patty_cakes,

There's more to life than freeway access. You've not given enough info to make any kind of intelligent response much less rationalize and/or justify it.

Tricia

So, are you going to sell one and then move into the other one then? Personally, I wouldn't want to live in the condo just because of all those condo regulations.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

Condos have historically appreciated less than houses. And, in a buyers market, condos are usually harder to sell.

In general, people like to buy new homes or older homes with updated, brand new features. If the home still has that patina of newness, it might be easier to sell while its still seen as new rather than wait a few more years where it will then be perceived to be 'outdated'.

Where are the two places located, more specifically?
And if you're moving into the other one, do you have school-age children?
(you can guess how I'm going to form my opinion)

which one to put....s. ca.... hmmmm it is a tough one....I say put both on the market and see which one sells first ;)

Okay, here's the speal. Ex and I jointly own two properties, I live in the condo, he the house. He suggested selling the newer home, and when sold, he'll move into the condo, at which time i'll move to TX~*something* needs to sell so I can purchase there. When he retires in '08, he can either sell, or stay.

Tricia, have *you* ever lived in SD? Or in S. CA in the last 15-20 years, or even visited? Traffic has almost doubled as the population has grown. Since the majority of people DO drive to work everyday, freeway access is VERY important, and a BIG part of life here~just ask anyone. If a home has very good access, which mine does, it's always mentioned in a listing, right up there with having a view. 'See the ocean, over there'....low and behold, there it is, if I stand on a ladder at 6:12 pm, hope it isn't an overcast day, we're in the June glooms, there isn't a fire burning in a canyon, or the polution is blowing in from LA. Give me freeway access....anyday, it's a sure thing! All i'm asking is which would be the easiest to sell, so I don't know how I should justify/rationalize *that* intelligently.

M'marvin, so i've heard. Since it's only the ex living in the home alone, and he's quite fastidious, the home looks almost unlived in. It should sell easily as it's in a neighborhood known for being family oriented, with a highly rated school district.

c9, see first paragraph. Children are irrelevent to the sale of either property.

try_99, aaaaaaaaaa NO! Getting ONE house ready to sell is almost enough to drive me to drink.

Gee people, I thought this was an easy question, self explanatory. In today's market, which would be the easiest? ;o)

patty_cakes

Well, finding a buyer who can qualify for $400K ought to be easier than finding one who can qualify for $775K... but what do I know, houses are still less than 80 bucks a square foot where I live.

I just moved away from Orange County after living there for 9 years. When you say "has great freeway access" - how close to the freeway are you talking about? And how far from the freeway is the house with "not great access?"

If "not great" means just a couple of minutes then it's no big deal. If you mean 10-15 minutes, then that might be an important concern to some people.

Are they in comparable neighborhoods? If you think the house would sell easily then I'd go with that one, since you've expressed concerns in other threads about your condo being outdated.

Talk to an agent, they will tell you which is selling the best. I just talked with an agent in Rancho Mirage about the issue - what is selling in the area?

I must add, I just drove down to the R&R, I was surprised about the traffic.
But, I love SD, I wouldn't leave it.

[QUOTE]All i'm asking is which would be the easiest to sell, so I don't know how I should justify/rationalize *that* intelligently.

Since it's only the ex living in the home alone, and he's quite fastidious, the home looks almost unlived in. It should sell easily as it's in a neighborhood known for being family oriented, with a highly rated school district.[QUOTE]

Well, if the question is simply which one will be easier to sell, it seems like you've already answered your own question. The house is newer, probably shows better since the ex is fastidious, in a better neighborhood, etc.. And, with selling a condo, you'll have to deal with the current condo glut that was driven by apartment to condo conversions and all those new condos they built in downtown SD. And, so your condo will be competing against newer condos where proximity to the freeway really won't be a competitive advantage since those downtown condos don't need to use the freeway to get to work.

And, keep in mind, flippers were more likely to invest in those downtown condos than in a family neighborhood. If a family can't sell right away, they can always pull their house from the market. Compare that to flippers who couldn't live in those homes, and thus were more likely to sell condos off at a depressed price and thus lower the overall prices for other condos in that market.

As somebody who had to face the Merge, I understand the importance of traffic. Believe me, I've done the hour and a half commutes before. But, for me, the drive to the freeway wasn't so bad if it was lightly traveled. Instead, the really frustrating part was when you got on the freeway and wouldn't move.

