LAND PARK OPPORTUNITY!

You know that it is a unique property when the first thing that people incredulously say when they come in the door is "Is this a duplex? I couldn't tell!"

This home is in College Tract...one of the most desirable areas within Land Park. It offers options galore for the buyer. It is an ideal set up for a family that needs that extra space for in-laws, but still want privacy. The larger side is almost 2400 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths. The smaller side is 1297 square feet and is a 2 bedroom one bath.

However, if a family is looking for a single family home with lots of space, this home can easily be converted to a 6 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home with over 3600 square feet!

The larger size features a spacious kitchen with new granite countertops and Jenn Aire gas range, all fresh interior paint and light fixtures. Hardwood floors shine throughout both sides. It also boasts a 2 car garage, some dual pane windows, and a basement that would make a great wine cellar!

Don't miss this great opportunity to purchase a prime Land Park home for $669,000!

REALTORS WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOUR HOME

If you had a horrible headache, would you go to your doctor and say "Just look at my head and tell me what's wrong."? If your car wouldn't start, would you tell your mechanic to just look at the hood and tell you why it won't start?

As strange as these questions might sound, there is a common misconception that REALTORS can tell a homeowner the value of their home by just looking at the outside. There is so much more that needs to be known about a property before an accurate assessment can be made on a property.

Just as a doctor needs to take x-rays, blood samples and other tests to determine the cause of your headache; just as your mechanic must see your engine, listen to it and inspect parts to determine why it won't start, REALTORS must see the interior of your home to know its true value.

Homes have personalities. Their floor plans vary from the shy many-walled home to the outgoing "great room" floor plan. Conditions vary from the old-timer that is cantakerous to the newbie that hasn't had a chance to show off its true character. There are homes that are suave and savvy and others that are simply fun-loving.

As REALTORS, it would be irresponsible to tell a homeowner the value of their home without getting to know their home, inside and out. Anything less would do no justice to the home or its owner.

LAND PARK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION...GREAT MEETING COMING UP!

For those of you who are following the big controversy about the "River Crossing", this Wednesday would be a great day to attend the monthly meeting of the Land Park Community Association. You will have the opportunity to listen to some of the proposed solutions to the need of West Sacramento to have better access to Sacramento as well as to ask questions.

Also, we will have the opportunity to learn more about theSetzer property and its proposed development. This should be of particular interest to residents west of Riverside Blvd as well as Realtors specializing in the area.

Also, we will be voting in 3 new board members to fill in vacated positions...so if you are a member, this is your chance to have a representative that reflects your viewpoint.

If you would like to attend, the meeting will be at Eskaton on Freeport Blvd at 6:30PM this Wednesday, August 18th. We would love to see you there!

WE REALLY DO TRY NOT TO GIGGLE!

We are suppose to be professionals, but there are times when the general public really makes it difficult - the ending result being our human side coming out in unrestrained laughter. This generally happens when we are touring homes. I don't know if the agent didn't know how to approach their sellers or simply chose not to. Anyway, here are a few items that will give us agents some hilarity or just a plain ewww:

Please don't leave the whips and chains hanging on the back of the bedroom door!

While hanging a sexy-posed photograph of yourself over the bed may have initiated a new enthusiasm for your relationship, it is just a little too much information for visitors!

Square dancing may be a great way to exercise and a wonderful hobby, but filling an entire bedroom with your netting skirts makes it just a little difficult to actually see the room!

You may want to remodel enough so the toilet isn't still situated in the middle of the house, to be viewed by all!


Please, oh please, if you are not going to flush the toilet, at least put the lid down!

I know that California is very near legalizing pot, but it probably isn't a good idea to leave your bong out...some of us actually know what it is!

Just for clarity, these events are true..they have not been altered to protect the innocent! Anyone is welcome to share their own "I can't believe it" moments! I am sure you can top these!

YOUR HOME IS NO LONGER YOUR RETIREMENT

This economy affects us all in one way or another. Jobs are lost, salaries are cut, home values go down and uncertainty reigns.

In planning for our eventual retirement, many of us included our homes in that equation. At some point in time, we would become empty nesters, no longer requiring the bedrooms and bathrooms that a family with at-home children demanded. We would move on, selling our larger living space for a more modest home. We would pay cash for our cozy space and use the balance of our equity as part of our retirement fund. At one time, it was a solid, responsible plan.

However, as with all things of this age, our plans must change. We can no longer rely on our homes to fund our retirement in full. We must make adjustments. Maybe we will still have to take out a small loan on the smaller abode. Maybe we will have to work a little longer to add to our retirement fund. Whatever that adjustment is, it will have to happen.

If your plan to retire starts now, do not think that your house is going to be the same contributor towards retiring that it once was. Listen to your REALTOR when they give you the value of your home. Your REALTOR doesn't know about your retirement plans. The value of your home is not directly related to those plans and a buyer is not going to generously finance more than the value of your home so they can fund your retirement plans.

You do have choices. You can wait several years to see if your equity builds back up to the number you are looking for. The vast majority of pundits are predicting 3-5 years before we even begin to see an uptick in values, so plan on being patient. You can live a little more frugally than you had originally planned. What you will probably not be able to do is keep your original retirement plan of 5 years ago.

IT IS ABOUT THE REALTOR MORE THAN THE COMPANY!

You have decided that it is the right time to put your home on the market...there has been a job change, there is a new little one joining the family, the kids have left the nest, etc. By far and away, no doubt about it, the most important first step is bringing the right Realtor into the fray.

First, and most importantly, notice I said "Realtor". The term means that the agent is a member of the National Association of Realtors, a member of the state association and the local association of Realtors. They are held to a higher standard of care than a licensee. You have the power to bring them before the Professional Standards Panel if they do not adhere to the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics, with some serious repercussions if there is a violation.

Now, you may think that the next step would be hiring the right company. Remember, Realtors are, for the most part, independent contractors. This means that, while the company may have certain expectations of the Realtors, they cannot demand specific actions. Now, certainly, the company may let the Realtor go if they do not follow their guidelines but most will not. Why would they let a Realtor go that was making them a profit?

Your Realtor should be hired by you because they reflect the desires and the ethics that you demand from your representative. You should feel a trust between you and your Realtor that brings a sense of calm to your selling experience. The last reason to hire a Realtor is because they are telling you the price you want to hear. Hire your Realtor because they have thoroughly explained the process. Hire your Realtor because they have helped you understand what you need to do to maximize your net proceeds from the sale. Hire your Realtor because they have shown you through referrals their ability to negotiate and represent your interests throughout the escrow. Hire your Realtor because they specialize in your neighborhood and understand its idiosyncrasies.

Now, there will certainly be companies that specialize in your neighborhood, and you should most assuredly go to that company, but look deeply into the Realtors that work there and find one that you truly feel you can trust.

IT....IS....A....SCAM!!!!!

For the last time...it is NOT for rent! Don't send your checks to Africa! My seller is not temporarily living in Africa. Even though the e-mail address is his name and his name is at the bottom of the letter, he did not write it! Yes, the rental amount quoted is a steal...and the person collecting it is a thief!

I know it appears to be too inconsequential of a crime for the overworked police to deal with it. Craigs List has become the latest venue for thieves to steal from unsuspecting renters. They pay for a domain name that appears legitimate (usually the sellers name or the address of the property). Then they take out a free ad in Craigs List a
dvertising the property that is listed for sale, listing it as a rental. The first communication sent out after interest is expressed is very gentle (although a bit illiterate). If the renter pursues it a little further, the letters get a little more forceful.
So, I am going to give rentesr searching on Craigs List some advice. If they can't meet you at the property with a key, it is probably a scam. If they ask you to send money before you have a key, it is a scam. If they live in Africa, IT IS MOST DEFINITELY A SCAM. If the rental price seems too good to be true, it is a scam. If you still don't believe it, go to the property, get the contact number for the listing agent and call them. Ask them if it is for rent....and they will tell you IT IS A SCAM!