Buying a home is a very intricate and busy process. Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of everything that is going on, between the disclosures that need to be signed, money that has to be wired, and negotiations that are taking place throughout the transaction. However, there are a few important investments that you should consider making along the way so that your major investment is protected. By obtaining Home Owners Insurance, a Home Warranty, Flood Insurance, and Title Insurance, you can rest easier knowing that your home is insured against potential unforeseen disasters.

Homeowners Insurance

The first thought that usually comes to mind when someone hears homeowners insurance is, how much does it cost, and is it required? Whether or not homeowners insurance is required will vary depending on where you live, but in the state of California it is not required by law that you have homeowners insurance. If you are financing your home with a mortgage, your lender will most likely require you to have homeowner's insurance to protect not only your investment, but their investment as well. Although you can legally own a home in California and not have homeowners insurance, it is a good idea to protect your home, and your personal belongings inside the home, against any unforeseen damage. Homeowners insurance will help protect your home against natural disasters, and accidents that may occur within the home. For more information about Homeowners Insurance Click Here!

Home Warranty

Investing in a home warranty is like investing in peace of mind! The cost to get a home warranty varies from state to state, as well as between providers, however there are many plans that are below $500. A home warranty typically covers repairs on your home, including electrical, plumbing, furnace, heating ducts and central air conditioning, major appliances, and the water heater, but there are exceptions from coverage that will depend on your specific home warranty. It is important that you read the warranty carefully to see what is and what isn't included in your coverage. Having a home warranty can help protect you financially against damage to your home, and is excellent support for home insurance. If you live in the Guerneville area there are certain parts of your property such as septic systems, solar heating units, pools and spas, and lighting systems that are normally excluded from coverage. For more information on Home Warranties Click Here!

Flood Insurance

Flood Insurance is a sound investment if you live in an area that has large amounts of rain, hurricanes, snow, or is ocean front, river front, or creek front. Flood insurance protects your home against the damage done by water entering your home. The cost of a flood insurance policy will vary depending on the year, the type of construction on the home, and where the home is located. Homes that are located in high risk areas, such as water front properties, will require a higher rate policy because there is a higher chance of a claim being made to the flood insurance company. Some lenders will make flood insurance a requirement to obtain a mortgage because it will protect their investment in the event of a flood, snow storm, or hurricane. To learn more about flood insurance Click Here!

Title Insurance

When you are in escrow, your title company will do a title search to see if there are any liens, encumbrances, judgments, etc. that may be clouding the title of the home. The title company does this search of public archives to find any records of anything that may affect the title of the home in order to remedy, if possible, any issues in ownership. Once they have completed this search, they will prepare a Preliminary Title report that will outline what they found. There are different types of policies that are available, and your title company will work with you to choose the one that fits your situation. It will also tell you what the exceptions to the coverage are, which is really important information because it lets you know what they are NOT protecting you or your home against. A good example of what a standard title insurance policy would not cover is unpaid property taxes. If a homeowner fails to pay property taxes, the title insurance company will not insure the title against that lien. Usually, if there are unpaid property taxes, title will pay them out of escrow before they pay the seller at closing time. For more information regarding title insurance policies click here. Title insurance is a one time investment but the coverage continues as long as you own the property.  The cost of title insurance may vary based on where you are buying a home. To find out a general idea of what it will cost to get title insurance on a home for sale in Guerneville click here.

I asked them what types of homes they are looking for and she said "I have turned down more houses than I have picked up. I am looking for sort of a unique house. We are looking for quality, not quantity; something unique and clean...When you go into it like 'I am supplying something that people will love' it's different than 'I want to make a bunch of money'."

I really got where they were coming from on that one and having had my curiosity piqued I asked them what they thought of the Guerneville area and Stace mused

"the Russian River is a unique area. It's kind of bohemian...almost the back door to Santa Cruz. It's artsy...people are looking outside of the box...outside of normal. They want to be surrounded by beauty, usually green, often organic....so it's a different vibe than in Santa Rosa or the city. We just love it!" She went on to say that "It's hippie meets gay, meets straight, meets green, ...I mean its everything up here but it's off the beaten path. No houses are the same. You're not going to find a track house up here...just it's uniqueness...it's completely different from anywhere else. The river is close, the ocean is close, Armstrong Wood is close. I can't believe where we live sometimes." I totally agreed with them. The Russian River is an absolutely breathtaking place. If you want to live here call David R. Millar (BRE#01354778) at 707-217-1786 today!

