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mission viejo real estate: 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)

mission viejo real estate: 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)

mission viejo real estate: Are Realtors® Here To "Protect Homeownership"? - 03/29/12 03:34 PM

 
 
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has an ad campaign claiming that Realtors® are here to protect home ownership. It's a bittersweet conversation between a grandfather and his grandchild while they sit on the grandfather's porch. The child hopes to have a home just like it someday....and the wistful grandfather says "I hope so......" It's clear that we are to get from this that the future is so uncertain that owning a home is no longer a fixed fact.
The advertisement then goes on to explain that the members of the NAR are here to protect home … (31 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Your Offer Price....From The Listing Agent's Perspective - 03/19/12 08:24 AM

 
So you've found a great home in Mission Viejo and are ready to write an offer. The home is the right size, right neighborhood and within your budget.....great. Now comes the moment of truth, you hold your breath and out comes a number.
The offer price.
This is where the experience of your Mission Viejo Buyer's agent comes into play, if you listen. What to offer is a very tricky business. The first thing you need to know is what is the home worth....based on comparable listings. This is very important because the last thing you want to do is … (40 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Comparing Apples To Pears - 02/22/12 05:59 PM

 
I know...typically this would be apples and oranges, but the only graphic I could find has a pear instead. At first I thought, "this doesn't make any sense"! Then I started to think about it, and actually it's a pretty good analogy.
Every buyer wants to know if the home they are considering is a good value. Of course they do....but how to tell these days?
I hear all the time from these self-comping (is that even a word) buyers; they are using "comps" from Zillow, they are checking "solds" from Trulia, they are seeing "current" price-per-square-footage from Redfin. … (46 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Agressive Agents.....Pitbull vs Professional - 02/16/12 03:21 PM

 
I had a listing presentation this week. This was a good old fashioned equity seller....remember those? The ones who really cared about what the sales price turned out to be? I love those.
The seller has owned the house for over 15 years; that's a lifetime when it comes to real estate markets. Naturally he had a lot of questions about how to effectively sell his Mission Viejo home.
"How agressive are you in your representation?"
Not that unusual of a question. Buyers and sellers both want to know that their agent is going to represent them and their … (128 comments)

mission viejo real estate: I Know That's Not What You Wanted To Hear - 02/09/12 05:55 PM

 
 
I feel like so much of my time these days is giving bad news to good people! It's tough! Buyers and sellers are getting bad news from me. But honest news.
Short Sale Sellers are hearing:
The home value is so low that they have to do a short sale The Short Sale "might" result in an income tax bill There is a sale date scheduled The buyer walked Equity Sellers are hearing:
The real value of their home, not what they wish it were The home down the street is listed 30% less because it is a … (78 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Correcting A Bad Hair Color....Cheaper Than Correcting A Bad Real Estate Deal - 01/31/12 10:58 AM

 
 
I got my hair done yesterday. At my age, and with my amount of hair, this is a long process. Base color to hide my roots, highlights to pretend it's sun-streaked, trim, style...you get the idea.
I do enjoy it though...the salon I go to is filled with friends of mine. These are women that my kids have gone to school with and clients and personel all have a great time.
Yesterday, however, one poor woman was having major color correction done. She had been "impatient" (her word not mine) and a bit "cheap" and had tried a … (48 comments)

mission viejo real estate: I'm Just A Realtor®....I Can't Put A Hex On You - 01/25/12 06:24 PM

 
I am just a Realtor®! I don't wear a black cape or carry poison apples. I don't know any (good) spells. My sword skills are sorely lacking. I have never been convicted accused of kidnapping.
I'm really not that scary!
But I do scare people. I hear from time to time that someone was "afraid" to call/email me. Why is that? How could that be? I mean "little old me"?
Ok.....I get it. Taking that step, talking to a real estate agent, you might end up listing your house or worse.....BUYING A HOUSE. We have a habit of finding … (20 comments)

mission viejo real estate: The Toilet Paper Doesn't Fit The Holder Anymore - 12/30/11 11:19 AM

 
 
 
The little things can frustrate us when they change. The things we take for granted? The things we do automatically? The things we use daily?
A big fallout of the recession is the consumer products industry....in particular the grocery products. The manufacturers have been hit with higher production costs, higher transportation costs and less consumer spending.....how could they adjust and continue to be profitable?
They knew that they couldn't raise prices proportionally to the increase in production costs....people would stop buying the non-essentials.
So rather than raising prices to the level that they would need to to … (84 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Who Is The Conductor Of The Real Estate Transaction? Well....Me Of Course - 12/07/11 11:34 AM
In every transaction of every kind there is....or should be...one main point of contact. This is true in all successful ventures....
One Head ChefOne CEOOne CaptainOne ConductorMom
 And it's true in real estate.....and that person is ME!
I consider my "job" STARTING once we open escrow....not ending. This is the point when things can progress smoothly or go awry. The problems arise often because each individual person in the transaction is also an independent contractor...self-employed.
The escrow companyThe home inspectorThe mortgage brokerThe insurance brokerThe appraiser
It takes a special personality to be able to work independently. These are strong personalities but … (15 comments)

mission viejo real estate: This Price IS The "Good Deal"...Understanding The Short Sale Listing - 11/29/11 12:59 PM

 
 
There is still a misconception about Short Sales. Even though the real estate industry has been dealing with Short Sales for several years now, there is no standard when it comes to the pricing.
The problem arises from the urgency of a Short Sale. As a representative of the seller, the real estate agent is trying to help them sell in a Short Sale before the bank forecloses.
This often results in a race against time. Often the seller has already tried to get a loan modification or perhaps has been hoping their financial situation would change. … (15 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Lake Mission Viejo Movies In The Moonlight.....Summer 2011 Movies On The Beach - 08/04/11 12:35 PM

 
As part of the summer programs at Lake Mission Viejo, each summer there are Movies in the Moonlight. These free movies are family friendly and shown on the big screen with beautiful Lake Mission Viejo in the background.
Since summer hours vary, the movies begin about 8:15-8:45....once it gets dark. Come early to get a good spot on the grass and maybe enjoy a picnic.
This year there are 2 different movie nights.
Wednesday August 10: Gnomeo and JulietWednesday August 24: Tangled
Movies in the Moonlight are a great family outing allows even the youngest child to enjoy Lake … (5 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Truth Is Truth.....It's Not My Job To Sell YOUR Listing - 07/27/11 01:58 PM

 
If you've read my posts over the past few years, you know that I embrace the term SALESMAN. (yes, even the word "person" annoys me a bit....salesperson....ugh). But I also define the term pretty clearly.
It is not pushing someone into a decisionIt is not hiding facts, flaws, defectsIt is not closing a deal at any cost
It is managing a transaction to a successful close....if it's a win for my clients. If it's the right situation and can be closed.
It is negotiation for my clientsIt is managing transactionsIt is problem solving
And....I am also extremely honest with my … (22 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Short Sales And Other Delays - 06/14/11 04:23 PM
We have all heard about the delays and long waits attached to short sales, but that's not the only transaction which can cause frustration for our buyers.
BanksCourtsLLCsTrusts
All these entities are parties to transactions these days which can, and do, cause delays. Often the buyer hears "flipper" or "bankruptcy" and expect a fast and fair response to the offer, but I am now 10 days and counting waiting for a Trust Committee at a bank to respond to our offer, and I'm seeing more of this.
Banks:
Banks come into play in short sales of course, and we've come to expect … (4 comments)

mission viejo real estate: 0% Rehab Loans For Mission Viejo Residents - 06/04/11 01:39 PM
 
 
Mission Viejo Residents! Is your home in need of repairs?These are tough times for many families and The City of Mission Viejo wants to help.
We are a community and part of this spirit has lead our City Council to create programs whereby Mission Viejo home owners can take advantage of loans and grants to care for their homes.
The City of Mission Viejo is offering 0% deferred loans for qualified low/moderate income Mission Viejo home owners. There are also grants which will pay up to $5000 for exterior painting for those homes in need.
Details:
1) owner-occupied properties … (3 comments)

mission viejo real estate: How Does Personality Play Into Choosing Your Mission Viejo Realtor®? - 05/24/11 05:07 PM
How Does Personality Play Into Choosing Your Mission Viejo Realtor®?

 
So you've decided to buy a new home? or perhaps sell your current home....maybe both? You need a Realtor®! So if you are in Mission Viejo, or anywhere in Orange County, you might consider calling me.
I hope you do!
But how can you tell if I'm the right agent for you? or if someone else might be a better fit. I think that personality makes a difference in how the client-agent relationship will work.
I'm not talking about hobbies and movies, we aren't dating, but I am talking … (6 comments)

mission viejo real estate: Do You Have Even ONE Closing From Your Time On Active Rain? No? What Are You Doing Here? - 05/22/11 03:40 PM

 
Seriously? Not even ONE deal from the blogging and commenting and participating on Active Rain? Well....there must be something wrong with Active Rain...
I guess the Google Ranking has fallenI suppose the traffic has slowedI hear the membership is dropping
No? No.....none of that is true. So where is your deal?
"But I have points"
Sure...so does my son's video game. So what!!! What is the point of the time we spend on Active Rain?
Clients.....consumers.....deals....CLOSINGS!
I have closings I can directly tie to my blogs on Active Rain. Direct contact and direct comments about something I wrote … (19 comments)

mission viejo real estate: What Is An Orange County Buyer's Agent? FAQs About Buyer Representation - 05/08/11 11:08 AM

Buyer's Agents are commonly misunderstood. When we represent a buyer, we are working for THEM. We are there to make sure they get the best terms they can and to help them along the way to the close. This is a simple and yet complete presentation of that duty.
Via Peggy Chirico, REALTOR® 860-748-8900 Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate (Prudential CT Realty):
When I am speaking for the first time with potential buyers, one of the most misunderstood aspects of buying a home concerns buyer representation. Although we have had buyer representation in Connecticut since 1996, many people still do not … (1 comments)

mission viejo real estate: "My Agent Isn't Helping Me....And I'm In Escrow" - 05/07/11 02:31 PM
"My Agent Isn't Helping Me....And I'm In Escrow"


I spend quite a bit of time on public forums about real estate...and this is a common theme. Buyers and sellers who are in active escrows or negotiations and their agent isn't responding to them.
This can take the form of non-communication or just an attitude that makes them uncomfortable with the representation they are getting.
Agents.....when your client has questions, ANSWER them and spend the time doing it until they understand.
Most of the time, these consumers are proceeding in a normal manner. The situations they describe are relatively normal … (48 comments)

 
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