Chico is showing a 3.3% growth in housing permits.

Read to sell?

Call Sandi Bauman  530-864-540

#1 Top Producing Chico Listing Agent 2010-2103

#1 Top Producing Butte County Selling Agent 2012-2013

The Sandi Bauman Team Stats for January

Everybody says January is a slow month for sales. We beg to differ. See below.

Many potential sellers have been waiting for the distressed market to run it’s course, so that property values would stabilize and begin to recover. If you’re one of those homeowners, the Chico real estate market finally has good news for you!  Chico prices have improved by about 5.7% in the past 12 months. Combine that with super low interest rates and reduced inventory, and we might be looking at the exact opportunity that many homeowners have been waiting for.

One of the most important decisions a seller has to make, aside from timing, is which Realtor they should entrust to list, market, and negotiate their property.

What is important to consider when partnering with a professional? Do you need a big box, commercialized brand that feels familiar? Will a fleet of agents working for the company instill a sense of confidence? Should the Realtor have the shiniest car in the lot?  Open houses all weekend?  Is their website the deciding factor?  A snazzy name tag?

The Sandi Bauman Team at Chico Homes is a little non-traditional. Some would say that we buck the system a bit. Truth be told, we kind of like it that way, because it works for us and our clients. Because we think outside the box, our compact team packs a serious punch. With one dedicated listing broker, three committed buyer specialists, and three top notch transaction coordinators, we often out-perform the offices with agent counts of 30 or more. We’ve chosen to focus our skills, streamline our systems, and dedicated ourselves to providing a refined service. Perhaps most importantly, we truly CARE that we are doing the best possible job that we know how to do for our clients.

Ready to list?

Year to date, we’ve outperformed our competiton 3 to 1 on the listing side. It would be our pleasure and privilege to make YOUR story OUR next success story.

Call Top Chico Listing Agent Sandi Bauman! 530-864-5407.

SOLD	BUYER OR SELLER	PRICE
1. 797 College Hill, Paradise	Buyer/Seller	$135000
2. 14888 Carnegie, Magalia	Seller	$54500
3. 4907 O’Donnell, Forest Ranch	Buyer/Seller	$61000
4. 2139 Ceres, Chico	Seller	$189900
5. 13617 Lander, Magalia	Seller	$46000
6. 1194 Gossamer, Chico	Seller	$194000
7. 950 East, Chico	Seller	$310000
8. 6397 Zuckerman, Magalia	Buyer	$74500
9. 6366 Zuckerman, Magalia	Seller	$67600
10. 1769 Stark, Paradise	Buyer/Seller	$86000
11. 1201 Palm, Chico	Seller	$180000
12. 39 River Bluff, Oroville	Seller	$100000
13. 515 Eden, Paradise	Buyer	$95000
14. 17184 Manzanita, Sterling City	Buyer/Seller	$51300
15. 656 E 20th, Chico	Buyer	$115500
16. 3785 White Springs, Paradise	Seller	$212900
17. 6165 Some, Magalia	Buyer/Seller	$73000
18. 741 Gardella, Oroville	Seller	$72100
19. 5785 Copeland, Paradise	Buyer/Seller	$61199
20. 680 El Varano, Chico	Buyer	$160000
NOW PENDING!	BUYER OR SELLER	LIST PRICE
1. 286 Torry, Oroville	Seller	$196225
2. 8899 Skyway, Paradise	Seller	$7490000
3. 9244 Cohasset, Cohasset	Seller	$89900
4. 14858 Colter, Magalia	Seller	$109900
5. 196 Vista Del Rio, Gridley	Seller	$119900
6. 2300 Kennedy, Chico	Buyer/Seller	$194000
7. 9491 Perkins, Dayton	Seller	$129900
8. 4520 Lower Wyandotte, Oroville	Seller	$133500
9. 6366 Zuckerman, Magalia	Seller	$67600
10. 375 W Lassen #11, Chico	Seller	$139900
11. 3033 Burnap, Chico	Buyer/Seller	$139900
12. 5465 Princeton, Paradise	Seller	$139900
13. 6439 Gregory, Paradise	Seller	$154900
14. 2 Olympus, Chico	Seller	$169990
15. 1940 Indiana, Gridley	Seller	$174900
16. 1919 Feather, Oroville	Seller	$194900
17. 15 Melrose, Oroville	Seller	$209900
18. 741 Gardella, Oroville	Seller	$72100
19. 10 Shari, Chico	Seller	$244125
20. 449 Sequoyah, Chico	Seller	$249900
21. 2625 Vistamont, Chico	Seller	$249900
22. 1114 Nord Chico	Buyer	$85000
23. 449 Sequoyah, Chico	Seller	$249900
24. 1481 Filbert, Chico	Buyer	$190000
25. 20 Wrangler, Chico	Buyer	$109000
26. 13973 Jarvis, Magalia	Buyer	$114900
27. 5150 Oak Haven, Chico	Buyer	$379000
28. 1319 Elliott, Magalia	Buyer	$197000
29. 5660 Lower Wyandotte, Oroville	Buyer	$79900
30. 1919 Feather, Oroville	Seller	$194900
31. 4520 Lower Wyandotte, Oroville	Seller	$133500
32. 2165 Mariposa, Chico	Buyer	$159900
33. 3669 Hildale, Oroville	Buyer	$169900

Our comprehensive online marketing system is proven to get solid results! A couple of our fave sites to expose my listings:

chicorealestatesource.com
chicohomesales.net
searchchicorealestate.com

Call Sandi! 530-864-5407.

What does today’s buyer want in a new home?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, buyers are shifting away from McMansions on sprawling estate-like acreage. Instead, they are looking to downsize into smaller homes, in closer-knit neighborhoods with easier access to area services.

Ready to begin searching for that perfect Chico home, but haven’t yet partnered with a Realtor? The Sandi Bauman Team! at Chico Homes would consider it a pleasure and a privilege to assist you with the process. Our dynamic team of buyer specialists will offer you highly personalized and professional service every step of the way. Call Sandi 530-864-5407 or email sandi@sandibauman.com to get started!

One question that I usually hear when I’m out on a listing appointment is “How do we know when it’s the right time to list our house?”

The question becomes even more pointed at this time of the year. Traditional wisdom tells us that the best time to list is in the spring. The flowers are blooming, the grass is green, the birds are chirping…. AND a large number of other Chico sellers will be putting their homes on the market all at once. I’ve never really understood the rationale of putting a new listing on the market based on the time of the year. Historically, the last quarter is always the busiest time for my office. You know, the period that includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas? The time of the year that is supposed to be the WORST time to sell a home because buyers are distracted with family, school vacations, shopping and travel. December 2011 was the single highest month for closed sales in my history. December 2012 resulted in over 30 pending sides for our tiny team.

My point is this: I don’t buy into the tradition of listing in the spring. If you’re looking to sell your home in 2013, my advice is to put it on the market as soon as you can get it ready. Interest rates are historically low, and the inventory levels in Chico are leaving a lot of buyers dissatisfied with their options. Inventory is lower now than it has been for the past 12 months. Actually, the last time we had less inventory was July of 2005! Less inventory means less competition for your property!

Ready to sell? Call Sandi Bauman, the Top Chico Listing Agent for guidance. In 2011, Sandi Bauman and her Team sold more than 170 properties. The average Chico Realtor sold 5. It would be our pleasure and privilege to discuss your unique property. Call 530-864-5407 or email sandi@sandibauman.com.

Historically low interest rates (3-4%) + low inventory = A SELLER’S MARKET.

As of this morning, there are only 153 active single family homes in Chico. Only 34 of those are under $200,000, which is a highly sought after price range. 79 homes sold in December 2012. 22 of those Chico homes sold for under $200k. We only have about 6 weeks of inventory available for buyers, which is considered LOW.

