April 2020

Spanish Revival listed at $3.5 million is the priciest listing in Fullerton

An updated Spanish Revival-style estate in Fullerton, once owned by Bridgford Foods Corp. founder Hugh H. Bridgford, has hit the market for $3.5 million.

Currently, it’s the highest-priced home listing on the Multiple Listing Service in the city.

The 5,329-square-foot residence on more than a half-acre lot has five en-suite bedrooms, a media room and a rooftop viewing deck.

Constructed in 1927 and completely remodeled from 2013-15, the home at 401 Cannon Lane retains the look of the era at the same time that it takes a more modern turn. In one direction sits the living room, which features an original Markoff tile fireplace and a parabolic window. Its shape mirrors the arched doorways found throughout the house.  

Other interior features include a formal dining room, family room and large, eat-in kitchen, which boasts Wolf, Sub-Zero and Miele appliances and such designer finishes as Calacatta Gold marble and leathered granite.

There’s also a private office on the ground floor.

The house has two staircases.

Up the grand rotunda entryway’s spiral wrought iron staircase with inlaid Hispano-Moresque Spanish tiles are all but one of the bedrooms, including the 800-square-foot master retreat. It boasts dual Monterey balconies, a walk-in closet and a morning kitchen with a Sub-Zero under-counter refrigerator as well as a spa-like master bathroom with a freestanding tub and a steam shower with multiple heads.

In the backyard, there’s a saltwater swimming pool with zero-edge spa, an outdoor kitchen with a DCS grill, a courtyard and spacious patios, including one near a 12-foot fireplace.

The grounds also boast an expansive lawn and mature trees.

A state-of-the-art Russound sound system, solar power and whole-home Lutron lighting round out the listing.

Raj Qsar and Christina Boladian of The Boutique Real Estate Group hold the listing.

Bridgford, who died in 1992 at age 83, grew his foods brand from a Depression-era butcher shop he opened in San Diego.

The company, headquartered in Anaheim since 1943, specializes in frozen and refrigerated food products, from ready-to-bake bread to sliced salami.

But Bridgford was not the original owner of the Cannon house. According to the current owner, the house was built for the family of A.G. Wright, the owner of a crushing plant called the Orange County Rock Company, Inc.

Original Article via OC REGISTER

By SANDRA BARRERA | sbarrera@scng.com 

Is Listing Your Home During the COVID Outbreak A Good Idea?

Normally, spring in Southern California is an excellent time to list your home for sale.

It’s the time of year when people are ready for a new beginning and planning big life changes. 

Normally.

Right now, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to government orders that range from social distancing to sheltering in place, which has changed life as we know it. When the streets are empty and you haven’t even seen your neighbors in weeks, a big question for would-be sellers remains: Should I even bother to list my house for sale? Here are the pros and cons to consider in these unusual times.

Pro: Right now, homes are STILL ACTUALLY SELLING in all parts of Southern California.

And…they are still selling near, at, or above asking price for many price ranges. Even with showing restrictions in place and virtual open houses flooding the internet, buyers are making legitimate offers and moving forward. We are still poised to help sellers navigate these interesting times.

Pro: Right now, homes are mortgage rates are very low.

In an effort to stimulate the economy, mortgage rates have dropped to new lows — and they could fall even more in the coming weeks. This is good news for potential buyers who were on the hunt before the pandemic hit and might help them continue to feel confident about a home purchase. For sellers, this also could mean that the buyers who do make offers are the most serious about making a purchase. Looking for an amazing lender to assist you? Click Here

Pro: There’s more certainty now than there is about the future.

Economic reports are enough to make anyone feel anxious. However, what we know right now is that there’s a stimulus package coming, many are still working (albeit remotely) and that social distancing measures will be in place for at least the next month or so. Things could get better, or they could get worse and lead to further restrictions. Delaying your home sale runs the risk of potentially missing the window and ending up having to list when the market is down.

22750 Hidden Hills Rd, Yorba Linda, Ca 92887

Pro: Open Houses Are Available Virtually.

Virtual showings may be a great option for sellers and buyers who are serious about social distancing. An excellent agent will be able to make your home’s virtual presence as compelling as it is in-person. Whether it’s via FaceTime, a 3D virtual tour, or a Facebook Watch Party, a virtual open house may just be the perfect answer to showing off your home during the COVID19 crisis. Not only is it a safer option during this time, but it can also be more convenient for those not being able to make the short window that traditional open houses typically offer.

78731 & 78741 Deacon Drive East, La Quinta, CA 92253

Con: You’ll have to find a new place to live.

You’ll have the same issues facing your potential buyer, because you’ll be a potential buyer, too. Even if you do line up a new home, there are possible delays that might necessitate temporary housing (renting an Airbnb, seasonal home, or a short-term rental if you’re even able to) which was much easier to find pre-COVID than it will be right now. Then, there are the actual practical considerations of moving: Will there be movers available to help you out? Will you be able to easily shop for moving supplies (especially if there are travel curfews in place, or if home improvement stores experience delivery delays)? However, there is a silver lining: Some rental owners may be inclined to offer significant rental discounts as their short and long term incomes have also been affected.

