Dana Point Events-Grunion Run 2011 Come Join us for the 20th annual Grunion night!!! When: April 5th, 2011 at 9:30PM-10:45PM Location: Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA. 92629 Please join the locals at Dana Point as we welcome back the Grunion another year!  Promptly at 9:40PM it will begin with a slideshow presentation of the Grunion and other marine life mysteries then wrap up the evening with the actual Grunion run at 10:40PM. Please bring your own chair, flash light, and remember to dress warm. This event if for Grunion viewing only! Grunion season is currently closed. NO TAKE is permitted during April and May - The National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, our kindly funding agencies, define TAKE as: "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoo... 03/28/2011

  Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction... The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for February: The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range: 2011   13 listings closed escrow              2010    8  listings closed escrow             The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range: 2011   10 listings closed escrow              2010   13 listings closed escrow The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+ Range: 2011   8 listings closed escrow                   2010   3 listings closed escrow                    *Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sent... 03/25/2011

Why Your Friends and Family Should Work With You..... Today I was reading an excellent blog written by Chris Alston, that without surprise at all, got featured titled: He was mad because his friend didn't use him to buy a home.... It made me start thinking about my friends.. Sadly none of my family live in California...... Yet! But I am trying break them of their Oklahoma ways and show them the light of the California sunshine, but my friends that I have that live here they all know that I am a realtor, I have friends all across the state of California, and they all know that I practice real estate. With family and friends it is a differnt kind of fish. You really don't want to make them part of your regular call sphere or your mailing, they would look at your like your crazy. So how ca... 03/24/2011

Selecting the Right Agent.. Can Any Agent Assist Me? As you begin searching for homes one of the most important things you can do is make sure you select the right agent. One that you know that is looking after the best interest of you and your family. As most buyer's know agent services to the buyer is completely free to the buyer. It is still important to select someone that you know can fulfill their duties as your agent. When selecting an agent look for these qualites: They Answer their phone-If you can't get hold of them, then you can expect your homebuying process to be a very long process if your agent is unreachable. They respond to emails in a timely manner-If you can't tell where I am going with this, it is very important that your agent that you select is great at communicati... 03/23/2011

     Summer is almost here! Looking to plan a summer trip but cash conscious? Or just plain mad about gas prices (again)? Don't Sweat! OC residents...Why not consider a local summer trip for a vacation?  We live in such a beautiful part of Southern California, sometimes we are all too caught up in our lives to realize we already live in a vacation desination. Dana Point hosts 2 world class hotels: Ritz Carlton and St. Regis, which besides being groegous hotels with stunning ocean views and spectacular swimming pools, they have fabulous tide pools to explore, a major harbor where you can rent a jet ski, a kayak  try scuba diving or take a ride on a historical ship. There are also dolphin and whale boat tours and fishing boats leave daily for those who want to cook up fresh fish for dinne... 03/19/2011

MARCH 16, 2011 WORDLESS WEDNESDAY IS HERE AND I AM READY TO SHOW OFF MY PIX.... ENJOY! THE VIEW FROM THE TOP IS AMAZING... YOU FEELING IT.... I'M READY TO GO BOATING ABOUT NOW.... WELCOME TO OUR SIDE OF PARADISE.... THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO AT THE HARBOR. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES IS THE COFFEE IMPORTERS AT THE HARBOR, THERE IS A SANDWICH, SALAD, BAGEL AND SOUP SHOP THERE TOO AND ICE CREAM... IT'S ONE OF MY BOYS FAVORITES AND WE STILL GO THERE WITH THE DOG FOR A STROLL AND MY HUSBAND USUALLY TAKES THE 4.0 LOOP AROUND THE HARBOR FOR A JOG~ WHEN HE IS TRAINING FOR HIS MARATHONS.... WE HAVE A BOAT DOCKED THERE SINCE 1996 AND WELL, WHEN OUR SON WENT OFF TO COLLEGE WE GOT RID OF IT IN 2009 SINCE IT MADE ECONOMIC SENSE. WELL, WE MISS IT SO MUCH WE ARE LOOKING FOR A GREAT DEAL, SO WE CAN BUY ANO... 03/15/2011

You may think that nothing could be more exciting than yesterday's "tsunami watch", but the Mickey Munoz Mongoose Cup stand up paddling event at Baby Beach is guaranteed to be far more entertaining.  The day begins at 9AM with a Fun Paddle event, and continues through the day with contests, seminars and SUP expo.  Dana Point has become center for stand-up paddleboard fans, so if you have ever wondered about this relatively new sport, today is your day to satisfy your curiosity.  You may find yourself becoming the next paddleboard convert!           Planning to buy or sell a home in Dana Point or Capistrano Beach?  Give me a call - I would be happy to help you! 03/12/2011

Reminder: It's Time To Spring Forward!!! It's that time of year again... The weather is getting warmer. Things are getting greener, flowers are blooming, and it's time to move our clocks up an hour!!! I love this time of year, I love the longer days, more time to work/play, and I feel like I have more time to get more accomplished.. Though I will say I don't like losing that hour of sleep, I value that time is my warm bed. But the fact I get more daylight, I would say the trade is well worth it... So just a friendly reminder.. This Saturday night, March 12th, 2011, before you go to bed, don't forget to spring forward an hour!!! 03/08/2011

It's a beautiful weekend to enjoy the Festival of the Whales in Dana Point.   This week-long event starts today at 10 AM with a parade along Pacific Coast Highway from Selva to Golden Lantern.  You can park in the Harbor parking lots and take the free shuttle to the parade route.  After the parade, stay and enjoy the block party at La Plaza Park.  This family-friendly event has something for every age.  To enoy the true spirit of the festival, take one of the many whale-watching boats from the Harbor for a chance to see the whales in their own environment, along with dolphins and sea lions.  This weekend and next weekend are filled with activities celebrating these amazing mammals.  For more information, go tohttp://www.dpfestivalofwhales.com/ I will see you there! Thinking about buying... 03/05/2011

Dana Point, Ca. Festival of Whales 2011 Saturday March 5th, 2011-10:00AM The Dana Point Festival of Whales Parade, hosted by the Dana Point Youth Board and the City of Dana Point, kicks off the start of the two weekend Festival of Whales Event (March 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th). The Festival of Whales is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this year! The parade will start promptly at 10am. The Parade Route will be along the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) starting at Selva Rd. and ending at Golden Lantern. Free shuttle service to and from the Dana Point Harbor will be available one hour from the parade start time, so please arrive early, board the free shuttle and then spend the day visiting all the great events located throughout the Harbor and Dana Point La Plaza Park area.  Later that day the Fe... 03/04/2011

Dana Point, CA. Market Update March 3rd, 2011 Currently there are 276 properties for sale in Dana Point, Ca. 26 of those homes in Dana Point, Ca. are under $350,000.00 47 of those homes in Dana Point, Ca. are  between $351,000-$550,000 68 of those homes in Dana Point, Ca. are between $551,000-$750,000 42 of those homes in Dana Point, Ca. are between $751,000-$999,999 93 are the Dana Point, Ca. homes currently for sale are over $1,000,000 94 of those properties are Condos/Townhomes 25 are below $350,000 32 are between $351,000-$550,000 18 are between $551,000-$750,000 13 are between $751,000-$999,999 6 of those Condos/Townhomes currently for sale in Dana Point,Ca. are over $1,000,000 3 are Standard Sales 3 are Bank Owned Homes in Dana Point, Ca. 20 are Short Sales The rest is unspecified... 03/03/2011

    Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction... The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for January: The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range: 2011   4 listings closed escrow              2010   12 listings closed escrow             The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range: 2011   12 listings closed escrow 2010   12 listings closed escrow The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+ Range: 2011   2 listings closed escrow                   2010   2 listings closed escrow                    *Does a sales report tell the whole story about market environment, consumer sentiment and the ... 02/18/2011

In researching a local neighborhood to determine the market value of a home, I ran a report to see how much similar homes have sold for in the last six months, along with the asking prices for nearby homes for sale.  It was in a small subdivision with only four different models, so all the prices should be pretty similar. Wait a minute - one home was listed for $100,000 more than every other comparable sale or listing in the neighborhood.  There must be a good reason, right?  I looked at the pictures; they didn't show any features that differed from all the others.  I looked at the subdivision map; it was on the same-sized lot as all the others.  Did it have a different view? No.  Finally, I went over the details of the listing and the situation became clear.  These homeowners paid $295... 01/30/2011

Links45 other pictures!Photo GalleryDescriptionPrivate Over-sized Premium Lot - Lush Mature Landscaping - Garden Waterfall Graces The Courtyard Entryway - And The Hardwood Double Doors Shine Like Mirrors! - But that's only the beginning! *Dramatic entry - Cathedral ceilings and a bright, sunny, and open feeling due to highly perched and elongated windows, that can be seen from both levels. *Santos Mahogany Hardwood Flooring as well as Travertine throughout the entire lower level. *Elegant Formal Dining Room and Marble Fireplace Add To The Quality Upgrades! *Patio area that is completely tiled, and equipped with a "Tiki Bar", for fun and elegant entertaining! *Listen to the crashing ocean waves in the quiet evenings!FeaturesBedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 3Parking Spaces: 2Year Built: 1989Lot Size... 01/27/2011

JANUARY 23, 2011 10:50PM DANA POINT CLIFF~ MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE BENCHES RIGHT WHERE I SAT TAKING THIS PHOTO~ I MISSED WORDLESS WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD STILL SHARE THIS PHOTO WITH YOU ALL.... THE WAVES HIT SO HARD HERE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST MEDITATE, HEAR THE OCEAN WAVES AND AT TIMES WATCH CHILDREN PLAY DOWN PAST THE STEPS ON THE LEFT. JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WERE NO STEPS, YOU JUST SIMPLY MADE YOUR WAY DOWN THE ROCKS.... MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED ALONG WITH THE OCEAN INSTITUTE JUST BEHIND ME... SOME PEOPLE HAVE LIVED IN THIS AREA MANY YEARS AND DON'T KNOW THIS AREA HERE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WALK DOWN FAR ENOUGH. 01/23/2011

In our eclectic neighborhood, it should be no surprise that we have several "mini real estate markets" here, with properties available in just about every price range. As of January 17, there are 46 open listings in Capistrano Beach. The least expensive is a one bedroom, one bath condominium in Harbor Walk at $173,400 and the most expensive is a luxury home on Beach Road, for which the sellers are asking $10.5 million. If you would like more detailed information about the neighborhood, I would be happy to provide it for you. You can call me at 949.633.1612 or email me at Laurie@Guide2OCHomes.com.   Here's how the the market looks today in Capo Beach: Quartile        Active Listings        Median Price        Days on the Market Most expensive 25%    11            $4,499,000        377 Up... 01/20/2011

Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction... The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for January 1st - December 31st The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range: 2010   173 listings closed escrow 2009   136 listings closed escrow                      Up 14% 2008   70 listings closed escrow The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range: 2010   200 listings closed escrow 2009   190 listings closed escrow                        Up 14% 2008   176 listings closed escrow The Dana Point Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+ Range: 2010   65 listings closed escrow 2009   67 listings closed escrow          ... 01/19/2011

A FEW OF THE LATEST HOME DECOR TRENDS FOR 2011. It is safe to say that "eclectic and casual' pretty much define the modern day trends!   What's Old is New... Salvage, weathered, and distress are three very important decorating words.  If it's not old, just leave it out in the sun & rain, beat it with a hammer or a chain, and stain it grey or rustic brown.  That should give you that "it came from my gramma's attic" look. Mid Century Modern... Here we're kinda' going for that "Playboy After Dark" -  "Hef in His Smoking Jacket" look.  Mid Century styles are taking hold and decorators and Realtors are taking note.  The kool 60's modern homes and furniture are currently in vogue.  Just look at the popularity of the homes in the Hollywood Hills and Palm Springs and you will quickly see what I... 12/31/2010

DANA POINT HARBOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE~ COME JOIN US AT THE DANA POINT HARBOR FOR TRADTIONAL SHOPPING! BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE! SO MUCH FUN>>>>>>>>>>>> HOLIDAY AT THE DANA POINT, CA HARBOR - Friday, December 3rd - 4:00pm-8pm Mariner's Village/Alley & Dana Wharf************************* Join us to celebrate the holiday season. The three areas of the Harbor, Dana Wharf, Mariners Village and Mariner's Alley will all host holiday activities geared to families and children.  Santa is anxious to hear your Holiday wishes and is available for photos (bring your camera).  There are many fun family activities planned, including photos with Santa, performances by various characters, holiday crafts, people painting, carolers and other activities.  Activities start ... 12/03/2010

The Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Dana Point The 33rd Annual Turkey Trot  helps to raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. The Turkeytrot will be held in Dana Point on Thanksgiving Day. They are expecting approximately 12,000 runners to participate in this race.  The Turkey Trot begins at 7am on Thursday, November 25, 2010. There is a 10K which starts at 7am, and the 5K Masters starts at 9:30 am. There is no race day registration for the 10K, so if you want to participate you can register online.  The registration for the event begins on Wednesday from 10 am to 5 pm at the Dana Point harbor. Be sure you arrive early.  Some of the participants run in costume as there is also a costume contest as well. You can also register online.  The cost for the event is: $45... 11/23/2010