Monday, October 25, 2010

North San Diego County Real Estate: Waiting for a Missed Opportunity?

Here is a little quiz to test your local market knowledge. Real Estate Markets are regional, it doesn’t really matter to home buyers or sellers in North San Diego County what the market is doing in Chicago or Palm Beach.

Talk to Realtors who are experts in their local market. Major news stations such as Fox News and CNN continue to paint a bleak picture of the Real Estate Market, but there is an upside.

When is the best time to buy? Warren Buffett said:
“Look at market fluctuations as your friend rather than your enemy; profit from folly rather than participate in it.”
Take the quiz below to test your market knowledge.

1. How many homes were sold last month (September) in North County which includes Bonsall, Fallbrook, Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Rancho Penasquitos, Ramona, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Cardiff by the Sea, Vista and Oceanside?
a. 1276
b. 4439
c.   721
d. 2291
2.  What was the average number of days on the market? (Hint last month it was 74)
a. 99
b. 75
c. 22
d. 80

3. How many active and contingent listings for Single Family Detached Homes in North San Diego?
a. 10,657
b. 4774
c. 6010
d. 7172
The correct answers are: 1-a, 2-d, 3-b

What does this mean... OPPORTUNITY!

Sales volume is down, market time is up and inventory is also up slightly. Will the prices go down more, will the interest rates remain at historic lows, when will the market come back?

No one can give you a definitive answer, not your astrologist, a crystal ball, palm reader or your San Diego County Realtor. The bottom of the market will pass before anyone realizes it. If interest rates go up one point, that could mean hundreds of dollars more in mortgage payments each month.

If you are paying $2200 a month or more a month for rent, wouldn’t it make more sense to be paying for your own mortgage rather than your landlords?  If you have a good job, 3.5% for a down payment, savings for closing costs and reserves, you are missing an opportunity to invest in you and your family’s future.  Just to illustrate this point I roughly calculated your monthly payment to be approximately $2400-$2500* per month (principal, interest, taxes and insurance) for a $400,000 home with 3.5% down, interest rate at 4.5% paid over 30 years.

Now is the time to invest in your future, please email me at dyork@coldwellbanker or call 760-505-6474 to get started.

Statistics courtesy of HomeDex™ is prepared for the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS® by Robert Brown, Ph.D., California State University, San Marcos.

*Monthly payment is an estimate only, actually monthly payments will vary. Types of financing that best fits your needs and interest rates should be discussed with a knowledgeable licensed lender.

Respectfully,

Debbie York  SFR, GRI, CNS
Coldwell Banker
Certified Distressed Property Expert

760-505-6474

dyork@coldwellbanker.comNorthCountyHomesInfo.com

Monday, October 18, 2010

What Your Agent Didn’t Tell You About Buying A Home in San Diego

My Grandfather recently passed away after a long and amazing life. He and my grandmother were married 68 years and they lived in the same home for over 50 years. Their home was a modest bungalow style with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, built in Oakland, CA in the 1920’s. This home saw plenty of housing market corrections throughout the years just like San Diego and other parts of the country.

What made this house special was their home was the center and the heart of the family. Every Christmas Eve, Birthday, Thanksgiving was spent there. As young children we were in awe of the generations of wonderful women who gathered in the tiny kitchen cooking their favorite recipes.  During the summer my Grandfather would barbeque, we would listen for hours to his stories of his youth and how he met my grandmother.

After his funeral the family gathered at the house one last time. We talked about the Grandparents and the decades of wonderful times spent in their home. I will be forever grateful for the love and memories we all shared in this tiny home throughout the years. It was here we all learned what family was about.

On October 1 the home was sold, it was time to let a new family create their traditions and memories, in this house. It is my hope they find the love and comfort that this home provided for so many generations.

What your agent didn’t tell you was buying a home is not about; home prices going lower, getting a great deal, the economy, interest rates, or foreclosures. Buying and owning a home is about providing a place of love, laughter and creating memories that will last a life time.

Remember this when you are considering buying a home. Is it time for you to get off the fence?

Start creating your own home memories. Contact me to get the pre-approval process started or start your search for the San Diego home of your memory making dreams!


Respectfully,

Debbie York  SFR, GRI, CNS
Coldwell Banker
Certified Distressed Property Expert

760-505-6474

dyork@coldwellbanker.com
NorthCountyHomesInfo.com