Unfortunately for California ans Nevada residents, the wildfire season in the summer and fall can be a dangerous time for those that live in high-risk areas. Cities like San Diego have many residential areas at risk of wildfire.

If you live in a high-risk area, use this brief guide on how to come up with an emergency wildfire plan for the household and what it should include.

What Your Emergency Wildfire Plan Should Include

You want your emergency wildfire plan to be as extensive and comprehensive as possible so that you’re not overwhelmed with trying to plan and make decisions with a wildfire looming. When it’s time to enact the emergency plan, you and the others should know what to do, where to go, and what to bring.

An Evacuation Route & Meeting Point

A wildfire can occur quickly, making a sensible evacuation route crucial to ensuring you and your household’s safety. Have a physical map with the route highlighted in your emergency go-bag, and ensure everyone in the house understands where to go. In the chaos of a wildfire and evacuations, you don’t want to have to rely on the accuracy of your smartphone’s apps and internet speed.

It’s also wise to pick a designated meeting point for the entire household if you separate or aren’t together when the evacuation happens. The meeting place can be a public business outside the hazard area or the house of a friend or relative who you trust.

Emergency Supplies Kit

Along with knowing where to go, you should have a go-bag of emergency supplies ready to take at a moment’s notice. You don’t want to waste precious time finding needed supplies or forgetting something on the go.

Your wildfire emergency kit should include:

• Water and non-perishable food for all household members
• A first aid kit
• Any necessary medications
• A flashlight
• A battery-powered radio
• Extra batteries
• A portable smartphone charger

You may also want to consider some fire-resistant clothing that can hold up in a forest fire. You don’t need the entire uniform of a firefighter, but protective shirts, hats, or pants can help protect you from fire and embers.

A Communication Plan

Communication is critical to the safety of the household in the event of a wildfire evacuation. Unfortunately, cell networks, phone lines, and internet systems can be unreliable in the midst of a disaster, so it’s best to develop a communication plan.

A good strategy is to designate someone outside the household (a relative or family friend) in a safe area as the point of contact. Instead of everyone trying to contact each other, they can reach out to the point of contact who can communicate and coordinate more effectively than a group of people experiencing an emergency.

It’s vital to come up with an emergency wildfire plan if you live in a high-risk area. Make a plan together and ensure everyone understands it and their roles to provide your family peace of mind should the worst happen.

The post How To Come Up With an Emergency Wildfire Plan appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

by Roberta Murphy

Shattering California state records, Southern Califonia luxury hotel resort La Montage  recently sold foe $360 million–or around $1.4 million per room according to a recent article in the LA Times. Said rooms, by the way, go for around $600 per night each.

This purchase price shatters all recent records in California and comes close to matching other pricy sales, which includes the Hotel Del Coronado, which recently sold for over $1 million per room and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii and the Waldorf Astoria New York which each sold for more than $1.4 million per room.

This recent purchase of the La Montage was completed by the Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. which also  bought the 250-room Montage Laguna Beach from an affiliate of Ohana Real Estate Investors, a Redwood City investment firm funded by Pierre Omidyar, the founder and chairman of eBay. Ohana still  (for time being) owns the Travelodge Laguna Beach and the Montage Beverly Hills, among other properties.

Montage Hotels & Resorts will continue to run and operate the upscale Laguna Beach resdort, which opened in 2003 on South Coast Highway. It has a meeting rooms, a spa and a five-star rating from Forbes. Resting on a 50-foot bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and unforgetable sunsets, the La Montage Laguna Beach beckons guests seeking the ultimate Southern Californan getaway.

The post La Montage Laguna Beach Sold: Priciest Yet appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

It’s an account of a woman distracted by three dogs who becomes confused about her place in line at a Starbucks drive-through.  She apparently cut off another woman, who proceeded to scream obscenities at her in obvious anger and frustration.  The woman with dogs backed up and let her in–and what follows is a true revelation and reminder that forgiving and empathy can make our road in life a little less bumpy for all.

Forgiving.

