The contest for the four Padres tickets is complete!
Because I was using the NSDCAR stats all year and then switched to SDAR at the last minute, it’s only right that there are TWO winners, based on the different counts:
Congratulations to Anne M for being the SDAR winner!
Congratulations to Surfrider for being the NSDCAR winner!
While I’ve been saying that there should be a 15% to 20% YoY surge in listings this year, it didn’t materialize in January. I still think it’s coming though!
The relatively-modest YoY increase in January listings has given sellers plenty of leeway on pricing. The median list prices are up $500,000, or about 20% – though the $$/sf is a better measure at +3% to +7%.
Thanks everyone for playing, and congratulations to the winners!
The final guesses on the number of NSDCC January listings:
In 2019, there were 7,628,017 single-family homes in California (according to the Census). If 90% are insured, it would be around 6,865,215 households to split the $500 million, or $73 per house. In anticipation of future disasters, just make it $100 per insured house while you’re at it.
Homeowners likely will be on the hook for a share of a massive bailout of California’s insurer of last resort after it ran out of money to pay claims arising from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
State regulators announced this week that they will allow the program, known as the FAIR Plan, to collect $1 billion in emergency payments from private insurers — who are expected to pass a significant portion of those costs on to policyholders across the state.
“This is essential to prevent even greater strain on California’s already unbalanced insurance market and avoiding widespread policy cancellations that would jeopardize coverage for millions of Californians,” the American Property Casualty Insurance Association said in a statement.
It’s still unclear how much homeowners would have to pay, which homeowners would be charged, when they would see a new fee or how long an increase on their premiums could last.
The amount of money insurance companies must contribute to the FAIR Plan will be based on their market share in California. Under state law, insurers can pass along a surcharge of up to half of the $1 billion assessment.
The FAIR Plan is a state-mandated, high-risk pool of private insurers for homeowners who can’t find traditional coverage. In recent years, the number of policyholders on the plan has ballooned to more than 350,000 as insurers have ended homeowners’ coverage across the state amid worsening climate-driven wildfire seasons.
Ok, I’m breathing again now that 150+ people came to my first open house on Moorhen Place.
The market/buyers have seemed cautious and conservative so far in 2025, and it’s incredible how they insist on looking for any reason NOT to buy. The only problem is that the perfect homes start at $10 million, so just about everyone is going to have to live with something. P.S. Buyers need to come to grips with the fact that the entry level for decent homes in Carlsbad is now $2,000,000.
Our new listing hasn’t been on the open market for 24 hours yet and there have already been almost a thousand views with more than 11% of them marked as saved. My Youtube video has had 167 views in the first 48 hours too – wow!
It went live on the MLS at 10am yesterday, and the first showing was at noon! The buyers seemed to love it, and their agent tried to pressure me into selling it to them on the spot for full price ($2,000,000).
But I’m only going to sell it to the first buyers if the price is really attractive.
I told her it would take $2,500,000 to buy it.
She scoffed, but they made a written offer last night that was a little over the list price.
Do we sell it before the open-house extravaganza? We’ll see!
New cars come with the Sirius-radio trial for a few months, and I eventually saved a few favorite stations – one of which was old Channel 311, the Yacht Rock channel.
I’d didn’t expect that I would know virtually all of the songs, and it dawned on me that I must be quite a wuss for them to be so familiar! Then I watched the Yacht Rock documentary, which was fantastic and laid out the history of Yacht Rock in no uncertain terms. I agreed with all of them!
But there needs to be one caveat.
To be in the upper tier of Yacht Rock, you must have some connection to Michael McDonald.
Artists who had Michael write, sing, or produce their songs:
Dooblie Brothers, Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins. Christopher Cross, James Ingram, David Cassidy, Van Halen, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Patti LaBelle, Twinkie Clark, Lee Ritenour, The Winans, Aretha Franklin, Toto, Grizzly Bear, Stephen Bishop, Jack Jones, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Thundercat.
Michael has won five Grammy awards, including Song of the Year (with Kenny Loggins) in 1980 for the yacht rock anthem, What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers. Michael wrote his auto-biography and gave it the same name. I’ve read it, and his story is exactly what you’d expect to happen to a talented guy who came to L.A. in the late-1960s looking for a lucky break.
We’ve heard that song enough though.
Another song that gets overplayed on the Yacht Rock channel is the Kenny Loggins song, Heart to Heart, which is also co-written by Michael. Sirius plays the version from Kenny’s solo album, where he sings all the leads but really strains to sing Michael’s parts. This is the better version:
Today is Michael 73rd birthday too – Happy Birthday Michael!
Then there is Michael’s song stepped all over by Kenny:
Michael McDonald together for a live multi-cam shoot of the hit song, recorded for a fundraiser for the 36th Unity Telethon, supporting low income families and seniors all year long in the Santa Barbara area.
The same people got back together two months ago, and Kenny stayed in his shoes:
Are you looking for a newer & updated one-story 3br + den/2.5 ba, 2,409sf house on a huge 3/4-acre lot at the end of the cul-de-sac? Here you go! Like-new kitchen, 3-car, plus tons of natural light! There is enough room for a pickleball court next to the fabulous pool/spa that looks like the Blue Lagoon – which also has a separate swim lane for laps too! Just a quick 1/4-mile walk to coffee and books at Dove Library + Cinepolis, shops and restaurants. When looking at the map, don’t let your eyes deceive you – if you did, you’d think that the earth was flat! There is virtually no road noise here, due to the property being well below and at least 100 yards west of ECR (see last photo in gallery). Come check it out for yourself!
Open house 11-2 on Saturday & Sunday February 15 & 16.
In honor of Valentine’s Day this Friday, restaurants will be offering special holiday menus and there are plenty of events happening across the county to make the occasion even more memorable!
Restaurants:
VAGA Restaurant & Bar at Alila Marea Beach Resort – Enjoy oceanfront views and a superb dinner at this picturesque restaurant. See here for their Valentine’s Day menu.
Glass Box, Carmel Valley – Located in Skydeck, this spot offers a futuristic and glass-encased setting, plus they’re offering a special Valentine’s Day Menu!
Lilian’s, Rancho Santa Fe – Celebrate on Friday with their 4 course dinner menu or see here for their Galentine’s Day Brunch on Feb 15th!
Wolf in the Woods, Mission Hills – Voted one of the top 100 date night spots in the US, this is a great spot to try for Valentine’s Day! Check their Instagram for updates regarding specials this weekend.
Animae, Downtown – One of the best restaurants in San Diego! See here for their upcoming specials.
Movie at the Pier, Oceanside – On Friday Wall-E will be screened at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater near the Oceanside pier. See here for more info!
Hot Air Balloon Ride, Del Mar – Compass Balloons offers private and shared hot air balloon rides out of Del Mar for beautiful coastline views, or head up their Temecula location to fly over the vineyards! Visit their website here.
Paint and Sip, Downtown – Visit Cafe Alma for a fun paint and sip evening. Their Valentine’s Day session is sold out, but they have future ones coming up too! Check it out.
Gondola Rides, San Diego Bay – Take a private ride on a Venetian-style gondola through the bay with chocolates and beverages! Book here.
Spa Day – Who doesn’t love a day at the spa?! San Diego is home to some of the best spas, so pamper yourself and your loved one by spending a day at any of them! La Costa Resort & Spa, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, and Hotel del Coronado are some of my favorites!
Plan a Trip – With Monday being a holiday, this weekend is the perfect time for a romantic getaway. Here are some towns that are perfect for a weekend getaway.
Donna and Jim provided exceptional support and professionalism throughout the entire process. We couldn't have been happier with their efforts. They made our house shine, and thanks to their expertise, it sold above the listing price in the very first weekend! Truly a fantastic experience from start to finish.
jesus a sahagun
2024-11-10
Verified
This year has been difficult on our family, mainly due to having to sell our home. Thankfully we knew God had a plan for us and working with the Klinge team was a key part of it. It was an obvious decision to work with them again after such an amazing experience when purchasing the same home we needed to sell. The challenge was, how will we do this in so little time with so much going on? Jim and Donna held our hand every step of the way. Whenever an unexpected issue arose they found and provided a solution. Never once did we feel pressured to make a decision and the Klinges were always reassuring after providing the information that the decision was ours to make. Despite the curve balls, they never panicked and exemplified the “can do” attitude, making us feel optimistic and taken care of. Their expertise and professionalism was superb. But of all the reasons to work with the Klinges, the most impactful and valuable is their compassion and genuine care for their clients. We pray that we can one day purchase our forever home and you better believe that Jim and Donna will be representing us - as long as they will have us of course. Thank you again Klinge team! Your execution, experience, and care are unmatched.
SabihaPasha
2024-07-22
Verified
Jim and Donna were fantastic! Jim understanding my needs, recommending potential places, pointing out the pros and cons of each property was invaluable. Then when the offer was accepted Donna’s organized guidance through the inspections, paperwork etc made the whole process seem effortless.
So grateful that I had them on my side!
dodyfrancis
2024-07-10
Verified
I appreciate Jim & Donna's great teamwork, sound advice, and guidance that eased the stress of selling our Carlsbad home. Their professional input and assistance throughout the process was very helpful. Highly recommended!
sbisachsen
2024-07-10
Verified
The Good
The Klinge Realty Group operates like a finely tuned machine, with a very personal touch. We contacted them on a Sunday and they were talking to us about our family and our needs on our living room couch the following day. They carefully listened to us and worked with us to identify the best and quickest path to listing within 2 weeks to take advantage of the low inventory conditions in our South Carlsbad neighborhood. They knew our tract specifically and had many previous sales there over the years - they came prepared with a thorough analysis of comparative sales and recommended a pricing strategy that they felt confident would yield offers the first weekend on the market.
The Great
Over the next two weeks Donna coordinated a range of vendors who she knew from experience could get the preparation to list work we needed done on time and with high quality. Our light tune-up involved excellent experiences with their stagers, landscapers, contractors, electricians, and plumbers. Throughout this period Donna's daily communication was clear, concise, and responsive. Any time we had questions Donna picked up the phone or texted immediately - but almost always, she answered our questions before we even knew we had them.
The Outstanding
We had a tricky situation with a shared fence that could have delayed our escrow. Donna used superb mediation skills to negotiate the terms of replacement and was personally on site with the fence contractor to make sure everything went smoothly. The fence looks great and escrow closed on time.
The Truly Exceptional
Our house came on the market on a Wednesday and between then and Monday morning Jim was personally at all three open houses. He was in constant communication explaining potential buyer reaction and strength. As he predicted offers began to come in on Saturday and each one was incrementally higher than the last. At the end we had 5 offers, 4 of which were over list, and the final accepted offer was $100,000 over list. In addition to being over list it included rent back terms that met our needs.
The Recommendation
For all of these reasons we would strongly recommend The Klinge Team to anyone wanting to sell in North County Coastal San Diego. I had been reading Jim's blog for 15 years and knew when the time came to sell that he would be our first call. Jim Klinge is not your standard realtor. He is keenly aware of market conditions and sales strategies. And, works his tail off - though not as hard as Donna . At this point he's gone from realtor to friend and I plan to have him over to grill and chill at our new place to talk real estate, but also just about life and raising kids in San Diego. He's more interested in relationships than his sales numbers - and that's why his sales numbers are so high. We have already recommended the Klinge's to some close friends and another successful sale is on deck right around the corner...
user19164788
2024-06-21
Verified
We recently had the pleasure of working with Jim and Donna from Klinge Realty Group to sell our house, and we couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. From the initial meeting, they listened attentively to our needs and provided invaluable guidance on specific improvements to get our home market ready.
Their responsiveness throughout the entire process was truly impressive. Anytime we had questions or concerns, they were quick to address them, ensuring we felt comfortable and informed every step of the way. What stood out the most was their team and extensive network of tradespeople, which made addressing any necessary repairs or updates seamless and stress-free.
Thanks to their expertise and dedication, our house sold quickly and at a great price. We highly recommend Jim and Donna to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. They are a fantastic team who truly care about their clients and deliver exceptional results.
cali4neal
2024-05-07
Verified
We had a wonderful experience buying our home with Donna and Jim! In particular I was very impressed with their efficiency and support through the purchase process. As we were doing the walk through, Donna started contacting roofers, plumbers, aircon, electricians, etc for all the areas we needed potential repairs - by the time we were done with the walk through appointments were already set up to get estimates for all the major services. When we had to change an appointment, or couldn't make one, Donna was there to arrange things to fit our schedule. Even after we closed on our home, Donna helped set up the repairs we needed before move in day. They truly went above and beyond to deliver exceptional service. I'll be calling them for our next home!
zuser20160809095816651
2024-03-16
Verified
The sale of our home exceeded our expectations - Jim and Donna Klinge are the best!
We’ve followed Jim’s Bubbleinfo blog since the 2006 housing bubble. After he helped us buy in 2017 we stayed in touch and Team Klinge were the obvious choice when it came time to move. They guided us through the preparation of the house, including a kitchen refresh - Donna and Lisa skillfully managed the various contractors for us after we had moved out of state. Donna’s excellent attention to detail and regular communication made the whole process run smoothly from a distance.
Jim’s market knowledge, expert negotiating skills and candid opinions, together with Donna’s responsive communications and problem solving, set them in a league of their own.
Highly recommended!
bourmakin
2024-02-09
Verified
Jim and Donna have exceeded my expectations with sale of my house. It was best experience with house sale. Professional, responsive, superior negotiating skills. I would recommend them with 5 star (I would give them even more than max) rating. Sale of my house was closed for really good price in 10 days. Jim and Donna perfectly handled house preparation for sale. Thanks a lot!!!
user1916779
2023-11-17
Verified
Jim and Donna have exceeded my expectations and made my most recent move back to California go so much more smoothly than I expected. Jim’s Bubbleinfo blog was full of useful information about the current market conditions. His experience helped us make a successful offer for the home we wanted in a desirable neighborhood. After the purchase Donna organized the work we needed done in the house without us having to make an additional trip. We were pretty worried when we started searching for real estate that not being in the area was going to makes things really difficult but Jim and Donna made the process so much easier. I enthusiastically recommend them.
Load more
Verified by Trustindex
Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more