Even when you think you have your life all mapped out, things happen that shape your destiny in ways you might never have imagined. ~ Deepak Chopra

Looking for a home in South Orange County?

I am beyond excited to have joined the Sheri Isaacs Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty in Mission Viejo!

It is our mission to create a successful and positive residential real estate experience for each of our clients by providing superior, personalized service through our team of dedicated professionals working together to achieve our clients' highest objectives and to earn their future business and referrals.

To visit the site of Sheri Isaacs Real Estate Group:  Click Here!

To find your next Mission Viejo home:  Click Here!

Have a 5 star day!

Does Moving Up Make Sense?

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, you may have significant, unrealized gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving. 

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job or live in a better school district. 

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your municipality doesn’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

If you are considering moving up, I can help you list your current residence AND help you find that perfect new home for you!  

Contact me!

NOW is THE time to buy a home!

Home affordability in the United States is nothing short of amazing. Even though current price trends for the United States and Canada are considerably different, the same principle applies in both cases: clients need perspective and they need to look beneath surface statistics before making informed decisions
The first chart below dramatically illustrates the impact of lower interest rates on housing costs, and the relative affordability of housing in the United States. The cost of a loaf of bread and a gallon of gas has more than tripled since 1989, and car prices have nearly doubled. While the median price of a new home has increased by 70 percent, mortgage interest rates, which stood at 10 percent back in 1989, are less than half of what they were back then. The impact of rock-bottom interest rates is that the monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home in the United States has increased by a mere $4 since 1989.

Unless a buyer is paying cash, the monthly payment tends to be a far more relevant number than the home’s actual purchase price. So for buyers who are waiting for home prices to hit the floor, before buying it’s important to point out that the possibility of a slight drop in the price of a home will have very little impact on the monthly payment, while even a slight rise in interest rates (a far more likely scenario) will have a significant impact.
Timing the market to a T is never possible and in the current market, staying on the sidelines is more likely to result in a missed opportunity than a small savings.
Even so, buyer reluctance in the current market can outweigh compelling facts. U.S. buyers are skittish about the housing market, and the fact is market skittishness is actually a good reason to buy now.  General uncertainty about the housing market and a reluctance to take action only contributes to the number of deals and negotiating power available to astute buyers. U.S. buyers who are waiting for the real estate market to “recover” are in fact waiting for a reduction in inventory, fewer foreclosed properties on banks’ books, rising home prices and sellers who don’t need to be as motivated.
That scenario will be welcome news for sellers, banks and the U.S. economy as a whole, but not for buyers. Now is the time for U.S. buyers to act and for you to offer the perspective that helps them to understand why.
In Canada, on the other hand, average home prices are trending upwards, but as is always the case, those of us who are willing to dig beneath surface statistics are far better positioned to help our clients to understand the big picture and to take action. Before we look at housing affordability in Canada, though, I’d urge all Canadian associates to make sure that your clients also understand the opportunities that rock-bottom U.S. interest rates and real estate prices – particularly in the sunshine states – represent to them as well. In doing so, you stand to power a new stream of referral income.
As the chart below indicates, the average home price in Canada has increased by 160 percent since 1990, while increasing 9.5 percent since last year. For some buyers, this trend might contribute to a sense of urgency to buy before housing prices shoot up any further.

Others could take one look at current prices and be convinced that they have been priced out of the market. This is where your perspective proves critical. Remind your buyers that all real estate is local. The recent run-up in average real estate prices reflects above-normal sales activity in the priciest markets, so make sure that your clients are looking at local price trends within their specific price range.
At the same time, remind your clients that the monthly mortgage payment, not the actual purchase price, tends to be the relevant number. Whereas the average home price in Canada has increased by 160 percent since 1990, mortgage interest rates have decreased by 60 percent. As a result, over the past decade, the average mortgage payment has increased by less than 25 percent – a statistic that is likely to shift the perspectives of many Canadians on the feasibility buying a home in the current market.
 ONWARD …

Going through a divorce or know someone who is?

Divorce Shield is a network of professionals in your area that can help you get through this incredibly difficult and overwhelming time.  They help you learn your options and guide you towards making the decisions that are best for you!

Gain the clarity, control, and confidence you'll need during this challenging and stressful time. You will get a free plan that is broken down into sections that are easy to understand and build upon. Guide yourself through each section with checklists, worksheets, and expert insight that can help you navigate the potential minefield of divorce.

