Market Insider

2nd Harvest Food Bank

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Coloring Contest

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Orange County Housing Report: What a Twist

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – November 4, 2019

Recent rate cut means smiles for mortgages and credit cards, sad news for savers When the Federal Reserve cuts rates, there is a reason for it. While there is no crystal ball, the Feds look for signs of a slowing economy and often hedge ...

Mortgage Watch – October 28 2019

Accessory dwelling units are being used for fun, family and profit Casitas. Granny flats. Tiny homes. Back yard in-laws units. She-sheds. Man caves. Call them what you will, but across the country they are now being used not only for fun...

First Time Homebuyers and Downsizing

Dipping interest rates help single family home permits surge ahead of predictions It’s a numbers game, but it’s one everyone in the real estate and the home building industry watches. While construction of new houses fell more than 9...

Orange County Housing Report: Nope No Bubble

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – October 21 2019

Dipping interest rates help single family home permits surge ahead of predictions It’s a numbers game, but it’s one everyone in the real estate and the home building industry watches. While construction of new houses fell more than 9...

Why do Cats Like Small Spaces

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Orange County Housing Report: Payment Not Price

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – October 7

Borrowers jump on board the refinance bandwagon as rates drop When mortgage rates plummet to historically low levels, you have to expect a reaction from the borrowing public. And, as usual, they did not disappoint. Borrowers got themselv...

Mortgage Watch – September 30

First-time homebuyers often feel unprepared for ownership For some it seems like a no-brainer. Renting a home feels like throwing money away, offering no sense of ownership whatsoever. Buying a home is investing in the future. Even if it...

Orange County Housing Report: Lethargic Luxury

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – September 23

Timely payments and a surge in refinances mean lower foreclosures Mortgage “performance.” Sounds like a fun financial song and dance, right? If you recall the days of heavy foreclosures, however, it’s no joke, especially to the mor...

Orange County Housing Report: Green Shoots

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – September 16

Real estate still rules as safest long-term retirement investment in new survey When 2,000 Americans are asked their opinion about investing and a large chunk of them agree, it’s something worthy of note. According to a study done by t...

Mortgage Watch – September 9

Low rates may spur further home price growth as we move into 2020 If you’ve been waiting around to buy a home thinking prices would start stabilizing or getting reduced, think again. A new CoreLogic report is saying annual home-price g...

Homes For Dogs Project

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Orange County Housing Report: It is what it is

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – August 26

Existing Home Sales Continue to Impress What is normally considered the “selling season” has gotten a retroactive boost in recent days. The National Association of Realtors’ chief economist Lawrence Yun reports that the sales of pr...

Mortgage Watch – August 19

Homebuilders see more short term profit in building single-family rental communities If you can’t buy, rent? That’s the stigma renters used to tolerate, but no longer. According to CNBC’s Diana Olick, demand for single-family renta...

Mortgage Watch – August 12

It was not that long ago when one could drive through neighborhoods of lovely homes and see "for sale" signs up everywhere, vacant homes, and uncut lawns. The financial crisis causing the foreclosure of millions of homes was a scary time...

Mortgage Watch – August 5

July jobs numbers bode well for real estate According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Realtor.com and a report by Forbes' reporter Carolyn Feeney, the much-anticipated July jobs report released Friday morning offers a mixed bag for re...

Orange County Housing Report: Staying Put

It is the Summer Market yet there are fewer new FOR SALE signs this year. Fewer Listings: Not as many homeowners are placing their homes on the market than what is typical for this time of the year....

Mortgage Watch – July 29

New home sales get a shot in the arm Following two straight months of declines, new home sales jumped 7% in June compared to May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 646,000 in June, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. It's the st...

Orange County Housing Report: Sluggish

Pending Activity: Housing has officially been sluggish in Orange County since April 2018 and it is not changing anytime soon....

Mortgage Watch – July 15

NAR Chief Economist sees promise in housing market A a recent report by National Association of Realtors' Chief Economist Danielle Hale details how and why the housing market is looking more promising over the next few months. "I don't t...

Orange County Housing Report: Golden Opportunity

Initial Pricing: Sellers who price their homes accurately and avoid price reductions sell their homes for more....

Mortgage Watch – July 8

Rentals surge as housing tries to catch up According to real estate analytics firm RealPage, demand for rental apartments reached a five-year high this spring, spurred by new household formation and home sales not being able to keep up. ...

Mortgage Watch – July 1

Investors are buying up a record number of homes According to data release by CoreLogic, big private-equity firms, real-estate speculators and others that buy properties comprised more than 11% of U.S. home purchasers in 2018. What does ...

Mortgage Watch – June 24

May was good month for housing The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported sales of previously owned homes rose in May, citing falling mortgage rates as a reason the housing market may be heading in the right direction after a sl...

Orange County Housing Report: Last Call

There is not a lot of steam left in the best time of the year to sell a home and get it under contract. Last Call: In order for sellers to cash in on the most lucrative time to sell a home during the year, they better open up escrow soon...

Mortgage Watch – June 17

When coffee and equity go hand in hand Starbucks. We search for them on freeways as if they are ports in a storm, use them as an oasis when shopping to rest our weary feet, meet business people there for non-threatening sales conversatio...

Huntington Beach Concerts

Huntington Beach Summer Concerts Bring out your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic basket for this free HB tradition! Location: HB Central Park Info: www.hbcconcertband.org Sundays at 5 PM 6/23: HB Concert Band 6/30: Night Blooming Jazzme...

Mortgage Watch – June 10

Home prices on the rise with predictions for more of the same While homebuyers may not be as pleased these days, sellers have smiles on their faces. The news (statistics always lag behind a bit) is that national home prices notched a str...

Orange County Housing Report: Top 5 Trends

Sometimes it is a great idea to step away from the noise swirling around housing and focus on the trends. Here’s a breakdown of the “Top 5” current Orange County housing trends:...

Mortgage Watch – June 3

Single family footprints go smaller, while industry hopes gain steam It used to be said that housing was the straw that stirred the U.S. soup. Aside from the number of jobs it produced, it also simulated the economy in myriad ways, inclu...

Orange County Housing Report: The Price is Right

Sellers have until the end of July to get their homes into escrow, indicating that the price better be right. Pricing: Expired listings are up 64% so far in 2019, illustrating how crucial pricing is this year to avoid becoming another st...

Mortgage Watch – May 20

Increased Chinese trade tariffs about to hit home Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes remained unchanged in April at a level of 58 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market I...

Mortgage Watch – May 13

Trailing edge millennials face growing obstacles to home ownership There is always a lot of talk about millennials, their lifestyles, and their penchant to become homeowners. Real estate gurus try to predict what they will do next, while...

2019 Home Design Trends

“Great design taps into the emotions that make a house a home,” observed Don Ruthoff, principal at Dahlin Group Architecture, introducing homes and designers meriting top honors in the National Association of Home Builders’ Best in...

Mortgage Watch – May 6

Single-family rental communities becoming popular for boomers It may not be taking over yet, but it’s a trend. Boomers, tired of the maintenance of their large family homes, are downsizing and renting instead of staying put. Realtor.com’...

Orange County Housing Report: Over the Peak

Housing demand in Orange County has already peaked, meaning the market will slow from here. An Early Peak: With a slight rise in interest rates since dropping to 4% at the end of March, demand peaked in April this year. “The Happiest P...

Orange County Housing Report: It’s THE Right Time

THE Right Time: With low interest rates and a surge in demand, it is a good time for both buyers and sellers to make a move....

5 Kitchen Update Trends

Whether you’re looking to invest in simple updates or a complete kitchen renovation, you can’t go wrong incorporating the latest design trends to enjoy now as well as boost your home’s value when it comes time to sell. If you’re ...

CrossFit ShoreBreak

One of my favorite places to break a sweat here in Huntington Beach... CrossFit ShoreBreak! Here at CrossFit Shorebreak, these guys truly do an awesome job at creating an amazing sense of community. The supportive environment is unlike a...

Orange County Housing Report: Seller Competition

This is the time of the year when more sellers come on the market than any other time of the year. More Seller Competition: The active listing inventory is rising. Isn’t it beautiful? Southern California hills are spectacularly adorned...

Swap Rooms to Make Your Old Home Feel New in 2019!

Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to give your house a makeover or declutter? Tired of the old paint colors, the piles of catalogs, over stuffed closets and toys that your kids haven’t touched since 2013? Is your tween not lo...

OC Calendar Of Events | April 2019

HAVE AN EVENT YOU WANT FEATURED ON OUR MONTHLY MAILER? CONTACT [email protected] WITH YOUR EVENT DETAILS!...

Orange County Housing Report: Housing Abloom

Not only have the clocks changed, so has the housing market. The Spring Market: The best conditions to sell a home are right now. It is that time of the year again. The hills are a dazzling green. Trees are beginning to bud new leaves. F...

Orange County Housing Report: The 10-Year Drought

Ever since the Great Recession, far fewer homeowners have been selling their homes annually, a trend that is not going away. Lack of Sellers: Fewer homeowners are opting to sell in spite of homes appreciating to record levels. Millions f...

How To Transform Your Basement On A Budget

We’re always looking for more space in our homes, it seems, whether for extra storage, an additional living zone or a new spot to decorate. Often, valuable space can be found in the basement, but fully developing this square footage ca...

Pampered Pets: A Growing Trend in Residential Design

It’s all about the pampered pet today—a trend so pervasive that homebuilders and developers—and even high-end rentals that once all-but-shunned anyone that didn’t walk upright—are essentially rolling out the grass (and, often, ...

How to Prepare Your Home This Winter for a Successful Spring Sale

Here’s our go-to list of what sellers should be doing now to ensure for a successful sale next spring. If you are planning to sell your home next spring, why not get a jumpstart during the fall /winter season so you have more time and ...

Most Profitable Home Improvements for the Luxury Market

Want to get more bang for your buck when selling your luxury home? Explore a couple of additions and improvements that have been shown to be the most profitable in luxury homes. When it comes time to sell your luxury home, you want to en...

The 7 Do’s of Holiday Decorating When Your Home is For Sale

Selling your home through the holiday season can certainly come with a few challenges. Chilly, wet weather and falling leaves in November and December might mean more raking and shoveling to keep your home pristine. However, the damp wea...

Take a Great Shelfie: 16 Creative Shelving Designs

When we think of wall treatments, we often focus on wallpaper, paint or architectural moldings rather than on shelves or bookcases, even if they’re built-in. Shelves are viewed as having more in common with extraneous wall hangings, su...

Smart Upgrades That Will Help You Sell Your House

It’s official: smart home upgrades are HOT. A 2016 survey cited in the Washington Post says that 65 percent of buyers, especially millennials, are willing to spend more on homes that are equipped with smart devices. Moreover, today�...

Pile on Textures for a Comfy and Cozy Space This Fall

Bring out the fuzzy blankets and snuggable pillows and get ready to layer these textures for an autumnal haven. As nights get shorter and the weather gets colder, a lot of us will be retreating indoors for warmth and comfort. If your roo...

7 Leaves Cafe

7 Leaves Cafe If your looking for the best coffee and tea in Huntington Beach and surrounding areas - look no further! 7 Leaves Cafe offers great coffee and tea options with a fun twist - all inspired by cultures around the world. The Ca...

How to Create an Organized Garage for Fall

As the warm breezes of summer give way to chillier temperatures, consider rearranging the items in your garage to ensure you’re ready for colder weather. Here are six steps to help you get your garage organized and ready for fall (an...

Disclosaphobia? 5 Tips for Completing a Seller’s Disclosure

The seller’s disclosure is one of the most important documents that a buyer closely scrutinizes prior to going under contract. Here are important things to keep in mind as you complete this form. The dreaded seller’s disclosure – i...

10 Home Decor Accessories Worth Buying for Fall and Beyond

Tweaking your decor each season can be a great way to keep your home feeling current and satisfy your urge to nest, without blowing your budget on big-ticket items. The problem? Each year retailers roll out tons of new seasonally inspire...

Ditch the Sprinkler with These Water-Efficient Landscaping Ideas

No wonder we’re witnessing record-level droughts. Though a lot of the US has recovered from the catastrophic drought conditions we saw a few years ago, globally, we’re not in the clear. According to the NOAA, almost every continent�...

Kitchen Islands: Trends, Ideas and Must-Haves

Let’s travel back to the Victorian era for a moment. See that big work table in the middle of the kitchen? That’s the precursor to the modern island. In upscale residences, that table-cum-island would have been surrounded by workers ...

10 Easy Fixes for That Nearly Perfect House You Want to Buy

From price and location to the physical structure itself, the list of things to keep in mind when shopping for a house can seem endless. But some problems you encounter don’t need to affect your final decision. Although easy is a rel...

Best Season To Buy A Home

Each season has something different to offer to a potential home buyer. Read the pros and cons of buying a home during the summer versus the winter. You hear it a lot – there are best and worst times to make any sort of purchase. Wheth...

Why Your Backyard May Be Making You Healthier This Summer

Whether it’s dining alfresco, tending to the garden, or getting in a run, summer living is an outside affair. But, did you know that buying a home with a backyard can contribute to a healthy lifestyle in more ways than one?  Here are ...

Foster Friday

Molly and I would like to show our efforts in helping the animal community by shining light and accentuating the importance of rescue groups and the great work they do for our furry friends in need. Every Friday we will be highlighting r...

Most Important Summer Home Maintenance Projects

With the bright sunlight and warm temperatures that accompany summer, you may be spending more time outside — and you may be noticing areas of your home’s exterior that need repair. But there’s more reason to tackle your home maint...

Plan Your Perfect Pool

Or, perhaps you’ve had a pool for years and are looking to enhance the experience by adding some new features. As pool trends continue to emerge, you’ll have a plethora of choices. Here are just a few. Dark-colored pool finishes Inst...

The 5 Best Self-Learning Smart Home Devices

Self-learning home devices learn your habits and adjust themselves accordingly for an unprecedented level of convenience. Picture this: You’ve had an exhausting week — all you want to do is go home and relax. It’s hot outside, but ...

Create an Evacuation Plan For Your Pets

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to ac...

Cucina Alessa

Must-Have Tools for Homeowners

  When you own your home, things are going to break and, unless you want to spend your money on visits from a neighborhood handyman, you’re going to need to fix them yourself. Luckily, you don’t need an arsenal of tools to handle mo...

Global Luxury on the Move

By 2020, it is anticipated that the number of ultra-wealthy individuals will exceed 318,000, with their cumulative net worth rising 54% to US$46.2 trillion, according to Wealth-X and as reported in the 2018 “The Report,” presented by...

Be Their Guest!

A camel glides across the golden sand, starting its long trek across the Sahara. Brickwork clads the medina, casting intricate shadows across the landscape. Palm trees seem to multiply across an oasis of spectacular scenery and hospitali...

2018 Luxury Report

The overall fundamentals in luxury housing are stable and strong, according to the highly anticipated 2018 edition of “The Report” presented by the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® program. Released at the beginning of each year, Th...

7 Home Reno’s That Will Increase Your Resale Value Big Time

You want to make the most money possible when it comes time to sell your home. The way to do that is by improving and updating the things in your home that buyers look for the most. We compiled this list for those looking to boost their ...

Should I Rent or Buy a Home?

Choosing whether to rent or own a home is not an easy decision. It requires you to carefully examine the factors and costs associated with each option. Which is better? That depends. Your unique economic situation, lifestyle and goals pl...

Things You Shouldn’t Do When Buying a Home

The last thing in the world you would ever want is to spend a bunch of time searching for a home, finding that perfect place and then not being approved for your mortgage. There are also many common mistakes homebuyers make that could ma...