David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Gardening can be an excellent way to relax, connect with nature, and grow food for your family and flowers to decorate your home and share with others. Unfortunately, seasonal temperature changes, unpredictable weather and other issues can make growing plants outdoors a challenge. With a greenhouse, you can avoid these problems. Grow What You Want, When You Want Most plants only grow well under specific conditions and therefore can only be raised outdoors at certain times of the year. A greenhouse can allow you to control the temperature and amount of humidity so your vegetables, flowers and herbs will have the optimal growing conditions in any season. Too much or too little rain, temperature fluctuations and unexpected frost can ruin crops you’ve worked on raising for months. With a greenhouse, you won’t need to worry about any of that. Your plants will be protected from extreme weather in a carefully controlled environment with consistent c

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Your yard can be much more dangerous at night than it is during daylight hours. Objects you can’t see, ice on the ground, animals and trespassers are sources of concern for all homeowners. Installing motion-activated outdoor lights is a simple way to protect yourself and others from these hazards. How Do Motion-Activated Lights Work? Motion detectors detect infrared waves, or heat waves, from moving objects, such as people, animals and vehicles. When a warm object passes its field of view, a motion detector causes a light to turn on. It stays on for an amount of time set by the homeowner, then turns off if the detector no longer senses motion. The field of view and distance range vary depending on the model of motion detector and the settings the homeowner chooses. Reasons to Install Outdoor Lights Motion-activated outdoor lights can help you avoid accidents and injuries at night. For example, if you need to walk up steps to enter your home o

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Want to make your home stand out from the others in your neighborhood? Updating your garage can be a simple way to accomplish this while boosting curb appeal at the same time. Here's how to get started: Try a New Color One option to make your home's garage door draw attention is to use a unique color. You have to be careful here, because a color that’s too odd could actually be a drawback. Consider the overall look of your home and choose a color that’ll complement your home's architecture while still being different from the other homes in the neighborhood. Choose a Unique Material Are all the doors in your neighborhood metal or vinyl? Consider upgrading to a real wood door. Wood doors give a home character and a classic look, and they can be an asset to your home's curb appeal. If you don't want to spend more for a real wood door, consider a metal or vinyl door that is finished to look like wood. Add a Unique Design Most

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Nothing is more frustrating to gardeners than having their hard work and investment ruined by deer, rabbits and other creatures. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent or minimize damage from animals, without resorting to harsh and environmentally damaging chemicals. Consider the following strategies to start prepping your garden this fall.  Identify the culprit.  To prevent damage from critters, you must first know who you’re dealing with. Neatly clipped stems and twigs are usually a sign of rabbits, but if you’re seeing ragged and torn leaves, that’s most likely deer. If you have security cameras installed on your property or a Ring doorbell system, you might be able to catch the intruder in the act. Plant strategically.  Get to know the plants native to your area that are resistant to animals. Your landscaper or local plant and garden store can help you select the right ones for your yard. Plant them abundantly and

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Every year, hundreds of people are killed and thousands of others become ill due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors can save lives, but many people don’t have them in their homes. What Makes Carbon Monoxide Dangerous? Carbon monoxide keeps the blood from carrying enough oxygen to vital organs. A person who has been exposed to carbon monoxide may initially experience flu-like symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness and fatigue. Higher levels of carbon monoxide can cause a person to become disoriented or lose consciousness. Even a small amount of carbon monoxide is dangerous. Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come from? Carbon monoxide is produced when carbon-based fuels, such as wood, coal, gasoline, oil, propane and natural gas, are burned. It isn’t dangerous in a well-ventilated area, but the gas can cause problems in a confined space. Carbon Monoxide Detectors Can Save Lives A carbon monoxide detector

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com If your home-buying aspirations have been hampered due to the fiercely competitive market conditions of the past several months, things may be looking brighter. According to a recent market report from Zillow, from late summer through early fall, homebuyers have benefited from slightly more selection, some price cutting and a little more time to consider a home before jumping in with an offer. As Zillow Senior Economist Jeff Tucker reports, the housing market returned to “some semblance of normalcy in September,” which was fueled by the typical seasonal slowdown often seen in the fall. "Homes are still selling quickly, and prices have not receded, but it's not quite as extreme a sellers' market as we saw back in the spring and summer,” he says. “Buyers today will benefit from a little more time to pick the right home and a few more listings to choose from." The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) for the U.S. shows that, after pe

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Buyers in today’s market often have questions about the importance of getting a home appraisal and an inspection. That’s because high buyer demand and low housing supply are driving intense competition and leading some buyers to consider waiving those contingencies to stand out in the crowded market. But is that the best move? Buying a home is one of the most important transactions in your lifetime, and  it’s critical to keep your best interests in mind.  Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from the appraisal and the inspection, and why each one can potentially save you a lot of time, money, and headaches down the road. Home Appraisal The home appraisal is a critical step for securing a mortgage on your home. As  Home Light  explains: “. . . lenders typically require an appraisal to ensure that your loan-to-value ratio falls within their underwriting guidelines. Mortgages are secured loans where the lender uses your home as collateral in cas

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com The increased pace of home improvement that began during the height of the pandemic isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. As fall’s cooler temperatures curtail outdoor activities, many homeowners are embarking on projects around the home to enhance their living space and increase their home’s value.  In fact, according to Modernize Home Services’ quarterly homeowner insights analysis, a survey of more than 6,500 homeowners revealed that nearly two out of five are pursuing projects to save money in the short- and long-term. The extensive survey covers homeowner behaviors, future project planning, budgets and financing, preferences and more. Some of the reports most interesting insights include: 39% of homeowners plan to pursue additional home improvement projects over the next year. While the majority of homeowners are repairing damage, 37% are pursuing projects to save money on monthly electricity and utility bills, and 19% are looking to

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com S ome Highlights If you’re a homeowner, today’s rising equity is great news. On average, homeowners have gained $51,500 in equity since this time last year. Whether it’s funding an education, fueling your next move, or starting a business, your home equity is a great tool you can use to power your dreams. Ready to sell? Let’s connect to talk about how you can take advantage of your rising equity to reach your goals. www.DeemTeam.com DRE#01266522

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com It’s impossible to research the subject of buying a home without coming across a headline declaring that the fall in home affordability is a crisis. However, when we add context to the most recent affordability statistics, we soon realize that, though homes are  less affordable  than they have been over the last few years, they are  more affordable  than they historically have been. Black Knight , a premier provider of data and analytics for the mortgage industry, just released their latest  Monthly Mortgage Monitor  which includes a new analysis of the affordability situation. Here’s what the report reveals: “The monthly payment required to purchase the average priced home with a 20% down 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased by nearly 20% (+$210) over the first nine months of 2021, . . . It now requires  21.6% of the median household income to make the monthly mortgage payment  on the average home purchase, the least affordable housing has be

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, chances are you’ve heard talk about today’s rising home prices. And while this increase in home values is great news for sellers, you may be wondering what the future holds. Will prices continue to rise with time, or should you expect them to fall? To answer that question, let’s first understand a few terms you may be hearing right now. Appreciation  is an  increase  in the value of an asset. Depreciation  is a  decrease  in the value of an asset. Deceleration  is when something happens at a  slower pace . It’s important to note home prices have increased, or  appreciated , for  114  straight months. To find out if that trend may continue, look to the experts.  Pulsenomics  surveyed over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts asking for their five-year projections. In terms of what lies ahead, experts say the market may see some slight  deceleration , but not  depreciation

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Hiring a moving company is one of the most important decisions people make when buying or selling a home. Nightmare stories abound about movers that show up hours late, break or lose items, or whose estimates aren't accurate. Thankfully, there are things you can do that will increase your chances of finding a reliable moving company while avoiding the bad ones. Here are some key ways to be sure you find the right moving company for you. Read the reviews.  One of the great things about the internet age is that you can find reviews for just about any business. Go to sites like Yelp that review businesses and see what people have to say. Don't let one bad review turn you off, and consider what reviewers are complaining about because some people are unreasonable. Get referrals.  Referrals are different from reviews because they come from people you know. Perhaps there's someone who recently moved to your neighborhood, ask them if they

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com ·   ·        The active listing inventory shed 137 homes in the past two weeks, down 6%, and now totals 2,042 homes, its lowest level since tracking. In September, there were 10% fewer homes that came on the market compared to the 3-year average between 2017 to 2019 (2020 was skewed due to COVID-19), 314 less. Last ye ar, there were 4,173 homes on the market, 2,131 additional homes, or 104% more. ·        Demand, the number of pending sales over the prior month, decreased by 6 pending sales in the past two weeks, nearly unchanged, and now totals 2,515. Last year, there were 3,153 pending sales, 25% more than today due to a delay in the Spring Market because of COVID. ·        With large drops in the supply, the Expected Market Time, the number of days to sell all Orange County listings at the current buying pace, decreased from 26 to 24 days in the past couple of weeks, an extremely Hot Seller’s Market (less than 60 days). It was at

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Mortgage applications increased 0.2% for the week ending Oct. 8, 2021. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, the Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week.   Unadjusted, the Index increased 0.4% compared to the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 1% from the previous week—16% lower YoY. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2% from the previous week. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 2% compared with the previous week—10% lower than the same week one year ago.   Additional details:   - The refi share of mortgage activity decreased to 63.9% of total applications.   - The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity remained unchanged at 3.4% of total applications.   - The FHA share of total applications decreased to 10.2%.   - The VA share of total applications de