Email Elizabethopen houses in sacramento
Why There Are No Open Houses Over Major Holidays in Sacramento
If you’ve been wondering why there are no open houses over major holidays in Sacramento, you must be a seller. I never get this question from home buyers in Sacramento. And maybe part of it is because I tell sellers I will hold open their home every Sunday until it sells, except for major holidays. They don’t hear the “except for major holidays” part. They hear only: oh, goodie, every Sunday until it sells. Because agents work all of the time, right?
Yes, it does seem like we work all of the time, but we don’t work over periods when buyers don’t come to open houses. The reason there are no open houses over major holidays is because when a person has time off of work, rarely does a person want to do more work. It is work to go house hunting. Most people choose a different activity, perhaps spending time with friends or family, and / or traveling. That doesn’t mean we don’t show homes over major holidays because we do. We just do not attract large numbers of home buyers to an open house.
Throw into the equation the city of Sacramento. This is a city where the nicest thing many can say about it is it’s close to other things that are more exciting. Laugh as you may, I hear it all the time. Oh, we’re so close to the Bay Area, it’s only 90 minutes (the way the crow flies and hopefully you’re not in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 5 hours). Or, it’s so close to Lake Tahoe, only 90 minutes (see previous disclaimer). But there hundreds of places to go within a day drive of Sacramento, including other states. Sometimes it feels like half the population has left town over a major holiday.
Below are the 7 dates for no open houses over major holidays:
Easter
Memorial Day
Fourth of July
Labor Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Year’s
That doesn’t mean you might not find a rogue agent sitting by himself at an open house somewhere hoping for business. But the bulk of listing agents in Sacramento are not holding open houses then. However, we still answer our phones and take care of business.
Open Sunday: Home in Colonial Heights With Guest Quarters
4033 55th Street, Sacramento, CA 95820
San Francisco Boulevard in Colonial Heights of Sacramento is easily a favorite street of many Sacramentans. It is lined with palm trees, with two lanes on either side separated by a boulevard for parking. Although palm trees, I should point out, are not indigenous to California, they lend a tropical flair, which seems Californian to residents. I once took a job at First American Title in Santa Ana in1976, cemented secondarily because the street was home to dozens of palm trees, and they made me happy just to go to work.
Living room at 4033 55th St.
My new listing is located on the corner of San Francisco Blvd. and 55th Street. It was built in 1930 and still retains much of its character. It’s a brick Tudor, too, which is highly desirable anywhere in Sacramento. One of the elements of a Tudor is the tapered floor-to-ceiling fireplace, which is in the living room, connected to the dining room by an arch and both rooms share hardwood floors.
The kitchen has a new floor, and for such a compact space, you’ll still find a built-in microwave, dishwasher, gas cooktop, separate oven and the refrigerator can also stay. The cabinets appear to be original, the counters are white tile, the walls a brilliant shade of blue. The room adjacent to the kitchen can be used as a breakfast nook, and it features a leaded glass built-in China hutch as well.
Kitchen at 4033 55th St, Sacramento, CA 95820
You’ll find two bedrooms and a full bath on the first floor of this home in Colonial Heights, and there are 2 more bedrooms, although connected to each other upstairs. The master features dual skylights, a ceiling fan, vaults and a wall of closets, plus a separate bath. If that’s not enough for you, there is also a second house in the back yard. It contains a workshop / hobby room, another garage that faces San Francisco Blvd with a 1/2 bath, and a permitted small apartment with a bedroom, living room, kitchen and full bath. The garage for the main home is attached to the second house, and there is a pretty yard that separates the two structures. You could call this home in Colonial Heights a duplex, two houses on a lot or a home with detached guest quarters.
Come to our open house on Sunday, June 28th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, hosted by the amazing Josh Amolsch from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team. 4033 55th St, Sacramento, CA 95820 is offered exclusively by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate at $369K.
