Condo or “Home Home”…the Pros and Cons

Recently, I’ve come across several buyers who deliberate on whether they should buy a condo/townhome or a traditional single family home (you know, the kind that usually have bigger back yards and are NOT in an association). So what exactly are the pluses and minuses of owning a condo/townhome and owning a single family residence? Condos (which include townhomes as far as the MLS is concerned) are good for the following reasons: Most are “low maintenance,” meaning the yards (if it has one) are usually small, less grass to cut, less weeds to pull, less greenery to water, etc. This is attractive for busy people who don’t have time to deal with it and don’t need the bigger yard. The HOA (Home Owners Association) is actually a PLUS sometimes. Let me give you an example: Some HOA’s cover the roof of the property. So, let’s say we have heavy rains. The roof leaks. The HOA property manager is contacted, who, in turn contacts the roofing vendor. The work is done at the expense of the HOA. Roof repair for Orange County, CA homes can run extremely high, especially in extreme situations where the roof needs to be completely replaced. This would be a HUGE out-of-pocket expense for someone who owns in a traditional neighborhood. The buyer of a condo is advised to look into exactly what the HOA covers. Some cover a TON, some cover very little and you’re scratching your head wondering why the dues are $333 a month. Condos in Orange County tend to be newer on average than traditional home-homes. Now, that isn’t to say that there aren’t older condo tracts, but condo/townhomes generally are newer than sfr’s. Newer construction equates to less potential problems with the plumbing, electrical, etc. Condos can be bad for the following reasons: The HOA’s can be horrible…some run over $300 per month and you’re looking around asking, “For WHAT?!?” Some HOA’s can be excessive in terms of rules and regulations and oppressive. I’ve heard stories of HOA’s writing up violations for silly things like plants growing to large or dogs peeing in wrong places. Don’t get me wrong…sometimes rules can be good and in the best interest for everyone, but I’ve seen when the Board members are sheriffs on the look out for anything out of line….like the lady in Over the Hedge who measured the grass of her neighbor’s lawn, 2″ height requirement. Because of the HOA, you are limited to what you can do to your property. Especially on the outside of the property, visible from the street. So, no painting that cracked wheat color, no addition to the home without the HOA’s approval via architectural request. Individual creativity and expression is usually not encouraged in an HOA. On the positive side, however, this limiting of artistic creativity or color preference can be a good thing — Do you really want your neighbor to paint their house turquoise? Size. Condos and townhomes generally are smaller than your traditional family home. This obviously is not always the case, but is a generalization. Single Family “Home Homes” are good for the following reasons: They usually have bigger yards. This is good for the person or family that likes to entertain a lot of people and need space for the pool, BBQ, sport court, lawn activities, etc. Some people like the wide open space, the distance between their home from their neighbor’s house. There usually aren’t restrictions on what you can do (city must approve additions, improvements, however). It’s nice to know you can paint the home YOUR favorite color or park your car in the driveway or next to the curb or have people stay over the night, weekend, or week. For pet lovers, they can have as many pets as the city ordinance allows. Neighborhood. You usually find the “settle down” kind of people in neighborhoods of single family homes. These are neighborhoods that have history. Sometimes people look after each other, take care of the pets and yard when you go on vacation. Community block parties…and these neighboring families can become so close that they actually become like an extended family. This is very attractive to the outgoing people that love community and interaction with people. Single Family Homes can be bad for the following reasons: The bigger yards mean more TIME spent gardening (if you don’t have a gardener). It means more up-keep and responsibility. Some care, and some don’t. A pool is awesome for kids and their friends in the summer, but can be a liability if someone gets hurt or drowns. No HOA means no insurance coverage for the exterior of the dwelling…you’re on your own if there is a flood in the home or a leak in the roof or a fire breaks out in the master bedroom. It’s you and your invidual insurance company. Need help selling your home? Need to find a home? Call or email me!!! Nic Petrossi, Prudential CA Realty in Brea (714) 272-3646 npetrossi@yahoo.com http://www.NicPetrossi.com

Steps for Buying a Home and Placentia Homes Market Update from Placentia Real Estate Expert Nic Petrossi

As of July 13, 2009 below is a list of all homes in Placentia that are regular sales, not short sales or bank owned. 

