Despite the five most direct comparables averaging only $1.346M, including the majority of them being exact floor plan matches and having the same view perspective, we rejected the traditional real estate industry approach to valuing and marketing this property. Instead, we relied on our keen understanding of the Laguna Beach oceanfront condo market, and developed a positioning and marketing strategy for this property so as to achieve a closed sales price at its full fair market value, which happened to be significantly above the market. We also got this property under contract within only 4 days. We provided an extremely detailed analysis of the comparables to help educate the appraiser on this narrow niche market, whose appraisal came in at full contract price, and was accepted and approved by the lender, a major money-center bank direct lender.

The seller, having listed his property with another agent who had not found a buyer after more than 300 days on the market, approached us to consider listing his property. He, as the buyer of one of our other listings the prior year, told us that he had admired how well we had represented the seller in that transaction. Despite the extended length of time on the market with the first agent, we nonetheless developed a new positioning reflective of the caliber of this property along with a marketing strategy to bring in a buyer quickly while still achieving a premium for the seller. In contrast to the significant price reductions often associated with re-listings of properties that have gone unsold for an extended period of time, we felt confident coming on the market at $39K above the previous list price of $1.789M. Despite the higher list price, we still succeeded in bringing in a buyer at $1.8M, within only 9 days on the market.

We developed a refined positioning for this property, which included composing a 50-page full-color book with articles written by OPUS REAL ESTATE and with photographs taken professionally; an assessment of the property's appeal from a feng shui perspective; plus a highly detailed comparative analysis, all of which helped elevate the property's value.  In fact, this value received affirmation in the form of an independent appraisal for the full contract price and approval of the appraisal by the lender.

We worked with the seller to transform the property cost-effectively from a 4BR/3.5BA to a 6BR/5.5BA, and, as a result of their trust in OPUS REAL ESTATE and willingness to follow our advice, we were able to elevate the value of the property as being in an entirely new echelon and successfully positioned it to be in the company of much more grand estates.

We immediately recognized the special ambiance of this golf course-fronting property, and sought to capture its full value through our unique method of enhancing property value.  Whereas local agents voiced their opinion that this property was priced well-above the comparables, OPUS REAL ESTATE understood its true value regardless of the comparables, and succeeded in positioning and marketing the property to achieve its full market value, which gained validation in the form of an independent appraisal at full contract price and acceptance of the appraisal by the lender.

This homeowner approached us seeking to understand how we managed to achieve a sales price for another oceanfront condominium a block away substantially above the comps.  After interviewing a number of local agents, the seller selected us because of our unique approach, market knowledge, and strategy.  We introduced an innovative approach to communicating the rarity and value of this magnificent property, which included composing a 44-page book filled with photographs taken professionally and articles written by OPUS REAL ESTATE; identifying 25 oceanfront-specific factors important in supporting premium value; and preparing a detailed strategic view of the oceanfront condominium market in Laguna Beach — all of which helped support the property's value.  The uniqueness of this property, with unobstructed views on three sides, is such that only two other properties in Laguna Beach could be considered directly comparable, the most recent selling for $2.5M in 2012.  Without a recent direct comparable, we were able to leverage the aforementioned sale (which represented an all-time $/SF high for a Laguna Beach condominium) to justify the premium price we sought for this property.  We sold the subject condominium for an all-time high within this community — which was $400K above the pre-housing market downturn high for a penthouse unit in this community. 

Before listing this oceanfront condominium, the seller followed our advice to update the property's interior in a way that would enable us to capture as high a premium as possible above the most recent sale in this community.  In our marketing, we leveraged the property's rare commanding oceanfront setting at the peak of a rock extending into the ocean — and we composed a detailed strategic assessment of the Laguna Beach oceanfront condominium market, both of which helped OPUS REAL ESTATE set not only an historic high for this condominium community, but also the all-time $/SF high paid for a condominium in Laguna Beach, ever.

We worked with the seller to prepare the property for the market, including making cosmetic improvements and staging, which helped us execute an effective marketing and positioning strategy.  Despite the challenges in selling a 1BR unit, which tend to have much less demand than 2BR units, our positioning and detailed analyses of the market helped OPUS REAL ESTATE achieve a very favorable outcome for the seller.

This property featured a phenomenal up-coast ocean view, but its dated interior detracted from the "wow factor" of the view.  We recommended updating and professionally staging this property to give it the emotional appeal that would unleash its full value potential.  The seller trusted in us and followed our advice.  And, as a result, OPUS REAL ESTATE was able to position the property to appeal to a premium buyer and thereby succeeded in elevating the price level within this community from the mid-$1Ms well into the $2Ms.

