'Tis the Season for Wish Lists!

What kind of home would top your wish list? 

It largely depends on where you are in life.

Are you a first-time buyer with respectable DIY skills? An affordable fixer-upper could be just the ticket for your entry into homeownership.

Are you just starting out in life with a partner or spouse and plans to start a family? A property with spare bedrooms and a yard might be something to consider – or not. Some families prefer the convenience and amenities that come with living in a condominium complex.

If a yard is a must-have, then size and function are the next questions to ask yourself.  What do you like or want to do outside in your yard:  garden, entertain, exercise? Here’s a short list of possible requirements: 

• Covered or uncovered patio?
• Bar or outdoor refrigerator?
• Outdoor fireplace or BBQ hookup?
• Outdoor sound system or TV?
• Garden area?
• Pool, tennis court, basketball court, batting cage?
• Room for pets, horses, livestock?
• Outdoor storage for equipment (gardening, sports, supplies)?

Is a larger garage space for vehicles, a workshop, or storage on your list?

Maybe you are ready to move up to your dream home; or you simply want a house with more square footage to accommodate a growing family or extended family members.

What type of features do you want in your new home? Walk-in closets, upgraded/updated kitchen appliances and surfaces, fireplace, en suite bathrooms, large tub, large shower, updated fixtures and surfaces, insulated windows, updated ceiling texture, solid vs. hollow interior doors – there are countless options and details to consider. What’s really important is what meets your specific needs and appeals to you most!

On the other hand, are you looking to downsize? Maybe you travel often, or you’re entering retirement and want to reduce yard work and maintenance demands. Will you need a home with accessibility features such as ramps, wider doorways, easy-open door lever handles, or lower sinks and countertops?

Once you’ve asked yourself (and answered) these important questions, take your information to see a trusted real estate agent who will work hard to help you find and buy the perfect property to match your wish list!

Have you found a neighborhood you like but want more detailed information? Are there communities you’d like to compare? Try out my website Neighborhood & Schools tool here:  http://www.homesbynanette.com/pages/community-info

I’m a resident expert on Yorba Linda and north Orange County real estate – feel free to call me to discuss your new home wish list!

 Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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Homeowners: Conserve Water, Go Native!

California's state flower: Eschscholzia californica

Water conservation has become a way of life for California homeowners.  For the second consecutive year, the state has been under severe drought conditions, with no end in sight. One of the conservation areas homeowners can dramatically control is the use of landscape water.  As fall comes to a close, why not swap out some of your water-thirsty landscape plants with drought-tolerant specimens native to southern California?

Compared to the usual plant choices at the local home center nursery, California natives require much less water, no additional fertilizer, and demand far less effort to maintain. Once established, they can survive and thrive on natural rainfall, are resistant to pests and disease, and in the long run, save homeowners time and money.  

Native plants offer an abundance of texture and color in the landscape. Many specimens offer dramatic displays that can also enhance your property’s curb appeal.  As a bonus, they provide a source of shelter and food for neighborhood birds and pollinators like honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

These plants typically go dormant during hot summer months when they require very little water, if any. They are best planted in late fall to early winter when soil temperatures have cooled and the plants are poised to enter their growth season after Orange County winter rains.

  

Some excellent varieties for Orange County homes are:

• California lilac (ceanothus):  This comes in a wide range of growth habits from low and spreading to tall and tree-like. The flower cone comes in colors ranging from white to deep purple. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and honeybees
• California poppy:  The state flower; grows easily from seed scattered widely in the fall. It has semi-annual features in that it will die back after blooming in low- to no-water areas, but can remain evergreen if given regular water.
• Flannel bush:  Featuring dramatic bright yellow-orange blooms, this plant can be trained to grow as an espalier. Grows best in poor, unamended soil. After first season, do NOT water!
• Lupine:  This annual flower features tall flower spikes in a range of blues and purples and is often found in sunny open areas growing with California poppies. The flowers attract all types of pollinators and the seeds are a food source for some birds.
• Matilija poppy:  Dubbed the “fried egg” flower because of its large white petals and bright orange center, this tall plant does best in full sun with room to spread. It does not tolerate summer water.
• Mexican evening primrose:  A low-growing flower with pale pink, fruity smelling blooms. Good for hillsides in full sun and does well with low water.
• Penstemon:  This low growing plant features beautiful flower spikes, ranging  from pinks and corals to reds and purples. It is adapted to poor, dry soil, preferring full sun, but can tolerate some shade during the day. A favorite of hummingbirds.
• Purple needle grass: California’s state grass, this perennial grows in a medium upright bunch and is extremely drought tolerant. Its feathery purple tips move gracefully in the breeze and provide nesting material for birds.
• Sage:  This aromatic plant does well in Orange County gardens. Purple to white flower spikes attract hummingbirds, honeybees and butterflies. Leaves can be used in food recipes. Does well with low water and unfertilized soil.
• Toyon: A large bush; makes an excellent background screen or can be pruned as a small tree. Produces white flowers in summer and bright red berries in fall; can be used in cut floral arrangements. Flowers and berries attract a wide range of birds and beneficial insects.

Not sure which California native plants to choose for your home?  A number of local botanical gardens, arboretums and organizations offer a chance to see plantings of native specimens, while offering native gardening advice and even periodic plant sales:

Fullerton Arboretum – Fullerton

UCI Arboretum – Irvine

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden – Claremont

Theodore Payne Foundation – Sun Valley

Already know what you want? Here is a directory link for native plant retailers in Orange County and points beyond, provided by the Metropolitan Water District :

http://www.bewaterwise.com/retailers.html#Anchor-Orange-47857

Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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Haunted by real estate's scary past? Holiday house hunters are out there!

The housing market has scared off scores of potential buyers and sellers over the past few years; and understandably so. Ghastly headlines about foreclosures, short sales, and job losses in a monstrously bad economy were enough to make even the most seasoned professional turn pale as a ghost.

In my experience though, there are encouraging signs everywhere for real estate, especially here in Orange County. For September 2013, sales are up nearly 9%, with a median price increase of over 22% compared to last year according to market analyst Dataquick.¹

More good news to ease your jitters:  Last week Dataquick reported that “the number of California homeowners entering the foreclosure process fell last quarter [Q3 2013] to the second-lowest level in seven and a half years.” The improvement is attributed to a combination of stronger job market, price appreciation, and government programs designed to help homeowners avoid defaulting on their loans.²

So now maybe your pulse has slowed, your knees have stopped knocking, but you’re thinking, “The market may be in better shape, but the holidays are nearly here. Who could possibly try to sell a house now?!”

Don't be afraid! People who are house hunting at the end of the year can usually be regarded as serious buyers. After all, it’s not the most convenient time to be looking for a house, so these people often have strong reasons for being in the market, whether they are related to tax issues, job relocation, or another pressing motivator. 

Another factor to consider: The holiday season is a naturally festive time of year, and if you decorate your home wisely, you can create a magnified appeal to motivated buyers. Plus, inventory of available properties does tend to be lower at year end, which means your home has an even better opportunity of being considered by those serious buyers.

Is this the right time to sell your home?  It very well could be!  Feel free to call me for an expert opinion on Yorba Linda or any other Orange County neighborhoods. 

¹ Dataquick http://dqnews.com/Articles/2013/News/California/Southern-CA/RRSCA131016.aspx

² Dataquick http://dqnews.com/Articles/2013/News/California/CA-Foreclosures/RRFor131022.aspx

Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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Selling or Staying? The Importance of Keeping Up with Home Repairs

Fall is here! Whether you’re getting ready to sell your property or just eager to give your home a tune up, this is the perfect time to tend to house repairs before California’s winter rains arrive.

Is your home in good repair for winter weather?

Make sure your roof is in good repair. The condition of the roof is an important factor in the sale of a home. It’s especially important in the middle of a rainstorm! A neglected roof usually waits for bad weather to deliver the soggy news that something is wrong. By then, it’s too late to avoid additional damage to the ceiling, walls, floors, furniture, or anything else in the path of the leak.  Examine your roof now while the weather is good -- look for signs of wear, damage, or any missing tiles or shingles. Some repairs are simple enough for the average homeowner to fix, but if in doubt, consult with a licensed roofing contractor.

Clear rain gutters. Throughout the year rain gutters collect more than just water:  Leaves, dirt, bird nests and other debris can jam the channel and block the flow of water. The ensuing backflow during a downpour can create a muddy mess in the very areas the gutter was meant to protect. To clear gutters, carefully climb on a ladder and use gloves to remove any large pieces of litter. Then use the garden hose to gently flush finer particles out and down the downspout. If you find that a large amount of debris collects in your rain gutters every year, specialized gutter screens from your local hardware store can be installed to keep the channels clear while allowing water to flow through.

Spruce up with paint!  Painting your home’s exterior can impress potential buyers, and it can also help protect against the damaging effects of weather. Before starting an exterior painting project, there are several preparatory steps you need to take: 

• Repair any exterior cracks. Check your stucco, masonry or siding material for large cracks and fill these with the appropriate repair materials to keep out water and pests.
• Check windows and doors. Replace or repair any gaps in caulking around windows.  Check the weather stripping on exterior doors and windows for water or air leaks and replace as necessary.
• Check for pests. Look along your foundation for signs of subterranean termites, and examine any exterior wood trim for termite damage. Small infestations may be treatable with products available from your local hardware store. But for larger or hard-to-reach locations, consult a professional pest control company.

Examine your furnace. The unit’s air filter should be replaced (or cleaned if reusable). If the pilot light is turned off during the summer, you can schedule a free visit from the Southern California Gas Company to have it relit and the furnace inspected.

Check the garden. It’s no longer nesting season for birds, so it’s safe to trim hedges and prune or thin trees. Prospective buyers will appreciate a neat and tidy landscape; but even if it’s for your own benefit, it’s especially important to maintain any trees that might sustain or even cause property damage due to broken limbs during high winds or rainstorms. Call a professional arborist if you are unsure about tackling this task.

Pay attention to home maintenance elements if you plan to sell, and your property will stand out with greater appeal to buyers.  Be diligent in keeping up with repairs, and your home will always be a place of comfort and respite from the outside world!

Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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THE STATE OF REAL ESTATE: You Haven’t Missed The Boat!

The national average for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage crept up by 0.27% in the past month, causing home buyers to worry that they may have “missed the boat” and their opportunity to act on the market. Add to this the recent run up in home prices in some areas due to investor activity and it’s easy to understand the anxiety. 

The State of Real Estate: You haven't missed the boat!

It’s true:  investors have helped drive up the price of real estate in many parts of the country where distressed homeowners were forced into short sale or foreclosure situations. Bidding wars on bargain properties helped push prices up and, when combined with a cash offer, out of the reach of most lender-financed buyers.

Some analysts believe the investment property buying spree is beginning to level off, making it easier for traditional home buyers to compete for winning bids on their property of choice.

Reuters’ Margaret Chadbourn writes that investors are pulling back from the housing market as mortgage rates creep up in anticipation of the Federal Reserve scaling back on stimulus funding that came in response to the economic crisis that began in 2007.¹

Prices aside, it’s important to remember that even with the recent modest increases, mortgage rates are still in historically low territory.

Reporting on an investor conference in New York this week, Bloomberg’s Dakin Campbell shared the assertion of Wells Fargo CFO, Tim Sloan:

“We don’t believe that the recent increases in mortgage rates are going to in any way, shape or form snuff out the housing recovery. When you look at any sort of statistics in the demographics in terms of household creation as well as household affordability, they are still very attractive and should drive a continued recovery in the housing business.”²

The news is good for sellers. In Yorba Linda, for example, prices have climbed by double digits in every home size category compared with the same period in 2012.  Yet from a buyer’s standpoint, the average price for a 3-bedroom home in Yorba Linda has only increased 1% over 2008 levels. Also good news! ³

This may be one of those rare moments in real estate history where market conditions in areas like Yorba Linda are great on both sides of the deal!

Are you interested in moving to Yorba Linda and ready to look for a home in the area? Or are you a property owner and feel that the time is right for you to sell? Whatever your real estate goals, give me a call to schedule a free consultation about your options in this dynamic market.

¹Reuters

²Bloomberg

³Trulia

Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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LABOR DAY WEEKEND: Don’t Take a Home Security Holiday!

In just a few days we’ll pause to celebrate one of the nation’s oldest holidays, established 119 years ago as a federal day of observance to honor the economic and social contributions of the American worker.

Don't give home security a vacation!

Today, Labor Day is popularly celebrated as a farewell to summer, marked by picnics, backyard barbecues, or last-minute getaways for families on the verge of a new school year. For retailers it’s one of the biggest sale weekends of the year, with many of their workers clocking in that day, and some even working longer hours. Ironic, isn’t it?

If you’re one of the millions planning to head out for a 3-day escape from the cares of the work week, make sure you take some simple steps to protect your home and property while you’re away.

1. Lock It Up:  You might think it goes without saying, but many people forget to check that their windows and doors are locked before leaving home.  

2. Tell Someone:  Tell your next-door neighbor to be aware of unfamiliar people or vehicles parked at your house. Even better, ask a neighbor to park one of their cars in your driveway while you’re away to give the impression someone is home.

Another important and often overlooked security measure is to notify your local law enforcement agency that you will be away, as well as who is allowed to be on your property during your absence. Many police departments will conduct free vacation checks on households if advance notice is given. Check your local agency’s website for program information.

3. Set Your Alarm:  Do you have a home security alarm? It’s useless unless it’s activated, so be sure to set it before leaving! Also, notify the service provider that you’ll be away, and give them a local emergency contact in your absence.

4. Leave a Light On:  Don’t broadcast the fact of your absence to intruders by leaving all your lights off at night. Light timers are an inexpensive intruder deterrent. Some units even come with multiple settings to turn on lights, radios, or televisions at different intervals at night. You can find timers at your local home improvement store.

5. Fido, STAY!  Have a dog? Consider leaving Fido home and ask a neighbor to look in on him morning and evening while you’re away. Barking dogs are a big deterrent to burglars. And so is the presence of a caretaker a couple times a day.

6. STOP the Presses:  Stop delivery of your newspaper for the days you are gone, or ask a neighbor to collect them promptly each morning. The same goes for your mail or any other regular deliveries that may fall on a day you’re away, including trash collection. Many of these services can be temporarily suspended via convenient online request forms.

7. Avoid “Dead” Giveaways:  A brown, dried-out lawn or dying outdoor potted plants are another sign that nobody is home to care for them. Make sure your landscape sprinklers are hooked up to an automatic timer, or ask a trusted neighbor or hired local teen to tend to your outdoor plants while you’re gone.

Taking these simple, inexpensive security precautions while you are away will give you one less thing to worry about, and many more hours of relaxation and recreation on your Labor Day weekend trip! 

Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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Back To School: A Lesson In Property Values

With just a few weeks to go before the “unofficial” end to summer, many families are already thinking about the new school year ahead. (Okay, so maybe just mom and dad are thinking about it.)

It's back-to-school time soon!

It’s time to evaluate the kids’ wardrobes, all the while marveling at how much they’ve grown over the summer. It’s time to assess the school supply inventory and hit the back-to-school sales. And it’s time to start thinking about getting the family back into a school-year routine.

School is such a huge part of family life, it’s no wonder that quality of schools is high on the list of requirements for families looking for a new place to call home.  Fortunately for anyone considering Yorba Linda for their new residence, schools also top the list of the city’s best features.

Great Schools = Great Neighborhoods

It’s no accident that Yorba Linda schools are high caliber. Residents declared their commitment to education when they passed Measures A and Y in 2002 and 2008, respectively. These bond funding programs have allowed the award-winning Placentia-Yorba Linda School District to add new schools and facilities, and bring much-needed modernization to existing campuses. As a result, we offer world-class educational resources and facilities for families who live in the area.

During summer 2013, PYLUSD has continued work on fulfillment of its Measure A goals:  Improvements and modernization at six schools, as well as the continued construction of the district’s new Performing Arts Center on the campus of El Dorado High School.

Having so many great schools also means Yorba Linda homeowners enjoy higher and more stable property values relative to neighboring towns. The June 2013 median home price in Yorba Linda was $717,000, while neighboring communities of Anaheim Hills, Brea and Placentia were $618,300, $551,700 and $535,400 respectively, for the same period.¹ 

Thinking of moving here? Interested in viewing some properties? Give me a call at (714) 924-0781. I’d love to show you around this great town I call home!

¹ Zillow.com

Nanette Shapiro

(714) 924-0781

nanette.shapiro4@gmail.com

www.homesbynanette.com

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