Darren Tunstall's answers on Trulia Voices
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Hi! We're college students and we are currently leasing a house. Our friend's fraternity wants to throw a huge house party at our house,
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Talk with the owner. Tell them what you want to to do and get it it in writing.
I moved out of San Diego about six years ago. I moved to Florida, but now I want to move back to San diego. I will be flying to San Diego on
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Roger, This is something that my team can help you with. Ideally, we would have a consultation to discover your initial needs and wants in a home. I can add you to a custom search, or you can start it yourself and plugging in your search criteria. Please visit the link below to start searching the SD mls for free.
what is your contact number?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: 619-254-2153 or dkt@darrentunstall.com
is it worth it to buy if i plan to move out of state in 2-3 years?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Garet, Here is a great example: Why pay rent when you can own? If you took out a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for $150,000 and made monthly mortgage payments of $900. You?d pay $324,000 in mortgage and interest payments over the life of the loan. And after 30 years you?d own a home with an appreciated value potential of $364,000 (at 3% annual appreciation). Keep in mind: Appreciation rates vary greatly based on local conditions. Compare that to paying $800 per month in rent over 30 years! Even if your landlord improbably never raised rent, you would still spend $288,000 and own nothing! In the long run, you?re probably losing money by renting instead of owning your own home. So wouldn't you rather be building up equity in a home instead of giving your hard-earned money to your landlord? I'm not sure if you know this, but one of the main advantages of owning your own home is that you become eligible for various tax benefits. By the way, the financial net worth comparison, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve Board of Consumer Finance, the Average net worth of renters = $4,000; the Average net worth of home owners = $184,400. Let me know what you think or how I can help.
Which neighborhood should I search for affordable condo that are nice, small, close to downtown, for retirees?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: That's a very geo-broad question. There are many other factors at play. An affordable condo might mean something different to other buyers. You should consult with your Realtor to help get a more accurate picture in what you might be looking for and in the areas that you prefer.
I'm selling a parcel of land and had offers from two parties. Our agent also represented one of the two potential buyers (we'll call buyer
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Did you agree to wait? Or, did you still want to proceed with buyer 1? Was buyer 1 aware of multiple offers?
what shoudl i buy?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: $10? That my buy a contract? Or Not! You should consider what your needs and wants are in a property. Find out what that is, and that will tell you what you should buy. You can start buy searching the MLS. See the link below.
hello" I had a question about buying in this area and my husband qualifies for 160,000-170,000 what canhe get in the area for that amount please email
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Romona, The Chula Vista area offers a lot of properties within many ranges. It all depends on exactly what you need based on your family's interest. Some questions that I might ask is how bedrooms do you need, bathrooms, living areas? Do you want to do yard work? Are schools important to you? How about shopping? As you can see, there are many factors that go into purchasing a home. Price is one BIG issue. Knowing what you need is another. Click on the following link to search for available properties in your area of choice.
i would like more info on this property.
Answer by Darren Tunstall: According to the profile by Realty Trac, "the property is a Notice of Default. This is the initial document filed by an attorney or trustee on behalf of the foreclosing lender that starts the foreclosure process. This 1874 square foot property has 2 bedroom(s) and 2 bath(s). The estimated loan balance is $150000. To access more extensive information on this property click the 'more property detail' link below. You will need to register for full access. Information listed with each property including estimated loan balance is derived from sources deemed accurate but we do not guarantee the accuracy of such information. Please consult all relevant title documents prior to purchase." More detailed information can be found using a local San Diego MLS Search. Try the link below:
If I buy a second house and just stop paying on our first house, will the banks sue me? The HOA?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Tough one! As you might know, as a Realtor, I'm not supposed to give legal advice. However, the best advice that I can give you is to consider asset protection by consulting with an an asset attorney. The Sutton Law Center is a great resource to go to for this type of question. I have attached the link to their website below.
I am interested in the house Santa Cruz Ave in San Diego. Please send me information on how to bid.
