Pride of Ownership in the Gated Subdivision of Lakewind at Lakeside. 3 bed, 2 bath, one story, stucco, tile roof, private backyard, fireplace, tile kitchen counters, open feeling and well maintained. Near shopping, schools and parks. Easy access to I-5.

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Since the vast majority of homebuyers start their search online, the weather becomes less of a factor for sellers marketing their house to those buyers.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

The traditional home buying season starts in the spring. And for good reason.

Families with kids need to be settled in time for the new school year, and houses just plain show better with a lawn of green grass and leaves on the trees.

Sounds good, right? Well, there are some strong arguments in favor of listing your house right now, instead of waiting until spring. Here are just a few …

• Since it takes almost three months for the average buyer to find a home, houses listed right now are in a better position to market to buyers looking to close in the spring.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

At the turn of a new year one thing always crosses my mind, “Did I achieve everything I set out to accomplish?” There were some I was able to say yes to and others required in-depth evaluation on what needs to be done differently.

2011 was a great year! There were many valuable relationships made and lessons learned. I began the year as the CEO/Team Leader of the Keller Williams Realty-Folsom office and had the continued support of a loving wife, beautiful daughter and caring family. Starting the new year I have decided to move on with my real estate and business career by getting back to what I love…helping you, your family and friends buy, sell or invest in real estate. The past nine months as Team Leader taught me invaluable leadership skills, business operations and most importantly what I’m capable of. I plan to implement what I have learned to assist you in your real estate goals while coaching fellow real estate and business professionals push beyond their entrepreneurial spirit.

On the home front, my wife and I are expecting our 2nd baby in June. This pregnancy seems to be going by A LOT faster than the first. Is that normal? Ha ha! Our first child, Presley just turned 2 going on 10. She’s growing up so fast. Her vocabulary is better than mine, she’s a non-stop ball of energy and I couldn’t ask for a more loving personality. I am truly a lucky man.

So, I want to wrap up with two things: 1) Make sure to acknowledge your accomplishments of 2011. What did you do this year that you’re extremely proud of? 2) Acknowledge someone else for their accomplishments. I promise you’ll make their day!

I wish you and your loved one’s a very prosperous new year and if you need any assistance in regards to buying, selling or investing in real estate….please think of me!

• A desire to move so they could upgrade or “move up” to a bigger house or a house in a better neighborhood.

• A need to relocate because of work

• A change in family status, like retirement, children going off to college or those expecting a baby.

From Training Magazine:

“Training Top 125 companies realize how vital training is to their success and continue to invest in it, even in trying times,” said Lorri Freifeld, editor-in-chief of Training magazine. “Equally important, though, they maintain a laser focus on tying training to the achievement of corporate strategic goals and making sure they have the results to prove it. Congratulations to all the companies named to the 2011 Training Top 125.”

The Top 125 includes ranking based on myriad benchmarking statistics such as total training budget; percentage of payroll; number of training hours per employee program; goals, evaluation, measurement, and workplace surveys; hours of training per employee annually; and detailed formal programs.
The Top 125 ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, the scope of development programs, and how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.

Read full article here

• FICO® scores are your credit rating
• They range from 300-850, higher is better
• Most lenders base approval on them
• Higher scores mean lower interest rates

FICO® scores are calculated based on 5 categories:

• Payment history – 35%
• Amounts owed – 30%
• Length of credit history – 15%
• New credit – 10%
• Types of credit used – 10%

For more information visit www.myfico.com

In fact, housing affordability by the end of September had returned to or fallen below the average reached between 1989-2003 in 47 of the 74 housing markets that Moody Analytics tracked.

In September 2010, the ratio of home prices to annual household income had fallen to 1.6–below the historical average of 1.9 between 1989 and 2003. The ratio peaked in 2005 at 2.3.

“Based on incomes, this is as affordable as it gets,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “If you can get a loan, these are pretty good times to buy.”

Some of the most undervalued markets include Cleveland, Detroit, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Phoenix.

But those cities also are facing high rates of foreclosures and more borrowers defaulting on their mortgages that could decrease values further in those cities before they start to improve, Zandi says.

In Phoenix, for example, “it’s become cheaper to buy than to rent,” Jon Mirmelli, a real estate investor in Scottsdale, Ariz., who rents out foreclosed homes, told The Wall Street Journal. “But the question is: can you qualify for a loan?”

Source: “Home Affordability Returns to Pre-Bubble Levels,” The Wall Street Journal Online (Feb. 8, 2011)

“December’s sales increase reflects buyers taking advantage of rock bottom interest rates and improved affordability since the first half of the year, when prices were higher,” said C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce. “Most of December’s sales opened escrow in October and November. Rates hit their absolute lowest in October but began edging higher in November, prompting buyers to get off the fence,” she said.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 520,680 in December. December’s sales were up 5.9 percent from November’s revised pace of 491,590 but were down 6.8 percent from the revised 558,840 sales pace recorded in December 2009.

Following three consecutive monthly declines, the median price of an existing, single-family detached home sold in California increased 1.7 percent from a revised $296,690 in November but was down 1.6 percent from the revised $306,860 median price recorded for the same period a year ago.

Mortgage applications gained 11.3 percent in the week ended Jan. 28, according to MBA’s seasonally adjusted index. In the week prior, applications had fallen nearly 13 percent.

Meanwhile, refinancing applications rose 11.7 percent. Loan requests for home purchases also increased 9.5 percent.

Source: “U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose Last Week,” Reuters News (Feb. 2, 2011)