Hot tip:  Don’t cheap out on lighting

A well-lit interior space takes care and consideration.  Too often, lighting design is overlooked and 4 can lights get cut into a ceiling and the lighting box is checked!   I’ve done the same, but have since come to appreciate how a well-balanced lighting scheme can change everything.  Depending on the room’s use and size, a good lighting design will blend accent lighting, task lighting, and ambient lighting in varying degrees.  The ability to direct and dim the light is a big plus, and don’t forget to research light temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin!  Again, depending on whether you’re relaxing or working in the space, you may want to explore warmer temperatures (2700K rather than 3000K or more) the less…

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  • "Reluctant Landlords" selling rental properties they never expected to hold.
  • Buyers have 10% more buying power at today's 6% rates vs. 7% last year
  • Inventory is slowly unlocking:  move-up buyers returning to the market.

 With interest rates bouncing a little below 6% this week, I'm pointing out to my prospective home buyers that this translates into 10% more home purchasing power compared to the 7% rates we had a year ago. Sure, it's not the 3-4% rates of the early 2020s, but those are in the past, and realistically the likelihood of ever getting there again is low.  But, 5% is realistic, and some buyers are making the choice to buy at around 6% with the hope (nothing's guaranteed!) that they will be able to refinance to 5% or less in the…

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  • Buyers and refinancing homeowners are seeing mid 5% rates for those willing to lock for 5 or 7 years.
  • List price is more important than ever.  Over-priced homes eventually sell for less.
  • Landlords:  you have to supply a fridge now!

As 2026 gets off to a crazy start on the national and international level, our little Real Estate microcosm continues to chug along with no wild swings.  Buyers and those homeowners who wish to refinance are seeing rates in the mid 5% range under certain circumstances - most importantly a willingness to lock for 5 or 7 years with an ARM.  Conventional wisdom suggests rates will slowly creep down allowing both groups a later opportunity to lock in a 30 year rate, if desired.  

Homeowners who plan to sell in…

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  • Fed lowers their rate another .25% while 30 year mortgage rates continue to hover in the low 6% range.
  • Most economists are predicting big increase in the NUMBER of home sales with small or no gain in sales PRICES.
  • Rising incomes could finally offset price increases and give buyers some affordability relief.

Looking back over 2025, Real Estate news was dominated by the affordability crisis nationwide.  Low inventory issues have caused prices to rise steeply since the beginning of the pandemic.  While many homeowners hunker down with their 3% or 4% interest rates, home sellers have mostly been those electing to leave the state and those with a major life event (divorce or death of a homeowner being two of the biggest).  Move-up buyers, those…

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  • Fed drops their rate .25%, but mortgage rates increase a little and hover around 6%.
  • Great opportunities for buyers as inventory increases and some sellers MUST sell.
  • Off-market opportunities exist.  Call me with your wish list!
In past musings, we’ve covered home preparation for sale, such as fixing a roof leak (obviously!), touching up paint and flooring, and the famous “de-cluttering”.  Once a home is vacant, in today’s market, the most important final preparation step is Staging!  In case this term is new to you, staging is simply renting and placing furniture from a design-savvy company for the duration of the home sale.  Staging covers up small imperfections in a home almost magically.  If the flooring is old, or the kitchen…

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2025 Costa Mesa's Freedom Homes in Canyon Park Home Sales & My Outlook for 2026 

Market value for a standard three bedroom, one bathroom "Freedom Home" with few to no upgrades jumped above $1,200,000 during 2025.  I was honored to sell 2024 Continental for its 99 year old original owner!  Preferring an off-market transaction, but not leaving money on the table, the seller's family asked if I could present them with a fair market value offer without the hassle of full preparation and open houses.  I had a list of 5 buyers to call, and the first group pounced on the opportunity.  Selling at $1.25m, with a small reduction to $1,225,000 due to discovered issues during inspections, this closed sale let me know where the entry level currently was in the…

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Preparation is key for sellers to have a successful outcome in today's Real Estate market.  Sellers (and their listing agents) have been spoiled over the past few years with inventory levels that are so low that there are plenty buyers for every home, no matter its condition or location.  As Orange County inventory creeps back (up 21% over last year, but still a whopping 41% below pre-pandemic "normal" levels), buyers have more choice.  In last month's post, I talked about getting the initial list price spot on, and these days the home's condition is proving to be equally important.  Sure, there's a buyer for every home's condition, and every sale is technically "as-is" by the terms of the contract, but when I meet with sellers, I point out ways they…

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Although the Fed doesn't directly control mortgage rates, many economic indicators helped to push mortgage rates down before the Fed made their .25% cut this past week.  As they did before, mortgage rates actually ticked up a little after the Fed lowered their rates, but with rates staying "lower for longer", as we've been waiting for, my clients are consistently seeing rates in the low 6s, and even dipping into the high 5s in recent days.   

My conversations often revolve around timing.  Sellers ask if they should wait until the new year to list when rates may have dipped further, while buyers toy with trying to time the rate movements and catch some magical 30 year rate they think they'll keep for the full 30 years.  Most buyers, however, will…

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In my business, I see firsthand the estate planning benefits of having a family Trust. Like many, I put this off for years, so I’m here to help make it simpler and more affordable! On September 10th, at my Huntington Beach office, I’m hosting a FREE Trust Seminar with a local Trust Attorney Sarah Rinelli, Esq., who’ll walk us through the benefits of having a Trust and the potential pitfalls of not having one.


Plus, participants will have to option to purchase a Family Trust at a 50% discount after the presentation (No obligation to purchase!).   


See the QR code at the bottom of this post to RSVP, and call or text me anytime with any questions!

p.s.  If you're reading this after this event has passed, look out for the next one!  I plan to…

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Buyers have been spooked by broader market volatility this year, so over-priced homes are sitting on the market. Buyers aren’t blindly offering way over list price just to get their foot in the door, and I’m seeing fewer offers even on accurately-priced homes.  I see this as a great buying opportunity while many buyers have stepped back or jumped back on the fence.  Interest rates are hovering in the mid-6% range, and lower in certain situations.

For sellers, it’s more important than ever to price your home correctly. Homes priced “aspirationally” often sit and ultimately sell for less—or sometimes don’t sell at all.  Many buyers and sellers are now considering off-market opportunities; three of my sales this year never hit the market, yet both parties…

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