Compliments of @localemagazine…
Want to do something besides the traditional “dinner” date? Here are 9 non-dinner ideas in Orange County.
đŁââïž Take a romantic gondola ride in Newport Beach @gondolaadventures
đââïž Have a relaxing Spa Day at @innatthemissionsjc
đ Spice up date night with Bachata Classes at @sevillaoc
đ Take a Helicopter ride with @rogueaviation
đč Go on a romantic stroll through @theshermangardens
đš Explore all the beautiful art at @ocmamuseum in Costa Mesa
đș Take a pottery class at @artimebarro
đĄ Make your own Turkish Mosaic Lamp with @artmasterclass.usa
âł Grab a bucket of balls and hit the driving range at The Islands Golf Center
đž credit: @gondolaadventures
#carealestategroup #familyfunfriday #ocrealtor #ocrealestate #ocrealestateagent #OrangeCountyDates #valentinesdaydates #dateideas #datenightideas
Keeping Current Matters | Apr 16, 2024
If youâve got a move on your mind, you may be wondering whether you should wait to sell until mortgage rates come down before you spring into action. Hereâs some information that could help answer that question for you.
In the housing market, thereâs a longstanding relationship between mortgage rates and buyer demand. Typically, the higher rates are, youâll see lower buyer demand. Thatâs because some people who want to move will be hesitant to take on a higher mortgage rate for their next home. So, they decide to wait it out and put their plans on hold.
But when rates start to come down, things change. It goes from limited or weak demand to good or strong demand. Thatâs because a big portion of the buyers who sat on the sidelines when rates were higher are going to jump back in and make their moves happen. The graph below helps give you a visual of how this relationship works and where we are today:
As Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist for Bright MLS, explains:
âThe higher rates weâre seeing now [are likely] going to lead more prospective buyers to sit out the market and wait for rates to come down.â
Why You Might Not Want To Wait
If youâre asking yourself: what does this mean for my move? Hereâs the golden nugget. According to experts, mortgage rates are still projected to come down this year, just a bit later than they originally thought.
When rates come down, more people are going to get back into the market. And that means youâll have a lot more competition from other buyers when you go to purchase your next home. That may make your move more stressful if you wait because greater demand could lead to an increase in multiple offer scenarios and prices rising faster.
But if youâre ready and able to sell now, it may be worth it to get ahead of that. You have the chance to move before the competition increases.
Bottom Line
If youâre thinking about whether you should wait for rates to come down before you move, donât forget to factor in buyer demand. Once rates decline, competition will go up even more. If you want to get ahead of that and sell now, talk to a CA Real Estate Agent.
Letâs connect and plan your next steps. Find out if we’re the right real estate team for you!
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber RE Group
đ©đ» Christine Almarines @carealestategroup
Realtor DRE# 01412944 | 714-476-4637
đ©đ» Anaid Bautista @wealthwithanaid
Realtor DRE# 02179675 | 949-391-8266
Hablo español
Apr 15, 2024
In the spirit of tax day today, we’re posting this handy infographic guide to print and pin-up by your desk. This guide helps you determine what tax records to save, how long to store them, and the best ways to keep your records secure. To start 2024 off on a good foot, follow this guide to help you organize and store your tax files properly for years to come.
If you need to securely shred your outdated tax documents, weâre hosting a free paper shred event this month! See details here:Â
Free Paper Shred Event
THIS WEEKEND IN ORANGE COUNTY
Nowđ„Hereâs whatâs happening this weekend in OC!
Imaginology Apr 13-14 @oc_fair
This event is one of the best of its kind with a focus on STEAM education. For one weekend only participate in activities, watch demonstrations and let the kids immerse themselves in the wonderful world of STEAM
Race On The Base, Sat, Apr 13 @raceonthebase
The ever-popular UWS Race on the Base Reverse Sprint Triathlon and 5K Walk/Run is here!
GardenFest Sat, Apr 13
San Clementeâs Biggest, Best Plant Sale and Garden/Household Goods Flea Market. Waterwise Plants, California Native Plants, Succulents, Cactus, Perennials, Annuals, Herbs, as well as an assortment of other types of plants. 8am-2pm at the San Clemente Community Center.
Sake Festival, Sun, Apr 14 @gokumius
More than 40 craft sakes available for tasting and izakaya style appetizer buffets at Gokumi Ramen & Yakitori with 2 time frames available. 1-3pm or 5-8pm. Tickets are $50/ Each. Must be 21+ to attend.
Paws In The Park, Sat, Apr 13
There will be plenty to bark about at this event featuring pet-related vendors, rescue groups, DJ and games, crafts, activities and more. 10am-12:30pm On The Town Green In Ladera Ranch.
Springtime in Paris Boutique, Sat, Apr 13
Immerse yourself in the allure of Parisian charm as you peruse hand-sculpted treasures crafted by our talented local artisans and crafters. Featuring over 50+ vendors, our boutique offers an array of quirky and irresistible gifts. 8am-4pm at the Norman P Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo
Keeping Current Matters | Apr 1, 2024
Are you thinking about making a move? If so, now may be the perfect time to start the process. Thatâs because experts say the best week to list your house is just around the corner.
A recent Realtor.com study looked at housing market trends over the past several years (with the exception of 2020, since it was an unusual year), and found the best week to put your house on the market this year is April 14-20:
âEvery year, one week stands out from the rest as that perfect stretch of time when itâs great to be a home seller. This year, the week of April 14â20 is the best time to sellâthat is, if sellers want to see lots of interest in their homes, sell quickly, and pocket some extra cash, according to Realtor.comÂź data.â
Hereâs why this matters for you. While the spring market is a great time to sell no matter the week, this may be the peak sweet spot. And if youâve been putting your plans on the back burner and waiting for the right time to act, this could be the nudge you need to make your move happen. As Hannah Jones, Senior Economic Research Analyst at Realtor.com explains:
âThe third week of April brings the best combination of housing market factors for sellers. The best week offers higher buyer demand, lower competition [from other sellers], and fewer price reductions than the typical week of the year.â
But, if you want to get in on the action, youâll need to move quickly and lean on the pros. Your local real estate agent is the perfect go-to when it comes to figuring out a plan to prep your house and get it on the market.
Theyâll be able to offer advice to balance your target listing date with what you need to do from a repair and renovation standpoint. And they can walk you through exactly how to prioritize your list so you know what to tackle first.
For example, if your house is already in good shape, youâll be able to really focus in on the smaller things that are easy to do and make a big impact. As an article from Investopedia says:
âYou wonât have time for any major renovations, so focus on quick repairs to address things that could deter potential buyers.â
Here are some specific examples from that article:
 
Just remember, even if youâre not ready to list within the next couple of weeks, thatâs okay. The window of opportunity doesnât close when this week ends. Spring is the peak homebuying season and itâs still a sellerâs market, so youâll be in the driverâs seat all season long.
Bottom Line
Ready to get the ball rolling? Connect with a real estate agent to schedule a time to go over your next steps.
Keeping Current Matters | Apr 3, 2024
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This report specifically benefits our Single Women Home Buyers to provide insight into the demographics, financial profiles, home buying motivations & lending experiences of women who purchase homes on their own.
We’d be happy to walk through this report with you.
Letâs connect and plan your next steps and find out if we’re the right real estate team for you!
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate Group
đ©đ» Christine Almarines @carealestategroup
Realtor DRE# 01412944 | 714-476-4637
Tagalog speaking
đ©đ» Anaid Bautista @wealthwithanaid
Realtor DRE# 02179675 | 949-391-8266
Spanish speaking
happyhiller.com | Mar 18, 2024
While it may be easy to track down smells coming from your garbage can or garbage disposal, other smells require a keener nose.
In order to help you find all of the bad smells in your home, here are some common smells and where you can find the source:
Rotten Eggs
The smell of sulfur or rotten eggs is never a good sign. You either have some old eggs sitting around from a couple Easters ago, or you have a serious gas leak or electrical problem.
The two most common sources for rotten egg smell in the home are electrical components (inside of outlets for example) or a natural gas leak.
