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 often wait until they get the NTS (Notice To Sell) posted, and all of a sudden decide to list their home as a short sale. This can happen any time of year.   2012 has been a strange year in Orange County CA in th... 11/24/2012

Assembly Day - my new name for black Friday. We often visit my wife's favorite Aunt for Thanksgiving Day. The day after is of course shopping day for everyone. Since it is hard for me to sit still I am usually asking our aunt for projects that she has not been able to take care of herself. It keeps me busy. Invariably someone buys something that needs "assembly". I am sure this mental strain fine tunes my real estate skills. Some Assembly Required It seems like no holiday would be complete without an assembly project. Especially Black Friday. Actually this year it was my cousin that purchased a rolling kitchen island with granite top and you can guess..."some assembly is certainly required." In fact I think it is the eighth wonder of the world how these manufactures can fit 2000 pieces ... 11/23/2012

Happy Thanksgiving Our Thanksgiving tradition has always been to visit family in Phoenix AZ. We visit my wife's favorite aunt who lives on a half acre lot in what used to be the middle of an orange grove. Builders have purchased many of the orange groves and then quit watering the trees because it is illegal to destroy living trees. Once they die the new homes went up. Sad but that's life. What can be more fun for kids than to pet the horses and the sheep, play with the dogs or pick fresh citrus and squeeze our own orange juice. When my kids were small they couldn't wait for Thanksgiving. Oh, yes the kids and I always made the lemon, apple and pumpkin pies. I truly thank God for the small and great joys in life, especially since I now get to make pies with my grand daughters and walk th... 11/22/2012

Laguna Niguel Seller's Market / Timing the market If you own a home in Laguna Niguel and have been busy this fall you may not realize that it is a SELLER'S MARKET. In Laguna Niguel and Orange County CA it is a seller's market once again. Entry level homes are selling no matter what the condition. Homes up to a million are selling quickly as well if they are in good condition and priced right. Search Homes in Laguna Niguel. Why is it a seller's market in Laguna Niguel? Because of supply and demand. The demand for homes is up because many home buyers are wanting to take advantage of the low interest rates. Sellers are waiting for prices to go up more before listing. Sellers who are severely upside down are waiting for the banks to forgive debt and restructure loan balances. Have you ever ... 11/21/2012

  Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.  I am very grateful for my family, friends, clients, affiliates and the ActiveRain community not only today, but every day. Many Blessings! 11/21/2012

Beacon Hill Homes in Laguna Niguel Beacon Hill homes in Laguna Niguel are unique and close to the ocean. Beacon Hill is a hill in the southern tip of Laguna Niguel which is adjacent to Dana Point in Orange County California. Many of the lots in Beacon Hill have either canyon views or ocean views. The community has eight tracts of detached homes or about 570 homes. It also has three tracts of attached condos. All of these communities surround a beautiful park and there are three pools and six tennis courts that are shared by all. SEARCH BEACON HILL HOMES.   Beacon Hill Homes in Laguna Niguel can only be described as having a "beachy" feel. Some have amost a cape cod feeling and all have clapboard siding which is very different than many other area homes which are of a Spanish stucco. The... 11/20/2012

Dealing with Multiple Offers on Orange County Homes / Laguna Niguel   DEALING WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS   It might come as a shock to you but multiple offers are back in the picture again. Well-priced homes are the targets, most often in the larger town homes or entry-level detached homes but even reaching to the 800's. Why that price range? Because there are three groups interested - first time buyers, investors and former short-sale owners returning to the purchase market.   In fact, 30% of home buyers purchasing in Orange County CA are ALL CASH BUYERS.  Here are a few pointers from the buyer's standpoint.   1. Run the comparable sales and active listings in your price range and area. You must know what the market value most likely is. Why would I say this? Because the home maybe over-pric... 11/19/2012

It just takes Discipline… Photo courtesy of: Time 4 Learning With self-discipline most anything is possible ~Theodore Roosevelt  11/19/2012

Everything in Real Estate is Negotiable! Everything in real estate is negotiable. I have heard this saying all my life, even before working in real estate. It is true – I suppose. If you want to include personal property like your Van Gogh painting with the house, it can be negotiated. As it turns out each area of the country has its own quirks on what is normal or customary in contracts and negotiations. In southern California sellers usually buy a title insurance policy for the buyer to insure that the buyer has free and clear title (the buyer purchases a secondary policy for the lender), but in the east that is not the case. I flew back to Boston a few years ago to help my daughter purchase a condo. I was flabbergasted to find that the normal for Boston did not include a seller's tit... 11/17/2012

Costa Brava Townhomes in Laguna Niguel CA Costa Brava Townhomes in Laguna Niguel are a very cool place to live. This is a premium neighborhood built by Buie Corporation in the late 80's. Each building has eight units. The smallest unit, Amador, is a carriage unit above the garages. There are two other one story units on the ground level which are 1151 sq ft and have one attached garage and one carport. The next unit is the Llansa, which is upstairs above the  single story unit. The Llansa is a two story unit so the first floor has two bedrooms, two baths, the kitchen, dining room and living room. Upstairs there is a very large loft with its own bath and closet so that it can be used as a bedroom. This unit has a one car attached garage and a one car detached garage. The end units in eac... 11/16/2012

Marina Hills Homes for sale in Laguna Niguel In beautiful city of Laguna Niguel there is a subdivision called Marina Hills. Marina Hills is in central Laguna Niguel and is located between Golden Lantern Dr. and Niguel Road. Marina Hills Drive bisects the subdivision. Marina Hills Homes for sale - Marina Hills homes for sale surround the center piece of the Marina Hills Community Center. The center is marked by large water fountains and a small pond in front of the Clubhouse, a beautiful pool and several tennis courts. There is also a park where the younger kids play soccer on Saturdays.   Marina Hills Homes are found in the tracts of The Heights, Palacio, Vistara, Amarante, Bel Fiore, Monaco, Terracina, Sienna and two townhome complexes of Chandon and Encore. Each of the condo communiti... 11/15/2012

Letters to Santa in Orange County - Laguna Niguel Monday, November 19 Would you like to receive a letter from Santa? Santa has asked us to help him by collecting letters in our "North Pole" Mailbox in front of the Crown Valley Community Park Office. We will then forward the letters to the North Pole for a response from Santa. The mailbox will be up from Nov. 19 through Dec. 13.     Date: November 19 - December 13 Address: Crown Valley Community Park29751 Crown Valley Pkwy.Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Cost: Santa will write to children who include a self-addtessed stamped envelope.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAGUNA NIGUEL PROPERTY EXPERT, LAUREN SELINSKY 949.310.4960 LAGUNA NIGUEL SHORT SALE EXPERT LAGUNA NIGUEL HOME SEARCH>>> www.CACoastalReal... 11/14/2012

Holiday Lights Decorating Contest- LAGUNA NIGUEL HOMES Tuesday, October 30 Get into the holiday spirit by entering your home! $25 Home Depot gift card and yard sign will be awarded in the following categories: Most Traditional, Best Animation, Most Creative, Best Display of Lights, Best Display of Lights and Music, Best Homemade Display. In addition to the categories listed, a sign will be awarded to the street that displays the most community spirit! Click on link to download an entry form. Date: October 30 - December 3 Time Details: Free Entry Deadline: Mon., Dec 3 at 9am / Judging: Tue., Dec 4 from 5-10pm Address: Crown Valley Community Park29751 Crown Valley Pkwy.Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Cost: Free Links: Holiday Lights Decorating Contest <<<< LINK FOR ENTRY AND CONTEST RULES   -----... 11/14/2012

Rancho Niguel Thanksgiving Food Drive Rancho Niguel neighbors, Shannon and Catherine,  support local ministry to the poor this Saturday 11/17/2012. Donations of Canned Food, Jackets, Sleeping Bags and Blankets are greatly appreciated and may be dropped off at 28775 Calle Vista in Laguna Niguel, CA between 8AM and 4PM. All donations will be given to the non-profit ministry, MoreofJesus.org. Randy Felton is the administrator and pastor to many homeless and elderly living in motels and under bridges in north Orange county. Randy is also a Rancho Niguel resident. Another popular food charity in this area is FeedOC.org which is a local Orange County food bank. Thanksgiving is my favorite time and a good time to think of the less fortunate. My local office of Keller Williams supports the food... 11/13/2012

San Joaquin Hills Market Report San Joaquin Hills is the newest, and last to be built, subdivision in Laguna Niguel California. Homes in San Joaquin Hills are very popular and range from about 2400 sq ft to 3800 sq ft. The community was built roughly from 1997 to the present. There are only a few lots left. It is a guard gated community and has two gates. The elementary school is Laguna Niguel Elementary and is only two blocks away. The taxes are the lowest in CA and there are no builder, Mello-Roos bonds. Find a home in San Joaquin Hills Walk to Laguna Niguel Regional Park & Lake San Joaquin Home Values  15 Homes have sold in San Joaquin Hills since May 1st. Prices ranged from 669,000 to 1 Million. The average price per square foot was $284.54. Days on Market for San Joaquin Hills Ron ... 11/12/2012

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 I was just embarrassed to explain to my first time home buyer that I had actually never done it before and we would figure it out together. My buyer is very well qualified but has a minimum down payment so it is nearly impossible to get and offer accepted in Orange C... 11/10/2012

LUXURY HOMES ARE SELLING! Laguna Niguel Luxury Homes. Homes in Laguna Niguel priced between 1 & 3 million have been selling this year. Since May 1, 2012 there have been 35 closings. The average price was 1.47 million for 3855 sq. ft. The average days on market before selling was 85 and the average price per sq. ft. was $381.68. Find the value of your luxury home. Homes selling in this price range are found in the neighborhoods of Bear Brand, Ocean Ranch, Crest de Ville, Niguel Heights, Niguel Summit, Hillcrest Estates, Marina Hills, Coronado Point and Palmilla. Call the Luxury Home expert to see these neighborhoods. Sold by Keller Williams Realty $2,957,000. 5748 sq. ft. Search for Laguna Niguel Luxury Homes. There are currently 31 active listings in Laguna Niguel between 1 and 3 millio... 11/09/2012

NEW LISTING!              12 Brownsbury Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677   Gorgeous and Popular floor plan with 1st and 2nd Floor Ocean Views. Main floor Office or Den, 3 upstairs Bedrooms and a Bonus Room that very easily converts to 4th bedroom if needed. Master Suite is generous with remodeled bathroom and walk-in cedar closets. Kitchen remodel w/Full Granite Finish, Center island, Sub-Zero & Dacor. Family Room has impressive B-I Ent Ctr w/Theater Speakers. Yard is smartly designed with beautiful Pebble-Tec Spa and peaceful Fountain serves as focal point from Formal Living & Dining Rooms. Maple hardwood entryway, Limestone floors in Kitchen & Formal areas. High quality carpet in Family Room and Bedrooms. Bathrooms remodeled w/Stone Sinktops & Showers. Ocean Ranch is a 24 Hour Guard Gate... 11/08/2012

Sometimes you get a feeling for statistics. I was having a discussion with a fellow Realtor about the differences between Dana Point sales and Laguna Niguel sales so I though I would check out the facts. Dana Point has approximately 16,000 homes and there have been 188 properties sold under 1 million dollars since July 1st this year. The turn over rate is lower and the days on market are longer than in Laguna Niguel. The average days on market was 96. Laguna Niguel is just inland and adjacent to Dana Point and is a little larger with over 24,000 homes. There have been 272 sales of homes under one million dollars since July 1st. The average days on market was 77. In Dana Point the final sales price averaged 95% of the original list price and in Laguna Niguel the final sales price average... 11/06/2012

Happy Election Day!!! If Big Bird can get off Sesame Street and go vote, so can you!!! 11/06/2012