Call Nic Petrossi (714) 272-3646 with Prudential or email npetrossi@yahoo.com

Step #1:  Contact a Bank or Mortgage Broker to run (not ruin, run) your credit and get a Pre-Qualification Letter.  (these are sometimes referred to as a “Pre-Approval” letter). 

Step #2:  Contact Nic Petrossi to have him search for homes in the price range you have been pre-approved to buy in.

Step #3:  Buy a home in Placentia, Yorba Linda, Brea, Fullerton, Anaheim Hills.  (These cities (east side of Fullerton when you’re talking about Fullerton), have very few foreclosures and have been insulated from the “foreclosure anchors” that have been pulling down home prices all over the nation and even in other cities in Orange County.  Northeast Orange County is, in my opinion, one of the safest places to buy, physically, but also economically.

Mon, Jul 13, 2009 03:35 PM

RES	MLS #	Status	P	V	H	T	Q	Type	A/D	Address	City	Area	Zip	TGNO	Trct/M	Bd	B t/f	Sty	Gar	SqFt	Yr Blt	Price	DOM
1	P694066	A	2		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1616 Oak	PLA	84	92870	739J7	OTHR/0	2	1/1	1	1	910	1949	$130,000	7
2	S580639	A	12		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	182 Southampton Way 31	PLA	84	92870	739F5	HOTG/0	2	2/1	2	1 D	897	1972	$197,000	7
3	P692110	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	500 S Van Buren St	PLA	84	92870	0000×00	OTHR/0	3	2/2	1	1	1,270	1932	$249,900	24
4	P691960	A	9		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	111 S Lakeview Ave 111j	PLA	84	92870	740B7	OTHR/1	2	2/2	2	1	930	1990	$259,000	26
5	P691929	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	819 Tafolla St	PLA	84	92870	0000×00	OTHR/0	5	2/2	1	1	1,250	1953	$259,900	24
6	P694606	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	A	1445 Prospect Ave C	PLA	84	92870	739J4	OTHR/3	3	3/1	2	1 D	1,437	1964	$294,000	6
7	S567872	A	8		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	1541 Ismail Pl	PLA	84	92870	739J7	ALPL/6	2	2/2	2	1 A	1,000	1998	$335,000	139
8	P692419	A	18		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	957 La Paz Rd 48	PLA	84	92870	739H5	LOSB/0	2	3/1	2	2 A	1,233	1986	$369,000	4
9	P693948	A	9		H	T	Q	SFR	A	300 Los Padres Ln	PLA	84	92870	739F7	PLVG/1	3	2/2	1	2 A	1,314	1976	$380,000	10
10	P687727	A	6		H	T	Q	SFR	A	212 Preakness Dr	PLA	84	92870	740B6	PLKN/0	2	3/1	2	2 A	1,528	1981	$389,900	58	*
11	S579585	A	11		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	1447 Via Cortez	PLA	84	92870	739F4	OTHR/1	4	3/2	2	2	1,615	1972	$395,000	17
12	S560648	A	4		H	T	Q	SFR	A	1517 SHERWOOD VILLAGE Cir	PLA	84	92870	739H4	SHER/2	3	3/2	2	2	1,346	1974	$415,000	182
13	P660218	A	5		H	T	Q	SFR	A	2485 Arrow Cir	PLA	84	92870	739F2	WOOD/1	2	3/2	2	2	1,325	1975	$435,000	276	*
14	P691499	A	8		H	T	Q	CONDO	D	1565 Hastings Way	PLA	84	92870	739J6	OTHR/0	3	3/2	2	2 A	1,560	1998	$449,000	28
15	P692112	A	1		H	T	Q	CONDO	D	1753 E Hayes Ct	PLA	84	92870	739J6	OTHR/0	3	3/2	2	2 A	1,715	1999	$449,000	24
16	P694909	A	8		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1507 N Victoria Way	PLA	84	92870	739D4	SHDH/0	3	3/2	2	2 A	2,112	1978	$489,900	1
17	P681484	A	5		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1719 N Mccormack Ln	PLA	84	92870	739G4	OTHR/1	4	2/2	1	2	1,684	1963	$525,000	107
18	P592086	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	643 E Highlander Ave	PLA	84	92870	739G4	OTHR/0	4	2/1	1	2 A	1,539	1969	$530,000	720	*
19	P693485	A	19		H	T	Q	SFR	D	2336 Cebu Ct	PLA	84	92870	739G2	OTHR/-	4	3/1	1	2 A	1,976	1964	$535,000	13
20	P681474	A	15		H	T	Q	SFR	D	2026 Tuffree Blvd	PLA	84	92870	739E3	OTHR/5	5	3/2	2	2 A	2,435	1964	$550,000	115
21	P693357	A	6		H	T	Q	SFR	D	214 Patrician Ln	PLA	84	92870	739F3	OTHR/-	4	2/2	1	2 A	1,784	1963	$569,500	13
