Archive for the 'Rohnert Park' Category
Get Your Docs In A Row
November 11th, 2009 categories: Buyer Resource, Cotati, Fountaingrove, Mortgage Rates, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa
You have decided to start a Real Estate search for the Sonoma County Home of your dreams. You have not decided on a particular location, and you are considering the family atmostphere and numerous parks of Rohnert Park, the walkable and active downtown of Petaluma, the quaint small town feel of Cotati and the gorgeous views of Fountaingrove in Santa Rosa. There are some many great places to choose from in Sonoma County that it can be a little overwhelming. So what should you do in the meantime? You should Get Your Docs In A Row so your mortgage broker / lender can help you decide your price range, based on your budget, down payment amount, potential interest rates, etc.
Get Your Docs In A Row? What does that mean? Don’t you mean get my DUCKS in a row? I do not even have a pond, so how is that possible? Get your DOCS in a row silly…have all of your financial documents ready to share with your mortgage broker.
Getting Your Docs In A Row reminds me a little of Jerry Maguire. Remember when Jerry is telling Row Tidwell to lose the chip on his shoulder and be more a team player…pleading with him..”Help Me Help You…Help Me Help You!” Well even if you do not remember, it all comes down to helping your mortgage broker or lender help you. Once they have all of your necessary paperwork, they can tell you how much you qualify for, what rate you qualify for, and this information coupled with your income, down payment, credit score, anticipated closing costs, etc. will tell you how much you can spend on your new home.
The items your mortgage broker / lender will likely need are as follows:
- Pay Stubs – w-2’s, 1099’s, anything that proves your income
- Tax Returns – Your LAST 2 YEARS of tax returns
- Any Other Loan Or Credit Line Information – lender information, loan numbers, balances, monthly amounts owed, interest rates, payoff information)
- Bank Account Statements – The most recent statements showing available funds (this will prove your ability to make a down payment and pay for closing costs)
So if you have recently started your Sonoma County Home Search, or are already looking and have not yet spoken to a Mortgage Broker / Lender…what is your next order of Business? Get Your Docs In A Row and speak to a lending professional to find out how they can help you. The lending professional will help you find out what price range you should focus on, and help you figure out when is the best time to lock in a mortgage rate.
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SMART Train | Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit
November 2nd, 2009 categories: Cotati, Green, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park
Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit – The SMART Train, as it has come to be known has had a long and winding history. Since 101 (AKA Redwood Highway, and AKA “The 101″ for those who have ever lived in Southern California) is the major north and south thoroughfare from San Francisco to Sonoma County and beyond.
The SMART Train initiative was legally set in motion on January 1, 2003 when California State Assembly Bill 2224, gave a new regional transportation district (rail district) the ownership of 70 miles of railroad Right Of Way (ROW), which is estimated to be worth $1 billion.
OK, so now that we know a few of the facts about how it came to be, what actually is the SMART Train? The SMART Train, is a proposed Rail Line that will run from Larskpur to Cloverdale, about 70 miles. The line will feature 14 stops, allow for north and south travel (via “passing sidings” a small section of track where 2 sets of tracks run side by side, to allow one train to pass another), and also feature an adjacent paved bicycle path, AKA a Greenway. This Greenway will likely see 7,000 – 10,000 bikers, joggers, and walkers daily, and will be a recreational centerpiece of Marin and Sonoma County.
The SMART Train is the backbone of a North Bay transportation system that is a vision at this point. Eventually, it is planned to be a part of a system that incorporates, bikes, trolleys, buses, shuttles, ride share parking lots, and commuter parking lots. SMART Train riders will be able to bring bicycles on the train, and the train will be equipped with wireless Internet, coffee and snack bars, and state of the art design.
