Sandy Vickrey's Winters, CA Blog

Well, let’s start with the knee.  We have just completed week one.  John still hurts and can’t understand why he has to do his exercises.  Told him if he  doesn’t, he won’t get his mobility back.  Bitch. 

On the real estate front, Dave and I finally sold 309 Edwards Street!  We put this puppy pending last August.   Think this is my longest career escrow!  Sure hope so.  The property was a 3/2 manufactured home.  The key word here is "manufactured".  That kind of home has its own set of lending rules.  We all learned more that we ever want to know about manufactured home on this one.  I am so happy for both the Buyer and the Sellers to finally get this done.  I want to thank them both for hanging in there on this one!  Did I mention the sales price was $114k?  Simply amazing as Huell Houser would say.

Finally, we have a new listing in the office!  Yeah!  It is a nice 4/2 single story in the new subdivision across from St. Anthony’s center.  I can hardly wait to show it.  I really like this floor plan.  List price is $274+-.  Shouldn’t last long.  

I have a wonderful new listing out in the country.  Positas Road is on the West side of town just past Pleasants Valley Road.    It is up on a hill and has wonderful views of the foothills.  The house has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with a large two car garage.  This home has lots possibilities.  Call me  today and make an appointment to see it before it is gone.

Well, wouldn’t you know it?!  Just when everyone gets really busy with their Christmas preparations the banks decide to release a bunch of new REO’s.  Yes, there have been 4 new listings in Winters since the beginning of the month.  The interesting thing is that they are all on the lower end of the price range.  One just hit the market this weekend for around$124k.  there are two more around $135 and one just under $150..  These are all something to look at and consider.    Wonder what will appear around the first of the new year?  Guess we will wait and see.

Well, this listing has been out there a little over a week and 4 days of that was the Thanksgiving vacation!   I got an offer on Monday and tonight it went pending.  I am very happy for everyone.  This is a great house with lots of potential for updating.  Plus it is in a nice quite neighborhood.

I just listed 114 Riverview Ct.   I love this floorplan.    It is the 2 story model and there are several homes of this model in this neighborhood.  When my son, Chad was in high school his friends lived in this model.  Upstairs there is a large loft and 2 large bedrooms  and a full bathroom.  Plus there is a large storage area.  As my owner says, behind this door is Christmas!  Chad and his buds used to hang up there by the hour playing their music, video games and who knows what else and I am sure I don’t want to know.   Downstairs is a large living room, family room and one more bedroom and the master bedroom.  The lot is over 9000 sq ft so it is a definite must see!    Give me or your favorite realtor a call for a showing.

I am getting so frustrated as over the past 4 to 6 weeks we have a seen a major negative shift in appraisals.  This isn’t just happening in Winters, but all over our area from the people I have talked to.    We have a buyer and seller agree to a price and the appraisal may come in $30k to $50 less than the agreed price.  When you look at the appraisals the appraiser has made an adjustment for a declining market rather than a neutral or appreciating market which is what we have seen here since at least February.    They say they are seeing this in the sold sales but if a house sales for more than it was listed for then how is that a declining market?  I have talked to other appraisers who agree with me.   The unfortunate thing is that when an appraisal comes in low, then it effects the  entire market for 3 to 6 months as other appraisers will use that sold as a comparable.  So, when an appraisal comes in $50k less than it should then everyone in town has just lost $50k of equity in their home.  It just doesn’t seem right that one person on the planet ,who hasn’t been in all the homes they are using for comps has that kind of power.   Times are hard enough as it is without someone being able to strip  us of what little equity we may have left.   Something needs to be done about this very soon or we are going to be in a whole lot more trouble than we are right now.   Any suggestions?

Well, I am really excited because there are two new listings this week!  The first one is on Dry Creek Ln.  I have shown it twice and it is really nice.  It is over 1700 sq ft and has hardwood floors, a wood stove, nice large kitchen and large bedrooms.  A very nice home built in 2002 priced at $292,000.  The second house is on Red Bud and is a 2 story home with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  It is in decent shape and has a nice sized yard with a koi pond.  These one is priced at $262,500.  Neither one is a short sale or bank owned property, how nice.!     

Well there are two new listings around $220k  and less in Winters.   The first is owned by my friend and located right across the street from the high school.  The spent all of last week  painting and installing new pergo and carpet.   He also planted new lawn in the backyard so it is all fixed up now.   It is a 3/2 with a one year old HVAC system.  I hpe this sells quickly for him.  The other house in on Edwards Street over by Waggoner School.  I am sorry to say I have not been in this one yet.  I have seen it in years past but not lately.  That is on e my to do list.  I like to make sure taht I go in every house that is listed in Winters.  I will keep you posted.

Well, we finally have some new listings priced around $200k!  There have been 3 or 4 new listings in the past two weeks.  Some of these are already pending sales, if you can believe that.  I just came back from  showing some of these.  Unfortunately most of these new listings are short sales.  That means that we have to get the blessing of the bank before we can close.  Sometimes that is impossible to get but when we do get lucky it is usually a 3 or 4 month waiting period.  Anyway, it is good to have something to show people for a change.  If you need any help with finding that perfect house and getting the Obama credit be sure and give a call soon, November 30th is closing in on us.

I am frequently asked, “What is an REO and how can I buy a foreclosed home?  An REO is a home that the bank has taken through  the foreclosure process and has taken back into their possession.  Once the bank takes it back, then they eventually put it on the market to sell.  Most of our inventory this year has been foreclosed or REO property.  So, if you are looking to purchase an REO, I am here to help you.  Give me a call and I can give you more info on the process.  Let me know if this info was helpful.