Sean Zanganeh Real Estate Podcast

Explore essential training programs for both new and experienced agents. Are you ready to enhance your skills and gain a competitive edge in the real estate industry? Whether you're just starting or have years of experience, the right training can elevate your career to new heights. Luckily for you, Keller Williams offers two essential classes that cater to both new and seasoned agents alike: 1. For new agents: Productivity training classes. The productivity training classes are meticulously designed for new agents to gain solid foundational learning. A dedicated trainer will guide you along the way to fully grasp the ins and outs of real estate. This structured training ensures you gain the confidence and knowledge needed to jumpstart your career. “Investing in your training is crucial for long-term success in real estate. ” 2. For experienced agents: Top masterminds. If you're a seasoned agent looking to take your business to the next level, the top masterminds class is perfect for you. These sessions gather the top 10% to 20% of agents to share their best practices and innovative strategies. By participating, you'll gain insights into what successful agents are doing in today's market, allowing you to implement these techniques into your practice. Investing in your education is crucial for long-term success in real estate. Whether you're a new agent seeking foundational training or an experienced professional wanting to learn from the best, these classes will equip you with the skills needed to excel. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your career! Contact me at (858) 461-9665 or via email at sean@mysddreamhome.com.

What you need to know about the future of our housing market. Will home prices continue to increase, or will we fall into a recession? Today I want to briefly discuss the future of San Diego's housing market. In May 2022, the average home price in San Diego reached $1 million. What does this mean for sellers? First, our market has had crazy-high appreciation recently, but things may calm down soon. The market won't crash, but instead of 25% appreciation, we may only see around 10%. Second, pricing your property correctly is more important now than ever. The market is still ascending, but just because your neighbor sold for a certain amount doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get a little more. The market is moving at a slower pace, but smartly priced homes are still selling with multiple offers over list price. However, overpriced homes are sitting on the market longer than they would have a few months ago. “2022 will be full of opportunities.” Meanwhile, interest rates continue to be the biggest factor in our market for buyers. If you became pre-approved a few months ago, I recommend you go through the process again. Your rates have likely changed, and it could impact your buying power. The last thing you want is to find your dream home only to learn you can't afford it. Overall, I think 2022 will be full of opportunities. It will likely be easier to buy and sell a home at the same time since there will be more inventory and less competition. Despite these factors, home prices won't fall anytime soon. Even if inventory rises, it will still be very low. Instead of homes selling with 25 or 30 offers, they'll sell with three or five, which is still good. If you want an experienced professional to help you take advantage of this market's opportunities, please call or email me. I am always willing to help!

Here are some challenges you might face when remodeling your home. Should you remodel your home in this market prior to selling? There's a lot to consider, particularly the three factors that are making remodels more challenging in this market than a normal one: 1. Supply chain issues. Real estate has been affected by these as well. This is likely not going to change anytime soon. 2. Increase in inflation. Repairs simply cost more to make now than they used to. Bigger projects become even bigger and more expensive as a result. 3. Difficulty finding good help. Finding good contractor work is essential for a successful remodel. We're fortunate to work with some quality vendors that we have great relationships with and can recommend to our clients. Let me know if you'd like their information. If you have any questions for me about remodeling, buying, selling, or real estate in general, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here are a few tips to help you successfully buy a home in San Diego. Are you interested in buying a home in San Diego, but you don't know where to start? Today I'll share a few tips and tricks on how to win in today's real estate market. First, we like to sit down with our buyers to find out about your needs. Do you have a family? Do you want to live in an urban setting? Are you looking for good schools? Are you looking for nightlife attractions? Do you love beaches? All these questions will help us find your dream home. Similarly, we need to know if you'll need to commute for work. Many people think that they'll be fine living far away from their workplaces, but as we come out of the COVID era, the traffic is starting to return to San Diego. The location of the home makes a huge difference; one or two exits could add 15 to 20 minutes to your commute each way. Next, we'll create a hot map by looking up properties that sold over the last 60 days over the area you're interested in to see if it's a good fit for you and your family. Looking at homes that border the area you're looking in is a good backup plan to help you get a better deal. “The location of the home makes a huge difference; one or two exits could add 15 to 20 minutes to your commute each way.” We recommend that you schedule a time to sit down with us to talk about the area. We'll help you learn about the landmarks, shopping centers, restaurants, and bars where you'll be moving so that you know what amenities you'll be able to enjoy. We could also take you on a tour of the area or make you a map of the points of interest. These are just a few of the things we suggest to clients who are moving to San Diego. If you'd like to hear more or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email.

Here's what you need to know about the future of San Diego's condo market. Downtown San Diego is one of the great landmarks of the west coast, but the last few years have been rough. The pandemic shut down the city's vibrant social scene, and things have been slow to open back up. Now that more people are vaccinated and heading back to work, are things starting to come back? As of late November 2021, a lot has changed in the downtown condo market. We have fewer than 90 units for sale and over 140 in escrow. The rest of the San Diego housing market increased 30% during the pandemic, and it looks like downtown is just starting to catch up. “People from all over the country are buying property here.” Homes are entering escrow this year 65% faster than last year. On top of that, closed units are up 68%. One thing I've noticed is that the areas in development have a lot more clarity. New buildings are coming in, and people are feeling optimistic.  What does this mean for the future? It looks like downtown prices are only going up, and inventory is only decreasing. People from all over the country are buying property here, so if you want to get in on the action, you better act fast.  If you have any questions about today's topic, please feel free to call or email me. I am always willing to help!

Here are the top three reasons why homes fail to sell in our market. We've seen a crazy change in the marketplace over the last two years. We went from March 2020, when everyone stopped buying homes, to June and July, when everyone went right back to the market. In 2021, we've seen one of the biggest increases in home values that I think any of us will see in our lifetimes. Now the market is shifting again. It's not slowing down—we're just not seeing the rapid pace of increase that we saw between February and July. Here are a few things we've noticed that are causing homes not to sell in this market: “You can't just take a couple of photos on your iPhone and put the house on the market anymore.” 1. Poor home preparation. Earlier this year, all you had to do was put your home up for sale and watch all the buyers flock to your listing, some of whom might even have offered $100,000 more than your asking price. Today, however, there's more inventory available, so buyers are starting to become a bit pickier. The era of just listing homes and waiting is over; you need to clean from top to bottom, touch up your paint, and replace old and worn carpets. Simple projects like these add immense value to your home. Prepped homes sell for a lot more than homes with no work done. 2. Average marketing. If you were a real estate agent with a home to sell between February and June of this year, your job was a lot easier than it used to be. However, all that has changed. People are spending a lot more time studying listing photos and looking at media collateral before they visit a property, so make sure your agent is doing a full media package when it comes to marketing your home. They need to create a brand for your home to help it make top dollar. You can't just take a couple of photos on your iPhone and put the house on the market anymore. 3. Pacing too far ahead of pricing. Over the last year, we've seen people listing their homes for thousands of dollars over what the last comparable sale was. Now, people are more realistic about pricing in the market, and they're studying the pricing before they step foot in your home. The average buyer has seen all your comparable sales and has made offers on all of them, so they know what a house should be worth by the time they come for a showing. Buyers punish overpriced sellers by not making an offer at all or waiting for the seller to make a price adjustment. You can avoid that by simply listing your home at the market price. If you're looking for more tips on how to sell your home for top dollar or have any real estate questions at all, give me a call or send an email. I'd love to hear from you.

