Kathy Smiley

The real estate market in Thousand Oaks, CA as of December 19, 2011:

354 Active Listings

71 current Pending Sales

24 Sold Closed transactions since 12/1/11

Total Dollar Value $10,278,400

Average selling price $463,250 (includes attached and detached homes)

Median Days on Market: 69 / 86 days

Unlimited Property Searches available. The City of Thousand Oaks, located in beautiful Ventura County, 12 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, is nestled against the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounded by more than 14,800 acres of natural publicly owned open space. This open space contains 75 miles of trails for hiking, biking, or just leisurely walking. While this natural acreage gives our community the best of nature, another source of pride in our community is the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Opened in 1994, this jewel of cultural arts has become a beacon for our region featuring world-class entertainment, musicals, concerts, children’s shows, ballets, and much more. Thousand Oaks, a family-oriented community of 128,000, is home to excellent schools, outstanding parks, and myriad shopping opportunities, including the largest auto mall in the nation, according to J.D. Powers and Associates.

Incorporated in 1964, Thousand Oaks is a master planned community at its best. City services which other communities only dream about such as a city-owned library, teen center, senior center, cultural center, quality infrastructure, and natural open space is due to thorough planning by the City’s past councils and leaders.

The Real Estate market in Thousand Oaks remains strong as the city is considered well managed and fully built-out. The quality of life is high here in the Conejo Valley - we are the "City in the Country"!

If you are considering making a move to Southern California, browse the real estate listings for The City of Thousand Oaks and our neighboring & connecting communities in the Conejo Valley: Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Simi Valley and Moorpark.

For Real Estate "Results That Will Make You Smile", contact Kathy Smiley for experienced and personalized service today!

THOUSAND OAKS, CA MARKET UPDATE

A total of 29 homes closed escrow from January 1 through February 15, 2011, in zip code 91362, which encompasses the east portion of Thousand Oaks, CA and Westlake Village (north of the 101 Freeway).

1 two-bedroom home sold at $515,000 with 2,057 square feet after being on the market 257 days.

6 three- bedroom homes sold at an average of $504,000 with average of 1607 square feet, 69 average days on market.

15 four-bedroom homes sold at an average of $711,142 with average of 2,669 square feet, 88 average days on market.

7 five-bedrooms homes sold at an average price of $1,509,000 with average square feet of 4,693 and 167 days on market.

Grand total 29 all-bedroom homes sold at an average of $852,659 with average square feet of 2,916 and 107 days on market.

For current information on homes for sale in the Thousound Oaks area, please visit my Listing Book website! Search like a Real Estate Pro!

What to do with a selling client who thinks their way of decorating is the best? Call in a pro - that's what I did today. I have a seller preparing to go on the market and the house is bulging with stuff! Marcia Smart came in today for 2 1/2 hours, we went through room by room, corner by corner, took quick notes, snapshots. Viola! The owner "gets it" now, and it was economical. The owner got a handwritten blueprint and I will pop over during the weekend to make sure they are on the right tract.

Thank you, Marcia! You were pleasant, tactful and skillful. AND my client listened to you, because YOU are the expert!

Okay, we don't look forward to it... But the view outside is looking spotty and smudgy.. smurky... dull. Well, after this next rain, it's time! Especially if you are putting your home on the market!

To clean the large windows in most California homes, first you need quality window-washing tools:

* Clean cloths * Newspaper * Bucket * Whiskbroom or brush * Stepladder or step stool Washing Windows

Next, prepare:

Be sure you have removed or repositioned the shades, blinds and curtains, then dust frames and sills off.

Wet your window with the sponge side of a rough two-sided sponge, then flip to the white scrub pad side, and scrub the window. Keep scrubbing until it sparkles, otherwise you'll have dull, streaked windows when you're all done.

With the squeegee, soak and swipe each pane. At the end of each stroke, wipe the squeegee's blade clean with a lint-free rag. Cloth diapers or old linen napkins are perfect for this task. Remove any water remaining on the edges of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois, which soaks up wetness without leaving streaks. Dry the windowsill with a rag.

Now, wash or wipe the frames and wills and dry them.

Tip: Do not use too much solution!

(For another cleaning solution, try just a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water — the less suds, the better.)

* To keep water from getting inside the frame of pictures and framed mirrors, hold a piece of heavy paper or cardboard against the frame on the inside edge.

CLEAN WINDOWS WILL MAKE YOUR WORLD SPARKLE!

(Of course, you can always call Brian's Window Cleaning Service in the Conejo Valley communities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Camarillo, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Ventura, in Southern California, (805) 495-8564! Check Brian's service out at www.brianswindowservice.net). He has been in business for 30 years and BRIAN KNOWS WINDOWS!

The Conejo Valley Parks and Recreation Department and the city of Thousand Oaks, CA, is expanding and improving the Oakbrook and Oakbrook Highlands tracts by making additions to the 14 acre neighborhood park. It's going to be such an asset to the community! Walking trails, expanded grassy area, picnic area, trees and some limited parking are some of the improvements being constructed right now.The work should be done by mid to late summer. Such a nice thing for the community!