Push for Cyber Security in Real Estate Transactions

  • August 2, 2015
  • devinlucas

Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Orange County real estate consumers and professionals take note of cyber security issues in real estate transactions.  We all take email for granted. It’s an amazing tool that has impacted and changed the way we all communicate. But until some recent high-profile events, people thought little, if at all, about the security of … Continue Reading

Top 10 Home Projects to Recoup Costs at Resale

  • April 21, 2015
  • devinlucas

Even owners of the finest Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Orange County properties will always have a list of desired improvements to their homes. The top 10 home projects to recoup costs at resale according to Remodeling Magazine and the National Association of REALTORS® Cost vs Value Report include: Entry door replacement; Manufactured stone veneer; … Continue Reading

Home-Remodeling Projects May Require Special Insurance Policies

  • March 15, 2015
  • devinlucas

By Olya Yepremian, Momentous Insurance Brokerage Most homeowners may not realize the impact a renovation project has on their homeowner’s policy and that failure to take appropriate action could result in an uncovered claim. In simple terms, if your home is insured for $10 million and you add $2 million in improvements, you now need insurance … Continue Reading

California Baby Boomers Plan to Stay In Their Homes

  • March 1, 2015
  • devinlucas

Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Orange County and all California baby boomers plan to stay in their homes longer than ever before, according to a 2014 survey from the California Association of REALTORS®.  More than half, 59 percent, have no plans to sell their home after retirement.  78 percent of those surveyed simply like their home … Continue Reading

Smart Home Technology

  • February 24, 2015
  • devinlucas

Attention Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Orange County Home Sellers and Buyers, Smart Home Technology is in! Consumers of all generations value smart technology features in both their current homes and future homes. According to a recent ERA/HGTV survey, nearly half (46 percent) of consumers believe it is important that their current home or next … Continue Reading

Importance of School Districts

  • November 20, 2014
  • devinlucas

Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Orange County homebuyers have a a long list of desires when searching for the perfect home, but how does one decide what is most important?  To more than half of buyers, schools are top of the list!  In fact, schools are so important that the majority of buyers are willing … Continue Reading

Dispute with a California REALTOR? Try the free Ombudsman service of the California Association of REALTORS

  • October 9, 2014
  • devinlucas

As a public and member service, the California Association of REALTORS® offers a free assistance line, the Ombudsman Hotline, to foster dispute resolution. Belive it or not, occasionally, REALTORS® and/or their clients, find themselves embroiled in a dispute with another, or their own, REALTOR®. The C.A.R. Ombudsman Hotline is here to help. C.A.R. Ombudsmen receive … Continue Reading

Homeowner Legislative Update – August 4, 2014

  • August 4, 2014
  • devinlucas

Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Orange County homeowners and real estate professionals may be interested in the below “Homeowner Legislative Facts,” re-published with permission from the California Association of REALTORS®: Bill to Stop Tax on Loan Modifications Passes Legislature – updated 7/17/14If the principal on your mortgage was reduced with a loan modification new legislation may lower … Continue Reading

How’s Your Home’s Water Usage?

  • April 21, 2014
  • devinlucas

Attention Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Orange County homeowners, how’s your home’s water usage?  Here’s a neat graphic from the California Association of REALTORS® showing a breakdown of an average three-bedroom single-family home in California and some areas where you can save water, and money.  With 57 percent of the water used on landscaping, check … Continue Reading

Newport Beach Temporarily Waives City Building Permit and Plan Check Fees

  • April 11, 2014
  • devinlucas

Attention Newport Beach homeowners – the City of Newport Beach is temporarily waiving City Building Permit and Plan Check Fees. For anyone sitting on the fence (so-to-speak) of a home improvement project, of any scale, this might be an exceptional inducement, saving potentially thousands of dollars in your overall project expenses. This could be the … Continue Reading