Here are three ways to build your real estate portfolio in San Diego. Many first-time homebuyers are looking to purchase homes, but they’re finding that prices are just too high for them. I’d both agree and disagree with their assessments; it all depends on what you’re looking at. Today I’ll share three great ways to help you build your portfolio and wealth here in San Diego: 1. Condos. In today’s market, condos are probably the most underrated asset class. Over the last 12 to 18 months, so many people have shifted their focus to single-family homes that the condo market has softened and people are getting deals. Post pandemic, we’ll likely see the condo market come back strong as people use them for second homes and other purposes. I’ve seen a ton of clients gain lots of equity from condos, and it’s substantially easier to get into that market than the detached housing market these days. “Many young people don’t think of real estate as a great partnership opportunity, but it can be.” 2. “House hack” by renting out bought property. House hacking is where you purchase a large or multi-unit property and rent it out to tenants. The rent you receive can offset the cost of the property. Suppose you had a two-unit property in a desirable location where you couldn’t normally qualify for two units at $750,000. By purchasing a two-unit property there, you can use the rent generated to offset the property’s expenses, so it might feel like you’re only buying a $500,000 property. This is useful for those who want to live with another person. 3. Buy real estate with someone. If you’re looking to start your rental portfolio, try buying a piece of property with a partner. Many young people don’t think of real estate as a great partnership opportunity, but it can be. With the right agreements in place and the right vehicles to own real estate, there are easy, effective ways for people to buy real estate with a partner. If you have any questions about today’s tips or purchasing real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Here's what homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for in 2021. If you’re looking to add tens of thousands of dollars of value to your home this year, there are a couple of key things you can do. While these may be some big-ticket items that you’ll need to purchase, your investment will bring fantastic returns in the future. Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen pools and backyards explode in popularity. Everyone wants a place where they can relax, spread out, and entertain guests safely, so many clients have been investing in their outdoor spaces. Those who have added pools, which could cost $50,000 to $100,000, are often getting back $150,000 or more on their investment when they sell. However, not all homes will gain value when a pool is added; in some cases, you might get a better return if you simply move without pouring money into your property. Either way, we always invite people to reach out to us so we can weigh the options together. Studio sheds, or accessory dwelling units (ADUs), are also becoming extremely popular. Some people believe adding one would be a daunting task, but it’s actually quite easy. Some websites even have prefabricated options that you’re able to choose from. San Diego also has pre-approved plans homeowners can purchase to add ADUs to their property. Homeowners can use this as a way to create secondary income through a rental, or have a private place where relatives can stay. It gives people a lot of flexibility, and homebuyers are flocking to listings that include these units. “Many clients have been investing in their outdoor spaces.” If you have any questions about real estate or would like to learn about more ways to add value to your home, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here’s why demand is so high and supply is so low. If you’re struggling to find a home in the San Diego area, you’re not alone. Inventory has been overwhelmingly low, meaning that tons of buyers are competing over a small supply of properties. Many clients have been wondering why there are so few homes available, which is why we’re covering the top three reasons why San Diego and the rest of the country are experiencing an inventory shortage. Here’s what’s happening: 1. The COVID-19 pandemic: In the past year, many would-be sellers have decided to wait on listing their homes until the pandemic has passed. Whether they’re immunocompromised or simply uncomfortable putting their homes on the market, fewer people are listing properties. This is the case in San Diego, and high demand from buyers means that inventory is at record-low levels. “Inventory has been overwhelmingly low, meaning that tons of buyers are competing over a small supply of properties.” 2. Low interest rates: Many people who were thinking of downsizing or moving laterally decided it would make more sense to take advantage of low interest rates, refinance their homes, and come out with a cheaper monthly payment. This is especially true for baby boomers, who hold the largest share of real estate; they’re able to wait longer to move because they now have more options and can better afford payments. 3. Longer life expectancy: Baby boomers are also enjoying longer, healthier, and more functional lives. They’re also able to stay near their kids and grandchildren instead of moving to less expensive areas. In the past, older adults would typically be downsizing in their 60s and 70s, so this has locked down a lot of real estate. On top of this, San Diego isn’t able to have a lot of single-story homes, so this creates even more competition for the ones that are available. If you need help jumping into the market, have any questions, or would like more information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you and helping with any and all of your real estate needs.

Here are three tips to help make your home purchase easier in this market. Looking to buy a home in 2020 but need to sell your current home first? You’re in luck; today I have three great tips on how to accomplish these dual transactions: 1. Get pre-approved. Most homebuyers use financing in today’s market, but with the dip in interest rates, you’d be surprised what you can qualify for without selling your current home. Many times, folks realize they can afford the new house without having to sell first. We always have people get pre-approved so they know their options and are financially comfortable with them. “For some families, a rent-back might be the only option.” 2. Start prepping your home for departure. While you’re looking for homes online, talk with an agent about a plan to prep your home for departure. A lot of times, homeowners think about doing something, find the perfect home, then lose out on it because their current home isn’t properly prepared first. Sit down with your agent and come up with a gameplan to move from point A to point B. 3. Negotiate a rent-back agreement. Since the market is so hot, we’re typically able to get rent-back agreements for our clients so they can sell their home, become completely liquid, then buy and close on the next house without worry. For families, this might be the only option, and today’s buyers are OK with longer rent-back periods as long as they can secure the home to purchase. If you have questions about how we can help you get started on the buying or selling process or concerning real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I have three good reasons you shouldn’t wait until spring to sell. Are you considering listing your home in the spring or summer? You may want to rethink that timeline because now is an excellent time to list your house for sale. Listing between January and March may help you beat out the competition for three reasons: 1. Low competition. The competition itself will be lower before spring hits. We’re already seeing a massive amount of competition right now due to the reduced supply of properties on the market. Six months ago your neighborhood may have had five or six homes for sale, but today there may only be one. Less competition gives you the freedom to consider your next move without as many speed bumps in the way. 2. Pent-up buyer demand. People were looking to buy in the second half of 2020, but there wasn’t enough inventory on the market. San Diego recorded the lowest amount of inventory ever in the fourth quarter. Our market won’t come out of that until at least late February or March when more people start listing. By that time, we’re into the traditional selling season. Usually, people wait until after the Super Bowl to put their houses on the market, then we get even more in May and June from the family-dense neighborhoods because they want to wait until the kids are out of school. Virtual schooling has changed much of that, so people have the flexibility to move now. “Now is an excellent time to list your house for sale.” 3. Your home’s little-known features can be shown. How many of you have a beautiful fire pit with fantastic lighting or heaters, or some other great feature? As people are spending more time at home, they’re paying more attention to these details. They want to walk into a home and see that elegant fireplace lit up, as opposed to dormant, the way it is the rest of the year here in San Diego. They want to see these features utilized because they’ll be spending much of their time at home for the foreseeable future. If you might be interested in listing your house this winter and want help to compose a plan to win in 2021, we’d love to assist you. Call or leave us a message, and let us know how we can serve you.

Here’s how we’re helping our clients compete in this tough market. Are you looking to buy a home but frustrated by the intense competition in today’s market? Last year was a whirlwind, and the biggest thing on every buyer’s mind is how tough it was to compete. Everyone’s looking for that competitive edge to help them secure the home they want. Here are three tips that will help get you there: 1. Get specific. The key to finding what you want is getting specific on the house and the location that you want. We do a lot of things when it comes time to finding homes in particular locations that help our buyers win. To be on the winning side, you need a winning agent. It’s already tough enough to view homes on your own. Having an agent will make it easier. They can help you find homes that aren’t actually on the market, too. There are many opportunities out there for buyers to secure homes like these and we’ve had a lot of success matching our buyer and seller clients in the past. “An experienced agent with many connections is an invaluable resource.” 2. Use our buyer direct program. This allows us to target our search area and call, mail, and leave doorknockers for all the area homeowners where you’re looking and retarget them on social media. This allows us to bring you a property with the least amount of competition since it’s not actually on the market. Some sellers don’t want to go through the minutiae of putting their home on the market, and this program is dedicated to helping buyers win those homes today. 3. Work with an experienced agent. They should be well-intertwined with the agent community. So much real estate business gets done through agent communication, and who you work with matters more than ever. We want to be the agents who help you win, so if you’re looking for more tips and tricks or just have any real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should you refinance now or wait for lower rates? Here’s my advice. With interest rates as low as they are, a lot of our clients have been reaching out to ask if they should refinance. These are the lowest rates that we’ve ever seen, with some of our clients locking in rates below 2%. We know that the Federal Reserve has gone on record saying they won’t increase rates anytime soon, but should you wait? Well, on one hand, we don’t know what additional costs might be introduced by lenders down the road, but we do know that right now you can lock in a low interest rate and get the best possible financing for your home. If you have any other questions for me or would like to get connected with a great local lender, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Our market has seen an increase in buyer demand for a few reasons. The San Diego real estate market is hot, but where are all these buyers coming from? The majority of them are move-up buyers; that’s the main market today. People are moving out of townhomes and condos and looking for more space. We’re also seeing many people move here from comparatively dense cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles to find more space. Some of the reasons they’re moving here are that our weather is excellent, we have the lifestyle people want, we have beaches, and we have housing that’s a little more affordable than other similar areas. We’re also seeing people leaving states with colder weather, where they know they’ll be working from home for a while. For those who know they aren’t going back into the office anytime soon, it’s the perfect time to move here to San Diego. If you want more tips for how to win in the San Diego real estate market or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via phone or email.

Our market is moving fast, but here’s why it may behoove buyers to act now. If you’re a potential homebuyer wondering whether it’s best to make a move before the calendar turns over or wait until spring 2021, here are three critical considerations to make: 1. Interest rates are at historic lows. You’ve probably been seeing this in headlines for almost a year now, but rates just dipped below 3% for the very first time. We’ve been helping buyers left and right lock in rates in the upper 2s on great pieces of real estate. If you’re discouraged about rising home prices, consider that rates have a much more significant impact on your mortgage payment schedule. Though it may seem counterintuitive, buyers today can afford more home for their money than in years past. 2. You can move into a new home with more space. This year, we’ve all realized just how important it is to have adequate living space. We’ve already helped scores of families move up from a townhome or condo into a home with more rooms and a yard. Is your family expecting a brand-new member soon? Are you having parents or grandparents move in to create more of a multigenerational lifestyle? If an upgrade is on your horizon, consider acting now; there’s never been a better time to leverage your purchasing power and move up into a larger dwelling space. 3. You can move into a home away from the city. When companies began allowing their employees to work from home, many people realized that the only thing they liked about living in the denser urban areas of San Diego was the close proximity to their place of work. Now that these employees can work virtually from anywhere, they’re looking at real estate in the extremities of San Diego where they would have never considered living before. Places like Poway, Fallbrook, North Escondido, and other areas just outside of the city are now hot markets, and it’s more than likely that they’ll become even more competitive as we enter 2021; if you’re one of the many city dwellers looking for more elbow room, it may be best to act now. These are just a few of the things to consider as a homebuyer in the fourth quarter of 2020. If you want more tips and tricks on how to win in the San Diego real estate market, please feel free to give us a call or send an email.

Low inventory, low rates, and a shift in demand are fueling our Q4 market. Our fourth quarter San Diego market is as hot as ever, and one of the main driving factors is our low inventory, which continues to push home appreciation upward. Right now, there are fewer than 4,000 homes available on the market, meaning we have only 1.6 to 1.8 months’ worth of inventory. In other words, if no other homes were to come onto the market, all the existing homes for sale would be snatched up in just under 60 days. This scarcity has caused an 11% year-over-year increase in home prices. Even buyers we helped earlier in the year are saying to themselves, “Wow, there’s a lot more equity in my home than I thought there would be by now!” Though ours is a seller’s market, good loans, cash purchases, and strong buyers characterize the consistent demand we’ve been seeing this year. Behind all that demand is the ever-alluring incentive of cheap money; interest rates have hit record lows on several different occasions in 2020. New construction homes, highly rehabbed or flipped homes, and heavily remodeled properties are all selling for a premium right now. We’re seeing a shift in demand so radical and widespread that it’s transforming the normally quiet surrounding markets into hotspots. Today’s buyers are seeking big backyards, home offices, casitas, and family compounds for multigenerational living. For the last six or seven months, it seems that the traffic in San Diego is down, and that’s because countless companies have switched to remote operations, eliminating the morning commute for many workers. “These are likely the lowest interest rates we’ll see in our lifetime.” No longer needing to live close to the office, many buyers are eagerly exploring areas they’d previously ruled out as impractical or downright impossible—places like Poway, Jamul, La Mesa, Fallbrook, etc. Whereas the trend up until recently has been a westward migration toward coastal Cali living, people today are turning around and moving back inland. I’ve already mentioned them above, but those low interest rates deserve special attention; they’re truly a driving force in our market. Right now, we’re seeing borrowers lock in rates lower than 3%. (Some super-qualified buyers have even seen rates below 2%). While not everyone will be able to get a record-breaking rate, the majority of people are still able to get a fantastic one. These are likely the lowest interest rates we’ll see in our lifetime. So, if you’re looking to capitalize on these unique conditions or have any real estate-related questions, give us a call or send an email. We know that 2021 will bring even more changes to our market, so we at the Sean Zanganeh Real Estate Team want to be there to help you plan.

We want to help you reach your real estate goals, even amid COVID-19. The world has changed so much in 2020. We’ve been checking on our friends, family, and clients to make sure you’re all doing well. During these conversations, we’ve been receiving many questions from you about the market, home prices, and more. Today I wanted to share how we can help you during this peculiar time. We want to provide accurate information to help you make the best decisions for you and your family. You’re home has probably gone up in price more than you think, so we should chat if you’re even having a thought about selling. If you’d like to set up a call to discuss the value of your home, visit our Calendly link below and select a time that works best for you. We look forward to speaking with you.

Todd Pianin joined me for a great discussion on the state of the mortgage market. Todd Pianin of Guaranteed Rate has joined me once again to talk about the state of our mortgage market. A lot of people have been asking us about the increased showing traffic and whether or not it has resulted in an increase in mortgage applications. According to Todd, Guaranteed Rate’s volume is going up each month and demand has picked up, especially in the last few weeks. He also discussed jumbo loans, interest rates, and more. To hear our full conversation, watch the video above.

Buying a home during a pandemic is different than it normally is, but there are still opportunities out there to buy safely and successfully. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected many different areas of our economy, there are still people out there buying and selling homes. Today we’re going to focus on what active buyers are experiencing right now. Many buyers began the process before this crisis happened and need to buy in order to expand their family. The good news is that there are still great opportunities out there for them. One of the main advantages for homebuyers now is less competition. Our inventory levels are near rock-bottom lows, and instead of competing against 10 other buyers, most are competing against just one or two. Another opportunity has to do with interest rates. Due to shifts in the stock market, interest rates have become extremely attractive for those who qualify. If you are in the process of looking for a home to buy, make sure you get a pre-approval. If you have one from earlier in the year, make sure you’re getting an updated one. Most agents aren’t looking at pre-approvals that are more than a few weeks old. “We can help you start your search through virtual, 3D showings.” Finally, we’re seeing a big shift in terms of how people are viewing properties. We saw showings drop dramatically at the end of March, but they’re up by over 25% in just the last few weeks. Buyers in today’s market are much more interested in virtual tours, Matterport tours, HD photos, and videos than they have been in the past. For-sale homes that provide them are where buyers are starting their search. From there, we can help you figure out what the right fit is to save you time, keep you safe and healthy, and make sure you can find the house of your dreams. If you have any questions about buying a home, or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

COVID-19 has flipped our world upside down, but the real estate industry is resilient. Here’s how we’re helping sellers maximize opportunities. Are homes still selling during the COVID-19 pandemic? If you need to sell, how do you even go about doing so right now? Truthfully, the market is still moving along considerably well. We’re monitoring the MLS and seeing homes in our San Diego market go into escrow every single day—remarkably close to what we’d see under normal conditions. Here’s even more good news: If your home is in a low inventory area or a highly sought-after price point, we’re seeing those prices increase. The sellers getting top dollar for their homes right now are the ones working with experienced agents who leverage 3D Matterport tours and narrated video walk-throughs to keep prospective buyers well-informed and all parties safe. Things like high-definition photography, professional videography, and virtual tours have always been powerful tools in the arsenal of elite modern brokerages; now more than ever, these tools are essential to the success of a real estate transaction. We have plenty of experience using various media to get homes maximum exposure on the market, so we’re well-equipped to handle this shift to virtual real estate processes. “Buyer tastes and overall demand are changing.” What’s next? Make sure you’re reaching out to a real estate agent and having the conversation now. Buyer tastes and overall demand are changing right now, so the earlier you can prepare your home and set up a game plan for going to market, the better. If you think you need help with getting your home sold in this unusual environment, please feel free to reach out to us today. We’d love to have a confidential conversation with you and explore your specific situation.

I’ve got some exciting news to report to you all today.We’ll be sharing our real estate expertise with you through our new video blog. We’re extremely excited about this and we want to be sure to include all of you. Here’s how it will work:Each month, we’ll send out two emails addressing trends in our local real estate market. We’ll also be sharing real estate tips for San Diego, what’s going on in the market, and even what’s going on in your neighborhood. “We’d love to answer your specific questions about the real estate market.” Rather than simply guess what’s on your mind, though, we’d like to reach out and ask you all what kinds of questions you have. Are there any concepts you’re unclear about? Are you curious about the market in your particular area or neighborhood? Our goal is to build the best possible library about San Diego real estate and answer your specific questions in our videos so that other people with similar questions can benefit from them, too.Until next time, if you’ve got any questions about real estate that you’d like us to address, please don’t hesitate to call us or send us an email. We look forward to producing great content that will be helpful for your real estate journey!

