Let’s Make 2018 Our Best Year Yet

I’ve been in the business for 20 years, and I want to use my experience to teach you how to bring value and wealth into your life.

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If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been marketing my investment company, McCormick National Holdings, LLC, quite a bit lately. Some people saw that change on LinkedIn and thought I had changed careers. I’m here to say that I’m still in the real estate game, but I’ve added an acquisition piece to my arsenal of real estate.

February 19, 2018 marks my 20th anniversary of becoming a real estate broker and professional. True to my word, I’ll be teaching you how to bring value to your life—whether it’s training, a great deal, or a great acquisition.

Folks, you can get rich in real estate. It’s true—you can earn a six- or seven-figure income. However, there’s a difference between being rich and wealthy. When you’re wealthy, you can do whatever you want with whomever you want whenever you want to do it. When you go on vacation and continue to get checks in the mail without having to do anything, that’s wealth.

What I’m talking about is buying apartments, commercial strip centers, shopping centers—creating massive, passive income.

When you’re wealthy, you can do whatever you want with whomever you want whenever you want to do it.

Over the last 20 years of work, I’ve helped fix-and-flippers make tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s a lot like being a broker, though. What I’m talking about in terms of generating wealth is buying and holding. We buy and hold real estate property, wait for the appreciation to go up or else reposition it and create tremendous value. We up the rent and hold it and create more massive, passive income cash flow.

If you do that several times over, guess what, folks? You created freedom—financial freedom and time freedom to spend with your loved ones, friends, and family.

I really want to encourage you to reach out whether you know nothing about real estate or want to know more. I’m a seasoned professional of 20 years, so let me help you. Let’s do this together and let’s make 2018 the best year ever.

We’re Hosting a Holiday Food Drive

We’re partnering with the San Diego Food Bank this season to collect holiday food drive items. Here’s how you can help.

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We love our community here at Katcam Real Estate and we’re proving it this holiday season. In order to give back, we’ve decided to take part in the San Diego Food Bank Holiday Food Drive here at our office (100 E. San Marcos Boulevard Suite 400).

We’re excited to give to a great cause like this.

Please feel free to drop by, say hi, and drop off any donations between now and January 1. Here is a list of the items that the food bank says they are in the most need of at this time:

• Canned chicken and tuna
• Dry and canned beans
• Cereal
• Rice
• Nuts and seeds
• Peanut butter
• Canned soup
• Canned and dried fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Powdered milk
• Infant formula

The food bank is unable to accept any glass jars or homemade food products, but everything else is fair game! You can also donate online here. If you have any questions for us in the meantime, feel free to reach out via phone or email any time. Happy Holidays!

Is Seller Financing Right for You?

Seller financing can save you a lot of headaches, as well as a lot of money.

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Perhaps you’ve been curious about what benefits there are to seller financing. Today, I’ll be discussing what those benefits are.

1. It can lead to a faster closing. Typically on a single-family home, you’re looking at a 30- to 60-day closing, whereas on multi-family and commercial properties, you’re looking at possibly up to 120 days. With seller financing, it could be as little as 10 days to close.
2. There is no appraisal contingency. On a traditional bank loan, if a property doesn’t appraise what it’s selling for, and it’s down, you might possibly see a cancellation. With seller financing, you usually don’t even need an appraisal.
3. A seller continues to get monthly cash flow without the maintenance issues or tenant headaches you might see otherwise.

With seller financing, you usually don’t even need an appraisal.

4. There are no mandatory repairs. Sometimes with a traditional loan, banks may require repairs, which can be a headache. This is not the case with seller financing.
5. It may also be great for estate planning. In case you pass away early or unexpectedly, your property is secured by a promissory note, so the heirs on your property will continue to get the monthly benefit.
6. The seller will be named on the insurance policy tied to the property.
7. There isn’t a need for termite tenting; this is another expense you can avoid with seller financing.

Thanks again for visiting my blog. I’m actually in major acquisition mode right now with my partners, and we are looking for multiple properties—multi-units, commercial, and single-family—using seller financing.

If you’re one of those looking to sell, please call us first. If you’re thinking about doing it, please check with your tax and legal professionals, as that’s not my department. For any other questions, please feel free to call me.

