Best Nurseries and Garden Supply Stores In Orange County California

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1. The Plant Depot
32413 San Juan Creek Road
San Juan Capistrano, CA
https://theplantdepot.com/


The number one Garden Supply, Gardener's Gift Store, and nursery store.
Family owned and loved. The staff will help you find what you dream about. Plant and orchard, build a pond, arrange a succulent garden, and English garden, just ask.
No question is considered silly, they are kind and caring. Prices are reasonable and all plant stock, water lilies, pots, and gifts are guaranteed to dazzle. They have it all: gifts for Mom for Mother's Day, door mats, bird houses, fertilizers, pots, annuals, a big selection of seeds, potted arrangements for fancy presents, bulbs, pond plants, gloves, pretty straw hats, tools, and free good advice.

The number one place to go for gardeners in Orange County

2. O C Succulents
3350 1/2 Warner Ave., Irvine, CA 92606
https://ocsucculents.com/

Wholesale prices for cactus, succulents, indoor plants, and everything drought tolerant. They have a free re-potting bench where you may decorate, add colored pebbles and custom a gift. Prices are the lowest around. They had a huge shade covered potting house- not a green house but a space with giant fans to keep the plants happy and cool in the summer.
The number two place for gardeners in OC. They don't carry annuals, vegetables and flowers.

3. Roger's Gardens

2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd.

Corona Del Mar, California

Ph. 949.640.5800

https://www.rogersgardens.com

Coming in at number three is Corona Del Mar's most luxurious garden center. Roger's offers just about everything: classes, outdoor furniture, deep variety of plants, containers,nice staff, full service do it all garden center; but, with the highest prices. They have a lovely restaurant. 

4. The Tree Of Life
Seven miles east of I-5 on Ortega Highway
33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Phone: 949.728.0685
https://californianativeplants.com/

Number four because they grow 99% of what they sell right on the property. Staff knows everything about native plants. IF you want to buy local and avoid green house gas of trucking flats of plants to stores drive out on Ortega Highway and enjoy a stroll around California's past before it is gone. They offer a few classes. The Spanish architecture adds to the charm of this great nursery and store. They offer advice on planting, watering and care. 

5. DM Color Express Wholesale
31461 Avenida De La Vista, 
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
http://dmcolorexpress.net/

This is wholesale only so bring cash and mum's the word. Act like you know what you are doing (call me if you need advice if you act dumb they won't sell to you). No prices are labelled. They load your truck if you go inside the trailers and ask. OR go pick up the flats you want and load them on top of the plastic or old sheet you brought with you. Prices are CHEAP. Cash only of you don't have a resale card. If you have a resale card and license they will set up an account and take a credit card. Plant supply changes with the whim, weather, and seasons. Don't bring children or a dog this is not handicapped set up and not safe for children to wander. Don't bring your helper pet or just buy one plant, they will make you into fertilizer.

6. Seaside Growers Nursery
33773 Camino Capistrano
Dana Point California
http://www.seasidegrowers.com/

A little hard to find. Off Camino Cap there is an old historic adobe house on the corner, one of the last few in all the county. The road entrance is right next to the newer Residence Inn. Follow the dirt road, cross rusty railroad tracks and there you find a shady grove of nursery plants. They grow about half of what they sell. They will order anything that makes you happy. Smile, they are kind and know everything about palms and cycads. No picture seed packs, no fountains, no rose cultivars here.

7. The Pottery Shed By Carlisle

401 W. Chapman Ave

Orange, CA 92866

714.468.5154

http://www.tpshomeandgarden.com/

Jack has built a unique garden supply store. There are rusty antiques to add charm to your home. Not the largest selection of plants but wonderful for ideas. Some cool rusty gates, pottery made to look like the 1950's and sculptural not antiques but kind of...


8. Moon Valley Nursery
6500 Alton Parkway
Irvine California right along the freeway you see the giraffe and metal dinosaur every day

https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/

They have a number of locations in California, also in Arizona and Nevada with their own wholesale grow locations. The place to buy mature trees at good prices. They create some good fertilizer mixes, which I have not tried as I don't use chemicals, but others swear by them. 

Other mentions:

9. Green Thumb Nursery
23782 Bridger Rd, 
Lake Forest, CA 92630
https://www.greenthumb.com/
Sales staff is surly in Lake Forest This is a chain, many locations 

10. Armstrong
lots of locations

11. OC Farm Supply 
worthy of footnote if you need feed and some wilted tomatoes priced cheap.

Indoor Plants

Mortgage for a Fixer 203(k)

Renovation Loans
Purchase a home fixer which needs repairs.
So you bought this house and it needs a new kitchen

203(k) FHA Loan May Be the Fixer
You are able to borrow up to $31000 for repairs

What do you need?

