Top 5 Reasons Why People Move From Their Homes.

Top 5 Reasons Why People Move From Their Homes - Location and Climate.

Sunset in San Diego, California

Location, Location, Location

Location, location, location still seems to be a major contributing factor in why people are planning to move from their current homes.  In choosing their new location, they are considering the following as reasons why they want to move from their current location and home:

1. 30% want a safer neighborhood 
2. 27% want to be closer to family 
3. 26% want a change of climate
4. 25% want to be closer to work 
5. 23% want to move for new job

Not surprisingly, 47% reported location to be more important than the home itself.  Location has always been a determining factor in real estate.

Moving Out-of-State

A change of climate topped the reason for wanting to move out of state.  55% of responders said they want a change of climate, and they are 3 times more likely to move to the West, rather than to the South.

39% were retiring, 39% wanted to be closer to family, and 36% of those polled were starting new jobs.

Are you planning to move?  Are you planning to move out of state?  What is important to you in choosing your new location?

When buying or selling real estate, make sure you have an experienced, credentialed and knowledgeable professional helping you to make the important decisions.


Read Related Articles:
LOCATION MATTERS:  WHERE AMERICA IS MOVING
Top Reasons People Want to Move

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker DRE #: 01245275 Direct:  619-246-2860 markonthemark@gmail.com HARBAUGH HOMES

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. has been a licensed REALTOR® in California since 1998.  He is a real estate Broker, holds a Bachelors Degree and a Law Degree.

Since 1998, Mark has been providing expert representation to buyers and sellers of homes, condos, multi-unit properties and multi-million dollar estates. 

His clients include friends - old and new - colleagues, professional football and basketball players, original founders of Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile personalities, who value their privacy and anonymity.  Mark has also consulted Nationally and Internationally with many interested in buying and selling real estate.

Mark can be reached at 619-246-2860.
Email: markonthemark@gmail.com 

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Wonderful Family Home or Vacation Home - Also Perfect for Snowbirds or the Savvy Investor.

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker DRE #: 01245275 Direct:  619-246-2860 markonthemark@gmail.com HARBAUGH HOMES

Home Loan Approval - It May Have Just Gotten Easier.

Home Loan Approval - It May Have Just Gotten Easier.

Some very qualified buyers have been consistently turned down for a mortgage loan in the past few years.  This seems to be a reaction to the "too easy" credit situation, which contributed to the housing market crash of 2008.



Without going overboard to cause similar chaos in the real estate market and the economy, as a whole, lender requirements are swinging back to a reasonable level - not too easy and not impossible to qualify.  The market is looking for just right.



Not all lenders are jumping in toward easing the lending standards, but many are beginning to see that more reasonable standards are necessary to a healthy housing market and for a strong economy.



So, if you have been waiting, you may want to consult with a real estate broker, who has good relationships with lenders, to see if you qualify to buy a home or an investment property.



Read related articles:

Mortgage Lenders Set to Relax Standards

Did Mortgages Just Get Easier to Obtain?

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker DRE #: 01245275 Office 619-246-2860 markonthemark@gmail.com HARBAUGH HOMES

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. has been a licensed REALTOR® in California since 1998.  He is a real estate Broker, holds a Bachelors Degree and a Law Degree.

Since 1998, Mark has been providing expert representation to buyers and sellers of homes, condos, multi-unit properties and multi-million dollar estates. 


His clients include friends - old and new - colleagues, professional football and basketball players, original founders of Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile personalities, who value their privacy and anonymity.  Mark has also consulted Nationally and Internationally with many interested in buying and selling real estate.

Have You Served in the Military? VA Loans Are Easier Than You May Think.

VA Loans Are Easier Than You May Think.

If you are a veteran and planning to buy a home, you may want to consider using your VA Benefits, and look into a VA Loan.  People who have served in the military may qualify for this type of mortgage loan.



There are myths surrounding the VA Loan, which sometimes makes them unpopular with buyers and their agents, and thus, they are underutilized.  However, once you know the true facts, you may want to think seriously about using a VA Loan, rather than a Conventional Loan or an FHA Loan.



Compared to Conventional and FHA Mortgage Loan, VA Loans should be considered for the following reasons:

1. Require NO DOWN PAYMENT, 
2. Have a LOWER INTEREST RATE, 
3. CLOSE ESCROW MORE SUCCESSFULLY, AND 
4. CLOSE MORE QUICKLY.

The Interest Rates are Generally Lower than a Conventional or FHA Loan.

Not only are the interest rates generally lower than a Conventional or FHA Loan, but, as a Veteran, there is no down payment and no mortgage insurance with a VA Mortgage Loan.

The VA Loan Successfully Closes Escrow More Often Than a Conventional or FHA Loan.

With more flexible credit standards for VA loans, these loans close successfully at a greater percentage of the time than a Conventional or FHA Loan.  VA Loans are approved with FICO scores 100 lower than non-VA Loans.

The VA Loan Closes Escrow as Quickly as a Conventional or FHA Loan.

Finally, some buyers and their agents believe a VA Loan takes longer to close.  This is also not the truth.  According to the data, VA Loans close in 40 days from acceptance.  

Shattering 4 myths about VA loans | Inman News

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. has been a licensed REALTOR® in California since 1998.  He is a real estate Broker, holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Law Degree.

Since 1998, Mark has been providing expert representation to buyers and sellers of homes, condos, multi-unit properties and multi-million dollar estates - buyer, sellers and investors.

His clients include friends - old and new - colleagues, professional football and basketball players, original founders of Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile personalities, who value their privacy and anonymity.  Mark has also consulted Nationally and Internationally with many interested in buying and selling real estate.

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker

BRE:  #01245275

Mark can be reached at 858-255-1079

Email:   markonthemark@gmail.com 

What's Happening in San Diego, California? Top Things to Do in San Diego – December 2nd-7th, 2014

What's Happening in San Diego, California? Top Things to Do in San Diego – December 2nd-7th, 2014

1. LEGOLAND Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights
2. Hotel del Coronado’s Holiday Festival – A Family Celebration
3. Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park
4. Balboa Park December Nights
5. Holiday Parades & Festivals
6. 2014 SoNo Fest & Chili Cook-Off

Read the entire article:

Top Things to Do in San Diego – December 2-7, 2014

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker DRE #: 01245275 Office 619-246-2860 markonthemark@gmail.com HARBAUGH HOMES

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. has been a licensed REALTOR® in California since 1998.  He is a real estate Broker, holds a Bachelors Degree and a Law Degree.

Since 1998, Mark has been providing expert representation to buyers and sellers of homes, condos, multi-unit properties and multi-million dollar estates. 


His clients include friends - old and new - colleagues, professional football and basketball players, original founders of Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile personalities, who value their privacy and anonymity.  Mark has also consulted Nationally and Internationally with many interested in buying and selling real estate.

Home Buyers Have Been Waiting to Buy: Pent-Up Buying Demand Continues to Grow.

Home Buyers Have Been Waiting to Buy:  Pent-Up Buying Demand Continues to Grow.

Everybody wants what everybody wants.

If you have been reading my blog, you may have seen me write that Buyers of real estate can be compared to cows waiting to go out to the field to graze.

Generally, no cows will go out to pasture until all of the cows go.  Then, they all go together.

So, for whatever reason, they all wait.  Then, again, for whatever reason, they all go at the same time.

The same can be said for Home Buyers.

Like Cows, Home Buyers Wait to "Moo-ve"

Like cows, many would-be buyers wait for others to start buying before they are willing to jump into the real estate market.  Then, it is as if the floodgates are opened up and everyone follows.

Since prior to 2008, home buyers have not yet returned to what would qualify as normal or typical buying activity.  Instead, they have waited, and continue to wait, to buy a home.

We have seen investors flood in to buy real estate - and in a substantial percentage of cases, with all cash.  Now we seem to be waiting for the typical buyers to begin buying homes for themselves and their families.

Why aren't those who would like to buy, buying?

Like with cows, we cannot be absolutely certain why most have been waiting to buy and then why everybody decides to buy at the same time.  But, we can ask them, unlike with cows.

Buyers have been waiting, in part, for the following reasons:

1. Improvement of the economic climate;
2. Improvement of the unemployment rate;
3. Creation of better quality jobs and with higher incomes;
4. Formation of new households; and 
5. Relaxing the mortgage loan credit standards.

The economy has improved substantially, although not enough for some.  The unemployment rate is back to a healthy level, millions of jobs have been created, and I believe people are ready to get on with the formation of new households and buying a home.

But, what stands in the way for many buyers, is the availability of credit.    This, however, is also changing.  When this happens, the gates are likely to swing wide open and buyers will come out in greater numbers.

Lenders are already beginning to loosen mortgage lending requirements to a healthy level.  The objective is to strike the correct balance of implementing reasonable standards without making qualifying for a loan too easy, as this contributed to the problems of our last real estate market correction.

The question is, do you wait to buy when everyone else is ready to buy?  Or do you lead the market, thereby beating the competition for homes and the inevitable appreciation of home prices and the likely event that the mortgage interest rates begin to increase?

Read more articles:
Pent-Up Demand Brewing Among Buyers

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker DRE #: 01245275 Office 619-246-2860 markonthemark@gmail.com HARBAUGH HOMES

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. has been a licensed REALTOR® in California since 1998.  He is a real estate Broker, holds a Bachelors Degree and a Law Degree.

Since 1998, Mark has been providing expert representation to buyers and sellers of homes, condos, multi-unit properties and multi-million dollar estates. 


His clients include friends - old and new - colleagues, professional football and basketball players, original founders of Fortune 500 companies and other high-profile personalities, who value their privacy and anonymity.  Mark has also consulted Nationally and Internationally with many interested in buying and selling real estate.

What's Happening in San Diego, California? Top Things to Do in San Diego – September 23-28, 2014

What's Happening in San Diego, California?  Top Things to Do in San Diego – September 23-28, 2014

Have Fun!!!

San Diego, California

1. San Diego Restaurant Week
2. Kinky Boots
3. San Diego Film Festival 2014
4. Oktoberfest in El Cajon
5. 2014 Adams Avenue Street Fair
6. Poway Rodeo
7. Oceanside Harbor Days
8. 16th Annual Trolley Dances
9. Mission Beach Centennial Festival
10. Cabrillo Festival
11. Spirits of Mexico
12. San Diego Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – September 28, 2014 
13. Barrio Art Jam 2014 – September 26, 2014 

Top Things to Do in San Diego – September 23-28, 2014

Mark Harbaugh, J.D. - Broker DRE #: 01245275 Office 619-246-2860 markonthemark@gmail.com HARBAUGH HOMES