Orange County Real Estate Success

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    Four Tips for Serious Real Estate Investors

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    angieweeks

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    For success in today’s marketplace, a Real Estate investor definitely needs a realistic strategy and set of expectations.  Before you plunk down your hard earned money on an Orange County property, you’ve got to cut through all the debris and determined exactly what IS a good deal, who gets them, and how.  From my experience, investors should adhere to the following guidelines to maximize their chances of success.

    1. Determine how much you want to spend.
    2. Determine your intention.  Is the property you’re eyeballing a portfolio piece, or buy & flip?
    3. Know how to recognize a good deal.  Once you’ve pinpointed market value and neighborhood, grabbing a property at 10% below market value is a DEAL.
    4. Get the REAL numbers. How much are expenses, upgrades, commissions, rents, etc.?

    I had the good fortune of interviewing John, a full time courthouse steps investor. According to him, a profit of 10-15% on the courthouse steps is good.  Remember, you make your $$ not on a per deal basis, but by how fast you move the property or turn your money.

    John added that many investors are going for condos that are un-financeable. Why? Because the less people can buy, the more the value drops. Good ol’ supply and demand at work. Many investors are buying to hold for 5-10 yrs, hoping the hoa recovers, and the property significantly appreciates. And while we’re on the topic of condos, investors should have a good long look at those located in college towns.  Since these properties are a short walk to the local campus, they have a built-in appeal.

    Need a spreadsheet to help with your numbers!?  Just call, tweet, or email me! I’ve got just what you need. And, of course, if you have any questions about buying or selling Orange County homes, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

  • Touch the Lives of Children This Year

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    angieweeks

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    Right now you can really make a difference in the lives of some very special children. Metro Estates is proud to be sponsoring a 4th Annual Essentials For Young Lives campaign through HomeAid Orange County.  Essentials for Young Lives is a community-wide effort to gather and distribute a wide range of necessities to homeless infants and toddlers. The number of young people in this category is swelling. In fact, mothers and children currently are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.

    For those wishing to contribute to this very worthy cause, drop boxes are conveniently located in the office. And be sure to ask family, friends, and clients if they’d like to participate.

    Here’s What’s Needed

    • Diapers
    • Baby Wipes
    • Baby Food
    • Baby Hygiene Products

    Drop-Off Address and Hours:

    120 Newport Center Drive #160
    Newport Beach CA 92660
    9:30am – 5:30pm

    If you ‘d like any further information about Essentials for Young Lives, I’ll be happy to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

    Thanks in advance for your support!

  • Mission Viejo Real Estate: A Look At Madrid

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    Within the great city of Mission Viejo there are a number of sub communities that all boast different architectural styles and amenities that homeowners can take advantage of. One of the mood more popular sub communities of Mission Viejo real estate is Madrid. The sub community of Madrid is one of the first areas homeowners look at when they seek a home within Mission Viejo.

    This is because Madrid is considered by many to be the crown jewel of sub communities within Mission Viejo and is often thought of as a community full of ancient beauty combined with modern style. Moreover the sub community consists of 945 homes with three very different floor plans with the smallest being a generous 1772 square feet. What this essentially means is that all the homes within Madrid not only look good and are spacious enough to house large families but the neighborhood is also one of the safest and most revered among those with children. Speaking of which, Madrid is home to a number of great schools, both public and private, ranging from the elementary level to the collegiate level. This is truly one of the best areas in which to raise a family.

    Of course it goes without saying that anyone who purchases a home in Madrid will enjoy not just the amenities of that community but all the benefits that come with owning Mission Viejo real estate in general. Be it restaurants, shopping malls, country clubs, golf courses, residents of Madrid will be able to enjoy all.

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    Flex Your Solar Power – Orange County Solar Options

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    angieweeks

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    As we roar into the home stretch of March, I thought I’d squeeze in one more reminder that this is Green & Sustainability Month.  Being the environmentally-conscious citizen that I am, I’d like to pitch in by covering one more topic related to the health and well-being of our planet – solar power.

