Rancho Santa Margrita Ca (Mission Viejo, CA)
By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
(Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395)
  The Rancho Santa Margarita, California Library is doing it's part to keep teens active afterschool. In addition to providing a quiet, supportive atmosphere for homework, they also have many teen events throughout the year. Coming up this spring are two events for students in grades 7-12. The first is a Calligraphy Workshop presented by Carolyn Canonico. Carolyn will teach the "Art of Hand Lettering." Calligraphy gives the written word elegance and style and is used in many capacities. Wednesdays March 2,9,16 and 23rd from 4-5pm. The other teen event is the Annual Teen Literature and Photography Contest. Beginning March 7th up to April 15th, students are invited to submit entries. These submissions can be prose, poetry and/or photography. Winners will be announced and honored at a rec...
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By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
(Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395)
    The Challenge by Bob about answers to questions has really had me watching my email and monitoring my phone conversations. Yesterday I received a call from an Active Rain agent in Texas with a possible referral (thank you Ed). One of the first questions he asked me was "how do you work with relocation buyers"? Great question....and very important to realize that relocation clients are different from the average buyer. Relocation buyers normally do not have a built-in knowledge of the area, and if they do have a city preference it's often based on preconceived impressions....or opinions of co-workers, family or Internet. Sometimes these impressions are correct....sometimes not. In this situation, the buyers were out here visiting family for the week, and this was my main opportunity...
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By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
(Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395)
All true real estate junkies will understand this....but after the presents, and cookies and prime rib, I sneaked away from the party to check my email.....in the laundry room. Completely obsessive of me. I would like to say there was a reason beyond real estate....but there really wasn't. I had been cooking all day and I had not checked email since noon....it was 7pm. So, you understand? To my surprise, in my inbox was an executed copy of an offer we had written earlier that week. I was annoyed about this situation any way. The agent had not returned any of my phone calls nor emails and I wasn't really sure that the offer had been received at all. The email was quite apologetic, turns out the agent is the seller's sister and they had all been gone last week at a funeral...the sudden p...
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By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
(Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395)
BanksLendersShort Sale LendersBank NegotiatorsAsset Managers These are all terms seen in listings. Realtors® use them daily, but the consumer does not. Even buyers who have been out searching for a while can become confused about who they are actually negotiating with, and how that might affect the transaction. I have a client that I've been working with for a few weeks. Last night I got an email with a few questions that made it clear he did not understand the difference between a Short Sale and a Bank-Owned (REO) when it came to negotiation. Question One (about a Short Sale): "Do you know how many offers the bank has and when they are going to pick one?" Question Two (about a Bank-Owned): "How long does it normally take before a bank decides how much they want for the home?" First, I...
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By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
(Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395)
  So I know I normally don't post recipes and such...but tonight I'm going to be making some yummy, and easy, gifts with my 2 girls for them to give to their friends. Starving college students :)! I bought some cute containers and we are going to make Chai Tea and Coffee Mocha mixes. Chai Tea: to make about 12 cups (plenty for several gifts: 2 1/2 cups Dry Non-Fat Milk2 1/2 cups Dry Non Dairy Creamer2 1/2 cups Dry French Vanilla Creamer5 1/2 cups sugar4 cups Dry Ice Tea Mix (unsweetened)6 tsps Pumpkin Pie Spice Coffee Mocha: to make about 12 cups: 4 cups Dry Cocoa Mix4 cups Dry Non Dairy Creamer2 1/4 cups of Instant Coffee2 cups of Sugar I'm going to put a biscotti on the Chai with ribbon and on the Mocha a candy cane. We are making quite a few. So I'm sure the homemade Oatmeal Raisin ...
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By Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395
(Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395)
          "I Want It"..."No, We're Going To Pass"...."Oh No, Did We Miss It"...."I'm Not Sure About The Street"...."We Lost The Perfect Home" All these comments came yesterday by the same clients. After looking for a couple of weeks, they had reached the stage of panic.....they really hadn't found the right home and were afraid it just wasn't out there and they had passed up the "next best" option. Somewhere.....but they weren't even sure which that was. Slow down and breath deeply! :) While I'm pretty sure there is a Code of Ethics rule which prohibits me from bringing booze to showings, sometimes this is exactly what I'd like to do. Once a buyer....especially a first time buyer....loses a home to either a better offer or delay, they begin to second guess and panic. Did they miss the ...
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By Dave Gubler, Realtor | Orange County
(Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Lake Forest, Ladera Ranch)
Rancho Santa Margarita HAFA Short Sale.  Is It The Right Choice For You?  Get the information you need to determine your eligibility and weigh the pros and cons of the HAFA Short Sale program. The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program helps struggling homeowners successfully avoid foreclosure by short selling their home with a well developed set of guidelines that provides some cash at closing to the seller ($3,000.00), a formalized timeframe to sell the home and an approved sale price established up front by the mortgage lender.  This program does not cover every homeowner and/or every property.     HAFA Short Sale Qualification Who Is Eligible For HAFA   Applying For HAFA Assistance   List Of Lenders Participating In HAFA   HAFA Documents     How can HAFA help Rancho...
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Mission Viejo, CA Real Estate Professionals