May 2008 RSS Feed

Although San Clemente CA real estate sales of existing homes was slow in April (mostly because restrictive lending practices hampered home buyers), more areas are showing sales gains from a year ago and a recent reversal in mortgage policy makes the San Clemente CA real estate market primed for a turnaround, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

NAR President Richard F. Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said the good news is that mortgage restrictions have just been eased. “In the past week, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced that they were eliminating their ‘declining market’ policies, effective June 1,” he said.

 

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said eliminating restrictive policies…

We know that the Baby Boomers account for a large part of the real estate owning population in America.  It should come as no surprise, then, that these folks – not the typical “trendy” crowd - may be the latest trend-setters in real estate also.

 

Sounds unlikely, but it is very true!  As this article in the Wall Street Journal explains, designers and architects are catering more and more toward this fast-growing segment of the population.  Research shows that the majority of Baby Boomers are planning to stay in their homes through retirement, as opposed to moving to “assisted living” or a retirement community.

This influx of aging buyers has triggered home renovations and new construction including halls and doorways wide enough for walkers and…

A flat pattern in San Clemente CA real estate sales activity could continue for the next couple months before improving over the summer, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the extent of an expected recovery hinges on better access to affordable loans. "Things are beginning to improve, but the availability of affordable mortgages is uneven around the country and sometimes within metropolitan areas," he said. "As anticipated, we continue to look for a soft first half of the year, for both housing and the economy, before notable improvements in the second half. Some time is needed for FHA and new conforming jumbo loans to become widely available."

 

To see the latest…

Contrary to popular belief, home inspections are not just for new home purchases! It is extremely important to have your San Clemente CA real estate inspected professionally on a regular basis – especially if you are using it as a vacation property – to ensure you keep up with any necessary maintenance or repairs.

Home inspectors offer many types of inspections to suit San Clemente CA real estate owners’ needs – some of these include:

• Pre-Purchase Inspections
• HUD/FHA Inspections
• Annual Maintenance Checkup

A home buyer can save thousands of dollars by having a professional home inspection performed before purchasing a home. Also, in areas with extreme weather circumstances, inspectors can help locate potential problems or damage…

The Doheny Blues Festival is back on May 17 & 18, 2008 with 26 performances over 2-days. Bonnie Raitt will headline the event on May 18. This will be her only Orange County / Los Angeles appearance in 2008.

Fun for all, there is an International Court and Food Village with 15-vendors serving food and 50-vendor booths throughout the grounds, as well as Microbrew Tasting at the Backporch.

Come on out and enjoy the fun! More detailed information can be found at Doheny Blues Festival.

Tickets are available at several locations, including all Ticketmaster outlets. You can view prices and what passes are still available here.

You can find out more about the Dana Point community by visiting Dana Point Community Information or Dana Point Real Estate.

Have you ever wished you could explore the most unique and beautiful pieces of San Clemente real estate from an insider’s perspective?  This weekend is your chance!

 

The American Association of University Women (San Clemente – Capistrano Bay branch) is sponsoring its 37th annual San Clemente/Talega Spring Home Tour this Sunday, May 4.  You won’t want to miss this opportunity to check out homes in our community that are unique in different ways as to architecture, decor or historical interest. 

 

If this home tour inspires you to invest in your own piece of San Clemente CA real estate, please call me at 949-481-3739 or visit GuideToLocalRealEstate.com.  You may also begin searching for homes here!