Finding Out the Bank’s Appraisal of Your San Diego Home
Sunday, 12 February 2012
“When I sell my home, will I find out what how much the bank appraises it for?” Answer: If the appraisal comes in at the sales price or higher, the bank tells us the appraisal was “sufficient” or some similar term, but they don’t usually release the price. If it’s low, they do tell us
- Published in FAQs, Home Selling
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Selling San Diego Real Estate Without Too Much Tax
Tuesday, 07 February 2012
“I’ve owned San Diego real estate for 40 years and I’m tired. I’m 71 and want out of being a property manager. My wife and I own a 7-unit apartment complex in Normal Heights. Any ideas on how to sell it without paying a lot of tax?” Answer: Here are SIX ideas for you: 1.
- Published in Home Selling, San Diego
7 Easy Fixes for Selling Your San Diego Home
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
“We’re planning to sell our home. We’ve done a beautiful remodel inside our home, but our front porch is shabby. From reading your newsletter we know how important a good first impression is. Can you give us ideas to improve it that won’t cost too much?” Answer: Of course, I haven’t seen your home, but
- Published in Home Selling, Real Estate Tips
What Happens to the Lease When Selling Your San Diego Home
Monday, 09 January 2012
“Hey Gary. We want to sell our parents’ old La Jolla home in the Muirlands area. The thing is it’s leased through the end of July. If we sell, what happens with the lease? Do you think a buyer will just take it over?” Answer: Leases “run with the property,” not the owner. That means
- Published in Home Selling, Real Estate Tips
Don’t Let Fluctuating Prices Control Your Decisions
Monday, 02 January 2012
“I could have sold my San Diego home in 2005 for $600,000, but now it’s only worth $475,000. I don’t want to take such a big loss.” Answer: (Question from reader who paid $290,000 for his home in 1998.) You need to have a short memory. What you could have gotten was an unrealized number
- Published in Home Selling, San Diego
Have FHA Loans Become More Expensive?
Thursday, 29 December 2011
“I heard FHA loans have become more expensive. Is that true?” Answer: They’ve become both more expensive and cheaper. How could that be? Several months ago, HUD (Dept of Housing and Urban Development) changed how they charge the “MIP” or Mortgage Insurance Premium on FHA loans. The upfront premium due at closing has been trimmed
- Published in Home Financing, Home Selling, Real Estate Tips
Finding the Value of Your San Diego Home
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
“We need to sell our home and my husband wants way too much for it. There have been several homes sold in our neighborhood that show what our home is worth. But my husband keeps pointing to two high sales to justify his price. One sold 10 months ago and is almost a mile away.
- Published in Home Selling, Real Estate Tips, San Diego
Hiring a Busy vs. an Idle Agent
Thursday, 15 December 2011
“We have a home we’ll be selling soon and want to be sure we hire the best agent. So here’s my question: which is better, hiring an agent with lots of homes for sale, or an agent with few or none?” Answer: Which is the better restaurant, the one with the vacant parking lot or
- Published in Home Selling, Real Estate Tips
Home Sales Tax After 2012: Fact or Fiction?
Thursday, 08 December 2011
Not sure if you got one of these emails: “Another Obama Nightmare. Did you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it? That’s $3,800 on a $100,000 home etc. When did this happen? It’s in the healthcare bill. Just thought you should know.” Answer: I’ve
- Published in Home Selling, Real Estate Resources
Marketing Your San Diego Home “As Is”
Thursday, 01 December 2011
“A Realtor told me we can market our home “As Is” and not make any repairs. Is that a good idea?” Answer: No, for at least two reasons: 1. Marketing “as is” gives many homebuyers and agents a sneaking suspicion that your home has problems you don’t want to fix. This will lead to buyers
- Published in FAQs, Home Selling, Real Estate Tips