Dena Land News

February 2008

A M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R B Y L I N D A L A N E - W H I T E – K E L L E R W I L L I A M S R E A L T Y

S E R V I N G M Y H O M E T O W N O F A L T A D E N A / P A S A D E N A A N D O U T L Y I N G A R E A S

Pros and Cons 1

Active Adults Corner 2

Recipe of the Month 2

Energy Facts 2

Ceedub Construction 2

For Sale 3

Ask An Expert 3

For Lease 4

Valentine’s Day Gifts 4

Recent Area Sales 4

Bill Lane 5

February In Dena Land 6

Inside this issue:

445 S. Fair Oaks Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

Phone: 626-786-1231

Fax: 626-296-1979

www.lindalanewhite.com

In Tune With Your Needs

Linda Lane-White

“Singing” Realtor ®

CA Lic #01091347

Notary Public

done by previous owners.

These sorts of costs can mount

up so that you end up with far

more invested in the property

than it’s worth on the market.

Try to avoid buying a home

that has an incurable defect.

This is something that you

can’t change, like a location

next to a freeway. These

homes don’t hold their value

well when the housing market

softens.

A risk of buying in a slow

market is that the value of

what you buy might drop be-

fore it rises. Or, prices could

stay flat for some

time, which means

that you won’t build

equity unless you pay

down principal on

your mortgage. If you

should have to move

during a time when

prices are soft, you

might not be able to

sell for the amount

you paid. To decrease

this risk factor, don’t

buy for the short term.

Give careful consideration

to how you finance your pur-

chase. Stay away from mort-

gages that have short due

dates and balloon payments.

If the market in your area

stays soft for longer than an-

ticipated, you don’t want to be

caught having to refinance at

a time when your home might

not appraise for the price you

need to complete the transac-

tion.

THE CLOSING: A benefit of

buying in a soft market is that

you have the opportunity to

buy at a reasonable price,

without having to compete

with other buyers. But, it

makes no sense if you put

yourself at financial risk.

When the housing mar-

ket slows down, buyers

often wait on the sidelines

for a clear sign that the

market has recovered.

The only problem with

this strategy is that you

can only know for sure

that a market has turned

through hindsight. In

other words, you can’t

time the market.

A slow market is per-

ceived as an opportunity

by some buyers, as it

takes longer for listings to

sell. The inventory of un-

sold listings tends

to grow, giving

b u y e r s m o r e

choice than is the

case in a hot

seller’s market

when listings sell

quickly.

In a high-

inventory market,

there are usually

fewer multiple of-

fers so buyers can

cut a better deal

with the seller. However,

it pays to be careful about

what you buy and how

you finance the purchase.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP:

The least expensive home

in an area may not be the

best investment. Unless

you are a contractor with

years of experience fixing

up properties, you should

hire the best inspectors

you can find to look care-

fully at the condition of a

property before you buy.

Many home buyers,

particularly first-timers,

don’t give enough atten-

tion to the cost of main-

taining a home. Home

maintenance is a neces-

sary part of home owner-

ship. It can be expensive,

particularly if you need to

hire others to do the work.

Some homes require

more maintenance than

others. A good inspector

should be able to give you

a good indication about

how much work a home

needs now and how much it

will need on an ongoing

basis. Buying a well-

maintained home that will

also have relatively low

ongoing maintenance is

one way to keep your over-

all housing costs down.

Inexperienced home

buyers should resist buying

a fixer-upper just because

it’s offered at a cheap price

for the neighborhood. It’s

difficult to get a firm grasp

on renovation costs during

the inspection contingency

period, particularly if it’s a

big job.

Remodeling projects can

run over budget because of

unanticipated problems

like faulty electrical or

plumbing, or an old furnace

that goes bad. Or the city

inspector could require that

you do additional work to

c o r r e c t n o n - c o d e -

complying improvements

PROS & CONS OF BUYING IN TODAY’S MARKET

Home Office: 519 Alameda, Altadena, CA

Page 2 Dena Land News

Crock Pot White Chicken Chili Remodeling?

