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The recent earthquake left some of us feeling extremely grateful we are prepared for a natural disaster, but also had some of us feeling uneasy and under-prepared. No matter the case, it may be time to check in on your emergency kit. That is, to get it started, check the expiration on items in the kit, and/or add some more items to your kit. We have included a few tips on how to build and maintain a kit below, check them out! 

GATHER BASIC SUPPLIES

A basic emergency supply kit should include the following recommended items: water (one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days), food (3-day supply of nonperishable food), battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible), flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries, whistle, dust mask, emergency blankets, moist towelettes, sanitation, and personal hygiene items, multipurpose tool, cell phone with chargers, emergency contact information, extra cash, and a battery supply (solar-powered, if possible). 

ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

Consider adding the following items to your kit based on the needs of your household: medication (7-day supply), pet supplies (reflective collar and leash, food and water, etc), copies of important family documents (identification, insurance policies, etc) in a waterproof container, prescription eyeglasses, contact solution, antacids, non-prescription pain medicine, infant formula, diapers, wipes, puzzles or other activities for the children, etc. 

MAINTAINING YOUR KIT 

After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed: Keep canned food in a cool, dry place, store boxed food in a tightly closed plastic or metal containers, replace expired items as needed, re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

STORING YOUR KIT 

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work, and cars. Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept, and have close-toed shoes ready for the entire family. Car: In case you are stranded, keep a smaller kit of emergency supplies in your car. 

DON’T HAVE TIME TO BUILD A KIT? 

There are many emergency kits available online for purchase. If you choose to purchase a kit from online, you should have your basics, but make sure to add anything you need for pets, children, and you! Make sure your kit is fitted to help YOU survive! (Pictured above is a local favorite, “Judy Kit”). 

Stock markets saw significant gains in July – Stock markets closed higher for the fourth straight month in July,  reversing almost all of the losses since the start of the pandemic. It has not been all good news, as July marked a resurgence in COVID-19 cases which caused many local and state leaders to pull back on their reopening. Experts believe this may stall the job gains we have seen over the past few months, and are awaiting the July jobs report which will be released next Friday, August 7. The second-quarter GDP recorded a 32.6% quarterly loss, its largest ever, but that was in line with the number expected by analysts following the first-ever government economic shutdown. On the positive side, tech companies are recording much higher than expected second-quarter earnings. For example, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple reported earnings that crushed expectations. Overseas economies are also recovering quickly. Retail sales have seen record month over month increases from the levels at the start of the pandemic.  Experts, while still cautious, believe the worst of the economic devastation is behind us. Investors also feel that vaccine trials worldwide indicate that there will be vaccines available by years end. Although disappointed that a fourth stimulus bill has not been approved, investors feel that it is just a matter of time before one is. The lowest plan pumps one trillion dollars into the economy, and the highest proposal pumps three trillion dollars into the economy. The final bill will be somewhere in the middle of those numbers.  Lastly, the Federal Reserve announced that its key interest rate will remain near zero percent for the foreseeable future. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the month at 26,428.32, up 2.4% from 25,812.88 last month. It’s down 7.4% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the month at 3,271.12, up 5.5% from 3,100.29 last month. It’s up 1.3% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 10,725.57, up 6.6% from 10,058.87 last month. It’s up 19.8% year to date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the month yielding 0.55%, down from 0.66% last month. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the month at 1.20%, down from 1.41% last month.

Mortgage rates continued to drop in July – 30-year fixed rate under 3%! – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on July 30, 2020, reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 2.99%, down from 3.13% last month. The 15-year fixed was 2.51%, down from 2.59% last week. The 5-year ARM was 2.94%, down from 3.08% last month.

Employers added 4.8 million jobs in June – The Department of Labor and Statistics reported that 4.8 million new jobs were added in June. That eclipsed analysts’ expectations of 2.9 million new jobs. The unemployment rate dropped to 11.1% from 13.3% in May. It was 14.7% in April, the highest reading since the Great Depression, so the last two months have shown a very positive trend. July numbers will be released next Friday.

Home sales data is released in the third week of the month for the previous month. July’s results will be included in the weekly update on the third week of August and on the August month-end report. Judging by pending sales of July’s figures will exceed June sales and price increases. 

Existing home sales rebound in June – The California Association of Realtors announced that existing home sales surged 42.4% in June from May‘s sales totals. Existing home sales totaled 339,910 on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate in June. That was down 12.8% from June 2019. Fortunately, pending sales have also increased dramatically. The California Association of Realtors expects sales to be back to pre-pandemic levels by July or August. Prices also surged in June. The state-wide median price paid for a home in June was $626,170. That represented a 6.5% increase from May and a 2.5% increase from last June. Inventory levels declined to a 2.7 month supply of homes for sale which explains the number of homes selling with multiple offers. On a regional basis, Los Angeles County had a 1.8% year over year increase in the median price. Ventura County had an 8.2% year over year increase in the median price. Orange County had a 3.3% year over year increase in the median price.

U.S. existing home sales rebounded at a record pace in June – The National Association of Realtors announced that total existing-home sales, which include single-family, condominium, townhomes, and co-ops, increased 20.7% in June from the number of sales in May. This reversed three months of sales declines caused by the pandemic. Real estate sales in all regions of the country reported record month over month increases in sales. The number of sales was still down 11.4% from the number of sales last June, but pending sales have increased and the N.A.R. and associations around the country expect sales to be back up to last year’s levels in the next two months. The median price paid for a home was up 3.5% of the price paid last June. Inventory levels dropped to a 4 month supply, down from 4.3 months, one year ago.

Stocks overcame the largest quarterly drop of the nation’s Gross National Product in history and closed higher for the week –  The nation’s GDP dropped 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020, its largest quarterly drop ever recorded.  Fortunately, analysts expected to see a drop in that range and markets closed higher, with the exception of the Dow which was just slightly lower. Technology stocks rallied across the board after Facebook, Amazon, and Apple reported earnings that crushed expectations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 26,428.32, down 0.2% from 26,469.89 last week. It’s down 7.4% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 3,271.12, up 1.7% from 3,215.63 last week. It’s up 1.3% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 10,725.57, up 3.7% from 10,363.18 last week. It’s up 19.8% year to date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.55%, down from 0.59% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.20%, down from 1.23% last week.

Mortgage rates – The July 30, 2020, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 2.99%, down from 3.01% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.51%, down from 2.54% last week. The 5-year ARM was 2.94%, down from 3.09% last week.

The Tatone Group has relocated to Rodeo Realty, and we are thrilled to welcome such a purpose-driven group of individuals. Learn more about them below!

About the Tatone Group

Integrity, passion, community — these are the core principles that guide Nick Tatone and Samara Saffian. Now they have formed their own prestige team to deliver the same signature experience for their clients at Rodeo Realty. With over 30+ years of combined real estate experience in the Los Angeles Area, and over $1.5 billion in lifetime sales, they have established themselves as leaders in the industry, possessing the knowledge and ability to navigate through many uncertain and stressful fiscal events.

Their ultimate goal is to provide a seamless, smooth and stress-free experience for their clients, while prioritizing their needs to help them prosper and achieve their real estate goals and dreams. This commitment to providing unwavering, steadfast excellence and personalized service has made them among the most sought-after realtors in the Southern California Luxury arena. Formerly the top-producing agents at Dilbeck Estates/Christies International, Nick and Samara bring with them decades of negotiating expertise as well as a steady command of the business.

For the Tatone Group, real estate isn’t just about buying and selling properties, it’s about fulfilling dreams. Because of this unique commitment to the investments and dreams of their clients, it’s no wonder the vast majority of the Tatone Groups business comes from referrals from past clients who feel loyal to them. For investors and developers, the Tatone Group never fails to exceed rate-of-return expectations in record-breaking time.

Beyond their dedication to their clients, the Tatone Group shares a passion for philanthropy. When an individual refers a client who successfully closes an escrow with them, the Tatone Group Charity Division will donate a percentage of their commission to a cause of that person’s choice. Organizations that have benefited include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and such animal welfare groups as The Rescue Train. As a lifelong animal lover, Samara devotes time and energy to rescuing animals from city shelters as well as fostering them. An energetic advocate for his community, Nick also believes in giving back, whether by volunteering to assist youth-based activities or supporting other causes where he can make a difference.

With an undeniable track record of achieving results, the Tatone Group will not stop working until the expectations of their clients are met – and surpassed.

Sometimes when you turn on the TV, you are not in the mood to watch something intense or nail-biting. When watching TV, you invest in these stories, and join the TV-verse— some would say it is an escape from the realities of the world. When you are in the mood for something that is easy to follow and filled with laughs, we have gathered a few series that are light and bright to watch!

Schitt’s Creek

This Canadian import took a season to find its rhythm, but it’s basically brilliant from season two on. Created by Daniel Levy and his father, Eugene Levy, it tells the story of a rich family forced to relocate to a small town after losing their fortune. Both Levys are hysterical, and the show really became something special when it started sketching in the eccentric characters who make up the small town that gives it a title. It’s one of the funniest shows of the decade.

Never Have I Ever

Mindy Kaling wrote this clever coming-of-age comedy that sounds totally generic on paper – a 15-year-old, played by the incredibly likable Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, navigates the treacherous world of being a teen girl. However, a show like this elevated by two things: a great cast and funny writing. This one has both.

Dead To Me

Christina Applegate does the best work of her career and Linda Cardellini nearly matches her in this mystery-comedy about grief, forgiveness, and murder. Applegate plays Jen, a Californian whose husband was recently killed in a hit-and-run. Jen meets Cardellini’s Judy in a grief support group and comes to learn that Judy has a connection to her husband’s murder. Funny, moving, and clever, this is one of Netflix’s best new shows in a long time.

The Good Place

The best comedy currently on network TV is this existential laugher about a woman who dies and goes to the titular location, but not everything is exactly as it seems. This is a show that works better in binge format than it does week to week as it’s incredibly difficult to watch just one and it’s really structured like one long film with the end of one episode often opening on the same scene in the next. The less you know about this great show’s twists and turns, the better. Just trust us.

New Girl

Doesn’t it feel like if New Girl had aired a decade or two earlier, it would have been a massive hit? It was still popular enough to produce 146 episodes, and this is some of the best sitcom comfort food you can find on Netflix. Zooey Deschanel is great, but this show really became better when it developed into a true ensemble piece, including great supporting work by Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, and, especially, Jake Johnson.

Santa Clarita Diet

Victor Fresco’s pitch-black comedy just launched its third season, and the show’s increasingly vocal and loyal fans were flabbergasted to learn it would be the last. Drew Barrymore stars as a California Realtor who, well, dies. She wakes up, though, and finds out that she has a craving for human flesh. Timothy Olyphant nearly steals the show as her put-upon-but-supportive husband. Somebody better pick this show up while Barrymore and Olyphant still have room in their schedules to do it.