Natural gas manufacturers are required to add a chemical, called mercaptan, to their gas in order to make it easier to detect a leak. Without this additive, you wouldnât be able to see, smell, or taste natural gas (much like carbon monoxide).
If you smell rotten eggs in the home, call the gas company to make sure you donât have a gas leak.
If there is no gas leak in the home, you may have a problem with your electrical system. If you smell the rotten egg smell near an outlet, thatâs probably where it is coming from. When the plastic components behind your outlet plate burn, it can smell like rotten eggs. This smell indicates that there is a dangerous arcing situation happening within the interior of your outlet that could cause a home fire.
We recommend turning off power at the circuit breaker to cut off electricity to the room with the smelling outlet.
One other possible cause of a rotten egg smell in your home is when you run the hot water. You may experience a rotten egg smell when the hot water is running due to an old anode rod.
Anode rods in hot water heaters should be replaced every 5 years or so. Replacing your anode rod will reduce corrosion in your water heater and may even be able to double its lifespan.
Call your local plumber to find out which kind of anode you should replace your old one with.
Sewage Smell
If you smell raw sewage in your home, you may have a dried out P-trap. The P-trap is the little curved section of piping that helps create a seal from the sewer gas that lurks behind it. The only problem is that the curved âPâ section needs to be filled with water in order to create the necessary blockage.
If you havenât used one or more of your sinks in a while the water that normally creates a seal in the âPâ section has evaporated and dried out.
In order to prevent sewer gases from rising up through your pipes and into your home, itâs important to run water in all of your drains periodically. If you have a sink in your garage or another part of the home that rarely gets use, make sure you run the water in those sinks at least once a month to refresh the water in the P-trap.
If running water in your sinks doesnât solve the problems, you may have a more serious plumbing problem. Speak with a professional plumber to discuss your options.
Fish Smell
Something smells fishy⊠and itâs not fish. Well, likely not. If you smell fish with no fish in sight, you could have an overheating electrical component somewhere.
Sometimes, burning plastic, wiring, and other electrical components smell like rotten eggs or sulfur to some people. Other people notice a distinctive fishy smell. Whether you get a whiff of fish or rotten eggs, itâs important to investigate the situation. You may have a dangerous arcing situation behind one of your outlets or switches that can cause a house fire.
Again, if you can locate the electrical source of the smell and It seems to be coming from one of your outlets or switches, turn off power at the breaker box and call an electrician right away!
Stale Air
If you frequently pick up a stale smell in your home, it may be because of air leaks around the home. Recessed lights that are often connected to the attic are notoriously leaky. If you notice the stale air smell around any of your recessed lights, you will have to go into the attic to seal the air leak.
Read our Attic Insulation Guide for tips on sealing your recessed lights, flue, and other common leaky areas in your attic.
If you detect any of these odors in your home, make sure it isnât a serious electrical or natural gas problem. Sulfur, ârotten eggâ smells are a big warning sign. For help dealing with odors in your home, contact experts in plumbing, heating, cooling and/or electrical.
CA Real Estate Group works with trusted experts in all fields. Contact one of our agents for a referral anytime!
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate Group
đ©đ» Christine Almarines @christine_almarines or @carealestategroup
Realtor DRE# 01412944 | 714-476-4637
Tagalog speaking
đ©đ» Anaid Bautista @wealthwithanaid
Realtor DRE# 02179675 | 949-391-8266
Spanish speaking
Daily beginning March 11, 2024: Mon-Fri at 9:30am, 11am, 1pm, & 2:30pm | Sat & Sun every 30 minutes between 9:30am and 2:30pm
Tanaka Farms is famous for their delicious, sweet, and juicy strawberries! Take a wagon ride around the farm. Learn about the farming methods and history of the farm from your friendly tour guide. You will see how fruits and vegetables grow! Make one stop to pick a seasonal vegetable*, and then the last stop on this tour is in the strawberry patch where you can pick and eat strawberries! Everyone will take home a one-pound basket of strawberries! After the tour, visit the Barnyard Educational Exhibit where you can meet and interact with their barnyard friends.
This tour lasts about one hour.
