David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com If you’re tired and eager to get home, it can be a hassle to get out of your car and manually open the garage door, climb back into the car, pull into the garage and then close the garage door. This can be particularly inconvenient if it’s dark, raining or cold. An automatic garage door opener can make your life easier and less stressful, but there are some downsides to consider. Increased Safety and Security If you have medical issues that make it difficult to bend or lift, manually opening a garage door several times a day can take a toll on your physical health and possibly lead to injuries. An automatic garage door opener can eliminate those risks. A manual garage door can go crashing to the ground, even if something or someone is in the way, which can cause serious injuries or death to children or pets. Automatic garage doors have sensors that can detect an obstruction and cause the garage door to stop and remain in place or return to th

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Why Is It so Important to Be Pre-Approved in the Homebuying Process? You may have heard that pre-approval is a great  first step  in the homebuying process. But why is it so important? When looking for a home, the temptation to fall in love with a house that’s outside your budget is very real. So, before you start shopping around, it’s helpful to know your price range, what you’re comfortable within a monthly mortgage payment, and ultimately how much money you can borrow for your loan. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to do this. According to a recent  survey  from  realtor.com,  many buyers are making the mistake of skipping the pre-approval step in the homebuying process: “Of over 2,000 active home shoppers who plan to purchase a home in the next 12 months,  only 52% obtained a pre-approval letter before beginning their home search , which means nearly half of home buyers are  missing this crucial piece of paperwork. ” This paperwor

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com When people shop for a house, they usually focus on the kitchen. Since most families use the kitchen every day for cooking, eating and socializing, it’s important that the space fit their needs and sense of style. For many prospective homebuyers, a dated kitchen is an instant turnoff. Some could be interested in your house for other reasons, but they might demand that you lower the price. You’d most likely struggle to sell a house with an outdated kitchen if there were plenty of homes with more modern kitchens available in the area and your house didn’t have any other features to make it stand out. Depending on the current design of your kitchen and the local housing market, it might be worthwhile to make some inexpensive upgrades before listing your home. How to Modernize Your Kitchen If your kitchen counters have scratches, cracks, or missing or damaged grout, you might be able to spruce them up inexpensively. If the countertops need to be co

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Over the last couple of years, we’ve heard quite a bit about rising home prices. Today, expert projections still forecast continued growth, just at a  slower pace . One of the often-overlooked benefits of rising home prices is the positive impact they have on home equity. Let’s break down three ways this is a win for homeowners. 1. Move-Up Opportunity With the rise in prices, homeowners naturally experience an increase in home equity. According to the  Homeowner Equity Insights  from  CoreLogic, “In the first quarter of 2019, the average homeowner gained approximately $6,400 in equity during the past year .” This increase in profit means if homeowners decide to sell, they’ll be able to put their equity to work for them as they make plans to move up into their next home. 2. Gain in Seller’s Profit ATTOM Data Solutions  recently released their  Q2 2019 Home Sales Report , indicating the seller’s profit jumped at one of the fastest rates since 201

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com When shelter-in-place orders brought the economy to a screeching halt earlier this year, many believed the residential housing market would follow suit. Countless analysts predicted buyer demand would disappear and home values would depreciate for the first time in almost a decade. That, however, didn’t happen. It appears the opposite is taking place. After the bottom fell out of the real estate market immediately following the shutdown, it has come roaring back – and seems to still be gaining steam. Here’s a look at two recent reports – one from the  National Association of Home Builders  (NAHB) and one from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR) – showing this growing strength. Builder Confidence Hits All-Time High Last week, it was  reported  that applications for new home purchases with home builders were  39% higher than in July of 2019 . That has builder confidence soaring. Each month, NAHB releases its  Housing Market Index , a sur

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Today, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home. According to  Zillow : “In 2020, homes went from the place people returned to after work, school, hitting the gym or vacationing, to the place where families do all of the above. For those who now spend the majority of their hours at home, there’s a growing wish list of what they’d change about their homes, if possible.”  With a new perspective on homeownership, here are some of the top reasons people are reconsidering where they live and making moves this year. 1. Working from Home Remote work  is becoming the new norm in 2020, and it’s continuing on longer than most initially expected. Many in the workforce today are discovering they don’t need to live

David Deem 714-997-3486 www.DeemTeam.com The active listing inventory decreased by 129 homes in the past two-weeks, down 3%, and now totals 4,320, its lowest level for August since tracking began in 2004. COVID-19 is not suppressing the inventory, but from March through June, 27% fewer homes were placed on the market compared to 2019, or 4,318 missing FOR-SALE signs. Last year, there were 7,307 homes on the market, 2,987 additional homes, or 69% more. Demand, the number of pending sales over the prior month, increased by 42 pending sales in the past two-weeks, up 1%, and now totals 3,323, its highest level since September 2012. COVID-19 currently has no effect on demand. Last year, there were 2,548 pending sales, 23% fewer than today. The Expected Market Time for all of Orange County decreased from 41 days to 39, a Hot Seller’s Market (less than 60 days). It was at 86 days last year, much slower than today .  For homes priced below $750,000, the market is a hot Seller’s Market (less th

