Now that half the year is over, it’s time to take a look at how close to (or far from) reality my predictions were that I made in my December post about 2008 real estate activity. You can go back to read my justifications for each prediction, but this analysis will only address the basic…
Category Archives: General
Automated Home Values
Check your home value, or one that you are considering! Which one do you think is most accurate? Are there others worth looking at? Zillow Cyberhomes RealEstateABC Paper Economy Calculator
South Orange County Real Estate Market Conditions
The market is picking up, no matter what the bubble bloggers are saying! Sometimes, people make decisions that are not based on rational, logical methodology, but on feelings and emotions. People want a place to live that they can call their own. Where they can feel safe and secure from the cold, or wet, or…
Which Home Improvements will Buyers Pay For in South Orange County?
After reading Forbes Magazine’s list of “Recession-Proof Home Improvements” I’m not sure I totally agree. Since I have only seen cork flooring once, and haven’t yet seen any bamboo counters, I wonder what people in South Orange County, California think about these. If you have a minute, please take my simple little survey by answering the…
Foreclosure Process In California
In California, it takes several months from the first late mortgage payment until the foreclosure may be completed. The absolute minimum time required from the date of recording of the Notice of Default to actual sale is 112 days, but due to common delays, it is extremely rare for it to be completed in less than…
Lake Forest Real Estate Market October 2 2007
The real estate market in Lake Forest, California, is very much like every other part of the country right now – it’s SLOW! The properties that are listed under $300,000 include 1-bedroom and a few 2-bedroom condos, with the lowest prices offered on the foreclosed listings. The lowest priced 1-bedroom is $204,900 and the lowest…
10 Reasons to Over Price a Home?
When sellers say that they want to list their home for substantially more than the comps support, I think a good list of reasons for buyers to overpay would help both the listing agent and the buyers. I realize that some of these are a bit of a stretch, or maybe even sarcastic, but…
Property Tax Assessment Appeal Deadline – September 15th!
Has your property value declined below the property tax assessed value? If you bought in 2005 or 2006, there is a chance that the value may now be lower than what you paid. Thanks to Proposition 13, our property taxes are based on the market value (usually, but not necessarily the sale price) at the…
Interim Occupancy Agreement
Protecting the Seller When a Buyer takes Possession Prior to Close of Escrow I usually discourage giving the buyer possession of a property prior to actually closing the sale, but with the current situation in the lending environment, it may become necessary to do this more regularly. In California, we have a form called “Interim Occupancy Agreement” that…
A Little Imagination Can Go a Long Way!
Pssst – want to know how to get a better deal in any market???? Learn to use your imagination! When I show homes to buyers, the most common objection that I hear is “it needs too much work!” The majority of buyers notariously have no imagination – that’s why resale homes get staged, or builders’…