MacArthur Blvd., opened in August. It is one of 45 new high-concept stores to open in 2017. The company said more stores are coming to Orange County by the end of the year.
Melissa Bahoora, director of sales for the Greater Los Angeles Area, said the reimagined stores focus on entertainment. They are set up with round tables and couches. There are no cash registers; instead, employees use iPads to process orders.
Phones are on center tables instead of the walls, making the store reminiscent of an Apple Store. Customers can also buy TV services, Roku streaming devices, accessories, the Samsung Gear VR device and audio devices like Beats headphones.
It also focuses on DirecTV’s offerings. DirecTV became a subsidiary of AT&T Communications in 2015.
“If you think of AT&T, you think of a place to get your phone. We wanted a place where you could get other things as well — like your TV service,” Bahoora said.
The store, which has been in the works for a year, has 10 employees.
Starbucks raises prices in SoCal
With McDonald’s serving $2 McCafe drink specials as part of a revamped coffee menu, what does Starbucks do in return?
Raise prices.
The Seattle-based coffee giant has quietly raised prices from 10-30 cents in various U.S. markets including Southern California. The adjustments were made in early September to everything from drip coffee to espresso beverages.
“In Southern California, customers will experience increases of 10 to 20 cents on select sizes of brewed coffee, and 10 to 30 cents on select espresso beverages,” the company said in a statement. “We expect the average customer ticket to increase by about 0.5 percent as a result of these beverage adjustments, however, 90 percent of beverage prices have not changed.”
Some customers are experiencing sticker shock. A recent survey of cafes in Orange and Santa Ana show the following prices: $3.45 for tall latte; $1.95 for a tall brewed coffee, and $3.95 for a tall mocha.
A Starbucks spokeswoman did not provide an exact reason for the price hike after the Register asked if it was due to rising labor costs in California. The state’s minimum wage is increasing every year, capping at $15 an hour in 2022. In 2018, it will go up to $11 an hour for companies with 26 or more employees.
“Pricing is continually evaluated on a product-by-product and market-by-market basis in our stores in order to balance business needs while continuing to provide value to our loyal customer,” Starbucks said in a statement. “Beverage and food prices vary by location and customers can find pricing posted in each location and through our mobile app.”
The company said customers can find “meaningful” value in other ways, including participating in Starbucks Rewards. “Our approach to value properly balances the experience we provide customers with our need to effectively run our business.”
Company cafes are raising prices as McDonald’s challenges Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts with a refreshed McCafe menu. The enhancements at 600 restaurants in Southern California include the launch of three new espresso drinks: cappuccino, Americano, and iced caramel macchiato.
New popup at Nordstrom
Everlane, an online retailer that touts luxury apparel at affordable prices, opens Friday, Sept. 29 at South Coast Plaza. The temporary store will feature some of Everlane’s best-selling items, including their $100 cashmere collection, a premium Japanese denim collection and their “cult favorite” Day Heel, a $145 ballet-inspired shoe with a 2-inch heel. A quick scan of prices online showed denim priced at $68, purses around $168 and simple dresses for $98. An Everlane popup is also launching at The Grove in Los Angeles. The popups are slated to close Nov. 12.
Stater Bros. changes
In a rare moment for Stater Bros., Southern California’s stalwart grocery chain, the company has opted to close one of its stores in Orange County. “In conjunction with the opening of our Tustin Ranch supermarket in late October and upcoming expiration of the Lincoln location’s lease, the Lincoln store will close on Oct. 22. This allows the company to ensure no jobs will be lost,” company spokeswoman Marisa Kutansky said. The Anaheim store is at 3430 W. Lincoln Ave. Kutansky said some workers will shift to Tustin (15150 Kensington Park Drive) when it opens; others will transfer to markets in surrounding locations.
Nekter deal
Nékter Juice Bar is celebrating the grand opening of its 25th Orange County restaurant Saturday, Sept. 23, from 2-5 p.m at Harbor View Shopping Center in Newport Beach.
The new shop, which opened in early August, will celebrate by selling fresh juice or smoothies for $1 (16 ounces). Normal price is $5.95. The shop will also sell cleanse packs for $30. The first 50 customers will receive swag bags. Nékter will also donate 15 percent from the day’s sales to nearby Lincoln Elementary School. The juice bar is at 1666 San Miguel Drive in Newport Beach.
The Santa Ana-based juice bar chain has 88 locations in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Utah and Texas. It will open its first East Coast location in Cornelius, North Carolina, later this year. Other stores are planned for Florida, Washington state and Nashville.
Paper Lantern to open soon
Construction issues have delayed the early September opening of Paper Lantern in Irvine. The 70-seat restaurant, specializing in Shanghai-style dumplings called xiao long bao (or xlb), is almost ready to open its doors at Diamond Jamboree center.
The owners say they hope to open the restaurant by Tuesday, Sept. 26, to coincide with National Dumpling Day. Paper Lantern said the store will give away a free order of dumplings to the first 25 customers in line.
Allan Tea, whose family runs a string of Capital Seafood restaurants in Orange County, is one of the co-founders of Paper Lantern. He said the restaurant will bring a modern service approach to a classic dumpling house experience. He also co-owns the mini Hello Kitty cafe in Arcadia and the Hello Kitty Cafe Container at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
Blaze Pizza
Southern California franchisee Reza Medali is opening his seventh Blaze Pizza eatery next week in Orange. Medali also owns Blaze Pizzas in Old Towne Orange, Brea, Monrovia, Alhambra, Pasadena and Claremont.
His second Orange Blaze is opening Thursday, Sept. 28, in the same shopping center as Target on Tustin Street.
Per Blaze tradition, the restaurant is giving away pizzas from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. to anyone who follows the brand on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Address: 2139 N. Tustin St. It is replacing a Payless Shoes.
Walk for Wishes OC – Saturday, April 29th 0
by Barbara • Barbara's Blog on March 22, 2017
Come join Seven Gables Real Estate in the Make A Wish Foundation’s annual Walk for Wishes! 100% of the proceeds from this wonderful event go directly to the Make A Wish Orange County and Inland Empire Foundation to benefit children with life threatening medical conditions. Entry fee pr
ior to April 1st is just $25 per person and includes hat, t-shirt and food. Bring the entire family! The walk is from 7:30 to 12:00 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. Hope to see you there!