Yearly Archives: 2014

Highly demanded TOP floor condo at Aloft on Cortez Hill featuring an open loft inspired floor plan with amazing view towards Balboa Park, energy efficient triple pane windows, pergo flooring, high ceiling, A/C and an updated kitchen with corian countertops and stainless steel appliances which are all included. Amenities include a resort style pool and spa, cabanas, outdoor fire pit, large courtyard w/ BBQ and a fitness center. Conveniently located in downtown not too close or too far from the night life. Truely a must see! VA Approved!

1 bedroom

1.5 bath

845 sq.ft.

HOA $308

3 Things You Should Know About When Choosing The Right Realtor

When choosing the right realtor there is a couple things you must know before you decide to hire someone for your San Diego real estate needs. Below are 3 things you should know if the realtor is worth hiring as your agent.

1) Are They Experts In The San Diego Real Estate Market?

There will be many agents to choose from. Sometimes we go and choose our family member who is part time agent just learning the ropes to hook them up. I totally get that. But understand. This is the probably going to be one the biggest investments in your life so hiring your cousin probably might not be the best decision to make sure your well taken care of by a San Diego real estate expert. I would suggest that you hire only agents that have at least 5 years’ experience and are still in business after the 2008 crash. The real agents who know there stuff are the ones that didn’t quit even after taking that hit in the market.

2) Do they understand and use social media marketing?

No one would argue on this one that social media is the now and future. Many agents especially in the older demographic don’t even have a Facebook profile. They are totally missing out on a lot of exposure when selling their properties or looking for buyers. Yesterday I was at a San Diego real estate conference with over 3,000 San Diego real estate professionals. One of the main speakers was talking about social media marketing specifically in blogging. He asked us “how many of you agents have a blog and are blogging?” Out of the entire room only 7 raised their hands me being one of them. So basically a lot of agents are losing out on internet exposure. If you are selling your home with an agent that doesn’t know social media marketing they will most like be advertising just on the MLS multiple listing service. If the agent knows social media though, they will be creating YouTube videos, social media targeted ads, keyword tool search, and blogging content marketing to make sure more eyeballs see your home on the internet.

3) Where is there heart?

This one is the most important. At the end of the day high integrity needs to be engraved in the realtor’s heart. I suggest you research them. Look at their Facebook profile. Find out where their hearts at. What do they do with their free time and money? Are they living a selfish life or are they giving back to their community’s volunteering plugging into their local church. This will help a lot because if you choose the agent that is all about the money than they won’t be really serving you but themselves. They will not show you the love that you deserve especially with this big decision in life. You want somebody that genuinely cares about you.

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Money reveals the heart in a person. Today I was tested, I had the privilege to walk into the fire in my business. I could have made over $11,000 but I choose to turn it down. Why you ask…?

I am currently working with a family of 3 kids. They are excited because they are looking for their home where they plan to grow in and also invite family and friends from church for life groups/bible studies. While looking at over 7 properties this weekend they found one that they really liked. So we made a strong offer on the property, giving the seller what they wanted while getting closing cost for my client. The listing agent had another offer before the offer I presented from my clients. The agent said that we just had to change the offer date in order for our offer to get accepted, but I couldn’t do it.

You see, I had a feeling inside me saying, don’t lie, don’t do it. I could feel my heart pounding as if I was choosing Money over Truth. I felt my heart sinking as I was thinking about the options and I just knew I couldn’t lie by changing the date even if I knew my client would get the house they wanted.

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

As I shared this with my client, I said to them that I was sorry but I cannot lie even though they would have an opportunity to open escrow the next day. I could feel the Holy Spirit counseling me through this guiding me with love and understanding. Thank goodness my clients had also agreed and they will keep looking at other homes unless this property comes back on the market.
I later contacted the listing agent, letting them know that I was not going to change the date of our original offer. I explained to them how I felt and the reason behind it. The agent told me that it was kind of funny that I mentioned that, because the agent themselves felt that Karma would bite them in the butt. I like to say, we reap what we sow.

I am a true believer that God will provide. I also believe that, in life we will be tested and within those test we will either become sharper or dull. I Choose to be sharpened by a Two Edged Sword.

Thank you for reading, leave a comment, I’d love to know what you thought about this experience.

La Mesa Village is known for their Oktoberfest in San Diego County! With many locals coming together with music, vendors, great German food, and lots of good Cheer! Bring comfortable shoes and come and enjoy the festival.

