Roseville Real Estate Podcast with the Demattei Team

Did You Miss the Fall Harvest Festival in Roseville?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:48:00 -0800

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We recently had the pleasure of participating in Fall Harvest Festivals for two of our local Elementary schools. Coyote Ridge and Vencel Brown both hosted festivals that we helped to sponsor. There was all kinds of events, booths, prizes, costumes, and performances.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the montage!

As always, please reach out to us if you need any help with real estate in Roseville!

Prepare Your Home for El Niño

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 4 Nov 2015 13:39:00 -0800

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As winter approaches, it’s important to prepare for inclement weather. Even if you have a vacant property, you need to ensure your house is winterized.

1. Inspect the roof. Look for broken, torn, or split shingles or tiles on your roof. Address any damages and get them repaired now. Check valleys for debris, such as leaves.

2. Clean the gutters. It’s easier to clean gutters now than deal with clogged gutters later. Clogged gutters can lead to roof leaks and potential dry rot problems down the road.

3. Check the drainage. Ensure water runs off the yard properly. You don’t want water to flood your property.

4. Insulate exterior plumbing. Even in Sacramento, it gets cold enough for pipes to freeze. Of course, if you live in other areas, I encourage you to consult local experts.

5. Keep thermostat on in vacant homes. Set the thermostat to 55 degrees. Pipes can freeze and break in a vacant home over the winter. Houses could flood without anyone there.

6. Inspect the fireplace. Clean your fireplace now if you have one.

7. Check the exterior of the house. Walk around your property. Check windows, doors, and other crevices for any cracked caulking. Re-caulk if necessary.

8. Inspect the screens for holes. Ensure there aren’t any holes or slits in your screens. If so, you’ll need to address this before it gets colder.

9. Change smoke and CO detector batteries. It’s easiest to change all the smoke and CO detector batteries at once.

I hope you all have a wonderful winter! Do your rain dance and hope for rainfall this winter. Give me a call or email if you have any questions. Talk to you soon.

How Will New TRID Changes Affect Your Roseville Home Purchase?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:14:00 -0700

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Today I have Marc Brinitzer with me, and he's going to explain some important changes that the real estate market will be experiencing this year.

On October 3rd of this year, the real estate market saw some big changes. Why is this?

It's because of changes coming to the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID), and they will affect everyone involved in real estate, from consumers to Realtors to lenders. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule amending regulations in the Truth in Lending Act as well as the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

So, what does this mean for you? The TILA-RESPA rule consolidates four disclosures for closed and credit transactions secured by real estate property into two different forms.

One of these forms is a loan estimate that must be delivered or placed in the mail no later than the 3rd business day after receiving the consumer's application. A closing disclosure must be provided to the consumer at least three business days prior to consummation.

These new disclosures must be provided by a creditor or mortgage banker that receives an application from a consumer for a closed end credit transaction. However, creditors will still be required to use the current Good Faith Estimate, HUD 1 and Truth in Lending forms for applications received prior to August 1, 2015. After that date, these forms will no longer be used.

The TILA-RESPA rule includes some new restrictions on certain activity prior to consumers receiving the loan estimate. These restrictions took effect on August 1, 2015, regardless of whether an application was received on that date. These restrictions include imposing fees on a consumer before the consumer has received the loan estimate, or requiring submission of documents verifying information related to the consumer's application before providing the loan estimate.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about this issue. We understand that it may seem a little confusing or overwhelming. We would be happy to clear up any misconceptions that you may have!

What Do We Know About the Shifting Market?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 7 Oct 2015 11:41:00 -0700

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Over the last few months, we have seen prices stabilize and sales decrease. We are in the midst of a shift, from a strong seller's market to a more normal, balanced market that you would expect to see this time of year. In our opinion, there are two major reasons for the shift.

The first is affordability. The housing affordability index has gone from 67% to 44% in Roseville, and we've seen similar shifts in communities across the area. The housing affordability index refers to the percentage of people that can afford a medium priced home within a county. The drop in index really means that there are fewer buyers on the market than there have been.

The second cause of the shift is the increase we've seen in new construction. In Roseville alone, we have 8 major builders and 18 new home communities. This new construction is competing for buyers with resale homes, which will cause prices to flatten out and remain stable.

With all that being said, let me tell you right now that the sky is not falling and it's not time to panic. The economy is good, interest rates are still low, and current lending practices are fundamentally sound.

The decision to buy or sell should be based on your personal needs and wants vs. what the market is actually doing. If there is anything we can do to help you out, or any questions we can answer, don't hesitate to reach out.

Out and About : A Dash of Panache

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 08:10:00 -0700

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Today, we're coming to you from A Dash of Panache, located on 217 Vernon St. in downtown Roseville. The owner, Scott Alvord, joins us to show us around.

A Dash of Panache offers many different things. There is a cafe opened during the day that serves sandwiches, salads, and soups. The handmade ice cream here was voted Best of the Best in Roseville.

Also, there's a party room for themed birthday parties. Everything is included, from the invitations to the cake to the thank you notes. A Dash of Panache offers royal princess parties, diva parties, crazy hair parties, and tea parties. It's a great place for a custom birthday party!

Finally, there's the French-Deco Tea Parlor. This is the only one in the Northwest United States. The Tea Parlor is the main hub of the business. You can stop by for high tea, lunch, and multi-course gourmet meals. Winner of Best Teahouse, the French-Deco Tea Parlor is a very popular place that's perfect for baby showers or bridal showers.

If you haven't yet, come on down and check out A Dash of Panache. If you have any questions for Scott, or would like to book an event, call (916) 788-4386 or email Info@ADashofPanache.com.

As always, if you have any real estate questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Can You Trust Zillow?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 9 Sep 2015 14:34:00 -0700

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Today, I want to talk about a question that I get often: What is the value of Zillow? Zillow is a fantastic website for buyers and sellers to go to and get basic information on properties. The website provides you with a Zestimate, which is Zillow's estimate of a property's value. This is a great tool if you're trying to do some basic research on a house you may be interested in.

However, buyers and sellers need to be a little cautious when using Zillow. The first thing I want to point out is that not all homes for sale are listed on Zillow. Zillow does not have access to the Multiple Listing Service. I do put my listings on Zillow in order to get my sellers maximum exposure, but if you're looking for a home, you could be missing out on some great properties.

Also, be wary of the Zestimate. Zillow uses trailing data to come up with their home values, data that happened two or three months ago. When you're in a stable, flat market, that Zestimate could be pretty accurate. However, if the market is trending up or down, those Zestimates can be off by 5% to 10%.

Zestimates also don't factor in the unique features and values of a house. They won't know if you have a pool, or what kind of wood floors you have. All of these things factor into the value of your home, so the best way to come up with an accurate home value is to have a real estate professional come out and look at the property.

The last thing I want to point out is that Zillow sometimes flags homes as foreclosures, when really the home is just in the foreclosure process. That doesn't mean that the home is for sale.

The most important thing is that whether you're buying or selling, you need a professional real estate agent to guide you. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

How Are International Markets Affecting Rates in Roseville?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:29:00 -0700

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It's time again for another Mortgage Minute Update for the Roseville area market.

Due to struggling international markets, the threat of rising interest rates has been put on hold. They remain stable, and will likely remain stable, until markets around the globe begin to recover. It looks like there is now only a 40% chance that rates will begin to slowly rise.

Right now, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are in the low 4% range, 15-year fixed rates are in the high 3% range, and VA and FHA loans are about .5% lower than conventional rates. We'll probably see a bit of a rise by the end of the year, but nothing significant enough to worry about.

In the past, conventional loan interest rates have been very sensitive to a person's credit score. So, if you have a low score you get a higher rate, if you have a high score you get a lower rate. With FHA and VA, it used to be that everyone over a certain score got the same interest rate, but that's now changing. Soon, FHA and VA rates will be far more sensitive to your credit score, much like conventional loans are.

