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:)