Do Agents Lie & Say There’s a Second Offer?

Question: “My wife and I rent and there’s been a house for sale down the street. After driving by it for 4 months, we decided to make an offer. When we did, suddenly the seller’s agent said he had another offer. It seems all too coincidental. How often do agents lie and say there’s a
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What San Diego Home Utilities Are Required?

Question: “My wife and I have never bought a home before. I heard that legally the home has to be of a certain condition to sell. Specifically that the plumbing, heating, electrical, and appliances must work, and that the roof is watertight. Is this correct?” Answer: No. There is no such law. The old California
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Who Should Fix Problems the Inspector Finds?

Question: “I was in escrow buying a home and had the home inspected. The inspector found several items that he told me the seller should fix. But the seller refused to fix them all, including a broken pool heater and replacing the roof, which was old but didn’t leak. I wasn’t too happy when they
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Are There One-Bedroom San Diego Homes?

Question: “I’d like to buy my first home. I don’t need a lot of space; one  bedroom should be enough. I don’t want a condo. Is there such a thing as a one bedroom house?” Answer: One-bedroom homes are very rare. I doubt that even close to 1 in a 100 homes have just one
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Why Don’t Home Flyers Show Property Taxes?

Question: “We’ve been driving around pulling property flyers from for sale signs. Why don’t the realtor flyers show the taxes on the property?” Answer: Because the taxes the current owner is paying are irrelevant. In California, properties are reassessed when they’re sold. The approximate rate is 1.1% of the price per year. And that goes
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Do Sellers Fix Problems Found After You Move In?

Question: “What if I buy a home and find a problem after I move in? Does the seller have to fix the problem?” Answer: Unless you have proof that the seller knew about the problem and didn’t disclose it, it’s your home and your problem. That’s why most people get home inspections and home warranties
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Should You Get a Home Warranty to Buy a San Diego Home?

Question: “Do you recommend my wife and I get a home warranty when we buy?” Answer: (A home warranty is a 1-year insurance policy that covers certain things that can go wrong with the built-in appliances, plumbing, electrical, and heating of a home. They have deductibles up to $100. Extended coverage can cover roofs, pools,
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The First Step to Buying Your San Diego Home

Question: “My wife and I have never bought a home. What’s the first step you recommend?” Answer: Step #1 is getting preapproved by a good reputable lender. In this way, you’ll find out: The maximum price you qualify for The maximum price you’re comfortable with What your payments will be Any qualifying challenges you need
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A Vacant Home Doesn’t Mean a Desperate Seller

Question: “There’s a home I’m interested in. Since it’s vacant, the seller is probably motivated and I can hopefully get a good deal and…” Answer: Hold on! Don’t assume that because a home is vacant that the seller is motivated and will sell below market. While that’s true in some cases, I’ve had many clients
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How Many Days Do You Get to Inspect a San Diego Home?

Question: “How many days do you get to inspect a house?” Answer: The default or standard time period in the California contract to do your “inspections and investigations” and object to the results is 17 days. However, that number is often shortened, and almost certainly shortened if you’re buying a foreclosure. So be sure to
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