Licensed since 1984, San Diego real estate broker Gary Kent is a recognized authority on real estate. In addition to selling over 5,500 homes for clients, he has been an expert court witness, trainer of other agents, and he does seminars on home buying, home selling, and investing. Gary has sold homes for The Salvation Army, dozens of major banks, and Fannie Mae, amongst others. You can find Gary on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Difference Between Condo & Townhome

“My husband and I can’t afford a detached house yet, so we’re going to buy a condo. Is there a difference between a condo and a townhome?” Answer: “Condominium” is a form of ownership in which you own an interest in the entire condo complex with the exclusive right to use the designated “airspace” that
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Buying Up to Do a 1031 Exchange

“Hi Gary. I have 24 apartments in City Heights. They’ve been a headache lately and I’d like to get out of them into something else. Is it true that you have to buy up to do a 1031 exchange?” Answer: Almost. While you do have to buy up to do a full tax deferral, just
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Repairs Needed to Sell Your San Diego Home

“What repairs are required to sell a home?” Answer: By law, your water heater must be correctly strapped and smoke detectors up in all sleeping areas (bedrooms or the hall outside). The City of San Diego requires low flow toilets, showerhead, and faucets, but you may transfer responsibility to a buyer, who will likely expect
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Items Included w/ Your San Diego Home

“What items are included with a home?” Answer: Free-standing appliances (refrigerator, washer, dryer) only go with the home if the seller agrees in the contract. Even if the marketing materials call them included, they must be in the contract or you have no right to them. That’s because marketing materials are not part of the
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What Is a Conforming Loan?

“I know rates are lower if you get a conforming loan. What is that exactly?” Answer: Usually when people mention conforming loans, they’re talking about loans that conform to the FNMA (Fannie Mae) guidelines and loan limits. Here are the FNMA loan limits for San Diego for 1-4 units: 1 Unit = $417,000 (single family,
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Getting Insurance on Your Condo

“Do I need insurance on a condo?” Answer: Virtually all condos have fire insurance on the structure… …However, you still need insurance for the interior components (flooring, cabinets, etc.) for your possessions, and for liability. Most banks are requiring this to fund a loan. Please verify the above with your favorite insurance agent. Check out
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Should You Put in a Rock or Grass Lawn?

“My wife and I plan to sell our home in a few weeks. Our front yard is a mess and needs to be redone so we have better curb appeal. Should I put in rock instead of grass?” Answer: Do you want me to be honest or give you the politically correct answer? The politically
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Accuracy of San Diego Home Appraisals

“My friend is looking at a house that’s listed for $550,000, but was appraised for $575,000. He thinks it must be underpriced, but I’ve heard that appraisals aren’t always accurate. Do you agree?” Answer: Yup. The appraisers I know are hard-working, smart professionals and usually the figures they come up with are right on or
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Fees and San Diego Real Estate Agents

“Hi Gary. We’re shopping agents to sell our home. What fee do you charge?” Answer: Say I told you, “I’ve got a house you can buy for $250,000.” Would you buy it? Or would you need to know a little bit about it first? Would it make a difference to you if it’s a dilapidated
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Canceling When Buying a San Diego Home

“How does it work if I’m buying a home but cancel because I find a problem with the home or my bank won’t give me the loan. Is that breaking the contract? And do I lose my deposit?” Answer: Most contracts have contingencies letting you cancel and get your deposit back under certain conditions. The
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