    Those of us in mostly sunny California will have no problem tapping into the unlimited supply of energy from our favorite and most important star. There are two great reasons to do so. Not only will this ever-present form of renewable energy save you major bucks on your electric bill, it will go a long way to saving Earth’s rapidly-disappearing natural resources.

    But the benefits of this renewable resource don’t stop there. Other characteristics of solar power that make it a superb energy source are:

    • Non-polluting, unlike petroleum-based fuels.
    • Low-maintenance — Solar cells have no moving parts. So virtually no servicing is required.
    • Longevity — Solar cells can last indefinitely.
    • Versatility —  Can power everything from cars to satellites.
    • Adaptability — Solar power may be more practical than electrical wiring in a remote location.
    • Quiet — Solar cells silently collect all that energy from the sun.

    I recently chatted with Rob Huie of Renew Solar Energy about this very timely topic.

    For more great info about putting solar energy to work for you, please visit Orange County Solar Company, Renew Solar Energy. And, of course, if I can be assistance in any way, don’t hesitate to please feel free to reach out to me. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

  • Orange County Home Staging – What to expect

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    kerenshamay

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    Hi Everyone,

    I thought it would be great to start off with the basics of Home Staging. This should give you a good idea of what you can expect when trying to give the best impression while selling your house and why.

    A good Realtor should be working with a Home Stager regularly, or at least have one that they trust on hand. I have been told that many home owners are not interested in spending the money on Home Staging because  they do not see the value of it. They see it as an added expense and nothing more. I believe this impression is true, but only because most people are not educated about the value they get for their money in this area. The truth is that of all the things you will spend money on while selling your home, few have the rate of return shown by Home Staging.

    Why Stage an Orange County home?

    The idea behind staging your house is that you make it appealing to as many people as possible. The average home buyer does not have the imagination needed to visualize living in your home while you are still there. By staging you give them not only the emotional space to attach to your house, but also create a lifestyle that they want to have. This is basic marketing. Most home-buyers will decide within 30 seconds of walking in your front door whether they will buy or not. If they feel comfortable when they walk in they will start to relax and visualize themselves there. If they are turned off immediately, you have lost them. The pool in the back yard, the upgraded kitchen and every other luxury you have does not matter. This is why hiring a specialist is so important.

    What should you expect from a Home Stager? I believe that you should expect at least a couple of appointments depending on your home’s condition. My first appointment is always a short consult where we sit down and discuss the situation. We go over concerns, expectations and the plan. I then give the home-owners homework. Don’t get scared, any good Stager should do this for you. I tell them what needs to be done before I come in for the actual staging day. This usually involves cleaning, removing clutter and all the extra furniture that is overcrowding the house. “But there is nothing wrong with my furniture. And my taste in art is exquisite.” You may say.  That may be true, but the idea is to appeal to the largest number of people. A good Stager has been trained to market your house for a quick sale.

    The staging day itself lasts for a few hours. In my appointments, I come in and start moving things around. We work together to get all the furniture positioned properly so there is good flow throughout the house. We add accessories where needed and remove when not. We then walk the house and discuss the changes that were made. I make sure that you understand what I did, and why it is important. I give you a list of things that must be kept up, and a few suggestions for additions should you choose to make them.

    For more information about available services, and some tips and tricks, check out my web-site. www.shamaystaging.com.

    Have a great weekend!

    Keren Shamay, Shamay Staging & Redesign Inc.

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    Protect Your Orange County Investment and Your Family

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    angieweeks

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    Hey, folks. March is Green & Sustainability Month, and I thought I’d pitch in by sharing a few thoughts about an issue affecting us right where we all live – our home.  The issue is an insidious substance known as radon, the silent threat.  Radon was the primary topic on a recent episode of Dr. Oz, which stressed the importance of scheduling radon inspections for homes, businesses, and schools.

    Here are a few things all Orange County homeowners or business owners should know about this silent threat:

    • Radon results from the decay of uranium in soil, water, and rocks, all of which can be found beneath a home’s foundation. From this starting point, the gas can seep into homes and eventually lead to very serious health problems.
    • Thousands of radon hot spots exist in the U.S. These locations demonstrate much higher than average levels of the gas. Specialized tests reveal evidence of a clear link between breathing high concentrations of radon and lung cancer. Clearly, radon testing is critical to ensure the safety of any home, business, or school.
    • While radon sampler kits are available, thorough testing by a professional environmental inspector is recommended. Such testing may utilize charcoal canisters, charcoal liquid scintillation devices, alpha-track detectors, and electric ion chamber detectors.

    For more insights regarding this silent threat, check out this very informative video courtesy of the Dr. Oz show.

    If you’d like maximum peace of mind, consider getting your home tested for radon levels. In my book, the best person for the job is Mike Cantor with 20/20 Home Inspections.  He’s friendly, fast, reliable, and state-certified. So give him a call. You’ll be glad you did.

    Naturally, if I can be of assistance with this or any other issue pertaining to your Orange County home, please feel free to reach out to me. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

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    10 Ways to Avoid Short Sale Delays

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    angieweeks

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    If you’re involved with a short sale for an Orange County home, the last thing you need is a mountain of delays. Fortunately, there are 10 steps you can take to help minimize logjams and power through the sale at a reasonable pace. 

    1. Make sure buyers, sellers, and agents are all on the same page as far as expectations go. Everyone needs to understand that the process is complex, and things don’t exactly happen overnight.
    2. Homeowners should complete all necessary financial hardship documentation. It is important to update these docs on a consistent basis.
    3. Get the sale property up on MLS and market the heck out of it.
    4. Come to an agreement regarding any external third party fees before submitting HUD (agreement should be valid for 60 days). Possible external fees include short sale negotiation, reconveyence, document preparation, and notary.
    5. Before submitting short sale documents and/or images, go over them with a fine tooth comb for accuracy.
    6. Lagers can cause some serious delays. So make sure customers and agents complete all necessary tasks in a timely manner.
    7. Do your best to get a purchase offer that reflects the best possible fair market value and highest return for investors.
    8. Submit fully executed purchase offers, making sure all addenda have been signed by buyer and homeowner. Provide any supporting documentation with offers.
    9. Get busy and obtain a release on outside liens as early in the process as possible.
    10. Be on the lookout for any of the following situations, as they invite delays:

    a) A change in buyer, agent, or terms
    b) Customer files for bankruptcy or divorce
    c) Changes after approval letter is issued (please note expiration date)

    If you’d like to learn more about short sale opportunities in the Orange County Real Estate market, I’ll be delighted to help.  You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

  • OC Staging: A Lesson in the Foreclosure Process

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    kerenshamay

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    Hello again from Real Estate Investor School. Another day another topic. What did we learn about today? Trustee sales, or auctions. This is where the houses that were foreclosed go to be sold. Feel a little lost? Don’t worry, many people don’t really understand how it works. For the purposes of this article I will use CA, a Deed of Trust State. This will be high level because the details could fill about 365 blogs. Let’s start from the beginning.

    How does the foreclosure process work?

    When you have financial problems you may miss some house payments. When your loan becomes delinquent the bank files a Notice of Default. This is the time when your house can be put on the market for Short Sale. This time period is called the “Pre-foreclosure” period. It can last anywhere between 90 days and 2 years these days. At the end of this period your house will go to auction. Here the bank will try to sell it to the highest bidder in hopes of recovering their money. Up until about 5 days before the auction you may be able to delay the auction and try to pull off a short sale.

    What happens at an Orange County home auction?

    Now the house is at Auction. It is still held by the bank, but technically owned by the homeowner who defaulted. All the investors and interested parties clamber into the auction house or courthouse and bid on all the properties out that day. This in itself is a very interesting process and is where you can find great deals on properties. The catch is that you have to come in with some money up front, and be able to pay the rest within 24 – 48 hours. If the house does not sell at auction, we move to the REO arena.

