San Diego Real Estate, Kimberlee Quarles Realtor

What Does "Contingent Status" Mean?

2012-02-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

One of the most commonly asked questions I get from people just starting the home buying process is "What does contingent in the status of a listing mean?" What buyers need to understand is that there is a difference between the active and contingent statuses. When a listing is active the seller is actively looking for offers. There are no accepted offers on the property and the property is still available.

The contingent status is a relatively new status that was created in response to the increase in the number of short sales. Short sales have an additional step in the negotiation process. They require the short sale lender to approve the sale and the offer in order to move forward. There is a period of time when the buyer and seller have agreed to terms and the file is sent to the short sale lender for their approval. During this time the property moves into contingent status. When you see contingent it means the seller has accepted an offer on the property and they are waiting for the bank to approve, counter or reject the offer.

The contingent status is meant to alert agents and buyers that there are offers on the property and one offer has been has been accepted by the seller and submitted to the short sale lender for review. Before there was a contingent status, buyers and their agents were viewing and submitting offers on these short sales not knowing that there was already an accepted offer. This was very frustrating. The property will stay in the contingent status until the short sale lender makes a decision. If the lender accepts the offer, the property will then move into a pending status (in escrow). If the short sale lender does not accept the offer or through negotiations an agreement can not be reached, the property will move back into the active status.

I hope this helps. Do you have any other questions? Feel free to let me know if you do. I am here to help.

Are You Ready For Your Super Bowl Party?

2012-02-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

See us in the Big Game

For the first time in the 40-year history of our brand, we will air a commercial during the most watched television event of the year.

The Super Bowl has a unique place in American television: when the commercials air, viewers actually start paying more attention to the broadcast. Did you know that over 111 million people are expected to watch this year's Super Bowl, and I hope you will be watching and see CENTURY 21 Agents right in the middle of it!

On February 5th, tune in to your local NBC station to watch as CENTURY 21 Real Estate takes a new place in history! We are sponsoring a full half-hour segment in pre-game, and we air 11 pre-game commercials during that day. And of course, as our finale, our special :30 Super Bowl commercial will air in the 3rd quarter of the game itself.

Don't forget to watch and vote for us! You'll see exactly how to cast your vote for your favorite commercial on Super Bowl Sunday at century21.com.

Sideline Starters (click link to find recipes)
Every great party needs great food. Here are just a few highly rated recipes that would make a great addition to your Big Game Bash.

Seven Layer Taco Dip

Super Nachos

Super Bread Bowls

Super Sliders
Hot Wings

Recipes provided by foodnetwork.com and allrecipes.com.

Bring The Games Home
Here are a few games ideas from purpletrail.com.

Pass the Lucky Cup Super Bowl Game: This is yet another classic game for a perfect Super Bowl party. It is simple and a great way to make some cash for both you and your guests. In this game the person who holds the cup makes the rules for the game. The owner of the cup says a word like “touch down”, “first Down” or “50-yard line”. Then the cup is passed and each guest is supposed to add a dollar to the cup. The next time there is a touch down in the Super Bowl game, the person holding the cup collects the money inside. Then the game starts all over again. The money collected through the game can also be donated to the local food bank or charity, of course with your guests consent.

Drinking game – Take a Shot: This game for adults is a fun activity to a certain point. Being the host, you will need to be careful with this game though if you want you and your guests to see the end of the game. To be on the safe side, try picking light drinks for this game. For this game, you line up fans of each team and force them to drink for every turnover, sack, fumble or dropped pass. As a variation you can also try picking a favorite play or call and every time your team is called on, you have to take a drink. Another variation is that each time the commentator says, “Did you see that” everyone has to drink.

Rate the Super Bowl Commercial Game: Each year the Super Bowl commercials get more wild and crazy. A terrific game is to pass out “commercial score cards,” and have your guests rate each of the big commercials on a 1-5 star scale. After the game, tally up the winners.

Pop The Balloon Game: This is an easy to play game that would be great after the Super Bowl is over. You pick team colors for balloons, and in each balloon you put a slip of paper. On the slips you can write something like “penalty”, “Personal Foul” etc. and on one of the slips write the score of the winning team. Then ask your guests to pop the balloons and the guest who gets the “score slip” turns out to be the winner of the game. For prizes you can hand out silly gifts like a toy football or pom pom. your guests are sure to have a hearty laugh playing this kiddie game.

Keep the Kids engaged: If kids are going to be a part of your celebration then it would be a good idea to make some arrangements for them as well. A good way would be to allot them their own “Kids zone”, away from the grown up crowd. You can arrange for some nice movies, maybe a foosball table, easy crafts or even puzzles. Here are some game ideas for the kids at your party. You can take help of an adult family member who is not interested in the Super Bowl game and can help your keep the kids engaged with the games listed below:

Monkey in the Middle Game: This is the old time favorite Super Bowl party game for young party-goers and will keep them entertained during the game. Ask the kids to make a circle. Have one child stand in the middle of the circle and hand out a football to one of the kids making up the circle. The child standing in the middle of the circle is the designated “monkey”. Players in the circle toss the football around and across the circle, trying to keep it out of the hands of the “monkey in the middle”. If the “monkey” catches the ball, they swap places with the person who threw the ball.

Super Bowl Laugh Game: This is a fun game that all your little guests will love. While sending out the invitations, you can mention a line stating that all kids are supposed to come with a football joke. Have 2 to 3 judges who can rate the football or Super bowl jokes. The one who gets the best rating is the winner and gets a football for a prize.

Video game: The most easy to setup game for a Super Bowl party for little guests would be arranging for a video game station on a separate television. You can set up games like “Madden” or “NFL Blitz” for guests to play during the big game.

A Super Bowl party is one of the most fun, laid back parties one can ever attend. But the most important game on Super Bowl Sunday is “Hide the Keys Game”. In this game you need to hide the keys from your drunk friends so they don’t get out on the road. This is very important if drinks are going to be a part of your Super Bowl celebration.

Have a Great Super Bowl party!

Alpine Real Estate Market Report - January 2012

2012-02-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

Here are the real estate statistics for Alpine for the month of January 2012. I have included the active, pending and sold single family homes. If you would like more information about condos or a different area, please feel free to give me a call.

There are currently 65 active real estate listings in Alpine ranging fro $111,900 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 768 square feet to $2,595,000 for 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 6444 square feet.

26 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

10 properties sold (closed escrow) in January, ranging from $260,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1818 square feet to $659,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3562 square feet. The average time on the market was 64 days.

Want to see how this compared to last month? Alpine Real Estate Monthly Comparison

El Cajon Real Estate Market Report - January 2012

2012-02-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

Here are the real estate stats for El Cajon. I have included the active, pending and sold numbers for all 3 of the El Cajon zip codes. This is for single family detached homes only. If you would like information about condos or a different area, please feel free to give me a call. These are good to know if you are considering buying or selling a home in El Cajon.

92019
There are currently 66 active listings in El Cajon zip 92019 ranging from $189,900 for 3 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 1084 square feet to $1,799,000 for 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4702 square feet.

37 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

20 properties sold (closed escrow) in January. Ranging from $130,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1096 square feet to $635,000 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3706 square feet. The average time on the market was 93 days.

92020
There are currently 65 active listings in El Cajon zip code 92020 ranging from $165,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 792 square feet to $820,000 for 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4966 square feet.

44 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

19 properties sold (closed escrow) in January. Ranging from $125,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1051 square feet to $570,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2800 square feet. The average time on the market was 75 days.

92021
There are currently 75 active listings in El Cajon zip code 92021 ranging from $128,500 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 728 square feet to $1,550,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 5500 square feet.

63 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

23 properties sold (closed escrow) in January. Ranging from $130,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 520 square feet to $500,000 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3048 square feet. The average time on the market was 122 days.

Want to see how this compared to last month? El Cajon Real Estate Monthy Comparison

Jamul Real Estate Market Report - January 2012

2012-02-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Today is the first of February so you know what that means... it is time for the monthly real estate reoprts. Here are the stats for Jamul. I have included the active, pending and sold numbers. These are good to know if you are considering buying or selling a home in Jamul.

There are currentlyonly 35 active active listings in Jamul ranging from $195,000 for 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 792 square feet to $1,250,000 for 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4360 square feet.

15 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

5 properties sold (closed escrow) in January. Ranging from $300,000 for 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4052 square feet to $710,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3362 square feet. The average time on the market was 197 days.

Want to see how this compared to last month? Jamul Real Estate Monthly Comparison

Home Buying Reality

2012-01-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

I recently worked with a buyer and it reminded me of a pattern that I so often see. When people first decide to buy a home they are very excited and sometimes have unrealistic expectations. I start them off by helping them get pre-approved with a lender. This is very important since the lending requirements have changed so much in recent years. It is important that they know how much they can afford and what their payments will be. The buyers in this scenario are prequalified for up to $300,000 and they were comfortable with the associated payment. We are good to go.

I start to send them some active listings that are within their price range and meet their other requirements. Pretty soon, they find a couple of properties they want to take a look at. They are so excited to be on the hunt for their home and they are oozing with anticipation, dreaming of the great properties that await them. They have heard how the rices have dropped so significantly and are ready to snatch up their gem. I try to keep them in reality but at the same time not douse their excitement. I schedule the appointments and off we go.

We are scheduled to see 5 properties and the buyer's know their dream home will be one of them. I have explained to them that the houses in their price range are going to need work. They say they understand and do not mind a fixer but the area and square footage are the most important. When we pull up to the first property the curb appeal is less than ideal but the buyers look past it thinking it would not be difficult to bring it back to all it's glory. We go into the property and are hit with a musty, dirty carpet smell which is quickly written off to being closed up. As we tour through the property their hopes are dashed as they find not only does the carpet need to go but the floors in the kitchen and bathrooms are vinyl not tile, the cabinets are knotty pine not sleek dark wood, the counters are tile with missing grout not granite, and there is a small wall heater not central heat and air. You can see the disappointment on their faces. They try and remain perky and assume the next properties will be better. I remind them that homes in their price range in this area will all need work. But they think I am crazy. They have heard in the news how desperate people are to sell, how much prices have come down.

This story continues as we view the remaining homes. All of the properties are in need of work and updating. The chipper mood of the buyers has faded and they have decided the sellers of these properties are unrealistic and out of their minds. They do not think the houses they saw would sell at the list price. They consider putting in what they would consider a fair offer on one of the homes. Because of the amount of work that they feel needs to be done to put it in the condition they want they want to submit an offer for $120,000 under the list price. What the buyers do not understand is that these homes are priced for their condition and pretty much at market value. Unfortunately market value is not determined by how much they can afford.

The end of the story is that the buyer's did submit a low offer on the property even after seeing the comps and what they were selling for. They did not get the property because multiple offers came in at or above the list price. It took the buyers awhile to get over the sting that their offer was unacceptable but eventually they did. They became more realistic with what they would get for their $300,000 and made some changes to their search requirements. It took awhile but we found it and they just closed on their new home. It may not have been their dream home but it was a home that they could afford and would love. It was their reality.

I Want To Buy A Home - Where Do I Start?

2012-01-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

So you have been listening to the news and have heard all about the affordability of homes and the incredibly low interest rates. You are thinking that the housing market is beginning to recover and you are beginning to realize there may not be a better time to buy a home than now. If you are like 85 - 90 percent of home buyers, you have even started to search for and look at properties on the Internet. You have used a mortgage calculator and you like the payments you are being shown and see that buying a home is a good financial move. Now you are wondering how to start the process of actually finding and purchasing a home.

This is a scary point for many. The idea of buying a home can be scary in and of itself. The idea of the paperwork and process of buying a home can be downright terrifying. You are not alone. Many feel overwhelmed at this point. Just remember, tons of people buy homes everyday and you can too! Luckily for you there are professionals here to assist you through the entire process.

To start contact a real estate agent, (preferably Me!), to discuss what you are looking for in a home. I will want to know what areas you are considering, how many bedrooms, bathrooms, approximate square footage and lot size, etc that you would like. I also want to find out other specifics that appeal to you. This will assist me in better understanding what you are looking for and help me tailor a search for you. I will set up an automatic search that will email you as soon as new properties that meet your criteria come on the market. Let's face it, the good ones go quickly! This does not cost you anything! You do not pay me out of your pocket. See, when a homeowner decides to sell their home they will contact an agent (preferably me!) and "list" the home for sale. At that time a contract is done and the seller agrees to pay a commission. Typically half of the commission goes to the list agent and the other half goes to the buyer's agent (Me, your agent!) You do not pay me.

The second thing you need to do after calling me is to contact a lender. I have a list of some I have worked with in the past, to help get you started. You need to contact a lender and get prequalified. The lender will take your information and run your credit. They will then show you some different loan possibilities and tell you how much you qualify for. This is imperative. You need to know how much you can comfortably afford before you go out shopping for a home. There is nothing worse than falling in love with a house that you can not afford. Also, home sellers will not consider an offer without a pre-qualification from a lender. They want to know you can afford the home. You need to get this done before you start shopping otherwise you run the risk of finding you dream home and not being able to put an offer in on it and someone else getting the home.

Once we have the search parameters set and you have your pre-qualification letter then the fun begins. You look at the listings I send you. When you see one that interests you, you let me. I will find out more information about the property and I schedule a time for you to see it. We look at properties until we find one that you want to put an offer on. See, not so hard, with my help you can do it. I will answer all your questions and help you through the entire process of writing an offer and going through escrow. You are not alone. So, what are you waiting for? Give me a call to get started!

