Rancho Mission Viejo Phase One is Under Construction – Two Villages Premiere This Summer

Rancho Mission Viejo phase one hosted it’s first public meeting with builders today at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course.  The first of nine public sessions with all of the Rancho Mission Viejo phase one builders kicked off this afternoon.  The initial four sessions with the Rancho Mission Viejo Phase One builders were so over-subscribed they had to add an additional five sessions to meet the demand.  Mary, the sales representative from Shea Homes in Gavilan (that’s the 55+ community) confirmed the numbers for me – over 7000 people on the interest list for only 941 homes in the first phase.  Can you spell “sold” before they are even finished being built?  That’s my prediction any way. Based on Mary’s numbers and the number of people who showed up this afternoon.

All builders had detailed packages including pre-qualification requirements with lender contact information.  All are only accepting non-contingent offers.  Most are setting appointments in the mid-June time frame with pre-approved buyers.  Let’s do the math again – 7000+ interest list for 941 homes.  Going, going, gone.

What’s all the buzz about, you may wonder. Take a look at what the villages of Gavilan and Sendero will have to offer.

Rancho Mission Viejo Village of Gavilan

• 55+ age restriction for occupants.  You don’t have to be 55+ to purchase, just to live there.
• Community Hacienda or so called Rec Room for Grown-Up Fun
• Single Story homes
• Anticipated Effective Property Tax Rate of 1.5%
• Anticipated Total HOA Dues $350 per month (includes full access to both Gavilan and Sendero Village amenities)

• Standard Pacific Homes Bungalows Overview – 93 Homes in Gavilan

1,276  – 1,860 Sq Ft, 2 – 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage Attached and Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the mid $400,000′s to the low $500,000′s

• Standard Pacific Homes Casitas Overview – 75 Homes in Gavilan

1,624  – 2,059 Sq Ft, 2 Bedroom and Loft, 2 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage,  Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the mid $500,000′s to the high $500,000′s

• Shea Homes Overview

1,330 to 2,043 Sq Ft, 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Optional 3 Bedroom, Optional Upgrades,  2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the mid $600,000′s to the low $700,000′s

• Del Webb Homes Overview – 29 Homes in Gavilan

2,026 – 2,310 Sq Ft, 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Optional 3 Bedroom,  Optional Upgrades, 2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the low $700,000′s to the high $700,000′s

Rancho Mission Viejo Village of Sendero

• No Age Restriction
• Community Facilities and Amenities
• Two Story Homes
• Anticipated Effective Property Tax Rate of 1.5%
• Anticipated HOA Dues of $160 per month (Sendero residents do not have access to Gavilan Village amenities)
• William Lyon Homes Cabana Overview – 97 Homes in Sendero

1,006 to 1,520 Sq Ft, 1 -2 Bedrooms, 2 – 3 Bathrooms, Evolve Room and Loft options, 2 Car Garage, Attached homes

Preliminary prices from the low $300,000′s to the low $400,000′s

• William Lyon Homes Villas Overview – 96 Homes in Sendero

1,323 to 1,553 Sq Ft, 2 – 3 Bedrooms, 2 – 3 Bathrooms, Loft Option, 2 Car Garage,  Attached homes

Preliminary prices from the mid $400,000′s to the low $500,000′s

• Shea Homes Overview

1,419 to 1,791 Sq Ft, 2 – 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Den, Office, Loft Options, 2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the low $300,000′s to the low $400,000′s

• TRI Pointe Homes Overview

2,050 to 2,394 Sq Ft, 3 – 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Loft Option, Bonus Room Option, 2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the mid $600,000′s to the low $700,000′s

• Ryland Homes Overview

2,310 to 2,625 Sq Ft, 3 – 4 Bedroom, 3 Bathrooms, Optional Den, Teen Room, Den, 2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the low $700,000′s to the high $700,000′s

• Seacountry Homes Overview

1,800 to 2,000 Sq Ft – Up to 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices not published

• Meritage Homes Overview – 63 Homes in Sendero

2,679 to 2,996 Sq Ft – 3 – 4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 2 Car Garage, Detached homes

Preliminary prices from the low $800,000′s to the high $800,000′s

Rancho Mission Viejo Phase One Launch – Can You Spell “SOLD?” is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

Unusual Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita real estate market conditions produce unusual behaviors in buyers, sellers, and Realtors.

