“Should I let the buyer move in early to make repairs?” ***ANSWER: NO! Letting the buyer of a property move in before closing for ANY reason is WAY too risky. Let me count the ways: 1. Liability for injury, etc. 2. Possibility they may change their mind once they’ve spent a few nights. 3. See

“Hi Gary, love the blog. I want to sell my condo and a Realtor suggested a price based not only on comps, but also on condo conversions in the area for sale. She feels the ‘new everything’ in the conversions (plus the 4% commission to the broker) makes for tough competition to standard resale condos.

“What do you think of buying at a real estate auction?” ***ANSWER: There are different kinds of real estate auctions, including foreclosure sale auctions, probate “auctions” (called overbids), and auctions put on by private auction firms. We’re actually involved in one of the latter that’s happening tomorrow. Here are six things you should know in

“Last year I had a plumbing leak that led to mold in my laundry room. A mold remediation company handled everything and the mold test came out 100% clear. Do I still need to disclose it when I sell my home?” ***ANSWER: Definitely. The law says you must disclose anything that could “materially affect the

“Hi Gary. I talked to a lender and they said I’m qualified to buy, but I need help with costs. How do I put in the contract that seller pays all my escrow costs?” ***ANSWER: First, let’s get the words right. You want help with CLOSING costs, not just escrow costs. In April, I represented

“I’m a real estate investor and I’d like to start buying short sales. How do you suggest I start?” ***ANSWER: I don’t. Quick background: A short sale is when a home’s loan balance is too high to allow a sale, so the bank agrees (after much negotiation and a 45-90 day process) to take less

“I’m going to sell my house this summer. I know how important it is to price your home right. So I plan to get 3 agents’ price opinions and then hire the agent in the middle? Is this a good idea?” ***ANSWER: It’s terrible. And dangerous. 2 reasons… Reason #1: Whether it’s a high price

“Hi Gary. I really enjoy reading your newsletter. I have a question. My wife and I will be buying our first home in San Diego. Do the buyer and seller both attend the closing, or just the agents?” ***ANSWER: None of the above. Practices vary by geography. In some states, the buyer, seller, agents, attorney,

“What are interest rates today?” ***ANSWER: That used to be a simple question with a simple answer. But now, even if you’re just asking about today’s fixed rate, you have to answer these questions: 1. Fixed for 3,5,7,10,15, or 30 years? 2. Interest only or amortized? 3. Amortized for 15 or 30 years? 4. No

“Hi Gary. Our kids have finally moved out on their own. We love our four bedroom home, but we only need two bedrooms plus a den. Do you know of homes for sale like that in our neighborhood?” ***ANSWER: Want my best advice? Shut the door of your fourth bedroom and forget about it. Then