Going green with homes is a trend that is on the rise, but do green features really add value? As a Real Estate Professional, I can say that homes that have energy efficient features absolutely do attract the attention of buyers which can have a substantial impact on the homes value. While having a fully automated smart green home may not be an affordable option for many people, here are a few inexpensive ways to add green features to your home!

HOA's? -  The Good, The Bad, The Nitty Gritty!

Many times HOA's get a bad rap for being overbearing, nosy, entities that govern a neighborhood,  but let's look at things realistically. 

Most HOA's are set up to  protect a neighborhood's standards. They have regulations set in place that are usually stricter than regular city ordinances.  

Some may say who needs standards stricter than city ordinances?  Others may respond Is the landscaping design showing in the picture above something you would like to have next door to you?

If not, then living in a neighborhood with additional CC&R’s (Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions), and a Homeowner’s Association might be something to consider.

Owning a home in a HOA community means accepting restrictions on things such as the colors and building materials you can use on your home, front yard landscape design, as well as parking restrictions. If a homeowner violates the CC&R’s, the Association can fine the homeowner, which can discourage violations.

While adhering to an HOA's rules such as getting approval from the architectural board can sometimes seem overbearing, these same rules  make it very unlikely that your sports fan neighbor will paint their house “Kings Purple”, or install landscape such as the painted rocks in the photo above.

On the other hand, if you are someone who might ever want to store a motorhome on your property, put an above ground pool in your front yard, or restore an old truck in your driveway,  then you probably should inspect your neighborhood's CC&R's carefully before purchasing a home in a community with a Homeowners Association.

HOA or not, if you are looking for a home, there are many things to consider, so give me a call, and let's talk about what's important in YOUR next home!

Don't overlook Rancho Cordova when searching for a home!

Rancho Cordova is sometimes ignored by home buyers and Realtors, due to a perceived bad reputation. This means that there are many great opportunities here for the savvy home buyer. While there are some small pockets of undesirable areas, most of the city’s neighborhoods are more comparable to communities such as Carmichael and Citrus Heights. With Hwy 50 and Light Rail running through the center the city, it offers quick and easy commuting to Downtown Sacramento, and also has many excellent employers in the local business parks.

Rancho Cordova is the newest city in Sacramento County. It was incorporated in 2003, and has been improving ever since. The city government is innovative, fiscally responsible, business friendly, and is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents. Rancho Cordova was a winner of the National Civic League 2010 All-America City Award. One of the great things about Rancho Cordova is the easy access to the American River Parkway, a huge beautiful nature preserve and recreation area. Visitors to the Parkway will often see Deer and Wild Turkeys, as well as the occasional Fox or River Otter. There are many affordable homes in Rancho Cordova that border directly on the Parkway. The city has many nice neighborhoods in the northern area near the American River Parkway.       


                                    
                                           Sunset on the Parkway in Rancho Cordova

Rancho Cordova also has many neighborhoods with newer homes, as well as brand new homes, in the southern part of the city, including the master planned Anatolia development. Being the home of the former Mather Air Force Base, and the Aerojet rocket motor plant, Rancho Cordova is a very patriotic city. Each July the city holds an Independence Day Parade, and a two day festival in Hagan Park. The city puts on a fantastic fireworks show both nights of the festival. With all it has going for it, Rancho Cordova is poised to enjoy a continuing increase in desirability and home prices. If you are looking for a home in the Sacramento area, don’t overlook what Rancho Cordova has to offer.