House You Can Afford ▸ Long Beach Home

Aloha Friday Brings Fun Near Your Long Beach Home

Aug 9 2013 Comments

Aloha Friday Fun Starts With a Long Beach homeThis week’s Aloha Friday is here with some super fun events near your Long Beach home!

Any serious cycling race enthusiasts who live in Long Beach should come for the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships.  Head over to the VELO Sports Center for racing on Friday, August 9th and Saturday August 10th.  Admission is only $10 per day, but you’ll be amazed at the speed you’ll see.  Click here to buy tickets.

The Long Beach Jazz Festival is happening this weekend at Rainbow Lagoon Park near your Long Beach home, too.  On Friday, August 9th, the gates open at 5 p.m., and the show goes from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.  On Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th,  the gates open at 11 a.m.  Shows run all day,  from noon to 10:30 p.m.  Click here to see the full schedule and buy tickets.

For the most amazing family event (and one that will FILL you with Aloha spirit) come to the 81st Annual Great Sand Sculpture Contest.  It will be at Granada Beach on Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There will also be food, live music, arts and crafts, vendor booths, and kids activities.  And, of course, amazing sand sculptures.  It’s a great beach tradition near your Long Beach home.  Click here to read more about it.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend enjoying these one-of-a-kind events that can only be found near your Long Beach home! If you happen to be looking for Long Beach real estate or need to find out how much of a home loan you can qualify for to start your home search, call me or click here. I’d love to help you out!

 

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Living in Hawaii – Ready to Move?

Aug 6 2013 Comments

Living in Hawaii - buy a Hawaii HomeDid you move into your Long Beach home hoping to enjoy a peaceful beach community – would you rather be living in Hawaii? Perhaps it’s Southern California’s infamously bad traffic or maybe it’s just my Aloha Friday posts that have you longing for Hawaii. Maybe you’re thinking it would be nice to have a home in Hawaii, the perfect place to rest your head after an exciting Aloha Friday. I find that most people think that a home in Hawaii will always be just a dream, never a reality. However, that doesn’t have to be true!

Here’s a nice little piece of reality! The state of Hawaii actually has a number of Hawaii home buying programs aimed at low to medium income home buyers, especially for first time buyers. Income-eligible, first-time homebuyers can take advantage of the Hula Mae Mortgage Loan Program, a Hawaii buying program of the Hawaii Housing & Development Corporation. The program offers 30-year mortgage loans with interest rates starting at 2.95% and 30-year mortgage loans with down payment assistance and interest rates starting at 3.45%. To see eligibility rules, contact me directly or click here.

Whether you need assistance from a Hawaii buying program or not, a little education about the process of buying a home in Hawaii will be helpful. So, call me to discuss how we can make your dream of living in Hawaii come true. We will explore many options, including Hawaii buying programs and find a way to get you there!

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Kick Off Aloha Friday with Events Near Your Long Beach Home

Aug 2 2013 Comments

Aloha Friday - Fun Times Near Your Long Beach homeAloha Friday is here and there are some great events near your Long Beach home! Relax and enjoy a weekend down by the sea with a mix of free  events involving music, crafts, and exhilarating speed.

On Saturday, August 3rd, Mike Vitale is playing at The Pike at Rainbow Harbor. Bring lawn chairs and blankets and chill out to Vitale’s acoustic tunes. The concert is from 5 to 7 p.m. Click here for more details.

There’s going to be even more great live music playing near your Long Beach home at the Wilmore 9 Festival. Head over to downtown Long Beach on Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th, from noon to 10 p.m. In addition to live bands, there will also be five theaters screening the films of new filmmakers. Galleries will showcase the work of artists and photographers and crafters will demonstrate and sell their unique creations. You can even grab something tasty at one of the food trucks parked around the festival! Visit the Wilmore 9 Festival for more details.

For some excitement near your Long Beach home, check out Southern California Speedboat Club’s races. They’ll be held Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, August 4th at Long Beach Marine Stadium. Click here for the complete schedule.

If you’d prefer to spend your weekend searching for Long Beach condos or homes, give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d love to assist you in finding the perfect mortgage for a house you can afford.

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Start Your Aloha Friday with A Splash Near Your Long Beach Home

Jul 26 2013 Comments

Aloha Friday near your Long beach homeIt’s Aloha Friday and that means it’s time to think about how you will be spending the weekend near your Long Beach home!

Have you ever been to the dragon races? You’ll be thrilled by the speed, tradition and competitive spirit found at the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival! Held this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28, the Marine Stadium near your Long Beach home will be filled with dragon boats in one of the largest competitions of this newly recognized international sport.

All weekend long you can visit Long Beach’s Marina Green Park on East Shoreline Village to see the FIVB World Tour. This Beach Volleyball extravaganza sponsored by ASICS World Series is free and you’ll be able  to see a host of volleyball showdowns and pick up some sunglass and frisbee swag. See the website for details.

If you live in Long Beach and would rather spend some time indoors, you may want to visit the Omelette Inn for breakfast and an exhibit of colorful acrylics focused on Long Beach Harbor activities. Located at the corner of Third and Pine Avenues, it’s a perfect way to start off your morning! Read more about this local business and eatery by clicking here.

 

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Long Beach Home Rates & Fun Events This Aloha Friday!

Jul 19 2013 Comments

Your Aloha FridayBegins with Great Long Beach Home RaesIt’s been a great week with Long Beach home rates rolling back to lower levels and I hope that has you pumped and ready to celebrate the weekend this Aloha Friday! Whether you choose to spend your time enjoying community events or searching for a Long Beach home, call me to see how you can lock in a great mortgage rate, for a new home, second home, or to refinance. House You Can Afford and iMortgage can lock in your rate for 150 days, giving you plenty of time to shop around and qualify for the right Long Beach home.

Up for some indoor soccer this weekend? Stop by the Long Beach Convention Center to witness the he 28th U.S. Futsal National Championship through the 21st! The convention center is located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd and you can find out more about the competition by clicking here.

Prefer some outdoor action? Long Beach Harbor will be a whirl of activity on Saturday, the 20th, as more than 70 water ski teams embark on the Annual Catalina Ski Race. Celebrating it’s 65th year, you’ll be shocked at the speed of these competitors as they ski between the Queen Mary and Catalina, some completing the course in under an hour!

Of course, you can also spend Saturday at Rumble on Pine. A free activity geared towards the entire family, the Pine Rumble is a combination Classic Car and Art Show, with plenty of children’s activities and food and drinks, including a beer garden. Held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach, this event is sure to make your weekend great. Find out more at their Facebook page.

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Maybe Spend Your Aloha Friday, Saturday, Sunday Golfing?

Jun 21 2013 Comments

Celebrate Aloha Friday through golfing near Long Beach homesA treasure trove of golf courses are located near your Long Beach home and though Hawaiian shirts may not be the norm at most of them, you’ll definitely find the Aloha spirit. On the green you’ll see people taking turns amicably, friends greeted warmly, and above all you’ll experience the beauty of the sunshine and ocean breeze. It may not be the Ko’olau or Kapalua Golf Course, but Long Beach certainly carries some weight when it comes to hitting the links.

Great Long Beach Golf Courses – The Perfect Aloha Friday Activity

When those who work and live in Long Beach talk public golf courses, the five listed below rank pretty highly.

    • Bixby Village Golf Course, located at 6180 Bixby Village Drive
    • El Dorado Park Golf Club , located at 2400 North Studebaker Road
    • Recreation Park South, located at 5000 East 7th Street
    • Skylinks Golf Course, located at 4800 East Wardlow Road
    • Heartwell Golf Course, located at 6700 East Carson Street

In terms of private courses in Long Beach, top on the list is Virginia Country Club, located at 4602 North Virginia Road. However, Old Ranch Country Club, located at 3901 Lampson Avenue in Seal Beach is pretty popular, too.

If golf is not your thing, don’t worry because there is plenty of exploration you can do near your Long Beach home. Take a look at my 10 Summer Adventures Near Long Beach homes post and have a great Aloha weekend!

 

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10 Amazing Summer Adventures Near Long Beach Homes

Jun 20 2013 1 Comment

Enjoy Summer Fun Near Long Beach HomesThis post is dedicated to parents with Long Beach homes who seek to answer the statement, “I’m Bored” this summer. I hope these activities and places will help you to embrace your local community and teach your children who live in Long Beach the value of their surroundings!

Exploring Adventures Near Long Beach Homes

1. Played Frisbee Golf Lately? El Dorado Park West, at 2800 Studebaker Road, has a great FREE course that is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The perfect way to exercise and test skills as a family, this nearly 6,000 foot, 18 basket course will build some solid memories! call 562.570.3100 to find out more.

2. Need to Cool Off? The Belmont Plaza Pool,  Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pool, and Silverado Park Pool offer admission for kids and seniors for $3 or less and $4 for adults all summer for morning or afternoon swimming. Click here to find out more.

3. Tennis Anyone? Were you aware that more than ten tennis courts are available for no-cost play near your Long Beach home? Of course you could also choose to pay $6/hr Monday through Thursday and play at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, as well.  Learn more here.

4. Want More General Play? The City of Long Beach offers Summer Fun Days at most local parks, too.  From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids between 5 and 12 years of age can stop in for crafts, games, and other supervised, structured, free activities. Check the list here to see if the park near your Long Beach home is participating.

5. Lots of Camp Options, too! Long Beach kids can sign up for all types of day camps, for a fee, too. Click here to see.

6. Camp Is Not Just For Kids! Adults can find classes throughout Long Beach too, from yoga and fitness to sewing and ceramics, many options are available. See the online class catalog – page 16 is where the adult classes begin!

7. Ready for Some Music? The Long Beach Municipal Band has concerts scheduled at local parks throughout July. See dates, times and places here.

8. Jump in the Ocean or Visit the Sea Fest! The Long Beach Sea Festival has plenty to offer at well all summer long, you can view scheduled events online at their website.

9. Interested in Nature? Walk the trails or visit the Nature Center at El Dorado Park this summer and learn some fascinating things!

10. For a daily list of Long Beach happenings, visit 100 Days of Summer and find even more fun to do near Long Beach homes!

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Say Aloha Near the House You Can Afford

Jun 14 2013 2 Comments

Celebrate Aloha Friday with Ric Dizon and the house you can affordThis weekend is a time to celebrate fathers everywhere, and here are some fun events to consider near the house you can afford in Long Beach. If you’re still wondering about gift ideas, check out my Father’s Day post, which lists ideas to have Dad feeling the Aloha spirit in no time!

Long Beach Events Near the House You Can Afford

Come down to the beach on Saturday evening for some sunset movie fun at 5825 East Appian Way where families can settle in for some low-key, aloha-styled family fun watching the Lorax outdoors, away from their Belmont Heights homes. The movie and parking are free, so bring some lawn chairs and blankets and a little money for kettle corn to enjoy on your night out. Click here for a map of the location.

Sunday, June 16th is the perfect day to join in the hunt for fabulous finds for the house you can afford at the Long Beach Antique Market, unless you have something special planned for Dad! Held all day long in Long Beach Veterans Stadium, located at 4901 East Conant Street, you can peruse more than 800 vendors, in your search for the perfect eclectic item for your Long Beach home. From nautical and Hawaiian treasures to bikes, vintage clothing and furniture, you’ll be delighted with the selection. Visit their website to learn more.

As always, if you see a Long Beach home you are interested in learning more about on my website, give me a call. I can help you determine how much house you can afford and maybe even find the perfect Los Altos home for you!

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Ric’s Top 10 Gifts for Dads Who Live in Long Beach

May 28 2013 4 Comments

Ric's Top 10 Gifts for Dads 2013It’s time – Father’s Day is June 16th this year – and that means it’s time for Ric’s Top 10 Gifts for Dads Who Live in Long Beach! You love your dad, but shopping for him can be so hard! Here are a few gift ideas you can find online as you consider what to purchase near your Long Beach home.

Ric’s Top 10 Gifts For Dad

10. For a modern and healthy twist on a classic wallet, think steel and get Dad the sleek, stainless steel Zippo wallet. He’ll be styling whenever he goes out.

9. If your dad enjoys grilling in the backyard of his Long Beach home, you’ve got to get him a Grillbot. Save him the hassle of cleaning the grill all year long with this entertaining gadget!

8. A tech-y Dad who lives in Long Beach and likes the outdoors will appreciate an Uco Arka LED Lantern. It’s a lantern, a flashlight, and also has a USB port so he can charge his phone or laptop while camping – simply amazing!

7. Got a a Dad who loves fishing? The Kombo Fish Tool is a great gift and has Aloha style, too! Complete with a fish bonker, a filet knife, a scooper, and a sharpener all wrapped up in a day-glo green shell, it’s hard to find a better gift. Did I mention it also floats, too? Genius!

6. To really make Dad’s day, you might consider getting him the complete 40-DVD collection of Clint Eastwood’s films. Featuring classics alongside more recent films, this could set the scene for a great movie marathon! You could even plan to stop by and watch with him, if you live in Long Beach.

5. Is Dad an athlete? Your gift will surely impress if you bring the FitBit FLEX – it combines tech and fitness like no other!

4. Perhaps you have a golfing Dad? Tee time at Skylinks at Long Beach or El Dorado Park are an awesome choice!

3. For the more practical Father a leather iPad case may be the way to go (or a nice pair of shoes).

2. Don’t forget that a gift from the heart is always a good choice, too. So put the kids up to making something really good (the stickier and sweeter, the better!).

All the gifts listed above would make any Dad smile, however, there’s one that will outlast them all, a requirement in Ric’s Top 10 Gifts for Dads. In it you can combine thought and fun, quality and the Aloha Spirit. That’s right – I wasn’t going to miss out on the chance to bring some Aloha into Dad’s life for my number one choice!

1. Whether you choose coconut buttons, loud colors or tame, the gift that’s top on my list that EVERY Dad needs this Father’s Day is an ALOHA Friday Hawaiian Shirt. Ask me where to get the coolest ones so he can wear it in style!

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Welcoming the Weekend Near Your Long Beach Home with Aloha Friday!

May 10 2013 Comments

Aloha Friday Near Your Long Beach HomeThis Mother’s Day weekend promises to be one of fun in the sun, the perfect way to celebrate an Aloha Friday near your Long Beach home!

Start your Aloha Friday off with free admission to the Long Beach Museum of Art (until 5 p.m.) and a shopping trip to the Farmer’s Market (open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Then venture over to the Annual Rummage Sale held on 3759 Orange Avenue, near your Long Beach home, at Cal Heights United Methodist Church! The rummage sale will give you a chance to find items of interest and enjoy the sunshine. Sale hours on Friday are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On Saturday, May 11th, you can cheer on or race in the Tour of Long Beach, an annual event dedicated to raising funds for Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. A full day of activity begins at 6 a.m., whether you participate in the 5 mile Family Fun Ride, or the 31, 62, or 100 mile course!  You’re sure to see friends and have a great time biking along the coast. Read about it here.

Sunday, May 12th, of course, is a day dedicated to mothers, no matter where they may live. However I hope you take special care of the Mother living in your Long Beach home and deliver her a day of great memories! A thoughtful gift or brunch away from home are treats to make Mom smile or choose from this list for sure winners!

 

 

 

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