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        <title>San Clemente Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/san-clemente-short-sale-agent/</link>
        <description>San Clemente Real Estate Information Blog relating to all things San Clemente.  Timely San Clemente Real Estate Information.</description>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/san-clemente-homes-that-offer-rate-buy-down.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/san-clemente-homes-that-offer-rate-buy-down.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>San Clemente Homes that offer Rate Buy Down</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Rising Interest Rates has become a problem for those looking to get a mortgage when buying a home in todays real estate market. nbsp;These higher rates were intended to slow down pries and inflation but the actual opposite as happened. nbsp;Due to low inventory, we have what they call shelter inflation which is reaction to the Federal government raising interest rates. nbsp;Its basically explained as the higher the interest rates go, less and less people who currently have a 3 or 4 percent mortgages on their home would not want to put their home on the market and buy another property at interest rates in the 6 to 7 percent range due to the higher costs involved. nbsp;So the higher interest rates have created a very limited number of homes coming on the market which is causing a high demand for these homes and in turn is driving prices to continue going up. nbsp;Thus, having higher interest rates are creating higher prices in our real estate market which is counterintuitive to the Feds purpose in trying to lower prices. nbsp;How long this will continue will be interesting as the Feds have indicated that there are more interest rate hikes that are expected in November and/or December of this year.


One of the ways to circumvent these higher rates is to offer an incentive to buyers who are getting a loan and offer to buy the rate down. We initially saw this with new home builders as they do a lot of their own financing and thus are able to work with buyers and getting slightly lower rates. nbsp;Now, we are starting to see this with some sellers that are willing to give the buyer a credit in order to buy the interest rate down. nbsp;How this works is that the seller finds out from the buyers lender how much it would cost to bring down the interest rate by however much the buyer is looking to get a loan. nbsp;I think we will start to see this method being used when interest rates continue to go up as many sellers in todays market are still able to sell their home for record prices without using this method.






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    <pubDate>Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:57:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/best-san-clemente-real-estate-deals-under-500000.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/best-san-clemente-real-estate-deals-under-500000.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>Best San Clemente Real Estate Deals Under $500,000</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
San Clemente real estate prices over the last several years has really since an increase which is making it harder to find properties for sale under the $500,000 price point. nbsp;The days are gone where you can find a single family home in this price range leaving only residential condos. nbsp;There are just a few select places to look in order to find the best deals in San Clemente for under $500,000.


The first place to find the best deals is the Vista Pacifica complex. nbsp;It wasnt too long ago that you could find a nice one bedroom condo for under $200,000 in this complex. nbsp;Today, condos currently start $275,000 for a one bedroom unit with 560 square feet. nbsp;Two bedroom condos are even more expensive and currently start at $389,000 and go up to $409,990. nbsp;The best deals in this complex are the larger one bedroom units and the 2 bedroom condos that have some kind of an ocean view. nbsp;When looking at one bedroom condos keep in mind that there are several floor plans that can be quite small. nbsp;Look for one of the largest floor plans that have 680 square feet and incorporate an open kitchen and living room spaces with an individual bedroom and master bath. nbsp;The best deals are those located on the second floor that offer vaulted ceilings and outdoor decks. nbsp;If you can find a well priced two bedroom unit located on the 2nd floor with an ocean view jump at the opportunity as these rarely come on the market for sale.


Another place to look is the Presidential Heights neighborhood. nbsp;This is a beautiful community that can offer panoramic ocean and golf course views. nbsp;The days for finding a view property for under $500,000 is long gone but homes still come on the market in the $400,000 range. nbsp;The floor plans are very well planned with typical living spaces incorporating all the bedrooms located on the 2nd level while living room and kitchen located on the main level. nbsp;There are two neighborhoods in Presidential Heights commonly known as Presidential Heights I and Presidential Heights II. nbsp;Homes located on the first community tend to be more desirable and offer the best views. nbsp;If you have the opportunity to find a view property in the low $500,000 range I would jump on it. nbsp;These homes really hold there value and are always in demand.






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    <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jun 2017 10:06:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/shorecliffs-ocean-view-homes.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/shorecliffs-ocean-view-homes.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>Shorecliffs Ocean View Homes</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Shorecliffs area in north San Clemente is a great place to find ocean view homes in San Clemente.  In the last year many ocean view homes have come on the market in the mid $500,000 to $600,000 range.  The homes in this area were first built in the 1960s as single level homes.  Throughout the years there has been a modest mixture of two story homes in the neighborhood but for the most part the majority of homes are one level.  These are smaller beach homes that average under 2,000 square feet with some large homes that range up to 3,000 square feet of living space.  Home buyers who have a budget up to $600,000 and looking for a view property should seriously consider this community.





As a general disclosure its important to understand that some of the homes in this area can potentially and allegedly have soil problems and experience ground movement.  Thats why some of the homes listed in this area are priced very low and often as bank owned or short sale properties.  Its important to get full disclosure from the Realtor selling the home and to do a visual inspection of the property when first viewing it.  Once you are interested in a home we highly recommend a full inspection as we would on any other property you may buy in the San Clemente area.  Residents who live here absolutely love this location as its an easy walk to the beach and small shopping district located nearby.  Currently, ocean view homes start at $875,000 but we would not be surprised to see other ocean view properties come on the market at a much lower price.  Below are the current ocean view homes for sale in Shorecliffs.



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    <pubDate>Thu, 08 Aug 2013 13:18:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/ocean-hills-home-sales-top-600000.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/ocean-hills-home-sales-top-600000.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>Ocean Hills Home Sales Top $600,000</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The market is on the upswing in the Ocean Hills community as a recent sale of a 2 bedroom condo that sold for $600,000 after being on the market for 4 days. This is a dramatic change from what we saw last summer when homes prices dipped down in the low $300,000 range. I personally represented the buyer in Ocean Hills home at 724 Calle Casita that sold as a short sale for $315,000 in September of 2012. Since then inventory of homes dropped significantly until the property at 3709 Calle La Quinta came on the market and sold in 4 short days for $1,000 above the $599,000 asking price. The home was a highly upgraded residence that resembled a $2 million dollar home with extensive use of Travertine and Granite in the Kitchen and Baths. The renovation continued throughout the house and even included a highly upgraded 2 car garage interior



Now, Im aware of a private sale in the community where a bank owned property recently sold for $350,000. This is an excellent canadite for a flip property as real estate values are on the rise in this community. If you own a home in the Ocean Hills community we encourage you to contact us to learn the retail value of your property. Right now we are seeing a large demand for ocean view homes in the $600,000 range so now may be excellent time to cash in on your equity. The Ocean Hills community is a great place to live with several community pools and a small golf course. The location is directly across the street from the Trader Joes shopping center and very easy access to the 5 freeway.



Currently, home prices start at $500,000 and go as high as $639,000. Prices will fluctuate depending on the view, size and condition of the home. Below are the current homes for sale in the Ocean Hills ocean view community.

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    <pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2013 14:51:45 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/construction-boom-at-capistrano-shores-san-clemente.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/construction-boom-at-capistrano-shores-san-clemente.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>New Construction Boom at Capistrano Shores, San Clemente</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
There is a a huge construction boom happening in the ocean front community called Capistrano Shores.  The community was well established as a mobile home park for many years.  The homes were on lease land with the average monthly cost to lease that land was around $2,500 a month.  In 2008, all of this changed.  The 90 residents within the Capistrano Shores community bought the land for an estimated $100 million dollars which instantly caused the real estate values to jump from an average $750,000 mobile home to now nearly $2 million dollars.



What is happening in the community is a construction boom where old existing mobile homes are being torn down and replaced with large two story residences.  The homes are keeping their original foot print of the mobile home with a metal base that is commonly used when installing a mobile home on to a lot.  Whats different is that residents are now building on to that base with new construction that you would see in any traditional home with no resemblance to a mobile home.  The community truly has done a 180 in transforming itself from a quiet ocean front mobile home park to a thriving and desirable oceanfront community.  Prices are still relatively low when compared to the neighboring beach front homes located on Beach Road in Dana Point which start at $2.5 million dollars and up.  Capistrano Shores homes are currently priced right around the $2 million dollar price point with 8 homes currently on the market.



With these new real estate values residents are quickly tearing down their existing home for the opportunity to build larger two story custom homes.  A quick drive down this cul-de-sac street of 90 homes you will find multiple properties currently under construction.  You will also find many contractors and builders a plentiful in this community now as the demand the build a larger home is in high demand.  The true test will be to see multiple sales in this new price range.  In 2010, we saw the property located at 1880 N El Camino Real 40 sell for a record $2 million dollars.  Since the properties are no longer mobile or manufactured homes new home sales are taxed at the standard 1.1 sales tax.  The large majority of the value is in the land with little value for the existing manufactured home.  The $800 association fee does include water, trash, sewer, current taxes, management and maintenance of the exterior grounds.



The community is located on the very north side of town next to the Ole Hanson pool club and the San Clemente north train station.  The community is not gated and a simple drive over the rail road tracks gains entry into this community.  Upon the entrance you will find the managers office for the Capistrano Shores that is very friendly and helpful with any questions you may have.  The views from these homes is truly awe inspiring and probably the closest to the water than any other community in Southern California.  One concern during big waves is the water crashing on to the back of your home.  Many residents have installed roll up window guards to protect their homes while away and during heavy storms.  The other concern in this community is the Coastal commission that regulates building near the ocean.  So far the coastal commission has not intervened into the building that is currently going on in the community but a heavy disclosure is given to all potential buyers that the coastal commission may come in with restrictions even after the new home has been built.



