Chance Gates' Blog

Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor.
Thomas Jefferson

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson

Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
Thomas Jefferson

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson

Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism.
Thomas Jefferson

Friendship is but another name for an alliance with the follies and the misfortunes of others. Our own share of miseries is sufficient: why enter then as volunteers into those of another?
Thomas Jefferson

Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.
Thomas Jefferson

He who knows best knows how little he knows.
Thomas Jefferson

He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.
Thomas Jefferson

Published: September 21, 2010

http://members.houselogic.com/landing/hoa-fees-122011/?nicmp=rcrim&nichn=editorial&niseg=narwr&cid=WR12212011:37679&ed_rid=1698691

Get up to speed with the most outrageous laws and homeowners association rules.

Even celebrities such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson can be at odds with an HOA. Here are seven crazy examples of laws and HOA rules:

1. Can’t park your car in your own driveway.

In Odessa, Fla., a resident was fined by his board for parking his pickup truck in his own driveway because it wouldn’t fit in his garage. Not our problem, the HOA basically told him before slapping him with a lawsuit. After a protracted legal battle, he has since won the right to park his car, but only after two years and $200,000 in legal fees.

2. Don’t plant too many roses.

While foreclosure is an increasingly real threat to homeowners, few expect to lose their house based on gardening infractions. But that’s exactly what happened to a Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., resident who planted too many roses on his property. After $70,000 in fees, he lost his legal battle against the HOA and ultimately lost his home to the flower debacle.

3. Indoor drying only.

As seen in a Colbert Report expose, a Bend, Oregon, resident was shocked by her HOA’s rejection of her outdoor clothesline. Her natural drying method was dubbed a hazard, and they began levying fines that totaled nearly $1,000. She eventually took down the offending line, even after the Right 2 Dry movement got behind her.

4. No mothers-in-laws allowed.

If you’re a married man in Iowa, the government grants you a special privilege: you’re allowed to bar your mother-in-law from your home. While certainly useful to men trying to ditch their spouse’s mom, this law does not extend to women.

5. Only use sanctioned paint.

What appears to be an inoffensive pale blue house has caused a stir recently in one Georgia neighborhood. Unaware of his HOA’s rules, a homeowner painted his house before having the color officially approved by his board. And with a $25 per day fee levied every day his house bares the offending hue, he’s already racked up $6,800 in fines on top of legal fees.

6. No service dog for the hearing impaired.

A Fort Collins, Colo., HOA fined a hearing-impaired resident for keeping Pookee, her Pomeranian service dog. The HOA even threatened to put a lien on the property. All this despite the fact that Fair Housing Act requires condo and home owner associations to make reasonable accommodations in their procedures and rules to allow a person with disability to reside in a unit. This includes allowing service animals.

Have an issue related to service animal? Contact your local HUD office or local or state human rights agency.

7. Don’t use ‘inconsistent’ shingles.

As if it wasn’t tragedy enough when a plane fell out of the sky destroying a Sanford, Fla., man’s home, his HOA then challenged his rebuilding efforts. It threatened litigation because the shingles and elevation in his new house’s plans didn’t match his neighbors’.

Bending the rules

If you fight the law, you may lose. But there are ways to work with the restrictions of a HOA and still get your way. The first line of defense is to make sure you understand the HOA or condo association rules before you purchase the property.

If, after you move in, you’d like your home’s appearance to differ from that of your neighbors, you’ll need to submit a “variance” form of request. This request can be accepted or rejected at the board’s will, so it’s good to alert them early in your planning process. One tip to gain HOA support? Understand the challenges and perspective of HOAs, follow the rules to a tee, and offer to help them gain community support for their initiatives. Maybe even run for office. If you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em.

What’s the strangest local government or HOA rule you’ve ever heard of?

Mark your favorite properties and get instant updates price changes,  new pictures and status changes.

As a Reno/Sparks Nevada real estate professional and property manager, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.com http://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  To checkout some of  my property manager services goto http://chancegates.com/property-management-services/

If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable

If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney.

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/09/09/mortgage-rates-dip-reaching-another-record-low?cid=WR09142011:29108&ed_rid=1698691

For the second time in a month, fixed and adjustable-rate mortgage rates set new record lows this week, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. The previous record lows were set Aug. 18.

Economic uncertainty and employment concerns are continuing to keep rates low, says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Sept. 8.

