No matter how broad your previous life experiences may have been, buying a home is a very big deal. For a first time buyer, whether here in Orange County Californiaor anywhere else, the impact of that life-changing purchase is doubly impactful. It affects different people in different ways, but after the dust clears, there is one emotion I never want myOrangeCountyfirst-time buyer clients to feel: remorse.   You might think that the size of the transaction makes it wildly unlikely that even a first time buyer would overlook any major missteps. After all, when you are new to such an important purchase, you are bound to be extra cautious. Yet when you consider the challenging distractions along the way (going through your first mortgage approval process; scraping together a down payment... 09/03/2012

Eastside Costa Mesa Home for Sale -Lovely 3 Bed - Elden   This Charming 3 bedroom home in Eastside Costa Mesa is located close to shopping, restaurants and freeways as well as the Orange County Fairgrounds. See below to see this move in ready home with a very open floor plan and extra large master bedroom. For any questions about this lovely home, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. Charming Eastside Costa Mesa Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $410,000 Condominium Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,575 sqft Location 2569 Elden#7Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Christine Donovan DRE 01267479(714) 319-9751christine@donovanblat... 09/02/2012

Eastside Costa Mesa Home for Sale - 3 Bed - Elden   This Charming 3 bedroom home in Eastside Costa Mesa is located close to shopping, restaurants and freeways as well as the Orange County Fairgrounds. See below to see this move in ready home with a very open floor plan and extra large master bedroom. For any questions about this lovely home, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. Charming Eastside Costa Mesa Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $410,000 Condominium Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,575 sqft Location 2569 Elden#7Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Christine Donovan DRE 01267479(714) 319-9751christine@donovanblatt.comh... 08/24/2012

 For everyone who rents (or leases) Costa Mesarental homes, it’s a choice that comes up every year: rent or buy. In addition to the common sense considerations everyone brings to that important decision, some financial measurements have been developed through the years that attempt to bring an element of rationality to a largely subjective decision. Actually penciling out an answer isn’t always satisfactory because it is literally impossible to quantify elements like peace of mind. To some who own their Costa Mesa homes, there is great peace of mind in controlling their own destiny. To others, the worry of being responsible for a home’s maintenance or taxes makes the ‘peace of mind’ factor a wash -- or even a negative. Likewise, those who lease Costa Mesa rental homes may find the lack... 08/22/2012

  Costa Mesa CA is a popular city for home buyers at Orange County - is located just inland from Newport Beach - about two miles from Newport Harbor. Investors and buyers have liked Costa Mesa CA real estate - which has had distressed properties and short sales. REALTORs® and brokers at Costa Mesa sold 105 short sales so far this year 2012 (22.8 percent of market) - with average sold price of $397,647.  460 total Costa Mesa homes were sold so far this year 2012 - with average sold price of $479,593. 69 Costa Mesa home sales were REO lender owned after foreclosure (15 percent of market) - average sold price of $379,935. Costa Mesa now has only 112 properties listed for sale, and the market has buyer demand and needs more listings. REALTORs® and brokers at Costa Mesa are selling on averag... 08/20/2012

Eastside Costa Mesa Home for Sale - 3 Bed - Elden   This Charming 3 bedroom home in Eastside Costa Mesa is located close to shopping, restaurants and freeways as well as the Orange County Fairgrounds. See below to see this move in ready home with a very open floor plan and extra large master bedroom. For any questions about this lovely home, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. Charming Eastside Costa Mesa Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $410,000 Condominium Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,575 sqft Location 2569 Elden#7Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Christine Donovan DRE 01267479(714) 319-9751christine@donovanblatt.comh... 08/19/2012

SHORT SALE COSTA MESA CA REAL ESTATE SHORT SALE AGENTS - COSTA MESA CA Times are tough, and many distressed homeowners in Costa Mesa California are having trouble paying their mortgages every month. Are you one of them? Are you behind on your mortgage payments now? Are you in danger of missing a mortgage payment? Don't let foreclosure happen to you- explore the Costa Mesa CA Short Sale Option instead, but don’t wait; the biggest killer of the short sale negotiation is waiting until it’s too late to process the short sale. You’re also going to want to hire the best Costa Mesa CA Short Sale team in Southern California to help you with your difficult situation, at NO CHARGE TO YOU! We do not charge you for our real estate short sale services: we collect our commission from the bank’s proce... 08/17/2012

