3 Days of Golf Craziness... - 04/28/10 04:19 PM

Haggin Oaks Annual Golf Expo is being held this Friday thru Sunday. Golf, golf and more golf. Test equipment from the major brands, special deals, contest and just tons of activities. Here's the website info:www.hagginoaksgolfexpo.com
A fun way to kick off the spring season.
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Only 4 days left to get an offer accepted... - 04/27/10 03:35 PM
Only 4 days remain to get an accepted offer.  In order to be eligible for the federal tax credit, among other guidelines, a buyer must have an accepted offer by the end of the month.  Here's a link to a good, quick little news clip about the tax credit coming to an end.  Today and tomorrow are the days to get out and write an offer if you're going to have a chance.http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/YourMoney/video/home-buyer-tax-credit-deadline-nears-10485405
clear skies,
_ doug reynolds

… (1 comments)

Sacramento Garden Tours - 04/26/10 08:26 PM
2 Great Garden Tours are happening in Sacramento in May.
MAY 1 & 2:The first annual Sierra Oaks Garden Tour is taking place May 1 & May 2 in the Sierra Oaks Neighborhood on Crocker rd.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of.  Visit the website for additional info: http://www.sierraoaksgardentour.com .  The proceeds go to benefit the Sierra Oaks Elementary School.
May 8 & 9: The 12th annual East Sac Garden Tour will be taking place May 8 & May 9.  Seven beautiful gardens will be on tour, each with an individual theme.  Ticket price and information: http://www.davidlubingardentour.com  .  The … (0 comments)

Real Estate Definition: The "Contingency Period" - 04/23/10 02:49 PM
This information pertains to the state of California and mostly Sacramento area real estate. The contingency period or inspection period is designed to serve three major purposes for the buyer. One is to inspect the property, "Inspection Contingency."  Two is to get the buyers loan approved and ready, "Loan Contingency."  And third is to have the home appraised, "Appraisal Contingency." 
The standard California Purchase Contract has a default period of 17 days for these contingency periods. As with anything in real estate, everything is negotiable. So even the time period for the contingencies is negotiable. Most bank owned properties reduce the contingency period to … (0 comments)

Just Listed!! Beautiful, Recently Built Home. 3 beds, 2 baths. Star of the Block - 04/21/10 04:32 PM
Star of the Neighborhood 8323 Gypsy Star Way, Sacramento, CA 95829 View Map This great looking home has been well maintained inside and out and has many upgraded interior features. From the marble entryway across the beautiful, laminate floors of the living/dining room into the kitchen/family room adorned with tile counter tops and a mix of tile-Travertine floors, this house shines. The master bedroom has a large walk-in closet with his & her entrances and outside the backyard boasts a Chinese pear tree, apple tree and a cherry tree.
Details Asking Price: $219,000 MLS: 10029911 Sq. Feet: 1789 Lot Size: 0.143 … (0 comments)

Home Ownership Pays - 04/19/10 05:05 PM
For many Americans, the best way to build wealth is to pay down a mortgage. The multipurpose investment essentially is a 'forced savings account.' The homeowner lives in the house and pays down the mortgage, over time the property appreciates, and eventually it can be sold and potentially net a tidy profit. In the meanwhile, mortgage interest rate and property tax payments are tax deductible.
Mortgage payments help build a homeowner's net worth because a portion of the payment goes toward building equity. The hard-earned equity can be saved for the big sale.
Mortgage interest rates and property taxes quickly add … (0 comments)

April/May 2010 Sacramento Real Estate Market Video Update - 04/14/10 04:35 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Realtor, provides a detailed analysis of the local market. This month focusing on the large spike in homes sold for the start of the spring buying season, the new California homebuyer tax credit and the details of the new HAFA/Short Sale program. More information can be found at his website, www.BuyWithDoug.com, as well as his blog and Facebook page( Doug Reynolds Real Estate).
clear skies,
_ doug reynolds
… (0 comments)

Sacramento County Housing Statistics for March 2010 - 04/13/10 03:41 PM
  
A spring surge in sales signals fair weather market  
Sales increase dramatically month-to-month, median sales price also rises.  A 41.9% increase in sales marks the beginning of the spring sales season. Units sold in March totaled 1,640, a big jump from the 1,156 sales in February.  The distribution in types of home sales has shifted, with bank-owned properties making up 39.6% of all sales - down 6.4% from the previous month. Short sales properties increased 3.6%, accounting for 24.7% of all sales. Conventional sales also made 3.6% jump to 35.7% of all sales, largely a sign that homeowners appear more confident releasing … (0 comments)

