What a Buyer Wants

 What are today's home buyers looking for? According to a survey* of  22,000 recent home buyers, they plan to be “more practical” in their next purchase, focusing on livable space rather than "unnecessary upgrades."  Extras such as pools, media rooms and even dining rooms are considered unnecessary luxuries, with the focus being more on such things as:

• Efficient use of space (e.g. cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling)
• More workable kitchens (islands are still quite popular)
• "Greener" features (insulation, high-efficiency appliances)
• Nearby walking paths and playgrounds

In the master bath, whirlpool tubs are giving way to soaker tubs. But both are secondary to oversized showers.

Some features that are still important to buyers, however, include a home office, minimum two-car garage, and master suite on the ground floor (if it's a two-story home).

Of course, I think most buyers these days (40% of whom are first-timers) are also looking for a good deal.  With interest rates and prices at historic lows, and with a small window of opportunity to cash in on the tax credits now available, what better time to be a buyer?  Feel free to browse current Chico properties for sale at my web site:  www.ChicoLaura.com

 * As cited in the L.A. Times.  To read the whole article, click here.

Charming Vintage Home For Sale in Chico, CA!

Check out this charming, vintage home for sale in Chico, California!

Step into vintage "charm and character" on one of Chico's loveliest tree-lined avenues! Main house has 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, office, cozy fireplace, separate living and family rooms, cheery sunroom, wood floors, and coved ceilings.  French doors look out to a lovely patio and there is even a basement for extra storage/wine cellar. Roomy second dwelling has the sweetest kitchen, a bonus room downstairs, separate bedroom, living room, and bath upstairs. Cottage last rented at $635/mo. Centrally located near downtown. A truly special "Chico Charmer"!

 

Click here for a VIRTUAL TOUR!

Click here to see more photos and info!

Building Lot for Sale in Forest Ranch

Wonderful building site for your dream home on Woodland Park Drive in scenic Forest Ranch! Located in a gated community (Humboldt Woodlands) on .61 acres, this lot features privace and incredible views.  The subdivision has a pool, and each lot has a storage shed.  HOA owns approximately 160 acres as open space. Partial house plans available (included in price with accepted offer).  Call Laura at 530-864-6632 for more info!

For pricing, photos and more information click on the visual tour link.

Click for VISUAL TOUR

Virtual Staging

Maybe 15 years ago, I attended a workshop by "Staging Guru" Barb Swartz, who coined the term "staging" and has been teaching Realtors how to enhance their listings since 1972.  I wonder what Barb thinks about the new trend of "virtual staging"?  Literally "photoshopping" furnishings into a vacant room is certainly less costly than actually hiring a staging professional.  With more and more (estimated 85%) folks beginning their home search online, it is one option.

I wonder, however, how a buyer feels when walking into a vacant house after seeing those enticing "picture perfect" views online?  Even with full online disclosure ("This is how the home could look"), I can't help but feel it would be a bit of a letdown.  Many of my clients have had professional staging done over the years, and I feel the investment (usually less than $2,000 here in Chico) usually helps to sell (especially a vacant home) more quickly and at a higher price.

You can click here to read a Realtor Magazine article about Virtual Staging,  and click here to see some interesting "before and after" photos by a company called Virtual Staging Solutions.com.

What do you think about this new marketing technique?

New Listing - 1823 Capstone Ct., Chico, CA

GORGEOUS home in a lovely west side Chico neighborhood offered at $550,000! Spacious 4 bdr, 3 bath with formal dining and living rooms, family room with woodstove off kitchen. Beautifully landscaped with covered patio, perfect for entertaining. Master bdr and 2nd bdr at one end, 3rd & 4th bedrooms and bath at the other. All this AND a 3-car garage! Located near Emma Wilson Elementary School and large Oak Way park/playground, with lighted walking paths, covered picnic/BBQ areas, and some of the best outdoor basketball courts in Chico.

With it's many appealing features and great location, this beauty is not to be missed! Click here for the virtual tour, or go to http://www.chicolaura.com/ and click on "Active Listings/Sales" for more photos.

Update: Capstone Ct. is currently in escrow, but we have others!

New Cal Park Listing!

