Issue #263

In This Issue

Welcome / This Week's Special Offer

Welcome To The Latest Issue
Happy Friday. I hope the day finds you well. …Happy birthday to my son Tim who turned 18 on Wednesday. …Please send me your questions, comments, compliments, corrections, critiques, and rebuttals. Please email them to Questions@GaryKent.com.

True Story: This May Shock You
Years ago, one of my agents met with a man about selling his home, an average house in a middle-class area. The man was giving my agent a tour and bragged about his heated bathroom floors. This pricey feature is occasionally found in high-end homes, so you’d never expect it in a home like his. How did he afford it? He installed in himself…by laying standard electric blankets down and tiling over them! (For the not-so-handy types out there, this hare-brained method is NOT even close to safe or correct.)

You Know You’re In San Diego When…
…You've just been hit by a "winter storm," which only means it misted hard enough that your patio got damp, but there are still enough dry spots on your sidewalk that you can walk out to get your mail in socks ~
(Thanks for that one, Roxyanne. Got one of your own? Email it to me.)

U.S. Cities Ranked: Top U.S. 10 Cities - Oldest Houses
Per city-data.com, here are the cities (population 5,000+) with the oldest houses, on average:
1. 66.4 yrs Whiting, IN
2. 66.0 yrs Piedmont, CA
3. 65.5 yrs Glen Ridge, NJ
4. 65.1 yrs Shamokin, PA
5. 65.0 yrs Mount Carmel, PA
6. 64.8 yrs Little Falls, NY
7. 64.3 yrs Gloversville, NY
8. 64.2 yrs Tamaqua, PA
9. 64.0 yrs Salamanca, NY
10. 63.9yrs Dormont, PA
Next week: Cities with the newest houses…

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.

Help Wanted: Full-Time Front Desk Assistant
The Gary Kent Team of RE/MAX Associates needs to add a new team member to help us. This assistant position will help handle phones, filing, lead management, & various projects. Real estate experience is helpful, but not required.

We are looking for:
1. Very computer/internet literate, able to work with standard Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, etc)
2. Detail oriented, capable of multi-tasking.
3. Able to work independently (self-starter/self-manager) along with working within our team system
4. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus

Call (858)535-7435 or fax info/resume to Stephanie @ (858)550-3410 or email stephanie@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 Free 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: "Pricing Your Home For Top Dollar". It covers:
- Avoiding the 13 dangerous pricing myths
- The #1 mistake owners make when pricing a home
- "Value range pricing" explained…and when YOU should use it
- The dirty little pricing trick many agents pull & how to avoid it
- Secrets to pricing your home so you 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.

Gary's Real Estate Seminars

(None currently scheduled. Please check back.)

HomeBUYING Question

"Hi Gary. I really enjoy reading your newsletter. I have a question. My wife and I will be buying our first home in San Diego. Do the buyer and seller both attend the closing, or just the agents?”

***ANSWER:
None of the above.

Practices vary by geography. In some states, the buyer, seller, agents, attorney, etc. all sit around a table and sign documents and exchange moneys.

In southern California (all of CA?), it’s a totally different system.

Deeds and documents are signed well before closing. Monies are handled by the title and escrow companies. And the actual “closing” happens when the county clerk stamps and records the grant deed.

So you won’t need to attend. After the deed records, you’ll get a phone call congratulating you that you now own the home.

HomeSELLING Question

"I’m going to sell my house this summer. I know how important it is to price your home right. So I plan to get 3 agents’ price opinions and then hire the agent in the middle? Is this a good idea?”

***ANSWER:
It’s terrible. And dangerous.

2 reasons…

Reason #1: Whether it’s a high price or a low price or just the price you were hoping for, NEVER EVER choose an agent based on price. In fact, this is so critical, please repeat after me:

“I will never choose a real estate agent based on the price they suggest.”

Did you say it? No? Well I’m not going to continue until you and all the other readers repeat it.

…

…

…

Okay, thank you. I’ll proceed…

Choosing an agent based on price is foolish because too many agents purposely inflate the price just to lure you into hiring them. Then later they start telling you to slash the price.

It’s dishonest. It’s unethical. It’s even illegal. …And it happens every day.

(Of course, agents are human and sometimes their estimates are off, high or low, with no ill intent.)

Reason #2: Because of the first reason, you have NO assurances that the middle price is accurate.

I spoke with a gentleman about selling his home. I gave him a realistic price based on sales of several very similar homes in the neighborhood. Not all homes are easy to price, but his was a piece of cake.

Unfortunately, another agent suggested a price 10% over market value. As bad as that was, a third agent suggested a price 15% over market value!

So the nice owner did a logical but very bad, bad thing. They listed with the middle agent.

So their home is just going to sit and sit. Unless and until the agent convinces them to slash the price. And because it will have sat on the market so long, they’ll likely get a lower price than they should have.

So, in case I wasn’t clear regarding you idea of choosing the agent with the middle price: don’t do it. Choose the best agent and choose the price that the market data supports.

Investing or Financing Question

"I’m a real estate investor and I’d like to start buying short sales. How do you suggest I start?"

***ANSWER:
I don’t.

Quick background:

A short sale is when a home’s loan balance is too high to allow a sale, so the bank agrees (after much negotiation and a 45-90 day process) to take less than what’s owed and allow the sale to close. Why? Because they’ve been convinced they’d otherwise end up foreclosing.

Having done almost 200 short sales, I can tell you from experience what you already know: banks are not in the business of giving money away.

They won’t slash their loan balance to allow a home to sell way under-market. They want to see the sales prices at 95-100% of market value.

So where is your opportunity to make a buck?

Not in short sales.

Hot Properties: Call Now On These Hot New
Listings & Not-Yet-On-The-Market Properties

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY!

Beautiful
Scripps Ranch Home

Open House This Weekend
Sat 1-4pm & Sun 2-5pm

BR/BA: 3/2.5

Sqft: 2,536

Price: $793,900

11350 Belladonna Way
San Diego, CA 92131

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!)

- Bay Park – Gorgeously fully remodeled 5BR/3BA view home on quiet street in great neighborhood. Dbl garage. $800s. Contact Me

– Chula Vista – Foreclosure! 5BR, 2019sqft house on culdesac w/ pool, many upgrades! Price TBD. Contact Me
- Chula Vista – Foreclosure! Cute remodeled 3BR house w/ white picket fence. $300s? Contact Me

- Clairemont – Foreclosure! 4BR/3BA 1614 sqft home in quiet neighborhood. Lo $400s? Contact Me

- Clairemont – Foreclosure! 3BR house w/ garage. Quiet street. More info to follow. Lo $400s. Contact Me
- Downtown – Foreclosure! Tenth-floor 1BR condo in Acqua Vista. Very low 300s.. Contact Me

- Downtown – Foreclosure! 1BR/1.5BA ground-floor condo with direct street entrance.Price TBD Contact Me

– Downtown – Foreclosure! Luxury 2BR/2BA 1684sqft vu condo in “The Grande.” Lo800s? Contact Me

– East San Diego – Foreclosure! 2BR condo in gated community w/ security guard, pool. Low $200s Contact Me

– East San Diego – Foreclosure! Redone 3BR/2BA condo w/ granite, some ocean vu! Hi 200s? Contact Me

New – El Cajon – Foreclosure! Spacious 2297sqft 4BR home on 1/2 acre w/ pool, cov’d patio, many extras. Price TBD. Contact Me

– El Cajon – Foreclosure! 2 Units on .56 acres: 3BR house + 1BR cottage. Low 500s? Contact Me

New - Encanto – Foreclosure! Lovely 1-year-new 3BR/2.5BA 1628sqft house, dbl garage. Lo/mid 400s? Contact Me

– Escondido – Foreclosure! Remodeled 3BR/2BA end-unit condo w/ gas FPL. Price TBD. Contact Me

New – La Mesa – Foreclosure! 1572sqft 3BR/2BA home on almost 1/4 acre. Panoramic views! Mid 400s? Contact Me

- La Jolla – Highly upgraded ocean vu home w/ granite, hardwood, marble, new roof, new windows, new MBA. 2M+? Contact Me

- La Jolla – Foreclosure! Spectacular 2-yr-new 5541sqft 6BR mansion w/ sweeping views. 2.5M? Contact Me

- La Mesa – Bank Owned Foreclosure! Remodeled 5BR/3BA 2537sqft view home on .41 acres. $500s? Contact Me
- Lakeside – Foreclosure! Cheap, cheap, cheap 1BR condo in nice complex. Low 100s!! Contact Me

– Linda Vista – Foreclosure! 1646sqft 3BR house. Remod kitchen: granite, cherry cabinets. 400s! Contact Me
– Mission Valley – Foreclosure! 2-year-new “Escala” 2BR 1611sqft townhome, DBL garage. 600K? Contact Me

New – Normal Heights – Foreclosure! 2-yr-new 3BR/3.5BA 1765sqft condo w/ dbl garage. Hi 500s? Contact Me

