As a Realtor, Thomas Ray needs to stay fit. This is how I start my day! Weights and Cardio so I can keep up with you, my wonderful Santa Monica clients. … Continue reading...
California Home Sales – Are prices Up in Santa Monica CA

37,700 new and resale home transactions closed escrow in California during December 2017. The number of homes sold in December 2017 was 4% below the same month a year earlier, amounting to about 1,700 fewer sales. 2017 ended with 461,900 home sales in California. This is 3,800 more sales than took place in 2016, amounting to an increase of less than a percent. For perspective, the 461,900 … Continue reading...
The Santa Monica, DTLA and Los Angeles Condo Market Shows a Huge Gain

The Los Angeles condominium market continues to heat up with figures for August, September, and October of 2017, showing a 7.9 percent increase in the median sales price over the previous year. In some neighborhoods, the increase topped 10 percent. Among the neighborhoods included in the statistics, LA's downtown area led the pack with a sales price increase of 16.2 percent. In spite of this, … Continue reading...
Twenty percent of existing-home sales in October 2017 were all-cash – Thomas Ray REALTOR®

Existing-home sales totaled 5.48 million, a 2.0 percent increase from September but a 0.9 percent decrease from one year prior. Inventory decreased 3.2 percent to 1.80 million, 10.4 percent below one year prior. "Job growth in most of the country continues to carry on at a robust level and is starting to slowly push up wages, which is in turn giving households added assurance that now is a good … Continue reading...
Is Your Home Kindling for Wildfires in Napa or California?

How do most homes ignite during a wildfire? A floating ember or piece of burning wood touches down on a roof, gutter, in a vent, under a deck, or on a porch and ignites leaves and debris, says the National Fire Protection Association. Or else, a surface fire simply takes the fast lane to your home via dry vegetation. With that in mind, fortify your home like the castle it is with these 14 … Continue reading...
Why Saltwater Pools Are Much Better Than…

If you hate the stink and sting of chlorine, you’ll love saltwater pools. Once primarily a perk in health spas and resorts, saltwater pools have now become popular among U.S. homeowners. Today, about 30% of all U.S. in-ground pools are saltwater. “They’ve literally exploded in popularity in the last decade,” says Erika Taylor of “Pool and Spa News.” “It really does make a difference in the … Continue reading...