Western Real Estate News

When communities come together, they can do great things. Take the Mount Washington neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, for instance. Residents banded together long ago to create what’s called the Mount Washington Homeowners Association. This alliance citizens who care about their home values and community has added real value to home values in the opinion of local real estate pros like Ralph Guerin who sell Mount Washington homes.

One of the most interesting things this group of homeowners has done is to create an archive of the oral and written history of the area, going back quite a few years to some of the elderly residents who lived there in the early 1900s. This ability to preserve stories from the “exclusive” neighborhood (exclusive in the sense that it is desirable and supply is limited, but prices are still very reasonable) has given a real sense of community to residents and a heritage worth passing down to future generations.

Only a few minutes from Silverlake, Mt. Washington homes make a great place to live for those needing to commute to nearby Burbank, Glendale, or Pasadena. Of course, the freeways are close by for those who need to go a bit farther, but by all accounts, the quiet bedroom community makes a nice place to come home to at the end of the day.

Editor California California, Los Angeles, Mount Washington

What constitutes a luxury home these days, anyway? Most buyers and real estate agents aren’t too sure, but they know it when they see it. With big runups in home prices during the last real estate boom, it would seem that just about anything could pass for a luxury home if you’re simply referring to affordability–or the lack thereof, to be more accurate.

Nevertheless, the luxury home market is probably best defined locally and relatively, rather than in absolute dollar amounts. Why? Because a million dollar home in Oak Park, while fitting into most of our definitions of the word “luxury,” is less so than, say, a million dollar New Mexico home. This is due to local factors such as the economy, the job market, supply and demand for homes in particular neighborhoods, etc.

Taking a look at Oak Park, California home prices, we find a full 30% of homes in Oak Park are listed over $1 million dollars currently. These are definitely a part of the luxury home market, to be sure. However, if we focus in on homes in the top 5%, we’ll find prices in this luxury home bracket to be over $3 million.

Editor California California, Luxury Homes, Oak Park

Newbury Park is a nicely developed community in the west end of Conejo Valley. It is on the high end of the economic scale, with its median home values high enough to rank it as the most affluent neighborhood in Ventura County.

That is enough to also place it as one of the most affluent areas of the country, with median home prices upward of $700,000, even after the downturn following the most recent peak prices in 2005. Home prices in the last decade increased two and a half times on average in Newbury Park, with some exclusive Newbury Park estates reaching prices over $2.8 million.

The neighborhood is actually a part of Thousand Oaks, and is governed for the most part by that city’s government. Casa Conejo is the exception, however, which is an unincorporated part of Newbury Park, and holds the distinction of being the earliest residential development in Newbury Park. Casa Conejo, as an unincorporated area of Newbury Park, is not part of Thousand Oaks.

Newbury Park is known for its excellent schools, and is part of the Conejo Valley Unified School District. Other local amenities in the area include world renowned mountain bike trails and an abundance of open space in the Conejo Valley. Residents are known for placing a high value on preserving natural outdoor areas, which has led to a high quality of life for Newbury Park residents. As a result, Newbury Park homes are generally considered a great investment in addition to being a great place to raise a family.

While older neighborhoods have not been developed for decades, there is a small supply of new homes in Newbury Park. Dos Vientos is a newer master planned development that has only recently reached its final phase of construction. The last remaining ongoing housing development in Newbury Park is called Rancho Conejo Village, and is being built by S&S Homes.

Editor California newbury park, newbury park estates, newbury park homes, newbury park properties

There are many wonderful places to live in Ventura County if you know where to look. Even if you are new to the booming area west of Los Angeles, it won’t take long to see why so many people from all walks of life call Ventura County home.

You have any type of lifestyle imaginable available to you in Ventura County, from luxurious beach living to a condo starter home in the city, and everything in between. And believe me, there is a lot to choose from in between those two extremes.

Rural living in Ventura County

Believe it or not, there is still considerable open space and comfortable rural living in Ventura County, with a significant amount of tax revenue generated by agriculture. In fact, according to the Ventura County Farm Bureau, one in ten jobs in the region are dependent on agriculture, with $75 million in tax revenue coming from that sector each year. This means there is plentiful land for those who want a little more open space than the typical Angelino might be able to find.

Jobs in Ventura County

One of the great things about the region is that there is an amazing amount of diversity of lifestyles and economies to choose from when picking communities in Ventura County to live in. Families can still find open areas of land to build secluded Ventura County ranches, or upscale bedroom communities with great schools and an easy commute to the abundant employers nearby.

Some of the largest employers in Ventura County include Amgen in Thousand Oaks, the U.S. Navy, with its Naval Air Warfare Center in Point Mugu and its Naval Constructin Battalion in Port Hueneme, Baxter Bioscience and Healthcare in Westlake Village, Blue Cross of California in Westlake Village, and Harbor Freight Tools in Camarillo.