As you know, Valentine’s Day is coming up, so we wanted to help those of you who are still struggling to figure out what to do with a few recommendations. As far as restaurants go, Veladora over at Rancho Valencia, The Market in Del Mar, and Eddie V’s in La Jolla are a couple of our favorites. “To do something out of the box, consider going to a comedy club!” If you’re looking to do something a little more outside of the box, consider going to a comedy club or taking a gondola ride down the shores in Coronado. You could also head to The Lot in La Jolla or Point Loma or Synapolis in Del Mar in La Costa to watch your favorite move with cocktails, a full bar, a restaurant, desserts, and more. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, or if you have any other real estate questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We would be happy to help!

Are you confused about what type of condominium insurance you should purchase?   Are you interested in buying a condo but have no idea how to insure it? Condos are insured differently than homes and there are multiple ways we see them show up. Today Seth Arruda of Alta Vista Insurance Agency and I will look at the top three ways we see condos insured as well as the types of insurance that clients get. There are a number of ways that a homeowners association (HOA) will insure a condo. The most common way is to provide coverage of the exterior of the buildings and the common areas. That leaves the owner of the specific condo to insure the inside of the unit. This is called a unit owner’s policy. Seth tells us that he has also seen situations where the HOA will only provide coverage for their common areas. This means that you will own your roof, your side, your exterior, and your interior, but you are within a smaller subdivision where there are smaller homes on zero lot lines. The final way that an HOA can insure a condominium is by providing coverage for the common area and the structures, leaving everything behind the walls in each unit as the responsibility of the unit owner. This means that items such as plumbing lines, service lines, and electrical lines all need to be insured under your unit owner’s policy. “Try to obtain a copy of your CC&Rs and review the contract with your insurance agent.” Each type of policy is very specific and it is very important to find out what is covered in each situation. If you own or are looking to purchase a condominium, you should try to obtain a copy of your Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&Rs) and review the contract with your insurance agent to ensure your unit is properly protected and that you have the right coverage. Seth is our contact when it comes to finding insurance in San Diego and has helped us for a long time. If you are looking for a great broker to help you navigate your situation, you can call Seth at (760) 724-2124. As always if you are interested in buying or selling, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Let’s take a look at the fall market and what we can expect for the rest of the year. I’m constantly asked if I think we’re in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, but I actually think it’s a neutral market. What does that mean to you? If you’re a buyer, you benefit from interest rates still being super low. We’re seeing buyers get great deals on properties, and the opportunities for these deals will continue as we head into the winter months. “Smart real estate decisions are keeping our market moving forward.” What about sellers? Inventory is still tight in our market, meaning there are not a lot of homes for sale. Sellers are getting multiple offers on properties, and we see a lot of energy around listings. This means that there are definitely buyers out there for homes. With interest rates as low as they are, many buyers are taking action. It’s going to be a wacky election year and a lot of things are going to change, but our local market shouldn’t be affected much. We still have a lot of people who are looking to buy or sell, and smart real estate decisions are moving our market forward. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to work with you.

Seth Arruda of Alta Vista Insurance joins me to talk about insurance options to consider when purchasing a home.   I am joined by Seth Arruda to talk to you about looking for insurance in the middle of a real estate transaction. I have some tips and tricks which should help you win in the San Diego market. So, what things must a consumer know to make an educated choice about insurance coverage? Let’s take a look at the five questions consumers should ask themselves. 1. What is covered?2. How much coverage do you need?3. How do you insure your personal property and belongings?4. How do you insure the items which mean the most?5. What about liability? To start with, what is covered? In California, standard hazard or fire insurance, as everyone likes to call it, insures you for sudden, accidental occurrences and catastrophic perils such as fire, wind, hail, and lightning. How much coverage does a client need on a house? This is where we get into talking about replacement cost value of a home. Insurance companies insure the structures based on their reconstruction costs, so they are not concerned with the market value of a home. “In California, standard hazard insurance insures you for sudden, accidental occurrences and catastrophic perils such as fire, wind, hail, and lightning.” What about insuring personal belongings? You need to make sure that you carry replacement cost value for all the contents in your home. With this insurance, if any of your personal items are destroyed due to a covered peril, you will get the full replacement for those items such as furniture, electronics, clothing, etc. How do I cover my expensive jewelry, diamonds, gold, collectibles, and antiques? The insurance companies call those items “scheduled personal property,” and you want to make sure that they are itemized on your insurance policy. You will usually need an appraisal or receipt showing the value of the items. Finally, what do we cover with liability? Liability is attached to your home insurance and will give you liability protection for your residence premises and personal injury matters. You want to have proper liability for things such as libel or slander. As you can see, there is a lot that goes into insurance, which is why you should have a good insurance broker that can shop several different options. You can contact Seth at (760) 724-2124 if you would like to speak to him about a new policy or modifying your existing policy. If you are interested in buying or selling, please feel free to reach out to me by phone or email. I look forward to speaking with you soon. Seth ArrudaAlta Vista Insurance(760) 724-2124altavistainsurance.com

What’s going on in the lending world right now in San Diego? There are three main topics I’d like to go over, today.   I’m joined today by special guest Todd Pianin of RPM Mortgage to talk about a few hot topics relating to mortgage lending and real estate in 2018. We’re focusing on three subjects, specifically. Tax reform. Right now, tax reform is a huge topic in San Diego. With property tax deductions capped at $10,000 and mortgage interest deductions capped at $750,000, many people are concerned. As a result, Todd tells me that he’s been receiving a lot of calls about refinancing. Still, Todd doesn’t believe tax reform will slow down the market. He says people still need to buy homes, so they shouldn’t let these changes prevent them from doing so. Paying points. Todd says people need to start talking about paying points, since points are still tax deductible. If you’re paying points, you can actually buy down your interest rate to eventually earn a better one. You can also deduct points on a refinance, as well, if you deduct over the lifetime of the loan. A lot of mortgage lenders are scared to sell points because they aren’t used to doing so, but Todd has been doing this for the last 20 years. Niche programs. According to Todd, 2018 will be the “year of the niche.” There are already a number of diverse programs available in today’s market. Whatever a buyer’s circumstances may be, there is likely a program out there to suit their needs. “People still need to buy homes, so they shouldn’t let tax reform prevent them from doing so.” If you are looking for more mortgage information and want to get in touch with Todd, you can give him a call at (858) 775-8958 or email him at tpianin@rpm-mtg.com. Todd Pianin, Regional Manager NMLS# 304014LendUS, LLC dba RPM Mortgage NMLS #1938 - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the CA Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Equal Housing Opportunity. And as always, if you have any other questions for me 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.

Here’s my recent conversation with Tawnie Vargas of Oakwood Escrow on the nature of changes to our respective industries. If you’re a potential buyer or seller or are in the middle of a real estate transaction right now, uncertainty lingers. The good news, however, is that the real estate business, with all of its associated industries, is still moving along. Tawnie Vargas of Oakwood Escrow joined me to discuss the need for patience—there will be delays—and the importance of understanding that this situation is nowhere near the 2008 crisis. 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: 1:10 - Are escrow companies even up and running? What does the business look like now?2:19 - How is Oakwood keeping clients safe and still getting the job done?4:08 - How buyers and sellers can prepare for virtual escrows and other changes4:58 - We’re not in a recession; this is not like 20086:36 - The need for collective patience7:35 - The importance of open communication in these times8:58 - Wrapping things up Give Tawnie a call at (951) 704-6116, send her an email at tvargas@oakwoodescrow.com, or visit Oakwood Escrow's website if you have any escrow-related questions. If you have any questions about the real estate market, or if you’re interested in buying or selling a home soon but aren’t sure how to proceed in these times, reach out to us. We’re always here to help and look forward to hearing from you.

I’m sharing three ways you can be a contingent homebuyer. Are you considering purchasing a home this year but have one to sell first? You’re in luck—today I’m discussing how to be a contingent buyer. Being a contingent buyer means that an offer on a new house has been made and the seller has accepted it, but that the final sale is contingent upon certain criteria that have to be met. Here are the top three ways to become a contingent buyer: 1. Prep the home for sale. Have everything prepared in your home while you’re looking for your next one. Typically we sit down and come up with an action plan of exactly how we help you move, we help prep your house, take photos, etc. This way we can tell the seller of your next property that you’re ready to move. The day after your offer is accepted on a new home, your current house goes up for sale, so the two processes move simultaneously. This is the most common way to be a contingent buyer, and it’s also the most seamless. 2. Sell your home and rent it back. You can sell your property without being a contingent seller, then rent it back for a short time. Generally, we see people renting their homes back for 30 to 60 days. This way you aren’t waiting for your house to sell before you buy the new home, because you’ve already sold it. This commonly works for people who don’t need to move into a new home right away. If the house you want exists in the market, it’s easy to use this strategy. “Not every option is right for everyone.” 3. Store your things after you sell. This is a short-term situation where you would sell your property, move out, (and people like that you’re able to do this quickly), your items will be put into storage, we would find a short-term rental for you, and then you buy and move into your next home. This allows you to make non-contingent house purchases. You’ll win by getting a better deal. Not every option is right for everyone. Every person and situation is different. We would build a custom plan explaining how the strategy would work for you, then we’d work from that plan. This is the ideal way to be successful as a contingent buyer. If we can help you sell your home and buy another this year, we would love for you to reach out to us by phone or email. We look forward to assisting you.

I’m sharing the four main things you should consider when thinking about moving into an HOA neighborhood. Are you looking to buy a home or condo in a community with a homeowner’s association? When we’re showing houses, we’re frequently asked about the pros and cons of living in an HOA community. Today we’ll go over the four main things to look into when you’re considering a home in an HOA neighborhood. 1. Rules and regulations. This is the most essential point in this list. These can be anything from what kind of pets you can own, the rental restrictions, what colors you can paint your house, and so on. This is the first thing to consider when buying in an HOA community. 2. Financial security. This one is commonly overlooked. Even though you may love a community, take a look at the HOA’s financial stability to make sure that if an unanticipated issue that the HOA is responsible for arises, they have the capability to handle it. Otherwise, you’ll be paying for it. “Take a look at the HOA’s financial stability.” 3. What’s included. There are all types of complexes out there, and they all have a unique set of rules. Things like water, sewage, and trash could be included in the HOA, but sometimes they aren’t. Do they take care of the front yard, roof, and common area maintenance? 4. Fees. Is this a community in which the fees continually go up year after year? Do they have large expenses coming up that you may have to help pay? HOA documents give you all the information discussed in previous meetings and what will come up in the next ones. These are the top four things to look into if you’re considering moving into an HOA neighborhood or community. If we can be of help to you in navigating the world of HOAs, or if you have any other questions, please give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help you.

I’m sharing four mistakes home sellers often make when selling their homes. Don’t do these four things! Today we’re discussing the four massive mistakes we see home sellers make when it comes time to sell their home: 1. Assuming you will get top dollar. If you assume you will receive top dollar for your home because your neighbor did, this isn’t necessarily the case. Every home is unique; whether it’s the finishes, the lot, the view, or the condition of the home, they all make a substantial difference in the value. Also, every home requires distinct marketing and a slightly different technique to sell it. The key to receiving top dollar for your home is knowing who your buyer is and knowing where to price it. 2. Assuming the price is everything. Price is important, but it isn’t everything. Homes commonly sell for top dollar in the first two to four weeks. If not, they’re perhaps slightly overpriced. The price of the home needs to be just right. The margins in home pricing these days are razor thin. If a home is slightly overpriced, it can be on the market four or five months later. “Price is important, but it isn’t everything.” 3. Not using professional photography. Professional photography in 2019 is essential. Not using professional photography is the first way to ensure your home fails to sell. Today people scroll Instagram and Facebook and buy items because the photography caught their eye. When people are scrolling their phones or tablets, we want your home to attract their attention. 4. Not addressing simple repairs or curb appeal. Many times we walk into a home that is simply not ready to be sold. Prepping for sale could be as straightforward as a deep cleaning or fresh wood chips and flowers in the yard. Often we notice an old door handle is the first impression because it’s the first thing buyers see when they walk up to the house. Frequently, investing between $500 and $1,000 can make a massive difference when it comes time to sell. We also see this with repairs: A few hundred dollars can make a huge difference. Look at the big picture. No one wants to spend more money than necessary. If you would like a consultation on your home for how to get it sold for top dollar, we’d love to sit down and earn the opportunity. If you have any questions please contact us by phone or email. We look forward to speaking with you.

Thank you for letting us help you achieve your real estate goals. For today’s video, I want to thank you for continuing to support my team and me year after year as we grow in our real estate journey. For subscribing to our video blog and referring wonderful clients to us, we’re expressing our gratitude to you. I know there are a ton of options out there to help you reach your real estate goals, so it means a lot that you trust us to do this. This year has been extraordinary for us, and we’re excited for 2020, but as we wind down for the holidays, we’re thankful for our friends, family, and the opportunities we’ve been given. On that note, I’ve invited a few team members to join me today to share what they’re grateful for. Remember, we’re always ready to help you no matter what your real estate goals are, so don’t hesitate to call or email us anytime. Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I’m sharing all the newest information about our San Diego real estate markets.   As you may have heard recently, the market is broadly seeing a modest increase from last year to this year. We’re noticing open houses are exceedingly busy. In fact, we welcomed over 200 people at our last open house! We’re seeing a lot of energy return to the market, and I foresee this will continue through the winter months as long as interest rates stay where they are. 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: 0:20 - Why we’re seeing an increase in the market 1:35 - Why homeowners are investing more money into their homes 2:40 - Why many need to sell their home before they buy another 4:05 - Investing properly 5:35 - Wrapping up If you have any questions about real estate, pick up the phone and call me at (858) 345-9995 or send me an email. I would be happy to help you.

In 2019, a late-year sale is actually a great idea, and today I’ll explain why.   If you’ve been thinking of selling your home this year but fear it may be too late, think again. The home-selling season is far from over. In fact, selling later in the year in 2019 may actually work to your advantage. Typically in San Diego, the peak of the market is usually around mid-to-late June—but because of the (comparatively) high interest rates we saw at the end of 2018 and the excess inventory that marked the beginning of 2019, many people decided to hold off on making a move. This lack of activity was likely also due to pre-election jitters, as studies show that the real estate market tends to slow when a presidential election is on the horizon. However, now that interest rates are at all-time lows, buyer demand has really ramped up. Many sellers have also taken this opportunity to relist properties that failed to sell earlier in the year. We haven’t seen this kind of late-year resurgence for some time. “The bottom line is that anyone thinking of selling should think about entering the market soon.” The bottom line is that anyone thinking of selling should think about entering the market soon. Current conditions will likely help you to sell quickly and for top dollar, but they won’t last forever. If you have any other questions, would like more information, or want to have a conversation with our team about your real estate goals, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’ve been wondering whether now is the time to buy, today’s message is for you.   If you’re thinking of buying a home this year but aren’t sure whether the timing is right, this message will help you decide whether moving forward with a home search is right for you. For one thing, the question of whether 2019 is a good year to buy a home doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on your personal circumstances. Therefore, understanding what’s happening in our market right now will definitely allow you to make an educated choice. First, there aren’t enough homes on our market today to satisfy the high buyer demand our sub-4% interest rates has generated. “Rates are low, homes are affordable, and there are plenty of great properties available if you know where to look.” And as a result of this high demand, buyers have split into two general demographics: those looking for move-in ready properties and those willing to take a chance on fixer-uppers. What many buyers in the first category might not realize is that not all of these fixer-uppers are as shabby as they think. In fact, some have great potential that could easily be drawn out with just a few cosmetic upgrades. But don’t let this scare you. Although buyers have come out in droves, prices haven’t shot up the way you might expect. Rather, they’ve remained fairly flat. This gives buyers a little bit of extra leverage and sellers a higher incentive to be open to negotiation. The bottom line is that now is the time to take advantage. Rates are low, homes are affordable, and there are plenty of great properties available if you know where to look. 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.

