The Decisions Seniors in San Diego Have to Make When Downsizing Their Home

 

3364-66 A Street

The decision to downsize was the ultimate decision, but as you go through the process you’ll realize that decisions await you at every corner. Will you move into a house or an independent living community? What items come with you and what must go? Another important decision is what you’ll do with your current home. Below you’ll find helpful tips to help you navigate these decisions.

 

Deciding Where to Move

San Diego is home to a variety of unique home styles including one-story ranch properties, Spanish styles, townhomes, split levels, and post-modern homes. However, if you’re looking to live close to other seniors, independent living communities are a good option. They come with a variety of services like housekeeping and meal plans, so there’s no need to constantly manage household duties on your own. You’ll also maintain an independent lifestyle and will have access to in-home care on an as-needed basis. It’s worth taking a tour of nearby facilities to see what you think, but pay attention to the price tag. Costs of independent living facilities in San Diego range widely from $1,655 to $16,500 per month.

 

Deciding Whether to Sell Your House

One of the most common choices regarding your current home is to sell it and use that money to purchase your new home. To make things easy, hire a real estate agent. Agents have access to loads of information, including market trends, competing listings, and comps. Plus, if you’re wanting to sell your home quickly, you’ll need them to help you be aggressive about marketing. While your agent works their magic, get a head start on packing and decluttering. Your new home will have less square footage and storage space, so downsizing your items is a must. Start with the stuff that’s easy to get rid of first such as duplicate, broken, forgotten, and expired items, then go room by room. Decluttering is one of the important steps in staging your home as well so that buyers can focus on the home’s potential rather than your stuff.

Deciding Whether to Rent

If it looks like your home might be on the market for a while, you won’t be able to get the price you want, or you want to keep your home, renting is an option. However, this requires some investment on your end, including a renter’s insurance policy, permits, and repairs/updates. You must also decide if you want to be your own landlord or hire a property management company to help you find/screen tenants, collect rent, handle repairs, and communicate with tenants. You’ll be happy to learn that renting does have some tax benefits, including the ability to deduct rental-related expenses like mortgage interest, taxes, repairs/maintenance, cleaning, insurance, and even depreciation.

 

Deciding Whether to Keep the Home

 

For many seniors, the thought of selling the family home is difficult. Perhaps you want to pass the home on to children, or at least keep it in the family a little while longer. You may have this stipulated in your will, but how can you pass your home to children while you are still living? You may have heard about homes being sold for $1, which is a large gift. Nothing is stopping you from doing it, but if the home is worth $250,000, then you just gave a gift of $249,000. You get a $15,000 gift tax exclusion per person per year. You must then decide whether to pay the gift tax now or apply it your lifetime exemption of $11.4 million. There are other ways to transfer the property including re-titling or deeding.

 

Downsizing is a decision that requires much thought, and the same can be said as to what you’ll do with your current home. You can go the traditional route and sell, or choose a completely different path and rent or keep it altogether. Other decisions like where to move and what to do with your belongings will also have to be made. Think them through and talk them over with family and friends (and professionals) to arrive at the decisions you’re happiest with.

 

If you do decide to sell your home in San Diego, The McT Real Estate Group can help you with the process of selling your house. Contact us at 619-736-7003 so we can set up a time to have a conversation.

 

 

 

 

Does a Clean Home Sell Fast in San Diego? (The Answer is Yes!)

If it’s time to list your home for sale in San Diego, you should know there are many things you can do to get the best price without waiting months on end for the “perfect buyer.” First, you’ll want to partner with a realtor that knows the local market in your area. After that, the next most important thing you can do is to clean, repair things if needed and stage your home so that it looks it’s sparkling best.

But I have kids and pets! That’s impossible!

It’s true that having kids and/or pets does mean lots of extra work whether your home is on the market or not. However, your entire family will benefit by putting a routine into place that will keep your home clean now.

If it’s not realistic for your family to be able to keep your home in a constant state of clean, you could be the perfect candidate for a housekeeper. While it’s one thing to have a come into deep clean your home, a housekeeper can help you manage the clean and keep it that way. Plus, a lot of housekeepers provide additional help around the house, like changing bed linens, light yard work, and even minor food prep. If you can schedule your housekeeper for early in the day, even better.

Another professional service to consider is having the windows cleaned. Whether you realize it or not, a home’s windows play a crucial role in its overall feel and appeal. Keep in mind that buyers are interested in turnkey properties. This means homes that are move-in ready. Dirty windows, according to Philly.com, can make a home look uncared for. It’s not enough to simply wipe them down, a professional service can get into the nooks and crannies, especially on high windows that can’t easily be reached, to eliminate cobwebs, dirt, and grime on both the interior and exterior of the glass. A window service might even be able to offer tips on how to prevent fingerprints, too!

Containment is the key

Once everything is deep cleaned, you’ll need to take some time to stage your home so that it looks open and inviting. This will necessitate getting rid of needless furniture and personal belongings. Unfortunately, kids might see this as a threat, and they will likely beg and plead to keep all of their stuff, which they will swear they love more than anything else and can’t possibly part with. If you want to avoid making the move a negative experience, you’re going to have to compromise, which is much easier if you learn how to contain the clutter – and messes – in the first place.

Start by evaluating your storage space. Look at your local hardware store for sturdy storage containers that will fit under the bed. Give your children a few each and let them know that their stuffed animals have their own special “secret hideaway,” and that they must be there at the end of each day. Avoid the urge to simply shove things in the closet. Instead, clear out half of your clothing and put items in storage containers under your own bed. Other ways to contain kid-created chaos is to eat outside as much as possible, forgo messy arts and crafts, and designate the main areas of your home as no-toy zones.

Regulate your routine

No matter how many times a housekeeper visits your home, you still have to live there, and that means that messes are going to happen. Home Storage Solutions asserts that creating a schedule is the most effective way to keep things neat and tidy. Make sure to give everyone a specific responsibility. Older children might, for instance, be in charge of folding blankets in the living room or sweeping the stairs at the end of each day.

If everything goes well, there is a good chance your home will only be on the market for about 30 days. Make this month count by keeping it as clean as possible.

If you are thinking of selling your house in North Park, South Park, University Heights, Normal Heights and surrounding metro neighborhoods, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away. Learn about our Hassle-Free Listing Agreement.

 

Other Must Do’s To Get Home Ready for Sale

 

Modeling Your Home for Better Accessibility

 

modeling your home

If you have parents who are getting up there in age or a loved one with mobility issues, you need to remodel your home for better accessibility. After all, you won’t be there to help them 24/7. A few simple adjustments can go a long way; from preventing falls, accidents, or even to help them regain their dignity and ensure they don’t feel like a burden to the rest of the family. There are numerous ways to design a home for people with mobility challenges, and you needn’t break the bank or move. See below for a few simple ways to model a home for better accessibility. 

Expand doors and entryways 

Expanding the doorways and hallways will make it easier for your loved ones who are bound to a wheelchair or a permanent crutch. It’s a simple fix to a big problem for many, and this ensures they don’t always have to maneuver the tight squeeze as they move from one room to the next.

Go for ramps rather than stairs 

There are many ramp solutions out there that will help people with mobility issues, particularly those in a wheelchair. You might consider opting for ramps instead of stairs, for example, to help ensure that all areas of the home are safely accessible.

Grab bars in the bathroom 

Metal grab bars will be handy for the elderly with mobility issues or the disabled. And this way, you don’t have to accompany your loved one every time they have to go to the toilet, which can help avoid a lot of embarrassment on their part. It’s probably one of the few areas where their privacy can remain sacred. 

Lower beds 

There are adjustable beds to make it easier for the disabled to move the height up and down. This makes it easier for them to transfer from their wheelchair to the bed as they don’t use too much energy. Of course, there are other ways to make the bedroom accessible, as well (See home accessibility guide, here). 

Non-slip flooring 

Slip-proof flooring is a good investment, particularly in the bathroom or the kitchen. However, it will depend on the inhabitant because some material might not be too friendly for people in the wheelchair. A cork-based floor is good for the elderly who can still walk on their own two feet. 

It is also a good idea to keep houses tidy and clutter-free when modeling for accessibility. Make sure cords are stowed away, there are clear walkways, and items are put in a specific place. This can help lower the risk of falls or tripping on loose items. 

Install smart technology to help perform daily functions 

New AI-based innovations are a godsend to the disabled. They can help them perform daily functions and chores without a family member always waiting on them. The good news is that it’s now more affordable to install smart assistants in your home at a wide array of price points. Smart technology can include tools to change the lights or central temperature within your home from your bed, lock or open doors, make phone calls without dialing, feed any pets,  and even ways to easily monitor health. 

While remodeling, keep in mind the limited mobility of your loved ones, as its purpose is to make their lives easier.  With a few simple renovations, your loved ones can grow old in their homes, stay safe and maintain their independence. 

If you decide that you prefer to sell the home instead of remodeling, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-736-7003 for help with making this an easy transaction for your loved ones.

What Does It Cost To Sell A House?

The cost to sell a house in San Diego varies. There are the typical fees such as Title and Escrow Fees. Then “the Property County Tax”. Yes, you have to pay for that portion of the year if you have not already paid this along with your mortgage payments. There is also a sell a housecounty transfer tax (1.10 per $1,000 of value (exclusive of liens existing at the time of transfer), and a fee from your bank for paying off the loan. The natural disclosure fee is paid to a 3rd resource company.  This disclosure lets the buyer know if the property is in a hazard zone. A report is then completed and issued to the buyer once an offer is accepted. These types of fees are included in the cost to sell a house and add up to approximately 1% of the selling price.

What Are The Realtor Fees?

Now we come to the Realtor fees. This fee varies and is negotiable. Some people may think that if they hire a discount broker they may save 1,2,3,4 percent or more. I can see how some people may think of this. For example, if you have an item in a store and you price it at a certain dollar amount, the consumer comes in and says, I would like to purchase that item. Great, they go to the cashier and pay the price that was on the price tag and they are good to go.

When selling a house it is not so cut and dry. This is especially so when selling homes in neighbourhoods such as North Park, South Park and metro neighbourhoods in San Diego. Many of the houses in these communities are built in the early 1900s. Although a large portion of them have been remodelled throughout the years and look very pretty, they are still older and have their quirks. Once a potential buyer has completed their inspection and receives the written report the road gets a little bumpy from here on in.

What we have found is when a Realtor is not experienced ( whether new in the business or in for 20 years) with selling older homes they have a very hard time navigating and negotiating through this contingency period and fallouts occur. Ultimately, the buyer walks and they fall out of a contract. Many days or months of valuable market time lost and now the home looks stale. Not only does it look stale, but, now the seller has to provide all of the inspections the previous buyers did on your property to the new potential buyer. Whether the inspector was a good inspector or a bad one, this does not matter. It is mandatory that the seller provide these inspections (aka material facts) to a potential buyer.

In our experience throughout the years, we have found that buyers get scared when they see lots of inspection reports. They are handed these scary reports without receiving the verbal context in person from the inspector. With all this being said, that 1,2,3,4 or more percent that the seller thought they were saving is costing them thousands of dollars in lost revenue when it is all said and done.

Do I Have to Pay for Repairs Before Selling My House?

Repairs before you sell a house

 

If there have been small things around the home that you have been meaning to take care of this is the time to do. Things such as dead grass, hedges, trees can be cleaned up very inexpensively. If there is dirt or debris lying around, now is the time to get rid of excess stuff lying around. 

Unsavoury odours in the house caused by pets should be taken cared of. Cracks and chipped paint should be taken cared of.  Painting is one of the easiest and most inexpensive things you can do before listing your home that will increase your return on investment exponentially. The McT Real Estate Group have people in place to step in and help you with this process. With all of this being said, if you want to sell your home as-is, we can definitely do this as well. We have several programs and plans in place for all types of sellers.

Do I Need to Stage My Home?

If you are living in your home while it is going to be on the market, yes, although we stage your home with your own furniture. There are staging when you sell a housesecrets to staging that we share with our home sellers that make all the difference. Home Staging is like magic; we are creating an illusion with the placement of furniture. For example, the conception of pushing all furniture to the walls so the rooms look larger is not true. Instead, we suggest removing just a few excess pieces of furniture and then moving pieces away from the wall so there is a little space. Create groups with your chairs and sofas. They will be more of a conversational area and the rooms will appear larger by doing this small exercise.

If the home is vacant, we suggest staging most of the time. In fact, we work with a stager that customizes pieces around the flow of the rooms. Staging can cost anywhere from $1,000-$$5,000, depending on the size of the home and rooms that need staging. When the home is one in original condition and/or has deferred maintenance, we do not suggest staging. The buyer looking at these types of homes are more of an investor buyer and are simply looking at the numbers of what it cost to buy, renovate, holding costs and return of investment.

If you have any questions regarding selling your home or would like to find out the current value of what a buyer would pay for it in today’s market, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-736-7003. Until the next time.

Should I Accept A Contingent Offer On My House For Sale?

What Is A Contingent Offer?

There are different kinds of contingent offers when it comes to buying and/or selling a house.

  • One type of contingent offer is when a buyer puts an offer on a seller’s home but is only able to buy that house if the home that they currently own sells.
  • Another type of contingent offer is when a seller is making an offer on a house contingent on selling yours.

Both of these scenarios can be accomplished effectively. However, if this is the type of sale that you are getting ready to be part of, hold on to your hats because it can be a bumpy ride. There are many moving parts to a contingent offer. Hopefully, you are working with an experienced Realtor that has sold many homes and has been involved with contingent sales before. With this being said, even if your Realtor is experienced and on top of their game, she or he has to rely on other people to do their job properly in order for things move along the way they should.

Choosing The Right Offer

Let’s say you own a home in San Diego. You just happened to receive 3 offers on your house. Two of them are about the same and are traditional buyers. The third one comes in $25,000 more than the other two. The only caveat is that they have to sell a house in Long Beach California first, in order to close on your house. Also, they are a week away from putting it on the market. Which offer is the best? Which offer would you pick?

This can be tricky. Twenty-five thousand over the other two offers sure sounds good. The only challenge is that you have no control over what is going on with that buyer’s house in Long Beach. Although your Realtor here in San Diego is amazing and has done great things to achieve receiving multiple offers, the Realtor in Long Beach is a mystery. You have no idea of what they are doing in order to sell that person’s home. Also, once they receive an offer, is it a traditional buyer or is it a buyer that has to sell their house in order to buy the one in Long Beach? This can then become a contingent 3-way offer and this is not for the weak.

There are great risks and there can also be great rewards. You will have to discuss with your Realtor about the pro’s and con’s but ultimately, you will have to decide if you have the stomach for this. Is it worth the extra $25,000 that you may receive if everything works out? Maybe yes, maybe no. You will have to make that call. Sometimes the best offer is not always the highest offer.

How Often Do Contingent Offer Fall Through?

This is hard to know because it depends on many factors. Studies have shown that 3.9% percent of all sales fall through but this is not necessarily because they are contingent. Yes, some have been contingent, but others have been because of the condition of the property. Other times, low appraisals, buyers remorse, financing issues or simply because of bad representation. The McT Real Estate Group have closed all of the homes that were contingent. However, I wish I could say that they were all smooth sailing. They have not been but they have all been successfully closed!

Contingent On Finding A Replacement Property

Then, there is the contingent offer when a seller wants to put their home on the market but will only sell if they are able to find another home to buy. We have also sold many homes this way. However, what we have found is that many buyers don’t like to put offers on these types of homes. They feel that it may take too long for that seller to find a home. Depending on how picky that seller is, it can take several months. Buyers may lose out on other opportunities. This is not to say that it is not possible. It certainly is. What we suggest is, if you are a homeowner who is thinking of making an offer on a house contingent on selling yours, first contact your Realtor. Let them know what you would like to do. Together, go out and look at a few homes and neighbourhoods that you are thinking about. See if there are any homes that you would be interested in. It is best to go look at homes that have been on the market for a long time. In San Diego, this would be more than 30 days.

What this means is that they are overpriced and the longer they are on the market, the more motivated they would be to accepting an offer from you that would be contingent upon your home selling. By going out to look at properties will then know if it is going to be easy to find a home or whether it is going to be a challenge. You will have a better idea of whether you will want to have this contingency on selling your home or whether you would sell it first, move into temporary rental and then buy.

If you are thinking of moving to a bigger home and have a house to sell in North Park, South Park or any of the surrounding areas in San Diego, call the McT Real Estate Group right now at 619-736-7003. Feel free to check our reviews of what people are saying about the McT Real Estate Group.

Selling a House in San Diego that has a Solar System Installed

Having a Solar System in your home is very popular these days in San Diego. I am seeing more and more homeowners in North Park and South Park with a Solar System installed in their homes often. Before you think about having this done, ask yourself one question. Do you see yourself living in that home for more than ten years? If so then, maybe this it makes sense to add solar to your house. But, if you don’t think you will be staying in that home for at least that long, then this may not be the route to go.

When making improvements to your home, you should always think of resale. So, with this being said, will having Solar Panels add value to your house if you have it when it comes time to sell your home? This depends. If you were to buy the Solar System, how many years will it take you to break even? If you were to sell your home, the buyer would see value in having a $10.00 electric bill or sometimes, none at all. However, even if you buy the system but you turn around and decide to sell in a few years, would you see a return on your investment? Also, what happens if you were to lease it? Someone buying your home would not only have to qualify for a mortgage. They would also have to be eligible for the assignment of the lease. With the high home prices in San Diego, this can sometimes be tricky. If the homebuyer is at their absolute top of qualifying for a loan; they don’t always like the fact that they now have to qualify and take over the lease of the Solar.

Let’s say you do have solar panels on your home and you have decided to sell your house. Make sure the Realtor that you are working with knows how to go about getting everything aligned, so the sale goes through without a glitch. You should contact the Solar Company right away. Let them know that you will be selling your home and need to have the necessary paperwork sent to you. This would include your original agreement, the transfer agreement, PUCC (Request for Temporary removal of the document from Title) and then the document that requests to remove the UCC ( UCC Finance Termination). Once an offer is accepted, all of this paperwork must be filled out properly, immediately and made part of your purchase agreement. If this is not done correctly, things could be delayed and/your transaction could fall apart. This would be a bummer.

With all this being said, is having a Solar Panels installed in your house a good investment? Overall, I think it is, but it all depends on your situation. Also, if you are thinking of having a Solar System installed, do your homework. Search for different companies and ask about their warranties. Panels typically come with a warranty. However, make sure that the workmanship is warrantied as well should the installation cause a problem with solar power production. Ask your friends, neighbours and go online and check the better business bureau and yelp for reviews on different companies.

Lastly, if you are looking to sell your home in San Diego’s metro area, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We are local experts in the area and well versed with homes that have Solar Sytems.

The Impact The Lack of Inventory Has On The Real Estate Market In San Diego

real estate market

Real Estate Market Recovery

As our real estate market moves slowly to a thorough recovery, we can see the housing crisis is indeed behind us. The values of homes are up in San Diego. Sales of homes are up, and foreclosures and short sales are at the lowest point in the past years. In 2018 we have seen the market continuing to strengthen. There is one thing that will slow the market up though. The shortage of inventory. During the summer, we typically see a buyer demand. However, with the low inventory, the demand is stronger than the supply.

Industry Experts Express Their Thoughts On The Subject

 

Here are the thoughts of a few industry experts on the Real Estate Market:

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at National Association of Realtors:
“The worsening inventory crunch through the first three months of the year inflicted even more upward pressure on home prices in a majority of markets. Following the same trend over the last couple of years, a strengthening job market and income gains are not being met by meaningful sales gains because of unrelenting supply and affordability headwinds.”

Sam Khater, Chief Economist for Freddie Mac
“As we head into late spring, the demand for purchase credit remains rock solid, which should set us up for another robust summer home sales season. While this year’s high rates – up 50 basic points from a year ago – have put pressure on the budgets of some home shoppers, weak inventory levels are what’s keeping the housing market from a stronger sales pace.”

Javier Vivas, Director of Economic Research for Realtor.com
“The dynamics of increased competition and buyer frustration are unlikely to change…In fact, the direction of the trend is pointing to a growing mismatch between the pool of prospective buyers and existing inventory.”

With our Real Estate markets inventory as low as it is, creating more inventory is crucial. For example, you may be a homeowner that has your home on the market or considering selling your home. Let’s say that you receive an offer from a buyer that asks the seller to pay their closing cost. Don’t shut down this request.

For starters, if a buyer is asking for closing cost, it is because buying a home in San Diego is not cheap. The potential home buyer has to have a big chunk of savings for down payment. Although they may have a great income to pay the mortgage, having to pay another $8,000-$10,000 in closing costs could prevent them from buying a home. If this was the only offer that you received, by not accepting this offer, you are now not able to move on to your new house.

On the other hand, if a potential buyer put in a contingent offer on your house and you accept it, you are creating more inventory. You are not only adding your home on the market, but that buyer has there home on the market for another buyer to buy, and you will be able to move into another home that is on the market. This will create more inventory in San Diego and other areas as well.

For more information on San Diego’s current Real Estate market, contact the McT Real Estate Group right now at 619-818-8122. We specialize in the North Park, South Park, University Heights, and the surrounding metro neighborhoods of San Diego.

4 Home Renovations That Will Max Your ROI

 

Home renovations do not have to break the bank. Here are some ideas that will help whether you are planning on staying in your house for a while or whether you are planning to sell your home in the near future. Knowing what type of home projects will net you the highest dollar amount and max your ROI is always a good thing. Potential homebuyers will deduct a lot of money for a bathroom that needs updating. Doing small bathroom remodels count for a lot when potential buyers see it. It will also make you feel great while you live in the home. Enjoy a nice bathroom!
home renovations
Freshening up the landscape will get more buyers to walk into the house. It is the first thing that potential buyers see before they step inside. As part of your home renovations, you should consider adding new sod or, better yet, in San Diego, drought-tolerant is much better for conserving our water. Don’t forget about the front door. If it looks dingy, freshen it up with a new stain or painting it a beautiful bright colour. If the exterior of the house looks drab, give it a lovely fresh coat.  You will receive a good return on your investment by doing a few of these items. You will also enjoy living in a renovated home.
If you have any questions regarding your best return on investment when selling your home, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-818-8122. We are happy to go over things you should consider if you are planning on selling in the near future.

More on Selling a House in San Diego

 

Are Mortgage Lending Standards Too Loose…or Too Tight These Days?

mortgage lending application

With home values in North Park and other neighbourhoods in San Diego appreciating at record rates, some people think we may be heading for an additional housing bubble; just like the one, we went through about 10 years ago. Some of the blame of that housing boom and bust was the loosening of standards of lending for mortgage credit.

In the University of North Carolina, there was a study done after the crisis that revealed the following:

“Lenders began originating massive numbers of high-risk mortgages from around 2004 to 2007, and loans from those vintage years exhibited higher default rates than loans created either before or after.”

A study completed by John V Duca, John Muellbauer and Anthony Murphy revealed those risky mortgages caused the housing crisis.

“Our findings indicate that swings in credit standards played a major, if not the major, role in driving the recent boom and bust in US house prices.”

How does mortgage lending from 2004 to 2007 compared to today’s lending for mortgages?

The Mortgage Bankers’ Association tracks mortgage Standards through appreciating at record rates(MCAI) The lending standards are tightening as shown in the decline indicated in the MCAI, although loosening of credit is also seen in the increases in the index. The chart below shows that we are nowhere near the standards that aided the housing bubble, although, you can see the index going back to the time between 2004 and 2007 when the loose standards caused the housing bubble.

Conclusion:

Mortgage standards today have become very tight in some areas. There are many qualified home buyers out there having a hard time getting a mortgage. If you have been thinking of buying a home but are not sure how this all works, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away. We will be able to sit down and go over a comprehensive plan of action with you that is in line with your goals. 

A Fixer-Upper For A First Time Home Buyer- What To Expect

 

Things to Expect When Buying a Fixer-Upper for Your First Home

If you are faint of heart, then buying a fixer-upper may not be for you. However, for many first-time homebuyers, it’s a great way to get into the market today. Make sure you are familiar with what it will take to renovate a house and what the buying process will be before jumping in with both feet. Here are some tips that will help you understand the process of what it takes when you buy a fixer-upper.

What to Expect When Buying A Fixer- Upper

In San Diego, the average list price on a fixer-upper home is approximately $729,000. If you search for a home in North Park or South Park, it is anywhere from $700,000- $850,00. Keep these things in mind when you start searching for a fixer-upper in your area.

Basics on Budgeting: Always think of resale when the home is all fixed up. Work backwards and factor in the cost of repairs that it will take for this project. When making an offer on a house, take into consideration how much it will cost to remodel the home and will you recoup your money and some. Renovation loans are something to look into. A single mortgage would cover the remodelling costs making it easier to fund the project.

Pick Your Projects Wisely: When finding potential properties, make sure that you are searching for projects that are more of cosmetics than structural. As a first time home buyer, dealing with structural projects can be overwhelming, and the costs of repairing will add up. Never waive a home inspection. It is essential to have a good home inspector on your side that will help you determine whether remodelling this home will pay off in the long run.

Tackling the Project

Getting in over your head is no fun. Make a list of things that must be done right away and things that you would like to do. Prioritising will make it less stressful during the process.

Using the Right Tools: The most cost-effective way to tackle a fixer-upper is to do the work yourself, that is, of course, if you are handy and know how to do some of the work. If you’re starting from scratch, it will be well worth investing in the right power tools. Consult a list of essential tools for DIY, such as this one from Fine Homebuilding. A few essentials include a drill, sander, and jigsaw, along with a basic toolbox and ladder.
Start With Structural Changes: If you need to make any structural changes or the exterior needs work, prioritise those projects first. Otherwise, you may end up undoing some of the cosmetic work you’ve already done inside.
What Makes the Most Sense? Even if you have projects that you want to put on the top of your list, focus on what makes the most sense to do first. You may be tempted to rip down the ugly wallpaper that is on the walls, but it may make more sense to install the floors first since you will be moving furniture in; that is of course if you are planning on moving in. Then you can tackle the wallpaper.

Is Your Space Livable? If you are a person that likes to cook your meals, then, you may want to put the kitchen renovation on the top of the list. Then put the next most important project on the list that will make your home livable and less chaotic.

Stay or Sell?

After putting all your love, sweat and tears into this renovation, you may consider keeping this house instead of selling it for a profit. I have seen this happen on many occasions. But if you decide that you prefer to sell, by doing a lot of the work yourself, you have a better chance of making for a profit.

Think about your end goal when buying a house to flip. You must appeal to a big pool of buyers, so have this in mind when you renovate the home. Even though it is challenging to figure it all out before beforehand, make your list before you start. Work with an experienced Realtor that will be able to help you with this process. Buying a fixer-upper can be exciting if you are up to the task.

Photo credit: renovate

If you would like more information on fix-upper homes for Sale in North Park, South Park or any other neighbourhood in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away.

 

5 Strategies For Pricing a Home For Sale In San Diego

Many home sellers think that pricing their house to sell based on the home across the street that sold last year for a high amount. Or, they figure they “need’ a certain Pricing Homeamount after the sale. Some sellers will pick a number that sounds like they would be pleased with instead of doing the proper research of similar properties and what they are selling for. They should then evaluate the difference of their property before coming up with a marketing price. Listening to a neighbour saying that their home is worth “x” amount is not a good idea for pricing your home. Neighbours are not actively selling homes, so don’t know the real value.  Selling a home in San Diego and knowing the foundation of pricing a house will go a very long way. Your realtor will be able to discuss the basics and strategy behind the numbers. Together they will come up with a price point that will make sense and work for everyone.

1- Appeal to the Vast Majority

Pricing a home to the vast majority is precisely what it sounds like. Not only must you price it for the potential buyer; the appraiser is one that will put a price on it as well as the lender/bank offering the buyer a loan on it.

2.- Avoiding Strange Pricing Figures

When a buyer is searching for homes for sale, we have all seen the different range of pricing. Some are $625,000, or $699,999, etc. Then there is the occasional $625,754. You wonder how someone comes up with this number. There is no rhyme or reason. Some sellers like the combination of these numbers. These scattered numbers will not help your home stand out or look better in the searches than any other home on the market. If anything, it may even hurt you.

3-Pricing to stay within the Range

One strategy to go over with your Realtor is pricing your home at the cutoff price. For example, instead of pricing your home at $655,000, or $660,000, it would be better priced at $650,000 because the buyers that are searching for properties are typically searching in 25-50 thousand increments. Buyers that are searching up to $650,000 will not find your house if it is at $655 or $660. There are different strategies to consider, and they are not set in stone, but your Realtors should go over all of the ones to think of with a fine-tooth comb with you before putting your home on the market.

