Broker's Corner: Sneak Peek of Kingston at Del Sur

Sneak Peek of Kingston at Del Sur

Take a sneak peek into the newest estate homes located in Kingston at Del Sur. Kingston at Del Sur will feature 50 estate-style single-family homes. These homes are 4,912 sq. ft.- 5,620 sq. ft. and will offer up to 6 bedrooms and 6.5 baths. For any questions regarding these homes in this master-planned community contact Shay Realtors.

Ray Shay Broker/Realtor Shay Realtors

Have a great day,  

Ray Shay  

 

858 449-4970  

 

 

 

 

This information is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of Shay Realtors Inc. 

Lead Story: Goodbye Gold Toe 5/26/15

Theresa and I searched high and low to higher the best and brightest to join Shay Realtors Inc.  Nicole Montemuro, who is our most recent hire as our Operations Manager, was employed by Pacific Sotheby's, while our Listing Manager, Lindsey Fech, was formerly with Barry Estates of Rancho Santa Fe.   Both are great companies.  

Battle of the Socks

Our most recent employee to join Shay Realtors is Kelly Haynes, who graduated from California Western School of Law only a few weeks ago. I bragged to Theresa I was doing an amazing job as "hiring manager."  That was until last week as our team of about a dozen employees crowded around our "Dog Bone" table at our Rancho Penasquitos Community Hub®. 

  

That is when I realized I made a big mistake in hiring every one of them. They first broke rule #1 by celebrating my birthday and the #2 rule they all violated was gifts. Bag after bag containing brightly colored socks.

They were all sending me a very clear message, "your archaic black and brown socks gotta go!" I thought I was pretty "hipster" but I guess my GQ magazine subscription must have run out. No one told me black and brown socks, went the way of the pet rock?  

Battle of the Socks

I had no idea that colorful socks are "in."  Some of the socks were multi colored with funny logos including mugs of beer, dollar bills, stripes and even one which had Homer Simpson on it. I got what my staff was telling me.  It was time for a "sock intervention."

For as long as I can remember my sock drawer at home has always had a consistency of muted colors. Mostly black, a few dark brown and only a handful of lighter brown socks. All twenty-four years as a cop I always wore black socks under leather black boots.  It took a few minutes to wrap my mind around the idea of modernizing my sock collection.

Sometimes as a leader, you need to follow. The very next day I was sitting at the Athlete Store in UTC working on this story as I waited for Theresa.  As you can see, I had my bright blue socks with Homer Simpson on them.

Stephanie - Athleta at UTC Employee

What the heck. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks.  That is when I met Stephanie or "Steph" as her friends call her. 

Steph walked past me as I sat by the dressing room with her arms full of clothes.  Her million dollar smile was followed by, "hey, those are great looking socks!" 

I had to laugh as I realized she saw Homer smiling away on the bright blue background. Once again our employees demonstrated how truly amazing they are.  I rescinded their termination notices as it renewed my keen sense as a darn good hiring manager and, well, I guess I will get used to my change of socks.  

We hope you had a great Memorial Day Holiday weekend.  Be sure to thank a Veteran for all they have done to keep us safe and preserve our freedoms. We are so lucky to have them! 

    Ray Shay  

    

Copyrighted by Shay Realtors Inc.  All Rights Reserved. 

Broker's Corner 5/19/15: Bay Area Sticker Shock

Bay Area Sticker Shock! 

Ray Shay Broker/Owner Shay Realtors

Shay Realtors regularly has clients moving in and out of San Diego. Recently, Google and other bay area technology companies have been poaching engineers from Qualcomm and other local technology companies.  That's when we get the phone call to help them sell their homes at a great price. 

Our clients moving north to the Bay Area have experienced sever sticker shock. It's not uncommon for homes to sell several hundred thousand dollars over asking price with no repairs to be made by the seller and no appraisal contingency. 

It is so interesting to hear the stories.  Two of our recent buyers are moving from

Bay Area Housing Prices

Silicon Valley to San Diego.  To say the least they are living large.  Real estate looks pretty attractive coming from an area where you can easily pay 1.5 million for a three bedroom two bath fixer with about 2400  square feet of living space. 

I believe in years to come people who are shocked at our current sale prices will be pushed back farther in the heels when San Diego runs out of land to build new homes.   The limited supply will ultimately result in increased values.

If you are interested in knowing that value of your home or how much it will sell or rent for just give me a call.  There is no obligation and it is good to hear what is currently occurring in the housing market.

Have a great day,  

Ray Shay
858 449-4970

This information is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of Shay Realtors Inc.

Lead Story for 5/19/15: Gratitude

Theresa and I recently listened to an inspirational speaker at an International Real Estate Conference who spoke of the importance of developing a greater sense of gratitude.  He claimed it would change us forever.

SDPD Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman Congratulates 2015 Leadership Award Winner Judy Simeroth

Several thousand of us in attendance listened as he explained that he awakens early each morning and reaches down beside his bed and grabs a cold towel that has been immersed in ice water overnight.  He then twists the towel before placing it across his closed eyes.   

In the morning silence, he quietly reflects on what he is grateful for and the people who have helped him in his life.  Sometime during that day he either calls or writes a note to someone who influenced him. He thanks them for what they did and tries to identify ways to help that person be more successful in attaining their goals.

  

As we sat in the crowded audience, several of us were amused.  I even let a soft chuckle escape from my lips just before I whispered to Theresa, "Wow, time to load up the ice chest!' 

Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman Signs 92127 Leadership Award Recognizing Judy Simeroth

At lunch I joked further with Theresa about the speaker and loading up my ice chest and setting it by our bed.  I'm sure our three sons would likely think I was injured or was simply crazy.  As peculiar as it sounds, over the last few weeks, I have thought more and more about the countless people who have helped me both personally and professionally. 

That is what led me to standing in San Diego Police Department, Chief of Police Shelly Zimmerman's corner office last Friday afternoon and telling her about Judy Simeroth.  Judy is just one of hundreds of people that has positively influenced my life.      

The Simeroth Family Jodi, Jesse, Judy and Jake

I told Chief Zimmerman how many times I asked Judy for help and the answer was always the same, "yes."  

Judy has committed her life to raising an amazing family and helping people in this City and this community.  

Judy has volunteered for countless local causes and was pivotal in helping to grow and build the 4S Ranch / Del Sur Foundation as both past Board Member and President.  

So many people do not realize how many hours Judy has donated to Del Norte High School and the Annual Thank You Run that is held each Thanksgiving morning.   

The 4S Ranch /Del Sur Foundation has alone awarded over $150,000.00 to local charities.   Past leadership award winners helped to select and present the 92127 Community Leadership Award for 2015 to Judy last Friday evening.  

   

The event was hosted by the Mutter's with over $27,000.00 in grants being presented to local non profits and schools in our area.  It was an amazing evening. 

Judy Simeroth is awarded Community Leadership Award Past recipients Herb and Carol Mutter and Randy Koch assist in presentation.

 Ray Shay  

Copyrighted by Shay Realtors Inc.  All Rights Reserved. 

Broker's Corner 4.27.15

Staging to Sell Your Home for Top Price!!

Ray Shay Broker/Owner Shay Realtors

We have been staging homes for sale for over eight years.  We were staging homes for free when staging wasn't such a hot topic.  We evaluate every house both inside and out and identify what a seller should do to get top dollar! 

This is an example of how we bring in the experts like Mike Iloski of
Brothers Construction to work his magic.  

See the video below to meet Francisco.  He is one of the hard working employees that changes a backyard to improve the sale price! 

Meet Francisco!

Have a great day,  

Ray Shay  

858 449-4970  

 

This information is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of Shay Realtors Inc. 

The Juggler by Ray Shay

The Juggler  

By Ray Shay 

 

Do you ever find yourself juggling?  There are so many different shapes, sizes and colors, that it is hard to keep track of all the balls.  I can close my eyes and see a rainbow of colors spinning and turning as each area of concern tumbles through the air.

As I sat in our Shay Realtors company car at 4S Ranch Community Park waiting for our youngest son Ryan to complete soccer practice, I thought I was doing pretty well on juggling the responsibilities of life, work and family.

Theresa and I have never missed Ryan's soccer games, but instead of attending his practices, I have been busy answering emails and making phone calls to friends, clients, and colleagues.  I was filling up precious minutes of time with this and that, this and that, and even more and more of this and that. 