What does it take to succeed in today’s San Diego area market? Find out with this quick message.   A lot of people are wondering what’s happening right now in our San Diego area market and how they can make the most of these current conditions, so today, we’ll get to the bottom of things with a quick update. For one thing, inventory is climbing each month, as is the average number of days homes are spending on the market. For detached homes, the average days homes spend on the market has risen 17% year over year. The average number of days it takes condos to sell, meanwhile, has gone up 30% over that same period. Part of the reason for this slowdown is that many of the new listings being put up for sale aren’t exactly up to par. There are a lot of less-than-desirable properties being listed these days, and buyers just aren’t interested in pursuing those kinds of homes. Therefore, pre-listing preparations (like cleaning, decluttering, and staging) are imperative to sellers’ success. “The most important step you can take to secure your success as a seller is to hire an experienced agent.” Instead of investing in minor upgrades, like replacing carpet, too many sellers are opting to dramatically reduce their sales price if they do happen to find an interested buyer. If these sellers simply made the necessary upgrades before listing, they wouldn’t have to reduce their price at all. It’s important to focus on your bottom line above all else when it comes time to prepare your home for the market. On that note, proper pricing is also key to succeeding in our current market. Homes priced at, or even slightly below, fair market value tend to attract the most buyers. However, the absolute most important step you can take to secure your success as a seller is to hire an experienced agent. Even in today’s digital age, where seemingly endless information is at our fingertips, having a professional to guide you through the real estate process is still essential. If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are curious how the Sean Zanganeh Real Estate Team can help you meet your goals, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’re a homebuyer, there are several closing costs you need to be prepared for in addition to your down payment.   When it comes time to close on your next property, there are five closing costs you need to be prepared for: 1. Escrow fees. Being in escrow means you’re in an arrangement where a neutral third party helps exchange documents and money so that own the home free and clear once the transaction is complete. This is typically one of the larger closing costs you’ll have to cover. 2. Title fees. If you’re getting a loan or transferring properties, the seller pays the majority of these, and you only have to pay a small amount to ensure that the title is exchanged without issue. 3. Lender fees. Various lender fees are built into all mortgage loans—some of which are included in the financing, while others are paid up front. In any case, make sure you go over these fees with your lender. “Various lender fees are built into all mortgage loans.” 4. Prepaid fees. These can include taxes, insurance costs, and interest payments. 5. The supplemental tax bill. This might not come up at the closing table, but you may get a bill in the mail three months later stating that you owe supplemental tax. What does this mean? Basically, if you buy a home at a certain price but it sold previously for a lesser amount, you have to pay whatever the difference is in terms of property tax. If you need help buying your next home or you have any other real estate needs I can help you with, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to speak with you.

Are you looking to slay the mortgage monster by paying your mortgage down faster so you can own your home free and clear? Well, you’re in luck!   How can you pay down your mortgage faster so that you can own your home debt-free? Today I’ll share two great ideas you should look into when it comes time to purchase your next home or refinance your current one: 1. Make one extra payment every year. Did you know that by making one extra payment on your 30-year mortgage every single year, you could actually pay off your mortgage seven years faster? If you do this, you’ll also end up paying a lot less in interest over that time. “Did you know that on a $500,000 house, you could save almost $160,000 on interest payments by switching from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage?” 2. Make sure you know the difference between a 30-year mortgage and a 15-year mortgage. Many will typically go for a 30-year mortgage because they think they’ll be in the house long-term, but did you know that on a $500,000 house, you could save almost $160,000 on interest payments by switching from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage? Now, if you do this, the monthly payments will be a little bit higher, but at the end of the day, you could save hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be money going right back into your pocket. If we can help connect you to one of our trusted lenders to help you slay the mortgage monster or if you have any questions, you should absolutely feel free to reach out to my team. We’d love to help you out. We hope to hear from you soon!

To make your home sell quickly and for top dollar once it hits the market, you need to focus on preparation, price, and the pro you use.   What’s the key to winning when it comes time to sell? In other words, how can you sell for the most money in the shortest amount of time? It all boils down to three factors: preparation, price, and the pro who helps you win.   1. Preparation. Oftentimes, we’ll see beautiful homes on the market that, regardless, fail to really capture buyers’ interest because their sellers didn’t spend any money on them. What can you do to prepare your home so this doesn’t happen to you?  First, make sure it gives a great first impression. Curb appeal goes a long way in this regard, and that appeal has to stretch from the curb all the way to the front door, so freshen up your front yard’s landscaping and make your front door look like something someone wants to come home to.  On the inside, consider adding a fresh coat of paint—it’s a very minimal expense that can yield thousands of dollars on your return, and you don’t necessarily have to paint the entire interior. Also, make sure your faucets and sinks are clean, and if they need to be replaced, replace them. Low-cost items like these can also yield a large return when it comes time to sell.  Next, look at your electrical fixtures. Installing just a few ceiling-mounted lights can dramatically change the look and feel of your home. “Having a professional real estate agent help you navigate the steps of the home selling process is incredibly important.” 2. Price. Nowadays, this matters more than anything in terms of getting your home sold. The only homes that are getting multiple offers these days are those that are brand new, extremely renovated, or heavily discounted because there’s something wrong with them. Therefore, if you list your home at a higher price than what it’s really worth, it will likely sell for less than its actual market value.  If you list it at market value, on the other hand, you’ll have a much better chance at selling over list price and in a shorter amount of time.  3. The pro you use. There’s so much competition in the market right now, and having a professional real estate agent help you navigate the steps of the home selling process is incredibly important. Make sure you ask your agent the tough questions and inquire what their plan is to get your home sold. They should have a sensible plan with the proper marketing that will draw dramatic attention to your listing.  If you have any questions about this topic or you have any other real estate needs I can take care of, don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d love to help you.

There are three main trends to take note of if you plan on buying or selling soon in our San Diego market, and I’d like to share these trends with you today.   Today more than ever, people approach me to ask about the state of our San Diego market. To answer this common question, I’d like to share three trends I’ve noticed this spring:  1. Interest rates have dropped. Now that interest rates have dipped down to the mid-4% range, buyers once again have the opportunity to enjoy historically low rates. This is exciting for sellers, too, as this boost in affordability has also fostered increased demand.  2. Inventory is up. There are almost 20% more homes listed on the market than we had at this time in 2018. This gives buyers a greater level of choice, meaning you don’t have to settle for a mediocre (yet overpriced) home. Sellers, meanwhile, must understand that appropriate pricing will be key in light of this trend.  3. Appreciation is slowing down. We’ve seen high single- and double-digit appreciation rates for some time now, but it’s starting to look as though 2019 will see prices rise much less dramatically. What does this mean for you? If you’re a buyer, it means that there will be more opportunities for leverage in the market. For sellers, it means that the days of receiving a dozen or more offers on a listing may soon be over. It doesn’t mean, though, that you don’t still have the chance to earn top dollar. With the right marketing and the right agent by your side, you can still get a great deal. “The bottom line is that buyers and sellers alike have a window of opportunity before them right now, but one that won’t last forever.” The bottom line is that buyers and sellers alike have a window of opportunity before them right now, but one that won’t last forever.  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.

Staging a home is important, and here’s how to do it.   We’re here today at the BlueGrape Staging warehouse facility, where they have all kinds of amazing things that are used to help homes come to life. We’re joined by owner and design expert Pramiti Bhargava, who will help us understand why home staging is so important for making a top-dollar sale. Every home needs to be presented correctly, whether it’s occupied or vacant. Every buyer who walks in wants to have a connection with the house before they make an offer—they want to see themselves living there. You need to depersonalize your home to give a blank slate to potential buyers. For example, pictures of your family can distract buyers from viewing the actual features of a home. Sometimes, homes don’t have the correct furniture setup. There are two important things to consider: layout and scale. A buyer needs to walk into a certain flow of traffic, but furniture can detract from this. A huge sectional can make a room seem half its size, but buyers want a home that seems big and open. Also, out-of-date furniture can make your home seem, well, out of date. You’re selling to today’s buyers—not buyers in the 1960s. “Every buyer who walks in wants to have a connection with the house before they make an offer.” Updating your decor and being on-trend helps your home fetch the best price. When people see lighter, neutral furniture, they can better appreciate the character and strength of the house. After all, they aren’t buying the furniture; they’re buying the house. Creating a consistent design from room to room is a good way to wow buyers. As we’re seeing more inventory in our market, it’s more important than ever to make sure your home is properly staged. These tips will help you stand out from the crowd and ensure you sell your home for top dollar. To get a staging consultation, reach out to Pramiti through her website at BlueGrapeStaging.com or call (858) 652-3007. If you have any other questions or need more information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Pramiti BhargavaBlueGrape Staging7485 Trade St. BSan Diego, CA 92121(858) 652-3007pramiti@bluegrape.usbluegrapestaging.com

Which four color palettes are about to dominate design trends in the new year? Find out in today’s message.   Design expert Pramiti Bhargava of BlueGrape Staging has joined us again today to discuss what color trends we can expect in the new year. There are four main palettes Pramiti predicts will take the place of the greys and whites that dominated designs in 2018. First off, earthy tones are about to have a major moment, with warm colors like terra cotta likely to appear more frequently as design accents in the coming months. Metallics, too, are going to be big and will likely often be paired with black. This trend will most likely appear in kitchens and bathrooms, where bronze, gold, and chrome hardware is becoming more common once more. The third upcoming trend Pramiti mentioned is one of her personal favorites: the increasing use of the color green. From mint to emerald, every shade of this color is being more frequently incorporated into home design as of late. “It will be interesting to see how these trends emerge throughout 2019.” Last, but not least, Pramiti and I touched on one of my own go-to colors: navy blue. Though this particular shade is not new to popular design, it has shown to be a long-standing classic. “It is almost like a neutral,” says Pramiti, citing the color’s calming effect. Ultimately, there are a lot of exciting trends on the horizon. It will be interesting to see how these trends emerge throughout 2019. To learn more about these trends, or about home design in general, visit bluegrapestaging.com. And, as always, 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. Pramiti BhargavaBlueGrape Staging7485 Trade St. BSan Diego, CA 92121(858) 652-3007pramiti@bluegrape.usbluegrapestaging.com