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4.12 this week, down from last week’s 4.22 percent. The 30-year rates’ previous low was 4.15 percent, set on Aug. 18.
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.33 percent this week, down from last week’s 3.39 percent average. Its previous record low was 3.36 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.96 percent, holding steady at the same record low it set last week.
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.84 percent this week, down from last week’s 2.89 percent average. Its previous record low was 2.86 percent.

Despite the low rates, mortgage application volume remains low, dropping for the third straight week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported this week. The volume of mortgage applications for purchase remained relatively flat this week at “extremely low levels, close to lows last seen in 1996,” says Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of Research and Economics. Refinance application volume was also down, dropping more than 35 percent below levels last year at this time.

By REALTOR® Magazine Daily News

Mark your favorite properties and get instant updates price changes,  new pictures and status changes.

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.comhttp://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable For a free copy of my report   “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures. or   to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney.

http://members.houselogic.com/articles/escrow-accounts-whats-deal/preview/

By: Susan B. Weiner

Published: October 22, 2010

Does your escrow account ever cross your mind? Probably not. But forgetting to monitor it can lead to lost money and a big headache.

Escrow accounts: lenders love them; you might not

As handy as they are, you’ll find some significant hitches:

• You lock up your money before your tax and insurance payments are due, since your lender is taking the money out each month, often long before the tax payment is actually due.

• Your lender usually doesn’t have to pay you interest on your escrow account—it varies by state.

• Your lender may screw up paying taxes or insurance, and even though it has to fix mistakes, you have to make the time and effort to follow up.

• There may be tax advantages to timing your property tax expenses—but you can’t do that if you’re paying a flat fee in escrow each month.

But your lender may insist on an escrow account because it:

• Helps guarantee your insurance and taxes will be paid.

• Ensures your lender will get the first claim on your house if you default, ahead of the local government.

In fact, your lender may do you the honor of charging you a flat fee for opting out of an escrow account, or it will add 0.25% to 0.5% to the loan amount if you decline to use an escrow account.

How to manage your escrow account

Your lender has to give you an annual escrow account statement and refund any available balance when you sell your house or refinance your mortgage. Check your escrow account statement carefully:

• Make sure everything adds up. “If I have my escrow statement, my property tax bill, and my homeowner insurance declaration page, and everything matches up, then I’m fine,” says Debbie Siegel, president of Westchester Mortgage in Newton, Mass.

• Check the size of the escrow account. Lenders are allowed to keep a reserve of no more than two months in payments in most states, and in some situations it’s even less. Your REALTOR® or lawyer can give you the skinny in your case.

• Contact your lender in writing if you find a problem in your escrow account. If your lender missed an insurance payment, it should pay any late fees as long as your mortgage payments are current, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If your insurance is canceled as result of your lender’s late payment, you can sue your lender.

• Know your rights. Your lender must acknowledge your letter within 20 days and try to fix your problem within 60 days. If you’re still not satisfied, file a complaint with HUD.

Don’t worry, however, if your escrow account balance is temporarily negative. It’s probably due to a recent increase in your taxes or insurance. Your lender will pay your taxes and insurance, although you will need to reimburse your lender for the shortfall.

A final word: Usually basic home owners insurance will be paid out of an escrow account. If you have extra coverage for your original Matisses, for example, you may need to pay that premium directly to your insurer.

Susan B. Weiner has written on financial topics for Bottom Line/Personal, Financial Planning, Wealth Manager, and other national publications for more than 15 years. She learned firsthand that when your house combines two lots, your escrow account may initially fail to pay the tax bill on the second lot.

Mark your favorite properties and get instant updates price changes,  new pictures and status changes.

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.comhttp://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable For a free copy of my report   “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures. or   to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney

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Image via Wikipedia

An almost hysterical antagonism toward the gold standard is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions. They seem to sense… that gold and economic freedom are inseparable.

Any informed borrower is simply less vulnerable to fraud and abuse.

Anything that we can do to raise personal savings is very much in the interest of this country.

History has not dealt kindly with the aftermath of protracted periods of low risk premiums.

I don’t know where the stock market is going, but I will say this, that if it continues higher, this will do more to stimulate the economy than anything we’ve been talking about today or anything anybody else was talking about.

I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I’ve said.

I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealing and strict adherence to the view that, for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well.
Alan Greenspan

I was a good amateur but only an average professional. I soon realized that there was a limit to how far I could rise in the music business, so I left the band and enrolled at New York University.

I’ve been in and out of Wall Street since 1949, and I’ve never seen the type of animosity between government and Wall Street. And I’m not sure where it comes from, but I suspect it’s got to do with a general schism in this society which is really becoming ever more destructive.

Look, I’m very much in favor of tax cuts, but not with borrowed money. And the problem that we’ve gotten into in recent years is spending programs with borrowed money, tax cuts with borrowed money, and at the end of the day that proves disastrous. And my view is I don’t think we can play subtle policy here.

Protectionism will do little to create jobs and if foreigners retaliate, we will surely lose jobs.

The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake.
To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education – literacy, both verbal and numerical, and communication skills.

We need, in effect, to make the phantom ‘lock-boxes’ around the trust fund real.

Whatever you tax, you get less of.
Alan Greenspan

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As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.comhttp://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable For a free copy of my report   “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures. or   to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney.

Can the Buyers See Themselves
Living In the Living Room?

The living and family rooms are where your new buyers will do most of their “living,” so you want to make the space as inviting as possible.

Here are some tips to make the living and family rooms appear their best:

• If you have a favorite “old” chair that doesn’t go with the rest of the furniture, remove it.  Big furniture can weigh down a space.
• Place a vase with flowers on the coffee table, or a tray with a tea pot, cup set and napkins.
• Take down or rearrange pictures or objects that create the sense that this is your home.  Patch and paint if necessary.
• Vacuum your floor each morning.  Consider getting your carpets cleaned before potential buyers view your house.
• Clean your fireplace.
• Leave some lights on during the day.  During “showings” turn on all lights and lamps.
• If the carpeting is in bad shape, shampoo it or replace it.
• If your furniture shows the effect of raising five kids or if pets have ruined the rugs and upholstery, think about storing or removing your existing furniture.  Buy, borrow or rent what you need.
• Put away your holiday decorations unless you are showing your home during the holiday season.

• Have your DVD collection, CDs, and video games out of sight.
• Open the drapes and blinds. Nothing is more depressing than walking into a home where shades, curtains and drapes are closed.
• Remove all knick-knacks under 10 inches tall.

Other related articles:

It All Starts with Creating Curb Appeal

The Entryway Sets the Stage

Tips For Every Room in the House

Making The Most Out Of Your Kitchen & Dining Room

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.com or  http://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney. For a free copy of my blog titled  “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures.

RUSTON, La. (AP) -Leave it to Colin Kaepernick to tie the NCAA record for touchdowns rushing by a quarterback on a designed pass play, all while leading Nevada to a conference title.

Kaepernick ran for three scores, including a dazzling 28-yard scramble on fourth-and-9, and the No. 14 Wolf Pack earned a share of the Western Athletic Conference championship with a 35-17 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

With a bowl game still to play, Kaepernick now has 59 career TDs on the ground, tying the mark held by Nebraska’s Eric Crouch.

“He is the leader of our team; there is no question about it,” Nevada coach Chris Ault said. “That last touchdown run he made when he scrambled on fourth down was unbelievable. That is what he does for us. He makes plays. That’s what his legs do for us. He has done that throughout his career here. He is a pretty special guy.”

On Kaepernick’s fourth-down score, Ault called for a screen pass to Via Taua, who tripped over a defender. Kaepernick, whose elusiveness gave the Bulldogs fits all afternoon, rolled away from pressure and sprinted into the open along the sideline. Just when it looked like he’d dart out of bounds, he cut inside and outran the pursuit to make it 28-17 in the fourth quarter.

“I had to scramble around and make a play. After scrambling around for a couple of seconds, it was amazing, the play just opened up and the hole was there,” Kaepernick said.

“I actually didn’t know that I had tied the record,” he continued. “To accomplish something like that is a great accolade but I have had great teammates and in particular great offensive lineman my entire time here at Nevada.”

Kaepernick wound up with 155 yards rushing, the 16th time he’d surpassed the 100-yard mark in his career. He also became the third QB in NCAA history to eclipse 4,000 yards rushing. He has 4,090, trailing only West Virginia’s Pat White (4,480) and Missouri’s Brad Smith (4,289).

“Coming out of high school I had only one scholarship offer and I just wanted to come in here and work hard,” Kaepernick said. “When I came in originally, I was not even a running quarterback, so a lot of the rushing stuff actually came as a surprise to me.”

