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.

What Makes Up a Credit Score

“It seems that interest rates and ability to get a home loan are more credit-driven than ever. Everyone talks about credit and I know it’s about paying your bills. But what exactly makes up a credit score?” Answer: There are 5 “Components of Credit”. Here they are, along with their %’s as they make up
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Future of the San Diego Real Estate Market

“I own a condo and am thinking of selling it versus holding it for awhile. It’s worth about $300,000 and I owe $314,000. Do you see a turn around in the market anytime in the future?” Answer: My crystal ball is cloudy today. With all the government involvement, the market is not following normal cycles
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Buying a San Diego Home on a Busy Street

“My fiancé and I have been looking for our first home for 4 months. We finally found a house in our budget we both agree on. The bad news is it’s on a busy street, which makes us hesitant about buying it. What do you advise?” Answer: Buying a home on a busy street, or
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Other Expenses for San Diego Investments

“I saw a house that rents for $1700/month. With 20% down, my mortgage payment should only be $1027/month. What other expenses would I have to pay?” Answer: Great question. Many people make the mistake of only comparing their rent to their mortgage payment and thinking the rest is positive cashflow. They’re pretty excited, until they
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Calling the Bank Before Doing a Short Sale

“We need to do a short sale. Before we go any further and put our home on the market, we want to call our bank first and get an idea if they will even review a short sale for us or not. Do you think they would speak with us? Thanks again for your help!”
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Buying San Diego Homes w/ Cracked Slabs

“I saw a home I loved, but there was a crack in the slab. Should I avoid buying a home with a cracked slab?” Answer: Some cracks are very serious and cost thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands to fix correctly. Other cracks are more “cosmetic”, don’t reflect structural problems, and just
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How Much to Spend On Mortgage Payments

“We’re beginners in the homebuying game. Can you give us some tips on deciding how much to spend on our monthly mortgage payment?” Answer: I want you to come up with 2 monthly payment figures. They should include loan payment, taxes, insurance, and possible HOA fees, Mello-Roos fees, or mortgage insurance. Be sure to factor
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Buying a San Diego Duplex or Triplex as Investment

“I want to buy a duplex or triplex as investment. Is there any place I can go to see how much rents should be?” Answer: I suggest getting a feel for rents by looking at info on lots of properties for sale in the areas you’re interested in. You also should try: – http://www.zilpy.com/ –
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Can the Seller’s Agent “Shop Your Offer”?

“I made an offer to buy a condo in La Jolla and lost out because I found out the seller’s agent told someone how much I offered. My agent said it’s called ‘shopping my offer’ and that it’s illegal. What can I do about this?” Answer: Nothing. Your agent is wrong. The seller’s agent owes
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How to Choose a Lender

“I’m ready to start looking for a home. I’ve read in your newsletter that one of the first things I should do is get pre-approved by a lender and find out my price range. What advice do you have as to how to choose a lender?” Answer: First of all, NEVER choose a lender based
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