David Deem 74-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Some Highlights As a seller today, you may think pricing your home on the high end will result in a higher final sale price, but the opposite is actually true. To sell your home quickly and for the best possible price, you should eliminate buyer concerns by pricing your home competitively right from the start. Let’s connect today to make sure you have the guidance you need to price your home right this fall. www.DeemTeam.com DRE#01266522  

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Homeownership is one of the best ways to invest in your financial future, especially as your home equity grows. Home equity is a form of forced savings that can work to your advantage as the value of your home appreciates. Across the country, home equity was increasing before the health crisis swept our nation, and it continues to grow throughout the year, giving sellers powerful options in this market. According to the just-released Q2  Homeowner Equity Insights Report  by  CoreLogic : “U.S. homeowners with mortgages (roughly 63% of all properties) have seen their equity increase by a total of nearly $620 billion since the second quarter of 2019,  an increase of 6.6%, year over year .”   Dr. Frank Nothaft,  Chief Economist  for  CoreLogic,  attributes much of the equity growth to rising home prices: "The CoreLogic Home Price Index registered a 4.3% annual rise in prices through June, which  supp...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com The 2020 Consumer Electronic Show was held in Las Vegas in early January and put the spotlight on all the latest and greatest gadgets in the tech world. You never know what you’re going to see at this annual gathering and this year certainly did not disappoint, from a 10-second toothbrush called the Y-Brush to a 292-inch Samsung TV. With an eye on the world of smart home technology, here are a few innovative trends that were showcased at this year’s event. Bluetooth Light Switches Even if you have a smart lighting system that’s controlled over your phone, you still need to have light switches throughout your home. Rather than having to fuss with all the wiring, however, Bluetooth switches that seamlessly connect to the lights have begun to hit the market and offer the ultimate convenience. Smart switches and dimmers, like the C by GE, allow you to get just the right illumination and can be easily set up without having to call in the electrician...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By Anita Ginsburg Just when you think it's going to be the best day ever, you're stopped dead in your tracks. You need to use your sink, toilet or shower but you notice that something isn't right. There is a horrible odor, and it won't drain.   You know that regardless of what plumbing issue is, you need to act fast. You call a plumber and see them use a method you may have never seen before: hydro jetting. Here's why many plumbers prefer using hydro jetting over snaking or using chemicals:   Efficiency When you contact a plumber, you probably expect them to put a snake down your drain or use high-quality chemical products to fix a clog. Hydro jetting is essentially both of these methods in one except with over 4,000 pounds of water pressure.   Hydro jetting is when a plumber uses a professional-grade hose and sprays with high-intensity water pressure to clean out pipes. Due to the enormous amount of force hydro jetting prod...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com It's been a bit of an up-and-down scenario in the mortgage space since the coronavirus hit. While in general mortgage applications are down, according to the   Mortgage Bankers Association   (MBA), applications for new homes have increased YoY. Additionally, with unemployment a continued problem amid the health crisis, forbearance has become the only solution for many Americans with a mortgage. While forbearance rates have decreased, some of that can be attributed to servicers adding delinquent loans to their portfolios.   Here's the latest news: Applications   According to the MBA's Weekly Mortgage Application Survey for the week ending Sept. 11, mortgage applications are down 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week (reflecting an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday). Unadjusted, the Index decreased 13 percent compared to the previous week, and the Refinance Index decreased 4 percent (30 percent hi...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Leading the economic recovery? Housing, according to the latest  NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index  (HMI), which was recently released. For September, the Index hit an all-time high of 83 for newly-built single-family homes, increasing five points since the last reading and surpassing the previous high of 78 in the Index's 35-year history.   While builder confidence is high, there are still a few elements that could be a cause for concern, according to experts.   "Historic traffic numbers have builders seeing positive market conditions, but many in the industry are worried about rising costs and delays for building materials, especially lumber," said NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke, a custom home builder from Tampa, Fla. "More domestic lumber production or tariff relief is needed to avoid a slowdown in the market in the coming months." "Lumber prices are now up more than 170 percent since mid-April, adding more than $...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By  Stephanie Booth Old house smell: Those three dreaded words evoke something rather frightening and repellent to most homeowners. You know what we're talking about, right? It's that musty odor that creeps up and greets you the instant you set foot inside an older home. What is this mysterious stench, anyway? And most importantly: Is there a way to get rid of it? What causes that old house smell “Three things that musty old houses have in common: little ventilation, high humidity, and darkness,” says  Bill Carroll Jr. , an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University. That makes these places the perfect petri dish for mold to flourish, which happens to be the main purveyor of that "old house smell." That said, that musty smell isn't mold per se. "What you're smelling are called MVOCs: mold volatile organic compounds," explains Carroll. "These are chemicals associated with a certain stage in th...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Does your four-legged friend need a little more freedom? Pet doors offer animals independence and allow their owners more flexibility in their day-to-day schedules. Whether you're more of a traditionalist, or you're inclined to adopt the latest and greatest tech, there's something for you (and your furry friends). Classic flap We've all seen this one, a small opening with a flap that allows a pet access in and out of the house. These types of pet doors are popular due to their versatility. They can be installed in a door or cut into the side of a home. They can be positioned to access your home's interior or just the garage or patio. These can even be installed in screen doors or glass panels. If security is a concern, these can often be outfitted with a sliding insert that will keep out intruders of both the critter and human variety. Patio/panel type This is a ...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com   ·         The active listing inventory decreased by 39 homes in the past two-weeks, down 1%, and now totals 4,213, its lowest level for September since tracking began in 2004. COVID-19 is not suppressing the inventory and in the past four-weeks, there were 20%  more homes that came on the market compared to last year. This could be the beginning of a new trend. Last year, there were 6,860 homes on the market, 2,647 additional homes, or 63% more. ·         Demand, the number of pending sales over the prior month, decreased by 84 pending sales in the past two-weeks, down 3%, and now totals 3,256. It appears as if demand peaked two weeks ago. COVID-19 currently has no effect on demand. Last year, there were 2,401 pending sales, 26% fewer than today. ·          The Expected Market Time for all of Orange County increased from 38 days to 3...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By Patrick Connolly (TNS)—It's a story many pet owners are now familiar with: You've been home for months, following orders to social distance and spending more time with dogs, cats and other non-human companions. Then, the day comes to go back to the office or the chance to escape for a vacation.   Your pet stares back at you as you leave, wondering when or if you'll ever return again. To some animals, it might feel like the end of the world.   Pups and feline friends have perhaps become more codependent amid owners staying home virtually all the time, and leaving the house again can take a toll on them. Take it from Kim Bissing, owner of Beyond The Leash Dog Training.   "We've seen about 15 separation anxiety cases just in two weeks. It's getting worse because people are starting to pick up and going back to work," she said. "We have had about 20 new puppy owners in our six-week class and about 17 are alread...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Creating the closet of your dreams could be in closer reach than you may think if you’re willing to take matters into your own hands. With a little creative inspiration and some basic DIY skills, you may be surprised by the stylish space you can design by yourself. Start With a Vision Creating the perfect closet space begins with your ideas. Think about the details such as how you want the space to look and the amount and type of storage you need. Envision everything from colors and finishes to the physical shape. Get Practical Once you’ve dreamed up your ideal closet, compare your ideas with the space you have available and adjust your plans to fit your footprint and budget. This step allows you to get creative with ways to maximize your space and use every available inch to create a closet that gives you the function and aesthetic you desire. Create Closet Zones An envy-worthy closet isn’t just a stunning space, it integrates functional eleme...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By Nia Duggins Consumer protection and fraud prevention continue to be critical during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Technology is an integral part of daily life as more people are working remotely, engaging in distant learning, purchasing products and services online, and conducting financial business virtually, including real estate transactions. Unfortunately, there are criminals who are using this time of crisis to harm others by engaging in identity theft, spoofing, phishing scams, imposter scams, and more. While many of the tactics that criminals use remain the same, the pandemic has changed the nature and scope of some of the scams.   Government imposter scams that prey on the hardships many are facing are on the rise due to government assistance that was provided in the various federal stimulus bills. These types of scams occur when criminals contact individuals posing as government agents from various federal and state agencies...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Real estate continues to be called the ‘ bright spot ’ in the current economy, but there’s one thing that may hold the housing market back from achieving its full potential this year:  the lack of homes for sale . Buyers are actively searching for and purchasing homes, looking to capitalize on today’s historically low interest rates, but there just aren’t enough houses for sale to meet that growing need. Sam Khater,  Chief Economist  at  Freddie Mac,   explains : “ Mortgage rates have hit another record low  due to a late summer slowdown in the economic recovery…These low rates have ignited robust purchase demand activity…However, heading into the fall it will be difficult to sustain the growth momentum in purchases because the  lack of supply is already exhibiting a constraint on sales activity .” According to the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), right now, unsold inventory sits at a 3.1-mon...