Taua rushed for 162 yards and two scores in a victory that assured the Wolf Pack (12-1, 7-1) its first share of a WAC title since 2005, as well as its best regular season since moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1992.

Hawaii already had won a share of the league crown and Boise State moved into a three-way tie atop the conference with its 50-14 victory over Utah State.

Ross Jenkins threw for 188 yards and one TD and also rushed for a short score for Louisiana Tech (5-7, 4-4), which saw its hopes of a bowl bid end with the loss.

Phillip Livas had 230 all-purpose yards, including 162 yards on kickoff returns. He nearly had his ninth return for a score, which would have set a new NCAA record, but was pushed out of bounds on a 60-yard run back by Nevada kicker Ricky Drake in the fourth quarter.

“Funny how me and Phillip talked Monday about how Livas hasn’t gotten tackled by a kicker and there it happens,” Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Dykes said.

Livas joked that he’d jinxed himself, adding “I wish I could have that one back.”

The Bulldogs never trailed in the first half, taking a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game when Jenkins hit Eric Harper with a 20-yard scoring strike along the sideline.

Nevada needed three possessions to tie it on Taua’s 1-yard plunge in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs surged back in front on Jenkins’ keeper, set up by a 36-yard pass over the middle to Taulib Ikharo to the Nevada 2.

The Wolf Pack tied it shortly before halftime on Kaepernick’s first rushing TD of the game, and option keeper to the left side on which he scored easily from 5 yards.

Nevada then received the ball to open the second half and drove 83 plays in 12 plays to take the lead for good on Kaepernick’s second TD run, which came from a yard out.

“We did some good things in the first half but in the second half they just lined up and whipped us,” Dykes said. Kaepernick “is hard to tackle and he just made plays. He is a good football player.”

read more at www.nevadawolfpack.com

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.com or  http://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney. For a free copy of my blog titled  “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures.

Making the Most of Your
Kitchen and Dining Room

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it’s the most highly valued room by buyers, so you want to make it show its best.

Here are some tips to create a captivating kitchen:

• You can cut down on visual clutter by removing items you normally store on the counter.  This will help your kitchen look more spacious.
• Your eat-in kitchen should have a table and chairs in it.  Buyers like to see an eat-in kitchen, but often don’t have the vision to see it as such without the furniture.

• Remove window screens in the kitchen.  Screens take away from allowing natural light inside.  Plus, no one will notice they are missing.

• It’s a good idea to keep some toll-house cookie dough on hand, and bake up a few cookies just before a showing…but don’t overdo it J.
• Keep the exotic spices and fish to a minimum when cooking the night before a showing.  Work towards achieving a “clean” smell.
• Thoroughly clean all your appliances and cupboards, including the inside of your oven and microwave.
• Set the dinner table with your best china to stimulate your buyers’ imagination of the dinner parties they’ll host.
• Many buyers will look inside your cabinets, so make sure the inside is organized and clean.  Also store non-essential items elsewhere to make the cabinets look more spacious.
• Clean as much as possible off the countertops.  Items such as the coffeemaker, toasters, can openers, salt and pepper shakers, recipe boxes, and dish draining rack can be put away.
• Make sure that your counter is spotless and shiny.

• If you keep fruit or flowers on your counter, be sure they are always fresh.

• If your cabinets show wear and tear, you might want to paint them.  A simple trick to update the look of your cabinet doors is to replace your current knobs with new ones.  It’s much cheaper than getting a new kitchen, and it sure can make a difference.
• Shine your faucets and knobs and use spot remover to prevent water spots.
• Remove notes, pictures, and coupons from the refrigerator door.
• Empty your trash cans.  Garbage and recycling bins must be out of sight.

Other related articles:

It All Starts with Creating Curb Appeal

The Entryway Sets the Stage

Tips For Every Room in the House

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.com or  http://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney. For a free copy of my blog titled  “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures.

Tips for Every Room In the House

• Give the house a real “once over” cleaning.  Clean it from top to bottom.  Clean houses have a competitive edge over dirty houses.

• Let some air in.  Get a fresh breeze going to completely air out the house and get rid of any “stale” odors you may not even notice.  Springtime fresh!

• Start packing now.  Pack up everything you don’t use right now, put it in boxes and store the boxes out of the house if possible.

• Think model home.  Remove “extra” furniture and accessories.  Make it appear spacious, not crowded.  That favorite chair may have to go for now.

