805 Local

Michael Jackson did not call Ventura County his home but  he did own an infamous home in the 805 area code called Neverland.  This 2,800 acre ranch is located north of Ventura County in Santa Barbara County.  

Although Jackson transferred title to the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company in November of 2008, so much media attention has centered around the Neverland ranch.  We thought it would be fun just to take a peek inside. 

We found a short video of pictures inside the infamous Neverland.  Check it out.

The Ojai Valley Lavender festival is this weekend Saturday, June 27.  The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Ojai.  Admission is FREE. 

There will be demonstrations, music, crafts, food and lots of lavender.  Savor the smell…..

Many of us living in Ventura County are ‘transplants.’  We were born some place else and luck enough now to call Ventura County our Home. 

This is the case for both of us.  Greg was born in New Jersey and his family moved to Ventura County (specifically Thousand Oaks - the Conejo Oaks tract before it was a tract) when he was a small child.  So he really did not know what it was like to live any where else.  He did do approximately a five year stint in  Washington, D. C. ‘in another life’ when he worked in the environmental field. 

I, on the other hand, have now officially lived half of my life in Ventura County being transplanted from Louisville, Kentucky. 

This past week I travelled back east to the Washington, D. C. area where my son and his family lives.  

Did I ever forget what it is like to live back there in the summer! 

• Humidity -  yuck is the best word to describe
• Air conditioning - blasts of cold air
• Thunderstorms - nearly every day
• Lighting - my son’s house was hit by lighting
• Mosquitoes - don’t forget to spray Off
• Traffic - you think the 101 is bad - nope.

We always inform new ‘transplants’ to Ventura County that we might pay alot for our blue skies here but it is so worth it. 

It’s good to travel.  In my case it was great seeing my son and his family.  Traveling also makes you aware of the little things that many of us take for granted at home. 

We are happy to call Ventura County home.  There’s no place like home….especially a Ventura County home.

Are you ready to purchase a Ventura County home?  Let us help you make Ventura County your home, too.  Email us at info@805Local.com or call us at (805) 340-5811. 

May 2009 closed sales of detached homesin the Conejo Valley totaled 111 with a median sales price of $665,000.  The previous month, April 2009, had 116 detached homesin the Conejo Valley close escrow with a median sales price of $547,5000.

One year ago, May 2008, closed sales of detached homes in the Conejo Valley totaled 112 with a median sales price of $677,450.

Currently the Conejo Valley had 525 detached homes listed for sale with a median list price of $1,080,000. 

May 2009 closed sales of attached homesin the Conejo Valley totaled 46 units with a median sales price of $300,000.  The previous month, April 2009, had 35 units close escrow with a median sales price of $337,000.

One year ago, May 2008, closed sales of attached homesin the Conejo Valley totaled 45 with a median sales price of $410,000.

Currently in the Conejo Valley there are 137 attached homes listed for sale with a median list price of $424,900.

The median price is the point where half of the units sold (or listed) for more and half for less.  This information is formulated from the Ventura County Regional Data Share.  All information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

The most active price range tier this month in the Conejo Valley is tied between homes that sold $550,000 thru $599,999 and homes that sold  $750,000 thru $799,999.  Each of those price tiers accounted for approximately 10% of the closed sales in May 2009.

Check out the following:

• Camarillo Housing Market report May 2009
• $8,000 Tax Credit explained
• Multiple offer are back….
• FHA/VA appraisals

May 2009 closed sales of detached homes in Camarillo totaled 57 with a median sales price of $468,000.  The previous month, April 2009, had 38 detached homes close escrow with a median sales price of $467,500.

One year ago, May 2008, closed sales of detached homes in Camarillo totaled 40 with a median sales price of $511,000.

Currently Camarillo has 151 detached homes listed for sale with a median list price of $1,079,000. Last month Camarillo had 168 active listings of detached homes.

May 2009 closed sales of attached homes in Camarillo totaled 25 with a median sales price of $285,000.  The previous month, April 2009, had 22 attached homes close escrow with a median sales price of $263,750.

One year ago, May 2008, closed sales of attached Camarillo properties totaled 24 with a median sales price of $332,500.

