“NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET REPORT”

March 2023 Sold Properties

Baked French Toast

Ingredients

Butter, for greasing

1 loaf crusty sourdough or French bread

8 whole eggs

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Topping

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly grated nutmeg

1 stick cold butter, cut into pieces, plus more for serving

Warm pancake syrup, for serving

1 cup fresh fruit, for serving

1. For the French toast: Grease the baking pan with butter. Tear the bread into chunks, or cut into cubes, and evenly distribute in the pan. Crack the eggs in a big bowl. Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover the pan tightly and store in the fridge until needed (overnight preferably). Or you can make it & bake it right away---delicious no matter what!

2. For the topping: Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and some nutmeg in a separate bowl. Stir together using a fork. Add the butter and, with a pastry cutter, mix it all together until the mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.

3. When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F Remove the casserole from the fridge and sprinkle the topping over the top. Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture or for 1 hour-plus or more for a firmer, crisper texture.

4. Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter and drizzle with warm pancake syrup and sprinkle with fruit.

Queen Elizabeth II kept track of when she wore each outfit

40 percent of human jobs could be replaced by AI in the future

1. Which company was the first to reach 1 trillion dollars? Microsoft

Apple Amazon Google

2. Which animal has the largest eyes?

Giant squid whale

3. From what country did jazz originate?

4. How many times did Ross Geller marry and divorce on Friends?

5. Which green is usually found in a Caesar salad?

6. Ray Charles was famous for playing which instrument?

7. Which country is Tasmania a part of?

New Zealand

Austria

Solomon Islands

Australia

8. "Let them eat cake" is a famous misquote attributed to who?

Marie Antoinette

Joan of Arc

Napoleon

Steve Carell

9. What does IPA stand for?

I Prefer Avocados

Ideal Performance Ability

India Pale Ale

Idiopathic Prognosis Absolute

Carbohydrates make you sleepy

How to Clean a Microwave Inside and Out

Let’s face it: It doesn’t take much for your microwave to get dirty. An overfilled bowl of soup or spaghetti can quickly turn the inside of your microwave into a disaster zone (and it’s often easier to close the door than to clean up). Fortunately, cleaning your microwave is much simpler than it looks.

Follow this goof-proof guide to transform your greasy, splatter-ridden microwave into a sparkly fresh kitchen appliance in no time.

How to Steam Clean a Microwave with Vinegar

You know what’s great at dislodging stubborn grime? Steam. You know what can make steam? Your microwave. Here’s how to harness your microwave’s own magic to get it sparkling clean with vinegar.

Glass measuring cup or other small microwave-safe cup or bowl

Distilled white vinegar

A sponge or dishcloth

A clean, dry cloth or rag https://getpocket.com/explore/item/how-to-clean-a-microwave-insi de-and-out?utm_source=pocket-newtab

1. Mix 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar into a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl. Place the cup or bowl inside your microwave and heat on high power until the liquid comes to a boil.

2. Let stand for 3 minutes, so that the steam trapped inside has time to loosen up all the caked-on food gunk.

3. Open the door, and then slowly and carefully remove the measuring cup or bowl, as well as the turntable or plate (if your microwave has one).

4. Starting with the ceiling and then the sides, use your sponge or dishcloth to wipe the inside of your microwave clean.

5. Don’t forget the edges and the inside of the door!

6. Wipe down the turntable and put it back in (if you took it out).

7. Grab a clean, dry cloth or rag and give your entire microwave—ceiling, sides, door, turntable—a final wipedown and voila: it’s good to go!

The Perks of Solar Powered Attic Fans

Before installing solar attic fans, learn more about the benefits they provide, including comfort and modest energy savings.

If you have an upstairs bonus room or bedroom that gets uncomfortably hot in the summer, consider adding a solar powered fan to your attic. Solar or PV fans run on sun power and pull superheated air out of your attic to be replaced by cooler outside air. This reduces the amount of work your HVAC system has to do to cool your upstairs living area.

Principal research scientist Danny Parker of the Florida Solar Energy Center has tested solar attic fans and says, "the gable-end models work the best, since they move considerably more air than roof-mounted mushroom top units."

You can install PV fans yourself if you have good carpentry skills, but it's not necessarily an easy job. "You have to cut holes in your roof, so you need to make sure you aren't cutting into anything important," says Danny

You should also have some experience installing flashing to

MarketWatch

keep moisture out; if you live in a storm-prone area that regularly experiences driving rain, think twice about installing at all.

Solar Is Safer

The effectiveness and safety of attic fans is a debated subject, but studies show that standard line-powered fans actually cost more to operate than they generate in savings. And they can create zones of negative pressure, which risks pulling conditioned air from the house into the attic and the dangerous possibility of pulling gases from combustion appliances back into the house — namely, carbon monoxide.

Since solar-powered fans don't draw nearly as much air as line-powered fans, neither of those concerns comes into play. Plus, a PV fan doesn't cost anything to operate once it's in place.

Do the Math

Energy Star-rated solar attic fans still qualify for a federal tax credit of 30% of your purchase and installation costs. A single fan typically costs $300 to $600 plus an extra $100 to $150 each for installation. "But you'll likely need two fans to make an impact," says Danny. "Possibly three if your house has more than 1,600 square feet of air-conditioned floor area." https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/mechanical-sys tems/the-perks-of-solar-powered-attic-fans

Danny's tests of solar attic fans showed that in Florida, where there's abundant solar energy, yearly savings from installing two fans in a house with just over 1,000 square feet of air-conditioned floor area amounted to only 460 kWh. Depending on your utility charges, that's about $40 per year. Even if you install it yourself and take the tax credit, it could still take you 15 years or more to recoup your investment.

Installation of a solar fan in an attic can provide better circulation. "It's really more about comfort," says Danny. "Solar powered fans can make a real difference if you regularly use the space adjacent to your attic. I also use a gable-end fan above my garage that makes the space noticeably cooler."

If your primary motivation is saving money on your utility bill, you're likely better off choosing a different attic-related project: installing a radiant barrier, upgrading to R-38 insulation if you don't have it or even switching to a white roof in a cooling-dominated climate.

Home buyers in the market will want to use a loan that is suitable for their lifestyle and pocketbook. Home buyers should consider strategies that can bring down the cost of purchasing a home.

We welcome these new homeowners to our neighborhood of Alta Murrieta. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help.

Buying points on a mortgage is one waybuyers can lower their monthly payment – essentially, you pay a fee to a mortgage lender to bring down the interest rate on the loan. Some sellers may finance rate buy-downs as a concession to entice buyers, while letting sellers keep their intended price.

Benefits Of Brain Games

Playing brain games during your older (and younger!) years has numerous benefits that can help maintain cognitive health and improve overall wellbeing. Some of these benefits include:

Improved memory: Engaging in brain games can help improve memory, especially short-term memory, by strengthening the neural connections between brain cells.

Enhanced concentration: Harness the power of brain games to keep your mind sharp! They can help improve focus and concentration, especially in older adults who experience age-related declines in these areas.

Better problem-solving skills: Give your brain a workout with some challenging logic and critical thinking games. They can be an effective way to boost your problem-solving prowess, so you're ready for whatever comes next!

Stress reduction: Brain games provide a distraction from everyday worries by focusing on something enjoyable, thereby reducing stress levels.

HOME MAINTANCE TIP:

Maintaining your home is important to ensure its longevity and functionality. One such item that requires regular maintenance is an air conditioning unit. Proper maintenance of an air conditioning unit can increase its efficiency, improve its performance, and extend its lifespan.

Slower cognitive decline: Combat cognitive decline as you age by taking part in stimulating activities that keep your brain working hard! From playing crosswords to sudoku or joining a book club— all these tasks can help maintain mental acuity and vitality

The first step in maintaining an air conditioning unit is to clean or replace the air filters This should be done at least once a month during the months when the air conditioner is being used regularly. Dirty or clogged filters can reduce the airflow and cause the unit to work harder than necessary, which can lead to higher energy bills and potential breakdowns. Another important aspect of air conditioning maintenance is checking and cleaning the condenser coils Dirt and debris can accumulate on the coils, reducing their ability to absorb heat, and causing the unit to work harder. The coils should be cleaned at least once a year, preferably before the start of the cooling season. It is also important to check the refrigerant levels of the air conditioning unit. Low refrigerant levels can cause the unit to work harder and result in increased energy bills. If the refrigerant levels are low, a qualified technician should be called to recharge the unit. In addition to these regular maintenance tasks, it is important to have a professional technician inspect and service the air conditioning unit annually. This can help identify potential problems before they become major issues and extend the lifespan of the unit. Overall, maintaining a home item such as an air conditioning unit requires regular attention and care. By following these basic maintenance tips, homeowners can ensure that their air conditioning unit operates efficiently and effectively, providing cool air during the hot summer months.