On Saturday March 29th I had an appointment to view on of the REDC's Auction properties in Fullerton, with on of my new clients. I had already registered myself and The Smiths, for the auction that would be taking place the following weekend. This would be my first experience with this Auction Company so  I read all of the  rules, regulations and disclosures made by The Real Estate Disposition Corporation very carefully.Basically it appears that they are responsible for nothing and yet they are charging the buyer a 5% Premium for purchasing a home and they are paying a licensed Realtor such as myself a 1% commission to assist the buyer through the auction, explain the buying process and potentially  "take the fall" if the home is a lemon. I do not mind accepting a referral fee of 1% for... 04/01/2008

In the past three weeks, since, daylight saving time began, homes in North Orange County  have been selling like crazy! I am currently working with three sets of qualified homes buyers. Two of the couples are hoping to reach  their goal of being a first time home buyer! When I began previewing property for them I thought to myself. no problem in assisting these two couples, they are pre-approved for a loan and they are realistic about the current market condition and there appeared to be several homes for sale in the $350,000 to $375,000 price range. In each appointment the situation was the same. We would view properties under $400,000. My buyers would fall in love  with a home, decide to make an offer, a little lower than the list price , since after all, it was a buyers market! We wo... 03/31/2008

I have been really watching the single family homes in Fullerton and Brea in the 400k range and guess what?  They are moving!There are a number of reps in my office that have first time home buyers and the homes are getting multiple offers on them before they can even show their buyers.  Some have been on the market for a very long time and some for just a few days.  They are having to act quick!  I am not sure if the spring weather is bringing out the buyers temporarily or if they are here to stay.  All I know is that if you are thinking of making an offer, you really need to put your best foot forward if you are in the 300k to 400k range or you may get beat out!  If you are waiting for the market to "tank", you may want to start taking a look!So far, the higher priced properties and t... 03/28/2008

Stunning Home; Beautiful AmenitiesLocation: Fullerton , CAStunning home in Troy High and Acacia Elementary school districts. Features include bonus room, hardwood floors, gas/wood fireplace, custom molding, double pane windows, newer front door, and neutral paint throughout.FeaturesBedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Parking: 2Year Built: 1956Lot Size: 8400Garage Size: 2School District: Fullerton Joint UnionSquare Footage: 1628Agent Name: Adam BrettBroker: Re/Max NOCMLS #: P628282InformationContact Information PricingAsking Price: $549,000Flexibility: NegotiableProperty Location801 N. Acacia Ave.Fullerton , CA 92831AttributesInterior AmenitiesFireplaceHardwood FloorsExterior AmenitiesGrass LawnPowered by vFlyer.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITYVFLYER ID: 1583983 03/26/2008

Huge Backyard Makes Home A StandoutLocation: Fullerton, CARelocation forces the sale of this well kept home complete with updated kitchen, huge backyard, newer roof, light - bright - airy, with a beautifully maintained park just across the street. One of the lowest priced homes in the area. InformationContact Information PricingAsking Price: $399,000Flexibility: NegotiableProperty Location724 Gilbert St. Fullerton, CA 92833FeaturesBedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Parking: 2Year Built: 1954Lot Size: 8520School District: Fullerton Joint UnionSquare Footage: 1156Agent Name: Adam Brett FreilichBroker: RE/MAX NOCMLS #: P628299AttributesAppliancesDishwasherExterior AmenitiesPatioFenced YardGrass LawnTool ShedPowered by vFlyer.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITYVFLYER ID: 1583968Photo GalleryPowered by vFlyer... 03/26/2008

I recently realized a Bank Owned Home in Fullerton, that I was in escrow on was still being accessed by the previous owners!  My buyers could not believe what great condition the home was left in when they initially viewed the home.  Their greatest concern about purchasing the property was the fear that "The Seller, Previous Homeowner" would have some recourse or want to come back and try and get their home back when they were in a better financial position.I assured my buyers that they should not worry. This home was already Owned by The Bank. The proper procedures were followed during the foreclosure process and the previous homeowners have giving up their rights. I also encouraged my buyers by mentioning how wonderfully clean and neat the previous owners left the home. There was no s... 03/26/2008

Here are the numbers and you can decide for yourself. These numbers cover these staistics from last year through this March.  As you can see this does not paint a pretty picture of the economy.  While some sectors are strong - the one we work and live in is being impacted greatly.Be sure to make sound investments.  03/17/2008

Looking for some tasty corned beef and cabbage and a pint of green beer? Try some of Downtown Fullerton's Most Popular places to be Irish!   I have spent many an St Patty's afternoons at Branangan's enjoying a wonderful lunch.  Branagan's Irish Pub 213 N. Harbor Bivd Fullerton, Ca 92831 714.447.3544 Comments@Branagans.com  Heroes Bar & Grill125 West Santa Fe AvenueFullerton, CA 92831Phone 714-738-4365 Heroes Bar and Grill is  my favorite place to spend St. Patty's Day Evening! Drink responsibly and get a cab if you must. Lot's of great beers on tap and a wonderful group of people of all ages! 03/17/2008

If you live in Fullerton, CA chances are that you have heard of Puddleducks!  I stumbled upon this unique boutique a few years back when shopping at my local grocery store.  I was hooked!I am a girl that will avoid the mall if at all possible but love unique things and great gift ideas!  What could be more convenient that being located right next to my neighborhood grocery store that I visit a few times a week!This lovely store is comprised of multiple little stores.  Basically it is full of vendors, artists and crafters that all have their own unique style and product.  Put them all under one roof and you have a wonderful store that has something different every-time you walk in!Though all the vendors are different, the store is very cohesive and following is a short list of the sort o... 03/13/2008

Congratulations are due to all the participants in the Fullerton School District's 2008 Spelling Bee. Held Wednesday, January 30th, in Fullerton's City Council Chamber, the competition included students in grades 4 through 8 and was televised on basic cable.  Each participant underwent a grueling qualifying process, winning at the class and then school level before advancing to the district competition.  Depending on the grade level, the number of rounds in the bee varied from 5 to 13. The winning students were from Commonwealth, Hermosa, Fisler and Parks schools, and the winner from each grade level received a trophy. All students received a certificate of participation and a spelling bee pin. Winners from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade also went on to compete in the county competition, held ... 03/12/2008

H.O.P.E.Housing Options, Programs & EducationPresentsHow To Avoid ForeclosureA Free Workshop For HomeownersWhat We Will CoverYour equity and the current market value of your home The importance of communicating with your lenderWhy your lender wants you to keep your homeSteps you can take to keep your homeAlternatives to ForeclosureDate: Saturday March 29thTime: 1O:30  A.M  to  11:30 P.MLocation: 1441 N. Brea BlvdFullerton, CA 92835Contact Tina at (714) 403-7901 or TinaMarajShah@aol.com to reserve your seator return this form by mail to:Tina Maraj Shah, 1441 Brea Blvd. Fullerton Ca. 92835In Home  Confidential appointments are available!                                                               Name: _____________________Address: __________________City, State, Zip: _______________Phon... 03/12/2008

I just spoke with a first time home buyer that was eager to view homes with me today. She had contacted me via the Internet and she request that I show her several homes ASAP. She needed to be out of her current home by April 1st and she wanted to close on a home by then. She is pre-approved for a loan and is ready to go! I thought to myself...I am going to sell a house this weekend! Then I asked her...if she had viewed any other homes yet...she responded no...we continued our conversation. Later in the conversation I found that she did have an agent. She was recommended to him by a friend. She told him she wanted and need to make a purchase immediately and that she wanted to look this weekend. Her agent  told her she had to wait! He told her that he needed to go get the key to the hous... 03/08/2008

Attention first time home buyers. Have you heard story tales of the "good old  days"  when your parents or friends purchased a home obtaining an  FHA home loan?  A buyer with only 3% down paymentand higher than usual debt to income ratio's could own their first home! The benefits of the 97% loan to value and the option for the sellers to pay your closing costs made it easy for any first time home buyer with good credit to purchase a home in Orange County. The only problem was the FHA loan limits would not cover the rising home prices.Well the the good old days are back and the FHA loan limits have been raised!The New FHA Home Loan Limit for Orange County is now $729,750!!!If you are a First Time Home Buyer and would like to take advantage of this new improved  loan program call an agent... 03/06/2008

