.25% hike today - as expected.
Cb’s buyers need to hurry!!! 
That’s what I have been expecting and I know that buyers on the fence (especially at a high price range and needing financing) should get out there and buy their house while the loans are so cheap
Our back deck is done and the staircase off the front deck to the front entry yard is done.
We have mulch spread all around the perimeter of the house because we are expecting heavy rains this evening and tomorrow. We were getting the issue where every time there was water running off the roof it was hitting near my new white stucco and splattering red mud stain onto the stucco. So, we have a 3 ft wide, 3 inch deep layer of wood chips around the house now so that we don’t keep having to clean the stucco
Yesterday a giant pile of 10 cubic yards of mulch was delivered into the driveway. This came just before the inspector arrived. I thought he would be happy that we were starting to mulch everything up before the rains came because they are all over Storm Water control. I think I explained that earlier. Well, turns out the giant pile of mulch in the driveway is a big red flag because the pile itself could wash down the alley into the storm water system. So, he told us that pile had to be gone before he comes back after we get our GFCI outlets into garage. Right now we have it carefully covered with plastic tarps so it doesn’t wash away
But it is a chicken and egg issue. Need to get rid of the pile of mulch into back yard, but cannot mulch the back yard yet because we haven’t gotten it cleared out because we haven’t finished building the gate and side fence. What to do first???
So, the electrician came early this morning to fix GFCI (which was all his fault to begin with). Watch him try to charge me for the hour work this morning. That would be paying twice to set the same outlet!!! And now we have to get 10 cubic yards of mulch moved by the end of the day!
Interesting about Zillow
We still continue to get at least 100 views a day on Zillow and averaging 5 Saves a day. I have no idea what that means but it is really good news. Zillow sends out a daily blast of metrics to both the agent who created the listing and the owner (if you have set up an account as the owner). When I go to Zillow as an ‘owner’ of the property it shows me how that compares to other properties for sale in the area. We are blowing away every other property for sale for views and saves. I think it is probably because our photos are really good and the living room and views are interesting to viewers. Zillow does not just pick up real estate listings from the MLS, your agent has to go into Zillow and set up the listing manually with photos and text with an account (which probably costs a fee)
Another interesting tidbit… my agent always asks people who arrive at the Open House “how did you find us?” so she can get a gauge on the marketing. It used to be that a lot of people would say they saw the Open House in the Sunday Paper. Well, a good portion of people said they saw the Open House on Zillow. Amazing how times have changed. I had no idea people looked for houses for sale and/or Open Houses on Zillow
Zillow is cool for searching for houses for sale, because you can zoom in on a section of map and have it show you everything for sale in that area on the map based on your criteria like price range. Then you can just click to get the details. It’s a nice mashup of maps and RE data.
I didn’t know the agent had to set it up manually, I just assumed they were scraping MLS.
We have had 2,500 views in Zillow since listing and about 45 saves. Off the charts
Yesterday I did a drive by of the property that an agent contacted me about. Heirs are still trying to clear out the house so there was trash in the driveway. The property has two key issues that make me hesitant to pursue it further… garage under house and stairs up to front door AND under the flight path in Loma Portal. I need to think long and hard about it before I ask to go inside and do an inspection.
I would think that in such a hilly area with such small lots that the ability to build the garage under the house would be a plus, since it preserves more of the lot as open space.
What am I missing?
The number of buyers that are willing to buy a house with exterior stairs from garage up to front door is limited. This was a key issue with the Hoarder House. Lots of interest, lots of showings, adorable house with views, but noone wanted to go up those stairs with groceries, etc.
I just loaded some photos of lingering projects underway to the Flickr group
cb, maybe the possible project with the underground garage could also have a dumbwaiter!
That I could understand.
But at that house the garage was not actually built under the house, there was no interior access, the stairs were unusually long and steep, and there was no other way to access the house other than by climbing them.
At your current house, can’t someone walk from the driveway around to the front door?
At the current house someone can park at lookout and use path to come straight to main floor without any steps. This is helpful for moving furniture and appliances
From the driveway you can go to the right through a gate on concrete path and access an exterior door to interior staircase up to main floor which will have a wireless doorbell. Garage has an exterior keypad for access.
But to walk from driveway to main floor without using the interior stairs will be hard. You’d have to go through west side yard and along side of deck and then along top of slope on south side of deck, along stairs to gravel pathway to front door.
Yes, exterior stairs only has it’s limitations. My in-laws home has only exterior stairs–66 of them from the street to the front door. It’s not fun carting toddlers and infants up and down those steps, especially in the dark and rain! Somehow, H and his sibblings and folks managed, but it doesn’t rent out at the high rates that nearby homes without steps do, probably because the number of folks willing and able to navigate the steps is smaller.
@coralbrook would be able to do a gorgeous makeover of the home! It has a lovely unobstructed view and everything!
I called the agent with the house in Loma Portal this morning with some questions. There are interior stairs to laundry room and servant’s quarters from inside the garage.
But she explained that sellers (two heirs who are local) are holding out for X. They are too busy right now but they want to clear it out and paint it to get top dollar. It is in’original’ condition so I have no idea what kind of top dollar they think they are going to get from a homeowner buyer. They will not get offers from a regular buyer. They will just see a huge unsurmountable project, similar to the Alhambra Spanish
Sounds like it may be good to look elsewhere for your next project until the heirs “soften” their target amount. Folks who have a firm high figure embedded in their minds are tough to deal with, especially when there are several that will reinforce one another.
While they are too busy now to clear it out and paint it, it’s costing them something – even if there’s no mortgage, there’s still carrying costs.
“Original condition” sounds intriguing.
“Original condition” is code for “needs to be gutted down to the studs and everything replaced or redone”
I think the agent should set you up for a paid consult with these kids to give them the straight scoop about what is needed before they waste time & money fixing up the house. Agree with Very Happy that they need to be evaluating the carrying costs. The agent might get a lesser commission from selling as is, but if she could be involved in sale after the flip, she could get a nicer payoff overall by recommending a consult. Probably not how things are done, but just my opinion:)
Here you go; original condition: http://www.sdlookup.com/MLS-160064766-3611_Oleander_Dr_San_Diego_CA_92106 Note the prominent poinsettias. I’m not sure what we’re supposed to be admiring outside the windows.
How about a nice relaxing condo next? http://www.sdlookup.com/Pictures-160065056 Note the Santa Xmas rug and stocking.