Real Estate Information Archive

Check out our New Feature

We are going to be posing a question of the week to everyone on The Steve Williams Team. We invite you to post your answers as well.

From time to time we will also include a short bio featuring different members of the team. We hope you enjoy this and gain a little in-site into who we are.

We are looking forward to hearing everyone's answers and thoughts, so come on post your answer too!

Who do you want to win the Super Bowl and why?  (Saints vs. Colts)

Let us know what you think!

Here is what members of The Steve Williams Team have to say:

Don Anderson - My wife and I were both rooting for the Vikings (after we were disappointed that the Packers were out), to go all the way.  Since last week's game, Claudia is all about the Saints but I want the Colts to win.  The Saints were very impressive last week so it is going to be a great match-up.  To be the Colts seem to be more organized and more fluid in their plays.  Go Colts!

 Don Anderson, Broker Associate:  DRE# 00860761

Coldwell Banker Ponderosa Real Estate
The Steve Williams Team
(530) 872-5430  Direct/Voice Mail
(530) 518-5990  Cell Phone
(530) 872-5444  Office
(530) 876-8292  Fax
don.cb@comcast.net
www.northstatehomes.com

David Lenarcic- I want the Colts to win the Super Bowl.  I feel that we are amidst, quite possibly, the best quarterback career in history.  Peyton Manning is putting up numbers that, when said and done, will rival any other Hall of Fame quarterback’s.  If he adds another Super Bowl championship to his resume, it will be tough not to consider him in the conversation of best quarterbacks ever.  It is exciting as a football fan too be a part of this history-making

Christy Voigt - Don't really care, just an excuse to get together with friends.

Sandee Williams - That's a tough one....whoever plays the best game has my vote (does that sound political?????)  If it was the Niners, definitely them. 

But if I really had to choose, I'll vote for the Saints because they haven't been to the Super Bowl and it would be nice for New Orleans to have some good karma come their way.

Brian Voigt-The colts are going to win because Payton manning is just to good. I would like Drew Brees and the saints to win because he is an outstanding person. All in all it should be an exciting close, high scoring game

Sheri Palade- Well truthfully; I could care less who wins the Super bowl. J don’t like either.

 I’ll be rooting for the Saints as the new team on the Big stage! I expect a great high scoring contest,

Steve

Featured  Team Mate

Meet David Lenarcic

This is a very exciting time for me in both my family life and in my career.  This last August, my wife and I had our first child; a baby girl.  Juliette Rose is the love of my life and I am having a wonderful time as a new father.

At work, I am focusing on the positives of the current real estate landscape.  These last few years have been tough for many home owners.  On the flip side, these new market conditions have been great for others; in particular first time home buyers.  As a Buyer Specialist with The Steve Williams Team I have been able to assist many young families in the purchase of their first home.  Because of the lower home values, good interest rates, and buyer incentives, many people that were once priced out of the market are now able to be a part of the American dream of home ownership.

David Lenarcic -

What are 2010 new home buyers going to be looking for? Looking Ahead: Cents and Sensibility Top Priorities for Homeowners in 2010- The survey of nationwide potential new home buyers and existing home owners who are planning improvements in the next few months found top priorities to include price, energy-efficiency, organization and comfort.

“Not surprisingly, we continue to see a ‘cents and sensibility’ approach when it comes to buying or improving a home, with practicality and price being top priorities,” said Nusbaum. “Today’s homeowner is also looking for a home that fits the entire family–from a multi-tasking home office, to expanding storage space needs, to a living room that can adapt to advancements in home entertainment and technology.” Read more…

Let’s not forget the mature home buyer!    A survey of consumers and builders, conducted in 2009 by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute, has yielded a new round of data revealing the housing preferences of the 55+ consumer. Read more…

Big Things come in small packages! Homeowners surveyed by Better Homes and Gardens magazine said downsizing was becoming a bigger priority: 36% said in November 2009 that they expected their next home to be “somewhat smaller” or “much smaller” than their current home versus 32% who said that in 2008. “Not surprisingly, we see a ‘cents and sensibility’ approach when it comes to buying or improving a home, with practicality and price being the top priorities,” said Eliot Nusbaum, the magazine’s executive editor of home design.  Read More      

Starting off the day with more good news - Cheaper homes lure buyers who could spark Sacramento-area economy, Lower Price Draw Skilled Professionals.                                                                                                                                                  

With median home prices  to 2001 levels in many parts of the region, skilled outsiders and professionals have begun trickling back to Sacramento’s  housing market. From July 2008 to July 2009, the population of the four-county capital region comprising Yolo, Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties grew 1.1 percent – faster than the state as a whole, according to the California Department of Finance.   Read More…

I can’t stress this enough, if you are thinking of buying you need to act fast. By now it is well documented that today’s affordable housing prices, historically low interest rates and federal home buyer tax credit have combined to create one of the most attractive first-time buyer markets in recent memory. What many Americans might not realize is that a recent expansion of the buyer tax credit has created an equally desirable opportunity for existing homeowners. Read more…

Surprise, surprise, not anymore, this is a good thing…Buying a home should be a joyful experience, but all too often, the mortgage settlement process leaves consumers confused, angry and paying more than they anticipated.

When you apply for a loan, your lender will give you a good faith estimate of closing costs. It's important to understand which costs can change when you go to settlement:

Costs that can't change

Origination fees

Points (after you've locked in an interest rate)

Adjusted origination fees after you've locked in an interest rate

Transfer taxes

Charges that can increase

up to 10% in aggregate

Required services selected by the lender

Title services, lender's title insurance and owner's title insurance, if selected by the lender

Government recording charges

No limit on increases

Required services selected by the borrower.

Title services, lender's title insurance and owner's title insurance, if selected by the borrower

Daily interest charges

Homeowner's insurance

Initial deposit for escrow

Read more…

HUD to the rescue, HUD Takes Action To Speed Resale of Foreclosed Properties to New Owners.  In an effort to stabilize home values and improve conditions in communities where foreclosure activity is high, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced a temporary policy that will expand access to FHA mortgage insurance and allow for the quick resale of foreclosed properties. The announcement is part of the Obama administration commitment to addressing foreclosure. Just yesterday, Secretary Donovan announced $2 billion in Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants to local communities and nonprofit housing developers to combat the effects of vacant and abandoned homes.  Read more…

Help is on the way ! Homeowners with FHA-insured mortgage loans who are experiencing financial hardship are now eligible for loss mitigation assistance before they fall behind on their mortgage payments. Previously, these homeowners were not eligible for such assistance until after they had missed payments.

The Helping Families Save Their Home Act of 2009 signed into law by President Obama expanded FHA’s authority to use its loss mitigation tools to assist FHA borrowers avoid foreclosure to include those facing “imminent default” as defined by the Secretary. FHA recently issued guidance to FHA-approved loan servicers on how to assist these FHA borrowers. Read More…

Some good news to share, New December statistics paint 2009 as the year when Sacramento County home prices finally ended a dramatic four-year free fall. Median sales prices for new and existing homes combined rose 0.6 percent in 2009, property researcher MDA DataQuick reported Thursday. The percentage represents a welcome change for thousands of anxious Sacramento County homeowners who saw their values drop 20 percent in 2007 and plunge another 37 percent in 2008. Read more…

More good news from  The SacBee .  Foreclosure crisis slowing some as banks rethink strategies . La Jolla researcher MDA DataQuick released new Q4 2009 foreclosure numbers this morning, show that defaults are down to their lowest levels since early last year. But the capital region saw 5,081 more foreclosures in the last three months of 2009 - raising the tally since the mortgage crisis began in early 2007 to nearly 52,000.

Statewide, more than 650,000 homeowners have surrendered keys to banks since 1/1/07. Read More…

December is here and the holidays are only a few weeks away. While we’re all out hustling and bustling around town making preparations lets remember to take a little time to enjoy the season.Our community has so much to offer in so many venues. Let's take the time to share these treasures.

Here are a few samples of events that are taking place in our community that you can share with family and friends.

Community Tree Lighting
Dec. 4 - 6pm
City Plaza – Chico

"Cliff's End"
Dec. 4 - 20
Fri/Sat Evenings: 7:30pm
Sunday Matinees: 2p

Glorious Sounds of the Season!
Dec 4 - Dec 6
Fri/Sat - 7:30PM; Sun - 2PM
Harlen Adams Theatre

Holiday Craft Faire
Dec. 5: 10am - 5pm
Municipal Auditorium
Oroville

To find the details on these events and more visit ButteCounty.com