4- Different Pricing Strategy

Another strategy that does well is pricing right under the rounded number of where the market is. Many studies have shown that pricing a home just below a rounded number works on emotions. For example, let’s say that your home shows a value of $600,000. It would be advised to price it at $599,000. It is only $1,000.00, right? However, it looks and feels like such a better deal than a home that has a 6 in front of it. It is the same as going to a store such as Target or Staples. You never find something priced at $20.00 or 30.00 dollars. It will always be $19.99 or $29.99. The same holds for selling a house.

5- Price Your Home According to the Market

The market does not care how much you need or want. The market is and will be what the market is at that given time when you decide to sell your home. With this being said, markets change very quickly. You may be in a seller’s market today, but depending on what may happen in your city or town, this can quickly evolve into a Pricing Stategybuyers market. So, make sure that you and your Realtor stay on top of current events and price your home accordingly. Remember, not only do you have to sell it to a buyer, but you are also having to justify the price with the appraiser and the bank that the buyer is getting their mortgage from.

So here is a small look at how pricing a home works. It is more complicated than just picking a number out of the sky and throwing “For Sale Sign” in front of your house. Our Listing Team does this every single day. Together we will be able to help you determine the right strategy to pricing your home so that it will appeal to buyers, appraisers, and banks. Also, so that can get the absolute best amount for today market, call us anytime at 619-818-8122, and we will sit down and go over the pricing strategy that will work for your home and current situation.

Tips for Getting Your Home Ready for Sale

4 Must Dos When Getting Your Home Ready For Sale

Is it time to sell your home in North Park or South Park? Here are the top 4 things your Realtor should speak with you about doing to make sure your home is ready for sale.

1. Make the Minor Repairs Needed

Daily living in your home looks completely different than getting ready to sell a home. Many times people get used to normal wear and tear things. But, when you

Ready to paint

decide that you are going to sell your house, a homebuyer will look through a different set of lenses. They are getting ready to pay top dollar to buy a house so they want it to be in the very best condition as possible.  

Determine what repairs are needed first. Start from the entrance of the home and work your way through the whole house. Take notes of things that are not working properly and things that look dingy. What does the landscape look like? Do you need to clean up the weeds and plant a few colorful flowers out front? If there is a fence, is it broken? If so, this is something that will need repairing. How does the front door look? Does it look faded and banged up? If so, a nice fresh coat of paint does wonders. Step inside and look at the light switches, door knobs, leaky faucets, dirty grout, scuff marks on the floor and walls. If any of these things are broken or need to be repaired, this is something you should definitely do.

Another idea is to have a pre-inspection done on your house by a professional home inspector. They will look at your home with a fine tooth comb and let you know what needs work. This way you can repair the items that need the most attention that come up in the inspection prior to showing your house to a potential buyer. Your Realtor should have referrals for a few great inspectors that you can call.

2. Minor Renovations to Consider

Painting a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to give your home an immediate facelift. In order to appeal to the broadest selection of buyers, you should pick a neutral color and nothing too personal. If your house has old wallpaper, you may consider removing it and painting. Anything with patterns or different colors that have not been brought up to date may deter a potential buyer because they can’t see themselves living in the home.

These are other small renovations that bring in a good return on investment:

  • Adding fresh sod, colorful flowering plants, fresh mulch, or drought tolerant landscape here in San Diego is always a good idea
  • Adding pavers or a wood deck in the backyard-Creating an Indoor-Outdoor Space by adding furniture, showing an area for entertainment
  • Painting Kitchen Cabinets, changing out hardware fixtures and kitchen and bathroom fixtures, Changing out old light fixtures

 3. Remove All Clutter Before Putting On the Market

  • Clear out closets. Get rid of clothes that you have not used in the last 3 yearsclutter
  • Remove excess chotchkies from tables, fireplace mantel or any other counters
  • Minimize children’s toys and keep in one room.
  • Minimize pets toys and keep in one area of the home
  • Keep litter box spotless (if you have kitties)

4. Don’t Forget to Disclose All!

Gathering all of the records and documents for your home can be a big job, depending on how organized you are. However, this one is extremely important. There are many required disclosure forms that California has you fill out. Together with your Realtor, you will go through them to make sure that you do not forget to fill them out properly

Things You Will Need:

  • Receipts of repairs or recent remodeling that was done
  • Past Reports of the home that you may still have
  • Any leases (if rental), guarantees on previous work completed
  • Any transferable service agreements
  • Mortgage Loan payoff information
  • Permits applied for or finalized permits
  • Information on pool systems, Solar Panels, Water softners
  • Any existing surveys

By following these 4 steps, this will help you with the upfront preparation of getting your home ready to sell in North Park, South Park and any neighborhood in San Diego. If you have any questions, contact our knowledgeable Real Estate Team. We are here to help you through the process and to make it as stress-free as possible for you.

 

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San Diego Things To Do in May

“Frozen” Presented by Disney on Ice

Ice skating has never been more fun to watch in San Diego with unbelievable special effects and fantastic music. Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse are the hosts, and there are special appearances by the stars of Finding Dory, The Lion King, and Toy Story. This is a special treat that you won’t want to miss. For showtimes visit website. Valley Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego CA ( Tickets Here)

The City Ballet presents “Carmina Burana” and “Mozart’s Concerto.”

Come and be part of The City Ballet with the last two programs of the season. Choreographed by Geoff Gonzalez. This takes place during the financial crisis at the end of the 1920s. The amazing 100 voice choir is providing the foundation along with the City Ballet orchestra. Inspired by Mozart’s score is the performance with Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp. For showtimes visit website Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown, 858.272.8663. (Tickets Here)

Cinco de Mayo in Balboa Park

May 5th.is a day not to forget. Filled with fun Mexican dance performances and music that the whole family will enjoy. There will be Booth filled with craft vendors, food trucks,

kids activity, and so much more. At 5 pm the SDSU School of Music Percussion Ensemble will accompany the crowd favorite, Jarabe Mexicano at the Spreckels Organ Pavillion. Free. Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado, San Diego (Tickets Here)

Festival of the Arts North Park

On May 12tth take a stroll and view the paintings, pottery, photography, handmade jewelry and artwork of over 100 artists. There will also be a variety of genres of music on four performance stages as well as a craft beer block for the guests who attend that are 21+.  Free 30th St. and University Ave., North Park.   (Tickets Here)

Old House Fair

On May 19th South Park will open up five historic homes for its infamous tour. Each home features docent-led education and history, and you can visit them in any order you wish. Begin the tour at the Rose Wine Bar where there will be mimosa for those who would like to wet their whistle. Also, meet several historic home preservation specialists. Also included is a bike tour of modern and historic homes built by notable architects. (10 am- 4 pm- The Rose Wine Bar, 2219 30th Street, South Park  Tickets Here

Other Things to Do in San Diego

If you are thinking of buying a home in the North Park, South Park neighborhood, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away at 619-736-7003.

 

Selling a Home in North Park

Selling a home in North Park these days can happen quickly if properly executed. We keep hearing about how low the inventory is and what a great seller’s market we are in. Yes, we are in a seller’s market. However, because of this, we sometimes run across homeowners that believe they can get much more than what their home is worth, even though there are no comps that would support that amount.

Selling a Home in North Park
Home for Sale in North Park

For a homeowner that is thinking of selling their home, there are lots of things to consider.  Choosing which Realtor to work with to help you with this process is one of those things. Although, there is the occasional home seller that may even think that in today’s market it doesn’t matter who you pick.

Which Realtor Should I Choose?

When selling a home, a homeowner may choose a Realtor because they charge a lower commission or work in what is called a discount brokerage. They may even pick a Realtor because the Realtor said they can get that seller a  $50,000- $100,000 more than what the current comps say; even though there are not any comps to support that price. Some Realtors will say anything to get a homeowner to sign a listing agreement. Unfortunately, the home will sit on the market for months with no offers in-sight. In the meantime, the Realtor will try to get the seller to reduce the price and continue to do so until they get to a price where they eventually get an offer. Now you have a seller who is not happy and is completely aggravated because expectations were not set.

With so much online information at our disposal, I can see where one may also think they can try to sell their home themselves or pick any Realtor. You may think that this will save you lots of money. In reality, what it will end up doing is costing the seller thousands of dollars more in the long run.

 

Falling Out Of Escrow

What you are not able to find online is the track record of fallouts from many of these discount brokerages or individuals that will discount their commission for almost zero. What I mean by this is the number of times a buyer falls out of contract and the listing has to go on the market again. However, this time it is left with a ton of scary inspections left from the previous buyer that you now have to disclose to the new potential buyer. If a possible seller knew how many times this Realtor/Real Estate company has fallen out of a contract because they were not able to negotiate through and complete to a SOLD transaction, they may put more thought into who they hire to represent them with the sale of your home.

 

Selling a Home 

There is more to selling a home than just putting a sign in front of the house, taking photos and uploading your home into the MLS.(multiple listing services). Besides pricing the home right, picking the right buyers that are financially qualified to get a fully approved loan; there is also what happens after an offer is accepted and the buyer does their home inspection. This is where real negotiating skills come into play.

In North Park, South Park and the metro area in San Diego, our homes are over 100 years old. If a Realtor is not experienced with selling older homes things could get a little hectic, to say the least. An experienced Realtor working with their homebuyer is able to walk them through the process of what to expect to see when a home inspection is done on these types of older homes. Even the prettiest homes that have been remodeled will scare the faint of heart when the inspector takes pictures under the house and completes his/her inspection. Foundations are old, roofs are old, windows are old. These are not cookie-cutter tract homes. Knowing this upfront will save all parties front lots of headaches. New home construction is not the type of house that you are going to find in San Diego’s Metro communities.

If you live in North Park then you have one of these older homes.  If you happen to accept an offer from what seems to be a motivated buyer who is working with a  Realtor who is not experienced with these types of homes, it is time to hold on to your hat because the ride is about to get bumpy right about now.

All kidding aside, I have seen it many times and just heard of another case this morning. A Realtor in the neighborhood accepted an offer from the “motivated buyer/Realtor” mentioned above on one of her listings which happens to be a 1930’s Craftsman Bungalow. After the buyer did their inspection they were shocked to find out that the foundation was old, the plumbing was old and some of the electrical was old. They came back and asked that the seller reduce the price by $100,000 because they said the house needed a new roof, new foundation, new electrical, etc.  I think they thought they were buying a new house.

The listing agent then had her preferred vendors go to the house and give a proposal on the higher ticket items that came up in the buyer’s inspection. The proposal came back at $35,000. The seller was then willing to credit the buyer as a reduction in price and was willing to negotiate. However, at that point, the buyer’s agent without further notice sent in a cancellation. There was no communication, no negotiations, just a cancellation.

 

When To Negotiate

Buying and Selling Real Estate is about negotiations. So, when I hear that someone just sends in cancellation papers without a conversation it makes me shake my head in disbelief. The buyer’s agent had no clue about older homes or negotiating through a transaction. Nor were they able to speak on the phone. This is simply a disservice, in my humble opinion to everyone involved in this transaction.

Unfortunately, when you fall out of escrow, the buyer’s agent will typically send all inspection reports that have been completed by a buyers inspectors. When this happens, the seller will now have to show all of these reports to a new potential buyer. This, however, taints your property and now it shows on the MLS that your home has fallen out of escrow. So, whether that inspection was done by a competent inspector or not, the new potential buyer will look at this inspection and decide that the place is falling apart; when in fact, this is not the case. It is just an older home.

If this home was priced right from the very beginning, and certain inspections were done right up front, it would have most likely received multiple offers. The buyer would not have been able to say that they did not know the condition of the home. Also, with multiple offers, the sellers would have then had other choices and would have a SOLD sign in front of their house today.

Thinking of Selling

If you are thinking of selling a home in North Park and would like to speak to a local Real Estate Expert in the neighborhood, please call the McT Real Estate Group at 619-818-8122 right now. We would be happy to speak with you about the process of selling and how we go about preparing your home to enter the marketplace. Feel free to search our online reviews and see what people are saying.

More Info About Selling A Home

What Are Some Homebuyers Mistakes Made?

Mistakes Homebuyers Make

Buying a home is a big deal and requires a lot of thought and preparation. I have seen homebuyers mistakes many times so decided to share them with you so you can learn from them. Preparing your finances upfront is something that you should do before going out and searching for houses. In today’s competitive Real Estate Market homes are sold quickly. Being prepared will help you get the home you want without missing out on a great opportunity because you did not have your financials in order. I have seen buyers going around searching for homes, and they have not talked to a lender yet. Without speaking to a lender and going over your finances, you are not sure what your affordability is. You may be looking at houses that are way under or over your price range. Once speaking to a lender you will be able to find out exactly what you should be looking at.

Already Found A Realtor

If you already found a Realtor that you would like to work with but you have not found a lender, no worries. An experienced Realtor will have a few great lenders that they can refer you to. A lender will be able to pinpoint what price range to look at based on your budget, qualifications and your comfortability of a certain monthly payment. As a Realtor, we encourage you, the homebuyer, to do this so that we can understand what target price of homes to search for and focus on finding you and your family the best home in that price range.

Cleaning Up Your Credit

Another reason to speak to a lender before searching for a home is that there may be a few dings on your credit that you did not know about. This will increase the interest rate you will have to pay on a mortgage loan. By speaking with a lender before searching for a home, we may be able to take care of these things so that they come off your credit pretty quickly. This will increase your credit score which will make your payment lower on that possible dream home that you would like to buy.

Having a lower credit score could be ½-1or point more from someone with a higher credit score. What does this mean? It means that the person with a lower credit score will pay $200-$400.00 for the same house. So preparing yourself before you go out and look at houses is extremely important. Falling in love with a house to then find out at that very moment that you just can not afford the monthly payment with break your heart.

Getting New Credit Cards 

When buying a home, it is extremely important that you stop shopping. Seriously, Homebuyers mistakehomebuyers mistakes include shopping for things they really don’t need at that time. Do you need another pair of slacks or one more pair of shoes? Well, if you do, this is ok but when you get to the cash register and they ask you if you would like to save 10% on today’s purchase, “JUST SAY NO”! BTW, this also includes furniture that you may want for your new home or even a car. This is one of the worst things you can do if you have gotten your offer accepted and you are “In Escrow”. You will most likely get a call from your lender because now, your credit score would have dropped and you may not qualify for the loan that you were trying to get. This is a big deal, so DON’T DO IT!!

Hate Your Job?

You may not like your job anymore and may have been offered a new one. Another search workone of those homebuyers mistakes is quitting that job before you close escrow on your new home. Here is another bit of advice; DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB!!. No matter how much you hate it, stick it out. Once your loan has been approved and you are moved into your new home, you can then decide if changing jobs is what you want to do. Hopefully, you will have your next one in line because you now the proud owner of a new house and have a mortgage payment at the end of the month:-)

If you have not spoken to a lender yet or would like a referral to one, just email us or call us at 619-818-8122. We have several high-level professional lenders that we have been working with for years. They would be able to help you figure out what target market you should be looking at based on the information that you give them. Once that is done, we can get you on the road to homeownership.

How To Get Ready For a Mortgage Before You Need One

Getting Ready for a Mortgage?

Are you waiting until you are ready to move out of your current home to begin the process of getting financially prepared to buy a home? Most people don’t have a pile of cash laying around to buy a home outright. They depend on financing the loan through a bank and having a mortgage. Applying for a loan is not always very easy to do if your finances are not in order.

There are certain requirements that one must pass to secure a mortgage. Don’t wait until last minute to get everything in order as it will be a bit frustrating if you do.

What Is The First Step To Prepare Your Credit To Buy A Home?

It is always a good thing to know what your credit score is before you start searching for a home. Checking your credit score is so easy these days. Download the “Credit Karma” app to your smartphone, and you will have instant access without taking a hit for pulling credit the traditional way. If your credit score comes back low, you will then have time to start working on raising it. You can also see if there are fraudulent activities showing up and work on getting them off immediately. This typically will take some time to remove so getting a head start is always a smart move on your end.

One way of raising your score is to set up payment reminders. You can set this up either on your google calendar or directly with your bank. Setting these up with text or emails is probably the easiest way and quickest to start seeing that score rise quickly.

Lowest Interest Rates Available

Everyone is always searching for who has the lowest interest rates available when buying a home. You’ll find that you will need a Fico Score of 760 or higher to take advantage of the lowest interest available. If your loan is less than this, don’t worry, most lenders require that your Fico is at least 620 or more for a conventional mortgage. The interest won’t be as low as if you had a 760 but it is still not bad because of how low our interest rates are these days.

Applying for A New Credit Card That You Don’t Need Is a NO NO

Every time that you apply for a new credit card your credit score decreases a little bit. So, if you don’t need one, just don’t do it. The only time that I would recommend applying for a credit card is if you are one of those people that have paid everything in cash. Kudos to you but in the credit world, this, unfortunately, is a bad thing. It is one of those things. If you don’t already have credit, lenders do not want to lend you money. Go figure.

Get Those Credit Cards Paid Down

I know that it is easier said than done but paying your credit cards down is one of the best ways to get ready to buy a home. If you find yourself with several credit cards, try paying the one with the smallest amount on them. Once that is paid off, you take that payment that would have gone into paying that card and roll it over to the next one with the smaller amount on it, and so on….

Your Report Shows Errors

When there is fraudulent activity taken place behind the scenes, this can definitely hurt your credit score in a big way. It is recommended that you check your credit score once a year. Go line by line and if something is not right, contact the Federal Trade Commission for tips on disputing and getting these things removed from your credit.

Old Accounts Are Old But Closing Them Could Harm Your Score

You may not have use a specific credit card for a long time. Now is not the time to close it. It would then show that you have less available credit and decrease the average length of time that you have had credit.

Save Money For Down Payment and Closing Costs

Alas, saving for the downpayment. When buying a house, you will have the down payment, and then the rest is what you will take out on a mortgage loan. Most people think that they can’t afford to save 20%, but they will be able to afford the monthly mortgage payment. This is when you have to go over the numbers with your Mortgage Broker/Lender. These days you don’t have to come in with 20% down. There are many loan options including 3.5% down payment (FHA). If you have a military background, you don’t even have to have a down payment. Know that this comes with a price and that is with an FHA loan you will have to pay MI (mortgage insurance) until the equity in the house builds up to 20%. At that time you can have it removed with a little bit of back and forth with the bank that owns the loan. Know that the higher the down payment and credit score, the lower the interest rate that you will have.

5 Questions To Ask Your Lender

  1. Do you offer loan rate locks?
  2. What are your closing costs?
  3. What are the Origination Fees and Discount Points?
  4. What is the interest rate?
  5. Is the mortgage rate fixed or an ARM rate?
  6. What is the monthly mortgage payment?
  7. Does the monthly payment include PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance)?
  8. What is the minimum payment necessary for that monthly payment?

Buying A Home In San Diego?

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Should I Buy a Home Now Or Wait Until Next Year?

Buying a home in San Diego can be very exciting but can feel scary at the same time. If you think about it too long and listen to too many people who don’t own a home or even some that do, you may become paralyzed with fear and never jump in. It is ok to be careful and do your homework. But, over analyzing for too long can hurt you in the long run. Constantly asking yourself, “Should I buy a home now or wait until next year”? I can remember meeting people that came in through our Open Houses during 2012- 2016. Some of these people wanted to buy a home but kept saying that they were going to wait for the bubble to burst. It is 2018 as I am writing these words. I still see a few of these people around that still haven’t bought. They are kicking themselves for not buying back then. We also helped many people buy homes during that time period and then they decided to move out of San Diego. We then sold their homes and they left with a lot more money than they had when they initially bought their house. They were sure happy!  With this being said, yes, you do have to put much thought into it. It is a big financial decision. But no matter what time it is, it always seems like mortgages are high and one wonders how they are going to pay their mortgage.

How Will I Pay The Mortgage?

So, you’re either going to pay your mortgage or you are going to help your landlord pay theirs. Either way, you are paying a mortgage. Why not it be your own.

My parents bought houses back in the 1970’s and 1980’s. There were times when interest rates were way up at 18%. Sure, the purchase prices were lower, however, with interest rates as high as they were, so was their mortgage. They too asked themselves “how are we going to may this mortgage”. Today, they are sure happy they took those risks. This allowed them to have a large safety net to retire with and not have to work in their golden years.  

Should I Buy a Home Now?

So, are you asking yourself, “showed I buy now or wait until next year”?

Buying a home today at $700,000 with interest rates at 4.3%, your mortgage will be approximately $3223.00. With projected interest rates for next year at 5.10% and the price going up to $735,000, your mortgage payment will be approximately $3,629.00. That is a difference of $406.00 a month.

Historical Market Data:

If you are thinking of buying a home and would like to sit down and go over a plan of action, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-818-8122. Together we will look at your long-term goals and see if buying a home is the best thing for you today.

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San Diego Homes for Sale Coming Soon

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Homes for sale in San Diego are hard to find these days. With a limited amount of inventory, finding a home and getting your offer accepted before someone else is getting more difficult these days.

If you have been searching for “coming soon” real estate listings but have not been successful at it, here is a good place to start. The McT Real Estate Group are real estate experts in the San Diego area and always have a list of homes for sale in San Diego County that are not yet quite on the MLS, Realtor.com, Zillow or any other website except ours. Before we put homes on these other sites, we spend time with the seller preparing them first, so they are the nicest ones in the area for their price range.

What Do I Mean By Preparing the Home For Sale?

How one lives in a place and how one sells a home is quite different. When we live in our home, we tend to fill it up with stuff we love and makes us feel good. When we are getting ready to sell a home there are certain things that one should do that a home buyer will look at before entering your house. It starts right when they drive up to your house. If the front is not tidy and cared for they may not even want to step inside.

With this being said, when the McT Real Estate Group gets a listing, we work with our sellers and help them with this process of getting their home to look nicer than the competition.  Do make sure to check in with us to see what we have in the pipeline, what we will be putting on the market soon and how to be the first one in to see it. Call us at 619-818-8122 right away!

See Our Current List Of Homes Coming Soon for Sale

 

 

Myrtle Ave- San Diego-Coming Soon

Introducing Urban Sophistication with this North Park Contemporary home featuring magnificent views, day or night. Attention to detail was used when designing the fresh look this house offers. Enjoy Morley Field park, just one block away, where you can hike, spend time on the tennis courts, take the dog to the doggie park or just have a quiet stroll with nature.

Walk up a few steps and onto a small pad. Open the handsome modern front door and step into a spacious living room that is part of open concept living. The beautiful wide plank wood floors, recess lighting, and light colored walls add to the overall contemporary feel.

With multi-panel bifold windows in the living and large windows in the kitchen area, you will have fun entertaining friends and family while enjoying the sunset views afar. The gorgeous kitchen is adorned with attractive Silestone counters, custom cabinets, and modern black stainless steel appliances.

All rooms are spacious and airy with great closet space and solid wood interior doors throughout. Both bathrooms are beautifully designed with exquisite taste that you will enjoy for many years.

Take a walking tour here:

;

For more information about this beauty on  Myrtle Avenue, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-818-8122 for accurate information of this home right away.

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Which Realtor Should I Choose?

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When getting ready to buy or sell a house there are a lot of Realtors and/or Real Estate Agents to choose from. You are probably asking yourself, “which Realtor should I choose?Many have had their license for a long time but don’t necessarily sell many homes. Then, there are others who just received their license and although are motivated, they have not sold many homes. They simply don’t have that much experience yet. There is nothing wrong with this as we all have to start somewhere. However, teaming up with an experienced Realtor would probably be a good idea for them.

Which Realtor Should You Choose

When you hire the McT Real Estate Group, you are hiring an experienced real estate team to work for you. Although, if you are searching for a Realtor to sell your house you would only be speaking to myself and my partner Z. Together we have 25 years of experience and have been through a bad market and a few good markets. We have experienced all types of different situations and know how to keep a transaction from falling out.

Hiring An Experience Realtor    Hiring a Realtor

The benefits of hiring an established team like the McT Real Estate Group is we have been there when an awful inspection takes place. We have sold many homes where terrible foundations have been discovered, both before and after getting into contract. We have also been around long enough to see lots of lender problems occur. With experiencing these things throughout the years, we know what to do when things go sideways. We have overcome a lot of these different situations and are well versed in all kinds of things that take place when selling a home. There is not much that we have not seen and we are able to work through them. This comes with years of day in and day out of working with people with the sale of their most prized possession, their homes.

Selling A Home

These days with all of the online data at our fingertips one may think that buying and selling a home is very easy. However, selling a home is more than just putting a sign in front of the house and accepting someone’s offer. There are a lot of moving parts that take place with lots of people behind the scenes and lots of on-going negotiations. Things will which realtor should I choose?always come up when a seller accepts a buyers offer. After the buyer does their inspection, trust me, things come up and this is when an experience is extremely important. Which Realtor you choose becomes apparent if you don’t choose the right one. Recently, I have seen far too many newer agents that have just gotten their license not able to negotiate repairs after their inspection has taken place. They simply throw their hands in the air and cancel the contract. Without realizing it, they are not working in their clients best interest. We just experienced this on a home we sold a few months ago in North Park. Right after the first buyer’s agent canceled, we were able to immediately get another buyer and simply negotiate a very small credit. The first buyer’s agent did not understand older homes or negotiating through small hiccups that come up. Most everything is negotiable in Real Estate. Because of this, their client lost a beautiful home in a great neighborhood for what was negotiated off the price with the second buyer at $3,300.00. With the current low inventory in San Diego, I do wonder if that buyer ever found a home in the neighborhood or any other one.

The Benefits Of Hiring an Experienced Real Estate Team

The benefits of working with the McT Real Estate Group is that we have a small team of people working on your behalf. Z and I are your listing agents. You will be in constant communication with us throughout the process. We are the ones that are out marketing your home to the public and negotiating contracts. Our job is finding out ways to sell your home for the most amount of money in your pocket and negotiating contracts. We then have 2 Buyer Specialists and 1 showing agent. They work strictly with the buyers and are answering sign calls and advertisement calls all day long. We also have a Transaction Manager who takes care of all of the paperwork, crossing the “T’s and dotting the “I’s so we can do what we do best which is marketing your home and negotiating on your behalf.

If you are thinking of buying or selling your home in the near or distant future and wondering which Realtor you should work with, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-818-8122  right away. We are here to answer your questions and hopefully, have a chance of working together.

How To Check Your Credit Score

You may be thinking of buying a house in San Diego but are not sure what your credit score is. There are several sites such as www.creditkarma.com or www.freecreditreport.com that you can go to that will run your credit score yearly and for free. The great thing is that you won’t take a hit to your score by using these sites and you can keep an eye on it to make sure that everything that is on it is legit. Although, if you are buying a house, the lender that you decide to work with will require running their own credit report. This will be good for up to 90 days of the purchase, so once you are sure that you would like to start the process of buying a home, have a conversation with your lender and provide him/her with the necessary documents that they ask for so that you can have your pre-approval ready.

Typically, the better your credit score is the better interest rate you will receive for your loan when buying a house.

Credit Score

How Credit Scores Affect Interest Rates

The lower your credit score is the higher interest rate you will receive on a loan program. Lenders will see you as a higher risk borrower. However, they are still willing to risk it by giving you a loan. It will just cost you a little more than someone with stellar credit.

How To Increase Your Credit Score

* Paying bills on time
* Keep balances as low as possible
* Pay off a credit card instead of transferring to another credit card
* Don’t open new credit cards and don’t close any unused credit cards for now

Depending on what the score is, there are different loan programs for you. Although your interest rate may be a little higher, you will still be able to get a loan if your income is good and can show that you can afford the monthly payments.

Can Credit Score of 580 Get a Mortgage?

Below you will notice that with a credit score of 580 you can still get a loan with as little as 3.5% down. Even if your credit score is poor or fair, it’s not as hard as you may think in some cases to increase your score. We can set you up with an experienced lender that can help you raise your score very quickly.

The McT Real Estate Group would love to help you with your next home purchase when the time comes. Please know that we have incredible lender recommendations for you when you are ready. It’s important that you get prequalified prior to viewing homes so we know what your budget is and so that you will be ready to write an offer when we find the home you wish to buy.

If you like we can have on of our lenders contact you? Just let us know! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us right away.

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More on Buying a Home in San Diego

Affordable Homes for Sale in North Park

North Park, like other neighborhoods in the San Diego Metro Communities, have gotten expensive throughout the years. However, with today’s low-interest rates and the cost of renting a house, it may be better to search for an affordable home for sale in North Park in the long run.

