Redding Ca Real Estate : October 2007

Conservation Easements...many of us have heard of them but quite know what they are or are all about. A conservation Easement can be explained most easily in this way-A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on a piece of property now and in the future, while protecting the property’s ecological or open-space values. (Source-Nature.org)

These are voluntary by the owner(s) and can last for an indefinite number of years.

 http://www.nature.org/aboutus/howwework/conservationmethods/privatelands/conservationeasements/about/art14925.html

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Along a different line see how much CO2 you produce in your household!!! 

Take the test and see how you do?

Your Results (calculated for me onlymy entire household)

Emissions Comparison Tons of CO₂ eq/year

33

Your Estimated Emissions (2 person household)

53

United States Average per Person(2 person household)

11

World Average per Person(2 person household)

Your estimated greenhouse gas emissions are 33 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent per year, which is below the national average in the US.

Don't worry, there's a lot you can do to reduce your climate impact.

Hello, there are so many options out there right now to build a super energy efficient home! I am excited to share this new information and help you to help the environment. A (ZEH) Zero Energy Home will yield many benefits to it's owners not only will it save you money on your monthly electric bill it will help you when it come to to sell in the future. What do you think the buyers out there will prefer a home that has a net bill at the end of the month of ZERO or a home that has a $250.00 utility bill?? It's a no brainer for most so here is a link that will help you with more info on what ZEH homes have to offer you now and into the future!

Regards,

Rick

http://www.inforedding.com

Xeriscape landscapes are defined as "quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment." There are seven principles associated with Xeriscape landscapes:

1) Planning and Design
2) Soil Improvement
3) Appropriate Plant Selection
4) Practical Turf Areas
5) Efficient Irrigation
6) Use of Mulches
7) Appropriate Maintenance

We live in an area that gets pretty hot in the summer with temperatures sometimes reaching well over 100 degrees. Choosing to use a quality landscape design will benefit you and your water bill not to mention the plants and environment!

There may be some resistance to resale with a total Xeriscaped front lawn as many people in this area are not overly familiar with this new landscaping type. I have seen some recent example of this in subdivisions such as Fairway Estate here in Redding.

Combining the power of Xeriscape with highly efficient landscape design and watering systems will benefit all homeowners that are concerned about the environment and saving money in the long run! 

http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/Xeriscape.html

Regards,

Rick 

We have all heard about Solar power and alternative energy etc but how many have heard much about the benefits of Passive Solar to heat their homes? Passive Solar if done correctly has been show to save a home owner up to 40% on their heating bills! 

There are 5 main points to an effective Passive Solar design:

1.The aperture or Collector.

2. The absorber.

3.The Thermal Mass.

4.Distribution.

5.Control. 

To find out more about the many benefits of using Passive Solar in your home check out this link to learn how you can benefit!

Regards,

Rick 

P.S. Look out for your next tip on how to save money AND be aware of the environment at the same time! 

For all the people out there that may be having to do a short sale on their homes there is a new bill out there that will really benefit many people if it is passed. It is called HR3648 and it basically makes the difference between what you sell for and what is owed and makes that amount NON taxable. Currently your lender can issue you a 1099 at the end of the year and you will have a huge tax bite potentially!

Here is the link to this bill if you want to review it and see what it says yourselves.

Of course this bill has some catches etc but it will really help out if they get it through! 

EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
 this section shall apply to discharges of indebtedness on
 or after January 1, 2007.

It appears that it will include only those discharges done after Jan 1st 07. 

Regards,

Rick 

Greeting all, the active available homes on the market today has dropped below the 2000 mark. This is the first time it has been below 2000 in quite some time. What does mean? Many Sellers that have expired listings or that have been on the market for 6+ months and didn't sell are letting there homes sit and cool off. As we head toward the holiday season Seller's traditionally don't want to have their homes on the market and have to deal with the stress of keeping the home clean and all the presents around the tree etc.

Many Seller's then put their homes back on the market in the early spring and get ready to go for one of the best selling seasons-Spring time!

