How WiseOceans Is Working to Restore the Coral Reef

I recently talked to Hannah Harries from WiseOceans about their Reef Restoration Project. Learn more about how they are working to reverse the effects of climate change.

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The Seychelles is composed of 115 scattered islands in the Indian Ocean. This tiny nation finds itself at ground zero of climate change. 

The sea level has risen almost a quarter inch each year.  El Niño’s warmer sea patterns are killing the coral, which usually prevents beach erosion. 

However, one local organization is trying to make a difference. 

Today, I’m joined by Hannah Harris, a Marine Educator at WiseOceans. 

A lot of people don’t know this, but 70% to 90% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed over the past year thanks to climate change and El Niño. 

El Niño is a global weather event which occurs every two to seven years. It causes a shift in temperature patterns in the equatorial Pacific, which has global repercussions. El Niño is the warm phase of the cycle. Higher-than-average sea temperatures are bad news for corals. 

70% to 90% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed.

WiseOceans is working hard to reverse the damage done to the coral. 

WiseOceans has been based in the Seychelles for five years now. They are dedicated to raising awareness about the fantastic marine life in the area. Getting people up close to the fish is an important step in getting them to care about the environment. 

About two years ago, WiseOceans launched their Reef Restoration Project. The aim of the project is to restore an area of reef within the bay. Guests at the Four Seasons hotel can come out and snorkel in the bay to see the wildlife, and WiseOceans educates them about restoring the reef. 

WiseOceans has a coral nursery to grow new coral. They take corals that have broken off naturally from the reef (“We call them corals of opportunity,” says Hannah) and place them in the coral nursery. There, the coral can grow and thrive in a protected area. After a few months, the coral will reach a healthy, reasonable size. From there, they are transplanted straight onto the rock. 

People can sponsor their own corals in the nursery and sponsor the reef. 

This process is very time consuming, which is why a project director is there to look after the coral day in and day out.

Sign in the capital Victoria says in Creole, "Climate change is already here."

Guests can get involved in the Reef Restoration Project, as can the local community. The education provided by WiseOceans helps people understand how vital the reefs are to us as human beings. 

WiseOceans gets everyone they can involved. Hannah says, “We have workshops, talk at the local schools, run youth groups, take people snorkeling—the more local people we can get to care about the environment, the better.” 

I would like to thank Hannah Harries for taking the time to educate us all about the Reef Restoration Project. You can visit www.WiseOceans.com to learn more about how you can help give back and protect your environment, and for more information visiting Seychelles, visit the official website of the Seychelles Tourism Board www.seychelles.travel.

As always, if you have any real estate questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Is Now a Good Time to Take Advantage of Current Interest Rates?

Interest rates are low right now, but they won’t stay that way for long. Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, take advantage of them while you still can.

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What are interest rates like in our current market?

According to Brandon Moss, our preferred lender, 2017 has been a great year for interest rates. We’ve seen them hover just above historic lows the entire year. 30-year fixed rates are still right around 4%, and fixed-rate adjustable-rate mortgages (or ARMs) are in the mid-to-lower 3% range.

However, the Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet this December, and there is a very good chance they’ll hike up interest rates. Because of this, Brandon suggests that all buyers and sellers get out there and take advantage of these rates while you still can. 

Right now is a great time to be a seller,  because more and more buyers are jumping off the fence and entering the market. It’s also a great time to be a buyer because you won’t face as much competition due to the season. 

You don’t need a large down payment to get into a property these days.

Another question we often get from buyers is, “Do I really have to come in with 20% down?”

No, you do not. There are a lot of great mortgage programs out there that don’t require you to put 20% down. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you can put as little as 3% down. If you’re a move-up buyer buying a jumbo property, you can put down just 5% or 10%. Even investors can get in with just 15%. You don’t need a large down payment to get into a property these days. 

If you have any more questions about loan programs, feel free to give Brandon a call at (818) 256-4330. If you have any other questions about our Southern California market, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be glad to help!

Don't Miss out on the Fall and Winter Marketplace

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, there are several advantages to doing so in the fall or winter months.

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Today, I’d like to give you an overview of the top reasons to buy or sell in the fall or winter months.

First, I’d like to start with some of the advantages of selling at this time of year:

1. Less competition on the market. During this time of year, the inventory is down. This contributes to less competition, putting you in a better position by default.
2. The house is show-ready. Because kids are in school during these later months, houses tend to be a little cleaner. In turn, this means that houses require a lot less preparation before a home showing.
3. Vacations are over. With people having returned from their trips and outings during the warmer months, more buyers are back in town.
4. Buyers are more serious. Buyers who are on the market at this time of year aren’t just looking for fun. These buyers are genuinely committed to finding and purchasing a home.
5. The appeal of fall decor. Who doesn’t love fall decor? The change of colors adds some natural beauty to any property, and fall decorations on the interior of a home can make buyers feel cozy and warm.
6. It’s cooler outside. Why would anyone want to move when it’s hot out? The colder weather is perfect for the moving process.

Some of the best deals of the year are done in the fall and winter months.

Now, I’d like to move on to the advantages of buying during fall and winter:

1. Good deals are available. Some of the best deals of the year are done in the fall and winter months, especially for properties that have been sitting on the market for quite some time.
2. It’s a lot easier to look at houses during school season. When the kids are in school, it’s easier for people to go out and browse the market freely.
3. Fewer multiple offer situations. Since many of the homes on the market have been sitting for awhile, there is less competition for certain types of properties.
4. Year-end sales for furniture. The later months of the year are a great time to take advantage of sales, which will aid you in furnishing your new home.
5. It’s easier to contract necessary services. Since there tends to be less activity on the market at this time of year, booking contractors won’t be as difficult.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.