Buying or Selling A Home? Call Celest’e Today!
The San Diego real estate market is red hot. Houses are moving fast. It takes an experienced real estate agent to make buying a new home or selling your existing home a smooth, seamless experience.
Homes
Condos
Income Property
Buy A Home
Buying a home in San Diego is often described as a bloodsport. The competition between buyers is high, offers need to be carefully crafted, every detail must be addressed, and it takes an experienced agent that understands the nuance of the market to carry a deal to the close of escrow. My experience in the fast-moving San Diego real estate market provides you with the professional buyer representation that is required to craft the best possible deal on your new home.
Sell Your Home
Selling your home in San Diego is an obstacle course of deciding on a listing price, preparing your home for potential buyers, open houses, staging, fielding offers, and home inspections. It takes a seasoned real estate agent to guide you through the process. I will work closely with you throughout the entire process to ensure your home is properly presented, deal negotiated, and you receive the highest possible selling price with the most favorable terms.
Relocation
Are you planning to make the move to San Diego for work, retirement, or to purchase a vacation home? I have helped dozens of relocation and vacation home clients buy the home of their dreams in San Diego. I understand the challenges of purchasing a home when you are still living elsewhere and will work diligently to ensure that your home purchase is handled professionally. My meticulous attention to detail means you can rest assured that you are properly represented at every stage of the home buying process.
Experience
For over twenty years, I have had the opportunity to help facilitate sales of all types: first time home buyers, move-up buyers/sellers, FHA & VA buyers, relocation sellers and buyers, divorcees, trustees, short sales, notice of defaults, cash for keys, and investment purchases. Whether you need to find your first starter home or are looking to move up to that dream multimillion-dollar property, I know what it takes to close the transaction quickly and efficiently, making your buying or selling experience enjoyable, positive and seamless.
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs
About Celest’e
Hello! My name is Celest’e Ulberg Hansen, and I am an experienced real estate professional that has been serving my cherished clients in the greater San Diego region for over twenty years. As a respected buyer and seller representative, I am well known for my incredible customer service, consistent communication, and strong attention to details that ensure a positive experience for all parties in a transaction: buyer, seller, cooperating agents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Home Buyer FAQs
Should I buy a home?
Buying a home is typically the largest purchase that the average person will make in his or her life! Owning a home will provide you a place to live, and in addition, will potentially allow you equity growth in your investment. Renting may make more sense for an individual or family who moves frequently b/c of job changes or other factors. If you do not see yourself staying in your home for several years, the potential equity grown over the first few years will be lost through selling costs and commissions.
Can I afford to buy a home?
There are several loan programs out there; typically a buyer should have enough savings to cover a down payment of 3.5%, 5% or even up to 20% of the purchase price. Before you begin to look for a home, I strongly encourage each of my buyers to speak with a respected lender to determine the loan they can afford – and in return see if that budget matches what they want in their new home.
How should I select an agent?
Interview the agent you wish to work with. Determine their level of experience in the area you are looking to purchase. Ensure that the agent is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate and that they have no disciplinary actions that may be important to you in selecting your agent. Ask for references!! Past clients will always be your best insight into who the agent really is and how they operate!
How do I present an offer?
As your agent, I will bring you the best evaluation of what the value of the home is, based on what the other properties that have sold for in that immediate neighborhood. However, it is ultimately up to you to decide what you wish to offer for the home. In the offer contract, I will explain the details of the offering price, the deposit, the contingencies, and any other special conditions we choose to write into the offer.
How do I know the true condition of the home?
Once we have an accepted offer on a home that meets your search criteria – we will hire a qualified inspector to evaluate the home. They will inspect the electrical, plumbing and structural integrity of the property; giving us one more opportunity to re-negotiate any necessary repairs with the seller. All buyers should remember that every home will require maintenance and sometimes unforeseen repairs. Plan this into your budget as a homeowner.
What is close of escrow?
A real estate transaction involves many steps, multiple parties and a ton of documents. If you have an agent with experience and top of the line communication skills, the process will run smoothly. Be sure to do your homework, understand the importance in who you are hiring and trust that they will guide you through the process to a successful close of escrow.
Home Seller FAQs
How long have you been in business?
I began my real estate career in 2000. I started with a mortgage company as a telemarketer. It is then, while on the phones for hours a day, that I picked up my skills in communication. I was quickly promoted to Senior Loan Officer – I helped homeowners refinance their current mortgages and I worked with buyers to obtain their purchase loans. In about 2006 I decided to make a shift over to the real estate sales side- leaving behind loans and just focusing on representing buyers and sellers. In addition to the years of experience, I bring to the table, I have a wide range of success stories with buyers and sellers with different needs. First-time buyers, Move-up buyers, Relocation sellers, Trust sales, Short sales, FHA, VA, Cash rehabs, and even a Deed-in-lieu.
What should I do before putting my home on the market?
First of all, there is NO need to panic. Many people think you have to completely clear everything out and totally remodel their home – which ultimately leaves them feeling too stressed out and prevents them from putting the home on the market. In most cases, there is no need to do much at all. Invite me over!! Show me your home and I will gladly give you some minor suggestions. More importantly, I will show you the current sales prospects and how your home value is determined. Many sellers will be pleased to know they don’t have to do much to compete with the sales comparables and can obtain fair market value for their home in an “As Is” condition.
How much is my home worth?
We will start by analyzing the prices of similar-sized homes that have sold in your area – this data will be based on neighborhood, similar size, and condition of your home. We will then discuss a number that feels right to you but is realistic. In my opinion, it is all about strategic pricing! If we price your home too high, the home will likely linger on the market much longer than a home that was priced a tad lower and has received multiple bids.
Is staging my home important?
On average, a home does sell faster when staged than a home that’s vacant. It works because it gives buyers a vision of what living in the home can look like.
Should I be present when potential buyers view my home?
I always ask my sellers to either step outside while buyers tour or go for a slow walk around the block. Having the owner in the house makes every buyer uncomfortable. Buyers feel like they cannot make comments or ask questions as they don’t want to offend the owner. Being present can actually lose offers. Give them some space to tour and trust the process.