Going Public

Not sure I should do this......but I suppose everyone in the RE industry does (with their pictures on their cards).

So if you happen to see me on the street or at an open house, please say "hi", and offer me a smoking deal on your home.

Speaking of homes, there is a foreclosure back on the market I am trying to talk Mr.BT into. Haven't seen the inside yet, but the stats (do-able on one salary) and pics look good.

Recent Good Buys & Offers to Builders

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area.

(I am no longer going to update this section each month since it doesn't get as many comments as it used to....rather ironic since prices have fallen so much!).

The Need for Speed

I find it hard to believe that all buyers are as obsessed with housing as we are. It takes time and effort to keep a watchful eye for price drops and visit new listings. Either that, or RE agents don't have as much to do, and are really staying on top of all the listings (but there are so many, so I find that hard to believe as well).

In any case, there seems to be quite a few who move the minute they spot a deal. Perhaps it's the local RE agent network that gives advanced notice that a home is coming on the market at a great price. I have no idea, but it seems that many of the truly "good buys" out there are pending before we even have a chance to react. If I had to guess, I would imagine its flippers or investors, since they focus on the market for a living, and can move on things without juggling schedules.

If you aren't Johhny-on-the-spot, these places disappear within days, such as 1109 Sandwick in Folsom. Although that seemed to be an odd case, but still, my agent called on it, and we had to get in line, hours after it was listed (for around 100-75k below comps). Another example was a home recently listed on Jared in EDH, it went pending before I even saw the listing, and once again, it was 100-75k below comps.

So anyone who tells me they can't sell their house, is really just saying they won't, cause there are plenty of buyers/investors out there looking for homes that are priced well.

May 2008 Good Buys & Offers

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area.

Even though I tend to confine my search to the Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park areas doesn't mean others have to.

April 2008 Good Buys & Offers to Builders

There was only one post for March and I know there are quite a few "good buys" out there these days. So don't be shy this month. FWIW - The "good buys" section of this blog generates the most daily hits.

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area.

Just cause I tend to confine my search to the Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park areas doesn't mean others have to.

March 2008 Good Buys & Offers to Builders

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Currently there are over 20 homes in my screen scrape that are listed below 165$ sqft (of course, at least half of them are pending sale and many have mello roos and HOA). Still, not too shabby.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).

Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area. Just cause I tend to confine my search to the Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park areas doesn't mean others have to.

February 2008 Good Buys & Offers

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

On a personal note, I have been seeing many more "reasonable" buys lately....but we try not to drag our Realtor out for a showing unless Mr. BT & I are willing to put in an offer. So I don't have a lot of intel on properties lately (just the occasional open house). Which means most of my assessments are based on the data I find online and some drive bys.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).

Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area. Just cause I tend to confine my search to the Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park areas doesn't mean others have to.

January 2008 Good Buys & Offers

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy.

Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).

Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area. Just cause I tend to confine my search to the Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park areas doesn't mean others have to.

December Good Buys & Offers to Sellers/Builders

Please post homes you think are a good buy or any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Pieces of data to include: Zip Code, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).

Feel free to post info for homes anywhere in the Sacramento Metro area. Just cause I tend to confine my search to the Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park areas doesn't mean others have to.

November Good Buys & Offers to Sellers/Builders

Okay courtesy of Mike's suggestion, please also post any offers you know of that were accepted, especially to builders. It will help give others negotiating leverage when they are ready to buy. Even just letting people know what type of builder incentives they can expect would be helpful since its hard to tell if they give everyone the same incentives.

Pieces of data to include: Zip, MLS or Development Name, List Price, Incentives, Offer (if any), house details (sq ft, garage size, lots size etc).

October Good Buys

Looks like we picked up a bit of momentum last month (thanks to Cymst). Hoping we will make it to at least 5 "good buys" this month. I will have to rely on others, as I have been trying to curb my MLS habit as of late (since we are in our lease for another six months).

The "good buys" section tends to generate a respectable number of hits each day.....so listings posted later in the month will still be viewed.

September Good Buys

Not too many "good buys" last month. However I think we are seeing many more, "better than before" buys ....but still very few truly "good buys".

Technically there were only 2 listings posted in August....so let's see if we can find at least 3 this month (will re-post the September comments made in the August section).

Check out the ground rules for posting. Next time will try and post this section on time (was out of town for the long holiday).

August Good Buys

See ground rules for posting. Please label you comment, whether you are interested in "Feedback" or if it is a "Good Buy."

Average Buyer Good Buys

Inspired by recent comments, I created a forum for vetting properties we are interested in, and/or sharing information on houses that are "good buys". All properties should be located in family-friendly areas in and around Sacramento.

For now, I will create a section and we can post the listings in the comments on a monthly basis (similar to Sacramento Landing's water cooler). If there is enough interest, I will look into a more interactive format (to allow for updates like sold price).

Here are the ground rules:
1) These should be houses you would consider purchasing yourself (assuming you had the $$)
2) No marketing for friends or relatives...this is not CraigsList.
3) No trolling for houses others have set their hearts on. Conversely, if you are vetting a potential house, please be aware that this is a public forum, so don't share too many details if this is your dream home.
4) No houses over $850K. They are not houses for average buyers (I would have said 500K but I know quite a few folks on the blogs have much higher price ranges than we do).
5) Be respectful of others choices. If you don't like a neighborhood or subdivision, offer viable alternatives and information, not criticism.
6) Try to give enough information that folks have a general idea. Location, price, as well as categories, like tract home, custom home, Streng, large lot, river access etc. would be helpful.
7) No links to specific MLS houses...their terms of use do not allow them and they will be deleted.