We are in the midst of another snow storm here in Paradise this winter season and the conditions are pretty bad on some of our local roads.  The conditions are so bad in some parts of town that they have had to close the roads from Skyway to Oak Way.  Town officials are urging everyone to stay off the roads if at all possible.  This caused last evenings Public Workshop Meeting to be canceled.  This meeting was intended to bring all interested and affected parties together to discuss the proposed draft of future plans to develop the Southeast Paradise Area.  Once rescheduled, this is a meeting I would encourage all Paradise homeowners and citizens to attend.  As our community grows and changes, the decisions revolving around land development and land conservation here in Paradise will i... 01/30/2008

   Before the Next Storm covers Paradise Ca with white, prepare your family and home Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove as regular fuel sources may be off.  Winterize your Paradise Ca home by caulking windows, insulating attics and walls and making sure doors seal tightly.  Clean rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall during a storm. Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.  Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking... 01/26/2008

There was a great deal of excitement in Paradise this past week as the 30 year fixed mortgage rates again took a drop.  They are currently 5.69 for 30 year mortgages, with the 15-year fixed rates being even more desirable.  The Paradise area mortgage rates haven't been this low for about 2 years, which brings some obvious excitement to this slower paced Paradise Real Estate market.  Paradise had 32 price reductions over the past week; this was likely in part a result of sellers trying to get their homes noticed in the midst of all the mortgage rate decreases.  The Paradise manufactured home inventory and those homes under $250,000 are still moving quicker than all other types of properties in Paradise with approximately 24% of the inventory going under agreement this past week.  Paradis... 01/25/2008

 Since going green has been in the news of late, if your like mnay home owners considering a change for the better, consider these options.  When considering going green, we first need to determine how to accomplish our goal.        1.  Healty Indoor Enviroment        2.  Reduce Waste        3.  Conserve Resources        4.  Conserve EnergyNatural lighting and fresh air ventilation are examples of using non toxic materials which reduces the gasses which are released into our air.   Reducing waste by recycling leftover materials instead of dumping in to our overcrowed landfills.  Think about when your mother told you "Waste not want not".  If not consider using materials from sustainable resources.  Utilizing recycled products, water saving and energy saving appliances can mean substanti... 01/25/2008

 Since the start of the new year I have been encouraging everyone I know to look at areas in their life where they could be Greener.  I therefore wanted to share Energy Star’s findings about the CFL light bulbs.  I think many people are already aware of the light bulbs and what kind of impact that can have, but I have been surprised lately by the number of individuals who didn’t realize how long their life expectancy was and how they could impact the energy bills.  The lower level of greenhouse gasses when compared to traditional light bulbs is also a great added benefit.  Energy Star posted their findings on their website and I would encourage you to take a peak at it when you get some free time.  I have been encouraging my Paradise home seller’s to move over to the CFL light bulbs.  ... 01/23/2008

People often ask me how what home improvement projects bring the most value when attempting to sell in this Paradise real estate market.  Each Paradise prospective home buyer is quite different, but there does seem to be some consistency in the desire for updated kitchen and baths.  Recently, a list was just published with the title, “5 recession-proof remodeling projects,” that I think reflects what many Paradise home buyers are looking for when home hunting.  Two of the items on the list are updated kitchens and updated baths.  The article however, focuses on how you can pare-back the remodel so that you can save costs and protect the majority of your investment within the Paradise home’s value.  Other items on the list include an in-law apartment, exterior siding replacement, and wi... 01/23/2008

Have you driven down the skyway recently?  You may have noticed lookout point is blocked off and some improvements are in the works.  PID donated a load of rocks, beautifully weathered rocks which is part of the upcoming landscape design for lookout point.  I am really proud that the tragic past of lookout point is gone and soon to be replaced by a beautul scenic point to view the canyons edge.  It's always been an attraction to me and visitors driving the skyway from Paradise. The design has yet to be determined but the paradise post reported that Lookout point will be dressed up with rock from Paradise Irrigation Distict pipeline improvement projects.  The rock was created by lava flows that cool, dry and crack, forming horizontal "rock posts," similar to what can be seen at a dry lak... 01/21/2008

This is a very exciting weekend for the Paradise Association of Realtors, as well as for me personally.  This Saturday, we will be installing all of our new officers for 2008.  I will be installed as President and I am very excited for the upcoming challenges and opportunities that this great honor will bring.  Following the installment, the California Association of Realtors will hold one of its 3 annual business meetings for 2008.  I will be in attendance as a state director, as are all of the local association presidents.  You can visit the California Association of Realtors website to find information about specific topics that will be discussed. Many people are not aware, but the Association of Realtors is a crucial part of many efforts focused on the education and protection of r... 01/18/2008

There was some great news this past week for the Paradise Real Estate Market. The long term 30 year fixed interest rate fell below 6%. The current rate is 5.87%. This is coupled with 25 new listings that hit the market in Paradise, adding to the large inventory level available for Paradise buyers. Great rates with a lot of inventory; now is the perfect time for prospective Paradise home buyers to test out their negotiating power. Also in the Paradise market this week, there were 6 listings that went under contract and another 6 that officially closed. For a full market report or to discuss the market in detail, you can reach me anytime. 01/17/2008

Many Paradise and Magalia homeowners are now sighing with relief as their power is restored and their roads are cleared after the mess that was created in last Friday's winter storm.  If you were one of the lucky ones, then your Paradise home was not hit by any fallen trees or any other debris.  Unfortunately though, that does not mean that your real estate investment escaped all damage as a result of this storm that swept through Paradise.  The mess from winter storms, if not cleaned up properly, can create real havoc.  There are a few tips that I would like to pass along to you so that you can protect your Paradise real estate investment.•-         Check your roof for ice dams and excessive levels of snow; break up any dams and remove them. •-         Knock snow and ice from tree bran... 01/10/2008

The New Year has not brought a new pace to the Paradise real estate market.  We are still experiencing high levels of inventory with the number of new listings and price reductions exceeding the number of sales.  There were 15 new listings last week in Paradise with 9 price reductions and 7 sold listings.  The single family homes under $250,000 and manufactured homes are still the two types of properties that are experiencing the most activity with both categories selling at a rate of 21%.  The 30 year fixed rate fell slightly from 6.17 to 6.07, making the real estate mortgage conditions very desirable to take advantage of the continuous price reductions in Paradise.   01/09/2008

Everyone seems to be preparing for the New Year in this Paradise real estate market. There were 19 new listings and 12 price reductions as Paradise home sellers try to get the attention of prospective Paradise home buyers. Actual sales activity was very light this past holiday week, with only 6 homes going under agreement and 8 homes selling. Interest rates inched up to 6.17 from 6.11 for 30 year fixed rate mortgages. For a full market report or to discuss the market in detail, you can reach me anytime on my direct office line at (530) 872-5435 or my cell at (530) 520-6900 or email me at Lynn@LynnsHomeTeam.com. 01/01/2008

Another year is coming to a close and everyone is beginning to set their New Year's resolution.  You often hear of people making plans to live healthier and smarter financially.  For 2008, I would encourage you to take a more holistic approach to your resolution.  Try moving towards more of a "green" lifestyle.  By going green, you would be surprised how some of the other things on your resolution list fall into place.  A great site to help you get started is sponsored by National Geographic and it is called the Green Guide.  Another great resource to set the new year off with a bang is Green Living Online.  They have a great article about ways to make your New Year's Eve party more eco-friendly.  Also a great way to be green and support local business is to check out one of the Natural... 12/30/2007

