Archives for March 2020

Stuck at home? Here’s how you can stay connected, healthy and happy!

March 31, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

In an effort to contain the outbreak of the new coronavirus, most of us are self-quarantining in the comfort and safety of our own homes. And while we are all doing our part to protect our family members, friends, and community, it’s safe to say that we may be feeling a bit stir-crazy.

That’s why we’ve put together some of our favorite ways to stay connected with friends and family, give back to our local community, and stay entertained (and yes sane) during this period of social distancing. Just remember that while we may feel alone at times, we are all in this together.

Wondering how you can give back to your community? Check out some of the ways that you can help those affected by this pandemic.

Foster a furry friend: Social distancing can be lonely but many Americans have found the perfect solution—fostering a pet in need. While some local organizations are reporting a rise in foster applications, many have been forced to shut down and are in dire need of fosters, donations and much-needed resources. Click here to find a shelter near you.

Donate masks and supplies: Due to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), Sacramento County has started accepting donations from the community to give to health professionals and emergency responders.

The county is accepting the following unused items: • N95 mask of any type
Surgical or procedural masks
Non-latex medical gloves
Hand sanitizers
Disinfectant sprays

The donation site is at 9680 Conservation Road in Sacramento. Donations are accepted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health and UC Davis Medical Center are also accepting community PPE donations. Each hospital has a list of items needed from the community. Click on the above links to learn more.

Give the gift of blood: Now more than ever, blood centers are in need of life-saving blood supplies. Sacramento-area residents can donate blood through Vitalant by making an appointment online or calling 877-25-VITAL. The American Red Cross is also holding community blood drives throughout the greater-Sacramento area. To find a blood drive near you, visit the American Red Cross online.

Blood centers encourage donors to make appointments in advance so staff can prepare and ensure there is adequate space for social distancing. Trips to blood donation sites are generally permissible even in areas with “shelter in place” directives, as they are deemed medically necessary. The coronavirus does not pose any known risk to blood donors during the donation process, according to AABB, a national organization advancing transfusions and cellular therapies. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration has reiterated that there have been no reported or suspected cases of transfusion-transmitted coronavirus.

Have you been binge-watching Netflix a little too much lately? Below are some ideas to keep your mind, body, and home healthy during this time.

Read something new: Escape reality for a bit and enter into a world of action or adventure. Download a free eBook at manybooks.net or buy books, magazines and newspapers straight from your Nook, Kindle or iPad.

Take up an exercising regime: Feeling restless? There are plenty of virtual fitness programs and apps being offered right now. There are also lots of beautiful hiking and walking trails in the Sacramento area. Click here for some inspiration and be sure to practice social distancing.

Start prepping your garden: Soak in the sunshine and prep your garden for spring! Here are ten tips to get your garden in tip-top shape.

Do some spring cleaning: Being stuck at home means there’s no excuse to put off cleaning. Check out these five tips for spring cleaning this year.

Spruce up your walls with some fresh paint: Now that you’ve had more time to stare at your walls, you might be considering a fresh coat of paint. Check out this year’s most popular paint trends here.

Go Down the Pinterest rabbit hole: Check out the Pinterest “Stay Safe. Stay Inspired” Board where you will find 26 sections with delicious recipes, activities for kids, home teaching ideas, ways to organize your home, happy hour recipes and much more!

Visit a virtual museum: Thanks to technology, we can still visit a museum even if we can’t leave the house. Check out Travel and Leisure’s list of 12 museums that offer virtual tours. You can “visit” famous locations in the US or abroad in Seoul, Berlin, Florence and more. You can also get your art fix with the Google Arts and Culture app for iPhone and Android. The app lets you view paintings, read up on masterpieces, and find your famous painting doppelganger. The Georgia Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium have turned on webcams so you can still watch otters, fish, and penguins without the crowds. Last but certainly not least, be sure to check out this video of a puppy field trip at an Aquarium!

Host a Netflix viewing party: If you and your friends have a Netflix subscription, you can schedule a time to watch a movie or show synced together. A free Google Chrome extension called Netflix Party syncs video playback so you can play and pause at the same time. It also has a group chat feature so you can keep the conversation going while you watch.

Stream a virtual concert: As we adjust to this new norm, many artists are taking their shows online. Check out Billboard’s list of live streams and virtual concerts to watch here. Also be sure to visit Live Nation’s website for additional live concerts, streaming and virtual events.

Support your local restaurants and shops: If you’re not in the mood to cook, now is a great opportunity to support your local restaurants and shops. Many restaurants are offering takeout or no-contact delivery options.

Interested in learning more about the current real estate market? Contact me today!

Buying That First Home

March 30, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Do you remember buying your first home? I recall that it was a very exciting yet stressful time. I had only been married for a few years. I was literally tired of paying the rent. A lot of people told us that we could get a house for less than our rent which is a total eye-opener. After we got our first house, we did our darndest to not have to rent again. Just having something that was our own was very gratifying.

Craig Middleton writes on how to make that first home possible.

Buying a home is an exciting life event that most people never forget. If you do not know what you are doing you can make some mistakes that can have major consequences. But with the right amount of information and a good head on your shoulders you will not regret your first home purchase.

Set yourself up for success by using these five tips when buying a house:

Repair and Build Your Credit

This is a step that has to be done before you start negotiating rates and looking at houses. If you have a lot of debt to pay off you will need to start paying it off or find some way to repair your credit. You want a good credit score because that will allow you to get better rates on a mortgage.

If you do not own a credit card you will want to get a credit card. You can start out with a nice credit card for beginners that will not cost you anything. All you have to do is pay off the credit card monthly. Use it for purchases that you would normally make such as gas and rent. Instead of using your debit card or cash use your credit card and pay it off on time.

Down Payment

To buy a house most people need to take out a mortgage, which is a loan specifically meant to buy a house. Most people will not be able to pay 200,000 plus dollars in one payment so they take out a mortgage and pay that off throughout the years.

You are going to need some kind of down payment to get the mortgage that you want. Typically anywhere from a 15 to 20 percent down payment is what banks and lenders are looking for when issuing a mortgage. There are zero percent down mortgages but, as with any loans, there are pros and cons to them.

Find a Realtor

You do not have to have a realtor but a lot of people do not know a lot about home buying so they hire a real estate agent. There are perks of using a real estate agent such as not having to deal with a lot of the paperwork. Real estate agents are great if you are too busy to do all of the nitty gritty work of buying a house. They are also great if you are brand new and not really sure what to do.

Click here for full article

Introducing “Shedquarters”: The Hot New Trend Home-Based Business Owners Are Drooling Over

March 24, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Space-efficient work spaces are becoming all the rage these days. They’re great for maintaining privacy and uninterrupted workflow, and they can also be cozy and stylish as well. Here are some examples of a growing trend of miniature studios (for offices and living structures), that are small enough to fit in someone’s back yard.

We’re fond of calling them, shedquarters. Whether you need your own getaway space, an office, an art studio, or a full on extra home, there’s something for everyone out there!

Kanga Room: Based out of Austin, Texas, Kanga Room has backyard studios in three styles: modern, country cottage, and bungalow.

The basic package is an 8×8-foot shed that starts around $5,900 and you can add on a bathroom, kitchenette, and front porch for additional cost.

Modern Shed: This Seattle-based company was founded by husband and wife, Ryan Grey Smith and Ahna Holder.

They create flat-packed prefab structures. Basic 8×10 sheds start at $6,900.

Weehouse by Alchemy Architects: The Weehouse Studio was designed by Minnesota’s Alchemy Architects.

They start at 435 square feet, and include a main room and bathroom. It can be used as either a home office, guest house, or even a main residence.

KitHaus: The KitHaus was designed by Tom Sandonato and Martin Wehmann.

It is a modular site-constructed prefab housing system. The K-Pod is the starting model and measures 117 square feet. They also have larger models.

Modern Spaces: “Forts for grown-ups!” Yep, that’s how they describe them.

These come in four pretty boxy styles. A fully installed shed with a foundation and finished exterior starts at $6,000. On-site installation is currently only available to California residents.

Loftcube: Werner Aisslinger designed these sheds to make the extra space on top of city skyscrapers more productive.

He was able to fit a kitchen and bathroom within these 400 square foot glass-walled studios.

Modern Cabana: The sheds from this San Francisco company start at 10×12 feet, but they have full studios with kitchens and baths.

The basic model is perfect for a backyard office, with its sliding door.

Metroshed: The MetroShed, by David Ballinger, is a prefab, flat-packed model that starts around $6,000.

This a simple design is made of a cedar wood beam post frame with aluminum-frame sliding doors, and comes in 9×13 feet or larger.

Corona Virus and Housing Market

March 23, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

There is so much going on with Corona Virus right now that one of the best things to do is to adhere to the advice given by health officials and the surgeon general. Stay safe and healthy as it seems that there is updated advice and tips every few hours.

Jaymi Naciri passes on her tips on the current market with the Corona Virus. It could be adjusted somewhat based on the market that you are in. Utilize your local real estate expert for tips as well as they will have first-hand knowledge on your housing market.

Everyone is talking about coronavirus. Stores are selling out of staples like bottled water and toilet paper. Searches for homemade hand sanitizers are exploding since you can’t find it at Walmart or Kroger. People are skipping conferences and festivals, canceling travel plans, and opting to work from home rather than expose themselves to germs.

But what impact is coronavirus and its rapid spread having on the housing market in this country, and what can we expect? A lot remains unknown at this point, but there are a few things you should be thinking about if you’re looking to buy, sell, invest in real estate, or refinance an existing loan.

Carefully consider new construction

One of the fears associated with coronavirus as it relates to the housing market: supply chain issues. If building materials are held up, it could seriously impact the timeline of new builds. “Homebuilders rely on China, where the coronavirus or COVID-19 originated, for construction materials and any disruption in the supply chain could impact their ability to deliver much-needed new inventory into the market,” said Yahoo! Finance. If you’re set on buying a brand-new home, be sure to ask the builders you’re considering what the impact could be.

“About 30% of building products imported to the U.S. come from China, including both residential and nonresidential construction, according to Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics,” said MSN. “The products include wallboard, lighting, and other materials. Homebuilder Toll Brothers recently said the coronavirus outbreak in China led to shortages of lighting fixtures and small appliances, forcing it to delay the sales of 11 homes in California.”

You also may want to look to builders and communities that have standing inventory. That means homes were built before they were sold, so they are move-in ready, brand-new, and have never been lived in. You will have to live with the finishes that were pre-chosen, but, in many cases, you’ll get nicer and more expensive finishes than you may have been able to afford otherwise.

Think twice about remodeling or renovating

Those same supply chain issues that are impacting new-home construction may also make it more difficult and/or expensive to renovate.

Reconsider open houses

As the coronavirus continues to spread, people are reconsidering their exposure to multiple people. If you’re selling your house, that may mean limiting showings to individual families instead of holding open houses. You may feel it’s necessary to follow the same precautionary measures if you’re looking for a home, opting to tour homes individually instead of attending open houses.

Refinance!

“Mortgage rates in the United States have fallen to the lowest level ever on the heels of concerns stemming from the coronavirus outbreak. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.29% during the week ending March 5, a major decrease of 16 basis points from the previous week,” said MarketWatch. “The decline in rates presents a major windfall for millions of homeowners across the country, who stand to save thousands of dollars in interest by refinancing. Furthermore, an estimated 44.7 million homeowners have $6.2 trillion in home equity that they could access through a cash-out refinance, according to real-estate data firm Black Knight, and now they have the chance to access that cash at a lower interest rate.”

Click here for full article

You’re in Luck! Sacramento has lots in store this St. Patty’s Day!

March 17, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

March is in full swing and lucky for us, Sacramento has lots of Saint Patty’s Day celebrations in store! Read on for a full line up of local events and activities, plus ways that you can celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day at home.

Whether you’re looking for some festive ways to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day around the Sacramento area or are simply in need of some weekend plans, you’ve come to the right place. Click on the below links for a round-up of exciting ways to live it up this St. Patty’s Day!

Events and Happenings:

Sacramento Kings Game Schedule
Pre-Saint Paddy’s Day Parade (March 12)
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Old Sacramento (March 14)
Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration University of Beer (March 14)
St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl (March 14 & 17)
St. Patrick’s Day Alive After Five Cruise (March 14 & 17)
St. Patrick’s Day Rock on the Yacht Cruise (March 14)
15th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl (March 14)
Shamrock’n Roll Festival & Beer Garden (March 14)
Shamrock Shimmy Presented by Discovery Play (March 14)
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Firefighter After Party (March 14)
Shamrock’n Half Marathon , 5K 10K & Leprechaun Dash (March 14 & 15)
St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland @ Harris Center (March 15)
Wil O’Mylar and The Langers St. Patrick’s Celebration (March 17)
Cahersiveen St. Patrick’s Day Celebration (March 17)
Dúlamán: A St. Patrick’s Day All Choirs Concert in Sacramento (March 17)

Do you plan on celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in the comfort of your own home this year with friends and family? From appetizers and mains to creative cocktails and desserts, we’ve put together a list of fun recipes that will be sure to impress your St. Patty’s Day crew.

Festive Drinks: Get the party started with these festive beers, mixed drinks, and mocktails!

Green Beer: It wouldn’t be Saint Patrick’s Day without green beer. With just a couple drops of green dye, you can make your own. Get the recipe here.
Irish Coffee: Celebrate the occasion with this Spiked Irish Coffee!
Lucky Charms Shots: Try out these “magically delicious” shots with Bailey’s Irish Cream and Lucky Charms!
Shamrock Sour Cocktail: Whiskey sour gets a festive makeover by going green.
Jameson Jello Shots: Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t complete without jello shots! Try making these Jameson Jello Shots.
Fuzzy Leprechaun: This yummy fruity cocktail is made with peach schnapps, blue Curacao, and vodka. Learn how to make it here.
Lime Sherbert St. Patty’s Day Punch (Non-Alcoholic): This delicious lime sherbert drink packs a punch! Learn how to make it here.
Irish Car Bombs: End the night with an Irish Car Bomb!

Bring on the Appetizers: Looking for some tasty appetizers to go with that green pint of Guinness? Check out these St. Patty’s Day approved dips, bites, and sliders.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Sliders: This ridiculously easy app is taken to the next level with Guinness-braised cabbage. Learn how to make it here.
Pretzel Dog Beer Cheese Dip: You can’t go wrong with beer, cheese, and pretzels. Click here to make this crowd-pleasing app.
Irish Nachos: If you haven’t tried Irish Nachos, you’re missing out. What’s not to love about a heaping pile of potato chips, slathered in beer cheese and topped off with crunchy bacon and fresh chives? Get the recipe here.
Bacon-Wrapped Cabbage Wedges: When in doubt, add bacon. Learn how to make this recipe here.
Irish Pub Cheese Recipe: This creamy cheese pairs well with pretzels or pita chips. Learn how to make it here.
Saint Paddy’s Dill Dip: Serve this delicious dip with raw vegetables or crackers of your choice.

Mains: These Irish-inspired dishes will take your Saint Patrick’s Day celebration to the next level.

Soda Bread: Soda bread anyone? Learn how to make this quintessential Irish side here.
Corned Beef in Beer (Crockpot): Let your crockpot do the work by trying out this tasty Corned Beef in Beer recipe.
Irish C abbage and Bacon: There’s nothing boring about this cabbage dish, which is loaded with bacon, onions, chicken broth, and mustard seeds.
Irish Pan Haggerty Potatoes: This classic Irish potato dish is loaded with sliced potatoes, bacon, onions and lots of cheese. Check out the recipe here.
Irish Stew: This comfort d ish features tender lamb, hearty carrots and potatoes topped off with herb butter.

Desserts: Don’t forget the dessert! Consider making one of these holiday-inspired treats.

Pot O’ Gold Cups: These little brownies prove that you don’t have to go to the end of the rainbow to find the perfect St. Paddy’s Day dessert.
Lucky Charm Eclaires: As if eclairs couldn’t get any more tasty, this recipe swaps your standard chocolate fair for a citrus filling topped with Lucky Charms.
Green Velvet Pops: Forget red velvet — green velvet will be your new favorite rich (and seasonally appropriate) flavor.
Irish Chocolate Pots de Creme: Not only is this dessert gorgeous but it’s also “melt in your mouth” amazing! Add two tablespoons of Baileys for that Irish touch. Check out the recipe here.
Shamrock Shake Cupcakes: This minty cake topped with fluffy whip cream mousse is what dreams are made of! Get the full recipe here.