Tamara Dorris

Image by lizohanesian via Flickr

I tell ya, real estate keeps getting crazier and crazier and I sometimes think I might be addicted to it! Maybe I should find some kind of a 12-step program? (”My name is Tamara and I’m a real estate agent”).

Well for those of you in Sacramento, you know it was a hotter than hot weekend and I of course, was out showing property in hotter than hot weather. But I gotta tell ya about the first house.

Some people think they are carpenters and then others, well, let’s just say they aren’t. So I show this wonderful couple a fixer upper house in North Highlands. Great price, very nice neighborhood. Did I say fixer upper? I meant, tear-it-downer! Seriously! This house had more rooms than the Winchester Mystery House and we suspect (the buyers and I) that none of the interesting additions or remodeling was done to permit. How do I know, you ask? I dunno, but normally folks don’t put the sprinkler controls in the master bedroom…..not normally!

Anyway, wrote an over-full price offer on that house in North Highlands and I hope my buyer gets it as I know he’ll turn it into a masterpiece (if he does, I’ll publish before and after pictures!).

Next, I showed my good friends and long-time clients a house in Carmichael that they wanted for an investment….we wrote an offer for nearly twenty thousand over asking price and still didn’t get it!

So what’s going on?

I’ll tell you what I think.

I think the banks are in a big butt hurry to get rid of all these foreclosures (and can’t say that I blame them). So they are putting houses on the market below market value and even, in some cases, putting time limits on how long offers will be accepted.

This putting limits on how long they leave you to write an offer reminds me of a K-Mart Blue Light Special (”Attenrion K-Mart Shoppers…”). What this does is instills a sense of urgency in agents and buyers and of course, investors who are scattering like mad rabbits to buy up the best of the best.

But it gets better.

Now with the listing, aka bank-owned property, listed at a below fair market value price, the games begin! Buyers and their agents scamper around in a big hurry so that they can stand a chance at getting their offer considered. Now a good real estate agent will run a set of comps first to see what the real deal is. If a house is priced at $199,000 and seems to be in pretty good shape and all the recently sold houses went for $250,000 don’t be so sure you’re getting a good deal, BECAUSE the offers and accepted price will likely come in in the $200’s.

The highest and best bids, whoops, I mean offer, will win the house. And even if you offer nearly 20,000 over like my buyer did, there is no guarantee you’ll get the house. So what this means to me as a Sacramento real estate agent is this: when buyers call all excited because a new Carmichael real estate listing just went on MLS at $150,000, I get the great job of telling them that chances are it won’t SELL for that amount. In fact, I won’t even show it until I run comps and then tell the prospective buyers the more than likely price. So what this means to you, if you want to take advantage of the lowest home pricing frenzy in Sacramento history, is that you need to find yourself a good real estate agent who knows the good, the bad, and the ugly of today’s market, and who is still as excited as pizza pie to dig in there and find you your dream house…or your dream investment……or just likes to run around in the heat and look at interesting houses.

(”Hello, my name is Tamara, and I’m a real estate agent ”)

Ta ta for now,

Tamara

Are You Powerful?

In case you missed this morning’s radio show, Sacramento Smiles, with your host, moi (me), then let me give you the skinny. First off, we feature authors, coaches, doctors and professionals with national appeal, so you don't need to live in Sacramento to enjoy or benefit from my weekly featured guest.

Next, the radio show recording can be heard at www.InLoveWithSacto.com, but it airs live every Wednesday morning at 10 AM, Sacramento time. The show was designed to support the Sacramento community with some personal and professional development, some local business features and highlights, excellent interviews, and just a touch about real estate (I have to make a living don’t I?).

Today I was honored to interview Dr. Dennis Crawford for a two-part series on “Personal Power.” It was a great show and Dr. Crawford is one of the most educated and informed guys I know. Even more, he really cares about his patients and the Sacramento Community at large.

So here were the first four points Dr. Crawford developed, and my summary:

1) Think About What Energizes You. Dr. Crawford hit the nail on the head with this one. If we waste our time thinking about things that drain us, we’ll have no energy, thus, no personal power.

2) Do Not Take Life So Seriously. Seriously now, how important is a late bill or a fender bender in the whole scheme of things? Not very. It’s important to laugh…laugh at yourself, laugh at funny movie, and be around people and places that make you feel light-hearted.

3) Be in Control of You. I love this one, and I told Dr. Crawford I really needed to apply it to my own life. Here’s the truth: most of us have trouble controlling our own lives, yet we seem obsessed with running the world! You can only be in charge of you. And trust me, that’s a full time job. Work on your reactions and your actions and let everyone else worry about their own.

4) Practice forgiveness. We spent quite a bit of time on this one. Dr. Crawford told us how forgiving others is really a selfish act (selfish in a good way), because when you forgive others, you are truly helping and healing yourself. We talked about how your parents did the best they knew how with what they knew then (so get over it, please!), and the all-important act of forgiving ourselves. This is a biggie and warrants your time and consideration.

Next month, Dr. Crawford will be back to talk with us about the remaining personal power tips (tips 5-7), so be sure and keep your eyes peeled for the date and tune in then. If you’d like to know more about the good doctor: www.CrawfordNaturalHealthCenter.com
(916) 962-3101, 10231 Fair Oaks Blvd, Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Sacramento Smiles is hosted by Tamara Dorris, your local real estate professional, supporting the Sacramento Community with a smile and 20 years of experience.
Listen in at www.InLoveWithSacto.com every Wednesday at 10 AM, or catch the podcast recording at your convenience.

Because I think that the glass is more full then it is empty, I’ve been challenged to remain positive as I see so many Sacramento residents losing their homes. Sacramento has more short sales and foreclosures then ever before in its history.

The reason I started my recent Sacramento-based radio show was and is to shed some sunshine on Sacramento residents through upbeat ideas, interviews and outlooks, so it wouldn’t be very good of me to not at least try and find a positive seed in the Sacramento housing market.

First off, let me say that my heart and prayers go out to those who have lost their homes (or jobs). I can’t even imagine, nor do I want to, but this is very real for more people than we like to think.

In trying to find a nugget of gold, I think of the newlywed couple who I could help find their first home because prices were finally low enough. Or the other young couple who have bought their second investment property from me and feel more secure in their future…even if they were hit doubly with mandatory state furlough. Then there was that nice construction worker who just went through a terrible divorce and he just wanted a home to call his own.

I was able to help these people because of the current situation.

So I guess what I’m saying is that there is a season for all things. Here in our beloved Sacramento we have seen both the light and the dark, and in my opinion, which you choose to see depends on which end of the looking glass you are seeing through. I say we see the glass as half full and maintain an attitude of gratitude (because there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for), and trust that everything will turn out okay.

Make it a great Day!

Tamara

 New Radio Show for Sacramento!

Tired of the doom and gloom? Want to take advantage of the current real estate market? Wish you had a way to shift your mind-set and focus upon all the good things going on around you?

Well here's a way to help you remember to count your blessing, change your life and keep informed.

Talk with Tamara Dorris each Monday morning as she inspires and educates Sacramento residents by providing a positive outlook, expert interviews and local updates that are all intended to jump start your week!

Happy Monday Carmichael!

Could the weather be any MORE gorgeous! I want to just sit outside and soak up the sunshine.

It's a good day to live in Sacramento, that's for sure!

Let's see what's cooking today and tomorrow:

Board of Education Meeting

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 time:6:30 PM

venue:San Juan Unified School District address:3738 Walnut Avenue Carmichael, CA 95608

San Juan Unified School District

Carmichael Bible Study Meeting

American Sign Language Social

Mom's Night Out for Dining!

Have a Great Day!

Tamara