22	P682274	A	4		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1323 Vina Del Mar Pl	PLA	84	92870	739J5	ALPL/1	5	3/2	2	3	2,226	1965	$575,000	82	*
23	P689511	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	2120 Heloise Way	PLA	84	92870	739G3	OTHR/1	4	3/1	2	2 A	2,190	1963	$579,000	62	*
24	P693954	A	12		H	T	Q	SFR	D	660 Longfellow Dr	PLA	84	92870	739G3	OTHR/0	3	3/2	1	3	1,808	1972	$590,000	10
25	MRM-C09023975	A	4		H	T	Q	SFR	D	519 LEE Pl	PLA	84	92870	739E4	/	3	2/2	1	2 A	1,682	1963	$592,000	137
26	P662449	A	14		H	T	Q	SFR	D	177 Los Alamitos Cir	PLA	84	92870	740A6	MARP/0	4	3/3	2	2 A	2,172	1980	$599,900	260	*
27	P692930	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	574 E Milano St	PLA	84	92870	739G5	MONS/1	3	3/2	2	2	2,384	1993	$610,000	6	*v
28	P652037	A	14		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1454 E Evans Ln	PLA	84	92870	739J6	OTHR/*	3	2/2	1	3	1,716	1995	$615,000	332	*
29	P684841	A	16		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1542 Shenandoah St	pla	84	92870	739f4	OTHR/.	3	2/1	1	2	1,525	1968	$625,000	80
30	P692471	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	607 La Marr Ln	PLA	84	92870	739G6	FAIR/0	3	3/1	2	2	1,953	1995	$629,900	20
31	P685496	A	13		H	T	Q	SFR	D	606 Hollyhock Ln	PLA	84	92870	739F6	SEQH/1	4	3/2	1	2	2,460	1979	$635,000	75	*
32	L29923	A	20	V	H	T	Q	SFR	D	1619 Rock River	PLA	84	92870	739f4	OTHR/0	4	3/0	2	3	2,468	1968	$644,900	46	*
33	P664714	A	10		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1525 Shaver Way	PLA	84	92870	739F4	POND/1	5	3/2	2	3 A	2,360	1967	$650,000	250	*
34	P694149	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	213 Garfield Ave	PLA	84	92870	739F3	STNG/.	4	3/1	2	3 A	2,554	1966	$699,000	7
35	P694391	A	13	V	H	T	Q	SFR	D	825 Newton Ln	PLA	84	92870	739G6	MDTF/0	3	3/2	2	3 A	2,410	1993	$699,000	6
36	P685248	A	9	V	H	T	Q	SFR	D	919 San Juan Ln	PLA	84	92870	739G7	OTHR/O	4	3/2	2	3	2,453	1976	$699,900	79	*
37	P666582	A	2		H	T	Q	SFR	D	968 Finnell Way	PLA	84	92870	739G6	FWAV/2	4	3/2	2	3	2,450	1984	$699,950	227
38	P694757	A	18		H	T	Q	SFR	D	425 Nevin Ln	PLA	84	92870	739J6	OTHR/*	5	3/2	2	3 A	2,860	1994	$700,000	3
39	P681931	A	14		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1211 Campanis Ln	PLA	84	92870	739H7	OTHR/1	3	2/2	1	2	2,100	2005	$729,000	103	*
40	P671308	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	330 Oberle Pl	PLA	84	92870	739H7	OTHR/1	3	2/2	1	2	2,217	2003	$749,000	182	*
41	P693867	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1234 Campanis Ln	PLA	84	92870	739H7	OTHR/5	4	3/2	2	3 A	2,600	2005	$749,900	10
42	P684100	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	508 Shoshoni Ave	PLA	84	92870	739F2	OTHR/4	4	3/3	2	3 A	2,832	1972	$750,000	87
43	P694334	A	18		H	T	Q	SFR	D	2237 Montgomery Cir	PLA	84	92870	739E2	OTHR/0	5	5/4	2	3 A	3,556	1976	$795,000	6
44	P691562	A	19		H	T	Q	SFR	D	400 Purdy Ave	PLA	84	92870	739F2	OTHR/1	4	3/2	2	3 A	3,177	1968	$795,500	27
45	S576093	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	436 Kiolstad Dr	PLA	84	92870	739F2	OTHR/1	5	3/3	2	3	3,077	1966	$824,000	45
46	P687729	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1149 E Maertzweiler Dr	PLA	84	92870	739H6	HQT/0	4	4/4	2	3 A	2,900	2001	$825,000	61	*v
47	P680203	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	432 Oberle Pl	PLA	84	92870	739H6	OTHR/4	4	3/3	2	3	2,900	2004	$855,000	117	*
48	MRM-H09060435	A	0		H	T	Q	CBO	D	125 S MELROSE St	PLA	84	92870	739E7	/	3	3/2	2	3		1990	$1,050,000
49	S570457	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	829 Berkenstock Cir	PLA	84	92870	739G3	CUST/0	3	4/3	2	4 D	5,684	1913	$1,249,990	95	v

