Today in the National News Section of the San Diego Union —-  here is some good news….

“Local economic indicators continue to surge—-An index of leading economic indicators for San Diego County surged upward in August, driven largely by a sharp gain in consumer confidence.  It is the fifth month in a row that the index from the University of San Diego has gained ground”.  Good news to hear….now lets keep it going.  There are also signs that another wave of foreclosures could be coming, less than in the recent past.  The cup is half full or half empty….it’s all in how you look at a situation.  Here is what we KNOW.  Well priced homes that are listed by motivated sellers are offering great values to serious buyers.

I will welcome your calls for a “no obligation” Consultation Appointment. Going over your options to buy
or sell, looking at what the lenders are requiring and maping out your desired real estate end result, is the smart way to
take that next step.

SHORT SALE, SHORT SALE,  SHORT SALE

ATTENDED A COMPREHENSIVE AGENT EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR THIS MORNING.  AND, NO I DIDN’T GO TO SLEEP 1/2 WAY THROUGH.

THERE ARE SOUND BITES IN THE NEWS AND SHORT ARTICLES ON BLOGS LIKE MINE AND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES BY THOSE IN THE REAL ESTATE WORLD.

WELL TODAY WHAT I HEARD WAS FROM A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS A BANKER AND A LOAN MITIGATION OFFICER.  HOW ENLIGHTENING TO GET THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHORT SALE STORY. THIS GENTLEMAN WAS AFFILIATED WITH INDY-MAC BANK.  HIS ADDRESS WAS FORMULATED TO HELP AGENTS PERFORM MORE EFFICIENTLY FOR THE SELLERS THEY REPRESENT.

THE MYSTIQUE OF THE BANK’S ROLE IN SHORT SALES WAS LIFTED.  BANKS DO NOT WANT TO OWN PROPERTY THROUGH FORECLOSURE.  THE LEGAL WORK AND TIME INVESTED IN AN REO (REAL ESTATE BANK OWNED PROPERTY) IS A FAR MORE EXPENSIVE FOR BANKS——–PROPER NEGOTIATIONS ON A SHORT SALE CAN AND DOES BRING A QUICKER END RESULT. ADMITTEDLY ANY KIND OF DISTRESSED SALE BY AN OWNER IS STRESSFUL AND EMOTIONALLY DRAINING.  TO BANKS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS EVERYTHING. NO EMOTION ENTERS AND SELLERS UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT IN THEIR EQUATION.

HENCE

THE MORE EDUCATED THE SELLER’S LISTING AGENT IS, KNOWING HOW BANKS & LENDERS HANDLE SHORT SALES THE BETTER. THE SELLER’S PROGRESS THROUGH THE SHORT SALE AND THE ESCROW CLOSES.  THE SELLERS ARE OUT FROM UNDER THEIR SHORT. MY HOPE IS THE SELLERS CAN THEN REPURCHASE OR MOVE TO A MORE FAVORABLE LIVING ARRANGEMENT BASED ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.

NOW THE BUYERS, THEIR TIME LINE CAN BE SHORTENED AS WELL.  INFORMED AGENTS WORKING PROPERLY WITH LENDERS AND BRINGING TRANSACTIONS TO THE CLOSE OF ESCROW IN 30 DAYS IS A GOOD THING. THERE ARE MANY SITUATIONS UP TO NOW THAT HAVE DRAGGED ON AND ON. SOME OFFERS ARE TAKING FROM 12 TO 18 MONTHS.  KNOWING HOW TO SPEED THIS PROCESS
TO A PROPER COMPLETION SAVES MONEY ON BOTH ENDS.   YES, TIME IS STILL $$$$$.

SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES CAN CREATE AN ECONOMIC BLIGHT IN NEIGHBORHOODS. VALUES ARE EFFECTED IN A NEGATIVE WAY.  TIME SAVED BY EFFICIENTLY BRINGING SHORT SALES TO THE CLOSE OF ESCROW IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE WILL BENEFIT ALL PROPERTIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.  FORECLOSURES HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF DYNAMICS AND ONCE THE BANKS HAVE CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY, THEY WILL WANT SALES TRANSFERS TO OCCUR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.  AGAIN, TIME IS $$$$$.

I WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.  IF YOU ARE JUST INTERESTED IN BUYING OR SELLING CALL ME.    REMEMBER, A CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT MAY BE JUST WHAT YOU NEED AT THIS TIME.  I OFFER CONSULTATIONS APPOINTMENTS WITH NO OBLIGATION OR FEE FOR MY TIME.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

You have a much brighter picture. If you have not owned a home for three years or have never owned, you may be entitled for a $8000.00 tax credit. Refer to www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com . There is a time line on this to act prior to 1 December 2009.

For short sales, foreclosures and first time home buyers I will welcome your calls. You may benefit from a no obligation free Consultation appointment. In our present REAL ESTATE environment taking the time to talk and think through your needs with a professional is more important than ever.

Short Sale Properties are a different breed. Remember the owner of the property is still in control. The owner is of course subject to their lender. Many offers come in on Short Sales and those offers have to go through layers of approval process. In recent classes that I have attended, it is common knowledge that lenders are not staffed in proportion to the number of offers coming in. Therefore some are not even considered.

Looking to buy and/or invest in Foreclosures certainly offers a wide range of properties in all price ranges. Knowing that, be prepared to go through many more hoops in the offer process and know you have competition. Others doing the same thing, agents looking for buying opportunities and the time you have to devote to the process. Have your purchase money ready.

You have a much stronger position in the Foreclosure market if you have CASH at the ready. Remember the banks that hold the property after Foreclosure are still in the drivers seat. They can pick and choose through the many offers they receive.

Most buy & sell transactions are motivated by well defined needs. First time home buyers want to purchase for a multitude of reasons all pointing to their Need to buy. Same for sellers, many reasons why — all leading to the decision to sell. How nice all cut and dried no problem.

When BUY & SELL decisions are not so cut and dried, a Real Estate professional can be the unemotional Strategist to help you lay out your specific needs. Your NEED to buy or sell can benefit from a Consultation Appointment.

You and your family or any decision maker that is part of your decision to buy and/or sell should be part of this Consultation Appointment. Before you enter into a contract to buy or sell you can have a non pressure time to explore your options. One hour of Consultation, no pressure can give you breathing space to take the next step and be prepared to take it.

You are welcome to call me and I will go over how this no obligation, no fee appointment will work for you.

Bernie McClure

858-877-0995

July 4th is over with a bang. Beautiful fireworks at Del Mar Fair Grounds. Del Mar is now officially over 50 years old with a great celebration on Sunday July 12th.

Our Coldwell Banker office phones are receiving great calls from buyers and sellers. This is the season
to expose your property to the most visitors and to those visitors, there is well priced inventory.

As we approach the racing season, more out of town visitors are coming into Del Mar. All this is positive for our real estate market.

Let opportunity knock for you. Your next move is just a phone call away.

858-877-0995

Bernie McClure
Yours in Good Health & Prosperity

Day at the Beach in Del Mar

Ahh… a day at the beach! Del Mar is buzzing with activity. The beaches are offering
family activities and the Pacific’s waters are warming.

As increasing gas prices get our attention, looking for fun things to do near home
make sense. Del Mar with so many shopping, dining and sand close by makes you
want to stay around home.

Speaking of home, if you are ready to make a move, there is no time like the present.
Interest rates will not stay low forever. Prices have corrected, in most cases, to address
the market conditions we are all experiencing. Buyers now have healthy inventory to
choose from. Sellers as we enter the summer season are benefitted with more and more
possible buyers coming in and YES Buying……

I will welcome your calls and I am ready to work for and with you for all your real estate needs.

P. S.
Yes she’s my four year old granddaughter. Visiting from Alaska and loven Del Mar.

Just returned from the 2009 San Diego County Fair.  One of the attractions is the Alvarado House.  This structure has been moved from its place of origin in Del Mar to the fair grounds.  I volunteered as a docent for this afternoon.  Was able to meet many people from all over the USA. Coming up on the wooden porch, you take step back in history to see this wonderful house furnished as it would have been, when built, in 1880.  The charm of the meticulous efforts to display period objects is enhanced with photos of Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, Marilyn Monroe, Luci and Desi . Many Hollywood stars frequented attractions in Del Mar including the race track and our lovely beach.  The Del Mar Historical Society is actively pursuing relocating the Alvarado House to a location on Camino Del Mar.  This would allow visitors to enjoy the Alvarado House all year long,  not just during the Fair.

Check out the Del Mar Historical Society web page at www.delmarhistoricalsociety.com.

The 2009 San Diego County Fair runs through the 5th of July.

Also worthy of mention are the 3 new outdoor cafes on 15th Street in downtown Del Mar. On the corner of 15th and Camino Del Mar, just across the street from the newly renovated L’Auberge Hotel & Spa,  is the Americana Cafe’.  Going west on 15th Street, Jimmy O.s, Sbicca and Del Mar Pizza are featuring casual outside dining. What a joy it is to have such great choices in Del Mar.  These well established eating venues, with their added “fresh Sea Air with food” are just a few of many outstanding restaurants we are blessed with here in Del Mar.  En Fuego Cantina & Grill and Crepes & Corks Cafe’ both on Camino del Mar are approved for outside seating and are open now with all their great offerings. Yum. What a great place to live !!  And eat!!!

Let me help you with any real estate needs.  If all you need are “fresh eyes” on a real estate issue that you are pondering, we can talk.

God Bless America

So you want to sell your home. Great. Here is what you should know AND be willing to do. Let’s just say if you want to be in the pool, you have to jump off the diving board. Will the water be warm and friendly or cold and unpleasant?

Listing your property in the market we are all experiencing today is now, my term, a SCIENCE. Think I’m kidding?

Here are the facts: First, know that YOU WANT TO SELL, not just list your property. Good now we know that you are ready to go to work….notice that four letter work. It will take work to get your property ready for all the agents and potential buyers who will come through. Picture a military inspection where white gloves are worn to detect even a hint of dust.

Are you getting the full meaning of the effort you are committing to? Homes that are selling today, that are owner occupied are being given the White Glove test. That test begins as prospects drive up and begin their judgmental scanning of what they are about to inspect. Your yard and entry must be manicured and present a welcoming appearance. What does that mean? It’s not complicated, just sweep the walkway of any debris, keep potted and planted flowers watered and looking well tended. As an agent & potential next owner reaches the lock box or key to open the Front Door, they want to see a fresh coat of paint and/or stain, any glass, clear and sparkling. That includes all windows.

Are you beginning to see your “Job Description”? You bet, it’s time to get out the q-tips and make your Product jump out against all competition. Addressing the preparations that each of the rooms in your home requires, think White Glove.

• Eliminate clutter and if the clutter has to be there, let it be organized. Closets should reflect spaciousness as well as your rooms.
• Store, off site, if necessary any furniture or other items that crowd any space.
• Be sure that pet odor does not exist—even when Paws & Claws do. Wings should be considered as well, keep those cages spotless.
• Garages and carports should be spotless as well. Any stains on the floor of a garage or driveway do not make good impressions.

I could go on and on and I will. We are now at the place where Pricing is addressed. You as the sellers may know what you would like to get for this spotless home that you have labored to get it ready to market. Of course you know. Now what you must also know that the agent you hire has as difficult a JOB DESCRIPTION as you do. In this buyers market you are competing with your product against all others that are comparable to yours. Your agent must research present and past sales, what properties that are now in escrow, physically inspect and use the best of their ability to give you all information to a PRICE THAT WILL LEAD TO A SALE as quickly as possible. Close of ESCROW is a beautiful thing and will stop all White Glove activities.

More coming on actual sales activities—-how close to the original asking price are properties selling—this is an EYE OPENER.

Will welcome your calls.

P. S.

• Know what cold water feels like? It’s running out of White Gloves from all the showings and no offers.
• Know what a warm friendly pool feels like? Having multiple offers on your White Glove home.