Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Enjoy The Diversity of South Land Park Real Estate

South Land Park is an established Sacramento neighborhood with a wonderful family reputation. Located along South Land Drive, this neighborhood has all the amenities of Land Park.

Homes here range from 1500 square feet to 2500 square feet and sit on .20 to 025 acre lots. South Land Park homes were built from the 1950s to the 1960s. Some have the modernist Eichler design with a lot of floor to ceiling glass and open floorplans designed to bring the outdoors in.

Common amenities for these homes include: large windows, vaulted ceilings, indoor laundry rooms, sunrooms, fireplaces, cut stone countertops in updated kitchens.

The neighborhood of South Land Park is situated along each side of South Land Drive and is walking distance to the ever-active Land Regional Park. It’s a great place to raise an active family. With walking paths all around the park it’s perfect for a daily workout.


Land Park has a choice of sports fields and courts and there’s always a weekend game or match. Also in the park is the WPA rock Garden and the Sacramento Zoo. Elementary School age kids can enjoy Funderland, a small admission free amusement park, complete with a roller coaster and steam train. For the little ones, Fairytale Town is a 2.5-acre children's play park and outdoor children’s museum all based on nursery rhymes! This venue hosts events for kids throughout the year.

A major attraction in the neighborhood is the Capitol City Golf Course. The premier 9-hole course is a great place to keep your game sharp. Opening in 1924, the course is the oldest in Sacramento but has been completely refurbished. The surrounding park makes it a beautiful course to play. After a morning of golf, enjoy a quiet lunch at either Swanson’s Grove BBQ or Mulligan’s cafĂ©, located on site.

South Land Park is overall a great choice to settle down and raise a family. If you have any questions regarding this neighborhood or others in the Sacramento area, please contact me at 916.214.2082.

Find The Perfect Sacramento Home in Fabulous Sierra Oaks


Sierra Oaks is a well-established executive neighborhood just west of downtown Sacramento and the State Capital. It is known as one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the Sacramento area. It is bordered by Northrop Ave to the South, Watt Ave to the East American River Dr to the South, and Monroe St to the West.

There are a lot of upscale town homes and condos in this popular neighborhood making it more affordable. Single-family homes here range from 1800 square feet to 5000 square feet and are built on lots from .25 acres to a full acre. Homes are as large as five-bedrooms with four and a half baths. Sierra Oaks’ architectural style is generally ranch, built from the 1950s to the 1960s.

Sierra Oaks is known as one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the Sacramento area. It is bordered by Northrop Ave to the South, Watt Ave to the East American River Dr to the South, and Monroe St to the West.


A drive around this neighborhood will show manicured lawns and large well established trees everywhere. It is not uncommon for Sierra Oaks homes to be extensively remodeled and upgraded. Many homes offer updated kitchens and bathrooms with cut stone counter tops, sunrooms, bonus rooms, master suites, walk-in closets and fireplaces. Extensive backyard landscaping, outdoor kitchens and private pools are also common in larger homes.

Students in the area attend Sierra Oaks Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Elementary, Hubert H. Bancroft Elementary, Caleb Greenwood Middle School and America’s Choice High School.

Oak Meadow Park and University Park offer yearlong recreation for local families as well as four miles of walking trails along American River Parkway.

This Sacramento neighborhood is walking distance to Sacramento State University, shopping, and restaurants. It’s a quick drive to freeways, downtown Sacramento and the capitol, which makes it a great commuter area.

If you have any questions regarding this neighborhood or others in the Sacramento area, please contact me:

Discover The Charm of Midtown Sacramento Real Estate



Just steps away from art galleries to fine restaurants and shops, Midtown Sacramento offers all the benefits of an urban lifestyle. Start your day at a local coffee or teashop and work just a short walk from home. Be a part of the monthly art tours or film festivals and meet friends every evening at local restaurants and nightclubs.

Midtown Sacramento offers a mix of business, culture and nightlife. The home choices in the area are just as diverse. From modern urban lofts and condos to High-water bungalows and cottages built from the late 1800s to 1940s. There is something here for everyone.

Bungalows and cottages in the area range in size from 900 to a large 2500 square feet and sit on lots from .12 to .2 acres. Many of these historic homes have been around since before a lot of Sacramento’s infrastructure.


These charming homes offer the benefit of period detail work and most have refinished hardwood floors, extensive woodwork, fireplaces and built-ins. Many have updated kitchens and bathrooms. It’s definitely the best of both worlds.

The Sacramento Midtown area is bordered by Capital City Freeway to the East, W St to the South, 16th Street to the West, and C St to the North. With easy freeway access, it’s a great area for commuters too.

Surrounded by daily culture and numerous libraries, students here also benefit from schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District. Local schools include Washington Elementary and David Lubin Elementary, Sutter Middle School, America’s Choice High School, Sacramento Charter High School and Met. Sacramento High School.

With such a mix of homes in Midtown, it’s worth strong consideration. If you have any questions regarding property in this or other Sacramento areas, please contact me:

Live In The Charm Of Hollywood Park in Sacramento


Hollywood Park is an affordable family neighborhood, perfect for first time buyers. It has all the benefits of its more expensive neighbors without the prestige or the price tag.

This little-known neighborhood is bordered by Freeport Blvd to the West, Sutterville Road to the North, 24th Street to the East, and Fruitridge Rd to the South. It is mostly single-family 2 and 3 bedroom homes but there are some condos in the area.

Hollywood Park homes are ranch style, built from the 1940s through the 1960s, with sizes ranging from 850 to 2000 square feet. The homes are built on lots ranging from .15 to .20 acres. The diversity of this neighborhood is one of its greatest appeals.
A walk through many homes in the area will reveal upgrades like walk-in closets, master suites, crown molding and granite countertops in remodeled kitchens and bathrooms. A lot of the homes have standard fireplaces and large back yards.

This Pride of ownership blue and white-collar neighborhood is close to Sacramento City College. It is home to many long-time residents and was once home to actor, Sam Elliot.


Hollywood Park is also close to restaurants and shopping and is walking distance to Land Park, with its sports complex, zoo and golf course. It is also easy access to freeways, light rail and the Sacramento Executive Airport.

Students in the area attend schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District. Local schools include Leonardo Da Vinci Elementary School, Hollywood Park Elementary, Ethel Phillips Elementary, Sutterville Elementary and Sam Brannan Middle School.

If your considering investing in rental property, there are some great investments to be had in Hollywood Park. With personal experience in this area, I can help walk you through choosing the right property.

If you have any questions regarding this or other Sacramento areas, please contact me:

 

Live In Elegant East Sacramento


If your looking for a neighborhood of refined elegance, East Sacramento is the best. This pride-of-ownership neighborhood holds its historic charm like a crown jewel.

A tour of the area includes the lush McKinley Park and McKinley Lake with a beautiful rose garden of 150 varieties of roses. The neighborhood homes follow suite with English style gardens and perfectly manicured lawns.

Homes in the area were built from the early 1900s through the 1950s. They are Colonial, Tudor, California and High-water Bungalow, Chateau, and Spanish Villas. They range in size from 1000 to 4000 square feet, built on .15 to .25 acre lots.

Many of the homes include pools, detached offices or workshops, formal dining rooms, partial basements and hardwood floors. They have updated kitchens with granite countertops and hardwood cabinets. In these homes you’ll find amazing architectural detail like archways, coved ceilings, crown molding, walnut inlays and stained glass.

Estate homes feature vintage lighting; marble, stone tile and lots of wood detail with master suites, and even wine rooms.


The neighborhoods in East Sacramento are some of the most sought-after in Sacramento, including the historic Fabulous Forties, McKinley Park, Bertha Henschel Park, River Park, and Elmhurst.

Schools in the area include Sacred Heart School, David Lubin Elementary, Theodore Judah Elementary, Sutter Middle School, Kit Carson Middle School as well as America’s Choice High School. California State University Sacramento is also nearby.

East Sacramento is located South of the American River, East of Capital City Freeway, West of the American River, and North of U Street.

It is within walking distance to downtown shopping as well as Sutter Memorial, Mercy General, and UC Davis Med Centers.

If you have any questions regarding property in this or other Sacramento areas, please contact me:

Find Your Family Home In Sacramento's Arden Park


Arden Park is the Epitome of an American family neighborhood. When you buy here, you’re buying more than just a home; you’re buying the whole neighborhood! It’s a great place to raise your family.

With peaceful tree-lined streets, it is a sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of downtown Sacramento. Bordered by Watt Ave. to the West, Fair Oaks Blvd to the South, Easter Ave to the East, and Arden Way to the North its close to shopping and everything downtown has to offer.

Arden Park is an established neighborhood of ranch style homes built in the nineteen fifties and sixties. Sizes range from 1500 to 3500 square feet with homes sitting on large quarter of and acre to half- acre beautifully manicured lots. This is one of the many reasons for Arden Park’s popularity.


It’s not unexpected to find homes in the area with fine architectural detail, extensive landscaping, granite countertops, travertine or stone flooring, formal dining rooms, fireplaces and indoor laundry rooms.

Another reason for Arden Park’s popularity is the great schools in the area. Students here attend nearby Mariemont Elementary School, Arden Middle School and Rio Americano High School.

This family community offers two community parks with a Community Center, swimming pool, four tennis courts (not lighted), two basketball courts, a softball Field (not lighted), soccer fields, a horseshoe pit, play equipment and benches, a group picnic shelter, BBQs with picnic tables.

This active family area is also home to many community events like Easter egg hunts, soccer games, a 4th of July Parade and yearly concerts in the park.

I would like to show you more of this area. So, if you have any questions regarding this or other Sacramento neighborhoods, you can call me now using the link below:

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Sacramento Short Sale Series-Part 2 "Building Your Sacramento Short Sale Team"


If you didn't catch "Part 1" of my Sacramento Short Sale Series, I encourage you to read it first…you can read it here.

So, what now? You've established your home's value is less than what you owe, and you have a legitimate, documentable hardship.

"Have you assembled your team?"

Many distressed homeowners seeking to Short Sale their Sacramento home, think they can simply call any Sacramento REALTOR® and be in good hands. A Sacramento Short Sale is a complex transaction, which takes knowledge, know-how, and patience from all involved. The common misconception is that all REALTORS® are Sacramento Short Sale Agents.

Additionally, many buyers and sellers mistakenly assume a Sacramento REALTOR® should have all the answers. A good Sacramento Short Sale Agent knows their limitations, and stays true to what they do well…Real Estate Transactions!

I receive a myriad of questions in today's market, many I can answer, but do not have the qualifications to do so. Questions like:

"What is my tax liability?" or "Will the bank come after me for the difference?" are questions better answered by professionals such as an Accountant, or Real Estate/Bankruptcy Attorney.

Another common question is, "How long will I have to wait to buy another home?" I can answer that question as well, but the answer should come from a Mortgage Professional whose expertise lies within real estate finance.

It is critical to have a solid team of professionals, and trusted advisors to help you successfully navigate the Short Sale of your Sacramento home. A good Sacramento Short Sale Agent should not give, and should not be expected to give advice they are not qualified to provide, however, they should have a team of go-to professionals to assist their clients, if the clients don't have their own.

When you decide it's time to explore the Short Sale of your home, give my team the opportunity to assist you!

Will Short Sale Work For You?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

"Can I Short Sale My Sacramento Home?" -Part 1

"I want to Short Sale my Sacramento home!"   I hear this statement often from homeowners in our Sacramento real estate market. 

But is it true, that anyone with an upside down mortgage, can qualify for a Short Sale? 

It is true that Sacramento Short Sales have overtaken Sacramento REO's, a trend that started towards the end of 2009, with a gap that is widening in 2010. 

The number of Sacramento Short Sale listings is almost two times the number of current Bank Owned listings.  Additionally, banks are beginning to figure out this whole Short Sale phenomoenon, and approvals seem to be coming relatively faster. 

That being said, the answer to the above question, is "No, not everyone can qualify for a Short Sale!"

"Why don't I qualify for a Short Sale?"  First, I'd like to say that a Short Sale is NOT a "get out of my mortgage free card".  What it is, is a legitimate option for homeowners who are underwater, and have a legitimate financial hardship, such as:

     -Job Loss or Reduction in Pay
     -Divorce
     -Illness
     -Disability
     -ARM Adjustment
     -Job Transfer

These are some of the more prominent reasons, but there are several others.  If a "would be" seller is underwater, but does not have a legitimate financial hardship, the options become limited to:

     -Wait For the Market to Recover
     -Bring Cash to Close
     -Let Property Go Into Foreclosure

Now, of these options, the first option is the likely candidate for most people, and though I would never recommend Foreclosure to anyone, it has become an option for some.  People who have the financial ability to make up the difference with cash are few, however I did have a seller bring $54,000 to close a listing I had in January. 

7 out of 10 homeowners go into Foreclosure without any viable intervention. 

If you are not sure where you stand, or feel you might be close to qualifying for a Sacramento Short Sale, and want a professional's opinion, give me the opportunity to provide a FREE evaluation of your current situation.  Otherwise, this is Part One of my Short Sale Series, designed to help homeowners avoid the "F" word ("Foreclosure" if your mind went somewhere else).  Email, or before surfing to the next page, call me.

Will Short Sale Work For You?