Penny Sargent, Realtor, CDPE,#01180805 Call me with your So Cal referrals

Summer Road Trips near Temecula, CA

Advice for Parents

Summer wouldn’t be summer without family vacations. And often this involves family road trips. With so many great road trip destinations near Temecula, I would encourage anyone able to make one this summer.

But first I wan't to address the age old caveat of family road trips: Are we there yet?

Yes, the long trips in the car with the kids. You may be thinking that this won’t be problem. But for anyone who has done it before can attest, planning is everything. Before you embark on your summer road trip, arm yourself with a few of these kid pleasing activities and ideas.

Activities that might make the road trip smoother:

• Scavenger Hunt: Prior to your trip, create a list of things for your children to look for, for example; a horse, Mini Cooper, Motel 6, motorcycle, pond, strangely colored home or a city sign name. Play around with your list to coordinate with the scenery on your road trip to keep things exciting.
• Name State Plates: Print out a map of the US before your travels, and let your children learn as they keep track of the different state license plates they identify. They'll have fun searching out plates from all over the country and might just learn something about U.S. geography, as well.
• Next State/State Capital Game: If the kids run out of license plate states, turn them over to the next game. Ask them to think of another state to name, or ask them to keep tally on who can name the state’s capital.
• Cards & Board Games: Take your favorite card and/or board games along on your road trip! If you have room, store these in the back seat. Board games with lots of small pieces might not be the best idea, but simpler ones work great.
• Electronic Games and DVD’s: Of course very convenient, but truthfully, how many times can we all hear the Mario theme song in our heads or realize we can recite most of the lines from all of the Toy Story movies? So while this works great, it’s nice to have some old-school road trip diversions on hand for the kids.

But it’s all worth it…

While the planning and execution of family road trips can be excruciating, those hours spent with your little ones will make memories to last a lifetime. As a child growing up, and now as a mother, I have countless fond memories of road trips with my family.

Here in the Temecula Valley, we are central to so many fantastic destinations. Temecula is within 2 hours or less to countless places that people travel far and wide to experience. We have them at our fingertips this summer! Here are some of my favorite southern California road trip destinations near Temecula:

• Camping/Fishing:
  
  • Big Bear – Big Bear Lake, CA
    
  • Vail Lake – Temecula, CA
    
  • Wilderness Lakes – Menifee, CA
    
  • Julian – Julian, CA

• Amusement Parks:
  
  • Disney Land – Anaheim, CA
    
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain – Los Angeles, CA
    
  • Knott’s Berry Farm – Buena Park, CA
    
  • Lego Land – Carlsbad, CA
    
  • Castle Amusement Park – Riverside, CA

• Beaches:
  
  • Oceanside
    
  • Carlsbad
    
  • La Jolla (check out the tide pools!)
    
  • Santa Monica

Whatever you do this summer, have fun and be safe. If you take your family to any of these fantastic Temecula road trips. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family, friends & I have over the years. We are so lucky to live in this ideal location. No need to get on a plane… All you need for a great family vacation near Temecula is a good old fashioned road trip. (As long as they kids get through the drive!)

Free Murrieta Trash, Debris and Junk Dump Day 2011

Is it time to get rid of that extra trash and those unwanted bulky items? The City of Murrieta will be providing a Free Murrieta Trash, Debris and Junk Dump Day from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday June 18th, 2011.

Acceptable Items and Services for Murrieta Residents:

• Excess trash, debris and junk
• Old appliances, electronic devices & furniture
• Free document shredding for residents
• Old tires (no rims)
• Inoperative vehicles (call prior to schedule pickup)
• Hazardous materials (see below for details)

I hope all Murrieta residents who need to de-clutter and remove excess trash, debris and junk from their properties find this information helpful.

The trash collection site is located at 2nd & Kalmia.

If you want to learn more about Murrieta or view the many affordable homes for sale in Murrieta, visit http://www.seetemeculacahomes.com/community/area/Murrieta, email me, or call me at (951)294-7917.

Penny Sargent, Realtor® provides an exceptional level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in the Temecula Valley. Visit www.SeeTemeculaCAHomes.com to search for homes in Murrieta, Menifee, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester and surrounding communities. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate in our area, contact Penny Sargent, (951) 294-7917 DRE#01180805 Keller Williams Realty.

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

More US Homes Become Rentals - Data for Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Hemet and Perris, CA

Our 2010 U.S. Census data revealed that almost 35 percent of occupied homes were rented in 2010. This is an increase of 33.8 percent from 2000, according to a USA Today analysis of U.S. Census data of more than 500 midsize and large cities.

Since the peak of the housing market in 2006, the number of renter households has grown on average, by 692,000 a year and the number of owner households is shrinking on average, by 201,000 a year, according to the Census data.

Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Hemet and Perris were included on the list of over 500 cities (with a poulation of 50,000+ people).

To see data for other cites throughout the state and country, visit USA TODAY | Housing's More than 500 cities see more homes become rentals.

To view the many affordable homes for sale in , including Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Hemet and Perris, visit See Temecula CA Homes, email me, or call me at (951)294-7917.

Penny Sargent provides an exceptional level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in the Temecula Valley. Visit www.SeeTemeculaCAHomes.com to search for homes in Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Perris, Menifee, Sun City, Wildomar, Winchester and surrounding communities. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate in our area, contact Penny Sargent, (951) 294-7917 DRE#01180805 Keller Williams Realty.

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Home Sales Prices - Riverside County April 2011 - Including Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee

The following Chicago Title Update outlines Home Sales Prices for all of Riverside County in April 2011. As your local expert in the Temecula Valley, I would like to summerize activity in Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee.

• In Temecula, there were 151 Home Sales in April. The average home sales price in April was $299,362.
• In Murrieta, there were 159 Home Sales in April. The average home sales price in April was $269,370.
• In Menifee, there were 72 Home Sales in April. The average home sales price in April was $190,938.

To view the many affordable homes for sale in the Temecula Valley, including Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee, visit See Temecula CA Homes, email me, or call me at (951)294-7917.

Penny Sargent provides an exceptional level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in the Temecula Valley. Visit www.SeeTemeculaCAHomes.com to search for homes in Murrieta, Menifee, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester and surrounding communities. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate in our area, contact Penny Sargent, (951) 294-7917 DRE#01180805 Keller Williams Realty.

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Murrieta 20th Birthday Bash - Brought to you by Penny Sargent, Realtor®

Murrieta is turning 20! And the city of Murrieta is inviting its residents to celebrate in style at the Murrieta 20th Birthday Bash! The event will take place on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at California Oaks Sports Park from 2pm-9pm.

• At 2:00 pm - Event Begins & Rides Open
• At 4:00 pm - Fireman's Hosedown
• At 5:00 pm - Opening Band - Stepping Feet (Dave Matthews Tribute Band)
• At 7:30 pm - Headlining Band - Joshua Tree (U2 Tribute Band)
• At 9:30 pm - There will be a Fireworks Spectacular!

This is an event that will be fun for all. I look forward to seeing many of you there. Murrieta is a fantastic community full of enthusiasm. Let's all share in this celebration and be proud residents, as Murrieta celebrates its 20th Birthday Bash!

If you want to learn more about Murrieta or view the many affordable homes for sale in Murrieta, visit http://www.seetemeculacahomes.com/community/area/Murrieta, email me, or call me at (951)294-7917.

Penny Sargent, Realtor® provides an exceptional level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in the Temecula Valley. Visit www.SeeTemeculaCAHomes.com to search for homes in Murrieta, Menifee, Sun City, Temecula, Wildomar, Winchester and surrounding communities. If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate in our area, contact Penny Sargent, (951) 294-7917 DRE#01180805 Keller Williams Realty.

*Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.