Offering on the San Diego Home You’re After

“My wife and I found a Pacific Beach home we want to buy. The list price is $525,000. What do you think a good offer would be?” Answer: Probably $515,000. Or $535,000. Or perhaps $400,000. Your question is impossible to answer until you tell me: 1. What is the home worth? (You should have a
Read more
No Comments

Should You Go to Where You Bank for a Mortgage?

“Do you recommend I go to where I bank to get a mortgage? Will they give me some kind of preferential treatment?” Answer: The answer would have been “yes” 50 years ago. However, today it’s very rare for a bank to give any significant benefit to one of their customers who gets a mortgage. Call
Read more
No Comments

Finding the Value of Your San Diego Home

“We need to sell our home and my husband wants way too much for it. There have been several homes sold in our neighborhood that show what our home is worth. But my husband keeps pointing to two high sales to justify his price. One sold 10 months ago and is almost a mile away.
Read more
No Comments

How We Can Help You Buy Outside San Diego

“Hi Gary. Thanks for your emails. You did a great job when you sold our condo in San Diego. Now that I’ve moved to Los Angeles, I’ve decided to go ahead and buy a home here. Can you help me buy a home in L.A.?” Answer: I’m honored that you want me to help you.
Read more
No Comments

Hiring a Busy vs. an Idle Agent

“We have a home we’ll be selling soon and want to be sure we hire the best agent. So here’s my question: which is better, hiring an agent with lots of homes for sale, or an agent with few or none?” Answer: Which is the better restaurant, the one with the vacant parking lot or
Read more
No Comments

Having Defects Fixed vs. Dollar Credit

“My wife and are planning to buy a La Jolla home. We know to hire a home inspector to find any major defects in the home. If such defects are found, do you suggest asking for the item to be fixed or for a dollar credit?” Answer: I usually recommend to all my clients, be
Read more
No Comments

Is APR the Best Way to Shop for a Loan?

“Is APR the best way to shop for a loan?” Answer: From my preferred lender, Robert Geiler of Rancho Financial: “The APR was developed to show borrowers the true cost of getting a loan as an interest-rate rather than a dollar amount. It was supposed to make it easier for to compare rates because, theoretically,
Read more
No Comments

Home Sales Tax After 2012: Fact or Fiction?

Not sure if you got one of these emails: “Another Obama Nightmare. Did you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it? That’s $3,800 on a $100,000 home etc. When did this happen? It’s in the healthcare bill. Just thought you should know.” Answer: I’ve
Read more
No Comments

Buying a Messy San Diego Home

“My wife and I have been looking at San Diego homes and can’t believe how much of a mess some are. We went into one that had piles of old newspapers and junk stacked all the way to the ceiling. I’d never buy a home in the disgusting condition some are offered in. Do agents
Read more
No Comments

Are Owners Carrying Back Notes?

“Are many owners carrying back notes nowadays? I almost never see it offered. With savings interest rates in the 1% range, you’d think it would be very common.” Answer: Good question. I agree with you that many owners would benefit by “being the bank” and letting the buyer make payments on a first or second
Read more
No Comments