The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 11, 2008 is as follows: There are 362 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  266 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  96 are condos. 113 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 88 are SFRs. 25 are condos. 10 homes have closed escrow in August.  The median price of homes in August is $452,500.  The average price of a home is also $436,300. 3 homes were listed today. No homes were put into escrow since our last post. Two listings were cancelled today. One listing expired - did not sell during the time period of the listing contract, and three were put on hold today. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.   ... 08/11/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 10, 2008 is as follows: There are 364 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  269 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  95 are condos. 118 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 91 are SFRs. 27 are condos. 6 homes have closed escrow in August.  The median price of homes in August is $467,000.  The average price of a home is also $474,000. 1 homes was listed today. One home was put into escrow since our last post. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS.   08/10/2008

Beachpit BBQ Restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA  Beachpit BBQ located at:  1676 Tustin AvenueCosta Mesa, CA 92627 949.645.RIBS www.beachpitbbq.com  This restaurant is a casual outdoor restaurant that features barbecue ribs, tri-tip, pulled pork, spare ribs, chicken and great salads including the iceberg wedge (a personal favorite).  Beachpit BBQ has large outdoor style picnic tables, and seating is first come, first served. This is a great place to bring the kids. There is an outdoor fire pit to sit by, and the tables are located outside. There is also a play area for children. This is a casual way to enjoy an early dinner with your family in the outdoors. Beachpit BBQ has a great slogan . . . For more information, view their website at www.beachpitbbq.com. For information about Newport Beach... 08/10/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 9, 2008 is as follows: There are 364 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  268 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  96 are condos. 118 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 92 are SFRs. 26 are condos. 5 homes have closed escrow in August.  The median price of homes in August is $460,000.  The average price of a home is also $457,800. 2 homes were listed today. One home was put into escrow today. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS. 08/09/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 8, 2008 is as follows: There are 362 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  266 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  96 are condos. 117 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold 91 are SFRs. 26 are condos. 5 homes have closed escrow in August.  The median price of homes in August is $460,000.  The average price of a home is also $457,800. One home was listed today. One home was put into escrow since our last post. 2 listing were cancelled today, and 2 listings were put on hold. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS. 08/08/2008

STEPPING UP TO DOWN MARKETS!     Remember the ancient curse, "May you live in interesting times"?  While many are indeed cursing the current real estate climate, others see opportunities.  In a "soft" market, the short-term options dwindle, but seasoned investors in for the long haul are positioned to take advantage. In the words of billionaire J. Paul Getty, "Buy when everyone else is selling and hold until everyone else is buying."  Just like the stock market, more money is often made in a down cycle than in an up market. Slower times encourage sellers to be more open to negotiation.  Combine acceptance of lower prices with currently low interest rates, and you've got the perfect recipe for bargains.  Real estate is continually cycling, and it's guaranteed that prices will rise again... 08/08/2008

The 2008 Housing Act assists first time home buyers by giving them up to a $7,500 tax credit.  To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009.  The buyer cannot have owned a principal residence in the U.S. in the three years prior to the purchase. The credit is up to 10% of the purchase price, with a maximum of $7,500.  The credit is phased out for individual tax payers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) between $75,000 and $95,000 ($150,000 and $170,000 for joint filers). The tax credit is given even to those with incomes too low to owe income tax. The tax credit is actually a 15 year interest free loan.  In the second year after purchase, the buyer must begin to pay back the credit/loan in equal installments over the next 15 years.  If th... 08/07/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 7, 2008 is as follows: There are 365 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  269 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  96 are condos. 118 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold 92 are SFRs. 26 are condos. 3 homes have closed escrow in August.  The median price of homes in August is $460,000.  The average price of a home is also $445,000. 2 homes were listed today. 2 homes were put into escrow since our last post. One listing was cancelled today; 2 listings were withdrawn, and 2 listings were put on hold. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. ... 08/07/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 6, 2008 is as follows: There are 363 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  263 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  100 are condos. 121 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 95 are SFRs. 26 are condos. 2 homes have closed escrow in August.  The median price of homes in August is $445,000.  The average price of a home is also $445,000. 4 homes were listed today. 5 homes were put into escrow since our last post. One listing was cancelled today; 2 listings expired, and 2 listings were put on hold. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Infor... 08/06/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 5, 2008 is as follows: There are 366 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  266 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  100 are condos. 116 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 92 are SFRs. 24 are condos. No homes have closed escrow in August.  4 homes were listed today. 2 homes were put into escrow since our last post. 2 listings were cancelled today; 3 listings were put on hold. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS. 08/05/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 4, 2008 is as follows: There are 364 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  266 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  98 are condos. 115 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 90 are SFRs. 25 are condos. No homes have closed escrow in August.  4 homes were listed today. No homes were put into escrow since our last post. One listing was cancelled today. 6 listings were put on hold, and three were withdrawn from the market. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS. 08/04/2008

There has been much talk about homes sitting on the market and not selling and buyers being unwilling and/or unable to buy. However, if you look at the numbers, almost the same number of houses sold in July 2008 as in July 2006 and one more than in July 2007. In July 2006, 49 homes sold.  In July 2007, 45 homes sold, and in July 2008, 46 homes sold. The biggest difference year over year is in the median price of the homes sold.  In July 2006, the median home price was $725,000.  In July 2007, it was $677,500, and in July 2008, the median price was $530,000.  Looking at this comparison, it quickly becomes obvious that the biggest difference is not in the number of homes selling but in the price at which they are selling.    Pricing a home is always an important part of marketing.  Howeve... 08/03/2008

  The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 3, 2008 is as follows: There are 370 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  270 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  100 are condos. 115 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 90 are SFRs. 25 are condos. No homes have closed escrow in August.  2 homes were listed today. 2 homes were put into escrow since our last post. 2 listings expired today - did not sell within the time period of the listing agreement. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS.   08/03/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 2, 2008 is as follows: There are 370 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  268 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  102 are condos. 113 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 89 are SFRs. 24 are condos. No homes have closed escrow in August.  2 homes were listed today. 2 homes were put into escrow today. 4 listings expired today - did not sell within the time period of the listing agreement; one was put on hold. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS. 08/02/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for August 1, 2008 is as follows: There are 371 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  267 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  104 are condos. 111 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 88 are SFRs. 23 are condos. 46 homes closed escrow in July.  11 homes were listed today. No homes were put into escrow today. 2 listings expired today - did not sell within the time period of the listing agreement; one was withdrawn; 3 were cancelled and four were put on hold. Median Sold Price in July was $530,000. Average Sold Price in July was $543,843. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and r... 08/01/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for July 31, 2008 is as follows: There are 365 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  263 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  102 are condos. 111 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 90 are SFRs. 21 are condos. 43 homes have closed escrow in July.  6 homes were listed today. No homes were put into escrow today. 1 listing expired today - did not sell within the time period of the listing agreement, and two were withdrawn. Median Sold Price in July is $515,000. Average Sold Price in July is $534,995. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information... 07/31/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for July 30, 2008 is as follows: There are 363 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  262 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  101 are condos. 112 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 90 are SFRs. 22 are condos. 40 homes have closed escrow in July.  2 homes were listed today. 2 home was put into escrow today. 5 listings were cancelled, and two were put on hold today. Median Sold Price in July is $532,500. Average Sold Price in July is $544,745. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS.   07/30/2008

Mom said she'd come home early today so we could go to the Fair. We were supposed to go 2 days ago, but my brother was sick, and mom said we couldn't just leave him with a babysitter and go anyway.  He's only 7 months old, would he have even noticed?   I have been bouncing off the walls all day long.  Isn't it time to go yet?  Finally, Mom came home.  We're all packed up and out the door to the Fair. Mom and Dad said we could go on rides first.  Let's hurry up.  Why are there so many people in line?  Lines to get the tickets to get in; lines to get on the rides.  And, to make it worse, Mom had to stop and take pictures of the sand castle. Can't we look at that later?  I want to get to the rides.  They might go away if we don't get there soon enough. Finally, the rides.  Oh no, wait more... 07/30/2008

The Costa Mesa Real Estate report for July 29, 2008 is as follows: There are 366 homes currently for sale in Costa Mesa.  267 of these are single family (SFR) homes.  99 are condos. 113 homes are in escrow, conditionally sold. 89 are SFRs. 24 are condos. 38 homes have closed escrow in July.  3 homes were listed today. 8 home was put into escrow today. 3 listings were cancelled, and 3 were put on hold today. Median Sold Price in July is $545,000. Average Sold Price in July is $573,416. For more information on Costa Mesa relocation, please visit Costa Mesa Real Estate.  For information on the value of a particular home please visit Costa Mesa Home Values.     Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Information from So Cal MLS. 07/29/2008

Why Advertising Won't Work As you prepare to sell your home, you'll probably consider the best way to advertise it.  Surprisingly, advertising doesn't work.  But marketing does, and there is a big difference.  An agent will be more involved in "marketing" your home, and here's why. A photo and description of your home's features, in a newspaper or magazine or online, is simply "advertising," and is not going to generate much interest.  A recent consumer survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® revealed that fewer than 5 percent of buyers found these ads helpful in selecting homes. While ads focus on a "product," marketing involves targeting consumers based on their lifestyle and the opportunities provided by what you are offering.  Real estate agents have a list of read... 07/28/2008