Is Your Relationship Ready for Home Ownership?

Question: “My boyfriend and I want to buy a home. We’ve been together 6 months, but don’t have any current plans to get married. Do you think that’s a good idea?” Answer: Since I’m a Realtor, you might expect me to espouse the party line of, “Yes, it’s always a great time to buy a
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The Impact of Lowered Assessment on Your San Diego Home

Question: “Hi Gary, I just got a notice from the county tax assessor’s office saying they were lowering my assessment. I attached a copy for you. Is it real? And if so, will this affect me if I need to get an appraisal or will it affect the value of my home?” Answer: That indeed
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Can You Leave Items for the Buyer?

Question: “I have a pile of bricks, a lot of potted plants, and some cans of paint left over from the painting we just did. Can I just leave them for the buyer?” Answer: You can’t just leave personal property, even if you think the buyer will want it. You have to either have it
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What Should Be Repaired Before Selling?

“Question: I had my noisy central air conditioning at my Pacific Beach home looked at and recommendation was to get a new unit for about $3,000. You think that’s something that really should be done before house goes on market?” Answer: It’s a judgment call, but I recommend you do not change it now. When
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Pricing Your San Diego Home Right Gets More Offers

Question“My neighbors just listed their San Diego home and I know they got several offers the first week. Do you think that means they should have asked a higher price?” Answer: Not necessarily. Yes, San Diego homes that are priced too low usually attract multiple offers. However, you can also get multiple offers if your
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5 Options for Selling a Home & Buying Another

Question “We live in Clairemont and we’re ready for a bigger house, but I don’t know how to go about this. I don’t want to sell mine until I’ve got another one, but I have to sell to get the money to buy the next one. How do people do this?” Answer: I hear San
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Top 3 Tips to Increase Your Credit Score

“My wife and I want to buy a home in Clairemont or TierraSanta in the next year or two, but my credit score is below 600. Do you know how to increase it?” Answer: I’m not a credit expert, but “Mr. Credit” Derrick Evens recently stated his Top 3 Credit Tips. This is from a
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Short or Stay San Diego Gary Kent San Diego Short Sale Specialist

Should you Short Sell or Stay in your San Diego Home? That is a question many San Diego home owners ask me. Hi, my name is Gary Kent. I’ve been a REALTOR since 1984. With the San Diego real estate meltdown, it’s been a difficult time for many people like you. If you are frustrated
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The Importance of Reliable Home Stats

“I was told my Tierrasanta home is worth $475,000, but the UT says the median in Tierrasanta is $520,000. My home is 1700 square feet, well maintained, but needs to be updated. Is the agent underpricing my home?” Answer: Great question. Even accurate statistics can be misleading. The stats you quoted were for only ten
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Getting a Home Warranty When Buying a San Diego Home

“Hi Gary. I’ve never bought a home before and I’m a little nervous. Do you get some kind of warranty when you buy a home?” Answer: New homes offer some coverage by the builder against defects for the first ten years. If you buy a resale home, you can get a “Home Protection Plan” or
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