Do It Yourself?

Do It Yourself?

Thinking of selling your North County home?  Want it to look its best?  Giving your San Diego North County home a minor facelift may equate to a larger investment than you are willing or able to make.   Should you try to do the minor facelift on your North County house yourself or should you hire a professional to do the job.  To make an informed decision, consider the level of skill required, do you have the tools necessary,  how much time will it take, and can you get the job done correctly the first time.  If you need professional help you should hire the help you need.

Sell Your North County Home

Doing it yourself when selling your North County home is very little different than the minor facelift.

Gary Harmon has the skill level and is the right North County professional for the job.  Gary has the right tools, see Gary Harmon’s Winning Team.  Gary has over 20 years of experience with Prudential California Realty, helping sellers get top dollar for their North County homes.  And finally, Gary has the time to dedicate to the sale of your North County home and will get it right the first  time.

For help selling your home today, contact Gary Harmon, you top North County Realtor.   Don’t loose money and time trying to “Do it Yourself.”  Put Gary Harmon and his team to work for you today.

Inserted article is courtesy of Joyce Nathan of HomeServices Lending San Diego North County.

New California First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

With the Federal Tax Credit expiring on April 30, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger saves the day by signing AB 183 into law.  The new first-time homebuyer tax credit becomes effetive on May 1, 2010.    It will be on a first come, first serve basis and when the $200 million runs out the credit is over.  Unlike the previous state tax credit which applied only to new residences, this credit will be split equally between new (previously unoccupied homes) and existing homes.   This website will discuss how the credit affects Escondido real estate purchases, but the same rules would apply to other San Diego North County real estate sales. 

First of all to qualify for the first-time homebuyer tax credit, you must be a first-time Escondido home buyer.    The amount of the tax credit on your Escondido home purchase is limited to 5% of the Escondido home for sale price or $10,000, which ever is smaller.  You will receive you tax credit over three consecutive years.  To be eligible you must purchase a qualified Escondido home between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.   If you enter an enforceable purchase contract before December 31, 2010, it must close escrow before August 1, 2011 to qualify.   Again, when the money runs out the program is over.

The new California first-time homebuyer tax credit is expected to have a very positive impact on the Escondido home economy and around the state.  Nearly 40% of first-time home buyers said they would not have purchased without the Federal tax credit.  The California credit is expected to provide similar results.   For more information about tax credits, contact Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor.

FREE iPad offered by North County Realtor

FREE iPad when you buy or sell with Gary.

FREE iPad

Offer no longer available.  Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor, is offering a FREE iPad to any North County buyer or North County seller that closes a transaction with Gary in March through May.  Since it takes time to sell your North County real estate, this free offer also applies to anyone that list their North County home with Gary Harmon during the same period.  To get the FREE iPad, the listing must sell and close.

Why would Gary Harmon make such an offer?  Gary realizes that buying a North County home in these tough economic times requires drastic measures.  First-time home buyer incentives are available and good loan rates, but some people may just need a little extra push.  Gary hopes this FREE iPad will help get some buyers or sellers off the fence and into the North County real estate market.  This would help the buyers, the sellers, the escrows, the title companies, and all phases of the San Diego North County economy.  This FREE iPad offer is not to be used with any other incentive given by Gary Harmon.   For more information and to get started on the road to a FREE iPad, contact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor.

Check out all the features of the new Apple iPad.

Escondido Homes: To Buy or Rent?

After getting four calls today from clients wanting  Escondido rentals and other San Diego North County rentals, I though I should address the subject,” to buy or to rent.”    At one time or another, two question cross the minds of most renters.

  • Should I be buying an Escondido home or moving into an Escondido rental?
  • Could I afford to buy a San Diego North County home even if I wanted to?

If you are a renter and are considering your options about buying or continuing to rent your Escondido home, consider these steps.  Ask yourself why you are considering making a change.

  1. Are you thinking of settling down from a life on the move where renting in the past had just seemed to be less restrictive than owning your own Escondido property?
  2. Do you have a growing family that needs more room than a reasonably priced Escondido rental would afford?
  3. Have you seen a steep increase in your monthly rent of your Escondido home?
  4. Have you started thinking about the merits of owning the American Dream.
  5. Are your friends getting large first-time tax credits for buying their own San Diego North County home.

These are all good reasons for looking into Escondido home ownership.  Tomorrow we will take a close look at what home ownership means and how it is different than living in a San Diego North County rental.   For more information on Escondido rentals or San Diego North County rentals, contact Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor.