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.
Free advice:
The first house – if you are buying a house to be your primary residence, and can’t move into this one until November, aren’t you tempted to pass on this and see what else might pop up over the next ten months? The backyard is all pool, and you have the uncertainty of the tenant’s situation – you at least deserve a discount.
The second house – it sold for $550,000 in March, 2004 which seems like near-peak, and you are already almost back to that price. It needs $50,000 to update kitchen and baths, and that won’t add a square foot. Someday you’ll want to sell this for $600,000-something or more, will there be a buyer willing to pay that for 1,456sf built in 1958 that is only 100 yards away from the I-5 freeway? Too big of a risk.
I know it seems like everything went up 5% to 10% in the last 2-3 months, but don’t panic, it’s time to outwit and outsmart the competition.
If you need to buy, pick up something like this, which is more predictable and safe:
http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-130001188-3716_Azimuth_Pl_Carlsbad_CA_92010
New rule – if you are so smart that you know that your listing WILL SELL FAST, then you don’t get to use the range pricing.
put some lipstick on that pig? A few trips to home depot and you’ll have a nice crib.
A small crib though – you’d grow out of this in a hurry with the bedrooms being good-sized, which leaves just a small kitchen and one living room. Four people would be cramped.
Just so happy JtR got us in a sweet deal this year!