Issue #200
In This Issue
Welcome / This Week's Special Offer
Welcome To The 200th Issue Of My Ezine!
When answering your email questions, I occasionally get responses like, “Thanks for the answer, now I guess I’ll have to go find me a Realtor.” HELLO... That’s what I do for a living. So don’t think of me as your average ordinary everyday ezine writer...think of me as your San Diego Realtor.
Phoenix Investing Seminar
Last night’s seminar/presentation on the Phoenix apartment partnership opportunity was a smashing success. Several attendees liked what they saw and heard and indicated they’d like to invest. If you missed it but are interested, call me at (858)457-KENT.
Selling Your Home Or Rental This Year?
Then you need to attend my free seminar coming March 1: “Sell Your Home Or Rental Property In A Slower Market”. Click Here for details.
Want To Buy A Home With ZERO Payments Til 2007?
Call me for details @ (858)457-KENT...
True Story: Not "The Cat's Meow"
My uber-talented right-hand-man Kevin tells this story...
Years ago he was showing a 4BR home in north county. Oddly, 3 of the bedrooms had screen doors facing the hall. He peered inside only to realize they were breeding grounds for those hairless cats (remember Dr. Evil's Mr. Bigglesworth from Austin Powers?). One bedroom was for males, one for females, one for kittens. ...And with the accompanying “scent”, no bedrooms suitable for humans.
Here’s Some Random 2005 Condo Trivia…
Lowest sale: $94,000 – Pine Valley studio
Highest sale: $5.5M – 3br/3.5ba 3756 square foot (sqft) downtown condo in The Pinnacle Museum Tower
Smallest condo sold: 360 sqft – Pacific Beach studio @ $275,000
Biggest condo sold: 5853 sqft – La Jolla condo @ $3,618,000
Slowest sale: 3 years, 5 months, & 26 days! – Oceanside condo
Fastest sale: Same day – (many)
FREE MLS Online Search For A San Diego or Riverside Home
To search for a home right now, click here: Free MLS Homesearch
THIS WEEK’S FREE OFFER: San Diego Senior Housing Guide
If you or someone you care about is a San Diego senior deciding where to move, now you can obtain absolutely FREE the premier guide to senior housing in San Diego: New Lifestyles.
Here's what you'll discover in this FREE easy-to-use guide
√ All types of senior housing options explained
√ How to choose the right senior facility or care option
√ Complete listings of senior living apartments, retirement communities, residential care & assisted living communities
√ Exactly what questions to ask when you tour a community or facility
√ Available facilities and communities grouped by location within San Diego county
√ Five simple steps to making the right choice
This 163-page guide makes your moving experience much easier.
Call (800)748-1340 to have this sent to you FREE via mail. Call 24 hours / 7 days a week; free recorded message. It should arrive at your home within 72 hours.
Send This eNewsletter To A Friend / Email Your Questions
Subscribe a friend with a quick email to TellAFriend with their email address in the subject line. Please email your questions, comments, compliments, corrections, & critiques to Questions
FREE SEMINAR March 1 / Wednesday 6-8PM
"Sell Your Home (Or Rental Property) In Today’s Slower Market"
At "Forum Hall" at the UTC Mall in University City
CLICK HERE for flyer, more info, & free sign-up
The San Diego market has morphed from a sizzling seller’s market into a cooler buyer’s market. If you’re thinking of selling your home or investment property in 2006, you need to attend this free seminar.
To RESERVE YOUR SEAT at this free seminar now, click here or call (858)457-KENT!
Homebuying Question
"I was looking at a home that had one of those California Rooms built without a permit. Is there a downside to buying a home with an unpermitted addition?"
***ANSWER:
Three possible issues come to mind:
1. Have your home inspector look at it closely to determine if it was built correctly
2. Check your insurance agent to be sure it's covered
3. The city can make you tear if off entirely if you don’t bring it to code and get a permit. BTW- the city generally only finds out if your neighbor reports your (rare, but it happened to me!) or you do other work requiring a permit and the inspector sees it.
That being said, if it's a patio cover or room or something simple that doesn't impact the home's value much, I wouldn't worry provided you have it inspected by your home inspector and it's safely and solidly constructed.
HomeSELLING Question
“I just got transferred to Seattle WA and need to sell my house. It hangs over a beautiful canyon, but the bad part is you can tell the floor is sloping in the back bedrooms. Of course, I'll disclose it, but should I do anything now (inspection), or just let the buyer deal with it?"
***ANSWER:
There's 2 approaches you can take: 1) "cross-our-fingers-and-hope-the-buyer-doesn't-care" or 2) "get-this-figured-out-now".
I’ve tried them both many times. #1 works once in a blue moon. #2 works better and more often. Here’s why…
In today’s calmer market, it’s a GREAT time to be a buyer with all the homes to choose from. But as a seller that means if your home has problems and you just tell buyers to “deal with it,” they’ll deal with it by moving on to the next house…unless you’re asking a fire-sale price.
I suggest you do option #2 and have a qualified engineer inspect your home (apx $500) to find out what's wrong. Then get repair bids based on the engineer’s report. RISK: the engineer may recommend further testing and inspections that can run into the $1,000’s.
With that info, you can make the repair or perhaps take it off the price. You’ll likely need to discount the price a bit beyond the repair cost to account for the buyer’s added risk, trouble, and worry, plus the stigma that can go with a house that has had structural problems.
Either way, be prepared to go through several buyers before you find one who’s brave, dumb, or smart enough to go through with the purchase…
Investing or Financing Question
INVESTING:“Hi Gary. Due to some bad decisions and impulse buying, my credit score is in the 500s. How long do you think I need to wait before I can buy a home?"
***ANSWER:
Take heart. You may not have to wait at all.
While most mainstream lenders would deny you, there are “sub-prime” lenders that specialize in making mortgage loans to people who are similarly credit-challenged. (No, they’re not stocky, tattooed guys with baseball bats who drop by for a little chat if your payments are late.)
Of course, sub-prime loans have higher rates and fees, but there may well be financing available for you.
Give me a call at (858)457-KENT and I’ll put you in touch with a great “sub-prime” lender.
Hot Properties + New Listings BEFORE They Hit The Market
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THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY! | |
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Pacific Beach House w/ Plans Stunning Remodeled home with plans to add 2 condos in the back. Either sell them off or keep them for cash flow!
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View more beautiful Pacific Beach Homes online right now. | |
"COMING SOON"
(Click Contact Me to be contacted BEFORE these properties hit the market!)
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- Oak Park – 3BR/3BA house w/ ocean & fireworks view deck, remodeled kitchen, hardwood floors: 450-490K Contact Me
- Pacific Beach - Large 5BR/3BA house on culdesac. Family room, bonus room, 2 FPL, 3-car garage, & more! Contact Me
- North Park – 4 units, including 2 large detached houses. Price to be determined. Contact Me
- Scripps Ranch – 3BR/2.5BA townhome with 2-car garage. Spacious MBR w/ cathedral ceilings. 385-425K! Contact Me
NEWLY LISTED (Your Home Here!)
- La Jolla – Cute 2BR/2BA condo end unit. Offers hardwood floors, new carpet, xtra windows, security garage: 430-470K OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY - FEB 19th Call our office for the address and directions
MORE GREAT HOMES & INVESTMENTS (Your Home Here!)
- Bonita area – 2BR/2.5BA condo a short stroll to Plaza Bonita! Offers oversize garage, in-unit laundry, FPL, tennis. 355-375K View Contact Me
- SOLD/Clairemont - 3BR/2BA home w/ dbl-garage on quiet street. Nice bkyd, wood parquet floors, new carpet. Low price: 475-520k Contact Me
- Clairemont - Spacious 3BR/2BA home w/ HUGE 580sqft family room/ "great room"! Quiet street, 2-car garage. Reduced: 575K Contact Me
- La Jolla – Newly redone 2BR/2BA condo, heart of downtown La Jolla—walk to shops, restaurants! Marble, granite, etc. 675-750K Contact Me
- SOLD/La Jolla - 3BR/2BA 1-level home on quiet street. Large lush private bkyd, redone kitch & BAs, valley vu, tennis! 720-750K Contact Me
- Mission Hills – Build your dream home on this 9500 square foot buildable view lot. $395,000. Contact Me
- Mission Hills –6251 square foot view homesite! Ready for you to build your custom home. $345,000. Contact Me
- Mission Hills - Attention Contractors / Developers / Investors! Buildable lot suitable for 10-11 homes. 950k-1.15m! Contact Me
- Pacific Beach - Development Opportunity! Redone 3BR home w/ room to build 2 condos. Resell or rent. Reduced: 775-850K Contact Me
- SOLD/Pacific Beach - Light & airy 3BR/3BA townhome condo w/ 2-car garage on quiet street. Extra room. A BARGAIN at $625,000. Contact Me
- Phoenix, AZ - 30 apartments, large 3BR & 2BR units, well-maintained complex, Mesa area. Do a condo conversion? $2.1M. Contact Me
- Phoenix, AZ - Cashflow apartments, zero management, under-market prices. 1031 exchange OK. $100K to $5M down. Contact Me
- Pt. Loma - Stunning triplex w/ breathtaking ocean vu. Live in 3BR house, rent 2BR & 1BR units for income. $1.45M-1.575M. Contact Me
- Pt. Loma - Point Loma Tennis Club ground-floor corner unit w/ remodeled bath. Big rooms. Looks like a model! 275-300K! Contact Me
- University City - Striking 2004 full remodel 3414sqft home: 1/2-acre culdesac lot, flowing floorplan, vivid colors. 988K-1.15M Contact Me
- USD Area - Light & bright 3BR/3BA 1431sqft townhome w/ 2-car garage, quiet area. Priced BELOW recent sales & reduced: 535K! Contact Me
- Vista - No Payments ‘til 2007! Seller makes your payments! Secluded hilltop 4br/3ba, 3000sqft, home on big lot: 790-820K Contact Me
Call me at (858)457-KENT to find out more or arrange a private showing . . .
Thank You For Your Referrals
Wow, lots of people to thank this week:
Thank you Terry A. for referring a neighbor to sell a home...
Thank you Mitra R. for referring a friend to buy a home...
Thank you Marcia W. for referring your sister to sell her home...
Thank you Chris C. for referring a client to sell his investment property...
Thank you Amal B. for referring her mother-in-law to buy a home...
Thank you Marie E. for referring a neighbor to sell a home...
Have a great week...
GARY KENT
"The Agent You See EVERYWHERE"
All-Time #1 Agent/Team In San Diego County for RE/MAX
21 Years Experience -- 3,000+ Homes Sold
Gary Kent Team --- RE/MAX Associates
(858)457-KENT --- (858)457-5368
GaryK@GaryKent.com -- http://www.garykent.com/
Due to production and shipping expense, free items are available only to residents, owners, and people planning to purchase real estate in San Diego.
