Hot On San Diego Real Estate Blog

Do You Want To Attract Internet Savvy Homebuyers?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:44:44 -0600

To effectively work with today’s internet savvy homebuyer, you need an internet savvy Realtor

Windermere was the first real estate company to feature an interactive listing map on their website, allowing visitors to conveniently search for properties from the comfort of their homes.
Windermere Exclusive Properties was the first real estate brokerage in San Diego to launch a companywide blog site. It is updated daily with real time news, powered by more than 100 active agent authors, including HotOnSanDiego’s Sue Johnson & Misty Dobson.

We are the only real estate brokerage in California with our own multimedia production company and green screen studio. Our team of videographers and directors support agents with everything from professional photography to full motion video.

Windermere developed an exclusive virtual toolset that allows us to reach, track and engage buyers on an international level.

Windermere listings are syndicated to thousands of websites through the most sophisticated internet property plan ever developed.

If you want access to the greatest tools technology has to offer, chose us, your Windermere Agent ! Email us at: HotOnSanDiego

Do You Want To Attract Internet Savvy Homebuyers?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:43:18 -0600

To effectively work with today’s internet savvy homebuyer, you need an internet savvy Realtor
<ul>
 <li>Windermere was the first real estate company to feature an <a title="Interactive Property Map" href="http://www.windermere.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=listing.SearchLanding" target="_blank">interactive listing map</a> on their website, allowing visitors to conveniently search for properties from the comfort of their homes. <a href="http://www.hotonsandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/windermere-agent.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1066" title="windermere-agent" src="http://www.hotonsandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/windermere-agent-193x300.png" alt="windermere-agent" width="193" height="300" /></a></li>
 <li>Windermere Exclusive Properties was the first real estate brokerage in San Diego to launch a <a title="Windermere's Company Blogsite" href="http://www.pictureperfectsandiego.com/" target="_blank">companywide blog site</a>. It is updated daily with real time news, powered by more than 100 active agent authors, including HotOnSanDiego’s Sue Johnson & Misty Dobson.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>We are the only real estate brokerage in California with our own <a title="Our Green Screen Studio" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-Wn9Uk0lWw&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">multimedia production company and green screen studio</a>. Our team of videographers and directors support agents with everything from professional photography to full motion video.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Windermere developed an <a title="Our Virtual Toolsdet" href="http://pictureperfectsandiego.com/files/2009/10/Web-2.0-Book.pdf" target="_blank">exclusive virtual toolset</a> that allows us to reach, track and engage buyers on an international level.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>Windermere listings are syndicated to thousands of websites through the most <a title="The Best Technolgoy & Internet Marketing Plan" href="http://www.hotonsandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Web-2.0-Book.pdf" target="_blank">sophisticated internet property plan ever developed</a><a title="The Best Technolgoy & Internet Marketing Plan" href="http://www.hotonsandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Web-2.0-Book.pdf" target="_blank">.</a></li>
</ul>
If you want access to the greatest tools technology has to offer, chose us, your Windermere Agent ! Email us at: <a title="Email Our Team" href="mailto:rrj2020@gmail.com" target="_blank">HotOnSanDiego</a>

Brookside Escondido Homes For Sale - Current Listings and Statistics

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:21:45 -0500

Search Brookside Escondido Homes For Sale

Trying To Time The Bottom Of The Market Before Buying Your Brookside Home? Ten Points To Talk About With Your Lender

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:36:04 -0500

Are you thinking of buying a home in Brookside Escondido? If so, with the world of financing having been turned upside down in the last year, reviewing your options is what our team recommends to our clients and in conjunction with our team's lender.

The right or wrong decision when signing your home mortgage can mean thousands of dollars difference in interest paid. There are very important considerations to evaluate before you commit to a 15 or 30 year note. For many of us, our mortgage payment is the most important financial decision we’ll ever make. Doesn’t it make sense to know as much as possible about the financing of our home? Take the time to thoroughly investigate all of your options!

Unbelievably many of us sign the first mortgage placed in front of us. Typically the excitement of the new home purchase reduces the mortgage to not much more than an afterthought. What you read here could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Your real estate professional has established relationships with the top lenders in your area. By aligning yourself with a professional agent you ensure all the financial steps are taken care of properly and economically.

1. Utilize a Lender With Established Ties to an Agent- Lenders are much more flexible with the real estate agents who have done business with them previously. Their relationship establishes them as a team member. The lender and agent work effectively together. That’s why a good agent can make substantial difference in setting up the most economical financing. And the right financing can, literally, save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan!

2. Don’t Attempt Paperwork Alone- All the paperwork required to complete the purchase of a home can be quite intimidating and frustrating for a home buyer. Make sure you have your lender help you with all the paperwork. Get help from your team, your lender and agent. Their expertise will help alleviate the stress and it will prove to be invaluable before you sign your mortgage.

3. Look at All Your Options- Make sure you see at least 3 loan programs for your mortgage. Lenders have at least 5-7 programs and should work with you and your agent on deciding what is best for your circumstances. Evaluate all your options. After all, it’s your money you’re spending - not theirs!

4. Demand Service- There is little difference between a bank, savings and loan, or a mortgage broker when it comes to the competitiveness of their loan rates. The difference is in the service they provide. It is their job to serve you! You want to get the loan approved and move into your new home as quickly as possible, but don’t overlook the fact that you are the one spending the money and they are the ones who should cater to your needs. Don’t let the process become so intimidating that you lose that understanding.

5. Stay in Complete Touch- You should receive a written report from your lender concerning every step. This will ensure that no details are overlooked and there will be no surprises.

6. Don’t Give Up on the First No- Initial decisions are not always final decisions. Going to a higher authority can sometimes get you the loan, but do so with the assistance and compliance of your lender and agent. Many times, special circumstances, when explained properly to the person in charge, will win you the loan.

7. Don’t Wait for the Bottom of the Market- The odds of your hitting the bottom of your market are about like the odds of you hitting your state lotto! You will almost never hit the bottom of a market. And trying to time it exactly right is often costly. It usually causes a person or family to miss out on the opportunity to purchase a very nice property. You’re better off simply negotiating the best rate and terms you can at the time you find a property. If interest rates go down, you can refinance. This is a much better approach because you won’t miss out on the property you’ve spent so much time locating.

8. Be Honest With Your Lender- Your lender wants to help you with your loan. The only time they get paid is when you get approved. The more information (good or bad) you provide your lender, the easier it will be for them to get an approval. It helps them present the loan in the best light. This in turn helps the loan get the highest approval rating.

9. Become Completely Educated- Pick your lender’s brain. Lenders will teach you all about your various options, even if you haven’t found the right property yet. They will be very patient with you while you are looking, especially if you have aligned yourself with the right agent. They understand all the up-front work will pay off in future business. Your agent will then continue to refer people to the courteous and service-minded lender on down the line.