Thank You All for Your Support

Life isn’t all green grass and sunshine. It helps to have the support from all of you during the cloudy days.

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We all have those moments in our lives where things just don’t seem fair. I had a few of those this year myself. Not only did my beloved father pass away, but our home flooded as well. Although neither of those situations is fun to deal with, I’m so thankful I had support from all of you every step of the way.

To all the friends that stuck around, my clients that understood what was going on, and my wife and two kids who really saw it all.. thank you.

I want to add great value in 2018.

I have to bounce back stronger, and am looking to finish this year off strong. We are looking at multiple acquisitions, serving great coaching clients, and adding new members to the team.

I want to add great value in 2018. That is my New Year's resolution! Whether that be coaching you, mentoring you, helping you buy or sell a home, or building your real estate portfolio, that's what I want to do.

Have an amazing holiday. I am truly grateful for all of you.

How to Have a Major Breakthrough in Real Estate Investing

Are you waiting for a breakthrough in the world of real estate investing? If so, I have a simple formula to help you today.

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What’s stopping you from getting involved in real estate and investing?

You may be waiting for a major breakthrough. I have a simple formula for you to achieve it called TFAR: thoughts, feelings, actions, and results.
If you have good thoughts about investing, you are more likely to move forward. Bad thoughts can stop you in your tracks.

If you feel good about something, you’ll want to do it more often.

If you feel really good about something, you will want to do it more often. If you feel bad, then you’ll want to hit the brakes and not do it anymore.

If you feel good, your feelings will create action, moving you forward to invest in real estate or start a fix-and-flip project.

When you’re thoughts and feelings are good, they guide you to take the right actions. When you take the right actions, you naturally get results you’ve been looking for.

I hope this simple formula helps you. If you have any other questions about investing in real estate, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Are the 7 Keys to Investing in Rental Property?

If you’re thinking about buying a rental property, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself and tips to keep in mind first.

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There are seven things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about investing in rental property:

1. Determine what type of property you will invest in. Whether it be a single-family home, a multi-unit property, a storage space, etc., it’s important to decide which property to invest in.

2. Are you going to stay local or move out from your area?

3. Are you investing for appreciation or a steady cash flow?

4. Location, location, location. Is your investment property next to a restaurant or beach? What demographic are you marketing toward for potential tenants?

Location is key when buying a rental property.

5. How will you pay for the property? Are you paying all cash or are you getting financing? I believe in leverage, so my advice is to leverage as much as you can so you can buy other properties and increase your net worth and cash flow.

6. Will there be any maintenance and/or repairs? If so, will you be able to handle them?

7. What’s your exit plan? Will you trade it up for a larger property and do a 1030 exchange, or give it to your children when the time comes? Or perhaps you want to cash out when the time comes?

If you have any questions about investing in rental property or you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in our San Diego market, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help.

Want to Learn More About Real Estate and Investing? Train With Me

Today I’d like to invite you for a chance to receive personal training from me. At this exciting upcoming event, I’ll teach you everything you need to know about real estate investing.

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Today I’d like to invite you, to join me for an exciting opportunity in sunny San Marcos, California. Joe's VIP Offering: For a very Limited Time - $100 OFF with Promo Code "MakeMoneyNow"
When these tickets are gone, they're GONE!

At this event, I’m going to personally train you on the subjects of real estate and investing. This is a chance you definitely don’t want to miss. Sign up here.

Are you new to the business and are curious about real estate and investing?

Or, maybe you’re looking for more ways to generate leads and get more business. Even if you are generating leads, it can sometimes be difficult knowing how to close or convert the sale.

If you change your decisions, you can change your destiny.

Whatever the case is for you, this event is a great opportunity to learn more and improve your skills.

I can’t wait to meet you live and in person, so come out and join me on Saturday, October 14th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Remember, if you change your decisions, you can change your destiny.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How Do You Know If a Property Is Right for You?

Picking out a property, whether you plan to live there or use it as an investment, requires a lot of decision-making. Here are a few key tips that can guide you through this process.

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Whether you’re searching the market for a new home or for an investment property, there are a few things you should do while picking out properties.

First of all, look at properties you’re interested in at all times of the day. You should visit properties multiple times, in the morning, afternoon, and at night to see what’s going on. This will help get you a true feel of the neighborhood.

If the property is somewhere you plan to live yourself, test out the daily commute. Pretend as if you’re already living there by taking an early morning drive from the property to your place of work. When you leave work for the day, do the same thing.

Your commute will be a big part of daily life once you’ve moved—it’s important to know whether the commute to and from this property will fit your lifestyle.

Only you can decide what is right for you and your lifestyle.

There are other factors related to lifestyle to consider, as well. Find out if there are any covenants, conditions, or restrictions on the property that might clash with your lifestyle.

Conversely, these things could also help the value of your home. Only you can decide what is right for you and your lifestyle.

Don’t forget to consider items within the home itself. For example, ask yourself if there are enough bedrooms and bathrooms. To determine more complex details, hire professionals to inspect the property. Doing this will help you to uncover any mechanical, plumbing, or electrical issues.

Also, even though you have yet to move into the property—you should already be thinking about its resale value. This is especially true if you are in the military or if you anticipate a job change which might displace you from your current area.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What Are the Roles for a Real Estate Agent?

Today I wanted to break down the three roles that a real estate agent can take.

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Not all real estate agents do the same thing. There are actually three different roles that a real estate agent can take on.

One of the roles that an agent might have is a listing agent. Listing agents represent the seller. It’s important for the agent to figure out what price they’re going to set the home for, do all the marketing to get the home sold, and coordinate any showings. The listing agent should also be able to help coordinate any inspections needed on the property.

Another role that an agent may have is a buyer's agent. Buyer's agents first meet with the buyer to ensure they are qualified with a lender—they do this so they're aware of how much their client can afford. They will then start showing the buyer properties that fit their needs and lifestyle. If a buyer likes the property, then the buyer’s agent will help them put together an offer and start negotiations for the home.

It’s important for a dual agent to stay as neutral as possible.

Lastly, an agent may be a dual agent. This means that they will be representing both a buyer and a seller. It’s important for a dual agent to remain as neutral as possible and not disclose information that might jeopardize either the buyer or seller. However, in certain situations, it may be better to have two agents working on a deal, instead of using a dual agent.

If you have any other questions about this topic or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please give me a call. I would be happy to help!

Are We Heading for Another Meltdown?

A market correction is coming, but when? How bad will it be? We have the answers for you.

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Could we be on the verge of another housing market meltdown?

Absolutely. I’ve been in real estate for 30 years and the market corrects itself every seven or eight years without fail. The last correction was in 2009. We’re due for another.

Basic economics says supply and demand is a big indicator of where the market’s going. If our supply is consistently exceeding our demand, that will absolutely cause a correction.

We’re due for a correction soon.

Another key indicator with each is interest rates. When they go up, prices go down. The same is true for what builders are doing. When they are offering incentives for brokers to come in and sell their inventory, we know that demand isn’t quite as high.

Finally, the unemployment rate. At the time of the last correction, it was around 9.5%. Right now, it’s down to 4.6% nationwide, which means there are more people out there who can afford homes.

If you have any other questions for me about the market or if you’re thinking about buying or selling in sunny San Diego, give me a call or send me an email today. I would be glad to help.

How we Stayed Committed to Supporting Our Client

“He went above and beyond in 2000. In 2000, one of his first home sales mine. I was one of his first clients and he actually sacrificed, maybe I shouldn’t say this, because he actually sacrificed some of his commission to ensure that I was happy. I had a termite infested pergola, like a backyard patio, and we didn’t catch it during the sale and inspection. And so I complained about it and he actually, to keep me happy as a client, he actually refunded me part of his commission. And at the time it was $500, I thought that was a lot of money at the time and I was one of his first clients. After that incident, I felt bad I took money out of him as one of his first clients, but he kept the customer happy and I alway refer people to him, I said there’s no other realtors I would go to beyond him. I tell them that he’s honest, fair, he’s smart and he has the experience in a difficult challenging industry and they’re getting one of the best when they hire him on.”

