Sandy Vickrey's Winters, CA Blog

Well just in time for Christmas we had two new nice sales in Winters.  The first house is at 313 Village Circle and sold for $300. on Friday, December 18.  The second house was a short sale at 717 Main Street and also sold for $300k.  It was the former model home and had some nice upgrades.  I think both buyers will be very with their new homes in the new year!   Happy New Year everyone.

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.

I got another call from someone who owns property in Winters who needs property management services.  Yes, I do provide that service and I am the only realtor who provides this professional service.  I manage over 30 properties.   If you know someone who only wants me to find them a renter, I will do that too.  If you have any property management questions, please feel free to call me at 530-681-8939.  Oh yes, if you buy a house from me you get the first tenant free!  Can’t beat that offer!

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.

If you are looking for a great investment deal, ask me to show you the new listing on Washington Street.  It needs some TLC but is priced right around $140K.  The other nice new listing is on Martinez Way and is priced at $175k.    The only way to see it at the moment is to come to an Open House that is not being advertised and there is no sign out front.    I can’t even call the owner to show it, can you imagine that!?  Oh well, good thing you know an agent to help you.    The house at 611 Snapdragon just closed yesterday for $245K.  It has been on the market on and off for over a year.  I am sure the  neighbors will be realy glad to get an owner in there to take care of the lawn and house.   I think they will really like their new neighbors.  Have a happy weekend and stay dry!

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 the listing on Jefferson sold for cash.    I don’t know the sales price but I do know it is pending.   It really  needed a lot of work and cash was the best bet.   The previous owner had removed a lot of the sheet rock, looked like they might have been thinking of doing some rewiring.  The  kitchen was also a do over as they say.  The nice thing was that the other houses on the street had been updated and really look nice.  I am sure all the neighbors will be thrilled when this house is fixed up.    This should help their value.