Sacramento Real Estate Blog

Are you moving to another state?

2012-02-13T21:15:00.001-08:00

When it's time to move to another State, consider giving us a call FIRST.

The reason? We can introduce you to the right people to make your move smoother particularly if you're planning to buy a house there.

We know what questions to ask to narrow down the search to the best real estate agent or broker for you.
Consider the alternative: You search on the internet looking for someone who will serve your needs and you click on the person with the best website. Just because they look good on the internet doesn't meant they'll serve you well.

We know how to cut through the real estate "baloney" and locate the person with the best odds of getting you where you want to go.

How much do we charge for this service? Nothing to you, it's FREE. We get paid from the agent we introduce you when your new house closes escrow. That's part of our motivation to locate someone who you'll like.

Our REAL motivation is that we only want the best for you and we'll work diligently to locate the right real estate agent or broker for you no matter where you move, in California or out of state.

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

Is McDonald's REALLY in the hamburger business?

2012-02-13T20:49:00.001-08:00

I first heard of McDonalds in the mid-1960's when my parents received a postcard advising them of a grand opening of a nearby restaurant. The postcard offered free hamburgers and fries. We just had to go. What I saw was something very similar to the Lodi, CA McDonald's in this picture.

Well, when I was older, I was asked to give a speech to the Northern California Region of McDonald's owners and managers. I was so impressed by their focus and big thinking, I decided to read up on the McDonald's business philosophy. What I discovered was amazing...

McDonald's is NOT in the hamburger business! They're in the real estate business! McDonald's buys the land for almost each location, they build a turnkey-ready building, then they sell the right to use the building to a franchisee, who at that time paid about $1.5 million for the right to run the business for some 20 years. (I have no idea what they charge now). They sent the franchisee to "Hamburger" school and at the end they assigned a location to the franchisee of McDonald's choosing...It could be anywhere. It turns out they watch the new franchisees to see how business savvy they are and then reward them later with more locations.

How does McDonald's make money? They create a special lease which allows McDonald's not only to recoup their expenses of buying the land and erecting the building but also allows McDonald's to participate in the profits of each location.

The hamburger part of the business exists so the tenants can make enough money to pay their rent!

When real estate begins to go up in value, just think what McDonald's parent company will be worth in the future. That's because they're investing in income-producing real estate.

Does their system work? Well in April, 2011 their stock was selling for around $68 per share. In February, 2012 their stock is worth some $100 per share. Yes they're thinking clearly.

Is there a moral to the story for us? Consider taking some of your retirement money and buying income-producing real estate. Assist your tenants in making great money so they can pay their rent to you and you make a great return on your investment as well. Notice for the most part, McDonald's uses a "buy and hold" investment strategy. That may be a strategy for you as well. Before you invest, be sure you've received input from your attorney, money manager, tax adviser and from us, your real estate broker. Remember, there are special IRA accounts that permit you to invest some of your retirement funds directly into real estate.

If you'd like more information on this topic, visit THIS website: http://www.howtoinfo.biz/1598/15

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

Is it possible to apply for a home loan and have it fund in 7 days?

2012-02-10T06:21:00.000-08:00

Well, not quite yet. But in my latest podcast, I speak with an former NFL football player turned mortgage specialist who says they're working on it!

Go to http://www.homerocketradio.com/ and listen to what football lessons he has learned that he now uses in his mortgage business!

What to do if you believe your property tax assessment is too high.

2012-02-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

There are two courses of action you can take: Informally ask the Sacramento County Tax Assessor to take another look at your assessment. You make this request in writing between the dates of July 2, 2012 and November 30, 2012. The Assessor will post the appropriate paperwork on their site closer to those dates. You'll need to provide comparable sales which support your position. If you don't agree with the Assessor's valuation, you can take it to another level with a formal challenge before an assessment board who will hear the Assessor's argument and your position as well and make a decision. This is a longer process and has a $30 fee attached to it.

Both Proposition 13 and Proposition 8 which amends 13 go into play when asking for a lower assessment.

If you'd like to read up on the process go to my website: www.HomeRocketRealty.com and click on "Links." You'll see the appropriate links at the top of the page. While you're there check out a long list of real estate information available to you at no charge.

David Jurewicz will be interviewed on this subject on Wednesday February 15, 2012 on FOX 40 TV news in the morning during the 7:00 a.m. hour. Please be sure to watch.

And, feel free to call us with your comments and questions at (916) 682-6454.

Is real estate too hard to buy?

2012-02-08T06:48:00.000-08:00

The secret to selling things is to make it EASY to buy. Auto dealers are masters of this. Over the years, if I had no cash, they'd say to me, "Just sign here and pay us later." Or if I had some cash now and more later, they'd say, "We'll take cash now and more cash later." It didn't even have to be a cashier's check. A personal check would be OK. In my book I write about one car dealer that even fed me lunch while my papers were being prepared. Dealers know that if they made it hard for me to buy, I'd probably go somewhere else.

Then why is it so HARD to buy some real estate? I attended a seminar yesterday where for two hours this nice woman explained the countless obstacles this particular seller has put in the way of buying their properties. If someone paid me big money to create the world's most complicated real estate transaction, I couldn't have dreamed up half of the impediments this seller has placed in the way to buying these particular homes. All through the seminar the instructor kept saying that if I miss just one small detail, my file will be thrown out and my client would lose the opportunity to buy the house. Really? Do they WANT to attract buyers or repel them? If the buyer had a choice between this highly complicated transaction or one that's easy, which one would the buyer and especially their agent who has to not only jump through hoops but fiery ones, no less, choose?

Other sellers create such a log jam you cannot reach anyone to discuss issues with the property. Some agents refuse to take phone calls. Some sellers demand that buyers get looked over by their "preferred lender" even though the buyer has already been pre-qualified by another competent lender. That's absurd. It's like going to buy something at the Target store and the cashier telling me I can't pay with my credit card UNLESS I apply for a credit card with their preferred credit card company. They know if they made that requirement, I'd probably go somewhere else to buy. Yet, to my amazement not only do sellers of real estate make that requirement, those same sellers and their agents insist on using non-standard forms and only one specific way to present offers on their properties.

And then, to add insult to injury, even if you do jump through all of their hoops, sellers and their agents throw a buyer's offer (which may have taken many hours to prepare and explain to the buyer) in a pile and may or may not get back to you with a response. I often have to chase the seller's agent with multiple phone calls and emails just to even find out if they're considering our offer.

The only reason these troublesome sellers get away with creating obstacles to the home buying process is because right now there are only about 3,000 homes for sale in Sacramento County and roughly half of that inventory sells every 30 days. So with such strong demand buyers and their agents have no choice but to follow the seller's "rules." However a small upward shift in inventory may move the balance of power to the buyer who will surely gravitate toward real estate that's EASY to buy.

Is there good news in all of this? YES. Even in today's marketplace, I estimate roughly a third of home sellers and their agents DO work diligently to make their properties EASY to buy in five ways: First, these smart people make their homes easy to see on the inside. Second, they will seriously consider whatever offer is provided by potential buyers, even if it's written on a cocktail napkin. Third, the agent is easy to reach. I'm so pleased at how many agents I've called recently who actually answer the phone and are pleased to answer questions, even providing documents which make it easy for a buyer to make the decision to buy. Fourth, they don't demand that a buyer be pre-qualified for financing twice. And fifth, they don't create bizarre rules which don't benefit buyers and sellers but merely make it less taxing on the seller's agent.

Are you considering selling your home, this year? Please ponder on these five things. Consider hiring an agent committed to make it EASY for buyers to buy your home. Ask yourself, are they putting slick oil on the real estate buying slide or rough and irritating sand?

Recently I've had such great experiences with sellers and their agents committed to making homes EASY to buy. The transactions are smooth, the agents are relaxed, and the buyer and seller are happy. That's my ideal vision of the real estate brokerage business where everyone wins.

So many people in positions of power are asking themselves, "How do we make the real estate market more robust?" I have the answer: Make it EASY to buy real estate!

The coffee shop and real estate

2012-02-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

Whenever I come into a town, I locate the coffee shop where the locals hang out and I eat there as opposed to the chain restaurants you find everywhere. For example, the last time I was in Lodi, CA I ate at the Richmaid Restaurant. When you step inside, it's like you've gone back 30 years in time.

In Sacramento, I eat at the Original Perry's on Stockton Blvd. next to the Costco store. To me, the food reminds me of home cooking and my dear mom who worked hard to prepare great meals.

While some people don't find these eating establishments very "pretty," eating at coffee shops has been a blessing for me. Once I was one of 40 people who had a "picnic-style" lunch served to us at a get together on some private property far away. The meal had all the classic picnic foods.

The next day 39 of the 40 people were deathly ill with food poisoning and that lasted three very long days. I was the only one NOT sick! My wife said, "It's because you eat at coffee shops!" So, thank you all of you coffee shops, you saved me from a very serious illness.

I asked a waitress at a coffee shop how she was doing. "Not very well," she said." I've been passing kidney stones and boy is that painful. It's even MORE painful than giving birth!" she explained. I said, "Well I can't really relate to all of that." "Keep eating here and you will!" she responded.

Over the years I've met countless numbers of clients to discuss real estate over a cup of coffee. At some of our coffee shop meetings we've decided to move ahead with a purchase. I would then get my paperwork and we'd write and sign a proposal to buy real estate. Other times we would simply create a buying or selling strategy. Once a very kind man even proposed that I take over his life coaching business! Another one proposed that I teach a class at the college where he worked. Once a week I get together with friends to have breakfast, coffee and just "talk."

So, I have a fondness for these coffee shops where you can "move things forward." I see some of these great eating establishments struggling financially due to lower customer traffic. I can assure you, if they ever go out of business, it's not because of me!

If you're serious about buying or selling real estate and just want to talk about it with no pressure, give me a call at (916) 682-6454 and let's set up a meeting over a cup of coffee at your favorite non-big-chain restaurant. The coffee's on me.

Which day of the week is the best day to put your house on the market?

2012-02-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

According to California real estate magazine the best day to put your house for sale is Friday!

According to one company's research, Friday listings are 12 percent more likely to sell in the first three months.

The reason? Probably because it's on Friday that home buyers make their plans to look at homes over the weekend.

Well, now we know.

Have you seen today's mortgage rates?

2012-02-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

Wow. Amazingly LOW.

Go HERE to take a look.

Here's my gut feeling about LOW rates, and LOW home prices: These conditions can't last forever.

After all, you can buy houses for LESS than it costs to replace them. And how can mortgages stay this low and still be able to attract investors to buy mortgages? These conditions will shift; they have to.

But for at least another year, things may stay about the way they are now. So, if you or someone you know is sitting on the fence hoping that things will go down lower, I suggest taking action sooner rather than later.

There may be a bunch of people kicking themselves the future wishing they had purchased a home in 2012.

Don't let that be you. Even if someone told you that buying was out of reach for you, please call us at (916) 682-6454 and let's explore if today's financing programs may work for you. There's no charge, just an opportunity to see if buying real estate right now is in your best interests. I look forward to hearing from you.

Planning to fix-up your house?

2012-02-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

Be certain your neighborhood and recent sales justify your improvements. In some areas you can get a nice future return on your fix-up investment or re-model. In other areas you may be over-improving and may not be able to get back what you put in.

To figure this out, just put yourself in the shoes of a home appraiser. If you sell your house, the appraiser must justify a dollar value for your improvements. Some things just simply need to get done as part of responsible home ownership. For example, if your roof leaks, a new roof would be a good move to protect your investment, but would probably add very little to the price of your home. After all, a leak-free roof is expected in a decent home.

However, adding more square footage, another bedroom or another bathroom may have an upward impact on your home's price. Will you get a dollar-for-dollar return on what you spent? It depends on the area. You may not get it back right away, but maybe over time.

So, if you're planning to upgrade your home, I recommend you give us a call at (916) 682-6454 and have us investigate the sales activity in your area to see if what the potential market impact of a home improvement might be in your area.

Is a Ford automobile the best car for real estate?

2012-02-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

I speak with a Ford automobile expert in my latest podcast and ask him what's around the corner for Ford cars. After all, without cars real estate would not be the way it is today, right?

Go HERE to listen to the podcast.

Are newly built homes by builder worthy of your consideration now?

2012-01-30T16:19:00.000-08:00

At one time I would have told you that it was a much better value to buy a foreclosed home and spend the money to fix it up rather than to buy a newly built home by a builder.

Now, I've changed my mind. The huge price gap between foreclosures and new home builders used to be so vast, new homes were out of the question. Today, I've noticed that the price gap has narrowed tremendously.

Because not only are builders creating housing product very close to their cost, they're also offering thousands of dollars worth of upgrades included in the price. That brings the gap even closer. When you consider all you're getting, new homes could be on your showing list when looking for a home for sale.

Also, certain homes in the builder's inventory are costing them money every day they sit there unsold. So it pays to determine which home the builder really NEEDS to sell.

NOTE: The nice salesperson in the subdivision sales office is a representative of which party? The BUILDER. They have to put the builder's interests first maybe even ahead of YOURS. So if you wish to have your own representative, please call us today at (916) 682-6454 and allow us to accompany you to your FIRST visit to the subdivision. That way we can register to be YOUR representative. We can then assist you in the negotiations and in determining your best options.

If we don't accompany you on your first visit, we cannot represent you and cannot be paid by the builder. That's right the builder pays our fee so there's NO charge to you for our services.

If there's a part of town you want to live in and are interested in knowing if there are any new homes available, please call us and let's talk about it.

Great buys on homes with pools!

2012-01-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

Did you know it takes around $30,000 to build a decent pool these days?

Well some of the houses now for sale with pools are GIVING their pools away! They're pricing their homes as if there were no pool.

See for yourself at THIS free list.

I saw one on the list reduced some $24,000 to $1,175,000. It sounds like a lot, but it's one of the best values I've seen in a long time! It has the best of everything, almost 7,000 square feet AND a pool. There are many other outstanding values to choose from in all price ranges.

Imagine enjoying all the comforts of your own pool at a very low cost. With mortgage interest rates so low, a home with a pool can be very affordable.

Just call us at (916) 682-6454 to take the next step.

Federal Open Market Committee says they'll keep the Federal funds rate LOW until 2014!

2012-01-25T15:36:00.000-08:00

To read their reasoning on the matter, please read their press release:

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/monetary/20120125a.htm

This may be good news for real estate as it encourages mortgage rates to remain low. So, between now and 2014 may be one of the best times in recent history to buy a home!

Please call us to see how much your money can buy in today's real estate market.

Go to www.HomeRocketRealty.com or more information or call (916) 682-6454.

David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096

We assist Ana in purchasing a great home buy!

2012-01-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

In this new video, first time home buyer Ana explains how she felt about the experience and being represented by Home Rocket Real Estate(r) broker 00661096. (916) 682-6454.

Mortgage troubles? Which path is best for you?

2012-01-22T19:54:00.000-08:00

In his latest podcast, David Jurewicz asks an attorney that an expert in trouble mortgages which of three paths is best: 1. Foreclosure. 2. Loan Modification. 3. Short Sale.

Go HERE to listen to the podcast.

Or you can contact David at (916) 682-6454. And, tell a friend.

In defense of chocolate...

2012-01-19T17:41:00.000-08:00

It seems that every four hours of our lives chocolate appears. Either we go search for it, or it finds us. We have a friend that used to distribute choclate. At our wedding reception in 1976 (yes we really are that old) our friend the pastry chef created something we had never seen before: chocolate-dipped strawberries made with European chocolate (now they’re everywhere). We even had a chocolate party! We had drinks featuring chocolate, salad dressing with chocolate, and chicken with chocolate mole sauce. The highlight was a chocolate sculpture which we broke into pieces and ate!

The sad news is that chocolate has gotten a bad rap over the years. For example, some believe it causes tooth decay. Truth is, decay is the result of poor oral hygiene. Research shows that chocolate can actually help in preventing tooth decay. Some say it has too much caffeine. In fact a 6 oz. bar has less than one quarter of the caffeine than a cup of coffee. It doesn’t cause zits on your face either. Leading dermatologists see no significant change in acne as a result of chocolate intake. And then there are those who think eating chocolate will lead to weight gain. However, Annette Natow, Ph.D author of the Fat Attack Plan says, “Candy, in moderation can be part of low-fat eating. In fact, an occasional sweet treat helps you to stick to a healthy eating plan.”

The best news for us chocolate lovers comes from a study by Andrew Waterhouse from the University of California-Davis. He found that a 1.5 oz. piece of chocolate contained the same amount of phenol as a 5 oz. glass of red wine. Phenol helps lower the risk of heart disease by preventing fat-like substances in the bloodstream from clogging the arteries. Plus chocolate is an antioxidant! Coleen and I were not at all surprised when the maker of the nutritional supplements we take daily added Dutch cocoa powder to their health formula in order to prevent heart disease. Of course, like anything else, too much chocolate may do more harm than good. Moderation is best in all things, as you know.

In our many travels we’ve tasted lots of chocolate. Our favorites are Swiss chocolate from private Swiss chocolatiers and amazingly enough, the Belgian chocolate available at Trader Joe’s. It has the most cocoa for the dollar we’ve seen. We urge people to avoid milk chocolate as the milk was used by promoters like Hershey’s to “water down” the real chocolate to make it more affordable for the common man. No need for that since we now can get the “real thing” at Trader Joe’s inexpensively.

And then, wait until you find out what goes on behind the scenes in the chocolate world. Be sure to read the book, “The emperors of Chocolate” by Joel Glenn Brenner.

Are you a chocolate and real estate lover? Call us to talk about it!

How influential are you?

2012-01-18T12:38:00.000-08:00

This is a very important question because virtually everything material and emotional is controlled by another human being. The better you’re able to influence others, the more you’ll have of what you want. We desire that all of our friends get what they want. So we’re writing you this letter to convey some of the things we’ve learned about influencing people:

• The law of reciprocity. Simply stated, if you give someone something, there’s a strong feeling on the part of the receiver that they need to give something back. One religious group directly asked people for money with limited results. But when they started giving a gift to a person first, the recipient felt they needed to make a contribution. Bottom line? Their income went way up because they understood this law. If you want the law of reciprocity to work for you, be a generous giver of gifts. While your magnanimousness may not always be returned by the person to whom you gave a gift, others may reward you. One businessman we know gives big gifts to charity when his business is down. (When he has the least amount of money, by the way) He reports his business increases significantly overall as a result of these gifts. (The charity may not buy from him, but the people who work there might.) Want a better life? Give without strings to people and charities watch this great law at work!

• Feed people and influence them! Ever notice that political or charitable fundraisers are accompanied by a meal? There’s a reason for that! When you feed people, they’re more receptive to your ideas and suggestions. Need to bring people to your way of thinking? Feed them! Men instinctively know this. How many men do you know have proposed marriage at the end of a fine meal? And, how often was the answer, “yes”?

• People are influenced by beauty. I’ve read studies that show beautiful people have more things go their way. But what is beauty? It’s truly a perception. Beauty is conveyed by many things, your face, your grooming, the clothes you wear, your jewelry. But there’s also beauty in personality, kindness and warm heartedness. Beauty is a package. Be as beautiful as you’re capable of being if you want to influence people. And, by the way, is everything else your customer or client sees also beautiful? Your car? Your business and its surroundings? The restaurant you take that person to?

• People say they’re influenced by price. But the truth is, price for most people is a secondary consideration. They often purchase an item or service to make them feel a certain way or at least so they can feel good about themselves. People will pay any reasonable price for something that gives them a great feeling ($120 concert tickets?). In fact, some people don’t feel good about themselves if they pay too little for an item; it may make them feel too common. Instead they’d like to feel unique. That’s why upper-end salons or stores like Nordstrom’s thrive. Businesspeople have reported to us that when something isn’t moving, they’ve had success raising the price rather than lowering it! People feel “you get what you pay for.” Want to increase your sales? Do like the upper-end merchants. Provide a better than average product or service and charge a price where the customer will value what you offer AND feel great when they buy it. Also, watch out for people who are only motivated by price. In addition to demanding a low price, they’ll keep asking for more without paying!

There are many other things that are influential. We use these concepts to influence people and circumstances in favor of our clients. If you know anyone who needs our influence to get what they want in real estate, please call us at (916) 682-6454 with their name and number. Thanks!

New Sacramento CA commercial real estate site is launched!

2012-01-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

The commercial division of Home Rocket Real Estate(r) is happy to announce the creation of their new site located at: www.CommercialSacramentoRealEstate.com

The new site has featured commercial properties with videos so you can tour the properties. Plus, at the bottom of the page, you can see a current list of commercial real estate now for sale or lease.

Please visit the site today and let us know what you think at (916) 682-6454.

IRA wealth using real estate.

2012-01-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

Did you know if you have a self-directed IRA account you can use the monies in it to purchase real estate as an investment? The real estate investment has to be conservative (which is in your best interests). Which IRA is the best for you? That depends on your circumstances. So, have a discussion with an investment and tax expert as part of your homework. According to the book IRA Wealth by Patrick Rice, a Roth IRA is worth a serious examination. The Author believes investments in real estate could outperform other types of investments. So, here's the bottom line: If you have money in a retirement account getting you returns below your expectations, consider getting an IRA account that permits you to invest in real estate. Then call us at (916) 682-6454 and allow us to assist you in locating a conservative real estate investment with upside potential.

Cutest video of a parrotlet bird taking a bath!

2012-01-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

Sacramento real estate broker Coleen Jurewicz captured a rare moment when her blue parrotlet bird "Kitty" took a bath in Coleen's water glass. Could this be one of the cutest parrotlet videos yet? Note how small Kitty is and her blue coloring. Could this be the blue bird of happiness?

Coleen can be reached at Home Rocket Real Estate(r) (00661096) (916) 682-6454 to talk about parrotlets or real estate!

If Sacramento homes for sale is DOWN and sales are UP, why is the median price still coming down?

2012-01-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

The answer is in THIS video!

Go HERE to watch the video!

Plus: six trends for 2012 to watch carefull and how to improve your odds of selling your home in 30 days or less!

New agreement allows you to have more homes available to you in Northern California.

2012-01-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

An agreement has been reached between the Multiple Listing Services serving 21 Northern California counties. They will now allow Real estate brokers who are members to show each other's properties using their current lock-box systems.

In the past, if one of my clients wanted to see a home in the Bay area, I would have difficulty in doing so because my lock-box key wouldn't open houses in that area for viewing. The same is true of Bay area brokers wanting to show homes in the Sacramento area.

Well that has been resolved. My current key will now operate in the following counties: Alameda, San Benito, Contra Costa, San Francisco, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Marin, San Mateo, Mendocino, Santa Clara, Merced, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, North San Mateo, Stanislaus, Placer, Yolo, and, of course, Sacramento.

Here's why this is good news for you: If you choose us to be your agent in selling your home, we can expose your property to more than 60,000 real estate agents and brokers and they can all show your home to prospective buyers! You would think at least one of them would have a buyer for your home!

This great move on the part of seven MLS systems has greatly improved your odds of selling your home for a top price in a reasonable amount of time.

P.S. Please call us to discuss our 78-point, 30-day marketing plan. No-obligation, just an opportunity to see if we can work together. Call (916) 682-6454 today.

We sold this Elk Grove, CA home in only 5 days!

2012-01-09T20:41:00.000-08:00

To learn more about our 30-day marketing plan, call (916) 682-6454.

Our 30 day marketing plan improves your odds of selling your home fast and for top dollar!

2012-01-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

According to the Sacramento Association of REALTORS(r) sales report covering sales for November, 2011, the average home in Sacramento takes 72 days to sell.

I just looked at the houses where we represented the seller in 2011. The average days on the market for homes listed with us at Home Rocket Real Estate(r) was only 30 days! Or put another way, our listings took far less than half the time to sell than the market average!

How did we do it? We pay more attention to properties listed through our firm. We look carefully at how the home appears to other brokers, buyers and other interested parties. We're easy to reach and return calls promptly. We're expert negotiators and have over 30 years experience each! Our secret pricing strategy gets more attention.

If you need to sell your home and want the highest odds of getting a great price in a reasonable amount of time, please call us at (916) 682-6454 for a no-obligation study of your home's market potential. You can also go HERE to see our website designed just for home sellers.

We thank you for thinking of us and look forward to hearing from you.

Is NOW the time to buy a vacation home?

2012-01-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

The answer is YES. Look at this picture of the happy couple Bill and Henrietta standing in front of their vacation home not too far from Lake Tahoe which we recently helped them purchase:

Do we need to say more? If it's time in your life for a vacation/retirement home, please call us to discuss what's available and how you can buy one for yourself. Call us today at (916) 682-6454 or visit our special vacation home website HERE.

Home Rocket Real Estate(r) broker 00661096

Should I hire a real estate agent or real estate broker?

2012-01-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

The difference is simple, in California, only a real estate broker can collect a commission.

That means a real estate agent must be employed by a real estate broker so that the agent can be paid.

Because of this important difference it's not surprising it's much harder to become a real estate broker. Advanced degrees or work experience are required to be a broker. The real estate examination is harder. That's because the broker usually bears more responsibility in real estate.

According to the California Department of real estate, there are twice as many real estate agents as there are real estate brokers. About one quarter of all the people who take real estate exams do not pass.

So, since you have a choice of who you hire to be your real estate representative in buying or selling real estate, why not choose a broker instead of an agent?

And further, in addition to simply passing the licensing examination, do they have any higher real estate education?

Well, Coleen Jurewicz and I are happy to report these facts about us:

We're BOTH real estate BROKERS, not agents.
David Jurewicz is a Graduate of the REALTORS(r) Institute (GRI). It's like a degree of higher learning in the real estate world.
We BOTH passed our broker exams the FIRST time.
We have approx. 60 years combined real estate experience.

Here are five reasons why we may be a better choice for you:

We only represent ONE party per transaction, YOU. Others attempt to represent BOTH seller and buyer at the SAME time! We avoid the practice of "dual-agency."
We're expert negotiators seeking "win-win" solutions to the issues all parties face.
We have personally experienced all 88 things that can go sideways in real estate transactions and have a strategy to deal with each one.
We're strong real estate marketers improving your odds of getting your property sold for top value in a reasonable amount of time.
Most of our business is referred to us through kind introductions. We then can spend more time providing great service to our clients instead of constantly seeking new business through telephone calls, doork knocking, etc.

Our consultations are at no cost to you. So call us today to meet and discuss real estate. Our telephone number is (916) 682-6454.

By David Jurewicz, broker 00661096

New Listing: Affordable home for sale in Antelope, CA!

2012-01-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

Look at all you get for only $110,000! Please watch this video:

For more information, call (916) 682-6454 Home Rocket Real Estate (r) broker 00661096

What if the title company discovers title problems in escrow?

2011-12-30T19:18:00.000-08:00

This is item #78 on our list of over 80 things that can go sideways in a real estate transaction.

This item happened to us. The current recorded papers on the property we were selling led the title company to believe that there was a loan on the property that was not paid off. The problem? The person who took out the loan had died and the heirs could not find proof that the loan had been paid off. Plus, there was another loan on the property whose origin was unclear.

Without clearing up these items, the title company would not insure the title and our transaction could not close.

The solution? Well, fortunately for us, Coleen who was handling the paperwork had the foresight to choose, with her client's permission, an escrow officer who knew just what to do to address this issue. She had the title company hire a private investigation company to get to the bottom of these issues. Amazingly enough, the correct parties were uncovered, the proper paperwork was filed, the title company issued insurance and we closed escrow!

I praise the escrow officer who didn't just throw up her hands and say, "Sorry, there's nothing we can do." Instead she knew what steps to take to resolve this thorny issue.

There's nothing like experience to create a smooth landing when there's real estate turbulence. The moral of the story? If possible, use highly experienced and effective real estate brokers, title and escrow people and mortgage people in your next transaction to improve your odds of completing a smooth real estate transaction.

How to turn your debt into wealth.

2011-12-28T11:06:00.000-08:00

With proper coaching, you can become debt free.

Go to THIS site to find out how.

It seems that 90% of the battle is just your DECISION to become free of debt.

If you've made this decision and are determined, go to the above site and read more about it.

My best wishes to you.

The little-known path to great health and happiness

2011-12-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

If we're sick, the common belief is that if you take the right pill you will be healed. Well, I'm not a doctor or a health expert, but for many illnesses, our bodies may heal themselves. But our body needs all the building blocks so it can create it's own health formula.

What are those building blocks?

Well, we need vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, essential oils and fatty acids, enzymes and probiotics. There are many who claim that "super-foods" such as stabilized rice bran, goji, noni, pomegranate, blueberry, acai and mangosteen are critical to good health. And you'll notice they sell each of these items individually. But each of these super foods, by themselves, without the other things I've mentioned, become only a partial piece of the puzzle. And, who of us is smart enough to know how much of each item to take so that they work together instead of against each other?

What if there is one formula that had ALL of these items in a synergistic blend so you don't have to take a bunch of pills every day? That way your body has the right tools in its toolbox in order to potentially heal itself. Well it does exist. In fact, we're dealers for this amazing product. Call (916) 682-6454 to order what I believe is the premium supplement product (I've been taking it myself for years).
But even then, this product is only a piece of the puzzle and it by itself doesn't cure any disease. (These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA) A lot of the health challenges I observe with people simply come from living in a toxic world. When the body is in toxic overload, it sometimes manifests itself in illness.

So, another piece of the health story would be to cleanse our bodies of toxins on a regular basis. Then, eat a diet very low in toxic foods. Then exercise every day. (Consult a physician or health expert before making changes to your health regimen.)

That's not all, there's more: we have to decide to be in a loving mode full of joy and happiness at each moment rather than fear, pain frustration and anger. In the love mode beautiful healing endorphins bathe our body with healing properties. In the fear/frustration/pain mode, we essentially tell our bodies we want to die, and our bodies comply by releasing toxic substances into our systems attacking our most vulnerable areas.

Even if you did all of the above, all you've really done is improve your odds of living a more healthy satisfied life. It's still no guarantee that we'll be illness-free and live a long life. There are unexpected things that happen to us that clearly require human intervention if we are to be well such as an accident or a failure of one of our body's critical systems. And huge emotional events like the death of a loved one can also have a profound effect on our health.

In spite all of this, wouldn't you agree that doing everything we can to keep our mental and physical health in as good shape as possible makes life in general more enjoyable and productive? If you agree, then please consider creating a path to long term health and wellness and following it.

For a more detailed description of methods of success, emotionally, physically and financially, please read my book at: www.DaveRocket.com

5 little-known security measures for your home.

2011-12-26T16:42:00.000-08:00

If people become more deperate to acquire what they need to live, security for those who are doing fine may become a greater issue as years go by.

Home security experts have the following recommendations to make sure your odds of being hurt by intruders are minimized:

Watch what the internet tells about you. Can someone identify your car our house just by what's online? Can they figure out when you're not home? Consider sending mixed messages so no one can tell for a certainty where you are, what you're doing or what you're driving.
Create physical barriers to your house. These may include, gates, fences or shrubery which will make it harder for someone to invade your space. You may also consider using polycarbonate glass in windows or glass doors which might make it much harder to break into your home. And, of course, a better than average security system would be in order. Consider a system that uses cell phone technology to contact your alarm carrier just in case a super-smart burgler knows how to disarm your telephone lines.
Create a way to video-tape intruders. That way you can show clear images to police of unwanted guests. Security systems begin with just simple cameras that are either on all the time or only record when it senses movement, all the way up to computer systems that detect certain types of movement and alert dispatchers when something out of the ordinary appears on the property.
Panic rooms are not just for the rich. The room doesn't have to keep intruders out forever, but certainly long enough for help to arrive. Make sure there's a phone so you can call for assistance. I would imagine the walls couldn't be too flimsy, and maybe have a solid metal door with an amazingly strong lock for starters.
Consult a security firm for advice. One option very few homes have is audio listening technology. When your alarm goes off, sensitive microphones allow monitoring firms to "listen-in" to what's going on inside your home and speak to intruders warning them to leave!

One person I know got serious about his home security AFTER a burgler took off with lots of his stuff. The moral of the story? The time to get serious about security is right now. Call us at (916) 682-6454 if you need an introduction to a security expert.

Solutions to the 5 reasons people can't buy a home.

2011-12-23T17:22:00.000-08:00

There are 5 reasons people cannot buy a home today. But if those people focused on the solutions I propose, they may become homeowners sooner than they may think! Here are the challenges and solutions:

1. Don't have enough cash for a down payment. There are lots of ways to raise cash quickly even without using your parent's money! See THIS blog post.

2. Out of work or don't earn enough income. Don't wait for someone to create a job for you, create your own job. What's the biggest issue facing almost all small businesses today? Not enough customers. Offer to locate new customers for business and they'll hire you right away! What I'm recommending is getting a sales position with a company whether it be manufacturing, retail or network marketing. The cost of getting into sales positions is usually small but the rewards can be great. I saw an ad in the paper for a salesperson at a luxury auto dealer who offered to get the salesperson a luxury car to drive around as part of the perks of working there! Become more business focused and less job focused and you'll have an income coming in surprisingly fast.

3. Have too much debt. Get a financial coach, watch carefully where your money goes and in a short time you'll get ahead of your debt situation. This is a great reason to get into sales as a second income. Use that income to pay down debt. Use extra money to pay down your most expensive debt. Now when that debt is retired, use the money you would have used paying the former debt on another account. That cascading debt payoff solution works great.

4. Your credit score is too low. Did you know there are professional credit coaches who assist you in raising your credit score? There's no secret. Improved credit scores require focus and dedication. Follow your coach's advice and watch amazing things happen to your credit rating.

5. Don't believe you can buy. Some well meaning person may have told you that homeownership wasn't possible for you and you gave up pursuing the dream. Don't stop seeking a solution. One of my clients didn't have enough money to buy a property and he couldn't get a loan. But we approached the seller of the property asking if he'd carry short term financing for the buyer. The answer was yes. They buyer got the property they wanted and the seller got all of his money eventually.

Please call us at (916) 682-6454 if you've been told you cannot buy a home and let's address that issue head on. Who knows? A great solution you never thought was possible could be waiting for you!

5 steps to increase your wealth in 2012

2011-12-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

That's just one of the articles in our newly released January, 2012 Home Rocket Real Estate(r) newsletter. Scroll down for a list of what's in store for you this month.

To download your FREE copy, GO HERE.

Look at all this great information in this issue:

Little-known ways to dramatically improve your ability to remember important facts.
What to do and not do when you have an eye injury.
How to reduce auto emissions.
How to make your home's smells more appealing to buyers.
How to deal with sugar cravings.
Having trouble sleeping? Read these suggestions.
Things we've learned traveling the United States.
Surprising animal facts.

Plus funny stories, jokes and more...

If you'd like to subscribe to our online ezine with real estate updates, go to:
http://www.8889rocket.com/

What if the seller cannot find a suitable replacement property?

2011-12-21T06:18:00.000-08:00

Item 37 in our list of over 80 things that can go wrong in a real estate transaction has to do with where the seller will move once their home is sold.

The issue stems from the belief that once their home is sold, a replacement home will amazingly appear so you can move from your previous residence to your new residence in one move.

This concept doesn't really work well in today's marketplace. That's because it's very difficult to buy another property contingent upon the sale and closing of your existing property. Due to the uncertainty of real estate sales, there aren't many sellers willing to take their home off of the market waiting for your house to sell.

Now there are some who have the financial wherewithal to buy their next house while holding on to their existing home, but that's rare.

What's more realistic is for home sellers who live in their homes to plan for two moves. When house number one sells, closes escrow and your proceeds are in your bank, you move to temporary housing while securing your next home. Some of my clients move in with friends or relatives. Some rent a house or even a long term hotel room.

Let's be realistic, even if you were to secure your next home while still living in yours, the odds of closing both properties at the same time is hard. The stress of leaving your existing home on a certain day and moving into the next one the next day is sometimes overwhelming. Why make moving to another property so painful? Plan a double move so you can calmly locate your next property, do whatever fix-up work you'd like to do to it before moving in, and then, move into your new house at your own pace. (Of course, be certain you can qualify financially to purchase your next home).

If you'd like to meet one of our clients who relocated from one house to another with our assistance (doing a double-move), watch this video:

By the way, right now is one of the best times to move to a better home in an area you like. Call us at (916) 682-6454 and let us assist you in selling your existing home and buying a new one.

Did you know there are over 80 things that can go sideways in a real estate transaction?

2011-12-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

Real Estate turbulence is the real reason you hire experienced real estate brokers for the strategies they've developed over the years to deal with challenges to a smooth real estate transaction.

Recently, Coleen had to deal with item #70, "Comparable properties for a unique house hard to find."

So hard in fact, the appraisal came in $20,000 LOWER than the sales price agreed to by the buyer and seller! For many real estate practioners, this would be too big of a hurdle to overcome. The transaction could have come to an end with just this incident!

Instead, Coleen created a solution where everyone wins. Everyone agreed to the solution and the transaction was put back on track.

Over the years I've heard people say, "So, what's the big deal to being a real estate broker? Just a few papers, a for sale sign and putting the listing in the Multiple Listing Service database..."

While all that's true, where brokers really earn their commissions is when something goes sideways. And it's usually experienced brokers that end up righting the ship in stormy seas.

So, choose brokers with a wealth of experience. To find out more about our experience and backgrounds, go to THIS site.

Or call, (916) 682-6454 to schedule a no-charge, no-obligation consultation.

Resistance may not be good for real estate

2011-12-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

When I look around, I notice that most things tend to harmonize, not resist each other. The reason is that harmony is far easier than resistance.

Resistance is defined as opposition of one thing to another. Opposition requires energy. For example, just attempt to resist a a strong wall. We'll get tired and faint pushing our weight against the wall, and yet the wall will still stand. Wouldn't it simply be easier to accept the wall and not resist it?

The same is true in real estate. I observe many resisting the sale of property through their self-focused actions. Who wins when that happens?

It might be the seller of real estate who puts all kinds of hurdles in the way of home buyers. Examples of this are making it hard for the buyers agents to see the house, forcing buyers to have to be pre-qualified by certain lenders of the seller's choosing (who usually are hard to reach), not presenting offers in a timely manner, not taking calls inquiring about the house, not being up-front about issues with the house, flatly rejecting offers instead of seeking common ground, etc.

Buyers can also offer resistance by being offended if their offer isn't accepted, or a counter-offer isn't as they expected, stopping the negotiations instead of seeking common ground, making huge demands of the seller as if they're entitled to those things, etc.

The more we make the other party defend their point of view, the more they'll dig in their heels due to our resistance and the less likely there will be a smooth transaction.

Instead, let's look for ways we can make everyone a winner in each real estate transaction. I praised one of my clients for his winning thinking. A home buyer didn't want to pay the price my client was asking. My client could have told me to send the buyer away as being unreasonable. But we discovered the potential buyer was staying with three children in a small motel room while waiting to find a house to buy. This couldn't be comfortable thought my seller client. So, he made the buyer this offer: Pay my full price and you can move in tomorrow rent free until escrow closes. Most real estate practitioners would say there's too much risk with this idea. However, when the buyer received the offer to move in right away, he bought the home at full price! It closed a few weeks later and everyone was extremely happy. That truly was a harmonious transaction when the resistance was removed.

A good real estate broker, therefore acts as the lubrication between resisting parties to a transaction. By looking for ways to lower the resistance, more real estate transactions are possible. Lowering resistance to transactions by all of us in real estate could be one of the keys to lifting our real estate marketplace to a much better level.

Lowering resistance works on many life issues, not just real estate. To find out more, please read the chapter "Resistance is Futile" on page 54 in my book 331/3 Success Shortcuts I Wish Someone Had Taught Me Sooner now available at major book sellers or at : www.DaveRocket.com

Coleen Jurewicz, publicity chair for LeTip of Midtown Sacramento offers this update in her latest press release:

2011-12-17T17:49:00.003-08:00

Midtown Letip of Sacramento welcomes new members.

Burton Douglass, president of LeTip of Midtown Sacramento has recently welcomed the following new members:

Roby Harris of Twice as Nice Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Strati Vourakis of Calm Computing Consultants

Jess Mendez of WorldNet Recovery Systems, asset portfolio management

Rebekah Rathe hair stylist

Robert Walden, landscape maintenance

Bob Hedges, credit card services

Paul Tozer, business law attorney

To see a complete list of Letip Midtown members go to:

www.midtownletip.com/directory.html

At their most recent meeting, Beth Andrus, massage therapist explained that massage by itself is not enough. A balancing of one’s energy fields may also required in order to feel at your best. Also that a 60-minute massage is about the same as 7-8 hours of sleep to your body. Beth uses techniques to lower stress and adjust your energy fields, which, in turn promote better overall health.

Kathe Nathan of Bank of Sacramento explained the difference between small banks like hers vs. big banks. Because small banks usually know you by name and your unique banking style, there’s less chance for fraud in a smaller bank. Because of this close relationship, in many cases, your deposits are usually available right away for your use at her bank rather than your having to face 11-day holding periods at larger institutions. Plus, smaller banks provide custom services that suit the individual needs of their customers which large banks simply don’t have the time to provide.

Letip of Midtown Sacramento offers a network to promote your business. They meet each Wednesday at 7:01 A.M. at River’s Edge Café and Espresso restaurant, 8740 La Riviera Dr, Sacramento, CA 95826. Breakfast is free to anyone who is serious about joining the group. For more information, contact Coleen Jurewicz, Publicity Chair at (916) 682-6454 or email: Coleen@FindGreatHomes.com.

Free list of 50 Sacramento and Elk Grove CA bank foreclosed homes, $150,000-$250,000.

2011-12-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

It's amazing, there's only 50 bank houses for sale priced $150,000-$250,000 in Sacramento County.

Here's a link to that free list. Note that the list updates daily. So SAVE this link and check back regularly for new properties:

FREE list of Bank Foreclosures

If you'd like us to narrow down the search to the best buys in your area and price range, call (916) 682-6454 today.

A service of Home Rocket Real Estate(r) Broker 00661096

The 10 secrets to wealth...

2011-12-14T17:47:00.000-08:00

Wealth is really about what we believe and what on what we focus our attention.

To see the free wealth list, go to this site:

10 Secret Wealth Ideas

The article points out that great wealth can be created in the most challenging of times. Remember, wealth is created in our brains and may begin with just a simple thought.

Presented by David Jurewicz, broker www.HomeRocketRealEstate.com (00661096) (916) 682-6454

Use AM radio to sell houses?

2011-12-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

We've had a great deal of success using AM radio to promote our listings. We install an FCC approved radio transmitter at each location and broadcast information about the house to anyone with an AM radio who parks near the home. That way without feeling the need to call an agent, prospective home buyers can get their questions answered to see if the home is worth further investigation. To watch a short video of how this works, go to this site:

http://www.findgreathomes.com/talkinghouse/

On one of our listings, a prospective home buyer heard our AM radio announcement, went online and saw our video, then sent that video to their spouse who was out of state on business. The spouse liked the video so much she instructed her husband to buy the house! Technology made the sale!

Yet, in spite of this AM broadcast technology for real estate having been around for years, very few brokers use it.

So, if you'd like to have a talking house transmitter at your house, call us for a no-obligation consultation.

David Jurewicz, Broker 00661096
(916) 682-6454
David@FindGreatHomes.com

Our real estate predictions, forecast for 2012.

2011-12-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

Some economists believe home prices will rise beginning in 2012. Is that realistic? Listen to our latest podcast and find out! Go to www.HomeRocketRadio.com now!

Hosted by David Jurewicz, Broker (00661096) of http://www.homerocketrealty.com/ David can be reached at: (916) 682-6454

Free list of over 70 foreclosed/bank repo homes for sale in Elk Grove CA!

2011-12-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

Go HERE to get your free list.

Or call (916) 682-6454 and we'll narrow down the search to the properties that are in your favorite area and price range.

A service of http://www.homerocketrealestate.com/ broker, 00661096

Amazing value on a beautiful Elk Grove home - 8662 Disa Alpine Way

2011-12-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

Watch this video to learn why we say this home is an amazing value at only $185,000!

For more information, contact Home Rocket Real Estate(r) (00660196) (916) 682-6454

Do you know someone whose business is in a slump?

2011-11-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

Have them read page 4 of our latest newsletter for some great suggestions!

PLUS there's a lot more:

Detangle the stress of family ties.

Avoid the biggest mistake home buyers make.

Avoid online shopping scams.

Get the latest essential technologies for 2012.

Back pain relief ideas.

Secret way to get reservations at top restaurants.

Last minute tax tips.

How to properly use a fire extinguisher.

The top paying professions.

What to do when adult kids come to live with their parents.

How to find the best deal when getting a home loan.

Go HERE to download your FREE copy.

Who's the next person you know who could use our services? Call us at (916) 682-6454 with their name and number. We promise to take great care of them and make you look good.

Contemporary Hits Radio and Country music radio are tied for number 1 in Sacramento.

2011-11-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

After years of radio staying about the same in Sacramento, CA the past year or so has seen big changes. To see the current ratings go HERE.

The news/talk format was number one by a long shot for at least a dozen years. But it now falls behind Contemporary Hits, Country Music and Rock Music radio stations.

Are people getting tired of the news?

Let me know what you think.

P.S., the radio report says there are some 1,850,000 people in the Sacramento marketplace over 12 years of age making Sacramento the 27th largest radio market in the United States.

Will 2012 be the year real estate prices begin to rise again?

2011-11-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

New predictions for 2012 real estate

2011-11-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

From the National Associaton of REALTORS(r) come these predicted home buying trends for next year:

Home prices may rise by up to 3% next year and about the same in 2013, and 2014.
The number of homes sold may increase up to 5% nationwide next year.
Rents may increase 3% nationwide in 2012 and 3.5% each in the two following years.
The median age of all home buyers is rising to around 45.
Repeat buyers is up to 53 years of age.
First time home buyers fell to 37 percent of the market, down from 50% last year.
85% of buyers are married.
Gross household income for the repeat buyer is up to $96,600 a rise from $87,000 last year.

For home sellers it's important to know these trends so you can market your properties more effectively.

In Sacramento real estate these are the trends we're watching:

35% fewer homes now for sale than one year ago.

At the current sales rate, there are only 2.2 homes now for sale for every home buyer.

Short sales now represent 27% of the market from 23% one year ago.

Number of closed escrows is up 20.4% from one year ago.

Roughly the same number of homes are sold using Conventional, FHA financing and all cash.

The average days on the market for a home in Sacramento County is 68 days.

62% of all homes sell in the first 60 days. 43.1% of all homes sell in the first 30 days.

While the median price of a home is about the same today as last month, it's down 8.1% from one year ago.

If you're interested in buying or selling real estate and want to know how these trends impact you personally, please call David Jurewicz, Broker (00661096) at (916) 682-6454.

How to learn insider secrets from other people's successful businesses...

2011-11-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

What You Didn’t Know –

So you think you know, huh?

Most of us know a little about a lot of different things. But what if you could get the `Insiders Secrets’ available from those who really “know?”

This is part of the agenda at a local business meeting of a group called LeTip of Midtown. Here are just a few of the pearls of wisdom bandied about at recent meetings.

Pool and Spa Maintenance- Nathan Harrell of The Pool Guy says that small creatures also love the warm water in your spa, especially in the wintertime so extra attention is needed to keep your water in balance. The chemical balance and water temperature affect the longevity of your pool/spa equipment too.

Landscape Planning- Marti Meyer of Garden Graphics tells us that ecological landscaping is growing in popularity. Concepts include using native plants and strategic sprinkler placement away from hardscape to lower water usage on the property.

Auto Collision Repair- Steve Morrow of Capital Auto Restoration Inc. says that they use the cutting edge water based paint right now that is scheduled to be mandated next year here in Sacramento County. This move keeps them compliant and conscientious. Their motto: Always Make It Right.

Small Business Tax Planning- Burton Douglass of Douglass & Company CPA declares that often one can cut some taxes –sometimes up to half- by electing to incorporate.

Donating and Appraisals- Loretta Crowell of Advanced Appraisal Services tips us that if you want to donate property over $5,000 in value and you expect to take a tax deduction, the IRS wants you to have an appraisal substantiating the value of the donated item(s).

Target Mailing Lists- Mark Albrecht of Money Mailer states that US Census data is used to laser focus a mailing list to the most likely users of your product or service.

LeTip members educate in their areas of expertise and support one another’s businesses. You are invited to visit.

Now you “know”.

For more information contact: Coleen Jurewicz, Publicity Chair of Midtown LeTip of Sacramento. 916-682-6454 coleen@FindGreatHomes.com Weekly Business Building Meetings are held on Wednesday mornings at 7:01am at Rivers Edge Café & Espresso, 8740 La Riviera Drive, Sacramento. New potential members will receive their first breakfast at no charge.

Well-priced commercial buildings for office, warehouse and retail for sale.

2011-11-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

We are currently marketing commercial buildings near Hwy 99 and Florin Road. They are zoned General Commercial which has many potential uses.

One building has great retail potential and boasts great freeway frontage which freeway signage opportunities. That alone may be worth thousands of dollars every month! Watch this video about 7290 55th Street in Sacramento:

Across the street from this property are two more office/warehouse buildings also zoned GC. Watch this video about 5501-5521 66th Ave. in Sacramento:

We need your assistance in locating buyers for these properties. They may be well suited to a business owner who's tired of renting and wants the many advantages of owning their own building.

Please call us at (916) 682-6454 for more information. Many thanks and our best wishes to you.

David Jurewicz, Broker, Home Rocket Real Estate(r) 00661096

Our latest company newsletter just released!

2011-11-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Go HERE to get your FREE copy!

Do outrageous open houses really sell homes?

2011-10-29T11:19:00.001-07:00

Some people believe they do! Read this article.

According to the 2010 National Association of REALTORS(r) Home Buyer and Seller Survey, when asked where they first discovered the home they eventually bought, 38 percent said from the internet, 37 percent from a real estate broker or agent, 11 percent from a yard sign or open house, and the rest from a combination of family or friends, home builders, print advertising or directly from the seller.

To read a summary of the NAR report, GO HERE.

As you can see if you only do two things, market on the internet and market to real estate agents, you have a 75% chance of finding a buyer. So fancy open houses, while they sound like fun and may give the seller the indication that the home is being "marketed," really ends up playing a minor role in the overall marketing scheme. According to other surveys I've read, open house sales are a very tiny percentage of the overall market.

If you're serious about selling your home, use a broker that gets you good exposure on the internet, uses carefully worded "for sale" signs," and cleverly gets attention from other brokers in order to maximize your odds of selling your house.

To get your home evaluated for its market potential, go to THIS SITE.

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

We assisted a home buyer in obtaining this house BELOW appraised value!

2011-10-27T16:57:00.001-07:00

Call us. We'll tell you how we did it. OR, visit THIS site.

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

Who says they're not building new houses in Sacramento?

2011-10-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

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

Double your income just by keeping statistics?

2011-10-26T14:33:00.001-07:00

It's possible.

When you keep statistics of everything you do, you'll begin to see patterns. At the end of the day you'll be pleased with yourself.

And then, when it's time to make a decision, which direction to go can become quite obvious if you have statistics.

Here's an example of how that works. In my real estate company, I keep track of how I met my clients. Over the years, it has become evident that print advertising produces the smallest results for us, yet costs the MOST!

So when its time to budget my promotional money, it's a lot easier to choose which marketing deserves our company dollar.

Statistics also tell you how productive you are. When I hear people working ridiculous hours, I know it's because they had not used their time efficiently and guilt drives them to stay up late to "catch up." However, if you've used your time wisely, your statistics will show a great deal of accomplishment in a day. Then you can relax knowing you're moving things forward.

Keeping track of things can bring great career rewards whether you're working for someone or self-employed.

And it's just one of over 33 ideas in my book which will save you time and make you money. My book is available at:

www.DaveRocket.com

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

We SOLD this condo in only 2 days and closed escrow in 26 days! Thinking of selling your home? Call us we'll tell you how we did it!

2011-10-25T19:10:00.001-07:00

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

New Video: Coleen tours the Sunset Energy Efficiency Home in Palo Alto, CA

2011-10-22T11:55:00.001-07:00

What will the home of the future look like? We get a clue from Coleen's visit to the Sunset Energy Efficiency Home in Palo Alto, CA. How will the home be controlled? What will plumbing fixtures look like? How will the home be heated and cooled? The answers are in this video. Let us know if you like the new energy efficiency ideas.

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

Coleen plays backgammon at Restoration Hardware in Palo Alto, CA

2011-10-21T16:29:00.001-07:00

From: David Jurewicz 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454

NEW video: We visit unusual and fun "Lynn's Paradise Cafe" in Louisville, KY

2011-10-20T09:20:00.001-07:00

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

Today I'll explain how I went from being fat and sick to having youthful zest.

2011-10-19T18:35:00.001-07:00

I don't know why, but I feel compelled to send this message to you today.

Just a few short years ago I was fat and really sick. One day I had to be taken to the emergency room! What a wake-up call.

Then I met a famous health doctor that showed me the the most amazing way to handle my personal health. It's straight forward, simple and powerful. Now I'm in the best shape since I hit middle age! I would not feel good holding back such important information when I see the sad state of people's health in general.

Call me if you want to talk about this little-known path to health and self-worth that I was privileged to discover for myself. I assure you it's not a magic "pill" or product by itself that's the answer. It's a new way of looking at how we live our physical lives. I'll personally explain what it took me years to learn. Then you decide if it's right for you. The information is free to anyone who wants to learn.

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

P.S. Today I just met an "anti-junk food" expert who is also discovering this same path to health for her clients. I've seen bits and pieces of it showing up on TV health shows. Could this wellness direction be what you've been looking for too? Call me and let's talk about it. I assure you, it's not about the money for me. I simply want to assist you and anyone who'll listen to find their own path to physical radiance. After all, if you feel good, other things in your life may improve, right?

I'm actually considering eating this. Surprised?

2011-10-19T09:29:00.001-07:00

From: David Jurewicz 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454

Why so much doom and gloom around real estate?

2011-10-19T09:20:00.001-07:00

Most of the negativity around real estate has to do with our point of view. For example, read THIS article.

The writer blames our economic woes on real estate as not being a good "investment."

Therein lies the problem. One's personal residence is NOT an "investment," at least not by the dictionary definition: An investment of money to gain profitable RETURNS such as income, interest or appreciation in value.

One's personal residence provides shelter, a place to live. It's intent is not to return profits to the buyer. It's NOT a business. The goal with a personal residence is to buy it, pay it off and enjoy the shelter we all need to lead a calm, happy life. If it goes up in value, that's a BONUS, gravy, not to be counted on.

Investment real estate, by contrast, is judged by the rental income it produces or a return on the money invested. Even in investment real estate, if the investor bases their decision to buy on potential appreciation and not on rental income alone, there more than likely will be disappointment.

If people demand a return on their personal home, like in a business, they may also be disappointed because as a commodity, a home does not always go up in value. It goes up and down and sometimes stays sideways for a while.

So, if we can see our personal residences as what they REALLY are, there won't be so much anguish when their values go down instead of up.

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

Sacramento, CA named as having potential "shadow inventory" of homes not yet for sale.

2011-10-17T17:10:00.001-07:00

In THIS article
, Sacramento, CA is named as one of the cities where there are numerous homes in the foreclosure process but have not yet come for sale.
The tone of the article indicates that this "shadow inventory" will continue to put downward pressure on the real estate market.
But this may not be as bad as it sounds for Sacramento. The number of houses for sale in this area has been going down (some 29.8% lower than a year ago) and new inventory might be good news for the marketplace.
That's because when home buyers have a limited choice of homes for sale and the good values are fought over, many buyers just give up and move to the sidelines. When there's more inventory, buyers feel they have a better selection and are more apt to choose a house and complete the sale. With more inventory then, our marketplace would probably expand, not contract.
Since purchasing a home is a huge decision and commitment, rushing to buy a house without giving it some deep thought may not be a good idea for home buyers.
The article is right in one respect: until buyers are willing to pay more than market value for a house and appraisers are willing to appraise at that new, higher level, Sacramento's home prices won't make any fast moves upward.
2011 is the year of the home buyer with low prices and low rates at the SAME time. To find out what's available for sale now, go to our free home search website:
www.HomeRocketRealEstate.com

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

New video: A behind-the-scenes tour of the Churchill Downs horse racetrack where they hold the Kentucky Derby.

2011-10-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

Sacramento, CA real estate brokers Coleen and David Jurewicz (00661096, 00826558) of Home Rocket Real Estate(r) get a behind-the-scenes look at the beautiful Churchill Downs horse race way in Louisville, Kentucky home of the Kentucky Derby. You'll see where the horses are prepared before the race, the jockey's locker room and waiting area, the grandstand, where they entertain royalty and Coleen lets you see some of the gorgeous hats worn by stylish women at the Derby. The Jurewicz website is http://www.HomeRocketRealty.com They can be reached at (916) 682-6454.

Shortage of houses for sale in Sacramento and across the U.S.?

2011-10-17T08:23:00.001-07:00

According to the Sacramento Association of REALTORS(r) sales numbers for Sacramento County in September, 2011, the number of houses for sale is 7.7% LESS than August, 2011 and an amazing 29.8% LESS than one year ago! Right now there are some 3,600 homes for sale, compared to 5,139 last year.
The Wall Street Journal reports in THIS article,  the number of houses for sale all over the country is down 20% from one year ago making this one of the lowest inventory of homes for sale in in the past few years.
The good news in Sacramento is that the number of homes that completed the sales process and closed escrow, is up to just over 1,600 vs. around 1,400 last year. That's an increase of 12.7%.
So here's the BIG question: If sales are up and inventory is down, how come the median price of a home has also fallen some 8.7% than a year ago? You would think our market conditions would now favor the seller and prices would rise.
Obviously, there's more at play than meets the eye. The buyers who are strong enough to get financing are demanding better values before they'll buy. If a home doesn't offer that value, instead of negotiating, the qualified buyers will just walk away or wait until something comes on the market they like.
And even if a good value comes on the market and there are competing offers driving up the sales price, will bank appraisers say that higher price is OK and that loaning on that house is a safe bet for the bank?
As you can see, our marketplace is like a big ship. It takes time to change course.
For more information on our marketplace and 7 steps buyers can take to get a great home value, watch the video on the following web page: http://www.HomeRocketTV.com

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

Did you know there are different types of title insurance?

2011-10-14T17:55:00.001-07:00

Thanks to our friends at Placer Title for reminding us there is a standard type of title insurance and an upgraded type. As you can see from this comparison sheet, the upgraded policy may be worth the additional cost.
Talk to your title insurance representative for more information.

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

7 almost SECRET strategies to get a better value when buying a home!

2011-10-13T18:54:00.001-07:00

We've had success in assisting home buyers in getting a better value when buying homes. Find out how we did it on this video, plus get my take on the latest home sales numbers for Sacramento County.

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

New video: Coleen visits horse farms in Kentucky.

2011-10-13T10:43:00.001-07:00

Coleen tours a horse stud farm and then visits the Keeneland horse racetrack.

Tell us what you think of this video!

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

Free list of 50 Elk Grove, CA homes now for sale.

2011-10-12T09:27:00.001-07:00

Here's a free list of Elk Grove, California properties now for sale. The range from the mid-$100,000's to slightly over $500,000.
You can see the list here.

If you'd like assistance in narrowing down the list the the handful of houses with the most potential for you, please call us at the number below.
Our best wishes to you.

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

37.5% of Sacramento home sales are foreclosures. Market weakness or clearance sale?

2011-10-11T08:23:00.001-07:00

According to THIS article, Zillow says more than 40 percent of Sacramento home sales in August were foreclosures.
The Sacramento Association of REALTORS(s) says roughly the same thing according to THIS report: 37.5% of home sales were bank foreclosures.
The first article states that the high number of foreclosures indicates a "weakness" in the local real estate market.
Is it really a weakness? Or is it a market "reboot?" I've maintained that foreclosures offer some of the best buys in the area. See for yourself. I have a web site devoted specifically to foreclosed homes. It updates daily with pictures and descriptions. NO registration is required and it's FREE. Go to: www.MySacramentoHomes.com

Most banks aren't afraid to adjust their asking prices downward if the marketplace shows little interest. So for my buyer clients, I search for vacant homes and especially those homes that have been on the market for a while or have been sold before but didn't successfully close escrow. I find sellers of those properties more open to supporting a price and terms where everyone wins. In this marketplace you have to be careful, not all foreclosures are good deals.
If you'd like to see if buying a foreclosed property is for you, go HERE.

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

30 year fixed mortgage rates drop BELOW 4%!

2011-10-10T10:24:00.001-07:00

What an amazing mortgage interest rate! Read all about it here.

The article says there are few takers. Not so according to our latest Sacramento area statistics.  There were over 1,700 that closed escrow in August, 2011. Even at the " top of the market," there were some 2,200 sales. So we're actually doing quite well. I believe new lower rates could move "fence-sitters" into home buying action.
We knew mortgage rates were probably going under 4% around Sept. 22, 2011.   You can read my blog post HERE.

This is really good news for home buyers. While prices still remain low, you can purchase more house for the money or maybe move to an area that may have been out of reach in the past.
How much house can you afford? Call the number below or go to THIS site.

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

5 secret strategies revealed to sell your Sacramento home fast and for top dollar in today's market.

2011-10-07T17:50:00.001-07:00

We've recently had good success in selling homes for our clients quickly and in less than 30 days. This is significant because according to the Sacramento Association of REALTORS(r) recent market report, the average days on the market for all homes sold in Sacramento County is 64 days. So how have we been able to accomplish fast sales, some at full asking price or above? Normally we keep this a company secret for the benefit of our clients. But we hope by revealing these ideas to you and getting you to think about these things, we can raise the consciousness of all in real estate thereby improving our marketplace.
So, here are five of the things we do to improve the selling odds for our clients:
1. We spend a great deal of effort researching the marketplace and choosing the right asking price. Since many homes in Sacramento sell for 98% of their asking price or more, there isn't a great deal of negotiating. Buyers either feel the seller's asking price is fair and pay it, or feel it's too high and move on to the next property. Pricing it high and coming down later doesn't work like it used to.
2. The house needs to look like it's ready to move in with little or no work required by the buyer. We walk the seller through each room in the house and make recommendations to improve its eye appeal. We'll even hold the house off of the market for weeks while the seller prepares it for sale. I assure you, it's worth the wait.
3. Since most buyers use the internet to search for homes, the home must appear on the real estate web sites with the most traffic.

4. A for sale sign is installed that has a toll-free phone number where buyers can call 24-hours a day and get a recorded sales pitch about the property. Buyers are more likely to call this kind of a sign over the conventional real estate sign because it gives them the information they seek without having to speak to an agent.
5. The home must be carefully placed in the Multiple Listing Service with 20 pictures and a video that walks interested viewers through the house pointing out the features and benefits of home ownership. Agents who view your listing online must believe they can have a fast, easy sale. If they do, your home will quickly go to the top of their showing lists.
The National Association of REALTORS(r) Home Buyer's survey says by far the most buyers come from three things: Real estate agents and brokers, the internet and the for sale sign. As you can see in our five strategies above, we have those three things covered.
Note also that with our program, there's no need to be concerned with stiff competition from bank repos and foreclosed real estate. The value your home will offer the marketplace will be head and shoulders above the competition. Your home will sell because you're giving home buyers what they really want. When I look at homes for sale, only a tiny percentage offer great value. Be in that tiny percentage and win a fast sale at a top price for yourself.
In addition to what's listed above, we do another 70 more things to sell real estate. Call us at the number below and we'll tell you about them, or visit THIS site.

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

5 ways to buy a home WITHOUT using your parent's money.

2011-10-06T16:06:00.001-07:00

Recently we've been talking to younger people who want to buy a home but feel the down payment for the house will have to come from their parents. The issue here is now the parents want to control what kind of house to buy and where the house will be purchased and WHEN it will be purchased. Sometimes the parents and their children don't agree on this issue. So, if you want to buy a home without using your parent's money, consider these 5 strategies:

1. Save it. First locate banks or savings institutions that offer higher savings interest rates. Focus on your goal. To buy a $200,000 house may require thousands of dollars, plus extra closing costs. You'll need extra money in reserves. Put aside a few hundred dollars per month and you may have enough money in just a couple of years. (Seller's may contribute to your loan closing costs which means you don't have to raise as much cash). P.S. There are new super-low down payment loans now available. You may not need to save up as much cash as in years past. Call us for more information.
2. Sell something. One of my clients sold his Harley Davidson motorcycle to raise the down payment. He said it was well worth it! How about garage sales or selling items on ebay?
3. Get an extra job. There are plenty of things you can do to earn extra money. For amazing ideas, read the book, 1,000 Ways to Earn Money at http://www.RocketBusinessSolution.com click on item #9. It's the best book I've ever read on this subject.
4. Ask your OTHER relatives for gift money. You'd may be surprised to find how many of them believe that home ownership is a worthy goal and will give you free money toward your down payment.
5. Raid your retirement account. Some retirement accounts permit you to liquidate or borrow money for the purposes of a down payment toward a home purchase. Check with your retirement plan administrator.
Remember you can do some or ALL of the above!
Need coaching to create a buying strategy? Call us today. Or you can read free informational buyer reports at the website below.

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

CAR market forecast for 2012: Are things getting BETTER for home buyers?

2011-10-06T11:49:00.001-07:00

Read the California Association of REALTORS(r) market forecast for 2012 HERE.

Chief economist Leslie Appleton-Young expects low mortgage rates, high housing affordability and favorable home prices to continue.
She sounds cautiously optimistic to me. However, for real estate investors and home buyers, the time to act is soon while there's strong downward pressure on mortgage rates and home prices at the SAME time.
Listen to our latest podcast to see how to thrive in today's real estate economy: www.HomeRocketRadio.com

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

Investors: Consider Sacramento real estate's cash flow potential.

2011-10-04T16:05:00.001-07:00

Do these three things to see if real estate may be right for you:
1. Look at this list of bank repo homes priced in the low $100,000's. This free list updates daily, so keep this link for future reference:
http://tinyurl.com/cp7kmh
2. Now compare what's for sale with rent this survey where you can project the income a rental property may be able to produce:
https://www.homepointe.com/svyQ311.pdf
3. Call us to schedule a no-obligation real estate consultation at (916) 682-6454.

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

Wealth strategy: How to move from scarcity to abundance.

2011-10-04T14:42:00.001-07:00

In our latest podcast, I reveal the two steps necessary to build abundance in today's economy. I'm sure you're hearing about the haves and the have-nots. Here's how you can set yourself up for the future. I answer, should I get a real estate license before investing in real estate? Can real estate win out over the stock market? Where can I go to get the right mindset for personal growth? Find out. Listen at any time and let us know what you think. Go here to listen to our latest podcast:
www.HomeRocketRadio.com

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

Is your family prepared for an emergency?

2011-10-04T10:15:00.001-07:00

Our Home Rocket Real Estate(r) newsletter has just been released with the answer to that question. In the newsletter, you'll get a basic primer in emergency preparedness along with a simple checklist for what could be included in your "Emergency "to-go" bag."
GO HERE to download your FREE copy!

PLUS, You’ll also learn about some technology tools to save time and money when shopping, tips for keeping kids safe around pets, and foods to eat before and after exercising – plus funny jokes, trivia, and lots more. Download your copy now.

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

You're invited to view a paddle wheel boat ride down the Ohio river in Louisville, Kentucky...

2011-10-03T09:32:00.001-07:00

Presented by:

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

The BEST chicken I've ever eaten...

2011-10-02T15:07:00.001-07:00

...was not in the state of Kentucky. Actually, I was afraid of eating Kentucky fried chicken in Kentucky. Somehow I felt that as a Californian, Kentucky Fried Chicken should be eaten outside of the state of Kentucky lest a spacial black-hole would form and I'd unseat the space-time continuum to the detriment of our universal future.
So I was pleased to discover that the best chicken ever (and I've eaten a lot of chicken in my lifetime) is in the small town of Millersburg, Ohio at the Chalet in the Valley Restaurant off of State Route 557.
How is it possible a chicken can be cooked to golden brown perfection on the outside and tasty and juicy on the inside without being greasy? I asked. They said they broasted the chicken (a combination of pressure cooking and deep frying) AND deep fried it. Usually it's one or the other.
Since then I've tasted lots of "good" chicken. But I don't think I'll ever be as amazed as I was at the delicious chicken I had in Millersburg, Ohio.

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

2 important lessons I learned at the Toyota auto plant in Kentucky.

2011-10-02T14:34:00.001-07:00

Our tour began with a look at completed car models made in the plant including the Avalon and Camry. We were placed on an electrical golf cart type vehicle which carried about eight people. Our skillful driver carefully avoided coming in contact with other vehicles and the good sized robots which carried supplies to the line. The robots played happy songs so you knew they were coming your way. I was most impressed by how happy the workers were. They're paid $29 per hour plus benefits. No wonder they were all smiles and waved to us. I felt they were happy and unstressed. They receive many benefits from working there. And efforts to unionize them have failed because, at least from my point of view, unions are formed when workers are unhappy.
It's hard to believe a car just begins being created from rolls of sheet metal. But that sheet metal is formed, welded by robots, painted and completed in just 20 some hours from start to finish. Each station is designed for workers to do their activity in less than one minute. If something doesn't go well, any worker can pull a cord which stops the line. They would rather address the problem then and there, than allow an inferior product to continue down the line. Every so many cars, one was pulled from the line, taken apart and inspected thoroughly to make sure the quality was high.
The most stunning thing I saw on our tour was the sheer size of the building where the cars were built. I couldn't see from one end to the other, not doubt due to the curvature of the earth.
So, here are the two lessons I learned:
1. Just in time. Instead of stockpiling car parts to be used at a future time, they would either make or order parts from suppliers that arrived at the factory just in time for installation. This saves the cost of warehousing and constantly having to inventory parts. Even in my business, it's tempting to buy 2,500 business cards at a time because the cost per card goes way down. But usually by the time I use card number 500, something has changed so the rest of the cards are no longer useful and have to be discarded. What a waste. So now I order no more than 500 cards and have them arrive at my office just as my previous supply is running out!
2. Pull, not push. The push type of manufacturing presumes that if you make them, someone will buy them (you're "pushing" them into the marketplace). So you make what you believe the market will absorb and hope it all works out well. Toyota, on the other hand, only builds a car if there's an order for that car. In effect, they don't build the car unless it's sold or "pulled." It certainly is tempting in business to do things with the anticipation that it will be sold. But if the product isn't sold in a timely manner, all that time and material may be wasted and take money off of the bottom line.
Some years ago I read a book about Dell computers. They also practice these same philosophies.
I've seen businesses that ignore these two lessons. They end up sacrificing potential profits and must bear the cost of huge warehouses housing items that may never sell.
At a question and answer session, I asked our host how Toyota felt about the accusation that the electronics in their cars caused strange and unwelcome acceleration. Our host flatly denied that Toyota's electronics caused the dreaded acceleration. And from the very first accusation, they knew the driver wasn't pressing the brake but rather the accelerator! Perhaps the floor mats were to blame. Well all of that is behind them now. Instead they're focused on creating a car Americans really want: Comfortable, gas-saving and with enough power to take on America's roadways.

Thank you Toyota for such a great visit and for the lessons you taught me.

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

Real estate success stories you need to hear about...

2011-09-30T17:45:00.001-07:00

Amid all the doom and gloom about the real estate market emerge stories of people reaching their real estate goals with our assistance. Recently we contributed to the following real estate success stories:

We assisted a nice family in selling their existing home after just 30 hours on the market for 12% OVER their asking price. Then we assisted them in buying a much larger high value home with below market financing resulting in an affordable payment.

A private trust needed to sell an unusual property in midtown Sacramento. The trustees chose us to be their broker. That property sold in just two weeks for MORE than asking price.

A home seller who was pressed financially and behind on his payments was wise enough to hire us to sell his property. It only took us just a little more than three weeks of marketing to receive an acceptable offer. He came away with money in his pocket! Had he not hired us, it's possible he may have wound up with nothing to show for all his hard work on that house.

An investor (who used to be a real estate agent) decided he'd be better off selling his Sacramento house rather than renting it out. But after using two other real estate brokers who couldn't sell the property, he hired us. The property is now sold. The investor is delighted.

A couple decided they wanted to downsize to a smaller home. We located a bank repo on a .24 acre lot that needed some work and negotiated an additional 7% off of the bank's already low price. Plus the bank provided a 2 year home warranty too. Our clients really got a good deal.

A family needed a property to house some of their family members. So they had us locate a house on a 1/4 acre lot and special financing that didn't require a huge down payment. They're now making that property shine!

An executor of an estate hired us to sell a nice home. We received an all cash full-price offer in only 48 hours on the market!

Who's the next person you know who's looking for a real estate broker to represent them in selling real estate? Please call us with their name and number. We promise to make YOU look GOOD.
Thanks for your kind support of our business. Our best wishes to you.

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

California short sales losing their luster?

2011-09-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

Fewer first time home buyers are choosing to buy short sales. The story is in THIS article.

Note that the article points out that the average time for a short sale to go through is over 16 weeks! In spite of what we may hear, short sales are not going much faster than years past. Buyer's are finally admitting they don't have the patience to wait that long for their house to close escrow.
Nationwide in August, 2011, short sales accounted for only 17.1 percent of the home purchase market nationwide and bank repos over 28 percent of the market.
Locally in Sacramento, short sales represent 24% of the market and bank repos, 37.5% of the market. However conventional sales where the seller is most likely a private party are over 38% of the market. That means 76% of the marketplace in Sacramento are properties where you can close escrow in 30-45 days or so!
If you're a Sacramento home buyer, why would you put yourself through short sale pain and anguish when there are so many properties now for sale that you can have quickly with very little heartache?
Call us for a list of non-short sale houses in your area and price range. We have a strategy to assist you in locating the area's best bargains where you can get the keys in a reasonable amount of time.

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

FREE list of outstanding financial calculators that may save you time and money!

2011-09-28T16:16:00.001-07:00

Calculators for business planning, taxes and payroll, retirement real estate, car loans and more!
Go here for your free list of financial calculators.

Thanks to our friend Loretta Ayala of LCA Financial in Sacramento for providing these great tools! I suggest you keep this link handy for future use.

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

New on the market:a 2 bedroom 1 bath $60,000 condo!

2011-09-28T08:52:00.001-07:00

For more information, contact:

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

New video: Coleen visits the early morning race horse workout at Churchill Downs racetrack in Kentucky.

2011-09-27T10:09:00.001-07:00

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

Two big trends may create a "perfect storm" for home buyers.

2011-09-26T10:27:00.001-07:00

The two big trends are:
1. More foreclosed houses are predicted to come on the market in the near future. See THIS article.

2. Mortgage rates may be coming down even more! See THIS article.

Prices of houses and lower mortgage rates at the SAME TIME! These conditions may not only benefit buyers who will live in the houses they buy, but also investors looking for an alternative to the stock market.
For a no-cost, no-obligation consultation about whether real estate is the right vehicle for you at this time, please contact us at the numbers below.
Our best wishes to you.

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

Small unbelievable window of opportunity opening up to Sacramento home buyers?

2011-09-23T17:35:00.001-07:00

Could there be continued downward movement in home prices AND mortgage rates at the SAME time? Watch this report and find out.

Presented by David Jurewicz, broker (00661096)  www.HomeRocketRealty.com

New video: Kristi gets the keys to her new bank repo house!

2011-09-22T19:43:00.001-07:00

Call the numbers below to have Coleen represent you in buying or selling real estate.

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

Just closed escrow - SOLD in 2 weeks!

2011-09-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

We're always tickled when we close escrow. This house near 39th and J Street in mid-town Sacramento sold for MORE than asking price. Our escrow had lots of challenges too including title issues and lender-required repairs. But everyone involved worked hard and it came together in the end.
Did you know there are almost 90 things that can go sideways in a real estate transaction? (Call us, we'll send you a list!). Well, Coleen and I have experienced all of those things in our careers and have developed a strategy to deal with each one.
Experience pays in flying an airplane and in landing a smooth real estate transaction.
To learn about our real estate backgrounds, go to THIS page.

Our best wishes to you.

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

Will mortgage rates drop below 4%?

2011-09-22T07:44:00.001-07:00

THIS article says there's downward pressure on mortgage rates.

How much difference will that make? Well, let's say you borrow $200,000 fully amortized over 30 years at 4.5% interest rate. Your principal and interest payment will be about $1014 per month (which is already a great payment, below what some pay in rent!). But at 3.5% interest, the payment drops about $116 to $898 per month (even more amazing).
But you shouldn't wait for interest rates to drop if you can buy a home now. The latest sales numbers show increased sales activity and only slightly more than 2 houses available for every buyer. That means prices could rise if this high demand continues. So many things have to be evaluated before making your decision. Call us for a no-obligation consultation to discuss if buying a home is right for you now.

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

Coleen Jurewicz visits the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2011-09-19T18:28:00.001-07:00

Her video post is located here:

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

Belly button secrets revealed!

2011-09-03T12:07:00.001-07:00

You'll find out what's hidden inside your belly button plus learn how to save your eyesight, ace your next job interview, find out if real estate brokers promote LOVE, avoid these home buying mistakes, how to spot a fake check, back to school tips, best pets to own if you have allergies, jokes, back to school tips and much more.
Go to this site to get your FREE copy of our Sept. 2011 Home Rocket Real Estate(r) Newsletter!

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

Does a "short sale" really SAVE your credit score?

2011-08-31T09:41:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest reasons I hear for a person with mortgage troubles to do a short sale is that it will SAVE their credit score. That's not quite accurate according to the FICO (the company that creates credit scores) blog which issued THIS chart.

The chart shows that short sales (where the owner owes more to the bank than the property is worth) may impact your credit just the same as a foreclosure.

For all the short sale hoopla you hear about short sales you'd think that they're a major part of our marketplace. Not so, according to THESE statistics from the Sacramento Association of REALTORS(r) covering sales in July, 2011: Only 22.7% of Sacramento home sales are of the "short sale" variety, roughly one in five. There are no statistics for how much pain and time are invested in these sales. Although lately I've been hearing some short sales are going faster and smoother.
Therefore, for buyers of real estate who desire a low-stress, low-pain experience, I recommend avoiding short sales entirely unless it's your ONLY option. There are too many other great home buys from the other 77.3% of sellers who can close in under 30 days to be bogged down in a time consuming short sale.
For sellers with mortgage troubles, don't automatically assume the short sale process is the way to go. Get lots of input from attorneys, tax professionals and real estate brokers before deciding what to do. You can start at THIS website.

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

Two solutions for the housing crisis?

2011-08-31T08:25:00.001-07:00

Solution 1: Tear down unused houses. See THIS article.

Solution 2: Foreclose FASTER. See THIS article.

My take on things: Both of the above solutions have possibilities and maybe can be used together. The main thing is to do something. Big issues don't get solved just by standing around and looking at them.
All I know is that this is one of the best times I've ever seen to buy a house. In spite of the negative things you've heard about the housing market, we've been able to negotiate BELOW MARKET mortgage rates and purchase prices and a FAST escrow closing for our clients! Call us, we'll show you how we did it!

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

Rivercats lead big in the second inning!

2011-08-29T20:43:00.001-07:00

From: David Jurewicz 00661096
Home Rocket Real Estate(r)
(916) 682-6454

List of 100 Sacramento homes for sale under $100,000!

2011-08-29T17:16:00.001-07:00

Here's a FREE list of houses for sale in the Sacramento area UNDER $100,000!

Go to THIS site for your copy of the list.

The list updates daily, so keep this link and check back often. Who's the next person you know who wants to buy a home? Please call us with their name and number.

Here's what's happening in real estate. Just click on the links below and you'll be given more information:

Are foreclosed homes some of the BEST home values in Sacramento?

Do real estate brokers promote LOVE?

Time Magazine says we may be within 5-10% of a price bottom!

Big shakeup in Sacramento radio listening habits!

Is now the time to shorten the length of your mortgage?

Podcast: August real estate update.

What's happening with us?

We've sold almost all of our inventory, a tribute to our marketing strategies. The inventory overall in the Sacramento marketplace is also down. So, we could really use your assistance in locating sellers who need our selling services. Call us with their name and number so we may assist them.

For home buyers, the amazing window of opportunity continues with LOW prices and LOW mortgage rates. The media would like to scare you into belieive that only people with perfect credit can qualify for loans. Truth is, most of today's home buyers don't have perfect credit, but their ability to repay loans is respectable and acceptable. Call us to discuss your situation.

For an instant list of well-priced, bank repo and foreclosed homes go to this free site we've created just for bargain-hunter home buyers: www.MySacramentoHomes.com No registration is required.

We would like to thank you for thinking of us and recommending us to your friends and family. We'd be out of business if not for you!

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

Here's proof that foreclosed and bank held repo sales may represent some of the BEST home buys.

2011-08-25T18:21:00.001-07:00

If bank repos and foreclosures weren't the best buys in California then why would they represent such a large percentage of homes sold? Read this article for more information.

In Sacramento, bank repos/foreclosures represented 37.4% of all sales in Sacramento County during July, 2011 according to THIS report.

Because of these facts, we've been working diligently at our company to create strategies that locate the best home values, obtain LOW financing and close escrow swiftly.
To find out more, call the number below or visit THIS site.

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

FREE Elk Grove, CA foreclosure list reveals bargains now for sale!

2011-08-24T15:33:00.001-07:00

To see the FREE Elk Grove, California bank repo-foreclosure list with pictures, descriptions and NO registration required, GO HERE.

Some highlights I saw: A four bedroom over 1,600 square foot home priced around $170,000; an almost 2,200 square foot home for sale around $195,000; and an attractive 5 bedroom almost 3,200 square foot home UNDER $270,000!
Elk Grove certainly offers some of the best home values in the County!
Let me know if any are of interest to you and I'll do more research. Feel free to forward this email to anyone you know who's looking for value in their next home purchase.

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

Real estate brokers promote LOVE?

2011-08-24T08:40:00.001-07:00

As I stated in my book, 33 1/3 Success Shortcuts I Wish Someone Had Taught Me Sooner, available at www.DaveRocket.com there are only TWO grand emotions, and HUNDREDS of feelings that emanate from those two emotions.

LOVE is an obvious choice because after all, it makes the world go 'round. But the opposite of love is NOT hate. Hate is a feeling the comes from love's opposite, FEAR. Therein lies the SECRET of living an amazingly joyous life: In any given moment no matter what's happening, do the best to be in a LOVE mode rather than in fear where so many negative feelings reside such as anger, jealousy, angst, frustration, etc. Love on the other hand, promotes joy, peace, kindness, mildness, etc. At any given moment, you're either in fear or love. You can't be in both camps at the same time.
There's a lot of FEAR in real estate! Fear of running out of money. Fear the market will go down. Fear someone is taking advantage of you. FEAR you may not understand what you're getting into.
But then there's LOVE of family which moves some to buy a nesting place. There's love of self in that you're staking out a piece of the world for yourself. There's LOVE of stability. There's love of community. There's love that your money is being placed into something that creates a return not just monetarily, but in the friendships it nurtures.
So, a real estate broker's job isn't to sell real estate. It's actually to move people away from real estate fears and into real estate LOVE where good decisions and proper and appropriate action are possible. Real estate salespeople are not highly regarded. But real estate lovers are!

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

Instant access to a FREE Sacramento bargain foreclosure list.

2011-08-24T08:08:00.001-07:00

Just go to this site to instantly see a free current foreclosure/bank-repo list with pictures and descriptions of great home buys in the Sacramento area (No registration is required):
www.MySacramentoHomes.com

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

Time Magazine says home prices are within 5-10% of a bottom.

2011-08-23T07:17:00.001-07:00

THIS article recommends buying residential real estate now.

Since no one knows exactly when the bottom will occur until AFTER it happens, the recommendations in the article make sense.
However, lately I've noticed competition for good house values has increased. But we've created a successful strategy for that. Call us and we'll tell you about it.

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