If buying or selling a home is your goal for 2024, it’s important to understand today’s housing market, know your why, and work with industry experts to bring your homeownership vision for the new year into focus.
Over the last year, the economy had a big impact on the housing market, and likely on your wallet too. That’s why it’s critical to have a clear picture of not just the market today, but also on what you want out of it when you buy or sell a home. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains:
“The key to making a good decision in this challenging housing market is to be laser focused on what you need now and in the years ahead, so that you can stay in your home long enough that buying is a sound financial decision.”
Here are a few things to think through as you define your goals for 2024.
1. Know Your Why
You’re dreaming about making a move for a reason – what is it? No matter what’s happening in the market, there are still many compelling reasons to buy a home today. Your needs may have changed in a way your current house can’t address, or you could be ready to step into homeownership for the first time. Use your why and your motivation as a guidepost in partnership with an expert advisor to make sure your move gives you a lasting sense of accomplishment.
2. Figure Out What Your Next Home Needs To Look Like
You know you want to move, but how would you describe your dream home? The number of homes for sale has grown recently, and that could mean more options to choose from when you buy. But overall housing supply is still lower than more normal years in the market, so you’ll have to work closely with a pro to find what you’re looking for. Just be sure to keep your budget in mind as you balance your wants and needs. The better you understand what’s essential and where you can be flexible, the easier it will be to find a home that’s right for you.
3. Determine if You’re Ready To Buy
Getting clear on your budget and available savings is essential before you get too far into the process. Partnering with a local agent and a lender early is the best way to make sure you’re in a good position to buy. This could include planning how much to save for a down payment, getting pre-approved for a home loan, and assessing your current home equity if you’re selling your existing house.
A Professional Will Guide You Through Every Step of the Process
Buying or selling a home takes expertise to navigate. If that feels a bit overwhelming, that’s normal. Don’t let uncertainty hold you back from your goals this year. A trusted expert will help you bridge that gap and give you the facts and advice you need about today’s housing market.
Bottom Line
Let’s connect to plan how to make your homeownership dreams a reality in 2024.
New Year’s Eve events in Orange County are best celebrated with kids in tow… especially if they are daytime celebrations! What better way to celebrate the New Year than getting the kids in to bed early?
Scroll down for a great list of places that host family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations in Southern California.
Check back throughout the season as we’ll be adding more New Year’s Eve events to this list as they become available to us.
For ease of use, this New Year’s Eve events in Orange County list is organized by city in alphabetical order. Take a look and let us know if we missed one of your favorite winter holiday events! Email (SoCal@LivingMiVidaLoca.com) or message us on Facebook.
If you’re wondering what to do during the holidays in Orange County, check out our growing list ofwinter and holiday events.
New Year’s Eve Celebrations 2023 for families in Orange County
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Anaheim
The Family Soulful New Years Eve Celebration | The Stuffed Potato – Packing House, 440 S Anaheim Blvd December 31, 2023 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tickets: $55 Get ready to ring in the new year with a night full of fun, laughter, and great music. This in-person event will take place on Sunday, December 31, 2023, starting at 9:00 PM
At The Stuffed Potato, we believe in creating memorable experiences, and this New Year’s Eve will be no exception. Our venue provides a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for celebrating with friends and family. Each person in attendance will receive a beautifully designed, generous and delicious charcuterie tray, party favors, and of course champagne for the New Year Toast.
The Family, a renowned local band, will be taking the stage to entertain you all night long. Their energetic performances and diverse repertoire of music will keep you dancing and singing along throughout the evening.
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Buena Park
New Year’s Eve Bash | John’s Incredible Pizza December 31, 2023 | 7:00 pm – 1:00 am Watch the BALL DROP at midnight on our BIG SCREENS! Space limited. Event may sell out. BONUS! Buy by Dec 26 to get an extra 20 Fun World Credits!
Celebration Package ($34.99)
Each Guest Receives:
Endless Buffet
Endless Beverages
Unlimited Rides
75 Fun World Credits ($18.75 value!)
New Year’s Accessories: Hat and Glow Necklace(while supplies last)
Premium Package ($44.99)
Each Guest Receives:
Endless Buffet
Endless Beverage
Unlimited Rides
150 Fun World Credits ($37.50 value!)
New Year’s Accessories: Hat and Glow Necklace(while supplies last)
Upgrade your NYE experience! Get your glow on in your own private room with glow supplies. ($100/room)
Each Room Includes:
Private Party Room 7pm – 1am
Glow Accessories
Fits up to 16 guests. Rooms may be expanded. Purchase additional for more capacity.
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Costa Mesa
Winter Fest OC NYE Celebration | OC Fair & Event Center December 31, 2023 | 2:00 pm – 12:30 am Countdown to an unforgettable New Year’s celebration at Winter Fest OC! Join us for double the fun as we ring in the new year with two incredible celebrations. At 6pm, groove to the sounds of Tribute by Twist on Taylor, and later, at the stroke of midnight, let 24k Bruno Mars Tribute dazzle you into 2024. It’s a night of music, dancing, and joy, promising to make your New Year’s Eve truly spectacular. And to add even more magic to the night, be sure to catch our dazzling fireworks shows that will light up the sky. Don’t miss out on this double dose of fun as we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one with a bang!
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Fullerton
First Night Fullerton | Garden Grove Main Library December 31, 2023 | 7:00 pm – midnight Ring in the New Year with us at ‘First Night‘ at the Downtown Fullerton Plaza! Join the city’s most exciting New Year’s Eve event on Sunday, December 31, 2023
• Live Music: Enjoy electrifying performances from local bands and talented artists on multiple stages throughout the festival grounds. Journey Through Time will be on the Mainstage, Soundbytes will be rockin’ on the Harbor Stage, & Latin Soul Band LA will have you dancing on the Pomona Stage. • Culinary Delights: Savor an array of delicious food and beverage options from gourmet food trucks and local vendors offering a diverse selection of cuisines to tantalize your taste buds. • Family Fun Zone: Delight in an assortment of activities designed for all ages, including face painting, balloon and character artists, stilt walkers, a kids lane with interactive games, and much more. Let the little ones revel in the festive atmosphere with dedicated entertainment just for them. • Fireworks Extravaganza: Prepare to be awe-inspired as the night sky illuminates with a breathtaking fireworks display at midnight, marking the start of a promising New Year.
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Garden Grove
Noon Year’s Eve | Garden Grove Main Library December 31, 2023 | 11:30 am – 12:15 pm Balloon Drop at 12:00 pm
Join us in celebrating Noon Year’s Eve. Activities include Balloon Drop at Noon, bubble room, photo booth, and craft. Supplies are available while they last.
Noon Year’s Eve | Irvine Heritage Library December 31, 2023 | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Celebrate the new year at NOON! Crafts, treats and a countdown to noon with a balloon drop! Make sure to bring your camera!
New Year’s Eve – East Coast Style | Hanger 24 – 17877 Von Karman Ave, Unit 110 December 31, 2023 | 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm Live music from 1-5pm, face painting 1-3pm, balloon artist 3-5pm, plus games and inflatable fun all day long! Open 11am to 8pm New Year’s Eve.
Noon Year’s Eve Party | Pretend City December 31, 2023 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Twas’ the day before New Year’s and all through the city the citizens are stirring and buzzing about! With sparkling streamers, blowouts, noise makers, and confetti that will make this the party of all parties! “It’s Midnight Somewhere” Confetti Countdown Times:
9:30 a.m. (Member’s Only Countdown)
12:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Orange
New Year’s Eve Party | Holiday Skate Center December 31, 2023 | 8:00 pm – 1:00 am $30 includes skates, pizza, and balloon drop. Come watch the balloon drop and win cash & other prizes.
New Year’s Eve All Ages Bounce | BounceU of Orange December 31, 2023 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Join us for lots of playtime to end 2022. Best way to welcome the New Year! Don’t forget to bring your SOCKS! Lunch and sparkling apple cider are INCLUDED!!!
New Years Celebration | Dave & Buster’s December 31, 2023 | 9:00 pm Bottles popping! People cheering! Power Cards tapping! New Years Eve at Dave & Buster’s is more than just a good time — it’s the ultimate way to kick off a year of FUN! Grab tickets for your whole crew and stop by for an exclusive New Year’s event at D&B — a jam-packed night of unlimited video game play, & yes, lots & lots of toasts! Cheers!
General Admission ($85.57 +$6.73fee) includes: Access to our delectable appetizer banquet, unlimited soda, coffee & tea, a $20 Power Card® with Unlimited Video Game Play, a special New Year’s Eve toast, suggested 18% gratuity, and taxes.
Premium Admission ($115.57 +$8.53 fee) includes: Access to our delectable appetizer banquet, unlimited soda, coffee, & tea, a $20 Power Card® with Unlimited Video Game Play, a special New Year’s Eve toast, two (2) drink tickets valid for beer, wine, or specialty cocktails, suggested 18% gratuity, and taxes.
Family-friendly New Year’s Eve Events in Yorba Linda
Noon Year’s Eve | My Gym YORBA LINDA December 31, 2023 | 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Join us for a Countdown to Noon Year party, instead. We’ll have games, rides, gymnastics, adventures, and more for the kids. We’ll countdown to noon with a balloon drop and dance party! 0yrs to 8yrs
1 Session : $25.00 per Session
2 Sessions : $22.50 per Session
3+ Sessions : $21.00 per Session
Thank you for reading! Stay updated on fun things to see, eat and do in Orange County by following us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!
Originally published on December 6, 2023. Last Updated on December 26, 2023 by Pattie Cordova
If you’re thinking about retirement or have already retired this year, it’s a good time to consider if your current house is still a good fit for the next chapter in your life.
Fortunately, you may be in a better position to make a move than you realize. Here are a few things to think about as you decide whether or not to sell and make a move.
How Long You’ve Been in Your Home
From 1985 to 2008, the average length of time homeowners typically stayed in their homes was only six years. But according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), that number is rising today, meaning many homeowners are living in their houses even longer (see graph below):
When you live in a home for a significant period of time, it’s natural for you to experience a number of changes in your life while you’re in that house. As those life changes and milestones happen, your needs may change. And if your current home no longer meets them, you may have better options waiting for you.
How Much Equity You’ve Gained
Additionally, if you’ve been in your house for more than a few years, you’ve likely built-up significant equity that can fuel your next move. That’s because the longer you’ve been in your house, the more likely it’s grown in value due to home price appreciation. Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) illustrates that point (see graph below):
While home price growth varies by state and local area, the national average shows the typical homeowner who’s been in their house for five years saw it increase in value by nearly 60%. And the average homeowner who’s owned their home since 1991 saw it more than triple in value over that time.
Consider Your Retirement Goals
Whether you’re looking to downsize, relocate to a dream destination, or simply be closer to loved ones, your home equity can be a key to realizing your homeownership goals. NARshares that for recent home sellers, the primary reason to move was to be closer to loved ones.
Whatever your home goals are, a trusted real estate agent can work with you to find the best option. They’ll help you sell your current house and guide you through buying the home that’s right for your lifestyle today.
Bottom Line
Retirement can bring about major changes in your life, including what you need from your home. Let’s connect to explore the available homes in our area.
Looking for delicious food at a local establishment to celebrate Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but don’t know who’s open? OpenTable.com might be a handy resource. The restaurants listed on OpenTable are by no means a comprehensive list, but mostly restaurants that conveniently accept reservations. Type in your city/metro and see what pops up for your next dining experience…holidays or not!
When you read about the housing market, you’ll probably come across some information about inflation or recent decisions made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how do those two things impact you and your homebuying plans? Here’s what you need to know.
The Federal Funds Rate Hikes Have Stalled
One of the Fed’s primary goals is to lower inflation. In order to do that, they started raising the Federal Funds Rate to slow down the economy. Even though this doesn’t directly dictate what happens with mortgage rates, it does have an impact.
Recently inflation has started to cool, a signal those increases worked and are bringing inflation back down. As a result, the Fed’s hikes have gotten smaller and less frequent. In fact, there haven’t been any increases since July (see graph below):
And not only has the Fed decided not to raise the Federal Funds Rate the last three times the committee met, they’ve signaled there may actually be rate cuts coming in 2024. According to the New York Times (NYT):
“Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged in their final policy decision of 2023 and forecast that they will cut borrowing costs three times in the coming year, a sign that the central bank is shifting toward the next phase in its fight against rapid inflation.”
