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Do you know how much money you have in your 401K? The answer is probably yes, give or take a few thousand dollars. Do you know how much money you have in your investment account? The answer is probably yes. That is great! Do you know how much equity you have in your home? The answer is probably “kind of”, “not sure”, but according to Zillow it is a ton (or the opposite - you are under water). Now that I have triggered your curiosity, you will … [Read more]
In short, the easy answer is a resounding YES. The active listings in Orange County have nearly doubled (up 87%) between mid-March 2013 to the end of August 2013. It has been since the subprime meltdown (6 years ago) that so many homes came on the market in such a limited time period. What happened? Well, everybody has been reading the newspaper, watching financial programs on TV and talking to friends and family. The message was the same … [Read more]
Situated on a wide stretch of sand in Capistrano Bay, this premier, award-winning oceanfront estate was expertly designed by Lehrer Architects fusing California contemporary with the serene sea elements beyond. This chic, guard-gated Beach Rd estate offers floor to ceiling windows throughout to maximize the presence of sand and sea and the dramatic vistas they afford including picturesque Catalina Island. The dramatic open floor plan featuring … [Read more]
The decline in rates is directly related to the Fed's decision last week to postpone the start of the massive monetary stimulus. In other words, the feared "Tapering" will not start anytime soon. The reason for their decision is based on the fact that they would like to see more evidence of solid economic growth. Once again, a negative (slow economic growth) turns into a positive for potential home buyers (slower raising mortgage rates). In late … [Read more]
Home values in August were on the same level as they were in June and July, indicating that the torrid market is cooling off. The median home price in Southern California remained around $385,000 still good for an increase of 24.6% compared to August 2012. This is great news for people that started to become "priced out of the market" and it also decreases the chance of hitting another "bubble". Reasons for the … [Read more]
My first personal experience with the Elephant Parade was in 2012 in a Belgian city called Hasselt, so as soon as I saw the Elephant Sculptures pop up around our Dana Point harbor, I knew, the Elephant Parade has come to our own backyard here in Dana Point. The 37 baby elephant sculptures will make you smile, wonder and adore. The sculptures are the actual size of a baby Asian elephant, between 4 to 6 feet long and have a serious mission - … [Read more]
Although mortgage rates have been rising to levels not seen for two years, lenders are now offering rates near and sometimes lower than interest rates for conforming loans. Here in Orange County, Jumbo loans are defined as mortgages over $625,000. This is an unprecedented situation, because jumbos historically have come at a premium. You may wonder why is this the case? Well, the improving economy and real estate market have heated up the … [Read more]