Orange County Real Estate Success

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    Financing Vacation Rentals Made Easy

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    angieweeks

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    Financing Vacation Rentals Made Easy

    Are you ready to take your next step towards your goal of Financing Vacation Rentals, but don’t know how? If yes, and you’re looking for answers, then this blog is for you.

    Short Term Rentals and Airbnb have become widespread and profitable businesses in recent years. One of the best ways to get your vacation rental business going is to surround yourself with the proper team. A vacation rental team gives you structure, direction, and freedom. A big part of your acquisition team will be the lender. Financing your vacation rentals, over just paying cash, allows you to leverage and frequently purchase more properties. But what happens when you have ‘too many mortgages’, and your loan application gets denied?

    Have you been turned down by a traditional mortgage lender?

    If so, Host Financial Services most of the US, and can help you qualify for a loan based on rental income.

    Why should you consider Asset-Based (DSCR) Lending?

    An asset-based loan also known as a DSCR loan (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) qualifies as a loan based on the property’s income rather than your own. Essentially, the property’s income should be equal to or greater than the cost of ownership (monthly principal, interest, taxes, and insurance payments).

    Host Financial is an asset-based lender. Unlike a traditional lender, Host Financial makes use of the income of the asset. They also do not look at DTI, tax returns, job status, or W2s to underwrite the loan. Rather, they consider the property’s actual or projected short-term rental income, credit score, appraised value, and liquidity.

    Here are some important points to know about Host Financial:

    • Help rental owners make wiser decisions and do AirDNA reports right off the bat.
    • They work mostly with Limited Liability Companies (LLC), so working with partners and multiple people on a deal is not an issue.
    • Every asset-based loan through Host Financial requires a personal guarantor.
    • One of the benefits of working with Host Financial is the ability to use the highest credit score when working with multiple borrowers or team investors.
    • Turnaround time for pre-approval is the same day or next. That great deal that you find online today can be approved tomorrow.
    • Underwriting approval has a typical turnaround of only 2 days.
    • Still expect to do an appraisal on your asset based financing, appraisals cannot be waived.
    • Contingencies can be removed within 21 days in most cases.
    Kahieluana Estate in Puako, Hawaii is One of the best Airbnb and Vacation Rental in the World.

    One thing to be aware of when writing your purchase contracts is that asset-based financing doesn’t close in 30 days. Although there is less paperwork, the typical turnaround time for this loan type is 30 to 45 days.

    Qualifying for an Asset Based Loan

    Our team is committed to help investors connect with the best short-term rental lenders in the business, and help make finding and financing your vacation rentals easy. The goal is to help you systemize property searches, acquisition financing, and your short term rental tasks once you acquire the investment. A strong network of nationwide lenders will make your transaction easy and efficient. Consider aligning with Host Financial and the AskAngie team to serve as your one-stop-shop for your vacation rental needs!

    To see if you can qualify for that new vacation property today hop into Host Financial and click STR Revenue Calculator to confirm your ideal numbers before getting a quote to finance your next vacation rental.

    Keep us posted if you’d like to write any offers in the state of California – we can help with a same-day turnaround. Just text Angie at 949-338-7408 and you’ll be on your way to owning your next investment property.

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    Creative, Affordable, Durable, Sustainable, & Adorable ADUs in California

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    angieweeks

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    Creative, Affordable, Durable, Sustainable, & Adorable ADUs in California

    Cal Earth inspirational workshops and hands-on classes offer a new way to build real estate

    Today we took a field trip to the Cal Earth build & test site in Hesperia. This educational builder camp sits in Hesperia, CA because it has extreme heat, freezing cold temps, and is on a fault line. Additionally, Hesperia experiences flash flooding & washes, so it makes for a perfect test ground.

    Superadobe buildings are Seismic & earthquake proof, fireproof, flood, & wind proof. They can handle snow loads and pressure. They don’t need rebar or concrete to build. They look super creative & flowy, but they are actually extremely structurally sound.

    Many of the test structures at the Hesperia Cal Earth site are not maintained on purpose to see how they stand the test of time. This school has truly been built out by its students, and the first structure built in 1990’s is still standing today. It was such a fascinating experience!

    Meet the Superadobe

    If needed for refuge or quick builds, these structures can pop up camp in just a couple days. ‘Water village’, pictured here with Cal Earth volunteers Giovanni & Marco, is an on-site example of a cluster of single room homes, built to serve as a replica of what an actual refugee community might look like. Although designed to be temporary housing, this little village has been standing for the last 20 years.

    Since superadobes are so durable, they can also stand the test of time for single family builds. Don’t feel like buying a ‘cookie cutter’ tract home? Cal Earth Institute offers preapproved plans – if you sign up for one of their workshops you’ll get a copy 😉 Of course, this is a part of the reason why we went. What’s a workshop without implementation?

    We’d love to hear in the comments if you know anyone who has built a superadobe, or if you plan to build one yourself.

    What Makes an Adobe Home a Superadobe?

    Nader Khalili is the inventor & architect from Iran, who used to build skyscrapers for a living in Los Angeles, but he wasn’t fulfilled. He discovered Rumi, & changed his direction into sustainable building. 

    Not long after, Nader invented the ‘superabdobe’; which is a permanent Adobe structure. Rather than a traditional Adobe that cannot withstand a natural disaster, Superadobes are much more durable. Nader has since moved on from this realm, but his vision lives on through Cal Earth Institute.

    Khalili loved biomimicry, mimicking designs and structures from nature. His designs include the ‘Seashell dome’; ‘Reptile walls’; and the ‘Koala pouch’. Not everything was biomimicry, however. The dome-obsessed architect also incorporated roofless domes for high heat; apses, and pottery domes.  

    Supply List to Build a Superadobe ADU

    I loved how easy the supply list was. These were things that even I could carry, and didn’t need a huge truck to transport.

    • 4 pt double pronged galvanized barbed wire; 12-14 gague thickness.
    • 14 inch diameter bags to make 12 inch walls, just FYI you lose some width when you fill the bag with earth.
    • Need coffee cans, or gallon buckets, depending on width of bags.
    • Shovels,
    • Tamper,
    • Wheelbarrow,
    • Scissors or knife
    • A cement mixer or electric mixer makes things go way quicker.
    • Level
    • Wire cutters
    • Water source

    Want the FULL supply list? That’s still super short? Just TEXT “Cal Earth Supply List” to Angie at 949-338-7408.

    Another thing that’s really neat is you don’t have to build a shelter at all with the earthbags from Cal Earth. You can build benches, stairs, planters, pools, fountains, fences…an Amphitheater for your Hipcamp…or whatever flowy and functional structure your mind conjures up 🙂

    Pictured right is Daniel & our new Cal Earth workshop friends practicing with with the tamper. I can just see his wheels turning about what the next Flower Den Superadobe Retreat will look like – stay tuned, LOL!

    Tips For Building a Superadobe Structure

    A fun fact about superadobes is the heat transfer from outside is only at about one inch per hour. It won’t get too hot or too cold over the 12 hour daylight or nighttime hours. Not only do adobe’s prevent heat, they absorbs it, so that warmth slowly transfers inside to keep you comfortable at night. 

    Our first tips are about measuring and prepping properly for your fill:

    1. When laying barbed wire, measure from the center of your bag, and add 2 extra feet.
    2. When measuring for bag, walk the perimeter of the circle, and add 3 feet before cutting.
    3. Fold long bags in half & mark the middle. ‘Cuff’ the ends so plastic doesn’t fly all over.
    4. Partially flip bags inside out from each side, this makes them easier to fill. Be mindful to ONLY fill one side at a time.
    Superadobe’s can be open air or include windows. Here’s a sample of a Superadobe kitchen, built in 2007. This model uses standard windows, but you can also get creative with upcycled glass bottle or ceramic windows.

    More Pointers for a Proper Adobe Build

    Since your main ingredient is earth from the land you’re standing on, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got the right mix. As you’ll be investing a lot of sweat equity, make sure to do a soil test before building to know how far you’ll need to go down in the earth to get past the living matter. It was stressed multiple times, make sure no living matter or roots are in your mix. Rocks bigger than your palm need to go too. If you can close your hand around it, then it’s fine, but larger than that should be tossed from the mix. Don’t worry though, it’s very forgiving to make the mix – there are adobe and superadobe structures across the world, & in all different types of terrain.

