Happy New Year Menifee Home Owners!

As I start my first week of the New Year - I wanted to wish all of you a improved and wondeful 2011. As always, Menifee real estate remains a large part of my business. In each case, the people and community remain one of the best!

Over the last few years I have watched Menifee continue its growth in Commercial and City-Hood. We have also seen prices in real estate rise a bit in 2010. I know it doesn't often seem like it but homes that were selling at $175,000 are now closer to $210,000. It is hard to see that when they used to by worth $300,000. But we are getting there!

I will also point out that people are paying more for rent lately and it isn't easy finding rentals right now. I think we will see further appreciation over the next year of around 5% or so. I am not an economics professor BUT I do see people looking more than last year. And that means only good things. As prices have risen in Temecula and Murrieta real estate, it pushes more home buyers into Menifee.

So, enough economics and rain for that matter! Here is to wishing you all a wonderful 2011. If you should need any help regarding understand short sales, wanting to know your options, etc. Please do not hesitate to let me know!

Sincerely,

Stefan West, Owner of West Realty for Menifee Real Estate and Menifee Short Sales
951-894-6199

Menifee Lakes - Property Tax & Special Assessment Updates

As a Menifee real estate guy I was out showing the Menifee Lakes community and trying to explain the stark contrast in property taxes. My buyer was shopping in the $200,000 range with an FHA loan. But when they added up HOA fees and property taxes, it was putting a serious dent in the approval amount.

Anyway, during the course of my showing, it became clear that some Menifee homes in the Menifee Lake community have just finished with some of their 20 year bonds. In a tough economy, every dollar counts and it looks like Christmas (about two months ago) came a little early.

So if you live inside Menifee Lakes on either side of Newport, check your bond status. You can go to the county tax website. It may only affect part of Menifee Lakes homes I am not sure. But if you did wrap up those bonds, you will be seeing your escrow accounts being adjusted and your payment to your lending bank should dip a little bit.

If you have a 1988-1990 home, check out your tax records online!

Stefan West, Broker/Owner of West Realty
Menifee Real Estate Broker

Foreclosure Freezes on the Way

The Christmas seasons is here and many of the large banks are playing "Santa Clause" by saying they will not evict homeowners during the 2 to 3 week period around Christmas. This comes on top of the moratorium that was caused by the robo-signing banks.

This will make many borrowers happy who are 3 to 6 months behind and were planning on moving out this Christmas. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are at the forefront of this freeze and specifically will not be taking anyone's home within the 2 week period around Christmas. Bank of American and Wells Fargo, both criticized for their foreclosure process, will also be halting most foreclosures during Christmas.

Don't be surprised to see an eviction spree following the Holiday Season.

Skylar Lewis
Temecula Homes For Sale
Murrieta Real Estate
View our Partners Carpet Cleaning Murrieta

Happy Thanksgiving to Menifee Home Owners!

I wanted to wish all Menifee home owner and residents a very Happy Thanksgiving! This is a wonderful time of year where air seems so clear and the weather just changed so nicely. It is seriously CRISP out there! I just heard news saying 34 degrees at night!

It is also the time we all think we will hit the Menifee stores on Newport and knock out the shopping in one day (I actually still think that contrary to years of evidence it is not so). Heck, I might even line up for some Black Friday action for the experiece - I wake up at 5 AM every morning due to wonderful 4 year old who is fixated on making sure I get up - what's up with that?!

But when I woke up this morning, I felt that a good but challenging year for Menifee real estate and homeowners was heading into the twilight with hopefully better things on the horizon. We did see some very positive things in the last year and for those I am grateful. I was blessed with the opportunity to have some fantastic clients and help in some challenging situations for Menifee short sales and foreclosure nightmares.

I know that many Menifee - ians - we need to work on something for that. Menifeettes? Menifee'ers? Anyway, I know a lot of Menifee home owners are in struggling times and having to deal with real challenging banks, family,and situations. I have seen a lot of that this year and last as we work through our economic and employment downturn / recession. But I have also seen great people, work very hard and get back on track as well. They may have had to sell their Menifee home via short sale but they are now stronger financially and in family then last year.

And that is something we can all be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Things are getting better, families and finances are getting stronger. I will be giving thanks for getting the opportunity to work with Menifee families in both buying and selling (or short selling) homes to start righting the ship or for buyers to begin raising families.

Menifee and the great people that live there are and have been a blessing to both myself professionally and my family. I look back and my VERY FIRST real estate transaction 8 years ago was on Sun City Blvd! There are so many great communities from Bradley area, La Ladera, Shadowridge, Menifee Lakes, The Lakes, off of Chester Morrison, etc. It is a fantastic city and has a home for everyone. I look for plenty more growth in both the near and long term. Just look how much in the last two years! In fact, because we do some much of our business up there, I have a new agent - Jessica who is now exclusively focused on Menifee Real Estate.

Anyway, my goal was to take a moment and wish all of you reading a wonderful and heartfelt Thanksgiving day wish for a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic 2011!

Sincerely,

Stefan West, Menifee Real Estate, Temecula Real Estate Broker

Boo! Foreclosures effect on Halloween

I don't know about your neighborhood, but over the least 3 years I have seen a steady decline in the amount of "trick or treaters" and Halloween activity.

This is partly due to the amount of foreclosures our communities have seen. I spoke with a few other people tonight and they also agreed. There has been a reduction in the number of people participating in Halloween. Don't worry! It will pick up as more people are buying up the foreclosures. 

My family and I were out trick-or-treating in our neighborhood and saw about 20 other families, compared to double that the past years. There were still lots of kids, but I can't wait until it gets packed again.

Let's keep Halloween alive!

My Nephew and Niece

Skylar Lewis

Halloweenist
Murrieta Homes
Temecula Homes For Sale
Water Damage Temecula

Murder Myster Dinner - tickets still available for THIS SATURDAY's performance

"Death Is a Cabernet, Ol' Chum!" is the title of this year's Murder Mystery Dinner benefitting the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center. This is the 3rd year in a row that Councilman John Denver's wife, Linda, has graciously volunteered to direct a variety of inexperienced locals in a "Murder Mystery" where dinner guests must use their sleuthing skills to figure out "WHO DONE IT?"

I have attended the last 2 years...the meals were fantastic and it was great fun for our table to try to figure out who the murderer was. (I was wrong both times!)

The Players this year are:

"Pierre La Paine" played by Tom Furhman
"Stan Milton" by John Overton
"Nina Grigio" by Judy Hyneman
"Carter Cabot" by John Denver
"Sue Veneer" by Linda Overton
"Ben Breakfast" by Brian Walker
"Renee Melee" by Mysti Scargill
"Dective Durite" by Bob Stinson
"Lawrence Law" by Captain Dan Feltenberger
And I am the lucky lady who gets to play the part of "Leelah Eagle".
(Did I do it? "No Comment. That's Privileged Information!")

Tickets are available at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center at $45 per person or $80 per couple.

The show will go on this Saturday, October 30th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center, 29995 Evans Rd., Menifee (951) 672-9673

How to partner up with Trulia.com

Each day Trulia.com is becoming more and more popular to search for homes on . How can you as a real estate agent partner up with Trulia to create a win win team?

Well first off, Trulia was one of the first online real estate searches for mobile phones. They were also the first one to consistantly upgrade their mobile software with new features and new looks. This is the key. Trulia mobile  has created the #1 mobile software for real estate.

Every day more consumers are using Trulia Mobile to search for homes in their general area ( using the GEO search ). This creates a unique opportunity for real estate agents to market to potential buyers. Trulia has the ability to list you, as the agent, on listings in certain zip codes. When a Buyer is searching for a home in 92563, your picture and information will show up. You information is displayed in a way that looks like you are the listing agent. This is a great tool to get leads.

Also having a premier account with Trulia.com allows your listings to stand out. If you are working with a seller, you can use this tool to show them how their listing will be set apart from all the other listings in Menifee. Let them know that you pay each month to have your clients show up as a premier listing to get the best visibility.

Trulia truly is becoming the #1 real estate tool along with Zillow. Either for Agents or for consumers. The easiest way to get started with Trulia is to contact one of their sales reps and they can go over some different packages. Some of their options are much cheaper than Zillow.com

Good Luck!

Skylar Lewis

Keller Williams

Menifee Homes
Tile Cleaning Temecula