10. Get Pre-qualified- Lenders will provide you with a certificate of pre-qualification. By getting pre-qualified, you know exactly what financial parameters to stay within. Your agent and lender will consult with you and help you get qualified for the loan that best fits your needs. Many times, they are able to get you a larger loan than you may have thought possible.

Getting approved for a loan is often times much easier than you might think. If you've been house hunting in Brookside Escondido, you know that prices are at levels we haven't seen in years. Great neighborhoods, excellent amenities and fabulous prices and loan rates make this a perfect time to buy. So if you are really trying to time the bottom, remember that we won't know what it truly was until it's passed.

How Do You Find The Right Realtor?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:59:03 -0500

As a Branch Manager for Windermere Exclusive Properties it’s my job to spread the word on why our brokerage is a great place to work. With all of the “consolidation” going on in the San Diego real estate world, it’s been hard for me to get out because our phones are starting to ring off the hook.

Our phones are ringing because we are the company that is different than the rest and agents are looking for better, more innovative companies to hang their license with.

I had a really good interview today with a recently relocated broker associate who is considering joining our company. As always, I try to convey an accurate portrait of our company and what it’s like to work with us while getting to know the potential new agent.

I always end up saying the same things… “It’s our culture that makes us different” and “we’re like a family”, which sound sort of cliche’ish ( I know this isn’t a word!)

When I interview for our offices, I look at the person in front of me and try to visualize how they will “fit” within the office. Most often, I end up apologizing for talking too much and going on too long (I do love my company!) instead of being a good interviewer and asking lots of the boring traditional questions.

When I do get to the questions I like to ask, I’m usually able to bring to the top what the agent is really looking for in a brokerage, and what they need to succeed.

REALTORS are starting to get that it’s not all about us anymore. People don’t care what million dollar clubs we belong to. They’re not impressed with our image websites with pictures of our dogs and cats or our beautiful families. People want the local info, the stuff they can’t find on Zillow or Trulia.

They will gravitate to those agents who can provide them with this type of service. We teach this everyday! At one point in my interview, I told the interested agent that at our brokerage, every agent donates a portion of their commission on every transaction we close to the Windermere Foundation.

The amounts vary but every closed transaction results in money going to a good cause. I was asked where does the money end up, and while I answered the question, it made me think of a video we produced that answered the question far better than I ever could. Watch The Video.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4yJeeQ3LWs[/youtube]

The real estate professional of today needs the support, resources, and tools that a company like Windermere Exclusive Properties can provide them with.

Marketing in general and online marketing especially are critical for today’s homeseller. Providing the right information to buyers today is hugely important, who now have the capability to know just about everything about a property before it’s ever seen in person.

We provide the support and the tools and the education to our agents that consumers need today. What our professionals are looking for, even in tough economic times like we’re experiencing today, is to feel good about what they do and how they help people.

It is The Windermere Way.

If you are looking for a professional real estate representative, you can count on Windermere. My interviewee today was that professional, and would fit right in to our family.

I hope she joins our team! To find an experienced agent who can help you navigate today’s ever changing market, click on this link.

11 Reasons Why Investors Win Using An Experienced Real Estate Team

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:18:11 -0500

Using Sue Johnson’s Team to Help You Find a Home

Whatever your reasons for buying, know that finding the right home, in the perfect neighborhood and at a cost that is within your budget, is no small task. There are many buyers in the market right now taking advantage of investment opportunities that exist because of the perfect storm of affordable prices, low interest rates, and motivated banks and sellers.

Having the right representation can mean the difference between success in obtaining the right property while this window still exists at the right price. Our sales associates are licensed professionals with specialized skills. We work with many savvy investors who value their time and require professionalism and ethics. There are many benefits you receive from working with our professionals.

As your Buyer’s Agent-

1. We can save you time by doing a lot of the legwork. By knowing your needs, We can eliminate homes that do not meet your criteria.
2. We will mak
3. We know the local market and can quickly narrow down a few areas where you are likely to find your home at the price you want.
4. e appointments, preview homes with you and help you determine the pros and cons of each home.
5. We have access to the multiple listing service (MLS), a service that provides access to thousands of homes for sale.
6. We can provide information and make appointments to see almost any property listed for sale. A home does not have to be listed by us in order to get detailed information or an appointment to view.
7. Once you find the home you want to buy, we will guide you through the negotiation, legalities and details of purchasing a home.
8. We work with many investor buyers in today’s market. There are many homes for sale right now that will positive cash flow.
9. We are very experienced in working with Short Sale & Bank Owned properties. We know the “in’s and outs” and how to get your offer accepted.
10. We have Foreclosure lists available to you.
11. We give honest, personalized service and give you the facts.

Our Advice:

Get pre-approved. Do you already know how much home you can afford? There is nothing more frustrating than looking for a home, finding the perfect home, and then discovering that it is out of your price range.

Sign up for Property Watch. In order to make an educated decision you need to know what is available and how much it is going for. You can browse all the active listings from our website.

Remember, if you have any questions we are always just a phone call or email away.

Government Poised To Make Historic Moves To Strengthen Our Economy

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:23:15 -0500

Huge headlines, scary story lines, and big government moving at breakneck speed to shore up our economic backbone. You are undoubtedly hearing about an eminent and massive move by the Federal government to finally get its arms around the national, indeed global, financial crisis. The latest courtesy of my friend and Branch Manager Paul Gonzalez at our sister company CW Mortgage.

We are writing to you today to briefly shed some light on what this may mean to you and I. It will be historic, with nothing in our Nation’s history to compare to it. And this is going to happen literally in a matter of days.

The Federal government appears to be preparing a new entity that will purchase most, if not all, bad mortgages that are currently on the books of lenders and banks, and possibly Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Federal Reserve, US Treasury, Securities and Exchange Commission, Congress and the Administration are feverishly working on this as I am writing this, and will continue through the weekend and into this coming week.

When a bank has a lot of bad loans on its books, it must set aside equal amounts of cash to offset the bad debt and protect its stockholders. This is currently tying up tens of billions of dollars that could otherwise be pumped into the financing system. This has also caused, or been a primary factor, in the collapse of institutions including IndyMac Bank and Lehman Brothers, among many others.

The intended effect of the Federal plan will be to free up huge amounts of capital that lenders and banks will again be able to lend as mortgages and other types of consumer financing.

The plan will likely resemble the Resolution Trust Corp, or RTC, which was set up in 1989 to clean up the portfolios of bad debts that resulted from the Savings and Loan crisis of the times. . All this is vitally important to you and I, and all real estate professionals, and will warrant our close attention over the next few days and weeks.

If such a plan is enacted we will expect to see investors and banks more willing to invest money into the mortgage financing system. Increasing the amount of funds in the system should, over time, bring down the interest rate spreads and lower interest rates.

In the short term, be prepared for wild swings in the stock, bond and mortgage markets. Volatility will be likely rule the day until the global markets begin to sense greater stability and lower risks in putting money into the financing system.

Government Bailouts Increase Buying Power for Homeowners

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:14:38 -0500

One of the most important functions of our Government is to help individuals and corporations when they are in trouble.

Last Sunday, our Government made a strategic decision to officially bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The decision is obviously great news for the two mortgage giants, and homebuyer-hopefuls should be just as excited – you’re going to benefit, too!

Although the bailout is a complicated issue, it is better than the alternative – the failure of two companies that own or guarantee about $5 trillion in home loans!

A complete failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could have lead to a catastrophic freeze in the mortgage market because of the lack of money to fund new loans.

The bailout is positive news and is exactly what the housing industry needs right now. The CEO’s of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are being replaced and the new heads will report to the recently formed Federal Housing Finance Agency – which was created under our friend the Housing and Economic Recovery Act.

There will be an injection of up to $100 billion into each of the two companies which should help lower mortgage rates and add stability to the economy. Lower rates and added stability will entice banks to become more willing to write new purchase-money loans and refinance existing loans.

Since the announcement, we have already seen a dramatic decrease in rates. From September 5 to September 8, Conforming 30-year fixed rates dropped about a half percent!

In my twenty-five years of financial and real estate experience, I cannot remember a time when rates decreased that much in such a short period of time.

Buyers are coming out of the woodwork asking how much more they can afford at these lower rates. With their buying power significantly increased, everyone is excited by the homes that are now in their price range.

San Diego is a particularly fortunate place to be if you want to buy a new home. A recent report by Global Insight, the global leader in economic and financial analysis, showed that San Diego homes are undervalued by more than 17 percent. This is a dramatic drop from 2005; at that time our city was overvalued by more than 39 percent.

The combination of lower rates, increased buying power and a newly affordable inventory of housing makes this a fantastic time to buy a home.

The key will be for the rates to hold at these low levels. Remember, lower mortgage rates alone will not solve the housing predicament.

The highly unregulated, Wild West of loan guidelines we experienced a year or so ago helped get us into a mess and the market is still in a corrective period. Reasonable rates, fair guidelines and a properly valued market are our way out.

It is still hard to tell how all of this will be absorbed in the long run and there is no quick fix to the housing situation, but combined with other recently passed legislation, we are making fantastic progress.

Brookside Escondido Neighborhood Report September 2008

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:16:16 -0500

Brookside Escondido continues to be a wonderful value! Located in North Escondido and adjacent to Reidy Creek golf course, Brookside is a gated community of 262 homes. This neighborhood is a fabulous value for anyone looking for large homes (from 2550 square feet up to over 3600 square feet), both single story and two story, large lots (minimum lot size in Brookside is 10,000 square feet) and lots of other amenities. It's also a gated community, with walking trails, low homeowner fees, and no mello roos! Below you'll see a chart (click on it to see a larger version) that shows the current listings and the five most recent sales. There are a few "Bank Owned" homes, and a couple of short sales as well. If you would like more information on Brookside, please call or email us. We not only list and sell Brookside, but we live here too!

Save Gas, Time & Money with these Real Estate Search Tips

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:11:40 -0500

The secret to having more Time and Money has been sought after by people for thousands of years. Recently, we have added a new item to the list of things to lust after…GAS.

While prices have come down slightly over the past week, they are anything but low. The average price for mid-grade gasoline in California is $4.23 while the U.S. average for mid-grade gasoline is $3.93 (data from from U.S. Energy Information Association, 8/11/08).

High gas prices wouldn’t be so bad if we were only driving a couple miles a day, but the majority of Americans are driving much more than that. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that we drive an average of 13,476 miles per year.

At 20 miles per gallon and $4.23 per gallon, we are spending $2850.17 a year on gas. Sigh!

Real Estate agents suffer even more than the rest of us as they tote clients up and down the coast, from property to property. Anyone searching for a new home understands this plight…

So now the great challenge is to find a way to save time, money AND gas. It is definitely a challenge, but it is not impossible.

Follow the tips below and you will be well on your way to conserving our most prized possessions while you search for a new home.

Drive Less

I know that sounds like a terrible inconvenience, but it actually can be quite the opposite. Advancements in technology have armed the Real Estate community with powerful new tools that allow buyers to virtually tour properties, neighborhoods and communities.

A savvy agent will be able to show you satellite images of potential homes and track traffic in the area. You will be able to eliminate homes that aren’t right for you without wasting time or gas.

In the past real estate agents would have to show their clients 15 to 20 homes before they would find one that they like. The drastic improvements in our ability to preview properties through the internet have lowed that number - now agents typically show clients only 6 homes before they fall in love.

Translation: Eliminate homes that aren’t right for you through electronic tours and save precious time and gas.

Get More Gas for your Money

If you can’t resist the temptation of taking the drive to a potential home, you can stretch your gas tank farther with these tricks.

Fill Up in the Morning: Gas is kept underground in tanks. In the colder morning ground gas becomes more dense and you will get more gas in your tank.
Don’t Squeeze the Nozzle Trigger: The faster the gas pumps into your car, the more vapor that goes in with it. Keep it at a slow speed and load up on gas, not air.
Fill Up Well Before Empty: Gas evaporates quickly when exposed to air. If you keep your tank at least half full at all times (so there is less air in the tank) you will minimize evaporation and maximize value.
Find a Less Expensive Gas Station: Use this website to search for the gas station near you with the lowest prices.
Beat the Traffic: The stop-and-go of traffic will dramatically reduce your highway miles per gallon. Use this site to find traffic-free routes.

There is no quick fix for the Gas-Time-Money quest, but there are things you can do to make the best of it. Use a technology-friendly agent to eliminate homes you don’t need to preview in person and stretch your gas miles as far as they will go. Oh — and if anyone comes up with the secret to unlimited time, be sure to let me know!

July 2008 HomeDex Report Screams Buyer's Opportunity!

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:56:56 -0500

The July 2008 HomeDex report is out and has some great stats. We’re happy to share the info with you and would be happy to supply you with the full report. Just email us if you want a copy. Here are some of the findings below:

Single-Family Detached Home Prices

•The median price for all homes in North San Diego County – single-family
detached and single-family attached – was $418,000 in June 2008.

The median-priced single-family detached (SFD) home in North San Diego
County fell 4.85 percent to $490,000 in June 2008 from $515,000 in May 2008.

•SFD median prices in Non-North County zip codes fell 3.75 percent to $385,000
in June 2008 from $400,000 in May 2008.

•June 2008 median SFD prices in North San Diego County decreased 26.5 percent
year over from $667,000 in June 2007. Median price declined 28.34 percent in
Non-North County from $537,250 in June 2007.

•The countywide median SFD price decreased to $418,000 in June 2008 from
$435,000 in May 2008, a 30 percent decrease from June 2007.

•The median days-on-market for North San Diego County SFD homes remained at
50 days in June 2008. The average number of days-on-market decreased to 73 in
June 2008 from 75 in May 2008.

• The SFD median price-per-square foot fell to $240 in June 2008 from $249 in
May 2008, and down from $305 in June 2007.

As you can see prices have continued the downward trend and interest rates are still incredibly low. As we’ve said many times, no one has the proverbial crystal ball, and the investors are back in droves. If you’re still sitting on the fence wondering what to do, you’re probably going to miss a great buying opportunity. If you’re waiting to get into a home and think you can time the bottom, talk to my ex-stockbroker.

Otherwise call you agent and seize the opportunity!

Homedex Reports and the information in them are supplied by the North San Diego County Association of REATORS®

Skyrocketing Gas Prices In San Diego Impact Realtors

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:37:42 -0500

I had to stop for gas yesterday on my way home, having milked my gas tank down to 3 miles remaining. Since I was driving my Mercury Mountaineer SUV, I paused to think as I looked at the $4.47 price per gallon. I did a quick calculation in my head…$4.47 times 21 gallons, gee that’s over $90 bucks! And that didn’t include the quick drive-thru car wash I was going to get and desperately needed.

After the pump stopped filling up, at $97.43 (I guess my tank holds a little more than 21 gallons) and I added the $10 car wash, my stop cost me $107.43 cents! As I pulled out of the wash, looking down at my “miles remaining” guage, my vehicle told me I could go another 311 miles until the next day that I would be totally depressed. That works out to about a whole lotta cents per mile. At these costs, thoughts of getting a bigger better and newer SUV evaporated and were replaced with the thought of that itty bitty car, what’s it called, the “smart-car”.

Now somehow I just don’t see me or my fellow REALTORS carting around people in one of these. Does it even have a backseat? What’s funny is that just last week I saw one truckin down Hwy 15 that was “wrapped” in advertisement and the owner was a REALTOR!

I don’t remember what the name of the REALTOR was or his company name, but I guarantee you that I’m on the lookout for him. Is this the next big thing for us real estate pro’s? Are we showing our clients that we are no longer wastefully driving around previewing homes for our buyers burning large amounts of gas? And then I wondered…how would I feel about my REALTOR if he showed up to meet me at a property driving one of these things?

What with all the history behind rising gas prices, OPEC, the War in Iraq, don’t you ever feel like your just the victim of world politics? There’s a funny video on YouTube that was forwarded to me…click the arrow at the bottom of this page.

Most successful REALTORS drive nice cars. It’s been a part of our culture for many years. Part of the vision I had for myself when I decided to get into the real estate business was a mental picture of me in my big black Mercedes 500 series. Is that image now going to be replaced by a smart car?

The price of gas has definately been a water cooler topic around my offices. REALTORS are becoming more creative, planning more carefully, and even carpooling more because of the price of a barrel of crude oil. For those of us who were driving back in 1974 (I had just gotten my license a year or two earlier), I can remember the impact it had on American car makers. Big Chevy Impala’s were replaced by the Vega and Ford’s Pinto. This was a very depressing period of time for those of us who enjoyed the 60’s muscle cars.

So on behalf of all my fellow REALTORS, I hope and pray that our government does something to reduce the price we pay at the pump to something more reasonable. Gas prices seem to be at the top of people’s minds when they think they have to cut and save. This will definitely have an effect on our housing market recovery and lengthen the time it takes.

I’m not ready for the smart car yet, and I can’t sell my SUV because nobody wants to buy one now. So I guess I too will have to be more creative and plan more carefully my routes, but it’s not gonna stop me from being the best REALTOR I can be!

Click This Link to View The YouTube Video : Click Here

Sex In The City And San Diego Real Estate

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:36:46 -0500

By Donna Tabor, Director of Management Services
Windermere Exclusive Properties

Most everyone we know loves episodes of “Sex in the City” (ok…fine…most women). “Hello Lover”! I myself am an avid fan and have religiously watched it for years and often find my life running parallel to Carrie Bradshaw. Thus my words of wisdom to other busy, single women who sometimes find themself in the dilemma of needing to do the right thing vs. doing the fun thing… One episode comes to mind while renters are looking for another place to rent or are thinking of buying a place during this time.

Carrie was trying to buy her apartment and she couldn’t because she realized she had spent too much money on her Jimmy Choo and Manolo Bilanik shoes, which by the way can cost up to over $1000 per pair. WHAT!! “Really Carrie! shouldn’t you do the right thing by saving for that apartment instead of doing the fun thing and buying those HOT SHOES!!” If you remember or didn’t see it, “Big” gave her a check for the down payment but she ripped it up and eventually received a check from her best friend, Charlotte, and all was good. You have to love sisterhood! Then her significant other, Aidan, stepped in to buy the other apartment and began to remodel.

If you’re single, in a big, popular city…New York, Chicago, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Are you financially able to buy real estate if you do not have a significant other, spouse, friend, if you have children, or not?? Well, reality is, rentals have increased in price, especially the HOT places.

In San Diego County, you look for a rental in the HOT places that fit your budget, you go check it out, and it turns out to be a dump. Owners who want to rent have the upper hand right now because lenders have such difficult criteria to purchase a home, so most return and give up to renting. Oh, but it’s such a great market to purchase bank owned property right now, so this is said!

Well, most of us love our shoes or whatever. So it’s a toss up. Should we buy shoes that make us look fashionable and HOT, or should we save and buy an apartment….out here in San Diego, it’s called a “home” or “condo”. Well, I must tell you…I’m all about looking hot and sexy and I would go for the shoes, but dreams of owning a home prevails.

Bottom line. If you’re an independent contractor and you have tons of write offs in order to fore-go paying high taxes (in compliance with the IRS I must add), you are pretty much unable to qualify for a loan to purchase a home, unless you want to buy one that is built to apartment specifications, or a tear down or shack somewhere in an unsafe neighborhood. Hello! Single mom or women in these neighborhoods? No thank you. I’d rather buy the Jimmy Choo or Milano Bilanek shoes!!! By the way, this message is for the median income or lower income buyer/renter, not the buyers or sellers out there that make $80K/year or more…whatever lenders are looking for now.

If you have a significant other and one makes a salary of approximately $40K/year, but the other is an independent contractor and has write offs to avoid taxes, you’ll probably have to rent. Then we have the owners and landlords taking advantage of the tough stipulations lenders require to buy a home at this time, so the rents have increased, even if it’s a dump on the coast. So, if the rents are high, how can we save for that 3% or more down payment for that dream home?

So, just forget a’bout it and do the fun thing, buy those fashionable shoes for the time being…you may as well look HOT. “HELLO LOVER” - Carrie would approve!

Want To Hire A Realtor Who Agrees With You?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:33:15 -0500

By Ron Brownell, Branch Manager For Windermere Exclusive Properties

In your search for a qualified and educated Realtor to work with on the marketing of your home or the search for a new home, there a few things to keep in mind. Your professional Realtor will supply you with facts and information to make a truly qualified decision about timing, price, marketing strategy and staging your property.

You may not necessarily agree with their evaluation of what the list price or the suggested offer price might be, however you can and should feel confident that you have hired an agent with the experience and ability to understand and be able to explain the market conditions of the specific area you are interested in.

They must also be interpreting the “Comps” and “Conditions” that exist in your neighborhood to help in your making the very best decisions.

So many times, Sellers and Buyers will lose out on the first few attempts because they did not “trust” the opinion of their Realtor.

This frequently results in lost time and quite often dollars.

If you don’t have confidence in the professional person you have chosen then you are undoubtably working with the wrong person.

Have confidence in your Realtor, and happy selling!

Real Estate Blogs & Indiana Jones

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:48:37 -0500

Having spent years developing websites, both as a REALTOR^® and as the Director of Business Development for Windermere Exclusive Properties, I’ve sometimes felt like Indiana Jones on a quest for the Arc of the Covenant. The “Arc” I’m after is a page-one search result from Google, the greatest treasure an agent can give their clients.

Unfortunately, like the elusive golden Arc that Harrison Ford pursued, the hunt for premium search results entails exorbitant amounts of money, cutting edge technology and a team of loyal web-lackeys. Or at least, it used to. Today, there is another way your agent can increase the traffic your listing receives.

You’ve probably heard about them; perhaps you’ve even read one. Some of the most adventurous among you may even have your own. As you probably already guessed, I am talking about the latest phenomenon to rock the virtual world -the blog.

While the concept remains somewhat obscure, web logs or blogs are becoming increasingly common. These user-generated sites feature continually refreshed information, bold graphics and they don’t shy away from opinionated content. Blogs are bursting with personality, encourage reader-feedback, and they are dramatically changing the way we do business.

Agents with good business savvy and the support of a technology driven brokerage can leverage their blog to rise in search engine results and drive tremendous traffic to their listings. Blogs allow smart agents to communicate the unique features of a home to a national audience. They are an open forum for your agent to advertise your home, promote open houses and elicit feedback from potential buyers.

Like Indiana Jones embarking on his latest crusade, real estate agents must embrace the blogging movement if they want to get through it unscratched. Your agent should publicize your home online and write about your property on real estate blogs to ensure maximum exposure. By creating this dialogue about your property, neighborhood and community, your agent can help you achieve outstanding search results and reach buyers across the country.

Diving in to a new adventure is never easy, and if we’ve learned anything from movies, it’s that you should never go at it alone. That’s why you should look for an agent who has the support of his brokerage behind him. Work with a company that understands the way today’s homebuyers search for property and has the technology to give your home the attention it deserves.

Blogging can be the gateway to a host of real estate treasures - affordable advertising, high traffic, interested buyers - make sure you hire yourself a good guide!

Rancho Bernardo Real Estate - Calling All Families!

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:44:31 -0500

More than a property, 17159 Patina Street is an experience! Located in the gated community of Bernardo Point and adjacent to 4S Ranch, it’s private and convenient to all.

Sitting on a large lot on a beautiful street, you’ll live in a very desirable neighborhood. With its nicely done landscaping and entertaining backyard, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your own oasis while being just minutes to everything the Rancho Bernardo area has to offer.

This architectural beauty offers the perfect balance of functionality and design, along with modern luxuries. Dual entry doors welcome you to the large open living room with vaulted ceilings and dining area. Lots of big windows will bathe you in light, and lead you out to the relaxing backyard.

A downstairs guest bedroom and bath, large laundry room with built in sink and door to the outside, and beautiful wood laminate floors demonstrate why our seller’s loved this home and are only selling due to a job transfer.

You’ll enjoy the convenience of a large kitchen which adjoins the family room with fireplace, perfect for the family that like to spend lots of time together.

Upstairs you’ll absolutely fall for the huge master bedroom and large master bath suite, complete with separate soaking tub and large shower, his and her sinks and large walk in closet.

A loft area off the top of the stairs is near the three additional large bedrooms for the kids, one of which could be made into a functional home office. For those with school age children, this home is located in the award winning Poway School District.

Great Kitchen to make the Family Dinner with large center island with cooktop.

Terrific Family Room adjoins Kitchen

A Giant Master Bedroom is there for you to relax…see the fabulous Master Bath Suite below…

Finally, check out the spacious and private backyard with stamped concrete patio…

Designed for an active and social family, the home features proximity to Interstate 15 and Route 56, the new 4S Commons shopping center, Westfield North County Mall and much more.

Inman News Interview - What's In Store For The San Diego Real Estate Market?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:19:32 -0500

Recently, I received a request by Glenn Roberts of Inman News to do an interview with him in regard to the San Diego Real Estate market and its recovery. The following are his questions and my answers as to how we’re doing and what we can expect in the weeks and months ahead.

The article will be featured in a series that is taking a look at the
housing market’s recovery.

Some questions:

1) How do you define real estate bubbles?

A bubble is a periodic rapid increase in real estate values that sustains itself until such time as the market will not support further prices increases. Bubbles are invariably followed by severe price decreases over a relatively short period of time.

2) Does San Diego’s market rise and fall reflect this definition of a real
estate bubble? Explain.

Yes and no. Over a five year period from 2003 through 2007, San Diego real estate values soared to record levels, followed by significant price adjustments in certain areas of the county. Inland San Diego County and the South Bay reflect this definition of a bubble; however Coastal areas from Downtown North have not exhibited a decline as severe.

3) What led to the rise in San Diego’s market, and what triggered the
beginning of the downturn?

Many factors led to the rise. Location, demand, low interest rates coupled with a lack of sound underwriting practices by lenders and the expectation of future profits by investor oriented individuals. What triggered the beginning of the downturn was demand was satisfied and supply began to rise, subprime mortgage money became much harder to obtain, and negative financial news began to dominate the headlines causing loss of consumer confidence in the housing market.

4) What stage of the market cycle is San Diego now in?

We believe San Diego is at or approaching the bottom of the cycle. A recent Wall Street Journal article states that the boom made housing unaffordable for many families, especially first time homebuyers. Recent statistics reveal that the affordability index has now risen from a low of 14% to over 33%. In April of 2008, single family home sales are a mere 3.55% below the April 2007 levels and indications are that this turnaround will soon result in sales exceeding comparable 2007 levels. (See attached chart 2004-2008 SFD Closed Through MLS.)

5) What makes San Diego’s real estate market unique when compared to other
markets that saw rapid rises and then declines in home prices: such as Las
Vegas and Miami?

San Diego is unique. We live in a paradise with perfect weather and geographical boundaries that naturally limit our growth, thus making San Diego even more coveted. Our economy here is sound, not dependent on any one industry or huge employer. Every year we have a net gain of people moving here from all over the world, and buying real estate. Although we have standing inventory of condo’s and new homes, this nventory doesn’t compare with the numbers in Miami or Las Vegas.

6) Are such market cycles in San Diego inevitable? And bound to happen
again? Any lessons learned from the latest run-up and downturn?

Absolutely! They are bound to happen again as real estate markets historically show us. I guess the lesson taken from our recent experience is how rapidly things can change.

7) What segments of the San Diego real estate market were most impacted by the
run-up and the downturn? Entry-level homes? Luxury homes? Single-family
homes? Condos? And why?

The most impacted segment has been the low end, entry level single family detached homes and condos. During the run-up, first time buyers were being priced out of the market. The market adjustment has caused those same first time buyers to be locked out of the market due to the lending changes that have taken place over the past couple of years.

What are important signs to watch for in signaling a recovery of the San
Diego real estate market? Any of these signs present already?

The factors that signal the recovery of the market is that we are not seeing an overabundance of new inventory and we are starting to see the investor buyer coming back into the market. Furthermore, we are seeing a mild stabilization in home sales prices. Lastly, buyer activity levels have significantly increased over the past few weeks.

9) What is the current state of the market in terms of year-over-year sales,
prices, inventory, days on market, foreclosures and short sales?

The current state of the market is that today, homes are selling for significantly less in 2008 versus 2006. Fewer units are being sold, and more of the transactions fall into the category of “short sales” and foreclosures. We are currently experiencing a “flattening” of inventory; no significant increase or decrease of units on the market. We anticipate that the number of foreclosure listings will increase throughout 2008. Based on most of the “bubble transactions” pre 2006 which had loans that are now being recast in 2008. It is that bubble that we are dealing with today. According to most experts, this bubble should wash through our San Diego market by late 2008 or early 2009.

10) What percentage did prices rise during the run-up and how long was this
period, and what percentage have prices fallen during the downturn and how
long has this period been?

Most of us feel that the five year run up from 2001 through 2006 was the greatest single appreciating market in history. Statistics vary by area, but in San Diego County we saw homes double or even triple in value over this period. Declining home price trends have now been common in many areas of the county for a year or more, with the hardest hit areas in inland North County and the South Bay declining by 25 to 30 per cent.

11) What is the outlook for demand? What is the state of consumer
confidence, buyer and seller behavior, and buyer psychology in the San Diego
market?

We feel the demand in San Diego County has always been, and will remain high. The buyer mentality to date has been cautious and looking for the “bargain”. The seller mentality to date has been, “I’m going to sell if I have to sell”. Most seller’s who don’t have a specific reason to sell, i.e. recasting their loan, relocation or simply outgrowing their home have by and large made the decision to wait. Consumer confidence in San Diego County, like most places is driven by our economy at large; and therefore still remains somewhat weak. The factors that will start to turn consumer confidence will be the stabilization of home prices, job stability, and overall “good news”.

12) Are there any myths, misperceptions about the current state of the San
Diego market?

Perhaps. Consumer perception becomes reality. Due to extensive inventory, the decline in prices and historically low interest rates, today’s home buyer is in the best position they have been in many years. The misconception is that the buyer can wait and prices will continue to decline. Reality tells us that you can never time the lowest point of a market.

13) When will it be clear that the San Diego market has fully recovered from
the downturn? How far away is that, in your opinion?

The clearest signal that the downturn is over is when inventory has decreased and prices start to rise again. When will this happen? This is virtually impossible to predict. We believe we at or near the bottom now. Throughout 2008 we will go through a period of adjustment and believe that in 2009 the market will start to swing back in the other direction.

We thank Inman News for contacting us and for using HotOnSanDiego as a source for San Diego Real Estate news and information.

Please read our other blog at www.HotOnSanDiego.com

A Valley Center Masterpiece!

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:12:14 -0500

Valley Center Rare Home Available

A Valley Center Masterpiece!

More than a property, 29059 Tangelo Way is an experience.

The gated estate sits on nearly three acres of awe-inspiring land. Oversized King Palms frame breathtaking mountain and valley views, while vibrant flowers pepper the lush landscaping with bursts of color.

This masterpiece offers the perfect balance of natural beauty and modern luxuries. Enjoy the convenience of built in intercom, surround sound, security and purification systems while lounging in a plush great room complete with wet bar, custom media center and dual French doors.

Designed for an active and social family, the compound features an expansive recreational courtyard that rivals most 5-star hotels. Grand stone stairs spill into a magnificent split-level, entertainer’s patio. The pebble-bottom pool shines deep blue and a waterfall spills from the attached spa into the water. Nearby are two fully equipped barbeque islands, a gas fire pit, personal putting green, regulation size All-Sports Court, outdoor living room, gigantic playground and five perfectly manicured lawns. And we haven’t even gotten to the guest house yet…

Highlights

Exterior - Landscaping

Oversized King Palms frame breathtaking mountain and valley views while vibrant flowers pepper the lush landscaping with bursts of color

Five perfectly manicured lawns self-maintain with an automated sprinkler system

Delicate outdoor lighting accentuates the hand laid stone walls, expansive patio and surrounding landscaping

Entertainment

The split level, recreational courtyard offers multiple floors of entertainment and relaxation, all on a bed of elegant stone slab

Grand stone stairs spill into magnificent entertainer’s patio, complete with two barbeque islands and a stunning gas fire pit

The barbeque islands have built in refrigeration, stainless steel grills and sinks, a warming drawer and a kegerator
The pebble-bottom pool shines deep blue and a waterfall spills from the attached spa into the water

An 18″ deep section of the pool is section off by a short wall so that smaller children can play in safety

The automated PoolSafe cover keeps the pool warm, clean and kid-safe

An All-Sports Arena provides a full-size basketball and tennis court for athletes of any age. The lighting systems will allow you to play day or night.

Practice your short game on the personal putting green while the kids play in the oversized sandbox and playground

Interior - General

Graceful arched doorways and vaulted ceilings add to the grandeur of the compound while the custom architecture shows an attention to detail

Striking wood shutters lend functionality and beauty to windows throughout the house

Plush carpeting and gentle paint offer new owners the perfect palette to personalize their home

A comprehensive surround sound system lets you play music in any room in the house, guest house and in the courtyard

Rooms

Dual French doors and dramatic windows fill the great room with light and showcase the stunning backyard

The great room features a built in media center, fully equipped wet bar and regulation size pool table (included!)

A designer study sits near the front entry, providing a quiet work haven with full view of the living room

Entertainers and chef’s alike will relish in the designer kitchen. There is plenty of counter space, a granite center island, stainless steel appliances, gallery ovens, a double refrigerator, full back splash and built in wine rack.

The master retreat is a getaway in itself. Enjoy a custom walk-in closet, large private bath and French doors that open to a personal patio

Attached to the master suite is a polished master bath with custom lighting fixtures, deluxe shower with dual shower heads, elevated whirlpool spa, his & hers sinks, vanity center and designer tile

There are two bedrooms in the children’s wing; both have custom closets, window treatments, vaulted ceilings, plush carpeting and easy access to their personal bathroom and media center

The multifunctional guest house boasts 900 interior square feet with a full bathroom, kitchenette, office and an additional 900 square foot indoor/outdoor living room

The spacious indoor/outdoor living room was designed for poolside lounging with ceiling paddle fans and hanging TVs

Extra storage is available in multiple crawl spaces and a large shed

Lifestyle

Enjoy the privacy of an automated-entry, gated estate lined with mature landscaping and full property fence

Safety features include: a state of the art security system, built in safe, alarm-coded gate, full property fence and front door with viewing-window

Built with care, this home makes living easy with a fully functional intercom, central vacuum system, numerous storage options and a top chef’s kitchen

More than just beautiful, the estate is also environmentally friendly. New energy efficient windows, a heat conserving pool cover, numerous ceiling fans, dual heat and air conditioning systems and an air & water purification system conserve energy and protect the environment.