    The tips kept flying fast at our one day workshop; I caught as many as possible. Figure they are best served here as bullet points:

    • Keep everything dry & well ventilated if you are building in a wet area.
    • Thickness of the wall depends on diameter of the build.
    • Stabilize to resist erosion in flood zones, plan French drains & diversion. Your french drains can even be designed to water the landscape 😉
    • Plan where the furniture will go before you start to build because a lot of it is built in; remember most furniture is square.. and there will be limited to zero squared angles in an adobe build.
    • In case you’re only reading the bullets here, reminder to never use the top 1 ft of soil. Dig deeper to get to the inert materials like the sand, gravel, clay & silt.
    • Orient windows south. Create & plan ‘Wind scoops’ facing the main direction of breeze in summer.
    • PVC pipes, ceramic tubes, or even recycled bottles can be used for windows. Check out the custom ceramic windows pictured here. 
    • If doing radiant heat in floors, insulate under first!
    • Utilize rocket stoves for simple heat sources.
    • By the time you build up, its already compacted.
    • Plaster right away, but don’t lay it in too thick, or else it may crack.
    • Mesh or chicken wire is recommended to prevent cracking.
    • Waterproof paint in wet areas.
    • Note that limewash interior is anti fungal.
    • If the bag needs to move, lift & pull. Don’t push.

    Super Adobe Construction Made Simple

    In essence, 4 main ingredients can build a pretty badass house. Sandbags, barbed wire, earth, & stabilizer. So easy. Sandbags can be made from polypropylene, hemp, or jute fiber. You can use long bags designed for adobes, or, just normal sandbags might work best if you’re doing the build with only a couple people. Stabilizer is added in the bag, like lime or plaster. From there, you’ll just cover the bags from UV rays and the elements while you build with a tarp, and you’ll be good. Note that jute might mold or rot, so it’s not recommended to build with it in winter. Supposedly jute is better for short term structures. The barbed wire acts as a velcro or glue between layers of bag and prevents the building from laterally sliding.

    It seemed like the toughest part of the day was ‘completing the circle’ – which was the act of finishing each circular level on the stem wall. (That’s the straight vertical wall) It wasn’t difficult so to speak, just a process of folding both ends away from you, after propping the bag up with your feet (known laughingly as ‘bag wrangling’). Once the ends are properly sealed, you meet them up while keeping a tamp as a buttress at the seam. Then tamp the edge a bit so water goes out not in, with a slight angle to the outside. You can literally hear when the earthbags are tamped to correct compaction, the sound is louder and almost echos.

    Additional important building techniques include a spring line for keeping the dome structure and trajectory of the dome even, and a compass to guide with proper perimeter and height. All these things were hand created with various tools and scraps we had on site!

    Some Challenges Surrounding Superadobe Plans & Builds

    No good thing comes without hurdles. In our current days of ‘buying a template ADU off Amazon’, the custom adobe build can face opposition.

    Because the design elements with Superadobes are endless, it causes city officials to scratch their heads a bit. Designing these structures to easily follow the contour in the land and mold to the topography makes each one super cool, and super unique.

    Let’s be honest….building officials are used to templates and squared angles. They don’t always understand domes, arches, and curves; and they aren’t extensively educated about them in the field. Confusion and inspectors don’t mix, so this means they can tend to deny the plans for your dream adobe without the proper education.

    There was a point in time when Cal Earth had pre-permitted build plans, but alas, codes are everchanging… and they need to update permits. Feel free to donate time or funds to help Cal Earth get to the point of offering preapproved plans again.

    Our Action Items to Support Superadobes

    Locally here in CA, I’m going to see if we can get the City of Santa Ana to approve something. As Orange County’s epicenter, Santa Ana already has a ton of ADUs. Plus, many of the lots are flat with ample space for an additional small structure. And… my partner in life, Daniel, plans to talk to the building department in Sedona, AZ. We know Taos, NM is friendly to superadobes and green buildings; and would love it if you comment other adobe friendly build areas for the fellow nomads reading this blog 😉

    In the meantime, one potential workaround with your city or HOA, depending on which one you’re in, is the umbrella of California’s statewide ADU law passed in 2020, SB 13.

    How to Spread the Word about Superadobes and Get Involved 

    Of course, social media awareness always helps! You can follow & support Cal-Earth’s initiatives on Insta or Facebook. It also helps if you sign up for one of their affordable and educational hands on adobe building workshops.

    If you’re inspired or thinking of building an ADU in Orange County, reach out, I’d love to come do a video tour whether you’re in progress, or have the finished adobe complete. Thought we could wrap this post up with one of Cal Earth’s favorite quotes from, you guessed, it, Rumi:

    “The Earth turns to gold, in the hands of the wise.” – Rumi
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    You’re Invited to Homeownership Day 2022 – Achieving Through Real Estate

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    angieweeks

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    You’re Invited to Homeownership Day 2022 – Achieving Through Real Estate

    January is always an ideal time to circle back to our roots, to review our long term goals, and realign with our True North. It’s a fresh new year, and anything is possible. Many people are taking a look at what needs to change, and if 2021 is any indication, we are still switching up the way we live and work in light of all that’s happened the last couple years.

    As we saw people quit their jobs and aspire for extraordinary things in the year of ‘The Great Resignation‘, we also saw a huge shift in housing needs and requirements. People ‘quit’ apartments & condos, and opted for single family homes with yards. Families upgraded living space, as employment and schools had extended virtual runs. Change is still happening everywhere, and home is at the center of it all.

    Homeownership Day education has been opening doors for renters, homeowners, and investors for 10 years.

    With so many people wanting a new environment at the same time, the demand for housing across the country reached record heights and the bidding wars began.

    This is just one of the many reasons we offer Homeownership Day on a yearly basis; things always seem to be moving fast when it comes to housing, and it’s important to stay on top of the current trends to be most successful with your real estate.

    Achieving Through Real Estate

    The 2022 theme for Homeownership Day is ‘Achieving Through Real Estate’, and all are invited to this free virtual event on January 29th from 10am-1pm PST. Homeownership Day is designed to be inclusive for all humans – from renters curious if they can purchase property all the way through investors looking to sharpen skills and knowledge. Our program changes up each year so you aren’t hearing the same information, or outdated perspectives.

    The program is brought to you in bite-sized 30 minute educational sessions, so you can get a variety of information on today’s important real estate topics. We know you’re busy, and this event is designed to bring about awareness and build relationships with the right community to accomplish your property goals.

    Challenges in the recent market have been lack of inventory, bidding wars, discrimination, sharp price increases, loan / appraisal turnaround time, and more. Sessions for this year have been based around these challenges, and offer help to overcome today’s specific real estate market hurdles.

    For this year’s specific sessions and offerings, click here:

    https://homeownershipday.com/sessions/

    If you’re looking to achieve great things with real estate, please join us and register:

    Homeownership Day Online Event
    January 29th, 2022
    10am – 1pm PST

    https://homeownershipday.com/sign-up/

    Expect to be inspired with some innovative ideas and fresh perspectives. This is not your average real estate event.

    In case you’re wondering, Homeownership Day will never try to pressure you into buying or selling real estate. The speakers have all agreed not to ‘pitch’; only to educate. This event is a public service that is put on through multiple outlets, so you’re never getting pigeon holed into the opinions of one particular corporation or company. Our speakers are industry experts, all hand selected with care, and our goal is YOUR success.

    This year’s main sponsors are NAWRB & Vow2Save – both entities creatively serving the real estate ecosystem.

    It’s my personal opinion that when we are all successful with real estate, we can focus on what is most important in life – the people and the places we love. If there’s a topic you would like to see covered at a future Homeownership Day event, please comment below so we can help you on your journey.

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    Are you buying digital real estate yet? Land NFTs in the Metaverse are something to watch.

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    angieweeks

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    Are you buying digital real estate yet? Land NFTs in the Metaverse are something to watch.

    As I’ve been experiencing the blockchain revolution in real estate unfold, I’m seeing a whole new version of ‘real estate’ come into the picture…digital property. You’ve probably heard about the Metaverse since Facebook changed their name to Meta. But did you know that companies like Atari, Nike, and Binance have bought space in these metaverses with plans for commerce & connection? And you can too??

    A focused real estate lens on NFT research & information

    First of all, what exactly IS owning land in the metaverse? This digital ownership concept is executed through NFT’s, or Non-Fungible Tokens. NFT’s are one of a kind, unique, non-interchangable data stored on a digital ledger (aka the blockchain). NFT’s can be artwork, audio, video, and more… with all sorts of utility attached to them.

    The metaverse realm offers a space to provide utility for these NFTs whether it’s displaying your digital art, latest fashion line, hosting a concert, or selling your product in a virtual store. The metaverse is vast and there are tons of things you can do, see, and buy in them. My particular focus has been ‘real estate’ in the metaverse. Within these digital universes you can basically purchase plots of land, build them out, flip them, rent them, or run a virtual business in them. Since these are all things we do in traditional real estate, I’m watching the space curiously. 

