San Diego Real Estate Podcast with Carlos Gutierrez

I’m sharing seven questions buyers need to ask their agents before buying. Our real estate market is going through an interesting time with low interest rates and inventory, so today I’m sharing the key questions every buyer should ask their agent before submitting an offer: 1. How long has the home been on the market? When looking at homes or comps, real estate agents should always check the history. Not only will the MLS tell us how long the house has been on the market but also how many times it’s been on it and at what price. This is a great indication of whether it’s priced correctly or if it’s been reduced a few times. 2. What are the comparables? You want to know what homes similar to this one in area and floorplan have sold for and how long they were on the market. You want to look at what price they started at and what they sold for. An agent should also look deeper into whether there were any concessions from the seller to the buyer. 3. Are the sellers behind on their property taxes? This will come up when you open the preliminary title report and when in escrow. Knowing this can give you leverage to possibly get a better deal. “When looking at homes or comps, real estate agents should always check the history.” 4. What’s under the carpets? This is crucial because you need to know if there’s any damage to the foundation. Once we were looking at an older house, and we didn’t see any cracks at first. However, when we pulled up the carpets, there was a crack in the foundation, which could have cost several hundred thousand dollars to repair, but we minimized it by bringing in a structural engineer to help. 5. How much are the standard utility costs? What will it cost you for water, electricity, and gas? Is there solar power in the home, etc.? You need to know these expenses before you buy. 6. How did the neighborhood fare during the 2008 crisis? If something similar occurs again, you need to know what may happen. 7. What is your negotiation strategy on the buyer’s side? The answers to some of the above questions could help your agent negotiate shorter time periods for various things in the transaction. The loan contingency is a huge one; the fewer days you take for the loan contingency, the better you’ll stand up against the competition in this extremely competitive spring market. If you have questions or real estate needs, please call or email me. Let me know if you need a vetted vendor such as a handyman, contractor, roofer, plumber, and so on because many people are fixing up their houses in the springtime, and I can get you connected with the best. I would love to help you.

I have six reasons for you why spring is an ideal time for 2021 home sellers. Right now is probably one of the best times to be a seller that I’ve ever seen, and there are six reasons in particular why you should consider an early spring home sale: 1. There’s less competition among sellers. With low interest rates, demand from buyers remains high. With lower inventory, you’ll stand out more to these buyers. 2. More serious buyers. The homebuyers out there in this type of market are serious. 3. Photos and videos look great right now. This will separate you from your competition. A lot of out-of-town buyers are looking to buy here in San Diego, and if we’re able to take high-end video or 3D imagery of a home, it gives us a much stronger chance of enticing them. “You have a month or two now to get your home ready for the market.” 4. Corporate transfers are common right now. January is the big month for corporate job transfers. There are a lot of people moving in and out of California around this time of year, so it’s a great time to get a home on the market with increased traffic. 5. Better customer service from vendors. You’ll get a higher quality of service and more opportunities because they aren’t as busy this time of year. 6. More time to get top dollar. You’ll have at least a month or two before the spring rush of inventory comes on the market. This gives you more time to prepare the home, get dialed in with photos and videos, and nail down your pricing. These are just six reasons why you should consider an early spring sale. If you want to know more about what’s going on or if you need my assistance in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Finding a coach is very important in this industry. Let me share why. I recently had an interesting conversation where a gentleman from eXp called me about one of my listings down the street. He said, “Hey Carlos, I saw your sign was down and I thought I’d give you a call and let you know that you might want to call the company to come put it back out.” I’d never met this person and didn’t know his name, but I thanked him. He then continued, “I also wanted to pick your brain. I see that you’re doing such an amazing job here in the beach area and around San Diego—what are you doing?” I told him that I get up every day being thankful for what I have. I work out, I kiss my wife and daughter, and then I do whatever I need to mentally and physically feel good. After that, I get dressed for the day and start calling people to talk to them, offer services, and ask how I can help them today. Then I asked him, “What do you do?” He had to think about it. “With someone helping you to improve, you’re better able to help others.” That’s why it’s so important for those of us in the business to get a coach. I’ve been a coach for nearly 10 years, not only spiritually, physically, and mentally, but also here in my business. Getting a coach will also help your clients. Think about it: Pro-athletes are talented, but it takes the skilled eye and guidance from a coach to take them to a victory. With someone helping you to improve, you’re better able to help others. That reminds me that I was recently listening to a great book while on a road trip, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. In it, the author said that whatever a man can conceive, he can achieve. However, you have to consider what it is that you truly want, and you need to write it down. You have to be specific, though—instead of writing down that you want a bunch of money, come up with a concrete number and consider what you’re willing to do for it. How much time and energy are you willing to commit to making that goal a reality? Things don’t just happen because you want them to. If I can ever help you improve your business and help you reach your goals, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

What can we expect the coming year to bring? What a ride 2020 was! I’m sure many of you are glad that the year is behind us, but one of the things I took away from the experience was that we should be grateful for every moment we have. There are no guarantees, but we can definitely guess what this year will bring in terms of real estate. With the pandemic and everything else going on in 2020, many people weren’t paying their mortgages, and there were a lot of forbearances. I believe that we’ll see some short sales and foreclosures, but not too many. Why is that? Well, you have to remember that interest rates are low, meaning that the market quickly absorbs properties as soon as they appear. We can expect rates to stay as low as they have been through at least the first or second quarters of 2021; that’ll motivate the buyers to stay in the market and keep the economy rolling. There are lots of people taking advantage of the market by buying investment properties. If you’ve got some money, people always need a place to live. The southeast San Diego area remains a great place to invest in thanks to gentrification and the area’s location. “We can expect interest rates to stay as low as they have been through at least the first or second quarters of 2021.” That said, there are also still a lot of people moving out of the state, and we expect that to continue at a very high level here in 2021. I know quite a few people who are moving to Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and even North Carolina. Larger homes are still popular with those who are working from home. Bigger homes allow people to add things on, like ADUs, which can be used for gyms, office spaces, and more. Now, let’s talk about our goals for 2021. In 2020, I helped over 53 families make great moves, and my goal for this year is to help at least 75. I hired a director of client success to help us elevate our service to the highest level of any real estate professional in San Diego. If you’re looking to make a move or invest in a home this year, give us a call. We’d love to sit down for a short, 15-minute interview with you to see if we can help you reach your goals. Until then, we hope you have an amazing 2021! It’s going to be an awesome year.

May your holiday season be filled with joy and gratitude! From our family to yours, we wish you a very, very happy holiday! We know this holiday season will be a bit different from years past given the craziness of 2020, but it’s still a perfect time to reflect on what matters most and celebrate loved ones. Bella, Jeannete, and I want to say thank you for supporting our business; we’re grateful for the trust you place in our ability to help folks have smooth transactions as they move into and out of the San Diego area. We appreciate everything you’ve done for us in this year full of unique challenges, and we hope you and your families enjoy a marvelous finish to 2020 and have a fantastic new year! Stay safe, and remember: Life is 5% what happens and 95% how we react. Spread the holiday cheer with an attitude of gratitude, and have yourself a merry Christmas! 

