How Can You Maximize Your Holiday Season?

Looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at 949-391-3141 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions. 

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Zen's Orange County December Housing Market Update

10 Holiday Tips that Will Help You Maximize Your Holiday Season

The holiday season is finally here. Some people wait all year for this season, but there are others who struggle during this time of year. Depression, financial issues, and eating too much are all problems that can turn your happy holiday season into a sad and lonely one. This is why we have come up with a list of 10 holiday tips that will help you maximize your holiday season, regardless of what your situation is.

1. Buy safe toys
Make sure you purchase age appropriate toys for your kids and look for safety labels

2. Celebrate on a budget
The holidays certainly have extra expenses, but don't break the bank to celebrate. Make a budget and decide how much you can afford on holiday expenses

3. Give the gift of service
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is your time. The holidays are a time for giving, after all.

4. Find seasonal employment
Many businesses need extra help around the holidays and can help you supplement your income

5. Get through the holiday blues
The holidays can be stressful and bring feelings of loneliness and despair. Find rewarding work or spend time with your family to help combat the holiday blues

6. Stay safe by using LED lights on your home

7. Pay attention to your portions, especially with desserts!

8. Travel appropriately
Make sure if you are flying over the holidays to only bring with you items that are approved by TSA so they don't get confiscated.

9. Reduce holiday waste
 Buy rechargeable batteries for your holiday toys and recycle your wrapping paper too

10. Keep your food safe
 The holidays are one of the most dangerous times for contaminated food. There is nothing worse than getting sick from bad or expired food during the holidays.

If you would like more information, or just have a question about real estate, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Will You Help us Give Back this Holiday Season?

Looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at 949-391-3141 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.  

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Zen's Orange County November Housing Market Update

Can you believe the holidays are already here? What a great time of year to spend with friends, family, and loved ones. However, not everybody experiences the same shared joys when it comes to the holiday season. 

That's why we are committed to giving back. We will be supporting 3 charities, Home Aid OC,  The Second Harvest Food Bank and Toys for Tots.

It's mind boggling to see how many people are homeless here in Orange County. We want to help those people out, and will do so by collecting items for all 3 charities here at our office in Misson Viejo, right off the 5 freeway and Crown Valley Pkwy. Stop by whenever you can to donate, we appreciate your generosity. 

Not only are we going to be giving back back to the less fortunate this holiday season, we are going to be saying thanks to all of you as well. As a token of our appreciation for your business and referrals, we want to give you a free, freshly-baked pie from Solomon's Bakery. You'll have the choice between apple and pumpkin, so give us a call or email today with your choice so we can get it ordered and you can pick them up at our office on Tuesday, Nov. 25

As for the Orange County housing market, interest rates continue to remain at 17 month lows. The most influential factor is the fact that the federal reserve has kept rates extremely low for so long. Banks are charging next to nothing to borrow, increasing buyer's spending power. 

The problem is that people have gotten used to these low rates, and we all know nothing good lasts forever. The Fed is expected to reduce their spending, and with that, a rise in interest rates will ensue. 

Now is the time to buy, no matter what kind of buyer you are. Making your purchase as soon as possible to lock in that low monthly rate could save you thousands over the years. 

If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County, make sure to give us a call or send us an email so we can help!

Walk the Plank at these Great Halloween Events!

Looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at 949-391-3141 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.  

Ahoy, Mateys! We've balanced seas ahead for homes priced under $1 million here in Orange County. However, there is a scary part of the market ye land lubbers should be privy to. The appreciation we saw earlier this year has ended, but homeowners are still trying to get an unreasonable amount of booty for their home. Sellers, if ye don't price your home right, you'll have to walk the plank! 

For buyers, October through February are the best months to steal the best deals here in Orange County. With many homes for sale and interest rates as low as they've been in 16 months, now is the time to hoist your flag and claim your home before it's too late. Our team would love to help you set sail on that adventure!

Now that's out of the way, let's take a look at 7 spooktacular events happening in our area this Halloween!