When the Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita real estate market conditions gets to the point where there are less than 4000 homes officially listed for sale, there are more  than 8000 qualified buyers and more than 40,000 licensed Realtors trying to make a living helping you wonderful Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita people buy and sell homes, you’ll have to agree this is an unusual condition.  Now, I’ve only been making a living helping Orange County buyers and sellers for the last 13 years, so I haven’t seen all of the Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita real estate market conditions roller coaster twists and turns, but I’ve seen my share in my tenure on the big OC thrill ride.  And this prevailing low inventory condition has put a new hitch in just about everyone’s giddy up.  Mine included.  Here are a couple of behaviors I’ve learned from my clients, colleagues, and competitors.  Just in case we happen to meet.

Seller Tactics – Oh to be in the ever-so-coveted driver’s seat.  Sellers in Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita today can demand buyers’ remove their appraisal contingency,  deny making any repairs, and give as few at 18 hours to schedule a home showing until offers are due and if you are late to that party you are SOL – which we know from last week means Sorrowfully Out of Luck.  Sellers today are also demanding 3% of the offer price as an initial deposit, when the traditional rule of thumb has been 1% of the offer price.

Buyer Tactics – More often now than ever before, buyers are playing Realtors off against one another.  Shocking, I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  Buyers are looking for a leg up, a way in, or an inside tract anywhere they can get it.  They’ll walk into an Open House and beg the listing agent to help them make the winning offer – even though another Realtor has been representing them for the past month.  They have three or four Realtors working on trying to be the first ones in on any new listing.  And beg for any pocket listing that Realtor or anyone in their office might have. Unusual conditions create unusual behavior.

Realtor Tactics – This new tactic is actually so old school I’ve never ever done it up until about three weeks ago.  Because look at me  – Mrs. Twenty-First Century Realtor with my IDX Home Search, three websites, a rocking blog, and 1500 Facebook Friends.  As it turns out, that’s not enough anymore.  Now it’s all about door to door sales. Literally.  I’ve been walking up and down the streets in the neighborhood s of my clients’ dream home.  The streets upon which the house sits that they and eleven other hopeful buyers lost to one successful bidder.  As in walking up to the door, knocking , asking if the owner knows what’s happening to prices on their street, and would they be willing to sell or do they know someone who would be.  Unless, of course, there’s a “No Soliciting” sign – which I totally respect.  Although, you NS people may want to take your sign down for the next couple of months in case a great offer comes knocking on your door.

And here’s a rare insider tip – if a Realtor comes knocking on your door, claiming to have a buyer for your house, believe her.  Because even if her buyer has already bought another home, there are still ten other unsuccessful Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita bidders out there looking for a house just like yours.

I’m Leslie Eskildsen.  949-678-3373

Call me.  949-678-3373

Text me.  949-678-3373

Email me.  Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com

Fill out this form:

Today’s Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita Real Estate Market Conditions is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

We’re seeing an increase in the number of homes for sale in Mission Viejo,  Coto de Caza and Rancho Santa Margarita – a trend we’ve been following very closely for the last several weeks.  A couple of neighborhoods have seen a 20% increase in the number of homes for sale.  Is this increase in the number of homes for sale enough to fix the chronic lack of inventory we’ve been suffering though for the past several months?  Not a chance.  Even this increase in the number of homes for sale hasn’t put a damper on demand.  Buyers in Mission Viejo,  Coto de Caza and Rancho Santa Margarita are still up against massive competition – especially in the $300,000 to $700,000 range.  We’re still seeing 3 – 12 offers on houses that are priced right.  It’s definitely still a seller’s market.  So what’s happening to prices during this inventory shortage?  Take a look a Week in the Life of an Average Mission Viejo Home Buyer and find out.

Friday – A brand new Mission Viejo house for sale hits the market.  Asking price is $524,900.00.  Nice condition. Forty- five years old. Single story.  Nice view. Looks to me like it is priced right.  Call my clients to make plans to go on Saturday.

Saturday – No trouble finding the house – at least five other groups with their Realtor. Cars continue to arrive from both directions.  People are lined up outside, waiting turns to go inside.  Realtors are practically playing Hot Potato with the key and the lock box.  After 6 ½ minutes looking at the house, we write up an offer and deliver it to the listing agent.  Our offer of $545,900.00 is $21,000  -  4% OVER the list price.

Sunday – Listing Agent confirms receipt of our offer.  Open House is between 1 – 4.  I pop over, hoping to meet the listing agent in person and promote my clients and their offer.  An associate of the listing agent is holding the Open House, loudly and enthusiastically announcing to the guests that four offers are already in and they are expecting at least four more.  Listing agent accepts my phone call and confirms the multiple offer situation and says the plan is to review all offers with the sellers Monday evening.

Monday evening – No word at all.  Trying to keep my clients calm.  As we continue to look for Plan B properties.

Tuesday – Notice of Multiple Counter Offers is delivered to me.  A “boiler plate” Counter Offer  - best and final price, no appraisal contingency, yatta yatta yatta.  So we agonize and analyze and strategize and come up with a response.

Wednesday – Submit my clients’ Counter Offer – offer price is increased to $550,000.00 – $26,100.00 over their list price.  And a bunch of other juicy terms and conditions to attract the sellers’ attention.  Fingers crossed.

Thursday – Confirm with listing agent that our Counter Offer was received.  He confirms.  I boldly ask if we can expect an acceptance and open escrow.  He confides that we’re not even close.  What?!?!  Where did our price fall in comparison with the other offers?  He tells me the middle of the pack.  Well how high did the offers go I ask in an attempt to get a grip on this disturbing situation.  Leslie, he says, what would you consider a crazy offer on this house?  I say $585,000.00.  You know what he says to me?  That’s NOT CRAZY ENOUGH!!!

So when an Orange County house listed for $524,900.00 sells for more than $585,000.00 – it is definitely still a sellers’ market and prices continue shooting up.  The inventory hasn’t increased enough yet to appease the demand for homes.  Nor has it put a damper on price increases.

Friday – The same model across the street without the view is listed for salt at $579,000.00.  Not crazy enough.

I’m Leslie Eskildsen.  Your local Realtor.

Call me. 949-678-3373

Text me. 949-678-3373

Email me.  Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com.

Your success starts with a phone call.

Then fill out this form:

Will an Increase in the Number of Homes for Sale Solve the Mission Viejo Low Inventory Problem? is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

Continued Lack of Inventory of Mission Viejo Homes for Sale Calls for New Terms and Conditions

Even though the inventory of homes for sale in Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, and Rancho Santa Margarita has increased lately, there are still so few homes on the market that home buyers need to use new terms and conditions to be successful in the Mission Viejo real estate market today.  Here are the top three trends in new terms and conditions that you need to know about as a home buyer in today’s market.  Serious buyers will quickly see how these new terms and conditions will help!

1. Contingent on the sellers’ finding a replacement property – You know already that if a house for sale in Orange County today is priced right and staged to sell, you’re more than likely looking at multiple offers from qualified buyers.  Well, it’s no surprise that the seller is facing the same possibility trying to find their next Mission Viejo home.  So almost every Counter Offer to a buyer’s initial offer these days is asking for some time up front for the seller to identify and successfully bid on their next home before they start the time ticking on their sale.  So as a Mission Viejo home buyer, if you agree to grant the sellers 17 days to successfully land their next house, you are basically in a holding pattern until they can strike a deal on their next home.  I’d make sure you know where they are planning to move and what their price range is to help gauge how long it may take them to find it.  And if they don’t find anything that floats their boat – they can cancel your contract after the time has run out.  So would you stop home shopping during those critical 17 days?  I didn’t think so.
2. Seller’s option to rent back for up to 30, 45, 60 or 90 days – Some sellers these days would rather get their home sold and close escrow so that they can go out into the buying universe without any contingencies.  Meaning their money is in the bank and they can be competitive bidders.  Of course, they don’t want to move until they have purchased their next home, so they’ll ask the buyer to let them rent their house back during the time it takes them to wrap up their deal and schedule the moving truck.  Buyers be careful here – lenders who are loaning you money for your primary residence at preferred interest rates don’t like to see long rent backs, because then it looks like an income property, which has less favorable interest rates. Don’t shot your great deal in the foot.  FYI – rent backs can be done outside of escrow.  Ask you Realtor, she’ll know how to help you with this.
3. Removal of Appraisal Contingency – The proverbial knight in shining armor riding up on the white horse to save the sellers from any shortfall between the price the buyer agreed to pay and the appraised value.  Be careful here everybody.  Buyers in California have a number of so called “outs” that they can exercise during their contingency period – the appraisal contingency is just one.  Removing or eliminating this contingency does not wipe out any of the other reasons the buyer can give to justify cancelling the contract – regardless of the appraisal.

So that there you have the latest scoop on trending terms and conditions in a low inventory market.  Let’s see if this uptick in inventory is a fluke or a signal of a turn in the market.

I’m Leslie Eskildsen, the Realtor you see in the Orange County Register Sunday Real Estate section.

Your success is a phone call away.

Call me.  949-678-3373

Text ne. 949-678-3373

Email me.  Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com

Fill out this form:

Misssion Viejo Home Buyers Lean on New Terms and Conditions to be Successful is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

Take a Look at Using a Reverse Mortgage on Your Mission Viejo Home

As an official member of the Baby Boomer generation, which means I was born between 1946 and 1964 in the Post WWII Baby Boom according to the US Census Bureau, any talk about retirement strategies like using a Reverse Mortgage tends to catch my attention.  So when my broker announced we’d be having a meeting to learn about using a  Reverse Mortgage to buy or re-fi your Mission Viejo home, I cleared my calendar.  I know!  I know!  Using a Reverse Mortgage sounds like falling for the Snake Oil or Swamp Land in Florida fishy sales pitch.  But after I listened to the recent changes Congress has approved and how the program works, I’m a huge fan.  Will it work for everybody?  Heck no.  But for some of the 7,982 people who will turn 62 every single day for the next 17 years, using a Reverse Mortgage just might work wonders. Here are the top eleven things you need to know about using a Reverse Mortgage on your Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, or Casta Del Sol home.

1. Reverse Purchase is an FHA insured program to allow seniors to buy a primary residence using a Reverse Mortgage.
2. A Reverse Mortgage can also be used to re-finance a senior’s primary residence.
3. Anyone 62 years old or older is qualified to apply for a Reverse Mortgage.  The youngest person taking title to the property must be at least 62.
4. You never have to make a mortgage payment again.  Let me repeat that.  You never have to make a mortgage payment again.  As long as you keep the home as your primary residence.
5. You are still responsible to maintain the home, pay the property taxes, pay the home owner’s insurance, and pay for any Home Owners Association dues while you own the home.
6. You will never be responsible to pay more than the house is worth.  In other words, when it is time to sell the house, even if it is upside down and worth less than what you owe, you will never have to pay back more than the current market value of the home.  There’s no recourse.
7. If you sell the home and you or your heirs make more that what is owed to the bank, you get to keep the earned equity.  Tax Free.
8. There’s no prepayment penalty.  You are not required to pay the money back until you move out of the home or the last owner passes away.
9. The down payment requirement using a Reverse Mortgage to buy a home depends on your age at the time of purchase, interest rates, and the price of the home.  Sixty-two year olds pay the highest down payment – which today would be roughly 40% of the price of the home.
10. The interest accumulates and is added on to the amount of the mortgage.  Like negative amortization. You have a choice to pay this as you go, or not.  If it goes unpaid, it may accumulate over time and eat up any equity you may gain.
11. There are limits to the price of the house.  Current FHA max lending limit is $625,000.00.

How do you figure out if it will work for you?  Talk to your Realtor, your financial adviser, your therapist, your priest, your psychic, your cosmetic surgeon, your divorce mediator, and your tattoo artist.  Maybe even speak to your kids and grand kids. And once you apply for a Reverse Mortgage, you are required to have a consultation with a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Housing Counselor – which is typically a 45 minute meeting to make sure you’re making the right choice by using a Reverse Mortgage.

I’m Leslie Eskildsen.  Your Mission Viejo Real Estate expert.

Call me.  949-678-3373

Text me.  949-678-3373

Email me.  Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com

Your success is a phone call away.

And fill out this form:

Will a Using a Reverse Mortgage on Your Mission Viejo Home Work for You? is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

This search will give you more than just Casta Del Sol – in case there are some other great home options for you in Mission Viejo.

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 19. See more Real estate in the Mission Viejo Central community.
(all data current as of 5/22/2013)

1. $325,000 : 27511 Nivelada, Mission Viejo
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,500 sq ft

   Year built: 1980

   Parking spots: 4

   Days on market: 97

   Walk Score®: 42
2. $349,000 : 28126 Via Bonalde, Mission Viejo
   
   2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,112 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,614 sqft

   Year built: 1974

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 11

   Walk Score®: 28
3. $354,000 : 23282 Copante #87, Mission Viejo
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,178 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,000 sqft

   Year built: 1980

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 33

   Walk Score®: 48
4. $359,000 : 23264 Copante #80, Mission Viejo
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,452 sq ft

   Year built: 1980

   Parking spots: 3

   Days on market: 41

   Walk Score®: 40
5. $415,000 : 28011 Calle Casal, Mission Viejo
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,251 sq ft

   Lot size: 3,049 sqft

   Year built: 1974

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 28

   Walk Score®: 45

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Homes for Sale in Costa Del Sol Mission Viejo’s Premiere Gated 55+ Senior Community is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

What The Low Inventory of Houses for Sale in Mission Viejo Has Done to the Real Estate Market

Well, this low inventory of houses for sale in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Coto de Caza is getting really old.   And some very interesting new trends are emerging as a result of the low inventory of houses for sale in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Coto de Caza.  You know how you thought you had the latest and greatest in new technology, only to find out a new and vastly improved model is already available for a fraction of the previous cost?  We are facing some rapidly changing strategies when it comes to beating the competition for the low inventory of houses for sale in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Coto de Caza on the market.  Here are three of the newest trends because of the low inventory of houses for sale in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Coto de Caza you should know about.

1. Restricted Access – Many sellers today, no doubt often at the prompting of their Realtor, are limiting the showing period for their house.  Sort of like the way the clock would start ticking during every episode of “24” the seller’s start their showing clock the minute their listing hits the CRMLS system.  More and more home listings in today’s market have private comments that only agents can see that read something like this: “Showings only during Open House Saturday and Sunday between 11 and 4 PM.  All offers received by 5 PM on Sunday will be reviewed by the seller on Monday. No exceptions.”  That’s how sure the seller and his Realtor are that the house will sell over the weekend.  And if you are seriously interested in the home, you’ll meet their schedule instead of the other way around.
2. Pocket Listings – Many sellers today are giving their Realtor the chance to sell their home directly to a buyer they find – which is like keeping your house in their hip pocket.  The trend in this area is for the seller to allow the Realtor to hold a listing off of the CRMLS for a weekend or a whole week, perhaps, in an effort to flush out a buyer and put a deal together.  Make sure as a home seller you are comfortable with this arrangement!  Granted your Realtor will market the heck out of your house to their own buyer and investor database and through Open Houses and Craig’s List adds.  But just ask yourself this question – which do you think is the bigger pool of possible buyers for your house – the people your Realtor already knows or all of the potential buyers living on planted Earth who might be interested in your house?  This is a slippery slope, especially if you want to sell your house as quickly as possible and for as much money as possible.  Taking an offer early on and not letting all the buyers shopping for houses like yours on Realtor.com, Zillow.com, and Redfin.com  may lead to your leaving some money on the table.  It might save you some frustration and have a low impact on your day to day life – just make sure you consider the alternative. And make sure you have your agreement to hold your house off of the CRMLS in writing.
3. Buyers With Underwriting Approval – Lest you think all the new, hip trends are only for sellers, there are buyers coming up with new strategies as well.  There are some clever lenders working with equally clever Realtors who are taking the buyers file all the way through loan underwriting, a step usually not taken until a purchase contract has been negotiated and fully executed, for them to submit with their initial offer.  Imagine how much more attractive you as a buyer will be to a seller reviewing multiple offers if you have the backing of your lender 80% of the way toward full loan approval.  Priceless. And almost as good as cash.

I’m Leslie Eskildsen, Realtor.

DRE No. 01320915

Call me.  949-678-3373

Text me.  949-678-3373

Email me. Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com

Your success is a phone call away.

Fill out this form.

Got Mission Viejo House Buying or House Selling Strategy? is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

Call Me?  Text Me?  Email Me?  Facebook Message Me?  The Choices to Stay in Touch With Your Realtor are Endless!

Today, we live in an age of myriad communication choices to help us stay in touch – apps, devices, and platforms.  We’re all viscerally connected to our device(s) of choice – be it an IPhone, IPad, Droid, 3G, 4G, or Galaxy some other device.  Just so you know, when it comes to actually being in a transaction where you are buying or selling a house in Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, or Rancho Santa Margarita, California today, you’ll want to know early on what’s the best way to stay in touch with your Realtor, Lender, Escrow Officer, and Home Inspector.  These are the folks who’ll mean the most to you for the next four to six weeks of your life.  So, here’s a heads up about five things you need to keep in touch as you as you head into your next Mission Viejo real estate transaction using all the communication tools available to us today.

1. Texting – The average age of the people really working in the business as a Residential Real Estate Agent – aka your Realtor – is something like 61 – now don’t quote me on this – I’m just going by the look of the agents in my office.  Test the waters early on and see if your agent even knows how to text.  Then realize that she is out most of her day showing houses to buyers and talking to sellers about how to get the most money for their house.  We really do not stop and text in the middle of a home showing or a listing presentation to a potential client.  And I can only speak for myself on this point, but I do not text and drive.  And driving is a large part of my job.  You get where I’m going with this, right?
2. Emailing – Email means detail to most Realtors.  Most Realtors work tirelessly to get your transaction completed on time and within the parameters agreed upon in the contract you signed.  An email from your Realtor probably means you need to provide some specific and detailed information, review and sign something, or be aware of a new development.  Your detailed response will be the highlight of your Realtor’s day.  I’m smiling just thinking about getting a detailed response to a client email.
3. Voicemail – Please realize that if you call your Realtor and leave a voice mail, the more detailed you can be the better.  She called you for a reason or you called her with a question.  I’ve been actually brought to tears with only one bar on my cell service listening to a client’s voice mail and all I get is “It’s me returning your call.  Call me when you get this.”  Did you really not understand that I needed your specific answer to a specific question which I posed in the voice mail message I left you?
4. A Live Phone Call – When your Realtor calls you, call her back.  An actual phone call signifies that something really needs your attention or you need to have a real-time discussion about a complicated or emotionally-charged topic. No smiley face or LOL designation will suffice in this moment.
5. Meeting in Person – Most of your live face-to-face interactions will be with your Realtor.  The face of your entire buying or selling experience.  Ask all of your questions.  Present all of your problems and concerns.  Listen to her expert advice.  And rest assured she’ll text, email, and voicemail all the other people on your team to get the job done right.

Hey – I’m just trying to help you get a grip on your team and save you the frustration of unanswered messages.  Text.  Email. Or Voice mail.

Leslie Eskildsen, Realtor

949-678-3373

Lic#01320915

Call me.  949-678-3373

Text me.  949-678-3373

Email me.  Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com

Your success is a phone call away.  Really.

So call me then fill out this form:

How Do You Stay in Touch With Your Mission Viejo Realtor? is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

Three Mission Viejo Real Estate Must Do’s – After The Close of Escrow

There are three items you must do after the close of escrow on your Mission Viejo home.  These will give you peace of mind, will help you sleep better, and will make sure you don’t miss out on taking advantage of everything you are entitled to after the close of escrow.  Just read on and you’ll see why.

1. Re-Key your Mission Viejo, Coto de Caza, or Rancho Santa Margarita home.  I don’t care if you think I’m nagging you by bringing re-keying your home up again and again.  It is important for your safety.  Not re-keying your home is basically leaving an open invitation for everyone who ever had a key to your house to come on over and help themselves.  Don’t leave yourself and your family exposed to that possibility – no matter how remote the chances might be.  It’s cheap, quick, and easy.  No excuses.
2. This is really a two part task.  Part 1 of number 2 is to add the Home Warranty Company customer service contact phone number to your contacts on your phone.  File it under something you’ll remember like “Home Warranty Contact.”  Just a suggestion.  Always call the Home Warranty Company FIRST if anything should go wrong in your home.  At least check to see if it is covered!  Part 2 of number 2 is to add an appointment on your calendar on the 345^th day after your close of escrow.  Your Home Warranty Policy (assuming one was purchased) gives you coverage for one year.  Giving yourself a reminder a couple of weeks before your year is over will give you a little time to look around the house.  Jiggle and flush all the toilets, run the heat and the air conditioning no matter what the weather is doing outside your home, turn on the oven, all the burners on the stove, and look under every sink in case anything is dripping.  Then call the Home Warranty Company if anything needs servicing while you are still covered.
3. This is also a two part task.  Part 1 of number 3 is to add the Termite Company contact information to your contacts on your phone.  File it under something you’ll remember like “Termite Company.”   Part 2 is to give yourself two reminders on your calendar.  The first is pretty much like the Home Warranty Reminder.  In fact, put both reminders on the 345^th day after you close escrow.  Any wood repairs or other repairs done to the home by the termite company come with a state mandated one year warranty.  When that 345^th day comes, check to see that all the work still looks good.  Just in case there’s anything needing attention that is still under warranty.  Call the termite company and have them come take a look if you feel like anything is awry.  The second calendar reminder is for the 700^th day after you close escrow.  Put an appointment on your calendar to call the termite company to come out and re-inspect for active infestation.  If you house was tented or locally treated as a part of your escrow, that comes with a state mandated two year warranty.  Don’t wait until the last minute.  Give yourself a good month to make sure the termite people have time to come re-inspect and re-treat if necessary.

And here’s a little factoid you can drop the next time you need a conversation starter. According to my go-to pest inspector Brett Rockwell with Rockwell Pest Solutions  909-991-8447, it is extremely improbable any termites will be found two years after a house is fumigated, since it takes five years for the termites to create visible evidence for an inspector to find.

I’m Leslie Eskildsen.  Keeping it Real in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, and Laguna Niguel Real Estate.

Your success is a phone call away.

949-678-3373

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leslie@leslieeskildsen.com

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Three Things Every Mission Viejo Home Buyer Needs to Do After the Close of Escrow is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale

Stage to Sell – three little words that pack so much punch in Mission Viejo home sales

In any market, it’s critical to stage your Mission Viejo house when you are getting ready to sell.  Regardless of the interest rate on home loans, the price of homes in your neighborhood, or the number of homes on the market, you will always get better results when stage your house specifically to sell it as quickly as possible and for the most money possible.  Of course, we all have a visual image of what it looks like to stage a house to sell it – and it is usually a model home (which there are some new model homes popping up in many Orange County neighborhoods), something you remember seeing in Architectural Digest, on Downton Abbey, or one of the houses of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Let’s get down to the top two staging priorities for hopeful home sellers in today’s Orange County market.

1.       Clean and Tidy – the Foundation of a Successful Sale

Clean, dust, polish, vacuum, rake, sweep, power wash, mow and blow – use any or all of these techniques to make your home crystal clean.  Now it’s time to tidy up.  Put away everything.  Pack up the legos, books, crafts, greeting cards, collections, hobbies, bills, magazines, bowls, canisters, dog toys – look around your house an complete the list.  Take it down to the bare bones and make sure everything is sparkling clean and all your stuff is stored away.  Even if it fills up your garage.

2.       Emotional Appeal – The Bait.  The Trap.  The Lure To Bring The Buyers Begging For Your House

Color schemes are great place to start staging.  Pick a simple palette for each room or vignette.  If you have dish clothes, canisters, napkins, dishes and glasses in all colors of the rainbow, pick two complimentary colors for your kitchen display and box the rest up – you are moving, remember?  It doesn’t matter if the pieces your choose were in the extreme mark down bin at Target or from the last neighborhood garage sale, if they look good together, are clean and well organized, you’ll get that “wow” factor – that you paid attention to detail showed that buyer how beautiful your house can be.

Display only two or three items on your counter tops.  Just saying “displaying items” should put you in the mindset that you are staging your home for a specific purpose – to entice a qualified buyer to make an offer!  That applies to ALL counters – kitchen, bathrooms (yep, all of them), laundry room.  It even extends to the tops of buffets, sideboards, couch tables, dressers, bedside tables, and bookshelves. You should set all dining tables with matching plates and coordinating glasses.  When selecting items to display, your toaster oven with the aluminum foil wrapped around the insert-able tray is not one of the items you would choose to display on your kitchen counter.

Look at each and every room with a new vision.  Is your kitchen beckoning prospective home buyers to come on in and start dinner?  Better yet, does it look like dinner is ready to be put on the table?  Does your living room look like the lobby of a 5 star hotel or the sitting room of a penthouse suite?  Does your master bedroom look like the butler just plumped your pillows, turned down your covers and is there a designer chocolate on the pillow?  Does it look so inviting that you worry about coming home to find someone may actually be under the covers?  If you can say yes to most of these questions, you’re on the right track and if your home is priced right, expect an offer soon!

I’m Leslie Eskildsen.  Telling it straight in Orange County Real Estate.

Your success begins with a phone call. 949-678-3373

Call me.  949-678-3373

Text me. 949-678-3373

Email me.  Leslie@LeslieEskildsen.com

Fill out this form:

Stage Your Mission Viejo House to Sell – Even in a Seller’s Market is a post from: Mission Viejo Real Estate-Mission Viejo Homes For Sale