Memorial Day – Escondido Homes – BBQ Safety

May 31, 2010Memorial Day this year is May 31st.  Memorial Day is the day we remember those that have died serving in our Country and was declared a Federal Holiday in 1971.  We are especially respectful here in San Diego because of the large number of military personnel. 

 With Memorial Day coming up soon and the great weather we expect, many of us will be out in our back yards with family and firing up the BBQ.  It is a great way to start summer, but the followings tips can help us be safe.  Follow these tips to protect our Escondido homes and our families.

  1. Follow the directions in you grill manufactures safety manual about the right placement of the grill.
  2. Always know where your fire extinguisher is located. 
  3. Never squirt lighter fluid directly into an open flame.  The flame can flashback along the fuel path  to the container and to your hands.
  4. If it is a gas grill, always lite the grill with the lid up.    Make sure there are no gas smells.
  5. Regularly clean your grill to eliminate grease build up to control flare-ups.
  6. If it is a gas grill, inspect your grill to make sure the gas flow is not obstructed.  If LP gas, make sure the bottle has gas.

By taking a few simple steps you can keep your Escondido home safe and prevent anyone from getting hurt.  Have a great Memorial Day, and if you need  any Escondido real estate help this Spring-Summer, contact Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor.

Escondido Homes May Market Summary

May Market ConditionsThe median price of Escondido Homes for Sale this May 2010 is $400,000.   The 623 Escondido properties have been on the market for an average of 148 days.  The Escondido real estate market is not sending a strong directional signal for the immediate future .  The Escondido homes for sale inventory and the days on the market have both been increasing slowly.   It is still an Escondido buyer’s market, and Escondido house prices have been weakening. How is the market in each Escondido home for sale areas?  Find out the answers to this and many more questions by Escondido zip codes. See how Escondido homes for sale compares by median price, list price per square foot, average days on the market, and more.  This website,  www.HomeInfoSanDiego.com tries to provide enough statistical information about North County real estate  to help you make an informed buying decision.  Use the numbers on this page and feel free to email or call Gary Harmon, your Prudential North County Realtor, to help you analyze the numbers presented. Get answers to what kind of home can you afford,  what size will it be, or how can you tell a good deal when you see it. 

Escondido Homes for Sale

Escondido Homes Market Summary  May 2010
Zip 92025
Zip 92026
Zip 92027
 92029
Median Asking Price
$384,9003
$425,000
$312,500
$672,500
List Price per Square Foot for the Escondido property
$204
 $190
$172
$240
Average Days on the Market for the Escondido home
138
162
150
128
Median Escondido Homes Size (sqft)  
1916
2356
  1654
2588
Median # of Bedrooms in Escondido house
3
4.0
4.0
4.0
Median # of Baths in the Escondido properties
2.0
2.5
2.0
3.0

The median prices in Escondido homes for sale in the above table does not always give the whole picture.   It sometimes helps to look median prices broken down by quarters.  The following for Escondido homes is an average of all zip codes.  The median Escondido homes for sale price for the most expensive 25% of Escondido homes is $799,000.  The median price for the upper middle 25% is $485,000.  The lower middle median price for Escondido homes is $339,000 and the bottom 25% of Escondido/ homes for sale median price is $220,000.  For more information about Escondido homes for sale, contact Gary Harmon your Escondido Realtor and seasoned Escondido real estate agent.

7.2 Earthquake – How to be Ready

Escondido HomeEverywhere in the Escondido real estate area may be susceptible to damage from an earthquake, maybe even a bigger one than hit this Easter. We all need to be ready. Here are some of the things we can do.

  1. Identify earthquake hazards in your Escondido home. Secure everything around your Escondido property that might fall and hurt someone. This is easily done if you secure items as you buy them. For example, when I bought my big screen television, I secured it to the wall of my Escondido home with a safety wire. If you are starting from scratch, buy a stud finder at a North County Home Depot or Lowes and use it to find the proper studs. Of course, the water heater in the garage must have straps.
  2. Create a disaster plan. Talk with each one in your family and plan what to do in case of an earthquake. Have a meeting place outside of your Escondido home, but close by so everyone can be quickly accounted for. Learn basic first aid if possible. Have a place away from your Escondido property you can call, preferably out of state. The out of state phone lines won’t be as crowded. Learn how to deal with a lack of utilities and basic services. Also, expect aftershocks.
  3. Make up some disaster supplies kits. These kits would be useful in any type of emergency. Everyone in your North County home should have one. It is a good idea to have one at home, school, work, etc. You should have a large kit for your home that would last everyone three days to a week. These kits should contain food, water, clothes, and sanitary supplies. Your San Diego Red Cross sells kits and also has tips on what to put in the kits if you make your own.
  4. Have your Escondido property checked to identify any weaknesses. There are common issues that a home inspector will know that could help your North County home be stronger. If you just purchase a North County home, your Escondido real estate inspector will have made sure you had earthquake straps.
  5. During an Earthquake you should drop, cover and hold on. Drop to the floor, take cover under a strong table or desk, and hold on firmly. If there are no tables close by, drop to the floor next to an interior wall of your Escondido home.
  6. After the quake, check everything for damages or injuries. Always be calm and take care of yourself first so you will be available to help others. When you are sure you are safe, then you can start helping others. You need to know how to turn off leaking gas, water, or electricity if necessary.
  7. When you know you are safe, you can continue to follow your disaster plan. Stay away from the coast if there is any possibility of a tsunami. Listen to your battery powered radio for any emergency instructions. The station would be 600 AM . Call your out of area contact and let them know you are OK.    Escondido real estate information, call Gary Harmon, a top Escondido Realtor.

AB 957 and Encinitas Real Estate

HomeServices LendingThere are many technical things involved in a sale  transaction of Escondido real estate.  Here at Prudential California Realty, Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor is here to help. 

Legislation was signed into California law in December 2009 effecting us here in North County. Escondido home buyers and Escondido home sellers should be aware of several points:

1.A seller of REO residential Escondido real estate with four or fewer units “shall not require directly or indirectly as a condition of selling the Escondido property that title insurance covering the Escondido property or escrow service provided in connection with the sale of the property be purchased by the buyer from a particular title insurer or escrow agent.” In plain language it means that the bank, selling bank owned property, can’t require you the Escondido buyer to user their title insurance company or their escrow company. This is only true if you the buyer are paying for these services. Gary’s winning team member, Pickford Escrow and The Escrow Firm have closed over 9,000 REO (bank real estate owned) transactions in the last 18 months.
2.The bill provides that “sale” is intended by the Legislature to “include the receipt of an offer to purchase that residential Escondido property.” – means it is intended to prohibit sellers from conditioning the receipt of an offer to buy an Escondido REO property on the buyer’s agreement to use a specific title insurer or escrow agent. That means the bank has to look at your offer reguardless of which title or escrow company you choose. California Title Company, one of Gary’s winning team members is also experienced in bank REO’s sales.
3.AB 957 does NOT prohibit an Escondido buyer “from agreeing to accept the services of a title insurer or escrow agent recommended by the seller” PROVIDED THAT “written notice of the right to make an independent selection of those services is first provided by the seller to the buyer.” That means it is ok to use who the bank recommends provided they disclose that it is your choice.
4.AB 957 only applies to title insurance or escrow services “purchased by” or paid for by the Escondido buyer. That means if the bank is paying for both sides, they get to pick.
5.A seller who violates AB 957 “Shall be liable to a buyer in an amount equal to three times all charges made for the title insurance or escrow service.” A violation of AB 957 is also deemed to be a violation of the seller’s license law which can subject the seller to discipline by its licensing entity.

For more information reguarding AB 957, contact Gary or HomeServices Lending.

Escondido Real Estate – Get Maximum Online Esposure

Escondido home buyers once searched the North County Times and the San Diego Union  for Escondido homes for sale.  Today, over 87% of all Escondido real estate buyers start their search on the Internet.  These tech smart buyers don’t stop with just one or two websites.  They explore a whole range of Internet real estate destinations.

That is why Gary Harmon and Prudential California Realty insure that your Escondido property gets maximum exposure by making sure your Escondido home for sale is seen on all of the key sites.   Gary Harmon also makes sure your home is found on the first page of the Google keyword search for “escondido real estate,” the number one place Escondido buyers search.  Give it a try.  Type escondido real estate in the search  box on Google.  Hit search and you will find www.GaryHarmon.com right in the middle of page one of Google.  That is where the most Escondido buyers are looking to find Escondido real estate information.  Why consider listing your Escondido home with anyone else, let Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor, put your home on the first page and maximize the chance of selling your home.

7.2 Earthquake – Prepare for a Disaster

Three things you can do to prepare for a disaster at your San Diego North County  home.

  1. Have an emergency kit. You should have at least three days of supplies at your Escondido home in easy to carry containers. This is the base for your evacuation kit. You can make your own or buy them from the San Diego American Red Cross. Water, food, clothes, and sanitary items are a must.
  2. Have an evacuation plan. You should make a plan on how to evacuate your Escondido home. Talk to everyone about where to meet outside the home and who to call. Have a local number to call and also a number out of the area if possible. Local phone lines may be jammed.
  3. Be informed and keep informed. Know what type of disasters can happen in the Escondido real estate area and how to respond. The number one disaster that Escondido home owners have is fires. Here in San Diego North County we need to also be prepared for earthquakes. Keep a battery powered radio and keep updated. Store the batteries separate.

For more information on disaster plans and how to make one, contact the American Red Cross. For more information on Escondido real estate, call Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor.

Don't Miss the Boat on Escondido Homes

Don't Miss the Boat!Get your first-time home buyers tax credit on your Escondido home now.  Under current federal law there are only three days left to purchase Escondido real estate in order to get your tax credit.  That means you must have the Escondido property in escrow before May 1, 2010.   San Diego North County homes that are purchased before May 1, 2010, must close escrow by July 1, 2010.  There is a special exemption for members of the armed forces serving on extended duty.  These military personnel get an extra year to buy a first time Escondido home or other North County home.    San Diego military wanting to receive this tax credit can also receive an addition homes for heroes military discount, by contacting Gary Harmon to buy their San Diego Off-base Housing.

If you miss the current federal first-time buyers tax credit you have just missed out on $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price of your Escondido home, whichever is less.  To qualify for this credit you must have not owned a principle residence during the three-year period prior to purchase of the Escondido property.  If you owned rental property or vacation property, that does not disqualify you from this program.

If you just missed the boat, all is not lost because a new boat is coming.  It is the California first-time buyers tax credit.  It is worth $10,000 and starts May 1st.  To get more information on this credit and to qualify for a “Free iPad,” contact Gary Harmon, your top Escondido Realtor.

Escondido Starter Homes for Sale

Escondido Homes for Sale and Escondido Foreclosures

Welcome to my Escondido Starter Homes featured listing page.  You can click on the hot links below by price to get a fast start.  If you would like to see an area not shown you can set up your own personalized search by zip code, area, price, features, and much more.  You can start your own custom serarch here.   You can also see Escondido foreclosures, auction, or pre-forclosure homes at “Free Foreclosure Search.”  For your on  personalized tour of any of these Escondido homes contact Gary Harmon.
 
Escondido Starter Homes $300k – $400k
Escondido Homes $400k-$500k
All Other Price Ranges 
 
See Video and learn how to SEARCH LIKE AN AGENT!

Now is the Best Time to Sell Your Escondido Home

It is spring in the Escondido real estate area and the flowers around your Escondido home are starting to bloom.    The skies have cleared of rain and the days are mostly sunny.  The lawn is looking lush green and is at its very best.  First impressions of your Escondido property are always the most important. NOW is when Escondido buyers will get that great first impression when they drive up in front of your home. 

In is a know fact in the San Diego North County area that Escondido buyers like to buy in the spring.  One of the main reasons is that tax season is over and they can now concentrate on their Escondido home search.   Another reason is that buyers like to buy in the spring so they are ready to move when school is out for the summer.  After summer the Escondido real estate market slows considerably.  So, the best months to have your Escondido house on the market are April through August. 

The San Diego North County real estate market is getting stronger.  Data Quick released results yesterday saying  the market has improved and prices have increased over this time last year.  The State of California is coming out with a new tax credit of $10,000 on May 1st  to help boost California real estate sales for new and first-time home buyers.  Interest rates are still relative low.   So the best thing you can do is list your Escondido real estate now.

To get a free CMA (competitive market analysis) of your Escondido home, contact Gary Harmon, your top Escondido Realtor.

Escondido Homes – Rent vs Buy

Don’t miss this great opportunity to own a piece of Escondido real estate.  Don’t always be the person that is sending all their money to a landlord.  Gary Harmon is providing the table below so you can see how easy it is to own an Escondido home.  Take how much you pay in rent for your Escondido house and find that amount under an interest column, for example assume 5%.   Now go to the left and that will tell you roughly how much of an Escondido home you could afford.

Sorry about the size of the chart.  For example, if you pay $2,147 in rent for your Escondido house, look under the 5% column and read to the left.  You could own a Escondido home that cost $400,000.  Of course there are many other benefits to owning your own Escondido property.  To get more information about borrowing money see HomeServices Lending.  To get more information about buying Escondido real estate, contact Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor.