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.
Are the kids part of the staging?
“That’s my kind of tub….I can throw it out the window.” hahaha. That was great.
We all know you hate tubs Jim….but if my family ever decides to move and buy a home? If there isn’t a big, nice bathtub…we’re not buying the house. My Dad won’t have a problem with it, but Mom will veto the entire house on the spot.
My mom cherishes her bathtub and when we built our house, she made sure that it was be done right. A huge tub that surrounded by a flat area of travertine where she puts her books, her magazines, pictures….whatever.
She uses it every night. But I agree that most of them don’t get used….especially in the secondary bedrooms.
I met Orva at an open house they had on Lago Lindo….very nice woman and spectacular house. Not on the market; I believe it sold. Funny that they’re competing that day! ha.
I remember you did that video about north Leucadia beach real estate….not sure how you’ll feel about this one:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/929-Neptune-Ave-Encinitas-CA-92024/16709121_zpid/#%7Bscid=hdp-site-map-bubble-address%7D
864 sq ft. Built in 1948 .15 acre lot…..$1,400,000 PENDING. Non oceanfront Neptune.
But isn’t this part of CV not really “prime CV”? Seems to me it’s a bit further away from the main part.
It’s in a top-flight elementary school district though, and the under-$1,000,000 buyers are frustrated enough that these will look tempting, even on the east side. The 56 ramps are close too.
I’m guessing that they’ll have more takers than houses, but if I go back in two weeks and they have homes for sale, it’ll be an interesting twist (though I didn’t check the locations of Phase 1).
“Real estate papparazzi” Another classic line by JtR…
Jim,
That was the line of the year about the tub: “Cuz you can throw it out the window.”
Thanks for the short visit to a dysfunctional past: The two bored kids zoned-out in front of the family room big-screen in the McMansion. Fast forward to next year and check out Mommy’s Prozac stash and the Ritalin bottles in Johnny’s medicine cabinet.
I would exchange the tub in the bathroom for a hot tub in the back yard, enclosed in a custom built gazebo for “extra privacy.” 😉
Location aside, I cannot show those models to my wife. She’d be begging me to buy that house.
Of course, after you get done with the “standard upgrades” that you see, what do you want to bet it’s no longer in the 8’s?
How negotiable are builders? What about on price? I would assume not much.
Chuck
I went through Brightwater last weekend and I haven’t asked them specifically about negotiability of pricing but traditionally, they have not budged too much on price upon release in CV. They typically provide a small incentive for upgrades and using their affiliated lender Wells.
I suspect if the houses keep selling once they are released, they’re not likely going to budge. If they sit for a while or if one falls out of escrow, and sits, you have a better chance.
What’s the Mello-Roos? $6K-$8K / year?
haha loved your commentary on the “old fogie” music…however, I’m 27 and interested in this price range / size / location of home and they played a lot of my favorite songs…actually commented to my husband several times how much I loved the music while we were touring the models this past weekend! Maybe I’m just an odd ball…or maybe I’m exactly the type of person they’re targeting for this development. Anyway, I agree that the downstairs laundry rooms were in odd locations, especially plan 1. Also think they could have done a better job with placing windows so you’re not staring right into your neighbors’ windows 3 feet away.