Price Per Square Foot Won’t Determine Your Home Addition Profit

Question: “I can add onto my house for $200 per square foot and houses in my neighborhood are selling for about $400 per square foot.  Why shouldn’t I just keep on adding onto my house until I hit the maximum the city will allow?  If I can pay $200 and receive $400, I’ll do that
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Will You Have to Pay Tax When Selling Your San Diego Home?

Question: “Hi Gary:  My friend bought a home a year ago.  He’s getting ready to refinance it so he can get money to pay off other debts.  After he refinances he’s going to sell and get another place.  I told him he’d have to pay taxes because he’s had it less than 2 years.  But
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Can You Trade Your San Diego Home For Another?

Question: “Hi Gary.  I’d like to trade down from my house to a nice condo in the beach.  If you find someone who’d like to trade, that would be great…” Answer: I’d love to help you but… The odds of: you liking a specific condo AND that owner liking your specific home AND you being
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Don’t Base Your San Diego Home Price on One Comp

Question: “There’s a house that’s the same as mine around the block that just sold for $500,000.  So assuming I get that price and…” Answer: OK, I know haven’t asked me a question yet.  But I’m going to pretend you asked if you should be able to get the same price that an identical home
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How Long to Wait Before Dropping Your San Diego Home Price

Question: “When we put our home on the market, how long should we wait before dropping the price if it’s not selling?” Answer: Smart question.  Too many people get stubbornly attached to their asking price and ignore the reality of feedback from the market. To answer your question, let’s assume three things: Your home is
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Can a Neighbor Run a Business From His Driveway?

Question: “Hi Gary.  I want to sell my home, but I’m afraid that my neighbor is dragging down my home value because he runs some kind of appliance repair shop out of his garage.  He always has several washers and dryers in his driveway.  Is all that even legal?” Answer: These are the zoning rules
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How to Tell If the Market is Slowing Down or Speeding Up

Question: “How can I tell if the market is slowing down or speeding up?” Answer: One way is by looking at changes in the “absorption rate.” Absorption rate is defined as “the number of months (or weeks) it would take to sell the current inventory of homes at the present rate of sales.” To determine
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Should an Agent Represent Both Buyer & Seller?

Question: “Is it legal for an agent to represent both a buyer and seller?” Answer: Great question.  It’s 100% legal in California.  (Real estate laws vary by state.) Is it a good idea? If the agent is like most and has integrity, it’s perfectly fine.  He or she will not favor either party and will
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Avoid Being Sued When Selling Your San Diego Home

Question: “How can I avoid being sued when I sell my home?” Answer: In California, no matter what you do, you can always be sued. But, you can greatly decrease the odds that a) you’ll be sued, and b) lose if you are sued. Here are three of the seven ways to protect yourself (my
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Selling Your Home Should Be a “No Ego Zone”

Question: “Gary, I’m selling our rental in Los Angeles.  The buyer agreed to buy As Is and we even gave them a home inspection from a previous buyer before they offered.  But now they’re asking for a $200 credit for a water pressure regulator.  My agent told them no, but they’re not backing down.  I’m
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