How We Made the Home Selling Process Pleasant

“I want to let you know that Joe Mendoza is such a wonderful agent. He is so pleasant and so knowledgeable. If you call him or text him or send him an email he will respond right away. He is such an asset to the real estate business.”

Ways You Can Buy and Sell at the Same Time

Many clients approach me asking how they can buy and sell a home simultaneously. There are a couple different options for completing this type of transaction.

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There are a lot of creative options if you want to buy and sell simultaneously.

One of the most common ways to buy and sell simultaneously is to sell first before your buy. When you sell first, you’ll have money in the bank, and then you can start looking for a new home.

Another way that people buy and sell simultaneously is when an offer comes in that’s acceptable to a seller, they make sure that the agent puts a clause in the contract that states that the purchase is conditional on the seller finding a new home. If that clause isn’t included in the contract, it could potentially leave the seller homeless. Adding that contingency safeguards the seller against that happening to them.

Another option that a seller can consider is called a “rent-back.” It gives a specified time period where a seller stays in a property after closing and rents the property back from the new owner while they look for another home to move into. It gives them more time to move out once they’ve found a place.

A rent-back gives more time for the seller to move out of their old home.

This last option is something that I haven’t seen in a long time but seems to be gaining more popularity. A couple of lenders have approached me recently about what’s called a “bridge loan.”

What that means is a seller will get all their ducks in a row and make sure they qualify for a new purchase, close on that new property, and start moving into their new home without the pressure of having to sell off their old one first. You can’t do this without qualifying for a bridge loan first, but it’s a really creative solution that I haven’t seen in a long time.

There are quite a few moving parts to these transactions that I can’t cover in a short video, so if you have any questions or are interested in getting that process started, please give me a call. I’d be happy to help you!

How We Helped Marle Buy and Sell a Home

“He’s been a high school friend so he's been our go-to person whether we’re selling or buying and we’ve been through several of those. He’s always been my husband and I’s go-to person. We don’t look anywhere else, he’s our realtor. He is always there the moment I text or call him. The response time is amazing. I don’t have to wait five minutes and he’s calling me back. He’s always above and beyond. There’s never a time I’m waiting for him. Joe is very reliable and he will do anything and everything for his clients.”

How Does the Foreclosure Process Work?

What happens if you fall behind on your mortgage payments? I’ll go over the default and foreclosure process today.

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We are starting to see a shift in the market. As rates go up, prices come down. Some folks are starting to get a little behind on their mortgage payments, which could cause them to enter a default or foreclosure situation. 

This information mainly pertains to California, as each state is a little different. 

Come up with an action plan and find out if you can do a short sale.

In California, the lender can decide whether or not to start the foreclosure process. If you get behind on your payment, the first formal step the lender will take is to issue a notice of default, or N.O.D. The letter will let you know that you are behind on your payments and that they are starting the foreclosure process. 

If you cannot cooperate and make the current payment due to a life situation, such as loss of job or loss of a family member, then you have a justifiable hardship. In that case, you have 90 days to cure the notice of default. If you cannot do that, you will receive a notice of trustee sale. When that is recorded on your property, things get really serious. 

The trustee notice of sale is recorded at the county office, so the county knows that the foreclosure process has begun. If you cannot catch up on all of the payments, which include any penalties or attorney fees, within 21 days, then you really need to come up with an action plan to get out of that property or do a short sale. 

Hopefully, you won’t make it to this last step. However, if you are unable to make your payments current within 21 days, a sheriff will knock on your door to escort you and your family out of your property. 

Do not let it get to this step. If you are struggling with your mortgage payments or know someone who is, give us a call. We would be glad to help you come up with a plan that is best for you and your family. 

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any other real estate questions. I'd be happy to help.

A Few Things to Know About Me

 Today I wanted to take a brief moment to answer one of the most common questions I receive about myself and my career: “How long have you been in real estate?”

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I actually started in real estate when I was about 18 years old. I was a senior in high school and began taking night classes to become a real estate professional, and I’ve been a real estate broker for close to 20 years, and all-in-all, have spent about 30 years in real estate.

Time doesn’t necessarily justify experience.

Time doesn’t necessarily justify experience. However, I have thousands of transactions under my belt, from first-time buyers to multi-million dollar properties, apartment complexes, land, syndications, and fix-and-flips—you name it, I’ve worked with it. There is over $100 million worth of transactions in my real estate portfolio.

I have a proven track record in this field. Much of my business is referral-based, meaning that the reviews that you read online, the opinions of your neighbors, and the information you read when you Google my name is true and proven through my exceptional service to the community. 

If you’re looking to sell a home, I will help you get the most money out of the sale, and if you’re a buyer, you can be sure I can get you a great deal. 

If you have any real estate questions or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please give me a call. I’m always happy to help.

3 Ways to Find a Great Real Estate Deal

 Your path to finding a great deal in real estate starts with doing one of these three key objectives.

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If you’re a buyer or an investor, there are three ways you can find a great real estate deal for yourself.

First, talk to homeowners and landlords. This includes folks who already invest in things like commercial property and apartment complexes. Talk to a lot of them.

You have to make offers to put together a great deal for yourself.

The second thing you can do is send mailers to existing homeowners, landlords, and anyone else who owns property notifying them that you’re interested in buying their property. 

Lastly, make a lot of offers. It doesn’t matter if the property is on the MLS, LoopNet, or not on the market at all. You have to make offers to put together a great deal for yourself. 

If all else fails, just contact me if you’re looking for a great real estate deal. Finding great deals is what I do for my buyers and investors. 

If you have any questions about this topic or anything else related to the world of real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d be glad to lend a hand. 

With 20 Years of Experience, We Helped Margaret Build Relationships as a Realtor

“Joe, would, one, actually listen when I had an issue or come up upon a situation that I haven’t had before in my short term experience as a realtor and he’s been a realtor for twenty years, plus. So, he listened, he understands, he also is a fantastic problem solver. He’s also very motivating. He always has words of encouragement and can guide you in the right way. Through his coaching, he has given me discipline with a schedule. He’s made me understand the value of offering an abundance of not only experience and information but customer care. I was previously focused on my education so I had a lot of knowledge about my area of expertise, but I didn’t know how to showcase that. So, Joe helped me find my path in marketing and how to network, and how to make phone calls, scripts, what to say, that way it showcased the value in the information that I was providing clients so that I can build that long term report. It’s not just a one-on-one transaction. We are trying to build relationships.”

What to Consider When Investing in Real Estate

 When it comes to investing in real estate, there’s more to it than just location, location, location.

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The key to investing in real estate isn’t as simple as you might think. 

When considering investing in real estate, some people only think location, location, location. That’s absolutely incorrect. You should also think about location, price, and/or terms. All three of these factors contribute to making a sound investment. 

Price isn’t the only thing you should consider when looking for a great deal.

When looking for a great deal, some investors only try to buy really, really low. Price isn’t the only thing you should consider when looking for a great deal, however. In some cases, it’s better to pay more for a property with the right terms. You can pay a high price, but if you get the right terms—like seller financing—it can be just as good as buying low. 

If you or anybody you know is looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help.

How We Had Elliot’s Home Listed Within Two Days

“I met Joe about 15 years ago. He was living in the same area as we were and I met him, he told me he was in the real estate business and he seemed like a very trusting individual. Well, we wanted to sell it (the house) quickly, so by the time I contacted him within two days we had the For Sale sign up. Offers started coming in, he listed very quickly. So, he moved very quickly. I would tell people he is very knowledgeable. He;s been in the business over 20 years, over 25 years I believe, but the main thing is he is very trustworthy. He’s always smiling and laughing so he’s a pleasure to be around as well.”

How We Kept Things Positive and Helped Liz Grow Her Business

“He is always upbeat and always positive. He is direct without being very direct, you know what I mean? He does not beat around the bush and he delivers his message very nicely. He’s been valuable for my mindset and his positive attitude has definitely rubbed off on me. He;s helped me to look at the positives even when I am going through something that is difficult and that has really helped me tackle my business no matter what’s going on. I am keeping focused, keeping positive, and getting the job done. I’ve already recommended him to several colleagues of mine and I tell them that I can’t imagine not having him as a coach for the rest of my career. I feel like we’re a team and he has helped my business tremendously. So, since I have been in coaching with him my business has grown.”

