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The Stever's Newsletter! July 2010
Sharon Stever REALTOR® (DRE License Number 01270841)
Rick Stever REALTOR® (DRE License Number 01270842)
Sotheby's International Realty
459 E. Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena,  CA  91101
626.447.5731
626.484.6509 
Contact Me
Visit My Web Site
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Avoid home improvement gimmicks that hammer resale value
Q: We are considering listing our vacation home, and I have a question for you on whether it would be worth it to invest the money putting siding on it or selling it as is? The home is located on a golf course and has a magnificent view of the first hole and surrounding lakes and mountains.
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Sizing up purchase deposits
In most states, it's customary, or required by law, for the buyers to include a good faith deposit when they make an offer to purchase a home. The deposit should not be given directly to the seller, but held by a trustworthy third party that maintains a trust account specifically for home purchase deposits, such as an escrow company.
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Appraisal rules tough on additions
Recently a homeowner in the hills above Oakland, Calif., applied for a refinance. An appraiser visited the property and measured both levels of the house. The appraiser called the homeowner a few days later to find out if the lower level had been added with a permit. The public record indicated the house had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,513-square feet.
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Assessed vs. market value
DEAR BENNY: In 2006, the assessed value of my house had climbed to $756,000 and then dropped to $714,000, trailing the declining market. I filed an abatement based on erroneous information that my town was using, and was successful. My house was reassessed at $531,300, very close to my suggested valuation.
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Sharon Stever
REALTOR®
Sotheby's International Realty
459 E. Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena,  CA  91101
626.447.5731
626.484.6509 
Contact Me
Visit My Web Site
Equal Housing Opportunity   
  
Presale inspections for smoother sales
Homes are selling for less. Everyone's trying to cut back. Yet, many real estate agents think it's wise for sellers to provide presale inspections for buyers to review before they write offers. Is the cost, which could run from a few hundred to $1,000 or more, worth the expense? ...more
 
Neighbors pry over condo sale etiquette
DEAR BENNY: My wife and I own a condo in a two-unit building. Our downstairs neighbor, who bought the property only two years ago, recently put her unit on the market. Her inability to cover her mortgage obligation is the reason she is forced to sell now, instead of waiting for the market to improve. ...more
 
Not all buyers are worth a counteroffer
After mustering the emotional energy to make an offer on a listing, it can be devastating if you hear nothing back from the seller. ...more
 
How pros drill through masonry
When it comes to drilling holes in concrete, concrete blocks, stone and other masonry, using a standard drill can be a real exercise in futility. The rotary motion of the drill bit -- even a carbide-tipped masonry bit -- is simply not sufficient to power through tough masonry surfaces. ...more
 
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