Shoreline at 40

Did you know Shoreline Regional Park was created out of an auto wrecking yard, a landfill, and a hog farm? We’re all learning more about this local gem for its 40th Anniversary!

CHIC (Pearl)

Whether you feel like playing a round of golf, taking a chill bike ride along the bay, embarking on a quick sailing excursion, or exploring the habitats of native species like owls and butterflies, there’s plenty to do at Shoreline. And with the amphitheatre right next door, a picnic and a show makes for a perfect evening. Maybe we’ll see you on the lawn!

GEEK (Kevin)

As usual, I’m looking ahead to the future, when Shoreline will add neighborhoods with almost 10,000 housing units and all the amenities of a full-fledged city — without sacrificing the natural beauty and open space we’ve all come to enjoy. If you want to learn more, you can join us at the 40th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, October 15th. See the flyer below for more info!

Fall in love with your home

October has arrived, and it’s time to get your home into top shape with a little Winter prep, seasonal decorations, and curb appeal. So grab your pumpkin spice and dive into our Fall checklist!

Tahoe Secondary Market

We recently rolled up to Lake Tahoe for an economic summit with our Compass family and found a hot market where median sales prices are up, inventory is high, and vacation homes are flying off the shelves!

Don’t Assume Too Much

Did you know a buyer can assume the balance on a seller’s home mortgage loan at their current interest rate? Well, if it sounds too good to be true, it might not be. We’re here to sort out the pros and cons.

CHIC (Pearl)

The most obvious benefit to the buyer would be assuming a mortgage with a lower interest rate than what they could expect to get with their credit history. It’s a good concept for the times we live in, when the added costs of buying a home can be overwhelming for many people. The program is limited to loans from the Federal Housing Administration or VA, and the buyer must be ready and willing to throw in a down payment determined by the total cost of the home. You’ll also need an amenable loan servicer, or the whole plan might fall through.

GEEK (Kevin)

Even if a buyer can swing it, they can only assume the current loan balance to get the lower interest rate. If the purchase price ends up higher than the loan balance, the buyer will need to take out a second loan to make up the difference — or come up with the cash. Either way, the numbers don’t add up, especially when we’re talking about deltas of hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s why it’s difficult to impossible to find a loan servicer willing to accept a lower interest rate than they could get from a brand new loan to the buyer.

Catch a buzz!

In honor of National Coffee Day today and International Coffee Day on Sunday, we’ll send you a bag of the Geek’s home-engineered coffee beans when you refer your friends or family to us. Just another way we treat clients like family!

And if you’re one of the two thirds of Americans who drink coffee daily, you’ll probably be hunting for a free cup of java in honor of National Coffee Day. USA Today has the lowdown on where to go, and which countries drink the most coffee around the world.