    So far it’s confusing, each ‘neighborhood’ or metaverse is different, and there are not a lot of resources available to help determine best platforms and plots. This makes me wonder if we will have virtual real estate brokers in the future? At first I thought no… because it’s just silly digital land, we could eliminate agents and advisors. And then I saw the prices. In many cases real estate NFT’s are a hefty investment which completely justifies an advisor or guide of sorts. We’re talking thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars. For.Digital.Land.

    Top Metaverse projects by market cap:

    As of November 2021:

    1. Axie Infinity: 8.3B
    2. The Sandbox: 6.4B
    3. Decentraland: 6.2B

    A resource I use to check the various Metaverse rankings is: https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/metaverse

    Digital currencies, not the almighty dollar, are used in Metaverses

    Many metaverses have their own currency, for example Decentraland has the $MANA token used to purchase NFT’s, etc. while playing the game. The Sandbox’s token is called $SAND, and Axie Infinity’s token is $AXS. It’s important to note that you do not have to own land in these metaverses to participate, but you do have to interact using their own individual digital currencies.

    There is not one ‘central hub’ for NFT land; you can purchase Decentraland and Sandbox for resale at opensea.io, you have to purchase Pavia land from the Cardano NFT search (cnft.io), Axie from the Aixe game. Every time you’d like land in a different metaverse, you’ll need to convert your currencies.

    Sometimes you have to scout out how to purchase the currency that will ultimately secure the digital land, and it can take hours down the rabbit hole. Some currencies are not authorized in certain countries or jurisdictions. It’s very interesting to see these digital communities working to create the infastructure and grow. It reminds me of trying to build a website in 2007. Will be interesting to see how seamless things become in 10 years.

    How to price land in the metaverse

    NFT land comps seem to currently be defined by a ‘floor’ price, which is the lowest listed price on the marketplace for that NFT series at the time. Keep in mind as these metaverses evolve there are becoming popular areas, which will ultimately sell for higher prices. The 2.4M record purchase in Decentraland recently was in the ‘fashion district’. The wild card is how long will these areas be popular – since NFT’s are so new there are really no statistics on sales trends, cycles, etc. For now, here is a baseline for the popular metaverses:

    Decentraland property floor: 3.33 ETH

    Axie Infinity property floor: 3 ETH  More info on Axie; it’s sold out for now. 1 of 4 phases sold.

    Sandbox property floor: .7 ETH

    Pavia property floor: 231 ADA

    Other interesting metaverses to note:

    Bloktopia – offers land and fractional ownership of land

    Upland – game with a focus on real estate investing via crypto channels. Addresses are mapped to real world addresses…interesting! 

    Become the crypto mayor of any city in the world:

    Map.Cryptomayor.io – And yes…I’m the crypto mayor of Mission Viejo, CA 😂 Gotta have a little fun.

    Keep in mind ALL of these metaverses are VERY speculative, many without a working product yet. Please don’t jump in on a whim. It’s critical to do your own research and keep a close eye on how the space is unfolding. One thing is very certain, this will be a part of our future in some way, so keep it on your radar!

    Would love to hear what Metaverses you or your family are participating in, and to what level, if any. Want to chat more? Comment below or message me on Instagram, LinkedIn, or your favorite social platform.

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    California Introduces New Legislation: Senate Bill 9 – What Is It? 

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    California Introduces New Legislation: Senate Bill 9 – What Is It? 
    Senate Bill 9 is a new California state law that would allow homeowners to divide their property into 2 lots and place up to 4 homes in areas that were previously only allowed one home, regardless of local zoning. You could use SB9 to split your lot (and sell that part of your yard), add a 2nd home to your lot, or both.


                         
    Taking effect on January 1, 2022, SB9 intends to address the statewide housing crisis California is experiencing. The goal is to expand housing production as the continued housing crisis grows. The hope is that this bill will expand housing options for people of all incomes and expand the opportunities available for homeowners and renters. Two homes could be placed in what is now considered a single-family lot. The new lots would be required to contain 40 to 60 percent of the original lot space. 

    What does this mean for homeowners and the real estate market? Two important things: 1) You could keep your current home but earn additional revenue by selling a part of your property to a new neighbor and 2) this bill could potentially add as many as 800,000 new units to the California market.                

    SB9 would require cities and counties to approve of the housing development proposals if they meet the specified size and design standards. Some of the requirements considered for the proposed housing development include but not limited to: the area does not require demolition, ordinance, is not located within a historic district, is not included on the State Historic Resources Inventory, or is not within a site that is legally designated as a city or county landmark, historic property or district. If the identified requirements are met, the application for a housing development could be approved without a hearing. The new four-plexes would still need to follow local zoning rules and regulations in regards to things such as height and yard requirements. 

    To learn more about the new legislation, here are some helpful links that provide additional detail: 

    1) National Law ReviewIncludes a summary of SB8, SB9 and SB10. Key takeaways are also included for quick reference. 
    2) CA Legislative Information The details of Senate Bill No. 9 and the proposed bill 

  • Buying Property for Airbnb 

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    Buying Property for Airbnb 

    A great advantage to owning real estate is having the luxury to rent out your property. Whether it is a short term or long term rental, investment properties can provide you with consistent monthly income. You don’t have to be in real estate to take advantage of investment properties, you just need to own one or two properties. 

    Key Features to Look for When Searching for an Airbnb Investment Property

    1. Location, Location! Look for an area that is walking distance to tourist attractions (restaurants, bars, shopping, the beach, etc). You will attract more potential renters by highlighting that the property is close to the attractions they might be visiting. If it is not within a walkable distance, is there easy access to safe transportation? Airport, Uber, train stations? Also ensure location is in a safe community where short-term rentals are allowed and welcomed. 
    1. Look for properties with three to four bedrooms. This will attract a few different types of renters: big families, couples traveling together, two families traveling together, friend groups, etc. It is in your advantage to attract various renters who might be traveling for different reasons. Some people travel for vacation, some travel out of necessity, having a multi-functional property will attract more people. 
    2. Find a property with a unique perk or add one in! Whether it is a mini bar, a pool, hot tub, yard games, anything to help your property stand out will help attract renters. Having activities included with the property will give renters a reason to want to spend time there. This will also increase your odds of bringing those renters back to your property next time! If they have fun AT your property, that makes your property the unique aspect of their trip, rather than just the location. 
    3. Once you have found a property with a few key features and would like to consider investing in the property, determine the profit potential. Airbnb.com has a tool available to estimate any property’s potential earnings. This can give you a good idea of how much you may be able to charge for the property and other fees to consider. 
    4. Expenses – General Upkeep as the Owner. When determining profit potential, it is also important to consider what the property will cost you in maintenance. As we have highlighted before, being a homeowner comes with many expenses! Here are a few expenses we suggest considering before purchasing: 
    • What are the host fees? 
    • What are the taxes/insurance and mortgage costs related to the property? This varies by state. 
    • How involved will you be as the host? Determine the expense of hiring someone, if not you, to assist in the upkeep and maintenance of the house. 
    • Will you need to fix up the property? Paint? Replacing fixtures? 
    • Depending on where the property is located, what type of lawn care is required? Snow removal? Moving the grass? Are there HOAs? 

    According to Priceonomics, Airbnb hosts are earning an average of $924 a month. Click here to learn more about becoming a host and how much money you could earn. 

    If you have any questions about investment in properties for short term or long term rentals, please reach out to our team!

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    5 Reasons to Have a ‘For Sale’ Sign in Your Yard!

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    5 Reasons to Have a ‘For Sale’ Sign in Your Yard!

    1. A For Sale sign will give your home more exposure! Exposure that online posting just can’t offer! Here are a few things that having a For Sale sign can do for you and your sale process! 

    2. A For Sale sign can broaden the neighborhood boundaries that potential buyers may have not have considered yet. When potential buyers are scrolling through Zillow to search for potential new homes, they might restrict their online searches and not view any homes in your neighborhood. Having the sign in your front yard can attract potential buyers as they pass through the neighborhood. 

    3. Your neighbors will know you are selling your home! If your neighbors are not in the market for a new home, they may not see that your home has become available. Your neighbors may share the house link with their friends or family who are in the market for a new home. Everyone wants good neighbors! 

    4. A For Sale sign can provide potential buyers with a direct contact (your Realtor). If potential buyers come across your for sale house and have questions, they know who to contact with their questions. 