We connect you to local professionals who are ready to assist you in twelve different categories. From attorneys to financial professionals, you will have access to build the best possible local team of advocates for your personal situation.   They also have a network of real estate agents (like me!) to help protect your interests in your home or help you relocate to a new one!

Mission Viejo Divorce Shield

Are You STILL Renting?

There has never been a better time to enter the real estate market. So, why throw away money on rent when you can be your own landlord?   Mortage rates are low, great homes are more affordable than they have been in recent history, and the market is full of highly-motivated sellers.  Visit my website at www.5starday.com to start your home search!

Your First Home: The Proven Path to Home Ownership

There is a special category of life's firsts. First kiss. Driving for the first time. Going away to college. Starting your first job. Saying, "I do." Having a child. All these unique moments bring significance to the story of your life. Whether you're from Mission Viejo or relocating to beautiful Southern California, walking into your own home for the first time is just as magical.

I have good news about the real estate market! Surprised? Well, it’s true - today’s market provides a huge opportunity for first-time buyers to enter the market.  Unfortunately, much of the media coverage of the real estate market has caused real fear in potential buyers. In reality, there has not been a better time to buy value in recent years. 

If you know of anyone who has found themselves overwhelmed or discouraged from buying their first home, please send me their contact information so that I can send them a free book. Your First Home: The Proven Path to Home Ownership outlines the process of home ownership in eight simple steps and is a must-read for anyone considering purchasing their first home.

With my experience, passion and knowledge of today’s market, I am fully prepared and anxious to help your friends and family find their first homes. And as always, your referral is the best compliment that I can receive.  

Visit my website at 5 STAR DAY to view available homes or get additional information today!

Helping you to find the perfect home for you!

This Month In Real Estate (US) April 2011

This Month In Real Estate (US) April 2011

You can't even find rent less than this! Own your own home in Rancho Santa Margarita now!

1 bedroom, 1 bath for sale!

Call for to see this today!

Five Real Estate Tips from Warren Buffett

Tara-Nicholle Nelson

Billionaire. Oracle of Omaha. The most successful investor in the world. All of these are used frequently -- and accurately -- to describe Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a holding company with upward of $130 million. Though his stock in trade is, well, stock and trade, over the years, Buffett has actually spun quite a bit of wisdom on real estate, and much of the advice he has given to investors in traded assets would also stand the average American homeowner in good stead.

Looking for some wisdom on the best approach to owning a home? Here's a sampling of real estate tips from Buffett, right, the third richest human being on the planet.

1. The Basic Premise of Home Ownership -- That Homes Increase In Value Over Time -- Is Sound

Last spring, the Congressional Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission called Buffett in for an interview. He was asked to explain some of his bubble-era investment decisions, as well as to give his take on what in the heck had happened to the economy. In the process, Buffett expressed his belief that the housing bubble was inflated by an irrational, widespread belief that home prices would only ever go up -- an extreme corruption of a generally valid premise. "It's a totally sound premise that houses will become worth more over time because the dollar becomes worth less," Buffett declared.

The sound premise, Buffett explained, got distorted and eventually caused the housing crisis when Americans started buying multiple homes to cash in on what they assumed was guaranteed appreciation, taking out "liar's loans," buying homes with no down payment and with unaffordable monthly payments -- and lenders let them -- all because of the assumption that prices could never go down.

Clearly, this assumption was wrong. As Buffett said in an earlier shareholder's letter: "A pin lies in wait for every bubble."

2. Buy Low (And Now Would Be a Good Time for That)

Buffett writes a letter to Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders every year that is chock-full of his review of the company's fortunes (literally) over the preceding year, his analysis of the stock market and the economy in general, and his smart, plain English tips on life and money and on life.

In last month's annual shareholder letter, Buffett addressed the industry-leading 2010 performance of one of his company's holdings, which sells and finances manufactured homes. During that discussion, the money maven declared that now would be a sensible time to buy a home, in light of record-high affordability: "Home ownership makes sense for most Americans, particularly at today's lower prices and bargain interest rates."

And Buffett didn't stop there. He pointed out his own tenure as a homeowner as an example. "All things considered, the third-best investment I ever made was the purchase of my home, though I would have made far more money had I instead rented and used the purchase money to buy stocks," he wrote. Then, to clarify for the readers who'd want to know what numbers one and two were, Buffett elaborated: "The two best investments were wedding rings."

3. But Don't Wait Too Long To Take Advantage of Low Prices

Buffett wrote a 2008 Op-Ed in the New York Times, explaining that buying while prices are low is stressful, because economic markets are volatile and impossible to predict in the short term, even for him. So, when conditions make an investment -- in stocks or in a home -- particularly advantageous, Buffett says not to hesitate too long. Painting a vivid verbal image to illustrate the likelihood that market prices "will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up," Buffett warned: "if you wait for the robins, Spring will be over."

4. The Smart Way to Own a Home Has Three Elements

Those elements are: fixed mortgage, affordable payments and long-term hold. Detailing why his manufactured housing holding has done so much better than the rest of the real estate market, Buffett pointed out that "[o]ur approach was simply to get a meaningful down-payment and gear fixed monthly payments to a sensible percentage of income. This policy kept [the company] solvent and also kept buyers in their homes." And that was the ultimate difference between smart home-buying and the home-buying that led to the real estate bubble and the foreclosure crisis.

"If home buyers throughout the country had behaved like our buyers, America would not have had the crisis that it did."

See photos of homes for sale in your area and across the country on AOL Real Estate

In the stock world, Buffett has been quoted as advising investors to "only buy something that you'd be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years." Well known for practicing what he preaches, we can presume a long-term hold strategy would also be an integral part of Buffett's advisory to homeowners, too. Despite his net worth of somewhere around $50 billion, according to the latest Forbes tally, Buffett still lives in the 5-bedroom Nebraska home he bought 52 years ago for $31,500.

5. Buying Your "Dream Home" May Lead to Nightmares

In the 2010 shareholder letter, after he pointed out the right way to own a home, Buffett went on to caution Americans against the wrong way. When dream homes are bought for ever-escalating prices, using rapidly adjusting mortgage payments and unsustainable monthly costs vis-a-vis the homeowners' income, the dream can go bad quickly. Buffett warned, "a house can be a nightmare if the buyer's eyes are bigger than his wallet and if a lender -- often protected by a government guarantee -- facilitates his fantasy. Our country's social goal should not be to put families into the house of their dreams, but rather to put them into a house they can afford."

This Month In Real Estate (US): January 2011

Builder Plans 14 New Homes in South County

Fieldstone Group is restarting its local homebuilding operation from Irvine with plans for 14 new homes at two sites in South County.
Led by CEO William McFarland, a former Irvine Co. vice president, Fieldstone has acquired home sites in Dana Point, Rancho Santa Margarita, Encinitas and San Marcos. Fieldstone’s roots date to 1981, historically building 26,000 homes in Southern California, Texas and Utah.

• In Dana Point, Fieldstone is taking over a previously failed project and building at The Cove at Dana Point — “a cozy enclave of six architecturally distinct homes ranging in size from 3,100 to 3,600 sq. ft, and many with ocean views. The homes will be available for sale in early 2011.” The project’s website notes homes will have up to 5 bedrooms.
• In Rancho Santa Margarita, Fieldstone will work on a rare undeveloped property building “eight homes on large view lots that will have both the benefits of a small private cul-de-sac street and also be part of the large master planned community of Trabuco Highlands with all its amenities. The new single-family detached homes, all of which boast mountain or valley views, will average 3,500 sq. ft. on large 7,400 sq. ft. lots and be open for sale in January 2012.”

“Fieldstone is back on the offense and we’re opportunistic -– we are nimble and flexible, and able to consider a wide variety of project sizes, locations and financial structures,” said David Greminger, president of California operations of Fieldstone.

Real Estate Hot Spots: Mission Viejo Real Estate

Posted at January 1, 2011 at the Business Hub:

With the real estate market struggling in many parts of the country would be home buyers look to specific areas where market conditions have created unique opportunities. These opportunities might include homes at vastly reduced prices, areas with high rates of foreclosures, and even those areas that have great real estate agents working in them. These types of opportunities allow home buyers to purchase a home at a price lower than expected and can also give buyers a piece of mind that they won’t get when considering other areas.
One such area is Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo located in the heart of Orange County California is a very popular city among those looking at Mission Viejo real estate for their next purchase. With cities like Aliso Viejo and Irvine surrounding the community schools, jobs, shopping, and good eating are always no more than just a few minutes away. Mission Viejo real estate has been and remains popular because of the economic opportunities the city offers to it’s residents as well as those offered by it’s sister cities. Parents working in Mission Viejo or in a nearby city can rest easy knowing that the school their child will be attending is also within close proximity to the home.
Some home buyers consider Mission Viejo real estate because the city is home to numerous upscale homes, many of which that have undergone dramatic price reductions. Luxurious homes with reduced price tags give home buyers and investors a great opportunity to buy a great home for far less than it’s actually worth. Investors and even families can buy Mission Viejo real estate now and turn an enormous profit should they sell the house years down the line. Mission Viejo real estate at lower that expected prices also gives many hard working people and opportunity to buy a home that normally might fall just outside of their budget.
In today’s real estate market home buyers are not only very picky about where and how they spend their money but they also want to work with Mission Viejo real estate agents who bring experience, area knowledge, and personality to the table. The Mission Viejo real estate agents whom are most successful in today’s market are those that go above and beyond for their clients. Buyers looking for a reputable Mission Viejo real estate agent will also want to work with someone who has great listings and can help match the buyer to a home that not only satisfies their personal needs and desires but falls within their budgetary constraints as well. There are many Mission Viejo real estate agents but not all of them are equal in terms of experience, reliability, honesty, and dedication to their clients. People considering the purchase of Mission Viejo real estate will however find Mission Viejo real estate agents that stand out above their fellow agents.
All in all Mission Viejo real estate remains popular even in a market like the current one because the city is home to several fantastic Mission Viejo real estate agents and the city continually sees fantastic homes put on the market at prices that are even more fantastic. Whether it’s a family looking for a home, or a Mission Viejo real estate investor one things for certain. They’ll find exactly what they’re looking for in Mission Viejo.

Another one gone...

Where did this month go?  SO looking forward to 2011.  I have a lot to look forward to and cannot wait to start this next book (not chapter) in my life. 

I will never apologize for being happy.  Ever. 

Appreciating the much deserved smiles...

Pacific Shores Huntington Beach

Welcome Pacific Shores Huntington Beach

Imagine waking up every day at the beach...

Vote for Emily for Cardinals Cheerleader to go to the Pro Bowl!

Pro Bowl voting for the players is already underway.   Here’s your chance to vote for the Cards’ Pro Bowl cheerleader!

Fans votes — for either Allie, Taryn or Emily (pictured below, left to right) — will be factored into this year’s selection for the Cards’ representative to the Pro Bowl. So give it a shot:


VOTE FOR EMILY! 

5 Reasons You Should Use a Real Estate Professional

by The KCM Crew on November 9, 2010 · 11 comments

in For Sellers,Pricing

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Should you spend the money on a real estate commission or save that money by selling your home by yourself? That is a question many home sellers ask themselves. Today, we want to discuss why it is crucial to have a true professional guiding you through the minefield of challenges that exist in the current real estate market.
The housing market today is more challenging than it has ever been and seems to be becoming more difficult each day. What impact will foreclosures have on prices? Which loan products that were available just last month are no longer available? How do you convince perspective purchasers to pull the trigger on an offer when everyone is telling them that they should see another 100 houses before they make a decision? These are tough questions for a trained, experienced professional.  The lay person would find it almost impossible to keep abreast of this rapidly evolving industry.
Here are five important reasons to use a real estate professional:

1. Pricing Is Difficult

Just a few years ago, you didn’t have to worry about overpricing your home. If it was too high, all you needed to do was wait as historic appreciation was taking place. The situation is quite different today. With experts calling for another drop in home values, overpricing your property will cost you time. In this market, time costs you money. A professional real estate agent will discuss how increasing inventory could dramatically impact the value of your property in the months to come. They will help you set the right price in today’s market.

2. Negotiating Ability Is Crucial

Buyers today have an almost unlimited supply of homes from which to choose. They realize that puts them in a great negotiating position. Most buyers are now being represented by an agent. Sellers need to also be represented by a professional expert trained to negotiate real estate contracts.

3. Mortgaging Is Key to the Deal

The biggest impact of the housing market collapse is that lending standards are much stricter today than they were a few short years ago. Rules are constantly changing. Even FHA has gone through a guidelines overhaul in the last several months. You need a real estate expert who has teamed up with a knowledgeable mortgage professional to make sure that the buyer in the deal is in fact capable of obtaining a mortgage. Losing time with an unqualified buyer costs you money in a market where prices are falling.

4. Your Family’s Safety

We have always found it puzzling that the same person that will lock every door and window and set the alarm today will then allow total strangers into their house tomorrow. The real estate industry trains its practitioners to take steps to protect themselves and their clients. Take advantage of putting a person between you and the person calling on an ad or yard sign.

