A blog about Newport and Costa Mesa with an emphasis on Costa Mesa Real Estate and Newport Beach Real Estate, written by a lifetime local resident of coastal Orange County whose knowledge of the area, combined with a strong background in mortgages, real estate and being an attorney, gives her clients many advantages.
Do You Give Your Full Attention to What You Are Doing? Speechless Sundays
Some days I feel I learn so much just watching my own children. They are so involved in what they are doing. You never feel that they are somewhere else or not concentrating on something which has truly caught their attention. I'm not sure I can say the same for many adults.
How about you? Do you give things your full attention?
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Fountain Valley Real Estate News - Fountain Valley Real Estate Market Report
Fountain Valley is centrally located in Orange County. It lies between Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana. It is known as "A Nice Place to Live".
Fountain Valley homes are fortunate enough to have 18 parks, the greatest of which is Miles Square Park, which has 640 acres, nearby. The Park is home to an archery range, three golf courses, 2 lakes for fishing, picnic areas and numerous other amenities.
In addition, Fountain Valley offers a wonderful Fountain Valley First Time Home Buyer Program with up to $150,000 to qualified buyers. Below is the current Fountain Valley Homes market report:
Please contact Christine Donovan at 714.319.9751 to discuss buying and selling homes in Fountain Valley.
Please see below for homes for sale in Fountain Valley.
For market reports in other nearby cities, see below:
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Newport Beach Real Estate News - Newport Beach Market Report
Newport Beach real estate has come a long way since it began in 1906. Back then, bayfront houses sold for as little as $500. Today, homes in this area are priced in the millions of dollars as the area is considered prime, Pacific Coast property. Areas of Newport Beach include Corona Del Mar, Balboa Island, Lido, Newport Coast, San Joaquin Hills and Balboa Peninsula.
For those looking for a home along Orange County's Gold Coast, Newport Beach real estate offers choices for a variety of homebuyers. Luxury homes on the sand, bayside estates with yacht slips, elegant town homes on the golf course are all possibilities in Newport Beach.
The real estate market in Newport Beach is enhanced by a variety of environmental, recreational, cultural and shopping opportunities. The Back Bay is a nature preserve; Catalina Island is just a short catamaran ride away on the Catalina Flyer; the Balboa Fun Zone features a ferris wheel and other amusements as well as shopping and restaurants. Shopping at nearby Fashion Island is an experience in itself, and nearby Costa Mesa includes a world renowned theatre and music complex.
Below is the current Newport Beach Real Estate News:
For information on buying or selling a home in Newport Beach, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751.
See below to see homes for sale in Newport Beach:
Real Estate Market reports for other Orange County areas:
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Huntington Beach Real Estate Minute - Huntington Beach Market Report
Huntington Beach well known as "Surf City USA" with its excellent surfing has 8.5 miles of beaches and over 200,000 residents with 11 million visitors annually coming to see events such as the US Open of Surfing, the Surf City USA Marathon and AVP Pro Beach Volleyball.
It is also known as one of the 10 safest cities. Huntington Beach Real Estate offers a wide variety of housing from moderately priced condos to multi-million dollar estates.
Below is the Huntington Beach homes report.
We are still seeing signicantly more short sales in escrow than bank owned foreclosures or REOs indicating that short sales are still making up a large part of the market and that they are still taking a significant amount of time to close when successful.
For more information about buying and selling Huntington Beach homes, please contact Christine Donovan at 714.319.9751. Originally published at Huntington Beach Homes.
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Multiples Offers on a Huntington Beach Foreclosure - How Do We Compete?
It isn't uncommon for there to be multiple offers a well-priced Huntington Beach foreclosure, especially one in decent condition with upgrades.
When a client finds a home they like, especially after looking at several homes, they are disappointed when they learn that they aren't the only ones who like it.
The next question inevitably is how do we make sure that our offer is the one that the bank accepts?
There is the obvious answer - PRICE.
