ray henson exp: Real Estate Challenges - 03/28/23 07:49 AM
I thought being a real estate agent was going to be filled with long days of happiness and joy.  I had visions of Ren and Stimpy singing, Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, in my head.
I quickly learned that could be the case, but many times it would be much more challenging.  I like to call it, what they do not teach you in Real Estate 101.
There was the time my client threw disclosures at me and told me to fill them out.  After all, I was his agent.  He also went a little crazy when I called him, "Sir."  I can't really … (65 comments)

ray henson exp: Elk Grove Home for Sale, 5332 Coral Creek Way - 10/28/22 01:06 PM
This new Elk Grove listing, 5332 Coral Creek Way, just came on the market today.  It is a three bedroom, two bathroom, 1,273 square foot home.  It features new floor tile, new carpets, granite counter tops, Hunter Douglas shutters, a custom interior color scheme, a newer roof and a spacious backyard. 
The two backyard patios creates a perfect environment to entertain friends and family or just to sit back a relax.
There has been a pest inspection and all section one work (Section 1, in this case was a few areas of dry rot) has been completed. Most of the back three sides … (27 comments)

ray henson exp: Getting to Know Ray Henson-May Challenge - 05/05/22 05:45 PM
1. What was your first job and what did you learn from it? Roofing was my first job and I learned to study hard in school because roofing was too tough for me.
2. How long have you been in the real estate or related service industry? I have been in real estate sales for about 12 years. I started my career in the midst of the Great Recession.
3. What is your biggest fear and what have you done to try to conquer it? My greatest fear is jumping out of an airplane and that is even WITH a parachute. The closest … (46 comments)

ray henson exp: Tile Cleaning - 04/21/22 07:11 PM
Our house goes on the market in about two weeks and one of our big projects to get accomplished before putting it on the market was getting our pool tile cleaned. 
We have some very hard water in Elk Grove.  Believe it or not, the build up on our tiles happened in just two years.  The tile is only two years old!  We did try to maintain it.  We purchased pumice stones and rubbed until we only had little nubs left.  It helped, but only by about 50%.  I didn't think there was much I could do, but a friend recommended Hess … (22 comments)

ray henson exp: The Tree Lined Streets of Lakeside in Elk Grove - 03/12/22 04:55 PM
Our Lakeside Community's main streets are lined with fruitless pear trees.  They have had a few issues over the years.  About three years many were damaged by fire blight and we even lost a few, but they seem to be doing well again and they are simply gorgeous in the spring.  It sure makes it a pleasure to walk through the neighborhood. 
 
If you would like to learn more about the Elk Grove and Sacramento Areas, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel for periodic updates.
 
I am still not sure what time of the year I enjoy better, spring or fall.  The trees … (27 comments)

ray henson exp: February Real Estate Market Update for Elk Grove, California - 03/08/22 12:28 PM
Elk Grove Real Estate Market Update
After taking a brief break in January, the median price has risen again in February to $650,000.  We are starting this year out much like we started last year with rising prices and a very limited supply of homes to purchase.  There are some real uncertainties in the housing market going forward with rising interest rates, rising inflation, including the rise in cost of fuel and the war that Russia just started.  These factors would generally slow the housing market, but it just does not seem to be happening.
Homeowners that purchased their home in the last … (14 comments)

ray henson exp: Ray Henson, Life Events and Growth - 02/28/22 09:31 AM
If life is a story, mine is pretty humble.  I was very reserved, well, painfully shy, when I was a kid and I was a bit overweight so I enjoyed high school, but it had its challenges.  I was pretty average with school work, but I hung out with a lot of really smart kids.  I was not an athlete, but loved sports and hung out with a lot of athletes.  I was probably the most cut kid from sports in my four years at Lincoln High School.  Twice a coach told me, you just took yourself off the cut list.  … (24 comments)

ray henson exp: Ray Henson and Family - 02/27/22 07:35 AM
I have been amazed at the stories that I have read about the lives of my ActiveRain friends in this month's challenge to tell their story.  It was fascinating to read about Alexandra Seigel's magical in the Sudan and Egypt. I was captivated by Endre Barath, Jr.'s escape from Hungary.  And I was inspired by Aura Alex's immigrant's story.  My story is the polar opposite of these stories and a big reason I have been reluctant to share my relatively modest life story.
Best Friends for Life, but which one is me?
I was born in Stockton, California, went to college at UC … (43 comments)

ray henson exp: Just Sold-2441 Gwen Drive, 95825 - 02/07/22 11:23 AM
How much is your home worth?
(free report)
We recently sold this wonderful investment property in Sacramento, California.  It had been a rental for the last few years and there was a lot of work to do to get it ready for the market.  We had to remove a large amount of stuff the renter left in the house, clean it thoroughly,  paint most of the interior and exterior, replace carpet in two rooms and get a fair amount of dry rot repair done (see dry rot repair tip below). 
It looked great when we put it on the market and it sold … (31 comments)

ray henson exp: Living on the Edge and a Recommendation - 01/26/22 09:31 AM
     When everything goes right, selling a home is pretty easy.  This one was a challenge in a few ways.  This one almost did not happen.  We had an 18 acre fire that threatened burning the house just before we listed it. The fire burned right up next to the home and was only saved by the quick actions of my photographer and the fire department. 
 
