Jennifer Ricco CDPE, PSC, WCR, e-PRO Stevenson Ranch, CA Real Estate

About Me:

I am a Keller Williams Realtor. I provide superior personalized service to all those I represent whether your buying, selling, leasing, making a local move or relocating out of state. I have your real estate needs covered.

A bit about me originally from Minnesota, I have lived in Southern California for over 23 years, making the Santa Clarita Valley home for the past 14 plus years. I am an active member of this community, I am a original committee member for our local Boy Scout Troop #499 out of Stevenson Ranch. I am also a member of the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce and the Women's Council of Realtors. While at RE/MAX of Santa Clarita I earned the Executive Club award. I am recently retired from the Los Angeles Police Department. I have devoted my life to serving others through leadership in my profession and in my community.

I specialize in residential real estate, single family homes, condominiums and investment properties. I am pleased to provide my professional guidance to assist you in evaluating you real estate needs. I listen to my clients and formulate a plan that is tailored to their specifics needs whether your buying or selling. My commitment in real estate is to give you the personal service you deserve from a name you can trust. As this market changes I change with it by continuing education, I am staying on top of latest real estate trends whether the market is up or down.

I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert, CDPE, with a Pre Foreclosure Specialist Certification, PSC. With many homeowners facing financial hardships I have found it critical to be able to sit down with you the homeowner and educate you on the current market conditions. With this evaluation I am able show you what these transactions entail having a system in place to get you on the path to recovery. Dealing with these transactions requires an agent that has taken the time to understand them from start to finish. Many agents shy away from taking short sale listings as well as showing their buyers homes in distress. I caution you if you are working with an agent that is not confident in these transaction, you need an Expert in your corner and by your side. If your facing a foreclosure you need an Expert not an average real estate agent. The great news is not only have I earned my CDPE desgination but my husband Gary has also earned the CDPE designation. We are Santa Clarita's Certified Distress Property Experts. www.SantaClaritaCertifiedDistressedPropertyExperts.com

I am e-PRO certified. This designation is specifically designed to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home as well as stay at the leading edge of technology and identify, evaluate and implement new Internet business models.

One of my focuses is to help law enforcement and military familes with both my husband and I having worn the badge and my husband also having served in the United States Marine Corp (Semper Fi). While our men and women are serving our local communities or our country I am here to help those families with what could be the largest and most daunting purchase of their lives with honesty and integrity.

Areas of Expertise

Are you headed to a foreclosure or your just thinking about walking away from your home... now what?!? There are solutions, you would like to help but are unfamiliiar with the short pay/pre forclosure process, let's sit down. As a retired Los Angeles Police Officer I have the skills to deal with the banks loss mitigation/home retention departments. Many agents dont want to take the time or are unfamiliar with the system itself, I have a system and team in place to access a homeowners situation and give them an honest confidential evaluation to see what can be done for them. The goal is to try to look at the situation without attaching the homeowners emotions. If viewing the situation from a strictly business viewpoint, one can more successfully analyze which option might best suit ones needs and desires and move you towards resolving your financial difficulties. One very important thing to remember: Time is of the essence, so sit and take serious thought of your situation and take quick action in order to allow yourself enough time to complete the chosen process. Before the process chooses you.

Let Me Introduce You To The Santa Clarita Valley

People continue to flock to the Santa Clarita Valley in record numbers, and for good reason. As one of the fastest-growing communities in both California and the nation, the Santa Clarita Valley is a destination of choice for people seeking both a family-oriented atmosphere and a business-friendly environment. Many say this valley is the brightest discovery in the Golden State. In fact, USA Today named Santa Clarita one of the nation's 100 best communities in 2007. Spend some time in this thriving community and you'll discover why so many families and businesses call it home.

City of Santa Clarita
Population: 177,418
Elevation 1,200 to 1,400 feet
Santa Clarita is a city that reflects all the best of the Golden State - past, present and future. Located in a picturesque valley south of the Sierra Pelona Mountains and north of the Santa Susanna and San Gabriel mountains, Santa Clarita is big, bold and confident in its growing role as a first-choice community for raising families and building businesses. Within 35 miles of downtown Los Angeles, it is a bustling urban area with a variety of industries, affordable housing, abundant jobs and easy access to the Los Angeles basin.

