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That one thing you might be missing to set you above the rest
With over 90% of home buyers searching online for a new home your home must make a great first impression. The first impression is a lasting impression! In a buyers market sellers compete with sellers. If buyers are not impressed what they see online they will move on to the next listing. Ready, Set, Stage! works with you and your Realtor to put your home on the “must see” list for today’s home buyers. We offer a marketing plan and photos to assist with the sale of your home.
To Use or Not to Use a Realtor® That is the Question
It’s a fact! Using a real estate agent will net a seller more money then if they try to sell their homes themselves. According to the 2008 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the average home listed by by a real estate agent went for $211,000 compared to the $153,000 received by a “for sale by owner”.
A lot of folks think we get paid too much for our services. But even with a 6% commission on the example above, the seller who used an agent saw close to $50,000 more then the other seller. Why?? After all, you just need to put a sign out front and advertize on Craig’s List right?
Not exactly. In 2004 or 2005 you may have gotten away with that here in Paradise, CA where everything but the kitchen sink was selling, but then again, maybe not. There were a lot of homes on the market then and the bulk of properties were listed by real estate agents. A good Realtor has two major things going for them. Connections and experience.
Fast forward to 2010 and the need for a real estate proffessional is even more valuable. We are in an everchanging market and it is our job to track that market and keep you informed. We have access to information that is not readily available to most people. We have facts, not conjecture, about local markets. Every day is involved in the matters of real estate. That’s our business!! Just as I wouldn’t go to doctor for a plumbing problem, I wouldn’t recommend you go to a relative or friend for real estate advice.
When you list your home with a Realtor®, you gain market knowledge, experienced service providers, home preparation advice, and someone who makes it their business to be available for you and your home. Lets not forget the potential liability if a deal goes bad, or a disgruntled buyer comes back after a sale and wants to sue someone. If an agent has done their job well, the bases will be covered and if they don’t do their job well, the odds are that they will be held responsible since they are the “expert”. And if you list with an agent from an office like mine, Coldwell Banker Ponderosa, you gain a nationally renowned, well respected brand.
A well know brokerage will have national advertising, special enhancements with websites like Realtor.com, and in our case, Northstate homes, lots of training material, and tracking systems. All of this is designed to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time. And let’s face it, what is the most important factor when selling a home, how much money goes into your bank account. This is just as important to the agencies involved as it is for you! Most of the time, a Realtor only earns money if they close a deal. If your home doesn’t sell, your agent doesn’t get paid. Inspite of the money they may have put out in advertising costs and the time and effort involved, they do not receive any monies. Period!!
FHA-The Loan of Choice, What?
Remember when FHA was a bad taste in the mouth? For the first few years of my Real Estate career in Paradise, CA, none of my buyers used an FHA loan product. The horror stories of last minute requests and red tape abounded. The requirements were cumbersome and the FHA Inspections were aggravating, asking for repairs a day or two before close of escrow.
Fast forward through the last 5 yrs. and most of my buyers have used the FHA backed loan products. Even to purchase Mobile/Manufactured homes on land. Although historically FHA loans were a boon to lower income people, even those folks without that challenge have been attracted. Requirements for buyers have been much easier to meet then the conventional loan requirements. The FHA Appraisal has focused on safety factors, so the scope of items addressed in Appraiser’s reports have become more clear and up front . Livability, that’s what they’re looking for.
But as is true of most things in life, they change. The increase in FHA backed loans have caused the reserves used to cover bad loans to drop from $19.3 billion to $3.5 billion since September of 2008. To keep the Federal Housing Administration (which is a mortgage insurance entity), self-sustaining, some changes in the requirements for buyers seeking an FHA backed loans are on the horizon, possibly as soon as this month.
The changes that FHA plans to implement are designed to do two things. First is the replenishment of the reserves and secondly, to try to minimize the chances of a buyer defaulting on new loans. The tougher requirements should eliminate some of the riskier buyers.