What does this mean to you? Well if you are wanting to sell its a great time to be on the market when all the others are pulling their homes off because there is less competition out there. 

If you are wanting to buy it is one of the best time in the last 15 years as it is still a Buyer's market!

One thing is for sure during the holiday season-those that have their homes on the market still, REALLY want to sell and are not just testing the water as it does add to the stress of the whole thing to be showing your home during the holidays.

Want to see what is available and active right now in Shasta County? Just click here and start searching now for free...See all the active available homes in the area right now! 

Have you ever sat in a room and had 20 people sitting around and tell one person a sentence and have them repeat it back to each person on their left all the way around the room and then at the end what was told is NOTHING close to what was said originally to the first person? This is similar to the half truths and mis information about ICF's.

If you want the facts about this exciting alternative to building here is a great link that you do some homework on.

Better informed = better decisions and a better home!! 

There are so many choices out there today to build with that it amazes me! I will share with you what I come across each time I find a new one.

Regards,

Rick Goates 

ICF HOMES

Many people are not familiar with the options out there to build with today. Concrete formed homes (ICF) are an excellent option for many people that want to build a green home. These are especially great in fire prone area's all over our area and other areas here in California.A concrete home will not burn!! They are wind resistant and are great for insulation factors. Many benefits to these types of homes regardless where you live.

With the recent fire that have happened in Southern California many people might be looking for a good alternative to the conventional build home.

Here is a link to get more information on building a home that has concrete walls etc.

Remember- There are no CFCs, HCFCs, or formaldehydes, and also no wood to rot and mold with a concrete home!

Regards,

Rick Goates 

Are you an investor looking for bulk purchases of non performing assets? We have small to large pools available direct from Wall Street's largest companies. This is a direct connection to non performing assets that are being sold off in bulk in lots starting at $20 Million.If you are interested in any of these opportunities we will need the following info from you to get started-

Signed NCND agreement

Letter of Intent on Company letterhead

Master fee agreement signed

Proof of funds-Letter on Corporate letterhead from Tax Attorney/CPA.

Brokers or agents will be paid IF you are one deep and only if you have the buyer and they are YOUR client!

No Daisy Chains!! If you don't have the buyer/investor please don't respond.

There are tremendous opportunities available right now for purchasing these assets for less than .40 cents on the dollar!

Bulk purchases only and to qualified individuals/companies only please.

WE have the inventory if you have or are the buyer!!

Regards,

Rick Goates

530-248-5627 

We have all heard about credit card scams but this one is PRETTY TRICKY! Read it and be aware if you get a call like this one-

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information,
except the one piece they want. The callers do not ask for your card number;
they already have it.  This information is worth reading.  By understanding
how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better
prepared to protect yourself.  One of our employees was called on Wednesday
from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "Master Card".
 
The scam works like this: 
 
Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and
Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460.  Your card has been
flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify.  This
would be on your VISA card which was issued by ( name of bank). Did you
purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Devi ce for $497.99 from a Marketing company
based in Arizona?" 
 
When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a
credit to your account.  This is a company we have been watching and the
charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pat tern that
flags most cards.  Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to
(gives you your address), is that correct?"
 
You say "yes".  The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud
investigation.  If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number
listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number.  The caller then gives you a
6 digit number.  "Do you need me to read it again?"
 
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works.
 
The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card."
He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers."  There are
7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the
security Numbers' that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are
the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have
the card.
 
The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him.  After you tell the
caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify
that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your
card.  Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller
then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and
hangs up.
 
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card
number. But after we were called, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a
question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it
was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged
to our card.
 
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA
account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the
3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead,
tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their
conversation.
 
The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as
they already know the information since they issued the card!  If you give
the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit.
However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases
you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to
actually file a fraud report.
 
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a
"Jason Richardson of Master Card" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA
scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police
report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of
these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this
scam is happening.

BE AWARE OF ANYONE THAT CALLS YOU! 

