Sonoma County and Lake County are brimming with possibilities when it comes to homes available for purchase. I would like to take the opportunity to share with you but a few of the homes in our inventory.

The first I would like to highlight is the property located at 6680 Sonoma Mountain Road, South East Santa Rosa.  It is a charming one bedroom/one bath set in the woods near the Jack London State Historic Park.  The property offers lots of privacy at a great price for someone who knows how to show a home a little TLC.

Next on the list to show off is a 4 bedroom/2 batch corner lot property located at 501 Lincoln Lane on the East side of Petaluma.  This single level home showcases a beautiful koi bond and relaxing backyard patio.  This is one that won’t last long!

On to Lake County with a 2 bedroom/2 bath mobile home set down a country lane with 3+- acres containing beautiful fruit trees and a seasonal creek.  In addition to the updated kitchen and baths, the living room boasts a woodstove to keep you warm on those chilling evenings.  The property is located at 11933 Candy Lane in Lower Lake.

How does 5,000+- square feet of land with river views grab you?  This property, located at 17783 Santa Rosa Avenue in Guernville is cleared and ready to build with pad in place and public water and sewer ready, not to mention utilities nearby.  River views for the summer or everyday just waiting for the right person to scoop it up.

Make an offer on the multi-unit property with a new price to help it move.  There is a 2 bedroom single family home along with a duplex (each unit with a nice 3 bedroom/2 bath).  This gem is close to town and the school.  The address is 21042 Barnes Road in Middletown.

Banks are not in the business of holding properties and this one is ready for its next owner and the family.  This 4 bedroom/3 ½ bath home is located in a well-maintained neighborhood close to everything.  There is a private backyard and an attached 2-car garage waiting for you at 4040 Louis Krohn Drive in South West Santa Rosa.

Last, we have a gem of a home located in the prestigious neighborhood of Bennett Valley in Santa Rosa.  This pristine property is within walking distance of the golf course and Daniel Galvin Community Park with views of Annadel State Park.  Expertly remodeled for maximum enjoyment, the home is ideal for entertaining friends and family.  2742 Canterbury Drive will not last long.

For complete listings and more information about the above described properties, please visit my website at www.martinlevy.com or feel free to give me a call at either 707-303-3333.

Pay attention to these things, even if you are not currently in the market for a new home. You will be glad you did when you get your chance to buy a home later.

I have a spot in my filing cabinet that is dedicated to pages I have ripped out of magazines about houses/beds/baths/kitchens/living rooms/remodeling. I look at colors, textures, furniture settings. It doesn’t matter to me that I may never get any of my dream houses or rooms. I have been learning what I like.

Being a part of the pre-computer era, I prefer to have hard copy of my dreams. No, I didn’t grow up in the Stone Age. We had a television (not one in every room of the house), but even then I knew I hated the Brady family’s décor. I loved the house the Charmed Ones live in. I cringed every time the house was demolished.

What are you interested in? When you get to the point that you are ready to look for a new home, are you going to be ready to make some decisions or do you just intend to know it when you find it?

I can tell you on behalf of Martin Levy and his staff and all real estate agents everywhere that they prefer people who know their minds to people with just a limited idea of what they want. Time is valuable to all parties involved in a real estate transaction from you, the one(s) purchasing the home to contractors repairing needed parts of the home to your devoted real estate agent.  All parties have their part to play in the process.  To ensure the best possible experience, a homebuyer should be prepared with a list of wants and needs.  This will allow the real estate agent the opportunity to get to work quicker and in a far more directed manner.

Begin with the end in mind.  There are numerous ways to create a list or a vision of what is desired by you in your next home.  Take pictures, create a collage, insert words and descriptive phrases, put together a sort or vision board for your home.  Be specific in this fun and creative task.  Not only will you enjoy creating this vision or dream board, it can then be used by your real estate professional to allow for a much better understanding of your wants and needs.

I am endlessly curious. What are some of the things you want in your dream house?

Sometimes the biggest surprises in the purchase of a home aren’t ones that put money in the pocketbook.  What was once a deal on property that used to be priced out of your league; bringing you visions of beautiful renovations and unique decor, can morph into headaches all the Aspirin in the world can’t fix. This can be especially true when purchasing short sales and REO’s.

This is why it’s necessary to understand the difference between a home inspection and an appraisal. The typical buyer will need both, and in many cases both will be required under mortgage loan stipulations.

Appraisal

It’s important to understand that while many appraisers will note obvious conditions of a home such as structural or foundational components; the appraisal is not a home inspection. The appraiser seeks to “estimate” the current market value of a home based on various criteria. The appraiser likely will not focus on structural issues, or non-obvious areas of the house, especially if they do not have an impact on the value of the home.

Home Inspection

This is where surprises can occur. While the appraisal may delight you as to a great value and substantial equity; the drain on your pocketbook can occur when problems with heating, plumbing, foundational issues and more are discovered after the fact.

The home inspection seeks to identify these potential problems before they become a problem for your bank account. While a home inspection does not focus on market value, it will be critical for you as the buyer to ensure that your home inspector is certified, qualified and does a thorough job inspecting everything from the electrical to the attic and roof.

For more information on home inspection check out the American Society of Home Inspectors at: http://www.ashi.org/

Are you seeing signs of an improving economy? Let us know.

Within the past few years, economic news was most likely something many of us avoided. Or at the least many of us dreaded reading about. Unemployment news typically offers easier insight into the state of our local economy. On November 19^th, our local Press Democrat reported a slight drop in unemployment figures for the month of October.

Could this be a glimmer of hope?

The reported jobless claims dropped approximately .5% to an overall 9.7% unemployment rate. While that number might seem insignificant, the jobless rate stood at 10.1% one year prior. The current rate of unemployment is nearly on par with the national average at 9.6%.

With early holiday spending data showing an increase over the prior year; there are some signs of slow movement within the economy. How this impacts the housing market remains to be seen. It’s quite difficult to speculate on information better left to economists; however, sometimes consumer perception is a catalyst to better things.

As we head into the New Year, let us hope that the perception and news continue to be positive. As citizens of this beautiful region, no matter the news or outlook we continue to remain strong. Please continue to support our local retailers and businesses, lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. Sometimes a little good news is all people need.

Thank you.



Dear Friends,

Real Estate is important to us and likely to you. However, as the temperature drops around the North Bay we should remember to think about those without a roof over their head or food in their belly.

With the season of giving upon us, we are reminded of the great need in our
community this year.  Once again, we will be collecting non-perishable food
for the local food banks.  As a means of saying thank you, when you make a
donation or two, your name will be entered in our drawing to win one of two
$25 gift cards to the local store of your choice.

By giving a little we can all help those with a little less.  Please make
your donations and sign up for the drawing at our office at

1303 College Avenue
Santa Rosa
707-303-3333

Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes for a blessed and joyous holiday season.

Sincerely,
Martin

facebook.com/martinlevyrealtor

3930 Weimer Way, Lakeport

Lakeport.  With phenomenal 240° blue water, golden mountain and green pasture views, this residential parcel sits high above Clear Lake.  Measuring over 6 acres, the property already has a level building pad, an installed shared well and a 3 bedroom perc.  Easy access by a paved road straight to the property makes this the  perfect spot to build a dream  home.

16742 Highway 116, Guerneville

Walking distance to town, this tree-studded parcel is a rare find with quiet and spectacular river vista potential.  The residential lot includes a 2 bedroom home site plan with 800+ gallon septic system and leach fields.  All utilities are at the property line of this fine parcel that is convenient to both local shopping and commute corridors and the Pacific Coast.

Redwood Valley.  On 12 terrific acres, this country property consists of 2 homes and lots of potential.  Nicely separated for maximum privacy and solitude, there is a remodeled 2 bedroom home with a fireplace in the upper pasture and a second one bedroom cabin on city services near the lower portion of the property perfect for income.  In addition there are multiple barns and outbuildings, some fenced pastures, an older orchard and spectacular views.

1300 Road B, Redwood Valley

432 N. Dora Street, Ukiah

Ukiah. This charming cottage in downtown has a nicely updated kitchen and bath and hardwood and tile flooring in its bright interior.  Recently painted, the 3 bedroom home of nearly 1,100 sf is on a meticulously landscaped city lot with a private backyard, covered patio, automatic sprinklers and a detached storage shed.

608 Von Reimers Lane, NW Santa Rosa

Enhanced at every turn with sun-filled windows and high-end lighting, the expansive floorplan of this estate property is designed for both formal entertainment and casual living.  Under vaulted ceilings, the great room of the single-story home has rich laminate flooring and a wood-burning fireplace with custom mantel and tile surround.  Dining is a delight in both the formal dining room and the spacious breakfast area.   Nearby a chef’s dream kitchen is equipped with top quality appliances, granite countertops and custom cabinetry.  Decorator paint adds warmth and sophistication in the home that boasts 3 large bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths including a wonderful master suite and a private guest suite.   As lovely outside as in, a fabulous backyard playground includes a huge stamped concrete patio with a built-in kitchen, bar, fireplace and water feature.  An inground pool with a kid-friendly slide offers hours of entertainment and the good-size barn has one horse stall and a tack room.  On 3.5+ level acres with wide-open views, the property has a detached 3-car garage and lots of parking.