Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Realtors,The seasonal lull has created an increase of active listings throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.  Our inventory has grown to 525, much higher than the lows of a year ago but well below the 1,600 that once existed.  Homes are staying on the market longer than last year, considering that prices have risen about 15% this is quite understandable.  Our weather has been incredibly beautiful so I am anticipating an increase in buyer activity every week for the next 8 months.  We are at that time of year that home buyers should find a home before the rush and home owners should prepare their homes in order to list during the peak selling season.  Dani & I work on your schedule so let us know when you would like to get together.  We are reachable througho... 03/18/2014

Understanding the Duties & Responsibilities of Escrow: (Information shared by Glenoaks Escrow) The escrow process can be a complicated and often technical necessity of buying and selling real estate. Understanding the various duties and functions of the escrow can assist all parties in ensuring a successful and timely transaction. Escrow officer duties and responsibilities are as follows: Receive and hold buyer's funds in a non interest paying trust account during escrow. Read and comply with all agreements as detailed in the Purchase Contract and Joint Escrow Instructions. Follow mutually signed, written instructions agreed upon by buyer and seller during escrow. Prepare Escrow Instructions, Grant Deed, Estimated Closing Statement and any documents required to clear title or required b... 03/13/2014

Dani & Tony Lewis Wish You a Happy Easter!   On the Third Day He Rose From the Dead "Rejoice!"   Easter Sunday April 20, 2014 "The Easter Story" on The Children's Chapel Good Friday Services 12, 2, 4, 6PM at College of the Canyons April 18, 2014 Easter Sunday Breakfast 8 AM Service 9 AM College of the Canyons April 20, 2014 Stevenson Ranch, Ca. at Rioux Park "Easter Egg Hunt" March 28th Eggstravganza at Saugus Central Park  5th Annual Splash & Dash Easter Egg Hunt Santa Clarita Aquatic Center April 19, 2014 Easter Brunch at The Paseo Club Easter Sunday March 31st Easter Brunch at Buca Di Beppo in Valencia, Ca. April 20, 2014 Larsen's Steakhouse Valencia Easter Dinner Reservations April 20, 2014 Black Angus Steakhouse in Valencia, Ca. Easter Dinner Reservations 2014 Easter Brunch & Dinn... 03/07/2014

02/24/2014

Dear Clients & Friends, Hope all is well with you and your family!  It looks as though the home buying season is beginning earlier than usual due to the lack of rain or winter this year.  We've just take a new listing in Saugus, a one story home with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths.  It's priced at $380,000 and there is no Mello Roos or HOA Fee.  The school that is designated is James Foster Elementary School which happens to be rated highest in Saugus.  Let me know if you would like to see this or any other homes at this time.  We are including a link to the Virtual Tour.  Please share with family and friends and by all means do recommend us to those you know looking to sell or buy a home.  They will have the same 100% dedication that you have known from us!27633 Santa Clarita Road, Saugus... 02/21/2014

                       I keep seeing this question asked on popular real estate sites "What's the best way to find a Santa Clarita Realtor?" Where does a home buyer or home seller find a Santa Clarita Realtor nowadays? Most of you would agree it's the internet. With this blog I took the approach as you the consumer, the one who is looking to hire a Realtor in Santa Clarita. When starting your online search you're most likely to visit Google, Bing or Yahoo and enter the most popular search phrases is "find a Realtor in {insert your city here}".  Click enter and a wide variety of websites are there for you to choose from but which links will you click?  With so many real estate websites on the internet jockeying for the top position it's no wonder why it's so confusing for you as a home b... 02/10/2014

Love, Love, Love... Dani & I met in 1975, Married in 1977 & We know that Love is all there is! Santa Clarita Flowers Newhall "Floral Designs by Celebrate" Delivered until noon on Valentine's Day! See's Candy in Valencia at 24325 Magic Mountain Parkway 661-259-2168 See's Candy "Valentine's Day Gift" Selections Santa Clarita Flowers Open Valentine's Day 4AM - 9PM! "Sees Candy Valencia, Ca." Open Valentines Days 24325 Magic Mountain Pkwy 8AM - 9:30PM! "Edible Arrangements" Santa Clarita 23023 Soledad Cyn Rd, Saugus 91350 Valentine's Day Restaurants open in Santa Clarita February 14, 2014 Welcome to Valencia "The Chop House" Open/No Reservations Valentine's Day 2014 Valencia "Buca Di Beppo" Valentine's Day Reservations 2014 Valencia "Larsen's Steakhouse at the Mall" Valentine's Day Reserva... 02/08/2014