Potential Con: Mortgage guidelines are changing more than ever right now 

With some of the potential uncertainty in the market, banks and mortgage brokers and their institutions are possibly changing approval guidelines for purchasers. What does this mean for you? This means you’ll need to be sure to vet the buyer and the lender on your transaction to ensure that no delays occur for your transaction.

The bottom line is that putting your home on the market right now is a calculated risk where the need to sell outweighs any anxiety you may feel about how COVID is affecting the market. With an experienced agent, you can find creative ways to keep your home sale running smoothly (and safely, observing all precautions). 

While we tried to cover the big pros and cons of listing your home during the COVID-19 pandemic… There might be info relevant to our market that can further affect your potential sale. Whether you need a sounding board or advice on how the market is adapting in real-time, we are here to listen to any and all of your concerns.

Give us a call at 714-482-6362 or email us at Info@TheBoutiqueRE.com

COVID-19 Orange County Real Estate Market Report

Our team at The Boutique Real Estate Group has been collecting data and information from the California Association of Realtors (CAR), and will continue to update our reports to help our clients and community better understand the impact of COVID-19 on a statewide and county level.

For the full press release from CAR click here

CA at a glance: March 2020

Statewide, existing, single-family home sales totaled 373,070 in March on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 11.5 percent from February and down 6.1 percent from March 2019.


Despite a dip in housing demand, the statewide median price rose from both the previous month and previous year.  March’s statewide median home price was $612,440, surging past the $600,000 benchmark for the first time in three months, moving up 5.6 percent from February and up 8.3 percent from March 2019.


The statewide Unsold Inventory Index was 2.7 months in March, down from 3.6 months in February and from 3.6 months in March 2019, making it the lowest inventory level in three months.

*The index indicates the number of months it would take to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current rate of sales.

OC at a glance: March 2020

In Orange County, the median sales price of existing single family homes in March 2020 was $882,000 increasing 0.2 percent from $880,000 in February 2020 and 9 percent from $809,500 in March 2019.

Gains in house sales for individual counties, which had been at or near double digits in February, also did an about-face in March.  Orange County posted a 1.6% sales gain, compared with a 34.7% increase in February. 

Yorba Linda mansion of race car driver Graham Rahal asks $8 million

The modern hilltop estate of IndyCar driver Graham Rahal has listed for $8 million in Yorba Linda. (Composite by Sandra Barrera, Southern California News Group; Inset: Getty Images file photo; House: The Boutique Real Estate Group)

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal has put his modern hilltop estate in Yorba Linda on the market for $8 million.

Perched atop one of Orange County’s highest peaks on a 3-acre lot with canyon, city and distant ocean views, the home — built in 2011 for Carlito Jocson, the corporate executive chef and vice president for Yard House restaurants — offers 8,320 square feet of living space with floor-to-ceiling windows, a restaurant-caliber kitchen and an open-concept floor plan.

A flush-mount fireplace warms the living room, which opens to the formal dining area with its multiple Edison bulb chandelier.

There’s also a breakfast room.

Other interior features include a billiards room, a 13-person home theater and a 1,200-bottle wine room.

The spacious master suite boasts his and hers walk-in closets and a spa-like bathroom with a large shower and a separate sunken tub. Floor-to-ceiling windows slide away and pocket into the walls to offer access to the zero-edge infinity swimming pool flanked by two glass-tiled fire pits in the backyard.

According to the design firm DKY Architects, the house was designed to promote “a true indoor-outdoor living and entertaining experience.”

In addition to the pool, there’s a full-size kitchen with ample bar-seating and a wood-fired pizza oven, a basketball court and a meditation garden lined with olive trees.

The drought-tolerant grounds offer plenty of room for a helipad.

A four-car garage, expansive car park and whole-home Crestron system complete the offerings.

Raj Qsar and Christina Boladian of The Boutique Real Estate Group hold the listing.

Rahal, 31, is the son of former racing champ-turned-team owner Bobby Rahal. He’s been driving since 2007. The six-time NTT IndyCar Series winner is married to former drag racing star Courtney Force.

The Rahals are asking 31.3% more than the $6.095 million they paid for the five-bedroom mansion in November 2017, the escrow statement shows.

When they bought their hilltop estate, it was the most expensive home ever sold in the city.

That title now belongs to a hilltop mansion dubbed Satsang, once the location for a shampoo commercial starring Jennifer Lopez. It sold for $9.8 million in February 2019.

By SANDRA BARRERA | sbarrera@scng.com | Los Angeles Daily News

Original link to article: https://www.ocregister.com/2020/04/14/yorba-linda-mansion-of-racecar-driver-graham-rahal-asks-8-million/