Author: Cuselleration

Can You Pay your Mortgage Using Bitcoins?

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Bitcoins are all the rage right now and are changing the way people think about money. But can you pay your mortgage using this new digital currency? Find out below!

If you are looking to buy a house, there are a number of financial assets that could help you qualify for a mortgage including your current home, cash in savings and checking, retirement accounts and other investments. But what if you have assets that include bitcoins? While the cryptocurrency was recently labelled as an asset by the Internal Revenue Service, most lenders remain wary about how to value and accept this new digital currency.

Bitcoins as Assets

Bitcoin has been around for about eight years. It could be used in the mortgage transaction just like any other form of money. But there are a few problems. What is one Bitcoin worth? Will anybody accept them?

Let’s start with the worth of a Bitcoin. We would treat it like any other foreign currency. It would need to be converted in terms of value if not in terms of actual conversion to United States dollars. The good news is that there are exchanges for them. One Bitcoin was worth $16,490 on December 14, 2017 3:29pm PST.

Until more consistent rules are put into place, here are some ways you may be able to use Bitcoin during the mortgage process.

To pay closing costs and fees: A Manhattan mortgage provider made history in late 2013 when it became the first firm to accept bitcoins for real estate closing costs and fees. While this is an exciting milestone for the cryptocurrency, the trend has yet to catch on with most lenders. And do not expect to be able to make your mortgage payment in bitcoins because most experts think that is a long way off.

Use bitcoins as an asset on your mortgage application: Valuing bitcoin on a mortgage application is new territory for most mortgage lenders, so you might struggle to find one who will take this asset into consideration. But there is anecdotal evidence that a handful of mortgage providers are becoming more bitcoin-friendly. Just like all assets used to qualify for a mortgage, you will need to verify the value of the bitcoins you hold and submit proper and often extensive documentation to your mortgage provider.

Use bitcoins for proper documentation of transactions in a bank account: Even if you don’t plan on using your bitcoins to boost your assets when you apply for a mortgage, your mortgage provider may still request documentation for any large transactions in and out of your bank account. Your mortgage provider would want to confirm how that money entered your bank account if you cashed out a large amount of bitcoins to use for a down payment. This is similar to accounting for large cash gifts. Mortgage providers need to be sure you have not borrowed money from somewhere else to boost your liquid assets. For this reason, you should be prepared with a record of your bitcoin-to-bank-account transaction history.

Are you in the market to purchase a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, or Mission Viejo? Click here to talk to the Ryan Grant Team today!

Loan Prequalification vs. Loan Pre Approval in Orange County

Posted on | by Cuselleration

You are finally ready to make the move into homeownership. From all of the online searching you have done, you know that you need to get a “pre-something” to prove you are a serious home buyer. But which is it: preapproved or prequalified? These both sound good, but they have different purposes.

Getting preapproved

The preapproval process is like a test drive before you submit your formal application for a mortgage. The loan officer and an underwriter will verify the figures, facts and your credit history. This process could help pinpoint things you may want to improve or errors that you will want to correct before entering the formal application review process. A loan officer will also start looking for mortgage programs that might apply to your financial situation. The preapproval process is more precise because it is fully underwritten and helps ensure your home buying process will go smoothly.

In addition to ordering your credit report, a loan officer may ask for copies of last year’s W-2s, brokerage, savings account statements, current pay stubs and your credit history..

Getting prequalified

When you ask a loan officer to do a prequalification, it can be done online, in-person or by phone. They will verbally ask you to share information on your income, assets, credit and the amount of debt you owe.

It’s a conversation that helps establish some financial parameters before you make offers on properties and helps you find the ideal price range when starting your search.

The process is useful for first-time buyers and is not rigorous enough to distinguish you from the other attendees at an open house or when you request a showing. The reason is that the letter is based off something similar to a best guess by a loan officer. It’s not reviewed by an underwriter and doesn’t address what to expect in regards to the type of mortgage needed to buy a home.