We have done it again! We started out with a sweet couple from the city who were interested in purchasing a home on the Russian River, and after meeting with them to discuss what they wanted their home to be like, we decided to take a tour of some of the houses that were on the market. It didn't take long for them to set their sights on an adorable three bedroom, three bathroom home in Cazadero. The home is set right on Austin Creek with a peaceful view and quiet surroundings. Right away they put an offer on the home. The home was listed at $339,000 but my clients decided to offer more for the home because they loved it, and in this competitive market, they didn't want to risk losing it.

We entered into a contract on November 3rd, 2014 and began the inspection and disclosure process. One of the inspections turned up some repairs that were needed for the septic system to function properly and, after some negotiations with the seller and their agent, the work began to fix the septic system. Situations like this are very common in rural properties, which is why it is extremely important that you take the time to make sure you have had all of the inspections that you deem necessary, in order to know that everything is in good working order before you release contingencies.

The buyers remained patient throughout this process and, as soon as the work was complete, released contingencies and signed the closing documents with First American Title. The house sold on January 27th, 2015 for $385,000 and after almost three months in escrow, these happy new homeowners were thrilled to receive the keys to their new home!

Millar and Company is grateful that we were able to help these happy homeowners navigate through this transaction with ease, and resolve any issue that arose with as little stress to the client as possible. To our clients, we wish you the best of luck as you embark on this exciting new adventure through the mystical Cazadero with your family in your new home. Congratulations and thank you for letting us help you achieve your dream!

Selling your home can be a harrowing experience, however there are a few things that you can do to make sure that you can put your faith in your agent, and let them take the stress out of selling your home. Here are the top 5 opportunities that you have to make sure that you have chosen an agent that you can trust who will get the job done properly! By checking off each of the items on this list you can feel secure knowing that the agent that you are working with has sold many homes, uses the latest technology, puts time and effort into online marketing, knows how to market your home, and most importantly has a history of happy clients!

#1 Online Presence

One of the most important thing in real estate, and business in general right now, is that there is an online presence. Potential buyers are probably not going to pick up a newspaper to search homes for sale in your area. Those times are long past, and in today's busy marketplace it is vital that your agent is on the internet in full force. You need to know that the agent that is listing your home will be able to reach potential buyers, and to do that they will need to come up on a Google search. If you think you have found a good agent, go to your computer, phone, iPad, etc and open up Google. Search your area's real estate or the agents name and take a look at what comes up. If the agent you are thinking about working with isn't on the front page then you have not found an agent with a strong online presence and it may be time to rethink your choice.

#2 List Of Sold Homes

It is important that you know that the agent you are working with will be able to market your home, negotiate on your behalf, and bring you to the closing table with the best possible deal. The best way to find this out is to ask your agent for a list of all of the properties they have sold in the past year, so you can see the proof that they have in fact closed multiple deals and sold multiple homes. If the list your agent gives you has one or two items on it, you may want to question why others were unwilling to list their home with this agent, or why they were unable to sell the homes that they did list. Possibly the agent is very nice and great with people, but is unable to market your home. It is important that you choose the best listing agent to market and sell your home. This is possibly the most important sale of your life, make sure that it is done right!

#3 Client Reviews

No one tells the truth better than a client who has worked with the agent before, and chances are they have an opinion about that agent. Go to Google and Yelp and take a look at what your agent's past clients had to say about them. It is crucial to a successful transaction that you trust the information that your agent is providing to you, and that you know that they are always working in your best interest. If you find bad reviews on Google and Yelp about your agent, then you may want to think about getting an agent who has a plethora of clients who are willing and ready to vouch for them. This will help put your mind at ease throughout your transaction because you will know that your agent is on your side and has it covered!

#4 Location Location Location

Find out where your agent lives! It may seem like it is silly and unimportant but each area has its own unique market, and the agents who live in that area know the market the best. They know the local comps and how price is determined in that area, as well as what natural conditions may affect the price of your home. If your agent doesn't live where you are listing your home then you are doing yourself a disservice by choosing an agent that will have a difficult time pricing and marketing your home. By finding a local real estate agent that knows the area, you are increasing your chance of that agent being able to successfully market and sell your home to potential buyers!

