Whittier Real Estate Bloghttp://www.WhittierHomes.com/blogWhittier CA real estate market news provided by Prudential California RealtyTue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMTQuestions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Your Whittier Home! Buying a home is one of the largest decisions that you’ll ever have to make, therefore it is not one that should be taken lightly. Naturally, as Whittier real estate agents, we want your business and for you to use us to help you buy a home, but when it comes to the decision to buy, we take our clients’ best interests very seriously. If we honestly feel that someone who approaches us about buying a home in Whittier, CA isn’t ready financially, we will vocalize that and advise them to really consider their choice. This approach is just one of the ways that we prove ourselves to be a reliable, trustworthy real estate resource for the Whittier, CA area.

Before you take the plunge and start your home search, it’s in your best interest to really ask yourself if you are ready for the financial and emotional responsibility of owning a home. If you ask yourself the questions below and find yourself struggling, then it may be time to re-think the choice to purchase a property. If you can answer them with ease or make something work, then you can enter your Whittier, CA home search knowing that you are completely ready to make such a large investment.

Is this the right time for me to buy a home? If you’re facing some of the following issues, then now may not be the best time to purchase a home:
•    You don’t have any savings.
•    Your job or home life is unstable.
•    Interest rates are too high for you to make mortgage payments.
As of right now, interest rates are relatively low in the Whittier real estate market, so you don’t have to worry about the third issue. The largest problem for many right now is having no money saved or an unstable employment situation. The key to successfully buying a home you are able to afford is stability. If you don’t have a stable lifestyle, then chances are you will struggle with making payments on a home. Your personal and financial situation is something that you need to evaluate thoroughly before you decide to buy.

What are the current market conditions? In a seller’s market, home prices tend to be higher, meaning that for buyers, getting a home is less affordable. Fortunately, right now, we are in a buyer’s market, meaning that overall, home prices are lower and more people can afford to buy.

How much home can I afford? This is a very important question to ask yourself before you start making offers. Several people can afford to buy a home, however they look at properties that are out of their price range and end up buying a house that is too expensive for them. What ends up happening in this situation is that they get so far behind on their mortgage payments that foreclosure proceedings begin, and that ruins both your credit rating and a chance to move forward and buy a new home. Consulting with your Whittier real estate agent will allow you to take a look at your current financial situation and iron out exactly what your price range should be, and you can start your search from there.

What does my credit score look like? Right now, lending restrictions are a bit on the tight side, making it more difficult for buyers to obtain financing for their mortgage. If your credit score isn’t where it needs to be, then you need to actively work to improve it before you can consider buying a home. You don’t want to find this out after you’ve already applied for a loan. Keep track of your credit score early-on, and you’ll find that you can avoid aggravation down the line.

These questions might seem overwhelming, and they can be, however they are also incredibly important. Buying a home is a large financial responsibility, and it’s not one that should be taken lightly. Facing these issues head-on before beginning your home search will reassure you that you’re ready and help your transaction go much more smoothly. As Whittier real estate agents, we always encourage our clients to ask themselves these questions before committing to a property.

If you have any questions about buying a home in Whittier, CA, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you throughout this process. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Questions-to-Ask-Yourself-Before-Buying-Your-Whittier-Homehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Questions-to-Ask-Yourself-Before-Buying-Your-Whittier-HomeTue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMTThis Sunday, Celebrate the Super Bowl the Right Way in Redondo Beach! As Whittier real estate agents, we may focus on our community, but one of the things that make us stand out from our competition is our knowledge of surrounding areas. Our close proximity to Los Angeles is one of our strongest selling points, because there is definitely not a shortage of fun-filled things to do in that area! The people who are most attracted to Whittier, CA are the ones who seek a quieter neighborhood but want to be near the vibrant, exuberant lifestyle of LA and its surrounding communities.

Redondo Beach, which is about 40 minutes away from the city of Whittier, CA, is one of the most fun and exciting places to be in Southern California. If you combine the entertaining atmosphere of this area with the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl this Sunday, the product is an unbeatable event that will not only help you celebrate the day the right way, it will also work off any potential eating binges that may occur at game time. As your Whittier community resource, when we heard about this event, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you about it. What we’re referring to is the 34th Annual Super Bowl Sunday 5K/10K.

Taking place this Sunday, February 5th at the Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach, Southern Californians everywhere are invited to run, walk or stroll their way through town during the Super Bowl Sunday 5K/10K. There will be live music, awards and a costume contest, so if you’re interested in the prize, be sure to come dressed in your most creative getup. It’s just a way to start Super Bowl Sunday on a healthy, festive note before you kick back on the couch, fill up on snacks and enjoy the big game!

One of the biggest benefits to living in Whittier, CA is that there is events like this that happen year-round, all in areas that are within a very close proximity to our community. Our many years of living and working as Whittier real estate agents has allowed us to become knowledgeable about areas beyond our community, and we use that information to help guide our clients in the right direction during their home search or sale. We feel that becoming as knowledgeable as we possibly can about areas and events’ around Whittier is another way for us to be an invaluable real estate and community resource.

If you have any questions about the upcoming events in Whittier and its surrounding communities, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We aim to be your number one expert on both real estate and the areas we serve, so if you ask us a question that we don’t know the answer to, we’ll do anything that we can to find and give you the right answer. As your Whittier real estate agents, we aim to serve you in any way that we can. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/This-Sunday-Celebrate-the-Super-Bowl-the-Right-Way-in-Redondo-Beachhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/This-Sunday-Celebrate-the-Super-Bowl-the-Right-Way-in-Redondo-BeachTue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMTWhich Remodeling Projects Will Raise Your Whittier Home’s Value? In the city of Whittier, CA, we are currently in a buyer’s market, meaning that for the most part, people who are looking to buy a home are at a bigger advantage than those who are attempting to sell. As experienced Whittier real estate agents, we’ve had to learn how to advise and guide home sellers during a time that buyers seem to be getting the better end of the bargain. One method to raising home value that has become very popular among Whittier, CA home sellers is remodeling, but which projects will actually offer value, and which will be a hindrance?

Contrary to popular belief, not all remodeling projects are going to have a positive impact on your home’s value. Some projects that might be practical for some areas may not be as effective for others, and as your Whittier real estate experts, it’s important for us to guide sellers in our area when they start to discuss remodeling. We make it a priority to let each of our clients know which remodeling projects will help their home’s value go higher and which will find them wishing they hadn’t invested the money. Here are a few that are practically guaranteed to help.

•    Replace your home’s siding. This sounds expensive, but cost-effective, durable material like vinyl will provide the home with great insulation. It’s also easy to install, so you don’t have to worry about this process being labor-intensive.
•    Build a deck in the backyard. There’s nothing that Americans love more than having barbecues and block parties in the backyard, and for that reason, decks have remained one of the most popular and valuable home improvement projects that you can do. It’s a way to increase living space at a small cost, and it will raise entertainment value!
•    Switch up the garage door. Did you know that garage doors can make up 20% of your home’s façade? This can have a large impact on your house’s curb appeal. Spending a little bit of money on a new face for your home can prove to be valuable when you choose to put in on the market.
•    Give your kitchen some energy. Not all kitchen remodels need to be invasive and expensive. If your space’s layout and size is alright but looks dated, then you can easily make it look brand new by updating cabinets, countertops and flooring. The return on investment will be well-worth it and your kitchen will take on a fresh energy that it’s been lacking.
•    Convert that attic into a bedroom. We know that attics can provide great storage options, however one way to really boost your home’s value is to convert that space into an extra bedroom, as well. Attic rooms can be quaint, and it will give your house that special something that stands out from the competition.

