How I Learned... "The Devil is in the Details", and ended a lifetime of migraines without meds.

Being a realtor takes an incredible amount of energy.  Your days are long, and it is demanding to deal with the fires we put out, and the changing issues we deal with.  Try doing it with a migraine!

I've had migraines since I was tiny... at least 5. Two to 3 a week. When I didn't have a migraine, I felt crappy - tight shoulders, tight neck, throbbing base of my neck. Generally like I wanted to lie on the couch all day, but I didn't. Yet I was so happy to not have a migraine, I paid no attention.

Never dawned on me it might be something I was eating. But I've discovered 13 nondescript, bizarre little stealth bombers that are the culprits. Things like guar gum, red wine vinegar (not balsamic, thank god), and whey. Pesky little details... Go figure.

How did I do it? I read a book called Eat Right for Your Type, about what foods conflict with the 4 blood types. Sounds pretty hocus pocus, if you ask me. But I liked the things on my "good for you" list (meat, veggies, fruits, no dairy, no wheat, no spuds... I'm an "O"). I could handle it. I went cold turkey, reading every label thoroughly, and making lists of ingredients that didn't bother me, and those that did. It took 2 years.

I had figured out on my own that whey gave me migraines (and eating betaine enzymes helped with that), but not the other stuff. I started noticing I was feeling pretty good... consistently. Like.. a normal neck and loose shoulders. Like... great! Dang, I liked it! I didn't know people could feel this way. WooHoo, I can tackle the world. I'm raring to go!

First I noticed guar gum.. WHAT IN THE HECK'S THAT!. Then, capers... pffffuuhh... I love capers. Then sunflower oil, red wine vinegar, all cheeses except mozarella, feta and farmer's (yeah, so pizza's mostly out), and arabic gum, for crying out loud. Who ever heard of that? But my blood had, and they were mortal enemies. My blood went into attack mode, bringing out the heavy artillery to fight off the invaders, wreaking havoc in my brain.

So how did it take me 57 years to figure this out? I honestly never had a clue it was what I ate. From the time I was little, they poked, prodded, hooked me up to needles, you name it. "Oh, your daughter has a mild brain anomaly,... a short circuit, so to speak. Let's put her on phenobarbital, see if that helps." I was 10.

Other drugs and mumbo jumbo came and went, all to no avail. It was still 2 - 3 a week. There was no test that gave a definitive answer. Fortunately Imitrex came along a relieved the migraines, but nothing stopped the funky feeling. The sad part is how I would never commit myself to anything where I would need to be counted on, because I didn't know how I would feel. I'm amazed I tackled college, but remember sitting through finals on the verge of puking, and dropping my grade a whole notch in a class I adored and should have aced.

Today? I'm Queen of the World!!!!! I feel great! (cept when one of those pesky little details slips into my food). I have so much energy, I'm exhilarated, and so charged up I can barely stand it! The down side?... I'm a real hit at dinner parties - I don't eat it if I can't read it. Otherwise I pay the price for 1-1/2 days. And going out to eat is no fun any more. Small price to pay, however, for finally finding bliss.

Woo Hoo..... Big time!

flickr photo by joana roja-left hand/arm & migraine chick

San Juan High School... Improvements coming!

I just read that San Juan High School in Citrus Heights is breaking ground on some spiffing up projects. Good for them. Not only is it the oldest San Juan District school (built in 1913), but it's my husband, Dave's, alma mater. That was back in the 60's, but it's influence still reaches into our lives.

Dave was a top notch athlete, and one of 3 Dunbar boys to grace the halls (yeah... they were all pretty cute!). Today, everywhere we go we run into San Juan alums... and I mean EVERYWHERE. I list a house... "Oh, you're Dave's wife?". I go to a store... "Dunbar... hmm, did you go to San Juan". We're at a funeral... Dave went to school with 3 of the people there. We rent our newlywed apartment... "my sister went to high school with Dave". We watch the Kings play basketball... Dave knows the "sign lady"... "yeah, I went to San Juan with her".

We've been camping and dune buggying with a group for over 25 years. 6 of them went to San Juan with the Dunbar Boys, (that makes 9 in all) and they're all still friends!

The moral here, is don't be a dufus to your classmates! You never know the connections that will stick with you for your life, and keep coming back. San Juan has been that rebounding experience for Dave. Me?.. I went to 3 different high schools, so never made the same connections.

And for the record, San Juan is transforming itself into a campus of small learning communities with 5 career pathways: construction, culinary, media, hospitality management and career technology. The new classrooms will be environmentally friendly with all natural light. Sounds pretty forward thinking!

Folsom's New Bridge Opens Today...

As a result of 9/11, one of the main arteries connecting the two sides of Folsom, The Folsom Dam Road, has been closed since 2003. It's been a real drag for those needing to cross the river, as there were only two other bridges to accomodate the 18,000 cars that crossed the dam daily.

The dam road closing also clogged the streets of Historic Old Town Folsom with commuter traffic enroute to picturesque two-lane Rainbow Bridge. The poor old town shop keepers have been struggling, as shoppers and restaurant patrons have been reluctant to tackle the traffic and parking snafu.

Now after 6 years of traffic nightmares, the new Folsom Lake Crossing bridge opens today! The planned capacity is 40,000 cars per day, with 4 lanes, plus bike and pedestrian lanes. Whoo... what a load off for the people of Folsom!

So get shopping in Old Town Folsom and help support the businesses that have struggled for so long. Antiques, candles, collectibles, crystals, candy, clothing, great restaurants... it's all there. And the drive is so much easier now that the new bridge is open. Hooray!!!

