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
By NerdWallet | Jan 30, 2024
Debt-to-income ratio shows how your debt stacks up against your income. Lenders use DTI to assess your ability to repay a loan.
Nerdy takeaways
- Debt-to-income ratio represents the percentage of your monthly income that goes to debt payments.
- Lenders use DTI â along with credit history and other factors â to evaluate if a borrower can repay a loan.
- Lenders have different DTI requirements. Personal loan companies may allow higher DTIs than mortgage lenders.
Debt-to-income ratio divides your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income, giving you a percentage. Hereâs what to know about DTI and how to calculate it.
How to calculate your debt-to-income ratio
To manually calculate DTI, divide your total monthly debt payments by your monthly income before taxes and deductions are taken out. Multiply that number by 100 to get your DTI expressed as a percentage.
Hereâs an example: A borrower with rent of $1,200, a car payment of $400, a minimum credit card payment of $200, and a gross monthly income of $6,000 has a debt-to-income ratio of 30%. In this example, $1,800 is the sum of all debt payments. When you divide $1,800 by $6,000 and then multiply that answer by 100, you get 30.
To get the most accurate DTI ratio, make sure to include all your debt payments and income sources.
Debt payments can include:
- Rent or mortgage payments.
- Auto loan payments.
- Student loan payments.
- Minimum credit card payments.
- Personal loan payments.
- Other debt payments, such as the minimum payment on a home equity line of credit.
- Child support, alimony, or other court-ordered payments.
Donât include other monthly expenses, such as:
- Groceries.
- Gas.
- Utility payments.
- Phone bills.
- Health insurance.
- Auto insurance.
- Child care payments.
- Recreational spending.
Include all sources of income, such as:
- Salary from full-time work.
- Part-time wages.
- Freelance income.
- Bonuses.
- Child support or alimony received.
- Social security benefits.
- Rental property income.
How lenders view your DTI ratio
Lenders look at debt-to-income ratios because research shows borrowers with high DTIs have more trouble making consistent payments.
Each lender sets its own DTI requirement, but not all creditors publish them. Generally, a personal loan can have a higher allowable maximum DTI than a mortgage.
You may find personal loan companies willing to lend money to consumers with debt-to-income ratios of 50% or more, and some exclude mortgage debt from the DTI calculation. Thatâs because one of the most common uses of personal loans is to consolidate credit card debt, which can help you pay off debt faster and lower your DTI.
Does your DTI affect your credit score?
Your debt-to-income ratio does not affect your credit scores; credit-reporting agencies may know your income, but they don’t include it in their calculations.
Credit utilization, or the amount of credit youâre using compared with your credit limits, does affect your credit scores. Credit reporting agencies know your available credit limits, both on individual loan accounts and in total. Most experts advise keeping the balances on your cards no higher than 30% of your credit limit, and lower is better.
How to understand DTI ratio
DTI can help you determine how to handle your debt and whether you have too much debt.
Hereâs a general breakdown:
- DTI is less than 36%: Your debt is likely manageable, relative to your income. You shouldnât have trouble accessing new lines of credit.
- DTI is 36% to 42%: This level of debt could cause lenders concern, and you may have trouble borrowing money. Consider paying down what you owe. You can probably take a do-it-yourself approach; two common methods are debt avalanche and debt snowball.
- DTI is 43% to 50%: Paying off this level of debt may be difficult, and some creditors may decline applications for more credit. If you have primarily credit card debt, consider a credit card consolidation loan. You may also want to look into a debt management plan from a nonprofit credit counseling agency. Such agencies typically offer free consultations and will help you understand all of your debt relief options.
- DTI is over 50%: Paying down this level of debt will be difficult, and your borrowing options will be limited. Weigh different debt relief options, including bankruptcy, which may be the fastest and least damaging option.
Ways to lower your DTI ratio
Reduce your debt-to-income ratio to improve your chances of qualifying for future credit.
- Increase your income. Make more money by selling items online or starting a side gig, even for a short period, like babysitting or dog walking.
- Reduce your debt. Paying down your credit card balance can reduce your minimum monthly payments. Your DTI will also go down if you pay off installment loans, like student loans or a car loan.
- Refinance or consolidate debt. Refinancing or consolidating debt at a lower interest rate could lower your monthly payments and therefore reduce your DTI. Negotiating a longer repayment term could also lower your monthly debt payments, though you may wind up paying more interest over time.
- Avoid taking on additional debt. Try not to add to your credit card balance or take out additional loans if you want to lower your DTI.
Choice Home Warranty | Jan 15, 2016
Valentineâs Day is a great day to show your appreciation for the one you love. Often, itâs through greeting cards, romantic dates, flowers, and gifts. But for some couples, the key to a loved oneâs heart just might be in a few framed wedding photos around your home or a new fireplace for a cozy night. And better yet, your Valentine home improvement projects can be enjoyed for years rather than just a few moments or days. Start now on these home improvement projects to show you care for Valentineâs Day.
- Add a couple rocking chairs to your porch: Whether you have space on your front porch or out back, make your outdoor areas more couple friendly with a pair of chairs you can enjoy together.
- Update your lighting: Swap out harsh lighting for something softer and more flattering. Install dimmer switches to set the mood, update outdated fixtures with a new, more romantic design, and put in new bulbs with softer light.
- Install a wine fridge: Love to share wine together? Enjoy an even better experience with a new wine fridge for your kitchen.
