Bruce Ueno's Real Estate Blog

My Newsletter for February 2017

Greetings Friends!

Spring is just around the corner and that is traditionally the time of year when the housing market starts to heat up.

If you have any plans to move, or are even just curious about what’s available on the market, now is a great time to inquire.

I’d be happy to help you with any information you want. Please give me a call anytime.

Ask Bruce:

RE King writes, "I'm looking to invest in rental property in San Diego. What areas are best in terms of cash flow? I want to avoid bad neighborhoods. I'm new in rental so don't have a lot of experience dealing with problematic renters"

Well RE, as an investor myself, I've found San Diego to be an expensive market that can be difficult to enter as a new investor. You will experience better capital appreciation in the city proper, but If you're planning to finance your purchase and positive cash flow is your number one priority, the outlying communities may offer lower risk and a better cash-on-cash return. Cities as far north as Temecula or Murrieta feed into the San Diego market, and the neighborhoods are newer. If you're averse to the headaches that come with being a landlord, or if the travel time to your home is an issue, consider using a professional property manager for your rental. Many realtors manage property as a sideline, or even as a primary business. I'd stay away from the large management companies, as you're only as important to them as the size of your portfolio. Play your cards right, and you'll love being an investor- welcome to the club!

Bruce Ueno
Striving to be Your Personal Realtor... For Life!
(951) 910-0397
www.bruceueno.com
Lic #01947858

Making the Home Selling and Moving Process Easier

There’s no doubt that things change in a home when it’s put on the market. Those changes can cause stress for the entire family.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce that stress considerably. With a little bit of planning, you can even make the home selling process a relatively pleasant experience for everyone.

The first step is to talk candidly with your family, especially kids, about their feelings and concerns regarding selling your home and moving. Their worries may include:

Losing connections with friends.
Finding a new job.
Starting a new school.
Disruptions in the home during viewings.
Work involved in preparing the home for sale.
Keeping the home clean and tidy for viewings.

The more you’re aware of how your family feels about the process, the better you can deal with those issues.

Keeping the home clean for viewings and open houses is usually one of the major stressors. It may feel like you’re tidying up for a special guest several times a week! A solution worth considering is hiring a maid service on a short-term basis. That help can save you a lot of time and stress, especially if you’re also searching for a new home.

During viewings, it’s best for you and your family to be out of the home. So, consider planning little adventures. You can visit a museum, eat at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try for months, or take the gang to a recreation center. These ideas will go a long way toward alleviating the sense of being “kicked out” of your own home!

Neighborhood Open House

While shopping for a new home, you will likely view a lot of properties and may even attend a few open houses. That’s part of the process of finding your next dream home.

But there is another type of open house you should also attend. It’s one for which you need no invitation – the “neighborhood open house.”

Of course, this isn’t an actual advertised open house. The term simply means that you’re able to view any neighborhood you’d like to live in and try it on for size.

So when viewing a home or attending an open house, take some time to explore the neighborhood. Get a sense of what it’s going to be like to live there. You can:

Take a walk around the block.
Visit the local park and playground.
Have a coffee at a local cafe.
Visit the local school.
Test access to commuting routes to work.
Check out daycare facilities.
Drive to the local shopping center.
Investigate local features, such as theaters, restaurants and golf courses.

The neighborhood you live in is just as important as the home itself. Before you buy, make sure you get to see your neighborhood too.

Diffusing Disputes with Neighbors

Even if you live in a beautiful home in a great neighborhood, a dispute with a neighbor can make living there a miserable experience. That’s why it makes sense to settle such disputes quickly and amicably.

How do you do that? Here are some tips:

Deal with the issue quickly. It’s tempting to avoid facing an unpleasant dispute with a neighbor and hope the problem just goes away. That rarely happens. To settle a dispute, you need to act quickly.
Avoid displays of anger. Acting angrily typically only gets the other party on the defensive. It can escalate the situation and rarely, if ever, leads to a resolution.
Isolate the problem. Never generalize a dispute with a neighbor. Be specific.
Don’t complain; propose. Rather than complaining about loud music at night, propose a solution. For example, “When our front lights have been turned off, that means we’ve gone to bed. Would it be possible to turn down the music at that time? Thanks!”
Say thanks when there’s a resolution. You may never be close friends, but being cordial will go a long way toward easing the tension.

notable, quotable... quotes!

“Congratulations. Today is the day. You’re off to great places. You're on your way!”

Dr. Seuss

“Don't mistake activity with achievement.”

John Wooden

“Doing the best in the moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

Oprah Winfrey

Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tarbell Realtors
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