Here’s a quick, helpful overview of the home-buying process. As a homebuyer, how can you prepare for the competitive jungle that is our market today? Here’s a real-world example to help you understand the home-buying process: I’m anticipating an appointment with a buyer client who has already had his funds and creditworthiness verified by a trusted lender (the key first step). As a pre-approved buyer, he’s ready to take a serious look at properties—like the one I’m standing in for today’s video. I know he’s going to love this particular house, so together we’re going to write an offer on it. I brought my laptop so we can compare comps and come up with a strategic offer price. All the while, I’ll be establishing rapport with the seller and their listing agent to better understand why, exactly, they’re selling the house and which terms and conditions (beyond price) matter most to them. As your real estate professional, it’s imperative that I continuously ask the seller key questions so my buyer can craft the most appealing offer that best accommodates their needs. What happens when my buyer’s offer gets accepted? One of the first things the buyer will have to do is make what’s called an earnest money deposit (often referred to as “good faith” money). This is sort of like a verification of funds that lets the seller know they’re committed to getting a win-win deal done. A strong earnest money deposit is usually around 3% of the purchase price (e.g., $30,000 on a $1 million property). But that’s just one part of the contingencies; next up is the loan contingency, the lead time of which normally takes 21 days in the state of California. (By shortening this contingency period to, say, 17  days, you can make your offer stronger in the eyes of a seller, but just make sure you’re working with a great lender who can actually get the job done in time). Then come the general home and termite inspections, with the disclosure following close behind. Just like the loan contingency, these inspections have contractually allotted time frames within which they must be completed—the shorter you can make these time frames, the more you’ll put the seller at ease. Remember: Offer price obviously matters, but the seller might place even more value on the prospect of a quick close and fewer unknown variables. They may also respond well to a humanizing gesture on the buyer’s part, like a heartfelt letter. “It’s imperative that I continuously ask the seller key questions so that my buyer can craft the most appealing offer.” I recommend my buyers write a letter that casually introduces them to the seller, enumerates the reasons why they love the house, and conveys the joy they see it bringing their family. Appealing to the seller’s emotions may not be the dealmaking factor in every instance, but it certainly never hurts to add some sentimental value to your offer. The last contingency is critically important: the appraisal. We want to make sure that the lender’s appraiser can get out to the property within the expected time frame because, in this low-inventory market, properties are moving fast and mortgage/title professionals are swamped. Again, you need to be working with a lender who’s on the ball. As your 30-day escrow period draws to a close and your lender finalizes the loan documents, you’ll have five days before the actual date of closing to inspect the condition of the property; basically, you’re verifying that nothing’s changed in the 30 days since you wrote your offer. If it all checks out, then you’ll be on to the best day of the whole process: closing day! I hope you enjoyed this rundown of the home-buying process. If you have further questions about this or any other real estate topic, or are in need of vetted vendors, please reach by phone or email. I’m always here to be a resource for you!

This is what you should know about value-adding and personal preference upgrades. Today I’ll discuss the two final types of renovations to consider when you’re upgrading your investment or personal property. The National Association of Realtors cites that new siding and kitchen renovations like new countertops, state-of-the-art appliances, and new windows are some of the most beneficial projects when it comes to getting the most value during a sale. Upgraded bathrooms, refurbished decks, and energy-saving improvements also offer a lot of bang for your buck. Personal preference projects that you want but other people may not like include amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, hot tubs, wine cellars, game rooms, and ponds. Believe it or not, pools rarely add a lot of value to a home. It’s usually expensive to maintain an in-ground pool, and many buyers view it as a high-maintenance hassle and potential safety hazard. There’s no harm in adding these items to your home, but don’t expect potential buyers to be willing to pay a premium when you’re ready to sell. Be careful when it comes to replacing a popular or commonplace feature in your home. If all the other homes in your neighborhood have two-car garages, you should probably think twice about converting yours into a game room. You should also think hard about large-scale changes like eliminating a bedroom or removing walls before you commit to them. “Don’t bother undertaking expensive projects strictly to increase the purchase price of the property.” Remember that your primary residence isn’t just a house—it’s your home. If you plan to live there for many years to come, add the amenities you’ll love, regardless of their impact on the resale value. When it comes time to sell, you can do the basics to get the property up to the neighborhood standards and add some curb appeal. However, don’t bother undertaking expensive projects strictly to increase the purchase price of the property. Those custom upgrades may add more appeal to you than your potential buyers. Keep your renovations small, neutral, and centered around improving the functionality of your home. If you’re wondering how your home compares to others in your neighborhood in terms of value, reach out to me. I’m happy to give you a free, no-obligation home valuation and share what your home could sell for after renovations. Hope to hear from you soon!

Here’s how to add some curb appeal to your home so buyers are wowed. Curb appeal is crucial when selling your home. Adding curb appeal helps the house look great when prospective buyers arrive. The first impression makes a huge difference. While curb appeal projects may not add substantial monetary value, they will help you sell quicker. Things that add curb appeal include a well-manicured lawn, low-cost landscaping, fresh paint, and new fixtures. The fantastic news is, you can do all this yourself, it’ll save you money and time, and these tasks are easy. When selling your property, you should paint with neutral colors; now’s not the time to incorporate vivid design choices —you want to appeal to as many buyers as possible. “Adding curb appeal helps the house look great when prospective buyers arrive.” Good lighting inside the home is also important, but don’t overdo it. You want the house to look bright and inviting, but don’t break the bank. If you need help with any of these projects, I have an excellent list of vetted vendors that can help with any task. Give me a call or send an email; I’d be glad to refer you or answer any questions. I look forward to being your reliable real estate resource.

This is what constitutes basic home improvements and upgrades. Today I’m breaking down basic home improvement projects. These projects can look very different depending on whether you’re approaching them as an investor or a homeowner. Basic remodeling projects focus on attributes that a buyer would expect to already be up to date when they walk into the home. These include a non-leaking roof, functioning gutters and downspouts, a reliable furnace, solid floors, walls in good condition, retaining walls that work, functional plumbing, and a working HVAC system. In more upscale properties, the basics would also include a certain number of rooms and amenities common to the neighborhood. This doesn’t mean you have to refurbish all these things; you can focus on regular maintenance and smaller upgrades that keep everything in working order. Adding these basics to a house that lacks them won’t increase its value, but it will bring the home up to par with the rest of the area. If you want to update the house enough to sell it, depending on the area, you may have to do a bit more than the basics. On the other hand, while you want your property to stand out from the competition, avoid unwarranted enhancements that exceed what nearby homes have. Not only would you end up losing money, but you may also scare off potential buyers. “Basic remodeling projects focus on attributes that a buyer would expect to already be up to date when they walk into the home.” Before you invest in a full-house overhaul, consider what competing properties in the area have to offer. Find out how similarly priced homes in the neighborhood measure up, and make improvements based on your hyperlocal market. For this, you’ll need a market evaluation; don’t trust the real estate websites, they aren’t always accurate. Give me a call or send an email for a free, no-obligation home evaluation. If you want more information on home improvements than just the basics, reach out to me as well. I look forward to speaking with you.

