When we think about Santa Clarita home search, we think convenience. After all, convenience is what so man of us need when it comes to information gathering. With so much out there to sift through, in every facet of life, it’s certainly not any easier when it comes to the real estate buying or selling decision you may be faced with.

If you’re looking for a home to buy in the Santa Clarita Valley, you may have narrowed your home search down to a particular area of the SCV? If so, you’re in luck, because we’ve made it super easy for you to drill down your search, based on the various areas here in Santa Clarita.

The top 2 ways to search for Santa Clarita homes by area, are as follows:

Search via Santa Clarita Tract Directory

This is for those who not only know which Santa Clarita area they’d like to buy a home in, but it serves those well who’d like to search by tract! Any given area in Santa Clarita can have 10-20-50 or more tracts within it! Perhaps you’ve narrowed it down to just two? You don’t want to sift through all the other listings. Well, our Santa Clarita tract directory enables you to do just that. Click on an area name, find your tract, and see what’s available. It’s that easy!

 

Search via Area Search Menu

Haven’t quite figured out which tract(s) you’re open to moving into, but you definitely know which area you like best? Then search The Robert and Brian Team’s Area Search Menu, found conveniently on their home page. Simply choose an area, and start browsing all of the listings! There’s even a map located right above all of the individual listings, so you can get a glimpse as to where they’re all situated. Very convenient!

The Signal newspaper reported recently on the modernization project at Sierra Vista Junior High, located in Canyon Country. I couldn’t help but think of what a blessing these improvements to the school, are to the neighborhood that directly surrounds it. Sure, the big story is how this will benefit the school and its students. Equally important however is the community in which these students live, that needs some help as well.  

When it comes to home shoppers, the area that surrounds Sierra Vista doesn’t have the best reputation. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why I hear so frequently, “I’m looking in Canyon Country, but no Whites Canyon.” I can only assume that sentiment is because of the areas share of Santa Clarita crime, the condition of some of the homes located there, or the outdated school amenities that the children have to deal with. Those three issues that come to mind, certainly don’t help home values, and often times leads to a lack of demand. Home values in that particular area that Sierra Vista Jr. High is located in have come down so much, that demand has actually picked back up in there. It’s the affordability factor. It’s not the nearby paseos, or walking distance to the Valencia Town Center.

Looking back in the MLS records, since January 2008, the area that immediately surrounds Sierra Vista Jr High, has had 208 foreclosure homes sold. In the same area checked, there have been a total of 491 homes sold since Jan 2008. That means 42% of homes sold there, were foreclosures. Those kind of numbers can depress a neighborhood. Empty homes, dead lawns, and foreclosure “do not trespass” signs stuck to the garage door and windows. Perhaps you’ve seen what I’m talking about?

Compare that 42% figure, with the Stevenson Ranch statistic of just 24%. The entire area of Stevenson Ranch has had 586 homes sell since January 2008. Of those, just 139 were foreclosures.

I’ve always hoped, that everyone buying these foreclosure homes in the “Whites Canyon” area surrounding Sierra Vista Jr High, would each help, indirectly, to revitalize that neighborhood. You know, buy a distressed home, make improvements, then some neighbors take note and follow suit. I can’t say that has happened in large part, yet. Though I have indeed seen some improved homes.

I was really encouraged to see the city of Santa Clarita attempt to make a difference in this area of Canyon Country with their Extreme Neighborhood Makeover program, a few years ago.  Here’s a report on some of the areas of improvement, that were focused on, due to the Extreme Neighborhood Makeover program. It’s proactive measures like that, and the improvements to Sierra Vista Jr High, that can really help strengthen a neighborhood.

Homebuyers Like An Area With Great Schools 

Sierra Vista Jr High is looking to get rid of its 20 or so portable classrooms, and build a two story structure to house those classrooms in. They’re receiving a total of $13 million for these improvements due to Measure SA and Measure V. Other improvements to Sierra Vista Jr High include 5 new science labs, classroom technology upgrades, new administration offices, modernized multi-purpose room, modernized cafeteria, locker rooms will be made ADA compliant, and the music/band room will be updated.

Improvements like these are a boon to any community. I’m happy they’re happening in this particular one that Sierra Vista Junior High services. It’s great for the students. It’s great for the faculty. And it’s great for the nearby residents, whether they own or rent. When helping homebuyers, I’m now able to brag about these $13 million in improvements. I’m able to say with confidence, that some of these homebuyers’ children will have access to some of the best amenities available, when it comes to education. This will have a positive effect on that community. It’s something homeowners can brag about, when selling their home. It may even be a reason for some, to stay in the community.

When people have a long-term outlook and commitment to a community, everyone benefits. I’m looking forward to seeing other improvements, big or small, take place in our city, just like this.

Check out some of the homes for sale in this part of Canyon Country:

Sorry, but we couldn't find any results in the MLS that match the specified search criteria.

Our Santa Clarita home search site over at www.TheScvAgents.com, just got a bit of a face-lift. It’s not much. But it’s something. It’s always been a very high traffic website that isn’t so pretty. Extremely useful, helpful, and thoughtful. Just, a bit lame in the graphics department.

We’re working on the pretty.

We know you can search for Santa Clarita homes for sale over at Trulia, Realtor dot com, Cyberhomes, and many other portals, but we figure you’d much rather deal with site on the local level, where you’re planning on buying a home at. It’s much easier to connect with us that way. In real estate, connections are important! It’s not what you know, it’s who you know? Maybe it’s something like that.

We get interactive over at our website, TheScvAgents.com. You’re able to chat with us there, check out our blog there, comment, or even watch our YouTube video series – SCV Real Estate 360.

Come on over, and check out what’s new. If you’re not into the home search stuff, yet, stay right here, and relax on our Santa Clarita real estate blog. Either way, enjoy!

Have you bought a home in 2009, or early 2010 in Santa Clarita, or elsewhere?

If you are a qualifying first time home buyer, and are expecting to receive a tax credit due to your purchase, you will need to fill out IRS form 5405 that was just released, or whoever your tax preparer is, they may do that for you. This form will need to be included with your tax filing. Apparently you can not electronically file your taxes if you are submitting the necessary paperwork in order to get the tax credit.

Please consult with your CPA, financial adviser, etc., for accuracy, details, and thoroughness, as this information is simply what we have learned from various sources, but has not been independently verified. If you are interested in the IRS Form 5405, as a courtesy we are posting it here at our Santa Clarita Real Estate Forum blog, below:

Download IRS FORM 5405 - For 2009 tax return

Download IRS FORM 5405 Instructions - For 2009 tax return

I was doing my usual checks and updates to our Santa Clarita real estate website tonight, TheScvAgents.com, and once I got to the section of our website where we offer the Santa Clarita Tract Directory Tool…it hit me.

EVERY BUYER of a home in Santa Clarita, who is using the internet to search for homes, needs to be using this tool. It's not so useful, when you aren't sure whether you want to live in Canyon Country, or Castaic…but once you realize you ARE going to live in Canyon Country, and more specifically, the Fair Oaks Ranch community for instance, well then, we at The Robert and Brian Team, who bring you TheScvAgents.com…have the best tool a friend could offer you, and it's exclusive as well, since we built it from scratch! The Tract Directory could be your very best friend in a local home search of Santa Clarita real estate.

In Santa Clarita, there are over 500 tracts of homes. Each tract is in a specific area of Santa Clarita. Over at TheScvAgents.com, we narrowed down each Santa Clarita area (Canyon Country, Newhall, Valencia, Saugus, Stevenson Ranch, etc etc etc)….and then, for each of those areas, we layed out for you each and every tract of homes that exists in those areas. Even newer tracts built recently. As a home buyer, what you can do once you've narrowed down the area you want to live in, is essentially utilize our Santa Clarita Tract Directory to stay on top of whats for sale in the various tracts of homes that you are interested in. Better yet, once you've narrowed down your home search to just one or two tracts of homes that you just have to live in, then our Tract Directory will be even more useful to you.

Next time you are searching for a home in Santa Clarita, why not think about using our famous Tract Directory, that so many other buyers (and even sellers) have been using? Our Santa Clarita Tract Directory can found here.

Children playing on New Years Day 2010 at one of the Valencia Town Center Mall’s water fountains. This one, located next to Edwards Cinema.

Posted via email from The Robert & Brian Team

Lowest Priced New Listings & Biggest Price Drops. For OCTOBER 9, 2009, CLICK HERE.

Contact The Robert & Brian Team @ 661-964-1760 to assist with your next home purchase in Santa Clarita. In the meantime, visit the #1 website for Santa Clarita Homes For Sale – www.TheScvAgents.com.

Posted via email from The Robert & Brian Team

Lowest Priced New Listings & Biggest Price Drops. For OCTOBER 3-8, 2009, CLICK HERE.

Contact The Robert & Brian Team @ 661-964-1760 to assist with your next home purchase in Santa Clarita. In the meantime, visit the #1 website for Santa Clarita Homes For Sale – www.TheScvAgents.com.

Posted via email from The Robert & Brian Team

Lowest Priced New Listings & Biggest Price Drops. For SEPTEMBER 24, 2009, CLICK HERE.

Contact The Robert & Brian Team @ 661-964-1760 to assist with your next home purchase in Santa Clarita. In the meantime, visit the #1 website for Santa Clarita Homes For Sale – www.TheScvAgents.com.

Posted via email from The Robert & Brian Team