Adding On?

Need a New Home Built?

CEEDUB CONSTRUCTION

(626) 786-1229

CA Lic #883002

Chris White, Owner

(30+ years of experience)

519 Alameda, Altadena

FREE ESTIMATE

Residential and

Light Commercial

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken

2, 15 oz. cans great northern beans or

navy beans

1, 15 oz. can hominy or white corn

1, 4-1/2 oz. can of chopped green chiles

1, 10-3/4 oz. can condensed cream of

chicken soup

1, 14 oz. can chicken broth

1/2 cup sour cream

Chopped green onions (optional)

Monterey jack cheese (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Place chicken in a 4 quart slow cooker.

Top with beans and corn. In a medium

bowl, combine taco seasoning, chiles,

condensed soup, and chicken broth. Pour

over top of ingredients in the crock pot.

Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Before serving, stir gently to break up

chicken, then stir in the sour cream. Serve

topped with green onions and jack

cheese, if desired.

“When my life is over,

I’m curious if I will feel

that I’ve lived it or just

got through it.” - Elise

No-brainers To Save Energy Now

and Stay Warm!

Instead of turning up the

heat, put on a sweater. A light

long-sleeved sweater equals

almost 2ºin added warmth,

while a heavy, long-sleeved

sweater adds about 4º.

Take advantage of free

heat from the sun. Open

curtains and drapes on the

sunny side of your home

during the day. But be sure

to close the curtains and

drapes when the sun sets.

To stay warm at night put

extra blankets on your bed,

and use warmer fabrics

such as flannel sheets.

To warm up your insides,

make a big batch of soup.

Eat some and freeze some

for later.

If every U. S. household

replaced just one incandes-

cent bulb with an ENERGY

STAR® qualified fluores-

cent bulb, it would save

enough energy to light 7

million homes and save

$600 million in utility bills.

A programmable thermo-stat could save up to $100

per year on utility bills.

An ENERGY STAR® quali-fied furnace, when prop-

erly sized and installed,

along with sealed ducts and

a programmable thermo-

stat, can save up to 20% on

heating bills.

Energy Facts

Transition From Analog to Digital TV

Active Adults Corner Over 50? Get out of the house! http://overthehillganglosangeles.org

If you get TV reception through an an-

tenna, as roughly 42 million homes do,

things will change for you on February 17,

2009. Next year American television sta-

tions will end all analog broadcasts and begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital

format, as mandated by the Deficit Reduc-

tion Act of 2005.

Digital TV is a more efficient and flexi-

ble use of the airwaves, provides crystal

clear pictures and sound and allows sta-

tions to broadcast multiple programs si-

multaneously instead fo broadcasting only

one channel at a time.

Many seniors on fixed income are not

able to afford to buy a new television, nor

are they able to afford cable T.V. or satel-lite T.V. service.

3 ways to transition to digital:

1. Subscribe to a cable, satellite or tele-

phone company television service

provider, in which case, analog sets

will continue to function. 2. Purchase a new TV set with a built-in

digital tuner.

3. Purchase a DTV converter box that

will convert the new digital signal for

an existing analog television set.

Congress has appropriated $1.5 billion to

fund a digital-to-analog converter box cou-

pon program, which is administered by

the government. You can request up to 2

coupons valued at $40 each, to go toward

the purchase of a converter box. Boxes are

expected to cost between $50 and $70. Coupons will be sent through the mail and

consumers will have approximately 3

months to redeem them.

Applications for these LIMITED SUP-

PLY coupons will be accepted from Janu-

ary 1, 2008 until March 31, 2009. Call 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009)

TTY: 1-877-530-2634

Online: www.DTV2009.gov

Mail: P O Box 2000, Portland Or 97208

Fax: 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)

With the coupon(s) you will also receive

instructions, a list of eligible certified TV

converter boxes, a list of retailers, and fre-

quently asked questions about using the

coupon.

Short Sale!

February 2008 Page 3

This pub l icat ion is for in fo rm at ion a l pu rpo se s on ly an d does not con st it ute le ga l or fin an cia l a dvice.

All information was obtained from sources deemed reliable, and while I do not doubt its accuracy, I cannot guarantee it. Some items provided by CAR Client

Direct and Fidelity National Home Warranty. If your property is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.

Who do you know right now who’s looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate? Give me a call or send me an E-mail. I’m never too busy for your referrals to friends or family.

Q: A few weeks ago, my mother-in-law passed away. My husband and I are now trying

hard to move my father-in-law closer to us. He is currently about 2 hours away. If he were

to sell their home of 17 years, would he be entitled to the $250,000 or $500,000 principal

residence sales tax exemption?

A. Your father-in-law can claim up to $500,000 tax-free profits on the sale of his principal resi-

dence if it is sold in the same tax year as your mother-in-law’s death. That’s presuming they

both occupied the home at least 2 of the 5 years before the sale to qualify for the Internal Reve-

nue Code 121 exemption. If he waits until the following year to sell the principal residence, then he can claim

up to a $250,000 tax exemption. However, presuming he inherited the half of the house owned by your late

mother-in-law, he gets a new stepped-up basis on either 50% or 100% of the home's market value on the date

of death. The exact stepped-up valuation depends on how they held title and in which state the house is lo-

cated. He should consult his personal tax advisor to be certain he maximizes his principal residence sales tax

exemption. Have a real estate question? Feel free to contact me.

Linda Lane-White

Ask an Expert

Unbelievable Price!

728 Colman Street, Altadena, CA 91001

Only $749,000 (only $305/sf)

4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath House

2,456 sf home on a 6,840 sf lot

Private Oasis on a Quiet Cul-de-sac

Completely rebuilt in 2006

Short Sale!

2 master suites, 1 with a fireplace, walk in closets

2 master baths with dual sinks, Jacuzzi© Tubs,

separate standing glass showers, & Toto low flow

toilets

Stainless steel Dacor stove, Jenn-Air refrigerator,

Insta-Hot dispenser

2 Rannei gas “tankless” water heaters

2 HVAC units

2 bedrooms downstairs, 2 master suites upstairs

Huge family room upstairs

Wrap around balcony

Pool with child proof security fence

Spa with multi colored lights

New Built In BBQ with sink located on covered

porch

New copper plumbing throughout

New electrical wiring throughout

New roof

More Info? Call Linda Lane-White

(626) 786-1231

lindalanewhite@kw.com

COME FOR REFRESHMENTS ON SUNDAY, FEB. 17TH 1-4PM

Recent Area Sales

Page 4 Dena Land News

Days on

Market

Sold

Date

Sale

Price Address City

Bed/

Bath

S.F.

Home

S.F.

