Homes For Sale in Santa Clarita


Thank you for visiting my Blog.

To see which homes are currently For Sale in Santa Clarita,
please visit my website
www.SantaClaritaHomesCA.com
My website is updated in live time, whenever a new home comes on the market For Sale!


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Or if you would like to receive your own 
Personalized Automated Notice of homes currently For Sale

sent directly to your email please contact:


LeeAnn Bell  at  661-309-2364
or  LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com  


Here is what one client had to say about her Automated Notification Link:

"Thank you for setting me up on this great system.  It is so easy to use and it is great to get all the details about properties I am interested in, right in my email!"

- Donna F.


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Friendly Valley lawn bowling area

The lovely Belcaro front entrance


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And if you are interested in an adult only community,
feel free to check out my websites made specifically for such!
Click HERE to visit my Valencia Belcaro website
or
click HERE to visit my Friendly Valley website


 

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(c) 2011 LeeAnn Bell, REALTOR® 
CalBRE License #01260650
Kellar-Davis, Inc.




#SantaClaritaRealEstate  #SantaClaritaHomesForSale  #LeeAnnBellRealtor  #KellarDavisRealEstate

- Repairs That Should Be Done Before You Put Your Home Up For Sale

Below are a few photos which show some problems in houses that are currently For Sale.

Remember:
Buyers are comparing your home with the other homes currently For Sale, and if you don't have major repairs fixed before allowing Buyers into your home, they will either by-pass your home completely and choose to purchase a home that is in better condition or they will write a lower offer than the price that you are asking as they calculate the cost of repairs that they see when walking through your home.

So fix, fix, fix and clean, clean, clean BEFORE you put your home on the market!


When a Buyer sees a bulge or a large/major crack in drywall,
they wonder what serious problem and repair will face them
if they purchase the home.
Be sure to fix such problems BEFORE putting your home up For Sale!*
All that this ceiling needed was a nice coat of paint to avoid loosing potential buyers.
What an easy fix that this Seller neglected to do.
And even if there was a serious repair to the roof or drywall at some point,
the Buyer would appreciate seeing that the Seller took the time to not only fix
any repair needed but that the Seller completed the cosmetic finishing touches too!*
The crown molding in this home was separating from the ceiling ... again,
leaving a Buyer thinking about the cost and hassle of getting this repaired after moving in.
Why not caulk and paint everything BEFORE putting it up For Sale
... after making sure that the molding is secure of course!
     
It really is not very hard to change out faucet fixtures and clean grout and tiles,
and if you remember to do so, you will make your sinks and tub areas more appealing
to prospective Buyers!


When you choose to allow me to help you sell your home,
I will be sure to point out items that need repairing or that need a little "sprucing up" before we put your home on the market For Sale. 
And I will tell you which repairs you must legally disclose, too!

By allowing me to help you in this way,
you can be sure that your home will look it's best for all potential Buyers ... right from the very start!

Call me today to see what your home could sell for!

LeeAnn Bell, REALTOR® 
661-309-2364 
LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com 
CalBRE# 01260650 



See more photos of needed repairs HERE 


Below is what one client had to say about working with me:  
"I appreciate your professionalism and keeping me up-to-date throughout the process. It was a real pleasure to work with you.” 
- Lynn Graham 

#LeeAnnBellRealtor   #CanyonCountryHomesForSale   #SantaClaritaRealEstate
#SantaClarita   #CanyonCountry

The Home Buying Process

When it comes to buying a house, many Buyers do not know what steps to take. Many think they know what price range they can afford and so go looking at homes in that price range.  But sadly, many Buyers get excited about the homes they find in that price range only to find out later that they actually cannot afford such a price range, because of the monthly additional costs of Home Ownership.


So for Buyers who are just starting the process of thinking of buying a home, I have written down some steps that every  REALTOR® will have you take before you can write an Offer on the house of your dreams.

Step #1 - Contact a Lender
Many Home Buyers do not want to start here, thinking they are just in the beginning stages and don't want a Lender involved yet, however, this is the first and most important step to take so that you can know exactly what Loan Amount you can qualify for.  Your REALTOR® will want to know that you have spoken to a Lender before you start going into Homes For Sale as well, as REALTORS® have seen Buyers too many times get their hopes dashed regarding the price range they can afford when they have looked at beautiful homes in one price range, only to find they cannot qualify for any of them. 