Your monthly bills

When you are preapproved, you will receive a letter to share with real estate agents and home sellers. After you have an offer accepted on a home, you will still need to formally apply for a mortgage. This review process will involve a deeper dive into the information you have already given. Having a pre-approval letter also means faster service and turn times to get you into your house sooner. The official mortgage application is more likely to be easier than with just a prequalification.

Why should you bother getting prequalified?

The prequalification process does not take a lot of time or effort on your part. Any cost is usually limited to that of requesting a credit report. When you already have an idea of the South Orange County area you want to look in and the type of home you can afford, skipping the prequalification step could make sense. It is a preliminary step for those who need a starting point.

In comparison, for most buyers, a pre-approval is a step that they should not skip. Obtaining a letter from a lender that states you are preapproved can be especially helpful in neighborhoods where the existing home inventory is tight and when the home you are looking at is perfect. Being pre-approved makes it easier for the seller to accept your offer over that of a buyer that has not taken this extra step.

Are you in the market to purchase a home in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita or Coto de Caza? Click here to talk to the Ryan Grant Team today!

Why Walking and Jogging in Orange County Make You Live Longer

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Okay, so are you a walker… or a jogger? Generally speaking, you’ll fall into one category or the other. Both walking and jogging offer enormous health benefits. It is one of the most economical ways to stay fit, with just investing in the cost of a good pair of shoes. Depending on your intensity, you can enjoy a runner’s high, increased metabolism, increased stamina, or the emotional and psychological benefits that come from walking in nature and having time to reflect. Everyone is different, and occasionally someone is a runner and a walker. Either way, it will make you live longer.

Did you realize how many ways lacing up your shoes can help your health? The American Heart Association says walking will cut your risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. Now that’s a good deal. If you walk every day you will burn calories and improve your muscle strength. Your heart will thank you, too. Plus, the stronger you are, the more able you are to ward off the cold and flu, which will keep you healthier. You may have heard of endorphins: walking and jogging release these naturally-occurring chemicals inside the body, which keeps us energized and in a very good mood!

Hip flexors. Joint ligaments. Hamstrings. Abs. Calves. Glutes. Heart. Pretty much everything from your neck to your knees benefits from jogging and brisk walking. We’ve talked about the physical benefits, but those endorphins are important, adding benefits like improved mental health, physical self-perception and esteem.

Jogging and Weight Loss

According to the New York Times, runners lose more abdominal fat than walkers. But for some people, due to joint replacement or other physical barriers, walking is their only option, and it is a good one. It will reduce your risk of heart disease, is inexpensive, and you can walk pretty much anywhere.

Watch Your Form

Whether walking or jogging, be sure to check your form. It’s always best to gently stretch your calf muscles and hamstrings before heading out. Then make sure your posture is good, and pull in your abdominal muscles to increase your core strength. Have you ever used a pedometer? It’s good to aim for 10,000 steps every day, and step tracking devices can really be a wake-up call if you are being too much of a desk jockey and not hitting the pavement enough.

Where to Walk in Orange County

Okay, so you’re ready to hit the trail, but want a few new ideas of places to go to get in those 10,000 steps. Here are a ideas for walking trails in SoCal.

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

This park is home to 30 miles of trails, and 4500 acres of pure beauty. Many endangered plants and animals enjoy the area as a sanctuary.

Top of the World

On a clear day, you can see forever from Top of the World at Alta Laguna Park. From Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, this park has it all, with great hiking and jogging trails to kids’ parks, tennis and basketball courts, and fields for baseball or soccer.

Balboa Island Loop

Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Mae West, James Cagney and Shirley Temple. They have all owned yachts around Balboa Island, and it is a great place for walkers and joggers alike. Take the ferry to the island and get your steps in! There are tons of paved walking paths around Balboa Island, and you can click off the steps and enjoy the scenery.