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Whether you have just moved into your first home or simply need to update your living room furniture, finding the right couch for you and family is a must. With so many styles and sizes to choose from, this process can become overwhelming. Here are seven different types of sofas to help you in your search for the couch that fits your wants, needs and most importantly, your home: Sectional A sectional sofa is made up of multiple pieces, usually 3 to 5, arranged in either an L or U shape. Some styles offer more sections and can even allow you to configure the couch to your liking or to best fit into a particular space. Ottomans are sometimes added as pieces of a sectional and can be placed up against the couch to create a bed-like style. Because you break down or build up the size of this sofa, sectionals can be ideal for any type of home, large or small. Pull Out Sofa Bed Speaking of a bed-like style, a pull out sofa bed is exactly that. This

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Some people love the sounds of the city—the urban hum is a natural sound machine to them. For others, trucks rumbling down the street, police sirens, dogs barking, and even loud conversations can keep them up all night long. If you fall into the latter category, losing sleep can go from being an annoyance to a major source of stress, fast. Here are some easy ways to solve this common city-living problem: Invest in a Really Good White Noise Machine There are plenty of excellent options, many of which can be conveniently synced with your smartphone. Choose whatever noise soothes you to sleep, from crashing waves of the ocean to static “white noise” sounds. Fortify Your Windows Own your apartment? Then it’s a great idea to invest in triple pane window glass. Renting and don’t have that option? Simply covering windows with heavier drapes can drown out some noise.  Lay Down Carpet If noise is coming from your neighbor below you, installing a carpet

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Furnishing a new home can be an exciting project, albeit sometimes overwhelming. It’s a chance to put your interior design chops to the test with a fresh canvas and create an environment that leaves you feeling energized each day. If you want to give your living space a touch of enduring style, here are five iconic pieces of furniture that have stood the test of time. Eames Lounge Chair Designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, this lounge chair is the perfect combination of form and function. With its plush leather cushions and wood detailing, it goes effortlessly in a living room, study or even the master bedroom. In fact, the Eames Chair is such a celebrated work, it’s a part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Arco Lamp The dramatically curved Arco Lamp is a visually striking piece of furniture that feels slightly futuristic. It’s Carrara marble base and stainless steel stem create a serious design statement, while t

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Living in a big city comes with many advantages—a plethora of job opportunities, a vibrant nightlife, interesting restaurants and inspiring museums, to name a few. One sacrifice many urban dwellers have to make, however? Giving up precious kitchen space. But that’s not to say you have to give up cooking while living in an apartment. Here are six easy ways to maximize your kitchen and make cooking in a small space work for you. Invest in the Right Appliances You’ll want to choose a few multitasking workhorses, like an air fryer and toaster oven.  Particularly if you own your home, you can free up space by getting rid of outdated, bulky appliances and remodeling with space savers that do more than one thing.  Turn Your Sink or Stove Top Into Counter Space Tired of clutter and not having enough space to chop veggies? Burner covers and over the sink cutting boards instantly increase your prep area.  Install a Taller Faucet A small sink can feel ver

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com When it comes to decorating a baby’s room, grey is the new yellow, especially when the sex of your baby will be a surprise. And furniture that evolves from crib to pre-teen hangout is more popular than ever. Here are ten more tips on nursery décor to help you put a room together that is practical, safe and will look terrific as your baby grows: Add a dimmer to the lighting.  It’s a simple project that will let you adjust the mood of the room as needed. Baby proof the room.  Cover the wall outlets, keep the crib away from window treatments and cords, and place any breakable or valuable items on higher shelves. Select a cool crib.  There are many new convertible designs to choose from, including round or oval ones, so shop early to make the best decision for you. Leave lots of floor space.  With so much adorable kid stuff on the market, it’s easy to go a bit overboard. But toddlers need floor space to play in. Add bright colors and patterns.  Whi

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com The residential real estate market has definitely been the shining light in this country’s current economic situation. All-time  low  mortgage rates coupled with a new appreciation of what a home truly means has caused the housing market to push forward through this major health crisis. Let’s look at two measures that explain the resilience of the real estate market. Purchase Mortgages The number of buyers getting a mortgage to purchase a home is a strong indicator of the strength of a housing market. Below is a graph of the week-over-week percent change in that number, as  reported  by the  Mortgage Bankers’ Association : The number dropped dramatically in March and mid-April when the economy was shut down in response to COVID. It increased substantially from later in April through the middle of June. The strong increase in May and June was the result of the pent-up demand from earlier in the spring along with the normal business that would ha