  It may sound too good to be true, but it can be authentic: also known as a 'Lease Option,' the Rent-to-Own scenario is one that can help tenants clear major hurdles on their way to homeownership. It can postpone the need to satisfy newly tightened mortgage lending requirements, and eliminate the immediate need for a large down payment. For many who are temporarily in the process of climbing out of credit or cash flow problems, it sounds like a ray of light… And if you are thinking it also sounds like a free lunch (or a clearance sale on the Brooklyn Bridge), you're right to be skeptical. It's always best to familiarize yourself with all possible outcomes for any major transaction -- and a Costa Mesa rent-to-own offer definitely qualifies as one of those! Among the key points Costa Me... 08/14/2012

Eastside Costa Mesa Home for Sale - (3 Bed.) - Elden   This Charming 3 bedroom home in Eastside Costa Mesa is located close to shopping, restaurants and freeways as well as the Orange County Fairgrounds. See below to see this move in ready home with a very open floor plan and extra large master bedroom. For any questions about this lovely home, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. Charming Eastside Costa Mesa Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $410,000 Condominium Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,575 sqft Location 2569 Elden#7Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Christine Donovan DRE 01267479(714) 319-9751christine@donovanblatt.c... 08/12/2012

  For a future homebuyer scanning through the Newport Mesa Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listings, first there are the meat-and-potatoes factors (baths, bedrooms, square footage), then any number of other distinguishing factors.  Is the kitchen upgraded?  Does the floor plan work?  Will I like the backyard?     It’s easy for buyers to become enchanted by the bells and whistles as they search through the MLS listings.  But no matter how permanent they consider their intended move, that home purchase should always include a thoughtful appraisal of its long-term investment value.  Some of the underlying factors in that respect don’t change a lot. Location, Location, Location!  When your agent sends you a batch of new MLS listings, be sure to click on the link to the map.  You know how app... 08/08/2012

Eastside Costa Mesa Home for Sale - (3 Bed.) - Elden   This Charming 3 bedroom home in Eastside Costa Mesa is located close to shopping, restaurants and freeways as well as the Orange County Fairgrounds. See below to see this move in ready home with a very open floor plan and extra large master bedroom. For any questions about this lovely home, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. Charming Eastside Costa Mesa Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $410,000 Condominium Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,575 sqft Location 2569 Elden#7Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Christine Donovan DRE 01267479(714) 319-9751christine@donovanblatt.c... 08/04/2012

Many potential Costa Mesa homebuyers rate fireplaces near the top of their ‘nice to have’ list. Not a ‘gotta have,’ but definitely a solid plus. For them, fireplaces are romantic additions to any property.  Sometimes a backyard fire pit or open-hearth barbecue can fill the bill. Especially during these August evenings, the allure of the dancing flames, crackling sound and woodsy aroma are all that are needed to bring back fond family memories and build new ones...   However – whether indoors or out, there are some practical advantages and drawbacks to both wood burners and gas fireplaces.    The main advantage to a wood burning fireplace or an outdoor fire pit is the ambience it creates. Since wood is the original renewable fuel, all the positives that go with a green/conservation pers... 08/02/2012

Eastside Costa Mesa Home for Sale - (3 Bd)   This Charming 3 bedroom home in Eastside Costa Mesa is located close to shopping, restaurants and freeways as well as the Orange County Fairgrounds. See below to see this move in ready home with a very open floor plan and extra large master bedroom. For any questions about this lovely home, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. Charming Eastside Costa Mesa Home Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats $410,000 Condominium Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,575 sqft Location 2569 Elden#7Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Christine Donovan DRE 01267479(714) 319-9751christine@donovanblatt.comhttp://w... 07/29/2012

  Costa Mesa CA home investors and buyers have been busy jumping on bargains this year - buying 413 homes so far as of July 25, 2012 - with closed escrows as indicated by the CRMLS. Costa Mesa CA homes now listed have average asking price of $692k - which is one of the hottest selling price categories at Orange County CA.  East Costa Mesa home - asking is $849,000 - 4 bedrooms and 2 baths - 2000 interior - now backup offers - MLS# U12002262 - IDX link     Investor buyers at Costa Mesa CA have have cash situations and also taken advantage of excellent home purchase money mortgage rates - with declining average home sold prices since peak of 2006. 2006 - $738,194 average sold price - the peak 2011 - $496,042 average sold price 2012 so far - $472,967 average sold price That's a drop in av... 07/25/2012

Mesa Verde Costa Mesa Golf Course Home for Sale - (3 Bd)     A rarely available Mesa Verde Golf Course home for sale.  This Costa Mesa home is a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath on a large lot (over 13,000 sq. ft.) that backs to the Mesa Verde golf course.  The architecture of this home is such that the master bedroom, the kitchen, the living room and the dining room all have views of the Mesa Verde Golf Course. The courtyard entry features a terrific breezeway that leads to this spacious, view home. To schedule a private showing, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. 07/22/2012

Mesa Verde Costa Mesa Golf Course Home for Sale - (3 Bd)     A rarely available Mesa Verde Golf Course home for sale.  This Costa Mesa home is a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath on a large lot (over 13,000 sq. ft.) that backs to the Mesa Verde golf course.  The architecture of this home is such that the master bedroom, the kitchen, the living room and the dining room all have views of the Mesa Verde Golf Course. The courtyard entry features a terrific breezeway that leads to this spacious, view home. To schedule a private showing, please contact Christine Donovan at 714-319-9751. 07/15/2012

The Orange County Fair Opens in Costa Mesa | OC Fair Opens The Orange County Fair opens today at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA. The fair is always a great time for friends and family. Come on out and see the livestock, try out the food, or take a ride on one of the rides in the fun zone. Enjoy the Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheater. Tonight Willie Nelson is opening. Other performances coming up in Adam Lambert and Scotty McCreery. View the website for more information. The hours and times for the OC Fair is as follows: July 13, 2012 – August 12, 2012The OC Fair is Open Wednesday to Sunday Times:Wednesday - Friday: 12:00 noon to  midnightSaturday - Sunday: 10:00 am  to midnight Find ticket information on the OC Fair website. There is also a super pass available for ... 07/13/2012

  East Costa Mesa CA is a popular area for residential living and investment - originally developed in the early 1950s with commercial area on or near 17th Street and Westcliff Drive. People are attracted to East Costa Mesa partly because of its proximity to Newport Beach and its harbor and Back Bay with boating and kayaking.  ECM was first built with mostly single level homes, and many of those homes have been remodeled. Residential and commercial areas were gentrified - East Costa Mesa has many homes that were completely rebuilt or partially remodeled during the past ten years.   EAST COSTA MESA now has 41 homes listed for sale - with average asking price of $819,494.   EAST COSTA MESA SFR listings - click here. East Costa Mesa - custom home - $1,245,000 - 3 bedrooms and 3 baths - 296... 07/12/2012

About this time a year ago, I was pointing out that with Costa Mesa mortgage rates at near historic lows, the opportunities for first time home ownership had seldom been better. Although, as always, there is a lot more to a family’s decision than the cash flow dimension, it’s undeniable that those who took advantage of low mortgage rates in 1993 could look forward to spending the next 30 years making the their friends and neighbors feel like they’d missed the boat. When you are paying 6.8% for your home while yournext door neighbor -- who bought just one year later -- is struggling at 9.2% every month, it’s no wonder your car looks a lot newer. And why you’re always jetting off to exotic vacations while they check out the latest “staycation” bargains. That was what was happening a year... 07/10/2012

Ahhhh! At the end of a busy day, who doesn’t look forward to the surge of well being that comes with closing the door behind you, finally able to relax now that the world is at bay. Whether living in apartments or homes, everyone deserves that feeling of safety and security. Yet, like most everything else, real security has to be earned.   In the area of home security, we’ve come across both good and bad news. The good: the most recent FBI report shows that the number of burglaries is decreasing across the nation. The bad: burglaries are still responsible for 23% of property crimes, and total losses for those were estimated at more than $15,000,000,000. That’s billion.  Fortunately, a few very simple actions can reduce the chances that any of our Costa Mesa homes will become one of tho... 07/08/2012