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    Welcome! Join us as we cover local news, real estate and lifestyle.  We will review restaurants and services.  Real estate news is also a part of our lifestye.  We also hope that you wil contribute to our knowledge base if you know of any good services, restaurants or anything related to San Diego lifestyle.

     

     

     

    Thursday
    Sep022010

    Downtown San Diego Condos: Short Sale Updates. Run from RCS

    What is happening in today's short sale world?  What have we learned working with our San Diego real estate owners?

    There is some good news with short sales and some bad news.  Let's talk about the good news first. Many lenders have seen it is better for their bottomline to work with a seller and buyer than go through the foreclosure process.  These lenders are actually starting to be cooperative.  The Bank of America has adopted a computer based short sale process called Equator.  You can upload required documentation and see the short-sale process unfold.  If you are missing something, the system notifies you.  If you need something, the system notifies you.  The B of A is making it easier for the consumer to work through the mess they have found themselves in.  

    Other lenders are not acting in good faith.  RCS (Residential Credit Solutions)  is one of those lenders as far as we are concerned.  We have been working with RCS for a year on a short sale and they have no intention of working with our seller.  Our seller is in the military.  She has been transferred.  She tried to keep up with payments.  It finally became too much.  We had a short sale buyer.  In our opinion, RCS acted in bad faith and our seller  lost the buyer.  We have been trying to obtain a loan modification for our seller.  She really wanted to keep the property.  RCS put up so many roadblocks, it became evident they would not work with a modification.

    Our client is being deployed out of the country.  We tried the Sailor and Serviceman's Relief Act.  Our client should have been covered.  RCS spent the time and money to have attorneys find a loophole and our client is losing her condo to foreclosure tomorrow.  We are depressed about this.  She did everything she could to keep her condo.  We did everything we could to help her obtain a modification or workout.  The short-sale negotiator we used in this case did everything he could to help her.  RCS did nothing but hang up the phone and refuse to work in good faith.

    We are sad and we are depressed because we know our client is not the only one experiencing this at the hands of RCS.  It makes you wonder why?  Are they receiving money on the backend from the U.S. Government?  What is really going on?  We don't know.  We will probably never know.  All we know is that in our opinion and experience,  RCS acted in bad faith and they probably aren't the only lender around doing that.  Our hats are off to lenders like the Bank of America, Wacovia and Wells Fargo.  They are at least trying to help the consumer.

    If you would like some additional information regarding selling your home or condo, visit our Oops It Didn't Sell website. We have a FREE booklet you can download.  If you have any short-sale experiences to share, let us know.

    Thursday
    Aug262010

    Downtown San Diego Condos: San Diego Crowns

    We have exciting news with the launch of our new website San Diego Crowns.  Our Downtown San Diego website is so specific we think it narrows the market too much for those who don't want to purchase a Downtown San Diego condo.  San Diego Crowns is a search site that allows you to not only search San Diego, but also other counties in California.  This MLS feed (Multiple Listing Service) is updated constantly and should be user friendly.

    Our new San Diego Crowns website

    We would love some feedback and suggestions for this new site, so when you have time, visit San Diego Crowns , navigate around and see how you feel about this search site.  We are still working on San Diego Crowns, but any and all comments are welcomed.

     

    Saturday
    Aug212010

    Downtown San Diego Condos: Is this an Icon unit?

    Part of our job as Downtown San Diego real estate agents is to preview properties in buildings such as Icon.  Icon is located in the East Village of Downtown San Diego, and is one of the few buildings that offers a good view into Petco Park.  Our previous posting regarding Icon's views will show you the good about the building.

    During our preview of Icon, here is one of the units we viewed.

    Icon Courtyard

    Doesn't look so bad does it?  Great location for a courtyard view....

    Wait until you see the unit's condition.   It is amazing. View from Icon unit

    Let's view the interior condition of the unit because it is most interesting.

    Icon unit kitchen or lack therof

    Someone gave this Icon kitchen the "stripped bare" lookThe bathroom is no different.

    Don't wait to take a shower in this Icon unit bath

    As you can guess, someone lost this unit to foreclosure.  Not only did they take their belongings when they left, they also took everything including the kitchen sink.  While I can understand the anger and frustration over losing a unit, it is hard to justify the destruction of this unit.  When you lose you lose and it is just unfortunate that someone felt the need to be so destructive.

    Now, with all that being said, this is a perfect unit for a remodel and for an investor purchase.  We have a group of investors who look for units exactly like this unit.  Hard to believe, isn't it.  However, we spoke to one of our investors and they now have an all cash offer on the table.  We will find out in a few days whether the bank is ready to move on from this unit or continue to keep this shell in their inventory.

    This is a series of articles by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents.

    Friday
    Aug202010

    Downtown San Diego Condos:  Icon

    We previewed units at Icon today.  Icon is located on 10th and 11th in the East Village.  As you can see from the roof top deck, Icon has some fantastic views.  Both Icon and The Legend appeal to downtown San Diego condo owners who also want to "live" the San Diego Padres life.

    Icon Rooftop views

    Icon Petco Park View

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Westerly views

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     Right now, Icon has 18 units listed in the Multiple Listing Service for sale.  Prices bounce all over.  The low end of pricing is $199,000 and the high end is $639,000.  When sold several years ago, these same unit prices would have been $336,500 to $740,00.  This is an average of 14% - 41% price reductions.   Keep in mind these are just the asking prices.  Sales prices since May 1, 2010 range from $265,000 - $639,000, still below the majority of original sales prices. 

    Wait until you see our next post about one of Icon's more unique units.  This unit is so unique, it is missing the sinks, the shower, the toilets and a variety of items in between.

    This is a series of Downtown San Diego condo stories by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Thursday
    Aug192010

    Downtown San Diego condos: July 2010 Sales Statistics

    Downtown San Diego Listings, Sales and Closings

    San Diego Downtown condo sales statistics have been on an interesting journey over the last few years.  Look at the comparisons of Downtown San Diego inventory, pending closings, and csold losings.  10.8% of the inventory sold and closed in July 2010. That is a really scary statistic for sellers.  You either price your condo correctly or you don't sell.  It's pretty simple and very obvious when you see the numbers on paper.

    You will see the disconnect between buyers and sellers with the following chart.

    Downtown San Diego Square Footage Listings and Sales

     This chart also reinforces the disconnect buyers and sellers of Downtown San Diego condos are wrestling with as sellers price and buyers buy.  This is a really amazing set of statistics.  Just look at how how sellers are pricing per square foot and how low buyers are purchasing per square foot.  The numbers are somewhat disconcerting to say the least.

    In our opinion, only sellers who have a good reason to be selling should sell in this marketplace.  Short sales and foreclosures are supressing the prices. The question becomes how long is this going to go on?  After 34 years+ representing buyers and sellers in San Diego, this is one of the few times where I cannot see the end yet.  Economists keep babbling that we are in a recovery, but when you look at these Trendgraphix statistics, it is hard to believe the economists vs the reality of the marketplace.

    On the flip side of the coin, purchasing right now is the best opportunity I have seen in my career.  There are Downtown San Diego units that are bargains, and for the motivated and ready buyer, this may be the time.  Financing is only going to get harder, so perhaps it is time to take the plunge.  Contact us with any questions or help we may be able to provide.

    This is a series of articles by Sharyn and Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents specialzing in San Diego real estate.  Visit us on  our San Diego Crowns Real Estate  Facebook page.  Text SDCROWN to 87778 to search properties on your mobile phone