Our little-known LINKS page uncovers real estate secrets.

Here are some questions that are answered on the page:


* How can I challenge my property tax assessment?

* Where can I get the latest real estate news?

* What are today's mortgage rates?

* What are the sales statistics for Sacramento County?

* Should you rent or buy a home?

* Where to get a list of Trustee's foreclosure sales in Sacramento.

* A list of local businesses we like and trust.

* Free lists of home warranty companies, insurance firms, pest inspection companies and home inspectors.

* Bonus free lists of foreclosed homes now for sale, luxury homes, commercial properties, mult-unit residential properties and a lot more!


Visit our links page today! http://www.homerocketrealty.com/


David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Good real estate debt vs. bad real estate debt

When it comes to financial matters, I hear the "money people" speak of good debt vs. bad debt. However, their definitions are unclear and vary.   Here's how I define these two types of obligations:

Bad debt: Debt used to purchase things that TAKE money from you. This might be a personal car that isn't used for business, a tablet computer used for personal reading or gaming, or clothing.

So, wouldn't you agree, with this definition, it's OK to borrow money on things used to MAKE more money and EVERYTHING else will be paid for with cash if at all possible?

                              

Now let's apply this to real estate.

Your personal residence. Is debt on your home good debt or bad debt? It's bad debt, because your home doesn't produce any income. Indeed, your home is a commodity and sucks money from your wallet instead of putting money in. Therefore, on your personal residence it is your goal to pay off your mortgage as quickly as you can so you can stop the money outgo. I know, when you get a little extra money it's tempting to buy the big house with a view overlooking a lake. I say, go for it if you can buy it in cash. Otherwise, live modestly and use whatever extra money you have for income-producing purposes or charitable causes.

Investment real estate, means buying a rental house, or commercial building where there are tenants that pay rent. Borrowing against these types of properties is by my definition good debt, especially if you posture your investment so that the rents more than cover the underlying mortgage and the costs of maintaining the property. As you can see, this investment not only pays for itself, but some day your debt will be paid off and all that income is yours to use as you please.

Is borrowing to buy raw land a good idea? Not under my good real estate debt vs. bad real estate debt definition. It doesn't produce any income and, therefore is nothing but speculation, a form of gambling. Now, if you plant a walnut orchard on your raw land and that orchard produces income, borrowing money to buy that land may be justified after you study the numbers and they work in your favor.

So what do we learn from all of this? If it's at all possible, whatever you buy for your non-income-producing personal use, pay for it in cash. If you can justify borrowing money for something that produces income, that may be OK as long as you feel comfortable you can carry the debt in good times and bad plus be able to sleep soundly at night.

Imagine how much power we would all have over our financial affairs if we would just ask a simple question before buying anything, "Is this good debt or bad debt?" If it's for your business and you really need the item but don't have the money, it may be alright to pay for the item using a credit card. If, on the other hand, you're having a personal, non-business lunch, you would pay for that in cash, or use a credit card that doesn't cost you anything where you pay off the entire balance each month.

Do your best to pay off your personal "bad debt" as fast as you can. Use your borrowing power, instead, to acquire things that produce an income which is greater than the monthly payment of the money you borrowed.

One more thing, ask yourself,"If I borrow money to buy an income producing item, and the income dries up, can I sell the item and pay off the debt as a last resort?"

Some people believe EVERYTHING should be paid for in cash only. I think that's too strict because great opportunities open up in small windows of time. You may need to borrow money to take advantage of something that may pay off so big for you in the future, it will not only pay off the underlying debt, but move you to a higher financial plane.

P.S. To see a free list of investment properties now for sale waiting for "good debt," GO HERE.

David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

What does it take to build a good credit rating?

Listen to Margie Mower's credit advice on our latest podcast here:

http://podcast.findgreathomes.com/index.php?p=episode&name=2012-03-04_margiemowercredit.mp3

Sacramento real estate broker David Jurewicz (00661096) of Home Rocket Real Estate(r) interviews credit expert Margie Mower about how a person from a young age can build a good credit reputation which can serve them well the rest of their lives. She says building a good credit score begins when you're young in high school. For more information, you can contact David Jurewicz at (916) 682-6454 or visit his website: http://www.homerocketrealestate.com/

Real estate benefits from the power of teamwork.

Take a look at this picture of a piranha, a voracious fish.

It's an eating machine! The powerful jaws, the sharp teeth. It's in good shape too. Look at the 12 pack abs!

By itself it could inflict some damage. But in a team it could do untold damage. Although it seems that the piranha may not really behave like they do in the 1978 movie called "Piranha." A lot of the fish's negative reputation may only come from legend.

The fish in the picture actually sits on a shelf in my office. Why? Because it reminds me that as a team you can accomplish a lot more than by yourself. That's right, piranhas remind me of teamwork!

Not in a bad way, of course. But in a synergistic way. When I teamed up with Coleen in the 1980's in the real estate business, our income didn't just double, it tripled. That's how synergy works.

And as you discover weaknesses in your team, you hire people with appropriate talents and the whole team becomes more powerful. Now that we have Ken as part of our team, he fills in our weaknesses and so we're a lot stronger.

If you're considering buying real estate, please learn from the powerful piranha. You don't have to learn how to become a master-searcher of real estate. When you team up with us, we'll use our 30 years of experience to do that for you and target the best properties for you.

You don't have to study mortgages to make sure you get the best rate and terms. Work with a top, experienced mortgage consultant and that person will do the research for you. They'll even send out a professional appraiser to make sure you're not over-paying for the property!

When it's time to have your property inspected, feel confident that a highly experienced inspector will do the job right.

I witness a lot of frustration in the home buying process because the buyer doesn't trust their team members and feel they have to do everything themselves. In contrast, I work with reasonable, trusting clients who believe their team members have their best interest at heart. I believe the trusting home buyers do better.

So, my advice is to choose your team members carefully in the home buying process, and then trust them to take care of you. That way instead of leading a stressful anxious existence, you can relax and enjoy the ride.


David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Six important real estate questions answered.

Real Estate Broker David Jurewicz of http://www.homerocketrealestate.com/ 916.682.6454 answers six of the questions he gets asked the most at a presentation he gave on March 4, 2012 at the Home and Garden Show at Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA.  Please watch this video now:


The video answers these questions:
1. Have we reached the bottom of the real estate market?
2. What is the impact of repos and foreclosed homes on the marketplace?
3. Where can I find real estate info on the Internet?
4. How do I improve the odds of getting my offer accepted by the seller?
5. Should I buy a rental property?
6. How can I buy a piece of real estate and live in it with almost no monthly payment?

David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454  Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Our social media pages get a new look!

We've updated the look of our social media pages and have made the easier to use too!  See for yourself:

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Here's how we look on Twitter:

If you'd like to stay on top of what's really going on behind the scenes in real estate, follow one or more of our media pages.

Your always free to contact us with any questions or comments at THIS page.

Or call (916) 682-6454

SAVE money by avoiding one of the biggest mistakes in home ownership.

Picture your water heater broken down and leaking. Your fear level rises because you don't know what it may take to fix it and how much it will cost and whether you'll have enough money. You're concerned that the person you hire to fix the problem in this "emergency situation" may take you for a financial "ride."

This fear is so overwhelming, I've actually had clients insist that I represent them in buying only newly built homes so that for at least some years, they don't have to deal with big system breakdowns.

Well all that fear is really unnecessary if you learn the simple tricks used by professional property managers. Here are three things we can learn from them:


1. Financial discipline. A property manager thinks about all things that can break down in a property. How many years of life do things still have? For example how long before the dishwasher stops working? How many years of life is left in the roof? How long before the building needs to be painted? And then by extension, how much will these things cost in the future? For these calculations, you'll probably need a spread sheet computer program that puts in certain variables like the cost of inflation. An example of a calculation might be that the building needs to be painted in five years. The cost of the painting job at that time will be $6,000 including inflation. Take the $6,000, divide it by 60 months (5 years). That means $100 needs to be set aside every month so that when it's time to paint, you have the money sitting there waiting to pay the painter.

This calculation is done to all aspects of the building, plus a little extra for surprises. At the end of all that ciphering you'll have a figure that you must contribute every month to a maintenance account so that as repairs are needed, there will be plenty of money to do the job.

