Can You Just Tell Sellers to Buy As-Is?

Question: “Can I just tell buyers they have to buy my home As Is with no repairs?” Answer: Yes and no. Before I explain what that means, try this fun game: Ask your significant other, “Do you promise you won’t get mad if I tell you something?” If they agree, then say, “Those pants make
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What’s the Secret to a Successful San Diego Home Sale?

Looking to sell your San Diego home? Get a free home value report Buying a San Diego home? Search all homes for sale   Today, we answer the question that’s on a lot of San Diego homeowners’ minds: What is it that sells a home? The first and most important thing you can do when selling
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How to Pick the Right Real Estate Agent in San Diego

 Looking to sell your San Diego home? Get a free home value report Buying a San Diego home? Search all homes for sale When you’re shopping around for a real estate agent, you’ll notice that they all charge different commissions for selling your home. Conventional wisdom would tell you that a lower fee is a
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Why Shouldn’t You Trust Zillow to Find the Value of Your San Diego Home?

Looking to sell your San Diego home? Get a free home value report Buying a San Diego home? Search all homes for sale As San Diego market activity continues to increase, many homeowners are heading to online evaluation sites to check the value of their homes. Today, we explain why websites like Zillow may not be
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Can Sellers Make Electrical Repairs Themselves?

Question: “Hi Gary. We made an offer on a home and the inspector found a few electrical issues. We asked for them to be fixed by a licensed electrician. Then right before closing we found out the seller made the repairs himself, not a licensed electrician. He can’t do that, can he?” Answer: The seller
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This Week’s Crazy Buildings: The Chopsticks

The Summit and The Highcliff by Shing Boning licensed under the terms of CC BY-SA 3.0
This week’s crazy buildings are The Chopsticks in Hong Kong. Individually, they’re the Summit and Highcliff. Together, they’re known as the Hong Kong Chopsticks. Built in 2001 and 2003, respectively, these residential skyscrapers aren’t affiliated, but both have incredible views both natural and man-made. Due to their proximity, thinness and incredible height, they resemble a
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Can You Avoid Taxes by Exchanging into a Property You Own?

Question: “An agent told me that if sell my triplex rental and put $$ into the other side of the duplex I live in that I can avoid taxes. Is that correct?” Answer: Sorry, but no. To defer your taxes, IRS Code Section 121 requires you to exchange into a property that you buy. You
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Why Don’t Buyers Do Home Inspections Up Front?

Question: “Hi Gary. I haven’t bought or sold a home in 30 years, so I don’t know the process.  I just sold my mother’s home and the buyers asked me to discount the price $12,000 after they had their inspection due to electrical and roof issues.  Why didn’t they do their inspection upfront instead of
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Is Now a Good Time To Buy a San Diego Home?

Question: “We’ve been on the fence. Do you think it’s a good time to buy right now?” Answer: That’s a version of what I call “The Crystal Ball Question.” Let me explain… What determines whether it’s a good time to buy? Factors include: Will prices go up or down? Will the for-sale housing inventory decrease
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Tower of Winds

Tower of Winds by Forgemind ArchiMedia licensed under the terms of CC BY 2.0
This week’s crazy building is the Tower of Winds in Yokohama, Japan. A picture doesn’t truly do this structure justice. While the tower merely reflects the rest of the city during the daytime, by night it’s a different story. Computers within the building sense the ambient wind and noise levels, then adjust its 1300 lamps,
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