–Beginners may want to focus on REOs. New buyers may want to avoid short sales, which often come with lengthy negotiations, or foreclosure auctions that often require all-cash payments. On the other hand, REOs, Blomquist says, can be similar to a traditional home sale in some ways and can offer some of the biggest bargains. “A bank isn’t emotionally attached to a REO; it’s just looking to recoup as much of its losses as possible,” Blomquist told Business Insider. “So the lender is often more willing to capitulate on price.”

–Don’t forget the inspection. Many distressed properties are sold “as is” and can come with a host of problems if buyers aren’t careful. Blomquist recommends getting a home inspector to inspect the home prior to any purchase. Buyers will then have a list of any potential problems with the home, along with estimates for costs of repair. Buyers can then use the list to possibly negotiate a lower price, Blomquist says.

–Don’t expect appreciation right away. You’ll also likely want to caution buyers who believe that because they’re buying at a big discount they expect to see appreciation right away. Educate your buyers about the market. “It’s important to not make the mistake of counting on any major price appreciation in the near term,” Blomquist advises buyers in the article at Business Insider. “We’re still in a depressed market, and we’re probably not going to see home prices appreciate much for quite some time.”

You can read more of Blomquist’s tips at Business Insider.

Source: “Here Are Five Things You Should Always do if You’re Buying a Foreclosed House,” Business Insider (Oct. 31, 2011)

We love this 2 bedroom, 3 bath penthouse at the Coronado Landing. This upgraded unit has more than 2000 square feet of living space. It even has a bonus loft!

This home has been extensively remodeled. Newer amenties include a stunning kitchen with rich mahogany cabinetry and stainless appliances.

Listed at $1,275,000, we think this unit is a real steal.

Greetings! The bank just dropped the price on this foreclosure in the Coronado Cays–down to $489k! Beautiful 2 bedroom condo just steps from the water. Contact christine@coronadoislandhomes.com for more info on bank-owned homes in Coronado.

Greetings! There’s just been a price reduction on this bank-owned foreclosure in the Coronado Cays. This is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Antigua Village with attached boat slip. We’ve never seen a 3 bedroom unit in Antigua priced so low!  Home is more than 1800 square feet.  Listed for $689,000.

Contact us for info about foreclosures and short sales in the Coronado Cays.

The annual list, in its 21st year, is produced by Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research.

“Siesta Beach in Sarasota boasts that it has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim; the powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal,” Leatherman said in a statement.

Coronado Beach in San Diego and Hawaii’s Kahanamoku Beach on Oahu round out the top three.

Coronado is described in the rankings as “the toast of Southern California” with the historic Hotel del Coronado adding its celebrity appeal and Old World elegance.

More of this story from CNN. 
Top 10:  America’s Best Beaches for 2011

1. Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida
2. Coronado Beach in San Diego, California
3. Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
4. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York
5. Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
6. St. George Island State Park, Florida panhandle
7. Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina
8. Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
9. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park on Oahu, Hawaii
10. Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida

Greetings!

The very first Coronado Concert in the Park is happening this Sunday at 6pm with the Coronado Community Concert Band! It all happens at Spreckel’s Park.

 Bring family, friends and food as you enjoy a wonderful night of music in the heart of Coronado. Adults and kids alike will dance, laugh, break bread and most of all listen to great music in one of our favorite parks on the island. Get a good spot for your blanket, chairs or wagon and arrive 15-30 minutes before the start time. Please note, no dogs are allowed.  

Be sure to share this event page with your friends and perhaps you can even put together a pot-luck meetup at the concert.  This is truly one of the best attractions on Coronado – don’t miss it!

This just in from Parents Magazine…the national parenting magazine has ranked Coronado Beach one of the top beaches in the entire U.S.!

From the magazine:

Simplicity is the beauty of a beach vacation — the shore is essentially a giant sandbox with free rocks and shells, and the waves are more fun than any pool. But there can be rough spots if you go to the wrong place. That’s why Parents combed through water-quality reports, closings, and advisories for more than 1,000 U.S. beaches. Naturally, we nixed shores with persistent problems and ones where the water isn’t tested. From there, we looked at three other deal breakers: restrooms, calm surf, and lifeguards. Nature trails and other extras helped determine which places made the final cut. These are the 10 best beaches we found, along with our 10 runners-up. All that’s left for you to do: Dive into the most kid-friendly beaches under the sun.

#4 Coronado Central Beach
This 2-mile stretch of beach — just over the bridge from downtown San Diego — has everything families could want: perfect weather (it rarely rains in the summer), spotless white sand (the town even invented an environmentally-friendly rake to clean up the kelp), and warm, gentle water. Plus, there’s no smoking allowed on this beach — or any in California. Tide pools filled with sea creatures form in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado, where you cool off with a cone at MooTime Creamery.

We agree…but of course, we’d rate Coronado Beach #1.

Thanks for reading!

We love this listing on the 700-block of G Avenue in the heart of Coronado! This charming beach house is 3 bedrooms, 4 baths and 2000 square feet. It offers a furnished basement and a bonus attic room. Beautifully designed by the builder for himself and his family, no expense was spared! Just a few blocks to beach and schools. Listed at $1,350,000.