Number One Reason People Don’t Move to Ocean Hills

June 17, 2014 by 1 Comment

The number one reason why many people don’t move to Ocean Hills may not be what you think.  See answer below…

Ocean Hills HOA is always thinking of more ways to save homeowners money.

Photo by Gary Harmon

You may think it is because of the high Ocean Hills Country Club homeowners fees. NO!  When you consider what you get for your monthly fee, OHCC homeowners due may actually be a bargain.   If you live outside of Ocean Hills, you probably have a larger yard.  Counting your water cost and the cost of a gardener, cost of your alarm system, and cost of basic cable, you probably are already paying more than Ocean Hills assessments and getting far less.

Maybe you think residents in Ocean Hills are too old and that you may not fit in. No!   Residents in Ocean Hills Country Club are very active.  There are clubs and activities for all age levels.  People tend to make friends with others in Ocean Hills with similar interest and abilities.

The number one reason that people don’t move to Ocean Hills is, “People cannot get their existing home sold for the price they are asking.”  ”  You can’t ask too much for your home and then try to buy an Ocean Hills home cheaply.  It never works in Ocean Hills and seldom works in other communities.  Ask a fair price and expect to pay a fair price.  I haven’t seen the home you currently have for sale, but it the market is good and your home isn’t selling, your home is over priced.  Don’t believe me, adjust your price downward and it will soon be sold.

Good luck in selling your existing home.  And if you can go by my many Ocean Hills buyers, buying in Ocean Hills is definitely worth it.

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Five Star Award

May 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Five Star Professional conducted research to determine the real estate agents in the San Diego area who provide quality services to their clients. Now San Diego Magazine and Five Star Professional have teamed up to announce the winners in a special advertising section of the magazine’s March 2014 edition.   San Diego buyers participated in research that resulted in Gary Harmon’s selection as a Five Star Real Estate Agent for the fourth year in a row.

Five Star Award

Awarded Four Straight Years

How was Gary Harmon selected?

Five Star Professional relied on nominations received by consumers to identify award candidates. Our research team contacted consumers like Ocean Hills Homes customers, in the San Diego area and asked if they had experience working with a real estate agent. Consumers who agreed to participate in the survey provided the name of the real estate agent and rated that individual according to key criteria such as integrity, negotiation and closing preparation.

Surveys were sent to San Diego area residents who recently purchased a home over $150,000 (more than 20,800 households) within an 8-month period (September 2012 to May 2013).

Award candidates were evaluated against five objective criteria such as a qualifying client satisfaction rating and a favorable regulatory and complaint history. The resulting list of 2014 Five Star Real Estate Agents is a select group, representing less than 7% of the real estate agents in the San Diego area.

As a Five Star award winner, Gary Harmon was listed in the special advertising section of the March 2014 issue of San Diego Magazine and on the Five Star Professional website.

You can get the same personal service that made Gary Harmon a Five Star Award Winner.  Contact Gary Harmon, for your best move ever.

Gary is part of the Hadley Home Team at Real Living Lifestyles.  The Sandi Hadley Team ranks third in # of units sold in Real Living Lifestyle.

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Retirement Home Ownership in Ocean Hills

August 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Owning an Ocean Hills home that meets your retirement needs is an important consideration in securing your lifestyle and security during your golden years. Developing a sustainable plan that covers your living expenses, including mortgage payments, with income is a critical part or your retirement planning. There are financial options available to you that will support your lifestyle with adequate income, while preserving your home’s equity and your savings. Most seniors want to remain in their Ocean Hills home for safety, security and stability indefinitely or as long as possible. But some people live longer and assisted living options may become necessary. Developing a financial plan that protects one’s home equity and savings provides greater flexibility to address future contingencies.

Tennis Courts - Photo by Gary Harmon

Tennis Courts – Photo by Gary Harmon

That is why I work with helpful lenders like Craig Laursen.  Craig is a knowledgeable and experienced mortgage loan professional committed to helping clients make wise decisions affecting their pre- and post-retirement years.  He works with estate planners, financial advisors,counselors and other real estate professionals to support you. He am familiar with and offer borrowers a variety of mortgage loan products and programs that can help you to minimize your housing expenses while protecting your home’s equity.

My goal is to be part of your retirement planning team to help you execute your retirement plans that involve home ownership and mortgage decisions.  Craig Laursen and I am here to help.  Craig works for W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC.  For real estate information in Ocean Hills Country Club including listings of Ocean Hills homes, contact Gary Harmon.

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San Diego Events – May 2013

April 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The following schedule of San Diego events for May 2013 was provided courtesy of Fidelity National Title Company.

May Events 1May Events 2

If you would like more real estate related information, contact Gary Harmon today.

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Ocean Hills Home Ownership

April 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Ocean Hills Home Ownership After Retirement

 

Photo by Gary Harmon

Photo by Gary Harmon

 

Owning an Ocean Hills Country Club County home that meets your retirement needs is an important consideration in securing your lifestyle and security during your golden years. Developing a sustainable plan that covers your living expenses, including mortgage payments, with spending and savings is a critical part of your retirement planning. Balancing the security of your Ocean Hills home’s equity with cash flow needs should be part of your plans. Most retirees contemplate how active their income will allow them to be, while maintaining savings to support a long life and unexpected events. Remaining in your home provides equity, safety and security. Financial advisors recommend reducing living expenses by downsizing; some opt for second homes in senior living communities; others choose the security of assisted living arrangements.

Gary Harmon, your Real Living Lifestyles Realtor, and Craig Laursen, mortgage lender are knowledgeable, experienced and committed to helping North County over 55 home buyers and sellers make wise decisions affecting their retirement years. We work with estate planners, financial advisors and counselors to support you. We are excellent real estate negotiators and we know San Diego. We’ll work to qualify you for mortgages that utilize retirement income; for homes located in age restricted communities and other considerations that affect real estate transactions for retirement age buyers.

Our goal is to be part of your retirement team to help you execute your retirement plans that involve home ownership and mortgage decisions.

To get more real estate information reguarding buying an Ocean Hills home, getting an Ocean Hills Country Club tour,  or to get lending information, contact Gary Harmon.

My appreciation goes out to Craig Larsen, a North County mortgage loan originator, for providing this article.

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5055 Dassia Way

March 29, 2013 by 1 Comment

Hottest New Listing in Ocean Hills Country Club!

Tasteful Living Room
5055 Dassia Way is the hottest new listing to hit Ocean Hills Country Club this week.  It is the popular Paros floor plan.

Listing Remarks: Built in 1998, one of Ocean Hills newest homes, this Paros model has a great culdesac prime location.  Lush front yard, dramatic front courtyard entry with stamped concrete complete welcome you.  Park like, and very private, rear yard with raised dining area & built in bbq provide a great place for relaxing or entertaining.  Newer, neutral carpet and tile, plantation shutters, built in speakers in lr, mbr and family room add to inside charm.    The master bedroom is downstairs and has a soothing spa tub..  Upstairs is a professional built in office & guest bedroom.  Enjoy the spacious kitchen with island, built in pantry, and eating area.

Supplement: Ocean Hills offers the best in over 55 real estate at the upscale, affordable, retirement living community.  Ocean Hills is like living at a vacation resort. This exclusive guarded and gated community sits high on a hill 30 miles from downtown San Diego.  It is inland about 5 miles from the coast. There are greenbelts throughout the Ocean Hills to give the feel of separation and space.  There are no green fees since these are included as part of the association fees.  Ocean Hills Country Club homes enjoy the great year round San Diego mild weather.  Health Care: There are good health facilities near Ocean Hills. Tri-City Medical Center is a designated cardiac and stroke treatment facility.       Shopping: There is also an abundance of shopping available near Ocean Hills homes.  Besides the many fine neghiborhood shopping centers, there is Carlsbad Regional Mall.  Just to the south, also in Carlsbad is the Carlsbad Outlet Center featurning high end fashion at discount prices.       Architecture: The architecture found in Ocean Hills Leisure Village and the street names are  inspired by Mediterranean Sea Villages and Aegean hill towns, with red tiled roofs and bougainvillea-covered white stucco walls.  There are 1633 of these 55+ North County senior homes in the Ocean Hills.       Association and Management Company: The association maintains all Ocean Hills homes exteriors.  It also maintains the front yards from your front gate to the street.  Ocean Hills Country Club is managed by Professional Community Management (PCM).  This Ocean Hills retirement community has won over 10 major national and regional awards including the Gold Nugget Grand Award for Best Retirement Senior Community.

This Ocean Hills home was listed by Gary Harmon, Real Living Lifestyles, Friday, March 29th.  If you would like to see this home or just get more information about this listing or Ocean Hills homes, contact Gary Harmon.

For other listings available in Ocean Hills see Ocean Hills Country Club homes for sale.

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Why Ocean Hills Sellers call Gary Harmon

March 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

More Exposure – Faster Sale – More Money!

Why?

Answer: 87 % of all buyers start their home search on the Internet. Most Ocean Hills Country Club buyers start their search at Gary’s websites, www.OceanHillsHomes.com and www.HomeInfoSanDiego.com. Check for Yourself! Go to www.google.com or your Google search bar and type a related search term like “ocean hills real estate, ocean hills homes, ocean hills homes for sale, ocean hills listings”, or other related Ocean Hills searches. You will note that Gary’s websites show up at the top of the search for most terms relating to Ocean Hills. (See actual search example below 3/25/2013)

ocean hills real estate

Maximize the chance of selling your home!  List your “Ocean Hills home for sale” with an Ocean Hills Realtor whose website attracts the most buyers. Contact Gary Harmon, today.

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Write a Winning Purchase Offer

February 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Once you have looked at Ocean Hills homes, writing the offer becomes very important. After working hard all your life for your money, you don’t want to pay too much.  However, you do want to be successful in buying that Ocean Hills Country Club home. It is time to  contact Gary Harmon, your Real Living real estate agent and write the purchase offer.

Most things are negotiable in the offer, but in San Diego North County there is a standard to follow on most items. A good rule of thumb, using an old clicke, is to make any purchase offer a win-win for everyone. Your North County Realtor will know how to advise you.

Keep Your Offer Simple

Keep the purchase offer on the Ocean Hills home for sale as simple as possible. For example, don’t ask for closing cost back unless you need the cash.   Ocean Hills Country Club sellers will only be looking at the net price. Don’t ask for repairs up front. You can handle those later in the request for repairs. Structure you offer to keep things simple and clear for everyone to understand. If there are any items of personal property you are requesting that don’t normally come with the home, do them separately after you have an acceptance on the home. Don’t forget the big picture which is to buy your Ocean Hills home, not to get a good deal on a refrigerator, etc.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Focus only on what is important. The first important thing is the sales price. Your Ocean Hills buyers agent, Gary Harmon, can provide you with comps of other Ocean Hills homes to help you pick the right offer price. In this current Ocean Hills real estate market, homes are selling at or above listing price. If you offer low, many times you won’t get a counter offer, so put your best foot forward. The deposit, in Ocean Hills, usually at least three percent of the purchase price, is the next important item. How long an escrow will you need? It takes at least 30-45 days to get all the loan details worked out. Other items to consider are who pays escrow, title, and other closing cost. Ask your Realtor, Gary Harmon, what is customary in Ocean Hills Country Club.

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Rental Advantages

February 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Advantages of renting before you buy in Ocean Hills?

  • May be cheaper than a mortgage payment on your Ocean Hills home
  • Fewer (if any) maintenance costs
  • No down payment required (less deposit)
  • No real estate taxes (renters insurance optional)
  • Less stress (who cares, it’s not yours!)
  • Freedom to move or downsize when necessary
  • No risk of home price depreciation
  • “Free” amenities such as golf, pool, clubhouse, gym, security, and more
  • Money can be used for other, more profitable investments
  • Can’t be foreclosed on
  • Can rent to see if you want to live in Ocean Hills Country Club homes

If you would like to know more about renting in Ocean Hills Country Club homes, contact Gary Harmon.   Gary can help you find a rental that meets your needs.

 

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Reverse Mortgage Changes effect Ocean Hills Seniors

January 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The changes to reverse mortages are as follows:

  • Fixed Rate Interest options will be eliminated (post Feb 2013) and all future mortgages will be variable interest rate only. The specifics of the variable rate options (indexes, margins and rate caps) will be priced according to each lender. The HECM fixed rate program is the primary reason the program is showing an estimated economic value of negative $2.8 billion.
  • Creation of “set asides” for payments of taxes, insurance and HOA dues. As with all groups there is a percentage of individuals who exploit “loopholes” in any given program. In this case, a small minority number of seniors took a “lump sum disbursement” of equity (cashed out) and later (as housing values plunged) simply quit making their property tax, insurance and HOA payments. Or in many cases seniors became (increasingly) debilitated , many simply lost the ability to keep up with the paperwork demands of paying the bills.  This led to massive losses as homes reverted back to investors as seniors passed away or left the home for convalescent care. How exactly the “set-aside” issue is handled will be the most challenging.  The tradeoff of giving access to their full equity ( 50-80% max ltv) while still protecting the investors.
  • “Full Equity Disbursement” (aka FED) Currently seniors can receive their equity in one “lump sum” or a series of withdrawals (i.e. HELOC). This option will be scaled back (probablly eliminated) for several reasons. Many HUD housing counselors feel that this mass infusion of cash into a senior’s bank account often leads to poor financial planning for their long term future. Whether it be a crooked care giver, “impatient” future inheritors or just poor purchasing decisions (it is felt by HUD) that a large wad of cash is more easily mismanaged than a series a series of managed withdrawals. Scaling back FEDs will also solve issue number 2 (listed) above.

To get more information about how a reverse mortgage can help you buy in Ocean Hills, contact Gary Harmon today.

Above info supplied by Daniel Dobbs, Capital Mtg. Services.

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