Valentines Day is just around the corner and love is in the air near your Rancho Santa Fe home. Modern society would have you send a gift or flowers via the internet, or even an online greeting, yet nothing quite says I love you like a gift from the heart. The Rancho Santa Fe Library will be teaching you how to make a handmade Valentines Day card as their make and take craft this month. All supplies are provided, though you must bring your own sense of creativity! This special event is on Saturday, February 11th at 11 a.m., so don’t miss out on your chance to get sentimental and surprise someone in your Rancho Santa Fe home.
The Rancho Santa Fe Library is located at 17040 Avenida de Acacias, in Rancho Santa Fe and you can call (858) 756-2512 for more information.  If you are interested in more events at the Rancho Santa Fe Library, the Book Club will be hosting their monthly meeting the day before, at 2p.m. on Friday, September 10th.  This month’s book The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda and all adults are welcome to attend the Book Club. For more information on the books, please click here.

Although I usually don’t reflect on the challenges that come with closing an escrow, I absolutely feel compelled to write about this one. The words of the French playwright Moliere, “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it,” come to mind with the sale of this home and account for my need to share the story with you. Please realize that this experience is unique and not at all typical of sales of our Rancho Santa Fe homes. We sell a great deal of luxury homes in Rancho Santa Fe quickly at top dollar, however this property had its own story to tell.

I took a listing for a “traditional sale” on a property for $6,495,000, a realistic, competitive price for an enormous estate in a prestigious area of Rancho Santa Fe. Time passed and we had no buyers, so price reductions were made. Meanwhile the real estate market began to deteriorate, as did the homeowner’s capacity to pay his bills. The homeowner ended up defaulting on his mortgage, taxes, HOA fees, in an effort to help, I turn to a highly recommended Short Sale Negotiator to assist in the short sale process. The negotiator is to interface with the Bank and, supposedly, have better communication to facilitate the short sale proceedings. Our office continued to do the marketing, showings, and other needed services required when representing a home.

Within 120 days, I put the property under contract, with my own buyer, pending the BofA approval with a contract price over $3,800,000 and began the short sale process. Bank of America was the lien holder of record, BUT the lien was actually held by multiple investors. This presented a problem because the investors cannot believe that the property has diminished in value to significantly below the face value of the lien, approximately $4,200,000. We began the appraisal/Broker Purchase Opinion of Value process. All the the appraisals/BPO’s are ordered and completed by Bank of America and us (a total of nine). Time passes – too much time and my buyer canceled escrow. (Fortunately, I sold him another property.) With each subsequent appraisal, the property value decreased, but Bank of America and the investors refused to accept the reality of the home’s reduced appraisal.

At this point, the homeowner abandoned the property, turning off water and electricity, canceling the gardener and not maintaining the pool. Suddenly this former $6,500,000 estate deteriorates with each passing day. The list price dropped to $3,150,000. (Note that there were interim price reductions on a regular basis from the original $6,495,000.)

Then another Buyer goes under contract, pending the Bank of America approval and more time passes…. Months. A third buyer goes under contract, still pending Bank of America approval, but he subsequently backed out of contract because the house is too much of a disaster for his wife to accept.

After way too much time spent believing that the Short Sale Negotiator has facilitated the process, I release the Short Sale Negotiator for nonperformance. Connie and I take on the process, which in hindsight we should have done at the outset. (But recall, this SS negotiator was highly recommended by a person whose opinion I value.)

Meanwhile, the Rancho Santa Fe Fire District has been hounding us (as agents of the Homeowner, whom they cannot reach) for weed and fire abatement and they put a lien on the property. The HOA puts a lien on for the arrearages in dues. We keep both of these entities at bay, assuring them of a pending sale while much more time passes.

During this entire time, there is an ongoing lawsuit between legal representation for the homeowner and Bank of America attorneys. Finally, at the resolution of that legal action, the Homeowner files BANKRUPTCY!! The law is that we are not allowed to proceed with a short sale until and/or if the subject property is discharged from the bankruptcy proceedings. Luckily, our buyer is determined to wait.

Three more months pass and finally, the property is discharged from bankruptcy proceedings and we start our approval. The new buyer stayed under contract, despite the horrific condition of the property. all The landscaping is dead. The pool is dark green and the equipment all needed replacing. There is mold inside all house appliances and elsewhere. Mushrooms are growing out of the upstairs bedroom carpeting because of backed up drains that I had hired a plumber to unclog months ago. All the thresholds were dry rotted out. There was vandalism to electronic system and elsewhere. . . . and the list went on. At this juncture, the property had been abandoned for 11 months.

Well, as of today, and more than 1000 emails, written letters, countless telephone conversations, meetings, showings, negotiations, and so much more AND 1042 days later, we are closing!!!!!!!!! Final sales price on the property is $3,200,000 and I’m not sure who is more excited – me or the new homeowner.

If you live in Rancho Santa Fe you are in luck, because on February 13, from 8:00am to 8:00pm, James Pryce, Celebrity Hairstylist of Her Royal Highness, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Wedding, will be making a personal appearance in a salon near your Rancho Santa Fe home. He’ll only be in the USA for a very limited time, so it’s your once in a lifetime opportunity to have him give you a precision hair cut and/or blowout!
Please note that only clients with a pre-paid booking reservation will be admitted into the salon.

On February 13, 2012, he will be doing hair up royally and whether it’s a blowout to make your do big and bouncy or ultra sleek, you’ll be full-blown beautiful when he’s done. Ladies haircuts will have you falling in love with your new look because of his precision cutting. An in-depth consultation will fine-tune your lifestyle and beauty needs, making sure James knows what you need. Then you’ll sit back and enjoy a style that suits your face shape and hair type, while James will then let you in on styling tips to help you keep your hair in tip-top shape at home. He’ll also style the guys with cuts for long or short hair, making classic or cool looks their handsomest. For more information and to reserve a session, click here.

