Manny Kagan

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Interested? Have a referral? Please contact Manny Kagan at Manny@Pacbay.net / 415-225-7920 today!

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Cheers,

Wedding Anniversary

“It is easier and more fun to travel through life with a friend”

I recently had a conversation with a 22 year-old young friend. “How do you know if she is the right one?”, he asked, referring to the relationship he had for 7 months with a girlfriend. “Ask your heart”, I suggested (something I learned from my wife, Elfa). I read somewhere that Thomas Spencer, one of the founders of British Department Store “Marks and Spencer”, said, “If in doubt, cut it out”. I think this phrase can be applied to many things, especially to relationships. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that so many couples break-up – doubt. Jesus who said, “For I know where I come from and where I am going.” (John 8:14). But how can we, mere humans, know our way, and if the person we are travelling with will be with us for the entire journey? After all, even Jesus was betrayed. I have no idea how it works, but I “knew” when I first met Elfa, that she would be my future wife, when we were both 19. We got married less than a year later. We both “knew” that we were destined to be together. Of course during the next 48 years there were moments of doubt. But somehow connecting with our hearts we found the right answers.

We got married on August 8^th, 1967 in Riga. Our wedding celebration was in Jurmala, a resort area 40 minutes away by train. A small group of relatives gathered in the backyard of a summer house that our family rented. We were both very young, beautiful and naïve. And now 48 years later, it feels like it was yesterday. This year, to celebrate this special day, we drove to Carmel-by-the Sea for the weekend. This place reminds of Jurmala, where we wed. The seawater is cold, the sand is white, the weather is often foggy, and pine trees surround it. This area attracts a lot of visitors. This town has good restaurants, many art galleries (a few good photo galleries as well). On this trip we encountered many people, especially from Asia. I went to the beach a few times a day to photograph people and capture the beauty in the different light. And we just relaxed.

Many people, who find out that we’ve been together for over 48 years at our young age, ask for our secret. I will gladly share it with you. Two words “Love” and “Care”, the rest is just interpretation.

P.S. Carmel is all about the sea, this is why it is called Carmel-by-the Sea. I hope that my images will convey the feeling and desire to visit this beautiful place.

Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
Smile And Please SHARE It With A Friend!

Cheers,

Interested? Have a referral? Please contact Manny Kagan at Manny@Pacbay.net / 415-225-7920 today!

Whom Do You Know That Might Benefit From Our Tailored Mortgage Solutions?

Cheers,

How Long Are You Going To Be Around?

“Your Life Journey Ends, When You Stop Journeying”

I heard a story about a man who bought a turtle. His friend asked him “Why a turtle?” He said, “Well, I read that turtles live 200 years, and I want to check if it is true.” I thought about this story during our recent company’s staff meeting. Our guest represented a company that specializes in the restoration of credit and helps borrowers increase their credit scores.

During her presentation, she suggested that we should tell our potential clients that working with us, they are guaranteed our services for the next 30 years. It is ironic because this September our company is celebrating 30 years in business. When I started my career in the mortgage business in 1983, I was taught to say something similar – “Work with me, and I will be serving you for life.” It was not clear for whose life – my clients or mine? I was not totally comfortable with this statement, since I do not like to lie. What if I stop doing mortgages before the end of life (mine or clients)? I don’t know about you, but I am planning to be at your service for the next 30 years. For me this decision is clear, I am 68 years young. You need to stick around to check on me. It is easy, there are a lot of people more than ever, who live longer lives.

On the subject of a longer life:To help you to stick around longer, you need to be financially comfortable. Recently I discovered how a Reverse Mortgage could help those who starting at the young age of 62, can be free of mortgage or rent payments for the rest of their lives. Last week I helped a young couple (she is 73 and he is 81) to fulfill the American Dream and to buy their first home in America. It was done utilizing the reverse mortgage purchase program. They are not going to have mortgage payments. The property taxes and insurance will cost them about $450.00 per month. To explain the benefits and limitations of those programs (there are four different options), I am going to have an educational seminar in the evening of September 10th (Will keep you posted). Credit history is not critical for those loans. But if your credit history needs improvements now, please call Alexandra (Alex) Erlich (303) 317-6969. She works for the Continental Credit Company. They might be able to help.

P.S. After being in the business for over 30 years many of my clients reached the wisdom age, like the wise men I met in San Francisco.

My photo book “42 Encounters in San Francisco” is almost ready. Will keep you informed.

Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
Smile And Please SHARE It With A Friend!

Cheers,

Whom Do You Know That Might Benefit From Our Tailored Mortgage Solutions?

Cheers,

Don’t keep your head in the clouds! Lenders run a new credit report before approving funding for new mortgages. If you do any of the above (and some borrowers do!), you can forget about getting a new mortgage. To improve your credit history/modify your credit report, please call Alexandra Erlich at Continental Credit: alexandra@continentalcreditllc.com / 303-317-6969

Please be advised:
All clients’ documents should be ready and prepared to submit to Lender ASAP! Any interest rate information published in this message is subject to change without notice and does not constitute a commitment to make any loan at any specific rate. Please contact Pacific Bay Financial for more information.

Whom Do You Know That Might Benefit From Our Tailored Mortgage Solutions?

Cheers,

Time To Reflect

“What we call today will become yesterday, tomorrow. Make it memorable.”

After meeting with clients on a Sunday afternoon, I came home and my wife Elfa suggested that instead of going to the movies, as we often do on Sundays, to go spent time in the nature . We had a number of destinations from which to choose. In the past, when our dog Angus was still with us, we would often visit the various parks in the city, such as Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park, Pine Lake in Stern Grove Park, or Fort Funston National Park, along the ocean. On this particular Sunday, I suggested going to Sutro Heights Park. Though it is very close to our home, and we sometimes go to the Land’s End Trail, which is just across the street, we have never visited that part of the park before.

Sutro Heights Park was once the estate of Adolf Sutro, the 24^th mayor of San Francisco. He was the first German-American Jewish mayor, and served office from 1894 until 1896. He was born in 1830 in Aachen, Prussia. At the age of 20, Sutro, who was a trained engineer, arrived in San Francisco and made his name (and money) by drilling a tunnel through Mount Davidson in Nevada, which became known as the Sutro Tunnel at the Comstock Lode of silver ore, and became the first major discovery of silver in the United States in 1859. He invested the money he made from silver by buying large tracks of lands in San Francisco, which he developed for the benefit of the public.

One of his first major projects was the Sutro Baths, which opened in 1896. He built the Cliff House, a seven-story Victorian chateau. He also connected the area by building a railroad. He planted fast growing samplings of eucalyptus to create a forest on Mount Sutro. His name is also on the Sutro Tower, the highest point in San Francisco (977 feet) with a three-story antenna tower near Clarendon Heights.

There is also the Sutro Gum Tree Ranch located in Glen Canyon Park and the Sutro Library, which is in the San Francisco branch of the California State Library. I did not read about any other pioneering individual in San Francisco’s memorable illustrious history whose name is embedded in so many places.

But look around.

Where are all those beautiful buildings?

The railroad has long been demolished; trees are cut (Mount Sutro is barren). His beautiful house and a huge nursery with the exotic plants from all over the world in the park are also gone. There is no physical presence of his, or any other pioneers, who have laid down the foundation in San Francisco for our lives today.

time5

Perhaps, if you didn’t read this story, you would never know whom this person was and why you should care. We live in a world that moves much faster than it did over 100 years ago. But at the same time our basic feelings have not changed. I am talking about gratitude. When you walk on the road that someone paved for you, do not forget to say “thank you”.

P.S.

I think that Mr. Sutro would be proud to see that his land benefits so many San Franciscans and our guests. My photo book “42 Encounters in San Francisco” is almost ready, which is about my take of San Francisco’s history. I will keep you posted.

Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
Smile And Please SHARE It With A Friend!

Cheers,

Interested? Have a referral? Please contact Manny Kagan at Manny@Pacbay.net / 415-225-7920 today!

Whom Do You Know That Might Benefit From Our Tailored Mortgage Solutions?

Cheers,

Beauty In The Fog

“The Fog and Sun are like the Yin and Yang–they coexist for our benefit.”

You haven’t the foggiest idea how beautiful it can be on a foggy morning at the top of Mount Davidson in San Francisco. For me, the fog is a metaphor about our lives. If you are in a fog, do not despair. Be patient. The fog will melt away and you will see your destination. Sometimes events, which we experience or encounter, seem as though there is no solution, as everything is covered by the fog. We try to do something to change the situation, but we aren’t able to see the entire picture. Meanwhile, anyone who has ever been in a foggy condition knows that often there is no need to do anything, but to wait until the warmth of the sun melts the moisture of the fog and the wind blows it away. And suddenly, almost miraculously, we can clearly see where we are and where we need to go.

The idea to write about the beauty of the fog came while visiting Charlie and Hanka’s home, which I’ve written about in the last couple of weeks. It was toward the evening, and I wanted to capture the sunset. But when I came to the balcony, I could only see the fog rolling in. It was quickly covering the vistas in front of me. But here and there the light from the setting sun was eliminating the hills of the surrounding neighborhood. It was like a reminder that it is not all grey. Tomorrow the view will be visible again. But not for everyone.

Hanka lives in the big house, with the beautiful view. Her loving daughter is with her. She has domestic help. She is fed and clothed. But her mind is fogged by dementia, through which she clearly sees her destination. “Soon I’ll join Charlie”, she told me.

San Francisco is known as the “Foggy City” because of special meteorological conditions and geography. It is probably why Mark Twain famously said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”.

In the cold of our summer the sun bursts through the fog. It is an art exhibit at the de Young Museum in the Golden Gate Park.

We are privileged to see masterpieces of one of the most revered British painters of all time J.M.W. Turner. His works, especially painted later in his life, are filled with light bursting through the fog. He said “Light is color”. He conveyed it in a masterful way. His last words were, “The sun is gone”, but his work will forever preserve his vision of the sun shining through.

P.S.

I never know what to expect when I hike up Mt. Davidson on Sunday mornings. Regardless of the weather or the time of day, it always surprises me with the different manifestations of beauty. If you’d like to join me, give me a call.

Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
Smile And Please SHARE It With A Friend!

Cheers,

(click to enlarge photo)

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