This might be the right property for you, if…

You enjoy entertaining and want a property that lends itself to fabulous parties for children or adults.

You are active and need a house that can keep up with you! You enjoy sports, swimming, lounging and playing with your kids and pets.

You are tired of cookie-cutter developments and want a property that is truly unique and undeniably exquisite.

You would be proud to say that your backyard is as beautiful and functional as a 5-star hotel.

You believe in natural beauty and appreciate a home that works with its environment to create a personal oasis.

You love a good sunset, deep breaths of mountain air, the smell of fresh flowers and the taste of fruit picked from your personal orchard.

Your family is of the utmost importance and you require a home that is kid-friendly and offers the latest security features.

You could use a second onsite home as a guest house, pool house, personal gym, home office or private retreat.

You want a house that works for you, not the other way around. Features like self-regulated sprinklers, time control outdoor lighting, push-button pool covers, built in surround sound, and intercom systems appeal to you.

Valley Center Information

http://www.vcchamber.com/
· Complete demographics and city data

http://www.city-data.com/city/Valley-Center-California.html
Points of Interest

Pikake Botanical Gardens

Bates Nut Farm Local farm hosting country events, it is regionally famous for its pumpkin patch around Halloween time.

Valley View Casino sits on a hill overlooking the local middle school.

Fat Ivors BBQ restaurant located at 27961 Valley Center Rd.. It was recently burned down accidentally, but has since been rebuilt.

Lake Wohlford Local lake that allows public fishing; allows small boats.

Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve

Valley Center History Museum Home of the Famous Grizzly Bear, 29200 Cole Grade Rd, (760)749-2993

Escondido Real Estate Prices Lure Buyers Not Newspapers

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:10:17 -0500

Here in North County, especially in the inland corridors of communities like Escondido, buyers are resurfacing in large numbers. The reasons are simple…prices have declined significantly and interest rates are really low, and it adds up to more buying power for those in the market for a new home or investment property. You would think the opposite if all you did was read the newspapers.

Today I got up and read the headline in the business section of the local Sunday paper, headline reading “Real Estate Crisis About To Get Worse”. The story went on and on about how the number of foreclosures are expected to rise and continue to rise throughout 2008. The story continued on two additional pages and the secondary headline on the next page read “Crisis” continued from page one. The author talks about real estate agents being at odds with “analysts”.

Further, I was confused by the quote attributed to their “analyst” that went as follows; “I am more wondering when is this thing going to blow up, and you’re already talking about light at the end of the tunnel”. Huh? (No, I did not misquote or mistype, this is actually what was printed). The quote was attributed to “an investor and former real estate broker” (actually still a real estate broker…I looked him up). But just as I was trying to find the meaning of this utterance, I realized what this was; just another opinion from someone who is probably not active in today’s market standing on the sideline barking negative information. Oh yeah, and the newspaper’s attempt to sell more papers.

I’m feeling less and less sorry for my local paper, as they are quickly being put out of their misery by the internet. What was once three sections and maybe 15-20 pages of real estate advertisements has shrunk to practically nothing. Why? It’s an old school medium that is frantically trying to turn all of their former print advertisers into advertisers on their internet portal. For years and years, many great local real estate brokers paid lots of money for what is essentially “presence” advertising in local papers, and are now being assaulted on an almost daily basis with three month old news and random predictions.

Next month, the National Association of Realtors “2008 Internet vs. Traditional Buyer Survey” will come out and it is expected to show that over 80% of us use the internet to help us with the search for real estate and related information. Listing aggregation websites like Trulia are seeing huge growth in their number of monthly users.

We’ve all determined that putting our listings online where we can display dozens of photos, virtual tours, satellite images, school information, walkscores along with just about anything else you can think of that runs 24/7 all over the world at a fraction of the cost…is more valuable than one picture (sometimes blurry) and very small for a one day run with a declining readership in a limited area.

Today I helped my wife (who is a local Escondido Realtor) hold an open house in Brookside. We had over twenty five people show up for it, and by the way she did not advertise it in the local fishwrap. We met several nice people, including three different couples looking to buy in Brookside since prices have come down and made it an incredible value. One couple owns another home in Vista that they intend to keep as an investment property, and move into the Escondido home.

The market is the market. And today’s buyer has an incredible opportunity. Prices have dropped significantly and interest rates are still at historic lows. Bank owned homes that need to disappear from their books are selling like wildfire, some with multiple offers over asking price, and many to investor buyers who know San Diego County real estate will rebound.

If you you’re a doom and gloomer, read the newspaper. If you want relevant information, talk to a local Realtor and mortgage loan representative. Talk to your CPA and invest for the long run. Like that guy on the radio says, “and now you know, the rest of the story”.

Read our other blog at http://www.HotOnSanDiego.com/

Another Brookside Escondido Home - Steal This House!

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:29:39 -0500

Here we go again, we just took another listing in the gorgeous gated community of Brookside, and once again we have an incredible value for you!

This home at 448 Adelaide Glen is one of the finest homes built in this development. A plan 6, (the largest model in Brookside) is a 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home on a huge lot of 18,200 feet!
This fabulous homes, set on the back side of a very private cul-de-sac, is situated with a south facing view, with extensive professional landscaping and built for a big family.

Brookside is a gated community adjacent to Reidy Creek Golf Course in North Escondido. Schools are close, with near brand new Reidy Creek Elementary just a couple of blocks up Broadway.

This original owner did extensive work on professional hardscape both in front and in back, and succeeded in creating a truly beautiful home worthy of a very discriminating buyer!

As you enter the home through the turret entry, you’ll find oversized 20″ tile throughout the downstairs areas. A gorgeous chef’s kitchen with beautiful cabinetry and granite countertops will please and excite your culinary skills. A giant island complete with storage and bookshelves along with double ovens, microwave and five burner cooktop. A nice long and functional butler’s pantry is adjacent.

As you wander to the family room, you’ll see the large custom cabinetry that houses the media niche and big screen tv. A patio door will take you out to the friendly and serene center courtyard, to enjoy a glass of wine or to read a book.

A formal living room creates another experience as does the large formal dining room. This home will handle a large group for any occasion.

There’s one large bedroom downstairs, with its own full bath and lots of privacy. A three car tandem garage and large laundry room complete the downstairs

The house seems to go on forever, as you travel upstairs. It’s actually a little over 3600 square feet!

The master is huge…giant…big! I’m running out of adjectives. A very large room with the master bath suite is truly impressive. His and her sinks, large soaking tub and separate shower with beautiful tile surrounds. Two walk in closets give you plenty of room for all the clothes and storage.

Three more bedrooms of great size and lots more upstairs, again too much to mention.

Meander out to the backyard and you’ll be amazed at this lot. Most of the homes in Brookside are on approximately 10,000 square foot lots. This home sits on 18,200 feet! The owner created an oasis with a large covered barbecue area with seating, a basketball area, putting green and concrete walkways.

The grounds have been landscaped professionally and beautifully by one of the areas better designers.

Watch our video tour of the home right here: Click to Watch the Tour!

MLS #081037122

Call Us Direct at 877-571-2289 or just email me

Thousands Attend Escondido Street Faire

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:24:51 -0500

Twice a year, the street in front of our office is filled with tens of thousands of people. Every May and October, the City of Escondido holds it’s Street Faire, the second largest in all of California!

Our office at Windermere Exclusive Properties is located at the center of it all in the heart of downtown, and our agents participate along with our sister company CW Mortgage. Braving near 100 degree temperatures, over 600 vendors, lots of live entertainment and all types of food adorn the downtown streets.

Even though the faire is supposed to start promptly at 9am, folks are arriving looking for the latest in folding tailgating chairs, herbal remedy’s, getting the spine stretched by a bevy of chiropractors and searching for Fido’s latest dog collar.

The faire looked a little less crowed this year, and I
think there were a few less vendors than in years past. I take this as a sign of the economy today…

Many of the people who display their wares of offer services may have been driven out of business or have had to confine their street faire schedule to areas closer to home. The city says they expected 60,000 people, but my guess is that we may were two thirds of that.

It’s still great fun, and we meet lots of people who never knew our office was right on one of the busiest corners of downtown Escondido.

We offer cool water, candy and snacks, and of course have the requisite contests and giveaways, all in an attempt to get noticed and meet new folks who may need to buy or sell a piece of real estate this year. We

We break up the eight our day in shifts of 3 hours and hand out hundreds of our flyers. This year our flyer was focused on bank owned properties, or REO’s (Real Estate Owned) as they’re known to us. We’ve got a ton of them in Escondido…one of the hardest hit areas of North County; but there are some incredible deals here right now!

Lately, I’ve seen listings of 3 bedroom two bath homes on decent lots for under $200,000! This has been unheard of for quite some time and investors are cashing in on these deals by the dozen right now. I estimate that about 70% of our escrows open today are bank owned or short sale properties.

All in all, another great day downtown followed by relaxation. I even bought a couple of new shirts from a one of a kind surf shop. Stay tuned, as we’ll wrap up fall with another one in October!

Know Someone Having Trouble Paying Their Mortgage Lately?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:50:47 -0500

We recently received the information below about a non-profit resource they can access.

It was given to us by a fellow Realtor, who serves on the Risk Management Committe with me at San Diego Association of Realtors, and I believe it is very good information to pass on to people who find themselves in this situation.

Organization: Community Housing Works

National Hot line: 1-888-995-HOPE or www.995hope.org

Local Contact: Francisco Gonzales, 619-282-6647

Monthly Home Clinics, Saturdays, sponsored by many non-profit agencies, such as Fair Housing Council, Springboard, etc.

Go to www.housingcollaborative.org for info and dates.

A former Vice President of SDAR, K. J. Koljonen, works at the Community Housing Works. She is VP, resource management. The web page for Community Housing works is www.chworks.org. It has two offices, one in San Diego at 4305 University, and one in Escondido, at 1820 So. Escondido Blvd.

If you need help or just plain old good information without obligation, please call us directly at 877-571-2289 or visit or Blog at www.HotOnSanDiego.com

Hello Windermere Agents!

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:23:12 -0500

Greetings from San Diego! I look forward to reading all of your posts and collaborating with you whenever possible.

Rich Johnson
Windermere San Diego

Pacific Beach Sands - Two Blocks From The Beach In PB!

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:09:06 -0500

Wow! You can now buy a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo just a couple of blocks from the beach in Pacific Beach in the mid $400,000’s!

Windermere’s New Homes Division just secured the listing on these beautiful homes, which are very well appointed in the heart of Pacific Beach.

Located just 2 blocks from the ocean, this smart mix of street-level professional suites, residential town homes, and spacious flats captures interest with its modern design and appointments reminiscent of the architectural stylings of the ’50s and ’60s.

For those looking for an active lifestyle, Pacific Beach offers it all; swimming, surfing, walking the along the sand, bicycling, sailing and jogging are just a few of the activites to partake.

Pacific Beach is know for it’s lifestyle of eclectic shops and boutiques, lots of restaurants featuring cuisine for every culture and vibrant lifestyle.

Above: The view to the south of Crystal Beach Pier in gorgeous Pacific Beach. La Jolla is just a couple of miles to the North, and Sea World is just a hop, skip and a jump!

A blend of coastal charm and modern amenities, please call us toll free at 877-571-2289 for more information about Pacific Beach Sands or simply email us

Another Neighborhood Garage Sale In Brookside?

Windermere Exclusive Properties — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:21:30 -0500

Gee whiz…we’re having another community garage sale here in Brookside. Excuse me if I don’t seem too excited, it’s just that this has been going on twice a year each of the four years I’ve lived here.

The first year we did this in Brookside, I thought it was a great idea (even though the founder and coordinator of this event is another local REALTOR team), but as the years have gone by and we are now on garage sale #9, I’m thinking this isn’t the greatest thing for our neighborhood.

You see, Brookside is a relatively small gated community of about 260 homes in North Escondido. When I bought my house here in 2003, brand new and all mine to put my personal stamp on, I was incredibly happy that we had the gates…not just anyone could enter our beautiful oasis.

It isn’t because I’m jealous of the benefits or recognition our fellow REALTOR gets out of this; it’s more because of the concern I have from all the traffic and disorganized chaos that occurs for six hours on our quiet streets.

Even though it’s advertised in local newspapers to start at 8am, the professional G’salers are patrolling our streets with their pickups, flat-bed trucks, station wagons and anything else they can cram used items into while looking to get “first dibs” when the garage doors start ascending!

On many occasions in years past, when I had to get up early on my Saturday morning to dig up some useless items that have taking up space in my garage, I’ve practically been assaulted by these mad dogs on a mission for the latest used sofa. But what bugs me the most is that these folks get lots of time to peer into my garage or back yard and see what other “goodies” I may have….and this makes me uncomfortable. Call me paranoid, but you should see some of these folks.

My brother lives in another gated community in Rancho Bernardo, and I asked him what he thought about our Real Estate team sponsoring a garage sale in his gated neighborhood. He told me he would use another REALTOR to sell his home if I did!

As a former block captain I have heard about events that I don’t want going on in here. I think tomorrow I’m going to go around to all the neighbors and distribute our flyers and inform people they need to read my blog. I’m going to boycott the garage sale and keep my place buttoned up tight! That way I can sleep in and not worry about a potential burgler posing as a G’saler casing my personal abode!

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