Issue #218
In This Issue
Welcome / This Week's Special Offer
Welcome To The Latest Issue
Thanks for joining us… Remember, the Phoenix investing seminar is this coming Wednesday… Happy 27th Birthday to the San Diego Charger’s star running back LaDanian Tomlinson, born June 23, 1979… To subscribe a friend to this free enewsletter, shoot me an email to TellAFriend with their email address in the subject line.
FREE MLS Online Search For A San Diego or Riverside Home
To search for a home right now, click here: Free MLS Homesearch.
True Story: Better Off With An Insensitive Jerk?
Some wonderful clients told me they’d had their property listed with another agent for 183 long days. When they asked him why it didn’t sell, he said it was over-priced. Being news to them, they asked why he didn’t tell them sooner. His response? “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” They were shocked! I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have my feelings hurt than have my property not sell!
Your Home Is Worth (pick one):
[] 1. What it appraises for
[] 2. What a real estate agent told you
[] 3. How much you want for it
[] 4. The assessed value by the county
[] 5. What neighbors are asking for similar homes
Sorry, trick question—the correct answer is none of the above. Here’s why:
1. Appraisals are often way off due to error or a need to hit a certain price.
2. Many agents are fairly accurate. Others are not. And beware the common practice of agents promising a high price just to obtain a listing, with the plan to reduce the price later!
3. Obviously, what an owner wants may be unrelated to value.
4. Assessed value = original sales price + value of permitted improvements + 2%/year. This is unrelated to today’s value.
5. Asking prices do not indicate what a buyer will pay.
Value is what a willing buyer will pay for a home, and can usually be determined comparing and adjusting to nearby “comparable sales”. What’s YOUR home worth? To find out, call me at (858) 457-KENT.
FREE Guide: 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges- The Key To Building Real Estate Wealth
This free guide clearly explains how exchanges work, what property you can and cannot exchange, basic rules for a valid exchange, time frames, & pitfalls to avoid. I've done over 100 exchanges for clients, and several personally. This tool has helped countless investors retire younger and richer. You can too.
Call (800)748-1340 to have this sent to you FREE via mail. Call 24/7; free recorded message. It should arrive within 72 hours.
FREE SEMINAR July 27 / Thursday 6-8PM
At "Forum Hall" at the UTC Mall in University City
Why Buy In A Buyer’s Market?
- San Diego real estate market update
- Bursting bubble or soft landing?
- Advantages of buying in today’s slower market
- Who should NOT buy a home today?
- 10 Things you must know BEFORE you buy your next home
- Tax benefits of owning a home
- 7 ways to profit and plunder in today’s market
- The 80/20 rule to buying a home
- Insider secrets to buying a home below market value
- Common homebuying mistakes
…more details to follow!
Coming THIS Wednesday!
FREE SEMINAR June 28 / Wednesday 6-8PM
At "Forum Hall" at the UTC Mall in University City
"Discover Exactly Where I'm Investing MY Money In 2006"
Positive Cash Flow Apartments With Appreciation & ZERO Management
- Want to build wealth through real estate?
- Want to buy real estate 10% below market value?
- Want an easy, hands-off investment you don’t have to manage?
- Want to enjoy a consistent positive cashflow?
- Want real estate that will appreciate?
- Want your only responsibility to be cashing your monthly check?
This is the best real estate opportunity I’ve found in 22 years in the business.
I believe in it so much that my wife and I are investing a bundle of our own
money. Over 2 years, 25 of my clients have invested and every one I talk with
reports profits equal or better than promised. And 8 more are investing this
month.
If you have 100K to 3M to invest and want to find out more about this
opportunity…
CLICK HERE for flyer, more info, & free sign-up
Sandwiches & drinks provided + free dinner drawing. No obligation. Come, listen,
ask questions, then you decide…
To RESERVE YOUR SEAT at this free presentation now,
click here or call
(858)457-KENT!
"Hello Gary. My wife and I just
got married and we’re planning to buy our first home and I have a question. What
happens if a house fails a home inspection?"
***ANSWER:
Home inspectors don't pass/fail a home. They inspect it, describe its condition,
and indicate what needs attention.
If your inspector finds items that need attention, go through the list and pick
those most important to you. Then ask the seller to make repairs or credit you
funds in lieu of repair.
Sellers are only required to do items agreed in the contract and to comply with
two laws: 1) operative smoke detectors in all sleeping areas, 2) properly
strapped water heater.
If you can’t reach agreement, you can cancel the sale and have your deposit
returned to you (provided you have not released your “inspection and
investigation” contingency.)
Remember, no home is perfect, not even a newly-built one. So if the items aren't
overwhelming, go ahead and close your purchase, and address the other items
after closing.
"Hi Gary. I know that curb appeal is important when you sell. Can you share any tips on increasing a home’s curb appeal?”
***ANSWER:
Here are 10 Smart Curb Appeal Tips for you:
1. Drive up to your home like you’re a potential buyer. You may be shocked at what you notice with this different perspective.
2. Plant plenty of colorful flowers in flowerbeds, pots, and window boxes.
3. Green up your lawn w/ ammonia sulfate or nitrate (be sure to water after applying or your loan will burn & die!)
4. Cut scraggly or overgrown shrubs that hide your home, especially windows.
5. If your home is dirty, hose it down.
6. If needed, paint outside. You might be able to get away with just the trim & garage door, or even just the front of the house?
7. If needed, install new polished brass address numbers.
8. Remove driveway oil spots from your concrete driveway using kitty litter, Tide, Easy Off, mineral spirits, gasoline, concrete cleaner, or a pressure wash.
