Gas Prices Holding Steady - 06/30/09 04:19 PM
With 4th of July weekend coming up and travelers taking summer road trips, the threat of increased gas prices becomes a pain. However, CNN and a Lundberg Survey have published good news - gas prices around the country have remained unchanged the past 2 weeks.
According to the Lundberg Survey, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.66. The lowest price lies around $2.40 in Kansas, and the highest around $3.02 in Northern California. If you can remember back to last summer, gas prices around this time were at $4.10 a gallon! We may worry that this weekend … (0 comments)

Is a Summer Family Vacation Not in the Budget This Year? Why Not Consider a Staycation? - 06/29/09 02:09 PM

What is a staycation you ask? It is a vacation with out leaving you home or your immediate area. It can be fun and done even on the tightest of budgets.
Here are a few ideas for your staycation gathered via internet.
1. Set the Time and Date. Give your staycation a start and end date -- otherwise, it runs the risk of feeling like just another string of nights in front of the tube.
2. Follow a Staycation Budget.  Chances are, one big reason for planning a staycation rather than a vacation is that cash is short. Good … (2 comments)

Orange County Home / A Few Monday Funnies For You! - 06/29/09 01:41 PM

 

Every once in a while it is nice to have a midday break. Hope these add a smile to your Monday.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.     
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.                 
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI              
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors   (949) 753-7900
… (0 comments)

Top 10 charity websites..give back as simply as answering a trivia question - 06/27/09 02:26 PM
Giving to Charity can be done in many different ways, all of which are generous and compassionate. The recent economic situation has left people with less time and money to donate. But, thanks to the internet we now have new ways to give back.
Below is a list, from toptenz.net, of 10 charity websites you can visit and give back without spending any money yourself. I donated 136 cups of water today in just 5 minutes! After you finish blogging and commenting, why not take an extra 10 minutes doing something for someone else...
10. Race to Stop Violence Against Women
… (3 comments)

Orange County Courthouse - 06/26/09 04:06 PM
Have you visited The Old Orange County Courthouse? Why not head into Santa Ana's Historic Downtown District this summer and go take a look at a huge piece of our OC history. The Courthouse resides in the National Register of Historic Places and is a California State Historic Landmark.
The Courthouse was constructed in 1901 by architect C.L. Strange. He chose a Richardsonian Romanesque style, featuring arches and ornamented columns. It is constructed of brick and feature elaborate carvings. Today the 30,000-square foot building has been restored to look much as it had at the turn of the last century.
In … (0 comments)

Orange County Beach Homes/ Friday Funny - 06/26/09 03:08 PM
I'm sure we can all relate to this one. Happy Friday. Enjoy!
In most offices, the photocopier is out of order every now and then. One copy repairman had answered question after question for the employees. Finally one day, he just smiled and handed them this sheet...The copier is out of order!Yes, we have called the service man.Yes, he will be in today.No, we cannot fix it.No, we do not know how long it will take.No, we do not know what caused it.No, we do not know who broke it.Yes, we are keeping it.No, we do not know what you are … (0 comments)

Orange County Homes / Open House on Father's Day? - 06/25/09 05:09 PM

On Father's Day I drove past an Open House and it got me thinking....Do you think you would want to vacate your house on Father's Day or any holiday so it can be shown? Do you really think there would be significant traffic to justify holding that open house and kicking the owners out for the day? Is the economy really that bad that we need to resort to open houses on a holiday? More importantly what does it say about the Realtor and the industry? Don't you think it would be a reflection that perhaps the person is insensitive? Do … (1 comments)

Orange County Homes / Greener Air Conditioning - 06/24/09 06:14 PM
 As a GREEN broker I am always looking for new was to be environmentally-friendly. A Business Week article today discussed the beginning of a green solution for air conditioning. This development is enormous because unfortunately, staying cool requires utilizing a large amount of energy. A large amount of energy in turn equals global warming.

A European company, Thermodyna, is in the process of building a household AC unit that can provide cool air using solar energy. According to the article, the revolutionary "Schukey" motor would transform the sun's rays into cool air for your home or office. They report that … (1 comments)

Orange County Homes/ Wordless Wednesday...Rome, Italy - 06/24/09 05:24 PM

This makes me want to take a vacation and wander the old, beautiful streets of Rome. Photo compliments of my daughter.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.     
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.                                                                                                               Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI                                    2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors   (949) 753-7900
… (1 comments)

Orange County Homes / Why does Father's day come only once a year? - 06/23/09 04:53 PM
Were you busy this Father's day and unable to spend it with good ol' Dad? Work, illness, children, travel; there are many reasons why it wasn't easy to celebrate this year. It's unfortunate, but who says Father's day should come only once a year?
Any day can be a day dedicated to your love and appreciation for your father. Spend some quality time together with some of these ideas:
Make it a ritual to have a "date night" once a month. Go grab a bite to eat and catch a movie. Say in shape together. Sign up for a gym membership … (3 comments)

Orange County Homes / Have you used the new iPhone yet? - 06/22/09 03:04 PM
It seems that every month there is a new "hot" piece of technology released. Last week produced the new iPhone 3G S. Apple claims it's faster and more powerful than the last model. Some improvements include video recording, 32 GB of storage, an updated camera, a compass, updated text messaging, and much more.
Incredibly; Apple announced that they sold over 1 million phones within the first 3 days!
It seems America cannot live without these smart phones. They remain one of the fastest growing consumer items today. We can now connect to the outside world and obtain Internet access pretty much anywhere. I … (0 comments)

Orange County Beach Homes / Where is the Message in Fathers Day? - 06/21/09 02:00 PM

Today at church, there was a special Blessing for all the Dads as they were asked to stand and be acknowledged.  An apparent understanding of the great responsibilities Dads possess.
Where does a Dad go to look for the strength and guidance so as to teach and guide his children?
I found a quote that perhaps distinguishes a Dads responsibility...tell me what you think.
"A Father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way" - George Webster Douglas
If you ask me, I think … (2 comments)

Orange County Homes / Love a good book? - 06/17/09 04:48 PM


According to Cosmopolitan Magazine, here are the ten 10 reads for the summer. I hope you can find the time to "get lost" in a book this summer. Enjoy!
The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth SteinThis is the Starbucks book pick of the summer, so you'll see it by the counter whenever you stop to get your vente latte. Imagine if your dog wrote a tell-all about you - that gives you an idea of what kind of book this is. It's a novel about a family told from the pooch's perspective. The concept may sound … (1 comments)

Summer is here and the living is easy??? - 06/17/09 02:29 PM
 
The kids are or almost out of school for the summer and life will slow down for many. Done are the endless nights of homework, projects or studying for tests, class plays, awards ceremonies etc.....  at least for the summer.
While we are obviously still in hard economic times and work still needs to go on, hopefully you will be able to take advantage of enjoying a few long days at the beach, pool, backyard BBQ's and extra time with friends and family. Now I realize that there may be a few of us out there that are anticipating the kids being home all summer … (0 comments)

Top Ten Grossing Movies of All Time - 06/17/09 12:26 AM
I've had a bit of fun discovering the top ten lists (via the internet) this week. One interesting and surprising top ten was "Top Ten Grossing Movies of All Time" (per IMDB)

Did this list surprise any of you?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.          
Best regards.                                                                                                               
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI                                   
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors  
(949) 753-7900
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
… (8 comments)

Orange County Homes / Luxury High Rise Living - 06/15/09 03:29 PM
$499000 / 2br - High Rise Living--Marquee Park Place
Marquee Park Place at Irvine ~ Fabulous High Rise Towers at epicenter of urban living w/Spectrum, South Coast Plaza & Fashion Island nearby. 2BR, 2BA + Den on 13th Floor w/large patio, hardwood floors, stainless & granite kitchen, marble baths. $499,000 For more photos and information, CLICK HERE or contact the Michael Caruso Real Estate Group 949.753.7900 Michelson at Jamboree (google map) (yahoo map)
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.     
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.            
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 
2007 President, Orange … (0 comments)

