Finding the Perfect Tenant

Assuming you want to take full advantage of the historically high returns found in San Diego North County real estate,  you might decide to use the equity in your San Diego home to purchase one or more North County rental properties.  I can help you find the right  San Diego home to purchasel 

Some homeowners are anxious to put their equity to work, but are hesitant about owning North County investment properties.  Many believe it is difficult to find perfect tenants who will properly maintain their investment.  Finding the perfect tenant may be next to impossible, but finding a good tenant is certainly atainable.  You can choose to do it yourself or hire a Real Living Lifestyles agent.  If you decide to do it yourself, be prepared to:

  • Advertise-Have flyers printed and distribute them to the surrounding neighborhoods.  Put them in the community center, at local colleges, and run lots of newspaper ads.  Be prepared for calls at all the wrong times.
  • Applications-Have a good rental application and have prospective tenants complete them.
  • Credit Checks– In finding the perfect tenant, alway run a credit check on any tenant before renting your San Diego investment property.
  • Showing the house-Put signs in front of the San Diego rental and be prepared to take people through the home at their convience.
  • Rental Agreement-A rental agreement is a legal document that must be filled out correctly.  Use a good form.

If all of this sounds a bit discouraging, contact Gary Harmon, your top North County Realtor, and he will help you navigate throught the rental process. 

Remember, owning San Diego North County investment properties is another way you can maximize the advantages of owning real estate.

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Foreclosure Homes

San Diego foreclosure homes, REO,s and short sales continue to be available in San Diego North County.  However, overall, the amout of San Diego homes for sale of any kind is down this year as compared to recent years at the same time.  If you are interested in finding  San Diego foreclosure homes or other distressed properties, contact Gary Harmon, your top North County Realtor.   See up to the minute San Diego North County homes market statistics here.

The San Diego North County housing market may still be struggling to gain solid footing—low interest rates and significantly-discounted prices make it a great time to purchase North County homes.  San Diego housing prices are still below their peak in 2006, and another wave of foreclosed properties is expected to hit the North County housing market this year as banks unload their backlog—offering homes at low prices.  Currently there is a shortage of North County homes to sell, partially because lenders are still holding inventory.

Vice president of Realty Trac, Daren Blomquist, says “Home prices will continue to be very fragile.” “We don’t expect prices to fall another 20% to 30%, but there won’t be a recovery until the distressed inventory has cleared.”  RealtyTrac estimates that home prices will start to increase once banks clear their 17-month inventory of foreclosed properties. The national average of prices for foreclosed (real estate owned or bank-owned) properties at $152,465 continues to be lower than the sales price for all properties (including foreclosure and non-foreclosure) at $203,779, according to RealtyTrac.

While some housing markets Nationally, started to recover, home prices started to fall again in all markets last quarter, according to Standard & Poor’s Indices. “On a nominal basis, housing prices are the same as those in 2002 and 2003, having declined from their peak in 2006 due to the high number of foreclosures.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, all cash sales accounted for 33% of real estate sales in February. “In February, 20% of closed sales were of foreclosures– they’ve been at comparable levels for some time,” says Walter Molony, senior public affairs specialist at the National Association of Realtors. “There’s competition in most market areas between cash investors and first-time buyers, with reports of multiple bidding on discounted foreclosures becoming more common.”

Nevada, California, and Arizona experienced the highest number of foreclosure filings at the end of February, according to RealtyTrac. They had between two and three times more than the nation, as one in every 637 homes in the nation, or 0.16% of homes, received a foreclosure filing, a notice that the foreclosure process will begin. The number of foreclosure filings in a state can translate to that state having the highest percentage of foreclosure sales, as Nevada had 56%, California had 43%, and Georgia had 39% of all sales being foreclosed homes during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to RealtyTrac.

Ever wonder which lenders made the most bad loans, see San Diego Short Sale Lenders.

Content by , Realty Trac, NAR, etc.

Best Time to Invest – San Diego Real Estate

Don’t Miss Out!

Prices in San Diego North County are low.  Interest rates are low.  Don’t let the poem below describe you.

I hesitate to make a list of all the countless deals I’ve missed;

Bonanzas that were in my grip – I watched them through my fingers slip;

The windfalls which I should have bought, lost because I over thought;

I thought of this, I thought of that, I could have sworn I smelled a rat;

As I thought things over twice, another grabbed them at the price;

It seems I always hesitate, then make my mind up much too late;

A very cautious person I, and that is why I never buy;

At times a tear drowns my eye for all the deals I let pass by;

And now life’s saddest words I pen – If only I’d invested then!

                              Author Unknown

Don’t sit on the sideline in the great San Diego North County real estate market.  Contact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor.  Let Gary’s 22 years of experience help you get the next great real estate deal.  See  “Homes are currently 24% under priced.”

[idx-listings city=”San Diego” minprice=”300000″ propertytypes=”335″ orderby=”Price” orderdir=”ASC” count=”25″ showlargerphotos=”true”]

San Diego County Fireworks 2011

San  Diego Fireworks

4th of July – Independance Day

Save up to 40% at www.PatioProductions.com through the 4th of July on sofas, dining sets, daybeds, and more.  

If you are interested in San Diego County fireworks, read on.  Also see, Happy Independence Day San Diego.

The list includes Carlsbad fireworks, Vista fireworks, Escondido fireworks, and San Marcos fireworks. Hope you have a great Fourth of July and enjoy the shows. 

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FIREWORKS CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS

The Big Bay Boom July 4th Fireworks Show is back for its eleventh year, promising another spectacular display over San Diego Bay.

Fireworks Locations & Best Viewing Areas

Fireworks will be discharged simultaneously from barges placed strategically around the Bay off Shelter Island, Harbor Island, North Embarcadero and Chula Vista. Fireworks also will be discharged at the Imperial Beach Pier.

It all starts at 9 p.m. on July 4. The fireworks will be accompanied simultaneously by music broadcast live on 105.7 The Walrus FM radio. The show also will be televised live on San Diego FOX 5 HD and Cox 4 HD, covered by four remote cameras and a helicopter. The impeccably choreographed display will last approximately more than 17 minutes.

 For information on San Diego North County homes, contact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor.

As we prepare for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, many of us are excited to share this wonderful time with family and friends celebrating our country’s independence that began 235 years ago.

Our freedom allows us to believe, dream, create, and live a life that has tremendous value and brings hope to so many others.
 
At this time, I would like to wish you a joyful Fourth filled with picnics, barbeques, parades, or fireworks with time to reflect on what this means to you. 
 
 This information is courtesy of California Title Company, part of Gary’s Team
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Rent vs Buy – San Deigo Homes

San Diego North County Homes make good investments, so why rent when you can buy?   Moving from “Renter” to “Owner” may be easier than you think.  You may be able to find a San Diego North County home with a total monthly payment comparable to your current rent payment!
Example:
Interest rate and payment illustrations are below. Contact Gary Harmon, and I will put you intouch with Home Services Lending for current interest rate and payment information. Rates are illustrative and are subject to change daily.

Payments will vary during the initial 123 months due to annual adjustments to the required monthly mortgage insurance premium. After 123 months the mortgage insurance premium is dropped. Closing costs are assumed to be paid by the borrower at closing. If the closing costs are financed, the loan and payment amounts will be higher. Your loan’s interest rate will depend upon the specific characteristics of the loan transaction and your credit profile up to the time of closing. Amounts shown for hazard insurance and taxes are estimates and are subject to change.
1. Financing the UFMIP is optional. Borrower can pay the premium at closing.

Get Started Now

Take your first step to buying your San Diego North County home by talking to a tax advisor for more information. To get more information about borrowing money see HomeServices Lending.  To get more information about buying a San Diego North County home, contact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor.

Current Listings of ALL San Diego homes is the easiest way to see photos and get details about what is available in San Diego North County.

California Dreamin' – San Diego North County Homes

There is no denying the friendly rivary between Northern and Southern Californians.  Which part of the state is the best place to live?  The debate may never be resolved.  But, when it comes to selling homes, from San Francisco to San Diego, from modest bungalows to massive  San Diego Ocean View homes, it seems North and South have reached a consensus.  Answer below picture.

Prudential California Realty is the real estate company of choice among Californians who believe coming to closure on a real estate transaction means more than just walking away satisfied, but rather, walking away delighted with the experience, and feeling a sense of peace with the results.

Prudential California Realty

Prudentrial California Realty embodies the solid reputation of Prudential.  The Rock symbol on our signs brings all the attributes of this powerful brand to your transaction.  Our company is owned by Berkshire Hathaway which is a Warren Buffett Company.  Prudential Real Estate  was ranked “Highest Overall Satisfaction for Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms” in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study.

Prudential California Realty San Diego

The San Diego Business Journal just ranked Prudential California Realty #1 in San Diego County for the 14th straight year.  See Prudential California Realty # 1.

Once again this year, Prudential California Realty has been honored by the Union Tribune, SignOnSanDiego.com 2010 readers poll  as San Diego’s Best real estate company.

San Diego North County Homes

Why work with the rest, when you can have the best.  Team up with Gary Harmon and  Real Living Lifestyles.   Find out more about San Diego North County real estate,  by contacting Gary Harmon, your top North County Realtor.  Gary services all areas of San Diego North County including   Carlsbad homes, Oceanside homes for sale, Encinitas homes, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido real estate.   Gary also specializes in San Diego Ocean View homes and  San Diego North County homes for over 55.

Home Buyers Like Energy Efficient Features

It is not just saving money, but North County homeowners like to also feel good about helping the environment.    Almost nine of ten home buyers felt that a home’s cooling and heating cost were at least somewhat important to their buying decision.  Roughly seven of ten buyers felt that energy efficient appliances and efficient lighting were at least somewhat important to their home buying decision.   See charts below.