This indicates the Fed thinks the economy and inflation are improving. Why does that matter to you and your plans to buy a home? It could end up leading to lower mortgage rates and improved affordability.
Mortgage Rates Are Coming Down
Mortgage rates are influenced by a wide variety of factors, and inflation and the Fed’s actions (or as has been the case recently, inaction) play a big role. Now that the Fed has paused the increases, it looks more likely mortgage rates will continue their downward trend (see graph below):
Although mortgage rates may remain volatile, their recent trend combined with expert forecasts indicate they could continue to go down in 2024. That would improve affordability for buyers and make it easier for sellers to move since they won’t feel as locked-in to their current, low mortgage rate.
Bottom Line
The Fed’s decisions have an indirect impact on mortgage rates. By not raising the Federal Funds Rate, mortgage rates are likely to continue declining. Rely on a trustworthy real estate expert to give you expert advice about changes in the housing market and how they affect you.
*** PLEASE VERIFY THESE EVENTS BEFORE VISITING ***
One of our favorite things to do as a family, is to get in the car, turn on the Christmas station, stop at Starbucks or McD’s for some peppermint hot chocolate, and go looking for Christmas lights. It is one of our absolute favorite Christmas traditions. It gets us in the holiday spirit, and it is doesn’t cost a cent, other than gas money. We can’t wait to do it again this year. If you’re looking for some fantastic places to watch Christmas lights, here is a list of the best neighborhoods and streets in So Cal. Enjoy!!!
*** PLEASE VERIFY THESE EVENTS BEFORE VISITING ***
If you’re thinking about moving, it’s important to know what’s happening in the housing market. Here’s an update on the supply of homes currently for sale. Whether you’re buying or selling, the number of homes in your area is something you should pay attention to.
In the housing market, there are regular patterns that happen every year, called seasonality. Spring is the peak homebuying season and also when the most homes are typically listed for sale (homes coming onto the market are known in the industry as new listings). In the second half of each year, the number of new listings typically decreases as the pace of sales slows down.
The graph below uses data from Realtor.com to provide a visual of this seasonality. It shows how this year (the black line) is breaking from the norm (see graph below):
Looking at this graph, three things become clear:
2017-2019 (the blue and gray lines) follow the same general pattern. These years were very typical in the housing market and their lines on the graph show normal, seasonal trends.
Starting in 2020, the data broke from the normal trend. The big drop down in 2020 (the orange line) signals when the pandemic hit and many sellers paused their plans to move. 2021 (the green line) and 2022 (the red line) follow the normal trend a bit more, but still are abnormal in their own ways.
This year (the black line) is truly unique. The steep drop off in new listings that usually occurs this time of year hasn’t happened. If 2023 followed the norm, the line representing this year would look more like the dotted black line. Instead, what’s happening is the number of new listings is stabilizing. And, there are even more new listings coming to the market this year compared to the same time last year.
What Does This Mean for You?
For buyers, new listings stabilizing is a positive sign. It means you have a more steady stream of options coming onto the market and more choices for your next home than you would have at the same time last year. This opens up possibilities and allows you to explore a variety of homes that suit your needs.
For sellers, while new listings are breaking seasonal norms, inventory is still well below where it was before the pandemic. If you look again at the graph, you’ll see the black line for this year is still lower than normal, meaning inventory isn’t going up dramatically and prices aren’t heading for a crash. And with less competition from other sellers than you’d see in a more typical year, your house has a better chance to be in the spotlight and attract eager buyers.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re on the hunt for your next home or thinking of selling, now might just be the perfect time to make your move. If you have questions or concerns about the availability of homes in your local area, connect with a real estate agent.
Doorbell cameras are “super helpful” at stopping or catching porch pirates, said Amber Orrey, outreach coordinator at the Mount Shasta Police Department. However, people who get home deliveries — and even those who pick up orders at Amazon lockers or retail stores — should take precautions, she said.
While not a guarantee you won’t be the victim of a theft, you can make it harder for porch pirates to pilfer parcels.
“Check tracking notices. Have more expensive items sent to a locker or schedule a delivery time for when you’re going to be home,” Orrey said.
Don’t leave packages unattended for long periods and schedule deliveries for times you’ll be home.
Ship merchandise to a physical store for pick up.
Require a signature for delivery if someone is home to sign for it.
Use a locker. Some retailers, including Amazon.com, offer secure package-receiving locations. You can access a locker with a key or code.
Take precautionary measures, like installing motion-sensitive lights or a door camera. In some cases, this equipment can discourage package thieves.
Call the police if you see someone stealing packages from a neighbor.
If you’ll be out of town during the holidays, ask a trusted neighbor to check your porch for deliveries daily.
If you ask for a neighbor’s help, give them a signed note with permission to come on your property and take your packages, just in case another neighbor spots them and calls the police.
And dole out some gratitude. Make sure you thank people afterwards and volunteer “to return the favor” when they’re away, according to etiquette specialist Emily Post’s Neighborly Manners guide.
Volunteer opportunities are everywhere in Orange County. Whether you’re looking to help with shelter animals, homeless outreach, or literacy programs, there’s something for everyone with different levels of involvement. Here are a few opportunities that residents can take part in to help make a difference in the community.
Animal shelters all over the county need volunteers for everything from fostering pets to walking dogs. WAGS Westminster is one of those locations that needs help, and they have a variety of opportunities that are available for adults, families, and even minors.
Volunteer opportunities include transporting animals to educational and elder settings for outings, bottle-feeding babies, dog walking and training, construction projects, fostering, and more. Those under 18 can help out with cleaning, rabbit care and play, creating home adoption kits, and playing with cats.
More Opportunities to Volunteer With Animals
OC Animal Care: Volunteer opportunities include socializing and grooming animals, hosting donation drives, leading shelter tours, and participating in shelter and community events. Opportunities are available for adults. For those under 18, OC Animal Care has a list of community service projects that can be completed to help the animals.
Orange County Humane Society: Volunteer opportunities include cat cuddling, walking dogs, participating in charity events, and help with fundraising. Opportunities are available for those 18 and up with current health insurance and they ask that you commit to 8 hours per month.
Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach: TRCHB is equal parts working with horses and working with people. The primary goal of TRCHB is to empower people with physical and developmental challenges to discover and gain self-confidence, strength, and self-reliance through developing a relationship with horses. The therapeutic riding programs they offer are very low cost for their students, so the organization relies on the help of donations and volunteers. As a volunteer, you will help support riders during their therapeutic riding sessions.
Second Harvest Food Bank provides nutritious food to those in need with over 59 million pounds of food distributed annually. Volunteers from the community age 13 and up are able to work in the food distribution center alongside the Food Bank team to ensure all are well fed in Orange County.
There’s even an outdoor opportunity at Harvest Solutions Farm for individuals and volunteer groups to help plant and harvest nutritious seasonal produce for the community. The product harvested from Harvest Solutions Farm is ultimately distributed to individuals and families in Orange County through Second Harvest’s network of distribution sites.
More Opportunities To Help With Food Distribution
Food Finders: Food Finders focuses on reducing food waste and distributing it to those in need. Volunteers can download the app and choose from the available food rescues to pick up donations and deliver them to a designated site.
Friendly Center: Volunteers aged 14 and up can help distribute food on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. They also need help with administrative tasks, holiday events, and after-school tutoring.
Laguna Food Pantry: Serving over 800 families each week, volunteer opportunities here include picking up groceries, sorting and stocking shelves, greeting guests, administrative tasks, and fundraising. Volunteers ages 14-17 are welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult.
OC Food Bank (Community Action Partnership of Orange County): Volunteers at the OC food bank help assemble food boxes for seniors and kids. There are also opportunities to deliver food via the Mobile Food Trolley, get dirty by working at The Giving Farm at Westminster High School, distribute food at a community drive-thru, and more.
Saddleback Church Grocery Distributions: Saddleback Church has grocery distribution programs at locations throughout Orange County. They also host Grocery Pop-Ups at schools and other locations to serve those in the community. Volunteers are needed for grocery distribution, sorting and packing food at the warehouse, driving for food rescues, and picking up and delivering pantry items. Volunteers as young as 8 are encouraged to help in the Warehouse. Those 8-12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
South County Outreach: Volunteer opportunities include sorting and stocking food, picking up donations, working the thrift store, office support, driving a truck, hosting a food drive, participating in seasonal events, and more.
*Note that many churches also have food distribution programs and they often need volunteers and donations to help the food insecure in the immediate community.
Huntington Beach seeks volunteers to help provide assistance to senior citizens. Most communities have a senior outreach program so check the website for your city of choice to find out how to volunteer. Huntington Beach needs volunteers to deliver meals to seniors in their homes, provide transportation, serve hot lunches to seniors at the community center, and provide friendly visits to those in need. While many seniors spend their days alone, this is a great opportunity to provide much needed human interaction for people who are lonely and unable to get out and socialize.
*Many cities in Orange County have senior assistance programs that can be found on the official city website.
More Ways To Volunteer With Seniors
Council On Aging Southern California: Volunteer opportunities include visiting homebound seniors, assisting with Medicare and health care, being an advocate for long term care facility residents, and connecting with seniors during the holiday season.
Meals On Wheels: Volunteer opportunities include delivering meals to homebound seniors, senior lunch service and activities, friendly visitors, helping with activities at adult day care centers, and office and administration assistance.
Military & Veteran Support
Operation Help A Hero: This organization has been supporting Camp Pendleton military members and families since 2001 and have since extended support to military communities across the nation. Volunteers here can help with a number of projects like Operation Christmas Spirit, Operation Rack Pack, OHH Baby Showers, and Operation Enduring Support.
San Clemente Military Family Outreach: Volunteers can provide support and assistance to military members and families stationed at the northwest area of Camp Pendleton by participating in several morale events including distributing Easter Baskets, hosting baby showers for expecting mothers and social teas for military wives, assisting with the Christmas “Thank A Family” program, and distributing over 1,000 turkeys and Thanksgiving Meals.
USO: Opportunities are available with the USO through John Wayne Airport and Camp Pendleton. Opportunities include working shifts at USO centers and providing support for events, homecomings and deployments, on-base activities, and holiday celebrations.
*Many cities in Orange County have adopted military units to which they regularly provide support including Mission Viejo, Irvine, Anaheim, and Rancho Santa Margarita.
Orange County Parks and Zoos always need people to help out. Parks need volunteers to help restore trails, provide education to visitors, help out in the nature centers, and serve as additional staff during high traffic times. At the zoo, volunteers can provide guided tours, help prepare food for the animals, and assist with other zoo activities. Volunteering at community parks and zoos is a great way to help educate and inform other people in the community.
More Ways To Get Outdoors and Help the Environment
Bolsa Chica Conservancy: Volunteer opportunities include one-time events and long-term commitments. Participate in wetland restoration days, clean up via kayak, become a host at the interpretive center, be a site monitor, and more. Volunteers as young as 6 are welcome to participate in restoration days.
Irvine Ranch Conservancy: Volunteer opportunities include trail maintenance, working in the Native Seed Farm, pulling weeds, and more, all within Irvine Ranch Open Space. Opportunities range from one-time to long-term.
Laguna Canyon Foundation: Short term opportunities include trail maintenance and habitat restoration, and working in the nursery with native plants. Long-term certified volunteers will have access to additional opportunities.
Newport Bay Conservancy: Conduct tours, participate in hands-on restoration, and take the lead with coastal cleanups when you volunteer here.
Orange County Coastkeeper: Volunteer to clean up the coast to protect our environment and the natural habitats of our wildlife both on and offshore. In addition to beach cleanups, you can find garden opportunities, creek cleanups, and more.
Sea & Sage Audubon Society: Find a selection of environmental volunteer opportunities at various locations throughout Orange County. Opportunities may vary.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County is in need of volunteers who are interested in mentoring children to help them make meaningful connections and reach their fullest potential. Mentors spend a few hours a day twice per month with their match doing meaningful activities.
Local libraries always need volunteers. Teens are especially welcomed as volunteers for libraries, providing help with story times, crafts, and other youth programs and providing much needed help by sorting and shelving books. Literacy programs and outreach for arts and culture is a great way to spend time volunteering in the community.
Habitat for Humanity builds and restores homes to provide reasonable living accommodations for at risk and low income families. There are many different ways that volunteers help with Habitat For Humanity. The main volunteer function is construction, helping to build and restore homes. Other volunteer opportunities include graphic design, provide homeowner education to selected families, write press releases, answer phones, and provide data entry services. Volunteers for Habitat For Humanity help improve lives by giving people a place to call home.
