Eddie Pfeifer Real Estate Blog

When Can I Get a Mortgage Again?

2011-12-22T11:55:00.001-08:00

Interesting Info on this Chart! I can't get it to resize and stay legible so email me and I will send you the entire thing as an attachment if you are interested.

A Sure-Fire Way to Make Money...

2011-06-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Making extra payments on your monthly mortgage payment will definitely "pay off" (get it?)!

Take a look at this link, input your loan info and see how much you will save in interest by paying an extra amount of money.

By paying an extra half-payment per month ($3K instead of $2K, and yes, I know it's aggressive) you can cut your 30-year mortgage into half time-wise. By doing this on our place, my wife and I will save $200K in interest paid over the life of the loan.

This differs from just getting a 15-year mortgage because you can stop paying more whenever you'd like and revert back to the minimum payment. Also, you won't have to pay new closing costs and qualify in today's tough lending environment for a new mortgage.

There are other issues you should consult your accountant and/or tax professional on, such as greater tax liability once your mortgage is paid off, among others.

This is a great strategy for those conservative with their money who can't handle the volatility going on in the markets.

Some argue that with money being so cheap these days, it's worth paying the mortgage minimum payment and applying any overage you would subtract from the principal towards other, more lucrative, vehicles.

For example, if you're paying 5% on your mortgage and can apply the extra money towards an investment that will get you 8%, you are making 3% on the money.

If you know of a relatively risk-free way to get 8%, I'd love to hear about it!

Good News for Second-Home Owners and Buyers

2011-04-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

According to a recent survey from the National Association of REALTORS®, the market share of vacation- and investment-home sales held steady in 2010. Although sales volume declined with the overall market, vacation-home sales accounted for 10% of transactions last year while the portion of investment sales was 17%, both unchanged from 2009.

I am committed to keeping my community informed on market statistics that will affect their real estate investment decisions. NAR's "2011 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey" -- covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2010 -- revealed that foreclosure or trustee sales accounted for 17% of investment purchases and 11% of vacation-home sales in 2010, compared with 5% of primary purchases. In other words, second-home buyers purchased more distressed homes at discount than did buyers of primary residences.

Also worth noting, all-cash purchases have become prevalent in the second-home market in recent years; 59% of investment buyers paid cash in 2010, as did 36% of vacation-home buyers.

These statistics clearly indicate that there are buyers out there taking advantage of today's market opportunities to buy second homes, either as once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunities or to make a long-desired lifestyle change. According to the survey, the median vacation-home price was $150,000 in 2010, down 11.2% from $169,000 in 2009, while the median investment-home price was $94,000, which is 10.5% below the $105,000 median in 2009.

As NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explains, "The fall in home prices has opened opportunities for more families to enter the second-home market. Even if purchases are delayed due to economic circumstances, the underlying long-term demand -- the desire for purchasing second homes -- remains because people in their 30s and 40s will reach the prime age for buying and will drive the second-home market in coming decades as conditions permit."

The NAR survey reveals that lifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers while the desire for rental income drives investment purchases. Vacation homes were more likely to be located in a rural area while investment homes were more likely to be in a suburban location.

Whether looking to buy or sell a vacation home or investment property, today's market may be the optimal time to do so. If you'd like a closer look at second-home opportunities in our area, please contact me. Be sure to forward these informative statistics to others who may be interested as well.

San Diego Real Estate

Renew your Lease - Rents could Rise 10%

2011-03-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

Renew your lease - rents could rise 10%
(from CNNMoney.com)

Renters beware: Double-digit rent hikes may be coming soon.

Already, rental vacancy rates have dipped below the 10% mark, where they had been lodged for most of the past three years.

"The demand for rental housing has already started to increase," said Peggy Alford, president of Rent.com. "Young people are starting to get rid of their roommates and move out of their parent's basements."

By 2012, she predicts the vacancy rate will hover at a mere 5%. And with fewer units on the market, prices will explode.

Rent hikes have averaged less than 1% a year over the past decade, according to Commerce Department statistics, adjusted for inflation. Now, Alford expects rents to spike 7% or so in each of the next two years -- to a national average that will top $800 per month.

In the hottest rental markets, the increases will likely top the 10% mark annually for the next couple of years. In San Diego, Alford anticipates rents will rise more than 31% by 2015. In Seattle rents will climb 29% over that period; and in Boston, they may jump between 25% and 30%.

This is a sharp change from the recession, when many Americans couldn't afford to live on their own. More than 1.2 million young adults moved back in with their parents from 2005 to 2010, said Lesley Deutch of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Many others doubled up together.

As a result, landlords had to reduce prices and offer big incentives to snag renters.
We paid cash for our million-dollar home. Now that the recession is easing, many of these young people are ready to find new digs, mostly as renters, not owners. Plus, the foreclosure crisis continues unabated, and the millions losing their homes are looking for new places to live.

Apartment developers many not be able to keep up with this heightened demand, which will force prices upwards, according to Chris Macke, a real estate analyst with CoStar, which tracks multi-family housing trends.

"There will be an envelope of two or three years," said Macke, "when the rise in demand for rentals will exceed the industry's ability to meet it."

Plus, Alford added, "there's been a shift in the American Dream. We're learning from our surveys that a huge proportion of people are choosing to rent."

They've experienced the downsides of homeownership -- or seen friends and family suffer -- and don't want to take the risks or pay the higher costs of homeownership.

Where homeownership costs are particularly high, there are many more renters than owners. In Manhattan, for example, only about 20% own their homes; in San Francisco, about of third of the population does; in Los Angeles, less than 40%; and in Chicago, about 44%.

There's one factor that could rein in rent increases: the huge number of foreclosed homes that could hit the market over the next few years.

In many markets, like Phoenix and Las Vegas, there are neighborhoods filled with recently built, single-family homes going for fire-sale prices. When the cost of owning homes falls well below the costs of renting them, more people will buy.

"That's always been the biggest competition for rentals," said Deutch.

Want to take advantage of this trend? Call me about some income properties: 858.525.3258

San Diego Real Estate

Honoring Officer Chris Wilson

2011-03-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

Honoring Officer Chris Wilson

Police Officer Christopher Wilson

By Councilmember Todd Gloria

On October 28, 2010, San Diego lost one of our finest when Police Officer Christopher Wilson was fatally shot on duty.

While deeply saddened about the voids that are left in his family, his extended law enforcement family and in the southeastern communities he loved to serve, I appreciate the attention that has been appropriately paid to Chris’ work and his life.

The dedication and genuine care Officer Wilson displayed for the neighborhoods served by the Police Department’s Southeastern Division was exemplary and
thankfully not unique.

Our public safety personnel — police officers, firefighters and lifeguards — provide selfless service daily. Too often, we take for granted their willingness to regularly put themselves in harm’s way for the protection of San Diegans. I implore you to do differently; honor Officer Wilson by thinking positively about the impact of these personnel. Be grateful for not only their willingness to serve but for their passion for doing their jobs well.

Last month, I dedicated this space to sharing the good news that San Diego police officers made arrests in significant cases. I have expressed my gratitude to the men and women of the San Diego Police Department many times here for their service to the community, for prostitution sweeps and for proactive crime prevention efforts.

The San Diego Police Officers Association set up a trust fund for Officer Wilson’s family. Donations are welcome. Checks can be made payable to the SDPOA Charity Fund. Please write ―Officer Wilson in the memo line. Any donations will
go directly to the family. Donations can be mailed to:

SDPOA
8388 Vickers Street
San Diego, CA 92111

The SDPOA is also accepting online donations through the following link:
http://www.sdpoa.org/sdpoa- contactus.aspx

FHA Extends 90-Day Seasoning Waiver

2011-02-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

FHA Extends 90-Day Seasoning Waiver

On Friday, January 28, 2011 HUD announced the extension of the 90-day seasoning waiver.

Here are the four things you need to know about this waiver:

1. The extension is effective for all sales contracts executed on or after 2/1/11 through 12/31/11, unless otherwise extended or withdrawn by FHA.

2. All transactions must be arms-length, with no identity of interest between the buyer and seller or other parties participating in the sales transaction. The following may be grounds for denial of the file if deemed to circumvent the arms-length rule:

1. Seller on contract does not hold title to property
2. Property is being sold by an LLC, trust, or corporation
3. A pattern of flipping exists with subject property within last 12 months, and
4. Property was not marketed openly and fairly.

3. In cases where the sales price of the property is 20% or more above the seller's acquisition cost, the waiver will only apply if the lender follows these criteria:

1. Justify the increase with supporting documentation and/or a second appraisal
2. Provide a home inspection report to the borrower (borrower can be charged)

1. Inspector can only be paid by the lender
2. Inspector cannot have an interest in the property or a relationship with the seller
3. Inspector cannot pay a referral fee
4. Inspector cannot receive payment for recommending a contractor for repairs

4. The waiver is limited to forward mortgages, and does not apply to the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for purchase program.

Click here to read the waiver in its entirety.

How much do you Save by Overpaying your Mortgage?

2011-02-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

The results will surprise you! Run a couple of spreadsheets and see how overpaying compares to various other investment vehicles.