Check out the most affordable homes in North Park today!

3382Redwood
North Park Bungalow

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7 Tips for Decorating Your Home in 2018

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Have you have been thinking of decorating your home for quite a while but you don’t have a large budget and don’t know where to start? There are many things that you can do that won’t break the bank. First, one of the least expensive things that can completely transform your home is paint. Paint is your friend:-).

1-Decorate Your Home by Painting the Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen cabinets are in good shape but the maple color looks dated. Before you go out
tearing these cabinets out, take a look at a few color swatches. You can either paint them yourself or hire someone to do them for you. Done properly, they will look like completely new cabinets and will cost a fraction of what new cabinets would cost. Have fun with the color. Who says they have to be brown, grey or white?

2-Paint the Front Door

The first thing that you see when you or someone goes to your house is the front door. Replacing the front door can be pricey, depending on the door you buy. Remember that you’re not only paying for the door. You have to pay for the installation which sometimes can be the same price as the door. Before doing this, consider painting the door that you already have another color. When the exterior of your house is a plain subdued color, go bold with the front door. Have fun with it.

3-Paint the Walls

Painting can brighten up a room and create an illusion of space in rooms that seem small, dark and dingy.Move away from darker walls this year. Bring in the new year with lighter and brighter. There are hundreds of different white, grey and pale colors to use on walls that will brighten up the space.

4-Fun Wallpaper

I am not talking about old grandmas wallpaper from the 70’s that takes an army to removed when they got tired of it. I am talking about fun and new textured wallpaper that adds dimension and charm to a space. You can add bold colors if you wish or subtle design texture. Best of all when you are tired of the look, it can easily be removed and the walls remain unharmed.

5- Paint the Furniture

You may have pieces of furniture that you are tired of and would love to replace. However, doing so will take a large portion of your budget. Forget that; bring some new life to the old furniture by painting it. You will have immediate new furniture at minimal cost and add a whole new look to your space.

6-Slip Covers

You love your sofa but are tired of the color and if you paint the walls and the tables and console, your sofa will look out of place. No worries, you can ask your local upholsterer and price out what it would cost to upholster your sofa. They can also make slipcovers that look as if though the sofa was upholstered. This is a great way to go because you can switch them out often if you like, depending on your mood.

7-Paint Garage Doors 

Don’t forget about the garage doors. They may be worn and beat up but replacing garage doors is definitely not cheap. If they still work just add a little color and viola’, brand new again with a whole different look that can be fun and add character to that part of the house.

 

If you live in San Diego and are thinking of selling your home but wondering what you have to do in order to get it ready for sale, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We know exactly what to do with minimal investment that will help you receive maximum results. If you are thinking of buying a home but don’t where to start, contact us right away. We will walk you through the home buying process, step by step, making sure that you understand the whole process and feel happy and comfortable with the final result.

Just Bought A Home? Now What?

 

6 Home Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Home Looking Good

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1-Hose Down Your Home 

While living in San Diego, one does enjoy the perfect year-round weather that most people from other parts of the Country only dream of. However, homes become very dusty and accumulate a layer of soot. If you don’t get rid of this your home will look dull and dirty before its time. A home maintenance tip that will help combat this, either use a blower to blow the dust off or simply hose it down with the garden hose. You will be surprised on how this will brighten up the homes exterior. In most cases, it will look like you just gave the home a fresh coat of paint.

2-Replace AC/Heating Filters

If you have central ac, a good way of making sure that it lasts a long time without experiencing a glitch is to make sure that the filters are replaced every couple of months. Again, San Diego is dusty and if you use your AC or even the heat occasionally,  then make sure to put an alert on your calendar that will remind you to do this. This will ensure the longevity of the heating and air system.

 

3-Touchup Paint

If the exterior of your home is stucco, you will notice deterioration or cracks after several years. This is typical of our homes in San Diego. In the North Park, South Park and other parts of the metro neighborhoods, our homes are

Woman painting the walls of new home with paintbrush

100+years old and even though many have been remodeled, there is still settling that occurs. If you keep on top of making sure to patch up chipped stucco as soon as you see it, this will ensure that your home’s exterior maintains a fresh look for years to come.

Yes, the weather in San Diego is amazing but with this being said, the exterior of your home will take a beating sometimes. Whether you have a stuccoed house or wood slats, it is important that you touch up paint as soon as you see it deteriorating. Otherwise, your homes exterior will need a full exterior paint job sooner than had you stayed on top of it by an occasional touch-up.

4-Caulking Skylights and Bathrooms

Skylights will add lots of charm and light to a home. However, roofs can be very costly when leaks occur. Even new roofs can have leaks when skylights are present. To prevent leaks from happening, it is wise to caulk around the skylights every two years. 

Another area where caulking is a must is the bathroom. The caulking around the tub gets mucky after several months of daily usage. This carries bacteria and overall looks gross. Recaulking at least once a year will keep your bathroom looking its absolute best without having to worry about what lives in your tub.

5-Keep the Drains Clean 

The bathroom is a heavily used room, and you should make it a point to maintain the drains every couple of months. Whether you use something such as Drano or use something more holistic such as Vinegar and Baking Soda; your drains will thank you in the long run and it will keep things running smoothly.

 

6-Regrouting

Having a nice clean kitchen to cook in makes all the difference when preparing meals. The one area that most people forget to keep up with is the grout between where the counter meets the wall right behind the faucet. Many times the grout in this area will crack and start to look old quickly. The last home maintenance tip is touching this up with a little regrouting is easy and effective. This will give your kitchen a little facelift with minimal effort.

For information on homes for sale in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group at 619-818-8122. If you are thinking of selling your home in the distant future, we would love to speak with you and help you with the process of not only selling your home; helping you prepare it for sale, so that you receive the highest dollar amount for one of your biggest investments.

More Home Ideas

How to Make a Small Room Look Bigger

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What Colors to Use to Make a Room Look Bigger?

smallroomlookbigger

 

Lighter colors are always best when trying to make a small room look larger than it is. There are nice soft creamy whites and very light greys that do this well. Painting the walls and ceiling the same color also adds volumes. It will create an illusion and make small places look much bigger than they are.

How Do You Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger?

headboard
Placing a large bed in a small bedroom will make a room look much larger than if you were to put a small bed in it. However, one with a low headboard or no headboard at all works best. Adding translucent furniture will also add dimension to a room, as well as giving a nice modern touch. Hanging a large piece of artwork above the bed works as a headboard and creates the illusion of more space. Less is more so having one night table instead of two works great.
Floors

How To Make a Room Look Bigger With Curtains?

Ceiling to floor Sheer Curtains will make a room will overall make a room look taller. However, don’t let the curtains touch the floor as this will defeat the purpose and make the room look short. Read up on the “Curtain Do’s and Don’ts” found in an article from Apartment Therapy.

Because the room is small, you may tend to push the furniture all the way to the wall. By pulling the furniture away from the wall just a tad, it creates the illusion of more space.

If you are planning on hanging shelves, make sure to do so near the ceiling.

Mirrorsmakeaspacebigger

Mirrors Make a Room Look Bigger

 

Floor length mirrors are always a great addition to make a small room feel taller. The eyes are automatically drawn up and create a lighter and brightness around the room. But, if you don’t have a floor length mirror, a smaller size will do as shown in this photograph. By creating a focal point and tilting the mirror up, you will create depth and reflect natural and artificial light which bounces off making the room appear lighter and larger than its actual size.

 

How to Make a Room Look Bigger With Wallpaper

mdernwallpaperWallpaper is back with a big bang. We are not talking about grandma’s wallpaper from back in the 60’s that is difficult to remove. Nowadays, wallpaper is clean, modern and super easy to remove when you get tired of it. With many designs that make a small space appear much bigger than it is.

 

What Kind of Accessories will Make a Room Look Bigger?

Always use the Cantaloupe Rule when adding accent pieces in a small room. What this means is that you should use items that are larger than a cantaloupe when adding accessories. Decorating accents that are smaller than a cantaloupe are known to cramp a room and collect dust. So remember, nothing smaller than a cantaloupe when bringing in accent pieces. The effects are amazing.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away at 619-818-8122. We help homeowners prepare their homes to look it’s very best before going on the market so that they can receive the highest dollar amount.

If you are searching for a home to buy, we can help you through all of the steps that it takes to navigate through the home buying process and make sure that every “I” is dotted and every “T” is crossed. Our Buyer Specialists will make sure you understand exactly what you are buying and what to expect so there are no surprises and make sure that you are protected while doing so.

Halloween in San Diego 2017

Halloween in San Diego in 2017 is full of Haunted Tales and Spooky Zombies. If you love Halloween and happen to live in San Diego or be on vacation, you will be in for some Tricks along with some Treats.

Scary Places to Visit During Halloween in San Diego:

• The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
From Sept. 29th- October 31, 2017, you can buy tickets that will allow you to walk the scary trail that you will not forget. Get ready to have the hairs on your neck to rise as you hear the sounds and see the sights that are around you.

• The Scream Zone
From Sept. 29th- October 31, 2017, the Haunted Hayride, the House of Horror and KarnEvil will be open and is one of the largest and scariest attractions around. Buy tickets on their website and be ready to have the “bejeezus” scared out of you.

• The Haunted Hotel
From Sept. 22nd – Oct. 31, 2017
Not for the faint of heart. Buy tickets and plan on being spooked with the scariest of all screaming that will take place and have you thinking that this is too real for comfort.

• The Savage House
From Sept. 28-Oct. 31, 2017
This Halloween Event may be too scary for some. This is a real Sanitarium that was originally built for some of the most dangerous and violent offenders. The horror storyline will have you shaking in your boots. It is located the at the Westfield Mission Valley Mall in the Target Parking lot.

Not So Scary but Lots of Fun Places to Visit in San Diego during Halloween

• Nightmare on Normal Street
Oct. 28th, 2017
Enjoy the dance party celebration along with costume competition and late night entertainment.

• San Diego Monster Bash
Oct. 28th, 2017
You will have access to 4 themed parties located in the Gaslamp District and the East Village. Buy Tickets Here and be prepared to experience scary souls having fun on Halloween.

Halloween for Kids in San Diego

Let’s not forget about the little kids on Halloween. Here are a few places where you can take the family for some not so scary but great fun.

• Trick-or-Treat on India Street
Oct.27th, 2017
Bring the kids to Little Italy and enjoy trick-or-treating along the historic India Street as most all the businesses participate in handing out Halloween treats to the kids

• Boomont Park Fall Festival and Haunt
Celebrate all of October with riding the spooky roller coaster, pumpkin patch painting, and costume contest. Free trick or treating from 6:30-7:30 pm at Belmont Park at 3190 Mission Blvd.

• Legoland Brick-or-Treat Party Nights
Sept.30th-Oct.28th 2017
Halloween excitement is going on with the extended Park open hours. Buy your tickets here and plan to have some fun.

Halloween is a great time of the year. It is fun simply walking around the different neighborhoods of San Diego and seeing all of the Halloween decorations. Lots of people get into creating haunted mansions out of their homes so it is always fun to drive through different neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods to explore are North Park, South Park, University Heights, and several surrounding.

Here is a link to other things to do in San Diego

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Selling Your House in San Diego the Fall of 2017

 

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SellingYourHouseFall2017
Selling Your House in the Fall

The McT Real Estate Group would like to share with you our Fall Guide to Selling your House in San Diego in the Fall of 2017. It is full of great information about the current Real Estate market that we are in right now. We have all heard about the Real Estate Inventory Nationally being at an all-time low. This news has been everywhere, but here you can get into the nitty-gritty.

 

What we talk about in this Sellers Book is why buyer demand continues to outpace the inventory and what you, the seller can do with this. We go over “Supply and Demand” and what this means for a seller. We also talk about the benefits of prices still rising.

Typically when inventory is low, interest rates tend to go up, but this is not the case as of today. With this being said, this benefits both the buyer and the seller. It means that the buyers purchasing power is still relatively high. Download your “Free Sellers Book” here. Once you read it and have any questions, feel free to email us or call us right away at(619) 940-1554.

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Top Reasons for Buying a Duplex as a First Home

buying a duplex
3 units in North Park

You have decided to buy your first home in San Diego. This is great news! The first thing that comes to mind is, should you buy a Single Family Home, a Condo, or a Townhouse? These are all great options but let’s not forget about another great option. What about buying a Duplex or a Triplex? These are great investment strategies to think of.

There are a lot of advantages in homeownership with buying a Duplex for Sale in San Diego. Having someone else help pay for your mortgage is one of these advantages that owning a Single-Family Home does not have.

Below are some of the reasons and advantages and why you should consider buying a Duplex instead of a Condo, Townhouse or even a Single-Family Home:

Mortgage Relief

When you apply for a mortgage, banks will have lower interest rates if you are going to be occupying the home as opposed to someone who is buying a home to rent out. Also known as a non-occupied loan. When you apply for a loan to buy a Duplex or a Triplex, they still consider this as an owner-occupied loan since you are going to live in one of the units. You will also qualify for a larger loan because the other units will be helping you pay the mortgage loan.

Tax Write-Off

One of the beauties of homeownership is being able to write off the mortgage interest when having an owner-occupied property. However, if you own a Duplex or a Triplex, you are not able to write that off on the units that you don’t live in but you can write off other things such as the cost of any repair done to the other units, the cost of managing the other units and the costs that it takes to get those units rented out. Other costs would include if you share the electric, cable/internet, and water.

Short Term Rental Vacation Rental

vacation
Back view of happy young friends standing with raised hands near the car

You may not want to be a long-term lease landlord. Being a landlord is not for everyone. You may not want to live in such close quarters with a tenant. Another option is to use the other unit/units as Vacation Rentals. This is a side business that can bring in a lot more money than a regular long lease tenant would. It would also give you the flexibility of not having the same tenant for such a long period. You can even open it up to family and friends that would like to come to town and visit on occasions. You may also want to keep it as a  home office. This, of course, takes you back to tax savings and something to discuss with your accountant.

Duplex Investment Strategy

Ok, so you’ve lived in your home for 2 years, and you feel good about being a landlord. You can now go out and buy another duplex or triplex home and use the rental income from the other units to qualify for the loan. As long as you are going to move into the new property, you can get another owner-occupied loan and benefit of the lower interest rates. This is a great way of creating and building wealth for your future with residual income.

Buying a Duplex with 3.5% Down Payment

You can buy a Duplex Home with as little as 3.5% down payment. As long as you are going to live in the home, you can apply for an FHA loan which is a great way of getting into the market. Yes, they do have MI (mortgage insurance)that you have to pay, but this is the cost of doing business. Once you can prove that you have 80% equity in the property, you can speak to your lender and re-fi out of the FHA and eliminate the MI insurance.

For more information on how to get started with buying your first Duplex or Triplex home in North Park, South Park or any other neighborhood in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group right now.

 

Selling a home in San Diego while Leasing Solar Panels

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There are lots of companies offering their Solar Panels for Homes and showing you how much money you will save in “x” amount of years with renewable energy. Saving money on your electric bill is great. However, do you have plans on staying in your home for 10-20 years? Do you think that you may have a job opportunity somewhere else or simply want to move somewhere else? If so this is where you have to decide whether a Solar Panel System is the right way to go.

With so many Solar Power Companies to choose from these days, including companies with Solar Roof Shingles. Do your homework and ask lots of questions.

Are Residential Solar Panels Worth It?

  •  Will you be buying them? If so, again I ask; how long do you plan on living in your home. If you plan on selling your home in a few years, it may not pay to get them. A buyer may not see the value if they only plan to live in the home a few years as well.
  • Will you lease the Solar Panels? If so, you should take your time and read the fine print. One thing to consider is if you decide to sell the home in a few years. Typically, would-be buyers are not always too excited to pay extra for these solar panels. Many potential buyers are not willing to take over your lease and be on the hook for another 16-18 years. They not only have to qualify for a mortgage to buy your home, they will now have to qualify to lease these panels which can affect how much how they can now afford.  They were not budgeting for this extra cost. Because of this, you may lose a great, qualified buyer unless you offer to pay for the rest of the lease.  This can be $15,000 to $20,000, depending the amount of the panels and years left on the lease.

Home Appraisal Value

Is this starting to make sense? It is currently going on in San Diego and other parts of the Country where home sales are being affected because of this. You may also think that an appraiser will add value to a home because of the home’s solar power system. We are hearing that appraisers are adding 10-15% value to homes when the Panels are owned. This is not the case when they are leased, as stated by Fannie Mae.

With all of this being said, if you do decide to lease Solar Panels, do your homework. Ask them to go over the part of the contract that talks about transferring the lease if you were to sell your home. Make sure that you know what your obligations are before signing on the dotted line.

 

If you have any Real Estate related questions about buying a home in South Park, North Park or any other neighborhood in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We would love to help you with your real estate needs.

Renting Your House in North Park vs Selling

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Renting your house in North Park can be easy if you are the owner of the home. However, are you ready to do this? Are you ready to be a landlord? There are certain things to consider if you are planning to turn your home into a rental. Here are a few tips that will help you decide whether this is the best thing for you to do.

North Park Rental
North Park Rental

Are You Hiring a Property Manager?

Will you be the one responsible for finding the tenant, running the credit check, checking their references, etc.? Will you be the one they call when something goes wrong with the plumbing, electric, roof, etc.? Do you have a handyman, electrician, roofer, plumber and these types of tradesman ready to tend to you if you get one of these distressed calls from your tenant. Having a relationship with these people are very important. Especially when you need them in a hurry.

Will You Have Enough Cash Reserves for Maintenance and Repairs?

If you own a home in North Park, South Park or any of the Metro neighborhoods in San Diego, it is most likely a one-hundred-year-old house or close to it. Even if it is somewhat upgraded, it most likely has older plumbing and some older electric just to name a few things.You will need to have a rainy day bucket for this. It is not “if things break” but more like “when things break.” You should plan on having an account with at least $3,000-$5,000 dollars in it for emergencies.

Create Home Rules for the Renter

Rules are one thing that is very important. This should be in writing and signed by the tenants at the time they are signing the lease. This brings me to the lease part. Make sure you have a written lease. There are many places to pick one up but if you are in San Diego, you should have one that is specifically for Southern California. You can pick them up at any Staples or take a look at https://wikidownload.com/wiki/california-rental-lease-agreement-forms-templates. Everything should be in writing. If you want some to happen or not happen then you better put it in black and white. Otherwise, a year later it will be like it was never agreed upon.

Will You Live Local or Out of State?

If you are going to live local while you are renting your home, this may be a little easier to do yourself. If you are going to be out of State, this may be a bit more challenging to do since you won’t be around to check on how your investment is doing with a simple driveby at least. Remember, this is no longer your home sweet home. This is a true investment and you will want to make sure that it is being maintained so that your investment continues to grow.

What are the Benefits of Selling a Home While you have Lived in the House 2 out of 5 Years?

Everything has gone well with your rental but you are realizing that the Real Estate Market is doing well. You heard about this thing called “Capital Gains”. Is it getting close to that time where you will have to pay capital gains if you don’t sell now? Take a look at the rules on the IRS website. It will give you an idea of where you stand. The best thing to do is to speak to your certified public accountant about this. Find out what are the taxes and capital gains on the home if you make money on the sale. Not knowing what this is about can cost you thousands of dollars.

Selling a home while a tenant is living in the home

So you decided that you are done with being a landlord and you would like to sell the home while the tenant is still living there and paying rent. Although you may think that you will save money this way, in reality, it will cost you a lot more by doing this. Think about it; the tenant is not happy that you are not renewing the lease and now they have to look for another place to move to. They are not motivated to keep the home tidy and in mint condition for showing. Nor are they happy to let strangers into their space while they are not home. They also do not want to have to leave if they are home while we are having a showing or wanting to give us permission to do an open house. You, the seller will ultimately receive a lot less in proceeds if you choose to keep the tenant in the house while you put it on the market for sale. This, of course, stands true if it is a single-family house. If it is a multi-family house, different rules apply. The buyer of a multi-unit house may want to have the tenants in place if the rents are good and the tenants are all paying their rent on time.

Work With a Local Experienced Realtor

Stay tuned with the local realtor in the area. Are you receiving marketing pieces from a local realtor showing their sales in the area? Are they keeping you informed? If you have been using a property manager to manage your rental, this is not always the best choice for selling. These are two completely different aspects of the Real Estate Business. Do your homework first. Google North Park Real Estate. Find out who is selling most of the homes in the area. Go on their website, yelp and google reviews to see what people are saying about the experience of working with them are. Have a conversation with them and you will immediately know if you make a good fit to sell your home in North Park.

If you have any questions about buying a home or selling a home in North Park, South Park or any other metro area of San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group at(619) 940-1554. We are happy to speak with you.

 

Things to Do in San Diego

 

 

3020 Bancroft Street, San Diego, CA

This Spanish Style Home is located at 3020 Bancroft Street in North Park, close to restaurants, cafes, and nearby Balboa Park. We will have a pre-sneak preview before it goes on the public market next week.

The barrel ceilings in the living room, along with beautiful arched picture window and dark wood floors throughout give a nice warm feeling of yesteryear. The open concept kitchen featuring custom designed cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and Morocco tiled backsplash adds a nice modern touch.

The master bedroom is spacious featuring a wall-to-wall closet, a master ensuite with stand up glass shower. The French Door from the master leads out to a nice private deck that looks out to the mature landscaping in the nice size backyard.

Off to the back of the lot is a detached office/granny flat that makes a great place to put the family and friends on their visits to San Diego.

For more information about this beautiful home located at 3020 Bancroft in North Park, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away. This North Park home will be going on the public market next week so now is your chance to beat the crowd.

4681 Pomona Avenue, La Mesa CA

We are getting ready to put this lovely two bedroom bungalow on the market in the next couple of days. It is located in La Mesa close to restaurants, shopping and easy access to the freeways. Drive up to the front house and you will be delighted with the curb appeal that the home offers.

The open concept kitchen has been designed meticulously for the savvy cook who likes to entertain. The wood floors and the tray inset ceilings add lots of charm to this San Diego bungalow. The French Door off of the kitchen leads to the gorgeous back yard featuring a large pergola for shade, custom seating, a bocci court with plenty of open space.

The detached bonus structure makes a great home office, art studio, play room, etc…. The detached one car garage is spacious and where the washer and dryer hook ups are located.

We will have it open during open houses this weekend. For more information on this home, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away at 619-818-8122.
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If you see any other home below that you would like more information on, let us know and we will get that to you as well.

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Buying a House in San Diego

How To Buy A House In San Diego

You have reached a point in your life where you know it is the right time to buy a home but not sure exactly where to start. There is so much information out there. Because of this would think that making a decision would be a little easier. But in fact, it sometimes is more confusing. This holds true even if you  have previously purchased a home in San Diego in the past, or in any other part of the Country.

 

The first thing you should consider is, how much money you can afford to put out every month to pay for this house. What this means is, just because you spoke to a Bank/Mortgage Broker/Lender and they told you that you can afford” X” amount does not mean that you will feel comfortable doing so, once it is said and done. You are the only one that knows what you will feel comfortable with.

 

A good rule of thumb to determine how much of a mortgage you can afford is to determine what 30 percent or less of your income is. This is what should go into paying your mortgage. I know that this is not easy based on the purchase price of what homes in San Diego sell for but this is a general guide line. This is not to say that Banks will not lend you their money if you go over this number.

 

You can start to figure this out by finding out what your new utility bills will look like based on the house square footage and the area where the home is located. Contacting the utility departments in that area and asking them would be a good idea. Other new bills would include new home insurance and property taxes. You can contact the San Diego accessors office and speak to someone in the Realty Division. As for home insurance quotes, ask your Realtor for a few referrals. They should have a few people that they can recommend who would be able to help you figure out the numbers.

What Kind Of Down Payment Do You Need?

You have most of the numbers for buying a house in place. Now you must determine how much of a down payment you can afford to put down or are willing to put down. Remember to keep in mind that you have to set aside money for closing costs, appraisals, and home inspections. In some cases, it behooves you to do several specific inspections, and they do come with a price. You are better safe than sorry so listen to your Realtor when they recommend such inspections. Another cost to consider is the cost of moving and the cost of gas to go to and from work (if further away), we must not forget this one.
Having 20% down to buy a house in San Diego is great and more attractive to lenders that are lending you the rest of the money. However, there are other loan programs that you can use with 0% down (VA loan), 3.5% (FHA), 5% Conventional and several others.
These other loan options come at a higher price but it is the cost of doing business with the banks that are willing to loan their money to you. You will have to pay private mortgage insurance with loans below 20% down.

What Is Private Mortgage Insurance?

PMI aka private mortgage insurance is the fee that the bank charges you for the risk that they take in lending their money to you. If someone puts down less than 20% to buy a home, they should know all about PMI. With FHA loans, you will have this payment for the life of the loan. With other loan programs, you will be able to cancel the PMI once you have 20% equity in the home.  Speak to your lender about this. Make sure that you understand this thoroughly before choosing a loan option.

How Much Difference Does Interest Rates Make?

With the prices of homes for sale in San Diego, this can be the difference of costing thousands of dollars more over the entire time of the loan period. Even a slightly higher increase in interest rate can cause the lender not to lend you the funds because it will increase your monthly payment to a point that your debt to income ratio is out of balance.

Tips for Buying Your First House

Once you have done your homework, know what neighborhood you would like to live in and have all of the numbers put down in front of you, this is the time to have a serious conversation with your Realtor. Based on the numbers that you and your lender have come up with, your lender should be able to provide you with a DU approval instead of just a pre-qualification. Once you are confirmed with the price of the home that you are able to buy, you will then be able to start touring homes with your Realtor.

What is a DU approval?

This will make you a stronger buyer, especially if you are in a multiple offer situation. If a typical buyer simply provides a pre-qualification letter with their offer, this means that they still have not filled out a loan application and the lender does not know if they truly qualify for the loan. If you have a DU approval, this means that you have already provided the lender with your employment history, assets and income and debts and they become “Approve Eligible”. You will most likely receive final approval unless something with the title or appraisal comes back with something negative.
Click on the value range of the homes that you would like to see. You will be directed to the MLS. When you see something you like, call us at 619-818-81222
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Drought Tolerant Landscaping Ideas In San Diego

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Living in San Diego is amazing. We have the best weather in the world. For those of you who like putzing around in the garden, you will be able to do so year-round. If you own your home, there are many drought tolerant landscaping ideas that you can find by either searching online or by simply walking around different neighborhoods in San Diego. More and more people are turning to maintenance free yards because of the water shortage that has been going on in Southern California for several years.

Backyard Grass Alternatives

“Fake grass” aka synthetic grass is an alternative. Although, it can be very expensive to install, depending on the size of your backyard. It is marketed as kid friendly and pet-friendly. Although, I would not recommend it if you have dogs. I tried it once and eventually had to remove it because the odor of the urine became unbearable. Even though we hosed it down after our dogs relieved themselves on it, the smell always lingered. Another low water landscape idea would be to either add river rocks throughout, DG and or pavers. This would help with the creation of your indoor outdoor living that Southern California is known for. You can then add some out door furniture and create your own little oasis.

What To Plant Instead Of Grass

Once you’ve decided on whether to do DG, river rocks or pavers, it is now time to plant a few things as to add some greenery. It is always nice to have a few organic fruit trees around. Here are a few of my favorite trees that I have planted in my backyard that are easy to grow and go with your maintenance free yard. Although they are not drought tolerant in the beginning stages of their lives, if planted correctly, they will develop quickly and you won’t have to water as much once mature. Keep in mind that all of these trees can be dwarfed so they don’t take up all of your front or backyard.

  • Lemon Tree
  • Orange Tree
  • Peach Tree
  • Avocado Tree- not drought by a must have for me:-)

Drought Tolerant Landscaping Ideas 

For those of you with smaller spaces, there is another great alternative. Having a hydroponic garden in a small area of the yard is always a great thing to have. With minimum effort, you can harvest, kale, chard, basil, peppers, tomatoes and so many more vegetables that will be right at your fingertips.
For more information on Hydroponic Gardening, this is a good place to start. They are located in Leucadia CA and they are great guys.
The initial idea of tearing out the grass in your back or front yard may make you tired but don’t let stop you from the endeavor. There are different approaches you can take for doing this task. Of course, you can always do it yourself but why not get help. Maybe you can get the family involved. It is a nice way to spend quality time. Or, how about inviting friends over and having several shovels ready to start digging. You can have a catering service come by a few hours later and feed everyone. Or, you can completely hire it out. However you decide to do it, just do it. You will be happy when you receive your water bill every two months and you will be doing your part to using less water.
If you need help finding a home so that you can put your drought tolerant ideas to work, the McT Real Estate Group is here to help you find that very home. Contact us right away.

7145 Belden Street, San Diego, CA Open House

Come Visit our New Listing in Clairemont. We will be open today and tomorrow.

OPEN HOUSE
July 22, Saturday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
July 23, Sunday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

$ Click for current price
3 BEDROOMS | 2 (2 full ) BATHROOMS | 1434 SQUARE FEET

Welcome to this Lovely Clairemont Home in a quiet neighborhood and nice curb appeal. Walk in the front door and immediately notice the sparkling hardwood floors throughout. Walk into the living room and you are greeted with beautiful French Doors that lead out to the private backyard that you can set up for indoor outdoor living and also have a place to grow your organic vegetable garden.
 
The master bedroom is spacious and features a master ensuite bathroom. The attached two car garage is spacious with room for storage and there is also a large driveway.
There is easy access to the freeway, close to Mesa College and nearby parks.
Offered at $575,000-$600,000

Presented By:

McT Real Estate Group

Realtor
McT Real Estate Group-Big Block Realty
619-985-0963
Licensed In: California
License #: 01408605

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Dog Etiquette: How To Keep Your Pup In Line When Buying Or Selling A Home In San Diego

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dog playing with ball

Buying or selling a home is serious business, and it can be overwhelming at times due to all the details and stress that come along with the process. Figuring out how to stage your home to get the maximum price, keeping things clean for buyers, looking for the perfect house to accommodate your family…it’s pretty labor intensive. When you have a pet, several more tasks get added to your to-do list, including keeping the yard clean and making sure there are no pet odors that might turn away a prospective buyer. You also have to figure out a way to keep your pet safe and happy–and out of the way–during the process of buying or selling a home, which is sometimes easier said than done.

Fortunately, there are several simple things you can do to make sure your dog minds his manners and keeps your home ready to sell. Having a plan is half the battle, so recruit some friends or family members to help you get through this time and ensure your pet is well taken care of.

Here are some of the best ways to get started.

Train your dog

A well-trained dog will know not to jump up on visitors or use the carpet as his personal toilet. Even if your dog is fairly well behaved, it’s not a bad idea to brush up on some simple commands and go over the potty rules, because animals know when there are changes happening, and sometimes it can make them anxious or change their behavior. Having strangers come into your home can also take a toll on your dog.

Consider what’s best for your pet; would he do well with a private trainer, or is he a good enough listener that you can feel confident teaching him yourself? There are many simple things you can teach your dog with a little guidance. For additional tips on training your dog, check out this guide.

Keep him away from strangers

When selling your home, you’ll likely have a lot of strangers coming through to take a look at it. It’s a good idea to have a kennel or crate for your dog to rest in–preferably in a back room or in the yard–during these times or have a friend or family member take him for a long walk. Sometimes, the realtor might not be able to give you much notice when a prospective buyer is ready to make a call; if this is the case, having a well-trained pet who knows not to jump up on guests, nip at their fingers, or bark excessively will be a wonderful thing. If he’s not quite there yet, put his collar and leash on so you can keep him at bay, or ask the realtor to go ahead and give the tour while you take the dog outside.

If you’re looking to buy a home, ensuring your pet has good manners is still a good idea. Sometimes, you may be out with your dog when you spot an open house. Taking him home before going in is the best idea, but if that’s not possible, be sure the owners know you have a pet with you and ask to make a private appointment if they aren’t comfortable with you bringing him into the home.

Find the right movers

Moving day involves a lot of potential risks – your stuff getting lost or broken, for example. Add your pup to the mix, and it’s easy to see why choosing the right movers is so important. It’s vital that you choose your moving company carefully with the factors most important to you in mind: scour options online to find the company with positive reviews, fair prices and that are dog-friendly. Some websites offer side-by-side comparisons for local moving companies, but it may be best to pick up the phone and make some calls to ensure you get all the answers you’re looking for.

You’ll also want to make sure that, on the big day, your dog is kept safe in his cage for a little while so he doesn’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of the move, or you could even hire someone to take him for a long walk (Click here to find dog walkers in your area). Let your helpers meet your dog so he won’t be upset at their presence, and also so they know what he looks like in case he does get out accidentally.

Moving can be an ordeal, but if you have a plan and are prepared, it will go smoothly. Just remember to take your dog’s feelings into consideration where the move is concerned, and give him lots of love and attention during this time.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group(true dog lovers and moms to several) at 619-818-8122.

1827-1829 Granada Avenue – South Park- San Diego for Sale

1829-1827 Granada Avenue is a duplex property located in one of the best areas in South Park, just one block from the park.

The top floor is a two bedroom one bathroom home that is approximately 950 square feet. The bottom studio is approximately 400 square feet. This makes a great place for a vacation rental, traditional rental, or live in the main house and rent the studio out for extra income.

Balboa Golf Course is nearby as well as the Naval Medical Center,  a short ride to Downtown San Diego, San Diego Airport, and Coronado Beach.

We will be on the public market on or about June 15th so if you have any questions, feel free to shoot us an email, text or the old fashion way, give us a call at 619-818-8122:-). If you are looking to buy another type of home in the South Park, North Park or any metro area of San Diego, let us know. We would love to help you.

 

Closing Costs When Selling a Home in San Diego

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There are several fees that take place when selling a home in San Diego known as “Closing Costs” and can get a bit confusing. Both Home Buyers and Home Sellers have their own closing costs and some fees are negotiable and some are not. Having an experienced and savvy Realtor on your side will save you money and aggravation throughout this process. So, make sure to contact us right away so we can go over how we can help.

Who Pays Closing Costs when Selling a House?

Both the seller and the buyer have their own closing costs. However, the buyer has fees associated wth their loan, while the seller has fees associated with their house and their own mortgage.

Typical Closing Costs When Selling a House

In California, there is a Property Transfer Fee that comes out to $1.10 per thousand dollars of the purchase price. This gets split between the City and the County and is typically paid by the seller. However, in a Seller’s market, this is a good negotiating tool that we have used and has saved our sellers money. While working with buyers, we have used this item to get our offer accepted in a tough multiple offer situation. There are also fees that your bank will charge you to close your loan and release the lender’s interest in the property. Yep, you heard it right. There is a fee to loan you money when you bought your home and there is a fee to stop loaning you money:-). This is what we call a “Demand Statement Fee and Reconveyance Release Fee”. Of course, your Real Estate Taxes must also be paid off during the sale.
Sellers are the one’s who pay the Realtors commissions as well as 50% of Escrow Fees and Title Insurance. Of course, this is not set in stone but in Southern California, this is usually how it looks financially.

List of Closing Costs When Buying a House

As a homebuyer, there are lots of fees that you will have upfront. Make sure that you have teamed up with a great Realtor and Lender that will go over all of the fees involved when buying a home so that there are no surprises. Below is a breakdown of closing costs when buying a house in San Diego.costs of buying a home
  • Title Insurance-(Lenders title fee on the loan)
  • Escrow Fee
  • Homeowner’s Insurance
  • Wire and Courier Services
  • Credit Check
  • Appraisal Fee
  • Loan Origination Fees
  • Loan Processing Fees
  • Underwriting Fees
  • City Recording Fees
The final dollar amount on fees paid out depends on the cost of the home that you are either buying or selling and what you and your Realtor have negotiated in the sales contract. In Real Estate, nothing is set in stone and most everything is negotiable. All of the fees mentioned above are simply what it cost to buy or sell a home. Besides this, there are costs that come with negotiating repairs and with termite clearance. Having an experienced Real Estate team on your side will make the process a lot smoother and keep more money in your pocket.
If you are thinking of selling a home or buying a home in North Park, South Park or any area in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We are highly experienced Real Estate negotiators that will work hard on your behalf and are committed to making it a fun and great experience through the process.

Information on Best Time to Sell a House

What to know when buying a for Sale by Owner in San Diego

As you search for homes for sale in San Diego’s hot market, you may come across a “For Sale by Owner”. You may be tempted to knock on the door or call the number advertised. You may think that going directly to the seller, this may save you a lot of money. Well, the complete opposite may be true. home for sale by owner

Most Home Sellers will Work with Your Agent

Just because the seller has put their home up for sale by owner does not mean that they will not work with your Realtor. They are well aware that most homebuyers are working with agents so they will agree to pay the buyers agent a commission so do get your agent involved. This will only help you in the long run. A great buyer’s agent is priceless and will not cost you a thing. The seller is the one that will pay for this service that will save you thousands of dollars and aggravation in the long run.
Once you do your inspections, a lot of things may come up that you will want to take a second look at and may want to renegotiate because of certain repairs needed. Your agent will serve as a buffer and be able to know exactly how to get this negotiated where it makes more sense to your financial pocket. The buying process is an emotional one for both the buyer and seller. Having your agent as your buffer will give you an advantage as you can discuss things over with them before making a decision on certain things that the seller is asking for.

Is The Home Priced Right?

Many times a seller who has decided to put their home on the market as a “For Sale by Owner” is doing so because they feel that the Real Estate market is so good for sellers right now that they may not need a Realtor. They may have spoken to a few Realtors but have not liked the price that was recommended for their home so they figured they would be able to go at it themselves at a higher price and save the commission.
Your Agent will be able to show you the comps and help you determine what price you should offer if you decide to put an offer on this home.An experienced agent will be actively visiting properties in the area and will be well versed on the comps in the neighborhood.

What questions to ask when buying a for sale by owner?

With this being said, when selling a home in San Diego, there are certain disclosures that a seller is supposed to provide to a buyer with the sale of a home. Because the seller of a For Sale by Owner is typically not experienced with these documents, they will not have filled them out and ultimately not realize that they are supposed to disclose certain things about the property.
Your agent will know exactly what questions to ask so that the seller will have to disclose everything they possibly know about the property (the good, the bad and the ugly) without leaving anything out.
If you were to buy this home and all of a sudden you run into a problem with it, you can then re-examine the sellers disclosures. You may discover that the problem was ongoing and the seller did not disclose it. At this point you will be able to go back and address the issue and most likely get compensated because the seller did not disclose a material fact.
If you are in need of an expert buyer’s agent in San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group right now. We will go over the process of buying a home and together come up with a game plan to get you the right home that you desire.

Just Bought the Home- Now What?

 

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3765 Boundary Street, San Diego Condo for Sale

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We are getting ready to list this gorgeously remodeled two bedroom condo located on the top floor of a quaint Spanish Style complex in North Park. Attention to detail in every nook and cranny has been skilfully tailored when designing this warm and modern space.

If you love cooking then the kitchen will be a place that you will never want to leave. The custom cabinets are plentiful, there are beautiful granite countertops, nice stainless steel appliances and a washer-dryer combo that makes doing the laundry a pleasure.

Your car can be left in the one car garage as you talk a short walk to all of North Park’s restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, the farmer’s markets on Thursdays or just hop in the car and you are just about 10 minutes away from the Coronado Beach, Downtown San Diego, San Diego Airport, the Navy Medical Center, Balboa Park and so much more. Come see why people are flocking to North Park’s Urban Neighborhood.

For more information about this condo and others in North Park, South Park and other Metro areas of San Diego, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We are here to help you with your real estate needs.

 

Buying a Home From Across the Country

Things to Do In San Diego

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San Diego is beautiful whether you are walking through different neighborhoods or whether you are driving through. However, in order to have a real idea of the landscape that this city offers, take a look from overhead. Whether you are looking for things to do in San Diego on vacation or whether you are thinking of moving here, this is a great video that shows how beautiful San Diego is.

I just found this video called “Fly by San Diego” created by Mugsy Mahonney. He has captured the beauty that San Diego is by shooting a video from up above. Taking a look at the coastline, the sandy beaches, including Coronado Beach where you can see the famous Hotel Del. Here you will see the San Diego Harbor and views of the Coronado Bridge. Also captured are surfers as the ride the waves in Ocean Beach, views of Point Loma, La Jolla Cove, and a detailed look at Downtown San Diego where you can almost touch the top of the buildings.

Balboa park is large and when you walk through the park you can enjoy the beauty but seeing it from above really gives you an idea of how large it really is. He also takes you through Sea World, Mission Bay, Old town, Qualcomm Stadium and the infamous USS Midway.

For those Golfers out there, take a look at how pristine Torrey Pines Grounds are. I do not golf but looking at this makes me want to hit a golf ball. Also captured are the Seals and Sea Lions off of Sunset Cliffs. Belmont Park has never looked so good. Here you can see how colorful and close to the water the roller coaster is as well as the fun shops and restaurants are located.

This is a wonderful short clip of what to see and things to do you in San Diego, whether you are coming here on vacation or whether you live here.

If you are thinking of moving to San Diego and would like to speak to someone about the Real Estate Market, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We are here to help and would love the opportunity to earn your business.

More Things To Do in San Diego

2416 Vancouver Avenue, San Diego CA

Take a peek at this beautiful Spanish Influenced Home located in a quiet pocket of North Park, in San Diego located at 2416 Vancouver Ave. Walk up to the front and open the door to a very spacious living room which features a wood-burning fireplace, privacy shutters, and handsome molding. The kitchen has open views to the dining and family room with sliding doors that lead out to the quaint backyard setting.

All of the bedrooms are on the second floor. The master bedroom features a bathroom en-suite and a Romeo and Juliet balcony. One of the other bedrooms features sliding doors that lead out to a nice size deck where you can sit out at night and stargaze.
There is a detached bonus studio with its own entrance which makes a great place for family and friends to stay when they visit.

For more information about this wonderful home, contact the McT Real Estate Group right away at 619-818-8122.

 

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4205 Ohio Street, San Diego, CA- Coming Soon!

We have a top floor two bedroom condo coming up “For Sale” in North Park within the next couple of weeks that you will love.It is located at 4205 Ohio Street, San Diego and is a must see.

Freshly updated with two master suites on each wing of the unit. The updated kitchen has open views of the dining and living room and a sliding glass door that opens up to the balcony.

4205 Ohio Street
4205 Ohio Street-Coming Soon!

 

Enjoy living in a very walkable neighborhood with a walk score of 95. There are tons of Restaurants, Grocery Shopping, Coffee Shops and lots of unique boutique shopping. Leave your car parked in the parking garage underneath the complex.

With easy access to the 805 and 15 freeways, this location is super convenient for anyone that has to travel for work.

For more information on this unit and others in the neighborhood, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We are here to help you with your Real Estate needs.

Selling A Home Fast In San Diego

Selling a home fast does not mean you have to sell it under market value. The McT Real Estate Group can sell quickly for top dollar – and have done this for many years in San Diego.  A well-prepared house that is properly marketed and appropriately priced will typically sell in our metro neighborhoods within the first 30 to 60 days.

The San Diego market is great for sellers right now because of low inventory. It is one of the most desirable places in the Country so there are many people that want to live here. This is a good thing for homeowners that are thinking of selling their home, especially in today’s seller’s market.  You, as the seller, will have more negotiating power because of this.  This does not mean that you can pick a selling price out of the sky. We are still seeing homes that are having a hard time selling. This is because of several reasons. Some of these homes have been thrown on the market without preparation and have been overpriced. These are the homes that will sit on the market and eventually sell for less. They will keep reducing the price when they see that buyers keep ignoring it. Once the home sits on the market for a long time, buyers think that something is wrong with the house.

 

Selling a Home Fast With a Limited Budget

If your goal is selling a home fast and you have a limited budget, talk to a local and experienced Listing Agent.  They can refer you to several qualified home inspectors so a pre-inspection can be done for you.  You and your Realtor can focus on the things that should be repaired that are not too costly but would be important to a home buyer.

Don’t think that spending money on a home you’re trying to sell is wasted money.  Some things should be addressed as they may be minimal to fix but a buyer may make a big deal once they do an inspection. A homebuyer will pay a premium for a house that is in good condition.  You wouldn’t want them to walk away because the air conditioning system doesn’t work or because the sewer line is cracked.  To sell quickly, take immediate action, but be sure your house is in suitable condition for the market.  Don’t list the house until it’s ready.

First Impressions – Curb Appeal

San Diego is great for a number of reasons – one of them being creative-expressiveness you have when decorating than more traditional settings are bound by.  You might think of white as boring, but you can easily and inexpensively add some flair; off-white with a tropical trim looks stunning and is very welcomed in San Diego’s Metro Communities.

Spanish Style Home With accent color
Spanish Style Home with a Splash of Color

You won’t want to paint the entire house too loud of a color as this will ward off some buyers.  Stick with neutral colors and get creative with accent features like the front door, windows, and shutters.  The outside of the house is the first thing buyers will see, so start there.

A cluttered, messy front yard will give buyers the impression the interior is also neglected.  An immaculate interior won’t matter if a buyer never bothers to go inside.  Consider a rock garden – they are a great, low-maintenance way to give the house great curb appeal without having to work hard to keep it looking good.

Interior Decorating

So, here’s a scenario: the appealing exterior of your house has attracted a potential buyer – great! They open the gate with a smile, excitedly walk through the front yard, open the front door, step inside, and are then confronted with a strong, musty smell.  Things went from good to bad rather quickly!  Nothing says “neglect” like a smelly house.  Avoid this harmful scenario by getting the house professionally cleaned.

Decluttered Home
Decluttered Living Room and Dining Room

 

Less is More -cluttered rooms will make them look small.  You want to open up space and accentuate the attractive features of the home.  This room isn’t massive but works well because it has the right amount of furniture.

 

 

 

Kitchen and bathrooms – these are the focal points most buyers have in houses.  A dingy kitchen with outdated appliances is an immediate turn-off for buyers.  A good listing agent will know how to prioritize what to spruce up to remain within your budget.

If your kitchen has a set-up like the photo on the left side, you can remove the overhead cabinets to open up space such as the kitchen on the right-hand side. It creates a room that feels much larger than it is.

 

Out dated Kitchen
Outdated Kitchen
Open Concept Kitchen
Open Concept Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

The same is true for a dated bathroom. Jazz it up with new door handles and fixtures.  Paint the bathroom a lighter color and replace the caulking. For more tips on sprucing up your house, Check out this article on Catering to Millennials.

San Diego Sunshine

San Diego is known for its abundant sunshine, and the best part is: it’s free!  Use it to your advantage.  Pull back the curtains and make sure there’s nothing blocking sources of light like an overgrown bush in front of a window. A bright living space can make it obvious what to fix first, like a dirty carpet that didn’t look so bad when it was dark inside.

Amplify this phenomenon by painting the room white.  You may love your burgundy colored office – but selling fast means you’ve got to open up the door to as many buyers as possible.  White will make the space look bigger and brighter. Additionally, use bright light bulbs to illuminate the inside of your house at night.  In your backyard, adding lights to your porch and fence will create an alluring ambiance.

Ask Tenants to Move Out

If the home that you are selling is a rental, you will be faced with a difficult conversation.  You are most likely going to have to ask the occupants to move out.  In our experience, trying to sell a home in which renters occupy has proved challenging.  Tenants have no incentive to make sure the house is clean and tidy. They are not too eager to show the property to a potential buyer.  No matter how nice or easy-going they are, they won’t be excited that you’re getting ready to sell the house that they live in. If a buyer has a hard time trying to get in to see your home that is for sale, they will just move on to another one that is easy to show.

The bottom line is when the home is not occupied with tenants, awell-maintainedd living space is proven to be the most marketable.  Keep in mind that if the tenants have lived in the home for over a year, they must receive a 60-day notice. Under a year gets 30 days, so plan ahead if you’re goal is selling your home quickly.

If you are thinking of selling your home in San Diego and would like to speak to an experienced listing agent/Realtor, contact the McT Real Estate Group. We would love to be able to help you with the process.

 

 

How Bedroom Paint Colors Affect Your Mood

One-quarter of Americans will suffer from insomnia each year. If you’re one of them, you know how frustrating it can be to try to fall asleep, especially if you’ve taken several measures to help you relax and lull you into drowsiness.

One thing you may want to consider is the color of your bedroom paint. Although it may sound like an insignificant detail, the color of your walls may be to blame for your lack of quality sleep. Red light, for example, has been found to make cattle more aroused than blue or green light.

The Psychology Of Color

The psychology of color shows us that color has the ability to influence our mood, appetite, and feelings more than we realize.

There are several colors that may prove soothing for your sleeping space, and there are many you may wish to avoid. Here’s a look at the best and worst paint colors for your bedroom.

Colors to Avoid

These are the hues that can increase energy or distract you from obtaining a full night’s sleep.

Anything Bright

Vibrant colors such as hot pink, Kelly green, and royal blue are definitely fun, but unfortunately, these paint shades won’t do much to help you get a good night’s rest. Anything bright tends to be overstimulating. Save these for the family entertainment area or home office where alertness is encouraged.

Red

As already mentioned, red is a very energizing color. While you may think the color of romance and passion is a match made in heaven for your bedroom, the truth is it may subconsciously keep you awake. Even dark brick reds and burgundy should be avoided. Red works well in the living room area or kitchen.

Very Dark Colors

Brown, black, dark gray, and deep purple can also come across as very intense and even intimidating in your bedroom space.

Colors That Encourage Relaxation

Instead of choosing the paint shades listed above, go for colors that soothe and encourage relaxation. Think of the colors you’ve seen in the waiting areas of spas, hair salons, and doctors’ offices—they probably were not of the intense variety. The following colors work very well in the bedroom.

Green

It’s the color of nature, and generally, lighter and more natural-looking greens such as sage and spearmint may help induce sleep. Green also improves concentration, so if you enjoy reading as part of your bedtime routine, being surrounded by green-colored walls may help you absorb information better. Avoid Kelly green and others on the brighter end of the green spectrum.

Blue

What do China, Great Britain, the U.S., and Indonesia all have in common? People in these countries—as well as several others—say blue is their favorite color. Maybe it’s because it’s a soothing and naturally occurring color on our planet—the sky and bodies of water are blue, and Earth itself is blue when viewed in space. One study found that blue light brought down stress levels three times faster than white light did. This is important to know, as stress can hinder sleep.

And it doesn’t have to be a light blue to help you relax. Try a navy or nautical blue in your bedroom.

Lilac and Lighter Purples

If you’re looking for something a little different, try a pastel-to-medium purple in your bedroom.

Neutrals

You can’t go wrong with any neutrals in the bedroom, particularly grey (as long as it’s a light grey) tan, and cream. A bonus of choosing these paint colors is that they also make it easy to find complementary bedding and furnishings.

Paint Your Way to Restful Sleep

If you’re having a hard time getting quality sleep, trying one of the suggested colors above and see if it makes a difference. The best part about using paint to help you fall asleep better? You can always paint over it and try another shade if one isn’t working out for you.

If you’re searching for your dream home in the North Park, South Park or other neighborhoods of San Diego, the McT Real Estate Group can help! Start your search by browsing what has just been listed in San Diego.

What Time Is It In San Diego?

Lots of people that travel to San Diego are very curious about the time zone in the Southern California area. Here you will find out about that question “What Time Is It in San Diego and we will provide other information about traveling to San Diego.

WHAT TIME IS IT IN SAN DIEGO?

12clocks

What Time is it in San Diego anyway?

San Diego is in the Pacific Time Zone, it is 3 hours behind the East Coast and 2 hours behind Central Time. San Diego participates in daylight savings time

During wintertime it gets dark around 4:30, and during the summer the skies are light until 8:00 pm.

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I Over Improved My House With Home Renovations, Now What?

Over Improved My House

We all want to improve our home, so that it looks like some of the homes you see on house- flipping shows on TV, right? While they make look amazing on television, we are all living in real life. Some things to consider before making any big remodelling decisions are:

1- How much will a home that has been renovated sell for in your neighbourhood?
2- Are you planning on living in the house for more than just a few years?
3- Is it a buyers market or a seller’s market?

If you take on a massive renovation project with the plans of selling in a year or two, you should pay attention to what is going on in the market place. Contact your Realtor and ask them what they see happening in the market place in your neighbourhood. If most of the homes in the community are selling for $650,000 for houses that are less renovated and $850,000 for homes that are fully renovated, you’ll want to make sure that you fall into this bracket after renovations. However, this is always not set in stone. What I am trying to convey is that you would not want to do such renovations where if you were to put the home on the market you would have to ask for $1,500,000-$2,000,000 in order to come out ahead. The buyer in that price range is not going to be looking in your neighbourhood. Instead, they will be looking in an area where other homes are selling in that price range.

The rule of thumb is to never buy the nicest house on the block. Instead, it is better to buy one on the block that is not as overly improved and has a better price tag on it. This way there is room to improve without over-improving.

Home Remodeling Tips and Ideas to Consider

If your goal is to simply make the home as nice as you can so that you can enjoy it while you live it, then do it. Just know that you should always think resale. I know, I know, you are going to live there for the rest of your life right? Well, things happen, and the rest of your life sometimes changes. So, make smart choices. Here are some of the best remodelling tips to take into consideration. Consider renovating the kitchen and bathrooms. These are always a big hit for buyers. Also, your remodelling project may benefit from creating a spacious master bedroom. Buyers love seeing this. Instead of sinking a ton of money in the backyard that is bare right now, look at the inside and plan on doing these three rooms.

What Colors Should I Use

If you are into bright, loud colors, this is fine with walls. But, shy away from adding counters, tile or floors that have bright personal colors such as pink, purple, orange, red, etc. You get the point. Walls can be painted on a shoestring budget but, redoing the bathroom tile, or kitchen counter can be costly redo. If you like dark colors, go for it but know if at some point you decide that you would want to sell your home, plan on painting it lighter. Our homes in North Park, South Park and the metro neighbourhoods of San Diego tend to be smaller than other parts of the Country. If you paint the rooms dark, they tend to look smaller. Homebuyers would then feel the home is too small for them. There are many different shades of light colors that we typically recommend when selling a house. Wall colors range from various shades of whites, greys, and very light pastels for accent walls. Exterior accent colors for front doors and garage doors range from oranges, reds, yellows, mints and several others. Even though we like to keep the home light, we also want to create a pop of color. Remember, you want to attract a large pool of buyers if and when you decide to sell your house.

How To Renovate Your House

There are lots of places to get ideas before starting a remodelling project. The best way to save money before taking on a renovation project is to do your research. Create a dream board of things you would like. Once completed, figure out what you absolutely must have and what you can do down the line in the future. Ask friends and neighbours for referrals. Your realtor should be an excellent resource for finding great handymen/women, painters, and other tradespeople. After talking to several of these referrals and getting proposals, talk to some of their past clients. See what they have to say about their work. Once your decision has been made, go for it.

The job has been completed. Now enjoy your remodelled home. If several years down the line you decide that you would like to sell your home, call the McT Real Estate Group for tips getting the highest dollar amount for your investment.

When Technology Is Too Much, Even for the Tech Savvy

Let’s face it; whether you like it or not, we are now living in an advanced technology environment. If you call a company, be it large or small, chances are that you will be prompted to “press 1 to speak to _____, or press 2 to speak to ____, and then you will hopefully get directed to the correct department. Here you will hopefully have your questions answered. At least this is what is supposed to happen.

There may be times when you are on a company’s website. Be it a Real Estate Website or any other website. You may have a question or need help on how to do a specific task that has to do with that product or service provided on the website. You will most likely see a chat box on the bottom right-hand corner of the site. You know the one. It is a bit annoying at times. So you post your question in the box and magically, someone on the other side will pop up and try to answer your question. Sometimes, this is great, but other times, it is just a nightmare. I am pretty tech savvy and can follow directions. But, when I have to spend a half an hour to forty-five minutes going back and forth with this person on the other side, and they still have not been able to answer or show me how to get where I need to be, it is not only frustrating, it is just a HUGE waste of everyone’s time. Sometimes, speaking to someone on the phone is a lot more efficient and a better use of time for all involved. In the long run, I also believe that it will help us all maintain our people skills by not hiding behind wall and typing or texting a full-on conversation.

This type of technology is can be great. It is meant to cut down on time and make things a bit more efficient. However, sometimes, well, maybe a lot of times, it is definitely more efficient to be able to speak to someone on the side. With all that being said, the McT Real Estate Group, although very tech savvy and have the website with the annoying chat box on the lower right end of the page, are also very hands-on and love to interact with the person on the other side of the website and phone. So if you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact the Realtors that have great people skills with superb knowledge of the San Diego Real Estate market. The McT Real Estate Group also have the best and current technology.  You can reach out to us via, text, instant message, email, or the good old fashion way; by phone. We are here to help!

Contact Us

Mary McTernan
3855 Granada Ave
San Diego, CA 92104

619-736-7003

info@mctrealestategroup.com