Places to live in Ventura County

Some of the nicest places to live in Ventura County include Thousands Oaks, Oak Park, and other parts of the serene and scenic Conejo Valley. Thousand Oaks homes, and other neighborhoods like Oak Park, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, and Westlake Village have great stability of property values, and award-winning schools schools.

Other areas of Ventura County include Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Simi Valley, to name a few.

Editor California ventura county, ventura county homes, ventura county ranches

Conejo Valley is a highly desirable place to live in Southern California, with quiet bedroom communities, great schools, and luxurious natural parkland for residents to enjoy. It is easily accessible to the Los Angeles area via the Ventura Freeway (Highway 101), with convenient commutes to Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and much more.

Many who work in the film industry live choose Conejo Valley as home because it is simply a great place for family life while remaining close to the fast paced world of film, television, and music production in Universal City, Studio City, Hollywood, etc. In fact, CBS Studio Center is only 20 minutes away, and smaller independent studios and sound stages have expanded even closer to Conejo Valley in recent years.

But the entertainment industry’s proximity is not the only thing going for Conejo Valley real estate. Other industries have a presence in or near the Conejo Valley, including biotech, health care, telecommunications, and financial services. Some of the Conejo Valley’s largest employers include Amgen, Blue Cross, Verizon, Conejo Valley Unified School District, Los Robles Regional Medical Center, and Baxter Bio Science.

The region has an enviable mix of Conejo Valley homes, shopping, services, and open space. It has a thriving chamber of commerce with local businesses committed to sustained economic growth and a relaxed way of life. Schools are known to be excellent in Conejo Valley, with school districts like Oak Park getting national attention for test scores and student performance.

The Conejo Valley is generally considered to be bounded by Camarillo to the west, Simi Valley to the north, and Calabasas to the east, but there is no precise place to draw a boundary. As you are driving north (west) along the Ventura Freeway from Calabasas, you descend into the valley, passing Oak Park and other bedroom communities.

Some of the more popular places to live in Conejo Valley include Agoura Hills, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Casa Conejo, and North Ranch Country Club. Some websites allow you to search for Conejo Valley homes by these subdivision names.

Editor California conejo valley, conejo valley homes, conejo valley real estate

Thousand Oaks, California is a very quiet bedroom community about 45 minutes northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Thousand Oaks homes sit on a beautiful plateau surrounded by rolling hills and scenic Southern California mountains. The municipality got its name from the numerous oak trees that grow in the area, and is the most populous portion of what is called the Conejo Valley.

Thousand Oaks is just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean and only about 39 miles west of L.A. It was recently named one of Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live, which is a big honor, and significantly boosts the desirability of Thousand Oaks real estate.

The City of Thousand Oaks is committed to preserving its scenic and natural resources, and has received numerous awards for the recreation and leisure programs conducted each year within its 3000+ acres of parks, ball fields, and community centers. It is also known as one of the safest larger cities in the nation and as one of the top ten communities in academic achievement.

Thousand Oaks real estate offers many choices for people looking to relocate to the Golden State. The largest portion of the Thousand Oaks real estate offerings is single family residences, but you can also find attractive Thousand Oaks condos. In fact, a wide range of townhouses and condominiums are available for first time home buyers and growing families.

There are over 170 well-maintained and professionally managed neighborhoods in the area. Some people like to say that Thousand Oaks is “where everyone wants to live… but we new that already.”

Thousand Oaks Schools

Many schools in Thousand Oaks are within walking distance, and there are plenty of greenbelts and pedestrian trails. Education for over 22,300 students of Thousand Oaks is provided by the Conejo Valley Unified School District which has 29 schools: 19 K-5/6, 1 K-8, 4 middle Schools, 3 comprehensive high schools, 2 alternative high schools. The goal of the school district is to encourage high expectations for student behavior and character development through supportive programs and services in a positive learning environment.

Editor California thousand oaks condos, thousand oaks homes, thousand oaks real estate

While it can be hard to find the right family home for your lifestyle in the L.A. area, it’s not impossible – if you know where to look. A virtually undiscovered quite community is Oak Park. It is just a few minutes from Agoura Hills in the Conejo Valley. Oak Park homes are reasonably priced and are close to shopping, several parks, and Malibu State Beach.

Oak Park is just west of Woodland Hills in California’s Ventura County. It’s a short half hour commute from downtown L.A. for those who need to work there. It is less than half an hour from Malibu State Beach, where you’ll have miles of fun along the California coastline. Interested in a road trip? Hope on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and take the scenic route up the coast.

