By Chris B Johnson Realtor,  Moorpark Short Sale Map- Ventura County Short Sale, Moorpark CA – The tax credit expired and everyone turned negative on the housing marketing. One so called expert said we could see headlines about the real estate market crashing again. Another said that the housing market is going to continue it’s decline for another years or two. He referenced an article that showed that mortgage applications dropped by 9.5 percent the first week after the tax credit expired. Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure. I don’t want to apply for the job of “Amateur Economist.” Here are a few examples I found of actual economists getting their predictions wrong. 1. An economist published a book in 1987 that predicted a de... 05/14/2014

    By Chris B Johnson Realtor,  For Homes in Moorpark CA, when you compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 15.3%, or $74,000, That’s the good news. The Bad news is the number of home sales decreased 39.7%. There are currently 127 resale and new homes in Moorpark, including 9 open houses, as well as 84 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The average listing price for homes for sale in Moorpark CA was $779,404 for the week ending Apr 23, which represents an increase of 1.5%, or $11,391, compared to the prior week. Average price per square foot for Moorpark CA was $263, an increase of 11% compared to the same period last year. The median sales price for homes in Moorpark CA for Jan 14 to Apr 14 was... 05/04/2014

    By Chris B Johnson Realtor,  The California Home Owners Bills Of Rights DOES NOT allow Dual Tracking. If a Home Owners Loan is in Active Review Status for a Modification, the home CANNOT be foreclosed on. How do I know if my loan modification application is NOT in an active review status? • If you receive a Notice of Intent to Accelerate Foreclosure, Notice of Default or Notice of Trustee Sale after you have submitted your loan modification application, your modification application is NOT in active review! • If your account representative is requesting additional documents such as bank statements, pay stubs, updated forms, applications, letters of explanation, etc., your modification application is NOT in active review! • If your loan modification has not been approved within 30 da... 05/04/2014

  By Chris B Johnson Realtor,    Why is it so hard and take so long to get approved for a loan modification? Because it is by design! Your loan servicer is financially rewarded to delay and complicate the modification process for as long as possible. In fact your loan servicer is paid thousands of dollars per loan modification application every time you apply which is why you probably have or will end up applying for a loan modification multiple times! What are my chances of being approved for a loan modification on my own? According to the Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office, homeowners applying for a loan modification on their own OR using a HUD certified counselor have less than a 15% chance of being approved for any loan modification.                                 ... 05/02/2014

    By Chris B Johnson Realtor, Ventura County Short Sale HELP!! Moorpark CA – The Stop foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Susan about short sales. Here was Susan’s Question. “My home is scheduled to be going on the courthouse steps in about 2 months. I had thought about short selling, but a friend told me I wouldn’t have enough time to do it. Because of that I didn’t pursue a short sale earlier. Recently I decided to look into it further. It looks like a good option compared to foreclosure. My question is this. Do I have enough time to short sale my house, or is the foreclosure already too far along? Please let me know. Sincerely, Susan.” Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure. Here was our answer. Susan, we c... 05/01/2014

  By Chris B Johnson Realtor, If you are renting, this could be your time to buy. There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage – either your mortgage or your landlord’s. Ventura County Home Sales For Last Month were 26.9 percent below the average number of sales – 24,115 – the lowest since 1988. Sales haven’t been above average for any month in more than seven years. We see multiple reasons for this: The inventory of homes for sale remains thin in many markets. Investor purchases have fallen. The jump in home prices and mortgage rates over the past year has priced some people out of the market, while oth... 04/28/2014

  By Chris B Johnson Realtor,    In Moorpark CA, the median home sales price increased 15.3%, or $74,000, and the number of home sales decreased 39.7%. There are currently 130 resale and new homes in Moorpark, including 6 open houses, as well as 85 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The average listing price for homes for sale in Moorpark CA was $779,404 for the week ending Apr 23, which represents an increase of 1.5%, or $11,391, compared to the prior week.   Market View for Moorpark     Average Listing Price   $779,404         for week ending Apr 23                       +$11,391         +1.5%   Median Sales Price   $556,500         Jan '14 - Apr '14                      +$74,000         +15.3%   Home Standings   Homes for Sale    ... 04/27/2014

