Wine Lovers Unite!

Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Valley

If there were to be a new core message designed for the County of Sonoma, ‘Wine Lovers Unite!’ might just fit the bill. And even though, grapes, vineyards and everything, from a fine bottle of Cabernet, Chardonnay and Merlot can be found throughout the region; it seems the proverbial gods of vino chose the city of Healdsburg as a playground for wine lovers.

Located in right in the heart of three distinct geographic wine regions (Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley) perfect for appellation, (appellation meaning something akin to geography ideal for vineyards) a short drive in virtually any direction provides stunning vistas, scenic country roads and beautiful structures built for delighting the senses and palates of even the most serious wine connoisseur.

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Get an Inspection to Avoid Buying a Lemon

Olive Hill, KY, June 2, 2010 -- FEMA Mitigatio...

Image via Wikipedia

You have found the home that you think is perfect. You know you are in love with it. You are so ready to close the deal.

But wait!

Before you close the deal you really need to make sure you aren’t picking a lemon. Now it’s time to get a home inspector involved. Back in the day it was not heard of in the home market to have a home inspection. If a person loved the house, like you do, he or she depended on that good feeling and what the real estate agent said. Now the process is different. Most real estate purchase contracts give you the right to order one or more professional inspections before you close.

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Foreclosure—What’s True and What’s Not

Half million dollar house in Salinas, Californ...

Foreclosure

With so many people going into foreclosure in these past few years, a lot of misinformation, fraud, rumors, speculation, conjecture and ignorance have latched onto people like grass burrs. What is true and what is not?

One of the nation’s largest home loan investors, Freddy Mac, initially charged with expanding opportunities for home ownership, is now focusing on the needs of people to become financial stable again. Freddy Mac is also working on myth busting, to help people know the truth. It offers “Top Foreclosure Myths” and the truth behind what is and isn’t true.

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Choosing Not to Get an Inspection

Real Estate = Big Money

Image by thinkpanama via Flickr

Back in the day people didn’t use home inspectors before they purchased their home. Then when they found out all the problems that hadn’t been obvious, they were stuck.

In an article by Marcie Geffner entitled “Goodbye Inspection, Hello Trouble,” dated Jan. 2, 2011 in the Official Site of the National Association of Realtors, Marcie talks about one of the strange things that happens in a hot real estate market, like in San Francisco, considered one of the nation’s hot real estate markets.

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Understanding Closing Costs

Sea Level

Image by Let Ideas Compete via Flickr

Is this the first time you are buying a home of your own? Do you know that the price you agreed to on the house is not all you will have to pay to close? Here are some of the other costs that you need to factor in. Some of these you will be able to choose a vendor and lower the cost. Others are what they are.

The good news is that your lender and real estate agent will be able to give you a “good-faith estimate” of your expected settlement costs so you are not taken by surprise.

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How Do You Get the Home of Your Dreams?

Lot of houses for sale due to mortgage crisis,...

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Drive around in any subdivision and you will see homes on sale.

They may be fixer-uppers or look great on the outside. You are interested, but you aren’t exactly sure what you want. Before you take up a realtor’s time, you and who you will be sharing the space with need to sit down and think about what you would like.

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