Local home sales statistics: The San Diego Association of Realtors publishes sales statistics for homes throughout the County. Check out the most recent statistics (latest available is for July 2009).
US Home Sales: Home prices declined 14.9 percent during the second quarter of 2009 compared to a year ago, down from the 19.1 percent annual decline in the first quarter, according to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Report.
Mortgage Delinquencies Hit Record High Nationally: More than 13 percent of homeowners in June were late with at least one mortgage payment, according to a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
New Credit Scoring Model May Help Improve Some Credit Scores With the new "FICO 08" credit scoring changes, one late payment may not have the same effect on your credit score as it previously had.
Household Hints Protect against Wild Fires: As hot, dry weather continues, it's important to consider things you can do to protect your threat against fires. The Institute for Business & Home Safety has a nine-region-specific wildfire property protection guide.
Save Water and Reduce Your Water Bill: Read these ways to save water (and money) outdoors during California's water challenges.
Local home sales statistics: The San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) publishes sales statistics for homes throughout the County. Check out the most recent statistics (latest available is for June 2009).
In challenging markets...like the one we currently face...it's difficult to find new clients.
Why would you even consider firing a client?
Purely and simply, even the best client relationships can turn bad...and when they do, it's time to end them by firing the client.
Most of us are too busy to allow deteriorating client relationships to drain time and energy from attracting new clients and serving existing clients. With that in mind, here are 5 reasons for firing a client.
1. Perfection Obsession
These are the buyers who are obsessed with finding a perfect home, in a perfect location and at a perfect purchase price.
Or they are sellers who insist on selling their homes terms and conditions that they consider perfect.
Perfection rarely exists in our world, and besides, your responsibility is to give clients the best possible service, helping them find the best possible deal...not the perfect one.
2. Lack of Trust
This can cut both ways.
For whatever reason, you no longer trust your client or vice versa.
Since trust is a key element of all client relationships, once the trust is gone for either party, the relationship is essentially over.
3. Miscommunication
Sometimes miscommunication is inadvertent or accidental.
Others times it is deliberate.
In either case, when miscommunication becomes a common element it represents a problem to be addressed.
If the problem of miscommunication itself cannot be resolved, it's time to end the relationship.
4. Conflicting Advice
We all have advisors who offer opinions and suggestions on our decisions.
Some of these people are professionally trained, qualified and well informed. Others are well intentioned but otherwise poorly informed and mis-directed friends relatives and acquaintances.
It is the second group of advice-givers that have the most potential for causing problems in client relationships.
When clients start to be guided more by this group than by your professional advice, it's best to reserve your time, energy and expertise for clients who value it.
If clients do not value what you offer them...fire them.
5. Indecision
Certainly changed circumstances result in changes in clients needs and wants.
However, when clients continually change their minds for no obvious reason, it's hard to be sure of what they really want.
If they don't know what they really want...how can you help them?
Is it not better to devote your resources to helping clients achieve what they know they want?
What other reasons might there be for firing clients?
Actually I am a listing agent. I also work with many buyers. When representing buyers it baffles me when basic professionalism is lost on listing agents. Some listing agents do a disservice to their clients and waste a lot of their own and buyer's agent's time. So, here are 8 reminders for some of the listing agents out there to improve their representation.
1. All available information in the MLS should be included and be correct. This sounds so obvious yet there are so many mistakes, missing data, and unprofessional presentation of the listed property. First, spelling should be checked and double checked. If you're not good at spelling, ask someone else to look over the listing. It really isn't difficult to see that "pols" should really be "pools." Second, don't have conflicting information. If you say that the property is vacant and I should just go, it confuses me if another area says that there is a tenant living there and I must make an appointment. Which one is it? Third, include what type of financing will be considered. Several buyers right now have FHA or VA financing, and some sellers don't want to consider those types of financing. When the financing isn't listed I have to call and/or email to get the information from you. If it's already there it would save all of us a lot of time. Fourth, please update the listing as needed. I enjoy reading that an open house is scheduled for "this Sunday" four months ago. One of my favorites is, "This home will go fast," and the listing has been on the market for 200 days.
2. Numerous, quality photos should be included in the listing. As we all know buyers love photos. Why not include as many as your MLS will allow? Our MLS just began allowing us to include up to 20 photos. Buyers lose interest if there are only a couple photos. Worse, buyers become suspicious that the home must really be in bad shape since photos aren't there. In addition, please use quality photos. If the television is on while taking pictures, turn it off for the photo. Dirty dishes can be removed from the kitchen sink for the few minutes the kitchen is being photographed. Underwear and socks thrown around a bedroom probably doesn't make for the most impressive picture. Turn on lights and open blinds for more lighting. Because there are so many bad photos included in listings, the website Lovely Listings, was created to document some of them.
3. Be available to talk to agents about your listing. If I have a question about your listing, returning my phone calls or email would be most helpful. In San Diego many listings are selling quickly with multiple offers, well over list price. Sometimes there are so many offers that a seller no longer will accept offer submission. If I knew that in advance, I wouldn't need to show my client the home and write up an offer. With many listing agents handling numerous foreclosure listings, the ability to reach anyone is sometimes impossible. If you're too busy to actually talk to the buyers' agents, maybe it's time to hire an assistant.
4. Make it easy to show your listing. Before even listing the home, counsel your client about the importance of making the home available to show, and look for ways to help them understand that it may not always be possible for a prospective buyer to see the home only on Tuesday and Thursday between 4 and 6 pm. If my client wants to see a home and the small window of time allowed by the seller isn't workable they'll probably skip the home altogether. Sometimes a seller is very insistent on when a home can be shown, and no amount of counseling or recommendations by you can change their mind, or a tenant living in the home requires 24 hour notice, or other types of issues exist. I'm not talking about those instances. I get the sense, however, that many sellers just haven't been educated on some basic concepts of home showing.
5. If I send in an offer please let me know the status. This goes back to communication. Most agents are great about letting me know that they received my offer. Other agents won't return a call or email just to let me know that they received the offer. I want to make sure the offer was received. Next, let me know the status of my offer. If you won't be presenting the offer to the seller until after the expiration date just let me know so I can tell my client what is going on. If the seller has accepted another offer I would like to know that my client's offer is rejected. Who likes to get a call from a client that they saw that the home they made the offer on went into escrow when I didn't even hear anything back from the listing agent?
6. Read the purchase agreement and understand it. It shocks me whenever I meet an agent who has never read the entire contract, or doesn't have an understanding of it. These are the terms that the clients are agreeing to. Changes to the terms really do need to be discussed, agreed-to, and put in writing.
7. Remember that buyers have the right to do the inspections that they want. Some buyers opt for a physical inspection only. Others want ten more done. Guess what? If they have the right to inspect, then the home needs to made available to them. I've known agents who are upset if my client's physical inspection runs longer than they think it should. Sellers will sometimes get irritated if they have to open their home for more than a couple inspections. It doesn't help the transaction if buyers can't do what they need to and what they have the right to do, if the seller and seller's agent gets upset. Counsel sellers early on that the buyer can do inspections they need. While this may be inconvenient, it is all part of the process of selling their home.
8. Remind the sellers that they must provide disclosures. Not only those specifically listed in forms, but more. Disclosing the good and the bad helps the seller to possibly avoid future lawsuits for non-disclosure, and, besides, it is required. Even if a disclosure form doesn't have a space for a specific disclosure have the seller put it in writing and give it the buyer. If the buyer asks questions, have the seller answer them, even if they seem trivial to the seller. In addition to discussing the disclosure requirements when talking with a seller I tell them that if they don't want to disclose something because it may "ruin the deal," they better disclose it. Seller disclosure requirements can be expansive. Recently a California appellate court ruled that where a seller of a condo disclosed previous water intrusion and repairs but didn't disclose the previously settled lawsuits by the condo association over the water intrusion, he may be held liable for the non-disclosure of the lawsuits. (Calemine v. Samuelson (171 Cal.App. 4th 153)).
Whew! There are more, but this is a good place to start!
Local home sales statistics: The San Diego Association of Realtors publishes sales statistics for homes throughout the County. Check out the most recent statistics (latest available is for May 2009).
Making Home Affordable loan modifications. What if loan servicers aren't following the Making Home Affordable guidelines to help modify or refinance current loans? The National Association of Realtors provides some tips.
Thinking about buying? Yield spread helps buyers now. Appraisal issues. Problems with the new appraisal process of the HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) have led California Congressman Gary Miller to introduce H.R. 3044, which would place an 18-month moratorium on the recently imposed HVCC. The HVCC was worked out through an agreement between Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the New York Attorney General's Office (NYAG) in response to an investigation by the NYAG into Fannie and Freddie. The purpose of the HVCC was to try and insulate the appraisal process from undue influences. The HVCC attempted to do this by placing tight controls and restrictions on the ordering of the appraiser, as well as purposes for communicating with the appraiser during the process. However, the implementation of the HVCC has resulted in appraisals that cost more, take longer to perform, and are inaccurate.
San Diego home prices. San Diego home prices inching up.
What hazard zone are you in? The California Emergency Management Agency has a mapping program that lets you input your address to see your local earthquake, flood and fire hazards. Results also include a checklist of things you can do to reduce damage to your home. The Seismic Hazard Zonation Maps are prepared by the California Geological Survey and are state-mandated regulatory maps that show "Zones of Required Investigation" for surface fault rupture, liquefaction and landslide hazards.
Test your Earthquake knowledge. Do you know what to do in case of an earthquake? Take a test and get information here.
Add your Business Info to my NEWEST San Diego websitewww.BreakingSanDiegoNews.com I developed a new website, www.BreakingSanDiegoNews.com. It uses www.Twitter.com feeds to give you the latest information. Even if you don't use Twitter, stop by to read the latest on San Diego News, Events, Local Restaurants, Sports, Shopping, Real Estate, Weddings, Jobs/Career, and Classifieds. Posts are updated each minute! If you use Twitter, you can add information to any category on the website when you post something on Twitter. Share your information or come by to see what's happening right now! Also, add your business to my new Business Directory.
Have Investment Property? Get FREE basic investment property management software through my association with T-ReX Global. The free property management software allows you to track up to four investment homes.
Economic forecast: According to the UCLA Anderson Forecast a recession in San Diego will exist for most of 2009, with the residential home market recovering this year. Nationwide, most economists agree. Local home sales statistics: The San Diego Association of Realtors publishes sales statistics for homes throughout the County. Check out the most recent statistics (latest available is for April 2009).
It's not a "Buyer's Market" everywhere. In many areas of San Diego it is impossible for a buyer to buy a home without fighting against many other buyers for the same home. Oftentimes, the home gets sold quickly and for substantially higher than the list price. Because the media inundates us with information that deals are to be found everywhere right now, it is disappointing to many buyers experiencing the market first-hand. This is happening in many areas, not just in San Diego, as this LA Times article discusses.
$8000 Tax Credit can be used for closing cost. Most people have heard that first time home buyers are being given an $8000 tax credit when buying a home. The credit is being extended to allow the $8000 to be used toward closing costs and to go toward additional down payment (over the 3.5% required by HUD).
San Diego's Mandatory Water Use Restrictions begin June 1! Because San Diego is experiencing a water crisis, mandatory water use restrictions go in effect on June 1, 2009. These restrictions include landscape watering for no more than three days per week during specified days and times. For all mandatory restrictions go to the City's Water Department website.
Credit Report Errors? If you see errors on your credit report make sure to get them corrected. Here are some steps to take when disputing a credit report error.
Check out and add your voice to my NEWEST San Diego websitewww.BreakingSanDiegoNews.com I developed a new website, www.BreakingSanDiegoNews.com. It uses www.Twitter.com feeds to give you the latest information. Even if you don't use Twitter, stop by to read the latest on San Diego News, Events, Local Restaurants, Sports, Shopping, Real Estate, Weddings, Jobs/Career, and Classifieds. Posts are updated each minute! If you use Twitter, you can add information to any category on the website when you post something on Twitter (just see the directions on the home page of the www.BreakingSanDiegoNews.com site). Share your information or come by to see what's happening right now!
Have Investment Property? Get FREE basic investment property management software through my association with T-ReX Global. The free property management software allows you to track up to four investment homes.
Helpful Home & Safety Tips Read about 8 household uses for vinegar, which include using vinegar to clean windows and laundry, and to clean produce.
According to the California Association of Realtors (CAR), planting a layer of mulch around trees and plants, such as chunks of bark, peat moss or gravel slows down evaporation. By doing so, 750-1,500 gallons of water can be saved per month. Check out more water-saving tips and information. If you're a San Diego resident, you can get FREE or low-cost mulch and compost. See the information at the City's Environmental Services website.
On May 17 an earthquake hit the Los Angeles area. Some San Diego County residents felt the quake. It's a good time to remember earthquake safety guidelines so you're ready when an earthquake hits San Diego. Check out Ready San Diego's Disaster Preparedness Plan to help you develop your own plan.
June's Cybertips Here are some fun and helpful websites for you to check out. If you have any questions about your home or the real estate market give me a call or email me! Deborah
The Hoover High School senior class is sponsoring a community event for e-cycling on May 16th, Saturday, in the front parking lot of the school:
4474 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA 92115
They will take your used electronic equipment and recycle it for you securely and at no charge.
Here's what you can and cannot bring:
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Acceptable Electronics Equipment:
Most electronics powered by a plug or battery, including, but not limited to: Answering machines Batteries Camcorders CD players Cell (Mobile) phones CPUs/Computer towers Copiers Duplicators DVD players Electric typewriters Electronic games Fax machines Hard drives Laptops Mainframe computers Microwave ovens Modems Monitors (CRT, Plasma, LCD) Pagers PDAs Personal Computers (CPUs, monitors, keyboards, mouse, speakers, peripherals) PBXs Printers Printed circuit board Radios Remote controls Scanners Stereos Tape players Telephones and telephone equipment Televisions (CRT, Plasma, LCD) Testing equipment Transparency makers Two-way radios Uninterruptible power supplies UPSs VCRs Word processors And much more Also: Any separated component from devices (Circuit boards, Mother boards, cords, etc.)
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) from Hoover High:
What happens to my information? All hard drives are sanitized and/or shredded at our facility. Nothing will ever leave our facility with client information.
Why do you need my ID? The State of California requires this information for recycling specific devices (CRTs and LCDs) at no cost. The information gathered is for E-World Recyclers, our host sponsor, and the State of California only. It is not distributed or sold for any other purpose. The State of California requires verification of California sources under the SB20 regulations in order to reimburse recyclers for their costs involved with proper disposal. The state program is intended to benefit Californians and address verification helps ensure that California's tax dollars benefit its residents.
What happens to my electronic waste? All electronics received by E-World Recyclers, a certified collector/recycler, are broken down and separated into raw materials. These raw materials are sorted into streams such as plastic, glass, precious metals, ferrous metals and high and low grade circuit boards, and will be used as new feed stock for equipment manufacturers.
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For more information or if you have further questions please contact the following:
Vicky Banks, AOIT Teacher Hoover High School 4474 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 (619) 283-6281 x4152 vbanks@sandi.net
Deborah Engel | Prudential California Realty | deb@propertybydeb.com | 858-829-1989
13360 Corte Playa Cancun, San Diego, CA
Quiet culdesac in Tierrasanta!
4BR/2.5BA Single Family House
offered at $579,000
Year Built
1990
Sq Footage
2,104
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
2 full, 1 partial
Floors
2
Parking
2 Car garage
Lot Size
5,009 sqft
HOA/Maint
$32 per month
DESCRIPTION
NOT a short sale or bank owned! Quiet culdesac, clean, bright, spacious home on large lot. Move-in ready. Upgraded kitchen counters, refrigerator, porcelain tile, paint, blinds, electric panel. Double oven, lots of cabinets in kitchen. Central A/C & indoor laundry. Bonus workshop space in garage. X-large walk-in master bedroom closet. New, low profile, fire resistant roof vents. Low water landscaping w/fruit trees/garden. NO MELLO-ROOS. Close to shopping, transportation, Mission Trails Park, schools.
Just Listed in Tierrasanta! Beautiful culdesac home in Tierrasanta-4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2104 square feet. $579,000. Check out the online brochure for this home. Let me know if you'd like to schedule a time to see it.
Property Tax Reassessment-May 30th Deadline Apply to have your San Diego County property reassessed and lower your taxes. The tax assessor is reviewing applications for reassessment. Fill out the application and indicate your opinion of your home's value, along with area sales to support the value. If you need supporting sales information please contact me and I'll email them to you. You can apply for the reassessment yourself. Be careful of the tax reassessment scams that have started surfacing.
Market Information and Statistics The San Diego Association of Realtors publishes sales statistics for homes throughout the County. Check out the most recent statistics. See also Market Updates and MLS trends for several areas of Southern California.
Although it's too early to say the market has bottomed out, there are some indicators that prices may be stabilizing. The median price for existing, single-family homes rose 2.2 percent in March in California, according to the California Association of Realtors (CAR). March marked the first month since August 2007 that the state's median sales price rose in month-to-month comparisons. According to the CAR sales and price report, the median price of existing, single-family homes stood at $253,040 in March. Sales in California have risen in recent months, with existing, single-family home sales increasing 63.8 percent in March. Read the full story.
Foreclosure Prevention Plan Additional efforts to stem foreclosures have started by offering lenders and homeowners incentives to cut payments on second mortgages, write down balances on first mortgages that are underwater, and repay loans in a timely fashion. The U.S. Treasury Dept. wants lenders and their customer-service agents to agree to modify both first and second mortgages as part of a comprehensive solution.
Details of the foreclosure prevention plan include: -Decreasing second-mortgage interest rates to as low as 1 percent for five years for some borrowers. -Reviving a Federal Housing Administration effort to persuade lenders to reduce loan balances so that borrowers again have equity in their homes -Funding for the program will come from a previously authorized $50 billion allocation from the $700-billion Treasury Dept. rescue fund established by Congress last year. -The plan would provide cash incentives to both loan officers and borrowers for successful second-mortgage modifications. A loan officer would receive $500 upfront, plus $250 annually for up to three years as long as the loan remains current. Borrowers who make payments on time will receive $250 a year for up to five years. Read the full story.
Postage Goes up to 44 cents on May 11 Yes, another postage increase. Although not necessarily good news, especially since I use the postal service often, I'd still rather pay 44 cents to the post office to get my letter to New York (or even get it across town) than having to get it there myself.
First Time Home Buyers
$8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax CreditGet all the details about the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, including IRS filing guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions.
CAR Mortgage Protection Program California's Housing Affordability Fund launched a program designed to help first-time buyers who are hesitant to enter the housing market due to concerns about potential job loss (and being unable to meet their mortgage payment). To qualify for the program, applicants must 1) Be a first-time home buyer (someone who hasn't owned a home in the last 3 years); 2) Open escrow on a California property April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before December 31, 2009; 3) Use a California Realtor in the transaction, who submits the application; 4) Be a W-2 employee (not self-employed). For Frequently Asked Question, Click Here. For a copy of the Application, Click Here.
Events and Information
Get SDHome Magazine free online.SDHome Magazine, published by the Union-Tribune, is now available online for free. Check it out-you "turn" pages online. It takes a little to get used to but it's great that it is now online.
May events in San Diego. See many of the events that are taking place around San Diego County in May. The San Diego Air & Space Museum is holding "A Day Without Air, Just Space!" festival on May 9th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Check out all the details for this fun event. (Thanks Brent B for letting me know and inviting me!)
And finally, I received the 2009 San Diego Magazine's Best in Client Satisfaction Award (nope, I didn't nominate myself or have to pay anything to get it. ;-) ). See the anouncement here (Page 3). See the video announcement here.
Thank you to everyone for your business and referrals. If I can ever answer questions or provide information please let me know!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
In challenging markets...like the one we currently face...it's difficult to find new clients.
Posted by 
Central A/C
Central A/C
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