The majority of the population is concentrated in the City of Santa Clarita, which contains most of the communities of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus and Valencia. The City of Santa Clarita encompasses 46.7 square miles of the approximately 200-square-mile Santa Clarita Valley, which was named for the Spanish Saint Clare by the early padres and explorers.

A movement to establish greater local control over the valley's destiny began in 1969, when an editorial written in The Signal newspaper urged readers to unite. It took years to convince residents that becoming its own municipality would bring more political clout within Los Angeles County, meaning more tax dollars could be spent on providing much-needed infrastructure improvements in the booming valley. The independence movement took several forms, including a failed attempt at creating a new county. Critics of independence argued they would have to pay more taxes if the community became incorporated, but a citizens' committee successfully demonstrated that the proposed city's area was actually generating more money than Los Angeles County was spending in it and that if the city formed, taxes could be better spent right here at home.

Voters approved the formation of the new city on November 3, 1987. The City of Santa Clarita was officially created on Dec. 15, 1987, becoming the 85th city in Los Angeles County and the largest area incorporated in California's history.

The City of Santa Clarita is the fourth-largest city in Los Angeles County based on the 2000 Census, and it is the 25th largest city in the state. Based on 2001 statistics, Santa Clarita was the fourth fastest-growing city in Los Angeles County and the 14th fastest-growing city in California.

More business leaders are taking a close look at how the city has accomplished so much in so little time. The city has earned numerous accolades. Among them, California Business magazine named Santa Clarita the second best mid-sized city in the state in which to do business, and City & State magazine named Santa Clarita one of the top five "up and coming" cities in the nation. The city has consistently placed in the Top-10 safest U.S. cities with populations over 150,000 and within Los Angeles County, according to FBI statistics. The Ladies Home Journal rated the city as having the best government benefiting women. The special report ranked the largest 200 cities across the country in several categories, including: low crime, health care, child-care, lifestyles, jobs, education, government and overall best cities.

The Santa Clarita Valley is, in fact, Southern California's best-kept secret with its low crime, sunny climate and family-friendly environment. It's a great place to live, work, play and stay. Its unique blend of rural, old west heritage and urban sophistication has contributed to this fast-growing community's enviable balance of high-quality living and growth. That balance is carefully maintained through long-term planning and fiscal responsibility, community involvement, respect for the environment, and strong public and private support for business development. Santa Clarita's successes are evident in its residential neighborhoods and recreational attractions, in its business parks and its cultural, commercial, educational and health-care centers.

Canyon Country
Canyon Country has carved a unique identity apart from its neighbors to the west. It is the largest of the four primary bedroom communities that make up the City of Santa Clarita: Saugus, Newhall, Valencia and Canyon Country. The area started as a collection of rural homes nestled into canyons and smaller communities - Mint Canyon, Tick Canyon, Iron Canyon, Sand Canyon, Whites Canyon, Vasquez Canyon, Soledad Canyon, Honby, Pinetree, Forrest Park, Sulphur Springs and Solemint Junction. The area south and north of the Santa Clara River was renamed Canyon Country in 1968 by a residents' ballot.

Geographically, Friendly Valley and Serena Park are part of Canyon Country, as is prestigious Sand Canyon with its large estate homes, equestrian ranches and the new Robinson Ranch golf course community. Soledad Canyon Road, which runs through Canyon Country, is a primary retail boulevard surrounded by a diversity of residential neighborhoods, a Metrolink train depot and shopping centers. Some of the newer attractions along Soledad include an Regal-Edwards 10-screen multiplex and entertainment center, as well as the new Jo Anne Darcy Canyon Country Library, named after the councilwoman who retired from public office in 2002 after having served the city since its creation in 1987. College of the Canyons maintains an educational center in the library complex, bringing much-needed classrooms and a computer center into the valley's most populous community.

Pioneer Col. Thomas F. Mitchell started the first school in the valley in Sulphur Springs in 1872, while John Lang used the springs for his health resort and hotel. He has the distinction of shooting the largest grizzly bear on record, weighing in at a decidedly hefty 2,340 pounds.

Newhall
After several years of planning, Old Town Newhall is emerging as a thriving venue of unique shops, live theaters and unique restaurants. The most visible early redevelopment of the area occurred in the late 1990s when Railroad Avenue was renovated with period light fixtures and landscaping, followed closely by nearly a block of retail renovation to the structure that now holds the Repertory East Playhouse and El Trocadero Steakhouse. That same block south of Market is also the new home of the Canyon Theatre Guild, whose playhouse hosts some of the finest community theater found anywhere. Across Railroad Avenue is the third Metrolink station to open in Santa Clarita, the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station, named after one of the city's first council members.

The oldest and most historic community in Santa Clarita also features the Walk of Western Stars, a Hollywood Boulevard-style sidewalk that honors western stars and other noteworthy individuals; the Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival at the nearby historic Melody Ranch, a working movie ranch once owned by western legend and California Angels owner Gene Autry; William S. Hart Park, a county-run facility that also includes the home-turned-museum of silent western star William S. Hart, a petting zoo and expansive grounds; Placerita Nature Center; historic Heritage Junction and the historic Pioneer Oil Refinery.

Newhall was founded in 1876. Railroad tycoon Henry Mayo Newhall had a major influence on this valley's destiny, recognizing the impact railroads would have on the area. He bought the old del Valle rancho and sold the railroad right-of-way to the Southern Pacific railroad for $1 and a town site for another dollar. Southern Pacific named the little town after him.

Newhall was the setting for filming of the earliest western movies, and this heritage was maintained by silent western star William S. Hart, who bequeathed his famous home and property to the county. His home is maintained as he left it, and it is open to the public for tours. Originally an oil, mining and farming community, Newhall now holds a generous portion of the still-visible history of this valley.

Saugus
Until the late 1940s, when people moved west after World War II, Saugus was a sleepy little town surrounded by several large ranches. Today, the community caters to family living, with much of its development built along Bouquet Canyon Road, which extends through the picturesque hills all the way to the Antelope Valley, Seco Canyon Road and Copper Hill Drive. A recent residents' survey revealed that 70 percent of the homeowners want to maintain Saugus as a bedroom community and not a business-oriented area. The community is the home of the Saugus Speedway and Swap Meet, one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in Southern California; Castaic Lake Water Agency's new filtration plant and education center, and a large Metrolink Station adjacent to the speedway.

One of the newest additions to the community is the 40-acre Central Park, which includes many amenities such as lighted sports fields and some 500 trees. Phase 2 of the park opened in January 2003, boasting four additional sports fields, a new restroom facility, walkways and shade trees.

Parks have been a priority since the city was created. The city opened another park in 2001, in the Circle J Ranch area of Saugus. The 5-acre Circle J Ranch Park at 22651 Via Princessa includes a picnic area, walkways, trails and children's play area. Another neighborhood park, the 5-acre Pamplico Park, opened next to James Foster Elementary School.

Saugus also is home to the Mountasia Family Fun Center, a year-round entertainment complex that celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2005. The center is home to the only laser-tag arena in the valley. It also features video and redemption games, a rock-climbing wall, bumper boats, roller-skating and blading, go-kart racing and miniature golf. The complex also features a Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant, which offers a full menu as well as a variety of ice cream desserts. Mountasia also is a popular spot for birthday parties and corporate events.

The Santa Clarita Sports Complex, renamed the George A. Caravalho Sports Complex after the longtime city manager who recently left, features basketball, volleyball and raquetball courts, as well as a specially designed outdoor skate park. The complex recently underwent an expansion that introduced a teen center, arcade, arts and crafts room, dance room, computer room and various community and multipurpose rooms. The newest addition to the complex is an aquatics center, boasting three pools, including a 50-meter competition pool with a professional timing system, a 25-meter dive pool, and an activity pool complete with water play equipment and a 160-foot water slide. The recently completed $9 million facility also provides concession facilities and locker/changing rooms on its landscaped, lighted grounds. With plenty of parking and ample deck space for lounging, the Aquatic Center is sure to be a popular summer destination.

Saugus also has a connection to the man after which Newhall was named. In 1887 the Southern Pacific railroad established a second train stop at Saugus, which was named for Henry Mayo Newhall's Massachusetts birthplace. The term Saugus is Narragansut Indian, meaning "sandy spit of land."

The Newhall-Saugus area became Hollywood's back lot for filming westerns. Actors William S. Hart, Tom Mix and Gene Autry took advantage of the rugged and varied topography to create the visual traditions that would define the classic western. In fact, Saugus was the scene for one of the West's last train robberies - and it was not a fictional movie tale. In 1929 "Buffalo" Tom Vernon derailed Engine No. 59 and separated passengers from their valuables. The famous Saugus Cafe opened in 1887 inside the Saugus Train Station, and in 1905 it moved across the railroad tracks to where it stands today. Among the celebrities who have dined in the cafe were President Theodore Roosevelt, President Benjamin Harrison, the King of Spain, Clark Gable, John Wayne and California Governor Gage.

