Archive | Tips of the trade

Is it legal for the real estate agents to hire companies that provide drone photography?

Some real estate companies are champing at the bit to incorporate drone photography into their marketing. Being able to hoist a camera up on a drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, has the potential to be a cost-effective way to get dramatic shots of listed property, particularly for large, high-end homes or big expanses of land.  […]

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Home buyer tips – Do’s and Don’ts when applying for a home mortgage!

I would like to share some tips regarding successfully closing your home mortgage that I found useful by Steven Shaffer, Mortgage broker and Realtor Let’s start with the “do’s” … Do keep the process moving by responding to your loan officers’ requests for documentation as soon as possible. Do make decisions as soon as is reasonably possible. Do convey questions […]

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How important school districts are to CA home buyers?

Three out of five California home buyers say school attendance boundaries would be a factor in choosing a home. A majority even say they would be willing to go above budget or give up amenities to have their chilrdren attend the school of their choice. Source: http://www.car.org/aboutus/onecoolthing/school

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How fast are the CA homes selling this year?

2013 marks the shortest time homes have sat on the market since 2005! In 2013, half of all homes were on the market for 6 weeks or less. In 2012 the average number of weeks on the market was 26 weeks, this year the average is 8.5 weeks.  

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What do the 69% of the CA home buyers look for when they search for a house?

It is all about the view! According to California Association of Realtors 41% of the buyers in California prefer a house on the hilltop, 28% – a house with the ocean view, 16% – with the view on the Golf Course, see below.

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Home selling tips for San Diego home owners

1. Have a Simple Plan The idea to sell your home usually doesn’t start overnight. If you have time on your side, figure out what the best strategy is for listing your home for sale. Do you need a fast, may be cash close because of the condition of the home? Do you need to […]

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30-Year Mortgage Rate Reaches New Low for the Year

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.21 percent this week, the lowest since November 2013, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. Mortgage rates continued moving down following the decline in 10-year Treasury yields after a dismal report on real GDP growth in the first quarter,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Freddie […]

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Prescription drug thefts at open houses

If you host an open house – hide your prescription medications! District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said realtors have reported a spike in the number of thefts of prescription medications during open houses in San Diego County. Thieves seem to be targeting pain medication like Oxycontin, which can be re-sold for as much as $30 a […]

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Home Buyer General tips

Buying a home is a big deal. For most Americans it is a major decision in their lifetime and a major financial commitment. Nine out of ten buyers are choosing to be represented by a real estate professional. Make sure you to find the right agent to represent you during the home buying process. Homebuyers […]

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Advantage of being married to a higher earning spouse

Being married to a higher earning spouse pays off even when it is time to file for social security benefits. Working longer, suspending benefits and making your spouse happy has huge rewards (up to 30% more in social security benefits)! Read article below for more info: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-strategies-file-and-suspend-27-05-2009/

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