San Diego CA Real Estate Podcast with Carlos Gutierrez

An Opportunity to Give Back

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:19:00 -0700

You’re invited to Random Acts of Kindness. If you want to enjoy some food, drinks, fun, and a chance to give back, this event is for you.

Today I’m excited to let you know that you’re invited to our upcoming event: Random Acts of Kindness.

Random Acts of Kindness is an event where my friends, clients, associates, and family all come together and get connected.

The event is a fundraiser to benefit a number of groups.

This fundraiser will help donate to the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Iraqi war veterans, kids getting back into the game of life through sports, and other people who are in need.

If you can’t make it to our event, you can still donate by clicking here.

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All donations are welcome.

”

All donations are welcome—whether it’s $1 or more, anything helps to make a difference.

If you’d like to come out for food, drinks, fun, and a chance to give back, please join us at this event. Additionally, there’s free valet parking.

Random Acts of Kindness will take place on August 30th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Tower 23—located at 723 Felspar Street.

We hope to see you there.

If you have any other questions, would like to donate, or would like any other information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don't Take Our Word for It: Hear Why Carlos Is Different From His Clients

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:21:00 -0700

Carlos Gutierrez has been serving clients in San Diego County since 2005. Here’s what just a few of those clients have to say.

As a full-time real estate agent, Carlos Gutierrez has earned the Chairman’s Circle Platinum award for his sales performance in 2013, ranking him among the top 1% of Coldwell Banker sales associates. But, the successes most important to Carlos are the ones that come not in the form of awards, but in the form of satisfied clients.

Since 2005, Carlos has been serving buyers, sellers, and investors throughout San Diego County—treating each and every transaction as if it were his very own.

And his clients have noticed.

Diane Gaske is one such client. She’s known Carlos for 25 years—since meeting him at the elementary school she once worked at. Years later, when it came time for Diane to sell the home she had lived in for 27 years, she knew she would need the right person to help.

For her, and many others, Carlos is that person.

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The successes most important to Carlos are the ones that come in the form of satisfied clients.

”

She recalls Carlos sending postcards to all of her neighbors and hosting multiple open houses—something she says ultimately paid off, since her house sold in less than two weeks.

Another client, Matthew, first encountered Carlos when he helped Matthew’s father to sell the home he had been struggling to sell for months in just 15 days. The reason for Carlos’ success, according to Matthew, is that he listens to clients and creates unique, detailed plans according to their needs.

Something that stuck with Matthew, specifically, is when Carlos came to him with a 27-point presentation explaining what he was going to do to sell his house. Matthew emphasized to us that what Carlos does is different for every client—because every client is different.

Matthew says that, because of this, “He was able to do what he said he was going to do.” He also says that Carlos only “promises what he can deliver” and that “his communication is extraordinary.”

Other clients had praise for Carlos, as well. According to Jan and Mike Neil, “You are foremost and number one in his mind” while you are working with him.

All of these people are real clients who Carlos has gone above and beyond for. So, if you are thinking of working with him, remember them when making your decision. Diane, who has known him for 25 years, says she recommends Carlos “110%.”

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you, soon.

3 Tips for Investing in Real Estate

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Fri, 7 Jul 2017 12:15:00 -0700

Today I wanted to share with you three tips for investing in rental properties.

You may have played the game of Monopoly and you know that the way to win that game is to have the most amount of properties and cash in the bank. Life can sometimes be a game as well, and we live in the perfect city for investing in rental properties. You might have thought about investing, and I wanted to share three things to consider before you invest.

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Have a one-year plan and five-year plan and stick to them!

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Be selective when you buy. You need to make money when you buy the property. Often investors see a home at a low price and think they’ve found a good deal. However, you need to do your homework and research the area to determine whether it’s a good deal or not. Remember, price is what you pay, value is what you get.
Have an exit strategy. While investing in a rental property can be a great way to earn profit, don’t let it become such a large part of your portfolio that losing returns on it can ultimately bring you down with it. Have a one-year plan and then a five-year plan and stick to those plans.
Be ready for the unexpected! Things can quickly take an unexpected turn, and you need to be prepared for it. Houses can be a great investment, but are often full of unseen costs that correspond with those investments. So be prepared and able to address those issues when they present themselves.

If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d be happy to help!

Why Is Summer a Great Time to List Your Home?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 12:10:00 -0700

We all think of long, lazy days when we think of summer, but did you know that summer is actually a great time to sell your home?

Summertime is here; the days are longer, the weather is warmer, and everyone seems to be more relaxed. We all think of long, lazy days when we think of summer, but did you know it’s a great time to sell your home?

San Diego is in a pretty hot market right now. Home prices are up and mortgage rates continue to remain relatively low. We are at the top of this real estate market cycle, and there’s never been a better time to sell your property.

There are three main reasons why summer is a great time to sell your home:

1. Buyers are more relaxed. There aren’t any major holidays and school is out, so buyers are simply less stressed.

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Buyers are more relaxed during the summer.

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2. They have vacation homes on their mind. In San Diego, that means big business. People are looking for the perfect summer home or that income property. Income properties are a pretty hot commodity right now in our market.

3. Better weather means more traffic. When the weather is nice, you can expect 15% more traffic coming through your home. More traffic means more buyers.

If you’re interested in getting your home on the market this summer, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How Can You Find Accurate Real Estate Info Online?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 1 May 2017 14:49:00 -0700

Homebuyers and sellers alike can get frustrated by the wealth of misinformation about real estate online. Today, I’ll give you a few tips to help you find accurate, updated real estate info.

The Internet is a great place to start your home search and find some information on what your home is worth. However, I hear from my friends and clients every day about how frustrating it is to sort out all of the information that they find online.

Popular sites like Zilow, Realtor.com, and Trulia can be great places to start out, but studies show that in cities like San Diego, the prices on those sites can be off by as much as 10% to 20%. In our market, that can mean a difference of anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000 off the actual market value of your home.

So, what can you do?

First off, don’t believe everything you read. If you are a buyer searching for homes, you can find some basic information online, but make sure that you go on multiple sites. Local sites like mine pull information directly from the MLS so you know that all the information you are looking at is up to date and accurate.

Buyers also need to get a pre-approval so that you can save time on your home search and know how much your loan limit is. In our market, having a pre-approval gives you negotiating power that will help you edge out the other buyers. Being pre-approved tells sellers that you are ready to buy.

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Don’t believe everything you read on sites like Zillow or Trulia.

”

You also need to stay calm. If you’re looking at homes on Zillow, don’t fall in love too fast. The prices may be wrong and, sometimes, the house may be listed as available even though it already sold months ago! An experienced agent like myself can guide you to the right homes.

If you are selling your home, you need accurate information to determine the value of your home. If your home is unique and you’ve made improvements, then you need a proper appraisal so that you get every dollar out of the sale of your home.

So, do your research. Check out multiple home value tools to get a range of what your home might be worth in the current market.

You should also check out the comps, or comparable properties. A real estate agent can do a comparable market analysis to see how your home stacks up against other similar, recently sold properties in your neighborhood. That is the most accurate way to determine what you can get for your home in this hot market.

Ultimately, you need to be careful when you are looking at homes online or if you are trying to find your home value with sites like Zillow or Trulia. If you have any other questions about finding accurate real estate information online, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Does the Slowing Market Mean for You?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 09:05:00 -0700

Home prices are slowing down for the second month in a row.
What does the future hold for home prices in the San Diego market?

San Diego is slowing down for the second month in a row. What does that mean for you? Although the news has to be shocking these days to capture the public’s attention, I’m here to give you just the facts and only the facts about what is really happening in the real estate market.

The latest numbers show that San Diego County home prices rose 5.7% this year, just below the national average of 5.9%, but not by much. We are slowing down, however. This time last year, home prices were increasing at a 7% higher rate than the national average.

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The market is strong for the time being.

