rancho santa margarita: Find Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures with Free MLS Search - 12/21/08 05:31 PM

Search for Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures and Orange County Foreclosures for free!  That's right...free! 
There are many Foreclosure Information Companies out there that charge interested parties a free to see information that can be accessed by the general public at no cost.  Don't throw your money away!  Local Orange County, CA foreclosures, bank owned homes and short sales are available.
A large number of real estate agents now have the ability to allow visitors to search their website specifically for foreclosures or short sales.  Some sites require registration and others do not.  Most sites with registrations allow a visitor to … (4 comments)

rancho santa margarita: New Sunday Brunch Bargain at Rancho Santa Margarita's Tijeras Creek Golf Club - 12/19/08 04:55 AM
Most Rancho Santa Margarita residents, especially those who golf,  know Tijeras Creek Golf Club is dubbed The Best Golf Value in the OC.  But did you know that Tijeras Creek Golf Club has an amazing bargain Sunday Brunch for only $15.95?  Better still, kids 6-12 eat for $9.95 and kids under 6 eat for free.

The brunch menu inclues:
Omelet Station Roast Ham Carving Station Smoked Applewood Bacon Breakfast Sausages Tijeras Creek Breakfast Potatoes Scrambled Eggs Fresh Breakfast Pastries Assorted Desserts Sunday Brunch hours: 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tijeras Creek Golf Club is located at 29092 Tijeras Creek in … (7 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Gorgeous Light Blanket of Snow Falls on Saddleback Mountain - 12/16/08 09:05 AM
Yesterday's winter storm dropped a gorgeous light blank of snow on Saddleback Mountain. 

Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon sit on the western base of the Santa Ana Mountain Foothills.  In my 40+ years I've never seen it snow in either RSM or Trabuco Canyon, but I always look forward to seeing snow on Saddleback and I'm always out there trying to get the perfect picture to capture the moment.
It doesn't snow very often on Saddleback Mountain and the snow certainly doesn't stick around for any great length of time.  To get a decent photo of snow on Saddleback … (1 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Praying for Snow on Saddleback Mountain - Santa Ana Mountain Range - 12/14/08 06:24 PM
A winter storm is blowing into Orange County and I'm crossing my fingers, hoping that a light blanket of snow will fall on Saddleback Mountain.  I am somewhat obsessed with snow.  Having grown up in Orange County, CA, I regard snow as a special treat.  I associate it with hot chocolate, a nice crackling fire in a quaint chalet, and several days worth of lift tickets.
It has never snowed at my house and I have to admit that I'm a wee bit jealous when I read other ActiveRainers writing about the first snowfall. 
Ann Hayden of Wildwood, MO wrote about … (4 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Are Home Inspections Really Needed for Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures and Short Sales? - 12/10/08 07:37 AM

When buying a Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosure or bank owned home, does a buyer really need to spend extra money for a home inspection?  What if the home is sold "as is, where-is"?  The answer is YES!
In all cases you should have a licensed professional evaluate the home you will be purchasing.  Whether or not repairs will be requested or made, a local professional, licensed home inspector should be hired for a home inspection.
It doesn't matter whether the transaction is a standard sale, a short sale or an REO / bank-owned sale.  A buyer should know up … (5 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Final Score: Tesoro Titans High School Football Dominate @ Orange Lutheran 42-14 in CIF-SS Semi-Finals Dec 6 2008 - 12/06/08 04:43 PM
Final Score - CIF-SS Pac-6 SemiFinals Football December 6, 2008:  Tesoro Titans Own Orange Lutheran 42-14 Once again the Tesoro Titans Football team proves that they are a force with which to be reckoned.

 
The Titans started off strong, taking an early lead which by half time was 28-0. Orange Lutheran never stood a chance.
Tesoro faces the #1 Rated Team in the state, Long Beach Poly at the PAC-5 Division Finals at Angel Stadium on Saturday, December 13th, 2008. 
Congratulations to this outstanding local team on their win tonight!
 
