Homes For Sale

What Are The Great Neighborhoods?

September 24th, 2007 categories: Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Sacramento

The Best Neighborhoods Where are the Great Neighborhoods in and around Sacramento?

First you need to ask yourself what makes a great neighborhood?

The Sacramento Magazine recently published why 10 neighborhoods stood out. Just so you know there are more than 10, in my humble opinion. But, here was the Sacramento Magazine picks and some of the reasons why:

Loomis, was chosen for its rural, slow paced and is actually in Placer County, not Sacramento County. It has a population of 6, 300. This is one of those places where Everybody knows your name. They have a real sense of community and support local businesses. There are gated communities and ranches with home prices from $329,000 to $3 million plus. If you would like to view some of the properties in Loomis, simply Click Here.
Winn Park, in Midtown is an urban neighborhood where traveling on foot is the norm. The City of Trees displays the elegant canopy where bungalows, Victorians, craftsman, four-plexes and apartment buildings all reside with the many local storefronts. Locals here pride themselves on being on a first name basis relationship with local shop owners. There is a little bit of everything and everyone here where tolerance and acceptability are key. Prices in these neighborhoods range depending on renovation of house. To see a few of the homes in Midtown for sale, Click Here.
Arden Park, in Fair Oaks has been featured several times and takes pride in keeping the trees that envelope the roadways. Few sidewalks and curbs are found here, instead their are generous lot sizes. Click here for a sampling of homes for sale in Arden Park.
River City Commons in Sacramento does an excellent job with the half-plexes, the quaint cul-de-sacs speckled in the woodsy feel of the South Natomas neighborhood. This is a community with Homeowner Association dues that give the resident on the go more time of other things. Cant beat the 5 minute commute to Downtown Sacramento. For a look at the homes for sale in this area, click here.
Curtis Park, in Sacramento was one of the first subdivisions, if you can believe that within a 5“10 minute bike ride downtown. Here with all its history and close knit residents, are bungalows, Crafts, Storybook and Spanish Revival style homes, again along mature tree-lined streets. For more on Curtis Park and for a peek at some of the Curtis Park homes for sale, click here.
Phoenix Field, Fair Oaks is an area northeast of Sunset and Hazel Avenue that once was home to the Phoenix Field Airport. That is why the streets in that are are so named. Back in the 1940s to the 80s the residents could taxi their planes from their yards to the runway. Today,the airstrip is gone. Most of the homes in this area now, were built in the 1990s. The neighborhood finds every excuse for partying and walking the dogs is a great way to catch up on whats going on. Click here and look for aviation street names for sale then you know you are in the right place.
Beamer Park, Woodland is located in Yolo County where the neighborhood took 40 years from start to finish to complete which is why there are so many different styles of homes. You may see a Tudor cottage along side a Western Shingle or Mission Revival. Those that live here tend to stay so there are very few homes that become available. Click here to see the two homes in Beamer Park for sale, one on Pershing Ave. for $669,000 and one on Woodland Ave for $439,900.
Holly Hills Lane in Cameron Park, is not a subdivision but rather a street whose resident owners have a huge heart. They found a way to social network after 9“11 and one of their own neighbors they lost to cancer by joining forces each year and decorating to the hilt for the holidays with a spectacular light display, adopting two needy families and contributing to the local food banks and just plain being good neighbors. Click here to see the homes for sale on Holly Hills Lane in Cameron Park.
Shelfield Oaks in Carmichael is close to Fair Oaks Blvd and all the bustle but is tucked away in what the resident owners consider a slice of heaven where instead of hearing the bustle of the street they hear the American River below the bluffs. These homes are not showy and built in the 1960s with low-slung roofs and simple lines with plenty of tall windows letting the outside in. Built by Streng, the buyers have mostly been those artists, teachers, psychologists and those wanting to live with nature. Since homes very frequently go on the market, I am unable to show you any available homes in this area. The last one sold in 2006 for $583,000
Oak Park, which is the oldest suburb in Sacramento has had a rough hill to climb with its decline over the years in ownership and crime. It is said that over the past few years there have only been 8% home ownership but now it is 60% and continuing to grow. Kevin Johnson, former NBA star has rallied major redevelopment dollars and brought back a sense of pride to the neighborhood that he grew up in and helping to make the change. Neighborhood meetings and the revival of this area are strong with up to 100 attending monthly meetings. With that much strength and beautiful Victorian, Highwater Bungalow and Craftsman homes this seems like a win, win. Click here for a look at a few of the Oak Park Homes for sale.

Do YOU have a favorite Neighborhood? What makes YOUR Neighborhood, the Best?