Patty_cakes,

To answer your question, "Yes, I have." I am a native Californian (there's not too many of us around). CA is where I call 'home'. In January '06, I spent a delightful two weeks at the Colonial Hotel in LaJolla visiting old highschool classmates & family. From there, I worked my way north making stops along the way for more family get-to-gethers & visits with old neighbors in Laguna Hills. Next on my visit came Huntington Beach where my parents lived & I spent my teenage years surfing. Pity you can't park on the beach anymore. I continued my junket northbound to the Cerritos area where my father was a several decade business owner. There, I visited with elderly friends of my parents. Continuing on & after a brief pitstop & buzz-by of my highschool, I spent the next 3/4 of a day fighting my way through LA to the Grapevine in the rain & rode shotgun for DH (driving) who was worried about the crazy CA drivers who don't understand that's it's best to slow down in inclement weather. Down off the Grapevine to a much drier Bakersfield where I stuffed myself with Marie Calendar's German-Chocolate pie (reinforcements after the drive through LA). Onwards in the dark, to Fresno where the rain had once again caught up with us. After four rainy & dreary days in Fresno & its surrounds...we decided to visit my childhood home just outside Selma near old Highway 99. The property is now a Federal Superfund Site & I pressed my nose against the barbed wire to peer in the windows & point out to DH the blue chairs I sat in as a younster to open my Christmas presents & where I used to pick grapes from my sister's vineyards. He's always had trouble wrapping his mind around my living on a Superfund site & so I brought him to this place. I will never return so I snapped a few pictures of the, "No Trespassing, Federal Superfund Site, Government Property" sign. I don't anticipate further trips to CA. Family & friends will have to come to CT in the future if they want to see me.

Now, as for your selling decision...

Why not list them both & the market will answer your question regarding the importance of freeway access versus family-friendly neighborhood of SFHs. I could make a reasonably good hypothesis for either being the easiest to sell but guesses don't count...only the closing check really answers your question.

Tricia

PS My "intelligent" comment was referring to my answer not your question. I merely stated that you'd not provided enough info to say much of anything meaningful.

I think the advice to ask a realtor is good. They should be able to tell which is the better of the two to sell.

The condo should list at about $400+ and the home close to $775.
Ex and I jointly own two properties, I live in the condo, he the house. He suggested selling the newer home, and when sold, he'll move into the condo, at which time i'll move to TX~*something* needs to sell so I can purchase there. When he retires in '08, he can either sell, or stay.

Sounds friendly; you're lucky. To me, I would sell the house because of the price. This will allow you to cut your losses on the higher priced item, maybe make a few bucks for your move.

Who knows, I could be wrong & the condo may be more desirable. You've been working on it, getting ready to sell it. Shame it's updated & you've spent money and he'll get to live in it.

So, I would do the consult before doing more work.

I would go with the house. I am assuming the house is in Poway which is still a very desirable area and is easier to sell than the condo. I feel the condo market has more of a glut than homes do. But I also agree that talking to a realtor who can see the specifics of both can tell you the pros and cons of selling them.

I don't think you should ignore the idea that he has to live in whichever one you keep.

Does he want to live in the condo? Does he not much care, and thinks you'll get faster results if you sell the house?

Then sell the house.

I agree that a local agent should be able to tell you which will sell faster.

If they both will sell faster, then it's a better investment to keep the house (which will appreciate more), EXCEPT...

that it ties up more money for longer. And in 08 when he retires, and wants to stay put, more of your money will be tied up in his lodgings.

This is a tough one. Two completely different markets.
But I vote for selling the house.

Families will always choose schools & neighborhood over a few minutes extra commute time. And I know that there are plenty of families looking for homes they can afford. I think your competition will be all the new homes going up that the builders are trying to unload. If your house is closer to the city (Tierrasanta, Scripps Ranch), you'll be in luck, but if you're further up I-15 where all those new developments are, it's going to be tougher.
It sounds like the condo would be perfect for you ex and give him the quicker commute.
Good luck!

And, condos have all those rules and regulations that can make it harder to sell than most houses. It can range from something like restrictions of for sale signs or open houses to some rule or policy that might scare away potential buyers.

I'd also look into reserves and any possible special assesements down the line for the condo. Some condos have been lax with keeping up costs and will have a low reserve which isn't enough in case something happens and then you'll be hit with a special assesement. Better to sell before the condo needs to raise funds with a speical assesement.