Mortgage rates reached new lows yet again this week with the 30-year fixed at 4.42 percent, down from last week's 4.44 percent. The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 81.4 percent of total applications from 78.1 percent the previous week, which is the highest refinance share observed since January 2009, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. Freddie Mac also reported another low for the 15-year fixed rate this week at 3.9 percent, down from 3.92 percent last week. Remember, every 1% change in interest rate is similar to a 10% change in affordability. If you can afford a $500,000 house today at 4.375% ... you would only be able to afford a $450,000 house if interest rates increase to 5.375%. As such, even ifyou think prices may come down a little more before hitting the "b... 08/21/2010

As reported in the Los Angeles Times this morning, professional investors are  turning to foreclosed properties, seeking big profits once the homes are refirbished and "flipped". These foreclosed homes, sold on the steps of the County Courthouses usually draw a small crowd of amateur investors seeking an investment they can buy with savings or maybe an equity line drawn on their primary home.  Increasingly however professional investors, primarily private equity funds and groups of wealthy individuals have appeared on scene squeezing out the individual investor.  These professional investment groups have rushed in, partly because of sparse investment opportunities elsewhere. "In crisis there's opportunity," declared Rick Hudson, president of investment firm Prosperity Group Real Estate ... 08/20/2010

This beautiful 4BR, 3BA home on Skyline Dr. in Serrano Heights was sold in less than 60 days!  Serrano Heights is one of the most desirable communities in Orange, CA.  This picturesque hillside community consists of just 1,171 residential homes tucked into hillside enclaves above Villa Park and just west of Anaheim Hills. This family planned community also features nearly 200 acres of preserved open space and includes parks, mountain trails and more, set among varying properties from budget-friendly attached homes to expansive, luxurious homes with sweeping, unobstructed views. Michael Sebastian and OC Signature Properties are experts in Orange, CA, Villa Park, CA and Serrano Heights.  If you are considering buying or selling real estate in Orange, CA, Villa Park, CA or Serrano Heights,... 08/16/2010

Last month, MacroMarkets assembled a distinguished panel of over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts who are surveyed every month regarding their 5-year expectations for future home prices in the United States. The average results for the next 5 years were as follows: 2010 - down (1.6%) 2011 - up 1.05% 2012 - up 2.55% 2013 - up 3.36% 2014 - up 3.72% The cumulative result is an expection that home prices will be up 9.46% in five years. Nancy Moeller, Broker Associate, CPA Seven Gables Real Estate License #01727426 www.TheOCExperts.com www.OCMarketUpdate.com (blog) Direct: 714 276-7006 Fax: 714 917-2293   08/16/2010

There are currently 27 Foreclosures / Bank owned properties in the city of Orange*You can view them by clicking on the following: Orange Foreclosure Real Estate If you have any questions about a specific Foreclosure, please contact us at: Call or Text: (949) 274-3733Email: Fred@BestOCProperties.comWebsite: www.BestOCProperties.com We also have access to Orange county foreclosures, rentals, short sales, pre foreclosures, bank owned properties, real estate education, property management, great deals, standard sales, reo's, multi unit residential properties, here: Aliso Viejo * Anaheim * Anaheim Hills * Brea * Buena Park * Corona Del Mar * Costa Mesa * Coto De Caza * Cypress * Dana Point * Fountain Valley * Fullerton * Garden Grove * Huntington Beach * Irvine * La Palma * La Habra * Ladera... 07/14/2010

There are currently 27 Foreclosures / Bank owned properties in the city of Orange*You can view them by clicking on the following:  Orange Foreclosure Real Estate If you have any questions about a specific Foreclosure, please contact us at: Call or Text: (949) 274-3733Email: Fred@BestOCProperties.comWebsite: www.BestOCProperties.com We also have access to Orange county foreclosures, rentals, short sales, pre foreclosures, bank owned properties, real estate education, property management, great deals, standard sales, reo's, multi unit residential properties, here: Aliso Viejo * Anaheim * Anaheim Hills * Brea * Buena Park * Corona Del Mar * Costa Mesa * Coto De Caza * Cypress * Dana Point * Fountain Valley * Fullerton * Garden Grove * Huntington Beach * Irvine * La Palma * La Habra * Lader... 07/07/2010

Successful Orange Short Sale!! The sellers owned the home for approx 12 years and did refinance. The seller came to me 7 days prior to their trust deed sale date. (Auction date) They had one mortgage at 748k The value of the home was 425k The bank accepted 360k cash offer We closed escrow on the Orange short sale 7 days from the date I listed the property. This short sale was completed in 7 days. This is an unusual circumstance. The lender paid all the closing costs and the sellers received a full settlement.   Thinking of short selling your home list with an expert. www.remaxann.com for more info. Your Orange County Short Sale Specialist   #01451803 06/17/2010

Vic provides a personal touch in Orange to Kevan & Bethany Plumb, new homeowners. Their home search was long and arduous because sellers would not consider his VA loan.  Look at how happy they are and how much fun they are having in their big new home in Orange.  Sincere dedication to our friendship is what kept the search going through many trials and tribulations!     I was not present for this interview and I did not direct this interview in any way, but I am thrilled to share it with you!  Thanks to Nastassja, my Public Relations Aide for doing such a good job! Who are you thinking of, right now, that deserves the same Personal Touch that Kevan and Bethany were so pleased with? E-mail me at Vic@SteeleGroup.net and tell me about them!   06/14/2010

That's what I asked, do you have a teenager you don't need? I need them and I will train them to be useful to BOTH of us.  I will train them to start their own virtual assistant business in no time at all. Your teenager should spend long hours on the computer, especially on Facebook, YouTube and Google.  Consumption of large amounts of energy drinks is acceptable, though not encouraged. Have I tempted you yet?  I hope so!  Send your teenager to me, virtually or otherwise.  They can contact me via e-mail, Skype, Tokbox or text.  I'm easy to track down! 06/10/2010

Another Active Rain member asked me how to insert video into your blog.  I wrote him an e-mail and realized it should be a blog post, so here is my basic explanation on how to do it.  Why do I say that?  Because I am not a programmer nor an expert in HTML.  I learned how to do it and I am sharing it with you. The first thing you want to do is get used to writing your blogs as a Draft. Where it says Visibility, change it to Draft. That allows you to save your work and not publish it to the web. (It looks like you are publishing it, but you are not.) Type up your blog and click Enter a few times to delineate where you want the video to go inside your blog post. Select Visibility: Draft and click on Post Blog Entry. Remember, that’s just what the button says, it’s actually a “Save” button.... 06/09/2010

Goodbye Internet Explorer.  I've tried all of the different popular browsers including Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome. I've been using Firefox pretty regularly for a couple of weeks now.  Yesterday, I was using IE to access the MLS (because I had to). I finished my MLS search and absent-mindedly clicked over to the other tab because it said Active Rain.  I started checking in with my favorite blog subscriptions.  Hmmm.  The Internet seemed a little slower.  Weird.  After I had picked out the blogs I wanted to comment on, I re-read the first blog and started composing my comment.  It had trouble loading when I clicked on the Comments button, then the keyboard was slow to respond to the text box.  What in the world was going on??? Then I realized I was still using Internet Explorer. I ... 06/08/2010

Santiago Canyon Road Improvements- The Board approved the Santiago Canyon Road Culvert Crossing Replacement Project in concept which will allow for a drainage improvement project along Santiago Canyon Road. The project consists of removal and replacement of an existing 48" corrugated metal pipe and an associated culvert inlet structure that has become blocked with sediment and debris. The project will protect the surrounding properties from debris flows, which are now common as a result of the 2007 Santiago Fire. It will also prevent sediment and debris from overflowing onto the road during storms. The proposed replacement will occur along Santiago Canyon Road, southeast of Hicks Canyon Haul Road. Approval of this project in concept will enable OC Public Works to obtain permits from the... 06/02/2010

It was recently party time in Orange Park Acres CA-- The annual Orange Park Acres "Denim and Diamonds Dinner and Dance" was held and attended by many.  The evening featured a buffet dinner, dancing and a silent auction. The annual Gary Bandy award was presented to Ken and Kathy Bennett for their service and dedication to the Orange Park Acres community. Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell and his wife Mary attended too.  For pictures taken by John Cox, click at the bottom of the page.John Cox, please click here 05/14/2010

Successful Orange Short Sale!! The sellers owned the home for approx 12 years and did refinance. The seller came to me 7 days prior to their trust deed sale date. (Auction date) They had one mortgage at 748k The value of the home was 425k The bank accepted 360k cash offer We closed escrow on the Orange short sale 7 days from the date I listed the property. This short sale was completed in 7 days. This is an unusual circumstance. The lender paid all the closing costs and the sellers received a full settlement.   Thinking of short selling your home list with an expert. www.remaxann.com for more info. Your Orange County Short Sale Specialist   #01451803 05/11/2010

Free Short Sale Help-Orange, CA Short Sale Specialist   Many homeowners today are facing the loss of their home, living paycheck to paycheck after taking a large pay cut, having to pay unexpected medical bills or losing their job entirely.  Many of these homeowners have invested time and money trying to get their lender to modify their loans, and are crushed when they discover that there's nothing the lender can do for them.  With the clock ticking toward FORECLOSURE, the problem is soon compounded.  A foreclosure takes a huge toll on your credit making it much more difficult to gain back your lifestyle, in addition to causing severe emotional distress.   Don't wait until it's too late (like many people do).  FREE SHORT SALE HELP is available.  We are the ORANGE, CA SHORT SALE SPECIALI... 05/04/2010

Biking for Breast Cancer at Chapman University Today at Chapman University, the members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity are hosting their annual philanthropic event, which is the 4th annual Biking for Breast Cancer. This event is to raise money for breast cancer. The Biking for Breast Cancer event will be held at Chapman University today, April 10, 2010. The students will meet at the Argyros Parking lot at 12:00pm today. There will be a guest speaker at the Biking for Breast Cancer event, who is a breast cancer survivor from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The speaker will talk about living with breast cancer, and the importance of detecting it early. Early detection is the cure. The speaker will also speak about  the importance of events such as Biking for Breast Cancer can make ... 04/10/2010

Biking for Breast Cancer at Chapman University Today at Chapman University, the members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity are hosting their annual philanthropic event, which is the 4th annual Biking for Breast Cancer. This event is to raise money for breast cancer. The Biking for Breast Cancer event will be held at Chapman University today, April 10, 2010. The students will meet at the Argyros Parking lot at 12:00pm today. There will be a guest speaker at the Biking for Breast Cancer event, who is a breast cancer survivor from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The speaker will talk about living with breast cancer, and the importance of detecting it early. Early detection is the cure. The speaker will also speak about  the importance of events such as Biking for Breast Cancer can make ... 04/10/2010

Adopt-A-Park at Orange County Regional Parks Community Service Project open to all volunteers Adopt-A-Park this Saturday April 10 from 8-12. Lunch will be provided. Irvine Regional Park In the city of Orange. Learn about Habitat Restoration and Trail Work Sponsored by Peace Centered Education Society - Sign up at the website! English language learning and environmental community serviceAdult literacy center and 'hands-on' learning opportunities for all www.PeaceCenteredEducation.org www.OrangeEnglish.org   04/07/2010

Yorba Linda, CA is an upscale community surrounded by gentle rolling hills in Northern Orange Co. California.The slogan for the city is "the land of gracious living" and indeed it is. Another claim to fame is the Richard M. Nixon birthplace and Presidential Library and Museum, pictured right. When it comes to real estate in Yorba Linda you can find a wide variety of prices. Yet when it comes to upper-end homes Yorba Linda has a larger percentage of upscale homes than most neighboring cities. Although no city that I know of has not been impacted by declining prices with record numbers of foreclosures and short sales, it appears according to data from our local Multiple Listing Service indicates that Yorba Linda has much lower number of distressed sales than many other So Cal cities. Here... 03/26/2010

Orange Cities Escrow is looking for a new assistant to assist me in the daily operations of the residential resale escrow world. We are looking for the right individual as a PART TIME escrow assistant to start with opportunity for growth. MUST have 2 years RESIDENTIAL RESALE ESCROW experience assisting escrow officer in the following areas: · Ordering title / curing title issues. · Auditing files / entering figures into HUD-1 screen · Reviewing loan docs and packaging back to lender · Preparing and ordering all types of demands · Scheduling loan signings Must possess familiarity with Microsoft Office Applications, have self-starter ability. Multi-tasking in a hard-pressed timeline mandatory and must be able to prioritize. Must be detail oriented with a commitment to high standards as ou... 03/18/2010