“Going green” can mean something as simple as using recyclable paper bags from the grocery store to something as complex as buying green Rancho Cucamonga real estate.  A greener world is a dream for many people. Even without promotions pushing consumers towards healthier choices and better living, a shift in consumer minds has begun.

What does this have to do with Rancho Cucamonga real estate? Simply this:  If you’re a buyer trying to find a green or energy-efficient home, you may be surprised to learn that you could run into some difficulty.  And, if you’re selling your green home, you may not get the results you expect.

The Problem with Green

Energy-efficient and green homes are still a fairly new market. In fact, it’s still considered a niche market. This not only affects prices; it also affects appraisals.

Green Sellers

If you own a green home and are now trying to sell it, you and the appraiser may have a fight on your hands. For example, new regulations passed down over the past year say that loan originators can’t ask for appraisers experienced in green building evaluation. What this means is that you may very well get an appraiser who knows nothing about the value of green homes or green home improvements.

As well, some appraisers base their evaluations on foreclosed homes in the area. 
Depending on how hard hit the area has been by defaults, this could severely affect your appraisal.

Even if the appraiser understands green building and wants to give a fair home appraisal, they may not be able to assign full value for the green enhancements, because the market won’t support it. In other words, you may not get back what you put into the home when you sell it.

Green buyers

Somehow, buying a green home has become as difficult as selling one. Sometimes, the issues don’t make sense in light of the difficulties sellers may have. For instance, the seller may have to take a cut in price when they sell. However, strangely enough, the buyer may end up having to pay more for a green home.

Often (and, again, because many don’t appreciate the value of a green home) the appraisal will come in for less than the home is actually worth. This means that the bank, which has agreed to pay a certain percent for financing, will only cover the percentage based on the appraisal. This leaves the buyer having to make a larger down payment than they might otherwise.

If you’re looking for green Rancho Cucamonga real estate or trying to sell your green home, have your real estate agent negotiate for you before throwing up your hands. Remember that buyers and sellers both have issues with green homes. Be willing to discuss and negotiate so everyone walks away happy.

If you’re trying to find an environmentally friendly home or have one you’d like to sell, I can help you avoid these problems. Call me at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for more information.

                    Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty

With the many auctions here and throughout the U.S., you may be wondering if it’s worth buying Rancho Cucamonga real estate this way. Auctions let you bid at a public sale.  Some property is being sold by the owner, but most properties are foreclosures being sold by banks.

Like any endeavor, there are pros and cons in buying Rancho Cucamonga real estate at an auction. For instance, a pro for auctions might be the price; you can often get great discounts on nice homes through an auction. However, you may get caught up in the fervor of the bidding process and pay more for a home than you ever intended.

The Condition of the Home may be Questionable 

When you work with a real estate agent to buy a home in the traditional manner, you go through the home inspection process.  This ensures the home is in sound structural condition.

In an auction, you have to go with the timeframe of the bidding process and most likely will not have time to get a home inspection performed.  In fact, homes sold at auction are sold “as is.”  That means no improvements will be made to the home, even if you had it inspected and found something wrong.  Additionally, there’s no warranty and no legal recourse to get your money back if you find problems later.

Tax liens can be Costly

In Foreclosure auctions, a property may have a tax lien. If you win the auction, you may then become responsible for the payment of the tax lien. It could be a small or large amount of money, but no matter the size, you may not be able to afford it on top of the cost of the house.

Large Payments in Short Timeframes

Lastly, consider that full payment may be required at the close of the sale; if not full payment, earnest money will at least be required. Because closing usually happens within a month of the auction, it’s always best to be pre-approved for your loan before you start bidding.

If you’re looking at Rancho Cucamonga real estate auctions for your dream home, do your homework first. You could end up with a fantastic deal, but, without enough information, you could also end up with a dead end.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a wonderful home, I can help. Call me today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for more information.

                    Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.
 

It's getting close to Halloween, and families across the nation are slowly but surely decorating their Rancho Cucamonga homes.  The spirit of the season is in the air, the leaves are changing colors, and pumpkins are going up for sale.  It's time to carve!

Pumpkin Picking Tips

• 
  
  Make sure your pumpkin has a stem; it won't last very long if it doesn't.
• Find a pumpkin with a flat bottom so it won't roll.
• Look for one with no holes or soft spots, because it'll rot.
• Choose a light-colored pumpkin for easier carving, or a dark-colored pumpkin for a longer lasting decoration.

