RE/MAX Fine Homes - Orange County Real Estate Blog

Living near the Beach - Orange County, CA

Lee Ann Canaday — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:30:41 -0800

Orange County, CA is a wonderful place to explore. There is great shopping at Fashion Island in Newport Beach as well as South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. If you are a more active person, there is always fun surfing down in Huntington Beach. Also a very fun activity to do on the weekends is to play beach volleyball. There are nets set up right next to the Huntington Beach Pier. It's a great way to get that awesome California tan while getting a work out in.

Weekdays are fun in Huntington Beach too, there is a farmers market on Main Street in Huntington Beach, CA every Tuesday night. They always have great booths out there with good entertainment and you will see our RE/MAX Fine Homes agents there. The local restaurants also have Taco Tuesday for a fun & festive dinner.

Hope this gives you some ideas on what goes on in the beach cities!

Huntington Harbour Office - Thank you!

Lee Ann Canaday — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:28:45 -0800

Thank you to all those who attended our Huntington Harbour office grand opening last night! Such a joyous atmosphere and I'm extremely appreciative to all those who helped make this possible. I was able to see and visit with some of my favorite people, enjoy delicious food, toasted with champagne, listen to music from a guitarist, and it didn’t rain! Even Jack Kreider from RE/MAX headquarters joined in the celebration! If you were unable to join us last night or today at the Broker's Open, we hope you will stop by in the next few weeks. We will post our Grand Opening photos on our Facebook page next week. Our office address is

16400 Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 106

Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Located on the water in Peter’s Landing

Huntington Harbour Office Grand Opening Feb. 7th!

Lee Ann Canaday — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:13:08 -0800

I am so excited for the grand opening celebration tomorrow at our new office on the water in Peter's Landing. Our vision has come alive and I can't wait for clients, fellow agents, friends, and local residents to see what we've been up to. We now have three RE/MAX Fine Homes locations in Southern California: Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Huntington Harbor. Please stop by on Feb. 7th from 4pm-7pm and meet our fabulous agents, see our new real estate shop, and enjoy food and drinks. Free parking! We have a special broker's preview on Friday, Feb. 8th from 11am-3pm. See you there! Any questions, please call 949.249.2424

Happy Birthday Christa Lee!

Lee Ann Canaday — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:35:21 -0800

We had such a fun lunch yesterday celebrating Christa Lee's birthday with our Canaday Group agents. We went to a new restaurant in Downtown Laguna Beach called Carmelitas. It was a little cloudy yesterday, but so nice being close to the beach and seeing the ocean from our table. The food was delicious and we hope to go there again. One of our agent's mother is a phenomenal baker and made the birthday cake (check out the photo). We will definitely be eating cake at the office for the rest of the week. :)

Only Big Banks Allowed to Make $$ under Dodd-Frank

Lee Ann Canaday — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:40:54 -0800

I saw this article and had to share! Here's an excerpt written by Madeline Schnapp:

According to The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (DFA), beginning January 21, 2013, the rules governing seller carryback financing are changing and will severely restrict this form of lending.

Specifically, the DFA states that no creditor may make a mortgage loan without making a reasonable or good faith determination that the customer has the ability to repay the loan based on eight statutory criteria. Further, the DFA requires that residential mortgage loans, including seller carryback financing, must be offered and negotiated by licensed loan mortgage originators. The DFA definition of mortgage originator exempts an individual (or an estate or trust) that provides mortgage financing for no more than three properties in any 12-month period. Regardless of the exemption, however, the DFA requires that financing must meet the following criteria:

- The seller did not construct the home
- The loan is fully amortizing (balloon payments are prohibited)
- The seller determines that the buyer has a reasonable ability to repay the loan
- The loan must have a fixed interest rate for a minimum of five years
- The loan must meet other criteria set by the Federal Reserve Board

Read the full article here: http://www.foreclosuretruth.com/blog/sean/only-big-banks-allowed-to-make-money-under-dodd-frank/

