San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Industry announcements
Claudia Millsap Joins Rancho Bernardo Office Of The Escrow Firm as Escrow Officer
The Rancho Bernardo office of The Escrow Firm is pleased to announce that industry veteran Claudia Millsap has come on board as Escrow Officer and Escrow Branch Manager.
Claudia is passionate about the real estate profession, bringing more than 20 years of hands-on experience to each transaction. Her extensive knowledge of industry segments includes a special focus on residential resale, commercial, multifamily, REOS, and short-sale transactions.
Claudia’s dedication to providing the highest-quality customer service, and her ability to seamlessly collaborate with all parties involved, creates a pleasant and professional experience for her clients. Because Claudia is highly skilled in the nuances of the Southern California market, she easily anticipates client needs. Her fluency in English, Portuguese, and Spanish make her a favorite with international clients.
Home buying will continue into fall
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) recently reported the annually-active summer home buying season is continuing into the fall months as prices remain high and homes are selling faster than ever. “Housing inventory is disappearing nearly as fast as it appears, even in a market with rising prices,” said broker Jason Lopez, a PSAR board member. “Buyers are motivated by low mortgage rates and a strong desire for the certainty of ownership during uncertain times.” According to
Realtor.com, a home search service operated by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), listings declined in San Diego County by 43 percent, while home prices increased 4.8 percent as of early September in year-over-year comparisons.
Judson Real Estate Welcomes Josh Banks
Lynn Judson,
President of Judson
Real Estate, is pleased to welcome
Josh Banks to the impressive team of
Escondido based real estate agents!
Josh has lived in San Diego County for over 18 years and as past president of the Escondido East Rotary Club he believes in giving back to his community every chance he can. His long career in banking has equipped Josh with the financial and business perspective that clients appreciate so much. His teamoriented approach is apparent in the way he works with clients and colleagues to surpass their expectations in each and every interaction
PSAR training on followup software
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors’ (PSAR) Tech Committee, chaired by realtor Mike White, will present a free webinar titled “The Money is in the Follow-up” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 30. The webinar, to be presented over the Zoom online meeting platform, will cover Liondesk, a customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps realtors with lead nurturing, along with lead generation. The webinar will include follow-up text tips, email and text scripts and video ideas. All San Diego-area realtors, regardless of association membership, are invited to participate in the free webinar. The class will feature both demonstration and hands-on Q&A. For registration information, call PSAR at (619) 5790333 or visit www.psar.org.
Virtual open houses are the future
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) recently recommended to its 3,100 members to plan on virtual open houses as a standard real estate industry practice long after the Covid-19 pandemic subsides. “The rapid migration to digital technologies driven by the pandemic will continue beyond the nation’s economic recovery,” said realtor Laurie Macdonald, a PSAR board member. “A better and simpler way to conduct an open house is a virtual open house using video from a laptop or cell phone. Instead of group openhouse gatherings, expect fewer open houses with smaller numbers, as well as private home showings. Adjusting to the safety concerns of our clients will be our industry’s response to show we understand and care.”
August home sales 10 percent higher
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego’s largest real estate trade groups for San Diego-area realtors, reports home sales in San Diego County were 10.2 percent higher in August 2020, compared to August 2019, but down 2.2 percent from July 2020. PSAR said recent statistics from the California Association of Realtors (CAR) indicate that buyers and sellers have brushed off economic uncertainty in a post-covid-19, housing market rebound. Statewide, August 2020 home sales were up 6.3 percent from July 2020 and up 14.6 percent from August 2019. August’s sales total climbed above the 400,000 level for the second straight month. For additional housing market statistics, visit www. psar.org.
Getting ready for a move
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) recently noted that planning ahead and organization are keys to success for homes sellers preparing for a move. PSAR said consumers can benefit from listening to their realtor who has knowledge and experience with anxious clients. “It’s best to sit down look together at a calendar to plan specific timeframes to achieve certain milestones,” said realtor Yvonne Cromer, a PSAR board member. “Moving typically means lots of sorting, purging and downsizing. It also means having a `I don’t know’ category to decide later about keep-or-toss, sell-or-cherish items. I’m always reminding my clients how happy they will feel once they’re settled in their new home.”
Home prices top $732k in San Diego
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) reports the median price for a single-family home in San Diego County in August 2020 was $732,560, a figure which was 1.9 percent higher than the $719,000 price tag in July 2020 and 12.7 percent higher than the $650,000 amount for August 2019. Citing recent statistics from the California Association of Realtors (CAR), PSAR said sales of higher-priced properties are recovering faster than the rest of the market, pushing upward the statewide median home price. California’s median home price broke the $700,000 mark, reaching $706,900 in August 2020, a 6.1 percent jump from July 2020’s $666,320 and reflecting a year-over-year rise of 14.5 percent compared to the $617,410 price set in August 2019.
Warning about mortgage fraud
The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) recently reported that it is continually educating its members about protecting consumers against mortgage fraud, which can leave homeowners with “underwater” mortgages that are substantially higher than the valued price of their homes. “Mortgage phishing scams can be very sophisticated as con artists will attempt to divert closing costs and down payments to fraudulent accounts,” said mortgage lender Sam Calvano, a PSAR board member. Calvano recommends consumers should select a reputable PSAR member realtor to guide them through the home buying or selling process. In a recent Internet Crime Report, the FBI said victims lost more than $149 million annually as a result of fraud in real estate transactions.