Caruso's Green Tip of the Day!

Save a Tree
Get off junk-mail lists- Register with the Direct Marketing Association's DMAchoice mail preference service (dmachoice.org), and you'll see a significant reduction in mail after three months.
Permanently place a recycling box an arm's length from your mail bin so you can toss any remaining junk mail pronto.
Pay bills online, or set up automatic check paying from your bank account. No envelopes, no postage - and no late fees, if you're on an automatic plan.
And that's your green tip of the day!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CLHMS CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

CHILEAN MINERS TO BE RESCUED VERY SOON!!

After 68 days trapped more than 2,000 feet in a small dark and hot shelter, the longest anyone has survived this type of disaster. The first of 33 trapped miners will be hoisted to freedom Tuesday night. The 32 Chilean miners and 1 Bolivian miner have survived since the Aug. 5 mine collapse that trapped the men in their tiny shelter, the size of an average living room.

The drillers have finally completed the escape shaft, and have tested the 14 foot escape capsule that has been dubbed, The Phoenix, several times. It is equipped with a communications system, oxygen supply and safety harness. The government said four members of the rescue team, two engineers and two medics will be lowered down the shaft first to assist in the operation and to evaluate the physical and mental state of the miners. The journey to the surface is expected to take between 25 to 50 minutes, and the men will be hooked up to oxygen tanks with 90 minutes of air. They will also wear special glasses to shield their eyes from the sensitivity to light after being in the darkness for so long. If a miner becomes stuck, an escape hatch at the bottom of the capsule will open, drawing the miner back down to the chamber.

The miners will be formed into three groups - the medium strength miners will be released first, the weakest second, and the strongest last. If any of the men in the group becomes too terrified to make the claustrophobic journey, they will be sedated before they make the trip to the surface.

The first to be rescued will be 31 year old Florencio Avalos, who is relatively healthy despite his ordeal The last miner out will be Luis Urzua, 54, who was the shift foreman when the mine collapsed, and has been the person to keep order and unity in the chamber and showed true leadership during the ordeal.

The men will be taken to a hospital and observed for 48 hours before being reunited with family. As the world awaits for their heroic rescue. We will keep them in our prayers.


God speed for a safe journey out of the mine and into freedom!


And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!!

Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492.
Since, the second Monday of every October is officially the holiday. Take a moment today and remember those adventurers that set out on a very dangerous journey to find what you now call your home.

http://www.history.com/videos/christopher-columbus-sets-sail

If you were lucky to have the day off, I hope it was happy!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

TRUE LEADERS SOAR ABOVE THE REST...

Leadership...

A True Leader…. Has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.

He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions ant the integrity of his intent.

In the end, leaders are like eagles…they don’t flock, you find them one at a time.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

Would you eat genetically engineered salmon or Frankenfish

Would you eat food that has been genetically engineered?


The Food and Drug Administration is beginning a two-day meeting on whether to approve the marketing of the genetically engineered fish, particularly salmon, which would be the first such animal approved for human consumption.

Critics have two main concerns: The safety of the food to humans and the salmon's effect on the environment.


Ron Stotish, chief executive of AquaBounty, said that his company's fish product is safe and environmentally sustainable. He aslo said, that the fish would be bred in better conditions than many of the world's farmed salmon, and could be located closer to towns and cities to help feed more people. The company has also said the increase in engineered salmon production, could help relieve endangered wild salmon populations.


Frankenfish, as the critics have named it, say it is possible that if the modified salmon is approved, consumers would not even know they were eating it, because the salmon would not need to be labeled as genetically engineered!


I think I'll pass on the genetically engineered salmon... I'm sticking to Wild Salmon!!!


So my question to you is: Would you eat "Frankenfish" or any other genetically modified food ?!?

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
http://www.michaelcarusorealestate.com/


Best regards.


Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

Caruso's Quote of the Day!

A man can be as great as he wants to be.
If you believe in yourself and have the courage,
the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive
and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life
and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile,
it can be done.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

http://www.michaelcarusorealestate.com/

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

The Consumer...

HOUSING AND THE CONSUMER

According to some, on a year-over-year basis home prices have now increased for the fourth straight month, following more than three years of declines. Home prices troughed a year ago and have increases by 4.6% since then. In a few regions, home prices are increasing fairly quickly. Even in those areas where housing boomed the most, the rate of home price decline has slowed significantly.
However, there are some factors that would place housing at risk of another dip. Those factors include; Unemployment remaining high, Mortgage delinquencies still climbing and Mortgage rate resets on Alt-A and Option ARM loans due to take place over the next year.
Consumers are worrried because the Consumer Confidence Index fell by 3.9 points in July to 50.4%, compared with market expectations for a somewhat smaller decline to 51.0%. Two components of the Index; Present Situation and Expectations both fell by 0.7% and 6.1 points, respectively.

Consumer assessments of the economy collapsed between October 2008 and February 2009 to their lowest level in 41 years that data have been collected. Between February through May 2009, confidence improved moderately but it has only been inching higher (on a trend basis) since then and the level of confidence is still subdued.

Confidence is still deeply mired in recessionary territory. Some believe much of this weakness is due to; High unemployment, Soft housing prices, Rising foreclosures, Tight credit standards and High gasoline prices.
Although the economy is growing again, consumer attitudes are lagging behind broader economic developments.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

http://www.michaelcarusorealestate.com/

Best regards,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

Jobs and Unemployment with Caruso!

It's A Fact:

Nearly 1 out of 10 able bodied adults among us is unemployed. The administration is telling us to expect a near 10% unemployment into the extended future (California over 12.5%). To date, over $787B has been spent as "stimulus" intended to create or "save" jobs, and Washington is asking for more.
Much of the stimulus is directed to public works that at best create only temporary jobs or more bureaucracy that produces no income, goods nor marketable services. Many of these "created" jobs will require more tax revenues to sustain. This is where taxes are eaten up.
An outrageous percentage of the bailout funds targeted for financial and auto sectors was spent to shore up fat pension funds and salaries. Approximately 1/2 of the private sector jobs are provided by small firms (less than 500 employees) with the other half by larger corporations. This is where new jobs, marketable goods and services are created, where taxes are generated to support the public job sector.
The stimulus has resulted in the expansion of the public sector (increased employment and pay) and the private sector has shrunk (higher unemployment, fewer jobs). Every new reform being initiated in Washington is adding additional cost and tax burdens on the private sector while it expands the public workforce (all job killers to the private sector).
To avoid the deficit accounting Washington is ignoring the stimulus spending by placing it "off budget" as they have with Social Security, Medicare and other entitlements they cannot pay for. Little to no attention has been given to the small employer to stimulate job growth from the bottom up. But, much is being done to discourage it while the government loads up at the top down, a reverse version of trickle-down economics.
Now, unemployment benefits from insurance paid are being morphed into entitlements paid out, while ignoring the source of new jobs to employ the unemployed.
The revitalization of the housing market depends on a healthy private employment sector. This is where households are created and income is generated to qualify for mortgages. This is the soil that needs to be revitalized and nourished, not neglected, over regulated and starved of nutrition. The housing market is tied to the jobs market.

]And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards,
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900

Caruso's Closed Sales Report!

Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing! Here are the facts...you make the decision!

The Laguna Niguel closed sales report for the month of

June 2010 99 listings closed escrow

Compared To:

June 2009 84 listings closed escrow

June 2008 84 listings closed escrow

Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and the value of your home? Is it time to sell? Is it time to add a property to your investment portfolio? Is the market getting worse?

Call our office if you have any questions or want more information on a particular neighborhood. Learn What it's Like to Work With Someone Focused on Your Success....not Theirs. 3 decades of experience, education and proven production. Call Michael at 949-753-7900 or 949-495-8600 or email Michael@MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

http://www.michaelcarusorealestate.com/

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

Think Positive with Caruso!

Life can get tough. All of us need a pick me up every now and again. Things may not go our way or something negative may bring us down. It can be a challenge to stay positive among the ongoing challenges we face. So I thought I would provide you with some tips I have gathered from different articles that can help improve your attitude and be a more positive person when life gets tough.

1. Gratitude
Write a list of all of the things you are grateful for right now. This isn't always an easy task, but there are always things to be grateful for whether it is that you have food to eat or limbs to move. You can also decide that everyday, you will make a note of at least one thing you are grateful for. Writing these down will have the added impact of providing a reference to look back on when your attitude needs a boost.

2. Everything Happens for a Reason
Everything, I mean EVERYTHING that happens, happens for a reason. If you begin to evaluate every situation that challenges you and look at how it could be a benefit rather than a detriment to you, you will begin to change your attitude. Try and take every negative situation you come across and practice finding the positive reason for why this oculd be happening.

3. Random Acts of Kindness.
When we take time away from our own negative attitude to do something nice for someone else, it can really improve our attitude immediately. Buy someone you don't know a cup of coffee, smile to a stranger in line, send a complement to someone you care about, send a thank you card for excellent service received.

4. Exercise
I know this one is not always fun, but it honestly has a major immediate response to a negative attitude. By getting our body to move, it releases chemicals in our brains that are much needed mood enhances. Even dancing counts so have some fun with it and dance to some great music right away!

5. Celebrate your successes
Think of all of the things you have been successful doing in your life. Take full credit for everything you have done and then celebrate! Really celebrate. Put on some great music, jump up and down, party like you just won the lottery! Or just give yourself a pat on the back, because you deserve it!

6. Watch, read or listen to someone inspiring
Seeing where others have come from helps us to realize that our lives aren't so bad or that we can do it too. Find a favorite video or source of inspiration and watch it for immediate attitude shift.

7. Humor
Humor, much like exercise can cause the release of chemicals within our brains and help us to focus on something other than our negative attitude. Even the most humorless people can get benefit from laughing out loud.
We are all hard working individuals and have every right to have a positive attitude. If more of us can have a positive attitude, the world may be a better place, so keep your head up!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. http://www.michaelcarusorealestate.com/

Best regards,

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors (949) 753-7900