In between juggling the balls in the air, I kept thinking about our children as I conducted my frequent checklist of their individual challenges and victories.  I wondered yet again why our youngest son Ryan, seemed to be loosing his interest in soccer.  

It would be such a waste because he was blessed with a magical touch on the ball. It must have been a gift from a higher source and I do not want it to be wasted.  

Perplexed, I set my IPad down on the seat next to me and looked up at the ceiling of my car as I tried to figure out why Ryan's soccer mojo was failing. That was when the thin grey ceiling material on the roof of my car heard me say, "Ray, you are such an idiot."

I realized I had dropped one of the most important, irreplaceable balls in my life.  It had hit the dark pavement and was rolling away from me.  Something I promised myself, I would never let happen. 

Here I was sitting in the parking lot of the sports park listening to National Public Radio working on real estate stuff, while our beautiful ten year old son is only about 100 yards away practicing soccer.  In years past, I was always a fixture at Ryan's older brothers, Raymond and Troy's, soccer practices. I made a point of sitting in my beach chair and chatting on the phone and occasionally answering an email.

Ray and Troy Shay

Those sunny afternoons always reinforced the reason I walked away from the SDPD and a career and friends that I dearly loved.  It was to raise these three young boys. I don't know if dumbass is one or two words, but that is what I felt like. I realized that maybe, Ryan is loosing interest in soccer because he thinks I am loosing interest in him and his favorite sport.

It made me think how much our focus changes from our first child to our third.  I still recall Theresa and I tip-toeing into our oldest son Troy's bedroom when he was only a few weeks old and videotaping him sleeping.  Really?  Videotaping a baby sleeping?   The oohs and ahhs were all his.

The photographs, videos, and extensive birthday celebrations peaked with our first and has been sliding slightly south since.  In the early years we got so busy giving our three boys baths, getting them fed, off to school, and over the years it seems life has just gotten busier.

As luck would have it, two days after my epiphany,  I made a point of attending Ryan's soccer practice.  For the first time in many years, my phone actually was out of power.  I watched his practice in peace and quiet.  It was the same field, where I had previously sat in the parking lot.

With my phone dead, watching him play soccer was amazing. I had a strange urge to drop my cell phone in the trash can next to the parking lot.  I don't think I am alone in those thoughts.  

I could see Ryan struggling against an opponent to gain control of the soccer ball, and pass it off to a teammate.  That is when I saw what any parent can easily recognize.  It is the childish glance or the double take when a child sees a mom or dad watching them. 

Of course, after practice Ryan said he did not need me to watch his practice. "it's not a big deal if you don't watch." It was a big deal to me.  As I tussled his sweaty hair atop his head, I made two commitments to myself.  The first was to hire the best Real Estate Operations Manager we could find to join Shay Realtors and better serve our clients wile taking some of this and that off our plates.  

The second promise was to Ryan and my family that no matter how large our business may grow or not, we will not get caught up with so much of the minutia that our trusted employees can easily handle.  Our children's smiles and being close to them are the most important things in our lives.

To ease my parental guilt, I apologized to Ryan and took him golfing. A sport that I am a true amateur. I explained that dads sometimes makes mistakes, but I will do my best not to be a repeat offender as the other balls can fall to the ground if needed, but I will do my utmost to make sure he, his mom and his brothers continue to remain flying high in the crystal blue air, where they belong.

Enjoy your week,

Copyright Shay Realtors 2015 All Rights Reserved   

Broker's Corner 4.20.15

Crosby Golf Club Files Chapter 11

Ray Shay Broker/Owner Shay Realtors

My phone seemed to start ringing within minutes of Crosby Golf Club filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The question was pretty much the same, "What does this mean?" 

I think Crosby Estates is an amazing place to live and if I had a few more zeros in my bank account, I would move there in a 

New York minute.  In today's day and age, people and businesses go in and out of bankruptcy at regular intervals. The sky is not falling. 

Feel blessed you live in such an awesome home development, and let's see how it is figured out by the bankers and investors.

In the meantime, if you want to see one of our amazing listings like the one pictured, give us a call.  You can't see the golf course from it, but you can see some amazing sunsets!  

Ray Shay  

858 449-4970  

This information is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of Shay Realtors Inc.