The Muckenthaler Cultural Center begins its "2nds at the Muck" program this Sunday, March 9th. The "2nds" program runs through October 2008 and occurs the second Sunday of each month. Held in the Muck's 250-seat amphitheatre, each concert presents musical and cultural performances from a range of styles and eras. This Sunday's concert is a musical review by the Fullerton Civic Light Opera, and upcoming events will feature performances by the Culture Shock Dance Company, Linda Gentile, "America's Piano Princess", and Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys. Each concert promises a unique cultural experience and showcases local and international talent. Tickets prices and further information are available at http://www.themuck.org/. Adam BrettRE/MAX NOCFullerton,CA 714-496-8116800-977-ADAMwww.Rea... 03/05/2008

Top 10 Foreclosure Avoidance Tips   1. Don’t ignore the problem. The further behind you become, the harder it will be to reinstate your loan and the more likely that you will lose your home. If you are behind on your mortgage payments or have received notice that you are behind in payments, you need to contact your lender quickly and ask to speak with a loss mitigator. Typically, your lender will mail you a “loan workout” package. This package contains information, forms and instructions. If you want to be considered for assistance you must complete the forms fully and truthfully and return them to your lender quickly. Your lender will review the complete package before talking about a solution with you.2. A smart simultaneous step is to contact a HUD-approved local nonprofit counseling... 03/05/2008

PRICE, PRICE, PRICE!  GET IT RIGHT OR WAIT… Some sellers desire to test the market.  Perhaps their motivation for selling is not the greatest or they simply have some time before their drop dead move date.  At any rate, price is generating a lot of buzz.  The Wall Street Journal had a great article, “PRICE FIXING: IN THIS MARKET, SELLING A HOME REQUIRES SAVVY.”  The article points out three distinct philosophies of price.  “Round numbers signal prestige, while precise numbers suggest a bargain.  Buyers anchor off the first digit, so $3,999 seems cheaper than $4,000.”  Finally, “if you cut your asking price, make it easy to calculate the discount.” 03/05/2008

WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS… The total number of sales for January (the latest month available) is 1,286 and that is a 46% decline over January 2007.  There were 806 resale houses, 327 condos sold and 153 new homes.  Orange County had 4,276 Notices of Default (not foreclosures) for the fourth quarter of 2007, compared with 1,983 for the same time period 2006.  That is a 115.6% upswing.  Actual foreclosures have been running about 1 in 4 of total defaults.  Inland Empire and Los Angeles fared far worse with Defaults over 17,000 for each county respectively. 03/05/2008

HOME AFFORDABILITY NUDGES UP IN ORANGE COUNTY… This was the OC Register headline on February 24th.  Hopefully by the time you read this it will have nudged up even more.  What makes for a real estate market recovery is pent up demand, and that is reliant on several factors aligning; incomes rising (3.5% the last 2 years and projected about the same for this year), prices coming down (check), and interest rates (stimulus package anyone?)  The California Association of Realtors reported that 28% of Orange County residents can afford a started home as of fourth quarter 2007.  That’s up from the all time low of 13% we saw in 2006. 03/05/2008

The news varied from a positive “negative headline” such as “O.C. homebuilder’s woes may reach bottom in ‘08” (OC Register, Lansner), to a downright positive headline such as “Ignore the Headlines! Except this one.  Sure housing’s in a hole.  But there’s a potent case for buying now, whether it’s real estate or stocks.” (Time Magazine, Keadlec).  What is the reason for the sudden optimism within the broader pessimism?  The answer to that question is a multitude of factors that this newsletter has been drumming into you for the past few months; factors such as low interest rates, selection, seller concessions, lack of competition and ultimately, more bang for your buck.  Both of the articles mentioned above really hinge on mortgage rates as key.  Jeff Meyers, the founder of the Meyers B... 03/04/2008

Old Spaghetti Factory Restaurant   Located at 109 W. Truslow Avenue Originally: Union Pacific DepotLocation: 109 W. Truslow Avenue (110 E. Santa Fe Avenue)1923: Mission Revival The Fullerton Union Pacific Railroad Depot was originally constructed at 109 W. Truslow Avenue on the opposite side of Harbor Boulevard from its current location. The Union Pacific Railroad was the third to lay tracks through Fullerton and to build a depot, which firmly established the city as the regional rail center for northern Orange County. In addition to being prototypical of the depots for the Union Pacific Railroad from the early 1920s, the structure represents one of the six important examples of the Mission Revival style in Fullerton. The structure was composed of two sections - one for passengers and a... 03/01/2008