The Orange County Great Park is now offering FREE balloon rides on weekend evenings, in addition to the Thursday through Sunday daytime flights.  They also started providing evening entertainment with dancing on Friday nights, and concerts on Saturday nights.  The lineup includes a wide range of entertainers from surf rock bands to Benny Goodman, to country western.  Check their event calendar here.  I may be there, so if you see me, please say "Hello!"   08/06/2008

I was recently speaking with a young single who is considering buying her first home.  She is filled with excitement, anticipation and fear.  However, in her heart she knows there is an opportunity presently that has not been available in the last few years and does not want to miss the window.  As we are talking I couldn’t help but think, she is me (a few years back) and the market is sooo similar. I was young, moving up in my career (making a whole $35k) single and trying to determine what was the best move financially for me, “Was there any possibility” When I spoke with family and friends, I heard the same thing over and over, "don’t buy the market is going to go down further", "no way could a condo cost $125k in South Orange County". "Don’t you think you should wait until you’re ma... 06/01/2008

Based on the levels of inventory, it looks like we are shifting back toward a seller's market! When the ratio of active listings to sales, or new escrows gets down below 6 months, it has generally been considered a market that favors sellers. This doesn't mean that prices are likely to rise soon, but that it is more likely that a buyer will take action sooner when a well-priced property comes on the market. While there are still many bank-owned homes coming on the market, many seem to be getting more agressive with the pricing right from the start. There are now 38 active REO listings, 53 REOs in escrow, and 25 that have closed in the last 30 days. Assuming an average escrow time of 6 weeks, the 53 properties in escrow, indicate a pace of about 8.5 sales per week. At that rate, the 38 a... 06/01/2008

The activity level in Lake Forest is finally picking up! Right now, we have 114 properties in escrow and 49 that have closed in the last 30 days. Assuming that the 114 is about 6 weeks of activity, the 332 active listings represents an approximate 4 month inventory. Or using the 49 closings, it could be 6.5 months. Either way, it's much better than it has been for quite a while.The troubled properties (short sales and foreclosures) still make up about 58% of the active properties and 68% of the current escrows. Of the 49 closings in the past 30 days, 32 of them were either short sales or foreclosed. The pricing now begins at $135,000 for a bank-owned one bedroom condo, and goes up to $1.8 million for a custom lake front home. There are currently 2 single family houses priced at $399,900... 05/19/2008

  As I show properties to potential home buyers moving to the area, one of the first aspects mentioned is always how clean and well taken care of South Orange County is.  With that in mind, I wanted to share an event that is a great way to give back to the community. Aliso Creek Clean-Up Day – Saturday May 31 from 10:00 am – 12:30 If you have ever walked, jogged or rode your bicycle along the Aliso Creek Trail then plan to spend a couple of hours on Saturday the 31st keeping it beautiful.  You will be provided with all you need, gloves, bags, a volunteer T-shirt, even a beverage and snack, they need you to supply the energy.  If interested meet south of Cherry Park at Cherry Avenue and Fernbarck.  All volunteers must sign a volunteer waiver with the city of Lake Forest. What a great opp... 05/17/2008

  IT IS CARNIVAL TIME AT PORTOLA HILLS ELEMENTARY   TODAY (5/16) 4- 8 PM    GET OUT ENJOY THE SUN, HAVE SOME FUN, ALL WHILE YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL!             THERE WILL BE GAMES, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT AND HEY YOU MAY EVEN RUN INTO A FEW FRIENDS!   Enjoy!   Kelly Turbeville is one of South Orange County premier Realtors® focusing in the Saddleback Valley and the communities of Lake Forest, Portola Hills, Foothill Ranch, Trabuco Canyon, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita.  Whether she’s helping a first time buyer accomplish the goal of homeownership, or coaching a homeowner on how to use their equity to step up into a nice home or use it to buy an investment property or finding exclusive properties for the high end consumer. Kelly is committed to making it happen.  So if you’... 05/16/2008

Buyer activity is definitely heating up in south Orange County, with weekend traffic at Open Houses seeming to be getting stronger each week now. Both purchase offers and pending sales are on the increase, with more homes receiving multiple offers and selling in very few days on market.  In some ways, it's feeling like the "old days" of 2003 - 2006, when inventory was very low and demand very high. The difference now is that while overall inventory is considerably higher than before, the lower-end, detached home market is in a more affordable price range, and many more buyers are coming out of the woodwork, having been patiently waiting for a couple of years to see opportunity-time come their way. It's paying off for many of them with great deals on homes that are in the neighborhood of... 05/05/2008

