What happened in October 2010 in Orange County in Real Estate? According to Southern California MLS, agents reported that there were 2,027 homes that closed escrow or “SOLD”.

Of those 2,027 homes the average Days on Market, which tells us how long the home was marketed before an acceptable offer was taken, was 98 days. Those 98 days do not include the 30-60 days to close the typical equity sale. If a bank is involved in a short sale for example, the process can be much longer.

Homes sat on the market for over 3 months before getting an acceptable offer. Even then the final sales price was only 94% of the original list price. In other words the home sat on the market for 98 days and the average seller still took a 6% reduction. And the agent that represented them still got their commission.

In a tough market like this one, shouldn’t the agent you are hiring be willing to put their money where their mouth is? The sad truth is that very few of them will. He claims that if he can’t sell your home in 60 Days at a price that you agree on, he’ll sell it for free. Now, that’s how it should be.

Apparently there are agents throughout the country who make similar offers and are willing to share the risk with the home seller. For once that makes sense to me. Especially since the bar of entry into the real estate business is set pretty low and most real estate companies offer little or no formal training for their agents.

Today is November 7, 2010. With these stats, if you were to list your home for sale today with just any agent, you could expect that the offer you finally accept will be around the middle of February and if you originally listed your home for sale at $500,000 you would accept a final offer of $470,000. In addition you would still likely pay almost $30,000 in commissions bringing your approximate net down to $440,000 and then deduct the other costs associated with selling. Now you’re down to $430,000. Was that the original plan for these sellers? I would guess not.

Both types of homes are great investments that should see nice appreciation in the coming years. Single family homes are becoming more rare as space is quickly being used up in many areas. Condos on the other hand seem to be going up everywhere around any typical city. Whichever you choose, know that you are making a long-term investment in your future. Be smart when it comes to selling your home.

No matter if you are a current resident of Orange County or looking to make a change, finding homes for rent in California can be a great way to start your new life. As of right now there are 34 incorporated counties that make up Orange County, California. Each consists of neighborhoods and demographics that may or may not work for you. Each offers uniquely different job markets and school systems.

In the area you also have many entertainment venues to enjoy. From Disneyland, to the beach Orange County is the perfect area to call home. In the area you will always be just a moment a way from enjoying all the fun it has to offer. Plus many of the attractions give discounts to their local residents.

So where are the homes for rent in Orange County, California? Well, they are all over. Several websites such as rent.com, ocregister.com, and rentals.com provide information on homes you are able to rent in the area. Making the must of these free services can give you a powerful tool to begin your search.

You can also find agents and brokers who specialize in homes for rent in Orange County, California. Many real estate offices have begun to pick up on this trend, and are making capital off this novel idea. It may even be possible to work out a rent to own deal through these companies. This allows you to move away from a traditional loan and experience home ownership on a rental level. An agent also can easily provide you with local crime rates and education systems for your children. This could prove to be beneficial as opposed to taking on the rental hunt alone.

When considering the move you should also figure out commute times to your current place of employment. Perhaps a change of jobs is in order. Orange County offers many different headquarters of some of the best companies in the United States. It may be a good idea to research and apply with these companies. Having solid employment will be essential in securing your new home in Orange County.

Before long you will be able to move into that home of your dreams, by renting it. Begin your search today. There are many great homes for rent in Orange County, and yours could be just a phone call away.