2016 San Diego Holiday Lights

No matter where you live in San Diego county, there are beautiful light displays for you to enjoy this holiday season. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas and all the best in the new year!

Back to School & MORE!

September doesn't have to be all about back to school! You can break up the routine a bit with some fun weekend activities. Here's what's happening, San Diego!

September Calendar of Events

Beware of The 3 P's of Real Estate!

I believe that many real estate agents get lazy when it's a hot market. Why spend the money on staging, or professional pictures, or marketing, when the standard 3 P's will do? You know them well..."Put out a sign, Put it in the MLS, and Pray". Well, I'm here to tell you that might get your home sold, but it will not bring you top dollar! Staging is a strategic marketing tool designed to show a property in its best possible light. It is different from decorating your home to reflect your unique personality. Professional lifestyle designer, Jill Winninger of life. style. home. states that a home should reflect who you are and what you value. On the other hand, home staging is about de-cluttering and making a home desirable to the masses. There's a saying..."Clutter eats up equity!" The whole idea of staging is that you want to market to the largest number of people to get as many offers as possible. Many realtors believe in the power of this technique no matter how hot or slow the market. Potential buyers can see all the possibilities and sellers can get top-dollar and a quicker sale. A real estate agent that won't spend the marketing dollars on your home regardless of the state of the market, may not have your best interest in mind.

I offer my clients a complementary staging consultation (a DIY package, if desired), professional photography for those outstanding pictures that will make your home look it's best and give a great first impression, a video tour with aerial photography that will wow, and a marketing plan that will create a buzz.

According to the Real Estate Staging Association, professionally listed staged properties simply look better, spend 73 percent less time on the market, typically sell for more money, and end up on the buyer's "must see" lists. They are viewed as "well maintained" and have fewer concessions requested of the seller.

The result? 

Just Listed...Oops! I mean PENDING!

Video Tour of 13305 Granite Creek Rd.

Staging consultation provided by Beppie Mostert, Living Design Interiors.
Staged by the owners.

Tired of looking at all those tiny yards? This home is light and bright and sits on a huge corner lot with magnificent trees offering privacy for outdoor living, including a fire pit area and your very own pool. The home has been beautifully updated and features hardwood floors, slate tile fireplace surround, and custom alderwood kitchen cabinets with the popular concrete counter tops featured by Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper. This popular 4 bedroom floor plan has 1 bedroom down & 3 full bathrooms that have been beautifully updated. Sabre Springs is an upscale community of San Diego, CA in the northeastern part of the city, but is part of the highly acclaimed Poway Unified School District. It is bounded by the city limits of Poway on the east, Ted Williams Parkway on the north, Interstate 15 on the west, and the community of Miramar Ranch North to the south, making it unbelievably convenient to all San Diego has to offer, including the brand new Carmel Mountain Ranch Angelika movie theater, restaurants & shopping. Easy access on & off of the Ted Williams Pkwy/56 connector between I-15 & I-5. Just 15 minutes to the beach and 25 minutes to the airport. Low HOA & no mello-roos! Offered at $750,000.

Should You Buy a New or Existing Home?

Maybe your dream home has the intricate details that you usually find only in older construction - wainscoting and crown molding in the interior, the front porch with a swing, an older tree shading the back yard, and the white picket fence.

Or maybe your dream home has all the conveniences of modern living - open floor plan in the living and dining spaces, large windows, connected, “smart” appliances and security systems, and minimalist design elements.

Whether you go for a brand new construction or an existing home, both types of properties have their pros and cons when it comes to purchasing. What type of home is right for you will depend on which factors are most important for your lifestyle.

Is it a good time to sell? Yes!

The best time to sell is when competition is low and demand is high. This beautiful condo was on the market for only 2 days! 

Maximize exposure with lots of professional photographs and a virtual tour.

Have you been thinking about selling? Now's the time!

View the Photos & Virtual Tour

Happy New Year!

Here are some fun January events around the area. You probably won't be too disappointed if you missed the Polar Bear Plunge...Brrrrrrrrr. Definitely not for me! But restaurant week coming up...that's a different story. Hope to see you around town!

San Diego Calendar of Events - January 2016

Looking Back...and Forward...

How often do you take a look back and reflect on the blessings in your life? 2015 was a personal sales record for me and a wonderful year in many ways. It will also be remembered as the hardest year of my life because we lost our youngest son to cancer. I’ve been reflecting all the more on what I do and why, and it has reinforced all the reasons that I work by referral.

Whenever a house is sold, it’s just a house—the walls that surround us for protection and keep a cover over our heads. However, it’s the memories that we create there that make a house a home. It’s the love and laughter of family and friends…the meals shared together around the table…the pictures of our kids…the welcoming wag of a tail that greets us at the front door…the cozy fire on a cold, rainy day…the solitude of a quiet morning with a cup of coffee...that splash of paint that’s your favorite color! These are the things that make a house a home and stay with us wherever we go and long after our loved ones are gone.

To me, HOME is a big deal. You take those memories with you wherever you go and continue to create new ones. It’s also very likely to be one of the biggest transactions we ever make—regardless of how many times we sell or buy as we move through the stages of life. I take very seriously your trust in me to guide you through that transaction with the end goal in mind—a house for you that you can create into a home. And because you have the nicest friends and desire the same for them, it’s my pleasure to serve them, too.

Whether you welcomed in the New Year alone in the coziness of your home, or surrounded by others who you enjoy, I wish you the very best in the upcoming year! As I’m setting my business goals for 2016, will you keep me in mind when you hear of family or friends considering that next important move? And don’t forget that I can be a resource to you for all kinds of referrals and market updates!

Thank you & Happy New Year from my home to yours!