Upcoming Community Events for November/December

If you missed the blog post about Rancho Santa Margarita's City Wide Garage Sale that I posted about previously, you can visit www.samlarc.org for more information, or read details in our blog post dedicated to Haul in the Fall.  This event is happening VERY soon and you need to register if you plan to participate.

On top of the garage sale, SAMLARC has organized quite a few special events throughout November and December.  I will provide some key details about each event, and you get more detailed information on these events by visiting www.samlarc.org.

Healthy Eating for the Holidays Workshop
Monday, November 10th
7:00-9:00pm
Lago Santa Margarita Beach Club
Free for SAMLARC residents

Health and fitness experts Roland and Galina Denzel will present easy techniques to avoid overeating and how to select and prepare healthy holiday foods.  They will also cover common problems and dietary trends that work against health and weight loss.

Christmas Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 6th
5:00-6:30pm
Lakeshore
Free for SAMLARC residents

Join SAMLARC, as well as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, as they light the Christmas Tree!  Christmas tree lighting festivities will begin at 5pm at the Lakeshore.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Christmas Tree shortly after by boat, then the formal tree lighting will begin.  There will be a musical performance by The Bridge Church that will conclude the tree lighting.  All guests can enjoy tasty treats and hot cocoa.  Beginning at 6:30pm, the Mercado Del Lago will host a Nutcracker-themed family event that will include carolers, face painting, crafts and keepsake photos.  The event will conclude at 8pm.

Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 6th
Presented by the Bell Tower Foundation

Join the community at The Bell Tower Regional Community Center for a pancake breakfast and holiday festivities.

Two seatings are available:
8:00-9:30am
10:00-11:30am

Adults: $10
Children 12 & under: $5

Tickets are available Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.  Cash or check only.  No refunds.  Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Tickets include admission, breakfast, story time with Santa, and crafts.  Professional pictures with Santa will be available for purchase.

*Information provided by SAMLARC/Rancho Living.
*Image provided by bhg.com

Rancho Santa Margarita Community Wide Garage Sale

Just a friendly reminder that Haul in the Fall, Rancho Santa Margarita's community wide garage sale, is quickly approaching!  SAMLARC's website has all the details on garage sale registration, donation sites, bulky item collection information, and general rules.

This is going to be an amazing event!  It's the perfect time to clean out your garage and closets.  The registration deadline is Friday, October 31st, so hurry!  The actual event date is Saturday, November 8th.

Fall and Winter Home Sales

Even though Fall began on September 23rd, that doesn't mean that you're out of luck for selling your home this year.  October, November and December can actually be a good time to sell.  If you've been contemplating putting your home on the market, now is the time to do it!

The majority of people feel that if you missed the Spring and Summer selling season and the kids are now back to school and settled in, buyers are less inclined to make a move unless a job change or special circumstance requires them to do so.

Let me tell you, things have changed.  Today's buyers are no longer timing their moves around school schedules.  A lot of home shopping begins online with the use of convenient apps.  Buyers don't want to fill their already hectic schedules with driving around town checking out properties, instead they can "shop" online from the couch with their tablets or laptops.

Because of the internet and our mobile lifestyle, the Fall months are no longer a real estate "dead zone".  Spring is the busiest time of year for home sales, but there is still plenty of activity from Labor day through Christmas to make it worth your time to throw that FOR SALE sign in your yard.

Here are a couple reasons why:

Buyers are Out There
A serious buyer never stops looking.  They are viewing homes online 24/7, even through the Holidays.  If the right home comes on the market, they are ready to make a move. It's possible that buyers could even be more motivated during the Winter months because there is less going on and they have fewer distractions.

Less Competition
Many people are still under the old school of thought real estate slows to a crawl by October and essentially stops from Thanksgiving to Valentines Day.  Because of that thinking, many potential sellers think there is no reason to list their home during those months, so they wait for Spring.  Good news for you!  That means less inventory on the market and less competition!

Being in the final quarter of 2014, there are undoubtedly plenty of motivated buyers, searching for that perfect home while inventory is low.  Sounds like a pretty good time to sell to me!

If you would like to search for local properties, my website has a search engine created just for you.  You can enter your criteria and search all up-to-date listings.  Click HERE.

