• HAPPY JULY 4TH
  Have a fun and safe weekend!
• Pre-Approve Your Neighborhood
• Registered Domestic Partners
• July Happenings
• Interesting & Helpful Websites

Most often Buyers are pre-approved for their financing or they won't have a chance of getting their offer accepted, but have they pre-approved the new neighborhood?

Our real estate contracts provide buyers an out from their contract should they discover information about the area that is not acceptable; an example is the "Data Base Disclosure" other wise known as Megan's law. But if you are submitting an offer without an inspection contingency, you should have pre-approved the neighborhood. This covers the old phase of "what you see is what you get" and if you are banking on a changing neighborhood, it could take years - and go one way or another. For Megan's Law go to www.meganslaw.ca.gov .

• You can check comparable sales in the neighborhood, but you also want to check how long properties stay on the market. How about if the homes are owner occupied or rented? Are the homes well maintained? What do the cars look like and are there a lot of them? And who changes their car oil and their friends car oil on a Sunday morning?
• Assess the community services. Find out about street maintenance and waste removal. Talk with the police department about crime statistics or check them out on line (see Schools and More on my website)
• What public transportation is available? How long does it take to get to the freeway or a BART station? Is there a casual car pool location nearby? If possible, do a trial run during high commute hours.
• Listen to the environment. How close are major highways, high-traffic streets? Is the property in the airline path for landings/takeoffs.
• Visit a coffee shop, library, or park.. Are you comfortable? Are retail shops thriving and well kept? Stop and talk to local residents.
• Pick up a community newspaper and look at the concerns and issues and how the local government responds.

Considerable research can be done online and within the areas you might be considering. If you are spending hundreds of dollars on inspections of the property itself, what is a few more minutes of your time to check out the neighborhood. Take the time. It's worth it.

Registered Domestic Partners:
As of January 1, 2005 you may now register with the Secretary of the State of California as a Registered Domestic Partner. This may change your options in the way you can hold title when buying property. As an example, community property with rights of survivorship or not.

Diane@DianeVerducci.com | 510-654-1280 ext. 449

Copyright 2005, Diane Verducci. To unsubscribe send a blank email to unsubscribe-news@dianeverducci.com

This is not intended as a solicitation if your property is currently listed with another agent. Diane Verducci and The GRUBB Co. believe all information to be reliable, but assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy.