Non-Warrantable Condo Financing Available

Always remember that we are a full-service lender at the Easterbrook Team with Sierra Pacific Mortgage, offering FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo, reverse, and other specialty lending products.  We strive to be your one-stop lender that you can trust to get your transaction closed and a smile on your buyer’s face.   We pre-underwrite, in-house process, and have a great relationship with our loan closers at the main nationwide office right here in Folsom.

Condos are hot right now because of their affordability. Sierra Pacific has rolled out financing that will now make it easier to obtain a loan on condos.  Condo financing can be tricky if one individual owns more than 49% of the units, there is litigation, or there is a mix of commercial and residential in the HOA.  If you have a transaction involving a non-warrantable condo (a condominium that cannot get traditional financing), call the Easterbrook Team and ask us about one of our new products – Sierra Core. 

On the Easterbrook Team, we believe that if you have been a part of a transaction that we helped close, you become part of our loan family.  We nurture, connect with, and become a resource for everyone in our family.  No family’s perfect, but we are very proud of ours and the amount of people we’ve helped over the years.  No matter how many people we help, we always make ourselves available to new buyers.  We judge our success by how our family grows. 

Sacramento’s Secrets

So, you say you get around our fair city, but have your really explored all the interesting things there are to see in Sacramento?  Did you know that the streets of Old Sacramento are built up 10 feet and there are the remains of the old city below?  Check out interesting things to see in Sacramento: CLICK HERE

Do you REALLY know Folsom?

Two months after the Gold Rush began, 3 Mormon miners formed a small town east of Sacramento that eventually grew to the size of 2,500 residents.   There were 4 hotels, seven saloons, a post office, school, a cemetery, and a winery (remains pictured below).   When the Sacramento Valley Railroad extended their line out to the nearby town, Granite City (now called Folsom), Mormon Island became less popular and the population declined.  In 1856, a massive fire burned down most of Mormon Island and the town was never rebuilt.  In 1955, with the creation of Folsom Dam, the entire town of Mormon Island was buried beneath the water of Folsom Lake – cemetery and all.  When the water is low, you can still see remnants of the town.  The best time to view is late Fall.

Want to Earn More Than the Average Agent ($39,800)?

Many Realtors go into the business underfunded. According the National Association of Realtors, the average real estate agent spent $820 on promotional expenses, $750 on technology products and services, and $1,930 on vehicle expenses in 2017.  The NAR advises that before embarking on your career, make sure you set aside enough money to pay for the basics.    Here is the rest of their advice.

1. Focus on your current sphere of influence.  Many agents spend too much time and money casting a big net.  By marketing to people that already know you, you overcome the trust and familiarity factors.  Starting a geographic farm is not a bad way to go once you've established yourself, but it's always best and more economical to tab the resources that you've already acquired.

2. Don't put too much energy into something that isn't working.  Many agents, early in their career, try a lot of different things to get their business off the ground.  Hiring a business coach to help you focus on productive activities is usually money well spent.  It also helps to have a system to help track your business activities.  Programs such as Top Producer and Boomtown have been a great help to help agents contain costs and focus on what works.

3. Start delegating business as soon as possible.  New agents may feel like they have to handle all their business tasks themselves until they become more established to avoid the expense of hiring help. But bringing on an assistant could help you focus more on income-generating activities and boost your business faster.  Hiring a virtual assistant is a great first step.  Small tasks, such as maintaining a database, processing new listings, managing paperwork, and sending marking mailings to all be done virtually.

4. Shift your role to what consumers want.  Nobody wants to be sold, but everyone likes to buy.  Shift your job title from sales to customer service.  A recent poll of consumers purchasing homes said that 72% of the respondents wanted someone that is helpful.  Be that helpful agent that helps buyers and sellers get what they want and you are on the road to success. 

5. Team up with helpful partners.  Just like consumers are seeking out help Realtors, Realtors should seek out helpful partners to make the buying and selling experience a memorable one.  Always have one of two excellent title people, lenders, and pest control pros to make your job easier and make you shine.  On the Easterbrook Team, we a purchase specialists and we truly mean it when we say that "We Make the Loan Process Easy".    

More Words to Fill Your Head…

Best quote to get a first time buyer to take action.

Everyone wants to live on this street!

The Word on the Street Is…

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in Congressional testimony that the global growth outlook "remains solid" and the US economy is in a "really good place" and the "best way forward is to keep gradually raising the federal funds rate."

The markets continue to expect the Fed to increase rates twice more this year unless we experience any crazy economic data or unexpected world events.  Most generally agree that the timing of those rate increases will be at the September and December Fed meetings.

Loss for Words?

Bernice Ross, PhD, nationally syndicated columnist, author, speaker, and sales trainer is an old-school salesperson.  You’d never want to go up against Bernice in a listing presentation.  She has some scripts that she gives up for free – CLICK HERE.