The Rancho Santa Fe Community Center is once again offering classes to keep your children (pre-school and older) learning, active and thriving if you live in Rancho Santa Fe! Session 3 classes begin on January, giving you only a week to register! There are so many fun and interesting topics to explore as after school opportunities at the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center, near your Rancho Santa Fe home. Your child can even sign up to take Glee, a one and half hour show choir offered to children in third through eighth grade. This session’s community theater production will be Pinocchio!

Classes range from sports and fitness to music, art and crafts. This season’s catalog offers learning opportunities in rockband, woodworking, cooking crafting, cartoon drawing, and guitar! Sport courses are offered on everything from soccer and dance to karate and basketball. Classes are offered for multiple age levels and are held on weekdays. To learn more, call the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center at 858.756.2461 or click here.

You may want to note that several week long multi sport camps are also being offered over the President’s Week. The camps are offered from either 9am to 12pm or 9 am to 2 pm, depending on the child’s age level.

The Rancho Santa Fe Community Center is gearing up for “Hearts on the Table,” a Celebrity Poker Tournament & Silent Auction. Proceeds will help fund programs for the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center and the event will take place near your Rancho Santa Fe home on Saturday, January 21st, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club, located at 17025 Avenida de Acacias and can seat up to 300 people.
Although you must be at least 21 years old to attend this high paced event, seats will fill quickly. Players and guests who live in Rancho Santa Fe can win a host of prizes from jewelry to golf, casino, dining, travel, and spa packages! A special grand prize along with a spectacular silent auction and random drawings will add excitement to the night, as well. Player passes are $500 and spectator passes are $100 and include lots of freebies and food. Click here to reserve your spot or call 858.756.2461 for more information. You can also support the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center with a donation if you cannot attend or help in sponsoring the event by calling Erin Weidner at 858.756.2461.

The holidays are a time for family, fun, faith and food, which means we might need a kick start to get back on track with our fitness goals, as soon as we stop feasting. Did you know that if you live in Rancho Santa Fe, you can take adult fitness classes at a great price at the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center? Jazzercise is one of the great fitness classes offered near your Rancho Santa Fe Home and it’s so fun that everyone can really get into this creative cardio workout. Jazzercise is a great fusion of many powerful workouts including jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga and kickboxing to strengthen, lengthen, sculpt and tone your body.

This exercise form is so effective that you can burn up to 600 calories in one of these 60-minute total body workouts, choreographed to hottest music of today. So come by the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center Mondays and/or Wednesdays from 9:15am to 10:15am for your full-body workout. Start dancing yourself fit and improving the health and shape of your body today! The cost is $15 for drop-ins, $50/month or $100/session. For more information, click here.

photo credit: Mike Miley

The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club and the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center offer consistent activities for your whole family near your Rancho Santa Fe home. In one week on Saturday evening, December 17th, from 7:30 to 10 p.m., the two come together to bring you and yours a festive Christmas Sing-A-Long at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club. If you live in Rancho Santa Fe, come express your holiday spirit with traditional Christmas carols and favorit holiday songs. To R.S.V.P., email EWeidner@RSFCC.org or Call: 858.756.2461 OR email rsfgardenclub@gmail.com or Call: 858.756.1554.

This week, these two neighborhood hubs of activity and learning hosted a family movie night indoors at the Garden Club. Member and Guest families were encouraged to bring their snuggling gear including bedding and lawn chairs to cozy up for cocoa, egg nog and a homemade spaghetti dinner. A participant poll was taken on Facebook to determine the Christmas Movie they would watch. It’s always a holiday blast with the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club and Community Center. For more information, click here.

photo credit: zipckr

Yoga is a great way to stay fit and healthy near your Rancho Santa Fe home and at a reasonable cost. Practicing yoga with friends at neighbors at the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center is fun and enjoyable and good for your body and soul and a great work out if you live in Rancho Santa Fe. Yoga creates strength, flexibility and balance and this course will provide a solid foundation for deepening your practice.

The instructor, Elize Quinn helps her students build a strong, safe and health-promoting yoga practice, with a focus on detailed alignment and proper building and using props where needed. Beginners as well as experienced students can benefit from this gentle class that will especially help those with injuries, muscular imbalances or structural irregularities. You’ll benefit from a challenging rhythm of authentic postures in a dynamic flow. Classes are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:15-9:15am at 5970 La Sendita, RSF. For more information, visit the Rancho Santa Fe Community Center website here.

An event not to be missed this holiday season, if you live in Rancho Santa Fe, is the Rancho Santa Fe Big Band’s Holiday Concert being held on Sunday evening, December 11th. The sensational 17-piece swing orchestra directed by Professor Jack Wheaton, displays big swing band musical excellence that is true to the best of America’s big band swing music. The Rancho Santa Fe Big Band is a fantastic non-profit group that contributes all net proceeds to various San Diego County charities near your Rancho Santa Fe home. This special pops-like concert will feature holiday swing favorites as well as a selection of music to honor the 70th Anniversary of the invasion of Pearl Harbor which took place on December 7, 1941.

Come experience this concert rich with history, nostalgia, holiday magic and pure sensational big band fun. Set in a comfortable indoor setting, you’re free to bring your own wine and appetizers and gather with your friends and family for a sold-out, swingin’ good time. The concert will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Village Church Fellowship Hall on Paseo Delicias, RSF. For table reservations, call Marie Addario at 858.756.4542. Individual tickets may also be purchased at the Rancho Santa Fe Association Office or at the door. Cost is $45 per ticket. For more information, please click here.

photo credit: JanetR3