Understanding Closing Costs: What to Expect When Buying a HomeWhen buying a home, understanding closing costs is crucial for setting realistic financial expectations. Though closing costs can vary based on several factors, the good news is that they can often be estimated with reasonable accuracy. Here’s a deeper look at what to expect.🔑 Loan Estimates: Your First Step Toward Understanding CostsWhen you apply for a mortgage, lenders are required to provide a Loan Estimate early in the process. This document gives you a breakdown of potential fees, including:- Loan Origination Fee: The cost to process your loan, often a percentage of the loan amount.- Appraisal Fee: Covers the cost of a professional appraisal to determine the home’s value.- Credit Report Fee: A small fee to pull your cre... 11/14/2024

Increased 203k Loan Limits for 2024This is for the Limited 203k, which allows self-help and up to 5 subcontractors. If the borrower wants or needs no structural work on the project, they are the contractor. You can update the kitchen and bathrooms, but you can't remove a bearing wall to "open up the floor plan." Instead of the old $35,000 limit, it is now $75,000, but it still has to cover the contingency reserve and costs and fees of the loan (typically about $800.00). Each lender may be different. The lenders don't have to require a contingency reserve, it is up to them. I still think a consultant should be the eyes and ears on the ground at these projects. Whenever a Limited 203k project exceeds $15,000, it is supposed to have an interim inspection. Many times, this is done by the le... 11/12/2024

DON’T SKIP THESE QUESTIONS 👇Here are 5 things to ask a real estate agent before selling your home:🏠 Who do you think is the likely buyer of my home & why?— Your realtor should understand exactly why type of buyer will be most interested in your home and WHY. Their marketing strategy should reflect that.💫 How will you get my home in front of those potential buyers and ensure they’ll pay top dollar?— The answer should go far beyond simply taking professional photography and putting the home in the MLS. If the answer doesn’t involve a detailed strategy to make your home absolutely irresistible to potential buyers, move on.🤓 How does my property compare to other available options? What are the ways my home is superior? What are the weak spots and how will you overcome them?— This will revea... 11/09/2024

**Why Buying a Home in November Can Give You a Serious Advantage**When it comes to timing your home purchase, you might be surprised to learn that November could be one of the best months to make a move. For buyers, the fall season offers unique advantages that can give you a significant edge in the real estate market. Let’s dive into why savvy buyers are especially drawn to this time of year:1. Less Competition from Other BuyersAs the weather cools down, so does the number of active buyers in the market. Many people put their home search on hold to focus on holiday planning, which means fewer people competing for the same properties. This quieter season gives you more breathing room and a better chance of getting your offer accepted without facing bidding wars.2. Motivated Sellers Read... 11/08/2024

Planning to buy a home in 2025? Start preparing NOW! Here’s how:01 – Check Your CreditReview your credit score and work on improving it if needed. A higher score can help you get better loan terms! 💳02 – Start SavingBuild up your down payment and closing cost savings now. The more you save, the smoother the process! 💰03 – Get Pre-ApprovedTalk to a lender early on to know how much you can afford and what loan options are best for you. 📝04 – Research NeighborhoodsTake time to explore areas that fit your lifestyle and future plans.05 – Partner with an AgentFind a trusted real estate agent (aka me 😉) to guide you through the process when the time is right! 🏡The market waits for no one—get ahead today!💬 Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send you my FREE Home Buyer’s Guide filled with expert tips, che... 11/01/2024

Why You Shouldn’t Buy New Construction Without a Buyer’s AgentWhen it comes to buying a new construction home, there’s one common mistake that could impact your entire experience: walking into the sales office without your own representation. Many buyers assume the builder’s sales office will handle everything for them, or that they’ll somehow score a better deal by going it alone. But here’s a little-known fact: reputable builders actually prefer that buyers have their own agents. Here’s why.The Role of a Buyer’s Agent in New ConstructionBuying a newly constructed home is exciting, but it can also be a complex journey with unique steps, timelines, and decisions. That’s where having a knowledgeable buyer’s agent becomes invaluable. A buyer’s agent represents you, not the builder, giving... 10/31/2024

