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.
Here are a couple of questions:
Question: What’s the activity level that you’re seeing right now? Are sellers still listing and buyers active, or have things slowed up? Most of the indicators lag what is actually happening. I’m hearing about realtors letting go of support staff, but I’m also seeing properties listed. Specifically interested in the $700k price range away from the coast.
Question: I’ve been hearing about BofA cranking up the foreclosures. Are you seeing it? Will it happen more in a certain price range are area? Do you think other banks will follow suit?
Here’s some questions…
Q: How should buyers deal with sellers? Obviously price solves everything. But should buyers be lowballing and just waiting. Or is now the time to get into bidding wars?
Q: How many “low” offers to sellers receive before they except an offer?
Q: Are “homeowners” receiving any more pressure to sell with a SS than to just ride out the free rent into foreclosure?
Can you talk about the west of the freeway Encinitas/Leucadia market? Trending up or down?
Where do you see the Olivenhain & Rancho Santa Fe market going?
What’s the trend on lower tier Oceanside (east of the 5)
In looks like nothing happened this weekend in Carlsbad this weekend. What gives? Copperwood tends to post sale pendings (think they have a typo in the sale price maybe here: http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-100023471-3445_Corte_Altura_LOT_29_Carlsbad_CA_92009) long after they are pending so I’m not counting those.
I found a house that is in pretty bad shape but a nice piece of property,
could i see if the fire department would want a mission to burn it down, and then i could rebuild a home . The property is at 250 bank owned, but i do not think it is worth more tan 150
When does the new car arrive and can we get a video tour?
Do you have bumper music ready to go? I recommend Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home” :-).
Is there a phone number to call into or do we just use Skype?
Hi Jim,
Good luck with the show tonight. I’ll be listening in the est zone.
Do we click on the above widget to get to the show?
Regarding short sales and foreclosures, has or do you think the behavior of the banks will change? Will 2010 see them move more of these properties off their books?
Will underwater homeowners(renters) haven any real help this year from the banks? If so, any steps for homeowners to follow?
Jim,
How often does the interior of an average tract house need to be remodeled/updated in your opinion so as to prevent it from looking outdated? If one owns a 15+ year old 2300 sq ft tract house in a typical HOA subdivision where every house looks the same and is roughly the same sq ft, are buyers going to turn down or really low-ball a house that hasn’t been remodeled and wait for one that is turnkey? Conversely, if you spend $50,000 updating a tract house, will you get at least $50,000 back when you sell the house?
I’d like to get your thoughts on when remodeling makes sense for a seller and from a buyers perspective whether it is worth it to pay a premium for a turnkey tract house?
I’m sure other people have also pondered whether to not to remodel their house and buyers have wondered whether it is worth the savings to buy a fixer upper or pay top dollar for turnkey.
I am also interested hearing your opinion on the questions posed in #10. I’m remodeling the tract home I bought last year and I’m concerned about budgeting the correct / safe amount of $$
What is happening to the Magnolia homes in Bressi Ranch?
Those 6 assignments were in December and January.
WE’RE LISTENING!!!
I told everyone over at HCN, too.