What’s so good about the YPN you ask?  I’d say the answer is best summed up with the organization’s core philosophy: “The orange county professionals network will focus on connecting and engaging young OCAR Realtors through networking opportunities, technology and social media, and professional development.  It will do so by capitalizing on its core principals of professionalism and ethics, partnership, policy, pursuing leadership, participation, and promoting home ownership for the next generation. The Orange County YPN will encourage the next generation of Realtors to seize the responsibility of shaping the direction of the association and the real estate industry as a whole.”    

As the organization’s Vice Chair, I’d like to offer my professional colleagues an opportunity to share the benefits and camaraderie of the YPN.  That’s why I’m inviting each and every one of you to join our close-knit group. Believe me, there’s no better way to learn and grow together as we navigate the challenging terrain of professional Real Estate. In other words, we’re all in this together, folks. The YPN is there to help us make the most of it.

I anticipate great things for the future, thanks to the dynamic and dedicated team of Realtors comprising our board. In addition to myself, all of these board members will be collaborating to shape the future of our YPN and to better serve our clients.

The YPN Board

REALTORS®

Bash Flash! — We’re holding our first mixer on Thursday, Oct. 21^st at 6 pm. If you long to be part of what promises to be an awesome evening of fun, let me know with a comment.  And if you want additional information about the event, or just want to know more about the YPN, I’m ready to help. You can contact me at     949.338.7408  or angie@askangie.com.

See you on Oct. 6!

Hey, folks. An amazing Mission Viejo home has just hit the market. Why all the excitement? Because this ready-to-occupy, turnkey property has it all. And then some.   

First of all, this adorable tri-level home is located in one of the most desirable cities in the world – sunny Mission Viejo. We’re talking an upscale community with family appeal, offering the best in schools, parks, recreation, and culture. And, of course, there’s wonderful Lake Mission Viejo. Located at 26285 Golada, this home is a stone’s throw from all the fishing, boating, swimming, outdoor concerts, and sun bathing the lake has to offer.  Unbelievably, this got-it-all property is offered at just $589,000.

This choice property also offers:

• New windows, plantation shutters, granite kitchen counters – all in an ideal and spacious floor plan!
• Quiet Street – Bask in the sweet fragrance of garden roses as you arrive home, and indulge your green thumb in the vegetable garden gracing the beautifully manicured back yard.
• Close Proximity to Freeway – Just five minutes away. Long commutes will be ancient history.
• And endless residential bliss!

If you would like to experience this amazing Mission Viejo home for yourself or simply learn more about everything the property has to offer, I’ll be happy to help. Feel free to call, text, email, or tweet me.  I can be reached at 949.338.7408, angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

When it comes to selling a home, it seems that you just can’t disclose too much. Yes, certain details matter a great deal. In fact, from a legal standpoint, sellers must make these details available to prospective home buyers. And it is the responsibility of every agent to dig deep and make certain these facts come to the surface in a timely matter. 

One of the facts that must be disclosed concerns a death that occurs on the property up for sale. The law states that a death must be revealed if it has taken place within three years prior to a home being offered for sale. This is an important piece of information to bring to the surface, is it potentially carries a lot of emotional weight for a would-be buyer. If you’re not sure about disclosing such an occurrence or any other fact you think might be relevant, it’s best to follow the simple, time-tested guideline of ‘when in doubt, disclose it out’.

I can’t stress the importance of over-disclosing facts such as these enough. I mean, think about how you would feel if you were on the other side of the fence and some important detail like this was left out of the picture. Remember, it’s an agent’s job to sell a property honestly – in all its aspect. So you as a home seller should disclose EVERYTHING to the person representing your property. Complete information will help your agent price your home appropriately for all matters involved.

If you’d like to learn more about California home sale disclosure requirements, I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to contact me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Derek Beisner, a certified mortgage specialist with New American Funding, cites the following as among the most important potential affects of a short sale or foreclosure action. Derek points out that guidelines in this area are always subject to change. But as of this posting, these are some possibilities consumers definitely should be aware of.

