Top 10 Turkey Tips

Whether you’re tackling a Thanksgiving turkey for the first or hundredth time, these top 10 tips will ensure your big bird is the best it can be this holiday!

1. Thawing a frozen turkey requires patience and the safest method is to thaw it in the refrigerator. Be sure to plan ahead — it takes approximately three days for a 20 pound turkey to fully defrost.

2. For crisper skin, unwrap the turkey the day before roasting and leave it uncovered in the refrigerator overnight.

3. Cooking times will differ depending on whether your bird was purchased fresh or frozen. Plan on 20 minutes per pound in a 350 degree oven for a defrosted turkey, and 10 to 15 minutes per pound for a fresh turkey.

4. A turkey will cook more evenly if it is not densely stuffed. Consider adding flavor by loosely filling the cavity with aromatic vegetables (carrots, celery, onion or garlic work nicely) or by carefully tucking fresh herbs underneath the breast skin. For the stuffing lovers, cook the dressing in a casserole dish on the side.

5. For even roasting, truss your turkey.

6. Before roasting, coat the outside of the turkey with vegetable or olive oil, season with salt and pepper and tightly cover the breast with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning (it will be removed in step 7).

7. Don’t be a peeping tom (no pun intended)! Once you get the turkey in the oven, resist the temptation to open the oven door and admire your handiwork. When the oven temperature fluctuates, you’re only increasing the likelihood of a dry bird. About 45 minutes before you think the turkey is done, remove the foil from the breast to allow it to brown.

8. Remove the turkey from the oven when the deepest spot between the leg and the breast reads 180 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Check the internal temperature of the stuffing as well – it should be at least 165 degrees.

9. Tent the bird with foil and let rest for about 15 minutes before carving. If you need more time to make gravy, heat up side dishes, etc. You can let the turkey set for up to an hour without losing too much heat.

10. Remember to carve your turkey with a very sharp or electric knife.

Recent Mercury News Article Shows its a Great Time for Buyers!

Check out this recent article in the Mercury News which discusses the recent trends in the Bay Areal real estate market. (Bay Area Homes Sales Below Average, Price Growth Slows). While its hard to say whether its a seasonal phenomenon or a market trend in the Bay Area, anecdotally, we have been seeing home sales slow down for the past few months. What we do know is the slow down has created an opportunity for many buyers in the market to purchase without all the competition. If you are considering a purchase, now is the time while other buyers are taking a break for the holidays!

Bay Area Events Calendar – October

The holidays are fast approaching and that means a load of fun Bay Area events are upon us! I’ve attached a schedule of great events for the month of October.  CLICK HERE – October Events Calendar

As always, if I can assist you or your friends or family with any real estate related needs over the holidays, let me know!

 

Nicole

Steps to the Home Buying Process

Buying a home is one of life’s most exciting and important decisions. In addition to being a historically strong investment, owning a house provides comfort and security for you and your loved ones. If you are thinking of purchasing a home this year, there may not be a better time in which to buy. Attractive interest rates and lower prices are helping more first-time home buyers enter the real estate market today than ever before. So if you are thinking of making a move this year, here’s how to get started:

• Select a professional Realtor®. Choosing a Realtor is one of the most important factors in buying a home. It’s important to select a Realtor who has experience, a strong pulse on the local real estate market and the neighborhoods you are looking in, and who you feel will do the best job in communicating with you. You are going to be working with this person a lot so your comfort with and confidence in the professional are key.
• Get pre-approved. Getting pre-approved with a proven lender will allow you to understand how much home you can afford before you begin your home search. Coldwell Banker has an in-house mortgage banker, who has a reputable track record and can help you determine your purchasing power before you start looking. A qualified loan officer from the company will show you a variety of different types of financing and will determine how much you qualify for with each type, as well as what your monthly payment will be so you can make an educated decision that’s comfortable for you.
• Determine what you are looking for in a home. Is location most important to you? Do you have to have a swimming pool in your yard? Will you only look at homes that have a formal living room? Understanding your preferences and what you are willing to compromise on will help your Realtor in their search for properties that most closely match your criteria. Remember, unless you are building your dream home from the ground up, there are often compromises involved when deciding whether or not you will be satisfied with a given property.
• Be proactive. While your Realtor will keep you apprised of any properties that hit the market matching your criteria, it’s important for you to be proactive in your search too. By keeping tabs in the neighborhoods or cities in which you are looking, you will have a better understanding and knowledge of the local market and home prices so that when you are getting ready to make an offer, you can be educated and confident in your decision. Websites such as CaliforniaMoves.com and Realtor.com are both updated frequently and are among my favorites for home buyers.
• Have an open mind. Remember that the first house you purchase is probably not going to be perfect. If you have been looking for a home for weeks or even months, maybe it’s time to reconsider homes that you’ve already viewed or make a few concessions. Chances are that if there are homes that have been sitting on the market for weeks, the seller may be willing to negotiate more on price and you may be able to purchase your first home for a lower price than originally thought – giving you extra money in the end for home improvement projects.

