Kerr and Jones

Sonoma and Napa Wine Country Real Estate

Rob Jones

5 Feng Shui Concepts to Help a Home Sell

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To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)

Are You Ready to Buy?

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Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to buy real estate. Whether it’s your first home, an additional investment property, buildable land, or your vacation dream home or retirement home, being ready to buy will make your home search more enjoyable, and you’ll have fewer surprises when you make an offer.

Make your list. You probably have a general idea of the kind of home you’d love to own. Maybe a sleek condo; or a single family home; or a working vineyard or ranch. Do you need proximity to particular schools or community services? Are there particular neighborhoods? Now’s the time to sit down and make a detailed list of both what you do want, and what you don’t want. Making an honest and clear list will help both you and your real estate agent focus in on just the right properties for you.

Know your timeline. Is your current lease up in 3 months? Are you able to take as many weeks or months as it takes? Know when you need to be able to move in. Also get a sense from your agent how long it may take to find the house you want in the location you desire. If you have very specific requirements, you will be more dependent on market supply. And don’t forget: a typical purchase will take between 30-45 days to close once your offer is accepted.

Check your credit. Have a credit report done – and check your FICO number as well as what you’re creditors report about you. Have you paid your bills on time? Any red flags? Fix any problems now, so that when your lender asks, you’ll be able to tell them honestly how you are working to correct any problems.

Get preapproved. Start this process early. Your Realtor® can give you referrals to lenders they know will do a good job. If you don’t know how much you can borrow, you won’t know what homes you should be looking at. And nothing is more disappointing than finding out that the homes you’ve been visiting are beyond your means.

Name your limits. Once you know how much financing you qualify for, you also need to identify how much you’re comfortable borrowing. Remember, you’re signing on for a monthly payment that may be significantly larger than you currently pay for rent or mortgage. Be very sure you feel comfortable with the monthly payment, not just the total amount of the loan.

Understand the costs. Talk with your agent and your lender. Your down payment and your loan are only part of the costs of buying a home. At the beginning of escrow you’ll be paying for inspections and any specialist examinations of the property to ensure you understand what you’re buying. At the end of escrow, when you sign all your loan and title documents, you’ll be expected to pay a number of costs and fees – for title, escrow and lender processes, pro-rated taxes, appraisal, and possibly other funds to the seller or inspectors. If you are financing with multiple loan sources, each loan source will likely have its own fees and costs.

Talk with your Realtor® and your lender – both can give you more information on your specific circumstances and help you be the best informed and ready to buy.

Attracting Offers For Your Home

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Here are some time-tested pointers on attracting buyers and getting offers for your home.

1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range. This will increase the buyer activity and mazimize your chances of offers.

2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it. And keep your house in showing-ready condition.

3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.



4. Anticipate the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer and few showings, you should be prepared to at least consider lowering your asking price.

Short-term Rentals

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Can I do vrbo (vacation rental) with this house? This is one of the most common questions investor home buyers ask their Realtor® in Sonoma county. Maybe you want some additional income from the home you purchase. Or maybe you want to buy a home and have confidence that your neighbors won’t be able to do short-term rentals. With a little background info, this is an easy question to answer.

Sonoma County has created an excellent web page to provide details: PRMD-Vacation Rentals

Here are the key guidelines for where you can and cannot obtain a permit and offer short-term rentals. Note: please check the PRMD web site for guidelines for allowing Hosted Rentals (short-term rentals where the homeowner remains on the property while renters are present). All you need to know is the zoning designation for the property you’re interested in.

Vacation rentals are allowed (with permit) in the following locations:

  1. In homes in single-family residential zoning districts (AR, RR, and R1)
  2. In existing single-family residences in the LC zoning district
  3. Agricultural and resource zones including LEA, DA, and RRD (except for lands within an Agricultural Preserve that is subject to a Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) Contract)

Vacation rentals are not allowed in the following locations:

  1. Higher-density residential districts (R2 and R3)
  2. Lands within an Agricultural Preserve that is subject to a Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act) Contract
  3. Land Intensive Agriculture (LIA) zoned properties
  4. Accessory Dwelling Units (a.k.a. “Granny Units”)
  5. Farm Family, Agricultural Employee, or Farmworker housing units
    Non-habitable structures
  6. Areas designated (e.g. the Exclusion (X) Combining District)

#6 is very important if you are looking at property in the Sonoma Valley, Healdsburg, and Santa Rosa. Those are currently the only three communities where the X Combining District (also called the X Overlay) is in effect. You can find out whether a specific property is in the X Overlay by checking the PRMD web site either by neighborhood maps, or by the list of APNs (assessor parcel numbers) of the properties.

Confused? Your Realtor® can help you sort this out so you know up front whether a particular property will be able to have short-term rentals, before you get into contract.

10 Questions For Your Lender

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Most of us only deal with real estate loans a few times in our lives. It’s important to understand the details of the loan you are being offered – before you sign on the line. Here are the questions you should be asking your potential lender:

1. What are the most popular mortgages you offer? Why are they so popular?



2. Which type of mortgage plan do you think would be best for me? Why?



3. Are your rates, terms, fees, and closing costs negotiable?



4. Will I have to buy private mortgage insurance? If so, how much will it cost, and how long will it be required? (NOTE: Private mortgage insurance is usually required if your down payment is less than 20 percent. However, most lenders will let you discontinue PMI when you’ve acquired a certain amount of equity by paying down the loan.)



5. Who will service the loan — your bank or another company?



6. What escrow requirements do you have?



7. How long will this loan be in a lock-in period (in other words, the time that the quoted interest rate will be honored)? Will I be able to obtain a lower rate if it drops during this period?



8. How long will the loan approval process take?



9. How long will it take to close the loan?



10. Are there any charges or penalties for prepaying the loan?



Used with permission from Real Estate Checklists & Systems, www.realestatechecklists.com.

Why You Should Work with a REALTOR®

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Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are nine reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

1. You’ll have an expert to guide you through the process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi‐page settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Get objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

3. Find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

4. Benefit from their negotiating experience. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

6. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

7. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

8. Buying and selling is emotional. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security— it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

9. Ethical treatment. Every member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a customer of a REALTOR®, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction‐related matters. It is mandatory for REALTORS® to take the Code of Ethics orientation and they are also required to complete a refresher course every four years.

Reprinted from REALTOR® magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.