This Week’s Crazy Building: Solomon’s Castle

Credit: Soloman’s Castle by Sam Howzit licensed under the terms of CC BY-2.0
This week’s crazy building is Solomon’s Castle in Ona, Florida. As strange as this 12,000 square foot home looks at first glance, it only gets weirder from there. It was built in the 1970s by Howard Solomon over the course of twelve years in the middle of a Floridian swamp. Inspired by medieval castles, he
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Can You Buy Real Estate in Your IRA?

Question: “Hi Gary. Do you know if you’re allowed to buy real estate in your IRA?” Answer: Yes, we’ve helped clients do it and I’ve even done it myself a few times. You must have a self-directed retirement account with a company (aka “custodian”) that allows real estate IRAs. And you must follow the rules,
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The Crystal Ball Question & The Definition of Value

Question: “I know the market has recovered most of what it lost, but I still don’t think I can get what my home is worth. When do you think we’ll fully recover to 2006 prices?” Answer: First, a non-answer, then a comment… Non-Answer Your question of when will we retake the peak of the 2006
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Deciding What San Diego Home Features to Compromise On

Question: “I own a 3-bedroom condo in Pacific beach and I’d really like to trade it for a house with a yard and keep my monthly payments the same. Do you think that’s possible?” Answer: Yes, depending on what you’re willing to give up. You may be able to sell your condo and buy a
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This Week’s Crazy Building: Harpa Concert Hall

Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Center by Sarah Ackerman licensed under the terms of CC BY 2.0
This week’s crazy building is the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland. Completed in 2011, Harpa is the home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. It was also meant to include a hotel, apartments, shops, restaurants and other facilities, but those plans were abandoned during Iceland’s financial crisis. This unusually angled structure seems to burst out in
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Can You Identify More than One Property to Buy in a 1031 Exchange?

Question: “We’ll be selling a rental house in Alabama and want to buy something here doing a 1031 exchange. I know we have to designate what property we’re going to buy within 45 days of closing the Alabama house. Can we identify more than one?” Answer: Yes. Here are the 3 options you have for
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Is It Okay For Buyer’s Agents to Contact the Seller?

Question: “We have our home listed and an agent who showed the house called us asking about why we’re selling, when we’d like to move, and if we had other offers. Is that normal?” Answer: Absolutely NOT! That practice is unethical and possibly illegal. The only communication the buyer’s agent should initiate with you should
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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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