We enter 2012 with a higher degree of optimism than the previous few years. Let’s start the New Year by taking a look back at the major factors that shaped last year’s mortgage market and discussing what’s in store for 2012. The Highlights of 2011: Interest rates: Ranged last year between 4.96% near the beginning [...]

410 Ruby Street Laguna Beach, CA 92651 it is available to see this weekend. Email me if your interested: sean@welcometothedream.com

Before going into the detail of the properties under $1m, I’d like to put it in context of where the Laguna market ended up in 2011. Year End Highlights: 32 sales in the month of December, the highest month for all of 2011; 90 sales in the 4th quarter, best quarter of 2011; only 228 [...]

It’s all about rates this week as they have retreated back to their all-time low point that was also touched in September. Another strong Treasury auction and lack of any real solution to the European debt crisis helped, among other things. While mortgage rates are not based on US Treasuries, the Mortgage-Backed-Securities (MBS) that do [...]

Foreclosed Beach Front Property Boy, things surely got steamed up last week with the Laguna foreclosed beach front property offer for $2 million. The video was seen by over 150 people and I got lots of calls of interest. While the listing agent won’t give me the exact amount since it’s in escrow, he did [...]

Meanwhile, November had the most closed sales than any month in 2011 with 32 homes closing. Inventory of homes for sale is at a yearly low of 264 properties versus the high of 425. As of November 30, 32 properties have closed (10 were below $1m, 13 were between $1m to $2m, and 9 were [...]

Many buyers have been waiting for this. A relatively affordable ‘on the beach’ oceanfront home for less than $2 million. Client Brief Report + Photos It’s got some serious neighbors Offers must be in by Dec. 11 and the seller will let you know the highest offer and everyone can make a ‘best and final’ [...]

Some people have home-finding stories that are the real estate equivalent of the skywritten marriage proposal tales. They drove by their dream home, knocked on the front door and the elderly owner offered it to them for a song. However, most recent home buyers have tales on the other end of the charming-and-easy spectrum; tales [...]