PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

Thinking about moving to Orange County but not sure where to start? The truth is, there isn’t one “best” city. There is only the one that fits *your* lifestyle and of course lifestyle can vary dramatically, based on so many factors.   🌊 Dreaming of the coast? 👨‍👩‍👧 Looking for great schools? 🐴 Want room for horses? 🥾 Love hiking and open space? ✨ Searching for luxury living? 🚶 Prefer a walkable neighborhood? 💰 Looking for the best value? 🛡️ Safety at the top of your list? Orange County has a community for just about everyone. The challenge isn’t finding a great place to live. It’s finding the one that feels like home. We've made it simple, for you. Here is a list of Orange County’s most popular communities based on lifestyle. Search Orange County Homes Which one sounds most like you? Drop it in the comments or send me a DM. I’d be happy to help you narrow down your search. Follow for Orange County tips and guides..  #OrangeCounty #OrangeCountyRealEstate #MovingTo...

Another Happy Seller! 🏡 This Portola Hills condo had been sitting on the market for 45 days with fewer than five showings and no offers before the sellers reached out to me. Instead of hoping for a different outcome, we changed the strategy. ✔️ New photography ✔️ Fresh marketing ✔️ Repositioned the listing ✔️ Consistent follow-up The result? Under contract in less than 30 days. Every home has a story, and sometimes it's not the home that needs to change. It's the marketing behind it. Thank you to my wonderful clients for trusting me with the sale of your investment property and for this incredible review. It means more than you know. If your home isn't getting the attention it deserves, let's have a conversation before you make your next move. 📍Portola Hills | Lake Forest | Orange County SEARCH AVAILABLE PORTOLA HILLS HOMES About Kelly Turbeville Hi, I'm Kelly, a local Realtor, writer, and the voice behind Portola Hills Living . I've been helping buyers an...

While it seems like it is more summer than spring, with the hot weather we have this week.. Today's forecast is 94 degrees and it's March.   We technically haven't even hit Spring yet. That happens next week.    Orange County doesn't really get hit with a seasonal delay in the market.. We have more what I call a holiday hangover market. It doesn't really start to wake up until after Super Bowl weekend.  At that point, inventory is generally the lowest.. as we get closer to April.. Inventory really begins to increase.. With May having the most activity. Listings that come typically after that tend to stay on the market a bit longer.  So the spring window to sell a home in the OC is pretty quick.  Of course, interest rates, world events also all play a role.. Which is what we are actually seeing today in the market.  Below is a quick look at both the Attached Market and Single Family Market.  This is through February. Where we saw the first maj...

Question....IS CAPITAL GAINS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM SELLING? For those who may not be aware... When you sell a house for more than what you paid for it, you could be subject to a capital gains tax on the profit you make from the sale. Generally, people who qualify for the home sale capital gain exclusion can exclude: $250,000 of capital gains if single. $500,000 of capital gains if married and filing jointly. This exemption is formally called the Section 121 exclusion with the IRS. So if you bought a house in Lake Forest for $500,000 and let's say it is now worth $3,000,000. You would have a gain for $2.500,000 - $500,000 for married couples.. now your gain would be $2,000,000. Which becomes taxable income. 2,000,000 x 20% (tax rate) = $400,000 in Capital Gain Tax 😲 This is happening all over Orange County and other high cost areas and one of the reasons why "Baby Boomers" are not moving and deciding to age in place. If this is you... there a couple of things you can do ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Can you believe it, we are officially in 2024!  I personally can not believe how fast 2023 went.  The real estate market in 2023 in Portola Hills was very strong!  It actually outpaced the overall Orange County real estate market.   Below is our year end report that summarizes how the community performed, along with a spotlight on 3 popular neighborhoods.   Does it shock you the average price of Single Family home in Portola Hills is $1.6 million dollars and an Attached home, Condo/Townhome is $785,000.  Home prices from 2022 to 2023 increased 15% in Portola Hills.   We are starting 2024 off with very low inventory, there are only 3 homes available at the time we wrote this report.  My phone began ringing from potential Buyers when rates went below 7%, so I anticipate the early spring market is going to get a little crazy as rates hit closer to 5%.  What is the Value of my Portola Hills Home? If you are co...

Summer is just around the corner and in Orange County there are a ton of events to enjoy.  We put together a list of activities throughout the county for the month of June.  Make sure to get out and enjoy what the local community has to offer!! South Orange County Job Fair    June 1 Dress professionally and bring your resume. Priority registration table for veterans.  9am-12pm / Laguna Hills Mall 949-341-8000 / www.oconestop.com Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival    June 2-4 Celebrate the kick-off of summer with a star–studded lineup of musicians, delectable food and drink selections, and dancing on the lawn. www.festivals.hyattconcerts.com Russo & Steele Collector Automobile Auction    June 2-4 The electric atmosphere of auction in the round auction block provides enthusiasts an outstanding destination to bring the whole family to experience their passion of classic cars, but also the amazing commun...