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Laguna Niguel, CA Real Estate News

We have all heard and felt how the real estate market had "tanked". However, there are pockets of Orange County that are showing signs of life and an active market.  For example in Lake Forest there have been multiple offers on banked owned properties. Investors and first time buyers are finding a large inventory of homes priced below $500,000. Some of these offers at times are even coming in above the asking price as buyers are outbidding each other. While Lake Forest specifically only has a 10% foreclosure rate it created a demand for these homes, thus reinforcing that it is a buyers market.   So with this information in mind let us all take a deep breath and continue to move forward in hopes of a better future market and we can all feel back on track again... And thank you for makin...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
 Think Green: Is your Garden California Friendly? Now that the weather is warming up and the days are getting longer, we may find ourselves spending more time in our yards. During these economic times and in the current drought we are experiencing in California it is important to maintain landscapes with an effort to reduce water. Here are a few California Friendly landscape tips that are easily adaptable to any area of the country. 1) Use sustainable plant materials. 2) Have zero runoff 3) Use hardscape materials that allow water to percolate into the ground. 4) Have your sprinklers on timers 5) Have precision sprinkler heads 6) As an alternative to sprinklers, only hand water when needed. Enjoy you time in the garden..... And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Con...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
COSTA MESA Volunteers are currently being sought out for a wetlands restoration and planning event at the Orange Coast River Park and Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservatory.  For more information, please call Emily Beck at 714-393-5976. FOUNTAIN VALLEY The City's Annual Egg Hunt will take place on April 11th from 8-11am at the Fountain Valley Sports and Recreation Center and Sports Park.  For more information, please call 714-839-8611. HUNTINGTON BEACH Nothing to report. IRVINE The Camp James facility in Irvine will hold Open House events next week to show what their day programs for kids offer.  For more information, please call 949-585-0464. LOS ALAMITOS Tuesday at 7pm, orientation meetings for the Mr. and Ms. California events will be held at Montecito Center.  For more information,...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
ALISO VIEJO On April 25th CR&R is offering a free compost giveaway for Aliso Viejo residents from 7-10am at the City of San Clemente Utilities, located at 390 Avenida Pico. COTO DE CAZA & THE CANYONS A Spring Bird Fair and Art Walk will be held today from 9-5pm at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary.  For more information please call 714-649-2760. DANA POINT Tuesday, a planning meeting for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held at the Dana Point Community Center.  For more information, please visit www.danapoint.org LADERA RANCH Nothing to report. LAGUNA BEACH On April 19th, artist and writer Peter Plagens will discuss the Los Angeles art scene in the 1960s beginning at 1pm.  The discussion will be held at the Laguna Art Museum. For more information, please call 949-494-89...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
ANAHEIM On April 18th, the American Red Cross will hold a "Super CPR Saturday" at Angel Stadium.  CPR classes will be held in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.  For more information, please call (714) 481-5351.   BREA Bearfoot Bluegrass, an acoustic band from Anchorage Alaska will be performing today at the Curtis Theatre.  For more information, please visit www.curtistheatre.com   BUENA PARK An AARP driving class called "55 Alive" will be held from 9-11am on April 15 and 22nd at the Buena Park Senior Center. For more information, please call 714-236-3870.   CYPRESS Nothing to report.   FULLERTON Nothing to report.   GARDEN GROVE On April 11th, the city will be hosting an event called Eggs-Cavation at the Atlantis Play Center at the north end of Garden Grove Park.  The event is for chil...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Homes sold in Laguna Niguel in March:                                                                      2009                                           2008   $0-500k                                                          18                                              4 $500k-$1 million                                              25                                             22 $1 million and above                                          6                                             10   TOTAL                                                                                 49                                                             36                                                                                                                            If you know of anyon...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Did you know that approximately every 3 seconds, someone becomes the victim of identity theft? These staggering figures show us  that it is important to take steps to protect our home and finances....but how? The following tips are some ways to help keep you and your finances safe: *Review your credit report on a regular basis and check for suspicious activity. *Do not give out personal information over the phone, such as credit card or social security numbers. *Never give our your pin number to anyone *Install security programs on your computer to prevent hackers.   What steps are you taking to protect yourself?   We'd enjoy hearing your comments!   And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 20...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Pillows are cool.  Especially "accent pillows".  They are colorful and can be all different textures and sizes.  It's almost like jewelry for your beds and sofas and chairs.  They add style and flair.  They can come in all sizes or you can have them specially made.  They can be vintage or brand new. But pillows kinda freak me out.  It's alot of work taking them off the bed every night and them putting them all back on after you make the bed. Why do we create all this extra work for ourselves? Couldn't some daring fashion designer make a new fashion statement desaying 'the sleek look is now hip and it is the in thing...no more accent pillows on top of beds'. Just think of all the time we'd save!! Comments anyone? And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Bes...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
We all wait for spring, and for so many varied reasons...one of which is gardening. By now most have heard that the Obamas are even going to plant an organic vegetable garden.  Records show that there hasn't been a vegetable garden on the White House grounds since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden there after WWII. You don't have to be a foodie or a gourmet to have an herb garden or vegetable garden.  And some may prefer the beauty and aroma of a flower garden rather than herbs or vegetables. Alot of this is really about a celebration of spring and spending more time outdoors for the next few months.  Enjoy! And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 2007 President, Orange County Associ...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
It seems like everyone from an eight year old child, to an 89 year old grandmother has a cell phone these days.   I still find comfort, when I am on the road knowing that in the event of an emergency with my car etc., that a Call Box could feasibly be with in walking distance. Call Box activity is down significantly, primarily due to cell phone availability however, there will be times when the cell battery may be dead or there is no cell service  due to a "dead zone". Knowing the Call Box is still available could make all the difference to you on that day that your car decided to overheat. And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors          ...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Not too long after the last bell of the day rings and the daily activity disappears, schools sit, quiet and empty and could possibly be a potential target for vandalism or theft. Just as so many of our neighborhoods have now employed a "Neighborhood Watch" program, perhaps we need to expand this program to include our local schools. In doing this we can all work together to keep our schools in good shape and a safe environment for the children, ultimately saving us all tax dollars. And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors            (949) 753-7900
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So many of the media numbers focus on Orange County performance, but real estate performance can vary dramatically within our large county, and particularly at various price points. Today's Microscope on the Market focuses on the Laguna Niguel real estate market. Homes Under $500,000 In the under $500,000 market, Laguna Niguel does not vary from any of the cities I focused on in South Orange County with a whopping 63.9% of the active properties in a short sale situation. Couple of things to note - it would appear that there is significant movement with 71 properties in escrow. Sadly, 38 of them are short sales and those can sit in escrow for 60 to 180 days and that can skew the perception of significant movement. Notice only 18 have actually closed escrow in the last 30 days. I want to...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
I'm not a lender, but I know a good deal when I see one... 5 Good Reasons to Refinance Today are: 1) Eliminating Other Debt - If you have significant credit card debt the interest rates are astronomical. It may make sense to refinance and pay off that high priced debt. 2) Moving from an Adjustable Rate Mortgage to a Conventional Fixed Rate Mortgage - who wants to ride the roller coaster of uncertainty with monthly mortgage payments? No surprises with a fixed rate loan and rates are great! 3) Refinance High Interest Mortgage - If you bought your home before rates hit rock bottom, a refinance will save you money with a lower interest rate and lower resulting monthly payment. 4) Refinance to Extend Your Term - If you've paid your existing mortgage over a long period of time, you can refin...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Fear not America...the Tiger is back! And surely he will save the land. Did you know that the stock market has dropped 42% since Tiger Woods took time off from golf for surgery?  And heaven knows the money and the luster that golf lost in Tigers absence. Well the Tiger is back! This weekend he came from behind to rally from 5 shots down and win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot and it was a long putt that did it. Now get to work on the economy Tiger...we sure do need you.  Let's get that 42% back in the stock market and then some! After all this man is bigger than the game of golf.  People watch him even if they don't know the game that well. Only one other pro athlete had that kind of power...Michael Jordan while playing Pro Basketball.  But Tiger has sooooooooo many more yea...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
If you guessed Poppy, you are correct and spring time creates an abundant orange glow from these beautiful flowers. California actually has 1,800 or so acres of reserve for poppy fields and it is a sight to be seen.  Poppies also stream along many of the hillsides adding a sensational orange glow.  The Antelope Valley in particular has some of the largest poppy fields on the west coast. These aren't the hallucinogenic poppies, but I'm sure some of those across this great land think we're all coo-coo in California.  We aren't, but the poppies are "trippy man". Thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI 2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Habit for Humanity, an absolutely wonderful cause will be hosting the following charitable events this Spring:   April 4th            "Doorways to the Future" Gala at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach   April 18th          "Hollywood Casino Night" in Rancho Santa Margarita   May 9th            "Blaze of Glory Poker Run Motorcycle Ride"     To participate, or for more information, please visit  www.habitatoc.org
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
On April 1st, the sales tax in California will rise from 8.25 to 8.75%! The tax increase is the Legislature's way of making up for the $41 billion dollar state budget shortage. That's not all-consumers in cities such as La Habra and Laguna beach will pay even higher taxes due to the city's voters approving a 0.5% city tax increase due to city programs and projects. So if you've been thinking about making a big purchase, think about making it in the next three days, and avoid paying a higher sales tax! How do  you feel about the tax increase? Your comments, as always, are welcome! And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best regards. Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GRI 2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors 
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Perhaps you've seen an abandoned shopping cart not long after driving away from the grocery store. This can happen for a number of reasons, but most often, carts are taken off the store's premises as a method of transporting the groceries home. Many people, unfortunately, fail to realize that not only does the store suffer a loss of money because of the stolen cart, but also that it is a crime! According to California Business and Professions Code 22435.2, "It is unlawful to remove a shopping cart of laundry cart from the premises or parking area of a retail establishment with the intent to temporary or permanently deprive the owner of retailer the possession of the cart." Your comments, as always, are welcome! And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection. Best...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
Door to door soliciting is an ongoing crime prevention issue. I'm not referring to Girl Scout or Boy Scout cookie/popcorn/etc sales, but rather solicitors who roam door-to-door, targeting the trusting residents of Orange County! Solicitors have been known to use aggressive and or deceptive tactics to provide personal credit information and hard-earned money.  Before you decide whether or not to open your door, remember: *Solicitors may go door-to-door simply to see if anyone is home.  They may come back later to burglarize your home or vehicle. *You are not obligated to speak to anyone who comes to your door. It is always okay to forsake manners in the name of personal safety. *There is nothing that door-to-door solicitors can sell you that you can't buy from a reputable business.   Th...
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By Michael A. Caruso
(Surterre Properties)
ALISO VIEJO The City is offering paint pickup for all Aliso Viejo residents. Paint you may have stored around the house can be picked up by CR&R by calling 877-728-0446. COTO DE CAZA & THE CANYONS Tonight at 5:30pm, the annual awards dinner will be held for Modjeska Canyon Volunteer Firefighters.  The event will be held at the Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, with all proceeds benefiting the Modjeska Firefighters Association.  For more information, please email Labar@cox.net DANA POINT Nothing to report. LADERA RANCH The City's Community Services Department is in the process of planning a day filled with egg hunts, carnival games and bounce house fun from 11am-2pm on April 4th. More information to come.. LAGUNA BEACH Nothing to report. LAGUNA HILLS According to the annual report provided by t...
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