Are you looking for the hottest design trends and homes going into 2019? Well, you’re in luck—today, Pramiti Bhargava from Bluegrape Staging is here to provide you with the latest details you need to know.   Today we are honored and fortunate to have one of our wonderful staging and design partners with us: Pramiti Bhargava, owner and co-founder of Bluegrape Staging, a company that focuses on the business of real estate staging. Pramiti is here to tell us about the hottest design trends to expect for 2019: 1. Bolder options in tile and kitchen designs. So far, monochromatic tiles in colors like white have been popular, but Pramiti believes that in 2019, we’ll see bolder choices in terms of graphics. In regards to kitchen styles, we have also been accustomed to monochromatic choices, like all-white and all-gray palettes. 2019 will show us more two-toned drama, such as with lighter countertops and darker cabinetry. 2. Organic and recycled materials. Pramiti has noticed that jute, a type of recyclable material like cotton, is being used not just in terms of furniture and accessories, but also in wallpaper, rugs, and other home elements. Glass is another material to watch out for; she’s even seen people using recycled glass for countertops. The innovated and reinvented use of sustainable materials will be very en vogue in the coming year. 3. Gold and metallic finishes for handles, knobs, and faucets. These have been popular this year, and will remain so, with a few additions. As well as metallic gold finishes, we’ll see copper, brass, and bronze. We’ll see gold and matte gold accents, as well. This will carry over into wallpaper, accents, accessories, artwork, and more. “The innovated and reinvented use of sustainable materials will be very en vogue in the coming year.” 4. Wallpaper will make a comeback. This might scare some people who imagine wallpaper going up all through the house, but that’s not how it’s going to be; we’ll see wallpaper on accent walls in hallways, bathrooms, and so on. 5. Globally inspired patterns and colors will be huge. Patterns derived from international cultures, such as those globally inspired from Morocco and Turkey, will likely surge in popularity come 2019. There is so much color and vibrance to take advantage of; colors like navy, bronze, mustard, and terra cotta will probably make their way to accent walls, wallpaper, and other decorative elements. If you’re looking to make a change or adjust the aesthetic of your own home based on the hottest trends in the market, contact Pramiti Bhargava at (858) 652-3007, email pramiti@bluegrape.us, or visit their website. They work with both home sellers in the market and with new construction homes, striving to bring homes to life, so that when buyers walk into a home, they’ll form an emotional connection with the property. For any other questions about real estate, feel free to reach out to the Sean Zanganeh Real Estate Team. We’d be glad to help.

There are three primary kinds of issues covered in the home inspection process. Let’s review what they are.   Home inspections are an essential step in the real estate process. Assuming no major issues are uncovered, they can provide buyers with peace of mind before closing. But buyers who are about to go through this process are often curious about what to expect. In general terms, there are three primary kinds of issues home inspections are meant to identify, and we’ll be reviewing each of them today. 1. Safety. Some of the most important issues an inspection may uncover are those that could pose a real danger to people occupying the home. Problems with the home’s electrical or plumbing systems and broken door locks are just two examples of such issues. Anything that renders a property unsafe must be identified and resolved. 2. Structural. All of the structural components of a home, such as its foundation and roof, should be in good, sound condition. 3. Mechanical. Air conditioning units, water heaters, and other mechanical components of the home should be in good working order before you move in. Preemptively assessing these units during an inspection will help save you from needing to fix them after closing. “Anything that renders a property unsafe must be identified and resolved.” 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 want to explain how you can buy a home in your 20s to help you build wealth in your 30s.   So you’re in your 20s and you want to buy your first home. Contrary to what some believe, millennials are completely capable of purchasing homes by following a few key steps. So if you’re a 20-something looking to buy a home before you turn 30, simply follow these tips. The first thing you need to do is understand your finances. What are you making now and what do you think you’ll make in the next 24 months? Look at those numbers to find out when the right time is for you to buy. Many people think that you need to save a lot of money to buy a house, but this isn’t entirely true. There are plenty of options to buy homes for as little as 5%, 3%, 1% or even 0% down, and we would love to help you understand those options. The next thing to do is meet with a lender. Too many people have no idea that they qualify for a home and have been paying rent because they don’t know any better. Actually sitting down at a meeting with a lender to discuss your options is a huge benefit because then you know exactly what you qualify for. If you don’t like the amount, you can also set up a goal with the lender to achieve so you can buy something later. Have a great real estate agent. Many 20-somethings looking to buy are going to be buying in price points that are heavily impacted in today’s market. If you think it’s a good deal, chances are other people do as well. To counter that, you have to work with an agent who understands how to quickly analyze a deal to see if it’s worth taking the next step or if it’s a big waste of time. “You have to work with an agent who understands how to quickly analyze a deal to see if it’s worth taking the next step or if it’s a big waste of time.” With these tips in mind, we also want to give you a few ideas on how to think about owning a home in your 20s: Think of it as an investment property. It’s perfectly fine to own a home for yourself, but a lot of people also look at it from an investment perspective where you buy a property to help you accumulate wealth in your 20s for a family home later. Basically, you want to find a property to rent out where the rent can provide you with income in the near and long-term future. Try house hacking. This means that you’re buying a property with multiple units where you live in one and then rent out the others, which can help subsidize housing costs. Some young people are even able to profit by purchasing a multiple unit home. Live with family or friends. As long as you have a written agreement with an exit clause that makes sense for both of you, you can partner with family and friends. I’ve even seen people ask for money to buy a property to start their real estate portfolio and by their mid-30s, they have built a lot of wealth. If you have any questions about buying in your 20s, please feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to speak with you about building your wealth for your future.

Pricing your home properly is one of the keys to getting it sold quickly and for top dollar. Here are a few reasons why. If you’re thinking of listing your home in the near future but aren’t quite sure how to price it in this changing market, we’ve got some great tips to share with you.  At the beginning of this year, we had roughly 4,000 homes on the market. At the peak of the summer market, we had somewhere between 7,500 and 7,800 homes. This is a large increase in inventory, which makes pricing your home that much more important. To know if this increase of inventory makes a difference for you in your community, we have to look at comparable sales. When you are competing against multiple homes, you have to price it right in order to sell quickly and for top dollar. “The quality of the agent you choose and the quality of their marketing is essential to your success.” If there are a lot of homes for sale in the area, can you be the most expensive home on the market? Maybe, maybe not. We like our clients to take a close look at the other homes for sale in their market so they can really compare the features and benefits of those homes to their own. Looking at the most recently sold homes in the area and their prices will assist you in finding a price that makes sense. Finally, marketing is of the utmost importance. The quality of the agent you choose and the quality of their marketing plan will make the difference between you selling in a few weeks vs. selling in a few months. We focus on the marketing that helps you win in the shortest amount of time, while also pricing the home at a level that is attractive to you as a home seller. If you have any more questions about pricing your home or about anything else related to real estate, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Have you heard about Propositions 60 and 90? If you’re 55 or older, you need to know about how they can help you save on your taxes.   Are you 55 or older and want to keep your tax bases? If so, we’ve got some great information for you today. Our lovely guests, Shawn and Alix from Fidelity Title, are joining us to talk about Propositions 60 and 90 and why they’re important to you. Propositions 60 and 90 are constitutional amendments in California that allow tax relief for a homeowner who is 55 years of age or older. This allows them to transfer that tax base to another property. There are some requirements you need to meet in order to qualify for these. Here are the most important: Either you or your spouse has to be 55 or older. The home has to be your principal residence. When you’re making the transfer, it has to be to a property that is of equal or lower market value. You must find the replacement property within two years of selling your current home. “There could be some interesting changes coming to this amendment.” There are some potential upgrades coming to Propositions 60 and 90 as well. They aren’t on the ballot in California yet, but signatures are being collected right now. If these amendments pass, they open up the benefits to all of San Diego County and will allow homeowners to use them more than once. Currently, you can only transfer the tax base once. Another big change could allow you to transfer your tax base to a home that’s worth more instead of being at equal or lesser value. If something like this happens in the near future, that would open up the market to a ton of buyers in the area. If you want more information about how you can qualify for Propositions 60 and 90, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would love to hear from you and talk to you more about how you can benefit from the San Diego real estate market right now.

