wine country: The In-Home Concert Returns - Scarlet Rivera & Eric Rigler - 02/14/10 09:41 AM
After more than a year absence while Musicians Workshop founders Jon & Jane Laskin opened their new Performing Arts & Music Center,  the In-Home Concert Series returned last night with a bang. For those of you not familiar with this treasure of the Temecula Valley, Musicians Workshop is a non-profit group in its 10th year providing a variety of instrumental & choral music classes for children ranging from 2 - 20. They also offer dance and performing arts instruction, a recording studio and much more to fill a growing niche between what young people need and what the schools are able … (0 comments)

wine country: Temecula Valley Wine Country - Bank Owned Bargains - 02/26/09 01:10 PM
Temecula Valley Wine Country Bank Owned Homes
Million Dollar Foreclosures = Opportunity
Find yours at: SouthwestCaliforniaHomes.com 
ATTENTION:   If you've ever though about owning a home in the Wine Country but prices were just too steep - check out these bank-owned beauties. Some are even Brand New Construction, all are on acreage, many offer expansive views from the mountains to city lights. Plant your own vineyard and live the dream!  
Helpful Programs That SouthwestCaliforniaHomes  Found For Temecula Valley Wine Country Buyers. (May not all apply to 1 home)   $7,500 TAX CREDIT!     FREE HOME WARRANTY!    BROKER REBATE!    FREE HOME INSPECTION!    FREE APPRAISAL! … (1 comments)

wine country: Wine Country Repo's - October 2008 - 09/30/08 04:36 PM
9/30 wine country repos As the Southern California market adjusts, buyers are finding a selection of fine homes on acreage in the midst of the Southern California Wine Country. However, bank owned homes represent only 2% of existing inventory in the Wine Country today, just 7 out of 151 homes for sale. Short sales represent another 10% of the market with 16 homes currently under Notice of Default. Call or email me for a comprehensive list of fine Wine Country Homes, including Wineries, that might fit your requirements. As of September 30, 2008, the seven bank owned homes available in the … (4 comments)

wine country: Temecula Valley Wine Country Short Sale Homes 7-29-08 - 07/29/08 04:23 PM
7-259 wine country short sales You might think that owners of $1,000,000+ homes in the Wine Country would have the backing to weather the current storm in the real estate market - but you would be wrong. While they are not losing homes at the same rate as local tract home owners, the number of bank owned homes in the Wine County currently accounts for 4% of the active inventory (Temecula Valley Wine Country Bank Owned Homes) and homes with notices of default account for another 10%. A home with a notice of default filed is typically going to be a … (2 comments)

wine country: Temecula Valley Wine Country Bank Owned Homes 7-28-08 - 07/28/08 02:59 PM
7-28 wine country reo's As the Southern California market adjusts, buyers are finding a selection of fine homes on acreage in the midst of the Southern California Wine Country. However, bank owned homes represent only 4% of existing inventory in the Wine Country today, just 6 out of 166 homes for sale. Short sales represent another 10% of the market with 16 homes currently under Notice of Default. As of July 29, 2008, the six bank owned homes available in the Temecula Wine Country include the following: 40432 Scenic Ridge Drive. This custom built homes offers one of the finest views … (3 comments)

wine country: Temecula, Murrieta 1st Half Sales Figures are in - Good News? - 07/21/08 03:17 PM
6-18 05 comps Temecula, Murrieta & Lake Elsinore Home Market What does this mean to YOU? 3 straight months of increasing sales = 1 quarter of improvement. One quarter doesn't make a trend by any means, but it's definitely a relief and an improvement from the past 24 months of free falling sales numbers. Now if we can just string together another quarter or two, we won't be out of the woods yet but we'll be headed in the right direction to get out at least. That's the good news. Obviously prices are still dropping but that will continue until our … (0 comments)

