Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Market Today in Southern California



Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale
Selling an Orange or LA County Home?
Check out our FREE Home Value Report

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Now is the time to take the time to appreciate what you have.

We have some market information that applies to the month of November that we want to share with you today.
 



The fourth quarter is usually a transitional time for us. We normally experience changes in inventory and price. This presents a unique opportunity to both buyers and sellers.

Buyers experience lower prices during this time, so look out for deals. It’s a great time to look for your dream home.


Sellers benefit from fewer listings on the market. Less inventory means less competition. 

Our market experiences 30% fewer listings during this time of year. This gives you a better opportunity to sell your home quickly.
 
I study the local market and its trends every day. If you have any questions about your real estate needs, reach out to us today. We’d be happy to sit down and talk about it with you. 

Have a great holiday season!

Monday, August 24, 2015

How Can Zillow Hurt Your Home's Price?



Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale

Selling an Orange or LA County Home?
Check out our FREE Home Value Report

Zillow is a giant in the real estate industry. They aggregate tons and tons of data, and a lot of it is actually quite useful to the average consumer, but you need to take some of it with a grain of salt.


One thing in particular that you need to watch out for is the Zestimate, which is Zillow's valuation of your home. How accurate is that value that Zillow places on your home?

In North Orange County and North LA County, the median error is 9.8%. That's a huge error on a $500,000 home. It has also been stated that nearly every home value on the website is off by 5% or more. This is a huge margin of error.

These estimates work well with communities that have similar homes, but with mixed communities like we have in LA, it's hard for Zillow's algorithms to place accurate values on homes.

Just this month we sold a home that Zillow valued at $620,000, but the true and accurate value was much higher, and we managed to sell it for $679,000. Can you imagine losing $60,000 in equity?

If you truly want to know the value of your Orange County home, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be very happy to assist you!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

What Can You Expect from Interest Rates in 2015?



Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale

Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report

Welcome back, everyone! Today's topic is interest rates, which have become a very hot topic in our area. People want to know if and when they are rising, and what they can expect by the end of 2015. A lot of people in real estate are expecting rates to rise, so let's take a look at the numbers and determine if that's the case.

We finished 2014 with an average interest rate of 3.75% for 30-year fixed mortgages, which is very close to the historic low. Right now, rates are in the low 4%'s, but both the Mortgage Broker's Association and the National Association of Realtors are projecting rates to rise above 5% by the end of the year.

If interest rates do jump to over 5%, it really will be a modest hike compared to the historical averages for interest rates. Back in the early 2000's, rates were in the 6-7% range. In the 90's, rates were in the 8-9% range. And all the way back in the 1980's? Rates were in the 13-17% range!

By all accounts, 5% rates are still historically low. You may be pleasantly surprised about what you can afford right now compared to what you could have afforded in the past.

If you can afford it, it makes sense to buy a home right now. Rates are still low, but you can't plan your purchase around interest rates. You've got to do it when it's right for your family. We will help you find your dream home just like we've done for home buyers over the last 15 years.

If you know somebody who is looking to buy, sell, or invest in the real estate world, give me a call or send me an email. Also, please share this video on Facebook! We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

What You Need to Know About Selling a Home Today



Buying an Orange or LA County Home? Search all Homes for Sale

Selling an Orange or LA County Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report

Hey everybody, welcome back to my blog. Today's topic is a fun one. I'm going to be answering some of the most common questions I've been getting lately from my clients. You've probably asked a lot of these questions yourself, so today I am going to provide some answers.

"Can you take me through the home-selling process and tell me what to expect?"

Over the years, I've recognized a number of steps it takes to sell a home, and for the purposes of this video, I'll go over the key steps with you today. I can take you from anywhere you are in the process all the way through to closing.

Step 1 is the initial conversation you have with a Realtor, where you discuss your goals in regards to your home sale. Step 2 is actually seeing the home, which includes doing a walk-through, discussing pricing, and going over any changes you can make to help increase your value.

When we're ready to proceed, we will schedule photography and from there, buyer showings will start within a few days.

"When Can I expect an offer?"

The average market time in our area is 90 days, but my team's average is 39 days. We are doing the job in less than half the time.

"How much can I expect of my listed price?"

The average Realtor is only getting 92% of their list price. So if you list for $500,000, you can only expect $460,000 back. However, our team is averaging a list-to-sale ratio of 99.5%, and are getting home sellers nearly all of their asking price. Our clients have been very happy about that.

"How long does it take to get to closing?"

Usually about 30-35 days on average, although if you need to move faster or slower, we can help you do that.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. If you know somebody who is looking to buy or sell, share this video on their Facebook timeline! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

How Are Both Buyers And Sellers Succeeding in Our Market?



What is the value of your home? Click here to find out!
Looking to buy a home? Search all homes for sale 

Orange County Real Estate Agent
Today we are excited to be giving you a local market update and letting you know what has been happening in the Orange County real estate market. We've got some really good news to report.

First of all, interest rates are still near historic lows and the loan programs out there for buyers keep getting better and better, including new 3% down options from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. If you have been thinking about buying or refinancing, now is an opportune time to do so.

Secondly, the number of homes that are under contract is up by 20% from January to February of this year vs the same period last year.

So what does this mean for real estate? It means more buyers are looking right now, more offers are being written, and more homes are going under contract at a faster rate than they have in the last 7 years.

If you've been thinking about moving, either upgrading or downsizing, this could be the best time to do so for a long time. There are more homes to choose from on the market than there were at this time last year, and this is one of the best markets we have had for home sellers in a long time.

If you have any questions regarding real estate that we can answer for you, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help you out!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Three Easy Ways to Increase Your Home Value


What is the value of your home? Click here to find out!
Looking to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

A question I've been getting lately is what can I do to add more value to my home before I put it up for sale?

So, today we're going to talk about 3 very specific things you can do to add more value to your home when you go to sell it.
  1. Declutter and depersonalize your home. So what does that mean? Well, you're going to be moving so whatever you're not going to need for the next - let's say 90 days or so - you can put that stuff in storage or your garage. This allows your home to feel open and inviting vs cramped and cluttered. If you have lots of pictures on your walls and hallways, take them down. You don't want the buyer focusing on anything else but your home. Think about it like this, the way we live in a home and the way we sell a home are completely different. 
  2. Improve your lighting. Everyone loves light and buyers are willing to pay for it. So take down those drapes, wash your windows, and let that natural sunshine pour into your home. Trim back bushes by your windows, replace your lampshades and install high wattage bulbs everywhere. Both manufactured lighting and natural lighting are a fantastic selling point in any home. Brighter homes always sell better.
  3. Don't overlook your front yard and entryway. I've been showing properties for over a decade and I'm convinced that the buyer decides if they're going to buy your house within the first 10 seconds of seeing it. I suggest that you set your stopwatch and take note of what you see in the first 10 seconds of walking up to the house. Chances are you'll need to do some yard-work, power wash your entryway, get rid of the cob webs above your doorway, plant a few inviting flowers, and paint your front door and trim. While you're at it, check to make sure your doorbell works. 
A bonus item is re-painting your home, and my advice is just to do it. If your home has not been painted in quite a few years, adding a coat of paint will help immensely. Just remember to keep the paint light and bright, and go for neutral colors like earth tones.

Everyone has different circumstances for their property and we can always talk through what your property might require to fetch top dollar on the market. Just reach out to me...call or email me for your free real estate consultation.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Why Is Our Market so Active Right Now?



There are many great Orange & LA County area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Orange & LA County Real Estate Agent
Today I want to bring your attention to something that you should be aware of as a home seller. Recently, I did a video about the best kept secret in real estate, which had to do with putting your home on the market in the winter rather than in the spring or summer when the natural swell of the market occurs.

So far in January, we have sold 4 properties, have 3 new escrows, and are currently negotiating 3 contracts. I am seeing one common theme in the market, for both buyers and sellers: there is no good inventory out there.

Right now, any time a decent home hits the market it sells immediately. Why is this happening? Well, for starters, interest rates are phenomenally low right now, below 4%. Money is cheap right now, and buyers understand that.

In addition, a lot of people are not ready to put their home on the market yet. If you are in this situation, today is a great day to take advantage of our market. In every home we have sold this month, we have gotten multiple offers. Buyers are being aggressive and just waiting for a home like yours.

If you are thinking about buying or selling, I recommend that you contact a real estate professional like myself to talk over your options before you make a decision. Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to hearing from you.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

The Best Kept Secret in Real Estate



There are many great Orange & LA County area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

 Orange & LA County Real Estate
January 2015 is here and we hope your new year has been great so far. This time of year is when a lot of homes get taken off the market until the spring selling season rolls around. Right now, we are down about 22% in inventory from last month, and 10% down from this time last year.

What is going to start to happen is while sellers are coming off the market, a lot of buyers will be coming onto it. If you or somebody you know has been looking to move, this is a great market to sell your home in. The lack of inventory will have serious buyers chomping at the bit for a good home. There is a lot less competition to sell against now than there will be in a few months.

Think about it like this: 20 homes on the market for every one buyer is nowhere near as good as 5 homes on the market for every one buyer. Now you are beginning to see why it behooves you to sell your property when you have less competition.

As always, if you have any questions for me, feel free to reach out to me by phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon!