8246 Lake Forest Dr. Sacramento, CA 95826 - Video Tour - 09/30/11 11:44 PM
Doug Reynolds, Sacramento Area Realtor, gives a guided tour;Beautifully Remodeled and Updated College Greens home. Bonus Living Room provides additional space for a total of over 1,500 square feet. GE stainless steel appliances and Granite Countertops highlight the chef's dream kitchen with a breakfast nook, recessed lights and solid maple cabinets with quiet close drawers. 3 bedrooms with original hardwoods floors, remodeled bathrooms, dual pane windows and two closets in the master. Newly landscaped front yard with sprinklers, lime and lemon trees, newer heat and air, 2 year roof certification, and clear pest. NOT an REO or short sale. Close to … (0 comments)

JUST LISTED!! 8246 Lake Forest Dr, Sacramento, Ca 95826 -- Beautifully Remodeled - 09/30/11 04:47 PM
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Understanding Today's Home Buyers - 09/29/11 12:40 PM
Home buyers used to have it easy - all they had to consider when buying a home was price, condition and location. Getting loans was a snap, and reselling the home was never a worry.

But today’s recessionary market is throwing home buyers a curve. They’re not so certain home buying is a good investment, and neither are their bankers.
If you’re a home seller, you need to know what buyers are facing in today’s real estate market, so you can do the one thing that will help the right buyer buy your home.
Price it to sell.
Buyers begin … (0 comments)

5 Reasons Real Estate hasn’t recovered yet… - 09/28/11 12:50 PM
Here’s a good article from Inman news talking about the national real estate market.  It’s fairly long but it covers a wide variety of topics and I agree with nearly everything.  Ultimately, it’s a number of factors and there’s no quick fix for any of them.  We are seeing signs of improvement in strong local areas and it’s just going to be time before the majority of American real estate markets are back on stable footing.  As for Sacramento, I believe the worst is behind us.  We will be bumping along where we are at for a year or two but … (3 comments)

How do contingency periods work when I'm buying or selling a house in the Sacramento area? - 09/27/11 11:01 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Area Realtor, discusses the ins and outs of the contingency period when you are buying or selling a home.  The three most important are: Inspection, Appraisal, and Loan.  The standard time period in California is 17 days but that time period is negotiable.  Most bank owned/foreclosure sales only allow 5 to 10 days for the buyers contingency period.  It’s very important to have a thorough inspection performed right away.  And it’s also important to have a very good loan officer that can perform the appraisal and get the loan approved within that time period.  Sellers – you … (0 comments)

Thinking about buying a home in the Sacramento Area? - 09/26/11 10:42 PM
 

Often times, first-time home buyers are so excited at the prospect of becoming homeowners that they start their home search immediately, without knowing how much house they can afford.  To avoid wasting time looking at houses out of their price range, buyers are advised to begin the home-buying process by meeting with lenders and getting pre-approved for a mortgage loan.  Unlike getting prequalified, which is just a ballpark figure and doesn’t require the lender to check the borrower’s credit history, a preapproval provides the borrower with a Good Faith Estimate spelling out the terms of the loan, the interest … (0 comments)

How to select a home inspector in the Sacramento area and what does a home inspector do? - 09/23/11 07:23 PM
Thinking about buying a home in Sacramento Area? Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Area Realtor, interviews a home inspector while at a property. Kelly Morris of Morris Certified Inspections discusses the best way to go about selecting a qualified inspector, how long an inspection takes, typical costs, and what a home inspector does. Mention this video to Kelly and he'll give you $50 off your next home inspection. He covers all of the Greater Sacramento Area. Bottom line, Get a good quality home inspection when you are buying a home. It will be worth the money to know what you are getting … (2 comments)

Mortgage Rates are at Record lows This Month - 09/22/11 11:29 PM
Here’s a recent article from the LA Times talking about the new record lows for interest rates this month.  I recently had a client lock into a 3.75% interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage.  They are quite happy to say the least.  It’s almost shocking to see how low rates are right now.  I can guarantee one day we will be looking back on this economy and just be amazed by how low rates got.  Who remembers when rates were at 15%??

Mortgage rates hit record lows in Freddie Mac survey
 
Mortgage rates have plunged to all-time lows … (4 comments)

The Ups and Downs of Appraisals in Today’s Market - 09/21/11 09:51 PM
Since the real estate market took a downturn, some people have complained they couldn’t buy, sell, or refinance a home because an appraiser used bank-owned (REO) or short-sold homes as comparables in the valuation process, which dragged down the value of their home.  While using REO and short-sold properties can lower the value of a home, some homeowners are upset that their county assessor will not use these properties as comps for their property taxes.
 
