My Mom joined my Dad in heaven yesterday. She lived a full and complete 90 years – we made sure of that!
More than anything, what she enjoyed the most was being our Mom.
Like me, she married her sweetheart from her fraternity-sorority days. They met at Cal in the 1950s when things were normal there, and had four kids in 6.5 years, which seemed fairly normal then too.
Raising us was a challenge but nothing she couldn’t handle.
My Dad’s passing in 2010 was tough, but she carried on and enjoyed another solid 15 years with family and being Clare!
She is survived by her four kids, eight grandkids, and a 5-month old great-grandkid.
My boyfriend Ryan and I have talked about our desire to buy property for as long as I can remember. We just celebrated our 7-year anniversary and I think we’ve talked about homeownership the entire 7 years. As we grow older (and get closer to 30), I can’t help but wonder if it’s even possible to own real estate in your 20s – specifically in desirable places like coastal Southern California.
As of now, I have zero interest in owning anything out of state – dealing with tenants and property management from afar seems daunting and like a pain. But as we all know, prices in our area are soaring and with high interest rates, owning either my primary residence or an investment property doesn’t seem all that beneficial if rents aren’t increasing as quickly as home prices. Why take out a loan that will result in a $5,000+ monthly mortgage payment when our rent is under $3,000?
A sizable down payment is almost a necessity with the current rates. Sure there’s FHA loans, but only putting 3.5% down doesn’t help my situation unless I can afford a large monthly mortgage plus the insurance, property taxes, HOA fees, maintenance, etc. I’d rather wait until I have a larger sum to put down.
So how are people actually buying homes at a young age?
I have a friend who received a grant that gave him $50k towards his down payment, so he ended up buying a fixer and thus had more cash to put towards renovations. The program is no longer accepting applicants, but see here for more info.
In a recent survey, 60% of Gen Z and 57% of millennials who purchased homes said they couldn’t have done it without family support.
As “starter homes” are becoming increasingly expensive, younger buyers are opting for condos or the less desirable areas. The cheapest single family home listed for sale in Carlsbad at the time of this writing is $925,000. If you go out to Escondido, you can get a SFR for less than $600,000!
All in all, it’s still possible to purchase real estate in your 20s; it just requires extra assistance, widening the search, settling for what might not be your “dream home,” and careful planning!
I’m sure we will share if I do buy something before I hit 30 – stay tuned!
JtR: If you find a halfway-decent home, it will probably be in the first seven days it’s been on the market. It’s when the listing agent goes into full defensive mode and all communication turns vague because they are so afraid of saying the wrong thing. There are no rules of engagement. Just make an offer and send it into the black hole and maybe you’ll hear something.
Ben: If we represent the seller, then what information is in the seller’s best interest to share with buyers and brokers? Option 1 is the seller does not share any information because one of the fundamentals of negotiation is information and the seller is in possession of information. The information is confidential unless the seller authorizes us to share the information. Option 2 is the seller shares information, such as: specified number of showings, disclosure viewers, offers, etc. When advising the seller, what do you think is in their best interest and why?
JtR: We must acknowledge the change in market conditions, and be willing to consider all the options. Listing agents need to be doing their job better than ever before, and exploring what information to share and how to share it makes sense.
In a conservative market where buyers are adverse to risk, it pays for sellers and listing agents to be warm and inviting – it immediately sets you apart from the normal agent (who typically doesn’t want to talk in person or on the phone because they so worried about saying the wrong thing).
My suggestions:
Disclosing the details about the offers received? The other offers are your best friends when properly presented. Because most buyers want to steer away from bidding wars these days, how the listing agent presents the other offers is critical. Properly presented, the other offers outline the path and formula to which the buyer can say yes or no to buying the house. If the listing agent doesn’t have the skill to sell the evidence they have, then they can go wait in their bunker and hope a deal finds them.
I always want to have a good explanation if I don’t have offers too. It’s been two months since the tariff tantrum so if you’re still using that for an excuse for why the house isn’t selling, it means the seller and agent haven’t adjusted yet either. Sellers and listing agents want to demonstrate how they are dealing with the constant chaos, because it is standard fare now – and will continue for 3+ years minimum. The tariffs will stick, Trump isn’t going to change, and Maga is here for good – deal with it. Lowering the list price in any increments is telling buyers that you’re realistic about the new difficulties.
I also want to politely weave into the discussion any bad news earlier than before. During the frenzy, the buyers wanted the house/rate so badly that they shrugged off defects – but not today. Buyer’s remorse is real and you want the buyers to hear at the perfect time that the 37-year old roof is original but not leaking and sold as-is.
I’m going to provide a home inspection and comparable sales too. I want to do everything I can to help make the buyers feel more comfortable with their purchase. We email their buyer-agent a full package with explanations and attachments – knowing that they will just forward it directly to their buyer. Their friends and family will be trying to talk them out of buying, and you have to pray that they don’t read twitter. Be the one positive that keeps them in the game.
Know the financing options. Buyers in our last three closings utilized alternative financing to purchase (qualifying with bank statements instead of tax returns). Agents who aren’t aware of the options might pass on a legit buyer.
Have solid answers for the obvious questions, like these:
“Do you think it’s worth it?”
“Why do you think it’s not selling?”
“Where are these folks going?”
If the sellers and listing agents are dependent upon effective open houses, then they better be good at handling questions face-to-face. Anticipate the questions in advance, and have good answers ready.
I used artificial intelligence for one property description and I’m done. You can tell that most listing agents are brainlessly using AI when home descriptions are overloaded with superlatives but never say anything. They don’t stand out – they all sound the same. A buyer is only giving you 5-10 seconds to make a great impression before they swipe. Get your money’s worth!
To answer Ben’s question:
Option 2 is my favorite and I think transparency is a sales tool – and using it wisely can make the difference between selling and not selling!
It’s obvious this year that the market is tough and sellers aren’t able to demand everything they want like before.
It will probably cause more sellers to cancel sooner, and others to not try at all. The inventory count may hover around 500-ish for a couple of more weeks but the inventory should taper off earlier than usual this year.
The problem hasn’t been an overwhelming surge in inventory. The problem is that there aren’t enough coming out the other end. NSDCC sales are 5% higher than last year for the Jan 1 to May 31 period. But, combined with the hangover of the 2024 unsold listings, the excess unsolds this year have been piling up.
Sellers will quit, rather than suffer the indignation of having to adjust on price.
The doomers might get excited about the cost-per-sf dropping by 3.1% and 2.6%, respectively, but because sales are holding up well, there isn’t any panic.
It’s a healthy exercise of how pure/unsupported markets should work!
Buyers and agents are noting that the market has changed.
Specifically, fewer people are looking at homes for sale, especially during the week when there is little to no activity. It feels more like October than May/June!
There has to be reluctance among buyers about signing a buyer-broker contract just to look at homes. The new law is not helping, that’s for sure.
But it means that the open-house activity is the real gauge of market conditions. There are times when nobody attends an open house, which is unsettling for agents and sellers alike.
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A+ thank you
Lisa Tuomi
June 11, 2025
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Many years ago, we purchased a home in Carlsbad, using a realtor that was recommended to us - Jim Klinge. Fast forward to 2025, we recently had the privilege of selling 2 homes in Carlsbad, CA and didn't hesitate to reach out to Jim and Donna Klinge of Klinge Realty Group to guide us through the sales. The transactions were very different, each with its own unique situation, opportunities and challenges. From start to finish, Donna and Jim helped navigate the pre-sale preparation, the listing, showing of the house, buyer negotiations, the final close and all of the paperwork and decisions in between. What stands out with both transactions is the professionalism of Jim and Donna (and their team), wonderful communication (timely, relevant, concise), their deep understanding of market dynamics (setting realistic expectations), their access to top-notch contractors, and last, their ability to guide us across the finish line successfully. We wouldn't hesitate to use Jim and Donna in the future and highly recommend them for anyone looking to buy or sell a property in North San Diego County.
Jerry Meyer
March 28, 2025
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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
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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
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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.
