FROM MARGARITAS TO MOLE: PASADENA'S TOP FIVE MEXICAN RESTAURANTS

If you are a Mexican cuisine connoisseur Pasadena is the place to be. With a wide array of Pasadena Mexican restaurants, from casual take out to fine dining, choosing just a selection of five to highlight is difficult. Presented in order of personal choice are my top favorites.

Mijares Mexican Restaurant
Being family owned for the entire 87 years it has been in business, Mijares is Pasadena’s oldest Mexican restaurant and is still going strong. If you go on the weekend for dinner expect to wait for a table but if you go for their famous margarita’s at the bar you’ll end up keeping the hostess waiting for you when you’re table is ready. Mijares was just awarded in 2008 “The Best of Pasadena” for dining.
145 Palmetto Dr., Pasadena
(626) 792-2763

El Portal
El Portal is family owned and operated, specializing in Mayan dishes from the Mexican region of Yucatán. Located across the street from the Pasadena Playhouse, many patrons go to El Portal for a night of dinner and theatre. El Portal provides their own entertainment with live performances of Mariachi and Spanish guitar on Friday and Saturday nights.
695 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone (626) 795-8553

Paseo Cantina
The live full Mariachi Band and exotic Folklorico Dancers that perform Tuesday through Sunday nights provide a colorful, cultural experience while dining. The Paseo Cantina, located at the Paseo Colorado outdoor mall, provides a basic Mexican menu but they do have a few adventurous regional dishes.
260 E Colorado Blvd Ste 203, Pasadena, CA 9110

(626) 683-3100

Dona Rosa Bakery & Taqueria
With a fast to-go service, Dona Rosa is a great place to grab lunch during the work week, unless it’s a Tuesday when the day’s specials are $1.50 tortas/tacos and refreshing $1.50 margaritas. Dine in at the restaurant for lunch on Tuesday with caution though. You may end up not going back to work.
577 S Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 449-2999

Cabrera’s Family Resaurant
Just as the name suggests, Cabrera’s is a family friendly restaurant, best known for their well priced lunch buffet which offers a variety of mexican food staples from enchiladas, to chile rellenos, chile verde, shrimp ceviche and menudo.
655 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 795-0230

RAMIRO RIVAS & ASSOCIATES
WWW.SOLDBYRAMIRO.COM

THE PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA

"Compassion and Care For All Animals"
Established in 1903, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is a private, non-profit organization that is dedicated to protecting the welfare of all domestic and non-domestic animals in serving the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, Arcadia and Glendale. The Pasadena Humane Society provides services that include animal control, investigation of animal neglect and cruelty, licensing for La Canada and Arcadia, adoptions, pet behavior training classes, and humane education.

Most people know the Pasadena Humane Society for its adoption services, which justifiably is not made to be an easy process for those looking to adopt a pet. PHS wants to ensure that each animal they take into their facilities will be placed into the best permanent homes and require steps that include an application, an interview regarding experience with animals, and a visitation with the potential animal to be adopted. With the current state of our economy and the upsurge of foreclosed homes in the residential communities there have been an increased number of pets being given up by owners affected by the market. The Humane Society has responded by strengthening their efforts and increasing their outreach programs for pet adoptions.

Just as notable as their adoption services is the work that the Humane Society does with animal control which includes cruelty investigation and prosecution, as well as wildlife assistance. Extending beyond the local communities, the Pasadena Humane Society has provided aid nationally for catastrophes and natural disasters in which domestic and wild animals lives are at risk.

BUY FORECLOSURES, PASADENA REO'S

Pasadena Foreclosures

Did you know that you can buy Pasadena foreclosed homes for almost a 100% financed? There are great loans such as FHA, VA, and CALHFA loans (designed for people in education). All of which only require 3% down payments.


There has never been a better time than right now to live the American Dream of owning a home. This is definately a buyer's market, and many banks are unloading foreclosed homes for below market value plus paying the buyer's closing costs.

Search Pasadena foreclosures.

Q: Is there any "Risk" in purchasing foreclosures?

A: Yes, but lets see the reward...

