click here to sign-up for my email newsletter I just recently heard of Critical Mass, an event that is typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where bicyclists and other self-propelled commuters take to the streets in mass. The groups seem to have little to no centralized organization and pride themselves on their autonomy. I appreciate the simplistic approach to the idea of getting together in mass to celebrate bicycling. Of course the underlying message of alternative transportation and lifestyle that is conveyed to those who wittiness a Critic Mass group, whether on purpose or not, is a definite step in the right direction. The Costa Mesa Critical Mass group meets at Rooster Cafe at 6pm on the last Friday of each month. Click here to add Critical M... 05/16/2008

click here to sign-up for my email newsletter CITY OF COSTA MESA P.O.BOX 1200CALIFORNIA 92626-1200 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER PRESS RELEASE January 9, 2008 “Green” Fee Waivers Currently Available Through June 30, 2008 The City of Costa Mesa is currently offering fee waivers for green installation and express Planning and Building Division Plan checks through June 30, 2008. Under the City’s Build Green Incentive Program, all or a portion of the fees will be waived for green installations of solar panels, skylights, domestic tankless water heaters, grey water systems, and similar conservation technology. A rebate may also be offered for green certification. Build Green plans will also be given priority in processing along with the option of preferred morning or afternoon inspecti... 05/16/2008

2008 CM900 Wine & Food Tasting 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 2008 South Coast Plaza Village Green 1631 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana (corner of Sunflower & Bear St.)   Featuring A selection of domestic and imported fine wine labels and A taste of South Coast Metro's best restaurants Entertainment             Live and Silent Auctions Raffle Mauna Lani Resort, Hawaii, 3-master suite House for 7 nights compliments of Orange County Market Place Event Price: $75 per person   Raffle Price: $25 per entry Proceeds will benefit Assistance League Newport-Mesa Serving children throughout the community for over 60 years.  www.alnm.org  For tickets contact the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. 05/15/2008

IT TAKES TWO TO HARMONIZE!  Whether you are buying a home or selling one, it is likely that once an Offer To Purchase is on the table, you'll enter a phase of the transaction called Negotiation.  Fear not - this is how both sides "win."  By following a few reasonable recommendations, both parties can turn Negotiation into Agreement.  It's best to begin with a fair asking price and a fair offer.  Sellers, don't shoot for the moon. Buyers, don't lowball on a home you really want.  Overpricing is a turnoff to potential buyers, while low offers may meet with outright rejection.  Next, understand and respect each other's priorities. Seller won't budge on price?  Perhaps they would pay more of the transaction fees. Buyer urgently needs quick possession?  Perhaps they would forgo some repairs... 05/14/2008

Happy Mothers Day to the worlds greatest mom! Love Garrett and Jackie and of course the dog! Have a great day. We love you very much. We promise to wash your car and the dog this Sunday as part of your present. Don't send a lame Mother's Day eCard. Try JibJab Sendables! 05/08/2008

61ST ANNUAL COSTA MESA/NEWPORT HARBOR LIONS CLUB FISH FRY61st Annual Costa Mesa/Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry!!! Fish dinners!!!! Stage Shows!!!!!!! Baby Contest!!!!!!!!! Prize Drawing!!!!!!! And so much more! me out for tons of food, fun, games, rides & entertainment on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday June 1. This event will be held at 18th Street & Lions Park - the same location as always!!!!!! Saturday hours are from 11am - 10pm and Sunday from 11am - 9pm. Mark these dates on your calendars now so you don't forget, this event is definitely a local community favorite!Be sure to come down for the great fish and hamburgers!  See you at the event! Larry Weichman, 714-241-4532. OCRepoBroker.com  05/07/2008

Buyers in Costa Mesa, this is your opportunity to take advantage of the high rate of foreclosures in Orange County! In the coming months, foreclosures are going to dominate every market in Orange County, and affect housing values in every neighborhood. Throughout the county, there are currently 5954 bank-owned properties, with another 3801 up for auction and 8723 in a state of pre-foreclosure. In Costa Mesa alone, there are 239 pre-foreclosures, 92 auctions, and 136 REOs, meaning the number of foreclosed properties is only going to increase over the course of this year. What does this mean for you? The high number of foreclosures means a large inventory of properties that banks are eager to sell. In Costa Mesa, the amount of time it will take to sell this abundance of inventory is 9 mo... 05/05/2008

Historical Market Activity for Costa Mesa, California - 92627 - 3/2004 - 3/2008   Market Activity Index Graph Inventory Levels slightly lower from the same time last year Average of 26 properties sold per month Absorbtion Rate of 11.8 Price Per Square Foot SOLD price per square foot down to pre-2004 levels Average Price Per Square foot peaked at $578 to a current low of $363 SOLD Inventory - Days on Market Graph Current average is 85 days on market Active vs. Pending vs. SOLD graph While sale volume is down from the peak of the real estate cycle in 2005, sales still remain consistent.    If you are thinking about buying or selling your home in Costa Mesa, contact Sandra Carlisle at (949) 500-0482 or send an email to SandraCarlisle@firstteam.com. 04/21/2008

What's going on in Costa Mesa, Calfornia - 92626 - Market Report   Looks like we are having some price stabilization in this wonderful pocket of the OC.  Take a look at this Price Per Square Foot Graph and notice what has been happening for the past five months... Active vs. Pending vs. SOLD History Lowest Seasonal Inventory Levels since May 2006 SOLD Inventory - Days on Market Graph Market Activity Index Absorbtion Rate of 9.6 Average Number of SOLD homes each month, 22.   If you are considering buying or selling your home in Costa Mesa, contact Sandra Carlisle at (949) 500-0482 or send me an email at SandraCarlisle@firstteam.com.  04/21/2008

Mike Pahua | The Pahua Group - Fairview Realty | info@brokeroc.com | 949-309-2400 2554 Elden, Costa Mesa, CA Eastside Costa Mesa Real Estate 2 Bdrm Townhouse offered at $399,800 Year Built 1978 Sq Footage 1,314 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $320 per month DESCRIPTION BACK ON THE MARKET. BEST PRICE IN EASTSIDE. NOT A SHORT SALE. Come home to cool ocean breezes from this beach close home. This townhouse is situated in the million dollar community of Eastside Costa Mesa. Boasting 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 1 car garage this 1314 sqft home is perfect for entertaining with its oversized patio. Enjoy everything this area has to offer from OC's best shopping to Newport's Back Bay. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATU... 04/15/2008

April 1, 2008    Costa Mesa, Orange County, California.  Prince of Peace School announces a great day of family fun!  The Annual Country Day Fair is happening Saturday, April 19th, 10am – 3pm in Costa Mesa.  Bring the whole family – there’s something for everyone.  Carnival rides, games and prizes, an international food fair, karate demonstration, puppet show, silent auction, live music and more.  Admission is free, attraction tickets are available for purchase the day of the fair.  So head on down to Prince of Peace School, 2987 Mesa Verde Drive East, Costa Mesa (Corner of Baker and Mesa Verde)!   We encourage all local Realtors to add this family friendly event to your community calendars.  We also invite you to download a copy of our community flyer at http://www.popcostamesa.com/ an... 04/04/2008

View Virtual Tour and Property Website, www.2554Elden.comCall Mike Pahua To Schedule an appt: 949-716-1877Search Orange County Foreclosures here!!Mike Pahua Residential Mon, Mar 10, 2008 03:52 PM Ref: 1 Condominium Attached RES Active 2554 Elden Ave A103 Costa Mesa (CM) Price $399,900* East Costa Mesa (C5)Zip 92627-5127TGNO 889C1Orange County (OR)XSTS Elden/Del MarAerial Map P608518Media: 11Builder Tract Cedar Glen Townhomes (CEDT)Bed 2Model (0)Baths 3Style TownhouseStories Two LevelsFloor 1 of 2 View No ViewHOA Dues $ 320 + $ 0 Land Lse/Yr $ ASqFt 1,314 Assessor YrBlt 1978 AssessorLand FeeALotSize 0Other Dim Acres Prkng Carport, Garage Detached, Guest Parking, Onsite Parking for GuestsGarage 1 DRem Spc Cprt 1RV Acc Range $: NoRange Price Listing: NoCome home to cool ocean breezes from ... 04/01/2008

READY FOR SOME GOOD NEWS?Some financial experts have labeled 2007's market as the "roulette economy."  As we all know, whatever goes up must come down, but the nice thing about real estate is that whatever goes down always comes back upward again (much like stocks work).A healthier market is anticipated in 2008, as Wall Street cleans up the lending mess and the pressure cooker of home demand releases its top.  While the national average of home prices declined between one and two percent in 2007, that's peanuts compared to how much homes appreciated in the previous years.  And many markets are appreciating still.Keep in mind that "national" statistics for real estate mean about as much as a forecasted high temperature for the entire nation.  Consumers get skittish when they hear that 40... 04/01/2008

The Inaugural Costa Mesa Community Run presented by The Brian "Bubba" Kapko Foundation is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2008!  Thanks to the involvement of our community, parents, administration, and alumni of Estancia and Costa Mesa High Schools, TeWinkle Middle School and Costa Mesa Middle School, we will be celebrating the grand opening of the new stadium on the Estancia High School Campus, as well as the promotion of the spirit within our schools and community.The Costa Mesa Community Run will be a major fundraiser for these schools.  We also hope that this event will become a permanent and on going means through which our schools' supporters can make donations.  We encourage you to become a part of the great educational foundation that exists at our school.Your donated dollars ... 03/20/2008

What is a short sale? This is a term that is gaining familiarity among those shopping for a home. Basically a short sale, a.k.a. short pay is a term that is used to describe real estate for sale where the seller is listing it and attempting to sell for less than is owed on the mortgage or mortgages. This does require approval from the lender. Some reasons real estate is listed as a short sale are relocation, divorce, job loss, medical problems, and the most common reason today is the mortgage has adjusted up and they can't afford the payments anymore. Patience is required when placing an offer on a home that is a short sale. Since it needs bank approval, it will take at least two months. Now, the current owner needs to be able to prove hardship and explain why they can't afford the paym... 03/17/2008

First Team Real Estate developed a program about six months ago that is changing the way buyers are searching for their next purchase. HOT BUYS is a designation given to houses and condos that are in "alignment". These are the hottest deals available on the current market. These are the deals that can't be passed up if you are in the market for purchasing your first home or your next home. Alignment is where the everything is lined up to create the best value. It includes: price, location, condition, and commission. These properties are selling in an average of 11 days, that's right 11 days. I am a certified HOT BUYS specialist. If you are looking for your next purchase, I can help you locate these properties. If you are thinking about selling, contact me and I can provide you with a MA... 03/17/2008

Is the market value of your home less than the taxable value?You may be able to REDUCE your property taxes today!All you have to do is request an Informal Assessment Review by March 30, 2008. This is a one page form from the Orange County Tax Assessor's office www.oc.ca.gov/assessor. You need three comparable closed sales to show the market value as of January 1, 2008.Call or email so I can send you recent sale information immediately.Michael Bates is a Realtor/Team Leader of Bates Realty Group with First Team Real Estate. Michael is also a certified HOT BUYS and pre-foreclosure specialist. Michael was raised and currently lives in Costa Mesa. Michael can be contacted through http://www.costamesahousesales.com/ or at 714-481-6034. 03/16/2008

$399,900 MLS, P6085182 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths 1314 sqft 1 Car Garage plus 1 CarportThe lowest price in Eastside Costa Mesa. Great townhouse with no one above or below.  Exceptional layout and location with in a small tract.This is not a short sale and the owner has equity! We can close in 30 days.  Call for more details and an appointment to view.  Location, Location, Location! Call Mike for an appt to view at 949-716-1877View the Virtual tour, Eastside Costa Mesa Townhouse 03/16/2008

Bank owned homes are continuing to be a great place to shop these days.  Many homes are priced up to and over $200,000 below some recent area sales.  The best way to find these great buys is to hook up with an experienced Real Estate Agent/ Broker and call them weekly and let them know how serious you are to find a home in today's real estate market.Get fully approved for a loan, have you letter in hand from the lender.  Get it to the agent you feel most comfortable with that has your best interests at heart. Start shopping!  Most bank owned homes that are on the market are priced very aggressively will sell with 1 - 4 days of coming on the market.  Be prepared to get out and view on your lunch hour!  Waiting till after work could cost you $1,000's + most likely the home will be gone!  ... 03/13/2008

View Virtual Tour and Property Website, www.2554Elden.comCall Mike Pahua To Schedule an appt: 949-716-1877Search Orange County Foreclosures here!!Mike Pahua Residential  Mon, Mar 10, 2008 03:52 PM Ref: 1 Condominium Attached RES Active 2554 Elden Ave A103 Costa Mesa (CM) Price $399,900*  East Costa Mesa (C5)Zip 92627-5127TGNO 889C1Orange County (OR)XSTS Elden/Del MarAerial Map P608518Media: 11Builder Tract Cedar Glen Townhomes (CEDT)Bed 2Model (0)Baths 3Style TownhouseStories Two LevelsFloor 1 of 2 View No ViewHOA Dues $  320 + $ 0 Land Lse/Yr $ ASqFt 1,314   Assessor YrBlt 1978  AssessorLand FeeALotSize 0Other Dim Acres Prkng Carport, Garage Detached, Guest Parking, Onsite Parking for GuestsGarage 1 DRem Spc Cprt 1RV Acc Range $: NoRange Price Listing: NoCome home to cool ocean breezes... 03/10/2008