San Diego Coastal Homes Blog

Well I have been in a a stress filled escrow and really can’t blame anyone except the lending guidelines that we are being put through at this juncture of real estate.  The best news is if someone opened a detox center that realtors could visit after an escrow like this where we can go and peacefully wean ourselves off the martini habit at the end of the day!  I seriously cannot believe I don’t drink more!!!

I seriously love the new timeline for appraisals to be in.  SEVEN days prior to closing – not necessary to be earlier if lender doesn’t order.  Mind you we have a SEVENTEEN day loan contingency that is checked by 99% of realtors – writing in “loan contingency to stay in place until funding? is right around the corner… sadly sellers will NOT love getting offers with that in the contract.  Right now I have a seller that just found out he IS moving… however he only has 10 days to figure out where—as they are not buying a new home.  A buyer that finally KNOWS he will have a house to move into—but not sure exactly when???  And a realtor who is a nervous wreck as I really really do care about an issue that is truly one of the biggest decisions of peoples lives!!

It seems like the only answer is to have a POD on site with three large moving men staying in your guest room…and a large stock of beer to make sure they don’t leave.  And yes, I guess you have to PAY them to stay “on call”!  Every day this gets less fun and sadly the lenders/investors could care less.  Once the loan gets to the famous “underwriter” it can be 5 days before loan docs and that is when the seller KNOWS he is moving.  What’s wrong with this picture????

Are they hiring at the Nordstroms shoe Department???

Well its been awhile again…there has been more back surgery in our house which takes up some of the work time…I honestly did not think there were AS MANY discs that can rupture in ONE back as Ron has had.  If you check photo in web page you will see that he looks totally HEALTHY which is pretty much is…he just keeps breaking all the time.  At least AGING jocks have MILLIONS of dollars in the bank for all their body abuse.  Fortunately for me the heaviest thing I have ever picked up are staging boxes and forks on a regular basis.  No back issues for me…unless I get over enthusiastic at the gym.

I did my monthly real estate sales analysis that I do for my favorite relocation in San Francisco- The Right Move Group.  Interesting enough no great surprises- sales NUMBERS NOT prices is what I analyze.   Carlsbad had 59 Detached homes sold 2-4 bedrooms.  Oceanside had 90- same criteria.  Price of course differs largely from Oceanside to Carlsbad – about twice as expensive.  Great schools factor greatly into that equation.   Chula Vista with their many zip codes actually won at 100 homes again considerable lower price point.  They are also located close to the ocean – Imperial Beach – which is a really nice beach as long as the sewage from the Tiajuana River stays in check.  Always negative and positives.   Sales in Imperial Beach were actually really low- not as low however as Rancho Santa Fe which is one of the most expensive zip codes in the nation – right there with The Hamptons in New York.

It’s all interesting – these numbers.  Carmel Valley outside of Del Mar is also holding strong- again because of the school system which is the best in San Diego County.  I understand tha tmost Torrey Pines High School teachers have secondary degrees.

We’re all hanging in- in the wonderful world of real estate.  HURRAY for Spain though for winning the World Cup!  My heritage after all:)

Well another week of running from house to house trying to get them SOLD.  Its not so much that there are no buyers- its just that there are no buyers that want to make a DECISION.  The very best buyer client to have at the moment is one that is living with their IN LAWS and are about to go CRAZY and have a MILLION dollars CASH sitting in the bank ready to GO.  THEN you have a motivated client and hopefully some good inventory to show to them.  It’s become very apparent that in this market if you DON”T have to MOVE you wont.  Lenders are nuts, buyers are waiting for “a little better house at a much less price!  I am waiting to wake up and be Angelina Jolie- but that isn’t happening either- no Brad in my house today!

Been reading a lot of trade magazines hoping to pick up some useful information and I am always fascinated by staging TIPS as I have been to The Staging Institute yadda yadda so I know the basic “drill”.  This article in a Real Estate magazine had a blurb on staging for Gen Y generation.  Sorotoff interesting as my questions was HOW DO WE KNOW THE BUYERS COMING THROUGH THE LISTING ARE Y -Z -OR just normal 40 years olds looking for a house?  Interesting.  Evidently these “Echo Boomers” want the property to suit them instead of trying to change it to suit their lifestyle.  VERY few houses are ready to go perfect- a new buyer WANTS the excitement of making the house their own.  I guess is you are working in a area which is a Gen y MAGNET- This might makes sense.  I can’t think of any in San Diego- maybe Northpark- that really suit a specific demographic.  By the time they have a husband and even HALF a kid they head for Carmel Valley – a place they never would even have visited before!

