Microdoft Virus Cure, Symantec, MacAfee and Real Estate!

Remmeber Y2K?  Well, here we are again with a brand new potentially harful virus sweeping Cyberspace.  So, load up your security systems, bolt down your laptops, click the “on” button for your firewall, and you wireless users, put it on lockdown!

While you are doing that, do not forget to do a system scan for a worse virus: “W32Trojan Greedus Maximus”.  Yes, this virus is the worst of all.  It will not only disable your computer, but it will also infect your bank account, your brain annd eventually disable your attitude.

“W32Trojan Greedus Maximus” has been around for a longtime in the form of other programs such as “Ferrari Buying Low Equitus”, and the always lethal “OC Housewives Spendus Maximus”  Do not misunderstamnd, there is nothing wrong with a Ferrari or a spending spree.  What is wrong is not being anble to afford it or even worse, sacrificing the equity in your real estate to do it.

The equity in your real estate should be treated like the first hours of a new born baby.  It is the most precious of all preciousness and mark my words, that equity will one day SAVE YOUR LIFE!  Yes, it will save your life and in many cases prolong it.

Now having said all that, TODAY is the time to take advantage of the equity you have by investing it in real estate.   There are some great deals for those who have equity.  Today in www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com you can buy a 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths condo in the mid to high $300,000s and rent it for a positive cash flow.  You can almsot even do it on a $1M purchase.  Even in the www.ThePelicanEstates.com there are some amazing opportunities.   If you really want to look to the future, go to www.MichaelDunn.com , and search any city in SoCal to find what may be an amazing life changing experience.

So get your virus blocker in place, go for a long morning walk, take some extremely deep breaths and log on to an amazing world of reward . . . REAL ESTATE!

Mike

Posted: March 31st, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

Rick Wagoner, foreclosures and real estate!

Rick Wagoner, the CEO of General Motors, looks to be resigning from his position.   Remember him?  He was one of the Big Three Auto Executives who flew in on private jets to ask for money from the US government.  It absolutely amazes me how people can get away with such failures and still get bailed out.  If I fail at selling one of my listings, I better have a good reason and even then, I am at the sellers mercy. 

Meanwhile in other news, it looks like the foreclosures are rising again.  To many, this seems like bad news but I submit it is fantastic.  Here is why:

1. The people who are losing their homes at least can move on.  By delaying foreclosures, it just prolongs the general market conditions.  The faster the foreclosure inventory subsides, the faster the normal market can return.

2. It means an economic boost.  Do you realize how much a foreclosure sale stimulates the economy?  Escrows, title, home inspectors, contractors, lenders, and numerous other workers become employed as a result. 

Remember, the banks have been bailed out, so why wait.  The whole idea of the bailout is to shorten the crisis right?  Well, let’s go!  Oh, I can hear you “Mike, what about helping those poor people stay in their homes?”  Yes, I undertsand the stress and dissapointment of losing one’s home.  Why is it that when the market is going up and people flip their homes and make hundred of thousands of dollars, they are not as melancholy or attached when leaving their homes?  It is all about MONEY!

This morning I ran by an Elmo doll along the trail.  Do you remember how popular those dolls were 10 years ago?   The bottom line is this, do not buy a house you cannot afford and do NOT count on the equity in your house to pay for your food and clothes.  Buy a house for the future and for the neighborhood and the happiness it will give you.

 Now with this new wave of foreclosures coming, get ready to take advantage and build more wealth.  For the first time in 5 years, you can buy a property in Southern California and have positive cash flow with 15 to 20% down.  Remember the days when you needed 40% down?  No wonder investors bought out of state; yours truly included.  But today is the time to get a property here.  The market has already dropped the majority of what it will drop, so now it is a matter of how greedy you want to get.

As an example, a 3,000 square feet house in 2006 in Northwood sold for $1,250,000 and today is around $1,025,000.  If the market does hit bottom with another 10%, that house will hit $925,000 and then start rising again.  Historically, the market always has come back past the previous peak.  So, would you wait ten years to get $200,000 out of your house?

The answer is absolutely “YES” you and I would.  So if you are serious about investing, wether it be as your primary residence, a condo for each one of your children or just to test my theory, call me at 949-262-3612 or send an e-mail Mike@MichaelDunn.com.

Mike

Posted: March 29th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

Sunday Morning Real Estate!

This morning, I woke up at 5:30AM and read my daily pages of Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink” and then went to pace a friend for marathon training.

Amazing how quite it is on the streets on a Sunday morning.  We ran red lights, “jayran”(running version of jaywalking), it was quite envigorating.  Please, do not get me wrong, I do not condone violating traffic laws, just telling you how “it” is.

It really is amazing how mnay people are up and about running in the early morning.  My friend is an incredible athelete, but more than that, an amazing disciplinarian.  There in lays the answer to EVERYTHING!  Discipline.  In this amazing real estate market, yes it is amazing, discipline is the key.  It wokrs both ways, for buyers and sellers. 

The sellers need to have discipline to be flexible to the changing market conditions and buyers need to be disciplined to not get too emotionally tied to a property and pay more than they wish.  What strickes me as ironic, where was the seller discipline when the market was going up and we took out home equity lines to buy Porsches, Ferraris and 7 pairs of True Religion jeans?

Discipline is the key to your real estate success.  It works both in an upward moving market and a declining market.  For example, if the market is going down, as a seller you must be able to come to grips that your property is not worth as much as it was before and adjust your strategy.  For example, I have a listing in www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com which was not selling for the price the sellers wanted, so I suggested we rent it because interest rates are so low and they would not get that return at the bank.  The home is paid for and the market value is around $1M.  If you put $1M in the bank, your will get approximately $25,000 in a CD.  If they rent it, they will get $4,000 a month or $50,000 per year, a return of 5% interest.

I suggested we lower the price from $1,089,000 to $1M, and sure enough we got an offer and now we have some choices on how to spend that $1M.  Remember this, there is always an alternative or a solution. 

Treat your real estate as a VSV diamond, look at the long term and do NOT pull equity out on it unless you will be using that equity on other real estate.

Tomorrow, I will be blogging about some foreclosures, my next BIG THING!  In the meantime, keep running, eating healthy and studying real estate.  Go to www.MichaelDunn.com or call me at 949-262-3612.

Mike

Posted: March 29th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

Yahoo, Google and Real Estate!

Well, here are two of the most popular search engines and real estate is still more popular.

Real Estate has an amzing value if treated with respect.  I went to the beach today in Southern California.  It was around 70 degrees and the sun felt soothing upon my skin.  As I lay there reading my newest book selection “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, I noticed many pale white beach goers.  I overheard a distinct European dialect and I could not help but think: “WOW!  These people came across the Atlantic Ocean and across the entire United States to be where I live!”  This bears repeating, these people travelled half way across the world, to be where I, and we, live!

Here is the beauty of real estate.  To own property where there is a high demand to visit.  As I lay there reading my book, I could not help but feel ecxited and humbled at the same time.  If you think about it, these tourists at one time went online in Europe and through Yahoo or Google, searched for “California Beaches”.  Low and behold, Crystal Cove State Beach came up and a few months later, they came to Crystal Cove.

WOW!  They Google the web for California like I Google for Hawaii or The Maldives.  Amazing.  This brings up another point, if you do not already own real estate in Southern California, you should buy, buy and buy again.  The market is 25% or more off the peak in some areas and the weather has not changed.  This means that Mother Nature is continuing to bless your investment, no matter what Bernie Madoff and the other crooks on Wall Street do.  Mother Nature is still the ONE to be reckoned with.

Whether it is a small 1 bedroom condo or a 10,000 square feet palacial estate, if you can afford it, buy it.  My main focus is the Irvine Ranch which stretches from the Pacific Ocean in Laguna and Newport Beach, to the outskirts of the Cleveland National Forest in Tustin, Orange and Irvine.  www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com www.ThePelicanEstates.com and www.MichaelDunn.com offer som tremendous opportunities to buy at great prices, some of the best real estate deals on Earth.

You see, here in Southern California, real estate traditionally goes down very little compared to other areas and rises higher and faster than any other area.  Call me at 949-533-2581 for specific details.

Mike

Posted: March 25th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

NCAA Sweet 16, Michael Jordan and Real Estate!

Well, the NCAA field of 16 has been chosen and Michale Jordan took time away from his ownership duties to see his son win the Illinois State Basketball Championship.

And while all this was going on, we put two more homes in the www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com neighborhood, into escrow.   Even though the general real estate market is still adjusting downwward, this small family friendly enclave in the Northern part of The Irvine Ranch, is still thriving.

Why? The main reason is the people who, live there.  They are good honest hardworking people who are educated and are committed to the future of their children.  Yours truly shares the same feeling about the area and has continued to support local charities to ensure the continuing support during economic downturns.

One thing is sure, if you are serious about investing in real estate, do it in www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com  or call Mike at 949-533-2581.

Mike

Posted: March 24th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

Gonzaga, The Tonight Show and Real Estate!

Well, today is the begiining of the Gonzaga University’s appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament, the appearance of President Barrack Obama on the Tonight Show and . . . the next lesson in real estate.

The NCAA basketball tournament has some great life lessons in that at the beginning of this 64 team tournament, everyone has a chance to win the championship.  In fact, rarley do the top ranked teams all make it to the finals.  

The Tonight Show is also very timely in that, an appearance on this show can elevate a person to amazing heights.

What does this have to do with real estate?  Well, everyday we start out with equal footing.  The sun rises from the East and we awake a new with a fresh start.  It is what we do with this chance that seperates all of us.  Some of us spend the day dreaming.  Others go after their dream with vigor and still others go thru their day in a fog and are happy with whatever happens.

Real Estate, unlike basketball or The Tonight Show, offers a an equal opportunity for everyone to shine.  Basketball requires a certain skill set, to perform on the Tonight Show requires a certain skills set as well.  In real estate, you need the will to learn.  That is all.  My only regret, is not starting real estate sooner.  But as the old Zen saying goes:  “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, now is the time to begin your real estate lesson.  Here are the facts:  The real estate market in Orange County, California is down around 25% over the peak.  In some areas, it is down 50%.  Usually the first year of a real estate market downturn, has the largest drop.  We are almost into our second year and now is when the deal are to be had.

If you are looking in the luxury home market, go to www.ThePelicanEstates.com and look at 21 Skyridge.  It is one of the most phenominal homes ever built in Newport Coast.  There are 7 others that are phenominal properties with very motivated sellers.  If you are interested in one of the affordable family neighborhood’s on the Irvine Ranch, you should go to www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com and see what amazing deals you will get for your dollar.

Check out my links to specific homes and areas in the Orange County area and feel free to call me at 949-533-2581 for some specific tips to maximize your investment.

Mike 

Posted: March 19th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

Brain Injuries and Real Estate!

You may have heard the tragic news of the passing of Natasha Richardson today due to a brain injury.  Very sad; I just went skiing a few weeks ago and noticed people falling all around me, and I did not think much of it.  I fell twice and popped back up embarrased and not thinking of my brain.  I will certainly think three times now! 

This amazing lady is the same age as I and it reminds me not only of our mortality, but also our fragility.  We are more fragile than we think and should terat ourselves with respect . . . ALWAYS!  

How does this translate to real estate?  Well, as we have seen the past two years, real estate is very fragile as well.  We must learn to treat it with respect.  You may ask: “Come on, Mike, real estate is not a living organism.  How do you treat an inanimate object with respect?”

I have a “farm” area of around 3,000 homes.  A “farm” area in eral estate emans a geographical area that I “farm”.  I “farm” by mailing, making phone calls, donating to local schools and organizations in this area.  My main area is called The Irvine Ranch, which encompasses the cities of Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Corona del Mar, Irvine and parts of Tustin.  I have been “farming” for 10 years now and have noticed many home owners pull money out fo theri homes to buy Porsche’s, Jewelry, and miscellaneous luxury items.  One man refinanced his home to buy a Ferrari and a Lamborghini.  A Ferrari AND a Lamborghini!!!  He is now uposide down on his motgage.  Had he NOT bought those two cars, he would have $575,000 in equity!

This is an example of NOT respecting real estate.  You see every ten years, on average, the Good Lord of Real Estate bestows upon us a blessing.  That blessing is a double digit rise in real estate values for a 3 to 5 year period.  He tests us to see what we do with his blessing.  Some keep payign down their mortgage and keep working hard and smart at their chsoes voation.  Others take the blessing and waste it on frivilous items.  When the good real estate Lord has blessed us enough, he takes break and rests for a while.

The past two years he has been very dissapointed.  You see Real Estate is something to be cherished and reviled, not taken for granted.  Those of us who have saved and paid down our mortgages, have seen a great return on their investment.  An example is a home I have in escrow in Irvine.  The home is paid for and if the owner chooses, they can rent it for $4,000 per month or around $50,000 for the year.  The value of the home is around $1M.  If you put $1M in the bank today, you will get a 2 to 2.5% return or $25,000 for a year. 

The owners paid $500,000 for it so, if they sell, they have $1M in cash to use as they choose.  Not bad for 10 years.  As the old Lynyrd Skynyrd song says ” Get your lust from a rich man’s Gold” . . . do not take it out of your real estate thru a refinance.

Doing what Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Lamborghini did, is the worst kind of brain injury.  Absolute abuse of the EGO of the brain.  Remember, we are here but for a short time.  Real estate is the insurance we cash out when we need to pay soemone to take care of us when we can no longer take care of ourselves.

So if you buy real estate, and you should, buy it with the long term vision in mind.  Live off your vocation and enjoy the daily gifts of the ides of March.

if you are serious and really wnat to get an insight into planning for your future, go to www.MichaelDunn.com or www.ThePelicanEstates.com or just call me at 949-533-2581.

Mike

Posted: March 18th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none

Sears and Real Estate!

What does Sears have to do with real estate?  Actually, everything.  You see Sears and Roebuck and its evolving family of entities, has been around for over 100 years.  It has gone through many changes but in my neighborhood, the Sears name is still sitting high on the building.

Sears reminds me of the old days of shopping centers when there were only a few major stores that catered to the public.  In the past few decades, many other stores have popped up and enjoyed success, but in these fluctuating economic times, others are falling by the wayside.

Real estate, although we have seen some major drops recently, is still a stalwart of any wealth building plan.  Despite the current conditions, it is one the most sound investment anywhere.  Why?  Because you will be able to cover your costs in a down market.  A prime example is a property you may want to sell, but the market will not bear the price you want.  Let’s assume you have a tenant paying $2,000 per month and your mortgage payment is $1,000 per month.   You have someone making your payment for you and if you wish, you can pay down your principal at the same time.  If you had your money in the stockmarket, you do not have anyone covering you until the stock rises again.

Simple stuff, but it is the stuff of legends and what legends are made of.  Today’s notes are short but sweet.  Go to www.MichaelDunn.com to learn more about making sound investments.

Mike

Posted: March 15th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News, Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Mayberry and Real Estate! 

Have you ever watched the old TV show “Mayberry, RFD”?  It is a show set in a small fictitious Southern town.  Well, folks, today I felt I was living life in Mayberry.  I was very close . . . Irvine, California.   I live between Newport Coast and the heart of Irvine in an area called Turtle Ridge.  In the morning I showed homes in the ultra high real estate section of Newport Coast called Pelican Hill and Pelican Crest.  Here the homes are $5M and higher.

In the aternoon, I held an open house in the family oriented section of Irvine called www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com and as I was driving around putting out my open house signs, I waived at a few of the neighbors.  One neighbor, who I have known for 5 years, waves at me and I stop by and say “hello”.  He is working in his garage as his curly sheep dog lays lazily in the afternoon sun.  We chat for 10 minutes and I realize he went to the same high school I did.  We discuss the market, the incrdivble rate of growth of his teenagers and the real estate market.

At the end of the day, I am picking up my signs and I see three boys waiting for a ride from their parents after a soccer game.  In unison they recognize me and say “Hey, its Mike Dunn!”.  I am on my cell phone returning a buyers call, but I wave back and smile.

After my call iIsit in my car waiting for other cars to clear and I peer into my rear view mirror and look at those three boys and cannot help but smile at where I am.  I am in Mayberry!  This is the true essence of real estate.  Whether you are an investor, or a longterm homeowner, as soon as you make that commitment to own a home, you have become part of the community.

You have a stake in your own 401K, you are a shreholder in your community, you own a part of Main Street!  Today more than any other time in history, is your time to build a future and not only money wise, but people wise.  Those neighbors down the street are you future custodians of your 401K, NOT the government. 

Call me and I will show you the way.  The way to create a Mayberry RFD where ever you choose to live.  949-533-2581 or Mike@MichaelDunn.com

Mike

Posted: March 14th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: 1

Dancing with The Stars and Real Estate!

I am sure you have seen the show Dancing with the Stars.  What is fascinating about this show is the fact that total strangers to dancing, partner with a professional dancer and within 6 weeks look like they are world class dancers.

Imagine if you took 6 weeks to study real estate?  Would you ever do that?  What if you knew that for 8 houris per day for 6 weeks, you would become an expert real estate investor?  Would you take the time?

I would!!!!  I did!!!  Once your mind is expanded it will never go back to its original state. 

Once your real estate portfolio is purchased, it will carry you through the tough times and when the tough times pass, they always do, it will grow higher than you could have imagined. 

Go to www.NorthwoodPointeIrvine.com or www.ThePelicanEstates.com to find the results of good investment strategies.

Mike

Posted: March 9th, 2009 under Hot Tips, Real Estate News.
Comments: none