Where Is My Bidding War? - 04/30/12 10:51 AM

 
Where Is My Bidding War?
 
The Orange County Real Estate Market is so confusing for a seller....heck, for buyers too. Our transition from a Buyer's Market to a Seller's Market happened so quickly that few consumers were ready for it, on either side.
So now that sellers should have the upper hand, they should still be careful about playing games.
There is a property I've been watching which seems to be doing just this. I don't know if it's the agent's strategy or the seller's but they are trying to create a bidding war, and not being very … (36 comments)

What Kind Of Place Is Mission Viejo, California? Here's My Love Letter To My City - 04/29/12 08:57 AM

 
Orange County, California has many nice cities! I work in all of them: Aliso Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, Laguna Niguel....I could go on, but frankly it would only be to make the Search Engines happy.
I have to say that when I'm asked to pick my favorite, it always comes back to Mission Viejo.
I am an original Mission Viejo resident, moving here in 1967. This is an amazing feat in our area.....it's all so new. I went to these schools and when it came time to put my own kids in school, we moved here. I watched … (9 comments)

The Earth Is A'Shakin Today In California - 04/28/12 03:51 PM
 

 
That's right.....at about 8am this morning, the California ground did what it does best.....it shook. I've heard reports on the size ranging from 4.1 to 3.8, but either way, this is not a huge earthquake by our standards. But it is a good reminder!
Most parts of the country have their own version of natural disasters. Some are predictable and trackable which certainly helps the locals prepare for the event. Earthquakes strike out-of-the-blue. But this is no excuse to be unprepared. 
We know they are coming!!
Even as a lifelong California resident, I take this for granted at … (16 comments)

It's Ok Mr. Buyer! Take Your Vacation, We Can Close Without You - 04/27/12 08:20 AM

 
As a full time Realtor® working in Mission Viejo, California....I try and make sure my clients understand the home buying/selling process. I think I do a good job. Whether is at a listing appointment, or wandering through home listings, I take the time to educate my clients on the steps we will go through:
* Purchase Offers/Counters* Inspections* Contingencies* Loan and Appraisal Issues
More of course.....but this week I realized that I forget to discuss the closing itself. Sometimes when something is so automatic to us, we assume it is for everyone else too. Big mistake. Working with a … (13 comments)

A Dual Multiple Offer Market - 04/26/12 04:34 PM

 
 
This market is very complicated. And even though buyers want to buy and sellers want to sell......it seems the number of homes coming and off the market is increasing.
Why?
On short sales, this makes sense. The amount of time it takes to get approval often exhausts and frustrates the buyer, who moves on. But what about the equity seller listings? In Mission Viejo, we are seeing these homes pop back and forth from back-up to active.
I try to educate my buyers.....the more they know what I know, the better we can communicate and faster they can … (7 comments)

Even A Seller's Market Needs Home Buyers - 04/20/12 05:36 PM

Even A Seller's Market Needs Home Buyers
 
Mission Viejo and the surrounding cities in Orange County, California are in a solid sellers market at this point. What is that? Simply put we have multiple offers on most well-priced homes.
Although the real estate market has gone through some rough times over the past few years, this uptick of activity is a normal occurrence in April. With the lovely spring weather, comes real estate sales.
But I'd like to remind the Mission Viejo Home Sellers, that even in a Seller's Market.....you still need those home buyers.
More and more I … (31 comments)

Kayaking On Lake Mission Viejo - 04/18/12 04:07 PM

 
 
Kayaking On Lake Mission Viejo
I love living in Mission Viejo!! I love sharing this great community with home buyers. Mission Viejo has many attractive features. As the original planned community, all our neighborhoods are situated around local parks, there are wonderful community centers for all ages, highly rated Blue Ribbon Schools and of course....lots of sports parks and clubs. But one of the main advantages of living in Mission Viejo is our Lake.
Lake Mission Viejo is a man made body of water built for the private use of Mission Viejo residents and their guests. The benefits … (13 comments)

Coke® Or Pepsi®? - 04/15/12 03:19 PM

 
I do the shopping in the family. Feel a bit like the old commercial "I can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan." I don't mind. Every time my husband goes to the market he comes home with such practical things as smoked trout and granulated honey....don't ask.
This week I was stocking up on soda as my son was having a "movie night" party and teenagers need lots of junk food for this. I was picking up the 12 packs of Coca Cola® and Dr. Pepper®...and noticed the reduced prices of Pepsi® at the … (89 comments)

Lightening And Hail Coming To Mission Viejo - 04/13/12 10:17 AM

 
Today is not a good day to be outside. Mission Viejo and Southern California will be experiencing a major weather system. Rain, lightening, hail will cause havoc on the roads and in communities, so knowing what to do can be the difference between safety and damage.
Clearly the best thing to do is move your pets inside and put vehicles in the garage...then light a fire and read a good book by the fire.
Oh if we could only do this.
But if you are going to be out and about....be prepared. Drive slowly! Be ready to pull over … (5 comments)

Your Buyer's Market Changed To A Seller's Market....Right In The Middle Of Your Real Estate Experience - 04/12/12 03:09 PM
Your Buyer's Market Changed To A Seller's Market....Right In The Middle Of Your Real Estate Experience

 
 
Part of my responsibility to my clients....sellers and buyers...is to touch base periodically with Mission Viejo Real Estate Market News. The one thing that is constant in real estate is that it changes all the time. If your agent can't tell you what is going on in the real estate market TODAY, you are not working with the right agent.
Real estate is more than yard signs and unlocking doors!!! This is so important! Local and state laws and ordinances, market trends, national … (55 comments)

Before You "Just Throw It Out There"......Do You Think About The Sellers? - 04/09/12 02:29 PM

 
 
There have been a lot of talk about the "Low Ball" offer lately. Pros and cons to writing them and working them. I am in the camp that ANY offer is an offer worth working, if at all possible.
But what about the "Vulture Buyers"? I call them this because they are the buyers who make it clear from the very beginning that they are looking for a "good deal." They will buy only in a situation where they can buy a home significantly under market value. They want to win!
They could be investors, or just buyers looking … (45 comments)

I'll Write It Up....But Let Me Explain How The Bank Is Thinking - 04/02/12 06:16 PM

 
As a busy real estate agent in Mission Viejo, I work with a lot of buyers. Like other communities, we have our share of bank-owned homes. Writing offers on this properties is not like any other offer....and buyers really need to understand this.
First of all...bank properties are managed my asset managers who are not working on emotions. This is critical! They are working merely with numbers, appraisals and percentages. I would be shocked if you could find even one who had seen the home in person.
They do not know if the home smells like a Bacon truck … (25 comments)

 
A Southern California Coastal agent's perspective on real estate and other things that interest me!

Author Bio: Karen Fiddler has been a Realtor for...



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