If you have any questions about the mortgage world, you can reach our preferred lender, Marc Brinitzer, at (916) 761-3760 or MCBrinitzer@APMortgage.com.

Of course, if you have real estate questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're always available to help!

What Do Roseville Home Buyers Want?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Mon, 3 Aug 2015 13:02:00 -0700

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Today I want to speak about what buyers are looking for in Roseville homes. There are three very basic things that people seem to be looking for.

A clean home. This may seem very obvious, but dirty homes simply don't sell. Homes that are cleaner and better taken care of also sell for more money. Cleaning your home is simple and easy, so there's no reason not to tidy it up before a sale. Install new paint and carpet if you need to.

Remodeling is also what buyers would like to see. Updated kitchens and bathrooms are the two places that you will want to fix up. Granite countertops are pretty much standard nowadays. When you think about all the new homes on the market, remodeling is important if you want to compete.

Location is also extremely important. People want good schools, easy freeway access, and nice neighborhoods.

If you're thinking of selling your home and you have these three components, your home will sell for top dollar with no problems.

I realize not everyone can change their location, but there are ways to highlight other features of your home. If you need help selling, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I would love to get you top dollar for your home!

Three Ways to Escape the Summer Heat

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:10:00 -0700

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We're in the middle of summer, and we probably have at least another month of high temperatures in store for us. So, where can you take your family to cool off? I have three different places to share with you today.

The Roseville Aquatics Complex: This place features an Olympic size pool, a zero-depth recreational pool with beach entry, a 150-foot waterslide, and a children's play area.

Folsom Lake: You can water ski, wakeboard, tube, sail and swim on this lake. It's a wonderful place to visit if you just want to relax for a while. In the midst of our drought it's not as full as it should be, but it will fill back up sooner or later.

Lake Natoma: This is another great lake in the area, and it also features the Sacramento State Aquatic Center. This facility allows you to rent sailboats, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, jetskis, and more.

These are some great ways to cool off this summer, but these aren't your only options. If you would like more ideas, please don't hesitate to contact me.

As always, refer to me as your #1 resource for real estate in the Sacramento area!

What's Happening in the Roseville Real Estate Market?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Mon, 6 Jul 2015 12:44:00 -0700

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Today I just wanted to provide you with a brief real estate market update for Roseville and Sacramento. I want you to know that it's been a fantastic year so far, and we're looking to continue onward with this momentum.

Currently, inventory is very tight in the lower price points below $500K. This is pushing up prices, which is creating a move-up market. This is actually creating more demand in our higher price brackets because people are selling with a lot of equity left that they can use to move into bigger and better homes.

This is causing prices to increase across the board, but this increase is very gradual right now. If you've been looking to buy a home, then now would be the time to do so because prices will only continue to increase.

If you're trying to sell your home, I need to know what you expect out of a home sale in order to pinpoint what you can expect.

If you need any help buying or selling in Roseville or Sacramento, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always willing to help you!

How's the Roseville Market Doing?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 12:24:00 -0700

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The most common question we get here at the DeMattei Team is "How is the market doing?" There's no easy answer to this question because it depends on three factors:

Location: The better the location, the better the market.
Condition: The better the condition, the faster the home will sell and for more money.
Price points: This is the most important factor, as market conditions vary greatly among the different price points.

In our market right now, the under $300,000 market is red hot because there isn't a lot of available inventory. In the $300,000-$500,000 price point, we had about 1,500 homes for sale and we closed 843, which equates to an inventory of 1.8 months of inventory (a strong seller's market). Prices in this price range are stable right now and homes are selling.

The next range is the $500,000-$750,000 price range. In this range, we have 740 homes for sale, and last month we closed 227 homes, for a supply of 3.3 months. This is a neutral market where neither buyers nor sellers have a distinct advantage. If you're a seller in this price range, you really need to price your home in relation to what the comparable sales say it should be priced at.

We start to see a very dramatic change in the $750,000-$1 million price range. Last month, there were 258 homes for sale and we closed 43, making this a buyer's market. There is a lot to choose from in this price point.

Finally, there is the $1 million+ price range, in which we had 249 homes for sale last month and only closed 12. This equates to a 20-month supply of homes and a distinct advantage for buyers in the luxury market.

The good news is that pending sales are up in every price range! This means we're moving more toward a seller's market in the higher price ranges. In the lower price ranges, it means prices are being pushed up slowly, and homeowners in that price range are building more and more equity.

If you have any questions about market conditions in your specific area, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. I would love to hear from you!

Have You Been to the Roseville Utility Exploration Center?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 1 Apr 2015 12:50:00 -0700

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The DeMattei Team is out and about once again here in Roseville! Today, we take a look at what activities the Roseville Utility Exploration Center has available for families!

This week at the center, it's Fix a Leak Week! They have informational material that instructs you on how to test whether you have leaks in your home. You can save money on your water bill and also conserve thousands of gallons of water! It's not only a great educational experience, but a fun one as well!

There are a number of things you can do at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center. For one, they have a large, beautiful, interactive exhibit to explore. Since the City of Roseville owns its own utilities, the space is funded to share the city's message in a unique way. There are special events, workshops, classes, and even field trips for school kids.

It's free to come by and take a look at all the great things here, and you only have to pay a small fee for certain special events. For news of upcoming events here at the Utility Exploration Center, keep your eye out for the DeMattei Monthly Newsletter or check out our Facebook page! Or, if you want to be notified directly, you can follow the Roseville Utility Exploration Center on Twitter, Facebook, or sign up for their newsletter!

You can find the center at 1501 Pleasant Grove Blvd, right next to the Riley Library in Mahany Park! As always, if you have any real estate questions, give the DeMattei Team a call or shoot us an email. We would love to hear from you!

What Do Rising Mortgage Rates Mean for You?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:34:00 -0700

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Today's blog comes to you from Big Valley Mortgage, the preferred lenders of the DeMattei Team. We're pleased that our good friend, Marc Brinitzer, is here to give us a quick update on the state of the mortgage market!

In the last week or two, rates have been getting better. This is largely because the European central banks have been easing credit. They're injecting about one trillion dollars into the eurozone in an effort to boost the various economies there. Many investors have elected to come to the US because US treasuries are yielding higher amounts, which has effectively lowered our rates a bit.

This means that conventional interest rates are hovering around 4%, and FHA and VA rates are between 3.5% and 4%. According to recent economic reports, job growth has been steady, and lower gas prices have increased the spending power of most consumers. All of this bodes well for the US economy, but there is a constant fear that the Fed will be raising interest rates soon. No one is certain, but it's generally expected that rates will rise sometime this summer.

If you have any questions about the mortgage market, you can reach Marc at (916) 761-3760. For your real estate needs, give us a call or shoot us an email at any time. We would love to help you take advantage of these low rates while they're still around.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

How Can You Sell Your Sacramento Home for More Money?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Fri, 6 Mar 2015 06:24:00 -0800

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With the busy spring market just around the corner, there is no better time to start preparing your home for the market. Today, we share 5 tips to help you sell your home fast and for more money!

Clean, clean, clean: A clean home sends a powerful message to the buyer that the home was taken care of and was loved by its owners. It's obvious: buyers love clean homes!
Paint: Adding a layer or two of paint is the easiest AND the least expensive thing you can do to add value to your home and help your home stand out to buyers. If you don't want to paint the entire home, consider at least painting the trim to help it stand out.
Landscape: The first thing buyers look at when driving by homes is the landscaping. You need to make sure the plants and grass are trimmed and look nice. Fresh mulch and flowers will also go a long way toward making your home look incredible.
Stage: Having your home staged really helps the home show well. Since you're going to be moving anyway, thin things out, declutter, and pack things up! When staging, the most important rooms are the master bedroom, kitchen, bathrooms, and main living areas.
Market: When we list your home, our goal is to expose your home to every single potential buyer that's out there. The more buyers we have, the more excitement we can generate. As a result, you will likely receive multiple offers on your property!

If you would like additional tips to help you get more for your home in less time, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to help you take advantage of the spring market here in Sacramento!

What's so Special about William Jessup University?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:12:00 -0800

There are many great Roseville area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at 916-788-8822 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today, we're reporting from William Jessup University to celebrate the ribbon cutting and grand opening of their new School of Education. The university started in San Jose in 1939, and moved to Rocklin in 2004. Since that time, Jessup has been offering unparalleled excellence in education for the Greater Sacramento area!

This week marks Homecoming week, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the educational institution known as San Jose Christian College for 65 years, and as William Jessup for the last 10 years. The university is growing exponentially - new dorms are being built, the new School of Education has recently opened, and brand new programs are being added. Most people know there is a traditional program for high school graduates to enter the university as freshmen, but there is also a growing Professional Studies Program, an accelerated program for adults. It's great for people who now have time to finish up a degree they've already started, and will provide the foundations for a successful career.

If you have a student who's graduating soon, or if you're a professional who is looking to continue your education, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to put you in touch with the wonderful folks at Jessup!

Thanks, and have a great day!

Where Can You Get the Best Sandwich in Roseville?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Mon, 9 Feb 2015 08:35:00 -0800

Today, I'm going to do something a little different. I want to show you one of my favorite places to eat, The Sandwich Spot on the corner of Roseville Parkway and Pleasant Grove.

The Sandwich Spot is owned and operated by Charisse and Mike, who pride themselves on providing a laid back atmosphere in both the front of the house and behind the counter. The key to their success is keeping their employees happy and friendly so they can give excellent service to their clientele.

Charisse and Mike feel that consistency is crucial when making sandwiches. They want every person to have the same incredible experience. They order a special parbaked bread from Boudin Bakery in San Francisco, giving the sandwiches an irresistibly unique flavor. Charisse's favorite sandwich is the #12, which has hot pastrami, roast beef and salami. My personal favorite is called The Viking, which has hot turkey, sliced avocados, and special sauce. Just thinking about it is starting to make me hungry!

Another cool thing about The Sandwich Spot is they don't use prepackaged products. The meats and cheeses are sliced in the restaurant every day, and the avocado is fresh out of the husk. It's a community restaurant - they call regulars by name and will often have local sports playing on television. Mike and Charisse are hoping to get to the point where people associate Roseville with the Sandwich Spot, and I would say they're well on their way!

The DeMattei Team really appreciates the Sandwich Spot. We encourage you to check them out - order a sandwich, play some shuffleboard, and just enjoy the atmosphere. We really love it, and we think you will too!

How we helped Dave sell a property by taking care of a difficult situation

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Tue, 3 Feb 2015 06:19:00 -0800

"My daughter died suddenly, and owned property in another town that needed to be sold. Chris was recommended by a probate attorney, and I was extremely pleased. I did not have to make any trips to Sacramento for the transaction. He was very thorough, and made sure that the house got fixed up before going on the market. Because the house was vacant, there was a squatter in the home, and Chris handled everything with that as well. I would recommend him in a heartbeat. It was one of the most pleasant experiences I've had with real estate."

How we helped Doug sell his home using our real estate connections

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Tue, 3 Feb 2015 06:18:00 -0800

"We had a great experience. Chris was professional, and he exposed the home well. He’s well connected in the market. He gave us many suggestions in terms of renovations, and we used some of the vendors that he knew. We did have one contractor who did not complete the job as expected, and Chris was kind enough to reach out to them. Chris was able to get it resolved without us having to intervene! "

What Are Our 4 Main Reasons to Live in Roseville?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 11:12:00 -0800

Today, we're going to share a few reasons why people really enjoy living in the Roseville and Sacramento region. We've put together a list of the top 4 reasons why our area is a great place to live! Let's dive right in:

1. Location: In one direction, we are only 2 hours from Lake Tahoe. In the other direction, we are only 2 hours from San Francisco!

Tahoe is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Located high in the Sierra Mountains, the Lake Tahoe area has world-class skiing, camping, fishing, boating, and sailing, among many other activities.
San Francisco: If you go the other direction, you can expose yourself to the cultural vibrancy of the Bay Area. Drive across the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and experience the many cultural and historical landmarks this great city has to offer!

2. Recreation: Within a 30-minute drive from the Roseville/Sacramento area, there are numerous recreation options.

Folsom Lake is within 10 minutes of our office. It's a great place to fish, water-ski, sail, or just enjoy the many trails around the lake.
American River Bike Trail features over 30 miles of bike trails that run from Folsom Lake to Old Town Sacramento. It runs along the American River, so you can enjoy incredible views and wildlife on your journey.
Sacramento River is a great place to enjoy boating, fishing, or spending an evening at one of the many restaurants overlooking the scenery of the river. Mountain and road cycling are also available.

3. History and Culture: There's no shortage of culture and history in the area!

The Gold Rush of 1849 started right here in the Sacramento area, and it has left behind many old mining towns in its wake. Some of these mining towns have sprouted up into major cities, such as Folsom, Sacramento, and Auburn. Many of these areas have original boardwalks you can walk along and see some of the original structures that were built in the gold rush days.
The Transcontinental Railroad started here in Sacramento, not in San Francisco as most people think.
Arts: We have the Crocker Art Museum, the Railroad Museum, the Governor's Mansion, the Capitol Building, as well as a wide assortment of art from the local area.
Shopping: The Roseville Galleria Mall is the premier shopping center in the region, and just across the street you can find the Fountain Square, a very attractive shopping mall with many interesting things to see.

4. Overall Quality of Life: People love to work and play here!

Affordability: Living in this wonderful area is completely affordable, especially when compared with the nearby Bay Area. You can get a nice size home, on a nice lot, with many features and amenities, and you don't have to deal with the traffic congestion you'll find in metropolitan areas.
Quality education: You'll find some of the best high schools in the state of California in Placer County.

There are many reasons why we think our area is one of the best places to live in California. If you have any questions about our list, or if you would like us to show you around the area, give us a call or shoot us an email. There are many benefits to setting up shop in our area, and we would love to prove it to you!

What Can You Expect from Roseville Real Estate in 2015?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:07:00 -0800

Hello, and welcome to 2015! Today, we take a look at recent trends in real estate so you can get an idea of what to expect in the coming months.

Inventory

In December, there were 4,000 homes for sale in the Roseville area. That number was substantially lower than what we saw in September of 2014, when we had 5,871 available homes. This substantial drop in inventory is common - many people take their home off the market before the holidays. As we get closer to the spring months, we will see inventory increase.

Prices

Prices have been stable since April 2014, as they've only fluctuated between $178 and $183 per square foot. We expect the stability of prices to continue; interest rates are still incredibly low and will continue to draw buyers into our market. At the same time, there are going to be a lot of sellers putting their homes on the market, and builders continue to add new inventory to the market as well. These two factors will counterbalance each other, and prices will remain stable.

All these statistics are based on our three county area: Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento counties. Each neighborhood, in each county, has different buying and selling conditions. If you want specific data for the area you're interested in, don't hesitate to give us a call. We're here to be your real estate resource!

We look forward to talking with you, and we wish you a very happy and prosperous 2015!

How we helped Carol sell her home by keeping her up to date

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Mon, 5 Jan 2015 09:05:00 -0800

"We had very good results when we worked with Chris. I really liked the way he listened to what I had to say, even though he was the expert. He listened to what I thought and we worked together to decide on the best price. I really respected his advice. Chris was always willing to answer any questions that I had and was always there for me. He always kept me up to date, which I really appreciated."

Why are We Looking Forward to 2015?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 09:46:00 -0800

Happy Holidays, everyone! From the entire DeMattei Team, we want to wish you and your family the best this holiday season. As you can see, we had a little trouble articulating our message the way we wanted to on video, so we are going to do it here in print.

We had a tremendous year in 2014, and it was thanks to all of you. We have tremendous clients and past clients who have helped us tremendously by referring us to their family and friends. Thanks to all of you, we can say we had a very successful year and are looking forward to another one in 2015.

If you have any questions for us about real estate, we are never too busy to take a call or respond to an email. Once again, have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you in 2015!

How we helped Arminda with her real estate needs by going above and beyond

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Mon, 8 Dec 2014 10:38:00 -0800

"We had very good results when we worked with Chris DeMattei. We met up with him before and we quickly realized how responsible and on top of everything he is. If we wanted to see something, we’d email and he was right there ready to go. He helped us get our old home back which was very exciting! He just went above and beyond what he needed to do to get us our home back to us."

-Arminda Nunez, Home Buyer

Where Are Interest Rates Heading?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Thu, 4 Dec 2014 08:09:00 -0800

Today, our friend Marc Brinitzer from Big Valley Mortgage shares some lending tips with us. We asked him some questions to get a good idea of what's going on in the lending world. Here's what he shared with us:

What are rates today and what can we expect in the future?
If we're talking about conventional interest rates, they are hovering around 4.5%, give or take about .25%. However, a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage can be obtained for under 4%! Be aware that these rates are very sensitive to credit scores and down payments. FHA and VA loans, on the other hand, are around 4% and sometimes even lower.

Are those rates as good as they were a few years ago?
Almost. Last year, we saw interest rates rise when the Federal Reserve announced plans to stop the QE3 stimulus program. However, rates have slowly been coming back down, so they're slightly more favorable than they were after that initial increase.

What are rates going to look like in 2015?
What's going to happen next is an increase in short-term rates, but people are still waiting on the Fed to announce when that will be. The stimulus consisted of the Federal Reserve buying mortgage-backed securities and US treasuries in the secondary market. The plan was to stimulate the economy by flooding it with money. At some point, they will start to raise the short-term rates, which will then trigger a rise in long-term rates. Everyone is worried that will happen soon, but the Fed doesn't seem ready to let us know exactly when that will happen.

When rates go up, how does that affect a buyer's monthly payments?
When interest rates go up, monthly payments go up. People aren't always aware that lenders are qualifying people to buy at their absolute debt ratio. If rates go up from there, we don't have room to let the payment increase. In cases like that, we have to back the price down on the home. For example, for a $300,000 purchase with a 4% FHA rate, if rates go up .5%, the payment on that house will increase by $85 a month. If this happens, a buyer may no longer qualify for the loan they need to purchase the home they want. For that example, the buyer would only be eligible to purchase for $285,000.

If you're waiting for home prices to decrease, but rates go up, are you doing yourself any good?
Not really. If you decide not to buy a house today because you think it will be cheaper tomorrow, you may not be saving yourself any money if rates go up. In fact, you may end up spending more when home prices go down because the rise in rates have more than made up the difference. Our advice is, if you find the right home, buy it today while rates are low.

It's nice to bring in an expert every once in awhile to give us a full picture of a sometimes confusing topic. If you would like more information on the lending side of real estate, you can reach Marc at (916) 761-3760 or MCBrinitzer@APMortgage.com. He would love to chat with you!

As always, we're your best resource for real estate information in Roseville and the surrounding areas. We're always available to assist you, and would love to hear from you!

Why are These Schools so Special?

chris@dematteiteam.com (Chris DeMattei) — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 07:40:00 -0800

We're very lucky to have some fantastic schools here in Roseville. We really love Coyote Ridge, Vencil Brown Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Elementary because of the fabulous events they put on for their students. Parent participation is a huge part of what makes these schools special, so we thought we would highlight that in our latest video.

Both schools have an annual Harvest Festival, which helps raise money for programs that aren't included in the schools' budget. For example, one teacher wants to raise money for ukuleles so the children can be taught to read music. The festivals have raffles, games, music, and food, and are a blast for parents and children alike.

The DeMattei Team is proud to be a sponsor of these events. We have a passion for supporting education in the communities we serve and this is how we like to show it. If you or someone you know would like to live in a neighborhood near these great schools, we would be happy to show you around. You certainly won't be disappointed!