The City of Lake Forest and the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce are holding a great business seminar that you won’t want to miss on May 2nd from 8:30am – 2:00 pm. Growing In A Shrinking Economy, Secrets to Small Business Success.  The event will be held at the Lake Forest City Hall. Admission is free to this annual event. The keynote speaker is from one of Lake Forest's prestigious business leaders, Scott Betty with Oakley.  There will be breakout sessions with subjects that include finance, marketing and human resources.  There will also be business exhibitor's to provide you with ideas on growing your business . Arrive before 9:00 a.m. and receive a free opportunity ticket for a Nintendo Wii.  Additional tickets will be available for purchase, as well as chances for other great oppor... 04/22/2008

     Current Active Properties: 41 Months of Inventory 4.88 Active Condo Breakdown: 21 Properties Amenities: 2 bed/2 bath/2 Car Average Sq. Footage: 1114 Days on the market: 107 Average Price: $365,433 Average Price Per Sq. Foot: $328 Average Sold Price Per Sq. Foot: $306 Active Attached Single Family Homes: 11 Properties Amenities: 3 bed/3 bath/2 Car Average Sq. Footage: 1729 Days on the market: 102 Average Price: $577,468 Average Price Per Sq. Foot: $339 Average Sold Price Per Sq. Foot: $285 Active Attached Single Family Homes: 9 Properties Amenities: 4 bed/3bath/2 Car Average Sq. Footage: 2526 Days on the market: 37 Average Price: $760,411 Average Price Per Sq. Foot: $301 Average Sold Price Per Sq. Foot: $285   Kelly Turbeville is one of South Orange County premier Realtors® focusin... 04/18/2008

  Portola Hills eNews   New On the Market   Property Details   Price   Comments 28471 Sassetta Way 3bed/3bath/1305 sq.ft $399,900 Investment Potential 19312 Sycamore Glen 2bed/2bath/1150 sq.ft. $469,000   19112 Echo Pass 3bed/3bath/1700 sq.ft. $659,900 Pool 19301 Sleeping Oak 4bed/3bath/3200 sq.ft. $799,000   28732 Harvest View 4bed/5 bath/3100 sq.ft. $799,900   19672 Highridge Way 4bed/4 bath/3033 sq.ft. $999,000   Sold Properties       19664 Orviento Dr. 3 bed/2bath/1205 sq.ft. $350,000   19543 Arezzo St. 3 bed/2bath/1205 sq.ft. $330,000   19082 Canyon Court 2 bed/2.5bath/1162 sq.ft. $375,000   28512 Klondike 3 bed/3bath/1305 sq.ft. $435,000   19582 Dorado Dr. 3 bed/3bath/1891 sq.ft. $520,000 A steal now available for rent 19131 WillowBrook 5 bed/5bath/2780 sq.ft. $725,000 A steal – a... 04/04/2008

If you are considering listing your home, one of the most difficult decisions you will have to make will be how to price it. Proper pricing is the key to getting your home sold and providing you with the greatest profit. The first thing to know is your Realtor® does understand that you want the most profit possible.  Secondly that it is your “home” so there are a lot of emotions tied to it. When it comes down to figuring out how to price it your Realtor® will guide you in determining what is happening in your local market. But determining the price is a team effort. Of course the standard, location, amenities and competition all are very important, but there are some intangible aspects that proper price provide that will get the seller with best results. Intangible Benefits of Proper P... 04/02/2008

Perfect house hunting weather.  The sun is shining, it's a mild 70 degrees out, and all the hills within eyesight are lovely shades of spring green.Good house hunting weather is also good open house weather!  It's time to get out there and find the perfect home before everyone else does.Gotta love spring in Southern California! 03/26/2008

I stumbled across an organization that is doing good work in Orange County and am excited to help. Women Helping Women is an Orange County non-profit that provides services to approximately 2,000 low-income clients each year, helping them attain and sustain employment and reach self-sufficiency.  All services are provided FREE OF CHARGE, including professional business apparel and accessories, computer classes, life skills workshops, and employment support services - resume building, job placement, and mock interview sessions.From March 20th-April 20th in Portola Hills, we will be holding a Clothing Drive to support Women Helping Women! Items needed:Suits, Blazers, Slacks, Skirts, DressesBlouses, Sweaters, Dress ShirtsDress Shoes, Purses, Totes, Scarves, Belts, JewelryBras, Slips, Panty... 03/26/2008

