What are some Credit Score Myths? 4 Common Credit Score Myths Revealed —Myth #1: You have one credit score— You have three, one from each of the three major credit bureaus. And they can vary 50 points or more. —Myth #2: Your income or wealth impacts your score— They don’t. Your credit score is about

Should I use a family member as agent to help me buy a house? “Hi Gary. I’m going to be buying a home in Clairemont or Pacific Beach. My wife’s uncle is retired, but he has a license and she wants to use him. But I want to use a good full-time agent like you

Proposition 60 and 90 “Hello and thanks for your newsletter :o) I’m trying to keep track of real estate, with an eye to moving from a house to a condo. What’s all this about being able to keep your Prop 13 taxes if you’ve passed your 55th birthday? Are there any catches? Keep up the

“I know it’s a good idea to use a broker to sell a home in Hillcrest, but I need to get every penny out of it and I’m thinking of trying to sell on my own. Can you give me any tips?” ***ANSWER: I understand where you’re coming from. Most of my clients need every

Should I put in New Carpet? “Hi Gary. I’m going to be selling my home in Pacific Beach that you sold me way back 20 years ago. Would you believe I never changed that green carpet?! But it’s all worn out now. So do you suggest I recarpet or just offer a credit instead? I’ve

“I’m going to refinance soon and I want to be sure I don’t have a prepayment penalty. I told my loan person, but how can I be sure?” ***ANSWER: My best friend is a smart, successful stockbroker. His mother refinanced her home awhile back and he told the lender she planned to sell soon and

How to Choose a Lender? “We’re going to be buying a home soon, either in University City or maybe La Jolla. Do you recommend using a bank or a mortgage broker? I’ve heard direct lenders and banks have very limited options, but mortgage brokers can shop your loan to many sources and have a wider

How Much Money Should I put down as my Deposit? “How much should my deposit be when I buy a home? I’ve heard you should make it as small as possible so you don’t lose much if you back out.” ***ANSWER: Small deposits do pose less risk to you as a buyer. But your deposit

San Diego Real Estate Mello Roos Question “We’ve been looking at homes in North San Diego County and sometimes we see an extra fee called Mello Roos for a few hundred bucks a month. I wouldn’t want to buy a property with an extra fee. What is that?” ***ANSWER: In California’s “taxpayer revolt” of 1978,

Agents, Brokers, & REALTORS “Hi Gary. We really enjoy reading your newsletter. We’re going to be selling my aunt’s home in Clairemont soon and will be looking for an agent. I’ve seen several different titles. What’s the difference between a Realtor, an agent, and a broker?” ***ANSWER: A real estate agent in California can have