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Local News for Buyers

The inventory has increased from last year so it is easier to find the right home. Multiple offers are still showing up on some new listings if they are priced correctly, or in areas with a shortage of homes for sale.

Number of re-sale houses & condos available in San Diego County is increasing. We are now at 13,204 on 8/10/05 compared to 12,204 on 7/11/05. The number of properties going into escrow dropped from 6514 to 6310 in the same time frame. Last year at this time, we were at 7341 houses and condos on the market and 6520 in escrow. This is the reason that prices are flattening. More inventory and about the same number of buyers. This is creating a buying opportunity.

Higher inventory in many areas is giving buyers time to look around. Buyers do not have to make an immediate decision on a property unless it is new on the market and/or priced right. The market is still gaining in price but not as much as in pervious years.

The key to future price increases is in the interest rate. We have had a wonderful long run of historically low interest rates. This has allowed prices to rise and yet the home payment has remained relatively level. The lenders are continually developing many new programs that allow buyers to get into homes that they would not have been able to buy previously.
Call me to get started now at 760-436-0087.

New loan programs are being released: 30 or 40 year amortized loan with the first 10 years at interest only! Conforming loan guidelines are being increased to about $370K, which will help buyers in the lower price ranges or those with smaller down payments. Please contact me for a referral to a great lender.

Here is what I can do for you, the buyer:
http://sandiegohomes4u.com/Home_Buyer_Services.htm

Please call me at 760-436-0087 or see my site at:
http://www.sandiegohomes4u.com/MLS_Search.htm

Should you Buy Now or Wait? That depends on your cash position.
For a full report, see my recent article at:
http://sandiegohomes4u.com/buy_now_or_wait.htm

Local News for Sellers

The market has slowed and the incredible appreciation we have seen over the past two years appears to have leveled off. If you price your home in anticipation of 1-3% appreciation a month, it will be sitting there a long time. Market time is increasing. Many sellers are reducing their prices in realization of the need to be competitive, in light of the increasing inventory. The number of buyer showings is down in many areas.

We are about even between a buyers & a sellers market in much of the County. It is expected to stay that way as long as interest rates climb slowly and stay below 7%.

Where we go from here depends on inventory levels and interest rates. Right now, inventory is up significantly, which gives buyers more time to compare your home to others. It is also causing the marketing time to increase by 58% over last year. Some areas are going up in price and a few are flat or going down in price.

Call me to discuss:

Our Guarantees to You

Please see the Sellers Handbook at
http://sandiegohomes4u.com/WelcomeHomeSeller.htm
It also gives you information on my personal philosophy and what others say about my service.
It shows you how I aggressively advertise and promote your property.

Lions Club Events

Lions Club Pancake Breakfast on Sat., Sept 17th – 7:30 to 10AM
Join the Encinitas Lions at Moonlight Beach at the end of 4th St in Encinitas for the second annual Woodie Fest and Pancake Breakfast. The upper parking lot will be full of great Woodies from all over the area. Stop and talk to the owners because they are all on display. Breakfast tickets are only $5 and all proceeds go to help our various sight related projects.

Lions Club Sight Impaired Surf event on Sun., Aug. 28th - 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Join the Encinitas Lions Club, Swamis Surf Club and the San Dieguito Surf Academy as we host the San Diego & Vista Blind Recreations Centers for a day at the beach. Last year we had about 30 sight impaired guests and 10 of them went surfing…yes, surfing! Several of them even stood up for more than one ride.

If you would like to help cook or serve lunch, help in the water or just talk with these wonderful folks, call me at 760-436-0087. See pictures of a previous event at: http://encinitas-lions-club.com/surf-pictures.htm

Real Estate & Consumer News and Advice

August Real Estate Articles
Click on the link to view this additional newsletter full of interesting and useful information that you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month's issue includes topics such as:

Daily Real Estate News

Click here for daily articles in the news about Real Estate.
You may want to bookmark this page for daily reference.

Real Estate CyberTips NEW!
We are pleased to be adding a new section to our E-Newsletter, which will provide you with monthly Cyber tips and tricks along with our pointers to Internet places of special interest to real estate owners, investors and related professionals.

This month's issue includes the following tips:

I hope you enjoy the new "Real Estate CyberTips".

Free Real Estate Reports
Click here to view over 20 free reports on buying, selling and more.

Foreclosure Information
In the last quarter of 2004, there were only 771 foreclosures in California. That compares with 1846 in the last quarter of 2003.

There are two reasons for the decease.
1- Lenders have stipulated that there should be a 75% “workout” on defaults. The bank will allow the late payers to do one or more of the following: pay a portion or nothing for a few months and add it to the balance at the end of the loan, reduce the interest rate for a short time or refi to a different loan.

2 - Property values have gone up so much that almost everybody has equity. They will not be foreclosed on unless they are doing something illegal or they are stubborn or uneducated on the process.

If you know someone who has trouble with their payments, have them call me. At Taylor Place, we do “Foreclosure counseling” to help people understand all their options and make an informed decision.
Please let me know at any time if I may be of help with any of your real estate needs.

BUY OR SELL A HOME WITH ME, USE OUR MOVING TRUCK FREE!
FOR LIFE!
If you have EVER bought or sold a home with us...you can still use it too!
Our Truck is also available for use by Non-Profit & Community Groups.
See a picture on the web site at www.SanDiegoHomes4u.com/home.htm
Some restrictions will apply. Please contact us for more information, or to reserve the truck's use.

Nationwide Realtor Referral Service
Please contact me today if you, or someone you know, wants to buy or sell any home, anywhere.
I have a great network of top Buyers or Sellers agents, Nationwide.

I can help you with New Construction & Condo Conversions
The builder states that I must accompany you on your 1st visit to the development and before you register online, or I can not help you.  Builders make no exceptions to that rule.  There are many advantages to my assistance and it does not cost you anything.  Even if you are just curious, call us first.  We love to show model homes too.

Please, feel welcome to forward this information on to anyone who may be interested.

Thanks for reading,

Sunshine Smith, Realtor
Dennis Smith, SRES, ABR, e-PRO, Realtor

760-436-0087 or toll free at 888-668-9053