Oak Park, CA Recreation and District News
No Smoking In Parks: Hurray!! In its January 2008 board meeting, the Parks Distrct Board of Directors voted to make all district parks in Oak Park smoke free. One exception was made, and that is that a smoking permit for the patio adjacent to the Oak Park Community Center may be requested when renting the facility for a special event.
Oak Park Dog Park: A publice hearing will be held by the Oak Park Recreation and Park Planning Committee to further consider the possiblity of constructing a dog park in Oak Park. Two location choices at Oak Canyon Park were discussed previously. Residents of Oak Park are encouraged to attend teh meeting and share their thoughts about this project. I am a dog owner, and I think it is a great idea! Let's get the dogs away from the parks at the schools, where the kids are stepping the dog messes! Not every dog owner cleans up after their pooch! The public hearing will be held at the Oak Park Community Center and Gardens, 1000 N. Kanan Road, Oak Park, on April 10, 2008 at 7:00 PM.
Oak Park Recreation Programs: The new Spring 2008 brochure is out, with lots of classes to choose from! Classes range form Spanish for preschoolers (how fabulous to start learning a foreign language at age 3), tot sports, activities for Spring break, baby sitting classes, youth/teen classes in art, sports, and fitness, up to adult and senior activities. And speaking of dogs, above, there is a puppy training class too! Click here to register online!
Click here to go to Carol's web site and learn more about Agoura, Oak Park, and Westlake Village, CA
Is The Real Estate Market Picking Up? Real Estate Information For Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake, CA
Okay, so this is not scientific information, or a true statistical analysis with beta analyses and reporting of standard deviations, or anything (especially since I hated statistics, both on an undergrad and graduate level). jthis is ust a gut feel. And the answer to the above question seems to be yes. Agents in my office, Coldwell Banker Residential, Westlake, with over 200 agents) myself included, seem to be busier, out showing more properties to more buyers.
Homes that have been on the market for awhile are going into escrow. (This includes a property in Westlake that was listed at $13,900,000 that finally went into escrow after over 2 1/2 years on the market!). In January of this year, 2008, 26 properties in Oak Park, Agoura, and Westlake went into escrow. Compare this to December 2007 when 2 homes went into escrow, or a year ago, January when no homes went into escrow. (From Ventura County MLS, Rappatoni, information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)
What does this mean for buyers and sellers? For buyers, my advice is to get off the fence. The real estate market is still good for buyers. Prices are still low, interest rates are low. However, you want to buy before the market hits bottom, whenever that may be. (And no ones knows, no bell is rung at the bottom.) Prices are still down, as are interest rates. Once the market is perceived as going up, you, the buyer, have lost your strength as a negotiator.
For sellers, hang tight. The desire to live here in the Conejo Valley, especially the communities of Oak Park, Agoura, and Westlake continues to be strong because of the excellent schools and the warmth and safety of the neighborhoods. Your home will sell. Price it well. Hire a realtor who will market the property aggressively, and a strong negotiator. And remember, Carol Lee, your realtor in Agoura, Oak Park, and Westlake, will get you where you want to go.
About Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills, in Los Angeles County, was incorporated into cityhood in 1982. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, it is rich in rolling hills and canyons, yet is only 45 minutes from busy downtown Los Angeles. It is a unique suburban community, committed to the preservation of its history, high quality of life, and environmental sensitivity. The area has one of the lowest crime rates in California.
Demographics. As of the 2000 census, there were 20,537 people, 6,874 households, and 5,588 families residing in the city. with 6,993 housing units. The median income for a family was $97,765, the per capita income for the city was $39,700. More than half of the poulation over the age of 15 has a college degree.
History. The area was first settled by the Chumash Indians and later by the Spaniards. In the 1920's, the community was briefly known as Picture City, as Paramount Studios owned a ranch in the area used for filimg Westerns and TV shows, such as MASH. To obtain a post office of its own, the residents were required to choose a one word name, and in 1927, chose a mispelling of the last name of Pierre Agoure, a French immigrant who had setteld in the area in 1871. The construction of the Ventura Freeway, (the 101) through the heart of the city led to rapid growth. The first housing tracts were Hillrise, Liberty Canyon, and Lake Lindero. Schools were built, and downtown was erected.
Employment. Agoura Hills has a strong, diverse regional economy. In addition to the local retail shops, businesses and entertainment, there are several major industries such as biotech, agriculture, healthcare, insurance, and telecommuncations in the area. Major area employers include Walt Disney and other studios, Amgen, Countrywide, HealthNet, Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL), UCLA, University Of Southern California, (USC) Los Robles Medical Center and other hospitals and medical centers.
Housing. All types of homes may be found in the Agoura Hills area, including: townhomes, single-family homes, condominiums, apartments, estate homes and equestrian-style ranches. Prices of homes in Agoura have sold in the last 6 months range from $200,000 for a condo to $3,200,000 for a 6500 square foot newly constructed home. The average sales price of a single family home in the 6 months ending Feb 3, 2008 was $1,230,575, the average sales price of a condominium or attache townhome for the same time period was $374,000. (Information from VCRDS, rappatoni from 8/7/07-2/3/08. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.) See what is currently for sale on the Ventura County MLS.
Schools Agoura Hills is part of the Las Virgenes Unified School District. In Agoura Hills there are four elementary schools, (Lupin Hill, Sumac, Yerba Buena, and Willow) one middle school (Lindero), and one high school (Agoura High School). Several of the schools are National Blue Ribbon winners, and are very high achieving schools.
Recreation/Entertainment
Agoura has many parks: Forest Cove Park, Morrison Park, Old Agoura Park (with nearby equestrian trails), Reyes Adobe Park, Sumac Park, and Chumash Park with facilites for baseball, basketball, softball, playgrounds and picnic shelters. Mountain biking is popular in the many mountain trails in the area. Agoura is sometime called the "Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area" which covers over 150,000 acres of land.
If golf is your thing, Lake Lindero Country Club offers a par three executive course, known for its challenging narrow fairways. For the theatre lover, there is the Stage Door Theatre and the Canyon Club Dinner theatre that also offers rock concerts. The Civics Arts Plaza in nearby Thousand Oaks offers live theatre, music, lectures, and other entertainment. There are several movie theatres in Agoura and neighboring communities. The "Concerts in the Parks" program offers free outdoor concerts in the summer, and the City of Agoura Hills offers many classes and activities through their Recreation Program. Numerous restaurants offer a variety of cuisines.
When you are ready to venture beyond the borders of Agoura Hills, there is no limit of what there is to do in the playground that is in the Metro Los Angeles area. Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor are all easy day trips from Agoura. If you are interested in Museums, you can visit the Getty Museum, Los Angeles County Museum, the ronald Reagan Museum in Simi Valley, or others. You can play in the ocean in Malibu, go on the Ferris Wheel at the Pier in Santa Monica, or check out all the characters at Venice beach. Mountain High Ski resort is also a short day trip from Agoura. The exlusive area of Santa Barbara is just 60 miles north of Agoura.
Agoura Hills, an excellent place to live. Carol Lee lives in the area, knows the area, sells the area.
Is It The Right Time To Sell My Home?
Real Estate Information- Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake, And All Of The Conejo Valley
Sellers are starting to ask if now is the right time to put their homes on the market, or if they should wait until later in the Spring. Why wait? If the house is fixed and ready to be sold, put it on now. Selling a home in the Conejo, or anywhere, is similar to sales of other commodities, in that prices are a function of supply and demand. Inventory typically goes up in the spring, so you will have more competition in selling your home, dropping prices even further. Also, home buyers that are looking in winter (and this is winter for us even though spring bulbs are breaking through in the garden!) tend to be serious buyers. There have been countless articles in the media stating prices will drop further in 2008. I do not believe that the market here in Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake and other parts of the Conejo is the same as the market in Stockton, that has gotten such bad press. Many families still want to move here from the San Fernando Valley because of the excellent schools. Oak Park Unified School District continues be be very highly rated, as do other local schools. Interest rates are also down, at the moment, making it easier to sell a home.
In short, if you are thinking of selling your home in the Conejo Valley, or elsewhere, jump in and do it now! See my web site for more information about Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake, and Conejo Valley Real Estate.
INFORMATION FOR HOME BUYERS AND OTHERS ABOUT OAK PARK, CA
General Oak Park Info. Oak Park is a wonderful community of approximately 15,000, located in southeastern Ventura County. It covers an area of roughly 4 sq.miles, half of which is comprised of open space and parks. The climate is "California Mediteranean", with warm dry summers, and cool, rainy winters. The beautiful scenery of the hills and open space, the 20 minute drive to the famous beaches of Malibu, the accessability to shopping, dining, entertainment and downtown Los Angeles, and the award winning Oak Park Unified School District all make Oak Park a fabulous place to live.
Oak Park offers a variety of housing options- apartments,condominiums, and single family dwellings. The original Oak Park homes sold for $23,000 in 1968! The average selling price of a single family home for the last six months was approximately $831,000. the range was from $550,000- $1,621,000. (Information from CVAR Rappatoni, as of 1/27/2008. Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.) The community, when it was founded, attracted many buyers from the San Fernando Valley and other areas, as it still does today.
Oak Park Schools. The highly ranked Oak Park School district is one of the reasons for Oak Park's popularity. It has its own school district, separate from Los Angeles and the surrounding area districts. It has been ranked in Newsweek as in the top 100 of high schools nationwide. We now have 1 preschool, 3 elementary schools (k-5), one middle school (6-8), a high school, an alternative high school, and a home school program. With its dedicated teaching staff, and its involved parents, it is a school system that cannot be beat.
Parks, Sports, and Recreation. There are now seven parks in Oak Park- Mae Boyar, Oak Canyon Community Park, Deerhill, Valley View, Indian Springs, Chapparal, and Eagle View. (remember, this is all in a 4 sq mile area!) Ammenities in the parks include age appropriate play areas, barbecue and picnic areas, ball fields, tennis, and archery. Medea Creek is a park in itself, and there are many hiking trails as well. The trails are maintained by Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District. More information about the parks is available at http://www.rsrpd.org/.
Because of its proximity to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, there is no end of fun things do in the area. The Thousand Oaks Civics Arts Plaza offers plays, concerts, and other programs. There are many excellent golf courses in the area, including Sherwood County Club, One can go on studio tours in beautiful downtown Burbank, see Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disneyland in Anaheim, or check out the rides at Six FlagsMagic Mountain in Valencia. It is close enough to visit the Los Angeles Zoo, the Getty or other Museums, or go on a day trip to Santa Barbara and see the msiion and other sites there.
For more information on the area, or to see any of the lovely homes in the area, contact me now!
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Carol provides superior personalized service. She is appropriately assertive, hard working, focused, and detail oriented. She combines acute business acumen with sensitive, caring people skills.
I have been living and working in Oak Park, CA, in the Conejo Valley, since 1990. Oak Park is located in Ventura County, in Southern California. My first profession was as a registered nurse (I am older than I look!), so I know how to listen to and take care of people. I have a Bachelor's of Science Degree from Boston University, and am very detail oriented. I never push or rush my clients, as I understand how large a financial transaction buying or selling a home is, and how scary it can be. I have very vivid memories of my first home purchase!
My value as a realtor in working with buyers is to listen to what they are saying, help them prioritize their needs, then go out and help them find that home at the Best Possible Price. With my sellers, I want them to get the Highest Possible Price, and keep as much of their money in their pocket as possible. To do that I market the property extensively primarily on the internet as that is where most buyers start their homes search, but also within the brokerage community. I have strong negotiating skills, and a strong sense of the local market and inventory. I am always honest with my clients, (sometimes to a fault!), and by their side throughout the complex process of buying or selling a property.
No deal is too small for me to work with a client- we all need to start somewhere! My business grows with referrals, so I always want all my clients to be happy. And they are.
My area of expertise is geographical, rather than a price range or type of buyer or seller. I work in an area of southern California called the Conejo Valley, in Ventura County. This encompasses the areas of Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake, Newbury Park, including Dos Vientos, and Thousand Oaks. I have also had clients and work in Calabasas, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch, Moorpark, Ventura County and into the San Fernando Valley as well.
I have worked with many single mothers, first time buyers, repeat buyers and sellers, and investors. I tailor my approach to meet the needs of the individual client.
FROM S.C., THOUSAND OAKS, CA:
Carol Lee is a realtor with persistence, kindness, honesty and integrity. My husband and I met Carol at an open house just as we were beginning our search for a home. Carol was interested in our needs, and had numerous options emailed to us that very evening. We took many months over innumerable outings to view homes, but I never once felt any pressure from Carol to rush our process; rather, she was extremely supportive, encouraging, and attentive to our likes and dislikes in order to help to focus and objectify our search. She is knowledgeable about the housing market and about the local properties, and resourceful in getting information for us. We are very grateful for her experience, and are looking forward to celebrating with her in our new home!
FROM K.B. OAK PARK, CA
Working with Carol Lee was a wonderful experience. She made me feel that she would take care of my side of the deal without any worries. She was completely on top of things and kept things moving without putting any pressure on me, which I really appreciated. It was a pleasure doing business with Carol and I will definitely keep her in mind for any future purchases.
FROM G. G. THOUSAND OAKS, CA: Carol, we cannot thank you enough for all your help with our most recent real estate transaction. We have bought and sold several homes in the past, but until we worked with you, we never realized what it meant to work with a true real estate professional. Read more about Buying or selling a home with Carol Lee.
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