I live and work in Mission Viejo, California. We are in the heart of Orange County and I see a healthy recovery in process for our real estate. In fact we are in a multiple-offer market with home selling very fast...often before we can even get out to see them. I am now getting phone calls and emails from buyers asking me to write the offer BEFORE we go see it. We will go out and see it once we get an acceptance.

Backwards!

Now, don't get me wrong.....I am happy to write an offer for someone I've never met who has driven by the home on their own, now if I can only get them to do all the paperwork while I lay on a beach in Hawaii...it will be perfect! :)

But I see loss in this situation. I see desperation in this situation. I see frustration in this situation.

As a Realtor...I now see a responsibility to help these buyers understand the communities they are offering in. The flurry of activity has taken the exploration out of home buying. I no longer get questions about parks and schools...but about timing and the number of offers, that's my job. The buyers should explore the neighborhood they could be living in....but often they don't.

In Southern California....we have some wonderful communities. Each is unique and tailored to specific lifestyles. We have family cities...like Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita....these cities have great schools and sports programs, parks and pools. Then there are cities which are more adult oriented..like Dana Point and parts of San Clemente.

The point is.....I used to take buyers driving. We would see these ammenities while we look at homes. They would have the opportunity to see the lakes, and clubhouses and beaches. Now? They are so frantic to get into escrow, I'm not sure they even care where it is.

It took me a while to realize that this was the trend.....but last week we got an acceptance on a home where the husband had never even seen the house. We are in escrow and he asked if he could see it? Wow! When did this happen?

I know it's not my responsibility to educate buyers on the cities...but I'm going to take it on. I want my buyers happy in their new homes, I want to make sure this is a personal decision and it's treated personally. So......while we still might need to write offers before we see the homes, I'm going to include clubhouses and beaches in the home inspection timeframes.....at least on my checklist.