As a new year begins, most of us spend some time looking at our goals and plans. Some of these plans are geared towards relationships, health, and spiritual matters - but many of our goals are related to our financial future.

If you have a real estate portfolio you want to reexamine, or if you have some money to invest and are considering using a portion in real estate, I would be happy to discuss the market with you. Given the very low interest rates and the buyers' market, there are some great deals to be had. But there's a lot out there on the market to choose from, so you can and should be picky and make a wise investment!

For professional guidance on where to begin your search, please contact me.

Many real estate watchers can remember when buying a condominium was most home buyers' second choice. These properties were considered a half-way measure for people wishing to break out of renting but not quite able to obtain a house. Now, condos are not only seen as a smart step between the two stages, but are an increasingly sought-after option in their own right.
Read more about the condo boom...

6.00% is the current conforming 30-year fixed rate!

Rarely in recent history have we seen such a combination of low prices and low rates. Typically they move against each other. "Waiting for the bottom" is near impossible. The bottom is past by the time analysts and media are reporting it.

To discuss the current real estate market conditions in Nevada County, please contact me.

Visit the Federal Reserve website for more info about interest rates.

Without much fanfare the Nevada City Tech Center has been taking shape adjacent to the Grass Valley Group campus in Nevada City. The tech center comprises a 44 acre business park with up to 10 buildings, fiber optic conduits and an on site cell tower for tenant use, all within walking distance of local amenities, and surrounded by 20 acres of open space.

Nevada County has been attracting technology companies for a while now, and the development of this new tech center is bound to attract more high tech companies to the area, especially when they discover how well connected western Nevada County is, both physically and virtually. Interstate 80 between running between Sacramento and Reno is just over 20 miles away, with the Sacramento airport being just over one hour away.

Nevada County is also a great place to raise a family, with low levels of crime, excellent amenities, great outdoor recreation opportunities and an excellent local school system.

As I write the communication and entertainment company 2wire has taken 14,500 sq ft of the tech center (approximately 7% of the predicted office area available when the tech center is complete). For the last 3 years 2wire has been on the Inc. 500 list as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA, producing broadband modems, routers, and cable boxes.

If you are thinking of relocating a technology company to Nevada City and would like to talk to someone about real estate in the area as part of your fact finding, please give me a call at 530 478 6480, or contact me via my website.

The holiday season is upon us in Nevada County and that means Christmas Fairs in both Grass valley and Nevada City. Grass Valley will be celebrating Cornish Christmas which features the partial closure of downtown Mill and Main streets to motorized traffic to allow street vendors, arts and crafts booths, musicians and carolers to set up stalls and stages. With our recent cold snap the fire pit and free chestnuts are sure to be a hit, but if you have Christmas shopping needs there are great opportunities to pick up some locally crafted items, including handmade soaps from Frontier Angel (FrontierAngel.com).

Cornish Christmas is so named because of the area's ties to Cornwall in England, where many of the hard rock miners came from during the gold rush in the 1800s. It will run every Friday until Christmas Day, from 6pm to 9pm.

In Nevada City, a similar annual event called Victorian Christmas will be held Wednesday nights on the 5th, 12th and 19th of December, from 6pm to 9pm, and also on two Sunday afternoons, the 9th and 16th, from 1.30pm to 6pm.

Coming to the area during the Christmas period? If you'd like to see any Grass Valley real estate or Nevada County real estate while you are here, please contact me at (530) 478 6480 or via email.

Home inspections are a very important part of the home buying process. This is some basis information made available from Independent Inspections in Grass Valley.

What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual inspection of the structure and components of a home to find items that are not performing correctly or items that are unsafe. If a problem or a symptom of a problem is found, the home inspector will include a description of the problem in a written report and may recommend further evaluation.

What does a home inspection include?
A home inspector's report will review the condition of the home's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic, and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement, and visible structure.

Should I attend my home inspection?
It is helpful to be there so the home inspector can explain in person and answer any questions you may have. This is also an excellent way to learn about your new home and get maintenance and care tips.

When you are ready to buy or sell your home, I can provide you with a list of reputable Grass Valley and Nevada City area home inspectors.

Remember me for all your Nevada County real estate needs!

These are the most recent stats tracked by the California Association of Realtors:
California median home price - $530,830
California highest median home price by region - Santa Barbara Southern Coast $1,667,500
California lowest median home price by region - High Desert $271,940

To discuss Nevada County real estate market conditions, please contact me.

As discussed in some of my previous blogs, people everywhere have different opinions on the current state of the real estate market and the market's future. Lawrence Yun, Vice President of Research for the National Association of Realtors, expressed an interesting outlook in an article in the November issue of Realtor Magazine.

He says it's all a matter of perspective. Home sales do continue to be soft. We're predicting existing home sales to be down 7 percent year over year at the end of 2007, but that's coming off a five-year boom. We're forecasting a sales level near what we had in 2002, a very good year, and a level that's far closer to normal than what we've been seeing over the past four years. At the same time, price appreciation is holding up better than media reports would have us believe.

What's challenging isn't so much market conditions but the psychology behind those conditions. There continues to be pent-up demand and that demand will grow. Our economy added 4.3 million net new jobs in the past two years.

For every two new jobs that are created we historically see one new home buyer. Right now we're not seeing those new home buyers because they're sitting on the fence. Once they look past the headlines, they'll see that this is actually a very good time to buy: Inventories are flush, so there are lots of homes to choose from; prices are moderating; and interest rates remain historically low. Once the psychology catches up to our real market conditions, that pent-up demand will be released.

Lawrence Yun's perspective has some good qualities! To discuss Nevada County real estate market conditions, please contact me.

This bulletin came from the California Association or Realtors:
Anxious over continued economic erosion tied to the housing downturn and fallout from the mortgage loan sector, the Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate yesterday by a quarter point to 4.50 percent, from 4.75, the second rate cut this year.

The Fed's accompanying remarks indicate that the economy is demonstrating signs of resiliency despite the mortgage sector woes that produced poor third-quarter earnings results. For more information visit the Federal Reserve's website.

Remember me for all your Nevada County real estate needs!

On Halloween, October 31, the Grass Valley Downtown Association will host the Safe Trick or Treat for pre-school children from 10 am to 1 pm. Dress up your toddler and head to Historic Downtown! Both Mill and Main Streets will be closed to motorized traffic. Merchants will decorate their shops, dress in costume and pass out treats to the little ones.

Other fun and safe places to take your kids trick or treating in the evening include: Cypress Hill (my neighborhood), Morgan Ranch, and Race Street. These neighborhoods have street lights, lit walking areas, and lots of families who love trick or treaters!

Enjoy our lovely fall weather and have a happy Halloween next week!

Remember me for all your Nevada County real estate needs!