Great News out of Oak Glen

Although not part of Riverside County, I can't help but be happy when I heard that the proposal by L.A.'s Mayor Villaraigosa and the L.A. Dept.of Water and Power to run gigantic power lines and towers through the treasured apple town of Oak Glen in nearby San Bernardino County has been squashed. Outrage along with thousands and thousands of letters, postcards, and calls to the Mayor's office has aided in detouring the L.A. contingent's controversial plan.

A celebration is planned up in Oak Glen this coming Wednesday, March 10th, with an announcement by L.A.'s DWP planned during the event. Here's to hoping the news was not premature by officials and apple growers of the Oak Glen region.

18 Month $52M Train Trellis Project on Magnolia to Help Traffic Flow

The final design to lower Magnolia Avenue under the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks in Magnolia Center is nearing completion. This project will shift the alignment of Magnolia Avenue approximately 50 feet to the west, and construct a two-track railroad bridge. Beatty Drive will be widened between Brockton and De Anza Avenues, and traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of Beatty Drive with Brockton, Magnolia and De Anza Avenues. Additionally, Merrill Avenue on the east and west side of Magnolia will be converted to a right turn in/out at Magnolia Avenue to facilitate traffic flow. The project requires relocation of water and electric facilities by Riverside Public Utilities, AT&T and Charter communication lines, gas lines, and relocation of over 6300 feet of sewer line to redirect sewer flows around the grade separation. Also, a storm water pumping station will be constructed. A temporary two-lane detour road on the east side of Magnolia Avenue will accommodate traffic while the railroad bridge is under construction. Construction is expected to start in fall 2009 and take approximately 18 months to complete.


(Courtesy of www.Riversiderenaissance.org)

Lake Hills Community Slide Show Courtesy of Animoto

Great New Facebook Fan Page Published for Lake Hills Homeowners and Future Homeowners

Lake Hills Community

It's finally up and running. Many of our local friends and clients had requested we create a Lake Hills Community Facebook page. You'll find it stuffed full of very useful community information, market trends and updates, open house announcements, price adjustment announcements, locally-oriented articles, and much, much more. Simply click the icon right above to sign in and become a fan.

There's also links back to this blog, our main website, and Twitter profiles. So, as you can see, there are plenty of resources for the Lake Hills homeowner or for the future Lake Hills homeowner. This blog is still the main source of real estate information and community topics for the city of Riverside.

Please contact the Baird Team at Keller Williams Realty for any additional help and guidance you may need with the sale of your home or the purchase of a new home in Riverside.

Riverside Hotel Tax To Fund Convention Center Expansion to be Considered

(From the Press Enterprise, dated February 21, 2010)

Riverside city leaders may ask voters to increase hotel taxes to pay for an expanded downtown convention center.

Officials are considering a 2 percent increase to the city's hotel bed tax, which is now 11 percent. The council plans to discuss the issue in March with the goal of putting a measure on the June 8 ballot.

Now that downtown amenities such as the Fox theater and Main Street mall have been upgraded, business leaders and council members have begun talking about how to draw more convention business.

City Manager Brad Hudson is expected to explain options and costs to improve the...............

(For full story click here)

New Lake Hills Community Fan Page Created

A new and exciting Facebook Fan page for the Lake Hills community of homes in Riverside has been created to give homeowners the kind of precise real estate information, statistics, and a variety of other community event information that they need to know about their community.

Created by The Baird Team at Keller Williams Realty of Riverside, customer service specialists dedicated to the Lake Hills community of homes, the new fan page is well laid out with up to date information on homes for sale, open houses in the community, up to date real estate stats that concern the community, and.............well...just take a look for yourself.

Zillow Shows Just How Inaccurate They Are

Here's a very enlightening accuracy chart(inaccuracy is maybe a better desciption) put out by Zillow on their own website. Keep in mind, these are figures tabulated by Zillow themselves for all to see. Take a look at how inaccurate they are for Riverside and their margin of error. They hide the link to this chart at... the bottom footer of their site.

What Zillow fails to provide, and is ultimately their failure in providing an accurate service to its viewers, is it's lack of knowledge that real estate agents and home viewers have regarding any particular home for sale. Zillow cannot see the interior of the home. Zillow is not familiar with neighborhood influences in pricing, for example the proximity to a better school or a substandard school. Zillow is not aware of one home's stellar lake view versus another homes only peekaboo view. Zillow is very flawed, although convenient for homeowners to rely on.....so they think.

