Coronado Real Estate

First impressions count: Why curb appeal is so important in marketing your home

In a real estate market flooded with homes competing for buyers’ attentions, sellers can no longer afford to overlook the exterior appeal of their homes. In fact, according to a Gallop survey, quality landscaping can add anywhere from 7 to fifteen percent to a home’s value.  Additionally, 82 percent of practitioners polled in a Real Estate Agent Community Trends survey said that buyers who were unimpressed with a house’s curb appeal often wouldn’t even consider looking inside.

“I’ve had showings scheduled where clients have literally changed their minds on the spot after seeing an unkempt front yard,” said Ruth Ann Fisher, broker for Del Realty at the Hotel del Coronado. “The importance of a home’s exterior appeal really can’t be emphasized enough.”

To help ensure that your property doesn’t get overlooked, Del Realty offers the following tips to boost the outward appearance of your home.

1. Make sure your lawn is mowed and well kempt.

2. Create sharp, clean, crisp lines by trimming along all edges to ensure that there are no stray pieces of grass or weeds.

3. Remove debris and clutter from your yard. Buyers may not be able to look past a messy exterior to see a home’s true potential.

4. Make the best use of color: If your yard is on the smaller size, make it seem larger by planting blue, purple or light pink flowers. These colors have been shown to recede giving the impression of a larger area.

5. Repaint peeling decks and fences. You don’t want buyers to think that they’ll have to repaint the minute they move in.

6. Roll up hoses and place them in a spot where they won’t be in the way.

7. Wash and clean your windows so that they sparkle.

8. Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.

9. Check outdoor lighting to make sure everything works. There’s nothing more uninviting than a dark house.

10. Lastly, if you have an irrigation system, program it so that it won’t go off during showing hours. An unexpected shower could negatively affect your client’s opinion of the property.

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Tags: Coronado, Curb Appeal, Real Estate, Selling Property

Listing your property in December can pay off

Many homeowners are often reluctant to list their properties during the Christmas season and instead choose to put their homes on the market during the spring when sales are said to increase. However, according to Ruth Ann Fisher, broker for Del Realty at the Hotel del Coronado, there are benefits to listing your property during the winter months.

1. Fewer listings mean less competition: Since many owners will wait to list their property until the spring, the few properties that are listed will attract more agents and buyers. Furthermore, since there aren’t as many options available to buyers, homeowners are more likely to get a better price for their property.  

2. Only serious buyers are looking: Unlike the summer months which can attract tourists and looky-loos searching for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, buyers seeking homes in December often have a pressing reason behind their search and are more likely to purchase a home than those looking in the spring and summer months.

3. Your home is already decorated and clean for holiday entertaining: Homes often look their best during the Christmas season as owners prepare for holiday parties and visiting family and friends, so getting the properties ready for showings should be a snap!

4. Quick closings: Buyers in December are less likely to drag owners though long, drawn-out closings as they often want to close escrow before the New Year so that they can claim the mortgage deduction on their tax return.  Additionally, owners can use this fact to their advantage in pressing for a quicker deal.

5. Seasonal ups and downs aren’t absolutes: Unlike some states where sales are considerably affected by dramatically changing weather climates, California, and Coronado especially, have the benefit of a moderate climate all year round.

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Tags: Coronado, Home Prices, Listing Property, Real Estate, San Diego, Showing, Winter

San Diego Home Prices Continue to Rise

The latest Case-Shiller report released recently showed continued increases in San Diego’s home prices. According to the national index, home values in San Diego grew .7% in the month of July making it the 15th successive month of continued growth. Within the past year, the price increases totaled 9.3% which makes San Diego a bit of anomaly when compared to the rest of the nation.

“San Diego is a highly desirable area,” said Ruth Ann Fisher, broker for Del Realty. “I think San Diego stands out in the marketplace because we attract two types of buyers: those looking for their long-term homes and those wanting vacation homes in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.”

Additionally, recent numbers indicate that San Diego’s appreciation rate has returned to its typical average of 5%, common since 1987. Experts point out that this return to the norm may be a sign that the market’s bottom marked by lows in 2009 may finally be leveling out.

“The activity I’ve seen this past year is definitely more reminiscent of a steady real estate market,” said Fisher. “Most people I work with are planning on actually living in the homes they purchase versus buying and flipping which was something we saw quite a bit over the past few years.”

Also suggested as a factor in the increased demand are the historic-low mortgage rates currently available to consumers. For buyers who plan on staying in their home for a considerable number of years, the 4.28% rate on a 30-year-fixed mortgage should be very attractive.

Although all this comes as good news for San Diegans, experts indicate that price appreciation will remain weak until unemployment numbers decrease. With California ranking third among the nation’s highest unemployment rates at 12.4 %, we’re definitely not out of the woods. However, given the state’s unemployment numbers are so high, the fact that home prices continue to rise in San Diego points to a stronger market in the future and light at the end of the tunnel.

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Tags: Home Prices, Real Estate, San Diego

Welcome to Our New Coronado Real Estate Blog

Welcome to Del Realty’s new Coronado Real Estate Blog.  We will be bringing you current Coronado property information, as well as, updates to our real estate market conditions and information to keep you informed in this ever changing real estate market.  Please look for our next blog and feel free to call me at 619-733-4100.

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Hotel Del Realty

Welcome to the Hotel Del Realty Blog.  Please feel free to come back to and see the latest information on the Coronado real estate market.

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