Are There Still San Diego Short Sales & Foreclosures?

Question: “Are there still any short sales and foreclosures? I don’t see them anymore.” Answer: Remember 2008-2011 when it was so rare to see a home offered that was NOT a short sale or foreclosure that we referred to them as “traditional sales”? In many neighborhoods (Eastlake, Spring Valley, etc.), if your life depended on
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365 Things to Do in San Diego: Jan. 8–14

Every Monday throughout 2015, I’ll be bringing you a list of exciting activities to do throughout San Diego—one for each day of the year! From food to sports to arts and culture, there’s something for everyone in America’s Finest City. January 8: Take a walk, ride a bike or have a picnic at Mission Bay Park in Pacific Beach.
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365 Things to Do in San Diego: Jan. 1–7

Every Monday, starting now and throughout 2015, I’ll be bringing you a list of exciting activities to do throughout San Diego—one for each day of the year! January 1: Kick off the new year with a bang: do the La Jolla Cove Swim Club’s Polar Bear Plunge. January 1–4: Check out the latest models of your
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How to Know if Your San Diego Home is Your Principal Residence

Question: “Hi Gary, My wife and I want to sell our home in La Jolla. We live part of the year in Phoenix and part in San Diego. We want to get the $500,000 principal residence exclusion. How do we know which one is my principal residence?” Answer: According to industry journal California Real Estate
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Should You Wait Till Summer to Sell Your San Diego Home?

Question: “Do you think it’s a good idea to wait to sell until next summer when prices are up?” Answer: You’re making a BIG assumption that prices will be up next summer. How do you know this? Do you have a time machine?  Is it because everyone says – incorrectly – that summer is
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San Diego’s Changing Housing Market

Question: “My wife and I were looking for a home a few months ago and gave up. We were tired of making offers and losing out to higher bidders and cash buyers. But I’m seeing a lot more for-sale signs. Do you think the market changed?” Answer: Yes! While most of the media is months
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Can You Trade Your Pacific Beach Condo for a House?

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: What are you willing to give up? You may be able to sell your condo and buy a small 2BR
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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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Don’t Hire a Property Manager to Do an Agent’s Job

Question: “My property manager is licensed, so we’re going to go ahead and list our rental with her and…” Answer: Hey, did you hear the news about the Chargers?! This season quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates are going to swap positions. Gates at QB and Rivers playing tight end. No big deal.
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San Diego Market Update: March 2014

How’s the real estate market doing? Well, here’s a quick summary. As you know, we had gravity-defying roller coaster thrill rides: Up (2001 to 2006), down (’07 to ’11), and up again (’12 to mid-’13). Since then, the market has been a bit tamer: June ’13 thru Sept. ’13: Flat Oct. ’13 thru Nov. ’13:
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