Issue #248
In This Issue
Welcome / This Week's Special Offer
Welcome To The Latest Issue
Hello and good Friday to you. …We’re 105% of capacity for tomorrow’s seminar.
Hope you’ve got your spot reserved. See you there. …Still in shock about the
Chargers. Too many mental errors. Wait til next year, again. …Happy 38th
birthday to ex-Charger Junior Seau.
True Story: Blatant Sexism
Home-staging is the art of preparing a home for sale: cutting clutter, moving
furniture to improve flow, minor decorating, etc. In ‘04 I took a staging
certification course. It was me, and 17 ladies. When we staged a home on the
last day, I unexpectedly became a victim of blatant sexism. The ladies totally
ignored me as if I wasn’t even there, only allowing (actually ordering) me to
move furniture. The house ended up looking great…probably due to all the
furniture being put in exactly the right spot.
Children or Grandchildren
Can Acquire Property & Retain Low Property Taxes
California Propositions 58 and 193 allow certain transfers of real estate from
parent to child (Prop 58) or grandparent to grandchild (Prop 193) to be exempt
from reassessment. In other words, the property taxes will stay the same, no
matter how low they are. For more info,
Click Here
U.S. Cities Ranked 2006: Ten LEAST Stressful Large Metro
Areas To Live In
As measured by divorce rate, unemployment, commute, violent crime, property
crime, suicide rate, alcohol consumption, mental health, and…believe it or
not…number of cloudy days. Here are the rankings, out of 100, with 100 being the
least stressful:
73. San Diego, CA
90. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, PA
91. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
92. Honolulu, HI
93. Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, VA-NC
94. Omaha, NE-IA
95. Ann Arbor, MI
96. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI
97. Nassau-Suffolk, NY
98. Orange County, CA
99. Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA
100. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
(Source: BestPlaces.Net)
Next Week: 10 Top cities for seniors to live…
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.
FREE MLS Online Search For A San Diego or Riverside Home
To search for a home right now, click here: Free MLS Homesearch
ATTENTION HOMEBUYERS:
FREE $450 Home Appraisal & FREE $300 Home Inspection
For a limited time, you’ll receive $750 in free services when you agree to use
us as your Realtor to buy a San Diego home or investment property, use our
preferred Countrywide Financial lender, and use any CREIA-member home inspector.
…..For more details or to take advantage of this offer, call us @
(858)457-KENT.
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.
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.
--Seminar Is Now FULL--
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.
Homebuying Question
"We’ve just started looking for a
home. I found out that some newer homes have that extra Mello-Roos fee that can
cost several hundred dollars a month. I definitely wouldn’t buy a home with
Mello-Roos. Why would anyone buy one?"
***ANSWER:
Basic economics.
Assume you have two identical homes side by side. One has Mello-Roos and the
other doesn’t. The one with Mello-Roos is obviously less desirable, right?
The marketplace will take the Mello-Roos into account in the pricing and the
Mello-Roos home will sell for less.
So instead of never buying a home with Mello-Roos, I suggest you be open to one
provided you can get it at a lower price reflecting the Mello-Roos fee.
By the way, are you wondering, “what the heck is Mello-Roos?”
In California's "taxpayer revolt" of 1978, voters passed Proposition 13 that:
1) limited property taxes to 1% of assessed value, + voter approved local bonds
2) limited the annual assessment increase to 2%
However, Prop 13 didn't provide enough property tax revenue for infrastructure
in new areas. So State Senator Henry Mello and Assemblyman Michael Roos
introduced the Community Facilities Act of 1982, creating bonds and fees to pay
for new schools, roads, fire stations, etc. "Mello-Roos" shows up on the tax
bill in addition to the 1.2%.
Many newer areas like Carmel Valley, Eastlake, Aviara, and Sabre Springs have
Mello-Roos. It typically ranges from $50 to $300 monthly and usually expires in
30-65 years.
"We bought a new condo a year and
a half ago. We just had a baby and want to sell and get into a house. We’ll make
40K profit after expenses. My question is whether we must wait until the two
year mark before we sell so that we can avoid paying taxes on our gain?"
***ANSWER:
Great question!
For the full exemption, you must own and live in your home as your "principal
residence" for at least 2 of the past 5 years. There are exceptions in which you
can get a partial tax exemption. These exceptions include certain unforeseen
changes in job, health, finances, family status, or family responsibility
(including multiple births or caring for a relative).
If you sell your condo now, you'll pay up to 24.3% in taxes (15% fed & 9.3%
Calif.) on your gain or profit. Many people confuse "profit" with "net", but
they’re not the same.
In most cases, here's how you figure out your profit:
Sale Price
- Purchase Price
- Purchase Costs
- Improvements
- Selling Costs
------------------------
= PROFIT
If you need more info on whether you qualify for any of the exemptions, want to
discuss selling your home, or have other questions, call or email me...
Investing or Financing Question
"I’ve heard I can get a free copy
of my credit report over the internet. Do you know what the website is?"
***ANSWER:
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the big three national consumer credit
reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to give you a free copy
of your credit report upon request every 12 months.
Checking your credit at least annually is the best way to catch and correct any
errors, as well as to help guard against identity theft. You don’t want to be
buying a car or home only to find out you have a problem that could take months
to clear up.
AnnualCreditReport.com is the only
officially authorized site. Another option is to call 1-877-322-8228.
Beware of other sites claiming to offer free credit reports. Many of them sight
you up for a supposedly free service that suddenly starts charging your credit
report after a trial period if you don’t cancel.
Hot Properties: Call Now On These Hot New
Listings & Not-Yet-On-The-Market Properties
|
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY! | |
 |
Luxury Carlsbad Home Open House Sat 1-4 BR/BA: 4/3.5 Sqft:4,855 Price:$1,550,000 |
|
For more information on this Delightful Home and Open House Click Here | |
"COMING SOON"
(Click
Contact Me to be contacted BEFORE these properties hit the market!)
- Chula Vista – “Country Club” area: Elegantly
remodeled 3BR 1600sqft home, oversize lot. Hi $500’s.
Contact Me
- Chula Vista – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Sharp
7yr-new Rancho Del Rey townhome w/ dbl garage. $400?
Contact Me
- Chula Vista – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Cute
remodeled 3BR house w/ white picket fence. $300s?
Contact Me
- Chula Vista – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Newer 3BR, 2.5BA, 1452sqft townhome w/ garage. $300s? Contact Me
- Clairemont – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Updated & upgraded 3BR/2BA house w/ garage. Lo/mid $400s? Contact Me
- Clairemont – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2BR townhome w/ garage, large living room, & patio. $200s? Contact Me
- Clairemont – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR house w/ garage. Quiet street. More info to follow. Lo $400s. Contact Me
- Downtown – BANK-OWNED
FORECLOSURE! 2BR 2nd-floor condo in historical & famous CORTEZ HILL.
Price TBD.
Contact Me
- Downtown – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 1BR/1.5BA ground-floor condo with direct street entrance.Price
TBD
Contact Me
- Downtown – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2-year-new 2BR/1BA high-rise condo in Acqua Vista. Price TBD Contact Me
- La Mesa – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Remodeled 5BR/3BA 2537sqft view home on .41 acres. $500s? 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
- Logan Heights – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 2800sqft HEAVY fixer-upper house w/ garage. Price TBD. 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
- Nestor – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR/2BA condo, 1224 sqft condo, near pool & playground. $300? Contact Me
- North Park – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Charming 2BR Spanish house, hardwood floors, garage. Low $300’s? Contact Me
- Oak Park – BANK-OWNED
FORECLOSURE! Cute, upgraded 2BR cottage w/ garage & large yard
$300’s?
Contact Me
- Oceanside – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
Stunning 9-yr-new 4BR home w/ sweeping views. Low $500’s?
Contact Me
- Oceanside – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
Handsome 3BR/2.5BA detached home w/ dbl garage. Low $400’s?
Contact Me
- Oceanside – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
2BR/1.5BA, 1280 sqft condo w/ garage. Low $200s?
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
- Rancho Penasquitos – BANK-OWNED
FORECLOSURE! 4BR/2.5BA house. More details to follow. $600ish?
Contact Me
- Scripps Ranch – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE!
Stunning newer 4BR 2536sf home, many upgrades. $700?
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!)
- Paradise Hills – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR/2BA 1183sqft condo w/ large covered patio. $300? Check It Out
MORE GREAT HOMES & INVESTMENTS (Your Home Here!)
- Allied Gardens – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! 3BR house w/ double garage. Quiet street near Kaiser. Price TBD. Take A Look
- Sold/Bay Park – Below-market 4BR bay view “cosmetic fixer”! Sun room, a/c, “swim-spa” Renovate & up value to 750K+! 650-700K. More Foreclosures Here
- Sold/Clairemont – Stunning 3BR/2BA home: maple/granite kitchen, remod baths, dual-pane windows, pergo floors, more! 470-505K Free MLS Search
- Chula Vista – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Bargain price for this 3BR/2BA 1186sqft condo in “Woodland Hills” complex. 310K! Find Out More About this Condo
- Del Cerro – Huge 1445 sqft 3BR/2.5BA condo, newer condo conversion w/ granite. Near SDSU, trolley, hospital. 309-339K Contact Me
- Encanto – Upgraded 3BR/1.5BA home with HUGE grassy backyard & double garage. Price to follow. View Details
- La Costa – Just-remodeled luxury Mediterranean-style 4,800 sqft estate on huge lot, right on La Costa Golf Course. 1.55 M Look For Yourself
- La Jolla – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Remodeled 3BR/2BA penthouse vu condo 2 blocks to beach. Hdwd flrs. $569,900 See The View
- Lakeside – BANK-OWNED FORECLOSURE! Gorgeous & sunny 6-yr-new 1708sqft home w/ 3-car garage. Quiet street. 545K! Listing Information Here
- Mission Valley – SHORT SALE! Oversize 2BR/2BA condo near USD, YMCA. Security parking for 2 cars. 360-400K. Find Out More
- Mission Valley – Stylish 2BR/2BA condo in gated community (w/ guard) next to golf course & Fashion Valley Mall. 345-365K Property Features
- SOLD/Pacific Beach – Elegantly redone cottage 2 blocks to Bay. Maple/granite kitchen, travertine, hardwood, more! 650-700K Other Listings
- San Marcos / San Elijo Hills – Stunning, sunny & open 4/2.5 home w/ bonus room. Built 2004 w/ all the upgrades. 612K. See For Yourself
- Spring Valley – BANK-OWNED
FORECLOSURE! 3BR/3.5BA 2792sf custom home, panoramic views. Low
$500’s?
Contact Me
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 to my
brother Alan for referring a friend…
Thank you Bud G. for all your kind 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 -- 3,100+ 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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