 
… (4 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita Housing Market Report - November 2008 - 12/03/08 11:52 AM

SoCal MLS reports that a total of 50 Rancho Santa Margarita homes were sold in November, 2008.  That's a 62% increase over Novermber of 2007, when then total volume of homes sold as only 31 and a 7.3% decrease from November, 2006, with 60 homes selling.  A total of 85 homes closed escrow in October of 2008.
23 Rancho Santa Margarita Single Family Homes Sold in Nov. 2008:
Standard Sales - 14 Short Sales - 5 Bank-owned / REO - 4 27 Rancho Santa Margarita Condos Sold in Nov. 2008:
Standard Sales - 11 Short Sales - 9 Bank-owned / … (0 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Are You Looking For A Way to Get Involved and Give Back in Rancho Santa Margarita? - 12/03/08 05:41 AM
Here's a quick and easy way to help others and to give back in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Cox Communications, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, is sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, December 4th.  The drive will take place in the Rio Grande Room from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Do you think you're too squeamish to donate blood?  I used to think so too.  In fact, I'm still squeamish when it comes to needles.  I've passed out on a number of occassions at the doctor's office or at the lab.  But I'm older and wiser now...and I have … (0 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Buying A Home In Rancho Santa Margarita The Easy Way - 14 Step Guide (Part 1) - 12/02/08 06:52 PM
Buying a home in Orange County, CA can seem overwhelming and frustrating - especially for first time buyers hoping to snap up a short sale or REO.  As with most things, there's both an easy way and a hard way to complete a task.  do it.  There's a series of steps buyers can take to reduce the hassles and confusion and make the experience both positive and exciting.  It's really all about being organized and taking first things first.  Simple logic that's highly effective.  Here's the plan:
Step 1:  Understand the Process - Knowing what to expect and when to expect … (3 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Remodel or Not? Before You Sell A Home in Rancho Santa Margarita Read This! - 11/30/08 01:59 PM
Every November I look forward to reading the annual statistics provided in Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value in home improvements and remodeling.  Knowing these numbers allows me to make accurate recommendations to my clients who are selling a home in Rancho Santa Margarita.  They want to know, "If I remodel my kitchen will I sell my Rancho Santa Margarita home for more?" or "Is it a good idea to install vinyl windows before I sell my home in RSM, or would it just be a waste of money?"
A few years ago remodeling was all the rage in South Orange County.  … (0 comments)

rancho santa margarita: ***Tesoro Takes Mater Dei 38-35 & Advances to CIF Pac-5 Semifinals*** - 11/29/08 09:25 AM
Once again congratulations are in order for the Tesoro High School Football Team.
***Tesoro Titans are #1 in Orange County High School Football ***
Is there still anyone left out there who doubts this?
Tesoro is now 12-0 following Friday night's 38-35 win in Round 2 of the Pac-5 CIF-SS playoff.  The Titans move on to challenge Orange Lutheran @ Orange Lutheran next Saturday, Dec. 6th.
If you'd like to read a great recap of the game,  Dan Albano of the Orange Country Register has a great post entitled:  Tesoro-Mater analysis: Why the Titans won Pac-5 thriller
This is simply an … (0 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita's Las Flores Market Update - 11/23/08 06:19 PM

Las Flores is an upscale community of 1,339 homes nestled in the soft rolling hills of South Orange County, just north of Ladera Ranch, east of Mission Viejo, west of Wagon Wheel & Coto de Caza and south of Rancho Santa Margarita.  There are 14 builder tracts within Las Flores:  Avalino, Bel Flora, California Somerset, Greystone Arbor, Magnolia, Sea County, Springfield, Summit at Las Flores, Sundance, Traditions, Veranda, Vista Pointe Estates, Warmington Oaks, and Wyngate.
There are currently seventeen Active Listings reported by SoCal MLS.  Of these seventeen, seven are listed as short sales, a couple of which are in … (0 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita - Cantamar - Neighborhood Report - 11/23/08 11:55 AM

