January 27, 2012

New Site Design!!!

Hey everyone,  I just uploaded this new design for the site.  It will  take me a few nights to iron out the wrinkles, but in the end it will make the site easier to navigate and use.  Some of the improvements you will see include a Active homes for sale search tool.  Thanks again for your support!

Silverthorne Tract Simi Valley Sales Trends from 2003

Below is the sales data for the Silverthorne tract in Simi Valley from May of 2003 up through September of 2009.

The tables below contain the the Average Sales Price, High and Low Sales Prices, the List to Sale Price Ratio, all broken out by year.  The Multiple Listing Service Vendors for Simi Valley was changed twice over the past several years and much of the historical data from 2003 and prior is no longer available.  The long and short of the information is that the Silverthorne Simi Valley Real Estate market peaked in 2006 at almost a 1.2 million average sale price.  Currently the average sale price is a little better than 2003.

Currently there are two homes For Sales in the Siverthorne Tract.  Evening Star has been on for 68 days and Rising Star for almost 200 days.  Three homes are on the market in the Shadow Hawk Development with one of those homes in Escrow under $800,000.  In both Tracts, all homes are below $1,000,000 with average asking price of the mid $800,000 range.

Click on the chart to enlarge

Silverthorne Simi Valley Homes for Sale

Silverthorne Simi Valley 2003 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$756,242
HIGH
Sale Price
$940,000
LOW
Sale Price
$619,900
List to Sale Ratio 98.69%
Number of Homes Sold 12
Silverthorne Simi Valley 2004 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$926,790
HIGH
Sale Price
$1,125,000
LOW
Sale Price
$778,000
List to Sale Ratio 99.77%
Number of Homes Sold 10
Silverthorne Simi Valley 2005 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$1,110,786
HIGH
Sale Price
$1,475,000
LOW
Sale Price
$820,000
List to Sale Ratio 95.00%
Number of Homes Sold 13
Silverthorne Simi Valley 2006 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$1,197,167
HIGH
Sale Price
$1,445,000
LOW
Sale Price
$1,080,000
List to Sale Ratio 95.55%
Number of Homes Sold 6
Silverthorne Simi Valley 2007 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$1,057,500
HIGH
Sale Price
$1,265,000
LOW
Sale Price
$935,000
List to Sale Ratio 92.52%
Number of Homes Sold 8
Silverthorne Simi Valley 2008 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$799,167
HIGH
Sale Price
$840,000
LOW
Sale Price
$760,000
List to Sale Ratio 91.37%
Number of Homes Sold 6
Silverthorne Simi Valley 2009 Sales Data
AVERAGE
Sale Price
$772,800
HIGH
Sale Price
$875,000
LOW
Sale Price
$664,000
List to Sale Ratio 94.55%
Number of Homes Sold 5

Are you being eaten out of house & Home Simi Valley Termite Inspection?

Are you being eaten out of house & Home Simi Valley Termite Inspection?

Simi-Valley-Termite-repairs-dry-rotUnderstanding how a termite inspection will impact the sale of your Simi Valley Home is an important issue.  Early action can save you frustration and headache.  If you are planning to list your home, now is the time to get and inspection.  Inspections are cheap ranging form $75.00 to $100.00 depending on the company.  If you have a pest control service for regular pest control call you company and ask if they have a discount for inspection and any work they recommend.  If you do not have a termite company here are a few local companies you can call.

Simi Valley Termite Inspectors

Simi Valley Termite Company  (805) 522-4334

Gold Coast Termite & Pest Control (805) 526-1150

Zwaag Termite Control (805) 526-7040

Once you are in escrow, a termite inspection will be ordered if you did not do this prior to accepting an offer on your home.  Generally, unless otherwise agreed, the Seller will pay for a termite inspection and any corrective work that is outlined in the inspection report.  The repair cost will vary dependent upon what is found and the size of structure.  Fumigation is based off the cubic volume of the structure and other repairs can include replacing any wood damaged by wood destroying pests and wood destroying organisms (dry rot).  The inspection is limited to the accessible areas of the structure, which include the attic Simi-Valley-Termite-fumigation-dry-rotand the crawl space under a raised foundation home.  The inspector will look for moisture damage, dry rot and evidence of wood destroying pest activity.  The inspector will also look for a tag on the structure (usually located in the garage) of previous termite inspections.  A corrective list will be itemized in the report along with a cost to repair any damage found.  Older homes that have not been inspected in a long time can not only have physical repair, but also require fumigation, heat treatments or foam treatments.

Make sure to that anything stored up against the walls of your garage is moved back so the inspector can see the perimeter of the garage on the inside.

Here are some of the tell-tale areas you can check for in your home to see if termites and dry rot are about to run up a large repair bill.

  • Exterior paint on trim and siding.  If the paint is flaking and wearing away, exposed wood will be susceptible to wood destroying organisms such as dry rot.  Exposed wood needs to be scraped, sanded, primed and repainted.  Minor cracks in the wood should be filled with caulking or bondo before primer is applied.  Wood areas that are exposed to direct sunlight  for the longest hours of the day will show the biggest signs of paint failure.
  • Any wood touching dirt or grass will be a candidate for dry rot and termites.  Keep these areas well sealed with paint and try to control the moisture this wood may be exposed to.
  • Do not pile fire wood, yard trimmings, debSimi-Valley-Termite-treatment-dry-rotris or lumber up against the side of your home. This will create a perfect highway for termites and other insects to attack your home.
  • Look for piles of droppings near base-boards, window-sills, interior garage walls, exterior walls of the house.  Droppings are small, course, pepper-like pellets that can be reddish-brown in color.

Understanding Section 1 and Section Two repairs on your report.  Generally Section One covers any infestation of damage the inspector finds.  Repairs and treatment under this section are the responsibility of the seller.  Section Two are noted conditions that may lead to future infestation or damage.  These items are the responsibility of the buyer.

The above information is provided as a courtesy and is not all inclusive.  You should have your home inspected by a licensed professional termite company as you will not be able to identify all the areas of your home that may be affected by wood destroying pests and wood destroying organisms. The information contained herein is believed accurate. It is intended to provide general answers to general questions and is not intended as a substitute for individual legal advice. Advice in specific situations may differ depending upon a wide variety of factors. Therefore, readers with specific legal questions should seek the advice of an attorney

Simi Valley Landfill Expansion

Simi Valley Landfill Expansion

Below is information provided by Waste Management.  I have personally known Mike Smith and Scott Tignac for many years going way back to the GI Rubbish days.  Waste Management made a great decision keeping Mike & Scott involved in the Simi Valley operations especially as Mike has been a big corporate supporter of many local causes and charities through out the years.  While there are legitimate concerns over the Landfill expansion, I know there are two sides to every story. Links are provided below for review of the proposed expansion plans.

Simi-Valley-Landfill-and-recycling-center

Community Benefits

Why the Modernization and Expansion Project is good for the community.

  • Maintains more than 275 good-paying jobs in Ventura County
  • Injects more than $48 million annually into the Ventura County economy
  • Contributes more than $3.6 million to public agency budgets within Ventura County
  • Improves recycling options and increases environmentally-friendly programs
  • Increases production of enough green energy to power 6,250 local homes
  • Establishes one of the first LEED facilities at a landfill in the county by using recycled and sustainable building materials, energy-efficient lighting, green energy programs and recycled water
  • Reduces truck traffic on the Madera Corridor by moving local trucking operations to landfill
  • Creates over 500 acres for open space and wildlife habitats
  • Provides charitable contributions including annual sponsorships, service donations and employee volunteer support

Looking Ahead

Dear Friends,

We are excited to share some news about our plans for the future.