To learn even more about the SMART Train, I called their main office, and was referred to their community outreach manager. I asked several questions, and we covered a lot of facts I could not find anywhere else. The average fare is expected to be $4.50 (each direction), which seems pretty low cost to me. The total time from Cloverdale to Larkspur is expected to be 90 minutes (70 miles), with stops, which implies an average speed of 46.67 MPH. There will be a total of 14 trains that run north per day and 14 trains that run south. The times these trains will run are not yet determined, but I am told it will be during morning and evening commute hours, and also at least 1 train will run during mid day in each direction. The trains themselves have yet to be chosen, so the numbers of anticipated riders is not yet known.
So where will the SMART Train have stops and stations? The SMART Train will have stops and stations in the following cities: (From South to North): Marin County: Larskspur, Downtown San Rafael, Marin Civic Center, Novato South, Novato North, Sonoma County: Downtown Petaluma, Corona Road, Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa Railroad Square, Jennings Avenue, Windsor, Healdsburg, and Cloverdale.
The SMART Train project is expected to cost about $540 Million. The majority of the funding will come from Sonoma County and Marin County residents through a 1/4 percent sales tax increase that was approved by voters in the November 2008 election. The tax increase was approved in a measure known as Measure Q. The tax is planned to be a 20 year tax, and started in April 2009, sunsetting in March of 2029…wow, that seems so far in the future.
So when will the SMART Train be here? A project of this magnitude does not just happen overnight, and the SMART Train project is no exception. Actual construction and earth movement will begin in 2011, with the inaugural train ride set for sometime in 2014.
We have heard so many things about the SMART Train over the past few years, long enough for us to form opinions of the project. We think that the SMART Train will only benefit Marin County and Sonoma County homeowners. With a modest 1/4 percent tax increase, there will be a mass transit option from Cloverdale to Larkspur. From Larkspur, you can ride the Golden Gate Ferry into San Francisco. Not only is the a Green alternative to driving a car, but the SMART Train will allow for more Sonoma County residents to earn the higher salaries in San Francisco, with a reliable transportation alternative. This extra income will help Sonoma County Businesses, as the extra income will likely be spent here.
Last and certainly not least, the SMART Train is also more environmentally friendly than any other alternative. The SMART Train is more GREEN, per passenger, than the passenger cars that flow along 101, is more GREEN and cost effective than buses that travel that 101, and will be equipped with clean diesel technology that will provide an extremely clean mass transit option.
If you have any questions regarding the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART Train), please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to find out.
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Decisions Decisions Decisions
October 22nd, 2009 categories: Personal Notes, Petaluma, Rohnert Park
I am travelling later today and I have been thinking this morning; thinking about decisions. I am not second guessing any past decisions, but looking forward to new decisions that are likely to need some thorough analysis. How will X impact Y and how will Y impact Z? Definitely a lot of thinking to do…good thing the hamster in the wheel in my head likes to run and run fast.
With all of my thoughts, I could not help but think of some of our most recent clients. Decisions they have been faced with, decisions they have made, decisions they will be faced with, and predicting what they will decide.
Sometimes things seem so clear to me…I suppose that type of thing comes with experience. I have been faced with virtually every Real Estate decision over the past 5+ years. I have seen the hottest markets in the country, and also some of the worst. We realize that many of our clients have never been faced with some decisions and need some help and guidance when making decisions. We will always be there for our clients to help with the most basic and most complex decisions. We really do like to help our clients make the best decisions for them, and help them look at the big picture and how each decision factors in.
We receive all sorts of questions from buyers; from the usual “Where should we buy?”, and “Should we buy a house or a condo?” to the complex, “How would this property work with a 1031 Exchange?”
Some questions we get really have no single answer. We often get questions about comparing one area to another, such as “Which city is better…Rohnert Park, or Petaluma?” We will help people compare the two locations…the relative affordability of Rohnert Park, versus the lively Petaluma Downtown. Both cities have great schools, great neighbors, and great housing options. Petaluma surely has more character with all of the Petaluma Victorians, and waterfront district, while Rohnert Park has more parks for recreation. This is an example, and there are certainly more pros and cons of each city, and in the end, it really comes down to who is asking, their situations, financially, employment-wise, and how they want to live.
Whatever the decisions our clients are faced with, we will help them through whatever Real Estate decisions they need help with.
