Spare the Air!!

Make a difference in your home-To keep te air quality as healthy as possible, please consider implementing some of these simple tips around your house to help reduce air pollution. It will help the environment and your over all health.

-Use water-based paints, coatings and adhesives instead of oil-based formulas
-Switch from gas-powered yard tools o electric powered tools
-Use Propane gas BBQ's instead of a chracoal grill
-Avoid using pesticides or use organic ones
-avoid consumer spray products when possible (inc. hairspray, furniture polish, cooking sprays, bathroom cleaners, air freshners, deodorants, insecticides, and hobby craft sprays).

When the air quality is bad, even healthy people ca have respiratory irritation or difficulties breathing while outdoors. High air pollution levels can have short term and long term effects...

visit: http://www.sparetheair.com

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker
Connect Realty
Toll Free 866-333-6333
wendimae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com

The New Mall in Folsom "Palladio"

Palladio is a 50-Acre site consisting of an open-air lifestyle regional commercial center with 950,000 s.f. of commercial space. Construction is to begin in 2008 and be completed by 2010.
If you've been to "Santana Row" in San Jose-Palladio will be similar-only slightly lower scale. There will be a Whole Earth Foods and a Barnes and Nobel Book store...and so much more!

The Key project features:

50-Acre Project Site
634,800 s.f. retail commercial center (phase 1)
50,000 s.f. retail grocery
55,000 s.f. cinema-16-plex
69,500 sf office (second and third floors)
295,000 s.f. of addt'l retail space (Phase 2)

Want a list of the proposed shops? I can say, there will not be any department stores!

Email for call me today:

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Toll free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com
wendimae@wendimae.com

Ever wonder what the Bridge will cost?

Project Costs:

Total Estimated Costs: $132 Million
Federal Funding share: $85 Million
City Funding share: $37 Million
Other Funding share: $10 Million


Interesting, New Folsom Bridge Facts & Figures:


Anticipated date bridge open to traffic: Spring 2009

Number of lanes: 4 lanes for traffic with bicycle lanes and an off-street bicycle and pedestrian trail.

Roadway Length: 2.3 Miles

Dimensions of Bridge:
Approx. 1,000 feet in length with a 430 foot center span and two 270 foot connecting spans

Height at heighest point from the American River: 200 feet

Number of vehicles expected to use bridge daily when opened: 26,000 daily
Number of vehicles expected to use bridge by 2015: 36,000 daily

Earth moved for project: 1.2m cubic yards

For more details on any aspect of Real Estate in Folsom Call:

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Connect Realty
http://www.wendimae.com
wendimae@wendimae.com
Toll Free 866-333-6333

Economic Developement Status Report, in part.

Did you know, Money Magazine, Newsweek Magazine and Business Week Magazine have named Folsom as one of the best places to live, work, and play in America.

In March of 2008 Fortune Magazine named Folsom as one of the best places to live and launch a new business.

Folsom named one of the top 100 affordable communities in the U.S. (Best Places to Raise your family, by Bert Sperling).


Visit the city website at:
http://www.folsom.ca.us/

For a copy of the 2008 Developement Status Report-
Contact: Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Connect Realty
www.wendimae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com/
Toll Free 866-333-6333

Protect your Children!

As our Air Quality worsens, it is crucial to check on the daily reports provided to you by and through http://www.sparetheair.com/ There is all sorts of information on this site-most importantly, informing the public when one should avoid going out doors if you are in considered being in ond of the sensitive groups.
Should you need assistance regarding Real Estate-Please contact me today, I look forward to speaking with you!

Respectfully-
Wendi-Mae Davis
Connect Realty
Broker Associate
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Toll Free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com

Demographics, Construction, Investing and Economic Data acquired and Distributed by the Best

The Sacramento Regional Research Institute:

Acquires, Analyzes, and distributes economic information for the purposes of Providing a greater understanding of the Regional and Statewide economies. Business, Government Entities, Educational Institutions and Non-Profit Organizations inside and outside of the Sacramento Region.

