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The Life Option in Rancho Santa Margarita
April 15th, 2008 8:52 AM

       

The Life Option

The town of Rancho Santa Margarita gives home and apartment hunters a chance at the healthiest life their housing dollar can buy. I call it the Life Life Option, because recreation was designed into Rancho Santa Margarita's basic plan from the beginning. and in a big way. Under the plan, over half of the towns 5,000 acres are devoted to open space and a network of recreational facilities which integrate residential neighborhoods. These facilities are designed to make available to residents an exceptional array of activities. Walk around the lake, or bike on some of the most majestic bike trails, or swim in the pools which are throughout the community. And around the town lies a paradise of parklands, baseball, soccer fields or tennis, basketball courts. Taken together, they comprise of marvelous conspiracy of God and man to keep Ranch Santa Margarita's residents living to the fullest.

 


Posted by Margo Murray on April 15th, 2008 8:52 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Housing in Rancho Santa Margarita
April 15th, 2008 7:43 AM

Homes for People in All Stages of Life

Housing in Rancho Santa Margarita is for people with all sorts of needs and preferences. For single people, Married people. Families. People in their youth. Their mid years. Their later years. People at vious income levels and with changing space requirements. Here are apartments for people just starting out. Smaller attached homes for first-time buyers and larger ones for people moving up. And for people with growing families, there are detached homes in a range of sizes. And homes for people whose children have left "the nest".
Rancho Santa Margarita is a town you can live in for life. Starting as low as $200,000 and going up to over $1,000,000. Home prices have always been an exceptional value for orange county real estate.


Posted by Margo Murray on April 15th, 2008 7:43 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Beautifylly Located Rancho Santa Margarita
April 15th, 2008 6:57 AM

Beautifully located. Secluded, yet accessible. Rancho Santa Margarita's setting is a gift of God. For the town sits amidst the beauty of a vast valley of viewlands. 5,600-foot Saddleback Mountain and the sprawling range of the Santa Ana Mountains. The woodlands of the Cleveland National Forest and rolling hills of Coto de Caza. O'Neill Regional Park and Trabuco Creek.
The arroyos and laderas of historic Rancho Mission Viejo. Land with an everpresent sense of size and grandeur.

Yet in location just 8 miles from Interstate 5 and within a very short distance of the 241 Tollroad. In Orange county, one of the nation's most buoyant economies; within access of lively business and commercial centers like Newport Beach and Irvine Spectrum. And of the many cultural, civic and retail facilities throughout the region.
From the town's very beginning, its designers invested its basic plan with a unique "village feel." By devoting over 2,500 acres to parks, plazas, picnic areas, sports fields, bike lanes, jogging paths, greenbelts. Open space designed to give residents what they need to relax to exercise or to simply gather together. It is the Urban Village concept of life and community.


Posted by Margo Murray on April 15th, 2008 6:57 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Taste of Rancho at the Civic Placa April 19th from 4:00 to 8:00
April 7th, 2008 1:10 PM

                

 Saturday, April 19th, 2008, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Bring your family, friends and a big appetite to this free event at Civic Plaza.  Tickets for the delectable tastes will be sold for $1.  Each restaurant booth will have a sampling of their menu available for your enjoyment ranging from $2 - $8.

The Rotary Club of Coto de Caza/Rancho Santa Margarita will host a Beer and Wine Garden at the event.  Try a new vintage or enjoy an old favorite as you mingle with friends and neighbors.

In between tastings, event goers will also enjoy the Go GREEN Expo.  This educational showcase will allow attendees to learn about the products and services offered locally that promote a greener lifestyle.  Join in the fun and get a jump on celebrating Earth Day 2008.  Taking care of the earth is not just a responsibility – it is a privilege. 

The fun continues at 8:00 p.m. with the After Taste – an after party hosted by the Rotary Club at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.  The William Lyon Homes Ballroom will be rockin’ to the sounds of a Disco Band and restaurants will continue to serve their specialty dishes.  For ticket information visit www.rotarydelsol.com.

This event presents a wonderful opportunity for Rancho Santa Margarita residents and those of neighboring cities to gather and celebrate our vibrant community.

Taste of Rancho Sponsorship Opportunities

Taste of Rancho Event Flyer

Food Vendor Participant Application Form

Go GREEN Expo Participation Application Form

After Taste Flyer


Posted by Margo Murray on April 7th, 2008 1:10 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Keyboard Shortcuts Improve Your Efficiency
April 2nd, 2008 4:10 PM

Keyboard Shortcuts
Improve Your Efficiency

PCs are an integral part of our lives. We use them extensively at work and usually end up logging on in the evening as well, to read email and catch up on the day's events.