What a busy weekend here in Paradise and beyond!  Everyone is running in all different directions to do their last minute gift shopping and grocery store runs in preparation of the great holiday parties with family and friends.  Although the parties and visiting are incredibly fun, I equally enjoy my family tradition of coming home early enough on Christmas Eve to ensure that cookies have been left out for Santa and that all the extra special details are in place for Christmas Day here in Paradise.  A great website for ideas and recipes is northpole.com.  You will find recipes from Mrs. Claus, Christmas music, holiday puzzles, and many other neat Christmas ideas. Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays, Your Hometown Paradise Realtor 12/22/2007

As we all begin to wind down for the holiday weekend in Paradise, I thought I would take a small break from real estate and share a little bit of fun with you!  This little cat is adorable!!  YOU HAVE GOT TO PET THIS CAT!!!!http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swfHappy Holidays and Warmest Wishest to you and yours!!! 12/20/2007

The Paradise real estate conditions are very similar to those reported last week.  Price reductions are prevalent as Paradise home sellers attempt to get their homes noticed by all prospective Paradise home buyers this upcoming January.  In Paradise this past week, there were17 price reductions, 13 new listings, 9 Paradise properties went under agreement, and 7 Paradise properties were officially sold.  The first time Paradise home buyer and retiring "down sizing" Paradise home buyers seem to be the most active in the current market.  This past week Paradise homes up to $250,000 and Paradise manufactured homes had the highest percentages of total listings under agreement.  Both two categories are performing strong with more than 20% of the listings being under agreement.  This is not th... 12/20/2007

Over this last week we have been looking at the pros and cons of Paradise homeownership versus Paradise renting.  I believe it is very important for individuals to fully determine whether buying a Paradise home is right for them personally.  Once that decision is made, and you realize that you do in fact want to buy a Paradise home, it is difficult to ignore the financial impact that home ownership can make on one's long term portfolio.  Your decision to rent over buying could result in a difference of $500,000 over a 30 year span of time.  The $500,000 figure is startling considering that in many cases you can enter into Paradise home ownership for the same monthly cost, if not lower, as what you would spend on rent in Paradise.  This is very true now as we see many Paradise homes for ... 12/18/2007

Department stores in Paradise are not the only ones rolling back the prices this time of year.  It is also the Paradise home sellers.  With the market conditions not changing much from week to week, the weekly Paradise price reductions remain at a very high level.  Last week in Paradise there were 20 new listings and 17 price reductions.  This combination equals a definite Paradise buyer's market.  There is plenty of Paradise real estate inventory at reduced prices and a lower 30 year fixed rate at 5.96.  The Paradise real estate market also had 12 properties go under agreement, while 7 properties were sold.  For a full market report or to discuss the market in detail, you can reach me anytime on my direct office line at (530) 872-5435 or my cell at (530) 520-6900 or email me at Lynn@Ly... 12/14/2007

I recently put up a post about whether it was better to rent or buy here in Paradise.  The Freddie Mac site I had recommended targeted both personal and financial reasons to consider one option over the other.  As a follow-up, I want to share a mortgage calculator that compares the financial impact of renting versus buying.  I found some interesting information when using the calculator with average Paradise costs.  Assuming you were renting an average priced 2 bedroom apartment in Paradise (data provided by ApartmentRatings.com), you would be spending $814/month.  After inputting the monthly expenditure of $814, the current average 30 year fixed interest rate of 6.1%, and a $5000 down payment, the calculator estimates that one would have the following after 30 years. If you were spendi... 12/13/2007

November has come to a close and the holiday season officially begun.  Usually the holidays bring a bit of warmth during a cold time of year in Paradise and Magalia.  That is how I am looking at the Paradise and Magalia manufactured home sale data for the month of November; as a bit of warmth in the Paradise and Magalia real estate market.  Throughout the month in Paradise there were 2 new manufactured home listings, 3 sold, and 4 that went under contract.  Throughout the month in Magalia there were 7 new manufactured home listings, 8 sold, and 6 that went under contract.  At a time when the Paradise and Magalia real estate market is seeing an increasing number of new listings, it is a bit refreshing to see more properties sold and under contract than new listings added to the real esta... 12/06/2007