Understanding the credit score system The best-known and most widely used credit score model in the United States is the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) score and is calculated statistically with information from a consumer’s credit files. It provides a snapshot of risk that banks and other institutions use to help make lending decisions. Applicants with higher FICO scores may be offered better interest rates on mortgage or automobile loans. Visit annualcreditreport.com. This is the only authorized online source for totally free credit reports. By federal law, you are entitled to a free credit report once every 12 months. This site [&hellip

Setting the Stage for a Successful House Sale Three words best describe home preparation: Clean, Bright and Uncluttered. Focus the majority of your efforts into getting your home as clean as possible and into making rooms look light and bright and clutter free. When it comes to cleaning, pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. Potential buyers will be looking closely at these areas, so keep them as fresh as possible during the listing period. Declutter! You don’t want to move all that stuff anyway, so now is the time to hold a yard sale or donate to local [&hellip

Determining a Listing Price for Your Property Coffee Real Estate recommends before the “For Sale” sign goes up, there are some things you should consider and some steps you can take to position your home to attract qualified, prospective buyers. Here are a few tips to help you get started: For many people, setting the home price is the hardest part about selling, yet it is the single most important factor to consider. Don’t overprice because after the first 21 days on the market, your home’s “freshness appeal” will have diminished. And just because a home is priced below comparable [&hellip

6 reasons to hire a professional real estate agent Is your family growing? Need more space? Is it time to downsize? Or have you taken a new job in a new city? Whatever the reason for moving, the prospect of putting your home on the market can seem a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Your real estate professional can guide you through the process, tell you what to expect and offer helpful suggestions. Regardless of how much the internet has changed the way we buy things, including homes, some constants still remain. Yes, you can sell or [&hellip

Housing Sacramento Magazine  Kyle Darrow Kyle Darrow CEO of CLA Reality and California Loan Associates share his insight into real estate. As a real estate professional, you’ve handled transactions across northern California’s post real estate bubble, how do you see the real estate market going forward? Inventory is extremely low right now, but so are interest rates.  This creates a unique situation that is supporting housing prices and even causing them to increase.  Many homes are selling in 30 days or less, and Sacramento is in the top ranks for properties getting offers within 24 hours of coming onto the [&hellip

3 Costly Mistakes Real Estate Investor Make   Mistake #1: Not Understanding What Makes Real Estate Expenses Deductible  If the property you purchase is to be used as your primary residence (or your home), then your deductions are limited to mortgage interest (subject to limitations), property taxes, points, and mortgage insurance protection (temporary law). If you were to buy another house without renting it out, you may be able to treat it as a second home.  The deductions for a second home are limited to mortgage interest (subject to limitations) and property taxes. Mistake #2: Buying a Rental for Tax [&hellip

Haunted houses can be a big problem in real estate Haunting, ghost sightings and any other unexplained events which could impact the value of the property must be disclosed. These Phenomena events create a stigmatized property. Laws in California mandate disclosers. That means even if a person does not believe in ghosts, but the property has a reputation for being haunted by ghosts, it still must be disclosed. This could have a significate impact on price and the ability to sell the property. Haunted houses can have a bearing on a person’s peace of mind. This can have legal and [&hellip

20 questions for gold country horse properties   20 questions that come up when looking at horse property in the northern California foothills gold country. Are the stalls watering systems in good condition? What is the condition of the stall gates? Is there a good tack-up area for the horses? Is there a good, ventilated area for storing hay and shavings? Is there a tack room, wash rack, good footing in the stalls and turn-out paddocks? How will you dispose of the manure? How will you control the summer fly situation? Is there irrigation available for the pastures? Is there [&hellip

North Highlands neighborhood update HousingSacramento.com updated the community of North Highlands with much more neighborhood information. Check out the new and improved North Highlands page. Also if you have some insights on the North Highlands part of Sacramento County please let us Know. North Highlands, California’s zip code is 95660 and it is in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County. North Highlands can make a wonderful community to make a home. The attraction of North Highlands is the affordable neighborhoods.  This draws first-time home buyers, move-up buyers, and investors to North Highlands. North Highlands’ property styles vary from ranch style [&hellip

The story of Coffee Real Estate –Sacramento & Foothills There must be a better way to offer real estate service with compassion and fair prices without all the stress I thought. I wanted a professional real estate service that could communicate clearly the complexities of the real estate transaction. Subsequently I started Coffee Real Estate –Sacramento & Foothills with the mission to serve our clients with compassion and getting them best deal available. The goal is to remove the most stress as possible. Clearly and accurately communicate the costs and why’s of the transaction. The key motivation of our real [&hellip