Helping People Live the Paso Style,  Events, Wine, Food, Living  December 2008
News Flash!  Interest Rates have dropped this week to historic lows.  30 Year Fixed rate, conforming loans as low as 5%.  It's a Buyer's Market with Low Rates!  

Wine Notes: (Local RE and Wine News)

 Holidays
    The Holiday Season is upon us.  Thanksgiving has past and we're looking forward to the decorated trees,  holiday lights, and celebration with friends.
    There are two holiday events which deserve mention: 
   Nutcracker Ballet.  The North County Dance and Performing Arts foundation (NCDPAF) in conjunction with Class Act Dance has been thrilling audiences for 11 years with "The Nutcracker Ballet".  This year will be no exception to the great history this event has created.  All performances will be held at Templeton Performing Arts Center on the campus of Templeton High School. For more information, call 239-3668 or 835-1915.  www.classactdance.com/nutcracker/.

    Vine Street Victorian Showcase.   The Vine Street Victorian Showcase is one of those events that you don't believe until you experience it.  Each year     >>  

residents of Vine Street open their lovely neighborhood for all to enjoy.  My first time in attendance, I was shocked at the quality of entertainment and excitement of the crowds enjoying an old fashion street caroling festival. 
    The second Saturday in December, December 13 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm.  Vine Street between 8th and 21st Streets will be the place to be!

 

Quick Real Estate Facts: (Calif)
Median home price - 
    $311,060
Highest median home price
    Santa Barbara So. Coast $860,000
Lowest median home price 
     High Desert $154,660
Mortgage rates - week ending 10/23:
  -30-yr. fixed: 5.97%; Fees/points: 0.7%
  -15-yr. fixed: 5.74%; Fees/points: 0.7%
  -1-yr.   adj:   5.18%; Fees/points: 0.5%
 
Food Corner:  (Personal recipes and Favorite Restaurants of the Paso Wine Country)   
Bread Pudding:  It's Holiday Season and time for desert decadence.  My favorite desert for the Holidays is Bread Pudding.  Here's the recipe I use which was originally sourced from the 1941 edition of "New American Cook Book" by Lily Wallace with  extensive personal modifications.     
2 loaves French Bread Baguettes, stale crumbled
4 cups Hot Milk
1 cup Sugar
1/4 tesp Salt
4 tbs Butter
1 tesp Vanilla
1 cup Pecans
1 cup Raisins
6 Eggs

   Heat milk slowly in a large sauce pan until nearing boil. Add Sugar, Salt, Butter, and Vanilla.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, crumble bread, add raisins and pecans.  Beat Eggs until fluffy.  Combine all ingredients and stir until all bread is thoroughly moist.  Place in an over proof dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until center is firm. 
    Serve with whipped cream.    Enjoy!

Wine & Local Trivia:
 What is a "Claret" wine?  
 
  a) Red Wine from Bordeaux
  b) Any Red Wine Blend
  c) A Rose Wine
  d) All of the Above

(Please visit http://www.pasostyleliving.com for the answer)

Paso Style Living Real Estate: (Real Estate market conditions in Paso Wine Country)
    Nationwide we are in a Foreclosure dominated Real Estate market.  Some areas are worse than others,  but home prices have headed down nationwide. 
    So, what does that mean for us locally.  Foreclosured homes have impacted the local market,  but also the market is absorbing them.  If you look at the "Homes Available" as an indication of local inventory,  inventory levels in all of the Paso Wine region are down. 
    Here's my prediction.  I believe the Real Estate market will stabilize mid 2009.  Home prices will be more determined by supply and demand and not the best deal on a foreclosed property.  The consensus opinion is that prices generally are down to 2004 levels.  Actually, if  home prices level at 2004 this market correction hasn't been that bad overall.   We will see 18 months to 2 years of the market getting it's footing.  I'm projecting that by 2011 price appreciation will be back to normal and 2015 prices surpassing the recent highs.  Hold onto your hats,  2020 we'll start a drop back to 2016 prices and we'll start it all over again.  Real Estate can certainly be a fun roller coaster ride!

Area  (10/1/08-10/31/08)

Avg Price

Homes Available

 Sold

Pending

Atascadero

$340,855

141

 11

31

Paso Robles

$396,626

300

 23

37

Templeton

$588,225

91

 10

5

All Paso Wine Country

$413,231

653

 50

75

Paso Wine Country contains the following real estate areas (Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton, San Miguel, Creston, Shandon, Santa Margarita, Bradley, and Chalome) (Single Family Homes, SFRSB)
 
Real Estate Hot List  ( Special Properties for Sale in the Paso Wine Country)

● Lowest price Single Family Residential Property

● Most Expensive Single Family Residential Property

The above properties are listed in the Central Coast MLS and may or may not be listed by  Home and Vineyard Real Estate Brokerage.  The presentation of this information is not meant to imply any advertisement of these properties.
Ron Johnson
 Broker, RealtorŪ
 (805) 423-1902
 www.pasostyleliving.com
945 12th Street, Suite F
PO Box 1981
Paso Robles, CA 93447
www.pasostyleliving.com