Part 1: Getting Pre-Approved. In this video I express the importance of getting pre-approved for your South Orange County home, before you start your home search. I’ve included a brief story of a client who is a chiropractor and wanted to look at property first, but as I explained how a pre-approval is very similar to taking X-Rays in his business, he understood. The pre-approval will give us a snapshot of how we should move forward in your home buying process. Click on the Video Archive tab to view this series.

Lake Mission Viejo is one of the fine gems of South Orange County. This man-made lake features beaches, boating, fishing, and other fun activities. To give you an idea of it’s size, you can fit 3 cruise liner ships end-to-end across the lake. This is a great amenity only for the residents of Mission Viejo and their guests. Every summer, the Lake is opened up once a month for free summer concerts. This year is no different. To kick off the Labor Day weekend, the Summer Concert Series continues with jazz greats such as Rick Braun and Richard Elliot. This concert will be accompanied by another event, “Taste of the Lake” where local restaurants come out to show off their specialties. For more information on this event, click here. Have a fun and very safe Labor Day weekend!

If you need to sell your home, investment property, or vacant land but the thought of having it opened up to the world for 3, 6, 9 months or even longer, then this program is the answer.

It’s called the ‘Sold in a Day Program,’ and it will change the way that homes are sold!

“The problem with traditional home sales,” says Mark Gundlach, creator of the Sold in a Day Program, “is that it’s very disruptive to home-sellers lives. They have to constantly accommodate showings at different times of the day, so the home must be presentable at all times. This could go on for months and there’s still no guarantee that the home will ever sell. It’s a huge hassle.”

Mark goes on to say, “In recent years buyers have changed the way they go about finding and purchasing homes, but nothing has been changed about the way home owners sell their property…until now.”

According to Mark Gundlach of First Team Real Estate, the Sold in a Day Program works for any property; “It doesn’t matter if it’s an entry-level condo, a $650,000 home, a tenant-occupied property or a multi-million dollar estate. All properties sell in One Day and they all sell for market value, or better. It even works for Short Sales and homes that never sold, (known as expired listings). When buyers compete, sellers win!

“There was a home in Mission Viejo that had been on the market for 122 days with almost no offers,” says Mark, “so I presented the Sold in a Day Program to the home owners to see if they would be interested.”

“We were really excited about the idea of selling our house in just one day,” says Michelle Vance of Mission Viejo. “We have a new baby, and the whole experience had been very frustrating, but we wanted to sell our home and buy a bigger one, so we said, why not try it?”

Michelle and her husband Braden spent the day at a friends house while Mark and his team conducted their Sold in a Day Program. When the couple returned home they found their home had received multiple offers with a few over their private reserve price. “We couldn’t believe that after months and months they actually sold it in One Day!” says Braden.

“And we were thrilled with the price!” adds Braden. “It was very close to the price we originally wanted for it, and we would definitely recommend the Sold in a Day program to anyone.”

“It’s the most efficient way to sell a property for the most money, in the shortest amount of time” says Mark, “and anyone considering selling a property needs to look at my program before they list their property in the traditional way.”

It was inspection day at my new sale in the Robinson Ranch area of Ranch Santa Margarita. After Mark Ingraffia of Ingraffia Home Inspection completed his assessment and walked my clients through the few minor issues of the home, I snapped this photo. Pictured here are my clients Eric & Natalie Johnson with their two children. Eric and Natalie’s parents also came by to see the home for the first time. It was a beautiful day, and a happy day for all.

via Jon Lansner (@jonlan), Lasner on Real Estate Blog

Perhaps one of the most dramatic Orange County home buying trends of the first half was a new king of market share of home sales by geography.

Our ZIP-by-ZIP analysis of Data Quick statistics shows that a year ago the county’s mid-section was the busiest geographic slice. Those ZIPs — from Orange to Fountain Valley to Westminster to Anaheim — accounted for 37% of all home sold in 2009’s first six months. Inland communities — north and south — each had roughly a quarter of the market. Beach towns took in the rest of the activity.

This year, the momentum has swung south. South inland ZIP codes added 1,528 sales — growth equal to 77% of countywide home buying growth in the period. Meanwhile, the county’s mid-section ZIPs lost 416 sales, or an 8% drop.

As a result, south inland ZIPs — from towns like touching to sea from Tustin to San Juan Capistrano — had 30% of the first half’s activity while mid-county slipped to 29.7% share. The other parts of the county were essentially stable, while north inland at 23% share fo sales and beach towns at 17%.

This move southward for real estate shoppers may account, in part, for why the countywide median price was up 10.5% in the first half vs. a year ago. Median selling price in mid-county communities was $352,500 while it ran $520,000 in south inland neighborhoods.

The trend to the south is even more pronounced recently.

For the 22 business days ending July 15 — freshest numbers from DataQuick — our math identified mid-county ZIPs — median selling price $356,500 — with 836 sales. That’s down 16% from a year ago and just 27% of all sales.

But South inland ZIPs — median selling price $507,750 — had 1,018 sales. That’s up 44% from a year ago and 33% of all Orange County activity.

All told, countywide sales were up 6% vs. a year ago as the median selling price was up 6% in the period.

Do you remember the game show “Name That Tune” from the 70′s and 80′s? Remember how each contestant would essentially try to out bid one another by saying, “I can name that tune in 5 notes.” Then it would whittle down to fewer and fewer notes until one contestant called the others bluff and said, “Name That Tune!” every once in a while there was one contestant that would throw it all down on the first bid by saying, “I can name that tune in 1 note.” Since there was nowhere to go from there, the competitor had nothing else to say except, “Go ahead buddy, name that tune!”

Well, I am that guy. For over a year now I have been meeting with home sellers and telling them, I can sell your home in One Day! Of course this is always met with resistance, sideways looks, and a bit of laughter. Every once in a while I’m told, “You’re Crazy! No one sells a home in one day!” Well, all I can do is prove it to them, and to you. My program works, and it works well. I want you to click the tab above that says, ‘Sold in a Day’ Program. Browse my site and listen to the testimonial. Then call me so I can explain exactly how my program works. I look forward to hearing from you!

Spacious home offers four bedrooms, three and one half baths, downstairs office/den, 3rd level bonus room area. New kitchen appliances, two car attached garage, formal living room with fireplace, formal dining room, family room.

Enjoy Resort style living in this Brand New Coastal Living Home built in the style reminiscent of Balboa Island & Beacon Bay. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths with 4 fireplaces. All the hallmarks of true Coastal Craftsman Style Architecture. Interior and exterior detailing captures a vintage feel with modern designer touches. Walker Zanger Tile, Portuguese Limestone, and Italian Marble throughout all bathrooms and Kitchen, distressed hardwood floors. Stainless Steel Viking Ranges complimented by top of the line appliance suites. Shaker Style custom built cabinetry, wainscot, Crown moldings, casing and baseboards. Two sided fireplaces in the Master suite and fireplaces on the deck and front patio make outdoor living a breeze. Wide Corner lot gives lot of space and light. Coastal Inspired Plumbing and Lighting Fixtures adorn this Brand New Shingled home complete with rooftop decks. Ideally located within walking distance to beaches, parks, restaurants and shops.