SEPTEMBER 2019 ORANGE COUNTY REAL ESTATE NEWS

Horton Team Real Estate Newsletter September 2019

WHICH HOME IMPROVEMENTS BEFORE SALE? We have been busy consulting our clients on which improvements to make prior to selling their homes. Whether you're thinking of selling in the near or far future, we are always willing to come to your home and tell you what you should spend on and what you should not. One listing in escrow we consulted on a list of improvements, helped facilitate repairs and then consulted on how to stage the home with the owner's existing furnishings. The home sold within 2 days on the market in large part due to the preparations made. Please call on us with questions, we welcome the opportunity to map out together which improvments to facilitate so your home will present it's best! We hope you enjoy this article below with a few initial tips from Realtor.com. Our Best, Amanda, Pamela & Jace   11 Surprisingly Tiny Home Quirks That Can Stop a Sale in Its Tracks Source: Realtor.com September 4, 2019  Ever spend the night at a friend’s or relative’s house where they reveal some quirky shortcoming in their home? Say, the light switch in the guest room works the opposite way you'd expect (down for on, up for off), or you have to jiggle the toilet handle a few times to make it flush. These foibles might not seem like a big deal, but they could be—if you're trying to sell your house. You can never predict what switch a buyer will turn on or what door a buyer will open. If one thing isn't right, it sends a message to the buyer's brain saying, 'If this small thing is broken, what major things are?'" But what, specifically, are some of the most common quirks that could turn off buyers? Here are some of the flaws that you really should repair if you hope for a swift and smooth home sale. 1. Stuck front door Don’t make it so the agent has to shove a shoulder into the front door to open it. You need a welcoming and well-working front door that swings open and closes smoothly without much effort. A carpenter can usually make a well-worth-it adjustment to the frame for sticky doors. 2. Wobbly ceiling fan Ever see one of those wobbling, rattling fans in action? It’s not pretty. Tighten or replace ceiling fans that look like they are about to take flight from the ceiling, so they don’t send buyers running for cover. 3. Backward hot and cold water faucets Nothing says failed DIY like cold water coming out when the hot water is turned on, and hot water coming out when cold is turned on. If you have switched faucets or pipes, set them right or hire a plumber. 4. Shaky banister The screws are about to fall out and your stair railing is so shaky the next guest could take a tumble. This issue is not only unsightly but also downright dangerous. Check banisters, stair supports, and any railings to make sure they are secured properly. 5. Overstuffed closets No squeaky doors and hinges or off-the-track rollers allowed. Have everything neatly organized and have all closets and cabinets at least 20% empty. Overstuffed storage tells the buyer, "This home doesn't have enough space!" 6. Cranky garage door Make sure your garage door opens smoothly and without excess noise.You might know how to get that garage door up, but you don’t want the agent struggling with it when he or she is showing the house. 7. Noisy toilet A noisy toilet often just needs a new toilet flapper. For under $10, you can ensure your toilet flushes well, because inevitably, someone will use the restroom at your open house. 8. Propped-up windows Repair or replace windows that need to be propped open because their spring is shot. If a bathroom window is propped open with shampoo bottles this is not a look that gets offers. 9. Backyard gate that drags on the ground You don’t want the agent opening the gate to your beautiful garden only to hear it scrape noisily on the pavers, concrete, or ground. Gates should be trimmed and adjusted over time so they continue to open smoothly about 2 inches off the ground. 10. Squeaky floors Over time, nails in the subfloor loosen and rub, creating that squeak. If you can’t get to your subfloor easily to install a few screws, try sprinkling talcum powder around the noisy floorboards and sweeping into cracks in the floor to shush squeaks. 11. Unprofessional patch jobs Putty, caulk, and paint make the carpenter what he isn't, referencing the liberal use of these materials by some sellers to put cosmetic bandages over imperfections in a home. Lots of holes are filled with caulk instead of being properly patched, cardboard wedged into doors to keep them closed instead of having the lock adjusted, or painted-over water spots on walls or ceilings instead of repairing the source of the leak.Have leaks and damage repaired properly.   JUST SOLD in Laguna Beach 397 Weymouth, Laguna Beach Represented Seller Sale Price: $7,370,000 5bd, 5.5ba, 4949 sqft 10 Bay Drive, Laguna Beach Represented Buyer Sale Price: $5,340,000 4bd, 5.5ba, 3,418 sqft 605 Glomstad Lane, Laguna Beach Represented Seller Sale Price: $1,173,200 2bd, 1ba, 798 sqft IN ESCROW Laguna Beach 12 N. Portola, Laguna Beach Representing Seller List Price: $3,395,000 3bd, 3ba, 2441 sqft 3143 Bonn Drive, Laguna Beach Representing Seller List Price: $1,750,000 4bd, 3ba, 2057 sqft Laguna Canyon, Laguna Beach Representing Buyer List Price: $799,000 2bd, 1ba, 800 sqft CURRENT LISTINGS Laguna Beach 22191 Rico - $2,995,000 3 bd, 3.5 ba, 3286 sqft www.22191Rico.com 31012 Aliso Circle - $2,499,000 3 bd, 2.5 ba, 2301 sqft www.31012Aliso.com 1585 S. Coast #4 - $1,899,000 3 bd, 2 ba, 1448 sqft www.1585Coast4.com Coming Soon - La Mirada Street 2 bd, 1 ba, 1,189 sqft house 2500 sqft buildable lot MARKET STATISTICS Laguna Beach Active - 295 Pending -  69 Sold in August - 27 Under $1,000,000 - 4 $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 - 6 $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 - 8 $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 - 4 $5,000,000 - $6,000,000- 3 $13,495,000 - 1 $19,000,000 - 1 Learn More THE HORTON TEAM www.HortonsinLaguna.com

