Thanks to the well-wishers who emailed the last couple of days, I appreciate your input, and willingness to participate!
Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group
Broker-Associate, Compass
Are you looking for an experienced agent to help you buy or sell a home?
Contact Jim the Realtor!
- 682 S. Coast Hwy 101, Suite #110
Encinitas, CA 92024 - (858) 997-3801 call or text
- klingerealty@gmail.com
CA DRE #01527365, CA DRE #00873197
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EXCELLENT Based on 10 reviews.
gary t moyer
2021-03-01
Jim the Realtor is legit - I interviewed three brokers; he said list price should be $100,000 higher than the other two brokers; listed it with him and had all cash (no financing) offer in two days, five day contingency period, closing in two weeks - and it closed at his recommended list price. I could not recommend anyone more than I recommend Jim the Realtor.
drp2drp
2020-12-30
When we moved to San Diego in 2005 we rented a big house on Mt. Soledad (La Jolla) with 180 degree ocean views for the same payment as a mortgage on a dump in Chula Vista. Clearly something was wrong. Yet, the media was full of the usual happy-talk nonsense, so I was glad to find Jim's blog. I've followed his honest assessments and data since.
We decided to sell and move to AZ at Thanksgiving. Dec. 1st we met with Jim to sell our home. We closed today (29 days later). Jim orchestrated a feeding frenzy -- we had 25 showings in 2-1/2 days, multiple offers, and sold for well over asking price. I'd say he earned his commission! We have owned and sold homes in 5 different States always using experienced, productive, full-time realtors. Jim outshines them all.
You don't decide to sell and close 29 days later over Christmas (with COVID lockdown) without some miracles. Donna was amazing at performing lots of those miracles and ensuring that everything was done right and on time. They are a terrific team with a very responsive and professional network.
AmberleePiercy
2020-10-21
Where do we begin..2020 has been a year for everyone. When COVID hit and shut down both my husband and my businesses, we were left with a mortgage and very little income coming in. We were stressed, scared and felt stuck. We made the hard decision to sell our home and move out of state. We contacted the Klinges' and spent a good hour going over what we hoped we could accomplish. Jim and Donna came over with comps in hand and suggestions on improvements to get our house ready for the market. It was overwhelming to think about, but Donna was there and one step ahead in every scenario. Basically we just approved what they suggested and Donna handled literally everything. We placed our house on the market and within the first day we had multiple offers well above asking price! We couldn't believe it. We were overjoyed! Jim countered the offers to weed through them, and everyone came back with way more. It was amazing, and we are ?? sure it was because of the staging and repairs the Klinges suggested we do.
Due to unforeseen dishonesty from the buyers lender, we hit a big hurdle when trying to close. We had already moved out of state and were shocked when three days before closing the lender dropped a bombshell on the buyers and us. However, Jim and Donna handled it like veterans, not afraid to play hard ball and represent their clients. After a few phone calls with us, and several between Donna and the lender, they had a plan B-Z to make sure we were taken care of. In the end we closed with even more money than we ever thought possible and with very little work from us. The Klinges handled this entire "2020" worthy event with the utmost professionalism and did everything in their power to not only make this as smooth as possible for us, but we also walked away with more money from the sale of the house than we ever hoped for. After working with Jim and Donna, you don't ever use anyone else. They are hands down the best team to represent you in any scenario.
Cecilia Acevedo
2020-10-01
Working with Klinge Realty Group was a great experience! They are very responsive, professional and knowledgable about the real estate market! I would definitely recommend Klinge Realty Group.
WAH08
2020-10-01
Jim and Donna Klinge made the sale of our condo extraordinarily easy. They know the market and gave us sound advice backed by details and very considerable experience, reflected both in the initial pricing and subsequent negotiations. They work together as a team and are always available to talk. We had a few challenges with our property and they were able to coordinate the resolution to everything, including items that I would not think would ordinarily be their responsibility to handle. They made the whole process effortless on our part. They are folks with high integrity and we cannot recommend them highly enough.
bethamunce
2019-09-26
Review for Member: Donna Klinge
I cannot believe there are no reviews of Donna yet, ugh!! She is the secret sauce of the Jim Klinge/Donna Klinge combo! I will touch on Jim here, but Donna is why I'm so totally loyal to these two (no offense to Jim :)).
I consider myself a rather savvy buyer/seller. I've bought/sold 7 times in about 15 years. On the buy side, Jim is the PERFECT combo of: completely digitally savvy (he will pull data all day long until you feel comfortable with your chosen house, area, school district, anticipated appreciation rate...anything!), he's super well respected and known in the area by other agents, an amazingly cool but strategic negotiator, is totally devoid of desperation for a sale/commission, and more.
Then once you get into contract phase, Donna literally handles every last and final detail in a concierge-like manner -- totally shielding you from the daily back and forth, noodling and annoyances of the buyer's requests. She solves it ALL; it's miraculous what that woman accomplishes over and above what is even expected in a buy/sell transaction.
On the sell side, Jim and Donna do the same, but even moreso. Donna in particular truly takes everything off your plate: she'll manage getting the house painted, the carpets replaced, she'll go on site (as she Jim both did for me when selling our rental properties) to work with the renters and make sure the house is ready to show -- freeing me to have to take time off of work to do so. They work with A+ integrity, too, so you know you are serving all parties fairly and lawfully throughout.
A home purchase/sale is the most considered you'll ever make. HIRE A SAVVY AGENT, not a friend!, and get what you need out of the transaction. Jim and Donna are our agents for life.
Ann Romanello
2019-04-06
Jim and Donna Klinge are by far the most professional, personable and responsive realtors I have ever worked with. They provide VIP concierge level service in every area of the process of selling your home. My home was marketed so successfully that we received an offer the day after our first and only open house. Thanks to Jim's pricing and negotiating, our house is now the highest sold in our community. Jim's vast experience means he has worked with several realtors and knows the market all over north county. Donna is AMAZING in processing everything in the transaction. She scheduled trades people to work on the house in preparation for the sale as well as the repairs needed before closing. She communicated clearly every step of the way about what would be happening. She took the weight off my shoulders for the whole process. I will always use Jim and Donna for my future real estate needs and I whole heartedly recommend them to anyone buying or selling a home.
zuser20160915180743456
2018-07-03
Jim and the team at Klinge Reality are without a doubt the best in the business! Not only was Jim helpful and extremely knowledgeable, he was patient and determined to help me find my first home. Jim and his team have been in the business for many years, and it shows. Jim is a wealth of knowledge and was my biggest proponent despite the temperature of the competitive market. I ended up getting the perfect property in my dream neighborhood all thanks to Jim. From the day my offer was accepted, Donna was a real lifesaver. She was extremely helpful, responsive, and knowledgeable when it came to every minute detail, and held my hand through the process. As a first time home buyer I had no idea what the process would entail, but Donna curtailed every concern I came across and made the escrow process feel seamless. Jim and Donna provided me the best home buying experience, and I am very grateful for all they did for me. It was truly a pleasure to work with Jim and Donna and I am already looking forward to the next time we work together!
melanielogue
2018-04-30
Review for Member: Richard Morgan
Richard is an amazing realtor! He has high integrity and genuinely cares about his clients and their needs. Richard paid close attention to what I was seeking in a home and was very patient in our search to find it. I would highly recommend Richard and will use him for future transactions. Truly a different kind of realtor experience!
shaunccornell
2018-03-28
Could not be happier with my experience with Jim and his team. He helped me sell a very unique and challenging property. Throughout the entire process he was always available, honest, transparent, trustworthy, and always put my interests as a seller first. A (rare) true professional! During close of escrow Jim went above and beyond to complete the deal. It would not have been possible without his experience, fantastic team, and pure dedication. Highly recommended!
Thanks Jim and Donna Klinge!
Nice clip. My thoughts and prayers to your friend.
My wife is a two time cancer survivor and it puts a lot of things in perspective.
Take care
Art
Possibly the most powerful video you’ve posted thus far, especially considering the context of the past couple of days. Perspective is in short supply, but small doses do wonders.
I offer a toast to friends lost and friends yet to be found. Keep fighting the good fight.
A friend of mine (gone) used to say, “Laugh or cry“: with all that is thrown at us in life, those are the only choices that make sense.
Jim,
Hang in there and my prayers to your friend. I got a glimpse of the trailing cloudes this evening and for a brief moement, I wondered what the sunset looked like. Thanks.
Last Summer I was re diagnosed with NHL. I went through traditional chemotherapy and when finished, I had a stem cell transplant at City of Hope. So far, it worked. I am cancer free. Dont ever lose hope
Jim,
Very sorry to hear about your friend. Best wishes to him, his family and friends.
Thank you, again. Many of us may not comment every day but we do read your blog all the time and really appreciate your time and effort that you put into this blog.
Best,
David
I lost my dad to liver cancer a couple of years ago, so I understand what you’re going through.
And yes, for better or for worse, life does go on. We have so little time on this world, so we better make the best of it while we still have the time.
My thoughts and best wishes to your friend.
Hang in there, Jim!
Thanks everyone.
He is a she, 50 years old, two kids.
Stage 4 = 6 months, or less.
Sorry to hear about your friend Jim.
My girlfriends mother is in stage 4… she could go anyday now. The morphine is making it a little more comfortable for her.
Yes, let’s pick it up; not take work or money too seriously and keep a sense of humor. Family and friends and time spent with them are true wealth. Great sunset, great perspective.
My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer more than 20 years ago. She is coming down next weekend to go to the races in Del Mar. I know that she is literally one in a million, but there is always hope. My thoughts are with your friend and her family.
My neighbor is a doctor at San Diego Hospice:
http://www.sdhospice.org/
Whenever I need a reality check I just ask him how his day was.
When I agree with Mozart it frightens me. Well spoken amigo.
Good to to have you back but very sorry to hear about your friend, Jim. It’s good to put things into perspective every now and then.
As for the blogging and comments, I like that you wear your heart on your sleeve. Being in sales myself, I take it very personally when someone even insinuates that I’m acting without integrity. If you weren’t passionate about what you do, you wouldn’t be so good at it. Keep sticking up for yourself.
I think many times we forget what your job is. Yes, we all know you’re a realtor. But I’d say your job is to sell houses in the market you’re in, and understand it AS IT IS TODAY. I’d also guess you have little interest whether the market goes up or down so long as you’re always giving good advice and selling homes.
Many of your readers, however, seem to be in the speculation business, and don’t like hearing about potential frenzied housing markets. Amazing how much praise you get when you say “there’s nothing price won’t fix,” then the backlash for announcing foreclosures are selling over list. You’re just reporting what you see doing your job every day.
I hope I’m not putting words in your mouth here Jim, or misrepresenting your profession – it’s just one blogger’s opinion. I come here for data, insight, and entertainment, and I think it’s all great. So thanks for the blog!
Thanks for this blog, Jim. I really appreciate what you’re doing here.
-Erica
Hang in there. I can only imagine.
Jim, I appreciate your efforts here on this site and as I’m sure many others also do. Times like these remind us that we can’t take everything for granted. That we should make the best of what we have and try to make a positive impact to others around us.
Best wished to your friend and their family.
Thanks Jim, for helping us all reflect on the value of our lives. While we know that life is short and we often get caught up in what is not important, hopefully we’ll all reflect on what is of permanent value in life and focus our energy on enhancing those parts of our lives.
With all of the stupidity of the housing bubble, I know that my wife and I have grown closer by focusing on us and our children; spending as much time with them as possible. I can speak for ourselves that my wife stays at home with our kids and will probably do so until they go to college. While we are financially not as well off as the rest of OC, we think this provides us with experiences you simply cannot buy. If I were to go tomorrow, I know that I will have lived my life to the best I know how. No regrets.
Luckily for your friend, whatever happens, she at least has an opportunity to get her affairs in order and if needed, say goodbye. Many never get that chance. Here’s to hoping for her recovery!
BTW, my wife worked for the American Cancer Society, and there are many examples of people who have come through Stage 4 breast cancer. The hardest part is simply coming to terms with uncertainty. Friends are great with that because cancer endurers need support no matter what.
Chuck Ponzi
Absolutely best wishes, Jim. Your words ring true. We get so caught up in our pursuits we tend to loose sight of the grand purpose in life. John Lennon said: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” You’re a super agent! Your blog is very informative. Participation should be in the spirit of sharing good thoughts and ideas, and having a little fun. Thank you for everything.
Blur, I think that sums it up nicely. I’ll add that I don’t voice much, if any, opinion on where I think the market is going, because there is no telling these days with the mixed messages.
And you ain’t seen nothing yet! I’m working on a video follow-up on the investor from the Nightline piece. She bought five houses cash, and is now flipping a couple of them!
Nobody knows where the market is going.
You call’em as you see’em, whether readers like it or not. I don’t always agree with your opinion, but I have no doubt you’re telling us exactly what you think is happening, not what’s in your best interest.
And that makes your opinion and blog very valuable.
Thank you to everyone for your warm thoughts.
Nice post Jim – puts things in perspective. Best wishes for your friend.
Jim, this video will ALWAYS be my favorite video no matter what other videos you do in the future because of its powerful and poignant message.
At 42, my late husband was diagnosed with cancer and waged a heroic near 5-year battle. He and we who loved him (and still do) never gave up hope. It’s what sustained all of us day after day.
*Wiping Away a Tear* And what were my husband’s last words? Nothing about regrets or “stuff”. He wanted us to know how much he loved us. His words–though garbled from the morphine–were simply eloquent in the fact that he repeated them so there would be no doubt: “I don’t want to leave! I don’t want to leave!”.
I found it fitting that he passed away only two days before Thanksgiving that year knowing the kind of man he was… ie “Thanks for giving”. John Lennon really did say it best: “All you need is love. Love is all you need”.
Focus on hope and love, Jim. It will help sustain you. Believe me, I know what you’re going through. I will keep you and your friend in my thoughts and prayers.
I’ve long read your blog, but never posted. I wanted to post now to thank you for your work on this blog and in the field, which is so very helpful to a lot of people, including me and my husband. Keep up the good work!
I also wanted to say best wishes to your friend, her family, and to you, her friend. There are very few people lucky enough to have not had some experience with cancer (either themselves, or family or friends). It can be a frightening ordeal. I hope you all have lots of support.
Best wishes to your friend in the fight ahead of her. I’ll hold a good thought for both of you.
Thanks for all you do in ‘telling it like it is.’
What a great video and reminder that relationships truly are the MOST important thing in life.
I hope the best for your friend and her two children.
a surgeon once told me he is removing more tumors then he has ever done in his 40 year career.
what is the cause? most likely the food we end, the chamicals we use, and the fact that we are more stressed than we have ever been. and what do we do to relief our stress? we often find that the best outlet for our stress is to apply stress on to others.
cancer from a loved one always bring things into prospective. especially stage 4 cancer. I wish Jim’s friend well. but take a moment to reflect, walk more, eat less, and be nicer to each other.
Jim, you are a good man – love your work and intellectual honesty. You have great perspective to boot – sorry to hear about your friend. Life is funny that way – the unexpected.
Jim,
Have yet to be somewhere where I can play the video, but the comments have enlightened me on the content. Cancer’s robbed me of both my parents (among others). Losing a friend is tough, but having had them is priceless.
Take care!!!
Jim,
What a heartfelt and poignant post. I am so sorry about your friend.
You nailed it WRT the important things in life, and how we should all keep things in perspective.
May your friend and her family find peace, no matter what happens.
Good to see you back, Jim.
Whatever happens, it will all be well.
Take care.
Jim, my thoughts and prayers to you and your friend. Life is short, live it fully and without bitterness.
God Bless,
jack