Marc Lyman

Serene Wooded Area Retreat

870 Gage Drive The wooded area of Point Loma is known for it’s picturesque, tree-lined streets and captivating homes. 870 Gage Drive is no exception. Perched above sidewalk level, this home enjoys tree-top views of the neighborhood while retaining privacy. A tranquil courtyard on this 9800+ square foot lot opens to a spacious backyard & … Read more

Bay Park Luxury Home with Panoramic Views

2030 Garfield Road Amazing views of Mission Bay and beyond from this reverse floor plan, luxury custom home in Bay Park. Situated on a low-traffic street, this home offers a vast downstairs master suite, spa with custom water feature, multiple view decks, and an elevator. The front yard has several parking options which are secured … Read more

Ivy Crest Condo Delight in Scripps Ranch

Bright and airy, this second story end unit lives larger thanks to lofty ten foot ceilings and a generously-sized walk-in closet. The sought-after Ivy Crest complex in Scripps Ranch has a community pool, is minutes from both shopping & highly regarded Scripps Ranch schools, and affords exceptionally convenient freeway access. This well-cared for, spacious unit … Read more

How Buyers Find Homes – Essential Reading for Sellers

With millions of existing homes sold every year, the National Association of Realtors has a significant pool of data to work with. One of the various surveys they conduct relates to how buyers find homes they ultimately purchase. Another way to look at this information is which efforts home sellers (and their agents) use are most likely to find a buyer. The NAR identified seven ways buyers find homes. Knowing which are the most important, and where efforts are best focused might surprise you (and your agent)!

Architectural Wonder With Indoor Waterfall & Pool

About – 1876 Sefton Place Tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac, the understated exterior only hints at the spectacular interior that lies within. Designed by renowned San Diego architect, Rob Wellington Quigley, this awe-inspiring home showcases captivating, bright and open spaces. Spanning several levels, the interior is focused on a stunning waterfall which cascades into … Read more

Understanding Real Estate Agent Commissions – What Sellers and Buyers Should Know

Last year I received a question from someone curious about real estate agent commissions in San Diego. They were partly asking what typical commissions are, and partly expressing disappointment in what they agreed to pay an agent who they felt wasn’t doing much to market their home. Commissions are also a topic that regularly come … Read more

Going Minimal – Tips to Declutter for Real Estate and for Your Life

Sometimes tips for selling a property turn out to be valuable in our daily lives as well. For many, that’s very true of decluttering. One common mistake sellers make when listing their home is to try to sell it in the same condition they currently live in. While that may work well for a highly organized, minimalist seller, it is not a great strategy for about 99.9% of the rest of us. Most of us live with too much stuff! When a buyer walks into a cluttered home, it can be an instant turn-off. Some homeowners see trying to declutter as a chore. In fact, doing a great job decluttering can not only feel extremely liberating, it can also be financially rewarding with a quick sale and a strong sales price. Read on, and I will help get you started with optimizing your real estate sale and maybe your sanity in the same process.

Stunning Contemporary Remodel in Scripps Highlands

11574 Aspendell Drive Perched high on the hills of Scripps Highlands in Scripps Ranch, San Diego, 11574 Aspendell offers captivating, panoramic views from the mountains to the ocean. A spectacular six figure remodel has made an already desirable property absolutely stunning. Light and bright open spaces & high-end finishes throughout. Upstairs master suite features an … Read more

Starting & Stopping Utility Services in San Diego

One sometimes overlooked step in real estate transactions is starting and stopping (or transferring) your San Diego utilities. While some sellers sometimes elect to discontinue non-essential utilities like cable or satellite service beforehand, it is generally advisable to leave essential utilities like electric/gas and water service in place until the close of escrow. Aside from … Read more

Gorgeous Whispering Palms Condo in Rancho Santa Fe

Rancho Santa Fe Living without the Rancho Santa Fe price tag! This single level condo in Whispering Palms has a bright, spacious floor plan, complete with vaulted ceilings. Granite countertops adorn the kitchen as well as both bathrooms. Beautiful travertine flooring flows throughout the home. Two large, private patio spaces and sliding glass doors make … Read more

San Diego Home Search With Email and Text Alerts

Whether you have no intention of moving and just want to keep an eye on sales in your neighborhood, or you’re a buyer actively looking for the perfect home, having an automated San Diego home search working for you is a very valuable tool. While most agents use the default search service that comes with … Read more

Home Staging Tips, Costs, Benefits and a Video Walk-through

Staging frequently comes up in my communications with clients listing their homes. The question varies, but it’s usually something along the lines of “Is it worth it to stage my home?” The answer varies depending on the needs and situation of each client (and the state of their home), however I can broadly say that professionally staging a home provides some of the best ROI (Return on Investment) out of what you might do to a home prior to sale. While there is a small percentage of buyers that can readily imagine a home in it’s ideally-decorated state, most of us lack that specific imagination – it’s very hard to do. For that same reason, it’s often tough to visualize how a property comes across to potential buyers staged vs unstaged. And, what about the idea that a home shows best (and appears more spacious) when there’s nothing in the home? Recently, I came across the perfect opportunity to highlight the difference professional staging can make and to share a few home staging tips. I cover many of the benefits to staging, along with common misconceptions in this article, and in the accompanying video where I do a walk-through of two similar properties, one unstaged, the other professionally staged.