Real Estate Tips
Steps to Prepare Your Home For Sale – Kitchen
December 28th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Seller
Did you have help in your kitchen over the holidays? It’s always nice to have some extra hands in the kitchen but now, it’s time to give that stove a good cleaning.
There is nothing like trying to sell a house when the kitchen has tell tell signs of grease. Home buyers see that grease!
Take a look at the vents above your microwave at the top and see if there is a yellowish tinge. More than likely there is and the cure is to either use a Q tip or just fold a paper towels horizontally and use a good grease fighting cleanser.
Be sure to check underneath your microwave and clean those splatters as well as the filters. It’s amazing where all that grease goes especially when the fan is not turned on during cooking. Don’t forget the back-splash!
And yes, how many of you have actually taken a good look at the inside of your dishwasher? The home buyers look and if it’s YUCK, then it becomes a real turn off. Clean that scum and dirt, and rinse with a package of lemonade mix to clean and refreshen.
This year kitchen islands are a must for the home buyers. The home buyer wants a clean, bright kitchen with plenty of room to move around and good space for a kitchen table. Dark wood is still beating out the lighter wood with granite or Corian counters with clean fresh lines. Buyers prefer no grout lines on the counter for quick clean-ups.
Be sure to come back to Sacramento Real Estate Voice for the next helpful home selling tip and getting your house prepared to sell. Home sellers who prepare their homes properly always sell for more than home sellers you don’t.
I always help my home sellers prepare their houses for a sale so that they can maximize the results!
Related Other Articles:
Sacramento Realtor Shares A GREAT Secret
Dress Your Home to Sell-Inside Home Seller Tips
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Do You Live Near a Sex Offender?
December 16th, 2009 categories: Home Buyer, Real Estate Tips
Recently, while working with some great First Time Home Buyers who fell in love with a home for sale something stopped them dead in their tracks.
Yes, a rapist who had been convicted was living right next door to the house this couple wanted to buy.
Would you buy a house next door to a rapist?
These same home buyers continued on their search for a home for sale and found another home. Unfortunately, twelve houses down happens to live another rapist. These first time home buyers have decided to move forward with the purchase of this house.
Although no one wants to live next door to a rapist, we have no control over who buys a home next door or down the street. Some say, they wish all sex offenders were given a one way ticket to North Dakota to live but unfortunately this is not the case.
Do sex offenders have an impact on your home value? Absolutely! Some home buyers will not buy your home if there is a sex offender in your neighborhood and this will effect your value as well as the neighborhood value.
Be sure to check Megan’s Law for the neighborhood you plan on moving or relocating to. This doesn’t guarantee a predator won’t move in later but it will give you peace of mind for the time being. Sex offenders cannot live by a school.
Hope this helps the home buyers in their search for a new home…happy hunting!
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Want to Know A Real Estate Tip to Save You Money?
November 20th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Sacramento Real Estate Videos
This homeowner tip will save you money and headaches every year. So many times when I visit homes, I see clogged gutters. If you have a two story house, it’s easy to look out your bedroom windows and see what those gutters look like.
If there are trees anywhere around your home, be sure and get all those gorgeous leaves cleaned out of the gutters before the rain comes and damage occurs. It will save you money in the long run.
Just yesterday while I was showing property to a Bay Area investor, all of the homes for sale had clogged gutters.
If you don’t want to climb a ladder to look at your gutters, then wait for the first rain and take a little tour of your home to see if water is flowing out of each of the downspouts. If there is only a trickle then you need to call a handy man and have them clean your gutters out.
I love to list and sell homes that are properly maintained where a home buyer isn’t left wondering how well you took care of your home. It’s important to be a conscientious homeowner with a well maintained house.
For those renters, be sure to call your landlord and remind them to have the gutters cleaned.
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Did You Check Your Property Tax Bill?
November 6th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Sacramento Real Estate Videos
Sacramento,CA
As a Sacramento homeowner it is vital that you check your Property Tax bill. Mistakes are made and believe it or not, if you overpay your taxes for years you may not get reimbursed for what the County feels is your responsibility. I have seen it happen and it’s not a pretty sight!
Don’t assume your property tax bill is correct…you know what they say about that word, ASSume.
So, all of you new home buyers be sure to double check each year, the statement that you get from the County Assessor’s office and make sure that your taxes are correct. Even though the County does send your new tax assessment to your bank, it is still your responsibility to make sure those taxes are paid so double check with your mortgage loan servicer that they have your up-to-date property tax bill.
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Sacramento Homeowners Survive Storm
October 14th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips
Sacramento survived the Biggest Storm yesterday with few outages, the boat section of highway 5 flooded again and trees down in the City of Trees. I understand quite a few tree branches went down in Midtown Sacramento and damaged cars parked along the street.
We were resilient even with those 45 mile an hour winds and down pour.
