For the first time in ages, I had a buyer ask me yesterday how much his monthly payment would be if he bought my listing. He kinda threw me off guard because I wasn't expecting it. Generally, by the time a buyer calls, he or she has already spoken to a mortgage broker and received a preapproval letter.

But this is California, after all. This is the land where buyers hop in the car to drive 2 blocks to the grocery store, spot a For Sale sign, and decide on the spur of the moment to buy a house.

If this describes you, here is the perfect home for you. First, it's affordable. Second, it's not a short sale. It's not an REO, either. Third, it's newer, if you can call 1991 construction newer, and I think you can in a neighborhood made up of 80-year-old homes. It's all in your perspective.

This is a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in Oak Park. If you take Alhambra from downtown and go south, it will eventually curve into 3rd Avenue. At the point where it curves, right next to the freeway, is this charming home. It's a little under 1,000 square feet. It has central heat and air, plus a 2-car garage.

The master suite has its own bath. Plus, you'll find a sliding glass door to the uncovered flagstone patio. This is close to shopping and public transportation. But best of all it's affordable. You can own this home for about what you'd pay in rent. Depending on your qualifications and the type of loan you pursue, your down payment could range from 0% to 3.5% of the sales price.

An FHA loan, for example, requires a minimum down payment of 3.5% of the sales price. A VA loan is zero down. You might also consider the Bank of Mom and Dad. Buyers sometimes get a down payment from parents.

3120 3rd Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817, is offered exclusively by Lyon Real Estate at $148,000. For more information, call your Sacramento agent Elizabeth Weintraub. For a private showing, call Barbara Dow at 916 761 7398.

Photo: Elizabeth Weintraub

After listing yesterday the following 8-unit apartment complex in North Oak Park, a buyer called me out of the blue. Apparently, he had been shopping for a home in the Curtis Park / Land Park neighborhoods for a while without hiring an agent. A former Land Park buyer referred him to me. He asked if I could show him a home in Curtis Park within the hour. Sure, I'll do that for a referral client. After walking through the home with his wife, the buyer announced they would like to write an offer.

The wife laughed, "I bet this is the easiest offer you've ever written." Well, no offers are really easy these days. But to tell her the truth, it was not the easiest offer this week. The easiest offer was for two other buyers for a home in East Sacramento. Because at least I got to see the home in Curtis Park. I haven't yet stepped foot in the home in East Sacramento and we're already in escrow. That's how busy we real estate agents are in Sacramento. It's a wild spring.

Here are 8 units for sale in North Oak Park. These are all one bedrooms, one baths, ranging from approximately 650 square feet to 750 square feet, professionally managed by Homepointe. Seven units are rented and one is vacant. Present gross monthly income is $3,620.

Each unit consists of a living room, bedroom, kitchen (with an electric stove) and a bath. They have a wall furnace and window air conditioner. The unit I inspected has a ceiling fan in the bedroom. There is parking in back and an open lot next door to the east.

This is a two-story building with half of the units on the second floor. It is located about two blocks east from Alhambra and two blocks north of Broadway. Easy access to freeways and downtown, close to shopping and restaurants. Sold strictly in "as is" condition. Individual SMUD meters.

3236 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817 offered exclusively by Lyon Real Estate as a short sale at $304,000. Call your Sacramento short sale agent Elizabeth Weintraub at 916 239 2872 for more information.

Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub

In the City of Sacramento Oak Park has always been known for "The place you don't want property". With this current market you can become the "King of Oak Park" if you invest right. Homes are available in the area for prices in the range of $35,000-$65,000. Finding tenants for these properties can be difficult but not impossible.

If you would like any suggestions on properties in the area to buy or need a property manager, feel free to give me a call.

Sidney Poritz

sporitz@homepointe.com

916-429-1205 ext. 800

People call me on a daily basis asking me about Oak Park properties and they are interested in renting their homes. Oak Park is a neighborhood right outside Land Park and Tahoe Park in Sacramento, CA. In this area you have some great old homes with character and big backyards unlike newly developed areas. You have a great downtown district which could become a nice place to have farmers markets or even a small festival.

Now the real problems with the area. Crime is at an all time high, people are breaking into house which are abandanded, and tenants continue to vandalize homes. Owners don't feel safe renting to anybody who wants to live in the area. Walking down the streets you fear for your life or even for the safety of your children.

Will Oak Park ever recover? Can Kevin Johnson make a difference? Can I rent my property in Oak Park and make cash flow?

These are great questions and I am looking to tell you my opinion. Let me know if you have a property in the area and looking for a property manager. Oak Park can seem like a tough place to own a home, but you can succeed.

Sidney Poritz

sporitz@homepointe.com