Mission Style – classic curves and stucco walls – hand-painted ceramic tiles – there are a lot of things to love about an older home – even if it needs renovation. If you’re about to take the plunge and start rehabbing one, there are some steps that you must know. Before you start looking at swatches and paint samples, this is what you need to do:

 

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Get a professional inspection.

Nothing will bring the reality like a home inspection by a qualified professional. Since California doesn’t require home inspectors to be licensed, it’s important that you check their credentials. Your real estate agent will be a good source for a referral. A certification from the California Real Estate Inspectors Association is an excellent qualification.

Your inspector will evaluate everything from structure to plumbing and heating systems. Don’t even think of starting the renovation process without consulting one.

 

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Choose your contractors with care

Once you’ve passed the inspection – hurrah!- you’ll want to screen your contractors with diligence. Find ones who are experienced with old homes. They’ll be able to save you money in the long run. There’s nothing like ripping out 25 feet of pipe when only the sink needed to be replaced. Ask about their portfolio of previous projects – an experienced home rehabbing contractor will be glad to share theirs.

 

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Be ready to learn and build some sweat equity,

There are a lot of renovation projects that you can take on yourself. Things like painting, adding trim and hanging cabinets are within the skill sets of many homeowners. Since a good part of a successful home renovation is being onsite to supervise the contractors, why not pick up some new skills? There’s nothing like the satisfaction of seeing a room you painted, or the thrill of mastering a nail gun. You’ll remember it long after the work crews have cleaned up and gone.

 

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Be realistic about your budget.

With the help of the competent home inspector you hired at the beginning (nudge, nudge), you’ll have a clear vision of what needs to be done first. If you’re moving into the rainy season, roofing repairs are going to be a non-negotiable priority. Make sure you get multiple bids for each critical project, and then add on an additional 20% of your total budget as a reserve. That 20% will provide you with a cash cushion that can mean the difference between a house that you can live in from the outset, and an expensive money pit.

 

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Don’t be afraid to window shop

One of the best sources of ideas for remodeling your older home is from – yes, other older homes! Hit up open houses in neighborhoods similar to yours, and see how those owners handled issues you’ll be addressing. Often, the sales sheet will list what has been done, and even the contractor who handled the work. You’ll get a notebook full of good ideas, and also some ideas of real DON’TS for your rehabbing project.

 

It’s easy to fall in love with an older home, but do it with your eyes open. Choose the right professionals to advise you upon and to implement your renovation needs. Be ready to put on the safety glasses and drive some nails. Take a deep breath and be realistic about your budget and priorities, And, take a break from the reconstruction chaos, and go out for some inspiration. This way, you’ll still love your house – and yourself –  when it’s all done.

 

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While there are many perks to living in La La Land, let’s face it. Los Angeles traffic is a nightmare. Unless you have hours to spare, the best way for residents of Long Beach, California to get around Los Angeles County is through the commuter system. Let’s take a look at how to get around Long Beach, California and its neighboring cities.

The Passport

You hear a lot about how much of a horrible experience Los Angeles traffic can be. Long Beach is not as negative. When driving around Long Beach itself, a car will suffice. This port city is one of the few SoCal destinations that has free parking in most neighborhoods (with the exception of downtown).

 

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If you are looking to just get around Long Beach without driving then the best bet is to hop on the Passport. This free bus is owned and operated by Long Beach Transit. Using this mode of transportation gets you to some of the top Long Beach attractions without worrying about parking.

 

Long Beach hotspots frequented by the Passport include:

 

• Aquarium of the Pacific
• City Place Mall
• Convention Center
• Downtown
• The Pike at Rainbow Harbor
• Pine Avenue
• Queen Mary
• Shoreline Village

 

You can also take the Passport as a shuttle to Long Beach Transit water transportation services, AquaBus and AquaLink.

 

In order to get on the Passport, you need to access the service at stops in designated neighborhoods. The first stop of the day for the Passport is Queen Mary London Town W. Running a total trip time of 29 minutes, the Passport picks up and drops off passengers at 19 different stops, ending at 3rd & Pine NE.

 

Here are all the stops:

 

• Queen Mary London Town W.
• Catalina Expr & Parking Lot – N Queens Highway
• Queensway & Harbor Plaza Dr. NE
• Maya Hotel (NB Direction)
• Residence Inn (NB Direction) – 661 Queens Way D.
• Golden & Ocean – SW Golden Shore St.
• Shoreline & Queensway – SE Bicycle Route 17
• Aquarium Of The Pacific NE Aquarium Way, Long Beach
• Shoreline & Pine – SE Shoreline Dr.
• Shoreline & Village W
• Pine & Convention Ctr – SE South Pine Ave.
• Pine & Seaside – NE 100 E Ocean Blvd.
• Ocean & Pine – SE E Ocean Blvd.
• Ocean & Lb Blvd – S301 E Seaside Way
• Elm & 1st – NE 401 E 1st St.
• Elm & 3rd (Midblock) – N 400 E 3rd St.
• Fourth & Elm – 340 E 4th St.
• Long Beach & 4th – SW 369 Long Beach Blvd.
• 3rd & Pine – NE 302 Pine Ave.

 

If you are using public transportation outside of Long Beach, you will need other means of transportation. Let’s take a look.

 

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Long Beach Transit Bus

Looking to go to areas throughout Long Beach off the Passport route? Perhaps you want to get to other Los Angeles County cities such as Lakewood and Signal Hill. There are 34 bus routes with 2,000 bus stops all provided by Long Beach Transit. Therefore, every neighborhood from Alamitas Heights to West Long Beach to Bixby Knolls are serviced. As a reference, most trips to downtown from all neighborhoods range from 15 minutes to 30 minutes on the LBT. Additionally, you can take this bus to get on a connection with the Metro Light Rail heading toward LA for just $0.50.

 

A single trip on the LBT is $1.25. Those who are 62 and over or disabled may ride for $0.60. Meanwhile, children under 4, legally blind citizens, and those in wheelchairs have free admission. If you plan on making multiple stops, you can opt for a day pass at $4.00. The aforementioned people applicable for a discount can get a day pass for $2.50.

 

You can also take the Greyhound for longer routes in California. All you need to do is pick up a bus in the California Heights neighborhood. Greyhound has a bus stop located at 1948 Long Beach Blvd. Travel routes include:

 

• I-5/405
  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • Oceanside
  • Santa Ana
  • San Diego
• I-15/SR-91/I-405
  • Anaheim
  • Long Beach
  • San Bernardino
  • Santa Ana
• I-10 or 710
  • Downtown LA

 

Taking a bus isn’t the only way to get around Long Beach. Here’s some other ways to get from point A to point B in the LB.

Light Rail

This is a Metro-based service. It is an above-ground line. While it does have the right-of-way and priority when it comes to signalling in comparison to other vehicles on the road, you have to keep in mind you are in traffic. Therefore, ride times aren’t as fast as a subway, but you take precedence over the LBT.

 

No matter the destination, a single ride is $1.75. If you are purchasing a TAP card for your ride, that will also come with a $1 surcharge. Not many bus stops have TAP vending machines. However, you are able to buy them onboard. For day trips and tourists, you can get a day pass for $7. However, the ticket is only good for up to two hours. So, that’s a lot of getting on and off in a short amount of time. Most of the lines are in service between the hours of 5 am and midnight through the week, and until 2 am on weekends.

 

The Light Rail service in Long Beach is the Metro Blue Line. This was actually the first light rail created by Metro. There are many opportunities to pick up a Blue Line in Long Beach. They include:

 

• Willow Blue Line Station – 2750 W American Ave.
• Anaheim Street Station – 1290 N Long Beach Blvd.
• Wardlow Station – 3420 N Pacific Pl. – 3420 N Pacific Pl.
• Downtown Long Beach Station – 128 W 1st St.
• Metro Blue Line Yard – 4382 E 208th St.
• 5th Street Station – 598 N Long Beach Blvd.
• Del Amo Blue Line Station – 20220 S Santa Fe Ave.
• Pacific Coast Highway Station – 1798 N Long Beach Blvd.
• 1st Street Station – 108 N Long Beach Blvd.
• Metro Willow Park & Ride – 200 E 27th St.

 

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Taking the Blue Line is the most efficient way to get to Los Angeles. Thanks to the Blue Line getting the right-of-way, this is a small way to get a leg up against all others in the same LA traffic.

 

Once in Los Angeles, there are many other light rails you can take, such as:

Green Line

This service runs in the middle of the 105 freeway. It spans from Norwalk all the way to the inland South Bay. This might be the closest rail to take to get to LAX. However, you will still need a transfer to a shuttle bus at $0.50.

Gold Line

This line departs at East Los Angeles, ending at Union Station. You will see many tourist attractions that you can stop at along the way such as:

 

• Mariachi Plaza
• Little Tokyo
• Arts District
• Chinatown
• Highland Park
• South Pasadena
• Pasadena
• San Gabriel Valley
• Arcadia
• Azusa

Expo Line

This is the newest light rail and operates from Downtown Los Angeles all the way to Santa Monica. You can stop at many hotspots in LA such as:

 

• Staples Center (Blue Line from Long Beach comes here too)
• USC
• Exposition Park
• Culver City

Orange Line

This smaller system just runs the Valley. It starts at the North Hollywood Red Line Station and goes straight to either Warner Center or Chatsworth.

Silver Line

The Silver Line operates on the 10 freeway. Taking off in El Monte, this rail runs through the tolls as it heads toward Union Station and Downtown Los Angeles. The Silver Line concludes its journey south on 110, stopping at USC and South LA before ending its route at Harbor Gateway.

Subways

Subways are non-existent in Long Beach. Underground traffic is not available. However, if you are taking the Blue Line down to LA, then the subway is the most efficient way to travel in La La Land. They run on the same price points at other Metro line services.

 

There are two rapid transit heavy rail lines in Los Angeles and they both share many of the same stops. From there, they have five light rail lines we talked about before that hit 93 stations. Here are the two main subway lines:

Red Line

This is the original subway line in Los Angeles. Starting at Union Station, the Red Line hits a lot of popular tourist attractions such as:

 

• Grand Park
• Music Center
• Grand Central Market
• Hollywood
• Universal Studios
• NoHo Arts District

 

You can also opt to take the Purple Line.

Purple Line

The Purple Line starts on the same trajectory as the Red Line from Union Station. Once you hit Wilshire/Vermont, it forks off, ending with two stops in Koreatown. Over the next ten years, the Purple Line plans on expanding westward, reaching out to UCLA and LACMA.

 

Remodeling your home can be a stressful situation. Whether you are a creature of habit and don’t like change or are overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, we are here to help. There are 5 home trends right now that will not only transform your living space, but your way of life as well. So if you’re on the fence about switching up your quarters, check out these 5 home trends that will make you want to remodel.

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More Windows, More Light, More Sun
This home trend a huge investment in your property..and yourself. The sun brings us many gifts. For one, it’s a free source of light. Installing a skylight is a chic way to cut your electricity costs.

Having a skylight not only helps save you money, but it can add quality to your life as well. The sun is our main source of Vitamin D, an essential nutrient our body needs to function properly. Working indoors all day, many people suffer from Vitamin D deficiencies. Therefore, investing in a skylight is investing in yourself.

If a skylight isn’t your style, you can also benefit from more windows. In fact, a growing home trend sees knocking down the wall to the backyard and replacing it with a big window.

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Get Smart
If you like your smartphone, you’ll love a smarthouse. There are so many ways to customize your living experience for optimal convenience. There’s everything from coffee makers that are programmed to ensure your cup is brewed the second you want it to refrigerators that tell you which groceries you are running low on…Yup. That’s a thing.

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The Mosaic Era
Mosaics are hot right now, and with good reason. These stunning patterns turn heads as backsplashes in the kitchen and steal the show as dining room wallpaper. The mosaic game has been upped even more as it’s starting to become popular for tile floors, area rugs, and throw pillows. While it’s easy to get caught up the mosaic majesticness, don’t go overboard. You want an entree, not a buffet.

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Mudroom Madness
Sometimes remodeling seems far fetched when you have kids involved. After all, they are just going to draw on your mosaic wallpaper or track mud all over your new rug. If only there were a room to contain all that mud…Oh wait. There is.

Mudrooms are a great way to keep all your kids’ outdoor belongings in one area. One of the hottest mudroom home trends is to create cubbies. With a name like mudroom, unfinished wood and a rustic touch could be a fun theme for your reno.

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Spread Out
Do you have a room that you’re not using? Knock down a wall and extend a room you actually love. This is an easy and cheap way to give your living room a TV area while the kids can stay close and play in their own little nook. Expand your kitchen counter space and get improved, smarter appliances. Sometimes more…is more.

The home buying process in Long Beach, California can feel both exciting and miserable at the same time. One aspect providing misery is the mortgage loan approval process. From gathering paperwork to dissecting numbers and decimal points, the financial aspect of home buying is quite daunting. One of the major things to focus on is getting the lowest interest rate possible. It sounds frightening to march into a bank and ask for a low rate. However, with a little preparation and prior knowledge, you can confidently approach your lender with your request for a lower interest mortgage rate. Here are four little known ways to get approved for a lower interest mortgage in Long Beach, California.

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Fix or Improve Your Credit

Mortgage lending is all about tiered pricing these days. Simply put, the higher your credit score is, the lower your rate will be. The most leverage you will ever have against a lender, outside of not needing their money, is a high credit score. A score of 760 puts you into the category that will offer the lowest interest rates.

If you have a credit score below 760, it would be beneficial to find ways to improve your score as quickly as possible. One such way is to ensure your debt to income ratio is in a good place. If you have significant amounts of credit card debt or other bills, go ahead and work on paying those off before applying for a mortgage. Speaking of, the current debt to income ratio is a major factor for a mortgage lender so it is important to have that resolved either way.

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Prepare a Quality Down Payment

Like your credit score, the higher your down payment, the lower interest mortgage you will be able to get. Mortgage lenders weigh the risk of every application. One way to make the lender feel more comfortable offering a lower interest rate is to offer a 20% down payment. Anything less than that is viewed as carrying more risk for the lender.

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Have Spare Cash

Mortgage lenders love to see money in a savings account on a loan application. It cannot be in a retirement fund or other types of investments. It must be cold, hard, and available cash. This makes a lender confident that you can pay for your mortgage for a couple months, simply with the cash you have available.

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Do Your Research

Finally, researching your lender is vital to getting a lower interest mortgage rate in Long Beach, California. There are several websites available to assist in looking for local lenders with great rates. A little homework goes a long way as there are lots of options available out there. Like many aspects of buying a home, the first option may not always be the best option.

 

What better time to throw the perfect party than in the summertime in your home? Summer is generous, giving us the perfect weather for outdoor parties. But where do you begin to plan with so much to do? Here are some simple tips for hosting the summer home party that will be fun and make a soiree to remember. Whether your home is big or small, these inexpensive tips will transform it into the perfect setting for a summer party.

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Prepare for any weather

If you’re planning an outdoor party at your home, you may want to prepare for inclement weather. If there is likely to be a shower, get a gazebo, there are lots of cheap yard tents you can buy or rent. Most of the rental companies can even offer heaters you can get if there are chances that it will get cooler. 

Invitations

When it comes to sending invitations, the first step is to decide who you’re going to invite to your party. You should also let your guests know if there will be a dress code or if they can bring others along with them or not. Whatever your method of invitation, the most important thing is to be calm and collected and make sure you can accommodate all your guests in the event they all decided to come. 

Select a Theme

To host a perfect summer home party, you want the location you choose looking its best. Start by selecting a theme if you’re undecided on how to style and decorate for the party. Go for something that is vintage, elegant, or laid back. After choosing your theme, you have a good starting point for décor and color scheme. 

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Light it up

Don’t let darkness put the lights out on your party; dazzling lighting is significant for summer home party. From votive candles and twinkle lights to tea lights and warm glow of lanterns, you can create an ambient atmosphere, and your light will shine on long after the sun goes down.

Get Variety of Drinks

When it comes to drinks at a summer party, the more you get, the better. Whether you plan to set up a bar or have bottles of beer and wine available, drinks are essential parts of any party. Make sure you have several varieties of drinks that can accommodate the tastes of all your guests. 

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Pick the Perfect Menu

We all know that without food, a party would not be a party. Food becomes a talking point of any party even once it’s over; it can make or break a party. Light finger food is perfect for a summer party because it is easy to handle, especially when the weather is scorching.

Music Sets the Mood

Music sets the mood for every party; make a playlist of everyone’s favorite’s summer jams to get the party started. While creating a playlist may seem like a small detail, we all know how it can set the tone for the mood you’re trying to spawn at your party. 

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Set up Summer Games

No matter whether your guests already know each other or not, there is no better way to make people feel more relaxed than summer party games. There are plenty of old fashion summer games both kids and adults can enjoy together. Games such as potato sack race, croquet, and horseshoes are easy and relatively inexpensive to set up. 

Be yourself and Have Fun

Don’t forget that the primary reason for the party is for you and your guests to have fun. Hosting parties can be stressful, but you don’t want people to feel like they are a burdening to you. Relax, drinks will spill, food may run out, and it could look boring at times, but that is fine. Be confident, stay friendly, and you will have the perfect summer party at your home that is fun and memorable for years to come.

Summer isn’t long enough but while it lasts, there are fun things to do and events to attend in Long Beach this season.

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June 30-From 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, The Agenda Festival will be taking place at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment center this summer. The festival will include over 500 pop shops like New Balance, Champion, The Hundreds, Dickies, Levi’s and more. This concert will also feature artists like Lil Yachty, Brockhampton, Lecrae, Denzel Curry, and Yung Lean. Food trucks and meet and greets will also be promoted so come with friends and enjoy the music.

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June 30-Sunnyside Cemetery will be hosting their annual “Celebration at Sunnyside Cemetery to celebrate the 16,000 people who were once part of the community. There will be musical guests, historians, authors, and morticians. However, it’s limited to only 1600 guests so get your tickets while they last!
July 7-This day will welcome all animal and food lovers. Live music and vegan food will be the main course for this event. Get out of your comfort zone and try new foods, fun activities, and earth-friendly creative art installations. For under $20 this event is a must!

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July 15-The Quincenera.com Expo and Fashion Show Long Beach will be from noon to 5:00 pm at the Long Beach Convention Center. Planning your Quinceanera? Find gorgeous and inspiring dresses, invitations, party favors, caterers, and more! There will be raffles, free stuff, and prizes like makeup and hair certificates. These goodies will make your party planning process an entertaining experience so come take a look and get inspired.

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September 8-Long Beach’s annual Comic-Con will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center that will exhibit work from amazing artists from all around. From educational programs to meet and greet sessions, there will be loads to do and participate in. Whether you decide to dress up or not, it will be a day to remember.

 

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