Evidently Gen Y’rs like to HANG out… vs. the rest of us that like to do WHAT? So we are suppose to think Anthropology and Pier One instead of IKEA. News flash all my staging starts at Pier One and that was BEFORE I graduated from college and that was a LONG time ago!  Go Green… well we all want to do that anytime we can – age does not make a difference.  I do agree though that when I shop at Anthropology and Pier One I make notes and steal styling ideas whenever I can-  changing them to make them my own.  All in all the magazine blurb was interesting and really just shows that whether you are X- Y or Z – buyers just want a property to look inviting and they have the vision of how they would make it their own!

Well its been a while…not that I don’t have anything to SAY- just that I don’t have any exciting real estate news that the entire world isn’t aware of!   We are doing a transaction with Pardee new construction in Carmel Valley and I have to say that the sales agent there has been really wonderful.  Our client has done a magnificent job in “negotiating” after the fact and if he isn’t happy with the final product and price we will have to put a “hit” out on him.  I think the key is having a SUPER qualified buyer- even though they have a huge list of “prospects” in this ever changing world a live prospect one day is super dead the next…not literally – don’t get excited.  It’s interesting when you visit the sales offices and models on a week end that its obvious it is CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT for many….being in real estate the LAST thing I want to do is LOOK at homes during my free time…to each his own…I have a staging credential – I KNOW how to put a LOT of acessories in a house and make it look “modelish”!  Honest – my visits to Marshalls, Home Goods, Burlington, TJ Max result in amazing accessories, bedding, furniture- you name it!

As with anything in life its the “qualifying” that counts.  I’ve had clients calling me to tell me – why I don’t know – just a friendly EAR – that they can’t re fi their homes because you can’t do the “easy qual” process anymore…unless you are Donald Trump… can’t have it both ways these days — either you make money or you don’t —if you work for yourself and hide half of your income under the “bed” – well just be happy your bed doesn’t catch on fire!

My only complaint about new construction is their “design center” is really  “on medication”… charging three times as much as say – Home Depot – just doesn’t work these days – buyers are way too sophisticated to get “swept” into a design center when they can save  2/3 of the flooring price.  Want design advice – give me a call…I do it for FREE for clients…and it turns out great…your either have good taste or not…but aside from that this purchase has been a great deal for the buyer in an area of overpriced older houses they SCORED…. of course we had to beg, plead, nudge and be overall pleasant as well as pushy to get the home over the 20000 other interested (but perhaps not so qualified) buyers:)  We’re good – what can I say!!

Well all in all its been quiet a couple of weeks.  Ron had to go into the hospital for elctro physiology test on his heart— don’t even want to try to explain.  Basically the dogs tried to kill him by running away and alerting his pacemaker…good thing he looks SO healthy otherwise we would have to disconnect him!

THEN I was stupid enough to fall for one of those slimeballs on-line that pirates your e mail and that was a THREE day ordeal to get them off my account.  So if you are getting e mails from me telling you that you have a million dollars— trust me- if I had a million laying around it wouldn’t be going to any one I haven’t even met!  How sorry and sad is life to these people that they can’t actually TRY and work for their money but scam instead!  Jails aren’t big enough for everyone that should be in them!  Of course it could have been some 16 year old internet wiz who is realllly bored – but doubt it on this scam!

Real Estate news— it seems that effective last February 1, 2010 investors who acquired foreclosure properties way below market — spruced them up with a lot of new “make up” and put them back on for sale no longer have to wait the customary 90 days before reselling them.  Hey at least these guys are actually WORKING and are fortunate enough to have had the cash to buy the foreclosures.  HUD’s move was an effort to stabilize home values and improve conditions in communities where foreclosure activity was high.  No whatever what if someone can buy a property in a decent neighborhood that is all “redone” for a great price I am sooo all in for that!  Maybe policemen and fire fighters can actually BUY homes these days!!!

Well enough for now— but to my reader who wanted to know if the “Sex in the City” girls are just getting a little too long in the tooth for their outfits I say— hey if you can afford to fix it when it falls go for it!  Have you every seen older photos of Sarah Jessica Parker… she is so totally improved in her older age!

O.K. Here is a house located at the Bridges in Rancho Santa Fe…it’s a custom home designed and built for a very discriminating family who loved style, design yet the casualness of having a home that you can actually LIVE in!  Elegant yet casual.  Travertine floors in the great room – Hickory Planks in the Family Room, kitchen, halls – you get the drill.   It is a steal as we have priced it against some “semi custom” homes in the area – with teeny family rooms and many times located under – again – famous electric power lines.  We like to “fry” our folks here in San Diego!

Of course it’s a custom home meaning it was built for a specific family…YET we have some challenges like a single sink in the beautiful Master Suite.  YES a single sink is a design mistake in a multi millian dollar house – but honestly when these “buyers” – flocks of them – come through you would think it was the “end of the world”!  Mind you the bathroom looks out of a world famous golf course, is SE facing with natural light pouring in all day – gorgeous shower- gorgeous two sided fireplace but OH MY GOD it only has ONE sink! (we are actually installing one because I can’t hear the word SINK one more time).  Now the comments are – The sink’s will be too close together…Obviously folks – if you can afford a 3 million dollar house you have NO INTEREST in standing ANYWHERE near your husband or wife.  THe male half who occupied this home had a complete gym downstairs and always used the bathroom in that room.   Amazing he had no interest in hanging in the bathroom.

Best story yet are the “men” – yes “men” who want to know where the “men’s bathroom is”… obviously DOWNSTAIRS in the GYM.  Have I lost my mind or am I the only person on earth that only spends a half hour TOTAL a day IN THE BATHROOM… Now MEN want their own personal bathroom that is NEXT to their wifes own personal bathroom– shoot me now!  I guess I’m lucky that I can’t afford a 3 million dollar house.

 Just had to share this tidbit of knowledge… please please if you are building a house ALWAYS put TWO sinks in the Master Bath.  If not – don’t call me with the listing!  Kidding!

I had a very inteersting experience on a new construction track  in Carmel Valleywhich I am putting out there to the UNIVERSE in case some of you are looking at new homes.  I took a  buyer who was very interested in NEW as many clients are – it’s always a great feeling to move into a house that NO ONE has TOUCHED.  Personally we have had three homes together and there has not been ONE that we haven’t remodeled the kitchen and put in new flooring and some window coverings.  It’s like a boy dog raising his leg on a fire hydrant – gotta make it MINE.  So I can understand buyers wanting their own fire hydrants.

We took this nice man into the sales office and there literally was one home available in his price range.  The sales agent took a long time explaining incentives, upgrades, details etc.  We were running late as we had other appointments and asked if there was anything else we needed to know— nope not a thing.  We said we’d be back at days end to “walk the lot”!  Okay dookey…no problem its a fabulous house – fabulous price.  Our buyers was practically in tears of happiness. 

Finally Ron and I looked at each other and said to the “bursting with happiness client” – does that house sound like its too good to be true?  But being the good happy agents we are we went on our merry way and looked at the homes we had left to visit.  Exhausted yet exilerated about the new home we returned to the Sales Office.  We were outfited with hard hats, signed waivers and given a map.  Upon getting closer to the home something started to LOOM into the horizon and the closer we came the closer it LOOMED until we were faced with the LARGEST MOST IMPOSSING San Diego Gas and Electric TOWER that I have ever seen – sitting just outside of the property boundary for the “amazing house”!  Needless to say there was a bit of a shock value and the poor client almost in TEARS- now of dissapointment.   NOW….I am all about selling and spinning and marketing but DON’T YOU THINK A SALES ASSOCIATED SHOULD AT LEAST MENTION THERE IS A FLIPPING ELECTRIC TOWER IN THE BACK YARD!     We headed back to the office where the sales associate acted like it was PERFECTLY NORMAL TO HAVE A TOWER IN THE YARD!  “Oh” she says, “there are a lot of doctors buying on that street”!  WHO RADIOLOGISTS?   O.K. enough venting—

 I just believe in putting out the pros and cons OF a property and a house were you wouldn’t need to LIGHT the BBQ  to turn it on should at l least be mentioned!

Well its been a very interesting few days as today it started with MY WEB SITE completely GONE into cyberspace!  That was FUN… fortunately after a few hysterical hours it got resolved!  Is Thursday the new Monday?  Of course in real estate it really doesn’t matter WHAT day it is!!!