If you’ve been on the fence about putting your property on the market, now might finally be the right time. Lack of inventory in some price ranges is creating multiple offer scenarios on many properties. We’re finding it difficult to get some of our buyers into homes due to the competition with cash offers.

Considering selling? Call Sandi Bauman, the Top Chico Listing Agent for guidance. In 2011, Sandi Bauman and her Team sold more than 170 properties. The average Chico Realtor sold 5. It would be our pleasure and privilege to discuss your unique property. Call 530-864-5407 or email sandi@sandibauman.com.

Check out this great audio clip from our friend Danny Salas over at Access Real Estate Lending!

Real Estate Today Radio

or read the related article on Options for Underwater Home Owners

We will help you explore your distressed property options in Chico. We service Butte, Glenn and Tehama Counties! For a confidential consultation with The Sandi Bauman Team short sale negotiators, call 530-864-5407 or email sandi@sandibauman.com.

The real estate market is intriguing during the winter months. Sellers are programmed to think that the holidays are a slow time of year, and that it’s best to wait until spring to list.

Without fail, December is always the busiest month of the year for us. The Sandi Bauman Team has put 9 homes in escrow in the past 3 days!!

Time for you to buy or sell? We are here to help!

Happy Holidays!

Ready to sell? Call Sandi Bauman, the Top Chico Listing Agent for guidance. In 2011, Sandi Bauman and her Team sold more than 170 properties. The average Chico Realtor sold 5. It would be our pleasure and privilege to discuss your unique property. Call 530-864-5407 or email sandi@sandibauman.com.

The Sandi Bauman Team can help you find a reputable lender to assist you with your HARP refinance. Let us know if you would like us to find a great match for you!

Need Help?

We will help you explore your distressed property options in Chico. We service Butte, Glenn and Tehama Counties! For a confidential consultation with The Sandi Bauman Team short sale negotiators, call 530-864-5407 or email sandi@sandibauman.com.

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA)

The Government’s H.A.F.A.® Program benefits borrowers who short sale their homes.

On the official Government website for H.A.F.A.®, it simply states the following:

“If the cost of home ownership has become too expensive to bear, the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program ® (HAFA) allows you to transition out of your home and avoid foreclosure with $3,000 in relocation assistance and peace of mind.”

The HAFA program also says: “In many cases, [a short sale] is the dignified exit strategy where the borrower can sell their home and avoid the negative impact of foreclosure on their credit report and return to a better financial position.”

What does this mean for Chico home owners?

The exciting news for underwater homeowners, is that there is now a federally sanctioned and endorsed alternative to foreclosure.  Unlike foreclosure, with a H.A.F.A.® short sale you can be completely released from your mortgage debt after selling the property. This means you will no longer be responsible for the amount that falls “short” of the amount your lender receives for the property compared to what you still owe.  This deficiency is guaranteed to be waived by your servicer and H.A.F.A.® covers borrowers in all 50 states.

We would consider it a privilege to help you research your options and provide you with the tools and the education that you need to make informed decisions, thereby ensuring the best possible short sale outcome for you and your family in Butte, Glenn and Tehama Counties. Yes! We have extensive experience in areas surrounding Chico such as Paradise, Magalia, Durham, Oroville, Orland, Willows and Corning!

Hi, my name is Laurie Maloney.

Born at Enloe Hospital, and raised in Chico where I have spent my entire life, I am YOUR hometown real estate agent. Having spent twelve years locally in the banking industry, followed by the last twelve years in real estate, I am thoroughly familiar with the great community of Chico and the issues that are of concern to you as you think about buying or selling your home. It is my most sincere desire to provide you with no pressure, quality service that insures you are fully satisfied with your transaction. Do you want the security of an agent who knows the Chico community and knows the real estate business? If so, then I’m the one. Please call me for all your local real estate needs:

Laurie Maloney, 530-518-1616