Laguna Woods, CA

School is back in session and that means many of your teens are heading off to college. We remind them about the dangers of drinking, partying, walking alone, staying healthy, and keeping up with school - but we also need to remind them about fire safety.

Tell your teen to pay attention to campus fire rules and regulations. Here are some quick tips:

• Candles are usually not permitted in dorm rooms as they pose a fire hazard
• Make sure they are using only UL-approved lamps and appliances
• Warn them against hanging anything from sprinkler heads
• Locate the nearest fire exits and extinguishers
• Do not overload extension cords and power strips
• Never staple wires
• Watch out for cords and outlets too hot to touch, get them checked out
• Use the correct wattage for light bulbs
• Cook in designated areas only
• Never disable smoke alarms

Wishing you all a safe 2009-2010 school year!

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.

www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com

Best regards.

Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI

2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors

(949) 753-7900

Recently I visited with a lady in Laguna Woods, California who called to ask me to help her sell her condo. She has a large, well-furnished and upgraded unit. She is no longer able to manage taking care of herself on a full time basis. She needs some assistance with bathing and dressing and meal preparation. She thought it might be time to consider moving into a place that could care for her needs. She is currently being assisted by a wonderful caregiver who will be returning to her native country at the end of the year,

So, just as I would with anyone who is thinking about selling their home, I prepared a complete package with plenty of information about the housing market and information about her home in particular. As we visited, she told me she had a reverse mortgage. She was concerned it might be a problem. As I reviewed the paperwork, it became apparent that this sweet lady had gotten a reverse mortgage a few years ago when her condo was appraised at over $400,000. Today, we'd be lucky to find a buyer who'd be willing to pay $250,000. Now, here's the interesting part. She's only used about $225,000 of her reverse mortgage and still has over $50,000 left to draw against her line of credit.

We chatted for a bit and I shared with her that I really think she needs to continue to use her Long Term Care insurance policy for assistance in her home until it runs out in about 3 years. Then, she can begin using her equity line on her Reverse Mortgage to pay for in-home care. Then, if the market has bounced back by then, we might consider selling her condo. She is so fortunate that she took advantage of the opportunity to get a reverse mortgage when her property value was at it's peak. She now has money that she'll be able to draw out even though her property value has declined in our current market.

It sure felt good to be able to let this lovely lady know that she would be able to live comfortably in her own condo for the next 5-6 years. It would have been perfect if I could have assured her that our market will come back up again in those 5-6 years, but alas this is not a fairy tale. This is real life.

As we parted, we hugged and she told me how grateful she was that we had met and that I didn't tell her what she wanted to hear, but confirmed what she suspected to be true. I didn't list a condo today, but I sure made a new friend.

If you are a senior or know a senior who is considering buying or selling a home or condo, I'd be pleased to provide you with information to assist you in making informed decisions. It's my pleasure to provide my clients with information to assist them in making informed decisions when contemplating buying and selling homes in Orange County, California. If you have questions and would like some honest answers or need more resources, please give me a call, text me or email me.

Marlene Bridges, REALTOR®

800 777-1775 - Toll Free ~ or ~ Text Me 714 745-2592

Orange County Real Estate Website

Orange County Seniors Lifestyles Blog

SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

CRS-Certified Residential Specialist®

President - Laguna Hills/Laguna Woods Chamber of Commerce 2007-2009

President Elect - Southern California Chapter Certified Residential Specialists® 2008 - 2009

Marlene is a highly experienced and respected South Orange County CA REALTOR® specializing in residential Real Estate and the sale of Homes and Condos in South Orange County, California and Saddleback Valley cities of: Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo.

In attending numerous real estate classes, I've had an opportunity to hear other Realtors® share what drew them to Real Estate as a career. The majority of them have one thing in common...they love to help people. Theologians call this having the gift of helps. For me it was just one of the reasons I chose real estate as a career, but in reflection, I can certainly see it's one of the biggest reasons for staying in this business.

Today, I had an opportunity to speak with a lovely lady who has a coop in Laguna Woods Village (formerly Leisure World) in Laguna Woods, California. She had found my name and credentials in the National Aging in Place Council's Seniors' Resource Guide. She called to say that she needed to sell her place in Laguna Woods and she doubts she'll ever move back as she has created a new life in the valley of Los Angeles. After getting married, she moved into her husband's home and her place has pretty much gone unused for the past couple of years.

What caught her eye about my services is that I offer a Real Estate Concierge Service. What does that mean? Well, for this lady who has accumulated many things that need to be given away, sold, discarded or passed on to family, finding someone who can choreograph it for her is a huge relief. She is currently living about 60 miles away and is close to giving up her driver's license.

We will be meeting to discuss the preparation for getting her coop on the market. When I meet with people who are in similar situations, it is so wonderful to see the relief in their faces when I'm able to give them direction and resources. Typically, when I work with a family or an individual who needs to clear out their homes, it takes anywhere from one to three months to get the home ready for sale. It is vey time-consuming, but the reward for me is that I know I've been able to help people move on to a different lifestyle. Once the all the belongings have been removed, we can begin cleaning and making any necessary repairs. The proceeds from an estate sale generally cover these costs. Then, I bring in some plants and decorator items to "warm" up the place and we put it on the market for prospective buyers to see. This way they're seeing the home at it's best advantage and have a better chance of visualizing themselves living there.

Assisting people and their families with lifestyle transitions is one of the parts of my real estate practice that I enjoy most. As a senior myself, I understand that as we age, we are no longer able to function physically the way we once did. And, we need to rely on others to provide the resources for things that in our younger years would have been a snap.

If you, or someone you know needs assistance in getting their home, condo or coop ready for sale, please let them know that there is an easy way to handle it. Just one phone call, and together we can begin to formulate a plan that will facilitate a gentle lifestyle transition.

Marlene Bridges, REALTOR®

800 777-1775 - Toll Free ~ or ~ Text Me 714 745-2592

Orange County Real Estate Website

Orange County Seniors Lifestyles Blog

SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist®

CRS-Certified Residential Specialist®

President - Laguna Hills/Laguna Woods Chamber of Commerce 2007-2009

President Elect - Southern California Chapter Certified Residential Specialists® 2008 - 2009

Marlene is a highly experienced and respected South Orange County CA REALTOR® specializing in residential Real Estate and the sale of Homes and Condos in South Orange County, California and Saddleback Valley cities of: Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo.

The City of Laguna Woods is home to one of the country's largest Active Senior Communities, Laguna Woods Village (formerly Leisure World). The wonderful climate, close proximity to the ocean with Laguna Beach only 10 minutes away, the mountains only 1 1/2 hours away and the comfortble lifestyle are just a few of the reasons people settle in this wonderful community. But, hands down, probably one of the biggest draws is the golfing. You can play 18 holes of golf in Laguna Woods for only $8...that's not a typo...only $8 for 18 holes of golf.

COMPARISON

FEBRUARY 2008 AND FEBRUARY 2008 MARKET SUMMARY

SUMMARY:

1. Total number of sales declined from 39 sales in February 2008 to 37 in February 2009.
2. The ratio between list price to sales price is holding fairly steady with only a 1% reduction in February 2009 at 93% versus 94% in February 2008.
3. The average Days on Market (DOM) has increased from 89 days in February 2008 to 112 days in February 2009.

There are currently 425 active listings in Laguna Woods Village. If we divide that by the 37 sales in February 2009, that calculates 11.49 months of inventory (assuming no other properties come on the market.)

As in any market, properties are selling as long as they are priced well, in good condition, and easily available for agents to show.

Many people in Laguna Woods Village have asked me to prepare a no cost/no obligation evaluation of their home value prior to making a decision whether they would like to make a move.

If you are considering purchasing or leasing in Laguna Woods Village, it would be my pleasure to provide you with information to assist you in your search.

Marlene Bridges, REALTOR®,

Certified Residential Specialist®,

Seniors Real Estate Specialist®,

President Laguna HIlls/Laguna Woods Chamber of Commerce 2007-2009

Sherman Smith & Associates-Laguna Niguel, CA

800 777-1775 or text me at 714 745-2592

www.LiveTheCaliforniaDream.com

All statistics compiled from SoCal MLS and are deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Did you know that there are 7 spacious floor plans in Rossmoor Towers, Laguna Woods?

Click on a Plan Letter to see the floor plan.

Plan A: 500 square foot Studio condo with 1 bathroom.

Plan B: 625 square foot 1-bedroom condo with 1 bathroom.

Plan C: 1,200 square foot 2-bedroom condo with 2 bathrooms.

Plan D: 1,100 square foot 2 bedroom condo with 2 bathrooms.

Plan F: 1,800 square foot 3-bedrooms condo with 2 bathrooms.

Plan G: 975 square foot 1-bedroom condo with 1 1/2 bathrooms.

Plan H: 1,600 square foot 3-bedroom condo with 2 bathrooms.

See more at www.RossmoorTowers.com