Volunteers at CHOC Children’s Hospital will make a difference in the lives of sick children and their families. Volunteer opportunities at CHOC include clerical support, providing activities like coloring and reading to patients in waiting areas, assisting in play rooms, showing families around the hospital and more. Volunteers at CHOC Children’s Hospital help to brighten the day of sick or injured children and their families.
The Ronald McDonald House provides a safe and comfortable place for families to live together while children receive treatment for cancer and other severe illnesses and injuries. Volunteers for the Orange County Ronald McDonald House can provide a variety of services like light housekeeping, administrative tasks, helping families, stocking supplies, and answering phones. Long term volunteer opportunities are only available here, so no short term or summer only volunteers will be accepted. Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House provides comfort and support to families so they can focus on being together as they help their children through the recovery process.
The United Way fights for financial stability, quality education, stable housing, and good health for everyone. Volunteers for the United Way can help in a variety of ways. Teens can help out by leading youth summer camps and providing tutoring to younger kids. Other opportunities like distributing food, volunteering at shelters, collecting bedding and clothing, mentoring children, and creating welcome home baskets are some of the many ways you can lend a hand with the United Way. The United Way is a great opportunity to help families find stability and learn more about the steps they can take for a brighter future.
For more, visit OC Nonprofit Central which helps volunteers and donors find local community nonprofits. Find detailed information about local organizations, make informed charitable decisions and give all in one place.
Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights.
When it comes to what’s happening in the housing market, there’s a lot of confusion going around right now. You may hear one thing in conversation with your friends, see something totally different on the news, and read something on social media that contradicts both of those thoughts. And, if you’re thinking about making a move, that can leave you with a lot of lingering questions. That’s where a trusted local real estate agent comes in.
Here are the top 3 questions people are asking about today’s housing market, and the data to help answer them.
1. What’s Next for Mortgage Rates?
Mortgage rates are higher than they’ve been in recent years. And, if you’re looking to buy a home, that impacts how much you can afford. That’s why so many buyers want to know what’s ahead for mortgage rates. The answer to that question is: no one can say for certain, but here’s what we know based on historical trends.
There’s a long-standing relationship between mortgage rates and inflation. Basically, when inflation is high, mortgage rates tend to follow suit. Over the past year, inflation was up, so mortgage rates were as well. But inflation is easing now. And this is why the Federal Reserve has recently paused their federal funds rate hikes, which means many experts believe mortgage rates will begin to come down.
And in some ways, we’ve started to see hints of slightly lower mortgage rates in recent weeks. But it’s certainly been volatile and will likely continue to be that way going into next year. Some ongoing variation is to be expected, but the anticipation is, that in 2024, we’ll see a downward trend. As Aziz Sunderji, Strategist at Home Economics,says:
“The bottom line is that interest rates are likely to be lower-perhaps even lower than many optimists think – in the weeks and months to come.”
2. Where Are Home Prices Headed?
While there’s been a lot of concern prices would come crashing down this year, data shows that didn’t happen. In fact, home prices are rising in most of the nation. Experts say that trend will continue, just at a slower pace that’s much more normal for the housing market – and that’s a good thing.
To help show just how confident experts are in this continued appreciation, take a look at the Home Price Expectation Survey from Pulsenomics. It’s a survey of a national panel of over 100 economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists. As the graph below shows, the consensus is, that prices will keep climbing next year, and in the years to come.
3. Is a Recession Around the Corner?
While recession talk has been a common thing over the past few years, there’s good news on that front.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) polls experts on this topic regularly. And last year at this time, most of them thought a recession would have happened by now. But as experts look at all the leading indicators today, they’re changing their minds and saying a recession is getting less and less likely. The latest results show that more experts now think we’re not headed for another recession (see chart below):
This is big news for the housing market. And while the 48% to 52% split may seem close to half and half, the key thing to focus on is that the majority of these experts think we’ve avoided a recession already.
Bottom Line
The big takeaway? The data shows there isn’t cause for concern – there are actually more signs of hope. Let’s connect to talk more about the housing market questions on your mind as we head into the new year.
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