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How to get your deposit back

Friday, 28 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “When is a deposit supposed to be refundable and when is it supposed to be forfeited?” Answer: Great question…long answer! Deposits tend to be fully refundable provided you have not broken the contract and you still have active contingencies. Said another way… Your contract gives you certain contingencies, which are rights to exit the
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What is the average deposit when buying a house?

Friday, 28 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “Does a $15,000 deposit on a $1,000,000 home seem low to you?” Answer: No. An average deposit is about 1 to 1.5% of the purchase price. So that deposit sounds right.
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Are appraisals usually below the actual home value?

Friday, 28 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “I want to know what my home is worth. I had it appraised for $1,200,000 in June. Aren’t appraisers usually conservative?” Answer: One of the longest-running myths in the history of real estate is that appraisals are usually conservative, meaning below the actual value. I can tell you from repeated personal experience that, on
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Why Zillow doesn’t reflect your home value after a remodel

Friday, 21 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “We fully remodeled our house over the past year, but the Zillow estimate is about the same. What’s wrong with their formula?” Answer: I tell anyone and everyone: Never, ever depend on Zillow or any automated valuation for your home value. In your case, not only are automated valuations inherently unreliable, but Zillow would
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How long should I wait to buy a home after having credit problems?

Friday, 21 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “My wife and I have had a lot of credit problems, including a car repossessed. But we’ve kept good credit for the past couple of years. Now we’re finally ready to buy our first home. Will the lender find all our old credit problems? If so, how long do we have to wait before
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Is an attorney necessary when buying a home in California?

Friday, 14 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “Do I need an attorney when I buy a home?” Answer: First of all, I would NEVER tell you not to have an attorney review documents or answer questions for you. And in many other states, attorneys handle the closing instead of escrow companies, like we do here in San Diego. That being said,
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Why home sellers should not talk with buyers

Friday, 14 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “We live half time here and half time in Michigan. We’ve decided to be full-time San Diegans and have our home for sale in Michigan, where we’re at until the house sells. I’m a pretty chatty guy, but my Realtor there said I shouldn’t talk to buyers and their agents about the sale. Do
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The problems of owning an investment property with a partner

Friday, 14 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “What do you think about investing with a partner?” Answer: It can be a great idea to help you invest in something you otherwise couldn’t. And at the same time, while most partnerships go just fine, I’ve also heard many stories of problems. For example: One party doesn’t fulfill their end of the bargain,
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Does a large lot always equal a higher property value?

Friday, 14 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “We’re looking at a home on over a quarter acre, most of it is on a hillside and unusable. The agent we’re working with keeps telling us that the huge lot means the property is worth more. Is it?” Answer: If the large lot means you have greater privacy, a view, can add an
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How do I get a bridge loan?

Friday, 07 February 2020 by Gary Kent
Question: “Do they still have bridge loans, where you can temporarily borrow against a home you plan to sell so you can buy your next home?” Answer: Good news! Bridge loans are back, finally! My preferred lender just told us he can now get our clients a bridge loan. For more info, call me at
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