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Elizabeth Weintraub
Hot New Single Story Listing in Laguna Creek West
7801 Wymark Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95758 is listed by Elizabeth Weintraub, Lyon RE.
Before I tell you about my hot new single story listing in Laguna Creek West, let me explain how I know this is a hot listing. One of the things I do is study the competition. The competition is defined as other similar homes for sale within a half mile radius of my subject property. By studying the photographs and listing data of nearby homes, I can generally accurately predict just about how long it will take to sell any given home in our Sacramento region.
As long as there are comparables. In many parts of our area, inventory remains tight and low, whereas demand seems to be constant. This means if you need to buy a home, you will probably have to pay list price and make a fast decision. However, making a fast decision is easy with this hot new listing in Laguna Creek West.
It’s everything you want. Easy, one level living. A turnkey home ready to move into. No work to do. The beautiful wood-like flooring adds to the glamor and appeal of this particular model. You will find a double-sided fireplace, lots of arches and curved walls and angles lending space. The square footage, according to the Sacramento County Assessor is 1,923. That’s pretty big.
The home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. From the spacious master suite, you have exterior access to a stamped concrete patio. Dual sinks in the master bath, plenty of closet space. There is also a whole house fan to suck out all that hot air when you get home from work, or you can just leave your husband in the garage. Just joking!! About the husband, I mean, not the whole house fan.
Come to our open house on Sunday, September 10th, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, hosted by the incredible Barbara Dow. 7801 Wymark Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95758 is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate at $415K. While you’re at it, why not check out the virtual tour of this new listing in Laguna Creek West? You can call Elizabeth at 916.233.6759.
Double-sided fireplace is built in at 7801 Wymark Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95758
Beautiful wood-like flooring in kitchen extends into other rooms.
Master bedroom features exterior access to the yard.
Raising the Bar for Sacramento Realtors Means Speaking Up
Raising the bar in Sacramento real estate is the duty of every Realtor.
Raising the bar does not mean calling the real estate police. For one thing, there are no official real estate police. One also can’t just notify the California Bureau of Real Estate of a violation and expect the staff who handle consumer complaints to know which rules or regulations had been violated. The staff is made up of people who just work there, they have a 9-to-5 job, and that job is not to monitor or memorize every real estate regulation on the books.
If one is gonna file a complaint at the California Bureau of Real Estate, one needs to do one’s own homework and point out the codes or regulations the perpetrator has trampled. Otherwise, one most likely will encounter some yo-yo saying that seems OK to me, when the actionable item is against the law. Perhaps the violation could be grounds for losing a real estate license, but then we agents are not the commissioner running that arm of state government. Tip: don’t just say an agent can’t do XYZ without citing case or code numbers.
Raising the bar is what every real estate agent has a duty to do, but few get involved. They’re too busy with clients, family, friends, themselves. Yet, how much effort is it to educate the violator? Sacramento Realtors should speak up. When you see something, say something to the agent. Care enough to educate. I’m not suggesting punishment nor do I advocate filing a complaint with the Sacramento Board of Realtors, unless it’s the last resort. Just talk to the agent.
Sacramento Realtors are often unsupervised. Or, they are complacent: been doing it this way for X number of years, buddy, ain’t seeing no reason to change now, sort of attitude. They are not interested in raising the bar. Nobody died and appointed them Governor. But if we don’t speak up, it makes us part of the problem.
For example, an agent sent a text message to one of my sellers yesterday, thanking them for allowing a showing. He also rambled on, sharing personal specifics about his buyer and then asked the seller whether the seller would consider a particular type of negotiation. When I informed the agent he was violating Article 16 of the Realtor Code of Ethics, he denied it. He became defensive, explaining he was only trying to . . .
It was Labor Day. Nobody was really working in Sacramento real estate. Yet, I took the time to explain that the agent appeared to be interfering in my fiduciary relationship with the seller. He cannot negotiate with the seller directly. He cannot throw out ideas for consideration nor try to influence the seller’s opinion of the buyer. I wonder how long he’s been doing business this way?
I don’t want to make enemies out of other Realtors. Nobody does. I don’t wanna report real estate agents, that’s not my style. Just stop and think, people. Raising the bar will only make the real estate profession better. Speak up. Inspire greatness.
Buying Stuff Online vs In the Store
Butterfly table mosaic with wrought iron from Pier I in Kailua-Kona.
The thing about buying stuff online vs in the store is it’s sometimes difficult to see what you’re actually buying online, but it’s not all that different from, say, shopping from a Sears Catalog. Remember the Sears Catalog? You had straight forward choices: good, better or best. Something for every budget. Easy decisions. Better quality, spend a little bit more; cheaper quality because it’s not that important, spend less.
When we’re buying stuff online vs in the store today, we’re just ordering from a vast catalog offering a huge number of suppliers. Plus, if we don’t like the item we purchased or it doesn’t fit right, is not the right material or color, we need to box it up and ship it back. Which is a hassle. It’s so much of a hassle that when I end up with the wrong thing, which does happen, I generally donate it to charity. It’s easier than sending it back.
For the past week now, I’ve been complaining about how I need a small table for our lanai in Hawaii. We have a coffee table but that involves grabbing on to my laptop (without dropping it) and bending forward to grab a cup of coffee. It would be so much easier if I could just stop tapping on the keyboard for a moment, and move my arm to the left.
I thought, aha, Target would sell small plastic tables, and we headed over to Target. Found all sorts of other things we could use, but not a plastic table. Then we drove by Pier I. And sure enough, way in the back, we found a very pretty wrought iron table in the shape of a butterfly with a mosaic tiled top. On sale, too.
I would not have bought this butterfly table online. Some stuff you’ve got to see in person. You’ve got to get up out of that comfy chair, get in the car and drive. Buying stuff at the store helps to support local jobs in the community and local businesses. I like to touch, feel, admire, compare, prior to purchase. Buying stuff online vs in the store has it’s advantages, but this is not one of them. Plus, I don’t know of a store anywhere that won’t match prices if you find it cheaper online.
This is of interest to us in the real estate industry because there’s a lot of chatter about online apps eventually replacing Sacramento Realtors. It’s true a Realtor needs to earn her business and trust, but an app can’t replace a human. Buyers need that emotional connection and professional guidance. Things may change shape and form, but service is always service. Experience matters.
Happy Labor Day!
Photos of Waikoloa Beach With Eels and Spotted Eagle Rays
Elizabeth Weintraub enjoys a Huggos Mai Tai at Lava Lava Beach Club on Waikoloa Beach
Say what you may about restaurants that cater to tourists, Huggos does it right. And the Lava Lava Beach Club is part of that chain. I discovered this restaurant by accident, walking up a path years ago from the Marriott. I’m sure most guests at the Marriott don’t venture this far. They are lucky if they can crawl from their room to the beach.
I’m not sure where the customers come from for this restaurant because it’s rather isolated and off the service road to the Marriott, if you turn left at the Kings Shops of Waikoloa. It’s kick back, relaxed dining on the water, either sand or deck seating.
Spinarugula at Lava Lava at Waikoloa Beach
They used to offer fish specials at lunch but the menu changed from a few years back. Still, the spinach and arugula with strawberries, blue cheese, red onions, nuts and topped with poke hit the spot. We sat in the shade under an umbrella by tiki torches. Plus, you can park for free at Lava Lava Beach Club, which beats the Marriott parking lot.
Cat at Waikoloa Anaeho’omalu Bay
A couple years ago I wrote a blog with a bunch of photographs of the cats at the Waikoloa Canoe Club at Anaeho’omalu Bay, and when I clicked on that link to insert it here, I noticed this is the same cat. Except this cat has lost a lot of weight since December of 2015. He is the most friendly cat, which means he is probably the strongest surviver.
My husband accused me of wanting to show him this area just so we could visit the cats. OK, that was part of it.
Cabanas at Marriott Waikoloa Beach
I had to show you a picture of the cabanas at the Marriott. It’s a low-level building, two stories, comprised of 16 units, 8 up with balconies and 8 down with lanais. This building is separate from the rest of the Marriott, which is stacked boxy rooms, piled on top of each other, like any other hotel. I’m not personally a big fan of Marriott hotels and view them as mostly mid-level hotels. Although I will say the Marriott at Marco Island is a superb hotel, especially if you get a corner room, much nicer than other Marriotts.
The reason I am pointing out Marriott cabana rooms is because you can request this specifically, and it’s really economical, far as luxury hotel rooms go on Big Island. When I stayed there for a month a couple years back, it was about $400 a night. It’s much closer to the water, too. More intimate and private. I could see construction going on now, so I imagine this little secret might not be a secret for long and the rates might increase.
Waikoloa Beach separates ancient fish pond from ocean.
We didn’t venture into the hotel but look at this landscaping! The Marriott at Waikoloa is a bit run down and in need of remodeling. It does not compare, for example, to the Four Seasons at Hualalai or the Fairmont, which are gloriously over-the-top resorts that transport you to a magical place in some other world.
Still, I love the grounds of the Marriott. This is what that hotel has going for it. The history, the superb location and beautiful Anaeho’omalu Bay and striking beach. The staff is friendly, helpful. And like I said, the cabanas are the place to stay.
Windsurfing kite falls into fish pond at Waikoloa
We had been watching the windsurfing kites and paddle boarders from the Lava Lava Beach Club restaurant. The guy with the striped kite routinely left the water, with his feet secured to the board. When he neared the fish pond, both he and his buddy lost control. Their kites fell into the fish pond. Uh oh.
Eel in the fish pond at Waikoloa Beach
Let me be straight about this. I do NOT like eels. They scare the shit outta me. I would hate to encounter an eel while snorkeling. They would definitely freak me out. But when I am above the water with an iPhone ready to shoot a photo, I will gladly do so. Eels tend to lurk behind rocks and in caves and they poke out their heads to study the situation before emerging.
I think eels know the power they carry and they maximize it. Truly, one scary looking serpent thing.
Elizabeth Weintraub on the beach at Waikoloa.
Lounge chairs with towels is how the staff at Marriott knows if you are a guest. Each hotel has its own color-coded towels, which they make you “check out” with your name and room number, as though you were a common criminal. The staff at the Marriott is not very large, and they don’t harass you at Waikoloa, like they do at Four Seasons Hualalai and The Fairmont.
Spotted Eagle Ray at Waikoloa Beach fish pond.
I’m fairly certain this is a spotted eagle ray. It might not be, but I’m 90% sure so I’m gonna go with it. There are only 2 other places I have been in the world where rays are so clearly visible in the water, and that would be Rangiroa in the Tuamotus and San Felipe in Baja. It’s hard to shoot fish in the water when they are moving. But you can’t miss the shadow of a ray maneuvering about.
Adam Weintraub Anaheo’omau Bay at Waikoloa Beach
And last, here is my patient and adorable husband, Adam Weintraub, carting my beach bag with towels and water, putting up with my enthusiasm for Waikoloa Beach. He wasn’t with me when I spent December of 2015 on Big Island at this resort. He’s not a Sacramento Realtor like me who can work from anywhere. He works for the state of California and stays home to hold down the fort.
I’m coming back to our house in Hawaii right after Thanksgiving. I’ll be here for 2 months, still selling real estate in Sacramento from Hawaii. I don’t stop working just because I happen to live some of the time on the most beautiful and friendliest island in the world, the island of Hawai’i.
Stopping at Kona Brewing After Closing a Home in Elk Grove
Elizabeth Weintraub and husband Adam at Kona Brewing Co.
My husband suggested we stop at Kona Brewing after I closed a sale in Elk Grove to “drink all of their beers.” That whim sounded like an excellent idea to me, and I’m all in for celebrating, unwinding and acting on the spur of the moment while in Hawaii. I’ve closed 3 sales in the past week since we’ve been in Kona, so it’s been a good week. On top of which, we bought a few more things for our house in Hawaii, and that was a bit exhausting.
For example, when I asked the guy from Aina’s Electrical, who was installing our beautiful new super quiet ceiling fan in the master, where we could go to find a couple of rugs under which geckos could hide, he suggested Amazon or eBay. What about keeping your dollars in the community? Well, says he, you could do that, too. Then he announced the fan was as good as he could do, yet it still wobbled. Hated to say this, but he needed to do better. He eventually stopped the wobbling. I knew he had it in him.
We went into a store to look at a few rugs, but it became apparent what we really needed to do first was buy a new sofa. You can’t lie on the sofa we have. No support in the cushions. It’s fairly uncomfortable. It’s the type of sofa one could use indoors or outdoors, so out to the lanai it goes. It was the previous owner’s sofa anyway. Then we traversed several other stores to pick up supplies and basics. Which is what caused my husband to bring up Kona Brewing.
Earlier in the day, I had submitted a new listing with multiple owners for MLS entry. Ordered the photographs, sent the paperwork to my office, sans one signature, and prepared every document required. Then the hold-out party emailed to say he did not want to participate in standard listing disclosures and took it upon himself to print, alter and sign the listing. He was also fairly adamant about a clause you might find in a luxury listing in Miami but not a small-change vacant lot under the freeway in Sacramento.
I’m too experienced and too old for this nonsense. I draw the line with impossible people. Life is short and then you die. It wasn’t too much work to cancel the listing, stop the photography and discard the paperwork. Still, it was very strange and odd. I’m confident somewhere down the line the sane people in that future transaction will pull it together, and it will work out.
Just not on Friday. I’ll still be ready to assist sometime next year, whatever.
So Kona Brewing was a welcome spot to rest and reflect on the bad but mostly good parts of the day. Good always outweighs the bad. If you’re ever in Kailua-Kona and want to stop at a craft beer place, Kona Brewing has great food in addition to creative and standard pours. I’d say so far the Kua Bay is my favorite.
Ahi Tartare at Kona Brewing has just enough spice for a kick.