#5 Videos

The last thing to check for is if your agent is using video. Buyers have gone digital, and if your agent is not using video, then they are not utilizing the latest technology. You need an agent who is up to date with the latest technology so you know that they are properly marketing your home. Look your agent up on YouTube and check out their social media pages such as Facebook, Google+, and Twitter and see if they have videos posted. Then take a few minutes and watch those videos to make sure that they are not dull and uninviting! If you are going to list your home with this agent, not only will they need to use video in order to properly market your home, but they will also need to be upbeat and exciting so that the message is well received and interesting to potential buyers.

If you are looking for a top producing listing agent that can provide you with a list of recently sold homes, has great reviews, is local, has a strong online presence, and uses video to effectively market homes for sale, then call David R. Millar (BRE#01354778) at 707-217-1786 now! If this blog has been inspirational for you, share it on social media by clicking the icons at the top of the page!

When you have been in Real Estate as long as I have, you get to the point when you have basically heard it all. There are some outlandish beliefs about homes, the market, and agents out there. Here are five hilarious phrases I have heard from buyers and sellers about Real Estate!

"I Don't Need A Listing Agent! I Can Sell My Own House"

So many sellers think that they can list their home "For Sale By Owner" or FSBO and that will save them a ton of money. They think they can list their home on the Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, put a sign in the yard, and the buyers will simply line up to place their offers. Unfortunately, this method will most likely not work out well for the seller. There are so many things that could go wrong when a seller lists their own home. The first potential problem could be the listing price because people often don't know the true value of their home, and are not usually up to date on the local market conditions. An overpriced home would cause the home to sit on the market for months with no offers. A real estate agent will have the experience and knowledge about local market conditions to properly price a home so it can sell quickly.

Also, marketing a home is a full-time job; simply putting a sign on the lawn will not sell a home. These days so many people are technologically savvy and spend the majority of their free time online. A good real estate agent will have the skills to properly market your home, through all of the channels, to make sure that the listing is being made available to as many potential buyers as possible. Another potential disaster is what the result is when the home does get an offer and ends up under contract but the paperwork is handled incorrectly. One missed check mark on a contract...one failure to disclose...and the seller will have opened themselves up to potentially getting sued or having an invalid contract. Having a real estate agent who has filled out multiple contracts and knows exactly what must be disclosed, boosts the seller's security and takes the stress off of their shoulders.

"One Agent Is Just As Good As Another"

HA! This is one of the funnier phrases that I hear a lot! Real Estate Agents are like Easter eggs...each one is different! If a buyer or seller chooses an agent that is not from their area, then they will not have the same advantage as someone who picks a local real estate agent. The reason for this is because the real estate agent will not be up to date on local market conditions, they won't know how the local terrain could affect the home, and they won't know their way around. Also, if a seller chooses an agent who is not from their area, then how will that agent know how to properly market their home, and where to find buyers who would want to live in that area? Another factor is the agent's marketing strategy. Some agents are not up to date using the latest technology, and that can severely harm a seller's chance at selling their home for top dollar. A good real estate agent in today's market will be all over the internet, they will be on page 1 of Google, they will be using videos to market themselves and their listings, and they will have a strong email database that they can send out information to. Many of the agents out there today have not grown and adapted to new technology. However, whether it is a buyer or seller, they deserve to have an agent that is up to date and online!

"I Can't Afford To Buy A Home Right Now"

This is a pretty common misconception among potential buyers but the truth is that many of the people that use this statement would, in fact, qualify to buy a home. In today's market interest rates on loans are at an all-time low and the cost of renting a home is increasing. Some people's rent is higher than the average mortgage payment! This is the perfect time to buy. Also, many buyers don't know about all of the programs out there that are available to help you buy a home. For instance, if the buyer has served in the military they may be eligible for a VA loan, and if the buyer is low income they may be eligible for an FHA loan. There are all sorts of programs available to help buyers purchase homes.

"If I List My Home For A Little More, Then Lower Offers Won't Be A Big Deal"

Sellers often believe that if they list their home at an inflated rate, then they will have some wiggle room for negotiations, as well as feeling secure accepting an offer that is under the asking price. This sounds like it would make sense, but the truth is that listing your home for more than it is worth can be the kiss of death for your home. Most of the homes listed for more than they are worth end up sitting on the market with no offers, and then getting stale. Once a property is stale, no amount of marketing or price reductions will help bring it back to its former glory. The best thing to do is to take it off the market and wait awhile before you put it back on, and then when you do re-list it, make sure that you have an accurate price. To avoid this mistake it would be wise to contact a listing agent and have a comparative market analysis done on your home so that the buyer will have a good idea of what it the home is worth before they list it. Once the seller has done a CMA, it is important for them to list the house within the suggested price range that the agent has provided to avoid ending up with a stale listing.

