18 Comments

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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Jerry MeyerMarch 28, 2025Trustindex 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 Mary Heather QuejadaMarch 27, 2025Trustindex 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. Lou FMarch 27, 2025Trustindex 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! --- William SamsMarch 25, 2025Trustindex 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. Emily HernandezDecember 29, 2024Trustindex 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. Jesus Adrian SahagunNovember 11, 2024Trustindex 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. SABIHA PASHAJuly 23, 2024Trustindex 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! Anu KobergJuly 13, 2024Trustindex 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. Bjorn IsachsenJuly 10, 2024Trustindex 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... Chris SheaJune 21, 2024Trustindex 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
Here’s another one in Leucadia closer to the beach that just re-listed on the MLS: 137 Cadmus.
I toured this place a year ago or so. At that point they were asking something like $899,000. It’s a little bit of a funky layout, but it’s a pretty sweet place. I’d think it’s a great deal in the mid-$700s. Sellers are older couple who moved to Arizona.
Your comment about the MLS comments made me think of this one, which I just saw yesterday (Evergreen St.):
“DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DISTURB THE UNCOOPERATIVE TENANT. Property shown with accepted offer only….Agent has never been inside property.”
Not that you would have any troubles with an unwanted tenant or anything.
Meet up at the yard sale?
Jim the “anti-realtor”. Love it.
Don’t know if it has come up yet but what about the widening of I-5 and the effect that will have on adjacent properties?
First place on the video made me think of it.
I attended a meeting a few years back and Caltrans made it abundantly clear that there would be no buyouts unless the freeway literally went through your house.
Noticed via the website (after getting the public informational meeting notice sent out last week) that there are some planned noise abatement walls but we’ve seen what happens to those promises in the past.
Seems that this is information that must be disclosed in a listing?
I just can’t believe that San Diego is still going through with these archaic plans. I don’t want to hear now days that there are no other better alternatives to move people.
If that many people are moving in that direction, mostly one individual per car, looks like a trapped audience to me and a great opportunity to think a better way.
LR
I think that for the price of some of these tear downs and fixer-uppers near the coast that you’re better off buying a 1400-1700 sq ft condo in one of the many complexes on South Sierra Avenue along the bluff in Solana Beach. Much better beach access, no exterior maintenance to worry about and condo amenities. It seems like if you want a a house right on the bluff, you have to worry about erosion and seawalls and if you want a house a few blocks inland you have to deal with train or freeway noise.
Dwip,
The sellers at 1176 Nardo tried that in Feb 2009.
Please DO NOT DISTURB OCCUPANTS. SHOWN WITH ACCEPTED OFFER AND 24 HOUR NOTICE TO OCCUPANTS/TENANT. DO NOT DISTURB TENANTS!! CALL LISTING AGENT WITH ANY QUESTIONS. Shown with accepted offer only with 24 hours notice to occupants/tenants.
They were asking $695,000. 14 months later they blew it out at $507,500.
Very much appreciate the numbers overlaid on the video. Thanks for taking the time to add that info. Hope you’ll consider continuing to do that going forward.
Quick suggestion on the numbers posted in the video. Use slightly larger white letters with a black border, and if possible with a bit of a shadow for a slight 3D effect. That makes the text much easier to read regardless of the background.
Your editing software’s default values for these effects should be good enough; you don’t need to play around with them.
Love the “DO NOT DISTURB OCCUPANTS” warnings! What would happen if someone were to disturb the occupants and discover they were still the owners of the house and had never put their home up for sale? 🙂
“Jim, the anti-realtor”
Sweet! That’s how I first heard about JtR. He was featured in the LA Times in the spring of 2009 and the article was entitled: “The Hunter S. Thompson of Real Estate”. I was immediately intrigued and have been addicted to bubbleinfo ever since.
Mahalo for all your hard work, JtR!
What DID that sign say?!
That house on Orpheus is a hot mess. You have to *walk up a dirt hill* to get from your “driveway” (a dirt clearing on the hill) to your fenced front yard. There are a couple other lots around there that have been on and off the market for years in the $100K-$200K range, and I think they’re better lots. Personally, I don’t think they can sell that “house” to a sane person for over $80K, but that’s just me. 🙂
Liquidation of one person’s treasures = enhancement of another’s physical assets. Gotta love southern California.
For Chevy(s)..
10 = 1/4 ton also potentially 1/2 ton
20 = 3/4 ton
30 = 1 ton
For GMC.. they added ‘5’ to those numbers.
Of course the real payloads were closer to:
10 = 1,000lb (1/2 ton)
20 = 2,000lb (1 ton)
30 = 3,000lb (1 1/2 ton) – my beater is one of these.
If you have the original sticker on the drivers door or glove box, you’ll see it. The numbers would not be exactly as above (maybe 100 – 300 lbs off). This is one of the differences between US trucks and their load rating vs. Japanse and theirs – which is a little liberal on the actual vs claimed rating. Those little dually toyotas that some of the landscapers use, are claimed as a one ton, but actual load rating is around 1,500lbs max.
The truck numbering was before the ‘number wars’.. where extra 0’s were tacked onto the end to make it seem more ‘significant’.
Loved the chyrons (keep them coming) and the bag pipes.
Great montage, JtR!
Jim,
Your truck longings always take me back…
Mine was two-toned bronze & white, but otherwise this was my very first “car”.
1970 Chevy CST/10 (SWB)
Learned to drive in a seven deuce CST 10. There’s nothing like an old Chevy.
I’m calling you JTAR from now on. That was a fun video.
Don’t knock the piper, a kid at my beach community in hauls in up to$200 a day busking his bagpipes in front of the liquor store in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. Helps that Nova Scotia is Latin for “New Scotland”!