OCTeam's Blog: All Categories

The National Association of REALTORS® has published the results of its quarterly sales survey and found that the median home price continues to rise in most metropolitan areas. The median is a typical market price – meaning half of all homes sold for more, and half of all homes sold for less.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the data underscores the fact that all real estate is local. “Some metro areas are hot, while others are experiencing localized problems,” he said.  November sales statistics for Orange County will give us a better idea of what is happening locally.

November figures for Dana Point show the number of new listings decreased 28 percent compared to November 2006. Home sales decreased by 26 percent during the same time period.…

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The 13th annual Toy Ride to CHOC (Orange County Children's  Hospital)  was a great way to start Christmas Eve. Over 1,600 bikers started lining up at 7:00 am for the ride that left the Orange County Harley-Davidson, Irvine, Ca Dealer at 9:45am.   The 30-mile ride went North from Irvine (with a local police escort through the city) , then up through Trabuco Canyon with adults and children lining the route waving and watching the group proceed to the hospital. This is an annual fund raiser for the Orange County Harley Owners Group that raises some $300,000 (about 35,000 toys) for the children when they are at the hospital. Riders from all walks to life look forward to this annual event. Anyone on any type of motorcycle is invited to ride with the group by…

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Many consider Ladera Ranch, California to be part of Mission Viejo due to it's adjacent location and, the fact that if one did a search for homes on the MLS or internet, the homes were featured as part of Mission Viejo. This month (December 2007), the Southern California Multiple Listing Service (So Cal MLS)  decided to change their search criteria so that Ladera Ranch is now listed as a separate city for search purposes.  The 45,000 or so agents who use the So Cal MLS to search for homes will  find Ladera Ranch is no longer listed as part of Mission Viejo.

In reality, Ladera Ranch is a newer community located in an unincorporated area of South Orange County with it's own zip code 92694. Development began in 1999,  and it has grown to approximately 30,000…

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The Holiday Toy Express arrived from the North Pole and rolled into the San Juan Capistrano Metrolink Train Station at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 amid patient, but anxiously awaiting crowds of families and children of all ages. Adorned in some 50,000 sparkling and colorful lights that lit the evening sky, the oversized (some 450-ton)  "Toy Train"  brought holiday cheer as Santa and his friends from the North Pole put on a live musical stage show and we even had snow for the event!  They also led the audience  in a sing-a-long of Rudloph the Red Nosed Raindeer, Frosty the Snowman and, of course, Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

It was a fun event that benefits needy children through the Spark of Love Toy Drive sponsored by the Southern California Firefighters, who…

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Looking for the best way to find your Dream Home in Orange County, California?  It's easy when you can search by Aerial Maps, Tracts, Neighborhoods and/or Price Ranges, save your favorite homes for viewing later and get daily emails of new properties that meet your specific search criteria...all available on the areas most user friendly and informative web site at GuideToLocalRealEstate.com .

Search at your your convenience 24-hours a day without contacting a realtor.

When you are ready to purchase your new home, or once you want to contact an agent  who specializes in offering a new level of service, helping people buy and/or sell Orange County area homes, condos, investment properties and 1031 exchanges, then your best choice is to contact The Hartanov…

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Conditions in the mortgage market are improving for consumers, which should help to release some pent-up demand in early 2008, according to the October 10, 2007 forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, notes that widening credit availability will help turn around home sales.  “Conforming loans are abundantly available at historically favorable mortgage rates.  Pricing has steadily improved on jumbo mortgages since the August credit crunch, and FHA loans are replacing subprime mortgages,” he said. 

Let's take a look at the October sales statistics for Orange County to get a better idea of what the future may hold for some of the cities in the coastal areas:

October figures for Dana Point show the…

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Over 70 Harley riders came out early on Friday morning to join up at famous Watson's Drug at the Orange Circle for  their annual toy pickup at local schools to benefit  CHOC (Children's Hospital Orange County).  Listening to the rumble of, and watching 70 Harley-Davidson motorcyles in precise formation going down the road can be rather intimidating. However, on this day, the Harley Riders of  the 550 member strong Harley-Davidson chapter in Orange County  came to gather gifts and enjoy the local schools children support that brings tears to many grown-ups eyes. This has become an annual event for Orange Coast HOG. It culminates with all the toys that are donated and collected delivered each year to CHOC on Christmas Eve morning, December 24. 

The first…

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What is up with SoCal MLS changing the search criteria so searches for the Talega area in San Clemente and Ladera Ranch area of Mission Viejo are now considered as a city of their own for search purposes? Those are not cities and it worked the way it was. Is this something we will see more of in the future as their is further integration of MLS's.?

Now, anyone looking on the internet for homes in San Clemente, or homes in Mission Viejo will apparently not see any of the homes for sale in the area of Talega or Ladera Ranch.  How the heck is the consumer supposed to know this?  If I were a seller in either of those two areas, I would not be a happy seller. My internet exposure may have just disappeared to a large percentage of people searching for homes…

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