Since we spend so much of our time in front of the computer, it makes sense to find ways to improve our efficiency. This is where shortcuts come in. By using combinations of keystrokes, you can quickly access several tools without ever having to use your mouse. Most Windows shortcuts may be used for any Microsoft program (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) as well as selected products from other manufacturers.

If you would like to incorporate these shortcuts into your repertoire, try keeping a copy of this list at home and at work. Refer to it daily until the keystrokes become second nature. You'll be surprised at how much time you'll save!

If you have a favorite shortcut or computer trick you would like to share, please let me know! I would welcome the chance to hear from you.

Posted by Margo Murray on April 2nd, 2008 4:10 PMPost a Comment (0)

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resales of U.S. Homes and Condos rose....
March 28th, 2008 7:03 PM
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Boosted by a record decline in prices, the U.S. housing market showed signs of stability in February, with sales of existing homes rising modestly for the first time in seven months and inventories falling, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday.
Resales of U.S. homes and condos rose 2.9% to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 5.03 million, ahead of the 4.85 million pace expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. See Economic Calendar.
It's the strongest sales pace since October. Sales are down 23.8% compared with a year ago.
"We seem to be finding a bottom in home sales even as prices keep falling," wrote Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisers. An economist for Wachovia greeted the news with "cautious optimism."  Listen to the interview with economist Adam York.
Inventories of unsold homes fell 3% to 4.03 million, representing a 9.6-month supply at the February sales pace. Inventories are not seasonally adjusted, but a decline from January to February is unusual, the Realtors said. Read more from the NAR.
Inventories remain too high, but are moving in the right direction, wrote Tony Crescenzi, chief bond market strategist for Miller Tabak & Co. "While still about 1.5 million above normal, when combined with the 200,000 decline in the supply of unsold new homes, it is obvious that the trend in inventory levels is moving more favorable now."
The median sales price plunged to $195,900, down 8.2% from a year earlier, the largest price decline recorded since the Realtors began tracking both single-family homes and condos in 1999. Prices of single-family homes fell 8.7% in the past year, also the most since the records began in 1968.
Since the credit crunch first hit in August, resales have been "stuck" in a narrow range around 5 million, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the real estate agents' trade group.
Sales rose in three of four regions, with the West still lagging. Sales rose 11.3% in the Northeast, 2.5% in the Midwest and 2.1% in the South. Sales fell 1.1% in the West.
Median sales prices are down 13.4% in the West, largely because the market for jumbo loans above $417,000 remains frozen, Yun said.
The median sales prices can be affected by the mix of homes sold regionally and within different price ranges. Two other home price indexes that track resales of the same home over time will be released on Tuesday.
Sales of single-family homes rose 2.8% in February to 4.47 million, the second increase in a row and the fastest sales pace since August. Inventories of unsold single-family homes fell 5.5% to 3.43 million, a 9.2-month supply.
Sales of condos rose 3.7% in February to 560,000 annualized. Condo sales are down 29.7% in the past year. Inventories of unsold condos rose 14% to 604,000, a 13-month supply.
The Commerce Department will report on sales of new homes on Wednesday, with economists looking for a decline to 575,000 annualized sales from 588,000. End of Story
Rex Nutting is Washington bureau chief of MarketWatch.

Posted by Margo Murray on March 28th, 2008 7:03 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Existing home sales gained 2.9% in February
March 28th, 2008 6:43 PM

MONDAY, March 24th

Existing home sales gained 2.9% in February to an annual pace of 5.03 million units. The increase in home sales last month breaks a six-month string of declines. While the increase in sales last month is encouraging, economists at NAR are not expecting significant recovery until the second half of this year, when higher loan limits, along with monetary and fiscal stimulus will unleash pent-up demand. In the meantime, the housing correction will continue as rising defaults and foreclosures push inventories higher and accelerate price declines.

The Fed’s next rate move remains uncertain at this time. Policy decisions will be fluid depending on downside risks to growth and the state of credit markets. After an upside surprise in existing home sales, fed funds futures traders are currently pricing in a 60% probability of a 50 basis point rate cut when the FOMC meets at the end of April, down from a 71% chance earlier this morning.


