Driving Up & Down Home Values: Spotlight on U.S. Homebuilders, California's Central Valley, Fresno, Clovis, Calif. Real Estate
Sunday, 19 March 2006
The McCaffrey Group: Homes of Excellence Topic: Hot Real Estate Areas
The whole Valley is a construction zone. Among all the builders in the San Joaquin Valley, The McCaffrey Group builds homes of distinction that most homeowners love and appreciate. Owning a McCaffrey home automatically puts you in a different category. The attention to the details and architecture is what attracts most people to the John Bonadelle's creation. It is worth noting that late John Bonadelle is a pioneer in the local building industry. On the company's web site, you can read this: "The McCaffrey Group, started more than 50 years ago by John Bonadelle, has grown steadily since it was purchased 26 years ago by Bob McCaffrey and his wife Karen McCaffrey, Bonadelle's daughter." The daughter is continuing the elegant construction of the late father. Bob and Karen McCaffrey want to build the best homes for your family. They are committed to the community. They want to continue the tradition of excellence. After all, they know that a satisfied customer keeps the business going. What is great about this couple is that they have local ties. They are living among us. They are not a few-project-builders. They are here for the long run.
Among some of the communities they have developed, we find the Hampton Renaissance at Loma Vista in Clovis, One Opus Drive, Bellamontagna, Hampton Renaissance in Fresno, Hampton Chateaux and Trend Big Country subdivisions.
Check the company's website for further info: http://www.mccaffreygroup.com/communities.html
Drops in Housing Prices Are Not Going to Happen Soon Topic: HomeBoom DataSystems
DataQuick Information Systems report that the median price of a home in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties was $480,000 in February. In Fresno-Clovis areas, it has been reported that the rate of incrase was the lowest in four years according to La Jolla-based DataQuick. That does not mean that home sellers are going to just liquidate their house. They may have to lower a bit their initial asking price. No matter what they are still going to make lots of money. The problem is that many people who are interested in buying a new home may chicken out. Some of the asking prices may push them away. In a new Sanger, Calif. and Herdon area developments, for sale signs were in front of many new homes. Obviously, these are investment homes that the owners knew they would sell any way.
McMillin Homes offers three new neighbhorhoods at Sunnyside Ranch in Fresno. I visited the construction site yesterday. I was blown away by the amount of activities that exist there. What attracted me was the order, coordination and cleanliness that exist all over the site. It was lunch time. The workers took a short break to open their brown bags. Nearby, fresh cement was settling in. For some reasons, there is an existing home that is kind of in the middle of all this construction. It looks like the buyers did not want to be bought out. The Corky McMillin Companies appear to respect their decision. Even though the home is in a huge construction zone, access appeared normal. We do not know whether the current occupants have any complaints.
Getting back to the new upscale community in the Fresno area (Jensen and Clovis Ave areas), it is scheduled to be a one of the main highlights of the area. The three new neighborhoods that will form this new community will include names such as Appaloosa, Cheyenne and Palomino. If you want to have your own McMillin home, here is your chance. Come on down, wherever you are in the Bay area or elsewhere. Just in case you do not know much about the type of homes built by McMillin, satisfied owners of the company homes are known as high-class professionals who want to raise their family in an architectural jewel they can be proud of. Mcmillin built some homes in Clovis, Visalia and elsewhere. They were bought in a heartbeat. Homes built by McMillin are great investments in the future of your family.
On the company's website,[mcmillinhomes.com] you will read the following, "The Corky McMillin Companies was founded in 1960 by Macey L. “Corky” McMillin Jr., the company’s Chairman since its founding in 1960. The Corky McMillin Companies has established a reputation for community building. It has become known for developing projects that stand on the firm foundation of consensus, respond sensitively to people and the environment, and resolve resource challenges related to schools, public facilities, and onsite and offsite infrastructure." Everybody around here wants to own one of its homes.
Driving down to the new community, here is what I found out:
Directions to Sunnyside Ranch by McMillin Homes
From Highway 99, exit Jensen Avenue and head East; turn North at Clovis Avenue and continue North to California.
Directions to Colby Park by McMillin Homes: ? Exit Freeway 99 at Jensen Avenue and travel East to Fowler Avenue.
? Turn North on Fowler to Shields.
? We are the corner of Shields and Fowler.
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 9:22 AM EST
The Types of Complaints To Get You Started Topic: Homeowners' ComplaintBox
Appeal to higher authorities when complaint letters don't work
Write a Homeowners complaint letter (same is true for builders complaints, construction workers foreman etc) Complain about a faulty delivery or a shipping error
Complain about receiving damaged goods
Complain about poor facilities or equipment
Complain about harassment
Complain to a neighbor or a landlord
Complain about an unfair insurance payment or settlement
Complain about community problems Complain about a billing error
Complain about overdue work or poor workmanship
Complain about laws, policies, or inefficiencies
Complain about poor service or a faulty product
Complain about a delay in an order
Complain about a radio or television broadcast
Complain about an employee who has given poor or offensive service
Complain to a club or organization
Correct an official's mistake on your taxes
Delegate follow-up on a complaint from a customer
Demand satisfaction on a mail order transaction gone bad (suspected mail fraud)
Disagree about benefits (social security, retirement, insurance, etc.)
Disagree with a bill, rent payment, or other financial issue
Disagree with a subordinate, a superior, or a person in authority
Dismiss an employee for poor performance or unacceptable behavior
Document employee reprimands
File a warranty claim
Make an insurance claim
Reprimand an employee for poor attendance or tardiness
Reprimand an employee for a breach of policy
Reprimand an employee for poor performance
Request correction of an error in a check
Request a retraction or correction from the media
Request correction of an error in a credit report
Request correction of a billing error
Request a refund or reimbursement
Respond to a complaint and treat it as valuable feedback
Respond to a complaint
Respond to a complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment
Respond to a complaint while admitting fault and making an adjustment
Respond to a false accusation from a government agency
Respond to a complaint while avoiding agreement or denying liability, and refusing to make an adjustment
Respond to a complaint while avoiding or denying liability, but making an adjustment
Respond to a complaint, but needing more information
Warn a distributor under your supervision
Write a disagreement letter
Write a complaint letter to a superior
Write a complaint letter to a subordinate
Write a letter reprimanding tenants
Appeal to higher authorities when complaint letters don't work
Complain about a faulty delivery or a shipping error
Complain about receiving damaged goods
Complain about poor facilities or equipment
Complain about harassment
Complain to a neighbor or a landlord
Complain about an unfair insurance payment or settlement
Complain about community problems
Complain about a billing error
Complain about overdue work or poor workmanship
Complain about laws, policies, or inefficiencies
Complain about poor service or a faulty product
Complain about a delay in an order
Complain about a radio or television broadcast
Complain about an employee who has given poor or offensive service
Complain to a club or organization
Correct an official's mistake on your taxes
Delegate follow-up on a complaint from a customer
Demand satisfaction on a mail order transaction gone bad (suspected mail fraud)
Disagree about benefits (social security, retirement, insurance, etc.)
Disagree with a bill, rent payment, or other financial issue
Disagree with a subordinate, a superior, or a person in authority
Dismiss an employee for poor performance or unacceptable behavior
Document employee reprimands
File a warranty claim
Make an insurance claim
Reprimand an employee for poor attendance or tardiness
Reprimand an employee for a breach of policy
Reprimand an employee for poor performance
Request correction of an error in a check
Request a retraction or correction from the media
Request correction of an error in a credit report
Request correction of a billing error
Request a refund or reimbursement
Respond to a complaint and treat it as valuable feedback
Respond to a complaint
Respond to a complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment
Respond to a complaint while admitting fault and making an adjustment
Respond to a false accusation from a government agency
Respond to a complaint while avoiding agreement or denying liability, and refusing to make an adjustment
Respond to a complaint while avoiding or denying liability, but making an adjustment
Respond to a complaint, but needing more information
Warn a distributor under your supervision
Write a disagreement letter
Write a complaint letter to a superior
Write a complaint letter to a subordinate
Write a letter reprimanding tenants
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 12:01 AM EST
Formosan Termites and other Pests: News you should know Topic: Best Rat/Mouse Traps
Quarantine on wood, cellulose material after hurricanes Katrina and Rita
The commissioner of agriculture in Louisiana imposed a quarantine for the Formosan subterranean termite on October 3, 2005, in Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. The Formosan subterranean termite is the most destructive insect in Louisiana. It is found in about half of Louisiana’s parishes. Thus, the prevention of the Formosan subterranean termite’s spread to other parishes and other states is of utmost concern.
There are several materials in which the Formosan subterranean termite could be moved. These include millions of tons of wood debris left by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and thousands of unsound structures. Plans have been made to turn this wood debris into compost. Architectural components from unsound structures, such as beams or doors, and temporary housing are also materials in which Formosan subterranean termite may be moved.
The quarantine has three objectives: to prevent the spread of the Formosan subterranean termite to locations not now infested, to prevent infestations of existing structures that are not now infested and to prevent the infestation of new and reconstructed structures.
There are several prohibitions and requirements of the quarantine.
* First, new construction and reconstruction of structures must be treated for Formosan subterranean termites according to the Louisiana Structural Pest Control Commission’s Rules and Regulations.
* Second, movement of wood or cellulose material is prohibited unless either (1) it is fumigated or treated for Formosan subterranean termites and is approved for movement by the commissioner or his designee(s) or (2) written authorization is given by the commissioner or his designee(s) for the movement of untreated wood or cellulose material from the quarantined parishes.
* Third, temporary housing cannot be moved from the named parishes until written authorization is given by the commissioner or his designee(s).
* Fourth, all architectural components (beams, doors and salvaged wood) cannot be sold or placed in any structure in any parish until the architectural components are fumigated or treated for Formosan subterranean termites. Commercial logging and timber operations and commercial operations involving the sale or distribution of nursery stock are exempted from the quarantine.
Additionally, it is strongly recommended and urged that all new construction and reconstruction of structures in the quarantined parishes use termite-resistant materials. Termite-resistant materials include pressure-treated wood (borates, ammonical copper quat or copper azole) or non-cellulose materials.
The quarantine is in effect until it is rescinded by the commissioner of agriculture. If a waiver of a requirement or an authorization to carry out one of the prohibited acts is granted, it does not rescind or modify the quarantine.
In addition to their devastation, Katrina and Rita provided a special opportunity to spread the Formosan subterranean termite. They also provided a unique opportunity to prevent its spread by following the quarantine and to reduce its severity by using termite-resistant materials. Thus, it is extremely important that these requirements be adopted and practiced.
Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst
at 10:35 AM EST