To learn more, call 916-491-0444 or email them at srri@srri.net or go to:http://www.srri.net for a complete list of their Primary Services.

For more information on all subjects regarding Residential Housing-
Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Director of the California Associate of Realtors
Vice Chair Land Use and Environmental
Connect Realty
Toll Free 866-333-6333
wendimae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com

How to buy a "Green" home

So...you have decided to join the fast-growing trend of eco-friendly living and want to purchase a green home. As with so many "Green" products currently available, from organic milk to hybrid cars, it's tough to know if the house you'dl ike to buy is good for the environment. So how do you determine what makes a house green? Going Green-Where to start: The first step is ensuring that the house is built to standard. Find out if the builder is a member of his or her local home-building association's green building program.

A good resource for this information is the National Association of Home Builders website http://www.nahb.org the site also features an outline of new home building green standards, which include: energy, water, and resource efficiency; lot and site developement; indoor air quality; global impact; and homeowner education.

Another source of good information is Home Depot's eco-friendly product guide http://www.homedepot.com/ecooptions Buying eco-friendly products is a growing trend with no end in site.
For more information on this, and any other Home buying or selling topic, contact:
Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Connect Realty
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Toll Free 866-333-6333
wendmae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com

Why do you need a Realtor?

Buying or selling a home, or buying investment Property-is one of the most important things one does in their lifetime...other than marriage or having children.

Why wouldn't you want a Professional working right beside you?

In this Supercharged marketplace, you need more than just a Realtor. You need a professional with the unique training and know-how to create opportunities, and identify potential pitfalls up front, and make your home buying experience an unqualified success.

You need a Certified Residential Specialist. A Specialist gives you Exposure, Professionalism, Financing Expertise and Connections, Pricing and Market Knowledge, Negotiaion skills, Advice, Protection, Not to mention Knowledge of Real Estate Law.

Let's Blog...

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Connect Realty
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Vice Chair Land Use & Environmental
wendimae@wendimae.com
http://www.wendimae.com
Toll Free 866-333-6333

Energy Efficiency-Learn to be GREEN!

It is easier than you think to be Green...Home improvements don’t have to be epic to relieve utility costs. Here are ideas to start you off-thinking GREEN!

Some things you can do, that cost little to no money-AND over time, will actually save you lots of cash:

-If you have a home office-buy an “All-in-one” FAX, Scanner, and Copier...saves A LOT of energy, and costs you less to operate.
-When you go to bed at night, or out of town-or even during the day when not using your TV or VCR-turn off the power strip...keep in mind, when your appliances are off, but still plugged in-they pull and use power. This will save you anywhere from $60.-$100. a year on your Electric bill.
-Recycling, in general, is huge. It is so much better to buy a re-usable beverage bottle-than to buy bottled water...just think of how much you will save-using filtered water, over buying bottled water.
-Turn up the air conditioner thermostat.
-Change filters often.
-Plant trees on the South and West sides of the home to provide shade and reduce interior temperatures.
-Landscape with drought-resistant or indigenous plants, which retain more water.
-Add motion sensor lights, to save electricity.
-Install a gas fireplace in an addition, such as a den or sunroom, which will extend heat to that room.
-Replace appliances with Energy Star-rated versions. They exceed Government energy-efficiency standards by 10-25%.
-Invest in new, more energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
-Paint your home’s exterior a light color-as darker colors retain more heat.
-Plug up air leaks, which are equivalent of leaving a window open all year.
This can save up to 10% of your energy bill.
-Install double-glazed windows with low-emisson glass, which allow maximum light while keeping out heat and cold.
-When replacing roofing, install light-colored shingles made of material or tile to reflect heat.
-Add insulation in walls.

