by Blake Mashburn | Nov 4, 2019 | News
Do not miss the 7th Annual Ventura County Farm Day!!! “Explore. Learn. Taste” this Saturday, November 9th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm throughout Ventura County. Explore 15+ farms, ranches, and agricultural organizations in our area with great family friendly activities and tours. Celebrate the beautiful countryside right outside our backdoors and learn more about where our local food comes from. Click on the links below to learn more about activities offered at each location and plan out your day!
2019 Farm Day Locations
Agromin | 6859 Arnold Drive, Oxnard
AGQ Laboratory | 2451 Eastman Avenue Suite 1, Oxnard
Alpacas at Windy Hill | 7660 Bradley Road, Somis
Earthtrine Farm | 1091 Cuyama Road, Ojai
Good Farms | 1980 South Rice Avenue, Oxnard
UC Hansen Agricultural Research & Extension Center | 287 South Briggs Road, Santa Paula
Houweling’s Tomatoes | 645 West Laguna Road, Camarillo
Laguna Farms | 203 Wood Road, Oxnard
Limoneira | 12390 West Telegraph Road, Santa Paula
Ojai Olive Oil | 1811 Ladera Road, Ojai
Oxnard Farm Park | 251 Gottfried Place, Oxnard
***Official Farm Day BBQ Lunch Location (Cowboy John’s Smoking BBQ)***
Petty Ranch | 11971 Darling Road, Saticoy
***Farm Day Hub Location***
Come to the SEEAG’s Farm Lab at Petty Ranch for fun activities, helpful information, and
special exhibitors including Rincon-Vitova Insectaries and Chivas Skin Care.
Rancho Camulos Museum | 5164 East Telegraph Road, Piru
McGrath Family Farm & The Abundant Table | 1012 West Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo
Ventura County AG Museum | 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula
**Downloadable Farm Day Map**
Get the celebrations started early with the Wine Farm-To-Table Dinner! Come enjoy a delicious chef prepared pig roast dinner, incredible wine flight, and fun live music on Thursday, November 7th, at 5:00 pm. This great event is taking place at Topa Mountain Winery (821 West Ojai Avenue, Ojai). General Admission Tickets cost $95 (plus fees) per person). VIP Tickets cost $125 (plus fees) per person and include early entry at 4:00 pm and reserved seating. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
The incredible farms throughout Ventura County are one of the many assets that make this area a great place to live. If you are interested in Buying your dream home in one of our communities, search our Homes for Sale. Give Blake Mashburn a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
Image Credit: Ventura County Farm Day
by Blake Mashburn | Oct 31, 2019 | News
It’s time to “Fall Back”! Do not forget to reset your clocks for the end of Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, November 3rd. While this ultimately means shorter days, this weekend it means an extra hour to get things done! Many people use it as a change to catch up on some sleep or get some additional exercise. While we agree that those things are great, we think it is most productive to use that extra time to tackle your home Buying and Selling tasks! Here are our real estate recommendations on how to spend your additional hour this weekend!
- Create your housing needs and wants checklist. Determine a realistic budget. Use these perimeters to begin your Home Search Online.
- Use a Loan Analysis Tool to find loans that you could qualify for. Begin gathering the necessary documents (ie pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements) that you will need for your mortgage application.
- Reach out to realtors to find the right one for you. Working with an Experienced Realtor will help you throughout the entire buying and selling process. You will save yourself time, money, and stress by teaming up with a professional.
- Find out Your Home’s Value. This will allow you to price your current home correctly. Listing your home at the wrong price can put you at a disadvantage starting out so make sure it is a reasonable, accurate price that will help your home sell for top dollar and quickly.
- Think about improvements/upgrades you can make that will increase the value of your home. Start doing some research on costs and what your return on investment could be. Once you think of potential projects, talk to your realtor to see if they make sense for your home.
- Start getting your home in top selling shape by completing some of those simple home maintenance tasks you have been putting off, such as deep cleaning the floors or organizing storage spaces.
Enjoy home buying and home selling success by using your extra time this weekend wisely. Search our Ventura Homes for Sale to get started today. Give our experienced team a call at (805) 856-9350 or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/ for all your buying and/or selling needs!
by Blake Mashburn | Oct 28, 2019 | News
As you sit down to budget for buying a new Ventura home, there are several costs to consider. These include the down payment, the closing costs, moving expenses, and the monthly mortgage payments, insurance, and taxes. However, there is something else to add to that budget….home maintenance.
Even if you are buying a newer home with no immediate repair needs, there are 5 maintenance tasks that you should always take care of upon moving in and therefore should prepare for the costs.
- Change Locks – Practically anyone could have a key to your new home without you knowing it. Protect your family and your belongings by changing the locks on every exterior door of the home.
- Trim Trees – Make sure the trees, especially any older ones, are in good health and not too close to the home itself. Have the trees trimmed and inspected by a professional.
- Maintain HVAC – A damaged or failing HVAC system can be very expensive to fix. Stay ahead of any potential issues by having the system maintained right when you move in.
- Add Fire Extinguisher – It is important to always have at least one fire extinguisher in your home. Purchase one for the kitchen when you move in.
