Carolyn Gjerde-Tu's Blog: General Real Estate Topics

Most of us who spend time at Real Estate Webmasters are looking to build a real estate business through the internet and many of us want to get traffic organically through the search engines.  There is an argument that blogging on sites like Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com increases your overall reputation and presence on the web.  Some of these sites are offering links back to your site in exchange for your content.  However these same sites are competing with ours for the top spots in the search engines. I wrote a post on Why I don't blog on Trulia and why you shouldn't either.  I feel this is an important issue and hope you will take the time to read that post.

It is no secret that with distressed properties becoming the overwhelming number of listings in the greater Sacramento Region that this has caused an increase in potential MLS violations as many of the agents are from out of the area and are not really versed in the actual MLS rules.

Most of these violations could be avoided if out of area agents just read through the regulations. Metrolist has a forty page document  available on their website, the same website used to upload listings to the MLS system.

The brokerage I work for has identified the six most common MLS rules and the fines associated with each. Note fines were current as of 5/08.

• Placing a non Metrolist keybox on the listing. This is one of the most common violations that I see.  Out…

Annalisa Alvarado of North American Title recently provided me with the following tax information:

July 1 -- The Current fiscal tax year begins

November 1 -- First tax installment is due

December 1 -- Last day to file for 80% Veterans or Homeowners exemption.

December 10 - First tax installment becomes delinquent at 5:00 pm.  10% penalty added to taxes due.  If December 10 falls on a weekend.

January 1 -- Calendar year begins

February 1 -- Second tax installment due

March 1 -- Assessment Date  Taxes become a lien at 12:01 a.m. Title must show taxes as a lien for the coming fiscal tax year.

April 10 -- Second tax installment becomes delinquent at 5 p.m. 10% penalty plus $10 administrative charge is attached. If April 10 falls on a weekend or…

The trigger point in California for a lender to begin the foreclosure process typically occurs after a borrower has missed three payments.  California is a Deed of Trust state and the lender contacts the Trustee and instructs them to file a Notice of Default.

Within 10 Business Days

The Trustee mails the Notice of Default to the borrower and anyone who has filed a Special Request for Notice.

Within 1 Month

Mail Notice of Default to all parties with an interest in title.

After 3 Months

Set the sale date.

25 Days Prior to Sale Date

Send notice of Sale to IRS

20 Days Prior to Sale Date

Publish the Notice of Sale, Post Notice of Sale, Mail Notice of Sale, Begin Publishing Notice of Sale in an adjudicated newspaper (must run 3…

This month’s special focus is on organization.  Whether you are just moving into your home, getting ready to sell or simply staying put, these are resources for everyone to get more organized and simplify your life. Throughout the month, look for additional information help you organize your life.

 One web page devoted to organizing not jut your home, but your life is The Flylady.  For the housework, the basic premise is that you divide the house into zones, break jobs up into small 15 minute segments, set your timer for 15 minutes and then move on with your day.  The site is all about building habits and routines.  Try the 27 fling boogie to quickly begin to clear away the clutter.  I have loosely followed flylady for a few years and do feel like…

I am a full time real estate broker, but I am also a certified residential appraiser.  In fact, I just stopped accepting appraisal assignments a couple of months ago to focus exclusively on selling real estate.  This may become an on-going blog series but here are a few appraisal myths I have heard many times over.

1.                  Appraisals for refinance purposes are different than for a purchase.

The methodology is exactly the same in the appraisal for a lender whether it is for a purchase transaction or for a refinancing.  The main difference between the two appraisals is that the purchase contract is analyzed in a purchase and the data

2.                  A variation on the above is that the appraisal will be different if completed…