TONIGHT: Twilight Concert on the Green

There's still time!!!!

The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society’s fundraiser concert, “From Broadway to Opera.” is being held tonight at the Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte.

Cost ranges from blanket seating for two people at $45 (commemorative blanket included) to premier gazebo seating for 10 at $3,500.

Other seating options available include chair, orchestra, sweetheart swings and golf carts.

Because box dinner and Café Merlot restaurant dining options are available, attendees can arrive as early as 5 p.m.

The concert will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Order tickets by calling 858-673-4647
or visit the Website: http://www.rbhistoricalsociety.org

Spirit of Fourth Parade in Rancho Bernardo!

Many of you already know that I'm involved with the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society and our fund raising efforts to help build a new museum at the Bernardo Winery.

Back on May 26th we held a very successful "Pancake Breakfast and Concert" fundraiser at the winery. Next month on August 11th, we are planning a "Twilight Concert on the Green" fundraiser.

In the meanwhile, we were presented the opportunity to participate in this year's "Spirit of the Fourth" Parade in Rancho Bernardo. The challenge was to create a float in some 3 short weeks of planning.

The RB Historical Society Board asked me to build a model of the museum that would fit on top of a golf cart donated by the winery. It took me 2 weeks to build the model and today with the help of a couple of Historical Society members we mounted it and decorated the golf cart.

Tomorrow, I'll be riding in the float beginning around 3pm in RB. I hope I'll see some of you there!

Interest Rates Update

Its been a while since I've posted the latest interest rates. Despite some of what you hear, rates are great if you have good credit scores! If your credit scores average below 680, you'll have to jump through a lot more hoops for the lenders.

4S Ranch in West Rancho Bernardo

21 miles north of San Diego just west of the community of Rancho Bernardo is a master planned community call 4S Ranch. Only a few years old and still being built, it already has the feeling of a traditional hometown with its tree-lined streets, parks, miles of walking paths and cozy shops. 4S Ranch is a 2,900 acre community that will accommodate over 4,700 homes from modern townhomes to large estate style homes. It has great access to the 15 freeway and additional roadways are gradually being opened with access to the coast and to the 56 freeway in the south.

It seems that every week something new is going in. In the beginning of 2007 we started to see shops moving into the brand new 4S Commons Town Center. At this point there are some 45 stores, banks and restaurants all opened for business. You'll find Ralphs Fresh Fare supermarket, Jimbo's Natural Foods, Cost Plus World Market, CVS Pharmacy, Ace Hardware and many more well-known stores settling in.

Another plus for 4S Ranch is that its located within the highly acclaimed Poway Unified School district which has had a long tradition of academic excellence. Already, two elementary schools have been built in 4S Ranch along with a new library. There's even a new Boys & Girls Club featuring non-stop activities on the weekends, during the summer, and after school. 4S Ranch was planned from the start to be an ideal place to raise a family.

With miles of walking trails and 1,600 acres of protected open space and so much to do outdoors you may not spend much time indoors. But if you do, you'll be connected. The entire community has been wired with high-speed broadband Intranet to connect neighbors to neighbors.

Besides being pre-wired, homes here are also equipped with residential fire sprinklers and other design features to minimize the risk of fires, always a danger in Southern California. In fact, homes in 4S Ranch are classified by the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District as Shelters-In-Place. Typically during a wildfire, the fire department orders an evacuation of the affected areas... during the resulting rush and chaos of an evacuation, many of the fire-related deaths have occured. The Shelter-In-Place designation in 4S Ranch means that you can safely stay within your fire-resistant home during a wildfire and not have a call to evacuate during a typical wildfire.

Your Mortgage Saves You Taxes

Many first-time homebuyers that I work with come to me with a budget of how much they can afford on a new home. Often overlooked is the fact that mortgage interest is tax deductible and the cash savings can be pretty amazing. For example, a $500,000 loan has a payment of about $3,000 a month. But when you itemize deductions on your taxes, you'll receive over $600 a month back for the first year! So your actual monthly payment is $3,000 - $600 or $2,400! Don't forget to account for other monthly payments that come with home ownership like utilities, insurance, maintenance and property taxes (which is also tax deductible).

Of course, the tax savings varies on the loan's interest rate and your tax bracket. Yahoo has set up a nice little calculator that gives you an idea of how much money your mortgage deduction will get you.

San Diego Region's New Traffic Service

We already know how bad San Diego traffic can be. Thankfully, there is a new way to assess traffic before you venture out. SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) has a new website that provides real-time traffic information, accident reports, and drive times.

See for yourself by clicking on the map below:

Interest Rates

Interest rates continue to be stable. Take a look at today's numbers:

Spring Forward Much Sooner!

I never liked the idea of setting our clocks back in the fall. Its much nicer I think having the extra sunlight at the end of the day rather than the beginning.

Well, we will get to increase the number of weeks to enjoy later sunsets. In fact, Congress enacted the Energy Policy Act in 2005 that will give us 1 more month of Daylight Savings.

This year, Daylight Savings begins on March 11th and ends on November 4th. YEAH!

Over the next few weeks leading up to 3/11, we'll be hearing warnings of Y2K-like problems with computers and clocks since some equipment may not know about the early time change this year.

I'm not so worried. I'll be an hour ahead.

Trip to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley

The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society is planning a trip to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley on Februrary 13, 2007. This is a fundraiser for the museum to help build a new permanent museum building. The trip costs $95 including lunch and transportation. Visit www.rbhistoricalsociety.org and click the “Calendar & Events” tab for more info.

The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society is a non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the local history and increasing public awareness through programs and outreach. As a non-profit we depend on the community to help us accomplish our mission: volunteers, donations and contributions, memberships, and gifts to our collections.

Free Consumer Help

Do you know how to choose a home-improvement contractor? Or a long distance telephone plan? Or what to do if you're stuck with a bad car or a leaky dishwasher?

The new Consumer Action Website can help. It tells how to be a smart consumer, plus where and how to complain if you hit trouble. You can find addresses for companies from AAMCO to Zenith.

Log on to http://www.consumeraction.gov on the web. Or write to Consumer Action Handbook, Federal Consumer Information Center, Dept. 29, Pueblo, Colorado, 81009 for a free written copy.

Interest Rates Overview

Here are the typical interest rates here in San Diego:

Real Estate Activity Way Up

For the first time in many months, one of my listings received 2 offers on the same day! This particular home was on the market for about 3 months with no offers during that period.

There seems to be a realization that property values are at a stable point and buyers are beginning to make their move. Two years ago, buyers in many cases had to settle with a home that perhaps did not have all the amenties they were looking for.... AND they had to pay top dollar for it. Today, there are some really nice homes available for sale. Home buyers are in a great position to pick out homes with the best views, the best upgrades, the best locations, at the best prices. Moreover, loan rates are still at historic lows. I'm working with several buyers now who had been waiting for months and feel now is finally the time.

Is it a good time to sell? What I've found in the local San Diego area is that homes that were bought over 2 years ago have generally had a net positive appreciation. The larger concern is that some homeowners have refinanced over the last 2 years up to 100% of the home's equity. Those homeowners are in a bind if they need to sell since they may not be able to cover the loans with what they can sell the house for. We are seeing many of these "shortsale" situations coming on the market.

Overall, it seems that we are entering a "normal" market where buyers and sellers are a lot more realistic.

SOLD! 2 Bedroom detached in RB

This 2 bedroom home in the Rancho Bernardo community of Bernardo Heights sold for $420,000. I represented the sellers who have relocated out of state.




Click Photo to View Virtual Tour

Today's Interest Rates

Have you heard that interest rates on a new home loan are as low as they have been in a long time? Take a look at some typical rates:

Something cool that Xerox is doing

If you go to this web site, http://www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!

This is a great site.

