Thursday, December 16, 2010

How Much is my Home Worth?

This is a question that gets asked more often now days.  Home values are kind of all over the place, but it does depend on geographic location and supply and demand.  Homes in Santee, California will differ greatly from homes in El Cajon and in La Mesa.  In fact, differences in value can be seen from one part of town to another.

Some home owners use services such as Zillow to identify the value of their home and some mistakenly base it off of the letter they recently received in the mail from the county assessor. I wouldn't use either necessarily. There are many factors that go into determining the actual value of your home and this is why real estate agents are trained to conduct Comparative Market Analysis (CMAs) and more importantly why appraisers conduct appraisals.  A few things to keep in mind when looking at Zillow or the steep drop in value according to the county assessor (this is for tax purposes) is that no one actually came out to your home to determine the real value.  This is when appraisers come into play, though, do not go run out and hire an appraiser for $500.00 to determine your home value each year or two.  If you are to hire an appraiser, be sure to ask around.  The cost of an appraisal may differ based on a few factors, location and type of real estate.  For example, Santee, Ca. vs. La Jolla, Ca. or Condo vs. Detached Home.

Alternatively, any competent real estate agent will be able to conduct a free CMA for you in a relatively short amount of time.  This is standard operating procedure (SOP) for when homes are listed.  Many agents may also offer this service to potential clients as well, and they should.  The value of your home is related to the value of the homes built around yours.  For example, appraisers will need to examine homes that meet very similar characteristics as your home but are within .5 or 1 mile, the closer the better.  If there are not any homes that meet the same (or similar) characteristics, then adjustments are made to compensate.  For example, garage vs. no garage, or small square footage adjustments.  Real estate agents also consider the same characteristics and have tools to conduct CMA's in a fairly quick and accurate fashion.  That said, nothing will replace the appraisal; if selling, an appraisal will be done. Keep in mind that the value of your home is what someone is willing to pay at any given time and if you accept such an offer.  Condo's are easier to determine value when there are many other condos in the same complex that have recently sold.

There are many factors, but there isn't really any need to worry about the value of your home if you do not plan on selling it in the near future.  If you are.... contact a real estate agent that you trust will provide some sound information.  If you live in Santee, Ca. and would like a Santee real estate agent to conduct a CMA, let us know, we'd be happy to help provide some free information or advice.

Santee Real Estate Agent

Videos of Santee California

When searching for your home in the greater San Diego area, you would want to consider taking a close look at Santee, CA.  The City of Santee has published some very nice videos.  These videos of Santee include a welcome message as well as other videos on the following:

  • Business and Industry
  • Chamber of Commerce
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Dining and Shopping
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Quality of Life
  • Residential Growth
  • Tourism and Things to do

These videos show off the City of Santee quite well, but Santee still remains a "must see in person!"

Check it out and let me know what you think!

-Santee Real Estate Agent

 

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Pine Valley Real Estate

Looking for Real Estate in the Pine Valley area and want access to all the latest listing reports?  Contact us at Rally Realty or visit our website at http://www.rallyre.com to find our contact information.  Email us today in order to be placed on our FREE daily or weekly email list of newly listed properties in your area.

Don't use your valuable time searching the internet for newly listed properties when we can email them directly to you without any delay.  This happens the second the properties have been placed on the market.

Get the advantage over the competition and be the first to place the winning offer on your Pine Valley dream home.  In addition to Pine Valley Real Estate, we are able to provide this FREE service for all Real Estate listings in the State of California.  If you are interested in property listings outside the greater San Diego area, please provide zip codes and your desired search criteria, i.e. price, bed, bath, garage, sq ft, laundry, etc...  We are more than happy to provide this FREE service even if you decide to use another real estate company.

Email Keith Bennett at keith@rallyre.com

 

International Real Estate

Now is the perfect opportunity for real estate to be purchased by the international community, not only U.S. citizens.  This is easily accomplished by contacting Rally Realty to discuss how the international real estate process can be completed, in the State of California.  Visit our website at http://www.rallyre.com/contact to find our contact information.

In addition to speaking English, we also have translators on staff who communicate in the English, Russian, Spanish, and German languages to assist our international real estate clients during their international real estate transactions and other real estate related needs.

If you are need to speak with one of our associates in any language other than English, please notify our staff at Rally Realty.  Please email any questions in reference to international real estate to keith@rallyre.com.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoys the long weekend!  Be safe out there on Black Friday!

Keith Bennett
Santee Real Estate

http://www.rallyre.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Branding | Real Estate

How important is branding to you and your business?

Branding is probably even more important today than ever before.  There was a time in the past when it was much easier to get by with less focus on branding; that time has come and gone.  Today, branding is one of the necessary components in your overall marketing strategy that will separate you from your competitors.

Being mediocre in the real estate industry is commonplace.

On the other side of the coin, we have the real estate agent who provides uniqueness and valuable services to their clients.  This type of agent has found and exploited their niche to its maximum potential and still continue to squeeze out every remaining ounce of value with all their effort.

How can a real estate agent implement a marketing strategy to mitigate mediocrity and increase leverage by changing how they promote their brand and self image?

Finding a niche is one way to ensure you are effective as an agent as well as having fun.  Generally speaking, most find a niche that suits their personality and that they enjoy.  It is much easier to be successful on a day-to-day basis when one enjoys what they do.  This is why many real estate agents don't consider their real estate business as work.

Websites & Domains:

When creating a website for clients to visit or to generate and cultivate leads, it is important to remember that the name of the website should be related to your business as well as memorable.  Trying to keep the domain name shorter may also help clients and online searchers remember who you are and what you do.  Meta tags are not new, but should be used appropriately.  In the past, meta tags were more important to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).  Today, content is king, and like everything in the real estate industry, consistency plays a significant role.

There are many ways to be unique when creating a brand for your company (many more that I have listed).  Remember that often people fail before they succeed.  Failure is not always fun, but it often a positive learning experience and a stepping stone to future success.

 

Keith Bennett
DRE# 01869992
Premier Mortgage & Real Estate
9225 Carlton Hills Blvd. Suite #3
Santee, CA. 92071
Direct Line - 858.344.4512
Fax - 619.312.1621
Email - Keith@RallyRE.com
Web - www.RallyRE.com

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Search Condos for Sale in Santee, CA

If you are looking for condos for sale in this market, you are in luck!  Condos for sale in east county, San Diego, CA are some of the lowest priced condos available on the market today.  Keep in mind that low priced condos do not last long on the market, and the ones that do may have hidden issues with the condo itself or the complex.

Be wary of condos that have unusually high Home Owners Association (HOA) dues for this reason.  Generally this is a signal of deeper problems.  However, this may also mean that issues are being resolved and the HOA has taken action by implementing a special assessment to bring the HOA current.  An experienced REALTOR(R) will be able to contact the HOA and or management company in order to inquire about the condition of the HOA.

That said, there are many great areas in Santee and El Cajon to find these diamonds in the rough.  It may take some time (more than you think) and the competition may be tough, but try not to get discouraged.  Keep searching, there is light at the end of this tunnel!

 

Keith Bennett
DRE# 01869992
Premier Mortgage & Real Estate
9225 Carlton Hills Blvd. Suite #3
Santee, CA. 92071
Direct Line - 858.344.4512
Fax - 619.312.1621
Email - Keith@RallyRE.com
Web - www.RallyRE.com

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