Granada Park Placentia Homes

Granada Park is a highly-coveted gated community centrally-located in the gorgeous city of Placentia.  Approximately 180 homes; use code: Single Family Residences with 2 car garages and 6 different floor plans ranging from 1,360 sf to 2,336 sf single story and two story homes.  Granada Park boasts 2 professional quality tennis courts, pool / spa, clubhouse, blanket insurance coverage, and is currently in process of grand scale landscape modernization. 

Below is a list of homes that have sold or presently in escrow (“back” means “backup offers”) since 5/1/2009.

Call NIC PETROSSI, your Granada Park Specialist with Prudential Ca Realty (714) 272-3646 Direct  or email npetrossi@yahoo.com

www.NicSellMyHome.com

Thu, Jul 9, 2009 10:32 AM

RES

MLS #

Status

P

V

H

T

Q

Type

A/D

Address

City

Area

Zip

TGNO

Trct/M

Bd

B t/f

Sty

Gar

SqFt

Yr Blt

Price

DOM

1

P691225

B

8

H

T

Q

SFR

D

354 Pennsylvania Way

PLA

84

92870

739F6

GRNP/D

4

3/3

2

2 A

2,044

1977

$499,000

26

2

P684139

S

19

H

T

Q

SFR

D

367 New Hampshire Way

PLA

84

92870

739F6

GRNP/A

3

2/2

1

2 A

1,606

1977

$430,000

4

v

3

P665774

S

10

H

T

Q

SFR

D

601 Valley Forge Dr

PLA

84

92870

739F6

GRNP/3

3

3/2

2

2 A

1,886

1977

$440,000

180

*

Placentia Homes & Yorba Linda Homes “When Cometh the Bottom?”

