A great family home, in a great family community

A Bay Area Affordable Family Home and Community

Straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting

Recently, I was approached about listing a home in a community that's a little bit east of where I typically list homes. But the more I found out about Martinez, and as I saw the very affordable price of this listing, it made perfect sense. I wanted to share it with my audience and let you know a little bit about Martinez, California.

Being in Contra Costa County, the location of this home in Martinez is ideal for those that work in the Bay Area, but don't necessarily want to spend millions to stay close enough for the commute. Martinez is a quaint and in my opinion, a not-talked-enough-about community. For the past decade, it's become an up-and-coming…

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Restoration, Leadership, and Beavers

Amazing things can happen when a community works together

For this past year, I've been committed to my role here in this community, through Leadership Napa Valley, an organization that's been around for 35 years here in Napa. Its mission is to '...involve, inspire, and inform leaders to strengthen our community'.

To say it's been a phenomenal experience would be an understatement, and frankly to have my year of leadership come to an end, brings some bittersweet reflections. The commitment has been intense at times, yet the connections and greater understanding of how many people are truly passionate about this great region we live in, are truly inspiring. If you've never heard of LNV, or have and are curious, I would be honored to share my…

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5 Ways Writing A Winning Offer In Today's Real Estate Market

A compelling offer designed to get you your dream home

Our nation is in the midst of a serious housing crunch. Last year, a lack of inventory and soaring prices left many would-be homebuyers feeling pinched. But now, with interest rates climbing, many of them are also feeling desperate to lock in a mortgage—which has only added fuel to the fire.1

Fortunately, if you’re a buyer struggling to find a home, we have some good news. While it’s true that higher mortgage rates can decrease your purchasing budget, there are additional ways to compete in a hot market.

Yes, a high offer price gets attention. But most sellers consider a variety of factors when evaluating an offer. With that in mind, here are five tactics you can utilize to sweeten…

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Build Your Dream Home

A View Site, Coming Soon!

Enjoy the serenity of the beautiful Napa Valley!

This 55-acre property is located in the majestic eastern hills of the Napa Valley and includes architect drawings of a stunning residence, a water source location identified, and a septic layout by an engineer.

Talk about breathtaking sunset views!!

Call me before it hits the market if you'd like to get a jump start:

707.266.1585

leewmiller@gmail.com

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Hedging Against Inflation

If you spend U.S. dollars, inflation impacts you. 

The annual inflation rate in the United States is currently around 7.5%—the highest it has been since 1982.1 It doesn’t matter if you’re a cashier, lawyer, plumber, or retiree; if you spend U.S. dollars, inflation impacts you. 

Economists expect the effects of inflation, like a higher cost of goods, to continue.2 Luckily, an investment in real estate can ease some of the financial strain.  

Here’s what you need to know about inflation, how it impacts you, and how an investment in real estate can help.

WHAT IS INFLATION AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT ME?

Inflation is a decline in the value of money. When the rate of inflation rises, prices for goods and services go up. Therefore, a dollar…

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A Timeline To Prep Your Home For Sale

Prepare your home before putting it on the market

We’re still in a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean your home is guaranteed to easily sell.1 If you want to maximize your sale price, it’s still important to prepare your home before putting it on the market.

Start by connecting with a real estate agent as soon as possible. Having the eyes and ears of an insightful real estate professional on your side can help you boost your home’s appeal to buyers. What’s more, beginning the preparation process early allows you to tackle repairs and upgrades that can increase your property’s value. 

Use the checklist below to figure out what other tasks you should complete in the months leading up to listing your home. While everyone’s situation is…

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What, How, & Who Determines the Value of My Home?

In today’s Real Estate market, the term ‘wild west’ is thrown around quite a bit, and with good reason. New tactics to get an offer accepted, to get a listing, to get top dollar - all can often resemble the rogue behavior of the wild west, for sure. Just because some agents go rogue doesn’t make it right.

When you are considering when might be the right time to sell, how do you determine if your Realtor® is going to serve your highest and best interest?

Before you can determine a Realtors® ability to fulfill your home-sale needs, let’s first understand the bigger picture of what goes into pricing your home, in order to sell it. And for additional insight, our recent blog, 'How To Choose The Best Listing Agent', goes into length…

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Must Selling A Home Be Stressful??

Preparation - the foundation of a smooth home sale.

Whether you’ve sold a few homes, or are considering selling one for the first time, the entire process can be looked back on as one of great stress, and often-times full out chaos. 

Just making the decision to move is stressful, not to mention the packing, preparing your family or children emotionally for the change. Then, there’s the mammoth task of shopping for, bidding on, and getting your offer accepted, on a new home - all of which are nearly impossible to see through with ease. Assuring the sale of the existing home requires wel- thought-out plans. This is no time to wing it!

Stress, chaos, and a lack of organization can so often be present in selling a home. But not if you’re provided…

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How To Choose The Best Real Estate Listing Agent

Choosing A Real Estate Agent To Sell Your Home

When it comes time to sell your home, and you’re trying to choose a listing agent, there’s some prudent questions to consider, both about your needs and interests, as well as the agent’s abilities and services. Before you make your choice, take some time to get clarity on the following three considerations.

For fun, before writing this article, we looked up “How to choose a good Real Estate Agent to sell my home?”. Because, after all, that’s how we find the cures to our ailments, the best car on the market, and most everything we do these days, right?

Ironically, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 68% of people choose their Listing Agent, based on personal knowledge…

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5 Steps To Finding Your Next Home

Finding The Right Home Can Be Challenging

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, shopping for a new home can feel daunting. In fact, 56% of buyers said that “finding the right property” was the most difficult step in the home buying process.1 

Buying a home is a significant commitment of both time and money. And a home purchase has the power to improve both your current quality of life and your future financial security, so the stakes are high.

Follow these five steps—and complete the corresponding worksheet offered below—to assess your priorities, streamline your search, and choose your next home with confidence.

STEP 1: Set Your Goals and Priorities

The first step to finding your ideal home is determining WHY you…

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