The California Association of Real Estate Inspectors describes the home inspection as " ...an independent, unbiased review and report on a home's systems, components and conditions." In California, home buyers are drilled and grilled about having a home inspection when they enter into contract. The purchase contract contains two full pages called the "Buyers Inspection Advisory." Most home buyers are clueless about what the home inspection and how to choose a home inspector. Understanding the home inspection report and deciphering which defects are important and which are not is important. Normally, in California, a termite inspection will be performed on behalf of the seller. This is a separate inspection done by a licensed pest control professional. The termite work is negotiated in t... 06/27/2009

Carol Lee | Coldwell Banker | 818-642-9445 5720 Ingram, Westlake Village, CA Beautiful North Ranch Townhome 3BR/2.5BA Townhouse offered at $729,000 Year Built 1992 Sq Footage 2,382 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 1 sqft HOA/Maint $390 per month DESCRIPTION Reduced $56K from original list price! Lowest price per square foot of current listings in tract. Pride of ownership reflected througout this meticulously maintained end unit townhome in a gated community on private cul-de-sac. Inviting living room with brick fireplace. Artfully updated gourmet kitchen is highlighted with granite counters. Spacious Master Suite features vaulted ceiling with ample natural light. Master bath has tile floors and counters, dual sinks and separate shower and t... 06/27/2009

The June 10th meeting of Daybreakers of Westlake got off to a terrific start with the word of the day, "eccentric." Seasoned Toastmasters as well as "newbies" showed creativity in their communicationn efforts while trying to incorporate the word of the day into their speeches. Seasoned Toastmaster, Shu-Hwei Zimmerman delivered a reading and won "Best Speaker." Dan Yan, a new member, gave his "Ice Breaker" speech. This is always a big step for our new members as it is the first speech they give in the club. Victor Kamont gave an "eccentric" speech out of an advanced manual "The Entertaining Speaker." Our theme was "vacations." Dick Elsley won the "Best Table Topic" ribbon. And the "Best Evaluator" ribbon went to Jim Hoagland. Daybreakers of Westlake is a Toastmaster Club that meets every... 06/15/2009

It was the best of times, It was the worst of times.....This is a tale of Two Condos and truly is a case of "All Things Being Equal" in terms of how Home Staging can GREATLY assist in selling your condo, home or estate.  Well.... almost equal In November 2008, two condos with the EXACT same floor plans were on the market and were just 2 DOORS APART within the condo community in the highly sought after Westlake Village area.  Both had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, were 1,149 square feet, fireplace and both had HOA fees of $270 per month. Condo #1 was actually listed in JUNE 2008                                    Condo #2 was listed on Oct 31, 2008 Condo #1 was actually FARTHER AWAY from                                 Condo #2 was actually listed at                  a busy city street (less ... 06/08/2009

Obstacles in real estate? We've got plenty of them! What profession doesn't have obstacles? They just change from time to time, season to season. We saw homes sales plummet last year and with it, the doom and gloom of the media. Well... let's take a look at the numbers now. April's sales report for California was just released and, from what I see, sales are up. According to the California Association of Realtors, overall in California, homes sales in April increased 49.2 percent. Earlier reports related the fact that over 50% of these sales are attributed to first-time buyers. Unsold inventory decreased in homes with prices ranging up to $750,000, falling between 3-6 months. Last year this price range was falling between 8-10 months out. Pricing between $750-$1,000,000 shows unsold inv... 06/02/2009

Every week, I get calls and/or emails from first time buyers looking to purchase an affordable property here in the Conejo Valley.  For anyone familiar with this particular area, it's a stretch of area that not only encompasses two different counties (Ventura & Los Angeles Counties) but it's also an area that contains some of the more expensive areas in these two counties.  One of the cities that I seem to get asked about the most is Westlake Village.  Prospective buyers who are already renting in Westlake Village will generally want to stay in the area because they either work in the area or they have friends and family in the area that they want to stay close to.  Others have young children and don't want to remove their kids from the phenomenal school district for the area.  As I ref... 05/20/2009

Let me preface this by stating that I don't think you should quit marketing altogether, (NO WAY!) I think you can eliminate some of your more expensive and BROWN marketing, (newsletters, fliers and post card mailing) while it all continues to work together creating a certain form of synergy through cross marketing yourself...just adjust your portions, more email and blog marketing and less of the other, while continuing to cross market your real estate practice.   I was thinking about marketing materials the other day when my old mind (Yes, thoughts still pop up inside my head on the rare morning when I have eaten all my Wheaties breakfast cereal) Writing a blog is one responsible manner in which you can continue with your marketing while being financially and socially GREEN all at the ... 04/30/2009

The Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated a Ribbon Cutting for Best Move on April 16th. Best Move is a family owned and operated moving company with a claim to fame that there will be "ABSOLUTELY NO LAST MINUTE HIDDEN CHARGES." Owners Lynn Maher and Gary Giordano hosted the event. The truck arrived just in time for the Ambassadors to take the customary ribbon cutting picture in front of it. Lynn brought hand-made sub sandwiches accompanied with potato chips, potato salad and all the trimmings. We toasted to their success with fun rhyming poems. Best Move is a local and long distance express moving service. They offer full packing and unpacking service, storage-in-transit, long-term storage. Their hourly rate includes all necessary moving equpment, app... 04/16/2009

 I grew up in a suburb of  Boston.  There was a pond, a few blocks away, that froze over in the winter, and that is where we went ice skating.  It was the stuff of  storybooks.  After school in the winter, we would go and go to the pond.  A lot of the boys played pick up hockey games, the girls would skate, flirt with the boys, and we all did a "crack the whip".                                         I moved out to Southern California when I was in my twenties- I was tired of being cold, and shoveling snow. (And no, I most certainly do not "miss the seasons")    Sunny Southern California is not where I would usually think to go ice skating outdoors.  Yet every winter,  The Lakes, in Westlake Village, has a small, outdoor ice skating rink.   These photos were taken midday, mid-week. but... 12/11/2008

  Carol Lee | Coldwell Banker | 818-642-9445 Open House- Sunday November 16 1-4 PM1039 Via Colinas, Westlake Village, CA Top of the Hill, Greenbelt location! 3BR/2.5BA Townhouse   offered at $425,000 Year Built 1987 Sq Footage 1,332 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Lot Size 1 sq. ft. HOA/Maint $297 per month DESCRIPTION     see additional photos below Fabulous, much desired location on the greenbelt at the top of the hill. Wonderful Westlake Village 3 bedroom townhome in a very popular complex with 3 community pools, 6 spas and tons of mature trees. Walking distance to shopping and movies, and freeway close yet  no freeway noise can be heard from the unit.  Living room opens to large private patio for outdoor entertaining. There is a separate dining area to sit... 11/16/2008

Please keep us in mind for your Palm Springs area referrals. We lived in the Calabasas-Agoura Hills-Westlake area for many years and know there are many prospects there for second homes in the desert area. It works well to include a line like "Let me introduce you to my Palm Springs area Realtors" in your marketing and Blog. By the way, our home in the Sunset Mesa development of Malibu is for lease ($6500 per month). It's a fantastic value. Here's the website URL: http://3711oceanhillway.epropertysites.com/ Looking forward to working with you. Regards, Stephen C. Love & Greysha Gordon-Love (760-668-4460) (760-902-8805) 11/08/2008

LUXURY LIFESTYLE-FEST KICKS OFF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH    Cure in the Canyons - The Luxury Lifestyle-fest for Breast Cancer Research Sunday, October 5, 2008 11am-4pm at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village    Presented by Angeleno Magazine, SHAPE Magazine, Revolution Tea, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village and California Health & Longevity Institute   (LOS ANGELES; September 11, 2008) -  "Cure in the Canyons II," THE luxury lifestyle-fest for Breast Cancer Research will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 from 11am - 4pm at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village to raise funds for innovative medical and clinical research. This luxury lifestyle-fest will be set between sequoia trees and cascading waterfalls and provide an afternoon filled with the best of lifestyle, beauty, wellness, ... 09/30/2008

 Chabad of the Conejo will hold its High Holiday Ser (2008) vices at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel.  The 8000 sq ft Grand Ballroom will turn into a sanctuary for the approximately fifteen hundren adult sand children that are inticpated to join Chabad over the holidays.  The services are open to all Jews. There are no membership fees or prior affiliation necessary to attend services.  Prayerbooks are provided.The large turnout may be attributed to Chabad's growing presence in the Conejo.  Many people think of Chabad as being made up solely of the "super-religious" or orthodax Jews, but it attracts people from all levels of Jewish observance.  The word "Chabad" is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of: chachmah-wisdom, binah-comprehension and da'at-knowledge.  Their ph... 09/22/2008

Many Professional Stagers have been posing the question of "Do I or don't I" partner or work with fellow Stagers in my area?  Here in SoCal I believe that there are quite a few of us that have embraced the fact that, although we may at times be competing for the same business, it only drives the industry forward and betters ourselves amongst the business mindset. Whether you "hire" another Stager to help on a project, or have the karma mindset of scratch-my-back-and-I'll-scratch-yours mentality, it can only help but benefit BOTH parties.  I for one need to send out HUGE thank you's to some of which I have sent referrals to, and whom which have either reciprocated the favors, or personally helped on Staging properties with their own sweat equity. Michelle Minch ~ Moving Mountains Design ... 09/08/2008

World famous chef, Wolfgang Puck has opened a new restaurant in Westlake Village.  The restaurant, Wolfgang Puck L.A. Bistro is at 30990 Russell Ranch road, next to Dakota Steakhouse.Puck, born in Austria, began his culinary training at age 14, and now oversees a virtual empire of  casual restaurants and fine dining, catering services, and licensed products.  He has catered to Hollywood's elite, and some of the industry's prestigious events.Dress code at the Westlake Restaurant is casual, as would fit our laid back Conejo Valley lifestyle.  The restaurant spokesperson states that the average customer check will be $12-$15 for a menu that includes Puck's signature dishes and seasonal specialties.For more information, call 818-597-1902, or visit www.wolfgangpuck.com/bistro.Happy dining, a... 08/05/2008

  WESTLAKE, CA- HISTORICAL SALES DATA-Brought to you by CAROL LEE, AGOURA, OAK PARK, WESTLAKE VILLAGE CA REAL ESTATE I seem to be in a major numbers crunching mood these days.   Which is surprising, given that I am a people person, not a numbers person.  but there continues to be talk of whether we are at the bottom yet (who knows?) and where the market is headed (another who knows?)  So today I decided to look at Westlake Village.  For those of you who are not familiar with Westlake Village, it is an upscale community, that straddles both Ventura and Los Angeles County.  Click here for more information on Westlake Village.I  will let the numbers below speak for themselves.  It seems the hardest hit, price wise, were the smaller homes.  I think it is still too early in 2008 to make any ... 05/31/2008

ABOUT WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA in 1963, the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company bought a 12,000 acre ranch and partnered with the Prudential Insurance Company on the planning and development of a city in the country.  In the late 1960s, early 1970s, the original community of "Westlake", in Conejo Valley, California, was divided and two-thirds of the community was annexed by Thousand Oaks, which is in Ventura County.  In 1981, the remaining third, in Los Angeles County, was incorporated as the City of Westlake Village.Known as an elite and secluded city, Westlake Village is a community surrounding an artificial lake which straddles the counties of Los Angeles and Ventura.   It is considered to be one of the more wealthy communities in the greater Los Angeles, CA area.  There is confusion as ... 03/03/2008

Friday's bond market has opened well in negative territory following stronger than expected employment figures. The stock markets are showing modest losses with the Dow down 2 points and the Nasdaq down 8 points. The bond market is currently down 24/32, which will likely push this morning's mortgage rates higher by approximately .375 of a discount point over yest erday's morning rates.The Labor Department posted November's Employment data this morning, showing that the unemployment rate remained at 4.7% last month and that 94,000 new jobs were added to the economy. Analysts were expecting to see 70,000 jobs and a 0.1% up tick in the unemployment rate.However, the biggest piece of negative news for bonds actually came in the average hourly earnings reading that showed a 0.5% rise in earn... 12/07/2007

Thursday's bond market has opened strong after yesterday's sell off pushed the benchmark yield back above 4.00%. The stock markets are in positive territory with the Dow up 55 points and the Nasdaq up 10 points. The bond market is currently up 23/32, which due to yesterday's weakness will likely improve this morning's mortgage rates by only approximately .125 o f a discount point.Today's biggest news was the first revision to the 3rd Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reading. It showed that the economy grew at an annual pace of 4.9% last quarter. This was a sizable upward revision from the previous estimate of 3.9%, but it also matched forecasts. Accordingly, the data has not had much of an impact on mortgage rates.Also posted this morning were last week's unemployment claims and Oct... 11/30/2007

Thursday's bond market has opened strong following significant stock losses and weaker than expected economic news. The stock markets are down sharply with the Dow losing 225 points and the Nasdaq down 42 points. Bonds are reaping the benefits as investors shift funds into safety, driving the bond market up 29/32. However, due to weakness in bonds late yest erday, this morning's mortgage rates may not show much improvement. But, if bonds can hold onto these gains, we should see downward revisions to rates later today.Today's first report was September's Personal Income and Outlays that showed a 0.4% rise in income and a 0.3% increase in spending. The income reading met forecasts, but the spending portion of the report was slightly weaker than expected. This is good news for bonds and mo... 11/02/2007