Holiday Hints for Sellers:

Some expectations will need to be set for sellers whose home will remain on the market this holiday season and through the new year:

1. Do not keep your home listed if you don't need to.... Or do and get all of the serious buyers before the end of the year!
Often times when we relish in the moments of the season we tend to find our homes and our lives a little more busy and full of decor.  This can be more overwhelming when you get the call that there is an agent that would like to show your home in 1 hour. Stay calm and do you best to straighten up but overall we as real estate professionals need to be sensitive to the time of year. Whereas the sellers and home owners should be pleased knowing the simple truth; that if that buyer is looking to buy a home right now, they are most likely more serious! That being said it is not a bad idea to skip the stress and relatively slow market time to enjoy the holidays with out interruption. Many homeowners tend to remove their home from the market until the new year where they can get fresh exposure. Re-listing your home often attracts new and returning buyers in full almost instantly. Refresh the photography and the verbiage and get a new clean start.


2.  Ditch the holiday decor or make it NEAT~  
Staging your home at its holiday best can ultimately backfire if your sense of staging comes off as overdone or tacky to a buyer. If your goal is to sell you home, please take the simple route and decorate minimally.  Helpful Hint:  If you have a dining room, stage it for a holiday dinner - many buyers are attracted to a whole house simply focused around their holiday dining dreams. Help them visualize their first hosted holiday at their new home!

3.  Set a clear "no show" dates and times with agents.
When the holiday calendar begins to fill,  the remarks your agent makes on the MLS can help you to accommodate the interested buyers more conveniently.  Nothing worse than telling and anxious buyer no the day of. Set clear and reasonable no show dates and let the agents do the rest! Keep them to a minimum to maximize your opportunity though!

4.  Always expect some inconvenience. 
Have realistic expectations... Some buyer is highly likely to track rain, leaves or mud into your house, at some point. If you're home for the showing when these things will happen, so stay calm.  The upside is that a very motivated buyer-to-be may also write you an offer. 

5. Stage their senses to overload.  
Spiced cider, pumpkin pie and baked cinnamon scents are about as universally comforting as it gets. It wouldn't hurt to do some sensory staging and create sense of comfort and cheer as buyers walk into your home.  Try  no hassle plug-ins or scented oil stick jars but please do not leave candles burning or unattended should you use them.


Now tell me: Can you feel the cozy inviting appeal of this home home for sale?

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Clients and Friends:

Thanksgiving is a time to stop and reflect on what we are grateful for in life: Health, family, love, and friendship.  As we gather with our families and friends for Thanksgiving, it is a time to reflect on all that we are grateful for including the events of history and for those we care about and those who came before us.

"As we express our gratitiude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John F. Kennedy

I personally wish everyone and their families a Happy Thanksgiving.

Nicole McFadden

3.8% Real Estate Investment Tax

Great reseource to help outline where the government will be earning money for their Medicare Initiative and Fund. Basically you will be taxed 3.8% on the money you earned from your money on the investment. Then an additional 0.9% will be imposed in the labor that earns your living (commissions, salary & wages)

Please read more and be aware of how this may effect you and your family. Be sure to share this resource and help others be knowledgeable on the topic before they are effected by it!

3.8% NAR-1077_Investment_Income_Tax_Brochure_8.5x11_r7.indd”

To discuss this or your real estate needs further please call me directly, 949.922.8148.

Avenue One & Local Area 2010 Market Trends

Rancho San Joaquin Zillow Home Value Index

Rancho San Joaquin Home Values - Interactive chart

Homes values although effected by the amount of distressed sales in this area have remained relatively neutral. In speaking with homeowners throughout the Avenue One community they are having a hard time acknowledging the necessity of holding onto their investments or homes until this market recovers. With the luxurious and convenient on-site amenities and ease of life style they are not having any trouble leasing their homes until such time. 

If you have any questions or are interested in investing within the Avenue One community please call me directly and I will be happy to work with you on finding a place to call home, 949.922.8148.

Temporary Shut Down at 1 Coto De Caza Poll Location

San Juan Capistrano, CA REO Opportunity

I can across this great property that has the potential to be a fabulous family residence. This home however will require full completion on the interior and some landscape renovation.  The parcel of land and the location with in the Orange County area lend themselves to privacy and great access to the freeways and toll roads. With an asking price of $537,900 and the close date for offers to be submitted as November 4, are there any interested parties who have been waiting for the right home, at the right price to make all their own?

San Juan REO Opportunity 11.2.10

You can call or email me directly to learn more information and or visit the property together, 949.922.8148.

What does a buyer typically pay for in a transaction?

Buyer Responsibilities in a typical Real Estate Transaction:
The buyer can generally be expected to pay for:

• - Title insurance Premium for Lender´s Policy
• - Escrow Fee (one half)
• - Document preparation (if applicable)
• - Notary Fees
• - Recording charges for all documents in buyers names
• - Termite inspection Section 2 Items (according to contract)
• - Tax proration (from date of acquisition)
• - Homeowners transfer fee
• - All new loan charges (except those required by Lender for seller to pay) interest on new loan from date of funding to 30 days prior to first payment date Assumption/Change of Records fees for takeover of existing loan.
• - Beneficiary Statement Fee for assumption of existing loan
• - Inspection Fees (roofing, property inspection, geological, etc.)
• - City Transfer/Conveyance Tax (according to contract)
• - Fire Insurance Premium for first year

To discuss this and any real estate questions please contact Nicole, 949.922.8148.

Los Ranchos Estates 3rd Quarter Update

California Terrace 3rd Quarter Market Update

Avenue One 3rd Quarter Market Update

NAR: Orange County Median Home Price

NAR just published the typical mortgage payment for the median priced home in 2005 versus 2010.