It’s all about letting go. The act of forgiving can be one of the most liberating things we do–and very often, the best place to start is with ourselves. Consider the magic of truly feeling these words:

I am forgiven.

By forgiving ourselves, which may the hardest thing we ever do, we are then freed to forgive others and perhaps understand our purpose in life a little better. I regret I did not spending more time with my parents while they were alive. I regret so many omissions (far more in number than my comissions) and wish there could be re-dos for so many lost opportunities.  But it feel so good to take a deep, meditative breath and say, “I am forgiven…I am.”

The forgiving of self and others allows me to see life through a clearer lens and peer more deeply and with more understanding into the pain and joys of others–and my own.  And if you read the beautiful story above, you’ll understand why I am going to look for the opportunity some day soon to pay someone’s way–or just do something that makes a difference in another’s outlook.

The post The Luxury of Forgiving appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

I live in the coastal San Diego area and miss the magic of snowflakes. This doesn’t take the place of that magic, but I love the creativity (even if there are a few nagging doubts about Google “getting” my searches).

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Jolly Holidays to all!

The post The Luxury of…SNOW! appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

A couple of years ago we were buzzing about the possibility of Slumburbias–where Baby Boomers were abandoning cul de sacs, suburbs and the McMansions battled for a decade ago. Instead, they wanted something smaller, something in a walkable neighborhood, something that didn’t require 100 square feet devoted to lawn mowers, clippers and tools.

They still long for the freedom to lock and go, the freedom to travel, the freedom from having to care and climatize square footage they don’t even visit for weeks at a time. Kids have either moved on or are hanging on and something without a grand staircase sounds mighty inviting to knees that remember prior injuries.

Today, CNBC reports that the McMansions, Starter Castles, Garage Mahals and Faux Chateaus–or whatever you want to call them —are history. These days, few are seeking 4000 square foot  two-story boxes that sit 15 feet from their neighbor’s Plan II Tuscan with 3800 square feet–each with granite and stainless kitchens, epoxied garage floors and mind-numbing sameness. The article goes on…

Just 9 percent of the people surveyed by Trulia said their ideal home size was over 3,200 square feet. Meanwhile, more than one-third said their ideal size was under 2,000 feet.

“That’s something that would’ve been unbelievable just a few years back,” said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia. “Americans are moving away from McMansions.”

We are seeing much the same in our San Diego real estate practice. There is great demand for single story homes, neighborhoods where one can walk to a store, where life can be simpler and more easily managed.  And, of course, it also helps if this downsized San Diego home has the luxury of sitting on the beach–or fronting the golf course at La Costa, Fairbanks Ranch or Rancho Santa Fe.

You may also wish the read:

7 Bargaining Secrets for Luxury Home Buyers

Homes for Baby Boomers: What Do They Want?

The post Adieu to McMansions? appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

We are making reservations now to attend the National Association of Realtors NAR NARDIGRAS, which will logically be held in New Orleans, November 4 through November 8.  We are arriving a couple of days early to attend a two day Cyberprofessional meeting and will spend the balance of our time in unspecified meetings–but will additionally be taking photos and reviewing lodging, restaurants and local “catches.”

Time will understandably be limited.

Can any of our readers suggest an interesting Bed and Breakfast or small Inn in the French Quarter or Garden District in New Orleans? Something picturesque? Maybe even something haunted?

Mostly, Scott and I are seeking something to capture in the viewfinder–and some stories to tell. Reviews are guaranteed!

We welcome your suggestions and will happily publish relevant links.

The post Seeking New Orleans Bed and Breakfast or Inn appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

It’s interesting to study living costs in the most expensive cities in the world–at least as tabulated for 2009. According to Mercers, who tabulate these statistics for expatriate living, the 10 most expensive cities (based on housing, food, entertainment, clothing and transportation) are:

1. Tokyo

2. Osaka

3. Moscow

4. Geneva

5. Hong Kong

6. Zurich

7. Copenhagen

8. New York

9. Beijing

10. Singapore

Mercer’s, in their studies for expatriate cost of living, tabulates these costs for 143 cities in 65 continents and published their results each year. New York is used ars the base city and is given a score of 100. Using that base, Tokyo, for example, scores 143.7 and is almost three times as expensive as Johannesburg, which has an index of 49.6 and is one of the most reasonable places to live.

