The new year brings lots of challenges – one of which is staying fit!  If 2012 has caused you to conseider a new fitness goal, there is plenty to explore near your Rancho Santa Fe home!  The following places provide for lots of opportunity to enjoy our beautiful community and year-round sensational weather, while still getting you out and moving.  If you live in Rancho Santa Fe, we’d love to hear what you have to say and check out your favorite places ourselves!

The Rancho Santa Fe Community Center offers a full schedule of classes and there are many fitness centers nearby, as well if you are looking for a class, specific equipment, or strength training tips.  However, for those of you looking for a more individualized exercise experience, we recommend enjoying the local horse trails and surrounding areas as an equestrian, pedestrian, cyclist or runner.  Rancho Santa Fe is made up beautiful eucalyptus lined terrain to explore – take a friend and have some fun!  No matter your style or preference of fitness, though, you can be sure Rancho Santa Fe has plenty to offer throughout San Dieguito Park, no matter your age or activity level!  Please click here to view more information on San Diego area parks and trails.

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.

It’s still early in the year and there’s time to keep your New Year’s Resolution to get healthier and fit. Here in Rancho Santa Fe, you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors while meeting your fitness goals. In February, show some love for your health and your home in Rancho Santa Fe by running in the 44th Annual Classic San Dieguito Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk. If you live in Rancho Santa Fe, consider taking advantage of one of the most beautiful and scenic courses you will ever participate in according to some who have run/walked it before. Beginning and finishing at San Dieguito County Park, this race is fun for all levels of walkers and runners taking place on Sunday, February 12 @ 8:00am.

Each participant will receive a 44th Annual Long Sleeve Tech shirt for entering. All Half Marathon & 5K finisher will receive medals, the 1st three finishers in each age division of the Half-Marathon will receive
awards and the 1st two finishers in each age division for the 5K will also receive awards. There will be post-race merchandise drawings and refreshments to celebrate your accomplishment. Registration for this event closes on Thursday, February 9 @ 11:59pm PST. For more information, click here.

photo credit: Andréia

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 Inn at Rancho Santa Fe will be hosting a Mainly Mozart event on Sunday, January 29th.  If you are interested in adding a little more classical music to your new year or just want to plan a nice evening out, this is the perfect way to do so near your Rancho Santa Fe home.  Featuring a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, located at 5951 Linea Del Cielo provides a fantastic way to enjoy the arts with your friends and neighbors who live in Rancho Santa Fe.

This concert will feature the talents of nationally acclaimed Edward Arron, Emily Daggett Smith, Stefan Jackiw.  Each of these performers are impressive alone, but as a combination playing Bartok – Selected duos from 44 Duos for Two Violins, Kodaly – Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7, and Beethoven – String Trio in G, Op. 9, No. 1, this is a concert not to be missed!  You can read more about these talented artists by visiting the Mainly Mozart website.  Tickets are $75 per person and are available online by clicking here.  Mainly Mozart sponsors many other concerts as well throughout San Diego if you are unable to come on the 29th.

Ice skating is a great way to spend the first day of the new year with your family.  Luckily the Windsor Lawn at the Hotel Del Coronado, located at 1500 Orange Ave in Coronado, and a short drive from your Rancho Santa Fe home, has been transformed into an ice rink! Memories can be created as your family shares stories for years to come of skating together with an oceanfront view. This is truly a Southern California experience to remember if you live in Rancho Santa Fe!
January 1st, 6th, 7th and 8th are the final days to enjoy this magic with 3 sessions offered each day. Matinee hours are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and regular hours are from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., or 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Skate rental is included in the admission cost of $25 for adults and $20 for kids (under eleven) for the 3-hour session. The matinee session has a reduced rate of $20 for adults and $15 for kids (under eleven). Fees are non-refundable so be sure to dress warm to ensure the most time on the ice! Even if your time is cut short by the cold, you can feel warm inside knowing that a portion of the admission proceeds are benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of San Diego.

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.