- North Park – Upgraded 2BR/2BA townhome w/ garage, hardwood floors, large bedrooms. Very high $300’s? Contact Me

- Oak Park – Foreclosure! Cute, upgraded 2BR cottage w/ garage & large yard $300’s? Contact Me
- Oceanside – Foreclosure! Handsome 3BR/2.5BA detached home w/ dbl garage. Low $400’s? Contact Me

- Oceanside – Foreclosure! Stunning 2-yr-new 3210sqft home w/ spectacular views! Price TBD. Contact Me

– Paradise Hills – Foreclosure! 3BR/2BA on spacious 9,000 sqft lot. Large BRs & kitchen. Price TBD Contact Me

- Pt Loma – Foreclosure! Cute 2BR, 1227sqft house w/ garage, 6500sqft lot. High $600’s? Contact Me

- Ramona – Foreclosure! 2181sqft 3BR house on 6 full acres of horse property. $700s? Contact Me

New – Rancho Penasquitos – Foreclosure! 4BR/2.5BA home w/ family room, 2-car garage, quiet culdesac. Lo 500s? Contact Me

– San Carlos – Foreclosure! 5BR/3.5BA, 2300sqft home w/ fam room, solar pool. Hi $500s? Contact Me

New – San Ysidro – Foreclosure! 3BR 1323 sqft townhouse w/ 2-car garage. Low 300s? Contact Me
New - Scripps Ranch – Mint La Merida 3-4BR/2.5BA “model home” w/ travertine & cherrywood floors! Low 700s. Contact Me
- Scripps Ranch – Foreclosure! Stunning newer 4BR 2536sf home, many upgrades. $700? Contact Me

- Spring Valley – Foreclosure! Sunny 2BR top-floor condo, large deck, laundry in unit. Lo-200s? Contact Me

- Temecula – Foreclosure! 3BR/2BA house on corner lot. More info to follow. 300s? Contact Me
– Vista – Foreclosure! 3 Units. Price TBD. Contact Me
- Vista – Foreclosure! Cute 2BR cottage w/ white picket fence, 2-car garage, big yard. 400-ish? Contact Me

NEWLY LISTED (Your Property Here!)

	New – Chula Vista – Foreclosure! 2-yr-new 4BR/3BA, 2335 sqft Eastlake Trails house, 3-car garage. $649,900 Find The Answers To Your Questions
	- El Cajon – Foreclosure! 4BR/2BA house on oversize 11,300sqft lot w/ pool, garage, big yard. $479,900. See For Yourself
Too New For Photo	New – Escondido – Foreclosure! 5BR/3BA house on large corner lot, 2-car garage, newer paint. $449,900 Contact Me
Too New For Photo	- La Jolla - Spectacular 400K remodel w/ hdwd flrs, granite, travertine, spectacular views, pool, more. 1.275-1.375M! Contact Me
	- Pacific Beach – Dramatic rebuild by owner/designer. Offers turret entry, ocean views, hardwood flrs, more. 1.25-1.35M! More Information
	New – Paradise Hills – Foreclosure! 3BR/2.5BA townhome w/ nice patio. Priced under market @ $269,900! Property Features
	- Scripps Ranch – Foreclosure! Stunning newer 4BR 2536sf home on quiet street, many upgrades. $793,900! See What This Home Has To Offer You
Too New For Photo	New – South Park – Two units: cute detached 2BR/1BA cottages with garages on 5,000sqft lot. Can add 1 unit: 485-525K! Contact Me
	- Vista – Foreclosure! 4BR culdesac home w/ gleaming hardwood flrs + oversize backyard. $470,800 Check It Out

MORE GREAT HOMES & INVESTMENTS (Your Home Here!)