"Selling Real Estate Is Easy! You Just Show A Couple Homes And Make A Ton Of Money In Commission!"

This one is perhaps the one I hear most often when I hear people describing real estate agents, and it is so far from the truth. Real estate agents work really hard, and often they don't make nearly as much as buyers and sellers may think they do for the time, effort, and attention to detail that they provide. They market listings, send out market updates, keep potential buyers informed on what is newly listed, negotiate for buyers and sellers, open escrow, put together disclosure packages, schedule inspections, act as a liaison between buyer/seller and title, keep detailed records of every document signed and email sent, coordinate with the lender, inspectors, and appraisers, and oversee the entire transaction from start to finish. Also, due to the fact that agents work on commission only, it is important to consider that they don't get paid monthly or bi-weekly in a paycheck...the money they make must be spread out over time until their next transaction closes. Once you factor in high taxes and large overhead in order to pay for their marketing, office supplies, rents, etc, in the end, the average agent doesn't make as much money as most people assume.

Sonoma County is a very unique corner of the world. We have everything from ancient towering redwoods to the crashing waves of the Pacific ocean. It is no surprise that this would be a popular place for buyers to look into investing in Real Estate. The way homes are priced, what they sell for, and what people are willing to pay for homes here is different than what you would see in other parts of California. Millar and Company has compiled a market analysis for you that outlines market trends for January 2015 and compares them to the market conditions from January 2014.

Homes For Sale vs Homes Sold

The number of homes on the market vs the number of homes that have sold is very informative about what is really going on in the market. In January of 2014 there were 600 homes listed for sale in Sonoma County. However January of 2015 only had 495 homes listed. This was a 17.5% decrease from last year. Typically an area will have growth due to new homes being built, and that growth will stimulate the local real estate market by adding inventory. Here in Sonoma County there have not been a lot of housing starts. The reason for this is that a percentage of the available space in Sonoma County is rural, up on a hill, or close to a body of water and does not have sewer access. In order to build in these areas one would have to put in a septic system, and due to environmental protection laws, it is extremely difficult to get a permit to put a septic system on this type of property. What does that mean? Well, it means that, since there isn't much being built, inventory is low and the value of each home increases with the amount of demand that is present. In January of 2014 there were 315 homes sold in Sonoma County, however in January 2015 there were only 248 homes sold. This shows a 26% decrease in the number of homes sold throughout last January and this January. This decrease can be caused by a number of different factors including weather conditions, interest rates, and low inventory. If there is not a lot on the market then there are not as many houses selling. In this case, the weather has been gray and foreboding causing many people to stay inside instead of going out to look at properties, and inventory has been low making it hard for buyers to find what they are looking for. Many seller's tend to list their homes in the spring and summer months and buyers are more commonly out and about throughout those months as well, so we are hoping to see both the inventory and the number of homes sold increase in the coming months.

Average Sold Amount

Another indicator of market conditions is what the average home is being Sold for. The value of a home is the combination of what a seller is willing to accept for it and what a buyer is willing to pay for it. The average home has three or fewer bedrooms and two or fewer bathrooms. There are, of course, homes that have more bedrooms and bathrooms, however for the sake of this market analysis, we have limited the statistic to fit homes within that range. According to the BAREIS MLS TrendGraphix Report, the resulting sold price of the average home in January 2014 was $498,000. In contrast January 2014 saw the average home being sold at $520,000, which can be attributed to the economy growing stronger and buyers having more money available to spend on a home. Also, it indicates that the market has shown growth over the last year and is holding steady.

If you are looking to sell your home in Sonoma County now is the perfect time to get top dollar on your home! If you are a buyer and you are thinking about placing an offer on a home it is important that you make sure to get your offer in as soon as you can because homes are being snatched up left and right and you don't want to lose the home of your dreams because you didn't get your offer in fast enough! For more information about local market conditions call 707-217-1786!

Local Sonoma County Real Estate Agent

Regardless of where you are looking to buy or sell a home, you should definitely consider getting a local agent to handle your transaction. This is vital to sellers because a local agent will be able to accent your properties best qualities, and how they are complemented by the area in which you live. Your agent will know of any problems that may arise and what to expect in your area. It is equally important to buyers because a local agent knows the terrain, the community, and the specific market conditions, and will be better equipped to help you make decisions, and to keep you informed of any changes in the market. David R. Millar (BRE#01354778) is a local Sonoma County real estate agent with years of experience and a deep connection to the Russian River community. If you have been thinking about buying or selling a home in Sonoma County call or text 707-217-1786 today. David will help you navigate through this growing marketplace with ease and precision. If you would like to learn more about us check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+,  and Youtube!

If you are a new real estate agent then you might not know that there are some statements that are guaranteed to help you lose buyers quickly! Here are the top seven things that real estate agents should NEVER say to a buyer. It is important that the agents that have already used these phrases, and have seen their effect, share their experience and help out the new generation of agents, so that they don't end up in some sticky situations themselves!

1. "That Is Never Going To Happen!" 

Many clients will set up an appointment to go out and look at properties, but when they get to their real estate agent's office they will sit down and start telling them all of the attributes that they want to find in a home, and what they want to spend. An example would be "I want a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home, with a yard, that is lakefront, and I don't want to spend more than $200,000!" YIKES! Every agent reading this is rolling their eyes right now because they have all had this experience. The important thing to remember is NEVER tell the buyer that their dream will not be coming true! If you tell a buyer that it is never going to happen, then they will be angry with you for squashing their dream, and more than that they won't believe you anyway! They will simply go out and find an agent that believes in their dream and is willing to tell them that their dreams are going to come true! My suggestion would be to nod and smile and say okay...then take them out to look at properties. They will soon realize on their own that their dream is unrealistic and that they need to lower their expectations in order to find a home that they are happy with.

2. "I'll Call You Later!"

OMG this is the WORST thing a real estate agent can say to a buyer! Real Estate follows the early bird gets the worm concept. When a buyer contacts an agent, that agent will need to start asking questions immediately and take down as much information as possible, even set up an appointment if possible.

Buyers take time to process before they get up the nerve to finally make a huge investment such as buying a home. It takes courage and a sense of resolve for them to take the next step and call a real estate agent. If the real estate agent says they will call the person back later, that buyer is going to feel crushed, angry and they will assume that the agent doesn't care about them, their dream of owning their own home, or the courage that it took to pick up the phone and call. The anger will not last, but neither will the buyer...they will hang up and call another agent and tell the other agent all about the first agent they called that didn't have time for them! If an agent wants to get buyers to go look at properties, their chance to make an appointment is in the first call. If an agent has a lead capture website, then they should check it periodically throughout the day to see if there have been any new contacts and call them up as soon as possible. Studies have shown that agents that make contact within the first 15 minutes have a much higher rate of sales!

3. "You Don't Need That Inspection!"

This one always goes over well with clients...NOT! Buyers will typically ask their agent what inspections the agent thinks that they should do. This puts the real estate agent in a very precarious position because an agent should never tell a client what inspections they should or shouldn't get done. If an agent tells a client they don't need an inspection, the client might wonder what the agent is trying to hide or cover up. The other thing that could happen, is that say the buyer doesn't get the inspection because their trusted agent told them it wasn't necessary. If something comes up after closing, chances are that buyer is going to sue the agent for the damage, and a judge is going to ask why the agent told them they didn't need an inspection that they obviously did need. The best course of action for any agent is to tell the client that they should get any and all inspections that they deem necessary to make them feel secure with their investment. If the buyer pressures the agent for suggestions then a good phrase to use is "In this area buyers will generally get these inspections" and then list the ones that are common in their area. This way the agent is not taking any responsibility, but instead, they are leaving it up to the buyer to make the choice on which inspections to get.

4. "The Seller Will Never Accept That Price!"

Never, Ever, tell a buyer that the seller will not accept the amount they are offering! Not only will the buyer automatically assume the agent is working for the seller and therefore trying to manipulate them into a higher price, but they also will not believe that the seller won't accept their offer. The best thing to do would be to write up the offer and let it get rejected. The next time your buyer wants to place an offer you are sure will be rejected, ask them if they would like to come in at a higher price so that they won't lose this home to a better offer. One of my favorite questions is "What are you willing to pay to make sure that you will get this home, what is it worth to you?" The buyer will go through the process of realizing that they will have to offer more if they want the home. This process should not be forced, let the buyer reach this conclusion on their own, so that they feel like it was their decision, instead of feeling like their agent is bullying or manipulating them.

5. "You Will Never Find A House As Good As This One!"