At The Kovacs Connection, we love showing you the amazing properties in Orange County that you can call home. Give us a call to check them out, and in the meantime, we’ll see you out on a hike!

Wrapping Up: Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas for Under the Tree and Selling Your Home

Posted on | by Cuselleration

There seem to be two kinds of people when it comes to holiday gift wrapping: the last-minute, just throw it in a bag kind of people, and the givers who painstakingly wrap each gift, spending more time (and often more money) on the wrapping than the gift itself. We want to find that wonderful middle ground, where the gifts you give look fabulous, but you’re not spending all day on that one wrapping job for the latest New York Times Best Seller for your friend. Then, we have a few tips to help you gift wrap your home to sell during the holidays.

Pure Dead Brilliant

Use a design in various ways to create some interest. Like the Scottish saying “pure dead brilliant,’ Scottish tartan plaids in various designs but in the same color palette of red, green and gold can create a very winter, festive air.

The Natural Look

Take inexpensive brown craft paper and get creative with it. Use it to wrap your gifts. Then pull it all together with a decorative ribbon and some fresh herbs, or a sprig of berries from the craft store.

Is that East or West?

Take some old maps that are gathering dust in your car or home office, and use them to wrap your gifts. Instead of a bow, you could use a thin cord and a vintage button to give it another nod to nostalgia.

The Creative World is Your Oyster

We mentioned brown craft paper. White butcher paper is a great canvas for any wrapping idea. Once the gift is wrapped, you can use stamps or draw personal notes on the gift to make it uniquely yours. If the gift is going to Grandma, then the outline of a grandchild’s hand will mean that wrapping paper won’t be thrown away anytime soon!

Play it Again, Sam

Do you have any old sheet music lying around? If you know you aren’t going to use it while sitting at the piano, use it as wrapping paper. It already looks upscale, and you can complete the look with a silky bow and silver bells. Because you know, ‘it’s Christmas time in the city.’ You’ll have that song stuck in your head all day. You’re welcome.

From “For Sale” to “Sold!”

The holiday season is often considered the worst time to list a home, but in reality, it does have advantages. Thinking about selling your home? Consider this: potential homebuyers this time of year are serious, and there are typically fewer homes on the market, so if you get a nibble, it’s a good one. A few tips:

  • Decorate, but this year, less is more. Don’t overdo it: it can be distracting to buyers.
  • Hire a reliable real estate agent, with a team that will work with you during the holidays.
  • Make sure the price is right. Your realtor can give you a reliable comparative analysis to make your home attractive to motivated buyers.
  • Make sure it’s sitting pretty. Curb appeal is important all year-round, but particularly in the winter months.
  • Create a video tour. The holiday season is busy for everyone, so make it easy on potential buyers by working with your real estate agent to create a video tour of your property that they can see when the time is convenient for them.

Call the Kovacs Connection Team to help you gift wrap your home to sell!

What Makes a Property’s Value Rise and Fall in Orange County?

Posted on | by Cuselleration

In today’s Orange County housing market, buyers and sellers alike try to understand the concept of home value appreciation.

The value of your home may appreciate over time, unlike the purchase of a car which depreciates when you drive it off the lot. Appreciation is based on a few factors.

Location is as important as the home

It’s all about the location, location, location! You have heard this before. Where you buy your home may be the most important and controllable factor to appreciation. If value increase is important to you, make sure to give thought to where you buy.

Ask yourself these questions when buying as it relates to location. Is the house close to major highways? Are there good schools nearby? Is the home conveniently located to entertainment and shopping? Does it have a nice view?

Investing in a desirable location may contribute to equity in your home down the line and can mean more money in your pocket if you decide to sell.

Acres and land accumulate

Another factor to consider is how much you buy. We are talking land, not the physical structure of your house. Think about supply and demand. Land is a precious commodity in Orange County and we are not getting any more of it. As the Earth’s population increases, so does the need for land.