Isn’t THAT the million dollar question…

Well, no one has the crystal ball, but we all have our sources of knowledge and expertise to try to gauge when we’ll see the up-swing.

Some are saying that the bottom has already come.

Some are saying that we won’t see it for some time.

I say, I don’t know for sure, but what I do know for Orange County, CA is this:

The Below $500K Market is already there. 

We are seeing good properties under $500K being snatched up within a week in Northeast Orange County (Placentia, Yorba Linda, Brea, Fullerton, Anaheim, Anaheim Hills).  There are multiple offers on properties that are in good condition.  So, essentially, we are THERE for that price range.

What about the over $500,000 range?  When will we see the bottom for THOSE homes?

  A great article came out in the Orange County Register (our local newspaper) by Jonathan Lansner.  He interviewed a private banker, Ray Dellerba, CEO of Pacific Mercantile Bank in Costa Mesa.  Dellerba nailed the downturn by getting OUT of residential lending late 2005.  He just started lending on residential properties again.  Four decades of banking and that kind of foresight makes you listen when he talks.  When asked his prediction of the “bottom,” Dellerba replied “November” without a flinch.  His reasoning?  People are sick of being in the dumps and tight with their money and those with jobs will want a good Christmas for their family. 

What is MY prognostication? 

        Summer of this year, July.  Government incentives, especially for first time buyers, still-high FHA loan limits, low interest rates, and considerably less REO / short sale inventory in Northeast O.C. will fuel the best housing market we’ve seen since 2004.  

I welcome your comments.

Nic Petrossi, Prudential CA Realty

(714) 272-3646 

npetrossi@yahoo.com

Click Here for WEBSITE —>

Click here

Placentia Homes, County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP)

There is a program out there called MAP, County of Orange Mortgage Assistance Program.

To qualify, you must …

1. Be a first-time home buyer
2. Depending on the number of household residents 18 and over…for a single person, they must make $52,100 or less.  For 2 people they must make $59,500 or less combined, for 3 people living in the house, they must make $66,950 or less combined, 4 people is $74,400
3. Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien
4. Must contribute 1% from your own funds
5. Must complete homeownership education seminar

Here’s what’s awesome:

  You only have to come up with 1% of the purchase price as opposed to FHA’s 3.5%!

The program gives you $40,000 as a silent (deferred payment) downpayment assistance loan for lower-income makers for the participating cities of:

• Aliso Viejo
• Brea
• Cypress
• Dana Point
• La Palma
• Laguna Beach
• Laguna Hills
• Laguna Woods
• Los Alamitos
• Placentia
• Seal Beach
• Stanton
• Villa Park
• Yorba Linda
• County of Orange (unincorporated)

The unincorporated areas are:

• Anaheim Island
• Big Canyon
• Coto de Caza
• East Irvine
• El Modena
• Emerald Bay
• Ladera Ranch
• Las Flores
• Midway City
• Modjeska Canyon
• North Laguna Hills
• Orange Hills
• Orange Park Acres
• Rossmoor
• San Juan Hot Springs
• Santa Ana Heights
• Santiago Canyon
• Shady Canyon
• Silverado Canyon
• Sunset Beach
• Tonner Canyon
• Trabuco Canyon
• Trabuco Highlands
• Tustin Foothills
• Wagon Wheel

If you think you qualify, call…

 NIC PETROSSI with Prudential  (714) 272-3646 cell

Visit the website for more details….

http://www.affordable-housing.org/index.php/homebuyer-programs/downpayment-assistance/county-of-orange-mortgage-assistant-program-map/

NIC PETROSSI, Nov. 7, 2008 Placentia Homes (Foreclosures | REO | Bank Owned) from Realtor

Below is a list of all Placentia Foreclosurs | REO’s | Bank Owned properties as of Nov. 7, 2008.

