Anaheim 3BR 2BA New listing - $400,000

Beautiful 3BR 2BA single story end unti with no one above or below you. It has a enclosed patio, kitchen with dining el and near the association pool. Almost 1200 sq ft. Please call for more information!
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Kristin Devlin
(949) 350-3771
Laguna Woods Homes & Real Estate

Laguna Woods Open Houses

Open House Sat 1-3PM at 253-G Calle Aragon, Gate 1, 2BR,2BA remodelled single story home., gorgeous!!! $299,000



OPEN HOUSE Sat,Sun,Mon 1-3PM , 4012 Calle Sonora, Gate 14, 2BR 2BA remodelled unit with wonderful pastoral view. See Photo $298,500 hosted by Linda Bethmann call for entry and information ph no = 949.636.6980
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Kristin Devlin
(949) 350-3771
Laguna Woods Homes & Real Estate

Laguna Woods Open House

Join me in an Open House in Leisure World....Remodelled Granada 2BR 2BA single story for $299,000. Open Sunday Sept 2 from 1-3PM..located near Gate 1 and walking distance to clubhouse 1.

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Kristin Devlin

949.350.3771

Laguna Woods Homes and Real Estate

Laguna Woods Open House

Join me in an Open House in Leisure World....Remodelled Granada 2BR 2BA single story for $299,000. Open Sunday Sept 2 from 1-3PM..located near Gate 1 and walking distance to clubhouse 1.

Laguna Woods Open House

Open House at 253- G Calle Aragon, Use Gate 1 (off El Toro Road) - Remodelled Granada 2BR, BA in great location overlooking green belt. Open 1-3PM Sunday Sept 2.

Laguna Woods, Open House Sunday

Open House at 253-G Calle Aragon, Gate 1 entrance off El Toro Rd. Gorgeous remodelled home including granite counters, new appliances, new bathrooms...all for $299,000. 2BR 2BA attached home in gate-guarded community.

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Kristin Devlin
(949) 350-3771
Laguna Woods Homes & Real Estate

Orange County clients

I am off to the beautiful city of Seattle for a little relaxation. I will be back with all of you on Monday

Kristin

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Kristin Devlin
(949) 350-3771
Laguna Woods Homes & Real Estate

Orange County Open Houses - Brea, Laguna Woods

Open House this Sunday!!!

148 Honeysuckle, Brea

Gorgeous single family detached home with 3Br2.5BA walking distance to the town center. New England style home with fenced yard for small children

Orange County Open House

BREA - Open House Sunday 1-4PM
148 Honeysuckle - 3BR 2.5 single family detached home complete with remodelled kitchen, newer tile floors and carpet. ready to move in. Short walking distance to shopping , restaurants, movie theatres and entertainment. Please stop by.

Orange County Economic News

The economy grew at a 3.4% pace in the second quarter, a big improvement over the 0.6% showing in the first three months of 2007 and better than the 3.2% growth rate economists were expecting, the Commerce Department reported July 27. Also in the second quarter, core prices -- excluding food and energy -- rose at a rate of just 1.4%, sharply down from a 2.4% pace in the first quarter and the smallest increase in four years.

Sales of new single-family homes dropped by 6.6% last month, a decline more than triple what analysts had expected, the Commerce Department reported July 26. New home sales are 22.3% below the level of a year ago.

Sales of existing homes fell 3.8%, a decline about twice what had been anticipated. Yet the median price of an existing home edged up to $230,100, 0.3% more than a year ago, the National Association of Realtors said July 25.

Investors - Want a Great, Affordable Deal

We just sold a property in Laguna Woods (Leisure World) listed at $150,000...a 2BR 2BA that makes financial sense! Deals like these do exist. Contact me for more information

Kristin
kristinsdevlin@aol.com

Orange County real estate looking good!

NAR Forecast: Brighter Days Ahead
Home prices are expected to recover in 2008 with existing-home sales picking up late this year and new-home sales rising early next year, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
"Buyers now have an overwhelming advantage given the wide selection of homes available in many markets," Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist said. "But with profit margins coming under pressure, homebuilders will limit new construction well into 2008. This should help the overall inventory level to move steadily into a more balanced state."
NAR says that existing-home sales are expected to total 6.11 million this year and 6.37 million in 2008, down from 6.48 million last year. New-home sales are projected at 865,000 in 2007 and 878,000 in 2008, compared with 1.05 million in 2006. Housing starts, including multifamily units, are forecast at 1.43 million units this year and 1.44 million in 2008, down from 1.80 million last year.
NAR says existing-home prices are likely to rise 1.8% to a median of $222,700 in 2008 after a 1.4% decline this year to $218,800. The median new-home price should rise 2.2% to $245,400 next year following a 2.6% drop in 2007 to $240,100.
"Markets that sharply reduce new construction in 2007 will generally experience respectable price increases in 2008," Yun said. "Local conditions vary considerably, but with historically low mortgage interest rates this summer and sustained job gains, it could be a good time for first-time buyers with a long-term view to test the housing waters."

OC - New listing- Single Family BREA

New listing on a newly remodelled single family home within walking distance of Brea town center....complete with local restaurants, bars, movie theatres, high end shops. This lovely Cape Cod style cottage home is on a quiet cul-de-sac which features new kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances in the eat-in kitchen, new highly upgraded carpet, tile and wood floors, fireplace in family room, 3BR - 2.5BA with over 1600 sq ft of living space (estimated). All for $719,000!!!

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY 1PM-4PM. Come see us.

Orange County & National Economic News

U.S. mortgage applications rose 1.1% for the week ended July 6, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported July 11. Applications were 10.5% above their year-ago level.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on July 11 that it expects existing-home sales to rise to nearly 6.4 million units in 2008, up from the 2007 estimate of more than 6.1 million. Nearly 6.5 million existing homes were sold in 2006, NAR said.

As for new homes, NAR projected sales of 865,000 in 2007, and 878,000 next year, but the 2008 projection would still be down more than 20% compared with the nearly 1.1 million new homes sold in 2006.

Consumer borrowing rose at an annual rate of 6.4% in May, far above the small 1.1% gain in April and double what analysts had forecast, the Federal Reserve reported July 9. According to David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's, some of the credit card surge reflects the fact that tightening bank standards are making home equity loans harder to obtain and home values are not soaring as they did during the housing boom.

Addressing a National Bureau of Economic Research conference on July 10, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke noted that Americans' expectations about inflation play an important role for Federal Reserve policy makers in their efforts to tame inflation. His talk dimmed hopes for a reduction in the Fed's key interest rate, which has held steady at 5.25% for just over a year.

This week look for updates on the Producer Price Index on July 17 and the Consumer Price Index on July 18.

LAGUNA WOODS OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 2-4PM

Gorgeous remodel 2BR 2BA single story with VIEW waiting for the right buyer! Come by to see and visit

253-G Calle Aragon
Laguna Woods,CA

ONLY $319,000!!!

CAll for directions and gate entrance
kristin 949.350.3771

SEE YOU THERE

Open House Sat 1:30PM-4PM

Please join me at my open house on Saturday July 14th. This is my 2BR 1BA move-in condition single story for $204,900!!!
760-D Calle Aragon
Laguna Woods,CA

Call me for directions and gate entrance
kristin 949.350.3771

Orange County Housing

Last Week in the News
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The nation's service economy expanded at a faster-than-expected pace in June, as the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on July 5 that its index of business activity in the non-manufacturing sector registered 60.7, topping May's reading of 59.7 and Wall Street's forecast of 58.1. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below 50 signals contraction. The June reading was the highest since April 2006, when it hit 61.1.

Late payments on home equity loans -- payments that are 30 days or more past due -- rose to 2.15% in the first quarter of this year, up sharply from 1.92% in the final quarter of 2006, the American Bankers Association (ABA) reported July 3. On a brighter note, the ABA also reported that late payments on credit card bills dropped to 4.41% in the first quarter, down from 4.56% in the fourth quarter of 2006, the best showing in nearly a year.

The average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a one-month low, Freddie Mac said July 5. Rates have ebbed in recent weeks as investors' fears concerning inflation have eased.

Laguna Woods, Open House Today

OPEN HOUSE - 253-G Calle Aragon 2-4PM
2BR 2BA REMODELED & BEAUTIFULLY STAGED GEM in heart of Leisure World. 27 holes of golf, club houses, loads of activities and tennis. Please stop by. Call me if you need entrance ok as it is a gate-guarded community.
949.350.3771
Thanks Kristin

Laguna Woods Testimonial Letter from Satisfied Seller

From: Joseph Preti
132 W. bluff dr.
Port Angeles, WA 98362-9544

To: Lisa Scultz
Evergreen Realty
9901 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618

Dear Lisa,
You don’t know me but I have recently worked with Kristin Devlin, one of your agents from Evergreen Realty. As a retired business person, I write a great deal of letters. I write letters when I am disappointed with the service I receive and I also write letters when I received excellent service. This letter falls into the latter category.
Kristin took over the sale of my property at 603 G Avenida Sevilla, Laguna Woods when the agent who was handling the transaction had to leave town and recommended her. I had no prior knowledge of Kristin and could only hope that my former agent had made a good recommendation. I came to find that she had not made a good recommendation but a great one! Kristin’s knowledge of the area combined with her dedicated work ethic were immediately apparent.
She made several excellent recommendations right from the start. These included; staging the unit so it would show in a most favorable way and helping me with the listing price for the unit. I had the unit on the market when the California market went into a terrible slump but through it all Kristin worked very hard showing the unit and always kept me well informed of what was happening.
Once the unit was sold many issues arose that could have prevented the sale. This was further complicated by the fact that I reside in the state of Washington and could not physically handle any of the details that surfaced. Kristin dug in and made trips to the city of Laguna Woods and PCM to keep the sale moving forward. This included getting permits and approvals for work that had to be done. These trips were time consuming and frustrating due to misinformation and contradictory procedures. To expedite matters she even laid out moneys trusting that she would be reimbursed. Much of what she did was above and beyond the call of duty and once again I was always kept informed not only with what was happening but with Kristin’s excellent advice as how to proceed.
Kristin was friendly and professional. Her commitment to selling my unit and her extensive knowledge made the sale of my co-op unit as hassle and stress free as possible.
It is rare today, in least in my opinion, to be able to work with someone who cares about you as a person above and beyond the commission they are going to receive. I have worked with several realtors due to relocation's in my professional life and many of them made pie in the sky promises but delivered far less. Kristin was the opposite of these experiences.
In closing, I would give Kristin my highest recommendation and wanted you to know how grateful I am for the hard work she did on my behalf in selling my property.

Joseph Preti
UPS Pacific Region Training Manager (retired)

Laguna Woods, Leisure World Information

Hi Everyone,
As I hold open houses, I am asked some questions over and over so I decided to answer some of the more frequently asked questions over the next few days. If you have any you would like to ask, please feel free to email me at kristinsdevlin@aol.com. This information was taken from the Community Information pubished by Laguna Woods Village.

HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY?
- there are over 18,000 people listed as residents in the community

WHAT IS THE MONTHLY ASSOCIATION FEE?
- there are monthly assessments and they vary amoung dwelling units, each depending upon the mutual and the amenities the building has i.e. laundries, elevators etc. Assessments include exterior maintenance, landscape, water, security and recreational activities. The average monthly cost is $400 for these services. For co-ops the assessments includes both property taxes and the FHA-insured loan mortgage payments (many have the FHA loan paid off now), increasing the monthly fees by $200. The monthly fee at the Towers, which provides one dinner meal and housekeeping services, is considerably higher.

WHAT IS MEANT BY COOPERATIVE HOUSING?
- Cooperative housing refers to the cooperative form of ownership of the mutual's property by the housing corporation, which in turn is owned by the shareholders in the corporation. Ownership of the stock may be inherited, transferred or sold, with the approval of the corporation's board of directors. Coops were developed with FHA guaranteed 40-year loans. Repayment of these loans are included in the monthly assessment and automatically assumed by the buyer at the time of sale. The last loan will be paid off in 2009 and a large number are already paid off.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE TO MOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY?
- In accordance with Section 51.3 of the California Civil Code, effective January 1, 1985, at least one person occupying a unit must be 55 years of age to qualify for occupancy. Co-occupants must be at least 45 years of age. Certain exceptions (like spouses) are permitted under the law.

CAN YOU PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES OR IF YOU ARE UNDER 55 YEARS OF AGE?
- Yes. There is no age restriction for those wishing to purchase a unit, although United Laguna Hills Mutual does have certain leasing and occupancy restrictions.

Orange County- Economic News

Last Week in the News
Fueled by a surge in gasoline prices,May's Consumer Price Index increased by 0.7%, its fastest pace in 20 months, the Labor Dept reported June 15. However, core consumer prices, which exclude volaitle food and energy costs, rose only 0.1%, slightly lower thatn the 0.2% analysts had predicted.

The Producer Price INdex, which measures inflation at the wholesale level, rose 0.9%, worse than the 0.6% increase econmists had expected. Yet, wholesale core inflation increase a moderate 0.2%, slightly better than the 0.3% hike analysts had anitcipated.

Meanwhile, compared to April, retail sales in May surged 1.4%, the sharpest rise in 16 months and double the increase analysts had expected, the Commerce Dept said June 13. The increase should ease fears that consumer spending, which accounts for 2/3 of the economy, could falter in coming months under the impact of rising gasloine prices, a challenging housing market and recent increases in interest rates.

Rates on 30yr mortgages rose for a fifth straight week, hitting the highest level in 11 months, Freddie MAc said June 14. The rise parallels rising yields on Treasury securities.

Foreclosures for May were up 19% from April and up nearly 90% from May 2006, Realty Tac reported June 14.

Laguna Woods View View View

REMODELED GORGEOUS 2BR 2BA with Wonderful View!!! Kitchen to die for..open to dining area and view. No steps to one level home. All for $314,000. A must see!

View this listing at 4012 Calle Sonora Oeste, Laguna Woods,CA

Laguna Woods 2BR 2BA single story

$319,000

Gorgeous remodel in great location overlooking tree-lined greenbelt.Sinlge story with no one above or below. Kitchen with granite countertops, built-in microwave, dishwasher, side-by-side refrigerator with ice maker.

To view this listing:

Laguna Woods New Listing 2 BR $209,000

Beautiful sunlit single story end unit overlooking greenbelt. Tiled atrium, skylight in bathroom, light plush carpet. Laundry, carport nearby. Association amenities include 27 holes of golf, tennis, theatre, free bus service and more.



MLS# S486843

Welcome to the Orange County CA Real Estate Update

Watch this space for the new real estate information blog for Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Newport Coast and Irvine from Kristin Shimaji-Devlin. Look to us for timely news, market updates, hot new listings and more!