West Sacramento Real Estate

My Biggest Pet Peeve

2009-07-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

So, everyone has a pet peeve. Mine happens to be buyers who think they will get a better deal using a listing agent to purchase a home listed for sale. Usually the transaction turns out to be a nightmare because the buyers realize that they don't have reliable representation because the listing agent isn't representing their best intentions (not always, but usually).

I ran across an article that could have been written by me, it's right on the money and I suggest reading this article before you get into a contract with an agent who represents both the buyer and seller.....Click Here.......

Benefits of Martial Arts

2008-11-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

I would like to share my thoughts on the benefits of practicing the art of TaeKwonDo....... Almost 4 years ago my wife Laura signed up our son Nick in a karate program at Zapata's Black Belt Academy in the Southport Town Center. He started out in the "Tiny Tigers" program. It became apparent to us that Nick not only loved to train, but he had the ability to become a very good marital artist. So this went on for about a year, Nick would train 3-4 days a week while Laura and I consumed to many cups of coffee from Starbucks while attending these classes. Before long we finally decided to get off our rears and start training ourselves.

Out of that simple act came a life change for my family. Training together has not only brought us closer but has changed our way of looking at life. The pride I feel when watching my son get up in front of an audience and perform these beautiful and intricate moves that make me stop and go WOW. The pride I feel when I watch my wife fire off a deadly accurate hook kick to the head (usually mine), and this coming from a woman who started off so timid and unsure of herself that Nick and I had to push and encourage her to continue her training. It has been so worth it. I have been working out my entire life and there isn't a workout or sport that I have tried that has giving me more satisfaction both mentally and physically than learning the art of TaeKwonDo.

Fast forward to today.... We are still training at Zapata's which is now called ATA Martial Arts of Southport. The school is currently operating at the bouncespot. I strongly encourage everyone who hates to workout to try our school (free 30 day trial), not only will you have a ball but you will get your body and mind into fantastic shape.

I can guarantee that you will experience:

Improved Muscle Tone
Improved Strength and Stamina

Improved Confidence
Improved Flexibility
Improved Agility and Reflexes

Improved Concentration and Self Esteem
And most importantly in today's hectic lifestyles, Reduced Stress.

Here's the Skinny!

2008-05-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

If your a buyer and your price range is around $300,000 your probably finding a whole lot of competition out there. Multiple offers are the norm for homes that are priced competitively. Contrary to what you may read, if your making offers 10%-20% under asking price your probably not getting the response from the sellers (or banks) that you had hoped for. My advice is to stay the course, do your homework, analyze the comps, and most important.....Listen to your Realtor and not the people who are closest to you. This market we are in is constantly changing and evolving and unless you do this for a living you truly have no idea how to generate a game plan for making offers. Oh, one last thing, do not, and I repeat do not listen to the media. They speak in general terms, not specifics that apply to your goals and plans.

Here's an article that goes into detail about our market in Sacramento and the frenzy of multiple offers being generated.

Let's Talk Foreclosure

2008-05-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Great Deal? Well, sometimes..... Purchasing a foreclosed property can be a trying experience for even the most savvy real estate investors. If this is your first purchase of real estate, buckle up and hang on. The absolute best advice I can give you is to have an Experienced Realtor guide you thru the process. Don't use a part time agent or a family member who just got into the "business". You NEED a professional!!!! Purchasing a foreclosure in not for the weak of heart. Here is a very good article on what to expect.
As always I am available to answer any questions.

Help for Homeowners

2008-04-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am starting a series of articles about the current crisis in the Real Estate Market. I have been pouring over material that I think can be beneficial to homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage.
There is a bill that is being proposed that requires lenders to refinance existing "bad" loans. The lenders will have to take a drastic cut on the amount owed. Click here to read the article. I would like to hear from you out there on your experiences with your lenders. You can always contact me with any questions or comments

Do Low Interest Rates Affect the Real Estate Market?

2008-02-14T15:11:00.000-08:00

In one word...NO...Well not really. It wasn't the low cost of money that created the hot market we experienced or the crash that is upon us now, it was the availability of money. Good credit, bad credit, no credit, no problem, we have a loan for you! It was easy all you had to do was state that you made X amount of money and bingo your loan was approved. No money for a down
payment and closing cost? Still no problem, here's a loan for 100% financing and you can add your closing costs to the loan.

Back in 1990 when I began my Real Estate careeer you had to have a down payment of 10% to 20% to purchase a home, or qualify for a FHA loan which allowed a borrower to put down 5% for a down payment. In todays market the lenders are experiencing huge losses on the mortgages they have written. With these losses they have tightened up the availablility of funds to lend. All this means that fewer people can qualify for a mortgage. I believe this will continue until the "bad loans" are purged, mainly through foreclosures.

So hold tight through 2008, there will be light at the end of the tunnel in 2009.

Jeffs Awesome Opening Day Duck Hunt 2007

2008-02-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

I went on a guided duck hunt for the opener of the 2007 waterfowl season. There were 4 shooters and 3 guides. We bagged limits of green heads and honkers. This took place just west of Lincoln and I recommend to any and all who are interested to give me a call or send me an e-mail and I will pass along the guides info. Dave and Steve are 2 of the best callers I've ever been around and are also fun to be with and know how to put together a very enjoyable time in the marsh. Click on the play button below or click the "DUCK HUNT" link above for a better quality video....Enjoy!.....PS: If you buy or sell a house thru me, I will take you on a hunt like this!!

Measure S...Yay or Nay.....

2007-10-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Here we go again West Sacramento. Another school bond thrust upon us. If my math is correct this will be the 3rd one. I was under the impression that the 59 million from the last bond would do the trick.... NOT!!! What we need here in West Sac is accountabillity with the public's funds. As most of you know the powers to be can't even spell it.
Alright I will stop my rant before it goes to a whole other dimension. All I know is that I do not know what to do...."Yay or Nay".... That is the question.

What Do You Think about Measure S?

Should Government Bail out the Housing Industry?

2007-09-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

I want to post the following link from a friend of mine. His name is Jon Coupal who is an attorney and president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Jon talks about (in layman's terms) the current mess affecting our Real Estate Economy. Most articles out there do not adequately convey to the public the real consequences to the taxpayers if the government bails out property owners who are in trouble because of bad loans.

There are pros's and con's to this debate and I would like to hear your take and feelings on it. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.

WHERE'S ALL THE BUYERS?

2007-07-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

The phones have stopped ringing, dead open houses, decreased hits on the website...... Sure glad I saved my money these past few years. Wow, in 18 years of selling real estate I have never seen it as quiet as it is right now. Even back in the early 90's during the last downturn there were still buyers out there. And I believe the worst is yet to come. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

My advice to sellers is to price your home far below the competition. Truly it is the only way to compete. Take West Sacramento as an example, there are 366 homes for sale(not counting the new homes). How do you stand out for the few buyers out there to find you? Market your home with an exceptionally competitive price. You have to be noticed!

Advertising such as " We will pay all Buyer Closing Costs", "Free Trip to Hawaii", "Mercedes Included with Purchase", etc., etc., will not get the job done. Now the good news. If you are in the market to buy a home you will have a very pleasant experience. Plenty of inventory, you can darn near write your own terms. The majority of sellers are very accommodating, and there is no rush. This is truly a great time to buy. As a matter of fact, I have some great homes for sale. Take a look, let's make a deal!

So....What Is A Short Sale?

2007-07-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

A short sale is when a lender that holds a "deed of trust" on a property accepts less than the full amount due on their loan when the property is sold. Sometimes it is more cost effective for the lender to accept a lower payoff than to bear the costs and liability of a foreclosure. One of the biggest misconceptions is that a short sale is a GOOD DEAL.......Well, typically their not, usually the seller owes more that the property is worth.

NEGOTIATING WITH THE LENDER

As a realtor it is meaningless (& ridiculous) to market a property as a short sale without getting written short sale approval from the lender. Not every short sell is a hardship, which is critical to the process. A hardship being defined as a divorce, job loss, etc....If the lender does not accept the hardship they will foreclose. So, as a buyer you are interested in making an offer on a short sale, the very 1st question to ask the listing agent should be. Do you have Short Sale Approval From The Lender in Writing! If the answer is no then, RUN! The likelihood of it being approved will be about zero to none.

