Lady Bird - Greta Gerwig's love letter to Sacramento (and did you notice she visited a Dunnigan Realtors open house!?)...

I have seen the movie Lady Bird twice...and not only is it a great movie, it paints a lovely portrait of Sacramento. What Sacramentan doesn't love the Fabulous 40's neighborhood? The McKinley Park Rose Garden? The Tower Theater? Gunthers Ice Cream? The Raven? You know you love the dirty bird. I could go on...

I am a little older than the Lady Bird character, who was a senior in high school in 2002 (I graduated in 1996), but I can totally relate to wanting to get out of Sacramento at that age. 

I didn't, and ended up attending California State University, Sacramento and graduated in 2001. I left Sacramento as soon as I graduated from college though, and moved to San Jose, CA for exactly one year (a 12-month lease where I rented a 10x10 room in a house for $800/month...I hated it there) before moving back as quickly as I could in late 2002. Thankfully my employer at that time allowed me to telecommute from my Sacramento home. I obtained my real estate license a couple years later and the rest is history. And Sacramento has grown up a lot in that time. Candidly, I love it here.

One scene in Lady Bird that caught me completely off guard is that they visit a Dunnigan Realtors open house! I loved that. So cool and unexpected. 

It was also cool to watch the Golden Globes this evening, see Lady Bird win Best Musical/Comedy, Saoirse Ronan win Best Actress Musical/Comedy, and to hear Greta Gerwig thank Sacramento for giving her wings was the icing on the cake.

Re-elected to a 4th term on the Sacramento Association of Realtors Board of Directors...

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will already know that in 2010 I was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Association of Realtors...since election to the 2011-2012 term, I have been re-elected to 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and as of this week I was re-elected to serve my fourth term 2017-2018. I love being able to serve the membership of the association at that level. Per SAR's bylaws, a director can only serve four consecutive terms without either moving up to a higher position (like Secretary/Treasurer for example), or sitting out a term. I can tell you I have no plans to sit the next term out...I look forward to great things to come!

I had the honor of being the "Installing Officer" for the 2016 Masters Club Steering Committee...

As some of my regular blog readers may remember, I was President of the Sacramento Association of Realtors Masters Club in 2012... and I was honored when my good friend and fellow Realtor Kellie Swayne asked me to be the "Installing Officer" of the 2016 Masters Club Steering Committee. I had the distinct pleasure of swearing her in as 2016 President as well as administering the oath for the rest of the committee in this last weekend. The Masters Club is definitely an organization that is close to my heart! In addition to being a club of the top producing Realtors in Sacramento, we raise thousands of dollars for local charities. Good stuff!

My 4th California International Marathon is complete!

Well, yesterday started out with a little rain, but the remainder of the day yielded perfect running conditions for the California International Marathon. My husband and I completed the 26.2 mile race yet again. What was also really neat, is that my company, Dunnigan Realtors, sponsored "The Wall" at mile 21 right out front of our office in Sierra Oaks on Fair Oaks Blvd. It was cool to run past my colleagues and friends there, and I am sure all of the other thousands of runners appreciated the cheering squad as well. At that point in the race, runners really start to feel the pain...ironically the pain tends to be mostly psychological despite how bad my feet and muscles ache. Any friendly face or cheering section is so greatly appreciated...helps make that pain a little more tolerable. And with that, on to the next race!

Making Land Park Drive look a little more festive during the holidays...

Ever noticed the lamp posts on Land Park Drive decorated with the red ribbons and bows during the holiday season? Yes indeed, the elves at the Dunnigan Realtors Land Park office do that every year!

Sacramento Holiday Gift Giving Guide -- celebrate and support some amazing local businesses...

For the last few years in December, I have written blog posts about gift ideas from local Sacramento businesses to give to your favorite resident for Christmas, Channukah, Kwanzaa, or whichever holiday you celebrate. If your holiday festivities involve gift giving, there are many local Sacramento gifts you can give! Here are my top 12 gifts that will make any Sacramentan's holiday, at any age or budget:

• A membership to with the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, aka SABA; another gift that keeps on giving! SABA advocates for making Sacramento a more bike-friendly place. Noticed more bike parking around town? Ever taken advantage of their free "bike valet" at a neighborhood event? It's a great organization! Estimated cost: $30/Individual annual membership.
• A ring or a necklace from compliment.; they have something for everyone, from the most girliest girl, to the "gamer babe" sports fan (my favorite, I'm not gonna lie)! Best of all, everything you purchase from compliment. comes with a "compliment" to let your someone special know just how special he/she is. AND a percentage of all sales goes to their scholarship program.
• A subscription to Comstock's Magazine; it's the only monthly Sacramento business magazine! It's always a great read and generally very insightful regarding local commerce, businesses both small and large, and the state of local cities, counties, and otherwise. Estimated cost: $20/year.
• Yummy cookies or chocolate from About a Bite Bakery; by far my favorite local small batch baker. They have provided many thank you gifts for my clients and have some amazing holiday offerings too. They even deliver! Estimated cost for a box of the best "bites" you will ever taste: $18.
• A new or used camera from Action Camera; This boutique camera store offers everything from new and refurbished camera, lenses, and more! They also do cool swap-meets for folks to sell their gear, photo contests, and "meet-up" events for photographers to take photos of neat stuff! Estimated cost: varies.
• A Run Training Program at Fleet Feet; the gift of fitness is a gift that keeps on giving! This super cool running store has a few locations in the Sacramento area (Downtown, Fair Oaks, Roseville, Davis) and offers several training programs for different levels (5k, half marathon, marathon, triathlon, etc). Their store locations offer a huge variety of fitness apparel too like shoes, synthetic socks, nutrition, etc. Estimated cost: $59+
• Dinner at Mulvaney's; one of my favorite Midtown Sacramento restaurants! Neat setting, great ambiance, and amazing food. The menu is constantly evolving, so call ahead or check their website. Estimated cost per person: $50.
• A Growler of beer from Bike Dog Brewing Company;  If you like craft brewed beer, and haven't discovered this place -- you need to go. Tucked away in a warehouse space near the Port in West Sacramento, they brew their beer in small batches on-site...and have a dog and kid-friendly tap room open to the public. They don't serve food, but there is almost always a mobile food truck in the parking lot. My personal favorite is their "Double IPA." Estimated cost per pint: $6.
• Massage from Elite Massage Therapy; Katie at Elite Massage Therapy in East Sacramento whips me back into shape after a long run, and she gives one heck of a theraputic massage too. Estimated cost/treatment: $80/ one hour.
• Some soap from Sudz by Studz;  they make everything from bars of soap, to lotion soap, to lip balm and more. All of their products are hand made from local Sacramento ingredients and cruelty-free. Estimated cost: $10/bar.
• Tickets to a Sacramento Rivercats game; See the San Francisco Giants' affiliate play at Raley Field. I'm a HUGE SF Giants fan, and many of these players are a phone call away from the major leagues! Estimated cost/ticket: $6-30.
• A new home; Sure, I saved the best for last. Nothing says happy holidays like closing escrow on a Sacramento home...sorry if that was a little cheesy! Estimated cost: Priceless. =)

Check out my posts from previous years too -- there some great ideas there as well!
Post from 2013: Sacramento Holiday Gift Ideas

Post from 2012: Sacramento Holiday Gift Giving Guide -- are you giving back to your local economy and small businesses?
Post from 2011; Holiday Gift Ideas -- for your most beloved Sacramento Resident...
Post from 2010; Holiday Gift Ideas for your Favorite Sacramento Resident...
Post from 2009; Sacramento Holiday Gift Idea Guide
Post from 2008; Best Sacramento Christmas Gifts

Productive time spent at the fall meetings for the California Association of Realtors last week...

Last week was a long week...I arrived in Anaheim for the fall California Association of Realtors committee and Board of Directors meetings on Monday evening, and left on Saturday afternoon. It was a busy week...I spent most of my time in windowless rooms in committee meetings, roundtable discussions, and educational forums. It was a productive week...as usual, I got to represent the Sacramento region and talk about issues affecting property owners, private property rights, and real estate transactions -- AND be part of the conversation to fix what's broken, streamline what's already working, and brainstorm the next great things. It's been an honor and a privilege to serve Sacramento in this capacity since 2010, and my appointment to this position continues through 2015.

Rest in Peace, Mr. D...

Sad news this week. On Monday at our weekly office meeting we learned over the weekend that Richard Dunnigan, the founder of Dunnigan Realtors, had suffered a massive stroke and his days were limited. Of course we were all shocked to hear that because he had just been in the office last week as usual and seemed perfectly fine. We then learned on Wednesday morning that he had passed away over night. He was 101 years old.

If I haven't mentioned it before, "Mr. D" was amazing.

When I first joined Dunnigan Realtors in 2010, he was one of the first people to welcome me to the company. He was 97 then and was attending the weekly Monday morning office meeting. Even after he sold the company many years ago, he STILL kept an office there, and would come in 3-4 times per week. He was sharp as a tack, and always had a story about a property he sold way back when, or how he would handle a certain situation, or when he helped form the MLS in Sacramento, or something the Sacramento Association of Realtors did 50-something years ago when he was its President. He always said that doing things with honesty and integrity was first and foremost. "Do the right thing," he would say, "and the real estate sales will follow." This high ethical standard that started with Mr. D was one of the primary reasons I joined Dunnigan Realtors; because the ownership of the company firmly holds these ideals as well.

I have many sweet memories of Mr. D. The photo is from his 100th birthday gathering at our Land Park office last year. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and he said that was "the highlight of his 100 years!" Ha.

The last time I saw Mr. D was on Wednesday, July 2nd, when he came into the office as usual. He has to pass my desk on the way to his office. I looked up from my laptop, flashed a big smile and said, "Hey there Mr. D! How are you?" He smiled from ear-to-ear and replied, "My eyes are open so it's a great day!"

It seems surreal that the light is now out in his office. I kind of hope we leave things the way they are in there. I don't think the office needs that space for anything. Rest in peace, Mr. D. I miss you already.

A great start to 2014 - honored by the Sacramento Association of Realtors for my work at the state level...

Yep, that's me on stage. The short, young lady with the long hair in the middle. On Tuesday of this week, the Sacramento Association of Realtors held its annual Officer and Directors Installation and Awards Luncheon. For 2014, I am starting my 4th year as an elected member of the Board of Directors, and was "installed" at the event...but one thing I was not expecting was an award! I was recognized along with two others for my service in "State Activities." If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will already know I am also an appointed member of the Board of Directors for the California Association of Realtors, and in 2013 served as the Vice Chair of its "Communications Advisory Committee", and a member of a few other committees. It was a lot of work, but VERY important work that I take very seriously. So it is very nice to be appreciated for those efforts. For 2014, I will be the "Transaction Tax Issues Chair" on the "Taxation and Government Finance Committee" for C.A.R. I'm excited to take that on and be on the leadership of a policy committee. Cheers to a great 2014!

What items are included, OR specifically excluded from a home sale?

I am frequently asked -- what items typically are included in the home sale? The answers may seem obvious, but you might be surprised how often buyers and sellers are not clear on what stays and what goes. What is considered personal property, and what is considered part of the "real property", meaning part of the house, or aka, a "fixture." A few years ago, I blogged about a seller who wanted to take a hard-wired fountain and an arbor that was rooted into the ground...

First, I generally refer folks to review paragraph 8 in the California Residential Purchase Agreement; "Items Included or Excluded from the Purchase Price." This paragraph describes what is included or excluded from the sale and formalizes anything out of the ordinary that is included or specifically excluded from the sale.

To quote the language in paragraph 8 of the contract:
"8. Items Included or Excluded from the Purchase Price
A) Note to Buyer and Seller: Items listed as included or excluded from the sale in the MLS, flyers, or marketing materials are not included in the purchase price or excluded from the sale unless specified in 8B or C.
B) Items included in the sale
(1) All EXISTING fixtures and fittings that are attached to the property;
(2) EXISTING electrical, mechanical, lighting, plumbing and heating fixtures, ceiling fans, fireplace inserts, gas logs and grates, solar systems, built-in appliances, window and door screens, awnings, shutters, window coverings, attached floor coverings, television antennas, satellite dishes, private integrated phone systems, air coolers/conditioners, pool/spa equipment, garage door openers/remote controls, mailbox, in-ground landscaping, trees/shrubs, water softeners, water purifiers, security systems/alarms; (if checked () stove(s), () refrigerators;
(3) The following additional items:__________________
(4) Seller represents that all items included in the purchase price are, unless otherwise specified, owned by seller.
(5) All items are to be transferred free of liens and without seller warranty.
C) Items excluded from sale: Unless otherwise specified, audio and visual components (such as flat screen TVs and speakers) are excluded if any such item is not itself attached to the property, even if a bracket or other mechanism attached to the component is attached to the property; and _________________."

Just to point out a few key items in that paragraph...first regarding 8A -- just because the seller and listing agent discussed excluding something from a transaction, that doesn't mean it's actually excluded from the sale UNLESS it is noted in your contract with the party buying the home. You might note in MLS that your antique dining room chandelier doesn't stay, but if it's not in your contract, you will have a problem.

Regarding 8B2 -- you would be shocked how many sellers think it's ok to remove these things after entering into contract with a buyer. Or perhaps they lease their alarm system and can't include it in the sale. Discuss these things with your Realtor up front, or the seller may end up buying out the remaining lease on the alarm system at the last minute so it can be included in the sale to the buyer. Yikes!

To add items into the contract that may not otherwise be included, they need to be specifically included on the fill-in line on 8B3. So for example if you want to include the washer, dryer, and refrigerator in the sale, or a free-standing hot tub, it should be written in there. Include specifics and if you run out of space, reference an addendum.

To exclude an item that would typically be included in the sale, it should be written into 8C. If you received that rose bush as a wedding present and want to dig it up and take it with you, make sure it is written into that space. Or your specially made curtains. Or your dog-shaped mailbox. Or your built-in kegerator. You get the idea...

My typical suggestion to buyers or sellers -- when in doubt, just put it in the purchase contract. It's awful to have to deal with these sorts of disagreements at the close of escrow.

Featured on the Sacramento KCRA 3 News about marketing home listings for sale with really great photos...

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or if you watch the KCRA 3 news, you may already know that one of my listings, my seller client, my go-to photographer, and I were profiled in a news story about marketing Sacramento homes for sale.

As a part of my listing services I hire a professional photographer, to take pictures of my listings. Good photos are extremely important in the overall marketing of a home for sale. Proper lighting, good composition, wide angles and high-quality equipment, etc. create really compelling good photos. While I did take a photography course in high school, my photos just don't turn out like a professional's do...and I know that most buyers are looking for homes online -- ideally a buyer will fall in love with my home listing when the view photos online, before they ever see the home in person.

Also, in addition to posting excellent photos, it is important to post A LOT of excellent photos. MLS will allow up to 25 photos, and depending on the size and features of the home, I try to upload as many as possible that highlight all of the great things about the property. Lack of photos will cause most buyers to wonder just what is not being shown, and to think "what's wrong with this house?" We don't want that -- a buyer may not even want to come and look at a house under those circumstances, and may direct their attention to another house...for maximum marketing exposure and as many showings as possible, and (most importantly) the highest sales price to the seller -- lots of excellent photos are critically important.

To view the KCRA news story, click here.

So I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)...I'm sure you can sense my enthusiasm...

Well, for the last couple of days this week, I have been in a classroom earning my "Certified Distressed Property Expert" designation, aka the CDPE. Between my own listings and those that I have negotiated on behalf of other agents, I have closed somewhere near 75 short sale listings....So while I can't say I really learned anything new that I haven't experienced first hand in one of my transactions -- this is definitely a solid course that can provide agents with a basic understanding of some of the fundamentals of doing short sales. This class is no substitute for experience though...so if you are thinking about doing a short sale on your own property, be sure that you ask your agent for client references and find out just how much experience they have in addition to that fancy CDPE designation that cost $450 (plus the upgrade to become an "advanced member" of the CDPE family for only $149 down and $99/month).

Many short sale lenders (like Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, GMAC, CitiMortgage, etc) are now referring their distressed borrowers/sellers only to agents who have this CDPE designation, so I finally pulled the trigger and took the classes. Candidly, I was a little annoyed that after all my experience and depth of knowledge in Sacramento short sales I was forced into taking this course in order to justify to banks that I am competent to do these transactions. So anyway, now I am a CDPE for a year, until I cough up much more money to extend it another year. Extortion if you ask me. But whatever. I guess I just bought some additional credibility. And it's a good tax deduction at the end of the year.

Erin who??

Well...I try not to get too personally deep here on my Sacramento Real Estate Blog, but I must share something with ya'll. I have been wresting a very personal decision for a few years now....some of you may know that a couple years ago a I got a divorce. Divorce is a craptastic thing and definitely not something I ever envisioned for myself in life. The break-up of any long-term relationship is not easy to deal with, and mine was definitely was a roller-coaster of emotions.

Having said that, I have come to a deeply personal decision to change my last name back to my maiden name. I have feared doing this and have put off the inevitable since I filed my divorce petition. Professionally as a Realtor, I have only ever been known as "Erin Attardi." Well...if any woman reading this blog has ever divorced, or known a friend or family member who divorce, you can probably relate to why I want to revert back to my maiden name, "Erin Stumpf."

So -- the application with the family court system has been sent in, and with any luck within a couple months I will transition back to my maiden name. Clearly nothing about my real estate business will change except the name on my signs, business cards, websites, and advertising. I'm looking forward to being "me" again. =)

It's nice to be appreciated for my short sale expertise...AND high level of service...

Today at my regular Monday morning office meeting, my managing broker read a letter that a recently closed short sale client sent in. One thing many folks do not realize is that in addition to negotiating my own short sale listings, because of my expertise in closing short sales, other agents retain me to negotiate their Sacramento short sale listings for them. In this specific instance, I assisted another agent in my Dunnigan Realtors office and negotiated a pretty complicated short sale with HSBC Mortgage. It's nice to be appreciated. =)

Wow -- I am the 2012 President of the Sacramento Association of Realtors Masters Club!

Well today was a fun day.

I woke up early, got to the office early, worked on some short sale transactions and tied up some other loose ends, and then I headed downtown to the Sheraton Grand Hotel for the Sacramento Association of Realtors Masters Club Installation and Awards Luncheon. If you are not familiar with the Masters Club, it is a club for the top producing Realtors in the Sacramento region. I can't even begin to describe what a great event it was. And I'm not just saying that because I was being installed as 2012 President of the Masters Club.

The subcommittee that orchestrated this event evidently knows me pretty well, because the theme they dreamed up this year could not have been neater! It was a baseball-themed event! If you have been reading my blog for a while, or if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will know that I am a HUGE San Francisco Giants fan, and have played ball since I was 8 years old.

The luncheon started off with the singing of the national anthem, followed by some great food, a couple of speeches, installation of the officers and steering committee, and recognition of the Realtors who achieved Masters Club status. Not only was I installed as President, but I also achieved status as a "Life Member" of the Masters Club.

My parents and younger brother attended, which was great. My sweet significant other attended, which was also great. And of course there were several other Realtors from my company Dunnigan Realtors in attendance, which was also great. It was a super fun amazing day!

Then of course once it was all over, I had to go back to my office, where I planned what properties to show tomorrow (Saturday), received confirmation that one of my buyer transactions had closed (yay!), and then attended a short sale seller escrow document signing at Placer Title down the street. So, back to work....

What is so great about the SAR Masters Club, you might wonder? I wish more of the general public were aware of this, but being in the Masters Club is more than just about being a top producer. We support the SAR Realtor membership with additional educational programs and services that enhance the competency, professionalism, and productivity of its members. I look forward to a great year as Masters Club President!

An amazing way to start 2012!!

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you will know that today I attended the Officers & Directors Installation Luncheon at the Sacramento Association of Realtors. Our new President for 2012, Patrick Lieuw (a Realtor with RE/Max) was sworn in, along with the President-Elect, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the members of the Board of Directors...I was actually elected to serve on the SAR Board of Directors for a 2-year term starting last year (2011-2012). Pretty neat. I am very excited to continue to serve the members of the association at this level.

Along with the installation, there was an awards ceremony to recognize outstanding association members for their contributions in 2011. I was pretty shocked and honored to receive the "President's Award" for my service to the association in 2011. This is one of the major awards given. Rather than being selected by the "awards committee" the president selects the recipient. In years past I have been honored for my contributions toward Association Activities (for 2010), and Education (in 2009).

I definitely do a lot of volunteer work at the association (committees, serving on the SAR Board of Directors, the C.A.R. Board of Directors, Masters Club President-Elect, etc), and I love every minute of it. I look forward to more service to my fellow Realtors, and also to the Sacramento community.

I was featured on the KCRA 3 News -- Is the Sacramento Housing Market Making a Turnaround?

So if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you will already know that yesterday one of my clients and I were interviewed by KCRA 3 reporter Danielle Leigh. DataQuick reported that the median home price in Sacramento County increased 4% from October - November. Did Sacramento's real estate market hit the bottom? Is now the right time to buy or sell your Sacramento home? Here is a link to the video of the story on KCRA.com.

Amazing Luxury Home in Carmichael -- Stunning American River Frontage and Views!

Got an extra $2.2M laying around? Well if you do, and are in the market for a magnificent Carmichael property with stunning views of the American River, I know of the house for you. Today I previewed an absolutely amazing home of approximately 4,400sf including a fully appointed guest quarters, a huge multi-level deck, swimming pool, on almost an acre of river front property. Here is a photo of the view of the river from the kitchen and living/dining area. This is truly a unique luxury home -- not many homes like this come on the market in the Sacramento area. Let me know if you are interested in more details...this one will be coming on to the market soon.

Yep, I'm the 2011 Sacramento Association of Realtors Masters Club President-Elect...

So yesterday the Sacramento Association of Realtors had its annual Masters Club awards luncheon, and all of the new officers and steering committee members were installed. I was honored as a Continuing Member of the Masters Club based on my production volume in 2010. I was also installed as the 2011 Masters Club President-Elect. Pretty neat. We do some great things as a group, including raising money for local charity. 2011 is off to a great start so far...

Unique Stuff in Other People's Homes...

So, if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you will know that several days per week, I tour the newest home listings that come on the market in different Sacramento neighborhoods.

Why do I do this? Well, it makes me a more effective Realtor. I find that I am better able to service the needs of my buyer and seller clients if I am familiar with the listing inventory in the areas that I work in. If I see something that one of my buyer clients may like, I immediately make arrangements to show the home to them. Or if I am listing a property, actually having first hand knowledge of the recent comparable home sales in the neighborhood helps me to guide sellers with regard to proper pricing. Of course, when I list a home, I open it up to other agents to tour it as well....it's good exposure.

In addition to making me a more effective Realtor, there are a couple other reasons I enjoy touring.

The first reason is - touring is a good opportunity to network and briefly socialize with other agents. The listing agent is usually present during these "broker open houses" and often times other (good, productive) agents are touring the homes at the same time. The Sacramento real estate community is really a small world...so, when I know an agent on the other end of one of my transactions, it makes for a much smoother process as there is a spirit of cooperation, and that ultimately makes for a less stressful process for my buyer or seller client.

The second reason is - sometimes the homes on tour are a little...unique. Or they have unique features. Or unique furnishings. Or unique decor. At least once every week I am pleasantly entertained (or completely disgusted?) by something found in homes on tour. What were these people thinking when they did that!? I occasionally tweet these photos, but until now have not put them on my blog...well since it seems that I run across these things so frequently, I thought I would start a regular blog feature to "showcase" the oddities that people do to or with their homes...Of course the property itself will remain unidentified. Let's start with a favorite of mine. Yes, this is a rug in a really gorgeous Sierra Oaks home, and yes it's real.