8/3/2020 Real Estate Guide

california 101

Real Estate & Home Care Guide VENTURA COUNTY • AUGUST 2020

california 101

JAN. - FEB., 2020

REAL ESTATE GUIDE VENTURA

COUNTY

FABULOUS AND CHARMINGLY INVITING

Represented by Donna Sallen – RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors ® CA 101

Serving The Ojai Valley, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Conejo and The Heritage Valley

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

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ON THE COVER:

FABULOUS AND CHARMINGLY INVITING 3860 Grand Ave., OJAI, CA 93023

Offered at $3,620,000

• Ojai, California • 5 Bedrooms • 4 Bathrooms • 2.38 Acres • 4314 Square Feet

See page 10 for more information on this spectacular property.

Cover Photo by Chad Jones Photography, Inc.

California 101 Real Estate Guide

Represented by Donna Sallen – RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors® Lic. 01488460 (805) 798-0516 donnasallen.com • donna4remax@aol.com

Welcome to the California 101 Real Estate Guide - Ventura County.

We offer a look at Ventura County with a keen eye of why this area is so desirable, and providing Realtors and Homeowner Services.

california101guide.com MAGAZINE INQUIRIES (833) 805-0101 Published by Blue Highways Productions CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dennis DeLano

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS WEEK August 2020

4 - Helpful Tips

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Mike Dawkins

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Sandi Diekhuis

MANAGING EDITOR Misty Hall

How to divide your outdoor living space

6 - Helpful Selling and Buying Points

Home buying during the COVID-19 outbreak

7 - Featured Local Realtors

Connecting buyers and sellers

10 - Featured Property

Fabulous and charmingly inviting

12 - Helpful Selling and Buying Points ©2020 All rights reserved

How agents and sellers can work together

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HIGHW

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15 - Helpful Selling and Buying Points BLUE HIGHWAYS PRODUCTIONS LLC® 1129 Maricopa Hwy. #B-201 Ojai CA 93023

California 101 Real Estate Guide

How to cut energy costs this summer

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CALIFORNIA 101 - Helpful Tips

CA 101

By Dominique Gray

How to Divide Your Outdoor Living Space Presented By Domonique Gray, Home Loan Specialist | 805-832-2950

Why stay cooped up inside when you can extend the livable portion of your property by creating outdoor living spaces? It certainly isn't difficult to build such "rooms" in the backyard. But it does take an appreciation for the "divide and conquer" approach.

We take it for granted that our houses are divided into rooms, but the concept of having similar "outdoor living spaces" may sound odd, at first. Indeed, the biggest obstacle standing in most people's way is that it just doesn't occur to them to divide up a yard so as to maximize their enjoyment of it. Not consciously, at least. Yet the more conscious we become of outdoor living spaces, the more we can tailor them to suit our needs.

Design Considerations Part of the beauty behind the concept of separate "rooms" in a house is that each unit is unique unto itself. Consequently, you can install a component in the kitchen that looks great there, without worrying that it would look out of place if viewed from the bedroom. The same is true for outdoor living spaces.

Pool Areas Let's begin with outdoor rooms whose main function is to house a swimming pool. Landscaping around swimming pools presents specific challenges regarding safety, maintenance and privacy. You don't want people slipping on anything, you don't want to spend all your time cleaning up debris, and you don't want the neighbors peering in at you.

In selecting a "wall" to enclose the area, all of these considerations come into play.

Having separate outdoor living spaces allows you to create mini-landscape designs (each somewhat different from the rest) for each of them. Not that you shouldn't still strive for unity across your landscape design, as a whole. But the more successful you are in physically separating one outdoor living space from another, the more flexibility you have to diversify without creating a hodgepodge.

A strong argument can be made, then, for having a fence serve as the "wall" around a pool, rather than a hedge or a lattice screen. A tightly constructed fence will do the best job of screening out prying eyes. And because it has no leaves or needles to shed, there's nothing to slip on, nothing to clean up.

