Next weekend, The Relay for Life Team from Calabasas will be holding a rummage sale to benefit the American Cancer Society. Donations for the sale are welcome and all members of the community are invited to join. The sale will be held from 7am to 1 pm on Saturday, April 28 behind the Calabasas Library and City Hall. There will be an array of goods for all visitors to look through so if you’re looking to put some extra fun in your shopping, stop by! Plus, there is no better feeling than having a good time and helping a better cause at once.

Cancer has affected nearly everyone in some shape or form so Calabasas beckons everyone in the community to come participate in Relay for Life. The event details state, “Your reasons for walking in the Relay For Life are as unique and special as the story that motivates you. This is your opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember people we have lost, but also to raise funds and awareness to help save lives.” The Relay for Life Calabasas Event will be held at A.E. Wright Middle School from May 19-20, 2012 for a full 24-hours from 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM.

Top fundraisers in the Calabasas Relay for Life include one of our own, Steve Tip who ranks as number one in individual donations for the American Cancer society in Calabasas. Vice President and General Counsel of Ewing and Associates, Ernie Wish is also partaking in Relay for Life by speaking during the opening ceremony at 10am the day of the event. For more information about the rummage sale or the Relay for Life event, please contact me, Kenny Melcombe at kenny@kennymelcombe.com.

By: Kenny Melcombe

Cal State University Northridge is just about to have the grand opening for the student rec center. The past friday I had the opportunity to attend the Pre-Opening Dress Rehearsal. In a few words, it was better then I had anticipated. It was amazing!

This is a state of the art center including a rock wall, basket ball courts,racquetball, indoor track, swimming pool, yoga studio, group exercise room, on top of the typical weight rooms, and fitness cardio rooms with eliptical, spin bikes, treadmills. Though typical is not the word to use… including 3 separate weight rooms and cardio equipment that can monitor your workout. Speaking of Technology–the SRC is striving for a LEED Gold Status and was designed to use the energy created by the bikes, treadmills, elipitical machines to power the entire building.

My friday workout consisted of climbing the rock wall, running the track and the treadmill, biking 12 miles, using the weight room, and ending with a swim in the beautiful pool. I can truly say this was the best time I have had working out and look forward to keeping in shape at the SRC.

The Grand Opening will be Thursday. Come get your memberships and get in shape. Or, by the way, If you join the Alumni Association you can get a significant discount on the membership. To join the Alumni Association click this link: https://www.csunalumni.com/default.aspx?page=Membership

The SRC features state-of–the-art weight and fitness zones, a rock wall, locker rooms, a 3-court gymnasium, a multi-activity court, fitness and group exercise studios, a racquetball court, an indoor track and recreational/lap swimming pool.

The SRC will have 3 different fitness zones that will be equipped with resources to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Inside the SRC will be 3 studios dedicated to Group Exercise and Fitness Training.

A multi-purpose studio where Zumba®, Step 360®, kickboxing, muscle conditioning, belly-dancing, hip-hop, boot-camp and many more group exercise classes will be held. This studio, when not being utilized for classes, will also be available for individual use and private training.

This studio will have specific equipment that will be utilized for classes such as; Spinning®, yoga, and pilates. Group and private mat, reformer and chair Pilates training will be available.

Determination Studio
A specialized studio equipped with TRX® and boxing equipment. This equipment and studio will be available during supervised open recreation times and scheduled classes.

INDOOR JOGGING TRACK

The SRC contains an indoor jogging track that is 1/8 mile long so you can enjoy your run in a climate-controlled environment, protected from the San Fernando Valley sun. The track’s superior biomechanical design allows for consistent traction with a cushioned surface providing greater safety and comfort.

Come test your limits and see if you’ve got what it takes to make it to the top of the 44-foot Ridge — Rock Climbing Wall!

The SRC has two pools available for your aquatic adventures. The Rec Pool is located at the SRC and the Plaza Pool is located adjacent to Subway in the University Student Union Plaza. The Rec Pool is available for both recreational and lap swimming. A large deck with furniture is also available for those that would like to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The Plaza Pool is programmed for lap swimming and special events but also has deck chairs available for those that would like to kick back in the sun for a bit. Please click the link below for pool hours. https://www.csunalumni.com/default.aspx?page=Membership

Information taken from http://src.csun.edu/

Operation Gratitude Needs Your Help This Week Dec. 12-17

By: Mary Pane

This is it: The countdown to the 750,000th Care Package on December 17th!

To reach that milestone, Operation Gratitude has an enormous amount of work to do at the armory this week and need everyone’s help.

Rich is going to open the armory each day this week from 9 am to 5 pm (note the extra hours each day). Please come in and volunteer for any time you have available to help prepare for this very special event.

Also, in case you missed it, CBS Sunday Morning aired a great piece on Operation Gratitude this morning. You can view the video here: Operation Gratitude: Gifts for Heroes Far From Home.

Please share the video with your friends and family and encourage them to support your work and our mission.

Remember: We need your help all this week from 9-5.

By: Roger Ewing

Our three Ewing & Associates offices have again placed Toys for Tots collection boxes in Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Sherman Oaks.  The collection boxes will remain in place through December 22, 2011. Toys of all monetary value will be distributed to needy children. Often, there are few gifts for children over the age of 10 so a special consideration for these children is always appreciated.

To find our offices, visit the links below:

Agoura Hills Office
Calabasas Office
Sherman Oaks Office

Sherman Oaks is littered with cars

By: Tim McLaughlin

The last two days have been lousy with traffic. I mean, really bad. If I were to theorize why the roads have been so packed I would assume it has something to do with the holiday season. It seems like every year around this time the city starts to grow to an extreme bustle and by Thanksgiving day, the traffic is close to nil. However, my theory could be far from the truth so don’t go off my word.

In the midst of all the activity I stumbled upon a free app called Inrix Traffic which provides real-time traffic maps, traffic forecast, accident and incident reports for every interstate, highway and major arterial and city street. It’s much better than the standard traffic report on the latest iOS so give it a try. It might save you from another headache this season.

4 changes to upcoming FHA loans

By: Charise Mitchell

Tips taken from CAR

As you may know, unless Congress extends the expiration deadline, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limits set in 2008 will drop significantly beginning October 1. Congress raised the loan limit amount in response to the housing crisis to help spur the homebuying market. FHA loans offer borrowers very competitive rates and terms, and they only require a 3.5% down payment. Allowable debt ratios are higher than the typical debt-ratio limits imposed for conventional loans, and there are no income limit qualifications, so more people can qualify for them.

If the loan limit drops on October 1, many California homebuyers will face higher down payments, higher mortgage rates and stricter loan qualification requirements. Borrowers seeking larger mortgages will have to apply for conventional loans or jumbo loans, which may be subject to higher interest rates and down payments. Here are four things you should know to help your clients now.

1. LOWER LOAN LIMITS. The conforming loan limit determines the maximum mortgage amount that FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy or guarantee. If your client wants to stay under the current loan limits, then encourage them to purchase now and close by September 30th.

2. DROPS BY COUNTY. Under the new FHA loan limits, some counties will see significant drops in their loan limits. San Diego County will experience a $151,250 drop, Sonoma County a $141,550 reduction, while Orange and Los Angeles Counties will drop by $104,250. To see a full, county-by-county list of changes, click here.

3. JUMBO LOANS. The current FHA loan limit is $729,750. After October 1, that limit may drop to $625,500. Mortgage loans higher than that amount will be considered non-conforming jumbo loans, which typically have rates that are 0.875% to 1.5% higher than conforming rates, depending on the loan product, and require higher down payments.

4. MORE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS. FHA loan requirements may allow for lower credit scores. So an applicant with a lower FICO score can still qualify for an FHA loan, even if they can’t for a conventional loan. Your clients may be able to obtain an FHA loan three years after defaulting or having a loan foreclosed.

Information provided by Paul Krekorian (Councilmember, Second District)

“Today, at long last, I am pleased to announce the opening of the Colfax Avenue Bridge. As of Thursday morning, cars will be free to drive over the bridge and Colfax Avenue will be open again, as the two-year project to widen and modernize the overpass comes to a completion.

I know how frustrating this process has been for businesses, drivers and residents; as one who drives near the bridge each day, it was frustrating for me as well. For that, please accept my gratitude for your patience and know that this project will help Studio City for years to come.

As you may know, this retrofitting project is part of a long-term program to renovate bridges throughout Los Angeles. In 2001, the city set aside $307 million for a bridge improvement program to rehabilitate and r eplace up to 83 city-owned bridges. Currently, there are 430 vehicular bridges in the city’s bridge inventory and the 83 prioritized bridges have been identified as being structurally deficient, functionally obsolete and/or seismically vulnerable.

One of those safety priorities was the Colfax bridge. The project has outfitted the bridge with a wider concrete arched base to meet the latest CalTrans seismic requirements. The new base is about 28 feet wider than the old bridge and will allow sufficient room beneath its surface for a bike path on both sides of the concrete-lined river channel. Additionally, the old pedestrian connection between the street level and the pedestrian bridge will be replaced with a stairway and ramp at the southeast corner of the new bridge.

In addition to solving serious safety concerns, the new bridge allows for new amenities that will add considerably to our quality of life and encourage non-motorized mobility. New bike paths, walkin g paths, ADA-accessible ramps and new landscaping will be finished within the next couple of months.

These are exciting developments for Studio City and they could not have been done without the help of many in the community, including the Studio City Neighborhood Council, the Studio City Residents Association, the Studio City Beautification Association and all the local businesses, residents and others involved. I want to thank them all – and you – for dealing with the great inconvenience of this closure, which has led to the great improvements produced by this project. I hope everyone enjoys the new and improved Colfax Bridge.”

Outside In

By: Cynthia Sparagna

Follow @ewingsir

No drapes. No blinds. No shades. Look closely at this home and you will soon see that there are no visual barriers between what’s indoors and the great outdoors. A summer home is meant to be enjoyed inside and out. It’s a place for relaxation, where one can escape the everyday routine. This bright and airy waterfront home provides a refuge for the couple who lives there, as well as their extended family.

Designers Benjamin Bradley and David Thiergartner, of Bradley Thiergartner Interiors of New York, have collaborated with this couple on the designs of their other homes. “These clients find absolutely beautiful properties,” says Thiergartner, “and the property that this house sits on is magnificent.”

As inspiration for this specific project, the design duo took full advantage of the views surrounding the home. “The back of the house has tremendous amounts of glass and water views,” Bradley explains. “The light floods from the rear of this house, so we tried to get the light to go through all spaces.” Though much of the house is open, there remains a sense of coziness: “The post and beam construction covers you as you come into the house. It provides a cosseted, enveloped feel and a very warm welcome. As you step into the other spaces of the house, they open up. The light floods in and lifts you. You are taken by how light and airy the house is.”

“They wanted their beach house to allow for a lot of people to be comfortable, at ease, and to enjoy the inside-outside atmosphere of the house,” says Thiergartner. “We tried to balance all of those elements together.”

“As pleased as we and our clients are with the interior, this house is begging you to explore outside,” Thiergartner says. “Our clients are so interested in the garden and in the beauty that it represents.”

The colors of the outdoor areas complement the garden without overshadowing it. “We selected teak for the outdoor furnishings, which weathers to a wonderful gray,” says Bradley. “That gray is reiterated in the tree trunks and the house exterior itself, with a putty and putty-green color. There is a tremendous amount of outdoor furniture—which can become too overwhelming, even hotel-like—but the color palette helps everything meld with the outdoor space.”

“I don’t know how many homes we’ve done in the Hamptons, but this place is special,” Thiergartner says. “You want to feel the grass under your feet, to breathe the salty air. It’s truly a wonderful place.”

For more information go to: homebydesign.com

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

Contact:

Stephen Roesler
Director of Social Media
Ewing and Associates Sotheby’s International Realty
818.657.4523
Stephen.roesler@sothebysrealty.com

By: Roger Ewing

Follow @ewingsir

May 26, 2011

Sherman Oaks, CA

In an attempt to unite local eco advocates, Ewing and Associates Sotheby’s International Realty hosted an eco-workshop with the help of actor and visionary Ed Begley Jr. Showing up by way of bicycle, Begley stopped by the Sherman Oaks real estate office to share a few enlightening words regarding the ease and necessity of harnessing green energy in today’s economy.

Eco company Blu Homes, REAS, Cyber Rain and Environmental Solar Design were also in attendance for an evening complete with light fair and wine. Each vendor spoke for roughly 20 minutes and held an insightful session of Q and A. Led by Ewing and Associates’ manger Jeff Biebuyck, also affiliated with Blu Homes, the event hosted approximately 40 environmentally minded guests. From local business owners, former musicians and select real estate agents, all attendees received the opportunity to speak directly with educated representatives of the green movement.

Mr. Begley, a self-proclaimed fiscal conservative, briefly spoke about his journey towards embrace a green lifestyle. A native to the San Fernando Valley, he mentioned his young adult days of putting money aside to make more sustainable choices. Taking public transportation, bike riding, recycling and investing in key initiatives to update his first residence with the latest eco options were just some of his insightful tips. Additionally, he spoke in length about REAS (Residential Energy Assessment Services), as they worked closely with Begley on his latest residential green upgrade.

The event was followed by an informative period of casual networking and further details regarding the scope of each company’s service.

###

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

70 State Parks Close in California

By: Michelle Tepper

Our beautiful Los Encinos State Historical Park is set to close. Los Encinos State Historic Park, at the corner of Balboa and Ventura Blvd, in Encino California, was, until the late 19th Century, the hub of human habitation in the Southern San Fernando Valley. This five-acre early California rancho includes the original nine-room de la Osa Adobe, the two-story limestone Garnier House, the Reyes Hut, natural springs, and a lake (shaped like a Spanish guitar). The park contains exhibits on early California ranch life.

The parks are scheduled to close September as a result of Governor Jerry Brown’s $22 million budget cuts. This would be a tragedy for Encino – please help us save our parks, by clicking here and “sending a letter to your legislators and the governor.”

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.