This Week with Wendy

Creating the Future of Costa Mesa with Mayor John Stephens

How does the effectiveness of city leadership affect your home value and satisfaction as a homeowner?  In fact, so many of the benefits of investing in real estate — and the pursuit of the American Dream of home ownership — depend upon the cities in which we live. To learn more about one of Orange County's hottest markets, host Wendy Ross interviews City of Costa Mesa John Stephens [https://www.costamesaca.gov/government/mayor-city-council/mayor-john-stephens] in this episode. Costa Mesa is one of Wendy's favorites for so many reasons. For one, the City’s official motto is “the City of the Arts,” and it boasts a world-class cultural scene. But there’s so much more, including the City's progressive approach to affordable housing and concern for first-time homebuyers.  Learn more about Costa Mesa on its official site [https://www.costamesaca.gov/] or contact Mayor Stephens directly at John.Stephens@costamesaca.gov [https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=john.stephens@costamesaca.gov] or 714-337-1872.

California’s Luxury Design Trends with Joseph Aldrich

What do California style-casters forecast as 2023 interior design trends? There's a reason that the world looks to California for setting trends, especially in interior design. To learn what trends will top 2023, host Wendy Ross interviewed Joseph Aldrich, principal at The Cypress Group, about luxury trends and interior design.  Friends, he is the real deal.  Perhaps it’s his height—standing well above 6 feet tall—that affords Joseph N. Aldrich the ability to see what’s on the horizon. Or maybe it’s that the toniest industry leaders have favorited his personal mobile number on their ubiquitous iPhones to expedite late-night conversations that lead to marketing and public relations breakthroughs.  Or, more likely, it’s because Joseph is a seer in a seersucker suit — or a hound in a houndstooth blazer, depending on the season — identifying design trends before they happen and working tirelessly to ensure California’s most elite consumers and buyers come to covet them. (You know you will.)

10 Things Real Estate Agents Do that Make My Head Hurt with Wendy Ross

Why do real estate agents get such a bad rap?  Many people consider real estate agents glorified order-takers, just marketing homes, opening doors and making too much money for not doing a lot of work. Host Wendy Ross doesn't disagree. In fact, she calls out some of the bad practices that her fellow brokers and agents follow that make her head hurt in this episode.  Knowing these 10 failed practices can help home buyers and sellers run from bad agents and select true professionals who act as market advisers.

Appraisals in Today’s Residential Real Estate Market with Jacki Moya

Ever wonder what goes into a real estate appraisal?  The practice often seems shrouded in mystery, so host Wendy Ross invited Jacki Moya to educate listeners. She has more than 30 years of experience in real estate — seven years in sales and 23 years appraising over a storied career. In this episode, you'll learn what an appraiser does and what to expect when working with one. Plus, Jacki offers important tips for buyers, sellers and investors.

A Day in the Life of a Real Estate Reporter with Jonathan Lansner

How does one of the nation's most trusted business reporters cover the real estate market? To find out, Wendy Ross asked Jonathan Lansner of the Orange County Register to share his expertise in regional economics and real estate markets. He is a past national president of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and a 1979 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.  Jonathan has been reporting on Orange County business, and specifically real estate markets, since the late ‘80s — timing that corresponds with the local economy’s explosive growth. In this interview, Wendy and Jonathan swap stories about California's wild real estate market and debate the use of data in reporting and decision-making.  Read more about Jonathan and his coverage at ocregister.com. [https://www.ocregister.com/author/jlansnerscng-com/]