Placentia is known as a “Pleasant Place to Live” with award winning schools, quiet & safe neighborhoods, great restaurants and shopping and most all homes are close to the 57 or 91 freeways.  Placentia is located close to Brea shopping and restaurants as well as downtown Fullerton shopping and restaurants.  Some of Placentia’s fine communities include Alta Vista South, Granada Park, Founders Park, Sequoia Woods and Hamptons on the Green. 

Visit my website ——> WEBSITE for Placentia school boundary maps and more information on Placentia, CA. 

Fri, Nov 7, 2008 09:15 AM

RES	MLS #	Status	P	V	H	T	Q	Type	A/D	Address	City	Area	Zip	TGNO	Trct/M	Bd	B t/f	Sty	Gar	SqFt	Yr Blt	Price	DOM
1	P654854	A	6		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	212 S Kraemer Blvd 1605	PLA	84	92870	739F7	CNTC/0	2	1/1	1	0	845	1972	$116,300	52	*
2	S544200	A	3		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	162 Kauai Ln	PLA	84	92870	739F7	PLL1/*	1	1/1	2	0	916	1979	$175,000	84	*
3	P659435	A	6		H	T	Q	SFR	D	937 Gonzales St	PLA	84	92870	769D2	OTHR/n	3	1/1	1	2 D	897	1925	$212,000	31	*
4	P658705	A	9		H	T	Q	SFR	D	943 Tafolla St	PLA	84	92870	769E1	OTHR/0	3	1/1	1	1 A	1,061	1923	$220,900	37	*
5	P651564	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	211 Wilson Ave	PLA	84	92870	739E6	CHAP/1	2	1/1	1	1	842	1950	$239,999	86	*
6	S545571	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	901 S Melrose St	PLA	84	92870	769E1	OTHR/0	4	1/1	1	1	1,101	1921	$255,900	72	*
7	P660506	A	8		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	1226 N Placentia Ave	PLA	84	92831	739D5	OTHR/0	2	2/1	2	1 A	1,210	1964	$264,900	24
8	P659759	A	10		H	T	Q	SFR	A	2375 Natchez	PLA	84	92870	739G2	OTHR/0	2	1/1	1	2	864	1972	$270,000	30	*
9	S541929	A	18		H	T	Q	SFR	D	832 Nebraska Ave	PLA	84	92870	769D1	OTHR/0	4	2/2	1	2	1,213	1955	$284,499	78	*
10	P662928	A	0		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1632 La Paloma Ave	PLA	84	92870	740A7	OTHR/5	5	3/2	2	2 A	2,000	1973	$329,000	8
11	P652770	A	18		H	T	Q	SFR	D	801 Stardust Dr	PLA	84	92870	739D6	OTHR/.	3	2/1	1	2 A	1,189	1958	$330,000	78	*
12	S524902	A	6		H	T	Q	SFR	A	540 El Cabrillo	PLA	84	92870	739F4	OTHR/0	3	3/2	2	2	1,404	1972	$339,900	163	*
13	P645459	A	7		H	T	Q	SFR	D	506 Wilson Cir	PLA	84	92870	739E6	OTHR/0	3	2/2	1	2	1,552	1955	$339,900	87	*
14	S551726	A	12		H	T	Q	SFR	A	1621 Sherwood Village Cir	PLA	84	92870	739H4	OTHR/0	3	3/2	2	2	1,346	1974	$379,900	17
15	P662425	A	15		H	T	Q	CONDO	A	2049 Baymeadows Dr	PLA	84	92870	740B6	OTHR/0	3	3/2	2	2	1,440	1977	$409,900	11
16	P642740	A	13		H	T	Q	SFR	D	405 W Center St	PLA	84	92870	739E7	OTHR/A	5	2/1	1	1	1,897	1939	$424,900	142	*
17	P657867	A	17		H	T	Q	SFR	D	502 Kansas Ave	PLA	84	92870	769D1	OTHR/*	4	2/1	1	2 D	2,011	1955	$439,900	43
18	P650560	A	1		H	T	Q	CONDO	D	1024 Moreno Way	PLA	84	92870	739H7	BLVS/1	3	3/2	2	2	1,800	1994	$447,900	93	*
19	P659177	A	0		H	T	Q	CONDO	D	1728 Pierce Ln	PLA	84	92870	740A6	MARP/3	3	3/2	2	2	1,715	1999	$475,000	34
20	P661552	A	12		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1832 Taft Ln	PLA	84	92870	740A7	OTHR/0	3	3/2	2	2 A	1,768	1997	$499,900	17
21	P648126	A	20		H	T	Q	SFR	D	612 Stanford Dr	PLA	84	92870	739F7	OTHR/D	4	3/2	2	3	2,978	1978	$620,000	108	*
22	S551138	A	6		H	T	Q	SFR	D	103 Harvard Ct	PLA	84	92870	739F7	OTHR/0	4	3/2	2	3	2,700	1999	$649,900	22
23	S543570	A	17		H	T	Q	SFR	D	624 Muro Cir	PLA	84	92870	739H6	MDTF/2	3	3/3	2	3 A	2,617	1995	$650,500	89	*
24	P663020	A	1		H	T	Q	SFR	D	1419 Munoz Pl	PLA	84	92870	739J6	OTHR/0	4	3/2	2	3 A	2,851	1992	$669,900	7

