Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 21, 2013

B4

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, December 21, 2013 


RICH Johnson 

QUESTIONING LIBRARIES

Ever been in a library? 
We have a grand one in 
Sierra Madre. And you 
should take advantage 
of their many resources. 
One of the services many 
libraries have been known to perform is telephone 
reference services. People call with often strange 
questions. Librarians have compiled 6 million of 
them. I’m short a little space to list them all. But I 
will offer up some highlights. 

What is the most despised household task? 
According to a Gallup poll in 1991, washing 
dishes is the least favorite. Followed by cleaning 
the bathroom and ironing. 

Did Betsy Ross design the American flag? Sorry, 
but no. It was designed by Francis Hopkinson, a 
naval flag designer. He got paid for it.

What is the most unusual and unlikely mating 
on record between dogs? Believe it or not in 
1972 a rascally little male dachshund crept up 
on a sleeping…great dane! The union produced 
13 Great Dachshunds, known by their short legs, 
large heads and raised ears.

How did the kingdom of Oz get its name? L. 
Frank Baum, author of the book series says he 
was inspired by, of all things, a file cabinet drawer 
marked “O-Z”.

How long was the Berlin Wall? It was raised in 
1961 and razed in 1989. And it was 26.5 miles 
long. That’s approximately the distance from Los 
Angeles to Catalina Island (remember the song, 
“26 Miles Across the Seas”). The Great Wall of 
China is, by the way, 13, 170 miles. A wee bit 
longer.

Are humans the only animals that get sunburn? 
Ask local hometown hero Neil the Pig. He told 
me pigs can also get sunburn.

How did we get the term “best man” at weddings? 
This tradition was started in Scotland where men 
were men and they often kidnapped their would-
be brides. The best man was the toughest friend 
the bridegroom had and helped in the abduction 
and any disturbances caused by the bride’s friends 
or relatives.

How many muscles does it take to smile? To 
frown? We’re told it takes seventeen to smile and 
forty-three to frown.

How many females have appeared on U.S. 
currency? Four. Martha Washington appeared 
on $1 silver certificates in the 1880s. Pocahontas 
appeared on $10 notes from 1869-1878. Susan B. 
Anthony had her image on the one dollar coin 
from 1979 to 1981. And again in 1999. And 
Sacagawea resides currently on the dollar coin.

And finally, just what does Kemo Sabe really 
mean? Used by Tonto on the show The Lone 
Ranger it was supposed to mean “faithful friend”. 
In Apache, it really means “white shirt”; in 
Navajo, it means “soggy shrub.” I wonder if Tonto 
was Navajo.

I have a wonderful private library that includes 
dozens of trivia and quote books. This information 
primarily came from a book coincidentally 
entitled, The Book of Lists. It was compiled by 
David Wallechinksky and Amy Wallace. Thank 
you David and Amy. 

If you like this type of humor and information 
please join me and my crazy friends on the “Barry 
Rich and Lisa” radio show. You can hear us on the 
internet in several places: Locally at Villagevine.
org. We are also on iHeart.com, Spreaker.com, 
and finally our own website: BarryRichLisa.com.

Have a wonderful and Merry Christmas!

HARDER THAN IT LOOKS

With markets so rapidly changing, it's easy to imagine how property appraisers might sit in a darkened 
room, waving their hands over a crystal ball, and producing the mysterious and all-powerful 
document of a home's value. Let's dispel the notion of magical figures and look more carefully at the 
process.

When comparing against similar properties, it's not just the final price that counts. Appraisers also 
factor in any "incentives" offered, such as sellers who pay closing costs or remodeling allowances. 

Perhaps the most important factor that lenders review in an appraisal is the closing dates of the "comparables" 
(other homes by which yours is measured). Unfortunately, with today’s stricter lending requirements, 
most "comps" must have sold within the last 60 or even 45 days to carry weight. Markets 
change so quickly that any sale price over two months old may be completely irrelevant.

Now a few words about how foreclosures in a neighborhood affect determination of value. Technically, 
appraisers shouldn't consider them, because they don't fit the Appraisal Institute's definition of 
"a property reasonably exposed in a competitive market." However, if several area homes have been 
abandoned, we know the negative effect that can have on a home's “perceived” value.

If you're planning to sell, express your concerns about the appraisal process to your representative, 
who will offer explanations and suggestions for improving your report’s results. 

BUSINESS TODAY

The latest on Business News, Trends and Techniques


By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA

POST-HOLIDAY DONATIONS 

Everyone knows about the fantastic sales that commence on December 26th. If you are among those 
adventurous enough to brave the crowds to take advantage of deep discounts, consider picking up a 
few extra items to donate to a nonprofit, community group or school in your community.

Have you attended an event at one of these organizations and noticed they could really use a new and 
improved coffee machine or some carafes that you might find on sale? You may want to throw in a 
supply of disposable cups.

Most people don’t realize how much teachers spend on schoolroom supplies out of their own pockets. 
Try to reflect on some of the displays on the bulletin boards and other decorations from your last 
visit to your child’s school. Art supplies and writing instruments like markers, glitter glue and other 
specialty supplies will be a welcome addition to the arsenal of most grade school teachers.

Local nonprofit organizations are always in need of something, as many of them rely on donations to 
replace office furniture, filing cabinets and many other furnishings that can be costly. They would be 
elated to receive new seating to replace worn and dated chairs in their reception area, or a new office 
chair to make a worker’s time more comfortable at a desk assisting clients.

We can all extend the spirit of the traditional holiday giving season to pass along a few additional 
blessings to support the organizations that extend a helping hand to some segments of our 
communities year-round.

Not certain of what to purchase as a donation? A gift card from a local store that may have something 
of use to one of these organizations will be certainly be appreciated and put to good use.


WENDY JOSEPH

If you enjoy the intrigue of sword and sorcery, you’ll want 
to stop and take notice of an author who has lived a more 
adventurous life that most of us would ever imagine.

Wendy Joseph vies with her characters for a life of romance 
and adventure. A deckhand on merchant ships, she has 
outrun pirates off of Somalia, steered ships large and 
small through typhoons and calms from the Bering Sea to 
Shanghai, and helped rescue seals on the Pacific coast.

Her passion is for works of the imagination, for telling a 
really good story, and for connecting with the minds and 
souls of readers and taking them to a magnificent and finer 
place.

Researching her sword and sorcery novel The Witch’s Hand 
in France, she traced the paths of her characters over the 
terrain they covered to get the description right, and dug up 
old documents for historical accuracy. She holds two Master’s 
in English from UCLA and the University of Washington, 
and can splice a twelve strand line.

The Witch’s Hand is the thinking person’s sword and sorcery, 
and preview readers have given it a thumbs up. Malaxia, the 
most formidable witch in 13th century France, has chosen 
young Liana as her protégé and successor, but Liana isn’t 
sure she wants to be the most powerful and destructive witch 
in the world, and doesn’t want to cooperate. Hounded into 
the wild by the Church, she receives unexpected help from 
the vicomte Jettaret, a returned Crusader and lost soul with 
PTSD, and his rascally friend Alberge. Magic, swordplay, 
and medieval faith and superstition share the pages, as Liana 
tries to find her path and decide who and what is good or 
evil.

The Witch’s Hand has contemporary applications and 
resonance—an ex-soldier with PTSD, religion-fueled 
hysteria, and the use and misuse of power. It is not an 
otherworldly fantasy but is rooted in the real world.

Available in hardcopy, Kindle and Nook.

For information on how to order The Witch’s Hand, as well 
as information on our talented roster of members, visit 
www.AuthorsTourUSA.com. 


HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT YOUR BRAND?

Part of a good marketing strategy is about finding the right people you can 
persuade that your product or service is worth spending their money on.

People buy a product or service for four reasons: they need it, have time for it, can afford it, they like 
it or they like the person providing the service. 

Social media can only influence one of those four areas. You can’t force someone to need your 
product if they don’t, and you can’t control how much money someone has. The only area you really 
can influence is whether they like you or not. And sometimes, that’s hard to do too!

