June 2011

If you have been following the Laguna Beach real estate market you know that finding a nice home under $600,000 can be a challenge in today's marketplace.   A newly listed Laguna Beach cottage has just come on the market for $590,000 in the Laguna Canyon area.  The home comes complete with two bedroom and a one car garage.  If you are like most Laguna Beach homes buyers looking for a deal, finding a well suited home in the $500,000 is a difficult task.  As the market continues to change and more short sale properties come on the market we are starting to see more opportunities in the current Laguna Beach real estate market.  Our recommendation is to consult with your local Laguna Beach realtor who can advise you on new listings that come on the market. …

One of the interesting parts about doing short sales is when you are dealing with a multi-unit building.  Short Sales are pretty straight forward when you are dealing with an owner occupied who is unable to afford their monthly mortgage and asking the bank to forgive the difference on what they owe and what they can get from a buyer.  When dealing with a multi-unit building like a duplex then you also have to factor in the current tenancy and/or any lease agreements that may be attached to the house.  Also, if the owner is still collecting rent it could be a conflict of interest if he/she is trying to show adequate hardship to the bank. Although, these conditions are just hypothetical and don't apply to every property for sale, the fact is that you should…

A stunning ocean view contemporary home designed by Mark Singer located in the Coast Royal neighborhood in South Laguna Beach was just leased by Denise De La Torre where she represented the tenants in this real estate transaction.  Local Laguna Beach Architect, Mark Singer is known for his stunning contemporary homes here in Laguna Beach, California, and the home at 31411 Ceanothus, Laguna Beach, CA is a great example of his work which featured panoramic ocean views from every room in the house.  The home was built in 1998 and features 3 bedrooms and two and a half baths with amazing decks that take in the great vistas from this home.  Mark Singer homes are also known for the high attention to detail and top of the line finishes.  Stainless steel…

Three Arch Bay like several other communities like Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove have homes located on both sides of Pacific Coast Highway.  The homes located on the west side will feature oceanfront and ocean view properties. As you cross Highway 1 (PCH) then you also have homes that have spectacular ocean views.  This is in part due to the natural landscaping of Laguna Beach.  The hillside area gradually goes up on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway with homes perched up on a hill and offer panoramic ocean views.  A newly listed Upper Three Arch Bay home for sale offers unobstructed and ocean and coastline views.  If you are you looking for an ocean view property and wish to be in a gated community we recommend viewing the homes in the upper…

It seems like most Laguna Beach home buyers are looking for two things: ocean view homes that are listed a great price.  Most likely these "great deals" are listed as short sales or foreclosure homes.  A newly listed short sale listing has come on the market in the Portafina community with stunning ocean views at a great price of $1,189,000.  We have seen two new short sale homes come on the market this week as 61 of 405 listings are distressed sales in Laguna Beach, California.  What this means to most Laguna Beach home buyers is a great opportunity to seize on these distressed properties.  These hardship sellers are now turning to short sale their homes for a quick sale.  If you have been pre-qualified with a lender and are ready to buy now is a great…

Laguna Beach Single Family Homes For Sale In The $700,000 Range are starting to come on the market in the South Laguna Beach area!  A newly listed short sale listing has just come up for sale for $700,000 and offers ocean views and walking distance to the beach.   If you are in the market to buy a property in Laguna Beach you have over 400 properties to choose from now.  Of these 400 homes on the market, over 60 of them are listed as short sales.  For some, short sales are a dream come true with an opportunity to buy below market value and seize a great deal in the popular Laguna Beach Real Estate market.  For others who are pressed for time, short sales are a process that takes too much time with no guarantees.  Short sales can be a difficult process if

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We were talking with a Laguna Beach buyer yesterday that was looking for an ocean view home In Laguna Beach, California that offers panoramic views yet still has the ability to easily walk to the beach.  The Alta Vista area is the perfect place to find great ocean view properties with the ease of walking to many of the beaches located in the Laguna Village area.  Directly located above the Victoria Beach and Upper Victoria Beach sits some of the most beautiful homes on the market.  Currently, Alta Vista homes range in price from $979,000 to $3.2 million dollars.  There are currently two distressed properties for sale in Alta Vista.  The first property listed at $979,000 is a listed as a short sale which means the bank has to approval the short sale and

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One of my favorite places to take Laguna Beach homes buyers is the Blue Lagoon resort in Laguna Beach, California.  The Blue Lagoon has one of the best locations in all of South Laguna located just north of the Montage Resort & Spa.  As you know with our earilier posts, the Montage Ocean Estates and Montage Residences that are being built are currently ranging from $21.5 to $32.5 million dollars for an oceanfront and ocean view home.  The Blue Lagoon is also located just south of the oceanfront community of "Lagunita where home prices range from $2.9 to $8.4 million dollars.  One of the best ways to get a feel for this gated community is to use our "Birdseye View" of the community.  Here you will be able to see the close proximity to the beach and the…

One of the best parts about living in Laguna Beach is the charm and personality these vintage cottage contain.  There is no better example to find great beach cottages than the lower bluebird area of Laguna Beach, California.  Lower Bluebird is an area located at the very beginning of Bluebird Canyon Drive near Bluebird Park.  From this location you are just blocks to the beach and just minutes to the main beach in Laguna Beach.  Many of the art galleries, shopping and fine restaurants are also located just mintues away.  Home prices in Lower Bluebird currently range from $799,000 for a single family home with three bedrooms and two baths to a 3 bedroom 3 bath home listed at $1,699,000.  Most of the homes in this area will have just a small ocean view so…

One of our most requested searches for clients looking to buy a home here in Laguna Beach is finding a nice ocean view property that is close to the beach.  As price of homes is determined by location, the closer you are to the beach, the more expensive the home will be.  The Portafina area is a perfect balance of providing beach close living with nice ocean views at an affordable price.  Homes in Portafina currently range from $1,445,000 to $2,650,000 with stunning ocean view properties.  There are no current short sale listings on the market in Portafina as all homes are "equity seller's."  The homes are located just east of the popular Victoria Beach and Upper Victoria Beach areas with many beautiful architectural style of homes.  If you are thinking…