wine country: Paying it Forward - Scholarship Style - 05/20/08 07:09 AM
2008 scholarships Yesterday evening I had the pleasure and privilege of presenting 9 scholarships to very deserving Seniors at three area high schools. The Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors and our Affiliates have been providing scholarships for several years now. Back when we started there were only four high schools in our coverage area, today there are 10 with another under construction. It has been our custom to give two $500 scholarships per high school but this year a contribution from our affiliate group allowed us to increase that to three per school for a total of $15,000 in scholarships … (2 comments)

wine country: Temecula Valley Wine Country Homes 5/5/08 - 05/05/08 01:23 PM
win country homes 5-5-08 As of May 1, 2008, there are approximately 83 homes listed for sale in, and adjacent to, the Temecula Valley Wine Country. All homes are a minimum of 2 acres with prices ranging from $359,900 to $2,699,000. While that represents a remarkable price spread, please keep in mind that the Wine Country still includes some areas that allow manufactured homes. Some of these homes offer the opportunity to purchase acreage, including productive vineyards, for the same price as a tract home. Address                Price     BR/BA Age     SqF  Lot Sz   Date Listed 35509 Schuber LN,  … (5 comments)

wine country: That Magic 100,000. - 05/03/08 08:01 AM
100,000 population The Southwest California cities of Temecula and Murrieta were recognized for reaching a significant milestone in their shared histories this past week when the California Department of Finance acknowledged that both had exceeded 100,000 population for the first time in their long and colorful histories. For those of you who don't know,  Temecula and Murrieta are cities in Southern California about 30 miles inland from the ocean just across the coastal ridge and north of the San Diego County line. The cities sit right next door to each other, sharing a long city limit. In reality the area probably … (2 comments)

wine country: New 10 year Report On Southwest California Demographcs Available - 04/29/08 11:41 AM
Public Policy Paper   By far the most comprehensive study of the Inland Empire region of Southern California in recent years has just been published by the Public Policy Institute of California. Compiled by Hans Johnson, Deborah Reed and Joseph M. Hayes, the report examines the economic and demographic trends of our region out through 2015. The analysis is summarized in a 141 page report replete with charts, graphs and analysis of population growth, migration, job growth, ethnic make-up, educational challenges and political activism. Among the more interesting points from a real estate perspective: The fastest growing region of a fast … (0 comments)

wine country: Southwest California Homes Sales - 4/08. No Irrational Exuberance Required - 04/23/08 02:30 PM
March Housing Numbers Here's the March update of housing figures for Southwest California, including Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore. (Whoop-de-Freakin' Doo) (Please remember that month to month numbers can be relatively meaningless. A single month snapshot may include anomalies, drops or surges that are not necessarily indicative of a trend & may or may not be reason to become irratioanlly exuberant or despondent. Sales data source: Chicago Title.)      While it appears that our market is still headed South, the numbers don't really tell the whole story. Our office, among others, has seen a noticeable increase in Buyer activity during the … (2 comments)

wine country: 'Winning Championships' - The Temecula State of the City Address - 04/18/08 06:02 AM
Winning Championships – The Temecula State of the City On April 17, Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar presented the 19th Annual State of the City Address at the Pechanga Resort & Casino. For his theme this year Mayor Naggar chose the sports metaphor “Winning Championships”. He reminded the gathering of business, community and civic leaders of the many championships Temecula has won in the past and how that positions our community to continue to win championships even in difficult situations. Mayor Naggar introduced the championship team by discussing partnerships, including the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, area schools and other government entities … (3 comments)

wine country: In Home Concert Series - A Temecula Valley Treasure - 04/10/08 02:28 PM
musicians workshop 2 Last post I told you a little about The Musicians Workshop in Temecula, founded by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin. These folks do a world of good for young people in our area b y exposing kids to a variety of musical expressions from instrumental to vocal to dance. It's a 501-C3 organization which means they rely on grants and contributions to fund their acquisition of instruments, music and sound equipment, maintenance of the 10,000 piece Chuck Niles Jazz Collections, and pay rent on a facility to teach, record and play. We are in the midst … (0 comments)

wine country: Texas Loosey's - A Temecula Tradition - 04/10/08 01:56 PM
texas looseys A recent evening found companion and I headed for a local theatrical opening and in need of a some fortification. For a little something different, we stopped by Texas Loosey’s, cousin to legendary Temecula steakhouse Texas Lil’s, for a little down home cookin’. Loosey shares parentage with Lil, some menu items are the same and the servers are equally comely – all good things.
Texas Loosey’s menu is pretty extensive and includes some Country Salads, Tex-Mex Specialties, Fishy Things and of course Ribs & Steaks and Trail Boss Favorites. For a little lighter fare there’s also some hefty burgers, … (0 comments)

wine country: The Musicians Workshop - A Temecula Valley Treasure - 04/09/08 01:27 PM
Musicians Workshop Every community can be defined, in part, by the variety of fine arts and entertainment its residents enjoy. In the Temecula Valley one of those defining factors is The Musicians Workshop. Founded in 1998 by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin, the Musicians Workshop was started not just to provide music to the community, but as a means to encourage talent within the community, by nurturing and training our young people. The center has evolved from a simple music education facility to a full-on contemporary Children’s After School Performing Arts and Music Education Center providing programs and events … (2 comments)

wine country: Southern California's Premier Wine Country - Temecula Valley - 04/04/08 01:24 PM
The name Temecula comes from an old Luiseno Indian word commonly translated as 'Where The Sun Breaks Through The Mist.' It conjures up images of sun drenched rolling hills, snow capped mountain peaks and fresh ocean breezes - in short, an area that might lend itself to the cultivation of vineyards and the production of fine varietal wines.
 
Less than 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles lies Southwest Califiornia and the Temecula Valley Wine Country. Rolling hills covered with vineyards, expansive views reaching to 11,000 foot high mountains, air swept by ocean breezes, and a … (5 comments)

wine country: Murrieta / Temecula / Lake Elsinore Home Sales - 2007 Recap - 03/12/08 11:54 AM
It's time for a look back at the numbers that made our market last year to see where we've been and where we're headed. Right now with the number of Lender Owned Homes on the market and the continuing foreclosure activity in the Valley, it's difficult (but not impossible) for individual home sellers to compete profitably against the deep pockets of the banks.
However, as you can see the slowing trend in home sales in the region, we are entering one of the best Buyers markets we've seen in 20+ years. A qualified Buyer is KING right now and with prices back to 2004 … (3 comments)

wine country: Wabi-Sabi? What the heck's that? - 02/29/08 04:09 AM
I think I just found an excuse for the way my house looks and I'm relieved. Wabi-sabi! That's right you techno purist Feng Shui'd fashionista, wabi-sabi. Referred to as ‘the art of imperfection' with respect for the flawed and aged, this is one Eastern fashion idea that may make a lot of you more comfortable with your home, if not your entire life. Unlike Feng Shui, wabi-sabi is not a technique to increase your wealth or tap into some mystical life force. Wabi-sabi is just the opposite, it's about - well, that's part of it's charm, it's hard to define.
We … (6 comments)

wine country: Just Walk Away, Rene', you'll buy a house another day. - 02/26/08 06:34 AM
This is my second post today inspired by a post I just read. Lenn Harley has a great post HOMEOWNERS, IF YOU CAN'T SELL, EITHER RENT OR STAY WHERE YOU ARE. You can't "just walk away". Lots of good advice and many great comments on responsibility and such.
I had a situation come up this week where a member called me to complain about another member (as Chair of our local Association, I get that duty). His complaint was that this other member was advising clients that if they were facing foreclosure, to stay in their homes until the very last minute … (2 comments)

wine country: The Value of NEXT. - 02/26/08 05:33 AM
I just read a great post about how sellers want to be lied to - you should check it out. But it reminded me of something I learned years ago that really helped me when I was getting started in this business and might help some of you too.
There are lots of things to P & M about in this business.
Your work your butt off for a listing only to lose it to somebody who 'buys' the listing by inflating the price to what the seller thinks it was worth on it's best day 2 years ago.The seller asks you … (7 comments)