Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year and enjoyed sharing the holidays with your family and friends.
On November 27th the 15th Annual Run or Walk to feed the hungry was held and this year had a record number of runners, walker, and strollers. I believe the count for Sacramentans coming out to raise money for the Hungry was over 27,000. It has become a family event for many and is certainly a worthy cause. If you didn't participate this year, mark your calendar for next year.
The race is always held Thanksgiving morning with registration is at 7:30 am and the race beginning at 9:00 am Downtown on J Street in Sacramento near the CSUS entrance.
Folsom hosted the 2nd Turkey Trot Run to benefit Folsom's Food bank. Where racers started on North Parkway going through bike trails.
If you didn't want to cook, Lucille's Smokehouse BarBQue in Rocklin. was a great place to pick-up a ready made turkey and or the trimmings. Might be something you want to keep in mind for next year and for the Christmas holiday. They have take out as well as eating right there. Cost of a Whole Turkey to go is $49.95. They are located in the Blue Oaks Town Center 6628 Lonetree Blvd. Rocklin, CA. You can even put your order in on-line.
Be sure to check out some of the BEST places to go for the December holidays.
There will be new Sacramento home buyers moving into their new homes over the holidays and enjoying their new Sacramento neighborhoods. Be sure to welcome your new neighbors this year.
Please remember to shop locally this year. The businesses close to you are struggling in this economy and could use your help.
Other Holiday Places to Go in December 2008:
Yes, you can have your Real Estate Property Taxes reduced!
Hopefully, these cute little dogs got your attention. This is important so read on.
Property taxes are something that you have control over. I wrote about this last year September 2007, Property Taxes-Something for Homeowners to Consider and again in May of this year, Cut Your Property Taxes, April of 2008 Money in the Pocket of Placer County Homeowners.
This week, I received an email from a neighbor of mine who talked about a story on Channel 13 regarding Proposition 8, reducing property taxes.
Obviously, he doesn't read my blog! But, it did remind me that there are probably a lot of you who may be new to reading Sacramento Real Estate Voice and may have missed these great real estate savings tips. I try very hard to bring you the best, real estate tips and advice possible in hopes to help each and every home buyer, homeowner and renters in and around the Sacramento and surrounding areas.
I have home buyers and homeowners in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Auburn, Granite Bay, Midtown Sacramento, East Sacramento, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Citrus Heights, Natomas, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills and West Sacramento. The real estate tips I offer are for each and everyone of you and they can save a lot of money.
In order to make sure you don't miss any of the Sacramento real estate tips, just click and subscribe 
to get the latest articles sent to your email every time I write another new article. That way you won't miss out.
When you click on the previous articles above that I wrote to help you reduce your real estate property taxes, there will be forms for you to fill out. You can either mail or drop off your form to the Tax Assessor's office in the County where you live.
The part that you might not quite understand is that when your taxes are evaluated by the Tax Assessor, it will be based upon a value date as of January 1, 2008. Even if the values have continued to plummet, the value will only be as of January 1, 2008.
It's important to hurry up and get your form in before the taxes are sent out. You will need to pay the current amount for your taxes and when your taxes are reduced, you will receive a refund.
Don't forget to do it again next year. Hope this helps all of you and that you are reading this...for the fourth time! Maybe the dogs wagging their tail got your attention this time.
Obviously, the reason that homeowners will be able to have their real estate property taxes reduced is due to all of the Foreclosures and REO's. As long as we continue to have foreclosed property, prices will continue to fall.
I don't hold a lot of hope for the modification program that is being thrown around simply because of all the standards that must be met in order to qualify. Unless those standards are changed, there will be few that will meet the qualifications.
I did hear that over the holidays, the banks will not be sending their Foreclosure notices to homeowners. This is their way of saying, Happy Holidays! Hope everyone gets to enjoy the holidays...