We also had someone break into the house and cause damage that had to be repaired. 
An excited family that were looking for a home with acreage found our property and were very excited about the … (28 comments)

ray henson exp: Points and Cryptocurrencies - 01/20/22 12:13 PM
As I pass 400k in points and head towards 500k, I am amazed at my friends on ActiveRain that have made it to the top.  It has taken me over 10 years to get where I am.  It is remarkable that Roy Kelley, Ron and Alexandra Seigel, Barbara Todaro, Bob Crane, Joan Cox and Kathy Streib all are close to 5 million or higher.  I will never make it at the rate I am going.  I am always amazed at the hard work and commitment that it takes to perform at such a high level. 
Now, let's discuss cryptocurrencies for a … (51 comments)

ray henson exp: Elk Grove Market Update for 2021 - 01/14/22 11:31 AM
Elk Grove Market Update for Elk Grove
Year in Review

It turned out to be a very good year for homeowners and home sellers in Elk Grove this last year.  Median prices went up 30%, year over year. It is interesting to note that in the last seven months preceding December, the median price had not changed that much.  It remained, on average, at $602,000.  The median price took a sizable jump in December to $640,000.  It looks like the spring buying season might be starting early this year.
How did each zip code fair in Elk Grove last year?
It has been a few … (30 comments)

ray henson exp: HAPPY NEW YEAR! ! ! - 12/31/21 06:41 AM
It has been another challenging year, but it is time to celebrate the coming of the new year.  I thought I would share our favorite holiday recipe with you.  This one has a fun story.  I was reading a Bon Appetite in 2009 and I came across this recipe, Scalloped Potatoes and Fennel.  If you know me or read my recent blog, Change,  you know I like to keep things the same.  I don't really even like fennel so I do not know why I decided that our family had to add this to our big meal.  It went over like … (32 comments)

ray henson exp: New Sacramento Listing in Arden Arcade - 12/21/21 04:07 PM
This Sacramento listing in the Arden Arcade area is on the market just in time for Christmas.  It is a three bedroom/two bathroom 1,716 square foot home with a wonderful kitchen.
The living room/dining room features a cozy fireplace and bamboo floors, but what really sets off the room (and many other rooms in the house) is the painted wood ceiling.
All of the walls have been freshly painted and are a warm, rich gray set off by white ceilings, doors, trim and cabinets.  The doors, trim and most of the cabinets have been freshly painted.  The carpets in the master bedroom and … (33 comments)

ray henson exp: Change - 12/20/21 07:59 AM
Changes!  Anyone that knows me, knows that I do not like change.  My hair style, what's left of it anyway, has not changed in 30 years.  The same person still cuts my hair.  Her job is so much easier these days, that I should get a discount.  I go to the same dentist office.  His job has become more difficult and he does charge more!  I was born in Stockton, went to college at UC Davis, moved to South Sacramento and then to Elk Grove.  In other words, I have lived in the same 60 mile area my whole life.  There … (54 comments)

ray henson exp: Market Update-Elk Grove, CA - 12/15/21 05:12 PM
Elk Grove Market Update, November 2021
     The November statistics showed strong price appreciation year over year in Elk Grove, once again.  In October, we saw the median price of sold homes go up a bit, month over month.  November saw the median price fall back to $595,000, more in line with May, June, July and August. 
May        $600,000 June       $600,000 July         $605,000 Aug.        $598,000 Sept.       $605,000 Oct.         $610,000 Nov.         $595,000      It does look like prices have leveled off during the winter.  At this time last month we had 72 homes on the market.  This month … (19 comments)

ray henson exp: Alternative Investments-A Book Review - 12/05/21 07:39 AM
"Work Hard at your job, and you can make a living.  Work hard on yourself, and you can make a fortune."  Jim Rhone
 
About ten years ago, I was at a note investing seminar in Seattle.  I was fortunate to meet my good friend, Chris Odegard.  I felt like we were close friends ten minutes after I met Chris.  He is that kind of guy.  I did not know it at the time, but he was going through a difficult time in his investment life.  We were both intrigued by the note investing space and we both purchased some notes.  Over the … (22 comments)

ray henson exp: Elk Grove Real Estate Market Update, October 2021 - 11/19/21 07:53 AM
Elk Grove Market, October 2021
(Headlines should read Oct. 2020 to Oct. 2021)
It was such a beautiful day yesterday that I had to stop and create a short video showing the lake at Laguna West.  Elk Grove really comes alive in the fall, especially in the Laguna West-Lakeside area. 
It really was a gorgeous day on our lake, but how has the market changed year over year.  You can see that we had a nice rise in prices, but look what has been going on over the last few months.
May        $600,000 June       $600,000 July         $605,000 Aug.        $598,000 Sept.       $605,000 … (35 comments)

ray henson exp: Apple Hill, then Apple Butter! - 10/24/21 12:45 PM
We recently visited Apple Hill to celebrate our anniversary and purchased a bunch of really great tasting apples.  We decided to try making apple butter for the first time.
I used the crock pot recipe found in this article, Apple Butter (3 Ways!), as a rough guide.  It is pretty easy.  There is an option to peel or not peel all of the apples.  We chose not to peel them.  Was I being lazy?  Maybe.  Did it turn out really good?  Yes and the author of the article says that it adds extra structure to the apple butter.  We have a pretty … (31 comments)

ray henson exp: Home on 5 Acres.....SOLD! - 10/23/21 09:13 AM
My listing on Cork Tree Lane closed yesterday.  When we first put the home on the market, we thought a developer might end up purchasing the home.  The land to the South of it and to the East of it is owned by a developer.  He did express interest in the home, but only with an option to buy the home.  My clients could not wait for that long so we kept the home on the market.
A few other potential buyers came forward and we received an offer from a multi-generational family who would like to renovate the home, grow some … (20 comments)

 
Ray Henson, Realtor (eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277))

Ray Henson

Realtor

Elk Grove, CA

More about me…

eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277)

Address: 15284 W. Piccadilly Rd., Goodyear, Arizona, 85395

Mobile: (916) 698-8414

Real estate information for home buyers and homes sellers in the Elk Grove CA, Sacramento CA and the surrounding areas.


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