Thank you Zillow for making our jobs as neighborhood real estate specialists easier when it comes to pricing a home and proving your service as just a convenience, not a standard.

If you are considering selling or purchasing a home in Riverside, please contact The Baird Team at Keller Williams Realty of Riverside for more accurate and reliable pricing analysis.

City of Riverside Neighborhood Map

You'll often hear Riverside residents talking about the area or neighborhood of the city that they live in. Well...here is a handy map showing you all of the neighborhoods within the city proper boundaries. You won't see sections like Lake Hills or Victoria Grove on this map because they fall under county jurisdiction. Lake Hills and Victoria Grove, had they been shown on this map, would be at the bottom edge just under La Sierra South and Arlington Heights.

January 2010 Average Sales Price for 92503 Zip code

These are pretty enlightening trends. It's to be expected that the average sales price on standard listings would be all over the place, and in turn that the average foreclosure sales price would hover around the $200,000 range.....a price point indicative for first-time buyers who during the peak of the market a few years back purchased for around $350,000 to $400,000. This is a great time to buy a home. Rates are still outrageously low, FHA guidelines are still pretty reasonable, and some time during 2010, we will see prices start to creep back up.

Price Reduced on Lake Hills View Home to $210,000 to $220,000

Riverside Real Estate Prices and Inventory Dip Slightly

After a week after week rise in the supply of homes for sale in Riverside, we are seeing a slight dip in the supply along with a drop in the average price by about $5000. For help and guidance in finding your new home in Riverside, Corona, or one of many wonderful communities, contact The Baird Team with your questions and our answers.

Riverside Real Estate Prices Up and Inventory Soaring

Take a minute to view the chart at the bottom of this page. It is a week by week update of theaverage home price in the greater city of Riverside, and the number of active home listings. As you can see, the average price has crept up a little to around $305K, but the number of homes listed has more than doubled.

For more detailed updates on the specific Riverside community you are considering purchasing or selling in, please contact The Baird Team for the proper guidance and help.
www.bairdteamrealty.com

Open House in Victoria Grove Today from 11:00 to 3:00

Wonderful Bank-Owned Opportunity in Lake Hills

Here's a brand new bank-owned listing just listed for sale in Lake Hills West. Great starter home with new carpet, new paint, with a price of $229,000. Please contact The Baird Team at Keller Williams for a private viewing. This one won't last long. Finding a bank-owned property in this condition is rare.

Corona's Fender City Music Lessons

In nearby Corona, on Main Street, resides the Fender Center Museum. Click here to see a great video of the legendary Steve Miller performing on stage with one of the 10,000 kids who have been able to get free music lessons at the center over a 10 year period because their parents were kind enough to volunteer their time at the center. Every local guitarist should make a point to visit the center if they haven't already done so.

http://inlandempire.kijiji.com/homes-for-sale/riverside/victoria-grove-view-home-just-reduced-seller-to-entertain-all-offers/?ad=1824555

http://inlandempire.kijiji.com/homes-for-sale/riverside/victoria-grove-view-home-just-reduced-seller-to-entertain-all-offers/?ad=1824555

Super Bowl Open House in Victoria Grove a Success

It was pointed out by many visitors to our open house today in Victoria Grove, that we appeared to be the only agents holding an open house in the entire communities of Lake Hills and Victoria Grove. My thanks to our team members who put aside time before the Super Bowl to put our clients first, and indeed make it a success.

Although foot traffic at open houses on Super Bowl Sunday is expectantly lower, our focus on providing our clients a 10+ customer service commitment is something we guarantee and don't cut corners on. Therefore, we have always made it a standard practice to take advantage of special days like today's Super Bowl celebration to promote the sale of our clients' homes with little if any competition around us.

Please contact The Baird Team for answers to your questions, and the kind of guidance and help you must have in today's real estate market. Whether selling your home in the City of Riverside, or looking to purchase a home in any of our nearby communities, our knowledge of Riverside real estate is at your service.

Victoria Grove View Home Open House Sunday 2/07/10 From 10 to 2:00

No One is Allowed to charge up front for loan mod

Click the link above for the interpretation of California Senate Bill 94 which prohibits anyone from collecting up front fees for loan modification services, regardless if an attorney or not. Anyone soliciting these up front fees should be reported for these predatory practices

Lake Hills a Vision Like the Emerald Isles

This time of year brings the deepest of green hues to the over 500 acres of open space that are that remind local Lake Hills and Lake Hills Reserve homeowners, and visitors alike that they are in one of the city of Riverside's treasured communities.

Three Cheers for a Traffic Light Between Stater Bros and Ralphs

It only takes one crossing from the Ralphs Market parking lot at Indiana and La Sierra to the Stater Brothers lot just on the other side of Indiana, to experience the challenge and treachery that comes with risking your life trying to make the crossing. One only has to observe the panicked looks from drivers who have no other choice than to floor their gas pedal when making the crossing. We've seen several serious accidents in the last year, with one fatal. The intersection at la Sierra and Indiana Avenue has become a busy one during peak hours. Not only that, the line of cars waiting to exit the Stater Brothers lot to turn left towards La Sierra can get extremely long as each driver makes a decision to either gingerly make the crossing or take their chances by gunning it. City officials need to seriously review traffic risks at this junction, the same way they would at other more traditionally scrutinized locations.

Lake Hills Popularity Soars From Two New Schools in 4 years

Interest in available homes for sale in the Lake Hills Community of Riverside, and its more upscale sister community up the hill know as the Lake Hills Reserve, is as strong as ever. Although the supply of homes for sale has been low up till recently, an increased supply of available standard listings and short sale listings has anxious home buyers looking to take advantage of historically low interest rates and low prices excited and expecting to find their new home in the hills.

Please contact The Baird Team at Keller Williams Realty of Riverside for more details, and help and guidance in finding your new home.

UC Riverside on Track to Open New Medical School

Scheduled for completion by the fall of 2012, this will be the first such facility in 4 decades. In 2013, Riverside Community Hospital will complete a $400 million expansion to include a nine story tower and parking facility. Finally, Riverside City College is adding a two story nursing school.

The medical industry is huge in Riverside, and only getting larger.

Have a medical industry job lined up, but need to find a home? Contact the Baird Team for help and guidance in finding that home.

17th Annual Riverside Dickens Festival

This upcoming weekend of February 6 and 7, the city of Riverside will be hosting its annual feast to everything Dickens, with street entertainment, concerts, Victorian era reenactments, and much more. Downtown Riverside will be active with festival fare beginning Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.. Click the link above for ticket information and details.

Lake Hills View Home Open House Sunday Jan.31 from 10 to 2:00

Amazing views from Riverside's showcase hillside community of Lake Hills. Great price for the location.

Open House-View Home For Sale in Lake Hills

OPEN HOUSE: This Sunday, January 31, from 10:00 to 2:00. Wonderfully located in a cul-de-sac among the hillsides of Lake Hills with majestic views from the master suite, family room, kitchen, and patio. Great home for first time buyers, small families. Wood flooring on first floor, kitchen island and garden window. A short sale listing that needs some TLC, but a great value for a home in one of Riverside's most sought after home locations. A short walk to 2 of the community's private parks. New Lake Hills Elementary School, and soon to be Hillcrest High School.

For a private viewing or more information, feel free to contact The Baird Team at Keller Williams Realty of Riverside.

Press Release from HUD Clarifying Financing Policy Changes

Click above or click here for the press release issued January 20, 2010 by HUD to clarify the changes in their financing guidelines. More detailed information than our previous post, which everyone considering purchasing a home this year should read to know how their options may be affected.

For further help and guidance through the financing jungle and towards the purchase of your new home in the city of Riverside, Corona, or one of our nearby communities, contact The Baird Team at Keller Williams Realty for the kind of solid help and trust you must have in your home search.

FHAs 90-day Flipping Rule to be Waived for One Year

Great news for all of you looking to invest in real estate in the city of Riverside!

You have to take the good with the bad sometimes. After battling to stomach the proposed FHA financing guidelines that will restrict scores of currently qualified buyers from buying a home, effective February 1st 2010, FHA/ HUD will not require that a seller of a property be on title for 90 days or more in order to sell the property to a borrower acquiring FHA financing.

This is commonly referred to as the 'flipping rule', and was initially put in place to fend off the rampant speculation that was in great part the fuel that fed the artificial price appreciation over the expanded sellers market of years past. From a simple economic perspective of supply and demand, that kind of aggressive and some may call abnormal real estate market, cannot be allowed to rise again from the ashes. If any lesson is to be learned from our mistakes of recent years past, it is that a normal real estate market with expected rises and dips in demand and price will help guard against housing collapses like the one we are currently experiencing.