    What is an REO?

    What exactly is an REO, and why don’t the letters relate to “Bank owned” at all you ask? Great question. REO stands for Real Estate Owned. You see, the bank is not allowed to own Real Estate by law. After the auction, if the house does not sell, its ownership reverts to itself. That’s right, the house owns itself. It is only managed by the bank. Now the house sits on the market until someone is willing to buy it at the listed price, or make an offer the bank will accept.

    You may be asking at this point why a Home Stager is writing about Real Estate Investing and attending Investing School. On top of being a Home Stager, I am also an Investor and help homeowners who are in trouble. I find win-win-win (Homeowner – Bank – Me) solutions. My goal is to get the homeowners out before they get to the foreclosure point and possibly keep their credit completely clean. This week I am brushing up on some skills so that I have as many tools as possible to serve my clients.

    If you have interest in home staging or my investing adventures, contact me, Keren Shamay, on LinkedIn!

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    Orange County Home Staging: Horrible Odors

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    kerenshamay

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    Keren Shamay of Shamay Staging & Redesign Inc. here. I am currently in AZ at Real Estate Investment school. Today’s topic? Fix and Flip. How to do it the right way. What are the hazards? What problems come up? During one of the discussions we ran across a house that had terrible pet odors. The kind that happen after years of more than 5 dogs living in a house, some of which never went outside. Imagine walking into that kind of house as a buyer.

    Most home owners do no have that scale of problem on their hands. Many however do have a less offensive version of it. Most buyers may not say anything, but will definitely cross your house off the list of potentials to buy. So as a seller with a pet odor problem, how do you remedy it? The answer that will help the majority of homeowners is paint. Get enough paint to repaint the inside of your house. Go to a store that sells essential oils and get one vial of Cedar-wood and One vial of Orange. Mix 5 drops each of the oils per gallon of paint and paint your walls.

    This should solve many of your problems. If it does not fix the problem, call a Stager who is experienced with this process for the next steps. You are at a point where you may need much more than basic staging advice.  They will be able to help you resolve the toughest of issues. As a home Stager I am very familiar with this remedy, and the next steps should they be needed.  No matter who you use, a Stager along with your Realtor are your best allies in getting your house sold.

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    OC YPN Striding Forward With 2011 Lunch & Learn Series

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    angieweeks

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    I’ve been awarded the honor of coordinating the OC YPN Lunch & Learn series for 2011, and I’ve gotta admit, I’m pretty darn excited about the whole thing. With good reason. Not only are these monthly get-togethers designed for maximum fun, they’re offering agents the education of a lifetime. Come to the luncheons, and you’ll acquire dozens of proven techniques to better serve you clients. You’ll also gain a gold mine of insights on utilizing the full arsenal of contemporary Real Estate tools. This includes everything from mastering the art of negotiation to unraveling the secrets of effective social networking. It’s all here. Lock, stock, and barrel. 

    Remember, the high-energy luncheons have been designed for the enjoyment and edification of all ages of the YPN membership. So come one, come all. Experienced professionals as well as newbies.

    For more details about this spectacular series, including an amazing lineup of speakers, please consult our official Lunch & Learn Calendar.

    And, of course, feel free to contact your loyal Lunch & Learn coordinator for additional information.  You can connect with me at @ 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

    So meet, greet, and eat as you learn the inner secrets of the Real Estate profession. It’s the OC YPN Lunch & Learn series. And it’s all happening in 2011!  See you there!

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    You’re Invited to Tee It Up Fore Marines

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    Good news, people. The city of Mission Viejo is offering you a golden opportunity to strut your stuff on the golf green and lend a helping hand to some very special people. On Friday, March 25, the city will be holding its first annual Tee It Up Fore Marines golf tournament. Tee off time is noon sharp at the Marine Memorial Golf Course in Camp Pendleton. The event will benefit the marines, sailors, and families of Mission Viejo’s adopted Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. Sponsoring the much-anticipated tournament are the Marine and Sailors Adoption Committee, Mission Viejo Community Foundation, and the city itself.

