In typical Folsom style, we have the opportunity to celebrate TOGETHER…as a community – The Community Groundbreaking CELEBRATION will take place on Saturday, January 23^rd at 10:00 a.m. on the corner of Sutter and Wool Streets, and I wouldn’t miss it!

I’m looking forward to celebrating with the people who have worked so hard to bring this to fruition…

• The Historic Folsom merchants who launched this “dream” several years ago and have patiently worked behind the scenes to keep the dream alive.
• The City officials who have worked diligently to foster much needed change while continuing to preserve the unique character and historic nature of Folsom’s Historic District.

The people I’m most looking forward to celebrating with, however, are

• The many clients that I have had the privilege to represent over the years who call the Historic District, “home.”

Having grown up in Massachusetts, I have a genuine love of “old houses” and have been fortunate to represent many like-minded clients over the years. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the modern conveniences of the newer home; specifically the large closets, attached garages and indoor laundry rooms, but there’s nothing quite like the charm of an older home! And for these lucky homeowners who live in these charming houses, their neighborhood is about to get even better…which I can’t help but think will positively affect the value of their already spectacular properties!

This may be the perfect time to buy a home of your own in Folsom’s Historic District as home prices are low, interest rates are also low, and the home buyer tax credit has been extended and expanded…Win, Win, Win!

See you Saturday…and bring your umbrellas; there’s a chance of rain!

I can stage a home practically blindfolded…it’s all about making the most of space, color, and light! I can walk clients through the process of buying or selling the home of their dreams with ease, but planning a wedding is something entirely new to me! The last wedding I planned was my own…26 years ago, and quite honestly, my mother did most of the planning. So, I enlisted help…actually, my sister, enlisted some help for us.

Ann Farrow is best known to me as the incredibly talented woman who has decorated/designed much of my sister’s home in the bay area. It’s one of the most well decorated homes I’ve ever seen…and I’ve seen A LOT of houses! Ann is the owner of HomeStyle/EventStyle…”the bay area’s only full-service staging firm,” and she was kind enough to meet with us and talk us through some of the details involved in planning a wedding that is “special and unique.” She had so many great ideas…many of which we hope to implement. I began to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all UNTIL Ann said, “Have you heard of the concept of ’staging?’ It’s generally referred to in reference to staging a home, but you also want to ’stage’ a wedding. It’s all about the wow factor, and first impressions.”

“YES, I have heard of staging and I’m actually quite good at it…YES, I can plan a wedding and it’s going to be amazing…And, Ann, you’ll still help out a bit won’t you?” I’m going to rely on some of Ann’s expertise in planning a wedding, but rest assured that you can depend upon mine when buying or selling your home…I’m really good at that!

Oh, and one more thing…my sister’s exquisite home is the site of the wedding reception. It’s going to be magical…and perfectly staged!

Today’s kitchens today are continuing to evolve into family rooms which can accommodate multiple cooks, family dining, and entertaining. Here are just a few of the major design trends popping up in luxury multi-purpose kitchens as 2010 begins. 

Countertops
Kitchen countertops are increasing in mass – think thick – and demand is growing for new surface materials.  As granite wanes in popularity, crackle glass, concrete, and wood (with decorative edges) are all moving to the fore as popular countertop materials. One of the most innovative counters combines glass with LED lighting.  The result is a glowing glass countertop which can be programmed with most any color to match your mood of the moment. 

Counters in new kitchens may also vary in height to add visual interest and to create work zones for special purposes and for both short and tall cooks.  Counters and islands are also increasingly designed to double as serving and dining areas.

Work zones
As more activities gravitate to the kitchen, designers are building in special purpose areas.  A quick food prep station makes simple meal preparation and cleanup easy.  A baking center offers ingredient storage within reach and a counter height designed for chopping, mixing, and rolling.  A coffee bar or a wine tasting and beverage center are other popular special purpose work zones. 

Sinks
Large farm sinks are a hot trend and multiple sinks continue to be in demand.  Water conserving faucets are part of a trend toward eco-friendly kitchens.

Cabinetry
Mid-height cabinetry is a major trend in contemporary kitchens and beginning to appear in traditional kitchen designs as well.  Shorter cabinets may “float” on the wall or incorporate European-style legs and even be used as room dividers.  In-demand cabinet materials include stainless steel, environmentally-friendly bamboo, pecan or alder wood.  Cabinets are customized with interior fittings for efficient storage. Horizontal cabinet doors (sometimes motorized) are another emerging kitchen trend.  

Although the all white kitchen is still popular, cabinetry is also showing up in a variety of finishes and colors to give a kitchen the look of a furnished room.

Appliances
Forget the concept of a cooktop, double oven, microwave, dishwasher and a refrigerator creating an adequate kitchen.  Today’s cooks want more.  Extra dishwashing drawers, elaborate coffee making appliances, warming drawers, additional ovens, wine coolers may all be part of a luxury kitchen and many of these appliances may be hidden within cabinetry. 

On the other end of the spectrum, forget subtle, some homeowners are using the refrigerator as kitchen art.  Coolors, an Italian company will silk screen a refrigerators with a bold animal print, your favorite photograph or most any other image.  The range hood or cabinet fronts can be silk screened to match. 

Electronics
The kitchen is now home to televisions, computers, and sound systems.  With friends and family gathering in the kitchen, entertainment and information need to be within reach. 

Multiple kitchens
Luxury homeowners frequently want multiple kitchens.  In addition to the primary gourmet kitchen, a catering kitchen – where preparations occur for dinner parties and other entertaining – may be on the must have list.  A mini-kitchen in the master bedroom and another in the primary guest suite provide a convenient place for a midnight snack or that first cup of morning coffee.  Of course, what was once the barbeque grill has morphed into a full outdoor kitchen with ice maker, dishwasher, dining area and more.

The kitchen is the heart of the house and this decade begins with trends which focus on making it more functional for a variety of lifestyle purposes and more attractive as a entertaining center.

Paragraph 5C of the California Residential Purchase Agreement reads, “MEGAN’S LAW DATABASE DISCLOSURE: Notice: Pursuant to Section 290 46 of the Penal Code, information about specified registered sex offenders is made available to the public via an Internet Web site maintained by the department of Justice at www.meganslaw.ca.gov. Depending on an offender’s criminal history, this information will include either the address at which the offender resides or the community of residence and ZIP Code in which he or she resides (Neither Seller nor Brokers are required to check this website. If Buyer wants further information, Broker recommends that Buyer obtain information from this website during Buyer’s inspection contingency period. Brokers do not have expertise in this area.)”

This paragraph is nestled into the contract between disclosure language regarding Natural and Environmental Hazards and Condominium/Planned Unit Developments, and is often given little attention from homebuyers eager to purchase the home of their dreams…it’s so much more fun to focus on where the Christmas tree will go (amazingly, one of the first questions many homebuyers ask)!

I recently had the privilege of working with an adorable young couple who was in the market to purchase their first home. We looked at several homes together, and they narrowed it down to the one they wanted to call “home.” We wrote an offer, the offer was accepted, and the disclosure process began…the very first thing they did was get online and check the Megan’s Law website to ensure that they were moving into a neighborhood where they would feel comfortable raising a family. Much to their surprise, and mine, they learned that there were four registered sex offenders living within 1/4 mile of the home! After much thought, reflection, and prayer, they made the decision to withdraw their offer, and they were well within their rights to do so. That’s what the disclosure process is all about!

The good news is that my clients found another home that they loved even more, and the other home sold the very next day to someone else who was not discouraged by the fact that some of their neighbors were registered sex offenders. Win, Win!

Granite Bay Real Estate Trends – 11/08 t0 11/09

 History doesn’t lie and trends tell a story!

The story that this graph tells is that there were 27.2% fewer homes for sale  in Granite Bay this year than last AND 300% more homes have actually sold! As a seller, this is encouraging news as there is less competition than there was a year ago. As a buyer, this is also encouraging news…but you need to be prepared to act quickly as there are a lot of savvy buyers trying to take advantage of the current market and historically low interest rates.

Real Estate Trends in El Dorado Hills – 11/08 to 11/09

History doesn’t lie and trends tell a story!

The story that this graph tells is that there were 32.4% fewer homes for sale  in El Dorado Hills this year than last AND 10.2% fewer homes have actually sold!! As a seller, this is encouraging news as there is less competition than there was a year ago, but you’ll need to be prepared to price your home competitively. As a buyer, this may also be encouraging news as homes are priced to sell, and may prove to be a good investment opportunity!

Folsom Real Estate Trends – 11/08 to 11/09

History doesn’t lie and trends tell a story!

The story that this graph tells is that there were 33.2% fewer homes for sale  in Folsom this year than last AND 36.4% more homes have actually sold!! As a seller, this is encouraging news as there is less competition than there was a year ago. As a buyer, this is also encouraging news…but you need to be prepared to act quickly as there are a lot of savvy buyers trying to take advantage of the current market and historically low interest rates.

As an agent, I believe I could successfully represent my clients regardless of which company I chose to affiliate myself with…my level of knowledge and expertise would remain consistent, and I would continue to find ways to best represent both Buyers and Sellers. However, as a Buyer and/or a Seller, I really do believe that it matters who your Real Estate agent affiliates themselves with…Re/Max has a global presence, and some of the best agents in the world! If you’re selling a home on the west coast, the east coast, or somewhere in between, you can rest assured that your home is being marketed to potential buyers across the country, and across the globe via Re/Max’s extensive web presence, and network of experienced agents. And, likewise, as a Buyer, you have access to a vast array of homes being sold across the world!

For those reasons, and many more, I am proud to affiliate myself with the Real Estate company with the highest percentage of closed sales in the area!!! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re interested in adding your home to the list of homes that have SOLD!

New Home Buyer Tax Credit

Congress has passed new legislation that extends the first time home buyers tax credit, and expands it to include more home buyers:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 to current home owners (who have been residing in their primary residence for 5 of the last 8 years) purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
• Increases the income eligibility limits to claim the full credit amount (for both groups of home buyers) to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for couples. Both credits are limited to home purchases of $800,000 or less.

The extension was part of a bill that also extends unemployment benefits for 20 more weeks for states with high jobless rates.

Bank Overdraft Fees

“The Federal Reserve last week also announced a rule, to take effect July 1, under which banks would have to secure their customers’ consent before charging large overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions.” Associated Press; essentially you will have to opt in to the overdraft service, other wise your card will simply be denied for lack of funds.

There are even further restrictions currently being considered by both the House and Senate: Senator Chris “Dodd’s legislation would allow consumers to “opt-in” for overdraft protection on ATM and debit card transactions when they open an account. It would also limit the number of overdraft fees a bank can charge per month and year, require that fees be proportional to the cost of processing the overdraft and require that customers be notified when they overdraw their account so they don’t make further uncovered transactions. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., has proposed similar legislation in the House.” – Associated Press

Gift Cards

“The Federal Reserve Board on Monday [Nov 16, 09] announced proposed rules that would restrict the fees and expiration dates that may apply to gift cards. The rules would protect consumers from certain unexpected costs and would require that gift card terms and conditions be clearly stated.

The proposed rules would prohibit dormancy, inactivity, and service fees on gift cards unless: (1) there has been at least one year of inactivity on the certificate or card; (2) no more than one such fee is charged per month; and (3) the consumer is given clear and conspicuous disclosures about the fees. Expiration dates for funds underlying gift cards must be at least five years after the date of issuance, or five years after the date when funds were last loaded.” – excerpt from a press release by the Federal Reserve

Be encouraged…and God bless the United States of America!

As your real estate professional, I quickly found myself in need of an entirely new skill set…“saving the American dream of homeownership!” I am excited to share with you that I have just completed the necessary training to obtain my CDPE designation (Certified Distressed Property Expert) and find myself fully equipped to tackle the challenges that we are currently facing.

You can’t turn on the television, surf the internet, or read the newspaper without being bombarded with the news that the country is experiencing a spike in foreclosures and defaults. Hopefully, you’re also aware of the fact that new legislation has been put into place and lenders are becoming more willing to work with distressed borrowers to help keep them in their homes…“keeping the dream of homeownership alive!”

If you or someone you know is facing the possibility of foreclosure, now is the time to act. My recent newsletter helps to explain the ins-and-outs of the foreclosure process, how it can be avoided, and provides possible options.

In today’s ever-changing Real Estate market, it pays to work with a professional. If there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

From castles to condos…

Let me know how I can make your real estate “dreams” come true!