What if I pay more?

San Diego Real Estate

How to Secure a Sizable Down Payment

2011-01-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

How to Secure a Sizable Down Payment

While today's real estate market presents challenges for many, it still remains an optimal market for first-time home buyers. Reasonable home prices, a healthy inventory and still-low interest rates create a winning combination for those looking to make the leap from renter to owner. In my years of experience as a real estate professional, I have never seen such a perfect opportunity to purchase your first home.

As a result of tightened lending standards, however, securing a healthy down payment is even more important than ever. The days of zero-down loan programs are a thing of the past and more money on the table upfront can mean a faster approval for your loan and, perhaps, a better rate.

While you should be sure to leave some cash reserves in place to handle unexpected costs associated with your new home, there are several steps you can take to start building a sizeable down payment. Here are some worthwhile suggestions:

1. Set up an automatic savings plan. Every financial advisor will tell you that when money comes directly out of your paycheck and into a savings account before you even receive it, you will hardly notice the difference. For most, this was money spent on mindless discretionary purchases, anyway, from a daily latte to random online shopping -- chances are, you won't miss it at all.

2. Sell something. You might have a high-ticket item in your possession that you really don't use or need -- perhaps a boat, motorcycle or even an extra big-screen T.V. Cashing in any collectibles or assets can free up funds to go directly into your down payment savings.

3. Liquidate investments. Liquidating stocks, mutual funds, savings bonds or other investments can also help. Cashing in any extra assets will only add to your growing down payment sum.

4. Look into government programs. Talk to your real estate professional to see if you may qualify for a special home buyers program. For example, HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door program offers teachers, police officers, firefighters or other public servants extreme discounts on homes in certain neighborhoods.

5. Don't be afraid to ask. If there is an event coming up in your life that friends and family will most likely get you a gift for, don't be shy -- let people know you are saving to buy a home and would appreciate a check. Loved ones will be more than happy to contribute to this cause. If you're fortunate enough to receive a very sizeable gift, however, let your real estate agent know; lenders may want to know how your down payment was funded in order to make sure you can handle monthly mortgage payments on your own.

These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg. Please e-mail me for more detailed information about securing a down payment, and be sure to share these ideas with others you know who may soon be making the move to homeownership!

Sincerely,

Eddie Pfeifer
760.563.2580

When will Housing come back in California?

2011-01-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of LA Times:

As housing recoveries go, this one is in need of a cure.

Homeownership — and the buying and selling of residences — is an economic keystone that carries overwhelming weight in Californians' personal sense of financial well-being.

But the momentum of the state's housing rebound has faltered, with sales falling and prices softening despite bargain-basement interest rates. Foreclosures in California are still high. Sales of new homes are at historic lows. The construction sector is in the doldrums. And millions of the state's homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their properties are worth.

Real estate historically has helped give a boost to economies exiting a recession, but the severity of this bust is nearly unprecedented: Californians have lost $1.73 trillion worth of equity in their homes since prices peaked in 2007, according to Moody's Economy.com.

Although California's housing market free-fall ended in spring 2009, the weakness after the expiration of federal tax credits for buyers last year has called into question the sustainability of the recovery.

The Times asked five California experts for their take on the state of real estate and what they think is needed to get the housing market moving again. They range from the pessimism of a foreclosure specialist to the decidedly more upbeat view of a Realtor association economist.

• Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, predicts home prices will remain flat in 2011.

California's recovery will hinge on location, said Green, who held professorships at several universities and worked as a principal economist at Freddie Mac before becoming director of the Lusk center.

"Draw a line from El Centro up to Sacramento and think of all the towns up and down that line. Unless we have hyperinflation in general in the economy — prices going up a lot — I would guess that in my lifetime we will not see a return to the prices that we had at the peak," Green said.

"Now, places like La Jolla, Malibu, Laguna, Huntington Beach, Atherton, Palo Alto, the city of San Francisco, Marin County, those are places where within the next five years I could easily imagine prices returning to their peak."

"The markets in the Central Valley were much more bubbly than the markets on the coast," he said. "You have very few people who make a lot of money in these places."

"Whereas a place like Silicon Valley, or a place like West Los Angeles, there is a critical mass of very high-income people.… That means you have a large number of people who can afford to spend in the neighborhood of $1 million on a house, and these are desirable places."

"The more a property is a commodity that you can easily substitute for something else, the less the chance it will ever come back to its peak. The rarer a property is, the more likely it's going to come back quickly."

• Leslie Appleton-Young, chief economist for the California Assn. of Realtors, predicts home prices will rise 2% in 2011.

There are few professionals who would like more to see the housing market bounce back to the heady days of old than Realtors. Real estate agents made a killing when the housing market soared and then took a pounding when it tanked.

During the boom years, Appleton-Young said, she espoused the theory that rising prices mattered more than making solid loans. That theory appeared correct as long as values kept rising.

"What happened this time was prices plummeted and everyone was in trouble," she said.

These days, the economist sees little chance of the market returning to its previous heights anytime soon.

"We are in a very slow-moving recovery with prices stabilized at the moderate and low end," Appleton-Young said. "We are still seeing price attrition and price softening at the upper ends of the market."

2011 will be lackluster, she said, but that does not mean California is not improving.

"We are almost two years into a price recovery. The problem is not to look at 2007 as the normal market that you are moving back up to, because it wasn't a normal market. We are back in an underwriting environment that actually makes sense."

"You are seeing prices recovering throughout the state," she added. "It is just going to take time."

• Bruce Norris, president of Norris Group in Riverside, expects home prices to fall 5% in 2011.

The real estate slump has been good to Norris, an investor in foreclosed homes. But he believes the market is being artificially boosted by government programs and is set to fall further this year.

"We are in an artificial recovery," Norris said. "It's government controlled and manipulated. We have extremely favorable interest rates that we really should not have, based on our debt. We have supported real estate with tax rebates, and we have prevented inventory from showing up by allowing people to be two and three years behind on their mortgages."

Foreclosed homes, in particular, are being kept off the market through loan modification attempts and other policies.

"You've had a slew of programs trying to prevent inventory from showing up, and that prevents reality from happening," Norris said. "It's definitely standing in the way of the natural process."

What does the housing market need most?

"Demand for houses," Norris said. "Somebody able to qualify for a loan and actually being able to get it. And that's why it is not going to happen."

• Emile Haddad, chief executive of FivePoint Communities Inc., expects home prices to "stabilize" in 2011 but declined to make a specific price prediction.

Determining whether the housing market is on steady footing is essential to developers such as Haddad, the former chief investment officer for Lennar Corp. Haddad, along with Lennar, is now part owner of FivePoint, which is managing the development of the Valencia community in Los Angeles County and other high-profile projects. He believes a recovery has yet to take hold in California.

"We are bumping along the bottom," Haddad said. "And that is a good thing, because that is the first thing that you need in order to start seeing a housing recovery. You need to have a period where values are not going down and the trend is moving in a different direction."

California's coastal markets will come back once the job market returns, he said, lifting consumer confidence. But California's inland areas are more likely to lag behind, and builders will have to reconsider the kind of product they offer in such places.

"In the Central Valley, values have changed a lot," Haddad said. "You are not going to be able to really have enough depth in the market to sell large, expensive homes, because the ceiling of value is way down."

"If you pick on a market like Orange County," he said, "it is still a place that once people feel confident.... I believe people will be out buying homes."

Affordability is working in the market's favor.

"We have a mortgage environment that is more favorable — the rates are down — but people are not able to get mortgages, and that is not helping. The most important thing we need is jobs and job creation."

"Affordability is something I look at, and obviously that is a very attractive metric right now.... There is a value proposition out there right now that is very attractive, that we haven't seen in four decades."

• Christopher Thornberg, founding principal of Beacon Economics, predicts home prices will remain flat in 2011.

Once a senior economist for the UCLA Anderson Forecast, Thornberg was one of the first to predict the housing crash, pointing to prices that were way out of line with what people earned.

In that vein, he views the plunge in home values as its own recovery of sorts "because that is when prices went from stupid-high levels to levels that made sense again," Thornberg said. "Now we are in a post-recovery recovery, if you will."

"This is not the bust. A bust implies that prices have fallen to levels that are too low. And I would argue that prices today are relatively high. It's interest rates that have given us this degree of affordability, and from that perspective that is why I don't expect prices to come down."

Since helping found Beacon in 2006, Thornberg has become chief economist for state Controller John Chiang and chair of the Controller's Council of Economic Advisors. He serves on the advisory board of New York hedge fund Paulson & Co. He has been a forceful critic of the Obama administration's policy attempts to right the market.

"The administration has tried, through a variety of policy methods, to try and spike the market," he said.

alejandro.lazo@latimes.com

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times

Top 5 Ways to Sell Your Home More Quickly

2010-10-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Ways to Sell Your Home More Quickly

If your home is on the market, or if you're planning to sell your home in the near future, you might be discouraged by the national media's rampant reports of increasing inventory and languishing sales.

While there is, indeed, plenty of inventory currently on the market, there are steps you can take as a home seller to ensure your home sells more quickly, while still garnering the maximum sales price possible. I have many years of experience working with home sellers and have learned a few strategies that really work toward securing a buyer more quickly.

1. First, for your home to sell more quickly, it must be exposed to the maximum number of buyers possible, so make sure your home is listed with a local brokerage that has a comprehensive understanding of your market area and knows how to employ technology to increase exposure. Find out how they will market your home online, what listing portals they will use, how they will utilize social media, how many pictures they will post, videos, etc.

2. While it's understandable that you’d like the largest downpayment possible from a buyer, be willing to accept a smaller downpayment, provided the buyer has been preapproved for a loan. This can make a huge difference to cash-strapped buyers.

3. Do some legwork and ask your real estate agent for a tour of competitive properties. This will help distinguish what features of your home you should highlight or what small changes you can make to give your home an edge over the competition.

4. Choose your battles and understand where certain concessions might work in your favor. In a slow market, for example, it may be better to pay a "seller contribution" to help buyers offset closing costs than to lower the sale price. While a seller contribution may be smaller than a price reduction, it is often more attractive to buyers who need cash to close.

5. Consider including some value-added items in the sale of your home, such as the swing set in the backyard, the washer and dryer, or items of furniture that buyers fall in love with and/or really need. A few freebies might be just what you need to close the deal.

If you would like to learn other ideas for selling your home more quickly, please contact me. Also, please forward this email on to anyone else in your network that has concerns about effectively selling their home.

San Diego Real Estate

Foreclosure Freeze and what it entails

2010-10-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

Halted foreclosures? Robo-signers? Shoddy paperwork?

The foreclosure crisis has entered a new phase, with at least three major banks halting foreclosure proceedings and sales in nearly two dozen states. One just expanded the ban on foreclosure sales across the nation.

The developments, however, have left homeowners with many questions.

Why are major banks halting foreclosures?

Banks are temporarily freezing foreclosures while they review their handling of the process. Ally Financial, formerly known as GMAC, was the first to stop the clock, admitting that some of its foreclosure paperwork may not have been signed in the presence of a notary public and that the signer may not have fully reviewed the information in the documents.

JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have since said they too are halting foreclosures while they review their paperwork and procedures.

How many loans are affected?

The exact number isn't known. Chase has said 56,000 loans are affected, but Bank of American and Ally have not provided a figure.

It's likely hundreds of thousands of foreclosures are now in limbo. And the number could grow if more banks join the freeze. Politicians and state Attorneys General are calling on financial institutions to widen the review.

There are currently 5 million loans that are seriously delinquent or are in the initial stages of foreclosure.

Why is this happening in some states and not others?

Ally, BofA and Chase have halted proceedings and sales in the 23 states where judges must sign off on foreclosures. The shoddy handling of paperwork came to light in court hearings, where bank officials testified that they had signed thousands of documents a month, often without reviewing the information in them.

The banks are now taking a time out to make sure the documents will pass muster before judges.

BofA announced Friday that it was halting all foreclosure sales across the nation. But it is not stopping the foreclosure process in the 27 states in which the courts are not involved.

Brian Moynihan, BofA's chief executive, said Friday the bank wants to "clear the air" and the review will take a few weeks.

Will the troubled borrowers get to keep their homes?

No, not in the vast majority of cases, experts said.

The bottom line is that the homeowners involved have stopped paying their loans. And while there may be some serious problems with the paperwork, the foreclosures are not illegal.

"It's a stretch to say someone has committed fraud by taking shortcuts in a foreclosure," Guy Cecela, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, an industry newsletter. "At the end of the day, it doesn't change anything."

"Ultimately this can't change the fact you've defaulted on your mortgage and someday you will lose your house," he added. "All it will do is delay that day of reckoning."

The moratoriums could last until January since it will take a few weeks for servicers to review the paperwork and institutions often freeze foreclosures during the holiday season, he said.

I'm not in foreclosure. Will the freezes affect me?

Yes, they could.

In the short term, the lack of new foreclosed properties coming on the market could help the housing industry because there will be less competition for homes already on the market.

The freeze also means that abandoned houses will just sit on the market. So homeowners who have kept up with their payments will have to keep looking out the window at those boarded-up properties.

In the long run, the housing market cannot fully heal until the troubled loans work their way through the system. As long as a large number of homes remain in the foreclosure process, it will be difficult for prices to stabilize.

San Diego Real Estate

Source: CNNMoney.com

22% of Private Mortgage Modifications Re-Default

2010-10-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

Banks have been ramping up their mortgage modifications, helping out troubled borrowers who can't qualify for President Obama's foreclosure-prevention program. Too bad these homeowners re-default at more than twice the rate.

Nearly 11% of mortgages modified under the government's Home Affordable Modification Program, known as HAMP, have fallen two months behind in payments, according to a banking regulators' report issued Friday. By contrast, just more than 22% of non-HAMP adjustments redefaulted.

The figures look at loans modified in the fourth quarter of last year.

The reason for the gap is pretty clear, regulators said. HAMP modifications reduce a borrowers' monthly payment by an average of $608, while bank modifications lower it only by $307.

"There is a correlation between sustainability of payment and the reduction in the payment," said Joe Evers, deputy comptroller at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which put out the report along with the Office of Thrift Supervision.

Under HAMP, eligible borrowers can have their monthly payments lowered to 31% of their pre-tax income as long as its more profitable for the bank to modify the loan than to foreclose. The federal government pays servicers an incentive to participate in the program.

There are no guidelines for bank modifications, though most now lower a borrower's monthly payment rather than just tacking delinquent payments on to the end of the loan, according to the report.

Watching the redefault rate
Industry observers and consumer advocates are closely watching the redefault rates on mortgage modifications. Some experts say that the adjustments are only a temporary fix and artificially depress foreclosure figures. If many people redefault and wind up in foreclosure, home prices could plummet again.

Also, proprietary bank modifications are outpacing HAMP adjustments by more than 2-to-1. Many troubled homeowners are falling out of the government program and 44.5% of them are receiving bank modifications.

Housing counselors have been wary of proprietary modifications, mainly because there is not a lot of information about them. They caution homeowners to make sure they understand the terms of the adjustment.

Wells Fargo and Citigroup declined to comment on their modifications and Bank of America did not return a request for comment.

A Chase spokesman said HAMP is always the first program the bank considers for troubled borrowers "because it lowers the payment more than most other programs." If they don't qualify for HAMP, they are reviewed for a proprietary modification.

San Diego Real Estate
Source: Tami Luhby, CNNMoney.com

Home Prices and Sales Slated to Inch up in 2011

2010-10-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Home prices and sales to inch up in 2011
San Diego prices may stay flat

San Diego County home prices, which have risen sharply in the last 18 months, are likely to remain flat or drift slightly higher in 2011 as the rest of the state catches up, the California Association of Realtors said Monday.

Robert A. Kleinhenz, deputy chief economist, said San Diego resale house price rises have already slowed from a 20.4 percent year-over-year rate of increase at the beginning of 2010 to 2.4 percent in August, when the median stood at $384,700, up from $375,706 a year earlier.

“I think holding steady or maybe a slight increase is more likely in the cards,” he said.

Kleinhenz and the association’s chief economist, Leslie Appleton-Young, previewed the economic forecast they will present Wednesday to the association’s convention in Anaheim.

They said prices and sales statewide both are likely to rise about 2 percent in 2011, after this year’s projected 11.5 percent price rise and 10 percent sales decline.

Michael Lea, director of San Diego State University’s Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate, said real estate industry economists generally are more optimistic about future prospects than other analysts but that these projections may be close to what will happen next year.

“I think they’ve been burned in the past for being too far off, and you could say they are becoming a bit more realistic,” Lea said. “This is a fairly muted forecast — and one that is more realistic than past attempts.”

Sales will rise by 8,000 to a total 502,000 single-family homes next year, the realty economists said. That will trail the 546,500 homes sold statewide last year and the peak count of 625,000 in 2005. They called the half-million count reasonable and sustainable, based on normal supply and demand. They also said median prices will rise about 2 percent statewide to $312,500, after an 11.5 percent jump this year.

“There has been upward movement on very low prices,” Appleton-Young said. “At the upper end, you’ve got much higher inventory and those prices are softening.”

Kleinhenz said San Diego continues to act as a bellwether in California, having led in the price rise from 1998 to 2005 and also the downturn of the last four years.

He cited one indicator of movement toward a more normal market here: a decrease in the percentage of all sales that are distressed, foreclosures and short-sales. Short sales are made for less than their mortgage balances.

In August, the distressed proportion was 26.9 percent, down from 39.1 percent a year earlier and the lowest in seven key markets.

By contrast, Orange County’s proportion was 36.4 percent and Riverside-San Bernardino’s was 66 percent.

But Kleinhenz also noted that the distressed market here is dominated by foreclosures, whereas other markets are seeing more of a balance between foreclosures and short sales.

“We have some parts of San Diego County still reeling from the large proportion of distressed properties in individual markets,” he said.

“It’s been a little bit of a surprise to me.”

The real estate industry lobbied state and national legislators last year to grant special tax rebates, now no longer available, to home buyers as a way to jump-start the economy. But most analysts believe the effect was simply to speed up sales into the first half of 2010. Appleton-Young and Kleinhenz said they would not recommend any further such incentives.

“We need a recovering economy to give some oomph to the housing market,” Kleinhenz said.

Appleton-Young said unlike in past recoveries, real estate is not in a position to lead the economy out of the doldrums.

“If you look at the fundamentals of California’s housing market right now, they’re fabulous,” she said, and include low interest rates, discounted prices and improved affordability.

But she said people are “fear-based,” worried about their finances and job stability. “You don’t often see (these issues) as you head into an economic recovery.”

The two economists said prices are likely to pull back for the rest of the year as demand softens and foreclosure listings inch up.

“So much of the outlook next year depends on two things: where the economy will go and also lender actions,” Kleinhenz said. “Lenders are in control of so much supply on the market.”

San Diego Real Estate
Source: Roger Showley, U-T

Mortgage Shopping 101 - Making Sense of the Mortgage Market

2010-10-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Mortgage Shopping 101 - Making Sense of the Mortgage Market

Shopping for a mortgage can be time-consuming and difficult for homebuyers, especially in today’s market where many buyers don’t know where to begin. The Federal Reserve Board has put together the following tips so that you can make sense of the mortgage market and be sure you are getting the mortgage that is right for you.

1. Know what you can afford. Review your monthly spending plan to estimate what you can afford to pay for a home, including the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and monthly maintenance and utilities. A worksheet for developing your monthly spending plan can be helpful so that you can plan ahead and save for emergencies as well as be sure you will be able to afford your monthly payments for several years. Be sure to check your credit report to make sure that the information in it is accurate.

2. Shop around—compare loans from lenders and brokers. Shopping takes time and energy, but not shopping around can cost you thousands of dollars. You can get a mortgage loan from mortgage lenders or mortgage brokers. Brokers arrange mortgage loans with a lender rather than lend money directly; in other words, brokers sell you a loan from a lender. Neither lenders nor brokers have to find the best loan for you—to find the best loan, you have to do the shopping

3. Understand loan prices and fees. Many consumers accept the first loan they are offered and don’t realize that they may be able to get a better loan. On any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different interest rates and fees to different consumers for the same loan, even when those consumers have the same loan qualifications. Keep in mind that lenders and brokers also consider the profit they receive if you agree to the terms of a loan with higher fees, higher points, or a higher interest rate. Shopping around is your best way to avoid more expensive loans.

4. Know the risks and benefits of loan options. Mortgages have many features—some have fixed interest rates and some have adjustable rates; some have payment adjustments; on some you pay only the interest on the loan for a while and then you pay down the principal (the loan amount); some charge you a penalty for paying the loan off early; and some have a large payment due at the end of the loan (a balloon payment). Consider all mortgage features, the APR (annual percentage rate), and the settlement costs. Ask your lender to calculate how much your monthly payments could be a year from now, and 5 or 10 years from now.

5. Get advice from trusted sources. A mortgage loan is one of the most complex, most expensive financial commitments you will ever assume—it’s okay to ask for help. Talk with a trusted housing counselor or a real estate attorney that you hire to review your documents before you sign them.

San Diego Real Estate

Source: RISMedia

Legislative Update: California SB1316 is Dead

2010-08-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Legislative Update: California SB1316 is Dead

If you are contemplating an exchange of California real estate for non-California property, you will be pleased to know that California Senate Bill 1316 has just been laid to rest. SB1316 proposed to deny IRC Section 1031 tax-deferral treatment, at the California state income tax level, to like-kind exchanges in which the relinquished property was located in California, but the replacement property was located in another state. Had the legislation passed, a taxpayer who swapped California property for real estate in Montana would have been able to defer the Federal capital gains tax, but would have had to pay the California state tax on the gain from the sale of the California property. The proposed legislation would not have affected exchanges in which all properties were located in California.

To view all San Diego Homes for sale, please visit my website: San Diego Real Estate

Short Sale Timetables

2010-08-23T14:38:00.001-07:00

Short Sales mean that the borrower will be short on the sale. It is actually a misnomer when considering the context of time. My clients are always amazed at how long it actually takes to close one of these beasts.

They're not all bad though. If you are patient and flexible enough to wait out the lender, you can pick up a great deal!

Remember, tack on an extra five weeks for escrow to get a pretty good idea as to how long it will take before that home is yours.

The Quickest: GMAC (Ally) with an average of 6 months to approve.

The next Fastest: CitiMortgage with an average of 7.5 months to approve.

The next-next Fastest: Wells Fargo with an average of 8 months to approve.

LAST PLACE (SLOWEST) goes to Countrywide (Bank of America) with an average of 13 months to approve.

www.EdPfeifer.com

Why Rent when you can Buy?

2010-07-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

You may be able to own a home for not much more than you are paying in rent. Check the chart below to see how quickly rent payments can add up. Maybe it’s time for you to invest that money in something that lasts — a home of your own.

With a monthly rent of $500, after three years, you will have paid $18,000. After ten years $60,000. After fifteen years $90,000. After thirty years $180,000

With a monthly rent of $600, after three years, you will have paid $21,000. After ten years $72,000. After fifteen years $108,000. After thirty years $216,000.

With a monthly rent of $800, after three years, you will have paid $28,800. After ten years $96,000. After fifteen years $144,000. After thirty years $288,000.

With a monthly rent of $1000, after three years, you will have paid $36,000. After ten years $120,000. After fifteen years $180,000. After thirty years $360,000.

With a monthly rent of $1500, after three years, you will have paid $54,000. After ten years $180,000. After fifteen years $270,000. After thirty years $540,000

For many of you, the after-tax cost of a home loan could be less than the cost of rent. That’s because the interest portion of each mortgage payment may be tax-deductible. In most cases, property taxes are also deductible. You should consult a tax advisor for details, then call me to get started: 858.525.3258

www.EdPfeifer.com

How Small Cutbacks Lead to Great Savings

2010-07-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

This infographic is bigger here.

Buying a Condo? New Lender Guidelines to think about

2010-06-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

Before you fall in love with that condo, there are some interesting things happening in the lending landscape you may want to find out about. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are buying a condo:

·Does any one entity own more that 10% of the units? If the answer is yes you will have difficulty getting a loan.

·Is there litigation? If yes, you will probably have difficulty getting a loan.

·What percentage of the homeowners are 30 days or more delinquent on their HOA dues? 15% is the cutoff. More than 15% and you have issues

·What percentage of the units are owner occupied? 50% or more is good but less than 50% is only a killer on FHA, VA and over 80% conventional.

·What percentage is the reserve study funded? The higher this is, the better. Over 60% is usually considered sufficient.

·Was it a condo conversion? This can cause issues but may not be a definite problem.

As always, call me any time with any questions. I am happy to help!

Eddie Pfeifer: 858.525.3258

Five Tips for Selling your Home

2010-06-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

5 Tips to Keep in Mind When Selling a Home

When selling your home, it is important to keep the following tips in mind so that you get the most money for your property in the least amount of time. Whether you are selling the home yourself or working with an experienced agent, it is crucial to keep these five tips in mind as you go through the selling process.

Tip 1: If you decide to use a full service broker/agent, first identify three experienced agents who are familiar with your neighborhood. Look for agents who have for sale signs placed in your neighborhood. Ask each prospective agent to prepare a market analysis and a marketing plan to show you how they will market your home. Include the main points of your marketing plan in your listing agreement so that all parties will know what is to be expected (i.e. frequency of ads and the publications/websites where they’ll appear, frequency of open houses, etc.). Limit the length of the listing - two months or less is good, but no more than three months. If the agent is doing his/her job as set out in the listing agreement, you can always renew the listing when it expires. If they’re not producing results, you’ll be able to document the reasons if you decide to cancel the listing early or be able to show them why you aren’t renewing the listing with them.

Tip 2: If you decide to market the home yourself, it is still a good idea to talk to three full service broker/agents before making a final decision. It will provide an additional reality check to make sure you really are prepared to market the home yourself, and the market analysis and marketing plan information will be helpful in any event. Even if you still feel good about selling the home yourself, supplement your marketing efforts by using a limited service or flat fee broker who will list your home in the local multiple listing service (MLS) for as little as $200. This is extremely helpful to your marketing efforts because the MLSs feed the listings to the consumer-facing websites (like this great one) of most of the other local real estate brokers and to various other real estate websites. With more than 80% of home buyers now using the Internet, it’s important that your home gets broad Internet exposure.

Tip 3: Price your property realistically, especially in slow markets. When markets are slow, buyers are psychologically unprepared to overpay - and they apply stringent standards of value. They will heavily discount many expensive and unusual improvements unless they appeal very strongly to their own personal tastes.

Tip 4: Consider providing owner financing if you can, but be cautious. If you can provide some financing, even if it’s a small second trust, you may be offering the deal maker. At the same time, you can often earn a considerably higher interest rate than you would have earned with the same money otherwise. Caution: Fluctuating real estate markets can wipe out your security in the event of foreclosure. Foreclosures cost money and a second trust only gets paid after the first mortgage is satisfied, and then only if there's money remaining from the sale. Make sure to run a credit check on the buyer and make sure they put up a substantial down payment if you’re providing owner financing.

