Lease to own, Lease with option to buy, What ever you like to call it this may be a good option for you. Lending guidelines have been getting stricter over the past few years following the mortgage lead downturn. Some of you have just graduated from school and beginning to reap the financial rewards with your new degree but are new at your job and lenders are hesitant to lend to you. Some of you are working on your credit in order to qualify for a better rate and terms or to qualify at all. You really would like to buy a home you can call your own but you are not quite there yet. Leasing a home with a lease to buy option may be your best bet but there are some issues you should be aware of. As a South Orange County Realtor with some of my business being rental properties I cannot count how many times I have been asked HOW DOSE A LEASE WITH OPTION TO BUY WORK? HOW DOSE A LEASE TO OWN WORK? Well it all sounds like a great idea until I let them know that it is not free there is a little gambling involved and the rental money dose not go towards the home purchase, At least not in a standard lease with option contract. Basically what you are doing is buying the option to buy in the future at a price agreed on today. Putting option money on the table is a way to get the seller interested into this kind of contract. Donald Trump used this strategy on his way to success and I would like to use him as an example. Donald would always be on the lookout for a way to make a big quick buck with Real Estate. If Donald came across a piece land or run down development in a good area that he believed would have good future potential he would approach the owner with option money. He would say to the owner of the real property if I give you X amount of dollars would you consider giving me an option to buy this land between now and 24 months at a purchase price of X amount. Of course the owner of the property did not know what Donald’s plans were and did not see the large potential . Once the Donald and the owner agreed on the purchase price, option money amount and the term of the contract in this example 24 months the contract was drawn and the option money was paid to the owner and Donald had a binding contract he was in control of. Now Donald started putting his plan together. He would visit Engineers, Lenders, and Investor’s with his plans for the land usually to build a high-rise apartment complex, Strip mall or other kind of Development that would pay off well when complete. If Donald was able to put together his plan and get the financing etc he would go ahead and activate his option with the land owner that must sell at the agreed price and start construction. The initial option money would go towards the down payment. If he was unable to get approvals and financing etc within the 24 months he would walk away leaving the little option money on the table for the owner. On a smaller scale buying a house with a lease to buy option is very similar. If you guess correctly that the home will be worth more than the current value in 24 months time you will have instant equity when you purchase it. If the expiration of the term comes and the home is worth less if you chose to walk you will lose the option money. Before you walk I would recommend you renegotiate the price with the owner because the owner will need to market the home at current values to sell it anyway. This works in the buyer’s advantage but like most investments comes a little risk.

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Have you ever wanted the feel of small-town USA, but also longed for the perks of urban-style living as well?  Aliso Viejo is a city that fits the bill. As far as housing is concerned, Aliso Viejo homes offer an assortment of all types that suit your individual needs.  There is an assortment of newer affordable Condos in Also Viejo as well as reasonable priced single family homes. Aliso Viejo SFH range from 300k up into the millions. For the nature lover and exercise enthusiast, Aliso Viejo is home to a 3,400 acre Wood Canyon Wilderness Park which features miles of beautifully scenic hiking and bike trails. But the true jewel of living in Aliso Viejo is the fact that it is home to the private liberal arts college, Soka University.

 Soka University opened in 2001 and its mission is to “foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life.” There are many advantages to having this small, private university in the midst of Aliso Viejo. The University provides a cultural aspect to our town. The school houses students from all over the world, from all different nationalities. Soka also contributes to the community with the many events that take place on their campus. On Saturday, May 3, 2008, Soka will host the 7^th Annual International Festival.  The festival takes place from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.  There is a $5 admission charge, and it is free for anyone under the age of 18. Parking is free. The festival will feature international music and dance with over 600 performers on 3 stages.  There will also be storytelling exhibitions, street painting, ceramics and glass blowing demonstrations as well as international food, art exhibitions, dance demonstrations and workshops and much more. In addition to the festival, Soka has many events throughout the year.  These include art gallery showings, diverse seminars with guest-speakers from across the globe discussing varied topics based upon their expertise, music recitals, concerts, student exhibitions, and sporting events. For a calendar of events, simply log-on to the Soka University website at www.soka.edu  There is much more to Aliso Viejo than the college.  There is a variety of dining and restaurant choices, great shopping, and award-winning public schools for your children. However, with the presence of Soka University, Aliso Viejo has an added touch of culture and diversity right at our doorstep.  Living in Aliso Viejo truly unites the best of all worlds; a safe and family-friendly community with that small, college-town feel, in addition to being adjacent to larger and more commercial urban areas. The convenience of living only minutes away from Laguna Beach as well as being only 10 miles south of John Wayne Airport in Irvine cannot be beat.  If you want to live in South Orange County, you couldn’t make a better choice than Aliso Viejo.  Finding a reliable Aliso Viejo Realtor that knows the city well is one of the first steps that should be taken if you are considering moving here. Brett Dalbeth is a Real Estate Agent that services Aliso Viejo as well as surrounding neighborhoods like Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills; He has extensive knowledge and years of experiences throughout these cities and he is a pleasure to do business with. If you would like to get a feel of what homes are worth in these areas Brett’s Website has an easy to use mls map based search feature that is unique and second to none. Call Brett today for detailed information 714 642 1616 