But, what else can make a difference?
Make sure that you speak with the listing agent to obtain any addenda or other paperwork required by the bank and then make sure it's completed and returned with the offer.
Limit the contingency period to as short as possible - perhaps 7 days. Many banks will require this shorter period any way. Why not make your offer stand out?
Offer a strong earnest money deposit. Don't put down $1,000 on an $800,000. Show the bank you're serious.
Have a strong approval letter. Don't have a pre-qualification letter. Make sure that you have provided all necessary documentation to your lender so that your approval stands up to review.
Don't ask for seller paid closing costs, unless absolutely necessary. The bank is looking at the bottom line.
A strong down payment is frequently considered an indication of how easy it will be to close the loan, so consider this when making your offer, if possible.
If you are considering buying a Huntington Beach foreclosure, please give me a call 714-319-9751 so that we can discuss a strategy to get you into your new home.
Originally posted at Huntington Beach Foreclosured
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Christine Donovan is a real estate and mortgage consultant with Donovan Group Realty; she founded the company in 1999, after a successful career as a corporate attorney. Christine is a lifetime local resident of Newport Beach and Orange County, California, and her family has lived in the Orange County Coastal area for over five decades.
In addition to her real estate and mortgage background, She is a licensed California attorney. Her experience in the legal field gives her expertise in both negotiation and a better understanding of the contracts involved in the process. She has negotiated with executives of Ferrari, Princeton Review and Glaceau, maker of Vitamin Water, on behalf of her clients.
The Donovan Blatt Team specializes in real estate sales and purchases in the Orange County area.
She is a real estate consultant with a strong background in law, negotiation and mortgages. Knowledge about the intricacies of financing permits her to assist both her buyers and sellers in getting their transactions closed.
This post is written as a submission to the ActiveRain Kodak Video Challenge contest. I have the chance to win the KODAK PLAYTOUCH Pocket Video Camera, great for realtors looking to
create wide angle home tours and real estate marketing videos!
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Reasons to live in Newport Beach? It was around 80 degrees today. Women were laying on the beach in bikinis, surfers were out without their wetsuits. The blue sky was dotted by puffy white clouds. In other words, it was a perfect January day in Newport Beach.
If you're considering relocating from the East Coast or any where else to take advantage of our weather, please give me a call at 714-319-9751
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
It's Not a Costa Mesa Short Sale. Is that Better or Worse for a Buyer?
Okay, it's not a Costa Mesa short sale, why should a buyer care? Does it matter if you're buying a home whether or not it's a short sale? What difference does it all make any way?
If you're buying a Costa Mesa home, you may have heard that many of them are short sales, and you may be uncertain of what that means to you.
A short sale occurs when a seller owes more on his home than it's worth, and the bank agrees to accept an amount less than is owed upon sale of the home. For more information about short sales, please see
So, what does this mean to you as the buyer?
The Short of It:
PROS
Frequently less expensive than a "standard" sale
Typically better maintained than an REO/foreclosure
Sellers are typically more familiar with the home and provide disclosures
CONS:
Long wait time for bank's decision on short sale.
Unlikely that repairs will be made
Uncertainty of whether or not offer will be accepted or countered or denied after waiting months.
The Long of It:
If you decide to purchase a short sale, you can expect to have a delay before the sale actually occurs. Typically it takes the bank between 1 to 6 months to make a decision on a short sale, with the average being about 90 days.
If you need to move into a home in a specific timeframe, ie. if you have a lease expiring or are selling your home own home, then a short sale may not be the right choice for you.
However, if you have the time to wait and have found the right home with a listing agent who understands how to properly do short sales, you may have found the best of all worlds - a great home at a great price available for those who have the patience to wait.
So it a short sale better or worse? It really depends upon your needs and your perspectives.
If you would like to know if a short sale is right for you, please give me a call at 714-319-9751 to discuss it.
If you're wondering what's for sale in Costa Mesa, please see the list below the video.
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
When is the Right Time for a Costa Mesa Buyer to Find a Real Estate Agent?
Some Costa Mesa buyers feel that they should not engage a real estate agent until they're ready to buy a home, which is usually defined by the need to see the inside of homes. I feel this is a mistake.
A Costa Mesa Realtor can help a Costa Mesa buyer in many ways starting early on in the search for the perfect home.
A real estate agent should be able to provide a Costa Mesa buyer with information about different neighborhoods and help a buyer to decide what is important to them when buying their home.
An agent who asks the right questions might help a buyer consider things they hadn't thought about.
What's important to you about buying a home?
Do you need to be near a park?
Do the kids need to walk to school?
Do you need to be near a freeway?
Are certain freeways more crowded going your way to work?
Are you looking for particular activities near home?
Are you concerned about resale in the near future or do you plan to own for several years?
Regardless of which of these are important to a buyer, these are things about which a good real estate agent can advise a buyer who is in the beginning process of buying by simply knowing the area and/or having access to the information.
In addition, a real estate agent can advise a buyer about the most accurate information about homes for sale.
Though there is a lot of information about homes for sale available on the internet, many prospective buyers will find out that homes are sold, already in escrow or perhaps not even for sale. Some of the sites provide information about homes that are in foreclosure but are not actually for sale. Looking at homes that are not truly available can be a waste of time and very frustrating to buyers.
Costa Mesa buyers may feel that they don't need a real estate agent until they are ready to see homes, but if they wait until then, they have missed out on the opportunity to use the real estate agent's knowledge and resources.
A great Costa Mesa Realtor is likely to know about the area and to be a good resource for a Costa Mesa buyer. Additionally, the Realtor may have good referrrals to one or more lenders who can prequalify the buyer so that when the buyer is ready to buy a home, their offer won't be refused for failure to have a pre-approval.
So when should you find a great Costa Mesa Realtor?
When you want accuate information.
When you want professional advice on the important things to consider when buying a home.
When you want to learn about an area.
When you want to see homes.
If you're thinking about buying a Costa Mesa home, now is the time to call me and take advantage of the knowledge that comes from living in and around Costa Mesa for decades. Please call me at 714-319-9751.
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
Costa Mesa Real Estate News - South Coast Metro Costa Mesa Market Report
South Coast Metro is an area that encompasses both Costa Mesa and Santa Ana. However, the South Coast Metro area in Costa Mesa usually refers to the area east of Bear Street and north of the 405 (San Diego Freeway). It is at the junction of Orange County's 55 and 405 freeways. It is the area of Costa Mesa closest to South Coast Plaza. In this unique neighborhood, premier office space and world class shopping vie with first class dining and performing arts venues to form a cosmopolitan blend of culture and business.
The Real Estate Market Report for South Coast Metro is below:
Based upon general definitions, it appears that the South Coast Metro Costa Mesa homesshould be in a Sellers' Market though it still appears to be a Buyers' market. Given all that is going on in the credit market and the banking industry, we are in an unusual time and will have to see what happens over the next few months as things hopefully begin to stabilize.
About the author: Christine Donovan is a California Residential Real Estate Broker with experience in assisting clients buy and sell residential real estate.
Are you upside down in your home? Is it worth less than you owe? Are you concerned about making your mortgage payment? For more information see Options to Foreclosures, understanding short sales or contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com to discuss your options.
Contact me at christine@donovanblatt.com or 714-319-9751 to learn about her system which will make your buying and selling experience easier.
Disclaimer: All information in this blog is deemed reliable but is subject to change at any time and is not guaranteed to be accurate nor are there any warantees either express or implied. This blog is not intended to offer any legal, tax or other advice.
Federal Government Disclaimer (MARS)
You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender [or servicer]. If you reject or accept the offer, you do not have to pay us.
Christine Donovan, DonovanBlatt and Donovan Group are not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender; and
Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