Pumpkin Pattern Tips

On the steps of Rancho Cucamonga homes everywhere, pumpkin faces sprout fangs and witches ride their brooms.  Here are a few things to consider when choosing a pumpkin pattern:

• Keep in mind who'll be doing the carving.  Smaller children generally have a harder time with detailed carvings. 
• Use carving patterns as large as the pumpkin you're working with.
• Draw elaborate designs out on paper first.  You can't erase a cut.
• Remember that you have to leave space between the cuts.  The pumpkin needs to stay in one piece.

Pumpkin Carving Tips

• Wash the pumpkin and let it dry, before carving

• Use good carving tools - or a sharp knife and a small serrated knife - for the more elaborate designs.
• Start at the center of your design and work outwards.
• Apply petroleum jelly to the cut edges after you're done to help the pumpkin last longer.

Pumpkin Leftovers

Once you're done carving, you'll have a lot of leftover pumpkin.  Instead of throwing it in the trash try roasting the pumpkin seeds for a great snack, or using the flesh for a delicious pumpkin pie.

Soon, children will be visiting Rancho Cucamonga homes in mass, and with these tips on pumpkins, patterns and carving (and a good stash of candy, of course), you can have them oohing and aahing with delight.

                     Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.
 

During a slow market, buyers have the biggest advantages of all. That’s why now is a great time to buy Rancho Cucamonga homes. You can haggle without feeling guilty because you have the upper hand. Then, as the market bounces back, you get the extra bonus of rising prices making your home worth more than it was when you bought it.

Even in this buyers’ market, you need to be a strong buyer. Otherwise, you could crumble when faced with negotiating prices or needed repairs.

Three ways to be a strong buyer of Rancho Cucamonga homes:

• Walk in to any home for sale with a set idea of the value of property in the area. This means taking a little time to do your homework.  When you know the prices of the area, you can't be run over by a forceful seller who is determined to convince you his price is firm.  This knowledge also helps you deal with sellers who are emotionally attached to their homes and can't price them according to true market value.
• Walk into a home for sale with an experienced REALTOR®. When you have a professional REALTOR® by your side, you are not alone. You do not have to be self-conscious or even be the 'strong one.' Your agent will do all your negotiating for you. You will also benefit from their intimate knowledge of the area and what to look for in a Rancho Cucamonga home.
• Walk into any home for sale knowing your needs and price range. Going home shopping without a clear concept of what you want and can afford can lead to emotional decisions. That can be hazardous for your pocketbook too.

If you would like more tips on how to be a strong buyer of Rancho Cucamonga homes, give me a call today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com.

                    Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.
 

Today’s slow real estate market is a hard place to sell Rancho Cucamonga homes. However, the fact remains that homes are still being bought and sold.  buyers are out there; you just have to attract them to your home.

Here are a few tips for getting Rancho Cucamonga homes sold in a slow real estate market:

Prepare for the Sale

Your home needs to stand out from the rest. Give it a lot of sparkle and shine:

• Make minor repairs:  Patch holes, fix faucets and replace cracked tiles.
• Clean inside and out:  No cobwebs, dirty carpets, worn rugs or smelly odors.
• Check your curb appeal:  Mow the lawn, plant flowers, trim bushes, etc.
• Remove clutter and de-personalize:  If it isn’t essential, pack it up or get rid of it.
• Straighten your cabinets and closets:  Buyers will open them; make sure they’re nice and neat.

Stage Your Home

Hire a professional home stager or read informational home staging articles on doing it yourself. Here are a few quick tips:

• Carefully choose your window coverings.
• Tie new bathroom towels with ribbons for a “finished” bathroom look.
• Use color psychology.
• Bring in plants.

Use Good Marketing Techniques

A strong marketing campaign is a must.  A few techniques you want to be sure you or your agent includes in your marketing campaign are:

• Take photographs with good lighting that show off the positive aspects of your home.
• Create a virtual tour that showcases both the inside and outside of your home.
• Display the photos and virtual tour on as many real estate websites as possible.

Selling Rancho Cucamonga homes isn’t a quick or easy endeavor. Especially now, aggressive marketers are the winners. Taking the time to clean and stage your home, as well as create a wide-reaching marketing campaign, can get that for sale sign taken down for good.

If you’d like to sell your home, let me create a strong, wide-reaching marketing campaign to get your home sold.   Give me a call today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com.

                    Brought to you be Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.
 

Many real estate aficionados worried that the ending of the homebuyer tax credits would mean an end to sales. However, a new real estate survey, conducted April, 2010, says homeowners with a home for sale in Rancho Cucamonga and throughout the nation have more chances to sell their homes.

Survey Group

• 1,000 American consumers
• Ages 25 – 64
• $35,000 + household income

Survey Results

• Over 90% of American consumers think the homebuyer tax credit program helped the real estate industry and first-time buyers.
• 65% actually looking for a home don’t consider the end of the tax credit program to be a factor in their own decisions.
• 46% expect area real estate prices to increase over the next year.
• 12% expect area real estate prices to decline over the next year.
• 79% expect to see an increase in prices over the next five years.
• 20% expect prices to rise significantly over the next five years.
• 75% of renters think renting isn’t as good a long-term choice as owning a home.

How You Can Benefit

As the survey shows, there are still plenty of interested buyers out there.  You just have to know where to find them.

Talk with your agent about which markets are hot in your area. For instance, have older individuals been buying in the area more than young families or vice versa? Maybe energy efficient homes have been selling better. Find out what your home for sale in Rancho Cucamonga has going for it that matches those hot markets.

Most importantly, don’t give up. Buyers are out there and consumer confidence is rising, which means nothing but good things for the real estate market and your home for sale in Rancho Cucamonga.

Want to work with an agent who can identify and target hot markets for your home?  Call me today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for more information

                        Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

The fall holidays are just around the corner, starting with the scariest day of the year – Halloween. You may have always enjoyed Halloween in the past, but the most frightening thought now might be, “I have a Rancho Cucamonga home for sale! I can’t do Halloween right now!”

Sure, sure. Right, right.

Take a deep breath. Don’t panic. First, if the idea of Halloween or autumn decorations this year (versus before you had a Rancho Cucamonga home for sale) freaks you out, you need the break anyway. Secondly, it’s the perfect opportunity to sell your house. Holiday decorations can help buyers imagine the decorations they might use for a warm, inviting atmosphere.

There is, however, a difference between decorating before you put your home on the market and decorating now. For example, don’t go overboard. You want potential buyers to enjoy a relaxing stroll through the house, not scream when the skeleton falls out of the closet.

Pumpkins

If you decide to decorate for Halloween rather than just an autumn theme, that’s okay. Pumpkins, used wisely, can draw attention to an area. However, growling faces are a thing of the past until your house is sold. Use harmless, happy pumpkin expressions to help build the overall cheerful holiday house-buying mood.

Candles

Forget about burning candles right now.  The last thing you want is to have a candle fall over during negotiations and set the curtains on fire. It’s a sure bet the buyers will change their minds.  Consider using flameless candles as a safer alternative.  They’re even available in autumn scents such as Pumpkin Spice and Cinnamon Fusion.

Colors

You can use autumn colors to warm a room.  A bowl of chrysanthemums and dried leaves will make a special touch in the bathroom, while pumpkin gourds can add warmth to a porch.

Because of the holidays coming up, autumn makes people nostalgic. For most, it brings thoughts of family and friends, pumpkins and turkey, fun and light-heartedness. A warm, inviting decorating scheme can further bring out that nostalgia, and get a SOLD sign put in front of your Rancho Cucamonga home for sale.

If you’d like to sell your home before the holidays begin, I can help. Call me at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for more information.

              Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty
 

We’ve all had to deal with problem neighbors near our Rancho Cucamonga homes.  The trouble might be a loud late night party or a dog that is always barking at odd hours.  It can be hard to fix the problem without causing a lasting rift in the neighborhood.  Here are a few tips for getting a peaceful resolution:

Bring it Up Gently

It may be that your neighbor doesn’t realize there is a problem.  Try to wait a day or two after the problem occurs and tactfully bring up the trouble you are having.  Be sure to speak in a calm and reasonable manner. 

If your partying neighbor is not receptive to making a complete change, suggest that they let you know ahead of time when a party is scheduled.  Sometimes being able to plan for a disruption can make it easier to bear.

A dog that barks at all the wrong times is harder to fix.  If you have a specific reason for needing the dog to be quiet, for instance, you work nights and need to be able to sleep in your Rancho Cucamonga home during the day; a gentle reminder that the dog is barking excessively may do the trick.

Ask For Help

If you’ve talked with the problem neighbor nicely and are still getting nowhere, try recruiting others in the neighborhood to help solve the dilemma.  Sometimes it’s easier to get results when a group is asking for change.  The disapproval of the entire neighborhood isn’t something that most people are willing to risk.

Occasionally, there might be that stubborn person who simply refuses to be courteous to anyone nearby.  It may seem that you have no options left.  Before you give up hope, check with your homeowner’s association, they may have the ability to enforce a change that you cannot.

If at any time you feel that your neighbor is trying to force a confrontation, and may become dangerous, call the local police and ask for help.

Trying a few of these suggestions can be an easy and effective way to bring the peace back to your neighborhood.

Want to find a Rancho Cucamonga home in a peaceful neighborhood?  I can help.  Call me today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com.

                              Brought to you By Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.
 

Searching for the right home takes time and patience. Before you start looking at Rancho Cucamonga homes on the market, you need to know exactly what you want in your new home.

Create a list of the features you want in your new home, so you make the most of your time by looking only at Rancho Cucamonga homes that meet your criteria. Here is a quick guide to help you create a checklist:

1. Must Have. These are deal breakers; features that you cannot live without. Do you need a certain number of bedrooms? Do you work from home and need an office, or maybe even an outside entrance to your home office? Perhaps you have small children or large dogs and need a fenced yard. Decide now what you must have in your new home.
2. Like to Have. Features you would “like to have” are those you prefer but are willing to sacrifice if the home is perfect otherwise. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of having your own swimming pool or cathedral ceilings or an oversized garage. Include on this list whatever you would like to have in your new home, as long as it doesn’t take away something from the “must have” list or go over your price range for Rancho Cucamonga homes.
3. Can live without. Some features just aren’t as important as others. Knowing what you don’t really care about can help you stay focused on what really matters to you. Add to this list home features that aren’t important. If no one in your home ever takes a bath, you may not care if you have a whirlpool tub. Perhaps you don’t really want to take care of an oversized yard, so lot size many not be important to you.

Once you have your checklist compiled, share it with your real estate agent.It’ll speed up your home buying process, reduce time and frustration and get you in a home you’ll adore.

Let me help you find your dream home. Call me today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for more information.

                       Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty

Nothing makes a Rancho Cucamonga home for sale look better than a new coat of paint.  Many people are intimidated by the thought of painting the exterior of their home, and hire someone else to do it.  But, you can do it yourself, with these easy steps:

Getting Your House Ready to Paint

The first thing that you’ll need to do is inspect the house.  Look at all the walls, under the eaves and around the doorframe and windows.  Check for peeling paint, mildew and rough surfaces.

You’ll need to gather a few tools before getting to the repairs and putting your Rancho Cucamonga home up for sale:

• Power-washer
• 2-3” inch putty knife
• 2-3” inch pull scraper
• Wire brush
• Sander
• Chlorine bleach

Preparing the Surface

Power-wash the walls so you'll have a clean surface.  You don’t need to use detergents; plain ol’ water works the best.

The putty knife and the wire brush remove problems where paint has peeled, blistered or wrinkled.  Avoid gouging the surface by holding the putty knife perpendicular to the wall and using moderate force. 

The pull scraper is for areas that won’t easily come clean.  It’s used the same way as the putty knife, but it has a sharp blade attached that quickly gets through old paint.  The walls will need to be sanded smooth after you finish this step.

For small spots, a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block works just fine.  An electric sander is best for large areas; it'll save you time and energy.

Removing Mildew

Mildew is a dark patch of fungus, like a dirty spot, often found on a damp, shady spot in your house.  If you aren’t sure it's mildew, put a few drops of chlorine bleach on it.  If the spot fades away, you know you have a mildew problem.

Mildew shows through new paint, so you’ll need to get rid of it before you start painting.  A simple mix of chlorine bleach will kill it quickly.

All you have to do now is pick out a paint color and wait for the right weather to paint.  Soon you’ll be ready to put up your Rancho Cucamonga home for sale. 

If you're thinking of selling your home, I can help.  Call me today at (909)938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com  for more information.

                          Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.