by Jeff Pittman | Sep 9, 2015 | So Cal Cities
21 Things To Do For Free In Orange County It’s no secret that Orange County real estate is expensive, so when it’s time to have some fun, you want to take it easy on your wallet. Good thing there are tons of free things to do in Orange County and places to enjoy that don’t cost a dime. Check out our list of 21 free things you should check out if you’re bored and broke at home. Adventure awaits! 1. GO TO THE BEACH There are so many beaches to go to in Orange County and you really can’t go wrong. Nab some street parking so you don’t have to pay in the lot, bring a towel and a friend and enjoy what makes SoCal the best place to be. Also, San Clemente and Seal Beach near Sunset Beach offers free beach parking. If you’re in the mood for surfing or beach volleyball Huntington is a great choice. If you want to stop by bars on your way in from the waves then Newport Beach is calling to you. Or if you’re in a creative mood head down to Laguna for some sand, sun and art galleries (#6 on our list!). 2. EXPLORE DOWNTOWN DISNEY Source: flickr If you don’t have the dough to make it into the park, enjoy the Disney atmosphere at Downtown Disney. Parking is free for the first three hours and you can enjoy musicians and other seasonal entertainment. Plus you can play and create with the Legos outside of the Lego store! 3. BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE Source: yelp The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve,...
by Jeff Pittman | Aug 31, 2015 | Events, Uncategorized
Events In Orange County September 2015 September brings back to school, the end of summer and beginning of fall and most importantly, tons of events in Orange County. This September 2015 check out what’s going on in Orange County including Oktoberfest at Old World (that’s right – it starts in September!), craft beer festivals, Taste of Laguna and so much more. THEME PARK ADVENTURE’S HALLOWEEN KICK-OFF BASH Sunday, Sept. 6th 7PM-10PM Join Theme Park Adventure for the post-ScareLA Halloween kick-off bash at Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach for an evening of great stories, amazing networking, and potent tiki cocktails that are guaranteed to make your mind do the hula! The mixer is open to them park fans, industry professionals and anyone with a passion for the peculiar and frightening. Event website: themeparkadventure.com CATERCON: A CATERING TASTING & EVENTS EXPO Thursday, Sept. 10th 3PM-8PM Taste local caters, discover the best in Southern California event services and learn best practices and ideas from the experts at CaterCon. Sample local craft beer and wine, meet suppliers, and prepare for your next event. If you’re in the industry, planning a wedding or on the lookout for great services for your next party, it can’t hurt to check it out. Event website: catercon.com LIVE! AT THE MUSEUM: MARIA ELENA Thursday, Sept. 10th 7PM-9PM Live! at the Museum takes place the second Thursday of each month and this September Marina Elena will be performing a one woman show on the legendary French icon, Edit Piaf. Admission is free for museum members and $5 or $7 for the public. Drinks are available starting at 6PM before the...
by Jeff Pittman | Aug 24, 2015 | The Market
What Is A Housing Bubble? Discussions of the past and possible future housing bubble have been all over the real estate news for a while now. We all know that the recession of 2007-2009 was caused primarily by a housing bubble that burst in 2008. But what exactly is a housing bubble? It’s not just a rise it prices. It’s a market condition created by excessive home buying that runs up prices based solely on the expectation that the prices will continue to rise. However, eventually homes become too overpriced for buyers to keep up, the bubble pops and housing prices plummet. Shaky lending practices are another factor that led to the financial crisis and the spike in prices during our last housing bubble. Crucial players in the bubble, lenders with poor underwriting standards helped unqualified buyers purchase home loans they couldn’t afford to pay back. Recently, some critics have been questioning whether the U.S. could return to a crisis like the one in 2008 because real estate values have been rising according to data from the National Association of Realtors®. The median existing single-family home price increased in 93% of markets with the national median existing single-family home price in the second quarter reaching $229,400, up 8.2% from the second quarter of 2014 ($212,000). SO, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? Not really according to Nick Timiroas at the Wall Street Journal. In a recent article on rising home prices, he explained that although median home prices this June hit a record high since 2006 at the peak of the bubble, he pointed out, all else equal,...
by Jeff Pittman | Aug 20, 2015 | Renovations
7 Stellar Isle Renovation Project – In Transition Get a behind the scenes look and be a part of the transformation during the 7 Stellar Isle Renovation Project! This renovation may be part of a new show on HGTV with New York designer Cindy Montgomery! I’m hoping to take this from a vacant house to a valued home in the community of Covenant Hills located in Ladera Ranch! Master bathroom looking better already. All the soffits, fake beams and posts were removed. New pony wall framed out for the shower. Starting the framing around new tub. The bathroom is much more open with cleaner lines now. I used Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter for the dining room. The ceiling came out great with White Dove semi-gloss on the beams and flat in between the beams. Love this gray because it has no green, beige or blue undertones. Stay tuned for more behind the scenes photos to come! Thank you for reading. Jeff Pittman, Realtor in Ladera Ranch – Orange County,...
by Jeff Pittman | Aug 17, 2015 | Sellers
2015 home buyers are looking for some specific updates when they are on a home search. To expedite the sale of your home – and to gain an edge over the competitive and new homes in your area with more bells and whistles – you might want to add some of the following updates to your home. Just make sure that the updates you invest in are going to be recouped at resale. Compiled from several surveys, consumer reports and advice from the professionals, here’s what we know home buyers are looking for in a home in 2015: OUTDOOR DIGS Source: daisymaebelle.com Buyers are looking for a home with space available to create an attractive outdoor living area according to the buzz at recent builder trade shows. Exterior lighting in particular ranked high on homebuyers’ priority list. It’s important to note that while buyers are looking for an outdoor living space or a yard that is large enough to create an impressive play area for the kids, they don’t want to spend all weekend doing lawn care. When updating your outdoor space, choose low maintenance landscaping plans that include something like stone pavers, or create decorative spaces using mulch, ground cover plants or low maintenance flower beds. CLOSETS TO DIE FOR Source: porch.com A walk-in closet in the master bedroom is one of the most desirable features for 2015 home buyers. According an NAHB survey, 98% of homebuilders would include a walk-in closet in a new home because they are so popular with homebuyers. Including built-in shelving or adding some type of closet organizational system will make your closet...