Are you're thinking about selling your home in Santa Clarita? Here's some great tips that we suggest to our clients at our listing presentation. Your Total Home Organizing and Decluttering Guide   Kitchen ideas, bathroom ideas, and more ∨Consider a versatile murphy bed when looking for guest bed furniture, find well-designed task chairs, and work with a contractor in your area to create a fun yet functional home office.Light up your living spaces with recessed lights, designer chandeliers or even a row of pendant lights. ^^^Use the right or left arrow found at the bottom left corner on the slide show window it moves the sides. Remember when you were looking to buy your home in Stevenson Ranch, Valencia, Newhall, Saugus, Castaic or Canyon Country? You made a list of wants, needs and mus... 02/05/2014

       The Ricco Sells Homes team has built a great reputation in the Southern California real estate community, known for being real estate marketing experts. We understand today's sophisticated home sellers deserve more then just a yard sign, advertising in an outdated Homes and Land publication or relying on a brokerage website to sell a home in today's real estate market. According to the National Association of Realtors, 9 out of 10 home buyers start their research online. In today’s high tech, fast paced real estate market it’s crucial that you hire a real estate team who knows and understands the importance of showcasing your property for sale on the internet.  Savvy digital house hunters start their search on the internet looking for information about a community, its amenities,... 02/01/2014

Inventorty of Active Listings in the Santa Clarita Valley: Valencia - 148 Stevenson Ranch - 31 Castaic - 35 Saugus - 83 Newhall - 65 Canyon Country - 114 Total in the Santa Clarita Valley - 476 Homes Priced under $400,000 - 186 Homes Built 2000 or Newer - 191 Condos or Town Homes - 148 Valencia Westridge - 15 Valencia Woodlands - 7 Valencia Summit - 2 Valencia Bridgeport - 10 Valencia Creekside - 7 Valencia West Hills - 12 Valencia West Creek - 8 Sand Canyon - 17 River Village - 4 Bank Owned Homes - 9 Short Sales - 47 There is a shortage of homes for sale in most areas of the & Santa Clarita Valley. The lack of Bank Owned & Short Sale Listings has lead to a quick recovery of home prices. Call, Text or Email us to List or Buy your New Home anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley! Your Frie... 01/25/2014

Let's say you walk into a store, any store, and want to buy something.  The person at the counter has a set number of items to choose from and their job is to sell you one of the product.  Their job is to help you purchase an item that is in their market. A Realtor is a licensed professional that is obligated by law to put your best interest and needs above any and all other considerations.  This obligation is called Fiduciary.  This is the type of commitment that a Lawyer or Doctor has to their patient or client. Simply put a sales person has a job which is fullfilled by selling you something. A Realtor has an obligation to serve your best interest and look out for your best interest. Respectfully, Tony Lewis * RE/MAX of Valencia Cell - 661-510-7975 www.TonyLewis.com tonyglewis@yahoo.com 01/24/2014

The Gregory Real Estate Group is pleased to announce, with the help of a $1000 grant from the Alison Lewin First-Time Homebuyers Fund, our friend and client Nick Mercado just purchased his very first Santa Clarita home! We have represented many first time home buyers over the years, but receiving this grant makes this transaction memorable, and so very special. This was the first time one of our first time Santa Clarita home buyers received a $1000 grant from the Alison Lewin First-Time Homebuyers Fund! We are all so grateful Nick was fortunate enough to receive the grant and it helped make the transaction possible. On behalf of my client Nick Mercado, iRealty Valencia, and my team at the Gregory Real Estate Group, we extend a warm and heartfelt THANK YOU! Thank you to Alison's family,... 01/23/2014

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Realtors, We're at the cusp of the annual change from a buyer's market to a seller's market.  Homes have been sitting on the market unsold much longer than at any time in the past two years.  Buyer's have noticed this and responded by waiting for prices to drop or the holiday season hangover to end.  This is not a new phenomenon though.  For some reason, year after year, buyers wait until competition grows and the media expresses the shortage of listing as well as the multiple offer situation before deciding that it is time to buy a home.  There is less than a month left before the market turns.  Let's meet to find your home while you have the advantage.This would be a great time for us to meet to discuss the value of your home.  Home Owners have more equi... 01/19/2014

New Year's Eve in Santa Clarita Los Angeles & Southern California 2014 *** Count Down to the New Year 2014 in Santa Clarita *** Fillmore & Western Railway Co. "21 Years & Older New Years Eve Party Train" New Years Eve at 8PM *** Simi Valley at Reagan Library "New Year's Eve Celebration" 8:00PM - 1AM *** 5th Annual Cleopatra's 2014 New Years Eve Ball December 31, 2013 *** Hollywood at the House of Blues "Goo Goo Dolls" December 31, 2013 *** Hollywood "Boulevard 3 New Year's Eve Crystal Ball" New Year's Eve 2013 *** Marina Del Rey "Hornblower New Year's Eve Dessert Cruise" New Year's Eve 2013   *** Newport Beach "Hormblower New Year's Eve Dinner Cruise" New Year's Eve (DJ)   *** Newport Beach "Hormblower New Year's Eve Dinner Cruise" New Year's Eve (Music)   *** Long Beach "2014 Aboard Q... 12/29/2013

