Housing Affordability

• Is home ownership something you have always dreamed of but you feel like you would never qualify for a home loan?
• Are you always wondering how other people get qualified for a loan or come up with the down payment to buy a house? 
• Are you looking for a way to get into a home with little or no money down but just don't think it's possible? 

Think again! The good news is very few people actually come up with the "20% down" you hear of and the other awesome news is that there are so many programs out there that can get you into the house of your dreams! First, I recommend getting the app CreditWise - for free! - to monitor your credit. Or you can sign up here. The better credit you have, the better chance you have to get a great interest rate and a great program with little or no money down on the house. And by "little or no money down", I mean as low as as 1% down or even get money back!!

Then, contact either your credit union/bank or a great local lender (I have a few awesome recommendations later in this post) to talk about your home loan. If the loan officer says you don't qualify right away, ask them what you need to do to qualify. For example, they may say you need to bring your credit score up by 50 points (this is where CreditWise comes in), or you need to finish paying off one of your credit cards. Whatever the issue is, you can work through it together. Maybe you have no issues and you qualify right away. The loan officer will tell you "how much house", meaning the amount, you qualify for. If you want to know right now, you can also do a quick check here. 

Here is a great example of a program provided by Guild Mortgage that allows a home buyer to put only 1% down:

This program, offered by Movement Mortgage, doesn't require a down payment and even offers a grant of up to 3% from Movement towards your down payment for those who qualify! 

There are so many options out there if you just take the time to look! Don't give up on your dream of home ownership because you are afraid of being turned down for a loan or because you think you don't make enough! In fact, many of these programs are put in place specifically for lower-income households. Take advantage of the opportunities that are being provided! 

Contact one of these amazing lenders today and see what your opportunities are!

Ashley Huegi, Mortgage Consultant

   Paramount Partners
   530.417.4931
   ahuegi@paramountpartnersgroup.com

Stephany Kuennen, Branch Manager

   Guild Mortgage

   916.714.1430

   skuennen@guildmortgage.net

Genie Tompkins, Branch Manager/Loan Officer

   Movement Mortgage

   916.307.6872

   genie.tompkins@movement.com

Email me at sarah@sarah-ratliff.com with any additional questions! I am happy to help. 🏡

Picture Perfect Properties

With home values still at their peak, many buyers are looking to land and considering building their dream home instead. Many lots of land can be purchased for a fraction of what it would cost to buy a house and if you look around, you can find one that already has many of the utilities already in place. 

If you are among the group who has been considering a home purchase but doesn't want to pay premium prices, take a look at these gorgeous land lots below, listed by the Discover Joy in Real Estate Team.
I have also included several lenders who will do a land-only mortgage loan towards the bottom of this post!

 1 Acre on Idle Creek Drive in Shingle Springs

Listed at $49,900 - for more information, please visit IdleCreek.com

 7007 Steeple Chase Court, Shingle Springs

5.17 Acres, Listed at $225,000 - for more information, please visit SteepleChaseCourt.com

 5924 Sutter Avenue, Carmichael

.81 Acres, Listed at $450,000 - Visit SutterAvenue.com for additional info on this great lot!

 11.6 Acres on Solitude Way, Shingle Springs

Listed at $199,900 - Visit SolitudeWay.com for more info! 

5550 Amber Fields Drive, Shingle Springs

5 Acres, Listed for $250,000 - For more information on this lot, please visit: AmberFieldsDrive.com

6201 Magpie Court, Shingle Springs

10 Acres, Listed for $199,000 - Visit MagpieCourt.com for more information!

9.35 Acres on Puerta Del Sol

Listed for $169,650 - for additional information on this property, please visit PuertaDelSol.com

31.93 Acres on Brandon Road 

Listed for $415,000 - more information at BrandonRoad.com

Lenders for land only:

Contact me with any questions about these gorgeous properties!

530-391-1576

sarah@sarah-ratliff.com

Historic Folsom Events Calendar

Historic Folsom is one of my favorite places to be. I love all the little shops and wine bars and the old, rustic, genuine feeling of the town. It is such a cute, romantic place! If you haven't been there or even if you are just looking for a reason to go, here are some great date night and family friendly events coming up! 

Pending in Sacramento

4806 Lemon Hill Avenue

Open This Weekend!

3144 Quad Lane

Cameron Park

Open Friday, 9/22 from 5-7PM

Open Sunday, 9/24 from 1-4PM

Adorable detached home in Archwood Estates! 

Wood burning fireplace in family room. 

This home is move in ready with an upgraded kitchen featuring granite counter tops and glass back splash. Great schools nearby. 

The backyard is an unusual amenity among the homes in this development. Private, quiet and serene!

Offered at $335,000

Contact me for additional details!

530-391-1576

sarah@sarah-ratliff.com

The Lake House by Kate Morton

I just finished another great novel by Kate Morton. Follow me on Good Reads for my entire summer reading list! I love a good mystery Get the details of The Lake House here: The Lake House by Kate Morton


This book is amazing! I couldn't put it down! It has multiple mysteries going at once and at the end there is a plot twist to find out how everything is connected. Kate Morton weaves a story like nobody's business.

View all my reviews

Pumpkin Bread

If you are looking for the absolute best Pumpkin Bread recipe, look no further than this post. 

 I have been using this recipe since I was 15 years old - I think I originally found it in a magazine but have adapted it over the years to perfection. 

Here it is:

Pumpkin Bread

**This recipe makes 2 loaves! I figure most people want to eat one and maybe give one to a friend. Or just eat 2!! If you are interested in making only 1 loaf, just cut the recipe in half. 

