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Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:10:38 -0800

ABOUT THE TOWN OF PARADISE

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:37:09 -0800

The Town of Paradise, incorporated in 1979, is a beautiful community with a population of nearly 27,000 and another 20,000 people living in the adjacent unincorporated area of Magalia. It is located 97 miles North of Sacramento and 12 miles Northeast of Chico and situated in the Western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The community forms a sanctuary for wild game since there is no hunting allowed within the perimeter.

Paradise offers its residents a rare combination of advantages. With its great natural beauty and charm, it offers excellent home sites, a wide choice of recreational pursuits, cultural activities and facilities for shopping and personal services.

Recreational pursuits are plentiful as this beautiful countryside offers activities for the hiker, fisherman, hunter, horseman and golfer. Lake Oroville is within ten minutes of Paradise for water sports, house boating and fishing.

Paradise offers a delightful climate which is superior to that of much of the rest of Northern California. We boast four distinct seasons. Our foothill location and prevailing wind direction eliminate smog conditions completely. Its 18 square miles and has an altitude of 1200 to 2400 feet. This altitude keeps it cooler in the Summer and with less Winter fog than is found on the valley floor below. Our Winters offer an occasional light and beautiful snowfall which enhances Paradise's natural beauty.

Paradise has a progressive and excellent school system. We are in close proximity to California State University Chico and Butte Community College.

Stop by and say "hi" on your next visit!

Paradise California

Property Investments in Paradise CA

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:50:06 -0800

Real Estate for Today’s Paradise California Investment Sellers and Investment Buyers

Are you looking for alternative investment options to the stock market? Many experienced investors are turning to the real estate market to generate current cash flow, short term capital gains, and the generation of long term wealth.

Real estate is an important component in any investor's overall investment portfolio. In fact, real estate is often included within many investors' mutual funds or real estate investment trusts, because of its ability to react in a different fashion to market conditions than traditional investments often do.

Now is one of the best buying opportunities for Paradise real estate investors seeking to purchase physical properties as investments, as the prices have dropped significantly over the past few years.

With reduced prices, investors have the opportunity to buy into this lucrative market at a low point. And, since the golden rule of investing is to buy low and sell high, the Paradise buying opportunity is ripe!

Whether you are a real estate investor looking to flip properties for a profit, or an individual searching for their first piece of real estate, declining property values present an ideal buying situation.

I have the expertise required as a real estate investor’s agent to help you locate your ideal investment property. Whether you are looking for properties to flip, rent or hold for a medium to long-term gain, I can assist you in locating, negotiating and closing on your piece of investment real estate.

For more information, you can visit my Web site or feel free to give me a call.

Sincerely,

Tammy Vertrees, Paradise California Realtor

530-413-8383 Direct

www.TammyVertrees.com

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Finding Your Ideal Magalia or Paradise CA Home

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:30:19 -0800

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

Finding Your Ideal Magalia or Paradise CA Home

As the old saying goes, real estate is all about location, location, location. But, there is a lot more to it than just plain geography when it comes to finding your perfect home. There are a lot of things to consider during the search because, for most, a home is the most significant purchase they will ever make.

Choose A Good Magalia or Paradise Area

When searching for your perfect home, the obvious place to start is with the selection of a location. If you have children, you may want to choose a home that is close to good schools and is also located in a family-oriented neighborhood. Many people also look for a home that offers a short commute to and from work. If you are shopping within a specific price range, you can also narrow the choices by finding an area that offers the best value for your dollar.

Select A Style

The perfect home for you is one that has all of the elements that you want. Whether it's a garage, basement, extra bedroom or bath, a large kitchen, fireplace or open floor plan, choosing the style of home that you want is an important first step in finding the perfect place to hang your hat. You may also want to consider whether you prefer a single-level or two-story home. Many home buyers also factor in floor plans when searching for a house, including those that offer an open and flowing design.