    The term “pocket listings” has been cropping up here and there in real estate publications and conversations. If you are buying or selling in today’s market, you need to know what a pocket listing is—and your agent needs to know too. Most of the time when a property comes on the market, the listing agent registers it with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is the primary marketing tool for properties, where online sites such as Trulia and Zillow get their information and where agents get property information as well. Occasionally, however, a property will not be posted on the MLS. These properties are known as pocket listings. These are not to be confused with properties that have not yet come on the market that agents may be aware of. The general consensus among agents is tha... 12/19/2013

Christmas & Holidays Page Santa Clarita Los Angeles & Southern California   2013 New Year's Eve * New Years Day   *** Call Santa Claus "Santa Speaking" Email Santa Claus   *** Valencia "Nancy's Ranch" Cut Down a Christmas Tree *** Castaic Lake "20th Annual Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade" December 7, 2013 *** Christmas & Holiday Boat Parades 2013 *** Follow Santa Claus' Journey starting December 1, 2013   *** Henry Mayo Hospital presents the 33rd annual "Holiday Home Tour" December 6 - 7, 2013 *** Newhall at William S Hart Park "Cowboys & Carols" December 7, 2013 ***   Valencia at Real Life Church "A RealLife Christmas" December 12,  13, 14, 2013 ***  Knott's "Merry Farm" November 28, - January 31, 2014 *** Universal CityWalk "Holidays at Universal CityWalk" Now - December 25, 2013 ***... 12/04/2013

Los Angeles 411: The Gentle Barn, Santa Clarita     This Thanksgiving, as we all reflect on what we are most thankful for in our lives, I invite you to appreciate the intangibles that sometimes escape us during the rush of the season. For after all, the most simple needs of all—feeling safe and loved—is something some only dream about. In fact, for many children and animals across the country and elsewhere, the holidays seem to lack zest as their experiences with neglect and/or abuse overshadow joy. But in sharing the spirit of the season a special place comes to mind; it's a place where hope lives for those less fortunate; it's a place called The Gentle Barn. Located on a picturesque six-acre property in Santa Clarita, The Gentle Barn is haven for horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, sheep, go... 11/27/2013

Dear Family, Friends, & Fellow Realtors, Same Message, Same Time of Year, Different Year!We are in the midst of the best time to be a home buyer.  Hopefully, this year you will decide to buy your new home between Thanksgiving and the end of January rather than waiting until after the holidays.  There are many factors to consider: A Seller willing to show their home during the holiday season is most likely highly motivated to sell their home. Most of the families looking for a home will put their search on hold until after the holiday season. There will be far less competition for home which makes your offer much more appealing to the home owner. Prices will either be lower or more flexible. Interest rates could be as low as they will be once there is a much higher demand for homes. A Ho... 11/24/2013

Thanksgiving Holiday in Santa Clarita * Los Angeles & Southern California 2013   Hanukkah November 27 - December 5, 2013   Christmas & Holiday Boat Parades 2013   "Festival of Trees" at Valencia Town Center Mall November 15 - 24, 2013   Canyon Theater Newhall presents "It's a Wonderful Life"  November 29 - December 22, 2013   William S Hart "Holiday Boutique & Craft Fair November 30 - December 1, 2013   * Fillmore & Western Railway Christmas Tree Train  November 30 - December 22, 2013 * L. A. Auto Show "Open Thanksgiving Day" November 22 - December 1, 2013   * The Hollywood Christmas Parade December 1, 2013 * Long Beach at Queen Mary presents "Chill" November 22 - January 5, 2013 * Long Beach at "Thanksgiving Dinner & A Day at Aquarium of the Pacific"  November 28, 2013  * Big Bear Lak... 11/15/2013

Why is the worst time of the year, often the best time for real estate buyers? The holiday season and the following "worst weather" months are widely considered the worst time of the year for selling or buying real estate. In reality, these distraction-packed months - November to February - carry benefits for determined buyers.   Join the "herd" of buyers who are active during traditional "good weather" home shopping months - starting with the spring frenzy of home buying - and this competition for properties can mean buyers pay more, lose out on good-value listings, and receive less attention from swamped real estate and mortgage professionals.   Get outside the traditional "box" of right times to buy and you'll deal with sellers who are very committed to selling, real estate and mortg... 11/04/2013