For instance, you may wish to include a storage bin for towels in the pool area. Such an element would be functional and would look fine there. But the problem is, you might not wish to view it from another part of the yard dedicated, say, to meditating in naturalistic surroundings. The answer: screen off the pool area with a tall hedge or fence, effectively creating a "room" separate from the rest of the yard.

Meditation Areas For meditation gardens, some of the concerns are the same, some different. Privacy is still very much an issue (since secluded settings are more relaxing than open settings), as is maintenance. But safety goes on a back burner. Here, reflection, not physical activity, takes center stage. Aesthetic considerations, consequently, will carry greater weight.

Setting the Mood With Color Just as you can paint or wallpaper an indoor room using a color scheme unique to that room, so you can use color to make individualized statements for each of your outdoor living spaces. But here, instead of paint or wallpaper, you determine your color scheme when you select the plants you'll be using for the area.

Most people find plants more relaxing than hardscape, so consider planting hedges to form the walls of such outdoor rooms. If you don't want to wait for hedges to get tall enough to afford privacy, install lattice screens, instead. To satisfy your requirement for plants and provide further privacy, train vine plants to grow up the lattice. Climbing hydrangeas are perennial vines and an excellent choice for shady areas.

You have more choices in the sun, including that ever-popular annual, the morning glory.

Proper application of color theory in landscape design can even influence mood and perception. For instance, the flower colors to employ for a relaxing nook intended for meditation would be different from the colors used for play areas. You can also make small spaces seem larger (and vice versa) depending on the colors you use.

The Building Blocks Think of the structural components of outdoor living spaces in terms of their counterparts in indoor rooms: floor, walls and ceiling. Only for outdoor living spaces, the term, "structural" is used metaphorically. So much the better for you, as the "builder," since it means there's a lot less to worry about. Taking out a "wall" because you don't like your initial choice won't cause the "ceiling" to come crashing down on your head!

Play Areas If you have kids who enjoy baseball, football, soccer, or just plain running around, set aside a special outdoor room just for them. You can't beat a grass floor for these activities. While a ceiling won't be necessary, walls are a must. You don't want errant tosses rolling into the street or wiping out those flowers you just planted in another portion of the yard. A solid fence will probably best serve the role of wall here, something that will easily stop a ball. Hedges are less effective, because balls either get through them or get lodged within them. By having to repeatedly dislodge balls stuck in a hedge, kids may end up wrecking the hedge.

A "ceiling" is optional for many outdoor living spaces, although it does create an added sense of enclosure that you may crave. Ceilings are necessary only for areas where staying dry/cool is a must.

Given their individualized purpose, meditation gardens in particular are outdoor spaces that cry out for accessories. Curios and pieces of yard art can serve as focal points here. Any objects that have special meaning for you are potential "extras" that you might wish to incorporate, as long as they can stand up to the elements.

(805) 832-2950 | NMLS# 900558 DGray@homebridge.com Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

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Domonique Gray Local Resident and Home Loan Expert 35 Years of Experience in the Mortgage Industry Immediate Past President Ventura Downtown Lions Club / City of Hope Chair Purchase: Conforming, FHA/VA and Jumbo Loans Refinances: Rate/Term and Cash-out Loans

(805) 832-2950 | NMLS# 900558 DGray@homebridge.com EXPERIENCED DESIGNER AND BUILDER OF QUALITY CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS LICENSED AND INSURED GENERAL CONTRACTOR IN CALIFORNIA

DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION FROM THE BEGINNING TO END IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

805-640-0262

KERRY MILLER

P.O. Box 984 Ojai, CA 93024

kerrymillerdesigns.com

DESIGNER/BUILDER, INC.

CA LIC #958625

California 101 Real Estate Guide

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CALIFORNIA 101 - Helpful Selling and Buying Points

CA 101

Home buying during the COVID-19 outbreak

Photo submitted

Homeowners know that the process of buying a home can be both exciting and nervewracking.

The anxiety associated with buying a home has hit new heights during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

Historically low interest rates and limited inventory has made 2020 an especially unique time to buy a home. It’s also a competitive and potentially expensive time to buy a home. While the economic consequences of COVID-19 have been severe, the Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as Fannie Mae, forecasted a significant increase in median home prices in March 2020. City dwellers have scrambled to buy homes outside of cities, where social distancing is more difficult and the risk of getting COVID-19 appears greater than it is in suburban or rural settings.

