This Month's Green Tips

*Test for air leaks near windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. Be sure to caulk, seal or weather strip where needed.

*Manager the power on all computers and ensure that they are turned off every night. Note: Laptops use 90% energy than most desktop computers.

And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Energy Bills. How Can You Save Money?

With the hot summer month's right around the corner, many of us will be cranking up the air conditioning to fight the heat; however doing so can be very expensive. Here are a few tips to help slash your bill and help you save some money.
Keep A/C Filters and Coils Clean - Dirty air filters can reduce airflow, clean the condenser coil every two years and change filters monthly.
Use your ceiling fans instead of A/C.
Upgrade your windows. Replacing your single-pane windows with double pan windows can potentially save you 47% on your bill.
Unplug the old fridge in the garage. Refrigerators built in 1993 uses twice as much energy as newer models.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Why Water Conservation?

Water is an essential part of life. There are many uses. Growing food, keeping clean, hydrates our bodies etc. Water is constantly being cleaned and recycled through the earth's water cycle. However we use the planet's fresh water supply faster than it can be replenished. This being said it is important to conserve, for the earth, for your family and for the environment. A few water saving tips...
1) Take shorter showers.
2) Turn off the water when brushing you teeth.
3) Water your plants every 2-3 days.
4) Fix leaky faucets and/or toilets.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Get a CLUE!

The CLUE Personal Property report provides a seven year history of losses associated with an individual and his/her personal property. The following data will be identified for each loss: date of loss, loss type, and amount paid along with general information such as policy number, claim number and insurance company name.
Providing information to a potential buyer makes the home you are selling more attractive, and is to your advantage. More and more homebuyers are requiring home sellers to provide a CLUE report as a contingency to a purchase offer. By ordering the report at the time of listing, the smart seller and his/her agent are ready for the first potential buyer to walk in the door. At the same time, a potential buyer will achieve a greater comfort level when making an offer on a property for which the loss history is known.
Until CLUE reports are a standard disclosure in any home sale, here's how you can avoid a bad situation:
When Working With Sellers:
Ask sellers to order their home's CLUE report before listing the property. This will make them aware of potential problems in selling the home and will give them a chance to correct any wrong information in the report.
A clean CLUE report can be used as a selling point. Make sure potential buyers know that it's available for them to view.
Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, property owners can order one free report every year.
When Working With Buyers:
Make the purchase contingent on viewing a CLUE report, or on the buyer obtaining affordable insurance. Check with your state REALTOR® association or real estate commission to see if it offers a rider or an addendum that you can include with the contract.
Ask the buyer to apply for insurance immediately after a signed contract.
Buyers also should request a copy of their personal Insurance Scores, which also are often used by insurance companies to determine consumers' overall insurance risks and premiums. Learning what factors are used in calculating rates can help consumers reduce their insurance premiums over time.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Earth Day Resolutions. What can you do to help?

Earth Day is Wednesday April 22. This is the one day of the year that perhaps we can all be conscientious of the earth and the environment around us. Here are a few more easy tips you can do to help contribute to a better Earth.
•1) E-mail companies that send you junk mail and ask to stop.
•2) Cut old towels into washcloths or rags.
•3) Buy produce from local growers
•4) Switch to non-toxic cleaning formulas
•5) Recycle whenever possible
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

First Time Home Buyers? Could You be at the Advantage?

First time home owners may qualify for a tax credit if they a can answer yes to the following three questions.
1). Are you married and is your modified adjusted gross income less than $150,000?
2). Have you and your spouse had NO home ownership in the past three years?
3). Do you plan to stay in the new home for at least three years?
Even if you have owned a home in the past however, in the most recent three years you may qualify! In this economy it is important to know all opportunities that are out there and help our buyers take advantage whenever possible. It is our responsibility to help buyers understand how it works, what it means to them, and why they've got to "get off the fence" and take advantage of it now.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Earth Day Resolutions. What can you do to help?

Earth Day is Wednesday April 22. This is the one day of the year that perhaps we can all be conscientious of the earth and the environment around us. Here are a few easy tips you can do to help contribute to a better Earth.
•1) Keep you showers down to seven minutes.
•2) Create a garden that can be fertilized with your kitchen compost.
•3) Only run the dishwasher when full.
•4) Ride you bike, carpool or take mass transit
•5) Return your coat hangers to the dry cleaners.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Five Latest Signs of Market Recovery. Are we bouncing back?

With recent US government efforts to jumpstart the economy, real estate professionals should be prepared to get back into a market that will include a huge inventory, reduced prices and record-low interest rates.
Below are the five latest signs of recovery.
1. Recently, the Wall Street enjoyed the biggest four-week rise with DOW in more than 70 years. (Fortune Magazine, April 2009).
2. Mortgage applications increased by a record amount last week, spurred by the Federal Reserve's announcement that it would purchase mortgage-backed securities, and would be open to making further cuts in prime interest rates.
3. There has already been some positive news in the housing market. Home sales in some of the country's most affected regions have been recovering. According to DQNews.com, Southern California home sales stayed above year-ago levels for the eighth consecutive month in February as the median price ceased its month-to-month decline for the first time in ten months.
4. The recent personal income report was also stronger than expected. Personal income in January rose 0.4 percent, following a 0.2 percent decline in December.
5. The US Banks are also showing signs of recovery. Wells Fargo, U.S. Bancorp and TCF are enjoying rising share prices, suggesting better days ahead.
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

South Coast Plaza Celebrates 20 years of Gardens

When those of us who live in the OC think of South Coast Plaza, we generally do not think of beautiful gardens. We may think more of upscale shopping and a great Carousel in the middle of the mall where we can treat the kids to a ride. However, South Coast Plaza will be hosting a four day event, April 23-26th featuring garden designs, celebrating trends from the present, past and future. Parking and admission are free. For more information go to springgardenshow.com
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900

Newport Beach Film Festival. Are you ready for a break?

Newport Beach is hosting is' 10th annual Film Festival this month, featuring films from Sweden, France and Italy, and Australia. While Orange County is not entirely without cultural experiences, this festival encourages you to experience foreign films on the local screen. If you don't mind subtitles come on out and experience a movie or two like no other. Some of the films featured are
1) April 27th: from Autralia "Beautiful" .
2) April 28th: from France "Seraphine"
3) April 28th: from Sweden "Arn"
4) April 29th: from Italy "II Divo"
For more info go to: newportbeachfilmfest.com
And thank you for making me Your Orange County Real Estate Connection.
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
(949) 753-7900