Shea Realty Blog

I’ve lived in San Diego my whole life and have never driven up the Pacific Coast Highway…
Bree and I ventured to LA this weekend to watch Kawhi Leonard of the Spurs and SDSU Alum take on the LA Clippers and my favorite NBA player Blake Griffin. We drove up the Pacific Coast Highway, through the beach towns, and stayed in Marina Del Ray and Santa Monica. We loved walking along the boardwalk of Santa Monica and Venice Beach and taking in all the beautiful beach homes and coastal views!

It was a great weekend getaway, but it is always nice to return home to beautiful (and traffic-free) San Diego!

We are about mid-way through the season and I’ve been loving my Aztec Games this year!

Season tickets was a great idea.

Bree and I went to the game last Thursday night against San Diego Christian, and it was exciting to watch my Aztecs win. We have some good games coming up this January and I am hoping for more W’s as we march through the season.

Current Stats 13-2

Next up Chicago tonight… Go Aztecs!

2011 – What a year!

While the year started out just like any other, it quickly became one for the books… Photo books that is!  And one for making lifelong memories.

I embarked on the Trip of a Lifetime with my beautiful wife, Mary.  We traveled to Ireland to trace our family roots and soaked up the rich history of our ancestors as we journeyed across the breathtaking landscape.  It was an amazing trip to say the least, and I am so thankful Mary and I had the opportunity to visit.  One day I hope to return, with my family in tow, and explore more areas.  Until then, I will continue to relive the trip through our photo books and dream of adventures of the future.

My son also embarked on a journey of his own; future husband to the beautiful Bree Haney.  After years of courting, Jon popped the question this year and luckily, she said yes!  My family is thrilled to have Bree officially join the Shea Family.  She brings laughter and happiness not only to my son but also my family.  We look forward to 2012, and wedding planning… and by we, I mean my wife! The union of these two will definitely be a wonderful sight for some very happy parents.  And our family continues to grow…

Laura, my youngest daughter, is traveling around the town on her own these days thanks to her new set of wheels and a little thing called a Drivers License.  Her sweet 16 has come and gone, and now she is almost ALWAYS gone.  I am sure 2012 will hold a handful of worried nights for Mary and me as we wait up for our daughter to get home safely.

My oldest, Michelle, continues to explore the world.  She just returned home to Colorado from New Zealand.  She continues to race and enjoys a number of outdoor activities.  You can check out one of her adventures here: www.utahadvjournal.com/index.php/planning-for-misadventure-in-the-uintas

At Shea Realty we had a fantastic year helping just over 5 families a month to buy or sell a home.  I am most excited about Jon’s progress and the wonderful feedback we are getting from the community and his new clients; I am so proud of him. Unfortunately, about one third of our business this past year has been short sales. Good news is we’ve had a 98% success rate in getting the lenders to accept our packages allowing our clients to avoid foreclosure and the huge credit and tax liabilities.  We love helping families to discover all of their options before making any real estate decisions, even if that means no business for us. As an example we have helped quite a few families with loan modifications allowing them to save their home and credit as well as helping with County tax reassessments to keep their property taxes lower.  We expect 2012 to look much like the 2011 real estate market mostly because of the November elections and the ongoing uncertainty.

2012 is shaping up to be quite a year!  We will continue to serve Rancho Bernardo and the surrounding communities with exceptional service.  Not only for all your real estate and mortgage needs but also anything we can do to help!  From our new and improved Shea Realty site to our updated Trusted Partners, we hope you can continue to rely on Shea.

Visit us on Facebook and LIKE our Fan Page.  Keep tabs on the industry and get updates via our Shea Realty Blog.  As always, if you ever have any questions…

“Just Shea When”

Here’s to a Happy Healthy 2012!

Ps. 2012 will also be the year I finally learn how to use my new iPhone.  After over a decade with the same phone, I reluctantly upgraded and although I am glad I did, the learning curve has been steep!  Wish me luck!

First my son announces he is engaged and now my Baby is driving.  Boy do I feel old!

You would think that after teaching 2 kids to drive the third {test of my patience} would be so much easier.  And it was!  Our youngest child, Laura just turned 16 on Nov 12^th and on Nov 14^th she was the proud recipient of a new CA driver’s license.

Laura was such an easy person to teach to drive.  We started with the old green truck so she could learn to drive a stick shift, and so I would not be too worried about a possible dent.  On the weekends we went to the Sony parking lot in Ranch Bernardo and drove around the building at least a 100 times.  I have never known a kid that was so motivated to learn to drive and took to it so fast.  Within a few months we were testing her skills and my patience on the back streets of the RB industrial park just hoping that we were driving under the radar.

One of the best parts about Laura getting her license is that she is now attending Cathedral Catholic High School in Carmel Valley and we will not have to get up at 6:30am to drive her to school or pick her up at 2:30pm every day.  Finally!! Freedom for Mary and me!  Trust me; it is not about Laura’s freedom!

So now, about the car.  What to do?  I told Laura that if she got and maintained a 3.8 GPA I would get her a car and wouldn’t you know it, that little rascal did just that! So not only does she have a new license, she has a new car.

And who do you think I heard from first? That is right, Michelle, our 30-year-old called and said “Are you kidding me?  You never bought Jon or me a new car. Are you nuts?!”

Perhaps I am, but I made a deal and a deal is a deal.  So please watch out for our little girl and call me if you see her on the phone.

