Life is back to normal in Rancho Santa Fe. The Village is active, folks are going on with life.
Those that sadly lost their homes are settling into rental properties or staying with relatives or friends and going about the process of deciding to rebuild.
Now the holidays are upon us! Thanksgiving is just days away and then Christmas right around the corner. The gorgeous lights will adorn the village and the residents will decorate their homes in grand manor.
Check out the RSF Community Events link for details on the goings-on in the Ranch for the holiday season.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Rancho Santa Fe Fire October 2007
EXCLUSIVE REPORT ON THE RANCHO SANTA FE FIRE
October 25, 2007.Access into Rancho Santa Fe has been granted to residents only.
From a first hand visual perspective I saw the aftermath of the worst fire in San Diego history. Here are the details of what I saw.
On the northeast side of Rancho Santa Fe at the community of Cielo, the fire blackened the west side of the mountain. The fire was burning on both sides of Del Dios highway, dangerously close to homes in Cielo. At the east side of the Crosby Estates, the fire was stopped just a few feet from the Crosby fence line. No homes were lost in The Crosby Estates. At this time a total of 27 homes were either lost of damaged by the fire in the Covenant.
Heading west into the Covenant, the fire swept through the east side of a 250 acre private parcel.
On the west side of Cielo and to the southeast of The Bridges the fire destroyed one home. In the community of Rancho Del Rio and to the east a total of 16 homes were either damaged or destroyed. Reports from the RSF Fire district note that no homes were lost in Cielo, The Bridges, The Groves, Las Villas or Hacienda Santa Fe.
Within the village of Rancho Santa Fe on the small cul-de-sac street of Camino Selva, three homes were lost. All three were next door to one another.
As I drove into the west side of the Covenant the area was quiet and it appeared that the fire had not reached this section of the Ranch.
7 homes were either damaged or destroyed in the community of Fairbanks Ranch.
Our firefighters did a magnificent job of saving our town from what could have been a much greater disaster.
Per the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Departments website:
UPDATED WILDFIRE INFORMATION! 10/25/07, 11:20 a.m. -- We are repopulating the entire Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District effective 11:30 a.m. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF:
The community of DEL DIOS DEL DIOS HIGHWAY (East of Calle Ambiente) And LIMITED ACCESS to residents only (with proof of ID) to the streets of:
Las Colinas El Mirador La Valle Plateada El Vuelo Zumaque El Sicomoro
My thoughts are with all the people who lost their homes in all of San Diego County and to everyone that has survived this tragedy.
For more details on the Rancho Santa Fe fire please visit the Rancho Santa Fe Fire District website at www.rsf-fire.org.
The communities of Santaluz and Del Sur did not suffer any loss of homes in the Witch Creek fire.
October 25, 2007.Access into Rancho Santa Fe has been granted to residents only.
From a first hand visual perspective I saw the aftermath of the worst fire in San Diego history. Here are the details of what I saw.
On the northeast side of Rancho Santa Fe at the community of Cielo, the fire blackened the west side of the mountain. The fire was burning on both sides of Del Dios highway, dangerously close to homes in Cielo. At the east side of the Crosby Estates, the fire was stopped just a few feet from the Crosby fence line. No homes were lost in The Crosby Estates. At this time a total of 27 homes were either lost of damaged by the fire in the Covenant.
Heading west into the Covenant, the fire swept through the east side of a 250 acre private parcel.
On the west side of Cielo and to the southeast of The Bridges the fire destroyed one home. In the community of Rancho Del Rio and to the east a total of 16 homes were either damaged or destroyed. Reports from the RSF Fire district note that no homes were lost in Cielo, The Bridges, The Groves, Las Villas or Hacienda Santa Fe.
Within the village of Rancho Santa Fe on the small cul-de-sac street of Camino Selva, three homes were lost. All three were next door to one another.
As I drove into the west side of the Covenant the area was quiet and it appeared that the fire had not reached this section of the Ranch.
7 homes were either damaged or destroyed in the community of Fairbanks Ranch.
Our firefighters did a magnificent job of saving our town from what could have been a much greater disaster.
Per the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Departments website:
UPDATED WILDFIRE INFORMATION! 10/25/07, 11:20 a.m. -- We are repopulating the entire Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District effective 11:30 a.m. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF:
The community of DEL DIOS DEL DIOS HIGHWAY (East of Calle Ambiente) And LIMITED ACCESS to residents only (with proof of ID) to the streets of:
Las Colinas El Mirador La Valle Plateada El Vuelo Zumaque El Sicomoro
My thoughts are with all the people who lost their homes in all of San Diego County and to everyone that has survived this tragedy.
For more details on the Rancho Santa Fe fire please visit the Rancho Santa Fe Fire District website at www.rsf-fire.org.
The communities of Santaluz and Del Sur did not suffer any loss of homes in the Witch Creek fire.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
News From The Rancho Santa Fe Review
One of our local papers, the Rancho Santa Fe Review offers information on community activities and local information.
The town has been diligently on the new school project and here are some of the latest details on the progress per the "Review"
From an article by RichardBurdge the RSF School board president:
"After much discussion the board felt it was important to gauge public support for possible alternatives being considered to relieve overcrowding and improve school facilities. A written survey has been mailed to all registered voters in the district and will be asking for voter preference on the the following alternatives:
* A Rowe campus renovation in the range of $30-$34 million. This option maintains the Rowe school on its existing 9-acre property.
* A Rowe campus renovation and expansion in the range $39-$43 million. This option includes the above scenario and provides money to acquire adjacent land to the Rowe campus as it becomes available.
* The purchase of the Quantum property( located on Del Dios Hwy. and El Camino Del Norte) and construction of a district wide 5-8 upper school for approx. $60 million.
* The purchase of the Quantum property as land only purchase for $12-$16 million.
* A policy option of sending all district wide 7th and 8th graders to the Earl Warren Middle School.
rict's upcoming decision about palcing one of the alernatives on a bond ballot in 2008.
The town has been diligently on the new school project and here are some of the latest details on the progress per the "Review"
From an article by RichardBurdge the RSF School board president:
"After much discussion the board felt it was important to gauge public support for possible alternatives being considered to relieve overcrowding and improve school facilities. A written survey has been mailed to all registered voters in the district and will be asking for voter preference on the the following alternatives:
* A Rowe campus renovation in the range of $30-$34 million. This option maintains the Rowe school on its existing 9-acre property.
* A Rowe campus renovation and expansion in the range $39-$43 million. This option includes the above scenario and provides money to acquire adjacent land to the Rowe campus as it becomes available.
* The purchase of the Quantum property( located on Del Dios Hwy. and El Camino Del Norte) and construction of a district wide 5-8 upper school for approx. $60 million.
* The purchase of the Quantum property as land only purchase for $12-$16 million.
* A policy option of sending all district wide 7th and 8th graders to the Earl Warren Middle School.
rict's upcoming decision about palcing one of the alernatives on a bond ballot in 2008.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A few articles from the Rancho Santa Fe Review
There is always something going on in the Ranch.
But, the Ranch residents will not forego their strong position to retain our small town feeling.
As for the school...we are moving along. Seems like the Calzada Del Bosque/Via De La Valle site is no longer in the running....
Lilian proposal will downsize in response to concerns
By Ian S. PortAssistant Editor
A major mixed-use development proposed for a corner in the Rancho Santa Fe village will be significantly reduced in size, after local residents and officials raised numerous concerns at the development’s introduction to the public last month.
Hopes suddenly dashed, school district pauses to consider next move
The Rancho Santa Fe School District spent months of effort and more than $140,000 preparing a bond effort for a long-awaited second school site, only to find out Aug. 7 that their choice property had been quietly purchased by a local resident and horse breeder.
But, the Ranch residents will not forego their strong position to retain our small town feeling.
As for the school...we are moving along. Seems like the Calzada Del Bosque/Via De La Valle site is no longer in the running....
Lilian proposal will downsize in response to concerns
By Ian S. PortAssistant Editor
A major mixed-use development proposed for a corner in the Rancho Santa Fe village will be significantly reduced in size, after local residents and officials raised numerous concerns at the development’s introduction to the public last month.
Hopes suddenly dashed, school district pauses to consider next move
The Rancho Santa Fe School District spent months of effort and more than $140,000 preparing a bond effort for a long-awaited second school site, only to find out Aug. 7 that their choice property had been quietly purchased by a local resident and horse breeder.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Rancho Santa Fe Events Link
Check out the link on my home page at http://www.ranchosantafehomes4sale.com/ titled " Read About Rancho Santa Fe Community Events" to find out what is happening in the Ranch!
RANCH DAYS IS COMING!
September 23-29, 2007
Local organizations will host a variety of events during this week-long celebration of Rancho Santa Fe's history. A schedule of events will be distributed at the 4th of July Parade and Picnic along with the famous Rancho Days T-shirts! Look for the display near the BBQ Picnic, sponsored by the Community Center and the RSF Golf Club.
