Sacramento, CA

Even though we are moving into what is seasonally a slow-down of the real estate market in Land Park, I'm looking forward to an extremely busy month: 8 of my transactions are scheduled to close in July. One of those should have closed last month but the buyer's agent went on vacation, which tends to deliver delays, so one of my Land Park listings didn't close in June -- it closed yesterday.

Here is a snapshot of the closed homes in Land Park for June:

• 1132 7th Avenue, $875,000
• 2782 Harkness Street, $465,000
• 1801 4th Avenue, $430,000
• 2665 16th Street, $429,500
• 1232 Larkin Way, $410,000
• 783 Robertson Way, $395,000
• 2816 Riverside Blvd., $340,000
• 879 3rd Avenue, $325,000
• 1832 Commercial Way, $319,000
• 909 7th Avenue, $304,000
• 2617 Freeport Blvd., $295,000
• 2172 Perkins Way, $290,000
• 2206 6th Avenue, $118,800

You might wonder about the last one home on 6th Avenue, but it sits right next to the railroad tracks, and it also sold for all cash in 1 day.

All together, we have had 13 homes close escrow in June in Land Park. If my listing had closed as scheduled, we would have had 14 homes in Land Park close. The average price-per-square foot was $287, and the average days on market were 77. Based on per-square-foot prices for the same period last year, when 12 homes sold, prices have slightly dipped by 2%. But that's primarily because we had a $1,100,000 sale in June of 2008. That home skewed the square-foot averages for last year in June.

Not surprisingly, there were also 13 homes in Land Park that closed escrow in May of 2009. And the price per-square-foot was identical to the June average.

Also, not surprising, Lyon Real Estate owns the market share of the listings in Land Park. I'm proud to say that Lyon Real Estate sells more homes in Land Park than any other real estate brokerage. We own the lion's share of the listings and we represent almost one out of every two buyers for Land Park.

If you're looking to buy or sell a home in Land Park, you can call me or any other Lyon Real Estate agent and feel assured that you will receive exceptional service from an area specialist.

I sold another listing in Land Park for more than asking price and in less than a week this June. The sellers also have a back-up offer. When I brought 3 offers to the sellers for review, I laughed, "Hey, weren't we sitting at this table just a week ago signing the listing paperwork?" It helps a listing tremendously if photographs are submitted immediately to MLS, and I shot a lot of photos the day I took the listing. I'd like to think it was my photos that sold that Land Park home so quickly, but it was most likely location and marketing, and not my marvelous Nikon that did the trick.

On another note, if you're wondering about whether a prickly pear cactus can survive in a Land Park cactus garden, check out my blooming cactus above. Part of my Land Park garden was converted last year into a cacti / succulent paradise. Remember, because watering times are reduced this year to 15 minutes, a drought-tolerant cactus garden might be attractive to you, too.

I've been experimenting with various varities of cactus, and know which types are likely to survive our winters in Land Park. Whether you'd like to talk about Land Park real estate or Land Park gardening, give me a ring. I always answer my cell: 916.233.6759.

Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you.

The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available in bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com.

Photograph: Elizabeth Weintraub, Prickly Pear Cactus in Land Park, Sacramento

It just occurred to me that I had not heard that line in a while! Well until today!

Remember back when everyone and their Grandma was in the mortgage business? I remember having that objection come up with every other new client we would meet with back in the day.

We would get "Oh I want to check with my friend's mother's cousin first... because when they are not working down at the used car lot... they do loans on the side." (I am being sarcastic here)

It was not until today did I realize I have not heard much of that kind of talk in quite a while.

After working with a potential client for several hours through email and in person meetings to help them create a strategy to purchase Sacramento Cash Flow Homes... The "cousin bomb" was dropped.

Wonderful... on one hand we could care less because we know that we offer a very good service for a good price... but on the other hand it just kills me that folks would sit down with us and have us spend our time and money to help them get financed through our coaching.

Where was your cousin when we were going through your credit report line item by line item to determine how we could get your score up to a point where you could qualify? Unfortunately that is just the nature of sales and by this point we are used to folks like this (that does not mean we like it though)!

So we asked to see their Cousin's Good Faith Estimateand no surprise to us... most of the document was blank. Some of the missing items where title fees, impound reserves, underwriting fees... surprise surprise!

The Cousin even offered a the client a no cost investment loan at 5% interest rate... GOOD LUCK WITH THAT! Did your cousin even look at a rate sheet? Have fun getting that one closed... we actually had a good chuckle over that one.

Thank goodness most of these part timers have left the business and have steped aside for the professionals to take over! I guess that is one really great thing about the mess of a Sacramento real estate market!

On June 27th, the Land Park Community Association hosted the 1st Annual Picnic in the Park! Thanking our neighbors for their ongoing efforts on behalf of the Land Park neighborhood was the inspiration for the event.

In keeping with the setting, the picnic was an old-fashioned, ice cream eating, apple pie contest, family oriented experience. Live guitar music supplied the background for fun, chatting and games. The children enjoyed face painting, Go Fish, sack races, croquet, golf and so much more! Adults had a few contest as well.

Over 100 families joined in the fun, even in over 100 degree heat! Vic's Ice Cream and chilled beverages helped cool everyone down. A great lunch of burgers and hot dogs was provided to all who joined in.

Thanks to Raleys for sponsoring the event! A great time had by all!

www.PaulaSwayne.com

What is your opinion on men who wear "man skirts?" I ask because my husband and I spotted a fellow with a ponytail in row 2 at the 24th Street Theatre (part of the Sierra 2 in Curtis Park) who wore a short denim skirt last night to the Richard Thompson concert. It had plenty of pleats, too. It wasn't a kilt. He paired it with a black, form-fitting shell and walked past us barefoot in the aisle. I didn't notice skirt guy, but my husband did.

He has a right, noted my husband, to be comfortable and wear whatever he wants, but it's too bad that he has to be "that guy," which left me confused about what he was trying to say. The dear love of my life went on to explain. When my husband was fitted for his first suit, he had selected a double-breasted suit. The tailor told him no, if he wore a double breasted suit, he'd always be known as "that guy -- that guy in the double-breasted suit."

Doors opened at the 24th Street Theatre at 6:30. The place holds only 300 people. An usher handed out slips of paper on which we were instructed to write our song requests, one per person. I let my husband select my favorite Richard Thompson song because, quite frankly, standing out there in the hot sun after a full day of dealing with Sacramento short sales left my mind blank. The only song that I could think of off the top of head was his take on "Oops, I did it again."

Once seated, the air conditioning blasted me in the face. I froze during most of the concert, which is what I get for wearing a t-shirt and not bringing a sweater. Then, I felt somebody kicking my chair from behind. You know what it's like to be sitting on a airplane with a 3-year-old behind you who keeps kicking your chair back, right? First couple of kicks don't bother you, but by the time it gets to be repetitive, you may have to curb the desire to climb over the back of your chair and beat the kid to a bloody pulp with your barf bag.

I waited for the kicking to stop. But it didn't. So, I turned around and tapped the knee of the woman behind me. "Excuse me," I smiled, "But I believe you are absentmindedly kicking the back of my chair." She instantly pointed the finger to her husband and blamed him. Yup, he was kicking my chair all right. "Do you want me to continue?" he laughed. Hey, it's irritating. He stopped.

The first act was the Alternative String Band. First and second violin, a guy playing a viola (which he described as a "violin on steroids") and a cello. They were much better than I had anticipated, opening with Eleanor Rigby. Their set consisted of songs by Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, The Turtles, U2, Annie Lennox and The Cream. Penny Lane, by the Beatles, was an exceptional number.

Richard Thompson appeared on stage about 8:30, wearing his trademark beret. He stood during the entire performance, plucking songs out of a basket that looked like the type of basket a snake charmer would use and playing requests. He opened with The Who's Substitute, played a bunch of requests in between, including 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, and then closed after 3 encores with a Jimi Hendrix tune: Hey Joe.

I was frozen by the time the show ended. I was so cold that I had actually considered ripping the socks off my husband's feet and wrapping them around my arms, that's how desperate I was for warmth. Here's a tip: if you go to the 24th Street Theatre in Curtis Park, bring a jacket or don't sit under the vents near the front.

Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout Sacramento. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you.

The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available in bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com.

Sacramento Short Sale Agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, has the answers to your Sacramento short sale questions.

Photo: Big Stock Photo

Join us at the Sacramento Rental Owner's Expo! Saturday, July 18th, 2009 8:15am - 3:30pm This event is designed for Sacramento rental owners, investors and managers of residential rental properties.

This blog by:

Team Newington
Sacramento Mortgage Planners
First Priority Financial
(916) 687-6868

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