Oktoberfest: Traditional autumn festival held in Munich, Germany, every October that features beer-drinking and merrymaking.

Friday, October 3rd
Street festival: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
BIG Beer Garden: 4:00 – 11:00 p.m.
THE IDEAS Rock & Roll Trio: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The Car Tune Dogs (Classic Rock): 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 4th
Street festival: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
BIG Beer Garden: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Our Song (German Music):12 noon – 4:00 p.m.
The Car Tune Dogs (Classic Rock): 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 5th
Street festival: 12:00 noon – 5:00 p.m.
BIG Beer Garden: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Our Song (German Music): 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Location: Downtown La Mesa on La Mesa Blvd. between Acacia and 4th Avenue
BIG Beer Garden Location: In the Allison Street parking lot between Pine and Palm
TROLLEY DETAILS:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 – The trolley runs every 15 minutes until 12:01 a.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 – The Trolley runs every 15 minutes to downtown San Diego until 11:30 p.m. From 11:01 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. the Trolley will run every 30 minutes with the last Trolley departing from La Mesa at 1:00 a.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 – The Trolley runs every 15 minutes throughout Sunday event hours.
ONLY PEOPLE 21 YEARS OR OLDER CAN PURCHASE BEER OR WINE IN THE BEER GARDEN! THIS IS NOT A PET FRIENDLY EVENT. PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT THIS CITY WIDE EVENT.

Prior to the development of the title industry in the late 1800s, a homebuyer received a grantor’s warranty, attorney’s title opinion, or abstractor’s certificate as assurance of home ownership. The buyer relied on the financial integrity of the grantor, attorney, or abstractor for protection. Today, homebuyers look primarily to title insurance to provide this protection. Title Insurance companies are regulated by state statute. They are required to post financial guarantees to ensure that any claims will be paid in a timely fashion. They also must maintain their own “title plants” which house duplicates of recorded deeds, mortgages, plats, and other pertinent county property records.

WHAT IS TITLE INSURANCE?
► Title insurance provides coverage for certain losses due to defects in the title that , for the most part, occurred prior to
your ownership. Title insurance protects against defects such as prior fraud or forgery that might go undetected until
after closing and possibly jeopardize your ownership and investment.

WHY IS TITLE INSURANCE NEEDED?
► Title insurance insures Buyers against the risk that they did not acquire marketable title from the Seller. It is primarily
designed to reduce risk or loss caused by defects in title from the past. A Loan Policy of Title Insurance protects the
interest of the mortgage lender, while an Owner’s Policy protects the equity of you, the Buyer, for as long as you or your
heirs (in certain policies) own the real property.

WHEN IS THE PREMIUM DUE?
► You pay for your Owner’s title insurance policy only once, at the close of escrow. Who pays for the Owner’s Policy and
Loan Policy varies depending on local customs.

Angie West
619.733.4667
awest@firstam.com
Jay Norris
619.884.0766
jnorris@firstam.com
Lina Gorinstein
619.980.2414
lgorinstein@firstam.com
teamfirstam@firstam.com

San Diego Home Loan Rates have been steady recently. Currently with FHA 30 year fixed mortgage rate at 3.75 and Conventional loan rates being at 4.25 show that market rates are low. Next month rates can either increase or drop depending if outside investors from other countries who purchase the current loans will dictate the interest rate.

Future home buyers, I’d love to share with you a variety of different loan programs out there that will help and assist buyers with funding. Some loan programs are grants that will allow a buyer to purchase a home up to $415,000. Another that I recently learned about is Cal Home Program, which offers home buyers assistance. Each loan program is created for different types of buyers and based on what their income is. For more information, contact us.
As far as current homeowners, it’s a great time to refinance your property since property values have increase and interest are low. We have been seeing an increase of homeowner’s refinance their properties in order to adjust their loans or cash out. We’ve also seen more homeowners wanting to downsize and purchase a smaller home with the equity that they have made from their property/properties.

If you think that you owe more then what your home is currently worth in today’s market, I high suggest you contact me immediately. Do not pay attorneys to do loan modifications on your property or charge you for work that has not been started or complete. Many homeowners fall into a trap where they will pay an outside company/attorney to modify their loan and never get anything in return. Working with distressed properties is all about timing and you don’t want to wait too long before it’s too late.

If you would like information regarding today’s mortgage update blog, call me today or send an email and I’ll contact you.
Gisela.Najera@SothebysRealty.com
(619)254-6066

Many people ask me, “Gisela, where is the best place to live in San Diego?”
I usually ask them, “what’s important to you in a home and neighborhood?” Because my opinion is going to be different then theirs, so I’d rather know what they like and then start consulting from there.