• Clean and deodorize carpets, paying special attention to high-traffic areas and stains that can be removed.

• Check all the light fixtures and lamps, replacing burned-out or low-light bulbs with bright white bulbs.  Make sure light switches are functional; consider updating them.

• If the couch, chairs or loveseat need some updating, try a neutral slip cover and add accent color with some throw pillows.

• Check for squeaky doors, and add a little WD-40 to remove the squeaks.

• If necessary, paint interior walls.  Paint is relatively cheap, and a great return on investment.  It doesn’t have to be white, but stay away from the other end of the spectrum.  Neutrals are usually best.

• Remove any peeled or torn wallpaper and borders.

• Check the window coverings to make sure the blinds work properly.  Clean them and keep them open to let in as much light as possible.

• Remove all valuables and make sure confidential documents are out of sight, and safe.

• Weed out the magazine racks and coffee table.  Only the most current magazines should be in view.

• Make sure the house smells its best at all times.  Keep cat boxes clean at all times, and preferably out of the house for showings.

• Do some plant and flower triage, removing the ones that aren’t going to make it.  Clean the leaves of the healthy ones and make sure they’re watered and looking great.

• Let the buyers see their lives in your house…not yours.  Store excess family photos, the “wall of fame” and anything that is too much a reflection of YOUR life.  We want them to focus on what their life would be like in their new home, not the museum of your life.

Other related articles:

It All Starts with Creating Curb Appeal

The Entryway Sets the Stage

• Put the bookshelves on a diet.  Pack up most of the books on your shelf, leaving only the larger books and lots of room on the shelves.  Overcrowded bookshelves shrink the appearance of a room.

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.com or  http://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney. For a free copy of my blog titled  “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures.

Washoe County Golf Club, Washoe County Course

18 holes over 6,695 yards with a par of 72 (Municipal)
2601 Foley Way
Reno, NV 89509-3511
(775) 828-6640

Northgate Golf Club, Northgate Course

18 holes over 6,966 yards with a par of 72 (Public)
1111 Clubhouse Dr
Reno, NV 89523-2002
(775) 747-7577

Somersett Country Club – Canyon Nine, Canyon Nine Course

9 holes (Private Non-Equity)
7650 Town Square Ln
Reno, NV 89523-4847
(775) 787-4500 ext. 330

Somersett Country Club, Golf Club at Somersett Course

18 holes over 7,252 yards with a par of 72 (Private Equity)
2019 Championship Trl
Reno, NV 89523-3829
(775) 787-1800

Sierra Sage Golf Course, Sierra Sage Course

18 holes over 6,605 yards with a par of 71 (Municipal)
6355 Silver Lake Rd
Reno, NV 89506-1758
(775) 972-1564.

Thunder Canyon, Thunder Canyon Course

18 holes over 7,241 yards with a par of 72 (Private Non-Equity)
19 Lightning W Ranch Rd
Washoe Valley, NV 89704-9400
(775) 882-0882 x 205

Wildcreek Golf Course, Wildcreek Course

18 holes over 6,932 yards with a par of 72 (Public)
3500 Sullivan Ln
Sparks, NV 89431-1098
(775) 673-3100

Wildcreek Golf Course, Par-3 Course

9 holes over 2,840 yards with a par of 27 (Public)
3500 Sullivan Ln
Sparks, NV 89431-1098
(775) 673-3100
.

D’Andrea Golf Club, D’Andrea Course

18 holes over 6,849 yards with a par of 71 (Public)
2900 S D Andrea Pkwy
Sparks, NV 89434-7304
(775) 331-6363

Part 1

As a Reno/Sparks real estate professional, I encourage all questions and comments on the Reno/Sparks real estate market or any of the articles posted in this blog. Please feel free to use my back door to the MLS and search the houses available in the Reno/Sparks and most Northwest Nevada neighborhoods. I can be reached by email @ chance@ballard-company.com or  http://www.myspace.com/chancegates .  You can also follow me at http://www.twitter.com/chancegates .  If you are behind on your house payment and looking for a loan modification, go to making homes affordable to request a modification.  If the modification fails, contact your local real estate professional to help short sale your home.  To make sure there is no deficiency judgment a homeowner might find it necessary to hire an attorney. For a free copy of my blog titled  “5 Steps For Reno/Sparks Homeowners To Prevent Foreclosures” go to my about page http://chancegates.com/about and ask for more information on preventing foreclosures.