September 2009 Sales in Orange  $500,000-$1,000,000  For just the month of September in the city of Orange, in the price range $500,000-$1,000,000The active inventory is 112 properties, with the average price atAverage List Price /$ per sq. ft.:    ($709,481/2480 sq. ft.) or $286.08 per sq. ft Between the price range of $500,000-$1,000,000 there are 39 properties that went under contract.   There are 15 properties in "Back Up"- Average List Price /$ per sq. ft.: ($709,481/2541 sq. ft) $286.08 per sq. ft.   There are 20 properties in "Pending Sales" (Contingencies Removed) Average List Price /$ per sq. ft.: ($650,100/2436sq/ ft),  $266.87  per sq. ft.   Sold and Closed There are 4 properties that have sold and closed for September Average List Price /$ per sq. ft.: ($661,875/3250 sq/ ft)... 10/13/2009

FACING FORECLOSURE - ORANGE COUNTY SHORT SALE SPECIALIST FACING FORECLOSURE PROBLEMS? FACING DIFFIGULTIES ON PAYING YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT?-Are You In a Default Situation? -Are You Facing Back House Payments? -Do You Need To Sell ASAP? -Do You Have Little Or No Equity In Your Home? -Do You Owe More Than Your Home Is Worth? -Do you have a Notice of Default? -Do You have a sale date ? -Did your modification got denied?We Can Help You Avoid Foreclosure And Bankruptcy!! Things Sometimes Can Go Very Wrong. Losing Your Home To Foreclosure Isn't The Only Option You Have. A "Short Sale" Could Be The Answer. We Can Negotiate With Your Lender To Accept Less Than Your Payoff Amount Owed. This Is Better Than Having A Foreclosure Or Bankruptcy On Your Credit History. My team can help you. www.orangec... 10/12/2009

Buying A House In A Down Market Orange California Tip 4 Negotiate With the Realtor When houses are selling at a slow pace, many real estate agents are also struggling. In such an environment, both agents and firms may be more inclined to knock a percentage point or two off of their commission schedule to get a deal done.But isn't it's the seller's job to pay the real estate agent? Why should you care what the commission is? Commission is important to the buyer because the seller probably listed the home at a high price so he or she could pay the commission to the agent and still walk away with a nice profit. Buyers can get their real estate agents to ask the listing agent to lower his or her commission so that the deal gets done, and both the seller and his or her agent both walk away w... 10/06/2009

CHECKBOOK IRA Using your IRA to buy real estate is becoming more and more popular. Many like the asset protection and convenience of the IRA-Owned LLC. Come learn more at this eductional event. Brad Barth of Barth, Berus & Calderon will discuss the legal aspects of the IRA-Owned LLC which gives its owners "checkbook control" of their IRA funds. Attendance at this free event is limited so please reserve your seat soon. Date: Wednesday October 21st Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm Location: 333 City Blvd West, Orange, CA 92868-2944 Cost: No cost Register: (714) 460-5505 10/05/2009

 Buying A House In A Down Market Orange California Tip 3   Look out for Motivated Sellers Some homeowners may want to sell their homes in a hurry. This gives you additional bargaining power. In a situation like this it makes sense to ask if the seller will throw in the lawn mower, furniture or fixtures that you like. You can also ask the seller to cover closing costs in total or in part. Of course, the listing price is always negotiable as well.Here are a couple of signs that the seller is motivated:  The home may have been on the market for several months and has undergone several price reductions. At the showing the home is empty, which suggests the seller has moved and may be holding two mortgages. It's very difficult to determine exactly how much leverage you have in any given situa... 10/05/2009

Orange and Orange Park Acres Real Estate Market Report-October 1st, 2009 Orange Active Listings= 255Lowest priced listing in Orange= $124,900.00Highest priced listing in Orange= $4,495,000.00Active Listings Property Type: 212 Single Family Residences 42 Condos/Townhouses 1 Mobile Home                           Active Listings Sale Type: 181 Standard Listings 13 REO* Listings 61 Short Pay** Listings                             Active Listings Price Range: 157 priced at or above $500,000.00 98 priced below $500,000.00                             Orange Properties in Pending & Back Up Status= 250Pending & Back Up Status Listing Type: 100 Standard Listings 29 REO* Listings 121 Short Pay** Listings                           Orange Properties Sold From 9/1/09-9/30/09= 81September, 2009 Sales ... 10/02/2009

