Thanks to the well-wishers who emailed the last couple of days, I appreciate your input, and willingness to participate!
33 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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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
Nice clip. My thoughts and prayers to your friend.
My wife is a two time cancer survivor and it puts a lot of things in perspective.
Take care
Art
Possibly the most powerful video you’ve posted thus far, especially considering the context of the past couple of days. Perspective is in short supply, but small doses do wonders.
I offer a toast to friends lost and friends yet to be found. Keep fighting the good fight.
A friend of mine (gone) used to say, “Laugh or cry“: with all that is thrown at us in life, those are the only choices that make sense.
Jim,
Hang in there and my prayers to your friend. I got a glimpse of the trailing cloudes this evening and for a brief moement, I wondered what the sunset looked like. Thanks.
Last Summer I was re diagnosed with NHL. I went through traditional chemotherapy and when finished, I had a stem cell transplant at City of Hope. So far, it worked. I am cancer free. Dont ever lose hope
Jim,
Very sorry to hear about your friend. Best wishes to him, his family and friends.
Thank you, again. Many of us may not comment every day but we do read your blog all the time and really appreciate your time and effort that you put into this blog.
Best,
David
I lost my dad to liver cancer a couple of years ago, so I understand what you’re going through.
And yes, for better or for worse, life does go on. We have so little time on this world, so we better make the best of it while we still have the time.
My thoughts and best wishes to your friend.
Hang in there, Jim!
Thanks everyone.
He is a she, 50 years old, two kids.
Stage 4 = 6 months, or less.
Sorry to hear about your friend Jim.
My girlfriends mother is in stage 4… she could go anyday now. The morphine is making it a little more comfortable for her.
Yes, let’s pick it up; not take work or money too seriously and keep a sense of humor. Family and friends and time spent with them are true wealth. Great sunset, great perspective.
My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer more than 20 years ago. She is coming down next weekend to go to the races in Del Mar. I know that she is literally one in a million, but there is always hope. My thoughts are with your friend and her family.
My neighbor is a doctor at San Diego Hospice:
http://www.sdhospice.org/
Whenever I need a reality check I just ask him how his day was.
When I agree with Mozart it frightens me. Well spoken amigo.
Good to to have you back but very sorry to hear about your friend, Jim. It’s good to put things into perspective every now and then.
As for the blogging and comments, I like that you wear your heart on your sleeve. Being in sales myself, I take it very personally when someone even insinuates that I’m acting without integrity. If you weren’t passionate about what you do, you wouldn’t be so good at it. Keep sticking up for yourself.
I think many times we forget what your job is. Yes, we all know you’re a realtor. But I’d say your job is to sell houses in the market you’re in, and understand it AS IT IS TODAY. I’d also guess you have little interest whether the market goes up or down so long as you’re always giving good advice and selling homes.
Many of your readers, however, seem to be in the speculation business, and don’t like hearing about potential frenzied housing markets. Amazing how much praise you get when you say “there’s nothing price won’t fix,” then the backlash for announcing foreclosures are selling over list. You’re just reporting what you see doing your job every day.
I hope I’m not putting words in your mouth here Jim, or misrepresenting your profession – it’s just one blogger’s opinion. I come here for data, insight, and entertainment, and I think it’s all great. So thanks for the blog!
Thanks for this blog, Jim. I really appreciate what you’re doing here.
-Erica
Hang in there. I can only imagine.
Jim, I appreciate your efforts here on this site and as I’m sure many others also do. Times like these remind us that we can’t take everything for granted. That we should make the best of what we have and try to make a positive impact to others around us.
Best wished to your friend and their family.
Thanks Jim, for helping us all reflect on the value of our lives. While we know that life is short and we often get caught up in what is not important, hopefully we’ll all reflect on what is of permanent value in life and focus our energy on enhancing those parts of our lives.
With all of the stupidity of the housing bubble, I know that my wife and I have grown closer by focusing on us and our children; spending as much time with them as possible. I can speak for ourselves that my wife stays at home with our kids and will probably do so until they go to college. While we are financially not as well off as the rest of OC, we think this provides us with experiences you simply cannot buy. If I were to go tomorrow, I know that I will have lived my life to the best I know how. No regrets.
Luckily for your friend, whatever happens, she at least has an opportunity to get her affairs in order and if needed, say goodbye. Many never get that chance. Here’s to hoping for her recovery!
BTW, my wife worked for the American Cancer Society, and there are many examples of people who have come through Stage 4 breast cancer. The hardest part is simply coming to terms with uncertainty. Friends are great with that because cancer endurers need support no matter what.
Chuck Ponzi
Absolutely best wishes, Jim. Your words ring true. We get so caught up in our pursuits we tend to loose sight of the grand purpose in life. John Lennon said: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” You’re a super agent! Your blog is very informative. Participation should be in the spirit of sharing good thoughts and ideas, and having a little fun. Thank you for everything.
Blur, I think that sums it up nicely. I’ll add that I don’t voice much, if any, opinion on where I think the market is going, because there is no telling these days with the mixed messages.
And you ain’t seen nothing yet! I’m working on a video follow-up on the investor from the Nightline piece. She bought five houses cash, and is now flipping a couple of them!
Nobody knows where the market is going.
You call’em as you see’em, whether readers like it or not. I don’t always agree with your opinion, but I have no doubt you’re telling us exactly what you think is happening, not what’s in your best interest.
And that makes your opinion and blog very valuable.
Thank you to everyone for your warm thoughts.
Nice post Jim – puts things in perspective. Best wishes for your friend.
Jim, this video will ALWAYS be my favorite video no matter what other videos you do in the future because of its powerful and poignant message.
At 42, my late husband was diagnosed with cancer and waged a heroic near 5-year battle. He and we who loved him (and still do) never gave up hope. It’s what sustained all of us day after day.
*Wiping Away a Tear* And what were my husband’s last words? Nothing about regrets or “stuff”. He wanted us to know how much he loved us. His words–though garbled from the morphine–were simply eloquent in the fact that he repeated them so there would be no doubt: “I don’t want to leave! I don’t want to leave!”.
I found it fitting that he passed away only two days before Thanksgiving that year knowing the kind of man he was… ie “Thanks for giving”. John Lennon really did say it best: “All you need is love. Love is all you need”.
Focus on hope and love, Jim. It will help sustain you. Believe me, I know what you’re going through. I will keep you and your friend in my thoughts and prayers.
I’ve long read your blog, but never posted. I wanted to post now to thank you for your work on this blog and in the field, which is so very helpful to a lot of people, including me and my husband. Keep up the good work!
I also wanted to say best wishes to your friend, her family, and to you, her friend. There are very few people lucky enough to have not had some experience with cancer (either themselves, or family or friends). It can be a frightening ordeal. I hope you all have lots of support.
Best wishes to your friend in the fight ahead of her. I’ll hold a good thought for both of you.
Thanks for all you do in ‘telling it like it is.’
What a great video and reminder that relationships truly are the MOST important thing in life.
I hope the best for your friend and her two children.
a surgeon once told me he is removing more tumors then he has ever done in his 40 year career.
what is the cause? most likely the food we end, the chamicals we use, and the fact that we are more stressed than we have ever been. and what do we do to relief our stress? we often find that the best outlet for our stress is to apply stress on to others.
cancer from a loved one always bring things into prospective. especially stage 4 cancer. I wish Jim’s friend well. but take a moment to reflect, walk more, eat less, and be nicer to each other.
Jim, you are a good man – love your work and intellectual honesty. You have great perspective to boot – sorry to hear about your friend. Life is funny that way – the unexpected.
Jim,
Have yet to be somewhere where I can play the video, but the comments have enlightened me on the content. Cancer’s robbed me of both my parents (among others). Losing a friend is tough, but having had them is priceless.
Take care!!!
Jim,
What a heartfelt and poignant post. I am so sorry about your friend.
You nailed it WRT the important things in life, and how we should all keep things in perspective.
May your friend and her family find peace, no matter what happens.
Good to see you back, Jim.
Whatever happens, it will all be well.
Take care.
Jim, my thoughts and prayers to you and your friend. Life is short, live it fully and without bitterness.
God Bless,
jack