Advantages of Living in Orange County

Is Orange County, CA a good place to live? This is one of the top questions that comes to mind when you think of moving to Orange County, California.  The truth is, Orange County is a great place to live in due to favorable weather, beautiful beaches, amenities, and good quality of life even for families.

Orange County is located in Los Angeles metropolitan area within the U.S state of California and has a population of over 3 million people. In this guide, we are going to discuss the advantages of living in Orange County, CA to give you better reasons why you should consider relocating to Orange County.

Let’s dive in shall we.

  1. Orange County has some of the best beaches

Orange County is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in California. Due to the favorable sunny and warm weather, residents here enjoy spending some quality time on the beach. Some of the famous beaches in Orange County are; Laguna Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach. Each beach gives you a unique experience like no other. One of the experiences you can’t afford to miss is the famous Huntington Beach Pier at sunset.


Orange County is huge and has a diverse community

Orange County is made of diverse communities both locals and foreigners. It can be divided into two regions namely; the Northern and Southern regions. The two regions have distinct demographics, political, cultural, and economic orientations. The two regions are divided along the Costa Mesa Freeway.

The Northern region of Orange County was the first to be developed and it has a deep historical culture similar to neighboring Los Angeles County.  It includes areas like Fullerton, Anaheim,  La Habra, Buena Park, and the city of Orange with each having a high population density.

The southern region of Orange County is more modern, wealthier, and an economic hub. The most popular cities in the southern section include; Irvine, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, and Mission Viejo.

  • Orange County has modern transport amenities

If you live in a city full of traffic jams, you will save a lot of time if you relocate to Orange County. There are excellent transport systems that are offered by the Orange County Transportation Authority. Public transport by road and rail is very efficient in Orange County.

There are express toll lanes for private drivers which helps reduce traffic.  Also, there is a well-maintained Southern California metro link that provides commuter train services along the Orange County line, the 91 line, and the Inland Empire-Orange County line.

  • The cost of living in Orange County is lower

The cost of living in Orange County is relatively lower compared to other neighboring counties in CA. There are many cheaper housing options for those who can’t afford leafy southern region suburbs.

The fastest-growing cities in Orange County such as Irvine have plenty of employment opportunities for the residents. According to the OC Register as of July 20, 2021 in Orange County, the median price for all homes is $900,000.

The median price of an average, mid-priced house is over $1 million once again. For people who prefer to live in a condo where the outside maintenance is taken care of, the median-priced is at $627,000. In L.A. County a mid-priced condo is $635,000.

Don’t let the price deter you. There are still 3-percent down home loans up to $822,375. This means you can buy a home for $847,800 with a 3 percent down loan and historically low interest rates under 3.00% based on you having the qualifying income and employment.

  • Orange County is safe for raising children

If you are a young family with school-going children, moving to Orange County will not interfere with their normal life. There are excellent education systems, fewer crimes, and lots of outdoor activities. Kid’s amenities such as the famous Disneyland is located in Anaheim city in Orange County. There are arrays of natural attractions and shopping centers that you can visit as a family and enjoy cool outdoor adventures.

When it comes to education, Orange County is home to some of the top-performing schools. Some of the best schools include; Coastline community college, Orange Coast College, Irvine Valley College, Anaheim University, Whittier law school, University of California (Irvine), Laguna College of Art and Design,

  • Orange County has a rich culture, attraction sites, and arts

There can never be a dull moment for Orange County residents. Communities have a rich culture and gorgeous beaches across Orange County attract millions of tourists annually. Huntington Beach is a great spot for surfing and sunbathing. Orange County has plenty of exciting outdoor activities. You can take your family to renowned theme parks such as; Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks.

Other tourists and historical destinations to visit include; Knott’s Berry Farm, Soak City, Little Saigon, Mission San Juan Capistrano, John Wayne’s Yacht, and Richard Nixon’s Birthplace. There are many great restaurants in Orange County that serve tasty foods from different cultures.

Best cities to live in Orange County, California

  1. Irvine City- It’s one of the best cities to live in Orange City, CA. Irvine City has lived to its expectations of being the safest city. There are plenty of attractions and most of the residents here are working. For those with kids, you can get top-performing schools.
  2. Laguna Beach- It was founded by artists and it’s famously known as the art capital of Orange County. There are many beautiful beaches and excellent schools. Home prices in Laguna Beach are higher compared to other neighborhoods.
  3. Newport Beach- This is a coastal town that was originally designed for maritime industries. Newport Beach is one of the richest cities in the state of California. Homes in Newport Beach are also expensive. Residents enjoy gorgeous boats and yachts. Make sure you visit Lido Village and The Channel Islands for a delightful experience.
  4. Aliso Viejo- If you are looking for one of the affordable cities to live-in in Orange County, Aliso Viejo is the place to be. Residents enjoy the serenity as there are low crime rates and it’s a great neighborhood to raise a family in if you have a medium income.
  5. Rancho Santa Margarita- It’s a modern master-planned community that is strategically located in the heart of Irvine City. It has a small population and most residents here are homeowners. Rancho Santa Margarita scores the highest marks when it comes to safety. There are also top-performing schools and modern shopping amenities. Residents here enjoy the outdoors by going swimming or hiking in the nearby hills. There is also plenty of restaurants and shopping joints.

How to Choose the Best Offer and Close the First Time

Congratulations on taking the leap and placing an offer on your dream home! After some time looking, you’ve finally found the perfect house for you and your family and are willing to pay the list price. So, it’s a done deal, right? Sometimes, it’s not that simple.

Today’s market is known as a seller’s market, which means there are more buyers than homes for sale, which can mean that a full-price offer isn’t enough. But, keep reading because we’re going to discuss how to make your offer stand out in a competitive market. If you follow these tips, it just may push your name up on the seller’s list of potential buyers!

Seek Full Pre Approval

Most home sales fall through due to financing issues. To ensure your offer stands out among the crowd, be sure to point out the fact that you are fully pre-approved. To make this clear to the seller, you should include a copy of the lender’s offer and not just send the basic pre-approval that’s dependent on other conditions.

Hire A Great Agent

Good realtors have a solid understanding of how the market works; they are proactive and communicate clearly. Don’t settle for the first agent that’s recommended. Instead, meet with several and choose the person who seems most informed and someone whom you are comfortable around.

Start With Your Highest Offer

The majority of sellers choose the highest offering price over all other factors. Remember to shop only homes that are in your price range, and don’t let your emotions take over. Regardless of how much you love a property, you need to be prepared to walk away from it so that you don’t end up with a monthly payment you cannot afford.

But at the same time, don’t undersell yourself. If there’s a house you really want and can afford to pay a little extra, this can be a deciding factor to close in a competitive market.

Offer a Larger Down Payment

No matter what type of home loan you plan to obtain, offering more money down is a sign of good faith for the seller. Anytime you can prove that you are in good financial standings is a benefit, and being in a competitive market is not an exception to the rule. Offering a higher down payment shows the seller that you’re serious about the property and can meet all financial obligations.

Ensure Your Offer is Complete

Obviously, you want to pay attention to every detail when it comes to completing an offer, but mistakes do happen. These types of issues can include missing EMD, disclosures, and other important information regarding the purchase agreement. Anytime you’re in a competitive market, any such mistake can make your offer get pushed to the side.

And, even worse, if the seller receives numerous incomplete submissions, yours may never get a second thought. So, if you want to solidify your chance, be sure to dot every I and cross every T. Check and recheck!

The bottom line is that buying a home can be daunting, and there are many factors when it comes to writing contracts. If you pay close attention to each of the tips above, then you are on your way to scoring your dream home, even in a competitive market!

Mission Viejo vs. Rancho Santa Margarita – Where is Better to Live

With the relentless demand for housing in both Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita, people often ask how the cities compare with each other. Especially after the pandemic subsides and normalcy returns, you may be thinking about a move or want to review the advantages and disadvantages of both areas.

Both Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM) share some traits where they both provide comfortable temperature ranges in the winter, a lower cost of living when compared with Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine or other major cities like L.A., and San Diego, and other characteristics. Nevertheless, there are obviously a number of differences too.

In terms of space, Mission Viejo is larger than RSM, measuring out at 18.03 square miles compared to RSM’s 12.94 square miles. Due to this fact, Mission Viejo has a larger population than RSM, totaling about 95,516 people, while RSM’s population is roughly fifty percent less at 48,500 residents.

