Real Estate Tips
Sacramento Home Buyers Find Homes in Multiple Offers
February 8th, 2010 categories: Real Estate Tips
Believe it or not, even though we are in some economic troubling times, many Sacramento homes are in multiple offers. This is not the time to give low ball offers, unless you enjoy being rejected time and time again.
Sacramento home buyers are competing with investors who are primed with either all cash offers, quite closing dates and no contingencies for home inspection. The banks will go for these offers in a heart beat and leave the others dangling.
It’s imperative that all home buyers have their ducks in a row. If you are obtaining a loan, make sure you have your lender approval letter, copies of your bank statement proving where your down payment is coming from and put down a sizable amount.
I still receive calls from home buyers who have not seen a Lender and think it’s not a problem getting a loan. Let me tell ya, it’s hard to get a loan these days. I haven’t seen one of my home buyers who have not had to jump through hoops to get a loan. They have had excellent credit but the banks are difficult and the underwriters are nearly impossible. Don’t take getting a loan for granted. Do your homework and get a Lender letter of approval BEFORE looking at homes for sale.
Experienced Realtor’s ® work with experienced Lenders so do talk to your Realtor ® and get a referral to a Lender who can actually get a loan for you. Can’t begin to tell you how many times a home buyer has come to me with their own Lender only to find out that their Lender couldn’t get the job done and the Lender I work with has to save the day at the last minute! Do yourself a favor and ask your Realtor ® for a Lender referral.
If the house or condo is one that you have been watching for sometime on MLS, and you have seen the price go down remember so have other buyers. If the neighborhood is one that is sought after. you won’t be the only one making an offer.
Short Sales take anywhere from two weeks to six months to be approved so if you are a toast watcher, either change your attitude or don’t get involved with Short Sales. Many of the listing agents have sellers who require that your good faith deposit check be sent to Title and cashed before the seller accepts your offer and your offer is sent to the bank for approval. If that bothers you, then that house is not for you. I think you will see more Short Sale agents requiring this as time goes on.
With the $8,000 Federal tax credit for first time home buyers and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers we are seeing quite a few home buyers in the real estate market who realize they will pay less each month to own their own home rather than pay rent.
Recently, I heard that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was proposing a $10,000 tax credit for all buyers. This will certainly open up the market for even more home buyers.
Make sure you are working with an experienced Realtor ® and you have your own representation. Home buyers do not pay to be represented. The State of California actually requires each home buyer to sign an Agency Disclosure to make sure that you, as a home buyer understand the difference between Single Agency and Dual Agency. It is never a good idea for a home buyer to be represented by a builder or by a listing agent. The agent at the home builder site represents the builder, not you. And the listing agent represents the seller, not you.
Remember, real estate is LOCAL. Just because someone on the news talks about real estate, or your friend in Texas talks about real estate doesn’t mean that is the way it is here in Sacramento or in a neighborhood in Roseville or Elk Grove. Talk to your Realtor ® and find out the scoop for the area and type of home or condo you are looking for before you buy.
Happy house hunting with your eyes wide open!
Related Home Buyer Tip Articles:
You Can’t Be A Toast watcher and Buy a Short Sale
Sacramento Home Buyers Buying Homes Be Sure to Read This
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Steps to Prepare Your Home For Sale – Kitchen
December 28th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Seller
Did you have help in your kitchen over the holidays? It’s always nice to have some extra hands in the kitchen but now, it’s time to give that stove a good cleaning.
There is nothing like trying to sell a house when the kitchen has tell tell signs of grease. Home buyers see that grease!
Take a look at the vents above your microwave at the top and see if there is a yellowish tinge. More than likely there is and the cure is to either use a Q tip or just fold a paper towels horizontally and use a good grease fighting cleanser.
Be sure to check underneath your microwave and clean those splatters as well as the filters. It’s amazing where all that grease goes especially when the fan is not turned on during cooking. Don’t forget the back-splash!
And yes, how many of you have actually taken a good look at the inside of your dishwasher? The home buyers look and if it’s YUCK, then it becomes a real turn off. Clean that scum and dirt, and rinse with a package of lemonade mix to clean and refreshen.
This year kitchen islands are a must for the home buyers. The home buyer wants a clean, bright kitchen with plenty of room to move around and good space for a kitchen table. Dark wood is still beating out the lighter wood with granite or Corian counters with clean fresh lines. Buyers prefer no grout lines on the counter for quick clean-ups.
Be sure to come back to Sacramento Real Estate Voice for the next helpful home selling tip and getting your house prepared to sell. Home sellers who prepare their homes properly always sell for more than home sellers you don’t.
I always help my home sellers prepare their houses for a sale so that they can maximize the results!
Related Other Articles:
Sacramento Realtor Shares A GREAT Secret
Dress Your Home to Sell-Inside Home Seller Tips
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Do You Live Near a Sex Offender?
December 16th, 2009 categories: Home Buyer, Real Estate Tips
Recently, while working with some great First Time Home Buyers who fell in love with a home for sale something stopped them dead in their tracks.
Yes, a rapist who had been convicted was living right next door to the house this couple wanted to buy.
Would you buy a house next door to a rapist?
These same home buyers continued on their search for a home for sale and found another home. Unfortunately, twelve houses down happens to live another rapist. These first time home buyers have decided to move forward with the purchase of this house.
Although no one wants to live next door to a rapist, we have no control over who buys a home next door or down the street. Some say, they wish all sex offenders were given a one way ticket to North Dakota to live but unfortunately this is not the case.
Do sex offenders have an impact on your home value? Absolutely! Some home buyers will not buy your home if there is a sex offender in your neighborhood and this will effect your value as well as the neighborhood value.
Be sure to check Megan’s Law for the neighborhood you plan on moving or relocating to. This doesn’t guarantee a predator won’t move in later but it will give you peace of mind for the time being. Sex offenders cannot live by a school.
Hope this helps the home buyers in their search for a new home…happy hunting!
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Want to Know A Real Estate Tip to Save You Money?
November 20th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Sacramento Real Estate Videos
This homeowner tip will save you money and headaches every year. So many times when I visit homes, I see clogged gutters. If you have a two story house, it’s easy to look out your bedroom windows and see what those gutters look like.
If there are trees anywhere around your home, be sure and get all those gorgeous leaves cleaned out of the gutters before the rain comes and damage occurs. It will save you money in the long run.
Just yesterday while I was showing property to a Bay Area investor, all of the homes for sale had clogged gutters.
If you don’t want to climb a ladder to look at your gutters, then wait for the first rain and take a little tour of your home to see if water is flowing out of each of the downspouts. If there is only a trickle then you need to call a handy man and have them clean your gutters out.
I love to list and sell homes that are properly maintained where a home buyer isn’t left wondering how well you took care of your home. It’s important to be a conscientious homeowner with a well maintained house.
For those renters, be sure to call your landlord and remind them to have the gutters cleaned.
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Did You Check Your Property Tax Bill?
November 6th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Sacramento Real Estate Videos
Sacramento,CA
As a Sacramento homeowner it is vital that you check your Property Tax bill. Mistakes are made and believe it or not, if you overpay your taxes for years you may not get reimbursed for what the County feels is your responsibility. I have seen it happen and it’s not a pretty sight!
Don’t assume your property tax bill is correct…you know what they say about that word, ASSume.
So, all of you new home buyers be sure to double check each year, the statement that you get from the County Assessor’s office and make sure that your taxes are correct. Even though the County does send your new tax assessment to your bank, it is still your responsibility to make sure those taxes are paid so double check with your mortgage loan servicer that they have your up-to-date property tax bill.
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