That’s led to a lot of competition among prospective buyers.

Prospective home buyers willing to enter the hectic fray and shop for a home during the COVID-19 outbreak may benefit from knowing what to expect as they search for their next home.

• Get ready for virtual tours.

• Expect to move quickly.

Buyers might once have scoffed at the notion of buying a home they’d only seen in videos, but virtual tours have become the new normal in the wake of the pandemic. An April survey from the National Association of Realtors® found that home tours had declined sharply. While 98 percent of realtors reported taking clients on home tours as recently as February, that number had declined to 63 percent by April. As many regions pause their reopening plans, prospective home buyers should ready themselves for virtual tours as opposed to in-person home tours.

Realtors have seen homes sell within days of being listed, and that has put pressure on buyers to move quickly. It also highlights the importance of finding a home inspector before your search begins as well as a lender who can handle quick closings. Ask around for recommendations, but make sure you have these two important professionals lined up before beginning your search. Doing so will give you a better chance of buying in an unusual time.

• Expect limited inventory.

A high down payment makes buyers look better no matter the state of the economy. An offer with a high down payment looks like a stronger offer, and that can make the difference between winning and losing a potential bidding war.

Buying a home during the COVID-19 outbreak presents some unique challenges to prospective buyers.

• Make the best down payment you can afford.

While home prices are up, many people are holding onto their homes. The NAR reports that total housing inventory at the end of May 2020 was down nearly 19 percent from the end of May 2019. Buyers will have less inventory to choose from, so those intent on buying may need to prioritize what they need in a home and focus on finding properties that can fulfill those needs.

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

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CALIFORNIA 101 Featured Local Realtors

CA 101

CONNECTING BUYERS AND SELLERS

Fred Evans (805) 339-3502 RE/MAX GOLD COAST REALTORS 5720 Ralston Street #100 Ventura, CA 93003 fredevans.com Lic. 00893591

Dennis Guernsey (805) 646-7288 LIV SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY 727 West Ojai Avenue dguernsey@sbcglobal.net dennisguernsey.com Lic. 04992913

Clinton Haugan (805) 760-2092 LIV SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 727 West Ojai Ave., Ojai clintonhaugan@gmail.com sothebysrealtyca.com Lic. 02019604

Sharon MaHarry (805) 766-7889 KELLER WILLIAMS® Broker Associate 805Properties.com Lic. 01438966

Donna Sallen Realtor® (805) 798-0516 RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors donnasallen.com donna4remax@aol.com Lic. 01488460

Patty Waltcher (805) 340-3774 LIV SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY 727 West Ojai Avenue pattywaltcher@mac.com pattywaltcher.com Lic. 01176473

Erik Wilde (805) 830-3254 LIV SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY 727 West Ojai Avenue erikw@west.net wilde-wilde.com Lic. 01461074

Larry Wilde (805) 640-5734 LIV SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY 727 West Ojai Avenue lwilde@west.net wilde-wilde.com Lic. 00521627

Christopher Williams (805) 798-1776 LIV SOTHEBYS INTERNATIONAL REALTY 727 West Ojai Avenue chriswilliamshomes@gmail.com livsothebys.com Lic. 01950672

California 101 Real Estate Guide

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Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

Wilde

Larry 805.640.5734

Erik 805.830.3254

Impeccable Rancho Matilija Estate | 3+ Acre of Park Setting | $2,950,000

SOLD

East End Ojai Craftsman | $1,800,000 1615McNellRoad.com

Downtown Ojai | 2000SF Village Mixed Use Adjacent to Farmer’s Markets | $950,000

Commercial Lot in Ojai $375,000

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

Ojai Avenue Lot For Sale $325,000

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Modern Ranch in Downtown Ojai $7,900,000

