“It’s not that easy, being green.” -Kermit

Hey all!

What a crazy heat wave we had on the 7th and 8th! Hope you’re all keeping cool and keeping safe during these Covid times. This month, I thought I’d share something to help liven up your living space, and make life just a little brighter for you all. Bringing greenery into your living space can help brighten up your life, especially during these trying times.

Click the picture to learn more!

Take care, everyone, and take care of those around you!

-Frank

“Take care of yourselves, and each other.” -Jerry Springer

As time passes in the weird world we’re now living in, it can seem hard to understand what is happening around us. Fortunately, there are experts who can help us look at the numbers and create some semblance of a prediction. With June’s numbers out and available, we can take a look at what things might look like during the month of July.

Check out this article to learn more!

Remember to stay safe, and take care of yourselves as well.

-Frank

“Here comes the sun, and I say, ‘it’s all right.'” -George Harrison

The economy is difficult to predict because the numbers are typically not available until the end of the month. That’s not to say it’s impossible, however- and based on the numbers, things seem to be getting better. Check out this informative document for more information about layoff by market type and industry, number of foreclosures, months of inventory, COVID-19 stats as they relate to the nation and compare San Diego, and a focus on Logan Heights and the market it provides.

Alan Nevin’s Economic Report for May 2020

Take care of yourself during these trying times, and remember, I’m never too busy for your referrals!

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future” – Yogi Berra

The biggest question facing people right now is the future of Real Estate prices. In a nutshell, after reading multiple articles, many of them below say that sales will drop significantly in the short to mid term but reboot in the next 12 – 18 months. Prices will pull back no more than 3 % over last year (Less than 1 % throughout the county) over the next year but will continue their upward trend in the mid to long term. This is due to supply and demand, always the driving factors in any market. The fundamentals in the housing market are good; we have good demand and short supply, hence a solid market.

Zillow spends a fortune on research and while their “zestimates” are by their own admission “a starting point” which should not be taken as gospel,  I have no problem with their metadata which looks at the overall market. There are sufficient data points there to minimize margin of error and from the 10,000 ft view, things in San Diego are looking good. If you want more detail on your particular area, please let me know and I will help you.

Is this a good time to buy? Yes, if you can get a loan- they are difficult right now due to limited liquidity. Rates are super low and you can fix your monthly costs for the next 30 years. Is this a good time to sell? Yes!! Inventory is low and buyers are still competing for homes that are fairly priced. Multiple offers are still not uncommon.

Here are some of the articles I referenced:

The housing market has bottomed: Zillow Senior Principal Economist – Yahoo Finance

What Home Buyers and Sellers Can Expect in 2020, as Pandemic Revises Forecast -Realtor.com

https://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/the-podcast-every-homeowner-needs-to-hear-an-interview-with-dr-lawrence-yun-214/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWmprNFpESXdNRFV4WmpjMyIsInQiOiJCQVRFKzNiM25iZjR5ckJiclFPYmIzR3luN05aUDQ4NEpKVFd1OG5XeXJFUWQ0c0JXOVRiZmJicVF1UjM1NVhhcHhqYnF3ajYxV3pJZDdTblhKMjl2dVZaN1RhbFBSQjZ6UHVWbVRFbTE0RTR4ZkljRUJTODVyVjBWalwvSFF2amkifQ%3D%3D
https://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/the-coming-rebound-with-david-stevens-212/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTm1Jek5ETTNOakUzTmpZMiIsInQiOiJibkNJQWVXTTRmZ3hsVERPV05EVU1VcDY2MGZ6ekhVYlU0d2M2K3Rpekk5Y3pKUE11T1NrYVdpNWhJeXhCazVyQllFUEpXcXJrNDdEeEhnM1lMK25JaVIwc09PWGswU1ZBeUFOdXlQblJ6UXVRS3NHOFJhaTN6YUFhbmh1eWtrVSJ9

What Home Buyers and Sellers Can Expect in 2020, as Pandemic Revises Forecast

Top 10 Things To Do While “Social Distancing”

Hi all,

Life has been unpredictable lately with the Stay at Home order, and these are confusing times for everyone. While we may not be able to go out and enjoy the world, there are still a few things that we can do to stave off cabin fever and keep ourselves sane in a world of madness.

1. Have a Game Night

Chances are that you have some board games in your house that you haven’t played in a while. Now is the perfect time to break out the games and do something as a family or a couple. If you haven’t got any games around the house, there are several apps available on mobile devices that you can play together with others.

2. Get Ahead of Spring Cleaning

Chances are your house has accumulated some clutter since the last time you organized things. Reorganizing things and getting rid of stuff you no longer use or need can help you feel more in control of your life, which is especially important when so much control has been taken away from us.

3. Cook Local Staples in Your Kitchen!

A lot of foods don’t require that many elaborate ingredients. In fact, you may have most of them around your kitchen already! Look up some recipes, or watch videos on YouTube, and get some ideas of things you can make while in the comfort of your own home. Maybe you’ll learn a new skill in the process!

4. Have an At-Home Date Night

This one is for all you couples out there. Spending time in close proximity 24/7 with anyone can be exhausting, even if that person is your partner. Having a date night can remind you of everything you love about them- and help you unwind after a long day.

