Dena Ingalls' Blog

Loan Tools - "Can I get help with my Loan?"

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:34:54 -0500

First step: Find out who owns your current loan then you can start making calls and plans:

Is your loan owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac? Find out here: http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/loan_lookup.html

Lowering the Tax Bills in Sacramento County

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:34:23 -0500

Values in Sacramento County and specifically Elk Grove have been "adjusting" consistently lately, in reaction to all the foreclosures. In an effort to stay in touch with past clients with that "value added services" thing I wanted to give some help with the whole lowering value issue. Here are some links for researching how to see if they are due for a reassessment.

Here we go with the link to the County Assessor's office: http://www.assessor.saccounty.net/default.htm

On this site there is a link just for this topic: Assessor is Lowering Property Assessments

If they don't have web access call they can call : 916-875-0700 - open M-F - 9-4:00 pm

I actually got a human on the line! She explained that the County sent letters out to 85,000 people notifying them of automatic reassessments and lowered values. I'd bet most people don't remember getting that letter . . . . . . she said many people don't . . . . . . thus the calls!

You can view your tax information directly at the e-Prop Tax Parcel Look-Up.

You can also sign-up for email notification: e-subscribe for property tax payment notifications

If the property is not on the big hairy long list and you believe the current market value is less than the factored Proposition 13 value shown on the Assessor's Parcel Viewer, you can go the next step and complete the Request for Review form and submit it to the Assessor's Office. This process can take up to 6-8 weeks to review and update.

Why do our clients refer us to their friends and family? Because we are watching out for them after the sale.

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Find the Bottom in Central California

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:04:01 -0500

We are all trying to find the bottom!

Here in the Elk Grove and Sacramento area of California I selected a zip code for two subdivisions that I have been tracking through the years: 95828 for Vintage Park and Country Side.

How do we determine if we have hit the bottom? Most importantly how can we determine if we have reached and "tested" the bottom.

During the first half of July there were 22 sales, 6 of those sales were full price and 12 were over full price. The other 4 sales received $ 132.50 per sq ft. The average days on market was 35 days. The full price sales were 106% of list price and the square footage increase $ 7.50 per sq ft from the previous month.

For the month of June there were 53 total sales taking 50 average days on the market with the % of sales price vs list price being 99% and the average sq ft price of $ 125.

All the sales both months were either short sales or fore closures. This area was hit very hard by the mortgage crisis. I will be very interested to find out the results for the next couple of months.

As a resident & Realtor I feel confident says that these two subdivisions have reached their bottom AND have now tested that bottom. I'll rerun the details at the end of the month for you to compare monthly returns.

Guarantee Your Net Sheets?

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:51:50 -0500

Can you guarantee your net sheets? With all we do as buyer's agents, do we stand up for that "bottom line" presented at the signing appointment. This is our real job, watching that dollar as if were our own. Two tips on having the courage to quarantee the net sheet:

First, within 72 hours of contract acceptance have your lender issue a new 'good faith', this new one is "according to the contract." Review this document with your Lender and Escrow Officier. You are all on the same team and need to maximize your talents.

Secondly, show up for signing at least 30 minutes early. You must review the closing statement, HUD 1, whatever it's called in your state. It must match the lenders statement. Just this morning while reviewing a "Good Faith Estimate" I found a $ 150 email fee. What the heck is that? I don't pay $ 150 a month total to email.

Lastly, when your client arrives, you explain, "I've reviewed your closing statement and it is according to your contract," and you'll see and hear that sigh of relief. The key: No surprises at signing!

WorkingNets NetsWorking

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:54:37 -0500

You collect business cards by the ton, right!

Don't just collect them use them to build a network of services that "work" for you and "work" for them!

Monday, I opened a letter from the IRS and learned that I was going to need to give them $ 2458 more. What a treat! So I call my accountant in Davis, Vic Bucher Accountancy, and faxed them the letter.

I received a phone call back in 1 hour from Brian who had pulled my old records, checked the numbers, saw why they would "think" I would owe them more money but that no I didn't and he had the documents to share with them and he would mail a letter out within the week. That's kewl. That's networking that works! Don't just collect those cards make those contacts "working contacts" ( brian@vicbucher.com ) AND Brian let me know that this was just part of their great service, at no extra charge. Ya don't think I won't refer him on to my clients!

5 Things You Don't Know About Me

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:52:52 -0500

Greetings! You've just been MEMED on Active Rain!

"WHAT?" you say? Go to this post:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/591126/Mini-Meme-from-Keller

and make a comment telling us "What 5 Things You don't Know About Me". OR, put it on your "other blog", but please put a link to it in the comments of the Keller Williams AR Meme Post (link just above here).

Then contact 3 other Active Rainers and meme them!

Just do it. It's fun!

Here's my stuff:

1. I love to sail. Starting sailing about 6 years ago and now sail most of the time on SF Bay. I can skipper up to a 42' sail boat.

2. I design and make knit wear. I've been knitting for years but now have moved into designing my own pieces. It really feels great to wear your own clothes.

3. My son just graduated from CSUS - Cal Maritime in Vallejo and will be working as a third mate on research vessels in the islands.

4. As a Buyer's Agent I have averaged two trips out per real estate contract. I've been doin this since 88 and have a system that gets me a contract for every two trips per client. Even in this market!

5. I love maps and anything about mapping. I'm so weird, I actually schedule calls to people when they get back from vacation and see if I can meet with them or at least talk with them on the phone about their trip. I'm talking with them and following on the map. I'm over the top on any kind of map! Gawd, I own 4 Garmin products!

Amtrak Elk Grove

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:24:32 -0500

I am so enjoying the back & forth on the Amtrak and Light Rail issues coming up in Elk Grove. I love the train, use it often and wish I could use it more. You either hate or don't mind the traffic up and down 99! No one is neutral on this one.

Attend the hearing at the Elk Grove City Council Chambers on July 10 - discussions on Amtrak station in Elk Grove.

http://www.elkgrovecity.org/

Watching Rate or Price Reductions

Dena Ingalls Sacramento Elk Grove Buyer's Agent (Keller Williams) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:08:16 -0500

Watching Rate or Price Reductions

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?

Many economists feel that interest rates will continue to rise, some feel that higher rates will cause a further reduction in home prices. While this may be true in some cases, here in Elk Grove and the Sacramento CA region, we are seeing multiple offers on well priced properties and in many cases these multiple offers are driving the prices up.

While networking with my favorite lender I asked him to run some numbers . . . . .

In short, buying now reduces your risk and may make more sense than waiting for a price reduction.

Hard to believe? Yes, but look at the numbers.

BUY NOW - LOWER RATES BUY LATER - LOWER PRICE

$450,000 Price $420,000

$360,000 80% Loan Amt. $336,000

6.125% 30-Year Fixed Rate 7.125%

$2,188 P&I Payment $2,264

Even with a $30,000 price reduction, the P&I payment is $76 MORE per month!

Concerned these numbers are not real? Rates in March of 2005 were at 5.375%.

More reasons to buy now ...

Sellers are already negotiating price and closing costs. Ask the seller to pay more in points to reduce the rate.

Inventory is up, which provides a better choice of properties.

Rates remain attractive.

Well priced homes are selling.

This info was helpful during my most recent, Buyer's Agent Interview, hope it sparks up your interests and thoughts.