In is a know fact in the San Diego North County area that Escondido buyers like to buy in the spring.  One of the main reasons is that tax season is over and they can now concentrate on their Escondido home search.   Another reason is that buyers like to buy in the spring so they are ready to move when school is out for the summer.  After summer the Escondido real estate market slows considerably.  So, the best months to have your Escondido house on the market are April through August. 

The San Diego North County real estate market is getting stronger.  Data Quick released results yesterday saying  the market has improved and prices have increased over this time last year.  The State of California is coming out with a new tax credit of $10,000 on May 1st  to help boost California real estate sales for new and first-time home buyers.  Interest rates are still relative low.   So the best thing you can do is list your Escondido real estate now.

To get a free CMA (competitive market analysis) of your Escondido home, contact Gary Harmon, your top Escondido Realtor.

Once you have written a contract on your Escondido real estate purchase and it has been accepted by the Escondido seller, your escrow should start.  Hopefully you have chosen to work with a full service escrow company like Pickford Escrow.  The following will describe what takes place during the four week escrow period based on a 30 day escrow period.

Week 1 – Opening Escrow on you Escondido home

• Escrow gets a copy of the fully executed purchase contract on your Escondido house.  Many times this includes counter offers.
• The Escondido buyer takes his deposit to escrow (usually within the first 3 days).
• The escrow company request lender information and/ or a pre-qual letter.  These can be provided by HomeServices Lending.
• Escrow opens a title order with the chosen title company.  Gary recommends California Title Company (CalTitle).
• Escrow request CC&R’s and payoff demands.
• Faxes escrow instructions to both Gary Harmon, your Escondido real estate agent, and the other Realtor.
• Sends out escrow packages to both the Escondido buyer and Escondido seller for completion.

Your Escondido Realtor, Gary Harmon will make sure the physical inspection, Disclosure Source natural hazard report, and pest control inspection are ordered.

Week 2 – Of your Escondido home escrow

• Gary Harmon, your top Escondido Realtor, will call escrow to make sure paperwork is being returned.
• The Escondido selling agent, will check to make sure the lender has the completed loan package.
• Make sure the credit report is in and the Escondido property appraisal is ordered.
• Title report and CC&R’s are sent to the Escondido buyer
• Check  to make sure termite inspection has been done and a copy forwarded to escrow.
• Check with Pickford Escrow to make sure payoff demands, HOA demands, and docs have been ordered.

Week 3 – Escrow on Escondido property continues

• You Escondido real estate agent checks with escrow to see what may still be outstanding. 
• Your Escondido Realtor follows up on outstanding items and checks loan status.
• Has the termite work on the Escondido real estate been finished?
• Have repairs been completed as specified in the Escondido home repair request?
• Order Escondido home protection plan from First American.

Final Week – Escondido home escrow

• Docs should now be back to escrow for a on  time closing
• Make an appointment with Escondido buyer to sign docs.  Also, let buyer know how much money to bring in.
• Go over any final items with your Escondido Realtor and transaction coordinator.
• All docs go back to the lender and escrow coordinates with lender to fund the Escondido buyer’s loan.
• When the loan funds, and documents record, your Escondido home escrow closes.  Your Escondido real estate agent will get you your key.

For more information on escrow, title, etc., contact Gary Harmon, your best Escondido Realtor.

A comparative market analysis helps you if you are thinking of either buying Escondido homes or selling an Escondido home.  You can’t get an accurate number of the value of your Escondido property by just looking at an Internet site like Zillo.  To get an accurate picture you need to have your Escondido Realtor do a personalized CMA for your particular need.  Your Realtor will dig deeper,  make numerous phone calls to other Realtors, rather than just look at the most recent sales prices in the multiple listing service.  He will evaluate how long each Escondido home has been on the market.  He will look at the motivation of the Escondido seller.  Your Escondido Realtor will check out the condition of the home and what type of sale took place.  Was it a short sale, REO, or regular sale?  All have an affect on the final sales price of the Escondido home.  As you can see the superficial comparison of Escondido homes and their sales will no longer do.  Such an approach could even be misleading.

Before you buy an Escondido home or sell Escondido real estate, get an accurate picture by contacting Gary Harmon, you top Escondido Realtor.

My answer is as follows:  You have some very good advice from fellow agents, but my advice is to RUN AWAY from that house. There are many good Escondido homes on the market and myself or any other fine Escondido Realtor would be glad to help you find one. Auctions are a hard way to buy and no-one has your six.  Also, you will need to sell your Escondido home someday and would have to disclose to a potential buyer that your home had a cracked slab. Even if it is fixed and is perfect, future Escondido home buyers will have doubts and skip it in favor of a home with no preceived problems. We all have enough problems, leave this one for someone else.

