Email Elizabeth
Elizabeth Weintraub
Why Shooting Photos of Geckos in Hawaii Presents Challenges
Ever since we bought our vacation home in Hawaii, I’ve been on a mission to shoot photos of geckos in Hawaii. Primarily the Gold Dust Day geckos because those constitute the biggest population in my yard. These are the cute lizards, similar to the lizards that make TV commercials. They grin and look so innocent and happy. Then you notice their tail is a different color and you realize they lost it somewhere at one time.
Yes, these geckos in Hawaii can regenerate a tail. So if they are cornered in a tight situation, they can detach their tail. Just leave it behind in the clutches of whatever was hindering its movement. They can grow a new one. Skinks can do that, too. In fact, when I was a kid, I would pull off the tails of skinks we caught. Then slip the tails in my brother’s bed, under the covers, at the foot of his bed. My siblings found that hilarious. Seems really gross to me today. And cruel to the skinks.
But I digress. This trip to the house to work — hey, I can work from Sacramento in the spring or I can work from Hawaii — I brought a different camera. My Canon Sureshot. This allows me to shoot long distances. You simply cannot get great photos of the geckos in Hawaii from an iPhone, or even a Nikon without a good zoom. They also run away from you when you get too close to them. Even if you say sweet things in a soft voice, they’ll split in a heartbeat. Sucker!
I am really proud of myself that I got the shot above. That gecko has a great personality that shines through. You can almost touch the lizardy skin. He thoroughly enjoyed sunning himself but you can sense a bit of apprehension in his eyes, even though I stood a good 10 feet away. I think his name is Norton.
This is a photo of a myna bird about a 1/2 mile away from our house. You can see the ocean behind the roof line, which is about a mile from our house. I shot this from my lanai. Not everybody loves myna birds because they are noisy and they fight a lot. They are also a bit like mockingbirds as they pick up sounds and repeat them.
Check this out! Do you know what these are? They are mangoes. We haven’t had any for two years because they were not fertilized and mulched. Now that the problem is rectified, we are getting tons of mangoes. This is a favorite place for the geckos in Hawaii to hang out. Some are brown lizards with smooth backs, and others resemble a toad, all bumpy and darker brown. Or maybe I grilled one by mistake.
Some of you may remember my blog about visiting Tutu’s Nursery in Kailua-Kona last winter to meet Barbara Bolton and buy a red ginger plant. I carted this one home and planted it in my front yard. A few days later, all the leaves were turning white as though bleached by the sun and drooping in its soggy environment.
That was the wrong place to plant red ginger. So, I dug it up and moved it to the back yard, near the mango tree. Trimmed off the bleached leaves, piled volcanic chips around it and let nature provide its water. Now I have blooms of ginger. The flower is ornamental, and some people use the tubers for medicinal purposes.
I plan over the next couple of weeks to shoot more photographs of geckos in Hawaii. They generally run in pairs, so if I find one in the garage, there is another nearby. We don’t get too many of them inside the house. But when one sneaks in, I sweep it out with a broom, using the broom like a hockey stick.
Back to work today, though. I have only four open houses today, but that’s enough. Hopefully a couple of my sellers will receive a few more offers by tonight.
That’s a nice benefit of working from Hawaii. Due to daylight saving, not practiced here, Hawaii is three hours behind Sacramento in the spring. So when an open house ends at 4 PM in Sacramento, it’s only 1:00 PM here. I have the entire afternoon to negotiate offers. There is no better place to do this than among the geckos in Hawaii.
Beautiful 5 Bedroom Craftsman Fixer in Woodland for Sale
Craftsman fixer in Woodland located at 70 2nd Street, Woodland, CA 95695
‘Tis the dream of many a buyer to purchase a Craftsman fixer in Woodland. So many historic homes in this quaint Yolo County town. It’s the stuff HGTV shows thrive upon. But the path from potential to stunning might be littered with a few challenges and roadblocks along the way. You’ve really got to possess a bit of experience to make it rehabbing. It can’t just be wishful thinking on your part as a buyer. However, in defense of the renovation work, these historic homes generally were constructed with superior materials in comparison to how builders throw up new construction today.
Working on these types of homes can often result in a labor of love. My last home prior to our place in the Sacramento neighborhood of Land Park happened to be built in 1898. I renovated that home mostly myself, and made many mistakes. I cannot believe I gave away the clawfoot tub in favor or a large walk-in shower, but what the hey. Younger and more foolish, I blame it upon.
This Craftsman fixer in Woodland will take your breath away. For starters, look at this entry and formal living room. All original woodwork, and in immaculate condition. Those famous tapered columns from the huge front porch carry inside to the formal spaces as well. So many original vintage light fixtures, too. Check out that beautiful brick fireplace and mantle.
Then, when you think it can’t get any prettier, feast your eyes on the formal dining room. Now, that’s what I call a buffet and china cabinet with pull out drawers in pretty much pristine condition. Its stupendous boxed ceiling is the crowning glory of this gorgeous room.
One of the really nice features of this home is the surprise of a first-floor bedroom. Look at how large and gracious the room is. In fact, all of the bedrooms are pretty good sized. A little elbow room is good. Who wants their bed crammed into a tiny space that runs wall-to-wall? This home features 5 bedrooms and 2 baths.
County records show the square footage of this Craftsman fixer in Woodland for sale at 2,342 sq. ft. At one time, there was a garage, but it was long ago torn down. The lot size is .17 acre, according to the Yolo County Assessor.
Woodland is only 15 minutes from the Sacramento International airport and the city of Davis. Known for its fabulous restaurants, nightlife and bars, in addition to lots of boutique shops. Why not come to our open house on Sunday, March 25th, and view this beautiful historic home for yourself? Open from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, hosted by the amazing Amy McMullan from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team.
70 2nd St, Woodland, CA 95695 is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate at $450K. Strictly an AS IS sale. See the virtual tour. For more information, call Elizabeth at 916.233.6759 or send a text.
Carmichael Storybook Cottage for Sale Will Blow Your Mind
OK, I realize almost every Carmichael agent believes she has listed a Carmichael storybook cottage for sale that is unique and special. But most of those agents are just blowing smoke. Aren’t you bored, bored, bored by emails proclaiming smashing homes or stunning showplaces, when they are really just grotesque cookie-cutter homes? How many fake fireplaces built inside a fake fireplace and pretentious Grecian columns can one person really take? But I will eat my socks if you don’t adore this Carmichael storybook cottage for sale.
Built in 1957, this is a mind-blowing home. I kid you not. The previous owner of this home carefully selected its antique fixtures and shipped many items from Europe. Her daughter called her the original Martha Stewart, only much more authentic and 50 times more talented. This remarkable woman handmade the bath drapes to match the designer wallpaper. She personally wove with her own two hands wall-to-wall rag carpet.
Some of the enchanting light fixtures feature etched wild beasts of the forest.
I hardly know where to begin, so let’s start with the entryway, past the stained glass and wood door, hand-carved and imported from England. To the brick hallway, raised hearth and fireplace. Like entering a castle.
Voila, the kitchen is breathtaking. You will love the attention to detail, and feel the warmth, laughter and love that once filled this space. Wow, voluptuous red. Can you see the Eiffel Tower out the window from here? Oh, look, a copper-lined range hood. How about those custom wood cabinets, which appear as gorgeous as they day they were lovingly created by skilled craftsman. Or, those delightful vintage hanging lanterns? Check out the three different counter heights, they might be covered in terra cotta tile. Definitely, a cook’s dream, for a person who crafts real meals for real people.
Swinging café doors on the other end lead to the raised formal dining room. Step down to the family room and step up at the other end to a unique room. For some reason, I envision a baby grand piano there. After dinner, I see guests chatting and relaxing in oversized chairs in front of the fireplace sipping brandy or maybe a single malt Scotch. Surely someone in the house would love to play a little Strauss for us on the piano?
And now, the master suite. Oooo, la, la! You really cannot enjoy the print on the wallpaper from this photo, you need to see it in person. So subtle, delicate, lovely. Wallpaper is coming back, you know! Look at that wood: the floors, doors, it’s in the all the windows, no plastic or vinyl windows in this Carmichael storybook cottage for sale. So rich. Orgasmic, even. Yes, this room will undoubtedly lead to sustained and dare I suggest heightened relations.
Obviously, I cannot show you every room and every detail but the virtual tour can. You can also view this home for yourself in person. You have to. You know you do. Don’t fight that urge. Listen to your instincts telling you that you would have to be half mad not to want to own this home and caress every corner of it.
Lucky for you, you can. Come to our open house on Sunday, March 25, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Smell the vintage roses. Enjoy the weathervane topping the detached garage. Stroll through the brick courtyard. Marvel at the gardens, the towering cypress. And if the stars align just right, perhaps you find yourself the fortunate owner of this very special home.
Two to three bedrooms, private office with built-in desk and cabinets (including an original pencil sharpener). Two magnificent baths feature antiques. Appraiser shows 1,809 square feet (not verified). Covered back porch. Detached 2-car garage, and the long drive empties into a quiet culdesac.
6222 Eastmont Court, Carmichael, CA 95608 is no longer offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate. Call Elizabeth at 916.233.6759 for more information.
What You Do Not Know About the NACA Program But Should
The NACA program all sounded too good to be true. And you know what that means. NACA is a HUD-approved company that makes loans to marginal buyers with bad credit or no credit. There are no income requirements, either. Not only that, but no down payment and no closing costs. Now, the NACA program bills itself as the answer to predatory lending for people who otherwise would get suckered into hard-money loans. Or discriminated against. At least that’s the way I read it.
