San Diego County is home to several fine educational institutions that have received various awards and recognition for their educational standards. The major four-year colleges and universities in San Diego County are as follows.

California State University

California State University is located in San Marcos, California. The university is home to three colleges, which include Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, and Education. The university is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for their Bachelors and Masters Degree programs.

A few of the courses offered at California State University includes:
Anthropology
Applied Physics
Art History
Biochemistry
Business Administration
Chemistry
Computer Science
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Economics
Film Studies
Human Development
Kinesiology
Literature and Writing Studies
Mathematics
Nursing
Philosophy
Physics
Social Sciences
Sociology
Visual and Performing Arts

Point LoNazarene University

Point LoNazarene University is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college home in San Diego, California. The university is private and has five locations including Arcadis, Kersfield, Mission Valley, Inland Empire, and the undergraduate campus in Point Loma. The university was accredited in 1949 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The university offers over 60 areas of scholarship as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, along with graduate degrees in biology, education, religion, business administration, and nursing. The school integrates their Christian faith with all the courses.

A few of the courses offered at Point LoNazarene University includes:

Accounting
Art and Design
Biblical Studies
Biology
Broadcast Journalism
Child Development
Communication
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Dietetics
Economics
Food Services
Information Systems
Interior Design
Journalism
Kinesiology
Mathematics
Media and Film
Music Education
Physical Education

National University

National University is home in San Diego, California with 28 campuses dotting the state and one home in Nevada. National University has five schools and one college within its organization including The School of Education; The School of Engineering and Technology; The School of Health and Human Services; The School of Media and Communication; and The College of Arts and Sciences. The university offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs and over 300 courses.

A few of the courses offered at Point LoNazarene University includes:
School of Business and Management
Leadership and Business Administration
Management and Marketing
School of Education
Educational Administration
School Counseling and Psychology
Teacher Education
Teaching Credential Preliminary Single Subject
School of Engineering and Technology
Bachelor of Science Design Engineering
Master of Science Engineering Management
Master of Science Environmental Engineering
Computer Science and Information Systems
Bachelor of Science Computer Science
Master of Science Computer Science
Master of Science Datase Administration
Master of Science Information Systems
Master of Science Software Engineering
Master of Science Technology Management
School of Health and Human Services

Alliant International University

Alliant International University is home in San Francisco, California with a campus in San Diego, Scripps Ranch Campus. Alliant International University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges as well as the educational programs being accredited by the State of California Board of Education.

Alliant offers degree programs to graduate students, and to undergraduates who have completed at least two years of college work, in the following fields:
Business
Clinical Psychology
Communication
Consulting Psychology
Psychopharmacology
Forensic Psychology
Educational Leadership
Educational Administration
Educational/School Psychology
Industrial Organizational Psychology
International Business
Liberal Studies
Marital & Family Therapy
Organizational Behavior
Organizational Development
International Relations
Teaching & Credentials
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

San Diego State University

San Diego State University is home in San Diego, California. This is the largest and oldest higher education facility found in the San Diego area. The university offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in 151 fields. San Diego State University is a member of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, the Southwest Border Security Consortium, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

The university is home to eight colleges, which includes:
College of Arts & Letters
College of Business Administration
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Health & Human Services
College of Sciences
College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts
College of Extended Studies

University of California

University of California is home in the community of La Jolla in San Diego. The University of California has 10 campuses. The university is home to 44 Research Centers as well which includes Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences, AIDS Research Institute, Center for Energy Research, Center for Human Development, Center for Marine Genomics, Center for Molecular Agriculture, Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, Climate Research Division, Clinical Investigation Institute, Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, to name a few.

The degrees offered at University of California range from master to doctorates to professional degrees, which are divided into the following categories:
Arts & Humanities
Education
Engineering
Health Sciences
Mathematics
Professional
Natural & Physical Sciences
Social Sciences

University of San Diego

The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university home in San Diego, California. The university offers more than sixty bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs. The University of San Diego is home to six educational facilities, which includes the School of Business Administration, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Nursing & Health Science, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.

The University of San Diego offers a wide range of graduate degrees, certificates, and credential programs in the College of Arts and Sciences and our School of Business Administration, School of Leadership & Education Sciences, School of Law, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, and Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.

With over 20 years of experience of buying and selling homes. I wanted to share with everyone some very basic tips that will without a doubt help you sell your home for a higher price and much faster. If everyone would apply these basic tips they too would see a lot faster results with much higher offers!

Even though there are additional items that could be added to this list these will most definitely benifit your overall results.

1. De-Clutter: This one is a very basic rule and one of the most overlooked. De-clutter everywhere; inside and outside. If it’s taking up space it is a potential candidate to be thrown out. The sellers need to make that all important mental conversion from “home to live in” to “house for sale.” Personal things are a big distraction as you want the buyers to be able to visualize their own belonging in the house.

2. Repair: Buyers want everything working so don’t disappoint them - dripping faucets, broken windows, leaking roofs, damaged walls and doors, etc, beg the question in the buyer’s mind…What else is broken or doesn’t work?

3. Lots of Light: The last thing home buyers want to see is a dark home with all of the doors and windows covered. Let the light in and open some windows to let in some fresh air. Room deodorizers leave the impression of covering something up as does a window that has the blinds drawn.

4. Clean Windows: Buyers want to know and see the view they will have from every room - don’t make them look through dirty windows. If they do, the impression of a having great view is literally going “out the window.”

5. Kitchen and Bathrooms: Two of the most important rooms in the house. They must be spotless and first class. Just cleaning up isn’t going to be good enough - you need to “deep clean” all counters, floors, cabinets and all the fixtures in the bathrooms. In the bathrooms consider new fixtures or counter-tops and perhaps redoing the shower and tub enclosures. If new fixtures are not in the budget you may want to consider having them refinished. Think about having all the tile steam cleaned and make sure all grout is free from grease and dirt.

6. Odors: Absolute deal killers are cigarette or pet odors. If this is a problem - have the drapes, carpets and furniture professionally cleaned and please…”no smoking” in the house. Also, cooking odors are not a good thing. The best bet is to always for plan fresh air. Often a little lemon oil mixed with water in a spray bottle used lightly used will add just a bit of freshness without overpowering the house.

7. Paint: A fresh coat of paint on the outside or inside is an excellent way of freshening up your home. Be sure to use neutral colors and avoid accent painting. Don’t try and guess what a potential buyer will like. In most cases they should use a professional painter because it’s always a bigger job than most people think.

8. Yard Work: Deal with overgrown bushes, shrubs and trees. Everything in the yard needs to be trimmed, watered, manicured and “living.” Remove everything lying around the yard including sports equipment, boats, trailers, toys, etc. You may also add some color by placing some annuals in planters in the back as well as in the front. Curb appeal makes that all important “first impression.”

9. Furniture: The bottom line… less is best. If it’s old, worn or dated, you should put it in storage. Remember that you are setting a stage and the actor needs to be the house - not their furniture.

10. Hardwood Floors: Hardwood floors can be a huge plus for buyers unless they look like a 20 year old basketball court. It may be a great investment to have them all refinished - but keep in mind that it’s not a simple weekend project.

Your San Diego VIP Team of REALTORS wish all of you a very happy and safe Mothers Day!

Here is a little history regarding this very special day of Mothers Day!

This is a great story how one person’s vision can affect the world for ever! Compliments of 123 Holiday .net!

Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the boardroom of Hallmark. The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.

In the United States, Mother’s Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it “Mother’s Work Day.”

Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston poet, pacifist, suffragist, and author of the lyrics to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace, since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.

In 1905 when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign to memorialize the life work of her mother. Legend has it that young Anna remembered a Sunday school lesson that her mother gave in which she said, “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers.”

Anna began to lobby prominent businessmen like John Wannamaker, and politicians including Presidents Taft and Roosevelt to support her campaign to create a special day to honor mothers. At one of the first services organized to celebrate Anna’s mother in 1908, at her church in West Virginia, Anna handed out her mother’s favorite flower, the white carnation. Five years later, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling for officials of the federal government to wear white carnations on Mother’s Day. In 1914 Anna’s hard work paid off when Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday.

At first, people observed Mother’s Day by attending church, writing letters to their mothers, and eventually, by sending cards, presents, and flowers. With the increasing gift-giving activity associated with Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis became enraged. She believed that the day’s sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of greed and profit. In 1923 she filed a lawsuit to stop a Mother’s Day festival, and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a convention selling carnations for a war mother’s group. Before her death in 1948, Jarvis is said to have confessed that she regretted ever starting the mother’s day tradition.

Despite Jarvis’s misgivings, Mother’s Day has flourished in the United States. In fact, the second Sunday of May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers.

San Diego County is home to many wonderful colleges from four-year colleges and universities to two-year colleges and community colleges. Community colleges throughout the San Diego area offer a variety of opportunities in education. The list of major community colleges in San Diego County is as follows. This is another reason why the San Diego Real Estate market still has several buyers in todays market.

MiraCosta College

MiraCosta College is home in Oceanside California along with another campus in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The college offers associate’s degrees along with over 50 different certificates in short term training. Many of the certificate programs can be completed in one or two years.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at MiraCosta College include:
Accounting
Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Business Administration
Child Development
Computer Science
Entrepreneurship
Food Service Operations
Hospitality Management
Internet and Multimedia Technology
Licensed Vocational Nursing
Marketing and Management
Medical Assistant
Music and Recording Arts
Nursing
Phlebotomy
Real Estate
Restaurant Management
Travel and Tourism

Palomar College

Palomar College has one campus along with eight satellite centers in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, California while the eight satellite centers are located throughout northern San Diego County. The centers are located in Borrego Springs High School, Camp Pendleton, Escondido, Fallbrook High School, Mount Carmel High School, Pauma Indian Reservation, Poway High School, and at Ramona High School.

This community college offers over 250 associate degrees and certificate programs, which can be found in these categories:
Arts, Media, Business, & Computer Systems
Career, Technical, & Extended Education
Languages & Literature
Mathematics & The Natural and Health Sciences
Social & Behavioral Sciences

San Diego City College

San Diego City College is a two-year community college home in San Diego, California nearby Balboa Park. Courses provided at the college are general education, lower-division transfer programs, occupational and developmental education.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at San Diego City College include:
Accounting
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
Anthropology
Behavioral Sciences
Biology
Biotechnology
Child Development
Computer Repair
Computer Technical Illustration
Cosmetology
Electricity
Electronics
Electronic Music
Fitness Specialist Program
Geology
Graphic Design
History
Languages
Legal Assistant
Marketing
Nursing Education
Psychology
Real estate
Social Work
Theatre

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego Mesa College is a two-year community college home in San Diego, California. This is the largest community college in San Diego. Courses provided at the college are general education, lower-division transfer programs, occupational and developmental education with an outstanding music program.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at San Diego Mesa College include:
Accounting
American Sign Language
Animal Health Technology
Architecture
Biology
Building Construction Technology
Business
Chemistry
Computer and Information Science
Culinary Arts
Dance
Dental Assisting
Engineering
Geographic Information Systems
Hospitality Management
Hotel Management
Interior Design
Marketing
Nutrition
Physics
Political Science
Social Sciences
Women’s Studies

San Diego Miramar College

San Diego Miramar College is a two-year community college home in San Diego, CA, USA. Over the last few years, Miramar College has grown and had added educational facilities such as a high-tech computer business center, library, police academy, child development center, digital media lab, and classrooms for SDSU’s Higher Education Center.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at San Diego Miramar College include:
Accounting
Administration of Justice
Anthropology
Art-Fine Art
Astronomy
Aviation Maintenance
Aviation Operations
Automotive Technology
Biology
Business Administration
Business Management
Chemistry
Child Development
Computer Business Technology
Computer and Information Sciences
Diesel Technology
Emergency Medical Technician
Fire Protection Technology
Humanities
Liberal Arts
Paralegal
Pre-Engineering
Sociology

Grossmont College

Grossmont College is a community college home in El Cajon, California. The college offers over 150 associate degree programs along with transfer programs and certificates of general education and career programs, including health sciences, fine arts, humanities, science, math, and exercise science.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at Grossmont College in the following divisions:
Business & Professional Studies
Communication & Fine Arts
Counseling, Student Development & Matriculation
Humanities & Social/Behavioral Sciences
Learning & Technology Resources
Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Exercise Science & Wellness

Cuyamaca College

Cuyamaca College is a community college home in El Cajon, California. The college offers over 150 associate degree programs along with transfer programs and certificates of general education and career programs, including health sciences, fine arts, humanities, science, math, and exercise science.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at Cuyamaca College in the following divisions:
Art
Athletics
Automotive Technology
Business & Professional Studies
Child Development & Elementary
Communication Arts
Computer & Technology and Graphic Design
Web Development
Computer Science
CADD Technology
Environmental Health and Safety Technology
Exercise Science and Health Education
Fitness Center
Foreign Languages
Humanities
Religious Studies
Library
Mathematics
Ornamental Horticulture
Performing Arts
Theatre Arts
Personal Development Counseling
Science/Engineering
Water/Wastewater Technology

Southwestern College

Southwestern College is two-year community college home in Chula Vista, California. The college offers over 285 associate degree and certificate options. The college is constantly ranked in the top 100 in the number of associate degrees Community colleges throughout the nation.

A few of the degrees or certificate programs offered at Southwestern College include:
Administration of Justice
Architecture Program
Associate Degree Nursing
Athletics
Biotechnology
Certified Nursing Assistant
Child Development
Computer Aided Design and Drafting
Dental Hygiene Program
Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedics
Environmental Hazardous Materials Technology
Fire Science
International Studies
Landscape and Nursery Technology
LVN-ADN Step-Up Program
Nursing
Pharmaceutical and Laboratory Science
Police Academy Training Program
Recording Arts and Technology
Southwestern Teacher Education Preparation Program
Surgical Technology Program
Telemedia
The Perioperative Nursing Program
Vocational Nursing

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS I don’t know what you guys are paying for gasoline…. but here in California we are paying up to $3.75 to $4.10 per gallon. My line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money’s worth for every gallon:

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose, CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands , so buying in the afternoon or in the evening….your gallon is not exactly a gallon . In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.

A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big de a l for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between t he gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up; most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

WHERE TO BUY USA GAS, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON:

Gas rationing in the 80’s worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods. We should return the favor.

An interesting thought is to boycott their GAS.

Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don’t import their oil from the Saudis.

Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who are trying to kill me, my family, and my friends.

I thought it might be interesting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gas from and which major companies import Middle Eastern oil.

Companies that import Middle Eastern oil:

Shell……………………… 205,742,000 barrels

Chevron/Texaco……… 144,332,000 barrels

Exxon /Mobil…………… 130,082,000 barrels

Marathon/Speedway… 117,740,000 barrels

Amoco………………………..62,231,000 barrels

CITGO gas is from South America, from a Dictator who hates Americans. If you do the math at $30/barrel , these exports amount to over $18 BILLION! (Oil is now $90 - $100 a barrel. Don’T ƒÆ’¢â‚¬â„¢t buy from CITGO).

Companies that DO NOT import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco………………0 barrels

Conoco.. …………….0 barrels

Sinclair……………..0 barrels

BP/Phillips………….0 barrels

Hess…………………..0 barrels

ARCO…………………0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy and each is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.

To have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers. It’s really simple to do.

I’m sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)…and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) and so on, by the time the message re aches the sixth generation o n of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers !!!!!!! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted!

If it goes one level further, you guessed it….. THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!

Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people…and maybe we can make a dent in this gasoline dependency.

Instead of running out house shopping for your dream home, it is always in your best interest to contact a lender and become either pre-approved or pre-qualified for a home loan. The main reason is that if you find a home that you really love, put in your offer, and then apply for a loan, you may find that you do not qualify for the home loan. The best way to ensure you do not have to walk away from your dream home is to be pre-approved prior to searching for your new home.

What a pre-approval will do for you is give you more buying power! You will know exactly how much home you can afford to buy and even an estimate on your monthly mortgage payments. In order to get a pre-approval letter, you must contact a lender. Next, you will fill out an application. You will have to answer such questions as how much would you like to spend, show proof of your income, and a credit report will be ran. After the lender has all of this information and has looked at how much money, you spend for such things as credit cards, car payments, and any other expenses they will be able to determine if you can afford to buy a home in the price range you would like. Not only will you have a better idea of what price home you should be looking at you will also receive an estimate on all other costs you will need to pay in order to receive a home loan.

When the lender has the information together, they will be able to research to find you the best loan for your situation. Some individuals may not be able to qualify for a FHA loan, but will be able to qualify for Portfolio loan. The lender will be able to give you all the information so you will know your interest rate, the length of the loan, and other pertinent information.

A pre-approval letter does not necessarily mean you are approved for a loan. The letter is a statement saying that if all of your information is in order, you have enough money in the bank for all other fees, and the home you choose passes inspection and appraisal you will get your home loan. However, with a pre-approval letter, sellers are more willing to work with you since they realize you have the power to buy.

With a pre-approval you will be able to negotiate better with sellers and save money. The reason is the seller knows you have the money to buy instead of working with those that have not applied for a loan. Why negotiate when the person may not be approved?

If more than one person has put their bid in on a home, the person with a pre-approval letter will have better chances of getting the home than a person that still has to find a home loan.

The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by a quarter of a point to 2 percent on Wednesday, the latest – and possibly last – in a series of reductions aimed at staving off a recession and easing the credit crunch.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

In September, when the Fed initiated the first of seven consecutive interest rate reductions, the federal funds rates stood at 3.25 percent. The last time the rate was this low was in December 2004.

In making the announcement, the Fed noted that, “The substantial easing of monetary policy to date, combined with ongoing measures to foster market liquidity, should help to promote moderate growth over time and to mitigate risks to economic activity.”
There was some speculation that the Fed was leaving the door open to additional rate cuts if inflation concerns become reality. However, others speculate the Board may leave rates alone until the impact of its recent efforts become clearer.
To read the full story, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2932860320080430

With most home loans, you will need to purchase an insurance policy! However, this insurance does not just protect the loan company’s investment but can and does your home and the belongings.

The four types of coverage in standard homeowners polices are coverage for the structure of the home, coverage for your own personal belongings, liability protection, and living expenses if you are unable to live in your home due to a natural disaster.

Now, when you begin to talk about insurance with your agent and then have your policy in hand, there will be quite a bit of language that of course may not make sense at all. All the legal mumbo jumbo so to speak. Well, here is the break down of what your homeowner’s policy should entail. You should always read over all the things the policy will and will not cover along with the deductible that you have to pay.

Looking at the first part of the coverage’s under the structure will explain that the policy will pay to repay or rebuild your home is your home is damaged or even destroyed by such occurrences as lightening, hail, fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, or other disasters that are listed in your policy. If they are not listed in your policy under this section, then the policy does not cover that type of disaster. In the majority of standard homeowner’s policies, the policy does not cover earthquake, flood, or wear and tear. If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, you may want to include this disaster in your policy, however, it will raise the cost of your insurance.

The garage if not attached and other structures you have on the property such as a shop are included on most policies but not for as much as the home. Normally, you will see that coverage is 10 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home. You may wish to purchase more insurance for detached structures if you want the money to rebuild or repair these in the case of a disaster.

The next section of the homeowner’s policy explains how much coverage you will have for your own personal belongings. Your personal belongings include your clothing, furniture, and all personal items stored in your home, garage, or other buildings on your property. In the majority of cases, personal items are not the same as business/personal items. Items that are used as business/personal may not have as much coverage as just personal items. The majority of the time your belongings will be covered for about 60% of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home.

Some policies do allow your personal items to be covered while you are traveling as well; however, once again you will not receive as much money. Remember, if your home structure is covered for the disaster so are your personal belongings along with theft and in a few cases, the authorized use of any of your credit cards is also covered. If you own high dollar items such as jewelry, big screen televisions, furs, antiques, computers, etc… you may wish to purchase extra coverage for these items if you want them to be insured for their full value.

Liability protection is the next item on your policy you should read and understand. This is protection for others. Liability insurance will cover your neighbor’s items in case your dog or child ruins their fence or any other item. This coverage will also cover court costs. This will not cover damage to your property in the case your dog or child damages your property.

Last but certainly not least, the additional living expenses are another section that is important to read. In case, your home is unlivable due to a disaster that you have coverage for, this will pay for costs arising from living away from your home until all repairs are finished. This includes hotel stays, eating out, and other out of pocket money you would have had to spend if you were in home.

The most important thing to remember is, read your policy. Be sure you know what coverage you have and what is not covered in your homeowner’s policy.

Attn: All California Realtors
Come join in on all the Fun as the San Diego Association of REALTORS® hosts its 18th Annual Real Estate Expo!

When: Friday, May 4, 2007
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Town and Country Resort & Convention Center
Grand Exhibit Hall
500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108

Ok now It’s springtime in beautiful San Diego, and we’re experiencing some great opportunities in our real estate market. The loan limits for both FHA and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been increased and this should act as a major stimulus for the housing industry and for those people wishing to own a home. In this edition, we bring you a couple of great articles; from the National Association of Realtors - ‘New HUD Conforming Loan Limits: What this Means For Housing, REALTORS®, and the Economy’ and from Realty Times - ‘What the Economic Stimulus Package Means to You’.

The CCDC recently released their 2008 Downtown San Diego Living Guide which lists housing in each of downtown’s eight neighborhoods - a great resource for anyone considering locating here. Finally, with summer fast approaching, we’ve included a handy Guide to San Diego Summer Camps 2008 to help you plan your summer fun - Enjoy!