When Are Sellers Liable for Lack of Disclosure?

Question: (From clients whose home I sold in San Diego.) “We found some serious structural damage to the addition of the home we just bought here in Texas. Kelly and I would appreciate your opinion given your expertise in real estate. We were told the addition was permitted but can find no documentation of it.
Read more
No Comments

Showings with Tenants in Multi-Unit Properties

Question: “Hi Gary. I want to sell my triplex and was wondering how you handle showings with the tenants?” Answer: Typically, once you move from single family to multiple units, the showings are handled as “show with offer.” This is done for two reasons: Out of fear that if the tenant knew the property was
Read more
No Comments

Don’t Base Your San Diego Home Value on an Appraisal

Question: “My home was appraised a couple of months ago for $725,000. What price do you think we should ask?” Answer: It depends on what your home is worth. But wait a second… You just had it appraised for $725,000, so that’s what it’s worth, right? Not necessarily. Check out the example I’ve reproduced to the right.
Read more
No Comments

Why Won’t Agents Tell You What a Home in Escrow Sold For?

Question: “There was a house I liked, but I dithered and someone else got their offer accepted. The sold sign is up, but when I called the agent, she refused to tell me what it sold for. Is that normal?” Answer: Yes, that’s normal. Until the sale closes escrow, it could always fall through and
Read more
No Comments

How Much Do Property Managers Charge?

Question: “I just inherited a couple of rental properties from my dad and don’t want to manage them myself. Can you give me an idea of what property managers charge?” Answer: Happy to. Depending on the property, managers usually charge 5-10% of the rent. Of course, that’s for their services only and doesn’t cover expenses
Read more
No Comments

Is Artificial Turf Better for Your San Diego Home?

Question: “Does replacing grass with artificial turf increase property value or not?” Answer: Great question. I used to say absolutely not. Now I’ll soften that and say probably not. But, with this water shortage, shouldn’t artificial turf make a home more desirable and slightly more valuable? As I’ve said before, people buy on emotion and
Read more
No Comments

What to Do on a Walk-Through Home Inspection

Question: “I’ve never bought a home before. What do I look for on the walk through inspection? Is that when you hire a contractor to look at the home?” Answer: The walk-through inspection, or as it’s now called in our contracts, the “final verification of condition,” is the inspection you do right before closing. You
Read more
No Comments

New Listing: 1838 32nd Street

Check out our new listing, a Pinterest-worthy house on 32nd Street in South Park! Its unique features include slate counters made from reclaimed billiard table, fir hardwood floors taken from a Boeing warehouse, and a “foodie” kitchen with a roll-up door opening onto a spacious deck. Interested? Give us a call today at (858) 457-5368.
Read more
No Comments

This Week’s Crazy Building: Raja Gopura

This week’s crazy building is Raja Gopura in Murudeshwara, India. A gopura is an ornate monument tower at the entrance to a temple. At 20 stories and a staggering 237 feet, Raja Gopura is one of the tallest on earth. Two life-size elephants guard the steps leading to its gateway. This is the entrance to
Read more
No Comments

Funding Your Residential Rental Purchase

Question: “I have several rentals and want to buy another property, perhaps a little house. I’d like to come up with as little cash as possible. What do I need to put down?” Answer: To buy a residential rental, you’ll need at least 20-25% down, plus closing costs of around 3%. But here’s a good
Read more
No Comments
TOP