Orange County first time home buyers need to be aware of what things they can and cannot do once they have an accepted offer on a home. Even when someone is "PreApproved" by an Orange County Lender, the approval can fall apart quickly if the home buyer is not careful.4 Things Orange County Home Buyers Should Not Do While in Escrow Do not make any large purchases. Do not purchase a car or boat. Don't even buy furniture or appliances for your new home. Don't apply for new credit cards or installment loans. Inquiries during the loan process could lower the FICO score, which could cause problems if credit is run prior to closing. Do not make any large or unusual deposits into your checking or savings account that can't be properly documented. Even a $500 deposit may be questioned by an unde... 05/20/2010

The Irvine, CA, home real estate market generated huge money for our local community and its economy during 2009. REALTORs® and agents sold 1941 homes last year at the Irvine, CA, resale market.  The average sold price for those homes was $658,221. Total dollars spent by homebuyers at Irvine, CA, last year was $1,145,689,875.  That's much more than one billion dollars in gross revenue from Irvine home sales last year, which is a lot of money and a huge benefit for the people and economy at our community of about 220,000 people. I estimate that these sales generated average of 5% fees for brokers, their REALTORs® and agents, on the listing and the selling side, for total of $57,284,490. We also estimate that these sales generated approximately another one percent in fees of $11,456,875 f... 05/17/2010

It’s nothing fancy. Nothing complex. Just unmatched value. The Deal Evaluator is a new service from Platinum Properties Investor Network that allows you to get a quick, experienced second opinion on any real estate deal you are considering. Why would you want our input? We’ve completed thousands of real estate investment transactions worth millions of dollars. We have feet on the ground in dozens of markets around the country. Our real estate expertise is impressive and we’re happy to offer our opinion to any deal you’re considering for the low price of $50. It doesn’t matter where you found the deal or who else you might be working with on it. We’ll run it through our Area Agnostic™ perspective, check to see that it meets The 10 Commandments of Successful Investing™, and run the number... 05/13/2010

We’ve mentioned it before. You can’t rely on walk-in traffic to promote your home-based business. At some point you’re going to have to get out there and drive traffic to a website or phone number. In the old days (yesterday) Google ruled the online advertising world. Their Pay Per Click (PPC) business model set the standard to and was the only game in town for internet advertisers to reach potential customers. Google is still the behemoth at the top of the internet world but a new player is standing on the sidelines called Hydra. Hydra is a results based company. Instead of paying for a click by a random user who might be a legitimate prospect, but could be a random clicker also, you pay only for an action. This new model of advertising gets its own acronym, Cost Per Action (CPA). Is H... 05/10/2010

For those with a physical or mental disability that makes holding down a traditional job in the working world difficult or impossible, there are certainly work-at-home options. One such mode of employment would be offering transcription services, provided you have good English and grammar skills and can type in the 75 wpm range. There is a near constant need for speeches, lectures, radio and television programs, and more to be transcribed into text. With the internet as a delivery system, it’s a simple matter for a freelance transcriber to sit at home and complete assignments. You might be required to take a transcription test before starting, so a little practice might be in order. Begin by exploring websites like TigerFish.com, ProductionTranscripts.com, and AliceDarling.com. There ar... 05/07/2010

Still searching for a brilliant idea for your home-based business? Are you a little bit creative or able to come up with pithy slogans begging to be plastered on a t-shirt, coffee mug, or poster? If so, you’re in luck. Technology has now caught up with you. Companies like CafePress and Zazzle cater to the design crowd. It works like this. Come up with a great design or slogan. Log on to one of these websites and upload your idea. It’s now ready to be printed on t-shirt, kids’ accessories, mugs, housewares, stickers – the list is lengthy. Every time one of these items sells from the website with your design, you get a commission. See the possibilities? Create your own website and showcase your own wares without ever having to stock the item. Here’s an example. People click on your site, ... 05/06/2010

An interesting point was brought up in episode #155 of The Creating Wealth Show. The phrase “location, location, location” has traditionally been the mantra in assessing the value of a property. Perhaps they should say “patience, patience, patience” instead. Eventually, every market will be a good value again. The trick is to realize that all markets are not a good deal all the time. Don’t get hung up on a particular area, thinking factors like proximity to the beach will make it eternally valuable. Las Vegas? Terrible right now - saturated rental market! San Diego? We wouldn’t wish property ownership there on our worst enemies. We call this being Area Agnostic. We monitor nearly 40 geographically diverse markets around the country but that doesn’t mean we suggest all of them are open f... 05/04/2010

FHA financing on condo's is not as difficult as some believe, as long as the project is on the FHA approved list. But what many Orange County homebuyers and their agents don't realize is not all attached homes are considered a condo.When looking at an attached home, most people will automatically assume that if the project is not on the FHA approved list for condo's, then an FHA loan will not be possible. At least not until the project gets approved. However, if the property is not legally considered a condo, then FHA will allow financing without the project being approved.FHA Financing on Planned Unit Development'sA Planned Unit Development, or PUD, encompasses not only Single Family Residences, but also single family attached homes, commonly referred to as townhomes or rowhomes. With ... 04/26/2010

Joe Stumpf - By Referral Only Live Training Irvine 04/23/2010

It’s true. In yet another permutation of the home gig, you no longer have to leave the house to be a customer service agent for a major company. Want to work for J. Crew, Walgreen’s, 1-800-FLOWERS? You can. There is a growing demand for people who answer inbound customer calls from these companies and others. It works like this. Major corporations such as the ones just mentioned outsource their customer service calls to third party companies who, in turn, hire U.S. based virtual customer service agents. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, need extra cash, or have grown weary of the morning commute, this might be an employment option that interests you. Here is the pertinent information. Pay falls in the $8 to $15 an hour range. You will likely be required to work at least 20 hours weekly... 04/22/2010

Today in an Orange County Register article by Jeff Collins stated that William Lyon Homes will add another community 92 new homes which are to be built in Irvine.  The project is 92 attached new homes which will be called San Carlos Court.  This group of new homes is being launched in Portola Springs developed in north Irvine. This follows news that the Irvine Company encouraged by surprising sales success at its new neighborhoods in Irvine's Woodbury section is building 125 new home community.  William Lyon Homes is building a community that would be considered a village atmosphere.  If you would like assistance purchasing a new home call us. 04/18/2010

After the earthquakes that devastated Chile and Haiti, many home insurance companies are raising their rates by as much as 200%! They must be really afraid of the big one, or are just trying to milk customers. The truth is that no one can predict when earthquakes strike, not even MIT seismologists. There's really no grounds to be increasing rates on customers right now. But, that doesn't mean you should go without insurance. If your home insurance company is trying to kill you with rate increases in an already depressed economy, you can easily find others who are more reasonable. The home insurance market is definitely a competitive one, especially in places like California where earthquake potential is high. However, that doesn't mean you have to accept it. Look for Los Angeles insuran... 04/16/2010

The Irvine Company took a riskand it paied off very well.  If you will recall the Irvine Company too the risk of funding the projects and paying the builder to build the homes.  It worked out well, so well they are now going to build 125 more homes. The Irvine Companysold the homes in new neighborhoods in Irvine's Woodbury.  Now it will launch a new 125 homes. California Pacific Homes controlled by the Irvine Company will build the Santa Barbara project of townhomes this is another time where they will take a risk on the market. 318 buyer contracts for homes being built have been signed.  The Irvine Company is beginning to start an interest list for the new Santa Barbara project at Woodbury.  These homes will be from 1155 to 1775 square feet, they are 2 and 3 bedroom models with 3.5 bat... 04/11/2010

27 Woodbridge home sold in March 2010, at prices from $318,000 (for a 3-bedroom 1,098 square foot bank-owned condo), to $1,145,00 (for a 3-bedroom 2,091 square foot SFR).  67 Woodbridge homes are currently "for sale". The sizes of the homes that are for sale range from 715 sq. ft, to 3,100 sq. ft. The prices of Woodbridge homes for sale right now, range from $199,000 (for a 1 bedroom short sale condo), to $1,399,000, (for a 4 bedroom, 4 bath SFR with great North Lake views). 04/05/2010

FHA began allowing financing on flipped properties on February 1, 2010, but as been the case, FHA lenders, including those in Orange County, were not quick to follow suit. However, within the past few weeks, several Orange County FHA lenders have begun to allow financing on flipped properties.FHA Announcement on January 15, 2010 Regarding Flipped PropertiesOn January 15, 2010, FHA announced in a press release that it would be temporarily lifting the "90 day no flipping rule", effective February 1, 2010 through February 1, 2011. However, there are a few guidelines that need to be met. The seller and buyer cannot be related. If the new purchase price is 20% above the sellers acquisition price (within the last 90 days), then the lender may require a second appraisal. Also, the appraisal sh... 04/01/2010

Irvine's newest estate or luxury home could become the most expensive new home, or most expensive home.  Today The Orange County Register had an article on this very large home 13,779 square foot home that is to be completed in 5 months. This home will have 6 bedrooms and has been under construction for a year and 1/2 with an expected completion in 5 more months.  The home is located at 28 Boulder View it sits on a lot just under an acre of land. Some of the features of the home: Master bedroom with his and her full bathrooms and separate walkin closets. An 850 square foot home theater with reclining theater seats. An 80 foot long pool. A five car garage An elevator and spiral staircase bonus room wine cellar and wine tasting area exercise room great room tennis court with cabana Office... 03/28/2010

While we believe that the information provided at our own website www.JasonHartman.com is the finest investment, home-based business, and internet marketing education around, there are other websites on the horizon worth looking at. One of our favorites for internet marketers is the Warrior Forum (www.WarriorForum.com). The Warrior Forum is the place to go for anything and everything regarding internet marketing. Everybody hangs out there from millionaire gurus to wet-behind-the-ears newbies and anyone is welcome. Treat them right and they’ll treat you better. Looking for a great deal on a hot info product? Chances are you can find it in the Warriors Special Offers Forum. Got questions about website design, copywriting, ad networks, or just about anything else under the internet marketi... 03/26/2010

Caution: Slow Down for Senior Citizens! We are all used to seeing caution signs alerting us to slow down and watch out for kids/students crossing near our local Irvine schools. But how many of us are used to seeing signs alerting us to slow down for senior citizens?  Retirement Living for Seniors Exists Side By Side with the U. C. Irvine Student population This sign appears along Harvard Avenue near the neighborhoods of Columbia Square and Cambridge Court. The reason for this cautionary road sign is that seniors reside across the street from these University Town Center neighborhoods in Regent's Point, a continuing care retirement facility on a 15-acre campus that is located along the edge of Mason Regional Park.  Flexible Floor Plans that are Single Story or Have a Bedroom and Bathroo... 03/25/2010

Are you stuck with a bad income investment property forever? The short answer is no. There are escape routes, though some are better than others. Your best defense against ending up the owner of a bad property is to follow our advice and not invest in a property unless it makes sense the day you buy it.   But, unfortunately, some people stray outside the Platinum Properties Investor Network advice and find themselves stuck with an “asset” that no longer strictly falls under that definition. Here are some ways you might consider getting out of an upside down mortgage.     1. Loan Modification – Meeting with your lender and working out a mortgage with more favorable terms is your best bet. Roll the dice. You never know if this will be easy, hard, or impossible until you try.   2. Refinanc... 03/25/2010

Blogs on the internet come and go by the hundreds and thousands a day. If the focus of your home-based business is to create a profitable slice of real estate by blogging, here’s what we’ve noticed makes one stand out from the crowd.   1. Enter a new market early, on the way up into the public consciousness, and create lots of valuable content.   2. You’re not going to create a literary masterpiece every day, but bloggers who post regularly, for years, usually end up ahead of the game.   3. Don’t be afraid to be quirky, loud, obnoxious, controversial, sexy, intelligent, or just plain weird. That’s what draws attention, traffic, and money.   4. If you already have at least one major accomplishment in your field, play it up. Trumpet it from the heavens and use the leverage to vault past t... 03/24/2010