House 2 Home Success Stories Part 2

Earlier this year, we took you inside 3 real properties belonging to 3 real sellers who achieved spectacular results through our House 2 Home program.

This month, we’ll take you inside a few more of the homes that have benefited from our House 2 Home Program!

We have discovered that the best way to sell a San Diego house quickly and for the best price is to turn it into a home.

We have aligned ourselves with the best in the business to do whatever it takes to prepare a house for sale and turn it into a buyer’s dream home. Whether it’s painting, replacing carpet or flooring, landscaping,cosmetic repairs, or staging, we know what to do to prepare your home to shine.

The House 2 Home Program was created as a way to showcase these seller services. Whether you’re currently still living in a home or are selling a vacant property, we will be happy to discuss our plan to prepare your home for the San Diego Market.

Real sellers, real homes, real measurable results. These are their stories:

Calle Mejillones

Days on Market BEFORE House 2 Home: 113

Days on Market AFTER House 2 Home: 14

What We Did: We helped the sellers move their old furniture out as they weren’t living there at the time. Then we replaced the carpet, painted the walls, cabinetry, and handrails, new landscaping, staged, and took professional photos before we listed the home.

From the Sellers of Calle Mejillones:

“Surpassed our expectations, not only on service, but on the end result! Here is our story: we were transferred to the SF Bay area last year and had gone with an agent that the relocation company recommended. We were on the market for almost 5 months and were totally frustrated. We found Coastal Premier Properties through their online reviews and they delivered on every aspect from beginning to end. Because our home was fairly original they suggested their House to Home program to create “emotion” from buyers to get us the price we hoped for. We needed to get a price that was $100,000 more than our neighbor who had just closed with 100 sq. ft. more. This was no easy feat, but to make a long story short, we got a full price offer with appraisal contingency removed and a very smooth closing in a very short time. We give full credit to Coastal Premier Properties who were there to negotiate it all for us and we know it was their experience and know how that got us what we never thought possible. We can’t say enough about Coastal Premier Properties, their incredible support staff, and the experience we had. They are truly the best!!”

Marker

Days on Market BEFORE House 2 Home: N/A

Days on Market AFTER House 2 Home: 3

What We Did: De-cluttered the home, staged with more on-trend pieces, and took professional photographs.

From the Sellers of Marker:

“Last year we listed our home for sale with another agent and spent 6 months on the market with no luck. We re-listed this year with Coastal Premier Properties and within 3 days we had 2 offers! Need I say more?! They helped get our home ready to sell. They brought in the necessary contractors and help stage the home to look just perfect. In fact, it looked so good, we almost didn’t want to sell it. The whole process of selling a home isn’t easy. But Coastal Premier Properties helps put you at ease. They are incredibility kind and easy to work with and makes you feel as if you are their most important client. In addition to that, they have a vast knowledge and expertise of the real estate market in San Diego. This combination is what makes them a pro. So thankful to have found Coastal Premier Properties to work with over the past month. My husband and I are going to miss seeing them. They feel like family now!”

 

Restaurant of The Moment: Chiefs Burgers & Brew

CHIEFS BURGERS AND BREW

24 Lomas Santa Fe Drive #108 92075

http://chiefsburgers.com/

Situated in the heart of Solana Beach, Chiefs Burgers & Brew is the perfect neighborhood sports bar. Known as being San Diego’s Bronco’s headquarters, Chief’s is a popular place to watch your favorite sports game due to its abundance of TVs, impressive selection of hand-crafted beers on tap, and quality food.

The local hot-spot known as being one of the best burger joints in San Diego due to it’s high quality Gold Canyon Angus all-beef patties that are made by hand and cooked to perfection. If you ask anyone, the Bleu cheese burger has been the fan favorite for almost 20 years! It consists of Bleu cheese crumbles, topped with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion and thousand island dressing….YUM!

Be sure to chow down on our all-time favorite chicken tenders too! They are breaded to perfection in house, and go perfectly with an order of sweet potato fries.

 

What is An REO?

REO (Real Estate Owned) is a financial industry term referring to properties that a bank has foreclosed upon and now owns. Make sure that you speak with your agent to ensure that you understand the terms of the listing clearly. The escrow timeframe will usually be 30 days and cannot be contingent on selling another home. In most cases, the foreclosure property will be offered in an “as-is” condition, with the list price reflecting its condition. When purchasing a foreclosure property “as-is,” ensure you’ve done your homework to clearly understand the structural and mechanical condition of the building, HVAC, internal plumbing, the well and septic system. Depending upon the condition of these components of the home, the types of financing available may be impacted.  However, there are special loan products available that will lend on the “after improved” value of the home thereby making it possible to purchase even the most neglected property and to make it the home of your dreams.

 

Recipe: Tailgating Spicy Taco Cheese Ball

What You Need:

• 3/4 cup dried parsley
• 4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package hot taco seasoning mix (such as McCormick®)
• 1/4 cup pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped

Directions:

1. Sprinkle parsley in a shallow baking dish. Set aside.
2. Mix Mexican cheese blend, cream cheese, mayonnaise, taco seasoning, and jalapeno peppers in a large bowl until well blended. Divide the mixture into 3 portions, and roll each portion into a ball. Roll each ball in the parsley until completely covered. Wrap individually with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

What Are the Most Common Types of Home Loans?

Most people will need to finance the home they wish to buy. It’s important to consult a lender as to what financing option is right for you. Here are 3 common options for financing a San Diego home:

• Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Also known as traditional mortgages, these types of mortgages offer a fixed interest rate (and in turn a fixed monthly payment) for a longer period of time, usually 15-30 years. These are a good option for people who plan to live in their house for a long time and like a predictable payment schedule.

• Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARMs): These are shorter term mortgages. ARMs offer an interest rate that is fixed for a short period of time. After this initial period, the interest rate will adjust up or down, depending on what the market does.

• Interest-Only Payments: Both fixed and ARM mortgages have this option. What this means: for a certain amount of time during the course of your loan, you are allowed to pay only enough to cover the interest portion of your payment. You may pay the principal amount if you wish, but you don’t have to.

If you need recommendations for a great San Diego lender to find out which financing option is best for your situation, we are happy to provide them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant of the Moment: The Taco Stand

The Taco Stand

642 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

http://www.letstaco.com

In need of an authentic taco stand experience?  The Taco Stand just opened up a new located in the heart of Encinitas! This family-owned  taquería specializes in combining different variations of meats and ingredients, resulting in a lot of flavor. In addition to its flavorful menu, The Taco Stand has become an instant hot-spot due to it’s convenient late-night hours and coastal location.

Be sure to try the “Al Pastor” and “Nopal” Taco’s.  The “Al Pastor” taco consists of rotisserie marinated pork, cilantro, onions, cilantro sauce, and pineapple.  The “Nopal” taco is vegetarian and consists of flamed grilled cactus, melted cheese, cilantro sauce, tomato, and avocado.

 

 

Design Trends: 2017 Color of the Year

Sherwin Williams has recently announced their color of the year for 2017! The color is called “Poised Taupe” and it has a serene balance between warm and cool, while also being not too dark or too light. Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, commented on the Today Show: “It’s like gray and brown had a baby.”

The company explains that their chosen color reflects a timeliness classic which resonates with the color preferences of the modern era.  Reflecting on the recent demand for neutral colors,  the company mentions that “it signals a new direction in society’s ever-growing thirst for beautiful neutrals that bring warm and cool tones together to create one irresistibly versatile color.”

Poised Taupe can work perfectly with wooden floors and structures with white trimmings to give off traditional and inviting vibrations. Below are some examples of how Poised Taupe would look in various rooms inside your home!

7 Best Kitchen Gadgets, Picked by Realtors

Realtors know a lot about homes, from the doors and windows down to the kitchen and all of its contents. We polled our Realtors to discover their favorite kitchen gadgets!

Vitamix

The Vitamix machine is a quality investment because it is made with you in mind! It’s easy-to-use functionality, durability, and power have made it a well-known name, even with its hefty price tag. Although the Vitamix is commonly used for it’s shake and smoothie capabilities, the machines also have the ability to create food such as soups, purees, nut butters, flours, marinades, and so much more just with the touch of a button.

“I love our Vitamix for shakes and smoothies, but also great for making hummus and salsa too.” -Ryan Main, Realtor

Buy your Vitamix here! 

Crock Pot

The crock pot has been around since our grandmother’s time, and is the reason for some of the best home-cooked meals. As well as it’s ability to produce gourmet meals, the slow cooker also saves time, reduces energy use, and is easy to clean up.

“I like the crock pot because it tricks people into thinking I know how to cook.” -Jason Meyers, Realtor

Purchase your Crock Pot here! 

Nespresso Machine 

If you want to wake up and make an espresso in a matter of minutes with no fuss or clean up, the Nespresso machine is for you! Although pricey ($199-$599), the espresso machine provides quality coffee with little to no effort.

“I love my Nespresso machine, it gets me going in the morning!” -Jeanne Kayne, Realtor

Purchase your Nespresso here! 

