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Erin Attardi, Realtor - Sacramento, CA 916-342-1372

No Burn Days in Sacramento County - November 1 - February 28

For the last few years around this time, I have posted information regarding the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's designated "Spare the Air" days where you can not burn wood in your fireplace.

Their "No Burn" days are still in effect this year too from November 1 through February 28. wood burning will be restricted or prohibited in Sacramento County when fine particle pollution is elevated.

You can actually sign up for email alerts from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. If you do not want to sign up for their daily emails, you can Check Before You Burn each day to confirm if it is legal to burn in your indoor or outdoor fireplace, wood stove, pellet stove, fire pit or chiminea by calling 1-877-NOBURN-5.

Check Before You Burn is in effect in Sacramento County and all its cities including Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento.

Obama signs HR 3548 - Extends and Expands Home Buyer Tax Credit...what does this mean for Sacramento buyers?

If you follow me on Twitter, you will already know that HR 3548 has been signed by President Obama...There was language added into this bill that extends and expands the home buyer tax credit! As part of its plan to further stimulate the U.S. housing market, this legislation:

  • Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010 (with another 60-day extension for buyers who are in contract as of this date, and who close escrow on or before June 30, 2010). A "first-time home buyer" is a purchaser and spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.
  • Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to non-first time buyers purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

There are many nuances to this legislation, so please speak with your CPA regarding your qualifications for these tax credits and your eligibility. Here is a Q&A from the National Association of Realtors regarding how to obtain the tax credit.

Tickets Now On Sale - 2009 Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour of East Sacramento

It's that time of year again!! Don't miss your chance to attend one of my favorite annual holiday events, the 2008 Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour of the Fabulous 40's neighborhood in East Sacramento! There will be 5 homes on tour, each featuring unique architectural styles.

This year, the tour schedule is Friday, December 4th, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, December 5th 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, December 6th 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Time is running out to purchase your tickets in advance for only $20! You can order them online, or you can purchase them at the Sacred Heart School office, or several local retail locations (such as William Glen, Haus by David Randall, La Maison Marche, Collected Works, etc.). Tickets at the event will be $30. If you are interested in volunteering at the tour, click here.

This fundraiser benefits Sacred Heart Parish School, and is organized by the Parents of Sacred Heart School.

Sacramento County Assessor's Office Sends Out Property Tax Bills this week...

Welp, Sacramento County property tax bills were issued this week...the Sacramento County Assessor's Office put out a press release today stating that over 170,000 of the bills issued reflect reductions in the assessed value.

The Assessor's office is still entertaining applications to appeal the assessed value of your home until November 30th. Remember, the bills that just came out reflect an assessment based on the value of your home back in January 2009 (9 months ago!).

To read up on what is required to submit an appeal application, click here.

California Legislation is Approved by Governor Schwarzenegger

This week Governor Schwarzenegger signed several pieces of legislation into law that will affect real estate transactions in the state of California - all for the better!

  • SB 36, by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), creates licensing requirements for all residential loan originators.
  • SB 237, by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), creates a registration program for appraisal management firms.
  • SB 239, by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), makes it a felony to commit fraud on a mortgage loan application.
  • AB 260, by Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), bans negative-amortization loans and limits mortgage prepayment penalties to no more than 2% of the loan balance.
  • AB 329, by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), requires lenders to give more and clearer information to those interested in reverse mortgages, which let seniors borrow against their homes' equity.
  • AB 957, by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), allows buyers of foreclosed homes to choose local escrow officers, rather than being forced to use the escrow company chosen by the bank seller.
  • AB 1160, by Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Cupertino), requires that mortgage loan documents be written in the same language the verbal negotiations were conducted in.