Regards,

RICK 

Ever wonder what a million plus mansion would look like that is a total GREEN home? Well let me tell you Martha it's not the home I imagined by any means. This home is Beautiful with a capital B! 

Here is the link for this home. It is amazing to me...what do you think about it?

It's not easy being this green. Indeed, building the first U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Platinum certified home--the highest energy efficiency certification--takes more than just a green thumb and an eye for design.This home was built by home builder living concepts. They have a unique niche. They build Million dollar eco friendly mansions. And I thought first time home buyers homes were a niche!

There concept is simple...go big...go green...NICE...lets start building all the McMansions green...

Living homes wants to expand their business and work with more developers and do more green projects. Good for you guys and I wish you a ton of business for getting on the program and doing some really nice stuff!

Rick 

You hear about every week now or see it in the papers or on the internet. Green, Eco, terms such as this. It's great to see that some gazillionaires are even going green in their mcmansions. Yes that's right even some of these large 10,000 sq.ft homes are going green...why not. Once the jet set crowd really gets into the swing of the green movement then it will be propelled into the media even more and will become the rule not the exception.

It's not just the VW driving people from Berkeley that are going green. The green revolution is making its mark across the board from the hemp wearing coastalite to the multi millionaire that wants to SAVE money in the long run. Yes it is still a little bit more expensive to build a "Green" home now but the cost saving in the future will more than make up for it.

Here is a link to an interesting article for you:

http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2006/11/14/green-luxury-homes-forbeslife-re-cx_lm_1115mansions.html

Hey even Forbes is covering stories about green homes/eco homes.....what is next?

Rick 

You don't have to look very far to find an excellent earth advantage home or an actual green home in Redding anymore. There are some really nice options these days that weren't here even 3 years ago! I think we will see more builders going green once they see the "Big" picture. If they don't then they will see some market share going over to other companies and builders as consumers head towards greener homes.

Redding first and only fully solar community Sonata is selling homes off of Shasta View in Redding California.Sonata has received the ZEH- Zero Energy Home designation.

Sonata has these three things going for them:

While these homes are in the higher density range they are a perfect fit for someone looking for a low maintenance solution while being responsible to the environment.

Another local builder offers earth advantage homes and that is Kelly Homes Inc. There entire subdivision is earth advantage! They offer 2x6 construction for (extra R values), tile roofs, efficient appliances and much more.

If you are looking for a smaller builder a more one on one experience to build your own green home check out eco-homes. Jeff has done some interesting stuff and you can find him at eco-homes.com.

As you can see you now have alternatives for a nice home that is good for the environment also in Redding California.

Have any questions? Call me 530-248-5627 

It's great to see then huge corporations such as Bank of America start putting money where the mouth is!

Here are just some of the things that B of A is doing to help out the cause.

1.

 Commercial Real Estate Banking:  The company will build upon its
    expertise in financing environmentally friendly development by creating
    customized solutions for clients who are developing and implementing
    environmentally sustainable designs.  Areas of focus include financing
    real estate projects with LEED certification, improvements in energy
    efficiency, brownfield redevelopment, promotion of smart growth, and the
    use of energy-related tax credits.

  * Corporate & Investment Banking:  The company will focus on financing and
    advisory services to clients participating in emissions offsets markets,
    developing energy-efficient or low-carbon technologies and helping
    private/public sector entities adopt green and low-emissions technology.

  * Carbon Emissions Trading:  The bank will launch the capability to trade
    carbon emissions credits in order to enable clients to achieve carbon
    emission neutrality through existing and emerging market mechanisms.

  * Environmental Lending Consideration: The company will give favorable
    consideration, among other existing underwriting criteria, to lending
    opportunities with clients that are creating and implementing
    environmentally sustainable products, services and technologies.

2. 

* Eco-friendly Credit Card:  For every dollar spent on this new card, Bank
    of America will make a contribution to an environmental organization to
    invest in greenhouse gas reduction projects. These cards, available
    later this year, will have environmentally friendly incentives and
    features.

