Just as our local communities have evolved, we've seriously considered for the past several years how we could someday "give back" and "finish well" - expressions that can mean a lot of things to different people.
As part of our research into opportunities for service, in early 2013 we contacted a Peace Corps recruiter who helped us start our journey. But our new path wasn't going to be as straight and easy as we thought!  And so we began a transition into something completely different from the routines we've known for the past 30 years - and have begun a path that's leading into the exciting unknown.  This will be our story!
 
	
	 
     By Don | April 6, 2009
     
     	
	
		In January, Leslie and I sensed there weren’t as many homes for sale in Ventura – more of an anecdotal feeling than scientific analysis. I remember checking in late January that there were 200 single family homes for sale in Ventura (Realtors call it Area 20 in the MLS – not to be confused with Area 51 in Nevada…!). Then in mid-February I decided to formally check and track inventory levels for Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo. Here’s what I found. Read the rest of this article »
   
	    
    
	
     
    
	
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     By Don | April 6, 2009
     
     	
	
		Over the weekend I caught up on my Wall Street Journal reading, and Friday’s column of  “Heard on the Street – Financial Analysis and Commentary” had a title that caught my eye – “Dream Mortgage Bailout Has a Darker Side”. Hmm, I thought. What’s that all about?  Read the rest of this article »
   
	    
    
	
     
    
	
				Comments Off on A P.S. to previous post about interest rates	
	
 
 
	 
     By Don | April 3, 2009
     
     	
	
		Is a bird in the hand worth 2 in the bush? I was musing at my desk this morning about all things real estate, the stock market, the jobs loss report and the incredibly low interest rates out there. So I asked myself, which is better? To buy today with today’s low interest rates (with the possibility prices may still decline 5%), vs. the idea of waiting for prices to stabilize and then start up (but that interest rates will have climbed back to “normal” to compensate for that stabilization). Here’s how the numbers look…
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     By Don | April 1, 2009
     
     	
	
		 Yesterday, the California Association of Realtors (CAR) copied a page from Detroit by announcing a mortgage protection program for first time homebuyers. Earlier this week, GM and Ford announced the same concept for car buyers concerned about buying a car but uncertain about their job in this economy.  Keep reading for all the details…
Yesterday, the California Association of Realtors (CAR) copied a page from Detroit by announcing a mortgage protection program for first time homebuyers. Earlier this week, GM and Ford announced the same concept for car buyers concerned about buying a car but uncertain about their job in this economy.  Keep reading for all the details…
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    Filed under article topic: 
Home buyers 
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     By Leslie | March 30, 2009
     
     	
	
		 We did it! 9 REO (bank owned homes) in about 90 minutes! Following our first time homebuyer seminar last Thursday, Saturday’s caravan was intended to show a variety of neighborhoods, price ranges, and condition of homes (some gorgeous, some “fixer uppers”) in Ventura. We call it “speed dating” because we’re into and out of each home FAST – 5 minutes max!
We did it! 9 REO (bank owned homes) in about 90 minutes! Following our first time homebuyer seminar last Thursday, Saturday’s caravan was intended to show a variety of neighborhoods, price ranges, and condition of homes (some gorgeous, some “fixer uppers”) in Ventura. We call it “speed dating” because we’re into and out of each home FAST – 5 minutes max!
   
	    
    Filed under article topic: 
Foreclosures,
Home buyers 
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