I hope you found this information useful.  If you are thinking of taking your first steps towards purchasing a home, I’d be pleased to meet with you to give you an update on the local real estate marketplace and your buying opportunities. For more information, contact me today.

 

How to Turn Your Home into a Party Pad for Football Season!

Football season has begun! Read on for tips into turning your home into the ultimate game day party pad!!! Whether you are a 49er’s fan or a Patriots fan, your guests will appreciate you being game-day ready! Check out this article to find out more!

Football Season Begins: How to Turn Your Home into a Party Pad.

Just Listed! Remodeled Craftsman Style Home Near Japantown in San Jose

Remodeled Craftsman-style Home Near Japantown! 674 E. Empire Street, San Jose   Nicole Emanuel (Culbertson) Direct: (408) 355-1512 Mobile: (408) 410-2060 CA DRE# 01899594 Nicole.Emanuel@cbnorcal.com 674 E. Empire Street, San Jose 2 bedroom + bonus room & 1 bath Approximately 1,000 (permits unknown) $495,000 Welcome Home! Recently remodeled craftsman-style home incorporates original charm with modern day finishes! Features bamboo flooring, french doors, gourmet kitchen with granite, remodeled bath, renovated back yard and 2-year old roof! Third room can be used as an office, baby’s room or a sitting room. Home is approximately 1,000 square feet – permits unknown (assessors office 884). Located across the street from a park and a short walk to Japantown and Watson Dog Park!

View My Website  |  CaliforniaMoves.com ©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. All rights reserved. This information was supplied by Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to their own satisfaction. If your property is currently listed for sale, this is not intended as a solicitation. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. DRE License #01908304

What Your Lender Needs to Know (and what not to do during the home buying process)

When you are buying a home the first thing you need to do is get pre-approved. This is different from pre-qualifying as it is a full loan approval instead of simply an opinion letter of your creditworthiness. Its is best that you take this step before looking at homes as finding out what you qualify for will help you look in the right price range and avoid disappointment. On the flip side, you might be able to look at more expensive homes than you originally thought possible.

Here are some things your lender will need (and need you to do or not to do) during the application and escrow process):

1) All funds used for the downpayment and closing costs need to be carefully scrutinized by your lender.

• You must provide detailed and accurate information to show which accounts the funds are in and where the funds are coming from.
• You must document the source of any funds that have been in your accounts for less than 2 months.
• Any changes that occur to your financial condition will need to be explained to the lender.
• Changes to your assets, employment, income or credit scores during the escrow process could jeopardize your ability to obtain a loan.
• Provide complete documents – all pages!
• Provide documents with names, addresses and account numbers.

2) Things not to do during the escrow process:

• Do not transfer funds from one bank account to another.
• Do not make unusual large deposits into your bank account or you will need to provide documentation for the source of any deposits.
• Do not buy a car just prior to buying a house of during the escrow process.
• Do not spend large sums of money buying furniture or appliances.
• Do not change jobs.
• Do not apply for new credit cards.
• Do not close existing credit cards.

3) The lender is going to require a letter of explanation and/or support documentation for:

• Recent inquiries on your credit report.
• Derogatory items on your credit report.
• Recent deposits into your bank account.
• Recent transfers of money from one account to another.
• Evidence earnest money deposit has cleared your account.

4) If you are receiving gift funds the lender will require:

• A gift letter signed by you and the gift donor.
• Evidence of the donors ability to gift the funds – a bank statement.
• Evidence of the receipt of the gift funds – a copy of the check or wire.
• Evidence of the funds being received into your account.

If you have questions or are looking for a wonderful lender, give me a call today at (408) 410-2060!

Why You Should Consider Selling Your Home During the Holidays

 If you are considering a move during this holiday season but you are unsure how the market will react, read on. You may be surprised to find that some of the most serious, ready-to-go buyers are waiting in the wings during the holiday season to take advantage of the market while others are out holiday shopping. At an open house a few weeks ago, I had over 125 people through both Saturday and Sunday, proof that plenty of buyers are waiting for your home to come on the market!

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER SELLING YOUR HOME DURING THE HOLIDAY

• Holiday buyers are particularly serious, committed and focused.
• The corporate executive transferees have more free time to shop for a home now than at any other time of the year.
• Over the holidays there are fewer homes available, therefore supply and demand work in your favor.
• Homes are seasonally radiant during the decorative holiday period.
• The holiday season is a time of heightened consumer spending.
• Some buyers purchase homes as gifts.
• Interest rates are still attractive.

TO PRESERVE PRIVACY OVER THE HOLIDAYS, AT YOUR REQUEST WE CAN TAKE AN EXCLUSIVE MARKETING APPROACH

• All showings are by appointment and only available to qualified buyers.
• Take a low key approach to advertising your home, reinforcing its exclusivity.
• Don’t include property address in advertising.
• Consider not placing your home on the MLS during the holiday period.
• No lock box.
• No open houses for either public or Realtors® (unless homeowners request otherwise)
• No for sale sign.

If you are considering selling, give me a call today at (408) 410-2060 for a FREE home estimate. Also, remember, if you buy or sell a home through me, or refer me to someone who does, YOU get a FREE 16GB iPad4! What a deal!

Tips for Selling Your Home in the Fall

Summer has ended, the weather is cooling, leaves are changing and, you may be surprised to learn, homebuyers are out in force. Fall is a popular time for corporations to relocate associates – creating a pool of buyers who need to make quick decisions about housing. They’re serious about purchasing and, with fewer houses on the market this time of year, your house may soon be getting more attention. What can you do to make sure your home sells before all the leaves fall off the trees? Here are a few helpful tips.

Highlight the location. Bring the benefits of your location front and center. Establish a list of perks that your property offers, such as proximity to public transportation, schools, shopping, recreation or entertainment.

Use the season for curb appeal. Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year and by using that to your advantage, your home can stand out from others in the neighborhood. Leaves turning shades of crimson and gold can add extra appeal, but be sure they don’t get out of hand. Keep trees and shrubs properly groomed and pick up fallen leaves before they suffocate your front lawn. Add pumpkins, gourds or a fall display to your front porch to invite in potential buyers.

Stage your home. Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in your home before they will consider buying it. You can help them by de-cluttering, de-personalizing and thoroughly cleaning the entire house. Brighten your rooms by bringing the outside indoors with vases or displays of twigs, leaves or acorns from your yard.

Get everything in tip-top shape. Your buyer will most likely hire an inspector before closing, so pay close attention to elements around the home that are important in the fall. For example, make sure gutters are cleared of fallen leaves and that fireplaces are in working order.

Know your home. Access to real estate information on the Internet means that buyers are walking into your home more educated than ever. Take the time to review homes similar to yours on real estate websites like http://www.californiamoves.com or http://www.realtor.com. I can also let you know of the conditions and price ranges of other homes for sale in your area. This will allow us to better negotiate with potential buyers.

Despite what you may have heard, this time of year offers plenty of opportunity to sell your home. By taking a few simple steps to make sure you and your house are ready to hit the market, you can better prepare yourself for what is to come. After all, the more welcoming your home is to possible buyers, the more welcoming it will be to offers.

 

$26 billion Foreclosure Settlement Could Mean Relief for Underwater Homeowners

If you are underwater on your home or were foreclosed upon between 2008 and 2011 there could be some relief coming your way according to an article from CNNMoney today. Federal and state officials have agreed to a $26 billion settlement of potential state charges of home seizures made without required paperwork and improper foreclosure practices based on robosigning by the five largest lenders in the country – Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Ally Financial.

About $17 billion will be used to reduce the principal for underwater homeowners and could mean a reduction for as many as 1 million people. While this is a start, the average reduction would be about $17,000, so might not go a long way in assisting those upside down on their mortgages. In addition, about 750,000 homeowners who are current on their mortgages will be able to refinance their loans to take advantage of the current record-low interest rates. About $1.5 billion will also go to homeowners foreclosed upon between 2008 and 2011 and who meet other criteria. They will be eligible to receive $2,000 for charges of robosigning.

Negotiations are underway to expand the current settlement to nine other servicers, potentially expanding the settlement to $30 billion.

It is important to note that even though a homeowner may accept settlement from the bank, it does not inhibit their ability to file criminal prosecution charges against the bank.