Thinking back to all the times I was asked how long that 'hot' sellers market would last, I would often refer to the cliched expression of "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." With a twist and now dead-on interpretation of that cliche, it became more of a warning. Simply stated: "The higher they go, the further they'll fall." Believe me, I didn't feel good about being right in this case.

Nonetheless, this move by the FHA/Hud is a positive one that will no doubt help bring needed investment in to the housing market. For guidance and help towards obtaining financing and your new home in the Riverside real estate market, contact the Baird Team for the solid experience and trust that you must have from your agent.

Potential FHA Changes

A report from a December 2nd Congressional hearing detailed testimony from HUD Secretary Donovan and FHA Commissioner that they expect FHA to announce changes that although are designed to ensure FHA's long-term financial stability, will make it tougher and more expensive for borrowers to obtain FHA loans and will logically and economically reduce the number of eligible borrowers.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Increase the current down payment from 3.5% to 5%
• Raise the upfront premium from 1.75% to as much as 3%
• Eliminate the ability to roll in to loan that up front premium
• Increase monthly MIP from .55%
• Reduce seller concessions from 6% to 3%
• Raise minimum FICO score(credit score)
• Possible LTV(loan to value) maximums by FICO score
• Increase accountability of FHA lenders for fraud

These changes are expected to be implemented within a couple of months, and will no doubt motivate scores of serious buyers considering their purchase, as well as would be buyers, to expedite their decision and not only take advantage of the $8000 Federal Housing Tax Credit that will also expire early this year, but to qualify for financing before the new FHA rules go in to effect. The new guidelines, once in effect, will for the most part negate the incentive that the $8000 tax credit was designed to create.

If you are considering the purchase of a home in Riverside, Corona, Norco, or other communities withing the greater Riverside area, please contact The Baird Team for guidance and the proper help in finding your new home and obtaining financing before these adverse changes take effect.

The Storied History of Riverside's Treasured Victoria Avenue

As a follow up, here is a great link to the city of Riverside's site page all about historic Victoria Avenue, with a great video that tells the story of its rich history and meaning to the city. Homebuyers looking in Riverside can enjoy this wonderful street with bike and walking paths, and lush landscaping full of tall shade trees and citrus lining the 4 mile long parkway.

Saving the Citrus Heritage of Riverside's Greenbelt

City officials in Riverside are preparing to market a new water rate incentive to residents and commercial nurseries throughout what's known as 'The Greenbelt' to help preserve and promote the city's proud history in the citrus industry. By offering reduced water rates to those businesses and residences who plant orange trees along their perimeter, the move will not only save the average area nursery in the range of $300 per month on water, but will revive what has been a steady decline in a major industry in Riverside.

In 2003, the city had already begun requiring any new development along Victoria Avenue to plant three rows of citrus trees along the street.

A casual drive along Riverside's historic Victoria Avenue, long considered one of the city's treasures, brings back memories of a time forgotten by some, and unknown altogether for the average newcomer. Lined and divided with an interesting mixture of Eucalyptus, palms, Cedars, citrus, and much more, it's easy to forget that you're within one mile from the nearby freeway for most of the drive.

Worth a visit, Victoria Avenue can be easily accessed near its western entrance just a few blocks south of the 91 freeway at the La Sierra Avenue exit, and is a wonderful short cut for residents of Lake Hills and Victoria Grove to travel to eastern portions of Riverside.

Riverside may lend hotel developer $20 million | Riverside | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Riverside may lend hotel developer $20 million | Riverside | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Scaled back from an earlier plan because of the economy, but much needed towards the continued revitalizing of the downtown Riverside area.

Site for the new Fox Performing Arts Center

Need more details about finding a new home and life in Riverside, Corona, and the surrounding community? Contact The Baird Team for more help in guidance.

2007 Article on Riverside Renaissance Revisited to Show Progress

Take another look at this article from the Press Enterprise, taking an early perspective of the plans to revitalize the downtown Riverside area around the Mission Inn and court district as part of the Riverside Renaissance program.

The treasured Fox Theater has been refurbished and reborn as the Fox Performing Arts Center, with Sheryl Crowe breaking ground as the initial performance of the theater's new era.

Improvements are in process at Fairmount Park.

The pedestrian mall has been completely renovated, and in time for this past Christmas and the Mission Inn's popular annual Festival of Lights.

Live/work condos are nearing completion just east of Mission Inn Blvd on Market Street.

Riverside is still a popular destination for first time and seasoned home buyers looking for value and quality of life, with home styles and price ranges to fit every buyer's needs.

Contact The Baird Team for more information on home availability and finding your new home in Riverside or one of its surrounding communities.

North Hills is newest historical district in Riverside

24 homes near Fairmount Park are included in the city of Riverside's newest historically designated neighborhood of homes known as North Hill.built in the 1910s and 1920s, homes located in the distrit will be required to keep the look of their property faithful to the same time period in which the neighborhood was developed.

Rates on 30-year home loans fall to 4.99 pct

Rates on 30 year fixed mortgage loans have fallen again for a third straight week

Great Views a Coming at the Top of Lake Hills

The weekend of January 23rd and 24th, after the rains have cleared, the views from the top of Lake Hills and the Lake Hills Reserve should be amazing for those who make the drive to the top. There are vantage points that allow wondrous views of the entire Riverside area and Corona, plus those spectacular mountain views that Lake Hills homeowners are lucky to have.

Official site of the Riverside Renaissance

Here is great way for prospective home buyers in the city of Riverside to find out everything happening in the city's Riverside Renaissance program. From road improvements to complete area revitalizing, you will find everything you need to see that the city is serious about improving the overall quality of life for its residents and work force. This is the official city site covering all issues and updates of the program.

The Baird Realty Team at Keller Williams Riverside is poised to assist any and all home buyers with their Riverside home search, to make the home buying process less stressful and much more productive.

Press Enterprise Riverside Renaissance info Page

Click on our link to the left in the sidebar, or on the link above, for complete details on the city of Riverside's Renaissance program and the improvements and projects within the program that are included and slated to revitalize the city.

Live From the Red Carpet at Riverside's Fox Theater

It has arrived. Here's video from the gala grand opening of the new and improved Fox Theater(Fox Performing Arts Center)

Updated Real Estate Stats for city of Riverside

Don't forget to scroll down to bottom of our blog to see the latest trends in Real Estate for the city of Riverside. You'll see the trends for the average listing price for homes including shorts sales, bank owned properties, and standard listings. Click on the 'Inventory' tab for a look at changes in the availability of homes. Keep in mind that the laws of economics play a big part in pricing. For example, low inventory in lots of buyers puts upward pressure on the pricing of homes. Right now in the city of Riverside and the surrounding region, inventory is 'low'.

Great News for Southern California

January 16th, 2010, 12:01 am
Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Southern California home prices increased as much as 10% this year — a departure from his earlier predictions that prices would increase in the 3% to 5% range.

Yun, who once called an earlier double-digit forecast for Orange County “bubblish,” told the Register he’s changed his mind about Southern California. Since demand for foreclosures and lower-priced homes has been so great, he sees a possibility for higher appreciation rates.

“It’s clearly now a seller’s market,” Yun said. “It’s not the case in other parts of the country.”

Sat/Sun-1/16-1/17: Fox Performing Arts Center Public Showing

Reminder to check out the public preview of the newly renovated city of Riverside landmark, the Fox Performing Arts Center from 10:00a.m.to 4:00p.m.this saturday and sunday

Fox Performing Arts Center Grand Opening Eagerly Awaited

Riverside’s beloved Fox Theater in downtown is having its open house to the public on Saturday and Sunday, January 16 to 17th before its inaugural show with Sheryl Crowe later in the month. Here is an old photo of the Fox from the early 20th Century. Upon its grand reopening, the theater will take on the new and more fitting role as the Fox Performing Arts Center, and will play host to well known artists such as Ms. Crowe, Natalie Cole, Benise, and Bill Cosby.

The Center will be a much needed local attraction fitting in well with the City of Riverside's Renaissance program, which once approved several years ago, made way for the revitalizing and modernizing of many loved but well worn locations throughout the city. The new Fox Performing Arts Center offers a more intimate audience environment with its seating capacity of roughly 1500.

Lake Hills and Riverside Anxiously Await new Hillcrest High School

Residents of Riverside’s treasured hillside community of Lake Hills anxiously await for the completion of Hillcrest High School, the city of Riverside’s newest major education construction project. The new school is currently in its initial grading stages, and is scheduled tentatively for an August 2011 completion date.