• With a short sale, the lending institution has the legal right to 1099 the seller for the difference between what the house sold for and what was owed on the property. Bear in mind that this has been changed to a non-taxable 1099 for the years 2010 to 2012.
• In a foreclosure situation, a buyer must wait 3 years from the foreclosure date to get an FHA loan. Securing ownership of a property also will require a minimum credit score of 620 and a letter of explanation documenting the reason for foreclosure.

As with any other important undertaking, it’s best to get the input of an expert before plunging into a short-sale. Derek advises speaking to a CPA or Real Estate attorney well in advance of taking action.

After all the foreclosure or short sale dust settles, your credit definitely will need some major repair work. The good news is that credit repair is very do-able. Derek recommends three fundamental steps:

• Establish new credit.
• Know your credit score.
• Consult a credit repair specialist to get things back on track.

If you would like to learn more about Orange County short sales and foreclosures, Derek will be delighted to help. You can reach him 949-637-9939 or derek@derekbeisner.com.

The prospect of foreclosure typically whips up a whirlpool of financial and emotional woes for homeowners facing this very stressful scenario. More often than not, folks caught in the swirl of foreclosure chaos feel overwhelmed, out of control, and hopelessly trapped.  

Fortunately, we at Weeks Team understand the excruciating trials and tribulations that those confronting the foreclosure beast experience. That’s why we’ve put together a powerful team of Orange County short sale specialists who can help you pull yourself out of foreclosure chaos. As you’ll see, each member of this carefully-selected team is an expert in his or her particular field. As such, they have the knowledge and skill to guide you to your best course of action, whether that means bankruptcy, loan consolidation, or short selling your home.

Orange County’s Premier Short Sale Team:

Cindy Logan & Helen Rodriguez – Short Sale Negotiating

Phone: 949-433-7187
Cell: 949-433-7187
www.reinvestorsolutions.com/clogan/
Cindy@Investthebestway.com

Shaun Smith – Foreclosure Delay Specialist

Phone: 949-241-0218
Fax: 866-798-4192
www.mortgagecrisisremedies.com
shaun@mortgagecrisisremedies.com

John Harris – Debt Consolidation and Repair

Phone: 949-202-7305
Fax: 949-270-7557
www.usdebteliminators.com
john@usdebteliminators.com

Mike Langle – Title, Liens, and Related Issues

Phone: 949-300-5373
www.Title365.com
Mike@Langgle.com

The Weeks Team is Ready to Help

If you or somebody you know is struggling with a mortgage or with house payments, call the Weeks Team at 888-281-7665 x2. We’ll be happy to direct you to the right team member who can provide a speedy solution to and welcome relief from your foreclosure woes. Or if you would like to receive our package of resources, feel free to email us your address or that of a friend or family member who can benefit from our services. We look forward to helping in any way we can.

Right now you can take advantage of a Home Improvement Loan program that combines the sale price of a home and the cost of home improvement into one convenient loan.

These are the basics:

• Basic Explanation:  the Home Sales Price plus all clients’ home improvements get wrapped into one, low fixed rate loan!
• Loan Limits = same as FHA County Limit  (1 Units: $729K in Orange & LA County, $500K in Riverside.  2-4 Units higher)
• Low Down Payment – only 3.5% required!  (plus normal closing costs carried by seller or buyer)
• Possible Renovations to home include:  (Remodeled rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, etc.  Additions, alterations, or structural changes to home.  Repair or replace plumbing, heating, air, roof, foundations, etc!)
• Also available for Refinances
• [Gov’t Insured Loan, 1-4 Unit SFR (no condos), 620 Min FICO]

Cori Hillis of Best Rate Financial has helped many individuals secure one of these dream loans.  With his assistance, great things like this happen:

BEFORE HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN                                     AFTER HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN

You can liven up that special living place, too. Learn more about how this new loan program can make your Orange County dream home happen. Or get started with a quick pre-approval.  Just contact Cory Hillis at 888-299-4484 or cory@bestratefinancial.com . He’ll be more than happy to assist you.