Reward by taking a "Risk"

Purchasing a bank owned home may be an As-Is purchase, but you have the same rights as in purchasing any other home. By hiring a professional inspection company, you can know in detail what faults the home may have. Many times the items will be quick fix-it items. Therefore, make sure you have an "Inspection Contingency Period" and if the home is not what you thought it was, then cancel the deal.

Just think about all those shows like: HGTV's Designed to Sell, Armando Montelongo's Flip This House, and other home improvement shows. I bet you thought.... "Wow, I could have done that!" Be like Nike, and Just Do It!

And yes, the rumor is true that in many foreclosed homes you may see missing doors, missing knobs and in some cases even missing kitchens! You have heard the saying, "Risk vs Rewards." Take the "Risk" in buying a foreclosed home and get a killer deal! After a couple trips to Home Depot and putting a little sweat equity, you will see in the end that it was all worth it.

If you have been considering buying a Pasadena Foreclosure, call Ramiro Rivas & Associates at 626-497-4606 or visit http://www.soldbyramiro.com/ .

THE ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET

Held on the second Sunday of every month, the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena is the largest swap meet in California. Such a wide diversity of items can be found at the Rose Bowl swap meet, attracting all walks of life to explore and shop for unique items that over 2,500 venders are selling.

Among over 20,000 buyers, you will observe fashionistas going through endless racks of vintage clothing, interior designers that find value in irreplaceable antiques, and collectors looking for nostalgic objects of the past.

The flea market is sectioned off into three areas. The first section starting from the entrance is vendors selling brand new items, the second is all antique furniture and collector’s items, and the third is an entire parking lot of vendors selling vintage clothing.















Admission
5am-7am $20
7am-8am $15
8am-9am $10
After 9am, $7
Kids free

Parking
Free lot

Hours
Second Sunday of the month 5am-4:30pm

Payment Types
Cash

THE PASADENA CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW: A BRIEF HISTORY

Within the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Craftsman style was a progressive architectural design that proliferated in the early part of the 20th century and to this day stands as a form of residential architecture most commonly associated with Pasadena Real Estate..

It can arguably be said that the two brothers, Greene and Greene, were the Pasadena architects that have made the Craftsman style so prevalent in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles. Initially most of the work of Greene and Greene was implemented into smaller Craftsman designed California Bungalows for residences that were built for the middle class communities in and around Pasadena. As the Greene & Greene Architectural firm became more renowned they began receiving commissions for much larger custom Craftsman homes that became termed as the ultimate bungalow. The most prime example of a Greene and Greene ultimate bungalow is one of Pasadena’s, The Gamble House, which has been deemed by enthusiasts as America’s Craftsman masterpiece.

At the beginning of the 20th century many people chose to make a move to Pasadena for its warm, arid climate and it was because of this that the Pasadena Craftsman Bungalow reached its full potential in California. The San Gabriel Valley lends well to Craftsman homes because of the broad front porches that is a common feature of the architectural style, which allows a homeowner to take full advantage of the year round sunny weather that is typical to the Pasadena area.

The Bungalow was part of a movement in the United States that provided housing that the working class could afford. Unlike today’s affordable housing, which many times uses the cheapest materials, Craftsman Bungalows were built with old-growth timber, real plaster, wooden windows and doors, and built-ins that are now mostly found in high-end homes. It is because these homes were built so well, in a city that finds importance in preserving culture, that many Craftsman Bungalows still stand today. The Pasadena Craftsman Bungalow, many which are now over a century old, continue to provide housing for residents that appreciate a flourishing city with such a colorful past.

Search for Craftsman homes

ERICA SWANSON

818-257-1054 Direct

RIVAS & ASSOCIATES
ERICA@RIVASESTATES.COM

LOOKING FOR URBAN LIVING

Getting Started on a Home Search

Mortgage interest rates had dropped recently and home prices have moderated in many areas, making it a good time to buy. If you’ve never bought a condo or townhome before or if you currently own a home but have never bought and sold at the same time, the process can seem intimidating. You can ease your anxiety by formulating a game plan and by assembling the best team of professionals you can find, including a mortgage lender, a Realtor® that you feel that you can trust, as well as inspectors, title reps, and home warranty specialists.

If you are searching for a condo Pasadena is a great place to look since it is a city that has been becoming more urbanized over the past few years. Space in Los Angeles is at a premium, ever increasing, and many L.A. suburbs are starting to become re-urbanized. The most recent trend in many suburbs is retail developments with the inclusion of at least two floors of residential units above a retail city walk. Examples of such urbanization is the Paseo Colorado in Pasadena, and Rick Caruso's latest development, The Americana in Glendale.

The two key players on your team in a home search are the lender and your real estate agent. Once you have these selected, they can help you line up the additional help you need. The best recommendations for a real estate agent is one who is well educated about the market in your area. If you’re a first time homebuyer you may not have a resource of competent mortgage enders, reputable inspectors, or a trustful escrow company that will successfully help you through the purchasing of a home; Therefore it would be of utmost importance to choose a Realor® that will have this resource of people to recommend to you to have the option of using.

A first step is to find out how much you can afford. Most buyers will obviously need a mortgage in order to complete a home purchase. A lender will qualify you for a certain loan amount depending on how much cash you have available for a down payment and closing costs—the various fees associated with buying or selling a home. Other relevant factors are your credit score, your verifiable income and what type of mortgage you decide to use for your purchase. You can work with a mortgage broker who will shop the mortgage market for you and place your loan package with the lender that offers the best deal. Or, you can work directly with a lender, such as Bank of America or Citibank. Just make sure that you understand what kind of loan is being offered. You might want to consult with an independent party like your accountant or financial advisor to determine what kind of financing is best for you.

If you’ve never bought a home before, you should use an agent who is a good communicator and who will take the time to explain the process. Also, keep in mind that your agent will be interfacing with the other parties in the transaction. You want someone you trust and who you are sure will represent you professionally and work diligent on your behalf.

Search for a Condo

THE BAR AT THE LANGHAM HOTEL IN PASADENA: DRINKS SERVED UP WITH CLASS

For those that seek a bar where drinks are served up with class without being pretentious, the sophisticated social environment of The Bar at the Langham Huntington Hotel, formerly the Ritz-Carlton, in Pasadena is what you need. Expect to go with a somewhat well padded pocketbook since The Bar offers an expensive wine list and full top shelf bar. Also offered is a selection of fine cigars for gentlemen…and ladies that would enjoy to have such on the expansive outdoor patio, which offers beautiful panoramic views of the hotel’s grounds and city lights of the San Gabriel Valley.

If you decide to make it to The Bar on the weekend try to go early for a seat since there is lively jazz and blues performances until midnight every Friday and Saturday, featuring bands that draw in quite a crowd.

Although many patrons are hotel guests and those that live at the Langham’s residential cottages, The Bar also attracts locals in the mood for a dim lit, relaxed location to enjoy drinks while socializing and networking on elegant, but comfortable furniture.

The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena
1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, Ca 91106

Estates Pasadena: Phase I of New Luxury Homes Completed

Estates Pasadena is a new development community in Northwest Pasadena at Sierra Madre Villa Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard. The French Provincial, English Tudor, and Cape Cod architecturally designed two story luxury homes range between 2,900-3,500 square feet, with either 4 or 5 bathrooms and up to 4.5 baths.

In previewing the model homes it appears that high quality materials were used with attention to detail. Each home features a formal foyer, pre-wired security systems, high-speed internet connections, cable television connections installed in all bedrooms and family rooms, as well as family room media areas that are pre-wired for built-in speaker systems. The back yard patio areas are being prepared with connection for barbeques, and indoors include custom cabinetry, high-energy efficient insulation, dual glazed windows, with many of the floor plans built with vaulted or two-story ceilings.

For those looking for a move in condition luxury home done in an old world style, but with all modern amenities, it would be a housing community definitely worth considering moving into.

Pasadena Luxury homes and estates for sale.

Erica Swanson
Ramiro Rivas & Associates
Coldwell Banker- Pasadena

www.RivasEstates.com

Pasadena Real Estate, Ranked in Top 5 Destinations

Pasadena Makes the top 5 LA County Destinations
With the real estate market going down in many areas, Pasadena Real Estate is remaining a top destination for many home buyer’s. The City of Roses has everything from entry level condos to multi-million dollar estates.

Diane Wedner from Los Angeles Times writes:
It would seem that still-high prices and hard-to-get loans would keep people away from Southern California's pricier areas. But they're still coming. According to a recent NorthStar Moving Corp. survey of their customers' moving requests from June '07 through May '08, nearly 2,000 of them transplanted to Los Angeles and Orange counties. And that's just one moving company.

The top L.A. County destinations:
1) Los Angeles (city of)
2) Pasadena
3) Santa Monica
4) Marina del Rey and Woodland Hills (tied)
5) Long Beach

Pasadena Homes For Sale.

Single Women Buyers, Making Moves!

WHAT WOMEN WANT
Breaking Records: Currently, single women buyers purchase 22 percent of new homes, compared to only 9 percent by single men. They purchased 1.5 million homes in 2005, which equates to one in five sales.

What they’re buying: Many single women harbor similar desires in homes. But others do go against the average.

Here is a list of the common trends in home buying for single women:

· Prefer 2 bedrooms or more
· More likely to choose resales
· Buy in city over suburban areas
· Will not compromise on location or quality of neighborhood
· Prefer condos or townhomes with well run homeowner associations
· Desire security and / or gated access. Want close proximity to stores, shopping and fitness centers.

We have assisted many women home buyers in the purchase of houses to condos. To see more info about this topic visit our Single Women Buyers page on our website. There you will also see various testimonials from our satisfied clients.

Pasadena Farmer's Market

Enjoy Fresh Local Fruits, Vegetables and Farm Products! If you have never been to Pasadena's Farmers' Market, you are in for a real treat. You'll love the experience of buying directly from the farmer that grows the food. What you'll love even more is the fresh, delicious taste of locally grown, nutritious fruits, vegetables and farm products.
Their certified vendors only sell what they grow--or, to say it another way, they won't sell you anything that they did not grow. You know where your food came from, and who grew it for you!

They also have other vendors offering jams, jellies, fish, and more, but we do not
permit craft vendors. There are usually about 40 vendors at Victory Park on Saturdays.
The market is cash only, and we accept EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer). We are open rain or shine Saturdays 8:30am - 12:30pm Victory Park, Sierra Madre Blvd.

Search Pasadena Luxury Homes for sale or find a Luxury Pasadena Real Estate Agent.

Pasadena Marathon, Get Running!

Pasadena Gears Up For The City's Inaugural Marathon

The city of Pasadena will be holding its first annual Pasadena Marathon on Sunday, the 16th of November, which will include a full 26.3 mile Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, Bike Tour, and a 3.1 Mile Fun Run/Walk. Because of the range of events, the city and its sponsors for the event will be expecting a wide variety of participants from amateur to leading competitors.

With all the sponsors lined up for the event and the route mapped out, the city is now calling for volunteers and has been accepting registrants since mid-summer. Those up for the run will be able to register until November 13th.

The starting line will take place at the Rose Bowl, which will take participants through trails of the Arroyo Seco as well as through many sections of Pasadena through the boulevards, eventually ending back at the Rose Bowl.

The Pasadena Marathon has been organized by Pasadena Forward, a non-profit organization, and has been presented by Kaiser Permanente which stands as one of the many sponsors for the event. Pasadena forward was founded in 2004 by it’s executive director, Israel Estrada, with a mission statement that claims, "to promote an enhanced quality of life for those living, working, or attending school in the Pasadena area". With the goals that Pasadena Forward has geared towards the city, organizing an event such as a Pasadena Marathon would seem ideal.

As a city that holds many various cultural and social events throughout the year, Pasadena has hopes that this inaugural Pasadena Marathon will be the first of many to come, as an annual event to add to their list of many proud achievements.

Pasadena For Sale By Owner's Beware!

FOR SALE BY OWNER AKA FSBO

With over 6 months of inventory on the market, selling your home has been as difficult as it was in the 90's. Many home owners are still trying to cut ends by putting their home "for sale by owner" aka FSBO.

