Sandy Vickrey's Winters, CA Blog

A nice, new single family home came on the market last week in Winters, CA.  It is a good, old-fashioned, regular sale and vacant so easy to view.  It has four bedrooms and two full baths with a nice little sun porch on the west side of the house.  It is a custom built single story home in an area of mixed homes, some custom and some built but a developer or spec homes.  It is currently listed for $305,000.  Worth taking a look at.

Well 2011 wrapped up with a BIG BANG!  I had 5 closings in the month of Dec and one of those was a short sale I have been working on since June!  One of my agents had 4 short sales approved in 2 days starting Dec 19!  Guess the banks finally want to get some of these off of their books.  I still need an offer 210 Lenis before it goes to foreclosure.  We had bank approval and then  the buyer walked.   We could make a great deal!  From the things I have read, the predictions are that 2012 will be a great year for real estate.  I have also read that investors will  be a big part of this year’s market.  I have seen some incredible deals, hope next year one of these can be yours!

After three months in escrow on this short sale the buyers have walked!  Guess they couldn’t sell their home so decided to stay put.  Anyway, that makes this an amazing opportunity for someone.   It is hard to find a nice single story with over 1600 square feet.  The home was built in 2003 and has new granite counters in the kitchen.  Very neat and clean, call me to take a look.  We just got approval on the first so should move relativley quickly.  Let’s hope so anyway!

I can’t believe I am still writing about this transaction!  The last post was in November and yes it is still in escrow.  This month, June, marks the 12th month we have been working on it!  Unbelievable.  Bank of America got it approved back the end of March and then they sent it to HAFA.  That has been an experience.  They couldn’t find the appraisal that Bank of America had just done and OH NO they couldn’t ask Bank of America to resend it.  Sooo, it took SIX weeks to get another appraiser out here and then over 3 weeks to get the appraisal.  If I had not called them to keep them on top of this I have no idea what would have happened.  Anyway, we finally got final approval last Monday and are now waiting for loan docs for the buyer.  It should finally close at the end of the month.  Amen!

Well, the 75th Annual Youth Day has come and gone and the criticss seem to agree that the Winters Friends of the Library took the grand prize for best float, band and all round entry.  We all loved their hats ala Beach Blanket Babylon.  And what about that band playing “Putting on the Ritz”?!  It was a very windy day but seemed like everyone had a good time.  Hope you made it.  Check out the Winters Express this week at www.wintersexpress.com

The owner of this property is very motivated to get this house sold by the end of the year.   Yes, I know it is a little messy looking on the outside.  The tenants are in the process of moving out and it is taking some time.  However, it is now easy to show and less crowded in there with most of their things are gone.  This is a good time to buy a house so come and take a look at a cute, remodeled Bungalow in downtown Winters.   Let’s make a deal!

Well it is probably hard to believe that I have been working on this short sale since July and we don’t have a done deal as they say!  Working with Bank of  America and this Equator system is really getting on my nerves.  One of my pet peeves is that fact that the short sale division is located in Maryland and they go home at 2pm PST!  Sooooo, you can’t talk to anyone after 2pm.  I did remind them that my sellers are both employed and it is difficult for them to call the East coast during their work day.  I suggest they move 100 of the new 500 employees they hired to the West coast.  Sounded like a good idea to me.  Anyway, I have submitted my offer for the third time (don’t ask, I could write a book about now).  I am so thankful my buyers have been willing to hang in there with me as well as the sellers.  Our target for getting this closed is by the end of the year. 

Well, it is Cruise Night again tonight in downtown Winters.  The Buckhorn has there tri tip sandwiches for sale for $5. each, such a deal.  Cheaper than at the Davis Farmers Market which will be tomorrow night!  There are lots of cars and it is a beautiful evening.  The cars are lined up on both sides of the street and down the middle of the street.  Grab your partner and come on down and enjoy the fun.   I have my little 88 560 SL convertible out there as my hubby’s insistence.    Looking forward to seeing you.

I attended a Realty World Training for new agents yesterday in Livermore.  What am I doing at a new agent training, you ask, as I have been in the business for 21 years?  Well, I have a new agent, Liz Ramirez, who is burning up the speedway, so we went together.   I have gone to several trainings where the same information was presented but I have to admit I did learn some new tricks.   I am always amazed at all the services that Realty World provides for their agents for free.   I even learned some new tricks on blogging.   Hope you all have a great weekend.