The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
There probably aren’t many people today who expect to see any frenzy left in the marketplace. But here’s a view from the street, looking at actual sales closed over the last 30 days.
At 22 minutes, this turned into a full-length feature film (sorry), but consider it an audio track about the current market conditions, with video evidence to support it.
It sure seemed like there was plenty of extra buffer built into the recent mortgage rates. With the CPI report coming out more favorable than expected, the markets reacted – and boom, a half-point drop!
If buyers get the feeling that both rates and prices are coming their way, it should keep them looking. If there were just a few more quality homes to sell!
It looks like the hefty L.A. mansion tax is going to pass. Don’t be surprised if other cities and counties do the same and pit the rich people vs. everyone else under the guise of solving homelessness.
Measure ULA, the so-called “mansion tax,” is a ballot measure in California that would impose a one-time transfer tax on commercial and residential real estate sales valued at over $5 million.
The tax rate would be 4% for properties valued at $5 million to $10 million and would jump to 5.5% for properties valued at $10 million and above. Homeowners selling a $10 million property, for example, would face $550,000 in additional taxes on the sale.
Laura Raymond, organizer and spokesperson for the Yes on ULA campaign and director of the Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles (ACT-LA), a coalition of 42 organizations working toward transit and housing justice, said that the costs of the tax will be carried by the city’s wealthiest and the funds will benefit those most vulnerable.
“The cost-benefit tradeoff is a huge win, and one that will make our city not only more just but also a better place to live for everyone,” Ms. Raymond said.
If passed, the tax will go into effect in April 2023. Without a sunset clause, the tax would be permanent, though it would also be adjusted to keep pace with inflation. To avoid incurring these additional taxes, homeowners of multimillion-dollar estates looking to sell should act before next spring.
Could we have a decent spring selling season next year?
Is there any precedent of our market settling down that quickly?
Home sales had been struggling for months, and then the Lehman Brothers collapse in September, 2008 helped to trigger the Great Recession, and millions of foreclosures and short sales.
Yet, just seven months later, home pricing hit the bottom in San Diego (see graph above).
We are enduring a once-in-a-lifetime spike in mortgage rates that are rightfully taking some time to digest. But people need to move, and by next spring, many will be buying and selling homes around here.
The Fed will have slowed down by then, the political landscape looks like it will drift more towards the center, and realtors are figuring it out that you have to have a spectacular-looking home with an attractive price to have a chance at selling. All will play a role in giving home buyers more confidence.
My listing from two weeks ago that generated 18 offers – 17 of them financed – and got bid up by 27% over the list price is proof that, in spite of the common perception that the market is dead, there is a strong demand right under the surface, just waiting for the right house, at the right price.
Those who were reading this blog in the 2008-2013 will remember how negative we were about the market, and how long it would take before it bottomed out – most figured it would be years and years. True, we aren’t going to get the government stimulus this time, but I don’t think we need it.
There will be a lot of skepticism in the market – and most people will wait until others go first before they think of entering the market themselves. We probably won’t ever see the sizzling frenzy conditions again, but a healthy semi-surge for a couple of months next spring seems like a good possibility. If it happens, it will be because sellers and agents got smart about selling in the post-frenzy era.
Let’s don’t get into modern-day politics because there is no civil discourse any more. Instead, let’s reminisce how it used to be – above is Part 2 of the famous Reagan interview from January, 1975. Part 1 is here:
A benefit of prices going up so fast in early 2022 was that future sellers may not have noticed – and they might be happy to sell for 2021 prices next year. But there are other items that will complicate the matter:
With sales are down as much as 50%, the evidence used to determine values will be as thin as ever.
Most of the listings are not selling. It’s been so long since that has happened – what do you do?
Players will want to believe old principals – namely, it takes longer to sell now.
There will be no change in the perception of realtors’ ability to help.
Higher mortgage rates are here to stay. No help is coming, which is unusual in recent history.
The only hope is that there will be enough decline in pricing between now and March that buyers will be pleasantly surprised, and proceed with their plans to purchase. Working in our favor are the lousy tools we use to measure ‘pricing’, and how nobody wants to look any deeper.
It was here that I estimated that sales prices would have to come down by 30% to fully offset the effect of higher rates. I suggested that it would be a comfortable ride if that happened over the next five years, because sellers today shouldn’t mind getting 0.5% to 1% less than the last guy. It’s the cumulative effect of years’ worth of prices dropping that could see declines of 30% or more.
Will there be sellers who go for a 30% hit next year? Very doubtful, and most would rather wait it out for years before surrendering that much equity – and they may decide to never move.
What might revive the market next spring are reports that prices are 10% to 20% lower.
The sales volume will be hitting all-time lows over the next 2-3 months – there are only 2,756 houses for sale in the county today – and only the highly-motivated sellers will be getting out. If the median sales price drops 2% per month, by March it will be around $770,000, or 16% lower than it was in May!
It may not impress everyone, but it should be enough to get buyers to take a look around! Of course, a lower median sales price is a lousy gauge and it doesn’t mean prices have dropped everywhere. There will be plenty of new listings priced really high, but will buyers keep in the fight? They should, because there will be 10% to 20% of the sellers who really need to move – you just need to dig them out.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Are your holiday pies handled yet?
Please join us and help make an impact on those in need this holiday season.
Mama’s Kitchen is an organization that delivers meals to homebound individuals vulnerable to malnutrition due to conditions such as HIV, cancer, heart disease, and more. Their primary fundraiser is Mama’s Pies and with the purchase of each pie, they’re able to produce and deliver 12 meals to those in need!
Sales end Nov. 19th or as long as supplies last, so get your orders in ASAP.
To buy pies and/or donate, here’s the information:
1. Visit our selling page: https://mamaspies.org/seller/donna-klinge/
2. Click “Buy or Donate Pies.”
3. Add your desired pies to your cart.
4. Under the “Select a Seller” section, click “Yes” and select “Seller: Jim & Donna Klinge.”
5. Choose your desired pick up location OR under Private, choose “PRKLINGE” to have our team deliver it to your home in San Diego! If choosing delivery, we’ll reach out for your address.
6. Add in any donation amount if you’d like.
7. Put in your payment method and click submit!
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 Mary
Heather Quejada
March 27, 2025
Trustindex 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 F
March 27, 2025
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!
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William Sams
March 25, 2025
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.
Emily Hernandez
December 29, 2024
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.
Jesus Adrian Sahagun
November 11, 2024
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.
SABIHA PASHA
July 23, 2024
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!
Anu Koberg
July 13, 2024
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.
Bjorn Isachsen
July 10, 2024
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...
Chris Shea
June 21, 2024
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.
