by Jeff Pittman | Dec 10, 2015 | Weekly Quote
“Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating.” ~ Denis Waitley
by Jeff Pittman | Dec 10, 2015 | So Cal Cities
Local Foodie Watch | 8 New Eateries In the OC Area Tired of the same old same old? Need some new restaurants and creative culinary spots to check out? We suggest starting with these new restaurants, cafes eateries that have come to the Orange County area this fall. These places have just popped up in the last month or so and they’re definitely worth a visit to wake up your taste buds and shake up your routine. From burgers to breakfast to custom donuts, these places are hot and new in our neck of the woods. POQET DONUTS 17655 Harvard Ave Ste B Irvine, CA 92614 poqetdonuts.com Whether you’re a raised glazed afficianado or devil’s food donutista, Poqet Donuts is your new donut home away from home. You can go sample their obsessively designed signature donuts or build your own creation at thee donut bar and you’ll quickly see why they’re fast becoming a local favorite. Their amazingly creative menu of custom donuts includes Tiramisu, Pistachio Crème Brulee, Green tea and Campfire. TUSTIN GRILLE 405 El Camino Real Tustin, CA 92780 tustingrille.com Located in the heart of historic Old Town Tustin, Tustin Grille is the brainchild of veteran restaurateur Jim Osborn and Culinary Olympic Gold Medal winning Chef Dudley McMahon. Their concept is a made from scratch menu with a modern approach of farm to table. Their custom cocktails made from fresh squeezed juices and house infused liquors set them apart and their selection of steaks is impeccable. They have a brunch, lunch and dinner menu and according to the Yelp reviews, they’re all worth trying! RAISING CANE’S 3150...
by Jeff Pittman | Dec 10, 2015 | Buyers
How To Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage Loan If you’ve read any tips for homebuyers then chances are you’ve heard that you need to get pre-approved for a loan about a million times. The question is – how exactly do you get the pre-approval? Here are the steps you need to take to get pre-approved and the most important facts you need to get you there. WHAT IS A PRE-APPROVAL? It’s a written statement from a lender stating that you would qualify for a particular loan under your current qualifications and the lender’s guidelines. A pre-approval letter is good for 60-90 days and the loan amount is based on your income and credit information. A pre-approval letter is not an offer to lend, a commitment to make a loan, or a guarantee of specific rates or terms. It is however an accurate idea of how much home you can afford. And most importantly as a homebuyer, it’s proof to sellers that you have done your homework and are serious about purchasing. PRE-APPROVAL VS. PRE-QUALIFICATION Getting pre-approved and getting pre-qualified are two very different things and only the pre-approval holds much weight as a potential homebuyer. A pre-qualification does not go as depth into your finances as it does not include an analysis of your credit report. To be pre-qualified you simply give a lender an idea of your debt, income and assets (no paperwork, just your word) and a lender can discuss your potential options. OBTAINING A PRE-APPROVAL LETTER First and foremost you need to choose a mortgage lender. Keep in mind that each lender has its own standards...
by Jeff Pittman | Dec 1, 2015 | Weekly Quote
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
by Jeff Pittman | Dec 1, 2015 | Homes
The Luxury Edition: Lush Landscapes Three outstanding estates, all featured in the latest issue of The Luxury Edition, are notable for their lush landscaped grounds designed by the world’s preeminent landscape architects. A 15-acre Georgian-style estate in New York’s Hudson Valley is a 1929 landmark designed by illustrious country house architect Mott B. Schmidt. A private 80-acre estate in the exclusive Conyers Farm enclave of Greenwich, Connecticut, was built by Beaux-Arts architect Donn Barber. And in the heart of England’s South Downs, Southways is a grand 1920s manor house surrounded by 3.5 landscaped acres, re-imagined by Chelsea Flower Show gold medal–winning garden designer Philip Nash. PASTURES GREEN Conyers Farm Estate in Greenwich, Connecticut Beyond an impressive entrance flanked by original stone pillars and a gatehouse, the landscape is green and expansive. Views gallop into the distance taking in tree-lined paddocks dotted with piebald and chestnut-brown horses. Established in 1904 by New York-based Wall Street grandee Edmund C Converse as a city escape, Conyers Farm is utterly, uniquely bucolic. Converted into an exclusive gated enclave in the 1980s – complete with spectacular polo grounds – this 1,468-acre community is the largest in Greenwich, Connecticut, with just 60 homes set amid conservation land. “You don’t see anything else like it around here,” says David Ogilvy of David Ogilvy & Associates, Inc., an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. The community’s pastoral qualities ring particularly true for its one and only 80-acre estate. “Many of the homes here were wooden and the occupants were afraid of fires, so they had their own fire brigade,” Ogilvy explains. The front door opens to the double-height center...
