With more than sixty categories of home related projects to choose from, including interior remodeling contractors and outdoor living space professionals, Houzz is more than just a place to get great ideas for your home. Houzz is also a great source for you to find the interior designers, architects, and landscapers for your home who created and constructed those designs in the first place!

Increased home values often result in homeowners deciding to make changes in their homes, whether due to a potential sale or just a quality of life improvement, and technology makes this process so much easier.

“Homeowners and professionals alike are telling us that they are moving forward with more building, renovation and design projects this year,” said Liza Hausman, VP Community at Houzz. “Houzz provides homeowners with the absolute best resource to find the right professional for their project.”

As a homeowner, ideas for improving your home may come in many forms, but Houzz.com is definitely a resource to be considered. Another resource to consider when determining whether a home improvement will add to your home value is your local real estate expert. If you would like some tips on projects that will help to increase the resale value of your home, please give me a call!

Experience is critical when you choose a REALTOR® and Aaron Zapata has the experience of a highly successful real estate career. Now, as the Broker-Owner of Zapata Realty in Yorba Linda CA, he is continuing to offer state of the art marketing and customer service by upholding his Core Values both in his business and personal life. Known as the “go-to-guy” for answers among his peers, Aaron enjoys helping customers achieve their real estate goals.

The post Choosing to Improve Your Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

When you find the perfect home, make an offer.

Don’t wait, don’t bargain.

Offer your best possible price and a high deposit with all your personal details, including a fantastic story about why you want why you NEED that house to be your home!

You see, the offer you write may be your ONLY chance to win the home, your home, and you want to give it your best shot.

In a housing market, like ours, where inventory is low and homes are only staying on the market for a short amount of time, multiple offers are being submitted on each home. Most are near or at asking price and some are beyond it.

Home sellers need to evaluate several offers and if yours is one of many (your agent should be able to tell you if other parties have indicated interest), it needs to stand out. That’s where your story comes in (along with your best price offer and earnest deposit).

3 Steps to Writing the Best Offer For Your Home

1. Offer up as much cash as you can in the form of an earnest deposit with the best possible price you can pay.
2. If you need lending, get pre-approved and formalize it by including a letter from your lender as part of your offer.
3. Write a from the heart appeal that explains your feelings about the house and why you need their home to be your home. If you have a good personal story, share it as well. Some home sellers are motivated by more than price and if they can “see” you in the home, it could make a difference.

The post Competing Against Multiple Offers For Your Orange County Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

May is National Home Remodeling Month and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers are using increased seasonal awareness to outline risks that a DIY approach can bring in terms of safety, time and hidden costs.

Reports from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau show that 37 % of home remodeling projects completed in 2010-2011 were done by homeowners themselves.

“Remodeling can be complex and often times full of surprises, even for experts like our members,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Bill Shaw, GMR, GMB, CGP. “DIY projects should be rewarding and fun, but if your DIY can’t be completed in the planned price range or your safety is at risk, leave the work in the hands of professional remodelers.”

NAHB suggested a review of these tips before commencing a remodel project on your home.

Safety - If it requires licensing to complete or compromises the integrity of your structure, walk away and hire a professional. Wear proper protective gear and be especially careful when using new tools as unfamiliarity increases risk.
Cost - Review quality and warranty specifications of your purchases. Incorrect installation can result in a warranty being disputed.
Time - Contractors are required to provide timelines, progress updates, and projected finish dates. If time is important to you, a recommended contractor can get the job done according to your schedule. Would you be able to do the same?

Click here to access the Directory of Professional Remodelers.

The post Is DIY Safe For You and Your Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

Moms everywhere are moved by personalized jewelry and lockets, memory keepers, and photos of their children. That’s not to say that a trip to the spa or a get-away wouldn’t be gratefully received, but when a mother has to coordinate the care of small children to use the gift, it can be difficult, so make sure you plan those details along with the gift.

If a trip away from your home isn’t possible, bring treatments direct to the Mom in your life with a collection of pampering lotions, skin care or makeup collections. Or, try a virtual vacation of sorts, and purchase an e-reader or tablet for the special Mother in your life. If your Mom already has one that she uses, then consider a gift card to Amazon or iTunes or a similar service where books are available for instant download, providing a chance for quick escape from life’s daily cares which staying physically inside your home.

