Archive for July, 2009

Serious Summer Fun for the Dog Days

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The so-called “Dog Days” of summer take their name from the star Sirius, also known as the Dog Star due to its inclusion in the constellation Canis Major (that is, Big Dog.) This period, generally characterized by sweltering summer heat in many parts of the world, is historically when the star could be seen rising before or with the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. Although this is no longer true due to the slow precession of the equinoxes, the name remains. We in Southern California are fortunate enough to enjoy a rather moderate summer temperature compared to other parts of the country, but nonetheless, we’ve tracked down some dog friendly fun events to help you beat the heat this weekend.

The City of La Habra is hosting its 2nd Annual Dog Days of Summer festival on Saturday, August 1, from 9am to 4pm. Held at La Habra Heights Park (1885 N. Hacienda Road,) the event features canine demonstrations including dog agility, flyball, Frisbee, freestyle dancing and police dogs. Bring your dog and enter to win prizes in competitions including dog tricks, dog costumes, and dog look-a-like. Admission is free and offers fun for the whole family.

If you are looking to enjoy some more canine competition, stop by the Anaheim Petco (430 North Euclid Street) at 9am on Saturday morning. The 5th Annual Petco National Chihuahua Races are touring across the country to find the fastest Chihuahua in America. Arrive at 8am to register your own dog to participate. Prizes include Petco gift cards and, for regional winners, airfare and accommodations to attend the national championship races in New York. Find more details on the Petco website.

If you want to get in on the action rather than just watch, check out the Paws for Cause 5K Dog Run/Walk. The event also includes a 1K Kids Fun Run, dog costume contest, and dog demonstrations. Held on Sunday, August 2 at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, the event kicks off with opening ceremonies at 7:45am and the 5K beginning at 8am. Registration opens at 6:30am, so show up early if you want to participate. Paws for Cause is a nonprofit organization supporting Chaplain Ministries who provide emotional and spiritual support for those enduring hardship or life crises, whether due to abuse, addiction, separation, sickness, disaster or even death. Visit pawsforcauseoc.org for more information.

View Cover Property Preview for August 1

Friday, July 31st, 2009

31551 Table Rock

31551 Table Rock

31551 Table Rock
Laguna Beach

Located on a private road in the community of Laguna Beach, 31551 Table Rock is not your typical beach house. This casually elegant 2 bedroom oceanfront home makes you feel like you’re at a European resort.  Enjoy breathtaking white-water and coastline views from almost all rooms. The private spa is perfect for relaxing while you take in the ocean breezes.

Offered at $5,995,000, this fine home is listed by Nancy Lavigne of Coldwell Banker Newport Beach Coast Highway. Contact Nancy at 949.233.6565 for more information or to schedule a private showing. You can also reach her by email at nlavigne@earthlink.net.

Visit 31551 Table Rock for further details.

Coldwell Banker is Home Sellers’ Top Choice

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

A recent J.D. Powers survey of home buyers and sellers places Coldwell Banker as the nation’s number one brand for home seller satisfaction. The survey, which included more than 2,800 respondents who bought or sold a home between April 2007 and June 2008, took into account four factors: agents, offices, marketing, and additional services. Coldwell Banker ranked number one among home sellers and number two among buyers.

Visit JDPower.com for the full story.

Coldwell Banker has been an industry leader for over 100 years and continues to redefine standards for quality service, innovative marketing and cutting-edge technology in the real estate market. Contact your local Coldwell Banker Orange County office today and experience for yourself the pinnacle of customer satisfaction. Find the Coldwell Banker office nearest you.

 

The Sunday Read: Real Estate Markets Recovering

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

The national economy may still be in peril but real estate markets across the country are showing positive signs of regaining stability and growth. As the National Association of Realtors® reported in a recent press release, Existing-Home Sales Up Again, sales of existing homes rose in June for the third consecutive month.

Although much of the sales increase can be attributed to a high number of foreclosures and declining property values, there is evidence that home prices are working their way back up. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home prices actually rose from April to May: U.S. Monthly House Price Index Estimates 0.9 Percent Price Increase from April to May (PDF.) Conditions nevertheless remain favorable to buyers and potential homeowners are taking notice. As RealtyTimes reports, Buyers [are] Getting [the] Message.