    5. Many potential home buyers start their home search on Google, Zillow and other real estate search engines. Online searching is efficient and makes it easy to save your favorite homes. Having a For Sale sign in your yard will give potential buyers the opportunity to snap a photo of your home, the sign, and add it to their online searches later. 

    Questions? Reach out to our team, we are here to help!

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    Top 3 Stores in Orange County to Shop for Consignment Furniture 

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    Top 3 Stores in Orange County to Shop for Consignment Furniture 

    Shopping for new home items can be so exciting! Filling a house with your unique furniture, decor and style is what makes a house feel like a home. Instead of filling your new home with items that all major furniture stores provide, consignment shopping allows you to design your home with unique, quality brand name pieces that are unique to your home. While you’re shopping for your home, you may even think of items you would like to consign! From furniture, to clothes, to just extra household items, you can consign your items before shopping for new! Check out our list of the top 3 stores in OC to shop for consignment furniture, based on personal reviews and experience. 

    Home Consignment Center – Newport/Irvine

    Located in Irvine, California – Home Consignment Center offers a variety of furniture: 

    • Accent tables
    • Home office furniture
    • Bedroom sets
    • Coffee tables
    • Patio furniture
    • Entertainment centers
    • Dining room furniture
    • Sofas
    • Armchairs

    They accept all kinds of furniture, from expensive heirlooms to trendy homegoods. You can drop off your items or they can arrange for pick up. Find their website and more information here. 

    Address: 18910 Teller Ave, Irvine, CA 92612

    The Legacy Center Furniture 

    Located in Costa Mesa, California – The Legacy Center Furniture store offers a variety of high end items. You can submit a quote of your items directly through their website here. 

    Address: 2215 Harbor BlvdCosta Mesa, CA 92627United States

    The Hunt Fine Consignment 

    Located in Laguna Hills, California – The Hunt Fine Consignment offers a variety of design, architecture, age and intrigue. The Hunt loves stylish furnishings and items that are antique, new, vintage, unique or just decorative for homes. They take any kind of items. They also accept large volume consignments, abandoned containers, or business closings. 

    For more information and to learn about the consignment items they have, view their website here. 

    Address: 23461 Ridge Rte Dr suite a, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

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    Blockchain and how it’s changing the future of Real Estate

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    angieweeks

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    Blockchain and how it’s changing the future of Real Estate

    Tuned in to an interesting webinar this week hosted by Dan Smith with Eric Bryant from First American Data & Analytics; they were talking about real estate on the blockchain. Personally I can’t wait for this to happen, I spend half my life ‘grown up babysitting’ to maintain timelines and accountability during the escrow process. I know the blockchain will eliminate quite a bit of that.

    Fibree is one of the first adopters, and they are now in 70 regions. They are a real estate technology platform that works with blockchain – keep an eye on them. Rather than talking about too many companies…let’s talk concept first.

    What is Blockchain, and how does it affect real estate?

    Blockchain defined: Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network. An asset can be tangible (a house, car, cash, land) or intangible (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, branding). Virtually anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network, reducing risk and cutting costs for all involved.

    https://www.ibm.com/topics/what-is-blockchain

    Now that you understand what blockchain is, here are a few specific ways it can positively affect the real estate industry as a whole:

    • Decreases time necessary to close property transactions (from 30-45 days down to possibly just minutes or hours)
    • Offers security, trust, and transparency to the transaction
    • Creates an unhackable public record
    • Reduces potential for real estate fraud or data entry errors
    • Streamlines the escrow process
    • Upholds accountability

    Question? Will real estate transactions on the blockchain eliminate escrow agents? Transaction coordinators?

    Notice we say “how does blockchain”, not “how can blockchain” affect the space. Blockchain is already starting integrations with real estate transactions, and it is likely the future of our industry, similar to the way the Internet disrupted the status quo (in a good way) many moons ago.

    Fractional Property ownerships and Tokenization using Blockchain

    Tokenization is simply digital fractionalization – it allows you to own a piece of something. Ever wanted to own a piece of a property? Or maybe you already own a traditional timeshare. Bet that was fun to buy, LOL. But what about finding your next investment from the comfort of your own home? RealT based in Detroit is currently selling real estate on the blockchain, and there are many others in the space expected to follow.

    Investor groups and investment firms are already successfully selling STO (Secure Token Offering) properties and this opens doors for thousands of new buyers to enter into investing. Want to see? Check out SolidBlock – it looks like any normal property search site…BUT… you can pay with wire, check, or crypto. Soon enough, property search platforms like this will be popping up all over the world.

    Another place you can buy land, the entire plot of it, is Fabrica, which allows you to buy or sell your land completely digitally with blockchain technology.

    Smart Contracts and Real Estate Transactions

    Smart contracts are digital transactions being coordinated on the blockchain, and they will help maintain timelines and accountability. Smart contracts are very similar to paper contracts, working on ‘if –> then’ scenarios, but everything is done virtually instead of with paper. Smart contracts have a higher level of security and they always report and record progress honestly…which does NOT happen all the time with our current escrow process.

    One thing I found interesting is our local board of Realtors has over 10,000 members, and there were less than 50 of us watching this webinar. As usual, it seems like the real estate industry tends to cling to their ways. As a techie, I embrace new technology and try to help my clients ride the wave.

    Crypto loans – Something to keep an eye on

    One thing that could completely change the mortgage space is cryptocurrency loans. Wallets like Celsius and others use actual data to digitally approve loans, much better than the ‘preapprovals’ that lenders offer today. I would personally love to see more of this, because it eliminates loan discrimination and assures the seller a buyer is qualified. Plus, a crypto loan will close much quicker than the traditional big banks. Less headaches will equal more people in the space, and more homeowners, which makes my heart smile to think about.

    If you’re sitting on a pile of crypto from the bull run and would like to ‘take profits’, we can help with escrow companies who are familiar with cryptocurrency closings. If you’d like to cash out crypto to buy a home, OR just transfer crypto coins for a home purchase without cashing out first, we can help with the proper referrals or team. Feel free to reach out and text Angie at 949-338-7408 or comment here anytime you’d like to talk tech & real estate!

  • First Time Seller? Prepare Your Home for Sale – Our Top 5 Suggestions!

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    First Time Seller? Prepare Your Home for Sale – Our Top 5 Suggestions!

    Our Top 5 Suggestions for preparing your home to sell. First impressions make an impact! From the online presentation, to the first home tour, the goal is to have buyers clearly vision how they will decorate and live in the home. Here are a few of our suggestions to making your home ready for the market and attracting excited buyers!

    1. Consider Your Curb Appeal

    Once your house hits the market, buyers will be eager to drive by your property to scope out the area. It is important that buyers feel welcomed in their potentially new neighborhood.

    Here are a few things you can do to improve your curb appeal:

    • Mow the lawn
    • Place freshly potted flowers/plants on porch or around garage
    • Hide trash cans, recycling bins, garden hoses, toys, and any yard clutter
    • Remove vehicles from the driveway
    • Sweep off the porch
    • Add a cozy welcome mat to the porch

    You want potential buyers to envision themselves in the property. Minimizing clutter and things in their way will help them see envision themselves in the new space.

    2. Remove Personal Items

    Personal items make a home feel like your home. Limit the amount of personal items and photos on display in your home so potential buyers feel like it could be their space, too.

    Here are a few items to consider removing from your home:

    • Framed family photos
    • Collectables
    • Dog beds / cages
    • Artwork with busy patterns
    • Children’s toys
    • Magnets on fridge

    3. Clean Up

    Clean up the interior of your home and remember – less is more. You want potential buyers to imagine how they would decorate the house, where they would put their furniture, and see the potential.

    We suggest removing the following items from the interior of your home:

    • Laundry / Clothes Piles
    • Dirty dishes
    • Appliances on countertops (toaster/blender)
    • Remove clutter from top of fridge
    • Floor mats
    • Wash rags
    • Trash cans
    • Tooth brushes and holders
    • Unraveled hoses

    4. Organize!

    In an effort to declutter your home, organize your space. That includes closets, cupboards and garages. Potential buyers will want to see it all! Try to avoid shoving items into closets and cluttering the cupboards. Full closets might scare buyers that the home does not have enough storage.

    Here are a few suggested areas to organize:

    • Bathroom closets
    • Bedroom closets, including guest bedrooms
    • Linen closets
    • Storage closets
    • Kitchen cupboards
    • Kitchen drawers
    • Fridge (especially if the buyer will be keeping the fridge)
    • Laundry Room
    • Make all beds
    • Desk / Office
    • Clear off all surfaces, this helps the rooms feel bigger

    5. Maintenance

    Broken items around your home? We suggest fixing those items prior to listing your home.