Gifts to Bring a Smile To Your Mom (and Your Home):

• Thoughtful Note of Gratitude (include with a gift below for best results)
• Personalized Jewelry (lockets, engraved charms, birthstones, etc.)
• Personalized Gifts Featuring Her Children (large laughing photos, artsy representations, framed art created by the kids)
• Get-Aways (that she doesn’t have to coordinate)
• Tickets to Experience Life (theatre, gourmet cooking class, hang gliding, yoga – search sites like Groupon for ideas)
• Gift Cards (to services or shops she wants to patronize)
• E-Reader or Tablet Device (working and loaded, ready to go)
• Spa Services to a Local Favorite (manicure & pedicure, massage, wraps, etc.)
• Beautiful Flowers (everyone can appreciate a little vibrancy)
• Chocolate (but be careful not to sabotage known fitness plans)

The post Loving the Mom in Your Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

Your outdoor landscaping can also serve as a sound or visual barrier. Many options are available from furniture placement to the planting of tall shrubs along a home’s border.

According to Better Homes and Gardens, the Top Trends for Your Home in 2013 Include:

• Fragrance Producing Gardens
• Variation in Color of Flowers & Greenery
• Bulb Gardens
• Vegetable & Fruit Combination Gardens
• Grocery Gardens
• Old Fashioned Looks
• Paver Designs Incorporated in Gardens
• Garden Seating
• Herb Gardens
• Butterfly Gardens
• Hanging Plant Gardens
• Texture Gardens

Whether you are in a new home and just beginning your gardening plans or are in the home you’ve had for years, many of these gardening ideas may appeal to you.  As you consider your home and the landscape style that will surround it, consulting with a professional landscaper may give you additional perspective and save you from a expensive mistake.  Please call me for recommendations, should you need a referral.

The post Determining the Landscaping for Your Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

The 30 year fixed decreased to an average 3.41% with a 0.7 point (last year’s same date comparison was at 3.90%). The 15 year fixed rate mortgage dropped, as well, down to 2.64% with a 0.7 point (last year the 15 year FRM was at 3.13%).

Adjustable rate mortgages fluctuated as well, with the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable averaging at 2.60% (0.5 point), down from an average 2.62% from the previous week. The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM increased a tenth of a percentage to 2.63% (0.4 point).

Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac, explained the changes and low interest rates, saying, “Mortgage rates nudged lower this week as consumer spending showed signs of weakness. Retail sales contracted for the second time in three months, falling 0.4 percent in March. In addition, the University of Michigan reported their Consumer Sentiment Index dropped 6.3 points in April to settle at 72.3, its lowest level since July. The April reading snapped a streak of three consecutive gains.”

Low interest rates make it the prime time to lock in a mortgage rate and find your home. If you have been thinking about buying or selling your home, give me a call so we can assess your needs and qualifications, to get you in your home as soon as possible.

The post Mortgage Rates Make Your Home Buying Easier appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

According to recent statistics released by Realtor.com, March 2013 saw a 2.36 percent increase in homes being listed for sale when compared to February 2013, bringing more options back into the housing market and giving you, as a home buyer more chances to find your home.

And although prices may be slightly higher (the national average reported by Realtor.com shows a .05% increase in the last month), interest rates are still low, with the 30 year fixed averaging 3.43 % with .8 points on April 11th.

Home sellers can be excited, too, knowing that their property is likely to be showcased during this time when inventory, though moving, is still low. Less home listings also make for quicker sales with eager buyers, and a key number, days on the market, has been reduced because of the above factors, as well. According to Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc, “The newest data shows that the outlook is optimistic for the overall real estate recovery.”

Depending on where you live, the overall housing market may be experiencing dramatic change, as well. Take a look at the most recent market reports listed on my website or call me to find out what our local housing market is doing. You’re likely to find that now is the perfect time for you to buy or sell your home!

The post Good News For You and Your Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

Even Fannie’s Mae Economic & Strategic Research Group report released on April 17th, indicates a 3.2 percent surge in economic growth over the first quarter, and seems to be setting the stage for an even healthier housing market, as it predicts continued increases and potential economic growth of 2.3 percent throughout the rest of 2013.

Despite other significant issues that could impact consumer spending, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Chief Economist, indicates that hope may remain in housing trends, stating, “…the housing recovery continues to broaden and may be more robust than we anticipate, helping to offset fiscal headwinds.”

Considering that potential home buyers may need some assurance and coaching as they enter this changing housing market, Fannie Mae has launched a new online CreditSmart® tutorial to guide individuals as they seek to make wise financial decisions, including many which could lead to the purchase of your home.

A multilingual curriculum, Christina Diaz Malone, Freddie Mac Vice President of Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach believes CreditSmart® will reassure home buyers explaining, “Our new online CreditSmart® tutorial is a stepping stone to homeownership, especially for working families who are unsure how to start household budgets or build the personal savings and strong credit for the future.”

With twelve modules on the importance of credit and money management, goal setting, banking, financial traps, and becoming a homeowner, CreditSmart® provides resources and practical help for those just entering the housing market as well as homeowners that may be struggling in their current situations.  You may find that some of the material can benefit you in your home and financing search, making it worth taking a look.

The post Being Credit Smart With Your Home – Zapata Realty appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

Every real estate agent knows that locataion is a prime factor when purchasing a home.  However, while location is generally a driving force in the purchase of your home purchase, other components come into play as you choose the perfect house. Some of those elements may even have you considering condo ownership over a traditional detached house when you buy your home.

Because of this, it’s helpful to recognize the challenges and rewards that owning a condo can bring.

Condo owners are unique in that they pay Homeowner Association (HOA) fees to share in the maintenance of the property at large. Reviewing this cost and the Homeowners Association bylaws prior to your home purchase is essential as you may find restrictions that are not in keeping with your lifestyle. If after review you feel that the rules are too confining for the condo you are considering, try a different complex as each set of bylaws is unique.If after reviewing several and finding all lacking, however, you may decide that condo life is not the best fit for you.

Before buying a condo as your home, it’s helpful to consider the following:

• Why are you buying a condo?
• Is it conveniently located?
• What extra amenities or savings might you receive due to your condo purchase?
• Are you a loud person? Neighbors may overhear as you will be in relatively close quarters.
• Are you someone who likes to act independently? If so, condo life and rules may be a bit stifling.
• Are you comfortable having someone other than you maintain your home’s exterior?
• When added into your home cost, are your HOA fees reasonable?

No matter whether your home purchase results in a detached home or a condo, asking yourself these questions before making your purchase can results in happier home owning.  If you have questions about the type of home and location that is best for you, please give me a call so we can address your particular needs.

The post What Style and Size Will Your Home Be? appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

Not Today is a movie that highlights the horrible truth of human trafficking in India. I encourage all of you to take some time the weekend of April 12-14 to go and see the film to learn more about this issue and to help stop human trafficking in India. You can find where the movie is showing at www.NotTodayTheMovie.com and learn how your ticket into the theatre is a ticket for someone out.

I’m going to the Brea Edwards Theatre on April 12 and I encourage you to join me.

To watch a 30 second trailer of the movie, click HERE.

The post Not Today the Movie appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

Warmer weather and cloud-free skies may have you dreaming of leaving your home for a vacation.

No matter where you choose to journey for your break away trip, take the time to make preparations to your home before leaving.

A few smart steps toward protecting your home while you are way, could mean the world to you when you return.

Tips For Securing Your Home

• Appoint a look-out.  Ask a good friend or “watch-worthy” neighbor to keep an eye on your place while you’re away.
• Wait until after you return from vacation to post your photos to Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  Otherwise you are alerting “friends” and others that may be less than friendly of your absence.
• Think about ways to keep your home from looking empty while you are vacationing.  From house sitters and timers to placing holds on your mail and newspaper delivery, there is plenty you can do to make your home seem less vacant. 
• Secure your garage door and any pet entrances with locks before leaving town as it can provide easier access to your home.
• Timed lights, a well-kept home, and motion detectors can be a deterrent to thieves as well.
• And although pets can be a great deterrent to those who may harm your home, when you leave town, you must make arrangements for their boarding and care.

The post Vacationing Away From Your Home appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.

You may have recently bought a home and have plans to create a playground in your backyard or outdoor kitchen, too.

Whatever your reason for stepping outside, you’ll probably notice some areas you can improve around your home, before summer comes and you begin a season of entertaining outdoors.  As you look over your backyard or patio, take the time to notice the feelings you have in that space.  

Is the yard of your home relaxing and inviting?

Your week is filled with the hustle-bustle of life, with time constraints, and demands placed upon you by others, shouldn’t your evenings and weekends be a time of enjoyment and reflection?

If you agree that your home and its exterior space should be an oasis of sorts, start small and consider adding a fountain or fire pit to your landscaping to make your yard more retreat-like.  Perhaps a backyard swing or an outdoor kitchen is more to your liking.  Gather your dreams in online ideabooks on websites like Houzz or Zillow digs and plan out the next project for your home.  Just thinking about it will make you smile.

The post Enjoy the Backyard of Your Home More appeared first on Aaron Zapata Real Estate Team.