Authored by | Discussion: Comments »

Sacramento Foreclosure Auction Looking for Suckers!

June 15th, 2007 categories: Foreclosure, Home Buyer, Homes For Sale, Investor, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Real Estate News, Sacramento

Auction Going Once, Going Twice SOLD to the HIGHEST bidder who now has overpaid on a piece of the American Dream!

If you havent heard, on June 23^rd at Cal Expo there will be 107 Sacramento area bank-owned houses put on the auctioning block that have been repossessed.

Some folks unfortunately, will get caught up in this and over pay during the frenzy of the moment. Thats what the Banks are counting on and there will be those that wont let the Banks down.

Now, you ask, is this a good thing? Absolutely not! In my opinion, the Banks have not made an attempt to renegotiate the bad loans that they disseminated nor have they accepted Short Sale offers on homes for sale during the Short Sale process because of their greed.

So, what we have here is an attempt by the Banks to give the public what they perceive as a good deal, an auction. Knowing full well, that there is a greater chance that the public who automatically thinks theyll get the deal of the century will help line the pockets of the Banks and at the same time, line the pockets of the Auction company.

Such a deal! Foreclosure and Auction are words that the public considers to be of benefit and lower prices. By using these words and holding the auction on foreclosed houses, the public perceives that they will come out ahead. WRONG!

I have been watching these banks in the short sales where they have been given the Value of the property and they simply ignore or turn their noses in the air. So, basically, these 107 Sacramento area foreclosed houses going on the auction block at Cal Expo will be auctioned off for more than what the houses are actually worth. Once again, the new home buyer will get duped.

If you read New Your Times article, entitled Get Your Red-Hot Foreclosures Here and just specifically read the line where it states that the Auction company had been dormant for a decade lenders contacted the companys officers and asked if they could get back into the business of auctioning properties. Hey, this isnt rocket science who do you think is profiting? Not you!

Hope you are smart enough not to be taken by this and realize that this is not just a wild guess of mine but is substantiated by the Short Sale process and by reading what has already occurred in Southern California with the auctioning of recent foreclosed properties. Heres what one couple had to say about their experience at the Southern CA auction:

Jim and Betty Botley of Chino were looking to spend what Ms. Botley defined as ˜$300,000, and thats it. The house they wanted went for an auction price of $550,000. The Botleys thought that it would have needed $50,000 to $100,000 for renovation. After the repairs, auction fee and closing costs, they couldnt see how anyone got a deal.

Usually, when purchasing a foreclosed house, the bidder must have all cash but in this instance, the auction company has arranged for a lender to finance the deals along with the winning bidder to pay the auction company 5% of the sales price of the first home and 15% of the sales price on additional houses. Now, thats what I call one hefty commission wouldnt you say? Not to mention the type of loan these lenders will be offering. Looks like another disaster waiting to happen. Shame on you Banks for not taking responsibility.

Home Buyers beware dont be taken in and pay more than what the property is worth. Dont be a sucker.

Banks, I have one thing to say to you wake up and start accepting some of the responsibility here. Dont take advantage of more victims. Start negotiating with the homeowners that currently have one of your poorly executed loans, start replying and accepting Short Sales and stop trying to recoup your losses by endangering more home buyers and investors with tantalization tactics!

Watch out, this auction company is scheduled in several of the surrounding areas including the Bay Area. Seems a bit like ambulance chasing, to me

Sacramento Short Sales and Foreclosures

Are Short Sales and Foreclosures A Good Deal?

Fraud in Real Estate

What Does Short Sale Mean?

Foreclosures, Buy or Dont Buy?

Do You Understand Foreclosure?

2007 Where Knowledge is Power in Real Estate

Want to Be An Investor?

What Sellers Need to Know About Receiving Offers

Authored by | Discussion: 14 Comments »

Retire in Elk Grove California

June 4th, 2007 categories: Elk Grove, Home Buyer, Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Relocating, Retirement Communties, Sacramento

Baby Boomers are starting to look for Active Senior Communities and thinking about where to retire near Sacramento, CA. Are you looking for an Active Adult Community or Retirement Community for the 55+ and over group? Is a retirement community with age restrictions a place where you would like live?…here are my top two active adult communities to consider calling home in Elk Grove, CA. This new Del Webb retirement community is currently under construction. There is no golf course associated with this particular community but there are golf courses near by. Let me know when you plan on relocating and I will be more than happy to let you know where all of the Adult Communities are located. When you are ready, it would be my pleasure to help you with the purchase of your home in an active adult community. The selected retirement areas have age restrictions where one of you must be at least 55 years young. Be sure to read this great little article that I found on How to Retire Rich…are you prepared?