  * WorldPoints Rewards for the Environment:  Existing cardholders may
    donate their WorldPoints rewards to organizations that invest in
    greenhouse gas reductions or redeem them for environmentally friendly
    merchandise.

  * The Green Mortgage Program:  Homebuyers will receive a reduced interest
    rate or $1,000 back for each home-purchase mortgage meeting ENERGY STAR
    specifications.

  * Environmental Home Equity Program:  For customers who use their home
    equity line of credit's Visa Access Card, Bank of America will make an
    annual donation to a non-profit organization that focuses on
    environmental conservation.  At launch, donations will be directed to
    Conservation International for land conservation and carbon
    sequestration.  Additional non-profit organizations may be added to the
    program over time.

  * Timberland Investment Solutions:  Bank of America is evaluating
    proprietary investment management solutions that incorporate forest
    conservation principles consistent with those defined by the Forest
    Stewardship Council.  Reforestation, wildlife management, responsible
    development and the support of carbon sequestration ecosystems are
    important attributes that will be considered.  Bank of America intends
    to commit its own capital to promote "green" investment solutions for
    its clients.

  In addition, Bank of America will further promote its existing product:
  * EPA SmartWay Transport Program:  Under a partnership between the
    Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry, the bank
    provides Small Business Administration SBA Express loans with no
    collateral and flexible terms to small and mid-sized trucking companies
    to finance fuel efficient technologies. The loan program helps trucking
    companies purchase SmartWay Upgrade Kits that include idle-reduction
    devices, low-rolling resistance tires, aerodynamic equipment and exhaust
    after-treatment devices.  The kits can improve fuel efficiency by 15
    percent.

Great job B OF A...keep up the good work and let's all start thinking "Green".

Rick 

What's good for the environment IS good for business also! We have all heard certain words thrown around like green/sustainable/energy efficient/ecoconscious/high performance etc. What do all these words or phrases have in common? You need to make and informed wise desision now days...why? Because you now have CHOICES that you didn't years ago.I remember when we built our home about 5 years ago. We used a product called Techsheild on the roof. At the time the builder wasn't overly happy to put this on but we insisted. This is just one of many products out there that can save your attic some extra Heat in the summer...translation save you some real $$ when the city of Redding or PG&E bill comes in!!

By making some smarter choices about how are where you build and the products that go into your home you will save yourself some money and help save the environment in the process. Win- Win as they say.

Here are some facts that may people don't realize...

We spend on average 85-90% of our time in buildings...somewhere whether it's work or our homes.The air quality in most homes is actually 2-5 times worse than the outside air!! Maybe not quite that high in rural areas or areas like ours but none the less HIGHER.

In the United States Buildings are responsible for using 39% of our total energy consumption- 60% of our electricity ALONE!

Source-Pittsburgh Green Building Alliance

Experts now say that building GREEN will increase by 400% by 2010...wow in TWO years +/-.

Really what all this boils down to is re thinking the current way that we think about the building process.We need to apply a new way to approach and construct buildings today.

We need to think about how the building site,building design,mechanical systems and other factors impact our projects.

 Green building goes way beyond just saving energy...it's a new way of thinking.It's about looking at the whole system/process instead of just one or two pieces.

Green building is different in the fact that it takes EVERYthing into consideration not just a part.You could call it a whole house approach if you were talking about residential.

Green building tends to unite other partners to a project into one unified cohesive unit. A whole systems approach instead of a separate parts coming together. 

With the power of building green everyone wins!

The benefits for builders that build green can include the following-

1. Higher overall quality homes that may sell faster.

2.Lower material and labor costs during construction.

3.Reduced claims AFTER the home is built-call backs etc.

4.Less construction waste.

5. A competitive advantage selling to people looking exclusively at green homes.

6. Less call backs and problems  = less stress after the sale!

The Benefits for consumers are -

1.Better indoor air quality.

2. A higher lever of satisfaction.

3.Lower utility bills.

4.Energy efficient mortgages=savings

5.Potential for higher resale prices.

6.The peace of mind knowing that you ARE making a difference in purchasing a green home.

