• Welcome / This Week's Special Offer
• Gary's Real Estate Seminars
• Homebuying Question
• Homeselling Question
• Investing or Financing Question
• Hot Properties: New Listings BEFORE They Hit The Market
• Thank You For Your Referrals

Welcome To The Latest Issue
My first “How To Short Sale Your Home Or Rental” seminar on Saturday was a great success. Special thanks to the woman who worked all night so she could drive down from L.A. I’m honored.

…We’ll be setting a date next year for another short sale seminar. In the meantime, if you or someone you know needs to do a short sale, please call me at (858)457-KENT or email me at Gary@GaryKent.com.

…Want to buy a foreclosure, but can’t find a website to search for them? Finally…check out our 100% BRAND-NEW website: www.Foreclosure-Hotlist.com. It’s 2.5 years in the making (OK, so we were a little slow), but it’s well worth it. Let me know what you think.

… Time Magazine reports that almost 20% of Detroit's 400,000 postal addresses are vacant. Some neighborhoods are over 50% vacant! That's a lot of empty businesses & houses.

…Follow me on Twitter or become a Facebook Fan.

True Story: Just Fill In The Blanks
Years ago, I hired a new agent. We’ll call him Joe. We worked to train Joe, especially on the 10-page purchase contract, but he didn’t apply himself. One day some people called and wanted to buy one of our homes. Joe happened to get the call and had them come in. Joe was supposed to counsel the couple, explain this complex document, and fill in all the important blanks. Instead, Joe just pushed it over to them and said, “Fill this out.” Fortunately my office manager Kevin knew he was a slacker, saw what was happening and took over. …BTW, Joe didn’t work for me much longer after that.

Quick Real Estate Tip #9
Selling? Buying a home is (very) emotional, not logical. New carpet and paint work WAY better than offering a credit.

Top 10 Most Popular U.S. Cities To Relocate To*
Relocation.com crunched numbers from 500,000 searches conducted on the site in 2008. *While they don’t know how many relocated to each city, these 10 cities drew the most interest. Average home price precedes the city name:

1.--- $211,600 ---Las Vegas, NV
2.--- $225,100 ---Denver, CO
3.--- $210,900 ---Charlotte, NC
4.--- $185,100 ---Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
5.--- $278,600 ---Portland, OR
6.--- $350,000 ---Seattle, WA
7.--- $213,400 ---Orlando, FL
8.--- $332,700 ---Washington, DC
9.--- $151,300 ---Atlanta, GA
10.--$173,400 --Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg, FL

Find Out The Value Of Your Home Or Rental Property FREE — Right Over The Phone
Considering selling? Now you can quickly, easily find out today's value of your home or other San Diego County real estate, right over the phone. Call and tell me about your property. I’ll research the market and arrive at an honest, realistic price you can expect to get in today’s market. Need a more accurate figure? Ask me to come by. For your free over-the-phone or in person evaluation, just call me at (858)457-KENT. Please tell a friend…

Join Our "Preferred Client Group" For The Best Values
I find great real estate deals every week. But too often we cant match a client in time and someone else scoops it up. (My bank-clients wont let me buy their properties, or I'd be my best client!)

So I developed my Private Client Group, a select group of people serious, qualified, and ready to grab a great deal on a home or investment when -- or before -- it hits the market.

If you'd like to be in the Preferred Client Group, you need to:

1. Pre-approve with our approved lender
2. Come in for a short sit-down counseling session
3. Commit to work with us

To join and get the jump on the best real estate values in town, call us at (858)457-KENT or email us at PCG@GaryKent.com.

Check Out Our Foreclosure Hot-List
Looking for a deal? Many of my REO (foreclosure) properties have discounts of 10% to a whopping 49% from their previous values. Click on Foreclosure-Hotlist.com to check  out my brand-new Foreclosure Hot-List website. We'll update the site regularly, so be sure to bookmark it and return frequently. And forward this link to a friend!

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 DVD on 1031 Exchanges: "How to Trade Up Your Investment Or Rental Real Estate & Pay ZERO Taxes"
1031 Exchanges are the key to building wealth in real estate. IN this free DVD, you'll discover...

- 1031 Exchange basics clearly explained for beginners & veterans
- How one investor traded 7 apartments for 97 worth $5M
- 1031 "Kiss of Death": Don't let the IRS unravel your exchange
- What is "dead equity", what it costs you, & what to do about it
- Save a fortune by legally exchanging into a personal residence
- Why some exchanges fail: 3 deadly mistakes to avoid
- 5 Things you must know BEFORE exchanging
- Can you trade a house for apartments for retail for land for...??
- How safe is your $$ & how to prevent it from being embezzled
- Common misconceptions about exchanges
- How those new "reverse exchanges" work

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
“How To Short Sale Your Home Or Rental”
UTC Mall – (Date To Be Announced) Saturday

When you attend, you'll discover the truth about:

• Short sales, clearly & simply explained!
• Are YOU likely to qualify for a short sale?
• Can you really do short sale with -0- out of YOUR pocket?
• How long short sales take...& how to cut the time in HALF**
• Tax impacts of short sale vs. foreclosure (verify w/ your CPA!)
• The document your attorney must read closely to avoid problems
• Your 7 options if you owe too much. Most agents only tell you 3.
• Which “hardships” qualify you for a short sale? Which don’t?
• The specific clause you need in your contract with the buyer
• Do you need to be CURRENT on HOA dues? Property taxes?
• Do you need to be BEHIND on your mortgage payments?
• If an agent does THIS, they likely don’t know short sales
• 5 reasons a short sale is usually better than foreclosure
• THE most important thing to have to do a short sale
• Impact & how long is a short sale be on your credit?
• How soon can you buy a home after a short sale?
• Will a short sale delay or prevent foreclosure?
• Can your lender go after you for their loss?
• Should you spend $ to fix up your home?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE Seminar
"How To Buy A Foreclosure In San Diego"
UTC Mall – Saturday, October 24th, 10AM-Noon
Click for Seminar Flyer / Click to Reserve Your Free Seat

When you attend, you'll learn the truth about:

• - With 12% of U.S. mortgages are behind, is there a new wave of Alt-A, Option ARM, & Prime foreclosures coming?
• - Should you buy before home prices climb out of your reach?
• - Bailouts, loan “mods”, moratoriums...what’s REALLY going on?
• - Top 10 San Diego neighborhoods with the best REO deals today
• - Wise, timely words millionaire Baron Rothschild said in the 1800s
• - 5-step plan to getting a great value on a foreclosure in 90 days
• - When Homebuyers can put 3% down and investors 10% down
• - How to get banks to pay EVERY PENNY of your closing costs
• - Auction tricks, traps, and pitfalls that I swear will shock you
• - Free email access to undervalued & foreclosure properties
• - The #1 mistake people make when offering on an REO
• - Traps in the small-print that banks make you sign
• - The truth about a home that’s a “short sale”
• - How much banks negotiate off their price
• - What to watch out for in an REO
• - Much more

"My wife and I own a condo in P.B. and want to move to a house in La Jolla, Del Mar, & Carmel Valley. Since we haven't bought a home for many years, I don't know how much below list price to offer when we find a home. What do you suggest?"

Answer:
Good question. There are no rules of thumb like “always offer 5% below asking price.” That could cause you to miss out on well-priced homes and over-pay for over-priced homes.

How much you should offer depends on:
- the market
- if there are other offers
- the list price
- what you think the home is worth (based on your own research and advice from a good agent)
- how much you want it

In a strong market, you may need to offer full price or more if a home is priced right. But if it’s slow or the home is over-priced, you should be able to get the price down if the seller is realistic.

Don't get stuck on some formula that ONLY considers list price.

"Is it better to sell a home vacant or occupied?"

Answer:
Many people ask me this same question. The answer:

It depends on 2 things:
1. How the occupant lives (furniture & tidiness)
2. The house

If you have an ugly home, but you have nice "stuff" and are a neatfreak, sell it occupied.

If you have a beautiful home, but you're a slob with hideous furniture, vacant is better.

If you have an ugly home and beautiful furniture, then occupied is better. Attractive and well-placed furniture can distract from a home's unattractive features.

Not sure what to do? Call me at (858)457-KENT and I'll be happy to come by and advise you.

"Gary, I went to your short sale seminar Saturday. It was great and I learned a lot. Thanks. I have a question about loan modifications. Can they turn a non-recourse loan into a recourse loan? You mentioned something about this…"

Answer:
On a recourse loan, the lender can go after you for their loss if you’re foreclosed on or sometimes even if you do a short sale (especially if you don’t have an agent experienced in short sales looking out for you).

On a NON-recourse loan, the lender generally cannot go after you for their loss.

A loan modification that just lowers the rate and payment PROBABLY won’t turn a non-recourse loan into a recourse loan.

But some loan modifications MAY and all refinances DEFINITELY will turn a non-recourse into a recourse loan.

Which loan modifications will turn your loan into a recourse loan?

That’s complicated and beyond my expertise. And it’s a legal question, so I must advise you to speak with an attorney. If you don’t know one, Brad Nemeth, the attorney who spoke with me at the seminar, would be a great person to talk with. You can reach him at 858-571-2929.

THIS WEEK'S FEATURED PROPERTY!
	Delightful & Sunny Clairemont Home BR/BA: 3/2 Sqft: 1,050 Price: $385,000 - $425,000
– Clairemont – Newly remodeled in the past 6 months! Ready move-in condition! Fabulous kitch w/ "mochaccino" granite, maple cabinets w/ glass fronts, task & under cabinet lighting, stainless steel appliances & more! Extra windows & large sliders in every room, gorgeous redone BA's w/ maple, granite & Moen fixtures, ceiling fans thru-out, new: stucco, interior paint, dual-pane windows, interior doors. Auto-irrigation, grassy bkyd w/ orange tree + cov'd patio. Walk to Clmt Square! Take A Look

Coming Soon
(Click Contact Me to be contacted BEFORE these properties hit the market!)