  Identity of Interest Form

  203(K) Borrower Acknowledgement

  Work Explanation Letter 

  Correct Estimate to be signed by borrower and contractor

  Homeowner Contractor Agreement signed by contractor and borrower for every contractor 

  Contractor Resume for every contractor

  W-9 for every contractor 

  Business/State Licenses from contractor and subs as required by state 

  Liability insurance/bond/workman’s comp- Obtained from Contractor and Subs (if General Contractor does not have workman’s comp)

  Contractor Attestation Letter

  Contractor Identity of Interest

  Contractor Deposit Acknowledgment

  Permit Certification – Reno Specialist to Complete

  As Completed Appraisal with Estimate in the appraisal

FHA 203K Limited Renovation‐ Steps to Success  

•  Identify the Property! Let’s get it renovated and perfect!  
•  Review what renovations are necessary or desired.  You need to select a contractor.  Ask friends who have completed renovations for suggestions. Your marriage with the Contractor is an important relationship.  
• The Contractor fills out a Contractor Profile Form  This is an important part of reviewing their qualifications to do the work.  
• Are they licensed if required?  
• You and the contractor(s) sign a Homeowner/ Contractor Agreement. Spell out costs, time frame, and expectations in a notebook. Keep records in the notebook of progress
• Look for comparable homes that have sold in your tract that were upgraded in similar items that you plan to complete. as if all the renovations were completed Have all the proposals in writing given to your appraiser before the appraisal process begins. Provide all the details you can as to finish and upgrades.
• Appraisers may find other issues with the property that were not a part of the original inspection.  In these cases, those items must be added to the contractor proposals.  Health and safety code violations must be addressed. Install a carbon monoxide smoke detector before the appraiser arrives, as this is required in California code. If you know electrical is ancient, plan on bringing it Into this century. If the water heater is not properly strapped, purchase the kit to make it safe.
• Because renovation loans are a combination of purchase or refinance loans and construction loans, they take time to close.    
• Aside from the normal credit and property information, we must also gather and analyze the construction/ rehab part of the loan as well.  
•  Normally a renovation loan takes thirty days to close.  The process stops if we are waiting for the contractor proposals.  They are key.  
• A renovation loan is powerful product that allows a Buyer to move into a home and then watch it become their Dream Home.  Our commitment and expertise can help a Buyer realize that dream.  
• FHA and Lead Based Paint 
• If the home you are renovating was built before 1978, you may need to use a contractor or painter who is Lead Based Paint Certified.
• Lead dust or chips can be very harmful and toxic, especially to children, and FHA therefore requires that the contractor understands how to keep you and others safe.

Here are some things that may trigger the need for a lead paint certified contractor:

1. If you are breaking through walls and doing demolition.

2. If you are repainting rooms that have chipped or peeling paint of if you are sanding painted surfaces.

3. Doing an addition which requires you to expose any painted surface or break through it.

4. You are doing replacement windows or doors.

5. Bathrooms or other room renovations requiring the disturbance of painted surfaces.

6. Exterior painting which also includes chipping, scraping, sanding or pressure cleaning.

When in doubt, let us know so we can discuss it with you and your contractor.

We want to keep you and your family safe.

CMG Financial is a registered trade name of CMG Mortgage, Inc., NMLS# 1820 in most, but not all states. 

Caroline Gerardo Barbeau   C G Barbeau NMLS 324982   (949) 784 - 9699

Mortgage Escrow Impound Rules

Number of Months Property tax impound advance collection

Mortgage Lenders require tax and insurance impounds on high loan to value loans, called mortgage escrow accounts

California impounds are not required IF the loan is less than eighty percent loan to value.

• Closing month January – First Payment March, 6 months impounds required
• Closing month February – First Payment April, 1 months impounds required
• Closing month March – First Payment May, 2 months impounds required
• Closing month April – First Payment June, 3 months impounds required
• Closing month May – First Payment July, 4 months impounds required
• Closing month June – First Payment August, 5 months impounds required
• Closing month July – First Payment September, 6 months impounds required
• Closing month August – First Payment October, 7 months impounds required
• Closing month September – First Payment November, 8 months impounds required
• Closing month October – First Payment December, 9 months impounds required
• Closing month November – First Payment January, 4 months impounds required
• Closing month December – First Payment February, 5 months impounds required

The months are collected up front and held in trust to make sure that property taxes are paid upon when they are due. You are required to pay one-twelfth of the estimated cost of the escrow items each month. 

Be mindful, these amounts can change, you usually have to put some additional money into the account as well. Property tax bills increase, especially if you bought a home where the seller was taxed at a lower rate than the current purchase price. You will receive a whopping supplemental tax bill in about six months after your close, or as soon as the county catches the increase. Expect any supplemental tax or insurance increase that can affect how much is needed to be collected on your impound account. If you experience a supplemental tax bill the amount you have in escrow may not cover the entire amount due and therefore a shortage would be applied to your new impound account balance.

Lenders  require impound accounts for a single-family, owner-occupied dwelling if:

1. state or federal regulatory  requires the account
2. a state or federal governmental lending or insuring agency (like FHA or VA  Fannie FReddie Ginnie) made or guaranteed the mortgage
3.  borrower fails to pay two consecutive cycles of property taxes 
4. the original loan to value is 90% or more of the sale price or appraised value
5. there are two or more loans secured by the property, and the combined principal amount exceeds 80% of the appraised value of the property
6. the loan is a higher-priced mortgage loans established in Regulation Z, whether or not the loan is a higher-priced mortgage loan (a HOEPA or High Cost)
7. the loan is refinanced  in connection with a lender’s home-ownership preservation program
8. if the borrower does a modification 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Mother's Day May 12th

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

to my Mom
my sisters
my sisters in law
and sisters at work

and to you as well

May 12th Sunday!

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A post shared by Caroline Gerardo (@carolinegerardo) on Mar 3, 2019 at 6:10pm PST

May the Fourth Be With You

May 4th is Star Wars Day
That is what I have to say.

CNBC contributor Alicia Adamczyk identified these five questions many Americans have not asked, or did not know they could ask, that save money.

1. Ask for a raise – Career website Payscale found that only 37% of 160,000 workers surveyed asked for a raise in 2018. Of those who asked, 70% received a raise!  When asking for a raise at work it’s important to demonstrate your value by presenting a particular achievement you’ve had at work, listing any new tasks you’ve taken on since you last got a raise, and all of the value you’ve added to your company.  Many people focus on why they “need” a raise and fail to focus on why they deserve it. 
2. Ask your bank to waive fees – CompareCards, a credit card comparison site, found nearly 90% of people who asked for a late fee to be waived were successful. Accidents happen, you may miss a payment or experience an unexpected overdraft.  However, these accidents can add up.  A couple $25 charges could soon compound.  Please note, negotiating with your bank or credit card company works best if you are a long-time responsible customer or if this is a first-time occurrence, and try to avoid these instances in the future!
3. Ask the seller to pay closing costs – Most first-time home buyers know they have to save for a down payment, but few may understand how expensive closing costs will be. In a competitive market, with lots of people selling similar homes in the same area, sellers may be willing to offer “seller concessions” if you buy their home.  One such concession could be your closing costs.  Director of economic research at Zillow, Skylar Olsen, explained, “what buyers don’t realize is that there are a lot of things you can put in your offer letter that are non-standard.  Everything is on the table.”  Consult with your Realtor and real estate agent and find out if it’s a good idea for you to ask the seller to pay closing costs.
4. Ask for a lower credit card APR – Chances are your credit has improved since you first got your credit card. CompareCards found that 8 out of 10 people who called their issuer and asked for a lower interest rate on their credit card were successful, but only 20% of survey respondents asked!  Asking for a lower credit card APR works best when you have been a long-time customer with an established responsible repayment history. 
5. Ask if you really owe that medical bill – Healthcare costs are some of the most rapidly rising costs in our country today. It’s important to protect yourself by double-checking any and all medical bills to make sure there hasn’t been an error.  DirectPath, a service that helps employees manage their benefits, found that at least half of all medical claims it reviewed for clients had an error.  If you think your medical bill is incorrect, call your insurance company and your doctor.  If that doesn’t help, you can always contact a third-party service to look into the potential error.

Whatever your financial goals are in 2019, a few simple savings techniques could help you achieve them.  Be diligent about your credit report and medical bills, consider negotiating with your bank or credit card company, and ask for a raise when it’s warranted. 

How To Cancel Mortgage Insurance

Yuma AZ

The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 (HPA)¹ covers single-family primary residences closed after July 1999. 

HPA provides for borrower-requested cancellation and lender required cancellation.