By Chris B Johnson, REALTOR®     Ventura County,  Moorpark, CA: Google+.  “We are doing a short sale with one of the largest nationwide banks. I told them I wouldn’t do the short sale unless they specifically changed their short sale approval letter to completely release me from the deficiency. The short sale negotiate told me that Fannie Mae would not allow them to release the deficiency. I read somewhere that Fannie Mae doesn’t pursue a homeowner after a short sale. I don’t know who to believe. What do you think? Steve.” Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure. Here is the answer to Steve’s Question. Steve, in my opinion, you are being lied to by the people at the bank. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not pursue deficiencies in mos... 04/23/2014

  Easter at Underwood Family Farms (click here) 3370 Sunset Valley Road (map) Moorpark     April 12th thru April 20th 9:00am to 6:00pm     Every day this week up to and including Easter Sunday there is great fun and entertainment for the entire family at the Underwood Family Farms.   There are many activities and fun things planned for each day. The Easter Bunny will be there at his Easter House for pictures with the young ones ... and oldsters alike; a great opportunity for a special Easter Family Picture. (DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA!!) There is an animal show and tractor-drawn wagon rides, an Easter labyrinth, hay pyramid, Finger Funnies games, kids corral, bee barn, and many, many more for the admission cost of only $6!     There will be tickets available for additional Easter activiti... 04/16/2014

  Last Weekend of the Month Great Events Taking Place …     MOORPARK   OCTOBER 27, 2013   34th ANNUAL ROAM’ N RELICS CAR SHOW     Old Town Moorpark 233 High Street (Map)   7:00am to 3:00pm   This is a great event that benefits local charities. It is free to the public and offers vast enjoyment as you stroll through viewing all the classic cars … great memories brought back to mind. In addition to the car show, there will be vendors of many sorts – food, event t-shirts, dash plaques, posters and much more. In addition, there will be awards for various classes of cars and a major raffle. If interested in entering your car in the show, it is open to all pre-’74 vehicles and must pass NSRA inspection. For further information call 805-583-2965 or visit www.roamnrelics.com. Hope to see everyo... 10/24/2013

  MOORPARK COUNTRY DAYS PARADE and STREET FAIR           Saturday, October 5th 10:30am to 3:00pm     What a gala event this will be put on by the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Moorpark and the Country Days Committee. It will be presented on High Street between Moorpark Avenue and Spring Road (Map).   Country Days begins with a Parade at 10:30am; immediately followed by the Street Fair at 11:30am. This year’s theme is American History. Don’t be surprised if you see some exciting historical demonstrations during the parade.  Bring the family and join your neighbors and friends applauding and shouting as the parade passes by.  Nothing more exciting than a parade!   There will be local vendors for your enjoyment, different foods to choose from, crafts, a children’s villag... 10/04/2013

This week the median list price for a single family home in the city of MOORPARK, CA is $642,000.00  The Market Action index has been trending down lately, while days-on-market is climbing, providing mostly bearish signs for the market.     Supply and Demand:  The market has not shown strong directional trends in terms of supply and demand.   However inventory is sufficiently low to keep us in the Seller's market zone and prices have been moving upward as evidence.     Carmela's mission is not only to SELL your home--QUICKLY--but to do what's best for your bottom line; that means selling your home for MORE. Location is important but to get top dollar for your home pricing it right, professional salesmanship and aggressive marketing is required. When experience matters, take advantage of... 09/19/2013

The median list price for a single family home in the city of Moorpark, Ca this week of September 9th 2013 is $649,000.00  Inventory has been decreasing lately but the Market Action Index is falling also. With days-on-market climbing, these are relatively negative implications for the market. Supply and Demand: The market continues to get hotter.  More sales demand and fewer homes listed have contributed to a relatively long run of increasing prices.  Current supply and demand levels show no signs of prices changing from their current trend. Carmela Jacobs is an ethical California Real Estate Broker with over two decades of experience helping hundreds of families make the right move. As a full-time Realtor she specializes in relocation, homes sales, luxury listings, hyper-local markets ... 09/12/2013

 A Hand Up Not A Hand OutHabitat for Humanity  Ventura County strengthens communities and fosters hope by bringing people together to build simple, decent, sustainable and affordable homes in partnership with low-income families or individuals.  We offer a hand up, not a hand out, by providing a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a long-term investment for your future.Eligibility Requirements:Applicants must meet one or more of the following housing situations to qualify: Living in substandard housing – structurally unsound or dilapidated housing; broken plumbing; faulty wiring, poor heating, leaking roof, etc. Cost-Burdened – rental payments are 33% or more of your total income. Overcrowded – adult and child/children share a bedroom; more than two children share a bedroom; two chi... 08/24/2013

Moorpark Farm Center:   Bring the entire family, young & old, for a fun, educational day "out on the farm."  Children love it!  For your convenience, there a number of pull-wagons to transport your "prize pickings" and/or  children from the field to the Farm Market area.    Cost $3.00 admission fee to our Farm Center Monday - Friday and $6.00 on weekends and holidays.  Admission to the Farm on weekends during the Fall Harvest Festival is $12.00.   Location 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark, CA (view map)Contact 805-529-3690 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (during daylight savings time)9:00 am - 5:00 pm (during standard time)   Weekend admission includes a tractor-drawn wagon ride to the fields.  Most picked items are priced by the pound.  For more information on our admission, please click here. It'... 07/27/2013

  VENTURA COUNTY BLUES FESTIVAL Moorpark College       7075 Campus Rd, Moorpark, CA   Saturday, April 27th 10:00am to 7:30pm     What a fantastic day and evening is planned for your entertainment all to benefit the American Diabetes Association.   It’s the 8th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival (formerly known as the Simi Valley Blues Festival) emceed by the renowned Mickey Jones and featuring the legendary Johnny Rivers. In addition, Savoy Brown, Kenny Neal, Doña Oxford will appear; along with Preston Smith and the Crocodiles, and Michael John and the Bottom Line.   Johnny Rivers – 4:10pm to 5:40pm   Savoy Brown – 2:20pm to 3:50pm   Kenny Neal – 6:00pm to 7:15pm   Doña Oxford – 1:00pm to 2:00pm   Preston Smith and the Crocodiles – 12:00pm to 12:45pm   Michael John and the Bottom Line... 04/24/2013

  The City Of Moorpark Presents       Moorpark Arts Festival At   High Street Theater   Saturday, April 27th 10:00am to 4:00pm     Moorpark is presenting once again its annual Arts Festival at the historic High Street Theater. Come join in with everyone to celebrate the arts, music, theatre, and visual arts of our community, plus much more. Admission is FREE!   If you care to participate and be a part of the arts presented, visit the sponsor website at: http://www.moorparkartsfestival.com/ArtFestivalSponsorshipPacket2013.pdf   or call 805-517-6300.   This is going to be a day of superb enjoyment!   Click herefor directions to 45 High Street, Moorpark, CA.   04/20/2013

Below is the illustration of the Moorpark Real Estate Market Report for February, 2013. February, 2013 shows that the Moorpark Single Family Home average sold price has appreciated 7% since last year and the median price rose 8% for the same time period. In fact, looking at the illustration below, one can see the average sales price and the median sale price did better in February, 2013 than they did for the years 2010 & 2011. The price appreciation is due to low inventory levels, in most cases creating multiple offers pushing prices higher and the very attractive low interest rates. Currently, there are only 35 Single Family Homes for sale in  Moorpark, and that translates to just over a month of inventory which by definition of the Market Absorption Analysis model would put Moorpark S... 03/27/2013

Below is the illustration of the Moorpark Real Estate Market Report for January 2013. This illustration shows that the average list to sales price consistently rising, which means in most cases for a well priced Single Family home in Moorpark, there is little room for negotiations, especially in the lower price range.The month of January, 2013 shows a dip in the price appreciation but this is due to 17 of the 21 homes sold were priced under 550K, this lowers the average price. If we compare January 2012 to January 2013, prices increased by 7%.Inventory for Single Family Homes in Moorpark remains very low, especially in the lower price ranges.  Currently, there are only 26 Single Family Homes for sale in  Moorpark, and that translates to a months of inventory which by definition of the M... 02/25/2013

Moorpark’s Historic High Street Arts Center   Presents   ‘AIDA’ The Timeless Love Story       February 9 – March 17, 2013     This is an adaption of an original opera by Giuseppe Verdi that was recreated by Elton John and Tim Rice back in the late 1990s taking the operatic score and converting it to a contemporary rock musical. The new version played a long-stay period on Broadway earning not only great reviews, but both Tony and Grammy awards.   The High Street Arts Center production is being directed by Shawn Lanz; music direction by Nick Newkirk, and choreography by Arryck Adams and Tami Keaton.   Performances are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. This show will deliver one of the most enjoyable musical entertainments you will ever experience.   Show times are: Fridays and Satu... 02/09/2013