Taste for Justice Event, Santa Maria, CA Legal Aid’s Annual Taste for Justice Wine Tasting Event is coming around again. The event will return to the Loading Dock in Orcutt. Last year, we held it at the Discovery Museum in Santa Maria and it was a blast. We also introduced the first Gourmet Gavel food competition and beer tasting. Both new elements were a huge success and we are going to continue them. Allan Hancock College culinary students will compete and be judged on a challenge dish they prepare. Local restaurants will provide appetizers, local breweries and wineries will pour, and a live auction will be held. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. The event this year will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2009 from 1pm – 5pm. If you would like to buy a ticket, give me a call at (805) 878-9879 or click here and buy tickets online.
Mint Properties is an event sponsor of Taste for Justice. Those of you who know me know of my commitment ot Legal Aid and the work they do here in our community. I currently serve on the Board of Legal Aid and hold the office of President Elect. In this economic downturn, Legal Aid’s work is even more vital and the needs of the community it serves have increased. Legal Aid fills the gap in legal services to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and housing discrimination. Now that resources are stretched thin, it is even more important for the community to come together and support Legal Aid. Since this event is such a pleasure, it is a great opportunity to have some fun, visit with friends, and do some good for the community. I hope you will join us.
1) Be prepared for an “as-is” purchase. Many times there is deferred maintenance on short sale listings. Often owners in financial distress stop performing maintenance on the home either willfully and because they lack the funds. You can ask a short sale seller to make repairs, but often they are unable or unwilling to do so since they are losing their home. You can also approach the short sale lender and ask that they allow the cost of the repairs to be deducted from their “net” but often the answer will be no, even if the repairs are required by your lender in order to originate your new loan.
It may seem like small news, but in Santa Maria it is big news that we got a Trader Joe's. For those of us who have been making the treck up to Arroyo Grande for years -- the arrival of Trader Joe's in Santa Maria is a real treat. I can't wait to zip up the street for the fresh organic produce and meats. It is conveniently located in south Santa Maria near Costco, right off the 101 Stowell exit. Since Santa Maria is now the largest city in Santa Barbara county -- it is about time! Welcome Trader Joe's! They are set to open on March 16th.