Local organizations will host a variety of events during this week-long celebration of Rancho Santa Fe's history. A schedule of events will be distributed at the 4th of July Parade and Picnic along with the famous Rancho Days T-shirts! Look for the display near the BBQ Picnic, sponsored by the Community Center and the RSF Golf Club.
Email me for details at dshort@coldwellbanker.com
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wells Fargo Housing Update
The Fed Delivers a Sobering View on the Housing Outlook and the Dow Hits 14,000!
Stock investors hit the "Buy, Buy, Buy!" button all throughout Bernanke’s Humphrey Hawkins testimony, in a fashion that would make Jim Cramer proud; this despite a more sobering view on the most likely path of the U.S. economy from the Fed. The Fed lowered its central tendency forecast for real GDP by a half a percentage point on the high end for 2007 and by a quarter percentage point for 2008. Is the equity market in denial and bound to correct? It certainly appears that way at the time of this writing, or is the equity market finally looking past the housing malaise? Not only did the Fed lower its outlook for the economy for 2007 and 2008, Bernanke sounded less sanguine about the state of the housing market and the potential spillovers into consumer spending than he did as recently as May.
The June increase in mortgage rates and the move to tighten mortgage lending standards and end abuse lending practices, is bound to hold back housing demand for a time, delaying the much anticipated bottoming of the housing market. June brought a decidedly weaker view of the housing market than we have seen in some time. The National Association of Realtors pending home sales declined 3.5 percent in May. This is highly correlated with actual existing home sales activity one to two months ahead. The commerce department reported that residential building permits dropped 7.5%, to 1.406 million units in June, suggesting another move down in housing starts in the months ahead. The NAHB/Wells Fargo housing market index fell to a 16 year low of 24 in July, and builders reported less buyer traffic and anticipate somewhat weaker sales ahead. Mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures are still rising rapidly in most parts of the country, adding to the nation’s already-bloated housing inventories. Existing home inventories had moderated in the 4Q of last year, but over the last five months have been trending steadily higher once again. The housing market is still mired in a world of hurt, and if Jim Cramer were writing this, he’d be hitting the "House of Pain!" button.
It’s hard to overlook the fact that housing market is embarking on another leg down. It’s like the roller coaster at your favorite amusement park. The first drop is a doozy and you’re not sure if there’s even a bottom. This is where the housing market was in the second half of last year, when residential building was contracting at a 20 percent annualized clip every quarter. Then the coaster reaches a temporary bottom and even begins to rise a bit again, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. This is where the housing market was in the November 2006 to March 2007 period, only to be flung lower once again. The second drop tends to be a complete surprise, but is not nearly as scary and large as the initial drop. This is what is happening today. Acknowledging the recent spat of disappointing reports surrounding the housing market, we have modestly lowered our forecast for housing starts over the next two quarters. We now expect housing starts to bottom in the first quarter of 2008, instead of the second quarter of 2007. This is likely to trim a tenth or two off of consumer spending and GDP growth all else being equal. It also raises once again the question of whether the U.S. consumer can hold down their lunch as the housing market roller coaster carries on its merry way. We still think they can, and that is the silver lining here.
Unless the housing market downturn leads to a material increase in the unemployment rate, the impact on spending will remain rather limited. This isn’t to say there will be no impact. Already in parts of California, like in San Diego, where housing prices trebled and reliance on ARM’s hit 70 percent of total originations for a time, we are already seeing measurable job losses in construction that has single-handily brought the local economy to a standstill, and may now be holding back consumer spending and retail employment. Other parts of the country are likely to see a similar pattern develop to varying degrees in the months ahead. Yet on average, the U.S. economy will muddle through this adjustment period. The national unemployment rate is expected to only rise by two-tenths of a percentage point over the next year and a half, and real income growth already at high levels for this expansion could improve further if inflation finally moderates. Perhaps this is what the equity market is cheering about. No matter what regulatory hurdles are erected on mortgage lending, or how many hedge funds heavily leveraged on MBS go belly up, the macroeconomic impacts on the economy are likely to be smaller than they were last year and will diminish further over time. Every month the housing market weakness continues, brings us one month closer to the end of the adjustment. I’m still a strong buyer of equities and the U.S. economy at these levels.
INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT IS THE PERSONAL VIEW OF THE WRITER, NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTING WELLS FARGO & CO. IT IS FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE. THE WRITER DOES NOT REPRESENT THAT IT IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. NOTHING IS GUARANTEED.