    All community members, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to participate in or help sponsor the event.  Sponsorships range from $200 to $5,000, but donations in any amount are more than appreciated. Auction and raffle items are also welcome.

    Entry fees are as follows:

    • $200 per individual golfer
    • $800 for a foursome which includes a marine

    In addition to feeding your hunger for competitive play, the event will feature a full course lunch and barbecue dinner. Plus an awards ceremony and much more.

    Registration and sponsorship opportunities are now available. All those offering their support should make checks payable to the Mission Viejo Community Foundation and mail them to the Marine Golf Tournament c/o Mission Viejo Community Foundation, 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

    For more information, visit  www.teeitupforemarines.com or call 949-470-3061.

    And if you really can’t get enough of the green, why not make your home where your heart is? Mission Viejo boasts an outstanding selection of gorgeous golf course homes guaranteed to keep you a put away from the action. We’ll be more than happy to set up a custom property search for you. Or simply contact me directly for more information. Connect with me @ 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

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    Orange County Moving Company Offers YOU a 10% Discount

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    angieweeks

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    If you’re moving or planning to move, the Weeks Team has a great way to eliminate headaches, as well as save time and money. We’re teaming up a with an amazing group of local professionals who’ve dedicated themselves to making your move as simple and hassle-free as possible.

    Bigs & Smalls Moving & Storage Services is Orange County’s premier moving service. And when we say service, we mean FULL service. They’ll do the packing, the moving, or both. They’ll even help with storage. So you can focus on the million and one other things screaming for your attention at moving time. 

    And right now you can get 10% off of their services. All you have to do is mention me, Angie Weeks. Trust me. My name carries a lot of weight.

    So save money, time, and hassles when you’re ready to make your big move. Contact Bigs & Smalls Moving & Storage Services today.  And be sure to mention the very influential Angie Weeks for your 10% discount.

    And, of course, I’m ready to help when you want to find the ideal place to move to. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

    Happy Moving!

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    Abundant Opportunities in the Mission Viejo Real Estate Market

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    angieweeks

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    You say you want to buy a home at a fantastic price in a fantastic community? Then it’s time you discovered the wealth of opportunities Mission Viejo Real Estate has to offer.

    Mission Viejo is a community of dreams.  A suburban jewel that has been voted one of the top cities in the United States.  Low crime, high quality of life, outstanding school system, and friendly people are just some of the highlights of this thriving community.

    Now if that alone isn’t enough to lure you in for a closer look, consider the choice of excellent homes you’ll discover here.  We’re talking great layouts, generous square footage, and spacious lots. Plus many of these homes offer breathtaking views of surrounding hillsides, mountains, and cityscapes.

    Mission Viejo owes a great deal of its inherent appeal to the character of its communities. All of them are united by a common excellence, yet each stands alone with its own personality. Among these standout communities are the La Paz Tract, which was completed in 1970 and consists of 1263 detached homes; the El Dorado Tract, population 62, 000; and the popular Cortez Tract.

    And those are just a few of the outstanding communities that make Mission Viejo a place like no other. If you’d like to learn more about any of the city’s upscale communities and the abundant opportunities in the Mission Viejo Real Estate market, I’ll be delighted to help.  You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

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    It’s Buy Time in the Orange County Real Estate Market

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    angieweeks

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    Well, the New Year is underway, and many of us are probably looking back at ‘2010, going over all the plusses and minuses. Hopefully, there are more plusses in your corner. At any rate, before more of ‘011 slips by, it’s definitely a good time to take stock of things, re-assess our goals, and hopefully set some new ones. If you’re like most people, one of those goals will be beefing up your financial portfolio. 

    Right now, Real Estate offers more opportunity than ever to help you meet this objective. Yes, we’re definitely in a buyer’s market. Why do I make such a claim? Two basic reasons:

    • Fantastic Inventory – The market is swelling with homes. So the choices abound, and the prices remain low.
    • Interest Rates Are at a Historic Low – Seize the opportunities before rates start heading north.