Oak Park real estate specialist Carol Lee has lived in the area for many years and has the local knowledge and professional expertise to find the perfect Oak Park homes for your family to choose from. She will help you navigate through an easy home purchase transaction. Carol can assist you in finding some outstanding real estate deals in the Oak Park area in desirable neighborhoods. You can search for these deals easily on her real estate website specializing in Oak Park properties.

The complete MLS database of homes is available to search on her website, so you won’t just get a select few Oak Park listings. A 3 bedroom 2 bath home in Oak Park starts at about 0,000, so you can find a family home in the neighborhood that fits your home price budget requirements. One unique feature the site offers is that you can save your home search criteria and receive automatic email notifications when there are new listings matching the types of properties you are looking for.

You can find a great Oak Park map search tool for homes in Oak Park at www.carollee4homes.com in addition to an advanced Oak Park MLS search page with numerous MLS fields to search. We recommend using the advanced search tool to find Oak Park short sales and foreclosures. Just type in a keyword such as “foreclosure” or “short sale” in the remarks box at the bottom left and click “Search.”

Editor California oak park homes, oak park real estate, oak park short sales

Oak Park homes are located in a great little community located in Southeast Ventura County with only about 15,000 people. Oak Park is about 4 square miles, and half of that is open space and park land. The climate is what residents call California Mediterranean with moderately warm dry summers, and cool, moderately rainy winters.

The area has very beautiful scenery with clear views of the rolling hills. The large parks and plentiful open space are only two of the reasons Oak Park is a great live with your family. Other Oak Park benefits are:

• Only a 20 minute drive to Malibu and the beach
• Great shopping
• Great dining
• Great entertainment
• Easy access to downtown Los Angeles
• Award winning Oak Park Unified School District

Oak Park History

The area that we now know as Oak Park was originally the Jordan ranch, owned by Jim and Marion Jordan. The land was a cattle ranch originally – but as land prices increased, the owners realized that selling the land for development would be more profitable. Mark and Louis Boyar, local real estate developers, acquired the land.

The first Oak Park homes were built in 1969 on Birchwood, Kanan, Oakleaf, Pinewood, Satinwood, and Tamarind. These early homes sold for just $23,000 – but Oak Park quickly attracted buyers from many other Southern California areas, appreciating home prices over time. The Chambord Homes development was the last construction phase, and homes in that neighborhood are now priced at over $1 million!

Oak Park Recreation

Oak Park has seven parks that are thoroughly enjoyed by families in Oak Park neighborhoods:

• Deerhill Park
• Chapparal Park
• Eagle View Park
• Indian Springs Park
• Mae Boyar Park
• Oak Canyon Community Park
• Valley View Park

All of these parks are within easy walking distance of Oak Park homes and neighborhoods. There are great family activities available at the parks, such as baseball fields, tennis, and even archery. A great local attraction is Medea Creek, whichg has numerous trails for hikers and mountain bikers in a beatiful natural setting. These trails are all maintained very nicely by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District.

Oak Park Schools

Oak Park has one preschool, three elementary schools (grades K through 5), one middle school (grades 6 through 8), a high school, an alternative high school, and even a great home school program.

Oak Park homes

Oak Park real estate is a great investment in your family and your family’s future. Oak Park homes are a sound investment because the great quality of life offered will always be highly sought-after in Southern California’s real estate market.

Search for real estate in Oak Park

• Oak Park Homes
• Oak Park Condos
• Oak Park Short Sales

Editor California oak park condos, oak park homes, oak park real estate, oak park short sales

Vacaville, California is a great little town with about 88,000 residents, located on the outskirts of the capitol of California, Sacramento. The town is about forty minutes from Sacramento, just twenty minutes southwest of Davis, California, where UC Davis is located. Vacaville is only about forty minutes from Sacramento, about 20 minutes west of Davis where the University of California at Davis is located.

Vacaville real estate is considered a great investment, whether it is for family homes or for investment real estate such as short sales and foreclosures. Because of the town’s proximity to the big city, it has good access to jobs, education, and services. Vacaville still manages to retain is smalltown charm, though, with its unique blend of rural and suburban influences.

Vacaville is situated in Solano County in California, close enough to the Bay Area to be affected somewhat by its coastal weather patterns. The weather is moderate year-round, making it a perfect home town for those who like the outdoors. There are many kinds of recreational activities within and near Vacaville, including mountain biking, bicycling, fishing, swimming, and water sports within an easy drive.

Vacaville is only about an hour from world famous San Francisco, and all of its historical places of interest. Its closeness to the San Franciso means that the City by the Bay has somewhat of an influence on the Vacaville economy in addition to Sacramento.

The city of Vacaville is said to have been founded in about 1852 by a man named William McDaniel. The town was named after Juan Vaca, a man who had received a very large land grant from Don Vallejo.

Vacaville has a long history of agribusiness, but that has been affected by the closing of the onion processing plant. Today, it is known for its shopping centers and yearly Fiesta Days, when residents open up their Vacaville homes to enjoy citywide celebrations and barbeques with friends.

Cities near Vacaville

• Dixon
• Fairfield
• Napa
• Suisun City
• Allendale (unincorporated)
• Elmira (unincorporated)

Counties near Vacaville

• Napa County
• Colusa County
• Sacramento County
• Yolo County

Editor California Real Estate, Vacaville homes, Vacaville real estate

There are several options available to you to help you avoid the painful long-term repercussions of foreclosure. They all start with one thing: action. If you have received a notice of default or are behind in your mortgage payments, this article will tell you how to avoid foreclosure on your home. To avoid foreclosure, you may first attempt to negotiate one of the following options with your lender:

Loan Restructuring or modification (workout)

There are real estate companies that can negotiate with your lender’s loss mitigation department to get your loan in good standing again. There strategies you can use to get a restructure approved like a separate payment plan for your delinquencies or even adding the delinquency to the end of your loan. You may qualify for a modification, especially if you have recently experienced a reduction in income or an increase in living expenses. Sometimes it is even possible to get your monthly payment lowered.

Short sale

Real estate agents specializing in short sales can help you sell your home before a foreclosure sale takes place. In this scenario, the short sale specialist negotiates a short sale with your lender on your behalf. The lender would take less than you owe on the loan and they would avoid a costly foreclosure process. If the short sale is unsuccessful, an experienced real estate agent can arrange for you to simply give the property back to the lender and walk away not owing anything. This process is not as damaging to your credit report as a foreclosure would be.

There are steps you can take to avoid foreclosure that can be done on your own, without the assistance of a short sale real estate agent:

• Reinstatement
  Reinstatement of your loan by paying your lender all the past due amounts to bring the mortgage current. This option may not be feasible if your financial stress that caused the deliquency hasn’t improved.
• Mortgage Refinance
  You can refinance the debt or extend the term of your mortgage. However, this is a difficult option if you owe more then your property is worth. If you have already received a notice of default (NOD) then you most likely do not have the financial ability to refinance or do a loan reinstatement. Only as a last resort should you consider bankruptcy or allowing the bank to foreclose.
• Bankruptcy
  You may qualify for Chapter 7 Debt Elimination or Chapter 13 Reorganization. Bankruptcy stays on your credit for 10 years.
• Foreclosure
  This is the most damaging to your credit other than bankruptcy. The lender will be able to take your home and your equity. This will stay on your credit report for a total of seven years.

In these hard times, many homeowners are benefiting from the help of seasoned real estate agents who specialize in avoiding foreclosures. They routinely negotiate the above options and help their clients avoid foreclosure.

Tips to avoid foreclosure

Don’t ignore the problem

The further behind you become, the harder it will be to reinstate your loan and the more likely you will lose your home. Contact your lender as soon as you realize that you have a problem. Lenders prefer to be in the lending business, not the real estate business, so they do not want your house. They have options to help borrowers like you through difficult financial times.

Open and respond to mail from your lender.

The first notices you receive will offer good information about foreclosure prevention options that can help you weather financial problems. Later, mail may include important notices of pending legal action. Your failure to open the mail will not be an excuse in foreclosure proceedings.

Know your rights as a borrower

Find your loan documents and read them so you know what your lender may do if you can’t make your payments. Learn about the foreclosure laws and time frames in California, Click Here.

Keep track of your spending

After health care, keeping your home should be your first priority. Review your finances and see where you can cut spending in order to make your mortgage payment. Look for optional expenses – cable TV, memberships and entertainment that you can eliminate.

Contact a real estate company that specializes in loss mitigation

If you are unable to make you mortgage payment and are in jeopardy of losing your home, contact a reputable loss mitigation company to help you by negotiating with your lender to resolve your situation.

Documents you will need

This is a list of documents that are generally required for a loan resolution package, although this list can vary depending on each unique situation. These documents will generally be requested in order to process your loan modification package:

• Hardship Letter
  A letter that explains your unique situation as to why your cannot continue making your payments.
• Financial Statement
  This shows where your money goes and how much is left over after paying your bills. A short sale real estate agent will provide the appropriate forms, which will itemize your finances and show your hardship.
• Bank Statements
  Last two months of bank statements – checking, savings, etc.
• Mortgage Statements
  For all loans associated with the property.
• Most recent mortgage statement & account number
• Pay stubs
  Last two months of pay stubs, or proof of unemployment.
• Tax Returns
  Last two years of tax returns including W2’s.

Once all necessary documents are collected, the negotiation process can begin with your financial institution.

Where to go from here

• See if you qualify for a short sale
• Get a referral to short sale specialist near you

Editor California, Services avoiding foreclosure, loan modification, short sales