Folsom, CA REO (Bank Owned Home) Sales Data For February 2009 For the past eighteen months I have reported REO sales data monthly for both El Dorado Hills and Folsom, CA. in the same report. It has become obvious that the El Dorado Hills and Folsom markets are different enough that each warrants a separate report. This is the first month that I will report the two markets separately. In February of 2009, there were 11 REO homes sold in Folsom, down from 17 in January. The 11 homes represent only 26.2% of all Folsom homes sold in February. The 17 sold in January represented 47.3% of all homes sold. The average Days-On-Market for sold REO properties in February was 34, down from 64 in January. The longest time on the market for any sold REO property was 90 in February. In January one was ... 03/03/2009

Real Estate is all about letting people know about the community they are considering and when it comes to Folsom the nightlife is in the historic district. The great part is that Sutter street has a variety of restaurants and live music all within walking distance. You can bike all day and play all night or relax with a great glass of wine and watch the sun go down over the river. As a Realtor living in Folsom I've come to appreciate how much activity I have at my fingertips and am grateful that I get to play outside most of the year. If you enjoy an active lifestyle and appreciate great food then Folsom won't disappoint. From biking to tennis Folsom offers every sport imaginable. Soon the shopping will offer everything from outlets to couture and the food ranges from burgers to ethnic... 02/28/2009

The new bridge in Folsom CA opens at 10am on March 28th and will be available to the public until 3pm in the afternoon to walk across, take pictures or just gaze at the American river. The fanfare starts with a dedication ceremony, speeches by Folsom's mayor and wouldn't be complete without marching bands and vendors & food. Folsom city officials have been working with the federal government to get this project done as quickly as possible because up to 18000 cars have been diverted onto Folsom's streets after the bridge over the dam was closed in 2002. For more information about the opening to to City of Folsom or email Beth with your questions. 02/27/2009

The Folsom real estate market is almost like two markets. It is divided by the foreclosed properties and the non-foreclosed properties. The activity for them are different.   Total Homes Non-Foreclosed Foreclosed Number For Sale 194 172 22 Months of Inventory 5.5 9.6 1.3 Average Price/Sq Ft $181 $192 $168 Last Year Price/Sq Ft $205 $212 $193 % Change -11.7% -9.4% -13.1% Average Sales Price $364,000 $405,000 $320,000 Median Sales Price $329,000 $382,000 $315,000 Original Sales Price$/List Price$ 91% 90% 92% Days On Market 86 108 63 While it does not look like it from the graph above, Folsom does have its share of distressed properties.  Of the single family homes on the market today(263), 40% of them (104) are either foreclosed homes or short sales.  And when I look at the stats, there a... 02/20/2009

Recently I was finishing up a Broker Price Opinion for a bank and needed to input the latest statistics for Folsom, CA and I discovered much to my surprise that Folsom's average decline in price from 2007 to 2008 was just under the 7% range. On average the Sacramento market declined around 23% with some areas really hurting above 35% so I was delighted to see how well my hometown is getting through this mess. The hard part is that although the pricing is holding up better than most the rate of short sales is at 63% which means 2 out of every three homes on the market is in a short sale status in Folsom. It seems the banks are finally geared up to deal with the short sales and the time it takes to close is shortening. News on the street is the moratorium on filing Notice of Defaults has ... 02/16/2009

Folsom finishes tops in the Sacramento area...2008 Real Estate summery of homes sold in Folsom Ca.  Average days on market 53 is below the the Sacramento average of 135 days. Folsom counties to grow and be a disirable place to live.   Some new futures in Folsom would be the new Folsom bridge to open..In and Out Burger..New Palladio mall..Starbucks drive thru..and more to come.     Selling Price Range  Quantity        Average DOM   $140,000 thru $159,999 1 174   $160,000 thru $179,999 2 4   $180,000 thru $199,999 3 28   $200,000 thru $249,999 12 44   $250,000 thru $299,999 42 62   $300,000 thru $349,999 131 42   $350,000 thru $399,999 134 53   $400,000 thru $449,999 122 55   $450,000 thru $499,999 87 50   $500,000 thru $549,999 63 62   $550,000 thru $599,999 36 46   $600,000 thru $649,99... 02/09/2009

If you have a lot of old jewelry sitting around that you don't use, you might want to check this event out. The gift shop "Lil' Treasured Gifts" located at 1179 Riley Street(across from the aquatic center) in Folsom California will be having a "cash for gold" event on February 22, from 1-4pm.  For more information call 916 983-4115.   02/06/2009

There's this great website that a client of mine sent me that shows the market trends over the past 5 years in the Sacramento Valley. It's put out by the Sacramento Bee and you can select any area and see how much the values have changed. This past week at the Realtors board meeting there was a presentation complete with charts reflecting the decline of our market in relation to the loans people took out on their homes. The best part was that the numbers show that we've been through the first wave of loan re-sets and are starting the second which some say could be the last for this buyers market. According to the recent stats the Sacramento area has dropped to values last seen in 2001. The Folsom area has been hovering around the 2003 price point which upholds the old adage of keeping l... 01/29/2009

Ok, so its not officially called "The Dam Bridge", but that will end up being its nickname.  Officially the Folsom Lake Crossing is due to open March 28, 2009.  That day is supposed to be its Grand Opening, with a fun filled community festival says the City of Folsom. For those of you not living in Folsom, this new bridge will add a third way across the American River here in Folsom. Our Folsom Dam Road was closed shortly after 9/11 due to concerns about security for the dam. Since the closing Folsom has had some serious traffic jams in and around our "old Folsom area". The Folsom Lake Crossing bridge will bring much needed relief to our old Folsom downtown and will shorten commutes to the Roseville, Granite Bay and Auburn areas. I will keep an eye out when the activities for the Grand ... 01/26/2009

Your washer and dryer accounts for more than six percent of your total energy consumption   Sacramento, CA - Public awareness on energy consumption has increased drastically due to the economy, rising energy costs and environmental issues.  Gina Fazil, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, a dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation company, was recently interviewed.  Gina had a lot to say about energy conservation as she shared some great tips.   Gina talked about saving energy in the laundry room by using cold water in the washer.  Gina explained, "Cold water is just as effective in getting your clothes clean and it will help to prolong the life of your clothing while maintaining bright colors.  It also helps to use shorter wash cycles for delicate and lightly soiled items."   People do not ... 01/24/2009

Simply Staging is a Premier Home Staging Company, serving the Greater Sacramento Area for more than 4 years.  Our Professional stagers will prepare your home for the Real Estate market and prepare it right for you the first time so that it gets noticed by potential buyers and sells quickly. Simply staging has mastered the art of preparing a home "for sale" through years of experience, we know what works and understand what doesn't.  A buyer will simply walk away from a home that isn't prepared correctly in this over-inventoried market.  If the home doesn't look good on the Internet, it'll just be another home overlooked by the almost 90% of home buyers that now use their computer for searching a home as their first stop for shopping. It is critical that a home's decor be updated but tas... 01/20/2009

Latest News and Topics of Interest:   The rapid decline in long-term interest rates continued in December.  Due to continuing actions by the Federal Reserve board, according to FreddieMac.com, the average cost of a 30 yr. fixed mortgage in the Western U.S. has dropped from 6.47% on 11/1/08 to 5.60% on 12/1/08 to 5.01% on 1/1/09.  "Word on the street" is still suggesting 30 yr. mortgages at 4.50%, or less, soon.  On the horizon:  Expect Obama's stimulus package to include a provision, empowering bankruptcy judges with the ability to alter home loans in an effort to prevent foreclosures.  The purpose of this is to get lenders to further engage in loan modifications and short sales, or the courts will do it for them.  National & Regional Snap-shot:  What a difference a year makes: 1,872 ho... 01/12/2009

Yes... it is true it is the Martini's Birthday. January 7th,1972 the martini had his first drink.(NOT). Have know idea what is in store for today,little work.."Yes Showing homes today"..little lunch..Little Dinner. E-mails have been flocking in this morning and I appreciate them all. But on stands out. Scott from AMS wholesale RV WWW.WHOLESALEDIRECTRV.COM This is what my friends think of me.. Thanks For The Birthday Wishes! John Hayes RE/MAX Gold 530-306-3316 www.johnhayesrealestate.com Lemon Drop Martini 1 1/2 ounces vodka 1/2 ounce Triple Sec 1 teaspoon superfine sugar 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice Ice cubes Superfine sugar for dipping Twisted peel of lemon Mix the vodka, Triple Sec, sugar, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice; shake well (supposedly the ... 01/07/2009

November show decreased sales, median price! Sacramento association of Realtors Press release! After a bout of increased sales driven by the abundant REO properties in recent months, the Sacramento Housing Market recorded a moderate decline in sales for the month of November. The following information, compiled by the Sacramento Association of REALTORS®, is collected from the MetroList® multiple listing services and covers Sacramento County and the City of West Sacramento.November ended with 1,716 total closed escrows, an 18.4% decrease from the 2,103 sales recorded for October. Although down month-to-month, November 2008 sales reflect a 110.8% increase over the 814 closed escrows of the same month one year ago.Continuing a year-long trend, November had the lowest median sales price in ... 01/06/2009

Most homeowners know that it is important to maintain their appliances to keep them working efficiently and safely.  They have their furnace cleaned and change filters often; but many are unaware of the danger that could be lurking in the clothes dryer.  When it comes to dryer maintenance, the first thing most people think of is the lint trap.  Most people know that it is necessary to clean the lint trap between loads; some even go a little further and clean out the area where the lint screen goes too.  This is all very good, but it is not enough.  Lint is a very messy substance that can spread throughout the dryer and vent system, creating blockages that restrict air flow and cause fire hazards. A specialist in dryer vent cleaning will do a thorough inspection of your dryer vent system... 01/06/2009

Folsom is a bright spot in the real estate market. There is an excellent selection of homes to choose from with 258 active listings of single family homes.  Prices range from $215,000 for a 3 Bed/2 Bath 1100 sq ft home in Natoma Heights to a new 4700 sq ft custom home in Broadstone for $1,349,000.  There are 29 homes in Folsom priced under $300,000. Affordable homes are still available, but inventory is drying up.  There are 72 pending sales with average days on the market at 57 which is an excellent statistic for a seller.  There are 155 sold listings in the last 3 months indicating great turnover activity.  Average days on the market for sold listings are 55. Average list price to sale price holding steady at a fantastic 97.3% rate.    Visit my website, www.annaboyd.com for free MLS S... 12/27/2008

Sometimes visitors come to my web site, sign up to receive daily emails containing new listings, and they never respond to the personal email I send them. I don't believe in generating automatic responses because I want visitors to know that if they have taken the time to poke around my site, read some of my articles, look at Sacramento market trends or watch virtual tours of homes for sale in Sacramento, they deserve a personal welcome from me. But, when I ask them to be more specific about what they want or offer to help them, half the time they don't acknowledge my email. The next time I hear from them is when they want to write an offer. Which is OK with me. First-time home buyers asked me to meet them on Saturday at a home in Folsom. To protect their identity, let's say the home wa... 12/10/2008

Happy Thanksgiving Active Rain. Top 10 things to do today! Top 10 things to do today! Enjoy your family. Have a couple of hot toddies. Enjoy your kids or pets. Don't fight with family.                                                                       DON'T WORK! Don't answer your phone. Just relax today. Watch Football. Eat Lots of Turkey. Help someone in need.    Here is the John Hayes Recipe for Deep Fried Turkey!                             1 pound kosher salt 1 pound dark brown sugar !0 Garlic Cloves 5 Gallons of Peanut oil 1 (13 to 14-pound) turkey, with giblets removed Make sure turkey is dry..no water on turkey.                                   Get oil to about 475* This takes about 20min.  Drop turkey in..this will take about 45min. DO NOT DO THIS IN YOUR HOME IF YOU DO YOU... 11/27/2008

I am deeply touched by someone I met who works at It's A Grind coffee shop located on the corner of Folsom Blvd.& Blue Ravine in Folsom.  Not only do they serve a great mocha w/ soy (my favorite!!), but they also seem to have such warm, friendly owners & employees.On my way to the office, earlier this week, I decided to make a quick stop & fill up my coffee mug.  I started a polite conversation with one of the sweet young ladies while she was busy steaming the milk.  She happened to mention that this year her family will be making each other gifts for Christmas.  I thought to myself, "what a cute, sweet idea".  But then she went on to say that the money they will each save by not purchasing gifts, will instead be used to purchase gifts for girls that have been rescued from an undergroun... 11/20/2008

Santa Claus is coming to town!!  Bring your family, your camera, and an unwrapped toy to the Stonehouse (1455 Willow Bend Road, Folsom, CA) in The Parkway.  On Thursday, December 18th from 4 - 7pm, we will enjoy yummy treats, hot chocolate or hot cider while visiting with Santa, and sharing in the Christmas Spirit!!    I look forward to seeing you there!! 11/20/2008