Come to Coronado Island Celebrate 4th of July Coronado Independence Day Celebration 2011 Schedule Where you are here, make sure see some Real Estate with us! Plan to take ferry rather than driving. There are so many tourists on the Island that day, the island sinks. For real! Monday, July 4th, 2011 5:00AM - Wake up & get your spot along Orange Ave for the parade. You can't set up before 5am! 7:00AM – 36th Annual Independence Day 15K Run-5K Run/Walk Tidelands Park (Registration at 5:30AM) 619-298-7400 (www.kathyloperevents.com) 8:00AM – 4:00PM – Art in the Park Spreckels Park (6th & Orange Avenue) 9:00AM – 52nd Annual Rough Water Swim Central Beach (Check-In Starts at 7:30PM) - TBA 10:00AM – 63rd Annual Independence Day Parade  2011 Theme “An American Pageant”  Location:  Orange Ave fro... 06/28/2011

Come to Coronado Island Celebrate 4th of July Coronado Independence Day Celebration 2011 Schedule Where you are here, make sure see some Real Estate with us! Plan to take ferry rather than driving. There are so many tourists on the Island that day, the island sinks. For real! Monday, July 4th, 2011 5:00AM - Wake up & get your spot along Orange Ave for the parade. You can't set up before 5am! 7:00AM – 36th Annual Independence Day 15K Run-5K Run/Walk Tidelands Park (Registration at 5:30AM) 619-298-7400 (www.kathyloperevents.com) 8:00AM – 4:00PM – Art in the Park Spreckels Park (6th & Orange Avenue) 9:00AM – 52nd Annual Rough Water Swim Central Beach (Check-In Starts at 7:30PM) - TBA 10:00AM – 63rd Annual Independence Day Parade  2011 Theme “An American Pageant”  Location:  Orange Ave from... 06/28/2011

Getting to Know Myself Practicing real estate on Coronado Island since 1998, I often feel no matter how hard I try, I am just not good enough. Lose a listing to our competitor, or we didn't get the (overpriced) listing sold, seller e refused to adjust the price. As soon as listing term expires, re-listed with another brokerage after all the marketing dollars $$$ we spent and many Sunday afternoons at their property... The list goes on... and the journey is endless. However, the other day I came across something, it just clicked with me. I read it to myself daily (at least that's my goal). Getting to know myself is my most rewarding and powerful adventure. It is a day-to-day task, it does not happen once and for all because I evolve. Today I will try to get out of my own way and allow t... 06/26/2011

Over the years, Charlie and I had attended many long and boring office meetings (too many), we came up with 5 steps to get organized and make the most of office meetings. 1. Begin with an Agenda- The best agendas are those that are shared ahead of the meeting. Email to attendees prior to meeting so that they have time to prepare and research. 2. Carefully determine Attendees- we don't need too many people in them. If you are unsure of whether to invite someone, having a clearly defined agenda (Step 1) is a great way to guide you select attendees. 3. Start and End on Time. It is very easy to keep on going. Therefore stop on time. The next project depends on you to start on time. 4. Take Notes / Assign a Note-Taker. Our memories lie to us sometimes. We need to put them in writing. 5.  Cle... 06/26/2011

   10 Questions to Ask HOA Before you buy, have your Realtor contact HOA  with the following questions. In the process, you'll learn how responsive - and organized - its members are. You'll also be alerted to potential problems with the property.1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied units, the more marketable the units will be at resale. 2. What covenants, bylaws, and restrictions govern the property? What grandfather clauses are in place? You may find, for instance, that those who buy a property after a certain date can't rent out their units, but buyers who bought earlier can. Ask for a copy of the bylaws to determine if you can live within them. And have an attorney review property do... 06/21/2011

Coronado, CA - June Is Adopt A Cat Month Sad but true there are way too many wonderful pets at shelters that need homes.  In Coronado, the PAWS of Coronado Group, is having a big special, through the month of June, on cat adoptions.  Stop by their location at the Coronado Animal Care Facility, 1395 First Street, Coronado, CA 92118 any day from 9AM to 4PM and fall in love with a cuddy feline and adopt him or her.  The adoption fee will only be $40 for your new best buddy.  And, to encourage you to bring home that cat's brother, sister or pal, the second cat is only $20! This photo is one of our two adopted cats.  Both are very different but fantastic additions to our family.  The cat in this picture is my sweet girly girl cat.  Our other cat is a more rambunctious, prankster tom cat.  We... 06/13/2011

Coronado Homes For Sale - Homes For Sale In Coronado Offering over 11 communities such as Green Turtle, El Camino, El Mirador, and Las Flores finding the perfect home is a piece of cake. With many beautiful and diverse homes for sale including condos, luxury homes, private homes, and golf course communities Coronado Homes For Sale are everywhere.  With buyer tips, seller tips, school and community information we have everything you need to get started. Not quite sure what you are looking for but have an idea? Just search Homes For Sale In Coronado  and we will make buying a home simple. You will be on your way to purchasing your property with our agent in just one click. Search all Coronado Homes With A Pool Search all Coronado Affordable Homes Search all Coronado Short Sales 06/10/2011

Homes For Sale In Coronado, CA - Coronado Homes For Sale Coronado California is one of our Premier Beach Communities in San Diego.  The idyllic beach town is only 2.3 miles from cosmopolitan downtown San Diego but seems light years removed from big city life.  We all think of Coronado as an island but actually it is a peninsula attached to the land by a 10 mile isthmus.  Most people drive from San Diego over the iconic, sweeping Coronado Bridge.  Years ago there was a fare to cross the bridge but it is free to travel now.  You can also reach Coronado, from San Diego, by ferry (take your bike and ride the 15 miles of Coronado bike lanes) or water taxi. A fairly small city, approximately 24,000 residents, Coronado is known for great schools, a charming Village with lovely shops, restauran... 06/10/2011

Speechless Sunday's - Memorial Day Theme Since San Diego is such a huge military town (250,000 active duty, 900,000 veterans!), and we are so grateful for all they have done to protect us and our freedom, I thought I would share some military photos.  The first picture is one we took at the Century of Flight.  This was an event that celebrated 100 years of military flight training at Coronado Naval Air Station.  It was not that long after Orville and Wilbur invented planes that they were training military aviators to take off from Coronado Island!  They have come a long way in the equipment though.  Here are the revered Blue Angels.............     The next photo is of a V22 Osprey based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station......   Happy Memorial Day! 05/29/2011

Coronado VA and VA Jumbo Home Mortgage Loan info - Direct Lender. VanDyk Mortgage is your local source for VA Loans and VA Jumbo Loans in Coronado and San Diego.  We have been making VA loans since 1987. VanDyk Mortgage is a Direct Lender. We offer many loan programs for Coronado Homebuyers and Coronado Veteran Homeowners to Purchase and refinance homes in beautiful Coronado. VA Loans VA Jumbo Loans VA Loans for Condo's Purchase, Refinance, Streamline Refinance (IRRRL) Coronado VA Loans are available up to $537,500 with zero downpayment. The Coronado / San Diego County VA Loan Limit in 2011 is $537,500. However, Veterans are not limited to the San Diego County Loan limit of $537,500 for Coronado VA Jumbo Loans. We also offer VA Jumbo Loans up to $1.5 Million with the appropriate downpay... 05/28/2011

If you owe more than your house is worth and can't afford your payments, you might be able to sell it for less than you owe -- without having to pay the lender the difference.   If you can no longer make your mortgage payments and your home is now worth less than you owe on it, foreclosure may not be your only option. A short sale, in real-estate terms, is a sale of a house in which the sale price is less than what the owner still owes on the mortgage. It is a procedure sometimes agreed to by lenders, who often would rather take a small loss than go through the lengthy and costly foreclosure process, in which the lender allows the sale of a home for less than it is worth and forgives the rest of the note. While there are some significant negative consequences to a short sale, an ever-i... 05/26/2011

Roughly forty percent of the homes for sale on today's market are short sales and foreclosures! Distressed properties are well known for their value (a reputation which is sometimes accurate, and sometimes not), but they also have a reputation for causing buyers to become distressed, too!Transactional snafus, last-minute surprises and long, drawn-out escrows that never close seem to be par for the course. Instead of avoiding these properties altogether, get educated about the most common dramas that go down in these deals, and how you can avoid falling victim.1.  Run-on (and on, and on) escrows.  When you're buying a home (or selling one, for that matter), time is absolutely of the essence.  And buyers reasonably expect that the big time suck in real estate is in the house hunting proce... 05/17/2011

A Client Story- Coronado Home Inspector I meet some very interesting clients as a home inspector here in southern California. Some young- some old, some first-time buyers- some veteran investors, some native Californians- some from out-of-country. Every new day is a surprise. It's what makes my occupation so very interesting. As a Coronado home inspector, I realize I am in the people business. I love meeting new people! The majority of my clients are home buyers. It brings me great pleasure to help bring clarity to them at a time when they are under a great deal of stress. Especially first-time home buyers. A real estate transaction can make them feel as if they are joining the military with all the paperwork involved. The process can be a bit overwhelming for them. A well-done home ins... 05/13/2011

Don't Miss Out on Coronado's Historic Home Tour this May 8th from 11 am -4 pm.  This year Coronado pays tribute to the many aviators that have called Coronado home over the years.  There will be 6 homes on the tour this year.  The homes exhibit the various historic and architectural diversity present in Coronado.  One of the homes on the tour was designed by noted architect Richard Requa.  Some of the styles present will be a California Craftsman, a Spanish Eclectic and the time periods range from 1910 - 1940. For tickets and more informaiton you can call 619.435.7242 or go to Coronado History.org. 05/04/2011

Foreclosure is something that many people think can never happen to them.  The reality is it can happen to anyone. There are many reasons that may leave us facing foreclosure: Rising Interest Rates Unemployment Personal Tragedy Health Problems Death of a Family Member These are just some of those very real reasons.  In desperate times, the last thing you need is to lose your home and potentially break up your family. At The Watson Group, we are committed to assisting you with keeping your home.  We will act on your behalf and negotiate with your lender for Free!  Whether your goal is to stay in your home or simply get out of it without going through foreclosure... We may be able to help make it a reality. For more information click below. STOP FORECLOSURE!  or for a Free recorded messag... 04/30/2011

The Consequences of Walking Away Form Your Mortgage! Have you had a conversation with someone in the last 30 days about the consequences of walking away from your mortgage? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. With an estimated 11 million people underwater on their mortgage, (owing more on their mortgage than their home is worth), even the most credit-worthy consumers are considering walking away from their mortgage. "Walking away from a mortgage," or what's known as a strategic default, usually results in either a short sale or foreclosure and many people in this position are asking one simple question: What are the consequences of walking away from a mortgage? Walking Away from a Mortgage: The Consequences Generally speaking, if you are considering walking away from a mortgage th... 04/30/2011

Perhaps the most important fact to understand is that in today's economy short sales are a must to sell properties. Since property values have declined nationwide at such a rapid pace, The National Association of Realtors predicted that in 2009 and 2010 over 50% of all properties sold will be short sales or REO properties. It is unavoidable.  If a house is to be sold in today's market, then a short sale will be needed to make that happen.  Short sales require hours upon hours of work, and organization is imperative in order to get them done.  Also be aware that short sales will typically take approximately 3-4 months to complete depending on which state you are in (see below for typical lender timelines), and that is simply because the majority of lenders are overwhelmed at the moment, ... 04/23/2011

4 Reasons Why Online Home Buyers Should Consider Using A Realtor! Home shopping online has become a mainstream way for the public. But going shopping alone - without the help of a professional - can become a huge handicap for home buyers.Here are four reasons why home-shoppers need the help of a real estate professional. Searching only online means shoppers can miss some of the best alternatives. Shoppers who limit themselves to only looking at real estate Web sites will overlook some very good properties, possibly one that is perfect for them, and they won't get up-to-the minute information. Lookout for fake listings. People trying to collect page views so they can pump up their advertising returns can waste the time of real home shoppers. Using a professional to vet properties before... 04/20/2011

Series - What Is So Great About Living In San Diego? This Episode -  Fresh Air!!! The other day I did this video because of a couple of stories I had read about how bad air pollution really is for our health.  It contributes (or maybe even causes) heart disease, asthma, brain problems and other nasty health concerns.  In addition to those stories, I read how San Diego has the lowest ozone pollution since they began testing for that fifty years ago. Why is our air so good?  Well, there are several reasons.  One is our lack of heavy industry.  No refineries, coal stacks or heavy manufacturing.  Our main industries are high tech, bio tech, health, education, tourism and resorts, military and defense contractors. Another reason for the good clean air is the wonderful ocean breezes.  The air... 04/19/2011

San Diego - Events Calendar April 16 and 17th There are so many fantastic things about living in America's Finest City.  One of those things is the fact that there is so much to do.  Or not, you can always just kick back and relax.  But, if you are looking for fun events we have them! Following are just some of the choices for this weekend: Coronado 86th Annual Flower Show and 21st Annual MotorCars and Main Street Car Show - Saturday 4/16 from 1 to 5 pm and Sunday 4/17 10am to 4 pm there will be the flower show which will include trophy presentations and a Beer Garden.  If you are familiar with Coronado you know the people luck enough to call Coronado home are very serious about their flowers and landscaping.  It is really a beautiful little city (approx. 25,000 residents).  The Flower ... 04/16/2011