* Photo credit: www.zanereport.com
*Adapted from the Zillow Blog

Charming Single Family Home in Rancho Santa Margarita

New listing!  Charming single family home in heart of Rancho Santa Margarita.  Upgrades Galore!!! Don't miss this delightful 4 bedroom, 3 full bath, 2,100 sq ft home in the wonderful Vista Ladera neighborhood. Very private setting with no neighbors on the right side, only a greenbelt and park! Enjoy your morning coffee in the cozy gated courtyard and seating area. Upon entering the front door you will be greeted with vaulted ceilings in the family room and formal dining room. The super spacious eat in kitchen with fireplace will be your favorite place to spend family time around the table. The upgraded kitchen features granite counters, double oven, newer cabinets with pull outs, and wine fridge. The den or optional 5th bedroom off the kitchen is the perfect place to relax and take in the view of your private backyard, with sliding glass doors leading to the soothing fountain and patio area which is surrounded by the many mature fruit trees! The custom wood staircase takes you to the 4 spacious bedrooms, which all have their own ceiling fans. The master suite boasts an updated bathroom shower and vanity. This home was awarded the very first Gold Level Water Efficiency Certification by the Municipal Water District of OC!!! See the supplements for a list of upgrades! Fabulous neighborhood, Amazing Location, Truly Feels like HOME!

This listing is provided by Lisa Piltz. If you would like to schedule a showing or have any additional questions about the property, feel free to call (949) 292-5528.  You can view all the pictures in the virtual tour provided below.  Enjoy!

A City Tour of Rancho Santa Margarita

For those still deciding which Orange County neighborhood you would like to plant your roots in, I thought it would be helpful to do a quick tour of Rancho Santa Margarita with some highlights and city information.

Rancho Santa Margarita is one of Orange County's youngest cities, a master-planned community set among rolling hills, with a backdrop of the beautiful mountain range.  It is home to Rancho Santa Margarita Lake, where you can fish, rent water toys such as paddle boats and water trikes, as well as the popular surrey bikes to cruise around the lake's 1.1 mile walking path.  The lake is surrounded by homes, shopping, dining and is home to many entertaining events throughout the year.

The Beach Club/Swimming Lagoon is open through the Summer months and provides a safe, beach like experience for those with younger children.  There is a snack shack for food and refreshments, 2 volleyball courts, BBQ pits, picnic tables, newly renovated restrooms and outdoor showers.  The Fiesta Room is available to rent for events and birthday parties with a beautiful view of the lagoon, lake and mountains.

RSM, as the locals like to call it, has 4 pristine pools that are maintained by the local Association, SAMLARC.  These pools are spread out throughout the community so all neighborhoods have a place to splash around during the warm months of the year.  These pools include: Altisma Pool, Arroyo Vista Pool, Monte Vista Pool and Solana Pool.

Rancho Santa Margarita is part of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District and it's schools are California Top Distinguished schools.  There are 6 public elementary schools to attend, depending on your neighborhood, 2 intermediate schools and 1 public high school that serves the community.

Tijeras Creek Golf Course is a premier golf course in Orange County, California. Hole number 16 was voted one of Orange County's best 18 holes by member of the Southern California PGA.  The course was recently renovated and was supervised by renowned golf course architect Dick Bailey.    Tijeras Creek Golf Course is managed by OB Sports Golf Management, a golf-oriented company that has a long history of success and has an unparalleled reputation as a premier operator of quality and award winning golf courses throughout the Western United States and Mexico.

Rancho Santa Margarita is conveniently located with shopping, dining, parks, entertainment, nature trails and regional parks.  It is 15 minutes from the 5 Freeway, 15 minutes to The Shops at Mission Viejo (a major shopping mall) and about 25 minutes to John Wayne Airport.

I have a board on my Pinterest page that is full of community pictures and links for your convenience.  Rancho Santa Margarita is a fun, energetic, family-oriented city that has so much to offer ... much more than this list will provide you.

You can view my website for up-to-date residential listings in your price range at www.lisapiltz.com. If you have questions or would like to get started with your home search in South Orange County, you can call me (949) 292-5528 or email me lisa@lisapiltz.com

*Photos provided by www.cwrealestatephotography.com