In the coming weeks, the Ventura County Planning Department will release a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for everyone to review. This document includes detailed information about our plans at the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center.

We hope you get a chance to review the EIR during the 45-day public comment period. Also, in order to make sure that you have all the facts, we will work with the County to ensure that copies of the EIR are available at County offices, local libraries and our website.

Here are some ways you can get involved and show your support:

  • Send a letter of support to your Ventura County District Board of Supervisor at www.countyofventura.org
  • Take a landfill tour for an up-close look at the project
  • Review the project information online on our website (click on “Modernization/Expansion”)
  • Attend a public meeting, once the dates of the meetings are announced
  • Register your support on our website and join our online community at www.KeepingVenturaCountyClean.com

Our plans for the future will increase green energy programs and help meet the disposal and recycling needs of residents and businesses now and into the future.

For more information about our project or to take a landfill tour, visit

www.KeepingVenturaCountyClean.com/expansion.html or contact Lisa Hemenway at (805) 581-1746.

All the Best,

Mike Smith,  Director of Operations

Scott Tignac,  Landfill District Manager

Simi Valley Housing Market Update YTD August 31, 2009

Simi Valley Housing Market Update YTD August 31, 2009

Simi Valley Home Sales through August 31, 2009 continue with similar trending patterns as June, July and August are following our typical seasonal patterns of lower volumes as we head in to the fourth quarter.  Simi Valley Single Family detached homes peaked in May at 92 closings and pulled back to 80 a month for June, July and August.  This is 18 units fewer than in 2008 for June and July; 7 fewer than August 2008.  While low interest rates, historically low inventory and the $8000.00 federal tax credit for first time buyers continues to drive the lower end of the market,  the recovery is going to be protracted and drawn out.  Any substantial increase in interest rates, available inventory or pricing could put the brakes on an already struggling Simi Valley housing market.

Activity – Single Family Detached Homes
Active Listings Simi Valley Moorpark
Active
# Units 347 109
Average List Price 563,665 1,007,273
Average Days Listed 108 130
Pending Sales in Escrow
# Units 105 26
Average List Price 444,521 693,922
Average Days on Market 61 81
Total Closed Sales for 2008
# Units 635 171
Average List Price 465,188 566,132
Average Sold Price 456,256 548,764
Average Days Listed 84 84
Average Closed Sales per month 79.38 21.38
Unsold Inventory Index (in months) 4.37 5.10
Activity – Single Family Attached Homes
Active Listings Simi Valley Moorpark
Active
# Units 142 27
Average List Price 309,242 263,843
Average Days Listed 183 125
Pending Sales in Escrow
# Units 31 13
Average List Price 277,241 284,832
Average Days on Market 61 71
Total Closed Sales for 2008
# Units 122 57
Average List Price 279,051 264,168
Average Sold Price 271,051 258,018
Average Days Listed 97 87
Average Closed Sales per month 15.25 7.13
Unsold Inventory Index (in months) 9.31 3.79

A BIG nod for my efforts on the future of Real Estate Technology

(September 3rd, 2009 – Los Angeles) Ted Mackel has been named for the California Association of Realtors Expo Tech Opening Session: Text, Tweet, and Sell: A Dialogue on Tech’s Possibilities for Today’s Agents,” panelists: Drew Burke, Ted Mackel and , moderated by Joel Singer. Panel for Tech Tuesday is in San Jose on October 6th. 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. Selected as one out of over 175,000 members of the California Association of Realtors and of the 600+ Realtors in Simi Valley, Mackel is excited to participate in the panel and Expo.

Mackel commented “Our industry’s tools are changing at light speed. The consumers are using options on the Internet for their next home purchase or sale that my industry is slow to acknowledge. The panel gives our industry a chance to exchange and share ideas from across the state so we can increase our knowledge and serve our clients better. I have been an early adopter in this area and look forward to the opportunity to give back to my industry.”