San Diego real estate is a hot commodity these days. Buying San Diego real estate should be a smooth deal. The process really should be a pleasant, low stress process, but these days it seems that real estate transactions have been buried in hidden costs, commissions, and that dreaded fine print. The only way to really guarantee a deal with San Diego real estate that is as stress free as possible is to get a great agent to help you every step of the way.
The realtor you choose to help move your San Diego real estate should put forth great effort to match you up with properties that are well suited to your needs. You have enough to worry about when purchasing or selling a home without having to worry about your realtor. His job is to help you and take care of you, not add to your list of concerns.
The realtor that you choose to work with in San Diego real estate should be someone you trust, someone you can count on, and someone who you are comfortable with. Your realtor should be knowledgeable about the area of San Diego that you would like to move to.
This will save you a lot of detail detective work and will ultimately spare you stress and save you valuable time later. A great realtor should be very accessible. Being easy to contact when you need him or her is invaluable. You should feel at ease with your realtor, and feel free to ask questions and present your concerns to him or her. The whole reason that people enjoy working with a San Diego real estate professional is that it adds convenience to everything regarding property, and if you cant get a hold of a realtor when you need to, that certainly is not very convenient for you, and this of course defeats the purpose of hiring a realtor.
To help simplify your San Diego real estate transactions, a good San Diego realtor will always offer you choices. You should never have to feel like you have to accept something that you are not comfortable with, just because there were no alternatives that were presented. A realtor is your guide through the process, and if at any point you feel lost or dont know how to go about something, let your realtor know. He is working for you, not the other way around, and a great realtor should never have to be reminded of that.
Another much appreciated service that a great realtor can provide to you is providing referrals to service providers such as inspectors, plumbers, pest control people and general contractors. If you look at your realtor and tell her I dont know who does that she should be right there with suggestions and contact information for you. Your realtor should be honest about the quality of service that the providers turn out, and about any recommendations that he feels may be applicable.

During the month of September, 2010, The Downtown San Diego Condo Market saw 135 new listings inputted into the MLS to bring the total number of available condos for sale to 400.  The aforementioned total does not include all available developer units which may account for as many as 100 additional units.  Furthermore, “new” listings may also include condos that have previously been listed for sale but have expired and now been re-posted.

During the same time period, 30 escrow transactions “fell out” and those condo units have also been re-listed as active.  It appears that a majority of these failed transactions were a result of short sale processes that involved a buyer walking away from the transaction, or a potential buyer that was not able to qualify for the sale price.

Finally, 84 Downtown San Diego Real Estate transactions successfully closed.   Again, this did not include developer held units not listed in the MLS and may increase the number of actual closings by 15-30.

In summary, the amount of available inventory continues to shrink.  Agents at The Downtown Condo Showroom continue to see a highly competitive market in the under 350k price range.  Similarly, condos priced below market value in all price ranges are seeing shortened market time.

The San Diego Downtown Rental Market offered 74 new listings.  These listings may also include condos that have previously been listed, but have expired, or for some other reason were taken of the market and put back on.    Approximately 72 condos were either rented, the listing expired, the listing was withdrawn, or the listing was cancelled.

With that said, the rental market appears to have stabilized since the increased supply immediately following the opening of the apartment tower Strata.  According to agents at Strata, leases have been brisk and inventory is shrinking quickly.

With the recent release of S&P’s Case-Shiller report on the continued increase in sales in the San Diego Real Estate Market in General, the Downtown San Diego Condo Market particularly should see a continued increase in completion in the lower price points (under 350k).  There are also signs that the diminished supply is leading to an increase in competition in higher price points.  With limited water view condos available under 700k, discerning buyers are taking a little bit longer to purchase premium units as in the prior two years.

Buying a home in San Diego, or anywhere else for that matter, can seem like a daunting task for the first time homeowner. San Diego is famous for its popular beaches, beautiful landscape, and competitive real estate market, but that does not mean that getting in to this, or any other market, is impossible. The following ten steps, if followed correctly and in consultation wit h an experienced real estate professional, can help you become a homeowner more quickly than you have ever thought possible.
Step One: Research: Background in the mortgage and real estate industries is one way to help you find and secure the home you want much sooner. You do not have to be a real estate agent to be knowledgeable about these matters, however. A little research can go a long way in helping you make sense of the myriad of regulations, codes, insider jargon, and trends that go hand-in-hand with the lending and real estate biz.
Step Two: Take a Hard Look at Your Finances: Your credit score, employment history, debt to income ratio, and liquid assets are all considered by your lender when it comes time for a loan pre approval. Make sure that you have a realistic budget in place, and that all errors on your credit report have been corrected or at the very least verified as actual debt and accounted for. Debt should not disqualify you from home ownership, as long as you are prepared to take proactive steps to resolve your debt and get your finances under control.
Step Three: Know Your Wants and Needs: Which type of San Diego real estate loan are you looking for? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need your new home to contain? Do you prefer an urban or a more rural location? If you think that you might need help securing the funds necessary for a down payment, make sure to contact the appropriate resources.
Step Four: Find a Real Estate Agent: Many people find their agent based on the referrals of friends and family, but you can also find agents online, in the newspaper, and simply by opening the phone book. Be sure to verify your agents credentials and expertise, and make certain that the agent you choose is a person that you trust and feel comfortable sharing your personal financial information with.
A good relationship with your real estate agent can give you the edge when it comes time to make calls to lenders, appraisers, and other related parties.