- Clean Chimney – If your new Ventura home has a fireplace, make sure you have it professionally cleaned out since you cannot know for certain when the last time it was cleaned was.
In addition to these 5 home maintenance costs, you should also budget for appliances, furniture, paint, and any other home repairs/updates you need to make. Knowing these costs as you go into purchasing the home will help you stay within your financial means.
After you have been living in your home for a while, however, the budgeting should not stop. You should always keep aside some money to help you cover any unexpected repairs and emergencies that could arise at any time. In order to help you afford these costs, it is a good idea to set aside 1% of your home’s purchase price every year for repairs. Just remember that the money you are putting into your home is just building equity for you and your family so it is worth it.
Visit our Website and follow us on Facebook for other great home maintenance and home buying tips!
by Blake Mashburn | Oct 24, 2019 | News
Enjoy Buying or Selling your home by working with a realtor! Although you might be tempted to navigate the housing market on your own, there are numerous reasons why working with a realtor is beneficial to you. Check out these top reasons why you should work with a realtor (especially the top realtor in Ventura!!) when buying or selling your home!
Experience & Knowledge: With all of the years of experience and education, realtors have a deep understanding of every aspect of the real estate market.
Information Filter: Instead of having to weed out the information that you actually need, realtors can do that for you. They will only show you houses that fit within your needs and budget.
Local Expert: Realtors are experts in their communities. From knowing neighborhoods to understanding the market specifics of their location, realtors provide an invaluable resource.
Guide: Realtors always lead with guidance. They will always keep your best interests at heart and provide suggestions as you move throughout the buying or selling process.
Networker: Realtors have a vast network of professionals that work in related fields. They can provide recommendations of service providers that will help assist you with any of your real estate needs.
Negotiator: Negotiation is a major part of buying a house and realtors are incredibly well versed in this area. Unlike a buyer or seller who has more of an emotional connection to the homes, a realtor stays professional throughout the negotiation process.
Time & Hassle Saver: There are a lot of technical aspects….and paperwork….that go into real estate deals. Avoid missing any important details by working with a realtor who knows exactly what to look for. They will also be there to answer any and every question you might have throughout the process.
If you are interested in Buying or Selling your home and working with the best realtor in Ventura County, give Blake Mashburn a call today at (805) 856-9350 or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
by Blake Mashburn | Oct 21, 2019 | News
Halloween is right around the corner! Get in the spooky spirit before October 31st with fantastic Halloween themed events in Ventura! There is fun to be had by all ages all weekend long throughout our great community!
Spooktacular: A Halloween Variety Show!
Date: Friday, October 25th
Time: 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Namba Performing Arts Space (47 South Oak Street)
Cost: $15 per person
Unity Theatre Collective returns to Namba with “Spooktacular: A Halloween Variety Show!”Join the Unity Theatre Collective for a fantastic variety show featuring local comedians, actors, and musicians! Come dressed in your best costume to be entered in the costume contest. This is a family friendly event!
Haunted Housing Run/Walk
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Ventura State Beach (901 San Pedro Street)
Cost: $40 per 5K participant | $50 per 10K participant | FREE Kids Dash
Work off all the Halloween treats during this fun oceanfront run! Choose from the 5K or 10K and enter the little ones in the Kids Dash! Along with the races, there will be inflatables, photo booth, face painting, food, and more! All proceeds from this event benefit the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura’s Scholarship Program.
HOWL-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest 2019
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 10:30 am – Noon
Location: Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Drive)
Cost: FREE!
Your furry friend can get in on the fun too! Dress your dog in their best costume to win great prizes! Be sure to register in advance and arrive at 10:30 am for check in. There will be plenty of photo opportunities and all pets will receive a treat!
Mummy Pumpkins!!!
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: Noon – 10:00 pm
Location: Seaward Brewing (1920 Goodyear Avenue, Suite D)
Cost: $8 per pumpkin
Sip on some delicious brews (or non-alcoholic beverage) and decorate your very own unique pumpkin! It will be a fun crafting event for all ages!
Kids Seaside Trick or Treat 2019
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Drive)
Cost: FREE!
Spend the afternoon trick or treating at the stores of Ventura Harbor with your family. There will be loads of family fun!
All Ages Halloween Costume Contest & Downtown Trick-or-Treating
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Main Street Mini Park (Between Oak & Palm)
Cost: FREE!
Don your costume and gather even more Halloween treats throughout Downtown Ventura.
Haunted HalloWINE Costume Ball
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Ventura City Hall (501 Poli Street)
Cost: $40 per person
Enjoy an adult celebration of Halloween! Sip on delicious wine, dine on fantastic food, and dance the night away to live music! There will be prizes for the best costumes for individuals, couples, and groups!
Halloween Party at The Greek
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 9:00 pm – 2:00 am
Location: Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Drive)
Cost: Call (805) 650-5350
Head to The Greek Greek Mediterranean Steak and Seafood restaurant for a full night of dancing, food, and cocktails. Prizes will be awards to the scariest costume, most original costume, and best couple costume. Please note, this is an adult only event.
Blake Mashburn wishes everyone in Ventura a very Happy Halloween! Follow us on Facebook and check out our Website for more fantastic community events taking place throughout the year!
