Due to our economic times and all the negativity that surrounds us with television and the news, it seems that it is time to take action and be proactive.

Many families are struggling to make ends meet.  Sometimes it's hard to think of different ways to save money.  It's like the old saying 

 you can't see the forest for the trees...

Here are a few ways to help save money in your household.  Can you think of any to add?

1. Get rid of the Satellite Dishes and just have cable (don't need 105 channels)

2. Get rid of home phone line and use cell phone instead

3. Cut out buying lattes

4. Pack a lunch

5. Cook dinner at home and cut out eating out

6. Do your own lawn work

7. Turn the water heater down

8. Turn the heat down

9. Carpool

10. Use Free Grocery Coupons and Mommy Savers

11. Check which restaurants have Kids Eat FREE

12. Unplug phone Chargers, coffee pots, toasters when not being used- Susan Hilton contributor

13. Replae light bulbs with fluorescent lights - Kathryn Acciari, contributor

14. If you have more than one heat zone, turn down the temp in the zone(s) you are not currently occupying.  Programmable thermostats can help. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

15. Likewise, with more than one cooling zone, turn up the temp in the zone(s) you are not using. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

16. Unplug laptops at night. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

17. Turn off your printer at night Kathryn Acciari, contributor

18. Buy fruit that is pre-bundled into bags.  Usually saves 20 cents/lb. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

19. Use newspaper as mulch.  Tear it up, spread it around, then cover with a cosmetic layer of mulch. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

20. Cancel your magazine subscriptions and use your library card instead. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

21. If you are not too particular about your wine, try boxed wines.  Yes, I know, some will turn their noses up.  But before you do, I dare you to do a taste test of Banrock Station's boxed Shiraz vs. a $10-$15 bottle of Shiraz.  Then put the boxed wine in a nice decanter when you have guests! Kathryn Acciari, contributor

22. Lastly, bank whatever you save.  I'm funding my son's college tuition by banking what I save on my grocery bills.  He also rolls spare change, which go into his fund.Do you have any money saving tips for the readers?  I will add your money saving tips to the list. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

Do YOU have any money saving tips for the readers? 

I will add your money saving tip to the list.

GREAT NEWS for California Homebuyers!  Double Jeopardy...

Home buyers who buy a house from a  home builder will receive $10,000 tax credit.

This is a CA State tax credit which applies only to new construction.

Rules to Qualify for tax credit:

• applies to homes closing by March 1, 2009 through March 1, 2010.
• applies to anyone buying new construction as their primary residence
• tax credit is applied over a 3 year period (1/3 per year)
• homes $200,000 and over receive $10,000 credit
• homes under $200,000 get 5% of the value as tax credit
• must live in the home at least 2 years from close of escrow
• there are no income limits

The KICK is that there is only $100 million allocated for this tax credit and when it has been used, it's gone. So, the first 10,000 new home sales will receive the $10,000 CA State Tax Credit.

If you are one of the lucky ones and qualify for the Federal tax credit of $8,000 then you will receive up to $18,000 tax credit all together...such a deal!

On Friday, February 27^th, the Franchise Tax Board will have more information on their website.

I can tell you that you want to make sure you are represented by a Realtor before going to the new home builders.  A Realtor is your best representative and can negotiate an excellent price and terms for you. 

This year I have helped several homebuyers buying new homes and lofts in Sacramento and West Sacramento. It would be my pleasure to help you, too!

 

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

Click Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the search icon and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale in .

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.   Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice.

Other Home Buyer Tips:

Scoop on First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

While showing homes for sale in Sacramento and waiting for the home buyer to meet me at the house I found some information that will save you some money if you call 411 and get charged for those information calls.

Google has a nationwide information source that is absolutely FREE. It works on cell phones and landline phones.

Program it into your phones and save some money...we all need to save as much as we can and every little bit helps.

1-800-466-4411

or

1-800-goog411

Now, if I could only find FREE Starbucks!

Now, Twitter  that one...

Do you have any free items to share with everyone during this troubled time in the economy?

Every little bit help!

Where is all this bailout money that we as tax payers have paid banks?  As a Sacramento Realtor/Broker and owner of Riede Real Estate I am here to tell you that the banks have taken our money and bought out other banks and no telling what else...but they aren't helping the distressed homeowner.

For over a year there have been TV commercials stating that all you have to do is call your bank.  If you would like to see what a typical scenario of "just calling your bank," is like you really need to watch ABC news video were Congresswoman Waters of Los Angeles tried to do just that with IndyMac Bank, Bank of America and Countrywide (was this when Countrywide outsourced these calls to India?...of course it's no better now, either). It is a joke calling the banks for help! If they treat a Congresswoman like this, how do you think they treat the troubled homeowner calling?