Posted by Margo Murray on March 28th, 2008 6:43 PMPost a Comment (0)

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Why the Fed's rate cuts won't help you
March 24th, 2008 8:42 AM

Why the Fed's rate cuts won't help you

In its efforts to keep irresponsible bankers on Wall Street afloat, the Federal Reserve is spurring inflation, crippling the dollar and cutting into retirees' incomes. And mortgages and car loans won't get any cheaper.

This Is By Jon Markman:  www.jonmarkman.com  

The Federal Reserve attempt to get out in front of the worst financial crisis to hit the world banking system in five decades by slashing short-term interest rates from their current perch at 3% to the lowest levels in years.

But its effort will have little effect on the ability of the average American to get a cheap loan for a new home, car or college education even as it has a large effect on U.S. banks' ability to fix their balance sheets by racking up fat profits.

If that sounds unfair, welcome to the latest episode of a brutal new American business ethic, in which the government bails out bad bets by risk-taking banking executives in New York with money that it borrows from middle-class families and foreign investors. The effort is gilded with fancy financial language and cloaked in the guise of a rescue that helps all citizens, but the reality is that Washington is essentially robbing the poor to help the rich.

It seems odd, but these are extraordinary times. Normally, when the Federal Reserve cuts the rate at which it lends money to U.S. banks, those banks in turn cut the rates at which they lend money to citizens and companies for personal and commercial use. Simple enough. Yet in the past few months, banks have made three important changes in their usual practice:

They have not been passing all of their interest-rate savings to customers.

They have restricted lending only to most creditworthy, documented applicants.

They have cut the total amount they're willing to lend.

Good for banks, bad for you

Banks are taking these seemingly perverse steps in an effort to reverse the effects of the massive losses they have withstood for lending too broadly to consumers and companies with lousy credit over the past five years.

They're pulling a big 180, which is as confusing as it is disheartening.

Rather than providing funds to prospective home buyers and business people with legitimate needs for moving into larger homes or expanding factory lines, records show the banks are hoarding the low-cost money they're borrowing from the Fed and investing it in Treasury bonds paying higher interest yields. They're then pocketing the windfall profits to repair their own ravaged balance sheets.

As if that's not bad enough, the Fed's swiftly conceived, unprecedented course of action harms the public in three other ways:

It boosts inflation by lifting the total number of dollars in circulation.

It undercuts the attractiveness of the U.S. dollar, which leads to higher food, energy and gold prices.

It cuts the yields of dividend-paying investments such as government bonds upon which retirees depend for steady income.

In other words, the Fed action helps imprudent bankers dig out of a hole by putting prudent citizens and foreigners in one. This gives big financial businesses a shot at staving off disaster at the risk of cutting the spending and earning power of everyone else.


Posted by Margo Murray on March 24th, 2008 8:42 AMPost a Comment (0)

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10 ways on how not to sell your home
February 18th, 2008 9:18 AM
  1. Do not list it with a realtor as you do not need to advertise your home in the Multiple Listing Services.
  2. Price your home just a little less than the high of May 2006.
  3. Do not stage your home.
  4. Do not change your green carpet, rather offer a credit to the buyer.
  5. Make the home available for showings by appointment only and don't give your agent permission to place a lock box on the home.
  6. Make it very clear that you don't need to move until after school is out in June.
  7. Sell your home in "AS IS" condition, the buyers can repair the items you neglected for the last 15 years.
  8. While the home is being shown you follow the buyers into every room and let them know of all the special features each room has.
  9. When your realtor sends you the most recent sales to update you, you justify your price, rather than listen to the professional.
  10. When the home is shown, the TV is on and your kids are running around, the dog jumps on the prospective buyer.




Posted by Margo Murray on February 18th, 2008 9:18 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Homes in Rancho Santa Margarita, California
February 12th, 2008 1:05 AM
 
Margo Murray  Residential   Tue, Feb 12, 2008 01:04 AM  Ref: 1
Single Family Residence  Detached  RES Active  7 Via Berrendo   Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM)  Price $800,000 - $820,000
Click for more pictures ... 
Rancho Santa Margarita North (R1) Zip 92688-3194 TGNO 892H2
Orange County (OR) XSTS Melinda>Via Bravo Aerial Map

