The consensus seems to be that only a home buyer with a  large downpayment with a very high credit scores will successed. And even then, the belief  is that underwriting is so strigent that many home buyer’s fear their loan will get rejected anyway.  

The fact is, while lending is not the free-for-all that it was 5 years ago, low down payments on higher loan amounts are now getting done for many of the homes for sale in Laguna Niguel.  The government agencies feel that the worst of the home price decline is behind us allowing for more leniencies.  In addition, underwriting documentation requirements have eased because the economy has stabilized and shown signs of improvment so less risk is at stake.

In both Orange  County and Los Angeles County home buyers are able to secure a home loan in the amount of $729,750 with only 3.5% down payment. This down payment can be a gift from a family member and the credit score can be as low as 640. With a 10% down payment a home buyer can obtain financing for a maximum loan of $875,500 and with 20% down payment obtain financing for a maximum loan amount of $2,000,000.

So, if you are a home buyer searching homes for sale in Laguna Niguel  there really isn’t any reason to be fearful when applying for a home loan.  Having said that, it’s always best to be pre-approved with a lender before shopping for a home so any specific nuances can be worked out prior to entering escrow.

For easy access to all the great homes for sale in Laguna Niguel contact the Fox Wilson Group. We are a group of experienced Laguna Niguel Realtors ready to assist you in your home search – (949) 234-5697.

 A Short Sale occurs when a bank agrees to let the homeowner sell the home for less than what is owed on the mortgage. Short sales inOrangeCountyhave climbed dramatically in 2010 compared to 2009 and will continue to be a significant segment of our market place for quite some time.DanaPointreal estate ended 2010 with a 116 closed short sale transactions verses 69 in 2009, a 68% increase.  Many predict 2012 to be a mirror image of 2011.  This increase is a clear indication that banks are far more interest in negotiated and approving short sales over foreclosing.

 Banks stand to make more from a short sale than a foreclosure.  According some foreclosure specialists, the average price of a foreclosure in the 2^nd quarter of 2011 was $164,217, while the average price of a short sale was $192,129.  Additionally, foreclosures cost banks more in legal and administrative resources.

DanaPointreal estate also benefits from short sales rather than foreclosures.  As mentioned above, short sales typically sell at less of a discount than a foreclosure. Foreclosed homes sit vacant, susceptible to vandalism while short sales are occupied and then become re-occupied once sold. Short sales are better for homeowners.  They can stay in their homes, and that quicker process means they can begin rebuilding their credit sooner. Credit scoring firm Fair Isaac Co, says foreclosures and short sales slash the same number of points from a homeowners credit score but homeowners who short sell, may be able to obtain a loan sooner than foreclosed homeowners.

For more information regardingDanaPointreal estate as well as Short Sales inOrangeCountycontact the Fox Wilson Group at (949) 234.5697.

The Fox Wilson Group specializes in representing luxury real estate in South Orange County,California. Our team of luxury experts understand what defines a luxury home both aesthetically and technically.  For information regarding Luxury Laguna Niguel homes for sale, call us for an appointment at (949)234.5697.

 As Warren Buffet once said; be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful! Since the bubble burst  in 2006/2007, people continue to be fearful of purchasing real estate in Dana Point or any where for that matter. But it’s time to push those fears aside and buy a home!  Smart people are taking advantage of record low interest rates and incredibly cheap homes for sale in Dana Point and they aren’t just buy one, they are buying many.

 It’s important when searching homes for sale in Dana Point you partner with an experienced local Dana Point real estate agent! By doing so, you will be exposed to many promising properties that only a local Dana Point realtor will  know about and have access to hidden opportunities behind the many guard gated communities throughout Dana Point.  

 Check out current inventory levels for Dana Point;

The Fox Wilson Real Estate Group is a professional team of Dana Point realtors ready to expose you to hottest homes for sale in Dana Point.  We help people buy or sell Dana Point homes, condos, investment properties and 1031 exchanges.  We can be reached at (949) 234-5699.

Homes for sale in Laguna Niguel are a hot commodity. That’s right Laguna Niguel real estate is extremely attractive even in this difficult and complicated housing market. There are almost 63,000 people that call this affluent city home! Because of Laguna Niguel’s hilly terrain and close proximity to some of southern California’s most popular beaches, it’s no wonder families, first homebuyers and real estate investors want to get their hands on one of the many homes for sale in Laguna Niguel.

Here are some home buying tips when looking to buy Laguna Niguel real estate

1. Hire a Laguna Niguel real estate agent: Even though you can access so much information via the internet, there is no replacement for intimate neighborhood knowledge that only a local, active Laguna Niguel real estate  agent can offer. After all, there are approximately 37 different neighborhoods within the city ofLaguna Niguel.
2. Get Pre-Approved: You should not be looking at homes for sale in Laguna Niguel or anywhere for that matter, without get pre-approved. Banks today are not interested in making financing easy! Save yourself the grief of looking at homes for that you can’t afford. Additionally, it will put you in a better position when making an offer to purchase an aggressively priced home. Don’t get this confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.
3. Don’t buy if you can’t stay for a while:If you can’t commit to staying put for at least 3 to 5 years, then buying a home is probably not for you, at least not yet. Selling and buying costs are not cheap therefore if you move too quickly you may end up losing money.
4. Location, Location, Location: You can paint, remodel or re-landscape but you can’t change the homes location. Here are several locations you should avoid when looking at homes for sale in Laguna Niguel; Overlooking or backing a busy street, a corner lot at the entry of a neighborhood street, backing to homes which look right into your backyard, close proximity to power lines, near a school entry.
5. Hire a Home Inspector: Just like a bank wants to bet a home appraisal to make sure the home is worth the price you have agreed to pay, you should hire a home inspector. Although a home may look great on the surface there can be many non-visible items that can change your decision to purchase that Laguna Niguel home for sale.

Are you ready to purchase a Laguna Niguel home for sale?

Luxury Ocean View Laguna Beach Home for Sale

Reduced to $3,249,000

Laguna Beach real estate doesn’t get any better than this! Recently constructed, this artfully positioned Laguna Beach home provides commanding ocean, Catalina Island and Coastline views from almost every room. Just reduced in price, this home will be excellent buy for anyone search Laguna Beach homes for sale.  The home features 4br, 4.5ba, media room, elevator, 3 car garage, refrigerated wine room plus a gourmet kitchen to die for. To view this magnificient Laguna Beach home for sale, call the Fox Wilson Group, a professional real estat team servicing the coastal communities of South Orange County. (949) 234.5697.

Hot Buy in Dana Point, California

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # s674491 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

Located in the heart of the Lantern District, this superbly renovated 3br, 2.5ba Dana Point home for sale  just reduced to $699,000!  If you are a  Home Buyer looking to purchase a Dana Point charmer, you should be jumping all over this Dana Point home for sale. Buying this Dana Point home allows you take advantage of not only very aggressive pricing but also historically low interest rates! Contact the Fox Wilson Group, a professional real estate group specializing in Dana Point Real Estate for Sale. Call us today to view this exceptional Dana Point Home for Sale – (949) 234-5697!

JUST SOLD: 31982 Monarch Crest, Laguna Niguel – $3,700,000

The best aspects of Laguna Niguel Real Estate come together  in this exceptional coastal residence!  Perchased high on the ridge line this custom built Laguna Niguel home  is located in the guard gated community of The Pinnacle at Monarch. The estate  provides ultimate privacy due to it’s 15,000 plus square foot lot as well as commanding views of the Southern California coastline. From this luxury ocean view Laguna Niguel neighborhood, you are minutes from two world class resorts, The St. Regis and The Ritz Carlton as well as the Monarch Beach Golf Course, world renowned Salt Creek Beach and the Dana Point Harbor.

As a home buyer ventures into the experience of searching for the perfect Laguna Niguel home, most often, a wish list comes along with the process and it generally contains such things as; desired square footage, bedroom & bath count, architectural style, views, privacy, school district, lot size and of course must have upgrades.

No doubt, finding a Laguna Niguel home that has most, if not all, of what appears on the wish list would be wonderful, but believe it or not, these “wish list items” need to be set aside. Many home buyers become very emotional when they find the perfect house, especially after months of scoured through so many Laguna Niguel homes. It seems all the prudent and pragmatic behavior once had, goes at the window and the buyer’s vision becomes a little clouded.

There are many different approaches real estate agents take, when their client finds the perfect home. Some recommend coming back 2 or 3 times at various times of the day, and others simply let the buyer go with the flow and let the buyer dictate the next step. Personally, I think a buyer should go back at least a 2nd time, if not a 3rd or 4th time. This way, they make sure they feel the same way they did the first time around, but more importantly, they take a deep breath and look long and hard at the details, not just the surface items that initially grasped their attention. At this point, you are not performing a formal home inspection, but rather, taking note of important items such as, water stains, loose electrical wires, loose windows, slope erosion, broken roof tiles, foundation cracks, deteriorated block walls and fences etc.

Why is this a good practice, it will help establish a fair sales price and secondly you won’t be terribly surprised, once you have a licensed home inspector investigate the home. No matter what, a buyer should always employ the services of a licensed home inspection to review the home before any inspection contingencies are removed.

Laguna Niguel real estate has a fantastic reputation, but like any city, each and every sub-division is different. A home buyer should be aware of all that the neighborhood represents, good or bad. I recommend that the home buyer, on their own time, take a drive around the neighborhood and take note of the general condition, if you like what you are seeing, great, if not you may need to investigate further. If the home is located near a school or on a corner, will the traffic concern you? Is the home close to a busy street, does the noise bother you, or will this become a resale problem down the road. Much of your findings and concerns should be discussed with your Realtor. Your Realtor should be able to offer you a wealth of advice, ultimately helping you make a wise and solid investment. Remember, buying a Laguna Niguel home could be the largest investment you will ever make, so you want to be overly confident that you are making the right decision.

To learn more about Laguna Niguel real estate and view some of the wonderful Laguna Niguel homes available, contact Fox & Associates at (949) 234-5697. We can answer all your questions and help you identify the best home for you.

To find the best Laguna Niguel real estate opportunities contact the team at Fox & Associates at (949) 234.5697!