“I am writing to thank you for your expeditious and conscientious assistance during our search for a suitable home for my dad in Laguna Woods. Your professionalism and extensive knowledge of the community made the entire process efficient, informative and truly enjoyable. I was very impressed, as I sat in the backseat (literally) and watched you ‘determine’ the evolving criteria from my father and then effectively eliminated properties that were not a suitable match. I really appreciate your diligent work, research, always preparedness and great attitude throughout. I do think we helped my dad choose an excellent home and he seems much more settled and comfortable now.”

- Doyle White (Buyer Client)

“Root canal or commissioned salesperson? Personally, I’d prefer the former, but a recent home selling experience with a Leisure World real estate agent may have altered my outlook. Not one for giving compliments, I must admit the sales experience, after a rough beginning, turned out to be a pleasant surprise.   

The family recently had to sell my mother’s home, so I contacted the agent who originally sold my mother the house. No reply to either phone calls nor email. Nice…professional, I like that. So I contacted a relative of the “agent too busy to return phone calls” and she, most graciously I might add, went over to the house and reported amongst other negative comments, that the house was located in a noisy area, too close to Avenida Sevilla. Funny, I don’t remember being told that when we purchased the place from the “busy” agent.

I then asked my sister to search the web for another agent in the Leisure World area and suggest one. She found http://www.lagunawoodsre.com, so I made contact and knew immediately I was dealing with a professional real estate agent and not some retired resident of Leisure World who plies the real estate trade by day, solely to relieve boredom.

The agent, Mr. Pat McNamee of Century 21 Rainbow Realty, was informed the house was a “short sale” (a house sale for less than the mortgage amount with lender approval). I fully expected him to hang up when I said this as most agents seem to shy away from this type of sale, but he said “OK, let’s do it”. And he did. He got together all the individuals/organizations required to proceed with a short sale (mortgage lender, short sale specialization firm, PCM representatives and the family Trust attorney), found a buyer within one week of listing and closed the home in 30 days and on schedule. How many Leisure World agents would be able to accomplish this? Our family actually went through five agents before finding Mr. McNamee so we consider ourselves lucky. 

Should anyone be interested in a real estate professional whose minimum efforts equate to 110%, then you now know how to contact same.

Oh, pardon me, I neglected to state that Mr. McNamee accomplished all of this from 8,000 miles away. You see, I live in Asia.”

 - Dennis Scantlin (Home Seller Client)

Pampanga, Philippines

This converted Seville style home has a pleasant, private outlook fabulously upgraded for your comfort. Dual pane windows and new 3 outlet Mitsubishi heat/ air system. Kitchen has been transformed into a modern chef s retreat: New cabinets with granite counter tops, travertine flooring, upgraded large capacity GE profile refrigerator and newer dishwasher. Kitchen also features canned lighting and crown molding.

Dramatic vaulted living room features bull-nose corners, crown molding, newer base molding, two-tone paint, top windows frosted for privacy, and built-in Sony 4 speaker audio system. A modern Pony wall leads the way up to large loft overlooking living room. Relax after a hard day in your own private dry sauna! Italian inspired archway leads into Downstairs bedroom w/ Murphy bed. Master bath features skylight and upgraded cabinetry.

Come home to lush, upgraded exterior landscaping with dramatic landscape lighting! Discover Laguna Woods Village, your retirement paradise!

Directions From El Toro Road, enter Gate 1 and go to first stop sign. Make RIGHT at first stop sign (Calle Aragon) and then first LEFT into CDS 28.

Contact Patrick McNamee at Century 21 Rainbow Realty, 949-293-7814 – http://www.leisureworldre.com

Let’s take a look at what is outside the “back door” of Laguna Woods Village.  What is within a 5-10-20 minute drive of the Village?  How about these locations!  Let’s take a look:

Shopping – Laguna Hills Mall is right outside the gates of the Village (0.5 miles) and is anchored by Macy’s, JC Penny’s and Nordstrom Rack.  It also hosts more than 100 specialty stores.  Markets are located at most major corners surrounding the village.  Von’s and Stater Bro’s are located at the corner of El Toro and Moulton Parkway.  Mother’s Market is located at the corner of El Toro and Paseo de Valencia.  Home Depot is located 0.5 miles away near the corner of Moulton and El Toro.  Costco is located 3.22 miles away in Laguna Niguel, Trader Joe’s is located behind the mall on Carlota, and Walmart is located 3.49 miles away on Alicia Parkway.

Hospital and doctors – Saddleback Medical Center, a world class hospital, is located 0.5 miles away next to the Mall on Paseo de Valencia.  Over 100 doctors are located on Paseo de Valencia representing every major branch of medical service.

Beaches – Laguna Beach is 8 miles away and Newport Beach is located only 11 miles away (Take the 73 Toll Road to get to Newport).  Let’s not talk about all the great restaurants located in these towns!  There are too many world class restaurants to even mention.  While in Laguna Beach, visit the Sawdust festival during the summer and while in Newport Beach, why not go shopping at the world famous Fashion Island?  Roger’s Gardens is also an internationally know nursery located right next to Fashion Island.

Restaurants – You will have to discover these on your own.  I could fill an entire blog post covering all of these.  There are over 50 located within a 1 mile radius of Laguna Woods Village.  Laguna Beach and Newport Beach have another 50 each.  I would say 200 restaurants are located within 10 miles of Laguna Woods Village.

Airport – John Wayne Airport is located only 8 miles away up the 405 freeway or only 7 miles away via the 73 Toll Road.

Points of interest – Mission at San Juan Capistrano is located south of the Village and is only 12 miles away, La Jolla is south on the 5 freeway about 45 miles away, San Diego is another 5 miles south of La Jolla.  How about taking the grand kids to Disneyland?  You’ll be a hero and get there in less than 25 minutes since it is located only 22 miles from Laguna Woods.  Have friends in Los Angeles or want to visit some of the world class museums and points of interest located there?  It is located less than 1 hour north of the village, via the 405 or 5 freeway.

Laguna Woods Village is indeed in the “middle of it all” but still peaceful and quite behind the guarded gates of this centrally located world class “Senior Resort Community.”

1.) General handyman – Jerry McFadden is my main “go to” man…  949-768-5335
 
2.) Carpentry – Counters – Countertops – Raise kitchen counter tops – “Doc Stevens” – 949-458-8604
 
3.) Flooring – Any and all – Bill Hale at Finer Floors – 949-380-1297
 
4.) Electric – Jim Coutts & Co. – 949-494-1898
 
5.) Plumbing – add dishwasher – Add Washer/ Dryer – All Star Plumbing – 949-470-0072
 
6.) Painting – Steve Peek Painting – 949-279-5799 or Juan Kim 714-624-9510

7.) Cabinets – Kitchen and Bath – Reborn Cabinets is a good company: 714-630-2220
http://www.reborncabinets.com/

8.) Tile Installation – Robert Ford: 949-510-1608 or Peter Stapper: 949-458-0885
 
9.) AC and Heating – Adding a Heat Pump in the living room – Dicksons Air Con. & Heating – Doug Campbell – 800-999-9038
 
10.) Bath – tub – shower guy – bathtub re-glazing – shower enclosures, etc. – Andy Costello – 949-380-8787

11.) Trudell Moving and Storage – Laura Trudell (or Elizabeth) – 714-843-6466

12.) Scrape ceiling – South County Drywall – Dana Tichenor – 714-235-5682, ofc. 949-679-4411

13.) Complete Kitchen remodel – A Plus Kitchen and Bath – Roger Mangrum – 949-232-8551, ofc. 949-458-2108

14.) House Cleaning – major or minor – Ruben Guzman Cleaning Service – 949-275-4732
 
Complete home remodeling Contractors:

15.) Coppola Construction – Rob Coppola – 949-282-9881
 
16.) Bernritter Construction – Steve Bernritter – 949-244-7788
 
17.) Pulaski and Sons – Kobi Pulaski – 949-233-4338
 
18.) Pulaski Construction and management – Jon Pulaski – 714-233-4338

In addition, the governmental structure of Laguna Woods Village currently includes three housing corporations and the Golden Rain Foundation (GRF). Each owner in Laguna Woods Village is a member of one housing corporation and the GRF.  Between the GRF and the Housing Mutual’s, Laguna Woods Village has over $20 Million in reserves so we have a very fiscally responsible community.

The housing corporations are responsible for those things directly related to housing and the adjacent land. 

The GRF is responsible for directing the operation of all “community” facilities such as the bus system, security, clubhouses, golf courses, stables, lawn bowling, etc.

Each of the Corporations contracts with Professional Community Management (PCM), a property management firm, to manage their respective area of responsibility. 

The three Housing Mutuals are as follows:

Cooperative:  United Laguna Hills Mutual  – 6,323 owners
Condominium:  Third Laguna Hills Mutual  – 6,102 owners
Rossmoor Towers: Laguna Woods Mutual Fifty  – 311 owners

Each Mutual has a board of directors composed of residents elected by popular ballot of their peers. The Golden Rain Foundation is elected by the Directors of the three mutuals to manage, control and run the community facilities.  In addition to the boards of directors, some 26 advisory committees exist to assist in the complex job of managing such a large community.

If you would like any further information about Laguna Woods Village, please contact me, Patrick McNamee of Century 21 Rainbow, via my web site: www.Leisureworldre.com

Also out this week was the sales report for September.  30 condos sold in Laguna Woods Village for an average purchase price of $240,000.  839 Condos sold in all of Orange County last month for a median  purchase price of $300,000.  Once again, Laguna Woods Village comes in almost 1/3rd less in price on the “buy” side than any other condo in Orange County.  BUT, prices are rising, especially the condos on the low end of the market.  Average days on market has gone down to 102 days, a little more than 3 months on the market for the average listing…  That is down from 150 average days on market 3 months ago.  So we are seeing a trend develop!  WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.  I will put that in caps because I really believe it!  Inventory is going down and there is pent up demand to purchase – at least in Laguna Woods Village – remember, Real Estate is very local, and what is happening here might not be happening everywhere…  If you would like to purchase a home in Laguna Woods Village, call Patrick McNamee at 949-293-7814 or visit his web site at: www.leisureworldre.com

Sure, more people on the Web are hunting for homes in O.C. more than before, but how does it stack up to the nation’s other real estate markets?

Though 58.9% seems like a nice improvement, the Las Vegas housing market enjoyed a 140.4% increase in online search activity.

O.C. falls far behind in 113th place; L.A. takes 89th place with a 68.3% increase in searches over last year.  So people are looking but that has not turned into widespread buying yet.  Currently there are 379 homes for sale in Laguna Woods Village and sales are down 22% from the sales in the same month as last year! 

O.C. housing is 6th least affordable in U.S.

While some folks cheer recently rising home prices, there is a price to pay: Orange County is a very challenging place to pay for a home!

O.C. was the 6th “least affordable” housing market in the nation in the second quarter. That’s according to economists at the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo Bank. This group measures local real estate and economic conditions to arrive at a measure showing what percent of new and existing homes recently sold were so-called “affordable” to a representative household income in that town.

BUT LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE IS AFFORDABLE!  We are the one ray of hope in a sea of expensive homes…  We are ranked in the top 10% in the nation for affordability with an average sales price of $210,000.  This figure is down 19% from the same month last year.

If you would like more information about Laguna Woods Village, check out my web site: www.leisureworldre.com or Call or email me today to find out more about how you can get in on “ground floor” in Laguna Woods Village.  Prices can go nowhere else but up from here~!

This is because the death of the “Greatest Generation” (those people 75 + in age) and the transition to the next major generation, the “Baby Boomers”!  The Greatest Generation is dying off and the Baby Boomer generation has yet to keep up with supply and demand…  We are predicting that with the “Graying of the Baby Boomers” and their retirement, over the next 14 years, prices in the village will double over the next 7 years.  That would be the mid-point of this retirement boom.  To do the math, we are talking about 2015 prices will DOUBLE in Laguna Woods Village, one the largest alive retirement communities in Southern California!

So if you are thinking of retiring, Laguna Woods Village is a great place to retire to: 7 clubhouses, 5 swimming pools, 27 hole championship golf (only $8 a round for residents!) – It is a gate guarded community with patrol, there is FREE bus service for all residents, and over 200 clubs to join!  Laguna Woods Village is truly a retirement resort community…  Check out my web site for more information about Laguna Woods Village, formerly known as Leisure World: www.leisureworldre.com

Have you put in offers on bank owned foreclosures or short sales with other agents and NEVER GET THE PROPERTY? I will teach you how to buy foreclosures, and furthermore, we will be successful in purchasing a foreclosure you can use for investment purposes…

Now is the New Low

Yes, you heard me right.  Prices are at their lowest they will ever be RIGHT NOW!  How do I know this you ask?   Banks are not countering offers anymore – they are already at their lowest price. Sometimes, they will ask us in one day to give them our “highest and best” offer. This means that all of the offers are fairly close in price.  In this circumstance, I would suggest upping our offer by $3 – 5 k more than the comps in order to get the property.  Let’s not quibble on the price of a piece of property you are getting for let’s say $175,000 WHICH WAS WORTH $340,000 just 3 years ago!  Yes, 45% less than just 3 years ago. 

Yes, I have seen that it is common to have multiple offers on many Foreclosures, especially the lower priced ones, typically under $250,000. Most of these properties are selling above the “listed” or asking price.  This is how I know we are at the bottom or close to the bottom of the market.

Receive a 10% Return on your Money – Better than the stock market!

If you have money, now is the time to invest in real estate – You can’t get this return in the stock market!  Of course many “other” buyers are still waiting for the market to hit “bottom” and this is why it is important to BUY NOW!  As humans, most people follow a “herd” mentality – they see people all rushing out and buying homes, then THEY WANT A HOME!  Do what the really wealthy people do.  When nobody is buying homes THAT IS WHEN THEY BUY HOMES! Why?  Less competition AND LOWER PRICES for better property! 

If you would like a custom report of Foreclosed homes in South Orange County, visit my web site at: www.leisureworldre.com