4 Bedroom El Cajon Home For Sale

2012-01-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a 4 bedroom home to purchase in El Cajon? Here is a good opportunity for you to get a jump on the competition. This home is not yet in the MLS, I am giving you the first shot. This is a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1650 square foot home, listed for an affordable $299,000. It was built in 1981 and is located on quarter acre. This is a regular equity sale, no banks to deal with!! Can close quickly. More pics and information

Call me today for all the details. I will be entering the listing into the MLS later today.

San Diego Martin Luther King Jr Parade - 2012

2012-01-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a good link that provides the details for this Satuday's Martin Luther King Parade in San Diego. Get out there and enjoy! Parade Link

Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act

2012-01-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

In 2007 the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act when into effect. Before the enacting of this Act if you had mortgage forgiveness from your lender this amount that was forgiven was taxable. If you did a short sale and your lender accepted a sales price of less than what was owed on your home, you were taxed on the amount you were short. It was considered income. The Mortgage Debt Forgiveness act changed this. You no longer had to pay taxes on the amount you were short. This applies to tax years 2007-2012. It is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012.

What does this mean to you? Well, if you are considering doing a short sale, you may want to do it sooner rather than later. There is no way to tell if this act is going to be extended past the 2012 deadline. If you do a short sale and close before the end of 2012 this debt may be excluded and not taxed. If you wait and close after the end of this year the amount of debt forgiven may be taxable. I know I would not want to pay tax on such a large sum of money!

Another thing to consider is that short sales are time consuming. Do not wait to initiate the short sale until the end of the year. The escrow must close before for the end of 2012 for the debt forgiveness to apply. Let's look at a typical short sale to give you an idea of when you should start in order to close by the end of the year. In El Cajon, the average time on the market is 80 days, short sale approval (the time you wait for the lender to review your financials and any offers) can take 3-6 months depending on the lender, how quickly you can compile documentation, how responsive the negotiator is and so on. Once you get the short sale approval, a typical escrow is 30-45 days. So, so you are looking at 10 months from start to finish on a short sale. If you want to give yourself a realistic chance to be eligible for the debt forgiveness you need to get started by the end of February of this year.

If you would like more information about initiating a short sale please call me today. Do not wait and risk not being eligible for the savings. If you would like more information regarding the Mortgage Forgiveness Act, here is a link to the IRS website.

Real Estate 2011 Shape Up

2012-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I am sure many of you heard that houses did not sell in 2011 but the reality is they did. Maybe not as many as in previous years but homes were definately bought and sold. Here are the numbers for some east county neighborhoods. This is only for single family homes that sold through the MLS. I did not include condos, land or commercial properties.

Alpine 91901, 180 properties sold, $149,900-$1,100,000

Jamul 91935, 89 properties sold, $105,000-$1,200,000

El Cajon 92019, 334 properties sold, $151,000-41,317,740
               92020, 316 properties sold, $125,000-$905,000
               92021, 344 properties sold, $80,000-$840,000

La Mesa 91941, 287 properties sold, $140,000-1,300,00
               91942, 257 properties sold, $160,000-$610,000

Spring Valley 91977, 540 properties sold, $115,000-$635,000
                       91978, 68 properties sold, $137,000-$529,000

Santee 92071, 422 proerties sold, $130,000-$820,000

FHA Anti-flipping Waiver Extended Through 2012

2011-12-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Federal Housing Administration is extending the anti-flipping waiver through the end of 2012, which allows buyers to purchase homes that have been previously sold within the last 90 days.

The waiver, which was set to expire soon, was "intended to accelerate the resale of foreclosed properties in neighborhoods strggling to overcome the possible effects of abandonment and blight," Carol J. Galante, the acting Federal Housing Administration commissioner, said in a statement. "FHA remains a critical source of mortgage financing and stability and we must make every effort to promote recovery in every responsible way we can,"
Souce: Realtor.com

This is good news for FHA buyers. If the waiver had not been extended they would have been prohibited from purchasing homes that had changed hands within the last 90 days. This would have made it impossible for the FHA buyer to purchase the majority of bank owned homes and properties that investors had purchased, fixed up and put back on the market.

Post Holiday Help

2011-12-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

If you are like me you enjoyed way too much rich, yummy food this weekend. I know I am feeling a little guilty about the calories I consumed. I plan on getting a head start on my New Years resolution to exercise more in 2012. If you want to repair some of the damage done this holiday season, here is a list of some of the fitness centers in El Cajon. Please add to the list. Enjoy!!

Crunch Gym
The Sporting Club
Pure Fitness
24 Hour Fitness
Women's Fitness World
East County YMCA
Bikram Yoga Optimum Condition

Bank Insanity #3

2011-12-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

When I usually write about bank insanity, it usually involves the short sale lender or the REO owner. Today I am going to let you know about a buyer's lender who is driving me up the wall. The buyers are using Navy Federal for their loan. The only item missing from the file before they would order the loan docs was the termite clearance. We submitted the clearance yesterday and this morning I received a call that the processor saying it is inadequate, that they require the Section 2 item to be repaired. What? Really? Since when are section 2 items required?

When you have a termite inspection done the report is broken down into 2 sections. Section 1 is evidence of active infestation and lists the work necessary to provide a clearance. This work is done in order for the termite company to provide a clearance stating that the property is free of pests. The second section of the report is the Section 2 items. These are recommendations or findings of items that could lead to infestation in the future. Items such as moving dirt away from walls, stucco damage from sprinklers, grading issues. These are things that a homeowner might want to remedy to prevent damage in the future. I have never had a transaction where the buyer's lender required section 2 items to be done in order to get the loan.

I have sent numerous emails and left messages for clarification. All the loan officer would say is that all repairs have to be made. The section 2 item on this particular report is "Stucco deterioration". The recommendation is to get it checked out by an "appropriate tradesman". The report is not even recommending a repair. All the loan officer will say is that "the processors is requiring it to be fixed". What repairs? Do they want the buyer to pay a stucco company $100 to say "Yup, the stucco is chipping"? If so, this is going to be required for 99% of the sales in California since most homes are stucco and most homes have had a sprinkler hit the wall! Or are they suggesting that we should re stucco the house? Good luck with that one since it is owned by Bank of America.

So, here I sit, waiting for a call from either the processor or the supervisor to hopefully get them to listen to reason and understand this is a section 2 item and no repair is being recommended. If in fact they did change all their requirements and now need section 2 inspections and repairs completed, why did they wait until now to let everyone know? The buyers (their clients) now risk losing the house, their deposit, the appraisal fee and inspection fee. All because either a processor does not understand the requirements or Navy Federal has changed theirs.

Get Ready for the Increase in Homes For Sale

2011-12-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

With January right around the corner it is time to start preparing to sell your home. While I recommend to my clients not to wait until January, many prefer to list their home after the holidays. The inventory tends to drop in December which makes December a great time to get your home on the market but if you really need to wait until January, you need to make your home is priced competitively, if not aggressively. The prices in San Diego County have come down significantly over the past few years and you want to get as much out of your home as possible. You may be tempted to list at a higher price than comparable properties and reduce the list price as needed. DON"T DO IT.

Most experts agree that the best way to increase the odds of a successful sale is to list your home at fair market value. Do not increase the list price to "leave room for negotiation". The bottom line is that if you list above fair market value, you will have no one to negotiate with! Here's why, when a new listing hits the market real estate agents are going to see it and see if it is a fit for their buyers. If it is listed too high you are immediately labeling your property as "over-priced" in their minds. This is a difficult stigma to overcome. They are going to remember this every time they see your property and are unlikely to suggest it to their buyers. Buyers have become very savvy with the internet. They are able to watch the market months ahead of actually searching for a home. They understand what homes are selling for and will know if your house is overpriced. With the flood of inventory, they are unlikely to consider an overpriced home. Neither the agents nor the buyers are going to want to view your home.

With no showings your listing is going to go cold quickly. The longer it sits on the market the less likely it is to sell. Buyer and agents have the ability to see how long the home has been on the market. When a home is on the market for quite awhile buyers start to think there must be something wrong with it if no one else has put in an offer. This now becomes another obstacle for you to overcome. Your home can start to be used to sell your competition. Agents will share your property listing to a property listed at market value and guess what, the completion just became a deal by comparison.

You are also setting yourself up to tougher negotiations. Buyer's who views your home are more likely to feel like they are doing you a favor by submitting an offer on a home no one else wants. Even if you reduce to a fair market value they will not offer as much since it has been on the market for so long. They will not offer as much as a new comparable property.

While your home languishes on the market over priced you are missing opportunities. Buyer's who would be interested at your home at fair market value are buying other homes. Buyer's who might be interested are not viewing your home if it is out of their price point. All the while prices are continuing to decline and you will be forced to chase the market or stay put. I am assuming you want to sell, otherwise why is your home on the market?

Did you know that even if a buyer is willing to pay over market value for your home they will not be able to unless it is a cash deal. Any purchase that involves the buyer using financing is going to require an appraisal and a lender will not lend more that the appraised value and 99.99% of buyer's will not pay over appraised value.

If you want to sell your home you need to make sure it is listed at fair market value. Make sure you look at the comparable properties that have sold in your neighborhood in the last 30-60 days. That's right 30-60 days. Do not think that since your neighbor sold a year ago you will be able to get that price. Do not think because you have new carpet or paint you will get more. You won't. The only advantage will be you will get showings and offers but not a significantly higher price.

If you are thinking of selling your home, call me. I would be happy to sit down with you and honestly assess what your home will sell for so you can make an informed decision. Do not fall for the unscrupulous agents who tell your home is worth 20% more than the comps. They want your listing and that is all. I want to get your home sold.

2011-12-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for Christms lights! Here is a list of where you can see some festive lights around San Diego. Get out and enjoy!

Allied Gardens: 7048 Hillsboro St, off Waring and Princess View, Dec 10-24, dusk to 10:00.
Chula Vista: "Christmas Circle", Whitney St, between 1st and 2nd, off H St., Dec 10-26, 5-10pm.
El Cajon: "Jingle Bell Hill", Solomon Ave/Pegeen Pl
San Carlos: 7900-8000 block of Hillandale Dr., Dec. 1-31, 5-9pm
Santee: Tomel Court, off Magnolia, Dec 17-26, 7-10pm
Tierrasanta: 5306 Belardo Dr, tune radio to 89.7 to hear lights dance, through Dec 26, 5:30-10pm

San Diego Bay Boat Parade of Lights: Dec 18th, fireworks at 5:30 then parade until 9:00. Starts off Shelter Island, through bay and elds at the Ferry Landing, Coronado. www.sdparadeoflights.org

Where is your favorite place to see the lights and get in the holiday mood?

My 12 Days of Christmas Wish List!

2011-12-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here is the video of us singing it at the office meeting.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A like of my facebook fan page.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
2 reviews on Yelp
And a like of my facebook fan page.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like on my facebook fan page

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
7 short sale letters
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
8 Lenders lending
7 short sale letters
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
9 Qualified Buyers
8 Lenders lending
7 short sale letters
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
10 Savvy Sellers
9 Qualified Buyers
8 Lenders lending
7 short sale letters
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
11 Good appraisals
10 Savvy Sellers
9 Qualified Buyers
8 Lenders lending
7 short sale letters
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
12 Escrows closing
11 Good appraisals
10 Savvy Sellers
9 Qualified Buyers
8 Lenders lending
7 short sale letters
6 bank approvals
5 New Listings!
4 blog comments
3 Twitter Tweets
2 reviews on Yelp
and a like of my facebook fan page.

Gift Ideas For New Home Owners

2011-12-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

With the lower home prices and crazy low interest rates, many of the people buying homes are first time buyers. They are moving from condos, apartments and even their parents homes. Once the excitement of getting the keys and moving in has passed, they are sometimes faced with another reality of home ownership...repairs. This opens up a whole new area when it comes to gift purchasing. Do you know someone who recently bought their first home? If so, here are some great gift ideas I wanted to share.

Tool Belt: to carry all the new tools
Tool Box: for convenient tool storage
Hammer: If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning...
Tape Measure: funiture placement and finding midpoint
Level: make those pictures straight
Handsaw and miter box: for baseboards and crown molding
Chalk box and string: for marking and measuring, great for floor installation
Pliers: to pull all the pesky nails out of walls
Wrenches: fix that leaky pipe
Screw Drivers: all sizes and shapes will do the trick
Utility Knife: scoring drywall
Drill and drill bits:
Voltage tester: Safety First

These are some of my ideas but I am always looking for more. Please feel free to add to my list and help others find the perfect gift.

El Cajon Real Estate Market Report - November 2011

2011-12-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

Here are the real estate market statistics for the 3 zips codes in El Cajon.

92019
There are currently 74 active homes for sale in El Cajon zip code 92019. Ranging from $200,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 945 sqft to $1,799,000 for 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4702 sqft.

45 proerties are pending, currently in escrow.

22 properties sold in El Cajon (92019) in November. Ranging from $199,500 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1331 sqft to $800,000 for 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 4376 sqft. The average time on the market was 98 days.

92020
There are currently 75 active homes for sale in El Cajon zip code 92020. Ranging from $167,500 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 720 sqft to $865,876 for 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2734 sqft.

47 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

11 properties sold in El Cajon (92020), ranging from $158,000 for 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1403 sqft to $585,000 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2887 sqft. The average time on the market was 69 days.

