If you'd be willing to sell your home if you could sell it for a certain price, let us know. You may be surprised by what you can get for your property.
Name your priceA home valuation tells you the value of your home. This is used during real estate transactions such as buy-sell or refinances to ensure homeowners or buyers are not over-borrowing for a property. The home is used for collateral in a mortgage, and if the borrower defaults on his or her loan, the lender will sell the home to recoup the money lent to buy it. If the home was overvalued and they lent too much, they could lose money. A home valuation ensures they will be able to recoup costs should the mortgage not be paid in full.
If you’re using an online platform such as Zillow to get a free home valuation, you may get a skewed result.
While these platforms have historically provided relatively accurate estimates based on generic numerical data, they’ve recently changed their algorithm.
Even back when these platforms were fairly accurate, they still only provided an estimate as opposed to a true valuation done by an appraiser or Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).
The main difference between using Zillow and working with an agent is that with Zillow, there is no actual person involved who views your home, compares it against others on the market, and produces a detailed report that accounts for the unique features of your home, historical data, design context, or current neighborhood information.
This is where we come in.
When we conduct a valuation, we are actively involved in the process and create a valuation that is personalized to you and your property.
Outstanding client service, experienced business practices, and creative, far-reaching marketing strategies are what have made us the top Compass team in Corona del Mar, and why our clients routinely rely on us to achieve their real estate goals.
There are two accurate ways to perform home valuations: with a Comparative Market Analysis and an appraisal. Here is how the two differ:
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is a tool used by real estate agents to value a home. It evaluates similar homes that have recently sold in the same area. Agents find comparable sales and use them to conduct a sales comparison. In most cases, an agent will find three homes that have recently sold and are as similar to and located as close to the home being valued as possible. Each one is then analyzed to pinpoint differences between it and the home being valued. Once these differences are priced out, the price of each comp is adjusted to see what it would cost if it was identical to the home being valued were it to be sold in the current market.
An appraisal is an unbiased valuation of a home based on a professional’s opinion. They are usually what mortgage companies use for home purchases and refinances. A lender usually orders a home appraisal and the cost of the appraisal, sometimes up to $500, is paid by the homeowner. An appraiser does a complete visual inspection of the interior and exterior of the home as well as taking into consideration recent sales of similar properties and market trends. The appraiser then compiles a detailed report on the home, including an exterior building sketch, a street map showing the home and any comparable sales, photos of the home and street, an explanation of how the square footage was calculated, and any other relevant information.
Though getting a valuation in order to sell your home is the most common reason to get a home valuation, it’s not the only one. Here are some more situations when a home valuation may be necessary:
Lenders base the amount of their loans on the value of your property and usually allow you to borrow a maximum of 75% to 96.5% against your property. Knowing what your home is worth allows lenders to calculate your equity in the home. The more equity you have, the better terms you will receive on your refinance.
If you’re doing home improvement projects to increase the resale value, you want to make sure you’re not pricing it out of the market. If your home is already priced on the high-end for your neighborhood, making too many improvements could make it more difficult to sell. When you get a valuation, you can see how your home compares with others in the neighborhood and let this guide your home improvement decisions.
If you want to borrow cash against your home, getting a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) could be a good option. To qualify, you must have a certain level of equity in your home. Most lenders require at least 20%. Getting a home valuation will help you determine if you qualify and will be used by the lender to make a decision on your loan.
Though it’s not a necessity, simply knowing the value of your home is good information to have. It will help you plan for the future and deal with unforeseen circumstances when you might be in a position that requires extra money or a quick relocation. Knowing how much equity you have in your home and how much you may be able to borrow against it or sell it for will help you respond to any financial curveballs that life throws at you.
Working with Bre Roberts to secure our home in Corona del Mar was a masterclass in local expertise. Because it was a brand-new construction in a highly competitive market, we knew we needed an edge. Since Bre’s team also represented the listing, her intimate knowledge of the property’s design and history was unparalleled. She provided insights no other agent could have, giving us total confidence in our purchase. Securing a stunning, brand new construction home on a popular street is no easy feat, but Bre made it happen. We couldn’t recommend Bre and The File Group more highly!
I recently worked with Jon Marble and The File Group on the purchase of my home in Laguna Beach. Jon and his team were exceptional. As a Laguna Beach resident, Jon has deep, firsthand knowledge of the city’s neighborhoods and nuances, which proved invaluable throughout the process. He was consistently proactive—keeping me informed of new and upcoming listings—and demonstrated real diligence by immediately flagging a property that had fallen out of escrow, which ultimately became the home I purchased.
Jon’s patience, demeanor, and judgment truly set him apart. He understands that buying or selling a home can be stressful and approaches his work with calm, thoughtful guidance and a genuine commitment to his clients’ best interests. He offers measured, practical advice and works hard to build trust. Jon and The File Group are best-in-class, and I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone buying or selling a home.
Working with Jon Marble and The File Group was the best decision I could’ve made for selling my property. Jon actually lives here in Arch Beach Heights, so he really understands the neighborhood. He knew how to market the house and got us multiple offers, including one at full price. He guided me through everything, from pricing and staging to marketing and timing the listing. I truly felt supported every step of the way. I absolutely recommend Jon and The File Group to anyone thinking about selling in Laguna Beach or anywhere in Coastal Orange County.
Selling our 23-year family home in Laguna Beach was a significant decision. We lovingly raised our kids in the home, did a full remodel, and had put a lot of care into details that made our home special. From our very first meeting with Janelle and Brandon, we felt completely supported and confident in their expertise and capabilities. Their entire team saw and felt how special this home is, and they developed a strategy and marketing plan to showcase our home's unique features. Their deep understanding of the local market was evident, and they guided us to invest in several important upgrades to the home which enabled us to price our house at the top of the competitive range.
What truly impressed us was their attention to detail, their relentless work ethic, and their marketing. They handled everything from the professional staging and photography, which made our home look absolutely stunning, to coordinating showings with minimal disruption to our lives. Their communication was exceptional – we were always kept informed of every development, and they were always available to answer any questions we had.
They skillfully navigated multiple offers and ultimately helped us secure a price that exceeded our expectations. The entire transaction, from listing to closing, was handled with professionalism, efficiency, and genuine care.
Selling a home can be stressful, but The File Group made the entire process remarkably smooth and even enjoyable. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication, hard work, creativity, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for us. If you're looking to sell your home, we wholeheartedly recommend The File Group. Their knowledge, commitment, and personalized service are truly unmatched.
Janelle and her team did a fantastic job from the listing appointment up until the day we closed. Janelle is very knowledgeable about the local RE market and it showed when we went from the for sale sign in the front yard to the closing table in 26 days. Janelle and her team members were always available day and night to answer any questions or concerns we had. Janelle also had a great inner circle for all of our needs from painters, handymen, trash haulers and many more. I would highly recommend Janelle and her team if you are either looking to sell or purchase.
Brandon and Janelle were extremely professional from start to finish. I would highly recommend then to help you sell your home. They sold my home in a record closing time. I am not sure any other team could have done what they did.
Janelle was great to work with on the sale of my property. She was able to find a lot of potential buyers in a short time, and was always honest with me in communicating what the buyers felt about my property. There was absolute trust on both Janelle's side as well as mine, and that will always make any business transaction a successful one. She handled everything in an expedient, thoughtful manner, and completed the sale successfully. There is no one else I would rather work with in Corona del Mar and the surrounding area.
I have recommended Janelle and Brandon many times already. They are the best! Brandon takes care of any detail that requires attention right away. They contacted us 8 months after one short chance meeting when something came available we had described to them. That is now our home and it wasn't on the market. When we wanted help renting out another property, they had it done the first week end to our ideal tenant. Whenever we need a resource (handyman etc) they have a recommendation and never fail to help us. I would highly recommend them.
Brandon and Janelle are the go to team in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach and the surrounding communities!! We just closed on our house and there were multiple competing offers. I truly believe we would not have gotten the home if it weren’t for their experience and their relationship with other agent. We couldn’t be happier with the service and the follow up. Highly recommend them!!
Janelle and Brandon are true experts and make the home buying/selling process enjoyable. Brandon consistently made himself available for showings, always followed up with emails, and worked great with the other agents. Janelle's appraisal expertise ensured that the offer I presented was fair and Brandon negotiated the transaction perfectly. I always felt 100% supported and couldn't have asked for a better team in my corner.
Engaging The File Group was hands-down the best decision we could have made when searching for our new home. Janelle and Brandon were not only super informative, insightful, patient and willing to roll with us as we figured out what we wanted, but they also made the entire process as simple and streamlined as it could possibly be, from search to offer to negotiation to mortgage application to inspection to closing. And, even after closing, they consistently checked in to make sure we had everything we needed and were happy with our new home. I have regularly and confidently recommended The File Group to my family and friends — all of whom have had glowing reviews of their own.
Our experience with Brandon and his team was near flawless. We went from discussing the market to close on our first home in under 35 days and we couldn't be happier with the way things worked out. I met Brandon several months prior to even considering making a real estate purchase with my wife. Over the course of that period of time he made a clear effort to learn about my business, connect me with other professionals, and genuinely took an interest in being of service should the need ever arise. In early June of this year, I began to evaluate our entry into the market and reached out to Brandon in an effort to make an educated decision about whether or not to pursue our first potential purchase. During that conversation, he demonstrated a clear understanding of the local area, the current financial climate, and how this purchase fit into our family's long-term goals. Beyond that, I got the strong sense that he was able to separate and prioritize our best interests over the desire to just sell us a house. In action, Brandon was a strong asset, his personal presentation and professionalism provided us with a tangible advantage in the way that other agents viewed us as potential buyers. He was thorough and rational in his evaluation of potential properties helping to keep us thinking critically about our options. Ultimately, after hearing horror stories from friends viewing hundreds of houses and making multiple offers only to be outbid by a cash offer, we got really lucky. We fell in love with a house, made a very well-educated offer thanks to Brandon and his team, and presented a very appealing package that made the homeowners comfortable with our plans for their home. Then the stressful part started. One of the best parts of working with Brandon was the incredible team behind him at Surterre. They gave us the confidence to agree to expedited closing and made sure that we did not sacrifice at all on our due diligence. He was proactive in scheduling and attending every inspection and walk-through and found great professionals that we could trust did a thorough job. We bugged the crap out of him, calling/texting constantly because we were inexperienced regarding the process and he handled our demands with patience and clearly explained everything to us. As I said, we were the lucky ones and got to enjoy the process and found a great home that we absolutely love. Thanks to Brandon, Janelle, and everyone at their office.