Click below to see Sacramento Foreclosed REO homes for sale:
Sacramento Foreclosed Homes for Sale UNDER $300,000
Sacramento Foreclosed Homes for Sale $300,000 - $500,000
Sacramento Foreclosed Homes for Sale $500,000 - $800,000
Sacramento Foreclosed Homes for Sale $800,000 and UP
Click below to view Placer County Foreclosed REO homes for sale:
Placer County Foreclosed Homes for Sale UNDER $400,000
Placer County Foreclosed Homes for Sale $400,000 - $800,000
Placer County Foreclosed Homes for Sale $800,000 and UP
Click below to view El Dorado County Foreclosed REO homes for sale:
El Dorado County Foreclosed Homes For Sale UNDER $400,000
El Dorado County Foreclosed Homes For Sale $400,000 - $800,000
El Dorado County Foreclosed Home For Sale $800,000 and UP
Click below to view Yolo County Foreclosed REO homes for sale:
Yolo County Foreclosed Homes for Sale under $400,000
Yolo County Foreclosed Homes for Sale $400,000 - $800,000
Yolo County Foreclosed Homes for Sale $800,000 and UP
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.
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.
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 
.
Other Real Estate Tip Articles:
Do you have a student attending college, perhaps Sacramento State University?
Well I have a condo buyer from the Bay Area that is buying a condo for their son who is attending Sac State. Wise parents. With so many bank owned REO properties for sale, there are excellent deals to be had.
I remember showing the very same condo complex to other parents who had students attending Sac State last year. Prices were $100,000 more last year than this year. The current condo buyers that I am working with now, know they are getting not only the best looking condo in the complex but they are paying $100,000 less this year than the very same condo was listed last year as a Short Sale.
Certainly beats paying rent and remember the tax credit. Such a deal! These lucky condo buyers will be moving their son into his new condo next week.
Sacramento Condo for Sac State Student from Gena Riede on Vimeo.
Always remember to have a home inspection whether you are buying a brand new home or condo or a bank owned property.
Below are the Sacramento condo sales stats, year-to-date from Jan. 1, 2008 until Nov. 20, 2008.
570 condos for sale
$175,660 Average Price for Sale
212 condos with accepted offers
1,122 condo SOLD
$154,670 Average SOLD price
Click Sacramento MLS to see ALL Sacramento Condos For Sale
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.
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 Sacramento Real Estate Voice Videos:
Sacramento Bank Owned REO Homes For Sale
Sacramento Home Buyer Finally Gets His House
Sacramento Realtor Talks About First Time Home Buyer
Time is ticking for all homeowners in the Natomas area. Increased Flood insurance premiums will officially take effect on December 8, 2008. The maps have been redrawn by FEMA and Natomas will become an AE zone which means that flood insurance will be at a substantially higher cost after December 8th.
The deadline for Natomas homeowners and new home buyers purchasing a house in Natomas is December 8th so make sure that you get your flood insurance before that date, otherwise you may be paying 3 times the amount you would today.
All federally backed home loans will require the homeowner and home buyer to have flood insurance and some private lenders, as well.
Don't shop for flood insurance rates. The rates are federally set. There is only ONE rate and it must be paid in full. Flood insurance can not be paid in installments but you can put it on your credit card. Call your current homeowners insurance company and tell them you need flood insurance ASAP. Don't become a victim, be pro-active as a responsible homeowner.
The great thing is that as long as you get your flood insurance BEFORE December 8, 2008 you will be "grandfathered" in. This means that no matter how much flood insurance goes up, or is re zoned you will only pay the current rate which is substantially lower than what it will be later. This applies ONLY as long as you stay current and pay your flood insurance policy each year, on time. If you sell your house or condo, the home buyer buying your home or condo can purchase your less expensive flood insurance policy. This will be a great coup for those homeowners selling their house or condos later.
I have to admit that I found the FEMA maps to be user-unfriendly. The instructions say to write in your street address on the left side of the FEMA Map Service Center, click the icon to view the map and then simply use the zoom tool to zoom into your neighborhood. Sounds simple but difficult to determine streets and neighborhoods.
I must say the Sac Bee didn't do any better job but at least you can try to figure out where your neighborhood might be. According to the Sac Bee the following are the depths of flooding that would occur if the levees were to break.
This is nothing to mess around with, get your flood insurance while the costs are down and "grandfather" your payment for the home buyer that may come along to buy your house before the levee repairs are completed.
For further information call National Flood Services at 1-800-637-3846
Click to see all Natomas homes for sale
Remember, you can click on Search for Homes and chose bank owned homes in all of the Sacramento and surrounding areas. Plenty of 1st time home buyers are approved and ready to buy one of these great deals.
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.
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.
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 .
Other Natomas Articles:
Have you relocated and moved to Sacramento?
Would you like to know some of the best places to go for the holidays? Even if you live in Sacramento you may have missed some of these places. These are my top choices for the best holiday places in and around Sacramento. Do you have a favorite place you would like to share?
Each year the Holiday Home Tour in the Fabulous 40's welcomes thousands of holiday guests the first weekend in December.
This year is no exception. December 5-7, 2008 Holiday Home Tour begins with the Fabulous 40's neighborhood homes elegantly decorated by top designers and florists.
Five exquisite homes will be featured and the tour begins on 46th Street between J and M Streets and winds its way through East Sacramento ending on 41st Street between J & M.
Tickets are $20 when ordered online by email to tickets@shpsholidayhometour.com and $30 the day of the tour.
This Fabulous 40's Holiday Tour is a fundraiser each year for Sacred Heart Parish School and is organized by the Parents. This year's 5 holiday homes feature Craftsman Bungalow, Comfortable Contemporary, European Revival, Georgian Colonial and Spanish Eclectic architecture.
You don't want to miss this yearly event so make sure you get your tickets now. Times and dates for the Holiday Tour are as follows:
The designers this year are
This is one of Sacramento's finest real estate neighborhoods it is always such a thrill to show homes in the Fabulous Forties. Sprinkled with small shops, restaurants, ice cream parlors, five parks and the ambiance of tranquility draw many to live here.
Click to view homes for sale in the Fabulous 40s neighborhood and let me know if this is where you would like to call home.
OLD SAC Holiday Schedule
Heritage Holidays in Old Sacramento a favorite for many will be starting the holiday season on November 26th with the tree lighting and finishing with the best New Year's Eve fireworks. If you need any information about the events be sure to call (916) 442-7644
ICE SKATING DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO
Want to get that holiday feeling by ice skating? We may not have snow but you can still go and skate each year at Westfield Plaza in Downtown Sacramento.
Just head-on down to Westfield Downtown Plaza Ice Skating between 7th and K Streets. They opened November 7th and will remain open as weather permits until January 19, 2009. Costs $6 for 2 hours, $2 skate rental and for more information just call (916) 442-8575
Special Holiday Times
IMAX is a great added feature for the holidays so head on over to The Esquire IMAX Theater in Downtown Sacramento at 1211 K Street. You can buy your tickets on-line or by phone (916) 443-IMAX
This year if you want to hire someone to install your Christmas lights and holiday decorations, The Christmas Light Pros are ready for you. Just call 1-866-WE-HANG-4-U or (916) 317-0738. Whether you live in Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Folsom, Davis, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove or Loomis these folks are ready to hang your decorations.
APPLE HILL is a MUST for the HOLIDAYS
And no holiday would be the same without a trip to Apple Hill off Highway 50 just east of Placerville for crafty Christmas decorations, delicious baked goods and loads of family fun as well as getting your Christmas tree. Don't forget to pick up the biggest and best apple pie while you are at Apple Hill. They are delicious!
If you would like to cut down your own tree be sure to check out all of the Christmas Tree Farms.
Apple Hill celebrates with an Old Fashioned Christmas from 8:30 am until sunset at #81 Santa's Acres. Click for a map or call (530) 644-7692 for more information.
The above map also shows the locations of the Christmas Tree Farms at Apple Hill.
If you have never been to Apple Hill this is a MUST.
Give a gift to a child
While you are having holiday fun and enjoying all the wonderful places to visit and shop during the holidays remember to pick up a special toy and drop it off at the Toys for Tots designations. Click to see all of the many drop off locations to donate a toy for Toys for Tots.
Most local Fire Departments accept your donations. Don't wrap your gift. Just drop it off. How easy is that? Make a child's Christmas, a special time as it should be. These are tough economic times for everyone so your donation is especially appreciated this year. We can all manage at least one gift for a needy child.
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.
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.
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 .
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Sacramento Real Estate serving Home Buyers & Sellers in Elk Grove, CA, Folsom, Roseville,, Granite Bay ,Placer County, El Dorado Hills, West Sacramento, love 1st Time Home buyers, too. (916) 417-2699
As the Real Estate Broker and owner of Riede Real Estate, I work as a full time Realtor in the Sacramento area with Sellers, Home Buyers and those relocating to the Sacramento and surrounding areas. You can reach me by email, Gena@GenaSells.com or call (916) 417-2699
There are many areas within Sacramento County that I can help you with such as:
In Placer County, I love to show homes in
El Dorado Hills in El Dorado County is an area that quite a few of my past clients enjoy living. It is an area within the hills overlooking the Sacramento valley. Life doesn't get much better than El Dorado Hills as well as Cameron Park.
