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.

This Week’s Crazy Building: Amos Rex

Amos Rex Museum Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki, Finland is home to a unique new art museum, Amos Rex. The historic 1930s Lasipalatsi building became its new home. Gallery space lies beneath a unique topography of hill-like shapes in a busy public square. Visitors can shop, dine, and catch a movie in the restored Bio Rex theater. Those under 18 can enter
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Can A House Fail Its Inspection?

Question: “I just got married and my wife and I are planning to buy our first home and I have a question. What happens if a house fails a home inspection?” Answer: Home inspectors don’t pass/fail a home. They inspect it, describe its condition, and indicate what needs attention now or possibly in the future.
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Francis Crick Institute

The high-tech Francis Crick Institute, located in the heart of London is the largest biomedical research facility under one roof in Europe. Opened in 2016, the 1,000,000 square foot building features 1,553 rooms over 12 floors. About 1,250 scientists from 70 countries work across disciplines to discover the underlying causes of disease and generate new
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Does a home need to be brought up to code before I buy it?

Question: “We’re buying a home and had it inspected. It’s an older home and there are several issues. The main one is that the electrical is not to code. Don’t they have to fix that and bring it to code?” Answer: A common misconception amongst homebuyers and many agents is that items must be brought
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How do 1031 exchanges work?

Question: “Hi Gary. My wife and I want to sell our rental condo in Mission Valley and buy a triplex or fourplex in North Park. I know I can avoid taxes by doing a 1031 exchange, but I don’t know how they work. Can you enlighten me? “ Answer: Happy to… There are 3 common
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Anticipate delays in closing when planning your move out date

Question: “Last time I sold my home, I moved out the day we were supposed to close and got burned. The buyer had loan problems and the closing was delayed for 3 weeks. I got stuck making payments on an empty condo. Now I’m planning to sell my house and want to protect myself so
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Petersen Automotive Museum

The wild design of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles dares to ask why not? Check out the photo below to see how the 2014 reconstruction changed the facade (which was done without making major architectural revisions to the original building). The new design is composed of red corrugated metal beneath ribbons of riveted
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Is a house that had mold safe to buy?

Question: “We found a house we like, but it had a major mold problem. The seller says it’s all been taken care of.  Do you think it’s safe to buy it?” Answer: There’s benign mold, and there’s “toxic mold,” so I assume you’re talking about the latter. Many people can live in a home even
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How do I know if I should change my carpets?

Question: “Should I change my carpets before we sell our house?” Answer: Good question. It depends on what I call the “Eww, Oh, Ooo Test.” “Eww!” If your carpets are so torn, worn, stained, smelly, or of such an ugly color that a homebuyer would say “EWW!”, it could make your home hard to sell
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Should I get a loan or pay cash?

Question: “I want to buy a home and can afford to pay cash. Do you recommend getting a loan or paying cash?” Answer: Congratulations on being able to pay cash for your home! The answer to your question depends on your circumstances and priorities. Reasons to pay cash include: Your offer will be much stronger
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