Vow to keep your home in shape too

Many of us set ourselves up each year with resolutions. Work out more, eat less...you know the drill. Why not resolve to keep your home healthier this year too, with this seasonal checklist:

Spring time-Clean your gutters. Backed-up gutters can wreak havoc on siding and cause flooding. Scoop out leaves and debris with a trowel or hire a professional to do it. Check your roof. Wintery weather may have damaged the surface, and the first big rainstorm, left unchecked, could cause significant problems. Replace shingles as needed. If your fireplace got a workout during the winter months, give it a clean sweep. Best to call in the experts to inspect and clean creosote buildup.

Summer-Walk around your house to check for unsealed spots where squirrels or mice could sneak in. Look carefully for termites or ants too. Inside check your attic and make sure egess points are sealed tightly. Get ready for the warm season by giving any outdoor equipment (pools, swing sets, etc.) a thorough, top to bottom cleaning.

Fall-Ensure your furnace is in prime shape for he cold months ahead, and change all he air filters in your home. Make sure your home is adequately sealed. Apply weather stripping (such as tape, felt, foam, or vinyl tubing) around doors and windows. Trim branches near your home or roof to prevent damage when wintery weather hits.

Winter-Drain and insulate outdoor pipes to prevent freezing. Check for damaged sidewalk, driveway or stairs, and repair them before the first snow to avoid damaged mishaps.

This is all-so important, to avoid costly repairs from not keeping things "tuned up"-trust me, I've learned my lesson-hence, I share some of these points-to keep you from the expense I incurred this year-from "letting things go"-if I left something off this list, don't be shy-let me know!

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI, Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor Toll Free 866-333-6333 HTTP://www.wendimae.com wendimae@wendimae.com

Serrano needs Craig!

Yes-that's what I said ,Craig Therkildson for Sheriff! Be sure to cast your vote this June 8th. Endorsed by previous County Sheriff Jeff Neves, myself-your Resident Realtor, and Neighborhood specialist-as well as the majority of our County ( I assume! that is, if they know what is good for them!) I have been to several town hall meetings the past few months, and have met Craig and his wife Polly, both at his fundraiser dinner at Papa Giani's here in town, as well as at Oak Ridge high school-just last night. I have weighed the differences and, in some cases- the similarities of all the men running for the position. I have heard them all speek many times-and have talked to others in the Department that have worked with Craig and whom know the other candidates, as well. I know what I am saying, when I tell you that your vote is safe with Craig. As your neighborhood representative-and someone who not only sells homes in our community-but whom sells "our Community", and on a regular basis-

I know what it means to have the right person running our County Department. Be sure to check out his personal website at: http://www.craig4sheriff.com/ and, don't forget to cast your vote this June 8th! For anything you may wish to know about Serrano, or any other town in our fine County-call your neighborhood representative-

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI,
Broker Associate Connect Realty,
Real Estate Counselor
Toll Free 866-333-6333 530-676-4447 mailto:wendimae@wendimae.com http://www.wendimae.com/ We look forward to getting to know you!

The Cost Gap Narrows...Read On-

Thinking of buying a home? Consider this: The gap between monthly rents and mortgage payments is at its lowest level in almost 20 years.
In some markets, the difference can be less than $100, according to a national study conducted for The Associated Press by Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services.
The study, part of a week-long look at homeownership by the AP, found years of falling home prices and low interest rates have created the ultimate buyer's market. But while buying a home is more affordable, it isn't necessarily easier.
Tougher lending standards have made it harder to qualify for a home loan, and unemployment is at 9.7 percent. Tax incentives for homebuyers will expire April 30, and interest rates are expected to increase this year.
"Statistically, it's a great time to buy," said Hessam Nadji, managing director of Marcus & Millichap. "Psychologically, the consumer doesn't feel like it's a great time to buy."
The analysis of 45 metro areas found the difference between the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home and the median rent is down to $256. The last time that gap was anywhere near that small was in 1993 when it fell to $264, according to the study.
Marcus & Millichap used median prices for the last three months of 2009 and calculated mortgage payments by assuming a 10 percent down payment and a 30-year fixed loan at 5.07 percent, among other factors. It also assumed borrowers.

Let Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI Resident Realtor for Connect Realty.com, INC., be your resource-phone us today Toll Free 866-333-6333 or direct at 916-616-0874 also wendimae@wendimae.com or check out her personal website at: http://www.wendimae.com/

There is soon to be a new Sheriff in Town!

There is soon to be a new Sheriff in El Dorado County-Know the Candidates

Last Tuesday the El Dorado Hills Communty Center was the meeting place for all those interested, to come and meet the Candidates for County Sheriff. Also to hear what they had to say-about why they are running for County Sheriff-and what they will do while they hold the position.

There will be 3 to 4 more Town Hall meetings between now and the June 5th election Day. Be sure to check out your Candidates personal website or the Mountain Democrat (and Life papers) for the next scheduled event-near you. Here is a photo taken during the interviews at El Dorado Hills Community Center- The Candidates are:

Craig Therkildsen http://craig4sheriff.com/ "Protecting your safety" "You, Your family, Your property. In these difficult economic times, my experience will help make this happen."
George Nielsen http://www.georgenielsen4sheriff.com/ "Community Leadership for the Future"
John D'Agostini http://www.johndagostini.com/ "Leadership that Listens" Bob Luca http://www.luca4sheriff.com/
"Proven Leadership for tough times" Ernie Hillman http://www.erniehillman.com/
"Proven Leadeship We can trust"
Larry Hennick No website address given "Larry has the knowledge, training, experience and leadership to be our next leader of the Sheriff's department" Check them out-You need to be involved with who will lead your Police Department. It is an important decision-and an important Vote. If you need a voter registration card-or any information on El Dorado County-and cities within, call me anytime:

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI,
Broker Associate, Real Estate Counselor.
23 Year Veteran in the field!
Toll Free 866-333-6333 or
wendimae@wendimae.com
Resume' and references and many other resources and facts can be found at: http://www.wendimae.com/

Serrano-Custom Lots averaging 1/2 Acre starting at $150K

Serrano of El Dorado Hills-is a gated Community with 17 miles of hiking trails, 1000 Acres of Open space, Many neighborhood parks, and award winning schools. Click on the photo to enlarge image size.

Call your local resource for all information you could ever need on this Community, and surrounding neighborhoods in El Dorado County.

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI

Broker Associate

Connect Realty.com, INC.

http://www.wendimae.com/

wendimae@wendimae.com

Toll Free 866-333-6333

Over 55 years of age? Proposition 90 is coming to El Dorado County-Part 2

Re-blogged by 0 agents
Over 55 years of age? Proposition 90 IS coming to Cameron Park and El Dorado county-Part 2 (edit/delete)
OVER 55? CALIFORNIA PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
Since its passage, Proposition 13 prohibits property tax increases until property ownership is changed.
If either spouse is over age 55 (when the old home is sold), PROP 60 allows replacement of a primary residence with a new home of equal or lesser value (but see below) within the same county and transfer of the Prop 13 assessed valuation from the old home to the new property. This is allowed once in your lifetime, and a spouse who has done it before 'taints' both spouses.
PROP 90 allows counties to elect to accept transfers of Prop 13 values for moves from other counties when a primary residence is replaced with a less expensive (but see below) home. If you are over 55 and move into a county which accepts Prop 90, you may take your old, lower Prop 13 value, regardless of from which county you move.
Using Prop 90, you can sell your $400,000 San Francisco home [assessed value $80,000] and move to a new $300,000 home in San Mateo; the new San Mateo assessed value will be $80,000!

7 COUNTIES WHICH ACCEPT PROP 90 (Current as of 6/1/2008)
Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Ventura. [Contra Costa, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Modoc, Monterey, and Marin have dropped out of the Prop 90 program.]
Props 60 and 90 apply if you "trade down" (i.e. the new home costs less than the sales price of the old home).
> If you buy New Home 1st; then sell the Old Home, you must go down in price.
> If you sell the Old Home1st; then buy the New Home:
In 1st 365 days after the sale of Old Home, you may go up 5% in the purchase price of New Home.
If you buy New Home more than 1 year from the sale of Old Home, but less than 2 years, you may go up 10%.
Some buyers can pay the commission outside of escrow to lower to sales price. Example: I sold for $100,000 and then want to buy next week for $120,000. The seller will owe a commission of $7,200. The seller will owe $2,800 of other expenses
I sold 1st so I must buy for no more than $105,000. If I pay the seller's expenses of $10,000, the price is down to $110,000. Hmm. If I buy the stove, refrigerator, and lawn furniture for $6,000, it looks like I qualify. WARNING: I do not suggest this is a valid idea.
On Thursday December 10th, Our Board of Supervisors decided 5-0 in favor of adopting Proposition 90-
The new Proposition does not go in to affect until Either 2/14 or 2/15 of 2010. Date to be be solidified Tuesday the 15th of this month. The 60 day waiting period is to do with the County Assessor-to set up the process/system in which they will be charging each Transferee $500. for the transfer. One must close escrow after 2/15/2010. This will change the outlook in our County in a very positive way. When real estate prices began to fall and property owners began their requests for reassessments-of course to lower values-this of course resulted in lower tax revenues to the County. How does EDC put a stop to the continued reduction of RE values/revenue? Prop 90 is just the answer.

For any and all information on Real Estate in Cameron Park, and in El Dorado County proper-contact your resident Realtor and real estate Counselor,

Wendi-Mae Davis Toll free 866-333-6333 or

wendimae@wendimae.com

and you may want to check out her personal website at

http://www.wendimae.com/

Giving Sellers the Green light

Wendi-Mae is keeping it real, and keeping it Green...Now it is your turn! How do you start protecting your environment, without spending money-rather by saving it? Glad you asked-here's how:
An inexpensive way to start helping to save your environment, locally- buy CFL's "Compact Flourescent Light" Bulbs. They use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, and last 6-10 times longer. You'll save energy and mney and contribute to global climate change. Prtoect the environment of today, and tomorrow-by changing a light! For any and all Real Estate information you may need for all of Santa Clara County, El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramanto Counties-call your neighborhood specialist/Team-

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI,
Broker Associate Connect Realty,
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Real Estate counselor.
22 years of full time service to the Community
Toll Free 866-333-6333
Personal website
http://www.blogger.com/www.wendimae.com or email her
at wendimae@wendimae.com
She looks forward to the opportunity of assisting you in your quest!