Open Houses in Sacramento and Elk Grove
If you’re looking for open houses in Sacramento and Elk Grove today, I have a very nice selection for you — homes that are pretty much guaranteed to impress for a variety of reasons. The good part is if you’re out and about anyway, why not stop by? If you’re looking at homes in the area with your agent, ask your agent to bring you over. You’ve got nothing to lose, and you just might fall in love with the home of your dreams:
3892 Exmoor Circle, Sacramento, CA
Stately Pool Home in Wilhaggin
This beautiful stunner is a gracious one-story with an open floor plan in the entertainment area. The kitchen has been updated, featuring a wrap-around granite counter and gleaming hardwood flooring, plus a dining space, which overlooks the pool. This 1962 home has 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, with roughly 2,700 square feet. Oversized family room shares space with the kitchen and the same fabulous view of the pool. The professionally landscaped yard, more than 1/3 of an acre, was once featured in the Sacramento Bee Lifestyle.
3892 Exmoor Circle, Sacramento, CA 95864. Offered by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate, $750,000. Open 2 to 4 PM.
———-
6209 Jefjen Way, Elk Grove, CA
Desirable Quail Ridge in Elk Grove
If you’re the kind of person who does not want to be surrounded on all four sides by other houses, this 4 bedroom home in Elk Grove is for you. It features that hard-to-find first floor bedroom, too. The other three are upstairs. The back yard has no homes behind it, which lends an open and airy feel, almost like you’re in the country, and it’s unlikely that anything will ever change behind this home.
The kitchen has an island, granite counters and is open to the family room with a fireplace. It has 3 baths and 2549 square feet, built by Morrison Homes in 2003.
6209 Jefjen Way, Elk Grove, CA 95757. Offered by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate, $359,000. Open 2 to 5 PM.
———-
9688 Bovill Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95624
5 Bedroom Lennar Home in Elk Grove
For people who need a minimum of 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, look no further. This home built in 2004 has the space and amenities you want. It is located on the corner of a cul-de-sac in the heart of Elk Grove, south of Elk Grove Boulevard and East of Waterman. Soaring vaults give the illusion of additional space to its 2491 square feet. You’ll find newer carpeting and wood-like flooring.
Of course, the kitchen is open to the family room, the latter features a fireplace. It’s move-in ready as well and can close quickly. Back yard is perfect for a pool. Priced right.
9688 Bovill Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95624. Offered by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate, $369,000. Open 11 AM to 4 PM.
———-
260 Aldeburgh Cir, Sacramento, CA 95834
North Natomas Single Level
Today is the first open house for this four bedroom, with 2 1/2 baths and almost 2300 square feet on one level in Cambay West Village, a community of homes built in 2004 in North Natomas. Beautiful front porch lends curb appeal, and the three-car garage will surely delight those who own more than two vehicles. Spacious living and dining areas lead toward the open kitchen with an island and huge pantry closet, plus a family room with a fireplace.
Large back yard with a fruit tree and uncovered patio. Located near Arena and Duckhorn.
260 Aldebaugh Circle, Sacramento, CA 95834. Offered by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate, $359,000. Open 2 to 4 PM.
———-
1732 51st St, Sacramento, CA 95819
East Sacramento Cottage Remodeled
Perfect starter home for first-time home buyers or investors. Simply cute as a bug’s ear, this two bedroom home has been remodeled for you. You will note trendy dark-finished hardwood floors throughout and appreciate the cork flooring in the kitchen if you have to stand cooking on your feet for any length of time. Stainless appliances have been purchased and installed for you. You will love the formal dining room and with an indoor laundry room; you won’t miss using?coined washers one little bit.
Wraparound driveway, gated yard and a big garage in back. Hurry, if you want to buy an affordable home in East Sacramento, this might be the one!
1732 51st Street, Sacramento 95819. Offered by Elizabeth Weintraub at Lyon Real Estate, $340,000. Open 2 to 4 PM.
Who Benefits From Sacramento Open Houses?
I am a big proponent of open houses in Sacramento in certain neighborhoods and locations, don’t get me wrong. As a successful Sacramento real estate agent, part of my business benefits greatly from open houses, and so do some of my sellers. However, many sellers falsely believe that an open house is solely for the seller’s benefit, and it is not. We primarily hold open houses because our sellers ask us to and because it’s good for future business.
We get to talk to homeowners in the neighborhood who have no intention of buying the home but want to find out how much their home might sell for and to inquire whether we will list it for them. Holding a home open also tends to stop the phone inquiries from neighbors wondering how much the home is listed at, so it’s kind of a preventative measure, too.
We get to talk to home buyers who are not working with a real estate agent and want to find an agent to help them to buy a home. Many buyers don’t know how to get started buying a home, and they think going to open houses is a step in the right direction. They also might not know any real estate agents.
Buyer’s agents love open houses because they don’t have to call ahead and schedule an appointment to show their buyers the home. They can just come on over with the buyer in tow and feel assured that no other agents will try to snatch their buyer away. It makes showing a little bit easier for them.
The public adore open houses. In fact, in California, it’s like the state motto and state-wide pastime. Got nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon? Why not go tour open houses and see how other people live? It doesn’t matter if you’re not in the market to buy a home.
First-time home buyers are often directionless for the first few weeks of home shopping. Open houses in Sacramento help first-time home buyers figure out what type of home in which neighborhood they might want to buy. They can spend a lot of time in the home, picking it apart and finding things wrong with it. Most of them are not buyers for that particular home.
Then we come to the sellers. The sellers who often insist on an open house because they are hopeful it will sell the house. An open house will do a lot of things for a lot of people, but it doesn’t necessarily sell the house that day. A buyer might come back on another day to buy. You don’t always see the results immediately.
Going to a Sacramento Open House Without an Agent
There is a reason why a Sacramento real estate agent might be reluctant to talk about mortgages. It’s not that we don’t know anything about mortgages, because we know a great deal; it’s because we are not a mortgage broker, and what we don’t know about mortgages can be very important to a buyer. Same thing when the tables are turned. Most mortgage brokers know a lot about real estate, but the things about buying real estate that could be very important to a home buyer, a mortgage broker might not know.
I have the utmost respect for Michele Dillingham at Big Valley Mortgage. She writes about mortgages and finance for the Sacramento Bee. However, her piece this Saturday contains a confusing error. She basically told home buyers that they should not go to an open house. She says: “The problem is that if you don’t tell the agent at that house that you already have your own real estate agent, then your agent may lose out on the deal — and you lose out on having your own agent. The agent who has the property listed would be representing both buyer and seller.”
It’s not true. Not true how a Sacramento open house works. It’s true that not telling the open house agent that you have your own agent could cause bickering among agents, but you are under no obligation to write your offer with the listing agent or even with the agent who is holding that Sacramento open house. You can go to an open house without your own agent, and you’ll be OK. If you have an agent, it’s a good idea to tell the host or hostess of the open house that you are working with an agent, but that’s more for your own protection. If open house agents know you have representation, they probably won’t ask for your personal information, nor will they be likely to hound follow up with you.
Moreover, many of the agents who hold an open house are not the listing agent. That’s because many listing agents do not actively represent buyers themselves. They might prefer to focus their business on seller representation. In that event, they would allow an agent on their team or in their office to hold the home open. That way, the agent holding open the house can also pick up some residual business from home buyers. They can try to represent the open house guest by writing an offer on that home or maybe they can show the buyer other homes. But you, as an open house guest, have no obligation to work with the open house agent nor the listing agent.
The only exception to this is new home sales. Don’t even think about stepping foot on a new home subdivision or new home sales office without your agent. If you are considering a new home, call your agent FIRST. But resales and previously owned homes are a completely different story.
If you are looking for an agent to represent you, going to open houses is a good way to meet a variety of real estate agents and, in a casual way, figure out whether you might want to work with any of them. If you do, then ask that agent to be your own representation. Be prepared to sign a Buyer’s Broker Representation agreement, which is a legal agreement, a two-way-street, between you and the agent’s brokerage.
But whatever you do, don’t put off going to a Sacramento open house just because you are worried that the agent will have dibs on you. Nobody can have dibs on you without your express written permission.
Here are a few of my Sacramento open houses that you might want to visit this weekend:
- Saturday, April 13th, 2013, 6800 Bismarck Drive, remodeled for $215,000.
- Sunday, April 13th, 2013, 3627 T Street in Med Center, Craftsman for $225,000.
- Sunday, April 13, 2013, 1620 Sutterville Road, Land Park, 5 Bedrooms, for $519,000.
- Sunday, April 13, 2013, 6800 Bismarck Drive, remodeled for $215,000.
- Sunday, April 14, 2013, 576 4th Avenue, Land Park, w/addition for $375,000.