A borrower provides the lender a written request for mortgage insurance cancellation. Upon receiving the request, the lender must cancel the mortgage insurance policy either: On the date the mortgage loan balance is first scheduled to reach 80% of original value, based on the initial amortization schedule, regardless of the outstanding balance of the loan OR On the date the mortgage loan balance actually reaches 80% of the original value For a purchase transaction, original property value is the lesser of the property sales price and appraised value. For a refinance transaction, original value is the appraised value. only if: No subordinate liens AND The borrower has a good payment history AND The borrower satisfies the lender's requirement that the property value has not declined

Lender-required cancellation under HPA 

Lenders automatically cancel the mortgage insurance policy either: On the date the mortgage loan balance is first scheduled to reach 78% of original value, based solely on the initial amortization schedule, regardless of the outstanding balance of the loan AND If the borrower is current on the payments required by the terms of the mortgage

Excepting "high risk." loans

current value Individual investors establish the criteria for cancelling mortgage insurance based on a property's current value.  the loan be seasoned at least 2 years AND  the borrowers have an acceptable payment history AND  the loan to value  based on a current appraisal be 75% or lower if less than 5 years have elapsed since the loan originally closed OR the loan to value based on a current appraisal be 80% or lower if more than 5 years have elapsed since the loan originally closed

Borrowers must request mortgage insurance cancellation in writing and provide a current value estimate acceptable to their lender. If you need help with cancellation, please contact me CG NMLS 324982   I have some tools for appraisal which might or may not be acceptable to your service company. Remember the lender and servicer are required by law to inform you of your progress annually

Allow me to recap

You must ask in writing 

You can't have 30 and 60 days mortgage late payments in past 24 months

No second trust deed, including solar

You pay for an appraisal, or BPO or whatever form the Servicor asks you to provide.

Hopefully Your loan was not sold to one of the worst rated service companies:

Ocwen Loan Servicing, Carrington Mortgage Services, Cenlar, LoanCare  or Mr. Cooper, SPS

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It's tax time and you are counting the last few days
before it is due. No worries.
Taxes made fun and easy and free.

Here is a FREE solution that is really not that difficult.

Online software walks you through and double checks
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REFUND!

Stop paying for an accountant or CPA if
you earn under $60000 and are under age 52

Receive a free Federal return if:

• Adjusted Gross Income is $60,000 or less, AND your age is 52 or younger, OR
• If You are eligible for the Earned Income Tax credit, OR
• You are Active Military for Adjusted Gross Income of $66,000 or less
• Available for foreign address filers
• Free for most state income tax returns if you qualify 

States:

 AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, 

VA or WI, 

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Don't make this mistake my college son made
and H and R Block tried to take the little money 
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Save the return  to your desktop or phone

Label it with the year of return and type of return so it is easy to find

print and mail it in

Email a copy to yourself to save for the future 

Here are a couple links to different companies that

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millions of people's and business returns.

They offer free fillable forms, and a bit of tax advice.

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H&R Block's Free File 

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Lower Mortgage Rates

How do you know when you can lower your loan payments or perhaps even pay your mortgage off sooner?
I hope you know you can always ask me questions like these. Now, I’m sharing an easy way for you to explore options for yourself, too.
With just a few clicks, you can compare a current sample rate to your own plus answer other important questions.
Click on the photograph below: 



We update sample rates every weekday, so you can be assured the comparison you’re seeing today is timely. I encourage you to go ahead and bookmark the page to check again anytime in the future.
Finally, if you think any of your friends, co-workers or family members would benefit from a mortgage checkup, please feel free to forward this along. I’ll be happy to help them.
Thank you for your business and for your referrals.

C G Barbeau

(949)  784 - 9699

NMLS 324982

Short video of wildflowers - click on center arrow and again on bottom left arrow

Saint Francis statue with a dove

Wild lilies on the ranch

Refinance

Here are  reasons people refinance their home loan(s):

Rate Reduction - Rates don’t have to move much for a refinance to make sense. We simply need to determine the costs and benefits. The benefits may outweigh the costs…even with a rate drop that as is little as .25%.

Reduce monthly payment - change from 15  to longer terms as plans have changed. 

Removal of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – Some loans require PMI and while most allow the removal of PMI without refinancing, you may be able to get rid of PMI sooner by refinancing. FHA loans originated after June of 2013 do not allow the removal of PMI without refinancing the loan completely.

Consolidation – Do you have a 2nd mortgage/HELOC, credit card debt, car loans, student loans, or even mortgages on other properties that you would like to consolidate? If so, a consolidation refinance may make sense. Student loan interest rates are often higher than mortgage rates

Cash-Out – Are you considering home improvements, starting a new business, or another project/investment in the near future? If so, refinancing and extracting some of your home equity may be a good option to consider.  Perhaps you need funds to send a child to college or care for parents

Life Events such as marriage, or divorce, college or a career change, homeowners often need to make a change in their mortgage which usually results in a refinance.