Get Pre-Qualified

Now that you know what you want and where you want it, it's important to find out how much of a home you can afford. Pre-qualification is not the same as pre-approval. With pre-qualification, your lender will request specific information relating to your income and expenditures and will offer a possible price range for you to keep in mind while shopping. Pre-qualification does not guarantee that you will receive an approval, but it does give you a good indication of how much you can afford based on your current situation.

Talk To A Magalia and Paradise REALTOR®

Nobody knows the real estate business like a REALTOR®, so let them help you in your search for the perfect home. They can answer questions relating to the neighborhood, recent inspections on a particular home and any needed repairs. Because a REALTOR® has access to a number of area homes, they have the ability to show you various choices within your preferred area and price range.

Ask About Amenities

One of the most significant concerns of any home buyer is what a home has to offer. Utilities, such as water, sewer, cable, phone and electricity are just a few of the things to consider. If the home is in a subdivision that requires the payment of association dues, how will these funds be used? What amenities does the home owner's association offer? These are all questions to ask your REALTOR® when shopping for the perfect home.

In conclusion, you should know that the search for your perfect home is a journey. It may be either long or short and with or without some bumps along the way, but the greatest satisfaction will be at the journey's end and your future's beginning.

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Weekly Market Report for Paradise and Magalia California

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:49:19 -0800

Weekly Market Report for Paradise and Magalia California

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

Town of Paradise First-Time Homebuyers Program, Paradise CA

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:40:33 -0800

Town of Paradise First-Time Homebuyers Program for Paradise, CA

Tammy Vertrees, Paradise California Realtor®

The Town of Paradise offers a deferred, low-interest loan to eligible first-time homebuyers based on Federal 2011 Income Limits as downpayment assistance to purchase a Paradise, CA home. A first-time homebuyer is someone who has not owned a home in the past three years. The loan is a “bridge” or “gap” loan meaning that the loan amount is based on the difference between what the borrower can afford and the amount of money needed to purchase the Paradise CA home. The loan is secured by a note and a deed of trust and does not require monthly payments. The loan is due when the Paradise CA home is sold; the homeowner stops using it as their principal residence; or the title is transferred out of the name of the original borrower.

The first step of the process is to select a lender from the list of approved Certified Lenders. The lender will pre-qualify you for a loan and determine the amount you can afford on a house. The second step is to select a Paradise CA realtor from the Certified Realtors list to help you select a Paradise home. The Town of Paradise offers free First Time Homebuyer Workshops through the Community Housing and Credit Counseling program.

Please contact me to see if this program will work for you! 530-413-8383

Five Keys To Successful Negotiations

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 09:49:42 -0800

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

Five Keys To Successful Negotiations

Whether you're a buyer or a seller you want to succeed in the realty marketplace. That's natural and reasonable, but what are the steps you need to triumph?

Negotiations are a complex matter and all transactions are unique. Both sides -- buyer and seller -- want to feel that the outcome favors them, or at least represents a fair balance of interests. In the usual case there is a bit of bluff, some give-and-take, and neither party gets everything they want.

So how do you develop a strong bargaining position, one which will help you get the most from a transaction? Experience shows there are five basic keys which will determine who wins at the negotiating table.

1. What Does The Market Say?

At various times we're in a "buyer's" market, a "seller's" market, or a market where supply and demand are roughly equal. If possible, you want to be in the market at a time when it favors your position as a buyer or seller.

Because all properties are unique -- it is possible to buck general trends and have more leverage than the marketplace would seem to allow. For instance, if you have a property in a desirable neighborhood with few sales, you may be able to get a better deal than elsewhere. Or, if you're a buyer who can quickly close, that might be an important negotiating chip when dealing with an owner who just got a new job 500 miles away.

2. Who Has Leverage?

If you're on the front page of the local paper because your business went bust -- and the buyer knows it -- you have less clout in the bargaining process. Alternatively, if you're among six buyers clamoring for that one special property, forget about dictating an agreement -- the owner can sit back and pick the offer which represents the highest price and best terms.

3. What Are The Details?

A lot of attention in real estate is paid to transaction prices. This surely makes sense, but the key to a good deal may be more complex.