Here’s my advice on how you should approach updating your investment properties. Updating an investment property is generally a sound strategy if it’s done the right way. The most successful investors abide by the mantra of ‘buy low, sell high,’ so they purchase rundown homes at bargain prices and save money on repairs by doing most of the work themselves—a little sweat equity goes a long way toward making a real estate investment profitable. These hands-on investors carefully choose their remodeling projects, focusing on the ones that will yield the most value with the least amount of work. Part of the process involves paying attention to the other homes in the neighborhood so as to avoid over-improving the home, which happens more often than you’d think; it’s better to take the junkiest home in the best neighborhood and fix it up. If none of the other houses in the area have crown molding or Corian countertops, adding those features is unlikely to result in a significantly higher selling price. Nevertheless, you just never know what you can do with a better lot and a decent home! “It’s better to take the junkiest home in the best neighborhood and fix it up.” When addressing the most important rooms of your home, the kitchen and bathrooms, don’t overdo it. To make the most of your remodel, it’s best to keep these four types of projects in mind: basics, curb appeal, value-added, and personal preference. Stay tuned for my next video in which I’ll break down each of these project types and give you vetted vendor referrals for when it’s time to get work. As always, reach out by phone or email if ever have any real estate-related questions or needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here’s what you need to know about our San Diego real estate market. Can you believe it’s already September? Right now, the real estate market in San Diego continues to be headlined by healthy buyer demand and a low supply of inventory. According to the San Diego Association of Realtors, the year-over-year numbers from August are as follows: Closed sales in San Diego increased 3.3% for detached homes and 4.5% for attached homes. Pending sales were up 21.4% in detached homes and 26% in attached homes. Inventory decreased 51.8% for detached homes and 28.9% for attached homes. The median sale price increased by 11.5% for detached homes and 7.4% for attached homes. Days on market are down 3.4% for detached homes and 3.7% for attached homes. Overall supply decreased 53.6% for detached homes and 32% for attached homes. Although unemployment has dropped down from its peak in March and April, more than 1 million new claims are being filed each week, and more than 31 million people were claiming benefits as of early July. Despite the significant economic impact, homebuyers seem pretty resilient. With mortgage rates near record lows, high buyer activity is expected to continue through the rest of this year. “Unemployment is certainly a factor to watch.” What does all this mean for you? Let’s talk about it. Give me a call or send me an email today and we’ll go over your situation. I look forward to hearing from you.

Here’s what a veteran electrician has to say to homeowners in our market. Today I’m joined by a longtime friend and skilled electrician, Aaron Ramos. In our current hot market, Aaron has been kept busy by a lot of remodels and solar panel installations. He’s helped homeowners and property management companies remain in compliance with California’s Title 24 code, which was designed to reduce wasteful energy consumption. As Aaron explained, solar panels are a great way to cut down your energy bill, even though their upfront costs can be steep. Electrical is a big deal when you’re buying or remodeling a home, and you want to have an expert make sure everything is functioning and safe. Aaron, for example, has over 25 years of experience in the field, and he’s headed his own company for 12 years now. He’s included on our vetted vendor list, which you can access here; it doesn’t take much research on your own to find out that he’s one of San Diego’s best. “When looking for an electrician, get referrals from people you trust who can testify to a company’s quality standard.” What does he have to say to anyone thinking about remodeling or building a new home? Make sure you hire a qualified electrician, whether it’s him or somebody else. “So many times, you’ll go inside a house and [the owner has] a carpenter that does everything,” Aaron said. “They do plumbing, they do drywall, they do tile, they do electric… you can just tell when somebody doesn’t know what they’re doing, and that’s a fire hazard.” When looking for an electrician, Aaron recommends getting referrals from people you trust who can testify to a company’s quality standard. Check out the Contractors State License Board website and search a name or company to verify that who you’re working with is licensed and bonded in the state of California. Again, if you’re looking for a well-qualified electrician who can get the job done properly, Aaron Ramos has my full confidence and stamp of approval. Reach out to him at aramoselectic@gmail.com or (619) 990-2002.

Here’s the latest news for the San Diego real estate market. Now that we’re in June, I want to give you a quick update on what’s going on in the real estate world. Numbers have been slowly coming back in San Diego County. We were down nearly 30% in terms of listings and sales a few months back, but the last three weeks have shot us back up closer to where we should be. We’ve seen 428 closings over the last seven days, and nearly 800 pending sales each week. The biggest thing is that we need people to get back to work safely.

These are the keys to keeping a positive attitude during these difficult times. In these challenging times, it can be hard to keep a positive attitude. Just like it’s important to work out our bodies, we have to work out our minds and spirits as well, and today I’ll tell you how to do this so that you can keep a positive outlook. First, develop an attitude of gratitude. This is key to keeping your thoughts on the right track—train your mind to always look for the positive.

Here's what you need to know about the national real estate market. I have some wonderful news to share about the real estate market! First, in March, the national real estate market saw a slowdown as everyone was waiting to see what would happen with the health crisis. The great news is, buyer demand is steadily climbing again, and we’re seeing more pending sales and signed contracts. However, closings are still about 32% lower than usual. Buyers are buying, but nationally the inventory is still extremely low.

Even though we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, people are still buying and selling homes because we have some great market conditions. Though our daily lives have changed immeasurably during this pandemic, I hope you and your family are managing to stay safe and healthy. Today I have a quick update for you about what’s been happening in the San Diego real estate market. Unemployment continues to go through the roof and lending is tightening up, but people continue to buy and sell homes. Closed sales have dropped by 6% for detached homes, but they’ve actually gone up for condos. Even though we’re in the midst of a pandemic and the economy is in disarray, there are still opportunities out there for both buyers and sellers. If you need anything, please give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you.

Investing in real estate can be lucrative, but only if you do it the correct way. Here are seven key mistakes to avoid that could ruin your investment. Real estate investing can be hard to navigate, especially if you don’t know where to get started. Property investing is a lot different than just buying a home. I like to invest here in San Diego, but I’ve had my fair share of challenges in the past. I want to help you avoid these same issues, especially if you’re a first-time investor. Here are the seven mistakes that could really ruin your investment: 1. Not planning. You have to write out a plan. Having no plan is essentially a plan to fail. Real estate investing is expensive, and you may end up paying even more into money pitfalls if you don’t do proper research and planning beforehand. Think about maintenance, upkeep, and other hidden costs that come with purchasing a property. 2. Not researching the market. Each home and area is different, and you need to know about details such as zoning laws, insurance requirements, etc. You need to know the market value of your particular investment, too. 3. Hiring the wrong people. “Jumping in without an expense plan could really cost you.” 4. Having a get-rich-quick mentality. 5. Spending too much upfront. A fixer-upper may seem like a good deal, but there can be hidden costs that will end up sinking you. 6. Not planning for expenses. In addition to any repairs or improvements that need to be made, there are also things such as landscaping, routine maintenance, and termite mitigation that may pop up. Jumping in without an expense plan could end up costing you. 7. Forgetting plan B. While everyone wants their real estate investment to be successful right away, you also need to have an exit strategy in case it’s not. You have to have an exit strategy before considering an investment to ensure you come out on top. If you have more questions for me about investing in real estate or anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I would love to hear from you and help you come out on top in the real estate market.

