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.
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/.