Currently in Camarillo there are 48 attached homes listed for sale with a median list price of $324,900.  Last month there were 50 attached homes for sale in Camarillo.

The median price is the point where half of the units sold (or listed) for more and half for less.  This information is formulated with date from the Ventura County Regional Data Share.  All information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. 

The most active price range in Camarillo for May 2009 was $400,000 thru $449,999.  Nearly 25% of the closed sales happened in this price tier.

Check out other posts:

• Conejo Valley Housing Market Report May 2009
• $8,000 tax credit explained

It’s called Broker Tour, Broker Caravan and/or sometimes just Caravan.  But the question is: “what happened to caravan?”  The purpose of caravan is to have a property open to the Realtors to go preview - usually new listings - within a specific time period each week. 

Last week in Camarillo there was a total of one property on caravan.  Most Realtors probably think it’s not worth going just to see one property.  Years ago it was common to have 20 maybe even 30 properties on caravan and caravan became sort of a ’social event’ for many Realtors.  It was a chance to meet and greet other Realtors.  Caravan helped to build relationships and network among the Realtors.  Plus caravan helped the Realtors know the inventory of properties. 

So what has happened?  Are agents checking out all of the pictures on a new listing, placing the property on a map and seeing  a street view on an overhead map?  Have the  Realtors seen enough of a plan 2 Mission del Montes or whatever tract home and really don’t want to go another one unless they have a client for the house?  Has the internet with a 24 hour update of the Multiple Listing Service diluted the need for caravan?  Are the agents just lazy? Is ‘time money’ and the Realtors don’t have the time to see the new listings?  Is the new listing inventory so low that there are no homes for caravan?  Do listing agents not see the advantage of having a property on caravan? 

Just checked for tomorrow’s caravan — there’s one property on caravan.

California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo is host this weekend, June 7, to the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine and Food Festival voted the “Best Cultural Event” in Ventura County in 2008 by the VC Reporter. 

This is one of the largest festival in Ventura County and showcases food from 75 area restaurants and caterers, wine from 150 wineries, and beer from 25 micro-breweries. There will also be a silent auction and live entertainment.  Proceeds benefit Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families. 

For tickets and information, call (805) 484-7144.  Check out their website for the full list of all the yummy wine and food available. 

Check it out — you will have a good time!!

I wish I could tell you that the garden on the left is from our yard — no such luck or room.  Until our garden has more growth, I thought I’d use a photo we could aspire to. We used this past Memorial Day weekend to get our kitchen garden in the ground. 

Ventura County offers perfect weather to have homegrown tomatoes, basil, zucchini and much more.  We saved seeds from Cherokee purple tomatoes and started the seeds a couple of months ago.  Nothing compares to having a salad straight out of your own garden.  MMMM….

One of our all-time favorites is homegrown arugula — it is fantastic.  This tart, crisp green is featured in many Italian restaurants but cannot begin to hold a candle to our homegrown variety.  Plus it is so easy to grow.  Try it and you’ll never buy it in the bag from Trader Joe’s again.  Sweet.

We are not alone with a kitchen garden — the White House has a kitchen garden, too.  Who would have thought? 

It’s not too late for you to put in a few tomatoes and a couple of basil plants.  Who knows - next year you might be saving seeds from your favorite tomatoes like us.

We have been asked by several clients about the $8,000 tax credit.  We found a great YouTube with answer to nearly every question regarding the $8,000 tax credit.  Check it out.

Here’s our understanding  of the $8,000 home buyer tax credit at a glance:

• The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit

Are you ready to take advantage of this tax credit?  It offer expires on November 30, 2009.  Let’s get started.  It takes time to find the right home.  Give us a call today.  On your mark, get set, buy………..

This is the weekend that Ventura County shows off its “stuff” —  STRAWBERRIES.

This weekend, May 16 and 17, is the California Strawberry Festival and promises to be jam packed with rides, shows, exhibits, presentations, strawberry pie eating contests, recipe contests, art contests and on and on.  The festival has grown each year since its beginnings in 1984.

Check out the website for the California Strawberry Festival before you go to by tickets on line, discover event times, and the strawberry express shuttle locations.  Have a Berry Good Weekend!