25 Years Later: San Diego Remembers September 11
Today marks 25 years since September 11, 2001, and I wanted to pause and use this space to remember instead of talk real estate. San Diego is a military town through and through — I work with so many active-duty families and veterans here that this anniversary hits differently in this community, and I know […]
Short Sale & Foreclosure Options in San Diego: What Homeowners Should Know
Quick answer: If you're behind on your San Diego mortgage, a short sale almost always beats letting the property go to foreclosure — California law protects you from owing the difference in both cases, but a short sale keeps you in control of the timeline and does far less damage to your credit. The bigger […]
What’s My San Diego Home Worth? A Seller’s Guide to Pricing in a Fast-Moving Market
San Diego detached home prices hit a median of $1,150,000 in the most recent MLS report — up 4.6% year over year, with days on market actually falling even as prices climb. That's the real number. A Zestimate is not. Why a Zestimate Isn't Your Home's Value Zillow's Zestimate is a computer-generated estimate built from […]
Reservist and Guard Home Buying in San Diego: How VA Eligibility Works
Most people assume VA loan eligibility requires an actual deployment. It doesn't — a lot of Guard and Reserve members qualify without ever activating, through accumulated years of service instead. Here's the actual breakdown, straight from VA guidance, so you know exactly where you stand before you start house hunting in San Diego. National Guard: […]
Downsizing in San Diego: A Guide for Military Families Ready for Their Next Chapter
If you bought your San Diego home with a VA loan twenty or thirty years ago, there's a good chance you're now sitting on more equity than you ever expected — and a house that's bigger, and more work, than you actually need anymore. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) who also holds the […]
Reservist and Guard Home Buying in San Diego: How VA Eligibility Works
I hear this from Guard and Reserve members more than almost any other group: "I didn't think I qualified for a VA loan." Understandable — most of what's written about VA loans assumes active duty, and Guard and Reserve eligibility genuinely works a little differently. Here's the actual breakdown, straight from VA guidance, so you […]
VA Disability Rating and Your Funding Fee: What San Diego Veterans Need to Know
Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher are fully exempt from the VA funding fee. The exemption must be reflected on your Certificate of Eligibility before your loan closes; if your rating is approved with a retroactive effective date after closing, you may qualify for a refund. A […]
Selling Your San Diego Home Before a PCS: A Military Family’s Timeline
Selling a San Diego home before a PCS typically takes 45–60 days from listing to closing, and most military sellers need to start the process 90 days before their report date to leave enough buffer for showings, offer negotiation, and a clean handoff to household goods pickup. Here's exactly how to sequence it. The Realistic […]
Downsizing in San Diego: A Senior’s Guide to Selling and Moving
California homeowners 55 and older can sell their home and transfer their current property tax base to a new primary residence anywhere in the state, up to three times, without a tax reassessment — thanks to Proposition 19. For San Diego seniors sitting on decades of appreciation, that single rule often changes the entire downsizing […]
Selling Your San Diego Home in 2026: Pricing, Timing, and What Actually Sells It Fast
Quick answer: San Diego County homes are selling in a median of 23 days right now, at a median price around $922K — but that number hides a lot of variation by neighborhood and price tier. Price it right from day one, prep before you list, and the first two weeks on market will do […]