Feel free to contact us if you have any Sonoma County Real Estate questions or questions about Sonoma County in general. We will talk with you soon.
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Sonoma County Foreclosure Lists FOR FREE
October 20th, 2009 categories: Buyer Resource, Cotati, Foreclosures, Fountaingrove, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Short Sales, Sonoma
“FREE Sonoma County Foreclosure Lists? Are you kidding me?” That is a typical response we receive when people ask us the best way to find new Sonoma County Foreclosures and Short Sales and we tell them we offer that service for free. Even after we explain to them that we can provide lists of ALL currently listed Foreclosures and Short Sales, many of our clients are amazed.
FREE Sonoma County Foreclosure Lists are a great asset for all buyers, included the investment monded buyer. Many of our clients had paid for this same exact service from other sources, and realize how much money they would have saved just by talking to us. Even better is the fact that we can customize your list to show you exactly what you want to see, not every single foreclosure or short sale…if you want to see all of the properties…great, we can provide that, or we can save you time with a customized list.
Many people look at foreclosures as the best way to buy the best priced Sonoma County Real Estate. We like to think a great Real Estate agent on your side is also essential.
We Offer Free Lists Of:
- Bank Owned Homes
- Bank Owned Luxury Homes
- Bank Owned Condos
- Bank Owned Townhomes
- Bank Owned Investment Properties
- Bank Owned Commercial Properties
- Bank Owned Land
We offer free foreclosure and short sale lists for Sonoma County, Napa County, Marin County, Solano County, and Lake County as well. If you need these lists beyond those areas, be sure to ask for a list of our contacts in other areas…we have a trusted network of Real Estate professionals in many areas.
Foreclosures and short sales are not just limited to low priced properties. There are many foreclosures in all price ranges, from properties under $100,000 to well over $1 million dollars, and include areas such as Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Fountaingrove, Petaluma, Cotati, Penngrove, Sonoma, etc. Contact us via this website (contact info at top right of this page) or at WineCountryMoves.com to sign up.
So once you have the free list of Sonoma County Foreclosures and Short Sales, what do you do when you have found a house? Call us to set up a showing of the home and discuss details of writing any offers. We have years of experience helping people buy and sell foreclosures and short sales and we can help you navigate the process with ease. We will give you an objective view of the market, keep you up to date all all relevant items, and advise you of offers that will give you the best chance at saving money and getting the home of your dreams.
Visit Foreclosure Buying Tips to learn more about buying foreclosures. Should you have any questions regarding Sonoma County Foreclosures or Sonoma County Short Sales feel free to contact us; we look forward to hearing from you and helping you save money.
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WANTED: Sonoma County Real Estate Listings
October 12th, 2009 categories: Buyer Resource, Fountaingrove, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Seller Resource
I know what you are all thinking…this is a request for sellers to list their homes with us. While we would like to talk to those who need our help, this is a just a short rant on what our buyers are thinking.
There are many buyers, and so few homes on the market, it makes things tough for those who want to purchase a home. There are many reasons to buy RIGHT NOW…the $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit (disappears on December 1st), extremely low Sonoma County Mortgage Rates, and the fact that a mortgage payment right now is less than rent on a similar property in many cases.
All of Sonoma County is experiencing a shortage of homes for sale. From entry level homes in Santa Rosa, to mid range priced homes in Rohnert Park, to Petaluma, the new affordable San Francisco escape, and even to the high end Fountaingrove and Mayacama Country Club, supply is nowhere to be found. Well priced homes are selling in days, no longer months.
We have the buyers, the buyers have the motivation, and now all we need is the supply of homes.
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Rohnert Park’s Best Burgers…In N Out Burger
August 6th, 2009 categories: Restaurants, Rohnert Park
Where can you find Rohnert Park’s BEST burgers? In our opinion….In-N-Out Burger. Some might even say these are the best burgers in all of Sonoma County, and even all of California…just ask The Big Lebowski and his friend Theodore Donald Kerabatsos…tell me you remember the scene when they are going to see Larry Sellers and Donny keeps saying they are going to stop by In N Out…anyway…
No matter what time of day you want to eat, In N Out is probably open. If you eat an early lunch, they are open at 10:30 AM. If you are a night owl, they are open until 1:00 AM Sunday through Thursday and they are open until 1:30 AM on Friday and Saturday.
What is the best thing to get at In N Out? The Double Double of course. Yes it is called a Double Double, not just a Double…got that! 2 beef paties, 2 slices of cheese, and amazing taste. I also get fries and a vanilla milkshake…but I am a pretty simple guy. The fries are made in 100% vegetable oil, and the shakes are made from real ice cream and real milk. The milkshakes are a little small for me, but this isn’t a best milkshake article.
We know that there are people who are fans of Jack In The Box, White Castle (Back East), and even Fatburger (SoCal), however we think that In N Out will soon be your favorite if it is not already. After all…In-N-Out is Quality You Can Taste!
Another indication…I have never seen anyone wearing a Jack In The Box T Shirt, and I see In-N-Out T Shirts all the time.
In N Out Rohnert Park is located at: (easily visible from U.S. 101)
5145 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
In N Out in Rohnert Park is Open Late. Their hours are:
Sunday to Thursday 10:30 A.M.-1:00 A.M.
Friday and Saturday 10:30 A.M.-1:30 A.M.
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Rohnert Park Home Causes Local Frenzy
August 4th, 2009 categories: Buyer Resource, Rohnert Park, Seller Resource
Rohnert Park Real Estate is really hot lately. There is little inventory due to the fact that there has been a frenzy of offers lately, taking nearly everything off the market.
One Rohnert Park Home in particular caused a local frenzy. This L Section home was listed for $229,900 and so many offers were received that it was amazing…41 offers in all. WOW! Needless to say this home will sell for way above asking price…but since it has yet to close, we do not yet know the price.
I have actually heard people say that this one sale means that the market has receovered. While I think it is extremely positive news, I do not think you can point to a Real Estate recovery simply on one instance. This is related to the “Cases versus Base Rate” fallacy. In many instances, people look to a specific case to prove their point…no matter what amount of statistical data is opposite their viewpoint. Case in point…people who smoke and think nothing bad will happen to them.
So…does this transaction point to a Real Estate recovery? Maybe it is another sign of one…but it depends on what we are talking about. Are we talking about Real Estate, or Residential Real Estate, Sonoma County Real Estate, Rohnert Park Homes, or L section homes below $250,000?
We do think that this type of market activity is great. It points to positive signs for market stabilization here in Rohnert Park. There are many things we are looking at….low home mortgage rates, all time high home affordability, and extremely low home prices relative to the recent past. We are seeing low supply and high demand, which is currently driving the market.
Stay tuned for more Sonoma County Real Estate market updates.
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Rohnert Park Movie Theater…Cheap Fun!
July 21st, 2009 categories: Entertainment, Rohnert Park
I was driving by the Rohnert Park movie theater today and surprised at how busy it was. The parking lot was packed. I am not sure if it is the fact that school is out, Bruno is in theaters, or if we are in full fledged Harry Potter mania? I saw reports of people dressing up in their favorite Harry Potter character costume and going to the theater…sounds uncomfortable to me.
For less than $10 you can sit in an extremely comfortable environment, and be entertained for a couple of hours and have access to popcorn, snacks and sodas (extra charge of course)…I even find the coming attractions interesting…maybe that says too much about me though. If you are cheap…ummm I mean frugal….who are we kidding…cheap like me, then you will simply eat before you go to the theater…why not save a few bucks?
The Rohnert Park Theater is one of the largest in Sonoma County with 16 screens and stadium seating. It is located right across from The Juice Shack and the address is: 555 Rohnert Park Expressway West, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. They can be reached by phone at 707.586.0555.
It was the middle of the day, and I was working, so I did not stop in…but I am sure I will see a movie in the near future.
We will see you…At The Movies!
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Rohnert Park Sign – The Friendly City
July 19th, 2009 categories: Pics, Rohnert Park
The Rohnert Park sign that is visible from 101 (Redwood Highway) is clear in its statement that Rohnert Park is “The Friendly City.” This is evident in the people that live in Rohnert Park…for the most part all great people.
The question I have is why is the Rohnert Park city sign in such bad shape?
Even when I drive by the Rohnert Park sign on Commerce, I can tell it is in bad shape. The other day we were taking a walk along the sidewalk along Commerce, and when we got up close to the sign itself, it was in much worse shape than I ever noticed. There are dents in the main column that hides the support beams, some holes in the sign itself, and the paint is circa 1980 I am guessing. The colors of the sign are also not welcoming, a brown and yellow combination that make me think of shag carpet while Disco Inferno keeps resonating in my head. This is not the welcome that the Rohnert Park City Council wants to give outsiders is it?
I am not that politically active, however the President Obama’s call for volunteerism was great, and I hope people take to it. I thought I might volunteer to paint this sign, so I made a call to the City of Rohnert Park. I am not sure I spoke to the correct person, but I offered my less than expert services, and was told no for various reasons…liability, lack of painting as a proven skillset (even though I have some moderate experience here), and liability again.
When I was told that my volunteer services would not be needed, I was not so much disappointed as I was surprised. Who turns down free help? Apparently the City of Rohnert Park does…at least in this instance.
Anyway…each time I drive by this sign I am shocked at how the condition of the sign seems to get worse and worse by the day. It is overgrown and in such bad condition, I am surprised there is not a city crew that could spend a couple of hours bringing it back to life. I would like to think the nameplate of a city such as Rohnert Park would stand for something and should be kept in good working condition.
Just my thoughts…I hope I am not alone in this.
Wake Up Rohnert Park City Council…if you are not going to pay to have work done, then have enough foresight NOT to turn down volunteer labor!
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Kyoto Fine Japanese Cuisine – Rohnert Park’s Best Sushi
July 16th, 2009 categories: Restaurants, Rohnert Park
I had the pleasure of having lunch yesterday at Kyoto here in Rohnert Park. I have previously written about how great Kyoto is, and some readers have taken it to heart. It seems like each time I am in there, the owner tells me that she has some new regular customers thanks to my writing an article about them…GREAT! Great that people have found a new place to eat some good sushi, and great that people actually give our musings some credit.
It seems like each time someone talks about a restaurant, they say it is the best restaurant they have eaten at…then later another article is published with the same general message about a different restaurant. How can this be? Every restaurant cannot be the best! I give these articles little credence, and treat this as mere barbershop talk.
I like to think we offer an unbiased opinion…at least that is one of our goals here, whether discussing Real Estate, things to do, or even local restaurants.
Kyoto is the best sushi we have had in Rohnert Park, and we have been customers for quite a while. We have tried other sushi places which are also good, Boathouse Sushi, Hana, Ta-Ke Sushi, and even Honey Cuisine, the Korean BBQ place over by SSU, in the Starbucks shopping center…all are definitely good and worth a try, but Kyoto is still at the top of our list.
One thing we love about Kyoto is the fact that they will make almost anything we ask for to order. Just ask them for the MGM roll, named for one of their local regulars customers, and they will make you one. Or, you can just tell them what you want and they will certainly roll whatever you like. Also, everything always looks and tastes fresh…I think this is ultra important when eating sushi.
Kyoto is located near the corner of Expressway and Commerce (address below). Next time you are in the mood for sushi, we highly suggest Kyoto Rohnert Park.
If you know of a better sushi place in Rohnert Park…please let me know. Actually, let us know if you know of a better sushi place in all of Sonoma County! Kyoto has been a long time favorite of ours, and we are sure it will be a favorite of yours as well.
Kyoto of Rohnert Park is located in the Padre Town Center at:
5 Padre Parkway
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Kyoto Sushi can be reached by phone at 707.584.4204
If you try Kyoto, let us know what you think. If you do, you will know why we say that Kyoto offers the best sushi in Rohnert Park.
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