Newport Beach Crime Hits Historic Low

Lee Ann Canaday — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:45:01 -0800

I was happy to read this article in the Newport Beach Patch. Great way to improve property values, so thank you Newport Beach Police Department. The crime rate is now the lowest in 40 years. Very impressive. Chief Jay Johnson said, "Studies also show that the well-kept physical appearance of our city, thanks to our public works department and our municipal operations division as well as our citizens, is also a deterrent for criminal activity." I'm happy to hear this because it improves and enhances the neighborhoods. Keep up the good work Newport Beach!

If you're in the Newport area, please stop by our office in Corporate Plaza near Fashion Island!

RE/MAX Fine Homes, Canaday Group

3 Corporate Plaza, suite 100

Newport Beach, CA 92660

949.650.5188

1031 Exchange Seminar Jan. 31st

Lee Ann Canaday — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:20:02 -0800

Join us for a free seminar on 1031 Exchanges

An exchange is used by investors to purchase real estate including residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, or even vacant land. By properly effectuating an exchange, the investor is able to defer the realization of capital gains on the sale of the sold property. This deferral allows funds that would have otherwise gone to pay capital gains tax to be allocated toward a greater investment. Free seminar for the community. Refreshments provided. Presenter: Debbie Bannister from Exchange Resources, Inc., a premier California tax-deferred exchange company.

Presented by the Canaday Group, RE/MAX Fine Homes.

Date: Thursday, January 31st 2013

Time: 6:30pm-8pm

Location: Newport Coast Community Center - 6401 San Joaquin Hills Rd, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Please RSVP 949.249.2424

Girl Scouts Event in Newport Beach Celebrating 100 Years!

Lee Ann Canaday — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:06:11 -0800

"The Girl Scouts of Orange County celebrated the centennial with more than 300 guests at their third annual Celebrate Leadership Gala at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, where 12 women – all former Girl Scouts – were honored. You could feel the love and success in that ballroom! The women were amazing, and were paired for the evening with a current Girl Scout with a shared leadership trait. The women honored included Dr. Victoria Collins, Sophie Hall Cripe, Janet Toll Davidson, Kristina Dodge, Susanne Huffmon Esber, Tamara Fairbanks, Kathryn Glassmyer Cenci, Judy Koyama, Heidi Miller, Tricia Raymond, Barbara Roberts, and Sudi Shoja.

Overseeing the festivities were gala co-chairs Lee Ann Canaday and Dana Agamalian, with 2011 Celebrate Leadership Girl Representative and fifth grader Olivia Bobrownicki conducting a delightful interview about Girl Scout history and its programs with Girl Scout of Orange County CEO Nancy Nygren. There are 23,000 girls supported by 14,000 adults in the county’s GS program."

Click here to read the full article.

RE/MAX Agents in Huntington Harbour, CA

Lee Ann Canaday — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:12:57 -0800

Our RE/MAX Fine Homes agents at the Huntington Harbour Farmers' Market this past weekend. This is near our newly opened office in Peter's Landing, Huntington Harbour. If you are interested in joining our team at any of our 3 Southern California offices, please visit

http://www.joinremax.com/Pages/default.aspx?takeaction=R0041045

We have beautiful offices in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Huntington Harbour, CA. Enjoy the coastal Orange County lifestyle.

What are you doing Saturday at 9am PST?

Lee Ann Canaday — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:19:02 -0800

Please watch our weekly real estate TV show! Tune in Saturdays at 9am (PST) on KDOC-TV to see our listings, real estate tips, Orange County market updates, the mortgage minute by John Davis with iMortgage, and footage of the relaxing Orange County lifestyle. Here's the channel list:

If you are interested in advertising your company with a commercial or sponsorship, please contact Amber Bonasoro for details. Amber@CanadayGroup.com or call 949.249.2424.

Happy New Year! Warm wishes from the Canaday Group!

Lee Ann Canaday — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:12:05 -0800

Wishing you a happy New Year's Eve celebration and best wishes for a radiant 2013!

Tips for Home Sellers - 5 Ways to Shorten the Selling Process

Lee Ann Canaday — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:43:20 -0800

Things To Do in OC for Christmas

Lee Ann Canaday — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:03:28 -0800

Chapman University's Wassail Holiday Concert on KCET

Let's Go A Wassailing! Make your holiday parties even merrier - Tune in to KCET and watch Chapman University's choirs and chamber orchestra, featuring more than 125 singers and musicians. *Perfect background music for Christmas dinner and last minute present wrapping. Christmas Eve @2pm & Christmas Day @ 8pm

Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Dec 19-23
Come and watch the spectacular (and FREE) Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade! Over 250 beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along the harbor among hundreds of water front estates. Parade starts at Bay Island @6:30pm and lasts until 9pm www.christmasboatparade.com

The Muckenthaler Cultural Center Holiday Festival Dec. 23 @12noon-5pm
Come and enjoy FREE gallery tours, performances, and holiday arts & crafts fair. Family-friendly event with free art workshops for kids, a children’s play area, and a very special appearance by the one and only Santa Claus. LOCATION: The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 West Malvern Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92833 Phone: 714-738-6595 themuck.org

Holiday Plays for the Whole Family!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens; Ongoing thru Dec 24 @ South Coast Repertory Theater. Enjoy the cherished Dickens classic for the 1st or 25th time! Recapture the spirit of an old-fashioned Christmas with Tiny Tim, the Ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, and Ebenezer Scrooge. Box Office: (714) 708-5555 www.scr.org

Looking for something a little different this Christmas? Get ready to snap your fingers! The weird and wonderful Addams Family comes to devilishly delightful life in THE ADDAMS FAMILY the new smash-hit musical comedy. Ongoing thru Dec 30 @ the Sagerstrom Center for the Arts www.scfta.org

Box Office: 714.556.2787

Happy Holidays from RE/MAX Fine Homes and the Canaday Group

Lee Ann Canaday — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:54:50 -0800

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

RE/MAX Fine Homes and the Canaday Group!

We headed out to beautiful Fashion Island in Newport Beach, CA to take our annual holiday photo. That is a real Christmas tree behind us that is 92 ft tall! It is so beautifully decorated and looks spectacular in the evenings when lit. We hope you are enjoying this festive time of the year!

Chapman University's Economic Forecast for 2013

Lee Ann Canaday — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:43:43 -0800

Chapman University's Economic Forecast was held on Nov. 28th at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA. It was a full house comprised of OC Executives, Member of the Business Community, Members of Academia, Media representatives, and of course the wonderful Chapman University students. The A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research holds 2 forecasts a year, the Fall forecast and then an update in the Spring. The lively presenters included Chapman's President James Doti and the Anderson Center's Director Esmael Adibi. Both are highly reputable businessmen and have served on numerous economic advisory boards. Here are some highlights:

-Orange County, CA's economy will add jobs next year and increase employment by 1.8% or a new total of 1,418,709 employed workers

- OC will outpace CA & the U.S. in payroll job growth primarily coming from the services and construction sectors

-Median single-family homes in OC forecasted to increase by 6.8% in 2013

-OC Notice of Defaults (NOD) in Q3 2012 were 3,255, a 32.4% decline from Q3 2011 of 4,817

-Employment leads to household formation and fuels the home price forecast. The demand is also based on interest rates and personal income. In 3Q 2012 a person needed 27.6% of his/her income to purchase a median priced home in Orange County…this is why us Realtors keep saying it's time to buy!

-Commercial vacancy rates in OC were 6.6% in 2007, peaked at 15.6% during the recession and are currently at 13.7% indicating soft lease rates

-Instead of the $500B Fiscal Cliff, forecast of $200B

Here is the official press release: