5 Things We’re Focusing on During COVID-19
Welp, in a matter of 2 weeks… our world has completely changed with the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re scrambling along with the rest of society to find a ‘new normal’. That said, it’s refreshing to have the opportunity to rethink everything we’ve been doing; both professionally and personally, to reprioritize what’s most important.
Our Top 5 Focus Areas During Orange County Quarantine
- Relationships – Above all, we love & care about our family, clients, prospects, & fellow humans. We’re moving to Zoom meetings, FaceTimes, and other online communication forums to ensure everyone’s safety and flatten the curve. Checking in on people who might be lonely or struggling with kind texts. I’ve committed to doing more regular videos, and virtual open houses. One action item was a comfy space at home to do virtual meetings – have you created yours yet? It’s fun! Feel free to comment a pic for us 🙂
- Immunity – Clearly, we’ve got nothing without our health. We think and act better when our body is functioning at it’s best. During this time, are you eating for health & wellness? Taking vitamins? For sure….dark chocolate is still aplenty in our home, but personally I’m watching my sugar, soy, hormone, and gluten intake, and drinking more alkaline water. We’ve got handsoap filled by each sink – one of our fave brands is Jade Bloom if you like delivery & to support small business 😉 Another thing we did was up our Farm Fresh to You order. They deliver all kinds of healthy fruits, veggies, & even organic eggs to your door. Why go to grocery if you don’t have to? Also made a nightly routine of essential oils, because they are soothing & help immunity. Favorites are lavender, protect, & lucid for sleeping. Please share…what are your secrets for immunity?
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We’re seeing a lot of our clients on social media baking & crafting with their kiddos. We love to watch everyone embracing this family time in their homes.
Mental health – This is a BIG one. People’s lives just got disrupted and they are angry, scared, and upset. Ignoring it, shaming yourself, or attempts to drown it away won’t help. We need to come to terms, choose LOVE, and a new path to move forward. My preferred way to handle this is to ask: “Is my inner child happy today?” If I do something to make my inner child happy, then I usually feel good about life. When I cage my inner child, shame her, or ignore her because I’m unbalanced in some way….THEN my mental health seems to go sideways. Usually ‘little Angie’ wants to make something, hence the artist studios we’ve been building through Flower Den Retreats. Cooking, yoga, meditation, and prayer are also great daily exercises for mental health. What are you intentionally doing to protect your mindset right now? Are you at peace with yourself & love yourself? This is the space where smart & strategic decisions come from…be ready to make them. And it’s OKAY if you’re down in the dumps. Please reach out to someone you love for a life rope. The national suicide hotline is 1-800-273-8255 – save this number in your phone – you may never need it, but a friend just might!
- Budget – Not gonna lie – things could get tight. Are you handling this on a proactive or a reactive basis? You probably have the time to be proactive, so do that. Check online to see what relief your mortgage company is offering, and stay subscribed to our YouTube & blog here for regular updates on national mortgage relief options. Think….Where can you cut more? What small businesses can you support more? For example, we’re planning to cut our 800# & moving to WhatsApp – seems to be the preferred international & ‘long distance’ platform anyway. What apps are you paying for that you don’t use? Subscriptions? This is a great time to organize your finances, put everything on autopay, or even take the time to improve your credit. We recommend the CreditKarma app to get started on credit, and Mint.com for an overall picture. Let us know what resources you use to plan your budget.
- Investments – No time like the present to watch your favorite experts on YouTube! Consider sharpening up your knowledge and exploring some new areas to invest in. Ask hard questions like: Am I diversified? Stocks, mutual funds, crypto, property? How can I spread my risk? Do I have all my eggs in one basket? WHO am I trusting to get my facts from? Since we’re experts on the Orange County real estate market, we’ll help you with quality local resources to trust. A couple favorites are Reports on Housing & California Association of Realtors.
“Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.” – Billy Graham
For most of our clients, their home is their biggest investment, and they’re spending a LOT of time in it right now. Hopefully, you’re happy with your space and embracing this time to improve upon it. If you’re worried about your property value going up, down, or sideways… you’re not alone. We offer monthly home value reports to show you what’s happening in your neighborhood. Just text Angie your address at 949-338-7408, or fill out the form below to receive your property’s value.
We want to wish you and your family health, healing, and happiness during this quarantine. Please reach out if we can help you with anything – we’re here for you & care about our fellow humans!
Congrats! You Made It To Escrow! Now What?
Your offer has been accepted – congratulations! You’re ready to settle into your dream home and enjoy a glass of wine. The only thing standing between you and the keys to your new home is escrow, so now what? You’ve probably heard the term escrow (also referred to as closing) thrown around but didn’t quite understand what it meant. Escrow is something most people don’t fully understand until they experience it. In a nutshell, they are your neutral third party assisting to ensure the contract is executed correctly by all sides.
The Orange County Escrow Process Made Easy
Escrow protects all parties involved in the real estate transaction (including you)! Escrow is a third party service that holds a valuable asset (in this case – your “earnest” money) until the transaction between the seller and the buyer is complete. Once your offer is accepted, an escrow company is hired to implement the transaction in accordance with the terms of the sales agreement.
Does A Home Buyer or Seller Choose Escrow?
Not all Escrow companies are created equal and we always prefer to work with companies we know and trust. That said, it’s our advice to negotiate price over services. If you are a buyer, you may get the seller to accept your offer or your price if you let them choose the escrow company. In most Orange County and SoCal cases, the seller selects the escrow and title companies used for closing.
What Happens Next? How Do We Close Escrow?
It’s a series of steps in a specific order of operations. Your escrow, title, and lender will know it all and help guide you through. As your Realtor, it’s our job to make sure they are all doing theirs. Sometimes it feels like a circus and sometimes it feels like a symphony. Rather than writing you a book, here’s a fun graphic thanks to Finance Of America Mortgage to guide you through the main hurdles, contingencies and objections to overcome!
5 Tips To Make Your Escrow Process Run Smoothly
1. Let Your Lender Lead The Way!
You’ll need to sign loan disclosures before an appraisal can be ordered, so do everything your lender requests and do it promptly. This is the BEST way to have a smooth escrow.
2. Complete Documentation
The purchase agreement must be completed with signatures from all parties. The Escrow officer will send a package of paperwork, make sure to be on the lookout for this paperwork and complete it promptly. Signing documents online will help you stay organized.
3. Sign On Time
The purchasing of a home will require a significant amount of paperwork and legal documents. It is important that all of this paperwork is signed and in a timely manner to ensure that the sale may proceed without any delays. The escrow officer will take possession of these documents to ensure that all necessary paperwork has been completed, signed, and filed on time.
4. Communicate!
Check your email regularly! Your escrow officer will be reaching out to all parties involved frequently! Your escrow officer might need a signature sent over in a timely manner.
5. Halt Credit Utilization – You’re In A Financial Fishbowl
During the closing process, your financial history is being reviewed carefully and frequently. A change in your financial circumstances could implode the escrow process. You have made it this far based on your current financial standing – if changes occur lenders have the right the always make drastic changes.
Learn about what to avoid when closing on a mortgage here:
3 Ways To Mess Up Closing
If you are ready to get your escrow process stated, contact Angie Weeks at 949-338-7408!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )How To Buy Property In Iceland
Vacation Homes in Iceland
As more and more Americans become internationally savvy investors, we love bringing you experts and tips on how to safely buy abroad. Iceland is a gorgeous country and it’s growing quite fast – which means opportunity knocks!
Iceland’s capital is Reykjavík, so we scoped out a quality agent who has been selling there for more than 5 years – Pall Palsson. When you are considering a purchase as a newbie to a country, you do not want to work with a newbie agent! It’s a really good idea to ask your main Realtor if they are an International Specialist (CIPS) and if so, they can help pair you with a good fit in the country you plan to purchase.
RESEARCH is key, and that’s best done with a team. Iceland currently has a stable government, currency, and job market. Iceland is one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the world. Iceland has an even market right now which makes it easier for both buyers and sellers to obtain their goals. It also means their are enough houses on the market if you’re looking for your next big move!
Here’s an interview with Pall that goes more in depth about the current real estate market in Iceland:
Other factors to consider are education, cost of living, and climate.
As far as climate, Iceland tends to have very short summers that are still chilly and usually pretty cloudy. If you’re from California, it would be quite the opposite of the sunny beautiful weather we are used too! Their winters are very long and wet, but if the snow is something you love – it’d be perfect for you! The temperature in Iceland hardly ever drops below 17 degrees which if you’ve ever been to the Midwest where it drops down to a brutal -20 with wind chill often during the winter months then that might not seem so bad. You won’t usually see the temperature rise much higher than 62 degrees in Iceland. The absolute beautiful of this country may sway you to deal with the cold anyways – we’ve truly never seen such beauty.
The cost of living in Iceland is close to comparable to Southern California right now – expensive. You can get a 2 bedroom 1 bath town home around $350,000 – $400,000. If you’re able to afford that and even spend half of your time in a place with such outstanding sights to see you’d be living your best life.
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Real Estate and your Divorce in OC – Protect Yourself!
A Divorce team on YOUR side
Going through a divorce is a stressful life event that unfortunately happens to about 72% of us here in Orange County, which is 22% over the national average. It is much more common than we think, and we are never prepared for it because we think we will be together forever. You probably know someone going through one right now. We hope it never happens to you or anyone else we know and love, but if it does we want you to know what you can do to make it easier. Divorce can also be one of the most lonely times for people, losing your best friend that you were going to spend the rest of your life with is far from easy. In order to make the process a little more easy, you need to find yourself a support system and a team that can help you through all of the legal parts that come with.
Who should be on your team?
Divorce Attorney
The last thing you want to think about our deal with during a divorce is what legal matters need to be settled. Having a good divorce attorney in your corner is key to helping it be an easy transition. If you don’t feel like doing research on divorce attorney’s don’t worry, we know the best one. Elisabeth Donovan is a member of our LeTip group that we see every week and we think she would be a great asset to your team. She is a certified divorce financial analyst and divorce attorney so she is at a higher level than other attorneys. She is experienced in separation and divorce, child custody and child support. She is passionate and aggressive, we’d want her on our team if we were in the same situation.
Lender
When going through a divorce homeownership and our credit can take a hit. You want a good lender on your side who will make sure you are able to purchase a home again. Derek Beisner is always one of your favorite lenders who also has his divorce designation. When one spouse says; ‘I’ll just keep the house,’ Derek makes sure not only they can afford it, but the spouse leaving can also afford to go off on their own and obtain financing. This is a critical step most divorcing couples forget to handle in mediation, and it usually ends up in one party being forced to sell or foreclose within 6 months to 1 year. We won’t let this happen to you.
Title
Sometimes debt gets so high in a separated household that second loans and Home Equity Lines of credit get taken out. Are you aware of everything that owed on your home, and every debt that’s connected to each of you? We have Mike with Team Langgle at your service to do a deep title search on all your assets, AND each party’s social security number, so nothing pesky pops up later. It’s important to know these things when you are dividing your assets equally!
Realtor
You know us and we weren’t going to leave your real estate agent off of your team. Having your trusted agent in your pocket during this time is so important. Whether you need to work with them to help you both sell your current home or you just need help finding your new home for your new chapter – having a real estate agent you trust and enjoy working with is key. We at the AskAngie team have the heart to help people going through a divorce. We’re not just trying to just sell your home we’re going to research and protect you to ensure you have a right size residence. Yes, sometimes that means sales, but frequently we just help put your ducks in order FOR FREE with no obligations. We work in conjunction with attorneys like Elisabeth to make sure every property concern is covered.
Insurance
Did you know insurance usually goes up on a property after a divorce? Or even worse, some properties are uninsurable due to new guidelines? Scott Assali with Advantis Insurance can check your home(s) to make sure prices aren’t going up and you don’t get stuck in a pickle later with any insurance issues. If you’ve had too many claims recently, you could be in this boat. Be careful and let us confirm every single one of your bases is covered.
Credit Repair
Divorce can ruin one or both parties credit, and you’re going to NEED good credit to start your next chapter right! Sean Bruce with Executive Fix has flexible 3-18 month programs to help you boost your score back up and bounce back better than ever. Little things can make a big difference with your credit, and you have lots of big things to focus on. Sean cleans up your credit while you’re putting the other pieces back together.
Tax Advice
You may be moving to a new tax bracket or selling your home and paying Capital Gains. Irene Mack, CPA knows everything about the new tax laws and can help you understand what your new tax obligations will be. If you have back taxes owed, she can also assist to set you up with a payment plan. Having any outstanding tax obligations during the years that you were married can fall upon you both for years to come, and Irene can help you resolve that so you don’t have lingering issues.
Trust Advice
Are you breaking up or changing a trust? Brent with Pickelsimer Law is not only a Trust Attorney, he is also a judge. Brent is only available by referral, and he can guide you through all the important considerations when dissolving or creating a trust. He does house calls, too, if you’re too busy handling other items to meet at the office. Most of our team does, for that matter!
Financial Advice
Need to change up your investments? Update your beneficiaries? Have fresh eyes take a look to make sure you are making the most out of what you’ve saved? Barbara Loos has been with Prudential for years and will take a look at your current investments with no obligations and let you know if she thinks you’re in a good place or she sees opportunity for bigger gains. Don’t lose sight of your long term plans during this difficult time.
Mobile Notary
With all the documents flying you’re probably going to need a notary, a few times. Nicki Walsh is so kind, caring, and compassionate, you’ll want her to help you with all your paperwork signings. She can come to you or meet you at the place of your choice.
Fix up crew
If you’re selling, renting, or even keeping your home but find out repairs are needed, we’ve got everyone you need to help you from Ken with Beacon Carpet & grout cleaning, to John with Reddel Draperies. Or maybe you don’t need anything ‘fixed’, but you can’t stand looking at the exact same house. Gina Lauren can come help you transform your space with her interior design expertise.
Clutter crew
Oh, and we also have the fasttrack number to Salvation Army. Most people call and it’s 2 weeks out and a 4 hour window…not us. We call and set an appointment TIME where they come and pick up EVERYTHING regardless of condition. It’s all part of our RCS-D designation relationships to bring you one less worry.
Emotional support
Obviously this is such a hard time with so much change. We’ve got you covered on that end too, with referrals for many therapists, help groups, churches, & holistic help practitioners to keep you operating at your best mentally. The more people you can have on your team to share the heavy load during this time will make your life easier and less stressful. Go ahead, lean on us!
Next Steps
Together with your team you will be able to mastermind the next steps of your life and where the new chapter will begin. Your divorce attorney will make sure you get everything you want and need throughout the divorce process. Then your lender and the rest of the team will make sure your credit, savings, and mindset stays strong so that you are able to buy again sooner than later. Lastly, your Realtor will help you find the perfect new pad for your next chapter, and you’ll be well on your way to your best life!
If you need more recommendations/advice or are currently going through a divorce and need our team to be your support system contact Angie at 949-338-7408.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Hot Topic: FHA or Conventional Loan?
Wondering which home loan will be best for you? Here’s some helpful tips
Lots of buyers have been questioning which loan is best for them and their situation. Honestly, it does depend on just that – your situation. We have put together some information on both of these loan options to make it easier for you to decide what you think is best for yourself! Some of the biggest, but most simple differences between FHA and conventional loans are based on their guidelines and who can apply for them. FHA loans are government backed programs that require a minimum 3.5% down payment. These loans tend to be best for borrowers with lower credit than necessary to apply for a conventional loan.
Conventional loans are open-market and are geared for people with a higher credit score, typically near 700 or higher. Rates tend to be a bit lower, and in most cases no Mortgage Insurance is required.
FHA used to be a much more expensive option, but after FHA MIP reductions in 2015 it is now a real competitor. However, FHA can tend to be more strict in requirements than a conventional loan is.
What does an FHA Loan Require?
FHA loans require homes to have the following in good working order:
- stove
- heat
- functioning roof
- locking doors and windows
- non-lead based paint
If you are looking to buy a condo… it can only be in a FHA approved community. So if you are choosing FHA, you may have less home options available to you. FHA loans also require you to purchase mortgage insurance which protects the lenders from a loss. In January of 2015, the FHA reduced the annual mortgage insurance premium on a 30 year fixed rate from 1.35 % to 0.85% of the loan balance. This is leading to huge savings for many who want a condo but just don’t have the larger down payment.
Okay, so which home loan should you choose?
There isn’t one specific answer that fits everybody. It all depends on you, your needs and wants, and what you can afford to choose. If you plan on owning your home for 6-10 years and you don’t mind refinancing to cancel your mortgage insurance you might choose FHA. If you can put 5% down, you plan on keeping your home for 10-20 years and you don’t like the idea of paying mortgage insurance for thirty years you may choose conventional!
If you are looking into buying a home and need help finding one along with deciding which loan option is best for you – we can help! We work with a lot of amazing lender contacts locally here in Orange County that we would love to set you up with. We like to match-make our clients with lenders that we think will benefit them the most. Depending on your personality, wants/needs, and what kind of loan you are interested in all helps us decide which lender will be best for you! Fill out the form below or contact Angie at 949-338-7408 for more information 🙂
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Is it time to hire a property manager?
Thinking about hiring a property manager? Here’s some reasons why you might want to!
Are you having to move away but want to keep your current home and just don’t have the time to take care of it or deal with renting it out to someone else? Do you own multiple properties and don’t have the time to take care of one or more? Are you frustrated with trying to find a renter for your home but need to get it done? Any of these situations are when hiring a property manager comes in handy and really benefits you! Did you know AskAngie team is willing to be your property manager and take these tasks off your shoulders? Well we are, and we can’t wait to share how with you!
We can think of lots of people who would benefit from this process but here is a few on our list:
- Active military or veterans who are moving to a different location
- Seniors looking for additional income without hassles
- Busy executives who travel
- Active duty military who are deploying
- A landlord who needs some extra help
- Relocating for a job but know you want to move back to your home in sunny California someday
What will we do for you as your property manager?
Helping you take care of your home while someone else lives in it is something we are experienced and know how to do for you. We know dealing with this can be such a hassle, and we are ready to make it easier and smoother for you!
- We will do all the advertising for you that you will need in order to find you the perfect renter for your home! We will initiate, sign, and renew any leasing agreements as well as any terminations that may need to be done, so that you don’t have to worry about the paperwork.
- We always run credit reports and verify previous tenancy when looking at a potential renter. We also have access to run a complete background check if needed!
- We will handle getting any repairs or maintenance work that needs to be done, done for you! Living far away from your property or being busy with work can make it hard to be on top of repairs and maintenance your renter may want or need, but don’t worry – we’ve got it handled for you!
- We take care of issuing any notices like past due rent or notices to vacate.
- Contracts, expense payments, and security deposits is so much to worry about and make sure you get done, but once again we would do it all for you so there would be no worrying necessary!
Honestly, just kick your feet up and relax – we’ve got this!!
We take care of all the heavy lifting as well as being a professional shoulder to lean on while renting our your home. It really does take so much weight off your shoulders!
How much do Orange County Property Management Services cost?
I’m sure you’re wondering what cost all this work comes at, so here it is:
for a single family home, townhouse or condo we charge only $175 a month to take care of all of these things for you.
Multiple units would depend on the number of units that property had, but it usually ends up being about 5% of the total gross rents from that particular property.
What do you have to lose besides for some extra stress? If this feels like something you need to take advantage of, give us a call today at 949-338-7408! We look forward to hearing from you 🙂
CIPS – Why we think International Real Estate is so important!
First of all, what even is a CIPS?
That is what AskAngie team is here to explain! CIPS stands for Certified International Property Specialist, which means that we are designees that have been trained and certified on how to help you with your international real estate needs. We are well informed on how different cultures interpret people and real estate. CIPS designees are prepared to work with international clients, international funds, as well as American clients who choose to buy internationally. We are relied on because of our expertise in international real estate.
Why do we need Certified International Property Specialists?
Global business and international real estate have expanded a lot so these designees are need more now than ever before! Recently, foreign buyers have spent a lot more money in real estate – to the tune of over 1 BILLION per year. Earning the CIPS title makes agents more creditable and resourceful. CIPS have access to a wide network of professionals that can help you with your property needs around the world. Through research we are able to protect you from losing property or buying in a country where you don’t actually ‘own’ your home. We make sure you are buying legitimate properties wherever you may be looking! People are moving from foreign countries to the US every single day and many Americans look into property overseas as well. Because of the work Certified International Property Specialists do, these home owners are able to have a smooth and reliable transition into their new space (or out of their old)!
Watch this video on why we think CIPS is an important designation!
We recommend if you’re thinking about buying out of the country, call us at 877-230-3211 or text Angie at 949-338-7408 to take advantage of the CIPS education and put it to work for your real estate needs! 🙂
Duplex in Los Angeles just 449K
Opportunity knocks, and it’s twice as nice for this LA duplex! Located close to parks, freeways, & fun, this classic fixer has so much potential.
Not yet on MLS: 3710 McKenzie Avenue, Los Angeles
More about Homeownership Day / OC Home Fair
What is an AITD? An All Inclusive Trust Deed is basically when the buyer takes over the seller’s existing loan. And NO, it doesn’t have to be an ‘assumable loan’ … The current lender is actually not even notified!
