What are Mello Roos? Mello Roos are taxes, well special taxes actually.  They are levied on homeowners to provide funding for community facilities to enhance that specific community. The new communities of Riverpark and the Seabridge in Oxnard have Mello Roos, which help pay for the improvements to each community. In River Park for example, the Mello Roos pays for the new schools, fire station, infrastructures. The Seabridge community has the water channels among others amenities and benefits to the community that the Mello Roos provides. While property tax is assessed as a percentage of the value of the home, Mello-Roos is independent and could rise or lower and is not subject to Proposition 13. When Proposition 13 came about in 1978, it severely limited the ability of local government... 03/20/2013

  How is the Oxnard Condo Real Estate Market doing?  Let’s look at the Oxnard Condo Real Estate Market as of March 19, 2013.  We will examine the Oxnard Condo Real Estate Market in terms of number of bedrooms and status of each   There are 10 Active Condos on the Market   When this post was written there were only 10 condos available in Oxnard, excluding the beach area.  To buyers, this means one has to be very prepared to make your “highest & best offer” initially because in most cases, there will be multiple offers.   There are 67 Oxnard Condos that have the status of “Contingent Backup”.   This status indicates that the sellers have accepted an offer and it is in the “contingent period”.  This is a typical status for short sales that are waiting for the seller’s lender to approve the... 03/19/2013

Below, is the illustration of the Oxnard Real Estate Market Report for the month of February, 2013.  This illustration shows that the sales price to list price is consistently showing over 100%, this is a result from buyers willing to pay more than list price to get the home.The average sales price for Single Family Homes in Oxnard has appreciated 9.9% in the last year, the median price has appreciated 10% in the last year.  The median price (midpoint price, half the homes sold for more, half the homes sold for less).Inventory levels remain low which is creating a supply and demand situation.  This lack of supply of homes often results in multiple offers resulting in sold prices coming in above list price, if the home is priced correctly in the first place.  We may see some appraisal is... 03/11/2013

The Silver Strand Beach Area in Oxnard is sandwiched between Hollywood by the Sea and the Port Hueneme Naval Seabee Base.  Silver Strand, commonly referred to as "The Strand", is a collection of mostly post-WW II single family homes, some Multi-Family homes, and some larger newer newer homes located directly on the beach. When the name was created as part of the Hollywood Beach subdivision in 1924 it was spelled as one word Silverstrand, but in the Ventura County Coastal zoning Ordinance the name is two words, Silver Strand.  However you want to call it, this eclectic area has a wonderful vibe to it not to mention beautiful beaches.In the Silver Strand community, one will find 2 small commercial areas. The first is located around Roosevelt Blvd and there one will find a collection of sm... 01/23/2013

Below, is the illustration of the Oxnard Real Estate Market Absorption Trend for the month of December 2012. This illustration shows that the average list to sales price was consistently in the high 99% range from 2010 to present.The average sales price for Single Family Homes in Oxnard has appreciated for each timeframe except the month of December, which recorded a slight tip due to lower priced homes selling vs higher priced homes.  The median price is also higher than that recorded for 2010.  The median price (midpoint price, half the homes sold for more, half the homes sold for less) has steadily been increasing.  Inventory levels remain low which is creating a supply and demand situation.  This lack of supply of homes often results in multiple offers resulting in sold prices comin... 01/10/2013

17th Annual Celebration of the Whales – Whale Watching Excursions December 26, 2012 – April 2013 The Channel Islands Harbor celebrates the migration of the Pacific Gray Whale with the 15th Annual “Celebration of the Whales.”  Whale watching excursions to the Channel Islands National Park are offered daily from Channel Islands Harbor.  Island Packers offers half-day trips from December 26 through mid April.  Call 805-382-1779. Channel Islands Sportfishing Center provides excursions from January through April.  Call 805-382-1612. 12/20/2012

Below is the illustration of the Oxnard Real Estate Market Absorption Trend for the month of November 2012.  This illustration shows that the average list to sales price was consistently in the high 99% range from 2010 to present.The Oxnard Single Family Home average sales price has appreciated for each timeframe and is currently 7.4% higher than the average sales price for 2010.  The median price is also higher than that recorded for 2010.  The median price (midpoint price, half the homes sold for more, half the homes sold for less) has steadily been increasing.  In November, the average list to sales price on average registered over 100%, meaning multiple offers pushed the sold price higher than the list price.Oxnard Single Family Homes inventory levels remain low which is creating a ... 12/13/2012

