Buying a Well Home in Nevada County: 3 Power Shutoff Checks
If you are buying a well home in Nevada County, there is one question I want you to ask before you ever write an offer: what happens to your water when the power goes out? A well pump runs on electricity. No power means no pump, and no pump means no water at the tap, no flushing toilets, and no wate
Sell First or Buy First in Nevada County? How I Decide
If you own a home in Nevada County and want to move up, down, or just move, you hit the same fork in the road: sell first or buy first? I get this question from almost every homeowner I sit down with, and the honest answer depends on your numbers, not a rule of thumb. Here is how I walk clients thro
How Much House Can You Afford in Grass Valley at 7.3%?
Every first-time buyer I sit down with asks the same thing: how much house can I afford in Grass Valley right now? With the Freddie Mac 30-year rate sitting at 7.32% as of October 22, up from 6.19% a year ago, the honest answer has changed. The same monthly payment buys a smaller house than it did l
4 Wildfire Checks to Make Before Buying a Home in Nevada County
Here is a number every Nevada County buyer should know before writing an offer. According to Redfin, using First Street's 30-year estimate, about 85% of properties in the county, roughly 161,809 of them, have some risk of being touched by wildfire. That is not a reason to skip buying here. It is a r
4 Winter Prep Tasks to Finish in Nevada County Before the First Storm
I grew up here, and I can tell you the first big storm of the season always catches somebody off guard. If you own a home in Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley, Alta Sierra, or one of the lake communities, Nevada County winter prep is a short list that saves real money. Here are the four jobs I
2-1 Buydown vs. ARM: 3 Questions to Ask Your Nevada County Lender
With 30-year rates near 7.4%, a lot of Nevada County buyers are asking me the same thing: should I take a 2-1 buydown or an adjustable-rate mortgage? The 2-1 buydown vs ARM question is a good one, because both lower your payment early and both can bite you later if you don't understand them. I'm not
Will Mortgage Rates Drop Soon? What 7.4% Means for Nevada County Buyers
The question I hear most from buyers right now is simple: will mortgage rates go back down? Freddie Mac's latest weekly survey has the average 30-year fixed rate at about 7.4%, the highest it has been since late 2023. A year ago it was around 6.3%. If you are shopping for a home, mortgage rates in N
Can You Negotiate Price in Grass Valley Right Now? What MLS Shows
It is the question I hear most from buyers this fall. Can you negotiate price in Grass Valley right now, or will you lose the house if you try? My honest answer is that it depends on the house. Some sellers will deal. Some will not move a dollar. The trick is telling them apart before you write the
3 Things I'd Do Before Making an Offer in Penn Valley
Penn Valley is where Nevada County gets quieter. Bigger parcels, oak-covered hills, horse property, and Lake Wildwood just down the road. If you are about to write an offer in Penn Valley, the process looks a little different than it does in town. Here are the three things I would do first. I am not