How Much to Deposit When Making a San Diego Home Offer

Question: “How much is a normal deposit when you make an offer on a house?” Answer: A typical deposit is 1-2% of the purchase price. But just because it’s typical doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the approach you should take. Offering a bigger deposit, say over 2%, is a way of making your offer appear stronger
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Deciding What San Diego Home Features to Compromise On

Question: “I own a 3-bedroom condo in Pacific beach and I’d really like to trade it for a house with a yard and keep my monthly payments the same. Do you think that’s possible?” Answer: Yes, depending on what you’re willing to give up. You may be able to sell your condo and buy a
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How Much Value Does a Pool Add to a San Diego Home?

Backyardpool by Vic Brincat is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Question: “I’d really like to get a home with a pool in the backyard. How much more is that likely to cost?” Answer: Great question. There’s a lot of misinformation amongst the public and even agents on this topic. Some people say that a pool adds no value, while others even say it makes a
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House vs. Condo: What’s a Better Investment?

Question: “Hi Gary, I don’t really want a condo. They’re not a good investment, with the homeowner fee and that they don’t go up in value. A house is a much better investment, don’t you think?” Answer: I hear that all the time, and I would respectfully disagree. Of course, you have your personal preferences,
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Do More “For Sale” Signs Mean a Hotter Market?

Question: “Hi Gary, we’re hoping to buy a home soon. We’re seeing a lot of houses for sale in our neighborhood. Looks like the market is picking up. Would you agree?” Answer: Actually, seeing a lot of For Sale signs is more indicative of the market slowing down than picking up. That’s because a hotter
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Don’t Overanalyze the Market—Ask an Agent

Question: “I’ve been tracking San Diego housing inventory to decide when the right time is to buy a home. Inventory is up 14% from last month but only 3% year over year, and…” Answer: Hold on a second. My money says you’re either an engineer or a computer programmer. Which is it? I say that
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Dealing With Unpermitted Rooms in a San Diego Home

Question: “Hi Gary. We’re interested in a home that has an unpermitted family room and I have several questions: Can I go to city to investigate it? Who should I talk to find out the cost to get up to permit status? What happens if I can’t get it permitted? Can I get a permit
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House vs. Condo: Which Appreciates Faster?

Question: “My husband and I are planning to buy our first home and we want to make the right decision. Can you tell us which appreciates faster, a house or a condominium?” Answer: The assumed conventional wisdom is that houses appreciate faster than condos. I don’t have any stats, but based on observation I have
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Don’t Try to Time the Market When Buying a San Diego Home

Question: “I want to buy a home but am trying to time the market right. I’m not sure if we’re in a mini-bubble or are still looking at a lot more appreciation. What do you think?” Answer: I sold two San Diego properties in 2003 and 2004. I missed the peak by some 10-20%. Do
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Are Sellers Required to Respond to Your Offer?

Question: “My wife and I made an offer and the seller accepted another offer without responding to ours. Don’t they have to respond? My agent said the seller’s agent is required to submit the offer to the seller. And he said if they don’t accept it, they must sign a written rejection, which the agent
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