by Jeff Pittman | Jun 15, 2015 | So Cal Cities
Local Favorites Orange County’s Best Hiking Trails This summer is a great time to get to know the wild side of Orange County – this is the best Orange County hiking trails where locals like to escape the suburbs and enjoy a bit of much needed nature and fresh air. TOP OF THE WORLD WHERE: LAGUNA BEACH According to the Yelp reviews Top of the World is one of those hikes that has a little bit of everything. On the west end of the trail, you’ll find higher elevation and more hillside views with minimal shade. On the east side of the park (the car wreck trail) you’ll find more greenery, shade, and water. And the very north ends in a neighborhood. Reviews said it’s a great trail to do for a sunrise or sunset hike up to the view. Depending on which path you take you’ll have a different experience which also means you might need to do this hike several times to see it all. Warning: It’s a high climb so the hike is pretty steep! Make sure you’ve got good shoes with grip. PETERS CANYON REGIONAL PARK WHERE: ORANGE Tucked in the back corner of Orange behind North Tustin along the toll road is Peters Canyon Regional Park. It’s a lot of fun to explore with tons of trail options for beginners, moderate hikers and advanced hikers. Peter’s Canyon is also a great choice for biking and jogging. Start off with the flat trail and make your way up to the hill trails on the 5 mile loop which is a favorite. It’s a great place...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 10, 2015 | Homeowners
7 Green Building Materials That Will Blow Your Mind When you think about greenhouse emissions, you probably imagine large factories, spewing enormous quantities of volatile gases. In reality, large part of the greenhouse footprint is generated by buildings themselves. While some of the emissions are a result of regular operational needs like electricity and heating, the production and transportation of building materials also adds up sufficiently to the negative impact on the environment. The manufacturing process is not the only issue. The extraction of enormous amount of raw materials causes the fast depletion of natural resources. However, you can build an eco – friendly home with minimal or no hazards for the environment by using reclaimed building materials or materials with recycled content. They include bricks, flooring, lumber or even fancy antique fixtures. Apart from the salvaged materials you can use alternative methods and options for your eco- friendly home. Check out some of the new building materials green minded architects and builders are using to cut down on our global footprint. STRAW Mediterranean Family Room by Takoma Park Architects & Building Designers Helicon Works Straw-bale building is a popular eco – friendly construction method. So if relocation is on the agenda, you will be able to find this type of home. The material is acquired by plants such as wheat, rice, barley oats, flax or rye. Then the bales are stacked on rebar or bamboo stakes. The primary advantage of this type of building is the great insulation it offers! CORDWOOD Source: kautzercraftsmanship.com This construction uses short, round lengths of wood, stacked into a wall. Cordwood looks like...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 9, 2015 | Events
Free Orange County Concerts And Movies In The Park Summer 2015 Summer is coming and with it comes free fun like concerts, movies and Shakespeare in the park. Check out the list of free fun going on in Orange County for Summer 2015. We’ve included dates, times and all the juicy details you need to cash in on the free fun! BREA – CONCERTS & MOVIES Bring your folding chairs and blankets for some free music and movies in Brea this summer going on through July and August. Admission is always free and on movie nights the city will be doing free raffle prizes for the kids! Check out the lineup below. CONCERT SCHEDULE Wednesday nights from 6:30-8PM at City Hall Park July 8 – The Symphonic Winds of the Pacific (Pops & Patriotic July 15 – Retro Soul (Pop Rock) July 22 – The Fenians (Celtic Rock) July 29 – The Kelly Rae Band (Country) August 5 – Conganas Quartet (Latin Jazz, Salsa) August 12 – Centerfold (Hits of the 80s) August 19 – The Wise Guys Big Band Machine (Big Band & Swing) MOVIES SCHEDULE Friday nights from 8-10PM at Arovista Park Amphitheatre July 10 – Paddington July 17 – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs July 24 – Big Hero 6 July 31 – The Incredibles August 7 – The Mighty Ducks August 14 – Monsters, Inc. cityofbrea.net BUENA PARK – CONCERTS Bring your own seats, buy dinner at a food truck, make time for the kid’s Bubble Fun Zone and then settle down for music! Bunea Park concerts free summer concerts include music at the...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 8, 2015 | Buyers
6 Myths About Credit Scores That Need Debunking The latest Infographic from California Association of REALTORS breaks down 6 myths about credit scores that need some serious light shed on them. If you’re buying a home and trying to secure a mortgage loan, these are the basics you need to understand to ensure your score – and your subsequent loan – is the best it can be. Via First Team Real Estate. Thank you for reading. I hope you found this information useful. Jeff Pittman, Realtor in Ladera Ranch – Orange County,...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 3, 2015 | Sellers
5 Yard Hacks To Kick Up Your Home Appraisal According to home improvement guru Bob Villa, landscaping is a good investment that can add up to 20% of value to your home. Properly maintained landscaping is the key to achieving an excellent first impression. Plus, the size and appearance of your yard plays a role in the overall value of your home when you get it appraised and inspected by professionals during the real estate process. An appraiser will look for and consider landscaping, permanent fixtures like sprinklers and more. Here are five affordable landscaping tips to get your yard ready for an appraisal – and of course potential homebuyers! SIMPLE EDUCATION In order to properly increase your home appraisal, you must first understand what home inspectors look for and learn to think like a home inspector. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) offers over a hundred articles that explain the fundamentals of different home inspection topics. For example, tree roots normally can’t penetrate a foundation, but they can leech water from the soil, causing the structures to settle and sink. There are also many different structural defects in trees that create safety problems. Knowing how an inspector thinks will allow you to preemptively take care of problems before the home appraisal. COLOR AND CHARACTER There are basic DIY projects that homeowners can take on to quickly improve the yard’s visual appeal. For example, dig a flower bed and add colorful plants and flowers. Keep the plant colors in sync with the home’s architecture. Take a picture of your outside area and consult with a local nursery....