If you would like my help in finding a great Escondido home call me at 760-745-1220 or check out my blog at http://www.garyharmon.com or web at http://www.homeinfosandiego.com.

New legislation was signed into California law in December of 2009 effecting us here in San Diego North County.   There are several points that Escondido home  buyers and Escondido home sellers should be aware of:

1. A seller of REO residential Escondido real estate with four or fewer units “shall not require directly or indirectly as a condition of selling the Escondido property that title insurance covering the Escondido property or escrow service provided in connection with the sale of the property be purchased by the buyer from a particular title insurer or escrow agent.”  What  this means in plain language is that the bank, selling bank owned property, cannot require you the Escondido buyer to user their title insurance company or their escrow company.  This is only true if you the buyer are paying for these services.  Gary’s winning team member, Pickford Escrow  and The Escrow Firm have closed over 9,000 REO (bank real estate owned) transactions in the last 18 months.
2. The bill provides that “sale” is intended by the Legislature to “include the receipt of an offer to purchase that  residential  Escondido property.” – means it is intended to prohibit sellers from conditioning the receipt of an offer to buy an Escondido REO property on the buyer’s agreement to use a specific title insurer or escrow agent.  That means the bank has to look at your offer reguardless of which title or escrow company you choose.  California Title Company, one of Gary’s winning team members is also experienced in bank REO’s sales.
3. AB 957 does NOT prohibit an Escondido buyer “from agreeing to accept the services of a title insurer or escrow agent recommended by the seller” PROVIDED THAT “written notice of the right to make an independent selection of those services is first provided by the seller to the buyer.”  That means it is  ok to use who the bank recommends provided they disclose that it is your choice.
4. AB 957 only applies to title insurance or escrow services “purchased by” or paid for by the Escondido buyer.  That means if the bank is paying for both sides, they get to pick.
5. A seller who violates AB 957 “Shall be liable to a buyer in an amount equal to three times all charges made for the title insurance or escrow service.” A violation of AB 957 is also deemed to be a violation of the seller’s license law which can subject the seller to discipline by its licensing entity.  

Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor, Pickford Escrow,  and California Title Company are excited about working with you on transacations that we could not work on before this law was passed. We look forward to closing your next REO deal!  Contact Gary Harmon to get more information on bank foreclosure sales.  You can also do a free foreclosures search by using Foreclosue Radar  provide by Gary Harmon.

In the past few years, the way prospective Escondido home buyers find and purchase Escondido real

estate has changed. Forever gone are the days when Escondido buyers came to town, were attracted

to the Prudential California Realty sign and stopped into the local Prudential Realty office to see what

was available by going through the San Diego MLS book.  Also, gone is the practice of going through

the San Diego Union or North County Times newspaper ads each Sunday for the family looking to

purchase an Escondido home. Foot traffic, people seeing the Prudential yard sign, your Escondido

Realtor doing floor duty—all these things that use to produce buyer prospects for Escondido homes

for sale, are  not in the quantity they used to.

Escondido home buyers start their searches on the Internet.

Things have changed and the Escondido home buyer usually starts their Escondido real estate search

on the Internet.  Most start with a Google search.  Today’s Escondido home buyer is most likely to

simply sit down in front of a laptop, go to Google, type in “Escondido homes for sale,” Escondido real

estate,” or Escondido Realtor.  Your agents website or blog must appear on the first two pages of the

search results for the above terms that buyers are using.  If your Escondido Realtor is Gary Harmon,

his blog www.GaryHarmon.com will be on the first two pages for all the important search terms and

your home will be found.  Increase the chances of selling your Escondido real estate, contact Gary

Harmon.

Spruce Up Interior

We have concentrated on the outside of your Escondido home and now it is time to go inside and make some changes. Try to look at your Escondido property through the eyes of a potential buyer. Remember, “People buy what they see and not what will be.” Most of the suggestions that follow will help improve any kind of Escondido real estate. Most of these ideas apply to all room in the house.

• The first thing you probably should notice is the carpet.  Is it clean, is it a good current color, is in worn or in good shape?   I know you are thinking that the Escondido buyer can buy new carpet when they move in, but don’t count on it.  Remember the slogan above and do what needs to be done.  New carpet that updates and cleans up your Escondido home can easily pay for itself.
• The next large thing your buyers may notice is the walls.  Consider getting rid of any “strong” colors.  Neutralize your Escondido house.  Remember you want the buyer to think of it as their potential home.  Clean all walls where necessary, patch holes, and repaint if needed.  Escondido real estate with new carpet and paint seldom stays on the market for long.  It also lets you get the most money for you Escondido home.
• Remember our saying, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness?”  That goes double when marketing your home.   Give every room in the house a thorough deep cleaning.  Some buyers need the home move in ready.
• Almost forgot the most important thing, “Escondido homes that smell are Escondido homes that don’t sell.”  You may have grow a custom to the pet smells in your home, but the potential Escondido buyer will notice them right away.  How do you know if you have pet smells?  You could also ask a friend, neighbor, or your Escondido Realtor if they smell anything.  Problem with this is that people trying to be polite and nice don’t always give you the straight scoop.  Here is the rule.  If you have a dog or cat, you have smells.

Work on the items above,  see the other hints in my earlier post, and contact Gary Harmon, that’s me, to get your Escondido home sold fast.

1. The grass needs to be freshly cut and edged.  In the summer in Escondido, this might mean mowing it two times a week.   Feed the lawn with a good fertlizer at least monthly.  Nothing impresses like a deep green lawn.  If there are bare  spots, add a little grass seed and topper.
2. In the Escondido real estate area people like to see lots of colored flowers.  Buy a few extra ones while you Escondido home is for sale.  Make sure the flower beds are free of weeds. 
3. If you have pets, espedially dogs, make sure their outside area is clean.  Pick up any unsightly items on the lawn or in the flowerbeds.
4. Take a look at your trees and shrubbery.  It probably could use a good  trimming.   Escondido home sellers are used to seeing  landscaping everyday and often loose track of how much it has overgrown.
5. If you have anything like a fishpond, fountain, birdbath, etc., make sure it is clean and in good repair.
6. Many Escondido sellers have small woodpiles.  Make sure these are nicely stacked and not touching the house.  Termite inspectors hate that.
7. Thinking of leaving something with the house like a swing set?  If so, make sure it looks good and is in safe working order.
8. Yard lights are famous for not working.  If you have yard lights, fix them.   The buyers will probably ask their agent if they work. 
9. Next to your yard, your driveway is one of the first things a Escondido home buyer will see.   Park your cars on the street and leave the driveway for your buyers (guest).  If there are oil stains or rust stains, have them removed.
10. If you are a junk collector remove the piles of anything from you yard.  Consider getting rid of anything you know you won’t be moving to the next house.  Try www.Craigslist.org.  One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

There are many more things that we could discuss that may make the outside of your Escondido home more appealing.  Take a few minutes and stand across the street from your home.  Look at it from the buyers eyes.  Think what would make this home look better if you did not have to do it or pay for it.  Then, do it and pay for it.  You will more than get your money back.  Watch for more tips on how to sell your Escondido real estate.  Need immediate help, call, text, or fill out the form to contact Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor.

The government is stepping in once again under a RESPA reform to try to protect the Escondido home buyer.  The problem has been where the lenders upfront “good-faith estimate” is way off from what the actual charges are on the Escondido real estate purchase at close of escrow. This has been especially true in title insurance and settlement charges. Starting January 1, 2010, there will be three categories of charges; Escondido home fees that cannot increase from upfront estimates, fees that have a 10% wiggle factor, and fees that can increase without limit.

Zero Increase Category

• Escondido home loan origination fees
• Points for a specific interest rate
• San Diego County transfer taxes
• Processing and underwriting charges

Basicially, if the lender has total control, they must be totally accurate.

10% Increase Category

Charges in this category apply to the total of all charges and not to any individual charge.

• Title services and the lender’s title insurance policy when the lender requires you to use their preferred services
• San Diego County recording charges
• Other services selected by the lender such as the appraiser, credit report, or upfront MIP

Note, the above charges are charges the lender has some control over, but not total control.  The government gives them 10% wiggle room.

Charges That Can Change Without Limit

These are charges totally selected by the Escondido buyer and the lender does not have any control.

• Initial escrow deposit
• Daily interest charges
• Escondido real estate homeowner’s insurance
• Borrower chosen Escondido home title insurance
• Escondido purchaser escorw charges where buyer chose escrow

Hopefully, these new RESPA guidelines will stop surprises at the closing of your Escondido home.   Questions about these charges, please contact Gary Harmon, your Escondido Realtor, or Joyce Nathan at HomeServices Lending.