Moving Chico Blog

Are you thinking about prepping your home to sale but do not know where to begin? Here is a step-by-step list to help you get ready! Even if you’re not planning on selling immediately we would be happy to schedule a No-cost consultation!

Chico Realtors have been lamenting about our lack of inventory for years, but 2020 took it to record lows. On average, there were only 150 single family homes listed in Chico, a 30% drop from 2019. I have stats going back as far 2008 when there were over 500 homes on the market. The number of available homes has dropped every year since 2008 bringing us to our new record low. In fact, as I am typing this today, there are only 71 single family homes for sale in Chico! It probably goes without saying

We’ve all heard it, “buy low and sell high”. Sure, that’s the goal, but isn’t it impossible to both at the same time? Isn’t it EITHER a buyer’s market OR a seller's market, but never both at the same time? In 20 years of investing in and selling real estate, I believe that now more than ever, you CAN buy low and sell high! With an average sales price of $465,000 or $262 per foot, Chico homes prices are at a historic high. Meanwhile, interest rates are at 2.89%, a historic low! If ever there was a time to “step-up”, this is! You can “cash-out” the equity in your home and step up to your dream home ...

As technology advances and we are ever more conscious of energy efficiency, solar companies seem to be multiplying. I think most people have received a knock on their door and opened it to find a sales person trying to sell them a lease or power purchase agreement or solar panels to own outright…..but which is the right option for you? While I am certainly no solar expert (though I admit to listening to 4 different solar pitches), I will share some basic knowledge...

The word “essential” seems to have all new meaning for many of us these days…..essential businesses, essential care, essential for life. On April 28^th, Realtors received notice that we had been deemed an “essential service”. I have to admit, it made me pause and consider whether that was an accurate determination in these unsettled and uncertain times, but here is what I know: clients have reached out to us in need to buy or sell real estate. If they do not purchase a home in the next 60 days, they will literally be homeless. If they do not sell...

2019 is in the rearview mirror, and for most of us Butte County Residents, the sentiment is good riddance! After the devastating Camp Fire, 2019 was quite a roller coaster ride as our communities struggled to adjust to dramatic population changes. When looking at Real Estate Market stats, the graphs are generally lines that have little bumps and waves, with an obvious trajectory, but that was NOT the case with 2019. In weeks and months following the fire, prices in Chico literally skyrocketed. The average sales price in Chico shot up 20% between November 2018 and March 2019. By summer, the market began falling almost as quickly as it had spiked. Inventory climbed during the spring as both investors and ...

Governor Newsom signed the controversial AB 1482 into law October 8, 2019. If you own an investment property OR you are a renter in California, this law will affect you. We wanted to provide a quick summary of what you need to know!

You must take action to exempt your property! A single family home or condo (there are other exemptions, but this is the primary one!) can be...

Realtors always ask their sellers to vacate the property during showings. We are often met with some reluctance. Sellers are excited about the features of their home and feel compelled to point them out to the buyer. Sometimes, it is simply inconvenient for the seller to pack up and clear out for a showing. Trust me on this. . .. LEAVE! Two separate incidents in the last couple of weeks reminded me of just how important it is for the seller to not be present at showings.

I had a buyer call me about a ‘For Sale By Owner’ listed on Zillow. I arranged the showing and the seller met us at the home. The seller of course pointed out the features of the home, that was currently tenant occupied, and what plans for repairs they had, what property would likely be left, and what improvement/repairs would be as-is. I cringed as each ...

I wrote in my December blog post that I thought our market had changed so dramatically on November 8, 2018, that we would forever refer to the Chico/Paradise real estate market in terms of pre- and post-fire. Here we are 8 months later, and while I am beginning to think it might not actually be forever, we are certainly still referring to prices as pre-fire and post-fire prices. . . That said, while the Paradise/Magalia market is still a big question mark from day-to-day, the Chico Market is beginning to stabilize. We are hitting a new “post-fire” normal.

In June of 2018, there was an average of 274 homes on the market, with average inventory levels peaking at 333 homes in August of 2018. In the weeks following the fire, inventory was almost completely wiped out, the low was about 50 homes by December. Since then, inventory levels have steadily climbed to...

My insurance agent calls me every year to schedule an annual check-up. She wants to review my policies and make sure my coverage is still appropriate. I have gone once or twice in the last decade or so, but honestly most years, I cancel the appointment and duck her calls. Who has time, right? NOT THIS YEAR! I learned a lot of things from the devastating Camp Fire, but by far the most valuable lesson I learned was the importance of Homeowner’s Insurance. In the days, weeks and months following the fire, I worked with and spoke to dozens of families affected by the fire. Some experienced total loss, some smoke damage and some homes were seemingly untouched. Here is what I learned: All Homeowner’s Insurance is not created equal. Some agents and companies bent over backwards to help, some did their best to put up every roadblock under the sun, and some were mediocre at best. Then there were the really unlucky one’s: those that had let policies lapse or were simply under-insured. For those that had “good” insurance, they had checks in their hands within a matter of days, and for the most part, and while I am in no way minimizing the loss or the emotional toll, many were better off financially because of fantastic insurance policies. Should my home ever be damaged or lost, I want to fall into that category, and I want you to as well!