9. Remove any bent screen doors.
10. Remove debris or extra vehicles
Investing or Financing Question
"Both the stock market and the real estate market have been so unpredictable. Do you mind if I ask you where you put your money, in stocks or real estate?"
***ANSWER:
You won’t be surprised to hear that I’m mainly invested in real estate. For me, that’s because I know, live, and breathe the stuff.
Let me share with you 5 advantages that real estate has over stocks:
1. You can personally impact the value of your real estate. In other words, you can fix it up or raise the rents, and your value will go up. I don’t care how often you shop at Wal-Mart, you’re not going to increase the value of Wal-Mart stock.
2. Real estate isn't an "efficient market" like stocks. Unless you're a stock wiz or well-connected (Martha Stewart?), 99% of the info out there is already factored into stock prices. By the time you hear news that will impact a stock's value, it already has. But luck, hard work, smart negotiation, &/or the right connections can get you a "better deal" on a piece of real estate.
3. To receive income from stocks (other than a small amount from dividends), you have to sell and pay taxes. But with real estate you can receive a positive cashflow. Even if your cashflow starts off negative, over time you can pay down the mortgage and raise the rents and get a positive cashflow.
4. You can "change horses" in real estate without paying taxes on your gain. Via a “1031 exchange”, you can sell one property and buy another without paying a nickel in taxes. I've personally done them and hundreds of my clients have too. You can't do that with stocks.
5. There are other creative ways to avoid taxes. Under current tax laws, you can move into your rental property for 2 years, converting it into your personal residence, and then sell it and likely pay very little taxes.
Remember, I’m not a financial planner. Real estate is my focus and my passion. Many people have made a fortune in stocks. You need to invest in ways that fit your needs.
Hot Properties: Call Now On These Hot New
Listings &
Not-Yet-On-The-Market Properties
|
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY! | |
 |
Beautiful Bay Park Home Come enjoy this quiet, flawless, upgraded gem nestled in an upscale neighborhood!
|
|
For more information on this
Wonderful Home Click here | |
"COMING SOON"
(Click Contact
Me to be contacted BEFORE these properties hit the market!)
- Clairemont – Remodeled 4BR/2BA
house + granny flat. 2-car garage. Mid/high 500’s.
Contact
Me
- Jamul – 3BR/2BA house w/ brand-new kitchen &
country views. FULL ACRE w/ lovely pool, RV parking: 625-675K
Contact Me
- Lemon Grove – Remodeled 1700sqft
home on over 1/4 acre. Quiet street, 2-car garage, stunning kitch.
480-520K Contact Me
- Pacific Beach – Cute 3BR/2BA house in north
P.B. Should be priced to sell in the low/mid $600’s!
Contact Me
- Pacific Beach – Upgraded 2BR/2BA townhome 1 block to Tourmaline Surf
Park & Beach. Garage, quiet complex. Contact Me
NEWLY LISTED (Your Home Here!)
- Bay Park – Flawless 2023sqft 3BR/2.5BA home on quiet street.
Remod/upgr throughout, family room, great yard! 725-800K!
Open House Sunday!
- Clairemont – 2BR/2BA house w/ HUGE backyard, brand-new eat-in kitchen, FPL, vinyl windows, quiet street. 470K Contact Me
- Linda Vista – 3BR/2BA fixer-upper house w/ spectacular valley & city views! Priced to sell @ 459K! Contact Me
- Bay Park – Great price for this 1400 sqft, 3BR house in
“Overlook
Heights”. Quiet street. 585-625K!
More
info
- Carlsbad – Newer 1766sqft, 3BR/2.5BA “Harbor Pointe” home on
culdesac near beach. Remod kitchen w/ granite. 695K-705K View
Pictures Here
- Clairemont – 4BR/2BA “Parkwest” home w/ family room across
from
Gershwin Park tennis, basketball. Well-priced @ 500-550K! Click here
- Clairemont – Cute, clean 3BR/2BA home w/ 2-car garage, FPL,
dbl-pane
windows, lots of upgrades, nice yard: 475K-525K
Take a Look!
-Kearney Mesa/Clairemont – 2BR condo w/ yard.
Newer carpet, paint, flooring, appliances, tub/shower, more. Just 269K
- La Jolla – Newer 2BR/2BA condo, heart of downtown La Jollawalk
to shops, restaurants! Marble, granite. 650-725K Reduced! More Pictures Here
- Pacific Beach - Development Opportunity! 3BR home, approved
plans to build 2 condos. Resell or rent. Reduced: 775-850K Check out the Lovely
Backyard
- Phoenix, AZ - 12 apartments, 4x1BR, 4x2BR, 4x3BR. Fully
renovated.
Condo conversion opportunity? $1.068M.
Contact Me
- Phoenix, AZ - Cashflow apartments, zero management, 15%
under-market!. 1031 exchange OK. $100K to $2M down. Click here to request
more information
- San Marcos – Large
1060sqft 2B/1.5BA condo w/ garage & private patio. Pool, spa,
tennis pets
allowed. 295-329K
Contact
Me
- Scripps Ranch- Handsome newer home
on quiet street! Offers 19' ceilings, travertine, hdwd floors, family
room.
700-750K. Take a
Look!
- USD/BayPark/Mission Valley – Four
3BR/2BA condo conv, owner will
remodel & decorate to you specs. FPL, views. From 470K!
Look
here
Call me at (858)457-KENT to find out
more or arrange a private
showing...
Thank you Steve A. for referring
a builder to sell his condos…
Have a great week...
"The Agent You See EVERYWHERE"
All-Time #1 Agent/Team In San Diego County for RE/MAX
22 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.