We just listed this beauty in California Park, the lovely "lake" subdivision near Upper Bidwell Park in Chico, CA. Click here to view photos, and here to view a virtual tour. This lovingly-maintained 3 bdr 2 bath home features a separate office, sunny breakfast nook, hardwood floors, sweet covered patio area, and has RV potential. Such a wonderful neighborhood, with a park/playground area just around the corner and lots of walking trails, picnic areas and lakeside amenities. Give me a call at 530-864-6632 to view this honey of a home! 359 Brookside Dr., offered at $309,000 by The ChicoLaura Team.

First-Time Buyer Tax Credit

What's this about a first-time buyer tax credit? (Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a.k.a. the Stimulus Bill.) Well, if you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years, and if you qualify under the income and various other guidelines, you may be eligible for an $8000 tax credit if you purchase a home to use as your primary residence before 12/1/09. Click here to view a simple graph outlining the details (courtesy of Diana Sanford of Stanford Mortgage; thanks, Diana!). How do you know whether you qualify for the tax credit? Click here for a brief article detailing the requirements.

This tax credit, combined with bargain-basement prices and low interest rates, create a true window of opportunity for first-time home buyers. If you know of anyone who may qualify, please pass this blog post along. They will thank you for years to come!

Bell Estates Beauty!

This gracious Mediterranean-style manor is nestled in 5 acres of Hartley walnut and fruit trees in the ever-popular NW Chico. Built in 1995 by Michael Watts, the spectacular 5 bdr, 4.5 bath main house is (per builder's plans) 5271 s.f., including a lower level that has the potential of being converted to separate living quarters. Guests will enjoy privacy and comfort in the detached 1164 s.f. cottage, and the sparkling gunite pool is perfect for entertaining. This beauty is offered at $1,399,000. See photos at the ChicoLaura web site, or Click here to view the Virtual Tour!

New Listing! 34 Via Verona Circle, Chico, CA

Talk about your unique home! This Chuck Priddy-designed home has the feel of a Frank Lloyd Wright beauty, wrapped around an ultra-contemporary inground gunite pool. Located on an extra-large lot at the end of a culdesac in North Chico, it has TOO many features to list here. So you'll just have to check out the VIRTUAL TOUR and the ChicoLaura WEB SITE to view the many photos and get more info. Offered at $412,000, this one is truly special!

No April Foolin'!

Spring is here, and the market is definitely picking up! Today we have 405 active single-family residential listings in our Chico area Multiple Listing Service (down from an all-time high of over 600 last year). There are 107 s-f homes in escrow (pending), and just in the past month 40 s-f homes sold (closed escrow). As CSUC graduation approaches in May, we'll no doubt see more "parent investors" coming to Chico to check out the possibility of purchasing a home or condo for their students' remaining years of school. Depending on condition and location (I always say the students like to be within "spittin' distance" of campus), one may be able to rent the extra bedrooms for $400 - $450 per bedroom per month. (In some of the funky old "porch-couch ready" campus area homes, every nook and cranny has been turned into a "bedroom"!). The ChicoLaura Team is gearing up for a busy spring and summer! (Check out the ChicoLaura web site: www.ChicoLaura.com )

Charm & Character in Chico!

Picture perfect! What an absolute cutie this one is--a pleasure to present. App. 1034 s.f., built in 1986, located in the Hollybrook subdivision just one mile from CSUC and an easy bike ride to downtown. Two spacious bedrooms, two baths. Master bedroom features French doors leading out to a lush and lovely, park-like back yard with mature trees, fountains, and a spa-ready pad. Detached two-car garage plus a super-long driveway for extra parking. Move-in ready and priced to sell at just $259,000! For more photos, visit my web site at www.ChicoLaura.com and click on "Active Listings/Sales." And feel free to contact me to view. Shows like a model home! (Update April 17, 2008: This sweet home is now in escrow after receiving multiple offers!) (Check out the ChicoLaura web site: www.ChicoLaura.com )

111 Zinnia Way - A Great Deal!

111 Zinnia Way, Chico, CA $350,000

This four bedroom, three bath home is in a lovely neighborhood on Chico's popular west side, near Lindo Channel. Extra roomy, with separate living room and family room, dining area off living room. No neighbor directly behind means a sense of privacy. Cozy brick fireplace with woodstove insert and a three-car garage. All this located on a quiet culdesac. Whole lotta house for the price! Check our my web site at http://www.chicolaura.com/ to view more photos.