According to real estate information service MDA DataQuick, filed Notices of Default declined 4.2 percent during the first three months of the year from the fourth quarter of 2009 and a 40.2 percent drop from the record level seen a year ago.1 With home prices stabilizing and starting to gradually increase in many markets, this is a great time to buy a home before all of the bargains disappear.

Other good news includes the fact that according to the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million units in March from 5.01 million in February. That was also about 16 percent higher than in March 2009.2 Locally, the median price paid for an Orange County home was $432,000 last month, up 12.2 percent from $385,000 in March 2009.3

Add in the California Tax Credit and there has rarely been a better time to buy real estate. Contact your experienced and knowledgeable Coldwell Banker agent for the most current market information and to find out about the exciting opportunities for home ownership. You may also visit www.OCViewOnline.com to search for your next dream home.

1 Inman News. “Dropoff in California Foreclosures.” April 22, 2010. http://www.inman.com/.

2 Armour, S. (2010, April 22). “Existing-home sales rise 6.8% in March; tax credit less help?” http://www.usatoday.com/.

3 DQNews.com. “More Incremental Gains for Southland Real Estate Market.” April 13, 2010. www.dqnews.com.

Recent news and statistics regarding California real estate show plenty signs of recovery and an upswing for our local real estate market. During the 4th quarter of 2009, California mortgage defaults declined 24.3 percent from the previous quarter, indicating that the worst may be over for the hard hit entry level markets.1

The Orange County market is providing good news rather quickly in 2010. So far, countywide sales are up 7 percent versus a year ago during the same time and the median home price in more than half of Orange County’s zip codes have increased versus a year ago.2

Irvine is a prime example of our local market recovery. The recent grand opening of the Irvine Company’s Woodbury and Woodbury East developments sold a total 70 out of 71 houses and condominiums, the largest Irvine Ranch sale on record since around the peak of the housing bubble in 2006. In addition, to meet the demand of over 700 prequalified buyers, the Irvine Company began selling homes for the next construction phase in Woodbury.3 On the coast, Huntington Beach has seen a 5 percent increase in sales in 2010 versus a year ago.4

Let one of our Coldwell Banker associates help evaluate the right location and property for you—and don’t forget to ask about the soon-to-expire Extended and Expanded Homebuyer Buyer Tax Credit. Also, visit www.OCViewOnline.com today to view available open houses and to search our fine properties.

1 dqnews.com “Another Drop in California Mortgage Defaults” January 27, 2010. http://www.dqnews.com/Articles/2010/News/California/CA-Foreclosures/RRFor100127.aspx

2 www.ocregister.com “Home Prices Up in 51 ZIPs” February 1, 2010 http://lansner.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/01/home-prices-up-in-51-zips/54571/

3 www.ocregister.com “Demand for Irvine homes is sign of recovery” February 2, 2010. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/irvine-232282-woodbury-company.html

4 www.ocregister.com “Surf City starts year with home sales up 5% ” February 2, 2010. http://huntingtonhomes.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/02/surf-city-starts-year-with-home-sales-up-5/82599/

The results are in and Coldwell Banker is number one for 2009. Our Coldwell Banker NRT offi ces have outsold every other brokerage in the beach cities, from Newport Beach to San Clemente. We have helped our clients buy and sell over 47 percent more than the next trailing competitor, based on total dollars of homes bought or sold in 2009. Despite their claims, neither First Team, Prudential, Surterre nor Star can meet the pure sales dollar volume that Coldwell Banker has established.

The fact remains that Coldwell Banker’s combined sales effort is more effective than the local boutiques in selling high end coastal properties. Our saturation marketing is far superior in View magazine than any other form of advertising allowing many more consumers to visit our Web sites and inquire about our properties therefore resulting in closed transactions.

Our professional sales associates are knowledgeable about their local communities, thoroughly trained to handle even the most challenging real estate transactions and are dedicated to helping you buy or sell a home within the time frame and price range you choose. Congratulations to our sales associates for their passion and effort in maintaining our number one position as the market leader in coastal real estate.

And, thank you to our customers and clients for choosing our company. Find out for yourself why Coldwell Banker was number in one 2009. Contact your local Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offi ce today and visit us online at www.OCViewOnline.com.