Spiralizer

This inexpensive tool has the ability to spiralize fresh veggies into healthy noodles! A common product of a spiralizer is zucchini noodles, known as “zoodles,” which provides a nourishing base to any meal.

“I love my spiralizer! It’s great for making zucchini noodles, spiralizing potatoes, and anything else I want! It also grates and juliennes.” -Shannon Fox, Realtor

Purchase your spiralizer here!

Cutco Knives

Cutco knives have continued to impress people for 65+ years with their quality products, amazing customer service, and lifetime guarantee. One of our favorite knives to use is the traditional cheese knife, which has perforations in the blade to prevent soft cheeses from sticking together.

“My favorite kitchen gadget will always be my cutco knives!” -Amy Green, Realtor and Co-Owner of Coastal Premier Properties

Purchase your cheese knife here!

Electric Wine Bottle Opener 

This wine opener is perfect for any wine-o! It effortlessly opens up a bottle of wine in 3 seconds, and never gives you the risk of breaking the cork.

“My favorite kitchen gadget is an electric wine opener!” -Amy Ryan, Realtor

Purchase your wine opener here!

Zeroll Ice Cream Scoop

Scoop ice cream with ease while using the Zeroll ice cream scoop! The heat conductive fluid inside the handle uses the warmth of your hand to plump out perfect ice cream scoops with little to no effort.

“I love using my fancy ice cream scoop, the ice cream never freezes!” -Beth Van Boxtel, Realtor

Purchase your Zeroll here!

 

What are some of your favorite kitchen gadgets? Leave us a comment below!

 

Recipe: Classic Maryland Crab Cakes

What You Need:

• 1 Pound jumbo lump or backfin lump crabmeat, fresh or pasteurized.
• 1 Large egg
• 1/4 Cup mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
• 1/2 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce Kosher salt
• 1 1/4 Cups fresh breadcrumbs (from soft white sandwich bread, such as Pepperidge Farm)
• 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• Lemon wedges for serving

Directions

1. Drain the crabmeat, if necessary, and pick through it for shells (jumbo lump will not have shells).  Put the crab in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the egg, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Scrape the mixture over the crab and mix gently until well combined.  Gently break up the lumps with your fingers but do not overmix.
3. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs and the parsley over the mixture, and mix them in thoroughly but gently; try not to turn the mixture into a mash–it should still be somewhat loose. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours.
4. Shape the crab mixxture into 8 cakes about 1 inch thick. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the butter with the olive oil over medium heat.  When the butter is frothy, add the cakes to the pan (8 should fit comfortably).  Cook until dark golden brown on the underside, about 4 minutes. Flip the cakes, reduce the heat to medium low, and continue cooking until the other side is well browned, 4 to 5 minutes.  Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the cakes.

Everything in San Diego You Must Do This Fall!

Check out our guide to what you absolutely must do and see this fall in San Diego!

September 16-18: 

KABOO, a curated three-day music event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds that combines rock-n-roll music and tastemaking  in a modern wonderland on the warm shores of the pacific. For more information on this, click here!

 

September 17-18: 

Celebrate Fleets weeks 19th anniversary! Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival is Fleet Week San Diego’s marquee event. The event features fast-paced, thrilling auto racing and exhibitions for car enthusiasts of all ages! For more information on this event click here!

 

September 23:

Join beer enthusiast for the 22nd anniversary with the biggest and best festival yet! The indoor/outdoor event will feature live music and nearly 60 different breweries serving up 120 varieties of tasty brews! More information on this fun event can be found here.

 

September 23-25:

The Fall Home/Garden show is an indoor-outdoor event that will showcase the newest products and hottest trends for both inside and outside the home. More information on this event can be found at this website.

September 24-25:

As part of Julian’s Apple Days Celebration, a two-day Apple Days Festival will be held at Menghini Winery featuring apple displays, music and dancing, an antique tractor display, children’s games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors, contests, and, of course, apple pie! More information on this event can be found here!

 

September 25: 

The Motorcycle Cannonball from Atlantic City to Carlsbad is the Race of the Century featuring 100-year-old motorcycles racing 3,400 miles across America. The race will end at Carlsbad’s historic Sante Fe Train station in Carlsbad Village. Click here for more information!

 

September 25-October 2:

Held twice annually, San Diego Restaurant Week spotlights San Diego’s best restaurants offering fixed price, three-course dinners and two-course lunches.Just browse the list of restaurants and menus, make your reservations and enjoy! There are no tickets or passes required. More information on this delicious event can be found here!