You may be sighing a relief that you made it through this one but when the sun shines this weekend, make sure that you clean those gutters out. With the trees full of leaves an the wind howling through the branches, this means your gutters are more than likely full again.
Before the next rain make sure your gutters are clean. My guess is that we probably will need to clean them a couple more times this year, unfortunately. This will help assure that you don’t end up with any damage.
We will be back in the 70’s with the sun shining and ready for home buyers to view homes for sale throughout the Sacramento area. There are some great buys and of course interest rates are fabulous for the home buyers today.
There is still hope that Congress will extend the home buyer tax credit. Under the current policy you must close on a house or condo by November 30th in order to take advantage of the tax credit as it stand right now.
While looking at MLS today I see there are plenty of homes for sale all over the Sacramento area. Here are just a few of the homes for sale:
383 Arden Arcade homes for sale
277 Land Park, Greenhaven and Curtis Park homes for sale
104 Midtown Downtown Sacramento homes for sale
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. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert, I am here to help you avoid foreclosure. Let’s talk and see if you qualify for a Short Sale. Your Short Sale agent.If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to by Gena Riede, Sacramento Realtor ® specializing in helping home buyers and home sellers be sure to check out 
and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice
Other Related Articles:
Sacramento Realtor Shares A GREAT Secret
Now That You Have A Home, Are You Remodeling?
Sacramento Real Estate Shares Money Saving Tips
How To Take Care of Your Home in the Winter
Kitchen Tip Everyone Needs To Read
Sacramento Homeowner Tip For Updating Your House
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Sacramento Realtor Shares A GREAT Secret
October 5th, 2009 categories: Fun Things, Real Estate Tips, Remodel
Sacramento, CA
As a Sacramento Realtor, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have been in homes where the homeowner thought they knew how to paint.
Paint on the ceiling, the edges bleed through to the other side of the wall and switch plates are full of paint…oh what a mess it is.
This may be something that as a homeowner you can live with, but a home buyer sees all these imperfections. And it makes selling your house that much harder.
So, today I thought I would give everyone especially my Sacramento Home Buyers and new homeowners as well as Sacramento home sellers a tip to help make your paint job truly look professional.
This #1 paint tip is called Frog Tape. Much better than the old masking tape which didn’t work. Frog tape has a paint block so that when latex paint comes in contact with the tape, it creates a micro-barrier which seals the edges. Then, your paint job doesn’t seep through where it shouldn’t. YEAH, no more bleeding through and your room will look like a professional did it!
Frog Tape can be purchased at Lowes, Sherwin Williams and East Sac Hardware on Folsom Blvd., ACE Hardware and on Amazon.com
No more excuses for a messy job!
If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.
.If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to by Gena Riede, Sacramento Realtor ® specializing in helping home buyers and home sellers be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice
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No, You CAN'T Buy That House!
September 29th, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips
Sacramento, CA
If you are a Sacramento home buyer you may have been told by your Sacramento Realtor that you can’t buy that house.
There is a very good reason…it’s called the 90 Day Rule.
Now, you ask, what is the 90 Day Rule. Good question. When a house has been purchased by an investor, fixed and or remodeled and FLIPPED, in other words a property that has transferred Title in the last 90 or even 180 days.
Bet you thought I was going to write about pancakes…well, I’ll leave it up to your imagination why I put a picture of pancakes here.
FHA will NOT loan money on one of these flipped homes for sale. Mortgage Insurance companies will no longer insure flipped property. It is very important that your Realtor know if a home or condo has been flipped before ever showing you the property.
If you want to buy a flipped property as an FHA buyer, you cannot write the contract until the 91st day. Click if you would like to read the ruling from HUD about Property Flipping
I am told that the only way to finance a flipped house or flipped condo is with 80% financing meaning the buyer puts a down payment of 20% and even then there are a lot of hoops to jump through.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with a conventional loan do have the same rule about not loaning for flips but there are obstacles to overcome during the appraisal process when buying a flipped home for sale. You may find yourself paying for a second appraisal and a rigorous scrutiny of the appraisal.
Just remember, if you are getting an FHA loan you cannot buy one of this flipped homes for sale under any circumstances.
If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.
.If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to by Gena Riede, Sacramento Realtor ® specializing in helping home buyers and home sellers be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice
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Now That You Have A Home, Are You Remodeling?
September 23rd, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips, Remodel
Bathrooms are one of the top rooms to remodel and this year there are lots of different ways to go.
Many of my recent home buyers have bought homes in Natomas, Sacramento, West Sacramento, Folsom, Elk Grove, Granite Bay and Roseville, CA.
Along with buying a house comes along the joy of making it your home which usually means decorating and sometimes remodeling.
Recently, I visited one of my past home buyers and was astonished at all she has accomplished with the bank owned home she bought in Natomas. I absolutely loved the “lady lounge.” This new homeowner took the time and has made a bank owned house a “home.”
Getting back to some ideas for remodeling…
For those who love fish and always wanted a fish tank, the Fish ‘n Flush would certainly capture just what you might be looking for.
Certainly is a great “conversational piece.” It definitely is unique and most of your neighbors probably won’t have this ultimate aquarium/toilet by Aqua One. Can you imagine this in your guest bathroom?
Click for tips on choosing bathroom shower glass for showers.
As I show homes for sale I am always amazed when carpet is used for the bathroom flooring. Tile or bamboo flooring are alternatives that should be considered in the bath area.
Have you ever seen a shower tub? I know I hadn’t and it certainly is a great alternative for updating a bath room. This idea meets everyone’s need and if you are on a budget it just might fit the bill.
Hope you got some ideas to help make your house a home.
If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.
.If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to by Gena Riede, Sacramento Realtor ® specializing in helping home buyers and home sellers be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice
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4 Bedroom Homes For Sale in Elk Grove CA
August 19th, 2009 categories: Homes For Sale, Real Estate Tips
This Sacramento Real Estate agent was totally blown away today by a comment made by a listing agent on an Elk Grove home for sale.
The home buyers I am working with had placed an offer on a house that after performing a CMA it was obvious the house was overpriced.
The Elk Grove home buyer’s offer was ignored.
Since the house was still listed for sale 2 weeks later, I called the listing agent to see if the seller might entertain the same offer again. Our offer of course was contingent upon the house appraising.
WOW…the agent tells me that they KNOW the house is OVERPRICED but think someone will pay more money than what the house is worth. Would you?
That boggles my mind! The agent said, “your client is putting enough down so they won’t have any trouble getting their loan.” Interesting concept…has anyone told the seller that there has been a change in real estate over the past few years?
Since I fully represent my client’s best interest, I did call and let the home buyers know about my conversation and asked them if they were willing to overpay on this house. These Elk Grove home buyers aren’t stupid, they declined.
I hope the Realtor you work with, provides you with a Comparative Market Analysis before you write an offer on a house or condo. You need to know when a house is overpriced as well as under priced.
This is a perfect example of WHY a home buyer MUST have their own Realtor represent them. Listing agents represent the seller and their job is to get the MOST amount of money for their sellers. A home buyers Realtor, represents the home buyer and works to pay the LEAST for the property.
Good thing this listing agent is NOT representing these Elk Grove home buyers.
It is always your decision as a home buyer what you are willing to pay for a house…
If you are interested in Elk Grove, CA homes for sale click below:
4 Bedroom Elk Grove homes for sale – under $200,000
4 Bedroom Elk Grove homes for sale – from $200,000 – $400,000
4 Bedroom Elk Grove homes for sale - from $400,000 – $500,000
4 Bedroom Elk Grove homes for sale - from $500,000 – $UP
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. and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate | Discussion: Comments »
Time Is Running Out for Home Buyers
August 17th, 2009 categories: 1st Time Home Buyer, Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips
Sacramento, CA
Not much time is left for First Time Home Buyers to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. The clock is ticking.
As of today, August 17, 2009 First Time Home Buyers have 105 days until the 1st Time Homebuyer tax credit ends.
This is like money falling from the sky and many of my first time home buyers have been lucky enough to have taken advantage of this.
Click if you are one of the lucky First Time Home Buyers who needs the First Time Homebuyer tax credit form 5405.
With anything there are rules,and this home buyer tax credit is no exception. Let’s go over the rules for the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and see if you qualify.
1. This tax credit is for 1st Time Home Buyers…who is a First Time Home Buyer?
Anyone who has NOT owned a house in the past 3 years
2. The house you buy MUST be your primary residence…what is a primary residence?
The place you live most of the time and where your bills typically are mailed.
3. Can I use the $8,000 tax credit as my downpayment on a house or condo?
No, you must have 3.5% of what you are paying for the house as your downpayment. You can use the $8,000 toward your closing costs and you can add it to the 3.5 % money that you already put down on the house or condo.
The tax credit does not have to be repaid as long as you live in the house or condo you buy as your primary residence for 36 months.
There are income restrictions so it is always best to contact your tax consultant and ask if your income would qualify for the 1st Time Home Buyer tax credit.
For more information from a reputable safe site please read HUD’s explanation when using tax credits as a 1st Time Homebuyer.
Considering how long it takes to close on a Short Sale and as a Short Sale agent, I recommend you don’t delay or you may not be able to use this $8,000 tax credit in time. With most of the listings on MLS being Short Sales, you really don’t want to put off getting your first home or condo.
We don’t know if the $8,000 tax credit will be extended at this point so give your Realtor a call and get started finding your first home or condo so that you can take advantage of your own little stimulus package!
If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.
. and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate | Discussion: Comments »
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