To Spend or Not to Spend — Tips for New Realtors (and experienced Realtors?) from a Placentia Realtor / Yorba Linda Realtor

When I started my career real estate as a Placentia Realtor, Yorba Linda Realtor, Brea Realtor, I wanted to do EVERYTHING in terms of marketing.

I wanted to do the postcards, the newsletters, my wife is a runner so we had a booth at the 5K and 10K races.  I did the internet advertising for a Schools website that promised me leads.  What this added up to was more money, more money, more money.  This was dangerous since a HUGE chunk of the money from the few deals I had were going to marketing ideas that DIDN’T WORK and yielded nothing for me in terms of business.

So, what do I do now?  What do you really need?  What REALLY works?

Although there is  no cookie-cutter recipe to this business, I found that…

A)  You have to have a website.  Click here for an example.  Besides for the obvious features (your name, face, contact info), your website should have something people want or need.  They can get a mortgage calculator on a million different websites.  What does YOUR website have that others don’t?  Wht is unique about your site that will bring people back and make them regular visitors?  Make sure that they can search the MLS (search for homes).  But that is a given.  My website will have a link that will allow prospective buyers to view boundary maps of different schools to see WHERE they need to buy if they want their children to go to ABC Elementary.  City Information with restaurant locations / movie locations is also a good idea. 

B)  Notepads.  “Notepads?,” you say…yes notepads.  Why?  Well, they’re relatively inexpensive, (I think I pay $200 for 1000 shipped to my office).  They have shelf-life, meaning they last longer than the trip to the garbage can.  AND, people like em.  They use em.  My uncle saw a random stranger in a grocery store using my notepad to check off their grocery list.  Make sure you don’t get cute with your notepads and use some fancy design, sunset, beach scene, mountain scene, so they can’t see what they’re writing down.  Think simple for your design.  Name, contact info huge at the top, that’s all you need.

  The newsletters and postcards are still good, don’t get me wrong, but they just don’t yield much in the way of business.  Focus on getting your website up higher in Google / Yahoo! natural search results.  Talk to a very good web designer on how to do that with key words.  85% of people are using the Internet to find homes.  DON’T SKRIMP on your website…pay extra to make it eye-catching, unique, well-thought out.  People get an impression of your abilities and character from your website…it’s where they get to know you anonymously before they decide on actually calling someone.

I hope this helps…maybe even some of you experienced agents pulled something out of this you can use.  Good luck!!!