One major reason is the proximity to the lake itself.  Living in this idyllic area means you’re only a walk away from the full range of fun activities the Lake offers.  This includes swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and just plain splashing up a great time.

Two well-maintained beaches add to the allure of the lake. North Beach features a large stretch of sandy splendor, volleyball courts, and a clubhouse perfect for renting out for special events.  East Beach is smaller but just as inviting. Along with all the other great activities,  it offers bold adventurers kayaks as well as pedal boats for rent.  There also are a number of smaller private beaches for those seeking a bit of blissful seclusion. Remember, access to the lake is restricted to residents or their guests. Another great reason for hanging your hat here.

The lake communities offer almost as much as the lake itself. Spectacular views of both the lake and surrounding mountains, a safe living environment, and proximity to an array of fine restaurants and stores make this resort-like vicinity irresistible. Among the popular lakeside communities are Mallorca, Finisterra, San Marino, Tres Vistas, and Madrid Del Lago , each with a charm and character all it’s own.

If you’d like to learn more about living in high style in one of the  Lake Mission Viejo communities, I’m ready to help.  You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Hey, people. Wanted to tell you about a great cause, which is co-chaired by someone I’ve known  for a while – Newport Beach Realtor, Brad Colemen.  The cause is  Project Playhouse.  This 6 week-long charity event will raise money to build and renovate homeless shelters throughout Orange County. So far the project has helped HomeAid Orange County construct 44 local shelters.

Project Playhouse works like this. Various members of the building industry are creating a selection of amazing playhouses.  These architectural masterpieces will be on display at the Irvine Spectrum for 6 weeks, beginning July 30th. Then on September 10, the playhouses will be auctioned off at a party taking place at an enchanting Crystal Cove estate. The proceeds will help fund the building and renovation of homeless shelters in Orange County. Tickets to the party are $250.00 each, with only a limited number available.

Brad is asking for your help in acquiring sponsors and donors for this high-profile event.  I assure you, it’ll be great exposure for your company or business.  The event draws thousands of guests, including many of OC’s elite. It even will receive a substantial amount of TV, print, radio, and Internet advertising.  Sponsorships start at $1,000.  For smaller companies wanting exposure, tax-deducible silent auction donations are welcome.

Please visit www.ProjectPlayhouse.org for more event details. And, if you or anyone you know is interested in a sponsorship, donation, tickets to party, or buying a playhouse, be sure to contact Brad Coleman.

Patricia Yeckel, an Enrolled Agent with Canyon Tax and Bookkeeping in Rancho Santa Margarita, offers this helpful information for anyone wishing to learn more about this very generous credit:

• Any first-time homebuyers who entered into a binding contract to purchase a principal residence by April 30, 2010 and have or will be closing escrow before October 1, 2010, may be eligible for a tax credit up to $8000.
• There is a limit on purchase price of home: no credit available if home price exceeds $800,000.
• Long-time resident of same principal residence may qualify for reduced homebuyer credit up to $6,500 if taxpayer has lived in same home as principal residence for 5 out of last 8 years; new home purchased must be between 11/7/09 and 4/30/10.
• Credit phases out at Adjusted Gross Income in year of purchase between $125,000 and $145,000 for single taxpayers; $225,000 and $245,000 for married filing joint.
• Final settlement statement must be attached to correct form and to tax return.
• Credit may be claimed on the 2010 tax return filed after January, 2011 OR ON 2009 AMENDED RETURN FILED AS SOON AS ESCROW CLOSES IN 2010.  THIS IS THE BEST NEWS OF ALL!!!

If you’re ready to get your tax credit or simply want to know more about this exciting benefit, Patricia will be delighted to help. You can contact her at Canyon Tax and Bookkeeping (949) 888.2829 or pyeckel@canyontax.com.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or staying put in your amazing Orange County home, one thing’s for sure – you want it looking its best, inside and out.  Alright, before visions of major makeovers start dancing in your heads, know something right from the start – no major action is required.  In fact, taking your residence from ho-hum to ooh-wow! is simply a matter of following a few basic steps.

Alisa Moffet, home staging, designing, and color specialist with Domani Designs, offers these insider tips and tricks guaranteed to work wonders for that place you call home sweet home.

1. Remove all family photos.
2. Add simple, single-panel drapery to warm a space instantly. Hang em’ high to make the room feel larger.
3. Remove as many nick-knacks as possible. Less is more!
4. Replace bathroom mirrors with framed mirrors. This is the least expensive way to update your bathroom — without remodeling.
5. Add plants. These will create an inviting atmosphere.

If you’d like to learn more about making your home the best it can be, Alisa will be happy to help. You can reach her at 949.293.3858 or amoffett@domanidesigns.com .

Gray, gray, go away. Let’s be hopeful, folks. June is almost through, and with it the gloomy gray skies that have become a yearly tradition. That means the 4th of July is upon us. No doubt, you’ll want to celebrate Independence Day with gusto and style. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do that right here in Orange County. Here are some major events to check out:

• Independence Day Celebration and Parade in Huntington Beach – The “largest and oldest parade of its kind west of the Mississippi,” a 5K run/walk, bands, clowns, celebrities, floats and fireworks on “Surf City’s” famous Main Street.
• Old Glory Boat Parade – Decorated boats parade through Newport Harbor.
• Dana Point 4th of July Fireworks Show – The City of Dana Point presents an aerial sky show, featuring a musical simulcast presented by radio station KSBR 88.5 FM.
• Fullerton Community Fireworks Show and Festival – An old-fashioned Fourth of July party, the festival features live entertainment, games for all ages, food booths and a special aerial fireworks display.
• Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky – A special 4th of July fireworks display over Disneyland set to music.

Plus there’s the beaches, picnics, sports, and of course, major loafing. If you’d like to learn more about great things to do in Orange County for the 4th, by all means get in touch with me. You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Happy Fourth of July!

Just got back from OCAR’s annual meeting held at the beautiful Aliso Viejo golf course.   I thought I would record a video update for you

I know you have comments, let ‘em fly!!

B of A  Short Sales – What every party needs to know!

Today I’m taking a few hours out of the busy day to listen to Allen Seelenbinder, a VP with Bank of America, tell Realtors how to work better with B of A to get our short sales closed quicker.  Definitely good use of time, because short sales take waaaaay too long!!!  For Realtors looking for Equator tips, check this post.

Allen said the goal of the bank is to help preserve homeownership, they WILL attempt to modify your loan & help you stay in your house if you want to.  It’s part of being on the HAFA program, and you can even try multiple times if you get denied on your first loan mod request!  Good news if you’re late on the mortgage & want to keep your home, but you have to keep communicating & trying.

BUT…Did you know 60 percent of all loan modifications fail in the first 9 months?  Yikes, make sure you are working with a professional modification specialist so you are not a statistic!   Most times if you default on your modification, you’re not going to get another one, and its time to short sale.

For those who can’t afford the mortgage, & don’t see light at the end of the tunnel soon, you have options…

1.  Deed in lieu – leaving your home and giving the deed back to the bank willingly
2.  Foreclosure – defaulting on payments until the bank is forced to take your property back
3.  Short sale – selling your property for less than it is worth

Short selling your property will allow you to buy again sooner than if you get a foreclosure, so its a good option.  BUT, its complicated, so you need a good Realtor who knows what they are doing to help.

If you’re drained on the process, please keep trying.  If you allow foreclosure, your credit will have a huge hit, and you know how important your credit is!  Allen warned many times employers are looking at your credit as a gage on your responsibility, fight to keep it in tact as best you can!!

Short sales are the new normal!  Buyers, sellers, investors, Realtors, & banks need to work together   There are over 6 million homeowners late on their mortgage right now, and many more projected in the upcoming months.  Short sale will continue to be a household term for the next few years, unfortunately.

Why is the short sale process so long?  Well…theres a lot of hoops to jump through:

• the process doesn’t begin until an offer is received, you could have a sign in the yard for months.
• an appraisal & bpo must be done
• the offer must reasonably meet current market value
• the buyer must qualify
• the seller must demonstrate hardship & provide documentation
• arms-length has to be proved (that means sellers aren’t in cahoots w buyers)
• the mortgage investor must approve the offer
• 3rd party approvals (mortgage insurance, helocs, second liens.)

Unfortunately, there is a lot of red tape to untangle.  Buyers need to be prepared for at least 60-120 days for close, and agents from both sides need to constantly keep communication lines clear and all parties in the transaction updated.

What is financial hardship? Its better to say what it is not.  Financial hardship is NOT that you are under water on the property, that is simply a bad investement.  Its also not hardship if you can’t get a renter.  If you are widowed, but have assets, death is not financial hardship, its emotional hardship   there are a lot of people now trying to claim hardship when they do not have truely have one.  You need to be able to show your hardship on paper.

One of the biggest challenges right now is getting 2nd loans, liens, and MI to reasonably come in line with the short sale loss.  Sellers, be prepared for agents to ask questions about ALL loans & liens on the property, and please offer up front and honest answers.  There’s going to be some back & forth necessary between the parties you owe $$ to.

Want to know if you are eligible for HAFA?  Check bankofamerica.reo.com/hafa to make sure you qualify!  B of A is also working on a program similiar to HAFA, but with better guidelines, called the Cooperative Short Sale.

B of A Cooperative short sale

Yes, its still in the works, but its pretty good!!  It will:

• proactively outreach to customers
• offer preapproved short sale pricing
• promise offers reviewed/approved within 2 weeks
• be similiar to hafa, but wider scope
• rollout hopefully August 1st

Banks including B of A are all trying to make the best of our current market, and short sales are a huge percentage of it.  Look for more posts (and videos!) soon to help you through the short sale process.  If you or someone you know is late on their mortgage, The Weeks Team keeps everything confidential and we will be happy to discuss options!  877-230-3211 or info@successinweeks.com

Equator has 5 stages:

1.  Initiation – seller calls & signs up to initiate
2.  Document collection – seller uploads hardship docs & Realtors upload offers
3.  Valuations – BPO & appraisal is done
4.  Negotiations – counter offers & 3rd party investor approvals
5.  Closing – handling escrow & title transfer

To better step (um, jump) through through them, check out bankofamerica.reo.com/shortsaletraining

Realtors, make your short sale process shorter:

- have the seller contact the loan servicer asap to advise s/he is trying to sell
- ensure your customer financials are in pdf format
- confirm all requested documents & tasks are accurate & completed asap
- double check purchase offer is legitimate & @ fully executed
- make sure the purchase offer is the best possible at fair market value
- include listing information & comparables to support price w/your purchase offer

Success Secrets

In Equator you can add attachments when you email negotiators..  Listing agents, email your COMPS; they WILL be reviewed.  Help the bank help you.  Show them you’ve done everything possible to get the best value.  Tell the bank how many offers you had, your open houses, your marketing, so they know you’ve minimized their loss.  Remember, the bank is losing $$ here so offers need to be reasonable.

NEVER, ever, for the love of God, use the reject button in Equator.  It closes your file!!!! There is a button to submit with changes, use THAT instead

Itemize your escrow items, too.  Don’t forget to include buyer credits, this happens too much & causes deals to blow up!!

When you submit your counter offer in equator, push the close date out 60 days. If you pass approval date, then a new BPO & approval usually need to be done, and that can set you back 3 whole weeks!  This can make any deal crumble, so just get the extra padding upfront.  *note* if property is going to auction, that won’t work, so set the closing to be the day before scheduled sale.

Stop clogging up the phones, B of A has a rule ‘if its not in Equator, it didn’t happen’…so use  Equator to give you the paper trail you need.  You can escalate right there through the system, copy a manager if necessary.  ***ANGIE TIP*** if a conversation is necessary, and you’ve tried 3 emails through the system, tweet @bofa_help .  I always get a call back within 48 hrs

Say ‘actionable item’ in the subject, not urgent. Everyone says urgent.  What many consider urgent is truly not urgent, but actionable items=urgent to B of A, ok?

Today a VP at Bank of America, Allen Seelenbinder, advised us cash offers mean nothing.  B of A doesn’t care about your quick close, they care about minimizing their loss. Present your highest & best offers as opposed to lowball quick close cash.

Also, write your repairs into the contract, the bank doesn’t play well with new terms after appraisals!  How will you know?  Bring your trusty B of A local lender to the property, they can help advise you on standard repairs B of A is willing to do.

Realtors Pelt Bank of America with questions

What if the buyer walks?  Why do you automatically close my file? Unfortunately, we have to completely start over including submitting the sellers info again into equator.  Its for privacy purposes, so its not gonna change.  There is a 5 percent chance you can pull a switcheroo:  upload a NEW, better offer FIRST.  Then the next day, email the negotiator the cancellation of the first offer and request the switch out for the better offer.  In some cases this is allowed.

Will B of A pay a negotiation fee? NO, agents or buyers need to absorb.

Will B of A allow closing cost credits? YES, but submit everything correctly in equator.

How can we escalate a file in equator? CC the manager or team leader on an actionable item!!  (for our technically clueless that means CTRL+click all titles you want to copy)  OR, worst case, you can call your local B of A loan offer and they can talk to the OC approval head.  There is such a person, however, Allen would not release his/her name to the ‘dogs’

Will B of A reduce Realtor commissions?  Tax us for dual agency? Contrary to popular belief they try not to…commission can be 6 percent for properties up to 250k, 5 percent for 500k, higher than that your commissions can be reduced more.  Allen jokes…You can always ask the seller to pay the rest…the bank is taking a loss too.   Now Angie must joke…sure, how about we charge per phone call, email, and walked buyer then, cool?  Seriously, this process is a B for all of us.

Allen, way to let yourself get on the hot seat.  I’ve done customer service for Realtors before… they can be a mean, loud, unhappy bunch.  You handled yourself with class, and taught us how to work with B of A better.

Hopefully this post will help some struggling agents – tweet @angieweeks or @weeksteam your Equator tips, or comment them below!!

How can you be someplace and not someplace at the same time?… By entering a virtual world. But you won’t find these realms on a conventional map. Virtual worlds are available only in cyberspace. They are simulated, 3-D worlds, much like video game environments. The big difference is you can use your computer to actually enter a virtual world, just as easily as you’d access any other website. There you’ll be in the form of a 3-D representation called an avatar, which you’ll control – actions, conversations, etc. And you’ll be able to interact with other users, who are also represented as avatars. You can design your avatar to look any way you want.  You could look like a walking carrot stick if you preferred. People from all over the world can be brought together in a shared space, interacting in their chosen virtual community. It’s the chat room concept taken to the next level.

Alright, so what are the implications for real estate in Orange County and beyond?  Well, taken to the limit, you could literally go house hunting, transact a purchase, and send everything to the local escrow office all from the comfort of your favorite sofa. Here’s how it would work. You arrange for your avatar to meet your Realtor’s avatar in the virtual neighborhood of your choice. Maybe a virtual Mission Viejo. Once you connect, you get in virtual transportation of some type, cruise through the local communities, and explore perfect 3-D simulations of homes that exist in the real Mission Viejo. You could walk through the houses, turn on the faucets, draw the shades, tap the woodwork –  the whole ball of wax. Once you find the home of your choice, you just sign on the electronic dotted line.

This is an oversimplification, of course. But it’s basically what happens in a virtual world.  Sooner or later, most people probably will want to get off their comfy sofas and actually go inside of the very real place where they intend to hang their very real hats. Nevertheless, a virtual real estate hunt would save time, and let’s face it, could prove to be a very fascinating experience.

I’d like to hear your thoughts on this. Would you like to go on a real estate hunt in a virtual world? Or would you prefer cruising around chosen communities in real metal and walking around in real brick, stucco, and wood structures?  You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

It’s that time of year folks. Sunshine, barbecues, swimming, and kids released from the captivity of academia for three months.  With the arrival of summer, our attention naturally turns to our favorite summertime activities.

Mission Viejo is a world champion in this department. The city offers residents and visitors alike a million and one things to do during the season of sunshine. Here are some of the biggies:

• Farrell’s 1st Ever 1st Annual Splendiferously Superiffic Summer Spectacular Ice Cream Eating Challenge (Monday, June 21 11:00a) – Be one of the fastest to eat a 3-scoop sundae.
• DAWG Walk and Pet Faire (Saturday, June 26 7:00a) – On the Village Green at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center
• 4^th of July Street Fair and Fireworks Spectacular (Sunday, July 4 1:00p) – Food, games and merchandise booths operated by local service organizations and crafters.
• Lake Mission Viejo – Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, fishing, boating, and a summer concert series just for starters.
• Summer Camps – Kids of all ages can thrill to a variety of camps and classes designed to tickle their fancy.
• Plus golfing at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, picnics and play at wide selection of parks, and much, much more.

If you’d like to learn more about the ton of summer fun awaiting you in Mission Viejo, I’m ready to help. You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Many of us live to work. We absolutely luv our jobs and all the rewards, perks, and opportunities that come with the territory. Thanks to the rising prominence of telecommuting, more folks than ever are not only living to work but working where they live. To accommodate the increasing numbers of at-home workers, developers are busy stepping up their output of residences known as a live-work properties. These are home specifically designed to serve both a residential and business purpose.

Orange County is one of the many locales experiencing a spike in live-work residences as developers rush to address the growing legions of at-home workers in this area.

One of the high scorers on the live-work development chart is Harbor Lofts. Located in the heart of downtown Anaheim, Harbor Lofts offers a fantastic selection of one, two, and three bedroom lofts. This includes 18, two-story live-work spaces available in the comfortably affordable 340k range. Plus, there’s 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail space for business owners who prefer a very short walk to work. And when the work day is done, residents get to refresh, relax, and invigorate in the pool or gym.

If you’d like to learn more about Harbor Lofts or any of the many other live-work properties in Orange County, I’m ready to help. You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

What do pj’s and properties have in common? … You can wear one while you do the other. It’s all thanks to the free nightly MLS Orange County property search we’re offering to anyone who’d rather lounge than look.

It’s incredibly simple to sign up for search updates. First, you give us a list of criteria for your home – price range, location, number of Olympic-sized swimming pools, etc.  Next we plug all the vital facts into our automated MLS system. Finally, the big search engine kicks into high gear, scouring the data base for available homes that fit your criteria — day or night. This means, even while you’re sleeping the night away with visions of your dream home dancing in your head, our automated MLS is working hard on your behalf. Once the search locates a good fit, the system grabs the home info and fires it to your email inbox. And there it is waiting for you.

The important thing to remember is that you may slip away into sleep land, but the system never does. Not even a nap. It hunts night and day, looking for a home or homes that fulfill your every wish. When it locates a possibility, straight to your inbox it flies.

Here are the key benefits of this dynamic system:

• Convenient  -  Now you can snooze but not lose a moment of time in your home search. I ask you, what could be easier?
• Effective  -. The system is constantly on the hunt, covering miles and miles of territory so you don’t miss a single prop opp.
• Budget-Friendly – The tireless, round the clock searches are 100% free.

Well there you have it. High Technology doing it’s part to advance the cause better property hunting. Want to know more about taking advantage of nightly MLS searches to find your ideal Orange County home?  I’m ready to help. You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Good news for Orange County home buyers, sellers, and agents. There’s a great new Home Improvement Loan program that will make a large number of homes far more affordable. Basically, this nifty financial solution combines the sale price of a home and the cost of home improvements into one convenient loan.

What a powerful incentive for a buyer who’s reluctant to commit to a home simply because it’s screaming for repairs. With this program, everything is covered in one simple package. No instant out-of-pocket expenses to discourage would-be buyers.

Another great thing about the program is that the house being financed gets appraised on FUTURE value. In other words, after the improvements have been completed. So there’s never deal-stalling appraisal issues nagging at the parties involved.

Here are the basics:

• Basic Explanation:  the Home Sales Price plus all clients’ home improvements get wrapped into one, low fixed rate loan!
• Loan Limits = same as FHA County Limit  (1 Units: $729K in Orange & LA County, $500K in Riverside.  2-4 Units higher)
• Low Down Payment – only 3.5% required!  (plus normal closing costs carried by seller or buyer)
• Possible Renovations to home include:  (Remodeled rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, etc.  Additions, alterations, or structural changes to home.  Repair or replace plumbing, heating, air, roof, foundations, etc!)
• Also available for Refinances
• [Gov’t Insured Loan, 1-4 Unit SFR (no condos), 620 Min FICO]

But wait, there’s more! With this home improvement loan, you’re assured of a quick close. And there will be no more worries about buying a bank-owned property.

Alright, so your dream home needs a few repairs. No problem. You’ve got the ideal solution. Learn more about how this new loan program can make your Orange County dream home happen. Or get a quick pre-approval. Just contact Cory Hillis at 888-299-4484 or cory@bestratefinancial.com

After much frustrated hair pulling and gnashing of teeth, I’ve finally concluded that getting a short sale approved is basically a trip to the circus. Only in this case, the big top is the bank. It’s as if Barnum and Bailey merged with B of A.  And guess who’s jumping through all the flaming hoops. That’s right — the agents. Worse part is, there’s no applause at the end. If the Realtors are lucky, they emerge with their wits intact. 

So how does an agent get a short sale approved in the contemporary big top banking environment? The consensus among agents I talked with is that you’ve gotta do some major attention grabbing.  OK, so how do you do that without painting your hair all the colors of the rainbow and cartwheeling through the bank lobby?  Here’s what one agent did to secure an approval.  Bear in mind, this is totally 100% serious, unadulterated fact.

• Called the bank prez.
• Saturated bank inbox with emails, sending one ever minute for 60 days.
• Made sure to call the negotiator first thing in the morning. The rationale here is that if you’re the first call of the day, you’ve got a far better chance of getting through.
• Tweeted messages to customer service.
• Asked for the supervisor.  And the supervisor’s supervisor.  And the supervisor’s supervisor’s supervisor.

Whew!

Just to put things in perspective, according to B of A, it takes a grand total of 88 days from entry into their equator system until close.

Luckily, some banks are offering ‘fast track’ programs. Case in point is Wachovia. Here, a short sale can attain approval status in as few as 10 days. Nice. Let’s all hope that EVERY noble lending institution will offer similar programs very soon.  But until that that day dawns, we agents will just have to continue being fountains of creativity to get those short sales approved.  Just think how much better it would be if we focused all this attention on our clients instead of the banks.

Have a short sale approval solution? Luv to hear what flaming hoops you (if you’re an agent) or your agent had to jump through to gain an approval.  Just connect with me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.  This is your chance to impress the world with your or your agent’s creative genius!

And if you have any questions, feel free to call 949.338.7408 or email: angie@askangie.com