Meeting attendees Ross Wells, Vince Cheung, Liwen Cheung to review the first draft of the landscape plans. 

Asked Ross to make the following changes:

1. Lower the lattice dense on the guest parking area to a 4 ft. tall fence so it will not block the view from the office

2. switch the chess board location with the planter box location. The planter box will be a square shape box in the new location

3. Remove all the trees on the south side of the house out on the berm area

4. Remove the 2 trees outside the south side of the 2nd garage 

5. Remove the 3 cluster of trees on the south-west side of the house towards the windemere side.  They were originally asked by the town to be there but we'll leave it out for now unless the town asks again. 

6. Remove the ground cover and all the trees in the area between the paved area out to the existing Oak trees on the East side of the house. This will remain a more open space with a dirt path out to the oak tree with natural grasses around it

7. Remove the low ground covers that line the drive way up to the house. We will only have trees along that drive way up to the house

8. The entry gate pillars need to look contemporary along with the entry gate. This item remains open for us to circle back with Mike whether it's feasible to have a sliding gate opposed to a swinging gate. (THIS IS MORE A NOTE THAN A CHANGE REQUEST)

Spec-Tech Design-Build operated from 1992-1999 and is now resurrected as Spec-Tech Construction.   We have an investment group that has formed an LLC and we are currently purchasing property for real-estate spec projects.

Google Plus launched today and is attempting to enter the same social networking arena as Facebook.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/google-plus-takes-aim-at-facebook/2011/06/28/AGHstXpH_blog.html

According to CNBC the main difference is that Google is attempting to Categorize people more (a feature that can be used on Facebook but often isn't - usually Facebook users make things open to all -    That is how Facebook users have become used to using the site).

AllyLocal has already made this jump to categorize and to take it a step further by focusing on businesses only (not personal social networking) and for helping people interact locally.  The focus is also on generating Alliances not just every day - anything goes - social networking.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6RnsSOUKtr5YVlqQm1BOWhlc3M/edit?usp=sharing

Capitalism continues to evolve.  Old social structure’s change as society matures and becomes more complex or developed.  Old social structures still exist like dictators, monarchies and caste systems.  As we see these days in the news – people long for equality and respect or a democracy.  We now see blossoming democracies all over the Middle East (Tunisia, Egypt, etc..) and social networking enabled much of this revolution.

RISE will allow capitalism to evolve as well.  RISE will antiquate the current concepts that capitalism currently holds (or attempts to categorize like a caste system).  Defining people as Employers, Employees and Consumers only demeans people and forces various levels of respect and obligation between the “casted” types.  RISE will set the evolved definition for the next stage of capitalism.  No one will be caste as an Employer.  No one will be caste as an Employee.  No one will be a Consumer.  RISE - Rewards International Standards for Everyone - will turn Everyone into a Business Person.  If everyone can relate to others as another type of business entity then everyone can RISE and relate to one another as successful business people, rather than casting people or manipulating the other to their benefit.  The evolution of capitalism with Everyone defined as a business person will improve respect, communication and will foster collaboration among all.   Success in that new found relationship will be found among small to medium to large business entities.

As a small business owner looking at customer acquisition and retention I’ve noticed changes over the last few years.

While it used to be the Yellow Pages and maybe cable TV, local newspapers or mailers lately it seems like Google, Facebook, Yelp, Groupon, Living Social and dozens more just like them have really changed things.  It’s a stretch to imagine that small business owners can go it alone and be as effective on-line as the big names do and Ally Local wants to level the playing field.

Ally Local is a Social Network for Small Business.  Ally Local’s community of small business owners work together to form their own marketing programs to increase sales, retain customers, offer promotions and find solutions to other challenges they face individually and as a group.

It’s no surprise that some big names in the internet business have become so valuable over just the last two years.  Small business is the engine of economies in the US and the rest of the world.   Ally Local provides an online community for its talented, entrepreneurial members to pool their resources and find creative solutions to taking their messages on-line.

Ally Local gives its members a My Page that is ready to go after a few simple questions and can be customized to reflect the individuality of its owner.  Membership is free and provides links to other sites including Face Book, Twitter and more.  Members can access and update Ideas, participate in Forums and have discussions both within their local business group and with members everywhere.

Local consumers tend to buy from local businesses.  All businesses benefit from a local customer base that sees value in shopping local.  Ally Local enhances participation in planning marketing campaigns and amplifies the efforts of groups like your downtown business associations through increased participation and ease of access.  Members can participate in their Ally Local Groups anywhere there is an internet connection.

Ally Local Members participate in other Social Networks in much the same way LinkedIn members might also belong Face Book.  Ally Local members share a common attribute and are able to share their experience and knowledge with their fellow entrepreneurs.  It would be completely natural for Ally Local member to find someone in their local group to help with web-page design, provide local ingredients, sell complimentary products or services or work together on a large project.

California March Home Sales

April 18, 2013

An estimated 37,764 new and resale houses and condos sold statewide last month. That was up 31.5 percent from 28,719 in February, and up 0.8 percent from 37,481 sales in March 2012, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.

It’s normal for sales to shoot up between February and March. California March sales have varied from a low of 24,565 in 2008 to a high of 68,848 in 2005. Last month's sales were 13.5 percent below the average of 43,648 sales for all the months of March since 1988, when DataQuick's statistics begin.

The median price paid for a home in California last month was $313,000, up 8.3 percent from $289,000 in February and up 24.7 percent from $251,000 in March 2012. March was the 13th consecutive month in which the state's median sale price rose year-over-year. In March/April/May 2007 the median peaked at $484,000. The post-peak trough was $221,000 in April 2009.

Of the existing homes sold last month, 15.2 percent were properties that had been foreclosed on during the past year – the lowest level since foreclosure resales were 12.6 percent of the resale market in September 2007. Last month’s figure compares with 18.0 percent in February and 32.8 percent a year earlier. Foreclosure resales peaked at 58.8 percent in February 2009.

Short sales - transactions where the sale price fell short of what was owed on the property - made up an estimated 21.5 percent of the homes that resold last month. That was down from an estimated 22.4 percent the month before and 24.5 percent a year earlier.

The typical mortgage payment that home buyers committed themselves to paying last month was $1,134. That was up from $1,042 in January and up from $901 a year earlier. Adjusted for inflation, last month's typical payment was 50.6 percent below the 1989 peak of the prior real estate cycle, and 59.9 percent below the 2006 peak of the current cycle.

DataQuick monitors real estate activity nationwide and provides information to consumers, educational institutions, public agencies, lending institutions, title companies and industry analysts.

Indicators of market distress continue to decline. Foreclosure activity remains well below year-ago and peak levels reached several years ago. Financing with multiple mortgages is low, while down payment sizes are stable, DataQuick reported.

http://www.dqnews.com/Articles/2013/News/California/RRCA130418.aspx

http://trends.truliablog.com/2013/04/trulia-real-estate-regrets-survey/

California 2012 Million-Dollar Home Sales Highest in Five Years

January 30, 2013

http://www.dqnews.com/Articles/2013/News/California/MDCA013013.aspx

The number of Golden State homes sold for a million dollars or more rose to its highest level since 2007, fueled by a recovering economy, rising home prices and a record number of cash purchases. The number of homes sold for more than $5 million rose to an all-time high, a real estate information service reported.

A total of 26,993 homes sold for $1 million-plus last year, up 26.9 percent from 21,267 in 2011. It was the most sold since 42,502 homes crossed the million-dollar threshold in 2007, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.

The all-time high was 2005, when 54,773 homes sold for a million dollars or more. Last year's 26.9 percent year-over-year sales gain outpaced the state's market as a whole: Overall sales totaled 447,573, up 8.2 percent from 413,479 in 2011.

"It should go without saying that buyers and sellers in the prestige market tend to respond to different motivations and incentives than the rest of the market. Job security, down payment sizes and mortgage interest rates don't play the same role. Returns on investments in a low interest-rate financial environment and safe-haven investing do play a role," said John Walsh, DataQuick president.

The sales distribution of luxury homes has shifted during the past two years, with record sales at the very high end. Statewide, 697 homes sold for more than $5 million last year, an all-time high and well above the previous high of 491 in 2011. In the $4-$5 million range a record 460 homes sold, well above 344 in 2011 (and 342 in 2005). In the $3-$4 million range, 1,104 homes sold, slightly ahead of 1,046 in 2005.

Sales totaled 3,266 in the $2-$3 million range, well behind 2005 when 4,070 sold (and behind 2006 and 2007 as well). In the $1-$2 million range, 17,762 sold last year, around half of the 34,145 sold in 2005.

DataQuick monitors real estate activity nationwide and provides information to consumers, educational institutions, public agencies, lending institutions, title companies and industry analysts.

The million-dollar transactions include home sales where it could be determined from public records that there was a buyer, a seller, that money changed hands, and that there was a legal transfer of property ownership. Not included were property swaps, sales of multiple lots, sales where no price or loan amount was available, teardowns, and large farm or ranch properties. Sales to companies and trusts were included.

Last year 7,791 of the million-dollar home buyers paid cash, a record number, up from 5,802 in 2011. Cash was used more frequently the higher up the price scale. Of those who did finance their purchase last year, the median down payment was 25.9 percent of the purchase price. The lending institutions most willing to provide mortgage financing for $1 million-plus homes were Wells Fargo, Union Bank and First Republic Bank.

The most expensive confirmed purchase last year was an 8,930-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 4 1/2-bathroom home in Woodside built in 2005 on just under nine acres which sold for $117,500,000 in November. The largest was a 20,248 sq.ft. 7-bedroom, 13-bathroom mansion in Bel Air.

Virtually all home sales in some communities were in the $1 million-plus category. Among them were the following: Ross in Marin County; San Marino and Santa Monica in Los Angeles County; Los Altos in Santa Clara County; Atherton and Hillsborough in San Mateo County; and Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County.

Newly-built homes accounted for 4.9 percent of last year's $1 million-plus sales, down from 5.9 percent in 2011. Condo sales made up 9.2 percent of the million-dollar category last year, down slightly from 8.0 percent the year before. Most $1 million-plus condos were sold in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego counties.

The median-sized home that sold for $1 million-plus was 2,641 sq.ft. with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The median price paid per square foot for all million-dollar homes in 2012 was $641, up 5.5 percent from $607 in 2011. For the overall California market, the square-foot median was $162 last year, up 12.5 percent from $144 in 2011, DataQuick reported.

There are 8.66 million houses and condos in California. Of those, 246,318, or 2.8 percent, are assessed for $1 million or more by county assessor offices, DataQuick reported.

Million Dollar Home Sales, ranked by 2012 sales #s

Sales of new U.S. single-family homes rose in March, indicating the housing market recovery remains on track.

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday sales increased 1.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 417,000 units. Last month's rise followed a 7.6 percent drop in February.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected sales to rise to 420,000-unit rate last month. 

Compared with March 2012, sales were up 18.5 percent, indicating the strength in the housing market that has helped boost the economy was on course. Sales are being set back by a lack of supply of homes on the market in some major parts of the country.

While the inventory of new homes on the market rose 2.0 percent to 153,000 units, it was not far from record lows.

At March's sales pace it would take 4.4 months to clear the houses on the market, the same pace in February.

A supply of six months is normally considered as a healthy balance between supply and demand. The low months' supply should push up new home prices.

The median sales price for a new home was $247,000, up 3.0 percent from a year ago.

Sales last month in the Northeast surged 20.6 percent and rose 19.4 percent in the South. Those gains were partially offset by declines in the West and Midwest.

LInk:http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/new-home-sales-rise-housing-recovery-track-6C9561988?ocid=twitter

Groupon has sold more than 70 million discount coupons in the last 2 plus years.  The company has also hired nearly 7,000 employees during that time. The company plans to raise around $750 million by going public.  The Associated Press reported that venture capitalists and others have invested $1.1 billion in the company.

The success of on-line coupon businesses points to a growing trend affecting local businesses.  The internet is an efficient and effective tool for connecting with customers.  The willingness of small businesses to use the web to boost their sales is reflected in Groupon’s tremendous growth over the last two years.

Small businesses working together to plan on-line marketing strategies are more successful than businesses that work alone.  Improving returns from coupon promotions, for example, happens when businesses work together to coordinate campaigns and maximize the value of increased customer traffic.  This, in turn, reflects favorably on the business community and results in a more rewarding shopping experience.  As a group, local businesses can evaluate competing on-line options and choose the solution that best suits their needs and budgets.

AllyLocal, a network of local businesses, provides a free on-line platform for exchanging ideas, sharing expertise, referring customers, and planning group promotions.  Members showcase their companies
on their own business page, use links to other sites like Face Book and Twitter and coordinate their internet strategy.  Sharing ideas and insights with other members improves their chances of working successfully with Groupon and the many alternatives that have come along to cash in on this lucrative market.

Wabana%20Construction%20Project%20Plan.xlsx

Business owners join together for many great reasons.  Whether it’s sharing marketing promotions, planning events, assessing customer feedback, addressing issues facing their community, joint advertising, sharing expertise and know-how, coordinating community events, producing marketing collateral or building networks, better results are achieved by working together than going it alone.

Local business owners and their employees spend their working hours in your marketplace every day.  They get coffee, go to lunch, shop for gifts, have their hair done and drop off their dry cleaning near their work because it’s convenient and more importantly, because they like the people who they buy from.   Many of them live near their jobs because they like the area, which means they also like their local businesses.  These same people, their family members, friends and neighbors are more likely to shop for services in their local area too.  From plumbers to roofers, financial planners to insurance agents, lawyers to accountants, most consumers prefer to work with someone they either know personally or through a referral – which almost always means local.

Knowing about and patronizing other businesses near your own results in meaningful and honest referrals.  Even when local business owners and their employees aren’t working it’s in their best interest to shop locally.  It’s not just convenient but it increases traffic in the neighborhood.  Increased traffic is good for everyone. 

AllyLocal is a community of small business owners and its members create content, start discussions, share ideas, write blogs and promote their unique selling proposition.  AllyLocal membership is free. 

AllyLocal provides an on-line platform for gaining access to information about businesses in local communities everywhere.  The site is works improves upon existing alliances formed through Chambers of Commerce, Local Business Associations, Facebook, email, newsletters and other traditional channels.

Members of AllyLocal need only enter general information about their businesses to join.  The result is a personal web page that’s ready to go with no changes, or a page can become a custom presentation using templates and drop and drag functionality that doesn’t require any programming skills or with the use of some basic CSS knowledge, a highly customized and professional looking page.  Member pages include features that help promote their businesses including blogs, activity feeds, comments, forums, ideas, videos, pictures, links to their company website, Facebook and Twitter and more.

Members are encouraged to join and create groups and develop alliances within communities, industries, verticals, market niches and other demographics to help them network, plan promotions, share expertise and coordinate other activities that improve customer acquisition and retention.

So go on line and meet your neighbors today.  If you join before others who you know then tell them about AllyLocal.  Join a group or start your own.  Take advantage of a great opportunity to promote your business to people who may just be your best customers.

http://www.dqnews.com/Charts/Monthly-Charts/CA-City-Charts/ZIPCAR.aspx

Bay Area Home Sales Dip Below 2012 Level Again; Median Sale
Price Rises
April 18, 2013
http://www.drsohn.com/ds/uploads/Bay_Area_Home_Sales_Dip_Below_2012_Level_Again.pdf

Supply shortages in some housing markets continue to place upward pressure on prices.

As a result, home prices inched upward 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from January to February, according to theFederal Housing Finance Agency. 

From Feb. 2012 to Feb. 2013, home prices also rose 7.1%.

However, the index is well below pre-crisis levels, down 13.6% and roughly the same as the October 2004 index level. 

"Still, the improving prices will help add supply to the housing market," said analysts for Econoday.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that home prices have not declined on a monthly basis since Jan. 2012. 

Regionally, the February home price gain was led by Pacific, increasing 15.3%. The weakest region was Middle Atlantic, down 0.6% for the month.

The FHFA’s home price index is calculated using monthly home sales price information released by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Supply of homes starts to catch up with sales