Q: I’m thinking of putting my home on the market and need to know its square footage. How do I calculate my home’s square footage?

A: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) offers these suggestions for measuring your home’s square footage:

• Always start by measuring the outside of the house. Begin measuring from any corner and work your way around the house. Move counter-clockwise so the numbers on your tape will be right-side-up.
• Measure from the exterior face of the walls. Include any features that are on the same level as the floor, such as chimneys and bay windows.
• If there are stairs, include them on every level they serve.
• When there are openings to the floor below, subtract the opening from that level.
• For split-level designs, measure each level. You can add multiple floor surfaces into one level if they are within two feet of each other.
• Exclude any areas, such as porches and converted garages, that are not finished or heated the same as the rest of the house.

However, most houses are not perfectly square, and because regulations may vary from one region to another, it’s best to consult a professional appraiser for a truly accurate measurement of your home.

If you are ready to buy or sell a home in the Lodi or Stockton, CA areas, I am here to help. Let me guide you through this complicated process. Call me today.

I bet I got you really excited and thinking, “how can I get ME some tacos delivered?” right?

As crazy as this all sounds it either may be something really happening, thanks to TacoCopter, but if the FAA has anything to do about it…uh, no way!  Strict laws and guidelines would pretty much prevent anything like this ever coming into real existence, but getting your favorite foods delivered to you on the beach, while on a hike, or just dropping in on you in your own backyard would be wildly crazy and make you want to go on more hikes in the wilderness.  Well, maybe not so much in the wilderness, but maybe more walks to the park to have a picnic meet you there.  LOL

Here is some more info about this concept…CLICK HERE.

Tell me what you think about this idea.  Would you ever use it if it was available?  Do you think it has a chance to “get off the ground”? I’d love to read your opinions on this!

I hope your weather is as great as it is here where I am in the Lodi / Stockton area.  It’s amazing outside right now and with home prices SO LOW and interests still at their lowest, it’s great weather to be out looking for that new address to put on your return mailing labels. ( That is if you even still use mailing labels.)

Have a wonderful day, and enjoy your tacos!

What you do, or don’t do, to a property that you purchase can mean the difference in making a nice profit from a quick sale, or losing money while your investment property just sits and sits with no interest buyers.

This is a video that’s only about 11 minutes short, and it’s from the popular A&E network’s Flip This House crew.  You’re gonna love the great layout and design tips in this video for sure!

CLICK LINK to view this great video!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkGbTHdvwgs

Max was referred to me from a local lender that knew I’d work really hard to find him just what he was looking for in a home for his family.  And boy did I!  This home was recently remodeled throughout and Max and his family fell in love with it.

I was able to negotiate a great price on this home for Max and he’ll also be getting a brand new heater, A/C, and all new ductwork as well thanks to a fantastic energy efficient mortgage program that we got Max hooked up with.  Come this summer, Max will be even cooler than he is now!  :-)

Congratulations Max!

It was truly a pleasure working with you and your family, Max!  I look forward to visiting you once you’re all moved in, unless you need help and you know you can count on me to assist with that too!

Image via Wikipedia

Summer brings with it abundant sunshine, fresh foods and fun activities which is why the season inspires many people to be happy and healthy.

Chelsie Hightower, the Emmy-nominated professional dancer from the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” has put together some healthy lifestyle tips:

1. Make healthy meal choices. “I personally love sushi. Fish and vegetables are essential for my weekly protein, and it’s even healthier with brown rice,” says Hightower.

2. Hop in a steam bath. After working out, steam helps relax sore muscles and boost your immune system.

3. Use summer as a reason to try new activities. Take hikes, go swimming, or learn yoga.

4. Keep a food journal. Once you see everything you eat written down in front of you, it’s easier to make more realistic goals and changes.

5. Dance to your own beat. Realize that no two body types are the same and what works on others won’t necessary work for you.

6. Make healthy food more interesting with unique and delicious recipes. ”I enjoy finding recipes online and then trying them at home. Old London has some great recipes on their Facebook page,” Hightower says.

And while you’re out enjoying the nice weather, don’t hesitate to contact us here at Realty World Premier Associates if you’d like to do some summer-time home shopping as well.  Many home prices in the Lodi, Stockton and surrounding Central Valley areas are making mortgage payments even lower than what you’re paying for rent right now.