Let’s take a glance at our San Diego County real estate market as we move further into 2020. We’re more than a month into 2020, and our San Diego County real estate market is still very strong. From February 2019 to this past January, pending sales rose by 5.3%, and the price range with the largest gain in sales was from $1 million to $1.5 million (a 15% bump). During that same time, the median sales price rose 2.6% to $585,000. Any properties listed below the $500,000 mark usually only lasted a maximum of three weeks on the market, while luxury properties listed over the $5-million mark lasted 100 days on the market, on average. “When it comes to real estate, who you work with matters 110%.” Both of these numbers indicate that buyers are looking for homes and ready to move on properties that are priced correctly. Inventory, meanwhile, has dropped by 38%, and we only have a 1.4-month supply for single-family homes. What does this mean for you? You’re not a statistic, and I want to help you reach your personal goals. When it comes to real estate, who you work with matters 110%, so if you’re looking for someone with an investor mindset who’ll help you get the best deal possible, give me a call. As always, if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to me as well. I’d love to help you.

In today’s video, I’m joined by Tim Rice to talk about the latest news from the SDSU athletic department. In my latest video spotlighting some of the top movers and shakers in San Diego, I’m interviewing my good friend Tim Rice, the new senior associate athletic director for development at San Diego State University. As an SDSU alum, I can tell you that some exciting developments have taken place in the Aztec athletic department since Tim’s hire, including the continuing construction of the new football stadium and the expansion of the Mission Valley campus. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 0:28 - Tim’s new role at SDSU0:50 - The expansion of SDSU West2:21 - The 2020 mission for SDSU athletics3:56 - The impact of the new stadium beyond athletics5:22 - The Aztec Club and their mission6:09 - Introducing supportheaztecs.com7:53 - Wrapping things up If you consider yourself a mover and a shaker in the San Diego area and you’d like to be featured in a future video to spotlight your service to our great community, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to speak with you.

On my latest appearance on “Good Morning San Diego,” I provided the first market update for San Diego in 2020. I was recently a guest on “Good Morning San Diego” and had the opportunity to elaborate on the current state of our San Diego real estate market, make a few predictions for 2020, and shed some light on a couple of exciting home builder initiatives. In short, I think we’re dealing with a great market. Now that we’re entering a new decade, we’re in uncharted territory. Real estate moves in five-to-seven-year cycles, and we’re in year 11 of an upward trend. Interest rates are low, there is a shortage of inventory in most places around the country, baby boomers are aging, and many home builders aren’t building as many homes as they should. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch it in its entirety or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure: 1:32 - Home builders are building more affordable homes instead of luxury ones1:59 - Getting into the market/down payment options3:21 - The impact of baby boomers moving out of California4:26 - Agents of Change: Real estate agents who help struggling families5:10 - Building digitized 3D homes with New Story and World Housing If you have questions about any of the topics discussed in today’s video blog or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

I recently visited the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA and spoke with Executive Director Michael Brunker. Today I’m joined by my good friend Michael Brunker at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in Southeast San Diego to talk about its history and its mission. Michael is the Executive Director of this establishment, and I’ve known him for a long time. It was my pleasure to be able to take a tour of the facility and learn all about how they help the families our community and what their future goals are to promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility county-wide. Follow along in the video above to see the entire interview. For your convenience, I’ve provided timestamps so you can skip ahead to various sections: 1:01 - A quick history of those who contributed to building this YMCA2:04 - The YMCA’s mission and what its facilities offer3:19 - New projects they’re breaking ground on4:22 - Upcoming plans to double their impact throughout San Diego County6:36 - The funds necessary to build a new aquatic center7:10 - Wrapping things up If you’d like to know more about the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, you can reach them by phone at (619) 264-0144 or visit their website. As always, if you have any real estate questions for me, feel free to call or email me anytime. I’d love to speak with you.

