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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Power Outage June 8th for signal repair

Power outage at traffic signal June 8 could cause some traffic delays


Southern California Edison on June 8 will repair the traffic signal at Aliso Creek Road and Windsong, causing a power outage at the signal and some traffic delays.

The intersection will be controlled by stop sign from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the utility repairs a power malfunction that occurred a couple of weeks ago.

For more information, call 1-800-611-1911.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

We have some of the nicest flowerscapes in town.

This is such a pretty display of flowers. It's by the Shea Homes Vantis models just off of Aliso Viejo Parkway and Grand. I love walking the dogs around here in the morning.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Would you like to support a Dog Park in Aliso Viejo? Please vote .. details below.

PetSafe is holding a contest for citizens to show support for a dog park in their community. Please log onto their site at and register to show your support for Aliso Viejo to win $100,000 toward the cost of building a Community dog park.


WWW.barkforyourpark.com




Please share the contest info with other AV residents too!






The contest ends June 1, 2011 (next week).




City
Bark For Your Park


www.barkforyourpark.com

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Today I got a ticket for turning left on Wood Canyon ...

During school hours that were posted somewhere. I saw the famous motorcycle cop who always hides out either on Wood Canyon or Chase looking for people to run the 3 way stop there. Well today he zipped around and parked facing the crosswalk where the kids cross Wood Canyon at Sanborn and I saw him, made a left turn and was shocked to see him pull me over!
I guess I never noticed the no left turn sign. He was nice but still wrote me a ticket and just want to warn my followers.. This is a ticket zone. He is always there looking for someone to write up.. so consider yourself warned!
First ticket in over 30 yrs or more so it's very upsetting to me. Of course I tell myself I'm a Realtor and most likely deserve many more tickets, but still...WHAHHH! Just want to know how much this baby will cost me. Just wished I had the courage to snap his photo and post it here. But you never know, I may get one of my friends to drive me by him one day....

Memorial Day at the Aquatic Center and follow up on Paper Shredding Event last weekend.

Spend Memorial Day at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center



Spend Memorial Day at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and you'll enjoy $3 entry, fun-filled free activities throughout the day, chef's specials from the Oasis Cafe and much more.

The City is gearing up for the May 30 grand event offering the public the perfect "in-town" holiday getaway.


The Memorial Day celebration at 29 Santa Barbara is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and features action-packed games and activities including relay races and pool games; a hula hoop contest; and water balloon toss.


Guests to the Aquatic Center can enjoy recreation and lap swimming; pool parties; daily lunch specials at the Oasis Cafe; cabanas; and lots of fun activities. Seasonal and monthly passes are available for residents who want to enjoy the facilities often throughout the season. Offering fee-based swimming programs, a swim team, activities and more, the facility is a popular venue for families, kids, adults, groups and organizations alike.


The Aquatic Center is conveniently located near Aliso Creek Road and Glenwood Drive, next to the Aliso Viejo Conference Center.


For more information, visit www.alisoviejoaquaticscenter.com or call 949-425-2559.



And a follow up to the Document Shredding Event....


City's Document Shredding and Identity Theft event resulted in thousands of pounds of paper shred, recycled


Roughly 350 cars rolled through Aliso Viejo's Document Shredding and Identity Theft Protection event Saturday, resulting in 22,959 pounds of paper shred on site and recycled at a facility in Santa Ana.


The City's event was designed to protect residents from identity theft and provide a free public service. Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation, and shredding documents with personal or financial information can be an effective measure of prevention.


The service saw an increase by 125 cars from last year's inaugural event, and each car averaged about three to 10 boxes of sensitive material.


Stay tuned to the City's eNews and Twitter for information about future document shredding events.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Market update 4/25/2011 to 5/25/2011

Today we have 278 Active Listings for Sale.

We have 178 in Back up or Pending Status.

We Closed 56 properties in this time period.


We currently have 56 properties for lease in Aliso Viejo.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

So you say you want convenience?

Welcome to my world! We have all the great stores for everyday shopping located just minutes away. Here are some to name a few. I do mean minutes as in 5 to 10 max.


Costco
Walmart
Target
Kohls
Trader Joes
Whole Foods * coming soon
Vons
Ralphs
Growers Direct
Henry's
Walgreens
Stater Brothers
TJ Max, Home Goods
Staples
Pep Boys
CVS
Party City
Old Navy
Barnes and Noble
Aaron Brothers
Regency 21 Theatres including IMAX and 3D
Lowes
Home Depot
CVS

Monday, May 23, 2011

Acorn Park in Aliso Viejo 1 of 21 Parks

 One of my goals is to get a video of all the parks in Aliso Viejo. This is Acorn Park.. off of Chase and Sanborn, or Wood Canyon and Sanborn. It is a very pretty park, adjacent to Oak Grove Elementary. Lots of street parking, and you can park in the school lot when it's not in use.

Anyone feel like Running this weekend?

Memorial Day Half Marathon and 5K May 30



The 13th annual City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon & 5K (formerly called the Saddleback Memorial Half Marathon & 5K) takes place on Monday, May 30 in the cities of Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Laguna Niguel.


The event, which is open to runners and walkers of all experience levels, includes a half marathon (13.1 miles), 5K Run/Walk (3.1 miles) and a Kid's Run (1/2 Mile). The half marathon and 5K both start in front of the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center and finish at the Laguna Hills Community Center. The Kids Races start and finish at the Laguna Hills Community Center.


Aliso Viejo residents should be aware of road closures that will impact parts of the City. The information is available by clicking here.


Aliso Viejo residents who want to cross Alicia Parkway when traveling south on Moulton Parkway, Pacific Park or Aliso Creek Road during the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. on May 30 can use the 73 Toll Road by entering at the Aliso Creek entrance south. (Tolls will be waived during this 2-hour period.)


Participants and spectators are invited to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items to benefit South County Outreach.


Registration and more information is available at www.lagunahillshalfmarathon.com.















Sunday, May 22, 2011

The fountain at Town Center in the Fall

We have such a nice fountain and just wish we could get some local musicians out there in the summer, and an espresso cart and fun like that.

Friday, May 20, 2011

It's Food Truck Friday!


Check it out. Here is a video from the last time. It's every 2 weeks at the Renaissance Club Area.. off of Enterprise. Park in the Structure and enjoy!
Starts at 11:00am.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tomorrow is FREE Document Shredding at City Hall

Just to remind you.. it's SATURDAY AM. STARTS at 8:30.

Document Shredding and Identity Theft Protection Event Saturday

In an effort to protect residents from identity theft and provide a free public service, the City will host a Document Shredding and Identity Theft Protection event on Saturday, May 21.

The City is giving community members an opportunity to have their sensitive records securely destroyed from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the City Hall parking lot at 12 Journey.



Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation, and shredding documents with personal or financial information can be an effective measure of prevention.



Residents and businesses can bring up to 10 standard-file boxes of paper records - canceled checks, pay stubs, credit card statements and more - that will be shredded on-site for free. The boxes of pages can contain staples but must be free of notebooks or other bindings. Staff will also be on hand to answer questions and provide information about identity theft.



For more information about the

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Today is the Soka International Festival

Soka is located on Wood Canyon Drive..

Soka University's 10th Annual International Festival


Date: 05.07.2011

Time: 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

Location: Peace Lake, Founders Hall, Recreation Centeryon Drive. Join the festivities!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Increase in home sales... News from NAR

According to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), March saw another increase in pending home sales, with contract activity rising unevenly in six of the past nine months. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 5.1 percent to 94.1 in March from a downwardly revised 89.5 in February. The index is 11.4 percent below 106.2 in March 2010; however, activity was at elevated levels in March and April of 2010 to meet the contract deadline for the first time homebuyer tax credit. The data reflects contracts but not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months.


"Since reaching a cyclical bottom last June, pending home sales have posted an overall gain of 24 percent and demonstrate the market is recovering on its own," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "The index means modest near-term gains in existing-home sales are likely, which would be even stronger if tight mortgage lending criteria returned to normal, safe standards. The good news is that recent homebuyers are staying well within budget, leading to exceptionally low loan default rates among home buyers over the past two years."


The PHSI in the Northeast fell 3.2 percent to 63.4 in March and is 18.4 percent below March 2010. In the Midwest the index rose 3.0 percent in March to 83.5 but is 16.6 percent below a year ago. Pending home sales in the South jumped 10.3 percent to an index of 110.2 but are 10.5 percent below March 2010. In the West the index increased 3.1 percent to 103.7 but is 4.1 percent below a year ago.


"Based on the current uptrend with very favorable affordability conditions, rising apartment rents and ongoing job creation, existing-home sales should rise around five to 10 percent this year with sales growth of lower priced homes likely to outperform high-end homes," said Yun. "That means the price trend will reflect more homes sold in the lower price ranges."





Now here is some good news for the higher end Real Estate Market

Great News!

Until recently, financing above the conforming loan limits has been unattractive in regards to the interest rates and loan-to-values. The secondary market for these loans is non-existent. Only the largest banks are able to make these loans and put them into their portfolio. Currently the maximum conforming loan amount in Orange County is $729,750.

Since the Southern California real estate market has stabilized, Bank of America no longer considers Southern California a soft market for lending guideline purposes. They have now decreased the interest rates and increased the loan-to-values for both fixed rate and adjustable rate products. We offer both amortizing and interest only terms on the adjustable rate loans. This is a real win for real estate agents working with clients for high-end properties. Here are some examples of what is currently available.

80% to $2,000,000

5.125% 30 Year, 3.625% 5 Year ARM, 4.25% 7 Year ARM

70% to $3,000,000

5.125% 30 Year, 3.625% 5 Year ARM, 4.50% 7 Year ARM65% to $5,000,000

5.50% 30 Year, 4.25% 5 Year ARM, 4.75% 7 year ARM


No Points and No Prepayment Penalties

Not every client has the ability to pay cash for the high-end properties so the much improved jumbo financing terms are welcomed news. While these rates and terms are subject to change, we are able to lock-in the interest rates for the customers at no cost for the necessary escrow period at time of acceptance of their offers.

This information was emailed from Kevin Budde of Bank of America

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Food Truck Fridays in Aliso Viejo!!!! Now that's fun and exciting..

Aliso Viejo Food Truck Fridays


If you drop by the Summit at the corner of Aliso Viejo Parkway and Enterprise between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, May 6, you'll see people dining under a few umbrella-covered tables in front of the businesses at 20 and 30 Enterprise. This isn't a new restaurant but a new destination for gourmet food trucks on "Aliso Viejo Food Truck Fridays."

The event, sponsored by Parker Properties and Roaming Hunger, takes place every other Friday, said Karen Parker.


"We have a lot of tenants in our building and kids and older people drop by for the different cuisine offered by the trucks," she said. "It's just a lot of fun."


Each Food Truck Friday includes three food trucks parked in front of the buildings serving up different fare. Food trucks aren't new, but their popularity has grown tremendously in the past few years. In such cities as San Francisco and Los Angeles, trucks bringing yummy, freshly prepared - even gourmet - delights have become something of a trend, thrilling foodies with their offerings. The lower cost of entry has allowed chefs and restaurant industry insiders to experiment with gourmet-style street food.


On Friday, patrons in Aliso Viejo can enjoy food from Chomp Chomp Nation, which features Singapore Sloppy Joes, Chili Crab Cakes and more; The Flip Truck boasting gourmet sliders such as Ahi and pulled Thai Coconut Jidori Chicken; and Spudrunners, which dubs itself as "OC's best potato truck."


Customer parking is in the structure at 10 Enterprise.

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Document Shredding & Identity Theft Protection Event May 21





In an effort to protect residents from identity theft and provide a free public service, the City will host a document shredding and identity theft protection event on Saturday, May 21.



The City is giving community members an opportunity to have their sensitive records securely destroyed from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the City Hall parking lot at 12 Journey.



Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation, and shredding documents with personal or financial information can be an effective measure of prevention.



Residents and businesses can bring up to 10 standard-file boxes of paper records - canceled checks, pay stubs, credit card statements and more - that will be shredded on-site for free. The boxes of pages can contain staples but must be free of notebooks or other bindings. Staff will also be on hand to answer questions and provide information about identity theft.



For more information about the May 21 event, contact Aliso Viejo City Clerk Susan Ramos at 949-425-2506 or sramos@cityofalisoviejo.com. Information is also available on the City's website at www.cityofalisoviejo.com.

















The City of Aliso Viejo, which incorporated July 1, 2001, encompasses approximately 7 square miles with over 46,123 residents. The City's annual budget is approximately $21 million. The budget is available on the City's website at www.cityofalisoviejo.com. The City supports a thriving business community with companies such as Pacific Life Insurance Co.; United Parcel Service (UPS); Clarient; Valeant Pharmaceuticals; Q-Logic; Lennar Homes; Buy.Com; Fluor Daniel; Pepsi Bottling, Inc.; Shea Homes; the Renaissance ClubSport Hotel; and Bausch and Lomb. Aliso Viejo has 23 parks, vast open space and top-notch amenities including the Aliso Viejo Ranch and the City's new Conference Center and Aquatic Center. The City of Aliso Viejo, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2011, welcomes you to "Experience It All." For more information, visit www.cityofalisoviejo.com.