El Dorado Hills, CA

It still isn't good-The El Dorado Irrigation District's upper management unveiled a reduced rate increase previously presented as "Plan B" in El Dorado Hills a little over a week ago. The new proposal lowers the first year hike from 35% to 18%, retains the 15% & 5% increases in years 2 and 3, and puts of the increase in years 4 and 5. According to EID Gen. Mgr. Jim Ambercrombie, "Plan B is the result of outcry from prior workshops & an estimated 4000 protest letters"-well short of the 20,000 plus req'd to block the increase (Prop. 118 on majority vote). Also a result of an improved power conract, restructured debt, further reductions in capital improvements, and anticipated employee wage and benefit concessions.

in respones to the "why now", "why so much" questions, Ambercrombie said, "we should have been increasing rates slowly over the last ten years."

We better keep our eye on EID!

For additional information on this subject, or any info. you might need on El Dorado Hills-Wendi-Mae is your neighborhood specialist!

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI

Broker Associate

Real Estate Counselor

Toll Free 866-333-6333

HTTP://www.wendimae.com

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District was created in 1962 with the following mission statement:
Improve the quality of life for El Dorado Hills residents through responsible leadership and by providing superior services and facilities. And for the last 48 years they have done just that and are a huge reason El Dorado Hills is such a wonderful place to live. The scope of the Community Services District includes managing and developing our beautiful parks, trails, ball fields, tennis courts and facilities that we all cherish. Another huge service they provide to our El Dorado Hills residents are the recreation activities, programs, and classes that are put on throughout the year. It is a benefit we tend to forget about but something we should definitely take time to enjoy!

These programs cover all ages and a variety of interests. You'll find pre-school to senior adult programs and interests such as sports, dance, arts/crafts, swimming, fitness. wellness, and more.

Twice a year the CSD puts out a Recreation Guidewith the current classes and programs available-Winter/Spring and Summer/Fall. They are mailed to residents. If you are new to the area or didn't get yours, you can pick up a copy at the CSD District Office located at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm. You can also view the Recreation Guide online at www.edhcsd.org/recreation/activityguide.pdf . Hurry as the Winter & Spring guide is out and some of the classes have already started!

Visit www.edhcsd.orgto find out more about the El Dorado Hills Community Services District, the parks and facilities they maintain, and the other services they provide to our wonderful community.

Happy New Year! Turning the page on 2009 marks my 5^th year as a Folsom resident and my 18^th year as a real estate brokerage owner. 2010 will hold many opportunities for home buyers and sellers in the local real estate market. Housing affordability continues to rise and the chance for the growing family to upsize in to a roomier home has never been better. I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2010!

Recent El Dorado Hills Housing Stastics: We closed out December of 2009 with a total of 58 home sales in Folsom, CA. Of the sales, 21 were foreclosure / bank owned, 13 were short sales and 24 were non-distressed home sales. The average dollars per square foot was $165, the aveage home sales price was $473k, the number of available homes stood at 286 and there was a five month supply of inventory on the Multiple Listing Service.

The year in review:

Sacramento Area housing prices drop less than 1% in 2009

The year ahead:

Welcome to 2010 - "The Year of the Short Sale"

Short sales are on the rise

Completing a short sale is getting easier

Who should consider a short sale?

Are short sales too good to be true? What's the catch?

Should home buyers attempt to purchase a short sale?

Short sale tips for sellers and buyers

Mortgage watch:

Its official... FHA loan costs are on the rise

January 2010 Mortgage Rate Watch - Western Region

Home buyer tax credit:

$8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended & Expanded

Home Sellers:

Pay a commission as low as 1% of the sales price

Home Buyers:

Brokers Inc. will give you up to $2,500 when you buy a home

Aaron Cullen is a Realtor, Real Estate Broker, and Owner of Brokers Incorporated Residential Real Estate. Aaron lives in Folsom, CA and specializes in representing home buyers and sellers in Folsom, El Dorado Hills and the Greater Sacramento Region. Having relocated from the Bay Area in 2004, Aaron continues to work with home buyers in all cities lying between the Bay Area and Sacramento Area.

As I search through the MLS looking for properties that meet a buyer's specific needs, I come across some very interesting photos. I am sure we all do.

It amazes me how little attention some of our fellow practitioners pay to this critical aspect of marketing. Don't well over eighty percent of buyers start looking for a property on the Internet?

Isn't it our responsibility to emphasize the most attractive aspects of a property in an effort to get more showings, and hopefully offers? Granted, we can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear but we should be able to do better than this!

Rule #1 If you put a greasy fingerprint on your lens WIPE IT OFF before you take the picture!

It's a LONG WAY to the wood stove! But the hallway is narrow. Maybe the cold air won't get down here very fast, or is that ice on the walls?

Got flashlight?

Is this a shed or the single bath?

Staged by Fibber McGee (If you are not old enough to remember him, look him up.)

If you opened the car window, don't you think there would be less glare and reflection? You might even be able to get the entire house in the shot!

Some photographers use perspective to enhance their shots. And then there is this offering. (If you are going to use a wide angle lens hold the camera level!!!!)

This reminds me of the fun house at Coney Island. (New Yorkers will understand.)

Is this an attic or a mine shaft?

And my personal FAVORITE!!!

EID's proposed rate hikes-compound to 80%!

You must know about EID's proposed rate increases-and get involved by attending one of their scheduled townhall meetings. For one close to you-checkout HTTP://www.EID.ORG They have already begun-there is no time to wait! They are proposing a series of rate hikes, starting with 35% in 2010. 15% in 2011, and concluding with 5% over the following 3 years-2012-2014. The notices began arriving the first week of this month. Altogether it compounds to an 80% increase in 5 years. The first rate hike is planned to go in to effect a week before Valentine's Day. EID sent notices over the Holidays to kick-start a 45 day deadline for ratepayers to mail written protests to EID. Protests must include the Assessor's Parcel Number of the property in which the person signing the protest letter has an interest. Either as the owner, or tenant paying the utility bill. Only one letter per parcel will be counted. Under the terms of Proposition 218. If 51% mail in objections to the rate increase-and do so within 45 days-the increase is defeated. For more details, or for any information-feel free to contact your neighborhood residential specialist, Wendi-Mae Davis,CRS, GRI, Broker Associate and Real Estate Counselor for Connect Realty. 916-616-0874 or Toll Free 866-333-6333. HTTP://www.wendimae.com wendimae@wendimae.com