Moving

How to Buy a Home in 2020

January 14, 2020 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

Want to buy a home in 2020? Consider these six easy steps to ensure a smooth and successful purchase.

1. Check Your Credit

A good credit score is critical. A high credit score makes it easier to qualify for lower interest rates and offers more affordability. Be sure to check all three credit reporting bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. The right lender can often make quick and easy recommendations to raise your credit score those few extra essential points.

2. Save, Save, Save

You’ll need cash to buy a home, but saving goes beyond a down payment. The best interest rates often require a 20-25% down payment. Also, a lender will require up to six months of cash reserves in a liquid account. Lenders want to know you can afford the PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) during work transitions.

3. Get in Touch with a Lender

Take the time to interview a few lenders and learn about the different mortgage programs available. They change frequently and are competitive with other banks. Ultimately you want to work with a lender you trust and one who has invested the time to generate a pre-approval letter and not just a pre-qualification.

4. Look at Neighborhoods

In addition to getting your finances in order, take a look at different San Diego neighborhoods to decide where you want to live. Some factors to consider are commute times, school ratings, friends who live nearby, curb appeal, and local shopping and restaurants. Often, spending a few weekends driving around a community will provide clarity.

5. Visit Open Houses

Even if you aren’t planning on buying a house immediately, visit some open houses. Open houses allow you to explore neighborhood floor plans, learn about standard upgrades many homes may need, the importance of natural lights and yard sizes. Due diligence is just as necessary when searching for a home as the actual buying process.

6. Interview Real Estate Agents

If you’re buying a home, it pays to use a Realtor. In San Diego, the Seller pays all commissions. That’s right! As a Buyer, you pay no commission. A Buyer’s agent is your advocate and works with you every step of the transaction. Like any profession, take the time to interview a few different agents as it’s essential to work with someone you trust and has experience.

Are you planning on purchasing a home in 2020? I would love to chat and answer any questions about the above and the ideal next steps! (858) 735-5767

4 Reasons to Buy a Home During the Holidays

December 5, 2018 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

Between holiday shopping, preparing your guests, and trying to juggle all the events you’ve been invited to, it’s natural to want to put buying a home on the back burner until January. But there are a few significant advantages to purchasing a home this time of year, and if you’re serious about buying a home in San Diego, it may be worth the time and energy to fit in a few showings and open houses! Read on for four reasons why you should consider buying a home during the holiday season:

1) Less Competition

November, December, and January are usually less competitive months for buyers. With fewer buyers looking, you are less likely to compete in a bidding war. During the holidays, the home buying experience tends to feel a little more relaxed and will give you needed time to make a decision.

2) Serious Sellers

If a seller has their home on the market during the holidays, they are usually very serious about selling. This could be because they’ve already purchased another home and need to sell ASAP, so they don’t have the financial burden of two mortgages. Other reasons may be a seller is facing a major life change like a job transfer, divorce, or new baby. Whatever the reason, sellers are often more willing to negotiate because fewer buyers are looking during the holidays. Even if the price tag is still high, some sellers may be willing to compromise on other aspects of the sale like repairs or closing costs.

3) 2019 is Around the Corner

With less than a month left in 2018, everyone involved in your home purchase will be looking to help you close before the end of the year. With fewer transactions on the table, it may actually be doable! This is where you’ll want to lean on your agent to help assemble a great team who is willing and able to work quickly to get you moved in as soon as possible. Many lenders can close a loan in 15 days so long as everyone else involved is willing to speed things along.

4) After Christmas Sales

This is more a perk than anything, but it’s still worth noting that many types of furniture, appliance, and home décor companies will have impressive sales after the holidays! Of course, you need to wait until AFTER you close escrow to make big purchases, so you don’t jeopardize your loan approval. But knowing you’ll be able to save money on all the things you need for your home is a great incentive to keep house hunting.

If you come across a home that meets your requirements and is within your budget, don’t let the holidays stop you from purchasing- especially when there is still such limited inventory in San Diego. Many homebuyers let a potential home go merely due to the time of year, but if you’re serious about buying, and it’s the right fit, you should make an offer.

No matter your timing, I am here to help! Contact me today if you’re looking to make a move in the coming months.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Downsizing

August 5, 2018 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

For almost every homeowner, there will come a time when you’ll be faced with the decision to downsize or hang onto your current home. This decision is often filled with emotions, as many times the home you’ll be selling the home is where you raised your family and made a lifetime of memories.

As you start to think seriously about whether you should downsize now or stay in your home for a little while longer, take time to ask yourself a few questions to help make your decision easier.

1) What Do I Hope to Accomplish Through Downsizing?

If you’re even thinking about downsizing, chances are it’s because your current home feels wrong for you in some crucial way. Maybe it’s too large now that your kids have all left the house. Maybe you’re still paying a mortgage and the monthly cost is keeping you up at night. Maybe your current home has too many stairs, too much grass in the backyard, or a pool that requires too much of your time and attention.

Knowing what problem downsizing would solve in your life can help you when you’re sorting through your feelings about a possible move. Sometimes, you may be able to find an alternative solution to your current homeownership woes without putting your house up for sale. If your home is too large or the mortgage too high, maybe you can have another family member or roommate move in with you. If you hate taking care of the pool, maybe you can hire a pool maintenance company to come once a week to service it.

Sometimes downsizing really is the best solution! In this case, you’ll want to consider the following:

2) How Much Time Should I Give Myself to Move?

Sorting through a lifetime of stuff takes time. Be honest with yourself about how long it will realistically take you to sort through everything you have, get your home ready for market, purchase a new property, pack, and move.

While no one can predict the future, if you have general deadlines you’ve set for yourself like, “In a few years I want to move closer to my kids” or “Before I retire, I want to purchase a condo by the beach”, take these into account now. Tomorrow always comes much sooner than we expect.

Most experts advise that you should give yourself at least six months to prepare to list your home. During this time, you’ll want to be ruthless in your editing. If you’re at a loss with where to start, grab my free download “101 Things to Get Rid of When Downsizing” to help you figure out what to keep and what to toss!

3) How Do I Want to Feel When This Process is Over or What’s the End Goal?

This is a great question to ask yourself because it helps you discover what’s most important for your next home. For example, if you want to feel “Free” when the downsizing process is over, you’ll want to look at condos, townhomes, or low-maintenance homes that will easily allow you to travel, visit family and friends, or just generally not tie you down with a lengthy home to-do list. If you want to feel “Peaceful,” look for a home in a quiet location or with tranquil spaces that encourage you to relax.

If you ultimately decide that now isn’t the right time to begin the downsizing process, still grab my free download “101 Things to Get Rid of When Downsizing” to have on hand for when you are ready to start simplifying your life. Even if your move is more than a year away, it’s never too soon to start sorting through your possessions now.

If a move is in your future, contact me to get a free estimate of your property’s current value – you might be surprised about what your home is worth in today’s market!

55 and Over Communities: They’re Not What You Think

June 18, 2018 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

Where did your mind go when you read the words “55 and Over Community”? Did you suddenly have visions of golf courses and bingo nights and shuffleboard and….your grandparents?

If you’re age 55 or older, you might not consider yourself retirement ready. Perhaps, however, you are ready to live among your peers and away from the typical neighborhood chaos of young families.

Today’s 55+ communities aren’t what you think they are. Many luxury active adult projects have sprung up in recent years in San Diego, offering homeowners resort-style amenities and more.

Here are 8 reasons to consider moving to a 55 and over community in San Diego:

Lower Costs

Homes and condos in a 55 and over community are usually smaller and priced less than similar homes in the area. This may give you the opportunity to buy in a more upscale area than you were able to previously afford.

Less Maintenance

Even if you purchase a detached home, many active adult communities will take care of some or all of your home’s exterior maintenance needs. With less square footage to take care of inside, you’ll be able to spend more time enjoying your home and new community.

