Due to our economic times and all the negativity that surrounds us with television and the news, it seems that it is time to take action and be proactive.

Many families are struggling to make ends meet. Sometimes it's hard to think of different ways to save money. It's like the old saying

you can't see the forest for the trees...

Here are a few ways to help save money in your household. Can you think of any to add?

1. Get rid of the Satellite Dishes and just have cable (don't need 105 channels)

2. Get rid of home phone line and use cell phone instead

3. Cut out buying lattes

4. Pack a lunch

5. Cook dinner at home and cut out eating out

6. Do your own lawn work

7. Turn the water heater down

8. Turn the heat down

9. Carpool

10. Use Free Grocery Coupons and Mommy Savers

11. Check which restaurants have Kids Eat FREE

12. Unplug phone Chargers, coffee pots, toasters when not being used- Susan Hilton contributor

13. Replae light bulbs with fluorescent lights - Kathryn Acciari, contributor

14. If you have more than one heat zone, turn down the temp in the zone(s) you are not currently occupying. Programmable thermostats can help. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

15. Likewise, with more than one cooling zone, turn up the temp in the zone(s) you are not using. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

16. Unplug laptops at night. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

17. Turn off your printer at night Kathryn Acciari, contributor

18. Buy fruit that is pre-bundled into bags. Usually saves 20 cents/lb. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

19. Use newspaper as mulch. Tear it up, spread it around, then cover with a cosmetic layer of mulch. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

20. Cancel your magazine subscriptions and use your library card instead. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

21. If you are not too particular about your wine, try boxed wines. Yes, I know, some will turn their noses up. But before you do, I dare you to do a taste test of Banrock Station's boxed Shiraz vs. a $10-$15 bottle of Shiraz. Then put the boxed wine in a nice decanter when you have guests! Kathryn Acciari, contributor

22. Lastly, bank whatever you save. I'm funding my son's college tuition by banking what I save on my grocery bills. He also rolls spare change, which go into his fund.Do you have any money saving tips for the readers? I will add your money saving tips to the list. Kathryn Acciari, contributor

Do YOU have any money saving tips for the readers?

I will add your money saving tip to the list.

GREAT NEWS for California Homebuyers! Double Jeopardy...

Home buyers who buy a house from a home builder will receive $10,000 tax credit.

This is a CA State tax credit which applies only to new construction.

Rules to Qualify for tax credit:

• applies to homes closing by March 1, 2009 through March 1, 2010.
• applies to anyone buying new construction as their primary residence
• tax credit is applied over a 3 year period (1/3 per year)
• homes $200,000 and over receive $10,000 credit
• homes under $200,000 get 5% of the value as tax credit
• must live in the home at least 2 years from close of escrow
• there are no income limits

The KICK is that there is only $100 million allocated for this tax credit and when it has been used, it's gone. So, the first 10,000 new home sales will receive the $10,000 CA State Tax Credit.

If you are one of the lucky ones and qualify for the Federal tax credit of $8,000 then you will receive up to $18,000 tax credit all together...such a deal!

On Friday, February 27^th, the Franchise Tax Board will have more information on their website.

I can tell you that you want to make sure you are represented by a Realtor before going to the new home builders. A Realtor is your best representative and can negotiate an excellent price and terms for you.

This year I have helped several homebuyers buying new homes and lofts in Sacramento and West Sacramento. It would be my pleasure to help you, too!

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

Click Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the search icon and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale in .

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice.

Other Home Buyer Tips:

Scoop on First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Loan modifications have proven they don't work for over 90% of the population who have received them and fail within 6 months.  Eventually, I feel that those that don't fail have an excellent chance at Foreclosure down the line.  You ask why?

BECAUSE the mortgage loan balance has NOT changed.

What needs to be done to help solve this housing crisis and stop the foreclosures, in my opinion is the "cram-down." This is where Bankruptcy Judges could lower the mortgage loan amount for the homeowner/borrower.

If time is of the essence, doing loan modifications and having these banks that can't manage the Short Sales and Foreclosures handling Loan Modifications seems a bit ludicrous considering their track record.

A little catch...Bankruptcy Judges do not have the authority with primary residences to lower the mortgage loan, only investment and 2nd homes.  Congress would need to change the bankruptcy law and add this provision in.

Either the banks get the value or less for the property with a foreclosure sale or leave the homeowner in their own home and lower the loan balance to the value of the property.  Seems like a no-brainer to me!

I"ll put my money on the Bankruptcy Judges over the banks any day

Don't think for one moment that these troubled homeowners are getting away with anything. Their credit is ruined, they've been receiving countless calls and mail about their lateness in payments. They're suffering. Not to mention children being uprooted from their neighborhoods and schools.  Don't worry, they suffering.

This would help those homeowners in trouble, save the neighborhood and show a little empathy for mankind.  Something sorely missing these days.

What are your thoughts?  Do you have a solution or do you think there is a solution?  Would you like to see the neighborhoods come back,  the value of your home stop going down? Jobs return?

Click Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the search icon and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale in .

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

While showing homes for sale in Sacramento and waiting for the home buyer to meet me at the house I found some information that will save you some money if you call 411 and get charged for those information calls.

Google has a nationwide information source that is absolutely FREE. It works on cell phones and landline phones.

Program it into your phones and save some money...we all need to save as much as we can and every little bit helps.

1-800-466-4411

or

1-800-goog411

Now, if I could only find FREE Starbucks!

Now, Twitter that one...

Do you have any free items to share with everyone during this troubled time in the economy?

Every little bit help!

Where is all this bailout money that we as tax payers have paid banks?  As a Sacramento Realtor/Broker and owner of Riede Real Estate I am here to tell you that the banks have taken our money and bought out other banks and no telling what else...but they aren't helping the distressed homeowner.

For over a year there have been TV commercials stating that all you have to do is call your bank.  If you would like to see what a typical scenario of "just calling your bank," is like you really need to watch ABC news video were Congresswoman Waters of Los Angeles tried to do just that with IndyMac Bank, Bank of America and Countrywide (was this when Countrywide outsourced these calls to India?...of course it's no better now, either). It is a joke calling the banks for help! If they treat a Congresswoman like this, how do you think they treat the troubled homeowner calling?

If that doesn't beat all! Loan modifications so far have been a joke with the banks. Many won't do them and some of  those that have simply buy the troubled homeowner a couple of months at a reduced rate with an exorbitant balloon payment at the end of 3 months. Who in the world do they think they are helping? No wonder their recitative rate is what it is. Who in the world do they think they are helping?

My guess is that the banks are hoping for more of a bailout and are simply buying time until they get it...we don't seem to give them any restrictions with the bailout money so what in the world do we expect? Until and unless Americans stand up, contact their congress representative and demand the U.S. Government either stop the bailouts or put restrictions on how the money is spent, this will continue. As long as we continue to have foreclosures, the economy can not and will not recover.

Today, Forbes reported on an article in the Associated Press that Wells Fargo is expanding their mortgage modification program. Supposedly, since they bought out Wachovia they are touting to extend loan terms 40 years, reduce interest rates and reducing the principal of the loan to troubled homeowners where housing prices have significantly declined.  Let's see if this is hype or if they actually perform. In the past they have not helped any of their current Wells Fargo clients needing loan modifications but there is also hope.

The Hope loan modification by Secretary Paulson was a failure and never even got off the ground. False hope for the homeowner. Watch this video with Congresswoman Waters who actually tells it like it is.

Loan modification certainly beats leaving vacant homes deteriorating neighborhoods and then finally selling at a much reduced rate as a foreclosure. Some of these people speaking for the bank in Washington need to call their own banks and see how far they get. They are full of words and say the right thing but unfortunately what they say and what they do are on either end of the spectrum. 

And then we have all the scammers taking what little money the troubled homeowner has and promising loan modifications. Everyone is on the bandwagon to "help" the homeowner except the banks. There are few and far between who are actually helped. I would love to hear from those of you who have succeeded in a loan modification along with the terms of your approved loan modification.

Am I the only one that sees our current practice as insane? What are your thoughts?

Please comment below and let's get real...

Look at all of the homes for sale by Clicking Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the photo and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale   in. Or click here to see all Sacramento Bank Owned Homes for Sale or Sacramento Short Sale Homes for Sale

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email. Don't miss out on home buyer tips, homeowner tips and your real estate questions.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.   Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice. Just ask the Realtor, Gena Riede of Riede Real Estate.