Jim Cheney Your Rincon Valley Realtor

I recently sold one of my listings to a buyer who was getting a CalPers loan. I had heard of this loan program but was not very familiar with how it worked or what a great product it was. Here's how the program works:

You have to be a public employee such as a police officer, teacher, judge etc, who is in the CalPers retirement system. There is no minimum amount of time in the system, you can apply for a loan on you first day on the job.

CalPers advertises that it's loans are highly competitive, however applicants are told to examine their Truth in Lending disclosure closely and to always compare against other loan products before making a decision on what loan to get.

The CalPers program limits the first mortgage origination fee to 1.25% on a conventional loan and 1% on an FHA loan. Lenders can only charge up to $350 for all other lender fees regardless of fee type, except for discount points which may be charged to lower the interest rate. CalPers lenders can ask the borrower to pay third party fees such as title and escrow, credit report, appraisal, notary and recording fees etc.

Reduced title and escrow fees may be obtained by using specific title companies that have agreed to charge less for CalPers applicants.

This low down payment option has flexible credit guidelines for low-to-moderate income borrowers with limited cash resources. Offers more flexibility on credit histories and income sources. Cash reserves may not be required. Income restrictions can apply in certain areas, however there are no income limits in high-cost or Fannie Neighbors® areas. Income limits are higher in rural areas.

Below is the advertised rate as of 11/6/09 for a FHA loan with a 30 day interest lock

The CalPERS Member Home Loan Program is managed by CitiMortgage. If you'd like to talk to a Customer Relations Representative, just call (800) 874-7377 or visit: http://www.calpers.ca.gov/index.jsp?bc=/member/homeloan/home.xml

The people at Google just amaze me.  I always think"too bad there isn't anything left to invent"  It seems that way until a new product comes on the market and we think "Oh, I could have thought of that!"  It seems obvious after somebody else introduces us to something new. 

Anyway Google launched a new application recently that I had just heard about.  It's called Goog411.  A cell phone or land line is used to call 800-GOOG 411 or 800-644 6411 for free business telephone listing!  When you call the number a person states: "what is the business you are looking for, and what city and state are you calling from?"  You say Pizza, Santa Rosa, CA.  And the voice gives you the top 10 listings.  You say what # your choice is and Google connects you.  Very nice but if you say "Map it", Google sends you a map to your smart phone.  You can also say "Text it" and you'll get a text message with the listings address and phone number. 

One more useful tool for the real estate agent on the go!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Come to Sonoma County and enjoy some of the wine country's best entertainment.

5th Jimtown Store First Thursday Wine Bar;6pm - 8pm; $40 at the door; Wine Education: Presenting, Winemaker Laura Catena, to discuss the wine regions of Argentina and share wines from her family wineries: Luca Winery and Bodega Catena Zapata. Visit us online for featured wines and Chef Peter Brown's hors d'oeuvre menu. 6706 State Hwy 128, Healdsburg
$10 Off for Non-wine drinkers Phone Number: (707) 433.1212

6th 7th& 8th Actors' Theater Presents GO, DOG, GO!
Family Fun, Performing Arts: This classic children's book comes to life on stage in an exploration of movement, color and space. The dogs delve into life with gusto, creating a visual spectacle for the audience to feast upon. This play is a rollicking musical world of doggy fun. Like a pop-up book that comes to life - and never stops. Steele Lane Community Center, Santa Rosa, $10 per ticket, Call for information & tickets,(707) 543.3282 or (707) 544.5995

6th, 7th & 8th All In The Timing; 7pm (1pm Sun matinee) Casa Grande's Fall Comedy; All In The Timing, a brain-teasing Comedy by David Ives, will play at Casa Grande High School's New Multi-Use auditorium. Tickets at the door. $6/$5 Students & Seniors; (707) 536.6276

7th Cyclocross Racing ; Santa Rosa Parks, location TBA; 9am - afternoon; come out and race or heckle, or just watch the fun of this muddy cross-breed bicycle race known at cyclocross. For more info: www.bikemonkey.net

7th Freestone Vineyards Paella & Pinot Party;$25; 12 -4pm; join us as Gerard Nebesky creates the ultimate Paella - a perfect pairing with our new releases of 2007 Freestone Vineyards Pinot Noir and 2007 Freestone Vineyards Chardonnay (707) 874.1010

7th Festival of Harps; $22 - $26; Spreckels Performing Arts Center; 707.588.3400

7th Hike and Taste ;Kunde Family Estate; $25; 10am - 2pm; Wine Education, Recreation: Join Sonoma Valley Docent Bill Myers on a fun, casual and up-close hike through the 1,850 acre volcanic and vertical Kunde Family Estate. This is a great opportunity to take in some of wine country's most spectacular scenery. Taste wines along the way in the very vineyards where the grapes are grown. Phone Number: (707) 282.1534

7th (Sat) & 8th (Sun) E-waste & electronics collection and recycling event 8:30 - 4:30 Friedman's Home Imp. 1360 Broadway Sonoma FREE drop off your office, computer, kitchen & bath appliances/electronics. Call (408) 468-0230 for more information

7th - 8th 11th annual Food & Wine Affair ; 11 am - 4pm; $25 - $60; Multiple locations in Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley; 800.723.6336

7th - 11th Santa Rosa Symphony; $27 - $55; Wells Fargo Center; Cellist Julie Albers joins the symphony. 707.546.3600

8th Run to Stop Hunger ; 9am; Depot Park Railroad Sq; 5 & 10k runs; www.SantaRosaRec.com or 569-1494

Cant believe another Halloween has come and gone! Fall is one of my favorite times of the year in Sonoma County. The rush to crush the grapes in full throttle. There is a sweet smell in the air of sweet grapes still hanging and fermenting on the vine. The nights are cool, and the days are still warm.

Did you know that people usually decide within two minutes whether they like your home? The first impression is often the lasting impression. And they start forming their opinion as soon as they open the front door!

I provide free staging for my vacant listings. I believe that staging your home will make it sell faster, and for more money then leaving the home empty.

Most agents do not want to do the work to stage a home, let alone have the ability to stage a home. I believe so strongly that your home will benefit from staging that I will do it at no cost to you! The slide show below are pictures from vacant listings that I've staged. Would your home benefit from staging?