Orange County Homes / Beautiful Home in Ocean Ranch - 06/15/09 03:20 PM
$1149000 / 4br - Guard Gated Ocean Ranch
Ocean Ranch at Bear Brand ~ Gracious 4BR "Executive Edition" floor plan 3,227 sqft w/Remodeled Kitchen and Staircase, Custom Entertainment Center, Special Finishes and Wood Treatments. Large Yard w/play area, BBQ Cook Center & Spa. $1,149,000 For more photos or information, call the Michael Caruso Real Estate Group at 949.495.8600 or CLICK HERE
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.     
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.        
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI       
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors   (949) 753-7900
… (0 comments)

Orange County Homes / Stoneridge Estates - 06/15/09 03:13 PM
$1495000 / 5br - Spanish Architecture in Stoneridge Estates
 
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.     
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Best regards.                
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI   
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors   (949) 753-7900

Stoneridge Estates at San Juan Capistrano ~ Custom built Spanish style tri-level 4BR home 4,500 sqft w/office, main floor BR, Huge Kitchen & Great Room. Private yard w/Pool & Spa. Generous 12,840sqft lot has extra parking & 3 car garage. $1,495,000 For more photos or information, CLICK HERE or call the Michael Caruso Real Estate Group 949.495.8600 … (0 comments)

Southern California Real Estate/Top Ten Worst Summer Jobs - 06/12/09 05:25 PM
Courtesey of David Letterman's Top Ten10.Octomom babysitter 9. Mel Gibson divorce lawyer 8. Assistant in charge of applying sunscreen to Rush Limbaugh 7. Susan Boyle groomer 6. Second assistant in charge of applying sunscreen to Rush Limbaugh 5. Dick Cheney hunting buddy (4th year on the list) 4. "Jon & Kate Plus 8" marriage counselor 3. No number 3 -- writer left to work for Conan 2. General Motors CEO 1. Proofreader for George W. Bush's memoir And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 2007 … (0 comments)

Orange County Homes for Sale/Top 10 Things You Don't Want to Hear From a Guy at the Bus Stop - 06/12/09 05:23 PM


 
Courtesey of David Letterman's Top Ten
 
10. "You know, if you show the driver some skin he lets you ride for free" 9. "If there aren't any seats you can sit on daddy's lap" 8. "I cannot control my bladder" 7. "Lemme guess -- Old Spice?" 6. "You think they're gonna make me pay an extra fare for Mr. Zippy?" (holds up puppet) 5. "You wanna trade pants?" (unbuttons pants) 4. "This is the first day mommy's let me ride the bus by myself" 3. "You believe I found this in the trash?" (eating a sandwich) 2. … (1 comments)

ORANGE COUNTY ~ NORTH - 06/12/09 04:55 PM
BREA
The 2009 Mayors Youth Community Awards will be held June 16th. To see a full list of recipients go to: www.cityofbrea.net.
CYPRESS
Cypress Recreation has begun registration for summer day camp for children entering 1st-7th grades. Camp is held at Cypress Community Center June 15 - August 21st. Camp fee is $105.00. For more information please call (714) 229-6780.
FULLERTON
Secret Pals: Individuals and business organizations are being asked to make and monetary donation to children from lower income families, so they may participate in summer camp programs. To be a secret pal, call Aaron Orozco at the cities Parks … (0 comments)

Orange County Homes / Orange County ~ South - 06/12/09 04:34 PM
ALISO VIEJO
On June 19th the Mike Sullivan Band will perform for the cities first summer time concert. 6:30-8:30 at the Crown Valley Community Park Amphitheater. For more information call (949) 425-5100
DANA POINT
Summer Movies. Friday nights will feature free family films. 8:00pm in Lantern Bay Park. For more information call (949) 248-3530 
LAGUNA NIGUEL
The Chamber of Commerce will hold a "roast" in honor of Mayor Robert Ming. 6:00-9:00pm El Niguel Country Club. $65.00 per person or $520.00 per table. For more information please call (949) 363-0136
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA
Rancho Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corp. will hold … (0 comments)

Orange County Real Esate/Space's Largest Get-Together Planned for Early Next Week! - 06/12/09 11:42 AM
 
At 7:17am EST on Saturday, the Endeavour space shuttle is set to blast off with seven astronauts aboard. The seven will meet up with six astronauts already located at the international space station.  The sixteen day mission's goal is to expand the international space station.
Speaking of international, the crew will be comprised of astronauts from Canada, Europe, Japan and Russia.
The launch will be availalbe for live viewing on CNN's website.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.          
Best regards.                                                                                                               
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI                                   
2007 President, Orange County … (0 comments)

Homes For Sale Orange County/Top Ten Cities to Live In - 06/10/09 10:27 AM

I read an interesting article today on kiplinger that was very interesting.  The article highlighted the top ten cities to live in, based on job stability, new job opportunities and overall appeal of the city itself. The list rated these cities, in order, as the top ten:
1. Huntsville, Alabama
2. Albuquerque, New Mexico
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Charlottesville, Virginia
5. Athens, Georgia
6. Olympia, Washington
7. Madison, Wisconsin
8. Austin, Texas
9. Flagstaff, Arizona
10. Raleigh, North Carolina
 
What do you think? Were there any cities that you feel were left out?
We'd love to hear your feedback.
 
… (3 comments)

Foreclosure Homes in Orange County / Feeding Your Bottom Line with Old Formulas? - 06/07/09 11:01 PM

Open house, refrigerator magnets, oven mitts, note pads, coffee mugs, direct mail, door knocking, recipes, calendars, logo pens, rulers...all the gimmicks are in place and it's 1978.  That year even came with the MLS in a book the size of the yellow pages.  That's how your fueled your business...that's how you fed your bottom line.
And the public loved it...they loved you too!  Business was booming and everyone talked about that latest recipe from grandma that you left on their door nob.
Fast forward...it's 2009 and some yesteryear managers tell you to get out there and door knock, pass out … (2 comments)

Homes for Sale in Orange County / Seatbelts Wrinkle Your Clothes? - 06/07/09 07:58 PM

Who is really the big winner when it comes to seatblets? Let's think...
Did your dry-cleaner come to mind?  No? Think again...
I was probably the last person in California to give in to seat belts.  I always taught, reminded and instilled the seat belt habit for my family members but for me it was a chore that I just couldn't deal with.  How could I wear a seat belt when it wrinkles my dress shirt and makes me look like I slept in my car after a drive to my office or to an appointment? Could that possibly be better … (1 comments)

Doesn't Sportsmanship Apply to Grown-Ups Too? - 06/06/09 06:36 PM

I will have to apologize to those of you who are not basketball fans (I think there are some of you out there, right?) for my second basketball blog inside one week. 
I heard a group of people discussing this topic, and thought I'd write a few words and open up a discussion for my fellow Active Rainers.
Last week, when the Cavaliers lost to the Magic, LeBron James refused to shake hands with any of the opposing players and simply stormed off the court. After the game, he used some poor excuse of being "a competitor" and that he didn't feel it … (3 comments)

16 years Seattle girl is missing! Please read! - 06/06/09 06:23 PM
This is a sad, sad story that I thought was very important to re-blog, due to the seriousness of the issue.
Please, if you feel touched by this story, be sure to re-blog this. 
Consider how amazing it would be if we found her through the simple act of sharing a story through our Active Rain Community!