If your budget does not allow for both a big, gorgeous home with a considerable piece of land, you might wish to consider opting for a more conservative home and keep the land.

The benefit of upkeep

Take care of your house. While it may not be as huge a factor as the location and land itself, having a well-maintained house with attractive details and modern amenities might increase the equity of your home. It will also help it sell faster when you are ready. Separate your home from the rest with our home selling tips here!

The external effects

It’s smart to give thought to how your home will appreciate. The reality is that appreciation rates vary based on factors beyond the control of the homebuyer.

The local, national and global economy affects the real estate market. This affects what your home is worth at any given time. To put it simply, the more people could afford to buy homes, the greater the demand becomes for homes. This makes home values rise.

Move fast! Timing is everything

If you are shopping for a house right now, you know that it is a seller’s market. In some locations in Orange County, a house could be under contract within days or hours. This trend has had a positive impact on home values across the nation.

In May of this year, Zillow has reported a national home value index of $199,200. This is an increase of .5% from April this year and 7.4% from last year. To put it simply, sellers have a great chance of getting the most bang for their real estate buck in the current market.

Are you in the market to buy a home in Coto de Caza, Rancho Santa Margarita, or Mission Viejo? Click here to talk to the Ryan Grant Team today!

7 Mortgage Facts You Should Know

Posted on | by Cuselleration

The seven mortgage facts below will give you an advantage when shopping for a home or refinancing an existing loan.

1. Mortgage rates are always changing

Similar to the stock market, mortgage rates are changing throughout the day. Mortgage rates you see today might not be available tomorrow. If you are in need of a mortgage loan, make sure to check the current rates being offered by lenders. If you have already done your research and have found your dream house, you should consider locking in your rate as soon as possible.

2. Different mortgage lenders charge different fees

Don’t expect all lenders to charge the same fees for a mortgage loan. Each lender structures their fees differently. The next time you apply for a mortgage loan pay close attention to the rates, closing costs and points being charged.

3. Lenders could sell your loan to another bank

Most home buyers have experience getting a mortgage loan with a certain lender only to find out that the loan has been sold to another bank. This happens because lenders need to free up their liabilities in order to make room to give out more loans. However, it doesn’t affect your mortgage whatsoever and it’s important to pay close attention to your mortgage statement and any correspondence you receive in the mail to make sure you don’t make payments to the wrong bank.

4. Your middle credit score

When you’re applying for a mortgage loan, the lender will pull your credit scores from Transunion, Experian and Equifax to assist them in determining your credit. Your middle score of the three is what lenders will use to qualify for a loan. But the underwriter will review all three scores as part of the loan underwriting process. If you pull your own credit score through an online website, the credit scores displayed to you might be different than what lenders use because they use different credit reporting systems.

5. It’s possible to have a low down payment for a mortgage

You don’t necessarily have to come up with a 20% down payment to get a mortgage loan. You can get an FHA mortgage loan with a 3.5% down payment. The VA and USDA loans require no money down. VA loans are used for military veterans and their families. USDA loan are usually used for farming or rural properties.

You should take note that many lenders will require some type of mortgage insurance for loans that have less than a 20% down payment on a purchase loan or less than 20% equity available on a refinance.

6. You could refinance your home loan anytime

You’re allowed to refinance your mortgage at anytime, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Think about why you would like to refinance. Is it because you want to lower your monthly payments, to take cash out from your equity, or to change the type of loan you are in? Make sure your reason makes financial sense.

7. You could get a mortgage loan after a foreclosure

Most homeowners have experienced a foreclosure after the recent mortgage crisis. There’s good news for these borrowers because they could obtain a mortgage loan after foreclosure. But there are waiting periods involved. For instance, to apply for an FHA loan you need to wait three years after foreclosure to apply. If you would like to get a conventional loan, you will need to wait seven years from foreclosure. For those who would like a VA loan, the waiting period is two years.
Do you have a mortgage question? Click here to contact our partners at the Ryan Grant Team today! And if you’re ready to start searching homes let us know!