When it comes to remodeling, the most important thing to remember is that you want to invest in projects that will be valuable and give you the highest return on investment. That in-home theater and deluxe tennis court might sound like a positive investment, but in this market, high-end amenities aren’t what is going to get the home sold. A solid, quaint-looking, modern and fully-functioning home will. As your Whittier real estate agents, we feel that it is of the utmost importance to remind our clients which projects will truly benefit them.

If you have any questions about what it takes to get your Whittier, CA home sold, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’ll use our many years of experience in Whittier real estate to help you at any time. We hope to hear from you soon.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Which-Remodeling-Projects-Will-Raise-Your-Whittier-Homes-Valuehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Which-Remodeling-Projects-Will-Raise-Your-Whittier-Homes-ValueTue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMTSave Energy in Your Whittier, CA Home! As your Whittier real estate agents, we feel that it’s incredibly important to stay on top of the latest housing trends, and right now, going green is a huge priority for many homeowners. Whether it’s through major remodeling or minor cutbacks, people all over the Whittier, CA area are constantly looking for ways to conserve energy and cut back on costs at home. Since 2012 is still so new, it’s not too late to start brainstorming ways to go green at home! As your Whittier real estate experts, we have a few tips and tricks of the trade that we’ve picked up in our many years of buying and selling homes that can help you make many energy upgrades to your home.

Many people tend to shy away from going green at home because they think it’s too much of a hassle. They think it’s going to be expensive and inconvenient. We have a secret for you: it doesn’t have to be! You can easily cut the costs of your power and energy bills by integrating small habits into your daily routine. In the interest of being a more energy-efficient homeowner, we thought we’d share a few quick tips with you. With these easy ideas to use as a starting point, your Whittier, CA home will start seeing lower energy bills in no time.

Focus your efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house. Items such as your washer, dryer, refrigerator and freezer are essentials; however, they do tend to use up the most energy. If you’re going to start cutting back on your energy costs, these household items are where you should start. For your fridge, you can start saving energy by adjusting the thermostat to 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit. This keeps your fridge cold, but not so cold that it starts using exorbitant amounts of energy. For your washing machine, use cold water only. It uses significantly less energy than hot water, and once again, it’s an easy transition to make. Starting with small changes like these will allow you to start cutting energy costs right away!

Try to cut down on your power consumption. This doesn’t mean that you have to start going without power or putting your lights on timers. If you start by turning off the lights every time you leave a room or your house, you’ll quickly see how much that could make a difference. For all of your electronics, using a power strip will allow you to turn all of your devices off at once when you leave the house or go on vacation, so you don’t have to remind yourself to turn off each individual device. These smart strategies are just a few ways that you can start cutting your energy costs without uprooting your entire home.

Become savvy with your lighting. It’s no surprise that lighting is what gobbles up most of your home’s energy, and as a result, those bills can get incredibly expensive. This can easily change by switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Not only will you lower operating costs by as much as 75%, but you’ll also be fixing a major energy issue in your home for a relatively small cost. Compact fluorescents are great for rooms that see a lot of activity during the day and for your standard light fixtures, so they’re also incredibly functional for your day-to-day lighting needs. Just like some of the other solutions we’ve outlined, this is a fix that requires little inconvenience, and it can help you save money on your energy costs!

Our many years of experience living and working as Whittier real estate agents has shown us that it’s becoming increasingly more important for many homeowners in the area to go green, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend money on costly upgrades! The simple solutions outlined above are manageable, and they will allow you to live your life without inconvenience or sacrifice. We used some of the tips we’ve seen in Whittier real estate along the way to help create these simple, easy-to-follow suggestions for going green in your Whittier home.

If you have any questions about how you can start saving energy, or you want to see some of the beautiful homes on the Whittier real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are here for you at any time. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Save-Energy-in-Your-Whittier-CA-Homehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Save-Energy-in-Your-Whittier-CA-HomeTue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMTThree Steps to Making the Perfect Offer on a Whittier, CA Home! Contrary to what many homebuyers believe, making an offer on a home is not an exact science. Unlike the act of pricing your Whittier, CA home or narrowing down your neighborhood search, making an offer is not something that requires much precision. To a certain degree, there is much more of an educated guessing-game involved.

Don’t get us wrong: you still want to use your Whittier real estate agent to help you through the process of making an offer. While precision is not the most important thing during this process, doing your research is. You need to find and consider as much information about the home you want and the area surrounding it as possible in order to make an offer that the seller will accept without overpaying for the property. As your eyes and ears in the Whittier, CA real estate market, we feel that it’s important to give our clients three important steps that they should take when making an offer in order to present the most realistic and optimal price point to the seller. Remember: the more you know, the more prepared you’ll be during the negotiation process!

Step 1: Get a Comparative Market Analysis.
A Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA, is an incredibly important document to use when you go to make an offer on a home in Whittier, CA. A CMA is essentially a report that takes the features of the home you want to buy-from square footage to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms-and compares it with other homes similar in price point in the area. From there, they give the most mathematically accurate price value of the property in question. This is a great tool to use when making an offer, because you can see what other homes with similar qualities in the area have sold for. You can also look for more similarities amongst these averages and look at homes that are more specifically like the one you want and see what those homes sold for. You can use this number as a starting point for your offer and use the CMA to back up your price during negotiations.

Step 2: Use market trends to tweak your offer.
After you look at the CMA, you need to take market trends into account. Right now, we’re in a buyer’s market, so you could probably get away with offering a lower price for a property than you normally would. You need to stay in the same ballpark as the CMA price, but you could go a little bit lower, if need be. You also need to look at the competition. How many homes are currently on the market? If the number is not high, then you will need to make a higher bid for a property, as there are fewer homes for buyers to choose from and you could have other buyers competing with you for the home. You also need to ask yourself how long the home has been on the market. If it’s newly listed, you’ll want to keep the price higher than if it has been on the market for over 60 days. Seasonal factors, interest rates and list price to sales price ratios are other factors you need to take into consideration when making an offer on a Whittier, CA home. Once again, this may sound like a lot of information to process, but the more you know now, the more you’ll be able to use these numbers during the negotiation process.

Step 3: Know the facts specific to the Whittier, CA property you’re making an offer on.
In order to use the statistics that come from CMA’s and market trends, you need to know the specifics on the home you want to buy! Find out how many days the home has been on the market and the competition in the area. You should also take this time to figure out what the priorities and motivation of the sellers are. If they’re looking to sell the home quickly, you will need to take that into account when making your offer. Keeping the offer low on the first attempt may cause the sellers to pass you over in favor of a buyer with a higher offer. That’s why it’s important to make your first offer your best one! Knowing the specifics before making the first offer will allow you to offer the best price based on market data AND the property in question, which many other buyers may forget to do.