Valencia
Abiding by its slogan "Built as Promised," Valencia has been carefully planned, designed and built over the last 40 years and has become one of the most popular areas in Southern California for people to raise their families. Valencia is regarded as one of the nation's leading master-planned communities and was named one of the 50 best places in the U.S. to live in the publication "Fifty Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family."

Newhall Land has developed Valencia in accordance with a master plan created by legendary planner Victor Gruen in 1965. Rather than focusing solely on residential development, the community's master plan includes every aspect of modern life - diverse residential neighborhoods that are balanced by thriving work centers, top-quality schools, abundant recreation, dynamic shopping, dining and entertainment, and public services such as medical care, government centers, a library and more.

Partly located in the heart of the City of Santa Clarita, the community occupies a portion of the original 48,000-acre Newhall Ranch. It encompasses more than 15,000 homes, tens of thousands of jobs, and distinguished institutions such as College of the Canyons and the Disney-endowed California Institute of the Arts. These two institutions will soon be joined by the future campus of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Film and Television Preservation Center on 60 acres at McBean Parkway and Rockwell Canyon Road, between CalArts and College of the Canyons.

Also unique to the community is its extensive paseo system, a series of scenic walkways and bike paths that connect homes to shops, parks and schools. There are currently about 30 miles of these innovative paseos, which are featured within each residential neighborhood Newhall Land plans. The company has partnered with the City of Santa Clarita to build miles of trails along the Santa Clara River and its tributaries.

Valencia is renowned for its open space and abundant recreation. There are currently 11 parks, all built by Newhall Land, within the community, dozens of private neighborhood recreation centers and acres of natural areas and oak woodlands that the company has set aside as permanent open space.

Valencia is home to government, health care, dining and entertainment, as well. The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clarita City Hall, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, the county's civic center, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor, Westfield Valencia Town Center, Valencia Marketplace, Valencia Country Club and TPC at Valencia, California's first and only Tournament Players Club course, are all located here

Westfield Valencia Town Center, an enclosed regional shopping center, and Town Center Drive, a half-mile pedestrian-oriented retail destination, create the hub of shopping, dining and entertainment for the valley. In addition to three major department stores, Town Center is home to a mix of quaint boutiques, leading national retailers, great restaurants, the Hyatt Valencia and Santa Clarita Conference Center, a Spectrum Health Club, and major employers including Princess Cruises and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. The mall recently unveiled plans to undergo a major expansion, which would include a larger Macy's department store.

Newhall Land has also developed Valencia Gateway, a series of planned business and technology centers that currently provide more than 55,000 jobs. As the major employment center for the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia Gateway is home to numerous light industrial and manufacturing businesses, and is an established center for entertainment, production, and biotechnology-related industries.

Also in Valencia are numerous state and nationally distinguished elementary, junior and senior high schools, private child-care centers and Legacy Academy, a private elementary school.

Stevenson Ranch
Stevenson Ranch, set in the foothills of the Santa Susanna Mountains in the Santa Clarita Valley, offers wide-open spaces, breathtaking views, and a variety of home choices to suit a wide variety of family needs. An ideal community bringing families together to grow and experience the small-town spirit shared among neighbors, Stevenson Ranch fosters close-knit neighborhoods and family-oriented community-wide activities such as festivals and holiday celebrations. The 4,000-acre community of more than 8,000 homes features an estimated 1,000 acres of designated open spaces and parklands, and is close to various work centers and recreation.

Stevenson Ranch Elementary School, has been honored as one of the select few "California Distinguished Schools." One of community's newest schools is Pico Canyon Elementary School, which opened in 2003 at 25255 Pico Canyon Road. Education is a major concern of the community, and Stevenson Ranch provides unequaled education opportunities to its residents. Projected at the build-out of the community, a full spectrum of new educational facilities will be operational, including a middle school and a high school. Additionally, the new Dr. Richard H. Rioux Memorial County Park includes soccer fields, baseball diamonds, basketball, two children's play areas and an outdoor amphitheater.

Information courtesy of the Santa Clarita Resource Guide 2007-2008