Ask Steve

Yes, but only if you want excellent public schools, beautiful landscapes, immediate access to one of the region's crown jewels—Folsom Lake—miles and miles of horseback riding and hiking trails, and a remarkable variety of homes and neighborhoods, from estates to starter homes, lake views to ranchettes.

Never—and I do mean never—rely on an online valuation website or its algorithm to decide what a property is actually worth.

And once you're in escrow, don't assume the lender's appraisal tells you its true value, either. That appraisal serves the lender's purposes. It isn't a complete evaluation of everything that makes a property desirable, undesirable, or potentially valuable.

Both can miss dozens of factors that add to or subtract from a property's value. They can also miss something especially important: what the property could be worth.

Want to know what those numbers are missing? Read on.

“Is it a good buy?” The more important question is, “Is it a good buy for YOU?”

Can you imagine your life there? Does the home fit the way you want to live, the things you enjoy, and the lifestyle you're hoping to create?

A house can be a terrific buy for one person and completely wrong for another.

Believe it or not, the house will tell you.

I've watched it happen hundreds of times. Something changes in my clients' eyes, their voices, even the way they move through the rooms. They're no longer just looking at a house. They're imagining their lives in it. And very often, I've already had a pretty good idea that this would be the one.

Here's the important part: By the time I show my clients a property, I've already done the homework. I've evaluated the location, condition, construction, floor plan, price, potential, and resale considerations. I've eliminated the properties that don't measure up and selected the ones I believe represent genuinely good choices. My clients can concentrate on finding the home they love because I've already worked to make sure the choices are worth loving.

And sometimes, the right home is in a neighborhood they never even considered.

Let me show you how that happens.

For many, it's not using Steve Rath as their real estate broker… sorry, I couldn't resist.

But seriously, the biggest mistake homebuyers make is not getting the information, guidance, and education they need to make good decisions.

Real estate can be one of the greatest wealth-building opportunities of your lifetime—or one of your costliest mistakes. Poor locations, hidden problems, bad financing, and changing markets can have lasting consequences.

Choosing the right real estate professional IS the most important decision you make.

Let me explain why.

Long before anyone writes an offer. In fact, I'm negotiating—or preparing to negotiate—with almost every conversation, email, text, and marketing decision I make. I spend hours researching the people, circumstances, and motivations on the other side of a transaction, often learning things through ordinary, friendly conversations that can make a remarkable difference for my clients.

Want to know why? Read my full explanation.

Are you kidding me? Yesssss! The only question is to what degree.

From inexpensive cleanup to a thoughtful, light remodel—and everything in between—prep means profits. How much preparation makes sense depends on the property's condition, your timing, your desired results, and sometimes your available resources. Although, when there's a will, I can usually find a way.

I've seen homeowners spend a fortune on improvements before they ever consulted me, only to discover that those improvements added little or no value. I've also seen relatively modest investments produce extraordinary results. I've even financed improvements myself when clients couldn't afford them. The secret isn't how much you spend; it's knowing what to do, what not to do, and how to turn that investment into a substantially better selling price.

Let me show you what that looks like in the real world.

The ONLY reason a home doesn't sell is......wait for it......PRICE. It's priced too high.

Even the ugliest dog in the pound will sell, if the price is right.

But understanding why a property isn't selling—and preventing that problem in the first place—is where experience, preparation, and marketing make an enormous difference.

What can you change? Read on.