April 2015 RSS Feed

The California Association of Realtors closely monitors and analyzes trends in the residential real estate industry. The table below contains the latest reported existing home sales series, median home prices, unsold inventory index, median time on market, first-time buyer housing affordability index, and the latest mortgage rates.

California home prices increased 7.2% in March compared to the previous year, the number of sales increased 7.3% while the amount of unsold inventory dropped 4.2%. This is all great news for the California real estate market!

Information courtesy of Orange County Real Estate Experts the Hartanov Team.

Looking to have good old-fashioned fun with the family? Look no further than Spurs and Satin! This award-winning group of reenactors enjoys performing authentic "Old West" shootouts, robberies and other dramatic fun shows. Audiences of all ages love the humor and authentic recreation of the 1880's. 

Wholesome Fun for the Whole Family with Spurs and Satin

The mission of Spurs and Satin is to "promote, teach and recreate through presentation, the authentic "Old West" period of the 1880's". They perform all over but are based in historic San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County. The shows are fun for the whole family and provide wholesome entertainment, along with a great history lesson! The characters are period correct and wear bustles, spurs…

If you are thinking of sprucing up your home decor and are searching for some unique pieces, you should check out Reclamation in San Clemente. This incredibly cool store features one-of-a-kind reclaimed, re-purposed and sustainable products. They specialize in home art, decor, furniture, accessories, lighting and vintage accessories. 

Products at Reclamation in San Clemente

The items in Reclamation are made by local South Orange County artists and craftsmen and are all re-purposed and eco-friendly. The designers have re-shaped vintage items into amazing pieces that make a great addition to any home decor. They also offer eco-friendly refillable cleaning products, upcycled and recycled custom-crafted home furnishings and fair trade/giving back…

The Orange County CA Real Estate Report below reflects the number of resale single family residences and condos as well as new homes selling in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Also reflected is the % of change from the same month last year.

Orange County CA Real Estate - March 2015

Let's face it, being an adult is hard. There's bills to pay, work to do and things to be done. But there is a new place in San Clemente that gives you a break from all of that, while also getting your workout in! Foundation Fitness offers a fun loving and non-threatening atmosphere where you work hard to play hard. The hybrid training facility puts a new spin on exercise programs by emphasizing playfulness, laughter and creativity! Foundation Fitness just opened in March in San Clemente. Come check them out!

About Foundation Fitness in San Clemente

Foundation Fitness is at the forefront of the fitness industry and is most definitely NOT a boot camp. Instead, it is more like adult recess or PE with games and programs. You never do the same…

Come support a great cause while enjoying delicious wine, music and food in beautiful Dana Point! The third annual Dana Point Food, Wine and Music Festival is happening on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at gorgeous Sea Terrace Park.

Dana Point Food, Wine and Music Festival Details

This fun local South Orange County event goes from 12pm - 7pm and admission is free! There is plenty to do for the whole family. Come check out local food from South Orange County restaurants, a Wine Festival, the Great Southern California Beer Festival, Stella Artois lounge, live music, cigar bar, champagne bar, performers, kids fun zone, 100 exhibits to shop and art in the park! Chairs and blankets are not allowed inside the venue, sorry no dogs either! There are ATM's…

Have you ever asked yourself, "What will they think of next?" Here it is... the smartest light bulb ever!

The SMFX bulb is adjustable right from your smartphone or tablet. You can brighten, dim, change the color, or turn it off from as far away as you like. It’s completely cool due to convenience, ability to change the ambiance of a room, and, best of all, save you money on your utility bill. Imagine the ability to transform the surroundings of your party, pre-game, or just hanging out with friends with a simple swipe of your finger!

Information courtesy of Orange County Realtors The Hartanov Team.

California's real estate market continued to pick up steam in March as existing home sales and prices propelled higher, with both posting back-to-back increases.

Single family home sales increased to $368,000 in February compared to $360,000 in February 2014 and $351,000 in January 2015.

The median sales price rose to $429,000 compared to $406,000 in February 2014 and $26,000 in January 2015.

Looking for a great opportunity to mingle with top leaders in business and hear first-hand from the mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita? Then don't miss the annual, "Meet the Mayor and Council Members" event being held on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. 

"Meet the Mayor and Council Members" Event in Rancho Santa Margarita

This fun local South Orange County event is put on by the Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce and will be held at the beautiful Tijeras Creek Golf Club. This is your chance to ask Mayor Bradley J. McGirr questions and hear his thoughts on the city's economic outlook, the state of California as a whole and where we are headed. 

Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita

Are you interested in buying a home but not sure if your qualify? You are not alone. Today's mortgage loan qualifications are more confusing than ever but today's home prices along with low interest rates make home mortgages more attainable than ever. Christina Boyle, SVP of Freddie Mac, explains what lenders look for.

Lenders consider the 4 Cs:

• Capacity – Your current and future ability to pay back the loan. Lenders take into consideration your income, employment history, monthly debts, credit card history and more to determineif you have the ability to pay back the loan.
  
  
• Capital – The money and savings that you have on hand plus investments, properties, and other assets that could be sold fairly quickly for cash. These reserves show you are…