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one feeling this way.  How many of you are exhausted, frustrated, and downright fed up, with the election cycle we find ourselves in?  It's to the point where I dread going out to my mailbox, because I know I will be confronted with more campaign mailouts that assault my senses.  This morning, I took this photo of the ones received thus far, with a week more left before the election.I know of no other country that is on a 24/7, 365 day a year election cycle like America is.  We have created a Political Industrial Complex.  Are we feeding the beast?  I suspect we are!Why Are U.S. Elections So Much Longer Than Other Countries'? : It's All Politics : NPR 10/29/2024

For many in my family, “International Talk Like a Pirate Day,” celebrated each September 19th, has struck a resonate chord almost from the moment of its inception years ago.  We find it a day to cut loose modern convention, and free our Inner Pirate!For a little International Talk Like a Pirate Day history, its inception began in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers from Albany, Oregon.  These two proclaimed September 19th of each year, as a day folks around the globe should drop their native lingo and talk like a pirate.Set aside your usual greeting of "Hello” for expressions like "Ahoy, me hearty!"Mark Summers tells the tale about how the day came about as a result of a sports injury, he suffered during a racquetball game between he and Baur.  One of them reacted to the pain with the ex... 09/18/2024

Each year on Labor Day weekend, Sacramento is fortunate enough to have the Chalk it Up Festival.  The 3 day event is located at Fremont Park.  Located between 15th and 16th Streets, and P and Q Streets.  Earlier today, I spent time walking along the sidewalks that border the park to take in the delightful art provided.  There are also crafts stands, food trucks and music in the center of the park. Admission is FREE.  Street parking is difficult to come by.  Parking at the public parking lot a block away is $15.00 for the event.For more information click: https://chalkitup.org/festival 09/02/2024

My favorite Indian restaurant in the Greater Sacramento Region is India Oven located at 6105 Sunrise Vista Drive in Citrus Heights.  Their food never disappoints.  I was there for the lunch buffet today with my son and daughter-in-law.  My plate filled with Aloo Masala and Basmati Rice, accompanied with Tandoori Chicken and other Indian delights, made a afternoon nap a necessity.https://www.indiaoven.com/citrus-heights  08/15/2024

Last Saturday evening, several of my family met at my daughter Jill's home.  The occasion was to celebrate my grandkid, Macie's birthday.  The food was really good.  I neglected to take many pictures; but did manage this one of the Greek salad, I put together for the dinner.Here's the recipe: Sliced Persian Cucumbers Cherry Tomatoes (from my garden) Red Onion sliced Feta Cheese Fresh Mint Leaves The dressing was made with Red Wine Vinegar and Garlic Salt. 08/12/2024

I must admit, after reading recent blog posts, heralding the laurels of AI image creation, I was still a little slow to the party.I guess it was yesterday's post by Patricia Feager, which razzle dazzled me enough to prompt getting my feet wet using, Night Cafe.  Patricia's image creation featured a pirate ship.  She knew that would grab my attention, since I have a thing for anything pirate - especially around International Talk like a Pirate Day (September 19th).Lately, I've been consumed with thoughts about cats.  I have a beloved pair of felines who reside with me. Rueben and Camilla, who are my partners in crime.  And, of course, cats have been the topic of political discourse lately!  So, I decided to give Night Cafe a simple prompt, "Cats in my yard."So, yes, I am a Cat Lady. . .A... 08/07/2024

The Sacramento housing market has been hot.  According to Redfin, in June 2024 housing prices were up over 11% from the year prior, selling in an average of 12 days on the market.  With the housing marketing continuing to perform well, we are able to offer a wide range of Sacramento hard money loans and products for a wide variety of situations.While the housing market has been great, interest rates on conventional loans are higher than they were not long ago.  Many property owners have low rate first position loans that are fixed for 30 years with rates well below 5%.  For those looking to tap the equity in their Sacramento area home to purchase additional investment property, expand their business or invest in other ventures, a hard money second can be an option to consider.  We do a ... 08/06/2024

About an hour ago, when I went out to pour water on my garden during this hot 100 degree day, I heard the amazing sound created by the world famous USAF Thunderbirds, who were working their magic while practicing, in the blue skies above. It prompted me to look up.For those interested in aviation marvels, this weekend kicks off the California Capital Air at nearby Mather Air Field in Rancho Cordova. It is a crowd pleaser to residents in the Greater Sacramento Region.This year the airshow will feature ITALY'S FRECCE TRICOLORI & USAF THUNDERBIRDS The California Capital Airshow will run Saturday and Sunday, July 13th and 14th.Performances 3:30 PM – 9:30 PMFor more information about the show, performances and tickets, you can visit: https://californiacapitalairshow.com  07/11/2024