92021
There are currently 98 active homes for sale in El Cajon zip code 92021. Ranging from $119,900 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 604 sqft to $1,550,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 5500 sqft.

57 property are pending, currently in escrow.

22 properties sold in El Cajon (92021), ranging from $215,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1204 sqft to $840,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3132 sqft. The average time on the market was 80 days.

If you would like more information or the real estate market report for anonther area, please let me know of visist my website at www.kqsellshomes.com

Alpine Real Estate Market Report - November 2011

2011-12-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here are the statistics for Alpine real estate for the month of November. If you would like to research another real estate market please visit www.KQSellsHomes.com

There are currently 82 active homes for sale in Alpine. Ranging from $131,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 768 sqft to $2,595,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms, 3000 sqft.

26 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

16 properties sold in November (closed escrow) ranging from $250,000 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2356 sqft to $895,000 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 5085 sqft. The average time on the market was 119 days.

Jamul Real Estate Market Report

2011-12-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Want to know how the real estate market for Jamul shaped up in November? Well, here are all the statistics.

There are currently 44 active homes for sale in Jamul. Ranging from $199,000 for 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 640 sqft to $1,300,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1102 sqft.

9 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

3 properties sold in Jamul in November, ranging from $369,000 for 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2680 sqft to $415,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2208 sqft. The average time on the market was 51 days.

To research more mrket reports please visist my website at www.kqsellshomes.com

Jamul Home For Sale

2011-11-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Brand new listing in Jamul. Check out this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. You have to see this updated kitchen. Horses are allowed and you can ride off the property to miles of trails. This home is located just minutes from Rancho San Diego. Call me for more information and to schedule and appointment to view.

2893 Echo Valley, Jamul

More Bank Insanity

2011-11-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Banks just need to get out of their own way. Within the last two weeks I have run into 2 separate examples of how banks jeopardize real estate transactions with their lack of common sense. The first involves a short sale. The short sale lender has decided in all their wisdom to require an affidavit be signed and notarized verifying that there is not a property flipping scam involved in the transaction.

Here is an exert from the affidavit that the short sale lender (GMAC) requires to be notarized before they will consider the buyer's offer.

"BUYER represents, along with BUYER real estate agent, that I/WE are not involved in a for profit scheme to flip the property and there are no current agreements, written or otherwise, to immediately re-sell the Property at a higher price, and that no transactions of this nature will take lace within ninety (90) day of the date of closing on the short sale transaction.

I/WE represent that there are no relationships between any parties involved in the transaction, including BUYER, SELLER, FINANCING COMPANY OR INSTITUTION, or REAL ESTATE AGENT "

GMAC requires this form be notarized by the buyers, the buyer's real estate agent and the buyer's lender. They are requiring the buyer to spend money on this before they know if their offer will be accepted and if GMAC will even do the short sale. I understand the need to protect themselves from scams and this form should be addressed but it should be notarized by the buyer once the offer is accepted and escrow is opened.

The second issue I have is that the second paragraph essentially means I, as a real estate agent, can not represent anyone I have a relationship with. I can not represent my mother, sister or daughter since I do have a relationship with them. Wow, really? I can't represent them even if they are first time, owner occupied buyers?

The final issue that stands to be the deal breaker is the most ironic. The short sale lender (GMAC) requires this form be notarized not only by the buyer and the buyer's agent but also the buyer's lender. The buyer is using Navy Federal Credit Union for their loan. It is probably not surprising to you to learn that the buyer's lender will not sign and notarize such a form. NFCU will not sign it.

So now the buyer's offer is stuck in limbo between two banks. The first demanding a form to be signed by the second institution and the second bank refusing. The buyer's offer will not be submitted so they will not be able to continue. It is so sad that the ready, willing and able buyers are trapped in a pissing match between lenders and unable to purchase a property.

The second example of lenders being ridiculous and shooting themselves in the foot involves a REO (bank owned) property. In this example the buyer's submitted an offer with a 17 day contingency period. This is a standard time frame to do their inspections, review title, HOA reports and get the appraisal done. The bank that owns the property reduced the time for the contingencies to a point where it would be difficult, if not impossible for an appraisal to be done. This is not because of the buyers but rather the buyer's lender can't get it done that quickly. Once again a buyer is caught between two banks the first bank reducing the appraisal period to a point that even their own institution could not get an appraisal done in their own time frame. To make matters worse the listing bank takes forever to return the signed contract and the buyer's lender refuses to order the appraisal until they get a copy.

The banks need to stop the insanity. They need to ask themselves if they would be able to do what they are requesting of other lenders. If they would not be able to comply with their own demands, chances are other lenders will not be able to perform the tasks either. By making unreasonable demands, they are not helping themselves but rather they are making things worse. And unfortunately they are forcing the buyer into the middle and stopping them from buying homes.

Fireplace Safety Reminders

2011-11-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

With the cooler weather moving into San Diego, many of us will be lighting the fireplace or wood stove for the first time of the season. Please take a moment to make sure your family is safe.

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean

Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials.
Leave glass doors open while burning a fire. Leaving the doors open ensures that the fire receives enough air to ensure complete combustion and keeps creosote from building up in the chimney.
Close glass doors when the fire is out to keep air from the chimney opening from getting into the room. Most glass fireplace doors have a metal mesh screen which should be closed when the glass doors are open. This mesh screen helps keep embers from getting out of the fireplace area.
Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces that do not have a glass fireplace door.
Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures.
Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves.

Safely Burn Fuels

Never use flammable liquids to start a fire.
Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup.
Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke.
Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove.
When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home.

Protect the Outside of Your Home

Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home.
Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris.
Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester.
Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.

Protect the Inside of Your Home

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside of sleeping areas. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.
Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment.
Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof.

These safety reminders were taken from The United States Fire Administration Website. Be Safe this winter.

El Cajon Real Estate Market Report - October 2011

2011-11-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the real estate market report for El Cajon, It is broken down by zip code. I have included the active, pending and sold numbers for single family detached homes for the month of October.

92019
There are currently 85 active real estate listing in El Cajon, 92019. Ranging from $144,900 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1081 square feet to $1,850,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4445 square feet.

38 properties are pending, (currently in escrow).

26 properties sold (closed escrow). Ranging from $234,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 991 square feet to $1,200,000 for 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4600 square feet.

The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 78 days.

92020
There are currently 88 active real estate listings in El Cajon, 92020. Ranging from $165,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 792 square feet to $1,015,000 for 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3175 square feet.

31 properties are pending, (currently in escrow.)

29 properties sold (closed escrow) in October. Ranging from $210,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1000 square feet to $687,000 for 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3519 square feet.

The average time on the market for the listings that sold was 68 days.

92021
There are currently 114 active real estate listings in El Cajon, 92021. Ranging from $139,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, 728 square feet to $1,550,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 5500 square feet.

51 properties are pending, (currently in escrow).

22 properties sold (closed escrow) in October. Ranging from $135,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 995 square feet to $835,000 for 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 4985 square feet.

The average time on the market for the homes that sold was 68 days.

Alpine Real Estate Market Report - October 2011

2011-11-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Want to know how the Alpine real estate market looked for October 2011? Well, here you go. Below are the statistics for single family homes in Alpine.

There are currently 93 active real estate listings in Alpine. They range from $136,250 for a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 768 square feet to $2,595,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathrooms, 3000 square feet.

27 properties are pending, (currently in escrow).

16 properties sold in October (closed escrow), ranging from $215,000 for 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1000 sqft to $644,000 for 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3994 square feet.

The average time on the market was 111 days.

Jamul Real Estate Market Report - October2011

2011-11-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

I have no idea where October went, but it is now Novemeber and time for the monthly real estate market report for Jamul. Below are the active, pending and sold numbers for single family detached homes for the month of October.

There are currently 39 active real estate listings.. Rangining from $169,000 for 4 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, 1975 square feet to $1,300,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1102 square feet.

12 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

2 properties sold in October (closed escrow), a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2111 square foot home for $303,000 and 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2714 square feet for $410,000.

The average time of the market for the 2 properties that sold was 84 days.

Haunted House For Sale

2011-10-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

Home For Sale: 6 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 6666 square feet. Located on dead end street. Features include: dungeon complete with torture chamber, (stretching rack is negotiable). Spacious kitchen with fireplace large enough to hold your cauldron. Plenty of storage under the stairs. Master bedroom has walk in closet (skeletons do not convey). Hidden staricases and rooms for when you need to get away from it all. Lighted tunnels lead to fully equipped labratory. Beautiful views of your own private cemetary. This is the deal of a lifetime.

Agents: Please contact owner for confirmed appointment to show, werewolf on property not known to bite. Showings only between 11:00PM and 1:00AM.

2011 Home Affordability Refinance Program (HARP)

2011-10-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get the word out regarding the recent revamped HARP program. This program started in 2009 and is also known as the government Home Affordability Refinance Program. They have made some significant changes in the 2011 program. Please share with anyone who owes more on their home than the current value and who could benefit from reducing their interest rate.

Here are the details.

1. Your loan must be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in order to be eligible. Many times homeowners are not even aware their mortgage is Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. If you are unsure please visit Fannie Mae at Fannie Mae Lookup and Freddie Mac at Freddie Mac. You will need to type in your address in both sights to see if you have a Fannie or Freddie loan.

2. Your current mortgage must have originated before June 1, 2009.

3. Your home loan must be paid on time for the last 6 months and at least 11 of the most recent 12 months.

4. You must NOT have used the HARP program previously

5. The new HARP program specifically has no loan-to-value restriction so that homeowners in California can take advantage of it. You can be seriously upside down, your home worth far less than what you owe on it and you will still be able to refinance under this program.

6. You will be able to use any participating HARP lender, you do not have to stay with your current lender.

7. You can refinance investment/rental properties, second/vacation homes, condos and of course single family homes.

8. Income verification is required and you must qualify for a loan. Income and credit will be verified.

Finally there is some relief for some homeowners who owe more on their home than their home is worth. While this program will not reduce the principle amount it does give you the opportunity to refinance at today's low interest rates. If you need any assistance or have any questions, feel free to give me a call. If you know of anyone who might benefit from this revised program, please pass it along.

Home Inspections when Buying a Home

2011-10-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

With the number of bank owned properties on the market today, getting a home inspection is even more important. Banks are exempt from providing buyers with the typical disclosures a seller would provide. They will not provide the Transfer Disclosure Statement which a seller fills outs and answers questions about the property, among others. The banks must disclose anything they know about the property but in many instances they do not know any of the homes history. Even in a transaction where there is a "regular" seller who has lived in the home, you need to consider the source of the disclosures. You need to keep in mind that the seller is trying to put the property in the best possible light to a potential buyer. It is imperative that you have the property inspected by a qualified inspector so you are aware of any defects before they purchase the home.

There are steps to this process, the first being the offer to purchase itself. Your offer should include an inspection contingency that allows you to inspect whatever you would like. Some inspections you may want to consider are a pest inspection, general home inspection, well inspection, septic inspection. It really depends on what is important to you. If boundaries are important, get the property surveyed. Does there appear to be drainage issue? Get it checked out. If you are considered about permits go to the county and pull the permits. If the general inspector says the roof is questionable get a roofer out there to check it out and give you a bid. I have a list of well over 20 inspections that you may or may not want to have performed. Do whatever it take so that you feel comfortable moving forward with the purchase.

This being said you also need to understand that the inspections must not harm the property or you must pay to put the property back into the original condition. For example, if there is evidence of water damage on the ceiling of a room below a bathroom, it may be necessary to remove drywall to see if there is an active leak. You would need the homeowner’s permission before you go tearing into walls and you would need to put it back into the same condition or work something out with the seller in advance. So when you write your offer make sure there is a broad inspection contingency.

You will also need to establish in the offer the amount of time you will need to get the inspections done. The standard time allowed is 17 days. This may seem quick but for the most part the inspectors are aware of the time constraints and will get things done very quickly. It is important that you understand that once your offer is accepted and escrow is opened things will move quickly. You will be very busy the first couple weeks of escrow. Your lender will be asking for items to complete the loan. You will be scheduling and attending inspections. I will be going over disclosures and escrow paperwork with you. You must remember that there are deadlines built into the contract that you must adhere to. Make getting all the necessary inspections done a priority.

One of the biggest objections I hear to doing an inspection is that it will cost the buyer money. This is very true. The buyer is responsible for paying for their inspections. However some inspections may be negotiable. You can request in the offer that the seller pay for some inspections for example the termite, septic or well inspections. But you need to remember you might be competing against other offers and the more you ask for the less likely the seller is to accept. I also like to remind my buyers that spending $400 or so for a home inspection is money well spent, especially if a fatal defect is discovered. This is probably the biggest investment you will make and a home inspection could save you a lot of money. It is best to know what you are buying.

The purpose of the home inspection is for the buyer to know the condition of the property so you can make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to continue with the purchase. The home inspection is not meant to create a shopping list of repairs you expect the seller to perform. While you can submit a request for repairs to the seller before doing so you need to limit your requests to "deal breakers". These are items that must be done in order to feel comfortable with moving forward. I have seen buyers use the inspection report to come up with a laundry list of repairs and upgrades they wanted. The seller's response was "tell them to go buy a brand new house or raise their price by $100,000". The seller is under no obligation to even respond to your request for repairs. The inspection is meant to help you decide if you want to purchase the property or walk away.