What Can You Do When a Home's Appraisal Comes in Low?

 What happens if a home doesn't appraise during a real estate transaction? There are three main options the buyer and seller should consider.

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What happens when a property being sold doesn't appraise?

When a house is in escrow and gets an appraised value lower than the agreed-upon purchase price, there are three things you should consider:

1. The seller can reduce the price. Make it a win-win for both parties to help the transaction keep going forward. 
2. Set up an arrangement outside of escrow. This is a good option if the buyer really wants to buy the property and they're willing to pay more than it appraised for. Lenders aren't very favorable about things like that, but if both the buyer and seller agree and put the deal in writing, it's totally fine. 




The buyer and seller can set up an arrangement in writing outside of escrow.



The buyer can move on and look elsewhere. If you're looking in an area with an abundance of inventory, the buyer can simply cancel the transaction and go look elsewhere. 

If you have any other questions about home appraisals or you're in the market to buy or sell a home in the San Diego area, give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to help you out!

Have You Heard About the San Diego Investment Club?

 You can join the monthly meetings of the San Diego Investment Club.

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Today I want to talk to you about the San Diego Investment Club. We are very involved with this club and want to invite you to start joining in on the monthly meetings. 

Darrell Kucan and Imran Clark run the San Diego Investment Club, and they run it very well. So, if you’re interested in real estate or investing, you should join us every first Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the San Diego Del Mar Hilton. 

If you’re interested in real estate or investing, you should join us.

From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., there are some great networking opportunities. After that, a guest speaker presents on a specific investing topic. I also like to take 10 or 15 minutes to go over current market trends and share any interesting opportunities popping up on the market. 

It’s a great way to expand your knowledge of the real estate and investing world. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

How We Helped Jim Sell One Home and Buy a New One

“We had to sell our home due to a divorce agreement and we were looking for a real estate agent. I heard of Joe from some of our friends so he was one of the agents that we interviewed. Eventually, we had him deal with both, the sale of the house and also the purchase of the house I am currently in. I was really upfront with him at the time and I told him exactly what we needed and he was able to come through. I was expecting at least three months of being on the market and we were in fact on the market for about two weeks before we got the first offer. That was pretty good for us!”

How Do You Know When to Sell an Investment Property?

How do you know when it is time to sell your investment property? I’ll go over a few signs to look out for today.

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If you have an investment property, how do you know when to sell it? Here are a few reasons why you might want to get that property off your hands: 

1. You’re moving out of state or out of the country, which will make managing the property too difficult. 

2. You have a bad tenant. If your tenant is not paying rent or not taking care of the property, you might want to go ahead and sell. 

3. Did you inherit the property? If you did and real estate just isn’t your cup of tea, go ahead and sell. 

4. You don’t have property management experience. If you can’t find a really good property manager, you are probably better off just selling the property. 

If you have negative cash flow, sell the property and stop the bleeding.

5. The market is starting to go down. In that case, it may be a good idea to sell your investment property before the market flattens out because it can take a while to recover. 

6. You have negative cash flow.  Negative cash flow means that the rent is not covering the mortgage. Sell the property and stop the bleeding. 

7. You are behind on making payments. Whether you are behind on HOA fees or taxes, that’s definitely a great reason to sell. 

If any one of these reasons resonates with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you prepare that property for the market. As always, if you have any real estate questions, just give me a call. I look forward to hearing from you!

How to Sell a House With Pets

If you have pets, they can make selling your house a bit of a challenge. I have three tips to help you alleviate this problem.

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If you're selling your home and you have pets, you need to prepare your home for the market a bit differently.

Remove any and all signs of pets before a showing.

I love pets and I have one myself, so here are my tips for getting top dollar for your house that you share with your pet:

1. Consider temporarily relocating pets, especially during showings. This could be with a family member, friend, relative, or neighbor.

2. Remove any signs of pets. If you have a crate or something like a scratch post for a cat, remove them or store them out of sight.

3. Eliminate pet smells. If you have a showing coming up, open the window or put some air fresheners out. You can also bake cookies to change the smell or your home.

If you have any other questions about preparing your house for the market with or without pets or you're looking to buy a home, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help!

How Technology Makes Your Home Appealing to Buyers

If you're looking to sell your house to a high-end buyer, look no further than technology upgrades.

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Technology goes a long way in attracting high-end home buyers. How?

Let’s say you put surveillance cameras in a private estate or gated neighborhood. That looks very attractive to a high-end buyer. However, you don't want to go overboard. Recently, I showed a property that had cameras within 10 feet of each other! There wasn't just one, either; there were five or six. The buyer and I both looked at this and wondered together, "What's going on here? Are we in the wrong neighborhood?" Security cameras should look nice and professionally done.

Home technology is always attractive to high-end buyers.

Then, you have technology like smart thermostats. These are really impressive to high-end buyers as well. They show the time and temperature with no extra buttons or anything—they just look clean and impressive and have small LED lights to illuminate them. These smart thermostats can all be operated from your smartphone as well.

If you're looking to buy or sell a home on the high end, I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you have any questions or you know anyone else looking to buy or sell a home, contact me today. I look forward to hearing from you.

Should You Talk to a Lender or Realtor First?

If you’re buying a home, should you start by talking to a Realtor or a lender? The answer really depends on whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or not.

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If you want to buy a home, should you talk to your lender or Realtor first? This question is very similar to the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, but the answer really depends on your situation.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, it might be best to talk to a Realtor first. A Realtor will be able to offer a broader perspective and walk you through all of the steps of the home buying process. If you talk to a lender, they usually have a narrower perspective. Plus, not all lenders and banks are the same, so it may be confusing to start there.

For example, when I bought my first home, the first lender I spoke to said that I didn’t even qualify to purchase a home!

First-time buyers should start out by talking to a Realtor.

The second lender told me that I qualified for a certain amount, and the third lender told me that I qualified for even more money. The third lender really gave me more options than the other two. If I had just listened to the first lender I talked to, I wouldn’t have even purchased a home!

Ultimately, first-time buyers may benefit from talking to a Realtor first. They can take you through the whole process from A to Z. They can even recommend lenders who can help you understand your financial situation.

However, if you have owned a few homes, you might want to go to the lender first. You can see how much you qualify for and determine whether or not you need to sell your current home before buying another.

If you have any other questions about the home buying process, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Finding the Best Offer When Selling Your Home

If you're selling your home, don't just focus on the offer price. There are plenty of other aspects to an offer that you should look at closely before accepting one.

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If you're selling a home in San Diego, do you know how to pick the best offer?

First, you want to look at the offer price and whether it's high enough to be acceptable to you as a seller. After price, you want to look at terms. Is the closing date where you want it to be? Is it acceptable for your home? Are you going to be able to find the right place before you sell?

You might also want to consider if the buyer is asking for closing costs and if so, how much? Are they asking for a ridiculous amount? Price and terms are really what you need to look for.

It's not just about price; terms should suit you too.

Additionally, look at the good faith deposit. Is it high enough and strong enough? Is the down payment strong enough to your liking? You also want to look at whether the buyer is asking for any repairs on the home, like termite damage or an allowance for new paint or carpet.

If you have any questions about choosing an offer or you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, give me a call or send me an email soon. I'd love to hear from you!

How Do Short Sales Work?

Short sales are starting to pop up in our current market again. What is a short sale? I’ll answer that question today.

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What is a short sale?

A short sale happens when the borrower (or homeowner) of a loan owes more on a home than what it is actually worth in the current market. The homeowner will then short sell the property to the bank.

In these transactions, the biggest decision-maker is not the owner — it’s actually the lender or bank. If the seller owes $600,000 and you offer $500,000 for the property, the lender is the one who will accept or reject your offer.

The lender or bank will accept or reject your offer during a short sale.

Most short sales are also hardship sales. Hardship includes a death in the family, a divorce, or job loss.

There are many different nuances to a short sale and we are starting to see them again in this market. As the market slows down a little bit, homeowners may find that they owe a lot more on their property because they made an offer that is higher than what the property is actually worth.

If you have any other questions about short sales or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!