• My family. They keep me young. I enjoy living life more because of them. I can’t wait to watch my family expand as my children grow!

• My business. Not only has it allowed me to support my family but it’s supplied me with a network of wonderful people and friends.

• My community. In good and bad times, we rally around one another and provide endless encouragement. It’s been amazing to watch Rancho Bernardo grow and flourish over the past 30 years.

• Those who protect and serve.  From the police officers to fire fighters to our military. I feel safe at home because of their tireless pursuit for our safety and freedom.

• For all the strangers who smile as they pass me on the streets, in the checkout lines, at the park or at a stoplight. Those smiles remind me how much easier it is to be positive when looking at a friendly face.

• Sunny San Diego Days… all year long.  Can you believe where we live?!?

• Movies.  Sometimes a good one can move you in ways you never thought possible, and when you need a good laugh they are always there.

• The internet. I remember what it was like before and although sometimes it feels like we are “too connected,” isn’t it nice to have everything we need at the tip of our fingers? From the Stone Age to the iPhone 4s.

• The garbage man.  Someone’s gotta do it, and I am glad it is not me!

• The smell of fresh cut grass, asphalt after a light rain and Mary’s cookies baking in the oven.

• Diet Coke. Enough said.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Hug those close to you. Smile at strangers. Remember how truly lucky we all are to be alive!

Gobble, Gobble.

USA today reports:  The rate at which mortgage holders were late with their payments by 60 days or more rose in the June-to-September period for the first time since the last three months of 2009, according to TransUnion.

The credit reporting agency said 5.88% of homeowners missed two or more payments, an early sign of possible foreclosure. That was up from 5.82% in the second quarter.

USA reports:  Arizona had the best rate of improvement in the nation, and now has a delinquency rate of 7.46%. That still places it fourth worst in the country, but the rate is vastly improved from where it stood. In the fourth quarter 2009, Arizona’s delinquency rate hit 16%, highest for any state since the foreclosure crisis began.

Arizona does, however, still have the highest foreclosure rate in the nation — one in every 44 housing units with a foreclosure filing in the third quarter, according to Realtytrac.

While the recent news still isn’t positive, we are hoping the trend will reserve soon. Mortgage rates are at all time lows and unemployment rates are falling.  Combine that with affordable home prices and right now is the perfect time to buy! If you are looking for a piece of real estate to call your home for the long haul, contact us!  We can help you find your dream home, get you an amazing loan and provide you with a list of people that can keep you happy and healthy in your home for years to come.

“Just Shea When”

Harvest Festival

This year, Shea Realty sponsored the Pumpkin Patch at Turtleback Elementary School.  The event raised $371 for the Turtleback Elementary School!! My fiance, Bree, and I were there to hand out pumpkins to all the visitors. We are proud to sponsor such a great a event, and look forward to next year!  We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Halloween.

Let’s cheer on our Chargers, and have a happy holiday season!

“Just Shea When”

In 2000, as my Dad was having his final conversation with my daughter, Laura, he said, “My only regret is that I never traveled to Ireland to find my roots.” My Dad was 100 percent Irish and he had always wanted to visit Ireland. And just like most of us something always gets in the way, or time just slips by and he never made it to Ireland.

A few years ago Mary and I started planning for our trip to Ireland to discover our Shea ancestry. In August we made the pilgrimage to our homeland. We tracked down our ancestors back to 1791 and discovered our 9th generation family lived in Cork, Ireland, in the diocese of Kerry, Parish of Dromtariffe, and townlands of Curragraigue. We found the actual land that our Great (8th) Grandmother farmed and lived on in 1810. We located the church where she married and the cemetery she and my Great (8th) Grandfather were buried. We also completed the branch of the tree that included them, their children and all the way to today. Most of the family left Cork, going to Liverpool and then New York; finally settling in Minnesota in 1860. We spent the whole day in Cork with a local driver explaining the history of Cork and showing us the sights and landmarks. It was an incredible experience.

We then traveled to Dublin, Belfast and all the way to the beautiful, breath-taking North Coast!

This was truly the trip of a lifetime. See a few of our best shots (4 out of 528)!

St John’s Church - where the records discovered leading to all our family tree - 3 years of searching; not so easy.

The actual piece of land my Great (8th) Grandmother farmed and lived on. So beautiful, quiet and peaceful. This is what Heaven must look like.

The cemetery my ancestors were buried in starting at early as 1797, with a view of the valley we came from.

Mary and me at Blarney Castle

Sometimes you can get so caught up in work.  Challenges, road blocks and things outside your control make it hard to remember what it’s all about.  But then, people rally around you and remind you what a great job you do, and why you do it!

These kind words from clients and friends make my heart swell with pride; pride in a job well done and pride for a son well-raised.

I am excited to let everyone know that I recently joined the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo.  I have always had a passion for golf and I am just now finally able to spend some time to really learn the game.  Hopefully, I can grow with the game and get really good.  My handicap is 30 – for now – so I may not be the best golfer but I’m practicing! And you know what they say; practice makes perfect…  Well, as close to perfect as you can get with the game of golf.  Even the Pros on Tour aren’t all the consistent with their game!

With that being said, I would love some company on the course!  I have met some really great people to golf with at the Country Club but would love to expand my golfing network and meet more people.  If you would like to get out and play 9 or 18 holes, please let me know.  Visit the Shea Realty Facebook Fan Page to schedule some time!

Don’t forget; it’s almost Charger Season.  Let’s Go Bolts!