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Starting January 1, 2012, residential and commercial property sales in all of Placer County must participate in Section 303 of Rule 225, Wood Burning Appliances, Sale or Transfer of Real Property.
Section 303 prohibits the sale of real property with a non-EPA Phase II Certified free-standing woodstove. Non-compliant freestanding woodstoves do not have to be replaced or removed, but must be made permanently inoperable. Fireplaces, inserts, gas stoves, pellet stoves and dedicated cook stoves are exempt.
For more information on this mandatory measure, visit our website.
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(Bill Stevenson / Northstar-at-Tahoe)
You can once again ski or ride at huge discounts when you purchase Skiing for Schools lift tickets. Proceeds go directly to the Excellence in Education Foundation.
Lift tickets (non-refundable and purchased in advance) will be valid for any one day within a specified week at one of several local resorts.
For a list of resorts and dates plus more information on the Excellence in Education Foundation, visit our website and support our schools!
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Veterans day began as “Armistice Day” right after WWI. It is celebrated on November 11 because that is the date in 1918 that the war OFFICIALLY ended. It became an official holiday in 1954 when it was signed into law by President Eisenhower.
Reno will celebrate the holiday with a parade honoring our local military veterans who have served and protected our country. The theme of the parade this year is “Women in the military”.
Please join me and hundreds of others at the parade on Friday, 11-11-11 @ 11am (time the war officially ended) on Court & Virginia Street (downtown Reno) to cheer and thank those who help keep us FREE.
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Days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder, and the holidays are right around the corner. Now is the time to make your house look the best and make the most out of selling your home. This time of year often signals a slowing down in the real estate market. What better time to make your home stand out from all the rest. Just a few simple things will put you ahead of the competition.
Paying attention to curb appeal is first and foremost. It is the first impression a buyer has as they pull up to your home. Make sure leaves are raked and shrubs and bushes are pruned. Plant some cold weather loving flowers such as mums or pansies to add color to a fading flower bed. Add some fall decorating with a pumpkin or two and a wreath. Too much decorating detracts from the house so keep it modest and simple. Just a touch goes a long way and helps a buyer envision themselves living there instead of focusing on your decorations.
Lighting is also very important with shorter daylight hours. Open the blinds during the day to bring in as much light as possible. Make sure exterior and interior lights are on for later in the day showings. Set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature. Buyers won’t linger for very long if they are freezing to death and the house is dark. If there is a fireplace make it a focal point in the room. Light some scented candles. All of these things will make your home feel very welcoming and homey.
Another essential tip is to update your listing photos. Most of the time the buyer’s first impression of your home is online through photos. If your home has been listed for a while and the pictures were taken in the summer or winter your listing looks old and outdated. There is no better way to bring the life back to your listing and make it look new and exciting again. If you are just now considering selling take advantage of these tips and make the most of the season changing to make your house look its best.
Call or email me today for some additional tips and advice or to discuss your selling options. 775.303.7871 or dboscarello@dicksonrealty.com
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President Obama has expanded the existing Home Affordable Refinance Program, HARP. According to Phillip van Doorn from “The Street”; “HARP is offered to mortgage borrowers who are current on mortgage loans that are guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, whose home values have dropped so much that the current loan-to-value ratio is over 80%. The program has been extended through December, 2013, and is available for loans sold to Fannie or Freddie before May 31, 2009. Under the expanded 
HARP, borrowers will be able to refinance for up to 125% of a home’s current value, but the 125% loan-to-value cap will be removed during the first quarter of 2012.” The homeowner can ask their lending officer if their loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or you can visit the links at the bottom of this post.
There is another key requirement to qualify for HARP. According to Mahesh Swaminathan, senior mortgage strategist at Credit Suisse, “You must have made the last six mortgage payments, and have missed no more than one payment in the last year. You also must have a job or another source of regular income”.
With the interest rates being in the low 4%, and even in the mid 3% for Adjusted Rate Mortgages, it might be a great time to call your lender and ask if this is the right time to lower your mortgage payment.
If you would like to know if your current mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, plcase visit the following websites:
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
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It’s a great time to get your dream home, and yes, banks are lending! Currently there is a general perception that banks are not lending. This is not the case. There are many good programs available now.
According to Joni Rose, Mortgage Consultant with a 32 year track record with Wells Fargo, there are many great programs available. “Now is the time to get off the fence! Record low interest rates and the lowest sales prices in years!” Mrs. Rose said. “Buyers purchasing an owner occupied home can use a HomePath loan with 3% down without mortgage insurance. Or you may qualify for an FHA loan with 3.5% down, OR 100% financing for our VETERANS! On both programs the down payment can be gifted. Sellers may also contribute to cover some of your closing costs! Additional programs can be added to go hand-in-hand with FHA that will grant 3% of the sales price as down payment assistance, if purchasing in Sparks and outlying areas. This additional assistance may be NON-REPAYABLE! So, now is the time to take the leap!”
People hear about how difficult it is to get a loan, but a big part of that is clients now have to provide detailed information during the pre-approval process, as opposed to during the escrow. With so many options at your fingertips, it is always best to consult with a professional mortgage consultant. Please contact me if you would like to find out how I can help you achieve your dream home.
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We hear daily about the housing woes of our community but we don’t hear about all the amazing events and people that make our community one of the most special places to live in the country.
This evening, October 11, 2011, I have the honor to introduce
Mario Sepulveda, the leader of the 33 miners who survived in a collapsed mine, buried ½ mile underground for 70 d
ays in Northern Chile. It took rescuers almost 17 days just to initially locate them. I am sure you remember Mario, he was the second man to emerge as millions watched. He captured our hearts when he exited the rescue capsule chanting “Viva Chile!” at the top of his lungs
The eyes of the world turned to Chile on August 5, 2010 when the mine caved, leaving the 33 miners trapped inside. International press reported day and night carrying the news of an unlikely but miraculous rescue that united the world in wishing for the well being of the miners. It was an odyssey never experienced before. For a moment in time the world came together with the single goal “to save the 33 miners”. This unprecedented and united mission included both nations and individuals that made a rescue possible on October 13th.
Mario Sepulveda’s story of his last night in the mine and what he has been doing since the rescue is a compelling and uplifting story. It is a story of an accident that exemplifies courage, the fight against all odds and the triumph of the human spirit.
I am introducing Mr. Sepulveda on behalf of
The Latino Research Center, of which I sit on The Advisory Committee. The event is free to the public. Details below:
When: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 7:00pm
Where: Davidson Math and Science Center Nell J. Redfield Auditorium on the campus of UNR (
map link)
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Twenty One homes closed escrow during the month of July in the Tahoe Donner subdivision of Truckee, California.
Average sold price during the month was $568,542, up slightly from the average sold price in 2010 of $537,233.
With interest rates dropping and great properties being offered (currently 146 active on the market in Tahoe Donner), buyers are enjoying the shopping experience of finding their beautiful mountain home at great prices!
Great deal of the month: http://tsierra.paragonrels.com/ParagonLS/Default.mvc#1,1
To see all the great homes for sale, visit www.dicksontruckee.com
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Now that the busy summer buying season is here in the Lake Tahoe/Truckee area as well as in Plumas & Sierra Counties, there is a huge amount of activity for well priced homes and by huge amount, I mean fiercely competitive, with buyers grabbing for bank owned properties with increased knowledge, ready to strike. Buyers need to know that activity levels are strong and that they are not the only ones looking for the best deals out there.
Ideas To Get Your Offer Accepted
1) Price: Anticipate multiple offers and come in strong. Make sure your Realtor® analyzes all comparable properties and advises you on the value range for the subject property. If a given property has a value range of $600K-$650K and it is listed for $580K, do not be afraid to come in over asking price and strong within the value range.
2) Close Of Escrow Period: With bank owned assets, the bank wants to close escrow quickly. For cash buyers, reduce the close of escrow date to the fewest days possible for inspections and to close escrow. If you can make this happen in 10 days, then do it. Your offer will be much stronger than another similar offer with a 30 day escrow. But don’t despair if you are getting a loan; make the offer as strong as possible.
3) Costs: If you want your offer to be strong, then minimize the seller’s costs. Each time you ask to split a cost with the seller or ask the seller to pay for an item, you are flagging your offer as not that strong/desirable.
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011 By: Gigi & Corky Heckendorn
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