Costa Mesa showcases the ultimate Southern California lifestyle that is personally enriching, casually sophisticated and yet playful. Explore our internationally acclaimed South Coast Plaza, the ultimate shopping experience, world-class performing and visual arts and award-winning culinary experiences. As a vibrant and centrally located Orange County commerce and cultural community, Costa Mesa is conveniently accessible to major Southern California attractions and beaches.
Take a break with an entertaining stay in Costa Mesa. Enjoy shopping, fine dining and performances in the Theater & Arts District. When you book the Standing Ovation Package at any of our 10 participating Costa Mesa hotels, you’ll receive a $25 travel reimbursement and $25 theater reimbursement per reservation. Plus, for each night of your stay, you will receive a $25 dining certificate, accepted at over 20 select Costa Mesa restaurants. Some restrictions may apply. 714.435.8530 or http://www.travelcostamesa.com/
Wyndham Orange County in Costa Mesa is offering to put you up and get you putting. The Monarch Beach Golf Links Package includes lake-view accommodations, 18 holes of golf, rentals of Callaway clubs and a cart, a 5:00 p.m. checkout and coupons redeemable at restaurants and shops in the area (valued at $250). 714.751.5100 Come to The Westin South Coast Plaza and discover something new with the Ultimate Shopping Package. The package includes a welcome amenity, $100 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza and late check-out. 714.540.2500 Satisfy your hunger with Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa's exclusive new Food Network Travel Package. You'll be welcomed with Hilton’s locally-inspired culinary creation to whet your appetite for your visit. Then, you'll receive a Food Network Travel tote filled with: a multi-city travel guide as seen on Food Network, a compilation DVD of Food Network's show highlights and a Food Network Kitchen’s Cookbook. 714.540.7000 Fall into October at the Ayres Hotel and Suites Costa Mesa with the Meeting Rewards Program. Guests will receive a comfortable, luxurious environment along with professional staff to service your needs. Sign your contract by October 31st and choose the rewards that best suit your group’s needs. Meetings with 10-30 room nights select one reward, meetings with 20-40 room nights select two rewards and for meetings with 40 or more room nights select three rewards. Available rewards include one complimentary one-night stay for on-site meeting planner, three welcome gifts to your group VIP’s, complimentary meeting space or three complimentary upgrades at the discounted group rate. The program is subject to availability; please contact Ali Ganahl in the sales department to learn more at 714.429.9372 ext 448 Ramada Limited and Suites Costa Mesa/Newport Beach is offering a Catalina Island Package, perfect for the young and old alike. This package includes two adult Catalina Flyer tickets, complimentary shuttle service to/from the boat dock and one night for two at the Ramada with complimentary breakfast. To make reservations, call the hotel directly at 800.345.8025Shop and stay for the weekend at the Holiday Inn Costa Mesa This package includes a two-night stay, $50 South Coast Plaza gift certificate, $50 food and beverage credit and a South Coast Plaza VIP shopping passport. 800.221.7220The Residence Inn Costa Mesa/Newport Beach is currently renovating their guestrooms. Stainless-steel appliances and new cabinets have been added to each guestroom, and bath and vanity areas have been updated as well. Specializing in extended-stay visitors, all hotel suites have a spacious work area with free high-speed internet connectivity, a living area and a sleeping area. Leave your grocery list in the morning and come back to a fully-stocked kitchen at night. Additional hotel amenities include complimentary breakfast daily and a complimentary Hospitality Hour Mondays through Wednesdays offering a meal, beer, wine and soft drinks. 714.241.8800
Pumpkins & Pancakes: A Children's Halloween Extravaganza will be held October 26 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m in the Crate and Barrel/Macy's Home Store Wing of South Coast Plaza. Children come in costume and enjoy live music and entertainment. Guests will enjoy a gourmet pancake breakfast, cappuccino bar, balloon artists, a live animal show, trick-or-treating, arts and crafts and a special visit with cartoon characters. All proceeds benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates , which works to break the cycle of abuse. 714.619.5140 Halloween Spooktacular October 18 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. A mysterious phantom plays spooky organ tunes on the new William J. Gillespie Concert Organ, showing how music can set the perfect Halloween mood. Don't forget to wear your costume for this thrilling concert. 714.556.ARTS Knott's Scary Farm, the biggest and most famous theme park Halloween event, will be running through Halloween. This is an original, in-your-face LIVE Halloween experience - a 160-acre living horror movie filled with 13 chilling mazes, 7 hair-raising shows, 4 horrific scare zones and 1,000 roaming monsters looking for their next victim. Knott's Halloween Haunt continues to set new standards in adult scare entertainment! Discovery Science Center presents: Masters of the Night beginning October 4. Discovery Science Center is bringing the mystery about bats out of the dark with special effects, multisensory interactive displays, a gothic castle and environmentally lifelike settings such as caves and rain forests present bats in mythic and real-life settings. 714.542.2823Celebrate Halloween at the Santa Ana Zoo's Boo at the Zoo October 18 - 19, 24 - 26. This family-friendly costumed extravaganza will bring fun, safe trick-or-treating in a "merry not scary" Zoo atmosphere, with educational programs throughout the evening, plus a costume parade. For the older kids, there is "Teen Scream," a haunted house filled with thrills and chills. This ghoulish attraction has a separate entrance, but is included with the price of admission. 714.953.8555
Kidsfaire: America's Family Expo will be taking place at the Orange County Fairgrounds October 4 - 5. Kidsfaire features the best in educational resources, clothing and gear, home and garden products and all the best products and services designed to enrich the lives of babies, children and families everywhere. Celebrating its fifth anniversary on October 5, the Orange County Children's Book Festival is designed for children of all ages. This family-fun festival attracts more than 20,000 visitors who will be entertained and delighted by authors, illustrators, booksellers, animals, storytellers, costumed characters, train rides, crafts, food, entertainment and much more. Located at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Celebrity reading and autograph signing with Jamie Lee Curtis, Barney Saltzberg, Stacia Deutsch and Pat Burns. 714.838.4528 Head to Toe Women's Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds on October 10 - 12. Attendees will enjoy a stroll in the shopping village and experience more than 250 local and regional vendors and exhibitors, two stages showing off the latest trends in hair-styles and fashion, culinary seminars, complimentary wine tasting and a host of speakers.
The Kirov Ballet and Orchestra at the Orange County Performing Arts Center October 7 – 12. The legendary company returns with two beloved productions - Giselle and Don Quixote - to open the dance series in classic style. 714.556.ARTS Dead Man’s Cell Phone at South Coast Repertory through October 12. In this imaginative new comedy, Gordon is dead, but his cell phone keeps ringing. Jean answers, and soon she’s telling the callers what she thinks they need to hear, even though it takes her to hell (yes, that’s where Gordon ends up) and back, as she draws them into the surprises and mysteries of their lives—and her own. 714.708.5555 Reef-A-Palooza (RAP), an annual event promoted by the Southern California Marine Aquarium Society, will take place at the Orange County Fairgrounds October 11 – 12. Now in its fifth year, RAP can best be described as an indoor marketplace where sellers, exhibitors, and hobbyists of all types can buy, sell, trade, showcase their products to the marine-hobbyist community.
Numerous promotions and activities will be available at South Coast Plaza:
Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s in South Coast Plaza is offering wine tasting on Tuesdays from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. throughout October. Sample Pinot Grigio - October 7, California Pinot Noir - October 14, Riesling - October 21 and Australian Shiraz on October 28. $25 per person, reservation required. 714.352.2525Check out Karlfest at Karl Strauss Brewery on October 4 from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Karlfest is a take on Oktoberfest done SoCal style with live music, tons of beer from several OC breweries and great food. Three local bands will be playing: The Union Line, Aushua, and Satisfaction. Proceeds will directly benefit two local chapters of the Surfrider Foundation.
Well, this is a story that goes to show you that you might not really know your neighbors as well as you think you do.
I joke that someone has finally found the elusive "money tree" and low and behold, it's right here in the Mesa Verde neighborhood of Costa Mesa!!
The way the economy has been, it's not surprising, but two alledged perpretrators were arrested this week for forging $50 and $100 bills and passing them off to retailers. The Secret Service was involved in helping catch the crooks, and they mentioned that the forgers actually did one of the best jobs that they had seen recently.
Too bad they couldn't do it legally, ala President Bush and the government's $700 Billion Money Tree!!
P.S. let me know if you want to buy the home with the money tree in Mesa Verde, I know where it is and they are open to offers :)
©Colin Delaney 2008
Costa Mesa's residential resale stats are in for August, and they are slightly contrary to the western states trend of a decrease of 17.7%.
Buyer's took advantage of interest rates that crept well below 6% for 30 year fixed mortgages.
CMAug.pdf will show you there were 67 homes and condos that sold overall in August, certainly a better number than the year previous. September will show an improvement over last year's period when only 39 homes sold; currently, through Sept. 23rd there have been 40 homes and condos sold in Costa Mesa.
Looking for information about the local Costa Mesa market? Call Colin Delaney at 714-743-9882 or colin@verandahomes.com.
Perhaps you saw Jonathan Lanser's article in the Orange County Register yesterday about his "Zippy" awards (homes/areas selling well by zip code) for communities that are performing best through the downturn.
Not surprising, but Balboa Island topped the list - it's hard to imagine a time when those lots were selling for less thatn $20,000 and they had a hard time selling.
The zip code that was not surprising to me? Huntington Beach, 92648. I've had clients looking in South Huntington Beach for some time, and if we don't move quickly on the "good deals" or well priced properties, they sell fast. I've been surprised - right next door in Costa Mesa it is taking 60 days to move the same property, whereas HB properties are moving (when priced right) out the door in about 14 days.
Why? Proximity to the ocean perhaps, but I believe a lot of the forward momentu has to do with how good the school district is and how well the schools are performing.
Thinking of buying a home in Huntington Beach? Give me a call at 714-743-9882 to find the best deals in the best neighborhoods.
Taste of Newport, Fantastic Entertainment Lineup
If you haven't been to the Taste of Newport recently, you're missing quite a fun night! Located along Newport Center Drive, there are many restaurants and winerys that setup low cost tasting booths for those interested in a bite (or a full meal) while strolling through an open air Newport Beach party!!
Definitely worth a night on the town - there is great entertainment this year, from UB40 for Regae fans, alternative rock faves ThirdEyeBlind, and Styx for the older rock set. Great stuff!! Check it out!
Have you seen the recent crisis with the insurance giant AIG and maybe heard rumors about WaMu's demise? Or perhaps yo heard recently that Bank of America bought out Merril Lynch??
Obviously these financial giants have been rock solid for a long time- look at the 150+ year history of Lehman brothers. Ultimately, these companies were brought down by the ARMs and other silly mortgages that they collaterized and backed as secure financial instruments.
OK, OK, you can get that stuff on CNBC, I know. What's in it for me you ask? As of yesterday, mortgage rates on traditional 30 year fixed rate products were 5.5% with no points!!!
Now couple that with this fact- if you bought the average 3 bedroom house in Costa Mesa you would roughly spend about $500,000, giving you a mortgage of $2838 with no money down! Guess what? It is still hard to rent a nice home in Costa Mesa for that same payment.......I'm trying to lead you to the conclusion that now is the right time to buy. Sometimes it's important to look past the turbulence and look at the fundamentals.
Sometimes you have to look past the chaos of the world around and really look to see "what's in it for me"......it's a great time to buy.
Give me a call at 714-743-9882 or e-mail me at colin@verandahomes.com to discuss the best mortgage products that would allow you to buy a home with as little as 3% or even no money out of pocket.
The Costa Mesa Real Estate resale statistics were just released through the end of July 2008, and they were not pretty, although homes sold in Costa Mesa in August will show an improvement.
Total sales were 321 of residential homes and townhomes, off by nearly 29% for the same sixmonth period last year in 2007.
Most of the activity now is happening on the lower end of the price scale, around $350,000 to $525,000 where the majority of the bank owned homes and foreclosure activity is happening.
August, however, looked a lot better than last year. Official numbers are not in yet, but it looks like a little over 60 homes and condos sold in Costa Mesa, which would be a 10% jump from the same month last year.
Curious about the best deals, or the best time to buy or sell a home in Costa Mesa? Call Colin Delaney at 714-743-9882 or feel free to e-mail me for info at Colin@Verandahomes.com.
My how the market has changed- a year ago we were trying to figure out how short sales worked, and now a great majority of the homes coming into our local Costa Mesa market are bank-owned homes.
It is really interesting as you look back 6 months or so....At first, the banks were pricing their homes right in line with where the market was at, and now it seems they are creating the lower end of the Costa Mesa market. Most of the bank owned homes are coming on in the $375k-$525K price range, and most are experiencing incredible demand.
I represented a client in February who bought a bank owned home and it was a pretty interesting negotiation- we did the ping-pong routine for about five counter offers, then finally put our foot down with a best and final offer. We got it- and we actually shaved $80,000 off of their asking price. My client is in a great positioin- he sold his home a couple of years ago for an outrageous sum, and although he needs to put money into fixing the current home he purchased, he is still way ahead.
What is different about earlier this year and today with bank owned homes is that the prices have come down even further and many, many more people have become interested in them. And why not? When you can put 20% or even 10% down and it becomes a cash flow positive investment, it makes great sense. The Costa Mesa home you purchase today will certainly be worth more in time, and frankly I think we will see this market return sooner than expected.
I submitted another offer for a Costa Mesa home recently and there were already 15 offers on the banks desk- only 2 days after this home came on the market!!
If you are looking for a bank owned home in Costa Mesa or anywhere nearby in Orange County, call me at 714-743-9882 and I would love to talk to you about our auction buying program called ClientDirect.
29 Offers- Seems like a good way when you are selling to get a decent price for your home, huh?
One of my clients just offered on a Costa Mesa bank-owned home, and in the space of 48 hours, the agent representing the bank had 29 offers in for the bank.
Sounds like the home was priced incorrectly? You're right, but that was probably the strategy the bank was using to draw interest and it worked!
If you are looking for a bank owned home in Costa Mesa, give me a call at 714-743-9882 and I would be happy to tell you approximate values, etc, and what nieghborhoods are selling for. Costa Mesa real estate will continue (unfortunately) to have quite a few more foreclosed and bank-owned homes come on the market in the near future.
We even have a program that helps you to identify foreclosures and buy directly at the auction, prior to having to compete with 29 offers!!!
Colin Delaney, colin@verandahomes.com
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