Everyone always asks me this question. This is because before a home is listed for sale, it typically needs some “freshening up,” perhaps some new paint or carpet. On the flip side, once a home is sold, the new owners are typically looking to do some remodeling on their new home. As a result of this, I am always on the look out for the best, most reasonably priced, and dependable sub-contractors and trades people that work in the area. This list is a result of that search.
1.) General handyman - Jerry McFadden is my main “go to” man… 949-768-5335
Search activity for homes in Orange County increased by 58.9% over this time last year, according to a report by Realtor.com.
Sure, more people on the Web are hunting for homes in O.C. more than before, but how does it stack up to the nation’s other real estate markets?
Though 58.9% seems like a nice improvement, the Las Vegas housing market enjoyed a 140.4% increase in online search activity.
O.C. falls far behind in 113th place; L.A. takes 89th place with a 68.3% increase in searches over last year. So people are looking but that has not turned into widespread buying yet. Currently there are 379 homes for sale in Laguna Woods Village and sales are down 22% from the sales in the same month as last year!
O.C. housing is 6th least affordable in U.S.
While some folks cheer recently rising home prices, there is a price to pay: Orange County is a very challenging place to pay for a home!
O.C. was the 6th “least affordable” housing market in the nation in the second quarter. That’s according to economists at the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Bank. This group measures local real estate and economic conditions to arrive at a measure showing what percent of new and existing homes recently sold were so-called “affordable” to a representative household income in that town.
BUT LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE IS AFFORDABLE! We are the one ray of hope in a sea of expensive homes… We are ranked in the top 10% in the nation for affordability with an average sales price of $210,000. This figure is down 19% from the same month last year.
If you would like more information about Laguna Woods Village, check out my web site: www.leisureworldre.com or Call or email me today to find out more about how you can get in on “ground floor” in Laguna Woods Village. Prices can go nowhere else but up from here~!
If you are a Chicago first time home buyer you need mortgage advice that will save you money. Visit AandNMortgage.com or Call 773-305-LOAN for a free quotation without obligation on a Chicago 1st time home buyer mortgage or mortgage refinance. That’s AandNMortgage.com - 773-305-5626
Here’s a mortgage tip: You should consider the frequency of your regular mortgage payments because this can have a direct bearing on the overall cost of your mortgage. Over the long term making bi-weekly or even weekly payments can save thousands of dollars in interest. Every little bit extra you pay against the principal will reduce the interest you pay. If you use a bi-weekly plan, for example, by the end of the first year you will have actually made 13 payments and the 13th will essentially be put against principal.
Many areas outside of our major cities do not have a municipal sewer system, and instead rely on individual septic systems to drain and treat their waste water. If you’ve lived in a home with a septic tank for any length of time you’re aware that proper maintenance of your septic system is important if you want to avoid some serious problems. If you have already had problems with your drainage system and you are in the Atlanta area you’ll want to call an experienced Atlanta plumbing repair service.
Yes, prices have fallen wherever you go in Southern California. And Condos have taken an even more significant hit. This includes the Senior Community of Laguna Woods Village, formerly Leisure World, prices have fallen even more!
This is because the death of the “Greatest Generation” (those people 75 + in age) and the transition to the next major generation, the “Baby Boomers”! The Greatest Generation is dying off and the Baby Boomer generation has yet to keep up with supply and demand… We are predicting that with the “Graying of the Baby Boomers” and their retirement, over the next 14 years, prices in the village will double over the next 7 years. That would be the mid-point of this retirement boom. To do the math, we are talking about 2015 prices will DOUBLE in Laguna Woods Village, one the largest alive retirement communities in Southern California!
So if you are thinking of retiring, Laguna Woods Village is a great place to retire to: 7 clubhouses, 5 swimming pools, 27 hole championship golf (only $8 a round for residents!) – It is a gate guarded community with patrol, there is FREE bus service for all residents, and over 200 clubs to join! Laguna Woods Village is truly a retirement resort community… Check out my web site for more information about Laguna Woods Village, formerly known as Leisure World: www.leisureworldre.com
Conveyancing is a very technical job and it demands specialized assistance and capability. The function of conveyancing is in action when the transfer of property is in process from one person to the other. The complex and delicate rules and regulations are very essential to keep in view during the entire procedure. This is the reason conveyancing certainly needs the assistance of a solicitor.
If you have sold or purchased any property in form of residence or just clear land, you surely have met a conveyancing lawyer. The services of lawyer are needed to make the transfer effectively without any hitches in documents.
No Doubt, hiring services of a conveyancing lawyer is a costly matter but still the benefits you will get with this hiring are worthwhile. You can enquire the people who have not hired the attorney for their transfer documents; you will definitely meet a great number of people who are just kicking themselves for not hiring the services of lawyer at the time of transfer.
After getting trapped into the procedure they are now turning in the direction of the attorney considering them the last resort to make them get out of that thorny routine quicksand. As the development involves so much documentation and paper work, it is always wise to stick to a solicitor.
When you will attempt to accomplish it on your own you might finish up spending more money to meet the obligations than to pay to appoint an attorney. The time that this process consumes is enormous and sometimes become irritating as you are not aware of the exact course to handle the matter.
You will have to target the hit and try rule, if you are not utterly conscious of the method. While the solicitors are particular in managing such matters and they are there to support you so it is better to find a solicitor to do the job for you. This will not only save you a lot of money but will also protect you from the irritable practice of managing all the intricate course of transferring of deeds.
The conveyancing solicitors will recommend you the accurate suggestion in accordance with the situation of you case. He can prepare or suggest you the proper and error free paper work to meet the formalities and requirements. He will also check the government records about the property if it is clear of all the possible issues which is always a must know fact before buying any property. This will also make you able to assess the accurate value of the property.
In my view hiring a conveyancing attorney is always helpful. They assist you a lot. You do not have to be present at all the times during the transfer progression. They can represent you in your absence. Just few visits to your attorney are you are required to do and you are through all the complex procedure transferring. So think twice before trying to do it on your own.
I have stumbled across a new product, REO Goldminer, that is a game changer for all the entrepreneurial real estate investors out there. If you have spent any time trying to find REOs you realize how challenging it can be to find quality deals or quality information. The brick wall that most investors are faced with when searching for REOs often causes them to resort to alternative marketing efforts. Have you ever had to post Bandit Signs, send out thousands of postcards or direct mail pieces or run classified ads in your local, barely read newspaper? And even worse, numerous real estate investors try calling those that are on the edge of losing their home, looking to come up with a win-win solution for everybody. It isn’t usually received that way though unfortunately.
Assuming you could create a perfect real estate investing solution, you would most likely imagine a solution that brings the best deals to your computer with virtually no effort, and little cost. Even better, we wouldn’t have any of that wasteful marketing effort that have been your only solution until now. An investing utopia similar to this would allow you to recover your time, save your money, and prevent stress. It appears that this system has been built and made available in REO Goldminer.
REO Goldminer has been out in a beta version up to this point and hasn’t really officially had a launch to bring it to the masses. Seemingly, in mid-May that is going to change. As I understand it, if they reach a certain number of clients they will be closing the doors until existing clients leave, which seems unlikely. Waiting for someone to leave before you get in sort of deal. The big question is what do the creators claim this REO Goldminer system will do.
Here are a few of the big hitters that REO Goldminer claims it will supply. It allows you to search for REOs in each and every state. It can also drill down to the city level. The software lets users choose what discounts they are interested in. Searching price by minimum and maximum. The output of the REO Goldminer will give investors, agent contact info, address, city, zip code, list price, etc. REO Goldminer can give an overall value estimation to investors also. The software positions investors to make 2-25 offers/day, when you are ready. The creators have been building systems related to this service for awhile and this appears to be their crowning achievement.
Right now we are working on getting a word with the people behind REO Goldminer that we will be able to bring to you via our review blog located at REOGoldminerReview.com. Come visit us and see what additional review information we can share.
Really though, if this program provides what it says it does, then strong consideration must be given to this solution versus your existing business model. One deal means thousands and luckily most investors don’t even know about this yet!
About the Author:
Steve Harwood has been a real estate investor for the past 18 years. Visit his website REO Goldminer Review to get more product information on REO Goldminer that will help you free up your time, save money, and eliminate stress…starting right now.
According to research data released by Data Quick (March 28, 2009) “Single-family homes sell for 40% less than their peak price (June 2007) while condos sell 45% below their peak in March 2006
Have you put in offers on bank owned foreclosures or short sales with other agents and NEVER GET THE PROPERTY? I will teach you how to buy foreclosures, and furthermore, we will be successful in purchasing a foreclosure you can use for investment purposes…
Now is the New Low
Yes, you heard me right. Prices are at their lowest they will ever be RIGHT NOW! How do I know this you ask? Banks are not countering offers anymore – they are already at their lowest price. Sometimes, they will ask us in one day to give them our “highest and best” offer. This means that all of the offers are fairly close in price. In this circumstance, I would suggest upping our offer by $3 – 5 k more than the comps in order to get the property. Let’s not quibble on the price of a piece of property you are getting for let’s say $175,000 WHICH WAS WORTH $340,000 just 3 years ago! Yes, 45% less than just 3 years ago.
