Home Seller Tips: Ask Yourself, Why Are You Selling?

 

If you know exactly why you are selling then it is easier for you to follow the right plan of action for getting what you want.

If you are a seller who needs to close a sale as quickly as possible, then you should know that getting the highest price possible is not one of your priorities. It does not mean that you won’t or cannot get the highest price, but it means that the price is not the deciding factor. A buyer who can give you a quick closing time will appeal much more to you than a buyer who can offer you more money but the negotiation and closing time drag on.

It’s always good to know how low you will go in terms of selling price. This will help to eliminate some of the offers that you find simply offensive or ridiculous. Even though you should consider all offers seriously and take into consideration the terms of each offer, sometimes, if you know the bottom line and are strict about it, you can save yourself time.

Once you know what your limits and reasons are, discuss them with your agent so that they can help you set your goals realistically. If you decide to list your home on your own, make sure you do research on the current market, and you get the proper advice you need in terms of legal issues, etc. The key is to be realistic and know what your goals are so they can be met.

San Diego Neighborhood Highlight: Scripps Ranch

Scripps Ranch is a charming neighborhood suburb in the northeast part of San Diego County. Though inland, it’s still only about a half hour drive to the beach and close to many booming companies and attractions.

History

Scripps Ranch, like many things in Southern California such as the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Scripps College, was named after the Scripps newspaper family. E.W. Scripps at first thought he was building a vacation home to get out of Illinois’ frigid winter.  He bought 400 acres of land, gave part of it to his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps, and built a ranch there at the site of where the members-only Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club a community hub, now stands. He also built a castle, called Miramar, where the community of Miramar is today.

Real Estate

Scripps Ranch is considered one of the premiere neighborhoods of San Diego County. With a population of 29,000 and home values at a median of around $700K, Scripps Ranch is a desirable area for families. It has top-rated public and private schools and a variety of public parks and open spaces. 

The outlook for real estate here is good, with a 9% increase in home sales over last year.  Houses here retain their value in an area that has very few vacancies. While there are many single family homes, there are also a lot of condos and townhouses for sale, too, at prices well below $500K. If you’re looking for well-maintained and clean houses, Scripps Ranch is the perfect San Diego neighborhood for you!

Commuting

Scripps Ranch is home or close to many large high tech companies in the area. Among them, Intuit, one of the region’s largest employers, is located in nearby Rancho Bernardo. Broadcom is also close by, as is Fitbit.

If you work on the northwest side of the county over in UTC and Sorrento Valley, the commute’s not bad either—less than 10 miles. The commute to downtown San Diego is a bit longer at 18 miles.

Things to Do

There are lots of things to do in Scripps Ranch. Whether you have a growing family or you’re single, activities abound. Hoyt Park hosts Symphony in the Park, a concert series that has most sessions during the summer, but since San Diego is so mild, it also has a couple of concerts in the fall and winter. There’s a farmer’s market on the site of Innovations Elementary every Saturday, with produce from local growers, as well as kid-entertainment like face painters and balloon artists. Vendors also serve a variety of different foods for breakfast and lunch.

The Scripps Ranch Theatre is a popular and well-regarded community theater run by all volunteers, putting on many different shows, including those written by local playwrights. The Erin Hanson Gallery sells California impressionist paintings created by the local artist; there are frequent shows here open to the public.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, formerly the Wild Animal Park, is a few minutes up Interstate 15 in Escondido. At this massive zoo,  you can ride a tram through wild animal habitats, take a behind-the-scenes tour, sleep overnight in the park, take a hot air balloon ride, or zip line.

Scripps Ranch also offers many opportunities for hiking in and around the area. Black Mountain Open Space Park has a variety of trails where you can hike, stroll, or horseback ride. Mountain biking is also a popular pastime in these parts with many options.

Golfing is another big thing around here, with several different courses to choose from. In this area, there’s the executive course, Oaks North; the course at the Rancho Bernardo Inn; and, in nearby Poway, the Maderas Course, the top-rated course in San Diego County.

Restaurants

Despite Scripps Ranch being a suburb rather than a city spot, there are dozens of different restaurants in and around the area. Some of the most popular local spots include Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese grill where you can barbecue your own food at the traditional grill right at your table—including s’mores.

Ballast Point Brewing is a local brewery that’s become popular worldwide in recent years. The kitchen serves Californian cuisine. Cutwater Spirits Tasting Room and Kitchen serves up burgers, sandwiches, and its signature vodkas, whiskeys, and gins made on the premises. You can even get a distillery tour at the same time.

Shopping

Scripps Ranch has a few different shopping centers with grocery stores, including Scripps Ranch Marketplace,  which includes a bank, a Starbucks, and other standbys. By 2020, a project called Watermark will bring in a Whole Foods, a movie theater, more restaurants, and a Marriott hotel.

Only a few minutes further away is Mira Mesa, which has many more shops and a movie theater. Mira Mesa Market includes this, as well as the region’s largest Barnes and Noble bookstore, and many different chain restaurants.

Scripps Ranch is a family-oriented, quiet area that nevertheless has a lot of different activities to keep you occupied. Whether you want a local brew, a nature run, or a relaxing round of golf, Scripps Ranch has it all.

Importance of a Home Inspection

As a buyer, you are entitled to know exactly what you are getting. Don’t take anything for granted, not even what you see or what the seller or listing agent tell you. A professional home inspection is something you MUST do, whether you are buying an existing home or a new one. An inspection is an opportunity to have an expert look closely at the property you are considering purchasing and getting both an oral and written opinion as to its condition.

Beforehand, make sure the report will be done by a professional organization, such as a local trade organization or a national trade organization such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspection). Not only should you never skip an inspection, but also you should be present with the inspector during the inspection. This gives you a chance to ask questions about the property and get answers that are not biased. In addition, the oral comments are typically more revealing and detailed than what you will find on the written report. Once the inspection is complete, review the inspection report carefully.

You have to demand an inspection when you present your offer. It must be written in as a contingency. If you do not approve the inspection report, then do not buy the home. Most real estate contracts automatically provide an inspection contingency.

Pet Moving Guide

After you have figured out how to sell a home with a pet,  your next mission will be to figure out how to move with them. As exciting as it is to move to a new home, there is always a fair amount of stress involved in the process. This is true for everyone in your family, including your pet. Whether you have a dog, cat, guinea pig or fish, you can guarantee that your pet will feel at least some stress while moving. Below, you will find some exceptional tips for moving with pets that should hopefully make your life (and theirs!) less complicated.

 

1. Pack over time-

This moving tip is guaranteed to make things easier on both of you. Many people make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to pack up all of their belongings. Packing always takes more time than you expect. You wind up going through a bunch of old things that you didn’t even know you had and it takes a while to separate out what you want to keep and what you want to give or throw away. If you are hurried your pet will often pick up on your anxiety, making it more uncomfortable and anxious. Pets also tend to like things they way they are and tearing up your home over a short period can really upset an animal.

2. Research pet laws and regulations- 

One of the often overlooked things to do when moving with pets is to find out what the laws and regulations are about owning them in your new area. You may need to register the animal, pay a certain fee, or meet different vaccination requirements. Knowing all of this beforehand will give you time to take care of it before you arrive.

3. Talk to your vet- 

Let your vet know that you are moving so he or she can help you prepare your animal. You may need to update vaccinations. If you are moving far enough you might want to get a recommendation from your current vet for a new vet in your area. If your pet suffers from any sort of anxiety the doctor can prescribe you medication to help. He or she can also fill prescriptions for any other necessary medications.

4. Update all pet identification- 

Your pet should have a good collar that is unlikely to slip off. Update your pet’s id tag with your new information including how they can contact you in case of emergency. If your pet is micro-chipped, be sure to contact the company that stores the microchip information to provide an update. If your pet is not micro-chipped, now is a good time to have it done. Dogs and cats can become lost very easily in a new neighborhood and you want to make certain they can be identified.

5. Prepare your new home- 

It is easiest to do this while the house is still empty. Scan the fence for any holes or gaps the animal could get through and repair them. Make sure there is no leftover poison out where a dog could get to it. Doing a general safety and security check will make you more comfortable letting your animal loose. Depending on the personality of your pets, you may find that they are either frightened and confused or completely hyperactive. Your pet might be just as excited to be in a new environment as you are or just as easily be upset by it. Once you have brought your pets into their new home making sure that they have everything they are used to like their bed, food, water and toys becomes important. You want to make the move with your pet as stress free as possible.

6. Make a travel kit-

Set aside a small supply of food for your pet, along with its bed, toys and any other things that you will want quick access to. This way you can pack most of it along with the rest of your belongings without worrying about digging through boxes to feed your animal.

7. Secure the pet in your vehicle- 

It is worthwhile to secure the animal for the trip on moving day. It may be quite agitated and prone to running off or acting up, the last thing you want while you are driving or when you get out of the car. A kennel or carrier is the best option when secured in the back seat. A car restraint is also an option.

