My Beautiful Sacramento

Buying your first home in Sacramento can be exciting and frustrating.  But it doesn't have to be frustrating if we work together.  Where do you begin?

When it's time to talk to a lender about getting a home loan, many first time home buyers are not sure where to begin.  If you know what to expect, you can be well prepared, and save yourself from a lot of headaches along the way. 

What documents are needed?

During the initial interview and loan application, I'll ask questions to see if there are any potential challenges that may need to be addressed during the underwriting process.  Being prepared up front will eliminate having last minute items or verifications called for that wiil hold up funding your home loan. 

• Income (Verification)
  
• Employment History
• Credit Obligations
• Residence History
• Marital Status (If divorced, court documents will be needed.)
• Cash on Hand (Source of down payment and seasoning.)

Processing the information.

Processing the loan file begins with verification of documentation on the application.  We have to receive verification back from your employer, etc.  If there are any items on your job history or credit report that need an explanation letter or to be paid it needs to be done before the file can go to underwriting for approval.  If asked to provide a letter or show proof the that the item has been paid, provide it as soon as possible.

The underwriter will flag any item that has not been properly addressed.  The goal is the fewer conditions from underwriting the better.  No conditions would be perfect.

How long will the whole process take?

Title search must be performed and report sent to lender for review.  This usually takes a few days.  If there are no items that need to be cleared, then we are good to go.

Then there is the appraisal which could take a few days or a week depending on the appraiser's schedule. The appraiser is a separate third party.  If the subject property appraises at or above the purchase price, we can proceed.

The time frame from loan application to funding depends on how long it takes to get ALL of the documentation together - submit to underwriting for approval, handle any conditions that the underwriter places on the file, order loan documents to be sent to title, sign documents, documents sent back to lender to approve signatures, records at county recorders office, releases funds. You get your keys!

The shortest time I've ever taken a loan application from start to finish was 8 days.  That is not the norm.  It's possible if we have everything we need and can submit the file and get it approved, however the normal time frame is around 30 days.  It can always be shorter or longer depending on completion of the items I listed above.

The better prepared we are to get all items processed on time, the easier your experience will be.

Next I'll talk about locking interest rates, how your credit affects your interest rate, also, payments, taxes and insurance.

Just look at those clouds.  Gorgeous colors.  Photo taken by Andrionni Ribo, a local Sacramento Photographer. I met Andy through Facebook and flickr back when just a few folks were using it.  I think he was one of my first fb friends.  We talked about photography. We joined a photography group in Sacramento. Andy kept it up. 

As Autumn is approaching Apple Hill is ALWAYS a part of Autumn in the Sacramento area.  If you live here, it's a staple.  So, I'm going through the online brochures planning what I want to do. 

Did you know that you can go wine tasting year round at Apple Hill?  There are several family run vineyards where you can spend the day.

• Lava Cap Winery
  
• Madrona Vineyards
  
• Wofford Acres Vineyards
  
• Boeger Winery
  
• Fenton Herriot Vineyards
  
• Para Vi Vineyards

Has anyone seen the movie, Bottle Shock? 

The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris".

Oops, this was supposed to be "wordless."  I feel like I'm having one of those moments from the movie, "Up."  Squirrel! 

Have a great Wednesday folks.

One of the things I missed when I moved to Sacramento from the bay area was the ability to walk to most of my shopping centers or to easily take public transportation wherever I wanted to go.  Being more densely populated, the bay area was built to accommodate walking, riding a bike or taking the bus.  There are more restaurants and stores mixed within the housing communities so it's more convenient to walk or take the bus than to drive a car and try to find parking.   Foot traffic brings business to local merchants and walking, riding bikes or taking the bus is much less expensive than driving a car.  Safer too. 

Sacramento was built around farms and orchards.  It is more spread out.  People have more room, but tend to be less inclined to using public transportation or walking to their destinations.  Instead we drive everywhere.  We drive to big shopping centers, we drive to eat and drive through to pick it up too.  Makes me think of the people in the movie, Wall-E, where everything was automated and everyone sat in chairs that floated around to take them to their destinations. 

My grandmother used to travel all over the place to do her shopping and run errands well into her 80's after she stopped driving.  She lived in Carmichael, CA, which is connected to Sacramento and has neighborhoods that are close to shops and cafes and other services.  So she got out and walked and took the bus for years.  It IS possible.  Hopefully now that "green living" is the in thing, our city planners will make changes that will enhance the public transportation and development of communities that are more suited to foot traffic and better health.

There are communities in Sacramento that are more walkable than others.  Not only is walking good for the heart, it's good for the environment. It's nice to get out and greet people. Know your community.

A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.¹ Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.

Want to get an idea of how walkable your Sacramento neighborhood is?  Check out this site:  WalkScore.ccom  

Walk Score also shows public transit locations in Sacramento where public Google Transit Feeds are available.

Is your neighborhood making you fat?  Definitely something to consider when deciding where you want to live.  Before you purchase your next home, check out the neighborhood to see how walkable it is.  What shops are close by? How often can you get to shops, local cafes or coffee shops and interesting places, without using your car.  It will not only benefit your health but will also be good for the environment.

Photo from flickr.com

It doesn't matter how big or small your home is.  There's always a way to find room for your Christmas tree. Even a small tree, or plant.  Anything.  It can make you feel so good.

My sister lives in a small town house and she was talking herself out of getting a tree this year. 

"No room," she said, "Can't do it."

But while she was out with friends getting their tree, she found this little tree stuck off to the side, and starting thinking, "Maybe." 

As she walked around this little tree was on her mind.  She thought about where she could place it.  Then she tried to remember where her decorations were.  Did she still have any?  It had been a few years since she had a tree. 

Her friend, suggested exactly where the tree would go great in her living room.  Who'd of thought.  (Always seems someone on the outside can see things we often miss.)

So she brought the little tree home and made an evening of trimming the tree with her daughter and her special guy.  They popped popcorn and strung it.  She found her box of ornaments. 

And ...

Viola! 

Such a simple little tree.  Barely three feet tall.  Oh, I wish I could show you the pictures of them stringing the popcorn and the sheer joy and delight on everyones faces.  It made me smile to see them and look what a difference this little tree made.  There wasn't going to be a tree this year. 

Sometimes a few of us can forget how important traditions are.  I know I have.  I didn't have a tree up this year because we are getting ready to move in January.  I did, however, play a lot of Christmas music.  (There is a free radio station you can listen to on your computer.  Pandora.com)

But back to my point...  I've decided that from now on I am going to make the effort at times when I could easily talk myself out of decorating.  Even though this is a little tree, it really jazzed up the place and brought home the spirit of the holiday.  When my sister thought she couldn't do it, she found the little tree that could.

Merry Christmas Everybody!  May your New Year be prosperous.  As my sister would say, "Be happy, healthy and safe!"

If you live in Sacramento County there is a free drop off event where you can recycle your trees.  Here is the information for Sacramento County.

Thanksgiving "Day" is over but I am still feeling the effects of all that food.  Wonderful, delicious, dishes that I don't care if I see again for another year!  I'm turkey-ed out.  Stuffed.  Maybe tamales for Christmas, eh?  Anything but a big bird and all that dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, etc.  It is late and I should be in bed but I am too full from left overs to lay down just yet.  Feels like I have lead in my gut. 

This holiday has been extra special for me because it seems that more people in my life reconnected this year.  Its easy to get caught up in our own daily activities and not stay in touch with loved ones.  We know they love us and that they are there.  We know we can pick up the phone anytime, but we don't because we can do it later or tomorrow.  And those tomorrows turn into days and quickly pass by and before we know it months are gone.  Then our daily life no longer includes that special someone.  Friend, aunt, sister, brother.  Life goes by so fast. 

I was really excited to spend time with the people I had "misplaced."  In fact the night before Thanksgiving I felt just as excited as a child anticipating Christmas morning.   

Also, it seems like people are more excited about the holidays this year.  Many people I know went to all the Black Friday sales this year.  I was getting updates via Facebook.  The economy hasn't fully recovered but I know we (my family) are in a better place this year than we were last year.  My husband got laid off last year and we went through a rough patch.  I find myself feeling giddy at the grocery store these days just because I am not on that tight budget I was on last year.  Ugh! It will be a looong time before I ever eat beans again.  LOL! 

So, I sit here stuffed to the gills from a feast and a spirit filled with grattitude.  I am so thankful for the relationships I have in my life. 

I realized that what does motivates me the most and is the highest value I have, IS the relationships, my friends; my family; my clients.  Yes I do include clients, because I care a great deal about these good folks who put so much trust in me.  I cannot help but become friends with most of my clients by the time the escrow closes. I always feel a little sad when we finalize the loan documents.  Great relationships are a powerful source for helping to mold the kind of person we want to be.  Relationships are the substance that feeds the soul.  This I can fill up on without guilt, and no lead belly side effects.