    Here are a few items we suggest checking and fixing if needed:

    • Replace all burned out light bulbs
    • Replace light bulbs with warm tone lights
    • Replace any broken curtain rods or blinds
    • Close toilet lids
    • Close shower curtains/doors

    Questions? Feel free to contact our team to prepare your home or grab a second set of eyes!

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    Women finding freedom through the sharing economy of AirBnB

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    Women finding freedom through the sharing economy of AirBnB

    Let’s be honest, a lot of females are juggling household schedules, making beds on the daily, and working full time jobs in customer service or hospitality type industries. A lot of these same females are also searching for a way to spend more time with loved ones, and to find a better work-life balance. 

    This brings the question: How can we live richer, more fuller lives while making a difference in the world? Keep close connections with our families & still sprinkle what we were meant to do into the ethosphere?

    For those who have a passion to roam and to create, enter the opportunity of vacation rental management, AirBnB experiences, and niche property rental platforms.  

    If you have a unique property or space, big or small, this is an opportunity for you. People love to rent not only stick & brick type properties, but also RV’s, boats, cars, treehouses, yurts, water towers, and land. 

    We now live in a world where you can tow a trailer, link up to solar, put out a cell booster, charge devices, and work / connect from almost anywhere. As the clouds from Covid continue to lift, people are ready to explore this new world. Are you ready to connect with them? 

    I recently had the opportunity to interview some of these women who have opened their spaces in the home-sharing economy. Each has a unique story to tell, weaved in with their life passions and experiences. 

    Take for example entrepreneur Heather Carter, running Eureka Springs Coffee House with 2 AirBnB units above. Guests enjoy the main strip of historical Eureka, Arkansas; and also have discount offerings at the coffee shop below. Travelers include vacationers and business professionals alike. In a recent video interview with Heather, she said “We used to live above the coffee house ourselves, but we soon discovered we had a unique opportunity for rentals here”. Indeed she did!

    Heather advised she prefers the niche with commercially zoned properties, so she can avoid any roadblocks with residential vacation rental limitations. If you aren’t sure about STR rules in your community or city, be sure to research accordingly to avoid pitfalls.

    Another go-getter making the most of her skills is April Snow-Kass, a Realtor in LA specializing in harmonious homes for musicians. April recently branched out to nearby Joshua Tree as a vacation rental host. Now, not only can April sell property in a new area, she can speak to personal experience on the equity gains and the rental income her ‘Retro Ranch‘ in the JT desert is recently experiencing. 

    Let’s not forget supermom and High School Counselor Carolynn Cribley. Her and financé Matthew Herman in Grandville, Michigan, are putting an extra room in their home, coined ‘The Barnhouse,’ to STR use. They stated in a recent interview that it’s brought such great results, they not only bought another property, but looped parents in on the opportunity. They inspired and guided Matthew’s parents to a short term rental purchase as well. Not only has Carolynn & Matthew created additional monthly cash flow (partly used to build a fun new pool!), they’ve hopped the family on the path to generational wealth.

    According to the NAWRB’s website and WHER report:

    “…research found women seek homeownership for these primary reasons:

    As a “Sanctuary”
    A sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge, an oasis or a retreat. Women value creating a unique space from which to retreat from the outside world—one in which they control the climate, the decor, the layout. One’s home is a psychology of space…”

    https://www.nawrb.com/one-tough-mother-how-single-mothers-are-defining-the-homebuying-process/#more-18821

    Vacation rentals are a method to live this ‘sanctuary’ lifestyle, and create income. Win-win.

    Another example is Corporate Executive ‘girlboss’ Vanessa Montanez, who explained to Homeownership Day attendees in January easy steps to enter into investing. Vanessa discovered the benefits of renting her Temecula wine country home on AirBnB recently, and as a lender herself, was kind enough to share strategies with other would-be investors at Homeownership Day. 

    Admittedly, all of these hosts know STR life is not as ‘passive’ as long term rentals; but it can be more profitable, plus it allows the ability to vacation in your own property, afford *more* units, & / or meet new friends. Yes, you may still be making beds, running multiple schedules, and rocking your 9-5. But it’s a way to squeeze the most out of almost any property. 

    Best of all, homeownership is open to many, regardless of education level or background. With low interest rate loans and programs like FHA allowing as little as 3.5% down, many females are opting into a property purchase. Additionally, SBA loans for Women Owned Businesses have opened even more doors to run a viable business from home. There are many options to sell creations of any kind from home, be it via online avenues or to guests traveling through your space.

    Speaking of online avenues, the fast-track growth of property rental apps makes the marketing side become much easier. You don’t have to do your own Search Engine Optimization anymore – these apps are paying to get the word out on your behalf. Platforms to easily start your sharing economy hosting on are AirBnB, VRBO, Hipcamps, Harvest Hosts, Furnished Finder, Outdoorsy, Turo, and more. 

    For additional information or a guide into the vacation rental lifestyle, reach out to NAWRB Delegate Spokeswoman Angie Weeks, or watch her video interviews at http://www.YouTube.com/HomebuyingRegistry/ 

    This article was written for Women in the Housing and Real Estate Ecosystem; NAWRB. If you would like an article for your publication simply comment below or reach out to Angie at 949-338-7408.

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    Buying Property in South America: Ecuador, Columbia, & Argentina

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    Buying Property in South America: Ecuador, Columbia, & Argentina

    Thanks to our Global Committee for bringing together speakers from National Association of Realtors and South America today for some online networking. It was really neat to interact with people across the country and across the world through our Zoom webinar. The Internet continues to bring us together so we can collaborate about buying and selling across the country. As a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), I’m excited to bring you this great info 🙂 You can certainly click around this blog as well as our YouTube channel to learn about buying property in other areas including Jamaica, Spain, Iceland, and Costa Rica.

    First of all, if you’re considering moving to the US, and wondering which US states have the most foreign purchases, here’s a map to help you:

    California is only 2nd in line behind Florida, with 15%. This makes CA a great place to call home for both investment, and immigrant opportunity angles. But we’re here to talk about South America…not Cali.

    Buying property in Ecuador

    Adrian Rodriguez welcomes us to Ecuador – discussing the tropical climate and beautiful beaches, as well as the fact the economy is strong in Ecuador. You can purchase using US dollar, which always tends to make things a little more comfortable – especially if this would be your first foreign purchase.

    Ecuador offers fun festivals such as Corpus Christi, where you’ll find native foods, fireworks, and fun. Carnaval is another yearly celebration that brings tourism and fun.

    Infastructure for health and medical is strong, which adds to the booming economy. Business opportunities are aplenty as well. Cost of living is also affordable, which makes it a popular spot for vacation homes as well.

    Tourism activities include:

    • Beaches
    • Surfing
    • Music festivals, including Opera
    • Art festivals
    • Machu Picchu

    What is the cost of living in Ecuador?

    Wow, pretty affordable! Adrian said a monthly food budget of $100, and a monthly vehicle budget of $100 will have you eating and riding like royalty. A couple things that foreign buyers should know about purchasing property in Ecuador: Foreign owners must own 5 years before cashing out, and there is a 5% tax upon selling.

    If you’d like more info about buying property in Ecuador, comment or contact us – we can connect you with Adrian for a Zoom meeting to answer all your questions 🙂 Now, let’s move on to Columbia…

    Buying Real Estate in Columbia, South America

    Andres Fernando Correa shared some great info about owning property in Columbia with us today. Columbia has SO much nature from birds, to fruits, to frogs…. you’ll find a plethora of bright and beautiful varieties here! The country is basically split into regions, here’s a graphic of them all:

    In order to buy property in Columbia, you can use your US Passport, but if you’d like to STAY there longer than 180 days.. you’ll need to purchase at a certain price. Mompox, Santa Marta, Cartagena are some of the Caribbean region popular cities. Here’s a little more about all of them:

    We know, you are wondering what region of Columbia is the coffee region… where all the famous coffee is produced???! It’s Andina! Andina is mountainous, hilly, and has mild and cold weather due to the high altitude. It’s great for ‘the coffee belt’. Andina is also well known for cycling, and has a popular pastime of biking with award winning teams. Tourists also enjoy horseback tours, birdwatching, rafting, and other outdoor fun.

    Have you ever wanted to explore the Amazon? The jungle of Columbia has wildlife, plantlife, water features, and history to explore.

