Search Sacramento homes | UPDATED! [under $50,000] [under $100,000] [$100,000s] [$200,000s] [$300,000s] [$400,000s] [over $500,000] | Sacramento condos | Sacramento multi-family (2-4 units) | Sacramento apartment buildings (5+ units) | Sacramento JUST LISTED homes & condos | Sacramento homes built since 2005 | Sacramento vacant lots & land | Sacramento commercial properties | Sacramento foreclosure listings | About Sacramento foreclosures and REOs
Explore Anatolia | Antelope | Arden | Auburn | Carmichael | Citrus Heights | Curtis Park | Davis | Del Paso Heights | Downtown Sacramento | East Sacramento | El Dorado Hills | Elk Grove | Fair Oaks | Galt | Gold River | Granite Bay | Greenhaven | Laguna | Land Park | Lincoln | Meadowview | Midtown Sacramento | Natomas Park | North Highlands | North Natomas | North Sacramento | Oak Park | Old Sac | Orangevale | Rancho Cordova | Regency Park | Rio Linda | River Park | Rocklin | Rosemont | Roseville | Sacramento | South Land Park | South Natomas | Southport | South Sacramento | Tahoe Park | The Pocket | UCD Med Center & Elmhurst | West Sacramento | Woodlake
Penthouses at Capitol Park: Living the "sky life"
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sacramento has a serious shortage of high-rise living options, so every new addition is a welcome one—especially when it means views of Capitol Park.
Situated atop the Marriott Residence Inn Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park, the Penthouses at Capitol Park offer Sacramento's only highrise living overlooking Capitol Park and the Capitol grounds (contrasted with the condos at 500 N which offer a more affordable alternative a few blocks away). The 30 penthouse units occupy the top three floors of this 15-story business-class hotel.
These unique luxury condos offer spectacular park and city views and are steps to the state Capitol Building and all of downtown. Convenient to dining and entertainment (across the street from The Park Ultra Lounge, Mason's and Ma Jong's, blocks to Mikuni's, PF Chang's, Bistro 33 and more), the Convention Center, Memorial Auditorium, and of course the Capitol and Downtown Sacramento's business district, these condominiums include high-end finishes and the hotel amenities. Whether you're a lobbyist or legislator, business leader or entrepreneur, local celebrity or part-time Sacramentan, the Penthouses at Capitol Park offer a premium address, top-notch amenities, and defining Sacramento views that can't be found anywhere else!
Features include ceilings up to 10', elegant wood cabinetry and raised panel doors, granite slab counters in kitchen and baths, tile flooring in the entry and kitchen/baths, solar window shades, designer lighting, GE Profile appliances. Also available on-site at the hotel are free wifi in the lobby, heated swimming pool and spa, 24-hour fitness center, dining and lounge, ATM, and outdoor terrace area. Hotel services provided for a fee include valet parking, concierge, laundry and dry cleaning, and room service.
To see penthouse units currently for sale, visit the Penthouses at Capitol Park
Labels: Central, Central City Lofts and Condos, condos, Downtown, Midtown, Sacramento
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 9:16 AM,
, links to this post
Sacramento unveils 311 for expanded info by phone (and email)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Not sure where to go for specific services with the City of Sacramento? What used to be known as Sacramento City Operator is now Sacramento City 311 which means you can dial 311 from a land line or most cell phones within the limits of the city of Sacramento 24 hours a day, seven days a week—even on holidays— to get assistance from a live person (you can even email 311@cityofsacramento.org or use 311 online).