September 26:

Enjoy delicious cuisines from all over the San Diego Gaslamp District! The 2016 Flavors of the Gaslamp will be hosted by San Diego’s own six-time Pro Bowl Cornerback Eric Allen, University of Texas and NFL Hall of Fame legend, Earl Campbell and NMSS Ambassador and Former SDSU Running Back, Tyler Campbell. For more information on this event click here!

 

September 28 – October 2:

Immerse yourself in five days of movies, movies, and movies at the San Diego International Film Festival.  Hear from filmmakers, actors and industry leaders. And don’t forget the parties too! For more information, visit here.

September 30 – October 3

San Diego County’s largest haunted experience, the Scream Zone is considered among the goriest, scariest, and screaming-est fright fests to be found in the dark corners of Southern California. More information on this event can be found here!

October 1-2 

CRSSD Festival is a two-day electronic music festival at the 12 acre San Diego Waterfront Park featuring three stages and 36+ performers. More information on this event can be found here!

 

October 1

Jump in your DeLorean and gun it to 88! We’re going Back to the ’80s with the World’s Greatest ’80s Tribute Band – The Molly Ringwalds on 10/1 at House of Blues San Diego. So grab your scrunchies and legwarmers and get ready to rock. Costumes encouraged. Click  here for more information!

October 1-31

Over 50 years of fall traditions and memories have been created at the Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch. Family and friends enjoy the tractor hayrides, straw maze, petting corral and Snows Pony Rides. Click here for more information!

October 21 – 22

Enjoy close encounters with Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientists and search the galleries for unusual underwater creatures rarely seen at Birch Aquarium. Discover a sea of glowing beasts(big and small), get sticky with slime,and enjoy shipwrecked stories, all while BOO-gieing down to live music and having a monstrous good time. More information on this spooky event can be found here!

October 13-16

Fun!… Glamorous!… Intimate! These are all words that describe a unique cultural experience not to be missed at the La Costa Film Festival in Carlsbad, California. It didn’t happen by accident, but was surely predestined for this area blessed with natural beauty and an innate appreciation for the arts. The Festival also draws upon the mystique and storied Hollywood connections of the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, who has served as the Festival’s host from the beginning. The Festival is an irresistible combination of quality films and exciting special events embraced in a setting that epitomizes a world-class destination. Click here to buy tickets!

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October 28-29 

Named the “Top 3 Halloween Celebration” by UBER, Thrillist and SD Union Tribune, San Diego Zombie Crawl is the most thrilling and visitor-friendly way to experience the award-winning nightlife, dining and Halloween festivities the Gaslamp Quarter is famous for. Click here for more information!

October 29

Celebrating it’s 12th year, the 2016 Boulevard BOO! With over 70 entries of live entertainment marching on one mile of El Cajon Boulevard the parade will entertain you with spooky ghouls, goblins, ghosts and witches to fill you with the Halloween spirit.

November 4 – 13

San Diego Beer Week is a ten-day celebration inspiring people to drink local, craft beer and promoting San Diego’s thriving brewing culture with multiple events happening across the county. More information on this event can be found here.

November 6

The world’s largest investment of breast cancer research next to the U.S. government. Right now, $42 million is at work to find the cures! These services are needed daily until we find the cure for breast cancer. We Live Here. We Race Here. We Save Lives Here.

 

November 6 

Art fair, arts and crafts, antiques, unique clothing, restaurants, food and more. On Carlsbad Village Drive west of Interstate 5 to the ocean. Don’t miss this festival, another of the best San Diego events. Click here for more information!

 

November 13

Runners and skaters welcome to run along the Strand from Coronado to Imperial Beach. Tag teams welcome. Starts in Coronado at Orange Avenue and Glorietta Blvd and finishes at the Imperial Beach Pier. Alternatively, the 5K Run/Walk starts and finishes at the Imperial Beach Plaza at 7:00 AM. More information can be found here!

 

November 19 

The La Jolla Cove Swim Club in this non-competitive swim at La Jolla Cove! Click here for more information.

November 20

Enjoy the music of popular local bands on The Karl Strauss Beer Garden Stage and The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage, plus dance, music and other entertainment on the Community Stage. Take your young ones to the Kids Zone for a variety of fun activities.  And walk your furry friends into Dog Zone for some treats and special attention. More information can be found here.

November 24 

Wear your thanksgiving costume for this turkey trot 5K run/walk or kids 1 mile fun run. Both open and locals only events. Event route includes Oceanside Civic Center, Oceanside Harbor and Oceanside Pier in Oceanside Cal. Find more information here! 

November 24- Early January

Enjoy outdoor ice skating at Coronado beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.Hot chocolate and holiday drinks make this a festive San Diego holiday activity. For more information and schedule click here!