Real Estate News

Current real estate news for home buyers, home sellers, and homeowners.



Recent Folsom, Granite Bay, El Dorado Hills, and Sacramento Real Estate News Posts

Tips for House Hunting With Resale in Mind

When looking for a home you probably have a checklist of characteristics that are important to you. However, if you know you are going to be a short-term homeowner here are some special considerations to keep in mind for good resale potential:

House Size — Don’t buy the largest model in the neighborhood. If most of the houses near yours are smaller than your house, they can act as a drag on appreciation. On the other hand, if you buy a small or medium house for the neighborhood, the larger homes can pull up your value.

Prime Neighborhoods — Buying what you need in a more prestigious neighborhood may provide more financial reward that getting what you want in a less desirable neighborhood.

Public Transportation — Even though you many not use them, consider accessibility to public transportation, as well as distance to a major airport.

The Commute — Check the morning and afternoon commute time by driving the major commute routes and to schools and shopping areas.

Schools — Log on to the local school districts website and check out how the schools in the area rank, even if you don’t have school-aged children.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms — three and four bedroom houses are the most popular among home buyers, so if you can stick in that range you will have more potential buyers when it comes time to resell. There should always be at least two bathrooms in a house, or at least the potential
to insert a second one.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

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Securing Your Home for a Long While

It's only March, but not too soon to start thinking about your summer vacation plans. For many people that means relaxing, fun-filled trips away from everyday routines. But it can also mean being gone from your home for an extended period of time. Even if you live in a gated community, leaving your home vacant for an extended period of time can be a huge risk, a costly lesson and an emotional heartache. So the best way to close down a home is to make it look like it is being lived in daily, even though you're away. Here are some security tips compiled from insurance companies, homeowners, and law enforcement agencies.

  • Stop all deliveries such as mail and newspapers -- this is a very simple thing to do, but it is frequently overlooked by homeowners. When they're gone papers pile up indicating that no one has been home for a while.

  • Set indoor and outdoor lights and even TVs on timers to come on and light up rooms of your home and exterior surroundings. Nothing says nobody is home like a dark house. A television or radio that's set to come on periodically makes anyone lurking around think that someone is home.

  • Turn down the telephone ringer on your phone and the volume on your answering machine.

  • Unplug automatic garage door openers. Burglars can sometimes figure out the code and gain easy access to your home. Also lock any doors from the garage that give access to the house.

  • Do not close all the blinds, shutters of curtains, leaving them partially open gives an everyday-lived-in look.

  • If you have a willing neighbor, ask him to occasionally park in your driveway. Burglars will often survey a home at different times and on different days to study traffic patterns.

  • Keep your landscaped trimmed back. Overgrown trees and shrubs are a great hiding spot for burglars. While you're gone have a gardener maintain the landscape.

  • Install extra safety fastening devices on sliding doors, windows and other openings.

  • If you don’t have a security system, buy one. A good security alarm system that is connected to a dispatch center usually will qualify you for a discount on your homeowner's insurance.

  • Put a "beware of dog" sign on your fence; even if you don't have a dog.

  • Never leave a key under the mat, in a nearby planter, etc. -- or any other common, well-known hiding places. Many burglars don't have to force entry into a home; instead they enter through open/unlocked doors and windows or even with a key, if it's left out for them!

The vital element to keeping your home burglar proof is making it as difficult as possible to break into. Burglars look for easy targets -- leaving a home unattended for a long period of time can put your house in the easy-target category. However, if you take precautions to secure your home before you leave, you'll have greater success keeping a burglar out of your house.


For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

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More Money Saving Tips

1. Clean up! Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they’re full! You’ll save on both electricity and water, not to mention that oh-so-fun chore of putting everything away less often!

2. Put a damper on it! You would be surprised at how many homeowners leave their damper open all year around! This lets the draft in and the heat and air conditioning out. Close that damper when your fireplace is not in use.

3. Rolling Right!
Be sure to have your tires rotated, balanced and checked for proper air pressure every six to eight months. This will increase the life of your tires and give you early warning on problem treads.

4. Gas Guzzlers!
Check out www.gasbuddy.com or similar site to find the lowest gas prices in your area. This is great for everyday savings and is a good resource to check before you travel.

5. Airfare Alert! Now that the holidays are over, you might be looking ahead to plan your vacations for the coming year. Be sure to book early for the best fares, consider alternate airports for cheaper flights, and enroll in frequent flyer clubs.


For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

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Home Staging, Redecorating, or Remodeling?

Need ideas for redecorating or remodeling? This membership site features thousands of photos of actual homes designed, decorated and landscaped by Interior Designers, and Architects throughout North America.
http://www.getdecorating.com

For some additional ideas on how to do window treatments, wall painting, and interior design, home staging, and residential remodeling, visit T Comino Designs Professional Interior Designer.


For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

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Homes Sales Prices - January 2007

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the near future, or know someone who is, please call for a personal interview and property assessment with no obligation.

Home Sale Price Medians by City for January 2007
County/City/Area# Sold7-Jan6-Jan% Change
Sacramento County1178349,000.00372,250.00-6.25%
ANTELOPE63345,000.00372,500.00-7.38%
CARMICHAEL39385,000.00401,500.00-4.11%
CITRUS HEIGHTS74311,000.00334,000.00-6.89%
ELK GROVE182418,250.00484,750.00-13.72%
ELVERTA4295,000.00370,000.00-20.27%
FAIR OAKS26455,000.00382,000.0019.11%
FOLSOM78420,500.00478,000.00-12.03%
GALT28372,500.00374,000.00-0.40%
HERALD2317,000.00577,000.00-45.06%
MATHER2525,000.00365,000.0043.84%
NORTH HIGHLANDS18260,500.00265,000.00-1.70%
ORANGEVALE25387,000.00365,000.006.03%
RANCHO CORDOVA66422,250.00461,750.00-8.55%
RIO LINDA8243,500.00303,500.00-19.77%
SACRAMENTO547315,000.00335,000.00-5.97%
SLOUGHHOUSE9475,000.00536,750.00-11.50%
WILTON7841,500.001,196,500.00-29.67%
El Dorado County158451,500.00484,500.00-6.81%
CAMINO4344,250.00n/an/a
COOL4347,500.00379,000.00-8.31%
DIAMOND SPRINGS3275,000.00430,000.00-36.05%
EL DORADO5400,000.00514,000.00-22.18%
EL DORADO HILLS54567,000.00630,000.00-10.00%
GRIZZLY FLATS3230,000.00230,000.000.00%
PLACERVILLE27369,000.00372,500.00-0.94%
POLLOCK PINES6300,000.00341,750.00-12.22%
RESCUE2585,500.00484,500.0020.85%
SHINGLE SPRINGS19475,000.00428,750.0010.79%
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE30399,250.00497,000.00-19.67%
Placer County425424,000.00466,000.00-9.01%
AUBURN37415,000.00558,500.00-25.69%
COLFAX3319,000.00375,000.00-14.93%
FORESTHILL4365,000.00427,250.00-14.57%
GRANITE BAY24787,500.00707,750.0011.27%
LINCOLN120410,000.00493,000.00-16.84%
LOOMIS9807,500.00480,000.0068.23%
ROCKLIN60449,000.00423,500.006.02%
ROSEVILLE153400,000.00440,000.00-9.09%
TAHOE VISTA2380,000.00346,250.009.75%



For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

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