Farm Talk with Paul Ward

Do you dream of owning a ranchette with chickens or a horse barn? Not so fast! Your farm dreams could be dashed depending on how your property is zoned. In this episode, Paul discusses general zoning guidelines and types of common permits needed for everything from a 20,000 sqft metal barn to an accessory dwelling unit. The Ventura County Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance may be 450 pages, but Paul bre...

In this episode of Farm Talk, Paul is on location with Lisa Tate, founder of the California Coffee Collective at Rancho Filoso outside of Santa Paula, California. Not only is California Coffee Collective one of the  first of five farms to grow coffee in California, their crop just went into commercial production in 2021. Lisa may be new to growing a coffee crop, but her family have been farmers si...

Accessory Dwelling Units - Financing, Estimated Costs, and Potential Rental Income   Are you looking to earn extra income by building a granny flat  - also known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)? Adding an ADU to your home by converting a garage into an apartment or installing a tiny home on your property has never been more popular. In this episode Paul meets with mortgage loan originator Mari...

Lunch time! In this incredibly exceptional episode, Paul meets with cookbook author, School of Lunch founder, and mother of five, HIlary Boynton. Hilary runs the school lunch program at the Manzanita School in Topanga Canyon - but this is no ordinary lunch! No PBJ sandwiches, no tater tots, and no processed sugar - lunch is sourdough bread fermented and baked on the premises served with plenty of...

Paul will be back next week with a fresh episode - in the meantime enjoy this encore of Paul’s interview with Richard Palmer from Meathead Movers. Full episodes are also always available on Paul’s YouTube channel .    One of the most stressful parts of moving is the packing and shipping of household goods.   In this episode, Paul gets to chat with Richard Palmer of a local moving company, Meathead...

Paul will return next week with a new episode! Until then, please enjoy one of Paul’s most popular episodes, Online Marketplace Home Estimates. Paul has over 20 years in real estate and here is what he really thinks of online home estimates… Everyone is guilty of  looking up the price of  their house (and maybe their neighbor’s, too!) on an online marketplace. Sometimes the price of your house see...

Scott Klittich from Otto & Sons Nursery in Fillmore, CA Thank you for joining us for a very special encore episode with Scott Klittich, owner of Otto & Sons Nursery in Fillmore! Don’t miss Rose Days 2023 at the nursery, happening April 19-21. Celebrate Otto & Sons 30th annual open house with a 1-mile walk through the nursery and learn more about rose growing and maintenance. More information is av...

There is a lot involved in the home buying process that can make a first time home buyer nervous but in this First Time Homebuyer Series, Paul invites experts to explain each step.   First time home buyers in Ventura County are often worried about moving into a flood zone or an area prone to earthquakes. But! Did you know the state of California requires a national hazard disclosure. Not only buye...

There is a lot involved in the home buying process that can make a first time home buyer nervous but in this First Time Homebuyer Series, Paul invites experts to explain each step. Paul speaks with Mariana Hermosillo, agency owner of Goosehead Insurance. Mariana shares her tips to finding the best rates for home insurance, getting the best value for your money, and what to avoid. She also shares t...

The paperwork! The money! The contracts! There is a lot involved in the home buying process that can make a first time home buyer nervous but in this first time home buyer series, Paul invites experts on to explain each step. In this episode, Vanessa Jimenez of Opus Escrow explains what first time home buyers need to know about escrow. There is a lot of money trading hands when purchasing a home a...

Get ready for an information packed episode! Emotions drive consumer sentiment and the real estate market cycle is no different. In this episode Paul uses his 20 years of experience to determine where Ventura County is on the real estate market cycle - and what it means for buyers and sellers. He goes on to tackle the startling data recently released by Redfin that U.S. homeowners have lost $2.3 t...

Steve Vanderzwaag of Zwaag Termite Control has so much knowledge to share, Paul had to give him a second episode! If you missed the first episode when Steve talks about fumigation, heat treatments and the importance of doing inspections before listing a home for sale, you can catch it wherever you get your favorite podcasts.    In this episode, Steve dives into his 20 years of experience and share...

Enjoy these next 25 minutes as a vacation away from the stressors of daily life… Paul interviews Neal Marder, proprietor of Heaven’s Hill Estate, a vineyard and Spiritual Retreat Center, in Old Agoura, California. Perched on the edge of the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, Neal and his wife Gina have carved out a sanctuary for themselves, the community, and all animals. Heaven’s Hill is entirel...

Times are tough right now. Are home warranties worth it? Paul’s go-to person for home warranties, Tamara Rossie-Molina of Choice Home Warranty, breaks down the important items that should be covered to save you big money in case of an emergency. What you’ll learn in this episode: Items covered under a home warranty. Common misconceptions about what is typically covered. Additional coverage provide...

It’s a no brainer, the seller should accept the highest offer… except it’s not that simple. In this episode, Paul digs into his 20 years of experience in real estate and provides examples of exactly what to be aware of when accepting an offer - especially if it seems too good to be true.  _____________________ Have ideas for future episodes? We'd love to answer your questions - leave a comment! Fo...

In this reverse episode, Paul Ward is the guest! Interviewed by Farm Talk Director/Producer, Gerald Emerick, Paul shares how he became known as “Farm Guy” after specializing in country properties in Ventura County. Along the way to becoming a Realtor, Paul held many interesting jobs, including assisting a congressman in Washington DC, a stint as an antiques dealer, working at the Oakland Zoo and…...

Everyone is guilty of  looking up the price of  their house (and maybe their neighbor’s, too!) on an online marketplace. Sometimes the price of your house seems reasonable and other times…, it’s shocking! In this episode, Paul explains why sellers and buyers can’t always trust an online estimate.  Paul considers these online marketplace estimates to be a just single tool in determining the value o...

If you’ve bought a house or signed paperwork for a business transaction, you probably had to get those documents notarized…. But what does that exactly mean, to have documents notarized? In this episode, Paul speaks with an expert in notary services, Deanna Good. Deanna owns her own mobile notary business and talks us through the importance of getting documents PROPERLY notarized - especially duri...

What are seller concessions and how can they affect your offer on a home or the sale of your property? With 20 years of real estate experience in Ventura County, Paul breaks down seller concessions into three categories (Money, Repairs, and Personal Property) and provides an example of each one. Plus, you won’t believe how the family dog got involved in one extreme case! Have ideas for future epis...

One of the most stressful parts of moving is the packing and shipping of household goods. In this episode, Paul gets to chat with Richard Palmer of a local moving company, Meathead Movers , to discover how their approach to moving keeps the process stress free - while giving back to the Ventura County community. Meathead Movers employs local college athletes and provides them with the mentoring th...

In this episode, Paul has the opportunity to sit down and speak with Scott Kittich, owner of Otto & Sons Nursery in Fillmore. Not only is Otto & Sons the largest growers of roses this side of the Rocky Mountains, the robust 40+ acre nursery includes acres of citrus trees, stone fruits, and perennial favorites. Whether you lean towards Floribunda, Grandiflora or Hybrid Tea roses, Scott and his know...

We've all heard the real estate industry is undergoing rapid changes. But! The property management industry is healthy and thriving. In the previous episode about Property Management 101 , Paul gave us all his best tips for finding new renters, and told us how he learned the hard way to check references. This week, Paul goes more in-depth into property management and covers topics such as:  How ca...

The multitalented Gail Claridge (interior designer-decorator-contractor) and her daughter Christie Claridge, reveal the fascinating story behind their luxury events venue Country Meadow Ranch and the exclusive Somis Inn . Gail never intended to move into a barn, but after lovingly restoring the 3,000 sq ft barn, she and her husband decided to make it their home. Tragedy struck during the global pa...

With mortgage rates at levels not seen since 2001, many hopeful home buyers are wondering what their options are. In this episode, Paul speaks with Mortgage Loan Originator Karly Rosalez of The Money Store. With over 15 years of mortgage experience (working with buyers, sellers and builders) Karly explains the intricate details of finding the best mortgage to fit your personal situation. She break...

The property management industry is healthy and thriving in 2022! In fact, it may be one of the strongest sectors going forward into the next 5 year period. In this episode, Paul will walk us through the basics of property management for everyone who has rental property, is considering expanding into rental properties or even the simply curious. Have ideas for future episodes? We'd love to answer...