So, Do I Or Don't I Buy A Short Sale Property?

Well, that depends on your situation and whether you have the time to gamble. A successful short sale depends on cooperation from everyone involved in the transaction. The Lender(s), Sellers, Buyers, and Realtors. There's so much inventory on the market that you don't have to buy a short sale, to negotiate an equitable purchase.

note: Short sells are very complicated , I could be posting for days on all the aspects of this particular type of transaction. The above is a brief outline, so do not hesitate to contact me for any additional information or questions. If you are in a situation where you may need to sell your home, contact me for a private consultation.

10 Questions To Ask Your Agent

2007-04-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

(1)...Do you hold a "CRS" certification?... Only the top 1% of all agents in America have demonstrated the experience and obtained the education to earn the "Certified Residential Specialist" designation. Don't you want to hire a professional?

(2)...Do you hold a "GRI designation?... If the agent hasn't qualified to become a CRS, perhaps they have at least taken the training necessary to earn the "Graduate, Realtor Institute" certification. Only the top 5% of agents in the United States have taken the time to obtain the GRI professional designation.

(3)...If you don't hold a CRS or GRI certification, how have you learned to market properties efficiently and effectively?... What classes has this agent taken that specifically teaches him or her to attract a large pool of qualified buyers and agents to get you the highest price for your house?

(4)...What makes you special as an agent?... Why should you hire this agent as opposed to all of the other qualified agents in this area?

(5)...Who are the buyers for this house and exactly how will you reach them?... There are only two or three qualified buyers for any property in any market. Your agent should have a specific plan for how to target them in addition to the usual ads in the paper and putting the listing into the Multiple Listing Service.

(6)...What things can I do to help my house sell for the most money?... It is the little things that make a home attractive to a buyer but they sure add up. Attractively staging a house is crucial in obtaining the highest price.

(7)...What guarantee do I have that I will be happy with your services?... Do you really want to be locked into a long listing contract if you are disappointed with an agent's services?

(8)... Specifically, how does my house compare to the competition?... Any diligent agent will personally view all of the homes that are in direct competition with you so they can realistically compare them to your property.

(9)... How will you minimize inconvenience to me during the marketing of my house?... Selling a house can be stressful and a competent agent will give you a plan to help reduce that stress.

(10)... How will you maximize the net proceeds that I will receive from the sale of my property?... You should be less concerned with the gross sales price you receive for your house and more about how much you will keep after the expenses of sale have been deducted. Good agents will help you minimize your costs by showing you techniques such as doing inspections before the property hits the market, doing minor cosmetics and repairs instead of giving credits, and more.

If you have any questions for this posting or would like to discuss West Sacramento Real Estate contact me.

Reasons To Buy Real Estate in West Sacramento # 4

2007-04-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Number 4: WORKING WITH ME!

Listen......If your buying or selling a home, especially in this market there is no substitute for experience. If your agent has been in the market for only the past 5 - 7 years they have not experienced a true buyers market.

Gone are the days of planting a "for sale" sign in the lawn and then waiting for the phone to ring. You now have to actually have stategy. In 17 years of selling real estate there isn't much that I haven't seen.

IF YOU WANT YOUR AGENT TO HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU, THEN CONTACT ONE WHO HAS(a plan).

Reasons to Buy Real Estate in West Sacramento # 3

2007-03-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Number 3: NEIGHBORHOODS

It amazes me how many people move to West Sacramento and never leave. I sell homes in many different neighborhoods in Sacramento and I can't think of another community were the turnover is as low. I mean there are families here that have four and five generations that have called West Sacramento home.

Personally I've lived in the State Streets neighborhood for over 40 years. My grandfather had one of the first homes in the subdivision. It's located on the southeast corner of Alameda and Delaware. The interesting story about this home is that my grandfather purchased this home which was located on a ranch down Jefferson close to Clarksburg. He jacked it up with the help of one of his brothers, set it on logs and drug/rolled it behind a tractor to it's current location.

Back then the State Streets area had more cows and sheep than people and homes. Today the neighborhood is one of the most sought after areas for buyers. It features many homes built(between the early 1930's to the 1950's) in the craftsman bungalow style. They are reminiscent of the Curtis Park, Mckinnley Park, and Land Park areas of Sacramento, with the mature Heritage Oaks and Sycamore trees that line most streets.

Another low turnover neighborhood is just west of the State Streets across Park Blvd.. It is know as Westmore Oaks. These homes were built in the 1950's and 60's, and feature 3+ bedrooms and 2-car garages. (this is my only problem with the State Sts homes, most only have a 1-car garage). Like it's name the streets are lined with Majestic Heritage Oak trees.

I'll profile neighborhoods in Southport in future articles. For information or questions about West Sacramento Real Estate feel free to contact me.

Reasons to Buy Real Estate in West Sacramento # 2

2007-03-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Number 2: Close Proximity to Sacramento

If you work in Sacramento, especially if your job is downtown you can be there in minutes. Your options to get there are driving your car or take your bike down out of the rafters and get some exercise. I know quite a few people in West Sac that commute this way to their jobs at the State, Caltrans, and Federal offices. What a great way to stay in shape. Public Transportation in another option to commute without having to take your auto and then find a place to park.

There is another option I almost forgot to mention, why not work in West Sac.... There is a diverse job market here and I can tell you from experience it sure is nice to be able to drive just a short distance with no traffic to get to my office (actually my office is only a few blocks from my home). Unless I'm showing property or checking on one of my listings I can go days without crossing the river into town. West Sac has the best of all worlds, a small town feel but close enough to all.

What I find interesting when talking to people who have lived here in West Sac for just a short time is their lack of knowledge of the immediate surrounding areas. If you head south on Jefferson Blvd you'll notice how rural it becomes within a few short miles. Jefferson will parallel the deep water channel and eventually lead you to the Delta. On the way you'll pass through Clarksburg which has a Mayberry feel to it and who's history is deep into farming. This route is a great way to spend the day and explore this region's winery's, restaurants, and recreational opportunities.

As always feel free to contact me for additional info or comments on West Sacramento.

About West Sacramento

2007-03-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

Now understand that I am totally biased about West Sacramento. I have lived here my entire life. When I was growing up, West Sac was a very small community made up mostly of blue collar folks and farmers. At that time Jefferson Bl was a 2-lane country road. My friends and I would grab our bikes, shotguns, and dogs and ride down Jefferson to Washington Lake to hunt pheasants and ducks....Fast forward to the present, imagine riding down Jefferson with a shotgun, how much attention would that bring you.....CAN YOU SAY WEST SACRAMENTO SWAT, GET DOWN NOW!!!!!

Well, as they say times have changed.What once was the other (bad) side of the river in now one of the regions fastest growing communities. West Sacramento is broken down into a few different communities. Bryte/Broderick, Old West Sacramento, and Southport. We are close to all major freeways and if you have to commute to Sacramento you'll usually be going opposite of the heavy traffic.

When it comes to West Sacramento Real Estate we have quite a diverse inventory of homes to offer, from older tudor style properties to brand new construction.

For more info on West Sacramento Real Estate visit my website.

Reasons to Buy Real Estate in West Sacramento # 1

2007-03-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

Number 1 : AFFORDABLE

West Sacramento Real Estate has something to offer everyone. From the older more established neighborhoods to brand new never been lived in homes. Currently there are over 160 homes for sale in West Sac priced under $500,000. Compare these numbers to Davis where there are less than 50 homes priced under $500,000 . No wonder West Sacramento Real Estate has become so popular to Davis buyers.

On another note, my wife can't wait for the opening of the new Target store in the Southport Town Center this weekend. She claims that she'll be able to go for "days" without crossing the river into Sacramento to shop. I'm sure I'll be able to claim this distinction as will later this year with Home Depot and Lowe's scheduled to open.

For additional info or comments fell free to contact me.