The Silicon Valley market is on hyper-speed, but you have to wonder if the same trend is happening in slow motion around other tony coastal communities:
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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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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
I couldn’t imagine trying to become a home owner in Silicon Valley or many of these other places. Yikes!
Ken the realtor is all for survival of the fittest. Until the day he’s the one on the receiving end. Funny how that can change someone’s tune.
Good grief!
You want a shack, you can pick one up for an easy $408,000.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Wooden-Shack-in-San-Francisco-Sells-For-408000-336400291.html
Please note: The dilapidated shack was built as relief housing in 1906 after a devastating 7.8 earthquake ripped through San Francisco and destroyed more than 80 percent of the city. As such, the fixer-upper is considered a historical property and cannot be torn down or undergo significant changes.
Yep. See Encinitas, where we’ve blown way past peak bubble pricing in almost every neighborhood.
NSDCC houses are now priced on the upper 5% wealth, not local incomes.
Thanks for this post, Jim! My wife and I struggle on a daily basis with the housing prices up here. We’re paying an astronomical rent (and actually getting a really good deal) and can basically never afford to purchase here. So why not move? Because besides the cost of housing, this is a great place to raise our kids. In Cupertino, we are surrounded by high-class families with very well-raised kids. There’s a lot of positive peer pressure on my 10yo son to the point where he cares more about his homework than we do!
So yes, we could leave and buy somewhere cheaper, but it’s the people and overall quality of life that’s keeping us here. We’re just going to rent and hope for a miracle.
Born and raised in San Jose…..moved to SoCal for high school and college but then moved back to the Bay Area for work from 99-04….then said “screw this” and packed up the jalopy and moved back to SoCal.
couldn’t be more happy about leaving. I love going back to SF to visit friends and to enjoy some Giants World Series, but it is just insanity up there.
@kwaping
glad to hear you are doing well.
“So yes, we could leave and buy somewhere cheaper, but it’s the people and overall quality of life that’s keeping us here. We’re just going to rent and hope for a miracle.”
California White and Asian flight is always so upbeat.
None of the violence and cursing like they did back in the deep south. They just… fly away, wish us well, and hope for the best.
Lots of whiney I deserve a house because I’m from here garbage. What was that ladies degree? What about her husband’s degree. Have either of them started a business?
SJ is going through what Vancouver went through several years ago.
I’ve been to almost every state in the union and a large number of countries around the world. There’s all kinds of places you can live that are safe, nice, and with great schools.
“There’s all kinds of places you can live that are safe, nice, and with great schools.”
Funny you should say that. The Brookings Institute made a map of the places left to have a shot at life, if you’re starting from the down-low. The map is about 5 pages down:
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/events/2015/06/01-raj-chetty-presentation/rajchettyv2.pdf
Conclusion: The American South is where dreams go to die.
What does “chances of reaching the top 5th when starting at the bottom 5th” have to do with housing? (From the brookings institute “study” that was linked)
In the USA, in general schools K-12 are funded by local property taxes. Good school districts that don’t misappropriate tax dollars combined with either higher home prices or higher tax rates will provide they highest benefit level. (Ie best schools)
Sadash Asked:
“What does “chances of reaching the top 5th when starting at the bottom 5th” have to do with housing? (From the brookings institute “study” that was linked)”
Great question! What you quoted has to do with “demographics.” See the “Kwaping” post available in this thread! Note they’re overpaying for their rent, which cuts into whatever savings plan they may have, thereby undermining their ability to overpay for a house in the future, in an area they’d like to live. Folks like “Kwaping,” and there are many of them, pay special attention to “demographics.”
Some may consider them fiscally unwise, but they reason that their children’s futures are what’s most important to them, which includes “top schools,” and “safe neighborhoods.”
If you’re a home buyer, especially with kids, demographics plays a key, if you know what’s good for you. Zillow provides demographic information on every property it posts.
Because demographics matter.
That’s why “Kwaping” hands his financial future over to his landlord, every month. His kids are special, and deserve his sacrifices. Kwaping would love my map, if he were looking for a new place to plop.
Some might query, “what’s wrong with living near a black or hispanic neighborhood?” and the Kwapings might reply, “we voted for Obama!” thereby effectively ending the discussion–at least that’s where I stop talking. Because I’m a nice person. And I’m old, and I don’t care. : )
I’m not exactly sure if daytrip is making me look good or bad, but he does indeed hit the nail on the head. And yes, I did appreciate the map – thanks!