By Debbie Lamedman  

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Have you ever wanted to live where most people vacation? By buying or leasing property in Dana Point, that desire can become a reality. Nestled between San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Laguna Beach, this quiet seaside city offers something for most people interested in oceanfront realty.

To get an idea how idyllic this South Orange County beach community is, it is not unheard of to visit the beach in February and sunbathe. Spring features not only beautiful foliage, but also the return of hummingbirds, Monarch butterflies, and whale migrations. Come summertime, the waters around Doheny State Beach turn turquoise as a pleasant offshore breeze keeps temperatures pleasant year round. Clear evenings provide some of the best views in all of Orange County as the sun sets behind Santa Catalina Island. With such picturesque surroundings, it’s no wonder why mega-resorts such as the St. Regis, Ritz Carlton, and Marriott chose Dana Point as their property locations.

Dana Point has a wide variety of properties for sale and lease, each dependent on the community. Capistrano Beach offers beach-front properties and distinctive architecture, while Monarch Beach enjoys some of the most exclusive and luxurious homes in Dana Point. The Headlands have some very hard to come by properties, since most of this area is a designated wildlife preserve. Dana Hills is home to suburban housing perfect for raising families with excellent schools nearby, both public and private. The city proper hosts the majority of businesses in Dana Point, especially along the famous Pacific Coast Highway. Yet Dana Point still retains its small town charm.

There are plenty of activities to keep busy in Dana Point. Good weather year round makes anytime a perfect time picnicking or relaxing with friends at the beach. By living in such close proximity to the Dana Point Harbor, there are plenty of easy opportunities for deep-sea fishing or riding water craft. Or if you crave a quick getaway, Catalina Island is accessible by ferry from the harbor and makes for an excellent day-trip. On land there are many one-of-a-kind restaurants to satisfy whatever mood your taste buds are in for. You can even enjoy a few after-dinner drinks at the bars and pubs downtown. Weekends are made for the scenic drive up Pacific Coast Highway, and even host the occasional car show. With plenty of civic events and city parks, there is always something to do in Dana Point.

Few places can be considered more ideal for living than Dana Point. Living here is a wise decision and affords its residents with a great many opportunities. There is always something for everyone in Dana Point, with the added benefit of being so close to the ocean in a beautiful surrounding.

By Elliot Rowe 

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  Living in Laguna Niguel is very special.  After living here most of my life, I still tell myself how lucky I am! Strategically located to all the main freeways and toll roads but yet quiet suburb living.  We are half way between Los Angeles and San Diego which makes business easy.  We are fortunate to be surrounded by Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, San Clemente and Aliso Viejo!  Each one of these cities is literally within 5-10 minutes of driving!  You can also jump on the toll road and be down up in the Newport Beach area in 20 minutes or jump on the freeway and be in Carlsbad in 30 minutes it is one of the most beautiful places to live!  Most of the streets either have ocean views or rolling hills.  There is still a lot of open space left so you never feel crowded, not even in rush hour!  It is very quaint and you can go to your neighborhood Starbucks or grocery store and see people you know just like in a small town, but yet we have everything that a large city has also!

     If you have children the homes in Laguna Niguel are spacious with nice back yards. The parks and schools are very nice also.  Laguna Niguel offers all blue ribbon schools.  They are the best!  From elementary to college we have it all.  We also have so many things for kids to do!  There is the Ocean Institute at the Dana Point Harbor with many kids programs. There are classes and many water and boating activities!  We have at least four community centers with great programs and so many things for kids to do!  There are parades for every holiday, Easter egg hunts, Christmas parades and the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot at the Harbor! Living in Laguna Niguel you know your family will be safe. Laguna Niguel is a safe family community with a very low crime rate. You will not see any bars on the windows here.

     Restaurants and shopping are the best around!  Laguna Niguel is surrounded by the best of the best restaurants! There are so many to choose from that you will have trouble trying each one!  There will be your neighborhood favorites or course and then there are so many especially along Pacific Coast Highway that you cannot possibly try them all!  For that special night out or entertaining out of town guests there are always the big luxury hotels!  We are within minutes of the St Regis, Ritz Carlton and the Montage, all five star hotels.  We are also within 20 minutes to 4 major malls including Fashion Island and another 10 minutes to South Coast Plaza, along with numerous stores in between!    You just can’t run out of things to do here!  So many times too will want to just jump in the car and take a drive just to soak up the day! 

     Beaches around here are the best and probably one of the biggest reasons people chooses this area to buy a home.  Not only can you enjoy the cool ocean breezes but also the recreation that beaches provide and some of the best surfing around!  There are too many beaches to mention all within a short drive. .  If you are a trail blazer and enjoy biking or hiking you could try one of the many  bike trails which take you through maintained trails starting from most of the neighborhoods and ending up down at the beaches!    If golfing is your thing you are also within minutes of some of the best courses around! All and all I can’t think of a better place I would like to live!  We have it all! If you are planning on buying real estate in Laguna Niguel you should contact our trusted Laguna Niguel Real Estate Agent Brett Dalbeth. With his understanding of Real Estate of this area you can’t go wrong.

By Carrie Bachmayer

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 Making the decision to move to Orange County California is once again beginning to be a common decision for many people out of state. Orange County has got a very violent real estate market this is were people make the big bucks. That time ended in 2005 it passed and now it is winding up for the next rally. It is part of the fastest growing state in the US. Home values have dropped in some but not all areas to levels not seen since 2005 giving people a second chance to purchase a piece of this valuable land that they missed out on when the market had its last burst of energy after 2001 that ended in 2005. It’s now 2008 sadly many people have lost their homes over the last 3 years through Foreclosure because of the credit crisis, mortgage melt down, bubble bursting, or whatever you like to call it. Have you ever heard the term “Don’t cry over spilt milk” Well this term is going to help people get on their feet and look into the bright future and learn from their mistakes. Orange County and California is always going to have upward bursts of value because there is high demand to live here. Do you see people with money abandoning California? NO! It’s not going to happen. In fact those People with money are buying up all the prime Real Estate at great prices as we speak because they know 3 to 6 years from now values will be rite back up there and will continue to rise into the future. Most people like to make a quick fortune buying up Real Estate when the market is hot and trying to time it rite to jump out. Well if you like to gamble you know that you do not win every time. Buying Real Estate and keeping it is my strategy. Unless you have your own home and you’re playing with your investment money and not your entire life savings why risk your family’s inheritance think about the future. Orange County Real Estate has and always will continue to increase in value over time. As time passes by values will accelerate faster as the population increases. Of course their will be ups and down but hold on to it and you and your heirs will do just fine. A study that was done in 2001 25,000 people moved to California every month from other States and all over the world. As the worlds population increases and accelerates the prime Real Estate will be taken first and California is one of those prime spots The sooner you get in the better you nest egg will be at retirement. All the prime real estate on the coast and the water ways has already been snapped up and those homes are the ones holding there value. There is only so much coastal property and when it has gone eventually you would need to be a billionaire to purchase some. Look rite now try to find a 2-3 bed SFR with a boat dock under 1m good luck with that and please call me if you do. For those of you who would like to own part of this valuable County and would like to secure there financial future for themselves and their family, Don’t miss out on this next cycle it’s going to be rewarding on top of the many tax advantages owning real estate offers. 2008 is a great year to find that perfect home for the rite price with all the inventory available today.

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714 642 1616