As your Whittier real estate agents, we feel that the best way to prepare our clients for making an offer on a home is to share our industry secrets and tactics with them. If you use these tools when making an offer, then you will likely see success with the seller! Navigating the Whittier real estate market isn’t easy, but with the right professionals by your side and access to the right information, you can get a leg up on the competition.

If you ever have questions about buying a Whittier, CA home, don’t hesitate to contact us! As your Whittier real estate team, we strive to make ourselves available to you at any time. We hope to hear from you soon. Have a great day!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Three-Steps-to-Making-the-Perfect-Offer-on-a-Whittier-CA-Homehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Three-Steps-to-Making-the-Perfect-Offer-on-a-Whittier-CA-HomeTue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMTWhittier Welcomes 2012! The Whittier, CA area offers small-city feel while having access to big city culture and entertainment. As your Whittier real estate agents, we thought we'd offer a few ideas for this New Year's Eve while keeping things close to home!

The number of restaurants in Whittier is too long to list here, but if you’re looking for stylish dining that won’t break the bank, try Dattilo Ristorante in uptown Whittier. Known for its’ Garden Room wine bar with artisan cheeses and incredible wine selection, the dinner menu includes a wide selection of appetizers, pastas, seafood entrees and more. They are open New Year’s Eve on a first-come, first –served basis. Large parties should call ahead.

For more casual dining, The Bottle Room features craft beers, wines, and a simple menu with gourmet appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches. Try one of the delicious flatbreads or the savory Turkey BLT. They are open noon to 9:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve on a first-come, first-served basis. Parties of 8 or more should call ahead.

Looking for a New Year’s Eve bash? The Cellar in Fullerton is hosting a Speakeasy New Year’s Party. Enjoy the prohibition era in true roaring-20’s style with ragtime tunes and fun surprises! The dinner menu is also period-inspired.  Call ahead for reservations.

Family-friendly fun can be had at the 21st annual First Night in downtown Fullerton.  The event runs Dec 31 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. Attractions include live entertainment, hybrid ice skating, rides, food, and fireworks at midnight!

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending New Year’s Eve in your Whittier, CA home!  Sit back with a couple of movies, popcorn, and the beverages of your choice, and you can begin 2012 relaxed and rested. And if you are thinking of buying or selling a home during 2012, we can help! Always feel welcome to contact us  for information about the Whittier, CA real estate market.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year,

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Whittier-Welcomes-2012http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Whittier-Welcomes-2012Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTBegin 2012 In Your Own Whittier Home! Looking forward to the New Year? You could make it even better by finding a new home in North Orange County, CA ! As your Whittier, CA real estate experts, we know there are many wonderful homes in all price ranges of the Whittier real estate market!

The news media likes telling you how hard it is to buy a house, so you may be thinking you can't qualify for a mortgage. Banks have tightened their purse strings, but thanks to the Federal Housing Administration, reasonable mortgage terms are within reach! Here’s how this type of mortgage can help you:

FHA loans require as little as 3.5% down. You can even use money gifted to you by your family.

FHA loans allow more breathing room in your credit score. You still need to have good credit, but the score requirements are a little lower than other types of mortgages.

FHA loans have no income limit. If you earn high wages, that’s ok! If not, that’s ok too, as long as you make enough income to afford the home you’re buying.

FHA loans allow you to take a mortgage on several types of properties: Condos, single-family homes, And 1 to 4 unit properties with owner occupancy. Manufactured homes are also allowed, as long as they are on a permanent foundation.

FHA loan limits are as high as $729,750 in Orange County. That buys a lot of house!

FHA loans have competitive mortgage interest rates.

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, or you’re thinking of trading up into a larger home, an FHA loan may be able to help you. You will need to speak with an FHA approved lender to find out more about the qualifications and requirements, such the mortgage insurance premiums. You can find approved lenders by visiting the official HUD.gov website.

Why not make your move to Whittier in 2012? If you’re thinking of buying a home in Whittier, always feel welcome to contact us! Our friendly and professional service will be with you every step of the way.

Wishing you all the best during the holidays and into the New Year,

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Begin-2012-In-Your-Own-Whittier-Homehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Begin-2012-In-Your-Own-Whittier-HomeTue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTCreate a Festive Holiday Décor in Your Whittier Home! Christmas is just over two weeks away, and the streets of Whittier, CA are bustling with last minute gift shopping, meal preparation and home decoration. If you haven’t yet transformed your house from your typical California home to a winter wonderland, now would be the time to do so. It’s just what you need to put yourself in to the holiday spirit! Although the city of Whittier, CA’s holiday season isn’t accompanied by snow and cold weather, the people in our community still know how to create a festive atmosphere for this time of year, and part of that is decorating your home.

As your Whittier real estate agents, we are familiar with homes. We’re not necessarily talking about the buying and selling transactions that we take part in every day, (although we are experts on that), but rather we mean that we know what makes a home look great. We have the ability to look at a room in any house and see its potential. That’s part of our job! In order to sell a home, we need to be able to highlight its assets to a buyer. That’s why, when we came across some of these ideas on how to make your home look much more festive this holiday season, we thought we’d share them. As your Whittier real estate team, we want your home to look beautiful on Christmas Day. Here are some of our favorite ideas that will transform your home from a typical Whittier property to a winter wonderland:

Fun, festive entry lights. There’s no better way to get your guests into the holiday spirit than by illuminating your entryway with gorgeous Christmas lights. Drape them in a casual way around your mailbox or portico posts for a welcoming effect. It will make your home look that much more beautiful each evening.

Transform odd seats into a set. If you’re throwing a holiday party and need to throw together an extra table with some mismatched chairs, then make them look like they belong together. A coat of paint and some decorative decals that you can stencil on will transform your “odds and ends” table setting into a matching masterpiece. It’s a great way to set a nice tone for your holiday party.

Use siding display panels to pretty up your place. Thermostats, switch plates and electrical panels are necessities, but they’re also eyesores if you’re trying to get your home ready for a holiday party. Create some fun side panels made out of sliding doors and add some festive décor. You can even paint some of these with chalkboard paint, take out the chalk, and let the kids at your party color or use it to play some holiday games. It’s all about getting creative!

No wine cellar? No problem. We love a great wine rack as much as the next person, but there’s no doubt that oftentimes, they can get in the way or can be easily knocked over by party guests. Here’s a quick party tip: a great place to store a wine rack is under the stairs. You get easy access to the wine for your party guests, and it’s tucked away somewhere a little safer.

These are only a few of the many simple, easy DIY ways you can get your Whittier, CA home prepared for holiday entertainment.  As your Whittier real estate agents, we wanted to share a few ideas that can help make your home look that much more beautiful for the holidays. We can’t wait to see how festive the homes in the Whittier, CA area look over the next few weeks!

As always, if you have any questions about the Whittier, CA real estate market or community, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help you at any time and answer any questions you may have. Thank you for continuing to read our blog. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Create-a-Festive-Holiday-Décor-in-Your-Whittier-Homehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Create-a-Festive-Holiday-Décor-in-Your-Whittier-HomeTue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTKeep The Kids Busy In Whittier Over the Holidays! The anticipation is building: there are only eighteen more shopping days left until Christmas, and there are only eight more school days left until winter break. As exciting as the holiday season is in the city of Whittier, CA, there are two words that many parents in the area dread hearing from their child once the first few days of winter vacation start: “I’m bored.”

As fun as it is to have your kids home from school for a couple of weeks, those two words are never a good sign. Boredom causes listlessness, grouchiness and recklessness, which means that your holiday vacation could turn in to a nightmare quite quickly. One of the best parts about living in Whittier, CA is that our community offers fun programs and entertainment to keep the kids occupied when they’re not in school, so they can let off some steam and have fun without the impending boredom. As your Whittier real estate agents and community experts, we feel that it is important to keep our community updated about what is happening in the area.

The city of Whittier, CA’s parks and recreation department has come up with some fun-filled holiday activity programs that will keep the kids entertained and your sanity intact. Here are a few suggestions for what you can sign them up for:

Junior Winter Theater Camp
December 19th-30th, 10:00am-4:00pm
This program, meant for ages 8-18 on Monday-Friday, is designed to unleash your child’s inner thespian. They will learn musical theater techniques and styles while playing singing, dancing and theater games. They’ll also prepare a special New Year’s Eve performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for you. If that isn’t enough to get your kids excited, tell them that one of the days includes a field trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. If you’re a resident of Whitter, CA, it will only cost you $122 for this program. Non-residents will have to pay $137. For more information, call 562-567-9430.

Winter Day Camp at Parnell Park
December 26th-30th, January 2nd-6th
If you have a younger kid between the ages of 5-12, this Winter Day Camp at Parnell Park may be the perfect program to keep them active and occupied during winter break! For only $90 per child, per week, your kid can take part in field trips, sports, arts and crafts, games and cooking activities. Each day will bring something new and exciting, so your child will likely want to come for more than one week. We also have a feeling that come back-to-school time, they will be sad to leave this jam-packed day camp. Register today by calling 562-567-9450.

Whether your child wants to embrace their inner actor or has a variety of interests, the city of Whittier, CA provides excellent programs during winter break that will keep your family occupied and boredom-free. As your Whittier real estate agents, we stay in-tune with what is happening in the area so that we can give you advice on the best events in town for you and your family.

If you’re interested in knowing more about the Whittier, CA community, are new to the area or interested in seeing some homes available on the local real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! As your Whittier, CA real estate resource, we are happy to help in any way we can. We make it a priority to make ourselves available to you. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Keep-The-Kids-Busy-In-Whittier-Over-the-Holidayshttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Keep-The-Kids-Busy-In-Whittier-Over-the-HolidaysTue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTMaking Your Move to Whittier "Green"Nowadays, it seems like everyone is jumping on the “green” bandwagon. Whether it’s making a conscious effort to turn out the lights when you leave a room, walking or biking to run your errands or opting for reusable grocery bags in favor of paper or plastic, green is here to stay. If you’re planning to move to a new Whittier home, there are steps you can take to ensure your move is as eco-friendly as possible. With all of the boxes, packing material and gas-guzzling moving trucks, your move can have a significant impact on Whittier’s environment! Here are a few tips on how to make your move and your new Whittier home as “green” as possible.

Make your Move “Green”

When you think about it, so much goes to waste during a major move! The first step is to going green during your move to a new Whittier home is to get rid of things you don’t have use for anymore. The less you have, the less boxes and packing materials you’ll use. Not to mention, the moving truck will take less trips back and forth between your old home and your new Whittier home. Instead of buying boxes from a moving company, ask around at Whittier businesses if you can take their empty boxes off of their hands. You’ll save boxes from going to the landfill and save money on your move!

Looking for “Green” During your Home Search

During your Whittier, CA home search, you may be looking for homes that already have eco-friendly features such as cork flooring and recycled glass tile. The reality is, the “green” movement is still gaining momentum and many home sellers haven’t made true eco-friendly improvements to their homes. You’ll likely have to make these improvements yourself, but there are benefits to this (keep reading!). Newer homes will typically have appliances and fixtures that are designed to use less water, as well as energy efficient windows and effective insulation. On the other side, older homes typically have quality craftsmanship and real wood flooring not as common in newer homes. We can work together to find the perfect home in Whittier to suit your eco-friendly remodeling goals.

Eco-Friendly Financing

We all know going green is beneficial to the environment, but did you know it can benefit your bank account, too?  A degree of research is required (I can help you with this!) but many lenders are starting to offer incentives to home buyers who plan to make energy-efficient updates to their home. I’d be happy to help you find a lender who is willing to give you a better rate for making eco-friendly improvements to your new Whittier home. Not only will making eco-friendly updates help you save on your home loan, your utility bills will also decrease significantly keeping more money in your pocket each month.

As your Whittier, CA real estate experts, we are here to answer any questions you have about the Whittier real estate market! Whether you’re just browsing or are starting to think seriously about buying a home in Whittier, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to be able to help you find your new home in Whittier just in time for the holidays. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Making-Your-Move-to-Whittier-Greenhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Making-Your-Move-to-Whittier-GreenTue, 29 Nov 2011 08:23:00 GMTGive Your Whittier Home A Facelift For The New Year!Can you believe that this is already the week of Thanksgiving? It seems like back-to-school just happened. Most associate Thanksgiving with the beginning of the holiday season, and before you know it, it will be time for a new year!

Many homebuyers wait until the spring to put their homes up for sale on the Whittier real estate market. The reason for this is that after the holiday season, many people want to spend the winter making needed upgrades on their homes or redecorating. As experienced Whittier real estate agents, we make it a priority to stay on top of the latest trends in home improvement, design and staging. Knowing what will sell is key to our industry, and as a home seller, the surest way to woo Whittier’s home buyers is to make the latest upgrades just before putting your home on the market. The more up-to-date and on-trend your home looks, the faster your home will sell.

Here are some of the decorating trends that will get your home sold next year:

•    Matching exteriors: Contrary to the stark contrasts between the paint on your shutters and that of your home, home buyers now are looking for a more monochromatic color scheme. Repaint your shutters so they match your Whittier home a bit more. This will likely boost your home’s curb appeal and lure the buyers in even faster.

•    Painted patterns that draw the eye: While you want to try and keep each room as neutral and clean as possible during the selling process, adding a bit of “pop” here and there won’t hurt. Adding a flashy, painted pattern as an accent to a room will give the area a bit more interest and intrigue the buyers a bit. Remember, while you don’t want to overload homebuyers in Whittier, CA with too much decoration, having a few eye-catching pieces placed subtly throughout the home will only add to your property’s appeal.

•    Black and White: There’s something timeless and sophisticated about pairing black and white together, and so experiment with that color scheme when you’re staging your rooms. Remember, you want every area in your home to look neutral and clean, but you also want them to look trendy and up-to-date. Throwing in some black and white furniture may give an otherwise dated room a fresh appearance. This color scheme will add pop to even the most historic of homes. Don’t be afraid to be a little daring.

Using the upcoming winter to do a little bit of remodeling and redecorating will serve you well when it comes time to put your Whittier, CA home for sale on the local real estate market. Our many years of living and working as Whittier real estate agents have taught us that homebuyers look for appealing and up-to-date homes during their search, so as a seller, the best thing that you can do is make sure that your updates are on-trend.

If you’re thinking about selling your home or want to know more about the Whittier, CA real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! As your premier real estate resource for the Whittier, CA area, we’d be happy to help! We hope to hear from you soon.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Give-Your-Whittier-Home-A-Facelift-For-The-New-Yearhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Give-Your-Whittier-Home-A-Facelift-For-The-New-YearMon, 21 Nov 2011 15:45:00 GMTHave Fun this Holiday Season in Orange County!Although it might seem early, it hit us today that Thanksgiving is next week! The onset of Thanksgiving makes us think of one thing: the holiday season. Although living in Orange County, CA doesn’t bring winter wonderlands and snowstorms around Christmastime, it certainly doesn’t mean that there isn’t holiday cheer in the area. In Whittier, CA and surrounding neighborhoods in North Orange County, there are plenty of things to do during the holidays that will put you in the giving spirit and allow you to spend time with the people that matter most during this time of year: your family.

As your North Orange County real estate agents, we think it’s important to inform people in our community about what is happening around town during the holiday season. Whether you’re new to Whittier, CA or are visiting the area for the holidays, we want to help you figure out some fun, family-friendly activities that you can do during the vacation time from school and work. We feel that part of what makes North Orange County, CA such a great place to live is the abundance of things to do, and there is no exception to this during the holidays.

Here is a list of some of the most fun-filled holiday festivities happening this month in North Orange County and some surrounding communities. We hope that these ideas will put you in the holiday spirit!

Go ice skating. Head to the Irvine Spectrum Center, lace up your skates, and enjoy yourself in Orange County’s only outdoor skating rink. While it might be hot outside, it’s a great way to feel as though you’re in a winter wonderland during the holiday season. Besides, when else are you going to get a chance to ice skate outside in California? The rink will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but it’s a great day trip idea for the whole family during the holiday weekend.

Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. If you have younger children, you might have heard of the Junie B. Jones book series. Now, the popular literary figure has hit the stage! See this rambunctious first grader figure out the meaning of the holidays at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through this weekend. It’s a sly way to spend a fun day out with the family while convincing the youngsters to stay nice over Christmas.

See the Blue Man Group. This renowned and popular show would be the perfect family outing over the holidays. The combination of theater, comedy and music will allow you a temporary escape from holiday shopping and food preparation. The production is running through this weekend, so see if you can get tickets before the run is through! The show will be at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa.

Whether you’re looking for family-friendly theater, a more universally renowned production or want to try a different activity, the holiday season in Orange County, CA is full of fun-filled things to do with the entire family. Although Thanksgiving doesn’t officially come until next week, these attractions will help put you in the holiday spirit a bit early.

As your Whittier real estate agents, we think it’s incredibly important to keep our community in the know about local events and attractions for the holiday season. If you have any questions about the communities in North Orange County, or want to see some of the beautiful homes on the Whittier real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help in any way we can.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Have-Fun-this-Holiday-Season-in-Orange-Countyhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Have-Fun-this-Holiday-Season-in-Orange-CountyTue, 15 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMTMake the Most of Your Whittier Open House!In this real estate market, selling a home is not easy. Even if you live in a fantastic home in a beautiful community like Whittier, CA, many are still struggling to get their homes off of the market. The key in a buyer’s market like this one is to make your home stand out from the competition. There are several ways that you can do this, but one way to make sure that your home leaves a positive impression is to make the most out of an open house.

As Whittier real estate agents, we have a strong idea of what the local real estate market is like. We also know exactly what many homebuyers in the North Orange County area are looking for. With all of our years of experience working in Whittier real estate, we believe that utilizing the open house can present a great opportunity: you can put your best foot forward and be a little creative. Using some of the ideas below, you can make sure that your Whittier, CA home stands out from the competition and sell your home even faster:

Keep the décor simple. Yes, this is still your home, but you want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in it. Put away as many personal touches as possible, including shopping lists and family photos. This might sound a bit extreme, but you’d be surprised at the difference de-personalizing your home can make. The less of “you” that there is in the home, the more Whittier homebuyers can see themselves living there. Ask your real estate agent to walk through the home and help you de-clutter before open house time.

Keep the counters clean. Put away as many countertop appliances and items as possible, particularly in bathrooms. Clean countertops give potential homebuyers ideas on how they can utilize the space for storage or their own appliances. Remember, you want the home to look as clean and neutral as possible.

Set the dining room table with your nicest table set. Appearance is everything in these situations. Even if your plan for after the open house is a box of pizza and paper plates in front of the TV, set the dining room as though you’re planning on hosting an event after everyone leaves. You want people to be able to see this space in your Whittier home as a place for entertaining, so set the mood a little bit. Unlike countertops, people prefer to see a set table. It creates possibilities and shows more of the home’s true potential.

Invest in a nice doormat. It will be one of the first things people see when they enter your home. Having a nice doormat shows that you care about how your home looks.

Bribery works. By this, we mean food and beverage. Bake cookies, serve cocktails or have a buffet of hors d’oeuvres sitting out.  It will get people who are interested in living in Whittier walking through your door, even if it’s only for the free food. From there, they can take a look around your home and hopefully, it will pique their interest. Overall, offering perks to attending the open house is a great way to get the foot traffic you need to get your Whittier home sold.

Don’t stick around. Potential homebuyers can oftentimes feel threatened by the presence of the home’s owner at an open house. They won’t feel comfortable giving your Whittier real estate agent honest feedback if they sense you’re in the next room. Make sure you’re out of the house during the open house time. Leave early and stay out a little on the later side, just to be safe. You want people to feel comfortable when they enter your home, not pressured.

These quick tips should help you make the most out of your open house in Whittier, CA. The open house presents the perfect opportunity to make your home stand out from the competition, so make sure you put a lot of time, thought and effort into how you want to present your property. As your Whittier real estate resource, we want to make sure that we prepare you properly for the open house process.

If you have any questions about selling your Whittier home or want to know more about some of the other communities in North Orange County, don’t hesitate to contact us! We would love to help you in any way we can. We hope to hear from you soon.

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Make-the-Most-of-Your-Whittier-Open-Househttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Make-the-Most-of-Your-Whittier-Open-HouseTue, 08 Nov 2011 11:53:00 GMTWhat Kind of “House Hunter” Are You?Our many years of experience as Whittier real estate agents have taught us one thing:  different buyers have different priorities when it comes to finding a home. Whether you’re more concerned with location or asking price, each person’s preferences tend to vary. As your real estate professionals for the Whittier, CA area, it is part of our job to find out what your preferences are and show you the homes that fit your criteria. Before we can do that, we need you to do one thing—figure out what you like.

It sounds simple enough, but you would be amazed at the number of buyers that enter the Whittier real estate market without knowing what is most important to them. If you don’t have your list of priorities ready before meeting your North Orange County real estate agent, then you will likely end up wasting a lot of precious time looking at homes that just don’t work for you. Oftentimes, this approach results in frustration and aggravation, and it has a tendency to delay the house-hunting process.

In the interest of helping you find your Whittier home even faster, we thought we’d profile a few of the “house hunter” types that we have worked with during our years of working as Whittier real estate agents. Taking the time to review these different types of homebuyers might help you figure out what your top priority is, and that will make your home search go much faster:

The decorating aficionados. These homebuyers tend to focus on the physical appearance of the home. They tend to ask themselves questions like, “How does this place look on the outside?” “What will I need to change?” “Will the décor I have in mind go well with this property?” “If I put the work in, will this place look like my dream home?” They want a home that is more move-in ready and will be ready for showing off right away. These buyers, in short, want a show home that they don’t need to put much work into.

The location lovers. For some potential homebuyers, moving is much less about finding the right home and more about finding the right neighborhood. After all, the more they enjoy the neighborhood, the happier they will be in their new home. These homebuyers will want to research what neighborhoods best fit their lifestyle ahead of time and target their home search to these areas. This tends to be the case for many families who are looking to move somewhere community-oriented and with a great school district.

The frugal spenders. Many first-time homebuyers fit this description well. They are looking for the best deal and asking price in the area. Many of these buyers are interested in what others in the area paid for their property and tend to want to focus on the best deals for their dollar, rather than on location or physical appearance. These types of buyers tend to search for a home with the idea that they will make the necessary upgrades themselves and would rather spend less in the actual real estate transaction.

Mad for maintenance. These homebuyers typically have one goal in mind: function. These buyers typically know a lot about the floor plan of a home, what elements should be working, and keep a sharp eye out for potential damage to the home during walkthroughs. These “wheeling and dealing” buyers tend to know how to negotiate with the seller and make sure all of their bases are covered in terms of home damage, repairs and functionality. They want a home with minimal problems that need fixing.

These four things are all important when you start your Whittier home search, but if you know which of them is most important to you, it will make your North Orange County real estate agent’s job that much easier. The right professionals will figure out your primary preference and show you the listings that most fit what it is that you’re looking for. The key is to know what your “house-hunting” personality is ahead of time and convey that to your agent.

Our years of experience as a Whittier real estate team have given us the resources to work with any number of home buyer personalities, so if you figure out your house-hunting personality and want to start your Whittier home search, don’t hesitate to contact us! We will make sure to listen to your preferences and show you the right local listings. We would love to help you find your dream home in any way we can. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/What-Kind-of-House-Hunter-Are-Youhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/What-Kind-of-House-Hunter-Are-YouTue, 01 Nov 2011 13:01:00 GMTCelebrate Halloween this Weekend in Whittier!It’s official: Halloween is less than a week away. By this point, you probably have costumes picked out for yourself and the kids, are picking out your trick or treat candy at the grocery store, and taking your family from one spooky party to the next. One of the perks of living in Whittier, CA is that we are such a safe, family-friendly community. It makes celebrating holidays like Halloween enjoyable and fun. On top of it all, it’s incredibly fun to decorate your beautiful Whittier home.

As your Whittier real estate team, we feel that it’s important to keep you up to date on what’s happening around town on Halloween weekend. We also wanted to take a second to give you some friendly reminders on how to stay safe this year during trick or treating. While Whittier, CA is an incredibly safe community, it doesn’t hurt to stay smart and give yourself a few reminders before you celebrate the “scariest” holiday of the year!

Get active. Let’s face it. Halloween is the perfect excuse to binge on our favorite treats. While this is a tasty endeavor, it can also be a bit unhealthy. That’s why the “Fit for Life 5K Run/Walk Spooktacular” on Saturday, October 29th is the perfect opportunity to stay active. You can work off that Halloween candy while benefitting the Whittier Community Foundation. Get up bright and early and be ready to run at 7:30am. Not only will you be helping yourself keep off those candy calories, but you’ll also be helping to make the city of Whittier, CA an even better place to live.

Carve your pumpkins. Have you picked out your pumpkins yet? Is your Jack O’Lantern ready to go? There’s no better way to get in the spirit of Halloween than by carving your pumpkins with your friends and neighbors. Feel free to post your finished product directly on our Facebook page. We’d love to see what you come up with.

Stay safe while trick-or-treating. While Whittier, CA is an incredibly safe city, you can never be too safe when it comes to trick or treating. After all, with everyone dressed up in costumes in the evening, it’s important to be cautious! Here are a few quick tips on how to stay safe this Halloween night:

  • Make sure your kids are following a planned route through the neighborhood. If you map it out ahead of time with the kids, it’s easier for them to go off on their own on Halloween night without getting lost.
  • Check the candy when they get home. We know it’s hard to explain to the kids, who are jumping at the chance to just dig in to their candy stash, but it’s important to check all candy for any tampering with. Some people might pass out homemade treats. If you don’t know the person who gave them away, it’s probably better to just throw them out. You can’t be too careful.
  • Avoid masks or head coverings that obscure vision. It gets dark earlier during trick or treat time, so make sure your costume, and your kids’, don’t have masks or head coverings that reduce visibility. You want your kids to be able to see clearly and navigate their away around the neighborhood easily.

Halloween in the city of Whittier, CA is always a fun time. You get the chance to come together as a community and enjoy a night of parties and treats. As your Whittier, CA real estate and community resource, we just thought that we’d share a few quick tips for how to make this Halloween even more fun and safe for the whole family. If you’re interested in learning more about the city of Whittier, or you want to see some of the gorgeous homes available on the Whittier real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be glad to show you what makes our town so special. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Celebrate-Halloween-this-Weekend-in-Whittierhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Celebrate-Halloween-this-Weekend-in-WhittierTue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTUpdate Your Whittier Home and Raise its Value!For several Whittier home sellers, the market is far from easy right now. Median home prices, while slowly increasing in several areas, are still not worth near what many homeowners in Whittier, CA initially put in to their homes. This makes many reconsider putting their house on the market in the current climate. If you’re genuinely interested in putting your house on the market, you shouldn’t let the existing numbers discourage you. Instead, you should consider making some small, inexpensive renovations to your home. Not only will this raise your home’s value, but it will make your Whittier home sale go much more smoothly. You’ll get more from your home sale.

As a team of Whittier real estate agents, we have had several years of experience in the local market. We know what the home buyers in the area want and willingly share our knowledge with our clients. Using our expertise and experience, we thought we’d take some time to share which updates will pay off most for your Whittier home. Best of luck!

Give your bathroom a quick facelift. Do you have an ancient bathtub or shower? Does your tiling need to be redone? Does your tub need to be re-caulked? Taking the time to make some minor replacements might sound expensive, but it’s something that will ultimately pay off in your home sale. People are picky about their bathrooms, which is understandable. Make sure yours is as clean and up to date as possible.