Floorplans Designed For Your Stage in Life

Many 55 and over communities offer single story floorplans or contain the essentials like the kitchen and master suite to the main floor. You may also find homes with wider doorways and other features that are geared towards helping you age gracefully.

Security

Gates, restricted access, and security patrols are common features of active adult communities. If you live alone, you may enjoy moving to a community with these services.

Peace and Quiet

The minimum age limit of the community means that children and younger adults will only be guests of the community and as guests, will need to abide by the community rules. This might be a welcome change if you’ve previously lived in a community with a lot of children and teenagers. Think garage band.

Location

Most 55+ communities and certainly some of the newer projects are close to shopping, dining, entertainment, medical facilities, and more. Some active adult communities provide transportation to these nearby resources.

Amenities

The amenities available in 55+ communities vary wildly from project to project, but many of the newer luxury communities offer very attractive amenities. Sparkling pools, state-of-the-art gym facilities, clubhouses, BBQ pits, pickle ball, bocce ball courts, golf courses, and more. There may also be additional services offered that are geared towards an aging community like health services, housekeeping, meal preparation, and more.

Be aware that buying into an active adult community usually means you will need to pay more fees, either in the form of increased HOA dues or just general fees to cover the cost of all the amenities and community maintenance.

Opportunities for Socialization

One of the prime reasons people choose to move to a 55+ community is because of the opportunities to socialize and develop friendships with your neighbors. Along with the great amenities, many communities offer monthly or weekly events to get you out of the house and interacting with other people. Everything from fitness classes to yes, bingo games, help retirement-age people fill their time. Homeowners will tell you it’s the social activities they love.

When shopping for a home in an active adult community, be sure to check out their events calendar to see what kinds of activities and social outings they plan. It will be one indication if the neighborhood may be a personal fit.

If you are thinking of downsizing from your current home, I would love to talk to you about your next step, whether that’s buying in a 55 and over community or somewhere else. Give me a call at (858) 735-5767!

5 Things to Consider Before You Downsize

April 1, 2018 by Danielle Negroni

No matter how much you love your home, there will come a time when your house simply won’t fit your needs anymore. Perhaps your home feels too roomy now that your kids have gone off to college. Or maybe you’re just tired of lugging the vacuum cleaner up the stairs and are ready to purchase a smaller, single story home. Whatever your reasons, here are 5 things to consider before you downsize.

1) Know Your “Why”

It pays to keep your “why” firmly in the front of your mind. For most people, downsizing is not an easy task. You’ll likely need to spend a considerable amount of time decluttering and going through all the things you’ve accumulated after years in your current home. Having a strong reason to get to the finish line will keep you motivated when you’d rather throw in the towel.

2) Separate Yours Wants and Needs

As with any other home shopping experience, you’ll need to separate your needs from your wants before you start looking. This will allow you use your time more efficiently and help you avoid buyer’s remorse down the line. For tips on separating your wants from your needs, check out my recent blog.

3) Know How Small is Too Small

It’s important that you don’t get too hung up on purchasing the smallest possible home. Take time to think about the spaces you most enjoy in your current home, your hobbies, and how much time you plan to spend in your new house. You may find that “downsizing” really means downsizing on your monthly costs, not square footage.

4) Consider Your Costs

It seems simple on paper: smaller house = cheaper mortgage = more money in your pocket. But that’s not always the case. Particularly if you’re moving to a condo community, make sure you’ve factored in HOA and mello-roos fees. If your primary reason for downsizing is to save money, you’ll want to keep track of these “hidden” fees to ensure your monthly housing costs will truly be reduced.

You should also take into account how much it will cost to move and furnish a new space. Many times, people who downsize find themselves having to purchase all new furniture that will actually fit into their new space. A visit to a local furniture store can help you estimate your costs.

5) Explore Neighborhoods

San Diego truly has a neighborhood to fit every lifestyle. Just because you’ve spent the last twenty years in the same location doesn’t mean you have to buy another property in the same area. Imagining the possibilities is part of the fun of house hunting. Spend some time checking out communities before narrowing your list down to a couple to focus on during your search.

While it can be difficult to say goodbye to a beloved home full of wonderful memories, downsizing can be a fun and exciting adventure! If you’re thinking of making a change, I’d love to help you through this next step – give me a call to get started!

What Propositions 60 and 90 Mean For You

February 18, 2018 by Danielle Negroni

If you are age 55 or older and live in San Diego County, you need to know about Propositions 60 and 90 and how it can benefit you! If you’ve been thinking of selling your current home and downsizing or moving to a different home, these propositions can make moving easier on your wallet.

What is Proposition 60?

If you’re age 55 or older, Proposition 60 allows you to move within the same county (in this case, San Diego) and transfer your base year value. Your property’s base year value is tied to Proposition 13, which was established to protect buyers from increases in property taxes by setting a base year value on a property. If the property was acquired in 1975 or earlier, the base year value is set for the property’s assessed value in 1975. If the property was purchased after 1975 then the base year value is set by the market value of the property at the time of purchase. Under Proposition 60, when you purchase a new property you can transfer that base year value to the new home!

What Are the Restrictions of Proposition 60?

-You or your spouse must be 55 years of age.

-You must sell your home and purchase a new property within two years.

-The value of the replacement property must be equal to or less than the value of your current home.

-Proposition 60 only applies to primary residences, not investment properties.

-Proposition 60 can only be utilized one time unless you become disabled and need to move again to a property that fits your needs.

What is Proposition 90?

Proposition 90 is similar to Proposition 60, except for that it allows you move from one participating county to another in the state of California and still receive the same benefits of Proposition 60. The participating counties are as follows:

Alameda County
El Dorado County
Los Angeles County
Orange County
Riverside County
San Diego County
San Mateo County
Santa Clara County
Ventura County

Where Can I Find More Information on Propositions 60 and 90?

To learn more about Propositions 60 and 90, you can read the FAQ page on the California State Board of Equalization website here.

I’ve Decided That It’s the Right Time For Me to Make a Move – What Should I Do Next?

If now is the right time for you to sell your current home and purchase another, give me a call to get started!

18 Things to Do Before You Close Escrow

January 21, 2018 by Danielle Negroni

There are so many moving parts during the escrow process, it can be hard to keep track of everything you need to do before you close. Here are 18 essential things you should take care of before picking up your keys!

File a Change of Address Form With the Post Office
Schedule a Professional Mover 2-3 Weeks Before You Need to Move
Contact SDG&E to Schedule When You Will Need Gas and Electric Services Turned Off at Your Old Residence and Turned on At Your New Home
Contact Your Water Company to Schedule When You Will Need Water Turned Off at Your Old Residence and Turned on At Your New Home:

City of San Diego

Carlsbad Water District

Olivenhain Water District

San Dieguito Water District

Santa Fe Irrigation District

Update Your Address on Your Credit Cards and Bank Accounts
Update Your Address on Any Magazines or Subscriptions You Receive in the Mail
Give Your Church, Doctor, Veterinarian, Etc. Your New Address
Notify Any Government Offices of Your Move
Contact Your Cable/Internet Provider to Schedule When You Will Need Their Services Turned Off at Your Old Residence and Turned on At Your New Home

AT&T

Cox

Spectrum Time Warner

If Your Children Are Staying in the Same Schools, Notify the School With Your New Address
If Your Children Will Be Changing Schools, You Will Need to Get Them Registered:

Carlsbad Unified School District

Del Mar Union School District

Encinitas Union School District

Rancho Santa Fe School District

San Diego Unified School District

San Dieguito Union High School District

Solana Beach School District

Update Your Address at the DMV
Update Your Auto and Health Insurance
Ensure Your Home Warranty Coverage Will Start on the Day You Close Escrow
Notify Your Landscaper of Your New Address and Arrange to Have Them Start at Your New Property
Notify the Newspaper of Your New Address
If You Pay For Trash and Recycling Services, Notify Them of Your Change of Address
Provide Friends and Family With Your New Address

If there’s anything you need help with that is not on this list, please let me know!