Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home, and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. But while it’s important to make your home your own, it’s also smart to think about the long-term impact your renovations could have on its value.
Read on to learn how to maximize beauty, functionality and value of your home with the top home design trends for 2023!
Hot off the (electronic) presses! Here’s the latest update on the San Diego-area real estate market. If you’re looking to make a move or just have questions, reach out — I’m always here to help.
Do you know which neighborhood in San Diego is famous for having the first hotel to offer indoor plumbing? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn with Chris, Danielle and I take you on a tour of Bankers Hill, a little-known gem here in San Diego. We explore everything from historic landmarks to Victorian homes to show you everything this neighborhood has to offer.
Historic Meets Modern
Bankers Hill is a beautiful neighborhood in San Diego with a variety of unique features. One example is the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, built in 1912. It’s also part of the larger, famous, San Diego 7 Bridges Walk, three of which are located in Bankers Hill.
In addition, there are a lot of historical homes blending with modern ones—as well as emerging young professionals and new buildings. It’s a perfect blend of history and modern-day living.Â
What’s In A Name?
Interestingly, Bankers Hill is the latest iteration of the naming of this neighborhood. Other names in the past have been Park West (which makes a lot of sense) and Florence Heights. During the neighborhood’s time as Florence Heights, it borrowed the moniker from the Florence Hotel.
Built in San Diego in 1905, the Florence Hotel was the first hotel in San Diego to have indoor plumbing. Unfortunately, the beautiful building burned down in a fire in 1950.
Food And Fun
Bankers Hill features a variety of great places to grab some great food and get a drink. A prime example is the Royal Food Mart, offering delicious sandwiches, sides and luxury grocery items. After that, you can head next door to Mia Trattoria to enjoy a delicious Italian meal.
Don’t forget to try Mister A’s, a restaurant with some of the most spectacular views of San Diego and amazing cuisine. Additionally, Hob Nob Hill is one of the oldest, most classic restaurants you’ll find in Bankers Hill.Â
In addition to food and drink, a burgeoning bevy of boutiques is popping up all over the place. You’re also just a hop, skip and a jump from everything that Balboa Park has to offer. It’s one of the most amazing public play spaces in the entire city and county. Â
Home Styles And Prices
When it comes to housing options in Bankers Hill, San Diego, there are a variety of options. The neighborhood features many historical landmarks such as the Timken and Marston houses, both Victorian-era homes. You’ll also see a lot of Spanish Revivals and Spanish Colonials, which are excellent examples of Richard Requa’s and Frank Mead’s work.
Scattered throughout Bankers Hill are also some Georgian Revival homes, which are fairly rare in San Diego. Craftsmen, bungalows, luxury condos and some older condos are featured in this neighborhood, as well. Because of this mix of homes, there’s a really wide range of budgetary options to choose from.
Homes in Bankers Hill start from the mid $500,000s to $2-3 million, with the median price of a home around $1.25 million.
Love Your Life In Bankers Hill
I hope you’ve had an enjoyable time looking around Bankers Hill with us. It’s a really fun, incredible walking neighborhood in San Diego. With amazing views from local bridges to historic homes, this area has it all.Â
If you’d like to learn anything more about Bankers Hill or any other neighborhood in San Diego, give me a call at 619-925-2322. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss a new episode of Live, Laugh & Learn with Chris, and stay tuned to see where Danielle and I tour next!
Did you know that creating a trust is one of the best things you can do for your family? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, I talk with Adam Sherry, partner at Spector & Sherry LLP. We’ll learn why trusts are important, how to create one, and the benefits they can bring to both you and your loved ones.
Talking About Trusts
When it comes to trusts, talking about them can be a little scary at the beginning. However, a trust is one of the best things that you can do for your family, your earnings and everything that you’ve worked so hard for.Â
Adam Sherry is an attorney—and he’s also a really great guy to talk to about that scary conversation that is great to have once. I put it off for many, many years, but I’m so glad that I had it. Adam is going to guide us through the ins and outs and the whys of trusts so you know exactly what to expect.
Why a Trust Is Important
At Spector & Sherry LLP, Adam and his partner focus on the things that are most important to their clients. They focus on property, loved ones, health and children when they’re part of the picture, too. Taking a holistic approach, they prepare documents that allow you to carry out your wishes at the point that you’ve either passed away or you no longer have the ability to do so.Â
Of course, those are all really scary things that are very uncomfortable for people to think about. However, these are also great reasons why people should have a trust. This is especially true because there can be a negative impact if you don’t take care of this before the inevitable happens.Â
For example, California has a very interesting law that relates to transferring property from one generation to another. Post-death transfers involve probate. One of the biggest problems for the people that Adam works with is simply the cost associated with probate.Â
The Cost Of Probate
I help a lot of people to find wonderful homes, which is a journey in itself. Afterward, though, this can be a different story. If you continue to hold your home in your name as an individual on your death, you’re going to incur additional, court-related costs in order to transfer it—and these are totally unnecessary.Â
For instance, if you were to sell a $500,000 home, court-related costs to transfer it to your children or someone else would be $13,000. If it were a million-dollar home, it would be $23,000. That’s not necessary. Rather, it’s just something that happens if you haven’t had a conversation with somebody who can help you do a little bit of planning.Â
This planning ensures that those sorts of costs are not imposed upon your loved ones. Probate is like taking that money right out of your pocket. This is money that you worked hard to pass on to somebody whom you love and want to be the beneficiary of your hard work. Additionally, it’s totally preventable.Â
Isn’t a Will Enough?
The cost of working with a trust attorney to get all of this set up ahead of time is much cheaper than going through probate. Additionally, a big learning lesson for me was understanding the difference between a will and a trust. I thought that if you had a will, then it just transfers—but I was mistaken.
Adam explains that wills allow you to identify to whom you want your property and monies to go. It can cover everything from your record collection to your new electric bike or skateboard. However, the actual process of transferring it is different. When you rely only on a will, it involves courts and delays—and you incur those costs.Â
The will works in that the property goes where you want it to go. However, the process of getting it from your estate to your intended beneficiaries will involve unnecessary costs associated with court process, probate, and more. So while a will works, it’s a very expensive way to get things done. The will also doesn’t stop the fact that it has to go through probate when you pass away.Â
How It Works
A trust is the only way to circumvent your property from going through probate. You transfer ownership of your assets into a trust while you’re living. Then, at the point that you pass away, it’s able to go directly to beneficiaries without having to run through the court supervision process referred to as probate.Â
That was another huge life-learning moment for me. It really prompted me to have that scary conversation with Adam, who came highly referred to me by a great friend of mine. I’m so glad that I met with Adam, though I was hesitant at first at having to pay a couple of thousand dollars to get everything into a trust.Â
Now that I know how much it costs to go through probate, I was happy to pay just a tenth of the potential cost—which could potentially be more. He saved me a bunch of money, which I’m very grateful for.
About Incapacity
Another thing that’s really important when considering these issues is the in-between time. Incapacity means you’re alive, but you lack the ability to direct how your affairs should be carried out. Of course, Adam and his team focus on transferring assets and making it easier for your family. They’re also concerned about keeping things moving and making sure that your wishes are carried out in the in-between time.
For example, let’s say that you’ve lost capacity because of a car crash and you’re in a coma. Or maybe you have something like Alzheimer’s or dementia. We put documents in place to make sure to carry out your wishes and keep your life going in the way that you want. We work on addressing those issues as part of the process.Â
This is huge for me personally, as I’ve had family experience with dementia. It’s a growing issue that’s being diagnosed earlier and earlier, which is great. This allows people to plan better and get newer, better medicines to help them live a quality life for longer.Â
Securing Your Family’s Future
I hope this gives you a better understanding of what trusts are all about. As you can see, it’s not such a scary scenario when you are dealing with a professional that you can trust, that makes you feel comfortable, that you have confidence in, and that’s going to do a great job for you and your family.Â
If you have any questions or need further information, please give me a call at 619-925-2322. It would be my pleasure to put you in touch with Adam Sherry of Spector & Sherry LLP. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!
Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates. Since then, both demand and price appreciation have tapered, as the primary challenge for homebuyers has shifted from availability to affordability.
Read on for analysis and predictions from industry experts on what we can expect in 2023.
You don’t have to break the bank to celebrate the holidays in style—even in this season of inflation. Prices may be higher on everything from food to gifts to decorations, but there are still plenty of opportunities to eke out extra savings. Here are some strategies to boost your holiday budget by trimming household expenses
Did you know there’s a neighborhood in our great city that’s known as the Brooklyn of San Diego because of its amazing architecture? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, Danielle and I take you on a tour of amazing Mission Hills, a great community here in San Diego. We’ll explore the food, fun and architecture that this neighborhood offers so you can see what it’s all about.
Over the past few years, a real estate buying frenzy bid up home prices to eye-popping amounts. However, as mortgage rates have risen, buyer demand has cooled.
Fortunately, we’ve developed a listing strategy that combines our proven approach to preparation, pricing and promotion—all designed to help you get top dollar for your home.
In today’s whirlwind market, you may find it particularly challenging to pinpoint the best time to start exploring homeownership.
But is renting a better alternative? Rents have also soared along with inflation – and are likely to continue climbing due to a persistent housing shortage. And while homebuyers can lock in a set mortgage payment, renters are at the mercy of these rising costs for the foreseeable future.
Mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster ride this year, rising and falling amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty.
 This climate has been unsettling for some homebuyers and sellers. However, with proper planning, you can work toward qualifying for the best mortgage rates available today – and open up the possibility of refinancing at a lower rate in the future.