Gene Wunderlich - Realtor®, Government Affairs Director

A recent evening found companion and I headed for a local theatrical opening and in need of a some fortification. For a little something different, we stopped by Texas Loosey’s, cousin to legendary Temecula steakhouse Texas Lil’s, for a little down home cookin’. Loosey shares parentage with Lil, some menu items are the same and the servers are equally comely – all good things.

Texas Loosey’s menu is pretty extensive and includes some Country Salads, Tex-Mex Specialties, Fishy Things and of course Ribs & Steaks and Trail Boss Favorites. For a little lighter fare there’s also some hefty burgers, chili spaghetti, chili tamales, chili fries and one offering called ‘The BIG Weenie’, a ½ lb. foot long dog smothered in chili, cheese, onions and tomatoes. It’s not a diet special.

From their ‘Out of the Shoot’ appetizers, we decided to try Pedro’s Poppers. I don’t know where Pedro gets these things but they are the hugest jalapeno’s I’ve ever seen. These monsters are lovingly hand-stuffed with cheeses, battered, deep-fried and served piping hot to the table with a little ranch dressing. While these poppers are indeed huge, they are surprisingly mellow and darn tasty. Other appetizers include their signature Ceviche, riblets, twisted onion rings and the Texas Egg rolls that have been a staple at Texas Lil’s for years. To serve up a passle of cowboys, you might want to order the Rodeo Sampler, a heapin’ helpin’ of all these favorites plus nachos, taquitos and more.

There are so many tasty sounding treats on the menu that it’s not easy paring your selection down. How to choose between Sierra Maria Tri Tip, Baby Back Ribs, sizzling Texas Style Fajitas or Spicy Meat Loaf featuring lean ground Buffalo meat. We grilled (heh-heh) our very helpful server but she was no help at all. “Everything is good here – maybe you should try the Bullrider Combo where you can get a steak and shrimp, or chicken and ribs, or Mahi Mahi and Sirloin or…” Thanks for the help.

Companion thought the Stuffed Sirloin Steak sounded like a winner. It’s 12 oz’s of ground Sirloin stuffed with Bleu Cheese, grilled to perfection and topped with sautéed mushrooms, grilled onions and  a few more Bleu Cheese crumbles. Mmmmmm. Served with a baked potato and cornbread, this is one tasty and filling meal.

I was roped in by the Baja Stuffed Shrimp. These large gulf shrimp are stuffed with crab meat and cheese, wrapped with bacon, deep fried and served on a bed of Jasmine rice, steamed vegetables and cornbread. Yep. It’s as good as it sounds.

Now there are times when you feel like just a steak or just shrimp and the unadulterated flavors thereof. But then there are the times when you feel a little adventurous and want a few taste buds ticklers stacked together. This was one of those times and these meals just fit the bill. The combination of sirloin, bleu cheese, mushrooms & onions is hard to beat, but bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with crab and cheese is a close second for tasty flavor pairings. Fortunately companion was willing to share a bite or two (grudgingly) of the stuffed sirloin and I was forced to reciprocate by sacrificing a couple of my shrimp.

I’ll also mention that Texas Loosey’s offers a full bar along with some house specialty drinks, Margaritas and a herd of custom martinis like the Dirty Cowgirl, 2000 Flushes and a Flirtini. Woooo- woooo. Their draft beers are served ice cold in oversized glasses and include Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada and DosXX.

Needless to say, after an adult beverage or two, stuffed jalapenos, stuffed sirloin and  stuffed shrimp, companion and I were, ahem, stuffed – but pleasantly so. Better yet, we didn’t have to mortgage the ranch to pay the tab. Dinner and drinks for two plus a great performance by the Murrieta Repertory Theater set us back less than a C note, and that’s not a bad night out.

In addition to being reasonably priced, Texas Loosey’s also has Happy Hour every day from 3 – 7, Two-fer Tuesday when a meal and 2 drinks includes a free second meal and a 60+ club that’ll land you a couple free meals after joining up for free. Lots of good stuff. Located in the Tower Plaza, Texas Loosey’s is back behind Starbucks where Rockin’ Baja used to be. If you’re visitin' Temecula looking to wrassle up some good grub fer a fair price, it’s worth stoppin’ by. You can reach them at (951) 694-8119 or check into www.TesasLooseys.com.

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta and the Southern Californias Wine Country.

