by Blake Mashburn | Dec 9, 2019 | News
Get in the holiday spirit this weekend at Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Drive Ventura) as they celebrate with their 43rd Annual Holiday Parade of Lights & Fireworks!!!!
This year’s theme is truly magical!! Let your imagination run wild as the colorful boats fill the harbor! With exciting carnival rides, fun holiday activities, great gift shopping, delicious dining, and sparkling lights, there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy during this weekend’s festivities. Parking and admission to the event are FREE!
Friday, December 13th & Saturday, December 14th
4:00 pm to Close – Kids Rides | Carnival Games | Arts & Crafts |
Face Painting (Sat. only!)
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Santa & Mrs. Claus Visit The Village
5:30 pm – LED Performers Along The Promenade
6:30 pm – Boat Parade
8:00 pm – Fireworks Display
*Note: Schedule is weather permitting*
Click HERE for all the details you need to make the most of your time at the 43rd Annual Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights!
Visit our Website and follow us on Facebook for more great events this holiday season!
Image Credit: Ventura Harbor Village
by Blake Mashburn | Dec 5, 2019 | News
The holidays should be a joyous time for every member of your family…..even the furry ones! For our pets, the hustle and bustle of the holidays can be stressful. On top of this, there are many new things around the house that can be dangerous for our curious friends. Keep your pet happy and safe this holiday season by following these easy tips!
- Help your cat stay away from the tree by using natural based deterrents along the bottom branches and the try skirt.
- Do the same for poinsettias, which are incredibly toxic to all pets. To ensure any potential hazard, use silk ones for decorating instead.
- Keep your ornaments and your tree safe by avoiding ornaments made out of edible materials.
- Holiday decor means many new cables that can be intriguing to chew on. Keep them hidden from plants or use a natural deterrent on them.
- Enjoy the ambiance of candles without the fire hazard by using flameless candles.
- Make sure all alcohol is out of reach of your pets.
- As much as you want to treat them during the feast, avoid giving table scrapes. Many holiday foods are toxic for pets and/or contain items that a hazardous if swallowed, such as animal bones or corn cobs.
- Ensure that someone has an eye on your pet at all times when entertaining at your home. This makes sure they don’t get outside by accident or get into something they shouldn’t be.
- If it is hard to designate a person to watch your animal and/or if your animal gets anxious at large gatherings, create a quiet, private space within your home where you can keep them. Just give them lots of treats and toys to entertain themselves with and check on them throughout the night.
Follow Us On Facebook for more great tips for your Ventura County home!
by Blake Mashburn | Dec 2, 2019 | News
The holiday social event of the year is finally here! Head to beautiful downtown Ventura this Saturday, December 7th, for Ventura Winter Wine Walk & Holiday Street Fair!! Join family, friends, and neighbors for some festive holiday cheer!
Start your weekend with the Holiday Street Fair from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The 300, 400, and 500 blocks of Main Street in Ventura will be filled with unique vendors and incredible live entertainment. Find great holiday gifts from artisans, crafters, and local businesses. Dine on delicious treats from the plethora of food vendors. Marvel at spectacular holiday lighting and enjoy a magical snow fall from 6:45 pm to 8:00 pm. The Holiday Street Fair is FREE and open to the public!
Stick around for the Ventura Winter Wine Walk from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm! This favorite annual event features the most delicious wine and beer being served at 80+ Tasting Locations. Tickets for this event are $55 per person (21+ years old) and can be purchased HERE! HURRY before they are all sold out!
Live Entertainment
Adelaide | Main Stage (California & Main Streets)
Box Of Beats | Main Stage (California & Main Streets)
Upstream | Main Stage (California & Main Streets)
Bruno and the Hooligans | Main Stage (California & Main Streets)
DJ Cue | Santa’s VIP Lounge
DJ Bnske | Electric Runway
Blake Mashburn wishes everyone a very merry time this Saturday in Ventura! Visit our Website and follow us on Facebook for more great events this holiday season!
Image Credit: Downtown Ventura
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 27, 2019 | News
Whether it is your family and friends, your health, your career, your home, or something has simple as a sunny day, there is much to be thankful for. As you gather around the feast with your loved ones tomorrow, take a moment to reflect on everything in your life that you are thankful for.
As I think back on my year, I too have much to be thankful for. I would like to take this moment, though, to share my gratitude for you, my clients. Serving you and your families this year and during past years brings me the greatest joy. I am thankful to be able to help buyers find their dream home in beautiful West Ventura County and help sellers sell their current homes quickly and for their asking price.
With the holiday season upon us and the new year right around the corner, I look forward to helping more people with all of their real estate needs. Whether you are looking to Buy or Sell, Blake Mashburn is here to help you every step of the way.
Once again, thank you to all my friends, family, and clients for a wonderful year. I wish everyone in Ventura County and beyond a very happy and bountiful Thanksgiving!
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 25, 2019 | News
Don’t take your home off the market or wait any longer to list it! Although your thoughts are filled with holiday preparations, you should hold your course to sell your Ventura home! Give yourself the gift of successfully selling your home because The Holidays Are The Perfect Time To Sell!
- Make Adjustments!
If your home has been on the market for a while, you are likely tempted to take a break. But, don’t take your listing down. Instead, utilize this slower market time to make adjustments to your selling strategy. Talk to your realtor about changing the listing price or find out if there are any minor improvements you can make to your home that buyers are looking for.
- Listing Moves Up!
Other homeowners will take a break from selling during the holiday season, reducing the inventory of homes on the market. With less competition, your listing will move up. As buyers search for properties, it is more likely that they will find your home during this time of year!
- Closing Is Easier This Time Of Year!
When the housing market is busy in the spring, lenders are also experiencing a higher volume of work. This means that the lending process moves slower. When lenders have less work in December, they can help buyers get loans processed and approved faster. As a seller, this means that closing is much easier during the holiday season.
- Staging Is Taken Care Of!
The holiday season means your Ventura home is filled with smells of homebaked goods and beautifully decorated with festive decor. This built in ambiance creates the sort of homey feel that you always want to have when you stage your home. It will fill buyers with feeling of nostalgia was they view your property. Just ensure that you don’t get carried away. Keep personal items to a minimum so buyers can envision themselves in the home. Also, keep the decorations simple as to not distract from the features of your home.
- Buyers Are Serious!
Unlike other times of the year when some people are only casually looking for potential homes, buyers that are looking during the holiday season are serious about buying. They are actively looking because they still haven’t found the perfect property or they are in need to move as soon as possible. Use their determination to buy to your advantage! You have the negotiating power during this time of year since inventory is lower.
- Families Look During Breaks!
School breaks, such as the one around the holiday season, are a time when buyers with children actively look for homes. They want to find something that they can settle into before school resumes. Showcase all the family friendly elements of your property to attract these buyers.
Convinced That The Holiday Season Is The Perfect Time To Sell Your Ventura Home? Give Blake Mashburn a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
Information Source: Realtor.com®
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 21, 2019 | News
The timing of Selling and Buying your home is imperative when you enter the real estate market. You want to be fully prepared as you work to sell your current home and buy a new one. It is important to fully understand your finances as well as your personal needs throughout the process. Here are 7 of the most common timing options for selling and buying your home.
- Selling Before Buying | This is the most common scenario. By selling your home first, you are helping ensure that you have the finances in place to purchase a new home. It helps you avoid the mess of dealing with two mortgages at once.
- Buying Before Selling | This is the most convenient scenario. It gives you the option of updating your old home to improve its value for sale and/or making improvements to your new home before moving in. It eliminates the stress of having to move immediately. However, the major downfall of this option is that you will be paying two mortgages at once. Make sure you can truly afford to do this before choosing this option.
- Buying & Selling Concurrently | This is a popular option. Timing really is everything for this option. You hope that you are able to sell your current home in order to give you the finances to afford the next one. However, it also puts a lot of the control out of your hands and into the hands of a buyer of your current home and the seller of the new home. Work closely with your realtor to help you sell your home in a timely manner and successfully purchase your new home.
- Selling on Contingency | When selling your home, you can put a contingency clause on your listing that you will sell once you find “suitable housing”. This can hinder the sale of your home though since many buyers want to be able to move in as soon as the deal is done. Make sure you only use this option when you have exhausted all others.
- Buying On Contingency | Similar to the previous option, this allows the buyer to add a clause that states that they will purchase the new home once their current home sells. This will only work if you find a seller that is willing to wait for you.
- Right of First Refusal | Instead of using a home sale contingency, you can use a Right of First Refusal (ROFR). This allows the buyer to step in front of any other buyers that might make an offer on the home. You must show the seller that your finances are in order. Please note, many sellers will not agree to this option since it limits the offers they could receive on their home.
- Renting | The final option is to rent out your current home instead of selling. You will be able to cover your current mortgage while you look for a new home. Make sure that you find a reliable tenant if you decide to rent out your home.
Figure out the perfect timing option for you by working with your Experienced Realtor as you buy and sell your home. Give Blake Mashburn a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 18, 2019 | News
There are always opportunities for buyers to score great deals on their new homes. You just need to know what to look for. Although offering below asking price can be risky, it also can pay off! It’s a matter of being smart about it. Working with your realtor can help you craft a winning offer that will not be insulting to the sellers and still save you some money. If you are looking into Buying your dream home in Ventura, watch out for these signs that you might be able to save by offering below asking price!
- The Home is Obviously Overpriced.
Some homes are just plain expensive and worth every penny. Other homes are listed high but inaccurately. This often occurs because sellers have an emotional attachment to their home and think it is worth more than it truly is. Ask your realtor for comps in the neighborhood. If the home is clearly overpriced, it might be easier to come in with a lower, more appropriate offer.
- The Seller is Ready to Move.
Maybe the seller is moving out of the area for a new job or perhaps their financial situation no longer allows them to afford the home. In these and other cases, the seller will be anxious to unload their property as quickly as possible. Do some detective work with your realtor to find out the motivation for selling. If it is clear that the seller is ready to go, they will be more receptive to a low offer in order to speed the process along.
- The Home is On and Off the Market.
A home was on the market, then pulled off, and now is back again. The seller is likely starting to get annoyed with the whole process and is ready to get it done with once and for all. This is a great time to offer below listing price.
- You are Open.
If you are flexible on your home wish list and/or are willing to make renovations on any home you buy, then the most important factor for you should be price. Being open to a variety of homes allows you the opportunity to offer low whenever you want until you finally score that incredible deal.
- The Home is Out of Date.
You walked into a home and feel like you just stepped back in time several decades. This will scare off many buyers, particularly those that are looking for move in ready. The seller is likely have some difficulty selling. If you are willing to put in some work once you move in, consider an offer below asking price.
Score an incredible deal on a new home by looking for these 5 signs. Check out our current Homes for Sale throughout western Ventura County to start the process. Give Blake Mashburn a call today or visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/.
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 14, 2019 | News
Hosting the family for the Thanksgiving feast? No worries! Get your Ventura home ready for all your holiday guests. Follow these simple tips to prep your home for the holiday and keep your guests happy and comfortable this Thanksgiving!
- Declutter!
With more people in your house than usual, you are going to want to take advantage of all the space that you can. Go through and remove unnecessary clutter. Put these items in a closest or storage space until after the holidays. Make sure to clear off counters and tabletops.
- Focus on the foyer!
The foyer is going to be your guests first impression of your home. Create a welcoming space for them to enter. Protect your floors from the increased food traffic with a rug. Add a seat so guests can easily remove their shoes. Create areas for guests to place their outdoor items that are out of the way but still easily accessible.
- Get your kitchen ready!
Your kitchen is going to be seeing a lot of action on Thursday. Make sure that you have plenty of space to work and can easily access all of the tools you need. To create extra room, move your coffee machine into another common room so your guests can still gather and enjoy their cup of joe in the morning. Keep some seating available in your kitchen so guests can visit with you as you prepare the day’s feast.
- Keep your bathrooms stocked!
Stock up on toilet paper, toiletries, and towels for your guests. Create storage areas for these items out in the open with shelves or baskets so your guests can easily find these items when needed.
- Create comfy sleeping arrangements!
Make sure that your guests can get a good night’s sleep by providing ample blankets and pillows. Consider adding a ceiling fan to your guest bedroom so your guest can directly adjust the temperature of the room at night.
- Keep it well lit!
Your guests do not know your home like you do so walking around in the dark could be a hazard. Add nightlights to hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms so guests can easily navigate their way. Also, ensure the exterior of your house is well lit for when guests arrive or depart throughout their stay.
Visit our Website and follow us on Facebook for more great home tips throughout the holiday season!
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 11, 2019 | News
Kick off the holiday season in beautiful Ojai, California at the 23rd Annual Ojai Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace! Explore four stunning Ojai Valley homes on Saturday, November 16th, and Sunday, November 17th. Each home has been matched with talented local florists and gardeners that have created marvelous displays that match the architectural features of the homes. The tour hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily. This favorite annual event benefits the Ojai Music Festival and its Bravo! Education and Community Program, which offers free music programs to community members and students.
2019 Holiday Homes
- The Wall House
- Tuscan Ranch
- Foothill Farm
- El Sombrero
This self-guided tour allows you to visit the homes in any order. Visitors are able to drive to The Wall House, Tuscan Ranch, and Foothill Farm. The El Sombrero home can be accessed via the free shuttle service. The shuttle will pick up from Monica Ros School (793 McNell Road). Please note, the last shuttle will depart at 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Advance tour tickets cost $40 per person. They can be purchased by calling (805) 646-2053, online HERE, or in person at one of the following locations:
- Attitude Adjustment | 1129 Maricopa Highway, Ojai
- Flora Gardens | 245 Old Baldwin Road, Ojai
- Rains Department Store | 218 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai
- Fox Fine Jewelers | 560 East Main Street, Ventura
Tickets can be picked up from the Will Call Box Office will be located in Libbey Park. Day of tickets, which will cost $45 per person, will also be available at the Marketplace and each of the homes.
When you are not exploring the homes, be sure to swing by the Holiday Marketplace in Libbey Park. This great event features 40+ artisans and vendors selling a variety of home, lifestyle, and fashion goods. Cross off everything on your holiday shopping list and find unique items for yourself and Ojai home. Admission to the Marketplace is FREE! A portion of all sales also benefit the Ojai Music Festival and its Bravo! program. The Marketplace will be open 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Saturday and 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday.
2019 Marketplace Vendors
Jewelry: Cindy Kalmenson, Little Muse, Patricia Cuenot, Ramina Rechard Pearls, and Shari Milner Designs
Home Décor and Gifts: Art Mina, Bazaar Boutique, Bliss Art Designs, Bohemian Bowls, Firestick Pottery, Heritage Succulents, Hostess Gifts to Go, Istanbul Art Design, Laura Stitches, Lavender Blue, Little City Designs, Metal Mountain, Once Upon a Storybook, Sweet Mello, Susan Bruce, and Terry Sharp
Edibles: Julie’s Cookies and Gourmet Blends
Clothing and Wearable Art: Alpaca by Karim, Art Couture Dominique, Dale Michele, Gerie’s Fashion Closet, Leslie Marcus, Limelight Boutique, Louise’s Hats, Tiny Tot Threads, and Your Needs Company
Bath and Body: Fiamma Naturals, From the Heart of Ojai, and Ojai Dirt Candy
Find your own spectacular home in Ojai! Search Ojai CA Homes for Sale. Give Blake Mashburn a call at (805) 856-9350 and visit our website at https://blakemashburn.com/ today.
Image Credit: Ojai Music Festival
by Blake Mashburn | Nov 7, 2019 | News
The veterans of our armed forces have done so much to protect and promote our freedoms at home and around the world. It is time to honor all the men and women of our military on VETERANS DAY! The holiday is on Monday, November 11th. Come to one of the many community events being held throughout Ventura County to celebrate this important day.
Veteran’s Day Concert
Date: Sunday, November 10th
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Ventura County Concert Band (5200 Valentine Road, Ventura)
Come enjoy your favorite patriotic tunes at this FREE Veteran’s Day tribute concert.
Fourth Annual Veterans Day Celebration
Date: Monday, November 11th
Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Location: Port Hueneme City Hall (250 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme)
The theme of this celebration is “Honoring America’s Military: Past, Present and Future”. Join the City of Port Hueneme, Port Hueneme Historical Society Museum, Navy League, Oxnard Harbor District, Sea Cadet Corp Ben Moreell Battalion, and VFW Post 3935 at this fantastic annual event.
Veteran’s Day Celebration
Date: Monday, November 11th
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 pm
Location: Downtown Plaza Park (500 South C Court, Oxnard)
Find the perfect spot along the parade route for the annual Veterans Parade. Afterwards, head to Plaza Park for a flag raising ceremony at 11:00 am.
Veterans Day Commemoration
Date: Monday, November 11th
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum (40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley)
Make a trip out to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for this spectacular Veterans Day event. Honor all branches of the military as you explore a military vehicle display, a civil war encampment, and the great exhibits at the museum. The official program will begin at 11:00 am and will include live music, an honor guard, and a speech by Naval Captain Dan Pedersen. The program is FREE. Please register in advance HERE. Please note, there is a fee to enter the museum for any non-military members and veterans (with valid ID).
Annual Veterans Day Ceremony
Date: Monday, November 11th
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Santa Paula Veterans Park (Downtown Santa Paula)
Join the Santa Paula Veterans, Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043, and Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 56 at this annual event. Patriotic music, including the Star-Spangled Banner, will be performed by the Santa Paula High School Band.
Veterans Day Ceremony
Date: Monday, November 11th 2019
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Ventura County Veterans Memorial (6001 Telephone Road, Ventura)
Come to the Ventura County Veterans Memorial as we honor all of our local veterans and their families. All of the branches of the military will be celebrated and the event will feature several great speeches.
Elk’s Lodge Veterans’ Day Spaghetti Dinner
Date: Monday, November 11th
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Oxnard Elk’s Lounge (801 South A Street, Oxnard)
Cost: FREE for Veterans, Spouses, & Kids (10 and under) | $6 for public
Enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner along with great prize drawings and giveaways, Live KADY Veteran Interviews, fun games of Bingo, and more!
Blake Mashburn THANKS all of the veterans within Ventura County and throughout this entire great nation for their years of service protecting us and our freedoms.