There are many benefits to the country also such as-

By purchasing green you are helping to reduce our countries reliance on overseas oil!

Reduced green house gas emissions.

Because of a healthier home potential lower medical bills/costs.

Helping to create jobs in the energy efficient building materials and equipment arenas.

Think GREEN week....no better yet just think green all the time!!

Regards,

Rick 

Most people don't know that the cost to go green now days is down considerably from years ago. It used to be that building an environmentally friendly home was 15-20% or more over the cost of a traditional home. Now that they cost is almost the same look for more builders to start building truly green homes in the near future. From Energy Start homes to fully green,solar communities the revolution is just starting.

The benefits of a green home are-

1. Better for the environment.

2.Better health for the owners.

3. Better resale value.

4. What the standard will be years into the future.

5. Overall savings on utility bills.

6. More comfortable.

Let's go green!!

Rick 

Here are some useful links if you want to know more about Redding California

Weather- 

http://www.wunderground.com/US/CA/Redding.html

Pictures of-

http://www.city-data.com/city/Redding-California.html

CNN Money comparing Redding to other cities-

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL0659920.html 

Real Estate- The MLS

www.inforedding.com

Free Redding Adventure Guide-

 http://visitredding.com/documents/rcvb_adv_guide_low.pdf

City of Redding Portal-

http://ci.redding.ca.us/

Very informative site-

http://www.reddinganesthesia.com/redding/default.htm

There seems to be a lot of talk among scientists these days trying to figure out why some older people have sharp memories and brains and many don't. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21310786/ There is no exact answer to this question but I can tell you this. People who read a lot have sharper minds than those that don't when they hit 70+. My personal example of this is my Grandmother who for 95 is still sharp as a tack! Now granted she has slowed down a bit hey if I am even ALIVE at 95 I will consider this a miracle!! She reads about 150-200 pages a night...each and every night....7 days a week.She finishes a book every couple days or so.I am a firm believer that if you don't continue to use it...you may end up loosing it....

Happy reading....

Rick 

Well even Redding isn't immune to schisters and to fraud artists. It seems that with the large amount of people out there missing their payments and heading towards foreclosure that there are a few swooping down and trying to shaft them! This is beyond wrong!! If you are behind in your payments and want at least the opportunity to get your home sold...even if you owe more than it is worth call a REALTOR. When you call the Realtor make sure you are going to work with one that is experienced in doing "Short Sales". Short sales are where the Realtor works with your lender to take less on the home that is owed.The reason its called as short sale is that the lenders is accepting less than what is owed to payoff your loan. Many banks/lenders will do this today because they don't want to own your home. Banks are in the business of lending not owning real estate.

So if you are behind on your payments and just received our notice of default in the mail NOW is the time to call a Realtor to get your home sold and to save at least part of your credit!! DON'T wait as the problem will not go away on its own! Having a short sale on your credit report will be better than a FORECLOSURE.

Don't take the bait if you get an anonymous phone call from someone who is NOT  licensed that had a "DEAL FOR YOU".

http://www.inforedding.com 

Regards,

Rick 

We have all experienced it at one time or another in our lives....ring ring (usually at dinner time) Hello this is Joe and I am with the xyz company and boy do we have a deal for you! The Federal Do NOT Call list was originally put into place in 2003. Millions of people signed up for it in that year and the years to follow. What most people don't understand is that it is only good for 5 years!! So if you signed up in the beginning your number is coming up so to say.Don't forget to renew your number prior to it expiring!! To do this simply go to the Governments website http://www.donotcall.gov and check to see when you signed up if you don't remember.

You'll be glad to know that if you sign up again BEFORE it expires that you should enjoy another good 5 years with only the charities and a couple others calling you at dinner time.

If you forget and let your number or number expire you will be reminded....you will have a bite of food in your mouth at dinner time and the phone one night will ring 10 times....and yes it takes about 30 days after you register to have it effective and them to stop calling...so Don't Forget...

That link again is http://www.donotcall.gov

Regards,

Rick