Palomar Mountain News

Back on the market, ready to close escrow for one very lucky, cash buyer. This “Little Cabin in the Big Woods’ is just oozing with POTENTIAL. We were so tempted to check the boxes for ‘air conditioning, skylight, microwave and deck’ but that would be a bit misleading, even though they exist.

It was originally listed the first of the year with a few complications. Those have been cleared up now so all is ready to roll.

The value is in the land with deeded, plotted, legal access, existing water share with meter and a power panel looking to get hooked up again. It could be classified as a tear-down but some of you are creative enough to wave your magic tool box with skills to remodel.

Here in San Diego County, you might consider the possibility of building an ADU of up to 1200 sf with very little permit fees. An ADU is an Accessory Dwelling Unit, similar to a guest house/granny flat type of situation. The land has some beautiful (well… and some not-so-beautiful) trees on this half acre. According to a neighbor’s survey, this little gem is half-way on his land. The shed is over the line, too.

A tree top remodeled the kitchen years ago so that is where the ‘air conditioning and skylight’ feature comes into play and the deck has seen much better days. But, the vintage flooring in the living room and front bedroom might be restored! Yes, that could be lovely.

Photos tell the story about how many stops you might make at Home Depot before coming up to breathe new life into this pretty much, irresistible opportunity. Palomar is an hour from Escondido or Temecula and for many decades, mostly much-loved second homes. Now we are a sought-after escape for full-time folks looking for fresh air while perhaps working from the mountain-top where most families home-school.

What would YOUR plans be?

22198 Crestline Road, half acre with two parcels APNs 135-064-58 and 14

Click for MLS info with lots of pix, then let’s go see!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor for Fixers to the Fabulous

As most of you know, for much of the past 20+ years, Bob and Kathy Rios hosted an area at the front of their property with a sign “Free Stuff, Please leave Table”. It was across from Yvonne Hollister’s home. Often when staging a new listing, I would load up and drop off some nice, clean, useful things. Vintage dishes, boxes of books, useful pieces of furniture and so much more. Of course it was used by many neighbors who were sorting out as ‘someone’s trash is another’s treasure’. It was always fun to drive by and see Kathy and Yvonne often getting first dibs, checking out new drop-offs. Many neighbors enjoyed scoring a great find, with a big smile on their face. It wasn’t just the Crestline folks, as word got out and others would often make ‘The Table’ a destination. It was a fun place to meet up!

The table was retired years ago, before Bob and Kathy moved off the mountain. Recently things started to accumulate again in cardboard boxes on the ground. In the spring, when I had a cabin closing escrow, the seller didn’t take his patio table with him and the buyer had her own. So, I spoke with A&W. Oh, just about everyone knows Anne and Wayne. They are caretakers for The Table’s present property owner, Marsha Penner. I asked if we could donate the glass table to that fun adventure. Nancy Horwin and I loaded it up, Teresa McCarthy made the sign and the items at the table were now a little more inviting.

However, to everything there is a season. The Table isn’t working out for the neighborhood so this location is not going to continue. Yesterday several of us cleared off the table and took the sign down. Whoever would like the glass table, you are welcome to it. Otherwise I’ll pick it up by Monday, now that it has been washed off with this lovely rain this morning.

Click for the song you are already humming:

To Everything there is a Season

Enjoy!

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor for all Seasons

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It was a surprise to me to see storm clouds over Palomar on the way up the mountain a couple hours ago. We sat out on the patio and were treated to a beautiful summer rain, complete with thunder. Didn’t see lightening from our seats but guessing it might have been out there. Pouring rain. So fun and much appreciated. Wish I could post this as a scratch and sniff…

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Bonnie-loving-this-rain!

What would your plans be for this oak cabinet? Will have it empty for you. Ready to pick up on Crestline. Please call or text Long and Lilly 714-851-8243

It is so fun to greet people that stop at the Woodpecker Firewood Stand in front of our house. They load up a few bundles and often head to their camping spot with fresh eggs and always free kindling. Occasionally we have other requests. Tonight Matt and Emily wondered if we had pepper. He had great plans for their roast but forgot the pepper. They picked just the right stop because spices are on the house! Matt blended the seasonings in a little bag and guessing they are finishing up their perfect dinner ’round their campfire in the State Park.

Bonnie Phelps, Realtor for all Seasons

Well, almost.

When escrow closes, it is usually bitter-sweet for the sellers to hear they no longer own a cabin on Palomar. That is the case for someone most of you locals know; Ron and Debbie Bowen have sold their cabin. I do believe Ron very reluctantly gave the key to his neighbors, Jim and Teresa, in a very formal ceremony today.

But, Jim and Teresa really aren’t the buyers. One of their daughters, Monica and her husband, Anthony are (Welcome pic soon!). Tonight they are hosting a family dinner at their city house where Jim and Teresa are very excited to pass the key on to their newest family member owning a cabin on Palomar. This makes two daughters, a son and all those grandkids have joined them up here. Monica and Anthony wanted a cabin close by and you can’t get much closer than next door to their mountain-loving grandparents!

Ron and Debbie are taking off with some long-awaited traveling adventures. She has their RV packed and ready to go. However, we just might see them once in a while as this mountain just gets in your blood and Ron has a few more backhoe projects.

Fun times ahead! Hooray for All!

Bonnie Phelps, Neighborhood Realtor

Thursday night at Lazy H!!! The Smith Mountain Boys will be playing and singing and the folks at Lazy H have some delicious dinners planned for your dining pleasure. There is a catch!!! It always sells out so be sure to email Jack for your reservations: info@lazyh.com Concert is from 5 to 8 and you might want to get there a little bit early.

Click for a little more info: Come on out and hear Smith Mtn Boys!

Bonnie Phelps, Real Estate and the Palomar Mountain News since the beginning of the last century!

Dream-come-true fixer for creative folks looking for a project. This vintage cabin on a half acre had its beginnings in 1930 and wins the prize for needing the most love. After power came to Palomar in the early 1950’s it apparently grew a bit with an enclosed porch to 1016 total sf. Then, about 2005, the owners, whose family had the weekend cabin all those years, invited me to stop by and see their new kitchen and bath.

When I parked and walked up the stairs, I noticed a huge tree above the cabin looking like it could come down any minute. We talked about that tree a bit in that nice new kitchen. A few weeks later, I called and asked if they had insurance. Well, they didn’t. The top of the tree was removed from the now air-conditioned kitchen and the lovely skylight it left really ‘brings the outside in’. Ah, all that rain and snow over the years found it’s way into the bathroom and living area so you’ll want to freshen up those rooms, too.

But, that’s not all. A few years ago neighbor kids told me they got new BB guns. It must have been purely a coincidence a short time later when I noticed broken windows and saw BBs all over the floor. With thanks to two Amazing Angels who rolled up their sleeves, boarded up the windows, waved their magic wands and left the cabin, broom-clean (well, almost), you really have an unpainted canvas to transform.

Oh! There are a few more features you might appreciate knowledge of prior to coming up to Palomar Mountain to see this gem. Recent recorded surveys show the westerly property line goes right through the cabin (Ah ha! That is what the pink ribbon in the photo is all about). About 50% of the cabin really, truly is on the neighbor’s land. He doesn’t have a appetite for an easement or boundary adjustment so the cabin will need to be moved off his land. The shed on the other side of the property line is yours, too. Just needs to be moved. Imagine that!

So, here is another story for you. Since the cabin had been unlocked for years, there was some vandalism. I walked through to check on it one day and saw the toilet was gone! “I can’t believe, someone would steal the toilet!!!”, I said out-loud with no one else around. I walked back through again, and realized our beautiful Four Seasons of weather had ‘softened the floor’, so to speak, and that toilet??? It was now under the house. Demolition has already started! You are so lucky!!! It is also vacant so there is no one to evict. So many positives!

But there is more! About half of the land is heavily forested so you have more land than you think with a half acre. The property has a water meter with local mutual water company. Power and phone was hooked up in the past and their septic tank was apparently in use. And, drum roll, another neighbor is starting up a catering business so hot meals and fresh bread could be delivered to your door. How could you resist? Going, going, going….

Cash buyers only please … Click for the MLS link with lots of photos of the good, the bad and the ugly, then simply sing along and it will make the re-hab go so much smoother:

Always glad to get your questions answered and give you a tour.

Bonnie Phelps, Palomar Mountain Resident Realtor since the Beginning of the Last Century

DRE 01293655

Well, we had an adventure after that wonderful ShowDeo today. At the closing, as the campers were getting ready to say goodbye to their their horses, gather up their luggage and go home, we learned the road was blocked. An 18 wheeler got lost (on his way to Pauma Valley). He got a little close to the edge and blocked the road to get out, right by the dogwood trees. A huge tow truck arrived pretty quick and it was remarkable how fast the road was open again.

Thought some of you might want to see the photos:

Like to do something really fun on the mountain tomorrow? It is the last week of Horse Camp at Palomar Christian Conference Center. YOU are invited to the ShowDeo! 3:15, today, Friday Aug 6th, at the horse arena at the camp. It really is an impressive show. It is amazing what the girls can do with those horses after just one week. One of the girls happens to be one of our ‘treasures’, Sunshine. So, we’ll be there cheering her on and thought YOU might want to come, too!

Directions: Take State Park Road, through the State Park (you don’t have to pay the entrance fee as you are driving through to the Conference Center). Follow the signs to the Camp. When you come to the staff homes, keep going. At the Y you will see the horses off to your left. Park and walk out to the arena.

The arena does have a mesh cover but you also might appreciate an umbrella for a little more shade. Lots of camps and opportunities at Palomar Camp. Check out their website: www.palomar.camp