As for April? Even more so! Example: we listed a home for sale in Irvine, a referral from one of our wonderful neighbors. The owner did everything right….followed our recommendation to stage his home, make modest improvements to carpet and paint, and to price it right.

The result? Fifteen (15) written offers, only one of which was below asking price. The property is now in escrow at $60,000 OVER asking price. Now that’s how to sell a home in Orange County, don’t you think? Almost every offer was from a buyer intending to occupy, and most of the offers included huge downpayments. Two were all-cash offers above full price.

Real estate investors are out in force. All this extra demand is making the market more competitive for buyers, much improved for sellers.

We have helped over 1000 families close escrows…and another dozen last month!
Let’s get started! Call me at (949) 240-5892.

Add to this relaxing image the luxury of 3 bedrooms, each with its own private bath, 3000 sqft of living space, and a 3-car garage, all in a gated enclave.

The master bedroom suite is located on the main floor in this completely remodeled and extensively upgraded home.

But this home is not in Spain! It’s right here in our own Dana Point, California! Be the first to view this gorgeous home.
Available to purchase for only $1,600,000, or for lease at $6200/mo.
Call me at (949) 240-5892!

Congratulations to the new members of the Dana Point Youth Board. After personal interviews by the City Council, the following new members were appointed: Amanda Anderson, Calin Clifford, Hugh Fitzmaurice, Jordan Hall, Chris Kwok, Matthew Lim, Nate Magee, Sarah Martino, Fabiana Munoz, Lauren O’Connor and Morgan Tolles. Appointed “at-large” members are Luke Alcantara, Alena Powers Davis, Audrey Derbonne, Megan Geyer, Ellie Gogichaeva, Kelly Krieger, Katie McAndrews, Sam O’Melveny and Jessica Pop.

Coastal Clean-Up Day!

Today, September 17th is the 27th Annual California Coastal Cleanup day, from 9am to noon. Dana Point will host four cleanup efforts. Details will be posted on our roknich.com website Friday afternoon (or can be found at ocregister.com).

Constitution Day!

Saturday, Sept. 17th is also Constitution Day in the U.S. We will be flying our flag proudly! http://www.constitutionday.com/

Submit an essay to us via email. The topic can be either, “Why I Love Being an American,” or “My Favorite American Person Is…” The deadline for essays is June 30th. Winning entries will be featured in our July newsletter, and here on our Roknich.com website (all with the author’s permission, of course).

Fourth of July Fireworks! From the City of Dana Point website:

Don’t miss one of South Orange County’s best aerial fireworks displays right here in your own backyard! The annual show starts at 9:00pm at our very own Dana Point Harbor.

The fireworks are synchronized to a captivating musical score. Gather your family and friends, tune your radio to KSBR 88.5FM, look toward the skies over Doheny State Beach and experience this patriotic extravaganza! Important: personal vehicle access to the harbor closes at 7:30pm; only buses will be allowed in during the closure. Harbor access will reopen after the fireworks show traffic has cleared out (approx. 10:30pm).

FREE shuttle buses will make round trips from Dana Hills High School to Dana Point Harbor from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Or see the fireworks and beautiful harbor lights from the ocean on the sport fishing boat, Sum Fun! Refreshments are provided; bring a folding chair if you wish to sit. Boat boards at 7:30 p.m. There is also a fireworks dinner cruise on the Dana Pride. Cost and details for these two opportunities are found online on the City of Dana Point’s website.

Check your city for similar shows, including fireworks displays all over Orange County (Mission Viejo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano have great shows as well in most years…).

Referrals Rock! I am grateful that so many of you, our past customers, neighbors and friends, have referred us business in 2010!

Thanks for continuing to keep us in mind when your friends, coworkers, and family are in need of professional real estate advice and service. We work throughout SoCal, but enjoy a large network of pros across the USA. We’re your one-stop real estate shop!

“Love where you live…live where you love!
It all begins at home!”

Parents, will your nest be empty soon? Are you considering a smaller home? Are you ready for that ocean front home, or 3-car garage, now that you will have the whole space for yourselves? This is also the time of year that we hear from our clients who are considering investing in a rental – now that they are free of tuition payments!

Please remember – we are interested in earning your business – we have the experience and track record to help you make the right move. The market right now is HOT, HOT, HOT!! But how does this tidbit of information relate to you and your home?

Call us for a free in depth market evaluation that includes First Team’s exclusive Market Trends data! It’s the closest thing to the crystal ball I requested years ago!

We also managed to squeeze in a rare family vacations back East, and extended weekend up the California Coast. Feeling refreshed, with the kids back in school, it’s time for real estate.

Did you know interest rates were still low? Sure you did. But what you might not know is that sales are up, and even prices have ticked up in the lower cost single family homes. So for anyone looking for a starter home, or the perfect rental property, it’s still out there at a great price!

Call me at (949) 240-5892, or send me an email.

Note that only one of the four closed sales was a short sale…I mention that fact to emphasize that it’s not just foreclosures and short sales that are selling. Affordability is remarkably better, and interest rates are remarkably lower! As a consequence, home buyers are finding good values throughout the existing inventory. Remember, even as distress sales comprise as much as half the market in certain segments, that leaves another half of the sales that are not distressed sellers.

Buyers are once again excited about of purchasing Orange County real estate. In fact, we are working with five families that want to buy a home NOW!

Okay, now turn the page for a reminder of some minor bad news: the post office has raised postal rates again, including the cost for the basic first class rate from 42 cents to 44 cents. Good news wins!

Need a Realtor? Do you of someone that is planning a move? We look forward to the opportunity to serve you. Call us at (949) 240-5892.

“Love where you live…live where you love!
It all begins at home!”

I wake up each morning unemployed. That’s what running a small business is all about, right? Next, I begin each “work” day by asking people if they want to move, or if they are ready to buy or sell real estate. What I do works for me…knocking on hundred of doors, submitting ads, responding to ad calls and sign calls, calling past clients, friends and acquaintances, and maintaining great real estate websites. Whew!

Many tell me they would never move because they love where they live! What a great thing that is! Admittedly, we live in a phenomenal part of the world, and I am one of those who really cannot imagine moving any time soon.

Unfortunately, others among us are facing real unemployment. Our economy is leading many, even those who truly do love their homes and neighbors, to consider selling their homes. If you fall into this category, or know someone who does, please call me for a confidential consultation. I talked two families OUT of moving last week! Sometimes, you just need to hear another opinion or to learn that there may be other options.

On the other hand, if you would love to live somewhere new…please call me! Now is a phenomenal time to find the home that you will love at a price that you will also love!

“Love where you live…live where you love!
It all begins at home!”

Most economists are calling this bad news. They tell us our economy is based on consumption, and that we should spend, spend, spend, not save.

Does that sound right to you? Frankly, I like the idea of saving. Saving for college, for necessities, for vacations, for retirement, and yes, for a downpayment on a home, or for that first investment property. Saving is good!

Now that we’re past the normally slow holiday real estate season, there are great after-Christmas sales to be found in Orange County real estate! If you have good credit, and have saved a downpayment, now is a great time to to fulfill that dream of homeownership, or to move up to your dream home!

Inventory is reasonable, even low in many areas. We’re contributing to that – we’re selling homes! We are working with a number of prospective buyers at the moment; the home selection is, as with the famous children’s story, just about right. We have just received multiple offers on our listing in Sea Canyon (near Dana Hills H.S.), and expect that it will close escrow in February. Also in escrow is one of our custom home listings out in Covenant Hills (Ladera Ranch). Thinking of making a move? Call us today – we’ll make it happen!

“Love where you live…live where you love!
It all begins at home!”