Your Lender will want to know:
What is your current income;
How long have you been employed with your current employer;
How much in savings you have;
What your current FICO score is (some information regarding FICO scores are found HERE). 




Also, an important cost to remember is Closing Costs, which many Buyers forget about.  Closing Costs will include the cost that your Lender will charge you for getting you a Loan, Escrow Costs which the Escrow Company will charge you for handling the funds and documents of the process of Buying a Home, your Property Insurance and Taxes, and other miscellaneous costs involved in Purchasing and Closing the purchase of a home (a more detailed breakdown on Closing Costs can be found HERE).  NOTE: you will not have to pay for the real estate agent's commission, as the Seller does this. 

Step #3 - Contact a REALTOR® 
Once you want to start looking inside homes that you can afford, a REALTOR® will be the best way to help you do this.  Keeping your REALTOR® informed about your likes and dislikes, and about any major changes in your job, income, major expenses that suddenly appear, along with the location where you need to live, etc. will help keep your REALTOR® looking in the right areas for you.  And remember that your REALTOR® has the most current and up-to-date list of Homes that are For Sale, in the area and price range that you are interested in, versus the many "home search" websites which often times provide information that has not been updated.   Your REALTOR® is the person to rely on to help make the home buying process as easy for you as possible, supplying answers to all of your questions and providing the most up-to-date list of homes currently For Sale.

Step #4 - Write an Offer and open Escrow on your new Home
This process can be overwhelming to Buyers who are not used to the amount of Paperwork and Disclosures that will be involved in purchasing a Home.  Choosing the correct REALTOR® who has a patient disposition from the start, and one who is willing to answer every question thoroughly and simply, is the REALTOR® that you should choose to help navigate you through this sometimes overwhelming and ofttimes, time consuming process.  

Here is what one client had to say about working with me:

“I think I appreciated your ability to explain all the important matters very simply to me. It was my very first experience in selling my first home, after the death of my husband, and I appreciated all the different helpful things that (you did) during the sale to see that everything went as it should.” 
— Emma Powell

"You were easy going, not pushy, yet knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.  Not only knowledgeable but honest to the point of offering careful and helpful advice".
- Alan L


If you need any help in finding a home to buy in the Santa Clarita Valley
or if you have questions about the Home Buying Process,
please feel free to contact me:


 LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com
661-309-2364

 
It will be my pleasure to make the Home Buying Process as easy, enjoyable, and as understandable as possible for you.  

(C) 2011 LeeAnn Bell  -- updated 2016
Helping Buyers and Sellers since 1998!
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Pricing Your Home Correctly ... from the very start!

I was out showing Real Estate today and one of the houses on the list had been on the market for 644 days!

644 Days!?!   That would place this house back to the days when Real Estate was moving at a quicker pace and at pretty good prices.

The original Asking Price revealed that, indeed, this home had tried to sell when prices were higher, for the original Asking Price was $660,000 ... a not-so-far-out-there price for Southern California during that time!

Today while showing this property, however, the asking price is $499,000 ... a $161,000 difference!

I remarked to the Buyer who I was with, that this is the problem when Sellers try to get "a little too much money" for their homes, at the start.   Some Sellers state to me, "Well, I want to see if I can get this price;  I can always drop the price if I don't get what I want."  But what Sellers do not realize is that setting their price too high at the start of their advertising, actually hurts them in the long run.

What happens if the market is on the decline?  What do Buyers think when a home has been up For Sale for more than 1 month, or more than 3 months, or more than 6 months?  And how many Buyers do you think will even look at your home if it is over-priced and if there are other comparable homes in the area at much better prices?

If you are a Home Seller who wants to set your price higher than everything else that is currently For Sale, you could find yourself chasing current market prices all the way down, as this Home Owner seems to be doing.

 But by staying away from being the highest priced home in your area for your size and condition, you will be inviting all potential Buyers to come and see your home while out looking at all other homes in your area! 

Your Real Estate Agent should be able to help you in this area ... and you should listen to their advice. By looking at the comps together, you will see how long houses have been up For Sale and if they sold at their asking price, if they sold at over their asking price, or if they sold at under their asking price.

Listen to the data of the comps and know that most Real Estate Agents aren't out to hurt your pocket book, they are simply trying to do their jobs ... which is get your home SOLD,  quickly! And most agents will give you sound advice about pricing your home correctly, right from the start!

If you are in Santa Clarita, or a nearby surrounding area, feel free to call me for a free, no obligation consultation on what your home could sell for.  By setting your home price correctly from the very start, and by allowing me to advertise your home through my many blogs and marketing campaigns, we are sure to get your home SOLD ... quickly!

Price your home correctly from the very start ... it is the smartest marketing move around!

 Contact
LeeAnn Bell today at 661-309-2364
or email me at LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com 


Below is what one client had to say about working with me:
“What a pleasure to work with you! You really seem to care and you listened to what is important to me. Thank you for not trying to “sell” me anything but for being my adviser!”
- Ron 
CalBRE License #01260650
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  (c) 2010  -  LeeAnn Bell
Revised 2014

Tips for Buying An Investment Property

Buying a rental property is not just for "the rich" any longer.  Many these days are right to think of buying a rental property as a way of padding their retirement income!  And with current Mortgage Interest Rates still holding, I see buying income producing properties as being a smart investment.

But what should one consider before jumping into such a commitment?  Below are a few thoughts:

Location, location, location.
Does the area where you are looking to purchase in have a high number of steady jobs?  Or is it near a University where you could get a steady stream of student renters?  Does the amount of rent you need coming in fit with the area, or would you need to charge too high of a rent for the area in order to cover your expenses?  Answering these questions BEFORE you purchase can save you a lot of months of no income on your new rental property while trying to figure out where to get a renter or how much rent you can charge to fit the area.

Who will take your maintenance calls in the middle of the night?
If you don't want tenants to be calling you personally with every question, concern, or maintenance need, you may want to consider hiring a Property Management company.  Remember to add the cost of such into your expenses, however, when thinking about how much rent you will need to charge to cover your expenses.

Do you know how to legally screen tenants and how much deposit money you can legally charge?
Again, the hiring of a professional Property Management company could help you in your beginning years as you learn the legalities of being a Landlord or if you don't want the hassle of screening, or of sometimes evicting, tenants.

Being a Landlord can be financially rewarding, however, knowing the Laws and Rights of both Landlord and Tenant before you purchase is not just wise, but will keep you out of a lot of trouble.  And thinking about all the expenses that come with owning an income producing property before you purchase, will help you avoid surprises in your budgets.

For a current list of possible income producing properties in Santa Clarita contact me directly for your own tailored list which can be automated and updated daily and delivered right to your own email box:
LeeAnn Bell 661-309-2364
LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com
CalBRE License #01260650
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(c) 2011 LeeAnn Bell, REALTOR®   --  updated 2016

Home Owners Associations: the pros and cons

Home Owners Associations...or HOA for short.

Some people would never live in a community that did not have a Home Owners Association while others would never consider living under any Associations rules...ever.

Which is right for you?

Before buying any property with a Home Owners Association, it would be good to review what Associations are legally able to enforce. Lets look at some PROS and CONS here to help you decide.

CONS:

When you purchase a property with a Home Owners Association, you give up some rights and agree to live by the rules of the Home Owners Association.

Some rights which you could be asked to give up are:

-the right to choose what color your home will be painted;
-the right to choose what kind of roof you want on your home;
-the right to choose when you will next paint or re-roof your home;
-the right to choose which plants will be in front of your house;
-the right to choose if you will park in your driveway or in your garage;
-the right to choose if you will leave your garage door open for any length of time, beyond just getting into the garage (its true!);
-the right to let your home go into any state of disrepair ... what is disrepair?  Any neighbor can complain to the Association what they think is disrepair, leaving the final decision up to the Association;
-the right to rent out your property if you no longer want to live there;
-the right to keep pets;
-the right to even have a dumpster put in front of your home when you are moving or remodeling unless you pay the Association a fee (as well as the rental fee of the dumpster) and making sure it is removed within the time specified by the Association;
-how about the right to NOT put up Christmas Lights, if you don't want to!
and on and on and on

Failure to live by the Associations Rules can lead to fines, and failure on your part to pay your HOA dues and/or fines on time can even lead to you having the Association file a LIEN against your home.

Of course not all Associations enforce the rules I've mentioned above (and some Associations have rules I have not even mentioned above) but this list is put here to show you what I have personally seen as enforceable RULES from varying Home Owners Associations over the years of selling Real Estate in the Pasadena, La Crescenta, La Canada, Sunland, and now Santa Clarita neighborhoods.

PROS:

"But what about the benefits?" some will ask. These are the people who love living under a set of rules so that they won't have to put up with neighbors who want to paint their houses neon lime green or neighbors who park their extra large work trailers on the street every evening, weekend and holiday...never mind the boats, water ski-dos, camper trailers, RVs, and more which can be seen on many Southern California streets, driveways, and even lawns!

The benefits of the Home Owners Association will be just that ... beneficial in enforcing rules which will keep your streets clean and looking well-kept and keep your neighbors in line.

And for the neighbor who steps out of line ... wham-o ... a fine will be slapped on them.

How about a $100 per day fine? Is that fair?  Would you want that thrown at you if you stepped out of line, knowingly or unknowingly?  Would you like that threat constantly hanging over your head, all the years that you lived in your newly purchased "dream home"?  (See here about the $100/day fine for wrong colored mulch.)

Of course the choice is yours to make, but make sure you are informed before you close Escrow on your new purchase. HOA documents are very SLOW at making their appearance during the Escrow, I have found, so do some homework on your own while waiting for the Documents...knock on neighbors doors in the community in which you want to purchase or stop to talk with anyone out watering their lawns or walking their dogs.  Ask how intrusive the HOA rules are and then be sure to READ YOUR HOA DOCS which will be provided (at some point) during your Escrow!

You just may find that you may not want to live under their heavy-handed rules.

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For all of your real estate needs or questions in the Santa Clarita Valley contact me at:
LeeAnn Bell  661-309-2364  or
LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com
CalBRE License #01260650
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READ about HOA Complexes and their current trouble with FHA FINANCING HERE

FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan - a loan to help that "Fixer Upper" you just found

Have you found a home to purchase which you think would be just perfect, if only you had the extra cash to rehab it and bring it up to livable standards?

It can be hard for many to come up with a substantial Down Payment and Closing Costs for a new home, so how does anyone have money left over for repairs that might be necessary?


The FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan could be exactly what you are in need of.  Read below:

Home buyers thinking of purchasing a distressed property in need of repair, but who are concerned that the cost of the repairs could drain their savings account may qualify for the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 203(k) rehabilitation program.

  • The FHA’s 203(k) rehabilitation program provides loans for covering renovation costs as well as the purchase price of the primary residence.  Investors are not eligible for this program.  Additionally, similar to traditional FHA loan programs, the rehab program allows for a down payment of as little as 3.5 percent.
  • A common misperception about the program is that the house needs to be unlivable.  Realistically, the property just needs to be outdated, according to a lender familiar with the program.  The property “just has to appraise below market value and then at market value with the repairs.”
  • Improvements deemed “luxury” are ineligible; however, the program has a wide range of definitions for “repairs” and “modernization.”  Covered repairs include items such as a new roof or heating system, as well as decorative changes, like replacing vinyl with ceramic tile on the kitchen floor or painting the interior.
  • In addition to putting down at least 3.5 percent of the current value of the property, buyers also must use a HUD-approved lender, appraiser, and a contractor approved by the lender for the repairs.  One list of approved businesses can be found at 203kcontractors.com.
  • Borrowers considering the FHA rehab loan program should be aware that loan rates typically run around a percentage point higher than conventional loans, and come in 15- to 30-year terms, either fixed or adjustable.  Additional paperwork for inspection, appraisal, title updating, and the like can increase closing costs by $1,000 or more higher than the average.
  • For additional information about the FHA 203(k) rehabilitation program, please visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kabou.cfm 
    Market Matters is published by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, a trade association representing more than 175,000 REALTORS® statewide.

Contact me if you are thinking of purchasing a home which needs some extra money put into it to become livable.

If you are interested in finding a home to fix up, anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding communities, email or phone me and ask to be put on my DAILY AUTOMATED SEARCH SYSTEM which will send your personal home search criteria directly to your email in-box daily.  (Click this LINK to see an example of a personal Automated Search Page)

No matter where in the Santa Clarita Valley you are looking, it would be my pleasure to help get you into a property that you can call home!

LeeAnn Bell, REALTOR®
661-309-2364
LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com
CalBRE #01260650


Comments Welcome



(c) 2010 LeeAnn Bell  -- updated 2016