Licensed since 1984, San Diego real estate broker Gary Kent is a recognized authority on real estate. In addition to selling over 5,500 homes for clients, he has been an expert court witness, trainer of other agents, and he does seminars on home buying, home selling, and investing. Gary has sold homes for The Salvation Army, dozens of major banks, and Fannie Mae, amongst others. You can find Gary on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

How Much Value Does a Pool Add to a San Diego Home?

Backyardpool by Vic Brincat is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Question: “I’d really like to get a home with a pool in the backyard. How much more is that likely to cost?” Answer: Great question. There’s a lot of misinformation amongst the public and even agents on this topic. Some people say that a pool adds no value, while others even say it makes a
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This Week’s Crazy Building: The Walkie Talkie

The Walkie- Talkie by Colin licensed under the terms of CC BY-SA 4.0
This week’s crazy building is the Walkie Talkie Building in London, England. Officially called “20 Fenchurch Street”, this distinctive skyscraper was dubbed the Walkie Talkie building due to its unusual shape. Later, though, the Walkie Talkie began to pick up other, even less flattering nicknames: The “Walkie Scorchie” and the “Fryscraper.” Why the strange monikers? As
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Some Finer Points of 1031 Exchanges

Question: “I sold a rental house for $400,000 and am doing a 1031 tax deferred exchange. There was no loan, so I have $375,000 in my exchange account. I’m buying in Texas and my agent there says I must buy for $400,000. Is he correct? I thought only had to use my cash from the
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Do Repairs Increase Home Value or Just Make It Sell Faster?

Question: “I’m not sure if this makes sense. An agent told me that remodeling and new paint and carpet don’t increase the value of my home, they just make it sell faster?” Answer: That’s nonsense. I’ve heard that many times and never understood the “logic.” All smart improvements should increase the value of your home,
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House vs. Condo: What’s a Better Investment?

Question: “Hi Gary, I don’t really want a condo. They’re not a good investment, with the homeowner fee and that they don’t go up in value. A house is a much better investment, don’t you think?” Answer: I hear that all the time, and I would respectfully disagree. Of course, you have your personal preferences,
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore by Someformofhuman licensed under the terms ofCC BY-SA 3.0
This week’s crazy building is Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This unusual structure consists of three massive building columns, with a long, thin roof section reminiscent of a flattened cruise ship perched across the top. According to the designer, famous architect Moshe Safdie, it was inspired by by a deck of cards. Due both to
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Calculating Value of Multi-Unit Properties Can Be Tricky

Question: “We have four units in Ocean Beach we want to sell. It’s a house plus a triplex in back. An agent calculated the value for us as four units, but shouldn’t the value be equal to the price of a house plus the price of a triplex added together?” Answer: I wish the answer
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Beware Letters Asking to Buy Your San Diego Home

Question: “I got two letters today. One was from someone saying they wanted to buy my rental condo. Another was from an agent saying he has someone who wants to buy my home. Do you think these are for real?” Answer: Yes and no. Almost all letters saying someone (or some group) wants to buy
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Do More “For Sale” Signs Mean a Hotter Market?

Question: “Hi Gary, we’re hoping to buy a home soon. We’re seeing a lot of houses for sale in our neighborhood. Looks like the market is picking up. Would you agree?” Answer: Actually, seeing a lot of For Sale signs is more indicative of the market slowing down than picking up. That’s because a hotter
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Asahi Beer Hall

Asahi Beer Hall by rsk licensed under the terms of CC BY 2.1 JP
This week’s crazy building is the Asahi Beer Hall in Toyko, Japan. As you may have guessed, it’s the main office of Asahi Breweries. The brainchild of French designer Philippe Starcke, Asahi Beer Hall was completed in 1989 and includes two highly unusual structures. The main building is over 300 feet tall and 22 stories.
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