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.

Limits on 1031 Exchange

Question: “We just bought a house to fix and flip and will do a 1031 exchange so we don’t have to pay taxes.  So our question is…” Answer: Sorry, but I’ve got to interrupt.  I’m about to make you very sad right now, but you’ll avoid much greater sadness later. Per IRS rules, you cannot
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Should You Have Your Buyer Move In Early?

Question: “As I told you, I’m going to have you sell that rental house I own on [address removed].  The tenant moved out last week.  Once we get a buyer, what do you think of having them move in early so I can get some rent going?” Answer: Risky! Sure, everything could work out great. 
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How Much to Offer on a San Diego Home

Question: “When we find the home we want, how much below the asking price do people offer?” Answer: Sorry, there’s no set formula.  What you should offer depends on 4 things: 1. Value This is the #1 factor in what you should offer.  Forget “always offer X% below list price” or “if you want it,
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Is Your San Diego Home Improvement Worth It?

Question: “We got a contractor’s bid of $24,000 to put in new cherry finish cabinets and granite counter tops in the kitchen and both baths, plus a new range/oven.  Do you think that’s a good investment and we would get more than the $24,000 back if we do these things?” Answer: The $24,000 sounds like
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Can Stressed Seniors Have the Kids Sell the House?

Question: “My mother is getting up there in years, and wants to move to a retirement home where she can get the care she needs. But she’s very anxious about selling her house, so she wants me to handle it. Is there any way I can do everything for her so she doesn’t have to
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Who Pays for San Diego Condo Renovations?

Question: “I’m thinking about buying a condo that was built in the 1960s.  It’s fine right now, but what happens in, say, another 50 years? If it has to undergo major renovations or be rebuilt entirely, who pays for that?” Answer: Great question. It’s not likely that a condo complex or even individual buildings will
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Will Starting a Short Sale Prevent Foreclosure?

“I’m several months behind on my mortgage and need to do a short sale.  I’m afraid the bank is going to foreclose, but an agent told me that once I start a short sale the bank it’s illegal for them to foreclose.  Is that correct?” ***ANSWER: I wish it was.  You’re talking about California Senate
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Is There Such a Thing as a 3/4 Bath?

Question: “Our master bath has a shower, sink, and toilet, but no tub.  Is that called a 3/4 bath?” Answer: Way back in 1984 when I got into real estate, we did call that a 3/4 bath. However about 20 years ago it became commonplace to just round it up and call it a full
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Do Security Bars Mean a Bad Neighborhood?

Question: “My wife and I are looking at homes.  We like one, but it has security bars on every door and window.  Do you think that means it’s a bad neighborhood?” Answer: If a high percentage (25%?) of homes in the area have bars, that’s a good indication that it may be a neighborhood with
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Hard to Get a Loan on a Fixer Upper?

Question: “Is it hard to get a loan on a fixer upper house?” Answer: It depends on the home’s condition and the loan type. If a home is ugly, worn, or dated that won’t impact financing. If there’s peeling paint, torn carpet, or various other items too lengthy to list here, you can’t get an
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