One example: buying a median priced home in the Orange County Metro Area in 2010 would have a monthly mortgage payment that is $1,248.00 less than a person buying a median priced home in 2005. The 38% lower payment is due to lower mortgage rates and lower prices.

Please Enjoy: Real Estate Copywriting Hints

I received this email from a friend who works in the marketing industry.  I like to keep things fun and light hearted so felt it appropriate to share it with you. These are obvious phrases that are or have been used in the verbiage of marketing a home. Please respect that they are for the purpose of shining a comical light on said interpretations.


Great copywriting to HELP you understand how your Realtor feels about your home:

• Old charmer – an old and ugly house
• Stunning house – the house is not ugly
• Tudor – two bedrooms are in the attic which is not insulated; very hot in summer and very cold in winter
• Cape Cod – styled after Third World slum dwellings
• Sunny corner lot – noisy intersection of two busy streets
• Easy freeway access – noisy arterial street close to freeway
• Low maintenance lot – no yard; the kids will have to play in the street
• Meticulously maintained in the original condition – the appliances are 50 years old
• Ready to remodel – the house is about to collapse; you will have to invest twice the asking price in remodel before you can move in
• Newly remodeled kitchen – 50-year old cabinetry and faucets have been replaced with cheap modern equivalents
• Ready to move in – the interior has been painted with one coat of cheap paint
• Desirable neighborhood – this little house is extravagantly overpriced because the neighborhood has a snobbish reputation
• 1-car garage – you can drive your Ford Escort into the garage but there is no room to open the door
• In-city living – it is not safe to walk in this neighborhood after dark
• Recreation room with wet bar – basement has been painted and has a faucet
• Large family room – large basement
• Bedroom in basement – basement has a 1′ by 2′ window
• Lots of storage space – basement too small to be called a family room
• Partial mountain view – you can see the tip of Mt. Olympus if you climb the roof
• Territorial view – good view of your neighbor’s bedroom window
• Build sweat equity – the house is not inhabitable
• Storybook – the house is old and the roof is not flat
• Efficiently designed kitchen – the kitchen is too small to fit two people at the same time

Just Closed-Irvine Airport Area- Commercial Office

Just Leased

3,900 sqft.

23 Work Stations

Large Corner Location with Views

7 private Offices 

1 Large Conference Room with a View

Please call or email Nicole directly to learn more about the commercial market in Orange County!

949.922.8148

nicole@nicolemcfadden.com

In Escrow

Now accepting Back-Up offers!

Call or email Nicole for more property details, 949.922.8148.

Great Home In Laguna Hills, CA

$475,000

4 Bedrooms

2 Bathrooms

Detached Single Family Residence

Private, Large, Corner, Flag Shaped Lot

Seller is highly motivated and it is NOT a Short Sale.

Call Nicole to schedule a showing, 949.922.8148.

Who am I?

As I begin to blog more regularly I want to try and keep it as much business as unique!!!

We always want to know who our friends are or what makes a person so busy, happy, driven and dedicated to their lives. I think knowing about me and what my life consists of will help you know why I am known for being so dedicated and driven to make sure not only my clients but close friends and family are happy and have all the help they need.

I am:

-A Daughter

-A Sister

-A Bride to Be

-A Friend

-A Realtor

-A Traveler

-An Organized Person

-An Honest Person

-Educated

-Passionate

-Professional 

-Fun 

-A Good Driver

-A Good Listener

-A Former Teacher

To make it brief I chose to list the qualities I feel are important. I can very easily write a book or a few paragraphs but I prefer to keep the posts brief so that you can read and respond! I hope everyone has a wonderful remainder of the week and a safe holiday weekend!

Would you Text Messaging or SMS your Realtor?

I have been meaning to write a post regarding the effectiveness and popularity of Text Messaging within the real estate industry and society at large.

What is Text Messaging or SMS?

• Text messaging is also referred to as Short Message Service or SMS. This feature is common on most mobile cellular devices and allows for mobile devices to send and receive brief messages containing communicative information. 

Who is using this?

• Most generations have begun to utilize this easy exchange of written messages between mobile devices. However in business Realtors are now utilizing this feature in order to schedule and coordinate appointments with clients, Realtors and service providers. 

When did this begin?

• I have noticed and increase in communication with my clients and business associates in the past year. I felt prior to this it was almost not expected and therefor reserved for personal social use. 

Why?

• This form of communication allows for short messages to be relayed often times quicker than a common voicemail or email will be. There is no retrieval system as it comes directly to your mobile device for viewing. (My favorite feature!)  I also like how well this allows me to track my messages, contact information and simple direct communication from my clients at often times off hours.

This new phenomena had occurred to me about a year ago when my clients began contacting me in the evenings via text messages. I was a shocked at first being that this form of communication was reserved for my family and friends. However, I very quickly became pleased with the amount of respect I felt I had gained by them not choosing to call me after the 8:00 p.m. hour in the evening. Now that I have experienced other agents utilizing this to communicate for showings, I truly see the importance for allowing and accepting this form of communication on my listings. I received my first agent having scheduled their showing with my via text this weekend.  I am very pleased with the importance and ease this adds to scheduling and communicating more efficiently and effectively in my career.

Pocket Listing in Laguna Hills

Laguna Hills, CA

4 Bedrooms

2 Baths

Private Corner Lot 

Over $80,000 in recent upgrades

Call Nicole for more information 949.922.8148

LH Pocket Listing Images

Irvine Mid-Rise Community

Mission Viejo, CA