Tip 5: Make sure you don’t prematurely give away any bargaining leverage. All home purchase agreements must be in writing to be binding. If someone asks if you would take a specific lower figure and you agree, that’s not an enforceable contract. All you have done is to lower your asking price. The correct response should be: “I’ll consider all written offers.”

Want more tips? I am FULL of them! Give me a call: 858.525.3258

Easy Ways to Cut Summer Energy Costs

2010-06-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

Easy Ways to Cut Summer Energy Costs

With summer officially upon us, many homeowners will be confronted with rising electric bills as fans and air conditioners kick into high gear in an effort to keep cool. Demand for electricity can also increase if you have house guests or children home for the summer.

The following tips are from the experts at Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G):

* Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.

* Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions permit, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. You can save 3-5% on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.

* Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms and be sure to keep filters clean.

* Plant shade trees close to the house on the South and West sides.

* Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.

* Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.

* Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75% less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach fixtures and won't need to be replaced for about five years.

* Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

* Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.

* Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean. If manufacturers' directions permit, turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry feature if your machine has one.

* Take short showers as they use less hot water than a bath.

* Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.

* Unplug the extra refrigerator in your garage or basement and use it only when necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.

For more information on preparing your home for summer, please e-mail me. I encourage you to pass this blog post along to your friends and family as well.
San Diego Real Estate

My First Non-MLS Dual Agency

2010-06-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

Bedrooms 5

Baths 3

Sq Ft 3405

Price $490,000

I had been working with my client for a several weeks, scouring the San Marcos real estate market for a newer property with enough room for her mother, boyfriend and a probable addition of a niece and a nephew. She was looking for something a little newer, and she didn't want too much of a yard. After showing her some properties near Cal State San Marcos, we saw one that fit the bill perfectly, a home in Santa Fe Hills (off Las Posas Road).

We submitted a solid offer and lost out on it because someone beat us to the punch. By the time our offer arrived, they were locking up another offer. They were asking a value range of $484,500-499,900. We offered $480K and were told by the owner (discount broker, so no agent involvement) that they were working with another offer.

Nothing else was available and my client really liked the neighborhood and floor plan. I printed out every address in Santa Fe Hills and started knocking on doors, to see if anyone might be interested in selling. The first door I knocked on went unanswered, so I left a flier with information about my quest, along with contact info. I hit over a hundred more doors and came up empty-handed, most people said something about not wanting to sell in this market.

The next day, I got a call from someone in the neighborhood. It was that first door! He was interested in selling, and so we arranged a showing. My client really liked it. It was as nice as the last place we'd submitted a bid on, but it had more land and more privacy.

The negotiation process with the seller was a bit unnerving. They were concerned with dealing with someone who left a flier under their mat (and I can't say I blame them) and they had a friend in the business who they would prefer to use. Since I had the buyer, I was able to use that leverage to put the transaction together.

The original house we'd bid on a week earlier ended up selling for $495K and we wrapped this one up for $490K. I cut my commission to make the numbers work for the seller, and he seemed happy.

We closed on the transaction late last month and I feel everyone came away a winner. The seller saved on commissions, the buyer got more land and privacy for less money and I got to help both sides come together and it was very satisfying! I hope to repeat this process throughout my career.

The seller also allowed me to put up a sign on the property to try to get me more business, which was very nice of him.

If you're interested in the community of Santa Fe Hills, the San Marcos real estate market or information on buying a home, please call me: 858.525.3258

Paperwork, and Agents who use Transaction Coordinators

2010-05-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

As with any industry, there are a few bad apples in the bunch. The stereotype of a used-car salesman is so well-known, it borders on cliché.

In real estate, a few are involved with fraud. Some others don't adhere to the REALTOR Code of Ethics. Quite a few, unfortunately, use little tricks to squeeze a little more juice out of their clients.

I love my work. I love to meet people, work with them on something I am an expert in, and I live for the challenge of getting them the absolute best price possible without jeopardizing the property. The negotiation aspect is the most thrilling part of my line of work. There are other sides of the position that are not quite as glamorous. Managing the paperwork is probably the least exciting task of my profession.

There is a cottage industry all over the country of TC's (transaction coordinators). These folks specialize in handling all of the paperwork and making life easier for the agent. Among some of the top producers I've had the opportunity to speak with about this, they say paying a transaction coordinator makes sense because they could use that time to get new clients instead of focusing on paperwork.

However, there are a few agents I've worked with in the past who write in their contracts that THEIR CLIENTS (their lifeblood) pay the $350-400 charge for the TC to do their work for them. In my opinion, this is unconscionable and it is inexcusable! In short, if your agent tries to charge you for a transaction coordinator, FIRE THEM IMMEDIATELY! They are not looking out for your best interests and have the gall to have you pay a fee to outsource their work to someone else.

Handling paperwork is not fun, but it is a necessary step in completing a transaction. There are a lot of documents involved, and it can get tiresome to do so. If an agent does want to pay a transaction coordinator to handle it and outsource an undesirable task, let them. A competent TC will make life easier for the agent(s) and may streamline the transaction a bit.

Unfortunately, some agents take it a step further and dump all of the paperwork on the TC, a lot of the time barely glancing at it, except to sign where needed. This is a terrible disservice to those agents' clients. Most clients don't know what to look for in disclosures. They need the advice of an expert, an expert who is involved in the transaction, not coasting through it towards a paycheck.

So if your agent pays for a transaction coordinator out of their own pockets, stay on them with the paperwork. Call them with any little question, no matter how trivial it may be. Do not sign anything without your agent present, or at least without he or she walking you through the disclosures over the phone.

This is a small shortcut that could turn into a big headache should things go wrong. Take the extra time now to save you the heartbreak later.

Top 5 Remodeling Headaches to Avoid

2010-05-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

Top 5 Remodeling Headaches to Avoid

Whether you’re adding a room to accommodate an expanding family or remodeling to increase value, home renovations can be one of the best investments you make, especially in today’s economy. The key to a successful remodel, however, is knowing what mistakes to avoid.

According to a Consumer Reports poll, the most popular remodeling projects for homeowners are kitchens (19%) and bathrooms (17%). In another survey, however, Consumer Reports asked 6,000 readers to reveal what went wrong when they remodeled their kitchens and baths and how much those mistakes added to the overall cost of their projects. Here's how to avoid their mistakes and save:

1. Don't rush in. Changing plans is the most common, but costliest remodeling gaffe. Be sure to leave time for research and create a comprehensive plan, listing every product.

2. Prepare for the unexpected. There's a lot going on behind the walls. Unexpected water damage was an issue with 17% of bathroom remodels, while structural problems caused headaches for 10% of kitchen projects. A good contractor will be able to anticipate such problems, allowing the homeowner to budget accordingly.

3. Don't chase the “low ball.” Contractors are lowering their profit margins due to the tight market, but they often make up their costs in labor or other areas. Readers who went for “low-ball” pricing ended up spending a median of $1,500 extra for labor on their kitchens and $1,000 extra on their bathrooms. Don't sign a contract with a lot of open-ended amounts for products and materials—these are called "allowances," in contractor speak.

4. Get the paperwork in order. Have the contractor attach copies of his or her up-to-date license, insurance and workers' compensation policies to the written contract. He or she should also get permits and provide a lien waiver when the job is done; this will keep suppliers from contacting the homeowner for unpaid bills.

5. Focus on the boring bits. Specifying lighting and placement of trash cans are not much fun, but are critical to the process. For example, the proper exhaust fan will prevent mildew in baths and vent odors in kitchens.

Another misstep to avoid is to not overdo it for your neighborhood. Over-improving for your neighborhood creates a perfect scenario to showcase the law of diminishing returns. If the homes around you are clunkers but yours is a palace, your value will get pulled down towards their level.

Following the above advice will help ensure a successful, and profitable, remodel. For more information or for contractor referrals, please e-mail me. And please forward this on to anyone you know in the midst of remodeling—don’t let them make these same mistakes!

Need more advice? Give me a call on my cell: 858 525 3258

Interest in seeing what's for sale in the best buyer's market in recent history? Go to my website: San Diego Real Estate and click on Search MLS

Video One in the Buyer's Cheat Sheet Video Series: How to Find a Great Agent!

2010-04-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

This video is for those shopping for a home outside of San Diego County or the surrounding areas. Because if you're in the aforementioned areas, you've already found a STRONG agent! Give me a call on my cell: 858.525.3258

Buying a Home? Use these Tips to save yourself some CASH!

2010-04-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

When I have a slow week, I pull out the Flip cam and share my thoughts on how to properly buy property using little strategies I have picked up in my long time in real estate sales. Please start with the above video, then follow the Video Responses to get through it.

I promise, the hour or so you dedicate to the video series will be so worth it and you will definitely save a solid high four-figure to a low five-figure range. Do you make $10K in an hour? You will in the hour you spend watching my video series!

As always, if you have any questions regarding your upcoming real estate transaction, give me a call on my cell! The number is 858.525.3258

If you want QUALITY representation from a full-time agent who is passionate about his job, CALL ME TODAY!

Latest Stats, Good News!

2010-03-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

The median price for all homes in North San Diego County (single-family detached and single-family attached) increased 1.1% in February 2010 from January 2010, to $365,000.

The median price for detached homes in North County rose 4.52 percent, from January 2010 to February 2010, from $420,000 to $439,000.

Detached home prices OUTSIDE North County increased 4.52% from January 2010 to February 2010, from $420,000 to $439,000.

January 2010 median single-family detached homes in North San Diego County increased 20.3%, from $364,900 in February 2009, continuing a seven-month trend of rising year-over prices. The median price OUTSIDE North County for single family homes rose 8.9 percent from the $320,000 a year ago; the fifth straight month of year-over increases.

The countywide median price of homes sold increased from $365,500 in January 2010 to $375,500 in February 2010 and was up 11.94% from the February 2009 number for the sixth month of year-over price increases countywide.

Moody's / US News & World Report claim San Diego Housing is ready for a Rebound

2010-02-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

As the historic housing crash continues to hammer real estate prices from coast to coast, many homeowners probably can't remember the last time their property's value actually increased. But even with home prices still falling at the national level, a number of hard-hit housing markets are gearing up for a rebound. To pinpoint the cities most likely to go from slump to bump, we turned to Moody's Economy.com.

Using S&P/Case-Shiller home price data, Moody's identified a handful of cities that took it on the chin during the crash—with property values dropping by more than 25 percent from peak to projected trough—but are expected to see strong home price appreciation in the relatively near future. Celia Chen, the senior director of housing economics at Moody's Economy.com, says home prices in many of these slump-to-bump cities became overvalued during the first half of the decade but have since fallen, or are in the process of falling, to extremely affordable levels. "That will encourage buyers back into the market and lift prices up," she says. Here is a look at 10 hard-hit housing markets that are ready for a rebound:

1. Tacoma, Wash.

2. San Diego: Sunny San Diego was on the leading edge of the housing market's dramatic boom and bust. Residential real estate "prices started running up in San Diego faster than many other places in the nation," Chen says. But the market has since crashed, with home prices plummeting nearly 42 percent from their peaks through the first quarter of 2009. Still, San Diego's high-tech and hospitality industries will spark economic strength and rekindle home price appreciation in the coming years, Chen says. Moody's Economy.com projects home prices in San Diego will rise about 13 percent by the first quarter of 2012, and 25 percent by the first quarter of 2014. "Technology is really what will drive the economy once the recession is over," Chen says. "There are a lot of high value-added jobs that are in the metro area."

3. San Francisco
4. Memphis
5. Worcester, Mass.
7. Boston
8. Lansing, Mich.
9. Chicago
10. Minneapolis

Thinking of Selling? Don't Wait for the Super Bowl!

2010-02-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

The busiest season for home sales traditionally begins the day after the Super Bowl.

It's nearly Spring -- at least that's the case in the mostly parallel, slightly weird universe of Real Estate. Traditionally, the "Spring" home buying season, theoretically the busiest time in the marketplace, begins the day after the Super Bowl. The reason why has never really been clear, but it may have something to do with finally being able to pry spouses off the couch to look at houses!

This year, Spring arrives later than usual: The big game is February 7. If you're thinking of selling, waiting to list until the bowl festivities have passed probably is a mistake in the current market, according to some experts. If you're new to the selling game or haven't sold a home in years, here are a few thoughts:

1) Think about planting that "For Sale" sign in the yard before your neighbor gets around to doing the same thing.
2) A lot of properties will be coming back on the market: everything that was taken off the market in the Fall will be back in the Spring.
3) There will be a lot of new listings, in addition to the continuing cascade of foreclosures and short sales.
4) In determining an asking price, pay attention to the competition rather than relying solely on data from recently sold homes. Agents always take into consideration what else is on the market when setting an asking price. More weight should be placed on the current inventory, because in many cases, that is what is pushing the prices down.

It's dangerous to rely on what the guy down the street is asking, because his listing could be priced incorrectly. When determining your price, be sure to look at a combination of historical data and your competition. Be careful - most people still have inflated notions of their home's value in this boom-then-bust market.

Experimenting with trying to net a price that's rooted in the past can taint a house as an "old" listing." If your asking price is commensurate with, or higher than, prices achieved in 2006 and 2007, you're incorrectly priced.

Don't wait for the Super Bowl to put your house on the market . . . and give me a call if you'd like some help determining the correct asking price for your home.

San Diego Real Estate

WOW! Mortgage Rates under 5%....!!!

2010-02-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

The possibility of securing a mortgage rate below 5% has greatly improved in recent weeks, in a positive sign for would-be home buyers.

Home mortgage rates fell for the sixth straight week, according to two key measures, with one of them pointing to a sub-5% rate for the 30-year fixed loan for the second week in a row.

Freddie Mac's weekly report said the 30-year rate slipped to 4.87% for the week ended Thursday, the lowest since May. According to the mortgage backer, last week's rates stood at 4.94%.

Mortgage tracker Bankrate.com said the average 30-year fixed loan slipped to 5.22% from 5.25% the previous week. The 15-year fixed rate also fell, Bankrate said, to 4.6% from 4.64% the week before.

The 30-year rate is influenced by the benchmark 10-year note's yield, which moves in the opposite direction of its price. Treasury prices have risen over the past week as $78 billion worth of auctions received above-average demand.

"Another disappointing employment report had investors questioning the strength and sustainability of the economic rebound," the Bankrate report said. "The resulting uncertainty drove investors into the safety of government and mortgage-backed bonds."

"Not even a substantial auction of government debt has been enough to derail the streak of declining mortgage rates," the Bankrate report said.

Rates are returning to levels not seen since the spring when, in an effort to cap mortgage rates, the Federal Reserve began a campaign to buy back $300 billion in Treasurys. The Fed hoped that it would spark demand and keep yields -- and therefore, mortgage rates -- in check.

Mortgage rates fell as refis abounded. But those benefits seemed to wear off, as rates started on a tear in the summer. By June, the benchmark 10-year bond's yield had increased steadily to hover around 4%.

Now the central bank has less than $15 billion left to spend on its buyback program, which led some investors to worry that yields would soar again. So far, that's not the case.

On Wednesday, reports said Democratic congressional leaders were working to extend a $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers past the Nov. 30 expiration date and could even make it available to current homeowners who buy a new house.

Homeowners have received a boost from both the tax credit and the lower rates -- last year, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.2%, according to Bankrate.

To translate the difference in mortgage rate into dollars, consider a $200,000 loan. At last year's rate of 6.2%, the monthly payment would be $1,224.94, or $124 higher than the monthly payment at the current rate.

The low rates helped mortgage applications surge by 16.4% last week, according to a separate report.

San Diego Real Estate

JUST LISTED! Carlsbad 3br/2ba Home, Easy Drive to the Beach!

2010-01-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

GREAT CARLSBAD STARTER HOME! This home offers plenty of room with oversized bedrooms and a truly open and flowing floor plan.

Once in the front door, the living room opens up and offers a view all the way to the back! It also has large south-facing windows, a fireplace and a skylight, adding even more light to the home.

The large Master has a Walk-In Closet, and offers tons of light, storage galore, as well as a dedicated full bathroom.

An archway leads you to the massive kitchen, which offers views of the lush outside and opens up to the rest of the home. A good-sized pantry offers plenty of storage. A large island provides a gathering point, perfect for entertaining. The two other bedrooms offer a good amount of room with plenty of closet space.

The backyard has a giant bougainvillea plant that provides a natural impenetrable barrier from the outside world (reinforced by a three-foot fence).

It offers shade, thanks to the great patio cover. It also offers grass, tons of sun and low-maintenance side yards. Various fruit trees add color and flavor to the garden.

In addition to all of the above, this home offers zero wasted space, plenty of storage, a nice flat lot with plenty of room for children, pets or guests.

The roof was put in approximately five years ago which gives it approximately twenty years in life left.

The location of this home is amazing! You can get to the freeway in just two minutes. The schools: Magnolia Elem, Valley and Carlsbad High are within walking distance. Downtown Carlsbad and all of the entertainment and dining options are less than three minutes away.

If you are looking for a DETACHED Single-Level Home in Carlsbad at a great price, you've found it!

For more info on this home, check out 1666JamesDrive.com

Five Steps to Save Energy

2009-12-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

This article has solid information as to timelines and particulars regarding insulating your home and making it as comfortable as possible for the least amount of money.

5 Steps to Save Energy

If you're thinking it's time to do something about your cold house and your high heating bills, here are five win-win suggestions that will help you do both.

1. REPLACE YOUR FURNACE FILTER
A clogged filter makes your furnace work harder to deliver the same amount of heat, which wastes energy by keeping the furnace on for a longer period in order to bring the house up to the requested temperature.

If you have a central heating system (used for heat only), replace the filter once a year, at the start of the heating season. If you have a heat pump or a furnace with central air conditioning, replace it twice a year, at the start of the heating season and at the start of the cooling season. While replacing the filter, always use a shop vacuum to clean up as much dust and debris within the filter cavity as you can reach.

2. INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
Programmable thermostats work a whole lot better than your memory. They give you the ability to have a lot more control over your heating and cooling systems, and they will add both convenience and energy savings by raising and lowering the heat at preset times so you don't have to remember to do it.

A programmable thermostat will bring the system on and shut it off based not only on temperature, but on time as well. For example, the thermostat can be programmed to turn on the heat to a certain level at 6 a.m. when you get up, and turn it down again at 8 a.m. when you leave for work. It also can be set for different cycles on different days of the week, and can be overridden with the touch of a single button to temporarily raise or lower the heat.

3. INSULATE DUCTWORK
Since the ducts are running through an unheated space, whether in your attic, crawlspace, basement, or garage, duct insulation is a huge part of the system's ability to retain heated air within the ducts until it gets delivered into the house. All of the ducts in unheated spaces should be completely wrapped without any gaps, and the insulation should be of sufficient thickness to provide good insulating value -- typically around R-8, which is approximately 2 1/2 inches of fiberglass.

4. CLEAN WALL AND BASEBOARD HEATERS
As with a central furnace, it's very important that wall heaters and baseboard heaters be cleaned at the start of every heating season. Before cleaning, however, first try to minimize the potential for dust buildup in the heaters. This might be done by rearranging furniture, increasing fresh air in the room, or increasing air flow in front of the heaters.

To clean baseboard heaters, first shut off the circuit breaker that supplies power to the heater. To be certain you have the correct breaker, turn the thermostat up to high for 30 seconds or so and make sure that the heater does not come on. Remove the front cover and use a vacuum to clean out the inside of the heater, being careful not to damage the aluminum fins inside the heater. If you notice that the fins are bent, you can use a fin comb, available through many heating contractors and other retailers of heating equipment, to straighten them out again.

For wall heaters, shut off the circuit breaker for the heater, and verify that it's off as described above. Remove the screws that hold the grill in place, and remove the grill. Wash the grill in hot soapy water, dry it, and set it aside. You can then clean the inside of the heater using a vacuum, taking care not to touch the heating elements, or you can blow out dust using the blower side of your shop vacuum.

5. COVER AND WEATHERSTRIP ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
If you have a room air conditioner that sits in a window or mounts into an opening in the exterior wall, they have the potential to leak a lot of air. If the air conditioner is in a window and is easy to remove, your best bet is to remove it, clean it, and then store it for next summer.

If it's not easily removed, then examine the unit carefully to see if there is any daylight coming in around it. You can use foam tape, expandable spray foam, or other weatherstripping materials to close up the gaps around the case. Finally, buy or build a cover that will slip over the unit from the outside and prevent cold air from coming through it and into the house.

Don't forget to check for tax credits. Through 2010, consumers can claim a 30 percent tax credit for costs of buying things like new windows, furnaces and insulation. For more detailed information on energy tax credits, check the websites in our Favorite Links .

New Construction! Detached Oceanside Home, Walk to the Beach!

2009-12-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Bedrooms: 3+
Baths: 3.5
Square Footage: 2426
Price as of this blog post: $699,900

This is the last one left of a series of row homes recently built in coastal Oceanside. Walk to the beach, highly upgraded, two-car attached garage, beautiful stone/tile flooring, gourmet island kitchen with granite slab counters, large roof-top deck with panoramic ocean views, no HOA, tremendous curb appeal, skylights, great finishes.

South Carlsbad Poinsettia Cove 4br Home, Walk to the Beach!

2009-11-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Square Footage: 2629
Price as of Post date of this post: $749,000

Bargain Beach Home! Hard to beat price for this 4 bedroom 3 bathroom in popular Poinsettia Cove gated community and only steps away from South Carlsbad State Beach. Fresh interior and exterior paint. Tile flooring. Bedroom and full sized bathroom on ground level. Large, open kitchen features a center island, corian counters and quality stainless steel appliances incl double oven and refrigerator. Upstairs fam room or library, office or media room. Patio area overlooks HOA greenbelt.

Be sure to follow Eddie on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EddiePfeifer

A little glimpse of the future...

2009-11-17T09:48:00.000-08:00

At the NAR Convention in San Diego this past weekend, NAR senior economist Lawrence Yun predicted that more international buyers will enter the US housing market in 2010 due to favorable exchange rates against the dollar.

Yun believes that, nationally, sales activity will continue to rise by as much as 15%, inventory will be reduced to a 6-7 month supply, and housing prices may even show a modest 3-5% appreciation by the end of 2010. At the same time he forecasts another 3 million foreclosures in 2010.

He did acknowledge that, while demand is strong at the lower end of the market, the upper end is in the gutter; he is forecasting improving conditions for jumbo mortgage loans which would have a positive impact on high-end sales.

Leslie Applegate-Young, CAR economist, has pointed out that, among the Southern California cities, the reduction in median sales price from 2008 to 2009 was lowest in San Diego (-3%) and Orange County (-2%) compared to Los Angeles (-14%), Riverside/San Bernardino (-26%), and Santa Barbara South (-17%) or Santa Barbara North (-8.5%).

Bressi Ranch 4br Foreclosure, LOW LOW PRICE!

2009-11-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 3.5
Sq Ft: 3019
Built in 2005

This home is a foreclosure in Bressi Ranch. Bressi Ranch is a newer community in Carlsbad, located on the southeast corner of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road.

It's in good shape and has a low-maintenance backyard. It sits across the street from a tot-lot.

This neighborhood has a great, walkable feel. In the last year or so, the commercial section of the neighborhood has really come alive. There is a Trader Joe's, Peet's Coffee and Tea, Board and Brew sandwich shop, Rubio's, nail salon, optometrist, dentist and more! It gives it a small-town feel, but still is just minutes away from I-5 and Carlsbad's amazing beaches.

For a site focused EXCLUSIVELY on Bressi Ranch, be sure to visit Bressi Ranch Real Estate

Be sure to follow Eddie on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EddiePfeifer

Cardiff Composer District 3br Foreclosure, AMAZING Value!

2009-11-11T10:18:00.000-08:00

This is a 3br, Single-Level home built in 1960. It is located in the popular Composer District neighborhood of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a town in south Encinitas. It is definitely not in move-in condition, as it needs paint, carpet, lots of kitchen work and probably some structural work. The location is excellent and the lot is flat and large. This one will probably get snapped up soon!

To view more Cardiff Homes for Sale, please click Cardiff Real Estate and click on Search MLS.

Cardiff Cove 2br Condo with Lagoon Views, Bike to the Beach!

2009-11-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

This condo is located in Cardiff Cove, a complex that features lagoon views as well as ocean views depending on your vantage point.

This particular unit has maximized lagoon views from both of the bedrooms. The southern exposure really opens it up to the light and the many windows do an excellent job of soaking the home in light.

Be sure to call me for a smoking deal on this home: 858.525.3258

New FHA Condo Approval Rules!

2009-11-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

This update contains the temporary changes to the FHA Condo Approval Process as outlined in Mortgage Letter 2009-46 B.

Here are the six things you need to know about these changes:

1. These temporary changes are effective on December 7th, 2009 through December 31st 2010; except for Spot Loan Approvals.

2. Spot Loan Approvals will be eliminated as of February 1st, 2010.

3. FHA loan concentration may be increased to 100% if the following criteria are met:

A. Project construction has been 100% complete for at least 1 year
B. All units have been sold and no single entity owns more than 10% of the units
C. Project holds 10% of the budget in reserves for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance
D. Control of Home Owner's Association has been transferred to the owners, and e. Owner-occupancy is at least 50%.

4. FHA requires a 50% owner-occupant ratio but bank-owned units that are either vacant or tenant-occupied are not required to be included the calculation.

5. New construction pre-sale requirement is temporarily reduced to 30%.

6. Florida projects must be approved by the Atlanta Home Ownership Center. Lenders are NOT allowed to approve them.

West Encinitas Gorgeous 5br/3.5ba 2009 Home with Basement

2009-11-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

This is a NEW CONSTRUCTION, Eco-Friendly Home. It's a Solar Ready, Coastal Craftsman Style located less than a mile from the beaches and beautiful downtown Encinitas. Two Car Garage, Gourmet Kitchen, 9' ceilings, Beautifully Landscaped Front & Back Yards, It's located in Award Winning School District! No HOA or Mello Roos Fees!

To search for more Encinitas homes, click Encinitas MLS Search and click 'Search MLS'

Cardiff Walking District Home: Ocean Views, Walk EVERYWHERE!

2009-11-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

This home is an interesting mix of new and old. The kitchen and floors have been renovated, and the owners have added other touches as well. They put in a sunset ocean view deck that just draws you out to it and is excellent for entertaining.

This home is in one of my favorite neighborhoods. Period. The Walking District of Cardiff offers easy accessibility to the freeway (without the noise issues that plague other "convenient" neighborhoods). It allows for easy access to great beaches such as Cardiff Reef, Pipes as well as the famous Swami's surf break. Perhaps best of all, you are within walking distance from everything Cardiff has to offer: Pipes Cafe, Seaside Market, Cardiffit (and adjacent Yoga studio), Starbucks, the newer library and the post office!