Ingredients:

1 29oz  can Pure Pumpkin 
1/2 cup veggie oil

4 eggs

1 stick or 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softend

1.5 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1.5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cloves

3 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and grease 2 loaf pans. 

In a large bowl or bowl of an electric mixer if you have one, beat together sugars and butter until blended.  Add eggs one at a time and blend. Add pumpkin and oil and blend. 

In a separate, medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients- flour, salt, baking soda and spices. I use a whisk to make sure everything gets mixed thoroughly. 

Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring after each addition until combined. It should look like it's ready now and good enough to eat! 

Pour batter evenly into loaf pans. Bake for approximately 65-75 minutes. If you are using mini loaf pans, they should only need about 30 minutes. 

These will be good enough to eat plain, fresh out of the oven!

Enjoy!

Gluten Free Peach Crumb Pie

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I am headed to a family barbecue tomorrow for Labor Day and my brother-in-law has a gluten allergy. I was struggling with what to make for dessert. I wanted to make something themed for fall but also that everyone could enjoy, including him. I settled on peach pie (yes, I know peaches are more "summer" than "fall" but I feel like they also do transition very well into fall!). I hope you like this Gluten Free Peach Pie with a Crumb Crust! 

*If you are wondering where to get Gluten Free products, Raley's has a huge Gluten Free section, and a ton of choices! 

Ingredients:

1 - 9 inch Gluten Free Pie Shell (I use Wholly Gluten Free, which you can get at Raley's)

For the Crumb Crust: 

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 brown sugar

1 cup Gluten Free flour (I use Bob's Red Mill) 

1/2 cup melted butter

1 Tsp cinnamon

1/2 Tsp ginger

For the Filling:

6- Peaches, peeled and sliced

1 Tbsp cornstarch

Gluten Free Crust

Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugars, flour, cinnamon, and ginger. Add the melted butter until all mixture has become moist. 

Crumb Crust Mixture

Slice peaches and then in a large bowl, toss peaches with the cornstarch and 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture. Pour peach mixture into the pie crust. 

Peach Mixture

Crumble the rest of the crumb crust mixture on top of the peaches. Place the pie on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. Top of pie will be golden brown. Enjoy!

Pie on Parchment Paper

Summer Reading

I love a good book in summer! Hanging out by the pool with an ice cold drink and a book in hand; what could be better! I just finished one of the best books by one of my favorite authors! Find me on Good Reads for more of my summer reading list! Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE Liane Moriarty! Her books are funny and quick to read! The characters have SO much depth and are like real life people. They are entertaining and can make you laugh and cry. I did not want to put this book down.

View all my reviews

~ Friday Feature ~

Price Reduced 

on this fabulous condo in Sacramento!

903 Fulton Avenue, Unit 407 

-Fabulous condo on the first floor of the exclusive Timberlake Waterfront Community! 

-Property has been COMPLETELY UPDATED with new Cabinetry, Granite countertops, Laminate and Tile flooring, new Doors, Lighting, Bathroom and NO POPCORN ceilings! 

-HOA covers water, sewer, gas, trash, common areas, exterior, and multiple pools and hot tubs! 

-Prime location near great restaurants and shopping, Sacramento State and public transportation. 

Now offered at $119,500

Contact me for details:

530-391-1576

sarah@sarah-ratliff.com

Just listed in Shingle Springs!

5781 Fernwood Drive

By the Discover Joy in Real Estate Team

3 Bed/ 2 Bath Horse Property on 20 Acres

Critter Ranch is for sale! This adorable manufactured home sits on 20 acres and is fully fenced and cross-fenced. The home has been maintained with newer flooring, deck, front entry, well pump, hot water heater, wood stove and generator. Property is a HORSE LOVER'S dream come true with a drive-thru BARN w/ cement floor, storage and extra tall door, round pen, paddocks & auto watering! 3 LARGE storage containers included in sale. Electricity has been pulled to main home site. Strong well! 

Contact me for details!

530-391-1576

sarah@sarah-ratliff.com

Just Listed!

4806 Lemon Hill Avenue

Sacramento

This super cute single story home in Sacramento is ready for you to make it yours today! This light and bright home features a wood burning fireplace with brick mantle, and upgrades such as like new beautiful gray laminate flooring and granite countertops! Previous owners made sun porch into a possible third bedroom with outdoor access. Home sits on a large lot and contains extra security features such as fencing, security doors and alarm system. Don’t miss this one! 

Offered at $214,999

Contact me for details:

sarah@sarah-ratliff.com

530-391-1576

Home Buyer Expenses

Moving into a new house can be expensive, and that doesn't even include the closing costs, down payment or lender fees! This info graphic shows what new home buyers typically spend money on after moving into a new house. 

My recommendation is, if you don't have the cash for new, use your resources! 

1. Check in with friends or family members who may be trying to get rid of stuff or be willing to sell you their used furniture or appliances at discount prices. A lot of people will give you stuff for free just because they don't want it in their house anymore. This is a great way to fill those extra rooms if you are say, moving from an apartment to a 3 bedroom house. 

2. Ask your realtor. They are a fountain of connections of people who are moving and trying to make room for new stuff or get rid of their old furniture. 

3. Craiglist. A lot of the time, you can find good or only slightly used furniture on this site. 

4. Check in to other slightly used furniture apps such as Chairish or OfferUp. 

5. Get connected with your neighborhood on Nextdoor.com. This is a not only a great way to possibly get used or new furniture and appliances for discount or free, you can also get recommendations for other services you might need after moving into your home, such as painters, plumbers, and more.