– Carmel Valley – Foreclosure! Upper end “East Bluff” condo overlooking greenbelt. 2-car garage, interior laundry, FPL. Contact Me
2BR/2BA, 942 sqft
Loaned to 390K >>> To be 200s?
– Chula Vista – Foreclosure! Cute house w/ hardwood floors, 2-car garage, nice yard, in great Hilltop neighborhood. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1444 sqft
Last sold @ 516K >>> To be low/mid 200s?
– Chula Vista – Foreclosure! Cute single-level home with pool. Great starter home. Contact Me
3BR/1BA, 1536 sqft
Recently appraised @ 510K >>> Price TBD
– Chula Vista – Foreclosure! Enjoy southerly views, designer pool/spa, & more from this spacious 2-story home. Contact Me
4BR/2.5BA, 2394 sqft
Last sold @ 665K >>> To be 400s?
– Clairemont – Foreclosure! Duplex: 2 separate 2BR houses, one is oversize at 1269 sqft. West Clairemont near bay. Contact Me
2BR/1BA 1269sqft + 2BR/1BA 758sqft
Last sold @ 665K >>> To be 400s?
– Downtown – Foreclosure! Beautiful & spacious 1BR “Treo” condo built in 2003. Gas FPL, washer/dryer in unit, more. Contact Me
1BR/1BA, 707 sqft
Recently appraised apx 423K+ >>> To be low 200s.
– Downtown – Foreclosure! "Palermo" studio/1BR loft w/ private patio. Complex has pool/spa, fitness, business ctr. Contact Me
1BR/1BA, 860 sqft
Last sold @ 354K >>> Very low 200s?
– East San Diego– Foreclosure! Charming craftsman home w/ addition, huge master suite, updated kitchen, private backyard. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1568 sqft
Last sold @ 500K >>> Price TBD
– Encanto – Foreclosure! Spacious 2-story 1984-built home on quiet street. 2-car garage, nice yard. Contact Me
4BR/3BA, 2088 sqft
Recently loaned to 510K >>> To be high 200s?
– Encanto – Foreclosure! Remodeled home w/ city views, 2-car garage, more.
Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1247sqft
Last sold @ 358K >>> To be 200s?
– Escondido – Foreclosure! Fantastic custom home w/ front courtyard, private & secluded area, pool + covered patio, views! Contact Me
3BR/3.5BA, 2317 sqft
Last sold @ 663K >>> To be 400s?
– La Jolla – Foreclosure! Breathtaking ocean views from this one-level oceanfront condo @ 333 Coast Bl. Contact Me
2BR/2BA, 1342 sqft
Last sold @ 915K >>> To be 700s/800s?
– La Jolla – Foreclosure! Delightful single-level home, sweeping ocean views from most rooms, large lot. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 2107 sqft
Previously appraised @ 1.44M >>> Price TBD
– Linda Vista – Foreclosure! Low-priced condo conversion near Mesa College, freeways. Need 25% down or possibly all cash. Contact Me
1BR/1BA, 554 sqft
Last sold (unknown) >>> To be 70K?
– Nestor – Foreclosure! Ranch-style home w/ 2-car garage, fireplace, good-size backyard. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1152 sqft
Last sold @ 395K >>> Price TBD
– Nestor – Foreclosure! Gorgeous 2-story “Ocean Hills” home w/ views, 3-car garage, vaulted ceilings. Contact Me
5BR/2.5BA, 2353 sqft
Last sold @ 585K >>> Price TBD
– Pacific Beach – Foreclosure! Mission Beach view condo w/ 2-car garage, walk to beach/bay, quaint 4-unit complex. Contact Me
2BR/2BA, 955 sqft
Last sold @ 420,862 >>> Price TBD
– Pacific Beach – Foreclosure! Beach house w/ private backyard, California room, 2-car garage. Contact Me
2BR/2BA, 1400 sqft
Last sold @ 700K >>> To be high 500s?
– Ramona – Foreclosure! Attractive .49 acre horse property w/ canyon vu, FPL, 2car garage, culdesac. Built 1988. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1693 sqft
Loaned to 454K >>> Now mid 300s?
– Rancho Bernardo – Foreclosure! Sharp house on culdesac w/ red tile roof, 8494 sqft lot, big yard, views, a/c. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1727 sqft
Last sold @ $575,000>>> To be low 400s?
– Rancho Bernardo – Foreclosure! Handsome 2-story home in Chateau Bernardo. Breathtaking panoramic views, 3-car garage. Contact Me
5BR/3BA, 3179 sqft
Last sold @ $789,000 >>> Price TBD
– Rancho Penasquitos – Foreclosure! 1983-built 1-level home in Trailwood w/ tile roof, a/c, covered patio. Near park. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1571 sqft
Appraised @ 525K+ >>> To be mid 400s?
– San Carlos – Foreclosure! Affordable “Carefree” condo w/ only one common wall. Walk to Mission Trails Park! Contact Me
2BR/1BA, 880 sqft
Last sold @ 253,500 >>> To be 100s?
– San Elijo / San Marcos – Foreclosure! Stunning 6-year-new home in gated “Westcliffe” on culdesac w/ panoramic views. Contact Me
5BR/4.5BA, 4302 sqft
Loaned to @ $919,000 >>> To be 700s/800s?
– San Marcos – Foreclosure! Affordable "Lake Park Villas" townhome. Near Restaurant Row & multiplex. Contact Me
2BR/1.5BA, 957 sqft
Last sold @ $221,500 >>> To be very low 100s?
– San Marcos – Foreclosure! 6-year-new home near Cal State San Marcos. More info to follow. Contact Me
4BR/3BA, 2358 sqft
Last sold @ 615K >>> To be low 400s?
– Spring Valley – Foreclosure! Two detached 3BR houses w/ 2car garage, yard, both inside laundry. Live in one + rent other. Contact Me
3BR/2BA + 3BR/1BA
Last sold 642K >>> To be hi 200s??
– Spring Valley – Foreclosure! Sharp family home on oversize .24 acre lot w/ 2-car garage, large yard, more. Contact Me
3BR/2BA, 1280 sqft
Last sold 265K >>> To be 200K?
– Spring Valley – Foreclosure! Large home on private culdesac w/ open view, oversize backyard, 2-car garage. Contact Me
5BR/3BA, 2115 sqft
Recently appraised apx 650K >>> To be 300s.
– University City – Foreclosure! Lovely “Villa Vicenza” complex. Walk to UTC, Whole Foods, Aventine restaurants. Contact Me
2BR/2BA, 1001 sqft
Last sold @ 444K >>> To be high 200s?
– Vista – Foreclosure! Culdesac home w/ panoramic views, ocean breezes, FPL, RV parking, 2-car garage, more. Contact Me
3BR/1.5BA, 2424 sqft
Loaned to 424K >>> To be high 200s?
– Vista – Foreclosure! 2-story mountain view home on large lot. pool. Sparkling pool, 2-car garage. Contact Me
3BR/1.5BA, 2424 sqft
Last sold @ $600,000 >>> Price TBD

NEWLY LISTED (Your Property Here!)

Sunny, open, remodeled home. Fab kitchen w/ "mochaccino" granite, maple, stainless steel. Extra windows.

3 Bed, 2 Bath 1050 Sqft Price: $385,000 - $425,000

Lovely redone home w/ spectacular remod kitchen w/ granite & walnut, 2 FPL, partial bay view, 2-car garage.

3 Bed, 2.5 Bath 1,717 Sqft Price: $575,000 to $625,000

5-year-new 1-story home on 2 acre view lot. Has 4-car garage, granite, 2 FPL, huge yard.

3 Bed, 1 Bath 1,168 Sqft Price: $332,000 Recently appraised @ 500K?

MORE GREAT HOMES & INVESTMENTS (Your Home Here!)

Ugly fixer 3BR house in upgrading neighborhood near Bay Park. 7000 sqft lot.

3 Bed, 1 Bath 1168 Sqft Price: $332,000 Recently appraised @ 500K?

Enjoy panoramic views from this cared-for 1-story home. Upscale neighborhood of high end custom homes.

2 Bed, 2.5 Bath 1,983 Sqft Price: $999,000 to $1,299,000

Enjoy downtown living at “Symphony Terrace”. Complex has pool/spa, fitness, sauna.

1 Bed, 1 Bath 673 Sqft Price: $174,900 Last sold @ 292K

Gorgeous “Hard Rock” condo-hotel suite in the Gaslamp Quarter. “Rock Royalty” service & full hotel amenities.

1 Bed, 1 Bath 459 Sqft Price: $489,000! Last sold @ 589K

Spectacular home on .98 acres w/ FPL, travertine, hardwood, granite. Panoramic mountain views.

4-5 Bed, 2 Bath 3,046 Sqft Price: $399,900 Last sold @ $690,000

Mint, upgraded 2005-built top-floor “Lido” condo in security building, inside laundry, more.

3 Bed, 2 Bath 1,538 Sqft Price: $425,000 Last sold @ 707K

Cute recently remodeled kitchen. Walk to park, restaurants, shops. Has fountain, Jacuzzi, deck, garage.

2 Bed, 1 Bath 832 Sqft Price: $425,000

Cute cottage w/ distant bay views, hardwood floors, appealing kitchen, 2 car garage & more.

2 Bed, 1 Bath 758 Sqft Price: $379,900 Loaned to 580K

Remodeled 1-level beachfront penthouse condo w/ panoramic whitewater ocean, beach, sunset views!

2 Bed, 2 Bath 1000 Sqft Price: $1,175,000

Mid-century 1-level home w/ back-country views, 10 minutes to I-5, 3 acres, great street.

5 Bed, 4.5 Bath 3,375 Sqft Price: 1.55M-1.75M

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.

Copyright 2009 Gary Kent, All Rights Reserved.