The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly in South Orange County Real Estate

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Over the course of the last several months, I’ve become really interested in the way this housing market has impacted individual neighborhoods in South Orange County.  It’s become clear that the makeup of a neighborhood, the strength of the buyers from the last decade, the age of the community, the local amenities, it’s overall stage [...]

Microscope on the Market – Rancho Santa Margarita

Microscope on the Market

When you are looking to buy a home in Orange County, or anywhere else for that matter, it is critical to drill down into the numbers for the sector of the market that you are looking at.  Orange County numbers are wonderful benchmarks to know, but our market is made up also of submarkets within [...]

Time to Talk Absorbtion Rates

Absorbtion Rates

Every now and then you see a headline touting the increase in sales in Orange County.  Less than a week ago, Orange County Register’s Jon Lanser posted ’1-in-3 O.C. ZIPs See Homebuying Doubling or Better’.   I love good news but it’s important to drill deep into what these statistics are telling us. Price point is [...]

Maybe the Solution Isn’t a $700 Billion Bailout

Brainstorming a solution

There has been much discussion about the big bailout.  But in case anyone with any influence is listening – I have an idea that could make a big contribution to our market recovery.  Just call anytime and I’ll share my insight with you – from the trenches.  I’ll be waiting for your call. For the [...]

Predictions for Market Recovery in the OC

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There has been some sun peaking through the storm clouds of the Orange County real estate market which is bringing rise to the question, ‘When will we see the real estate market recover?’ There is still tremendous volatility in the banking industry and financial markets but there are some bright spots.  We have already begun [...]

Walkscore.com – Score the ‘Walkability’ of Your Home

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There is something wonderful about living somewhere that is walking distance to everything.  In Orange County, it’s a not particularly common.  During my brief couple years of living in San Francisco my husband and I would park our car Friday night and not move it until Monday morning.  We walked to restaurants, movies, dry cleaner – everything.  And [...]

FHA is a Major Player in Lending Again – And We’re Not Ready!

16 Via Garceta

It was not long ago, lending was easy, too easy. Did you need money?  No.  Did you need assests?  No.  Did you even need to prove you had income?  No.  So why do an FHA loan?  We didn’t. Times have changed and there are limited options for first time buyers that aren’t coming away with a [...]