John Alesi (Orange County California Real Estate)

This is the market update for homes sold from November 1st through the 30th, 2010, in Mission Viejo, CA 92691 and 92692 and includes single family homes and condos:

Number of Properties Sold: 78

Average Listed Price: $463,793

Average Sold Price: $449,717

Median Sold Price: $432,500 (The lowest priced home was $150,000 and the highest was $1,000,000)

For comparison, the following is the data for listings sold in October 2010 for the same demographic:

Number of Properties Sold: 83

Average Listed Price: $547,499

Average Sold Price: $536,457

Median Sold Price: $440,000 (The lowest priced home was $157,000 and the highest was $3,4000,000.)

When considering these data, remember that November has only 30 days and the Thanksgiving holiday may have affected the total number of sales.

From our friends at Tinkernut.com, here's a simple surveillance system that you can install with a little bit of time and not a whole lot of tech skills. This system uses web cams linked to a PC or MAC and then streams a live, private video feed over UStream.com. You can even attach wireless cameras to the system for added versatility.

This would be a simple solution for a "nanny-cam" installation, keeping an eye on your home while away or any other creative idea you may have. Use your imagination and trick out this system for your own needs and tech abilities.

This short video explains the basics of how to set up a basic system.

What other uses can you think of for this kind of survelliance?

The City of Lake Forest is once again launching their Neighborhood Pride Paint Program to assist qualified homeowners with the exterior painting of their home. Funded by the City's Federal Community Development Block Grant, this is a citywide program that is provided at NO CHARGE to qualified homeowners.

Due to funding constraints, the number of homes will be limited and will be selected by lottery from a pool of qualified properties. To qualify, properties must be:

• Owner occupied
• Must be in need of painting as determined by the city
• Existing paint must be lead-free
• Owners may not have assets in excess of $120,000, excluding the value of the home
• Owners must qualify to certain income limits

If interested in participating, please pick up an application packet at City Hall or call (949) 461-3552 to have one mailed. Return the application to the City of Lake Forest, 25550 Commercentre Drive, Suite 100, Lake Forest, California 92630, Attention: Sandi Medrano, no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, 2010.

Anyone who has made a left turn from northbound Avenida Empresa onto westbound Santa Margarita Parkway during the rush hour(s) knows that it may take 3-4 cycles of the signal to finally make it through the intersection. The current dual left turn lanes can stack up 75-100 cars between Santa Margarita Pkwy and Aventura, while allowing about 20 vehicles at a time to turn left during the turn arrow. And at 5:00pm, who wants to sit through four or five red/green light cycles!

Being the only way out of the commercial area of RSM, this intersection handles a high volume of traffic throughout the day but especially at the end of the work day.

Finally, the city is working to alleviate the situation by adding a third left turn lane at the intersection theoretically allowing one-third more cars per green to make the left turn. Construction is already in process and should be completed in the next two weeks. In addition to the extra turn lane, they are modifying the medians on both streets to allow for this heavier flow of traffic.

I am especially thankful for this widening project as my office is at this corner and I must use this left turn lane to get home. I can't wait for the completion!

I just received notice that one of the local Orange County, CA, Habitat For Humanity ReStores will accept your old, outdated electronic items for proper recycling. In their memo they will accept:

• LCDs and Plasma Televisions
• Computer Monitors
• Computer Towers [CPU]
• Printers: All Sizes
• Telephones and Cell Phones
• Laptop Computers
• DVD players, VCRs, Stereos, Boom Boxes
• Cables, Wires, Chargers
• Televisions: All Sizes
• Microwaves
• Ink and Toner Cartridges
• Anything that Plugs in or Uses Batteries

The Habitat For Humanity Store is located at 12827 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA, 92840. 714-590-8729

The ReStores are a great place to start when you are doing home improvement projects. You will find new and used items including appliances, cabinets, sinks, tubs, etc.

If you are in the construction trade or have completed a home improvement project and have left over materials, call or visit the ReStore to find about donating your items. Click here to visit the Habitat For Humanity ReStore website.