Issue #236
In This Issue
Welcome / This Week's Special Offer
Welcome To The Latest
Issue
We’re entering the traditionally slowest time of the year for real estate, which
is also traditionally the very best time of the year to buy a home. …Thank you
to the San Diego Association of Realtors for nominating me for their Award of
Excellence. …With Halloween coming up on Tuesday, I’ve got a some scary stuff
for you!
Brand New & Very Cool
Tired of those boring old 360-degree virtual home tours that make your head
spin? Check out the latest type of virtual tour on two homes I’m selling:
VT- 1625
Diamond and
VT- 2230
River Run #195.
This Odd House
Have you been to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA built by Sarah
Winchester, widow of gunmaker William Winchester? Construction on this 160-room
mansion began in 1884 and continued 24/7, every day until Sarah’s death 38 years
later. She believed the home was haunted by revenge-seeking victims of her
husband’s guns. To fool them, she kept adding on and remodeling, including
secret passageways and stairways to nowhere. Go to
www.winchestermysteryhouse.com
Is America’s Most Haunted House In San Diego?
Ghost hunter Hans Holzer says the U.S.’s most haunted house is our own
Whaley House in Old Town. Located at 2476 San Diego Avenue, it was built in 1856
and home to San Diego’s prominent Thomas Whaley family. Visitors and staff have
reported seeing ghosts of the Whaleys, Yankee Jim – a man who was executed on
the property, a red-headed little girl, and even a spotted dog. Go to
www.WhaleyHouse.org.
Click here for More San Diego “Haunted” Houses, Buildings, Ships, & Locations:
1. El Camp
Santo Cemetery
2. Horton Grand
Hotel
3. Villa Montezuma
4. El Fandango
Restaurant
5. La Casa de
Estudillo
6. Star of India
7. Robinson-Rose
House
Get On Our San Diego “Foreclosure Hot-List”
Several major lenders have selected me to handle their foreclosures. So I’m
looking to build a short list of investors or people just looking to purchase a
home at an attractive price. I anticipate they will be available 5-10% below
market. If you’d like to be the first to find out about them,
click here.
Help Wanted, Two Positions:
Open House Host/Hostess + Real Estate “Buyer Agent”
HOST: No license needed. Host open houses Sat. &/or Sun., 12:30-4:30PM.
AGENT: Energetic, positive, hard-working person wanted to help people find their
dream home! We provide great training, coaching, pay most expenses.
Bilingual/Spanish a plus.
APPLY: Call (858)457-KENT or fax info/resume to (858)550-3410 or email
Jobs@GaryKent.com.
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 Special Offer…
FREE Guide: Pricing Your Home For Top Dollar
Discover the truth about how to price your home right and get top dollar with
this free guide. It covers:
- Avoiding the 13 dangerous pricing myths
- The #1 mistake owners make when pricing a home
- That crazy "value range pricing" – when YOU should use it
- A dirty pricing trick many real estate agents do & how to avoid it
- Secrets to pricing your home to get more money, in less time
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 Free Newsletter To A Friend
Subscribe them with a quick email to
TellAFriend@GaryKent.com with
their email address in the subject line.
Remember to email your questions, comments, compliments, corrections,
critiques, & rebuttals to
Questions@GaryKent.com.
FREE
SEMINAR: Saturday, January 20, 2007 10AM-Noon
At "Forum Hall" at the UTC Mall in University City
“Don’t Dare Buy or Sell in 2007…Until You Go To This Seminar”
Fasten your seatbelts! Sanford Goodkin, “real estate's leading guru” per the
San Diego Union, internationally known real estate economist and advisor, will
share his insider’s forecast for San Diego real estate in 2007.
Mega-homebuilders pay him big bucks…for info you’ll get free.
And Gary Kent, 22-year veteran San Diego real estate broker, will provide a
review of 2006 and lessons learned from the changing market.
Here’s just some of the fascinating insights and information you’ll discover…
- 2007 Real Estate Forecast: "Soft Landing" or "Bursting Bubble"?