And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors           
(949) 753-7900
Via Yuno Marioni (Coldwell Banker Bain):
Via Yuno Marioni … (1 comments)

Orange County Homes / Today in history...how time flies. - 06/05/09 04:09 PM

Today in History.
How time flies... It has been 5 years, today, since President Ronald Regan died. We all remember the images of a tearful Mrs. Regan as she hugged her husband's coffin before the ceremonies concluded. President Regan lived a great life as an actor, politician and ultimately the 40th President of the United States.  He has left his legacy that many of us will not soon forget.
"Whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears; to your confidence rather than … (1 comments)

Orange County Homes / How Can We Make this Recession Work for Us??? - 06/05/09 01:59 PM

So while times may be tough right now, it doesn't mean that we are stuck.  There are plenty of opportunities in this economical depressed to improve our lives for the better.
Perhaps this recession will force us to again appreciate the value of time not money. Spending time with your family or friends, enjoying a home cooked meal or a spontaneous game night with the kids, may just count for a lot more than we think. As     we all getting older what is it that we cherish the most??? Is it the huge house, new car, or latest gadget? Or … (0 comments)

Orange County Homes / Are You Still Paying Full Price??? - 06/03/09 04:43 PM

According to Consumer Reports now is the time to haggle. In this soft economic time, businesses are struggling to survive and consumers are having a hard time paying. Two-thirds polled by Consumer Reports said that hagglers get a lower price 83% of the time. Here are a few points when you are ready to haggle.
1) Be patient and kind
2) Time your haggle, late in the month when sales people are trying to meet their quotas, can be a good time to bargain for big ticket items. Try early in the morning or late in the day when they … (0 comments)

Orange County Homes / 2009 First-Time Homeownership Within Reach - 06/03/09 03:09 PM

 Part of the Stimulus Plan Congress recently passed, grants up to $8000.00 for first time homebuyers. Here are the qualifying factors...
1). First time homebuyers purchasing a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009:  buyers must not have owned a home in the past three years
2). First time homebuyers must use tax credit for their primary residence, single-family homes, condos, town homes or co-ops.
3). Tax credit is based on the price of the home and the buyer's income.
4). The tax credit does not need to be repaid if he/she occupies the home for three years. … (0 comments)

Orange County Home Sales/ Ways to Make Your Home GREEN. - 06/03/09 02:36 PM
 
This is the time of conservatism, conservation and thinking GREEN. There are lots of ways you can contribute to making or Earth a better place to live. Here are a few tips to making your home GREEN also....
 •1)      Use Energy Star Appliances. These appliances need to meet strict guidelines, and as the name suggests they are more energy efficient.
•2)      Install solar paneling
•3)      Plant Native Vegetation. Not only are these plants easier to maintain, they require less water and fertilizer compared to non-native plants.
•4)      Add Energy Efficient Windows. This will not only reduce the heat inside your … (0 comments)

Before They Were Famous.... - 06/01/09 12:31 AM

I quickly skimmed over a quick article that revealed the jobs that some now famous people had before they made it big...I just HAD to share:
 
Mick Jagger worked as an ice cream man
Warren Beaty served as a pest control worker catching rodents and the like
Beyonce worked in her Mom's hair salon
Amy Adams worked as a Hooters girl
So there you have it! Before they were raking in the "the big bucks," they did their time like many other hard-working middle class folks.
Here's hoping you all had a wonderful weekend and look forward to a … (11 comments)

Gooooooooooooooooooo Lakers!! - 06/01/09 12:23 AM

Although it is a day late, due to an incredibly hectic schedule I've had, I simply must post a small nod to one of my favorite sports teams--the LAKERS!
I must admit that there were many a time during this past series that my blood pressure spiked, but all in all, I was cofident that they would win, despite a few setbacks.
With players such as Gasol, Kobe and Ariza, the Lakers sure have one heck of a shot at beating Orlando.
Bravo guys!
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.          
Best regards.                                                                                                               
Michael … (2 comments)

 
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Michael A. Caruso ~

Laguna Niguel, CA

More about me…

Surterre Properties

Address: 33522 Niguel Road #100, Monarch Beach, CA, 92629

Office Phone: (949) 495-8600

Cell Phone: (949) 584-2300

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