For Buyers

Feb
09

The Tops: What Do Buyers Want

Posted In: For Buyers, For Sellers
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The two rooms that consistently make the biggest impressions to buyers are, without a doubt, kitchens and bathrooms.  So what can you do to assure your kitchen and bath will be appealing to buyers?  The National Association of Realtors recently conducted their “Profile of buyer’s home feature preferences” survey.  Here are the results: FIVE KITCHEN + BATH FEATURES BUYERS WANT [...]
Jan
24

Sewer Lateral Replacement Rebate Program in Richmond

Posted In: For Buyers, For Sellers, Richmond
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This just in from Richmond’s North and East Newsletter: “City rebate program offers financial incentive to comply with sewer lateral standards — Qualified residents and non-profit business owners in Richmond’s Sanitary Sewer District Number One can apply for grants to offset the cost of bringing sewer laterals into compliance with ordinance 12/17, article XII of the Municipal Code. For more [...]
Jan
22

The Future Looks Grim, So Sayeth Carole Rodoni

Posted In: Economy, For Buyers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, General Real Estate News, Investing, Local Market Statistics
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If you are looking for someone with a strong opinion about the economy and real estate, then look no further than Carole Rodoni.  Her leadership and statistical analysis of the economy and how it affects real estate makes her opinions extremely valuable.  Yesterday I spent nearly 2 hours in a room with 500 other curious minds to see what Carole had [...]
Jan
07

FHA Appraisal Facts

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage & Finance
Are you going to be obtaining an FHA loan to do your next home purchase?  If so, read below. An FHA appraisal is simply a conventional appraisal but with more detail paid to, and more documentation of, the subject property’s characteristics, overall functionality, and condition (noting any deferred maintenance). An FHA appraiser will actually perform what amounts to a smaller, [...]
Jan
05

Krista’s list of what to read in 2009

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, For the Heck of It, Foreclosures & Short Sales, Good ol' Fashion Humor
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This just in, the ultimate reading list.  I love to read.  I love to be inspired.  I love to learn.  This list, in no particular order, combines a little bit of each. 1.  Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.  This sly and lucid book discusses why we make the decisions that we do, including why headaches disappear after [...]
Dec
11

Rate Watch from Gwen & Rhoda

Posted In: For Buyers, Mortgage & Finance
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  Here is the latest and greatest from a pair of super cool mortgage brokers, Gwen Hoople & Rhoda Paul of Holmgren Mortgage in Oakland. “Mortgage rates increased last week despite news that the economy will be in an extended recession and a jobs report that was weaker than expected. Stocks surged Monday in a positive response to progress on [...]