This is a new page I have created on the ParadiseRetirees.com website, and thought I would post it here to share with you.  I'll try to keep this as current as possible, which is a daunting task since these type of properties sell so quickly, but there are always others to take their place.  Just another reason it's so important to be on the Automatic Email Notification system.  Here goes, I hope you enjoy enough to call or email me today to get your own screaming deal report.

What is a Screaming Deal?

Well my friends, a screaming deal is the type of property that takes ones breath away when it pops up.  A screaming deal is a home or investment that just has to be shouted about, no matter who has the listing.  Check this page often for this months screaming deals, as well as any others that might need shouting about.  This is where the shouting will be taking place.

Screaming Real Estate Deals For July 2010

Currently the number of foreclosed properties which are typically where we find these screaming deals, are sporadic at best.  It's more important than ever to be on that Automatic Email Notification system.  Be the first to know about new properties listed for sale that match your personal needs.  When these deals come out, they always sell in the first few days on the market.  If they are really, really screaming, they will sell for more than the asking price, so don't be afraid to over bid when you know it's the one!  Below is a general description of some of the current deals, I can't give the addresses here since they are most likely not my listing, but I can tell you what's out there and all you need to do is contact me through any of the numerous comments or questions boxes throughout the website, and I'll be happy to not only give you the address but schedule your personal preview where you can view the property yourself.  Here goes...

This first one is unbeleivable, it almost fits, that old saying if it's too good to be true it probably isn't but here goes, 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2500 sq ft older home needs some work, deck is totally gone.  Currently in escrow but schedule to fall through.  Call Lynn so you can slip in on this one.

There are currently 12 homes under 100,000, several of these look workable, buyers don't forget to check on the Town of Paradise Down Payment Assistance program to see if you qualify for up to $40,000 in down payment assistance monies.

Manufactured Homes on land pricesfor homes that will qualify for conventional financing are hovering around 95,000 on their own land mostly in Magalia.  The good deal around 75,000 and below are definitely fixers, but do come up fairly grequently , nothing as of this time.

Manufactured Homes in Parks, this is where you can really find the deals if you're looking to move to the easy lifestyle of park life.  There are some nice ones under 50,000, sometimes as low as 25,000 even lower.  The space rent is a factor you must consider, with monthly rents going from around 300.00 to 600.00 per month.

Vacant Land, this is where the screaming deals hit the ceiling.  Almost every vacant lot is at rock bottom prices, they have to be!  Since very few developers are doing any building, vacant lots can be bought for a song.  Callme anytime, I be happy to create your personal property profiles.  Now is the time to pick up a vacant lot, pay a couple hundred a month and just sit on it.  In a few years who knows where it will be, but no matter what you'll always have some dirt to come to, they're not making any more.

Having served Home Buyers and Sellers in the Paradise and Magalia areas of Butte County since 1986, and serving The Paradise Association of Realtors since 2005, being President in 2008, give me the unique ability to really be an area expert.  With all those years of experience, training and working in the trenches, my honest, personal opinion is that now is absolutely the best time to start looking for a home to buy.  There are 5 main reasons for my strong opinion

•  I honestly believe along with some other long term, knowledgeable agents, we have hit the     bottom  of the of the Real Estate market in Paradise and Magalia.
•  Interest Rates are at all time lows, with lots of uncertainty on how loans will be changed in the future.  We know what we have now and it's really good, get pre-qualified now, it's simple!
•  There is money available to loan.  First Time Homebuyers, anyone who has not owned their own home in the last three years, can possibly qualify for up to $40,000 from the Town of Paradise First Time Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance Program, known as DPA. 
•  There are Screaming Deals out there right now.  I tell all my clients, speed and planning are the key to picking up one of these deals for yourself.
•  The advancement of the internet empowered consumer having the ability to find a Realtor that is tech savvy enough to make sure all their clients have immediate access to new listings, go to http://www.ParadiseRetirees.com/ and get on the Automatic Email Notification program right away.  Never miss that screaming deal again! 

 
I hope I haven't gone too far with this article, the current Real Estate market is very volatile and no one really knows for sure what the exact condition is, this is only my personal opinion.  No matter how much knowledge and education anyone has, the actual Real Estate market conditions aren't really known for sure until about 6 months after it's already happened.  I believe our local market has been at or near the bottom since late 2009.  It's very difficult to know where exactly the bottom is, but now all with the favorable interest rates and state and federal assistance monies available to Home Buyers, even if the market goes down a little bit more, you'll still be ahead.  Contact me anytime for your personal Home Buyers Step By Step Guide to owning that screaming deal and actually discovering The Paradise way of life.
Lynn Franklin                                                                                                                                            

Broker Associate Coldwell Banker Ponderosa Real Estate 

Cell (530) 520-6900 Direct line (530)872-5435  Lynn@ParadiseRetirees. Lic #00620879

It's a question I'm asked every time I give someone from another area my address. My answer is always the same, "yes, it really is living in Paradise". There is a large sign as you enter Paradise that reads, "May you find Paradise to be all its name implies". Paradise has long been known as the Retirement Capitol of Northern California. Almost everyone in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area and even Southern California knows someone who retired to Paradise. The town is located approximately halfway between Sacramento and the Oregon border, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The elevation of Paradise and its neighboring community of Magalia are approximately 1600 ft to 3,000 feet. The majority of the population is retired, which makes for a great community, geared for retirees of all ages. Most people retiring in Paradise are from the Bay Area and Los Angeles; most are looking for the place where active retirees can find that unique place where the best of everything meet. That's what Paradise and Magalia have to offer, the best of everything from culture to a complete array of outdoor activities. It's quite common for people to run into old friends when they relocate to Paradise or Magalia. One of the nicest parts about retiring to Paradise is that almost everyone is from somewhere else, so it's very easy to make friends and to participate in many different activities. It always amazes me how most of us, myself included, came here from city areas, where there all kinds of things to do. But we rarely do any of them for lots of reasons, too expensive, not enough time, too far to drive and you know more. When we move to Paradise, all of a sudden, the things we always thought of doing are so easy to do and invariably we meet someone who invites us and we're off. Most of my clients, who move here, end up involved in something, anything from our world famous quilting club to the Bosai club. The types of things they do are as varied as the kinds of people, I have had the pleasure of working with over these last 25 years. The point is, almost every one of them has found some kind of meaningful, true calling and their lives are richer and fuller than they ever were when they were in the working world.
Northern California abounds with things to do, Paradise, Ca and its neighbor, Magalia, Ca are really geared towards Retirees. Everything from the medical facilities, homes, restaurants, shopping centers and many others have been created with today's Retiree in mind. Theatres, Performing Arts, Creative Arts, Golf, Water Sports, Outdoor Activities for every season. The weather in Paradise and Magalia is superb, with a milder form of all four seasons, than many other areas in Northern California, which allows for the fullest summer, fall, winter and spring activities.

The best way to know for sure if it really is Paradise, is to visit. It's easy to take a week-end trip. We're close to just about everything, less than a two hour drive from Sacramento, where there is an International Airport, three hours will get you to the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Several nice motels offer affordable rates and some even welcome pets. Come for the week-end stay for the lifestyle.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Paradise or Paradise Real Estate, please email me directly at Lynn@ParadiseRetirees.com or you can check out the website at www.ParadiseRetirees.com.

As we all struggle with the clean up from the Paradise wildfires and work to putting our homes back together, one of the most important things we have to remember is that the ash leftover from the fires can be extremely dangerous. Though the ash from the fires is relatively nontoxic and similar to the ash you can find in your fireplace, any ash will contain small amounts of cancer-causing chemicals. Fire ash can also be extremely irritating to sensitive skin, noses, and throats.

So I wanted to send a few tips over that may help get your Paradise home back in order, but PLEASE BE CAREFUL. 

Here is a list of recommendations that we should all follow to ensure that the ash is cleaned up and disposed of safely & efficiently:

1) DO NOT use leaf blowers to blow the ash out.

2) DO NOT hose the ash particles into storm or other drains.

3) Lightly mist surfaces (indoor and outdoor) with water before gently sweeping ash.

4) Be sure to only use vacuums with HEPA filters.

5) Never allow your children to play in the ash.

6) Wash ash off all toys and other household items before using.

7) Wear gloves, long sleeved shirts, and pants to avoid skin contact with the ash.

8) If your skin does come in contact with the ash, wash immediately.

9) Wear fitted dusk masks to protect your face from particles.

10) Place collected ash in trash bags for disposal.

This is just a basic list of recommendations. Please use caution when cleaning and removing the ash from your homes and if it looks like it is beyond a "do-it-yourself job", call a professional!