Lost Equity? But paying the same property taxes? - 04/10/10 01:13 PM
How to Dispute Your Property Taxes
By: Keith Pandolfi, This old house magazine
You wanna fight the power, eh?
You're not alone. With property taxes continuing to rise nationwide, many homeowners are starting to challenge what they see as exorbitantly high demands made on them by their local assessor's office. Follow their lead, and you have a 50 percent chance of succeeding, says Pete Sepp, a spokesperson for the National Taxpayers Union.
First, a primer. The amount of property tax you pay is determined by multiplying your city's tax rate by the assessed value of your property and all of the … (2 comments)

More good news for Short Sellers... - 04/09/10 02:09 PM
from the Sacramento Bee :
California won't tax forgiven home debt
by jim wasserman Published Friday, Apr. 09, 2010 
Tax relief is on the way for thousands of fearful California mortgage borrowers. Most no longer face a double whammy of losing their homes - and then paying a big state tax bill on the forgiven debt.
State lawmakers Thursday passed SB 401, a bill by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, to exempt borrowers who lost homes to foreclosure or short sales in 2009 from state taxes that can run into thousands of dollars. The same is true for certain types of loan … (0 comments)

Tax Credit Reminders... - 04/08/10 06:56 PM
Federal Homebuyer Tax CreditBuyers have one more month to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credits.  Expiring April 30, 2010, first time homebuyers may be eligible for an up to $8,000 tax credit, which does not need to be paid back so long as they remain in the home for three years.  Non first time buyers who have lived in their principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight may qualify for an up to $6,500 tax credit.  Nearly all properties qualify including single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.
State Homebuyer Tax CreditGovernor Schwarzenegger signed AB 183 providing $200 million … (1 comments)

Real Estate Definition: The "Initial Deposit" - 04/06/10 02:59 PM
In California, it's customary for the buyers to include a good faith deposit when they make an offer to purchase a home. The deposit should not be given directly to the seller, but held by a trustworthy third party that maintains a trust account specifically for home purchase deposits, such as an escrow or title company, real estate firm, or real estate broker.
The deposit can be in the form of a check made out to the third-party company or it can be wired into the appropriate account. The size of the deposit you make is usually determined by market conditions … (2 comments)

Sacramento 95826 Sales Data - March 2010 (College Greens/Glenbrook, Rosemont) - 04/05/10 04:11 PM
Here is the sales data information for closed sales in March 2010:
All of the 95826:
29 Sold Single Family Homes.
Average Square footage: 1,412
Average Listing Price: $ $179,502
Average Sales Price: $ 178,576
Median Days on Market: 52 days
College Greens/Glenbrook:

6 Sold SFR's
Average Sq. feet: 1,517
Average List: $ 203,133
Average SOLD: $ 202,550
Median DOM: 52 days
Rosemont:

23 Sold SFR's
Average Sq. feet: 1,3685
Average List: $ 173,337
Median SOLD: $ 172,322
Median DOM: 52 days
As of Today (April 5, 2010) here's a snapshot of both markets:
College Greens/Glenbrook: 27 Active listings, 11 Active Short Sale/Contingent, 23 Pending.
Rosemont: … (0 comments)

Sacramento 95826 Sales Data - March 2010 (College Greens/Glenbrook, Rosemont) - 04/05/10 04:09 PM
Here is the sales data information for closed sales in March 2010:
All of the 95826:
29 Sold Single Family Homes.
Average Square footage: 1,412
Average Listing Price: $ $179,502
Average Sales Price: $ 178,576
Median Days on Market: 52 days
College Greens/Glenbrook:

6 Sold SFR's
Average Sq. feet: 1,517
Average List: $ 203,133
Average SOLD: $ 202,550
Median DOM: 52 days
Rosemont:

23 Sold SFR's
Average Sq. feet: 1,3685
Average List: $ 173,337
Median SOLD: $ 172,322
Median DOM: 52 days
As of Today (April 5, 2010) here's a snapshot of both markets:
College Greens/Glenbrook: 27 Active listings, 11 Active Short Sale/Contingent, 23 Pending.
Rosemont: … (0 comments)

Can you time it Just Right? Get 18k in Tax Credits... - 04/01/10 03:47 PM
Information provided by California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) 
$18,000 IN COMBINED HOMEBUYER TAX CREDITS FOR A LIMITED TIME
Californians have a brief window of opportunity to receive up to $18,000 in combined federal and state homebuyer tax credits.  To take advantage of both tax credits, a first-time homebuyer must enter into a purchase contract for a principal residence before May 1, 2010, and close escrow between May 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010, inclusive.  Buyers who are not first-time homebuyers may use the same timeframes to receive up to $16,500 in combined tax credits if they are long-time residents of their … (3 comments)