Interior Design & Staging | The Boutique Real Estate Group | Orange County Real Estate

April 25th, 2013
By Kathy HoughtonThe Boutique Real Estate Group
Via Real Estate Staging Association

Real Estate Staging is the art of preparing and showcasing residential real estate for sale.

It is a systematic and coordinated method in which knowledge of hyper-local real estate, home renovations and creative design principles are applied to attract the vast majority of buyers to a prospective home.  It is part of our teams marketing strategy and an essential part of our teams philosophy in preparing a home for the market in Orange County.

Preparing a property properly involves cleaning, de-cluttering, updating, and repairing, while showcasing the true potential of the home through furniture placement, accessories, art, color and light to create visual appeal to the vast majority of buyers.  They way people live in a home is very different than the way we “sell” a home.

Staging shows buyers the true potential of the home. Buyers view professionally staged listings as “well maintained” and “model-like.”

Our team believes staged homes not only photograph better but also look better in person and will ultimately sell faster.

Thinking about selling?  Give us a call today and we would be happy to give you a staging consult on your home.

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Mortgage News | Orange County | FHA Loans

Via Rick Underwood, Broker | Owner, TNG Mortgage

Great news!  The housing market is showing clear signs of improvement.  And conventional lenders are hinting that they’re going to start to ease underwriting guidelines.  That being said, a very popular type of loan just became a little more expensive – and is about to become a little more restrictive.

One of the most attractive features of FHA mortgages is the low required down payment.  In fact, the majority of FHA loan programs require only 3.5% down.  The downside is mandatory upfront and monthly mortgage insurance (MI).  On April 1, 2013, the monthly mortgage insurance increased by 5-10% depending upon the loan scenario.  At this time, mortgage insurance on FHA loans remains in place for a finite period of time.  And in most cases, FHA will drop the monthly MI payment after five years, provided the homeowner has at least 22% equity.  However, on most FHA loans originated after June 2nd, the monthly MI will remain for the life of the loan.  So, the only way to eliminate the costly mortgage insurance is to refinance.

Our recommendation: If you have considered refinancing your home, or purchasing a new home, you can ensure this new FHA policy does not increase the lifetime cost of the transaction.  If you know the property you plan to purchase or refinance, we can “lock in” the current FHA pricing – even if you cannot complete your transaction for six months.  Call 714-203-8558 for additional information.

 

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Not Today The Movie | www.NotTodayTheMovie.com | In Theaters Nationwide April 12th

via Friends Church Yorba Linda, April 12th, 2013

Caden Welles has the world at his disposal. With the resources of his wealthy father, he’s living life as large as any 20-year-old could dream. But what happens when that dream becomes a nightmare halfway around the world?

Traveling with his friends to Hyderabad, India on a whim, Caden’s expectations of a never-ending party crash hard. But not as hard as his conscience when he refuses to help a starving man and his little girl. Haunted by the images of Kiran and Annika, Caden attempts to right his wrong—only to discover Kiran has been forced to sell his own daughter.

Caden’s eyes are now opened to a world few Americans know still exists: a thriving human-trafficking trade. Add the dehumanization of Kiran and hundreds of millions of other Dalits due to India’s caste system, and Caden could easily turn his back.

Yet spurred by a true purpose, an unlikely new friendship, and the prayers of his mother and girlfriend back home, Caden chooses to help in Kiran’s unlikely search to find his daughter.

Starring Cody Longo, Walid Amini, Shari Rigby, and John Schneider, NOT TODAY challenges moviegoers with a purpose that goes beyond its gripping story. The movie was produced by Friends Church Yorba Linda, a congregation committed to educating the Dalits and ending human trafficking in India.

NOT TODAY is a powerful reminder that change is possible if we’re willing to open our eyes … today.

 

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20010 Livorno Ln, Yorba Linda, Ca 92886 | Yorba Linda Home For Sale

HD V-Tour:  http://goo.gl/YKL78
Property Website:  www.20010Livorno.com
Please visit www.TheBoutiqueRE.com for additional information on this single story home in Yorba Linda.
Tucked Into The Hillside of Yorba Linda is Corte Bella at Amalfi Hills, a Community of Luxury Single Family Homes.  Located on a Cul-De-Sac This Single Story Home Boasts 2,405 sq ft of Living Space on an Expanded Approx. 11,000 sq ft Corner Lot Giving You Majestic Sunsets, City Light Views and Ultimate Privacy.  Features Include A Gourmet Chef’s Kitchen, Stainless Steel Professional Grade Appliances, Granite Slab Counters, Magnificent Center Island, Plantation Shutters Throughout & An Open Concept Floor Plan.  Three Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Car Attached Garage with Custom Built-Ins, Formal Dining Room, Formal Living Room & An Expansive Master Suite With French Doors Truly Highlight This Gorgeous Home.  The Master Bath Features A Walk-In Closet, Dual Vanities, Solid Surface Counters, Separate Shower & Elevated Jacuzzi Spa Tub.  Custom Landscaping Surrounds This Home with Flagstone Inserts, Colored Concrete, Perfectly Manicured Landscape, Lush Fruit Trees, Custom Putting Green and an Extra Long Driveway.  Home to Yorba Linda High School and Minutes Away From Black Gold Golf Course, Yorba Linda Country Club, The Nixon Library, World Class Shopping, Fabulous Entertainment & Easy Freeway Access.
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xPlode 2013 | Newport Beach | Technology for Real Estate

Don’t miss this power-packed, one day conference on real estate marketing & technology featuring 12 top speakers from all over the US.

Top sponsors include Realtor.com, Homes.com, Market Leader, Cartavi, Exit Realty, Alos Research, Broadview Mortgage and many others.

Here is the link to the conference  http://xplodethis.com/newport/

 

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Top 99 Realtors on Twitter | Does Your Agent Tweet?

By Raj Qsar via Websitebox-Team

Selling Real Estate 140 Characters at a time.
A look at the national list of the top 99 Realtors who are utilizing Twitter to gain regional & national influence in this social world of ours.  Information is based on the amount of followers, quality of tweets, clout and influence.

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Why video, why now?

Sunday Feb 10th, 2013
By Raj Qsar, Principal | Owner of Premier Orange County Real Estate
@rajqsar

Wikipedia gives us a history of the word emotion as it dates back to 1579, when it was adapted from the French word emouvoir, which means “to stir up.”  This truly puts a capsule around why we have made video a primary marketing footprint for our clients as we transition into 2013.  We are looking to “stir-up” those deep emotions of buyers looking for residential real estate in Orange County, Ca.

We want to showcase the emotion of what its like to live in this particular home, in this particular neighborhood, in this particular city within the curtains of Orange County, Ca.  We start by spending time with our sellers and asking them what they truly love the most about their home, neighborhood & city and what they will miss the most.  This allows us to begin storyboarding our video (we think of videos as mini-movies) around those particular aspects that they love so much and can include hot spots like restaurants, schools, parks, farmers markets or even the weather!

One of our favorite videos was “the pool party” video in a great little town in North Orange County called Brea.  What we showcase here is the true lifestyle of this community and what a buyer and to-be homeowner could expect from living in this family friendly neighborhood.  Video Link Here. One HUGE Vision, Two days of shooting, 1 night shoot, 3 luxury cars, 2 Cinematographers, lots of equipment, 12 “actors,” a ton of edits in post production truly brought to life the unique qualities of this FAB city!

Regardless of price point, the emotional aspect of video can really play a part in a home buyers quest of going from searching for a home to finding a home.  Another fabulous video we produced was for a lower priced Luxury Low Rise Condo in the City of Garden Grove in Orange County called Chapman Commons represented by our very own Jeremy Lehman (who made a cameo appearance in the video with his new puppy Max as well).  Video Link Here.   Listed for $319,000 this property sold for $22,000 more than an identical unit right next door and also closed for $48,000 over the appraised value.   How’s that for stirring up emotions!

Got a chopper?  Ray Fernandez sure does!  How else do we capture the lifestyle of La Habra Heights just on the Orange County & LA border?   This hillside community was built with Rural in mind.  Each property is typically set on at least 1 acre of land, which gives residents & homeowner’s privacy and luxury.  There are no sidewalks or street lights but plenty of wildlife and trails throughout this great city where you can enjoy the great outdoors.  Watch Video Here.  One of the best ways to really capture La Habra Heights and this property is from up above!

Video marketing truly starts with a vision.  What’s your vision for this home, in this neighborhood, in this city?  What do you know about this home, this neighborhood & this city that you want to share.  What makes your city so great?  Once the vision is set then it needs to be put it into motion.  C.S. Lewis says, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Real Estate & Video marketing is nothing new in our industry and just like anything we do to market properties it first begins with an idea.  That idea needs to be captured, created and published for the road ahead.

 

Top 20 Real Estate Videos of 2012 via WellcomeMat

So truly honored that our Goodbye 2012 | Hello 2013 highlight video was named a Top 20 Real Estate Video by WellcomeMat for 2012. If you LOVE Video have a look at some of these truly amazing stories from some amazing companies.  Corcoran Group in New York, Inman News, CORE Real Estate NYC, Facebook, Zillow, Redfin, Richard Silver, Napa View Real Estate, Prudential Steamboat Realty, The New Wave Group, KW, Sage Real Estate, Halstead property, Georgetown Real Estate, Las Vegas Real Estate, Dave Dugdale, ReMax and Jessica Riffle Edwards.
Congrats to all!

Raj Qsar | 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders | Inman News | 2013

So truly honored & humbled to be able to share this recognition with this exceptional group of individuals.

Being named as Real Estate Industry’s 100 Most Influential Leaders truly has me speechless!

 

Inman News today releases the Inman 100 report, an annual list of the Most Influential Real Estate Leaders that recognizes those who embody leadership, ingenuity, strength, conviction, power, persistence, perseverance and progress — their voices and actions can move the industry toward change.

They include the industry’s brain trust, power brokers and deal-makers, and those outside the industry who impact the business of buying and selling homes.

Inman News accepted and reviewed hundreds of reader nominations via an open, online nominations process. An Inman News in-house review and selection process considered reader-selected nominees and also suggested additional individuals worthy of consideration.

See The Top 100:  http://www.inman.com/inman100

View Raj’s Recognition:  http://www.inman.com/inman100/2013/raj-qsar

 

Why Better Technology Means Better Service

By Jeremy Lehman

The Boutique Real Estate Group

 

When you think of real estate, the last thing that comes to your mind is probably technology. Technology has come a long way in the past few years, but unfortunately, the real estate industry tends to lag behind the curve. Sometimes decades behind; have you seen our MLS?

Today, our team employs an industry leading approach to improving response time, customer service, client convenience, and business management using mobile technology and cloud based applications. We work closely with vendors to help tweak their products or even create new ones that can help our team and clients enjoy a painless process of signing documents, accessing property information, communication, scheduling activities, sharing documents, and more. Our team is on the cutting edge of using technology in real estate. Every member of our team is equipped with an iPhone, iPad, Laptop, and mobile internet connection, allowing us to work from anywhere at any time.

Our listings receive a best in class marketing campaign with HDR photography, HD video, HD V-Tours, professional graphics & design, staging & interior design individual property websites, and even floor plans; creating maximum exposure and ultimately a maximum price. We use social media, blogs, and the most visited real estate websites to promote our listings, open houses, and interact with potential buyers. We’ve also created online groups of the top agents throughout Southern California to share listings with the agents that actually do business. Our use of video has received national accolades & recognition, but better yet, gives potential buyers the #1 thing they’re looking for. Listings with videos tend to sell for more money and faster than listings without. Our open house events are almost always packed with potential buyers and curious neighbors. To take advantage of the opportunity, we use an iPad application to track the visitors, follow up with property information, and notify them of any future price changes. We’ve also been able to assemble a big list of interested buyers for the neighborhoods we service.

Our clients can expect a quick response, the convenience of signing contracts via your mobile phone/tablet or computer (some transactions require “wet” signatures), maximum exposure for your property resulting in a maximum price, regular updates and communication and  market updates. We know technology does not replace service, skills, and knowledge, we just use to better serve you. Our agents are all proven industry experts as well.