Answer by Darren Tunstall: First and foremost, you should get with your Realtor to discuss the most effective strategy. If you are serious about winning, then you should have a strategic buying plan. Otherwise, we can submit offers all day...but I'm confident that not many real estate agents will want to spend time in writing offers they know might not be accepted. See the buyer resource guide attached:
I'm in the military and looking to buy a home i am very interested in this house would like more information
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Jose, You and your real estate agent should sit down and have a consultation discussing all your needs and wants in a home. I found that by doing this, you discover the things you MUST HAVE when buying a home. You also prioritize what you need most. Not all homes offer everything that you want or have value in. Some examples that I have come accross "must haves" are: Large Kitchen (because people like to entertain friends and family); backyard (because people enjoy animals running free and they also enjoy the outdoors. These are just two. My questions to you are: What are your top 3 things you must have in a home? What are you top 3 things you do not want in a home? What makes or breaks a deal in a transaction for you (Example, communication, lack of knowledge)? Based on the above questions, combined with income and personal preference, we can really hone in on your perfect home. Hope this helps. Darren Tunstall Keller Williams San Diego Metro
I'm in the military and looking to buy a home i am very interested in this house would like more information
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Tried reaching the agent, but not available. Attached below is a link to view more properties.
how is carmel valley market doing at this point....second half of 09
Answer by Darren Tunstall: According to the MLS stats for the past 4 months, there were 202 homes SOLD. Of those sold homes, the high list price came in at 3,450,000 while the actual sold price was 3,300,000. Fortunately, the sale price to list price (SP/LP) was 111%. But, it came at a price of 354 days on the market. Of those 202 sold homes, the low list price came in a 235,000 while the actual sold price was 170,000. The SP/LP was 72%. Not very good, but if you were in a rush to sell, the days on the market were 0. The average homes sold in the past for months in Carmel Valley was $778,446. The actual sold price was $741,563 with a SP/LP of 95%. Not bad! These homes stayed on the market for approximately 58 days. These statistics were provided by the Sandicor's MLS and were based on SOLD homes between 4/3/2009 and 8/3/2009 in Carmel Valley (92130).
How much can I afford and what would my interest rate be?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Your lender decides what you can borrow but you decide what you can afford. Lenders are careful, but they make qualification decisions based on averages and formulas. They won?t understand the nuances of your lifestyle and spending patterns quite as well as you do. So, leave a little room for the unexpected ? for all the new opportunities your home will give you to spend money, from furnishings, to landscaping, to repairs. Historically, banks use a ratio called 28/36 to decide how much borrowers could borrow. An approved housing payment couldn?t be more than 28 percent of the buyer?s gross monthly income, and his or her total debt load, including car payments, student loans, and credit card payments, couldn?t be more than 36 percent. As home prices have risen, some lenders have responded by stretching these rations to as high as 50 percent. No matter how expensive your market though, we urge you to think carefully before stretching your budget quite so much. Deciding how much you can afford should involve some careful attention to how your financial profile will change in the upcoming years. In the long run, your own peace of mind and security will matter most.
need to co0ntact the real estate agent
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Searching for a home or the Listing Agent sometimes can be tedious. I took the liberty of finding more information for you (That Link Is Below). Most Realtor's have built in tools on their website that link directly to the MLS. It is very useful in that you, the home buyer...seller, can research property and gain more information. Best of all, this is FREE to you. And, it gives you the ability to develop a working relationship with a Realtor to represent you. Darren Tunstall, Realtor Keller Williams Realty San Diego Metro
My husband and I would like to see this property. Please contact me soon so that we can set that up.
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Everyone, As a colleague and professional, one of our own experts has corrected me on the community guidelines. It is not my intention to disrespect clients, colleagues and Trulia. I will be more careful the next time. Thank you - Darren Tunstall
This is Serina from Allstar Brokers Network. I need to knos how do i show this property to my buyer?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Serina, Since you are at this point, I would expect that you already held a successful buyers consultation where you obtained an Exclusivity Agreement. If you will driving your clients, I recommend showing about 5 properties that meet their criteria. There are primarily 9 steps to showing a home, but I am only giving 7: 1. Make an appointment to tour the homes. 2. Print out a detailed MLS information sheet. 3. Place the MLS information sheets in the order you will tour the properties. 4. In your consultation you should have uncovered some "MUST HAVES (at least 3-5)." Make sure you bring this. 5. Now you're ready to take the buyer. 6. After viewing each property, ask the buyer to rank the property on a scale of 1-10. 7. When you finished viewing the homes, ask the buyer, "If you were to place an offer today, which home would you write it on?" If none of them were appeal, then schedule another appointment, research MLS again and continue searching properties. Before entering the home, be sure to knock and/or ring the doorbell even if it has a lockbox. You do not want any unexpected surprises. Also, don't extend your time beyond 2-3 hours. It's overwhelming for you and your client. Trial closes are always good.
Payment Takeovers's
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Bait was just an analogy. Pricing a home to sell is what I was getting at. On the other hand, a home buyer should be informed on market prices and what a fair offer is. In general, the MLS shows all sorts of statistics, one of which is sale price to offer price ratio. You will notice that an offer price usually is 10-16% higher than the offer price. If a home buyer really wants to buy a home, then they might want to considering their negotiating strategy along with their RealtorŪ before placing an offer. In any case, I would ask a client if they want to play games...or buy a home. HOUSEHUNTER, In your case there can be many factors: Timing, money, relationship with selling agent, documentation, preparedness, offer price. Regardless, I would like the opportunity to work with you in placing a successful offer. Contact me anytime to get started...if you want to buy a home.
Payment Takeovers's
Answer by Darren Tunstall: There are strategies to making your offer more attractive. Your Realtor should be privy to these techniques. It's just a matter of fishing with the right bait.
My fiance and I are moving to San Diego from Portland. We are a young athletic couple looking to buy a house.
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Interesting, before entering real estate I was a high school music instructor with a primary focus on percussion. My wife is also a nurse in Pediatrics ICU. It all sounds too familiar. What subject do you teach? Regarding your home and area, it sounds like you have some specifics in mind. I take a counseling approach to helping you buy a home. This is where you, your wife and I sit down and discuss your absolute needs and wants. It's also a chance for us to get to know each other before going out and previewing homes and areas. Since you'll being moving here from Portland, OR, we can do some of the paperwork and consulting via phone and email. I have worked like this on several occasions. Let me know, my contact information is below. By the way, I also know a great self-service moving company if you need a referral. Darren Tunstall 619-254-2153 dkt@darrentunstall.com http://www.DarrenTunstall.com
Can I keep a slide-on camper on my property in the Oceanview are of San Diego? (92154)
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Tim, Sounds like you need some parking space...and that is a great questions for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R). Your listing agent should be able to research this for you. If don't have one, I'd be happy to assist. Contact me at the link below;
how do you get the bank to pay closing cost on an REO?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Felix, The banks are usually look for the best deal . You might weaken your offer if you ask bank to pay out additional cost. Since you are an agent, it's good that you are considering all options for your clients. Below is a link to more short sale and foreclosure questions and answers:
I am recently divorce and our house is in foreclosure. Can I still buy a condo/townhouse?
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Sorry to hear about the divorce. In regards to the condo/townhouse, generally, if your name is on the mortgage then your credit might be negatively impacted. However, each situation is different ans should be treated that way. We really won't know the details about your situation until we try. Darren Tunstall Keller Williams Realty
I have 2 loans (80/20) on my house in California, both purchase money, from Nat City and Etrade, and just rece
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Brian, do you need a successful short sale Realtor? You should not wait with these types of transactions.
I have 2 loans (80/20) on my house in California, both purchase money, from Nat City and Etrade, and just rece
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Brian, My name is Darren Tunstall Keller Williams in San Diego. My partner and I specialize in Short Sales all over the county and have a successful track record. Are you open to working with an agent who specializes in short sales? Many of your questions can answered on my personal website in the short sale section. See the web link attached. Let's talk quickly The sooner, the better - Your credit will love it!
I am living in a home that is in a short sale. I am trying to find out if legally I need to keep paying rent.
Answer by Darren Tunstall: I would not stop. You still have an agreement with the owner. A short sale is between the seller and the bank. More short sale questions at the link below.
We are trying to buy a short sale, there are 2 banks that we are dealing with. The big bank has agreed on the
Answer by Darren Tunstall: Are you working with a Realtor? Before hiring just any 'Agent' to assist you in a Short Sale, make sure they are qualified and understand all the work that is required to see you through to the end. A properly trained Short Sale Agent knows how to qualify you for a Short Sale transaction and therefore has a very high success rate. Most RealtorsŪ, Investors and Real Estate Agents do not understand how to qualify you and your lender for a Short Sale Transaction. This is one of the reasons they often have such low success rates when it comes to closing a Short Sale. Investors have around a 10% success rate. Most other so called 'Real Estate Experts' don't do much better. See more at the link below.