    But let’s talk about Columbia real estate, not just all the fun things to do and see. One important thing to know is that a real estate broker in Columbia is NOT required to have any licenses or education, so buyer beware. You’ll likely want to work with a company you are already familiar with. One of the most popular ways investors are buying property in Columbia is through Social Housing projects. With a lot of developments currently under construction, you can buy a portion of a development in Columbia for as little as $20K. Here are some of the most popular Social Housing projects to explore:

    Other popular housing opportunities and developments in Columbia are senior living, shopping malls, strip malls, and tourism clusters. No matter what type of property is your ‘sweet spot’, Columbia has something for you. Remember, just reach out if you’d like a consultation about what type of investment in Columbia may be the best fit for you 🙂

    Now, let’s travel to the south of South America for some information on Argentina.

    Learn About Argentina Vacation Homes & Property

    Argentina isn’t just about the sports and football teams. Santiago Arnoldi presented for us today, and shared all about Argentina. Argentina is located at the bottom of South America, and they have a smaller population. Argentina is a diverse country with residents who have immigrated there from all over the world – including Spain, Australia, and France.

    Health and education are both strong in Argentina. Argentina is also rich in tradition and smiles. The culture and community enjoy coffee, matte, and regular BBQ’s – they are a social bunch! Top that off with all of Argentina’s famous wine & olive oil, and you have a perfect place to retire or vacation.

    What cities in Argentina are popular for vacation homes?

    Buenos Aires is one of the most popular cities in Argentina, with 2.9 million people. You can find a detached 3 bedroom home with a private pool in the metropolitan areas of Buenos Aires for around 300K, and you can get condos or flats in the city for around 400-550K USD. Here’s an example:

    Another popular city in Argentina is Rosario, where you can get beautiful homes for the 150-300K range.

    Other cities that are growing and great to buy property are Cordoba, Mendoza, and Patagonia.

    One thing you need to know about buying in Argentina is they aren’t big on loans. Banks don’t really offer them. Most properties are bought with cash, or private loans, so you’ll want to plan for your financing well in advance. If you’d like to be introduced to some ways to buy property in Argentina, don’t forget to comment or contact us so we can put you in touch with Santiago to show you the ropes.

    Please think of us if you’re a US citizen looking for an introduction to buy a foreign investment property anywhere in the world. The CIPS designation allows us to connect you with the best of the best, and you’ll want the highest level of service when you’re making such a large investment in a different country. Happy world traveling!!!

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    Building affordable housing on church properties and faith based campuses

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    Building affordable housing on church properties and faith based campuses

    Today we’re bringing you notes on a feel good panel we recently attended offering unique properties for affordable housing – churches! There were over 100 attendees on the zoom webinar from various faiths, geographic areas, and careers. It was neat to see the path of convergence among so many diverse and brilliant minds. Thank you to our friends over at YIMBY for putting this together ❤

    Our Affordable Housing Panelists were:

    Jill Shook, Making Housing Happen
    Jill assists churches in exploring housing in site. She’s also an author.

    Sarah Walker and Alexa Washburn, National Community Renaissance
    National Community Renaissance is a non-profit affordable housing developer.

    Honorable Rusty Bailey, former mayor of Riverside
    Mr Bailey is now the director of Path of Life, a nonprofit with programs for housing, outreach, employment and more. 

    Bishop John Taylor 3rd, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
    A faith based community of 147 congregations, 40 schools, and 18 major institutions.

    Elizabeth Hansburg, YIMBY
    Thank you to Elizabeth & YIMBY for bringing this panel together. YIMBY advocates for affordable housing in California.

    ———

    Bishop John Taylor 3rd led with some thoughts of ‘why’ from the perspective of the church. He said “We follow a savior who cares for the least among us. Helping with housing is literally showing love to our neighbor.” Furthermore, from a Christian standpoint, he mentioned one should note plenty of examples in the Bible where Jesus or the disciples expressed gratitude to someone who put them up for the night, or served them a meal.

    One of the core values of most churches is to care about their congregation and the community, basically to be a salt and a light to everyone, regardless of their belief system. Obviously some churches have really missed the mark on this, which has caused attendance decline, and possibly some unused space(s) on the property. Churches who have stayed in touch with the daily needs of congregations know that there can be many temporary housing needs to fill. This can include members who are experiencing job loss, abuse, or catastrophe in their lives. 

    One way churches can help serve these needs is by offering affordable housing. It helps further a shared mission, helps the community, creates a legacy, and builds bonds for that organization to become a trusted staple in the neighborhood. Heck, if you’re a church in LA…just sharing your parking is a huge blessing :). But to promote Fair and affordable housing – now that’s a big stride toward The Great Commandment.

    Here’s a helpful video YIMBY made for the city of Carlsbad, CA that explains why all cities need to plan for affordable housing. One can easily see how churches and city governments can build a bridge to Affordable Housing together by repurposing unused or under utilized space:

    Nice concept repurposing church land. But what does it REALLY look like, and what’s the timeline?!

    Southern California has a great example in Riverside with Mayor Rusty Bailey – and his ‘Love Your Neighbor Initiative’. Here’s a timeline screenshot that Mr. Bailey discussed for the City of Riverside, CA.

    Interested? According to the experts, just 1/2 acre can work. Close to transit is helpful, but not required. Would you like an example to take to your town? We love those, and the city of Riverside in the spirit of ‘teaching a man to fish’ has shared a template for faith-based affordable housing with all of us. Check it out!

    National Community Renaissance’s Sarah Walker has been working on an affordable senior housing project called Orchard View Gardens in Buena Park. Sarah also mentioned a development in Santa Ana, and has been bringing various affordable housing projects to fruition in OC. Here’s a site plan Sarah shared of Orchard View Gardens. As you can see the space offers multiple uses for both seniors and the community:

    Getting your church started with affordable housing

    It is possible to add income to various faith based properties and help with needs in your city – you can get started by contacting any of the experts on the panel, and your city planner. They need you to get the ball rolling. 

    We get it…you’re thinking this all sounds really cool… but how can someone reading this blog post who isn’t involved in building, zoning, or church leadership help?? Glad you asked!

    5 Ways YOU can promote affordable housing in your community:  

    1. Join YIMBY www.peopleforhousing.org & donate.
    2. Advocate for the city you live in to put in plans to change zoning. 
    3. Particularly, encourage cities to do an ‘overlay zone’ for church properties to allow anyone who wants to develop this overlay zoning ability. This includes adaptive reuse.  
    4. Order & read Jill’s book: Making Housing Happen, 2nd Edition: Faith-Based Affordable Housing Models
    5. SHARE this post with a decision maker at a church, or on your social media. Let’s spread more good word.

    Want more info? You can watch the full replay here: https://youtu.be/GntTXqYXcfQ?t=22

    Have other ideas for affordable housing or how churches can help incorporate extra land to serve the community? Comment below!

  • Find Your Next Home in Panama!

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    Find Your Next Home in Panama!

    Your next home on the beach is waiting for you! Panama may be tiny in size but it is booming with features. From the culinary scene, incredible climate, biological diversity, rich culture and affordable cost of living, we are breaking down our top 5 reasons to move to Panama and find your perfect paradise!

    1. Gorgeous Culinary Scene

    What better way to enjoy an amazing meal than with an incredible ocean view? The cuisine in Panama is filled with rich fine-dining menus comprised of dishes that blend the immigrant culture and local ingredients.

    2. Affordable Cost of Living & Great Connectivity

    From the housing, to clothing, food and living expenses, Panama has an affordable cost of living compared to other comparable destinations. Direct flights to Panama from around the world make this destination accessible and easy to travel in and out of.

    3. Pleasant Climate

    For most of the year, you can enjoy waking up to an average temperature in the mid-70s and enjoy the afternoon with mid-80s and pleasant breezes. Have your house windows open all day long!

    4. The Beauty!

    Panama is full of beautiful sceneries. The geography encourages adventure and the beautiful beaches encourage relaxation. The lush forests, lakes, rivers, volcanoes, provide you with peace and paradise. We know location is key, and this location is at the top of our list.

    5. Modern Infrastructure

    Panama has invested significantly and heavily in the infrastructure that it can be very proud of. Due to its booming economy and the strategic location, this country has become the world’s second largest free-trade zone.

    Panama also offers multiple reasons why a second residency makes sense for investors, digital nomads, retirees and frequent travelers:

    – Low Cost of Living
    – Foreign-Earned Income Exclusion
    – Political Stability
    – Modern & International Cities
    – Advanced Medical Care
    – Stable & Secure Banking
    – Incredible Tourist Attractions


    Register Here to join ECI Development as they dive into discovering paradise in Panama.

    March 2nd, 2021 @ 5PM ET. Virtual Zoom Webinar.

  • AirBnB Cancellations – What to Do?

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    AirBnB Cancellations – What to Do?

    As coronavirus continues to spread across the world, many vacation rental companies, such as Airbnb, continue to expand their policies to allow more leniency in cancelling. This change, welcomed by travels, has allowed many travelers to cancel their reservations penalty-free. We have noticed many renters cancelling their bookings and reservations and choosing to stay home during these uncertain times. While we understand the desire to cancel, this puts pressure on the owners and hosts of these rentals. The cancellations are resulting in an unexpected loss of income. There are many discussions happening on the Airhosts forums, a forum for Airbnb hosts, sharing their financial concerns about the abrupt loss of income and inability to refund that money.

    We wanted to share 5 Tips on how you can find local renters that might be interested in renting your AirBnB.

    1. Separated families that need somewhere to stay

    As recommended by the CDC, social distancing and quarantining is crucial in limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately many families have faced this reality and have had to quarantine away from their family. This reality can cause a lot of stress and uncertainty, having a place to stay where renters feel safe is important. As mentioned in our previous blog post, linked here – we love & care about our family, clients, prospects, & fellow humans. We want to do whatever we can to make them feel safe and comforted. These families might prefer staying in an Airbnb for the comfort, cleanliness and more distanced from others than a hotel would be.

    2. Traveling Nurses On the Front Lines

    According to a recent poll, there are approximately 25,000 traveling nurses in the U.S. right now. The demand for travel nurses has continued to rise as healthcare needs increase due to COVID-19. As these nurses travel and remain on the front lines, they may be interested in renting an Airbnb to comfort them through these unprecedented times.

    3. Other Essential Industries Are Traveling for COVID-19

    The demand for typical grocery store items has significantly increased. As we saw with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and bottles of water….People are eager to stock up their homes to be prepared. With this increase in demand, the agriculture and food service industry has increased their travel to ensure stores are stocked around the world. This, among many other industries, have increased travel frequency during these times to ensure essential needs are met. As travel increases in this fields, people are searching for safe places to stay to ensure they stay healthy as they travel.

    4. Have a Furnished Rental via the MLS

    Attract local renters with a furnished rental on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). MLS is a search tool that helps find listings for sale or rent by Realtors and other realty professionals that are members of your local MLS. Once you have identified your ideal guests, understand the needs of your core audience and furnish your rental accordingly. Comfort is key so achieving a cozy ambiance is important. Check out more tips and tricks here for furnishing tips.

    5. Add Your Airbnb to Industry Travel Sits

    Here are some we recommend!

    For more information on COVID-19, check out our recent blog post here: 5 Things We are Focusing on During Covid-19

  • AirBnB Cancellations – What to Do?

    Published by

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    As coronavirus continues to spread across the world, many vacation rental companies, such as Airbnb, continue to expand their policies to allow more leniency in cancelling. This change, welcomed by travels, has allowed many travelers to cancel their reservations penalty-free. We have noticed many renters cancelling their bookings and reservations and choosing to stay home during these uncertain times. While we understand the desire to cancel, this puts pressure on the owners and hosts of these rentals. The cancellations are resulting in an unexpected loss of income. There are many discussions happening on the Airhosts forums, a forum for Airbnb hosts, sharing their financial concerns about the abrupt loss of income and inability to refund that money.

    We wanted to share 5 Tips on how you can find local renters that might be interested in renting your Airbnb.

    1. Separated families that need somewhere to stay

    As recommended by the CDC, social distancing and quarantining is crucial in limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately many families have faced this reality and have had to quarantine away from their family. This reality can cause a lot of stress and uncertainty, having a place to stay where renters feel safe is important. As mentioned in our previous blog post, linked here – we love & care about our family, clients, prospects, & fellow humans. We want to do whatever we can to make them feel safe and comforted. These families might prefer staying in an Airbnb for the comfort, cleanliness and more distanced from others than a hotel would be.

    2. Traveling Nurses On the Front Lines

    According to a recent poll, there are approximately 25,000 traveling nurses in the U.S. right now. The demand for travel nurses has continued to rise as healthcare needs increase due to COVID-19. As these nurses travel and remain on the front lines, they may be interested in renting an Airbnb to comfort them through these unprecedented times.

    3. Other Essential Industries Are Traveling for COVID-19

    The demand for typical grocery store items has significantly increased. As we saw with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and bottles of water….People are eager to stock up their homes to be prepared. With this increase in demand, the agriculture and food service industry has increased their travel to ensure stores are stocked around the world. This, among many other industries, have increased travel frequency during these times to ensure essential needs are met. As travel increases in this fields, people are searching for safe places to stay to ensure they stay healthy as they travel.

    4. Have a Furnished Rental via the MLS

    Attract local renters with a furnished rental on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). MLS is a search tool that helps find listings for sale or rent by Realtors and other realty professionals that are members of your local MLS. Once you have identified your ideal guests, understand the needs of your core audience and furnish your rental accordingly. Comfort is key so achieving a cozy ambiance is important. Check out more tips and tricks here for furnishing tips.

    5. Add Your Airbnb to Industry Travel Sits

    Here are some we recommend!

    For more information on COVID-19, check out our recent blog post here: 5 Things We are Focusing on During Covid-19

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    Where is YOUR happy place? Homeownership Day 2021 is going virtual, nationwide, & global.

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    angieweeks

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    Where is YOUR happy place? Homeownership Day 2021 is going virtual, nationwide, & global.

    Hi friends!

    Although 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, it has not been without some unexpected benefits. One of them is the new age of virtual employment, which has opened doors for so many to have an opportunity at homeownership. Individuals previously forced to rent in expensive urban areas are now free to move to a larger place, for less money, and have more options. We’re all about that – and Orange County Young Professionals Network is here to support your adventure!

    Simple Solutions to Buying, Selling, & Investing in Real Estate

    To that end, in 2021 YPN will do our annual Homeownership Day event virtually, and it won’t just be about investing in Southern California real estate. Instead, we’ll be offering local expert agent guidance in many popular cities across the United States, and actually the entire world.

    If you haven’t looked at your home as an investment, or considered property as a path toward early retirement, we encourage you to attend the event on January 23, 2021 and look at your real estate in a new light. YES, it’s a place to thrive, to make memories, to customize your taste, to raise your family. But it can be so much more.

    You can turn one property into a legacy, and that’s the session I teach & am passionate about. This year’s title is “Concepts to Become An Automatic Millionaire in Southern California & Beyond”; you can register for this 30 minute session by filling out the form below. I’ll educate you on a safe, secure, and timeless strategy for building up your real estate portfolio. These concepts don’t encourage you to stretch yourself too thin, take on a second job, or become a handyman; they are simple and easy to follow. And you can learn them in 30 minutes. I’ll tell you what – if you’ll just commit the time – I’m here to cheerlead you to the finish line.

    Owning Property Can Change Your Future

    As many of you know, I have been personally working on this strategy for over 15 years now! Because Real Estate is my full time job, we’ve taken it to the next level with vacation rentals, and the creation of Flower Den Retreats. I have found that owning property allows me to truly express myself, whether I’m creating art within, or dreaming up the next concept for a therapeutic space with the ones I love.

    I want you to be able to flourish in your space too – are you? If you are, please comment what you love about your home below. Its fun to share our unique ideas 🙂 If you aren’t, fill out the form here and let’s get you on your way in 2021.

    If you’re curious to hear what other previous attendees have to say, success stories, or info on the sessions we’ve held in the past, just subscribe to our YouTube Channel. We’ll be uploading new content on the regular. Here’s a video from a couple previous attendees who were able to buy a townhome with barely any money down, and now they are happily raising a family there.

    Let Homeownership Day Lead You to Your Happy Place

    Sometimes, change is good 🙂 To have a supportive tribe around you as you grow is so helpful, and that’s exactly what you’ll get out of Homeownership Day. Like minded people who want to learn and level up too. All the speakers are no-pressure, happy to answer questions, and excited to connect with you. The vibe of this event will be fresh, fun, educational, and there won’t be a single pitch. Promise. We’ll see you online Jan 23rd!

    PS. If you know someone who should be presenting at this event, just connect us by emailing ochomefair@gmail.com & the committee will reach out to them – we love new angles of education and to connect with other professionals across the globe.

    Homeownership Day 2021 Sign Up

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    2021 Real Estate Market Predictions for Orange County, CA

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    2021 Real Estate Market Predictions for Orange County, CA

    Today one of our favorite forecasters, Steven Thomas, gave his thoughts on closing out the crazy 2020 Covid real estate market and what we expect to see here in 2021. If you love stats, be sure to subscribe to our email list, as we send out Reports on Housing statistics monthly. These reports will keep you on top of exactly what is happening right now with property prices, average days on market, and demand.

    More space or a home office are very common reasons to move in 2020, which will also likely roll over into our 2021 season.

    We’ve had a really interesting year in real estate, almost flipped from our normal Orange County trends. We were slower in the spring, obviously due to quarantine and virus setbacks (coined ‘The Pandession’). Then we heated up in summer and are still going strong here in fall, when things usually cool.

    The pandemic really made people think about what they wanted in a home. And now, they are going out to get it. Sometimes it’s a larger yard, other times a pool, being closer to loved ones, or relocating to a rural environment. Change is brewing in all levels of our housing market.

    2020 has seen a SURGE in Luxury demand and sales, and we are seeing it in our team deals as well. Here’s a visual for a better picture:

    Demand far outweighs supply, so almost every listing is selling with multiple offers at this point in time. Will it continue? Read on…

    One of the factors that will affect our market significantly is Coronavirus numbers and which way they are swinging. If we end up in quarantine again, it WILL affect all markets, including housing, so keep that wild card in mind as we enter into 2021.

    Foreclosure Predictions for 2021

    Should you be worried about foreclosures? Waiting for that screaming deal on one??? Not really. Less than 6% of homeowners are on forbearance or late on their mortgage. That’s not enough to create a ‘foreclosure wave’…even if ALL of them get foreclosed on. This chart helps to tell part of the story. In 2006, owners didn’t have much equity. In 2020, owners have a LOT of equity.

    Due to this equity, the forbearance options, and the rates driving buyers, Steven does NOT expect any wave of foreclosures in 2021.

    What about the Rental Moratorium?

    Approximately 20% of renters are late on their rent. At first that number seems like WOW…but…rewind to Oct 2019… and the tardy-on-rent number was ALSO…20%. So landlords aren’t hurt that bad, even though renters are on a break until Jan 31st 2021 with the rental moratorium here in the state of California.

    Will Housing Demand Stay High in 2021?

    Demand is strongest it’s been since Sept 2012 – eight years. If you think we’ve been busy hustling homes, this year is even busier. Demand is expected to slightly drop during the holiday season for November and December, but it will still be higher than the last 8 years. If you have a home to sell before Dec 31st – get in touch – it’s totally a possibility!

    Inventory is the lowest it’s been since 2013 – pushing the average days on the market in OC to under 40. A hot seller’s market is under 60 average DOM….so we are in a hot HOT seller’s market, which not even the election division is extinguishing.

    Should I buy a home in OC before 2021?

    Short answer: Yes. Interest rates are LOW. Demand is high. Prices continue to go up. Lucky for our buyers, even with these prices.. the payment is more affordable than it would have been a few years ago. Check out this comparison:

    Interest rates drive affordability. Right now your payment is SO affordable. If you can qualify to buy, it is a fabulous time to make a purchase. In Steven’s words…’You’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t’ LOL. We know, you don’t have the down payment saved. But let’s have a conversation with a parent or grandparent who has equity, or get you crowdfunding your down payment with Vow2Save.

    2021 Forecast according to Reports on Housing

    Uncertainty with Covid, vaccines, Washington DC, travel, and employment can all make things sticky. If we continue to experience the same demand, things can get sticky.

    • Prediction: Real estate will enter 2021 strong and remain that way for at least half the year.
    • Prediction: Appreciation 4-7%. Prices are NOT expected to go down at all in 2021
    • Prediction: Upper ranges will continue to rise
    • Prediction: Closed sales should double what they were in 2020. (from 4 to 8%)

    Want to stay up to date on the Orange County real estate market? Simply fill out the form below and we’ll start sending you Steven’s Reports on Housing via email!

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  • 4 Ways to Decorate with Upcycled and Repurposed Items

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    4 Ways to Decorate with Upcycled and Repurposed Items

    Due to COVID-19, we have all been spending more time at home than ever before. Making your home feel cozy and inviting has never been so important.

    We all have those random “it might come in handy some day” or “I might find a place for that…” items that we have been staring at for the last few months.. We just aren’t ready to let go of it yet. There’s no better way to revamp your home and your dated items than repurposing and upcycling!

    To help you get started, we’ve picked four of our favorite (and…realistic) ideas for repurposing, resuing and upcycling your items.

    1. Bookcase to Coffee Bar

    Transform your space and coffee game by upcycling an old book case or storage cabinet. Staying in more means bringing the coffee shop to you!

    2. Repurpose Your Caddy for Craft Organization

    Caddy’s have a unique look but don’t serve a clear purpose. Upgrade your craft room with this repurposed caddy for storing all of your utensils!

    3. Repurpose Your Ladder for Blanket Storage

    Ladders add height and texture to your room. To make the ladder functional, add your extra blankets for a cozy inviting look!

    4. Repurpose Woven Baskets

    Have baskets laying around that really don’t serve a purpose anymore? Spice up your wall decor by adding those baskets to the wall. The baskets add a unique look to your space and make a statement. Just simply place a nail in the center of the basket and create your own gallery design!

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    History and Current Rules of Fair Housing

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    angieweeks

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    History and Current Rules of Fair Housing

    It’s important to remember and understand where we have been, to have the best future possible. Today I had the pleasure of attending Young Professionals’ Network webinar on The History of Fair Housing. 

    Equality is an important topic of discussion in our country right now. One of the best ways we can honor our Constitution stating ‘all men are created equal’ is through housing. 

    Not every race and color has had equal opportunities with real estate in America. It’s something to think about, since real estate is a cornerstone for wealth in our country.

    For the purpose of learning and growing, let’s start with a summary of

    Where we went wrong with discrimination in housing:

    • ‘Men’ in the quote above meant white men who owned property; not women, nor men of color
    • Real Estate boards prohibited women or blacks in the early 1900’s
    • Redline (racially segregated) areas where residents could not get a mortgage were established
    • Racially restrictive CC&R’s
    • Federal Fair Housing Act was not passed until 1968
    • Realtor Code did not prohibit discrimination until 1974 (that’s under 50 years ago…)
    • Protected class of marital status only recognized since 2005 in California
    • Gender identity was not protected until 2012 in CA
    • AFFA Rule is rescinded in 2020 by POTUS. This took the teeth out of Fair Housing enforcement.

    Yes, we went horribly wrong, but there are many ongoing efforts to bring about equal housing in the last few decades and today. This includes lobbying efforts from the National Association of Realtors, and California Association of Realtors to bring back the important elements in AFFA. 

    Did you know that nationwide there are 7 Fair Housing protected classes? In CA, there are 24 Fair Employment & Housing protected classes. When it comes to Fair Housing, the greater of regulations apply, not the lesser. So… if you are a landlord in California, you have 24 classes to remember to truly make unbiased decisions with your tenants. To help you, there is a new Fair Housing disclosure that is now included in each California purchase or lease agreement. 

    California’s new Fair Housing & Discrimination Advisory; prewritten into every lease and sale transaction.

    Sometimes discrimination can be subtle, or without malice. Here are just a few examples of Discrimination in Housing…some may come as a surprise to you.

    What Discrimination in Housing Looks Like:

    • Treating anyone unequally
    • Failing to show a home or lease 
    • Offering unequal terms 
    • Advertising specific terms or preference
    • Inquiring about a protected status
    • Refusing to accomodate a disability (aka emotional support animals)
    • Denying a family with children’s offer because you don’t think your pool or busy street is safe for them
    • Refusing to rent an upper unit to an elderly tenant because you feel stairs are too dangerous
    • Showing preference for one protected group above another (i.e. preferring a family with children over a gay couple)
    • Not renting the home to a family with multiple kids because ‘the children will destroy the home’.
    • Not treating everyone with the same professional courtesy (greetings, returning calls, tonality, response time)
    • Buyer or agent ‘love letters’; especially those with photos

    Up until this year, I was an agent sending & receiving love letters. I had no idea they were an indirect method of discrimination; and our stories previously helped my clients get the deal. 2020 brings about many changes, and I am happy to adjust course to assist in offering a better opportunity for all. Please, encourage other professionals in the industry and owners to practice making selling and leasing decisions based on criteria that does not exclude. I will recommend future sellers do not read letters during the decision making process. We can all improve from here and be better at this. 

    Here’s an interesting infographic with the most common Fair Housing complaints from 2018:

    If you know someone who has been party to discrimination in housing, it’s important to educate, and to speak up. Here’s a link to submit a violation:

    hud.gov/fairhousing/ 

    The only way we change the cycle and truly offer equal housing to all humans is through a system of ethics, awareness of implicit bias, and accountability measures. Feel free to comment your thoughts or experiences below – let’s bring about some positive acknowledgment to build better, stronger, more diverse communities together. 

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