5. You Probably Have More Important Things to Do

Selling a home could turn into a full time job. Learning the necessary disclosures, coordinating the dates of your closings, dealing with a challenge regarding your appraisal and re-negotiating the offer after an engineer’s report are just a few of the concerns you may face. You would probably be better of spending that time with the items important to you and your family and leaving the challenges to your agent.

Bottom Line

To make sure the sale of your home is handled professionally – hire a trained professional. In the long run, you will wind-up with more money in your pocket and have less challenges with the move.
We missed one of the most important reasons to use a professional – Exposure to Potential Purchasers.

5 Reasons You Should Sell Your House TODAY!

by The KCM Crew on October 19, 2010 · 18 comments

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Selling your house in today’s market can be extremely difficult. It is for that reason that every seller should take advantage of each and every opportunity that appears. Each fall, such an opportunity presents itself. This fall, that opportunity may be just too good to pass up.
Below are five reasons you should consider when pricing your house to sell in the next 90 days. Meet with your real estate agent and mortgage professional today and see whether it is the right move for you and your family.

1. Entering this time of year, the buyers are more serious.

We all realize that buyers are not quick to pull the trigger on the purchase of a home today. There is no sense of urgency with the supply of eligible properties at all time highs. However, at this time of year, the ‘lookers’ are at the stores doing their holiday shopping. The home buyers left in the market are serious and are more apt to make a purchasing decision. Less showings – but to more motivated purchasers.

2. If you are moving up, you can save thousands.

The Chicago Tribune stated in an article last week that sellers who want to ‘trade up’ should act now:

It could be a bigger house, different neighborhood or a better school district, but it comes with a higher price tag. Do the math; this might be the right time.
A home that was once worth $300,000 may now be worth $240,000 in a market where prices have fallen 20 percent. Wow, you think, the seller is taking a bath. But that seller may also be a prospective buyer who wants a house that once was valued at $400,000. With an equivalent market drop and a realistic listing price, that house may now sell for $320,000. So, in effect, the person is losing $60,000 on the sale of one home but coming out ahead $20,000 on the purchase of another.
Keep in mind the spread may be even greater. There’s a smaller pool of potential buyers for more expensive homes, so sellers may be more willing to cut their price to get a deal done.

3. Interest rates just fell again – to 4.19%.

Professor Karl E. Case, the founder of the Case Shiller Pricing Index in an article in the New York Times last month actually did the math for us:

Four years ago, the monthly payment on a $300,000 house with 20 percent down and a mortgage rate of about 6.6 percent was $1,533. Today that $300,000 house would sell for $213,000 and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with 20 percent down would carry a rate of about 4.2 percent and a monthly payment of $833 … housing has perhaps never been a better bargain.

4. You beat the rush of inventory that is coming next year.

Every year there is an increase of inventory which comes to market from January through April as homeowners put their houses up for sale in preparation for the spring market. As an example, here is the number of listings available for sale in each of those months in 2010.

• January – 3,277,000
• February – 3,531,000
• March – 3,626,000
• April – 4,029,000

You won’t have to worry about this increasing competition if you sell now.

5. You have less ‘discounted’ inventory with which to compete.

This year, sellers of non-distressed properties have been given an early holiday present. With banks declaring a suspension on the sale of many distressed properties (foreclosures), there has been a large supply of discounted properties removed from competition. No one knows how long this self imposed moratorium will last. However, while it does, every homeowner has a better chance of selling their property.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to sell in the near future, there may not be a more opportune time than this fall. Serious buyers, great move-up deals and less competition from foreclosures creates the perfect selling situation. Don’t miss it!

Happy Birthday to the One Who Gave Me Life!

Birthdays have always been a big deal in our family.  Your favorite cake is made for you.  Mine was always cherry chip with cherry frosting.  I'm certain my family cringed every year because they weren't as passionate about it as I was.  You get to pick what you want for your birthday dinner.  Your family expects a birthday wish list from you and everyone gathers to watch you open all of your birthday presents.  We've always celebrated them surrounded by the ones we love. 

Sometimes there are geographical challenges to this.  Today is no exception.  I may not be able to watch you blow out the blaze on top of a cake today but I am with you always.  I am just as much a part of you as you are a part of me.

Happy birthday to the one who gave me life and who continues to remind me what it feels like to be unconditionally loved.  You are loved beyond words...