•             In California,  some assessors will consider distressed sales when looking at comps, but it varies widely by county, neighborhood, and house.  In general, assessors … (4 comments)

Free Movies at the Drive-In - 09/21/11 12:31 AM
This Thursday, September 22nd, the West Wind Drive-In is having Client Appreciation night. Transformers 3, Cars 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will be playing.
Pack the car full of the kids, snacks and blankets and enjoy a free night of Movies and family fun.  Arrive early as the crowds will be out.

… (0 comments)

Sacramento County Real Estate Video Update September - October 2011 - 09/19/11 11:07 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Realtor, provides an analysis of the local market statistics from August. This month discussing how Sacramento area sales went up a bit in August. Inventory is still on the low side at the time. Roughly 1/3 of all sales being bank owned/foreclosures, short sales and regular/equity sales. Discussing short sales and his short sale website www.BHGshortsales.com . Also talking about the amazing low interest rates. More information can be found at his website, www.BuyWithDoug.com, as well as his blog and Facebook page (Doug Reynolds Real Estate). Become a fan of his YouTube page and Facebook pages.
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Classic/Funny Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Commercial - 09/17/11 03:45 PM

Take a look at this classic and funny BHG commercial from back in the day.  Can you figure out who the girl is?  Yup, that's Anne Hathaway's first time on TV.  Enjoy.
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Free Credit Repair Workshop in Elk Grove - 09/16/11 01:34 PM
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate's Elk Grove office will be holding a Credit Repair Workshop for anyone interested.  It's free and there is no obligation to anything.  This is a great opportunity for someone looking to buy in the near future but needs to clean up a few things on their credit report to get the best interest rate possible.  Here's all of the information.Credit Repair Workshop!!!
Tell Your Friends, Everyone Is Encouraged To Attend
We will be helping buyers / sellers understand their credit and what impacts their credit report.
"How To Build Up Your Credit Score"
Hot topics … (0 comments)

Free Movie Night in the Park - College Greens - Oki Park - 09/16/11 01:22 PM
Councilmember Kevin McCarty and the College-Glen Neighborhood Association Presents:
Movie Night in the Park
Where: Oki Park in College Greens, 2715 Wisseman Drive, Sacramento, Ca 95826
When: Saturday, September 17, 2011  @  7:30 pm.
Movie: Gnomeo and Juliet
Free movie and popcorn.  Come on out to watch a movie with your family and neighbors.  Hope to see you there!

… (1 comments)

SMUD Program Rewards Energy Efficiency - 09/14/11 03:05 PM
SMUD Program Rewards Energy Efficiency
By Howard Posner, SMUD Ward 3 Director

If you’ve ever thought about making energy-efficient upgrades to your home to help lower your monthly electricity bills, this is the time to do it.
SMUD secured a $20 million dollar federal grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will help fund an innovative energy efficiency program. With an array of generous rebates that could reach $9,000 per home and $2,800 per apartment unit, SMUD’s Home Performance Program aims to retrofit about 2,000 single-family-homes and 2,500 multifamily homes with energy-saving upgrades.
Earlier this year, SMUD nearly … (0 comments)

What the Heck is a Shortsale? - 09/13/11 05:26 PM

Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento area Realtor, explains what a short sale is...talking about the process, the potential issues, what buyers and sellers should expect. The short sale process is a complex one and also unique to each individual home/borrower. If you are selling or buying a short sale, make sure you are working with a Realtor that is a short sale expert. www.BHGshortsales.com will provide you with tons of Short Sale information for free. Don't forget to subscribe to our video updates, and More information can be found at www.SellWithDoug.com , as well as our Blog and Facebook page (Doug … (1 comments)

August 2011 Housing Statistics - Sacramento County - 09/12/11 06:42 PM

Sales volume increases late in summer, sales price ticks down a notch
This August, sales increased 8.4% from 1,579 units sold in July to the current 1,711 units sold this month. Year-to-year, closed escrows were up 14.4% from the 1,496 units sold last August. 2011 SAR President Doug Covill commented “The numbers show it – sales are up. People are coming out and taking advantage of the low prices and historically low interest rates.” Making up the closed escrows this month were 642 REOs (37.5%), 411 short sales (24%) and 658 conventional sales (38.5%). These numbers have stayed relatively level … (2 comments)

Arden Park and Arden Oaks - Sales Data for August 2011 - 09/09/11 03:05 PM
There were 6 homes sold in Arden Park and Arden Oaks in August 2011.  That is a decrease from the 11 sold in the month of July.  Here are the addresses and specific information:

There are currently: 21 active listings, 2 active short sale listings, 6 contingent short sale listings, and 9 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or sell in the Arden … (0 comments)

Sierra Oaks, Wilhaggin, Del Dayo and Shelfield - Sales Data for August 2011 - 09/09/11 02:21 PM
There were 11 homes sold in Sierra Oaks, Wilhaggin, Del Dayo and Shelfield in the month of August 2011.  This is a slight decrease from the 13 sold in July.  Here are the addresses and specific details:

 
Currently there are: 67 active listings, 6 active short sale listings, 7 contingent short sale listings, and 13 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or … (0 comments)

East Sacramento: McKinley Park, Fab 40's, River Park, East Sac, East Portal Park - Sales Data for August 2011 - 09/08/11 01:52 PM
There were 26 homes sold in East Sacramento in the month of August, 2011.  That is an increase from the 21 homes sold in the area in the month of July.  Here are the addresses and specific information.

Currently there are: 71 Active listings, 11 Active short sale listings, 15 Contingent short sale listings, and 24 Pending Sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or … (0 comments)

Land Park and Curtis Park Sales Data - August 2011 (Sacramento, Ca) - 09/08/11 01:33 PM
There were 27 homes sold in Land Park and Curtis Park in the month of August.  That is a slight increase from the 25 homes sold in the month of July.  Here are the addresses and specific information.

 
Currently there are: 54 Active listings, 12 Active short sale listings, 9 Contingent short sale listings, and 24 Pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy … (0 comments)

Elmhurst and Tahoe Park Sales Data - August 2011 (Sacramento, Ca) - 09/08/11 01:19 PM
There were 7 homes sold in Elmhurst and Tahoe Park in August of 2011.  That is a slight increase from the 5 homes sold in the area in the month of July.  Here are the addresses and specific information.

 
Currently there are: 8 active listings, 6 active short sales, 6 contingent short sales, and 12 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or … (0 comments)

College Greens / Glenbrook Sales in August 2011 (Sacramento, Ca 95826) - 09/07/11 12:34 PM
There were 21 homes sold in College Greens / Glenbrook for the month of August, 2011.  That is an increase from the 16 sold in July.  Here are the addresses and specific information.

 
Currently there are: 40 active listings, 8 active short sales, 17 contingent short sales, and 16 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or sell in the 95826 zip code.  … (0 comments)

Rosemont Sales in August 2011 (Sacramento, Ca) - 09/07/11 12:21 PM
There were 28 homes sold in Rosemont in the month of August, 2011.  That is up from the 20 that sold in July.  Here are the addresses and specific information.

 
Currently there are: 18 Active listings, 21 Active short sale listings, 35 Contingent Short Sales  and 42 Pending Sales
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or sell in the 95826 zip code.  Check back … (1 comments)

What's your walk score? - 09/06/11 12:21 PM

Here's a cool website to check out: www.walkscore.com.  The site gives a score to properties in the USA based on how close amentities are for walking.  If you live in a downtown metropolitan area then your score will be quite high.  If you live in a suburb or rural area then your score will be much lower.  The site is also great for home buyers that are looking at a house in an unfamiliar area to them.
Walkscore provides tons of information about the closest restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, bars, schools, parks, shopping, banks, entertainment and more.  A great way … (4 comments)

Buying a Flipped House in Sacramento - 09/05/11 01:52 PM
Doug Reynolds, Sacramento Real Estate agent, discusses the important issues to consider when buying a flipped property. Most importantly, review the property History, quality home inspection, home warranty. More information can be found at his website, www.BuyWithDoug.com, as well as his blog and Facebook page (Doug Reynolds Real Estate) … (0 comments)

How to buy a home when you are self-employed... - 09/02/11 02:45 PM

After the financial market downturn in 2008, getting approved for a mortgage loan became even more difficult.  Combine that with the fledgling economy, which left many people turning to freelance work, and the challenges involved in qualifying for a home mortgage increase exponentially.  However, with a little extra work, home buyers using freelance work as proof of income still can qualify for a new loan.
Making sense of the story
Borrowers who earn most of their income on 1099s should be prepared for extra preparation, paperwork, and discussion of their financial standing when applying for a mortgage. It’s important that … (3 comments)

APR - What is the real cost of financing a home purchase? - 09/01/11 02:44 PM
Here's a great read for someone starting to look at getting pre-approved for a loan and begin the house hunting process.  I do not do the loan side of things with my buyers so this is from Dave Mendoza of Comstock Mortgage (916-977-1227).  He does a great job with getting loans for buyers.
clear skies,
Doug Reynolds
www.BuyWithDoug.com
www.BHGshortsales.com

Annual Percentage Rate What is the Real Cost of Financing?
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a tool that consumers can use as a starting point to compare loan programs. However, it's important to keep in mind that APR is not a perfect … (0 comments)