Malibu will play host to a full and half marathon this November. The event, nicknamed, “The Run to Paradise”, promises cool weather for the run as well as a flat and scenic course along the Pacific Coast Highway. Along with the race, there will be a pasta dinner and a Health and Fitness Expo for the participants. Training for the race is available from Speed Fleet and Diaz Human Performance.  The training program can be specifically geared towards beginning, intermediate and advance runners for the marathon.  If interested, participants are able to run for a cause of their choice by submitting a fundraising letter and target to the Malibu International Marathon Association.

The event will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2012 over a holiday weekend so runners have travel time to get to and from Malibu. Registration is currently available on the website www.malibuintmarathon.com. Fees for the full marathon registration are $109 until June 15th then increase to $145 and fees for the half marathon are $65 until June 15 then increase to $90. A BIB, medal, medical care, fluid and fuel stations, finish line food and drinks, transportation as well as entrance to the Food and FItness Expo are all included in the price. Check out the official race countdown on the event website.

For Mom.
You were always the one.
Who helped me dry my tears.
Who chased away my fears.
The one who was always on my side.
You taught me to fight for what was right.
<!– Your bravery flows through me.
You never let me need.
Not for anything.
Your love will always be my strength.
With you, I am truly blessed.
Mom, you will always be the best.
And I thank you, on this Mother’s Day

With the recent financial crisis, many home buyers have been turning to untraditional avenues in order to finance a home. One of these options is a 50 year mortgage. This concept was introduced to California a few years ago as a means to decrease monthly payments for new homeowners. Like the name states, these loans are set up to be paid off over the course of half a century. There is a set introductory interest rate for the first five years and for the remainder of the loan, the interest rate will be determined by the London Interbank Offered Rate.

The majority of loans in California range from 30 to 40 years which makes the lower payments on this loan particularly enticing but don’t jump too soon. When comparing a 30 year loan and 50 year loan side by side, the total payment is much higher because the homeowner is paying for two decades longer. According to calculations done by Bankrate.com, interest paid on a 50 year mortgage versus a 30 year is nearly double. Dave Ramsey, author of “The Total Money Makeover,” and host of a nationally syndicated radio show on finances commented that “The family is still not building net worth,” he says. “It’s still just keeping the family in debt.” This mortgage may seem appealing up front, but as with all finances, it is important to keep the bottom line in mind.

Next weekend, The Relay for Life Team from Calabasas will be holding a rummage sale to benefit the American Cancer Society. Donations for the sale are welcome and all members of the community are invited to join. The sale will be held from 7am to 1 pm on Saturday, April 28 behind the Calabasas Library and City Hall. There will be an array of goods for all visitors to look through so if you’re looking to put some extra fun in your shopping, stop by! Plus, there is no better feeling than having a good time and helping a better cause at once.

Cancer has affected nearly everyone in some shape or form so Calabasas beckons everyone in the community to come participate in Relay for Life. The event details state, “Your reasons for walking in the Relay For Life are as unique and special as the story that motivates you. This is your opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember people we have lost, but also to raise funds and awareness to help save lives.” The Relay for Life Calabasas Event will be held at A.E. Wright Middle School from May 19-20, 2012 for a full 24-hours from 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM.

Top fundraisers in the Calabasas Relay for Life include one of our own, Steve Tip who ranks as number one in individual donations for the American Cancer society in Calabasas. Vice President and General Counsel of Ewing and Associates, Ernie Wish is also partaking in Relay for Life by speaking during the opening ceremony at 10am the day of the event. For more information about the rummage sale or the Relay for Life event, please contact me, Kenny Melcombe at kenny@kennymelcombe.com.

By: Lori Einhorn

This year, the Four Seasons in Westlake Village is giving moms around the country a way to celebrate Mother’s Day in absolute relaxation. The hotel spa is offering a multitude of giveaways that include a grand prize valued at over $2,700 and two smaller gifts valued around $400. Mother’s who win the second place prize will be given a gift basket full of Episencial goodies such as body butter, sunscreen, a hydrating mask, body scrub and much more. For the lucky winner of the grand prize, she will be awarded a two night’s stay for two adults and two children, a deluxe Episencial amenities basket, a Farmer’s Market breakfast, a spa treatment and up to $500.00 in airfare. There are also daily giveaways of the spa’s brand of sunscreen as well as a French Lavender Handbag Essential Trio by Epicuren valued at $50.

The Four Seasons Westlake Spa prides itself on the ability to provide a relaxing retreat for all of its guests and was voted one of the top spas by Conde Nast Traveler. CEO of the spa, Kim Walls discussed her reasoning for the giveaway, “Mother’s Day is that one special opportunity every year to honor the work of motherhood. Being a mom with a young family myself, I was immediately attracted by the serenity and sumptuousness of the Four Seasons Westlake. It is an experience I want other new and expecting moms’ to have.” The sweepstakes will be open for entry through May 13. Moms may enter the sweepstakes on the Episencial Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/Episencial where all rules and prize details are listed.

By: Denise Zago

This weekend on March 31, there will be a healthy living expo held at the Agoura Hills and Calabasas Community Center from 9am to 3pm. All residents of the local community are invited to come for an array of fun and health oriented activities. The rock climbing wall will be open, organic food will be sold and exercise classes are being offered free of charge. The Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation is putting on this expo for the second time after the success of the event last year.

The executive director, Karen Malatesta describes the event as something that can cater to each age group. Along with the activities being offered, The Rotary Club of Calabasas is sponsoring a blood drive during the event. The following link www.calabasasrotary.org is to sign up for donations but walk-ins are also welcome. The Expo will be featuring some of the most popular exhibitions from last year as well as new additions so it should be another big success.

By: Lori Einhorn

The International Fire Chiefs Association and Energizer want you to adopt a new habit: change your smoke alarm batteries every March when you set your clocks forward one hour. The Association also gives out free batteries in hopes that everyone will take advantage of this important opportunity. Fire officials have stated that smoke alarms have reduced fire fatalities by 50%. This simple habit can help keep you and your family safe.

This gorgeous modern California Ranch style architectural estate is in the exclusive community of Rolling Hills. Approximately 14,374 sq ft of luxurious living space designed by reowned Cliff May. The owner states that 2 million+ was spent to remodel/upgrade the home in 2010 while staying true to it’s modern “California Ranch” architectural heritage.

This rare and “one-of-a-kind” property is situated on 4.19 acres of park-like grounds with panoramic city and ocean views, the home features a unique indoor pool with retractable roof and wet bar for a year-round use, North/South tennis court with large cabana, this is an entertainer’s paradise with all amenities with an expansive living area that boasts distressed American walnut wood floors, dry sauna, gym, 5 fireplaces, skylight, cathedral ceilings with an oversized media room and full bar, wine cellar, and gaming area. Gourmet kitchen features a commercial grade Wolf range and built-in sub zero freezer/refrigeration units and built-in coolers. Second master suite has a private patio. Detached guest quarters with full bath maybe used as maid’s quarters. It also features a built-in closed circuit camera security system and ample paved driveways with parking for up to 30 vehicles.

This property is listed at $12,950,000 by Diana Kim. 27 Crest Road, Rolling Hills, CA

By: Lori Einhorn

The real estate market in 2012 is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are going to see a shift and settlement in several depressed factors within the real estate arena. New ideas and concepts are emerging, while other ones are being reinforced and perfected.

According to the National Association of Realtors the inventory of residential real estate is down more than 20% from a year ago and median list prices are up an average of 4% nationwide. Most individual real estate markets have reported an increase in prices and very few have seen a decline. This is a sign that there is stabilization and recovery in process. There is a good reason to believe that prices will start to increase slightly across the board by the end of 2012. Appreciation is still a distant concept – being a buyers’ market and the mentality that everyone wants to submit a lowball offer on an already low price is going to slow down a value recovery.

Mortgage interest rates will remain at historic lows, however home ownership rates continue to fall, due to lack of job stability and mortgage qualifying guidelines. This is leaving the door open to many foreign investments. USA is seen as #1 for real estate investments worldwide, both residential and commercial. Distressed properties actually represent the majority of housing inventory – this still includes a strong trend with short sales (lenders are improving and streamlining their short sale process, mainly due to strong government involvement) and foreclosures (REO properties – shadow inventory – are going to be released in the market more than in 2011.) Just Bank of America has claimed a 60% increase in short sales in 2011 over the previous year and they expect 2012 to be at the same level or more.

Several lenders have started offering lease option sales. Homes that have been foreclosed are leased back to the homeowner through a lease option program and eventually are allowed to purchase the house back. This trend is going to become more popular in 2012, with so many REO properties sitting in “shadow inventory.”

Bulk REO Trading will be on the rise. With so many homes foreclosed, waiting to be released in the market (banks are controlling how many homes are released at one time, so not to flood the depressed real estate market with distressed property prices and drive values down further,) banks are looking to sell these homes in packages to investors.

Home remodeling and improvements will be on the rise – owners prefer adding or remodeling their existing home instead of trading up or buying a new home.

A relationship workshop for couples and singles

By: Serena Scott Thomas

Sometimes, just a little communication can go a long way. Facilitator Joi Andreoli is conducting a 2 hour relationship workshop that will discuss some of the hot topics in relationships like:

• The fundamentals of masculine and feminine energy
• How to be the male energy or how to be the female energy…
• Tools for communicating that invite respect or cherishing

Share your dating and relationship experiences in a fun and supportive environment this Saturday, December 17th from 1:30pm-3:30pm. The cost is $25.

Location: 22020 Clarendon St., Ste. 200, Woodland Hills 818-314-8598

RSVP by: Thurs. Dec. 15^th to Joi Andreoli

Facilitator: Joi Andreoli, MA, MFTI, WANT® Educator and Transactional Analysis Practitioner