- 2006 Local Real Estate Review - From The Trenches
- An Insider’s perspective on the economy, real estate, & housing
- Bird’s eye view on other markets
- Why what you see on the news & read in the paper about real estate prices is
often DEAD WRONG
- How will San Diego’s rising foreclosures and short sales impact the market?
You may be surprised...
- Why today’s slowdown is NOT like the ‘90’s slowdown
Sandwiches & drinks provided + free dinner-for-2 drawing.
To RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW for this free presentation,
click here or
call (858)457-KENT!
Homebuying
Question
“Hi Gary. I’ve never bought a
home before, but I’ve been seeing a lot of good deals and I think it’s time to
take the step. I don’t know much about buying a home, but I have a question.
What is the purpose of title insurance and do I need to buy it?"
***ANSWER:
When you buy a home, you really buy "title" to the property—meaning the right to
occupy it and use the space. And "title" can be limited by the rights and claims
of others, which in turn can infringe on or even nullify your rights.
Such hazards include:
- Deeds, trusts, or will with erroneous wording, names, or legal descriptions
- Incorrect notary acknowledgements
- Outstanding judgments, liens, or loans against the property
- Pending legal action against the property impacting the buyer
- Forged deeds
- Invalid instruments executed under an expired or bogus power of attorney
- Unknown heir of a previous owner claiming ownership
- Mistakes in public record
And it’s title insurance that protects you from these and other title hazards.
A title insurance "owner's policy" costs a one-time fee that protects you and
your heirs. Good News if you’re buying: In southern California, this fee is
traditionally paid by the seller.
The "lender's policy" protects your lender, and all lenders require it to loan
on your property. This policy’s fee is much lower fee and traditionally paid by
the buyer. More Good News: In today’s market, sellers are often willing to pay
buyers’ closing costs, so you may be able to get the seller to pay that.
"Question: We’re planning to sell our house. It was appraised in August because
we were planning to refinance. It came in at $855,000, but we’d be surprised to
even get $800,000. How much stock do you place in appraisals?"
***ANSWER:
An appraiser comes to your home and takes notes, measurements, and photos. He or
she then creates a professional document with columns of information, photos,
and calculations. With a pro doing such detailed work, the value they determine
must be dead-on accurate...right?
Wrong.
While many are accurate, far too many are WAY off--I’ve seen several miss the
mark by over 30%.
THIRTY PERCENT!
Why such a margin of error? There are several reasons:
- Appraisers cover broad areas and may not know specific neighborhoods.
- They often use "comps" that aren’t very comparable.
- They often have inaccurate data on these comps.
- Not being "in the trenches" selling homes daily, many lack the feel for what a
buyer will pay for a home right now, today.
- Appraisers must follow certain rules that, oddly enough, make their estimates
less accurate.
- Lenders often tell appraisers to "target" a certain value.
Do appraisers do a bad job?
No! I know several who are skilled, hard-working professionals and are quite
accurate. But not all appraisers are like that. And the trouble is, you don’t
know who the accurate ones are.
If you’re thinking of selling your home or other property, you need a good idea
of what it’s worth. Call me and I’ll be happy to determine the value for you,
free. I may be able to give you a rough idea over-the-phone. Just call me at
(858)457-KENT. That’s (858)457-5368.
Investing or Financing Question
"What in the world is a condo hotel, and do you think they’re a good
investment?"
***ANSWER:
A condo-hotel, also called a hotel-condo, is a building used as (surprise) both
a condominium and a hotel.
The rising costs of building and related expenses can make developing new hotels
difficult and costly, especially in major cities. But by selling some or all the
units as condos, the developer shifts a bulk of the cost to the condo owners.
By owning units that can be rented as hotel rooms, individual owners can get a
return on their investment, subsidizing the cost of owning a residence in a
resort or major city.
Are they a good investment?
It’s too early to tell. I wouldn’t suggest you invest your nest egg in one, but
if you’re a gambling man (or woman) and you have cash available, go for it. Tell
me how it works out. And don’t be mad at me if you lose.
Hot Properties: Call Now On These Hot New
Listings &
Not-Yet-On-The-Market Properties
|
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY! | |
 |
Affordable Oceanside Home
Sunny 1-level end unit w/2-car detached garage
|
|
For more information on this Wonderful Home Click Here | |
"COMING SOON"
(Click
Contact Me to be contacted BEFORE these properties hit the market!)
- Allied Gardens – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR, 1123 sqft house w/ 2-car
garage. More info to follow.
Contact Me
- Clairemont – 4BR/2BA house, buy now before
seller renovates! 459K!
Contact Me
- Clairemont – Remodeled 4BR/2BA house + granny flat. 2-car garage. Mid/high 500’s. Contact Me
- Clairemont – SHORT SALE!
Stunning remod 3BR/2BA house on quiet street in great neighborhood. Lo 500s!
Contact Me
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 1-4
- Downtown –
BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 1BR/1.5BA ground-floor condo with direct
street entrance.
Contact Me
- Escondido – Spacious 4BR/3BA 2029sqft house
w/ large family room, huge backyard, corner lot, dbl garage: 499-535K
Contact Me
- La Costa – Luxury estate on over .5 acre on La Costa Golf Course. Remod
4,800sqft house. 1.695-1.795M
Contact Me
- La Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2BR house w/ garage & big yard. Should be around 400K. Contact Me
- Lemon Grove – Commercially-zoned property w/ 2 buildings. Ideal for contractor. Lots of room for truck storage. Contact Me
- Point Loma- BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! More
details to follow.
NEWLY LISTED (Your Property Here!)
- Oceanside – Sunny 1-level end-unit 2BR/2BA condo w/ 2-car garage, FPL,
interior laundry. Near pool/spa. 275-300K
Contact Me
- Paradise Hills – SHORT SALE!
3BR/2BA, 1224sqft condo. Price TBD.
Contact Me
MORE GREAT HOMES & INVESTMENTS (Your Home Here!)
- Chula Vista– Beautifully redone 3BR home w/
new expanded kitchen, gleaming hdwd floors, big 1BR granny flat! 550-600K
Such A Deal!
- Chula Vista– Stroll to Hilltop Park from this 4BR/2BA house w/ 2-car
garage, fireplace, updated kitchen, French doors: 495-530K!
Photos and More Here
- Clairemont – Striking 3BR/2BA home w/ xtra rm, on tranquil canyon, remod w/ granite, maple, stainless steel. 499-555K! Click Here
- SOLD/Downtown – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2BR/2BA 1-level condo near Petco. All the upgrades. $545,900. Contact Me
- Jamul –3BR/2BA house w/ brand-new kitchen & country views. FULL ACRE w/ lovely pool, RV parking, large garden: Now 598K Look for others
- La Mesa/Mt. Helix – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Mega-fixer “contractor’s special” 3BR/2.5BA house w/ amazing views! Quick sale price: $414,900 Click Here to See For Yourself
- Mira Mesa – SHORT SALE! Newer 3BR/2BA house w/ garage. Priced below market for fast sale! 385-415K…Click for pictures
- Mission Valley – 2BR condo w/ FPL, a/c, skylites, wshr/dryr, Xlnt shape.
Walk to Qualcomm, shopping, restaurants: 300-330K!
Contact Me
- Pacific Beach – Enjoy dazzling bay/city/nightlight views from this
north P.B. home w/ large rooms! 900K-1M!
Contact Me
- Pacific Beach – Delightful Tommy-Bahama-meets-Cayman-Islands 3BR/2BA
beach cottage w/ 2-car garage. 620-660K!
Want to see?
- Phoenix, AZ - Cashflow apartments, zero management, 10-15%
under-market!. 1031 exchange OK. $100K to $2M down.
Click Here
- Poway – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
3BR/2BA home w/ open views, FPL, 2-car garage, quiet street. $469,900!
Look here!
- Tierrasanta – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
1584sqft 3BR/2BA townhome, 2-car garage. Near pool, canyon. $494,900
Take A Look
Call me at (858)457-KENT to find out more or
for a private showing. To find other homes, go to
Free MLS
Homesearch.
Clicked on a property, but there’s no info? It may be sold. Call me to
double-check or discover other similar properties we have for you.
Thank you, agent Carly F. for referring me to sell a home…
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/