FHA backed loans constiute one third of all first time home loans today. The tougher requirements, however, are not unwelcome to non-FHA backed lenders. The more difficult it becomes to qualify for an FHA backed loan, the more buyers that may opt for lender who is not backed by this partucular mortgage insurer.
In spite of the coming changes, FHA backed loans are still the most attainable products for first time home buyers.
FHA-Who Are They??
Well, it turns out that they are a Mortgage Insurance Company. And all this time I thought they were a lender. Silly me, but I would imagine quite a few people are under that misconception. As a matter of fact, the Federal Housing Administration is the largest insurer of mortgages in the world. Yes, I said the world, not just the United States.
They provide mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA approved lenders in the United States as well as in our territories. These loans are on single or multifamily homes which includes Manufactured Homes and Hospitals!! Lately, they are one of the few entities facilitating loans on Manufactured Homes.
Mortgage Insurance reduces the risk of defaulting buyers to lenders because if a borrower defaults on an FHA insured loan, a claim is paid to the lender, thereby reducing the lender’s loss. A loan must qualify as per FHA requirements.
Additionally, FHA loan qualifications are easier for borrowers. But because they are easier, the cost of the insurance is passed down to the buyer, usually as a monthly payment. After about five years, or when the loan amount reaches 78% of the property’s value, the montly payment will drop off.
Although most of us don’t really want to pay what we perceive as an extra charge. This charge keeps FHA from asking taxpayers for money, and that’s a good thing!! FHA is fully self-funding.
The Federal Housing Authority was started 76 years ago as a result of a flat housing market. Millions of construction workers had lost their jobs, mortgages were difficult to qualify for. And when you did qualify you could only borrow 50% of what the home was worth with a repayment schedule of 3-5 years and a balloon payment due at the end. As you would imagine, not many folks owned their own home back then.
Since its inception, FHA has continually assisted Americans in their quest for homeownership. Broadening the home buying base through financing military housing for returning soldiers in the 1940’s, helping with the production of privately owned housing for elderly, handicapped, and lower income folks, emergency financial help in the 1980’s, and their current efforts to keep home buying alive, has had a huge economic impact. For as we all now know, the housing market and it’s losses or gains trickle down into almost every aspect of our economy.
In large part thanks to the Federal Housing Administration, 68% of all Americans now own their own home!!!
Lenders and Mortgages and FICO’s, Oh My!
Yes, it’s ok to be scared. The times, they are a changin, but it’s not all bad! The lenders are still there, just a bit more careful. Good credit will get you a loan, but great credit will cost you less. That still holds true.
It’s more important than ever to see a lender or two and find out what you are qualified for, before you get serious about looking towards buying a home. What you discover will likely dictate the scope of your search.
Larger down payment requirements and higher FICO scores are a few of the changes to expect. If you are self-employed, finding more deductions to lessen your tax load can negatively impact your qualifying for loans due to the reduction in your bottom line.
Time frames for the underwriting process have lengthened due to tighter restrictions and new regulations which have been initiated to protect both lenders and buyers. One of the major areas of time consumption is with regard to disclosure. A number of elements involved in the loan process can trigger the necessity of a disclosure with response time adding up.
So make your house hunting more pleasurable by knowing one of the hardest parts of the home-buying process is in hand as well as being prepared in the event of competetion.
Check Out This Lovely Home in Magalia, CA.
Come and check out this Home in the Pines. 
Located on Sinclair Circle within walking distance of the Paradise Pines Owners Association (PPOA). Take a stroll and enjoy some of the many amenities The POA Village has to offer, like the swimming pool, tennis courts, clubhouse, and playground. And if your a golfer, 
this is the place for you! Enjoy a 9-hole round of golf, have lunch at Kimmies Cafe, then head h0me for a nap:-) The members of the POA also host numerous activities throughout the year, and they have a kiln!
Or just stay home and enjoy your deck in the backyard, which was specially built to accomodate a Hot Tub. 
BYOH-Bring your own Hot Tub. A pleasing floor plan with vaulted ceilings and a stove in the living room, lends itself to comfy evenings in your newer 2000 built, 1611 square foot, 3 bedroom 2 bath home on the Ridge.
WELCOMING THE NEW ADDITION TO LIFEHOUSE CYPRESS OF PARADISE!
As an Ambassador and Board Member of the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce, one of my distinct pleasures is welcoming new business to our community. It is an opportunity to get up close and personal with the business owners and staff of a new or returning business to the Chamber.
This is done in the form of a “Ribbon Cutting”, because they literally cut a red ribbon at their function! In about forty-five minutes we are introduced and educated about the business being highlighted. Oh, and we are also fed 
We have an opportunity to meet and network with other business owners and patrons, welcome the new business and did I mention partake of finger foods and beverages? In addition to all of that fun we usually have a few gifts we can win. Quite a lot is packed into forty-five minutes!
Our most recent ribbon cutting was for the newly renovated building at the Lifehouse Cypress facility located on upper Clark Road. Skilled nursing, Health-care Services, and Rehabilitation are the main functions performed here. The newly renovated building we toured and for whom the ribbon cutting was performed, will be dedicated to rehabilitation for folks who have had a surgical procedure, stroke, or other life altering event in which rehabilitation is required before they can comfortably return to their homes. Medi-care will pay for a patient to receive this extended care if at lease three days were spent in the hospital prior to admission.
As a desirable location for retirees, Paradise will do quite well having such a facility available to our citizens. So a big CONGRATULATIONS go out to our new addition to the Lifehouse Cypress of Paradise.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY!!
We are all aware of the opportunities for investing in residential property, either to live in or rent out. But there is also another area available for future profit. That is commercial property. I do want to stress “future profit”. It may take some time to realize a profit on the resale of the building, or even cover your expenses through leasing or renting the space, due to the current state of the economy. But if you have the time and money, I believe, this is avenue to explore.
I have a wonderful commercial property currently on the market. It has 3000 sq. ft. with a small warehouse in the rear. It is in the heart of the Town of Paradise’s revitalization plan. One of the programs for this area is the Commercial Facade Program. You could receive assistance in the form of a grant for a minor facade renovation or a grant/loan for a major makeover.
There are other programs available through the town’s revitalization plan in order to implement the Town’s Redevelopment Plan 2003 and 5-year Implementation Plan which, ” the primary emphasis of which is the economic revitalization of both the Downtown and the greater Redevelopment Project Area”.
As I was investigating the Commercial Property statistics in our town, I was stunned at the increase in these listings in a one year period! In 2006 there were 2 new listings for commercial property in both the town of Paradise and Magalia. In 2007 there was 1 new commercial listing, and in 2008 there were 4. But in 2009 that figure jumped to 22 new commercial listings! Wow, that’s exactly what I said, a five-fold increase in one year. There are 32 active commercial listings today.
So as you can see, there are a few to choose from! Call or email today for your Personal Tour of our lovely area’s commercial opportunities!!
CALLING ALL PARADISIANS, MAGALIANS AND ALL OTHER RIDGE FOLK
Its’ that time of year again. Have your running/walking shoes ready for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event here in Paradise, CA. located in the lovely foothills above Chico. This event was started in May of 1985 by Dr. Gordon Klatt of Tacoma Washington. It is a 24 hr. marathon to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones and raise money to eliminate cancer! Relay for life has become the single largest fund raising activity for this organization. According to the American Cancer Society, “In 2006 more than 4,600 communities and 24 countries hosted a Relay for Life event, making this the largest fundraising event of any kind!”
Mark your calendars and save the date! June 5th & 6th we meet at the Paradise Relay for Life on our own “field of dreams” located at Paradise High School located on Maxwell Rd. The dream, of course, to earn lots and lots of money for Cancer research, education, advocacy, and service.
If you haven’t attended this event before, here is a little of what you will get. Music, food and fun!! The camaraderie and encouragement are truly inspiring. This is an overnighter. Yes, there will be people walking on the track all night, but no, everyone doesn’t spend the night. You can walk for as little as an hour or as long as you would like.
The way this works is the formation of Teams. Each team consists of 8-15 members who commit to walk around the track for at least an hour and raise money for donating to the American Cancer Society. There must be a team member on the track at all times. The teams set up booths for the teams to use as a rest and refreshment area, often with items to sell to raise even more money. A lot of thought and imagination go into these booths as a theme is chosen and decorating done to liven and enhance the excitement of helping to find a cure for cancer. Each member will receive a T-Shirt to commemorate the event with a contribution of $100. I would wager that we all know someone or are someone who has been touched by cancer.
Beginning at 10:00am with an Opening Ceremony which includes the Survivor’s Lap. The first lap around the field will be folks who have survived this wretched disease and reflect the joy of living. What an Awes0me sight! Continuing through the day a continual stream of walkers participate on the track.
As evening approaches, folks begin to set up the Luminaries. These have all been purchased and decorated to honor a loved one who has battled cancer. The cost is just $10 for these wonderful remembrances. At 9:00 the track is cleared for the Luminaria Ceremony. Then it’s back on the track for some more hoofing it throughout the night until 9:30 the next morning when the event concludes with the Fight Back Ceremony and Final Lap.
Paradise Relay for Life is in it’s 4th year here on the Ridge an last year almost $150,000 dollars was raised! Whoo Hooo!!!
The energy and spirit at this event has to be experienced to be appreciated. See you there!
But remember, there is no finish line until we find a cure!!
RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY, NOT!!
You all remember that little rhyme we would call upon as kids when we wanted to play outside, but it was raining. Some of you still wish the rain would go away and consciously or unconsciously repeat that little rhyme today. I used to be one of you. NOT ANYMORE! I live with a well.
When you are shopping for a home in Paradise, Magalia, or any other community with wells, you may fall in love with such a home. Crisp, clear, fresh water from deep in the earth, or not so deep, Yum! No chlorine or other flavors you didn’t order. You will want a well inspection. But not all Well Inspections are created equal!
When we first moved to our property eight years ago, we moved from a lifetime of city living. Water was always there and if we had a power outage, no big deal. Our first year we were out of power for four days,,,,,,,,,OMG,,,,,what an eye opener. My children went across the road to get water from a creek to flush the toilets. Forget a shower. Do you know how that will affect you daily life? No shower? Uuggg. It wasn’t pretty and fortunately the following year we were able to purchase a Whole House Generator so we have water when the power goes out, which it seems to every year. Don’t get me wrong, I still love, love, love, living in my forest!
We did have a well inspection. What to look for was not in our knowledge base, so we relied on our Realtor to order an inspection for us. Nothing out of the ordinary showed up. I believe we had a flow of about eight gallons a minute. We had no idea whether that was good or bad.
We have since added another dwelling and, of course ran the same well to this home, my mother’s home:-) For the first few years we had no problems, but we hadn’t had any drought years yet!
This last year my family and I experienced, first hand, the reality of our reliance on water and how it affects our daily living. How we can no longer take for granted the water we use.
I repeat: Not All Well Inspectors are create equal! Here is a list of services included in a Well Inspection from my favorite Well Company:
Precision Pump Company has been in business for over 25 years. We are a licensed C-57 Well Drilling Contractor and D-21 Pump Installation Contractor.
Call us for all of your well inspection needs.
- We thoroughly inspect all equipment to determine if it is in working order.
- We record any and all visible information about the equipment such as brand, size, and date code.
- We test for current GPM (gallons per minute) using the latest sonar equipment.
- We pull water samples and send to a certified laboratory. We generally check for bacteria and nitrates, but can order many additional tests upon request.
- If needed, can research records for information about well at the time it was drilled.
- Reasonable rates.
- Written report provided upon completion of laboratory tests.
- Recommendations provided to keep system in tip-top shape.
- Free estimate for any repairs, upgrades that may need to be made.
Precision Pump
PO Box 2024
Oroville, CA 95965
530-533-4944
License 862386
