WELCOME TO 1036 UNDERHILL DRIVE IN PLACENTIA

Gorgeous front yard features new landscaping with drip system and slate walkway. Upon entering you will see an inlaid stain glass door which leads you to this stunning custom built in office with dovetail joint file drawers and cabinets. Home also features hickory hardwood flooring and imported Italian tile throughout the downstairs. All windows have been tinted and windows and doors have casings. Raised baseboards and crown molding throughout as well as rod iron on staircase. Home also features plantation shutters and a gorgeous precast fireplace mantle. Family room boasts a beautiful built in entertainment center and is pre wired for surround sound. Kitchen features upgraded stainless steel appliances, granite, and reverse osmosis water system. Master has a private balcony overlooking the 11th fairway and has Hunter Douglas sheer blinds. Master bath features Italian ceramic tiles, upgraded counter tops and jacuzzi tub. Master closet boasts custom island, racks and shelves. Upstairs also features a large loft, secondary bedrooms with built in shelving in closets. Garage has epoxy sealed floors, 75 gal. hot water tank, custom cabinets and workbench as well as water softener. Backyard features stainless BBQ, New Umbrellas and upgraded drip system. 

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WELCOME TO 1037 FUCHSIA CIRCLE IN PLACENTIA

GORGEOUS turnkey upgraded home. This amazing home features a gourmet kitchen with custom cabinets, self closing drawers, and granite counters. Beautiful slider off the kitchen leads to a very private and covered patio. The home has hardwood floors and brand new carpeting in the living room. The house has been freshly painted inside and out with a very neutral palet making it fit for many years to come. The house was upgraded with brand new bathrooms that feature travertine showers, beautiful granite counters and custom lighting. There are also custom built in closets and drawers in each of the secondary bedrooms. The master bedroom features a walk in closet and a secondary closet, a slider going out the the backyard and a private ensuite bath with stunning lighting and frameless shower door. This home is also outfitted with solar panels to keep those electric bills next to nothing. Home has upgraded roof and cement roof tiles put on with solar within the last year. Home also features a water softener and outdoor pantry for more storage. The furnace, air conditioner, water softener and water heater have all been replaced in the last few years. There is RV parking on both sides of the home for RV or boat. Owners show so much pride in their home and just had the  front yard completely redone and landscaped with gorgeous plants, trees, grass, malibu lighting and a very comfortable, quiet new patio. There are white shutters and newer windows throughout. The backyard is so serene with the utmost privacy. There is a really nice patio cover with warm lighting to enhance the mood and relaxation. The backyard also features a jacuzzi for fun summer nights. 

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WELCOME TO 530 BROWER AVENUE

Gorgeous upgraded home in a the most desired area of North Placentia. This home is an entertainers dream with it's grand entrance and circular staircase and large formal living room with 9ft. ceilings throughout. In the family room you are greeted with marble fireplace and an executive office with over 30K in upgraded built in bookshelves. Family room has surround sound. Marble flooring throughout the main floor. A downstairs bedroom with full bath. Upgraded kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances with a walk in pantry. Upstairs boasts a large loft and 4 bedrooms, each with their own private bathrooms. The princess bedroom has a very large step up bathroom and additional closet space. The Master features a very large master bath with marble throughout including the tub and counters, walk in wrap around closet and separate soaker tub and shower. This home has an active home security system. This is one of the largest most prestigious homes in Placentia. North facing it is one of the best lots as well with no neighbors behind to peak in while you entertain. Backyard fountains to enhance the ambiance and little to no maintenance. NO Mello Roos or HOA. Come see what you are missing. 

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NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY, EXISTING HOMES BOUNCE BACK DESPITE LOW INVENTORY

Resale housing saw an increase of 14.7% comparing month over month (November 2015, the most current, complete month available), and 7.7% year over year for 2014 compared to 2015.  According to the National  Association of Realtors (NAR), these increases were in spite of historically low inventory.  As stated before in this column, a 6 month supply of housing inventory is deemed a "normal" market.  Currently the country is at 3.9% and the Southland here is a bit lower.  In fact, the country is down 12.3% from a year ago (We currently have approximately 4,300 homes for sale).  The current sales trend, which has huge traction when you consider we have now gone 46 consecutive months with gains, comparing each month with the same month the previous year, continues to show a strong economy and still burgeoning demand.  The national median home price is $224,100, which is probably enough to make a Southern California homebuyer cry just a little.   However, to ease the blow, let's remember when you buy that property for $200,000 in Kansas, you're still in Kansas when escrow closes.  Just a little real estate humor, making the point that, So Cal offers a lifestyle and weather that is pretty hard to beat.  Not only are homes selling, but they're not taking very long to do so; case in point is the national average of "days on market" is 58 days, but 32% sell in less than a month.  Nationally distressed homes comprised only 8% of total escrows, a number that continues to decline monthly.  Certainly there are things happening globally right now with China's economy and the absorption of Syrian refugees into European economies that will have some local impact economically.  Whether housing will be one of those, or will stay as resilient as it has been, remains to be seen.  Fortunately, population increases and new households continue to fuel demand and with money remaining cheap, and likely to stay that way (in the 4% range, hard to say that would be a buyer's concern), consumer confidence is likely to be key.  How good are people feeling about their prospects?  As was written on a blackboard of a 1990's political campaign office..."it's the economy, stupid."

WHAT WERE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS?

The median home price for December rose to $630,000.  That is only 2.3% behind the pre-recession high of $645,000 which we hit in early 2007 before the big crash.  Don't expect that crash now as homeowners were properly vetted and qualified for their home loans and for the most part, these homeowners enjoy interest rates in the 3's, mostly fixed rates and no negative amortized loans eating away at their equity as they make a minimum payment.  For the last 8 years, over 85% of all loans have been a fixed rate loan, either 30, 15, or 10 years.  This bump up in the median price probably has as much to do with pricier homes selling, hence driving up the median price, but still very perky demand has kept prices close to and sometimes exceeding the asking price.  The January median price per square foot is $362.67, which does reflect desirability of a home and its location, as much as simple demand might indicate those as being unnecessary.  In fact, location and condition will always drive prices up or down.

THE FED'S THINKING ON RATES AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT HIKES, SHOULDN'T INFLUENCE YOUR THINKING

What exactly is meant by that?  Simply put, what the Fed does, is all about short term rates and the target that the Fed sets for overnight bank lending rates and how  it buys and sells securities to keep market rates at that level.    This has some impact on long term rates, but has more to do with the global economy, the fluidity of world- wide cash, what is happening with inflation, oil, gas, futures.  In other words, their agenda has nothing to do with your agenda.  Neil Irwin of the New York Times states in a recent article, "You should make your borrowing decisions based on current market rates and whether they make a given home purchases or refinancing decision affordable.  Assume that neither you, your mortgage broker, nor your Uncle Ned, who watches a lot of Wall Street sharpies on CNBC, has any predictive capacity to know whether rates will be higher or lower a month from now.  Mortgages are usually based on long-term interest rates, not short-term interest rates, and the Fed is not on some preordained path; rather, its policy will adjust depending on how the economy evolves."  When it is time for you to buy and you have found the right property, you will want to go forward because it is part of your economic strategy for your circumstances.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE BOOMERANG BUYER...WHY LISTING NOW MAKES SENSE

It is a mystery to those of us who have our career and education in the real estate market, as to why there has always seemed to be a "spring selling season."  Anytime of the year truly represents its own challenges and rewards and it may be that no time is better or worse than any other.  For example, yes the holidays due slow down,  but homes show the best when dressed for Christmas and buyers who are in the market during that time are deadly serious about finding a home and likely to pay top dollar.  So now we find ourselves with sellers getting ready to go on the market; wanting to wait for the "spring season".  That could cost you money, because everyone is doing the same thing.  The result?  The market goes from (national numbers) 1,860,000 homes for sale -- to 2,280,000.  What does it mean?  You have more competition.  You have fewer offers.  Buyers have more choices.  Not necessarily the best scenario for a seller.  If you need to sell... why wait.  List now before your competition does.  And you needn't worry about buyers, at least probably not this year.  According to NAR, 1.5 million "boomerang buyers" are re-entering the market, having now recovered their credit from their previous foreclosures and/or bankruptcy.  Add in the millenials setting up their households and aging baby boomers who decided to work 5 more years, and now 5 years  is up and they are retiring, you have an interesting mix for our upcoming spring/summer markets.