Sept. 2011 Real Estate Newsletter & Foreclosure Info

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Dennis Smith's...

Making a
Difference 4U!

Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living

Inside This Issue...

Real Estate Facts & Figures...
Focus In On Eye Health...
Fun Facts and Laughs: Funny Words Of Wisdom,
Best Pets If You're Allergic, And More...
Trivia Challenge: Win $10 Starbucks Card
Real Estate Q&A: What Are Common Home-Buying Mistakes?

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Dennis Smith, Realtor®
ABR, SRES, e-PRO,CDPE.
CA DRE #00476662

Sunshine Smith, Realtor®
SFR. CA DRE #01249837

RE/MAX BY-THE-SEA
Phone: 760-436-0087
Email: dennis@sandiegohomes4u.com
www.SanDiegoHomes4u.com

Meet me on Linkedin.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisdsmith
Meet me on Facebook profile at http://www.facebook.com/people/Dennis_Smith/638651626
365 Things to do in Encinitas - Cardiff - Carlsbad at http://tinyurl.com/365EncinitasActivities
Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sandiegohomes4u
Check out my Local & Real Estate Blog at: http://sandiegohomes4u.com/blog
Share my Foreclosure Avoidance site, http://HAFAShortSaleConsultant.com/

View all homes for sale at http://sandiegohomes4u.com/
Or call for a custom list.
=====+++++

NEW LISTING! Escondido Country Club Area
Beautifully Remodeled 3 bedroom, 2.5 baths, with many upgrades &
40+ RV, boat or truck parking area. EZE freeway 15 or 78 access.
2124 N Nutmeg, Escondido, 92026, only $388K
http://2124Nutmeg.willsellquick.com

Dear Friend...

Do you know the best questions to ask at a job interview? The key to a great interview is preparation and in today's Making a Difference 4U, Free consumer newsletter, you'll get tips for answering job interview questions along with 3 smart questions to ask any employer.

You'll also learn about eye health and the importance of regular check-ups plus funny jokes, a trivia challenge, Real Estate update and lots more.

To health, success and laughter in your life!

Dennis & Sunshine Smith

PS. If you're considering selling your home soon, and you'd like important tips and strategies for getting a fast, top dollar sale, be sure to ask for my Free Consumer Report called "Secrets For Selling Your Home For Top Dollar". To get your copy, send me an email at dennis@sandiegohomes4u.com, or call me at: 760-436-0087

Real Estate Facts & Figures . . .

I went to a wonderful lunch & talk that was sponsored by Union Bank.
Local economist Gary London spoke and had some really great information
about the local San Diego area Real Estate market.
He was upbeat about the future.

He stated that prices in San Diego would rebound to 2005 levels in this price cycle. However, he would not say when prices would start to rise.
He was basing this on several factors. One of them was building permits.
Last year there were only 3,800 new building permits.
During the past three years total San Diego permits were 12,103.
This is a fraction of the 15,000-plus units normally built each year and required in a decent economy. Yet, he says, we have a population increase of 50,000 people annually in San Diego. These people will need housing..therefore, supply and demand economics say that rents and prices will go up!!!

He finished with:

"There is a silver lining: Homes are cheap, but rents have been rising.
While homeownership rates have dropped, as they should have, this is not the time to be walking away from homeownership. It is actually an increasingly perfect time to become a homeowner, if your means, motivations and circumstances line up correctly."

You can read his Blog post here:

http://londongroup.com/2011/06/08/dont-let-doom-gloom-cast-shadow-on-housing-market/

Call me today to talk about buying and/or investing at 760-436-0087

==================================

SAN DIEGO COUNTY MARKET REPORT

Home sales were steady in August.

Sales of single-family, re-sale homes rose 1.2% from July
and were up 1.1% year-over-year.

Sales of Condos were up 8.3% from July and up 12.8% year-over-year.

The median price for homes was down 2.2% from July,
and down 5.4% year-over-year.

The median price for condos rose 0.2% compared to July,
but was down 2.1% year-over-year.

Inventory of both homes and condos continues to be weak.
Home inventory was down 13.4% compared to last August.
There are only 10,833 houses and condos for sale on 9/20/11.
Compared to 11,798 on 5/6/11, or 12,534 a year ago.

Your complete on-line report is here: http://dennissmith.rereport.com
You may have to cut and paste this address into your browser address bar, or, you can just Click here.

Where are all the foreclosures?
There are only 896 on 9/20/11, 8.23% of all houses & condos for sale.
Compare that to over 3000 in 2009.

Notices of Default (NOD - the first step to foreclosure)
declined 25% in July from the year before and down 7.1% from June.

Foreclosures have fallen compared with 12 months earlier
in North County every month since 2008,with the exception of
February, when they rose 0.4 percent.
Foreclosures-Defaults chart SD 9-11
NOD's then jumped in August. Hopefully just a blip.
In North San Diego County, the default rate jumped
72.2 percent in August to 2.6 per 1,000 households.
The rate was 11.6 percent higher than August 2010.

This will result in more bank owned properties in 4 to 6 months.
How many will depend on the number Short Sales and Loan Modifications are done.
Short sales are becoming easier to get approvals.
We got 3 accepted this month.

Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/realside/article_dec526a6-073f-52ff-8358-0afcc13846b8.html#ixzz1Y4CuLWs2

Click on the following link to see all 896 Bank Owned houses, Condos,
Townhomes & Twinhomes in San Diego County.
http://tinyurl.com/BankHomesInSanDiego

Call me to see some of these good deals.760-436-0087

===============

FORECLOSURE AVOIDANCE OPTIONS
Are you, or someone you know, in a "distressed" situation with Real Estate?

Do you need knowledge or assistance with Pre-Foreclosure,
Foreclosure, Short Sales and Loan Modifications.
We can help with free consulting anywhere in the US.
You can learn what your options are
and you get to decide the course of action to take.

If the best option, decided by you, is a Short Sale, our experienced
negotiationg team has a high success rate and have closed over 600 Short Sales.
Most without cost to the seller, at or after, the Short Sale.

For more information and 11 reports on Loan Modifications, Short Sales,
Strategic Defaults, Credit Consequences, Deed in Lieu, Foreclosure Avoidance and more,
see my site -
http://HAFAShortSaleConsultant.com/
Or call my cell phone for a confidential appointment at 760-212-8225.

Focus In On Eye Health . . .

Millions of people have undetected vision problems, and you or your family members may be among them. These simple steps will help you understand and protect your eyes:

Schedule a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one or two years, even if you think your vision is fine. Have your children's eyes checked at regular intervals. If your child has headaches or difficulty at school, it might be due to a vision problem. Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is the most common cause of eye impairment in childhood.

Another reason to go? Studies show that eye doctors may be the first to detect serious conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes because they look directly at the eyes' blood vessels.

Eat these eye "super foods": spinach, salmon, walnuts, berries, orange bell peppers, broccoli, soy, eggs, avocados and (yes) carrots. They contain valuable nutrients such as vitamins A, C and E, beta carotene and zinc as well as lutein and zeaxanthin. Eating them will help prevent aged-related macular degeneration (which causes blurred vision and blind spots).

Learn your family's eye-health history. People with a family history of some eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts, are at increased risk of developing them. Talk with your eye doctor to confirm diagnosis.

Reduce eye strain. To avoid computer vision syndrome (headaches, dry and tired eyes), use the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.

Wear protective goggles when handling power tools or chemicals. Did you know half of all eye injuries happen as a result of doing regular household chores? Buy safety goggles at any hardware store and use them.

Wear sunglasses, even when it's hazy. Look for shades that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation – and make you look cool!

Check out the Encinitas Lions Club, a Service Club who's primary focus is vision.
http://www.encinitaslions.org
We just had our signature event, a Blind Surf Event, last Sunday

Forward this article to a friend

Thinking Of Selling Your Home Soon?

Don't attempt to sell your home without my Free consumer guide, "44 Money-making Tips For Preparing Your Home To Sell." My exclusive report will give you all the facts for a fast, top dollar sale. To get a copy simply email me by clicking here, or call me at: 760-436-0087

Prepare Yourself To Ace Your
Next Job Interview . . .

The key to a great job interview is preparation. Here are four essential tips to set yourself apart from the rest...

Plan ahead for these questions:

Tell me about yourself.
Talk about specific skills and accomplishments but be concise. If you think you're talking too much, you probably are. Save some of the examples for later in the interview.

Why should I hire you?
Learn everything you can about the company and specifically what you can contribute to it.

Why did you leave your last job?
Interviewers want to see if you'll badmouth your employer. Put a positive spin (e.g. no room for promotion) on the reason.

What is your biggest weakness?
No one is perfect. Cite a weakness (pick one that wouldn't be a requirement in this job) and what you're doing about it. ("I wasn't proficient at spread sheets so I took a course in Excel.") Don't disguise a strength ("I like to work too hard.") as a weakness. The interviewer has heard that one before.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Talk about moving up in their company.

Think of it as a conversation, not a Q&A session. You want to know if the job is right for you as much as the interviewer wants to know if you're a good fit. Don't waste time on chit-chat (or immediately bring up salary).

Be ready when they ask if you have questions. For example:

How long has this position existed and how long has it been open?
What are the most important responsibilities of the job and how would you measure my success in accomplishing them?
What projects would I immediately be taking on?

Close by telling them that you want the position (if that's true). It removes any doubts and leaves a positive impression.

Forward this article to a friend

Today's Brain Teaser . . .

What do asphalt, crayons, and deodorant have in common?

(answer below)

Fun Facts and Laughs . . .

Funny Words Of Wisdom . . .

A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it.
You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.
Having one child makes you a parent; having two makes you a referee.
Sure I can keep secrets. It's the people I tell them to who can't.

Best Pets If You're Allergic . . .

There are no totally hypoallergenic pets, but these are the best choices if you have allergies:

Portuguese Water Dog
Sphynx cat (hairless)
Kerry Blue Terrier
Standard Poodle
Bichon Frise
American Labradoodle
Goldfish

Want A Good Laugh? . . .

Check out the real photos at: www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

You may want to submit your own!

Have A Real Estate Or Home-Ownership Question You Want Answered?

Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Or maybe you just need a recommendation for a handyman, carpet cleaner or plumber...

Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. And I'm always looking to answer pressing questions you might have about anything relating to real estate or home-ownership. If you have a question, tip or idea, please feel free to call me at: 760-436-0087 or email me by clicking here. I'm here to help!

Trivia Challenge for the Month...

"Who Else Wants To Win
$10 Starbucks Card?"

Guess who won last month's Trivia Question? I'm pleased to announce the two lucky winners of last month's quiz. And the winners are...drum roll please: John Bruce of Oceanside and Teresa Moore of San Diego were the 1st & 4th people to correctly answer my quiz question.

The center of the Earth is how many miles below the surface?

a) 2,000 b) 4,000
c) 8,000 d) 10,000
The answer is b) 4,000 miles (at the equator). The distance at the poles is slightly less because the Earth isn't a perfect sphere. So, let's move on to this month's trivia question.

What was the first animated feature film created solely with Computer Generated Imagery (CGI)?

a. The Polar Express

b. Tron

c. A Bug's Life

d. Toy Story

EMAIL ME AT: dennis@sandiegohomes4u.com OR Call Me At 760-436-0087
And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!
Again... the 1st & 4th correct answers win!!!

Brain Teaser Answer:

They are made from petroleum.

Thanks For Thinking of Me!

Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals...and spreading the word about my services.

Real Estate Q & A . . .

Q. What are the most common home-buying mistakes?

A. First, you should work with a REALTOR^®, a professional who will guide you through the process and help you avoid these pitfalls:

Not knowing how much house you can afford. Mortgage calculators are available online. Be sure to factor in such items as property taxes, maintenance and insurance.

Not shopping for loan options. You need to know your credit score, get pre-qualified and pre-approved.

Not including mortgage financing and professional inspection contingencies in the contract. The mortgage financing clause saves you if the home doesn't appraise for the offered price; the inspection clause allows you to negotiate (or cancel the deal) if an inspector finds problems.

Falling in love with a house without considering all the facts, such as structural flaws, location, neighborhood and potential for resale.

THANK YOU... for reading my Making a Difference 4U! personal newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Help your friends get more out of life by forwarding this email to them...

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this email is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This email is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.