De-Clutter Your Home Before Selling

New sellers, take notice: less is more. Before you even consider putting your house on the market, you’re going to want to make sure it’s ready for fresh eyes. The goal is to clean your home so thoroughly it looks like a 4-star hotel room. It may seem like a daunting task, but you can make it less intimidating by …

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Get Smart About Home Buying

Do your research More and more buyers are turning to online listings in their real estate search. You may also want to drive around the neighborhoods you’ve been considering to find for sale signs and open house schedules. Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions: is the home in a flood plain? Have they ever had problems with pests? …

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Mortgage Rules You Should Know About

The latest mortgage initiative released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is for the purpose of helping consumers stay informed about the loan options that are available to them. The Know Before You Owe rule has replaced four mortgage disclosure forms with just two: the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, which can be viewed here. Here are a few …

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Do I Need Professional Listing Photos?

The answer to this question is almost always YES. When the typical buyer looks at your listing, the first thing that will draw their attention is the photos you have chosen to represent your home. Listing photos can either encourage more offers, or inhibit them. With an increasing number of buyers turning to online listing services to shop for homes, …

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The Latest Market Activity in San Diego County

Although San Diego County has seen a few months of slowing real estate transactions, recent market research carries good news for buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals alike. In a press release from earlier this month, the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors found a significant increase in home purchase prices for December 2015. Although current statistics have already shown …

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Understanding the Property Exchange Process

You’re probably already familiar with Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, and it’s particularly useful to know when selling real estate. A 1031 exchange refers to the trade of one business or investment asset for another—in this case, property. If the exchange falls under certain conditions, both parties may be able to receive tax exemption for it. Below are …

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Modernize Your Kitchen Before Putting it on the Market

According to Remodeling’s 2015 Cost vs Value Report, a midrange major kitchen remodel costs about $62,441 on the West coast, but sellers were able to recoup an average of 81.1% of the cost. Below are the three best improvements to plan that promise the most return of investment. Cabinets Although replacing cabinetry is almost always the most expensive part of …

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Save Up For That Down Payment

In a few previous posts, I discussed how putting down 20% of the listing price helps buyers construct stronger, more competitive offers. However, 20% may be a good-sized chunk of your income. Here are a few tips to help you save your money and be able to present a great offer to buy the home of your dreams. Start budgeting …

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2016: A Great Year to Purchase a Home

There’s more to choose from Home prices are expected to rise only 3.5 percent by the end of 2016, which is at a slower rate of increase compared to what the U.S. economy has seen in previous years. Because sellers have experienced price appreciation, they may be more likely to put their homes on the market sooner in order to …

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How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

Preparing your home for being listed on the market isn’t just about paperwork and permits. Whether it’s your first showing or an open house, it’s incredibly important to present the best possible version of your home to potential buyers, and that means making sure the exterior looks absolutely lovely. Here are great ways to get your home noticed for the …

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