Bank-owned homes may be enticing for some buyers. While the number of bank-owned properties has decreased in recent years, there are still opportunities out there to purchase one of these homes.

Buying a bank-owned home can get complicated. So, here are four things you should consider if you and your family decide to take this route.

Get an Inspection

A foreclosed home, despite how it may appear, should be thoroughly inspected like any other home.

More than half of homeowners agree that their home inspection saved them money. It’s a no brainer — especially with a riskier transaction for a home that could have been damaged before it was foreclosed on.

Think Long-Term

A foreclosed/bank-owned property may continue to decline in value, so it’s best not to rush into it with the expectation of reselling it quickly for profit, or immediately winning back some equity. After the deal closes, it may take some time before reaping the benefits.

Keep All Options on the Table

Bank-owned homes, generally speaking, also have lower price tags. This is great for the buyer — but it’s OK to open up the search.

Why? Traditional for-sale-by-owner homes may have motivated sellers, too, minus the baggage. Buyers may find a bank-owned property has liens against it or it requires extensive repairs. The seller of a traditional listing may be open to crediting the buyer for repairs and being flexible with the home’s price. Because of this, it’s best to keep all options on the table when house hunting.

Find a Broker

You will want to find a real estate broker with experience dealing with a bank-owned home. Banks will traditionally look for a handful of brokers to handle their real-estate-owned homes.

If you’re in the market for one of these properties, be sure to contact us with any questions.

When you decide to sell a home, looks matter. This may seem obvious, but a well-staged home can result in more offers!

Once you’re ready to officially put your house on the market, you’ll want to have it looking its best for potential buyers, viewing appointments and open house guests. This process is called “staging,” which makes sense because this is when your home will take center stage.

Here are seven tips to make your home shine!

Clear out storage rooms

Rooms dedicated for storage/junk-gathering must go. Rearrange that room into something useful. When you convert a cluttered room into an office or gym, it’ll add value and charm to your home.

Enhance the lighting

Check for any dull lighting, replace the bulbs and hit the on switch. Well-staged homes shine because of good lighting. One step for better lighting is to increase the wattage of your light fixtures. The added boost of light will truly show.

Small kitchen upgrades

If a complete kitchen renovation is out of your budget, consider new doors or handles. Spruce up your cabinets with some new paint and maybe consider installing a new sink spout.

Remove excess furniture

Professional stagers know the secret: Too much furniture will make your home look cluttered. Remove as much furniture as possible to make your home look as big as possible. This creates a clean, open look your would-be buyers will love.

Pull furniture away from walls

Now that you’ve removed some furniture, it’s time for placement. Pulling furniture away from the walls will create the illusion of a bigger room. Closely arranged chairs and sofas will create an inviting meeting place for family and friends, and clear boundaries to walk around.

Fresh coat of paint

Bold wall paint is a no-no in today’s staging world. You can soften any room by giving it a fresh coat of neutral paint. This will help it look more modern. Don’t be afraid of gray, light brown or light blue paint as your neutral room color.

Unique approach with wall art

Don’t be boring! Placing pictures, prints and paintings where the eye expects them to be doesn’t help them stand out. Take some creative liberty in organizing your wall art so your collections grab attention.

Make your home look its best by following some of these easy tips. Remember, it’s all about appearance and your home deserves to look its very best for its next potential owner!

If you have any questions, or would like more tips on how to sell your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our real estate experts.

The little things add up — especially when you’re ready to sell your home.

A well-maintained exterior, or its curb appeal, can make or break a home sale. Remember, first impressions matter. The first thing your potential buyer is going to see is the front of your home.

So, how can you boost your curb appeal? Here are 7 relatively easy things you can do that will help you “wow” your potential buyer.

  • Do your own walk-through. Take a stroll through your home and compile a list. What’s off cosmetically? Does your landscaping need a boost? Are there any small repairs you could take care of? Jot down whatever is unfavorable then work to make the fixes happen.
  • Pressure wash. Let’s face it, the exterior of a house can get dirty. Purchase or rent a power washer and get to work. Wash the siding, entryway, driveway, walkways, patio and so on to give your curb appeal a little boost.
  • Add plants. Give your home a warm feel by adding some seasonal blooms. A colorful display of flowers and healthy greenery gives a front yard an inviting look.
  • Is your address visible? If your home’s address is not visually appealing, give it a good wash. It may be worth purchasing new numbers to give the exterior a cleaner, more modern look.
  • Check out the roof. The roof of a house is vital. If there are missing shingles or tiles it is going to downgrade your curb appeal. Gutters that are overflowing with debris will also have a negative impact. If your roof needs some repairs, have it done. If the gutters need to be cleaned out, have it done.
  • Consider applying some new paint. You may not have to paint the entire exterior, but it may be worth it to paint the front door or accent portions of the house.
  • Think digitally. When your home is listed online it will show up with photos. That’s why it’s important to pick the best time of day to photograph your home – work with the sun. Look at your photos through your buyer’s eyes. If things look a little cluttered, get rid of your “stuff” and take a new photo.

If you have any further questions about boosting your curb appeal, please contact us and one of our real estate experts will get in contact with you.

The number of single-family homes for sale in Rocklin increased by 18.3 percent this month.

There are currently 123 homes for sale in Rocklin, with 66 listings currently pending. Rocklin is a great place to live. It is a vibrant city home great parks and schools, hiking and biking trails, restaurants and more. The population is 64,417 and it has been considered one of the fastest-growing cities in California (60 percent growth since 2000). Situated right off I-80 and Highway 65, residents have easy access to Sacramento and other cities in the area.

In neighboring Roseville, there are 252 homes for sale, a decrease of 12.2 percent from last month. Roseville has blossomed into a city with 128,615 people and covers a total of 42 square miles. The city features great schools, endless restaurant options, golf courses, a water park, several corporate headquarters, hiking and biking trails, creeks and more.

For more real estate statistics, check out the neighborhood pages under the “Explore Placer” tab.

The real estate market in Placer County remains robust. If you have any questions about moving to a community in the area, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our professionals!

An Auburn restaurant is showing that its sense of community knows no boundaries.

While Hurricane victims in Houston and other parts of the United States continue to recover from the devastation left behind, the owners of the Carpe Vino restaurant in Auburn gave back.

To help, the restaurant gathered resources from other companies and donors to sell special meals for the relief efforts. As the restaurant began taking orders for special boxed meals, the fundraiser only got bigger. The meals eventually sold out at 300-plus Texas barbecue meals. The effort helped raise several thousands of dollars for the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Millions of lives were directly interrupted or turned upside down during and after Hurricane Harvey. Carpe Vino has family ties to Houston, including the co-owner’s girlfriend’s daughter, who was in 12 feet of water at one point during the storm.

This family connection and the tremendous need for relief across the Houston area inspired the owners to launch their campaign.

Carpe Vino, which is located in downtown Auburn, is family-owned and operated. It is a restaurant, wine bar and wine shop. Check out their menu here.

We are proud of how the Placer County community comes together when others are in need. Much thanks to everyone who helped by supporting this fundraiser or other hurricane relief efforts – you are another great example of why We Heart Placer County!

Buying a home is unlike any experience a family will undertake.

Hopefully, there are more highs than lows throughout the process. In the end, however, the speedbumps you encounter will be long forgotten once you get the keys to your new Placer County home you worked so hard to get.

Buying a home involves a lot of moving pieces, and because of that, there is more than one way to approach this important task.

Here are two ways to buy a home and you’ll quickly see which one is superior.

Option 1

Step 1: Start browsing Redfin and Zillow for your perfect home. This step is a lot of fun.

Step 2: Click on the photo of a real estate agent you see in the listing. Make an appointment.

Step 3: Identify your dream home.

Step 4: Call your bank about a loan.

Step 5: Bank asks you to pump the brakes.

Step 6: Bank requests documents.

Step: 7: You scramble and get loan documents to the bank.

Step 8: You either do not quality/or your timeline is unrealistic.

Step 9: Someone else places an offer on your dream home.

As you can see, this line of events may have started OK, but it quickly took a turn for the worse. It is the backwards way to buy a home! Simply put, the would-be buyer put the cart before the horse.

The following timeline is a more practical way to land your dream home.

Option 2

Step 1: Begin by meeting your lender (iHeartPlacer.com is a great place to start).

Step 2: Inquire about our “Keys on Time” program that will empower you with a pre-approval and accelerating funding.

Step 3: Get your loan underwritten.

Step 4: Go shopping for a home however you like.

Step 5: Because you secured your funding first, with an optimized program, you can truly compete and increase the odds of landing your dream home.

Step 6: Get your keys to your dream home.

There may be more than one way to buy a home, but with iHeartPlacer.com, we want you to go about it the right way. Securing your funding first is the prudent path to travel a competitive, digital market.

In the end, just remember, don’t do it backwards!

Who can resist a sweet treat like a donut in the morning?

Whether you’re looking for an apple fritter, classic glazed, chocolate bar or something non-traditional, the donut shops in Placer County have you covered!

Rocklin, Roseville, Colfax and Granite Bay are home to some of the best Placer County has to offer, according to us, and reviews on Yelp.

Jasmine Donuts

If you live in Rocklin, or nearby, this is the place to go.

What they’re saying: “Best donuts around at a reasonable price. Get there early for the best selection. Trouble is, you can’t just eat one!”

Where: 5903 Sunset Blvd Ste C, Rocklin, California 95677

Foothills Donuts

This shop was established in 1997 and thinks outside the box – Foothills Donuts also has amazing cupcakes.

What they’re saying: “Excellent service, clean, easy to find, and GREAT doughnuts. We tried to get an assortment of glazed, chocolate, cinnamon, apple filled, and raspberry filled. They were all very tasty and fresh. The service was also great and very friendly.”

Where: 4014 Foothills Blvd., Ste. 101, Roseville, CA 95747

Manley Donuts

What they’re saying: “The cake donuts were perfect! The apple fritter, dynamite. If in the Roseville area and have a donut craving, I will drive straight to this shop!”

Where: 1000 Sunrise Ave., Roseville, CA 95661

Buzz Thru Joe’s

This place does more than donuts. It also has some amazing breakfast burritos, specialty bagels and even lunch items.

What they’re saying: “What a cozy spot! Everything is fresh here, and the staff is so welcoming. I feel like I’m at home (if my house was heavily stocked with bagels and donuts and coffee).”

Where: 504 S Auburn Street, Colfax, CA 95713

Bill’s Donuts

Bill’s Donuts is known for its impressive collection of doughy goodness, including its crullers. It’s a family hangout on the weekends.

What they’re saying: “We love bringing the kids on Saturday morning. They have amazing doughnuts and the staff is super nice. A favorite little tradition for sure.”

Where: 8749 Auburn Folsom Road, Granite Bay, CA 95746

Want to name a park? Here is your chance!

The city of Roseville is allowing residents to submit naming suggestions for five new parks. The parks that are in need of name include:

  • A 6-acre neighborhood park adjacent to open space off of Old Coach near Angus in West Roseville.
  • A 12-acre neighborhood park adjacent to open space off of Symphony and Octave near Westbrook Boulevard in West Roseville.
  • A 3-acre site off of Pleasant Grove Boulevard across from St. John’s Church in West Roseville.
  • A 44-acre city-wide park site adjacent to the future West Roseville High School site.
  • A 74-acre city-wide park site with a designated preserve area along the creeks, between Blue Oaks Boulevard, Hayden Parkway and Fiddyment Road in West Roseville

The names must reflect each park’s geographical location, significant natural features, or honor a significant individual. For more criteria and to submit a name, click here.

Roseville Galleria remodel in the works

Submissions must be received by the City Clerk’s Department by 3 p.m. on September 18. The City’s Park Naming Subcommittee will review all of the submissions and submit their selections to the Roseville Parks and Recreation Commission and Roseville City Council. The city council will give the final sign off.

Roseville is full of great community parks. In fact, the city currently has 72 developed parks and facilities.

Roseville’s Broderick Roadhouse brings some of the best burgers to Placer County

Roseville has blossomed into a city with 128,615 people and covers a total of 42 square miles. The city features great schools, endless restaurant options, golf courses, a water park, several corporate headquarters, hiking and biking trails, creeks and more.

For more information about Roseville, make sure you check out our Neighborhood Spotlight videos below!

 

The number of single-family homes sold in Auburn is on the rise.

Specifically, Auburn saw a 7 percent increase this month in the number of single-family homes sold. There are currently 164 listings for sale in Auburn with 24 pending listings.

Custom burger restaurant opens up shop in Auburn

Auburn is a great place to live. It is the county seat of Placer County and is known for its California Gold Rush history. The city, which is registered as a California Historical Landmark, is 7.5 square miles with elevations reaching 1,400 feet. Its residents enjoy a wide range of things to do, including fishing, hiking, biking and more. Auburn features a historic downtown area (shown above), strong art community and the wonderful Foothill Farmers’ Market.

The top things to do in Auburn this weekend 

For more real estate statistics in Placer County, click on the neighborhood pages under the “Explore Placer” tab.

And for more details about the great “Foothill Living” in Auburn, make sure you check out our video below!

 

William Jessup University is one of the fastest-growing universities in the country.

In a recent Chronicle of Higher Education study, the Christian college, which is located in Rocklin, placed seventh on a list that featured “Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) member schools, and all private, nonprofit and Christian schools in the country.” The study was conducted between 2005 and 2015.

The university, which arrived in Rocklin in 2004, saw its enrollment jump from 532 students in 2005 to 1,161 in 2015 – a 118 percent increase. William Jessup’s 2017-18 academic year began on Aug. 21 with enrollment hitting nearly 1,500.

The university offers 22 majors and more than 50 concentrations. Also offered is an accelerated working professionals degree program called the School of Professional Studies. Graduates of the university do well – according to a university survey, “within six months of graduating, 94 percent had obtained full or part-time employment, or were enrolled in graduate school.”

The school is WSCUC (WASC) and ABHE accredited and has two locations – Rocklin’s 130-acre main campus with a second campus in San Jose, where the university originated.

For more information, visit the university’s website.

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New Homes in Placer County

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