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Five Orange Coast Luxury Home Upgrades for 2020

Whether you’re looking to buy your dream Orange Coast luxury home, spruce up your Orange Coast luxury home for sale, or just browse what’s happening in Orange Coast luxury real estate, the new year brings some interesting trends in both form and function.

Some Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar luxury homes feature out-of-this-world amenities like a movie theater, full gym and spa, or a vast wine cellar. However, adding a touch of luxury to your home doesn’t necessarily mean multi-million-dollar renovations. By reimagining a room with the latest in fine fixtures and finishes, you can add value and style to your existing residence at a relatively low cost.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the latest in luxury home design trends for 2020. Starting with…

Steam Showers

tophomedesign | CC BY-SA 2.0

A steam shower is two parts: first, the steam generator which heats water to produce the steam; and second, an enclosed shower stall which traps the steam inside. With the press of a button in your shower stall, the steam generator is activated to quickly heat water to a safe and comfortable temperature. The resulting steam is channeled through your shower system to fill the enclosed stall, resulting in a soothing and luxurious shower experience!

Installing a steam shower provides luxurious, high-end features and even health benefits to your Orange Coast home. Steam can clear stuffy nasal passages, soften your skin before a shave, open your pores, increase circulation and lower blood pressure. With adjustable digital controls for timing, temperature, and even music or scents, the modern steam shower is highly customizable. Additionally, steam showers are quite water-efficient and only use about 2 gallons of water for a 20-minute shower.

Designer Wallpaper

Through the years, wallpaper has gotten a bad rap. Now it’s back with a stylish vengeance. Gone are the days of tawdry, stuffy designs once smattered over your Grandma’s kitchen walls. There’s a whole new industry of luxurious, fashion-forward wallpaper designs. For relatively little cost, you can redo a room or add a feature wall to spruce up your Orange Coast real estate.

With so many designers out there, who should you choose? If you’re interested in designer wallpaper, take some time to explore all the options. You’ll find hundreds and thousands of designs with a quick Google search, with many options easily available from online retailers like Houzz or big box stores like Home Depot.

Wine Fridges

Bill Wilson | CC BY 2.0

Nothing says luxury like a great selection of fine wines. Of course, any growing collection will require storage. Some Orange Coast luxury homes feature vast wine stockpiles, from spacious cellars of rich mahogany or chic glass displays with LED lighting. But since adding a full new wine cellar to your home is no small task, the next best thing is a dedicated wine fridge! It’s a luxurious solution to keep your cache of spicy reds and oaky whites in top shape.

A refrigerated wine cooler is the perfect way to ensure your wines are stored properly. Both built-in and free-standing units are available, ranging from just over $200 to $10,000 and beyond. A wine fridge is convenient, luxurious, and sure to impress your guests. When the time comes to sell your Orange Coast home, don’t forget to specify whether you will take the unit with you or include it in the sale.

Outdoor Kitchens

If you keep an eye on the luxury market, you’ve likely noticed a trend towards “indoor-outdoor” living. Many Orange Coast luxury homes feature large glass panels and sliding doors which serve to seamlessly blend exterior space with the interior. With more and more value placed on functional exterior space, why not make the ultimate upgrade and create an outdoor kitchen?

There are not many ways to better enjoy your backyard than cooking and lounging on a beautiful patio. High-end outdoor kitchens often include full installations of cabinetry, cooktop, grill and wet bar. Even if you’re not looking to drop tens of thousands on exterior improvements, installing a built-in grill with counter space can make a big difference towards entertaining friends and family.

Smart Features

Most Orange Coast homes these days have at least one or two smart devices. Maybe you wake up to Amazon’s Alexa playing your favorite song, or maybe you ask your Google Assistant to hit the lights when you hop into bed. In recent years, the Internet of Things has grown to include so many more appliances, you can now upgrade your home with a full suite of smart devices.

The modern smart home allows for easy control of temperature, lighting, security, entertainment, and more. From door locks to wifi to Spotify playlists, much of your daily life can now be smart-equipped for voice control and automation. Not to mention, you can do it all from thousands of miles away (if you so require). We think that luxury means more than extravagant adornments. It means functional ease and convenience. By that definition, outfitting your home with smart-controlled systems is the ultimate in modern luxury living.

Orange Coast Luxury Real Estate

As your trusted Orange Coast real estate experts, it’s our goal to provide guidance, insight, and understanding for anything real estate related. Whether you’re looking to buy a[n area] home, sell a[n area] home, or you’re happy with the Orange Coast home you’re in, we hope these friendly articles offer you some insight into the world of Orange Coast real estate.

For more information about the Orange Coast real estate services we offer, reach out to start the no-pressure conversation. We are always happy to lend our expertise to explore your options.

How Does Smart Home Technology Affect the Sale of My Home?

In the 1950’s, homeowners were wowed by dreams of the future, with flying cars, self-baking ovens and automated vacuums. Many of these concepts have come to life with smart home technology, though not necessarily in the way they were once imagined.

Smart homes today revolve around making life easier, letting you adjust everything from temperature to lighting from anywhere in the world. These types of improvements do a lot to attract millennial buyers who have grown up with technology and look forward to its integration into the home.

A Little Does a Lot

Having access to tech in a home office, kitchen and bathroom will set your home apart from other houses without such modern conveniences. Fortunately, unlike completely remodeling major portions of the building, adding value to your Orange County home with smart tech won’t break the bank.

Spending around $1,000 before putting your Newport Beach house for sale, a paltry sum where renovations are concerned, will result in significant gains on the housing market. Though these aren’t always monetary, it can result in a faster sale since these features are very attractive to buyers that would be interested in installing some of the same units themselves.

Doorbells and Detectors

Many tech tools don’t take much of a time investment when it comes to installation but provide a host of benefits that you and future homeowners will inevitably enjoy. Some of the most common items that will help craft the perfect smart home include:

Video Doorbells – Security is always a major concern, and being able to keep an eye on your front door while at work or even in the shower makes a home feel that much safer.

Smart Locks – Another front-door option, these take a little more effort to install but the added security and keyless entry options make it a worthwhile addition.

Smoke Detectors – Knowing anytime when there’s a fire or batteries need changing is a definite boon, and the cost of multiple detectors can be offset by smart devices that listen for the alarms already present in your house.

Thermostat – The first real integrated smart device, this can ensure your home is always at the correct temperature and can even respond to voice commands when you’re relaxing on your couch!

Light Bulbs – Lamps on timers have been a mainstay of vacationers for decades, but smart bulbs will turn on with your phone, and many can even adjust color and brightness on a whim!

Smart Speaker/Hub – Alexa and Echo, Amazon and Google’s smart-home supermodels, are just two examples of units that respond to your voice and tie all of your tech together into a cohesive unit.

These simple upgrades will transform your home, and even though they seem like superficial additions they let possible buyers see your house as more than building. Safety and security are just as important as comfort and convenience, and when it’s all integrated it becomes one irresistible package!

Room to Improve

While all of this technology does wonders for your home, you also need to consider which rooms will benefit most from electronic additions. Every area can be upgraded, but certain tech fits more easily in specific locations.

Living rooms or gathering spaces are definite spots to create a centralized hub for technology. Having your smart hub where everyone congregates makes it much easier to control and monitor the house while entertaining, and hose-shoppers will take notice when the primary living space is set up to be a control room for all of their toys.

Another space that benefits from these upgrades is the kitchen. While a smart refrigerator is more expensive than other options, adding high-tech appliances to the most complex room in the house makes it that much more alluring. Even something as simple as adding receptacles with USB ports by the nightstand can be a deal-maker!

Selling My Home With Savings

It’s not just a fancy screen on a dryer that makes it a big selling point. Making your home smarter also makes it energy efficient. If lights turn off when you aren’t home and thermostats regulate heat and cooling efficiently, homeowners are going to see a drop in their energy bills. High tech security also looks good to insurance companies, so fire alarms and video doorbells are a definite win for you and potential buyers.

Getting your house ready for the Orange County real estate market is never easy, but make sure you keep smart home technology in mind as you prepare to put your Newport Beach house for sale. The added value comes in a variety of ways, and if spending around a thousand dollars helps you make the sale more quickly, it’s an investment any homeowner can get behind!

If you find it time to buy or sell your home in Orange County, I hope you’ll think of me!

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!

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Newport Beach?

As an Orange County real estate professional, I am often asked when the best time to buy or sell a home in Newport Beach is. It is no secret that the Spring and Summer months are when the real estate market booms — with, statistically, the most homes being purchased and sold in the month of May. There are many reasons for this, including the warmer weather, longer days and kids being out on summer break, that lead to a spike in real estate in these months. While these ‘prime’ months are no doubt a great time to make your big move in the real estate arena, this time of year isn’t the only good time to put your Laguna Beach home on the market and even purchase one of the beautiful Newport Beach oceanfront homes for sale you’ve been dreaming of. There are a variety of considerations that you should factor into your decision that are specific to each family, before determining when is the appropriate time to embark on the next chapter of your lives. We’re breaking down a few of the notable factors you should take into account before making this big life decision.

Finances

Thinking about where you are financially may be one of the biggest driving forces in determining when the right time for you to buy or sell is. When thinking about buying a new home in Newport Beach, some of the questions you may want to ask yourself are:

-Do I have the income and credit score I need to qualify for the loan I want?

-Do I have a down payment saved?

-Can I afford the extra costs that come with homeownership, like property taxes and maintenance?

Another thing to consider are the costs that come along with moving. You may want to take into account whether you’re just moving from one home in Newport Beach to another, or if you’re moving cross-country to a new home in Orange County. According to the American Moving and Storage Association, the average cost of a move within the state is $2,300, while moving across states costs, on average, around $4,300. Buying a home is a major life decision that should carefully be thought out so that you’re not starting out the new chapter of your life on the wrong foot.

Major Life Changes

However hard you try, it’s not always possible to precisely calculate when you plan to buy a home in Newport Beach. Life often gets in the way, and sometimes plans get disjointed. But what is the right homebuying process or timeline for one family might not be the perfect one for you, which is why it’s critical to take all matters into account and think through if your family may be going through any major life changes in the near future. Some such life events include:

-A new baby: do we need more room to accommodate a growing family? (Or on the flip side, do we want to downsize for the retirement phase?)

-A new job: will I be required to move to be closer to my new job and if so, will this be my forever home or just a temporary position?

-Relocating to provide better schooling opportunities for my children

-Relocating to be closer to relatives in need

Seasonality of the Real Estate Market

As mentioned before, the Spring and Summer months are statistically when most people tend to buy and sell homes. The days are longer, the weather is generally warmer, you’ve recently been issued your tax returns, and kids are out on summer break. Due to these reasons, there is typically a flock of buyers on the hunt during these months, making it a slight seller’s market. However, the fact that sellers may have a slight advantage shouldn’t dissuade buyers from coming out during these months, as there are also numerous benefits to buying during this time. Because of the high demand, there, in turn, are also generally more homes on the market, as well. Depending on the market you’re in, buyers could actually have some bargaining power if the saturation of homes is great enough.

Generally speaking, the winter months tend to be a slight buyer’s market, as there is not as much demand during this season, giving the buyer a bit more advantage. If you are extremely flexible about when you are able to sell your home and/or buy a new home in Orange County, then taking these seasonal trends into account might be key for you. However, life typically makes things a bit more complicated, so while it may be beneficial to take note of these trends, it shouldn’t be your driving force.

Local Market Trends

One of the final factors a potential seller or buyer should take into account is what the real estate market looks like in your area. Interest rates are unpredictable and are a factor you should probably not make your decision based solely on, however, can be a beneficial (or unfavorable) factor in your decision, so should be considered in the process. Are interest rates at an all-time low and expected to rise in the next year? If so, it might be the time to buy property in Orange County! Or vice versa. Interest rates may be extremely high and are predicted to improve over the next year or two, so you’ve been holding off on your home purchase dreams.

Whatever considerations you take into account, the best time to begin house hunting will be unique to each potential homebuyer. If you find that now is the best time for you and your family to buy or sell a home in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach or Corona del Mar, then I’d love nothing more than to help you accomplish your real estate goals, obtaining the best profit on your home and placing you in the new home of your dreams. Please contact me today so we can discuss a plan that best fits your family.

The Best Newport Beach Neighborhoods: A Look at Newport Canyon

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?” Well, we’re here to help out, as we introduce our Neighborhood Spotlight Series, where we will 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.

The first up in our Newport Beach neighborhoods feature is Newport Canyon. Newport Canyon is a well-established community located near the 73 Freeway, cornered by University Dr. and Jamboree Rd. and sits right next to Bonita Creek Park. A popular neighborhood in Newport Beach, this peaceful gated community is a prime example of why homebuyers are attracted to this area. Located at the bottom of a hillside, residents of this neighborhood enjoy a secluded, resort-style lifestyle, complete with around-the-clock guard patrol, a beautiful community pool and spa.

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!

One of the beautiful, highly sought after homes in the Newport Canyon neighborhood is this one of a kind property at 3137 Corte Marin. The gorgeous Mediterranean-style architecture combined with modern granite and marble touches on the interior are something you don’t want to miss.

We know that trying to settle on the right Newport Beach neighborhoods 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!