Real Estate Information Archive

On Sunday, May 19, 2013 we held an open house at 441 Valley Crossing Rd Brea CA 92823. Home is located in Olinda Ranch (Lambert Rd and Valencia Ave) in the Van Daele homes. Blue skies and light breeze couldn't have made the day any better for the open house. We arrived at 11 a.m. and people started showing up right away by 11:30 a.m. it started to slow down and I ran out and picked up a sandwich and drink from Togo's for my wife and I. When I got back there were several families in the home asking questions and looking about. I put the sandwich and drink on the counter and thats where it stayed it was non-stop families coming through the home. We had planned to close up at 3 p.m. but families kept stopping in and it was 4:30 p.m. before I was able to go out and take our signs down. We must of had over a hundred people through the home and I am not kidding. It was the best open house we have had in 27 years of selling real estate. We even received an offer from a very nice you couple with 2 little boys. Things have changed radically it's a great time to sell your home NOW! Call us if your are interested in selling your home. 714-990-2200 or 714-726-3166/txt

Description of the home: Beautifully upgraded Van Daele home in Olinda Ranch. Canyon view home with designer colors, hardwood floors are throughout first level. The kitchen has been totally remodeled with granite counters and pull out drawers in the cabinets. There is a walk-in pantry and a butler’s pantry. The large family room has a fireplace and is adjacent to the gourmet kitchen. The formal dining room and formal living room have hardwood floors. All baths have been remodeled and have granite counters and stone floors. The master bath has been remodeled with a stone surround shower, separate soaking tub , dual sinks, and a large walk-in closet. Master bedroom is approx. 15X20 and has inset cabinetry with shelves for TV. Work space area off upstairs bedrooms for doing homework. Small alcove at top of stairs would be great place for a home office. Great canyon and sunset views out the back of the house. Good sized yard with patio. Separate laundry room off the garage, has plenty of cabinets for storage. Three car garage with third car a tandem.  Lots of cabinetry for your storage. Home is truly a turnkey home, it all has been done, nothing left to do but move on in. 

U.S. housing permits rise for the third month in May 2012. The Commerce Department said builders broke ground on 3.2% more single-family homes and April figures revised up to 744,000 - fastest building pace since October 2008. 780,000 permits were requested by builders the largest number since September 2008.

South Florida has seen an increase in foreign spending on real estate and tourism, Canada, South America, and even Europeans have been actively buying properties in areas of distressed residential real estate.

Austin Texas homes prices rise 6.5%, home prices appreciating at a higher rate than the national average and this includes distressed sales according to a report by CoreLogic.

Las Vegas is beginning to see a glimmer of renewed hope with a 90.4 percent increase in building permits and new-home builders have started increasing their home prices by $1000-$5000.

 Arizona ranked third for construction job growth in May. It’s happening all over the country signs of renewed hope that the housing market is truly on the mend.

California, 44% percent of all properties sold had multiple offers this year. Orange County California, personally are sales are up, multiple offers, homes selling over listing price, and Open Houses with a continues flow of potential buyers. Inventories are at the lowest level in years. Brea California today: 44 active listings, 92 with offers to purchase accepted by sellers (pending sales or taking backup offers), and 141 closed home sales since the first of the year with an average of 26 per month.

Steady builder confidence in June good article atThe Natioanl Association of Home Builders (NAHB) webiste

Opportunities knocking, will you be the one to take advantage of it this time?

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (714) 726-3166 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move. Texting ok

I stopped by McDonalds today and their doors were locked at lunch time, a sign on the door said "Come back after 2PM" So I drove over to Carl's Jr.  and had lunch there. Afterward I headed to Best Buy and was told that 11-12 was not good time to stop in and it would be better if I came back after 3 pm.  Better yet, why don't you call next week and set up a time to stop in? Pretty absurd, right! Yet, home sellers do this all the time! 

I blame this on the sellers' real estate agent. As an agent we are supposed to council our home sellers on the comparable sales, pricing their home properly, preparing the house for show, and making the home available 9 AM - 7PM every day of the week until they have an accepted offer. Sellers should not negotiate the time that an agent would like to show the home. They are with their clients for a certain amount of time and have a route of showings planned. When a seller makes their home unavailable, they may have lost the one buyer that was willing to make an offer. Put a lock box on the property for easy access! I guarantee you will sell the home faster and for a higher price if you make the home available with a lock box.

A pet peeve, if you haven't guessed it, is sellers wanting the agent to come at a different time than they are requesting. Remember the agent isn't picking the time the "buyers" have available to see your property. I show a lot of property during the week at lunchtime and evenings. Showing during the week, you can sometimes be the first in on a new listing and beat the rush of the weekend.

You can learn a lot from new home builders. Most people enjoy looking at new homes because they are staged. Builders hire decorators and pay them huge amounts of money to make their homes look amazing.  Lights turned on, tables set, furniture is optimized to make rooms look bigger, grass is green, bushes trimmed and flowers planted. Everything is clean and its place.  Times may be tough but you still can scrub, clean, pickup, and remove the extra clutter. This will do a lot to help sell your home faster and for a higher price.

Home sellers, when than phone rings and agent wants to show your house remember that this may be the agent that may write you an offer. It only takes one buyer to buy your home and the one you turn away might have been that one. Make your home available! 