5 Ways to Pull a Quick Cocktail Party Together in Rancho Santa Margarita

Posted on | by Cuselleration

So it’s Friday afternoon, and you’re more than done with a very long week. Your spouse calls and informs you that some people are coming over… in an hour. To him, it’s no big deal, but to you, it means hosting a cocktail party, and the blood pressure is rising. It happens a lot during the holidays, so how can you look all cool and collected on a moment’s notice? Here are a few ideas for you.

The Best Plan is Not to Plan at All

Your guests take their emotional cues from you when they walk in your door, so chill out. I know, it is easier said than done, but if they feel you are stressed and put out, they will feel uncomfortable. Put some great music on, light a candle or two, and breathe deeply. You will have a great time this evening. Promise.

The Cocktails

If you are throwing a cocktail party together at the last minute, a couple of things to keep in mind: the KISS principle. Keep It Simple Sweetie. There are a couple of ways to approach it. Have a few bottles of a good red and a good white ready. Get a few beers iced down. Have one ‘signature’ cocktail available. This time of year, something like a pomegranate martini would be festive. But don’t try to have everything anyone could ever want. If appropriate, text or call the invitees to let them know what you have, and if they’d like something different, to bring it with them. Win. Win.

The Glassware

Just put those red solo cups away, please. Yes, I mean it. Now is the time to pull out the stemware. Don’t worry if it doesn’t match: it can actually be better if it doesn’t. That way, it’s easier for your guests to find their glass when they’ve walked away from the table to join another conversation! Pull out a variety of glassware, from various wine glasses to highball glasses to shot glasses.

The Napkins

If you have time to run to the store, look for some funny cocktail napkins. There are a lot of creative options out there. One of our favorites is: “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, but if the White Runs Out I’ll Drink the Red.” It is often the small details like these that people remember from an impromptu gathering, so feel free to show your personality!
The Snacks

Again, this is a relatively last-minute cocktail party. It is not a 3-course gourmet meal, so don’t stress about it. What do you have in your pantry and refrigerator that work? The best way to start is to pull out a wooden cutting board. Then pull out olives, cheeses, crackers, fruit and nuts. You want to arrange it artfully, but when it’s last minute, that means artfully messy! It’s best to have a variety of cheeses on the board, like 3, arranged in a triangle. Then fill it in with grapes, maybe a ramekin filled with nuts, a stack of green and black olives. You will want to have a couple of cheese knives available by the board. You will look like a contestant on the Food Network’s Chopped but it was actually pretty light culinary lifting.

Yeah But What About the Queso or Pizza Rolls?

Resist the urge. If you are feeding a hungry crowd for a football game, then yeah, go for it. But for an impromptu cocktail party, keep it simple and classy. Plus, your home will smell better from a scented candle than a pizza roll! Speaking of homes, we have some fabulous properties to show you at The Kovacs Connection. Let our team of real estate professionals find you the perfect place to have that impromptu party… and yes, you will forgive your spouse for springing it on you with no notice… whatsoever!

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Living in Coto de Caza

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Our zip code is 92679. Welcome to Coto de Caza. We love this area and would love to invite you in as a new neighbor. If you are not familiar with the area, we thought we’d give you a few little known facts to set the stage for this magnificent part of Orange County!

  1. Coto de Caza is known as a CDP (a Census Designated Place) and is a gated, guarded suburban planned community of around 4000 homes. As of the last census taken in 2010, almost 15 thousand people call it home. It is one of Orange County’s oldest and most expensive planned communities. The name Coto de Caza means ‘hunting preserve’ in Spanish. In 1968, the area was envisioned as a hunting lodge. That vision came true, now known as the Lodge at Coto de Caza. The community also includes Los Ranchos Estates, a rural community of more than 350 acres that features large custom-built homes.
  2. While it started as a hunting preserve, it has evolved into an exclusive community. The hub of the community is the Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club which opened in 1991. Four years later, another golf course to the south opened, giving residents a picture perfect spot to enjoy a round of 9 or 18. Still, in 2017, the country club remains the social hub for Coto, with residents meeting there to work out or grab a cocktail.
  3. Coto de Caza is surrounded by the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park. The park wraps it’s green belt around the neighborhood on the east, north and south. The park is both a treasure and a sanctuary: it is known for its diverse plant and wildlife. Huge oak groves, sycamore trees and several creeks wind throughout the park. The 500-acre park also boasts of 6 miles of equestrian, hiking and biking trails. A few things have been added in the last few years, including the main country club’s Spa and Sports Club, a polo arena and a dog park known as the Canine Corrals.
  4. Speaking of outdoor activities, Coto de Caza hosted a portion of the 1984 Summer Olympics. The community hosted riding, running, shooting and fencing portions of the Pentathlon Olympic events. Princess Anne of England was here to support an athlete, Richard Phelps, who finished 4th at the event. Via Masala is near Coto’s equestrian center, and it was named of the the event’s gold medal winner, Italy’s Daniele Masala.
  5. As you drive around this beautiful, gated community, some areas might look familiar. The Bravo reality TV show The Real Housewives of Orange County is filmed here. Still, Coto de Caza remains a secluded and quiet community. Residents love keeping up the annual traditions, including its Easter EGGstravaganza and the big parade on the 4th of July.
  6. We mentioned our zip code. Homes in 92679 are much sought-after, and we’d love to assist you as we look for the home of your dreams. Homes on the market here in Coto de Caza move quickly, with the median selling price north of $850,000.

So if you are wanting to call this exclusive, gated planned community home, contact our team at The Kovacs Connection!

Benefits of a Veteran Home Loan

Posted on | by Cuselleration

VA home loans are one of the most powerful loan options on the market for veterans and active military. It’s becoming difficult for many military borrowers to build the credit and assets necessary to move forward with conventional home financing.

 

The advantages of the VA loan program over other loan types are a big reason why VA loan volume has continually increased over the last five years.

VA financing comes with significant financial benefits for those who have served our country. The requirements to secure them are often looser than what would be needed for a conventional or even FHA loan.

For a lot of active military and veterans, the VA home loan program is their only real path to homeownership. The increasing popularity has stemmed from the main advantages of VA loans. Let’s take a deeper look at the great benefits of VA mortgages:

No Down Payment

The VA loan program offers service members and veterans incredible benefits, from zero dollars down to no PMI and more.

Qualified veterans can get a VA loan without making any down payment. Compared to FHA and conventional loans, this gets converted into significant monthly savings.

The minimum down payment amount on an FHA loan is three and a half percent. In conventional financing, it’s oftentimes five percent. On a quarter million dollar mortgage, a military borrower would need to come up with eighty-seven hundred dollars in cash for an FHA loan and twelve thousand five hundred dollars for the conventional loan. These are significant and insurmountable sums for the average military borrower. The average VA borrower has just under nine thousand dollars in total assets.

The great benefit of being able to buy a home with a zero dollar down payment helps veterans and active military members get a slice of the “American dream” without having to spend years scraping and saving for a sizable down payment. This means those who serve our country can get into homes in the present, not in the future years down the road.

No Mortgage Insurance

Unlike FHA and conventional loans, a VA loan does not require monthly mortgage insurance. FHA loans come with both annual and upfront mortgage insurance charges. On a quarter million dollar mortgage, the FHA annual mortgage insurance can add about one hundred seventy dollars per month to your monthly mortgage payment.

According to VA estimates, veterans who secured a VA loan last year will save more than forty billion dollars in private mortgage insurance costs over the life of their loans.

Conventional borrowers who cannot put down twenty percent usually have to pay for private mortgage insurance.

This is an additional monthly fee that is tacked on to your monthly mortgage payment until you build twenty percent equity. The cost would vary by the loan amount, but it is not uncommon to pay more than one hundred dollars per month for PMI.

Competitive Interest Rates

Since the VA guarantees a portion for every VA loan, financial institutions could offer lower interest rates to VA borrowers that are typically one half to one percent lower than conventional interest rates. Rates are based on the inherit risk considered by the lender to finance the loan. The VA’s guarantee brings lenders a sense of security that allows them to charge competitively lower rates.

On a thirty-year quarter million dollar loan, the difference between paying a four percent and four and a half percent rate can mean approximately forty thousand dollars in savings over the life of the loan.

Closing Cost Limits

Closing costs and fees are included in all mortgages. But the VA actually limits how much veterans could be charged when it comes to these expenses. Some fees and costs need to be covered by other parties involved in the transaction. These safeguards assist in making homeownership affordable for homebuyers that are qualified.

Do you have a question on a VA loan for a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto De Caza and other Orange County surrounding cities? We recommend you talk to the Ryan Grant Team, OC’s top mortgage lender!

Top Turkey Fails and 5 Places to Enjoy a Fabulous Feast in Orange County

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Shutterstock/Andrey Armyagov

We know, you tried so hard. You had visions of an amber roasted turkey just ready to carve while your adoring family complimented you on your kitchen prowess. Aaahhh, but it was not to be. Don’t worry: you’re not alone. Many cooks have had epic fails in the kitchen on the 4th Thursday of November. So we’ll cut you some slack, give you a laugh or two, then our team at The Kovacs Connection will tell you where to go to get a fabulous Thanksgiving Day feast in Orange County.

Butterball Turkey has a famous Turkey Talk Line on Thanksgiving, where worried cooks can call in and get some much-needed advice. 50 trained men and women staff a building in Naperville, Illinois every year. They work 12 hours a day to make sure your Thanksgiving meal comes off splendidly. They are chefs, dietitians and nutritionists and they have heard it all. Consider this: on Thanksgiving Day alone they answer more than 10,000 calls from 6am to 6pm. As with anyone who deals with the general public, these good-hearted folks have heard it all. Here are a few stories from epic turkey fails.

When a Turkey Talk Line staffer asked a caller what state her turkey was in (meaning was it frozen or thawed) the caller replied “Florida.”

Shutterstock/S_Photo

A man called in to tell the staffer that he had cut his turkey in half with a chainsaw, then wondered if the oil from the chain would affect the bird.

A woman in her 70’s called the Talk Line: it was the first time she had cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving because her mother had said she was tired of cooking and it was time her daughter got a clue.

A proud gentlemen called the Talk Line to say he had wrapped his turkey in a towel and stomped on it, breaking the bones so it would fit in his pan.

After discovering a turkey in his dad’s freezer from 1969, a man called the Talk Line to ask about the best way to cook it.

Shutterstock/Bochkarev Photography

So… you are not alone. How about ditching the apron and the carving knife and heading out for a gourmet meal? Here are a few ideas for you of places to go in Orange County for a Thanksgiving feast.

Bistango

The Atrium Building provides a picturesque setting for this modern bistro’s contemporary food, as well as the revolving art displays.

Five Crowns

Exciting contemporary seasonal cuisine found in an English-inspired setting.

The Ranch Restaurant and Saloon

Chef Michael Rossi presents contemporary fare in a rustic setting that contrasts with its industrial park surroundings in Anaheim.

Splashes

Innovative cuisine set against one of the prettiest spots along the Laguna Beach coastline.

TAPS Fish House and Brewery

Notable beers join steaks and seafood in Brea’s lively downtown area.

So there you have it. No reason to fret. No turkey to roast. No sides to make. No worries. The only thing you need to make… is a reservation!

Want more Thanksgiving restaurant ideas? Contact our Orange County experts at The Kovacs Connection today!