Not having money set aside for maintenance is one of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make. Suppose you follow this advice to set money aside and the water heater breaks down. No, sweat. You have the money, you call for a repair, it gets done, the plumber gets paid and life goes on. Now, what if there was a way to almost never have a breakdown? That's my next point:

2. Anticipate problems and repair them before a breakdown. Suppose the time has come where the water heater has reached its expected life according to your calculations. It still works. So you say, maybe I can get by with a couple of more years with the existing heater. But did you know it may actually be less expensive to replace the heater with a new one even though the old one still works. How so? If the old one breaks there's usually other damage along with it. What if the water heater starts to leak? Now, not only do you have to replace the heater, but also whatever else was damaged as a result of the leak. Instead, replace the water heater in anticipation of its future failure. Take this approach and lower your chances of big failures. Bonus: Instead of being under the gun to buy a replacement heater and possibly paying too much, use our "anticipate problem" approach and shop at your leisure for the item, perhaps waiting for it to go on sale. This "replace the item before it breaks down" approach does nothing but save you money in the long run. (Wow. Just think of how much money you'd save replacing the roof at the appropriate time rather than waiting for it to leak and then taking action!)

3. Have a great list of contacts to do work on your house. Property managers have great, honest, fairly priced contractors they can call on to do work on the property. Because they deal with them regularly, they've developed a level of trust with the contractor that the job will be done in a timely manner at a fair price. Now, you personally may not know anyone who fixes things, but real estate people do. So call a property manager for a recommendation, or you can also call us at Home Rocket Real Estate(r) (916) 682-6454. We may know someone you can call.

So, what have we learned from all of this? Set aside money each month for future repairs. Anticipate problems and repair them BEFORE they break down. And, know who to call when it's time to take action.

Use these great techniques to have a smooth home ownership experience, unless, of course, you thrive on break down drama.


David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Repeat clients are our highest recommendation!

Stan and Maria bought a house with our assistance over a decade ago. Well, all those years we kept in touch with them, sending them newsletters, postcards and market updates.

When it came time to buy another home closer to their children and grand children, Stan and Maria chose us once again to represent them in purchasing this nice home in Orangevale, California.

We really enjoy their kind, sweet demeanor and their reasonable manner.

We're looking for nice people just like them. Do you know someone we can assist in buying or selling real estate? Please call us with their name and number. Thanks!



David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

How come there are no advertising jingles in real estate?

Advertising jingles are powerful! Which company had the jingle, "You deserve a break today?" Of course, it was McDonald's. But did you realize that jingle was created in 1971, over 40 years ago? Those of us who have lived a while still have that jingle rolling around in our head.

Can you finish this jingle?: "Winston tastes good like _____________."

Isn't that amazing that you still remember that jingle? That slogan was introduced in 1954 and ran until 1972. And there it remains in our memories, probably for the rest of our lives.

According to the Journal of Advertising Research, musical jingle advertising is over 20% more memorable than verbal advertising.

So why not use it in real estate advertising? It's been done but not very often. In all of my career I can only recall one real estate jingle: "Come home to Larchmont living," a beautifully written jingle by 1970's home builder M.J. Brock and Sons. I still re-sell Larchmont homes from time to time and every time I do, that jingle comes to mind.

The one thing I do see in common in almost all jingles is the use of the harmonic fifth chord of notes. Most people I've met in the music business agree, the harmonic fifth chord, which is comprised of notes five steps on the keyboard from each other) is probably the most beautiful chord to the human ear. So, it's no wonder it shows up in the majority of pop songs (Crosby, Stills and Nash regularly sang in harmonic fifth chords) and in most jingles.

When I worked in top 40 radio as a disc-jockey in the 1970's, jingles singing the station's call letters (in harmonic fifths, of course) were common. The programmers of top music stations back then used the Johnny Mann Singers who sang the station call-letter jingles acapella without musical accompaniment. Boy did it work. I would hear young people singing the station call letters! When it came ratings time, it was hoped people would remember the station call letters because of those great jingles and write them down in their listener diaries which they submitted to radio rating companies.

Well, what do we learn from all of this? If you're going to create a marketing campaign for real estate, determine who your target audience may be. Then, I recommend hiring an advertising/production company to create a memorable slogan. Then put that slogan into a jingle. Musical accompaniment for that jingle may be nice, but not necessary. Have it sung in harmonic fifth chords by real professional singers who are masters of vocal harmony.

Then watch your huge results. How come? Because almost no one else does it! It really works. I assisted in creating a jingle advertising campaign for one real estate company. People were singing that jingle all over town and the company grew dramatically.

If it worked for them, shouldn't it work for you?

Ah, yes. I can hear the jingle sing now: "3 bedroom 2 bath, low down payment; you do the math."


David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/



P.S. If you're interested in locating the best values in Sacramento, CA and Elk Grove California homes for sale, go to this great home search website: http://www.homerocketrealestate.com/

What impact will rising gas prices have on Sacramento area real estate?

The impact of rising gas prices on Sacramento real estate? It's impossible to quantify, but I can tell you this: When gas prices rise and stay that way, people re-think their decision to move far away from their work.


The ONLY reason we have suburbs is because we have a way to transport ourselves there. If we didn't have modern transportation, we'd be forced to live near our work.

In Sacramento, California there are buildings where you could have your store on the first floor and live upstairs. No car necessary. I saw the same in many older cities back East, for example in New York.

When I was in Acapulco, Mexico, a city about the same size as Sacramento, I saw no huge 8-lane freeways within the city. Instead it seemed like the entire city was served by tiny 2-lane roads. How was that possible? It's because people there generally worked near where they lived.

So it's not so surprising then that some people will want to live closer to their work when gas prices rise significantly.

I spoke recently to a couple whose workplace was in Sacramento. When making their financial calculations about moving to the El Dorado Hills area, they factored in the extra time and gas it would take to live there. I think they were surprised at how expensive it was to move to the foothills. That made them think twice about moving there.

The last time gas prices went up and stayed up, I noticed people called me to move from the foothills to the valley to save money. Demand for foothill properties went down and demand for properties closer to Sacramento's core went up. Foothill home prices went down, core Sacramento prices rose.

Haven't you noticed that during the popping of the real estate bubble in Sacramento, the properties that had the smallest reduction in value were those located near Sacramento's core areas? I'm talking about mid-town, downtown, Curtis Park, River Park, Land Park, East Sacramento and other nearby communities.

Did you know that Elk Grove, CA's Laguna West subdivision was designed as a "Pedestrian Oriented Community" (POD)? These 1990's designers believed that the home of the future would be located within a short distance of where a person worked in order to save resources. So take notice: not only are there plenty of walking and jogging trails around man-made lakes, but these trails lead to an industrial area where Apple computer now resides.

So when gas prices rise, I suggest you consider the possibility of moving to areas close to work, where maybe you could walk or bike ride to your job. And if you live far away, consider selling right now before far away areas lose their demand due to the increased cost of commuting there.

If you'd like to explore what's for sale in a certain area and price range, go to this site: www.REbuyer.com

OR call us and let's talk about it.



David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Home buying creates smiling faces.

I was looking over a picture list of buyers of real estate who used us to be their buyer's broker or agent. You can see the list at this site:


www.FindGreatHomes.com/homessold

Notice that all the buyers of real estate have smiling faces (except for the video of Kristi. She's crying tears of joy.)

I don't ever recall handing the keys to a home buyer and being greeted with a sad face.

That's because home buying opens up a world of opportunity they may not have had before.

Home buying represents roots in the community. A place to raise their children. Security. A warm place to sleep at night.

Imagine not having a home. We'd spend most of our time in survival, looking for shelter and food. Instead, we can relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor, which by the way includes time to think, consider and ponder on greater things. Much of the world doesn't have the luxury of relaxation and thinking. Did you ever consider the act of thinking as decadent?

Then there are the financial benefits of home ownership. Many potential buyers don't consider the tax advantages of home ownership. If you'd like to hear a tax expert explain these benefits, listen to this podcast:

http://podcast.findgreathomes.com/?p=episode&name=2012-02-21_owenbuyvsrent.mp3

Then consider that someday home mortgage payments stop whereas if you rent, the payment goes on forever. Not only that, but with a fixed-rate loan you lock in your payment whereas rent payments will probably increase regularly.

Since most home loans have no pre-payment penalty, with proper financial discipline, you can pay off your home faster if you contribute additional sums to the principal portion of your home loan. (P.S. Want to pay your home off faster? Call us, we'll assist you in doing the math).

Plus, if you're concerned that home values haven't risen recently, consider re-framing how you feel about home ownership. Your personal residence is NOT an investment. It's a commodity. As such, its going up in value is only a BONUS, not a must-have. That's because your real objective is to provide all those good things I spoke of earlier. So pay it off as soon as you can and enjoy the feeling of having a roof over your head during good times and the not so good times.

Can you tell I'm a believer in home ownership? If you're now renting, find out if now is the right time to become a homeowner. Call us at (916) 682-6454 or visit our website: http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Is conflict good for real estate?

The dictionary defines conflict as a struggle, quarrel or battle.


That's why it was surprising for me to hear a sales trainer say that conflict was good for real estate!

He pointed to a married couple. He said that most couples have conflicts in their marriage. Some have long fights and quarrels. But he pointed out, those contentions tend to bring the couple closer together rather than farther apart.

So, he advised us, go out and purposely create conflicts and thereby become closer to our clients.

I'm not sure I agree with his advice. If half of all marriages fail, then his advice only works half of the time. And what about the couples who live so harmoniously, there's rarely any conflict (like my marriage to Coleen Jurewicz)?

In all my 30+ years in real estate, I cannot remember many conflicts I've had with our clients. Indeed, our real estate transactions are mostly characterized by teamwork with our clients as we strive toward a common objective.

So, how come we have so many really kind, peaceful, reasonable clients when conflict in real estate abounds? It's because nice people tend to introduce us to other nice people.

One of our clients once said, "Coleen, my sister-in-law wants to buy a house. But I sent her to another real estate agent...my sister-in-law is not a very nice person!" our client proclaimed. We thanked our client for looking out for us!

So, our conclusion is simply this, we're not into conflict in real estate. We support harmony and accord. Peace, long-suffering and kindness are love acts. Conflicts are usually the result of fear, love's opposite. The more moments we spend in the love mode, the happier we'll be!

So if you meet a NICE person and they want to buy or sell real estate, please consider introducing them to us. Just call us at (916) 682-6454 or email David@FindGreatHomes.com and we'll not only do the rest, but we'll make YOU look GOOD.

P.S. If you'd like to learn how peace and harmony PROMOTES good, abundant and healthy living, please read my book available at http://www.daverocket.com/

David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096                                    
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653
http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

What is the status of today's real estate market?

Sacramento real estate broker David Jurewicz will speak at the Sacramento Home and Garden Show this Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Cal Expo.


Author, TV and radio personality David Jurewicz will address the current state of the Sacramento real estate market and how this impacts sellers and buyers of real estate.

                                                             David Jurewicz

Some of the questions he'll answer include:


Have we reached the bottom of the real estate market?

Is now a good time to buy? If we wait will prices go even lower?

Is buying hard or easy now?

Is this a good time to sell my home?

What's the impact of bank repos and foreclosed homes to our marketplace?

Where can I go to get the real inside scoop on real estate?

What's the best site to look for homes now for sale?

What are the best real estate apps for my smart phone?


David will also autograph copies of his real estate mindset book, 33 1/3 Success Shortcuts I Wish Someone Had Taught Me Sooner, available online at http://www.daverocket.com/


David Jurewicz, real estate broker 00661096 can be reached at (916) 682-6454.


David's blog is located at: http://www.rocketrealestate.com/

Four ways to get more energy now and stay energized later.

That's just one of the topics discussed in the newly-released March, 2012 issue of the Home Rocket Real Estate(r) Newsletter!

Look at some of the other great articles featured in this 4-page, information-packed newsletter:

* Home remedies for common ills.

* How to save hundreds of dollars in electronics.

* Can you still buy a home with a LOW down payment?

* Avoid this common threat to your house.

* One way to prevent dementia.

* Health benefits of dried figs

.* Meet our new "Director of Client Relations."

* How to fix up your house and add value.

Plus better living tips and fun stories.

Get your FREE copy today. Just download it from this site:


www.findgreathomes.com/march_2012.pdf

We hope you enjoy this issue.


David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096

Home Rocket Real Estate(r)

(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653

http://www.homerocketrealty.com/

Are donuts more nutritious than you think?

My nutritionist said always eat protein with sweets. That way, the sugar won't hit your system all at once, forcing the pancreas to over-produce insulin. Sugar all by itself leads to a super low after experiencing a super high.


So I think I might have found a solution: BACON-donuts!

See, you get the protein AND the sugar in one amazing snack!



David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096

Home Rocket Real Estate(r)

(916) 682-6454 Toll FREE: (800) 601-7653

http://www.homerocketrealty.com/