You May Be able To Reduce Your Property Taxes! Orange County Property Tax Assesment Information

Orange County Housing Inventory is Creeping up – Fullerton Housing Too!

The push to get everyone in escrow by April 30^th to qualify for the federal tax credit has ended and it seems the mad rush is over.  So what’s been happening since?  People must want to know because everyone has been asking me!

Inventory is creeping up, that’s what’s happening!  Even though our interest rates are at historic lows, we are still seeing a little less buyer activity. The serious buyers are still out there but they expect a lot for their money.

If you’re a potential seller, don’t worry! Homes are still selling!  Buyers are savvy and though they aren’t receiving the federal tax incentive, the serious ones are out!  There are plenty of ways to ensure your home sells for the highest possible price.  If you would like any tips or hints, I am happy to help!

Check out what the Fullerton housing inventory has been doing for the past year.

Fullerton Inventory is Creeping Up

Earth Day in Fullerton – Some Cool Stuff Around Town!

Every year there are some pretty cool lists that start floating around for Earth Day.  We are reminded of everything from carrying a canvas bag, turn the lights out, re-use, recycle, etc… Those things are great and we should do them everyday but here is a list of specail things to do in Fullerton for Earth Day!

Project Green Fundraiser and Earth Day Fundraiserat Fitness Pizza in Fullerton – I stumbled across this one entirely by accident but I’m glad I did because it looks like a good one!  Come out and support the Boys and Girls Club at ZPizza.  Every in store purchase will earn a raffle ticket for some exciting prizes plus much more. It all begins at 7:30 pm.  Just Added – KROQ!  They will be there playing music and giving stuff away!

The Fullerton Farmer’s Market – How convenient that it is on Earth Day!  They made a special effort to get more “green vendors”. Hopefully you can get there on foot or on your bike and pick up some delicious locally grown fruits and veggies.  I ordered a new custom purse (hello for only $36 bucks) that I will be picking up on Thursday. It is even made with some recycled fabrics.  I can’t wait! 

Buffalo Exchange in Fullerton- How about a ONE DOLLAR SALE!? I love this place! I can trade or sell off clothes I no longer wear and other folks can get their hands on them and I can also get some cool things for me!   Well, even better, this Saturday, April 24th, you can do all that PLUS pick up some major dollar deals!  I couldn’t find anything online about it and of course I don’t have my flyer handy but I did remember reading that  it is also a fundraiser! Get there early for the best selection.

The past couple of years I rode my bike around Fullerton and wrote my “Day in the Life of a Realtor with No Car” blogs but since I am not going to be able to do that this year, I figured I should at leaset give you a decent list of stuff to help celebrate.

If you have any other tips or celebrations for Earth Day in or around Fullerton, please leave your comments!

Open House – Downtown Fullerton! Sat. Feb. 20 from 1:00 to 4:00

Vintage Home Near Downtown Fullerton For Sale!

Stop by and see this great vintage home in an amazing Fullerton Neighbhorhood near downtown! I hope to see you there from 1:00 to 4:00!

Fullerton Real Estate – No Bobby, The Appraiser is NOT the Devil…..

When I took a listing on in the highly sought after Downtown Fullerton area, I knew I had my work cut out for me. This lovely home on Jacaranda showed wonderfully and though we listed it right at Christmas time when most buyers typically stop shopping. We were able to get it sold right away with multiple offers.

The work wasn’t so much in the listing, but in getting the Appraiser to see the value too! I mean I had just sold a home for the highest price in quite some time in the neighborhood and now I had to make sure the apprasier agreed! 

The dreaded words….Appraisal!  I have heard appraisers referred to as “deal killers” for brining the value in too low.  Since the fall of the real estate market, it is tougher than ever for them! 

This is not the appraiser!

Sure, we listed on the high side.  I was confident we could get what we were asking for.  At our open house, the residents of this lovely Downtown Fullerton neighborhood all came by and echoed the same sentiment, “We hope you can get the value, it will be so good for the neighborhood”.   I must admit, I got nervous…for about a minute.

Lucky for me, I worked for a major lender years ago and had extensive appraisal training. I would work closely with what we called the Appraisal Review Department and learned exactly what they were looking for and how they wanted the value justified.  Trust me, I did not forget.

When the appraiser called about appraising the home, I made sure I made it as easy as possible for him.  Often times, Realtors just show up and unlock the door.  I guess that is one way to do it but by making sure they understand the upgrades, the neighborhood, how you came to the value, the offers….etc….you would be surprised at how much they appreciate the help and in UNDERSTANDING WHY THE VALUE IS THERE!

Appraisers have a tough job right now.  They have much stricter guidelines now and are held accountable for every little thing. Their job is stressful to say the least!   This was just reiterated by an appraiser that called me (because the home on Jacaranda has now closed and is showing as a comparable sale).  She was trying to justify the price on something else in the neighborhood and she was floored when she saw how much my home sold for.  We talked a long time about how hard it is for them right now.  Since I know every single home in the neighborhood, and what they all sold for, I was able to help her and explain how we were able to justify the sold price on our Jacaranda home.

Appraisers are not trying to be bad guys or deal killers. Sometimes they just need a little help in justifying the value. The least we can do is try to help! It is good for them…..and our sellers!

If you are interested in hearing more about values and appraisals or anything else relating to Fullerton real estate or real estate in North Orange County, please contact me.

Fullerton Home For Sale! Open House Sunday, December 13th – Downtown Fullerton Real Estate!

Open House, Saturday December 13^th from 1:00 to 4:00

This Fullerton Home is very special! This single story home near the Muckenthaler and Downtown Fullerton has so many great details; it’s your chance to own your little piece of Fullerton Real Estate!

• 3 Bedrooms
• 1 ¾ Baths – upgraded
• Completely expanded and remodeled kitchen with lots of oak cabinets, corion counters, a pantry and lots of counter space
• A large beautifully landscaped yard with lots of trees (including fruit trees) and a redwood deck
• Newer roof, copper plumbing and electrical
• Newer doors, garage door, dual pane low-e vinyl frame windows with a bay window in the master 
• Cozy family room with wood burning soap-stone stove
• Covered patio area with multiple cabinets and counter-tops for gardening, hobbies or outdoor living.

There is so much more, stop by and see this wonderful Fullerton home for yourself! If you would like a private showing of this home before the open house, please contact me! I would be happy to give you the tour!

Cristal Drake – Prudential California Realty -dre: 01272061

Are You Sitting On The Fence? Fullerton Buyers, Sit No Longer!

Interest rates are down!  What does this mean to you?  It means that you can buy more house or it could be that you are finally able to get off the fence and become a homeowner!

Home prices are down too!  Many first time home buyers that that thought they “missed the boat” a few years back are finding that they are back in the game!  Some thought the dream of home ownership would not become a reality.  It is becoming real now.

Not sure where to start?  Start at the beginning….and here you are!  If you are reading this article then you are in the right place.  You need a Realtor that can explain the process step by step and make sure you are taken care of an protected every step of the way; someone who understands that taking the step towards home ownership can be scary and overwhelming.

If you think you might be ready to see what is involved with becoming a home owner, give me a call or shoot me an email. We can just have a conversation and see if you are ready to take the next step.  No pressure. I am sure you have lots of questions and my job is to get you the answers.

When you talk to a Realtor (R) that understands the market and has your best interest at heart, you would be surprised about some of the options available to you:

• $7500 first time home buyer tax credit
• Possible seller assistance with costs
• Holidays are a great time to shop – less competition from other buyers

Check out some of my other articles to get to know me little better and then give me a call…I would appreciate the opportunity to be of service and to earn your business.  

My Buyer Became My Friend

Are You Trying to Time the Market?

Fun, Friends and Finds at the Downtown Fullerton Mercantile Flea Market!

Today I attended a new event in Downtown Fullerton, The Mercantile Flea Market.  I believe this was the second or third one. So far and it is off to a great start and sure to be a hit! 

While there, so many of my friends and client’s stopped by.  I let everone know about it  as well as sent out an email letting them know that I would be there for the day selling some of my vintage wares - I have lots of collections of this and that and figured this was a good way to purge a little as well as be involved with something downtown.  Plus, I love Flea Markets so I was in!  Who doesn’t love a great find?

It was such a great day and I was so TOUCHED that so many of my friends and clients stopped by to support the new market and me!  Not only did so many people stop by, I met lots of new and interesting people too. 

The Fullerton Mercantile Flea Market was the brain child of Sabrina who owns a great new store called Carpe Diem and it is right behind her store on the corner of Harbor and Santa Fe the first Saturday of every month. 

The next Mercantile Flea Market will be held on Saturday, July 5th and the hours are from 10:00 to 4:00.  Come on down and see your friends and find a treasure or two!

Cristal Drake – Realtor – Re/Max North Orange County – Fullerton, CA 714-423-7525