Los Cerritos! Long Beach

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Don’t know what to do on October 1st?  How about…

Garden Tour
October 1, 2:30 p.m.
FREE

Enjoy the colors of autumn and hint of cool weather on our final scheduled garden tour of the season.  Visitors will tour the "garden rooms," exploring California natives, the orchard, and landscaping in the inner courtyard and main garden, where they will learn about the history of the grounds and key plants.  Reservations are requested; please call 562/570-1755 with the number in your party.

And… if you enjoyed the garden tour and want to learn more about the Rancho’s historic and beautiful gardens, consider joining Garden Docent Training.  Through this four-part class you will study the first garden planted by John Temple and learn about the major changes that took place when Ralph Cornell re-landscaped the grounds for Llewellyn and Avis Bixby in 1931.  You’ll also review key plants and learn to identify kumquats and guavas!  Garden docents provide specialized tours on the first Sunday of each month from March through October, and during the week to groups with advanced reservations.  Training is in October, with an orientation on October 11 from 7-9 p.m., and three consecutive Saturday morning classes (October 14, 21 and 28) from 9-1.  Please contact Jan at the volunteer office for more information, or to sign up for training.    

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In an article entitled, "Power, Optimism, and
Risk-Taking," based on five separate studies involving students, Anderson and
Galinsky’s findings apply to powerful people.

The study points out that risky behavior can be
beneficial, helping individuals maintain or even increase their power.
By engaging in risky behavior, the powerful may take advantage of
opportunities that others avoid.
However prior success or sense of power
can lead to disastrous mistakes, but until now there’s been little
research that establishes such a link, Anderson notes.

It is an interesting set of studies that will make you think and wonder what type of mindframe you need to be successful and how to engage risk with the right mind set.

Click here to read PhysOrg.

NAR and Predictions, Long Beach

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The National Association of Realtors is predicting home prices will fall temporarily in the U.S.  Could it be pessimism?

So if the famous answer to when is the best time to buy a house? Yesterday!  Does it still apply?

I am wondering if NAR is trying to put to rest some criticism it took over this last year for being eternally optimistic.  And here is the question, do they need to keep a million people pumped up about prospective for home sales?  Most people would ask them to be realistic only.  They also need to justify their existence and fees. 

Prediction that sales were to slow, inventories and prices rising was easy to see according to trends.  What rubbed many the wrong way was painting a rosy outlook when things were otherwise in the field.

I am happy to hear more correct terms, such as: "housing market correction" which is exactly what we are seeing now.  We are experiencing a correction or if you will a return to a normally appreciating market.  If I was to really predict anything I would say it depends on two factors, global and national economy, and natural disasters.  If the economy does better than it is now and we have no natural disasters, then the market should fair well.  If, however, the economy continues to slow down and a natural disaster should strike, we would be in for a rough landing.

Market Watch paints a rosy picture of NAR.  I’m not against NAR, per se.  They have a hard job to do keeping many agents happy.  However, what I really need are faithful to the truth news. 

Here is Market Watch.