Stock investors hit the "Buy, Buy, Buy!" button all throughout Bernanke’s Humphrey Hawkins testimony, in a fashion that would make Jim Cramer proud; this despite a more sobering view on the most likely path of the U.S. economy from the Fed. The Fed lowered its central tendency forecast for real GDP by a half a percentage point on the high end for 2007 and by a quarter percentage point for 2008. Is the equity market in denial and bound to correct? It certainly appears that way at the time of this writing, or is the equity market finally looking past the housing malaise? Not only did the Fed lower its outlook for the economy for 2007 and 2008, Bernanke sounded less sanguine about the state of the housing market and the potential spillovers into consumer spending than he did as recently as May.
The June increase in mortgage rates and the move to tighten mortgage lending standards and end abuse lending practices, is bound to hold back housing demand for a time, delaying the much anticipated bottoming of the housing market. June brought a decidedly weaker view of the housing market than we have seen in some time. The National Association of Realtors pending home sales declined 3.5 percent in May. This is highly correlated with actual existing home sales activity one to two months ahead. The commerce department reported that residential building permits dropped 7.5%, to 1.406 million units in June, suggesting another move down in housing starts in the months ahead. The NAHB/Wells Fargo housing market index fell to a 16 year low of 24 in July, and builders reported less buyer traffic and anticipate somewhat weaker sales ahead. Mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures are still rising rapidly in most parts of the country, adding to the nation’s already-bloated housing inventories. Existing home inventories had moderated in the 4Q of last year, but over the last five months have been trending steadily higher once again. The housing market is still mired in a world of hurt, and if Jim Cramer were writing this, he’d be hitting the "House of Pain!" button.
It’s hard to overlook the fact that housing market is embarking on another leg down. It’s like the roller coaster at your favorite amusement park. The first drop is a doozy and you’re not sure if there’s even a bottom. This is where the housing market was in the second half of last year, when residential building was contracting at a 20 percent annualized clip every quarter. Then the coaster reaches a temporary bottom and even begins to rise a bit again, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. This is where the housing market was in the November 2006 to March 2007 period, only to be flung lower once again. The second drop tends to be a complete surprise, but is not nearly as scary and large as the initial drop. This is what is happening today. Acknowledging the recent spat of disappointing reports surrounding the housing market, we have modestly lowered our forecast for housing starts over the next two quarters. We now expect housing starts to bottom in the first quarter of 2008, instead of the second quarter of 2007. This is likely to trim a tenth or two off of consumer spending and GDP growth all else being equal. It also raises once again the question of whether the U.S. consumer can hold down their lunch as the housing market roller coaster carries on its merry way. We still think they can, and that is the silver lining here.
Unless the housing market downturn leads to a material increase in the unemployment rate, the impact on spending will remain rather limited. This isn’t to say there will be no impact. Already in parts of California, like in San Diego, where housing prices trebled and reliance on ARM’s hit 70 percent of total originations for a time, we are already seeing measurable job losses in construction that has single-handily brought the local economy to a standstill, and may now be holding back consumer spending and retail employment. Other parts of the country are likely to see a similar pattern develop to varying degrees in the months ahead. Yet on average, the U.S. economy will muddle through this adjustment period. The national unemployment rate is expected to only rise by two-tenths of a percentage point over the next year and a half, and real income growth already at high levels for this expansion could improve further if inflation finally moderates. Perhaps this is what the equity market is cheering about. No matter what regulatory hurdles are erected on mortgage lending, or how many hedge funds heavily leveraged on MBS go belly up, the macroeconomic impacts on the economy are likely to be smaller than they were last year and will diminish further over time. Every month the housing market weakness continues, brings us one month closer to the end of the adjustment. I’m still a strong buyer of equities and the U.S. economy at these levels.
INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT IS THE PERSONAL VIEW OF THE WRITER, NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTING WELLS FARGO & CO. IT IS FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE. THE WRITER DOES NOT REPRESENT THAT IT IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. NOTHING IS GUARANTEED.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Welcome To Rancho Santa Fe Blog!
This is the first posting of the Rancho Santa Fe blog. Stop by to find out about current events, news in the Ranch, new projects, town activities and more!
How is Rancho Santa Fe? Gorgeous...every single day!
Stay tuned for more information and details.
How is Rancho Santa Fe? Gorgeous...every single day!
Stay tuned for more information and details.
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