by Blake Mashburn | Aug 29, 2019 | News
Labor Day Weekend is Here! This long holiday weekend is traditionally filled with family gatherings, cook outs, outdoor recreation, and more. Looking for something unique to fill your time this weekend? We have found a fun event for you and your family to check out each day! Explore the best Ventura County has to offer at these incredible community events taking place this Labor Day Weekend!
17th Annual Ventura Nationals
Date: Saturday, August 31st
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Ventura Fairgrounds (10 West Harbor Boulevard, Ventura)
Cost: $15 General Admission | FREE Children 12 & Under | $10 Active Military
Check out the most incredible hot rods, customs, motorcycles, low riders, and more at this incredible annual show! You will find some of the best automobiles and bikes in the entire country, from antiques and classics to modern custom builds. Do not miss the fun Pedal Car Contest as they cruise their way through the fairgrounds. Enter for your chance to win a 1959 El Camino. Enjoy great live music by Jesse Dayton, Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas, The Moontones, Eddie & The Scorpions, and The Rockin Henrys. And, so much more! Tickets are available for purchase at the fairgrounds (Cash Only).
15th Annual Santa Paula Labor Day Parade
Date: Monday, September 2nd
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Main Street, Santa Paula
Cost: FREE Admission!
Find the best spot along the parade route and enjoy the best Labor Day parade in the area! Check out all the great floats, musical groups, and more.
7th Annual Labor Day Vintage Tractor Fair
Date: Monday, September 2nd
Time: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Agriculture Museum (926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula)
Cost: FREE Admission!
After the Santa Paula parade, head to the Agriculture Museum for an afternoon of old-fashioned family fun! Check out vintage tractors, enter the pie eating contest, bob for apples, play in the bounce house, make tractor crafts, and so much more!
38th Annual Malibu Chili Cook Cook-Off
Date: Friday, August 30th – Monday, September 2nd
Time: 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Fri), 11:00 am – 10:00 pm (Sat&Sun), 11:00 am – 8:00 pm (Mon)
Location: 23575 Civic Center Way, Malibu
Cost: $15 per day
Take a trip down to Malibu for this fun annual event featuring carnival rides, fair games, live entertainment, silent auction, vendors, food sales, and of course, the famous chili cook-off. Purchase tickets HERE!
Labor Day Concert in Thousand Oaks – The Police Experience
Date: Monday, September 2nd
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Conejo Community Park (1175 Hendrix Avenue, Thousand Oaks)
Cost: FREE!
Dance the evening away to one of the most authentic cover bands in the country, The Police Experience. Refreshments are available.
Blake Mashburn wishes everyone a very Happy & Safe Labor Day Weekend!
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 26, 2019 | News
Obtaining a mortgage is a process and one that is often more involved than many home buyers are expecting. Do not be surprised when you get a mortgage by being prepared for everything that is to come. Here are the 5 essential steps to getting a mortgage.
- Pre-Approval
Getting pre-approval for a mortgage (meaning the lender is committed to giving you a loan up to a certain amount) can greatly increase your chances of the seller accepting your offer. It shows the seller that you are serious and can actually afford their home. In order to get pre-approved you will need to provide your lender with Pay Stubs, Federal Tax Returns, W-2 Forms, Statement of Assets, Residential History, and Proof of Funds.
- Home Appraisal
Your lender will complete an appraisal of the home to determine its value. This step is necessary in order for them to check the home’s value against the loan amount. As long as the home is appraised at or above what you offered, you are good to go. Unfortunately, this step in the process gets complicated if the home is appraised for less. A lender will not give you more money than what the home is valued at. If this happens, you can try to negotiate with the seller, appeal the appraisal, request a second appraisal, or (in many cases) walk away from this particular deal.
- Maintain Credit Score
It is very important that you do not have any changes to your credit score while you go through the mortgage process. Your score gets checked at the beginning and very end and most stay consistent. Avoid jeopardizing the final approval of your loan by not opening new credit accounts, not closing old ones, and making all of your payments on time.
- Closing Disclosure Review
When you first applied for your loan, you received a Loan Estimate (LE). Just before closing, you will receive the Closing Disclosure (CD). It is very important that you review the CD off of the LE to check for any errors. The CD outlines everything that you will pay in fees at settlement. Since errors can often occur in these documents be sure to carefully check your Name’s Spelling, Loan Term, Loan Type, Interest Rate, Cash to Close, Closing Costs, Loan Amount, Total Monthly Payment, and Estimated Taxes and Insurance.
- Underwriting
The final step is the underwriting process. This is when you lender verifies that all of the information you provided is true and accurate. The easiest (and only) way to get through this step smoothly is to be truthful in your application. Be sure to maintain your job status, credit score, and pay off your debts on time and this step will be a total breeze!
For more helpful Buying tips, check out our Website and follow us on Facebook!
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 22, 2019 | News
The beautiful climate and landscape in Ventura County provides us with incredible produce and locally grown goods. There are amazing farmers markets in our communities throughout the year. Find a wide variety of items from fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, meat and dairy, handmade crafts, and so much more. Put healthy, delicious food on your kitchen table and help promote economic development throughout Ventura County by shopping local at these great farmers markets!
Midtown Ventura
When: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Pacific View Mall West Parking Lot (3301 North Main Street, Ventura)
Thursdays
Downtown Oxnard Farmers Market
When: 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
Where: 471 South B Street, Oxnard
Saturdays
Camarillo Certified Farmers Market
When: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: 2220 Ventura Boulevard, Old Town Camarillo
Downtown Ventura
When: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Corner of Palm & Santa Clara Streets, Ventura
Sundays
Ojai Certified Farmers’ Market
When: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: 300 East Matilija Street, Ojai
Channel Islands Certified Farmers’ Market
When: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: 3350 South Harbor Boulevard, Oxnard
Incredible local farmers markets are one of the many reasons that Ventura County is a great place to live. If you are interested in Buying your dream home in one of these communities, search our Homes for Sale. Give Blake Mashburn a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 19, 2019 | News
You found your dream home and the seller accepted your offer! You are now in the home stretch to getting handed the keys to your new home. There are a few more final and essential steps that need to be made. Here is an easy guide to closing so that you are prepared in the last days of your home buying process!
#1 Square Away Contingencies
Make sure that any contingencies (i.e. home inspection, appraisal, and financing) are met before the final transaction. This allows you to walk away if any issues arise.
#2 Clear the Title
Your mortgage lender will check for anyone that claims title to the home and see if there are any liens attached to the property. Make sure to buy title insurance so that you can protect yourself from any legal claims as the ownership transfers to you.
#3 Get Approval of Your Final Mortgage
Even if you got pre-approved for the loan, your mortgage lender must now verify that you accurately represented yourself by going through the underwriting process. As long as you with truthful about your finances and made no large purchases during closing that will affect your credit score, you should make it through this step like a breeze.
#4 Check Your Closing Disclosure
Review your closing disclosure against the loan estimate you received when you first got pre-approval. Check out the mortgage payments, interest rate, loan terms, and closing costs to make sure that everything matches.
#5 Do One Last Walk-through
Do a final walk-through in the last 24 hours before closing. This allows you to make sure that the previous owner has truly moved out and that the home is in the condition that you agreed upon.
Get your hands ready to sign a lot of paperwork, complete these 5 steps, and your dream Ventura home is yours!
For more helpful Buying tips, check out our Website and follow us on Facebook!
by Blake Mashburn | Aug 15, 2019 | News
Celebrate the natural beauty of Ventura at the WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL!! This 10th annual festival showcases inspirational and educational films related to our natural environment. Enjoy these incredible, award-winning short films with a stunning backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Bring a blanket, find the perfect spot on the grassy lawn, and relax under the stars during this fantastic event!
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will take place this Saturday, August 17th, at the Ventura County Credit Union (2575 Vista Del Mar Drive #100). The gates to the event will open at 5:00 pm with fun lawn games, family friendly activities, Live Music from The Guy Martin Band & Todd Hannigan & Sleeping Chief. Films will begin at 8:00 pm.
Film Line Up
Cascada
Blue
Brotherhood of Skiing
Moonline
Great Old Broads for Wolves
Fire Followers
A New View of the Moon
Lost in Light
The Majestic Plastic Bag
Carpe Diem
Fire and Water
Climbing Out of Disaster
For the Love of Mary
Imagination: Tom Wallisch
Dine on delicious food from your favorite local trucks, including Crazy Greek, Farm & Flame, It’s in the Sauce, Mr. Softee, SoCalComfort, Steamy Bun Truck, and We Bee Poppin. Sip on refreshing beer and wine from Leashless Brewing, Ojai Valley Brewery. Rincon Brewery, Topa Topa, Castoro Cellars, and San Antonio Winery.
General Admission is $35 per person and child admission is $5 per child (ages 12 and under). For the first year ever, VIP tickets are also available for $125 per person. Enjoy the ultimate VIP experience with FREE adult beverage, appetizers, and desserts from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the VIP Lounge and Courtyard, as well as access to indoor restrooms throughout the entire event! Purchase your Wild & Scenic Film Festival tickets HERE!
Follow Blake Mashburn on Facebook and visit his Website for information on more incredible community events throughout the year!
Image Credits: Ventura Land Trust
