A lack of inventory, high prices and climbing mortgage rates have left many would-be homebuyers feeling pinched. If youâve been struggling to buy a home, we have some good news. While itâs true that a high offer price gets attention, most sellers consider a variety of factors when evaluating an offer. Read on for all the details!
Did you know thereâs a great beach club in San Diego that once used to be an information booth in the 1970s? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, my gal pal Danielle and I visit the Mission Bay Beach Club, San Diegoâs newest waterfront destination. Weâll explore everything from the coffee and juice bar to beach rentals offered so you can make the most of your summer days.
The Mission Bay Beach Club is located on San Diegoâs beautiful Mission Bay. The building used to be an old information booth in the 1970s, which ran derelict before being resurrected. There’s a cafĂ©, rentable bikes, an ice cream cart and more. Itâs the perfect spot to enjoy those endless summer days!
Aside from offering great amenities and places for people to sit and relax, the Mission Bay Beach Club also hosts a variety of activities, such as yoga in the park. They plan to host events in summer, such as concerts and more.
If you want to grab a soothing cup of coffee or an organic, cold-pressed juice, youâll want to stop at Superbloom. They have an amazing assortment of vegan treats, including hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies. Though Iâm not normally a huge fan of vegan food, Superbloomâs selection is actually really tasty.
Superbloom is definitely a spot youâll want to come and check out. Made with vegan ingredients, you might be surprised at how delicious their options are.
I hope this gave you a good idea of the food, fun and beautiful scenery you can enjoy at the Mission Bay Beach Club. Make sure you stay tuned to the next edition of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chriss for more pop-up fun with my gal pal Danielle Berkeley.
If you have any questions about living or real estate in San Diego, feel free to reach out to me and Iâll be happy to help!
Have you thought about how awesome it would be to take advantage of selling your home in this unprecedented seller’s market, but your property needs a little TLC? In this video, Iâm going to explain your options and show you how to get the most out of your home sale. Weâll look at how we helped one family get over $250,000 more for their property with zero out-of-pocket costs for them.
Here at Big Block Realty, we have options for you. If you have your own funds to put into a renovation designed to make you heaps more money, then we can execute that plan for you. Weâll bring it to fruition and market your home for you for top dollar.
If you don’t have your own money for a renovation, we have a financing option for you, too. Weâll front the money for you for the whole project so that it’ll be zero out-of-pocket expense for you upfront. This will allow you to renovate your home and bring it up to today’s market and standards.
Even after the costs of financing the project, fronting all the construction fees, and everything else, you will still make and net significantly more than if we just stuck a sign in the ground.
We helped one family net over one-quarter of a million dollars more than if we had simply stuck a sign in the ground. First, there’s the cleanup, then the construction, and finally, the staging. This all helps us get to an amazing finished product that got this family top dollar on their home sale.
If you have any questions on how we can help you maximize the value of your home and investment, please give me a call at 619-925-2322. I look forward to hearing from you!
Even a strong sellerâs market doesnât mean your home is guaranteed to easily sell. If you want to maximize your sale price, itâs still important to prepare your home before putting it on the market. Read on for helpful tips to get top dollar for your home!
Did you know that every year my friends and clients get together for an afternoon of fun, food and prizes? In this episode of Live, Laugh, & Learn With Chris, Iâm going to welcome you aboard to my 8th Annual Hyatt and Associates Client Appreciation Party. Weâll cruise around beautiful San Diego and end with an awesome raffle that you donât want to miss.
Welcome Aboard
I welcomed my friends and clients aboard a special cruise to kick the decade off right (especially because 2020 and 2021 didnât really count!). This eighth annual client appreciation part is my way to thank everybody for being part of my business as well as part of my life. I’m so grateful to have the chance to thank my guests with a cruise around the waters of San Diego while enjoying drinks, food and fabulous views.
In addition to tasty hors d’oeuvres and refreshing drinks from the bar, the party also included an awesome raffle. The ultimate prize was a helicopter tour of San Diego for two! Before we got to the raffle, though, there were some people I had to thank.
Giving Thanks
The first group I wanted to thank was our awesome sponsors, several of whom could not be on the cruise but whom my clients know by name. This is because theyâve helped them refinance, finance or purchase. These people include Mike Solorio, our lender extraordinaire, whoâs the go-to information source when refinancing or purchasing.Â
Thereâs also Helen Samayoa, our incredible transaction coordinator, along with the amazing home inspector Steve Lauriano. I also gave a special thanks to my new assistant Carlos Martinez, who photographed the event. Of course, I had to thank my amazing husband Mark Chen; without him, none of this would be possible.
A Promise Kept
Everyone who knows me knows I’m not very good at asking for help of any kind. However, I made a promise to my mom and my grandma, who are upstairs in heaven. They asked me to always make sure that I tell my clients, family, friends and colleagues that Iâm here to help them.Â
This means not only here in San Diego but anywhere in North America or the world. For example, Iâm working with a client here on a property in France, have referred somebody else to Las Vegas and referred another client who is on the East Coast. Iâm happy to say I’ve done my duty to mom and grandma, and I know theyâre responsible for the amazing day we had on the cruise.
Raffle Winners Round 1
Everyone was excited for the raffle to begin to see if they would win one of the prizes. Our first prize was two Passport dining cards donated by Mike Solorio. The Passport Dining Membership Plus allows you to save time and money during your everyday life, and thereâs an exceptional network of participating restaurants that give you the choice of dining and more. Our lucky winners were Erika and Gloria!Â
The next prizes were donated by our amazing home inspector Steve Lauriano, of Flash Home Inspections. An amazing $50 cash was won by Marc and Marysol to spend wherever they wish, while Tim won $50 to Target. City Cruises by Hornblower generously donated Sea Wayfarer passes, good for cruises just like the one we were one. Ouyang and Russ each won two passes to enjoy with their loved ones.
The raffle continued with a $150 gift card to the Marine Room in La Jolla, donated by our transaction coordinator Helen Samayoa. It was won by Tim, an awesome man I met at a Celine Dion concert. This led to a real-estate transaction and ultimately a great friendship with him and his wife Simone. I was wearing socks he won in Las Vegas that he gave to me, so I was definitely happy he won.
Raffle Winners Round 2
As we headed towards the grand prize of the raffle, we first had some great alcohol bottles to give away. The first one was a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne, won by Phil. The second was a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne, won by Mike. This pair is sure to enjoy a glass of bubbly after the cruise!
Last but certainly not least was the big prize: a helicopter tour of San Diego for two people. Called âThe Unforgettable Tour,â this flight features the dramatic North County coastline, including hidden beaches and ocean estates. While skimming the Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Del Mar Racetrack, the winners will catch surfers and gliders along the beach. From this vantage point, they will observe attractive locations at Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla, Mission Bay, SeaWorld and Belmont Park.Â
As the flight descends past the architectural beauty of the San Diego skyline, sailboats will dance across the San Diego Bay. Theyâll fly gracefully over the Coronado Bridge, the world-famous Petco Park San Diego Zoo and Qualcomm Stadium. This was a prize that I donated, and the winner was the wonderful Lex! There is no one more deserving.
Cheers To The Year Ahead
For all of those who made it to this yearâs Client Appreciation Cruise, thank you so much for coming. We had such a great time celebrating, and I look forward to next yearâs event.
If youâd like any information on moving to or within San Diego, be sure to reach out to me and Iâll be glad to connect. Make sure you subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Live, Laugh, & Learn With Chris, and stay tuned to see what I feature next!
The annual inflation rate in the United States is currently around 7.5%âthe highest it has been since 1982. It doesnât matter if youâre a cashier, lawyer, plumber or retiree; if you spend U.S. dollars, inflation impacts you.
 Economists expect the effects of inflation, like a higher cost of goods, to continue. Luckily, an investment in real estate can ease some of the financial strain.
Thereâs a lot to consider when selling your home, from the market and appraisals to where youâll go next. Donât forget, however, that design is also a key factor. To get the most out of your updates, focus on these popular home design features that will wow buyers in 2022.
Are you looking to live in a diverse San Diego neighborhood with great amenities? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, I take you on a tour of Mira Mesa, in San Diego County. Weâll join my gal pal Danielle Berkeley to explore everything from the cityâs Top Gun history to delicious eateries so you can get to know the area better.
Mira Mesa is located in San Diego County, a bit north of central downtown. A lot of people consider the area to be extremely densely populated with tons of traffic.
However, despite its reputation for being a busy city, itâs actually more like a little suburb and a city within a larger city. Mira Mesa is quite lovely and a must-see for those looking to move to or within San Diego.
There are a variety of things that make Mira Mesa specialâone of which is its association with the famous movie Top Gun. That âhighway to the danger zoneâ was located at the Naval Air Station Miramar and has given its name to different streets around Mira Mesa, like Topgun Avenue. Many famous filming locations can still be visited by the general public.
In keeping with the theme of soaring through the skies, Mira Mesa is also home to the Leatherneck Museum. If youâre an aviation enthusiast, itâs an outstanding place to visit. You will see some very rare birds there as well (pun intended), as you can get into certain parts of the base. The Miramar Lake and Reservoir also provides access to the fish.
Another great thing about Mira Mesa is the excellent restaurants it offers. Youâll find eateries from all different ethnic backgrounds that are absolutely outstanding. Some examples include Tofu House, Manna BBQ for Korean Barbecue, and one of the most popular pho places, Pho Cow Cali, on Mira Mesa Boulevard.
Along with plenty of places to chow down, Mira Mesa is home to some hidden secrets most people donât know about. While Danielle wonât give away all of this neighborhoodâs secrets, there are supposedly some hidden haunted houses in the area. Youâll have to do your own research to find them, she says, but I bet itâs worth the hunt.
Another secret most people donât know about is that many of the areaâs industrial complexes have great stores and restaurants in them. While youâd think they were dead ends or just businesses, you can find a lot of great hidden gems in these areas. Lastly, Mira Mesa is the home of San Diego’s only Vietnamese New Year celebration. Called the San Diego Tet Festival, this fun event is held every year around early February.
Does Mira Mesa sound like a place that would fit you and your family? If so, I’m very excited to share a sneak peek of a coming-soon property right here in Mira Mesa. This single-family, three-bedroom, two-bath home is undergoing an amazing renovation.
The property will be available in early 2022. Stay tuned to this channel to find out more, or you can always reach out to me and Iâll be happy to connect! Make sure to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, and see what I feature next!
Last year was one for the real estate history books. The pandemic helped usher in a buying frenzy that caused home prices to soar nationwide by a record 19.9% between August 2020 and August 2021.
However, there were signs in the fourth quarter that the red-hot housing market was beginning to simmer down. So whatâs ahead for the U.S. housing market in 2022? Hereâs where industry experts predict the market is headed in the coming year.
Are you thinking of living in Pacific Beach and want to know more about this amazing neighborhood? In this episode of Live, Laugh & Learn With Chris, Iâm going to show you some special things that residents and tourists should check out in Pacific Beach. Weâll look at everything from parks to the beach and end with a teaser you wonât want to miss.
The first area on our list that you must visit is Kate Sessions Park. This park features absolutely stunning ocean and city views and covers a massive 79 acres. Tourmaline Beach is also a beautiful spot that not a lot of people know about. Another classic Pacific Beach attraction you wonât want to miss is the boardwalk and Crystal Pier. Crystal Pier is so much fun, featuring cottages right on the pier with water underneath.
Not everything is on the main streets of Pacific Beach; there are some areas known mostly to locals. One such hidden gem is Turquoise Street, an area full of little boutiques, good coffee shops, restaurants and smoothies. You can also easily bike or walk on the little canyon pathways to access La Jolla and Birdrock, both great surf spots. The Rose Creek bike pathway, which is a really great thoroughfare, connects to the trolley.
Spending time in the beautiful sunshine is bound to make you a little bit hungry and thirsty. Here in PB, there are plenty of places to grab a drink and a bite. One option includes World Famous, a beachfront restaurant serving up fresh seafood.
You can also head to the iconic PB Shore Club, offering more beach views, great fish tacos and delicious pub bites. For a classy experience, try Tower 23, a hotel dining experience with excellent Sunday brunch. Who doesnât love a beachside mimosa?
I hope this gave you a good idea of some of the amazing things to do in Pacific Beach. As promised, I wanted to give you a little teaser for a âcoming soonâ property that will hit the market in about four to five weeks. We’re completely redoing a super unique, single-family, three-bedroom, two-bath house, bringing it from The Brady Bunch 1970s into the 2020s.
This home will be located on a street called Chalcedony, right here in Pacific Beach. For more details âor if you have questions about real estate in generalâfeel free to reach out to me and my gal pal Danielle Berkley at (619) 925-2322. Donât 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!