The Home Purchase Sentiment Index Reached a Six-Month High in May,

It's official...summer is here! 

May we find time to enjoy lazy days, soaking up the sun and nurturing our souls. 
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In real estate news,
The Home Purchase Sentiment Index reached a six-month high in May, reflecting improved consumer sentiment toward buying and selling homes.
Home price reductions, on the other hand, have climbed to levels last seen in 2016 due to elevated mortgage rates and increased inventory.

Orange County home prices have remained relatively flat in recent weeks, holding steady at a record high of $1.2 million countywide, according to MLS data. Locally, the Newport Beach market remains on track, holding the average price point of $5,995,000 and an average time of 87 days on market.

Zooming out, real estate remains one of the most trusted ways to build long-term wealth. In Gallup’s latest annual poll, Americans named it as the best long-term investment for the 12th year in a row—soundly outpacing gold, stocks, bonds, crypto, and more. And while I may be a little biased, I couldn’t agree more. 

Curious about off-market inventory...the value of your property...or seeking a detailed analysis of your neighborhood?
Please reach out, I'm happy to share in-depth market data and trends.
 

DID YOU KNOW?
There are advantages to aging!  Knowledge, wisdom, the comfort of saying and doing things that in the past you may have thought others would judge you for...and buying homes. Recently, 42% of buyers in the US are aged between 60 and 78, vastly outnumbering millennials. 40%-50% of those older than 60 were able to use cash, while over 90% of millennials took out a mortgage.

DID YOU KNOW?
Applications to refinance rose 16% last week and were 28% higher than the same week one year ago. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home rose 10% for the week and were 20% higher than the same week a year ago. (CNBC)

DID YOU KNOW?
February 29th, 2016, Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff sold his home in Seattle for $1.05M. When viewed on Zillow the next day, the Zestimate gave it a value of $1.75M. Even Spencer voiced that Zestimates had been mostly a marketing gimmick...and possibly the most successful tool of all.

DID YOU KNOW? 
Dallas-Fort Worth tops the US for corporate HQ growth from 2018 to 2024, according to a new study — outpacing Austin and Nashville as the top destination.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
For the first time since 1980, unemployment among recent and new college grads is higher than the national average—close to 6% for them versus the national average of 4.2%, according to Oxford Economics. The number of jobs added in the U.S. slowed to 139,000 in May, reflecting uncertainty among employers. (BARRONS)

DID YOU KNOW?
A rising number of engaged couples want cash for a house from their wedding guests, instead of the typical air fryers, fancy gravy bowls, blenders, and towels. Gifted cash untouched for 60 - 90 days become "seasoned funds"...and lenders feel more assured it didn’t come from a loan.  (USA Today)

DID YOU KNOW?
At least $1.7 trillion is currently unclaimed in lost or forgotten 401(k) accounts, with an average balance of $56,616.  Those 29 million idle accounts represent 25% of all assets held in 401(k) retirement plans.  Curious? Take these steps and claim any languishing funds that you may have forgotten.  (USA TODAY)

Finding a lost 401(k): The low-hanging fruit

1. First, visit the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. As the name suggests, it’s a national database of unclaimed retirement accounts. Enter your Social Security Number, run a quick search and see if any idle accounts come back. 
2. Next, proceed to the Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database. This is a new site, launched by the Department of Labor to help workers locate unclaimed benefits.  While this site is not yet comprehensive, it's a convenient one-stop destination for finding retirement funds in your name.  
3. Third, visit MissingMoney, a clearinghouse for unclaimed property held by U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Another one-stop site, Missing Money can direct users to all sorts of unclaimed property, including retirement accounts.   

RealTrends has unveiled its 2025 RealTrends Verified List. Notably, COMPASS leads all brokerages in sales volume placements, with agents representing a remarkable 18% of this category and representing the brokerage of choice for industry leaders. 

I'm thrilled to be RealTrends Verified, ranked among the Top 1.5% individual agents nationwide. Focused on success for each client, I offer concierge service, expertise, and form trusted relationships. Thank you to my wonderful clients...together, we have achieved many dreams!