Making waves in Dana Point Harbor.

Photos courtesy of livesouthcove.com

One of the newest communities to be coming to the downtown Dana Point area is called South Cove. Progress is moving full speed ahead on South Cove, featuring 168 luxury condo residences located just steps from beautiful Doheny State Beach and Dana Point Harbor’s restaurants and shops. Additional attractions include a new 9,000 square foot surf museum, highlighting and paying homage to the city’s storied history. Two new hotels – a 130-room boutique and 136-room offering more affordable options – will replace the existing Marina Inn on Dana Point Harbor Drive.

Under the proposed plans, South Cove residents will have easy access to a wide variety of new harbor amenities – all within walking distance of the barefoot community. Slated to begin construction in 2018, planned features for the harbor include new restaurants, outdoor dining areas, marine-related retail and a small portion of office space. The renovation will also showcase a market hall and food court, providing a variety of diningoptions for South Cove residents and tourists alike.

The city’s contributions to the renovations and additional amenities – including the recently introduced Harbor Shuttle service that provides easy access to the Ocean Institute, Baby Beach and other harbor businesses and dining spots – are sure to bring added value and appeal to Dana Point. Fortunately, there is still time to stake your claim at South Cove – the first development of its kind in Dana Point in more than 25 years. If you have any questions or are interested in owning a property in South Cove, please contact your Greentree Properties Specialist at (949) 492-0090 or here.

Comments Off on Making waves in Dana Point Harbor.

BUYING YOUR DREAM HOME? DON’T DO THIS!

Buying a home is an immense purchase, most likely the largest you will make during your lifetime. Avoid self-sabotaging and ensure your journey to home ownership goes smoothly every step of the way. Here are three things you may want to avoid:

1. For Sale by Owner
Trying to sell your home by yourself is sheer madness. Your real estate agent will have your best interest in mind, gearing you in the right direction. This professional will guide you through the process including the piles of paperwork that can seem extremely overwhelming. Please contact GreenTree Properties and we will represent you all the way home.

2. New Lines of Credit
Your credit score can be a game changer. During contract you do not want to do anything that will impact your credit score. That includes buying a car, boat, or any other large purchase that has to be financed. Along the same lines, your credit score needs to remain stable during the closing process. Opening new lines of credit can make your FICO score drop and send up a red flag to your lender. Avoid doing this at all costs!

And here is a great tip from Realtor.com

3. Saying too much—and undercutting your negotiating power
Be careful what you say when you’re viewing a property at an open house or home showing. For instance, if the listing agent hears you say to your spouse, “I love this house, and it’s way under our budget,” the seller might try to play hardball when you try to negotiate on price. Keep private conversations private.

Questions? We are happy to help. Please get in touch with Greentree Properties at (949) 492-0090 or here.

Comments Off on BUYING YOUR DREAM HOME? DON’T DO THIS!

3 foolproof ways to make an amazing first impression on home buyers.

One of the most important things to do before selling your home is ensure the first impression counts! Homes are selling fast and at top dollar, it is still important to prove that your home is worth every cent. These simple steps will help ensure that the first impression is the best to drive potential buyers.

Curb Appeal

Your home’s exterior, this includes the yard, driveway, sidewalk and front entry – should serve as a snapshot of what is to come inside. Curb appeal sets the tone to a potential buyer and can make or break an offer.

  • Mow the grass, trim trees and plant.
  • Clean up the front door area and add some plants, lighting and check for spider webs.
  • Plant new shrubs and remove weeds.

Professionally clean

Investing in a professional cleaning company to deep clean carpets or wood flooring can make all the difference in a first impression. Carpets, over the years tend to stain, wear and tear, so it is important to spend that little extra money to make it as pristine and new looking as possible.

Caulk Tubs and sinks

Caulking around your home is an inexpensive way to add detail to your home. It’s easy and can be done fast. This will also stop leaking and give that extra design touch to ensure a positive impression that your home has been taken care of.

Before you list your home, ask GreenTree Properties to come by and examine the property for specific showing tips to make your home more appealing. Please contact (949) 492-0090 or visit here.

Comments Off on 3 foolproof ways to make an amazing first impression on home buyers.

Budgeting for a Landscape Upgrade

Preparing for a landscaping project can be daunting. We have some good tips to figure out how much you can spend on upgrading your yard to get the most bang for your buck.

Take an Inventory: Making a list of what you already have and doing a site analysis can help you figure out what truly needs to be done. You can discover hidden gems in your yard, such as plants that are lost in weeds and only need to be trimmed. This can help save you money and time during the process.

Hire a Professional: They can help you create a master plan that enables you to visualize the possibilities and create a guide to achieving. Instead of making costly mistakes, professionals can help you avoid them and save even more money.

Splurge on the “Maximum Value” Features: An outdoor kitchen or a deck can provide tons of enjoyment and also earn money back when it comes time to sell your house. These maximum features should be functional and have a high return on investment.

Consider the Return on Investment: Similarly, to the previous tip, prioritizing your needs and wants is a must! You should establish the long-term maintenance costs and determine if it makes financial sense to complete all the projects at once or do them over several years.

Before you begin to start a landscaping project, sit down and weigh all the costs to determine what is right for you and your home. Questions? Please get in touch with Greentree Properties at (949) 492-0090 or here.

Comments Off on Budgeting for a Landscape Upgrade

Happy National Home Ownership Month!