Land

72 01/31/08 500,000 2791 Santa Rosa Altadena 3/2 1339 7370

124 01/24/08 412,700 3294 Dabney Ave Altadena 3/2 1210 6450

104 01/31/08 490,000 611 Stonehurst Dr Altadena 3/2 1172 6912

14 01/18/08 750,000 301 E Norman Ave Arcadia 3/2 1502 9928

324 01/30/08 520,000 726 Ridgefield Claremont 3/2 1360 10600

213 02/01/08 460,000 402 Larkspur Glendora 3/2 1248 6800

98 01/29/08 520,000 513 Comstock Glendora 3/2 1857 8453

196 01/25/08 1,955,000 2040 Tondolea Ln La Canada 4/4 4351 11271

26 01/21/08 625,000 622 Vaquero Monrovia 3/2 1809 8820

40 01/28/08 468,000 1116 N Catalina Ave Pasadena 4/3 1548 10080

35 01/30/08 850,000 1625 Sierra Bonita Ln Pasadena 3/2 1782 10829

107 02/01/08 750,000 1118 Las Riendas Way Pasadena 3/3 2131 condo

78 02/01/08 1,180,000 1885 Robin Rd San Marino 5/3 2892 16970

143 01/18/08 760,000 66 Ross Sierra Madre 3/2 1679 8773

271 01/28/08 404,312 1257 14th Upland 4/3 2203 10125

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms

Fireplace

2 car detached garage

Spacious front & rear yards

Washer & Dryer included

Central Air/Heat

Alarm system

Pets OK with deposit

Water, trash, gardener included

I’m still looking for a new

neighbor!

This corner lot home is located just down

the block from my home. It’s a great

neighborhood near Christmas Tree Lane,

the Rose Bowl, and JPL (3 blocks west of

Lake Ave.)

444 Alameda Street, Altadena

For Lease

Only $2,600 per month

Call (626) 786-1231

1. 24k Gold Roses. Real roses preserved in 24k gold.

www.romanceher.com

2. Personalized Romance Novel www.yournovel.com

3. Her Own Star. Name a star after your sweetheart!

www.starregistry.com 4. Personalized Love Poem www.agiftofpoetry.com

5. Photo Memory Book. A gift that documents your ro-

mance www.snapfish.com/regcampaign (timeless gift)

6. More Meaningful Flowers. Send her a gorgeous bouquet

of paper roses, customized with your romantic message

www.justpaperroses.com

7. Gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

www.costco.com

8. Message in a Bottle. Letters are placed in a bottle and

delivered in gorgeous packaging www.timelessmessage.com

9. Custom Canvas. Take your photos and transform them

into beautiful canvas prints www.canvasondemand.com

10. Customized Box of Chocolate. Create your own custom-

ized box of gourmet chocolates www.danschocolates.com

Top 10 Unique Romantic Gifts Dare To Be Different This Year!

February 2008 Page 5

February is Black History Month

In Loving Memory of Bill Lane

As February is Black History Month,

I thought it only fitting to let you

know a bit about my father, Bill

Lane. His biography will be listed in

the Afro American National Biogra-phy at the DuBois Institute at Har-

vard University by the end of this

year.

Born William Clay Lane in Rose-

dale, Mississippi January 27, 1922.

Wrote for Woman’s Magazine,

Coronet, Esquire, Pageant, Down-

beat, the Negro Digest, and the

Michigan Chronicle. interviewing

100’s of entertainers, politicians,

and civil rights leaders including

Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Scripter for “Eyes on Tomorrow”

for WXYZ radio in Detroit, Michi-

gan.

Was one of the first writers for

Ebony and Jet Magazines.

Due to the low salaries paid by black newspapers, he became the

1st black “licensed” Public Insur-

ance Adjustor in the state of Michi-

gan and later the 2nd in California.

Became the 1st salaried black disc

jockey on a national white radio

station, WJR, in Detroit, Michigan

in 1952.

Discovered such entertainers as

LaVerne Baker, Johnny Ray and

Della Reese, et al.

Became the 1st Public Relations

Director for Motown Records

On June 21, 1961, he moved the

family (7 kids) to Los Angeles

where he became Entertainment

Editor at the Los Angeles Sentinel.

Worked as DJ for the Hollywood

beat for XPRS and KJLH

Worked with Maggie Hathaway

and Bob Jones in creating the Hol-lywood/Beverly Hills Chapter of

the NAACP, where in 1967 all

three co-founded the NAACP Im-

age Awards.

As President of the NAACP in

1971, he worked with entertain-

ment industry leaders to open stu-

dio doors and make it possible for

minorities to gain fair employment

in all facets of the industry and to

be allowed into the unions. This

sparked rights efforts that led to a

Government forced “consent de-cree” which still governs the hiring

and promotions of blacks in the

industry today. During this time he

fought to get the Image Awards

televised. This materialized in

1973.

He died on June 21, 1995. He

stood for equality and justice for

all people regardless of race, creed

or color.

Dad, We Miss You!

February Happenings in Dena Land

Don’t forget to check out the (almost) nightly entertainment offered at the Coffee Gallery at 2029 N. Lake in Altadena for

information call 626/318-7917 or go to www.coffeegallery.com

Every Wednesday, 8-11pm. The Robert Kyle Brazilian Trio at the Pasadena Arts Institute. Paseo Pasadena, 260 E Colorado

Blvd. (Suite 206 on 2nd level in the Western Sector). www.robertkyle.com $10

Now through Feb 17 Orson’s Shadow. Pasadena Playhouse 39 S. El Molino, Pasadena 626/356-7529 or 626/792-8672

www.pasadenaplayhouse.org $25 to $65 Every Sat/Sun beginning Feb 16th. 9am-12pm. Christmas Tree Lane needs volunteers to assist in taking down the lights

on the lane. FREE Coffee and donuts in the morning and a hearty lunch at noon. 626/403-1123

Feb 9, 8am. John Muir High School Alumni Softball Game. Girl’s Field. $25 donation helps the boys and girls baseball pro-

gram. Contact Coach Mike Bendy at 626/625-8018 or send donations to P O Box 93367, Pasadena, CA 91109 c/o the Baseball

Program. Feb 9, 11am. Ronald McDonald House 4th Anniversary Party & Family Reunion. Everyone is welcome. Come for McDonalds

Quarter Pounders on the grill, desserts, games, activities for kids, moon bounce, boutique, tours of the Houses, magic show, etc.

763 S. Pasadena Avenue. 626/585-1588. FREE Feb 12, 2pm. Reflecting On A Life In Art. California African American Museum’s Executive Director, Charmaine Jefferson, inter-

views Artis Lane. CAAM, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles. 213/744-7432 FREE! CLARIFICATION FROM LAST

MONTH—Some of you were confused! Artis is NOT my sister, she’s my half sister’s Mother. Artis was my father’s first wife.

Feb 13, 7pm. Movie Screening: “Cabin in the Sky” Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Advance reservations re-

quired. Call to register 626/405-2128 www.huntington.org FREE Feb 14, 5pm. Shrine Auditorium. 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards. Special awards for Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.

See it on (tape delay) on Fox Television at 8pm. Feb 23, 9am. Pasadena Dance Festival. All day event offering dance classes, workshops for all dance levels. Classes are 9am to

5pm and last 45 min to 1 hour. Special evening performance at 7pm. Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 300 E Green Street. 626/399-

3676 or www.lineagedance.org $30 all day. $15 performance only. Feb 23, 10:30am. Grand Opening of The Huntington’s Chinese Garden. 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. 626/405-2100

www.huntington.org Feb. 29 Leap for Joy. Leap Year is Here! That means that each of us has an extra 24 hours or 1440 minutes this month. How do

you plan to spend your bonus time? I’m sure I’ll be celebrating my sister, Philippa’s birthday. She only has a REAL birthday

every 4 years. Happy Birthday, Philippa! Mar. 1, 12:00. John Muir High Class of 1979 Reunion Committee Meeting. Call Linda at 626/786-1231 for more information.

Pasadena Market Center

445 S. Fair Oaks Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

Cell: (626) 786-1231

Office: (626) 204-3436

Fax: (626) 296-1979

In Tune Wit h Your Needs

www.lindalanewhite.com

If You Would Like To Receive This

Newsletter on a Regular Basis for

Guaranteed Delivery (Snail or E-Mail)

Call me or send me an E-Mail...LLW

Linda Lane-White “Singing” Realtor® CA Lic #01091347 (since 1990)

Notary Public (since 1987)

Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated

Search the MLS on my web site!