Tomorrow, July 1 at 2:30 p.m. will be the free, reservations requested Garden Tours at the Ranchos.

A stroll through the Rancho gardens is always delightful, but why not take a garden tour and learn about key plants and the fascinating history of the main garden, orchard and courtyard? The site boasts many unique plants and features. Some trees date back to the 1840s when John Temple, owner of the 27,000-acre Rancho from 1844-1866, started the garden. In 1931, renowned landscape architect Ralph Cornell redesigned the gardens for Llewellyn Bixby, Sr. and added more exotic plants and fruit trees. A water tower, a cast iron tallow pot from the 1840s, and an adobe horno are additional features you will explore during your one-hour tour.

Business Week’s Maya Roney posted an article on how Americans are afraid to buy homes.

I agree with the title, a lot of buyers are cautious but are back in the game compared to 6 months ago. While sales were up 5.8% in the Northeast and 0.7% in the Midwest, the West was down 0.8% and the South down 3.4%. It’s easy to see our local market is taking its toll generally. However, as you dive deeper and deeper into local areas, everything changes. For instance, Long Beach is not as hard hit as San Diego, since it never appreciated the same. This explains why so many buyers looking into areas such as Pasadena and Orange County have been snatching homes in our city.

Pretty much old news when the report continues with: “NAR senior economist Lawrence Yun said “psychological factors” are currently the biggest drag on housing, with tighter credit for subprime borrowers coming in a close second. Rather than take the plunge into this uncertain market, “many people are doubling-up—they’re adding roommates or moving in with parents,” he said.”.

You bet we have a psychological factor on our hands. After being bombarded with pessimistic headlines in the news and over-optimistic NAR news a while back, buyers were a little worried.

And yes, I see people moving back with their parents. Sings of times but many just cannot afford started homes.