This is just a start! Feel free to email me-should you like more information or links to helpful energy saving “GREEN” websites!

check this out! http://www.epa.org

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate
Connect Realty
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Toll free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com

Cost VS. Value Report-Remodeling Projects

Did you know? According to "Remodeling Magazine's" 20th Annual report, the top five midrange home improvements that bring the greatest returns are: A wood deck addition 85.4%, siding replacement 83.2%, Minor Kitchen Remodel 83%, Wood window replacement 81.2%, and vinyl window replacement 79.3%. For more information go to:http://www.costvsvalue.com

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Connect Realty
Toll Free 866-333-6333
http://www.wendimae.com

The Foreclosure "Crisis" is Overblown

"Sure there are pockets of pain-but it isn't as if most American's are losing their homes." More than 99% of homes are not in Foreclosure."

A recent list of year-end mortgage foreclosure rates in 100 top metropolitan areas drew a lot of attention. Released by RealtyTrac, a company that compiles data on home foreclosures, the list showed the number of foreclosure filings in each metro area, the percentage of homes being foreclosed and the percentage change from the previous year. Though the report had some dismal news -- such as the nearly 4.9% foreclosure rate in the Stockton, Calif., area -- a close look at the data also provides some reassuring information. It tells me, for instance, that the foreclosure crisis is a regional problem, not a systemic one. It could become a systemic problem, of course, but we're a long way from that now. This news will disappoint the gloom-and-doom crew and all those seeking the excitement of financial upheaval. But it may be time to temper our worry and take a closer look at some of the year-over-year foreclosure statistics: Though the national rate of foreclosure increased by a whopping 79% between December 2006 and December 2007, the rate was still only 1.033%. Because about 30% of all homes are owned mortgage-free, this means that for all the noise about a crisis, only seven-tenths of 1% of all homes were in foreclosure. In the top 100 housing markets, the average foreclosure rate was somewhat higher -- 1.38% -- and it was up 78% over the previous year. But if you rank-ordered the list of the top 100 areas, only 34 had foreclosure rates above the group average. Fifty-one areas had rates of 1% or less. Foreclosure rates actually fell in 14 of the 100 areas. More important, many of the areas with the highest increases in foreclosure rates were rising off rates that were tiny. The Bethesda, Md., area, to offer the most extreme case, saw foreclosures rise 1,288% -- to a rate of 0.682%. In other words, foreclosures there were virtually nonexistent the year before. Today they are still well below the national average. The same can be said for the Albany, N.Y., area (up 638% to 0.25%), the Baltimore area (up 544% to 0.73%) and the Providence, R.I., area (up 354% to 0.41%).

For More information, or for a Housing Counselor:
Contact Wendi-Mae Davis,CRS, GRI
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Broker Associate, Counselor
20 Years of Service
Connect Realty
http://www.wendimae.com
Toll Free 866-333-6333

Sacramento County Stats-Short Sales

Last 30 days in Sacramento County-

10,014 active listings; 3237 short sales currently listed; 818 total closed escrows of which 46 were short sales.

Sacramento Average: 32.3% of all listings are short sales; 1.42% of short sales close escrow.


What other stats are you interested in? Do tell...

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI
Director of the California Association of Realtors
Vice Chair Land Use & Envirnomental
Graduate Realtor Institute of California
Broker Associate
Toll Free 866-333-6333
www.wendimae.com
wendimae@wendimae.com

Relocating to Folsom-CNN/Money Magazine

Relocating to Folsom? Check this out:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL0624638.html

I look forward to the possibility of assisting you in your quest! Wendi-Mae Davis, Broker
www.wendimae.com wendimae@wendimae.com Toll Free 866-333-6333

Looking for a Realtor in Folsom?

If you are looking for a Realtor in Folsom, CA. please allow me to introduce myself.

I am Wendi-Mae Davis, a Graduate of the California Institute of Real Estate. I also hold the CRS designation-which only 5% of all Realtorsd Nationwde hold this special Certification.

I am a Real Estate Counselor, not just a Sales Person.

Folsom is a great place to live and affords plenty of recreational activities. If you are seeking an active lifestyle, Folsom is the place! Let's talk... I look forward to the possibility of assisting you in your quest-

Wendi-Mae Davis, CRS, GRI

Broker Associate/Real Estate Counselor
Toll Free 866-333-6333