When Is The Market Going to Go Back Up?

Gap Gauge Chart

I was in my local coffee shop last week and ran into a friend.  He asked me the question I hear more than a few times a week: “When is the real estate market going to go back up?” There’s no question that we’ve taken a hard fall in our Orange County values – a… [Continue Reading]

Microscope on the Market – Wagon Wheel

Under $500,000

Wagon Wheel Wagon Wheel is small community in Trabuco Canyon located off Oso Parkway not far from the south gate of Coto de Caza.  The homes were built in the mid 90′s by Kaufman & Broad who subsidized the original mello roos bonds making it known in part, for it’s very reasonable tax rate. Homes… [Continue Reading]

Microscope on the Market – Laguna Niguel

So many of the media numbers focus on Orange County performance, but real estate performance can vary dramatically within our large county, and particularly at various price points. Today’s Microscope on the Market focuses on the Laguna Niguel real estate market. Homes Under $500,000 # of Sales Short Sales Bank Owned Equity Sellers Active 119… [Continue Reading]

Microscope On Mission Viejo

Today the microscope is on Mission Viejo. So many of the media numbers focus on Orange County performance, but real estate performance can vary dramatically within our large county and particularly at various price points. I’m going to spend the next several posts breaking down each of the South Orange County cities to give you… [Continue Reading]

It’s a Buyer’s Market – Or Is It?

I did some research for a client tonight and the findings are important to share with readers here.  If you are a serious buyer or seller, this information is telling.  Please stick with the tedium of the stats because the story it tells is meaningful. This particular buyer is looking in Mission Viejo between $450,000… [Continue Reading]

Predictions for Market Recovery in the OC

Home prices

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… [Continue Reading]

My Dad Always Said, “Buy on Bad News…” Why Now Might Really Be the Time

Buyers waiting on the sidelines

My Dad was a stockbroker and has always said, “Buy on bad news, sell on good news.”  Over the years he’s made great money with that strategy.  As soon as everyone wants to buy – he’s out. I’m not sure the philosophy ought to be much different in the housing market.  Yet the fear, the… [Continue Reading]

When Will this Orange County Real Estate Market Improve?

Charting the Orange County Real Estate Market

Isn’t this the million dollar question!  People talk about it, speculate over it, study it, and try to make buying and selling decisions based on all of it.  So when will the Orange County real estate market improve? I thought we’d be in this condition at least until Spring of ’09, because historically election years are… [Continue Reading]