It’s not all sunsets and surfers here in Southern California. (Okay, sometimes it definitely is.) Three years ago, I decided to leave my life in Boston, MA and move across the country to sunny San Diego. Although the two cities couldn’t be more different in many ways, I truly love my life here on the West Coast. I was lucky enough to …
What $500,000 Buys You in 10 Different Cities
Buying a home is arguably one of the biggest decisions you will make in your lifetime and deciding where to live is equally as important. Finding a balance between your dream home and the reality of your financial situation can be unsettling but there are a number of things you can do to achieve a compromise. Aside from mapping out …
Two Quick Ways Realtors Can Use Psychology to Close Their Next Sale
The real estate industry continues to make modest gains after recovering from the housing bubble that started in 2006 and ultimately hit record lows in 2012. In February the National Association of Realtors® reported that existing-home sales are up 4.7 percent in comparison to last year. Additionally, President Obama is working to make it easier for first-time homebuyers to get …
Three Unique Ways to Invest in Real Estate That You May Not Know
The U.S. housing and commercial real estate markets are on a slow upward trajectory and it is clear that the economy has climbed out of the giant hole left by the 2007 Great Recession. One of the most staggering statistics from this unsettled time was reported by FiveThirtyEight.com and it provides a sense of just how far the market fell. …
The Psychology Behind Real Estate and Why it Matters to Homebuyers
Buying a home is a big deal and the decision making process is even more complex than you may think. We all know the logical questions to ask ourselves, is it the right price? Is this the right location? What we may not realize is the element of psychology that is present when deciding to buy a home. After months …
Make Room for Your Longboard: 5 Steps to Better Storage
Southern California is no stranger to beach-side apartments, condos and residential properties. But because many properties are close to the ocean they can be small and trying to fit surfboards, bikes and the like into a beachside space can be challenging. Not everyone has the luxury of an attic or unfinished basement to utilize for storage. Because of this, it …
Is Your Investment Strategy Recession-Proof?
It is perhaps the most feared phase of our economy’s traditional business cycle— the dreaded recession. A recession is defined as an extended period of significant decline in economic activity including negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth, faltering confidence on the part of consumers and businesses, falling real incomes as well as weakening employment, sales and production. What can you …
From the Ground Up in Carmel Valley
Bringing a development from blueprint to building is quite an adventure. The amount of work and care that goes into these projects is really incredible so sometimes we like to show off our work as it progresses towards the final stages of completion! From the pouring of the foundation to the decisions made on finishes and hardware, it is all about …
Agent High Five: A Q&A with Jerome Morlet
A Q&A WITH JEROME MORLET! “ON NEW LISTINGS, I LIKE TO MARKET THE HOME AS IF IT WERE THE LAST HOUSE FOR SALE IN THE CITY…” – Jerome Morlet Take a moment and get to know Jerome through this brief Q&A we had with him about San Diego, his business, and what he’s doing outside of Real Estate! Do your …
5 Things to Look for in a Real Estate Brokerage Firm
Whether you are making a transition to a new brokerage firm or just starting your career in real estate, as an agent, choosing the right brokerage to work with is a big decision that can have a direct effect on your business. Your real estate brokerage can be so much more than where you hang your license. It has the …