Is a single family house a good investment?

Question: “What do you think of buying a single family house as an investment?” Answer: Funny you should ask. I’ve never been a fan of buying houses in San Diego as a buy-and-hold investment. But I just closed on my very first one ever, earlier this month. So I guess my views have changed. For
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What are some smart tips for buying a home?

Question: “Any smart tips you can share about buying a home?” Answer: Sure, here’s one… When you look at homes online, pay special attention to the ones with very low-quality photos. I don’t mean ugly homes necessarily, but the homes with photos that look like they were taken by an 8-year-old using an iPhone 1.
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How do I choose the right real estate agent to sell my home?

Question: “I interviewed agents to sell my home and chose an energetic young guy who was very successful. The only problem, I found out later, was that his success was a mirage. He had sold very few homes and didn’t know what he was doing. What should I have done?” Answer: “All that glitters isn’t
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Scottish Parliament building

Drawing inspiration from the local landscape and culture the Scottish Parliament building’s futuristic forms are a definite departure from the norm. Architect Enric Miralles referenced boats, the Scottish cross, and the flower paintings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh to name a few sources. Although his proposal came in second place, he was awarded the contract because
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Can a home seller legally require me to qualify with their lender?

Question: “I just made an offer on a home. I’ve been qualified by a mortgage broker I know, but the seller wants me to qualify with a lender they know. Is this even legal? I’m a private person and don’t want to share my personal information.” Answer: Yes, it is legal. What may or may
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Are probate appraisals accurate?

Question: “Hi Gary, my father died without a living trust, so his home is going through probate. The probate appraiser said it’s worth $850,000. That seems a little high. Are probate appraisals accurate?” Answer: Rarely. In my experience, probate appraisals are about the most inaccurate appraisal you could possibly get and tend to be high.
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How much should I offer so I can get a home you have listed?

Question: “I see you have a home listed on XXXXX Street and heard you have a couple of offers. I’d like to make an offer and get the house. What price do I need to beat?” Answer: Great question! And I’m sure many agents would give you a very specific and useful answer. However, as
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Your San Diego Real Estate Update!

What’s going on in the San Diego real estate market? Before I answer that question, I have something to say: Thank you! If you’ve chosen us to help you buy or sell real estate recently, we very much appreciate it. Now back to our main topic. Here in San Diego, we’re generally in a balanced
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Porsche Museum

The Porsche Museum, located in Stuttgart, Germany seems inaccessible at first glance. The large, bold structure seems to sit high above the ground, this feeling is enhanced by the reflective surface on its underside. Inside there is a contemporary, futuristic feeling that blends with the cars and exhibits. Even the dining areas exude the same
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Is solar a good idea if I’m planning to sell my San Diego home?

Question: (This question isn’t exactly about “investing”, but…) “A guy from a solar company just came by saying they work together with California. He wanted to find out if our home would qualify for SOLAR. At no cost to the owner. What do you know about this, given that we’ll be selling the home? Should
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