You may have been searching for a year and this is your dream home. You may have written numerous offers and been outbid or waited around for short sale approval that never came but no matter what, do not let your emotions cause you to cut corners. Yes it is nerve wracking and I understand you really want the home to check out. I have seen buyers devastated after doing a home inspection and discovering the well was bad and they could not purchase the property. It took a little bit for the sting to go away but in the end they were very happy they found out before they moved in and yes, they found another home and are perfectly happy. Do the home inspections so you know what you are buying and you can have some peace of mind.

Release the Shadow Inventory

2011-10-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I was on vacation last week. When I returned to work yesterday I was struck by the lack of new real estate inventory in El Cajon. There are currently 282 single family detached homes for sale in all of El Cajon. If I search for a property under $300,000 there are only 89 properties. I am currently working with 14 buyers in this price range. When I start narrowing the search by specific area of El Cajon, number of bedrooms needed, and the required condition needed to satisfy an FHA loan, there is really not much to choose from. Yesterday more listings went into contingent or pending status than came on the market. Which shows the inventory is continuing to shrink.

We have all heard the media discuss the "shadow inventory". Much of the shadow inventory is comprised of homes that the banks have foreclosed on and now own. Recently there has been discussion on the banks renting these properties rather than flooding the market. Renting these properties is not the way to go. This will just put off the selling process and slow the recovery. The banks need to start releasing the properties they have so the buyers can take advantage of the low interest rates and have a better selection of properties. I am not saying they should flood the market and drive prices down but they should increase the number of properties they currently have on the market to come in line with the demand. What are they waiting for? Are they dripping the properties onto the market to try and drive up the price and make themselves more money? This is not going to work. Buyer's right now are willing to wait for the right property.  They are aware the banks are sitting on a ton of properties that at some time will have to be sold. By not releasing more of the inventory they hold, the banks are simply forcing the real estate market to become stagnent. They need to remember they are in the business of lending money not property management.

The banks are also selling properties in bulk as opposed to listing the properties on the MLS where most families and individuals purchase homes. This practice excludes regular folks from being able to have access to the properties the banks own. Investors can purchase these bulk holdings but not people looking to buy their first home. This makes it even more difficult for a buyer to find a home. Many times when an investor buys the properties they become rentals rather than owner occupied homes. This can negitively effect the community.  Some investors are starting to flip these properties, meaning rehabing the properties and then reselling. They are sold at a higher price once they are updated and many times the property is then priced out of reach for a first time buyer.

Most agree that now is a great time to buy. Prices have come down to a reasonable level, interest rates are at an all time low. The home affordability is at it's highest level in years. But yet there are so many who want to buy but can't because there is not much inventory on the market.  The banks need to release some of the shadow inventory.  Let's allow the market to recover and get these properties sold to individual owners.

El Cajon Monthly Real Estate Report - September 2011

2011-10-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

October is here, so that means it must be time for the El Cajon real estate market report for September 2011. Below you will see the number of active, pending and homes that sold in Septmeber 2011. I have included single family detached homes only for the 3 zip codes in El Cajon

92019
There are currently 81 active real estate listings in El Cajon zip code 92019 ranging from $200,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, 945 square feet to $1,875,000 for 4 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 5890 square feet.

55 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

26 properties sold in September (closed escrow). Ranging from $203,935 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1008 square feet to $750,000 for  4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3430 square feet. The average time on the market was 35 days.

92020
There are currently 83 active real etate listings in El Cajon zip code 92020 ranging from $166,500 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, 948 square feet to $1,015,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3175 square feet.

43 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

26 properties sold in September (closed escrow). Ranging from $176,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1152 square feet to $668,000 for  5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3049 square feet. The average time on the market was 56 days.

92021
There are currently 106 active real estate listings in El Cajon zip code 92021 ranging from $140,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 681 square feet to $1,550,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 5500 square feet.

50 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

32 properties sold in September (closed escrow). Ranging from $184,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1040 square feet to $677,990 for  3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3176 square feet. The average time on the market was 60 days.

Here is the El Cajon real estate trending report.

Jamul Real Estate Market Report - September 2011

2011-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

We have started a new month so that means it must be time for the Jamul real estate market report for September 2011. Below you will see the number of active, pending and homes that sold in Septmeber 2011. I have included single family detached homes only.

There are currently 31 active real estate listings in Jamul ranging from $169,000 for 4 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, 1795 square feet to $1,300,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1102 square feet.

11 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

7 properties sold in September (closed escrow). Ranging from $175,000 for 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1499 square feet to $856,000 for 6 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 5523 square feet. The average time on the market was 139 days.

Here is the Jamul real estate trending report.

Alpine Real Estate Report - September 2011

2011-10-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here are the real estate market statistics for Alpine. Below you will see the number of active, pending and homes that sold in Septmeber 2011. I have included single family detached homes only. Condos are not included.

There are currently 87 active real estate listings in Alpine ranging from $136,250 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 768 square feet to $2,595,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3000 square feet.

30 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

16 properties sold in September (closed escrow). Ranging from $149,900 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1092 square feet to $875,000 for bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4534 square feet. The average time on the market was 92 day.

Here is the Alpine real estate trending report..

Buyer's Agent

2011-09-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

I was talking recently to a young couple who are considering buying a home. They seemed a little nervous but that is to be expected. I love working with first time buyers, while some agents shy away from them because they can be demanding and indecisive, I love it. First time buyers are fun to work with and I guess the Mom in me comes out. I shared with this couple some of the great opportunities out there including the low interest rates and showed them some great property deals. I knew they were first time buyers so I explained to them the importance of getting preapproved for a loan and gave them some contact numbers. I also told them the escrow and home buying process.

I was very careful to keep things simple but after we had talked for awhile I got the feeling that they were uncomfortable about something. I asked some questions to see if I could determine what was going on. I could not figure out what was bothering them so I finally just asked. Come to find out they were eager to start the process of buying a home but they did not think they could afford to pay me and have the needed money for a downpayment. They knew they needed and wanted me to assist them but they were embarrassed because they did not thing they could pay me!

You should have seen the relief on their faces when I explained to them how agent commissions are charged. I told them that when a home go on the market the seller agrees to pay the commission to the agents, both the buyer's agent and the sellers agent. They were so happy when they realized they did not have to pay me upfront for my services. They are now working on getting their preapproval and starting the process of buying a home in El Cajon. I am so excited to be working with them. I can't wait to help them find their new home, help them through the process and the best part...hand over the keys!

Granite Hills Real Estate

2011-09-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

As you know I am holding an open house this Saturday from 12:00 - 3:00pm at 1536 Robbiejean Place, in Granite Hills. I wanted to share with you the local real estate market report for the Granite Hills area of El Cajon so you would understand what the market is doing. I will have a list of properties that have recently sold in the area at the open house for you to review along with a list of other properties that are currently on the market. When you are buying a home in El Cajon or any other area, it is important to understand the local market so you will be able to submit an offer with confidence. If you are currently considering buying a home, please give me a call. I would be happy to provide this information for any area. I look forward to seeing you Saturday. Come on by so I can answer all your real estate questions.

El Cajon Open House this Weekend

2011-09-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Come see this great foreclosure in the Granite Hills area of El Cajon. I will be holding an open house on Saturday from 12:00 - 3:00pm. The address is 1536 Robbiejean Pl. I hope to see you there.

Looking For Home For Sale in El Cajon

2011-09-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

I am looking for a home for sale in El Cajon, east Spring Valley, or parts of La Mesa. The buyer is looking for at least 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. They would like a minimum of 1000 square feet. The maximum price range depends on the area and the condition, but under $250,000 would be ideal. They do not mind an attached home. If you or any of your friends are thinking of selling such a place, please contact me first. No worries if it is going to be a short sale, the buyer is willing to wait. Please share this post with anyone who might be able to help. Thank you.

How to Fix The Housing Market

2011-09-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Many people are asking how to fix the housing market. The issue is debated and argued but nothing seems to get done. Big surprise right? What all the bigwigs are missing is the old saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. What needs to be done is simple. They need to stop the insanity. They need to stop focusing on the banks and focus on the people. Common sense needs to be injected into the situation. The banks should not be bailed out or given incentives. They need to stop rewarding the banks for making ridiculous decisions. The finger pointing when things don’t work needs to stop. The focus needs to be put back on the people. It is the people that will fix the housing market, not the banks.

The banks and housing market reflect the fear of the shadow inventory. The houses that have been foreclosed on but have not yet hit the market and the homes that are soon to be foreclosed on. This shadow inventory has everyone running scared and fuels the doom and gloom attitude that does nothing to instill confidence in the market that home buyers need to confidently get off the fence. The solution is really quite simple. Quit worrying about it and do something.

The REO properties need to be handled in an intelligent manner. Right now the banks use REO agents to sell their properties. Many of these agents have so many REO listings they cannot possibly market the property in a way that would solicit the highest offer. Many times it is nothing more than putting up a sign and putting it in the MLS at a drastically low price. The property is sold to the highest bidder within 7 days. What does this do to the local market? It is drives the prices even lower. This hurts local homeowners and the banks as well. The next time the bank lists a property for sale in the same neighborhood they will need to sell it for even less. The banks are shooting themselves in the foot simply because once it hits the market they want it sold and sold quickly.

The other part of the shadow inventory are the homes that are in foreclosure but have not been taken back by the bank as of yet. This is where common sense definitely needs to be injected. Time and time again I have seen banks make decisions that actually increase their REO holdings. Here are some examples. The home seller puts their home on the market and it is going to be a short sale. An offer comes in and is submitted to the lender for approval. The first mistake the bank makes is that it will take months for the bank to make a decision on whether or not to accept the short sale. All the while the market is declining, prices are dropping. By the time the lender makes a decision to accept the short sale, the buyer has changed their minds since the property is no longer worth what it was when they submitted the offer. At this point rather than keeping the file open so the property can be remarketed the banks will close the file so when another offer comes in the whole long process starts over again leading to a vicious circle.

Sometimes, the buyer stays strong and wants to proceed with the purchase once the bank has accepted, so what does the bank do? They create yet another hurdle for the buyer. They shorten the time the buyer has to close escrow. They make it very clear that if the property doesn’t close in say 20 days the deal is off. I have seen deals where Bank of America was the lien holder and demanded escrow close in 25 days from acceptance. The buyer was getting a loan and because of all the underwriting requirements it did not get done. The bank refused to extend the escrow and the deal was lost. The bank took the home back through foreclosure. Oh and the ironic part was that the buyer was getting his loan with, you guessed it, Bank of America.

The third example is probably the most insane. The short sale has been approved. Escrow is proceeding and the buyer’s loan is on track. While this is all going on the bank continues with the foreclosure process and is now to the point where the trust sale date has been set. The obvious course of action would be for the bank to postpone the foreclosure date. But again with the lack of common sense they are known for, they refuse to postpone or cancel the foreclosure date. They are less than 5 days away from closing in escrow and the property going to the new buyer but they foreclose and take the property back. Congratulations, they just got themselves another REO holding. Why?

We have been focusing on the insane, greedy banks. Bailing them out and offering incentives to do what they were already suppose to be doing. This is not the answer. The banks are not going to fix the housing market, the people are. It will be the regular home buyers and sellers who have always been the foundation of the real estate market who turn this market around. We need to focus on the people and offer them the bailouts and incentives. And I do not mean just the people on the verge of losing their home. In order to stimulate the market you need to empower the masses.

Right now many homeowners are trying to do what is right and short sale their property rather than simply walking away and letting it go to foreclosure. As described above the banks are doing nothing to simplify the process. There needs to be new rules put into effect to protect both the seller and the potential buyers. Once a short sale is initiated by the seller, it should be like it is with a bankruptcy. The foreclosure process stops. Period. No trustee sales date can be set. The banks should also be forced to accept the short sale at the appraised value within a 30 day timeframe. If they do not there should be serious financial consequences to the bank. Priority of purchase should be given to owner occupied buyers. Rather than how it is now where the banks would rather go with an investor/cash buyer. It is kind of funny that the banks would prefer not to go into escrow with a buyer who is getting a loan. I guess they understand how difficult lenders are to work with. Even they do not want to do business with themselves.

Right now one of the biggest problems in the real estate market is that people do not have equity in their homes. They cannot sell their current home. I talk to people all the time that would love to buy a new home but they can’t. They are prisoners of their house. They are upside down. This needs to be fixed if we are going to see any significant increase in market activity. The best way to accomplish this would be to offer these people an incentive, a bailout of sorts. Allow them to sell their current home at current market value and buy a new home. Force the banks accept the proceeds from this sale as payment in full for their current mortgage. But the sellers must agree to get the new mortgage with their current lender. It is kind of like trading a mortgage. The one thing that would also have to be considered is that the new mortgage would have to be at the going interest rate. I can see it already, if the lender knew they were going to get the loan they would jack up the rate. We have to watch those darn greedy banks. This would definitely stimulate the housing market by allowing people to buy new homes and sell their current one. With this incentive to sellers, the number of short sales would decline but more importantly the REO inventory would not continue to grow at the current rate. The market would become stimulated with buyers and sellers. People who are simply looking for lower mortgage rates would now be potential buyers. Can you imagine the number of people who would hit the housing market running to take advantage of something like this? This would help the millions of people who are trapped in their mortgage. It would help the people that want to refinance but can’t because they have no equity. It would help the people who want to do a short sale but can’t because they are current on their payments or they do not want their credit hurt. It would help the people who are current on their mortgage but want to make a move. Finally it would help the masses, the people.

