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Question: I am thinking about a career change. I’ve always been fascinated by real estate. I’m seriously considering becoming a real estate agent. What should I know? Answer: You should always pursue your dreams and passions. During my more than 40 years of residential real estate, I’ve been fortunate to have numerous friends and family

Question: I am thinking about a career change. I’ve always been fascinated by real estate. I’m seriously considering becoming a real estate agent. What should I know?  Answer: You should always pursue your dreams and passions. During my more than 40 years of residential real estate, I’ve been fortunate to have numerous friends and family

The Real Estate Guru® by Phil Immel Ready, Set, Go! Question: Should I buy a house now or wait? Answer: The past three years have been like riding the biggest roller coaster at Magic Mountain. Similar to buying a suit, there is no “one size fits all.” Every buyer is unique and has his/her own

Question: Should I buy a house now or wait? If you are contemplating buying a home in the next year, you should interview three agents who are very experienced through different market cycles and familiar with the area where you want to buy. Answer:  The past three years have been like riding the biggest roller

Question: Should I buy a house now or wait? Answer: The past three years have been like riding the biggest roller coaster at Magic Mountain. Similar to buying a suit, there is no “one size fits all.” Every buyer is unique and has his/her own variables and time frame. If you are contemplating buying a

Question: Do you recommend getting a home inspection during escrow? Answer: Absolutely. Even if you are buying a new home from a builder. Depending on the size of the home or condo, inspections cost about $450-$700 for a typical home. The more square footage, the higher the price, because it takes longer to do. If

Question: Why are there so many conflicting articles about the housing market locally and nationally? We just want to buy a house. Answer: The media is infamous for selling headlines. What better time of year to “spook” peoplethen October? As a student of the business for more than four decades and an avid reader, it

Question: Dear Guru, how much extra value does an ocean view add to a home? Answer: In Dana Point and other coastal areas, an ocean view obviously enhances value. To what extent? It is very subjective and differs on every home, as each location is unique. A Realtor will input certain fields in the MLS

Question: Dear Guru, is now a good time to sell my house? Answer: Probably not. The good news is that home values have soared to record values since thepandemic. This occurred because of historically low mortgage interest rates (2.6%-3%) for a 30-yearfixed and also because of an extreme lack of inventory (listings). Since January, rates

Orange County Register —By Marilyn Kafus Orange County Register October 6, 2013 The buyer of a Newport Beach mansion that recently sold for $27 million didn’t find the 18,000-square-foot property by poring over the Multiple Listing Service. The house was a pocket listing, discreetly marketed by a real estate agent to a select group of