Elk Grove - Lakeside Heritage located near Highway 5 just minutes from Downtown Sacramento in a gated community.

New Active Adult Community

Del Webb is building a mini (no golf course) Del Webb in Elk Grove at Glenbrooke, just west of Hwy 99 and minutes from Downtown Sacramento, Sacramento International Airport for all those trips you will take, an 1 hr & 45 minutes to San Francisco and 1 hr 30 minutes to the Sierra mountains for those ski trips. Great central location with 130 days of sunshine! What more could you ask for? Glenbrooke amenities are:

Recreational center
Fitness center
Outdoor swimming pool
Multi-purpose room
Tennis
Bocce Ball
Whirlpool
Walking Trails
Putting Green
Club House
Hobby Room

Del Webb in Elk Grove at Glenbrooke This project will house 631 homes Priced from $280,990 - $410,990 Square Feet from 1,257 to 2,252

These are just a few of the great places for active seniors who would like a place to store their luggage while traveling and enjoying life…give me call and let’s talk about where you would like your next closet to be. DelWebbModel This is one of the many models in the construction stage at Glenbrooke in Elk Grove, CA. As always if you have questions that I can help you with, please feel free to leave a comment, below, email me or call me directly at 916.417.2699. And if an Active Adult Community is not what you are looking but instead would like to live in a home that has at least 1300 square feet with 3 Bedrooms, 2 baths and was built no later than 2000 and costs between $300,000 to $$400,000 click on the arrow and take a peak of the Homes for Sale in Elk Grove, CA.

Other Related Articles:

Retire in Roseville

Baby Boomers in Real Estate

Active Adult Communities Around Sacramento

Authored by | Discussion: Comments »

Sacramento Short Sales and Foreclosures

June 1st, 2007 categories: Foreclosure, Fraud, Homes For Sale, Loan Fraud, Mortgage, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Real Estate News, Realtor, Sacramento

Back_to_Bank Sacramento, the surrounding areas as well as the State of California is experiencing the results of homeowners that couldn’t afford to purchase a home, bad lending practices and shady deals.

You add all that up together and you have Short Sales and Foreclosures. Now, here come the Auction Companies. I’m not saying that all Auction companies are bad. Just as there are bad Real Estate Agents and bad Lenders, there are bad Auction Companies.

There have been Real Estate offices open up almost on every corner, change their names frequently to avoid problems and agents who hop around from Real Estate office to Real Estate office. Some mom and pop organizations who have no training for their agents. And others who seem to train in everything but bettering their agents to be Realtors. Then of course we had the part timers who thought there was nothing to being a Real Estate agents and managed to make a mess.

Real Estate agents who took a crash course to gain more money by submitting loan applications have been a detriment to society. There is nothing illegal by these agents double dipping in Real Estate and in Lending. But, think about this…if you are doing your job full time and continually educating and conducting business in Real Estate, there is no way you have time to also keep up with loans, loan programs and regulations. What does that say? It says to me that you dabble…do I want someone that dabbles…or do I want someone who knows what their doing?

Some of these Home Buyers actually had dabblers finding them homes, writing up loan applications…on the biggest investment of their lives and they let a dabbler do it. I don’t understand that.

Now, the kicker here is that some of these same Real Estate agents were changing loan applications, puffing the amount of income so there home buyer could afford to spend more. Yes, fraud! This has helped lead California into the results of Bank owned property as we see in the chart above. These people need to get out of the business and leave those professionals to do the job correctly and honestly.

So much to say about all this…I do hope you can stick with me while I try my best to give you the best advice, in my opinion that I can muster without seeming to rant.

Auctions are nothing new. But, some of these companies are new to auctioning homes. They have been dealing with auctioning estate furniture, jewelry, cars etc. but not homes. Did I hear you ask, is there a difference? YES! Many of these Auction companies saw a niche and jumped in just like the agents who saw a niche to make more money doing loans and Real Estate. I have had the opportunity of witnessing how some of the companies work, what they charge and how they operate as well as how much experience they have selling homes. It’s not a pretty picture, folks.

This is a very expensive proposition when there are other alternatives. First, the Banks don’t want to own homes but that’s exactly what is happening. Banks need to start negotiating with the homeowners and revisit these audacious loans. If this isn’t done then the Banks need to start accepting Short Sales and stop this fervor. If the property is priced in value range pricing there is no reason for an Auction. It’s time to make some sense out of all this senselessness. Get a clue. We need to pull together here and make this a win, win instead of a continuous loose, loose.

Remember, if you don’t think this effects you, as a homeowner…think again. This effects every single one of us. It is what is driving the real estate prices down. It is time for the homeowners to stand up and let their voices be heard. Stop ruining neighborhoods with vacant properties, weeds, mosquito filled pools…this is not good for the economy, it’s not good for the Banks, it’s not good for the homeowner and it’s not good for the neighborhood.

If you have access to the Sacramento Bee or the on-line version, here is the article link dealing with the Sale of bank-held homes in California.

I hope I have sparked your interest and concern…we need to speak-up, not put up with this and demand a better solution.

Are Short Sales and Foreclosures A Good Deal?

Fraud in Real Estate

What Does Short Sale Mean?

Foreclosures, Buy or Don’t Buy?

Do You Understand Foreclosure?

2007 Where Knowledge is Power in Real Estate

Want to Be An Investor?

What Sellers Need to Know About Receiving Offers

Authored by | Discussion: 3 Comments »

Sacramento Real Estate Voice Popped

May 31st, 2007 categories: Home Buyer, Homes For Sale, Mortgage, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Tips, Realtor, Relocating, Sacramento

Sacramento Pops Cork Yes, Sacramento Real Estate Voice has a new look. We popped the cork! I hope you find it exciting and useful. Just as Delta and Dawn, our wayward humpback whales are finding their way back to the Golden Gate and into the Bay, Sacramento Real Estate Voice is presenting a new look. Also, making it’s debut is the new Google Street View. It’s been a busy week.

Sacramento Real Estate Voice continues to find new and innovative ways to provide neighborhood information, real estate market statistics, current homes for sale along with valuable Home Buyer, Seller tips with mortgage information and relocation help.

I am continually asked if the homes for sale in the Search MLS or Property Search contains all of the homes for sale or if it’s just Remax homes for sale. The answer is that all homes listed are contained in the MLS search.

Which brings up an interesting observation that many are not aware of. Most of the websites that future home buyers search for homes for sale contain homes in Pending sale and even homes that sold years ago. These websites that peeked the interest of the Home Buyer do not do any house cleaning in their site nor do they get the up to the minute new listings.

As Realtors we are always amazed when the phone call comes in requesting information on a certain MLS # or an address, only to find that the house sold 2 years ago. It’s time that the public be made aware that if you are looking for a home for sale and want actual up-to-date information, a Realtor’s website or Blog site is the only place you will find it. Yes, I know there are those Realtors who require the home buyer to sign-in before allowing access to the homes for sale.

Do I agree with that? No, but it is up to each individual Realtor to decide how they will disseminate the information. I treat the blog site users the way I would want to be treated. If I have to sign-in, I’ll just keep moving until I found someplace that didn’t require a sign-in. My feeling is that when you are ready and have read enough about me you will contact me and if not, then heck I guess I provided a free service to you that I paid for.

Unless you are dealing with a Realtor who pays monthly for the ability to search listing and belong to their Real Estate Association, you are not getting the full capacity and up-to-date MLS homes for sale. And meanwhile the predators continue to attract home buyers…but we already know that there are a lot of predators. We are seeing the results of some of them right now, with the Short Sales and Foreclosures. There are many faces to predators and it’s time the public start identifying them.

If you have a Real Estate related question feel free to email Gena Riede or give me call at 916.417.2699. I’m here to help.

Authored by | Discussion: 11 Comments »

How Many Legislators Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?

May 22nd, 2007 categories: Homes For Sale, Living Green, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Seller

Energy Light Bulb California is heading the pact when it comes to moving forward with our environment.

Assembly Member, Lloyd E. Levine has introduced a bill to wipe out the old incandescent bulbs and make way for the compact fluorescent light bulb.

California will be the first State to ban the common light bulb.

The old light bulbs are the same as they were 125 years ago and conduct more heat than they do light. And cost the user much more in electric bills along with using our supply of energy and landfill of these wasted bulbs.

Levine’s legislation bill AB 722, replacing the old light bulbs with the new more efficient fluorescent light bulb will reduce the CO2 emissions by 1.82 million metric tons per year. Give support to this legislation.

This bill, if passed will eliminate the hog of light bulb electricity use by the year 2012. This bill has passed out of the Assembly Committee and now heads for the Appropriations Committee.

If that’s not enough to get you to change your light bulbs…

Replacing a 75 watt regular incandescent light with a 20 watt fluorescent bulb as shown above, would prevent 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide from being pumped into the atmosphere by electric plants. Carbon dioxide is a major component of the gases that most experts say is responsible for global warming.

You will save $55 over the life of a single bulb. Now, that ought to grab your attention! Start replacing your old bulbs, today and save tomorrow.

Governor Schwarzenegger of California heads the pact for energy conservation. Be sure to check “GREEN CALIFORNIA” for the latest in what is Green for California.

Another bill Levine is currently working on is the Pet Act which would require most pet owners with a dog or cat over four months old to have their pets spayed or neutered.

Last year, Levine authored legislation to require large supermarkets to recycle plastic bags and Governor Schwarzenegger signed the bill.

Levine is on the side of the environment and needs support to help protect ourselves from ourselves. Won’t you take the time to help, as well?

Now you ask…how does a light bulb apply to Real Estate? Saves Electricity

One of the things I provide at an Open House, as a Realtor is a presentation notebook of the home with pictures before a remodel and after, school information, neighborhood information and electric and gas bills…now wouldn’t that be a positive for a future home buyer to see low electric bills?

Think about that…Listing Agents, this is a call to you to legislate to your Sellers…replace all regular light bulbs with new energy efficient fluorescent bulbs and provide a comparison of electric bills to show a future Home Buyer how they too, can save on their electric bill.

Are you ready to commit? Are you Green? Are you a Californian?

Christmas in February

January 30th, 2007 categories: Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Seller

Sellers, I have to take a moment and address what I’ve have been seeing lately on MLS (the Multiple Listing Service).

Since MLS feeds into Realtor.com along with many Internet newspapers and IDX solutions out there in Cyberspace, it is very important that we each take the time to make sure that the houses we have for sale are advertised to the best extent possible.

Since homes are taking longer to sell, it would appear, as evidenced by the photo to the left that it is NECESSARY and prudent of listing Realtors to re-take photos of their current homes for sale.

Sellers you need to take a look at what your house photos look like on the web. And while youre at it, Sellers ask your Realtor to see a copy of what the Realtor wrote about your house on MLS. There are some dandies out there!

Read the rest of this entry »

Authored by | Discussion: 6 Comments »

Roseville California …Best Shopping, Dining and Living

January 4th, 2007 categories: Homes For Sale, Homes Sold, Placer County, Real Estate, Roseville, Statistics by City

Roseville is an ever growing populated area located in Placer County and just 15 miles north of downtown Sacramento. It is split in half by Interstate 80 which tends to distinguish the pricing of the different areas. There is quite a mix of housing opportunities here in Roseville that has been well thought out by the city leaders.

In 2005, the state tallied 42,219 residential units, 31,010 single homes, 1,082 attached homes, 9,584 apartments and 543 mobile homes and growing. Roseville sports zip codes 95661, 95678 and 95747. The City shows its size by the the number of zip codes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: 6 Comments »

Elk Grove California Caters to The Family

January 2nd, 2007 categories: Elk Grove, Home Buyer, Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Relocating, Seller

Just 15 miles north of the California capital, Sacramento, lays Elk Grove. Elk Grove borders two major highways, highway 5 and highway 99. Noted as the fastest growing City in the U.S., Elk Grove has been keeping record speed with the growth that has occurred over the past few years. This once sleepy farm town, where a man from Elk Grove, Missouri opened up the first hotel in 1850 and named it after his home town, Elk Grove is now a bustling metropolis. Comprised of middle to upper income families that are environmentally atoned, Elk Grove has the first nation wide 100% hybrid electric commuter bus fleet, the e-tran. In 2005, the population count was 121,601 and growing in this incorporated City which provides for its own police, local planning etc. Due to the rapid growth, Elk Grove currently has three zip codes 95624, 95757 and 95758. Wikepedia is mistaken as it states that all new building has occurred west of highway 99. There are new developments both East and West of highway 99. A new resident can find homes built in 1900 to the present with affordable housing. Elk Grove is divided into several major areas, including Laguna West, Laguna Creek, Elk Grove proper and East Elk Grove. Read the rest of this entry »

Authored by | Discussion: 10 Comments »

Why Should A Seller or Buyer Choose Remax?

December 30th, 2006 categories: Home Buyer, Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Real Estate Market, Real Estate Tips, Realtor, Seller

SmallFlagRemax Why choose Remax? Very good question! As a seller, your main goal is to sell. In the fast moving Real Estate Market, putting a sign in the front yard is about all that was necessary.

But, Real Estate has changed. Now, you need to be cognizant of what it takes in order to sell a home. First, an experienced Realtor in any Real Estate agency is a number one goal that you should be considering. There are so many aspects to know and avoid that an experienced Realtor will be aware of in order to protect your best interests. And there are good Realtors in many agencies.

Read the rest of this entry »

Authored by | Discussion: 28 Comments »

« Previous Entries