5. Read a Book

Whether it’s a book on your shelf, a book on your kindle or smartphone, a comic, a series you’ve been meaning to catch up on, or something else, reading is a good way to unwind and focus on something that’s not the world around you.

6. Start Spring Home Maintenance

Spring heralds the end of winter, and that means that there’s potentially a lot of projects that need to be done around the house. If you have the tools you need around the house, now might be a good time to take care of anything your house might need done.

7. Brainstorm Ideas for Home Improvement Projects

If there’s nothing to fix around your house, perhaps it’s time to think about what you can do to make your home an even better place to live. Talk to the other people in the house, and see if there’s anything you can think of to do that will improve your quality of life while you’re living there.

8. Work Out at Home

Just because the gyms are closed, doesn’t mean you have to stop doing your exercises. Things like Yoga only require a soft surface, and there are plenty of ways to work out your body without leaving your house.

9. Go For a Walk & Look at Nature

Places may be closed, but you can still go out and get some fresh air. Whether it’s around your neighborhood, a park nearby, or somewhere like Balboa Park where there are plenty of sights, getting out of the house to take a walk can help keep you sane. Just remember to keep 6 feet away from strangers.

10. Get Rest & Strengthen Your Immune System

The most important thing is to take care of yourself- don’t stress yourself out if you’re not able to do any of these things. Taking a break and getting some rest is something you can do as well – and, in fact, you should do it, to help keep your body healthy.

In addition, many people have to work from home right now. Here are some suggestions for things you can do to make this process easier.

1. Location, Location, Location

Finding a dedicated workplace to do your work can help you be more productive. While it may be comfortable to work on your bed or on the couch, your brain doesn’t associate those places with work, and thus it may be more difficult for you to get things done if you’re trying to work there.

2. Bring The Outdoors In 

Adding plants to your environment may help relax you, brighten the room’s atmosphere, and make the air quality in the house better. Or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could try and grow some food in your house to both give you some plants and provide food down the line!

3. Repurpose your Commute

Time spent traveling is now time you’re at home. You can use the time to do other things, like exercise, eat, and spend time with your family. Or, you can use it to set up your workplace to suit your needs for the day.

4. Show your face

Teleconferences have become commonplace as of late, requiring people to use technology to communicate. Consider using your webcam or camera during these conferences to show people your face- it can help with communication, and help you feel less lonely in the process.

5. Create lists

Keeping tabs on what needs to be done for the day can help you get things done. By keeping track of what you need to do, you can figure out how much time you need to spend on an individual task, and keep yourself organized for the day.

These are tough times that we’re facing- but remember that you’re not facing them alone. Take care of yourself, and don’t be afraid to reach out to the people around you if you need someone to talk to.

RATES ARE SUPER LOW- Should I refinance?

Hi all.

This is a special time for homeowners. Rates are so low it would be foolish to not examine if it’s a good time to refinance (and to buy too)!

If you haven’t refinanced your existing mortgage in the last 6 months or so, it’s a great idea to call Kim Carlson at 858-729-4682 and see if she can save you some money. Kim and I have worked together for years with her helping my clients and also helping me and my family on a number of occasions. Feel free to text her (858-729-4688) if that’s easier for you.

I can help you individually in trying to ascertain if that is a good thing to do but that decision is pretty complicated and too involved for a short blog post. Let me know if you want to discuss this one on one. I am happy to help. However, there are six general questions you can ask your lender when you are looking to refinance or take a loan on a purchase. They are as follows:

Ultimately, you’ll want to talk to your lender about anything that you’re confused about or unclear on. It’s their job to help you every step of the way when you’re getting a loan, so make sure you’re clear on everything before you decide to go forward with your decision.

In 94 Percent of Major Markets, Home Prices Up

Hi all,

Happy Valentines’ Day! I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the holiday, and that you have something very special planned for your partner today.

Did you know that home prices are remaining on an upscale? According to the National Association of Realtors, buyers continue to lean on low mortgage rates, and household incomes rose to $79,740—an increase of roughly $2,650 year-over-year! For first-time homebuyers, affordability also expanded last quarter. The average first-time homebuyer needed $48,288 for a mortgage, approximately $575 less year-over-year, and their average monthly mortgage payment slid to $1,006, assuming they had a 10 percent down payment.

If you’d like to know more, please follow this link.

Thank you all for your continued support, and may the rest of this year bring you good fortune, both in and out of the housing industry.

2020 Market Update

If you’d like a transcript of the above video, check this link!

Hello everyone,

Happy New Year! With 2019 over, we’re entering the new decade that is 2020, and with it comes a whole new year of adventures. Remember to take it easy, and not let the little things stress you out as you tackle your endeavors, whatever those may be.

To help with that, this month I’ve put together a video to help give you an idea of what my predictions are for the world of Real Estate in the coming year. Many people are concerned about the state of the market, but there’s nothing to be afraid of – especially if you have someone who can help you navigate the market. There’s a lot of misinformation out there in today’s day and age, so I thought I’d take the time to make sure everyone has the facts before going into the market.

If you or anyone you know needs help, or are interested in buying, selling, or renting a property, please give me a call. I’m always happy to give you a hand in the world of Real Estate.

Take care of yourselves, and may this be an even better year than the last.