San Clemente is home to other ocean front communities like Cyprus Shore, Riviera District and La Ladera.  home prices in these communities usually will start at $4 to $5 million dollars for an oceanfront home.  If you are in the market to buy a beach front home in South Orange County we recommend visiting each of these communities as well as the Beach Road gated community in nearby Dana Point. We believe their is a lot of opportunity in the Capistrano Shores community and would love the opportunity to show you these great beach front homes. Please contact Sam at 949-291-0424 for a quick tour today.
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    <pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:25:53 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/cazadero-ocean-view-homes-in-talega-san-clemennte.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/cazadero-ocean-view-homes-in-talega-san-clemennte.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>Cazadero Ocean View Homes In Talega San Clemennte</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Cazadero community in the Talega area of San Clemente is one of the unexpected places to find ocean view properties for sale.  The community is a favorite for Talega home buyers due to its large floor-plans and square footages that reach over 4,000 square feet.   Homes located on the front row have nice views of the valley and ocean and typically are priced well above the $1 million dollar price point.  The homes also are located on large lots and often feature outdoor entertainment area with private pools, spas and BBQ areas.  Most of the homes in the community will feature four bedrooms with unique features like hardwood floors and gourmet kitchens.  The community is included in all of the Talega amenities which include several community pools and recreational centers.


Currently there are 4 homes for sale in the Cazadero community that range from $850,000 to $1,395,000.   Association dues in the community currently run $179 a month and do have the additional Mello Roos tax as well.  One of the homes is listed as a short sale and two of the homes have ocean views.  If you are thinking about buying a home in San Clemente you may want to consider this well established neighborhood.  The added cost of the Mello Roos tax is well worth it after you consider all of the newer amenities you will be enjoying as well as the pristine neighborhoods and homes in the Talega area.  For additional information on the Cazadero community please contact here at San Clemente Real Estate.

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    <pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:17:37 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/lower-trestles-surf-break-in-san-clemente.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/lower-trestles-surf-break-in-san-clemente.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>San Clemente Ocean View Condos North of San Clemente Pier</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We get a lot of requests for buyers looking for ocean view condos here in San Clemente.  In San Clemente, you will find a high concentration of condos located in the immediate area right around the San Clemente Pier with condos starting around the $800,000 range.  For those not familiar with San Clemente should note that you will find some great ocean view condo buildings located just north of the Pier.  Prices will vary a lot depending on the size and the view of the condo so here are some quick tips on where to look.


One of my favorite view streets in San Clemente is the street called Buena Vista.  One of my first real estate sales over a decade ago was an oceanfront condo located on this street.  The views are really incredible and depending where you buy on the street makes a big difference as some condos offer nice coastline views besides the straight on view of the ocean.  A good example of an oceanfront condo on Buena Vista is the property video located below.  This condo features three bedrooms, two and half baths with a reported 2,000 square feet of living space.  The condo is located in a very small building, only 4 units in total.  The condo is priced at $2,200,000.





Another street to consider in San Clemente is the end of the 200 block of West Marquita.  Marquita is located closer to the San Clemente Pier than Buena Vista with a lot of the condos in this area offering great views of the San Clemente Pier and Pacific Ocean.  This condo features three bedrooms, two and a half baths with a reported 2,700 square feet of living space.  The condo is currently priced at $1,299,000.  Condo prices can vary a lot in this area if you are ok with a condo not located on the ocean front then you can find a nice ocean view condo in this area starting in the mid $600,000 range.





The Internet is a great way to see whats currently available in San Clemente but many of the well situated condos are sold before they have had a chance to go on the market.  We always recommend consulting with a local San Clemente Realtor who may have knowledge of upcoming properties that may suit you.  Working with a local Realtor can make all the difference in the world and save you time and money.  Please contact Sam Smith at 949-291-0424 today.
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    <pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:56:59 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/catania-gated-community-talega-homes-in-san-clemente.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/catania-gated-community-talega-homes-in-san-clemente.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>Catania Short Sale Talega Homes in San Clemente, CA</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
The Catania gated community in Talega is not one of the well known neighborhoods in San Clemente.  The community is located at the very end of Talega tucked away in a quiet area that has restricted access to non-residents due to its gated entrance.  I truly believe this is one of Talegas best kept secret since the floor plans are some of the best to be found in the Talega. 


The community is split into two different sections, one located on the west side of the street Avenida Talega and have incredible ocean views.  I would venture to say these are the best ocean views you can find in Talega for under $1 million dollars.  The homes on the west side will have less of a view are are located on three quiet streets.  The model homes were actually located on this side and were the first homes as you enter into the community on the right hand side. 


If you are like most home buyers in todays market you are looking for a deal.  Since most Talega homes have come down in price nearly 50 and a large majority of these homes will be short sale listings.  Currently there is only one home for sale in the Catania community and currently listed at $670,000 as a short sale.  The home at 38 Via Cartama features 5 bedrooms, 5 baths will an approximate 3,800 square feet.  The listing indicates that have accepted an offer that has been submitted to the bank but are currently taking back-up offers.  My experience with short sales is that nearly 1/3 to 1/2 of these buyers end of buying another home while they are waiting for the approval so making a back-up offer is always a good use of your time. 


In 2012, we have seen 8 properties sell in the Catania neighborhood ranging from $745,000 to $875,000 with a couple of these properties offering ocean views.  My recommendation is to get on a list of new short sale listings as they come on the market in Talega and contact an agent right away when you see a home that will work for you.  The San Clemente Real Estate market is moving very quickly right now, especially for homes under $800,000.



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    <pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:24:38 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/southwest-san-clemente-homes-for-sale-under-1000000.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/southwest-san-clemente-homes-for-sale-under-1000000.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>Southwest San Clemente Homes For Sale Under $1,000,000</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
For those who have been following the market in San Clemente for the last year you are well aware of the shortage of inventory in the last year.  Starting in mid-summer the San Clemente Real Estate market saw a drastic decrease in the number of homes coming on the market.  One of the areas most hit was the Southwest San Clemente area for homes under $1,000,000.  As a lot of buyers quickly realized that the bottom of the market has been passed and homes were starting to increase in price was the time these buyers wanted to get back into the market.  The sweet spot for a lot of buyers is under the $1,000,000 price point.  Early in the year we saw several homes sell in the low $500,000 range which gave encouragement for those who have been wanting to live in this desirable location by the beach.  These deals seem to be long gone as newer listings are coming up well above the $1 million dollar price point.


The talk for the year 2013 is the shadow inventory and the possibility for future foreclosure properties to come on the market.  From many sources that I have heard from this will probably not happen.  Many of the national banks are gearing up to help homeowners short sell their home in lieu of letting the home go into foreclosure.  So the good news is that we will probably see some short sale listings come on the market but it will be a very gradual event as these homes come on the market one by one.  If you are in the market to buy in 2013 be prepared to bid on a short sale as these homes are dominating our current marketplace under $1,000,000.  One of the keys to buying a short sale is to bid aggressively and quickly.  Agents want to get a strong offer into the bank as soon as possible so make sure your pre-qualification letter and proof of funds shows you are well qualified to buy the home.  In addition, a nice cover letter and photo of yourself and your situation never hurts in hitting the emotional side with the seller.


Will prices go up in 2013?   That seems to be the magic question everyone is asking especially in light of the fiscal cliff that is happening at the end of the year.  If everything is worked out on that front then economists are forecasting prices to slowly increase by 7 in the upcoming year.  Real Estate has always been a strong investment especially in light of the ups and downs of the stock market.  If you would like to learn more about buying a home in the San Clemente area please contact us anytime.  We know the market very well and can help you locate a perfect home as they come on the market.  Its always good to have someone looking after you best interests.

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    <pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:44:18 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/just-sold-724-calle-casita.html</guid>
    <link>http://www.sanclementerealestate.com/blog/just-sold-724-calle-casita.html</link>
        <author>bcre@me.com (Sam Smith)</author>
        <title>San Clemente Short Sale Just Sold:  724 Calle Casita</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
A San Clemente short sale listing has just been sold by San Clemente short sale agent Sam Smith who represented the buyers.  The short sale was located in the Ocean Hills community and featured 3 bedrooms with an ocean view for the incredible price of $315,000  The Ocean Hills community is located next to Sea Pointe Estates gated community on the north side of town which is located across the street from Trader Joes and the Ralphs Shopping center.  The community has several community pools and a small golf course to practice your golfing.  Short sales have become the very best way to buy distressed properties at low prices.  This short sale did take approximately 3 months to get short sale approval but the end result was a great deal for Sams buyers who are thrilled to be living in San Clemente.  If you have been thinking about buying real estate in San Clemente make sure you connect with a skilled short sale agent that can help you navigate the current short sale listings on the market.  Good deals are still out there but the low inventory of homes is causing multiple offers on hot properties.  Please contact Sam Smith today at 949-291-0424 to start the initial search for your next home.





 
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    <pubDate>Sat, 13 Oct 2012 10:19:39 -0700</pubDate>
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