Newport Beach Homes – Harbor Realty

     Selling a home can be an emotional experience because most sellers have a lot more than money invested in their homes.  So, it is understandable that sellers might be reluctant to respond to an offer that is for less than the asking price.

     Most sellers have a difficult time being objective about their homes.  But, detachment is something sellers should strive for, particulaarly when themarket favors buyers.  To be a successful seller in a buyer’s market, you need to be able to put yourseld in the buyer’s shoes.  Ask yourself if you were a buyer, would you pay the price you would like to ask for your home.

     In a soft market like we are currently experiencing in many parts of the country, buyers are prone to make a low offer on any listing that doesn’t receive offers from more than one buyer.  The exception is when a listing os priced so competitively that a buyer recognizes a good deal and buys the property before others have a chance.

     Some sellers might be inclined to inflate their asking prices so that they will have room to bargain with a buyer.  This is a risky strategy for serious sellers.  In a buyer’s market where there are a lot of homes for sale, the best listings at the best prices sell.

     The listings that don’t sell usually need price reductions to get them to a marketable range.  If the market is trending downward, this could mean selling for a lower price than might have been possible if the listing has bee priced competitively to begin with.

     HOUSE HUNTING TIP:  Sellers whose homes are not competitively priced are prime targets for low offers.  Even if your home is not badly priced, you could receive a lowere-than-asking-price offer if market conditions are uncertain.  Rather than be insulted by a low offer, sellers should view it as the beginning of a dialogue that could result in a sale.

     Pay close attention to the buyer’s financial capability.  Gone are the days where buyers could buy a home with little or no cash down and without verifiable income.  Today’s buyers are subjected to far more financial scrutiny by lenders than they were a year ago.

     Ideally, buyers should be preapproved for the financing they need before they make an offer.  If they are not, make sure there is a clause in the purchase contract that requires the buyers to apply for financing within several days of acceptance.

     Find out what kind of financing the buyers are applying for and which lender they intend to use.  Some mortgage lenders recently failed to fund buyer’s loans at the last minute.  Make sure your buyer’s receive underwriting approval from a bona fide lender.  The number of days for lender approval should also be included in the purchase contract.

     Sellers who receive an offer that is unacceptable regarding any of its terms and conditions – not just the price – should have their agent draft a counteroffer.  Buyers and sellers often donb’t know in advance what price they will accept until they are in the midst of a negotiation.  For example, a seller who bought another home before selling, might accept a lower price if the house has been on the market a while and the buyer’s offer is not contingent on the sale of another property and if the transaction will close quickly.  Likewise a buyer could agree to pay more than he though he would if interest rates were to drop.

     THE CLOSING:  The counteroffer process can happen quickly or it can be long and tedious.  Be prepared to explore all options before letting a negotiation fail.

Newport Beach is a great place in which to raise a family, few other places within the United States can combine the old town community atmosphere, with a wide range of high quality schooling options and a vast array of excellent recreational and entertainment facilities.

Falling within the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, the area is well served by some very good schools. The well known Newport Harbor High School is typical of the quality of educational establishments to be found in the Newport Beach area and has been awarded national accolades for its excellence in education. Parents are truly spoiled for choice by easy access to some of the best schooling available within the State of California.

Recreation within Newport Beach can often revolve around the beach and harbor, although nature lovers will be pleased to know that there are over fifty parks and open spaces to be found within a short distance. Newport Beach is a world famous surfing destination, and sports a full range of water sports activities.
There are over 300 restaurants, cafes and eateries within Newport Beach, offering everything from budget home style cooking for family outings to exotic foreign cuisine served in fine dining style. Nightlife in the harbor area is lively and vibrant.

Sports facilities are readily available, including some excellent golfing, and a whole wealth of traditional sports such as baseball, basketball and tennis. Water sports is what this area serves best, with snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, yachting and a whole host of other less mainstream options.

Finding the right home for you and your family is not an easy thing to do;  quite often you will have a clear set of requirements and then struggle to find a property which meets them exactly. Below are some basic tips designed to make hunting for your new home in Newport Beach or other Orange County communities a little easier on your family.

At the outset of your Orange County home search, relax and try and enjoy the experience. You may have to view quite a few homes in Orange County communities before you find one that you like, use this opportunity to refine your requirements by taking a good look at the properties you visit and changing your own set of needs accordingly.

Have your mortgage ready and be in a position to make an offer. Obtaining pre-approval for a home loan is one of the most important things you can do prior to beginning your search for homes in Orange County.  To obtain your pre-approval letter, you can contact our lending partner, United American Mortgage.  Imagine finding the house of your dreams in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa, only to have it purchased out from under you by somebody who had their pre-approval ready? Avoid this type of situation by clearing defining your buying ability ahead of time. Obtaining pre-approval on a home loan in Orange County will also prevent you from searching for homes above your price range.

Create a simple checklist of your likes and dislikes. It can be quite confusing when you are visiting many properties to keep track of which ones were the most fitting. Keep a brief record of each property you visit with notes, so that you will not become confused over which property was which.  You may also wish to bring your digital camera when you are property viewing to help you record homes you like.

Make sure you have the time for finding your new home. Property viewing can be quite a demanding pastime, and it is important you take the time out of your daily life to give it the due care and attention it deserves. Once you’ve chosen an Orange County REALTOR® to represent you during your home search stay in contact and return their phone calls promptly. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a great deal!

So there we have it, some very simple advice on how to make the process of finding your new home in Orange County a little more painless.

Newport Beach Home Styles & Types

With a vibrant mix of architectural styles represented in the homes in Newport Beach, those seeking to purchase Newport Beach real estate are blessed with countless options. Whatever your particular taste, there is bound to be a property that meets your architectural desires as well as your family needs.

Victorian Homes in Newport Beach

There are some incredible examples of Victorian architecture to be found in Newport Beach. Quite often these Victorian homes are of three stories and will feature a wrap around porch, tower structure at one end and beautiful English gardens. Typically, Victorian homes in Newport Beach are found on Balboa Island and Corona del Mar.

English Tudor Homes in Newport Beach

If you enjoy picture book beauty, maybe the Tudor home style is for you. There are many fine examples of Tudor architecture in Newport Beach. The dominating factor of this style of architecture is the Tudor arch and homes of this type often contain oriel windows (similar to bay windows). If you are interested in purchasing Tudor architecture in Newport Beach, check out the community of Crystal Cove in Newport Coast.

Ranch Homes in Newport Beach

The Ranch style homes available in the Newport Beach area can be truly stunning. Many of these are large single family homes built in the true American tradition. Often ranch homes in Newport Beach  provide additional land around the home.

Colonial Homes in Newport Beach

Colonial home styles are also widely available in Newport Beach. There are actually many different types of Colonial homes including the Cape Cod, Garrison, Spanish, New England and French. Think white washed, picture postcard fences, open spaces, but more specifically, stately columns and large wraparound porches.

This is just a basic overview of the main property styles available in the Newport Beach area. You can also find great examples of Greek, Craftsman and Cape Cod architecture, offering something a little less mainstream.