FSBO's have always been known as being the best deals by buyer's because buyers feel that they are going to score a killer deal. To most people's surprise, FSBO's are actually way over priced! This is due to the fact that FSBO's think that they know the market and feel that they can get more for their home than listing with a Pasadena Real Estate Agent. Over 90% of FSBO's typically list with a professional listing agent. Now what does that tell you? Seller's are not seller's if they don't have the tools and resources that a real estate professional has.

BUYER'S OF FSBO'S BEWARE.....

Since FSBO's do not want a professional real estate agent involved, you have to trust that you are purchasing this home from an individual who has your best interest in mind. Have you ever seen a real estate purchase contract? California's contract is the most complex of any state in the US. Furthermore, your deposit can be at jeopardy if you default in the purchase. The answer is simple if buying a FSBO, hire a Pasadena real estate agent who knows the market. Most seller's will pay the buyer's agents commission. If they don't, be suspicious of what they are trying to hide since they don't want a professional involved in the purchase.

To get an idea of the process involved in selling a Pasadena Home, visit http://www.soldbyramiro.com/ and go to the seller section. Here you will find many of the steps involved in the process of selling a home.

Considering there is a rise in Pasadena Short Sales and Pasadena REO's, it is important to be competitive with the list price of the home. Homes that sell are ones that are comparable to homes currently on the market. Although appraiser's use value based from six months prior, we are in a declining market with inventory that is changing daily. Thankfully, Pasadena Real Estate has not been affected as it has in other markets. This is mainly attributed to the city of Pasadena's strength in preserving it's architecture, night life, fabulous dining, many shopping districts, and the list goes on....

Cantaloop, Pasadena Frozen Yogurt

Pasadena South Lake Hot spot!

I tried them all, and Cantaloop is the place to go for frozen yogurt. Not only is it delicious, but it only has few calories and fat free. Definitely the kind of treat worth replacing a meal with!

The interior has a cool/trendy vibe and there is plenty of room to hang with friends and family. Make sure to check out the cool artwork on the walls.

My personal choice is the banana flavored yogurt with Strawberries and Kiwi’s. By the way…. The colored sprinkles always make an easy topping selection. Before you go, get your frequent visitor card to get a free frozen yogurt because I guarantee you will be back for more!

Cantaloop is located at 524 South Lake Avenue in Pasadena, 626-796-7645. For more information on flavors, toppings, and nutritional values visit http://www.cantaloopyogurt.com/ .

Review by Ramiro Rivas, Pasadena Real Estate, Coldwell Banker.

Understanding Capital Gains In Real Estate

When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain — the difference between what you paid for the stock and what you sold it for. The same holds true when selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special considerations. How to calculate gain in real estate, capital gains are based not on what you paid for the home, but on its adjusted cost basis.

To calculate, follow these steps:
1. Purchase price: _______________________

The purchase price of the home is the sale price, not the amount of money you actually contributed at closing.

2. Total adjustments: _______________________
To calculate this, add the following:
Cost of the purchase — including transfer fees, attorney fees, and inspections, but not points you paid on your mortgage.
Cost of sale — including inspections, attorney fees, real estate commission, and money you spent to fix up your home just prior to sale.
Cost of improvements — including room additions, deck, etc. Note here that improvements do not include repairing or replacing something already there, such as putting on a new roof or buying a new furnace.

3. Your home’s adjusted cost basis: _______________________
The total of your purchase price and adjustments is the adjusted cost basis of your home.

4. Your capital gain: _______________________Subtract the adjusted cost basis from the amount your home sells for to get your capital gain.

A Special Real Estate Exemption for Capital Gains since 1997, up to $250,000 in capital gains ($500,000 for a married couple) on the sale of a home is exempt from taxation if you meet the following criteria:
You have lived in the home as your principal residence for two out of the last five years.
You have not sold or exchanged another home during the two years preceding the sale.
You meet what the IRS calls “unforeseen circumstances,” such as job loss, divorce, or family medical emergency.

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