Can you convert a covered patio into additional living space? Today we’ll be discussing this topic with a local expert.   Do you have a patio or outdoor area that you want to convert into an additional living space? If so, we’ve got a few tips and tricks for how you can do so. Joining us to help cover this topic is Ian Scattergood of Permit Pro Consultants. So how can someone go about adding additional space to their home with an enclosed patio? According to Ian, the first thing to consider is whether the space meets the floor area ratio (or FAR) and the lot coverage. Once this is confirmed, plans can be drawn, the permit can be issued, and the homeowner can proceed with converting the space into additional square footage or a second rentable unit. It’s important to realize, though, that the process varies when it comes to older structures. What then must be done to ensure older structures can qualify as additional living space? “Qualifying older structures as additional living space mostly comes down to meeting specific city or county zone ordinances.” Ian says it mostly comes down to meeting specific city or county zone ordinances. If everything checks out under those ordinances, then the same process as before can be carried out to qualify the space. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to call Ian at (619) 579-0088 or email him at ian@permitprosd.com. And, as always, if you have any questions about real estate, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Ian ScattergoodPermit Pro Consultants(619) 579-0088ian@permitprosd.com

The issue of ownership is very important when it comes time to list a home. Today we will discuss a few key scenarios about listing after ownership-related complications arise.   Are you considering selling your home but don’t really know who owns the house? Well today I am joined by Shawn Harris and Alix Kammeyer from Fidelity National Title to discuss this important real estate quandary. I often meet with a seller only to find that they are not the person listed on the title. If this situation arises, the first important thing to know is how a property is vested. Imagine the following scenario: A husband and wife named Robert and Susan are on the title as joint tenants on a property. Now Susan has passed away and Robert is attempting to list the property, but he has not done anything to indicate his wife’s passing on the title. In this situation, Robert can still proceed with listing, but he will need to provide a valid copy of Susan’s death certificate and sign an affidavit of death of joint tenants. But what about when a family owns a home in a trust? How does this impact a person’s ability to list? To explain this, let’s return to the scenario we mentioned earlier. In this version of our example, Robert and Susan are still a married couple, Susan has passed away, and their property is owned in a trust. Before Robert can list, the title company will need to see the trust and verify that Susan was one of the trustees and that Robert is the only other trustee. “A lot goes into listing a home, especially if ownership issues are at play.” From there, the process will proceed in the same way as we previously described. Robert will still need to provide the two documents mentioned earlier, but, other than that, he would be able to proceed with listing. Finally, how can ownership of a property be impacted as a result of a divorce? In the state of California, 50% of marriages do not work out. So, this question is sure to be on the minds of many as they prepare to list. There are a couple of ways this scenario can unfold. Let’s use our imaginary couple, Robert and Susan, to explain once more. This time, imagine that Robert and Susan have been divorced for five or six years. Susan has quitclaimed her interest off because Robert was awarded the property, and she is now living in Europe. If Robert has not refinanced the home or had title insurance issued, he will need to acquire an affidavit of uninsured deed. This can be very difficult to obtain, so the first step before this comes into play is to look at the marriage settlement agreement and verify that Robert was truly awarded the property. Once this is verified, another important point to check is that Susan didn’t sign the quitclaim under duress. As is apparent, a lot goes into listing a home, especially if ownership issues are at play. It is critical to get in touch with a title company before proceeding with your sale to make sure everything goes smoothly. If you are looking for more information and want to get in touch with Shawn or Alix, you can contact them with the following information: Shawn Harrisshawn@mytitleandescrow.com(760) 271-8584 Alix Kammeyeralix@mytitleandescrow.com(619) 933-9621 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.

Are you thinking about building an ADU or granny flat on your property? Today I have Ian Scattergood with me to talk about the guidelines for San Diego.   Are you looking to build a granny flat or accessory unit on your property? Today we have Ian Scattergood, a permit pro, with us to discuss how to get a granny flat or accessory dwelling unit built (ADU) on your property in San Diego. This has become a very popular topic in San Diego for many reasons. Some people want to rent out space for income on Airbnb or VRBO, while others simply want their guests to have a place to stay during their visits. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a second rentable unit on a single-family developed lot. There are some basic rules in San Diego for those people who want to build an ADU. The state requires a minimum size of 150 square feet and a maximum of 1,200 square feet. It must also have bathing facilities and cooking facilities, which can be a ¾ bath and a kitchenette. Each jurisdiction can have either more restrictive or less restrictive guidelines than the state. “Each jurisdiction can have either more restrictive or less restrictive guidelines than what the state has.” To get started, you can call Ian’s office and provide the address at which you are considering building the ADU. He will Google the location to decide if it is a prime candidate to move forward and then contact you about what he thinks. Based on your jurisdiction, he can provide the guidelines and can help you decide if you want to consider building. Some people in San Diego may want to convert a current space, such as another garage or craft room, into a livable space. You can take an old garage, shed, or legally permitted granny flat and convert it into a unit as long as it abides by new fire & life safety codes. A new law provides relaxed setbacks and off-street parking guidelines. You can contact Ian for more information about if your property qualifies at (619) 579-0088. If you want to know more about the real estate market here in San Diego, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to speaking with you soon. Ian ScattergoodPermit Pro Consultants(619) 579-0088ian@permitprosd.com

Looking over the title report as a buyer is an important step in real estate process. Today I’ve brought on two experts to explain why this is.   So, you’ve made an offer on a home, gotten accepted, and received a copy of the title report. Now what? Today I’m joined by Shawn and Alex from Fidelity Title to talk about a common question: What do you do with a title report once you’re in escrow? For buyers, looking at the preliminary title report will be very important. This title report will alert you to things such as easements and CC&Rs. First of all, many of you may be wondering: “What’s a CC&R, and why should I care?” This is a great question. CC&R stands for covenants, codes, and restrictions. Basically, CC&Rs are standards that govern what you can and cannot do to a property. If you wanted to paint your home pink, for example, you would look to your home’s CC&Rs to see if doing so would be allowed. CC&Rs for condos might even dictate the size, weight, and number of pets you can have. These standards sound similar to what you might find with an HOA, but many homes outside of any HOA still come with CC&Rs. “For buyers, looking at the preliminary title report will be very important.” Special programs are another thing that can appear on title reports. Homes with solar panels present one common example of when these programs come into play. Solar panels can be leased or purchased. Leased solar panels may fall within the Purchase Power Program or the Hero Program. With the Hero Program, the tax bill will show the amount owed on a yearly basis. When you examine this tax bill as a buyer, you want to ensure that this is listed as a line item on the exception. However, if you don’t see it on the tax bill, it doesn’t mean the program doesn’t exist. It all depends on when the seller got the program. When you do business with my team and I, Shawn and Alex go through every single title report to make sure there’s nothing wrong. We’re truly lucky to have their help. If you are looking for more information and want to get in touch with Shawn or Alix, you can contact them with the following information: Shawn Harrisshawn@mytitleandescrow.com(760) 271-8584 Alix Kammeyeralix@mytitleandescrow.com(619) 933-9621 And as always, if you have any other questions for me 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 we are joined by special guest Molly O’Dell of Oakwood Escrow, and we were so excited to have her join us. We talked about security, escrow, and what has changed in the last year. Email hacking is happening in every other industry and around the world, so why wouldn’t it happen in real estate? There is so much money going back and forth and these hackers are getting smart. They are watching the MLS, keeping an eye on pending transactions, then they hack the system and try to steal the buyer’s money via bogus wiring instructions. We’ve heard many horror stories about this kind of thing happening lately. If your escrow company isn’t savvy enough with their digital security, you could lose your money so easily as a buyer. Encrypted emails may be an extra step and a tad annoying, but it is really worth it. We have to encrypt our emails to make sure that our clients are safe. “We’ve seen too many buyers get scammed.” One other thing that Molly thinks is important is to stop emailing wiring instructions. It’s commonly known that this is how hackers have stolen a lot of money in the past few years. At Oakwood Escrow, Molly and her team do not send wiring instructions via email. They can send them over the phone, via fax, or text message. It’s a lot safer than doing it over email. If you have any questions about the escrow process in the meantime, you can give Molly a call at (619) 889-5639 or send an email to modell@oakwoodescrow.com. If you have any other real estate related questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you soon.