Change in loan term – Homeowners often find that their financial plans change over the years and in many cases that calls for a refinance. We offer countless loan terms. Whether you’re looking for an adjustable rate loan, an interest only loan, a 15 year fixed, or another program, I can assure you that the options are almost endless.

Count on me for honest guidance. I enjoy hearing from my clients. Call/email me if you or anybody you know would like to discuss a potential refinance scenario.

This spring the flowers are in bloom and it's time to refresh your payment

Call me  949 -  784 -  9699

NMLS 324982

poppy pattern for the Railroad diners circa 1800

Poppies in California are lighting up the hills with joy

Why a Living Trust for Mortgage

We allow you to vest your real estate and mortgage in the name of your Living Trust.
You provide the complete trust document to the title officer for review. Vesting this
way has your individual estate plan written out.

 You may, or may not, have a trust in place. If not, I strongly suggest you consider the benefits of a living trust and move title into the name of a trust when/if you have one in place.

What is a living trust and how is it different from a last will

A living trust (sometimes called an "inter vivos" or "revocable" trust) is a written legal document through which your assets are placed into a trust for your benefit during your lifetime and then transferred to designated beneficiaries at your death by your chosen representative, called a "successor trustee."

On the other hand, a will is a written legal document with a plan of distribution of your assets upon your death. Your executor, as named in the will, oversees this process, and notably, nothing in your will takes effect until after you die.

1. A Living Trust Avoids Probate

One of the first benefits of a living trust is that it avoids probate. With a valid will, your estate will go through probate, the court proceedings through which your assets are distributed according to your wishes by the executor. A living trust, on the other hand, does not go through probate, which often means a faster distribution of assets to your heirs—from months or years with a will down to weeks with a living trust. Your successor trustee will pay your debts and distribute your assets according to your instructions. Notably, both documents allow you to choose a guardian for your children in the event of your death.

2. A Living Trust May Save You Money

Remember this really all depends on your financial situation. At first, drafting a living trust will likely cost more than drafting a will as it is a more complex legal document. Moreover, you must also transfer your assets such as bank accounts, stocks, and bond accounts and certificates to the trust through separate paperwork; simply writing up a living trust does not actually "fund the trust."

Other procedures involved in an estate plan with a living trust could also include changing the beneficiary on your life insurance policy to the trust, appropriately dealing with your IRA or 401(k) plan, and also creating a "pour-over will" that will provide for the distribution of any assets acquired after the creation of the living trust but before your death or any assets inadvertently excluded.

Note that the pour-over will, just like any will, will have to go through probate.

While a will costs less to draft, a living trust can save your estate money at the time of your death as the distribution of assets in the trust will not go through probate; court costs for probating your will are taken from estate, although note that for a simple, uncontested will, costs are often nominal.

Regarding contests, living trusts will likely hold up better in the event that someone comes forward contesting the distribution of your assets; accordingly, court costs to cover any will contests may also need to be considered.

As far as savings of income and estate taxes, there is often no substantial difference between living trusts and wills, although living trusts may provide savings for married couples in the form of joint living trusts.

Note that for people with simple estate plans and for young married couples with no children or significant assets, a living trust is probably not financially beneficial.

3. A Living Trust Provides Privacy

One big difference between the two legal documents is the level of privacy offered with a living trust. As a living trust is not made public, upon your death, your estate will be distributed in private. A will, on the other hand, is public record and so all transactions will be public as well.

Another difference is the handling of out-of-state property you own upon your death. With a will, that property will have to go through probate in its own state; a living trust can help you avoid probate.

What other benefits does a living trust provide?

Beyond the top three main benefits, another benefit is that a living trust is written so that your trustee can automatically jump into the driver's seat if you become ill or incapacitated.

On the other hand, if you simply have a will without a durable power of attorney, the court will appoint someone to oversee your financial affairs who will have to report to the court for approval of expenses, sales of property, etc. One widely reported public example of this is the conservator-ship of Britney Spears' father over his daughter's financial affairs.

Note that if you draw up a durable power of attorney, including one for health care decisions, you can avoid a court-appointed conservator for your affairs.

With a living trust, however, your handpicked successor trustee can manage your affairs without court intervention, and since the trust is revocable, if you dispute your incapacity, you can retain control yourself.

While a living trust makes sense for some people, wills are just fine for others. A general rule among tax planners is that the larger the value of the estate, the greater need there is for a living trust—although even this is not foolproof.

Are you interested in setting up a living trust, but not sure where to start, or who to go to? I would be more than happy to refer you to a trust attorney.

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