Archive for November, 2010
How to Protect the Price of Your Orange County Home
Sometimes the best move is no move. And if you’re one of the many people staying put in your present Orange County home, you have plenty of incentive to keep neighborhood property prices as strong as possible. Remember, however, optimizing home values isn’t a one person show. You and all your neighbors are in this together. So it’s best to adopt the spirit of a village. That means everyone pitches in and cooperates toward a common goal of price preservation. 
Here are five proven steps that every homeowner can take to maintain those all-important property values:
- Appearance counts for a lot. Even the most spectacular house can get a big thumbs down if the neighborhood disappoints. This means all serious homeowners should secure a reliable gardener or a good set of tools, and keep those yards lookin’ like a million bucks.
- Alright, alright…Your beloved old clunker gets you everywhere you want to go. Unfortunately, it won’t win any beauty contests. So it’s best to keep your retro-ride off the street and in a garage. Also, even if your car rivals the Sistine Chapel for beauty, avoid parking it in front of any home sporting a ‘for sale’ sign. Homes typically sell a lot quicker when they can be found by Realtors and/or prospective buyers.
- Tell everyone you possibly can whenever a neighborhood home hits the marketplace. The sooner it sells, the less chance the owner will kick down the sale price and eat away a chunk of equity.
- Help Realtors help you. Removing or taking down an open house sign might be good for endless laughs, but delaying the sale of a neighbor’s home won’t do a heck of a lot of good for YOUR own property value.
- Always paint the brightest picture of your neighborhood, street, or community throughout the social networks. A barrage of badmouthing will get your community known for all the wrong reasons and will send potential buyers fleeing to a more attractive locale. Restrict all nasty remarks to an offline complaints department, and keep the compliments freely flowing ONLINE.
If you’d like to learn more about maintaining home prices in your neighborhood, I’m ready to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408, angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Brighten a Child’s Holiday This Year
Now that there’s a chill in the air, we’re all looking for ways to bring a little warmth to our lives. And thanks to Toys for Tots, we all have an opportunity to bring a bit of warmth to others. Metro Estates is making it easy for us by holding their own Toys for Tots drive this holiday season. 
Right now you can make a difference in a child’s life by participating in this very worthy cause. Because of the anemic economy and displacement of families with children, your generosity will be needed more than ever this year. Ever see a child’s face brighten like holiday lights? That’s exactly what will happen when a lucky boy or girl unwraps the gift you’ve so generously given.
Keep in mind, we need everyone’s help. And not just those of us in the office. So please invite your family, friends, and clients to participate. We want to make this a holiday season these very deserving children will always remember. It’s easy. All you have to do is bring in any kind of unwrapped toy suitable for any age or gender.
Please drop off your gift at the following location, any time between 9 am and 5:30 pm. We’re conveniently close to Fashion Island, so feel free to stop by before or after your holiday shopping sprees.
Metro Estates
120 Newport Center Drive Suite 160
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Please see Brad or Joanie for more details on how your generosity can make a child smile this holiday season. You can also contact me if you’d like additional information.
949.338.7408 angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Thanks in advance…everyone.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )A Mission Viejo Real Estate Treasure
Anybody who’s ever set foot in Mission Viejo knows there’s a lot to like about this city. No doubt one of the reasons for such widespread appeal is the Cortez community. 
You’ve just got to see it to believe it – acres and acres of very well-maintained, 1 and 2 story homes tucked away in the lush rolling hills of south MV.
It’s all here, including –
- Panoramic views from many of the fine homes gracing the community
- Access to the waterfront bliss of spectacular Lake Mission Viejo
- A first-rate education courtesy of the award-winning Capistrano Unified School District
- Warm, friendly people galore.
Cortez offers you ten distinctive floor plans to choose from. And here’s the really amazing part — there are NO tract HOA’s to pay. There’s only one fee bundled with the privilege of kicking up your heels in this jewel of a neighborhood — $120 yearly for the MV lake association.
Right now, buyers will discover bargains aplenty waiting for them in this prime slice of Orange County Real Estate. But like anything this good, it won’t last forever. That’s why it’s a good idea take advantage of the Cortez opportunities now.
If you’d like to learn more about living the ultimate dream in this vibrant Mission Viejo community, I’m ready to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408, angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Small Elections, Big Impact
Election 2010 definitely will bring some changes to sunny California. Just how far the voting will transform the golden state remains to be seen. But while state matters are destined to get most of the limelight, local communities could be in for a number of changes depending on how the ‘smaller’ elections go. 
The upshot? Small elections count, often for a great deal. Let’s take voting for your local County Supervisor . This official heads up the Board of Supervisors, and in that capacity, must cast his or her vote on any number of important issues. A Supervisor’s voting decisions can be major factors in shaping the future of a particular community. Among the issues influenced by these officials are noise, legislation, budgets, industrial pollution, property modifications, zoning, and even conflicts between neighbors. You get the idea. They cover a lot of important territory.
School Board elections can exert an equally extensive influence. Members of this committee are entrusted with the task of deciding the fate of schools within their district. Their decisions reverberate through everything from adapting educational standards and monitoring student achievement to policy making, development of district budgets, and changes in district boundaries. Yes, they stay busy.
Of course, there are a number of other small elections that boast high-impact potential. So a word to the wise — never consider any election too small or unimportant. Even the smallest can have a big influence on your community and you. As an active member of my own community, I can’t stress the importance of voting for all the small stuff. It’s a great way to do your part for your community.
NOW GET UP AND GO VOTE! Not sure where? Confirm here.
And if you’d like to learn more about how you can help your own community thrive, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408, angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Orange County Real Estate Success 