- Hang an outdoor swing: Get ready for the spring and summer seasons with a cozy outdoor swing or hammock that you can enjoy together.
- Frame your bathroom mirror: Update the look of your bathroom quickly â and remind your loved one of your hard work and caring in completing this projct every morning when they look in the mirror. Reveal your finished project with a love note on the mirror.
- Organize kitchen cabinets: It hardly sounds romantic, but ask any harried home chef with messy cabinets, and theyâll tell you this gesture would win their hearts over. Invest in organizational tools such as divided storage, hangers, and even drawers for cabinets, and wow your loved one with kitchen storage theyâll enjoy using.
- Build a piece of furniture: Nothing says love more than spending the time to create a quality handcrafted piece of furniture made with the recipient in mind. Build a bookshelf for a book lover, a jewelry hanger, or even a practical storage solution for your entryway.
- Hang photos on your walls: Chances are, you have plenty of photos of you and your significant other together. But do you have them framed and hung in a place of honor? Show your loved one that you care and cherish your relationship by taking the time to print, frame, and hang photos of them or the both of you together on your walls at home. Need ideas? Look for photos from your wedding day, honeymoon, favorite vacation, or early days in your relationship to make them (and you) feel nostalgic.
- Upgrade bath fixtures: Turn your master bathroom into a more romantic haven with updated fixtures. Add a new fixture for faucets and put in new fixtures in your shower and tub for a new, more inviting look. Then plan a big reveal with a bubble bath.
- Plant a flower garden: Cut flowers are a nice gesture, but in the right climate, a garden of flowers that will last for weeks or months is a more enduring reminder of your love. Or, plant rose bushes for something more permanent. Plus, you can select flowers from your garden or rose bush for a home made bouquet.
- Buy new bedding: Refresh your bedroom and make your bed more enticing with fresh, new sheets. Take it a step further with a new bedspread or even a new headboard.
- Put in a fireplace: Nothing says cozy and romantic like a fireplace at home. But even if your home doesnât already have one, it is possible to get one installed. Freestanding units can be purchased and enjoyed within moments, and local installers can add one to your home as well. Rather take it outside? An outdoor fire pit is romantic, too.
- Carve out a ladiesâ retreat or man cave: Have a space in your home that youâre not really using? Clear out the junk and make it a place for your loved one to enjoy instead. Add furniture and touches that you know theyâll enjoy, such as wall paint in their favorite color, or the perfect storage solution for their favorite collection.
- Just fix it: Practically every couple has a project or two on their honey do list that gets overlooked. Think about the project that your loved one has been wanting to see done and make it happen.
It seems that the best parties in the winter all revolve around football. Even if you donât love sports, fear not. Throwing a Super Bowl party can be just as fun for the host as it is for sports fans. Stock up on tailgate snacks and slamminâ Super Bowl cocktails and letâs get going!
Bring on the Drinks
Football wouldnât be a great American sport without a great American beverage. Before the party, snag a local beer from the cities of the teams competing or pick up one of our favorite cheap beer brands for your shindig. If theyâre not into beer, pick a signature cocktail for each team based on their city, mascot or team colors. Mix up a pitcher of each drink ahead of time with a little splash of food coloring to match each teamâs jerseys.
Do a Dip
Cheesy dips are a staple of any legendary tailgate, and a Super Bowl party is no different. Look for a few creative recipes and choose one that is cheesy, one that is meaty, one that is spicy and one that is vegan to appease all the different taste preferences of your group. Look to these dip recipes for inspiration.
Build a Snack Stadium
To be the envy of all your friends (and the star of their Instagram stories) build yourself a snack stadium. Fill a few cardboard boxes or aluminum pans with all your favorite snacks (including some of these healthy Super Bowl recipes, for a well-balanced selection). Make a field out of a frosted cake and place it in the center. Learn how to build a snack stadium with our step-by-step guide.
Set the Scene
Make your guests feel like theyâre watching the game from the sidelines with plenty of creative decorations. From AstroTurf coasters to football drink stirrers to a festive concession stand sign, decorating for your party can be just as fun as the party itself. Decorate one half of the living room with one teamâs colors, and the other half of the living room with the other teamâs colors. Your guests can choose where they want to sit and cheer on their favorite team.
Wing It
The staple of any great sports viewing party is a tray of sticky, sweet and tangy chicken wings. Prepare a range of flavors from extra spicy to sweet and mild and have a few dipping sauces (like ranch or blue cheese dressing) on the side. Wings are the perfect finger food, but be sure to have plenty of cocktail napkins ready for these fall off the bone, finger-licking goods!
Show Your Spirit
Throw a competition to see who has the most (and most creative) team spirit in the group. Have a face painting kit at the ready with some colorful streamers and spray on hair dye. Challenge your friends to create the craziest costumes and have a makeshift catwalk for them to show off their team spirit.
Pick a Winning Dessert
What better way to wash down all those wings and beers than with sweet and decadent Super Bowl desserts! Help ease the pain for the losing team with a crowd-pleasing classic like caramel brownies or ice cream and cookie pie. Even if their team lost the game, we bet your guests will leave with a full belly and happy heart.
Originally Published: January 20, 2022
Dustin Hadley @that40yearguy is floored that this common household item (not baking soda) can erase fridge stink! You need to try this!! Check out the comments at what others are sharing! đ€Ż WATCH HERE