S521291 Media: 17 Builder Tract Reflections (REFL)
Bed 4 Model Ruby (C)
Baths 3 Style Mediterranean Stories Two Levels Floor
View No View HOA Dues $  46 + $ 78 Land Lse/Yr $
ASqFt 3,007   Builder YrBlt 1997  Assessor Land Fee
ALotSize 5,808 Assessor  Dim Acres 0.13
Prkng
Garage 3   Rem 2 Spc Cprt RV Acc Range $: Yes
Range Price Listing: Yes
Stunning 4 Bedrooms + huge bonus room in the desirable Melinda Heights area. Travertine floors in entry and kitchen, dramatic arch windows in living & dining room. Kitchen has 16 foot ceilings, granite counters, newer maple cabinets, breakfast nook. French door leads to spacious, upgraded backyard with awning for privacy. Huge family room with two story high ceilings, beautiful fireplace & plantation shutters. Main floor Master suite has bay windows, upgraded bath with granite counters, new mirrors. Giant bonus room with built in office, 3 more spacious bedrooms. Great cul-de-sac location only minutes from distinguishes Melinda Heights Elementary & Solano Park/Pool.  
Directions From Santa Margarita Pkwy turn right on Via Bravo, turn right on Via Gatillo, make the first left.

Rooms

Bedrooms Main Floor Master Bedroom Living Rm Living Rm Entrance, Living Room
Kitchen Granite Counters, Island, Open to Family Room Dining Breakfast Nook, Formal Dining Rm
Total Baths 3 Full Baths 2 3/4 Baths 0 1/2 Baths 1 1/4 Baths 0    
Baths Desc
Other Bonus Room, Family Room, Great Room, Individual Laundry Room

Amenities

Pool Assoc Pool Spa Above Ground TV Cable TV, TV Satellite Dish - Leased Firepl Family Room /
Appliances Built-In Gas Range, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Microwave Water Heater Natural Gas Other
High or Mid-Rise Amenities   Security

Interior

Heating Forced Air Cooling Ceiling Fan(s), Central Floors Sheet Vinyl, Travertine, Wall-to-Wall Carpet Sub Flooring Slab on Grade
Interior Misc Entrance - Foyer, Mirrored Closet Door(s), Open Floor Plan, Two Story Ceilings, Window Shutters  
Disability Access 36 inch or more wide halls

Exterior/Structural

  Entry Location Ground Level w/steps Common Walls  
Roof Spanish Clay Tile Plumbing Full Copper Plumbing Patio Slab  
Cond Sprinklers Front and Side  Doors/Windows Bay Window, Double Door Entry, French Doors, Plantation Shutters
Other 220V In Laundry
Structures, Other  
Exterior Construction Stucco/Wood    

Lot Description

APNO 836-534-06 Zoning Lot/Block/Tract 57//14143
Lot Legal CC&RS, Homeowners Association  
Sewer In Street On Bond Water District/Public Water District Rancho Santa Margarita Yard Wood, Wrought Iron

Community/Association

HS Dist Saddleback Valley Unified School District Elemen Melinda Heights Junior RSM Intermidiate High Sch Trabuco Hills High
Amenities Assoc Barbeque, Assoc Club Hse/Rec Facility, Assoc Pool, Assoc Sport Court, Assoc Tennis
Units HOA Dues $ 46  + $ 78   Mello Roos Yes  
Land  Fee Lse Trans $ Land Lse/Yr $ Lse Ren Lse Exp
City Inspect No Builder's Name Lewis Homes

Contact Information

This Report was created by:
Agent: Margo Murray Phone: 949-858-1770 Mobile Ph: 949-306-8520 Pager: 000-0000
Office: Regency Real Estate Brokers Fax: 949-334-1888 Email: Margo@MargoMurray.com Website: www.margomurray.com Blog WSite  www.margomurray.com/MyBlog
 

Beautiful Melinda Heights area - located on a Cul-de-sac street.

Double door entry with travertine floors.

Stunning living & dining room with arched windows & custom drapery.

Huge family room two story high ceilings. Kitchen is upgraded with maple cabinets & granite counters.

Great room with 2 story high ceiling and fireplace, plantation shutters.

Large formal dining room.

Main floor master suite.

Master bath upgraded with granite counters.

Very spacious bonus room with built in office.

Large secondary bedroom with walk in closet & high ceiling.

Great yard with custom stone planters, awning and above ground spa on the side.

It's a lifestyle, take your family to the beach club.

Rancho Santa Margarita Lake

Distinguished Melinda Elementary School

Solano Pool and Park are within a short walk.

Solano Park has a great picnic area, 2 baseball fields and a 1/2 basketball court.

The accuracy of all information regardless of source, including but not limited to square footages and lot size, is deemed reliable but is not
guaranteed and should be independently verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals. Copyright SoCalMLS.


Posted by Margo Murray on February 12th, 2008 1:05 AMPost a Comment (0)

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