8. Stay secure on moving day-

Keep your pet secure on moving day. It may be easiest to leave it with a friend, but if this is not an option you should determine how you will keep it isolated and safe as you move out of the old house and into the new house. You can keep it in a crate or a bathroom, for instance. Just keep checking on the animal periodically and make sure it is comfortable and fed and watered.

9. Start small-

With dogs and cats it is often best to start small in the new home. You know your animal best, but keep in mind that generally an animal will be more comfortable staying in a smaller area like a bedroom before having full run of the house, especially cats.

10. Meet the neighbors-

While it may sound corny, one of the best tips for moving with pets is to introduce them to your new neighbors. As stated before, it is easy for dogs and cats to get lost upon first moving to a new area. If they get out you want as many people as possible to know they are yours. Consider taking your pet around with you as you go to introduce yourself to your neighbors. This way if your pet does escape your neighbors can tell you about it.

11. Walk your dog- 

Throw a leash on your dog and start walking as soon as you can. Dogs love to explore and smell new smells, so it will help reduce the stress of the move. It will also give your dog some reference points on how to find his or her way home. The more often you can walk the better your dog will know where home is.

12. Find out local laws and customs-

Finding out whether there are any specific leash laws will also be an important consideration.Some cities and towns require dogs to be on leashes at all times or possibly during certain hours. If you are buying into a planned community or a condominium complex where there is a homeowners association, you should also make sure you take a very hard look at their by-laws to see what you can and can not do with your pets.  When you purchase into a homeowners association you will be governed by other peoples rules. Many people lose sight of this if they are used to having a home where no such arrangement exists.

Should You Hire an Agent When Building a House?

Many homebuyers think they don’t need to hire an agent when building a new home. After all, you’re buying directly from the builder and they already have contractors, lenders and inspectors. Why should someone else be brought into the mix?

The truth is, buying any home without an agent can be a costly mistake. It can mean paying more than you should, missed opportunities for upgrades, contract errors that aren’t in your favor or a delayed closing.

Thinking of buying a new construction home? Here are three reasons to have an agent on your side before visiting the sales office:

1. Expert Negotiation: While their advertising would have you believe otherwise, builder’s prices aren’t always set in stone. Agents are skilled negotiators who can likely get the price dropped slightly or have a few upgrades thrown in.

2. Preferred Vendors: Your builder might have an affiliate mortgage lender or title company, but chances are they aren’t going to offer the best deal. It’s important to shop around, and what’s better than a vendor your agent already knows and trusts?

3. Guidance and Support: The homebuying process can be complicated, with lots of twists, turns and steps along the way. When buying new construction, you also have design reviews, electrical work and other construction needs. An agent can guide you through all of these, making sure your purchase stays on track, on time and on budget from start to finish.

It’s important to note that while you may be working with an agent or representative from the builder, they may not have your best interests at heart. Enlisting your own trusted agent can give you an advocate from the very first meeting to closing day.

Are you interested in buying a new construction home? Get in touch today for more info about builders in the area.

Restaurant of the Moment: Los Primos Mexican Food

7770 Regents Rd #109, San Diego, CA 92122

If you’re craving some enticing Mexican cuisine in a casual setting, Los Primos Mexican Food is perfect for you! Los Primos serves both authentic Mexican dishes such as Tacos, Burritos, and  Tostada Bowls along with Mexican-American fusions such as Carne Asada fries, Omelettes, and Super Nachos. They also have a breakfast menu that is served all day for breakfast lovers! They are well known for their wide range of  burrito options, but their most popular burrito by far and also, widely recommended is the Monster Burrito. Its popularity stems from not only its gigantic size, but also because of its deliciousness and variety of meat options, and it’s surprising low price! Finally, one of the best features of this restaurant (and my personal favorite), is that it has its own self serve chips and salsa bar, absolutely free for customers! Make sure you experience one of SD’s best and classic Mexican restaurants!

Why It Could Be Beneficial to Invest in San Diego Real Estate

San Diego is world renowned for it’s beautiful coastal wild life, historical and modern cities, and of course its sunny, beach culture. There is no doubt that San Diego attracts tourists and visitors from all around the world to experience the San Diego lifestyle. Both locals and outsiders can both agree that San Diego is a beautiful place with an overabundance of exciting activities and new adventures to embark on, but one also has to wonder if San Diego is also a good place to invest in property or to own a home?

Currently, the overall US housing market is thriving and many individuals are looking to invest in property all over the country, but of course there are some specific location that would be better than others to invest in property. Experts conclude that San Diego housing prices will continue to increase, and even if there is an unexpected decline, it will still be above the rate of inflation. In the NAR Quarterly Report released in February, 2016 it was that San Diego ranked 5th in the most expensive housing markets in the United States where the median sales price was up 5.9% at $486,000. However like many other cities, economists predict that San Diego’s surge up in home prices will start to slow as some estimate that it is close to peaking.