Please send a card. You can even select from several pre-written messages if you don't know what to write.

It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against t he war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...

Thanks to Priscilla B. who contributed this article!

Another Listing, An Affordable Condo!

Spacious 1,578 sqft, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths Rancho Bernardo townhome in the award winning Westwood community. Walk to Westwood Club, elementary school, bus stop for middle and high schools, and tons of local shopping. Cul de sac location among many trees and in a very private setting!

Asking price is between $385,000 and 435,876




Click Photo to View Virtual Tour

You can also find out more about this home by entering the search code PRU7Q2C7 in any Yahoo! search window.

New Listing in Westwood Rancho Bernardo

Comfortable 1,401 sf, 3 bedroom, 2 bath single floor home on a quiet, cul-de-sac in the established neighborhood of Westwood! Open the front door and you'll discover that this home is open and bright with room for your largest furniture! The cozy backyard includes a large fig tree and many flowering plants to the delight of any gardener. Need to play some tennis or relax at the pool after dropping the kids off to school? The Westwood Club is close by and not far is the award winning Westwood Elementary School. Oh, and watch out for the friendly bears in the backyard ;)

Asking price is between $500,000 and $549,876




Click Photo to View Virtual Tour

You can also find out more about this home by entering the search code PRU3N9D7 in any Yahoo! search window.

Just Listed in Poway: 4 Bed/2 Bath/1501sf

This single-story model is rarely available and sought after for its great location, roomy kitchen with stainless steel appliances, open floorplan, fireplace, attached 2-car garage, tile roof, ceiling fans, alarm system, and sliding doors to the backyard. The home has recently been remodeled with a new kitchen, all new windows, upgraded bathrooms, carpeting, and modern paint colors. No need to do a thing... just move right in! Enjoy a private BBQ next to the freestanding covered patio or relax on the lush oversized backyard lawn. Tall trees behind the house provides for the perfect level of shade on those sunny San Diego days. The freestanding canopy over the patio stays and is a wonderful place to relax the day away. The property line extends beyond the rear fence and some neighbors have built a deck over the rear slope to further take advantage of the priceless views. Owner states that a wonderful breeze frequently flows up the canyon behind the home to provide natural and refreshing cooling. The sunsets to the West are breathtaking and this home is conveniently located with I-15 and Pomerado Road just minutes away. Avoid the rush hour traffic heading up the 15 and enjoy a central location near major areas of employment. No Homeowner fees and no Mello Roos!!!

Seller entertaining offers between $535,000 and $585,876.




Click Photo to View Virtual Tour

You can also find out more about this home by entering the search code PRU8X3H6 in any Yahoo! search window.

Rancho Bernardo Rotary Fundraiser

The First Annual R.B. Rotary Foundation Golf Tournament will be held Monday, October 30th on the beautiful Fountains Course at the Welk Resort off HWY 15 north of Escondido. Registration starts at 11:30am, golf at 1:00pm. Golfers of any level are encouraged to attend. The $100 registration fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart, box lunch, dinner, and many golf-related prizes. There will also be $10,000 hole-in-one and $5,000 putting contests. They're also raising funds to sponsor a day of golf at this event for Marines from the San Diego area with a $100 donation per Marine.

For more information contact John O’Neill at 858-487-8800 or register online at http://rbrotarygolftourney.golfregistrations.com

New Local Museum Planned

The Rancho Bernardo Historical Society is planning a new museum building on the grounds of the Bernardo Winery located in Rancho Bernardo. Use of the land was donated by the Winery and a $600,000 capital drive is underway for building construction.



A virtual tour featuring the existing temporary museum and plans for the new building can be seen here.

A Pancake Breakfast fundraiser will be held on Veteran’s Day, November 11th at the Winery from 7am to 11am. There will be food, live entertainment, and prize drawings. $5/person. Contact Susan Floyd at 858-248-2030 or 858-487-4599 for tickets info or visit www.RBHistoricalSociety.org to learn how you can help!