IN ESCROW

East End | Spectacular Views “Rodney Walker” Pedigree | $2,950,000

Heart of Ojai | Impeccable Substantial Upgrades | $1,149,000

Downtown Ojai Church For Sale Approximately 4000 SF | $1,295,000

IN ESCROW

Los Arboles Condo | massive Upgrades adjacent to Libbey Park

2+ acre Oak Studded lot with water in Rancho Matilija | $549,000

727 W. Ojai Ave. - Ojai - CA 93023 - Larry - 805.640.5734 - Erik - 805.830.3254 wilde-wilde.com - lwilde@west.net - erikw@west.net California 101 Real Estate Guide

Larry Wilde DRE:#15216270 - Erik Wile DRT:#01461074

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Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

CALIFORNIA 101 Featured Property

CA 101

Fabulous And Charmingly Inviting 3860 GRAND AVE., OJAI, CA 93023

Photos by Chad Jones Photography, Inc. • www.ChadJonesPhoto.com

This two-story Victorian estate is nestled in the magical East End of Ojai. Surrounded by organic orchards and meticulous landscaping, this home is filled with Southern Charm. The wrap around porch looks out to the gardens, as the country kitchen

Represented by Donna Sallen — RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

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CALIFORNIA 101 Featured Property

CA 101

and breakfast nook looks out to the pool and tennis court. This relaxing and inviting estate is truly elegant.

Offered at $3,620,000 Perfectly situated nearby are the spacious guesthouse, separate cottages, and a writer’s studio creating plenty of living space for friends and family.

(805) 798-0516 – donnasallen.com California 101 Real Estate Guide

Lic. 01488460 11

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

CALIFORNIA 101 - Helpful Selling and Buying Points

CA 101

How agents and sellers can work together

Photo submitted

Selling a home can be stressful.

Despite this, 5.51 million existing U.S. homes were sold in 2017, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. In many cases, homeowners choose to work with real estate agents to facilitate the process of listing, showing, and selling their homes.

Real estate agents are valuable assets.

Agents have neighborhood knowledge, are educated in pricing trends, can filter phone calls or emails from buyers who aren’t serious, and can organize all of the people necessary for a closing. Real estate agents provide many services that the average person may not have the time nor the experience to handle. When selecting an agent to sell a home, homeowners may not understand that the terms real estate agent and REALTOR® are not interchangeable. Although both must be licensed to sell real estate, the main difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR® is the latter is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR ensures that members subscribe to a certain code of ethics. There are many qualified agents, but an agent cannot do his or her job well without some help on the part of the homeowner.

These tips can make the process of selling a home go smoothly.

• Price the home correctly.

Homeowners should trust the agent’s ability to price a home for the market. Everyone wants to get the most money possible, but listing the home for more than it’s worth may cause it to sit unnecessarily for several weeks or months, which could raise red flags among potential buyers.

• Market the home.

A real estate agent will list the home via a multiple listing service (MLS) on a private website, in newspapers, and wherever else he or she feels is pertinent. Homeowners can share the listing via social media and word of mouth to help increase the chances of selling the home.

• Be available.

Limiting the time an agent can show the house to potential buyers is in no one’s best interest. Sellers should be ready Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

and willing to open their homes, which is the best way to make a sale. An agent may suggest a lock box so the home can be shown when homeowners are not on the property.

• Make suggested renovations.

Agents know which features can make or break a sale.

Homeowners should be amenable to certain suggestions, such as neutral paint colors, removing personal effects, and clearing clutter.

• Give recommendations.

Real estate is a commission-based industry. Agents often tirelessly put in hours and only reap rewards if the house is sold. A homeowner who was satisfied with an agent can then recommend that person to friends or family.

By working with real estate professionals, homeowners can sell their homes quickly.

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Hike a lot?

Clinton Haugan

Give a little!

If you hike in Ojai, you’ve probably hiked our trails.

OVLC has permanently protected 2,300 acres of open space and maintains 27 miles of trail for all to enjoy.

This is all done with donations from you—our community.

Only one realty brand holds the keys to your most exceptional home and life.

“I’ll work just as hard for you and your family, as I do for my own” 805.760.2092 | livsothebysrealtyca.com | DRE# 02019604

LEARN MORE AND JOIN US: OVLC.ORG

OJAI’S ARCHITECTURAL GEM. Classic MidCentury Modern home designed by Chalfant Head & Assoc. with studio, pool, spa, outdoor kitchen in the spectacular East End.

Sharon MaHarry | Broker Associate (805) 766-7889 805Properties.com California 101 Real Estate Guide

DRE # 01438966

Great Rates Award-Winning Service 13

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

447 Burnham Road | Oak View

Offered for $629,500

Charming 2 bed, I bath cottage on approx. ½ acre in Oak View. Set up for horses with 3 corral areas, large paddock, tank room and storage shed. Has 1+ car garage, work bench, storage room and guest room or office over garage. Room for RV, huge covered patio, fenced and mountain views.

Dennis Guernsey

805.798.1998 DRE 04992913 dguernsey@livsothebysrealty.com © 2020 LIV Sotheby’s International Realty. All rights reserved. All data, including all measurements and calculations are obtained from various sources and has not and will not be verified by Broker. All information shall be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. LIV Sotheby’s International Realty is independently owned and operated and supports the principals of the Fair Housing Act.

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

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CALIFORNIA 101 - Helpful Selling and Buying Points

CA 101

How to cut energy costs this summer

Photo submitted

Summer is a season of rest and relaxation. Warm air and abundant sunshine often inspire a laid back feeling that lasts until the leaves begin to fall off the trees in early autumn. But summer also can be hard on homeowners, particularly in regard to their monthly energy bills.

As summer heats up, energy bills may rise right along with the mercury in the backyard thermometer. Warmer temperatures outside compel many people to rely more and more on their air conditioners, leading to a spike in energy bills. Fortunately, there are ways to lower summertime energy bills without sacrificing comfort on hot days and nights.

• Upgrade your insulation.

People who own their homes can conduct an inspection of their home’s insulation to see if it can be upgraded. Direct Energy, which provides energy to more than four million home and business customers across North America, recommends sealing any drafts around windows or doors with weather stripping or spray foam. Sealing drafts can ensure cool air stays inside the home on hot days, potentially preventing homeowners from having to run their air conditioners on full blast to keep their homes cool.

• Upgrade your thermostat.

Homeowners who don’t already have a smart thermostat can install one to help lower their energy costs. The Alliance to Save Energy notes that such thermostats can help homeowners optimize their home’s energy usage. Smart thermostats allow homeowners to control the climate in their homes remotely while also showing homeowners their California 101 Real Estate Guide

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energy consumption in real time. Smart thermostats can show homeowners just how long it takes to cool a home, allowing homeowners to keep their air conditioners off while no one is home but still ensuring the home is comfortable, and that no energy was needlessly wasted to make it so, when they arrive home at night.

• Reconsider how you use your appliances.

Bankrate.com notes that washing machines and dishwashers consume the same amount of water and energy whether these appliances are full or not. Wait to use washing machines and dishwashers until you have full loads. This provides more bang for your buck. In addition, hand-dry dishes and hang clothes on a backyard clothesline to save even more energy.

Energy costs tend to rise when summer hits full swing. But a few simple measures can help homeowners cut costs without sacrificing comfort.

Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

Patty Waltcher 25 ye a r s o f e x p e r i e n ce m a tc h i n g

p e o p l e a n d p ro p e r t y i n t h e O j a i Va l l e y

E A S T E N D S PAC I O U S N E S S On 40 acres, this magnificent East End estate has panoramic views of the Ojai Valley. The main structure features a great room with vaulted ceilings, a huge family room and a large eat-in farmhouse kitchen. The property includes a sauna, a wine room, a 75 ft infinity pool, a 4-car garage, a guest suite, an EV charging station, horse corrals, solar and a well. Beautifully landscaped and built with green materials, this is a truly unique property 2661LaderaRdOjai.com Offered at $5,400,000

I will help you discover the home that brings peace to your mind and heart ( 8 0 5 ) 3 4 0 -3 7 7 4 ~ pa ttywa ltc her. c om Ventura County, CA – August, 2020

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