The neighborhood is truly a patchwork of newer homes and older, sometimes original condition, cottages that are all poised high on a hill with truly AMAZING ocean views. Depending on your vantage point and weather conditions, you can see from La Jolla to Dana Point!

Cardiff Single-Level Home, One Mile to the Beach!

2009-11-04T15:37:00.001-08:00

This home is near the Poinsettia Heights neighborhood of Cardiff. It has easy freeway access via Birmingham Drive. The beach (as well as all downtown Cardiff has to offer) is just over the hill.

This home is in move-in condition and is very light and bright. It is a larger home by square footage standards among homes in the area with no major remodels.

Search for homes using my no-registration MLS search on my website: Cardiff Real Estate.

Newer La Costa Oaks Home, $100K UNDER COMPS!

2009-10-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Fantastic opportunity in La Costa Oaks. This is not a short sale or an REO and is priced to sell immediately. This home has a very large lot with one of the largest backyards of any of the other La Costa Oaks homes.

The kitchen features stainless steel appliances and granite counters. A very large master suite and den are located downstairs. Upstairs are 2 more bedrooms and a very large bonus room that was also being used as a bedroom by the previous occupants. Great backyard for the kids!

Carlsbad is a coastal city located in north San Diego County. It is surrounded by Oceanside to the north, San Marcos and Vista to the northeast, San Elijo Hills to the east, Encinitas to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

For more information on this home, including the particulars and location information, please visit the direct link for this home, accessible by clicking La Costa Real Estate

Beautiful Single-Level Oceanside 4br Home in Quiet Neighborhood

2009-10-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

A superiorly constructed single story home in Ocean Hills in Oceanside offering a great floor plan which boasts 2,477 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 3 car garage.

This home includes a private backyard, very large living areas, high ceilings, custom paint, and upgraded slate tile flooring.

The kitchen has been completely remodeled within the last year with granite counters, beautiful backsplash, and lots of counter and cabinet space.

For a video tour of this home, please click Ocean Hills Home Video Tour

For more information on this home, including the particulars and location information, please visit the direct link for this home, accessible by clicking Oceanside Real Estate

San Marcos 4br Home in Discovery Hills, Just One Neighbor!

2009-10-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

AMAZING PROPERTY WITH ONLY ONE NEIGHBOR in one of Discovery Hills' finest locations, parklike, serene, great floor plan. Excellent Master Suite with fireplace and balcony and view.

Dramatic entry with stylish stairway up to custom office/loft area, three bedrooms. Entry level bedroom with full bath. Entertainment size yard, second fireplace in Family Room. Bright/spacious with vaulted ceilings. Middle BR upstairs missing closet.

The view is quite spectacular and unique for the neighborhood. The lot sits adjacent to walking trails/park area and, as such, provides for a serene setting with views of the treetops and sounds of rustling leaves.

For a video tour of this home, please click Discovery Hills San Marcos Home Video Tour.

For more information on this home, including the particulars and location information, please visit the direct link for this home, accessible by clicking San Marcos Real Estate

Newer San Marcos Single-Level 4+br/3ba Home on Massive Lot

2009-10-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Traditional sale-No HOA, CC&Rs, or Mello Roos!

Elegant single level home, great floor plan, open gourmet kitchen, wine cooler, double ovens, expansive island, pantry, breakfast area open to family room with fireplace.

Library with extra built-ins, art alcove, hardwood floors, great sunlight from every window. Fireplaces in living room, family room and Master bedroom.

Formal dining room with vaulted ceilings and recessed lighting

All of this and just walking distance to Twin Oaks Valley Golf Course!

San Marcos is a city located in north San Diego County. It is bordered by Vista to the west, Carlsbad to the south and Escondido to the east.

For more information on this home, including pictures and the address, please visit my website by clicking San Marcos Real Estate.

You can view a video tour of this home by clicking: San Marcos Home for Sale

Gorgeous Carlsbad 4br/4ba Carlsbad Remodel, Great Views of the Water!

2009-10-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Absolutely beautiful beach home with stunning ocean and lagoon views from every level. Completely rebuilt from the ground up in 2009, this home has quality finishes throughout, including Italian hickory cabinets, granite counters, travertine baths, and hand scraped wood floor.

Four bedrooms and four baths plus large rooftop view deck with jaw dropping ocean and lagoon views. Walk or ride bike to the beach or downtown Carlsbad and all it has to offer.

Outstanding coastal value!

Click on the link at the end of this sentence and let me know your thoughts on the video tour Carlsbad Real Estate

For all of the particulars on this home, click on this link: Carlsbad Home with Lagoon and Ocean Views!

If you are curious about the Carlsbad real estate market and would like a knowledgeable expert's opinion, call me: (858)525-3258

New Video Tour: Poinsettia Heights (Cardiff, South Encinitas)

2009-10-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

This home is near my place in Cardiff. It is a 3br single-level home in the Poinsettia Heights district (east of I-5, but west of Lake Dr). It is less than two miles to some really great beaches and you can really feel the ocean breeze!

Just about everything about this home has been redone, and they made wise choices. There is no ocean view from the home itself, but you can see it from the driveway.

Adding a second story would definitely allow the home to take advantage of its vantage point. Some homes in the area have done this successfully, but you should definitely check with the city if you're thinking about pursuing a home in this area.

You can access it by clicking Cardiff Home Tour.

Let me know what you think!
You can access the particulars on this home by accessing Cardiff Real Estate

The Loan Process Explained

2009-10-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

How Purchase Loans Are Made
A Step-By-Step Walkthrough

Hi Friends,

I put this up because the mortgage process can be a confusing one for a lot of people. If you have any feedback, please leave it as a comment or email me: Ed@EdPfeifer.com

San Diego Real Estate

1. Pre-approval - Getting pre-approved for a mortgage allows borrowers to know exactly how much house they can afford. Viewed as "cash buyers", pre-approved borrowers have greater negotiating power as well.

2. Loan Search - Buyers should seek the advice of an experienced mortgage professional, someone who will help determine which financing options best suit their needs today and in the future.

3. Loan Application - It's crucial that consumers supply the lender with as much information as possible, as accurately as possible. All outstanding debts as well as assets and income should be included.

4. Documentation - Buyers must submit paperwork supporting the application as well. Information commonly sought includes pay stubs, two years' tax returns, and account statements verifying the source of the down payment, funds to close and reserves.

5. The Hunt - The buyer begins shopping for a house. When the right one is found, the terms of the sale will be negotiated, including the price and potential terms of the loan being sought.

6. Appraisal - Lenders require an appraisal on all home sales. By knowing the true value of the home, the borrower is protected from overpaying.

7. Title Search - This is the time when any liens against the property are discovered. A lien may have been placed on a property to ensure payment of outstanding debts by the owner. All liens must be cleared before a transaction can be completed.

8. Termite Inspection - While most purchase loans do not require a formal inspection for termite and water damage, some loans (especially government loans) allow for the possibility. If problems are found, repairs may be necessary.

9. Processor's Review - The mortgage professional packages all pertinent information and sends it to the lending underwriter, including any explanations that may be needed, such as reasons for derogatory credit.

10. Underwriter's Review - Based on the information put together by both the loan executive and the processor, the underwriter makes the final decision regarding whether or not a loan is approved.

11. Mortgage Insurance - Many lenders require private mortgage insurance when borrowers put down less than 20 percent on a loan.

12. Approval, denial or counter offer - In order to approve a loan, the lender may ask the borrowers to put more money down to improve the debt-to-income ratio. The borrower may also need a bigger down payment if the property appraises for less than the purchase price.

13. Insurance - Lenders require fire and hazard insurance on the replacement value of the structure. Flood insurance will also be required if the property is located in a flood zone. In California, some lenders require earthquake insurance on condominiums.

14. Signing - During this step, final loan and escrow documents are signed.

15. Funding - At this point, the lender sends a wire or check for the amount of the loan to the title company.

16. Confirmation of Recording - The lender authorizes the disbursements of loan proceeds.

17. Close of Escrow - Documents transferring title will now be recorded with the County Recorder.

San Diego Real Estate

Two New Video Tours Posted!

2009-09-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

In the past, I have worked with many out-of-state and even, overseas clients. I have had no problems familiarizing them with the areas by describing the general feel of the neighborhoods, the pros and cons and so on.

With the actual homes for sale, it's a different story. Each home is different and puts out a different vibe that doesn't always come through in the listing description and pictures.

What I found was, my clients felt like they had been through the home themselves!

For this reason, I am now starting my goal of doing two video tours of homes throughout the county that I find are video-worthy PER WEEK! It will be a challenge getting into the homes with no occupants (as only a fraction are vacant) but it will be a fun experiment. I think it will also be very educational for people who are considering the areas as their next move.

As I do more and more of these, I expect to get better. Please feel free to email me or respond with any feedback.

My YouTube videos can be accessed by clicking San Diego Real Estate Video Tours

Welcome to my Blog

2009-08-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

This is where I will be writing about real estate market trends and keeping you up to date and one step ahead so you always know what decisions you ought to make when it comes down to either buying, selling, or investing in real estate.