At the age of 19, I almost bought my first rental property in Madison, WI., where I was raised. Fortunately, Uncle Sam had other ideas and sent me to 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego where I served 4 years on the USS Hamner, DD718, and did 4 WestPac tours to Vietnam. I looked around San Diego and said, "Wow, this is a great place to live" and bought my first home with a VA loan while in the Navy. I did not know the term “House Hacking” but that is what I did when I rented rooms to other sailors. Since then, I have bought and sold several residences and investment properties for myself & family. I love Real Estate and what it can do for homeowners & investors.
We are active in the community with the Lions Club, Assistance League, chorale group, bocce and our church. We also enjoy movies, cards, travel, dancing, and dining.
We have earned the ABR Designation (Accredited Buyers Rep) and the SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) Designation and e-PRO. CDPE - Certified Distressed Property Expert. Yes, we do Short Sales. SFR - Short Sale & Foreclosure, CPE - Certified Probate Expert, iREP for institutional buyers, Vacation Rental Sales & Analysis. I am also in Gator & SubTo. All to serve you better.
I am known as a Unicorn Agent because I assist buyers, sellers and investors with creative finance transactions in situations where it benefits both. This includes Lease Options, Wrap Around Mortgages, Subject To the Existing Financing, Assumptions, Seller Financing, Novation Agreements.
Our investment division, Starfish Housing, invests in and provides Mid-Term Rentals for traveling medical professionals, insurance displacements, corporate travelers and digital nomads in the Fresno CA area. We also own long-term rentals in OK, commercial & mixed-use property in AR and we are buying a SRO - Single Room Occupancy property in Tampa, FL.
Starfish Funding can assist you in financing from funding small to large EMDs, Double-Closings, Fix and Flip, Hard Money and Private money loans. If you have cash or a 401K or IRA, we can assist you in getting great returns either passively through trust deeds or syndications, or actively such as Joint Venture. We have many options, depending on your needs.
Whether you are looking for a 1st or 2nd home or investment property, I can also assist you in San Diego County and I can also help you find a top real estate agent almost anywhere in the US or abroad at no additional cost to you...just ask!
Call or text 760-212-8225
Why All The Starfish?
Adapted from “The Star Thrower”
by Loren Eiseley
A man was jogging down the beach after a major storm had just come through the area. He was dismayed by the huge number of starfish that the storm had washed up on the beach. He thought that there was nothing he could do because of the immense numbers. As he continued down the beach he saw an old man throw something into the water. As he got closer, he saw the old man walk a little farther down the beach, bend over, pick up a starfish and throw it back into the water. As the jogger approached, the old man stopped again, bent over, picked up another starfish and was about to throw it into the water.
The jogger stopped and asked “Why are you doing that? There are thousands of starfish on the beach. You can’t possibly make a difference.” The old man looked at the starfish, threw it back into the water, then replied, “I made a difference to that one, didn’t I?”
We are here to make a difference for you!
Dennis and Donna “Sunshine” Smith