Living Trust

Should your home be held in a living trust?  Being in real estate, I am constantly being ask this question.  And yes, I do hold my personal residence in a living trust.  However, I cannot recommend that you hold your North County home in a trust.  Only your CPA or attorney can answer that question for you.

  • Why do people use living trust?  Some common reasons for holding San Diego property in a trust is to postpone or minimize death taxes, to shield the property from some creditors, or to help avoid time consuming probate.
  • What is a living trust?   A living trust is a trust created during your life time (inter-vivos trust) rather than being created by your will at death.
  • Who are the parties to a trust?  Typically a living trust is a Family Trust in which the Husband and Wife are the Trustees, and usually their children are the Beneficiaries.
  • Does the trust hold title to real estate?  No, title is held by the trustees on behalf of the trust.
  • What taxes can be avoided by putting my property in a living trust?  You should check with your attorney.  Married couples can usually exempt a large part of their assets from taxes by having their property in a living trust.
  • Can you cancel a living trust?  The trustees can cancel a living trust at anytime.

For answers to specific living trust questions contact your accountant or attorney.  For answers to San Diego North County real estate questions,  contact Gary Harmon your North County Realtor.

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Hottest Real Estate Markets

If you are wondering what will be the hottest real estate markets in the next 18 months, I will share with you CNNMoney’s opinion.  Sorry to say that San Diego real estate and North County real estate were not included.  In fact, only one California city was mentioned, Madera, California.  Even though local markets are not in the list, we know that San Diego North County real estate inventory is very low and decreasing.  This should start to cause our home prices to increase.  Waiting on the bottom of the San Diego home market, better get on board.

The 10 cities in which home values may rise fastest are :

  1. Madera,  California (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  2. Medford,  Oregon (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  3. Yuma,  Arizona (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  4. Corvallis,  Oregon (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  5. Eugene, Oregon (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  6. Olympia, Washington (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  7. Boise, Idaho (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  8. Billings, Montana (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  9. Lewiston, Idaho (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)
  10. Sante Fe, New Mexico (Forecasted 21.5% gain through 2013)

To get a personal tour of San Diego North County homes, contact Gary Harmon, you military off base housing expert.

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Optimistic about the San Diego Real Estate Market

As you may already know, we commissioned Prudential’s Global Market Research Group to survey consumers between the ages of 25-64 who are in the market to buy a home.
 
Our Prudential 2011 survey found that Americans are significantly more optimistic about real estate today than a year ago and, despite economic volatility, their belief in real estate as a good investment is unshaken. In fact, most feel that the real estate market and property values will see recovery in the next year or two, and they highlighted the importance of real estate agents in the home-buying and selling process.


Prudential launched a media blitz in the early-morning hours of March 10 starting with 21 live television and radio interviews and two taped sessions. Survey coverage was picked up by 174 TV stations and national radio programs representing more than 25 million viewers and listeners. (Prudential agents can watch a sampling of these interviews linked from the PREA Center “Top Story” section and on the NextWork community site.)
 
We also blanketed the national and regional press as well as real estate trade publications with our press release, “Americans Confident in Recovery of Real Estate Market.” The Wall Street Journal was among the first to file stories. When the dust finally settled our press release generated 19,503 headline impressions on the Internet.
 
A simple Google search returned 23 pages of results including postings on media and trade association sites, affiliate websites, agent blogs and even the sites of other real estate companies. Our press release was viewed and posted on media sites in Sweden, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, India and the Republic of Korea, which is great as America continues as a highly desirable market for international investors.

We at Prudential California Realty are optimistic about the San Diego Real Estate Market.  For more information about San Diego North County real estate, contact Gary Harmon, your San Diego North County Realtor.

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Good Time to Buy

There has never been a better time to invest in San Diego North County homes.   San Diego North County real estate investing has probably made more millionaires in San Diego than any other thing.  The current San Diego homes market is in turmoil to be sure.  However, this just may be the right time  to start building your real estate portfolio by investing in San Diego North County property.  Current interest rates are low and prices of San Diego North County homes are  the lowest in five years.  If you want to start building your North County real estate wealth, you may be at the right place at the right time.  San Diego North County homes have most  always been a good investment, but when you buy it for depressed prices your chances for gain are great.

Historical Low Interest Rates

Lowest home prices in over 5 years

The Right Lender

Want to take advantage of this great real estate market?   I’ll help you get pre-approved with HomeServices Lending so we can start looking for your new home today.

San Diego North County Property

Gary specializes in San Diego North County homes including:  Carlsbad homes, Oceanside homes for sale, Encinitas homes, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido real estate.  Gary Harmon also specializes in San Diego North County homes for over 55 seniors.  North County Homes for Over 55 (55+) covered on this blog include  Oceana homes, and Emerald Lake Village (all in Oceanside). Other homes included are Rancho Carlsbad homes (Carlsbad), Oaks North homes and Seven Oaks homes (both in Rancho Bernardo).Ocean Hills Country Club homes.

Right Real Estate Team

Gary Harmon has sold San Diego North County for over 20 years.  During this time he has had a chance to work with most of the major escrow and title companies.  He has also worked with buyers that used many of the larger lenders.  From these years of experience of helping people buy and sell North County homes, Gary has been able to put together the best of related services.  Hire Gary Harmon and put his winning team to work for you.

If you are considering buying  San Diego North County real estate this winter, contact Gary Harmon, North County Realtor.

Prudential California Realty

Letter to Our San Diego Customers from Prudential California Realty

To once again be voted San Diego’s Best Real Estate Brokerage is a tremendous honor coming from the people whose opinions we value most: our clients.  It’s also a tribute to our remarkable San Diego real estate agents and the marketing of homes they represent.  At Prudential California Realty, our expertise and dedication are backed by the power of our parent company, HomeServices of America, Inc., an affiliate of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

At Prudential California Realty – We stand ready to earn your business.

Prudential Realty California was again recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as being #1 in real estate home sales in San Diego for the 14th straight year.

Nationally, Prudential Real Estate Network 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. This marks the second time in three years that the Network ranked highest in seller satisfaction.

Gary Harmon’s Winning Team

Gary Harmon has been a Prudential Realty California San Diego real estate agent for over 20 years and has put together Gary Harmon’s Winning Team Whether you are a buyer or seller, you will benefit from Gary’s experience and the winning team Gary Harmon has available to meet all your San Diego North County real estate needs.  Team members include Prudential California Realty,  Pickford EscrowCalifornia Title Company HomeServices LendingPrudential Relocation San Diego and First American Home WarrantyContact Gary Harmon, your North County Realtor,  and put his 20 years of experience to work for you.  If you are looking of San Diego North County real estate: Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, or Escondido, you have selected the right blog.  For more extensive investigation of these great San Diego North County communities, go to HomeInfoSanDiego.com, Gary’s main website.