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RANCHO SFNEWS
.com THE RANCH’S BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS
VOL. 7, NO. 6
Summit predicts housing recovery
THISWEEK COLORFUL LIFE
By Patty McCormac
A local artist, whose dream of owning a gallery comes true, supports the B1 community
When news of the potential sale broke in October, Assemblyman Martin Garrick said his office was “inundated” with calls from concerned residents. Garrick mailed a survey to constituents in his 74th District, which includes most of North County north of Del Mar. The survey was also available online. According to the
RANCHO SANTA FE — At last year’s Annual Conversation Real Estate Summit, the panel that produces the North County San Diego HomeDex, predicted doom and gloom for the housing market. This year, however, there is a ray of hope for 2011. That was the report given to the Association at its March 17 meeting by Ivan Holler, the Association’s administrator, who sits on the panel. “Residential market trends appear to be on a slow track to recovery,” Holler said. The summit brings together experts from real estate, water, energy and money, and follows real estate trends. The summit is hosted by the Cal State San Marcos and the North County Association of Realtors. Their optimistic predictions were determined by 2010 year-end statisticsm which were shared at its fifth annual meeting held recently at The California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Holler said the recovery depends on many things including the federal budget deficit and inflation. “Inflation is expected to remain fairly low through most of this year, but will accelerate next year,” Holler said. “Unemployment seems to be inching downward,” he said. It is still very hard to buy a house because banks are still holding onto money. “Instead of a loan application, its a loan interrogation,” he said. He said that most of the units sold during the past year have been under $300,000. The next highest in sales rate were in the $500,000 to
TURN TO FAIRGROUNDS ON A16
TURN TO RECOVERY ON A16
GETTING BETTER
The Association gives the thumbs up to renovating a local building for its new A3 owners
PETS & THEIR PEOPLE
Pets and owners gather at the fairgrounds for the Ugly Dog Contest B1
INSIDE
TWO SECTIONS, 44 PAGES
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . B16 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . B18 Consumer Reports . . . . A14 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . B18 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A19 Frugal Living . . . . . . . A10 Hit the Road . . . . . . . . . B4 Hot Off The Block . . . . . B5 Lick the Plate . . . . . . . . A7 Machel’s Ranch . . . . . . A18 Odd Files . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Pet of the Week . . . . . . . B3 Ranch Profile . . . . . . . . . B8 Sea Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Second Opinion . . . . . . . A9 Small Talk . . . . . . . . . . . B1 Taste of Wine . . . . . . . . . B3 Who’s News? . . . . . . . . . B4
HOW TO REACH US (760) 436-9737 CALENDARS SECTION: calendar@coastnewsgroup.com COMMUNITY NEWS: community@coastnewsgroup.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: letters@coastnewsgroup.com
MARCH 25, 2011
FRESH STARTERS .:;<=>+$?@A+2?BC=;D:@+A@E+=F=@G+H:DG+A@E+$I+DGA>+.>A@G+#H:J+AG+GH=+A@@KA;+L>=DH+#GA>G+<:>+M?ED+'=;=N>?GO+.:;<+';ADD?B+:@+2A>BH PQ+AG+2:>RA@+"K@+';KN+S+"=D:>G*+#==+DG:>O+A@E+T:>=+UH:G:D+:@+!AR=+-VV*++Photo by Bianca Kaplanek
Discussions continue on fairgrounds purchase By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — The potential $120 million purchase of the Del Mar Fairgrounds by the city in which it is located was discussed at no less than four meetings during the second week of March. Here is an update on the deal with some highlights of what was said and done.
Senate Bill 1
On Dec. 6, 2010, Sen. Christine Kehoe introduced SB1, which authorizes the Department of General Services to negotiate terms for the sale of the fairgrounds to Del Mar or to reopen the bidding. Bills must sit for 30 days
before any action can be taken. On Feb. 10, SB 1 was referred to the Rules Committee and Government Organization Committee, which deals with bills relating to horseracing, public gaming, alcoholic beverages and legislation permitting the use of state-controlled lands. Sen. Mark Wyland, whose 38th District includes most of North County beginning in Solana Beach, sits on the Government Organization Committee. Deanna Spehn, Kehoe’s policy director, said hearings probably won’t begin for another three to eight weeks because the Legislature is
currently focused on the budget. Support: Schwarzenegger vs. Brown The original deal was negotiated with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who could not run for re-election in 2010 because of term limits. While Gov. Jerry Brown said he does not support the sale of state-owned office buildings,he “has voiced no opposition to the sale,” Spehn said, adding that Kehoe’s office has been “assured by the head of the Department of Finance and other senior staff within the Brown administration” that the governor has not received a formal briefing on the sale
because he is focused on the budget. The proposed budget has eliminated $32 million in general fund support to local and county agricultural activities and fairs.
The Garrick Survey
Bill Gaylord Gaylord-Hansen Team Chairman’s Club Member
Sam Hansen Gaylord-Hansen Team
858.776.6830 cell bill.gaylord@bankofamerica.com
858.442.1232 cell sam.hansen@bankofamerica.com
9095 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92108
9095 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92108
Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender © 2010 Bank of America Corporation. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. 100329B 04-2009 AR69352 (Rev. 11-2010)