    The upshot?  Bargains galore.

    So if you’re looking for a property, this Realtor has to recommend BUY.

    On the other hand, if you intend to sell, I’m recommending you hold off until the pendulum begins swinging in the other direction.

    Well, that’s it in a nutshell. If you’d like to learn more about opportunities in the Orange County Real Estate market, I’ll be delighted to help.  You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 or  angie@askangie.com,  @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

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    HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PARTNERS WITH ORANGE COUNTY YPN

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    angieweeks

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    Hot off the press!!!!

    Mission Viejo, January 12, 2011 – Young Professionals Network partners with Habitat for Humanity on a Mission Viejo Rehabilitation Construction project. This exciting event will take place on January 21, 2011 from 7:30am-3:30pm and the location’s address is 22908 Via Nuez, #44 Mission Viejo, CA 92691. Young Professionals Network partners with Habitat for Humanity in an effort to give back to the community.
     
    Orange County Young Professionals Network (YPN) chapter represents the Orange County Association of Realtors. The YPN chapter will host monthly mixers and training sessions to educate and build individual business goals with associates and sponsors from all over Southern California.

    Habitat for Humanity of Orange County transforms lives and communities by helping families in need purchase or renovate their homes.

    Please comment if you are interested in joining us and get involved in this exciting event benefiting Habitat for Humanity and giving back to our community!

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    Room Planning

    Published by

    angieweeks

    on

    When looking for a new home and you want to keep your furniture but you’re not sure if it fits into your new room?  Here’s a website that can help you out!

    http://www.bassettfurniture.com/tools/room-planner.asp

    Take the measurements of the room and the measures of the furniture and your on your way to having a great fitting room for your new home! 🙂

  • Wrap Around Loan

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    angieweeks

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    Don’t know what a wrap around loan is?  Here’s your answer!  A wrap around loan allows you to purchase property without having to qualify for a loan. The seller, known as the lender in this case, will sell you the property for an agreed upon amount. You will pay the seller that amount as a fixed monthly payment which includes interest charged by the seller.  The amount that is to be paid to the seller includes what is owed on the loan and the equity on that property. The seller makes extra money by charging a higher interest rate than what they currently are paying. Upon receiving the payment the lender will turn around and pay on the loan.
    In order to properly use a Wrap Around Loan, there must be no due on sale clause on the property. It means that the loan is due upon sale to the lender of the initial loan. The seller would have to pay the loan off in full. It is important to be careful because if you are attempting to get this sort of property you could be forced out of the property if there is this clause because the lender would have to sell it”

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    OCYPN & Habitat For Humanity Schedule Mission Viejo Property Rehab

    Published by

    angieweeks

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    Orange County Young Professionals Network is very excited to be working with Jennifer Chung and the folks over at Habitat OC to improve our community 🙂

    We’ve set a date to rehab a property in Mission Viejo!!

    Date: Friday, January 21st
    Time: 7am – 3pm
    Place: address to be provided upon sign up; we know it’s a property Mission Viejo that needs our help!

    Orange County Realtors of ALL ages…..would you like to join us? If you’ve never worked with Habitat check out http://www.habitatoc.org or read a post or two we’ve written over the years. They are a wonderful organization who focuses on putting roofs over deserving heads and educating about homeownership.

    For more details tweet @weeksteam or @angieweeks, like OCYPN on Facebook, or email Angie@askangie.com. Hope to see you at the build!

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    11 Great Reasons to Buy an Orange County Home in 2011

    Published by

    angieweeks

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    A New Year means new opportunities. And one place you’ll discover opportunities galore is in the Real Estate market. It’s true. I did some poking around and came up a whole slew of great reasons to buy an Orange County home in 2011.  Here’s 11 for 11 —

    1. Low Interest Rates – Right now they’re at historic lows. But don’t expect them to linger in the basement forever. The time to act is NOW.  Be sure to consult a certified mortgage planner for details.
    2. Real Estate is a Great Long-Term Investment – Stocks may rise and fall, but you can pretty much count on the home you buy to appreciate in the long term. There’s plenty of historic precedent for this phenomenon. So get in while the gettin’s good.   
    3. Motivated Sellers – They’re out there in droves. And they want out of their houses quick-like. And you thought after-holiday sales were the only bargains.
    4. Avoid High Rents After Retirement – Better to own a home than owe a landlord.
    5. OC Boasts Three of the Safest Cities in the U.S. And if that isn’t enough, you can add the county’s award-winning schools, beautiful open spaces, great shopping and entertainment, and a well-earned reputation as a hub of high technology.
    6. You now can buy a Newport Beach mansion for under 40 Million dollars. At minimum, you can nab a $17 million reduction from the original asking price! Got a few extra million greenbacks to plunk down on a home?
    7. Your neighbor could be one of the ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’. By merely borrowing a cup of sugar, you could wind up with a guest spot on the show. Sugar-borrower today, reality TV star tomorrow!  
    8. Orange County is unlike any place else in our solar system. What makes us so gosh darn special? Let’s start with a diversity of industries that keep the county’s economy and per capita income growing stronger every day.  Orange County also boasts a bounty of blue ribbon schools, fantastic year-round climate, and a delightfully friendly environment. The cheery OC picture is rounded out by scenic mountains, nature-carved canyons, and 40 miles of spectacular ocean frontage.
    9. Great shopping for every mood, taste, and budget.  Fashion Island, The District, and Irvine Spectrum are among the county’s numerous first-class shopping destinations.  Where else in the country can you take your family AND poodle to dine and shop in the middle of winter?
    10. Great Benefits for Newlyweds – Tell family and friends you’re saving for your first home! Various loan options allow you to put only a very small amount down on your dream home. Even better, the source of the funding can be ‘gift money’. Wouldn’t you rather use this dough for a down payment than for the acquisition of imported tea cups that will just linger unused in a crowded cupboard. Plus you won’t be throwing cash away into that abyss known as apartment rent.
    11. The Weeks Team – As Orange County Real Estate specialists, we’re available for ALL your housing needs!  The Weeks Team offers you customized home searches and the VERY BEST in customer service and satisfaction.  Let’s work together to get you and your family into an Orange County dream home!

    If you’d like to learn more about finding the ideal Orange County home, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408,   angie@askangie.com,   @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

    Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

  • ,

    And the Winner Is…Where Are the Best OC Holiday Lights?

    Published by

    angieweeks

    on

    People aren’t the only ones dressing up special for the holidays. Orange County is decked out bright and festive with holiday lights galore. From one end to the other, the OC has been transformed into a twinkling fairlyland of illumination. Which raises the question – where are the best lights?  With so many possibilities to choose from, there’s no easy answer. Here are just a few of the contenders well worth having a long look at   —

    • The Newport Beach Boat Parade –   Over a hundred years old, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade brightens the harbor with a dazzling holiday spectacle.
    • Zimmerman’s House/Balboa Island – Located at 327 Saphire, the renown residence  has garnered numerous awards, and has been spotlighted in many newspapers such as the LA Times.
    • The Eagle Hills Community/Brea – A total community showcase of holiday magic that can best be described as hundreds of Griswald homes all in one place. This definitely is a five star destination.
    • Nellie Gail Ranch/Laguna Hills – A truly unique show that coordinates music and lights into a fantastic display of color and sound.
    • Rogers Gardens/Newport Beach – Their popular Winter Wonderland transports you to an enchanted new world highlighted by a community of charming cottages, each with a different theme. Set against a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.
    • Plus there’s ‘Lively Shively’ in Ladera Ranch and all those amazingly-decorated trees on La Paz.

    Where are the best OC holiday light displays?  Tweet us your faves.

    And if you’d like any more information about celebrating the holidays in OC, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408,   angie@askangie.com,   @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.

    Happy Holidays!

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