	- Chula Vista – Foreclosure! Newer 3BR, 2.5BA, 1452sqft townhome w/ garage. $389,900. More Info
	- Chula Vista – Foreclosure! 3BR/2BA house in Pepper Tree area on huge .7 acre lot! $499,900 View Pictures and Features
	- Chula Vista – Foreclosure! 8yr-new Rancho Del Rey townhome w/ dbl garage, gated community. $416,900! Take A Look
	Sold - Clairemont – Remodeled light & airy 3BR house w/ granite, travertine, large grassy bkyd, quiet street & more! 429-470K Find Others Like It
	Sold- Clairemont – Low-priced fixer-upper 3BR/2BA house on quiet street. 2-car garage and grassy backyard! 430-465K View All Listings
	- Downtown – Foreclosure! 2BR 2nd-floor condo in historical & famous CORTEZ HILL. Reduced to $495,000 Check It Out
	- Downtown – Foreclosure! 2-year-new 2BR/1BA high-rise condo w/ views in hip “Acqua Vista”. Reduced: $539,900. See The View
	– East San Diego – Foreclosure! Cute, upgraded 2BR house w/ garage and huge backyard. $364,900 View Details
	- La Costa – 200K Reduction! Remodeled luxury Mediterranean 4,800 sqft estate on huge lot, on La Costa Golf Course. $1.299M Property Features
	Sold - La Jolla – Enjoy wonderful ocean & city views from this Hidden Valley area 4BR/3BA house w/ 3-car garage. $1.65-1.75M MLS Search
	- Lakeside – Foreclosure! VERY affordable 1BR condo. Starter home or great investment! Just $134,900! Take A Look
	- Logan Heights – Foreclosure! 2800sqft HEAVY fixer-upper house w/ garage, curb appeal, big lot. $510,000 View Pictures and Features
	- Mira Mesa – Foreclosure! 4BR/2.5BA 1804sqft house w/ spa. Reduced to $529,900. Look For Yourself
	- Mission Valley – Short Sale! Oversize 2BR/2BA condo near USD, YMCA. Security parking for 2 cars. A great value at just 358K. Find Out More
	- National City – Foreclosure! Vintage Victorian home built 1864! 4BR/3BA, 1852sqft. Just $418,900! Contact Me
	- Nestor – Foreclosure! 3BR/2BA house: family room, dbl garage, tile throughout. Reduced to $444,900. Take A Look For Your Self
	- Nestor – Foreclosure! 3BR/2BA, 1224 sqft condo w/ large patio, near pool & playground. Reduced: 295K! More Info
	- North Park – Foreclosure! Charming 2BR Spanish house, hardwood floors, garage. $439,900. This Could Be Your Home
	- Oceanside – Foreclosure! 2BR/1.5BA 1280 sqft condo w/ garage (rare @ this price!). Reduced $237,900 Property Information
	- Oceanside – Foreclosure! Immaculate 3-yr-new 3BR/2BA + xtra room, 2069sqft house on culdesac. $514,900 Property Info
	- Oceanside – Foreclosure! Sunny & bright 4BR/2.5BA home w/ sweeping views & large bkyd. $524,900 This Could Be Your Home
	- Paradise Hills – Foreclosure! 3BR/2BA 1183sqft condo w/ large covered patio. Price Cut: $296,900! Check It Out
	- Paradise Hills – Foreclosure! Sharp 3BR/2BA 1373sqft condo w/ 2-car garage. Just $364,900. See For Yourself
	– Poway – Foreclosure! Spectacular Green Valley home on huge lot & tree-lined street. $839,900. Free MLS Search
Too New For Photo	- Rancho Bernardo – Smart 2BR/2.5BA, 1458sqft townhome w/ garage, central a/c, golf course view! 345-405K Contact Me
	– Rancho Bernardo – Foreclosure! Newer beautiful 3BR/2BA manufactured home. Live in RB for $374,900! Contact Me
	- Rancho Penasquitos – Foreclosure! 4BR/2.5BA house on corner lot in desirable neighborhood. 595K See For Yourself
	- 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
	- Scripps Ranch – Foreclosure! Sharp 4-yr-new 3BR/2.5BA condo w/ nice yard, patio, dbl garage. $454,900! More Info
	- Tierrasanta – Foreclosure! 4BR/2.5BA 2592 sqft fixer house on quiet street. Reduced to $614,900! Free Info About the Home
	- University City – Handsome 3BR house on oversize 7100 sqft lot w/ large private backyard & pool; red tile roof. 660-680K! View Details

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 For Your Referrals

Thank you Desiree A. for referring a friend to buy a home…
Thank you Stephanie A. for referring someone to buy 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

Gary Kent Team --- RE/MAX Associates

(858)457-KENT --- (858)457-5368

GaryK@GaryKent.com -- http://www.garykent.com/

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Due to production and shipping expense, free items are available only to residents, owners, and people planning to purchase real estate in San Diego.

This free e-newsletter tells you how to be more successful with your real estate transactions. You receive it because you subscribed, entered your email address at my site(s), or were referred. By reading it, you agree you: 1) understand this is opinion & not advice; 2) will seek professional tax, legal, and real estate advice; 3) are solely responsible for use of content, 4) hold Gary Kent, Gary Kent Homes & Estates, Kent & Associates Inc., and RE/MAX Associates harmless. Questions may be paraphrased for clarity/brevity. Disregard this email if you have a listing or buyer-broker agreement. (c) 2007 Gary Kent, All Rights Reserved.