The % of buyers – by age – who said the feature was very important to their decision.

Buyers with higher incomes tended to place less importance on environmentally friendly features.  Solar panels are also a way some North County home owners are trying to save money.  See Solar panels – free energy? 

If your are considering buying or selling a San Diego North County home, and would like more home info on san diego homes, contact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor.

San Diego North County Real Estate

The November 2010 HomeDex™ Report provides October 2010 housing statistics.

  • The median price for all homes in the San DiegoNorth County real estate area went down by 4.63% in October 2010 to $377,500.
  •  The median priced of a San Diego North County single family detached home decreased 2.29 percent from $475,000 in September 2010 to $465,000 in October 2010.
  • Year-over median SFD price in San Diego North County increased 8.14% from $430,000 in October 2009.
  • Median days on market for North San Diego County SFD homes remained at 52 days in October 2010.
  • There were 4,596 active and contingent SFD listings in North San Diego County ending October 2010, a decrease of 3.73 percent from September 2010.

To find out how to own San Diego North County real estate, contact Gary Harmon, your top North County Realtor.  Gary services all areas of San Diego North County including   Carlsbad homes, Oceanside homes for sale, Encinitas homes, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido real estate.   All information above was furnished by HomeDex as an exclusive NSDCAR member benefit.

Wall Street Optimisim – North County Home Values?

Optimisim has spiked the water on Wall Street.  Has this optimisim spilled into Southern California?  Will it change the way San Diego North County buyers are looking at real estate here in San Diego County?  Will it have any effect on the prices of North County property?

Optimisim has spiked the water on Wall Street with a cocktail of the GOP taking back the House, QE2 and the employment numbers.  So what’s the smart money banking on as we rapidly approach the end of 2010?

Read this from Lori Ann LaRocco CNBC Sr. Talent Producer.

With record low interest rates and San Diego North County property values at historic lows, we are seeing a large number of investors buying distressed properties in select Southern California markets.

Of the San Diego homes that recently sold, foreclosures were down from a year ago but still a significant part of the North County home market.

Need help understanding the implications of a distresses property sale?  The button link at the top of this blog labeled “Foreclosures” will help you find current short sale information and the free forclosure search will help you find other North County distressed homes.

To get more information about San Diego North County real estate, including Carlsbad homes, Oceanside homes for sale, Encinitas homes, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido real estate, contact Gary Harmon.

Winning Team Members – Quality One-Stop Services

Gary Harmon, with his 20 years of experience in the San Diego North County real estate market, has put together a top group of winning team members.   Members are California Title Company, Pickford Escrow, HomeServices Lending, First American Home Warranty, Disclosure Source, and Prudential California Realty, all backed by the power of Warren Buffett.

California Title Company

California Title Company is an industry leader serving counties throughout Southern California from regional offices in San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles.  My local title rep is Jill Green.  Jill brings many years of dedicated hard work to closing the toughest North County real estate transactions in the San Diego marketplace.  Backed by a company who is underwritten by one of the largest in the business, Jill has all the right tools to make your title transaction goes smoothly.

Pickford Escrow

Pickford Escrow is one of the largest full service escrow companies in California.  Pickford Escrow has more than 30 offices in Southern California to serve all our clients.  Karyn Dillon is my escrow officer.  Since 1997, Karyn has been a valued escrow officer with Pickford.  Having worked for many North County Realtors, she achieves excellence in her knowledge of San Diego North County real estate.

HomeServices Lending

Home Services Lending  is an affiliate of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a AAA-rated company.   As both a Wells Fargo affiliate and a mortgage broker, HomeServices Lending has a network of banks and financial institutions to ensure you get the program you want at  the interest rate you deserve.  I have choose to work with Greg Gossard.  Greg, as a former branch manager, attained an extensive background in underwriting, processing, funding and loan structuring.  Greg’s experience combined with his consummate professionalism, make him your best choice for a mortgage consultant.

First American Home Warranty

First American Home Warranty has provided over one million homeowners with high quality service since 1984.  Rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best.  I have worked with rep Lisa Wood for the last eight years.  Lisa brings compassion, knowledge, and the comprehensive First American resources to meet the needs of the multi-faceted San Diego real estate industry.  Whether you are a North County buyer or  a North County seller, Lisa Wood has a home protection plan to meet your needs.

Disclosure Source

Disclosure Source is the California real estate industry’s premier provider of natural hazzard (NHD), tax and environmental disclosure information.  Disclosure Source is a subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial.

Prudential California Realty

The most important member of Gary’s winning team is Prudential California Realty.    I have worked for Prudential for over 20 years.  To learn more about the top real estate company in San Diego County see these blog articles.

Team Up with the Best – Sell Your Ocean Hills Home

San Diego’s Best Real Estate Company

Top Online Exposure for Your North County Home.

To see great San Diego North County homes, including San Diego Ocean View homes, contact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor.