What is a Land Lease If you have been looking at Orange County homes online, you have probably come across some deals that just looked too good to be true. I get multiple calls a week from people who are eager to jump on what they think is a great deal until I explain to […]
Category Archives: buying
What is COVID-19 Doing to Real Estate
In March I wrote an article about how the Coronavirus had hit the stock market, and how that might affect real estate. Well now we’re more than a week into April and we don’t have to ask what might happen, because it’s happening right now. As a Realtor, I have a bit of a different […]
How Will Coronavirus Affect The Housing Market in Orange County
The Coronavirus is here, and it has brought confusion and panic with it. Just go to any supermarket or Costco and try to find a package of toilet paper. The shelves are bare as people stock up in preparation for… THE PANDEMIC As a new father it is definitely concerning. On one hand I don’t […]
How to Correctly Calculate Return On Investment (ROI) in Real Estate
The biggest mistake people make when investing in Real Estate is focusing too much on one or two of the three factors that affect your ROI (return on investment), rather than all three together. The factors I’m talking about are Cost, Revenue, and Expenses. If you want to be a successful investor it is important […]
5 Lies You’ve Heard About Real Estate Agents
One thing I’ve learned from talking to a lot of people about real estate, is that there are some common misconceptions out there about working with Realtors. These misconceptions usually revolve around what it is we actually do, how the process works, and the nature of the Agency Relationship. In most real estate transactions there […]
Small Down Payment vs. Large Down Payment
If you’ve talked to anyone about your plans to buy a home, than you’ve probably been told that you need to save up for a 20-percent down payment. That’s a scary thought considering the median home price in Orange County, California is well over $800K. Yikes! But thankfully, you you have options when it comes […]
Buying vs Renting a House in Orange County, CA
Is it wiser to buy a home rather than rent one? Home ownership has typically been considered the foundation of the American Dream. Lately, however, I have been seeing a lot of headlines claiming that renting is actually a smarter choice than buying. Obviously, there are pros and cons to Buying vs Renting, but I […]
How Do I Know I Am Getting Value for Money in Orange County?
If you have decided to buy a home here in Orange County there are a few things to take into consideration. First you will need to find out about the home buying process which we have discussed previously. You will also need to know the difference between the market value and the appraised value. The […]
What Should a Realtor Do For a Buyer
Now that’s a great question. What does a good buyer’s agent do that sets them apart from other agents? If you asked 50 different people what they thought of their real estate agents, you would probably get 50 different answers. Some people think they’ve found the world’s greatest agent, while others think the opposite. So […]
Common Mortgage Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
It’s understandable. Looking for a new house is exciting. Checking out all the new listings and finding the one that is everything you ever wanted is just downright fun! However, this often leads to people treating the mortgage as an after-thought. Don’t be that person! Shopping for a mortgage is an important step. If you […]
When is the Best Time of Year to Buy a House?
What does the best time of year to buy a house really mean to you? For most people, what they mean is “when will I get the best price?” The traditional wisdom has been that the best time to be a buyer is in the fall and winter months when the real estate market is […]
How the New tax Bill Will Hurt Homeowners in CA
Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to overhaul the tax code in our country. The plan is being branded as an attempt to simplify an overly complicated tax code that is rife with a million different deductions, complicated forms, and plenty of loopholes. So is the plan good or bad? Well […]
How a Lease with an Option to Purchase Works
It goes by many names: the rent to own, rent with a purchase option, purchase option lease, lease with an option to purchase, etc. But, no matter what you call it, the idea is that you are entering into a lease agreement that offers you an option to purchase a home eventually. I’ll explain a […]
Definitive Guide to Downsizing Your Home
Your lifestyle needs and tastes will change over time. My grandparents absolutely love their home. 2,000 square feet, 4 beds, 2 baths in the perfect weather of Huntington Beach. What more could you ask for? They lived in that house for 30 years, but eventually, although they loved the home dearly, they came to the […]
The Home Buying Process in 10 Steps
Buying a house, especially your first house, is an awesome experience… But it can also be nerve-racking! You can save yourself a lot of stress by doing some research and learning as much as you can about the home buying process before jumping in. Of course, every transaction is a little different with its own […]