See Three Free Fireworks Shows this Fourth of July (without being in two places at once)

By Bruce Ueno

Looking for family activities in the Western Inland Empire for the Fourth of July?  Here's a synopsis of local events!  Note: This article contains information from third party sources; please contact the respective sponsors for additional information.

Eastvale

June 27 to 29:  Get in the summer spirit in the lead up to the 4th with the JCSD Parks and Recreation Department's 10th annual Picnic in the Park, to be held this year in it's new location at Eastvale Community Park, 12750 Citrus Street in Eastvale. The 3-day celebration will include fun activities for the entire family, including carnival rides, water slides, food, community information booths, merchandise vendors and more!  Events kick off at 5 PM Friday June 27th, and will feature a live concert at 7 PM.  Saturday evening's program includes a not-to-be-missed, spectacular fireworks show at 9 PM.

• Admission is FREE.
• Pre-sale tickets for carnival rides can now be purchased for $10 for 8 rides at the following locations: Eastvale Community Center, 13820 Schleisman Avenue and Neighborhood Center at Harada Heritage Park, 13099 65th Street.
• Tickets can also be purchased online at www.parks.jcsd.us
• On the day of the event, carnival ride tickets will be $1.25 per ticket, $20 for a sheet of 20 tickets, or $25 for a sheet of 32 tickets. Each ride will require between three and four tickets.
• For inflatable attractions (regular and water activities), wristbands will be $5 for Saturday only and $8 for both days.
• The cost of carnival games will vary from booth to booth.
• There will be numerous vendors selling food and merchandise.
• For more information call the JSCD at (951) 727-3524

Riverside

July 3:  The Riverside National Cemetery will be hosting it's annual Concert for Heroes, a much beloved event and Inland Empire tradition featuring a selection of patriotic and classical music performed by the Riverside County Philharmonic Orchestra.  The concert will begin at 7:30 PM at the cemetery's amphitheater and will conclude with a fireworks display. The event is free to the public but the amphitheater has limited seating, so plan to arrive early.  Blankets, lawn chairs and flashlights are highly recommended.  Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.  The Riverside National Cemetery is located at 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518. (951) 653-8417

July 4:  The city of Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department hosts fireworks at 2 locations. The largest show takes place at the foot of Mt. Rubidoux at the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery located at 14th and Pine Streets, where fireworks will by synchronized with music playing live on KOLA 99.9 radio. Day-long festivities include food, music, children's activities and fireworks at dusk.  Admission is $5.00 for those 12 and up, and $1.00 for children 3 to 11.  Children under 2 are free. Aerial fireworks begin at 9 PM.  For those in Western Riverside, a show will also be held at La Sierra Park, 5215 La Sierra Avenue.  For Information contact the City of Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (951) 826-2000

  

Corona

July 4: The city continues a proud civic tradition with its annual 4th of July celebration.  Day-long festivities begin at 10 AM with a parade down Main Street.  Bring your lawn chair and a cool drink and watch the procession along Main Street between Ontario and Olive Avenue.

The celebration continues at Santana Park, 598 Santana Way, with games, food vendors and entertainment for the entire family.  The event culminates at 9 p.m. with a fabulous fireworks display.  Admission to the festival is free, but alcohol, smoking, RVs, tailgating, charcoal grills and pets are not allowed in the park.  For more information, contact the Recreation Services Division at (951) 736-2241.

Lake Elsinore

July 4:  The city on the lake celebrates the 4th as only Lake Elsinore can, with a spectacular fireworks show launched from the T-Peninsula on the southern end of the lake.  Fireworks will begin at 9:00 PM.  Free viewing locations include  Lakepoint Park, Elm Grove Beach, Davis Fishing Beach, Whiskers Fishing Beach and a portion of levee system.  Paid viewing locations include all the commercial campgrounds, including the La Laguna Resort.  Boaters can partake of a special treat- watching the show on the water! Special nighttime boating passes are available for sale at $10.00 each from qualifying commercial boat launch facilities.  Vessels must be motorized powerboats greater than 12' in length that are registered and displaying CF insignia. No personal watercraft are allowed.  Participation is limited to 350 vessels.  http://www.lake-elsinore.org/index.aspx?recordid=594&page=26

Norco

July 4:  Festivities begin with the Rotary Club's All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM at Nellie Weaver Hall, 3737 Crestview Drive, Norco 92860.  $5.00 with proceeds to benefit the George A. Ingalls Veteran's Memorial.

At 10 AM, equestrians saddle up for the Mayor's patriotic scenic ride.  Riders will meet at Ingalls park parking lot 2. Dress is Red white and Blue with prizes awarded to the most patriotic horse and rider.  Helmets required for riders under the age of 18. Saddles required. Stallions, and riding double are prohibited. No steep trails, no river crossings. 

The annual Picnic in the Park will be held at Pike's Peak Park from noon to 3 PM.  Festivities will include games, music, a water slide and crafts for kids. BBQ food and refreshments will be available for purchase.  Alcoholic beverages are prohibited and ice chests are subject to search.

There are no fireworks shows in Norco to scare the horses, but this year's events will be highlighted by a new concert, laser show and movie night to be held at Moreno Arena at the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center.    Food and refreshment will be available for purchase.  Ice chests and alcohol are prohibited.  Admission is $5.00 per person (12 and under free).  Gates open at 5:30 PM.  At 6:30 PM, enjoy country tunes by Sterling Sylver.  At 7:30 PM, kick up your heels for Norco's longest line dance.  The laser show will begin at 8:45 PM, and will be followed at 9:30 PM by a special screening of Independence Day.  (951) 270-5631

Did you find the fireworks shows on June 28 (Eastvale), July 3 (Riverside National Cemetery) and July 4 (Corona, Lake Elsinore)?  If you go to all three, let me know!

Looking for a home in the Inland Empire?  Give me a call at (951) 310-0397 today!

Make the Jump Into Home Ownership!

By Bruce Ueno

Home values are on the rise and the cost of credit remains near historic lows- this makes the idea of buying a home in today's market an extremely wise one.  While at first the idea may seem intimidating, in the long run, home ownership is a great investment.  If you plan to stay in an area for a while, there's no sense in paying thousands of dollars every month for housing that you'll never own, and never see a financial return on. 

 

If you're ready to take action on finding a home of your own, here are some tips to get your started:

Prequalify with a Lender

One of the first steps to take is to visit a bank or mortgage broker to see what amount of money you might qualify for as a borrower. If you don't already have a lender, your realtor can assist you in selecting one.

Bear in mind, nothing will be hidden from your lender.  For instance, your full credit history and any credit card or school debt will be on display. Your lender will also verify your salary and any other assets you may have.  As tedious and intrusive as this process may sound, it actually works in your favor, as prequalification is one of the best negotiating tools you will have when it comes to closing the deal with a seller.

Once you have been prequalified, don't do anything that may change your credit score. Your lender will verify your credit worthiness again prior to closing, and anything that adversely affects your credit can kill your deal.

Once you know the amount of loan or mortgage you qualify for, you can narrow down the types of homes available at that price.

Important to Note:  Be sensible and avoid jumping into home ownership at a cost that's over your head.  Banks often over-estimate the amount of debt a person can handle.  Unsuspecting purchasers often encounter trouble down the road when they haven't fully calculated all the costs.

Estimate All Costs

There will be costs beyond the price of the house itself.  There will be closing costs to cover, including loan origination, title charges, escrow, appraisal, home inspection and prepaid insurance. There may be sales tax to pay, depending on where you live, or if you're buying a new home from a builder. 

On the big-picture front, there will be house insurance, property tax, and utility bills to pay on a regular basis.  Don't forget to allow for repairs or upgrades that may be required on the home.  Build in room for the charges utility companies will add for opening your account.  Factor in the cost of moving and any new furnishings you plan to buy.

Important to Note:  Don't let the additional costs scare you away from home ownership.  Every homeowner deals with them.  Research them and devise a plan to cover them.

Become Acquainted with the Market

Become acquainted with the real estate market in the area you would like to live.  Look at house sizes and prices online, or in a newspaper or magazine that features homes for sale in your area of choice. 

Start a conversation with a realtor to find out what you can get for the money you have earmarked.  Subscribe to your realtor's update service for information on new listings as they become available.

Important to Note:  Comparing homes from a write-up alone can be tricky.  You'll need to actually visit homes with your realtor to see what you will actually get for your dollar.

Set Your Priorities

Begin your priority list by narrowing down one or two neighborhoods of interest, followed by the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or square feet you'd like. 

Then answer a few key questions such as these:  Do you absolutely need a finished basement?  Do you need a three-car garage, or will a two-car garage suffice?  Is doing the laundry in the garage workable, or is an interior laundry room a top priority?  Do you prefer an open concept floor plan, or separated rooms?  When the time comes to decide between homes, you might end up choosing a home based on how many items on your list it meets.

Important to Note:  Two homes may be similar in size and style, but they may vary in price from one neighbourhood to another.  Find out why.  Then decide if cost savings or location is more important.

Visit Homes

In order to actually visit homes, you'll need to hire a realtor.  He or she will ask you for details, compare your wish list to the market, and book appointments for you. 

Your realtor may show you houses both below and above your price range.  This will give you a good idea of what is available at various prices. 

Important to Note:  You may not find what you're searching for at first. There may be few homes on the market that fit the description you've given, or you might discover you can't get what you want at the price you have in mind.  Be prepared to compromise, and determine whether you can afford to change your price limit.

Ask Questions

A knowledgeable realtor should be able to answer questions on the homes you're being shown.   No question is too impractical to ask.  Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions most people will make in their lives, A good realtor understands this and will be ready to assist.

If your realtor is unable to provide answers to your questions, ask him to look into them and get back to you.  That's part of your realtor's job.  The answers you receive may influence your buying decision.

Important to Note:  Once you sign a contract with a particular realtor, you must stay with that realtor for the term you've signed on for.  You may also have a home inspection completed before sealing a deal.

Think Through Timing

It's preferable to look for a home well before you actually need one.  It may take time for the house that meets all your criteria to appear on the market. 

Once your realtor knows what you are looking for, he or she can keep an eye out for it.  When you do find the home of your dreams, there will be a delay between signing the deal and closing it, so you'll have to factor in time for that too.

Important to Note:  If you're not in a hurry to buy a house, watch the trends in your area.  For many, spring and early summer are peak times for houses to be put on the market.  You'll possibly have more inventory to choose from at those peak times.

Buying a home is a wise investment that will grow over time.  The sooner you get into the market, the better.  Don't delay.  Start taking steps today and, in no time, you'll soon be able to make the transition from home renter to home owner.

Thinking about buying your first home?  I can help take the mystery out of the process.  Contact me today for a free, no-obligation consultation at (951) 310-0397.

Announcing My New Website!

After months of development, I'm happy to announce the launch of my new website! In my opinion, it's much better than the old one!  Here you'll be able to search virtually all available California listings as posted to the multiple listing service, access informative real estate articles (under the seller's tab), and more! Check it out when you get the chance at:

http://bruceueno.com