The original list price in October 2008 was $15,900,000, but they had lowered it all the way down to $11,900,000 towards the end of 2009, and marked it contingent. I guess the bank didn’t like the package? Wells Fargo foreclosed last week, opening bid was $9,977,334:
18 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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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
Fifteen million “in the hole.”
In more ways than one! 🙂
How does one proceed to buy a property that’s much more expensive than a typical house? Does that class of property have its own class of real estate agents?
Agents deserve a $600,000 – $900,000 commission because it requires more effort & walking to show such a large house.
I saw a Home builder here in Aliso Viejo breaking up the development into micro phases ( 4 to 8 units per phase) to make it appear the demand are high with limited units and choices. The buyers are suckers paying those high price .
Does that class of property have its own class of real estate agents?
Yes, but the expenses are much higher too. Do you know what plastic surgery costs these days…?
But seriously, the other high-end REOs have been handled the same as condos in Oceanside; vacant lockbox – which is the way it should be.
Maximum access = better chance of selling for top dollar.
Yep, if I had that kind of money, I could live in a very nice house on the beach (although not as big). I’d rather do that than to live in a former quarry .
And that is a good question. When you are talking over 1/2 mil in commissions, how do RE agents handle those? I’ve seen listings in RSF listed by girls who look like they are fresh out of college.
Remember market time when looking at commissions. YOu may work for 2-3 years to get that 1 commission with a lot of cost along the way and maybe lose the listing during the process.
Would you rather sell 20 homes at $1mm each on the coast or risk it all on 1 $20mm listing….
And yes, why do you think hot girls out of college get listings from old timers in RSF, etc????????? If you were just listing high that no agent could get it sold, wouldn’t you rather have a nice short skirt coming around trying to make you happy and keep the listing???
It seems to me that Laura Barry & Company always have the big bombers. Take a look at the properties they have…nothing but the best. I look at their website a lot….because they have the top properties…the best of the best.
If you have a $50,000,000 listing right on the beach in Del Mar….I’ll say you’re doing something right.
“Property Description:
The “Hope Diamond” of estates! Spectacular half acre mansion on the Sand. This unique property was designed by famed architect Bob Ray Offenhauser for the founder of Architectural Digest-Colleen Knapp. The visual result is breathtaking. 5 full bedroom suites, media room, antique imported French fire mantels recently added, 500 year old windows from France, totally upgraded by current owner. Detached guest area with full kitchenette, gym/full workout room, authentic and grand gourmet kitchen…”
My favorite RSF property though is Rancho Los Arboles….16337 Los Arboles, 92067. Check out that house….that’s one of a kind.
The Barrys just seem to have all the big time properties…check out their ‘sold’ page….damn.
Was that a Sylvester home???
That is a nice house on Rancho Los Arboles….our house was sold by Barry Estates….
Yes it was. The home is beautiful. Although it’s set down in that valley, there is a lot of sun. It’s also quite unique in terms design.
The house and grounds are beautiful…but the floor plan is strange. There are too many levels….you get lost. But after a while, you get used to it and you begin to love it. It even has an elevator.
You do get a vineyard with a ‘wine’ house and the pool is spectacular. The theater is HUGE….I got to watch 15 minutes of Sponge Bob in there and it was unbelievable! The lot if huge….you can put anything you want down there.
I think the only thing that’s holding it up is the odd floor plan….it is strange. I hate the typical layout that is so emblematic of the RSF bubble….and while this one is actually original…it’s kinda strange.
Now let’s look at what Laura and her family has been selling.
2010: $15,000,000 (buyer & seller!)….$9,995,000…..$7,995,000…..$5,995,000 and about 5 others in the $3-4million range and some others below that.
2009: $21,500,000 (Del Mar)….$17,500,000 (Del Mar)…..$13,900,000 (La Jolla I believe)….$11,900,000 (RSF)…..$10,000,000 (Tuscan Estates, RSF)…..$10,000,000 (Roxbury Estates)….$10,000,000 (Rancho ocean view)….$7,995,000 (RSF)….another $7,995,000….and TEN sales under $5,000,000 with many in the $3-4M range.
2008: $19,900,000 (Rancho)….$16,900,000 (Golf course, RSF)…$15,900,000 (Del Mar Ocean)….$15,900,000 (Roxbury Estates….buyer & seller)….$13,995,000 (RSF)…$11,000,000 (RSF) and then a bunch under $10,000,000.
You get the picture. This family just makes a killing.
How are they so successful? You should check out some of their properties they’ve sold….in the words of Jim the Realtor….BIG BEAUTIFUL BOMBERS….haha.
Can we stop promoting other realtors here please?
“Rancho Los Arboles” is by far my favorite property in Rancho Santa Fe….well maybe it’s tied with four other ones that I love…haha.
Anyway, check out the VIDEO virtual tour! It’s a dream.
http://barryestates.com/Featured_Listings.html
I’m sorry, you can delete it if you want. I wasn’t promoting other realtors, or at least I didn’t mean to. I don’t have the kind of cash to buy their properties, haha.
I was just wondering why they get all the really expensive properties. Just my only personal curiosity.
I’m also curious why “Jonathan Mann” gets all the great deals at the trustee sale? Can you explain that? What does he do differently?
And believe me Jim, when it comes time for this 21 year old to buy a house or when I convince my parents to buy a house in Olivenhain/RSF and to sell their Leucadia house….you’ll be the first person we’ll call.
Just my personal curiosity…that’s all.
The taxes on that Del Mar house will be $50,000 per month (and rising) from now until eternity… literally.
Which is good, cuz my kid’s in that school district.
Feel free to delete my comment, Jim.
Fifty… THOUSAND?!? Per MONTH?!?
Eek!
Whats with the football goal posts around 1:49-1:50 and at the end. Charger kicker or??
Is that a yellow goal post in the yard?