Rancho Santa Margarita's Exclusive Buyer's Agent

Find Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures with Free MLS Search

2008-12-22T01:31:51Z

Search for Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures and Orange County Foreclosures for free! That's right...free!

There are many Foreclosure Information Companies out there that charge interested parties a free to see information that can be accessed by the general public at no cost. Don't throw your money away! Local Orange County, CA foreclosures, bank owned homes and short sales are available.

A large number of real estate agents now have the ability to allow visitors to search their website specifically for foreclosures or short sales. Some sites require registration and others do not. Most sites with registrations allow a visitor to search multiple times and easily track properties of interest. Don't be scared away by the registration requirement. These sites usually have the most up to date information provided by the local MLS.

When you register for a free mls search, you will be granted the ability to save multiple searches. For instance you will be able to save separate searches for 4 bedroom foreclosures in Rancho Santa Margarita or 4 bedroom foreclosures in Orange County. You will also be able to set up alerts so that you will be notified when new foreclosures come on the market.

Click here to learn more about FREE MLS or Set up a Free Search for Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures or Orange County Foreclosures.

New Sunday Brunch Bargain at Rancho Santa Margarita's Tijeras Creek Golf Club

2008-12-19T12:55:41Z

Most Rancho Santa Margarita residents, especially those who golf, know Tijeras Creek Golf Club is dubbed The Best Golf Value in the OC. But did you know that Tijeras Creek Golf Club has an amazing bargain Sunday Brunch for only $15.95? Better still, kids 6-12 eat for $9.95 and kids under 6 eat for free.

The brunch menu inclues:

Omelet Station
Roast Ham Carving Station
Smoked Applewood Bacon
Breakfast Sausages
Tijeras Creek Breakfast Potatoes
Scrambled Eggs
Fresh Breakfast Pastries
Assorted Desserts

Sunday Brunch hours: 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Tijeras Creek Golf Club is located at 29092 Tijeras Creek in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Where the Tweet Did The Time Go?

2008-12-16T22:57:52Z

I looked up from my computer and it was 8:15 p.m. Where the Tweet did the time go?

I've been messing around with Twitter the past week, trying to find ways to streamline my Tweets. I've made some progress with the number of people I'm following as well as the number of people that are following me.

My Twitter Grader rating is up to 95%, a substantial increase from a few days ago. TweetDeck has been working out nicely for me. But now I have a serious problem. I am following 729 people. Only 400 people are following me back. Maybe this is a big deal, maybe it's not. I don't know enough about Twitter yet to be able to form any meaningful conclusions.

Here's what I do know. I've made contact with 400 people - the people who either followed me directly or followed me back. That's huge to me. It's probably small potatoes to many of you, but I still find it amazing.

In trying to follow my 700+ new Twitter friends today I realized that I needed some clear cut guidelines. I simply can't read fast enough to follow every one, every day. I don't think I could do it even if I wasn't spending time blogging, doing CMAs, or showing homes.

I came across an interesting site TweetWasters that tracks the amount of time spent on Twitter. It uses a basic formula to figure out by the number of Tweets you do, how much time you're likely to have spent on Twitter. I don't know if it takes into consideration the amount you may be reading. I usually read 10-15 Tweets for every Tweet I do...until I find something I want to jump in on.

My rating on TweetWasters? "My Grandmother uses Twitter more than you do!" Well, if I can connect with 400 people and spend less time than Granny does on Twitter...I must be doing something right.

Flickr Photo by Caucus

Gorgeous Light Blanket of Snow Falls on Saddleback Mountain

2008-12-16T17:05:41Z

Yesterday's winter storm dropped a gorgeous light blank of snow on Saddleback Mountain.

Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon sit on the western base of the Santa Ana Mountain Foothills. In my 40+ years I've never seen it snow in either RSM or Trabuco Canyon, but I always look forward to seeing snow on Saddleback and I'm always out there trying to get the perfect picture to capture the moment.