This one is hard not to say because it is natural for a real estate agent to want to create a sense of motivation and urgency in the buyer to cause them to want to place a competitive offer as soon as possible. The problem with this statement is that if the buyer does place a great offer on the home quickly and it does not get accepted then not only will they be crushed, but they will also get stuck on that home. What I mean by "Getting Stuck" on the home is that every home that the agent shows them after that will be compared to the one they didn't get, and nothing will ever be quite right. Statements such as "Well the other house had a pool" or "Yeah I know this house has a yard, but the other house had that amazing view and that is what I wanted!" These are the buyers that are going to have a really hard time putting an offer on a home because each home will fall short, in their minds, of the original home that their real estate agent told them was the best. Instead of falling into this hopeless situation, try pointing out the selling points of the home and saying something like "This home is beautiful and gets lots of sunlight" or some variation of this, depending on where the home is located. These are safer statements that will endear a buyer to the home, without the intense let down if they don't get their offer accepted.

6. "I Realize That Is What You Want In A Home, But You Can't Have Everything!"

Buyers are notorious for showing up in their agent's office with an idea of what they want in a home, and more often then not they have unrealistic expectations about what they are going to be able to find. This is, however, their dream and it is important that their agent doesn't disillusion them before they have a chance to see for themselves what is out there. If the agent tells the buyer that they have unrealistic expectations, the buyer is going to be angry and resentful of the agent for trampling on their dream. The best thing for the agent to do is to take the buyer out and let them take a look at what is on the market and what homes are available in the area that they are looking to invest in, and they will realize on their own that their expectations are too high. Once they come to this realization they will begin to decide what they can live with and what they can't live without, and soon they will begin placing offers on the homes that fit within that range.

7. "You Won't Be Able To Find A Home In That Price Range!"

Most buyers have a general idea of how much they can afford and, more often then not they don't want to spend that much. Buyers will always be looking for a great deal and they will expect the home to be in perfect condition as well as be a great deal, which usually is not the case. A good idea for most real estate agents is to begin by asking if the buyer is pre-qualified for a loan or how much they are able to invest in property. Whatever you do, DO NOT tell them that they will not be able to find property in that price range! If a real estate agent tells a buyer that they will never find a home in their price range, the buyer will take their business to another agent, and they will buy a home from that agent. The best thing for an agent to do is to take their clients out and show them property and let them go through the process of learning what the true value of real estate is on their own. Let them come to the conclusion that they will need to spend more to get more, on their own. This way when the buyer is ready to buy, they will remember how patient their real estate agent was, and call them up.

What makes Main Street Bistro Part Of Russian River Living?

Friday evening Main Street Bistro is in full swing with live bands, delicious food, and a fully stocked bar! The building has recently been remodeled giving it a casino speakeasy feel to it. I almost expected a flapper to come walking in the front door!

Main Street Bistro is inviting to everyone, however, up until now that bulk of their business has come from people vacationing on the Russian River. That is about to change as they are implementing Community Nights in hopes of attracting the local community to come on in and get in the Guerneville Groove! Community Nights will include "Fun Sunday", "Karaoke Monday", "Pizza Tuesday &  alternating "game night" and "oldies" Wednesdays, and "Happy Thursdays"! On each of these days, there will be a different daily special on the menu that will be discounted for that day only! Monday's Karaoke is sure to draw in many of the local musicians in a town full of the artistic and musically inclined. Main Street Bistro has also decided they will be opening for lunch Friday through Sunday 12-3pm so if you are working and get hungry you can head on over and enjoy a delicious meal!

Owner Of Main Street; An Esteemed Guerneville Resident

Suzy has owned Main Street Bistro for the last 20 years and is an esteemed local community member here on the Russian River. She is in contact with a person that has a huge personal collection of art that they have accumulated for years. Now they are selling that collection in pieces. The art has been strategically placed around the room so that no matter which way you turn you get a view of some stunning masterpiece! The art ranges in price from $500-$1500 and is worth taking a trip to the bistro to see!

Some night you just want to stay at home and enjoy some alone time! Main Street Bistro understands this and they want to make sure that you are getting what you want! So Friday through Sunday from 5-9pm they will deliver food to your front door so not only do you not have to go out to eat but you also won't have to cook! To view their takeout menu click here!

When Main Street Bistro began they wanted to have a jazz and blues theme of music to go with their casino speakeasy theme. This has morphed and grown over the years until they had become very eclectic in their music. Their all-inclusive musical selection is one of the things that sets them apart from other places in the Russian River area since they attract many different people with many different tastes in music! They don't charge a cover to hear their live bands and keep a fully stocked bar close at hand to make your night memorable. So if you live in the Russian River area or are planning a visit here soon stop into Main Street Bistro and get yourself into the Guerneville Groove!