Fix up your landscaping. People’s first impression of your property will depend largely on what your landscaping looks like. Take the time to make sure everything looks nice and clean, and for an eye-catching plus, add a burst of color by planting some extra flowers. You want your home to look taken care of. Giving your landscaping some extra TLC before putting your home on the market will certainly pay off.

How’s the kitchen? Think about it: in many homes, the kitchen is the gathering place for the whole family. That’s why so many people prefer a large, open kitchen. Even if yours is on the smaller side, spruce it up by making it look homey. Add some decorative window treatments, replace the countertops if needed and sand and paint all wood cabinets. As costly as these projects may sound, they will give your kitchen the brightening up it needs to draw buyers.

Enhance your exterior. Does your house need a fresh coat of paint? Does your entrance need some plans or flowers? If you have a fence or gate, how does that look? Make sure that you pay attention to the details of your home’s exterior. It’s part of what will draw the buyers to your home and make a positive first impression.

All of these projects can be done on a major or minor scale, depending on how much you’re willing to spend to raise your home’s value. Either way, paying attention to the little details during your home sale will only benefit you when you put your home up for sale on the Whittier real estate market. As your Whittier real estate experts, we want to help guide you along the right path during your home sale.

If you have any questions about what it takes to sell your Whittier home, or you’re interested in putting your home up for sale on the Whittier real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d be happy to help you in any way we can. We hope to hear from you soon!

The Domis Team
Prudential California Realty
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]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Update-Your-Whittier-Home-and-Raise-its-Valuehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Update-Your-Whittier-Home-and-Raise-its-ValueTue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT“Just Looking” For a Whittier Home?man, woman, houseIf you are thinking of buying a home in Whittier, La Habra, Fullerton, or anywhere else in Orange or Los Angeles County, you know that you have plenty of choices to consider.  Once you are committed to buy, you need to get pre-approval for the amount you can afford and then find your home through a combination of internet and in-person shopping. Even before that, though, you may want to see what’s out there. You are “Just looking.”

Real estate agents can regard showing homes to buyers in the looking stage as an annoyance or as part of the process.  When a home is listed online, or even when there is an ad for an open house, some who inquire about it are serious, some are just looking, and some live down the street and always wondered what the house looked like inside. 

As an agent, when time and gas are both precious commodities, I certainly do not like to go on wild goose chases with people who are just curious.  I hate to tell sellers, who go all out to make sure that the house is presentable, the dog is in his cage, and the family is out of the house, that the so-called buyers were just window shopping. Having said that, I believe that it is my job to work with those who inquire about the house and move them to the next level.  After all, every buyer started out as a shopper. 

In virtually every product or service offered today, the internet has changed how people do business, whether we are talking about shopping for a book, a TV, or a house.  With books, people look them up on line, read the reviews, and order from Amazon, much to the detriment of brick-and-mortar stores. With TVs and homes, people shop on line but then go see a few in person. In either case, smart shoppers check out several “products” before buying – as it should be. With TVs, they may order online even after looking in the store.  To this point, buying real estate online and sight unseen hasn’t worked, nor will it ever work.  From the buyer’s perspective, the more money involved in a purchase, the more due diligence you should do to make sure you are spending your money wisely. You do a lot more in-person “looking.”

In Southern California, many of the homes available are foreclosures or bank-owned properties that might be your deal of a lifetime, or your money pit. You need to see these in person and assess whether the amount of work involved is manageable for you, as well as compare them to non-distressed homes. For any home, regardless of how good the pictures look, you can only see the details of the home in person. You need some human interaction to discuss the pro’s and con’s of every house.  Who better to do this that a real estate agent who knows the area and is equipped to handle the questions you have?

If you are “just looking” for a home in  Orange County or Los Angeles County, give me a call.  I can help you move closer to home ownership by opening a world of affordable choices to you, right here in La Habra, Whittier, La Habra Heights, and the surrounding area.  Need to sell?  I can help you sell as well.

For some interesting insights on the housing market, I welcome you to listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510.

Courtesy of Linda and Tim Domis, Neighborhood Specialists

How much is your home worth? http://www.homevalueslahabra.com/

Contact Linda and Tim at:

http://www.whittierhomes.com

http://www.lahabrahomesonline.com

http://www.lakeparkbrea.com

http://www.lakeparklahabra.com

Email the Domis team at linda@lindadomis.com

Listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510.

]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Just-Looking-For-a-Whittier-Homehttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Just-Looking-For-a-Whittier-HomeSat, 30 Jul 2011 20:55:00 GMTEmbrace the California Dream in Orange Countydream ladder, star

Any of you who know me, personally or as a Realtor® in Orange County or Los Angeles County, you know I that am an optimist.  When the results of a recent surveycame out about whether the California dream is dead or alive, you know I was in the 46% who feel it remains strong.  Based on the current economy, unemployment, and the prospects for jobs, the naysayers see the glory days of California in the past.

On the face of it, these attitudes hardly bode well for the real estate business.  If you are thinking of buying or selling, you may think of putting your plans on hold until things get ”better.” While I can’t tell you not to worry, I can tell you that there are many pockets in hope in the La Habra-Whittier area I serve.  Our state and county are large, so what is true in one place might be different a few miles away.  There are signs that many things in our area are looking up.  You just have to look deeper to find a positive and growing economy in the OC.

Assuming your personal finances are secure, you have many opportunities right here in Orange County to make your move, where you will be surrounded by a stable and improving economy. 

If you want to pursue your California dream in Orange County, give me a call. I can open a world of affordable choices to you, right here in La Habra, Whittier, La Habra Heights, and the surrounding area, and can help you sell as well.

For some interesting insights on the housing market, I welcome you to listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510.

Courtesy of Linda and Tim Domis, Neighborhood Specialists

How much is your home worth? http://www.homevalueslahabra.com/

Contact Linda and Tim at:

http://www.whittierhomes.com

http://www.lahabrahomesonline.com

http://www.lakeparkbrea.com

http://www.lakeparklahabra.com

Email the Domis team at linda@lindadomis.com

Listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510.

La Habra Real Estate la habra homes for sale mortgages credit score

]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Embrace-the-California-Dream-in-Orange-Countyhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Embrace-the-California-Dream-in-Orange-CountyMon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTShould You Buy or Rent in Orange County?

house, cookieAs a Realtor® who sells in Orange County and a resident of the Whittier area who loves, loves, loves it here, I am interested in the recent debate on whether renting a home vs. buying one makes more sense. Traditionally, rents run 44% less than mortgage payments, but have stayed below 40% since April, 2009. Even after other homeowner expenses and tax credit credits are figured in, the gap is narrowing even more, according to John Lansner of the Orange County Register. Should this make you stretch and buy a home?

Whether you should buy is a personal decision, of course. Given the ratio of rent to mortgage, you might pay $1,400 to rent and $2,100 to buy - still a sizeable difference. If your income is not steady or not sufficient, or if your credit is weak, you may not be able to span the gap. As noted in our last blog Lender's Math Is What Counts For Loan Approval, you will pay higher interest and have a higher payment if your credit score is lower. The gap will be wider between the cost to buy vs. rent until you get your score higher.