West Sacramento is located in Yolo County and is just across the Sacramento River from Downtown Sacramento so it's just a hop, skip and a jump from Downtown Sacramento and home of the River Cats.
My previous Home Buyers and Sellers have written testimonials that appear on my website, expressing their honest feedback after having worked with me (an example of one is listed below).
Both Home Buyers and Sellers have expressed their opinions and most of them have been repeat clients as well as providing the highest compliment a Realtor can receive, by referring me to their families and friends.
I would suggest that you take the opportunity to view these testimonials and see if what my past clients have said is specific to what you personally are looking for in a Realtor. If so, I would be more than happy to assist you in your home buying and selling.
As a Real Estate Broker, I am held to a higher standard and I take that very seriously. Due to my own moral character and ethics my clients never feel pressured or uninformed during the home buying and selling process.
One of the things I pride myself on is being totally responsible for each of my transactions. Home Buyers and Sellers both know that when they hire me, they get me; we become a team with the same goal!
I continue to educate myself through classes and reading as well as keeping up with the ever-changing computer and internet venues which provide more knowledge base for my clients and their transactions.
Each week there are several new articles that I write on my blog, Sacramento REAL Estate Voice to help those living and relocating to our great Sacramento, CA area. If you would like to view my blog for Sacramento and the surrounding areas simply click on SacramentoRealEstateVoice.com .
There you can view some of the neighborhoods that I have featured and video tours to let you become acquainted with the Sacramento area.
Each month I compile questions coming from Sacramento Home Buyers, Sellers and Homeowners where I answer their Real Estate questions while maintaining their anonymity. This is what I call "Got Question, Ask Gena." 
I welcome your comments. If you feel, that we would be a good match, I welcome your call or email and look forward to helping you with all of your Real Estate needs.
My area of expertise ranges from First-time Homebuyers to Luxury Home Buyers as well as those interested in purchasing retirement and/or vacation homes in the Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo Counties.
The Sellers I work with either have investment property that they selling, family tract homes or luxury homes. Land and business are an area that I have added to my repertoire as well.
Each Home Buyer, Seller and Real Estate transaction is unique, some more complex than others but each get my full undivided attention and knowledge base.
I work with Home Buyers and Sellers in the Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo Counties. 
Simply click on this map and you can use the interactive map to find out about different communities in and around the Sacramento area.
While viewing the map at the above link, you may click on the City/Community and obtain addition information as well as available homes for sale, condos for sale, land for sale, or buinsess opportunities.
I have provided Home Buyers, Sellers and those Relocating an opportunity to gather information about each of our diverse areas here in Northern California in and around the Sacramento area, since each County is unique to the area and has much to offer.
You never have to sign-in in order to view homes for sale. I have always felt that when you are ready, you will contact me. So, feel free to click 
and view all of the homes for sale throughout the Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties.
To view Testimonials from both Home Buyers and Sellers, go to my website to view more. ********************************************************************
"We are extremely satisfied clients of Gena Riede, one of the very best Realtors ever! We met Gena at an Open House in Elk Grove, CA while on our honeymoon in August 2002 (coincidentally about 2.5 miles from where we recently purchased our new home!). We established a fruitful, long-distance (my wife and I were Chicago residents at that time) professional relationship with Gena, as well as a warm and lasting personal friendship. Despite numerous setbacks over a five-year period, (including four years of renting while waiting for the local housing market to regain sanity) Gena worked with us to find the right house, in the right location, for the right price, at the right time. Also through her business association with an honest, savvy and prudent real estate loan broker, we found the right mortgage that meets our financial situation perfectly.
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Throughout our long trek towards our goal of owning a home again, Gena not only provided excellent service as our agent, she is/was a stalwart partner in that process. She reinforced our resolve when things were most difficult---health issues; job & career issues...whatever obstacles to home ownership that arose.
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There is no greater blessing than for the Lord to accomplish His Divine Will through the diligence, faith and hard work of a dedicated professional like Gena Riede. Home ownership is more than just "The American Dream" : it is -in part-the glue that holds this diverse nation together. We need more Realtors, more people like Gena who put real
people--- common folks like us, first!
If we ever know of anyone who sincerely wants to buy or sell a home, only one name will be spoken: Gena Riede."
Sincerely (proud and happy new homeowners), David S. Sims , Sr. and Cheryl L. Sims
8634 Black Kite Drive
Elk Grove, CA 95624
September 13, 2007
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"Gena is a Realtor that sincerely cares about her clients. She stays on top of all transactions, is very dependable, and continually keeps her clients informed. Gena has high ethics, gives honest opinions, and gives her clients excellent advice on how to prepare their home for sale. She is always available to answer questions or address concerns. If we still lived in the California area and were interested in buying or selling a home, we would definitely hire Gena again. She is a top-notch Realtor!"
Helen & Oliver
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"Gena helped us buy our first house four years ago. She was extremely thorough in her search to help us find the perfect place to call home and worked diligently to provide us with comprehensive information on everything from mortgage to location information. We were so thrilled with how she handled all of the details from start to finish that when we were ready to move again, we called Gena to help us sell and buy our next home. She has also continued to be an excellent resource for us even after we are settled into our home, providing numbers of people who can provide services such as painting or keeping us up to date on the current real estate trends. We recommended several friends to Gena who have successfully also bought and sold homes through her. She is a very dedicated, supportive, enthusiastic, informative, and intelligent realtor and anyone utilizing her services is very fortunate."
Erin & Mike T.
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" Thanks Gena for all your help the past few years! When we were ready to purchase our first home, you helped my wife and I find the perfect place. And when we needed to sell a few years later, again, you were there to help us through the process and get our home sold in a timely manner. We couldn't be much happier with the service you provided."
Thanks Again!
John & Christy D.
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"Gena represented my wife and I in the purchase of our home in El Dorado Hills. Gena is a very respectful and a responsive person to your Real Estate needs 24/7. Gena gets answers to your Real Estate and Financial questions immediately.
My wife and I relocated from San Jose and closed our Real Estate purchase in 30 days.
When we decide to move again, we will seek Gena's advice and expertise and will ask her to be our Real Estate realtor/broker."
Sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Cousineau
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"Gena is the first and only real estate agent we have met that fully understands every aspect of the buy/sell process - - I know that may sound silly, but in a sea of agents Gena really stands out from the crowd. We never doubt her advice for a moment! Plus, her customer service attitude and work ethic go unmatched."
Angela & Tom
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"In selling my home, I could not have asked for a better Realtor than Gena! I was impressed by her enthusiasm, thoroughness, and complete availability during the whole process. She was totally involved, every step of the way, to ensure that things went smoothly, and the sale was completed with very little effort on my part. I didn't realize that selling a home could be so easy!! I cannot recommend Gena highly enough!"
All the best!
Joseph Hoffman
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"We have known Gena for four years and she has helped us buy our first home, sell our first home and purchase our second home. Not only is Gena professional, very knowledgeable and a real advocate for her clients, but she has quickly become a part of our family because of her kindness and compassion. The most impressive thing about Gena is that her job doesn't end when you have signed the papers and have moved into your new home. Gena always makes herself available to her clients in order to answer questions or help in any way she can. Gena truly cares about her clients and doing what is in their best interest."
The Lucchesi Family
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"I have used Gena for both buying and selling a home. Because Gena was so "on-the-ball" for me when I was buying my first home, I did not hesitate to call her when I was ready to sell. During the selling transaction, we ran into a few obstacles due to the buyer and buyer's realtor, and Gena was quick to do all in her power to move the deal along in the speediest and smoothest way for me. I recommend Gena to any one out there considering buying or selling a home!"
MS- a happy client
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"Gena is the ultimate professional. She has assisted me with two different real estate transactions and both times went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that my best interests were at the forefront and that my needs and desires were met. She spent countless hours working out details of contracts and helping facilitate parts of the processes that would have otherwise fallen through the cracks. If I hadn¿t moved out of state the last time, I would always rely on Gena for my real estate needs."
J. Thompson
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"In 2002/2003, my husband and I sold 2 homes with Gena's assistance. She was always there with her assistance and very candid with suggestions to improve the saleability of our homes. She kept in contact and kept us updated continuously. When we decided to purchase a home in the Foothills, we, of course, went back to Gena. When we plan to sell our current home, we definitely plan to go back to Gena !!"
Connie & Brian
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