Your Local Russian River Agent

Many people come to the Russian River and find that they never want to leave! If you are somebody who has been thinking about buying a home in the Russian River area call David R. Millar (BRE#01354778) at 707-217-1786 and let me find you your next home in paradise!

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The Russian River area is a region of Sonoma County that's it's own real estate marketplace. The way homes are priced, what they sell for, and what people are willing to pay for homes out here is different than what you would see in other parts of Sonoma County or San Francisco. Millar and Company has compiled a market analysis for you that outlines market trends for December 2014 and compares them to the market conditions from December 2013, in order to show you how the market is changing and what that will mean for you!

Sold Homes vs For Sale Homes On The Russian River.

It is important to first look at how many homes have been listed for sale on the Russian River and also how many homes have sold here. This will help to determine the supply and demand for the area and whether it is a seller's market or a buyer's market. According to the graph,(located on the left) taken from the BAREIS MLS TrendGraphix Report, there were 53 homes that were listed for sale on the Russian River in December of 2013. In contrast there were only 21 homes listed for sale on the Russian River in December of 2014. This is a 39.6% decrease in the amount of inventory available on the Russian River and reduced inventory is an indicator of a seller's market. What does this mean? A seller's market typically means that there is more demand for property in a specific area than there are properties to sell. This means that sellers are getting more offers on their homes and the competition for each home is higher. In the summer, an average real estate market here in the Russian River area would have about 100-120 homes listed for sale, and  in the winter the average would be about 40 homes listed for sale. Since there were only 21 homes listed in December, we are hoping to see a substantial increase in the amount of homes listed for sale on the Russian River in spring 2015.

Average Listing Price vs Average Sold Amount On The Russian River

Another great thing to look at when evaluating the Russian River real estate market is the price a home is listed at, and then compare what that same house is actually selling for. If the average listing price and the average sold amounts are close, that is a sign of a healthy market. It will also help to determine if there is a significant change in the property value here on the Russian River, as well as whether or not many price concessions are being granted to buyers. If the average sold price is continually lower than the average listing price, than the market is moving towards a buyer's market. However, if the average sold price is repeatedly above the listing price this is an indicator of a seller's market. In an average market there will be little contrast between the listing price and what homes are actually selling for. According to the graph, (located to the right) taken from the BAREIS MLS TrendGraphix Report, the average amount a home on the Russian River sold for in December 2013 was $285,000, but in December 2014 the average amount on sold homes rose to $440,000. This is another indication of a seller's market; the price that homes are selling for is climbing back to pre-recession prices due to the low supply and high comparable sales in the area.

What does this mean for buyers and sellers?

If you have been thinking about listing your home for sale on the Russian River now is the ideal time to do so. According to the statistics outlined above we are in a seller's market, which means that there is a high demand for property on the Russian River and not many homes for sale. Seller's will be in a better position to receive a great offer on their home. What this means for buyers is that the market is on the rise, and if a buyer finds a home that they want, they will need to place a fair offer from the beginning in order to get the seller's attention and to let them know that they are serious about buying that home. Coming in under asking price is a trend of the past! In this new competitive market buyers will need to consider their offers carefully. 

Local Russian River Real Estate Agent

Regardless of where you are looking to buy or sell a home, you should definitely consider getting a local agent to handle your transaction. This is vital to sellers because a local agent will be able to accent your properties best qualities, and how they are complemented by the area in which you live. Your agent will know of any problems that may arise and what to expect in your area. It is equally important to buyers because a local agent knows the terrain, the community, and the specific market conditions, and will be better equipped to help you make decisions, and to keep you informed of any changes in the market. David R. Millar (BRE#01354778) is a local Russian River real estate agent with years of experience and a deep connection to the Russian River community. If you have been thinking about buying or selling a home on the Russian River call or text 707-217-1786 today. David will help you navigate through this growing marketplace with ease and precision. If you would like to learn more about us check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Google+,  and Youtube or Start Searching Russian River Properties For Sale Now!

There are many different inspections that a buyer can choose to have performed when buying a home. When you are purchasing a home in the country it is important for you to know that you can have any and all inspections that you deem necessary. However, if you are new to the Real Estate market you may be a little unsure of what inspections you should schedule. With rural properties, it is important to make sure that certain inspections are done because on rural properties there are many issues that may arise, such as un-permitted work, pest, well, and septic issues.

Here are the top 5 inspections to consider when you are investing in rural property:

#1 Home Inspection

A Home inspection is an examination of the condition of a home. A Home Inspector will examine the interior and exterior, and write a report that includes all of their findings. Inspectors will check the roof, basement, heating system, water heater, air-conditioning system, structure, plumbing, electrical, and many other aspects of buildings. They look for improper building practices, those items that require extensive repairs, items that are general maintenance issues, as well as some fire and safety issues. These inspectors have gone through immense training and multiple homes, identifying everything that is or could potentially be an issue and disclosing to the buyers and sellers. Getting a home inspection done is very important on rural properties because homes in the country may have had work done without permits and it allows you to see things that the seller may not have noticed or has failed to disclose.

#2 Pest Inspection

A Wood Destroying Pest Inspection is one of the most important inspections that you can have done on your home in the country because country homes tend to be exposed to the elements more than homes in the city. The inspection is performed in order to seek out wood destroying pests such as termites, wood infesting beetles, rot fungus, and carpenter ants. The inspector will look for evidence of these pests such as damaged wood, dead insects, live insects, or termite tubes. These things combined with conductive conditions such as standing water or earth to wood contact, as well as plumbing leaks, will be used to determine if there are any wood-destroying pests in the home. Whether or not the inspector finds any evidence of pests in the home they will compile what they have found into a report that highlights any past, present or potential damage that has or could occur on the home due to pests. A good thing to ask your pest inspector is to check any outer buildings such as detached garages and sheds as they are typically not included in a pest inspection unless requested.

#3 Well Inspection

A Well Inspector will be looking at a number of different items related to water quality and productivity. First, they are going to check water pressure, water quality and then the inspector will check the water production or gallons per minute.  They will also check to make sure that the well continually produces that much per minute over a few hours. If the well does not perform according to minimum standards it is important to look into Hydro-fraction or drilling a new well, which can get expensive. Another thing that a Well Inspector will look at is the quality of the water in the well to make sure it is meeting the minimum standards under the EPA guidelines. Some issues that may arise are toxins or heavy metals, such as mercury or iron. Also, they will check to see if the water is hard or soft. If the water is too hard or if it does not meet the minimum standards for safe drinking water then the installation of a filter and/or a softener system is all that is needed to rectify this problem.

#4 Septic Inspection

A Septic Inspection is very important to get with rural properties because if the septic fails, it will be expensive and stressful to have it replaced. If the property is waterfront then it may actually be impossible to replace due to the implication of new stricter laws concerning the protection of rivers, lakes, and creeks. A Septic system typically consists of a tank that has two sides, one for solids and one for liquids, and leech lines that redirect the liquids back into the soil to fertilize the earth. These are very common in areas that are not on city sewer. A Septic inspector will often look to see if the tank has been recently pumped, that the tank is intact, that the leech lines are not hindered in any way, and that there are no foreign objects such as tree roots or cement that would interfere with the tank's operation. The septic inspector will provide a report that outlines exactly what they did and what they found. Dysfunctional septic systems can get very costly so it is important that you review the report carefully.

#5 Preliminary Title Report/Survey

When you open escrow the title company will do a title search in order to find out what types of liens, encumbrances, judgments, etc. may be clouding the title. This report will tell you if there are any easements for anything or gives anyone the right to be on the property. It will also tell you what the title insurance will not cover, such as unpaid property taxes and easements. Although this will often give you a good idea of what is going on with the property, something that it may not tell you is that it is very common in rural properties to have a house or the neighbors house on or over the property line. Getting a professional survey done is a good idea because then you can know for sure if the property you are buying contains just that house and if it is completely on that property. This is vital because you don't want to be the person that buys a property with a house that is two feet on the neighbor's property, and then have the neighbor say that they won't give you an easement and that they want that part of the house removed. This can get costly and very stressful so protect yourself by getting a survey done.

These are the top 5 inspections that you should consider when investing in rural property. Keep in mind that no property is perfect and especially rural properties tend to be older and have more flaws. However, many of these flaws are easily remedied and the result of living in a rural area is worth it!

David R. Millar has 13 years of experience in rural real estate. He specializes in Riverfront vacation rentals for sale on the Russian River. If you are buying or selling a home on the Russian River call or text 707-217-1786 or email David at Millarcan@gmail.com. We are available for you 24/7!