Elizabeth Weintraub • Sacramento Short Sale Agent • Land Park

One of my sellers called yesterday to say his home had just hit the market and he already had a bunch of phone calls from buyer's agents. They were asking to schedule appointments. Most of my listings, whether they are short sales or otherwise, are listed as "call first, lockbox." But many buyer's agents don't know what that means. They think it means to make an appointment. It doesn't. It means to call first and then go.

The seller asked if he was being rude to an agent when he let her know another agent was already showing at the time she wanted to show. Was it OK, he asked, to have 2 showings at the same time? It is a little rude to not let the agent know, but it's not rude to do it. For starters, agents are rarely on time. Second, it creates excitement and urgency. Everybody wants what somebody else wants. It's just human nature.

Here is a short sale duplex with a pool in Greenhaven. It's L-shaped, so one side faces south and the other side faces east. The south side is located on a frontage road. It is situated between Greenhaven Lake and the Sacramento River, about a half-mile west from I-5, but I could not hear any freeway noise.

Each side has two bedrooms and two baths, although the guest bedrooms do not have a closet. The south side has more updates than the east. You'll find hardwood plank floors -- the seller was not certain if the floors were 100% wood, although they looked like it to me, so buyers should verify this -- plantation shutters, and you get a view of the pool from this unit.

The east side still needs a little bit of work. For example, the guest bedroom needs a floor over the subfloor. But size-wise, they are mirror images. Each has a corner brick fireplace in the family room, dining in the kitchen, a foyer, a separate yard and a two-car garage. You can walk through one garage to the other garage and to the other unit. It's kind of nice for a family.

2 Sea Court, Sacramento, CA 95831, is offered exclusively by Lyon Real Estate as a short sale at $325,000. For more information, call your Sacramento short sale agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, at 916 233 6759. For a private showing, call Linda Swanson at 916 607 0111.

Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub

I have very few regrets in life. I don't regret my past marriages because I learned something from all of them and, obviously, at the time they seemed like a good idea or I wouldn't have done it. But I do regret not attending Woodstock. Participating in the March on Washington that fall or hitchhiking to the Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival the following spring (the Midwest's answer) doesn't make up for not going to Woodstock. Even though I was only 17, I could have hit the road and almost did, but I didn't.

I know what you're thinking. Oh, just grow up and get over it. But it's not that easy. Some regrets linger.

Some regrets pop up all of a sudden. Yesterday, a short sale buyer for a home on the Sacramento river canceled her escrow. She had regrets. This was a remarkable opportunity to buy a riverfront home for $299,000. Sure, it needs updates but it is livable, boasts great square footage, and OK the way it is. Her reasons for canceling were the process would take too long and the home needed too much work. But she knew that when she signed the purchase contract, and we were only about 30 days into the short sale process.

Something else was at play. That little thing called regret. For whatever reason. See, this is the thing about short sales. They take too long. They give buyers too much time to regret a decision.

This home on the river is not one of my short sale listings, but I can tell you, I wish I had the time to invest in buying this home for myself. It's a good buy. If you're interested in hearing more about it and would like a Sacramento short sale agent to represent you in the purchase, give me a ring.

Photo: Big Stock Photo

This Sacramento Pocket home offers a spacious, open floor plan with a remodeled kitchen and is reasonably priced at $259,000. The kitchen has a custom-tiled back-splash, plenty of counter space and dual sinks -- the second sink is in the kitchen island. The space allows two or more cooks to create culinary delights side-by-side without bumping into each other or getting in each other's way.

Because the kitchen is open to the family room, it's easy to carry on a conversation with your master chef while watching TV or relaxing in front of the fireplace and admiring the redwoods that surround the home.

The fireplace has two sides: one faces the living room and the other, the family room. A mantle shelf wraps around the corner above both fireplaces.

The carpeting may need a thorough cleaning or replacement, but that's a small price to pay for such abundance space in a home. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a formal dining room, and is approximately 1,800 square feet. Built in 1980, the home is situated on a corner lot that comprises .28 acres.

Best of all is the pool and built-in spa in the back yard. You'll also find a pretty trellis-covered wood deck to accommodate your outdoor dining furniture. The back yard is accessible from the kitchen and also the master bedroom suite. Call for a private showing. Offer subject to lender approval.

300 Rivergate Way, Sacramento, CA 95831

Offered at $259,000

Elizabeth Weintraub, Sacramento Short Sale Agent

Lyon Real Estate

916.233.6759

The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming May 15th.

Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub

Like the rest of Sacramento, the Greeenhaven / Pocket areas in ZIP 95831 have experienced more than a 50% drop in inventory (homes for sale) over the past 15 months. From a high in August of 2007 of 130 homes, the inventory has plunged to only 64 homes for sale in August of 2008.

Pending sales and closed sales have continued to climb from January of this year forward and then dipped in August. We often see a resurrection of sales in September and a renewed interest after kids go back to school, so it's possible that dip could be reversed. Of course, if more foreclosures hit the market, that will change everything. These are interesting times, wouldn't you agree?

Source: Trendgraphix

DESIRABLE RIVERLAKE - GATED COMMUNITY IN THE POCKET - SACRAMENTO

This home is priced to sell at $339,000. Million-dollar homes are situated across the street, along the private lake. Surrounding similar homes are priced at $425,000 and up. This is an affordable halfplex, creatively attached by a small wall off the dining room. Once inside, you would swear the home was a standalone.

It has 3 large bedrooms and 3 full baths. Assessor's square footage is 1,481 square feet. The 1987-built home faces East toward the cul de sac, and it has an attached two-car garage.

The freshly painted entry way features vaults and tile. There is one bedroom located downstairs, which could also be used an office. The downstairs full guest bathroom has been updated. Inside laundry room, too.

Master suite features a giant 8-foot by 6.5-foot walk-in closet and private bath. Second bedroom is a generous size with double closet doors, ceiling fan and a main hall bath.

Separate dining area is located off the kitchen. There is new laminate flooring on the first level. Open kitchen has a built-in microwave, dishwasher, disposal, gas range and stove, and refrigerator. 

The living room has a fireplace and sliding door to the professionally landscaped back yard. The back-yard deck is newer, and the seller has installed a newer brick patio around the garden and fruit tree, creating a private outdoor paradise. The roof is heavy shake and was installed about a year ago.

This magnificent home is in turnkey condition. The seller obtained a home inspection report and every item will be cleared by close of escrow, none of which are major. Clear pest report, too. Copies of both reports will be provided to the buyer.

The property is only available due to relocation. Hurry, because it won't last long. If you've always wanted to live in Riverlake but felt it was too expensive, this is a chance to finally realize your dream. Private lake access. Association dues: $84/month.

Click here for a Virtual Tour. 

Call Elizabeth Weintraub, Broker-Associate

LYON REAL ESTATE

Cell: 916.233.6759

View All My Listings at ElizabethWeintraub.com