I experienced the ultimate professionalism working with Janelle and Brandon. They are not extremely professional but handled every one of my issues with great care. I highly recommend them if you want to sell or buy a home. What a wonderful experience they provided us. I felt like family to them. Their marketing and selling methodology was exceptional. Additionally, I came to like them as individuals who I knew had my best interest at heart. It wasn’t about making a sale but serving my desires. I can’t recommend them highly enough as professionals and I feel fortunate that they became our friends.
Janelle helped me find a rare opportunity on Balboa Island. It was a highly sought 4-BR unit. She obtained the MLS data and the full data sheet on the same day. She also was available and got me into the place for review within 48 hours prior to the first weekend it was up. So I was able to put an offer in prior to the weekend. And I was selected from a number of applications. Janelle worked directly with the owner on the final terms and was present at the inspection. Very happy with her work on this - I would not have found it without her.
Brandon and his team were absolutely the best. We met Brandon randomly at an open house about 9 months before we bought our home, but he was always responsive when we wanted to see an open house. When we found our dream place, he and his team were incredibly on top of their game. During the closing process, which was very daunting for a new buyer, Brandon was with us 100% along the way. If you can, work with The File Group. You won't regret it. They are amazing!
If you are looking for an honest, professional, full-service, fun real estate agent, look no further. Janelle helped us purchase a home and facilitated a seamless, smooth process going above and beyond for us as we lived out of town. Janelle's previous clients have used her repeatedly for multiple house transactions. We feel so fortunate to have met her as we know she will help us with whatever our future housing needs in Orange County may be.
My experience with the File Group and Janelle was incredible from start to finish. From the first meeting where she and her husband spent time getting to know me, my needs and gave me great insight. The creative marketing they do is impressive and helped drive the right buyers to visit. Their concierge service is wonderful and they are incredibly responsive. It was such a good experience I bought my new home thru her and sold another home.
Brandon did an incredible job guiding us through the buying process of our new home in Corona del Mar. He was accommodating, assisted us greatly in negotiation, and had incredible communication throughout the entire process. Brandon even coordinated with multiple contractors to ensure extensive repairs to the home would be completed by our move-in date. Working with Brandon was a delight and he delivered quality results for us.
Janelle is absolutely incredible. I originally went with the File Group because of their knowledge and reputation in the Corona del Mar Market. Not did they outshine themselves in this aspect, but Janelle and Brandon worked extremely hard to sell me at a record comp and on top of everything - were an absolute pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend The File Group time and time again!
Brandon is exceptionally creative with a strong business sense. He thoroughly understands partnership marketing and is a true believer in the team approach. He is enthusiastic regarding his work and has a true passion for the game of golf. His desire to advance the sport within the college ranks is infectious. His strategic planning and goal-oriented approach are superior to others.
Janelle is a conscientious worker and she always demonstrates a high level of integrity, professionalism, creativity, and self-discipline. She has a focused approach to developing and executing business strategies and is able to motivate and lead her staff to accomplish established goals and objectives - all done with a smile on her face and a positive attitude.
The File Group is extremely professional and easy to work with. Janelle’s responsiveness and drive to make the best deal possible for all parties are incredible. Her appraisal background supports her pricing strategy. We are confident The File Group supported our needs from start to finish. We have now sold 2 homes and purchased 2 homes with their team.
Their marketing and selling methodology was exceptional. Additionally, I came to like them as individuals who I knew had my best interest at heart. It wasn't about making a sale but serving my desires. I can't recommend them highly enough as professionals and I feel fortunate that they became our friends.
Brandon is a visionary, motivational leader who embodies the rare combination of unbridled enthusiasm and unyielding integrity. There is no more solid person whom I know and I am delighted to be able to provide any type of reference for Brandon at any time.
I have known Janelle and members of her team for years. We have done business together prior to her having the courage to start her own and will say she is honest, hard-working and most of all easy to communicate with. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
The entire file group was very helpful and highly professional. Would use them again! They represented both sides of the deal in a professional manner. We had some repairs to coordinate and all details were covered in a timely manner.
All I can say is "wow" ! not only did Janelle and Brandon operate with a clear, easy-to-flow process, but everything was fully transparent. I had full trust in their professionalism and ability to help us meet our goal.
Incredibly professional and a pleasure to work with. I would recommend The File Group to family, friends, and colleagues looking to buy or sell a home.
Janelle is a hard-working energetic woman who knows how to get the job done.
Pro's from top to bottom and you will never meet more quality individuals.