Inspections and Repairs - This is how we work

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Moving Made Easier with A Plan of Action! - Guest Post

Moving is one of those things that everyone inevitably does at some point. Most people dread going through everything in a home, packing, moving and unpacking at the end. Buying a home should be an exciting time in life, but it’s often overshadowed by the stress of the move. Make moving easier with a few conscious decisions.

1. Don’t Procrastinate:

    The absolute worst thing to do before a move is put everything off until the very last moment. Not only is there more stress, there is also the chance that something will be forgotten. Avoid unnecessary stress by making a plan. Write down all of the tasks that need to be done before the move. Group similar tasks together to create bite-sized projects to avoid becoming overwhelmed. For example, decluttering and cleaning may be grouped together by room. Also, set aside a reasonable amount of time to complete the tasks on your list. Don’t designate a single day to cleaning the entire home, you’ll only feel swamped by the lofty job. Instead, set aside a few days for this task. Perhaps spread the chores out to avoid burn-out.

     2.   Packing By Season:

    Start by packing the out-of-season items that won’t be used until long after the move. If you are moving in the warmer months, start by packing your winter coats, shoes, toys, or other winter-related items. Pack away your decorations associated with out-of-season holidays. Packing all of the out-of-season items eliminates a huge portion of items that need to be packed, and it’s relatively easy to complete. Also, there isn't a chance that a winter jacket is needed in the summer so boxes aren’t disturbed once packing has started.

     3.   Declutter, Declutter, Declutter:

    When moving, most homeowners find items that haven’t been used in months or even years. Preparing for a move is the perfect time to donate, sell or throw away these items. Before anything is put in a box, take a moment to ask if the items has seen the light of day recently. Earn a little extra cash for the move by selling those items at a garage sale or online. If that sounds like too much work, there are plenty of places to donate your used items. Don’t let the donation pile sit for too long, or it will simply turn to clutter and cause stress down the road.

    4.     Label Everything:

    Labeling boxes might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget this simple step in the packing process. Use free printables to keep track of all of your items and know the contents of each box. Although most people simply scrawl the designated room the items belong in on the outside, go the extra mile and write the specific items inside, if it’s fragile or needs to be set down a certain way. It will also be easier to know which boxes need to be opened first. For example, plates, bowls, cups and utensils are typically the first things that need to be unpacked after a move. If there are multiple kitchen boxes it might be difficult to find exactly what you need right away.

Take labeling to the next level by adding a splash of color. Creating a color coding system for the boxes makes it easy to know where each box goes at a glance. This can be done by taping some paint chip samples from your local home improvement store to the boxes or with a crayon or marker.

       5.    Pack a Bag:

    Unpacking can take a few days. Pack a bag or two with “must-have” items: clothes, chargers, toiletries, bedding, and towels. That way, unpacking can be done at your pace because you already have every necessary item at your fingertips. Pack the “moving bag” the same way you would pack a weekend bag or suitcase.

       6.    Be Proactive:

The garage is typically the catch-all for boxes and bins that have yet to be unpacked. Before stuff has a chance to take over the garage, decide on a storage plan that will work for your family. Shelving, cabinets, or overhead storage racks are great ways to keep items off the floor and out of the way.  Choose a solution that is adjustable to meet storage needs as they change. Having a storage plan in place ensures that you aren’t forced to park outside!

Moving doesn’t have to be such an ordeal. All it takes is a little bit of planning and organization. Enjoy this new adventure!

BIO: Bri works for The Garage Medics, a garage storage and organization company that helps homeowners create custom garage storage solutions. Bri graduated from BYU-Idaho in Advertising and Public Relations. When she's not working, she enjoys all things film, good books and making memories with her husband and German Shepherd.

In a seller’s market, success favors the focused, prepared buyer

This year, home shopping may feel like hitting a hill at the end of a marathon with a pack of runners closing in on you from behind.

Scraping together a downpayment and winning mortgage approval are just the first steps in today's more rigorous path to ownership.

In March, there were one percent fewer homes on the market than in March 2015, yet sales are higher. "Inventory is moving more quickly," says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at realtor.com.

A one percent decline in houses to choose from may not sound like much, but there's a larger percentage of higher-priced homes in the mix, so the shortage is more pronounced on the lower price end.

Tight supply of entry-level housing is a lingering effect from the last housing downturn, says Daren Bloomquist of data firm RealtyTrac, Irvine, California. Many owners who otherwise would be selling and moving up are still struggling with big mortgages.

"If a home in the $250,000 to $300,000 range goes on sale in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, we'll see five to fifteen offers in a two- or three-day period," says Jim Fite, broker and owner of Century 21 Judge Fite Co., Dallas.

Not all areas of the country suffer shortages, but supply in many markets mirrors the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Obviously, though, with homes selling quickly, some buyers have found a way to beat the competition.

1. Get ready, get set.

"Buyers and their agents must be as organized and committed as if they were planning the invasion of Normandy," says John Pinto, Realty World-John V. Pinto & Associates, San Jose, California.

Agents can set up messages to alert buyers the moment that properties meeting their criteria land on the MLS. Buyers ready to visit the property as soon as sellers allow a tour are able to submit a purchase contract that could be accepted before other contracts come in, Pinto says.

Being first may not cinch the deal if better offers roll in quickly. "The greatest struggle for first-time homebuyers is outbidding investors who are paying a premium for real estate," says Fite.

2. Show financial strength.

Price is key to a winning offer but it's also important for a buyer to inspire confidence that he's good for the offered price.

Pre-approval, a written statement from a lender that states that the borrower qualifies for a certain loan amount under the lender's guidelines, is often insufficient in a competitive market. A pre-approval letter is not an offer or a commitment to make a loan. Instead, buyers might consider going a step further and submitting all the paperwork required for an actual loan. "It's called pre-underwriting," says Gibran Nicholas, chief executive officer of CMPS Institute, an Alpharetta, Georgia organization that certifies bankers and brokers.

"You'll always have some types of contingencies in a contract, like for the appraisal," says Pinto. But backing the price offer with a robust lender's review helps, he agrees.

3. Prepare to up your game.

In a seller's market, the list price is often viewed just as a starting point, says Rob McGarty, Surefield, Seattle.

In fact, many purchase contracts include an escalator clause that indicates that if a competing offer comes in, a buyer is prepared to beat that price up to a specified limit.

Sometimes sellers will set a list price so high, however, that it stays on the market for a couple of weeks.

That's how Andres Ortiz bought his home in the competitive northern Seattle market. Having carefully studied prices for other homes in the location, Ortiz and his agent had confidence that the price they offered was right in line with the market. "The seller even agreed to make some small repairs," says McGarty.

Just Where is Sherman Heights?

Sherman Heights is named after Matthew Sherman, who bought the 160 acres just east of Downtown's East Village in 1867 soon after Alonzo Horton bought the land that, at that point,  would become Downtown San Diego. This area up the hill had beautiful views of the San Diego Bay and Sherman built two homes in the area, first a simple farmhouse and later a large mansion after he prospered. Both of Sherman’s homes still exist.

Sherman served as San Diego’s mayor from 1891-1892.

Many beautiful homes were built between the 1880s and the 1920s. The Villa Montezuma Museum at 20th and K Streets, built in 1887 for the famous spiritualist and pianist Jesse Shepard, is now owned by the City and operated by the San Diego Historical Society and supported by the Friends of the Villa Montezuma, Inc., as one of the finest Victorian house museums in the state. It has been closed for restoration since late February 2006. Through the 1940s, the mostly residential Sherman Heights thrived as a middle class neighborhood next to downtown San Diego. Highway building in the 1940s through 1960s, coupled with the lure of the suburbs, led to many residents leaving this urban neighborhood in mid-century. The highways created new boundaries for Sherman Heights (19th Street to 25th Street from west to east, and G Street to Imperial Avenue from north to south) that exist still today.

Sherman Heights has a long history of housing a variety of newcomers. At the turn of the last century, Sherman Heights had many German, Italian, and Jewish immigrants. Japanese- and Chinese-Americans called Sherman Heights home from the 1920s through 1940s. It was primarily an African-American neighborhood during the 1950s through the 1970s. Since the 1970s it has had a strongly Latino population. Like many inner city areas that were considered past their prime, the area went through a rough period during the 1970s through 1980s. Now Sherman Heights is an ethnically diverse and thriving community enjoying a period of great interest and revitalization. There is strong support for historic preservation and restoration of the many fine buildings, and the  neighborhood was declared a historic district in 1987. The current residents are multi-ethnic, with a majority being Latino, and half the residents own their own homes. Those who live here are passionate about the area. Sherman Heights is located east of the East Village of downtown San Diego and only 10 blocks from Petco Park, the new baseball stadium for the San Diego Padres. We are just south of Golden Hill and north of Logan Heights. Visitors can easily reach Sherman Heights via Interstate 5 or the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway (Highway 94), or take the San Diego Trolley (Orange Line) to the Cesar E. Chavez/25th and Commercial Trolley Station.

As more and more homes are purchased and remodeled in Sherman Heights and adjacent areas, it is evident that the gentrification process is taking place.

I recently attended an open house on 22nd Street at a bank-owned residence that has been renovated inside and out. This beautiful 1890's home, listed in the mid-600ks, is a sign of the changing times in Sherman Heights.
 

 

Getting Your Very Own Piece of San Diego

Yesterday while walking down Soledad Road, taking in the views of the bay and downtown area off in the distance, I was wondering how I would be able to assist someone who is being transferred to San Diego to take on a new job with a budget of approx. $200,000 for a new home.

Well, it's nice to know that if you're looking for even the smallest piece of San Diego within your budget, it just might still be there. With the December 2015 median price for detached single-family homes at $539,000 and for attached condos and townhomes at $359,750,  it goes to show that digging a bit deeper and finding alternatives can mean an introduction to home ownership in San Diego.

This morning I searched our local MLS for possible candidate properties. Within the zip codes 92115, 92116, 92103, 9217, 92122, 92126, 92108, 92110, 92109 and 92123, I was really happy to find 29 possible homes listed for sale at prices ranging from $69,900 to $230,000. These home types included two- and three-bedroom manufactured homes, as well as one- and two bedroom condos.

These price points are manageable for the broader base of the buyer pool who want to build equity while having a great home to live in. And for investors looking for some type income-producing property, here are some possibilities to generate a higher return. Either way, with rents continually increasing in the county, it makes perfect sense to invest in a property priced below the median.

For more information, please call me at 858-603-7879 or email me at robert@sandiego-ca-homes.com