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According to the experts, higher home prices and increasing mortgage rates will shrink the number of households that can actually afford to buy a home and force prices to decline.

The great news for you is we aren’t there quite yet, and the market is holding strong for the time being. If you have equity in your home, it’s a great time to think about selling. If you’re not sure what your home is actually worth, I can show you an accurate home valuation right here on my page.

If you have any other real estate questions or if you’re looking to buy or sell in San Diego, give me a call or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to Make Sure Your Family Is Protected

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:23:00 -0800

Dealing with the loss of a family member can be especially difficult when the necessary planning was not done ahead of time. There are three steps you can take now to protect your family.

There is nothing more devastating than dealing with the loss or illness of a family member. That difficult time can turn into a nightmare if you haven’t taken care of the necessary planning ahead of time.

I was recently working with a family who had just lost their mother and, when selling her estate, they realized there was no will or trust in place. Now they have to deal with the challenges of probate, which costs a lot of time and money.

There are three things you can do now to make sure that your loved ones are protected after you’re gone:

1. Talk about it now. Don’t wait until there is a tragedy or illness to have the difficult conversations with your family. Be open and honest about what you want to happen to your home and your investments.

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Be open and honest about what you want to happen to your home and investments.

”

2. Put it in writing. Make sure that you have a will or trust. It’s smart to put your wishes in writing so that your children and other beneficiaries are not left trying to sort out everything while they are in mourning. Not having a will can complicate relationships and cost your loved ones thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees. Have a frank and open discussion about your estate plans with the people who you love, who should be in the know.

3. Consult a real estate professional to ensure that your plans and assets are protected. A real estate agent can help you determine whether a revocable or irrevocable trust would be best.

This can be a very difficult topic to navigate, but it is important to take these three steps in order to protect your family. If you have any other questions or need further guidance on this topic, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. I am here to help you.

How to Make Your Neighborhood Cleanup a Success

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 11:47:00 -0800

There are a ton of positive benefits to organizing a community cleanup project. Here are a few of them.

Your cleanup day is almost here! You need help, so I’ve got some great tips to share. I really enjoy helping others write their real estate success stories. As promised, I am here to give you some tips on how to organize and motivate the people in your neighborhood for your own community beautification project. Here are three things to keep in mind when planning your cleanup:

1. Show me the money. You don’t have to pay people in cash, you just need to share with them how much value will be added to their home by cleaning up the neighborhood. The nicer it looks, the more home values go up.

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The world is in need of positive community stories.

”

2. Shout it out. Post on local neighborhood Facebook groups or even on Craigslist to increase turnout. Make a flyer, walk the neighborhood, and introduce yourself to some neighbors you haven’t met before. Let them know when and where the dumpsters will be located. You can also contact your local media to let them know and ask if they could get the word out. The world is in so much need right now of positive community stories. The local media loves those stories and are happy to share them. Start making your own positive news story today.

3. Be positive. Your energy will spark others to want to take action. Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the keys to ensuring success.

If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

3 Tips to Find Resources for Community Beautification

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:30:00 -0800

Today, I have three tips to get you the resources you need for your community beautification project.

You decided to beautify your community—congratulations! You have the drive and the goals, but you don’t have any of the resources yet. Here are three great tips to help you get started:

1. Reach out to local waste management companies and ask them to donate a dumpster for the day. Many waste management companies will donate dumpsters during the weekend for all of the neighborhood’s trash.

2. Contact local business owners and ask if they are willing to help sponsor the event. Maybe they can throw in some money, food, flowers, or rocks in exchange for advertising and posting on social media. Let them know that you will pass out flyers and post on social media to spotlight their company as they help the community clean up.

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You can find free supplies on Craigslist.

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3. Search Craigslist for free items like dirt, rocks, or plants. A lot of people have things that they just want hauled away. If you have a truck, then you have access to some free resources.

Community beautification projects help increase home values in your neighborhood and lower the crime rate. Next, we’ll talk about how to organize and motivate others.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

A very important message from Carlos, Bella & Jeannete Gutierrez

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:16:00 -0800

The holiday season is finally here. We wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family the best. We are grateful to have you in our lives, especially this time of year.