Spring Valley Real Estate

2011-09-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

As you know I am doing an open house this weekend for a home for sale in Spring Valley. For those of you who are planning on attending I thought it would be good to share with you a real estate market report for Spring Valley. A big part of buying a home is understanding the local market. That way you can make an informed decision regarding how much to offer on a property and it will give you the ability to know a good deal when you see it. This report shows you if the area prices are increasing or declining. Before you submit an offer to purchase any property you should know what compartable properties are listed for but more importantly you should know what comparable properties SOLD for. Especially in this market since bank owned properties are often listed for considerablly less than what they actually sell for.

It is imperative that you know what the house will sell for. This will inable you to submit an offer that is neither too low, where you risk being outbid or too high. If you are considering buying and selling a home, talk to me first. I can prepare a market report for any area and show you what similar homes have sold for. I am here to assist you in making informed decisions. This goes for sellers too. It is even more important that you understand the market so you list the property to maximize your profit but at the same time at level that will get it SOLD. Call me with any questions.

Click here for Spring ValleyMarket report

Spring Valley Open House

2011-09-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Come to my Open House this weekend. The address is 2520 Doubletree, Spring Valley 91978. Saturday, September 17th, 12:00- 4:00pm. Bring your friends and family. I look forward to seeing you and answering all your real estate questions. Spring Valley Open House Flyer

Tips for Real Estate Investors

2011-09-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

With home prices at such low levels and interest rates historically low, I am working with more and more investors. Some investors are interested in “flipping” the property, which means buying a property that needs repairs and remodeling with the intent to sell. Other investors want to purchase a property to be used as a rental. Both options are viable options in this market but they are not necessarily searching for the same types of properties and there are different concerns and things to watch out for depending on what you goal is.

If you are considering flipping a property you need to understand the local real estate market. You will need this information in order to help you determine if the purchase, repairs and subsequent resale will be profitable.

1. Time is of the essence when flipping a property. The longer you own the property, the more it will eat into your profit (mortgage payments, taxes, insurance).

2. When determining the budget and plan make sure you take into consideration the closing costs for both the purchase and the resale. There will be costs on both sides of the transaction.

3. You must be able to accurately determine what the cost of repairs will be and have the means to get the work done quickly. Many flippers are themselves contractors who can assess the work that will need to be done and can do the work themselves.

4. You need to understand what buyer’s are looking for. You must tailor your remodel to suit both your budget and the taste of potential buyers. You may find great purple carpet on sale, but will that help you sell a home?

5. The work must be done in a professional manner. The buyer’s will have a home inspection done and the inspector will tell them everything they find wrong with the property. If you have cut corners or tried to cover up defects, the buyer will find out. As a result, you will scare the buyer away from the deal or if it closes you will open yourself up to lawsuits.

6. You must be realistic when it comes time to sell. You need to know what the average time on the market is and what similar homes are selling for. Do not fall into the trap of listing the property too high, this will cost you in the end. Get it SOLD.

Now may be the perfect time to buy an investment property that will be used as a rental. There are things for you to consider before you make the purchase.

1. You must understand not only the real estate market but also the rental market for the area you are considering. Cheapest is not always the best. You need to know what similar properties have sold for. You do not want to over pay for a home. At the same time you need to know what similar properties are renting for and if the area you are considering is a popular area for renters.

2. You need to determine the cost of bringing the property up to rental condition. As with flipping a property, the longer the repairs take the more money you lose.

3. Be reasonable with your profit projections. Make sure you have a plan to cover the mortgage should the tenant suddenly lose their job and stop paying rent or if the tenant moves out and you need to find a new renter. You will also need to budget for repairs that may be needed.

4. You will also need to determine if you are going to management the property yourself and be responsible for collecting rents and doing repairs or if you are going to hire a property management company to take care of this. Add these costs to your budget as well.

There are many great opportunities in the real estate market right now. But as with anything, there is no such thing a sure thing. You must do your homework and be informed. Do not be unrealistic with your goals. Surround yourself with knowledgeable professionals who can assist you and guide you through the process.

How Keep Ants Out of Pet Food Bowls

2011-09-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

San Diego is being hit with high temperatures and high humidity. While this is making us very uncomfortable, it may be causing another problem... ANTS. I was talking to a friend of mine last night who had returned home to ants invading her Alpine home. She was waging war on a steady stream of ants marching straight for her pantry. She was using all the typical defenses we use (windex, raid, boric acid). At the end of the battle I asked her if they were getting in the dog and cat food bowls as well. She said no, that she had a solution for that. It was such a great idea I thought I would share. She takes the bowls of pet food and floats it in another bowl that contains water. The ants will march over the rim of the first bowl and drown in the water leaving the bowl of pet food untouched! What a great idea! Maybe she should put her pantry food on floaties in the pool! :)

What are your best tips for dealing with ants?

El Cajon Real Estate Market Report - August 2011

2011-09-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here is my real estate market report for El Cajon, California for August 2011. I have included the number Active, Pending and Sold real estate listings. These numbers are for single family detached homes only. I have not included condos, vacant land or multi unit buildings. They are broken down into the 3 El Cajon zip codes.

92019
There are currently 88 active listings (92019 including Rancho San Diego), ranging from $200,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 945 square feet to $1,875,000 for 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 5890 square feet.

57 properties are pending (in escrow).

32 properties sold (closed escrow) in August, ranging from $155,000 for 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1011 square feet to $662,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2802 square feet.

The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 92 days.

92020
There are currently 91 active listings (homes for sale in El Cajon, 92020), ranging from $183,900 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 948 square feet to $1,015,000 for 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3175 square feet.

44 properties are pending (in escrow).

22 properties sold (closed escrow) in August, ranging from $185,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 816 square feet to $785,000 for 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3494 square feet.

The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 85 days.

92021
There are currently 110 active listings (homes for sale in El Cajon, 92021), ranging from $140,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 681 square feet to $1,550,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 5500 square feet.

57 properties are pending (in escrow).

23 properties sold, closed escrow in August, ranging from $80,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1176 square feet to $640,000 for 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3578 square feet.

The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 65 days.

There you have it. If you would like me to run the numbers on another area, please feel free to give me a call. Take care and have great month.

Jamul Real Estate Market Report - August 2011

2011-09-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here is my real estate market report for Jamul, California for August 2011. I have included the number Active, Pending and Sold real estate listings for the 91935 zip code. These numbers are for single family detached homes only. I have not included condos, vacant land or multi unit buildings.

There are currently 92 active listings (Jamul homes for sale), ranging from $220,000 for 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 640 square feet to $1,300,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1100 square feet.

14 properties are pending (in escrow).

8 properties sold (closed escrow) in August, ranging from $258,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1580 square feet to $1,200,000 for 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4000 square feet.

The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 162 days.

Alpine Real Estate Market Report August 2011

2011-09-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Here is my real estate market report for Alpine, California for August 2011. I have included the number Active, Pending and Sold real estate listings for the 91901 zip code. These numbers are for single family detached homes only. I have not included condos, vacant land or multi unit buildings.

There are currently 92 active listings (Alpine properties for sale), ranging from $210,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1360 square feet to $2,595,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3000 square feet.

28 properties are pending (in escrow).

13 properties sold (closed escrow) in August, ranging from $170,000 for 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1237 square feet to $575,000 for 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 4207 square feet.

The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 52 days.

Are Bigger Homes Better?

2011-09-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

I recently read a article about America's most expensive homes that are for sale. I marveled and was amazed at the pictures of huge rooms, high ceilings, beautiful landscaping, and huge numbers of rooms. But then I started to think about it and realized that I would not want to own one of those huge houses. The cost of owning such a home would be astronomical! I am sure it is easy to see this on such a grand scale but what about on a smaller scale?

As a Realtor in Rancho San Diego I work with people buying homes everyday and we are always striving to find homes for sale that best meets their needs, wants, desires and budget. As you know, the price of homes has declined drastically over the last few years. Homes are more affordable than ever. As result you can now afford a larger home and larger lot than previously. Combine the price reduction along with historically low interest rates and you now have more buying power than ever. Whereas before you may have been only able to purchase a 2000square foot home, you may now be able to buy a 3000+ square foot home. Or maybe rather than a 10,000 square foot lot you can afford an acre.

The question becomes, how big is too big? Of course, much will depend on the size of your family and your own individual needs and tastes. But I do not want you to fall into the trap of believing that bigger is always better. The costs of owning a home is going to go up with the size, whether it is the size of the house or the size of the lot. Do not stretch your budget to the limit to gain additional square feet or acreage unless you factor in the additional costs.

The larger home is going to cost you more to heat and cool. There will be more windows to replace, more rooms to furnish and decorate, more faucets that leak, outlets that go out, a larger roof to replace, more walls to paint, higher flooring costs and so on and so on. The larger lot is going to cost more to landscape and irrigate. Those water bills can go up very quickly. Will you need to hire a landscaper? Will you hire someone to clean? These are all things to consider.

So is a larger home better than a smaller home? Is a large lot better than a smaller lot? I do not think there is a right or wrong answer. It depends on the individual and the circumstances. What are your thoughts?

Broaden your Home Search - Avocado Village

2011-08-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

When searching for a home, many buyers will limit their search to a specific zip code. You may have a specific area in mind and use the zip that covers most of that neighborhood. While this may be effective most of the time, sometimes this cannot benefit you. Here is an example. If you are looking for a home in Rancho San Diego you may be searching the 92019 zip code. But have you included the 91978 Spring Valley zip? This zip code covers the area by Steele Canyon high school and “Old Rancho”, up on the hill. Another zip code to search would be 91941. I know this is a La Mesa zip code but the area by Dixieline, the 24 hour gym and Vons, up on the hill is in the 91941 Zip code. If you are considering buying a condo in Rancho San Diego you should include these zip codes as well.

Avocado Village condo complex in La Mesa, is located just east of the Dixieline and Von’s shopping center at the end of the 94 and Via Mercado. This is a good complex to consider if you want to buy a home in Rancho San Diego. The complex consists of 1 and 2 bedroom units with 678-1068 square feet. Some units have mountain views and either attached or detached garages. The complex was built in 1985 and some units have been updated. When last checked the owner occupancy rate was 61%, which means it is eligible for FHA financing. (Please check current rate when you are ready to buy.) The current HOA fees are approximately $200-$230 per month. This fee covers common area maintenance, building exterior, sewer and trash. There is a pool and a spa.

The complex is stable. In the last 18 months 12 units have sold. There are currently 2 in escrow and there is only one active listing. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and is 1068 square feet. It is listed for $170,000. Call me if you would like more information about this condo or if you would like me to help you purchase a new home.

Things to do this Weekend in El Cajon

2011-08-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who live in La Mesa, Santee, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley or other areas of San Diego East County, here are some great events that are going on this weekend. For those of you who are considering buying a home in Rancho San Diego or other nearby areas, take a look at some of the great events and get out there and enjoy!

Santee Family fest: Saturday Aug. 27, 11-3:00 at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive, Santee. This event offers crafts for kids, carnival games, booths, inflatable jumping toys, laser tag, fitness challenges, swimming, a WNBA basketball clinic at 1 p.m. for children 7 to 13 (requires a waiver), and food. This event is Free. Information: (619) 254-4100 ext. 201 or Santee City page.

Sycuan Resort Anniversary party: Thursday Aug 25th, 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the lawn at Sycuan Resort, 3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon. This event will benefit the nonprofit, Stoneys Kids and feature hors d’oeuvres, dinner, raffle and live auction of an electric guitar signed by country singer Toby Keith. Cost is $25 per person. Information: (619) 204-8245.

Summer Movies in the Park: Friday August 26, 7:30 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center, 3131 School Lane. Watch “Rio.” Free. Information: (619) 825-3810 or Lemon Grove City page.
Concerts on the Green: 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at Prescott Promenade, 201 E. Main St., El Cajon. Aunt Kizzy’s Boys will perform blues music. Free. Information: (619) 401-8858.

Spring Valley Car show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 at Faith Chapel, 9400 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Christian Rods & Customs Car Club. This annual event will feature classic cars, trophies, food, live music, raffles, vendors and entertainment. Admission is free. Information: (619) 286-5501 or Christian Rods and Customs.
Spring Valley Library Book sale: Friday, August 26, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton St. The Friends of the Library will host a book sale featuring hardcovers, paperbacks, videos, magazines and other items. Information: (619) 463-3006.

Job fair: 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Aug. 26 on the second floor of the student center at Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon. A number of employers, including those in insurance, communications, technology, retail, law enforcement and entertainment will have representatives. Information: (619) 448-5201 http://hunter.house.gov/.

“The Heart of Mt. Helix”: Saturday Aug. 27, 5:30 to 10 p.m., at the amphitheater on Mount Helix, 4901 Mount Helix Drive, La Mesa. This event features work by local performing and visual artists, food and live music. Tickets are $60 general admission. Information: (619) 741-4363 or Mt Helix Park.

Cool zone for seniors: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Heritage of the Americas Museum, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Free admission to senior citizens looking to cool off during the warm weather months. Information: (619) 670-5194 or Cuyamaca College.
Military Momma Mondays: 9 a.m. each Monday at La Mesita Park, 8855 Dallas St., La Mesa. This fitness class is for any active duty or dependent military mother. The classes involve walking and intervals of toning. Free. Information: (619) 436-7404 or Stroller Strides.

Cajon Classic Cruise: Every Wednesday through Oct. 26, 5 to 8 p.m. on East Main Street at Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon. The weekly car show features hundreds of classic, custom and hot rod cars and motorcycles, vendors, food, DJs, and live entertainment. Free. Information: (619) 401-8858 or Downtown El Cajon.

When you buy a home be prepared for an earthquake.

2011-08-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's earthquake on the East Coast should serve as a reminder here in San Diego that you need to be prepared. When you buy and move into your new home, is the perfect time to review how prepared you are. You should go through all of your supplies and replenish as needed. You will also need to find a new place to store your items. You and your family should also go over an evacuation plan since you are now in a new space.

When you buy a home and move in, you need to make sure everyone knows how to locate...
1. The fire extinguisher
2. The gas shut off valve (wrench should be attached)
3. The prearranged meeting spot

You should have the following supplies and know where they are.
1. A fire Extinguisher
2. Water for 2 weeks (1gallon per person, per day)
3. Medications you and you family are on
4. First aid kit and instructions
5. Flashlights (with extra batteries and bulbs)
6. Portable radio and batteries
7. Canned and packaged ready to eat food.
8. Manual can opener
9. Waterproof plastic bags for waste disposal

What to do during an earthquake
1. If you are inside, stay there. Move away from windows, fireplaces, tall heavy furniture and get out of kitchen where things can fall on you. Duck under a heavy table and hang on.
2. If you are outside, move away from buildings, power lines, chimneys and snything that can fall on you.

You can find more information on earthquakes here.

VA Loan Changes

2011-08-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

I need help getting the word out to military members who are considering buying a home. The VA has made some changes to the loan program that could save a VA buyer some money.

Effective for loans closed on or after October 1, 2011, the VA funding fee will decrease dramatically! The first time user of VA loans will see their upfront funding fee drop from 2.15% down to 1.40%. That is a savings of roughly $2000 on a $275,000 loan.

So please share this information with any military person you know of who is considering buying a home in the near future. Have them call me for more information. Now is the time to take advantage of the historic low interest rates. I am ready to help them with their homes for sale search.

Free Defensible Space Clearing for Seniors in Alpine

2011-08-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

If you are a senior (62 or older) or disabled and own your home and have an annual income of $31,300 or less, Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council has a free program to create the 100 feet of defensible space required by fire agencies. Call Diane Francis at 619-445-4998 for application and information. You will be required to show proof of gross annual income. Space in this program is limited. Please share this information with others who may be eligible.

CONTACT:

Diane Francis
Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council Volunteer
619-445-4998
diane_francis@hotmail.com

Tax Tips for Home Sellers

2011-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

As a real estate agent in Rancho San Diego I am often asked about the tax implications of selling a home. I am not a tax consultant and do not feel comfortable offering advise in an area that I am not an expert. But I do want to help my clients make educated decisions when deciding to sell their home.

The IRS recently published their 10 Tax Tips for Individual Sellers. This publication provides you with some great information. If you are considering selling your home, check it out. Then call me to arrange a time to discuss what I can do to assist you in getting your home sold and share with you what I will do to agressively market you home.

Lake Murray Terrace Condo

2011-08-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

I just sold a condo in the Lake Murray Terrace complex. This is condo complex of approximately 230 units. These units are spacious and conveniently located near Grossmont College and Lake Murray. The complex features multiple pools and a spa. The unit I sold was 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 1041 square feet. This complex is great for someone thinking of buying an investment property or for a college student, just starting out. The units are easily rented and the prices are very reasonable. There are currently 3 other units available in the complex. If you are interested in more information, please feel free to give me a call or visit my website at Lake Murray Real Estate.

Rancho San Diego - La Vida Real - Senior Living Community

2011-08-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

I recently sold a home for a wonderful gentleman by the name of George. George is in his late 80's and possible 90's. He came to me when it was time for him to sell the 2500 + square foot family home and move himself and his ailing wife into a senior community. As you can imagine this was a very difficult and emotional experience for George but he did it!

While I was working with George to sell his Mt Helix home, he and his wife moved to La Vida Real. This is a senior living community Rancho San Diego that offers independent living, assisted living, and Alzheimer/Dementia Care. This move allowed George to share the responsibilty of caring for his wife. The move to La Vida Real Senior Community also gave George the opportunity to let go of the family home slowing. At first he would go to Mt Helix every day and wanted to be there for every showing. Eventually he was able to let go and begin to distance himself from the property. This gradual seperation was good for George.

When I first met him he was very gruff and one might say unreasonable but as time went by he realized he could trust me and that I had only his best interests in mind. I did not pressure him or push him to do anything he was uncomfortable with. I was patient, and in the end I think this made it much easier for him to let go of the family home.

It is easy to forget that real estate is a people business. George had lived in this home for numerous years, raised his family here, and took pride in this home. He was definately emotionally tied to it. I am glad I took the time to be patient and not push him. In the end I was greatly rewarded with a big hug and tender smile from George. This is something I will cherish for a long time!

El Cajon Job Fair - August 2011

2011-08-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a copy of a letter I recieved from Congressman Duncan Hunter regarding a Job Fair he will be holding in El Cajon this month. For some finding a new or better job can be the first step to buying a home. Take a look.

Dear Kimberlee,

With one in ten San Diegans out of work, getting the economy back on track is one of my top priorities. So is putting San Diegans back to work.

That's why on August 26, 2011, from 9am to 12pm, I will be hosting my second job fair for 2011 at the Cuyamaca College Student Center in El Cajon. Whether you, or someone you know, are looking for work or interested in a career change, I hope you will stop by and speak with some of the participating businesses. In fact, companies from across the county are expected to attend this fair and have opportunities available in a variety of jobs sectors.

Attached is a copy of the flier, which contains additional details, including parking instructions. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Andrea Jones in my El Cajon office at Andrea.Jones@mail.house.gov, or 619-448-5201.

I look forward to seeing you at this event. The event information is also available on my website, http://www.hunter.house.gov/, where you can also sign up to receive periodic updates on my efforts in Congress.

Sincerely,
Duncan Hunter
Member of Congress

Please visit my website at hunter.house.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter and receive electronic updates.

Here is the link to the Job Fair Flyer.

Alpine Real Estate - July 2011

2011-08-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the monthly real estate market report for Alpine.

There are currently 80 single family homes for sale in Alpine, ranging from $159,900 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1092 sqft to $2,595,000 for 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3000 sqft.

22 properties are pending (in escrow).

15 properties SOLD (closed escrow), ranging from $175,000 for 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1082 sqft to $809,000 for 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4305 sqft. The average time on the market was 93 days.

If you would like more information about the active listings, feel free to search for Alpine homes for sale here.

Jamul Real Estate Market - July 2011

2011-08-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

It is time for my monthly real estate market report for Jamul.

There are currently 34 Active listings, ranging from $295,000 for 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 792 sqft to $1,399,000 for 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 6303 sqft.

12 property are pending (currently in escrow).

5 properties SOLD in July (closed escrow), ranging from $265,000 for 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1088 sqft to $650,000 for 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 2529 sqft. The average time on the market was 44 days.

If you would like more information about the properties that are currently on the market, feel free to search for Jamul homes for sale here.

Should I Buy A Condo or Single Family Home

2011-08-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have been considering buying a home for myself and I keep going back and forth between buying a condo or a detached single family home. I bet some of you have been faced with the same dilemma or maybe you are currently considering buying as well. Hopefully we will both find this information useful and be able to determine which is best for each of us.

Let’s start with the pluses of buying a condo in Rancho San Diego. The biggest attraction to a condo for me is that there is much less maintenance and work involved with owning one. I would not have to mow the lawn, weed gardens or sweep walkways. Because I would not be responsible for the landscaping, my water bill would also be lower. Then there is the exterior maintenance, many times the HOA is responsible for maintaining the roof, the stucco, the exterior wood of the building. If I buy a single family home and the roof starts to leak, it would be my responsibility to get it fixed, along with slab leaks, broken sewer lines and lots of other repairs. I also really enjoy a pool and with a condo I would not be responsible for cleaning and caring for it.

So, what are the negatives to buying a condo? Well, first and foremost there is no HOA fee. These fees in the Rancho San Diego and El Cajon area are about $200 - $350 per month. These fees can go up at anytime and special assessments can be added as needed. These fees are forever so even if I pay off the mortgage on a condo, I would still be responsible for a monthly payment. The second concern is that most condos are attached to another unit. I will have neighbors very, very close and depending on who owns or rents the attached unit, it could be horrible!

What are the pluses buying a single family home? Number one for me would be more privacy. There would be some space between me and my neighbors. I would have a driveway and parking would not be as much of a concern. The exterior would look the way I want it, with no limitations set by an HOA and the rules and regulations. I would not have to pay the monthly HOA fees.

Finally, what are the negatives of owning a single family home? The responsibility for the landscaping and all of the building maintenance would fall on me. Single family homes tend to be more expensive than a condo. In my price range I can afford a condo built after 1980 but the single family homes in my price range were built in the 50’s – 60’s and they tend to have much less closet space! Also, if I buy a single family home it will not have a pool. I do not want to have to be responsible for maintaining it and I would have to pay additional insurance.

So those are my thoughts on condos versus single family homes. What are your thoughts? Do you have anything to add?

America's Finest Beer Festival is CANCELED

2011-07-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

Now you have time to search for properties since America's Finest Beer Festival, the beer festival scheduled for this weekend at Qualcomm Stadium, has been CANCELED.

Valerie Harrison, the President and CEW of Rancho San Diego/Jamul Chamber of Commerce explains in a letter that the event has been canceled because the organizers realized they are "financially overextended. Tickets purchased on Ticketweb will be refunded immediately and booth and VIP tickets will be refunded ASAP.

SB 458 Short Sale Law - What does it mean?

2011-07-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Last week Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 458 into law. So what exactly does that mean to you? The new law requires all lenders that agree to a short sale, must accept the agreed upon sales price as payment in full. This applies to both first and second mortgages. Last October, California enacted SB 931 where first lien holders were prohibited from going after short sale sellers for any debt deficiency after they accepted the short sale. SB 931 did not apply to junior lien holders. So with the new law both primary and secondary lenders that accept a short sale must accept the sales price as payment in full. SB 458 includes an urgency clause that makes it effective immediately.

If you were holding off on doing a short sale for fear of having to pay the difference, you should now reconsider short selling your home. If you are struggling with your payment, behind on payments and on the verge of foreclosure, please give me a call. I have discretely assisted sellers with homes for sale in Alpine, El Cajon, Jamul, and many other areas of San Diego county. While a short sale may not be what you really want, it may be a better alternative to foreclosure. If you would like to search local real estate to compare prices of homes simalar to yours, feel free...Property Search.

Why Do People Buy A Home?

2011-07-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article about why people buy homes. We hear a lot of talk about price but you may be surprised to hear that there are many other factors that go into making the decision to purchase a home. It doesn't matter if you are buying in Alpine, Jamul, Rancho San Diego, or La Mesa, there are many reasons people want to buy a home.

In a National Survey, the top five reasons given, for buying a home, in order, are:

1. It means having a good place to raise children and provide them with a good education

2. You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe

3. It allows you to have more space for your family

4. It gives you control of what you do with your living space (renovations and updates)

5. Paying rent is not a good investment

Want to read more... Why People Actually Buy A Home

Rancho, Jamul and Alpine All in the News

2011-07-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

For those of us who live and work in San Diego East county, we all know what a great place it is to live. Alpine, Jamul and Rancho San Diego all had recent stories in the news. For those who are either new to the area or unfamiliar with our community, here are the stories. Maybe, you are considering buying a home in Jamul, Alpine or Rancho. If so, I have included some very useful links.

Jamul resident, Alexis Swanstrom, was crowned the second runner-up in the Miss Teen USA pageant. Alexis graduated from Steele Canyon High School and plans to attend the University of San Diego. Read more

Last Thursday evening about 40 people attended the parks advisory board committee meeting at the Rancho San Diego Library to discuss the possibility of creating a leash-free dog area at Lonny Brewer Park. Read More

Last Thursday evening the Grossmont Union High School District trustees voted to accept construction bids for the preparation, grading and infrastructure on the site of the proposed Alpine high school.
Read More

I hope you enjoy these stories and please feel free to share with anyone you know who might be considering buying a home in our great area.

Del Mar 2011 Race Schedule

2011-07-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Conforming Loan Limits To Decrease

2011-07-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

We just had our office meeting and the big topic was the upcoming change in the conforming loan limits. In San Diego, it is currently set at $697,500. On September 30, 2011 the conforming loan limits will be reduced. No one knows for sure the actual amount it will be reduced but it looks like anywhere from $150,000 - $250,000. This will be effective the end of September.

So what does this mean to you? Well, right now you can purchase a home with a FHA loan up to the current limit of $697,500. You would be able to do so with 3.5% down payment. After the change you will need to stay under $457,500 - $547,000 depending on the new limit. If you go over the conforming loan limit you would not be able to purchase with only 3.5% down, you would need a 20% down payment. Also the interest for a loan over the limit is about 0.75% -1.5% higher. This will cause your monthly payment to be considerably higher.

If you are thinking that this increase will only affect people in the middle range you are wrong. Buyer's in the higher end market will also be affected especially if they are selling a mid-priced home in order to buy that luxury home. There will be fewer buyers for the mid level home due to the change and the sales price may need to be adjusted down.

So what can you do now to protect yourself? First of all, if you are considering buying a mid level home, do it now before the change in loan limit goes into effect. Sure, prices might come down a little but if you look at cost versus price (as discussed in a previous post) you may not want to wait. If you do not have 20% to put down, take advantage of the 3.5% downpayment FHA offers before the loan limit changes.