You can see my ranking below in the hierarchy of preferable purchase offers. I rank NACA right below robbing a bank. But then, I’m a listing agent specialist. My team works with buyers. I do not. I represent sellers. So, of course, I see it differently.
I had a vague recollection of hearing about this program many years ago, but never worked with any buyers who needed it. Most buyers have a little bit of money saved, and if they have bad credit, honestly, maybe they should clean up that bad credit first before going further into debt. Not everybody should buy a home. But that’s just a logical opinion based on four decades of experience. You can get an FHA loan with a low FICO score, and there are CalHFA programs to help with down payment money.
Most buyers don’t need NACA. Better options exist.
The Sacramento Bee ran a story on Guild Mortgage, which offers one of the best programs I’ve ever seen for home buyers in Sacramento. No strings attached. In conjunction with Fannie Mae, Guild just gives buyers 2% of the sales price to use as they wish. For a down payment or toward closing costs. No repayment required. No loan recorded. Just free money. Minimum FICO of 680, though but that’s not that high. Only certain areas qualify for this program.
Unfortunately, my sellers instead approved an offer from buyers utilizing the NACA program. This requires a NACA home inspection. And holy cow, that inspection is nearly impossible to pass. I don’t know how any buyer can buy an older home in today’s Sacramento seller’s market with the NACA program, particularly if the repair list we received is common.
Further, the NACA inspector wants the sellers to test a 1978 popcorn ceiling for asbestos. This is a buyer inspection, not a seller inspection. Which, amazingly, the buyers who have zero funds invested in the transaction want the sellers to pay for. If there is asbestos, that requires removal. Very expensive. Air tested by pros, too. Our NACA home inspection calls for licensed contractors and licensed plumbers to evaluate all sorts of things in the house, to the tune of more than $6,000. After evaluation, they demand everything corrected at the seller’s expense.
This overly picky inspector even checked the hard-wired smoke detectors, noting, perhaps incorrectly, that they seemed older than 10 years. Replace them, he said. Along with installing new receptacles in the garage. A grand total of 11 expensive repairs required to pass NACA. Beware, you don’t see this with FHA or VA.
After this experience, I can’t say I would ever recommend to another seller of an older home that they accept a NACA offer. Which is too bad because I can see where there is a need for this type of program in our communities. I also hate to see these buyers’ hopes crushed.
However, we need to get real. The hierarchy that exists in mortgage lending pretty much ranks in the following manner with sellers, especially in multiple offer situations in Sacramento:
- Cash
- Conventional with 20% down
- Conventional with less than 20% down
- FHA
- VA
- CalVet
- CalHFA down payment assistance
- Hard money loans
- Robbing a bank
- NACA
How Do Top Listing Agents Market Homes for Sale in Sacramento?
My seller called today to ask just how does a top listing agent like me market homes for sale in Sacramento? She did not ask this question before listing her home for sale or maybe I answered it during our discussions. I often try to anticipate what a seller will want to know before she asks the question. Thinking ahead is one of my specialties, you know. This seller wanted to know what happens when her listing goes live in MLS, where does it go and how does it get there. And specifically, what do I do to market homes for sale in Sacramento?
This took me longer than I thought it would, to fully explain. I’ll try to share those thoughts with you in the limited space and time I have available. First, my listings go live at midnight on Thursday, usually. That gives time for photos to download throughout the internet. The listing usually shows up live in Zillow the follow morning, which feeds into Trulia, and the information is generally wrong. There might be old photos, or the number of rooms is off, or it doesn’t show correct stats for the property. So, I go in to Zillow and manually fix its errors. Wish I didn’t have to, but I do.
Next is the independent website with the property address as the URL. Followed by a virtual tour. Then I check the listing on my own IDX on my Elizabeth Weintraub website for accuracy and photos. Sometimes they don’t show correctly and I have to notify my IDX of an error. I also subscribe to a digital ad service, the type that follow buyers who exhibit buying behavior all over the internet. Most agents who market homes for sale in Sacramento do not pay for an IDX like I do.
When it comes to my specialized method and how I market homes for sale in Sacramento, my website receives a high ranking in Google for a lot of real estate terms. I’ve been online since 1991, and I write many home buying and selling articles for The Balance (the former About.com) vertical. All of this elevates my listings in search engines in ways other agents can’t begin to do. My SEO is organic and real.
To top it off, I write a personal blog about my new listing, and I prepare many links back to my blog from other real estate related resources. My seller’s home enjoys a presence in Facebook, on Twitter, and other popular social media platforms. It’s like leaving no stone unturned. You can’t spin around without running into a listing from Elizabeth Weintraub and Lyon Real Estate. The way I market homes for sale in Sacramento is unrivaled. Can’t be duplicated.
Nobody else really does it this way, and certainly not the discount agents, although they try to claim to. They don’t do it. Agents can’t. They aren’t Elizabeth Weintraub. Nobody can be me, but me.