62nd Annual Oxnard Christmas Tree LightingWhen: Fri, November 30, 5pm – 8pmWhere: 500 South C Street, OxnardThe 62nd Annual Oxnard Christmas Tree Lighting takes place on Friday, November 30th starting at 5PM at Plaza Park, 500 South C Street, Oxnard. Ring in the holiday season as The community is invited to watch as downtown illuminates Ventura County’s tallest Christmas tree, 110 feet high! In addition, city officials will be on hand to greet the public and Pacifica High School Choir will entertain with holiday tunes. The evening also includes the first début of the 'Winter Fantasy Music & Light Show’, and a visit from Santa on his sleigh! Attendees can also enjoy sipping on hot cocoa while viewing the festivities. The 2012 Oxnard Christmas Parade takes place on Saturday, December 1st ... 11/30/2012

Below, is the illustration of the Oxnard Real Estate Market Absorption Trend for the month of October 2012. This illustration shows that the average list to sales price was consistently in the high 99% range from 2010 to present.The average sales price has appreciated for each time-frame and is currently 1.37% higher than the average sales price for 2010. The median price is also higher than that recorded for 2010.  The median price (midpoint price, half the homes sold for more, half the homes sold for less) has steadily been increasing.  Oxnard Single Family Homes inventory levels remain low which is creating a supply and demand situation. This lack of supply of homes often results in multiple offers which usually pushes prices higher than list price. This trend should continue into 20... 11/05/2012

    This wonderful Ventura County Townhome offers 3bd/2ba with more 1,200 sq. ft. of living space.   This lovely home is totally move-in ready and is just waiting for the right first time buyer to come along and fall in love with it!!! Minutes from the beach, this wonderful home is the perfect starter home for the right family.  There is no competing with all cash investors either, this home is only available to eligible and qualified, low-median income families who are looking for their first home.     This wonderful 3bd/2ba HERITAGE PARK home offers more than 1,200 sq. ft. of living space and is not some run-down, dumpy REO either.  This is a standard sale with a real live motivated seller.    No more having to overbid for some dump just so you can get your offer accepted.  No more w... 10/28/2012

The Carnegie Art Museum located in Downtown Oxnard is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year.The Greek classical revival building next to Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard has served many unbookish purposes since 1907 — Chamber of Commerce, City Hall offices — but is now devoted to another form of literacy: artistic.Back in 1906,the Industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was busy doling out funds for literacy in 1906, including $25,000 to the Simplified Spelling Board, which aimed to rid the English language of useless letters, e.g., changing "kissed" to "kist." However, it was his donation of $12,000 for a public library in Oxnard that was far more useful.  This library in Oxnard was one of 1,679 such libraries that were built in the United States with Carnegie funds.The Oxnard C... 10/16/2012

Below is the illustration of the Oxnard Real Estate Market Absorption Trend for the month of September 2012. This illustration shows that the average list to sales price was consistently in the high 99% range from 2010 to present.The average sales price did appreciate to almost what homes were selling for in 2010 and the median price (midpoint price, half the homes sold for more, half the homes sold for less) has steadily been increasing.  The most startling fact presented by the data is the amount of Oxnard Single Family Homes for sale, excluding the beach area homes.  Currently, there are only 52 Single Family Homes for sale in  Oxnard , and that translates to approximately .6 months of inventory which by definition of the Market Absorption Analysis model would put Oxnard Single Famil... 10/09/2012

Mrs Olson’s Coffee Hut in Oxnard was named one of the “20 Best Breakfast Restaurants in America” by the editorial staff of LocalEats, described as America’s No. 1 paid dining app and available for iPhone and IPad users.I first heard about Mrs Olson’s when my parents came to visit me from Wisconsin. Seems my father’s brother’s wife’s sister worked there  (real simple someone worked there that had a connection to someone my father knew).  And because of this connection we went to Mrs Olson’s to say “Hi” to this person and that is how I found out about Mrs Olson’s Coffee Hut in Oxnard, oh so many years ago.When I first went there, Mrs Olson’s Coffee Hut was owned by the original owner Corrine Olson, who named it after her mother, Helen. Helen was known for pies, fish and chips, and greetin... 09/26/2012

Below is the illustration of the Oxnard Real Estate Market Absorption Trend for the month of July, 2012.   This illustration shows that the average list to sales price was consistently in the 98% range from 2010 to present, with the last 3 months showing almost 100%!The average sales price did appreciate by approximately .004% in the last 3 months from the prior six months.  And the average list price appreciated .007% in the same period.The most startling fact presented by the data is the amount of Oxnard Single Family Homes for sale, excluding the beach area homes.  Currently, there are only 89 Single Family Homes for sale in  Oxnard , and that translates to less than a months of inventory which by definition of the Market Absorption Analysis model would put  Oxnard  Single Family Hom... 08/13/2012

Are you looking for a larger Single Family Home with 4 or more bedrooms?  Oxnard has 4 bedrooms Single Family Homes ranging in price from $160,000 to $5,500,000.  These homes range in size from 1105 sq ft to 7350 sq ft. In the last 6 months, 288 Single Family Homes with 4 or more bedrooms have sold in Oxnard. The sold price range of these homes is $155,000 to $3,625,000 with the median price coming in at $335,000. Median price is the point where half of the properties sold for more and half sold for less.  The average days on market for these 288 Oxnard Single Family Homes was 98. Interesting to note, of the 288 sold Single Family Homes in Oxnard, 181 were distressed properties, meaning they were either short sales or bank owned properties. Whatever your preference, Oxnard offers many w... 08/06/2012

The Dallas Cowboys are in Oxnard for the next next 3 weeks. The team jet landed at Point Mugu.  Point Mugu is always the Cowboys' first stop. There's a practical reason for that: It's the only airfield in Ventura County that can accommodate the team jet. On Monday, the Cowboys held their first practice in a three-week training camp based at River Ridge field in Oxnard. The local weather is cooperating by providing moderate temps and bright blue skies. Ventura County has been the summer home of the Cowboys for decades, but this is their first full camp here since 2006. They've trained in San Antonio every year since, except for 2010, when they split their training camp between Oxnard and San Antonio.This year will be the seventh time since 2001 the Cowboys have trained in Oxnard. The Cow... 08/01/2012

The 19th annual Oxnard Salsa Festival will be celebrating the food, music and the dance, this weekend in Oxnard at Plaza Park. The Oxnard Salsa Festival will open tonight with a concert featuring Leslie Paula & The Latin Soul Band (7pm-9pm). Gates open at 5:30pm for picnics. Admission is $5 at the site, if you have a large group and want to reserve a table, this can be done online.The Oxnard Festival will feature a variety of salsa performers, so get your salsa dance on.Now lets talk about Salsa the food!  There will be the Salsa Tasting Tent, where you can find fifty different flavors of salsa to sample and buy. From fresh and fruity, sweet and smoky, to mild and scorching hot. It's the region's biggest salsa bar! And when you get your fill of Salsa the food, dance your way over to the... 07/27/2012

Wide expanses of sanding beachfront and occasional dunes makes Hollywood Beach a very desirable area to live. This beautiful oceanfront area of Oxnard is located between the Channel Islands Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. Hollywood beach is a collection of beach homes, townhomes and condominiums located along Ocean Drive. Average home values in Hollywood Beach range from $498,000 to $4,950,000. Nearby are the beach communities of Oxnard Shores, The Colony, Mandalay Bay, Harbour Island, Seabridge, Port Marluna and Westport.Hollywood Beach may get its name from the fact that Clark Gable lived here and threw parties or was it because Rudolph Valentino filmed the movie The Sheik here, although there seems to be some argument as to where the actual beach scenes for the movie were actually film... 07/26/2012

Below is a graph illustrating the Real Estate Activity for Oxnard Single Family Home, including  the Oxnard Beach Area Homes. The sold numbers represent Oxnard Single Family Homes that sold in June, 2012.As you can see, the inventory levels, especially in the lower price range is very low.  This low inventory often creates multiple offers.  Buyers should be prepared to bring their highest and best offer price when looking at purchasing homes in the lower price ranges.In Oxnard, we are seeing less bank owned properties coming on the market and this trend should continue for the foreseeable future.The good news, is most of the lenders and or servicers of short sales have streamlined their short sale process, however it still does take upward of several months, which is why the “under cont... 07/19/2012

The Channel Islands Farmers Market is held every Sunday Rain or Shine.   The Channel Islands Farmers Market is one of Coastal Pacific Farmers’ Markets. At the Channels Islands Farmers market, you find a variety of the freshest produce including fruits, vegetables and crops which are organically grown. Each type of produce is sold to promote a healthy diet for each and local citizen, young or old alike. All goods sold brings you the best of California’s produce, from fresh picked to the finest ripened fruits to green leafy vegetables and to a variety of crops. The Channel Islands Farmers market allows the local farmers to share the current harvest season products and at the same time they preserve the diversity of the California’s agricultural practice. You will find more than just fruit... 06/22/2012