by Jeff Pittman | Jan 23, 2015 | Weekly Quote
“Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final.” ~ Roger Ward Babson
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 15, 2015 | Buyers
When to buy a home depends primarily on an individual buyer’s timeline. When the down payment is saved, when you get a new job, when that perfect house comes onto the market, etc. However there are times when buyers have other advantages and reasons to get a jump on the market. February is not only the month of Valentines love, it’s a great month to fall in love with a new home. Here are reasons to buy a home in February: 1. You’re out of the holiday fog The holidays are a crazy time. Once everyone’s done with Christmas and the New Year, it’s back to business. That means more homes on the market (more choices for you) and sellers are more realistic and discerning with prices. It’s not uncommon for the New Year to light of fire under some real estate butts and get sellers motivated. In fact, inventory historically spikes up in February because sellers who have been holding out the have a comfortable holiday at home are now ready to get on the market. With the right goals and mindset, nothing can stop you from getting into a perfect home this year. 2. Get a jump on the spring madness Spring is the busiest time in real estate. Buyers and sellers alike want to get their home lives sorted out over the summer so that come fall, their families are settled in. Take a look at the chart below and you’ll see the huge spike in homes for sale and a steady increase in sold properties in June and July. Now take a closer look at the chart...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 15, 2015 | Weekly Quote
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ~ Albert Einstein
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 15, 2015 | The Market
We’re busy preparing for 2015 – analyzing the current market, getting a pulse on buyers and sellers in the market and building marketing strategies. So we decided to ask our agents for their insight on what to expect in our local markets for 2015. We love to share our market knowledge so here you will find Southern California Real Estate Predictions and Trends for 2015: Mortgage rates are likely to rise Home prices should remain stable The market will begin favoring buyers Pricing will be sellers #1 priority Keep a close eye on affordability Mortgage rates There is some debate as to whether mortgage rates will rise or fall this year, however the majority consensus is that rates will go up in 2015. The Federal Reserve has kept mortgage rates artificially low through quantitative easing – its program of monthly purchases of government and mortgage bonds to swell the size of bank reserves in the economy by the quantity of assets purchased. It is likely that as the economy picks up, the Fed will loosen its grip and allow rates to rise in order to offset inflation. Increasing interest rates has been the policy for bringing down inflation in the past and we predict could be a strategy used this year as well. Stable prices The majority of agents predict that there will be little to no change in home prices in 2015. The market is continuing to normalize and we’re expecting an appreciation rate of no more than 7%. Prices usually rise and fall with interest rates, however 2015 could be the exception. Some local areas that are in high...
by Jeff Pittman | Jan 8, 2015 | Events
The holidays may be over but there are still plenty of fun things to do in Orange County. Start the New Year right by getting to know the community through all of the events going on this month. Here are some events in Orange County January 2015. Monster Jam Saturday, January 10th Gates open at 5pm and the show starts at 7pm. Monster trucks are taking over Angel Stadium this year. Watch the fun happen and catch favorites like El Toro Loco®, El Diablo℠ and Grave Digger the Legend®. Event website: monsterjam.com Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Shootout Saturday, January 10th 8pm at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. The two greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands go head to head in a battle of the tribute bands. Check out Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash play six alternating sets of hits before joining together on stage to share an encore. Event website: thecoachhouse.com Irvine International Film Festival January 16th-22nd Bringing the finest films in the world to Irvine, the International Film Festival will be held at the Laguna Hills Cinema in the Laguna Hills Mall. Check out the website to see which films will be presented this year and reserve your ticket now. Event website: irvinefilmfest.com Dine Newport Beach Restaurant Week January 19th – February 1st “Seize the Dish” at this year’s Newport Beach restaurant week kicking off Monday, January 19th. With over 400 restaurants in Newport Beach to choose from, the possibilities are endless for exceptional dining experiences from prime steak to fresh local seafood, from classic American fare to international cuisine, from big breakfasts to divine desserts – the...