Education
Both Mission Viejo and RSM offer a well-educated population, with around 57.5 percent of those in RSM have a four-year college degree and about 53.9 percent in Misson Viejo. Corresponding graduation rates for both cities are included in the chart below:

Mission Viejo, CA                Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

High School Graduation Rate     94.4%                                    95.9%
College graduation rate               43%                                       32%
Grad school graduation rate       15%                                      16.4%

Politics
Both Mission Viejo and RSM are slightly democratic based on the 2020 presidential election, 53.5% of people in Orange County voted Democrat, 44.4% voted Republican, and the remaining 2.1% voted Independent.

In Mission Viejo, where they voted Republican in 2016, they switched in 2020 to Democrat. 62.3% voted Democrat in the 2016 presidential election, 32.9% voted Republican, and the remaining 4.8% voted Independent.

Cost of Living – Which Is More Expensive?
The cost of living in Mission Viejo is higher than in RSM. AreaVibe’s cost of living index evaluates the cost of living differences between Mission Viejo and RSM according to ten categories: goods and services, grocery, healthcare, housing, crime, employment, schools, transportation, and utilities.

It is worthwhile to keep in mind that a score of 100 means the average cost of that category in the United States. If it is higher than 100, then it is cost above average.

Cost of Living Index:

Expense:                     Mission Viejo, CA                  Ranch Santa Margarita, CA Groceries                             114                                                  114
Healthcare                           105                                                 105
Housing                               294                                                  276
Schools                                 120                                                  130
Transportation                    136                                                 136
Utilities                                  89                                                   89

OVERALL                            167                                                 162

Based on this analysis, Rancho Santa Margarita is a little bit more affordable than Mission Viejo, providing slightly less costly housing and better schools. Both Mission Viejo and RSM provide residents a much higher cost of living. But if you’re a long time resident of California or relocating with a good paying job you are paying for convenience and a comfortable lifestyle without all the weather problems of the mid-west and east coast each year.

It’s complicated to discover a place that provides a good quality of life, convenience, and affordability – and Mission Viejo and RSM provide all of that and more.

Real Estate
The annual median price of a home in Mission Viejo is $867,800. This is less expensive than the median home price in RSM, which is $755,500. Rent in RSM is usually less expensive as well, with average rent in RSM around $2,054 per month compared to $2,119 in Mission Viejo.

If you are seeking an experienced real estate agent in Orange County to help you with your search, contact us to speak with local and state licensed experts.

In regards to architectural style, features mostly modern Spanish colonial, Ranch, Mission Revival and Western Craftsman style homes. There is one neighborhood with Mello Roos taxes.  That would be Dove Canyon in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Both Mission Viejo and RSM offer a vibrant community of forward-thinking, hard-working, and well-educated individuals.  There are so many reasons to love both cities; it’s hard to go wrong with either choice. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you are contemplating moving and have any questions!

Fun Things to Do in Newport Beach

Enjoy the Southern California fresh ocean breezes and expansive views from the Pier, world class surfing, swimming, building sand castles to sunbathing.

1. There are four incredible seasons
California is one of those southwestern states that has mild summers with cool evenings if you’re located about 5-10 miles from the coast. Southern California has mountains that allow people to go to the beach in the morning and still get in some skiing or play in the snow the same day.

Wear shorts or bring a jacket for adventures at higher elevations. You can have spring, summer, fall, and a snowy winter in the higher elevations such as Big Bear.

2. Southern California has a great food scene
California is blessed to have some of the best restaurants an cuisine in the country. It ranges from Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, German, Ethiopian, Brazilian, Cuban, Japanese, and so many countries as well as specific ingredients. There really is something for everyone no matter where you’re from around the world.

3. The great food trucks
One element of the excellent food culture is the insane amount of competition that produces viable eating choices. This has led to L.A., Orange County and San Diego having multiple options for hot food.

From breakfast, lunch and dinner you can enjoy gourmet cuisine from the best breakfast burritos even a movie food truck caterer would applaud. SoCal food is one of the benefits of living here.

4. Features some of the best art museums in the U.S.
One of the country’s best art museums, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA) is situated right in the downtown. The main branch on 250 S. Grand Ace features post world art with numerous galleries, including virtual for online viewing.

Many museums in Southern California have just started reopening due to the pandemic in 2020 through the first few months of 2021 such as LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits Museum, Laguna Art Museum and Pretend Art Children’s Museum n Irvine and a few others.

5. So hard to forget
Newport Beach is without a doubt a picturesque scenic coastal city featuring amazing beaches with views from the cliffs, among of the world’s top surfing locations, each of which makes it hard to forget.

6. Conserve Nature
Committed to the conservation and restoration of the Upper Newport Bay which spans 135 acres , the Newport Bay Conservancy on a regular basis features bird-watching events, classroom viewing of amphibians and reptiles at the Muth Interpretive Center, kayak trips, lectures and and a variety of other informative and activities for all ages.

7. Balboa Island local shops
Drive a few minutes until you reach Marine Avenue for some trendy shops finds and exciting culinary treats. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, check out Dad’s Donut or Frozen Banana. It’s all part of the beach life.

8. Whale watching
You can’t leave without going on a tour, chances are high you’ll get to see finback whales, blue whales, humpback whales and grey whales. Along with these large mammals will be dolphins. seal and sharks.

9. The Play is the Scene
Newport Theater Arts Center is located on Cliff Drive and overlooking Pacific Coast Highway and the spectacular Pacific Ocean. It’s a venue that seats 90 people with not really a bad seat in the house. You have a small town feel in a very high end area. Great acting and directing in an artistic town.

10. Know your Harbor.
Many locals and tourists alike recommend taking in a relaxing Gondola Ride through Newport Beach Harbor. The scenery will make you feel like you are actually in Venice. The gondolas are indeed authentic, as well as the friendly guides!

How to Counter the Buyer’s Offer

A great deal of work goes into getting your home listed for sale, yet one of the most difficult steps is figuring out the price you’re asking.

Although when you ultimately pick a price, you could still have offers come in that are under your asking price.

Sometimes the proper action is to accept that offer in a buyer’s market and go ahead with the sale of your home. It’s best to know how to counter the price submitted in the event that happens.

Recognizing how to prepare a counteroffer in the sale of your home may help you keep thousands of dollars.

Think about a Counteroffer
Wouldn’t it be ideal if you put your home up for sale for the price you feel it is worth and a buyer came along and quickly sent in a purchase offer for that price?

Unfortunately, in most cases, homeowners receive offers that are below the asking price. At these times, you can accept or reject the offer, or respond with a counteroffer with a higher price and/or different terms.

Set an Expiration Date on Your Counteroffer
To begin with, think about limiting the period of time your buyer has to accept your counter offer. In California’s competitive market, sellers usually give buyers 1 to 2 days. If they fail to respond, you entertain and consider the other buyer’s offers or terms that look attractive.

Think about Crediting the Buyer’s Closing Costs
An additional method to better your probability of having the buyer accept your counteroffer is by offering to pay some or all of their closing costs.

Buyers tend to be low on funds once they get closer to the closing date, which is a big reason that buyers ask the seller to pay the closing costs.  Prior to the buyer asking, you can add closing cost credit within your counteroffer. For that matter, you may even raise the price you were asking. The buyer can pay for that through the home loan. 

Counteroffer with Your List Price
After receiving a counteroffer, the majority of buyers normally respond to the seller with the list price.  For one thing, many buyers just accept that offering below the list price is a foregone conclusion. Once they see you won’t change your price, they’ll understand you were not flexible when it comes to price and push them into offering your price.

In addition, a number of buyers are only looking for a bargain. They’ll send in various low-ball offers for multiple listings merely to see if a seller will accept it. If you counter with your list price and they’ll likely not be interested because they are not getting the deal they perceived as a discounted good price.

List Prices Are Strongest in a Seller’s Market
If you or your real estate agent had a comparative market analysis completed prior to listing your home, you understand the price your home will fetch in the neighborhood and should feel secure about the price you’re asking.

Don’t be overly concerned to counter with your original list price.
Having said that, your list price will ninety-nine times out of one hundred is supported better in a seller’s market. If you’re in a buyer’s market and their offer isn’t ridiculously low, it could be a good choice to accept it.

This is why it’s essential to pay for proven results to market your home. Regardless of the type of market you’re in, the more interest you generate, the more secure you’ll feel when you make a counteroffer.

Rejecting a Buyer’s Counteroffer
You should now understand you don’t need to accept or respond to any offer a buyer makes.

However, many buyers are not expecting a complete rejection of their offer.  In summary, it’s puts the home buyer in an uncomfortable position of not knowing what the seller will accept.

You haven’t provided them with a counteroffer to accept or a baseline for the amount they could offer the second time around. This puts pressure on them because they know another buyer could offer the right amount at any moment.