Rancho Santa Margarita Homes & Lifestyles

I’ve written a number of times about the beauty of snow on Orange County’s Saddleback Mountain from Rancho Santa Margarita.  It’s something I always look forward to.

I woke up Tuesday morning because I wanted to make sure to get some good photos of the rare and beautiful snow on Saddleback Mountain. There were still a number of clouds and the sun was at quite a tricky angle but I did manage to get one semi-decent shot from the park at Emerald Ridge in Rancho Santa Margarita and one so-so photo of palm trees in the foreground of the lightly dusted Santiago Peak.

This morning was a much better day for photography.  EVERYONE was out with their cameras.  The snow was constant last night and it was cold enough that the precipitation didn’t turn to rain and immediately melt the snow away.

I spent about an hour just driving around taking photos and enjoying the scenery before I had to get ready for work.  I was tempted to play hooky.  I am in the mood to snowboard.

My oldest son is always looking for an adventure.  He has a 4-Wheel Drive and spends free time looking for mud puddles in the canyons.  He is one of the few people that I know who can say they have Snowboarded Saddleback Mountain. Out of bounds of course…but rules are made to be broken, right?

Enjoy the early White Christmas that we’ve been blessed with.

Does a Buyer really need to spend extra money for a home inspection on a bank-owned property if the bank is selling the home “as is, where-is”?  The answer is YES!

In all cases you should have a licensed professional evaluate the home you will be purchasing.  A local inspector is familiar with homes in the area.  He will know which builders cut corners and which building materials were typically used at the time a home was built.  He will know what to look for and where. 

It doesn’t matter whether the transaction is a standard sale, a short sale or an REO / bank-owned sale.  A buyer should know up front if there are any existing conditions in the home they are looking to purchase.  A home inspection provides a home buyer with a list of repairs that should be made immediately, and notes any findings that might cause additional future problems if not cured.

A home inspection basically provides a buyer with a home maintenance game plan.  With the results of a home inspection in hand, a buyer can negotiate with a seller for repairs or a reduction in price, or choose to walk away from the property if he feels there are too many issues with the house.

10 things a Home Inspector will Visually Inspect:

1. Exterior & Grounds: Driveway, fences, walls, patios, walkways, decks, outside electrical panel & main water, grading & drainage, downspouts, house walls & wall coverings, chimney, windows
2. Interior: - Floors, walls, ceilings, entry doors, windows, lighting, electrical outlets (wiring & polarity), fireplace, registers and air return.
3. Roof:  Visual inspection (wherever possible) of tiles, shingles, composite, vents, chimney structure, gutters, flashing, skylights, look for evidence of leaks and estimate age of roof if unknown.
4. Attic:  Attic access, sheathing, ventilation, roof and ceiling frames, insulation and evidence of moisture or mildew.
5. Heating & Cooling: Type and fuel source, check equipment, filters, ducting, registers and thermostats, furnace, AC
6. Plumbing & Electrical: Water heater, hot and cold water lines, main water line, water pressure, drainage, evidence of leaks, mildew or mold, fittings & laundry hook-ups
7. Kitchen: Cabinets, counters, floors, test function of appliances, hood vent, fan & lights, GFCI outlets and polarity,
8. Bathrooms: Counters, cabinets, operation of bathtub, sinks, vent fan, electrical outlets and GFCI, toilet flush and recovery, hot and cold water and water pressure, lighting and evidence of leakage, mold and mildew
9. Garage: Door, automatic opener and reverse operation, firewall and doors, flooring, ventilation and notation of any building code issues,
10. Pool & Spa: Examine structures, filtration system, electrical supply, fencing and other system equipment

Knowing the condition of a home is critical in determining the true value of a home and whether it is a good investment.  If you are buying a Foreclosure or Bank-owned Home you will most likely be limited in the scope of repairs that the Lender is willing to make.  Many Lenders stand firm on the “as is, where-is” clause in the contract.

A home inspection provides you with a list of items that should be fixed or replaced immediately, and a list of maintenance items that will need to be fixed over a period of time. With this list you can price out the repairs with local contractors so you have a rough idea of what the repairs will cost.

Sometimes the home inspection will red flag several serious items.  You might decide that there are too many problems with the home and choose to cancel the purchase.  Whatever you decide will be the result of making an informed decision. You won’t be surprised two months after your purchase that the home isn’t structurally sound, the plumbing is failing, and the electrical was not built to code.

Upcoming post:  Water Intrusion, Mold and Mildew