tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335462082024-03-21T10:13:15.838-07:00Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-35000123596166402762012-08-10T15:27:00.000-07:002012-08-10T15:27:07.883-07:00

After my first husband died in 1994 at the young age of 56 from brain cancer leaving so many undone experiences, I sat down and made my list of have to do before I die – now known as a bucket list. One of those things was to run a marathon. And I did in the fall of 1995, the Royal Victoria Marathon. When I got back, some great clients, Arthur and Janice Ginsberg convinced me that I should join

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-20757720584737452072012-07-17T15:54:00.000-07:002012-07-17T15:54:44.863-07:00

Alan and I looked forward to the opener like a kids anticipates Christmas. We put a big red X through that day on the calendar to ensure neither of us scheduled any work. We listened to all the local outdoor radio shows the two Saturdays before and called experts like Rick Tietz, JD Richey and Kevin Brock to get their advice on where to focus our efforts. In the end, we settled on the

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-88613313339543303732012-02-23T15:18:00.002-08:002012-02-23T16:25:37.199-08:00

Last Sunday evening, Alan and I attended the 18th Annual Hammy Awards for Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is one of Coldwell Banker’s signature charities helping build homes for qualified and motivated low income families. In the past, Ryan, Alan and I have all worked on “builds” and have also contributed financially to many of the Coldwell Banker sponsored fundraisers. Our Sierra Oaks office alone

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-10680786390540987742012-02-07T12:10:00.000-08:002012-02-07T12:18:50.368-08:00

I just read this article by Liz Davison which was run in Forbes Magazine. None of the content is to be mistaken as mine! All credit for this very potent article goes to the author. I am just sharing it with my clients and friends as I think it is very important information. VikiAs a financial education company, we often see financial crises coming because employees contact us when they have

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-48033369724659285642012-02-06T15:01:00.000-08:002012-02-06T15:06:01.449-08:00

The news media in general continues to call our market a buyer’s market which sets buyers’ expectations of the market totally wrong. I have spoken with a lot of potential buyers who are in a position of investing in a rental property who are frustrated with the process. They have made offers on multiple properties only to lose out to all cash investors. I took a listing that was a probate sale

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-86782818932929719102012-02-01T12:02:00.000-08:002012-02-01T12:11:47.427-08:00

In our office meeting this morning, we discussed agent safety. It is pretty common sense stuff, but it is good the remind ourselves that we are in one of the most potentially dangerous businesses because we meet people we do not know in sometimes less than safe environments on a regular basis. One of our agents stepped forward to reiterate how important those tips are and shared with us that

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-45026605649084785732011-12-07T16:05:00.001-08:002011-12-07T16:10:00.082-08:00

As somewhat a laudee-dah lady I am often asked, “How is it you love to hunt and fish so much?” The short answer is that I owe it to my two grandfathers; Reg Meaker, Sr. and Lin Blondin. My grandfather Meaker was known as the Nevada Desert Sheep Man and my grandfather Blondin was an avid fisherman. However, there is so much more to the story. But to keep this blog reasonably concise, it all

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-2188787007929102602011-11-18T12:13:00.000-08:002011-11-18T13:11:11.165-08:00

Ryan and I attended the Annual Sacramento Association of Realtors Master’s Club Breakfast this morning. (Master’s Club members must sell at least $4 million in sales each year to maintain their membership. They are the 20%-ers of Real Estate) I have not attended one in probably 20 years. However, with Ryan now moving his real estate career forward as a licensed agent, I felt I should set a

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-58564691400005897422011-10-21T13:30:00.000-07:002011-10-21T13:36:34.546-07:00

But…..Sometimes We Just Can’t Help Ourselves!The real estate business has never been easy. Even when thousands of people got into the business because it looked like “easy” money, it was still challenging. During those times all your past clients now had someone in the family with a real estate license. But in all my 42 years I have never seen our industry so difficult. In order to survive,

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-73404568803505099512011-09-06T15:54:00.000-07:002011-09-06T16:00:19.262-07:00

It is one thing to have a great day of catching fish when you are on the river with a pro like Kevin Brock. But as I blogged, even then at times you have challenges such as those 5 lost fish. However, we did hook approximately 18 fish that day with all parties taking home limits. Yes that is the ultimate definition of “Sweet!” However, we ventured back out on our own the following Sunday on

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-68697097631333585662011-09-02T15:20:00.001-07:002011-09-02T15:27:06.957-07:00

Alan and I always look forward to fishing with Kevin Brock whether it is stripers in the spring, steelhead up on the Smith, but for our trip for Salmon on the Sac this past week, we were like two kids at Christmas. After all it has been years since that fishery was really open let alone promising. Following Kevin’s reports that he was bringing in limits everyday really elevated the

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-72179931496413714862011-08-29T12:34:00.000-07:002011-08-29T12:34:58.007-07:00

Each morning right about 6:00 a.m. you will find me coming through the gate at Brown’s Ravine with my 3 dogs in the back of my SUV on our way to enjoy a 3 mile run and then a 30 minute swim. We check in with Ivy who is the main gate keeper. Last Saturday, it was business as usual. As I drove into the park, I noticed the regular groups of hen turkeys with their poults. On any given morning, there

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-4737510248833316122011-08-24T13:39:00.000-07:002011-08-24T13:39:54.688-07:00

Calling all fishermen! The fall salmon run is here. I have 4 homes in several price ranges within walking distance of the American River… The fall salmon run is shaping up to be phenomenal which we have not seen in years! Additionally the American offers year-round striper fishing, shad fishing and one of North America’s Premier destination steelhead runs. Imagine coming home from what you do

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-82763025529839308762011-06-01T14:24:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:32:28.408-07:00

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-52073026925092556012011-06-01T14:14:00.001-07:002011-06-01T14:32:00.301-07:00

This has been a year + of milestones for me and my real estate journey. October of 2009 marked my 40th anniversary of starting my career in real estate. Then in 2010, the Business Journal contacted me and asked to do an article on my 40 years in the business. Oh my goodness! This past January, the good people at Short Sale Genius named me “Short Sale Genius of the Month”. Short Sale Genius is a

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-43921304864005206982010-10-27T14:40:00.000-07:002010-10-27T14:40:32.465-07:00

THE BELOW IS THE WORK OF STEVE BEEDE, ATTORNEY AT LAW WHO SPECIALIZES AMONG OTHER THINGS IN ADVISING CLIENTS WHO ARE FACING FORECLOSURE OR A SHORT SALE IN THEIR HOMES.  AT HIS INVITATION I AM SHARING IT WITH VIEWERS OF MY WEB SITE AS I BELIEVE THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THIS ARTICLE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND MAY OFFER A NEW ALTERNATIVE TO HOMEOWNERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.On

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-46723572957616265772010-07-19T14:41:00.000-07:002010-07-19T14:41:13.927-07:00

It was amazing to see how the buyer's vanished on May 1, 2010 when the deadline had passed on getting into contract for the $8000. first time buyer's tax credit.  However, if you're thinking this windfall opportunity has passed you by, think again.  Two major things have transpired since then:  First interest rates dropped to an all time low (at least in my

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-28046051711623646122010-06-23T10:49:00.000-07:002010-06-23T12:11:11.113-07:00

Jack with 2 tennis balls and a stick! Many of you know that we are a Real Estate Team that cares. Something you may not know is that when we say we care, we really mean it. Alan and I have two great dogs including a white lab named Jack.  Jack is a blood donor dog at Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic in Loomis. A week ago Sunday, I was putting a prime rib on the barb – b – que at around 3:

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-71529606730257661932010-06-09T19:03:00.000-07:002010-06-10T09:08:09.640-07:00

You can't help but have noticed that, along with the Gulf Oil Crisis and the National Healthcare Bill, there has been a tsunami of foreclosures and short sales which have negatively impacted both the banking and real estate industries. In essence my business has changed dramatically over the past couple of years! For my dear friends who haven't heard from me as often as I would have liked, I

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-91902425834746582242008-11-06T13:04:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:08:20.945-08:00

The content of this newsletter was obtained from press releases from Realogy Corporation and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in recent weeksThe past few weeks have been an economic roller coaster. We have watched the market dip and climb as fear, frustration and questions in the stock and real estate markets mount.What we are experiencing is the results of combining over-inflated pricing

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-49377154613840024992008-05-05T12:24:00.000-07:002008-05-05T12:49:09.280-07:00

Eric, I've talked a lot about what to do if you are in trouble with other options to avoid foreclosure. But what if you're one of the unfortunate ones who have lost your home to foreclosure. Again, the word is, don't put your head in the sand. If ever there is a time in credit history that future credit grantors will be compassionate and forgiving for those who have lost their homes to

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-75059986171955182082008-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:002008-04-08T13:34:01.895-07:00

Eric Hogue and I have talked many times about advertising and how slick ads often work whether it is in business or in politics, even when they are misleading. Doug Ose has really been spending a lot of money on his ads and I have to say they are extremely clever even though they are definitely misleading. On one hand you have Tom McClintock, who regardless of where he resides has been a tried

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-18418365986657066842008-03-26T12:57:00.000-07:002008-03-26T13:26:42.666-07:00

Yesterday, the California Association of Realtors came out with new numbers on existing home sales in the Greater Sacramento Area. Sales for February compared with February 07 were up 11%. However, the prices were down about 30%. The news focused on the negative part of the drop in prices, however, I think it is truly the silver lining to this horrible crises we are in. With interest rates still

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-55722371683752851512008-03-17T13:06:00.000-07:002008-03-17T13:20:46.751-07:00

I wanted to clarify some facts vs. fiction. I received a call from an investor who is interested in buying homes for investment. He said he that he knew he could buy houses in good areas between $40,000 and $100,000. My response was “Really!” Where are they, I will buy them. The facts are that home prices in Elk Grove, Natomas, Lincoln and other hard areas hit that have hundreds of bank owned

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33546208.post-75792936787516921982008-03-12T12:26:00.000-07:002008-03-12T12:53:16.604-07:00

There is a saying goes, one man’s loss is another man’s opportunity. How true that is in today’s real estate market. As tragic as this whole loan debacle is for so many of our neighbors, if you’re in the market to buy, you should be licking your chops. Let me give you some examples from the elk Grove area. There is currently a home listed at $190k that sold in. 06 for $377k. It's a nice 3

Viki Benbow The Real Estate Huntresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918748191468468761noreply@blogger.com0