About - Bette Humenick - Lyon Real Estate, Cameron Park, El Dorado County, Real Estate Agent

Wow, things have picked up! I was happy to close 5 escrows last month. The prices are great, the interest rates are terrific and the first time buyer credit is getting buyers off the fence (they like receiving that $8000 credit! BUT HURRY YOU MUST CLOSE ESCROW BY NOVEMBER 30!). It's a great time to be looking into buying or selling!
I have to say I have had the easiest escrows this year. What wonderful buyers and sellers I have been working with. I, for one, am really enjoying this market. My listings are selling! I am down to 9 listings, with 3 currently in escrow.
The lenders aren't so much fun right now. I guess they are being cautious, but now that FHA is giving us a hard time about unpermitted additions, things will get a little harder here in El Dorado County, where we have a lot of unpermitted additions. That and the pool of Appraisers that we have to take potluck with, it's making it an interesting challenge to get an escrow closed. And then you have the truth in lending forms that add to the time to get a home closed.
I am not looking forward to November 30. All the first time buyers have to have their homes closed by that day or they lose their $8000 credit. The bad part is, November 30 is a Monday. The Thursday before is Thanksgiving, the title companies are closed that day - as well as Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Usually the last day of the month is crazy enough with all the escrows trying to close, this might not be pretty. UNLESS they extend the $8000 credit - that would be a good thing. So far no definite word, except for Vets who fought in a war this year. I am hoping the extend it, or have some version of it for everyone that doesn't close by November 30.
Whether you qualify for the first time buyers credit (you don't really have to be a first time buyer - just not have owned a home in the last 3 years) are great opportunities for buyers. Short Sales are an unfortunate reality right now. Many sellers refinanced or bought their home when the market was higher, and now they owe more than their home is worth. It is hard on the Sellers seeing their beloved home, not be their's anymore. It is a roller coaster ride, both for the seller and buyer. While buyers can get a good price and a great house, the time frame of waiting to hear from the bank and not knowing if the home is going to be theirs or not can be very frustrating, especially when it goes on for many weeks (or months).
A seller of a Short Sale should be able to buy a home again in 3 years, the foreclosed seller will usually not be able to buy another house for 5-7 years. Also with a foreclosure, if you have a job that requires security clearance, the clearance may be revoked. A home owner faced with losing their home really needs to have the knowledge of what their possible decision will mean in the future. It is not simply a matter of walking away from your home, there can be long term implications.
Buying a Bank Owned (REO's) home can have their own issues. Although they are often great prices, and can close much quicker, you won't receive the disclosures and be able to have that life line to the past owner who can tell you all the stories of the home.
It is nice to see Investors coming back into the market. We have missed them! Now that many people are losing their homes they will need a place to live, and as a past home owner they often make good renters.
With Fall right around the corner the Market has really been coming ALIVE! Don't miss out, this really is a GREAT time to be thinking about Real Estate.

I love marketing homes - with my MBA in Marketing and a background as a Marketing Product Manager, I like to use several avenues of marketing my listings. With Lyon's great TrendGraphics program we can keep a good eye on what the market is doing, and how your listing compares to the competition.

I enjoy seeing what's coming on the market - I check the new listings several times a day to see if there is a match for one of my buyers, or competition for one of my listings. It's also exciting now with some of these bank owned homes - it's almost like the old days where you better get your buyer over there quick before someone else buys it! It is not uncommon to hear of a well priced home to have 10 or more offers.

If you are thinking of buying or selling, please give me a CALL at 530-676-7000, or email me at Bhumenick@goLyon.com I would love to be of service to you!

And thank you again to my fellow Realtors for voting me in as a Director for the El Dorado County Board of Directors for my second 3 year term! I have enjoyed serving the last 3 years and am looking forward to all the changes we can help create in these next three years in this very changing market. It will be interesting to see what the market is doing 3 years from now, stick around, I know I am!