Flickr photos by pulpolux, Adam79, and ETGeek

Interest rates and your home... THESE are the "good old days".

You've probably heard that interest rates are pretty good now... around 5% for a "30 year fixed". But check out what that means to you as a buyer. It's pretty shocking!

A $200K loan at 5% costs you $1,073 per month P&I (principle and interest)

If you want to keep that payment at $1073, here's the price loan you can afford if interest goes up.

6.25% = $174,000 - (2002 interest rate)
8.5% - $139,000 - (2000 interest rate)
9.25% - $130,000 - (1994 interest rate)

15% - $84,000 - (1984 interest rate)

Still wishing for the good old days? As a buyer, it's better today than it's ever been. You get WAY more for your money than ever. We will look back on these times as the best home buying days in our lives!

Flickr photo by Steve Wampler

What's Happening with Fair Oaks Home Prices?

If you missed buying a Fair Oaks home back in '02, those prices are back! After a high of $250/sf (per square foot) in August of '06, Fair Oaks prices have dropped approximately 38% to a stunning $155/sf. That is lower than the cost to build a home, yet it includes the land! We have not seen such a buying opportunity for a long time.

How does that compare to the hit the entire county has taken? Has Fair Oaks done better or worse? Much better, thank you. During the same time period, Sacramento County price per foot dropped a whopping 54%! EEKKK! They went from a peak of $250/sf in August of '05 to the current level of $117/sf.

But here's the best news for buyers. Interest rates make this the most amazing time we have ever had to buy. If you get a $200K loan today, you will pay around 5% interest, or $1073/month, (principle and interest on a 30 year fixed rate loan). Look what happens if the interest rate were higher on the same $200,000 loan.

5% = $1,073 today's rate

6.25% = $1,231 (2002 rates)

8.5% = $1,537 (2000 rates)

9.25% = $1,645 (1994 rates)

15% = $2,528 (1984 rates - yeouch!)

An interesting side note, is that in '02, when Fair Oaks prices were at today's level, the ensuing 3 years saw prices jump an incredible $100/foot. That means if you owned a 2,000 sf home in '02, by '05 it was worth $200,000 more. That's pretty amazing! Will that happen again? No one really knows. And in my experience, it's not predictable... but it IS possible.

So what does all this mean? It means homes are dirt cheap, and that Fair Oaks has been a much better value than the county in general. And compared to the stock market, it's not so bad. There are those that say today is the best buyer's opportunity we will see in our lifetime.

Flickr photo by fpsurgeon

Kids these days... They're AWESOME!

"What's this world coming to... kids today don't want to work, they want it handed to them."

Every generation says that... clear back to Plato's time. I bet the cave man said it too, as his cave boy "texted" his pals with smoke signals.

But the attitude is idiotic. And here's a case in point.

Every year Fair Oaks has a number of community service events, like an Easter Egg Roll, a Christmas Party, Senior Luau, Mother/Son Dance, Father/Daughter Dance, the famous Chicken Festival and others. And who puts the shindigs on?... a group of 24 teens from Del Campo and Bella Vista High Schools, called the Fair Oaks Youth Advisory Board (FOYAB). They work all year, for no pay, to benefit our community. How cool is that... these kids are my heros!

Zoom back to '04/'05 when my daughter, Christy, was the President of FOYAB. I attended their Share the Spirit Christmas party for about 50 disadvantaged families. They hosted a huge turkey dinner, crafts, games, a raffle with a gazillion prizes, and a visit with Santa with many presents hand-selected for each child. I helped one Mom load her raffle prize - a fully decorated Christmas tree - into her car... "I'm so grateful. I didn't think my kids would have a tree this year. It's been rough."

But thanks to those 24 Fair Oaks teens who worked their tails off, these 50 families had a Christmas. And they each went home with enough food to feed an army... turkey, dressing, canned goods, ham... wow! All donated and cooked by the kids. Don't tell me they're lazy...

"them's fightin' words!"

Trust me, we will be in good hands with these kids at the helm.

Locking your loan is like proposing... You don't know if it could get better.

I just read that the Fed's actions today may cause mortgage interest rates to drop up to 1/4 or 1/2 point. Interesting dilemna for those in escrow who have already locked their loan. Do you stand by what you said, or weazle out because rates have changed?

When you lock your loan, you are gambling that interest rates won't go down any lower.... to protect yourself in case they go higher. So to be safe, if the current rate is OK with you, you and the lender commit to it... regardless of future rates being higher or lower. If they go higher, you still have your low rate. If they go lower... it happens.

Can you get the cheaper rate if they drop below your locked amount? Not without someone suffering a loss... because the lender has committed.

It's like proposing. You ask the girl of your dreams to marry you. But criminy... what if someone better comes along? Well, what if someone better never comes along, and you missed your only true chance at love because you couldn't read the future? You make the best decision, then stick with it, through sickness and in health. Whether interest rates go up or down.

I have a young first-time buyer who is locked right now. I told him he needs to have confidence in his decision. if rates go up, he'll think he's an omnipotent genious. But if rates go down, that's just the way it goes... it's the cost of protecting yourself. He understood. This buyer has tremendous character... I really like him. And I'll bet he's fine with his decision, even if rates drop lower. To me, it's called being responsible for your decisions. I bet he'll stick with the gal he marries, too.

PS... it's a little later in the day. My buyer just signed disclosures and I asked him how he feels now that interest rates DID in fact go down. "I'm OK... I made a deal to protect myself in case rates go up... but they went down...I'm still protected because they COULD have gone up. I'm OK." I just KNEW he would say that! He's such a good kid.



Flickr photos by Jacob and Kiki Hantla, Wooleywonderworks