How much you’ll need to save for your down payment depends on a variety of factors.   How much do you need for your down payment when buying a home? For first-time homebuyers, affording the down payment is usually the biggest hurdle. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. You may have to pay anywhere from 0% down to the full 20%. Where you fall in that range depends on a lot of factors, including your credit score, employment history, bank balances, etc. Once you know these things, you can start looking at the hundreds of loan options available to you. The best thing you can do to answer this question for yourself is to talk to a lender. They’ll have all the latest information about every loan option, and they’ll help you find the best deal possible. If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Giving back to the community is something my family and I have always been passionate about.   I recently had the privilege of appearing on “Good Morning San Diego” with my daughter Bella to share some news about a very special project my team, my family, and I have been working on: Bella’s Build. After observing the efforts and work of Pacific Sotheby’s “Agents of Change”, we were inspired to raise money to build a home for a family in need in Tijuana, Mexico. To learn more about this project, watch the video above to see my T.V. appearance in its entirety. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Although interest rates are about as low as they’ve ever been, the home buying market hasn’t been as active as we would have thought. Here’s why.   As summer draws to a close, multiple opposing factors and trends are competing to define the future of the real estate market. After the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate on July 31, the 30-year mortgage rates continued to decline and are approaching all-time lows last seen in 2016. Most experts agree these reductions aren’t likely to bring sufficient relief, at least in the short term. For first-time homebuyers, that’s an issue. The lack of affordability and the persistence of historically high housing prices continue to affect the housing market, leading to lower-than-expected existing home sales at the national level. Here are some of the numbers we’ve been looking at: Closed sales: Down 3.8% for detached homes and 6.9% for attached homes Pending sales: Up 18.4% for detached homes and 15.1% for attached homes Inventory: Down 21% overall Median sales price: Down 1% for detached homes and up 3.5% for attached homes Days on market: Up by 24% for detached homes and 10% for attached homes “Most experts agree these reductions aren’t likely to bring sufficient relief, at least in the short term.” As many homeowners refinance their home to take advantage of the declining rates, consumer confidence in housing is still reported to be at historically high levels. Even so, real estate professionals will need to be monitoring the market for signs of continued imbalances. Although the inventory of affordable homes at this point remains largely stable, it’s stable at historically low levels which may continue to push prices higher for potential buyers across the United States. We’re going to see what happens in the fourth quarter and, hopefully, better results will happen in 2020. If you have any questions for me in the meantime or want to learn more about what’s going on in the market, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today world-class water-skier and wakeboarder Scott Leason shares his awe-inspiring story and how the Challenged Athletes Foundation played a major part in it.   Today I’m standing alongside my good friend Scott Leason. As you can probably tell from the wetsuit he’s wearing, he’s a wakeboarder—not just any wakeboarder, though. Scott is world-renowned for his talent and he’s about ready to head out on one of his training rides. I caught him before he did to ask him about his unbelievable story. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in our conversation. Feel free to watch the entire video or skip ahead to the sections that interest you most: 0:25 - A little bit about Scott, how he landed in San Diego, and the event that rendered him visually impaired but that he overcame 1:40 - Scott’s journey to the Challenged Athletes Foundation 2:50 - Discussing his many accomplishments as a competitive water-skier and wakeboarder 3:20 - More about Scott’s mantra: “Never lose sight of your goals and dreams” 5:55 - The positive impact Scott’s perseverance has had on others and how water sports have become a means of catharsis for him 6:43 - Info on Scott’s social media page and how you can donate to CAF 7:37 - Wrapping things up with some footage of Scott water-skiing I thank Scott for taking a few minutes out of his day to inspire us through his story. If you’re interested, you can learn more about the Challenged Athletes Foundation here, or donate here. And don’t forget to check out Scott’s Facebook page, Never Lose Sight, to track his competitions and accolades! Learn more about how I support CAF here. If you have any questions for me, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What does it take to properly price a home? Let’s discuss.   If an agent has ever encouraged you to overprice your home, they probably only did so because they were desperate for your business. The truth is that listings tend to succeed far more often when they’re priced at—or even slightly below—their fair market value. With this in mind, how should you and your agent go about determining the right price for your home? Well, it all starts with your agent conducting a comparative market analysis (otherwise known as a CMA). This analysis involves your agent researching recently sold and currently listed properties in your area that are similar to your home in terms of size, condition, and amenities. After gathering pricing and sales data from these listings, your agent will be able to offer you a ballpark figure of what your own home might sell for. At this point, they must be honest with you. Flattering you by suggesting you should overprice your home will only cause your property to sit on the market for much longer than necessary. It could even cause your listing to expire. Even given today’s super-low interest rates, buyers aren’t willing to accept just any deal that comes along. “Even given today’s super-low interest rates, buyers aren’t willing to accept just any deal that comes along.” As I mentioned earlier, setting your price at or below fair market value is the key to selling quickly and for top dollar. A fair price will attract more buyers, and when multiple buyers are interested in your home, they may begin bidding against each other. Your chances will be even better if you make a few strategic upgrades and repairs before listing. A successful home sale comes down to taking the right approach with the right agent by your side. I would be happy to give you advice on this topic, as well as any other aspect of your real estate goals. So if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today I’m joined by my good friend Richard Nares, founder of the Emilio Nares Foundation, to learn a bit more about their organization.   The Emilio Nares Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been around for 16 years. Richard was inspired to start the foundation by the loss of his son, Emilio, who passed away from leukemia in 2000. The Foundation focuses on helping families navigate their child’s journey with cancer through a variety of programs. “Rides With Emilio” is one of their better-known programs that provides free transportation for underprivileged children and their parents to and from the hospital for cancer-related appointments. This service provides over 3,000 trips a year. It’s crucial that these children be able to make it to their hospital appointments, and “Rides With Emilio” help many families in need to do just that. This year, Richard intends to extend this service to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Last year, Richard held and participated in a sponsored run from the Seattle Children’s Hospital to San Diego—that’s a total of 1,700 miles! Along the way, they stopped at nine children’s hospitals to hand out Emilio’s Loving Tab Healing t-shirts. These are custom-designed shirts with snaps on the shoulder and sleeve to facilitate access to chemotherapy for children with cancer. These breathable shirts provide a sense of normalcy so children don’t have to take off or lift a shirt to receive treatment. Beyond these, Richard hosts several fundraisers throughout the year. Coming up on September 22, 2019, you can join him at the 16th Annual “Harvest For Hope” event at The Brick in Liberty Station. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. you can enjoy food from the best chefs, great wine, and excellent silent auction packages, the proceeds of which go toward helping low-income, underprivileged families whose children are battling cancer. “The Foundation focuses on helping families navigate their child’s journey with cancer through a variety of programs.” After implementing the “Rides With Emilio” program in L.A., Richard plans to travel along the West Coast to see about making the same implementation at other hospitals. Ultimately, Richard has led his efforts in this foundation with thoughts of Emilio in mind. He believes that Emilio would be very proud of the organization, and I absolutely agree. If you’d like to learn more about the Emilio Nares Foundation or find out how you can make a contribution, visit ENFHope.org. For any other questions you have, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be glad to hear from you.

San Diego is an incredible place to invest in real estate, and today I’d like to share 10 reasons why.   Recently, I had the privilege of appearing on “Good Morning San Diego” to discuss something that’s garnered a lot of buzz recently: real estate investing. There’s no time like the present to get started in real estate investing, and San Diego is a fantastic place to do so. You can learn more about why this is the case by checking out my recent appearance on “Good Morning San Diego” above, but, for now, here is a quick list of the top 10 reasons why: 1. Investment properties in San Diego are a bargain compared to elsewhere in the U.S. 2. Home prices haven’t been this great in years. 3. New houses aren’t coming onto the market very quickly.  4. Rental rates in San Diego are amazing.  5. Because there is no rent control, San Diego is more landlord-friendly than most cities. 6. The rental population is massive in San Diego. 7. Given its popularity among tourists, San Diego is a great place for short-term rentals. 8. Our large military population creates a strong demand for rentals. 9. The large population of students creates a strong demand for rentals. 10. The supply of properties in San Diego is constantly strained, leading many would-be buyers to turn to renting, instead. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

As a followup to GNE in May, I’d like to connect with you!   It was a pleasure meeting you at GNE in Vancouver last May. Though it was my first time attending, I thought it was amazing, and I’m sure it was amazing for you, too. In light of our experiences there, my message for you today is simple: Let’s stay connected. I prospect at least five days a week, so I’m always on the lookout for great buyers and sellers anywhere in the world. If anyone you know is thinking of moving to San Diego, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to make referrals to you as well. If you’re ever thinking of moving to San Diego yourself, I would love to host you too. You’re already in my database, so let’s connect on social media. I look forward to hearing from you!

I’m going to the Mike Ferry event in Vegas next month and I would love to connect with all of you other Mike Ferry agents out there.   Hello to all of my Mike Ferry friends out there. Throughout my career, Mike has helped me not only gain the knowledge, but the professionalism and ability to list a $7.5 million home here on the oceanfront. If you’re going to be at the Mike Ferry event in July at the Venetian, let’s connect. I’ve been blessed to connect with MFO agents and was able to refer eight clients. I’m looking to send more and get more referrals, have more accountability, and build more relationships. What are you excited about learning at the event? I would love for you to reach out and let me know. Just give me a call or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How do we handle off-market listings? This is the approach we take.   I’m coming to you today from the site of another off-market listing that I double-ended and got sold. Before filling you in on this recently sold property, I’d like to talk about my surefire approach to these types of listings: I pick up a listing and I call the surrounding neighbors to let them know about this brand-new listing as well and to inquire if they know anyone who might be getting into the market soon. Once an offer is written on the property, I’ll again alert the neighbors to this good news and ask if someone they know is thinking about buying or selling. I’ll make one last call to them as soon as the property is sold to share this news and the handsome price we were able to capture for the seller. This particular property—714-716 York Court—is situated on the north end of Mission Beach, right off the oceanfront. It’s so close, in fact, that we’re about 50 paces away from the boardwalk. “I’ll make one last call to the property’s neighbors to share the news that the home sold and to let them know the handsome price we were able to capture for the seller.” Here are some of the key details of this property:  2 bedrooms upstairs 2 bathrooms upstairs A huge rooftop deck 1 bedroom downstairs 1 bathroom downstairs 3 parking spots at Mission Beach This home belonged to a past client, and I called her to gauge her interest in selling. She informed me that she was, in fact, interested. Another client of mine was a renter turned buyer who was sick of throwing away money on rent and wanted to make a purchase for her kids’ sake. In the end, this particular buyer client purchased the home, and both are very happy with how the transaction turned out. If you know of anyone searching for real, reliable, and results-driven help in buying or selling real estate, please give me a call at (858) 864-8741. If you know anyone who’s in need of a great referral, no matter the nature of the referral, point them in my direction as well. I’m currently creating a vendor’s list. Talk to you soon!

