Buying a home in Ocean Hills is one of the largest financial transactions most seniors will ever undertake. Buyer’s agents, like Gary Harmon, who are REALTORS® are a trusted source of advice and stand ready to help you navigate your homebuying journey and make the choices that work best for you. NAR’s recent settlement has led to several changes that benefit Ocean Hills homebuyers, and we wanted to clearly lay them out for you.

Here is what the settlement means for homebuyers everywhere in the United States:

• You will sign a written agreement with your agent before touring a home. (NO WRITTEN AGREEMENT, NO TOUR.) Since August 17, 2024, an agent cannot show you a home without a Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreement.
• Before signing this agreement, you should ensure it reflects the terms you have negotiated with your agent and that you understand exactly what services and value will be provided, and for how much.
• The buyer representation agreement must include four components concerning compensation:

1. A specific and conspicuous disclosure of the amount or rate of compensation the real estate agent will receive or how this amount will be determined.
2. Compensation that is objective (e.g., $0, X flat fee, X percent, X hourly rate)—and not open-ended (e.g., cannot be “buyer broker compensation shall be whatever the amount the seller is offering to the buyer”).
3. A term that prohibits the agent from receiving compensation for brokerage services from any source that exceeds the amount or rate agreed to in the agreement with the buyer; and,
4. A conspicuous statement that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law.

• Written agreements apply to both in-person and live virtual Ocean Hills home tours.
• You do not need a written agreement if you are just speaking to an agent at an open house or asking them about their services.
• You may ask the seller, when you write your purchase offer, to pay for your buyer broker’s commission. This practice is permitted but the offer cannot be shared on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS)— MLSs are local marketplaces used by both buyer brokers and listing brokers to share information about properties for sale.
• You can still accept concessions from the seller, such as offers to pay your closing costs.

These practice changes went into effect August 17 and changes the way real estate is done everywhere in the US.

Please contact Gary to discuss these changes and to arrange your tour of Ocean Hills homes.

Dear Gary,
Thank you so very much for being our Realtor.  We are very grateful for you and your extensive knowledge of Ocean Hills Country Club.  We appreciate how honest you were with every open house.  All your pros and cons of the properties were so very helpful.  
Because of your expertise we were able to purchase a great property, thankful again for your knowledge.  We know it was a difficult market and we are very grateful for your help.  You are a fantastic Realtor and we will always refer you to anyone who is looking for a Realtor.
Thank you for everything.
Barbara and Quincy

Gary constantly strives to help seniors find the best home in Ocean Hills Country Club that meets their retirement needs. This type of service is what constantly earns Gary the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award, year after year.

Ocean Hills Sales 2018

2018 was another good year for sales in Ocean Hills Country Club.  Ocean Hills homes sales rose at 5% over 2017.  For reference, 2017 Ocean Hills Country Club home sales rose at 9% over 2016.  As you can see, the rate of sales increase slowed somewhat in 2018.

Days on the market ( time an Ocean Hills home took to sell) in 2018 were 36 compared to only 27 in 2017 and 2016.  That means the time to sale in 2018 went up 35% over the two previous years.

The average of Ocean Hills Country Club sales 2018 was $648,579.  If you would like to find sales data for specific Ocean Hills country club floor plans, please contact Gary Harmon.

Gary was tied for first in closed transactions for selling agents in Ocean Hills for 2018.

Practice Email Safety

There are frequently new virus and phishing attacks on the internet.  Very often these are propagated by our  email accounts.  We have to be very careful and use common sense on which emails we open.  My IT department at Carrington Real Estate Services just sent these tips to me and I thought I should pass them along to my friends at Ocean Hills Country Club.

Warning signs that an email may be suspicious:

• Email requests money to be sent ASAP.  Cyber criminals are always looking at new ways to gain information and steal information and/or capital.   Be diligent and always validate the request before sending any information or money.
• Spelling and bad grammar. Cyber criminals are not known for their grammar and spelling. Professional companies or organizations usually have a staff of copy editors that will not allow a mass email like this to go out to its users.
• Beware of links in email. If you see a link in a suspicious email message, don’t click on it.
• Have you ever received a threat that your Hotmail account would be closed or immediate action is required by a client or vendor if you didn’t respond to an email message? This is reason to be cautious.  If you are not normally the recipient of notices, DO NOT OPEN.
• Do not open any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source.
• Do not open any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend or someone you know. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email. Confirm that your contact really sent an attachment.
• Do not open any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or unexpected.
• Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any to them. These types of email are considered spam – unsolicited, intrusive messages that clog up the inboxes and networks.
• Do not download any files from strangers.

If you have any questions relating to real estate in Ocean Hills, please contact me, Gary Harmon.

Tips for Downsizing  Simplified

Life has a way of providing bittersweet challenges. Some of the most daunting challenges we can face are the ones surrounding the process of downsizing. As much as we know that moving can be a complicated and emotional process,  we also know that Ocean Hills Country Club can be an enjoyable, comfortable “home sweet home.”  So as we navigate the senior stage of life, we must begin to ask ourselves tough questions like, “How can I downsize,” or “What details do I need to consider before the big move?” These are really important questions, and the sooner you explore the downsizing details, the less stressful it will be to make the right decisions.

Tennis Courts – Photo by Gary Harmon

Here are a few of the tips to get you started:

Maintain a Positive Mindset 

Homes carry a significant amount of sentimental value. Whether you’ve lived in a home for two years or several decades, it can be tough to decide to move away. In the case of some seniors, a lifetime of holidays, monumental moments, and family celebrations are all still echoing down the halls and surrounding the kitchen table.   However, it is time to move to a great active retirement community like Ocean Hills and start making great new memories.

Sort Belongings into Groups

Before placing anything into a box, clear a space in the house to sort your belongings into four categories: “Keep,” “Throw Away,” “Donate,” and “Family Items.” The first three categories are self-explanatory, but creating the “Family Items,” section is probably one of the best things you can do.  This move is a great time to start fiving some things to Family.  Give special items to the specific family members who would want them most. Jewelry, special dishware, and valuable possessions that should stay in the family are all great items to place in this section.

Pack

As you begin packing all of the items that will be making the move, keep all similar items together, and label the box with either the type of items inside or the room it will be delivered to in the new home. This will make the unpacking experience a lot easier later. Also, keep all medical supplies and equipment in a separate space, and consider packing them last. Many medications or supplies require a specific temperature and could be ruined in heat. You parents might also need to have easy access to these items throughout the move, so consider packing them in your personal vehicle rather than the moving truck. 

Hire Professional Movers 

Lifting heavy items or participating in strenuous physical activities could be dangerous for seniors. For a simple and stress-free move, hire professionals to do the hard work.  Movers are well-experienced in safely transporting valuables and heavy furniture pieces, so no one has to worry about the dangers of injuries or lost items. All you have to do is be present on the day of the move in order to give clear instructions for which items are fragile and to explain where the boxes will belong at the new home.

Don’t be overwhelmed at the thought of a new life adjustment. San Diego County and Southern California can be a fantastic place. To make downsizing easier, Ocean Hills floorplans come in all shapes and sizes.  This move to Ocean Hills can be just as stress-free as you make it.  You’ve done your research, now all you have to do is call, text, or email Gary Harmon for your free Ocean Hills homes tour.

Above article contributed by Michael Longsdon.