In terms of rent prices, San Diego was ranked number 10 in American cities where rent was growing the fastest. There is a high level of competitiveness among renters in San Diego since the rent-ability is only around 5% in latest statistics, however this can mean great news for property investors and landowners. If the property you are investing in is decent condition in a fairly nice location, you will receive many applications and options to rent out your house or apartment. With this level of competition and demand, owning a property and renting it out is an effective and smart way to have another solid source of income and increase cash flow.

San Diego is also one of the few places in the US where out-of-town investors are encouraged and willing to invest and buy property. Due to San Diego’s low crime rates, comfortable climate, and a bustling economy in the tourism, technological, and medical fields, non-San Diegans have goods reasons to safely invest in property with minimal risk. Finally, the cultural and ethnic diversity in San Diego makes its a very warm and welcoming city; on top of which, San Diego is also renowned place to live for it’s top rated schools, efficient public transportation, and is environmentally aware and friendly. There is no question that San Diego is a great and amazing city and owning or investing in a property here would only be beneficial and positive!

San Diego Home Prices Rise More Than The Nationwide Average

In March, San Diego’s home prices raised an impressive 7.7% from the past year. This ranked San Diego in the top 10 cities of highest yearly price increases. Home prices increased all over California. San Francisco, Los Angles and San Diego were all above the national average and they show no sign of slowing down. In April, San Diego’s home prices continued to grow, sitting 8.6% higher than the year before. That pushed San Diego’s median home price to $570,000 which broke the record that was previously set in March. This increase was led by the escalating cost of condos. Condo prices increased by 11.7% and have a median price of $430,000.

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices for March 2018

Yearly increases by city

1 Seattle — 13 percent

2 Las Vegas — 12.4 percent

3 San Francisco — 11.3 percent

4 Denver — 8.6 percent

5 Los Angeles — 8.1 percent

6 Detroit — 7.9 percent

7 San Diego — 7.7 percent

8 Tampa — 7.5 percent

9 Phoenix — 6.8 percent

10 Portland — 6.7 percent

11 Atlanta — 6.2 percent

12 Charlotte — 6.2 percent

13 Minneapolis — 6.1 percent

14 Boston — 5.8 percent

15 Dallas — 5.8 percent

16 New York — 5.2 percent

17 Miami — 5 percent

18 Cleveland — 4.6 percent

19 Washington, D.C. — 3 percent

20 Chicago — 2.8 percent

Nationwide — 6.5 percent

September 2017 Real Estate Market in Review

September’s San Diego real estate market in review: As of September 2017, the median detached home in San Diego County sold for $610,000 up 5.4% from the previous year.

As of  September 2017, the median attached home (including condos, townhomes, and twinhomes in San Diego County sold for $415,000 up 10.7% from last year.

The average detached home in San Diego spent 18 days on the market.

Condos, twinhomes, and townhomes in San Diego spent an average of 13 days on the market.

As of September 2017, the average seller of a detached home in San Diego County receives 97.2% of the original list price at the close of the sale.

As of September 2017, the owners of attached properties (condos, twinhomes, and townhomes) retained 98.4% of the original list price.

The inventory of homes in San Diego County is still low, which is consistent with what we know that inventory is very tight and not predicted to dramatically improve as we move into the comparatively slower fall and winter seasons.

The supply of attached properties is also quite low.

Are you interested in seeing this breakdown for your San Diego community or zipcode? Let us know!

August 2017 Real Estate Market in Review

August’s San Diego real estate market in review: As of August 2017, the median detached home in San Diego County sold for $595,000, up 7.2% from the previous year.

As of  August 2017, the median attached home (including condos, townhomes, and twinhomes) in San Diego County sold for $390,000 up 6.8% from last year.

The average detached home in San Diego spent 18 days on the market.

Condos, twinhomes, and townhomes in San Diego spent an average of 13 days on the market.

As of August 2017, the average seller of a detached home in San Diego County receives 98.2% of the original list price at the close of the sale.

As of August 2017, the owners of attached properties (condos, twinhomes, and townhomes) retained 98.9% of the original list price.

The inventory of homes in San Diego County is still low, which is consistent with what we know that inventory is very tight and not predicted to dramatically improve as we move into the comparatively slower fall and winter seasons.

The supply of attached properties is also quite low.

Are you interested in seeing this breakdown for your San Diego community or zipcode? Let us know!