AMANDA HORTON C 949.422.6122 EMAIL AMANDA DRE#01357096 PAMELA HORTON C 949.633.6667 EMAIL PAMELA DRE#01013024 JACE HORTON C 714.833.1730 EMAIL JACE DRE#02050612

JULY/AUGUST 2019 ORANGE COUNTY REAL ESTATE NEWS

Horton Team Real Estate Newsletter July-August 2019

SUMMER SLOWDOWN Source: Stephen Thomas - Orange County Housing Report Due to fewer pending sales, the overall housing market is not as hot as it used to be. Active inventory remains high, and demand is beginning to mute, as it normally does around this time of year. However, exceptionally low interest rates have improved affordability. For a $650,000 loan at 5% (a common rate several months ago), the monthly payment was $386 higher than it would be now for the same loan at 4%. Looking at pending sales statistics, it appears that this new affordability has not been a catalyst for strong sales this year. Comparing this year's current market to the market of two years ago when it was a hotter market leaning towards favoring sellers, we see that demand (pending sales) is down 15% compared to 2017, inventory is up 26% (15% up from just last year), and closed sales are down 16% compared to 2017. Long story short, while affordability has increased lately, there is an underlying issue buyers have with today's market that is keeping them picky and cautious. Handsome appreciation in home prices may be the culprit, with prices locally rising up to 70% in certain local areas since 2012. These prices combined with having plenty of inventory to choose from may be contributing to buyer pickiness. With this sluggish demand trend expected to continue throughout the second half of 2019, sellers should expect fewer closed sales and a market where pricing will be absolutely crucial to find success. JUST SOLD in Laguna Beach 1098 Wykoff, Laguna Beach Represented Seller Sale Price: $1,450,000 3bd, 3ba, 1,634 sqft 31984 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach Represented Buyer Sale Price: $1,195,000 2bd, 2ba, 980 sqft 21711 Wesley Dr #B, Laguna Beach Represented Buyer & Seller Sale Price: $655,000 2bd, 1ba, 900 sqft IN ESCROW Laguna Beach Lower Three Arch Bay, Laguna Beach Representing Buyer List Price: $5,900,000 3bd, 2ba, 3,418 sqft Laguna Niguel Representing Buyer List Price: $1,078,000 4bd, 3ba, 2,552 sqft CURRENT LISTINGS Laguna Beach 397 Weymouth Pl - $7,750,000 5 bd, 7 ba, 4,949 sqft www.397Weymouth.com 12 N Portola - $3,395,000 3 bd, 3 ba, 2,441 sqft www.12NPortola.com 22191 Rico Road - $3,150,000 3 bd, 4 ba, 3,460 sqft www.22191Rico.com 31012 Aliso Circle - $2,579,000 3 bd, 3 ba, 2,301 sqft 1585 S. Coast #4 - $1,949,000 3 bd, 2 ba, 1,448 sqft www.1585Coast4.com 605 Glomstad Lane - $1,189,000 2 bd, 2 ba, 798 sqft www.605GlomstadLn.com MARKET STATISTICS Laguna Beach Active - 324 Pending - 55 Sold in June - 34 Sold in July - 27 June Under $1,000,000 - 4 $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 - 14 $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 - 8 $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 - 7 $7,400,000 - 1 July Under $1,000,000 - 3 $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 - 12 $2,000,000 - $3,000,000 - 1 $3,000,000 - $5,000,000 - 7 $5,000,000 - $10,000,000 - 2 $11,750,000 - 1 $13,000,000 - 1 Learn More THE HORTON TEAM www.HortonsinLaguna.com

AMANDA HORTON C 949.422.6122 EMAIL AMANDA DRE#01357096 PAMELA HORTON C 949.633.6667 EMAIL PAMELA DRE#01013024 JACE HORTON C 714.833.1730 EMAIL JACE DRE#02050612