We're hearing a lot of stories about the building of ADUs on properties with already existing homes.A few weeks ago, a pair of individuals unexpectedly built an ADU in my own backyard.  They chose a prime location under the roof of my patio.  They weren't shy about it either.  While I watched intently from my patio door, or while resting on my patio, they paid me no mind.  They simply continued to build, twig by twig and stick by stick.Here's a photo of one of those occupants - a Mourning Dove.  I'm amazed at how close I've been to their ADU, without their seeming alarmed.I have learned if I leave the nest in place, they are likely to have as many as 3 broods in a year.  Sounds good to me! 06/05/2024

Are you getting ready for a home inspection?It’s a crucial step in the home buying or selling process.You can help the inspector out by doing the following:☑️ Make sure if you have a padlock on the electrical box, unlock it.☑️ Make sure side gates are unlocked.☑️ Make sure it Is easy to get into the attic access.☑️ Make sure if you have a crawl space, it's easy to access also.→ What to Expect:During the inspection, a qualified home inspector will thoroughly examine:☑️ The exterior, interior, roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and appliances.Additionally, the inspector will be on the lookout for any safety hazards or code violations.⏰ Typically, a home inspection lasts between two and four hours.Following the inspection, you can expect to receive a comprehensive home inspectio... 05/21/2024

Last evening, to kick off an early weekend gathering in honor of my birthday, daughter Jill, rustled a few of us up. There was serious wine tasting forecast, at nearby Williamette Wineworks, in quaint Old Town Folsom.  What a relaxed pleasant evening it was.  A total of 6 wines were sampled, plus an additional teaser wine at the beginning of the night.  An amazing Crab Bisque paired well with the wines. It was spicier, browner and heartier than most seafood bisques I've consumed in the past. Natoma Reserve Zinfandel was my favorite wine discovered on this particular evening.  It was full bodied, not astringent. It was mature and flavorful.  Yesterday had been a beautiful day, until we headed to Williamette’s.  Then it began to rain considerably. However, as the evening progressed, throu... 04/27/2024

After a couple of rainy weekend days, it felt good to see the sun shining once again today.  I took a drive to William Land Park, to visit the WPA Rock Garden which dates back to 1940.  Originally, the garden was a WPA project started near the end of the Great Depression.In addition to the Rock Garden, William Land Park has a 9 hole golf course, a zoo, Fairy Tale Town, and many picnic areas and ponds.  It consists of 160 acres.For those interested in visiting, the address is 3800 William Land Park Drive, Sacramento.  For more information on the Rock Garden, you can visit:Exploring the WPA Rock Garden in William Land Park 04/15/2024

One of my favorite places to visit in springtime is Jensen Botanical Gardens. While out and about this morning, I decided to stop by and see what was blooming. Jensen Gardens has pleasant little trails, picnic areas and benches. It is located at:8520 Fair Oaks BoulevardCarmichael, CA 95608. The Gardens were founded by Charles C. Jensen in 1958. They sit on 3 1/2 acres. They became part of Carmichael Recreation and Park District in 1978. For more information about Charles C. Jensen and the Botanical Gardens, visit: Jensen Botanical Gardens 04/12/2024

North Highlands Single Story Pool Home Just Listed For Sale | 6710 Cantel Way, North Highlands, Ca. 95660 JUST LISTED! This single story home has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a 2 car garage, a built-in pool, large lot, and RV parking. The list price is $400,000. 6710 Cantel Way, North Highlands, Ca. 95660 This home sits on a large corner lot with an in ground pool, a two car garage, a long main driveway, a second driveway that is perfect for RV parking, and there is additional RV or boat parking behind the gate. There is a massive amount of parking room and plenty of space for all of your toys! The lot size is very unique for the area at just over 1/4 of an acre. The backyard has an in ground pool with a built-in spa and a large covered patio which will be prefect for cooling off during th... 03/20/2024