Yes, I have seen that it is common to have multiple offers on many Foreclosures, especially the lower priced ones, typically under $250,000. Most of these properties are selling above the “listed” or asking price. This is how I know we are at the bottom or close to the bottom of the market.
Receive a 10% Return on your Money – Better than the stock market!
If you have money, now is the time to invest in real estate – You can’t get this return in the stock market! Of course many “other” buyers are still waiting for the market to hit “bottom” and this is why it is important to BUY NOW! As humans, most people follow a “herd” mentality – they see people all rushing out and buying homes, then THEY WANT A HOME! Do what the really wealthy people do. When nobody is buying homes THAT IS WHEN THEY BUY HOMES! Why? Less competition AND LOWER PRICES for better property!
If you would like a custom report of Foreclosed homes in South Orange County, visit my web site at: www.leisureworldre.com
According to the real estate expert, Jeff Kaler, there are 3 types of loss mitigators.
The first one is the All Business Mitigator. An all business mitigator is completely matter-of-fact. They don’t need the drama and are productivity driven. Most will have high experience qualifications. It will be tough to develop small talk and they are driven by deadlines. Use this to your advantage by setting an appointment for follow up. It will be easy to validate your points as long as you have the ability to back them with factual information.
The next one is the Talker. Basically, they got the position in Loss Mitigation because they liked to be on the phone all day. They like to talk about things that are going right, things that are going wrong, anything they can possibly flap their lips about.
Lastly, we have The Mushroom Mitigator. They kind of sit in the corner, they take these calls; they’re usually brand-spanking new, so you must ask some open-ended questions to basically draw them out of their shell. “All Business” and “The Talker” questions are going to apply with these folks, but your goal is to determine their level of experience.
Learn to deal with the different types of mitigator personalities. Here are some tips.
To deal with the All Business Mitigator, always be listening for critical information that is not being directly communicated. Most mitigators have a sublevel of communication. They want to get the deal done; they want the same thing that you want. The reason that a lot of investors don’t get what they want is because the investor is just difficult to deal with.
As for the Talker, ask them fun questions. Where you do vacation? Just build a rapport with them. “Hey, how does this work with files? I’ve always wondered what it was like. Do you really get bonuses off these deals and what’s it look like? I wish I could make more than what I’m making on these deals as I help my boss with them, but you know I’m kind of stuck where I’m at.” Become their friend, and then pump them for information. What’s their opinion about third party bidders? Get as much information on the file as you can. What’s the lowest loan-to-value they’ve ever seen approved? Talk openly to them.
When you are talking to Mushrooms, always find out how they want to communicate. That’s one of those things that you start with, so ask it to them and frame it in that conversation. “How would you like to communicate with me on this deal?” There should be no open-ended conversations. You let them know when you’re going to get back to them and you put it on the outside of the folder. Make notations in the file because if you don’t, there is going to be some flip-floppy back and forth, nothing will ever happen. You’ll never get to where you want to get in the short sale business or business in general unless you give deadlines. Constant deadlines for everything are what this crazy business is all about.
When speaking to any of these type personalities be aware of how you are coming across. Be direct and sound confident.
Get more expert advice from 7 Secrets To Foreclosure, Pre-Foreclosure, And Short Sale Investing by Jeff Kaller.
About the Author:
An expert in foreclosure, Jeff Kaller has over 10,000 dedicated students who have made money in short sales. To learn how you can make money in a declining economy, in as little as 9 days, visit Jeff Kaller’s site and become his protege!
Before you jump into real estate investing, it’s important to set up your real estate foundation development. This means studying the real estate market in your area and finding people you will need to work with (real estate agents, mortgage brokers, loan officers, repairmen, and so on). Set a firm foundation so when you see a great real estate opportunity, you can jump on it right away. These following seven steps can get you started on your real estate investing career:
(1) Fix your credit rating. Your credit rating can directly affect your ability to borrow money, so it literally pays to have good credit. If you have a poor credit rating, you can still invest in real estate. You just will have a tougher time getting a loan than someone with a better credit rating. The first step to fixing your credit rating is to pay off your credit card debts as much as possible because when banks see that you’re making regular payments, they’ll gradually boost your credit rating.
(2) Decide where to invest. You know your neighborhood better than any outsider, so that’s the best place to start investing. If your neighborhood is getting bad, choose a nearby area where you believe the opportunities are better. Just make sure you start with the most promising area with real estate prices that you can comfortably afford.
(3) Build your real estate investment team. You will need help from other people. You’ll need and escrow officer or mortgage broker to help you apply for and process a loan. You’ll need a real estate agent, who can often give you background information about a piece of property. You’ll need an appraiser to tell you the value of the property. A home inspector can help you spot problems. An accountant to help with your taxes. An insurance agent to insure any properties you buy. An attorney who can advise you on legal matters and you will need a home improvement contractor.
(4) Get prequalified for a bank loan. Nothing is more frustrating than finding the perfect real estate opportunity but not having the money available to take advantage of it. That’s why you should get prequalified for a loan so you know the maximum amount of money you could borrow from a bank.
(5) Apply for a home equity line of credit. If you own your own home, apply for a home quity line of credit. This will determine how much extra money you may have available. If you don’t own a home, find someone who does and who would be willing to partner with you in real estate investing. Then find how much money they could borrow on their home equity.
(6) Find other sources of money. After you’ve identified how much money you can borrow through traditional sources, it’s time to discover how much money you can borrow through nontraditional sources, such as friends or relatives. The more money you can access right away, the faster you can move when you spot a real estate bargain.
(7) Study how promissory notes work. Promissory notes are legal documents that let you borrow from other people. A promissory note is no different than a traditional bank loan. You’ll need a lawyer to help you write a promissory note. It’s a valuable tool that can help you borrow money as soon as possible from sources other than banks. The more you understand how promissory notes work, the more they can work to your benefit.
The senior community of Laguna Woods Village is all about the “Country Club” amenities it offers. These include the 27 hole championship golf course ($8 for residents), the fact that it is a gate guarded community – AND – one of the Top 10 safest cities in America! The Horse stables, 7 clubhouses, 5 swimming pools, tennis courts, 2 state of the art fitness centers, and only 7 miles to Laguna Beach, California. But how much is all this going to cost me? Good question! The HOA dues for Laguna Woods Village are $528 per month for a Co-op and $553 per month for a Condo. Besides all of the fabulous amenities mentioned above (and that is only a partial list), they also cover the following:
Building Insurance (fire and damage other than earthquake)
Cable television
Water
Trash pickup
Exterior building maintenance (painting and roof care)
Grounds maintenance
Plumbing and electric repair
Appliance repair and replacement (Co-op only)
Free Bus transportation, Maintenance of streets, sewers, exterior lighting, Around-the-clock security, Full replacement fire & hazard insurance on buildings
NO MELLO ROOS
The only thing more residents pay for is electricity, phone, and property taxes.
The “average” HOA dues for other condo developments in South Orange County are $275 per month. When all expenses have been added up, Laguna Woods Village is actually $87 cheaper per month than the average South County Condo! And $112 cheaper per month than an average Single Family Home!
Furthermore, the average price of a Laguna Woods Condo is $205,000 verses $317,000 for a condo in South Orange County. That is a difference of $112,000! That extra $112,000 mortgage (at a 30 year fixed rate @ 5.2% interest) would run you an extra $615 per month! You add this extra mortgage amount to the cost of the HOA dues of $275 and you get $890 – So Laguna Woods Village is actually $362 cheaper per month! That is a big difference!
So when you add it all up, the expenses in Laguna Woods Village are actually less than they would be in a similar South Orange County Condo or Single Family Home. For more information about Laguna Woods Village, please see my web site: www.leisureworldre.com
One of the questions home sellers most often ask is “Should we spend money on improvements to get our home ready to sell?”
It always depends on the condition of your home. But most real estate experts agree that it doesn’t matter how good or bad your home is, basic cosmetic changes can make a significant difference. But they also agree you are not nearly as likely to recover the costs of doing major renovations.
Look at it this way: say you were a home buyer and you had a choice of buying two homes with exactly the same features, with the only difference being the neighborhood. Same price, same features, different neighborhood. Wouldn’t you choose the one in the more expensive neighborhood? Well, most people would, and that’s why you should not count on significantly increasing the resale value of your home by building in high-priced features. And it’s also why expensive updating of things like kitchens and bathrooms may not be worth doing - because the value of your home will tend to be pre-determined by its location.
Instead, put your energy into lower-priced functional improvements like landscaping, painting, and cleaning. By all means add improvements to your home for the sake of your own enjoyment.
But you have to weigh this against the high cost of doing those renovations. You’ll probably find you will not recover the full cost, and you might be better advised to simply sell for a bit lower and let the new owners do the renovations.
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