San Diego Condos, Homes and Real Estate News

EXCLUSIVE EVENT:  San Diego Real Estate Investment Opportunities in Today's market

Hosted by:  The San Diego Union Tribune - Signonsandiego.com

When: April 29th, 2009

Time: 9:00-11:00 AM

Cost: FREE

Looking to take advantage of the excellent opportunities available to savvy investors in San Diego today? San Diego's'  top selling agents can explain to you the ins and outs of beginning your own real estate investment portfolio.  Learn how to recognize what will cash flow, what pitfalls to avoid and how to analyze the property that could be right for you.

Join them online to discover just how easy it is to begin investing in real estate.  For the first time in years  sales prices are low, interest rates  for investors are favorable and  actual rental properties make sense for San Diego buyers.   Find out how others are taking advantage of this unique opportunity.

To sign up for this FREE online event please click HERE! We hope to see you there!  

Or paste the link below into your browser.

http://sdhomes.signonsandiego.com/live-chat/prudential/gregg_debbie_neuman.php

Thinking of Appealing your San Diego Tax Assessment?

As property tax season nears, many San Diego Downtown condo owners are going to be asking themselves "Has the market value of your property fallen below its present assessed value?"  Well, I have good news for San Deigo Downtown Condo owners; property tax relief may be available through the Assessment Appeals process.  We are not just about How To Buy Downtown San Diego Condos, we also like to assist San Diego condo owners with important information that may affect them.

Since San Diego Downtown real estate values peaked in late 2005, many of the assessed tax values of San Diego Downtown condominiums have declined. In my opinion, there is no reason to be paying San Diego property taxes on a value higher than your home's actual worth.

Taxes in San Diego County are typically based upon: one (1) percent of your property's value. Add about 2% worth of additional fees for bonds, and/or special charges and the most accurate "rule of thumb" costs for taxes will be 1.2% per thousand.  

San Diego Downtown Tax Example

If you purchased a $500,000 property, the taxes will be approximately $6,000 annually, or $500 per month.  However, if the property is now worth $400,000 instead of $500,000, then your taxes should decrease by approximately $1,000 annually or $83.33 per month. The bond, fees and/or special charges are not affected by the declining value of your property.

In fact, if you bought your San Diego condo at the peak of the market in late 2005, then the decline in value may be even greater than the 20% example I used.  There is no reason to continue to pay a higher property tax bill than necessary. 

Fortunately, Gregory Smith, the San Diego County Tax Assessor, has an easy-to-follow Assessment Appeals process application available on the website; simply obtain the application here:   

The State Board of Equalization has prepared a pamphlet to assist you in completing the form. If you complete the application and you are the owner of a San Diego Downtown condominium, Neuman and Neuman will be happy to supply you with recent sales to assist you in determining what you believe your new assessed value should be.

The application calls for your opinion of value which, if you do not fill in, they will reject your request. The best method is to supply the Assessor's office with several closed sales that are comparable to your Downtown condominium. That is where Neuman & Neuman will be available to help, at no cost. There are services which offer to do this for you with for a fee, but it is very simple to do and you can save the money for these services by doing it yourself.

The reduction in taxes is not permanent and when property values begin to rise again so will your taxes. However, any tax relief, no matter how long it lasts, should be a welcome thing for San Diego Condominium homeowners. The savings might even pay the monthly San Diego Gas & Electric bill!

The nationwide search for the San Diego Housing Commission reaches a unanimous conclusion as Rick Gentry is named the new President and Chief Executive Officer.


The selection process for the role that Gentry now serves in the Housing Commission, a public agency responsible for providing affordable housing opportunities to more than 80,000 low-income individuals each year, involved City Council members, Housing Commissioners, and the Mayor's office. On July 29, the San Diego Housing Authority came to an unanimous decision and selected Gentry as the new CEO.

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How To Make New Year's Resolutions That Work!

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Happy New Year San Diego 

Does anyone know what the words Auld Lang Syne actually mean and just what the song is saying? "Should old acquaintance be forgot"

Here's a translation, which you can see refers to a friendship between childhood friends who have been parted and met again. Literally it means that for the sake of our long friendship we should join hands and share a drink together in the spirit of good will. To extend that meaning it means that we should not forget our old friends and celebrate reunion with them.

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Our Thoughts and Prayers are With the Troops

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our deepest thoughts, prayers, and gratitude to the men and women who are serving in the US troops, and to their families who are missing them this holiday season.

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Merry Christmas San Diego!

We wish you the best in health and happiness during this holiday season. The history of Santa Claus is really quite interesting, and certainly would make for brilliant conversation while you gather with friends and family in your San Diego downtown condo.

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Can You Solve The Mystery? 

Are you looking for a fun night out on the town in San Diego downtown? The Mystery Café offers a terrific dining menu while entertaining you and your guests with a live mystery theatre. The year round shows are performed at the Imperial House Restaurant on Kalmia Street. In addition, the dinner theatre group offers a dinner cruise during the summer months aboard the W.D. Evans. Cruise the San Diego bay while you enjoy a fabulous meal and entertaining show.

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Whether they are showing a $100,000 condo or a multi-million dollar estate, Gregg Neuman and his partner, Debbie Neuman, always take a client-centered approach toward the real estate business--an "it's our pleasure" attitude.

They attribute this winning attitude to the sixteen years in San Diego that Gregg worked as a bartender and eight years Debbie worked as a waitress.

http://www.sandiegodowntown.com/00124A