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Smart Home Buying - Carefully Review ALL of the Homeowners Association Documents!

02-08-10

Wendy Cutrufelli, Contra Costa Realtor

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Mobile: (925) 917-1135

Stack of Homeowner Association documents

When buying a home or buying a condominium that has a Homeowners Association, it is very important to read all of the documents provided to you. While this may appear to be a daunting task because the HOA documents can run to hundreds of pages, these documents govern - and sometimes limit - your use of your home as well as your expenses as a homeowner within that Association.

The Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CCRs) and By-Laws, are the governing documents of the Homeowners Association (HOA). These documents outline how the HOA is run and the basic rights, duties and obligations of the home owners within the HOA. They also specify any limitations to your use of your home. For instance, they may limit the number and size of pets, your ability to rent the home in the future, whether you can operate a home based business, the procedures you must follow if you wish to upgrade or remodel your home and where you can park your car.

The Rules and Regulations typically cover the day-to-day matters such as the use and expense of the common areas (open space, pools, clubhouse, etc.).

The Minutes of the Board of Directors meetings will contain the details on current and future repairs, improvements, expenses, lawsuits and any increases in monthly assessments. You should receive copies of the minutes for the most recent 12 months.

You should pay particular attention to the Financial Documents from the HOA, specifically the rate of delinquency, adequacy of the financial reserves, operating losses and any current or planned asessments. The financial information can be contained in numerous documents including the Reserve Funding Disclosure, Financial Statement Review, Pro Forma Operating Budget, Assessment Enforcement Policy and Special or Emergency Assessments, if applicable.

It is enormously important that you fully understand the financial condition of the Stack of money Homeowners Association. Have the reserves been adequately funded? Are there many delinquent dues and assessment payments? If there is an assessment on the home you are purchasing, does your purchase contract specify whether the assessment will be paid by the seller or will you be responsible for payments after the close of escrow?

HOA Documents Checklist:

1. CCRs with current Amendments
2. Articles of Incorporation or Association
3. By-Laws
4. Current Rules and Regulations
5. Copy of Minutes for the last 12 months
6. Year-to-date Budget
7. Financial Statments
8. Insurance Summary
9. Association Collection Policies and Practices

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Feb 5th MortgageMarket Update

02-05-10

Paul Walton

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Office: (707) 745-1595

Fabulous Friday to all,

Bonds remain bullish-in spite of better unemployment news. The question investors are asking is how accurate are the reports!

Reports show un-employment at 9.7% which is an improvement ........but discouraged workers who can't find a job grows to 1.1m.

Today's market snapshot.

Be careful bonds are currently bullish but over- valued slightly.

Have a great weekend!

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Dec 2009 Median Home Price, Homes for Sale, Walnut Creek CA and the Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Market Update February 3, 2010

02-05-10

Vickie Nagy, Realtor, Pre-Foreclosure Specialist Certified Call 925.407.7987

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Office: (925) 407-7987

Mobile: (925) 407-7987

Dec 2009 Median Home Price, Homes for Sale, Walnut Creek CA and the Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Market Update February 3, 2010. The January 2009 median home price in Walnut Creek CA was $735,000 for single family detached homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 95498 that sold.* There were 17 home sales of single family detached homes, the highest priced home sold for $1,630,000, the lowest price home sold for $250,000. The average selling price of detached single family homes for January 2009 in Walnut Creek California was $736,862. These homes were on the market an average of 66 days. Your Walnut Creek California real estate market update was written February 3, 2010. See below for information on single family homes sold on the low and high end.

How much did 2181 Overlook Dr. in Walnut Creek CA sell for? 2181 Overlook Dr. in Walnut Creek CA sold for $250,000 after 23 days on the market:

How much did 4346 Walnut Blvd. in Walnut Creek CA sell for? 4346 Walnut Blvd. in Walnut Creek CA sold for $1,630,000 after 33 days on the market:

There are currently 89 single family detached homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 94598 pending sale (or under contingency contract). The pending home prices range from $198,888 to $1,585,000, with an average asking price of $695,610.

The median home price in Walnut Creek CA was $242,000 for attached homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 94598 that sold in January 2009 including duets, patio homes, condos and townhomes. There were 13 attached units sold, the highest priced unit sold for $850,000, and the lowest price unit sold for $135,000. The average selling price of attached homes for January 2009 in Walnut Creek California was $298,807 after an average 77 days on the market. See below for information on attached homes sold on the low and high end.

How much did 2738 Oak Rd. in Walnut Creek sell for? 2738 Oak Rd. in Walnut Creek CA sold for $135,000 after 13 days on the market:

How much did 1800 Alma Ave. #311 in Walnut Creek CA sell for? 1800 Alma Ave. #311 in Walnut Creek CA sold for $850,000 after 178 days on the market:

Click here to receive monthly Walnut Creek CA real estate market updates
Click here to request a current list of homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA

There are currently 102 attached homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 94598 pending sale (or under contingency contract). The pending home prices range from $102,900 to $639,000, with an average asking price of $318,566.

As of February 3, 2010 there are currently 173 homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 94598 on the market. 95 of these are single family homes with a median home price of $825,000 for single family homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA with prices ranging from $419,000 to $4,998,000. 78 of these are attached homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA with a median home price of $259,950 with prices ranging from $119,000 to $1,150,000.

409 single family homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 94598 sold during 2009. The median home price in Walnut Creek CA of these 409 homes was $690,000 with a range in price from $255,000 to $1,600,000, and they were on the market an average of 52 days. 313 attached homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA or homes for sale in 94595 94596 94597 94598 sold during 2009. Prices ranged from $106,000 to $896,000 with the median home price in Walnut Creek CA being $317,500 for these 313 attached homes, and they were on the market an average of 50 days.

Are you interested in what is going on in the hyper-local real estate market at this moment? The market snapshot shows homes for sale and homes recently sold, including price as well as community and school information. Click here to create your own, up to the minute market snapshot directly from the MLS.

Buying or selling a home in Walnut Creek or Walnut Creek CA real estate, contact us as we are skilled agents, offering extensive knowledge and strong negotiation skills who are truly focused on "Getting You Where You Need to Be!"

Contact Vickie Nagy REALTOR®, ABR, CRS, GRI e-PRO, SRES - CA DRE Lic. #01363932
(925) 407-7987 or click to e-mail Vickie Nagy
OR
Contact Steve Nagy REALTOR®, - CA DRE Lic. #01863790
(925) 407-7853 or click to e-mail Steve Nagy

Please contact Vickie Nagy or Steve Nagy for all of your real estate needs in Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek and Concord. Search for Homes For Sale - Keller Williams Realty

To see homes for sale in Dublin CA visit Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Click for the Median Home Price in Walnut Creek CA . More information on homes for sale in Dublin CA, including foreclosures for sale be found at www.VickieSellsHomes.com

* Based on information from the Contra Costa Association of REALTOR'S® MLS (for the monthly period from the first through the last day of the month). Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS.

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Homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Creek December 2009 - Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Report - Homes for Sale in NorthGate January 28, 2010

02-01-10

Vickie Nagy, Realtor, Pre-Foreclosure Specialist Certified Call 925.407.7987

view my blog
Office: (925) 407-7987

Mobile: (925) 407-7987

Homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Creek December 2009 - Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Report - Homes for Sale in NorthGate January 28, 2010. There are currently 11 single family detached homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Creek CA or NorthGate homes for sale in 94598 ranging in price from $795,000 to $3,100,000*. One attached home, a townhome, is for sale and is listed for $569,500. Homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Creek CA are some of the most popular homes among the offerings of Walnut Creek CA real estate due to the proximity of good schools, parks and trailhead access.

The most affordable single family home in the NorthGate area is available for $649,900 and is a four bedroom, 2 bath home with a reported 1,820 sq. ft. of living space.

On the other end of the spectrum you will find an older estate home offered at $3,100,000. This spacious home has a reported 5,900 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 5 full bathrooms that is situated on approximately 5 acres. The MLS listing describes this as a "Right before the entrance to Mt. Diablo, Over 5 Acres of level sub-dividable land (3-4 Lots possible and engineer's map available), views are fantastic, State Park next door, complete remodel 2 years ago. (NO PERMITS) Sewer and water available now. Next to grand custom homes 3+Mil.

Ten single family detached homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Cree CA or NorthGate homes for sale in 94598 are currently pending sale. The lowest priced home is a six bedroom, two and a half bath home with a reported 3,269 square feet of living space that was offered for $198,888. At the other end of the spectrum there's a four bedroom, three bath home with a reported 3,300 square feet of living that was offered at $1,299,000.

Two detached homes for sale in North Gate in Walnut Creek CA or NorthGate homes for sale in 94598 sold (closed) during the month of December 2009. The median sales price of Northgate homes was $755,000 for the month of December. Additional details for the lowest and highest priced properties that sold follow.

Details on the home at 805 Stonehaven Dr. in Walnut Creek, CA sold for $745,000 after 26 days on the market:

Details on the home at 3480 Sutcliffe Ct., in Walnut Creek, CA sold for $765,000 after 3 days on the market:

Click here to receive ongoing monthly real estate market snapshots for NorthGate
Click here to request a list of homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Creek

How to get there?
Homes for sale in NorthGate in Walnut Creek CA are accessed from N. Gate Rd. off Oak Grove Rd.

NorthGate is a large diverse area in Eastern Walnut Creek CA. One area includes a number of subdivisions full of upper end homes, generally priced from $1,400,000 to $3,000,000 that have sprung up in the past 10 years. Another area is comprised of older homes, mostly built in the 1960's and 1970's and 1980's, generally priced from $600,000-$2,000,000 based on size, condition and updates.

50 homes for sale in North Gate in Walnut Creek CA or NorthGate homes for sale in 94598 sold and closed during 2009. Two of the home sales were townhomes. The median price for homes in North Gate that sold in Walnut Creek in 2009 was $799,450. The average price of homes in North Gate in Walnut Creek was $835,907 for homes sold during 2009. The homes in North Gate in Walnut Creek CA that were sold in 2009 have been on the market an average of 57 days.

Are you interested in what is going on in the hyper-local real estate market at this moment? The market snapshot shows homes for sale and homes recently sold, including price as well as community and school information. Click here to create your own, up to the minute market snapshot directly from the MLS.

Buying or selling Walnut Creek CA real estate, or looking for homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA contact us as we are skilled agents, offering extensive knowledge and strong negotiation skills.

Vickie Nagy REALTOR®, ABR, CRS, GRI e-PRO, SRES - CA DRE Lic. # 01363932
(925) 407-7987 or click to e-mail Vickie Nagy
OR
Steve Nagy REALTOR®, - CA DRE Lic. #01863790
(925) 407-7853 or click to e-mail Steve Nagy

Please contact Vickie Nagy or Steve Nagy for all of your real estate needs in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek and Concord. Search for Homes For Sale - Keller Williams Realty

To see homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA neighborhoods including NorthGate in Walnut Creek CA visit Walnut Creek CA Neighborhoods Real Estate. Click here for the Median Home Price in Walnut Creek CA . More information on homes for sale in Danville CA, including foreclosures for sale can be found at www.VickieSellsHomes.com

* Based on information from the Contra Costa Association of REALTOR'S® MLS (for the monthly period from the first through the last day of the month). Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS.

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