“Only someone who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression” (Miles on Wine) - Remember the movie Sideways? Miles and Jack’s week-long bachelor party in Santa Ynez Valley? They took us around the Santa Ynez and Los Olivos area, with stops in Buellton’s Hitching Post II, Fess Parker’s tasting room, a lot of talk about Pinot Noir, all while in the midst of lots of drama. A simple story line to follow with deep complexities to think about.

Forces are coming together for an interesting show in the real estate industry. Inflation has increased to new highs of roughly 8.5%, interest rates have climbed by about 2% versus a year ago, GDP fell for the first time since the second half of 2020, all while consumer spending levels remain high (these levels may wane now that Fed Reserve prepares to shrink its $9tn balance sheet). We are expecting that all these forces at play will eventually catch up with the residential real estate market and buyers will again enjoy the next cycle of a buyers’ market.

Overall March 2022 saw average home prices increase versus last year, days on market decrease, and again we continue to see an increase of new listings versus the previous month, a trend that we believe is here to stay throughout the Spring/Summer selling seasons.

Ojai, located just about 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, and with the Topatopa Mountains as a backdrop, the drive there alone on Hwy 33 takes you to a different place before you even arrive in this idyllic town of roughly 8,000 residents. It’s serene, quiet, and welcoming, offering a myriad of locally-owned shops, farm-to-table restaurants, art galleries, and meandering trails that give you front row to the mountain range and the Ojai landscape. The town offers a wide range of hotels, from high end resorts such as the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, with its charming restaurants including the Farmhouse that has an impressive repertoire of visiting chefs, to quaint B&Bs hidden behind courtyards and walking distance to Downtown Ojai.

Federal Reserve increases Rates by .25% (25bps)…

What does this mean for the homeowner or potential first-time home buyers?

Well, California’s home prices have seen one of biggest growth in home equity (by dollar value), thus giving the state the lowest rate of “negative equity” (sellers under water) across the nation, keeping the California housing market robust and competitive. According to C.A.R., demand remains unexpectedly strong with homes selling above listing price in short periods of time.

BHAUS eight March Newsletter is here! Check your inbox or click on link below to get the latest on our local real estate market, mortgage and economy news, and a special "chat" regarding SHORT SALES for our investor community!

Relocating to AZ? Looking for a vacation home? Prescott is a vibrant community bustling with art & music festivals, great cuisine, and an awesome outdoor lifestyle. This Prescott home is modern living at its best in the Prescott pines, just minutes away from the Courthouse Square & downtown Prescott.

Our team is growing!

Fun and work at this modern farmhouse in Rolling Hills Estates never stops! This equestrian property has an abundance of outdoor space featuring an enormous deck with built-in BBQ, an area for dining al fresco, and unmatched views of the Botanical Gardens which provide priceless privacy for this equestrian family.

For our equestrian clients, Rolling Hills Estates offered the life in the farm they had been dreaming of. Raising 3 horse-loving girls (inspired by their mother's love of riding), they would make the trek from Manhattan Beach to RHE many times a week for riding lessons. When this magnificent 2-acre horse property came on the market, they knew immediately it was their forever home.

The Mar eBrokers #RealEstateChats are a resource for all our clients and prospects to find different ways to add value to their homes. We love thinking outside the box and introducing ideas that can be carried out by homeowners when thinking about listing their home. Many of the ideas don’t call for a big upfront monetary investment, but are little details that a homeowner should pay attention to in order to increase their home value regardless of other outside market forces.

Today’s chat is about home organization and de-cluttering as a means of improving how a home “shows”, which could lead to more interest from qualified buyers, and ultimately to a great offer! For the best ideas, we teamed up with Lucy Milligan Wahl, the founder of LMW Edits LLC, a professional home organization business headquartered in San Francisco.

Are you thinking about taking advantage of today’s low interest rates to buy, but not sure what safety precautions to take to protect your health? It’s still possible to tour homes and complete a home purchase while observing health protocols. Here are some of the things you can do to stay safe…

When it comes to furniture and design, we love an eclectic aesthetic where a good creative eye can juxtapose modern and vintage styles, layer a room with texture, color, and pattern, while maintaining a minimal, clean look.

Most recently, I decided it was time to update my dining room buffet. The question was to either buy an already-made piece of furniture, or have one custom-made to fit the space. I already had other fun pieces I had previously purchased and were scattered throughout the great room, so I decided I needed a custom-made piece to ground the dining room.

SoCal residents also enjoy the ease of weekend trips within and outside of the state, given the proximity to many beautiful and historical places. This last weekend, the Mar eBrokers RE team happened to embark on a weekend trip to Prescott, AZ for some overdue R&R.

Channeling Paris in Tuscany, Lake Elsinore

Channeling a Parisian chic space, this Tuscany Hills (Lake Elsinore) home remodel by our fun and talented clients and friends is what dreams are made of! Brass accents, white stone countertops, and a coffee bar that beats any Starbucks design (and coffee too!)

Our clients just finished their amazing remodeling in Westchester! We are excited to reveal their kitchen, bar area, and laundry room pics and can’t wait to see the transformed spaces in person!

The real estate market fairy is on your side when you do prep work before listing! Our savvy client in San Diego just received multiple offers and went into ESCROW in less than a week!

How did she do it? Click below to get the scoop!

Bold, strong, and stimulating. These are the words that best describe this transformed modern space, as well as the homeowner herself!

While this space had a small footprint, it is big in personality and creative use of space, finding a place for herself and her yoga and writing endeavors!