Should You Use a Piggyback Loan to Buy in Nevada County?
If you're shopping for a home in Nevada County this year and your purchase price is creeping toward $800,000 or more, you've probably run into two annoying words: jumbo loan. A piggyback loan is one way around that, and it's worth understanding before you write an offer. I get asked about this more
What to Know About Insurance Before You Buy in Nevada County, CA
(Watch the video here) One thing to build into your plan when buying in Nevada County: get an insurance quote before you close escrow, not after. Some carriers have pulled back from writing new policies in high fire-risk areas, but that doesn't mean you can't get covered -- it means you shop for it
Buying Land vs. Buying a House in Nevada County: True Costs
I hear this question at least once a month, usually from a buyer who's tired of competing for the same handful of listings: what if I just bought land in Nevada County and built the house I actually want? It's a reasonable question, and with acreage sitting on the market longer than finished homes r
5 Signs Fall Has Arrived in Nevada County for Buyers and Sellers
The mornings finally turned cool this week, and if you have lived here more than a season or two, you know exactly what that means. Fall in Nevada County does not arrive with a calendar date. It shows up in small, specific ways, and once you notice them, you cannot unsee them. If you are weighing a
Should You Rent Before You Buy When Relocating to Nevada County?
When people call me about relocating to Nevada County, one of the first questions I hear is whether they should rent for a while before buying. It's a fair question, especially if you're coming from the Bay Area or Sacramento and you've never actually lived in Grass Valley, Nevada City, or Penn Vall
Is an FHA Loan Realistic for Buying a Home in Nevada County?
I get this question a lot from first-time buyers: is an FHA loan realistic for buying a home in Nevada County right now? The honest answer is that it depends on where you're shopping and what you're shopping for. FHA loans are one of the most useful tools a buyer has, but our local price points mean
What Actually Wins a Multiple Offer Situation in Nevada County
A few years ago, a multiple offer situation in Nevada County meant a dozen buyers waiving every contingency they had and hoping for the best. That market has cooled off. Inventory is up, days on market have stretched out across Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Alta Sierra, and most buyers today aren't
Should You Look for an Assumable Mortgage in Nevada County?
By Bob Sawyer, RE/MAX Gold | Serving Grass Valley, Nevada City, and the Sierra Foothills Photo by T M on Unsplash I've had more buyers ask me about assumable mortgages this year than in the previous ten combined. It makes sense. The 30-year fixed rate is sitting around 6.7% right now, and a lot of N
What the Nevada County Real Estate Market Data Shows About Buyer Demand
I pull our local MLS numbers every month, and this month's data told a different story than the one I keep hearing from buyers and sellers. In the Nevada County real estate market, active listings have climbed for six months straight, but the share of those listings actually going pending has been s