If you qualify for a mortgage and can afford the payments, let's look at the facts of homeownership in our area. House prices in Orange County are at a median of $425,000 down from $645,000 in 2007. Whatever the buyer pays for their mortgage, it is less than in the past, due to the falling prices combined with low interest rates. You have the potential of obtaining a great property at a "discounted" rate to serve a couple purposes.

Your new Orange County home will provide a stable residence for your family in an area where, historically, people have been willing to pay more to live. The climate, the usually vibrant economy, the high wages have made people want to pay a premium to live here. This history bodes well for buyers who believe that homeownership will shelter their family now and preserve their investment, even without the inflation of the past. The market will recover, and I believe Orange County will come out a winner.

Recent events may have overturned the scenario where a home is a fast-growing cash cow. However, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center reaffirmed that 81 % of adults felt that buying was the best longer term investment to make. Even among those who had lost money on their homes with sinking values, 37% strongly agree and 45% somewhat agree with this. Among renters, 81% aim to buy when they can. Home ownership is a goal you might share too.

By buying now, you will stop the flow of "wasted" rent dollars and eventually own something, or a piece of something if you sell before your mortgage is paid off. This assumes that housing prices will not continue their past free fall. Long term, your home will be a decent investment that offers shelter and some profit.

If you think you are ready to buy a home in Orange County, give me a call. I can open a world of affordable choices to you, right here in La Habra, Whittier, La Habra Heights, and the surrounding area. I will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of owning vs. renting in your personal situation. Keep in mind that your circumstances may dictate what is affordable for you, and I will work with you within your price range.

For some interesting insights on the housing market, I welcome you to listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510.

 

Courtesy of Linda and Tim Domis, Neighborhood Specialists

How much is your home worth?  http://www.homevalueslahabra.com/

Contact Linda and Tim at:

http://www.whittierhomes.com

http://www.lahabrahomesonline.com

http://www.lakeparkbrea.com

http://www.lakeparklahabra.com

Email the Domis team at linda@lindadomis.com

Listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510. 

La Habra Real Estate la habra homes for sale mortgages credit score

]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Should-You-Buy-or-Rent-in-Orange-Countyhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Should-You-Buy-or-Rent-in-Orange-CountyThu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTLender’s Math is What Counts for Loan Approvalcredit score, mathDespite the uncertainties of the market, you have decided that 2011 is the year you will buy a home in La Habra or in the surrounding Orange County suburbs.  You’ve heard there are good deals out there, plus plenty of inventory, so you hook up with a good Realtor® and start your search.  When the agent suggests you get pre-approved for a mortgage so you can jump on a deal, your plans hit the wall:  Your credit isn’t as good as you thought it was.  You can buy a home, but not one in the price range you planned.

Even if you have done the numbers on what you can afford, it is the lender’s math that counts.  The lender looks at your record and assesses the risk it perceives on your loan.  Since the mortgage meltdown of the last few years, lenders look more carefully now.  They have also raised their requirements on two important levels: what is needed to qualify for a loan and what it takes to get a good rate.  To a buyer this translates to “Can I even get a house with my credit?” and “At what price?”

In the past, a credit rating in the high 500’s got you the right to get your keys, while a score of 700 or more assured a good rate.  Now even FHA, which technically requires a 500 score, suggests a minimum score of 620-640 for a government-backed loan, while a conventional lender would consider you a subprime risk with those numbers.  Access to the best rates – those trending at 3.5% - 4.2% these days – requires a score well over 740 in most markets.  This credit inflation impacts your purchasing power.

The higher the interest rate you have to pay, the more you will pay for the home over the life of the loan and the less house you can buy now. Every increasing percent of interest rates cuts about $20,000 off your purchasing power.  Whether the rates go up  or whether you can’t qualify for the lower rates because of your credit score, the effect is the same.  Here’s an example:

      Amount                               Interest                      Amount                   Mortgage Payment

        of Loan                                   Rate                             Paid                           Over Life of Loan

      $200,000                                  5.5%                         $1,136                                      $208,808

      $200,000                                  5.0%                         $1,073                                      $186,511

      $200,000                                  4.5%                         $1,033                                      $164,813

      $200,000                                  4.0%                             $954                                      $143,739

      $200,000                                  3.5%                             $898                                      $123,312

 

If you need to keep your payment around $900, you could afford a $200,000 loan if you qualify for a 3.5% loan but only a loan of $166,000 if your interest rate is 5%. You would pay over $75,000 more in interest over the course of the loan. Your choice would be to add more down payment or shop for a less expensive home.

When you look for loan approval, your lender will look at either your FICO score computed by the major credit bureaus or at your Vantage Score, another measure of credit-worthiness.  The score will take into consideration your payment history, your income, and your debt-credit ratio.  If any of the these fall short, so will your score.  A poor payment record, insufficient or spotty income, and a high debt-credit ratio spells “trouble” to potential lenders.

Given the importance of your credit score, you need to keep tabs on how your are ranked by the major bureaus.  You can obtain a free annual report from each bureau; at moment, you will have to pay for the scores themselves, but this is due to change in July.  If you find that your report shows blemishes, you should try to repair what you can before applying for a loan.  (Unfortunately, so long as the information is correct, there are no short cut to repairing it.) In general, your report should show that you have been on time with your payments and have debt-to-income ratio of 36% or less.  Your mortgage payment should take up no more than 28% of your debt, though recent mortgage modification plan have put the mortgage percentage higher.  Some lenders may be willing to offer a loan if your ratio is much higher, but the rates will be sky high.

“Lender’s math” may seem harsh, but the mortgage crisis made lenders sharpen their pencils. You may think you can afford more that the bank will give you, but short of dramatically increasing your income, your best hope of getting a bigger loan at a more favorable rate is by paying down your debt. If you want to proceed with your credit score as is, you may have to look for a less expensive home, come up with thousands more in down payment dollars,  or defer your purchase a bit.

How much do you know about credit scores?  Take this credit quiz to find out.

If you think you are ready to buy a home in Orange County, give me a call.  I can open a world of affordable choices to you, right here in La Habra, Whittier, La Habra Heights, and the surrounding area.  Keep in mind that your credit score may dictate what is affordable for you, and I will work with you within your price range.

For some interesting insights on the housing market, I welcome you to listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510. 

Courtesy of Linda and Tim Domis, Neighborhood Specialists

How much is your home worth?  http://www.homevalueslahabra.com/

Contact Linda and Tim at:

http://www.whittierhomes.com

http://www.lahabrahomesonline.com

http://www.lakeparkbrea.com

http://www.lakeparklahabra.com

Email the Domis team at linda@lindadomis.com

Listen to my interview on the House Calls Radio show, conducted by loan officer Carlos Dandridge on area stations AM 830, 920, 1310, and 1510. 

]]>http://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Lenders-Math-is-What-Counts-for-Loan-Approvalhttp://www.whittierhomes.com/Blog/Lenders-Math-is-What-Counts-for-Loan-ApprovalSun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT