Picture this: You're sitting in your favorite reclining chair, reading the latest San Diego media article chronicling the crumbling of local housing prices.

Are you stressed? No. In fact, you have a big smile on your face knowing that you bought your home seven years ago and have accumulated plenty of equity. This is essential because you are planning on selling your home in the next few months and retiring to a condo in your favorite coastal town. You've been spending a lot of time recently looking at Encinitas condos for sale on the web, seeing if there are any deals that might warrant you turning someone else's misfortune into your opportunity.

While browsing, a new listing, one that's actually in your current neighborhood, catches your eye. "That's odd," you think. "My neighbor's home is listed for a hundred thousand dollars less than I would have thought." You call the agent and discover that your neighbor was foreclosed on and the bank has approved the sale of his home in a quick manner at a lower than market price. If your neighbor's home sells for one hundred thousand dollars less, the value of yours will likely immediately drop drastically.

The important question here is, how could you have avoided this scenario? And, the hundred thousand dollar answer is ... you couldn't. The next question is, how can you uphold the value of your home when a neighbor is able to sell at a much lower price? This, I'm happy to say, is something that us San Diego realtors can definitely assist with.

By pointing out the risks involved with bank distressed transactions, focusing on the positives of your home, and using more traditional sales in your neighborhood as comparables, a realtor is your best weapon for maintaining your home value. Of course, there are thousands of us, but if you're looking for one who takes the time to write an article like this so the public can remain educated on staying strong in a tough market, visit me at www.learnaboutcarlsbad.com, and I'd be happy to help.

Cordially,

Tim Holsten
Keller Williams Realty
858.922.7908
tim@73degrees.com