Maya Angelou said…

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will 
never forget how you made them feel.” 

Take a look at your social media presence and see if you are creating a brand that is likeable. Are 
you adding in human touches? Are you sharing interesting information? Are you listening and 
commenting on other people’s social media posts? 

Making your audience feel good is good for your business.

About MJ: MJ and her brother David own HUTdogs, a creative services business that specializes in 
Internet Marketing strategies and Social Media. They offer social media management services and 
help their clients build a strong on-line presence. “Like” them on Facebook for trending news in 
social media, internet marketing and other helpful tips, www.facebook.com/hutdogs.

Sign up for their upcoming classes and presentations at: www.hutdogs.com/workshops/schedule 

DIMINISHING HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CONTINUES TO 
SLOW DOWN HOME SALES IN NOVEMBER, A.A.R. REPORTS

ARCADIA– A run-up in home prices, coupled with 
higher interest rates, put downward pressure on housing 
affordability and led to the fourth straight month of 
sales declines in November, the Arcadia Association of 
REALTORS® (A.A.R.) reported. 

“Improving home prices are a double-edged sword 
for the housing market. While welcomed news for 
homeowners and prospective sellers, diminished affordability 
is squeezing out many buyers and dampening 
their enthusiasm for home purchasing,” said 2013 
A.A.R. President Andy Bencosme. “Buyers are playing 
the waiting game and putting their home search on 
hold until prices stabilize and more inventory becomes 
available in the market.”

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached 
homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized 
rate of 387,520 units in November, according 
to information collected by the California Association 
of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) from more than 90 local 
REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. Sales 
in November were down 3.4 percent from a revised 
401,000 in October and down 12 percent from a revised 
440,250 in November 2012. The November 2013 
figure was the lowest since July 2010. The statewide 
sales figure represents what would be the total number 
of homes sold during 2013 if sales maintained the 
November pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to 
account for seasonal factors that typically influence 
home sales. 

The statewide median price of an existing, single-family 
detached home slipped 1.2 percent from October’s 
median price of $427,290 to $422,210 in November. 
November’s price was 22.2 percent higher than the revised 
$345,560 recorded in November 2012, marking 
the 17th straight month of double-digit annual gains. 
The median sales price is the point at which half of 
homes sold for more and half sold for less; it is influenced 
by the types of homes selling as well as a general 
change in values.

“Sales reached their highest level in the fourth quarter 
of 2012, when mortgage rates bottomed out last 
November. While diminishing housing affordability 
played a big role in the larger than expected decrease 
in home sales this November, exceptionally strong 
sales last year was another factor for the double-digit 
year-to-year decline,” said A.A.R. CEO, Andrew Cooper. 
“The demand for housing could remain soft in the 
upcoming months as buyers and sellers continue to 
search for a level playing field in the market.” 

Other key facts of C.A.R.’s November 2013 resale housing 
report include: 

• The available supply of existing, single-family 
detached homes for sale edged up in November to 3.6 
months, up from October’s Unsold Inventory Index 
of 3.4 months. The index was 3 months in November 
2012. The index indicates the number of months 
needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at 
the current sales rate. A six- to seven-month supply is 
considered typical in a normal market.

• The median number of days it took to sell a 
single-family home also increased to 36.7 days in November, 
up from 33.1 days in October, but was down 
from 37.5 days in November 2012. 

• Mortgage rates rose in November, with the 30-
year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaging 4.26 percent, 
up from 4.19 percent in October and up from 
3.35 percent in November 2012, according to Freddie 
Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates in November 
averaged 2.61 percent, down from 2.63 in October and 
up from 2.57 percent in November 2012.

 

Representing local Realtors® in the San Gabriel Valley for 89 
years, the ARCADIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.
TheAAR.com) is one of the oldest trade organizations in CA. 
The AAR is dedicated to the advancement of professionalism 
in real estate and is an advocate for private property rights. 
A.A.R. is headquartered in Arcadia.