Reward the kids for keeping their rooms clean. We had some sellers that gave gold stars to their kids for picking up their rooms and making their beds. They had a schedule of goodies that were they could exhcange the gold stars for, this included  going to the show, a frozen yogurt, a trip to McDonalds, etc. Make it a game. Plan things to do on the weekend so that you will not be frustrated as the Realtors wander through your home trying to sell it for you. There are a thousand things you can do.  This will lower your stress level over selling.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (714) 726-3166 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move. Texting ok

The federal tax credit for home buyers was signed into law by President Obama Friday, Nov. 6.  The tax credit, which was set to expire Nov. 30, has been extended through April 30, 2010 with a 60-day extension if a binding contract is in place prior to deadline.  It also was expanded to include existing homeowners who have lived in their primary residences for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.

First-time home buyers still may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, while existing homeowners may receive a credit of up to $6,500.  The bill also increases the qualifying income limits from $75,000 for single tax filers and $150,000 for joint filers, to $125,000 and $225,000, respectively. The purchase price of the home is capped at $800,000 in both instances.

Under additional provisions in the bill, taxpayers can claim the credit on purchases completed in 2010 on their 2009 income tax returns. The bill maintains the provision that home buyers do not have to repay the credit provided the home remains their primary residence for 36 months after purchase, and waives this requirement for active duty military personnel who move due to a military order.

The federal tax credit for home buyers was signed into law by President Obama Friday, Nov. 6.  The tax credit, which was set to expire Nov. 30, has been extended through April 30, 2010 with a 60-day extension if a binding contract is in place prior to deadline.  It also was expanded to include existing homeowners who have lived in their primary residences for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.

First-time home buyers still may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, while existing homeowners may receive a credit of up to $6,500.  The bill also increases the qualifying income limits from $75,000 for single tax filers and $150,000 for joint filers, to $125,000 and $225,000, respectively. The purchase price of the home is capped at $800,000 in both instances.

Under additional provisions in the bill, taxpayers can claim the credit on purchases completed in 2010 on their 2009 income tax returns. The bill maintains the provision that home buyers do not have to repay the credit provided the home remains their primary residence for 36 months after purchase, and waives this requirement for active duty military personnel who move due to a military order.

December 1,  the Federal Tade Commission has required all prerecorded telemarketing calls to include a "quick and easy" opt-out system to stop future call by the company. Typically for calls you answer, that means saying a certain word or press a number. Message left on your voice mail must have a toll-free number that connects to an automated opt-out system. Any prerecorded sales or fundraising calls that do not meet these criteria are subject to fines. File complaints at www.ftcomplaintassistant.gov or call 1-877-382-4357 toll-free.

The crooks are really getting good.

Snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/ says  this is true.  

Link to this scam: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

This one is  pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except  the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your  card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading.  By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card  Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One  of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called  on Thursday from 'Master Card'. The scam works like this: Caller:  'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud  Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been  flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify.  This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank).  Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a  Marketing company based in Arizona ?'

When you say 'No', the  caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your  account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range  from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags  most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to  (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The  caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you  have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the  back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.'

You will  need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6  digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the  IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The cal ler then says, 'I need to verify you are in  possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and  look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of  your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you  are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use  to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will  ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3  numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the  card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card.  Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then  thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and  hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they  never ask fo r or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on  Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we  glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam  and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to  our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and  closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the  3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it  to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly  for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that  they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the  information sin ce they issued the card! If you give the scammers your  3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by  the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you  didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to  actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable  is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master  Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't  let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by  VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily!  They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is  happening. 
  

Energy Auditing Tips:
1 Check the insulation levels through your home.
2 Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, and electrical outlets.
3 Check for open fireplace dampers
4 Maintain appliances and heating and cooling systems.
5 Look for ways to reduce lighting energy use.

Heating & Cooling Tips:
1 Set your thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer.
2 Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
3 Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing. 
4 when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high [efficiency, low – noise models.
5 For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE. Look for Energy Star models, some exceed 78% AFUE.

Lighting
1 Compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, provide the same light levels and last about 4-10 times longer.
2 Turn off the lights in any room you’re not using, or consider installing timers, photo cells, or occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on. Instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it.
3 Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motions sensor so they will turn on only at night or when someone is present.
4 Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps, just eight such lamps burning year-round use as much natural gas as it takes to heat an average-size home during an entire winter.

Window Tips
1 In a warm-climate, install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house.

(All information contained herein intended as helpful information only. If in doubt about any action, contact a professional.)

Deter – Detect – Defend

DETER
1. Cross shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
2. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only when absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
3. Do not put your wallet on a counter.
4. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, the mail, or the internet unless you are familiar with the person.
5. Never click on the links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, use the web addressed you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software on your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
6. Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Use a different password and PIN for each account. Create PINs with a combination of letters and numbers mixed up, then memorize.
7. Keep personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house, including SSNs, bank account numbers and PIN numbers.
8. Mail deterrents include: Install a locked mailbox at your residence. Remove mail daily after it is delivered. Or, have your mail delivered to a post office box.
9. DO NOT put your SSN on job applications.

DETECT
1. Bills that do not arrive as expected.
2. Unexpected credit cards or account statements.
3. Denials of credit for no apparent reason.
4. Calls or letters about purchases you did not make.

DEFEND
1. Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports and review them carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts.
2. The three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers ofr placing an initial 90-day fraud alert, a call tone company is sufficient:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-800-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

3. A fraud alert will get you free copies of your credit reports. Look for inquiries from companies you haven’t contacted, accounts you didn’t open, and debts on your accounts that you can’t explain.
4. Close any unauthorized accounts. Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was opened or changed without your knowledge. Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents and the police report file number.
5. Ask for verification that the bad account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.
File a police report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.
6. Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Online: ftc.gov/idtheft. Or call them toll free at 1-877-438-4338 (ID-THEFT) Use the ID Theft Affidavit at the ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statement.