by Jeff Pittman | Jun 2, 2015 | Events
Events In Orange County June 2015 Events in Orange County this June 2015 include movie nights, charity events, chili cook-offs and more outdoor fun. Here’s where to start making your summer memories in the OC this coming month: THE OC NIGHT MARKET Friday, June 5th – Sunday June 7th 4PM-12AM (Friday, Sunday), 4-10PM (Sunday) Back for round two, the OC Night Market be at the OC Fair Grounds again in June. The original and largest Asian-themed night market in the country, the night market will feature over 200 food, merchandise, crafts, arts, games, music and entertainment attractions in one fun filled weekend. Event website: ocnightmarket.com NOT YOUR AVERAGE HERO DIVE – IN Friday, June 5th 7PM Bring a blanket to sit on the grass and enjoy Jack Black as Nacho Libre from a spot on the lawn and the kids can watch Big Hero 6 at the indoor pool. Hero in Training Registration is $5 per person and includes: movie admission, indoor pool access, superhero power kit and lots more. Pizza and sandwiches available for purchase from Two Saucy Broads and beers available from Bootleggers Brewery. Event website: fullertoncommunitycenter.com GRAND OPENING OF “REWIND RACERS” AT ADVENTURE CITY Friday, June 5th 10AM-5PM To mark their 20-year anniversary, the beloved family-friendly theme park, Adventure City, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of “Rewind Racers.” At a cost of over 2 million dollars, this coaster is Adventure City’s largest single investment to date. Event website: adventurecity.com ROLLING FOR WISHES WITH MAKE-A-WISH! Friday, June 5th 6PM A casino themed fundraiser filled with fun casino games, cocktails and more, Rolling For Wishes is...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 1, 2015 | Buyers
3 Key Survival Tactics To Get You Through A Real Estate Bidding War The housing market this Spring is getting a competitive edge thanks to hot buyer demand and low inventory across Southern California where average sales prices are above average estimated market values of homes sold in April in our metro area. According to Mark Hughes, chief operating officer here at First Team, “Current market activity belies a seller’s market, a lot of activity, less inventory then those looking. We seemed to have reached close to equilibrium nationwide but the combination of a hot destination and cool metro areas [in Southern California] still skew toward sellers for now.” A First Team Real Estate agent working in Aliso Viejo, puts it frankly, “There’s no inventory, and there are a million buyers looking for property. A home comes on the market and it’s like a revolving door of buyers and agents.” According to Redfin 61% of offers written by their agents faced competition from other buyers in March. So the question is – how does a buyer survive a real estate bidding war? Redfin’s research showed that the most common feature in winning offers was a cover letter. There are plenty more tactics to use as well this summer on the SoCal real estate market and they all boil down to three survival strategies – Be ready, Be flexible and Don’t give up! #1 BE READY KNOW WHEN TO SEE A BIDDING WAR COMING Any city with a market time below one month – the time it would theoretically take to sell all houses in the MLS based on new escrows –...
by Jeff Pittman | May 28, 2015 | Homeowners
7 Design Ideas For The Sunroom Of Your Dreams Summer is nearly here and the best way to welcome it into your home is with a gorgeous sunroom. Here in Southern California it’s been spring and summer weather for the past year so you might as well start taking advantage of it with a room built to enjoy the sun. Sunrooms can provide relaxation, an area to gather the family, or a place for people who have health trouble to enjoy the outdoors without having to deal with the problems that going outside might cause. There are virtually infinite ways to arrange a sunroom to your specific needs. It takes only a few considerations to create one perfect for your tastes. CHOOSING THE ROOM Source: homedit.com Perhaps the most important part of designing your sunroom is selecting the most suitable room in your house for it. Choose a room that will get light exposure at the times you expect to use it most often. BRING THE OUTSIDE IN Source: uniqueshomedesign Bringing plants into your sunroom is a wonderful way to enjoy nature without having to expose yourself to anything that might cause problems for you. You can handpick plants and flowers that won’t affect any allergies or other sensitivities you might have. You can also select plants that will suit your needs as far as care and watering, as well. FURNISHING YOUR SUNROOM Source: jennasuedesign.com When choosing furniture, decide what kind of atmosphere you want. Outdoor furniture such as wicker or wooden deck pieces provides a different aesthetic than traditional indoor furniture does. Whether you want a looser, more casual...
by Jeff Pittman | May 27, 2015 | Homeowners
5 Home Renovations That Rocket Your Home Value If you’re thinking of renovating your home, you might be wondering what upgrades and renovations are really worth it. Some just don’t add anything to the resale value of your home. Real estate experts across the country are in agreement on some points though. Here are five renovations that they agree will rocket your home value. KITCHEN Source: magnoliahomes.net The kitchen is the nerve center of the home. Contemporary appliances and stone or granite countertops are relatively easy changes. The same goes for a new faucet and knobs for the sink and new hardware for cabinets. They make the kitchen brighter and more pleasant. BATHROOMS Source: twothirtyfivedesigns.com New toilets and vanities aren’t particularly expensive or difficult to install. New faucets and knobs are also inexpensive and easy. Bathtub replacement can cost thousands. Think about re-glazing your tub. At a fraction of the cost, you get a shiny surface, with a deep gloss that looks and feels like porcelain. PAINT Source: apartmenttherapy.com Painting the interior or exterior of your home enhances value, particularly if you do it immediately before placing it on the market. A few companies like San Francisco’s Armstrong Installation Service certify each step of the painting process so the added value of the home is prolonged significantly. According to Consumer Reports, even just painting a few rooms can raise your home’s value $1,000 to $3,000. DECK Source: lizmarieblog.com For $1,500 and up, you can add a deck to your home. As opposed to curb appeal, making your back yard more appealing enhances value by giving your home outdoor living appeal with a nearly...
by Jeff Pittman | May 26, 2015 | Homeowners
When Should You Refinance Your Home Loan? Refinancing doesn’t pay off your debt but it can be a great way to restructure it and save money by securing a lower interest rate and a different loan term. As a homeowner, you may have opportunities to save money that you didn’t even realize! There are several things to think about and consider before reaching out to a banker about refinancing so let’s go over the basics now. Knowing when to refinance your home loan could impact your overall costs of refinancing. Here’s how to stalk out the best rate and pounce on the best home loan refinance for you. ABOUT REFINANCING A HOME MORTGAGE LOAN Being able to refinance a loan enables a borrower to replace an existing home loan with new terms. Ideally, the transaction needs to have financial benefits, as well as enough money to satisfy any liens that are attached to your home. A refinanced loan is considered a rated term transaction or a cash out transaction. Rate and term loans are purely used to pay off an existing mortgage balance and a modest amount of closing costs. However, if you intend to consolidate other bills or to receive monetary proceeds, a cash out refinance may be used to replace your existing mortgage loan. THE EQUATION FOR SMART TIMING LOAN REQUEST < 80% OF HOME’S APPRAISED VALUE Lenders will use an appraisal to determine the amount of equity within your home. It is a great time to refinance when your new loan request will represent less than 80 percent of the appraised value of your home. Securing a...