Of course, in a real estate market that seems worlds apart from what we were familiar with only a few years ago, the best way to take advantage of the current situation is to work with a knowledgeable and dedicated real estate professional. Whether you are looking to buy or sell, your local Coldwell Banker sales associate can help you make the most of today’s market to meet your real estate goals.

Putting the Power of the Web to Work for You

Saturday, July 25th, 2009
Coldwell Banker Orange County is proud to announce the launch of our updated Web site at OCViewOnline.com. In addition to browsing the digital version of our weekly View magazine, you can now access a variety of powerful features to better facilitate your search for a new home. An industry leader with commitments to customer service and cutting-edge innovation, Coldwell Banker utilizes the latest in Internet technology to make the process of finding, buying or selling a home as convenient and efficient as possible.

OCViewOnline offers a full-featured and easy to use search engine to help you find local properties and open houses, as well as Coldwell Banker offices and sales associates. You can locate properties on a map, retrieve driving directions, and even generate a customized route to guide your tour of multiple homes. Register for a free account to save your custom searches and favorite homes. You can also sign up to receive weekly notifications when new View issues are published online, as well as e-mail updates of new listings, price changes and open houses that match your search criteria.

Read the full version of the latest View magazine at OCViewOnline and watch the video tours of every property featured on the latest episode of View TV. While you’re browsing the site, don’t forget to check out our company blog for the latest real estate news, company information, community events, featured listings and much more. You can also learn about the variety of services Coldwell Banker offers to ensure your satisfaction and success in your next real estate transaction.

Visit OCViewOnline.com today and experience the future of real estate.

Last Call for Summer Fun

Friday, July 24th, 2009
The official end of summer is still almost two months away, but this weekend is your last chance to enjoy two exciting Orange County activities.

For those who enjoy riding the waves – or just watching – the Hurley US Open of Surfing is a can’t miss event. Now in its fifteenth year, the US Open of Surfing remains one of the world’s most watched surfing events. The event began on July 15 and runs through the 26th. Surf events begin at 8am with the Festival Village opening at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday. Both days feature numerous surfing events throughout the morning and afternoon, and Saturday evening concludes with a variety of live music performances. For more details, visit http://www.usopenofsurfing.com.

If family fun is your thing, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus offers whimsical entertainment for children of all ages. This year marks the debut of a new tour, Zing Zang Zoom, billed as a “thrill-filled, mind blowing circus spectacular.” The show features a combination of magic acts and traditional circus fare, including clowns, elephants, tigers and horses. Performances are held at 3:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday and 1:30pm and 5:30pm Sunday at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Visit http://www.hondacenter.com for venue details and http://www.ringling.com for more information about “the Greatest Show on Earth.”

The Sunday Read: Embark Fearlessly on Your Home Search

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

Home builders are growing increasingly optimistic this summer, with new home starts at the highest level in seven months. The construction of new single family homes rose more than 14 percent in the last month, an increase of a magnitude not seen since December 2004. Furthermore, applications for building permits rose nearly 9 percent in June, pointing towards future growth in the real estate industry. For more details about the recent growth in new housing construction, see the Associated Press story as reported by MSNBC, “Housing Construction Hits a 7-Month High.”

With plenty of homes on the market, newly constructed or otherwise, now is an ideal time to make that purchase you have been considering. While housing prices remain low and a first-time buyer tax break is available through the end of November, buyers across the country are enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take advantage of unprecedented deals.

Before you begin your next home search, make sure to be prepared. The National Association of Realtors® offers a variety of helpful hints for the prospective home buyer in their recent article, “Home Hunting without Fear,” presented by Realty Times.

The best way to ensure a satisfying experience is to work with a professional real estate agent. Coldwell Banker sales associates have the local expertise and global connections you need when buying or selling a home. Use our high-powered search engine at OCViewOnline.com to help you find your next dream home, and when you’re ready to take that next step, stop by your local Coldwell Banker Orange County office.

Coldwell Banker Remains the Leader in Luxury Home Sales

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

It is our pleasure to provide our readership in the LA Times, OC Register and Desert Sun the finest in both Orange County and Desert Communities properties. The best compliments we can receive are our readers’ weekly comments regarding the quality and uniqueness of our marketing and advertising. Thank you for your feedback.

Coldwell Banker is leading the way in inventive and creative strategies to sell our customers’ properties. There is no substitute for great marketing and there is no substitute for View. No competitor big or small can supply this kind of quality advertising. For this reason, Coldwell Banker sells more luxury high-end estate homes in Orange County and Desert Communities than any other competitor.

