Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties What Identity Thieves Want from Your Facebook Profile Social media is just that—social. And a big part of it is sharing photos when you’re out celebrating something, such as your birthday. However, these two things—photos of yourself and your date of birth—can be all someone needs to steal your identity and start opening bank accounts, credit cards and other things in your name. Frank Abagnale, a famous fraud-prevention specialist, has said that “98 percent of stealing a person’s identity is just finding their date of birth and an image of them.” While you may not want to delete every photo of yourself from Facebook, or leave your birthday off your profile page, you can at least limit who sees them. Hiding Your Date of Birth Click on your name and then click on the About tab. On the left are several categories that you can edit. Click on Contact and Basic Info to get to your birthd...

 San Diego Real Estate Market Report The weather is warming up and so is the real estate market. Demand for homes is still climbing in San Diego. There are just not enough homes for sale. But, don't be discouraged! I'm still able to help my buyers close on their homes.  And, if you want to sell, I have so many buyers lined up! Just saying - the time is now!    Below I have this month's Market Report for San Diego County, and below that is last two month's reports, so you can make your own comparison. I believe that as Spring comes - we will see a normal warming of the market. So, whether you're considering buying or selling, give me a call so we can talk about your realistic options in our unique housing market.    If you know anyone who might be interested in receiving this market update every month, please have them sign up at this  link.   April - Ponder this -  "Not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do is the secret of happin...

Nobel Prize recipient, Richard Thaler, in his research into seemingly irrational economic behaviors, "found that consumers generally search too little, get confused while evaluating complex alternatives, and are slow to switch from past choices, even if it costs them." "Why are consumers leaving money on the table?" Based on this behavior, a borrower securing a mortgage might depend on their existing banking relationship or a single referral from a friend or agent rather than shopping multiple lenders. When shopping for a lower mortgage rate, consider that not all lenders share the same business practices.   Some may lure unsuspecting borrowers to a rate, knowing full well that they cannot deliver on it.   After making a loan application and supplying information necessary for approval, they reveal that the rate is not available for "whatever" reason. They're counting on the borrower wanting to get into the home because the closin...

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you want to know the decision will be a good one. And for many, that means thinking about what home prices are projected to do in the coming years and how that could impact your investment. This year, we aren’t seeing home prices fall dramatically. As the year goes on, however, some markets may go up in value while others may lose value. That’s why it’s helpful to keep the long-term view in mind. Experts project a return to a steadier rate of price appreciation in the years that follow. Home Price Appreciation in the Years Ahead Over 100 economists, investment strategists, and housing market analysts were polled by Pulsenomics in their latest quarterly Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES). The report indicates what they believe will happen with home prices over the next five years. As the graph below shows, after mild depreciation this year, these experts forecast home prices will return to more normal levels of appreciation through 2027. T...

  Spring is here!  We need homes on the market in San Diego! The bidding has started up again. 10 offers on one house.... Thankfully, the skyrocketing prices aren't yet there. But this summer might be the best time to transition out of your house. Upsize or downsize the long-term benefits of homeownership still outweigh rising interest rates.    Ponder this -  "Not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness" J.M. Barrie. Of course, not all of us get to bring characters like Peter Pan into the world for a living like J.M. Barrie. But, I for one love to bring people home. My job helps people move through life's biggest changes. It's a special job, and I do it for you.   As always, I am here for you, your family, and friends.   Hope Leitner, CRS, CalDRE #01874321 Hope Opens Doors   Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, California Properties Christie D. Horn and Associates 3790 Via de la Valle, Suite 201, Del Mar, CA 92014...

A person's decision to sell their home comes with a lot of other decisions causing an owner to stress or procrastinate.   Early in the process, the owner will consider selling the home "As Is" to avoid the looming issues that accompany selling a home. From a seller's standpoint, "as is" means the buyer will purchase the home in its current condition without asking for any repairs.   While it is convenient for the seller to take this approach, the normal trade out is the property will not result in the highest possible sales price. Regardless of how the home is sold, the seller is required to disclose all defects which include repair history, condition of systems and appliances, water damage, pest infestation, radon, and other things that affect the value and livability of the home. From a buyer's point of view, they may think there is something wrong with the home which could result in them avoiding the home completely or making a substantial...

Doing nothing may be a lot more costly than doing something.   With rates twice what they were in 2021 and the first half of 2022, many buyers are sitting on the sideline.   For some, it has to do with not being able to afford the home they want at today's mortgage rates and for others, it is not willing to accept that the low rates that were available are not only gone, but may never be available again. In the late 70's, rates were around 10% and in the early 80's went up to 18%.   Interestingly, many buyers went ahead and purchased at those record level highs and refinanced a few years later when rates came down.   By the end of the decade, prices had continued to increase so that buyers had a significant equity in their home. Tenants who waited for the rates to go down didn't see savings because the price of homes had gone up.   More importantly, they missed the opportunity to build equity in their home through amortization and appreciation. I...