Wednesday, October 7, 2020

OCTOBER 2020 ORANGE COUNTY REAL ESTATE NEWS

 

Horton Team Real Estate Newsletter
OCTOBER 2020
We are continuing to observe unprecedented fall-time buyer demand and low seller inventory. Check out the graph below for a comparison of seasonal demand between 2020 and the previous few years. Further information about today's market as well as tips for preparing your home for sale can be found below.

Any real estate questions about your specific home or area? We are here to be of assistance!
Happy September, Amanda, Pamela & Jace 

WHY SELLING THIS FALL MAY BE THE RIGHT MOVE

Source: KeepingCurrentMatters.com

1. Buyer demand is overwhelmingly present

ShowingTime, a leading real estate showing software and market stat service provider, just reported that buyer traffic jumped 60.7% compared to this time last year. That’s a huge increase.

It’s clear that buyers are ready, willing, and able to purchase – and they’re in the market right now. Take a look at the graph above to see how many more pending sales are happening compared to previous years. Now is the time to take advantage of this buyer activity if you plan to sell your house on the most favorable terms.

2. Inventory is low

In the latest Existing Home Sales Report, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced that there were only 1.49 million units available for sale. That number was down 18.6% from one year ago. This means in the majority of the country, there aren’t enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers.

Due to the health crisis, many homeowners were reluctant to list their homes earlier this year. That may change as the economy continues it's recovery. The choices buyers have will increase going into the new year. Don’t wait until additional sellers come to market before you decide to make a move.

3. Loan rates are increasing affordability for all

Home loan rates have been creeping down and are now at historic lows with no signs of changing anytime soon. This trend is bringing affordable mortgage payments to more and more people, and are leading some to the conclusion that they can afford more "house" than they think. See the graph below for mortgage rates throughout 2020. (Starting the year at around 3.7%, now dipping below 2.9%)
 

Even if you aren't planning on buying a home in the near future, now could be a great time to at least look into refinancing!

  

HOMEBUYER'S WISHLIST:
SELLING A HOME IN 2020

 

If you’re selling in the fall, be sure to add these tips to your list of to-dos:

1. Boost Curb Appeal

A home buyer’s first impression of your home is the outside of your home. It’s crucial that you do your best to maintain the exterior the entire time it’s on the market. In the springtime, everyone is excited to get outside and clean up the house but by summer or fall your house could fall behind. Here are a few tips to get your home looking up to par:

• Remove weeds coming up from cracks in the driveway, walkways and in the gardens
• Trim back any overgrown bushes or brush and remove any dead branches or unsightly growth
• Keep up with raking as the leaves start to fall
• Make sure all the bulbs are working on exterior lights and turn them on at dusk because prospective buyers may drive by and this will ensure that your home looks welcoming at all hours.

2. Make it Move-in Ready

Home buyers don’t want to take care of various home improvements around the house. Go through and make the improvements that will make your home move-in ready. These improvements could include:

• New carpeting if the existing floors are damaged and very old
• Fresh neutral-colored paint job to cover stains, marks on walls, or bright uncommon colors
• Replace damaged screens or faucets
• Repair any scratches on cabinets or floors
• Replace any broken windows or doors
• Clear your gutters and roof
• Keep décor neutral
• Minimize how personal your décor is; remove most (not all) of the family photos and kid’s artwork to depersonalize the home
• Organize the basement and garage so buyers don’t feel overwhelmed by the prospect of moving

3. Make it Cozy

As the cooler weather rolls in throughout the fall, home buyers naturally want to purchase a home that feels cozy. Add warming candles, pleasing aromas or fall baked goods. Also, ensure that your home is a comfortable temperature inside. We often see homeowners changing the thermostat to save money but you want to make sure when your potential home buyer leaves, that they remember a welcoming, comfortable home that they want to go back to. 

 

CURRENT LISTINGS

Laguna Beach

VIRTUAL TOURS AND
IN PERSON SHOWINGS AVAILABLE

All Safety Measures in Place, Including Proper Forms and Protective Coverings
840 La Mirada St - $1,374,500
3 bd, 2 ba, 1,664 sqft
840LaMirada.com
394 E. 20th, Costa Mesa - $989,000
2 bed home, Eastside location, pool
394E20th.com
885 La Mirada Lot - $599,000
25' x 100' Ocean View Buildable Lot
LaMiradaLot.com

IN ESCROW

Orange County

22200 Paseo Del Sur - $3,295,000
3 bd, 3.5 ba, 3,450 sqft
Representing Sellers
22200Paseo.com
30802 Coast Hwy K29 - $259,000
Laguna Terrace 2010 manufactured home on leased land.
Three bedrooms, remodeled, private yard, hillside vistas.
Representing Seller
CoastK29.com 

JUST SOLD

 

54 Via Armilla, San Clemente
4 bedroom home in Talega
$1,108,000
Represented Buyer
31345 Holly Dr Laguna Beach
Leased for $9,100/month

Represented Owners

MARKET STATISTICS

Laguna Beach - October 2020

Active - 188 (Down 10% vs. last month)
Pending - 60 (Down 15% vs. last month)
Sold in September - 61 (Up 15% vs August)
Under $1,000,000 - 6
$1,000,000 - $2,000,000 - 22
$2,000,000 - $3,000,000 - 18
$3,000,000 - $5,000,000 - 9
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000 - 6
$10,650,000 - 1
 
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THE HORTON TEAM

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