Celebrate your home by spending some QT (quality time) on it and maximize the return of your sale by completing these top cosmetic updates. The good news is that summer is just around the corner and that means plenty of sunshine to get these projects done.

Here are upgrades ranging from small bathroom remodels to large-scale expansions that often yield high returns.

  • Minor Bathroom Remodel:  Use a softener like CAULK-BE-GONE to get rid of the old caulk. Fill the tub with water after you’re done to stretch caulk while it dries. For damaged walls, you can do a quick coverage by using spray-on texture provides quick coverage. Add illusion of space by replacing old shower doors or remove them all together.
  • Attic Bedroom Conversion: Do you have an attic just sitting there? Consider converting this space into a bedroom. That is if your existing HVAC system can handle the load of another room. If not, factor in the cost of a second unit. A solar-powered attic fan is an efficient way to save on cooling costs. The attic fan exhausts heat from above your home and is powered by a solar cell on the roof.
  • Minor Kitchen Remodel: If your home is worth more than $500,000, go with stone or trendy glass countertops. Cover old vinyl with floor leveler so the pattern doesn’t bleed through. You can’t put a second layer of vinyl on if the subfloor is below-grade concrete. “Brighten up the kitchen by sanding and painting existing cabinets. It’s much less expensive than buying new ones. Add decorator detail without the cost by changing drapes and window molding.” – HGTV
  • Curb Appeal: You know what they say, first impressions count and curb appeal is all types of first impressions. A charming focal point like a walkway and fountain adds major value to your property. Roll a sealant on flagstones for a permanent wet look that enhances the color.

Replacing roofs and windows are also high on the list and home offices tend to be lower in return. Remodeling may be a labor of love, but consider this investment that can seriously boost the value of your home. Questions? Please get in touch with Greentree Properties at (949) 492-0090 or here.

 

Comments Off on Happy National Home Ownership Month!

The importance of real estate agents

While it’s easy to look up information online and try to sell your house on your own. Real Estate Agents can provide you with the expertise to get the most value for your home.

Here are just 4 ways that a Real Estate Agent can add value to your home sale:

  1. Education and experience: Most real estate agents have extensive knowledge in the market. They know all the tricks in the book and can really help you get the most value out of your home.
  2. Provide price guidance: Agents can look at recent data from sales in the area and determine the best price. Agents tend to look at market supply, demand and the conditions to pick the best price. In addition, they can come up with a game plan to help you negotiate the price with potential buyers.
  3. Negotiation skills and confidence: Real estate agents have the unique ability to remove themselves from emotional aspects of the housing process. Agents can easily showcase their clients house in the best light and negotiate the best price.
  4. Handling paperwork and answering questions: There’s no shortage of paperwork to be done when you are selling a home. An agent can walk you through all the steps of filing the paperwork and they are available to answer questions even after the sale has gone through. A good agent will always be on stand by and ready to assist you so that you do not run into any legal trouble while finalizing the sale of your home.
Comments Off on The importance of real estate agents

Sell fast with these home selling tips.

Are you ready to enter the housing market? According to a recent study by Zillow, the BEST time to list your home is on a Saturday between May 1st and 15th. While timing isn’t everything, it can definitely be an important factor in selling as fast as possible.

Sell your home faster with these tips:

  1. Use great photos: Today, 95% of homeowners use the internet for their home search and photos play an important factor. Visually stimulating images can show off the lifestyle of the home, including beautiful features and encourage prospective buyers to schedule a tour. Poor photos can discourage buyers and many may reject your home without even considering it.
  2. Clean everything and depersonalize your home: A dirty home can be a deal breaker for most buyers. Make sure you take the steps to clean your house inside and out. In addition, remove personal photos as you want homebuyers to envision the house for their family as opposed to yours.
  3. Let the Light in: Before showing your home, brighten up the space by opening up the curtains and blinds, turn on the lights and let your house shine!
  4. Curb appeal matters: Simple things like repainting your front door, or replacing a mailbox can really spruce up your house. Redoing the landscape can also help improve your home’s first impression. Make sure all bushes and trees are trimmed and looking their best.

When your home is on the market, the little things can make all the difference. These simple steps can help enhance your home and get it off the market so much faster! If you are considering selling, talk to your GreenTree Properties agent about a custom strategy to get your home sold in the timeframe you desire at (949) 492-0090.

 

Comments Off on Sell fast with these home selling tips.

Upgrading to an energy efficient home just got easier!

Summer is around the corner, can you feel it? Before the season heats up, have you considered upgrading your home to a more energy efficient flow? You are in luck as it might just have become less expensive to do so.

For years, California has seen an increase in energy efficient upgrades as homeowners have tied them to property tax bills. Fannie Mae has recently started a HomeStyle Energy Program which is a mortgage option that will “allows borrowers to finance clean energy upgrades equal to up to 15% of the as-completed appraised value of the home” –Green Tech Media. Essentially, in turn for making energy upgrades to your home you will be able to lower your mortgage and save money on energy bills. What’s not to love?

There are a few important details to remember though. The upgrade to your home must be completed within 180 days after you have been issued a mortgage note. In addition, you must provide an energy report which indicates how much the borrower is saving monthly. If you’re willing to file all the paperwork and make your house energy efficient then you can expect to see your monthly costs drop dramatically!

What do you think of this program? Do you think it will encourage more people to make their homes energy efficient? Comment below. If you’re thinking of making your home more energy efficient, let us know, we’d be happy to share our experiences with you.

 

Comments Off on Upgrading to an energy efficient home just got easier!