orange county ca: Should Home Buyers Trust the Price Per Square Foot Method? - 12/08/14 01:56 PM
Should Home Buyers Trust the Price Per Square Foot Method? Most home buyers have two questions.  The first is, how long has it been on the market? (Will look at that one another day). The second is what is the price per square foot?
How can a mathematical division problem be deceptive? Isn’t it straight forward? Why do I think the price per square foot is sometimes deceptive?
Most people are using price per square foot as a universal factor.  They seem to want all homes to fall within their bracket or they feel the price is out of line. … (3 comments)

orange county ca: The home closing process and afterward - 10/07/13 04:46 AM
The home closing process and afterward in Orange County CA In any business, but especially real estate, it is possible to take for granted
that the customer knows some basic things that Realtors deal with every day, but is not
generally well known by those who only buy a home once every 5 to 10 years or longer.

The Home Closing Process:
Before coming back to Orange County, I sold residential real estate in another state
which did "table closings" where both buyers and sellers were at the closing
table.  Buyers would bring a cashier's check for the down … (1 comments)

orange county ca: Happy Memorial Day and Thank a Vet for your property rights. - 05/26/13 07:36 AM
Thank a VET for your property rights! Have you ever seen the email that goes around this time of year which says,
It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN,
not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. - And More!

 
 I would add that you can thank a Veteran for your property rights. This time of year I think of my uncle Donald Hollenbeck who received a silver star posthumously. He died on a bridge in Germany in the Battle of the Bulge, holding back a German … (4 comments)

orange county ca: First Time Buyers Left in the Dust / This too Shall Pass - 11/28/12 02:21 PM
First Time Buyers Left in the Dust When I lived in Denver Colorado we had a saying that went like this, "If you don't like the weather - wait ten minutes." That was a reference to how fast the weather could change. I am hoping that the current market changes again quickly to help first time buyers.
Currently in south Orange County CA the first time buyers and especially the low down payment buyers are truly left in the dust. Over 30% of all sales are cash buyers so far this year. Any home or condo under $400000 goes in multiple … (3 comments)

orange county ca: Should you list your home now? / Laguna Niguel - 11/24/12 08:27 AM
Should You List Your Home Now? / Laguna Niguel.
 
Real estate has always had “listing seasons” during the year, typically early spring and early fall. The first thing that messed up the seasonality of real estate in recent years was the distressed-home-selling market. Banks work on foreclosures all year so whenever they become available the bank will list the home. If the asset manager can accelerate a closing before the end of the year they will push it in order to clear the books.
 
Short sales are also random. Unfortunate homeowners who have lost a job or just got a bad loan … (0 comments)

orange county ca: Purchasing a HomePath listing - 11/10/12 08:54 AM
After fifteen years in real estate full time and two years of that working a team in REO I just made my FIRST HomePath offer. I felt like a beginner today because I had to read all the directions, fill out a 16 page HomePath addendum and register as a HomePath agent on line. Nothing difficult for sure but I was shocked when I realized it was the first time. Normally when my buyers secure a REO purchase we receive a massive bank addendum when we are selected as the winning bid. HomePath wanted it filled out up front.
I guess … (1 comments)

orange county ca: Aliso Viejo Housing Market Report / Aliso Viejo Realtor - 11/05/12 02:20 PM
Aliso Viejo Housing Inventory Market Report. Find out how much your home is worth. Zip 92656.
Aliso Viejo is a planned unit developement community in south Orange County CA. Aliso Viejo is a new city with the oldest homes being about 30 and there are a few new home still being built. The total number of housing units in the city is 18,867. Aliso Viejo has a small town feel, with 26,000 acres of open space and the average age is 35.1 years.
The available housing for sale has been dropping this summer and fall just like many communities. In fact the … (1 comments)