• 3 top events not for the faint of heart (adults & teens only!):
• Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park. Now through Novemeber 1st enjoy 160 acres of horror!
• Haunted Trails at Crown Valley Community Park. You can visit Friday and Saturday of this week starting at 6:30 pm. $12 per person.
• The Empty Grave at the Laguna Hills Mall. This scary event includes over 50,000 square feet of terror! You can go nightly through November 1st!
• 4 events for the whole family:
• Mickey's Halloween Party! This is a huge party for the entire family at Disneyland in Anaheim. For more details head over to Disneyland.com!
• Doheny's Halloween Haunt this Saturday at Doheny State Beach at Dana Point. Entry is free if you bring at least 1 non-perishable item as a donation. Come dressed in a costume - you might even see and my crew sailing in the bay!
• Blocktober at Saddleback Church. There will be great food and rides on October 31st starting at 5 pm. The event goes until 9 pm on all All Hallow's Eve! You can find more information at Saddleback.com
• The Annual Pumpkin Glow at Papillion Park in Irvine. The event is on October 25th, from 6 pm to 9 pm. There will be more than 2,000 carved pumpkins in an amazing outdoor display of art! The best part? You can carve your own pumpkin and add it to the display. 

The Halloween season is here, mateys! Have a safe and happy holiday - and cheers! 

What's Hot in Orange County?

Looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at 949-391-3141 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.  

It's time for another edition of 'What's Hot in Orange County,' where we give you a rundown of what people have been talking about around town this summer. Here's the top 5:

5. Surfing

Right on the heels of the U.S. Open Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach, Surfers were greeted by 25-foot waves caused by Hurricane Marie 800 miles off the Baja Coast. It's safe to say surfers were having a blast, but life guards were not.

4. Weather

Temperatures have been in the 80's and 90's all summer long - making for a perfectly warm summer. However, that low 70's weather is on the way, so have your jackets ready!

3. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

It's been an exciting year for the team with the longest name in baseball, as the Angels are in 1st place in the American League West. 

2. Disney Land

The summer crowds are finally going home, which means we won't have to wait in line for 2 hours to go on one ride. Now is the best time to visit the happiest place on earth.

1. Home prices

The most expensive home in California is listed at $59.9 million! This Laguna Beach home located at 2585 Riviera Drive has 5 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, and is around 24,000 square feet. This mansion took 8 years to build and will probably take longer to sell. 

The good news is that median price for condos, town homes, and single-family homes is up 8.3% since last year, currently sitting at $585,000. Additionally, the average days on market is just over 3 months, showing homes here in Orange County are still in high demand.

That's it for this installment of 'What's Hot in Orange County.' If you have any interest in entering the Orange County real estate market, or just want to chat about what's going on around town, don't hesitate to give us a call. We would love to hear from you!

There's a lot to talk about in Orange County right now - here's what you need to know

Looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at 949-391-3141 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.  

The most common question we get is, what's going on with the market? Is now a good time to buy, sell, or invest? Now that we've made it to the midpoint of the year, there's no better time to take a look at the Orange County market and observe the trends we've seen over the last year. As of the middle of July, here's what you need to know:

• We're heading toward a healthy and balanced market. This is good news, as it's been a seller's market since the beginning of 2013.
• Inventory levels are higher than they've been in the last two and a half years. We're not quite to the 8,000 homes that would put us at a balanced market, but we're approaching it.
• Interest rates are excellent. After seeing a rise at the beginning of the year, they've dropped to fantastically low levels once again.
• Since this time last year, home values have increased 5%-10%.

If you are a buyer, a balanced market is good news. Now is a great time to lock-in an amazing 30-year fixed-rate mortgage or explore the many fantastic short-term loans available. The large inventory means that you have a lot to choose from - you can be choosy and wait until you find that perfect home. Additionally, sellers are more flexible now than they have been because of the amount of homes they must compete with on the market. This leaves a lot of room to negotiate. Hire the Z TEAM to make the most of this market - we can negotiate hard for you and save you thousands of dollars.

If you are a seller, it is crucial you price your home right. You have to put it at market value or it's not going to sell. With the summer selling season wrapping up, you need to put you home on the market as soon as possible. Ask us about how we can sell your home for up to 18% more than the traditional agent. 

If you would like additional information about what's happening in Orange County or specific information about conditions in your neighborhood, don't hesitate to give us a call. We want to help you maximize your results in your real estate transaction. 

Orange County Real Estate Market Update for June 2014

Looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at 949-391-3141 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.  

Hey all, just thought I'd update you on current market conditions for Orange County. The market is looking good for a number of reasons:

• We're seeing a steady shift from a seller's to a balanced market.
• Inventory is up. In fact, it's the highest it's been in 2½ years!
• Interest rates are excellent. After rising slightly earlier this year they've come back down, making now a good time for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

As you can see, the market is doing well - which makes now a great time to buy or sell a home. For buyers, there are more options, which means there is more room to negotiate a price. It also means the chance of encountering multiple offers has lessened. For sellers, it means pricing your home right is crucial. To find the market value of your property, simply contact an agent. Whether you're looking to buy or sell a house in Orange County this summer we'd love to hear from you!