Simon Guy I The Right Guy Real Estate Group

09/05/2026

For years, buyers in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano asked the usual questions:

How close is the beach?
How are the schools?
How's the traffic?

Now there's another question worth asking:

How easy is it to get around without a car?

E-bikes are changing how some buyers think about hills, trail access, garages and everyday transportation.

In our latest video, Thomas Morley breaks down five ways e-bikes are influencing the way buyers evaluate South Orange County homes.

The biggest takeaway?

Don't just look at the floor plan. Look at the trail map.

READ FULL BLOG:

E-bikes are changing how buyers evaluate homes in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. See why trail access, garages and rideability matter in South OC real estate.

09/04/2026

The moment we've been waiting for…

It's finally time to pick the winner of our Back-to-School Giveaway!

We upgraded this year's prize from 13 inches to 15 inches because, well… bigger is better.

These giveaways are one of the ways we get to say thank you to everyone who continues to support our team and our business.

Congratulations to our winner! ✨

09/03/2026

If you’ve owned your Orange County home for 10, 20, or 30 years, pr...

09/02/2026

The list price is NOT the full cost of buying a home. Before you make an offer, do your homework.

Here are 3 things every buyer should check:

1. Property taxes
Find out whether there are special assessments or additional tax obligations.

2. HOA & community fees
A home's purchase price doesn't tell you what the ongoing community costs will be.

3. Homeowners insurance
Get an insurance quote while you're considering the property. You don't want to discover the real cost of insurance after you've already committed.

The goal isn't just to find a home you can afford to buy. It's finding a home you can comfortably afford to own.

Save this for your next home search.

09/01/2026

The home costs $2 million. But the price tag isn't the whole story.

Two homes can sell for the exact same price while having very different annual ownership costs.

In this example, the Mello-Roos + HOA difference is $4,764 per year.

Then there's Talega's lifestyle fee: 0.25% of the purchase price.

On a $2 million home, that's another $5,000.

That's why smart buyers need to look beyond the listing price and understand the fees attached to the community before making an offer.

Especially in South Orange County, where HOA, Mello-Roos and community-specific fees can vary significantly from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Would you pay the extra $5,000 to live in Talega?

08/31/2026

You bought the house. But what if you're still paying a special tax tied to the community? That's Mello-Roos.

These special taxes can help fund infrastructure such as roads, schools, parks, public safety and utilities. And for California homebuyers, they're an important cost to understand before making an offer.

Because the list price isn't always the full story.

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Would Mello-Roos change your decision to buy a home?

08/28/2026

The list price is only part of what a home will cost you.

Property taxes, Mello-Roos, HOA dues, special assessments, insurance, and transfer fees can add thousands of dollars to your cost of ownership, even when two homes have nearly identical purchase prices.

Read the full blog and learn how to look beyond the list price.

Buying a home in Orange County? Learn what buyers should ask about property taxes, Mello-Roos, HOA fees, special assessments, insurance, and hidden home buying costs.

08/28/2026

A familiar piece of Dana Point Harbor, surrounded by change.

Construction is underway as the harbor moves through its revitalization, and some of the last remaining pieces of the original harbor are still standing. For now.

Soon, this will be part of Dana Point's history.

We’ll be following the transformation as the harbor enters its next chapter.

08/27/2026

A $2 Million Home Doesn't Always Cost the Same to Own

One of the biggest mistakes buyers make is comparing homes based only on the purchase price.

In our latest San Clemente real estate video, we compare two homes priced around $2 million in Talega and Rancho San Clemente. On paper, they look almost identical. In reality, their ongoing ownership costs are very different.

08/27/2026

The Hidden Cost of a $2 Million San Clemente Home 🤔

Two beautiful homes in San Clemente. Both priced around $2 million. But one could cost you thousands of dollars more every year to own.

The difference isn't the mortgage.

It's the costs many buyers overlook, including Mello-Roos, HOA dues, property taxes, special assessments, and Talega's Lifestyle Fee.

In our newest video, we compare a home in Talega with one in Rancho San Clemente and show why looking beyond the list price is one of the smartest things you can do as a buyer.

WATCH IT HERE: https://youtu.be/fkcBmWayDfE

Watch the full video and let us know: Would you pay more for the Talega lifestyle, or would you choose lower ongoing ownership costs?

Two homes in San Clemente. Both priced around $2 million. But one c...