Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group
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Contact Jim the Realtor!
CA DRE #01527365, CA DRE #00873197
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We sold a home with Jim and Donna and from beginning to end they were consummate professionals. Their initial walk through the property resulted in a list of items to be repaired or updated. They supplied a list of vendors and job quotes to do the repairs and updates. We originally wanted to sell âas isâ and just get it over with. They gave us a selling price for âas isâ and options for doing a few updates/repairs to doing it all with the selling price for each option. We agreed to do all they suggested and we sold for the exact price they predicted. For every dollar spent we got back more than $2 back in the selling price. And they got that price in a rising interest rate environment! Donna and Jim are extremely detailed and guide you through ever aspect of the sale. There were no surprises thanks to their guidance. We couldnât be more pleased with their representation. Thank you Donna and Jim, Jerry and MaryTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have known Jim & Donna Klinge for over a dozen years, having met them in Carlsbad where our children went to the same school. As long time North County residents, it was a no- brainer for us to have the Klinges be our eyes and ears for San Diego real estate in general and North County in particular. As my military career caused our family to move all over the country and overseas to Asia, Europe and the Pacific, we trusted Jim and Donna to help keep our house in Carlsbad rented with reliable and respectful tenants for over 10 years. Naturally, when the time came to sell our beloved Carlsbad home to pursue a rural lifestyle in retirement out of California, we could think of no better team to represent us than Jim and Donna. They immediately went to work to update our house built in 2004 to current-day standards and trends â in 2 short months they transformed it into a literal modern-day masterpiece. We trusted their judgement implicitly and followed 100% of their recommended changes. When our house finally came on the market, there was a blizzard of serious interest, we had multiple offers by the third day and it sold in just 5 days after a frenzied bidding war for 20% above our asking price! The investment we made in upgrades recommended by Jim and Donna yielded a 4-fold return, in the process setting a new high water mark for a house sold in our community. In our view, there are no better real estate professionals in all of San Diego than Jim and Donna Klinge. Buying or selling, you must run and beg Jim and Donna Klinge to represent you! Our family will never forget Jim, Donna, and their whole team at Compass â we are forever grateful to them.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. WeI had the pleasure of working with Klinge Realty Group to sell our home in Carmel Valley, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! Jim and Donna demonstrated exceptional professionalism, offering expert guidance on market conditions and pricing strategy, which resulted in a quick and successful sale. Communication was prompt and we were well-informed throughout the entire process. For anyone looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable real estate team, look no further! ---Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Donna and Jim Klinge of Klinge Realty Group have our highest possible recommendation. From Donna and Jimâs first visit to our house through closing their advice and counsel was candid and honest in all dealings. They kept us fully informed throughout the process. The house sold less than three days after listing with a two-week closing. My wife and I have sold several houses during our lives. This was by far the best experience. Klinge Reality is a premium service realtor. You canât make a better choice for someone to sell your home fast and for top dollar.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 âcan doâ 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.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 Donnaâs organized guidance through the inspections, paperwork etc made the whole process seem effortless. So grateful that I had them on my side!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We first found Jim through his blog at bubbleinfo.com, which really showcased his knowledge of SoCal real estate. Since then we've done three transactions with Jim and Donna, and they are an incredible full service agency, with Jim's deep market insight and Donna's deft contract and project management. We trust them implicitly in their analysis and strategy, which is based on years of experience. They're always available and on top of things, and we strongly recommend them to anyone.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 bubbleinfo.com 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...Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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.Load more
I too noticed that the furniture was way too small in model homes. My wife might fit in that bed, but I’d hang over all sides. No fun. A real man-sized bed swallows those rooms quickly.
Chuck
Expected build out of 800 lots, 80 at a time..2015? Long term contest?
I bought in early phases of Aviara and Rancho Carillo…it is a couple of years process of:
Year 1 landscaping and builder warranty headaches and battles
Year 2 driving by unfinished homes/lots/lack of landscaping and streets unfinished with top coat and city of Carlsbad ripping out perfect sidewalks and curbs just because they want to torture builders and developers with the process.
This tract will be at least 1/2 decade of the above if not more.
Who has the money to pony up 1 million these days?Are these people getting those funny money FHA loans?I guess times arent that tough after all.I am trying to figure out who is actually struggleing?Is this another ploy to get the govt to hand out free money to help people?Who is getting the help?Sure in the hell isn’t mainstreet.wall street is getting rich off of you again.When are people going to see that wall street is basically a ponzi scheme?
Who has the money to pony up 1 million these days?Are these people getting those funny money FHA loans?
Jim has touched on this before, lots of people buying these houses are doing so with large down payments. Most have 20% down or more, since jumbo loans require it. They got their money either from the bubble years, saving, inheritance etc. The FHA loan limits don’t allow you to purchase a $1M loan, and the income qualifications required for FHA loans would require a fairly high income anyways.
Yes it’s an economic downturn but that doesn’t mean that everybody in the country all of the sudden is making $50K a year or less.
Jordan,
If you put down 27%, you could qualify for an FHA loan for a $1M house. I think you just proved “hug a realtor”‘s point.
Chuck
If you put down 27%, you could qualify for an FHA loan for a $1M house. I think you just proved âhug a realtorââs point.
The point is do you need a FHA loan to put 27% down, or could you get a jumbo loan? I don’t think that FHA is the one supplying loans at the upper end. The second point is how much risk is there in a loan with a 73% LTV? How many people are going to walk away from a $200,000+ cash commitment on a house?
Hug a realtor’s point was that the only way people could buy these houses was with funny money loans. 27% down payments aren’t funny money loans.
Is that children’s clothes in the master closet to make it look bigger, or just petite women’s ? struck me as weird.
Another great video. I would still be tempted to show clients distressed SEH propeties as an alternative to these new homes. Even with the inferior highschools SEH has to be competition for these.
I love the plan 2 house with the folding doors. If I could pick that up for just under the FHA a limit with 3.5 % down and stop paying the mortgage on day one, live rent free for ~24 months, and wait for my cash for keys, this pencils out well with a rent equivlent around 1K/month.
Did you guys know goldman sachs had a record year for profits?They are trying to figure out how to give their employees bonuses without pissing off the public.So where did all this money come from?You guessed it you and me via 401k’s and all the other so called investments.These guys are totally fleecing america as you just sit and give them more money every year.The market is controlled by insiders folks.If you think you have a fair opportunity in the market you are in a real fantasy land.
Jordan,
Go out and try to get a 700K loan for rates anywhere near what FHA is charging. Then you’ll see the clear advantage.
Once you pass the threshhold of “conventional” financing, it gets dicey. Above the “Jumbo Conforming” limit, it’s the wild west. FHA fits a specific niche for $1M home purchases right now.
Chuck Ponzi
Why arent we dropping these power lines below ground? Im sure there are a lot of reasons (cost to lay the lines, drill into the earth, maintenance etc) but they are such an eyesore. I know the EMF doesnt matter – above or below.
At least if you buy near one, you can offset the testicular or leukemia with free electricity since it will light up all bulbs in your home for free. Running around unscrewing bulbs is a bit of a pain but hey free juice!
Go out and try to get a 700K loan for rates anywhere near what FHA is charging. Then youâll see the clear advantage.
I just don’t agree that a 73% LTV loan is a funny money loan, even at those dollar amounts. Even if they go FHA, they still have to pay upfront PMI and PMI for 5 years. Is it still worth the lower interest rate at that point? It seems like with these loans the FHA is more likely to make money then lose it to defaults.
The house with the folding doors looked very nice indeed. Especially with a big backyard overlooking a canyon. Very nice.
Something tells me it wouldn’t be as good on the ‘normal’ lots if you can high five your neighbor while doing the dishes.
Perfect example of if you build it, they will come – just like the Pontiac Aztec. Why even bother with windows? It is a 20 minute drive to I5 and you are hoping on before the bottleneck if you are going south and we aren’t talking rush hour traffic yet. Love the folding doors though.
$20,000 for a folding door ?! Does that include the floor/deco outdoor ? I can not believe that door costs more than a car !
Jim–I’ve got to hand it to them!!! We went through those models about a month ago–I immediately got on the horn to source those folding doors to install in our house–I was blown away–it is a great way to customize a tract home–They are from La Cantina. I got a quote for $10K for those exact doors no install.
The interiors are beautiful–they are smart to push the envelope!
Wow, you don’t get much for “one million dollars” any more. I’m shocked. Those look like glorified town houses. They seem cramped, like the builder packed in too many features, so that you wouldn’t notice how unspecial the house is. The cielings seem low. There can’t be much more than 4 feet between the island and the stove. The bedrooms seem small.
Would these have been going for 1.5 million in 2005. Where’s the bargain here. And Uncle Sam is on the hook for these loans? Can you say suburban nightmare?
Local Boy–I agree 100%
“it is a great way to customize a tract home”
Upon exiting the home I went straight to Google and found out about La Cantina as well. Those doors are sweet!
JE–I also agree 100% with the SEH comment. I can’t justify spending an extra $200,000-$300,000 for a slightly higher API score and to save 5 minutes on the drive to the I-5?
If you think those sliding doors are amazing, you should see the set that are curved! I went to the Builders Show last year and saw things that made me drool – visibly – right on the convention center floor. If you are close enough for a day trip to Vegas, next year’s show is January 19-22.
Is SEH still a pain to get in and out of? That would make me thing twice about it, even with sub $200/sqft pricing. One of my friends is dead set on buying in San Marcos, although I’m trying to talk him out of it.
It is not a pain at all to get out of SEH Genius. Just drive through SEH Road. I can make the drive in 13 minutes from my house to I 5 w/o speeding at all.
Jim, realistically, how do the prices of these new homes affect the prices of homes in SEH. I would think that SEH would be an alternative to these really expensive homes. Do you agree? Try to be objective. We all know how you hate SEH.
Thanks for the input.
There are 5 Kindergarten classes at SEH’s elementary school this year, with 33 kids in each class! The school is already overburdened, and I think it’s just 2 years old?! It is absolutely not about 5 API points.
26 minutes round trip just for the pre-freeway part of your commute is nothing to sneeze at.
Jim, how are these $1m houses appraising with seemingly little ease, but it’s impossible to get appraisals in line for existing homes in the $1m range? The lack of appraisals for existing home jumbos is choking the market at that end.
ah Russel, you have surfaced. You’re the whiner who made a mountain out of a molehill about my last SEH video, right? The one who misrepresented everything I said, and went around blasting me, just to look like a hero? If not, keep an eye out for who did, I’d like to have a word with them.
If I hated SEH, I’d go photograph the 388 properties in 92078 that are in foreclosure.
Nope, not that Russel. I was signed in as Adam before.
Did you have an answer to my question about how these new homes affect SEH prices? I’ll just use the name Adam from now on so you don’t confuse us. And dude, you have to know that hosting a blog is gonna bring some criticism. Just keep doing what you are doing. Even though I don’t always agree with you, I like reading your website and appreciate what you are doing.
Adam
So you’re just a troll looking for reaction when you say:
Try to be objective. We all know how you hate SEH.
Because I don’t think I’ve ever said much of anything about SEH, especially lately.
Actually no. Just trying to be a bit funny. Guess it didn’t work. I really just respect your opinion on this topic and I don’t know how new expensive housing in the general area affects my home price. No worries.
Well I’m still on the lookout for the wuss who tried to be a hero at my expense. Let me know if you come across him, OK?
Wasn’t me. I’d tell you. I did comment, though, right after Russel on your SEH video segment. Said about the same thing as this time. Don’t know any Russel who lives in SEH.
Guess I won’t get an answer from you though.
I think Jim tries to be objective in all of his posts-that is one reason that so many people continue to follow the blog. SEH is a nice new community, but it is isolated and has high MR. The market is the market–supply and demand. SEH is less expensive than some surrounding areas, more expensive than others.
I visited the models recently, and I have issues with the following:
LOCATION: entrance off RSF Rd feels like San Marcos
CONTENT: stop focusing on the furnishings an notice how cheap the cabinets, plumbing/light fixtures, baseboards, etc., even the upgraded items seen in plans 2 & 3 are hideous – cabinets look like they are covered in contact paper … Don’t get me started on the kitchen pantries and guest bedrooms!
EMPTY LOTS: there are tons of graded lots that have not been sold to anyone that are right next to the ColRich homes. Directly next to the $1MM+ ones
LOT SIZES: the lot sizes on the expensive lots were around 6500 – 7500 sf. For that money you could buy in La Costa Ridge with 10 – 12k sf lots.
STARTING PRICE: with prices starting in the 700’s, you’re bound to get some lower-class social-climbers from Oside, Vista, San Marcos, etc.
POWER LINES: have you every heard those things up close?
HIGH HOA: you do get the benefits of the La Costa Oaks rec ctr, but it’s a haul to get there!
I’ve ragged on long enough, for now ….
Bam
Oh the schools…..
I agree that it has a lot of kids. I was at the La Costa Valley pool yesterday and my cousin said they have over 900 kids at their school too. They are Encinitas School District. So there are a lot of kids????
My son’s class has 24 kids in the first grade. Everyone is so concerned that we have 3 parents signed up to volunteer each day of the week. My point is the whole school thing is SOOOOO blown out of proportion. I was worried moving from La Jolla. The fact is my kid is reading at a fourth grade level and his writing is phenomenal. They are doing a fine job.
The 26 minute round trip addition onto your commute is a valid one. I agree that it’s annoying. The question we ask ourselves…”Would I rather have an extra $1500 a month or drive 26 minutes?” Is 26 minutes of my time worth $1500? The answer is different for everyone. For us, we would rather travel, give private lessons to our kids, and save our money. I respect and understand other people’s decisions.
Oh and Troll person…can you chill for a minute.
I am actually considering buying in SEH and before we spend half a million dollars I would appreciate JTR’s analysis of the community. It is what it is. And if you are trying to pretend any different you must not really live here or have never talked to your neighbors.
If everyone really hates tracts as much as they write, then there is a great future for North East Vista and Northern San Marcos estate style living! Its what everyone wants, but are afraid to look at. Do you think Cal La Vie and Golden Door spas were placed there by accident and can charge 5-10k per week per person?
It’s Adam not Troll person. Although that is pretty funny. I do live here in SEH and like it a lot but it is definitely just for families. Could you explain your last two sentences?
Great to see the bubble mentality is alive and kicking in California !
Nice fire canyon, good thing there’s a firehouse so close.
The first group selling well…the buzz must have been good đ
Hasn’t there been a plastic/aluminum version of those doors for about 30 years in banks and malls? $10,000? Sheesh.
It is what it is means…
Good community, good schools, people care about their community, small town feel, tract homes very close together, ok access to I-15 and I-5. Reasonable priced housing, varying fee rates. From $300 a month to $700 a month for MR + HOA.
I live here too. The majority of the community was financed with option arms and neg am loans. There is a govt map that outlines this fact. As I have gotten to know my neighbors and community, the prevailing story is one of distress. The community will be feeling this distress for the next few years.
Bottom line…people bought homes they couldn’t afford. I know news flash! There is just a higher concentration of them in our community.
@ Russel,
13 minutes is too long, that’s 26 minutes round trip!
A 13 minute commute is considered long?
So where does that put my 10 minute walk to work? đ
I love your blog…great insight. I worry however that you’re going to crash your car while filming and driving!
13 minutes one way is just to get to the freeway.
I think it is funny when people ask who can afford a million dollar house. There are lots of high paying jobs around here to fill those homes. My problem is less who can afford it but who really thinks they have an ocean view from La Costa Oaks. That is rediculous but I know people who think that way. Ocean view is when you can see the waves breaking and white water.