There are certainly a lot of real estate agents in San Diego, but you should select your agent wisely. Here are a few reasons why our clients have selected us to represent them:

1. Availability - I answer my phone (try me!) and I return calls promptly. If I am out with a client and you want to see a house, John or one of other members of the Hokkanen Team will show you the property. Because we list and show a lot of homes in Aviara, Alga Hills, and La Costa, we can easily show you any property Carlsbad or even Encinitas where we live. We often have lunch over by the Dove library (which, by the way, has a great collection of video documentaries) and drive the neighborhood almost every day.

2. Knowledge of the Area - Hopefully this site and my Encinitas/Carlsbad site have shown you that we know the area. I have helped many people buy and sell homes in Serenata, Carina, Marea, to name just a few.

3. Knowledge of the Business - It's one thing to submit an offer for a client, it's entirely another to get them accepted. My track record for putting deals together is extremely good, and I will be happy to provide you with references from Aviara-specific deals.

4. Team Power - If you are working with me, you have the entire Hokkanen Team at your disposal. Our ability to do thorough research, get answers to questions, and perform analysis (particularly if you are an investor) is one of our strengths.

5. Tech Power - If you ask virtually any realtor in Encinitas or Carlsbad about high tech real estate practice, we usually come up on the short list. Our web sites are simply unmatched in terms of the quality of information that they provide, and the ease of use. No one has duplicated them because we own all of the technology having developed it ourselves. We are the first (and currently, only) real estate team to actively use video technology in our practice. If you live out of the area, this means that we can preview a home and videotape it, burn a DVD and then mail it to you. Our team has always had an Intranet so that we can share purchase contracts, best practices, and client info with each other, and faxes sent to us are automatically sent to this shared Intranet.

6. Knowledge of the Contract - Practicing real estate isn't just about finding a house; it's also about practicing real estate law (only lawyers and real estate agents are allowed to perform this function). In our case, we not only have significant experience in handling transactions, but John is also a member of the bar. Some experienced agents have area knowledge, but haven't kept up with the contract. For example, in the past, a buyer needed "cause" to cancel a contract and the decision to move forward and complete the deal would happen automatically. Now, a buyer can cancel a purchase contract for any reason until she/he has affirmatively signed off that the deal is a good one (called "contingency removal"). This means that a buyer can be in the marketplace and active aggressively to purchase a home, knowing that if anything is discovered the deal can be scrapped and the earnest money will be returned.

6. Art of the Long View - We are in the real estate business for the long term, which is why we have invested so heavily in developing assets for our clients like our web sites and video capabiitites. We strive to have happy, long-term clients who will refer us to others. No nightmares. Lots of service. Buying a home should be a happy, stress-free event, and that's my goal for you.

Different people want different features in a home and a community. Do you want a gated community?  

A couple of things to keep in mind in buying in Aviara. Most of the homes were built are fairly new, having been built in the past 10 years. This means that most are still in really good shape, though there may be signs of wear and tear as well. Though the homes are very reasonable compared to areas to the south of Carlsbad, the homes are not inexpensive. It is important to have all of your financing pulled together when purchasing a home in the area so that your offer will be taken as seriously as it is intended.