Archive for May, 2010
Orange County Live-Work Homes Offer Convenience and Comfort
Buyers Can Choose From a Diversity of Orange County Live-Work Homes
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!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Search For Orange County Properties in Your PJ’s
Oh, What a Night Search!
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!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )New Loan Program Boon to Home Buyers and Sellers
Innovate Program Wraps Home Improvement Costs Into a Single Loan
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
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Short Sale Approval: Welcome to Big Top Banking
Want a Short Sale Approval? Join the Circus.
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
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Fannie Mae Extends Assistance For Homebuyers
Orange County Homebuyers Have Added Incentive
First the bad news. It’s official. The government’s popular 8k tax incentive is now history. But the good news is, you can dry those tears of regret, good people. Fannie Mae is offering up the perfect incentive to fill the gap. 
What’s This All About?
So glad you asked. Right now Fannie Mae is extending its very generous 3.5% Closing Cost Assistance and Appliance Incentive. This means, the marvelous offer is now good through June 30, 2010. To qualify, you’ve gotta purchase and close on a Fannie Mae home by that date. If you’re buying one of the many properties listed on HomePath.com, you get a healthy incentive of up to 3.5% of the final sales price. You can apply it to any one of the following:
- Closing costs
- The purchase of new Whirlpool appliances
- Any combination of closing costs and appliances as your heart desires, all the way up to the maximum of 3.5%.
Who’s Eligible?
- Anyone who purchases a Fannie Mae property whose sale closes on or before June 30, 2010.
- Buyers who are owner-occupants. Purchasing a second home? No problem, as long as you’re taking up residence there. This means, if you’re buying the house simply as an investment and not a place to live, you’re plumb outta luck. Gotta live in the place to be eligible. So if you want to take advantage of the incentive, plan on planting yourself in the residence — at least for a while.
This enticing offer is further proof of Fannie Mae’s dedication to buyers and communities. Want to know more about this incentive? Visit HomePath.com or contact a Fannie Mae listing broker. And naturally, I’m always on hand 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!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Mission Viejo Schools Get an A
Mission Viejo Schools Pass the Excellence Test
Lots of reason to move to Mission Viejo. Great weather, communities, people, and of course, a highly-rated educational system. From kindergarten to college, Mission Viejo schools rank sky high in student performance, test scores, and graduation rates. The long and short of it — this is one top-notch place to receive an education. 
Case in point is Mission Viejo High School. Here are a few noteworthy stats about this noble institution —
- National Exemplary School 1989, National Blue Ribbon School 1996, 2002
- Top 42 in the nation for Overall Excellence, 1992
- California Distinguished High School 1988, 1994, 2001, 2008
- Award winning visual and performing arts program
For parents with children in the earlier stages of life, Mission Viejo elementary schools excel at boosting the brainpower of the younger set. A good example is Marguerite M. O’Neill Elementary School. Here you’ll discover one of the few elementary schools in California with a distinguished Great Schools Rating of 9 out of 10.
Jumping up a few grade levels, Saddleback College is renowned for its academic excellence. The institution of higher learning scores particularly high marks in the science department, offering first-rate programs in nursing, physics, environmental studies, and chemistry.
Whether you’re child is entering the hallowed halls of education for the first time or is primed to unleash major brainpower at the collegiate level, Mission Viejo schools offer a depth of excellent options. If you’d like to learn more about why Mission Viejo has one of the country’s most highly regarded school systems, I’m ready to help. Just contact me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. Or follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Orange County Real Estate Success 