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September 21st, 2015 at 10:00 am

How to be a good neighbor

How neighborly are you? Do you know the family that lives next door? Did you welcome the couple who moved in across the street a few weeks ago?

September is Good Neighbor Month, so we encourage everyone to reach out and make friends (or at least attempt to!) with their neighbors.

This sounds pretty straightforward, but you might be wondering how exactly how you should introduce yourself to someone you’ve never met before and know nothing about. It’s actually pretty easy to do. Here are some of our suggestions:
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September 16th, 2015 at 10:00 am

Find open houses near you

Spend less time searching for open houses and more time attending them. Each Thursday you’ll receive complete information by email about upcoming open house events throughout Southern California.

Subscribe today for your weekly Open House Alert.

 

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September 7th, 2015 at 9:30 am

home buying programs

Think you can’t become a homeowner? Think again. Did you know programs are available to help you purchase your home? Some of the biggest hurdles, such as saving for a down payment, can be supplemented through government-run programs. We’ve outlined below a few reputable programs and tools to check out if you’re in the market for a new home.

  • Mortgage assistance search through the California Association of REALTORs®. Use this search tool to identify potential down payment assistance programs in your area. The tool will review municipal and state-level websites to find a program that works for you. Begin your search here. (more…)

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August 5th, 2015 at 10:00 am

buy a home now in So Cal

Rents are up in Southern California. So are home prices. You want a place of your own, but aren’t sure if you should buy or rent. What’s your best course of action?

Good question, but finding the right answer takes some digging. First, some statistics:

Rentals

  • According to real estate data firm Reis Inc., the average rent in Los Angeles County in the first quarter of 2015 rose 2.4 percent vs. 2014, to $1,520 a month. Orange County climbed by 3.5 percent, to $1,660.
  • Both counties are among the costliest rental markets in the country, but below the $2,277 average rent in San Francisco and $3,233 in New York – and among the most competitive.
  • Seven of the 11 most competitive rental markets in the country are in California, including San Diego, Ventura County, and the Inland Empire, where rents rose 1.6 percent in the first quarter, the second-fastest pace in the country.
  • Rental prices in San Diego County have been rising at annual rates between 3 and 6 percent, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported at the end of July.

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July 13th, 2015 at 10:00 am

Escrow explained

You’ve found the home of your dreams. You have a preapproval letter from a lender. You’ve put in an offer that’s been accepted. So–pardon the expression–you’re practically home-free, right?

Not exactly. There’s still that one-word process you need to get through: escrow.

It’s easy to define escrow. But reaching close of escrow and having the keys to the front door in your hand depend on many factors.

What is an escrow?
We’ll let Tegan Powell explain. She is Escrow Officer-Branch Manager at Pickford Escrow Company, a HomeServices of America Company, in Mission Viejo.
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