The video above is a lovely home in a desirable community in Rancho San Diego. This home features a bedroom downstairs and a full bathroom which is important when you have a guest or extended family members living with you. Vaulted ceilings which give the home lots of light and space. The three bedroom upstairs are ample in size. Great location and inviting community of Corte Madera. Location has also been a great place to invest due to high demand for rentals in the area. Sellers are motivated and just dropped the price down by $20,000. Homes in this area sell between $400,000 – $700,000. This home is listed just under $500,000.

I’ll personally be hosting an Open House there this Saturday from 10:30 – 1:30 pm. Come on in and I’ll give you a Buyers Package or Sellers Package, to get you on your Goal Path!

OPEN HOUSE:
Saturday, Sept. 6th at 10:30 am
2533 Sawgrass, El Cajon, California 92019

Sales Down for 2014 but Improve in 2015; Price Continues to Grow this Year and Next Year. According to California Association or Realtors.

Many people often wonder if it’s a good time to buy or sell real estate. I often say it’s always a good time, just as long as you find what you are looking for and if you net what you need.
Real estate investing is all about timing. People like to wait for spring time to buy or sell but as a seller or buyer you can really miss out on that home that your heart desires. Also, during spring time their are a lot of competition with both buyers and sellers. But during Fall and Winter the mass of people looking to sell or buy slows down which can benefit for either party.

If you would like to keep updated on a particular neighborhood or city, contact me and I will create a personal search that will send you up to date properties. This way you become familiar with the real estate market of your choice and well informed in your area.

Getting you on the GOAL Path to Homeownership is what I do best!

Yesterday, I was on the airplane on our way back from our honeymoon in Cancun, I felt God telling me to talk to the man sitting next to me. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to speak any English and my Spanish isn’t the greatest but I could feel God presence encouraging me to “be Bold and Courageous and ask the man if he knows Jesus Christ.”

So, I did. I took a deep breath and asked God to guide this conversation, not knowing where it was going to go and I asked the man in Spanish, “¿Conoces a Jesús Cristo?” The man looked at me and paused and said in Spanish I know of him but do not know him. We talked for about 30 minutes about God and having a personal relationship with him out of love not by force or by religion but just out of love and friendship. It was a great conversation, I later found out this man’s name was Jesús.

Now, I don’t know what this man was left thinking after our conversation only God does. But the point of this matter is, if we don’t act in Boldness and with Courage, how do we expect people or circumstances to change? God called us so that he can use us. You will not be used if you don’t step out of your comfort zone.

So if you desire change at work, in your home, or a relationship, be courageous and ask God to direct your words so that you can speak up. Because when you are quiet nobody will hear you. You will be useless and no change or growth will come out of you. And I know the last thing you want is to live with regret in your life, wishing and hoping you would of…..

God always encourages us to out to walk in Faith. He also encourage us to be Bold and Courageous. He mentions that many times in the bible. In the book of John 16:33, Jesus says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. Be Courageous! I have overcome the world.”

It is true what Jesus says, that we will have trouble in life. Some days will be amazingly awesome, while others are just horrible. You must understand that this is part of life but that you aren’t walking alone, unless you choose to.

So think about it right now, what is God telling you?

Statistics have shown that after 22 days of doing something it becomes a habit. Some habits are good while others aren’t so good but both good and bad habits change your path for your future. I’d like to help you with a habit that you might have and you probably don’t even realize what damage this habit is doing to you or your family. It’s that really cool thing in your living room or bedroom that you steer at and give more attention to then your children or spouse. It robs you from your life and creativity and even adds pounds to your beautiful body. Yes, this is that television that you just bought that’s mounted on your wall like a trophy.

For 30 days, do not turn on your television, actually disconnect it from your wall. And instead go outside for a walk around your block, say hi to neighbors that you have not met yet and read a book, something of value. By doing this it might feel hard for some and others you probably already do this.

I’d like to suggest a book of value, the Bible. This book will change your life if you allow it to. It is the #1 Best Seller for many years and it has transformed many lives. This book has basic instructions on how to live your life according to God’s will. If you don’t have a book, please email me and I will personally send one to you. Start with the book of John in the Bible, it’s in the New Testament. Let me know who it goes for you and if you are interested I can send you weekly devotionals that will allow you to reflect on God’s word.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is good, pleasing and perfect will of God.