Every community can be defined, in part, by the variety of fine arts and entertainment its residents enjoy. In the Temecula Valley one of those defining factors is The Musicians Workshop. Founded in 1998 by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin, the Musicians Workshop was started not just to provide music to the community, but as a means to encourage talent within the community, by nurturing and training our young people. The center has evolved from a simple music education facility to a full-on contemporary Children’s After School Performing Arts and Music Education Center providing programs and events throughout the Valley.

“The Musicians Workshop plays a vital role in offering students after-school performing arts and music education programs that have, for the most part, been downsized or eliminated by our public school system”, according to founder and CEO Jon Laskin. “There are so many talented young people in our area who would not otherwise have the opportunity to explore and develop their abilities and enrich their own future and that of our community.”

The Musicians Workshop currently offers 17 programs starting with children as young as 3 years of age. Programs focus on vocal and instrumental music training, musical theater and drama, orchestra, jazz and blues bands as well as the recent introduction of art and painting. More than 1,000 young people participate in Musicians Workshop programs every year. In a very exciting new addition, Jon has expanded the reach of Musicians Workshop to include a program for at- risk teens, providing a musical focus away from their destructive impulses. During e recent concert, one of the young performers burst into tears telling Jon that in 14 years it was the first time he had ever seen his father proud of him. Another program, recently featured on ABC's BIG GIVE, involves an ongoing effort to reach children with autism and Down's Syndrome through music. "I can't take away their disability," says Jon, "but I can give them music and a way to express their joy." 

Over the years Musicians Workshop has produced students and alumni who have competed in national events including Star Search, America’s Most Talented Teens, and a recent performance on American Idol, to name a few.

In recent years, Musicians Workshop has expanded it’s contribution to the community as well. Student talents are showcased weekly with performances at both the Promenade and Bel Villagio centers as well as frequent appearances at charitable events. The Musicians Workshop also plays host and founder of the Temecula Valley International Jazz Festival, the annual Gospel Music Workshop and Concert and the very successful In-Home Concert Series, which features upscale music performances by well known artists in intimate venues.

As a result of their commitment to music education and preservation, Musicians Workshop was also the recipient of more than 10,000 pieces of music and memorabilia from the widow of legendary jazz composer Chuck Niles – which makes the center a destination for international jazzophiles.

For more information on this exceptional community resource, visit their website at: http://www.musiciansworkshop.org/

The name Temecula comes from an old Luiseno Indian word commonly translated as 'Where The Sun Breaks Through The Mist.' It conjures up images of sun drenched rolling hills, snow capped mountain peaks and fresh ocean breezes - in short, an area that might lend itself to the cultivation of vineyards and the production of fine varietal wines.

Less than 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles lies Southwest Califiornia and the Temecula Valley Wine Country. Rolling hills covered with vineyards, expansive views reaching to 11,000 foot high mountains, air swept by ocean breezes, and a unique micro-climate ensures a premier opportunity for vintners to explore their craft. Warm summer days combine with evenings cooled by mists of ocean breeze and a moderate 1,500' elevation to produce some of the most ideal condition for wine growing in the entire country.




With our oldest wineries dating back a mere 30 years, the Temecula Valley Wine Country is just establishing itself as a viticulturists destination. With more than 20 boutique and specialty wineries to visit, a tour of the Temecula Valley Wine Country can stretch from a languid afternoon to a fun-filled week or more.

Even though our wineries have grown up a lot in the past few years, one of the most fun things about visiting here is the small scale and friendly atmosphere you'll encounter. It's not unusual for the owner and/or winemaker (often one and the same) to guide a tour themselves or take time to pour your tastes and talk to you about their wines, why their wines are named for their children, or their children are named for their wines, why their family pet is critical to the aging process and why Friday night harvests are best. If you're here during the harvest or crush, you might get to see the process up close, maybe pick a few clusters yourself and taste the fresh juice as it runs from the grapes.

They'll tell you

Most wineries boast dining facilities ranging from simple cheese and cracker accompaniments to full gourmet dinners with custom wine pairings. Some evenings you will find musicians playing softly on the patio or serenading diners, weekends will find full blown jazz concerts under the vines featuring some of today's hottest musical talent. (Like this shot of Dave Koz & Cris Botti at Thornton's Winery.)

While you'll find robust Cabernet's, buttery Chardonnays and spicy Merlots, you'll also find a wide range of varietals as well, including Malbec's, Syrah's, San Giovese's and fine sparkling wines. We're not snooty but we make darn good wine.

If you're looking for something fun and different to do next time you're in Southern California, spend a few days with us in the Southern California Wine Country. Take a balloon ride over the vineyards in the morning, go wine tasting in the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing dinner overlooking the vineyards and take in a casino show that night. Call me if you need a tour guide. I like to help any way I can - just give, give, give - that's me.

For more information or to make reservations, please visit the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association.

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta and the Southern California Wine Country.

Well the numbers are out and once again it's not great news for the Inland Empire. While numbers were cautiously positive across the country, including most areas of California, the Inland Empire lagged in both sales volume and median price. It's clear why our median prices continue to slide - the number of bank-owned properties coming on the market has continued at a strong pace and rumor has it we'll see another bubble of these homes hit us in May-June as the next wave of rate resets take their toll.

What's less clear is why our sales continue to lag even when the rest of the state and country seemed to have a better month (although you can't predicate any forecast on a single month of stats). In spite of attractive interest rates and a vast inventory of homes available at 2003 prices, I think people here are just scared that another shoe is going to drop. As quoted in the article which appeared today in The Press Enterprise, I am cautiously optimistic based on the number of sales Realtors in my office are putting on the board as well as my personal experience.

I am currently working with a first time buyer who is excited about the availability of FHA loans again in our market and the number of choices they have to look at. We've even had the experience of being up against multiple offers- in one case 11 offers in 2 days. These are all on bank-owned homes so there still isn't much relief for the average home seller out there - but it's a start. My other buyers are folks I've sold three or four homes for and to over the years, most recently a smaller home back when the market was headed up. At that time he purchased a 1,290 SqFt home for $316,000. Now that he's married again with kids, they have been looking at homes 2,800 to 3,500 SqFt for about the same price he paid for the small one 4 years ago.

Hope your markets are looking up this spring. Use your local media to get the positive message out.

Source: http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_homesales25.37381f0.html

Riverside and San Bernardino counties bucked the nation's and state's surges in sales of existing homes from January to February.

The California Association of Realtors reported a 7.4 percent month-to-month sales decline in the two-county region. February sales of existing Inland homes also declined 17 percent compared with a year earlier, and the median home price fell to $289,660, 27.2 percent lower than a year ago.

Steve Johnson, a director with MetroStudy, a Riverside-based real estate consulting firm, said he believes the Inland region did not share in the month-to-month sales gains in February because of a great reluctance among lenders to finance new mortgages in the area out of fear that prices will continue to tumble and foreclosures will continue to mount.

"They (lenders) think there is still softness in this market, and they are concerned about where the values are. So it is very hard to get loans finalized," Johnson said.

Still, Gene Wunderlich, president of the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors and a Coldwell Banker agent in Murrieta, said this month he has noticed an increase in home buying interest and in the number of homes going into escrow.

"Year-to-year numbers are down and the median price is down, but I think we are starting to see a little bit of relief out there," he said. "We are starting to see first-time buyers come back into the market because they don't want to miss the bottom before prices or interest rates start back up."

Nationally, sales of existing homes increased unexpectedly after six months of decline, but private economists say it is too soon to say the prolonged slide in housing is ending.

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Temecula, Murrieta and the Southern California Wine Country.

Don't wait to buy real estate - Buy real estate and wait.

It's time for a look back at the numbers that made our market last year to see where we've been and where we're headed. Right now with the number of Lender Owned Homes on the market and the continuing foreclosure activity in the Valley, it's difficult (but not impossible) for individual home sellers to compete profitably against the deep pockets of the banks.

However, as you can see the slowing trend in home sales in the region, we are entering one of the best Buyers markets we've seen in 20+ years. A qualified Buyer is KING right now and with prices back to 2004 levels and an inventory of homes ready for occupancy, it's hard to imagine a better time. Pool homes, big single stories, view homes, homes on acreage, granite counters, South facing homes on a cul-de-sac with an even numbered address and a street name beginning with a vowel - you name it, it's available to look at - and probably a few models of each so you really have a choice.

If you'd like to take advantage of this market to move up yourself or simply pick up some investment property to hold until the market comes back, call me today for ideas on how to make this happen without losing your shirt.

This is that time you swore you'd take advantage of if you only had the chance again. Remember?

Gene Wunderlich - Selling Southwest California Homes including Murrieta, Temecula and the Southern California Wine Country.

Don't wait to buy real estate - Buy real estate and wait.

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