Northern California Real Estate & Homes For Sale

A Tour Though Hidden Valley Lake, California

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:11:30 +0000

Here in Hidden Valley Lake, California located about 30 minutes from Napa, California. This small community has a population of 5,579 according to the 2010 census. It’s perfect for retired individuals, or just to get away from the bigger cities. It has a lake as the name implies, along with a beach to enjoy when the sun is out. It even features a pool and fitness center. If boating is your pleasure then there is a dock as well to enjoy the lake.
This is a private community so one can enjoy the location in relative peace and quiet. It has quite the selection of homes all affordable in this market. Close to a shopping center which has a market and hardware store. If you’re looking to invest in this small community or to live in this beautiful area then give me a call.
You are also very close to Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa. This is California’s largest Natural Lake and provides a great place to boat or swim in. So weather you are looking to catch a concert or to spend a day on the lake, Hidden Valley Lake, CA has that available and more.
The weather is pleasant and has very little extremes to deal with throughout the year. It snowed just a little bit this year. The area is also great for hiking and biking or just taking the dogs for a walk. It’s like a community that the concrete jungle forgot. So if you’re looking to retire or find a quite place to raise your children then Hidden Valley Lake, CA can be an ideal location in Northern California.
I decided to create some videos to showcase the area hope you enjoy them. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

2011 Real Estate Market in Tehama County, What will the new Year bring

Genine Johnson — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:40:09 +0000

Everyone is asking the same question. Is the market getting better? Are we at the end of the Foreclosures (REO) properties? Will there be more short sales? Well, unfortunately we may not be at the end. So how do we deal with this market. Lets look and the glass as half full, instead of half empty. With all the REO’s and Short Sales, the prices of the real estate listed for sale in Tehama County are still low, making a great time for investors to buy. First time home buyers are more able to qualify for a loan, giving buyers that have never before been able to purchase their own home the ability to be a home owner. Buyers that are looking, need to decide if they are going to jump on board and get the ball rolling. The market will change and when it does, the buyers that have been sitting on the fence waiting for the prices of real estate in Tehama County to go down further, may lose out on the opportunity. As a Real Estate Agent in Tehama County it has been an adventure over the past year and the new year will continue to be an adventure. My suggestion for everyone out there is to hang on and keep moving forward. Do Not just sit there and wait and talk about how bad the economy is in Tehama county, get in there and make it better!

If you are not sure where to start. Give me a call and I would be happy to help you get started.

For more information about Tehama County Real Estate for Sale, Contact Genine Johnson @ genine.johnson@searchonnorcal.com; 888-832-7179 ext 107 DRE # 01710616

SAVING $$$

jjksaHvkashiak — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:42:27 +0000

EXP Realty
7 Tips for Saving Energy with Home Lighting
Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Charlotte Barnard Published: August 28, 2009
Lighting eats up as much as 20% of your annual electric bill, but using energy-efficient bulbs and making other simple changes can cut lighting costs dramatically.
Lighting is one of the biggest energy gobblers in your house, eating up between 10% and 20% of your total electric bill. But it’s also one area of the home where a minimal effort can yield major returns. Simply replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent can lower operating costs by as much as 75% per bulb. And in places where you can’t-or don’t want to-switch to CFL’s, you can use higher-efficiency incandescents and even make your existing conventional lighting cheaper to operate. When new federal legislation takes effect in 2012, all light bulbs will have to meet tougher energy-efficiency standards. But with a few small changes, you can start saving money right now.
For the greatest savings, switch to compact fluorescent
CFL’s remain the go-to choice for energy efficiency. They last longer and consume less electricity than a standard incandescent. A 13-watt CFL, for example, gives off the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent and burns for 10,000 hours, compared with 1,000 hours for the conventional bulb. A typical CFL saves about $30 in operating costs over its lifetime.
Early CFL’s didn’t always deliver on light quality or convenience, but aesthetic performance has improved vastly in recent years. They now come in warm, neutral, and cool “colors,” and major manufacturers like GE have started enclosing the telltale spiral in a conventional bulb shape so it’s less obtrusive.
You get the biggest bang for your buck with CFL’s in places where you would otherwise use incandescent bulbs: floor and table lamps and standard overhead fixtures. They last longer when they’re not flipped on and off constantly, so they’re especially good in rooms that see a lot of activity throughout the day, such as a kitchen or a playroom. A couple of caveats: CFLs can be glary, so they’re not the best choice in downward-pointing fixtures like chandeliers, and most don’t work with dimmers or timers. Because the bulbs contain mercury, they can’t be thrown out in the regular trash. If you bought them at a home center, you should be able to return them there for recycling, or log on to recycle a bulb.com (http://www.recycleabulb.com) to find a disposal center near you.
Cost and savings: Expect to pay $2 to $15 for a CFL’S, versus 50 cents to $1 for a comparable incandescent, but the CFL’S will last at least 10 times longer and cost up to 75% less to operate.
Make your existing incandescents less expensive to run
By simply lowering the wattage of an incandescent bulb by 15 watts-from 75 to 60, for example-you can knock 15% off the operating cost. And you may not even notice the difference in brightness. “A small reduction in wattage isn’t discernible to the eye,” says Brett Sawyer, a consultant who blogs about sustainable home design. If the light is on a dimmer, for every 10% you lower the brightness, you’ll double the bulb’s life. Try this next weekend, Sawyer says: Replace your most-used bulbs with ones at least 10 watts lower. If you don’t notice the difference, then replace all the incandescents you can with lower-wattage bulbs. Combine that with CFL’s in selected fixtures, and you’ll achieve a “light layering” effect that saves money without compromising light quality, and without a hefty upfront investment.
Cost and savings: For every 15-watt reduction, you reduce energy use by 15%. And a $10 dimmer, once installed, costs nothing to use.
Keep an eye on new bulb technologies
Spurred on by new energy requirements set to go into effect in 2012, bulb manufacturers are working feverishly to come up with more efficient versions of the standard incandescent. Presently, companies including GE, Sylvania, and Philips offer high-efficiency incandescent and halogen bulbs that use less energy than standard incandescents while delivering the same light quality. And research is proceeding apace on how to bring the dramatic energy efficiency of LED technology to residential products. These lights, which require very little current and last even longer than CFLs, are prohibitively expensive for home use (except in certain applications like under-cabinet strip lighting), but that’s likely to change in the coming years.
Think beyond the bulb to save on lighting costs
Changing bulbs is one way to reduce your lighting bill, but it’s not the only way.
Motion sensors: Great in rooms where the occupants can’t be counted on to turn off the light, such as a kids’ playroom. Devices cost $15 to $50 and take about an hour to install.
Door-jamb switches: Best in a pantry or closet; opening the door activates the light. As much a convenience as it is an energy saver-as long as you remember to close the door. Devices starts at about $15.
Windows: You’d be surprised at how much a simple window cleaning can instantly improve natural light.
Energy Star fixtures: Designed for CFL and LED lights, these can save up to $70 a year in energy costs. Go to energy star.gov (http://www.energy star.gov/index.cfm?c=fixtures.pr_light_fixtures) to find links to manufacturers.
Lifestyle expert Charlotte Barnard specializes in home improvement and decorating topics and also consults on consumer and residential trends for magazines, web sites, and retail ventures.

2280 SIENA AVE, REDDING CA.

jjksaHvkashiak — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:54:07 +0000

Beautiful Westside home, Mature landscaping throughout, follow the Tiled entry way’ into the Family room and the beautiful view outside, Listen to the sounds of trickling water from the KOI pond or relax under the coverd patio out back.
2208 Siena ave REDDING, CA.
Cross Street DARTMOUTH County SHASTA
Property Description
Type Single Family Property Type RESIDENTIAL

List Price    319,000
Lot Dim or Acres   LOT   Acres Range   Less 1/4 Acres
Year Built   1991
Approx. SqFt.    2,108    Total Bedrooms   4
Total Bathrooms   2

CONTACT JACK JIMENEZ @ 888.556.2208

PLUMBING TIPS

jjksaHvkashiak — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:13:53 +0000

EXP REALTY PRESENTS
Understanding Your Septic System
Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Jeanne Huber Published: April 19, 2010
Learn about your septic system so you can prolong its life and avoid costly breakdowns.
If you’re installing a septic system-or living with one-it pays to learn the basics of how it works. This will help you take simple steps to prolong its life (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/caring-your-septic-system/), understand what you should do if something goes wrong (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/should-you-repair-or-replace-your-septic-system/), and evaluate your options if you ever need to expand your system because of a home improvement project.
These one-house-at-a-time sewage treatment systems-used by one in five U.S. households and nearly half of all houses in the South-clean up waste water just as well as city municipal systems. Septic systems are just better options for sparsely populated rural and spread-out suburban areas, where running sewer lines would be cost-prohibitive.
The typical life expectancy of a septic system is 25 to 30 years.
How septic systems work
All septic systems consist of two main parts: a tank where solids settle to the bottom and a drainfield (also known as a leachfield) where the water disperses. Specifics about the type of system you have should be included in papers you received when you bought your house.  If time has blurred the details, dig out those papers and read up. Your local health department or state environmental agency might also have backup records. If that fails, a plumber can help figure out what you have.
Standard system
In a conventional septic system, gravity carries wastewater from the house into the septic tank and then to the drain field. The septic tank is an underground box usually made of concrete, polyethylene, or fiberglass. Water pools there long enough for ingredients to separate.  The greases and oils that rise to the top as scum and the solids that sink to the bottom as sludge both get removed by a septic pumping company every few years and carted to an approved disposal site.  The relatively clear water in the middle flows out to the drain field. This area, which must be kept free of trees and shrubs so their roots don’t damage it, consists of perforated pipes or drain tiles buried in trenches or set on a gravel bed one to three feet below the surface. As water trickles out of the pipes, the soil and its microbes act as natural filters to clean the water.  Installing a standard system costs $5,000 to $10,000, depending on where you live. But it’s not an option for every lot.
A three-bedroom house requires 1,000 to 1,800 square feet or more of open land that’s level with-or downhill from-the house to qualify for a standard-system permit from the local public health department (or possibly state environmental agency, depending on how your locale handles such matters). And that’s only if there’s plenty of well-draining soil above the water table.
Alternative systems
Where the soil type, the property size, or proximity to a wetland prohibits a standard system, you’ll need an alternative system, which is one with an enhanced septic tank, drainfield, or both. These cost more to install than basic systems, but the prices vary widely, depending on your site, your local environmental codes, and what technology you need.
Here are some of the most common types.
1. Treatment alternatives
The following alternative systems help to purify the water more before it gets to the drainfield. That way, you can get by with a smaller drainfield-one in soil that doesn’t drain well-or a site that’s close to a lake or stream and therefore must meet stricter environmental standards.  An aerobic unit (about $6,000) mixes air into the wastewater, which allows oxygen-loving bacteria to flourish. They break down solids much more quickly than the anaerobic bacteria in standard septic tanks, so cleaner water goes into the drainfield.  Some units also disinfect the fluid with chlorine or ultraviolet light, an advantage if you live near water, where you may face tighter environmental standards on what your system releases. An aerobic unit can serve as a substitute for a septic tank-or work in concert with one.  A sand filter ($5,000 to $13,000) works in conjunction with your tank or aerobic treatment unit. The filter consists of a large buried or above-ground box filled with sand. A pump tank releases the partially clarified water to the top of the sand in measured doses. Water then trickles through the sand before going out into the drainfield.  A bottomless sand filter takes things a step farther: It doubles as a drainfield alternative by allowing the fluids to pass into the ground underneath.
2. Drainfield alternatives
The other main category of alternative treatment systems-which also can be used in conjunction with or instead of standard equipment, depending on your situation-focuses on the drainfield end of the process. These systems help water disperse safely even where soil conditions aren’t great or where there isn’t enough open space for a standard drainfield.  A mound system ($9,000 or more) is a pile of trucked-in sand and gravel with a drainfield buried inside. It’s used where the soil is thin or has too much clay, or where the water table is too high. Disguising a mound is a major landscaping challenge, especially since you can’t use trees or shrubs, which might have invasive roots.  Drip irrigation ($2,500 to $15,000) is a shallow drainfield where water trickles out over a wide area in measured doses from a pump chamber. Installers can snake the flexible piping around trees and shrubs, which makes it easier to fit the drainfield into an established landscape.
Because the piping is just 6 to 8 inches belowground, though, you might need to purify the water first, perhaps with an aerobic unit. You’ll also need a filter and regular maintenance to keep the system from clogging.  Jeanne Huber is a freelance writer who specializes in home improvement topics. When her 50-year-old septic system failed last year, she installed a mound system instead of a conventional drainfield.

Just Listed!!!

Cher Jewett — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:01:09 +0000

Just Listed: Lake Shastina Golf Access Lot!!!

At just under a third of an acre, this level, highly buildable lot features Championship Golf Access and Spectacular Views of Majestic Mt. Shasta….

Located on the corner of Tony Lema Drive and Middlecoff Court in beautiful Lake Shastina…

Priced to sell at $45,000

Real Estate Adventures in Tehama County

Genine Johnson — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:50:38 +0000

Working in the Real Estate Industry in Tehama County can prove to be very interesting at the least!. We all deal with today’s real estate market, being full of REO properties ie, Bank Owned properties and listings from out of the area agent that are working with the REO companies. In saying that, let me take you thru an adventure that I recently went on while previewing properties for an out of town client. When I preview properties I always take someone along as a buddy, since being a woman in Real Estate, it is never smart to go alone to vacant properties. So off we went to preview a property. This property was a property with acreage and there were several outbuildings on the property. We arrived at the property, which was a listing that is an out of the area agent. Searching for the location of the lock box discovered that it was hanging on a door located at the back of the house. I was approaching the lock box when my friend went to another door on the back of the house, she yelled at me and said “this door is opened!”. I grumbled about the fact that some agents do not make sure that doors are locked after showings. We entered the home looked around as usual and then proceeded outside to see the other buildings. I was trailing behind my friend, as we ventured back to the barn behind the house, when she opened the barn doors was surprised to find that there was a vehicle parked in the barn. She was a little startled, since the property was vacant and you do not expect to find anything. We concluded that maybe the previous owners abandoned the vehicle and went about previewing the property. We went back inside the house to close things up and discovered that the door that was left opened had been “kicked in”. I immediately called the agent and informed her about the door and the inability to lock it up due to the damage from the vandals. After leaving the property and talking to the client about the property features, we began to wonder about the vehicle. My client wanted me to return to the property and take pictures of the outbuildings, so off we went again the next day to take the pictures. We entered the barn again to take more pictures of the building and discovered that the vehicle had been damaged, windows broken, hood off, parts missing. Becoming more and more suspicious about this vehicle, I decided to try to take a picture of the VIN number. When we went around front and were looking at the VIN number we noticed that there were stickers on the windshield. Saying to each other “oh, my gosh, this is a stolen vehicle. We quickly finished up and left the property. Of course our next visit was to the local police station to report what we found. I have a friend that works and the police station, I was recalling the details of our adventure, when she said, I think that we need to rename you guys “starsky and hutch”, my friend replied no those were guys and we are girls, so said how about “Cagney and Lacy”, we laughed and said that is too funny!!!!! We then followed the officers back out to the property and had been told that it was in fact a stolen vehicle. Was stolen about 3 weeks prior from a local used car lot. So we were hero’s that day and did our good Samaritan duty, cudo’s to “Cagney and Lacy” .

In all seriousness, this is what this story really brings to the table. As REALTORS in Tehama County and other counties around. We need to be aware of the crimes that are taking place everyday and always be aware of our surroundings. If you normally work alone, bring a buddy along with you. When we were talking to the officers about the incident and giving him the details about our buddy system, he brought to our attention this. Someone COULD have been in the barn when we discovered the vehicle, so when we discovered that the door to the house had been kicked in, we should not have entered and should have immediately called the police department. They would have come out and investigated. The officer, whom I know then said, I quote “We would rather come out and discover that everything is clear, than get a call that you have been harmed”. He said that if they (the suspects) would have been there, they would not have cared about us, more about their not getting put in jail. He said that things could have been much worse, so he made us promise to always call when we see anything suspicious. So, again, always remember to think about safety first.

As the economy gets worse, crime will go up. We know that there will be a lot more foreclosures hit the market, so always be aware!

For more information about Tehama County Real Estate for Sale, Contact Genine Johnson @ genine.johnson@searchonnorcal.com; 888-832-7179 ext 107 DRE # 01710616

Interest Rates, Lowest we have seen.

Linda Disiere — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:08:51 +0000

Interest rates on mortgages are at their lowest levels in nearly 50 years. Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages averaged 4.58 percent this week nationwide and 4.52 percent in the West, down from 4.69 percent nationwide the previous week, according to Freddie Mac. Last year at this time, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.32 percent. It is important to note that rates differ from lender to lender, day to day, and borrower to borrower.

Extension of Home Buyers Tax Credit

Linda Disiere — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:02:41 +0000

Home buyer credit extension heads to Obama

Congress passed a bill this week extending the deadline to close escrow and qualify for the federal home buyers tax credit. President Obama is expected to sign the bill extending the deadline to Sept. 30, 2010, instead of its original June 30 deadline.

KEEP THIS IN MIND

• The bill extends the deadline to close escrow for home buyers who entered into a home purchase contract by the April 30 deadline. First-time buyers may be eligible to receive up to $8,000 and qualified existing homeowners may receive up to $6,500 if the home buyer closes escrow by Sept. 30. Read More Home Buyers Credit

A Beautiful Downtown office with 10,000 sqft parking area

jjksaHvkashiak — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:10:25 +0000

PRIME DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL CORNER LOT IN THE DOWNTOWN RENOVATION AREA, FULLY LANDSCAPED, LARGE LIGHTED PARKING AREA AND 500SQFT BUILDING.LARGE LIGHTED PARKING AREA AND 500SQFT BUILDING.CURRENTLY LICENSED AS A RETAIL AUTOMOTIVE USE.

Northern California Real Estate & Homes For Sale

A Tour Though Hidden Valley Lake, California

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2011 Real Estate Market in Tehama County, What will the new Year bring

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SAVING $$$

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2280 SIENA AVE, REDDING CA.

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PLUMBING TIPS

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Just Listed!!!

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Real Estate Adventures in Tehama County

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Interest Rates, Lowest we have seen.

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Extension of Home Buyers Tax Credit

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A Beautiful Downtown office with 10,000 sqft parking area

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