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.

Should I Do Termite Work Now or During Escrow?

Question: “Should I do the termite work now or do it during escrow?” Answer: If you have a lot of wood repair that is visible and looks bad, you may want to do it now. Otherwise I would say to wait and see if your buyer asks you to do it. But the odds are
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What Costs Do I Pay When I Buy a San Diego Home?

Question: “What costs should I expect to pay when I buy a home?” Answer: Division of costs vary by geographic region. In San Diego, the buyer usually pays: Home inspection + any other inspections (except termite) Half the escrow fee Lender’s policy of title insurance Notary & recording fees for loan documents All new loan
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365 Things to Do in San Diego: Jan. 15–21

The USS Recruit by Gedstrom is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Every Monday throughout 2015, I’ll bring you a list of exciting activities to do throughout San Diego—one for each day of the year! Here you’ll find ideas for upcoming events, great restaurants and other exciting activities. January 15: Become a member (or get invited) and enjoy exclusive golf, tennis, beaches and dining at La Jolla Beach & Tennis
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[VIDEO] Homeseller Mistake #2: Thinking Company or Office Matters

Is a Realtor’s Company or Office Important? San Diego Realtor Gary Kent reveals the costly mistakes people that make when selling a home in San Diego. Mistake #2 is believing that that an agent’s company or office really matters. Have you ever thought about hiring a real estate agent because they work for a big,
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Does It Matter How Much the Buyer Puts Down on Your Home?

Question: “Since I am not carrying the loan on my house, should I care how much the buyer puts down?” Answer: Yes! All other things being equal, the higher the down payment, the stronger the borrower’s qualifications and looser the lending requirements. And a side benefit is that if the appraisal comes in low the
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How Long It Takes to Sell a San Diego Home Right Now

Question: “I plan to sell my home and would like to know how long you think it takes to sell a home right now.” Answer: Great question. Right now, we’re in a “normal” market with a rough balance of buyers and sellers. So on the one hand, it can be SLOW… Price your home too
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Are There Still San Diego Short Sales & Foreclosures?

Question: “Are there still any short sales and foreclosures? I don’t see them anymore.” Answer: Remember 2008-2011 when it was so rare to see a home offered that was NOT a short sale or foreclosure that we referred to them as “traditional sales”? In many neighborhoods (Eastlake, Spring Valley, etc.), if your life depended on
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365 Things to Do in San Diego: Jan. 8–14

Every Monday throughout 2015, I’ll be bringing you a list of exciting activities to do throughout San Diego—one for each day of the year! From food to sports to arts and culture, there’s something for everyone in America’s Finest City. January 8: Take a walk, ride a bike or have a picnic at Mission Bay Park in Pacific Beach.
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[VIDEO] Homeseller Mistake #1: Thinking All Agents Are the Same

Learn How To Choose A Real Estate Agent 30+ year veteran Realtor Gary Kent reveals the costly mistakes people that make when selling a San Diego home. Mistake #1 is believing that all agents are essentially the same. Are you putting careful thought into who you hire to sell your home, or just picking the
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Sharifi-Ha House

Sharifi-ha House by designmilk licensed under the terms of CC BY-SA 2.0
This week’s crazy building is the Sharifi-Ha House in Tehran, Iran. Built for an affluent Iranian man as his private residence, this home has one very unique feature. The rectangular rooms in each of its three stories can be rotated outward so that they jut into the air. With the press of a button, the
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