Paula Swayne Realtor - Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park Homes Specialist

Sacramento's skies have always been busy. In past years, air force bases ruled as well as the Executive Airport. While we no longer enjoy sonic booms and military jets screaming across the skies, we do lay claim to the Sacramento International Airport. As with all airports, they easily get outdated and Sacramento's airport is no exception. The most recent completed A Terminal is only 10 years old, and due to limited automobile traffic issues, is already outdated. Terminal B is no longer viable and for that reason, is being replaced.

The Big Build is truly something to boast about! This remarkable structure will replace a 216,000SF building with a 669,000SF structure. The architecture is reflective of Sacramento's famous canopy of trees. Interestingly, parts of the ceiling has been built from a recovered old bridge, consisting of 100,000 board feet of wood milled in 1817. In fact, the airport has a goal of attaining a LEED Silver and is within points of doing so. Eight million dollars have been set aside for art within the structure. Two million dollars of this allotment will be set aside, using the interest to maintain the art.

While this may seem to be an odd time for such impressive expenditure (the total cost is one billion dollars and is coming in at budget), this is paid for by revenue generated by the airport itself and by law, cannot be spent on other projects. There is much to admire about this project, so please click here to learn more! Don't ask about the red rabbit...so far no one I have chatted with get it!

Sacramento businesses, schools, and other community entities collect coats then bring them to News10. The coats are cleaned due to the generosity of Swanson Cleaners. This is a wonderful program that brings the community together to provide coats, not only for kids, but for anyone who needs a new winter coat but has no resource to purchase one.

Last year, News10 successfully collected over 39,000 coats for those in need. After collecting, the coats are organized by size and type at Cal Expo. People are then invited to come pick out the coats needed at no charge.

I am proud to say that Windermere Dunnigan Realtors is one of the drop-off sites for coats. So, if you have coats you would like to donate, or would like to purchase coats to donate, we can make it very easy for you...just drop them off at either 2401 American River Drive or 4215 Freeport Boulevard after November 1st. We will bring them to News10 for you!

Arnold Schwarzenegger passed SB237, which tightens the Housing Value Code of Conduct. While it certainly doesn't take care of the many issues that have resulted from these guidelines, it does take a step in the right direction.

Appraisal management companies, starting January 1st, will be required to ensure their appraisers have all licenses and certificates required by the state Office of Real Estate Appraisers as well as review their work to be certain that it is performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

Managers, officers and directors of appraisal management companies will join appraisers (who already have this requirement) who will have to be fingerprinted and pass criminal background checks. They also cannot have had their licenses or certificates revoked in any state.

The act of withholding or threatening to withhold timely payments, threatening to withhold future assignments for independent contractors or removing appraisers from the approved panel of appraisers would be prohibited.

It is a sad commentary on the effectiveness of HVCC when such ethical standards have to be mandated by law in order to clean up the mess these guidelines have created.

In a presentation at the California Realtor Expo 2009, consumers, Realtors and the real estate industry predicted what the real estate market is going to look like for the coming year.

The median home price is expected to rise to $280,000 compared to $271,000 this year - a 3.3% rise in value. At the same time, the actual number of homes selling in the coming year is expected to change from 540,000 in 2009 to 527,500 in 2010 - a 2.3% drop. While California Realtors will be selling fewer homes, the selling price of those homes will rise.

California is going to establish a "new normal", according to C.A.R President, James Liptak. This will likely translate to continuing sales of distressed low end properties and will include moderate home price appreciation.

California real estate is experiencing a dual market. With first-time buyer tax credits and programs as well as a plentiful supply of investors, there is actually a shortage of low-end properties. The reverse of this is true in the upper-end market where sellers are feeling the pinch of lenders anxiety regarding jumbo or non-conforming loans and buyers insecurity over the future value of these properties. There is concern that if discretionary buyers do not return to the market soon, it could affect the second half of 2010.

The "wild cards" regarding the 2010 market, according to C.A.R.'s Chief Economist, Leslie Appleton-Young are the release and number of foreclosures, loan resets, the job market and the California budget crisis...and the ongoing actions of the federal government.

William Land Park, along with all of the other Sacramento parks are experiencing the annual event of the birth of multitudes of squirrels. For those of us who love to see these little ones running around, playing tree tag or just darting around, they are truly a joy and one of the highlights of living near a park.

However, along with this event, comes a warning. Baby squirrles are not yet street wise. They don't understand that those huge mechanical things that they have seen from a distance can now do them harm.

For those of us who regularly drive through the park, the habit of squirrels darting in front of you instead of away from you is well established. We know to never take for granted that the squirrel will know the best direction to turn. Now, compound that with little ones who have no experience with streets, and there are some real issues.

Here is the warning: when driving through Sacramento's parks (or any other squirrel friendly location), drive slowly. This is a great season for watching the little unpredictable characters...let's protect them from themselves by being aware of their bad pedestrian habits!