Due to their unique nature and specific criteria, as well as limited zoning, Equestrian properties are some of the most sought after and exclusive properties in the Los Angeles area.   Keeping informed of the overall market trends in the specific type of property you are looking to buy, makes you a more informed and powerful consumer.  If you are selling or interested in selling, knowing the current pricing can help you determine the value of your home.

130 Properties are currently on the market

• 130 single family residences at an average price $5,771,254; average days on market 1159; average price per square foot is $1,224.27
• The most expensive home a $59,950,000 working ranch in Ojai.

48 Properties came on the market in April

• 48 were single family residences at an average price of $4,768,096; average price per square foot $1,230.16
• The most expensive home a $59,950,000 working ranch in Ojai.

7 Properties sold in April

• 7 single family residences sold at an average price of $2,525,143; selling after 84 days on the market; average price per square foot $773.16
• The most expensive home a $12,450,000 single family home in Los Angeles that is 7,500 square feet.

Check back in next month to get the latest update on the Equestrian real estate market.

I’m sure by now you have all heard about the latest CDC report “Zoonoses in the Bedroom.”  It states people can get the plague by sleeping with their dog or cat.  I took the time to read the full report, and I’m under-impressed by the findings.  Maybe it’s all the time I spend as a realtor, looking over numbers to determine the true value of a property.  In my opinion, the numbers in this report just don’t add up to the risk factors they are alleging.

The report begins by addressing how many million pet owners are in the westernized world, which has grown greatly in the past thirty years.  In 2008, it was reported that 62% of American households had a pet, and between 50%-60% of those people slept with their pets.  To give you an idea of how many people this is, consider the census, which estimated there were 112,362,848 American households in 2008.  Using the census number, we can determine about 28 million people or more slept with their dog or cat in bed with them, which is an important number to keep in mind.  The report then goes on to discuss an outbreak of 7 cases of the plague in 1974, and 23 cases in 1983.  It also states that a handful of cases of cat scratch fever have been associated with sleeping with, or being licked by a household pet.  The report additionally lists several other different diseases, all with a handful of documented cases.  However, at no point do they back their findings with statistical analysis, giving the percentage of chance that we are putting ourselves in a harmful situation.

Therefore, 28 million people are doing this so called “risky behavior” of sleeping with their pets, with only maybe 50-75 total cases of documented diseases over the past 30 years.  I feel sleeping with your pet is worth the risk.  Every day, we do things far more hazardous than the risk associated with sleeping with your pet.  Based on the numbers provided by this report, I would say you have less than a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of getting a deadly disease from sleeping with your pet.  Let us compare that with some other things that could kill you.  According to livescience.com, you have a 1 in 100 chance of dying in a car accident, 1 in 20,000 chance of dying in a plane crash.  Does hearing those statistics make you commit to never driving or flying again?  Of course not!  Driving and flying are deemed worth the known risks.  Looking at similar odds to sleeping with your pets, is one you can’t prevent, because there is a 1 in 200,000-500,000 chance of dying from an asteroid impact.  You also have a 1 in 615,488 chance of dying from fireworks discharge.  Would that statistic make you never watch another fireworks show?  Probably not!  I bet you don’t enjoy fireworks half as much as you enjoy sleeping with your loving pet.

In my opinion, this article is causing unnecessary alarm.  The article begins by saying the problem is that people are making their animals too much a part of their family, by allowing them to live and sleep in their same quarters.  However, it also continues on by saying a well-cared for pet should not be carriers of any of the diseases mentioned.   So in sum, if we have pets that are well taken of, then their people couldn’t possibly be at risk when sleeping with them.   Now really, shouldn’t we treat our pets like they are members of the family, making sure they get routine medical and dental checkups, and watching over them with the same love and care you would any other member of the family?

Overall, my fear is this study will create paranoia, causing people to banish their pets to the backyard, where they’ll suffer from the harsh elements and possible attacks by other predatory animal, such as coyotes.  In conclusion, if sleeping with your pet is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Resources:

http://www.livescience.com/3780-odds-dying.html

http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/17/2/167.html

We have all seen stray cats throughout Los Angeles, since it’s a rapidly growing problem. Each female can produce about 5 cats a year, which can multiple to over 400,000 in just seven years. All of these cats are territorial, so if you take them out of a certain area, a new group will quickly move in and grow expedientially. The optimal option to control their population is through TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release). Not only is this the best option, but it’s also the most humane.

There are numerous groups that want to eradicate this so called “annoying rodent problem.” What they don’t understand is these animals are a vital part of the natural ecosystem of a city. Each of these cats are being upstanding citizens, doing their part as natural predators, by controlling the mice and rat population. So if you know anyone who hates feral cats, ask them how they feel about rats, because there will certainly be thousands more, if not for cats. In fact, the infamous “Plague” was due to the eradication of cats, after Pope Gregory IX associated them with the devil in 1232. This resulted in Europe being overrun by rats, spreading the fatal disease, which killed 1/3 to 1/2 of Europe’s population.

Not only are cats the best defense against rodent infestation, they are 100% environmentally safe with no harsh chemicals or traps.The chemicals used to get rid of rodents are at best, harsh on the ozone and air quality. At worst, they can be dangerous, even deadly to unsuspecting dogs who think they have found a snack. The traps are much better on the environment, but can snap closed on a child’s hand or foot.

TNR has worked in many smaller college communities, such as the University of Texas, Cal Poly, as well as our own Los Angeles Valley College. It’s even the preferred rodent control of the “happiest place on earth,” Disneyland. With so many cat colonies in the city, TNR seems like a daunting task. However, with low cost spay and neuter programs, you can spay or neuter a cat for just $25.00-$85.00.Money well spent when you consider you aren’t just helping one cat, you are saving 400,000 lives over the next seven years. For information on how to conduct your own Trap, Neuter and Release program, visithttp://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=889.

Resoures:

http://www.rescueguide.com

http://cats.about.com/cs/feralcatmgmt/a/aggie_ferals_3.htm>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_IX

If you’re anything like me, you have made a commitment to save animals lives by not eating meat or wearing fur. However, have you ever thought about not wearing leather products? Today, you can find a variety of different options such as vinyl, pleather, ultra-suede and faux fur. These options are not only just as fashionable as their cruel counterparts, they are also easier to maintain. You can find these items in a variety of different price ranges, from high fashion designer Stella McCartney, to smaller locally owned boutiques, such as Head over Heals in the Westfield Topanga Mall, which offer trendy styles at affordable prices.  Even Chanel designs handbags that are completely vegan. Their collections include vinyl, satin, velvet and their very own “Fantasy Fur,” for both casual and dressy. Now, there is no excuse not to live cruelty-free.

All of us have been affected, or know someone who has been affected by the housing crisis. What you might not realize is how this affects the pets we love. Many pet owners are being forced from their homes through foreclosures and short sales, and forced into rentals that might not accept their pets, putting a huge strain on local rescue organizations and animal shelters.

To make matters worse, a growing number of individuals increase the strain, by being extremely irresponsible in their final act as pet owners. People are abandoning their homes with the pets still in them. This may seem horrendous to most of us, who cherish our pets as part of the family. However, this problem exists in California and throughout the country.  These animals are left in the abandoned homes, until the realtor or bank assignee discovers them. Due to the massive numbers of foreclosures, it usually takes weeks and sometimes months, before someone is assigned by the bank.

As a realtor, I have seen and heard numerous heartbreaking stories. Animal rescue groups do their best to respond as quickly as possible, to get these animals connected with a new loving family or foster family. Unfortunately, sometimes it‘s just too late. In one heart wrenching story, a dog was left in an abandoned home for so long, she was forced to eat her own puppies to survive.

This is a call to action! Each of us can help to make a difference. If you are in a situation where you cannot afford to stay in your home, call a financial advisor, attorney, and realtor. These professionals have different specializations that will help you come to the best decision on how to proceed.

A financial advisor can help you find ways to consolidate your debt, as well as determine exactly how much you can afford for housing. The attorney will explain your different options, such as bankruptcy, loan modification or short sale. The attorney will help you through the bankruptcy filing, as well as determining which type of bankruptcy you are eligible for. If loan modification is the best option, an attorney specializing in that field is the best avenue, since the paperwork can be confusing and overwhelming.

Finally, if you decide to sell your home through either short sale or conventional sale, call a realtor to list and market your house.They can also tell you how long you can expect the sale to take, and help you through the paperwork of a short sale, to ensure the bank forgives the balance of your loan. Many people make the incorrect assumption that a short sale approval alone, forgives the remaining balance due on the home, which is not true for all banks.

Realtors should not give advice about your finances, which is why it’s imperative to meet with a financial advisor and/or attorney about your particular situation beforehand.  When selecting a realtor, make sure they are knowledgeable about your area. More importantly, choose one you are comfortable with and who listens to you. The selling process is stressful for everyone, but the added stress of financial crisis, makes it even worse. The last thing you want is to deal with is someone who doesn’t care about you or your family.

For those of you who are already in the foreclosure process, and cannot keep your pet(s), please take your final steps as pet owners seriously. Talk to your local shelter about the adopt ability of your pet. If the shelter is full, call local animal rescues in your area, including breed specific rescues. If you don’t know rescues in your area, please check the list on my website at PetPlanetRealty.com. For the rest of us, we can do our part by calling local authorities at the first sign of an abandoned property.

Times are tough for everyone; there is no reason to neglect the responsibilities we took on when bringing these pets into our home.They give us so much joy and unconditional love, we can’t just abandon them.