Builders pose another threat to neighborhood pricing:
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Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group
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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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 ‘as is’ and just get it over with. They gave us a selling price for ‘as is’ 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 couldn’t 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 — 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 — 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 Jim’s 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 can’t 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 “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.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 Donna’s 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
That’s why its called FORECLOSURE RANCH !!
Hah. I just found that house I was mentioning the other day.
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Long-Beach/5902-Lemon-Ave-90805/home/7512081
They have the cojones to list that thing at $283k. Saying it “needs some TLC” is an understatement. We looked again today. The kitchen has been completely ripped out. Not a cabinet left. The 2 car garage needs a new door, the fence is rotting and the yard needs to be scraped to the dirt. Lord knows what condition that roof is in, considering the rest of the house. Carpets are appalling. Kitchen tile is cracked and completely destroyed – I’d bet the bathroom is not much better. New owner is looking at $40 – $50k easy. I wonder if this was a trash-out…sure looks that way.
I can officially say my new home has been on a JimTV video. Maybe only a couple pixels, but it counts.
I was one of the folks who purchased one of the Monteluz (the larger sister property 8,000 to 10,000 sqft lots) during the phase 1 release. The floorplan absolutely blew us away; everything we’ve been looking for the last few years that they just haven’t built in CV.
Comes out roughly to ~$200/sqft. Equivalent homes in that area were going for over 1 million during the peak, now in the low 700’s. Enough of a haircut for me to ditch my ~$30,000/year rent and put some money somewhere other then a 2% savings account.
Phase 1 release day there were well over 150 people there which was prior to the grand opening. Since then, I’ve lost track at the number of people I’ve talked to who are now on the waiting list and every time I’m there (which is a lot) more people are signing up.
To echo Jim’s comments, for the next ~2-3 years why would you bother with a resale when you can get something larger, nicer, brand new and (now) … significantly cheaper around the corner.
My one regret is I was unable to use Jim as an agent as they unfortunately got our name via an email.
I can’t believe people pay $500/mo for mello roos.
“I can’t believe people pay $500/mo for Mello Roos”. Blur, as a 4 year resident of 4S Ranch I can tell you on the surface that the MR fees seem high. However, if you care about beautiful new schools in Poway USD, lots of state of the art parks, a huge Boys and Girls Club, and a community shopping center and gym that most of the area can reasonably walk to then it doesn’t sting as much. At least you can actually see and use the amenities that your fees paid for.
Makes me glad I live in a neighborhood where no one cares whether I drive a Cavalier or a Carrera.
I don’t get that pricing either. If we are seeing low/mid $200/sf pricing in 92009 for coastal Oaks/Bressi/Greens/Aviara with lower MR I would think that 92009 wins out hands down (unless you work for Sony/HP/etc on the 15 frw).
I would think 4s attractive at 200/sf tops…downward pressure for sure.
Look at the school districts in 92009 vs. the Poway School district. Also factor in 4S is walking/biking distance to brand new top of the line schools at every grade level and community centers SD Surf dog mentioned. And it’s only a couple minutes further commute to Sorrento Valley vs. CV.
Compared to the $600K Townhomes in CV…
I love seeing the support for 4S, and thank you sdnerd for the kind remarks.
I appreciate the hat tip.
A simple acknowlegement that, even though I didn’t get the pleasure of being your agent, at least I was able to contribute a little something along the way. Enough that if you had the chance, you’d let me help.
Contrast that with W.C., guy who puts a consistent and loyal drubbing on the real estate market for months or years here on bubbleinfo, blows up my ‘name that band’ contest, and then drops the bomb that he bought a house…..and I don’t get a nod, let alone a phone call.
I’ll live with either.
An old man once told me, “Your thanks is in your paycheck”. I never liked the way it felt, but I learned to live with it.
La Costa Canyon HS and Olivenhain Pioneer/Diegueno are pretty much contenders for top tier schools in the County and they are 92009 (granted the SM schools for the Greens are inferior so that neighborhood is not as desirable on the school issue).
Sure there are good things about the 4S area as there are good parts of most areas (it is san diego afterall).
However, one would expect some pricing spread between nearly equal coastal track boxes near the 5 vs. track boxes near the 15.
Contrast that with W.C., guy who puts a consistent and loyal drubbing on the real estate market for months or years here on bubbleinfo, blows up my ‘name that band’ contest, and then drops the bomb that he bought a house…..and I don’t get a nod, let alone a phone call.
Heh, I’ve been hesitant to post that I’ve bought a house because I feel somewhat bad about not giving you a a chance. I didn’t have that much of a choice in my case for a couple of reasons. I wasn’t for sure buying in the area you typically sell in, and my aunt happens to be a great agent herself. If she wasn’t any good, I would have called Jim.
Anyways, it may sound like I changed my mind on real estate because I wanted to buy, but it feels the opposite way. A lot of the data points to fairly affordable housing on a historical level for San Diego. My caveat is that I have no clue what’s happen to the high end, but I’m not in that market.
Agreed there are some strong schools for the right communities, which should lead to a decent closer-to-water premium. Too far north for our jobs personally.
I don’t see MR as a monthly cost, I factor it into the total price mentally. A ~$50/psf spread for equivalent track boxes a few miles closer to the water makes the $7-800K 4S a 9-1mil 92009 home (all in).
I presume the 700K price range has a much greater buyer pool, as that is affordable for two modest salaries. I believe, and from what I’ve seen supports that as inventory gets into that price range it will get gobbled up.
Prices got absurd during the bubble, at the same time some areas really did build out nice communities and greatly improve their respective area.
IMHO it’s all going to be about inventory, and how much is the house you love – and is it even (really) on the market regardless.
Andalusa, Monteluz, Chanteclair, and Terramar as far as I know all sold out their latest phases within a few hours. Not many short sales or organics on the market. So I think, and I could be wrong – there will be pretty good support for prices in the current range +/- a small amount for new construction and short sales alike.
And Jim you get more then my online hat-tip; you get my recommendation to all my friends and everyone who asks for a RE referral. Hopefully you hear the words ‘sdnerd sent me’ a few times in the future. 🙂
Are the 4S schools worth the extra cost?
Cathedral Catholic High School (private) = $11,675.00 per year
La Jolla Country Day School (private) = $24,511 per year
Granted the schools listed above make you grovel and beg for them to accept you. But, If you’re justifying $500 hoa costs with the school services received you might as well compare apples to apples.
“Contrast that with W.C., guy who puts a consistent and loyal drubbing on the real estate market for months or years here on bubbleinfo, blows up my ‘name that band’ contest, and then drops the bomb that he bought a house…..and I don’t get a nod, let alone a phone call.”
Get a rope…
I’ve also read horror stories about MR not being used for its intended purpose. Isn’t PHR in CV dealing with that (remember the park?) I also remember controversy in LCV because somehow MR was going to be used for low-income housing instead of a school. Not sure what happened there, but anyway I’d be PO’d to pay MR if this happened in my ‘hood. With CA in so much financial trouble, I wouldn’t put it past a municipality to shift those tax dollars elsewhere.
Shadash’s point about private schools is a good one: you know exactly where your money’s going, and you only pay it while your child attends that school.
But it is nice to hear people satisfied with the use of their MR. As a buyer, it’s hard to find a newer area without it. $500/mo is a lot, though.
How long does it take to walk from 92009 to La Jolla Country Day or Cathedral? What if your kids can’t get in? And now you have the additional cost of private school on top of the premium and your kids aren’t in school with their neighborhood friends (good chance at least). How much are those schools going to cost in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years? Plus you are now driving all over town for after school events, etc.
Compared to having all the top tier schools at each grade level literally right around the corner from your home, that your kids get into without issue, with the rest of the community.
I personally wouldn’t consider that apples to apples; but even if you did just factoring in gas money and after-work hassles alone that $400/mo MR is starting to look pretty cheap. Then start factoring in everything else like parks, gyms, shopping, etc…
My personal answer is yes $400-500/mo is more then worth it. IMHO that’s pretty cheap for what you get.
As long as you buy in the parts of 92009 that are in the Carlsbad or San Dieguito school district, you won’t have to send your kids to private school. However it looks like most of the new developments are in the San Marcos school district.
I excluded areas with Mello Roos, excess buyer approved bonds (San Elijo Hills) and HOA above $80. Parents/Kids walk the same sidewalk to an Encinitas Elementary school and for San Dieguito middle school kids cross two three neighborhood streets – not bad. All this close to all the shopping you want, except Costco – but that is a monthly trip 🙂
“However it looks like most of the new developments are in the San Marcos school district.”
Oh the horror…
#4. “I can’t believe people pay $500/mo for mello roos.”
I can’t believe people go on a “waiting list” for anything besides a vital body organ.
JTR, me and DW were working with another agent for 12 months before I stumbled onto your site. While we did purchase in Mission Hills last fall, if we ever move again we will be giving you a call. We are keeping a close eye on the composer district in Cardiff.
Paying $400-500/month for mello roos is pretty crazy when you’re already paying >$600k for a house. But… apparently people are willing to buy at that price.
The question is are people walking in with large downpayments? Otherwise is their income really that high that they can support a the mello roos on top of the $500k mortgage at jumbo rates?
This is the cheapest “reasonably new” house in LCC High area of Carlsbad:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Carlsbad/8081-Camino-Montego-92009/home/6540071
$273/sf, slightly lower mello-roos, the same 10 foot distance between houses. You’re closer to the coast, but further from everything else (say, downtown, or your job if you work south of 56).
There is activity in low-200’s in Bressi and Rancho Carrillo, but those are in San Marcos district and even further into the middle of nowhere.
And, if you want to combine good schools, proximity to civilization, and proximity to the coast, you’re looking at low to mid 300’s per square foot (Carmel Valley).
@shadash You have to live somewhere, too. Many things you pay for the house are tax deductible; private school tuition is not. If you do the math accurately, accounting for tax deductions, payments to principal, etc., (assuming decent family income, say, 150k/year), it’ll turn out that it’s cheaper to buy a smaller house in 4S Ranch and send one kid to PUSD schools, than to live in a cardboard box under the bridge and send one kid to LJCDS.
FYI – Bressi is in the Carlsbad school district (kids go to the new Poinsettia elementary)…
Not to beat a dead-horse since this discussion has been made multiple times in these parts, but looking only at the elementary and middle schools in La Costa/ SEH and 4s:
La Costa Elementary (San Marcos) API 2009 growth 883, 2008 base 887
La Costa Heights (Encinitas) – API 2009 growth 895, 2008 base 892
SEH elementary – API 2009 growth 932, 2008 base 897
SEH Middle – API 2009 growth 890, 2008 base 850
4s Ranch:
Stone Ranch – API 2009 growth 940, 2008 base 920
Monterey Ridge – API 2009 growth 940, 2008 base 894
Oak Valley Middle – API 2009 growth 901, 2008 base 897
I didnt include high schools. You can say what you want about SMHS but the majority of residents in 4s and SEH have kids in elementary and middle school and those numbers for the high school should change for the better. The new high school in 4s should pull students from Westview and Carmel Mtn which should lower their scores. I suspect the scores for the new high school to be solid, and SMHS to be very close.
Does this justify higher prices inland with high MR? I dont think so.
Sorry – SMHS to be very close when the current elementary/ middle schoolers in Carlsbad/ SEH/ Discovery/ Via (whatever its called) start hitting high school.
Also, Carlsbad is preparing to begin construction soon (nimby gripers aside) on the new CBAD high school on ECR and Cannon(?)…anyway, boundaries are not drawn yet, however, one expects the new HS to serve the southern part of CBAD SD including Aviara, Bressi, etc…
That is of no concern if your kids are older, but for the Kindergarten aged kids, it will seem like the school has been there forever and will be established by then (for better or worse).
I spoke with someone at the Carlsbad school district who said she thinks the new high school will be lottery based, like the San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas.
You can no longer depend on ‘we will build it’. Ashley Falls school in Del Mar may close in hard times – this is a Mello Roos supported school. Guess how many parents thought their choice of neighborhood was solid at the time.
From DMT:
…So far it has seven scenarios that it is looking at: closing Del Mar Hills, reconfiguring schools into kindergarten through third and fourth through sixth, and closing a Mello Roos supported school such as Ashley Falls. A new option, which would not require closing schools, was proposed Monday….
Ex-4s Renter:
IT’S A FACT – KIDS THAT GO TO SCHOOLS WITH HIGH API SCHOOLS ALL BECOME DOCTORS AND LAWYERS!
ALL KIDS THAT GO TO SCHOOLS SOUTH OF I8 AND SCHOOLS WITH API’S LOWER THAN 850 BECOME BUMS AND WELFARE RECIPIENTS
You give parents a LITTLE bit of knowledge with the API scores and they go “stupid”
Api is not everything. Teachers in those schools are not necessarily “better”
Here’s something to consider about “lesser” schools…
If you’re kid gets average grades at a “good” school. They’re likely to get above average grades at a “lesser” school.
Colleges don’t always consider the school a student attended compared to the grades they’ve earned.
This means good grades at a “lesser” school are likely to open more college admittance doors then average grades at a “good” school.
But, in the long run it’s always best to learn as much as possible. Cheaters are only cheating themselves.
Bob #31 – Lawyers and Bums are redundant.
@ Shadash,
…’Cheaters are only cheating themselves.’
Pause and think about that statement for a minute 😀