I recently wrote about the importance of considering your overall financial status and goals when making a Carlsbad home purchase. It’s a big decision and there can be huge financial implications, both in the near term and down the road.

Most buyers, unless they qualify for 100% financing or obtain gift money, will allocate a large chunk of cash to the down payment (up to 20% or more of the purchase price; with detached homes starting around $500K in Carlsbad we are talking $100,000!). And the decision of how large a down payment to make on your home purchase is not just about making a competitive offer, but may have huge implications on your big-picture financial situation. This decision requires a careful analysis and depends on your unique set of circumstances.

So I got some information from a friend of mine, Paul Parotti, a financial planner, and wanted to share this. With the help of a qualified real estate agent, financial planner, mortgage professional and possibly a CPA, buyers should look at the following factors when making this decision:

How will the down payment expense affect your nest egg? Tying up too much of your net worth in your home would create major problems if you were to lose your job or encounter some other financial difficulty. For those who think they will always have the option of cashing out excess equity by refinancing, consider that mortgage standards on cash out refinances are much more stringent than on purchase transactions, with lower loan-to-value allowances and stricter borrower credit requirements. Even if you do qualify for a cash out refinance, closing costs may be several thousands of dollars. The bottom line: it’s best to keep enough cash available to float you for six months or more, just in case.

Read the full article here.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

Yesterday, Memorial Day, I got meme’d, against my wishes. Got one of those Internet chain letter types of things called a MEME where I am supposed to yap about me and share stuff I wouldn’t ordinarily. Since I was busy with business I didn’t get this done until today. Sorry, Irina.

Mary McKnight initiated this Memorial Day Super 8 MEME, based on the number 8, you know like 8-ball, figure 8? Her rationale? It’s her favorite number, the 8 is the infinity symbol if you turn it on its side, and it’s 2008. Whatever. Anyhow, she meme’d Laurie Manny, who meme’d Irinia Netchaev, who decided I ought to be part of the 8 bloggers she needed to meme. Lucky me.  Since I tend to be a law abiding citizen, and meme law according to Mary McKnight requires that I answer these questions AND find 8 other lucky bloggers to do the same, I cooperated. Sort of a twist on “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Here’s Mary’s MEME

Here’s Laurie’s MEME

Here’s Irina’s MEME

Anyhow, here are the 8 questions (do you see the trend?).

1. Who is your favorite musical artist (post a YouTube Video)

This is impossible. I don’t have a real favorite. There are many artists that I really liked, or have liked over the years, and picking one out of all these doesn’t seem right. I enjoy classic rock and roll – The Rolling Stones are high up there, for example. Can’t leave out the Beatles. Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues were favorites of mine at some point. Love Annie Lennox from the old Eurythmics (my kids when they were young called them The Arithmetics). Oh, and Fleetwood Mac too. I’m a big jazz lover and the list of artists is endless. Chris Botti is a fave, as is (was) Chet Baker. And blues is right up there – Etta James may top that list. Since I have to pick one for a video, here’s Sweet Dreams sung by Annie Lennox.

2. Who is your favorite artist? (Post a Flickr photo)

I have been interested in art for many years, and credit my wife, Kay, with cultivating that love and appreciation. I love visiting galleries and museums (The Uffizi in Florence,  Italy was certainly a highlight, but then there was the Tate in London, and the  Getty in LA, and…). My wife and I also collect art, and had an art gallery in Cambridge MA for 3 years before heading to California. Not sure I would pick a favorite artist since there are so many good ones, especially contemporary which tends to be a love of mine. So here’s one from my own collection (and I don’t have to worry about who owns the Flickr photo, right?). “Martinis” by Rob Brooks.

3. Who is your favorite blogger?

Nope you won’t trap me there. Don’t have one – there are so many great bloggers I enjoy reading.

4. If you could meet anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?

Again, this is a tough one…how does one choose? I guess the one person that immediately comes to mind is Mother Theresa. This short video of her message says it all.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up? 

Hmmm, I don’t think I wanted to grow up. That’s sounds Peter Panish I suppose. I know at one point being a vet intrigued me. And as a teen I got interested in real estate (my Mom was with RE/MAX) but then pursued my love for psychology in undergrad and grad school. Did that for a bit and found it was not for me, at least not working in a medical environment.

6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know? 

I can’t ever remember any of that stuff, and I am miserable at Trivial Pursuit. But I found a fun tidbit in honor of Irina since she writes about Pasadena:

“ In Pasadena, it is illegal for a secretary to be alone in a room with her boss”

7. If you could live in any point of history, what would it be and why?

I’m not a history buff, and I think I have lived in the times I liked best – grew up in the 60s, lived through the disco age, worked for a DotCom company and went through that meltdown, and have seen tremendous advancements in technology in the 1990s into the 21^st century. What could be better?

8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held?

Hmmm, well there have been some that are not so much fun. And I suppose I would be wimping out on this question if I said my current career in real estate, which I enjoy the most because of the diversity of stuff I get to do and the people I meet. But thinking back, I would otherwise say my last Human Resource position at HookMedia as VP was the most interesting. I was the 6^th employee and got to help grow the company to 103 folks in 3 cities, build the culture, design all the programs, etc. I had the most fun of any corporate job I have had and it was a great place to end my corporate life.

Soooo, NOW I get to pick 8 lucky bloggers as part of this MEME. Yes, it is no longer Memorial Day, so maybe that makes a difference. I don’t know but I don’t want anyone saying I didn’t do my part. Maybe one of them will respond. Remember the meme law?

Sally Cheeseman – Aloha! Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog

Neal Bloom - Weston Florida Real Estate Blog

Linda Scanlan – Fort Worth Real Estate

Maureen Henry – Home Staging Rockland County NY

Jeff Belonger – Mortgage Knowledge at Its BEST

Sharon Simms – Real Estate Musings from St. Pete, Florida

Lenn Harley – Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com in Maryland and Virginia

Kelly Sibilsky – Lake Zurich Illinois Real Estate

What IS the real estate world coming to?

You bet. There are tons of predictions floating around, and everyone wants to know:

• will my house sell?
  
  • When will the market hit bottom?
    
    • Should I buy or sell now or wait?

Whether you believe in the power of St. Joseph to sell your home, wish your REALTOR had a crystal ball, or are one of many folks who consult psychics on a variety of subjects, predictions seem to be the mainstay of our housing market these days.

Read more about a growing trend.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

You have signed on with an agent (either for listing your home OR helping you find a home in your new location) and all of a sudden you find out your agent is leaving town.

Perhaps you are asking yourself "What do I do?"

Well, as you might expect I have a few thoughts on this. Given my own obsessiveness (and the fact that I am not particularly good about taking time for myself and avoiding the phone or email), maybe I am not the best one to give advice. But having been through the seller and buyer side as few times before becoming an agent, and also how I handle my own business, I wanted to share some thoughts.

While this may be a little late if you are already hooked up with someone, I recommend finding out how your agent will handle time off, vacations, etc. It is not reasonable to expect that your agent will be available 24/7 - are YOU? But there should be some allowances for how to handle those times when you need help and your agent is on a well-deserved vacation or needs to handle a family emergency, whether it is a colleague or their broker. They should have some sort of coverage or contingency plan, and you need to know who that will be, how to get in touch with them, etc.

I would strongly encourage you to bring up the subject if they do not. Believe it or not, I know folks who have been working with an agent who leaves town and they have no idea where the agent is, when they will return, or how to deal with things until their agent is back. I have had buyers call me for help because THEIR agent is out of town. Hmmm, whose client ARE you? Do they not respect you enough to make sure you have help finding a home while they are gone, particularly if timing is an issue such as a relocation, or handling your listing in their absence?

Setting expectations is important for both parties. You need to know what to expect in terms of their availability, but they do as well. If you decide to leave the area your agent needs to know so they can reach you if needed. What if you get an offer on your home? Or if the offer you submitted gets countered, or accepted?

Finding out what more of communication is best is a good idea. Will they be able to access email and will they? Is there a phone number that you can use if their cell does not work? And if their coverage will be taking over in their absence you need to have their contact information, and they need yours.

Pretty simple stuff, actually. But surprisingly many are taken aback when confronted with these situations and plans are not in place to deal with absences. Make sure YOU know what to expect and how to get the assistance you need.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler

A couple of years ago blogging was almost an unknown, certainly not common knowledge.

Some agents and other real estate professional were involved but not to the extent we see today. Similarly, use of the Internet by buyers and sellers continues to grow dramatically – it is hard to find a consumer who isn’t searching for homes, and learning about real estate and agents, on-line.

Real estate professionals, as well, derive many advantages in their blogging for consumers. Those of you who blog regularly know this; those who don’t (but you are reading this, right?), listen up!

Read the full article here with all the 9 advantages of blogging for YOU, the buyer or seller.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by

phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler