Real estate practices have been evolving with the frenzy.
The market used to be lively seven days a week, but that’s gone away. Looking at homes during the week is futile now, because the new listings tend to hit the MLS on Thursday or Friday with NO SHOWINGS UNTIL OPEN HOUSES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!
By Monday, the listing agents shut it down with NO MORE SHOWINGS, NO MORE OFFERS.
It makes you wonder how the market will react to spring break/tax day.
All the NSDCC schools except Carlsbad are taking spring break between April 4-8, which will limit the action on those weekends of April 2-3 and April 9-10. Then income taxes are due the day after Easter, which is on April 17th. The Carlsbad spring break is April 18-22.
Will agents recognize the schedule, and alter their showing plans?
If not, will the lighter traffic cause those open houses attendees to think the market is getting soft?
The end of the frenzy might be forming right before our eyes!
Compass has been in business locally for four years! Last year, we averaged 7.5 sales per agent.
It’s remarkable how Compass and eXp came into a rather staid and unchallenged brokerage environment and hired away nearly 2,400 productive agents so quickly.
Numerically, the inventory isn’t getting any better yet:
NSDCC New Listings between March 1-15:
2018: 228
2019: 277
2020: 221
2021: 199
2022: 120
There will be a few more added to this year’s total but the homedemic continues – without additional inventory, the market will struggle to pick up momentum. The intensity of the fight over the quality homes could increase while other buyers have a hard time keeping their chops up, and become disinterested.
Today is the last day of Winter 2022, and as Spring arrives, consider the following:
1. Clean up winter debris, old leaves, fallen branches, etc.
2. Check your roof. Winter winds may have caused damage that requires your attention.
3. Clean out gutters: they probably collected all sorts of debris over winter.
4. Clean and/or replace AC filters.
5. Deep clean your dryer vent and other appliances.
6. Check your washing machine hoses: Maybe install a leak detector?
7. Clean and repair screens…the bugs are coming!
8. Pressure wash decks, fences, etc. and check for damages.
9. Fix cracks in sidewalks and driveways before rains cause more decay.
10. Paint! Some surfaces may be overdue for some painting.
11. Replace smoke detector batteries if they are not hard wired.
12. Sharpen blades for garden equipment and kitchen knives.
13. Check caulking around doors and windows to conserve energy.
14. Trim bushes/trees and clean thoroughly around any mechanical equipment.
15. Drain your water heater to clear out sediment.
Ongoing small maintenance items can prevent larger ones. Keeping any home in tip-top shape year-round is smart. Doing these things just before selling is wonderful for the next homeowner, but you may wish to enjoy a spiffy home too!
“We really didn’t intend selling them,” says Kevin Regan over the phone from the northwest of Ireland.
Converting a slice of airplane into a sleek and durable home office had been a personal project in 2021, but after his sister-in-law put photos of the cabin on social media, requests rolled in and things started to snowball.
Now, Regan and his business partner Shane Thornton — both builders by trade — have started their own company named Aeropod, recycling commercial airplanes into home offices, glamping pods and ready-made accommodation.
They’ve only spent €100 (about $110) so far on advertising (the company’s still “brand new out of the wrapper!,” says Regan) but they’ve already sold 11 pods and are preparing to have more shipped to wherever clients want them.
Airplanes are built to last. Strong, thickly insulated, and made of sturdy aluminum alloys. And with some 15,000 aircraft estimated to be due for retirement in the next 20 years, there’s a steady supply of them available for dismantling and recycling.
Even though we are racing towards mortgage rates in the 5s (should be there by summer), there won’t be much adjustment by sellers because they aren’t going to give it away!
“We learned house prices are… ‘downside sticky’ which means sellers would rather withdraw from the market than sell at lower prices,” @FirstAm Deputy Chief Economist @odetakushi says, adding: “That supply-demand imbalance is so severe it will keep house price growth positive.” pic.twitter.com/uiN03eZ0Sy
Yesterday, I had two similar occurrences take place so it must mean I should address it!
This comment was left here on the blog:
I just wanted to thank you for your bidding war info. I have followed your blog for many years. We listed our house in Ramona last week and had open house on Fri/Sat. By Monday morning we had six offers. The highest was a very good offer and well over list. The realtor encouraged us to take that one, and said she had asked everyone for highest and best. I pushed her to counter the next two lower offers with the same amount as the first offer and gave permission for her to reveal the offer amount. She was hesitant but I insisted. Both of them came back with the same amount as the highest offer, and the highest original offer then went higher through an escalation clause. I know we don’t have the same prices as NSDCC, but the same principle applies and I wanted to give you credit. MC
MC – thank you for giving me credit!
But did you recognize that his agent’s results aren’t exactly the way I do it?
There are probably blog readers who are emboldened by what they read here. Selling homes doesn’t look that hard, and in a hot market it has to be even easier, right? After listening to me talk about it for a few weeks, it’s probably natural to think you can do it yourself, or direct your agent how to do it.
Are you guessing that MC probably didn’t get top dollar?
The other occurrence was a for-sale-by-owner who suggested he was as good as me – and insinuated that he was better. He will sell his house too, and declare it as top-dollar to feed his ego. But his listing is riddled with things I’d never do, and he’s been on the market for 2-3 weeks with no sale.
ANYBODY CAN SELL THEIR HOUSE THEMSELVES!
You don’t need me – heck, just go stick a sign in the front yard and wait for the phone to ring.
But you’re not going to sell it for the same price that I can get.
Even if you read every word on this blog, it’s not enough. It’s because the most important part of my job is doing one thing really well:
Asking the right questions, the right way, at the right time.
Even if you had the questions, it’s asking them the right way, at the right time, that causes a top-dollar sale.
You can tell that MC was on the right track, but in the heat of the moment, his agent didn’t handle it like I do. But he’s happy, the agent is happy, and they sold it for more money than expected, so all is well. But it didn’t sell for top dollar – which only happens when you ask the questions the right way, at the right time.
Not only will I sell your house for more money than you can, I will sell it for more than virtually all the other realtors. I’m not your typical order-taker; I’m a professional salesman who practices his sales skills daily. Those skills really pay off in the heat of the moment, when I sense that the buyer or their agent is a contender – I know how to say the right thing, the right way, at the right time to capitalize on the moment. Who would you trust in that moment?
It looks easy, but you don’t know what you don’t know.
Wouldn’t you be better served to have Jim the Realtor in your corner?
A remarkable achievement considering that Compass has only been a nationwide company for 3-4 years.
It will matter more later too.
CoStar is going to change the search-portal landscape, and if they spend enough advertising money to get all the eyeballs, the buyer-agents will be cooked. Unlike Zillow and Redfin who encourage viewers to contact their own set of agents, CoStar will direct people back to the listing agent of each property.
You can imagine the advertising that could change everything:
“Would you rather be represented by a third-party who doesn’t know a thing about the house in question, or do you want to speak to the listing agent who knows everything about the property – including how to get you the best deal?”
CoStar got a head start when they boughthomes.com, and are rolling out their first version this summer in New York City.
Buyer-agents will be forced to join realtor teams who have the listings, or just fade away.
Who has Compass been recruiting for the last four years? That’s right, the realtor teams.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