Well, for all those who live in the area Easter afternoon brought an unexpected “jolt” of surprise.  Changing from my Easter Clothes and getting ready to relax all of a sudden the house started to SHAKE!  I know THEY say it was less than a minute but is seem to last for a llllloooong time!  Growing up close to Mexicali I virtually have experiences earthquakes all my life – but this one “got my attention”!  Yes, we have earthquake insurance – but the thought of sleeping in a trailer while my house was rebuilt- no such a great thought!

So – let me give you a few earthquake tips that I received from a friend.  It seems like “ducking” under the covers while a building collapses is NOT such a good idea.  I have always heard you should go under objects like desks, tables, obviously not according to this info.  Curl up in a fetal position next to a sofa, or any large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void.  Guess a couch would count.  They seem to think that laying on the floor, next to bottom of the bed is a great spot.

When I was young they told us to stand in a doorway.  According to this report most everyone who gets under a doorway when a building collapses is killed.  How?  If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamp falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above.

Get off the stairs…pretty much self explanatory!

Go near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them.  Much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior.   If you are in a car – GET out…flying objects will crush the car – lay next to it for that “void thingee” again.

Anyway – just thought some of this was interesting…hopefully we will never have to use it…or we will be in a nice restaurant having cocktails and not notice the next shake!

AND THIS IS WHY WE ALL WANT TO LIVE IN SAN DIEGO!   Before the boring real estate talk begins take a gander at the photo of Windansea Beach property!  Yes, it $5,995,000 but for those in that lucky price range and I know you are out there- this is the most amazing property ever!  La Jolla has lots of water but not much SAND and this is steps to the grainy paradise!  Plus you can walk to La Jolla Village or Birdrock– no matter if you hae a Rolls or a Porsche you NEVER have to GET IN THEM!  Just saying!

So many clients that come to San Diego – in all price ranges seriously think that THE ENTIRE city is by the ocean!  Sadly for $300,000 it would be a looooooong walk!  It can be done in some areas in a one bedroom condo- Imperial Beach – maybe Oceanside—even there it’s doubtful!  Well, they don’t call them “sunshine” dollars for nothing!

We’ve covered over and over again the need for any buyer to SEE a lender before they “get in the car” to view property.  There’s plenty of financing for first time buyers, third or fourth time buyers but you have to be able to SHOW that you qualify in terms of income, expenses, down payment, blood type etc.  Thos nifty easy qualifying loans (the beginning of this MESS) are no longer around!  It takes longer for pre approvals as underwriters want to verify income by actually seeing DOCUMENTATION!  Forget all those secret deductions for tax loss benefits…We no longer can have it BOTH WAYS! Sad- but true!  And that pesky credit rate – well you gotta be hitting over 720 to get a good rate.

Listen, life is fun – just go into the home buying process with answers ahead of time and nothing jumps out at you at the end.  The experience truly is a “once in a lifetime” adventure!!!!

Here is how it begins.  I finally learned how to post photos…wrote down directions and now praying it will all work… I talk about staging a lot because truthfully that’s the beginning of the entire process.  Check out the SECOND load in my Jeep–furniture was taken on first trip.  It’s interesting because the conception is that only “yukky” houses need staging…look at it this way – everyone has good points…all houses have good points…we just can’t be “chicken” as agents and NOT have the confidence and trust from our clients when we make suggestions!  I even bring in a “professional” stager who is a friend of mine to back me up in suggestions..!  This truckfull is not going into a YUKKY house — it’s going into a “drop dead gorgeous house next to Wind And Sea Beach…but it just needed some “extra touches” that when you live in a house you really don’t NEED… however when you are selling a multi million house—well let’s face it even with a gorgeous view it better look darn good…and yipeeeee it does!

It’s an interesting real estate climate out there and those of us that work realllly hard and go “out of the box” for our clients will survive the madness.  I offer the same services to all my sellers – no matter the price range…sometimes they even like my staging so much that they buy my “accessories” and they go live with them in their next house!  I’m fortunate as I know this is a “hidden” talent –since I am not a designer- but I think my years in advertising taught me how to “stage” a product—this just takes it a bit further!  Thought you’d like my FIRST photo…have a great week end!

The home looks better with the details moved in…