The City of Lake Forest is holding two important events regarding housing in the next couple of weeks that you won’t want to miss. First is the final update on the Opportunities Study and the second is a Housing Element meeting. The Opportunities study.  Monday March 31st @ 7:00 pm @ Portola Hills Elementary School 19422 Saddleback Ranch Road, Lake ForestMonday April 14th @7:00 pm @ El Toro High School, 25255 Toledo Way, Lake Forest   This study was undertaken to take advantage of an opportunity to re-zone nearly 800 acres of vacant land on six properties in Lake Forest.  It's the last opportunity for the city to shape what future development will look like, so the City is taking a proactive role in looking at the features residents have said they want most.2008 Housing Element: March ... 03/24/2008

As I speak with buyer’s, I am often asked “Where are the Deals” and after a long discussion of what they are looking for and what constitutes a deal, I often feel a bit sad as I see they don’t see the deal right in front of them. I am intent on getting this information out there for buyer’s as there are some amazing home buys on the market in South Orange County and this window of opportunity is not going to last forever!Kelly’s Picks for Best Deal In Portola Hills!A perfect Starter or Rental:  Includes 1 bed plus a loft with an attached garage.  Priced at $259,000. Yes, $259k in South Orange County.Great Floorplan: Includes 3 bed/3 bath/2 car garage with wood floors, stainless steal appliances and a perfect sized yard for entertaining.  Priced at $429,900!  / sold comparables are $490k... 03/24/2008

Did you know, there are several organizations that offer Orange County residents Down Payment Assistance for home purchases?  It's true; it just takes a little homework and aligning yourself with a Realtor® and Mortgage Broker who understand the details. With the tightening mortgage guidelines these days and the availability of low down mortgages; some good news is needed and this is great news for those considering purchasing their first home but is also limited on the necessary funds it takes to get into a home.   Now if you have read any of my other articles you know my motto is "It's Possible!" because I want home buyers and sellers to understand their dreams are possible.  I am happy to note two very important programs were released this month to help home buyers.  First, new FHA l... 03/19/2008

I have some good news & bad news about the Lake Forest real estate market.  Today, there are 74 homes in escrow!  That is more than we have seen for quite a while, so there is hope that the "spring market" is actually coming alive!  Hopefully, with the new loan limits, and the Fed pouring money into the market, we will get back to a more normalized market soon.  The bad news is that there are a lot of homes that have been foreclosed, or are in the process of foreclosure, or sellers who are "upside down" with their financing.  The current inventory of 355 homes in the active status compared to the 81 that have closed in the last 90 days, equals a 13+ month level.  Additionally, 53 of those 355 (15%) are currently owned by a lender.  Many others are listed as "short sales" and require the... 03/12/2008

Its spring in Lake Forest and what a beautiful time of year it is in the city with lot's of things happening. So make sure to get out and explore our community.When was the last time you had a picnic in the park? Did you know Lake Forest has 27 public parks and direct access to Whiting Ranch from both Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills which offers acres of trails for hiking and mountain biking and vista's for miles. Or maybe plan to stop in and listen to some wonderful music. The city is hosting a new spring concert along with El Toro High School on May 18 at Pittsford Park.  The event will include performances by the High School String Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and of course the Jazz Band.   On March 15th the Easter Bunny will be hopping in the neighborhood for the annual... 03/09/2008

 Contrary to what many folks believe and what you see in the news media, homes are selling and buyers are back in South Orange County. Evidence of this is apparent at Open Houses, as well as with increased ad calls and "sign calls". Indeed, more sales are showing up on our office Sales Board, which tracks monthly sales activity. But one of the surprising facts that you might only know if you're out there trying to buy is this: Good listings that are well-priced are selling quickly again! In just the past few weeks, some buyer-clients of mine were interested in making offers on not one, but two consecutive bank-owned listings (both in Lake Forest). In both cases, before they could confirm their loan status with their lender and proceed with the offer, the homes SOLD, with multiple offers... 03/01/2008

Portola Hills eNews   New On the Market  Property Details  Price  Comments28351 Pueblo Dr.3 bed/3 bath/1216 sq.ft.$364,900 19046 Singingwood3 bed/3 bath/1600 sq.ft.$489,000Great Investment Potential19485 Dorado Dr.3 bed/3 bath/1900 sq.ft.$629,000 19722 Dorado Dr.4 bed/4 bath/3400 sq.ft.$899,000   Sold Properties   28398 Yosemite Dr.3 bed/3bath/1260 sq.ft$350,000Someone Got a Steal!19722 Torres5 bed/4 bath/3600 sq.ft.$869,000 28712 Malabar4 bed/3 bath/3000 sq.ft.$1,000,000Sold in 6 Days!As you can see there are some great properties available currently. Should you know anyone looking to move to the area, please make sure to contact Kelly to review the best deals on the market?Are you ready to buy an REO? In was speaking with a buyer the other day; something they mentioned stuck with me a... 03/01/2008