The top 5 most expensive cities in the Americas are New York City (8), Caracas, Venezuela (15), Los Angeles (23) White Plains (31) and San Francisco (34), while Asia and Europe dominate the worldly top ten list.

Now, we await the Mercer;s Most Expensive Cities list for 2010–especially in light of volatile currency swings.

The post Most Expensive Cities in the World appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

The Witch Fire

I awoke at 4:30 this morning with a sense of dread, quickly remembering that there is a firestorm raging in the communities around our home in La Costa.

Yesterday afternoon, the Reverse 911 system called to inform us we are under “volunteer evacuation” guidance. We chose to remain home because the fires are distant and the ocean even closer. A half-packed suitcase sits by the bedroom door, and we are ready to leave with little notice.
As I tiptoed downstairs, I wondered which of out sons had been burning incense. I then realized that threads of smoke from the fires had slipped into our home.

Stepping outside in the pre-dawn hours, I saw reassuring stars in the sky. Yesterday the sun was red as it glowed behind huge layers of smoke. The air is still full of floating ash and other waste from the fires. The winds are still, there are fewer lights in the hills and the bottoms of my feet are black.

The news from early morning television is not encouraging. Over 300,000 people in San Diego County have been evacuated, 25,000 are without power and we all hanging onto news reports and trying to sort out the rumors that are raging with the fires.
I am following the aptly-named Witch Fire, because it is the one endangering our own community. It started in distant Ramona and has devoured its way
Coastal Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Solana Beach, Carlsbad and Oceanside are still intact–at least for the moment. Rancho Santa Fe is in dire danger–and has been evacuated. News reports are coming in that parts of The Bridges are in flames; that several homes off Via de la Valle and across from Morgan Run Golf Club are burning; that Fairbanks Ranch is in the path of flames, that if this fire jumps Escondido Creek, Encinitas will also be in the path of danger.

The Witch Fire has very expensive taste.

The post The Witch Fire: Nightmare in Rancho Santa Fe appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Not long after that blog response, April Groves at R.E. Revealed says Lani received word that her younger brother had been killed in a car crash on his way over to visit her. In the car were his wife and their two babies.

Lani’s younger brother, 24 year-old Aaron Anglin is survived by his wife Aleisha Anglin, 25 and their two babies, Eleanor, 1 and McKenzie, just 6 weeks who is still reported to be in ICU at this writing.

Lani relayed this message via R.E.Revealed earlier today:

“To me, the important thing to know is that the crazy kid in the funny video is my newly 24 year old little brother Aaron who died yesterday on impact. He was driving to my house (to make another silly video) and was driving with his wife (Aleisha Anglin, 25) and their two babies (Eleanor who turns 1 THIS week and McKenzie who is only 6 weeks old). Aleisha & Eleanor should be released today and McKenzie is in the ICU in improving condition. We have tons of family surrounding us and St. Thomas More parish is providing food this week for our entire family! Aaron was awesome and his marketing work can be found at http://benaaronanglin.carbonmade.com. He was confirmed in the Catholic faith last week, laughed his butt off at ICanHasCheezburger.com with me this week. We were born 18 months apart (Irish twins) and grew up as best friends with so many lame stories.”

Lani, writing to April, further explains:

My brother and his wife are not rich by any stretch of the imagination and Aleisha has a very hard time ahead- if you or anyone else can think of any way to aim finances at her, she really needs it. Assisting in an optometry office is a great profession but pays very little- certainly not enough to cover a funeral, medical bills for three people and a life ahead as a single mother.

The green icon is a link that will help guide you to assistance for this young mother who very unexpectedly became a widow yesterday afternoon,

The story was additionally reported by Greg Swann at The Bloodhound Blog, and was followed up by Brian Brady on Active Rain. Once again, donations are being sought to help tide over a young mother and her two fatherless babies.

Again, please follow your heart.

The post A Second Plea–for a Young Widow appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.