What's Your Passion?
If you are passionate about marine life, including whale watching then Monterey, Carmel and Moss Landing are great places to observe migrating whales. There are two seasons for whale watching in Monterey Bay. From mid-December through mid-April gray whales, dolphins and killer whales can be seen just off the coast as the gray whales make their migration trek south towards Baja. Monterey Bay is considered the best place along the California coast to observe gray whales. Since the shallow continental shelf does not extend very far from shore off Monterey due to the nearshore submarine canyon, gray whales can be found within a few miles of the coast in this region compared to 15 or more miles from the shore off San Francisco. From mid-April through mid-December humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins and killer whales can all be observed along their migration path.
For more information about whale watching see gowhales.com or seemonterey.com/things-to-do/animals-and-wildlife/whale-watching/
January Featured Events:
"Happy New Year!"
This past year has passed incredibly quickly. I hope everyone had a happy and prosperous 2017 and wish the same for 2018. One of the exciting things about 2018 is that the new year brings with it the start of many of the events and traditions that have become synonymous with the Monterey Bay area. Ushering in the new year will be the annual "Firstnight Monterey" celebration in downtown Monterey. Firstnight Monterey is a family friendly, multi-venue event that celebrates community, culture, performing arts, music and theater. With just a few larger events taking place this month, daily, weekly and monthly entertainment can be found at many of the favorite local venues such as the Sunset Center, Pacific Repertory Theater, Golden State Theater, local wineries, bars and restaurants.
- Dec. 31^st – First Night Monterey 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- Dec. 31^st – NYE at The Inn at Spanish Bay (Pebble Beach) 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM
- Jan. 26-28^th – Pebble Beach Culinary Getaway – a three-day learning retreat
- Jan 27^th – The Half Marathon at Pebble Beach 7:00 AM A half marathon, 10k & 5k run
- Jan. 27-28^th – Whalefest Monterey – Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey
To see all the exciting events happening in and around the Monterey Coast visit:
- pebblebeach.com/events/
- carmelcalifornia.com
- seemonterey.com
- montereycountyweekly.com/calendar
- ci.carmel.ca.us (Official City Website)
Featured Community:
Monterey
Too much to share in a paragraph, Monterey is simply a special place with an abundance of things to see and do. The City of Monterey rightfully describes Monterey as "A scenic California coast city that rises from the pristine Monterey Bay to pine forested hillsides with sweeping bay views. The city's natural beauty and historic sites make it a quality residential community and premier tourist destination." Beauty, diversity, hospitality, and active lifestyle are good descriptors of Monterey. Home of the world-famous Monterey Bay aquarium, visitors around the world come to Monterey to see the marine life. Many residents routinely visit, volunteer and/or participate in the many member events that take place at the aquarium. The shops and restaurants of Cannery Row, originally built to support the Sardine fishing and packing industry are also a draw for residents and visitors. Fisherman's wharf, a multi-use (bike & walking/running) recreation trail, and many local events held at the historic Custom House Plaza are big attractions. Local events are well organized and fun. By design, they bring residents and visitors together to create a strong sense of inclusion and community. Be it Cultural events celebrating the heritage of the diverse population, monthly crafts fairs, weekly farmers markets or local clubs and associations there is something for everyone. If your looking for peace and quiet, a place to enjoy breathtaking views and opportunity to relax, you can also find that in Monterey. Thirty four parks, miles of coastline, three beaches and plenty of secluded places around the area, one can find the perfect tranquil spot to relax.
Thinking of moving to beautiful Monterey? Homes range in price depending on location, view and walking distance to town. Contact me and I'll help you find a property that's just right for you.
Featured Home
125 Carmel Riviera Drive, Carmel, CA
Mortgage Highlight
For the second year in a row, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it will increase the maximum loan limit for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages in 2018. For Monterey County the limits are going from $575,000, where it stands now for 1-unit single family dwelling, up to $615,250 affective January 1, 2018. Two unit will increase to $787,650, Three unit will increase to $952,050 and four unit will increase to $1,183,200.
What does this mean to you? Loans that fall under the new loan limits in 2018 that previously exceeded these limits will have better rates, underwriting guidelines and more flexibility. If you are either in the market for a new property purchase, or if you acquired a property in 2017 and fall below these new loan limits, it's in your best interest to connect with your mortgage professional to reevaluate your options. If you would like more information on FannieMae and Freddie Mac mortgages let me know and I'll connect you with an excellent mortgage partner.
Thoughts while cycling... Thinking of you! Cycling offers an opportunity to more than exercise. It's a great time to be with friends or if riding alone, think, reflect and plan. I enjoy my cycling time, taking in the beautiful sights of the coast and thinking of you... my past, present and future clients.
More specifically, thoughts swirl around how I can better serve you. At least two areas will be a focus this year. These areas include continuous education and communication. As the laws and regulations continue to evolve around real estate, staying on top of how the industry dynamics are changing can be critical to those buying or selling homes. It can affect both the buying and selling strategy and decision-making process. Timely communication is also very important. Striking the right balance of communication is tricky. Communicating at a frequency that best serves clients without driving them away is of paramount importance to me. With that in mind a communication plan that works best will be setup with all my clients.
Now that I've shared my thoughts on how I intend to better serve you, it's equally if not more important to hear from you how you feel I can better serve you. Please shoot me a note at [email protected] as I'd love your feedback.