The seller offered to the local real estate community the opportunity to bring in a buyer for her oceanfront condominium, but, unfortunately, she did not meet with success.  Still not wanting to list her unit, she turned to Opus Real Estate and extended the same offer.  We decided to undertake an aggressive effort to show the property to prospective buyers.  We positioned the property, among other things, as having one of the absolute best oceanfront views in all of Laguna Beach.  OPUS REAL ESTATE's marketing and positioning efforts succeeded in bringing in a buyer in which we represented both parties, and achieved a selling price $809K more than the sold price of another front-row 2BR/2BA oceanfront unit in the same building that closed later that same year. 

We believed the market value of this stellar oceanfront condominium to have been substantially higher than the sold price of the most recent comparable at $1.68M.  When this property came on the market, we quickly found the buyer, who purchased it for $2.2M, but shortly afterwards decided not to hold onto it.  We turned around and sold it three months later for an all-time high for this community.   

We worked with the seller to update and professionally stage this 1BR/1BA oceanfront condominium to enhance the emotional appeal of this property.  With a partially obstructed view and a less desirable 1BR/1BA configuration versus the more common 2BR/2BA, we positioned this unit, among other things, as a wonderful buy opportunity in a community with units selling for close to $3M.  In this sale, OPUS REAL ESTATE achieved an all-time sales high for a 1BR/1BA unit in this community.   

We worked with the seller to advise them on remodeling the home to obtain the highest possible sales price.  The seller agreed with our recommendations, which enabled us to price this ocean view single-family home at a substantial premium.   OPUS REAL ESTATE positioned the property to highlight its most desirable features, and succeeded in bringing the $/SF values from the mid-$500s into the $700s, and setting a new $/SF benchmark for San Clemente.   

We worked with the seller to perform a light remodel and staging of the property for maximum appeal.  We successfully positioned this property, which was situated in a $450-$480K neighborhood, to be valued as if it were in a more expensive one — highlighting its differentiating features.  As a result, OPUS REAL ESTATE succeeded in increasing the $/SF from $282/SF to a staggering $444/SF.

The seller asked us for advice on trying to capture the full market value of this property in a tract home community in San Bernardino County.  With the kitchen and one bathroom already remodeled, and the seller already in her new home, we recommended the property be professionally staged to look its absolute best.  We positioned the property as being much like many upscale tract homes in Orange County, featuring beautiful mature hedges that provide rare privacy, and upscale appliances and fixtures.  While most of our listing experience has been in higher price brackets, we found great success in our approach among lower priced homes as well.  In this case, OPUS REAL ESTATE achieved the highest $/SF in this tract in nearly a decade — since the housing downturn in 2007 —establishing a new benchmark for all subsequent sales.

We worked with the seller to make the home as presentable as possible including space-clearing and some light staging.  We highlighted this property's key differentiating features in our marketing and positioning, which contributed to our achieving a 14% premium compared to a floor-plan match sold 6 weeks earlier, and a staggering 64% premium in $/sf compared to a 3BR/2BA short-sale property within the same HOA, which closed three days prior.

We worked with the seller to make some cosmetic remodeling recommendations, including advising against taking on some projects the seller proposed, which would not likely increase the seller's bottom line.  With the recent remodel, we were able to position the property as an alternative to higher-priced new construction. Despite the closest comparable a few doors down having sold for $515K one month prior to listing this property, we were able to sell this property for $600K.  OPUS REAL ESTATE's marketing strategy produced multiple offers, including a full-price offer of $608.8K, but the seller opted to reduce their risk by accepting an all-cash offer at $600K.

We worked with the seller to prepare the property for sale including installing all new kitchen appliances, new fixtures, and new carpeting to make the property look as fresh and new as possible.  Despite these improvements, we faced the challenge of selling this property located directly across the street from a strip mall and along a street having lots of traffic noise.  We positioned the property as ideal for a multi-car household since it was one of very few properties in the development offering parking for four vehicles.  OPUS REAL ESTATE's marketing strategy contributed to achieving the highest sales price within the community in nearly a decade.

After buying this 3000+ sf home as an investment, the seller realized he preferred to own smaller investment properties with their greater ease of maintenance and rentability — and decided to sell it later that same year.  OPUS REAL ESTATE positioned this property, among other things, as an ideal executive home priced much less than those one highway exit away in Orange County.  Despite the disadvantage of a mostly unusable, steep up-slope yard that the comparables did not have, we still achieved a $65K premium compared to the comparables.

The seller received an unsolicited offer for a teardown cottage across the street from the beach, which two local agents he had used in the past said was a good offer, and advised accepting.  The seller approached OPUS REAL ESTATE and asked us for our opinion.  We agreed to perform a detailed market assessment, and our research suggested this property was worth considerably more than the offer presented.  We represented the seller and successfully negotiated a $275K increase in the offer price.