Orange Ca, First Time Home Buyer Tips- Part 4: All About Sellers                                                                        So you are a First Time Home Buyer looking to buy a home In Orange California. You are a unique individual and your search will vary in most respects from others who are looking to buy. There is always one constant though: you will be buying your home from a seller. Although all sellers vary just like buyers vary, there are 4 main types of seller. Knowing the difference between these sellers can help make your search more productive. First Time Home Buyer Tips- Seller #1- The Short Sale: A seller who has listed their home as a short sale is usually a seller who does not necessarily want to sell but they have no other choice. They have run into hard time... 10/02/2009

 Buying A House In A Down Market Orange California Tip 2 Tip No.2 - Get Prepared, Orginized and Planned. Keep in mind, you are probably not the only bargain hunter looking to steal a good deal out there. You may have an edge on the sellers, but another buyer could snap up your great deal if you delay the buying process or if you try to knock down the seller's too much. To make sure that you're able to pounce on a deal at a moment's notice, it makes sense to get pre-approved for a mortgage and to have an attorney on retainer to handle the closing paperwork, in California it is very common to have Escrow companies to handle this costs and paperwork. (To learn more, see Pre-Qualifies Vs. Pre-Approved - What's The Difference? and The Benefits Of Using A Real Estate Attorney.)It also makes s... 10/02/2009

Orange, Ca First Time Home Buyer Tips: Part 2- How to Choose your Lender                                                                             When it comes to buying your first home, there are many choices you have to make. Making the right choice can mean the difference between a happy first time home buyer and disappointment. Chosing your lender and loan officer is a very important decision you do not want to go wrong on. First Time Home Buyer tip 1: First things first, secure financing. Oh I know talking about finances is no where as much fun as going to look at homes but it needs to be the first thing you do. Sure you can start by choosing your agent as they can be a great resource in finding your lender, but before you start looking at homes you need to know what you qualify... 10/01/2009

Orange, Ca First Time Home Buyer Tips- Part 1: How to Choose your Realtor                                                                                         This will be the first in a series of first time home buyer tips blogs that I hope will be beneficial to all first time home buyers looking for tips on how to prepare for purchasing their first home. Buying your first home is both exciting and trying. Choosing the right agent can mean the difference between your first set of home keys and disappointment. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when searching for the perfect agent for the job. First Time Home Buyer tip 1: Chose an agent who specializes in working with First Time Home Buyers. This might seem like stating the obvious but many buyers do not understand why this is impor... 10/01/2009

Buying A House In A Down Market Orange California When real estate sales are slow, and there is an extensive inventory of homes for sale, buyers have an opportunity to pick up a house on the cheap. The key word here is "opportunity". There are times when you should pounce and times when you should show restraint and avoid the impulse to buy, if you are able to differenciate between this two types of market it will save you thousands of dollars.I'm going to provide you 7 Tips to buy a house in a Down Market. I invite you to join my blog and follow these tips that will empower you to take better and stronger decisions when getting into the house hunting whether you are a sofisticated investor or a first time home buyer, being informed is the key of a successfull investment. Tip No.1 - Do ... 10/01/2009

Q: What is a Short Sale? A: A Short Sale transaction occurs when the lenders are paid a negotiated amount that is less than the actual principal balance owed. Q: Why are the Banks Accepting Short Sales? A: In a foreclosure, the lender incurs legal fees and may not take possession of the home for several months. When the lender takes possession, the condition is unknown, and the home will have to be sold regardless. Q: How are the Selling Costs Paid? A: In a successful Short Sale transaction the selling costs are absorbed by the lender. Q: What is a Mortgage Default? A: A mortgage is considered to be in default when one or more monthly payments have been missed. Q: What Solutions are Available if I am in Default on My Mortgage Payments? A: You may qualify for a broad range of solutions t... 09/30/2009

RE/MAX Moved to New Location, 1835 W. Orangewood Ave., Ste. 101, Orange, CA  92868Knowledge, Experience and Full-Service Amenities Will Be Showcase of RE/MAX Homes & Estates September  21, 2009 - The RE/MAX California & Hawaii Region is proud to announce the moving to a new location of RE/MAX Homes & Estates in Orange, CA.  Broker/Owner Al Villegas has been an Associate with the RE/MAX network for 12 years. RE/MAX Homes & Estates services North, Central & South Orange Counties. Along with residential real estate professionals, RE/MAX Homes & Estates specializes in income properties, Short Sales, REO properties and the luxury home market. RE/MAX Homes & Estates Broker/Owner, Al Villegas, says, "There are many opportunities that exist in today's market, especially for first time homebuyer... 09/29/2009

Orange, Ca First Time Home Buyer-Part 3: Do & Don't                                                                                                         So you are a First Time Home Buyer looking to buy a new home or condo in Orange. You have chosen a great Realtor and are working with a wonderful loan officer who has pre approved you for your loan. Here comes the fun part. It is time to start searching for your home. Before you get started take a look at this list of First Time Buyer Do and Don't because the last thing you want is to run into problems now especially if they can be avoided. First Time  Home Buyer Do 1: Continue to Save Money. During the time you are searching for homes and even when you have already found your home, saving money is always a smart thing to do. Even if... 09/29/2009

Orange, Ca First Time Home Buyer: Part 2- How to Choose your lender                                                                             When it comes to buying your first home, there are many choices you have to make. Making the right choice can mean the difference between a happy first time home buyer and disappointment. Chosing your lender and loan officer is a very important decision you do not want to go wrong on. First Time Home Buyertip 1: First things first, secure financing. Oh I know talking about finances is no where as much fun as going to look at homes but it needs to be the first thing you do. Sure you can start by choosing your agent as they can be a great resource in finding your lender, but before you start looking at homes you need to know what you qualify for. ... 09/28/2009

Orange Ca, First Time Home Buyer- Part 1: How to Choose your Real Estate Agent                                                                                         This will be the first in a series of first time home buyer blogs that I hope will be beneficial to all first time home buyers looking for pointers on how to prepare for purchasing their first home. Buying your first home is both exciting and trying. Choosing the right agent can mean the difference between your first set of home keys and disappointment. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when searching for the perfect agent for the job. First Time Home Buyer tip 1: Chose an agent who specializes in working with First Time Buyers. This might seem like stating the obvious but many buyers do not understand why this is import... 09/26/2009

Lately I have had several people mention they are considering investing in real estate here in Orange County, CA.  People want to live in Orange County, that is an undeniable fact, however investing in our Wild Wild West housing market is not for the feint of heart.  Getting a "deal" has increasingly become a challenge due to huge demand for homes/condos priced under $600,000.  Cash is king, so if you can swing an all cash offer, you are golden.  Banks will often take a low cash offer that can close quickly for their REO over a financed market value offer.  There are a lot of people in OC purchasing all cash, so your offer may still be one of many.  Condos in good areas can be had in the low to mid 100K's  and single family homes start in the mid 300K's.  If you will be financing your i... 09/25/2009

Orange, Ca Behind on The Mortgage? Please Don't Give Up!                                                                                     The last thing you want to do as a homeowner in trouble is give up hope, but unfortunately with all the pressure that arises out of these situations, it is often easiest to put out the white flag and surrender. As part of my effort to help 100 families this year avoid foreclosure, I must reach out to people that I do not know. This is the part of my job that I find the hardest. I call local homeowners and offer my help. It is a painful process as I encounter a lot of resistance and an occasional frustrated homeowner who would rather take out their frustration on me then face their fear.   I understand. I do. I want to tell them I am here to help an... 09/23/2009

The REAL Tweeps of Orange County! Despite our undeserved reputation induced by staged "reality" shows, Orange County is chock full of REAL people who freely give of their time, money, and knowledge.  In the last few weeks I have had the privilege of getting to know some awesome Orange County Social Media Rock-stars.  They may not be gifted musicians, but they are gifted with words and community.  Just Spotted, an Orange County website, hosted the OC Blog Awards at Wowzville in August.  Much to my surprise, I was privileged to be nominated for a Micro-Blogging award (Twitter).  The place was packed with OC locals blogging about everything from crafting (@thisiscarrie), fashion (@boutiquing), food (@fastfoodmaven) and everything in between.  There were wonderful goodies donated by Dippen'... 09/23/2009

Orange, Ca Free Loan Modification Help part 3 (last of the serious)....                                                                   Free Loan Modification Helpstep 11: Once you have confirmed the lender has received your package follow up consistently. You want to call the loss mitigation department at least once a week to check on your progress. Once you get assigned a loss mitigation negotiator try to get this persons contact information such as their email address, direct fax, and direct line. You want to make nice with this person because you don't want your case to be put at the bottom of the stack. You also want to be persistent. Follow up is key to success. Remember the people at the bank who are working on your file have at least 100 other files to work on. The files that ... 09/11/2009