Northern Nevada Real Estate Blog: Nevada

The Washoe County treasurer's office started mailing the 2010/2011  tax bills to property owners this month and many have noticed a decline in their tax bill.

 July 1st was the start of the new fiscal year so tax bills were sent to out to coincide.

So if you received your tax bill already, which you should have, did you notice the reduction?

 The Washoe County treasurers office recently stated that because of the devaluation of Northern Nevada homes, and probably a whole lot of complaints from property owners,  there was a need to reevaluate property taxes.

Not all Reno home owners will see a reduction even though the home sales in their neighborhood were down.

 Here's why:

 In 2005 the legislature imposed annual limits on property taxes of 3 percent on residential homes but let governments that levy property taxes set aside increases about the limits and collect them in the years when when they would fit beneath the caps.

But governments that levy property taxes were allowed to set aside increases above the limits and collect them in years when they would fit beneath the caps.

So even if a house recently lost value, it could be taxed at a higher rate when the set-aside tax is included.

Here is the full article on the 2005 Washoe County Assessor's Office Tax Cap Notices.

If you want to check your tax bill online, log into the Washoe County Treasurer Property Tax Search Page and enter your property parcel number. This number can be found on your tax bill. If your home is listed for sale, ask your Realtor to check the site for you and update the MLS listing. Lower annual property taxes might attract an interested buyer.

Why Did My Washoe County Property Taxes Go Down?

Be the One! And help with this gulf crisis! Watch the video, you know what to do.

Reno Condo buyers; Look here for FHA approved Condos and Townhomes!

FHA is certainly a popular way to obtain financing these days, but when you are looking to buy a Reno, Nevada Condo or Townhome, you need to be aware of which projects are FHA approved and which ones do not qualify.

You may be surprised to learn that although there are a large number of condos listed for sale, not all are eligible for FHA financing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) eliminated the "spot loan" approval process in 2009.

 A 'spot loan' is a loan on a particularly property, usually a condominium, by a lender who has not previously financed this particular property. By eliminating this type of funding, HUD has made FHA financing harder to obtain on certain condo projects unless they can approve a whole condo project.

This is why it is important to make sure your real estate agent knows which Condo projects are FHA approved and which ones are not. Don't wait until after you get into contract to find out the Reno Condo you are buying is no longer FHA approved!

 You can get lists of condo projects that are FHA approved Condos for any State by going to this site:

FHA Approved Homes and Communities!

Reno has over 24 condominium complexes that are on the FHA approved list.

 Because of our changing and somewhat vvolatile real estate market, it is important to check the HUD website for approved condos on a regular basis when considering a condominium or townhome!

 Or call me, I can help you with your Reno Condo or home search!

Looking for a Sparks, Nevada condo? Look here for your list of FHA approved Condo:

Sparks Nevada FHA approved Condos

FHA Approved CONDOS in Reno, Nevada

~Reno Nevada Farmers Markets ~

We may be smack in the  middle of summer right now but you can still get fresh produce at Reno Farmers Markets for another six weeks. The Reno weekly farmers markets are great summer spots to find fresh fruits and vegetables. Nearly everyone I know enjoys taking time to shop at local area farmers markets. Here are a few reasons why it is a good idea to shop at local markets:

 Buying produce locally has several advantages:

~  Farmers markets help promote and support our local economy

~  Shopping local benefits our farmers and supports our community

~ You have a pretty good idea where your products are coming from

~  By bringing your reusable bags you are helping reduce the  carbon footprint on the environment by saving on packaging.

~ Reno farmers markets are great places to bring the entire family

Produce and other items found at local farmers markets are not always the cheapest, but they are the freshest! Farmers are always offering samples while you  browse around. Fresh cantaloupe from Fernley is so sweet and refreshing, you can't leave with out one!

There is still plenty of time this summer to get out and shop out Reno's local farmers markets. There is a market going on nearly every day of the week this summer and early fall.

 Here is a list of Reno Farmers Markets:

Sundays:

West Street Market ~ West Street, between 1st and 2nd Street ~ 9am to 1pm ~ Now until Sept. 12

South Reno Farmers Market ~ 950 Foothill Road, @ The Grove ~ 9am to 1pm ~ Now until Sept. 5

Mondays:

No Farmers Markets

Tuesdays:

Shoppers Square ~ Plumb Ln & S. Virginia St. ~ 8am to 1pm~ now until Oct. 5

Wednesdays:

Somersett Town Square ~ 7650 Towne Square Way ~ 4pm to 8pm ~ Now until Aug. 25

Thursdays:

Sparks Hometown Farmers Market ~ Victorian Ave in Sparks ~ 4pm to 9pm ~ Now until Aug 25

Fridays:

Tamarack Junction ~13101 S. Virginia St. ~ 8am to 1pm ~ Now until October 8

Saturdays:

Village Market~ On California Ave  Booth Street ~ 8am to 1pm ~ Now until October 2

 Reno Nevada Farmers Markets ~ Keeping it local and keeping it Fresh!

Could this Sparks, Nevada teenager be the next Carrie Underwood?

Julia C. recently won a Sparks' Got Talent contest where she competed against 40 very talented locals. She  wowed Reno Aces fans when she sang the "Start Spangled Banner" in front of a sold out crowd of 10,000 fans.  Julia goes to school with my children and has big dreams of being a professional singer one day. I have listened to Julia sing and she defiantly has talent!

So you tell me, could this rockin local Sparks girl be the next Carrie Underwood? Just listen to Julia nail "Cowboy Casanova" at the July 2010 Sparks' Got Talent Show at the Sparks Marina and you be the judge:

Are you a Northern Nevada distressed property home owner and don't what to do? Have you considered a short sale on your home?

A real estate short sale occurs when a home is sold for less than is owned on it. Because the lender is being asked to accept a loss on their investment, the take a role in determining the sales price of the home. They decide what the selling price will be. The tricky part of a short sale transaction is getting the lender to agree to the terms of a contract.

A successful short sale transaction requires experience, patience, and the ability to find solutions if problems should arise during the escrow period ( the time the home goes under contract to the time it closes).

As your Reno Nevada short sale spacialist I will help you thought this process. I will do the following to help you with your short sale:

• Determine the requirements of your lander to approve your short sale
• Facilitate the submission of required documents from you to the lender including a hardship letter which helps the the lender determine if the short sale is appropriate for you
• Determine a listing price for your home
• Communicate regularly with your mortgage lender's short sale negotiator to work towards a selling price that they will agree to

As a Certified Default Resolution Specialist, I can help you with the short sale process and get your home sold. Call me for a free confidential Real Estate consultations. I look forward to talking with you.

Reno Home Owners ~ The Right Realtor Can Help You Short Sale Your Home

Find your Fourth of July explosive Fireworks Shows and Events in the Northern Nevada areas of Sparks, Reno, Carson City, Lake Tahoe and Virginia City right here!

Star Spangled Sparks ~ Probably one of Northern Nevada's largest fireworks events.  The Star spangled Sparks party is an all day, family fun filled extravaganza.

Start you day at the Sparks Marina with hot air balloon rides, a two mile run/walk race, a milk carton boat race and a Sparks' Got Talent Competition.

After you finish running and racing at the Sparks Marina, walk on over to the Legends shopping center and enjoy live music, several children's events, food samples and entertainment for the entire family. Legends will provide free shuttle service to and from the Sparks Marina and to Victorian Avenue, where the Star Spangled Sparks firework's show will be help.

 The Star Spangled Sparks fireworks show will be held on Victorian Avenue in downtown Sparks. You will find them right across the street from John Ascuaga's Nugget.

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Fireworks at the Reno Aces Ballpark ~ An exciting fireworks show is scheduled to follow the Reno Aces Baseball game. 

The baseball game is sold out but fireworks can still be viewed from around the stadium. The Reno Aces Baseball Stadium is located at 250 Evans Ave, downtown Reno. It sits on the corner of Evans and Second Streets, you can't miss it.

 Arrive early and bring a blanket to watch the show near the entrance of the ballpark. While you are waiting for the show to begin, take some time to check out some of downtown Reno's spectacular sites and establishments.

  Visit the new Freight House District you have heard so much about lately. Take a walk along the Truckee River. Stop by the Reno West Street Market and buy a Reno eNVy T-shirt. Wherever your feet take you, I hope you have a wonderful downtown Reno Fourth of July celebration.

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Lake Tahoe Fireworks ~ We all love Lake Tahoe! And if you are lucky enough to be at the lake on the fourth, you will surely want to know where to look for those fireworks, am I right? There are several locations for the firework displays this year.

Kings Beach~ Located on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach will be having its show on Saturday this year.  The show is expected to start at 9:30 but you know the drill, GET THERE EARLY! The best place to view the show is at the Kings Beach Recreation Area.

Incline Village ~  Just in case you are driving around and are wondering what is happening here, this fireworks show is for residents and guests only and will be taking place at the Incline Beach on Sunday.

South Lake Tahoe ~ Star Spangle Fourth ~ Lights on the Lake! Visible to almost all Lake Tahoe visitors and is the area's largest and most spectacular shows. Set to music the fireworks can be seen and heard from all over town . Below are some of the sweet spots to get a front row seat.

• The Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II: South Shore's two Mississippi paddle wheelers offer a unique opportunity to view the light show from the water. Board the Tahoe Queen for a Dinner Dance Cruise or the M.S. Dixie II for a Fireworks Cruise. Both feature live entertainment and fantastic views of the evening's display. 
   
• Nevada Beach: Located about two miles east of the Nevada casinos on Elk Point Road, Nevada Beach is the ideal setting for a family barbecue at the beach. A wide, sandy shoreline leads down to the sapphire waters of Lake Tahoe.  The view of the fireworks display is one of the best in town.
   
• Regan and El Dorado Beaches: Located right where Highway 50 meets the Lake, these connecting stretches of narrow beach are front and center for the fireworks. Arrive early! These beaches fill up with people who love to be right under the action.
  

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Carson City ~ Celebrate the holiday all weekend in Carson City at Mills Parks. As part of this RSPV celebration, you and your family will enjoy a carnival, arts, crafts, great food and drinks. The fireworks show will take place Sunday evening in the park! Call 687-4689 for more information and to RSVP!

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Virginia City ~ Celebrate the Fourth of July the way they did back when Mark Twain was alive and kicking! Virginia City is hosting a old-fashioned parade with cowboys and gangsters marching. Enjoy music, food and drinks through out the day. The fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. and can be seen from the Virginia City Park.

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Explosive fireworks shows can be seen all over Northern Nevada this 2010 holiday weekend. I hope you will find what show you are looking for and make it a great, safe and exciting 2010 Fourth of July weekend here in Northern Nevada!

Explosive Fourth of July Fireworks Events in Northern Nevada

~Reno is Artown 2010~

For the last 15 years, Artown has taken place in Reno every July. You could easily say "Reno is Artown in July!" This month long arts and culture festival features more than 400 events from more than 100 performers. Most of the events take place downtown Reno at Wingfield Park, located on First Street and Arlington. Because there is so much to do and so much to see, I am providing a link to Artown. Here you will get your Artown schedule of events. You can also follow the Artown Blog and follow Artown on Twitter and Facebook.

 ~Reno is Artown 2010~

If you are looking for a home to buy in Reno, Nevada, you can search for all the Reno listings at www.Terrieleighton.com. The listings are updated every 15 minutes so you have to guess what homes are active, pending or sold. You can follow my Blog, follow me on Twitter and become a fan of my Selling Reno and Sparks Facebook page. I try to always have the latest Northern Nevada real estateand local events information at your fingertips!

Bank of America Outreach Help Center In Reno

Reno and Sparks homeowners ~ Bank of America has opened a outreach center here in Reno, Nevada to assist distressed and underwater homeowners modify their mortgages. 

If you or anyone you know are having difficulty making your mortgage payment each month, why not consider speaking to a homewonershrip retension specialist. A homeownership retention specialist is trained to assist, help customers ( you ) find a solution to your current situation. Their job is to help you stay in your home and find a way to help you stay.

If there is no way for you to keep your home because of a hardship, they will recommend you short sale your home. Bank of America might consider a hardship to be a divorce, loss of income, relocation or an illness.  Maybe you have fallen to far behind on your mortgage payments to catch up, the retention specialist might recommend you short sale your home.

Prior to visiting or contacting the  Bank of America help center,  you will need to have your loan number, property address, two months bank statements, latest tax returns, recent income and financial expenses ready.

The main goal of the Bank of America Outreach Help Center in Reno is to keep you from walking away from your home. The Reno Bank of America Outreach Help Center is located at 695 Sierra Rose Drive, Reno Nevada 89511.  Call 1-877-345-6416 to schedule an appointment.

The following is a Fox Business News Video. Barbara DeSoer is being interviewed about the new Bank of America Outreach Help Centers. Barbara DeSoer is a Bank of America home loans President.

Fannie Mae, the government sponsored mortgage program, recently announced they were going to "block" homeowners who walk away from their mortgage from getting another mortgage for up to seven years from the date of the foreclosure on their property.

But if you work with you lender to try to do a loan modification or short sale your home, Fannie Mae says the wait time to purchase another home will be much shorter.

 There are many articles written on this but here is the article I recently read that helps explain Fannie Mae's plan to keep you from walking away from your home: "Walk Away From Your Mortgage? Fannie Mae Will Give You the Freeze."

If you have already taken steps to try to stay in your home but no longer feel you can do so and are ready to short sale, call me today to discuss the process of the short sale. I have received my Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource Certification on well as my Certificate of Designation for a Certified Default Resolution Specialist and I believe I can help you with this next step. Walking away from you home should not be a solution. Short selling could be a solution for you.

Bank of America Outreach Help Center in Reno ~ 695 Sierra Rose Drive, Reno, 89511

~Free places to keep cool this summer in Reno, Nevada ~ Wingfield Park Amphitheater next to the Truckee River in Downtown Reno! ~

Rollin' On The River ~ Free Summer Concerts In The Park

Summertime is a huge time of year for bands to hit the road and tour the country. This is when outdoor arenas and amphitheaters step up to book the best shows in town.  This year marks the 14th year of FREE community concerts at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater in downtown Reno during the month of July. Produced by the Reno News & Review, every Friday in July you can enjoy free concerts at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater.

The Wingfield Park Amphitheater is a beautiful stage situated along the Truckee River on the corner of First Street and Arlington, downtown Reno. This centrally located park hosts numerous concerts, art and cultural events throughout the summer. Get to the park early, save your place with your blanket then go for a swim in the Truckee River to cool off before the show starts.

Celebrate summer by attending one, two or all the Rollin' On the River Free Concerts In The Park. Enjoy a wide variety of musical guests in a free, open, festival seating style concert. Bring blankets or low back chairs, whatever your comfortable with. Remember to leave all pets and alcohol at home!

Here is a schedule of free concerts at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater:

July 2 : Maria Muldaur ~ Blues/Jazz/Folk

July 9 : Tempfest ~ Celtic Rock

July 16 : The House Jacks ~ Rock Bank Without Instruments

July 23 : Brad Wilson ~ Rockin' Blues

July 30 : Elliott Randall ~ Country Rock Troubadour

Where to park for the Rolling' On the River Festival:

You can park at the Parking Gallery in downtown Reno, corner Sierra and First Streets (entrance is from First Street), at Reno High School on Booth Street, and at the McKinley Arts Center on Riverside Drive and Bell Street. Street parking around downtown Reno is metered until 6 p.m. except on Sundays, which is free all day. The big government parking lot at the corner of Court and Virginia Streets is free and open to the public on weekends.

A Free Place to Keep Cool This Summer in Reno, Nevada; Rollin' On The River