Consider two identical properties that each sell on the same day for $275,000. The houses are the same, the sale prices are the same, but are the deals the same? Maybe not. For instance, one owner may have agreed to paint the property, replace the roof, purchase a new kitchen refrigerator, and pay the first $5,000 of the buyer's closing costs. The second owner made no concessions.

In this example, the first house was actually sold at discount -- the $275,000 purchase price less the value of the roof repairs, closing credit, and other items. If you're a buyer, this is the deal you want. If you're a seller, you would prefer to be the second owner and give up nothing.

4. What About Financing?

Real estate transactions involve a trade -- houses for money. We know the house is there, but what about financing? There are several factors that impact the money issue:

Has the buyer been pre-qualified or pre-approved by a lender? Meeting with a lender before looking at homes does not usually guarantee that financing is absolutely, unquestionably available -- a loan application can be declined because of appraisal problems, title issues, survey findings, and other reasons. However, buyers who are "pre-qualified" or "pre-approved" (these terms do not have a standard meaning around the country) at least have some idea of their ability to finance a home and know that they are likely to qualify for certain loan programs.

The result is that pre-qualified buyers represent less risk to owners than a purchaser who has never met with a lender. If the seller accepts an offer from a buyer with unknown financial strength, it's possible that the transaction could fail because the buyer can't get a loan. Meanwhile, the owner may have lost the opportunity to sell to a qualified buyer.

The lower the interest rate, the larger the pool of potential buyers. More buyers equal more potential demand, good news for sellers. Alternatively, high rates or even rising rates may drive buyers from the marketplace -- and that's not good for anyone.

It used to be that down payments were a major financing hurdle -- but not anymore. For those with good credit, loans with 5 percent down or less are now widely available. In fact, 100 percent financing, mortgages with nothing down, are now being made by conventional lenders. Reduced down payment requirements are good for both buyers and sellers.

5. Who Has Expertise?

Imagine you're in a fight. The other guy has black belts in 12 martial arts -- and you don't. Who's going to win?

Brokers have long represented sellers, and now buyer brokerage is entirely common. In a transaction where one side has representation and the other does not, who has the advantage at the bargaining table?

Choosing The Best Paradise California Home

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:38:41 -0800

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

Choosing The Best Paradise California Home

After weeks of searching for your next home, you now have it narrowed down to two great options. One offers a shorter commute, but the other offers more square footage for your growing family. How can you make the best choice?

There are several strategies you can employ in your decision making process. Above all, be confident in your decision making abilities. "The fear of making serious decisions is a new kind of fear, called decidophobia," proclaimed by Walter Kaufmann at Princeton University in 1973. Worry and procrastination do nothing to aid the process, so buyers, be confident that you will make a sound choice.

Pro/Con list: In this case, you are deciding between two houses as your prospective home. For each house, divide a sheet of paper into two columns: pro and con. Be realistic about what the positive and negative factors would be for each purchase. Considerations could include: price, location, schools, repairs, square footage, floorplans, street noise, neighborhood value, comparables, and gut intuition.

Brainstorm scenarios: Chances are, whatever house you decided upon will be your residence for many years to come. Try and think ahead to situations that may arise in the future, and how each residence would affect those situations. Do you have aging parents that could move in? If so, then which house provides the best floorplan for this? Planning on having children? Check out ratings on local schools.

Do the math: Business executives might call this the "cost/benefit analysis." Buying a home is a huge financial decision, and while personal preferences (e.g. location, schools, square footage) all come into play in homebuying, many purchases are based on what makes the best financial sense. Discuss numbers and neighborhood comparables with your real estate agent. One home may be a smaller dollar amount, but the other may be a better deal in the long run. Some neighborhoods are up and coming, while others have come and gone. Are either homes overpriced or under priced for their neighborhoods? Do either homes need repairs or updates?

Priorities list: Yes, you know you want the pool, landscaping, granite counters, close proximity to work, extra bath, and the list goes on. But when push comes to shove, and it might, what items are your priority, really? For some, driving a longer commute is worth having a larger house or a cheaper price. For other buyers, the exact opposite can be true.

Change perspectives: Sometimes you simply must step out of your own shoes to see a situation clearly. There are many different ways to approach this decision. You can look at it from an emotional point of view (which home do you love), an intuitive view (what does your gut tell you), and even a devil's advocate view (what if). Experts consider this the "Six Thinking Hats," introduced by Edward de Bono in a book of the same title, where you put on six different hats during a decision making process. Try and see the buying process from the perspective of your spouse, your children, friends, and even your worst enemy.

Finally, be realistic in your own abilities. While the final decision rests on your capable shoulders, you should rely on the professionals that are by your side. This includes your agent, lender, attorney, and even your family. And while you are the final say, remember that you have a team to help give you information to fuel that sound decision.

Making Your Home Appealing On A Budget

Tue, 24 May 2011 15:15:44 -0800

Real Estate for Today’s Magalia and Paradise California Home Sellers and Home Buyers

Making Your Home Appealing On A Budget

With the uncertainty of the economy, many people are looking for ways to cut back. When it comes to selling their home, homeowners often don't want to put much money into getting it ready for the sale. While that's certainly understandable, properly preparing a home before listing it goes a long way to helping attract serious buyers and offers.

It's not that you have to upgrade or completely renovate a room in order to make your home more marketable. Polishing up and tiding up a few key areas can have a remarkable impact. With that in mind, you don't have to spend a fortune to do this. In fact, you can make your home appealing even on a budget. Here's a few ways.

Whether or not your buyers cook, all seem to be interested in the kitchen. So this is where we begin. Chipped cabinets with peeling paint are unsightly. I've seen kitchens where the countertops are nice — maybe granite — but the cabinets are a shocking mess. It's a simple solution to reface them. It doesn't have to cost a lot. A new paint job for the kitchen walls and cabinets can give the whole area an updated look and make the kitchen area inviting even to those who rarely use it! You might also consider replacing the cabinet handles—you'd be amazed how much difference that makes. One last thing, don't leave dirty dishes in the sink. Remember the adage: the way you live in a home is not the way you stage it.

This next tip refers not to one particular area but instead to highly trafficked areas. Doorways, hallways, the lower part of walls, and baseboard trim—anywhere else where those nasty scuff marks, fingerprints, and dust settle in. Put a little elbow grease into washing and/or repainting those areas and notice what a difference it makes. I remember when I used to list real estate I went into a home and saw tons of pictures taped to a teenager's door. It was a nightmare. The homeowner eventually peeled off the pictures and repainted the door, so much more attractive. If you're dealing with a small space, you might try something that may seem counter-intuitive. The Star Tribune reported that moving furniture 1.5 to 2 feet away from the walls can help to make a room look larger. Pressing furniture up against the wall gives it a crammed look.

Mow your lawn and water the plants. It sounds so basic but really this is often overlooked. In the hurry, to pack boxes, shove items in closets, and get the pets out of the house before an open house, homeowners sometimes neglect to take care of the landscape. Thus flowers start to wilt, the grass browns and the overall yard has an everyone-forgot-about-me look.

Grout your way into buyers' hearts. Yes, the fine lines do matter. Walk into your bathroom after reading this article and look carefully at your tub and tile on the floor. Does it look grubby? Need a good scrubbing? Or does it really need to be re-grouted? That soap scum build-up and mold will really stand out to buyers. And while fixing it doesn't take much, sometimes homeowners simple opt not to take care of this before listing. Maybe they presume that it's not that big of a deal and that it's an easy fix. The first part is incorrect and the latter is absolutely correct—so roll up your sleeves and fill in the lines. It could just lead to the signing on the line on sales contract. Best advice is to see your own home the way you survey a home that you'd like to buy—that's typically with a very critical eye. Then fix it up. The changes could result in a faster sale at a higher price.

Plan to Plant

Wed, 11 May 2011 06:15:22 -0800