Why should you work with a real estate professional instead of listing your home on your own? Today I’ll share a couple stories that demonstrate why.   Pricing, condition, and marketing strategies have a lot to do with whether a home sells. However, FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sellers are the ones who think they can do it all on their own. Let me ask you this: Have you ever seen anyone do their own dentistry work? Have you ever seen a lawyer practice law without an actual degree? For instance, I once had a client who came up with the price on her home by taking the estimated values generated by Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com and throwing a dart at one of them. I had to laugh when I heard that, but unfortunately, that’s how many sellers in the market try to do it on their own. Another story on the subject involves a lesser-known company called REX. One of my buyers called me about a listing they’d seen through REX, asking to set up an appointment to go see it. It wasn’t on the MLS, and I couldn’t find the owner’s phone number. Since the listing was on Zillow, I contacted the Zillow agent, who also couldn’t find it anywhere. On REX, the listing must be made through the seller’s own agent in order for them to save the 2%. “FSBO sellers think that they can do the same things that real estate experts spend years perfecting.” I understand the common-sense strategy of trying to save money when you list. However, you should be trying to work from a perspective of abundance: How can you make more money when you actually sell the home? Using a true professional to market your home and gather as many potential buyers as possible is the way to do it. If you have any questions about selling your home or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. My job is to help buyers and sellers be successful in real estate.

There are a few things that make an agent stand out among the rest—one is their ability to spread the word about your listing. As soon as I list a client’s home, I begin to place calls to everyone in their neighborhood. A new listing is great news for area residents—they can invite friends and family to become homeowners in the neighborhood they love. I make the same call when a home goes into escrow, and another one when we’ve sold the property. “A new listing is great news for area residents.” When I was making my calls recently, I spoke to a neighborhood resident who was already working with another agent. She did, however, need a referral for a great property manager. I gave her my suggestions and it worked out well. Three weeks later, I received a call from the same person. Her agent wasn’t working out, so she asked me to step in. Two weeks later, we’d already written three offers and one of them stuck—she now has a pending home sale! If you need help with anything related to real estate, have any questions, or need further information, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Buying a home can be a difficult and complex process. I recently had the pleasure of joining Carlos Amezcua on KUSI News’ “Good Morning San Diego” to talk about our current market and why it’s such a great time to buy or invest in real estate. I also discussed some of the most disastrous home buying mistakes possible. By avoiding these mistakes, you can take advantage of the strong market, where homes are selling within weeks.

It can be hard to find a professional you can trust. When the market is really hot like it has been here in San Diego, a lot of people think that they can make some fast money by selling real estate. I know that it can be hard to tell the difference between a good and bad Realtor, so I’m going to share three questions to ask a Realtor before you decide to work with them: 1. “How long have you been working in real estate? How many homes do you sell each month?” Their answer to these questions will tell you if they work in the business as a professional or if it’s a hobby to them. Many think that real estate is fast, easy money, but people who think they can make a quick buck will usually not last very long in the business. 2. “How do you determine the price of a property?” Getting the right price when you list your home can mean the difference between selling your home quickly and leaving it to linger on the market. When you interview Realtors, the answer to this question should include more than something like checking the comparable sales; a true professional will have a strategy to price your home correctly. If you’d like to know what your home is worth, I have a free, confidential valuation toolkit. 3. “What is your marketing plan?” Sticking a sign in the yard, putting the listing on the MLS, and then praying that the home sells is not a good plan. There are over 30 ways a professional can market your home, so make sure your agent is maximizing their network and that they have a plan in place to help you achieve your real estate goals. “Many think that real estate is fast, easy money, but people who think they can make a quick buck will usually not last very long in the business.” I love to help my buyers and sellers navigate through this challenging market. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, reach out to me. I want to help you and be your guide for anything real estate.

The new year brings new goals and dreams, such as buying a home. If you’re new to buying, there are four big mistakes that you’ll definitely want to avoid: 1. Falling in love with the house instead of the block. The equity your home earns is determined by where it’s located. Your home will either rise or fall in value more based on how much the community grows vs. how much you remodel your property. “You’ll need an extra 3% to 4% down for closing costs.” 2. Not knowing the mistakes on your credit report. Almost every credit report has some sort of error. Before you shop for a home, you should definitely take the time to fix those small errors in your credit. 3. Forgetting about closing costs. Everyone knows that you need a down payment of 10% to 20% when you shop for a home, but so many first-time buyers forget that extra 3% to 4% you need for closing costs.  4. Underestimating the power of negotiation. When you’re pre-approved by a lender, this gives you more leverage during negotiations. The difference between being pre-approved and just being pre-qualified is huge, so make sure you understand it and proceed accordingly. I love working with and helping homebuyers, so if you or anyone you know needs help buying a home in the near future, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

As we head into 2019, there are four real estate trends that you can expect to see this year: 1. More homes will be available, especially on the luxury side. If you were watching my videos in 2018, you know that inventory bottomed out, reaching its lowest levels in recorded history. This made for a market where sellers were in control. This year, we expect a stark contrast; inventory is expected to slowly grow throughout the year, particularly in the luxury market, so sellers will now be forced to price appropriately at the outset.  2. Affording a home will remain difficult. The winds of change in real estate look like they’ll be favoring buyers this year. Nevertheless, breaking into the market still poses a challenge with mortgage rates increasing and income growth leveling off. Working with an experienced agent and lender will be your recipe for success.  3. Millennials will continue to populate the buyer pool. Just a few years ago, millennials were the “new kids on the block,” trickling into the market. Most couldn’t afford to buy yet. Today they account for 45% of homes sold, which establishes them as the generational group buying more mortgages than any other.   4. The new tax law still brings uncertainty. With the introduction of the revised tax bill in 2018, questions about how it would affect homeowners were swirling. Unfortunately, we still don’t really know, and it’ll stay that way until owners start filing for their taxes in April. This is all the more reason to hire a savvy accountant so you can potentially receive a bigger return this tax season.  “Breaking into the market still poses a challenge with mortgage rates increasing and income growth leveling off.” For a personal consultation on the changes in store for our market in 2019 or help with any of your real estate needs, please call me at 858-864-8741. I’d love to assist you in any way I can!  

Carlos Gutierrez has been serving clients in San Diego County since 2005. Here’s what just a few of those clients have to say. As a full-time real estate agent, Carlos Gutierrez has earned the Chairman’s Circle Platinum award for his sales performance in 2013, ranking him among the top 1% of Coldwell Banker sales associates. But, the successes most important to Carlos are the ones that come not in the form of awards, but in the form of satisfied clients. Since 2005, Carlos has been serving buyers, sellers, and investors throughout San Diego County—treating each and every transaction as if it were his very own. And his clients have noticed. Diane Gaske is one such client. She’s known Carlos for 25 years—since meeting him at the elementary school she once worked at. Years later, when it came time for Diane to sell the home she had lived in for 27 years, she knew she would need the right person to help. For her, and many others, Carlos is that person. “THE SUCCESSES MOST IMPORTANT TO CARLOS ARE THE ONES THAT COME IN THE FORM OF SATISFIED CLIENTS.” She recalls Carlos sending postcards to all of her neighbors and hosting multiple open houses—something she says ultimately paid off, since her house sold in less than two weeks. Another client, Matthew, first encountered Carlos when he helped Matthew’s father to sell the home he had been struggling to sell for months in just 15 days. The reason for Carlos’ success, according to Matthew, is that he listens to clients and creates unique, detailed plans according to their needs. Something that stuck with Matthew, specifically, is when Carlos came to him with a 27-point presentation explaining what he was going to do to sell his house. Matthew emphasized to us that what Carlos does is different for every client—because every client is different. Matthew says that, because of this, “He was able to do what he said he was going to do.” He also says that Carlos only “promises what he can deliver” and that “his communication is extraordinary.” Other clients had praise for Carlos, as well. According to Jan and Mike Neil, “You are foremost and number one in his mind” while you are working with him. All of these people are real clients who Carlos has gone above and beyond for. So, if you are thinking of working with him, remember them when making your decision. Diane, who has known him for 25 years, says she recommends Carlos “110%.” If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you, soon.

Today I wanted to share with you three tips for investing in rental properties. You may have played the game of Monopoly and you know that the way to win that game is to have the most amount of properties and cash in the bank. Life can sometimes be a game as well, and we live in the perfect city for investing in rental properties. You might have thought about investing, and I wanted to share three things to consider before you invest. “HAVE A ONE-YEAR PLAN AND FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND STICK TO THEM!” 1. Be selective when you buy. You need to make money when you buy the property. Often investors see a home at a low price and think they’ve found a good deal. However, you need to do your homework and research the area to determine whether it’s a good deal or not. Remember, price is what you pay, value is what you get. 2. Have an exit strategy. While investing in a rental property can be a great way to earn profit, don’t let it become such a large part of your portfolio that losing returns on it can ultimately bring you down with it. Have a one-year plan and then a five-year plan and stick to those plans. 3. Be ready for the unexpected! Things can quickly take an unexpected turn, and you need to be prepared for it. Houses can be a great investment, but are often full of unseen costs that correspond with those investments. So be prepared and able to address those issues when they present themselves. If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d be happy to help!

We all think of long, lazy days when we think of summer, but did you know that summer is actually a great time to sell your home? Summertime is here; the days are longer, the weather is warmer, and everyone seems to be more relaxed. We all think of long, lazy days when we think of summer, but did you know it’s a great time to sell your home? San Diego is in a pretty hot market right now. Home prices are up and mortgage rates continue to remain relatively low. We are at the top of this real estate market cycle, and there’s never been a better time to sell your property. There are three main reasons why summer is a great time to sell your home: 1. Buyers are more relaxed. There aren’t any major holidays and school is out, so buyers are simply less stressed. “BUYERS ARE MORE RELAXED DURING THE SUMMER.” 2. They have vacation homes on their mind. In San Diego, that means big business. People are looking for the perfect summer home or that income property. Income properties are a pretty hot commodity right now in our market. 3. Better weather means more traffic. When the weather is nice, you can expect 15% more traffic coming through your home. More traffic means more buyers. If you’re interested in getting your home on the market this summer, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Homebuyers and sellers alike can get frustrated by the wealth of misinformation about real estate online. Today, I’ll give you a few tips to help you find accurate, updated real estate info. The Internet is a great place to start your home search and find some information on what your home is worth. However, I hear from my friends and clients every day about how frustrating it is to sort out all of the information that they find online. Popular sites like Zilow, Realtor.com, and Trulia can be great places to start out, but studies show that in cities like San Diego, the prices on those sites can be off by as much as 10% to 20%. In our market, that can mean a difference of anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000 off the actual market value of your home. So, what can you do? First off, don’t believe everything you read. If you are a buyer searching for homes, you can find some basic information online, but make sure that you go on multiple sites. Local sites like mine pull information directly from the MLS so you know that all the information you are looking at is up to date and accurate. Buyers also need to get a pre-approval so that you can save time on your home search and know how much your loan limit is. In our market, having a pre-approval gives you negotiating power that will help you edge out the other buyers. Being pre-approved tells sellers that you are ready to buy. “DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON SITES LIKE ZILLOW OR TRULIA.” You also need to stay calm. If you’re looking at homes on Zillow, don’t fall in love too fast. The prices may be wrong and, sometimes, the house may be listed as available even though it already sold months ago! An experienced agent like myself can guide you to the right homes. If you are selling your home, you need accurate information to determine the value of your home. If your home is unique and you’ve made improvements, then you need a proper appraisal so that you get every dollar out of the sale of your home. So, do your research. Check out multiple home value tools to get a range of what your home might be worth in the current market. You should also check out the comps, or comparable properties. A real estate agent can do a comparable market analysis to see how your home stacks up against other similar, recently sold properties in your neighborhood. That is the most accurate way to determine what you can get for your home in this hot market. Ultimately, you need to be careful when you are looking at homes online or if you are trying to find your home value with sites like Zillow or Trulia. If you have any other questions about finding accurate real estate information online, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Home prices are slowing down for the second month in a row. What does the future hold for home prices in the San Diego market? San Diego is slowing down for the second month in a row. What does that mean for you? Although the news has to be shocking these days to capture the public’s attention, I’m here to give you just the facts and only the facts about what is really happening in the real estate market. The latest numbers show that San Diego County home prices rose 5.7% this year, just below the national average of 5.9%, but not by much. We are slowing down, however. This time last year, home prices were increasing at a 7% higher rate than the national average. “THE MARKET IS STRONG FOR THE TIME BEING.” According to the experts, higher home prices and increasing mortgage rates will shrink the number of households that can actually afford to buy a home and force prices to decline. The great news for you is we aren’t there quite yet, and the market is holding strong for the time being. If you have equity in your home, it’s a great time to think about selling. If you’re not sure what your home is actually worth, I can show you an accurate home valuation right here on my page. If you have any other real estate questions or if you’re looking to buy or sell in San Diego, give me a call or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Dealing with the loss of a family member can be especially difficult when the necessary planning was not done ahead of time. There are three steps you can take now to protect your family. There is nothing more devastating than dealing with the loss or illness of a family member. That difficult time can turn into a nightmare if you haven’t taken care of the necessary planning ahead of time. I was recently working with a family who had just lost their mother and, when selling her estate, they realized there was no will or trust in place. Now they have to deal with the challenges of probate, which costs a lot of time and money. There are three things you can do now to make sure that your loved ones are protected after you’re gone: 1. Talk about it now. Don’t wait until there is a tragedy or illness to have the difficult conversations with your family. Be open and honest about what you want to happen to your home and your investments. “BE OPEN AND HONEST ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN TO YOUR HOME AND INVESTMENTS.” 2. Put it in writing. Make sure that you have a will or trust. It’s smart to put your wishes in writing so that your children and other beneficiaries are not left trying to sort out everything while they are in mourning. Not having a will can complicate relationships and cost your loved ones thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees. Have a frank and open discussion about your estate plans with the people who you love, who should be in the know. 3. Consult a real estate professional to ensure that your plans and assets are protected. A real estate agent can help you determine whether a revocable or irrevocable trust would be best. This can be a very difficult topic to navigate, but it is important to take these three steps in order to protect your family. If you have any other questions or need further guidance on this topic, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. I am here to help you.

There are a ton of positive benefits to organizing a community cleanup project. Here are a few of them. Your cleanup day is almost here! You need help, so I’ve got some great tips to share. I really enjoy helping others write their real estate success stories. As promised, I am here to give you some tips on how to organize and motivate the people in your neighborhood for your own community beautification project. Here are three things to keep in mind when planning your cleanup: 1. Show me the money. You don’t have to pay people in cash, you just need to share with them how much value will be added to their home by cleaning up the neighborhood. The nicer it looks, the more home values go up. “THE WORLD IS IN NEED OF POSITIVE COMMUNITY STORIES.” 2. Shout it out. Post on local neighborhood Facebook groups or even on Craigslist to increase turnout. Make a flyer, walk the neighborhood, and introduce yourself to some neighbors you haven’t met before. Let them know when and where the dumpsters will be located. You can also contact your local media to let them know and ask if they could get the word out. The world is in so much need right now of positive community stories. The local media loves those stories and are happy to share them. Start making your own positive news story today. 3. Be positive. Your energy will spark others to want to take action. Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the keys to ensuring success. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today, I have three tips to get you the resources you need for your community beautification project. You decided to beautify your community—congratulations! You have the drive and the goals, but you don’t have any of the resources yet. Here are three great tips to help you get started: 1. Reach out to local waste management companies and ask them to donate a dumpster for the day. Many waste management companies will donate dumpsters during the weekend for all of the neighborhood’s trash. 2. Contact local business owners and ask if they are willing to help sponsor the event. Maybe they can throw in some money, food, flowers, or rocks in exchange for advertising and posting on social media. Let them know that you will pass out flyers and post on social media to spotlight their company as they help the community clean up. “YOU CAN FIND FREE SUPPLIES ON CRAIGSLIST.” 3. Search Craigslist for free items like dirt, rocks, or plants. A lot of people have things that they just want hauled away. If you have a truck, then you have access to some free resources. Community beautification projects help increase home values in your neighborhood and lower the crime rate. Next, we’ll talk about how to organize and motivate others. In the meantime, if you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

The holiday season is finally here. We wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family the best. We are grateful to have you in our lives, especially this time of year. Happy holidays everyone! I am here today with my daughter, Bella, and my wife, Jeanette. We wanted to take this time to wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday. From our family to yours, we wanted to wish you the best this season. “HAVE FUN SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.” We are very lucky to have you in our lives, so we also want to say thank you. We appreciate you. Our mantra in 2017 is the attitude of gratitude. We are so thankful for so much and we hope that you take some time this holiday season to think about what you are thankful for too. It’s a great exercise, and it really puts things into perspective. Have fun spending time with your friends, family, and coworkers this holiday season and know that we are grateful for all of you. Happy holidays, Feliz Navidad, and merry Christmas. We look forward to seeing you in 2017.

I love helping people write their own real estate success stories and I’m passionate about giving back to the community here in San Diego. As I learned from my mentors, putting your community before yourself is key. Recently, I helped beautify a San Diego neighborhood out in Grant Hill. Check out the video above and you’ll see a clip from NBC7 about our latest clean up effort. I got permission from the city to clean up the area, so I donated $10,000 to the project, got some volunteers together, and we got to work. You have to be the change that you want to see in the world. Watch for my next videos that show how you can start a community clean up in your own neighborhood. Getting organized to help your community does not cost as much as you think. Remember, if you put time and energy into helping your community, people will see that you care. If you have any questions in the meantime, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

So you want to be the change in your neighborhood, but you don’t know where to start. It’s okay—I know the feeling, and I’m here to help. In my last video, I gave you some tips on how to organize your own community beautification project. Today, I want to share with you three great tips on how to continue this community outreach: 1. Contact your local city council member or local area representative. These people are committed to helping improve neighborhoods. Set up a time to sit down and talk with them or just call them and parlay over the phone. 2. Create a list of specific goals you hope to achieve. This project can become overwhelming if you don’t break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, you might just write down “clear all trash off west side of Main Street.” Make it that specific so you have an attainable goal to share with the rest of the team. 3. Get out there and talk to your neighbors. Start knocking on doors and letting people know what’s happening. If you don’t know your neighbors, introduce yourself. If you really want to start beautifying a neighborhood, you want support in numbers. “Beautifying a neighborhood is an initiative everyone can get behind.” Everyone wins when you clean up a neighborhood. Not only is it nice to see a clean, well-maintained area, but home values will go up, crime will go down, and it’s something everyone can get behind. In my next video, we’ll talk about how you can get the materials to get this job done. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the community beautification process or anything real estate-related, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

Have you ever met a bad Realtor? They can change the way you view this profession. When you need a real estate professional, it can be hard to find someone you can trust. When the market is hot like it’s been lately, a lot of people think they can make a quick buck selling real estate, and these people can be hard to spot. To help you differentiate between a good Realtor and a bad one, I want to share the three things you should ask a Realtor before you decide to work with them. “Is real estate a hobby or a profession for them?” 1. How long have you been selling real estate full-time, and how many homes are you selling? This will show you if real estate is a profession for them or just a hobby. People who think they can use real estate to make a quick buck don’t last long in this market. 2. How do you determine the price of a property? Listing your home at the right price can be the difference between selling or lingering on the market with no offers. Pricing a home is more than checking the comps—a true professional will have a comprehensive strategy for pricing. 3. What is your marketing plan? Sticking a sign in the yard and listing your house on the MLS is not a marketing plan. There are more than 30 different ways a professional agent can market your home, so make sure your agent is maximizing their network and has a strategy to help you achieve your real estate goals. I really hope these tips help you find the right Realtor when the time comes. If you have any more questions about finding the right agent, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I hope to hear from you soon!

When the market is hot and agents are fighting over listings, it’s easy to get caught up in the crossfire, which can cost you the sale of the home. One of the worst things that I see agents do all too often is overprice homes. Lucky for you, I have three easy ways to ensure this doesn’t happen to you. 1. Use a trusted home valuation tool. Don’t rely on sites like Zillow and Trulia. Their home values can be off by as much as 25%! 2. Get a professional opinion. Once you get an online valuation, call a professional to come see your home. Each home is unique, and there are many factors that can make your home worth more than your neighbors’. I love to give homeowners this information because it empowers them to make the best decisions. 3. Keep current. Home values in markets like San Diego can change quickly and your information can become outdated pretty quick. Don’t hesitate to subscribe to monthly emails or newsletters to stay in the loop. “Home values change all the time in San Diego, so it’s important to stay updated.” If you have any questions about how I can help and empower you in your real estate journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!