 

 

If that doesn't beat all! Loan modifications so far have been a joke with the banks. Many won't do them and some of  those that have simply buy the troubled homeowner a couple of months at a reduced rate with an exorbitant balloon payment at the end of 3 months. Who in the world do they think they are helping? No wonder their recitative rate is what it is. Who in the world do they think they are helping?

My guess is that the banks are hoping for more of a bailout and are simply buying time until they get it...we don't seem to give them any restrictions with the bailout money so what in the world do we expect? Until and unless Americans stand up, contact their congress representative and demand the U.S. Government either stop the bailouts or put restrictions on how the money is spent, this will continue. As long as we continue to have foreclosures, the economy can not and will not recover.

Today, Forbes reported on an article in the Associated Press that Wells Fargo is expanding their mortgage modification program. Supposedly, since they bought out Wachovia they are touting to extend loan terms 40 years, reduce interest rates and reducing the principal of the loan to troubled homeowners where housing prices have significantly declined.  Let's see if this is hype or if they actually perform. In the past they have not helped any of their current Wells Fargo clients needing loan modifications but there is also hope.

The Hope loan modification by Secretary Paulson was a failure and never even got off the ground. False hope for the homeowner. Watch this video with Congresswoman Waters who actually tells it like it is.

 

 

 

Loan modification certainly beats leaving vacant homes deteriorating neighborhoods and then finally selling at a much reduced rate as a foreclosure. Some of these people speaking for the bank in Washington need to call their own banks and see how far they get. They are full of words and say the right thing but unfortunately what they say and what they do are on either end of the spectrum. 

And then we have all the scammers taking what little money the troubled homeowner has and promising loan modifications. Everyone is on the bandwagon to "help" the homeowner except the banks. There are few and far between who are actually helped. I would love to hear from those of you who have succeeded in a loan modification along with the terms of your approved loan modification.

Am I the only one that sees our current practice as insane? What are your thoughts?

Please comment below and let's get real...

Look at all of the homes for sale by Clicking Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the photo and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale   in. Or click here to see all Sacramento Bank Owned Homes for Sale or Sacramento Short Sale Homes for Sale

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email. Don't miss out on home buyer tips, homeowner tips and your real estate questions.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.   Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice. Just ask the Realtor, Gena Riede of Riede Real Estate.

This week I was contacted by Jesse Herman, the Awareness Coordinator at the Mesothelioma Cancer Center who was looking for a Voice that would reach the Sacramento homeowners and home buyers.  Sacramento REAL Estate Voice was asked to help since so many of our readers live in Sacramento.  I always want to help be a service to my community and thought this was noteworthy.

You may want to share this with homeowners in your community, as well.

Since homes built prior to 1980 likely have asbestos insulation, it is important for Sacramento homeowners and home buyers to be aware of the hazard while remodeling as this can be linked to Mesothelioma cancer. There are many environmentally safe and healthy ways to insulate your home.

Since I am a Realtor and do not have my medical degree let me turn this over to Joe Lederman who will explain the hazards of asbestos, where you can find it and what the "green" (be sure to read my latest update on being GREEN and free e-waste for Sacramento below) alternatives are to help reduce energy costs.  Take it away, Joe...

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral used throughout the 20th century in many building and industrial applications. Although manufacturers and mankind has known of asbestos' health hazards for a long period of time, it wasn't until the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 1990, that it began to regulate the amount of asbestos used in surfacing applications.

Due to its geologic history and location, several types of asbestos occur naturally within California's state lines. It is important for those involved in real estate to take the proper measures in inspecting and removing the harmful product. Citizens of Sacramento must be aware that exposure to asbestos can potentially cause significant health concerns.

Known for its large industrial history, the economy in California has seen much success in ship-building, power generation and mining. Asbestos was utilized consistently, as the substance has fire and heat resistant qualities. Occurring naturally in 44 of California's 58 counties, homes, jobsites and public facilities may still contain asbestos if they were built before 1980. Although asbestos exposure does not always lead to the development of illnesses, it greatly increases that chance. Exposure to asbestos can cause a severe form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Many symptoms of the disease may not show up for 20 to 50 years, making it incredibly difficult for doctors to diagnose potential carriers. Mesothelioma treatments typically include radiation, chemotherapy and experimental procedures. Although technology and treatments continue to improve, physician prognosis is usually poor and fatal.

Removal of asbestos in any type of location must be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling toxic materials. The California Department of Industrial Relations administers a number of programs which are aimed at preventing asbestos exposure in public facilities, workplaces and homes. Despite knowledge of the state's asbestos problems, many communities throughout California still find themselves constructed atop asbestos deposits.

With the consistent growth in technology and public awareness, there are currently a number of products which replace the need for asbestos. Green alternative options such as cellulose, cotton fiber and lcynene should then be considered as replacements. Research demonstrates that these new forms of insulation such as cotton fiber can reduce energy costs significantly every year. California is adopting the move to a greener lifestyle and is helping lead the nation in the change.

Joe Lederman

Hope you consider hiring someone trained in dealing with toxic materials and found this article helpful when thinking of remodeling your home. It never hurts to take the necessary precautions.

FREE E-Waste at CAL-EXPO this Friday, January 30th 4:30 am to 7:00 pm...drop off your old TV's, radios, computers, small appliances-not refrigerators though) Google Map below

List of accepted items at E-Waste Collection Events:
Accepted items:

microwaves

car stereos

monitors

televisions

desktop and notebook PCs

VCRs

stereo equipment

speakers

keyboards

mice

PDAs

digital cameras

zip drives

telephones

cell phones

printers

copiers

laser and multifunction scanners

electronic cables

fax machines

video game consoles

DVD players

small kitchen appliances such as mixers and toasters 

NOT accepted:
Anything other than electronics including:

hazardous household waste, including fluorescent light bulbs, household batteries, car batteries, paint, pesticides, used oil, cleaning supplies or tires

household appliances such as refrigerators, washers and dryers

furniture

 
View Larger Map Google Map to CAL Expo

look at all of the homes for sale by Clicking Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the photo and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale   in.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email. Don't miss out on home buyer tips, homeowner tips and your real estate questions.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.   Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice. Just ask the Realtor, Gena Riede of Riede Real Estate.

Take a ride with Sacramento Realtor, Gena Riede through Silver Springs and Wildhawk neighborhood which borders Elk Grove, CA.  Find out what the most important thing you can do for yourself and help your Realtor do the best job for you in the home buying process.

 

 

If you enjoyed the homes in the video at the Silver Springs neighborhood and Wildhawk in Sacramento click to see homes for sale in Silver Springs neighborhood in Sacramento, CA.

This is an upperscale neighborhood bordering Elk Grove, Ca with lot sizes from .50 acres to full acre lots. If you are a golfer, Wildhawk Golf Club an 18 hole public course neighbors these lusious homes.
View Larger Map

This is just one of the many neighborhoods in Sacramento,  feel free to look at all of the homes for sale by Clicking Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the photo and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale   in.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email. Don't miss out on home buyer tips, homeowner tips and your real estate questions.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.   Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice. Just ask the Realtor, Gena Riede of Riede Real Estate

Other Realted Articles:

Baby Steps When Buying a House

Sacramento Home Buyer-Let's Imagine

Sacramento Realtor Talks to Home Buyers

Are you thinking of buying a home this year?

Do you know the steps you need to do if you want to buy a house?

Do you want to have a successful home buying experience?

Just like building stairs, the home buying process involves having a solid foundation beneath you.  Your credit score is the foundation toward buying a house. Without a good foundation, the stairs crumble...without good credit, you can't buy a house.

The 4 essential steps in the home buying process are:

1. Getting Pre-Approved for a Loan
2. Choosing a Realtor to represent you that you connect with
3. Choosing the Neighborhood you want to live in
4. Choosing the house to buy

These seem like relatively easy steps but I hear from many home buyers who don't know these steps.  Getting a loan has changed. You MUST have a pre-approval or you CAN'T submit an offer in Sacramento or the surrounding areas. Well, I take that back, you can but your offer won't be selected.

It is vital that you take the time to get pre-approved. Believe it or not there are some lenders by their very qualifications for a loan that would prohibit you from buying a bank owned property.  It's important that you understand your loan. Not all loans are created equal.  Banks can only offer you their loans. They may only have 1 or 2 choices.  A mortgage broker who is licensed has more loans and terms to offer. Remember, that a loan is more than just the interest rate.

The home buyers that I represent get pre-approved for a loan BEFORE we look at houses.  My clients have a stake and a goal. They are responsible and they want to buy a house. I too have a stake and a goal to do the very best for them and give them 120% of my time and experience.

There are many Realtors and the home buyer needs to feel comfortable, know that the Realtor they are working with has experience and know how to get the job done correctly, efficiently and in the best interest of the home buyer.  Years of experience is a good teacher and you want to make sure that you are working with someone who has that experience.

The neighborhood is also very important aspect in the home buying experience. Many times, new home buyers want to know where the "safe" neighborhoods are.  This is not something a Realtor can or should answer.  Safe is different for many people and only you can determine the level of safeness.  Check the Internet for crime in a neighborhood before you decide to buy a house.

Here are a few websites where you can check crime in each neighborhood:

• City of Sacramento Crime Report
• Crime Mapper
• KCRA 3 Crime Tracker

Finally, with your pre-approval, an experienced Realtor, the neighborhood of your choice, homes are viewed and you select the house that you will call home where memories will begin.

Here are a few neighborhoods in the Sacramento area with homes for sale:

• Antelope homes for sale
• Arden Homes for sale
• Carmichael homes for sale
• Downtown Sacramento homes for sale
• Elk Grove homes for sale
• Fair Oaks homes for sale
• Folsom homes for sale
• Natomas homes for sale

Want to see homes for sale in Placer County:

• Granite Bay homes for sale
• Roseville CA homes for sale
• Rocklin homes for sale

Or maybe El Dorado County is where you would like to live:

• Cameron Park homes for sale
• El Dorado Hills homes for sale

These are just a few neighborhoods but there are many more so feel free to look at all of the homes for sale by Clicking Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the photo and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale   in.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email. Don't miss out on home buyer tips, homeowner tips and your real estate questions.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.   Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice. Just ask the Realtor, Gena Riede of Riede Real Estate.

Be sure to read and find out just how you can avoid water damage in your kitchen. It's very simple but so many homeowners just don't know about it.

Did you buy a new refrigerator or maybe a house or condo this year that already had a refrigerator?

Do you have a refrigerator that is hooked-up to water allowing either ice cubes to be made or water from the door?

Water damage on a kitchen floor or worse yet, in the wall is very costly. Many refrigerators eventually leak water when the hose hook-up behind the refrigerator becomes old, bursts, breaks or ruptures.

Be on the safe side and don't wait for that to happen to you. There is a very inexpensive remedy that every homeowner should invest in. Flood Safe auto shutoff connector is a life saver. 

The ice maker installation kit can be found at Home Depot as well as any hardware store that carries Watts Regulator Co products.  This is a patent item. It's more expensive than the traditional ice maker installation kits but well worth the added few dollars initially and can save you hundreds of dollars down the line.

I think I paid about $35.00 at Home Depot for one I had installed on a rental, so it is certainly affordable,  If you are an investor who owns rental property, I would suggest that you make sure to install this safety flood kit. It will save you a ton of money down the line.

The flood safe auto shutoff kit automatically senses the rupture in the connection behind the refrigerator and shuts off the water supply. This will save you from coming home someday to find water all over your kitchen floor.

You might want to consider installing FloodSafe Connectors connectors to washing machines, dishwashers, toilets and faucets.

Well worth the time and money for peace of mind...

Courtesy of Gena Riede, Riede Real Estate of Sacramento Real Estate Voice

Have you ever wondered what a room in your house would look like if you painted it?

Have you bought paint and painted a room only to find that you hated the color once it was on the wall?

Or worse yet, had the exterior of your house painted and the color you chose made it look like you were a light house with a beacon lighting the neighborhood?

We've all seen some of the bad choices out there and now there is a solution to help avoid costly mistakes when painting.

Well, there is a solution for you.  I found a site on the Internet that will be very helpful for homeowners who would like to spruce up the house and add a little paint.

The Behr site offers you a couple of solutions.  One where you can chose a library with stagged photos where you can select your color choices or simply upload a picture of your house or room for a small fee and select different color choices.

As you can see by both photos, I selected different color choices to get an idea of what the dining room would look like.

This saves you time and money along with saving you a whopping bad mistake.

Go forth now and paint with confidence!

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Do you have a favorite site that you have found helpful for those home projects? 

 

 

 

 

 

Brought to you by Riede Real Estate of Sacramento, CA.  (916) 417-2699

What are your thoughts on Bankruptcy Judges handling the current Foreclosure crisis?

It's obvious that the servicers cannot keep up with the current demand of Short Sales and Foreclosures.

Just today, when calling for an update on the two Short Sale listings I currently have listed where IndyMac Bank is the mortgage holder, I was told that they receive at least 500 new Short Sales per day!  The  Short Sale package was sent to IndyMac Bank along with offers for each at the beginning of October.

Needless to say, time has NOT been of the essence for IndyMac Bank.  Last week I was given email addresses for the negotiator but have heard nothing back from either one.  This morning I was told that there is no other solution but to just wait until I receive an email from both negotiators. No phone number will be given out and no projected date was given when I might anticipate hearing anything.

It is obvious to all or at least it should be, that the servicers can not handle the load of all the homeowners in trouble with their mortgages.

Check out CNBC's video on Housing's New Fix and see where you stand.

My question is how in the world are the Bankruptcy Judges going to be able to handle the load? What do you think about a Judge reducing the mortgage through a Bankruptcy? Will we have a nation filing bankruptcy?

The loan modification program that some of the banks have instituted seems to be an act in futility. What the banks are finding is that those modifications that they have actually approved resulted in the homeowner simply delaying the inevitable and losing the house. It would seem that the loan modification programs were designed for failure.

As Realtors we know that time is of the essence with all Real Estate transactions.

What is your solution to this problem? With government stepping in, are we solving the problem or creating a new one? What is your take? Do you think the Bankruptcy Judges will be the cure all?