Ladera Ranch Trends

2013 Scholarship Recipient - James Foundoulis of Laguna Hills High School eHomes.com

Fall 2013

Tips for Hiring a Remodeling Contractor

Specalizing in Ladera Ranch

8Introducing: OC Digital Studio

Real Estate Market Gaining Balance

Ladera Ranch

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We’re all starkly aware of how difficult and complex the business world and our own

lives can be. According to Ladera Ranch resident and Africa-born Stefan Swanepoel, succeeding is easier when one optimizes your instinctive skills. “Everyone should strive to develop their innate and natural talents while also surrounding themselves with people whose skills complement their own,” Swanepoel says.

In his business fable, Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and Life, the protagonist embarks on a trip to Africa. Without cell phone coverage to keep him wired in, he is forced to disconnect from the worries of his work thousands of miles away, and instead, becomes engrossed in the animals that rule this untamed land. Slowly nature crystallizes the wisdom the Serengeti has to offer.

For 1.5 million wildebeest of Africa, their “serengeti” is a 1,000 mile-long migration, filled with hunger, thirst, predators and exhaustion. The journey is impressive, dangerous and so incomparably massive that it is often considered the #1 natural wonder of the world.

The migration offers us all a unique window to the very essence

of life itself, wherein we observe the seven primal skills necessary to survive the grueling trek – the same skills we

instinctively turn to in order to cope with and survive challenges in business and in life. Swanepoel outlines these skills, as exemplified

by seven animals: the strategic lion, enterprising crocodile, efficient cheetah, enduring wildebeest, risk-taking mongoose, communicating elephant and graceful giraffe.

There is also an online quiz that allows people, within 3 minutes,to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and discover what innate skill they primarily represent take the free quiz at www.WhatAnimalAmI.com

Stefan Swanepoel was born in the Serengeti and spent the first 35 years of his life in Kenya, Hong Kong and South Africa before relocating to southern California. Today he lives in Ladera Ranch with his wife. Both his sons also live in Ladera Ranch.

Stefan is a successful businessman, a New York Times Best-Selling author and widely traveled public speaker, having given more than 800 talks. He has served as CEO of seven companies and two non-profits, and has spent two decades researching and identifying trends. Stefan is widely recognized as one of the leading visionaries in the real estate industry and has authored over 20 books and reports on business trends, real estate and technology.

Stefan SwanepoelNEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

  

Ladera Ranch

eHomes.com 3

for hiring aRemodeling Contractor TIPS

Sometimes buying is a better option than remodeling. Call Avi (949) 244-0777 for a free assessment of your home improvement vs. moving options.

8Get at least three written estimates.

Check references. If possible, view earlier jobs the contractor completed.

Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints.

Be sure the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled.

Be sure the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.

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Make as small of a down payment as possible so you won’t lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job.

Check that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn’t. Also, remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.

Ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will be involved too.

Before

After

4 eHomes.com

About  Us  at  eHomes

About    eHomeseHomes is an independent real estate service �rm providing premier, professional services and value-added solutions to clients across residential and investment real estate markets. Located in Orange County and serving Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties for more than 17 years, our experience, knowledge, and dedication to our community has made us a pioneer in the real estate markets we serve.

Under the leadership of the founders and brokers, Arna Freedman and Avi Chalid, we have successfully helped thousands of clients achieve their goals in real estate and �nancial success. eHomes attains focused, customized results for each client by practicing a commitment to integrity and quality in our services, whether it’s a corporate client, seller or a �rst time buyer. Our work ethic and expertise remain our de�ning qualities that have contributed to not only our success, but also the success of our clients.

eHomes  Philosophy

We are always looking out for your best interests!

Always working to provide high quality marketing materials for your home.

Take the stress out of selling or buying your next home.

Return your phone calls promptly, we know that peace of mind is very important.

“We have nothing but the highest respect and regard for the eHomes team, and will gladly provide an overwhelming recommen-dation, and thank them for all of the hard work, dedication, and help! Thank you again. You made a dream come true!!!”-Norbert, Leslie, & Breelin

Always provide you with the facts so that you can be informed at every step of the buying or selling process.

Close your escrow on time.

Professional Real Estate services

Lifestyles Ladera Ranch

Do you think you have what it takes to

make your Home’s Christmas Lights

stand out from the rest? If so, Ladera

Ranch is holding this year’s Individual

Home Decorating Contest for you.

When: Thursday, December 5,

12am–Tuesday December 17, 12am

Event will be hosted by Ladera Ranch

Community Events, please visit www.

laderalife.com or call 949-388-8300 for

more information.

Home Decorating Contest Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival

Upcoming Events

Live Nativity

Are you ready for this years tree lighting?

Bring the whole family for photos with

Santa, crafts, holiday performances, and

more!

When: Friday , December 6, 5:00pm-

8:30pm

Where: Town Green

Fee: visit www.laderalife.com for

more details on pricing.

Witness the mystery and tradition of the

very 1st Christmas at the walk thru Live

Nativity. A LARCS Partnership event with

Crossline Ladera Club.

When: Saturday, December 7,

5pm-6pm

Where: Town Green

visit www.laderalife.com for more details

Nov 2: First Aid/CPR (Teens)

Dec 1: Menorah Lighting

Ongoing: Dog Obedience Training

M/W 6:30PM-7:30PM located at Oak

Knoll Village Clubhouse Parking Lot fee is

$95. Dogs must be 3 months or older. For

reservations/questions call Amy Taylor

at 949-697-0822 or trainingpositively@

yahoo.com.

Monthly Events in Ladera Ranch

eHomes.com 5

OC Digital Studio is proud to offer a state-of-the-art studio with professional technology and finesse. With multiple HD 1080 cameras and a Tricaster 460 switchboard system, you can have the studio without the limitations. Using the new Tricaster 460 system, OC Digital Studio can bring the studio appearance you want, directly to you. You can be in any num-ber of studios with just the click of a mouse.

With the Sony PMW-EX3 Cameras, we bring you stunning HD video at the tip of your fingers and our Teleprompter system makes remembering lines a thing of the past. Com-bining these two technologies is essential to

getting the professional product you deserve. OC Digital Studio’s cyclorama green screen offers a 3D environment that can build any im-age you want. If you’re looking for professional lighting but your desk lamp isn’t quite working, we offer 8 LED DMX adjustable lights.

Having the right lighting is essential to get-ting the perfect look for your business. If you have the imagination, we have the technology.

We also offer exclusive audio managing services. Want quality sound? We have a num-ber of selections from lavalier to wireless hand-held microphones. We provide crisp, unfiltered sound that is perfect for any project.

The image you see above is from an infomercial for a wireless tracking device named Sensest.

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Full editing and graphic services will give you a professional product. Using Apple com-puters with Final Cut Pro and Adobe premiere, we’re proud to offer a number of different au-dio-visual editing systems. For motion graphic needs we have Adobe After Effects, which offers a way to edit video in a Photoshop-esque fash-ion, previously unheard of in the special effects world.

And for those of you who have projects that require location-based filming, we have porta-ble equipment including tripods, GoPros and steady cams.

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Did you know…?• Websites with videos are 50% more

likely be ranked on Google’s first page

• Videos on your landing page can increase conversions by 86%

• Videos get 267% more links than normal blog posts

Statistics provided by www.brandwatch.com

Call us to see what magic we can create for you!

www.OCDigitalStudio.com

(949) 421-6229(877) 724-4200

In South Orange County, our studio offers the latest equipment in digital video

production complete with our friendly and creative staff.

eHomes.com 7

The Sign of Experience Ladera Ranch

2012 2013

Oct 2012 Apr Jul Oct 2013 Apr Jul

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Days of Inventory

Trend Line

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The good news: after a year-and-a-half, the market is a little less crazy right now. For buyers, the Orange County real estate market has been extremely tough for the past 18-months. With very little supply, tremendous competition, multiple offers, offers over the asking price, and brisk appreciation, many buyers decided to retreat to the sidelines and wait until the market was a bit less crazy.

The bad news: with higher interest rates and massive appreciation, the payment for the median priced home skyrocketed by 33%. The monthly payment for the median priced detached home in 2012, $542,700, along with the average interest rate of 3.7%, was $1,998. According to Dataquick, the median price of a detached home is currently at $625,000, a 21% increase year over year. Given today’s interest rate of 4.4%, the monthly payment for the current Orange County median priced home is $2,504, a $506 increase.

Real Estate Data

Current Actives10/10/2013

Pending (last 30 Days)

Market Time (in Months 1-Year Ago

Ladera Ranch 150 52 2.88 2.67

Orange County 6,350 2,351 2.70 1.29

MARKET GAINING BALANCE, BETTER NEWS FOR BUYERS

Data provided by www.ReportsOnHousing.com It Does not Pay to Wait by Steven Thomas

The Sign of Experience Ladera Ranch

eHomes.com 9

Address List Price Selling Price Sq. Ft. Days on Market

Date Closed Sale

19 Clifton Dr 350000 350000 1617 0 9/27/13

57 Sansovino 369900 370000 1162 123 10/15/13

43 Garrison 389900 380000 1250 117 10/16/13

7 Garrison 389500 392000 1251 66 9/30/13

39 Sheridan 449900 440000 1617 61 9/24/13

45 Three Vines 460000 451000 1380 29 10/7/13

3 Clifton 457000 455000 1617 53 10/11/13

22 Amesbury 499000 492000 1812 50 9/26/13

44 Glenalmond 505000 495000 1573 103 10/2/13

21 Clifton 499000 520000 1700 33 10/15/13

35 Fieldhouse 619000 625000 1850 97 9/24/13

4 Stone Turret 640000 628000 2000 32 9/27/13

213 Sklar 649000 628450 2000 38 9/30/13

6 Ferrensby 646750 636000 2100 121 9/27/13

11 Algerwood 674900 665000 1828 138 10/7/13

16 Maybeck 699000 675000 1800 70 10/3/13

8 Bancroft 685000 685000 1800 90 9/27/13

29 Tisbury 699000 699000 2224 42 9/26/13

2 Trumpet Vine 715000 707000 2300 62 9/24/13

8 Hempstead 799000 750000 2600 116 9/26/13

37 Terrastar 825000 810000 2500 67 9/30/13

15 Regents 849900 834300 2577 62 9/27/13

32 Langford 999900 970000 3350 78 10/4/13

28 Michael 1149000 1101000 3506 106 10/7/13

39 Langford 1150000 1150000 4000 18 9/27/13

Based on information from the Association of REALTORS /Multiple Listings as of Oct. 16th, 2013 and/or other sources. Display of MLS is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.

Avi Chalid949-244-0777

BRE #: 01184812

Arna Freedman949-244-0444

BRE #: 00925320

We provide results and high quality service

to help you with your home purchase or sale!

Homes Sold in your Neighborhood Sep.–Oct. 2013

Selling Your Home Ladera Ranch

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The BEST way to keep from committing these sins is by selling with Avi and Arna from eHomes.

They will get you the most money for your home.

ofHome Sellers

Not hiring a professional to sell your house Home sellers who do it themselves often end up selling for far less.

Neglecting necessary repairs prior to sale You will lose money if you don’t take care of repairs before the house goes on the market.

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Letting your ego get in the way when negotiating Too many sellers take negotiating personally and lose out on creating a win-win deal.

Neglecting to complete a full set of disclosures prior to closing I’ve watched too many home sellers pay out big bucks because they didn’t “reveal it all.”

The sale for maximum tax benefits Learn your taxes and timing issues from your eHomes agent, the local market expert.

Overlooking junk fees and extra expenses at closing Make sure you ask your agent which fees to pay and which ones you should refute.

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Refusing to remove your clutter and junk prior to the sale Clutter eats equity and kills deals.

Selling your house empty Selling an empty house makes buyers feel the same way, empty.

Mis-pricing your home Zillow is not the neighborhood specialist! Don’t short change yourself.

Not setting the stage for sale day Create a showplace. Buyers purchase with their hearts and not their heads.

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Selling Your Home Ladera Ranch

eHomes.com 11

Staging your home for sale can reap you rewards in profits and less time on the market.Professional video service is just another way we can set the stage to sell your home. Call us to list your home today!

Let Us Market Your Home With Video

Avi Chalid: (949) 244-0777Arna Freedman: (949) 244-0444

Take a video tour now!

PRST-STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLaguna Niguel, CAPERMIT NO. 113326391 Crown Valley Parkway

Suite 140Mission Viejo, CA 92691

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Residential Customer

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