Issue #245
In This Issue
Welcome / This Week's Special Offer
Welcome To The Latest Issue
Hope you and your family had a great Christmas. …We’re still looking for a
couple of agents and a contractor. If you’re interested, see below. ...Have a
safe and wonderful New Years!
True Story #2:
Last week you read a shocking story from one of my bank contacts about their
Detroit foreclosures. Here’s another... Due to illegal activity by squatters in
one of their foreclosures in a crime-filled area, the FBI and ATF planned to
raid it. The Detroit police offered backup, but the FBI and ATF declined. Well,
they ended up getting in a shootout with TEN armed men and Detroit’s Finest had
to send in a SWAT team to save them. (By the way, that bank is selling some
homes in that area for as little as 5K! I’ll pass…)
Another Real Estate Myth
Debunked
Myth: I’ve interviewed RE/MAX, Prudential, and Coldwell Banker about
selling my home.
Reality: No you haven’t. Real estate agents are independent contractors,
not employees. They run their own mini real estate businesses under the banner
of their firm. The firm does not direct their activities and has little if
anything to do with selling your home.
U.S. Cities Ranked 2006:
Ten Most Dangerous U.S. Cities
Ironically, when Detroit lost the World Series to St. Louis, it also lost the
title as the U.S.’s most dangerous city to St. Louis (though you’d never know it
by the story above). This per a study of FBI statistics for six major crimes:
murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, and auto theft. The ranking is shown
below as annual crimes per 100 residents:
1. 2.41 St. Louis, MO
2. 2.36 Detroit, MI
3. 2.26 Flint, MI
4. 2.10 Camden, NJ
5. 1.86 Memphis, TN
6. 1.85 Miami Gardens, FL
7. 1.81 Orlando, FL
8. 1.79 Compton, CA
9. 1.77 Springfield, MA
10. 1.77 Little Rock, AR
Next Week: 10 safest U.S. cities.
Get On Our San Diego
“Foreclosure Hot-List”
Five major lenders have asked me to handle their foreclosures, and I’m
looking for a short list of investors or people wanting to buy a home or
investment up to 5-10% below market. If you’d like to be the first to find out
about them,
click here.
CONTRACTOR NEEDED To Fix
Foreclosures For Banks
We need a 100% dependable contractor for preparing bank foreclosures for sale.
The jobs are small/medium: hauling junk, carpet/flooring, painting, repairs,
minor remodeling, etc.
Requirements:
- Licensed w/ worker’s comp
- 24-48 hour turn-around MAX for bids
- OK w/ getting one job for every 2-3 bids
- Fast work, done on schedule
Interested? Call Bob @ (858)535-7407.
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:
Find Out About The Hottest New Listings As Soon As They Hit The Market
Get our FREE daily "MARKETWATCH" email of the best homes in your area &
price as soon as they’re listed. Tired of calling ads just to find out the home
is already sold? And did you know only 7% of the homes for sale are advertised
in the paper?
This "unfair advantage" gives you the jump on the best San Diego homes before other buyers ever hear of them. And it’s free! To get your free subscription, call (858)457-KENT.
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.
Help Wanted: Two Real
Estate “Buyer Agents”
Energetic, positive, hard-working person wanted to help people find their dream
home! We provide great training, coaching, and pay most expenses.
Bilingual/Spanish a plus, but not required. Call (858)535-7435 or fax
info/resume to Kevin @ (858)550-3410 or email
Jobs@GaryKent.com.
FREE SEMINAR: Saturday, January 20, 2007 10AM-Noon
At "Forum Hall" at the UTC Mall in University City
Click Here For FLYER
Don’t Dare Buy or Sell…Until You Go To This Seminar:
2007 SAN DIEGO REAL ESTATE FORECAST
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 I’ll provide a review of 2006, including lessons learned from our changing
market…based on 22 years experience and surviving and thriving in past
challenging San Diego markets.
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
"We’d really love to get into a
house, but can’t afford one, so we’re going to buy a condo. We’re looking for a
condo with very low HOA fees. Which do you recommend?"
***ANSWER:
Be careful what you wish for.
A friend of mine has a huge contracting business that repairs and renovates
older condo complexes. You might say he does total makeovers for them.
He was telling me that he runs into some complexes that have such low HOA fees
that they don’t have funds even to make desperately needed repairs. So they have
to charge each owner a “special assessment” amounting to thousands of dollars.
The bottom line is that if your HOA fees are too low you’ll either end up with a
complex in poor condition or get whacked with special assessments every time
repairs are needed.
It goes back to the old adage of “you get what you pay for.”
"Hi Gary. I hear some agents say that open
houses are a total waste of time and others say they work. Who’s right?”
***ANSWER:
It depends on the home and how the open house is run.
Some homes don’t make good open houses, often because they’re just plain
unattractive, too far from main drags to pull in potential buyers, or too
over-priced to draw any offers.
Occasionally, a home will sell from the open house. The bottom line is that they
never hurt, but don’t always help.
Here’s our policy on open houses:
If an owner wants an open house, we’ll do one or two, using some very effective
marketing (a unique sign, multiple open house signs, print ad, internet ad, note
in this ezine). If we pull in a good number of prospective buyers, we’ll likely
hold more, with the owner’s permission.
…By the way, did you know that the average home is held open no more than one
time?
So if you want to see a home, don’t wait for it to be held open to see it. Call
your agent to arrange a showing.
And if you’re a homeseller, it’s not realistic to expect your home to be held
open every week.
Investing or Financing Question
"I’m a veteran
from the first Gulf War. I know for awhile that it was almost impossible to use
my VA to get a loan to buy a home in San Diego. Has that changed? "
***ANSWER:
(Part 2 of 2)
Last week, I mentioned that things have indeed changed and it’s easier to use
your VA loan.
But the question is...would you want to?
Back in the old days (aka ‘80s and early ‘90s), VA loans were the only game in
town if you wanted to buy zero down.
Now, zero down loans are prevalent and easy to get. And, for many people, these
conventional zero-down loans are a better choice than a VA loan. The main reason
is that VA loans charge a 1.25% to 3% “funding fee”. It can be financed as part
of the loan, but it still costs you.
Which is better for you?
Ask a good lender. If you don’t know one, call me at (858)457-KENT and I’ll put
you in touch with ours.
Hot Properties: Call Now On These Hot New
Listings & Not-Yet-On-The-Market Properties
|
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY! | |
 |
Mission Valley Condo |
|
For more information on this Delightful Home Click Here | |
"COMING SOON"
(Click
Contact Me to be contacted BEFORE these properties hit the market!)
- Allied Gardens – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR house w/ double garage. Quiet street near Kaiser.
Price TBD.
Contact Me
- Bay Park – 3BR home with ocean, bay, & city views!
Quiet street, private yard, 2-car garage. In the 500s?
Contact Me
- Bay Park – Dramatic 3BR/2.5BA house w/ ocean, bay, city view. Soaring
cathedral ceilings, open floorplan. Low 600s?
Contact Me
- Chula Vista – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Newer 3BR, 2.5BA, 1452sqft townhome w/ garage. $300s? Contact Me
- Clairemont – BANK-OWNED
FORECLOSURE! 2BR townhome w/ garage, large living room, & patio.
$200s?
Contact Me
- Downtown – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 1BR/1.5BA ground-floor condo with direct street entrance.
Contact Me
- Downtown – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Under-market 2-year-new 2BR/1BA high-rise condo in Acqua Vista. Contact Me
- La Jolla – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Remodeled 3BR/2BA penthouse vu condo 2 blocks to beach. Price TBD. Contact Me
- La Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR/1.5BA house with big yard, no garage. Should be high $300’s. Contact Me
- La Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2BR house w/ garage, RV parking & big yard. Should be high $300’s.Contact Me
- Mira Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 4BR/2BA home on quiet culdesac. Upgr kitchen w/ island. $400s. Contact Me
- Mira Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 4BR/2.5BA 1804sqft house w/ spa. Should be low $500’s. Contact Me
- Mira Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2BR/1BA condo, 913 square feet. Should be mid-$200’s. Contact Me
- Pt Loma- BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Very affordable 2BR house on quiet street. Should be in the $500’s. Contact Me
- Pt Loma – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Cute 2BR, 1227sqft house w/ garage, 6500sqft lot. High $600’s? Contact Me
- Spring Valley – BANK-OWNED
FORECLOSURE! 3BR/3.5BA 2792sf custom home, panoramic views. Low
$500’s?
Contact Me
- Tierrasanta – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
4BR/2.5BA 2592 sqft fixer house on quiet street. Mid $600’s?
Contact Me
NEWLY LISTED (Your Property Here!)
- Clairemont – Stunning 3BR/2BA home: maple/granite kitchen, remod baths, dual-pane windows, pergo floors, more! 470-505K See for Yourself
- Mission Valley – Stylish 2BR/2BA condo in gated community (w/ guard) next to golf course & Fashion Valley Mall. 345-365K Contact Me
MORE GREAT HOMES & INVESTMENTS (Your Home Here!)
- Clairemont – SHORT SALE! Nicely remod 3BR/2BA house: hdwd floors, dbl garage, quiet street, palm trees galore. Look For Yourself
- SOLD/Clairemont – SHORT SALE! Stunning remod 3BR/2BA house on quiet street in great neighborhood. Lo 500s! Find Others Like It
- Chula Vista – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Bargain price for this 3BR/2BA 1186sqft condo in “Woodland Hills” complex. 310K! See For Yourself
- Encanto – Upgraded 3BR/1.5BA home with HUGE grassy backyard & double garage. Price to follow. Take a Look
- La Costa – Just-remodeled luxury Mediterranean-style 4,800 sqft estate on huge lot, right on La Costa Golf Course. 1.695-1.795M Look For Yourself
- La Mesa/Mt. Helix – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Mega-fixer 3BR house “contractor’s special” w/ dazzling views! 399,9K More Foreclosures Here
- North Park – ADD 3 UNITS to this 3BR “cosmetic fixer vintage house built in 1933 on a 6250sqft lot. Asking 460-490K! See For Yourself
- Pacific Beach – Elegantly redone cottage 2 blocks to Bay. Maple/granite
kitchen, travertine, hardwood, more! 650-700K
See For Yourself
- Tierrasanta – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
1584sqft 3BR/2BA townhome, dbl garage. Near pool, canyon. Now $464,900 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.
Referring a
friend or someone you care about is the highest compliment you can give me.
Thank you for all of your generous referrals!
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/
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