Low Mortgage Rates

laguna beach twin point
 

Twin Points sold Tuesday for a record breaking forty five million dollars
This is pushing all records for Laguna Beach and Orange County!

Meanwhile mortgage money is cheap! Cash out to one million dollars!
Second home or primary with rates in the 3's
3.375% Super Jumbo Seven Year ARM APR 3.499
Call now to find out what you need to qualify.
When these events happen it only lasts weeks.
Why not save money with these historically low rates?
Call me to find out how this weekend (949) 784-9699
NMLS 324982
C G Barbeau
2/5/2016 3:56 PM rates change a couple times a day
This is not a commitment to lend.


beach mortgage

Seaside Bedroom Design

White washed walls, mirrors, graphic red white
and blue accents make these bedrooms
fun cheerful and cozy

 

 

The palette remains white subdued and everything looks fresh.

This Laguna Beach Cottage has charm and joy

 

Above bedroom uses old paint by numbers cardboard paintings -

replicas of American and British Masters create bold images grouped together

Light wide plank wooden floors, with sisel rope rug, and white linens

Plan Before You Buy A Home

Plan before you buy a home.

When purchasing a home plan for the next ten years. Most homeowners only stay seven years, but the older you are the longer you will stay statistics show. 

Two people close to me: my mother and prior business partner Bill Broza both suffered from strokes in the past years. They have similar dilemmas. My mother owns a two story house in  Laguna Niguel with no downstairs bedroom and only a powder room on the first floor. Bill also lives in Laguna Niguel in a Spanish style two story with only a tiny powder room on the first floor.

A house can be adapted. We reviewed adding a stair lift or elevator but both are costly and unsightly. A stair lift is a motorized rail and chair that attaches to existing stairways. I was concerned that my Mom could easily fall off the lift and be stranded on the stairs perhaps for hours. I looked into adapting each house by adding a elevator. Cost to construct this was about thirty thousand dollars, and because it would change the functionality of the homes and elevator might bring the value down.

Other possible remodeling such as enlarging the downstairs bathroom to add a stand up tub can cost between ten and thirty thousand dollars. Adding a funky bath is not going to help her when she does choose to sell her home.

My mom is set on staying in her home. The cost of care layered with remodeling is prohibitive. Temporarily last year she lived with me.

My point is: for example you are a young couple who may have children in the coming years. Look to what future the subject property may need to be changed to fit the lifestyle.

When the downturn occurred many homeowners could not easily sell their home and make changes. They owed on mortgage loans larger than the value of the home. Life always holds surprises ahead. Planning for them makes it easy when they occur.

፠‡§

Cute bath just outdated

Snake in the Garden

Potting bench

I spotted a snake in the garden today.

He was black orange and brown.

No audible rattle but he was so fast, who knows. 

Later I searched online, found some sites with images. This only confused me as I only got a

glimpse of him. Hoping it's a gopher snake...

Calling him Tony, some of you might know why...

Put my cowgirl boots on, an orange bucket, a cardboard lid, gloves

and the pool scoop all ready for battle.

My plan was to capture him and send him on the other side of the

glass wall. However, couldn't find him.

 

Do I have to rip out all my nasturiums, trim under the bushes and

cut back all the herbs?

 

Meanwhile I'm at the office, working on a couple purchase loans

that need to turn in their paperwork. Turn in your taxes and bank

statements or I'll send Tony over to pick them up, lol.

 

Perhaps I can get a short video

of him and post it before I send him off to the beach?

 

 

Curbside appeal

Nice example of hardscape, gorgeous front door, and white impatiens 

Another example of simple elegant curbside appeal. The brick and stucco

low wall are softened by privet hedge and white roses. I love the jealousy

glass in the front door. Wish my photographs were taken on a foggy day.

Who says there is June gloom in Laguna Beach?

 

 

Mortgage Rates Blue Bird of Happiness

Laguna Beach bird houses, mail boxes and special treats.

Today Mortgage Rates dipped to the lowest in more than a year.

If you have mortgage insurance, values have increased. Call me

for a free review to save you money.

Perhaps it is the blue bird of happiness that things have

improved

(949) 637-8190

Caroline Gerardo

NMLS 324982

Yes this is a real working mailbox in Laguna Beach

A funky example of a Laguna Beach mailbox.

Preview of my side garden. The epis are blooming!

I'm praying for no wind and squishing snails to be

able to enjoy the week or two of blooming glory,

Next post I will put up more of the West side of my

garden. Combining plants helps keep pests down.

I don't use fertilizers or any chemicals. I compost

and treat things with simple green solutions.

Why you say?

Most of my back yard is edible!

See the bowl below (blue dish with seeds) -

I collect seeds to use next year and to trade with

friends and family.

No GMO :)

Laguna Beach House For Sale

Turquoise planter with succulents

Pool with an ocean view

Outdoor fireplace

Shell mirror

 

Urth Cafe Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach house balcony

 

Just a personal blog note today.

 

Weather in Laguna Beach has been overnight dripping showers,

not cold enough to put on a wet suit,

not warm enough to garden after work.

Dare I complain when I'm headed to Boston to visit

colleges with my son, and stay at Harvard Business

School professor apartments with my sister Nori.

 

This morning I sighted contractors with paper

plans in rolls at the long defunct Cottage restaurant.

I look forward to Urth Café opening at the old Cottage location.

Urth Café in Los Angeles is one of my favorite stops.
It will be fun to have them right across from the museum.
I can see the line now.

I wonder how long it will take to clean up the

grease traps, leaking roof and

dare I say foundation.

 

Meanwhile I'm shopping my seed catalogues

for rare vegetables and flowers for spring.

 

What are you working on?

South Orange County Condos

Condominium Complexes in South Orange County

Potted Meyer lemon and  succulents on a lovely Laguna Beach patio

It is my plan to list and publish images of the Condo complexes in South Orange County and
compile and post the CCR's Bylaws and last budgets when available. Homeowner Associations hire management companies that charge $ 500 to $1000 for this information that should be available to every owner, prospective buyer, mortgagee and mortgage lender for free. Most of the documents (not the budgets) were recorded but are difficult to find if you don't work for a title company

Here is a brief list of the associations I hope to complete this year:

If you have information on Homeowner Association Lawsuits and

CCR's Budget Bylaws please contact me

Caroline Gerardo  (949) 637-8190

• Alta Vista Association
• Arch Beach Heights Association
• Bella Vista
• Blue Lagoon, Laguna Beach
• Bluebird Canyon Association
• Bluebird Knolls Association
• California Mobilehome Parkowners' Alliance
• Canyon Acres Neighborhood Association
• Capistrano Garden Homes Association # 1
• Capistrano Royale (The Acreage) Homeowners Assoc.
• Capistrano Villas Homeowners Association # 1
• Capistrano Villas Homeowners Association # 2
• Capistrano Villas Homeowners Association # 3
• Capistrano de Oro Homeowners Association
• Casitas Capistrano Homeowners Association III
• Connemara II Property Owners Association
• Corinche Master Association, Laguna Niguel
• Crescent Bay Association
• Crown Valley Highlands Community Association
• Dana Terrace HOA
• Del Cabo Properties Inc
• East Nine
• El Mirador Association
• Emerald Ridge HOA
• Hampton Hill HOA
• Harbor Merchants Association
• Hunt Club II Community Association
• Huntington Pacific
• Laguna Beach South Entrance Association
• Laguna Canyon Property Owners
• Laguna Crest HOA
• Laguna North
• Lagunita, Laguna Beach
• Lantern Bay Villas, Dana Point 
• Lantern Village Association
• La Vista
• Loma Verde Homeowners Association
• Lomas San Juan Park
• Lomas San Juan RV
• Los Corrales Homeowners Review Committee
• Lower Diamond Association
• MS1 Residents
• Malaspina Homeowners Association
• Marinita HOA
• Marquesas at Monarch Beach
• Mesa Vista South Homeowners Association
• Mission Woods Architectural Review Committee
• Misty Ridge
• Monarch Bay HOA
• Monarch Bay Terrace HOA
• Monarch Beach Civic Association
• Monarch Beach Master Association
• Monarch Beach Villas HOA
• Monarch Hills Condos
• Montego at Monarch Beach
• Mystic Hills
• Niguel Beach Terrace HOA
• Niguel Shores Community Association
• Niguel Woods
• North Laguna Community Association
• Ocean Cliff Manor Neighbors
• Old Mill Pond HOA
• Regatta Homes HOA
• Rio Vista Homeowners Association
• Ritz Cove
• San Juan HIlls East Homeowners Association # 1
• San Juan HIlls East Homeowners Association # 6
• San Juan Hills Community Association VI
• San Juan Hills East Homeowners Association # 5
• San Juan Hills East Homeowners Association # 7
• San Juan Hills Inc.
• San Juan Mesa Verde Homeowners Association
• Selva Hills HOA
• Silverleaf Estates
• Stoneridge Estates Homeowners Association
• Tierra Del Caballo Homeowners Association
• Valle Pacifica Homeowners Association
• Verde San Juan Estates
• Villa San Juan Mobilehome Park Association
• Villas at Monarch Beach HOA
• Vista Fuente Homeowners Association
• West Nine
• Woods Cove Neighborhood Association

Living At the Beach

South Laguna Beach home in the morning

Living at the beach has many benefits. Research demonstrates that the view of the sea reduces stress, better air quality improves lung capacity and encourages a healthier lifestyle. I remember my Grandmother with her white legs in the waves patting the salt water on her arms telling us, “ocean water is good for you.” I believe what she said is true.

The ocean also offers natural beauty that people who have daily access to the wonder seem more appreciative of sunsets, the changes in the tide and moments changing in our daily lives.

Living near the daily moisture poses a couple problems to your home. The exterior will require more frequent painting, sealing the windows and looking for rust. Our rooftops seem to get yellowish mold, and actual green moss tends to grow on the north side of brick or mortar. A simple scrub with bleach diluted will keep these at a minimum.

Enjoy winter with moderate temperatures. I had coffee this morning in my backyard listening to the sounds of the tide and enjoying the birds. Perhaps I will walk down to the beach and splash some of those positive ions on us all. Have a happy day!

 

 

 

 

 

Bathrooms

Orange County bathrooms to die for

white soaking tub

vanity and cut mirror

marble tub

Solid Carrera marble tub

beach glass shower

mermaid bath

Tub for a mermaid at the  "Rock House" in Laguna Beach now for sale for only fifteen million dollars

black marble counter with pea green glass tile shower no seams