Archive for April, 2008
Christian based credit union forecloses on Oceanside church
April 30th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Fixer of the Week, San Diego county Real Estate News
OCEANSIDE– Things are getting tougher in Oceanside. According to ![Jesus+saves[1]](http://www.realtorahead.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/jesus-2bsaves1.jpg)
DataQuick the foreclosure rate in the 92056 zip code of Oceanside is up 221.7% quarter 1 2007 versus quarter 1 2008. While this is high for coastal north county, the surprise was the foreclosure of the Ambassador Church this month.
Pastor Barry Cook, who founded the church in 1995, blames the churches inability to meet its financial obligations on a declining congregation. One of the possible reasons for this decline? The pastor’s divorce from his wife this year.
“There were a lot of people who were hurt because of what happened to us,” Cook said. “There were a lot of people who were hurt because of delays in building. There were a lot of people who were hurt because I wasn’t stepping up to the plate as I should.” -San Diego Union Tribune 4/30/2008
The credit union, noting foreclosure on churches is very rare, is working with Ambassador church on a possible month to month tenancy. Let’s hope they are able to work this out.
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Goodbye Dave Martin
April 25th, 2008 Categories: San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SOLANA BEACH– Tonight I said goodbye to triathlon club of San Diego member Dave Martin. As president of this great group it has been a very busy and emotional day for me. I came in to the position with the club when last June our president, Jim McCann, passed away unexpectedly.
Dave like many of us lived life to the fullest. When you look at the ocean as it was this evening, so serene and inviting, it is hard to imagine the tragedy that took place here in Fletcher Cove earlier. There 
were several heros swimming with Dave that showed great courage to do what they could to get him back to the beach. Unfortunately the encounter with the estimated 12–17’ great white caused to severe an injury.
The triathlon club hosted an open house at BnL Bike in Solana Beach so that it’s members could get together and support each other and those that were so closely effected by this tragedy.
As triathletes, we have to remember that while the ocean is home to 
creatures that have the potential to be dangerous, it is also our playground. Like a bike ride or a nice run, there is not a problem in existence that can not be solved during a good swim and not having to do flip turns every 25, makes it that much nicer.
I understand the prudence behind closing the beaches and giving the experts a chance to understand the situation, but we need not be afraid. This situation is as unfortunate as it is rare. This is supported by the media circus surrounding this event. From the small local North County Times to CNN my phone and email were flooded all day and evening with request for information and interviews.
We live in paradise and Dave knew it. As we watched the sun go down today as a group I could not help but think of the importance of trying to pack as much of life into each and every minute of our day.
Goodbye Dave.
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Shark attack off Solana Beach’s Fletcher Cove
April 25th, 2008 Categories: San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SAN DIEGO– This morning during a group swim, it appears one of the swimmers was fataly attacked. While shark attacks are EXTREMELY rare in the waters off the San Diego coast, we all know this is their home.
Out of respect to the family, my friends and the other swimmers that made up the group I will wait to post more information.
UPDATE: Here is an article from MSN.
As many of you know the victim was triathlon club member Dave Martin. There really is nothing more I can add that has not already been put out there.
As badly as I wanted to ‘scoop’ the media, having known all the information since early this morning, I opted for the high road and wanted to show respect to our frien Dave by respecting his family’s wishes.
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Two time offender ONLY gets 10 years in cyclist death
April 23rd, 2008 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports
Tucson– I picked up a free periodical titled Tailwinds from the Calavera Community Center yesterday. It is based out of and primarily on the Tuc
son mountain biking scene. As I was thumbing through it and wondering why it was here in Carlsbad this title caught my eye; Callous Attitude Gets Killer of Cyclist Near Maximum Term.
The story is about Melissa Arrington, barmaid and stripper, who while driving 
drunk, .156 blood alcohol, on a suspended license from a previous DUI conviction struck and killed a cyclist riding in a bike lane. However it was her attitude towards her actions that prompted the judge, why he didn’t give her the full 11 is beyond me, to give her 10 years.
In a recorded conversation with a male friend she laughed about “taking out a tree hugger, a bicyclist, a frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot”.
The man she killed was Paul L’Ecuyer who was a counselor and human rights worker. He was riding in the bike lane when struck.
1o years just doesn’t seem enough.
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Earth Day for the triathlete
April 22nd, 2008 Categories: San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SAN DIEGO– Today after my swim I had a ‘light bulb’ moment. Since today 
is Earth Day, I should write an entry based on things we can do or use to be more earth friendly. Unfortunately, it’s a little too late to research that post, but what caused the light to come on? A swim chamois.
I wish I could say that I thought this through, but see I always forget to bring a towel. Additionally I ride when I can to the pool so I prefer to travel light. These two reasons led me to buy the chamois and it’s been great. I can wring it out, throw it in its container and leave it in my bag. No smell, no forgetting a towel. Today though, the eco benefit presented itself.
According to SDGE, the average household does 400 loads of laundry a year. Another source states that the average washer uses 40 gallon of water. Now without counting the energy used to heat the water used in the washing machine, the energy use of the dryer and the soap, I figure I am saving about 2300 gallons of water and if you read my blog you know water is a big concern of mine. This is based on 1 load a week of towels I would use if not using the chamois. Again there would be additional savings of electricty, natural gas and chemicals which is a cleaner environment and more money in your pocket.
If you have any enviro friendly suggestions that pertain to the active lifestyle please post them in the commment section.
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Village Park is the affordable Encinitas
April 21st, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Community News, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, San Diego county Real Estate News
ENCINITAS– I recently wrote about the pluses of the Clairemont community and now we are shifting our focus to coastal north county. Primarily the Village Park community in the southeast section of Encinitas. This is a great community for many people especially those looking for their first home and crave the active lifestyle.
The community was built in the early 70’s and features both single family 
and attached homes. There are miles of greenbelt and open space for walking, jogging or running around with dogs and/or kids. The community has its own local elementary school, Park Dale Lane, that is an easy walk for most of the residents. Another plus of the community is the proximity to the shopping and medical district of Encinitas. Local stores include favorites Henry’s, Trader Joes, Jimbo’s, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and many more. It is also very close to the beaches of both Encinitas and Cardiff.
For the active lifestyle, there is always the coastal runs, but here, the Rancho Santa Fe running trails are a long mile from the community. Jumping on the bike just out your door are the coastal routes or head east to hit Del Dios. Time for a swim, the Magdalena Ecke YMCA is close by or stay home as there is a 25 meter lap pool in the community!!! Lastly triathlon has recently come back to Encinitas. You can sign up for the Encinitas triathlon and ride the bike down to the start at Moonlight beach.
Currently there are 16 listings of both attached and detached homes ranging from $309,000 to $699,000. Nine of these listings are $500,000 or under making this the affordable option for the coastal lifestyle.
Here are a couple charts, data from Sandicor MLS, I created looking back over the last five years quarterly. With housing affordability issues I focused on attached homes. Click on them to expand to full size. Contact me with any questions at 760–415–3329 or if I can help you with your real estate needs.
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Do it yourself Boston Qualifier
April 19th, 2008 Categories: Aquathlon and Duathlon Race Reports, San Diego County Community News, San Diego County run routes, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SAN DIEGO– Triathlon club of San Diego member, 64 year old, Carl Johnson 
wanted to run the Boston Marathon this year with his daughter. He had run it before in 1996 and planned to qualify for this year’s race at the Long Beach Marathon.
As often happens, the wheels fell off the wagon around the 20 mile mark and after a curbside lounge, Carl missed his qualifying time and finished in 4:35.
But you see, we triathletes are an unusual lot, full of ‘outside the box’ thinkers. We set cycling on it’s ear with aerobars and steep framed bikes and Carl applied that thinking to his problem. See 
Carl, a retired art teacher, put the creative energy to work and set up his own marathon course. The Otay Lakes Marathon was laid out starting in Jamul and ending at the Cricket Wireless Ampitheatre in Chula Vista. The course was submitted to and certified by Ron Scardera of USA Track and Field. Now the first of the two requirements that would get Carl his entry, a certified course, was met. The other, run it in under 4:00, was about to be confronted as well.
ON January 20, 2008 with the help of family as volunteers, Carl ran the first annual Carl Johnson Invitational Otay Lakes Marathon and he not only beat the 
qualifying time for Boston, he finished first AND set a course record!!!!
It did take awhile, 43 days, for Carl to get the Boston Athletic Association to acknowledge the results of his race, but they did and father and daughter will be spending a nice New England Monday together looking forward to heartbreak hill!!!
When life gives you lemons………
Congratulations Carl and for Don Norcross’s article, go here.
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Nalgene sports bottles; Goodbye old friend
April 18th, 2008 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, San Diego County run routes, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SAN DIEGO– The production of Nalgene sports bottles so many of use is being halted and stock is being pulled from shelves. It seems the bottles contain a chemical, bisphenol A, which in animal studies are linked to “low 
doses to a wide variety of ailments — from breast and prostate cancer, obesity and hyperactivity, to miscarriages and other reproductive failures”. -msnbc 4/18/2008 2008 The Associated Press
Additionally “ an expert panel of 38 academic and government researchers who attended a National Institutes of Health-sponsored conference said in a study in August that “the potential for BPA to impact human health is a concern, and more research is clearly needed.”– msnbc 4/18/2008 2008 The Associated Press
The manufacturer, Nalge Nunc International, will contniue to make a similar polycarbonate sports bottle that will be of the chemical BPA.
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Share the road
April 16th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, San Diego county Real Estate News, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SAN DIEGO– A friend of mine forwarded this video to me, dothetest, and while certainly not real estate related it does go to our lifestyle and why we live here in San Diego.
It is a very current topic for me though, as a friend and client was hit by a truck in Encinitas this weekend and is now in the hospital with 15 screws and several plates holding her tibula and fibula together.
Make sure you have the volumne on and this is not a prank or joke. Promise.
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Carlsbad 3 bedroom contractor special
April 15th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Community News, San Diego County Fixer of the Week, San Diego county Real Estate News
CARLSBAD– Here you go, the contractor/ sweat equity special you have been waiting for!!! 
This home listed by Windemere Exclusive Properties, features 3 bedroom, 2.5 baths with a pool on a 8000 square foot lot. The home sits just above Aqua Hedionda lagoon and one block, Laguna Riviera park, from Kelly Elementary school.
This project being offered at $459,000. If you are interested in viewing this home contact me, Brian Long at 760–415–3329 or follow this link.
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