Get answers to questions, request City services, and get help on any municipal issue (besides police and fire) including: Code Enforcement (abandoned cars, graffiti, substandard housing, etc.); Animal Care (injured, stray, aggressive animals, etc.); Development Services Help Line (all calls for DSD are first routed to 311 for triage); Street Maintenance (potholes, cracked sidewalks, lighting problems, etc.); Facility Maintenance (work order requests related to repair/maintenance of City buildings); Citywide Directory Assistance and information about all things related to City services; Request a City crew for drains, water, solid waste, along with general inquiries; Making utility payments by credit card
Sac City 311 is a centralized call center for the City of Sacramento that is intended to make life a little easier for its residents, businesses and visitors. Sac City 311 call center works to answer questions as quickly as possible with minimal transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 311?
Sac City 311 is an easy to remember phone number that residents, businesses and visitors can use to request service, report problems or get information from local government. Sac City 311 is your resource for connecting with the City of Sacramento. Sac City 311 handles requests for building permits, stray animals, utilities services, and much more—Sac City 311 is ready to help! The 311 customer service agents undergo extensive training to ensure each caller gets a courteous, quick and accurate response. 311 provides a single point of contact for City of Sacramento government services.
Why was 311 created?
The Sac City 311 service is part of an ongoing effort by the City of Sacramento to make access to City government easier and more responsive to the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. Now there is no need to search the phone directory for the right City department—let Sac City 311 take care of that for you.
How does 311 work?
A courteous Sac City 311 customer service agent will assist you in finding the appropriate government service you need. If you need information, agents will either provide it directly or connect you to the appropriate department for your answer. If you need a service, agents can automatically route a work request to the proper department for a City crew to respond.
Who can call 311?
Anyone within the Sacramento City limits can call 311 free of charge from a land-line telephone or cable line. 311 works on most cell phones as well. Cell coverage is determined by individual service providers.
What if I need to call 311 from outside city limits?
Callers outside the City limits can reach Sac City 311 by calling (916) 264-5011.
When do I use 311, and when do I use 911?
The 911 service is for emergencies, such as house fires and crimes in progress, that require an immediate response by police, fire crews or an ambulance. For all other City services, call 311.
Will a 311 agent be able to respond in multiple languages?
Yes, through the use of a third-party translation service, Sac City 311 agents can respond in over 150+ languages and dialects.
Will a 311 agent be able to respond to calls from hearing impaired individuals?
Yes, TDD/TTY callers can dial 311 and then press 3, or dial (916) 808-8563.
Labels: Central, Curtis Park, Del Paso Heights, Downtown, Elmhurst, Greenhaven, Land Park, Meadowview, Midtown, Natomas Park, North Natomas, North Sac, Oak Park, Pocket, Regency Park, River Park, Sacramento, South Land Park, South Natomas, South Sac, Tahoe Park, UCD Med Center, Woodlake
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 11:50 AM,
, links to this post
CalPERS home loans trump minimum wage for State employees
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Working for the State of California may not seem all that appealing when the annual tradition of stalled budget negotiations means minimum wage for state employees (except those who are exempt from the governor's recent executive order), but there are some benefits to civil servants that just might make it worthwhile, like the CalPERS Member Home Loan Program (MHLP).
CalPERS (the California Public Employees Retirement System) draws its membership from employees of the State of California as well as public sector employees in may city and county government agencies, including employees of the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County, Placer County, and many other counties and local municipalities. If you have a CalPERS member number, you should be eligible for the Member Home Loan Program—and membership has its privileges, including:
60-Day and 90-Day Rate Protection
At the time of your loan application, you can lock in your interest rate for 60 or 90 days and get protection against market fluctuations. Other loan programs that offer shorter lock periods can leave you with a higher rate at close of escrow—resulting in higher monthly mortgage payments.
Two FREE CalPERS Float Down Opportunities
With the 60-day and 90-day interest rate locks, you’ll receive the lowest CalPERS interest rate on three key dates—date of loan lock-in, date of loan approval, and date the loan documents are drawn.
30-Day Rate Lock
You can choose to lock your interest rate for 30 days instead 60 days. Although the float down feature is not available with this option, you’ll get the benefit of a competitive 30-day rate.
Low-to-No Down Payment Programs—CalPERS Special Loan Programs
CalPERS offers several financing options that have either low or no down payment requirements. The MyCommunityMortgage™ and Flexible 100™ require little to no down payment.
Interest Only Feature
If you are just starting off, would like greater purchasing power, or like the idea of lower initial monthly payments, CalPERS' Interest Only Feature could be right for you. With initial interest-only periods of 7- to 10-years, these fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgage loans are available for home purchases or refinancing.
100 Percent Financing Options
CalPERS offers options to purchase a home with no out-of-pocket costs for the down payment. CalPERS' 100 financing options could let you secure up to $500,000 for a down payment. CalPERS even offers down payment assistance on jumbo loans.
Savings From Our Partners
To provide you with more comprehensive service during your home buying process, a number of affiliate relationships have been established. Check out additional savings on services related to purchasing or refinancing a home here.
No Prepayment Penalties
Any CalPERS Mortgage Loan gives you the option to make early principal payments with no penalty. This feature of the program not only gives you the ability to build equity in your home but, because these payments are immediately applied to your loan's principal balance, it also saves you money.
For more information or to take advantage of the CalPERS Member Home Loan Program (MHLP), call (916) 444-7577 and we'll connect you with an independent mortgage professional who can serve your needs.
Labels: Antelope, Arden, Central, Citrus Heights, Curtis Park, Downtown, East Sac, Elk Grove, Elmhurst, Greenhaven, Laguna, Land Park, Midtown, Natomas Park, North Natomas, North Sac, Rancho Cordova, Regency Park, River District, Roseville, Sacramento, Southport, West Sac
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 11:43 AM,
, links to this post
Home-Buying 101: Short Sales explained
Friday, August 1, 2008
Searching the MLS for a home in the Sacramento area lately? If so, you've probably noticed a large number of homes listed as short sales (they may be referred to as active short sale or short sale contingency or even just "AS" or "ASC")—and they're often some of the lowest priced homes in any given neighborhood. Here are some of the most common questions I get:
Q. What is a short sale?
A. The term "short sale" is used to refer to a property being sold for which the seller owes more than it will sell for in the current market. This is more common in neighborhoods that have seen significant price declines since the peak of the market in 2005, but any seller can end up in a short sale situation if they've borrowed more money against the home than it's currently worth (such as when a home owner has borrowed money and "overimproved" a home for the neighborhood it's in).
Q. How do short sales work?
A. Short sales work like this: a seller has a financial hardship (death of a spouse, loss of a job, job transfer, hospitalization, or sudden change in monthly mortgage payment) and needs to sell a home. Because they owe more than the home is worth, the seller is requesting that the bank(s) that they have a mortgage through accept less than they're owed. Most banks won't even entertain the notion of a short sale if there aren't any buyers ready to purchase the home for the current market price so, as part of the process, the seller puts the home on the market and begins accepting offers. The seller will typically accept the best offer and submit it to the bank for approval.
Q. Are these deals too good to be true?
A. The short answer is: Yes, in many cases these deals are too good to be true. Many home sellers who are in a short sale situation are selling because they're falling behind on payments or are in preforeclosure. For this reason, they're feeling a lot of time pressure to get the home sold before a bank forecloses, so they price the home lower than anything else in a neighborhood to just try to get offers to submit to the bank(s). This leads to multiple offers but doesn't guarantee that the bank will accept whatever sales price the seller accepts. The seller doesn't usually care what the home sells for because he or she won't be making any money on the sale.
Q. Do banks really go for this?
A. Sometimes. No bank is ever eager to accept less than they're owed because they're losing money in the process, and banks aren't in the business of losing money. Of course in many cases the alternative is foreclosing on a home, and that can be a lengthy, expensive process that results in the bank owning a property—and banks are often even less eager to own the home so may be willing to negotiate if they see that it's in their best interest.
But there are some big challenges when buying a short sale. For instance, unlike a foreclosure where the bank owns the property free and clear and can sell it for whatever price they want, in a short sale situation there may be other parties with a financial interest in the property. If a seller has experienced a financial hardship, there may be unpaid taxes, utilities, or contractors who've done work and are seeking payment—and any of these can result in liens against the property. In a short sale, the seller MUST prove to the bank that there is a financial hardship that requires the home be sold and all parties must agree to accept little or no payment and sign off on the sale of the property. Add to this the fact that there may be a second mortgage that will likely be completely wiped out and it becomes challenging getting everyone with a financial interest to authorize the sale. This is often a grueling, months-long process that can ultimately be for nothing if one or more parties deny the short sale request, and this is a major reason why a lot of homes that are listed as short sales eventually come off the market and reappear later as bank-owned REO properties.
Q. What do the terms active short sale and short sale contingent etc. mean?
A. An active short sale is just another way of saying that the home is active on the market as a short sale. A home listed as short sale contingent means that the seller has accepted an offer and submitted it to the bank. Until the bank responds (and this can take months), the listing agent is obligated to continue to market the home as "for sale". Once the bank has accepted an offer, then the property will be marked as "pending" and the normal escrow period begins.
Q. I've called several times about a home that's for sale online and the agent keeps telling me it's already sold. Why is it still showing up online?
A. In the Sacramento area, if a property is being sold as a short sale, until the bank accepts one of the offers that has been submitted the listing agent is required (by the rules of the local MLS) to identify it as short sale cont and it will continue to appear online on searches because the home isn't yet technically in escrow. While this may seem confusing, your Sacramento REALTOR® can help you figure out the status of properties you're interested in.
To summarize, when you see a property for sale that's listed as a short sale this means you should expect a much longer than average escrow period (so don't plan on buying a short sale if you're on a tight timeline), a counter offer on price from the bank (even if the seller has accepted your price), and the possibility that the bank will reject the short sale entirely. If you can find a great home that's either a traditional sale or a foreclosure (also called an REO), consider going with these options first. Good luck and happy house-hunting!
More questions about short sales or other homes? Give us a call at (916) 444-7577 today!
Labels: Anatolia, Antelope, Arden, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Curtis Park, Del Paso Heights, Downtown, East Sac, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Gold River, Granite Bay, Greenhaven, Home-Buying 101, Laguna, Land Park, Lincoln, Meadowview, Midtown, Natomas Park, North Highlands, North Natomas, North Sac, Oak Park, Orangevale, Pocket, Rancho Cordova, Regency Park, Rio Linda, River Park, Rocklin, Rosemont, Roseville, Sacramento, South Land Park, South Natomas, South Sac, Southport, Tahoe Park, UCD Med Center, West Sac, Woodlake, Woodland
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 1:50 PM,
, links to this post
I want you to use this website...
Monday, July 21, 2008
...even if you don't use my services!
I've designed these websites to be useful and usable—and I really want you to find the information (or property) you're looking for. To that end, I'd love to hear what you think. I'm constantly adding and updating the website, including new relevant info and resources. Even if I haven't blogged in a few days, I'm usually adding a new feature here and there (thanks for the feedback on the ZIP Code search tool at the left of each page, Margaret!)... But is it the type of info you want? And what else would be helpful?
Please let me know what you think. I'm listening and working to build the best, most easy-to-use Sacramento area real estate website I can. Judging by the great phonecalls and emails I'm getting it's working. But I'm not here to rest on my laurels!
Fifteen seconds of (real estate) fame
A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to meet with the fine folks at Trulia (a real estate industry website used by a lot of consumers to find properties for sale—though it's not nearly as good as my websites! ;-D)to shoot a video with Brett Crosby at Google Analytics for other real estate industry professionals. It probably won't be of interest to you (it's a bit nerdy, I confess I'm a "real estate nerd"), but you can check out the video below. It was even picked up by ActiveRain (another industry website that many consumers use)
Oh, and if you decide you'd like some help with your Sacramento real estate needs, my team and I are absolutely here to serve you—just ask! -Rob McQuade -- (916) 444-7577.
Labels: Anatolia, Antelope, Arden, Carmichael, Central, Citrus Heights, Curtis Park, Del Paso Heights, Downtown, East Sac, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Gold River, Granite Bay, Greenhaven, Laguna, Land Park, Meadowview, Midtown, Natomas Park, North Natomas, North Sac, Oak Park, Orangevale, Rancho Cordova, Regency Park, River Park, Rosemont, Roseville, Sacramento, South Land Park, South Natomas, South Sac, Southport, Tahoe Park, UCD Med Center, West Sac, Woodlake
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 7:17 PM,
, links to this post
Check out the new video from the 500 N Condos
New to Downtown Sacramento? Considering buying a condo or other urban property? The developer and sales team at the 500 N condos want you to consider highrise living downtown at 500 N—Sacramento's only real highrise option (for now). In fact, they've put together the video below.
And if you're interested in buying, you can check out some of the condos for sale at 500 N or check out more Downtown condos and Midtown lofts for sale.
Labels: 95811, 95814, 95816, Central, condos, developments, Downtown, highrise, lofts, Midtown, Sacramento, Sacramento Urban Properties
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 6:55 PM,
, links to this post
A Sacramento loft for under $200,000? It's true at 1600 H.
Monday, July 7, 2008
I just got an update from Keith over at the 1600 H lofts and he's given me the latest pricing on a couple of the loft units (updated now at www.1600h.com):
$179,600 - Loft 201 (390 sq.ft. studio)
This unit is on the H Street side and faces north. The advantage is that it's on the quiet side but has exterior views. Sounds small (and it is), but it's livable space at a great price.
$215,990 - Loft 203 (466 sq.ft. studio)
Directly adjacent to loft 201, this unit is slightly larger but offers the same great quiet outside location.
$259,499 - Loft 212 (615 sq.ft. one bedroom)
Looking for peace and quiet? This is an interior unit that overlooks the "courtyard" (parking). Perfect if you want lots of morning sun and none of the sound of traffic. I'm not a big fan of the interior units since they don't offer much in the way of views, especially on the 2nd floor.
$459,000 - Loft 401 (1020 sq.ft. two bedroom)
Wow! This two-bedroom penthouse level loft is also on the H Street side (two floors directly above 201 and 203) and is larger than the first two units combined. Tree and neighborhood views north, lots of indirect light, convenient to the elevator and lobby area.
I was originally a skeptic of the lofts at 1600 H, but the design has proven itself and the location on the line between Downtown and Midtown Sacramento is convenient to everything—just a couple blocks to Mikuni, PF Chang's, Memorial Auditorium, Music Circus, and more dining and entertainment than you can shake a stick at. This is one of my two favorite projects right now (behind only the Sutter Brownstones in Midtown). These are more affordable than the L Street Lofts but offer similar great design.
Ready for a tour? Would you like to see everything that Midtown and Downtown Sacramento have to offer? Give me a call. Rob McQuade, McMartin Realty - (916) 444-7577.
Labels: 1600H, Downtown, lofts, Midtown, Sacramento
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 7:39 AM,
, links to this post
Putting technology to work in real estate
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
When you want information, you want information. I've worked hard to build not only a great team of real estate professionals to meet my clients needs but also a network of websites and web tools for clients—and I've taken those tools to the next level to provide online real estate information for Sacramento and the greater Sacramento region.
I recently had an opportunity to work with the fine folks at Trulia (http://www.trulia.com/), the leader in online real estate content, to begin educating other real estate professionals on how to provide the kinds of information that our clients want and need. Last week I filmed a training video at Trulia's offices in San Francisco (keep an eye out on here, I'll have a link to it in the coming weeks) and today Trulia blogged about the success I've been having using their site to connect with real estate buyers and sellers in the Sacramento area.
Yup, I'm a real estate nerd. ;-)
You can see what Trulia had to say here.
Labels: Curtis Park, Downtown, East Sac, Land Park, Midtown, Sacramento, Trulia
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 2:37 PM,
, links to this post
What happened to the Whiskey Hill Lofts?
Thursday, June 5, 2008
I've recently had a lot of people searching my Downtown and Midtown websites for info on the Whiskey Hill Lofts, developer Paul Petrovich's residential project behind the Rite Aid he built at 21st & S in Midtown.
The Sacramento Business Journal reported on May 23rd that the Whiskey Hill Lofts, a 30-unit Midtown loft and condo development that opened for sale in February, hadn't attracted any buyers and "is being converted into apartment units and will be rented..."
Why? I think the combination of pricing—the price per square foot at Whiskey Hill was on par with other more desirable projects in better locations within the central city, including the L Street Lofts and 1600 H (which is finishing construction and has yet to close on any of the loft units)—and location just couldn't compete with other new Downtown and Midtown developments. Meanwhile the Sutter Brownstones are still selling, in part due to their competitive prices (thanks largely to mandatory subsidies from Sutter as a condition of the hospital expansion).
Looking for a Downtown or Midtown loft or condo? Register online to create your own saved searches for free or give me a call today at (916) 444-7577. -Rob
Labels: Central, Central City Loft Living, Central City Lofts and Condos, Downtown, lofts, Midtown, Sacramento, Sacramento Urban Properties
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 12:27 PM,
, links to this post
AAA's Via explores Sacramento, extolls the virtues of Midtown
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Attention Sacramento area AAA members: Didja catch what Via, AAA's travel magazine, had to say about our fair city? May's issue featured Sacramento and the article title says it best: read Capital Gains: Sacramento is all grown up.
What's most notable is the fact that Sacramento is being defined by the core neighborhoods, Downtown and Midtown, referring to Midtown as "the city's lively eating and schmoozing hot spot."
"A wildly popular art walk through the neighborhood's galleries and boutiques on the second Saturday evening of every month has helped transform Sacramento's sundown stampede into a galloping nightlife... The 2nd Saturday Art Walk emerged from the trunk shows of a few scattered Midtown boutiques in the '90s, and now virtually every shop, cafe, and valet parking spot has an exhibition or an easel up, with music playing somewhere close by."
The author goes on to mention more than a dozen local establishments worth exploring and even talks about some of Downtown and Midtown Sacramento's most notable real estate:
"If you have a passion for Victorian architecture, tour the Governor's Mansion at 16th and H streets and the Leland Stanford Mansion at Eighth and N streets, both now state historic parks. The posh Governor's Mansion, built in 1877 and furnished with fireplaces of Italian marble, gives you a glimpse of how the Golden State's chief executives lived from 1903 until 1967, when it was briefly inhabited by California's first actor-turned-governor, Ronald Reagan. Contrast this with the grandeur of Leland Stanford's 19,000-square-foot former estate and its 19th-century-style gardens."
But a few words summed up well Sacramento in general and Midtown more specifically:
"Sacramento has become what many cities aspire to be: a great walking town. Along Midtown streets, under a canopy of Dutch elm trees, the scene hums."
And if you haven't checked out 2nd Saturday yet, you can download the 2nd Saturday artwalk map and explore the festivities—and be sure to start at McMartin Realty at 21st & K.
Labels: arts, Central, Downtown, Midtown, Sacramento, Second Saturday
Tag this post: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | Yahoo MyWeb | Google | StumbleUpon | Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Rob McQuade @ 10:34 AM,
, links to this post
Brookings: Sacramento goes greener, shrinks carbon footprint
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Sacramento ranked 12th best in nation's 100 largest metro areas
In its recently released analysis,