It doesn't snow very often on Saddleback Mountain and the snow certainly doesn't stick around for any great length of time. To get a decent photo of snow on Saddleback Mountain you need to be ready to move fast and hope that several factors come together.

It needs to be cold...very cold (not a frequent thing in Orange County)
The storm needs to be packed with a lot of precipitation
There is a greater percentage of success if there is a heavy snow at night
The storm needs to blow through quickly so skies are clear enough to see the peaks in the morning
Morning shots require shooting into the sun. An occassional cloud or two off to the side can help with lighting

So, the perfect photo didn't quite happen today. The gorgeous light blanket of snow on Saddleback was just a little too...well...light. So...it's back to the drawing board. Cold rain is in the forecast. Could we be lucky enough to have snow two days in a row?

Social Media Connections, Twitter & Quid Pro Quo Bring Additional Exposure

2008-12-15T15:01:25Z

I've had an unusually busy last few days. On Friday morning I happened to see a Tweet by my friend Morgan Brown that there was an OC Tweetup. I am fairly new to Twitter and I had no idea whether a Tweetup was an actual or a virtual meeting. It turns out that it can be both. Silly me!

I received the Tweet at 9:58. The Tweeup began at 10:00. There were several OC Tweeple in attendance, so I dashed out of the house and headed for Coffee Bean in Lake Forest. I was excited to see Loren Nason. Loren was kind enough to help me put together my outside blog Rancho Santa Margarita Homes & Lifestyles during Project Blogger a couple of years ago.

My most significant online competitor in Rancho Santa Margarita, AR Member Linsey Planeta, was also there. It was really nice to get to see her in person.

The Tweetup was organized and moderated by Jon Lansner, who writes Lansner on Real Estate - The Real Estate Blog for the Orange County Register. The idea behind the meetup was to brainstorm on maximizing the benefits of Twitter and social media. Attendees brought questions about Twitter and Twitter based applications and shared what had worked for them so far.

Here's what I took away from the the #tworco OC Tweeup:

TweetDeck: There are several options for managing your Tweets. This one easy. I didn't have to spend a bunch of time trying to figure it out. I can organize by groups which makes it much more managable.

BrightKite: A location based social application allows you to see who Tweeting in your area. You can choose to check in at different locations, or you can remain incognito if so desired. I think caution should be excercised for safety reasons, but it is an interesting application.

My Drop Card: An application that allows you to send contact information and networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) via SMS. This application is quick and easy and definitely worth checking out.

The final thing I learned is the ability to create an RSS feed for a Twitter Category / Group. I will now be able to see if anyone Tweets about #tworco...and I will have more than two minutes to be out the door before the meeting starts.

As for the Quid Pro Quo: It pays to be connected with writers and reporters of Newspapers. I got a Tweet from Jon Lansner of the OC Register this morning asking me if I had a listing he could use in a post. Yesterday, a beautiful Sunset Photo that I had placed on Flickr was used by The OC Register's Science Dude, Gary Robbins. I've been told, "I'll scratch your back, if you scratch mine." I intend to do some scratching.

For real estate agents additional exposure is good on a number of levels. As bloggers involved in social media, we are in a position that allows us to showcase our neighborhoods and listings in a way that is groundbreaking. If we have the gJuice flowing our clients will be amazed and impressed by their home's visibility.

I'm excited about Twitter and I'm looking forward to making it part of my marketing strategy for 2009.

How are you using Twitter? Please feel free to leave a link in the comments if you've written about how you use Twitter.

Praying for Snow on Saddleback Mountain - Santa Ana Mountain Range

2008-12-15T02:24:37Z

A winter storm is blowing into Orange County and I'm crossing my fingers, hoping that a light blanket of snow will fall on Saddleback Mountain. I am somewhat obsessed with snow. Having grown up in Orange County, CA, I regard snow as a special treat. I associate it with hot chocolate, a nice crackling fire in a quaint chalet, and several days worth of lift tickets.

It has never snowed at my house and I have to admit that I'm a wee bit jealous when I read other ActiveRainers writing about the first snowfall.

Ann Hayden of Wildwood, MO wrote about it in Look What We Woke Up to this a.m.

Steve Lloynd of Woodstock, NH wrote about it in White Mountain First Snow Photos, Beautiful New Hampshire Scenes

Teresa Boardman of St. Paul, MN wrote about it in The First Snow

Modjeska Peak (5496 feet) & Santiago Peak (5687 feet) are the two highest peaks in the Santa Ana Mountains. Together they form Saddleback Ridge, earning their name for their obvious resemblance to a Saddle. Rancho Santa Margarita rest at the western foothills of this mountain range.

Earlier this year I wrote about my quest for a Perfect Snow Photo to use for marketing and my blog. Snowfall is forecast for 3,500 feet and above tonight. I feel the cold in my bones...it is 48 degrees. That may not sound cold to all of you who live in seriously cold climates, but by Southern California standards, it's a huge temperature drop. I had to pull my Ugg boots out from the depths of my walk-in closet. Sandals just aren't going to cut it for the next few days.

Tonight I am praying for snow. Snow that will stick long enough for me to actually get that elusive professional-looking photo that I can proudly use on brochures and my website.

Are Home Inspections Really Needed for Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures and Short Sales?

2008-12-10T15:37:05Z

When buying a Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosure or bank owned home, does a buyer really need to spend extra money for a home inspection? What if the home is sold "as is, where-is"? The answer is YES!

In all cases you should have a licensed professional evaluate the home you will be purchasing. Whether or not repairs will be requested or made, a local professional, licensed home inspector should be hired for a home inspection.

It doesn't matter whether the transaction is a standard sale, a short sale or an REO / bank-owned sale. A buyer should know up front if there are any existing conditions in the home they are looking to purchase. A home inspection provides a home buyer with a list of repairs that should be made immediately, and notes any findings that might cause additional future problems if not cured.

A home inspection basically provides a buyer with a home maintenance game plan. With the results of a home inspection in hand, a buyer can negotiate with a seller for repairs or a reduction in price, or choose to walk away from the property if he feels there are too many issues with the house.

A local inspector is familiar with homes in the area. He will know which builders cut corners and which building materials were typically used at the time a home was built. He will know what to look for and where.

Click here to read the full story and for additional information about the home inspection.

Free MLS - Click here to see Rancho Santa Margarita Foreclosures

Read Buying A Home In Rancho Santa Margarita The Easy Way - 14 Step Guide (Part 2)

Read Buying A Home in Rancho Santa Margarita The Easy Way - 14 Step Guide (Part 3)

Click here for a FREE Home Buyer Information Package

Final Score: Tesoro Titans High School Football Dominate @ Orange Lutheran 42-14 in CIF-SS Semi-Finals Dec 6 2008

2008-12-07T00:43:02Z

Final Score - CIF-SS Pac-6 SemiFinals Football December 6, 2008: Tesoro Titans Own Orange Lutheran 42-14 Once again the Tesoro Titans Football team proves that they are a force with which to be reckoned.

The Titans started off strong, taking an early lead which by half time was 28-0. Orange Lutheran never stood a chance.

Tesoro faces the #1 Rated Team in the state, Long Beach Poly at the PAC-5 Division Finals at Angel Stadium on Saturday, December 13th, 2008.

Congratulations to this outstanding local team on their win tonight!

Hot Listing Alert! 1/4 Acre View Home on Cul-de-Sac in Orange County's Rancho Santa Margarita

2008-12-05T13:54:43Z

Kelly Kilpatrick, Buyer's Agent | Regency Real Estate Brokers | (949) 903-0030

1 Relampago, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Stunning 3 bedroom, Mountain View home on Cul-de-sac. Rare 1/4 Acre Lot.

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $549,000

Year Built	1991
Sq Footage	1,850
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	11,732 sqft
HOA/Maint	$108 per month

DESCRIPTION

Stunning home on a sprawling 1/4 acre lot, a rare find in this area. Hurry this one will go fast. Pride of ownership shows in all the details to this home. The entry welcomes you to two story high ceilings and windows. The plantation shutter, French door, brick fireplace and oak spiral staircase gives it a very elegant look. Neutral tile flooring, carpet and two tone paint finish this home to make it easy for any one to make it their own. One always says buy for location, this home is on a short cul-de-sac with mountain views, short walk to Solana Pool/Park and close to the distinguished Melinda Heights Elementary school.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking	Clubhouse	Tennis court(s)
Lake

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Saddleback Mountain View

Oversized Yard on Cul-de-Sac

Walk to Solana Pool / Park

Membership to Rancho Santa Margarita Lake & Beach Club

Saddleback Valley Unified School District

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Margo Murray - Listing Agent

Regency Real Estate Brokers

(949) 306-8520

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Dec 5, 2008, 10:44am PST

Rancho Santa Margarita Housing Market Report - November 2008

2008-12-03T19:52:08Z

SoCal MLS reports that a total of 50 Rancho Santa Margarita homes were sold in November, 2008. That's a 62% increase over Novermber of 2007, when then total volume of homes sold as only 31 and a 7.3% decrease from November, 2006, with 60 homes selling. A total of 85 homes closed escrow in October of 2008.

23 Rancho Santa Margarita Single Family Homes Sold in Nov. 2008:

Standard Sales - 14
Short Sales - 5
Bank-owned / REO - 4

27 Rancho Santa Margarita Condos Sold in Nov. 2008:

Standard Sales - 11
Short Sales - 9
Bank-owned / REO - 7

What does all of this mean and how does it effect the value of Rancho Santa Margaita home values?

Standard home sales are still outnumbering bank owned homes and short sales. The number of closed REO and short sale homes appears to be increasing as more lenders seems to be willing to accept the new lower market values. Home buyer interest has definitely picked up, especially in the lower to mid-range condos and lower end single family residence brackets. While opinions differ about whether or not 2009 will bring a stabilization, I'm see competition at the lower levels as buyers position for their chance to own an Orange County Home.

I predict that homes in the $750,000 and over bracket will still face challenges as there are still issues lending concerns for many buyers who need jumbo loan financing.

Tip for Rancho Santa Margarita Homeowners & Buyers:

Statistic show that nearly one in eleven people are eligible for a VA Loan. Credit score requirements are MUCH lower than those required for traditional conventional financing and VA purchasers can borrower 100%. VA Loans are available through most major banks and may be a way for you buy back into the market, or make that trade up you've been talking about.

Other posts you might enjoy:

Should I Remodel My Rancho Santa Margarita Home Before I Sell

Find Your Rancho Santa Margarita Neighborhood

Are you looking for Rancho Santa Margarita bank owned homes? Would you like to learn more about the process of purchasing a bank owned home? Please contact me via phone or email for a no-obligation consultation.

Are You Looking For A Way to Get Involved and Give Back in Rancho Santa Margarita?

2008-12-03T13:41:46Z

Here's a quick and easy way to help others and to give back in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Cox Communications, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, is sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, December 4th. The drive will take place in the Rio Grande Room from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Do you think you're too squeamish to donate blood? I used to think so too. In fact, I'm still squeamish when it comes to needles. I've passed out on a number of occassions at the doctor's office or at the lab. But I'm older and wiser now...and I have a system.

Eat a light meal before the appointment
Tell the doctor, nurse or phlebotomist that I faint easily
Don't look at the needles or blood
Breath slowly in and out while thinking relaxing thoughts
Drink juice
Take an extra few minutes to lay there and re-cooperate
Stand up slowly and sit back down for a while if necessary

This system never fails me. I used to be embarrassed about my squeamishness but apparently it's fairly common. My son, who's in the military says he's seen some pretty tough Marines go down while they are having vaccination shots administered. Ironically, since I admitted my squeamishness and became able to laugh about it, I haven't had any issues with it.

To register for the Cox Blood Drive tomorrow, call (800) 448-3543. To register for future Red Cross Blood Drives please visit the Red Cross website.

Don't let curtains fall on 2008 without having made a difference in your community!

Buying A Home In Rancho Santa Margarita The Easy Way - 14 Step Guide (Part 1)

2008-12-03T02:52:35Z

Buying a home in Orange County, CA can seem overwhelming and frustrating - especially for first time buyers hoping to snap up a short sale or REO. As with most things, there's both an easy way and a hard way to complete a task. do it. There's a series of steps buyers can take to reduce the hassles and confusion and make the experience both positive and exciting. It's really all about being organized and taking first things first. Simple logic that's highly effective. Here's the plan:

Step 1: Understand the Process - Knowing what to expect and when to expect it will help your transaction go smoothly. This holds true for seasoned investors as well as first time buyers. Ask your real estate agent for a booklet or brochure outlining the purchase process.

Step 2: Understand the Players & Their Role in Your Purchase - Your real estate agent, your loan officer & your home inspector are on your team and will be looking out for your best interest. The seller's agent represents the seller. The Escrow or Title Officers are neutral parties. Deal directly with your team and let your agent handle the others.

Step 3: Know The Reasons it Makes Sense for You to Buy Now - What are your financial motivations? From a financial perspective are you better off purchasing now or would it make more sense to wait a few months? Are you considered a strong buyer (substantial down payment, excellent credit)? Or will you find it difficult to compete when the market turns back around?

Step 4: Define Your Requirements for a Home - Know what you need vs. what you want and what are the areas in which you are willing to compromise. If you found a well-priced home that had 2.5 bathrooms instead of 3, would that be acceptable? How about one that had extra storage space but only a 2-car garage? Broadening your online search might provide additional properties for consideration, assuming you are open to compromise.

Step 5: Determine What You Can Realistically Afford - What is the total monthly amount you can spend on a home? This is where I see many clients having difficulty. By nature we typically want more than we can truly and comfortably afford. Don't wait until you have money in escrow to figure out you've bit off more than you can chew. Know your budget and talk to your C.P.A. and/or financial planner before you begin your search.

Read Buying A Home In Rancho Santa Margarita The Easy Way - 14 Step Guide (Part 2)

Read Buying A Home in Rancho Santa Margarita The Easy Way - 14 Step Guide (Part 3)

Click here for a FREE Home Buyer Information Package

Remodel or Not? Before You Sell A Home in Rancho Santa Margarita Read This!

2008-11-30T21:59:59Z

Every November I look forward to reading the annual statistics provided in Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value in home improvements and remodeling. Knowing these numbers allows me to make accurate recommendations to my clients who are selling a home in Rancho Santa Margarita. They want to know, "If I remodel my kitchen will I sell my Rancho Santa Margarita home for more?" or "Is it a good idea to install vinyl windows before I sell my home in RSM, or would it just be a waste of money?"

A few years ago remodeling was all the rage in South Orange County. New homes sales with upgrades galore were a hot market. To keep up with the Joneses, many homeowners pulled money from low-rate equity lines of credit to finance a number of home improvements. At the time the cost vs. value reports indicated that money spent on some home improvements was money well spent. A seller could be reasonably assured that a $15,000-$20,000 bathroom addition or a $75,000-$80,000 second story addition would at minimum be recouped at time of sale.

I don't need to tell you that times have changed. Selling a home in Rancho Santa Margarita is more challenging today than it was a few years ago. For one thing, tightened credit standards have wiped out a nice slice of the potential buyer pool. Additionally, the number of homes on the market, while improved in comparison to 2007, is still considerably higher than it was four to five years ago, especially given the limited number of qualified buyers. In this economy every dollar counts. Make sure that know your housing market before you hire a contractor.

Read the entire post at Rancho Santa Margarita Homes & Lifestyles

5 Home Improvements For Rancho Santa Margarita Home Owners to Consider in 2009

4 Home Improvement Projects to Avoid in 2009