Sacramento CA - I just saw the second of two articles about homeowners losing their home or property because of high property taxes. Most of the stories were based in the Northeast, where the property taxes are much more expensive. I one story, http://www.wbaltv.com/r/25677444/detail.html, a Maryland Woman is going on a hunger strike to bring attention to the situation. The story makes it sound like high property taxes caused her mortgage payment to go up by 40%. That is a huge jump in property taxes. I have seen some people’s property taxes jump by $200 to $400 myself. In another story, a lady in Connecticut lost some property next to her house after a drawn out tax dispute. Here is the link to the news report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFQzxY2Mlxo. The new owner of the land put ... 11/19/2010

After declining values since the end of 2005, Fair Oaks prices have leveled off over the past year, stabilizing around the $150 per square foot range. That's good news for sellers wondering if prices are going to fall any lower. For buyers waiting for the "bottom of the market" before they jump in, these numbers tell you that we have remained fairly stable.  This graph is what it looks like when you are at bottom! With interest rates hovering at lifetime lows, this is the time to buy.  The impact of interest rates on your monthly payment is surprising, especially when compared to a change in price. Don't wait for prices to go lower, only to be bamboozled by rising interest rates. Where to buy?  You won't find a more interesting, charming, eclectic, fun or active community than Fair Oaks... 11/06/2010

It's pretty flattering when a fellow Realtor is willing to endorse you! Michele Malovos and I had our first escrow together over 20 years ago, and we have worked together ever since, helping buyers and sellers in the Fair Oaks, Carmichael and Sacramento areas. Here's what she has to say.... 11/04/2010

Margaret and Gene bought their first home from me a dozen years ago in beautiful Crosswoods.  Since then, I sold a rental home for them, and recently helped them find the perfect home for their daughter.  They are deep in the remodel as we speak! New floors, counter tops, and bathroom cabinets. Here what they had to say....   10/22/2010

Michael called me awhile ago after having his Fair Oaks home on the market for three months with another realtor.  After whipping out a laundry list of things to be done to spruce things up, I kept the price pretty much the same, pulled out my secret weapon marketing plan, and Michael accepted  a full price offer within one week on the market. Here's what Michael had to say... 10/21/2010

Come by and join me TODAY for our Open House at our newest bank owed listing in Fair Oaks from 1pm - 4pm! This beautiful bank owned home located in Fair Oaks sits on a private cul-de-sac and backs up to the ravine with wonderful tree top views! This home features extensive hardwood flooring, 2 fireplaces, and a very appealing open floor plan. Separate family room and living room, formal dining room plus dining area in kitchen. Kitchen has center island, stainless appliances, and pull out drawers in the cabinets. Dual pane windows through out, mirrored closet doors, and neutral paint colors. Out back enjoy three levels of trex decking and in front sealed concrete paver drive way and front courtyard. Plus much more! A wonderful floor plan and great home for entertaining. This is a Fannie ... 10/16/2010

Gerry bought two investment properties from me recently.  As we do the walkthrough for one of them, here's what he had to say....           10/16/2010

This morning I ran with the Sac State Track Team.  Impressive, huh?  Forget the fact those 20 year old gazelles were shoving past me, shouting "outta the way old lady... you're slowing me down". Yeah, well.... They didn't really say that, but I DID run with them... all of about 20 feet, as I forced myself to jog uphill to the next sign, despite my thundering heart and gasping breath.  OK... I was WALKING the hill, and they showed up like a herd of wildebeests, flying up and down the hill like there was no tomorrow. You see, Fair Oaks is home to the steepest hill in the area.  It runs down Pennsylvania to the parking lot at the Sunrise Bridge.  Track teams from the local colleges and high schools torture train their teams there most early mornings.  You'll see their young lithe bodies sp... 10/13/2010

If you're not house hunting this weekend, come on out and spend the day at the Chicken Festival in Old Fair Oaks, CA. How many chickens do you know that have their own festival?  Ours do!    The Fair Oaks Chicken Festival is going to be a huge party celebrating our history, and the part chickens have played in it, with day-long activities for kids and adults. Plaza Park, in the center of our festival location, will be converted into a kid's park, with fun games and activities. Well known local bands will perform throughout the day. On Friday night the event kicks off with a BBQ Dinner in the park.  Tickets are $25/person and includes Chicken & Rib Dinner with coleslaw and baked beans, roll, 2 drinks and a chance to win the door prize.  (Must be 18+ to attend) Bad Catz classic rock and b... 09/16/2010

I met the sellers of this new short sale in Fair Oaks about 4 years ago, back when they were first-time home buyers. I had purchased a rather expensive item from an establishment the seller managed and mentioned I was in real estate. A year later, the buyers remembered me and called. We looked at homes. We wrote 13 offers. Count them, 13 offers. More than I've had ever had to write in my life for a buyer. Then we found this home in Fair Oaks. The then-seller of that home paid for a brand new roof and gutters. I remember shooting a photograph of the ecstatic buyers standing in front of the JUST SOLD sign. They gave me a succulent plant that has grown to over 5 feet in my Land Park cactus garden. And today, they are selling this home in Fair Oaks as a short sale. Their loss is not as subs... 08/27/2010

Let's face it. Times have changed.  Most buyers are sitting in their jammies searching for their perfect home online.  But where is the best place to look? You want to look to a source that is directly connected to the Realtor's MLS, or Multiple Listing Service. Otherwise you may not have factual information. But which site should you use? First, understand the actual MLS is the "Mother Ship" of all home listing information.  When a home is listed through a Realtor, the MLS formats and controls the listing so there are no violations (such as fair housing violations). Trust me, we are tightly regulated, and the info must be accurate. As a member Realtor, they smack my hand and slap a fine in it if I break their stringent rules. Additionally, the seller's privacy is protected through conf... 08/26/2010

I can't speak for the rest of the country, but here in Fair Oaks and the Sacramento Area, you write a deposit check at the point you write an offer.  But what happens to your deposit next?  It depends on the type of home we write the offer on. A. Regular Sale with a real owner - a Mom and Pop sale - In this scenario you typically write your deposit check for 1% of the purchase price, made out to the Escrow Company. (so $2,000 on a $200,000 offer price).  This is your "Good Faith Deposit" to show you are acting in good faith. If the offer is not accepted, you get your uncashed check back. If it IS accepted, the contract will state how many days you have to deposit the check into escrow - but generally right away. So now it is cashed. You will generally have a contingency period to remove... 08/26/2010

If you have ever had an FHA loan, Uncle Sam may owe you a refund.  HUD has been stepping up efforts lately to identify people who have a refund due, but have not collected.  "Could that be me", you ask?  Let's find out. Go to HUD's website at www.HUD.gov  and look for the FHA LOAN REFUND program. (You guessed it, my link will take you right there!) Enter either your name or your FHA case number, and you'll find out. "How could this happen", you ask?  Maybe there was money due from an impound account, but after your escrow closed, you moved. This money might be sitting in the government coffers collecting dust, and they want to give it back. Jump on it!   thanks 13 faves from flickr.com 08/25/2010

Fair Oaks has its own Farmer's Market, and it's a special one, with a very special twist.  I stopped by Sunday as they were closing up, but managed to snag some organic peaches, nectarines, a melon, onions, Chinese long beans, Thai basil, and Mom bought some flowers. They were all grown locally by Certified Farmers. Awesome! But the best part is who is sponsoring it.  I chatted with Don and Marie Hall, founders of BeMoneySmartUSA, a nonprofit which teaches financial literacy to teens and develops entrepreneurship skills in our emerging adults (any kid who learns to spell e-n-t-r-e-p-r-e-n-e-u-r-s-h-i-p is already one step ahead of the game, if you ask me).  They offer business and finance classes throughout the year, and started the market, now in its 3rd week, as a teaching model and f... 08/24/2010

    I am willing to bet a number of folks local to Greater Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado counties, haven't heard about a delightful annual event - The Fair Oaks Chicken Festival?  Old Fair Oaks Village has a population of chickens that pretty much rule the roost, and have the run of streets, shops, restaurants, and the village park.   Their habitation of the Village, adds charm and a quaint ambiance to the area.While other communities like Gillroy may have it's Garlic Festival, or while Isleton lays claim to the Crawdad Festival, Fair Oaks has it's Chicken Festival.  And the public is invited. When September 18, 2010  - 10:00am-6:00pm Some of the activities associated with this community event: Pre-Festival BBQ & Egg Dance Kids Park  Craft and food vendors  Great bands and dancing ... 08/19/2010

My daughter left my home in Fair Oaks a few minutes ago for a bike ride.  20 minutes later, I'm looking at this incredible photo on Facebook, taken from her iPhone. How lucky am I to live in Fair Oaks, on the banks of the American River, just minutes from the stupendous 32 mile American River Bike Trail, where you can witness a sight like this within minutes? Does life get any better?   (PS, as a side note, how 'bout them iPhones for capturing life as it happens....) Photo courtesy of my incredibly wonderful, talented and kick-ass-bike-riding daughter, Roxy Dunbar         08/15/2010

In his youth, my Dad was a drummer. During the Big Band era, he played drums in bars and dives where the band members were the only white faces in the joint.  He was a fan of Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa and Duke Ellington, but has forgotten most of it.  He is now 88, and content to sit in his barcalounger watching Wheel of Fortune all day. He's become slightly forgetful, and has lost interest in most things outside of his next bowl of ice cream and who won on Wheel. "Dad, do you remember drumming?"  "Did I?... Hmmm..."  When we play the big band CDs my brother has made him, it's "You call that music????? Turn that racket off!!!"  There's no music in his home anymore - he hates it.  Complains every time. My Mom listens in her bedroom. Geeze Dad, what the heck happened to you???? Well, some... 08/14/2010

As a Sacramento short sale agent, it's my job to see that my sellers close escrow on their short sales. To that end, it means the buyer and the buyer's agent, plus the purchase offer, all need to qualify for the short sale. A couple of days ago, I received an offer on one of my Sacramento short sales. I emailed the buyer's agent to ask the agent to sign my standard agent promise. Bam. She did. Then I asked if her buyer was willing to release the earnest money deposit to escrow. Bam. Yes. I next inquired about an updated preapproval letter. Bam. Received. I was starting to like this agent. The only thing left was to talk about the price. It was too low. I explained that we want the bank to accept the offer. Did she look at the comparable sales and discuss price with her buyer? Yes, she d... 08/11/2010

Sorry for the last minute notice of this, but I just got the news and wanted to pass it along.  If you are a Raiders fan, you are invited to the Raiders Blitz Preseason Party tonight, August 5, starting at 5:30 pm at the Players Sports Pub & Grill in Fair Oaks.Wear your silver and black and get on TV.  It will be televised live on KCRA TV (channel 3) and its sister station KQCA (My58), and it sounds like a lot of fun!  The Raiderettes will be there, perhaps a player or two, and they will be giving out Raiders tickets and Raiders fan merchandise.  There is no cover charge, no minimum, and they just ask that you try to dress in silver and black.Players is at 4060 Sunrise Blvd in Fair Oaks, California (at Fair Oaks Blvd).  Their phone number is (916) 967-8492 for more information, or check... 08/05/2010

Riding a horse along the American River is one of the coolest things to do. Squeaking leather, soft air bellowing through their nostrils, the rhythmic rocking of the horse's gait, the occasional unexpected trot..... WHOOOA THERE NELLIE!!! I don't know what I'm doing!!!!  It can be rather exciting. A few Thanksgivings ago we took a trail ride around Ancil Hoffman Park - along the golf course, into the woods, down along the gravelly river bed... I was following my daughter, watching the huge haunches of her horse ripple with each step, impressed she looked so cool in her cowboy boots, when all of a sudden her horse decided to lie down.  He sat, rolled over, and kick his legs up in the air, scratching his back on the jagged river rocks.  Now THAT was a shock. Fortunately, Christy had the f... 07/30/2010