Dave & Pat Zumbrun
(805) 340-9338
Pat Zumbrun
Broker/Owner-SFR
Email Pat at patz4re@aol.com
Cell: (805) 340-9338
BRE #01229401
Dave Zumbrun
Broker/Owner-SFR
Email Dave at zman4re@aol.com
Cell: (805) 340-9339
BRE #01227683
SOLD!
SOLD! $775,000
440 Frances St. – Ventura, CA
3 Bed/2 Bath
SOLD!
SOLD! $2,415,000
2305 Church St.
Ventura, CA
Gorgeous View Home on 1.86 acres
Outdoor Living Space Ideas That Buyers Like
Today’s Ventura homebuyer looks for a good home office space (among other things) inside a property. But they also appreciate a nice outdoor living area. After all, being stuck inside our homes for most of 2020 really showed us that we need as much space as possible. Thankfully, Southern California weather permits outdoor living pretty much year-round. If you want to appeal to buyers in the future, consider incorporating some of these outdoor living space ideas.
Outdoor Living Space Ideas
A Cozy Firepit
As the evening cools off, people enjoy spending time around a roaring fire. Roasting marshmallows. Swapping stories. In general, spending time with each other outside of a viewing screen. In fact, people craved this so much last year that firepits sold out well before fall came in. Think about adding a firepit to your outdoor living space that includes comfy seating for several people around it. After all, things are starting to open up again. And when it does, you know that you will want to invite people over to entertain.
Install a Second Kitchen
Speaking of entertaining, a second kitchen is another outdoor living space idea to consider. A simple barbecue is fine. But for really entertaining, you need an entire kitchen. This should include a nice grill and (possibly) a smoker. Gas hookups, a refrigerator/freezer, and even a sink will make your Ventura home the envy of the neighborhood. Plus, it keeps your kitchen from heating up during those hot summer days.
Swimming Pool
Another part of outdoor living space in Southern California is a swimming pool. They do not have to be six or eight feet deep either. A nice lap pool still allows you to exercise or simply cool off when temperatures hit those high notes. And make sure there is plenty of shaded seating area around the pool, too.
Storage Shed
We all could use as much storage as possible. Keep clutter at bay by installing a storage shed. This gives you extra room to store away tools, lawnmowers, bicycles, and other yard implements out of sight. Buyers love to see additional storage already added to a property.
Water Features
Water features always feel inviting in an outdoor living space. They can be added onto a wall or included as a stand-alone feature. Kits to create your own unique water feature can be found at most home improvement stores or online.
Updated/Extra Lighting
An outdoor living space is meant to be enjoyed both day and night. Therefore, you need to make sure your lighting is up to par. Colored lights help set a mood. Garden lights add soft light throughout the backyard. Consider utilizing eco-friendly solar lights to help light up your walkways in the backyard as well.
Don’t Forget the Front Porch
Finally, do not forget about your front porch. It is also an outdoor living space. Spruce it up with padded seats, plants, and a lovely water feature. And always makes sure it is adequately lit at night.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Refinancing Your Home: Calculating Your Costs
Interest rates hit historic lows in 2020. This helped spur on Ventura home buyers to purchase new properties even during these turbulent times. It also brought lenders out of the woodwork, enticing people to refinance their current home loans to take advantage of the lower rates. But before you sign on the dotted line, you need to know the cost of refinancing your Ventura home. Why? Because it might not be worth it.
Home Refinancing
How Much Will a Refi Cost?
While you forego agent fees on a home-refinance, it still comes with other fees that quickly add up. According to Lending Tree, a home refinance costs anywhere from 2% to 6% of your loan amount. For a $500,000 mortgage, that ranges anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. That is nothing to sneeze at.
How Much Will a Refi Save?
That depends on the size of the loan. Let’s say you bought your Ventura home four years ago for $500,000. You pay 3.5% on your 30-year fixed-rate loan. With your excellent credit score, you qualify for the 2.5% that Wells Fargo currently reports. Your payment decreases from $2245 per month to $1816 per month when you refinance for another 30-year term (a savings of $430 per month). With closing costs estimated at $13,800 (based on 3% of the loan), you will not recoup the cost of refinancing for 33 months.
If you decide that you want to keep to the original 30-year timeline and just refinance for 26 years, you save $237 per month. That draws your recuperation period out even longer. But you do not add any time to the life of your loan.
Is it Worth it?
That depends on how long you plan on living in your Ventura home. If you want to live in your current home for another five years, the cost may be worth it. However, if you think you might put your property on the market in the next year or two, a refi might not be your best choice. Discuss all options (pros and cons) with your lender before determining whether or not a refinance is right for you.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Ventura CAN Tree Food Drive 2020
Millions of people around the world have been affected by COVID-19 this year. With California entering another shutdown, millions more will find it difficult to put food on the table. And that is in addition to the millions struggling before this most recent shutdown. If possible, please consider donating to the Ventura CAN Tree Food Drive 2020. Help your neighbors get through the rest of this holiday season without going hungry.
What: Ventura CAN Tree Food Drive 2020
Where: Ventura Harbor Village
When: Saturday, December 19th
Contact: Jennifer, Caldwell, Food Share Ventura County (805) 983-7100 or via email
Ventura CAN Tree Food Drive 2020
The Spark of Love Holiday Toy Drive takes place around Ventura County until Christmas Eve. This surely brightens children’s Christmas mornings with toys to unwrap. But so many families struggle with food insecurity normally. COVID-19 only exacerbated the problem. So to ensure that these families also eat this holiday season, Food Share Ventura County hosts their annual Ventura CAN Tree Food Drive this month.
How to Participate
The traditional way of participating in the past was to bring canned food items Ventura Harbor Village. This year, however, things have changed. In keeping with CDC guidelines, canned food drop-off has been suspended. Instead, Food Shares offers three options to choose from: buy and build, sponsor a tree, or build your own.
Buy & Build – Donate $650 and Food Share provides the canned goods and building materials needed for you to create your own CAN tree at home or at your business. These materials can either be picked up or delivered to you. It is a wonderful way to show your support as well as raise awareness for others in the Ventura community.
Sponsor a Tree – For a $750 donation, volunteers at Food Share build a tree with your family or company name on it. The tree becomes part of the public showcase featuring other trees on December 19th in Ventura Harbor Village.
Build Your Own – Finally, get your friends, family, and neighbors involved. Solicit canned food donations from them to build your very own Ventura CAN Tree. Each tree requires anywhere from 600 to 800 15 oz. cans to complete. Take a photo and email it to Jennifer Caldwell at Food Shares.
After the event, either drop off your cans at the Ventura Food Share offices or contact Food Share to schedule a pickup. Happy holidays from our family to yours.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Home Office Space Appeals to Today’s Ventura Home Buyers
In mid-March, Governor Newsom placed California on a virtual shutdown. At that time, non-essential workers found themselves either furloughed or sent to work from home. Those temporary work-from-home orders appear to be more long term now. In fact, some companies may never bring their employees back into a communal office. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that home office space holds a huge appeal to today’s home buyers. So, if you plan on selling your Ventura home anytime soon, your marketing needs to include a dedicated home office area.
Tips for Creating a Home Office Space
Guest Room/Office
A couple of months ago, we talked about creating a classroom space at home for your child. That included using part of their bedroom as a dedicated classroom area. While buyers love office space, hold off on completely transforming a guest room into an office. Bedrooms still help sell Ventura homes. Keep the closet available for hanging clothes. But feel free to add organizing units that include shelves to store office supplies and files. Use a smaller dining table for your desk rather than some heavy, oversized office furniture. Throw in a daybed or sofa bed to show buyers how the room could easily transition between an office and guest room.
Transform Unused Space Into Office Space
No bedroom to spare? Time to get creative then. Carve out space under the stairs. Utilize the loft as an office area. If even that proves difficult, borrow space from a large room (like the family room or dining room). Section it off with a pretty screen or partition. You don’t need a huge area to make an office space function.
Location is Key
The difficulty with creating a home office out of a common area like the dining or family room is that it can get noisy. If virtual meetings are a regular thing with your company, you need a quiet space. Try to choose an area of your home that sees little to no traffic but is still large enough to house your office essentials.
Don’t Forget Your Staging
Yes, staging your home office is equally important as staging the rest of your Ventura home when you list it on the market. Keep things neat and tidy. Tuck electrical cords out of sight. Turning your desk to face the entrance into the room makes it a little easier to hide messy cords. Add a houseplant, flowers or a nice area rug to bring color into your space. Keep your window treatments open to allow lots of natural light to flow inside. Declutter and depersonalize like you would any other room in your house.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Creating a Ventura Home School Space for Your Child to Thrive
The 2020 school year for Ventura Unified School District students officially begins tomorrow, August 18th. But instead of in-classroom teaching, it starts off (for now) with remote learning. The district provides two separate home schooling options: Weave and Homestead. Whichever way parents decide to go, your child needs a dedicated Ventura home school space from which to operate. Here are a few tips to help your child thrive during their remote learning experience.
Creating a Ventura Home School Space
Defined School Zone(s)
Just like a home office, a defined Ventura home school space allows students to focus on the task at hand much better than the dining room table. If one room of your house cannot be designated as a school zone, set one up in your child’s bedroom. Section off a portion of the room for a desk with shelving or organizational units to create a classroom at home. Customize it specifically to fit your child’s aesthetic as well as their needs. Add special touches to make it feel like their own space while still avoiding distractions.
Change Up the Scenery
No one likes to look at the same thing over and over. Break up the monotony by allowing backyard class time. Add a few shelves in the family room to put up books for reading time. Place soft beanbag chairs or big pillows near this space for kids to lounge in comfort while reading. Turn part of the living room, kitchen, or playroom into an artist’s studio. For households with more than one child in school, rotate these spaces among the kids. Get creative to avoid boredom.
Get Organized
It’s uber-important to stay organized, especially when keeping track of assignments for more than one child. Binders and baskets help keep each child on track in your Ventura home school space. Let your child customize their own binder or basket to differentiate from each other. It also encourages them to check each often to make sure they stay on task and don’t “forget” anything. Keep all binders and/or baskets in one central location so that they are both easy to find and keep track of.
Stock Up on Supplies
Finally, keep you school supplies stocked up. Make room in your pantry, office, or other area in your Ventura home to stock pencils, pens, paper, etc. Then, when your child needs it, they can just go to your “school supplies closet” to retrieve it. Keep an eye out for sales on supplies at local markets so you can stock up for less.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Ventura Beach Dining Options
For a brief, shining moment last month, in-house dining returned to Ventura County. Unfortunately, Governor Newsom ordered a temporary halt on July 1st due to a spike in Coronavirus cases. What does this mean for Ventura beach dining options?
Ventura Beach Dining
Ventura Harbor Village offers outdoor dining and takeout options for all of its restaurants. This includes the 805 Bar & Grilled Cheese, Baja Bay Surf ‘N Taco, Margarita Villa, The Parlor, and Water’s Edge, among others. All restaurants and bars offering outdoor dining must keep a six foot distance between tables. Only members living in the same household may sit together. Patrons must limit their dining time to between one and one and a half hours before the table gets turned over. Bars and pubs now close between 10 pm and 5 am.
What About Ventura Bars and Pubs?
As of July 16th, the Ventura County Health Officer ordered bars and pubs to close their inside service to the public. However, if these bars serve food, they may do so on their outdoor patios. Alcohol may also be ordered and served at the same time that food is requested. Wineries and wine tasting rooms may continue to operate as long as they adhere to strict guidelines.
Alternatives to Outdoor Dining
Ventura beach dining at Harbor Village offers a few alternatives to sit-down dining. First, order your food to go. Just about every restaurant at Ventura Harbor Village allows you to call in an order for pick-up. Then, take your food to the Seaside Takeout Zone at the village. Bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs for a nice, comfortable picnic at the harbor. Or rent an electric boat for a ride around the harbor and enjoy your food on the water. Yet another option is to go across the road and take it out on the beach for a lovely beach picnic. Just make sure you always pick up after yourself and throw trash away in the appointed receptacles. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy the beaches for decades to come.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
The Pandemic’s Effect on the Ventura Housing Market
Ninety years ago, the United States experienced the Great Depression. Twelve years ago, we saw the Great Recession. Now? A global pandemic. During the first two eras, the housing market took a massive hit. The Ventura housing market seems to differ during the global pandemic. Low inventory and even lower interest rates kept prices from dropping like a rock. Is it still a good time to buy a Ventura home right now? The answer might surprise you.
The Pandemic’s Effect on the Ventura Housing Market
State of the County
Yes, sales have slowed down. Part of this is due to the shelter-in-place order Governor Newsom put into effect several weeks ago. And part of it is due to so many out-of-work people. However, Ventura County opened up their beaches (with limitations) on April 20th. Other businesses slowly began reopening to the public earlier this month. Soon, we may see more buyers looking for properties to purchase again. That means more competition which might force prices to increase.
Equity Helps
As prices steadily rose over the last few years, Ventura County homeowners enjoyed a nice equity boost. Even if you bought your house just a couple of years ago, you most likely saw your home values go up a bit, too. That helps cushion the blow of any declines in home values over the last couple of months.
Low Inventory
All across the country, we have seen housing inventory decrease. The same rings true for the Ventura housing market. Builders have trouble keeping up with demand in many areas. And with government offices shut down, obtaining permits for new builds pretty much ground to a halt. Any building going on since mid-March was taking place on already approved permits. So, the backlog we might see if the shelter-in-place order is lifted in July like the governor hopes could create an even larger inventory drop.
Bottom line: if you want to buy a Ventura home right now, go for it. Interest rates remain extremely low. Anyone with a decent credit score, a little money to put down, and a steady income should be able to take advantage of the Ventura housing market right now. We might start to see housing prices go up in the next few months. So, the time to act is now. Contact the Z Team if you’re interested in looking at properties for sale in Ventura County.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Arts and Eats Ventura 2019
To become a well-rounded individual, you must embrace all sectors of life. Knowledge of math and sciences helps humanity grow. But so does the arts. Encourage your artistic side and support our local artists at the Arts and Eats Ventura 2019 event this month.
What: Arts and Eats Ventura 2019
Where: Downtown Ventura (16 different locations within walking distance of each other)
When: Saturday, January 19th, 6 pm to 8 pm
Admission: FREE
Contact: Very Ventura (805) 641-1090 or via email
Arts and Eats Ventura 2019
Arts and Eats Ventura 2019 marks the third year that Fox Fine Jewelry and Very Ventura partnered up for this unique event. Every couple of months, several downtown shops and restaurants offer tasty treats in conjunction with gorgeous art pieces created by talented artists. All of this can be enjoyed
Exhibits and food changes with each
Want to be a Part of Arts and Eats Ventura 2019?
If you own a gallery, restaurant or shop in the Downtown Ventura area and want to be a part of future Arts and Eats Ventura 2019 events, contact Debbie Fox at Fox Fine Jewelry. Reach her via phone at (805) 652-1800 or via email. To be a part of the “arts” portion of the event, you pay just $100 for the calendar year. That’s $100 for six different events throughout 2019. To be part of the “eats” portion, you pay nothing. Simply provide tasty appetizers for folks to nibble on while they view the art on display. Of course, there are some rules you must follow to be part Arts and Eats Ventura 2019. Visit Downtown Ventura’s Arts and Eats page to find out what rules are enforced.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018
Looking for a reason to visit the water in the middle of the week? Until the end of August, Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018 makes a great escape. And it’s absolutely free to attend.
What: Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018
Where: Ventura Harbor Village
When: Noon to 3 pm every Wednesday through August 29th
Contact: Ventura Harbor Village (805) 477-0470
Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018
During Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018, visit the information booth between 12 pm and 3 pm to find out all that the harbor has to offer. Receive special discounts on local activities as well. Pick up a postcard to send a friend a “wish you were here” message. Grab yourself a scavenger hunt list to find hidden treasures and clues around the village. Turn in your findings by 3 pm for your chance at a fun prize (kids only). Get your caffeine fix at the Coffee Dock & Post and then visit Happy Rainbow so Lucia can paint your face anytime between noon and 3 pm.
Special Activities for Waterfront Wednesdays
Each week, a different special activity takes place at Ventura Harbor Village. For example, on the 8th, pay just $2 (to cover materials) and make your very own beach umbrella painting with Kitty McGinnis. Laura Walters shows you how to make an animal greeting card using sponges to paint with (also $2) on the 15th. Have you ever wanted to learn origami? Come to Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018 on August 22nd. Dawn Reily teaches a class on how to craft your own origami creatures and how to use them as art pieces or even jewelry. Adults and older children pay just $2 here, too. It might be a bit too advanced for younger kids to follow. Finally, on August 29th, paint your own Harbor Sunset with the guidance of Lorna Amundsen. This activity is open to everyone ages 12 and above and absolutely free to do.
What would a Waterfront Wednesday be without live music? Steel drummers play from noon to 3 pm every Wednesday this August. Come back in the evening for acoustic rock at the Boatyard Pub, an open mic jazz jam session at the Copa Cubana, and live musical performances at Margarita Villa between 6 pm and 9 pm. Several harbor boutiques also offer special discounts and savings each Wednesday night.
It’s always a good time to visit the water in Southern California. But that’s especially true during Ventura Harbor Village Waterfront Wednesdays 2018. Bring the family out for a fun afternoon during the waning days of summer.
Dave & Pat Zumbrun, your Ventura County real estate specialists
Ventura Halloween Safety Tips
Tomorrow’s the big day…Halloween! Next to Christmas, this has got to be most kids’ favorite holiday. When else is it OK to go up to a home and demand a treat while threatening a “trick” if none is provided? To keep our kids safe, the Police Department wants to remind parents of a few Ventura Halloween Safety Tips.
Whether you have little ones in the Ventura community that will be trick-or-treating or you are the one giving out candy, these Ventura Halloween Safety Tips should help you get through the night.
Ventura Halloween Safety Tips for the Trick-or-Treaters
- Before you go trick-or-treating, talk to your kids about never entering a stranger’s home.
- Make sure your kids are always under adult supervision, whether that is you or a trusted neighbor/family member. If your kids are older, give them a curfew, go over which neighborhoods they will be in and make sure they always carry a cell phone with them in case of emergencies.
Instead of a mask, consider using face paint or makeup. Masks can impede a child’s vision.- Use light colors for costumes. They are easier to see in the dark. If your child’s costume is dark, use reflective tape to make it easier for vehicles to see them.
- At least one person in every group of trick-or-treaters should have a cell phone. You never know when you may need it.
- Every child should carry a flashlight or have a glow-in-the-dark stick, bracelet or necklace on them.
- Inspect your child’s candy before they consume it.
Ventura Halloween Safety Tips for the Ventura Community
- Leave the porch light on.
- Only hand out pre-packaged, store bought candy. Unfortunately, your homemade treats will most likely end up in the trash at the end of the night…for safety’s sake.
- Keep all pets inside and away from the front door. The constant opening and closing of the door and the crazy getups of the trick-or-treaters can frighten your pet and send them bolting out the front door.
- Instead of candles, use LED lights to light up your jack-o-lanterns. Unattended burning candles can be a serious fire hazard.
- Keep trash cans out of sight.
- At the end of the night, bring in your jack-o-lanterns.
Follow these simple Ventura Halloween Safety Tips and everybody will be able to enjoy a fun time tomorrow night. Stay safe. Happy Halloween!
Featured Ventura County Home for Sale
For more information on this and other Ventura County homes for sale, please visit our Ventura County MLS Search.
Dave and Pat Zumbrun, Your Ventura County real estate specialists