The Cantamar tract in Rancho Santa Margarita's Golf Course Area, is nestled against the Arroyo on the east side of Antonio Parkway.  The neighborhood is comprised of 83 homes which are one half mile from Arroyo Vista Park, 1 mile from Tijeras Creek Golf Course, and 2 miles away from the Beach Club.
Cantamar was built by Kaufman & Broad in 1999.  The two-story, four and five bedroom homes, all with two and one half baths, range in size from approximately 2500 square feet to 2800 square feet.  Floor plans for Cantamar are available upon request.
There are currently two … (2 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita Short Sale Bargains - 1 Bedroom Less Than $135,000 - 11/21/08 01:50 AM
"I dub this property Rancho Santa Margarita's Bargain Home of November, 2008."
Earlier in November there was a condo on Baya in Rancho Santa Margarita that was listed as a short sale for $149,000.  The property is now in escrow but is still accepting back up offers.  I will be watching this particular property very closely to see just how low the short sale lender was willing to go to unload the property.  If it goes at $149,000 I'll be amazed.  I think it will be slightly higher. 
But that property is old news now.  The new title holder for the … (1 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita's State of the City Address - "We are well-prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow" - 11/17/08 06:08 AM

Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Neil Blais stressed last Friday in his State of the City address, that despite the state wide economic crisis, the City of Rancho Santa Margarita has a balanced budget and sufficient reserves to weather the storm.  At this time, the City reportedly has upwards of $16,000,000 in reserves.
While all that is encouraging in the face of a just-a-matter-of-time-before-its-technically-declared national recession, Rancho Santa Margarita, like most local city governments, will not be immune from feeling the pinch of lost revenue from business closures.  Family Nissan, Linens 'N Things and Barbecues Galore have already closed their doors … (4 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita's Dove Canyon - No New Bank-Owned Properties This Week - 11/13/08 05:03 PM
Dove Canyon, like most communities in South Orange County has been hit by a wave of short sales and foreclosures.  Unlike some of the surrounding areas, however, there have been a number of standard sales mixed in with the special condition sales.
This past week there were three new listings in Dove Canyon - and none of them were short sales or REOs.  So what does that mean in terms of market trends?  On it's own, probably not too much, but combined with a number of other factors however, it might pay to look a little closer at Dove Canyon.  If … (2 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita - Community Event - Great Southern California Shake Out - 11/06/08 06:11 AM

Next Thursday, November 13th, Rancho Santa Margarita residents can join millions of other Southern California residents in what is being touted as the Largest Earthquake Drill in U.S. History. The simulation is designed to include local governments, individuals and families, schools, businesses, medical facilities, churches and other organizations. I encourage you to take this opportunity to dialogue with neighbors and colleagues in your community. Ask your school-aged children what their schools are planning for the event.
Rancho Santa Margarita is a beautiful place to live. We have a moderate climate, an abundance of things to do, a variety of restaurants, … (2 comments)

rancho santa margarita: California Tesoro - Real Estate Market Update - 09/03/07 07:52 AM
California Tesoro is a 194-unit Rancho Santa Margarita housing development built by Kaufman Broad in 1995-1996. There are three models, all of which have 2 car garages:
El Diamante: 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1306 square feetLa Jolla: 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1573 square feetDel Oro: 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1801 square feetCalifornia Tesoro is conveniently located in close proximity to Arroyo Vista Park and Arroyo Vista School.
*** Here is an MLS Market Snapshot of homes currently on the market, homes that are in escrow or with sales pending, and homes that have sold in the past three months *** 
As of 9/02/2007 there … (3 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Rancho Santa Margarita - Altisima Park - 03/23/07 12:22 PM
THE VIEW:  Located at the top of the hill in the Melinda Heights area of Rancho Santa Margarita, Altisima Park offers a great place to play with extraordinary views. Click here for a map of Altisima Park.
TOT LOT:  The Tot Lot is a definite hit with the kids.  At just about any given time the Tot Lot is in use. It's a great place for the little ones to make new friends and to get in some serious play time.
BASEBALL FIELDS:  Altisima Park has two very well maintained baseball fields, complete with above ground dugouts.  These fields are two of several fields used by … (2 comments)

rancho santa margarita: Robinson Ranch - Trabuco Highlands Central Park - 03/22/07 06:50 PM
Trabuco Highlands Central Park is located on Robinson Ranch Road and is the primary park for residents of the prestigious neighborhoods of Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands.  Located at the northeastern corner of Rancho Santa Margarita, Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands are set against the beautiful foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.  The majestic twin peaks of Modjeska and Santiago resemble a saddle and are better known as Saddleback Mountain.
Trabuco Highlands Central Park has a large grassy area suitable for soccer and baseball.  The tot-lot has two jungle-gyms and a swing set.  The park also sports a well-maintained full-court regulation height basketball court. 
This park … (3 comments)