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Crescent City, CA Real Estate News

By Chris Freck, EstaR Mortgage, A Bilingual Brokerage
(EstaR Mortgage)
VA Mortgage Loans in Crescent  CA and 100% VA Loans -the best loan program in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for both honorably discharged Vets and active duty military personnel. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - No monthly mortgage insurance added to your payment. - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs. So how do you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Crescent  CA? The first step is to verify your eligibility. Eligibility is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approved Windsor  CA VA mortgage loan lender to order your COE ...
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By Fran Gatti, Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity
(RE/MAX Integrity)
Fran Gatti - #1 in Sales in Del Norte County and Crescent City Since 2008. #1 in 2014 by volume and units sold*. What does it take to be a great agent? One who year in and year out continues to stay at the top of their game and #1 in their market? Why do some folks rise in their field while others barely hang on? I'm learning more and more each passing day that to stay at the top isn't that easy. You can never rest on your prior record. You must continue to do the things that got you to the top in the first place. In other professions, this may not be true, but it certainly is in real estate. My husband is the best teacher around. His students love him. They are engaged and enjoy learning and actually are bummed when summer comes because they will miss Mr. Gatti. He's been teaching for ...
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By Chris Freck, EstaR Mortgage, A Bilingual Brokerage
(EstaR Mortgage)
Rural Housing Home Buyer Assistance Ready to Own Your Own Home? Low - Moderate Income Household? Live in a Rural Area? Rural Development May Be Able to Help Check out this special video USDA Rural Housing Loans ♦♦     No Down Payment Required ♦♦     No Pre-determined Purchase Price Limits*  ♦♦     Not Limited to First Time Home Buyers ♦♦     Flexible Credit and Qualifying Ratios ♦♦     30 Year Fixed Term ♦♦     No Cash Reserve Requirements ♦♦     All Appraiser-Required Repairs and Closing Costs Can Be Financed Based Upon the Appraised Value Above the Purchase Price ♦♦     Loans May be Obtained for Appraised Value plus Guarantee Fee ♦♦     Eligible Gift, Grant, Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC), Buydown Allowed ♦♦     Single Family Residence, Condos & Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) Eli...
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By Fran Gatti, Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity
(RE/MAX Integrity)
Here is my year end wrap up of the Del Norte County Real Estate Market. Sales for 2013 were record setting in the number of residential transactions at 292.  The Del Norte Association of Realtors MLS history goes back to 2008. The average sales price for 2013 was 26% lower than 2008. What this tells us is that if you purchased your home for $200,000 in 2008, you would be looking at a sales price today of approximately $148,000. Ouch!  The average  sale price did increase in 2013 over 2012’s average by approximately $3000. This may be the start of the upward trend in prices that homeowner’s are looking for, however one has to be cautiously optimistic with this news as interest rates are predicted to increase by many market experts as well as increasingly stringent guidelines for buyers ...
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By Fran Gatti, Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity
(RE/MAX Integrity)
Tall Ships are in Crescent City Harbor today. Be there at 4:00 for a tour of the ships for a small donation.  The weather today is delightful with a breeze in the harbor so bring a sweatshirt or sweater and have a great time. Call Fran Gatti at 707-218-8162 for all your Del Norte County Real Estate needs. www.FranGatti.com
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
There are quite a few bank owned properties (REO's) that need a bit of work done. For example, owners started to do upgrades, ran out of money, and lost the home. Most investors here in Crescent City, Del Norte County California buy low priced properties and fix them up themselves, then turn them into rentals. One particular client of mine only buys multi-unit properties but those don't come on the market much now. But there are great buys in single family homes under $100,000 and sometimes quite a bit under that. These are properties that need CASH TO CLOSE. There's one for sale right now that looks very promising: - 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom - 1974 square feet - on .33 acres - built in 1974 - renovations were started but not finished This property started out at $102,900 NOW FOR SALE AT ...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
Although we hear that this is a seller's market and that multiple offers are the norm, here in Del Norte County, California we still see some bank owned (REO) homes and short sales. These are slowing down, however, therefore I urge first time home buyers to get in touch with me before even this inventory has dried out. HERE IS HOW I CAN HELP YOU GET THE BEST PRICE: There are quite a few provisions in a Purchase Agreement that can save keep buyers from buying an overpriced home. Now, I know this is becoming a seller's market, but not all buyers have cash in the bank to cover the difference between the home's value as appraised and what the sellers want. That is why I always have two contingencies in the Purchase Agreement: 1. The loan contingency to stay in effect until the designated lo...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
I found a spring phenomena I have never seen before, a baby pine cone! Normally I don't pay attention to pine cones until they start dropping out of the tall trees here in the fall.  Once I start taking photos, especially on a beautiful sunny spring day, it's hard to stop. My dogs and I first went up the hill on our normal late afternoon walk where I talk some wildflower photos.  Our neighbor has a lot of fruit trees on their huge property, the ones which attract wild animals in the fall like bears and deer. All of them are in full bloom and I've included some here. Rhododendrons are flowers in Del Norte County that bloom everywhere, a beautiful wild flower. I also spotted some of them and added a couple here. Another thing we have lots of up in the land of the mighty Redwood tree, are ...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
It happened again, a lady called me from out of town and wanted to know where to stay during their vacation here in Crescent City, California. She wanted somewhere quiet and nice. She knew I was a real estate broker, but hoped that I would recommend a hotel. SO WHAT MADE HER THINK I COULD HELP HER? When I first came to Crescent City, California and started in real estate, my marketing plan included putting up several websites and these included: 1. www.crescentcitylighthouseinn.com 2. www.crescentcityaccommodations.com On them I listed all the hotels and motels in the area. THE ONLY Realtor® ON THIS WEBSITE IS ME. Nowadays, I still get between 400 and 600 UNIQUE VISITORS to the websites every month. Obviously they don't all call me, they click through to the hotel(s) that appeal to them...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
There is no such thing as a "handshake deal" if you have anything to do with real estate. Not only that, but you might have to prove what "position" you have in the purchase. 1. If you buy a piece of real estate, get it recorded. Or the seller might try to sell it again; then you have to prove that you are the rightful owner (by having your deed/contract recorded) and the erstwhile seller has no right to sell it (again). 2. If you sell a piece of real estate and you finance any part of it, get it recorded. Sellers used to do some owner financing, in essence, being the 2nd in line to get paid. In either case, 1st, 2nd or 3rd in line, WHO records first is 1st in line to get paid. Nowadays with so many foreclosures and short sales, the homeowner who is not in 1st position has a hard time t...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
Q:  WHY ARE BUYERS DOING THEIR OWN IDX SEARCHES ON REALTOR®' WEBSITES BUT NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH BY CALLING OR EMAILING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION? A: Most probably because buyers see photos and descriptions which gives them enough information to know whether they have an interest or not.   Q: BUYERS FEEL AN OBLIGATION ONCE THEY MAKE THAT CALL TO THE REALTOR® A: At least in California, unless you sign a "Buyers Representation Agreement," have not asked the REALTOR® to make an offer on your behalf, have not had the REALTOR® sign you in anywhere like new construction, there is no obligation on your behalf.    Q: A REALTOR® IS TOO EXPENSIVE: A: Unless you have a written agreement that states otherwise, the REALTOR® gets paid a commission out of the sellers proceeds when you purchase the home w...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
The following are questions I've been getting during the past couple of months from first time home buyers. They are in no particular order, but have caused concern for my clients. Your REALTOR(R) or your lender can go into further detail; rules and regulations might vary from State to State; tax laws might apply so you might want to talk to your accountant or attorney. THESE ARE THE FAST ANSWERS I GIVE MY CLIENTS: Question I: Why does Realtor.com still show the home that I am buying and have an accepted offer on as "active" for sale if, in fact, it is under a "contingency contract"? Answer: Our MLS in Del Norte County, California only allows for three different entries when it comes to a home under contract: 1. Contingency Sale: This means that there is a contract but in order to go fo...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
Please keep in mind that I am in Del Norte County, Northern California, on the ocean, with Redwood trees that need a lot of rain and fog during the year. So "weather" plays a big part of what you DON'T want to see at a listing. This is so important in California because agents, both from the buyers and the sellers side, have to put their VISUALLY OBSERVED problem findings onto the Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement. And unless an agent is BLIND, the problems listed below should be disclosed if not done by the seller: SO HERE IS MY LIST OF THINGS I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHEN VIEWING A LISTING: 1. Dry rot: look at the siding around the outside of the house, at ground level. Or look under the eaves and where the rain gutters are connected (or if the gutters are not connected properly ag...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
THROUGH THE BUYERS EYES, THEY WERE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. This past month I took a client around to view several homes that she wanted to look at. She had been driving around various neighborhoods and certain ones - with the "for sale" sign out front - intrigued her. They all seemed to compare with the each other as seen from the curb. BUT WHAT SHE DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, ARE THE VARIATIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS. You see, certain neighborhoods have much HIGHER COMPS than others. This means, that all the homes in certain areas HAD SOLD CONSISTANTLY FOR MORE THAN IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS Some of the reasons for this: 1. There is "regularity" in the home construction and design. They were all built around the same time, using similar materials. 2. The homes have by and large been ...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
This is the second in a series of blogs that I am writing to FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS in Crescent City, Del Norte County, California. I recently had the pleasure of helping a couple find their first home and, in this market where houses go under contract within a few days, it was very instructive. So let me present the scenario because, chances are, this is what you will be faced with as well. SCENARIO: 1. Couple is pre-approved for only enough loan to purchase a lower end bank owned (REO) or Short Sale home. (Pre-approval is a MUST before looking at homes - ask me what that entails.) 2. The two places to SEARCH for homes in this category is the local Multiple Listing Service click here to check out my IDX/MLS link or www.HOMEPATH.COM (input the city you are in). 3. REALTOR(R) sets up show...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
If you are a first time home buyer in Crescent City, Del Norte County, California, there are three things you should do immediately: 1. Contact a Realtor(R) of your choice. If you don't have someone in mind, ask around, I'm sure your friends can recommend someone. You can also go on the Internet, look for Realtor(S) in your area, check out their websites and blogs and make up your own mind. Call the one you choose. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you anything! The Realtor(R) gets paid by commission out of the seller's proceeds of the home you purchase.BUT I HOPE YOU WILL CALL ME, HELLA ROTHWELL. I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER RIGHT HERE IN CRESCENT CITY.   2. Get pre-qualified - and your #1, the Realtor(R) can recommend some that she has worked with in the past if you don't have one in mind. Do...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
As a real estate broker here in Crescent City, Del Norte County, California, I find that a lot of our calls from buyers come in when the sun is shining, the ocean sparkles, and its the weekend! THE TRIFECTA OF THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS HERE. I can pretty much guarantee that I will be busy the next few days because we are having that type of weather. Also, we are located on US Hwy. 101 that runs from the Canadian to the Mexican border, so lots of people drive the beautiful coastal highway on the weekends - rather than take the Interior and faster I-5 to get where they are going!!! This means I get calls from buyers who see my signs and want information RIGHT NOW. AND I AM AVAILABLE TO THEM. These are the weekends when I definitely answer all my phone calls, because I might only get that o...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
Having just gone through one of these lengthy short sales, certain aspects are still fresh in my mind and that's why I have been blogging about them the last few days. TODAY'S SHORT SALE MUSING IS ABOUT "WALKING AWAY' WHICH WAS AN OPTION A COUPLE OF TIMES 1. When the appraisal comes back and it has mold issues that need to be fixed before funding. 2. For some reason the seller/lender tried to stay with their position: this is an "as is" transaction. NO IT'S NOT! When the buyer can't get his loan because of these issues, there is no such thing as "as is." Do you expect my buyer to hire licensed contractors to fix these items BEFORE THEY OWN THE HOUSE? NEVER HAPPEN! "As is", in a normal situation, means that the seller "discloses" the mold, and my buyer agrees to it. BUT THE BUYER WON'T G...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
We all dream of the perfect spot for retirement, and it's fun to look at Internet homes for sale during those moments. But it's a far cry to do all this in your head, with only photos of homes and pretty pictures of the scenery. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. With my IDX so prominent on several websites, some of the emails that come in are from these dreamers. AND THIS IS WHAT I TELL THEM. "You absolutely must come here, look around, see if you like our community and everything that it has to offer." For some potential retirees, Del Norte County in California is perfect: 1. It's a beautiful area close to the ocean, tall Redwood trees, national and regional parks, and the Smith River. 2. We are quite remote from BIG cities, which means clean air and relatively little traffic. 3. Crescent City has a ...
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By Hella Mitschke Rothwell, Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
((831) 626-4000)
If REALTOR(S) tell you they won't show you homes before you get pre-approved for a loan by a lender, they have a very good reason. WHY IS THAT, YOU ASK? Because in this market of tight inventory, to make an offer without that pre-approval letter is useless. Sellers and their listing agents need it in order to accept YOUR offer and take the property off the market. WHY WOULD THEY NOT ACCEPT MY OFFER, YOU ASK? If they accepted your offer and thereby miss out on other buyers who ARE pre-approved and are able to close earlier, it will cost the seller extra  on mortgages, taxes, insurances, utilities, etc. during that time. PLUS THE SELLER HAS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL GET THE LOAN When I write an offer on behalf of a buyer, I always leave the loan contingency in "until funded". That means ...
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