Stavrosgroup

The Best Newport Beach Neighborhoods: A Look at West Newport

You’ve decided to make the move to Orange County and you’ve even started browsing some houses for sale in Newport Beach. If you’re new to the area, the next step in your house hunting journey you may be thinking, “What is the best neighborhood for me?” We’re here to help!

Welcome to the next edition of our Neighborhood Spotlight Series, where we provide a little insight into some of the best neighborhoods Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar have to offer, so you can feel more comfortable in the purchase of your new home in Orange County.

This month we will be featuring West Newport, a neighborhood in Newport Beach that boasts over two miles of coastline and some of the best beaches in Newport. West Newport is ideally located where the coastline splits into the mainland and Balboa Peninsula, giving it a ‘beach city’ culture. This means West Newport residents enjoy the best of both worlds, with the convenience of quick access to the rest of Newport Beach, as well as the restaurants, shopping, and attractions that the peninsula offers.

We have created an infographic to provide a quick glimpse into some of the housing and residential statistics that a potential homebuyer may be interested in. We hope you find this information helpful!

We happen to have a beautiful property currently on the market, that’s located on the edge of West Newport, but in a prime oceanfront location. This spacious multi-unit property at 2212 W. Oceanfront totals approximately 3,200 square feet and includes a 2-bed double-master unit with 3 baths upstairs, as well as a 3-bed, 2-bath unit downstairs. Both the upper and lower units feature a chic updated interior and stellar ocean views. The prime waterfront location provides convenient access to hip shops, restaurants and bars. Wake up with a stroll along the shore and an espresso at Urban Cup, pop in for lunch at local favorite Dory Deli, or enjoy a night out at newly-opened Fable & Spirit nearby. Whether you choose to rent both units or keep one for yourself, one thing is for certain: your residents will love waking up to the beach right outside their door.

We know that trying to settle on the right Newport Beach neighborhood as you’re looking at homes for sale in Orange County can be tricky, but here at The Stavros Group we’re here to provide a helping hand and make the process of buying the Newport Beach home of your dreams as easy as possible. Please do not hesitate to give us a call!

How to Improve Your Credit Score for an Orange County Home Purchase

When you are looking to buy a home in Orange County, the first step in the process should be evaluating your finances to determine just how much house can I afford? If you haven’t always had a clean payment history or have significant debt, you may be asking how to improve your credit score. Because a credit score is extremely important to lenders, this is an area for immediate attention. Credit scores affect lending rates, the amount you are eligible for, and often the payment terms. With a low score, you will be at a disadvantage when looking to secure funds for a new Laguna Beach or Newport Beach home.

While there are many prospects when considering Orange County homes for sale, the reality of the situation is that the cost of living in California is high and the better your credit, the higher budget you will most likely have to work with. When consulting with a real estate agent, like myself, we will try to get you the most for your max allowance in terms of a price point, but you need to be certain that you will be approved for the needed funds. There are few things you can do to improve your overall credit score before looking to buy a home in Orange County.

Avoid Late Payments

Your overall score is determined by several areas, but the history of how you pay your bills is the most significant impacting factor. Your bill payment history is equal to about 35% of your total credit score. Making monthly payments for outstanding debt on or before the due date will do a lot to increase your score.

Check Your Credit Score

There are several sites that offer free credit score reporting, and by staying on top of the activity, you will know how to address any problems. This can keep your score from developing errors.

Correct Errors in Reporting

If your score has dropped, look at the different areas and find out why. You can sometimes contact your company and ask them to remove reported late payments. You can even open disputes on items that are incorrect.

Reduce Your Level of Debt

The second largest area making up your credit score is the debt ratio. This is equal to about 30% of your score and takes several factors into consideration. This will look at the number of open accounts you have and the amounts that have been utilized for each account. The rule of thumb is to keep your credit accounts 30% or below the available limit.

Keep a Strong Credit History

As the saying goes, there are many things that improve with age, and your credit score is one of those things. The longer your accounts remain open and in good standing, the higher your score will go. It is hard to keep something on your history, such as a car or house that has been paid off, but some of your revolving credit accounts can be of help to your financial situation. This category determines approximately 15% of your total score.

Balance Your Types of Credit

Install loans and revolving credit are the two types of accounts reported. By having both loan types on your credit, it displays a sense of familiarity with the lending and payment process. This improves your score and establishes credibility for lenders.

Reduce Credit Inquiries

Every time you open a new account or apply for financing, it puts a mark on your credit score. These marks will drive down your score. It is suggested to only make an inquiry once every six months or so.

Use a Personal Loan

If you are looking for a quick way for how to improve your credit score, getting a personal, secured loan might be the answer. With a lump-sum loan, you can pay off higher-interest debt accounts and manage payments. This still leaves you with credit history but allows you to remove negatively impacting accounts.

By improving your credit score, you become desirable to lenders. Not only will they provide a favorable loan rate, you will have increased access to higher limits and offers. This extension of funds will go a long way in ensuring you are able to purchase the Orange County home of your dreams. If you’d like to discuss your options in the Orange County real estate market, please feel free to give me a call!

A Tour of Some of the Most Beautiful Past Presidential Homes

With the July 4th holiday marking America’s 244th birthday this week, we thought it’d be interesting to take a look back at some of the beautiful old homes once lived in by some of our founding fathers. It’s fascinating to see how real estate trends have changed over the years, however certain influences have also remained steady. Many of these historic homes have been preserved over the years and are even open to the public.

Whether you’re traveling outside of Orange County, planning to watch fireworks in Newport Beach, or spending some quality time on the shores of Laguna Beach with friends and family, we hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Adams ‘Old House’ – Quincy, MA

Peacefield, also called Old House, is a historic home in Quincy, Massachusetts that served as the former residence of U. S. President John Adams and his family for four generations. It is now part of the Adams National Historical Park. The oldest portion of the house was built in 1731 by Leonard Vassall, a sugar-planter from Jamaica, and acquired by John and Abigail Adams in 1787 after its loyalist owners had abandoned Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. The house was given by the Adams family to the United States in 1946, and is now open to the public as part of the Adams National Historical Park operated by the National Park Service.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site – Springfield, IL

Lincoln Home National Historic Site is the historic-site house that Abraham Lincoln lived in with his wife, Mary Todd, from 1844 through 1861, before moving to Washington, DC to serve as the 16th President of the United States. This historic house, located in Springfield, IL, was the only home that Lincoln ever owned. While it was first built in 1839, Lincoln purchased the 12-room Greek revival, located 200 miles south of Chicago, in 1844; it was later restored in 1860. In 1887, Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln donated the family home to the State of Illinois under the condition that it would forever be well maintained and open to the public at no charge. Today, the home has been completely restored to look like it would have in 1860.

Westland Mansion – Princeton, NJ

Westland Mansion was the home of Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, from his retirement in 1897 until his death in 1908. The house is located in the historic district of Princeton, New Jersey, and is a National Historic Landmark also known as the Grover Cleveland Home. The house, built by Robert F. Stockton in 1856, was patterned after a nearby 18th-century mansion and was described as being a 6,345 sq. ft., 2-½ story, stone structure covered with yellow-painted stucco, twin parlors on the first floor, spacious rooms, high ceilings, and handsome marble mantelpieces. Cleveland named it “Westland” in honor of his friend Andrew Fleming West, a humanities professor at Princeton University who assisted Cleveland in securing the purchase of the home. During Cleveland’s time there he made several changes, including updating the building’s façade in the Italianate style popular at the time. In 2015, it was sold for $4,325,000. It is not currently open to the public.

Springwood Estate – Hyde Park, NY

The Springwood Estate in Hyde Park, NY was the birthplace, lifelong home and burial place of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The estate was purchased by FDR’s father, James Roosevelt, in 1866 for $40,000, at a time when a textile worker’s earnings were less than a dollar a day. The estate remained the center of Roosevelt’s life through all stages of his career. In 1915, much of the home was remodeled and the exterior was altered to look like a mansion in the Colonial Revival Style. In 1943, Roosevelt donated the estate to the American people under the condition that his family maintained a lifetime right to usage of the property. Today, the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, which was established in 1945, preserves the Springwood estate.

Wheatland – Lancaster, PA

Wheatland, or the James Buchanan House, is a brick, Federal style house outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that served as the home of the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan, for two decades. The house was constructed in 1828 by William Jenkins, a local lawyer, and later purchased by Buchanan in 1848. Wheatland is a Federal style that includes design elements, such as lunette windows, that show the influence of various architectural styles that were prevalent in the early 19th century. Wheatland was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Today it is open to the public for tours and is filled with original furnishings and personal artifacts to help tell the story of Buchanan.

The Best Newport Beach Neighborhoods: A Look at Dover Shores

You’ve decided to make the move to Orange County and you’ve even started browsing some houses for sale in Newport Beach. If you’re new to the area, the next step in your house hunting journey may be, “What is the best neighborhood for me?” We’re here to help!

This month we will be featuring Dover Shores, a charming residential neighborhood in the heart of Newport Beach. Although mostly quiet and very family-friendly, Dover Shores is not short on beauty and things to do. With the Upper Newport Bay (or Back Bay to the locals) bordering just to the east, you’re close to ten and a half miles of some of the most picturesque running and biking trails in Southern California. Many homes are even lucky enough to boast panoramic views of the Back Bay area. The community also has three private beaches, all which feature summer lifeguard service and are perfect for families. You’re also only a stone’s throw from Irvine Avenue, which boasts a wide variety of restaurants, shops and other retail needs. Or if you’re looking for a night on the town, head over to Fashion Island for some world-class shopping and dining. This is becoming a desirable neighborhood, so bear in mind that Dover Shores homes for sale go quickly!

We happen to have a beautiful home in the Dover Shores neighborhood that will be yours for the taking when it hits the market on July 8. Completed in 2019, this exceptionally appointed home at 2101 Leeward Ln., showcases on-trend style and state-of-the-art smart-home technology. Curb appeal is off the charts, with Modern Farmhouse architecture complementing a soft-contemporary interior with 6 bedrooms, 4 baths and a bonus room in approx. 4,226 s.f. Discover light European oak wood flooring, white walls and millwork, a formal living room, large family room, and an enormous chef’s kitchen with marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. Entertaining is a delight in the backyard with a pool, spa and raised deck.

The Best Newport Beach Neighborhoods: A Look at Balboa Island

You’ve decided to make the move to Orange County and you’ve even started browsing some houses for sale in Newport Beach. If you’re new to the area, the next step in your house hunting journey may be, “What is the best neighborhood for me?” We’re here to help!

Welcome to the second edition of our Neighborhood Spotlight Series, where we provide a little insight into some of the best neighborhoods Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar have to offer. This way you can feel more comfortable in the purchase of your new home in Orange County.

This month we will be featuring Balboa Island, a charming little island community in Newport Beach. This harborside neighborhood may be small, running only 2.6 miles in circumference, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in charm. An iconic Newport Beach destination, this man-made island is densely-packed with a unique mix of charming cottages and modern, newly-renovated homes. This quaint yet vibrant community has a small-town feel with still being only minutes from the excitement that Newport Beach has to offer. After setting one foot on this island, you’ll be looking at Balboa Island homes for sale!

We have created an infographic to provide a quick glimpse into some of the housing and residential statistics that a potential homebuyer may be interested in for this community. We hope you find this information helpful!

One of the charming, highly sought after homes in the Balboa Island neighborhood is this one of a kind property at 1305 Park Ave. This charming coastal cottage is one of the most attainably priced homes for sale on Balboa Island. Just one block from the beach, mere steps from the classic Village Inn, and a quick stroll to Hersheyâs Market, you have tons of wonderful amenities within reach!