I didn't realize how long it had been since I have last updated my blog. My apologies. It has been a really busy couple of months. I went back to Minnesota for Christmas, turned 40 in January, and watched the Vikings lose in the playoffs. I don't blame Favre for the loss...he gave us an incredible season to watch.
It is time to focus on the real estate market. I have been showing homes lately and have noticed that homes that are well priced.....sell really quickly. In Newport Coast there are quite a few homes in escrow. My point to this is....if you are looking for a really good deal......so are others. Make sure to make your offer more attractive....with more cash down if possible, shorter escrow and you need to be near asking price. Also, make sure you are qualified with a bank ahead of time. The selling agent will be asking for proof of funds and financing with the offer. To be honest, to get a good deal.....you need to act very quickly and be qualified. I want to also mention the best time to buy a home and get a deal will be between now and May. Once school is out for summer, we are going to see many families moving around. Prices may go up a bit. If you are in the market to buy.....do it soon. If you are in the market to sell......put your house on the market just before school is out. The trick to selling is going to be the right price. Don't overprice or you may lose your window of opportunity to sell. If you are not in escrow by early August.......drop your price.
To summarize. I think there are good deals out there.....maybe not great deals. I don't see prices going down significantly in the Newport Beach area. We may go down a little....but will go up a little as we get closer to summer.
If you want recent sales for your area.....send me an email and I will send you out a list.
www.PropertiesInTheOC.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Christmas in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach
I didn't have a lot going on yesterday so I thought it would be fun to take pictures of various Christmas decorations in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. If you are not from this area....we received quite a bit of rain on Monday, so Catalina Island and snow in the mountains was very visable. I can't remember the last time it rained. I also noticed many of my friends and relatives had posted on their Facebook profiles pictures of snow Minnesota recently received. I thought it would be fun for them to look at pictures of the area I live in.....not sure if it was fun for them or if it made them jealous. I am going back to Minnesota in 2 weeks, so I will get my fill of snow and cold weather. I haven't been back in a year and a half so it will be fun to catch up with friends and relatives. I turn 40 in January.....so I am sure we will be celebrating when I am back.
There was a little bit of drama in Newport Beach this week. The tract that Kobe Bryant lives in was burglarized. This tract is very close to PCH in the Pelican Hills area. There is a mortgage broker that lives in the same tract.....he was the target. This mortgage broker owes many people money.....so not surprising that he was hit. The strange thing is...this is a guard gated area. I believe they pushed their way through the gate. To see this article click this link. http://www.ocregister.com/news/house-223225-police-one.html
As far as activity in the Newport Beach.....things are slowing down a bit. I have an escrow closing next week.....and I just wrapped up a couple of leases. There are still daily markdowns on properties in the area. Every day I look for changes in price for all of Corona del Mar, Newport Beach and Newport Coast. I am guessing by the beginning of next year we will continue to see more markdowns. I would recommend if you are in a situation right now.....write an offer before the markdowns early next year. It is so much easier to negotiate if there are not any other offers.
I do want to point out a great property in Newport Coast. This home is in the Vistas....full ocean view...with views of Catalina Island and Long Beach. The home is only $1.15 mil......2400 sq ft. Amazing deal for the view....and the home is completely remodeled.
www.PropertiesInTheOC.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Corona del Mar Christmas Walk Sunday, Dec. 6
If you want to do something fun this weekend, head over to Corona del Mar in Newport Beach for the Christmas Walk. This is the 31st year that CdM has hosted this visit. Last year I volunteered with the fireman serving up a BBQ. This year I am enjoying the event with a couple of girlfriends. I have lived in Newport Beach for almost 10 years and this is the one event I see just about anyone I have ever met in Newport. Usually we start around 11:00 at Oysters and make our way down to Bandera. The village shops will set up tables outside their stores with samples of food, clothing, or whatever they are selling. I am hoping the weather cooperates. This will be a very busy event.
www.PropertiesInTheOC.com
www.PropertiesInTheOC.com
Friday, October 2, 2009
$38,000,000 Landmark Home in Corona del Mar
Yes, you read that correctly. This home is on 401 Avocado. If you are not familiar with Corona del Mar, the streets are named after flowers and are in alphabetical order. This home is 4 bed/4 baths with a tennis court, guest apartment, indoor pool.....and amazing views of the channel, catalina and Newport Beach Peninsula. I will also add that it is on 2.3 acres. When I saw this home come up on broker preview this week, I was very excited to see it. I thought this home has to have the "wow" factor. I was a little disappointed after arriving at 401 Avocado. This home is turquoise. If you are from this area, you will notice this house and a building on the water that are the same turquoise color. I heard while on one of the boat tours of the bay that as long as this home was in the Irvine family, that the color needed to stay turquoise. Let's hope the new owners change the color. I am guessing that the new owners will probably tear it down and build a new home. The home needs a lot of work. There were some very nice antiques in the house, but clearly, the home needs a little love. I would love to hear of the stories that those walls could tell. You could tell it was a home that was dearly loved by everyone that stayed there.....very much a family home. I could imagine big Christmas parties there every year.
