From the category archives:

Orange County

A Home Loan with NO APPRIASAL? Too Good to Be True?

July 17, 2010

So, you’re browsing through the online listings of homes for sale in Orange County, and you come across a great little house that says, “No Appraisal Financing!”. Woohoo! That sounds easy…
HomePath
You may have heard of a new Federal home loan program called HomePath. HomePath loans feature several tempting benefits, such as low down payments, flexible [...]

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Orange County Housing Report: Hey Sellers, Get Realistic!!

July 12, 2010

Here’s the latest Orange County Housing Report from Steven Thomas, President of Altera Real Estate.
The Orange County Housing Inventory has inflated by 48% since the beginning of the year on the backs of unrealistic sellers.
Unrealistic Sellers
Overpriced homes have flooded the market.
Reports of tremendous competition among buyers have fueled unrealistic seller expectations. Reports of multiple offers [...]

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Orange County Housing Report: Demand is Normal Again

June 28, 2010

Here’s the latest Orange County Housing Report from Steven Thomas, President of Altera Real Estate.
After dropping nearly 22%, Orange County housing demand is now in a normal summer cyclical pattern.
Housing Demand:
Over the last 5 years the average drop in demand was 3.2%, this year it was only 2%.
Whatever the reason, the end of school, graduation, [...]

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Mortgage Rates Flirting with All Time Lows

June 25, 2010

Interest rates touched all time lows this week, then bounced up a little. The Fed announced concerns about the global and US economy at the policy meeting this week and stated their intention to keep rates near zero for the foreseeable future. No V shaped recovery in the U.S. Equities, Bonds, commodities, and rates all [...]

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Orange County Housing Report: Demand Returning to Normal

June 19, 2010

The drop in demand ever since the end of the Federal first time home buyer tax credit on April 30th is slowing and leveling off.
Housing Demand
The 4% drop in demand in the last two weeks is much better than the 12% posted two weeks ago.
At this point, looking in the rear view mirror, the end [...]

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An Oasis in Orange – Condo for Sale by Equity Owner

June 14, 2010

Brand new on the market! Click “play” to see a short video of this great home for sale in Orange, with wonderful patio, upgraded kitchen and bathrooms, and beautiful living space.

This end unit condo in Chapman Townhomes, with 3 bedrooms and 3 bath, has vaulted ceilings, gorgeous natural light, and a secluded garden back yard. The [...]

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Orange County Housing Report: A Spring Pause?

June 13, 2010

Could it be graduations, the end of the tax credit, Europe’s influence, a temporary housing lull? Only time will tell, but the Orange County housing market has gone over a speed bump and has slowed considerably.
Housing Demand
Over the past month, housing demand has dropped by 17%.

Demand, the number of new pending sales over the prior [...]

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Mission Viejo REO Homes for Sale – Market Update

May 12, 2010

Check out these Mission Viejo REO homes for sale – three great options for Orange County home buyers looking for a great deal in today’s real estate market. Whether you are a cash investor looking for a good property to flip, or an FHA 203K borrower – basically building the cost of the rehab into [...]

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Orange County Home Prices Up 12% in March

April 13, 2010

Jon Lansner of the OC Register reports that the latest Dataquick homebuying report shows the median home price in March was $432,000, up 12% from a year ago. The number of homes sold in Orange County also continues to rise, with the March sales of 2,652 homes 9% higher than in 2009. That makes 20 [...]

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No More California Tax Liability for Short Sellers

April 8, 2010

The California Legislature just passed SB401, which will bring the State’s laws regarding tax liability for forgiven mortgage debt in line with Federal rules. The Governor says he’ll sign the bill.
Up to now, home owners in Orange County, and all of California, that completed a Short Sale of their home faced the prospect of [...]

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