Orange/Orange Park Acres, California Real Estate Market Report- November 1st, 2009Orange/Orange Park Acres Active Listings= 277Lowest priced listing in Orange/Orange Park Acres = $143,900.00Highest priced listing in Orange/Orange Park Acres = $4,495,000.00Active Listings Property Type: 224 Single Family Residences 53 Condos/Townhouses                                Active Listings Sale Type: 184 Standard Listings 17 REO* Listings 76 Short Pay** Listings                               Active Listings Price Range: 152 priced at or above $500,000.00 125 priced below $500,000.00                               Orange/Orange Park Acres properties in Pending & Back Up Status= 234Pending & Back Up Status Listing Type: 100 Standard Listings 26 REO* Listings 108 Short Pay** Listings                ... 11/03/2009

Checkbook Control The IRA-Owned LLC Join Attorney Brad Barth and Kaaren Hall from uDirect IRA Services, LLC for a free educational seminar to explore the latest tools and techniques to protect your wealth and retirement assets through the use of IRA-LLCs. Date: Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: 333 City Blvd West, Orange, CA 92868 (Building's Main Lobby - Large Conference Room) Due to limited space, RSVP is required. No products will be sold. Register by calling (714) 460-5505 www.udirectira.com 11/01/2009

Not all seniors are old. Nor are they bitter, grumpy or dumb. What's great abou seniors who are genuine life-lovers is their capacity to share of themselves in such a way, one can't help but smile and walk away a better person than before meeting that awesome person!   I've had the pleasure of attending something called the Orange County Roundtable for the last eighteen months. The meetings revolve around seniors' needs and the businesses who service and resolve those needs. People working from in-home care businesses to assisted living providers, real estate consultants, and non-profit organizations, we meet monthly at The Orange Senior Center sharing the same goal: to use our businesses in ways to help seniors and their families throughout Orange County. What strikes most is the care,... 10/27/2009

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.orangecountyshortsalerealtor.com for more info. Your Orange County Short Sale Realtor #01451803 10/14/2009

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