But, for $38 million? This home is not on the water......and the home needs to be updated. If someone wanted the land, it may be worth it. I heard from another realtor that the land could not be broken up in to a couple of lots.
Anyway, a fun house to talk about. I am guessing this home will be on the market for a while. I am also guessing the Irvine family that lives there, is in no rush to sell.
The picture of the Rolls Royce is for fun. Even in Newport, you don't see them all the time.
Lisa@PropertiesInTheOC.com
www.PropertiesInTheOC.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009
China Cove, Corona del Mar
What a beautiful day in Newport Beach today. This past week on Broker Preview......a day during the week that realtors view houses on the market.......there were 3 open in China Cove. This is a little hidden area off of Ocean Blvd. There are not many houses by this secluded beach. The price points were very different. The first one I went to was on Cove Street. This home was previously owned by a famous actress. Priced at $4.9 mil.....the lowest priced home I viewed in that area....I thought it was well priced. This home sits practically on the water. I am sure during high tide, the water splashes up on the deck. It is a cute, quaint cottage with amazing views of the channel, harbor and Catalina. The next home I visited was called Dolphin Rock., priced at $10.5 mil. Very interesting house as this house was built in to the rock on the cliff. As you entered the home, large formations of rock can be found throughout the house. Built on 4 lots, this home has grandfathered set backs that these days Corona del Mar would never let you do. There was even a hot tub inside by the rock formations that overlook the channel. Again, amazing views of Catalina, channel and the "wedge". You can't get any closer to the water than this house. The final home I viewed was also on the same street as Dolphin Rock. This home is priced at $7.3 mil and is updated and quite traditional for a home on the water. Again, the home feels like it sits on top of the ocean.
For more information, please contact me and I will send you more pictures of the interior of these homes.
www.PropertiesInTheOC.com
Monday, August 10, 2009
Shady Canyon and Crystal Cove Comparison and Hawaii Pictures
Sorry I have been slacking on my blog lately. It has been a busy summer......a month of company, moving, a trip to Hawaii.......and selling real estate. The market seems to have picked up a bit. I am telling sellers now, if they are not in escrow, they may want to drop the price to get in to escrow soon. Many families are moving around right now and they need to be in a place before school starts. There are going to be some motivated sellers this fall lowering their prices. This will bring down the price per square footage down. You really want to be one of the next sales.....not chasing the market down. I was looking for the best deals in Crystal Cove and Shady Canyon today......I look for the lowest price per square footage. I thought it was very interesting that some of the best deals were in Shady Canyon. The high end, custom homes had some of the best prices per square footage. In Crystal Cove, the attached condos had the best price per square footage. A very important thing to remember, the market will tell you what your house is worth. Since the banks are doing their own appraisals.....they will look for comparisons in the area. So, to price the house way over market value to fish for a buyer.....doesn't work in this market.
For fun I have posted some pictures from my trip to Hawaii. I went to Maui and Oahu. I would say watching the waves on Oahu on the North Shore and the Hula Bar at Kaanapali were my favorites. We did go to the top of the volcano Haleakala to watch the sun come up was fun....though there was a thick cloud so we didn't see much. The trip was planned around the Transpac yacht race from CA to Hawaii. It was an amazing trip.....one I will never forget. Enjoy the pictures. My next blog will be about the new restaurant Sol in Newport Beach.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Villa Rockledge in Laguna Beach, $34,900,000
Yes, you read that correctly.....almost $35 million! It has been a couple of crazy months for me. I am hoping to get better about keeping my blog updated. This past week I was fortunate to view Villa Rockledge in South Laguna Beach. I had to see what $35 million would buy. This residence was built in 1922. It has 8000 sq feet, with 12 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. This home is compound as there are little bungalows that are not connected to the estate. The home is almost like being in a maze. It would have been nice to have a map of the estate. I went down to the private beach and was amazed at the views and privacy this estate has. Rumor has it that the current owner lived in one of the bungalows 30 years ago and then borrowed money from everyone he knew to buy the whole estate. This estate has so much history. The lot was bought in 1887 by Frank Miller. The estate was created as a gift to his wife Marion....hence the original name for the estate "Mariona". This was a destination for many celebrities back in the day. The home is in original restored condition. I should also let you know....there are many steps.....be ready for a work out when visiting this home.
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