Well here it comes in the form of a brand new Costco being built in the Reynolds Ranch area of Lodi at the corner of Harney Ln and Hwy 99 Frontage Rd.

I’ve even heard that there may be a Best Buy and/or a Home Depot to join in on the same center location.  I don’t need the Home Depot, but a Best Buy would surely be fun!

For now let’s just get this new Costco completed and open for business.  I’m ready for all it has to offer, which will most likely be at the end of this summer.  Can I get an “Open, open, open!?”

Oh, and by the way, there will be a gas station included as well at this location, which is fine as long as it’s not taking up the space where Best Buy should be going.  LOL!

What will this do for the real estate needs in Lodi?  Will the upcoming new employees already be here or will some of the expected 300 employees need a really great Realtor® to help them find a new home?  I’m hoping for the latter since it would only help with the current available homes that need a new owner to fill in the gaps in our current real estate market.  There are many great real estate deals with all of the Short Sales in Lodi as well as the ones in Stockton, not to mention the bank owned foreclosures, and even a few traditional owner sales.

Let us know if you are excited about the new Lodi Costco, or if you think it’s making our quaint little wine community too commercial.

Well, how about visiting the 14th Annual Wine & Chocolate Weekend event going on in Lodi, CA that’ll be going on this coming weekend at over 40 participating local wineries. Tickets are only $45 in advance or $55 at the door.  You’ll receive an event wine glass, commemorative chocolate tin, an event map and guide, wine tasting and admission to the 40 plus participating wineries.  And if that wasn’t enough, be sure to check out your tins for a chance to win one of over 100 prizes when yours has a “Golden Ticket” inside.

For more info, where to buy tickets, and anything else you’ll need to know, visit their website at: http://www.lodiwineandchocolate.com/

If you’re staying in the area long enough and you’re interested in checking out what’s going on in the local real estate market, feel free to SEARCH HERE for what’s available and don’t hesitate to call us with any questions you might have.

Have fun, be safe and maybe I’ll see you out on the tour!

Hoping all of you and your loved ones have a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

Randy

I’ve also wanted to even drudge through Times Square on this eventful night, but that might be a nightmare in the making.

But since we found out our daughter has Uveitis, which is an inflammation of the inner eye, it looks like we’ll be spending the evening at home putting in special eye drops every waking hour as prescribed by the ophthalmologist this week.  It was pretty painful for her at first as well as sensitivity to light, which explains the really cool sunglasses she picked out. 

So for this New Year’s Eve we will live vicariously through our friends who are out celebrating somewhere fun and exciting, but in the end I will be very happy knowing that we are all safe and sound at home and little Ciara is being taken care of and our family can all be together playing, watching movies, enjoying sparkling cider at the stroke of midnight, etc.

I’m looking forward to great things happening in 2011.  For one, I am starting January 1st with a new broker.  I’ll still be in the Realty World family, which I love very much, but with a different broker.

My original broker, Steve Davis, and I shared a wonderful six years working together selling homes in the Lodi and Stockton areas of California.  He taught me to be the agent that I am now.  He was very patient, helpful, educating, my coach, mentor, and most of all my close friend.

Good-bye 2010, I will miss you!  And hello 2011, I am happy to meet you!

From my family to yours, we hope you all have a very safe and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Randy Elliott

But I came across one individual that thought she would just eat her house and then since there would no longer be a house, then of course there would be no longer a mortgage, right?

I’m thinking that it’s not that easy. Eating this gingerbread house might make Ciara’s imaginary debt go away, but once she’s done with it she’ll have the worst stomach ache EVER!

The situation that many people are in today with deciding whether to just walk away from their real mortgage and let the bank foreclose, or to perhaps talk to a Realtor like me and see if trying to do a Short Sale is enough to cause anyone to have a stomach ache as well.

I always recommend that everyone talk to a Certified Public Accountant (if you’re in the Stockton, CA area the best is Peter Holtz) or to a real estate attorney, or both.

As a real estate professional I do not give legal advice, nor do I sell home loans.  I sell homes for sellers and find great deals for home buyers in the central valley of CA, mainly in the Lodi and Stockton areas.

Bottom line, as a homeowner you have options if you are upside down with your mortgage.  Whatever you do, don’t resort to eating your house.  Be sure and seek out the advice from the professionals and make sure that you open all mail pertaining to your home, and save everything that you get in one place for easy access.

I hope you all have a Happy Holiday Season!

Sincerely,

Randy