Happy holidays everyone! I am here today with my daughter, Bella, and my wife, Jeanette. We wanted to take this time to wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday. From our family to yours, we wanted to wish you the best this season.

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Have fun spending time with your loved ones this holiday season.

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We are very lucky to have you in our lives, so we also want to say thank you. We appreciate you. Our mantra in 2017 is the attitude of gratitude. We are so thankful for so much and we hope that you take some time this holiday season to think about what you are thankful for too. It’s a great exercise, and it really puts things into perspective.

Have fun spending time with your friends, family, and coworkers this holiday season and know that we are grateful for all of you. Happy holidays, Feliz Navidad, and merry Christmas. We look forward to seeing you in 2017.

Why I Always Put Community Before Self

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 12:24:00 -0800

I love helping people write their own real estate success stories and I’m passionate about giving back to the community here in San Diego. As I learned from my mentors, putting your community before yourself is key.

Recently, I helped beautify a San Diego neighborhood out in Grant Hill. Check out the video above and you’ll see a clip from NBC7 about our latest clean up effort. I got permission from the city to clean up the area, so I donated $10,000 to the project, got some volunteers together, and we got to work.

You have to be the change that you want to see in the world. Watch for my next videos that show how you can start a community clean up in your own neighborhood. Getting organized to help your community does not cost as much as you think.

Remember, if you put time and energy into helping your community, people will see that you care. If you have any questions in the meantime, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How You Can Increase Your Home's Value

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 12:53:00 -0800

So you want to be the change in your neighborhood, but you don’t know where to start. It’s okay—I know the feeling, and I’m here to help. In my last video, I gave you some tips on how to organize your own community beautification project. Today, I want to share with you three great tips on how to continue this community outreach:

Contact your local city council member or local area representative. These people are committed to helping improve neighborhoods. Set up a time to sit down and talk with them or just call them and parlay over the phone.
Create a list of specific goals you hope to achieve. This project can become overwhelming if you don’t break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, you might just write down “clear all trash off west side of Main Street.” Make it that specific so you have an attainable goal to share with the rest of the team.
Get out there and talk to your neighbors. Start knocking on doors and letting people know what’s happening. If you don’t know your neighbors, introduce yourself. If you really want to start beautifying a neighborhood, you want support in numbers.

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Beautifying a neighborhood is an
initiative everyone can get behind.

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Everyone wins when you clean up a neighborhood. Not only is it nice to see a clean, well-maintained area, but home values will go up, crime will go down, and it’s something everyone can get behind.

In my next video, we’ll talk about how you can get the materials to get this job done. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the community beautification process or anything real estate-related, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I'd be happy to help you!

3 Ways to Find the Right Realtor for You

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Fri, 9 Sep 2016 09:06:00 -0700

Have you ever met a bad Realtor? They can change the way you view this profession.

When you need a real estate professional, it can be hard to find someone you can trust. When the market is hot like it's been lately, a lot of people think they can make a quick buck selling real estate, and these people can be hard to spot. To help you differentiate between a good Realtor and a bad one, I want to share the three things you should ask a Realtor before you decide to work with them.

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Is real estate a hobby
or a profession for them?

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How long have you been selling real estate full-time, and how many homes are you selling? This will show you if real estate is a profession for them or just a hobby. People who think they can use real estate to make a quick buck don't last long in this market.
How do you determine the price of a property? Listing your home at the right price can be the difference between selling or lingering on the market with no offers. Pricing a home is more than checking the comps—a true professional will have a comprehensive strategy for pricing.
What is your marketing plan? Sticking a sign in the yard and listing your house on the MLS is not a marketing plan. There are more than 30 different ways a professional agent can market your home, so make sure your agent is maximizing their network and has a strategy to help you achieve your real estate goals.

I really hope these tips help you find the right Realtor when the time comes. If you have any more questions about finding the right agent, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I hope to hear from you soon!

Is The Market On The Decline?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 08:49:00 -0700

I just returned from a week-long seminar with 4,000 of the top real estate agents in the world. We've noticed that the market in America has been great coming out of the recession, and that cycles in the last 50 years have been five to seven-year cycles where the market goes up, peaks, and comes back down.

We're likely on the back end of the peak in the seventh year of the cycle coming out of the worst real estate recession ever.

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The market is good, but it
probably won't go up anymore.

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The market is good, but it's probably not going up anymore. If you're considering trying to take advantage of the market, know the stats! We have more properties coming on the market, as well as more properties expiring and canceling because they weren't priced properly.

If you're thinking about selling, look at those properties that have recently come on the market, are pending, or have sold. Find out where they are right now - how many times have they been listed? Look at where they started price-wise, and where they sold at.

If you have any questions about the market, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you out.

How Can You Avoid Overpricing Your Home?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 10:59:00 -0700

When the market is hot and agents are fighting over listings, it’s easy to get caught up in the crossfire, which can cost you the sale of the home. One of the worst things that I see agents do all too often is overprice homes. Lucky for you, I have three easy ways to ensure this doesn’t happen to you.

Use a trusted home valuation tool. Don’t rely on sites like Zillow and Trulia. Their home values can be off by as much as 25%!
Get a professional opinion. Once you get an online valuation, call a professional to come see your home. Each home is unique, and there are many factors that can make your home worth more than your neighbors'. I love to give homeowners this information because it empowers them to make the best decisions.
Keep current. Home values in markets like San Diego can change quickly and your information can become outdated pretty quick. Don’t hesitate to subscribe to monthly emails or newsletters to stay in the loop.

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Home values change all the time in
San Diego, so it’s important to stay updated.

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If you have any questions about how I can help and empower you in your real estate journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

3 Simple Ways to Increase Your Home Value

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 09:40:00 -0700

Buying a home? Click Here to Perform a Full Home Search
Selling a home? Click Here for a Free Home Evaluation
For any other questions about San Diego real estate, reach out to me anytime at (858) 864-8741

Have you ever heard the saying "You have to spend money to make money?" It's so true when you're getting ready to refinance or sell your home in San Diego's real estate market.

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Landscaping, kitchens and baths
will always give you a better return.

”

If you've been watching the real estate market, you know that inventory is still very low, and there are a lot of buyers out there who are very selective. So what can you do to either enjoy your home more, prepare for a sale, or prepare for a refinance?

Have a professional walk through your home or hire an inspector who will give you an honest evaluation of your home. Sometimes it's even worth paying a few hundred dollars to have an appraisal on your home, which will give you an idea if you have more square footage than you thought, and what the value is.
Focus on the money-makers. Landscaping, kitchens and baths will always give you a better return. Look at those areas first both for your own enjoyment or if you're thinking about selling and want to increase your home's value.
Focus on curb appeal. Landscaping and security, too. Security and fencing are a sure way to get a quicker sale, which usually means a full-price offer and sometimes, offers above list price.

If you need a professional to come look at your home and find ways to make the most of it, please give me a call! I'm more than happy to help you and your friends through the process.

3 Things to Consider If Your Nest Isn’t Empty

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 6 Jun 2016 13:34:00 -0700

Do you have young adults living with you in your household? If so, you’re not alone.

In 2000, only 23% of young adults were living with their parents. In 2014, that same number increased to 34%. According to researchers, the rate continues to rise. Right now, more than 36% of young adults live in the household they grew up in.

Maybe you thought you’d have an empty nest sooner and thought you had to downsize, but of course, aren’t in that situation. However, there are a few alternatives to consider.

Location is important. You know you still need space, but maybe you can consider a new location to better fit your current lifestyle.

Purchase a home with a better floor plan. If you’re living with a young adult, you might need a little bit more privacy. Maybe you can invest in a basement suite.

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Purchase a home with a better
floor plan.

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Rent a home to your children. Let them get roommates! Become a landlord if your budget allows for it.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a San Diego home, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to serve your local real estate needs and answer any questions you might have.

How the Internet Impacts San Diego Real Estate

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 12:15:00 -0700

The Internet is a great place to start a home search or find information on what your home is worth, but take that information with a grain of salt. I hear every day how frustrating it is to sort out all the information buyers and sellers find online.

Popular sites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia are all excellent starting points. However, studies show in cities like San Diego, their prices can be off by 10% to 20%. In our market, that means these estimates are anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000 off the price. What can you do?

Start by finding a trusted real estate guide. If you’re a buyer, don’t believe anything you read online. Make sure you’re looking at multiple sites, including local sites like mine that pull information directly from the multiple listing service. These sites are up to date and accurate.

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Find a trusted real estate agent to be your guide.

”

For buyers, it’s also important to get pre-approved. You will save time on your search because you know how much your loan limit is. In our tight market, a pre-approval means you have negotiating power that will help you edge out other buyers. Having a pre-approval shows that you’re serious and ready to buy today.

Also, stay calm and don’t fall in love with houses you see online right away. Not only are homes inaccurately priced, but Zillow sometimes keeps listings up that actually sold months ago. An experienced agent will guide you to the right home.

If you’re selling a home, don’t get caught up in Zestimates. Look for accurate information. Your home is unique and if you’ve made improvements in the last few years, you need a proper appraisal so that you get every single dollar. Trust a professional for accurate numbers.

Finally, when you’re selling your home, conduct your research. Check out multiple search tools to see what your home is worth today. Check out the comparable sales, or homes that have recently sold in your area. This is the most accurate way to determine what you can get for your home.

If you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Does the San Diego Market Look Like?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 08:35:00 -0700

Buying a home? Click Here to Perform a Full Home Search
Selling a home? Click Here for a Free Home Valuation.
For any other questions about San Diego real estate, reach out to me anytime at (858) 864-8741

By now, you’ve heard we’re in a drought here in California when it comes to our water supply. However, did you know we’re also in a seller’s drought in the surrounding San Diego area? Today, I’ll discuss local market conditions.

If you’ve been considering buying or selling a home, there’s no better time to sell than right now. A seller’s drought means housing inventory is at an all-time low. Since last August, we’ve seen inventory drop to the floor, as well as interest rates and unemployment. That’s why it’s an opportune time to list your home for sale. Who knows how long it will last!

What does this mean for you as a real estate consumer? It means three things.

You can earn top dollar and the maximum value of your home.
Choose a strong negotiator to fight in bidding wars.
I serve as your local guide in today’s shifting market at your disposal.

If you’re interested in buying or selling a home, contact me by phone or email! I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have and serve your real estate needs!

San Diego Downsizing 101

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:01:00 -0800

I’ve helped hundreds of clients downsize in the surrounding San Diego area. Today, I want to share my experience through three simple steps.

Stop and take a deep breath. It might seem like a daunting task, but the right strategy will make everything stress-free. The right team will make the process easy and manageable
Create three piles. Create one pile for donations, one pile for trash, and one pile for the things you want to keep. These represent what you’ll do with items inside your home. Break down your home into rooms and schedule two hours towards clearing out one room each day. Divide items into those three piles. Possibly enlist a friend to help you out.
Write down what is most important to you. Is it lifestyle, location, or the people you love? Understand your priorities. Communicate your needs to me after you create that list!

Let me be your local real estate guide. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to serve your local real estate needs and answer any questions you might have!

How Our Good Communication Helped Arvin Sell His Home

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 12:50:00 -0800

"He was excellent! He sold my home within 21 days, and we got an offer within the first two hours of it being listed! He is always available whenever I have questions, which made everything less stressful."
-Arvin Budomo, Home Seller

Why Hire a Professional San Diego Real Estate Agent?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 07:08:00 -0800

You need a professional by your side when you’re ready to buy or sell in the San Diego housing market. Not just any agent, either; you need a top producing agent who can get the job done for you and your family with the best results. Here are three reasons why.

Avoid being sued. You definitely want to stay out of court, and it seems like there’s always someone looking for a reason to sue. The real estate contract is one of the most complicated contracts you’ll probably ever sign. Unless you’re an expert in real estate law, you need an agent to help you navigate the ins and outs of the contract.

Maintain professional connections. A sign in your yard and a listing on the MLS isn’t enough in today’s competitive market. You need someone with professional connections who is effective and active in the real estate market.

Hire experience. We all have our special skills. We trust our doctors to heal us; by the same token, a professional Realtor has necessary skills to sell your home for top dollar, or negotiate the best possible price and terms for buyers.

If you have any questions about today’s video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

What Are We Grateful For this Year?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 05:52:00 -0800

I think we lose sight of what's really important in our lives. This is a good time of year to remember what's truly important. I could say I'm grateful for my car or my road bike, but there are many other things that I'm grateful for, such as my family and my fiancé.

I'm also grateful for Lori and Bill Walton. They've had a huge impact on my life this year and they're constantly giving back to the city of San Diego.

As the Holidays approach, be mindful of what you have in your life and don't take it for granted. There are a lot of people without homes or family to visit over the Holidays. Be grateful for what you have, even if it's not much.

Happy Holidays!

How to Make a Senior Move Easier

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Wed, 4 Nov 2015 10:17:00 -0800

Everyone ages, that’s just a fact of life. When it comes time for you to move your parents or an elderly relative out of a home they have been living in for a long time, it can be tough to let go. Today we want to help ease the pain of moving on by giving you some tips for how to move your senior out in a timely and stress-free fashion, while also selling the home for the highest amount of money possible. Here are our tips:

1. Communication

Seniors can be very emotionally invested in their home, especially when they have lived there for a number of years. Of course there will be some sadness and apprehension about the move, and you’ve got to give them time to grieve and the chance to talk about where they want to live in order to help them make a smooth transition.

2. Planning effectively

Before you begin sorting and organizing everything in the home, it’s a good idea to get a visual of where your senior is moving and what you’ll need to make the move possible.

3. Enlist relatives

Encourage close friends and family members to take some days off, and come help with the organizing and cleaning out of the house. Surrounding your senior with those who are loving and encouraging will help ease the stress.

4. Sort and organize

Go through the house item by item, room by room, and categorize the objects to make things easier. Should they be donated, handed down to other family members, or kept for the move? Honor the emotional attachment to certain objects and allow your senior to reminisce when they are going through that stuff.

5. Clean and repair the home

Keep the home in its best possible shape no matter what you are doing with it, it will save you money down the road.

6. Plan the moving day

There are a few different strategies I suggest for moving your senior loved ones into their new home. A full service moving company can be a little pricey, but it’s the most economical and the easiest. Get your loved ones to be a part of this and make sure your senior parents are taken care of on the trip.

If you have any questions or need anything real estate related, we would love to help. Give us a call or send us an email, we look forward to speaking with you!

What's Stopping You from Downsizing?

david@montezumaproperties.com (Carlos Gutierrez) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:19:00 -0700

Today, we're going to talk about buyers whose kids have left the home.These buyers are looking to downsize, but our current market makes it difficult for them to do so.

Unfortunately, even though there are more homes on the market than there were earlier this year, people have been dropping out of the market since school started. That means there are fewer buyers and sellers in today's market, so in many price points, we still don't have enough homes for sale for the buyers out there.

One big reason for the low inventory is many sellers don't have their next property purchased. They can't move into their next home, so they are hesitant to sell their current one.

With that said, if you're looking to get into your single-level dream retirement home with a smaller yard, there are two things for you to keep in mind:

Don't make any improvements to your existing home if it doesn't raise the price of your home. We can help you determine which improvements will be most beneficial to you. My job is to help you save money and make money on your home sale.
Expand your search. Some agents, including myself, have lists of homes that are not on the market yet. These homeowners are open to the right offer, but they don't want to go through the hassle of getting the property on the MLS.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!