In addition, we have received many compliments from consumers looking for homes to buy, telling us that they enjoy View magazine and have used View to research and follow open house activity both online and in print. Many have purchased properties from both communities, further supporting our marketing efforts and demonstrating to our clients that there is only one way to advertise your home and that is through Coldwell Banker and our View publications.

We know you have a choice in the residential real estate industry. Thank you for supporting Coldwell Banker.

Big Ideas and Big Fun Abound at the Orange County Fair

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Looking for something to do this weekend? The 119th annual Orange County Super Fair is in full swing, now in its second weekend. Located at the OC Fair and Event Center off the 55 freeway in Costa Mesa, the yearly Fair features a wide variety of attractions, entertainment and culinary offerings. The Fair is open from noon to midnight on Wednesdays through Thursdays, and from 10am to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays until August 9.

The theme of this year’s Fair is “Think. Big.” From big name entertainment to big vegetables in the Farm & Garden competitions, everything about the Fair spells big fun. The flagship attraction for the 2009 Fair is “Al’s Brain – a 3-D Journey Through the Human Brain with ‘Weird Al’ Yankovich.” Free with Fair admission, Al’s Brain features an original 3-D film written by and starring “Weird Al.”

Entertainers performing at the Fair include The Moody Blues, the B-52s, the Steve Miller Band, Alan Jackson, the Black Eyed Peas, Three Dog Night and many more. Other attractions include the all-ages Fun Zone, a carnival, demolition derbies, rodeos and bull riding, racing pigs, shopping, the Russell Brothers Circus, petting zoos, agricultural exhibitions and competitions, visuals arts, livestock, and beer and wine competitions.

The following are just a few of the events taking place this weekend at the Orange County Super Fair:

Comedy Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik – Main Mall Stage – 6:30 & 8:30, Friday - Sunday

SummerFist 2009 – Mixed Martial Arts – Action Sports Arena – 7pm Friday

Stepping Feet – A Dave Matthews Tribute – Main Mall Stage – 7:30 & 9:30 Friday

Tears for Fears – concert, Pacific Amphitheater – 8pm Friday

Peking Acrobatics – Plaza Arts Stage – 5, 7, & 9pm, Friday - Sunday

Unusualist Raymond Crowe – Plaza Arts Stage – 8 & 10pm, Friday - Sunday

FFA Market Swine Showmanship – Livestock Show Ring - 12pm Friday

Anita Baker – concert, Pacific Amphitheater – 8pm Friday

Lucha Libre – wrestling, Action Sports Arena – all day Saturday

Junior Livestock Auction – Livestock Show Ring – 9:30am Saturday

The B-52s – concert, Pacific Amphitheater – 7:30pm Sunday

OC Police K-9 Show – Action Sports Arena – 3pm & 7pm Sunday

Market Awards Ceremony – Livestock Show Ring – 7pm Sunday

General admission is $10 per day. New this year is the $30 Super Pass ($25 for seniors, $20 for children) which allows admission for all 23 days of the Fair, along with carnival and concert discounts. For more information about prices, attractions, events, location and driving directions, visit www.ocfair.com.

Coldwell Banker Hosts Fundraiser for CASA

Friday, July 10th, 2009

4th of July is over, summer is in full swing, beaches are full and tourists from all over the world are enjoying a wonderful summer in Southern California. With each day filled with entertainment and activities, Coldwell Banker wants you to remember that there are those less fortunate who still need our attention. Coldwell Banker is a proud sponsor of CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA is dedicated to providing quality intervention and advocacy services for abused, abandoned and neglected children going through the Orange County court system. Scheduled on July 18th at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club located on the water in Corona del Mar, CASA, along with Coldwell Banker, will be hosting a Bahaman style casino, auction, dinner and dancing event entirely to benefit the kids of CASA.

For more information about this event, please contact CASA of Orange County at 714.619.5141. We hope that this summer, with all the special activities and events in California, that you support children going through the Orange County court system. Some of the proceeds go to school supplies, backpacks, clothes and other necessities that are so badly needed by these children. And, with budget cuts in our state, these items are only available through the generous donations of families and individuals like you. If you cannot make it to the event, please visit www.casaoc.org and click on “Make A Donation.”

Thank you for your generous donations.

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