Privacy Policy

My OC Guide respects your privacy and is committed to handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information may be collected through MyOCGuide.com and related My OC Guide forms, how that information is used, when it may be shared, and the choices available to you.

In this policy, “My OC Guide,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the independently operated website and services of Mike Betts, Realtor, affiliated with First Team Real Estate. MyOCGuide.com combines Orange County lifestyle content, neighborhood information, local guides, real-estate resources, contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, and open-house sign-in services.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide through the website or a My OC Guide form. Depending on how you interact with the site, this information may include:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Mobile telephone number
• Information submitted through a contact form
• Newsletter subscription preferences
• The guide or resource you request
• Real-estate interests or questions
• Whether you are currently working with a real-estate agent
• The name of your agent, if voluntarily provided
• Your reason for attending an open house
• Your estimated home-buying or selling timeline
• Whether you have a home to sell
• Whether you request information about a particular property or similar homes
• Source or referral information showing how you reached a form
• Other information you voluntarily include in a message or form

Fields on the My OC Guide open-house sign-in form are optional. You are not required to provide personal or private information as a condition of entering or viewing an open house.

Please do not submit Social Security numbers, financial account information, government identification numbers, medical information, passwords, or other highly sensitive information through this website.

2. Newsletter Subscriptions

If you subscribe to the My OC Guide newsletter, we collect your first name and email address and use them to send local events, neighborhood stories, Orange County recommendations, real-estate resources, and information about things to do in Orange County.

Newsletter subscribers may receive periodic marketing or informational emails from My OC Guide. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in an email or by contacting us at mikebetts@firstteam.com.

Newsletter subscription information is stored privately through the My OC Guide WordPress website and transferred to Follow Up Boss to record the subscription, consent, and related follow-up. We may also use an email-delivery service, such as MailPoet or another comparable provider, to manage subscribers and deliver newsletters. Information processed by those providers is subject to their privacy and security practices.

We do not add someone to the newsletter solely because that person attended an open house or submitted another form unless the person separately requested or consented to newsletter emails.

3. Guide Requests

If you request the Orange County Buyer’s Guide, Orange County Seller’s Guide, or another downloadable resource, we may collect your first name, email address, optional telephone number, estimated buying or selling timeline, the resource requested, source information, and your separate marketing preference.

Guide-request information is stored in a private WordPress record and transferred to Follow Up Boss so we can deliver the requested resource, maintain the request, and provide follow-up reasonably related to it. Requesting a guide does not automatically subscribe you to the My OC Guide newsletter or unrelated marketing emails unless you separately consent.

4. Open-House Sign-In Information

My OC Guide provides an open-house sign-in form that guests may access on a tablet, mobile device, or through a QR code. Information submitted through this form may be used to:

• Identify the property visited
• Record open-house attendance
• Respond to questions or requests
• Send requested property information
• Provide information about similar homes
• Follow up regarding a guest’s stated real-estate interests
• Organize prospective-client information
• Identify the type or timing of follow-up that may be appropriate
• Maintain records related to the open house

If a guest provides neither an email address nor a telephone number, the submission may be treated as incomplete and may not be transferred to our customer relationship management system.

If a guest provides usable contact information, the submission may be transferred to Follow Up Boss and categorized using internal tags based on the answers voluntarily provided. These tags help Mike Betts organize and prioritize appropriate follow-up. Tags may identify open-house attendance, a request for property information, not currently working with an agent, a stated short buying timeline, or having a home to sell. These tags are organizational tools and are not used to make legal, lending, employment, insurance, or other eligibility decisions.

5. Property-Information Emails

If you request information about an open-house property or similar homes and provide an email address, My OC Guide may send you an email containing a link to the property or related information. These emails may be delivered through WordPress, FluentSMTP, Google Workspace, Gmail infrastructure, or another configured email-delivery provider.

A request for property information does not automatically subscribe you to the My OC Guide newsletter.

6. Contact and Real-Estate Inquiries

If you contact My OC Guide regarding buying, selling, moving, neighborhoods, dining or local recommendations, professional referrals, or other real-estate services, we may use the information you provide to respond to your request, communicate about relevant properties or services, schedule or prepare for a consultation, provide requested information, maintain communication records, and follow up where reasonably related to your inquiry.

Consent to receive marketing communications is not a condition of purchasing goods or services.

7. Information Collected Automatically

When you access MyOCGuide.com, certain technical information may be collected automatically by the website, hosting provider, security tools, Google Analytics, or related service providers. This may include your Internet Protocol address, browser and device type, operating system, date and time of access, pages requested, referring page or website, interactions with website content, session information, general location derived from an Internet Protocol address, and error, security, or server-log information.

This information may be used to operate the website, maintain security, diagnose technical problems, measure general website traffic and engagement, understand how guests find and use the site, and improve the guest experience.

8. Cookies, Analytics, and Embedded Services

MyOCGuide.com uses cookies or similar technologies necessary for WordPress, website security, form processing, saved preferences, and basic site functionality. My OC Guide also uses Google Analytics 4 to measure general website traffic and engagement. Google Analytics may use first-party cookies, including a cookie named _ga, to distinguish users and sessions. Its default implementation may collect user counts, session statistics, approximate geolocation, browser and device information, pages viewed, referring sources, and interactions with website content.

Google may process Internet Protocol addresses to provide basic Analytics functionality, detect spam, determine coarse location, and route data. Google states that raw Internet Protocol addresses are not associated with user identifiers and are discarded after use. Analytics information is handled according to Google’s Privacy Policy.

Some pages may load embedded calendars, maps, fonts, or similar resources from third-party providers, including Evvnt and Google. When those resources load, the provider may receive technical information such as your Internet Protocol address, browser or device information, the page requested, and interactions with the embedded feature. Those providers process information under their own privacy practices.

You may configure your browser to reject or delete cookies. Some website functions may not operate correctly when necessary cookies are disabled. You may also use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on on supported browsers. My OC Guide does not currently use personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

9. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to operate and maintain MyOCGuide.com; respond to messages and inquiries; provide requested information; manage newsletter subscriptions; deliver newsletters, requested guides, and requested emails; process open-house sign-ins; sync qualifying leads with Follow Up Boss; organize appropriate real-estate follow-up; improve website content and usability; protect the website; prevent abuse, spam, or fraud; maintain business records; comply with legal obligations; and establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

We will not use information submitted through My OC Guide for purposes materially inconsistent with the reason it was collected without providing appropriate notice or obtaining consent where required.

10. How We Share Personal Information

My OC Guide does not sell personal information and does not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

We may disclose limited personal information to service providers that help operate the website and related services. These may include Hostinger; WordPress and WordPress service providers; Follow Up Boss; Google Workspace or Gmail infrastructure; FluentSMTP or another email-delivery connector; MailPoet or another newsletter provider, if connected; website security, backup, maintenance, analytics, embedded-calendar, map, or content-delivery providers; professional advisers; and government authorities when required by law.

Information may also be disclosed when reasonably necessary to comply with a legal obligation; protect the rights, property, or safety of My OC Guide, Mike Betts, guests, clients, or others; detect or prevent fraud, misuse, or security incidents; investigate or enforce agreements; or complete a business transfer or succession involving My OC Guide, subject to applicable law.

11. First Team Real Estate

Mike Betts is a licensed California Realtor affiliated with First Team Real Estate. MyOCGuide.com is independently operated as Mike Betts’s local lifestyle, information, marketing, and real-estate website.

Information you provide through My OC Guide may be shared with First Team Real Estate when reasonably necessary for brokerage supervision, legal compliance, real-estate services, or a prospective or actual client relationship. First Team Real Estate maintains its own privacy policies governing information it collects or controls through its website and brokerage operations.

12. Third-Party Websites and Property Links

MyOCGuide.com may link to property websites, listing services, restaurants, event organizers, social-media platforms, First Team Real Estate, and other third-party websites. My OC Guide does not control the privacy, security, accuracy, or content practices of independent third parties. Your use of another website is governed by that website’s policies and terms.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including communication, follow-up, recordkeeping, security, dispute resolution, and legal or regulatory requirements.

• Newsletter information may be retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
• Guide requests, contact records, and inquiry records may be retained for a reasonable delivery and follow-up period.
• Customer relationship management records may be retained while a prospective or active real-estate relationship exists and for a reasonable period afterward.
• Open-house submissions may be retained for follow-up, property records, brokerage supervision, or legal compliance.
• Unsubscribe records may be retained to ensure future email preferences are respected.
• Server, security, and technical logs may be retained for a limited operational or security period.

Information that is no longer reasonably necessary may be deleted, anonymized, or securely archived, subject to applicable legal and brokerage requirements.

14. Data Security

My OC Guide uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures intended to protect personal information. These measures may include encrypted website connections, access controls, private WordPress records, secured service credentials, and established third-party service providers.

No website, transmission method, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. You should use care when deciding what information to submit electronically.

15. Your Choices and Privacy Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to ask what personal information My OC Guide maintains about you; request access, correction, or deletion; withdraw consent where applicable; opt out of marketing emails; ask how information is used or disclosed; and receive equal service without discrimination for exercising applicable privacy rights.

Some requests may be subject to legal, regulatory, brokerage, security, recordkeeping, or identity-verification requirements. To make a request, email mikebetts@firstteam.com with the subject line Privacy Request. We may need to verify your identity before disclosing, changing, or deleting information.

16. California Privacy Notice

California residents may have additional privacy rights under California law. My OC Guide does not sell personal information and does not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

The categories of personal information My OC Guide may collect include identifiers; customer-record contact information; commercial or real-estate interest information voluntarily provided through forms; Internet or electronic network activity; general geolocation derived from an Internet Protocol address; and inferences based on voluntarily provided answers, such as likely real-estate interest or preferred follow-up timing.

My OC Guide does not knowingly collect biometric information, precise geolocation, health information, financial account credentials, government identification numbers, or similarly sensitive information through its ordinary website and open-house forms.

California residents may request access, correction, or deletion by contacting mikebetts@firstteam.com. Even when a particular California privacy statute does not legally apply because of business-size, revenue, or data-volume thresholds, My OC Guide will make reasonable efforts to honor legitimate privacy requests where doing so does not conflict with legal, security, brokerage, or record-retention obligations.

17. Children’s Privacy

MyOCGuide.com is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information, contact mikebetts@firstteam.com so it can be reviewed and, where appropriate, deleted.

18. Email Preferences

You may unsubscribe from newsletter or marketing emails using the unsubscribe link included in an email, updating preferences through the applicable email provider, or emailing mikebetts@firstteam.com.

Transactional or individually requested messages, such as an email containing property information you requested, may not be treated as newsletter marketing. We may retain a limited suppression record after an unsubscribe request so your preference can continue to be honored.

19. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers provide a “Do Not Track” setting. Because there is not currently a universally accepted standard for responding to these signals, My OC Guide may not respond differently to every Do Not Track signal. My OC Guide does not currently sell personal information or use personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

20. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in website features, service providers, legal requirements, or business practices. The updated policy will be posted on MyOCGuide.com with a revised “Last Updated” date. Material changes may also be communicated through the website or another appropriate method.

21. Contact Information

For privacy-related requests, please use the subject line Privacy Request.