Sellers of mid level homes should also protect themselves. If your home is currently on the market and not moving, especially if you are in the $600,000 price range, REDUCE and get it sold. Once the loan limit goes into effect there will be fewer buyers who will qualify to buy your home. If your home is not yet on the market and you believe it will be in the $550,000 - $690,000 price range, list it TODAY!!! Do not wait until the pool of buyers gets smaller. Give yourself the best chance possible to get it sold. CALL ME TODAY!!!

Foreclosure myths, debunked

2011-06-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

I came across this article and wanted to share it with you. It has some great informations and helps expose some of the myths about foreclosure.

Foreclosure myths, debunked

Cash Buyers Scooping Up Homes

2011-06-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

All-cash buyers scooping up homes

Source: USA TODAY
Publication date: June 22, 2011
By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY

Cash buyers are snapping up homes in markets nationwide, betting that deals won't get much better.
Last month, all-cash buyers accounted for 30% of existing home sales, up from 25% in May 2010, and 12% two years ago, says the National Association of Realtors.
Cash buyers, who are mostly investors, accounted for at least 30% of existing-home sales for the fifth-straight month, the association says. They hit 35% of buyers in March.
The cash buyers are enticed by low prices and potential rental income, economists say. But while their activity has helped curb price drops, price increases have yet to follow.

In May, the median price of an existing single-family home fell 4.5% to $166,700 from a year ago, the association reported Tuesday. Volume also dropped. Existing home sales in the month including single family, condos and townhouses were down 15% from the previous May, when a federal tax credit boosted sales.

Without cash buyers, "We would be in much worse shape than we are," says Jim Gillespie, CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. "They recognize that this is the smartest time to buy," because U.S. home prices are 33% below their 2006 peak.

Cash buyers are especially prevalent in markets where prices have fallen the most, often areas hard hit by foreclosures.

In Las Vegas, the foreclosure capitol of the U.S. for the past four years, cash buyers accounted for 49% of first-quarter sales vs. 20% in the first quarter of 1997, says data from real estate site Zillow.com. In that area, home prices are almost 60% off their 2006 peak.

In the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, 63% of first-quarter buyers paid in cash, vs. 39% in 1997's first quarter, Zillow says.

Phoenix is also seeing more cash buyers, 44% in the first quarter up from 25% in the same 1997 period, Zillow data show.

The big numbers are "positive news," says Stan Humphries, Zillow chief economist. "These are people who're getting back into the market because they see good value."

Cash buyers often get better deals because sellers know their offers won't fall through for lack of financing, says Walt Danley, president of the luxury real estate firm The Walt Danley Group in Arizona. A discount of up to 5% is typical, he says.

While Danley sees many foreign buyers paying cash, investors looking for rentals are also big cash buyers.
Given low prices, they can buy homes, rent them and be immediately cash-flow positive, says Paul Dales, an economist for Capital Economics.

(c) Copyright 2011 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

2011-06-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted on Facebook that 4 media giants were all saying that now is the time to buy a house. I also had an office meeting that reiterated this point.

1. Here in San Diego county prices are way down, making homes so much more affordable than in recent years. Locally the value has dropped by 5%-7% since earlier this year.
2. Inventory is up. There are many great properties to chose from. The odds of you finding a home that really suits your needs has never been better.
3. Interest rates are very low. Yesterday, FHA and VA rates were at 4.25%! It is unlikely that they will go lower. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are predicting interest rates to go up by 1% by year end.

You may be asking yourself why you should buy if prices are dropping and that is a good question. First you ned to understand that their is difference between "price" and "cost". The "price" is the purchase price, the amount the home sold for. The "cost" is how much you will pay for the loan, your monthly payment and how much you will pay over the long run.

When I work with buyers they are typically most interested in how much their monthly payement will be and if that payment is affordable. But at the same time they seem to get hung up on the price. This could hurt them in the end. They are concerned about "prices" declining and want to wait for the bottom to purchase. But the reality is no one knows where the bottom is until prices start to go back up and you have missed the bottom anyway. Not only that but the same property will now "cost" them more. Did you know that a property's value would need to decline by about 10% in order to come close to compensating for a 1% increase in interest rates!

Investors always seem to be ahead of the general public when it comes to buying at the right time. They do not wait until it is too late. What are investors doing now? They are buying! Last month 39% of the real estate transactions were bought by investors. More specifically, last week for one listing, 4 cash offers came in. These investors had proof of funds of over $10,000,000. These people know what they are doing! They have amassed a fortune by timing things correctly. They know the returns are coming in, properties are cash flow, the returns exceed the current stock market and most importantly that NOW is the time to buy.

Here are the links to the articles I referenced yesterday. Take a look and think about it. If you are planning on buying, don't put it off. Call me today!

Wall Street Journal
CBS Money Watch
Forbes Magazine
National Public Radio

Condo For Sale in San Diego

2011-06-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

The price was just reduced today! Do you have a student who will be going to Grossmont College this fall? Here is a great 2 bedroom condo for sale in the area. It is very conveniently located. Take a look and pass it on.

San Diego Fair Grandstand Performers

2011-06-13T11:06:00.001-07:00

Rancho San Diego Area Schools

2011-06-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

When parents are considering buying a home in a new area, local schools become a major factor. It is important that you do your research. Here is a list schools in the Rancho San Diego area along with their contact information and website links. Even if you are a young couple who doesn't have kids you should take this into consideration when you buy a home. Take it from me, time flies and you never know what your future holds. You may think you are going to own the new home for only a couple of years but before you know if, you could have been there for 10 and have 2 school age kids!

Avocado Elementary - 3845 Avocado School Road, La Mesa, CA 91941, Phone: 619.588.3100
AvocadoElementary

Fuerte Elementary - 11625 Fuerte, El Cajon, CA 92020, Phone: 619.588.3134
Fuerte Elementary

Jamacha Elementary - 2962 Jamul Drive, El Cajon, CA 92019, Phone: 619.441.6150
Jamacha Elementary

Rancho San Diego Elementary - 12151 Calle Albara, El Cajon, CA 92019, Phone: 619.588.3211
Rancho San Diego Elementary

Vista Grande Elementary - 1908 Vista Grande Road, El Cajon, CA 92019, Phone: 619.588.3170
Vista Grande Elementary

Middle Schools

Hillsdale Middle School-1301 Brabham St. El Cajon 92019, Phone: 619.441.6156

Hillsdale Middle School

High Schools

Valhalla High Shool - 1725 Hillsdale Road, El Cajon, CA 92019. Phone: 619-593-5300.
Vallhalla High School

Steele Canyon High School - 12440 Campo Rd, Spring Valley, CA 91978, Phone: 619.660.3500
Steele Canyon High School

Colleges

Cuyamaca College - 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019, Phone: 619.660.4000
Cuyamaca College

School District Links
Cajon Valley School District
Grossmont High School District

Alpine REal Estate Market Report May

2011-06-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

Here is the Alpine real estate market report for the month of May 2011. It includes the active, pending and sold signle family detached properties.

91901

There are currently 87 active listings ranging from $158,400 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1082 sqft to $2,599,500 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3000 sqft.

28 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

11 properties sold (closed escrow) ranging from $185,000 for2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 840 sqft to $625,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3504 sqft. The average time on the market was 73 days.

Click here for more Alpine Information

El Cajon Real Estate Market Conditions

2011-06-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the real estate market report for El Cajon for the month of May 2011. I have included information for the active, pending and sold listing for single family detached homes only. I have included real estate information for all 3 zip codes in El Cajon.

92019
There are currently 104 active listings ranging from $200,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 945sqft to $2,400,000 for 4 bedroom, 6bathrooms, 5890 sqft.

57 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

33 properties sold in May (closed escrow), ranging from $151,000 for 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1280 sqft to $829,900 for 4bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3660 sqft. The average time on the market was 67 days.

92020
There are currently 103 active listings ranging from $165,000 for 4 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, 780 sqft to $929,000 for 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 4198 sqft.

55 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

30 properties sold (closed escrow) ranging from $210,000 for 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1810 sqft to $565,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3441 sqft. The average time on the market was 75 days.

92021
There are currently 121 active listings ranging from $189,900 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1029 sqft to $1,795,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 5500 sqft.

66 properties are pending (in escrow)

22 properties sold (closed escrow) ranging from $119,000 for 3 bedroom 2 bathroom 993 sqft to $634,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3298 sqft. The average time on the market was 78 days.

Want to see how it compares to last month? Click the link below.
Click here for more El Cajon Information

Jamul Real Estate Market Report

2011-06-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here is the May 2011 Real Estate Market report for Jamul.

There are currently 38 Active listings, ranging from $114,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 912 sqft to $1,930,000 for 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4502 sqft.

15 properties are pending (currently on the market).

7 properties sold (closed escrow) in May, ranging from $110,000 for 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 2070 sqft (not a typo) to $537,000 for 7 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 5821 square feet. The average time on the market was 87 days.

Click here for more Jamul Information

Steele Canyon High School Principal Retires

2011-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Steele Canyon High School's principal, Craig Rocha, is retiring after 4 years. Steele Canyon is located in the Spring Valley - Jamul area. It is the largest of the charter schools in California with approximately 2,200 students. Since Rocha has been the principal, test scores have risen every year. He is retiring after almost 40 years in education. Assistant principal Eileen Poole has been named as interim principal until a permanent principal takes over for the 2012-2013 school year.

Sign on San Diego

El Cajon Weekly Happenings

2011-05-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

With this being a long weekend for many, I thought I would share some of the weekly events happening in the El Cajon area. It should be gorgeous this weekend so get out there and enjoy some of the great things El Cajon has to offer.

Tours of The Water Conservation Garden: 10:30 a.m. every Saturday at the garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Free. Information: (619) 660-0614.
Tours of the Heritage of the Americas Museum: noon each Saturday at the museum, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. For Information: (619) 670-5194 Cuyamaca Museum

Lake Murray walking trail: 4 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Led by the Widow or Widower (WOW) Club of San Diego. Call for Information: (619) 644-5318 or (619) 466-0232.

Arts and crafts: 3 to 4 p.m. every Tuesday at Kennedy Park Center, 1675 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Free. Information: (619) 444-1676.

Skate clinic: 4 to 6 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at Kennedy Skate Park, 1675 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Bring skateboard or roller blades and learn the sport at all levels. Cost is $8 per session. Must bring helmet, elbow pads, kneepads and park ID card to participate. Information: (619) 441-1676 or visit
El Cajon Rec

Weight Loss Support group: 10 a.m. each Wednesday at Wells Park, 1153 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meetings are open to anyone over 7 years old; support group to help lose weight and keep it off. Information: (619) 562-4966 or TOPS Website

Senior club: 9 to 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday at the Boys and Girls Club, 8820 Tamberly Way, Santee. Information: (619) 258-4100.

Weird House

2011-05-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Now this is what you call a tree house!

Century 21 and The Cake Boss

2011-05-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

This year Century 21 is celebrating their 40th anniversary in real estate. To celebrate the big event we are having an amazing cake provided by the cake boss himself, Buddy Valastro from Carlos Bakery. Check out the show on June 6th on TLC. Here is the TLC trailer for the show. It should be a good one!

"Buddy takes on one of his most difficult cake builds, creating a cake that must represent houses from around the world for Century 21's 40th anniversary. To add to the challenge, it must also feed over 4000 employees and deliver to Las Vegas"

Congratulations to Century 21 for being the leader in real estate for 40 years. Through forward thinking, adaptation to the real estate market and embrassing of technology Century 21 will surely remain a leader for many more years to come.

Carlos Bakery

TLC - Cake Boss

Agents BEWARE

2011-05-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

I love my job and my fellow professionals in real estate. This serves as a sad reminder of the dangers of our job. Please take a minute and read this article and think about how you conduct your business. Consider changing the way you do business if you are putting yourself at risk. No deal is worth your life.

Daily Real Estate News

Snakes in Jamul

2011-05-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

I came across this article and thought I would share it. I have done a lot of business in Jamul and the information is good for people who are considering buying here and also a great reminder for those who already live in the community. The information is not Jamul specific but applies to all of. Us who live and enjoy the great outdoors in San Diego.

Snakes in Jamul, California | eHow.com

Moving? You Can Help Homeless Teens

2011-05-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Have you been spring cleaning or maybe you are getting ready to move. Whether you are packing or not you have the opportunity to help homeless teens and adults in the area. Steele Canyon High School is collecting used books to be donated to people who would really appreciate them. If you have books you would like to donate, you can bring them to the Steele Canyon library. If you would like more information contact...

Shannon Roberts
Counselor/Family Connection Administrator Steele Canyon High School
619-660-3548
sroberts@schscougars.org
Steele Canyon High School

Reduced! 3 Bedroom Condo in El Cajon For Sale

2011-05-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a great 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo for sale in El Cajon. This is a large unit with 1626 square feet. Some of the features include a large master bedroom, 2 stories, laundry hook ups, and a garage. Listed at only $190,000, why are you renting? Take a look and let me know if you would like more information.

El Cajon Condo For Sale

Check out KQSellsHomes

2011-05-13T10:09:00.001-07:00

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El Cajon Recreation Guide

2011-05-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

Summer is quickly approaching, have you made plans for your summer? You need to check out the El Cajon Recreation Guide to see some of the great activities offered through the rec department. There is swimming, camps, sports, concerts and so much more. Take a look and get out there and enjoy some of the fun things El Cajon has to offer.

El Cajon Recreation Guide

El Cajon 2011 Concerts on the Green

2011-05-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

Once again Sycuan Casino is presenting Concerts on the Green. Fridays from May 6th through September 30th you can enjoy a family friendly event and enjoy some great music. Concerts are held on Friday evenings from 6:00 - 8:00. The concerts are located on the Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon, across the street from the court house. Parking Map   Here is a list of the scheduled performers. If you would like more information, visit Downtown El Cajon

May 13 Candye Kane (swing/blues)
May 20 Taildraggers (bluegrass)
May 27 Downbeat Big Band (big band/swing)
June 3    Rhythm & The Method (rock & roll/ folk/indie)
June 10 Theo & The Zydeco Patrol (zydeco)
June 17 Middle Earth Ensemble (middle eastern fusion)
June 24 Upstream (carribean/reggae/calypso)
July 1     Back to the Garden (classic rock/tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young)
July 8     Downbeat Big Band (big band/swing)
July 15   Shawn Rohlf & The Buskers (folk/country)
July 22   Fandango (classic rock)
July 29   North County Cowboys (country)
Aug 5    Illiana Rose Band (latin jazz)
Aug 12 Sara Petite & The Sugar Daddies (americana/country)
Aug 19 Sonos (indie/acappella)
Aug 26 Aunt Kizzy's Boy's (blues)
Sept 2   Old Town Road (bluegrass)
Sept 9   Akayaa & Bolga Zohdoomah (world music/african)
Sept 16 Scott Martin Latin Soul (latin jazz)
Sept 23 The Stoney B Blues Band (blues)
Sept 30 Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Band (boogie woogie/swing)

Bring your blanket or a chair and I hope to see you out there. Enjoy!!

Why God Made Moms

2011-05-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

My Friend Joy sent this to me and it cracked me up. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. I hope this puts a smile on your face.

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine..

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND AUNTS.... and anyone else who has anything to do with kids or just needs a good laugh!!

Alpine Real Estate Report - April 2011

2011-05-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

I know you havebeen anxiously waiting but have no fear, here are the real estate statistics for Alpine for the month of April. I have included the active, pending and sold single family detached homes.

There are currently 87 properties on the market. Ranging from $159,900 for 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 754 square feet to $2,599,500 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3000 square feet.

21 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

14 properties sold (closed escrow). Ranging from $235,000 for 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 864 square feet to $540,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3287 square feet. The average time on the market was 77 days.

If you would like to see how this compare to last month or to check another area, please follow the link below.
Alpine Market Trends

El Cajon Real Estate Report- April 2011

2011-05-04T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here we are in May already. I hope you had a good April. Here is the real estate market report for El Cajon for April 2011. I have included the active, pending and sold numbers for single family detached homes for all three zip codes.

92019
There are currently 121 active listings on the market. Ranging from $202,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1122 square foot to $2,400,000 for 4 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 5890 square feet.

52 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

30 properties sold (closed escrow). Ranging from $170,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1014 square feet to $820,421 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3810 square feet. The average time on the market was 91 days.

92020
There are currently 110 active listings on the market. Ranging from $190,000 for 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1094 square feet to $1,025,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3175 square feet.

55 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

31 properties sold (closed escrow. Ranging from 135,000 for 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 891 square feet to $615,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2775 square feet. The average time on the market was 76 days.

92021
There are currently 125 active lisitngs on the market. Ranging from $122,500 for 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom 474 square feet to $999,900 for 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 6229 square feet.

55 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

22 properties sold (closed escrow). Ranging from $178,000 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1018 square feet to $635,000 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3187 square feet. The average days on the market was 80.

If you would like to see how this compares to last month or to check another area, follow the link below.
El Cajon Market Statistics

Jamul Real Estate Market Report

2011-05-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, where did April go? Sorry for the delay but here they are. This is what has happened in the Jamul real estate market for the month of April 2001. I have included the active, pending and sold statistics. Take a look.

There are currently 39 active listings on the market. Ranging from $235,000 for 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 588 square feet to $1,930,000 for 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4502 square feet.

13 properties are pending, currently in escrow.

8 properties SOLD (closed escrow). Ranging from $250,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1414 square feet to $560,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2875 square feet. The average time on the market for the properties that sold was 97 days.

If you would like to see how the April statistics compare to previous months, click the link below. You can also check on other areas and see some very imformative graphs. Take care and have a great month.

JAMUL STATS

Jamul Garage Sale - Lots of Great Items for Your Home

2011-05-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

The weather is definately warming up and you know what that means...It's time for those wonderful garage sales. You know the old saying about others people's junk could be your treasurer. Come take a look and see what you can find for your home. Conveniently located just 5-10 mins from Rancho San Diego.

Where: Jamul Community Church, 14058 Jamul Drive, Jamul CA 91935.
When: Saturday May 7th. 7am to 12pm.

Come take a look at new or nearly new housewares, clothing, electronics, furniture, toys, jewelery, tools and so much more. You never know what you are going to find.

Summer Time Dangers

2011-04-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

13 Summer Time Dangers

Here is a link to 13 summer time dangers. It is a good reminder as we head into the warm, sunny days of summer. But living in San Diego there are a couple of things I would like to add to the list. The first and probably the scariest for those of us who live in El Cajon and rural areas is rattle snakes. They are masters of hiding and you may not see them until it is too late. So if you are out hiking, walking in tall grass or even moving items around your backyard, use extreme caution.

The second reminder is not something that is specifically for homeowners but it is something we will hear about this summer. Rip currents can be sneaky so if you are heading to the beach remind everyone to be on the look out. It is also a good idea to remind your out of town company who may not be aware of what a rip current is, how to avoid them, and what to do if they find themselves caught in one.

The third reminder is sunscreen. With spring here and the sun shining we may forget just how quickly we can get sunburned. Use your sunscreen and don't let a red painful sunburn ruin the memory of a great day in San Diego.

I am sure there are many other things that can be added to this list of summer time dangers. Please feel free to add your own. Take care of yourself and each other and enjoy this beautiful San Diego day.

What Buyer's Market

2011-04-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

I agree. So many buyers are quickly disenchanted when they start submitting offers. They have heard all the talk about it being a buyer's market but when they submit their offer they are out bid over and over again. I help my clients learn and understand the market. They need to know what similar homes are selling for so they can have a good idea of what the home is going to sell for. That way they can put in an educated offer.

The list price is many times irrelevant. Some sellers list a property way above the market value so in that case submitting an offer under the list price would be appropriate. On the other hand, banks often list the property for less than what they know it will sell for in order to get numerous bids quickly. You need to know what properties are selling for in the areas you are looking in so you can compete against other buyers in a way that will put you in the home of your dreams. If you need any help, just give me a call. In the mean time, here is an interesting article I would like to share.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Is This Really a Buyer's Market?

Back on the Market in El Caon

2011-04-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

I had been working a short sale for a couple of months and things were going smoothly. We received approval from the lender and we were ready to open escrow. I contacted the buyer's agent to let him know the good news and it appeared we were ready to go. Well, just a day later the buyer had a heart attack and of course the family's main focus was on his recovery and he was in no position to continue with the purchase.

That is one thing about real estate, you can never count on things going as planned. So, here is an opportunity for a buyer to step in an buy this short sale. Since the bank had previously approved it, we should be able to get another approval relatively quickly. If you or someone you know wants to buy a large, 3 bedroom condo, please let me know.

For Sale: 3BR/3BA Condo in El Cajon, CA, $195,000

Back on the Market

2011-04-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this great home for sale in Rancho San Diego. This home is in great condition and will not last long. Please call me if you or someone you know would like to see this home.

Rancho San Diego Home For Sale

For Sale: 2BR/2BA Condo in El Cajon, CA, $210,000

2011-04-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

For Sale: 2BR/2BA Condo in El Cajon, CA, $210,000

Home Buyers and the Possible Government Shutdown

2011-04-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

If you are buying a home, you may be asking yourself how the looming government shutdown can affect you. While the impact of the shutdown is still somewhat unclear here is some information to help you determine where you stand.
FHA loans will be affected by a shutdown. They will not be able to offer any new endorsements for any new loans in the Single Family Program. They will be able to continue to pay claims and collect premiums but they will not be endorsing new loans. If you are currently in escrow or your offer is accepted while the government is shutdown this will cause a delay in getting your loan funded until the shutdown ends.

VA loans will not be affected.

Rural Housing Programs will be affected. They will not be able to issue conditional commitments, loan note guarantees, or modifications of approval. This will delay your loan processing until the shutdown ends. If you have already started the process and have received these items, your loan should be able to close as scheduled.

Making Home Affordable programs; including HAMP and HAFA, SHOULD not be impacted. These programs were funded through the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act which is mandatory spending not discretionary and it is the discretionary funding that will not be issued during a shutdown.

If you are currently in escrow or enter escrow during a shutdown, make sure you check with your lender to find out exactly how your loan will be affected. In a "typical" transaction in California you have 17 days to do your inspections, appraisals and such. At the end of the 17 days you MAY be required to remove all your contingencies including your loan contingency. You need to make sure you will be able to get your loan funded during this time. If you try and cancel your escrow after this, you risk losing your deposit so make sure you will be able to get your loan.

Alpine Housing Market

2011-04-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here is how the Alpine real estate market looked for the month of March. This is for single family detached homes only.

There are currently 75 active listings (homes currently on the market); ranging from $164,900 for 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 754 square feet to $2,599,500 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3000 square feet.

24 properties are pending (currently in escrow.)

18 properties sold (closed escrow); ranging from $199,000 for 0 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 600 square feet to $601,400 for 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 3707 square feet. The average time on the market was 75 days.

More Alpine Real Estate Stats and Graphs

El Cajon Housing Market

2011-04-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

Here are the real estate statistics for the 3 zip codes of El Cajon. I have included single family detached homes only. This is for the month of march 2011.

92019
There are currently 121 active listings (currently on the market); ranging from $199,900 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1522 square feet to $2,250,000 for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 4445 square feet.

49 properties are pending (currently in escrow).

24 properties sold (closed escrow); ranging from $215,000 for 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1036 square feet to $615,000 for 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2372 square feet. The average time on the market was 66 days.

92020
There are currently 100 active listings; ranging from $140,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 816 square feet to $1,025,000 for 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 3519 square feet.

51 properties are pending (in escrow)

22 properties sold; ranging from $180,000 for 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 800 square feet to $905,000 for 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4147 square feet. The average time on the market was 77 days.

92021
There are currently 123 active listings; ranging from $128,900 for 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 979 square feet to $999,900 for 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 6229 square feet.

49 properties are currently in escrow.

25 properties sold (closed escrow) in March; ranging from $195,000 for 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1112 square feet to $575,000 for 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2143 square feet. The average time on the market was 66 days.

More El Cajon Statistics and Graphs

Jamul Housing Market

2011-04-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

This is no Aprils Fool's. Here are the real estate market statistics for Jamul for the month of March.

There are 39 Active Listings (homes currently on the market); ranging from $159,000 for 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1223 square feet to $1,930,000 for 4 bedroom, 5 bathroom, 4502 square feet.

12 properties are pending, (currently in escrow).

14 properties sold in March (closed escrow); ranging from $285,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1480 square feet to $700,000 for a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 4029 square feet. The average days on the market was 55 days.

More Jamul Stats and Graphs

Tips to Sell

2011-03-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have been taking clients out to view a lot of properties recently and I would like to share with you a couple of mistakes sellers often make. These are simple things you should avoid if you want to sell your home.

1. Open the curtains and let some light in! When it is bright and sunny out and we walk into some of these homes it is like entering a cave. We step in and have to blink a few times to let our eyes adjust and then feel around a wall looking for a light switch. This is a definite turnoff. Open the blinds or curtains and let the light in. Buyers are there because they want to see the house and humans were not born with night vision.

2. Leave the bedroom and bathroom doors open. When buyers are going though an occupied house it can make them feel like they are intruding. A closed door often makes them question if someone is there and they are going to walk in on someone sleeping. I usually go first and knock on the door before opening but even this makes some buyers feel uncomfortable. Remember you want to make the potential buyer feel as comfortable as possible.

3. Make the property as easy to see as possible. Right now there is a glut of inventory and much of this is vacant so a buyer can view immediately. Buyers are becoming accustomed to viewing a property whenever they can. If you only allow showings the third Tuesday of the month at noon, with 5 days notice, you are not going to get much action. I understand that having strangers tromp through you home can be an inconvenience but you have to remember the goal is to sell the house. Yes it can be a pain when people want to see the property at dinner time but let’s face it that is when many buyers are off work and have the time to view properties. The best solution is to have showings with one hour notice within daylight times. Have the buyer's agent call the house an hour ahead, leave a message and be able to go without directly speaking with you, therefore avoiding the telephone tag game. When you get home from work you can check the messages to know if someone is expected.

4. The last tip I am sharing today is to remove as much clutter as you can and minimize your furniture. I have shown properties that are inches away from being featured on the show "Hoarders" and these are regular folks. Clothes should be put away, not strewn on the floors. Buyers want to see the floor covering. Closet doors should be able to close. There should be more than a path through the living room and move whatever piece you placed in front of the fireplace. You might know there is one there but the buyers don't unless they can see it. Counter tops should be cleared so we can see what it is made out of.
Bottom line is you need to make the property as open and bright as possible. You want it to appear fresh and clean. Make the home feel spacious and inviting for potential buyers. In the end you will benefit from the extra effort by having your home stand out in a good way to potential buyers.