Randy Mack | Realtor | 707.696.6272

    Heidi Faulkner | Realtor | 707.480.4098

Artisan Sotheby's International RealtyArtisan Sotheby's International Realty

Sonoma County

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Sonoma County First-time Home Buyer Loans in 2023

Purchasing a home can seem like a completely overwhelming endeavor. After all, it is one of the most significant investments you can make, with numerous steps and requirements.

However, various types of loans are available to Sonoma County first-time home buyers who require assistance.

First-time home buyer loans:

The average down payment for a house in California is between 15% and 20% of the purchase price. If you can afford this price, you can get a conventional loan with a low-interest rate.

However, there is some first-time home buyer who doesn’t have this much money saved for a down payment. Fortunately, there are mortgage plans that have a low-down payment:

VA loan: Sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Loans are open to veterans, reservists, active-duty personnel, and surviving spouses and are one of the only options available for zero down payment loans.

FHA loan: Backed by the Federal Housing Administration, FHA loans are open to anyone, and while they require a down payment, they can be as low as 3.5 percent. Drawbacks include a slower loan process and the need to pay mortgage insurance for FHA loans.

USDA loan: Organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of its Rural Development Guaranteed Housing Loan program. USDA offers financing with no down payment, lenient requirements, and competitive mortgage rates.

Conventional 97: With Fannie Mae, you may qualify to borrow up to 97% of the value of your home, leaving you with only 3% to cover your down payment. This type of loan requires a credit score of 620 and higher, and at least one of the borrowers must qualify as a first-time home buyer.

If you’re not sure which type of loan to get when buying your first home, your lender or realtor can help you find the right fit based on your finances, and your realtor can also guide you by discussing alternatives and developing a plan of action to achieve your personal real estate goals.

How to choose your realtor on your first home-buying:

When choosing a realtor, it’s essential to know how long they have been in residential real estate. Like most professions, experience is no guarantee of skill. However, a large portion of real estate is learned on the job. Randy and I bring 45 years of industry experience in residential, commercial, and land sales.

We are here to help you fill the gaps in your home-buying knowledge. The more familiar you are with the procedure, the less overwhelming it will be.

If you are considering becoming a homeowner in Sonoma County, we hope you’ll give us a call. There is never any obligation, of course—and the old saying is true in this case: it can’t hurt to ask!

Posted in: General, Home Buying, Real Estate Resources Tagged: #artisansothebys, #buyersagent, #forestville, #healdsburg, #homebuyer, #homeownership, #interestrates, #luxuryhome, #luxuryrealestate, #mackandfaulkner, #mackfaulkner, #mortgagerates, #petaluma, #realestate, #realestateagent, #realtor, #sebastopol, #sonomacounty, #sonomacountyrealestate, #sothebysrealestate, #windsor, HeidiFaulkner, RandyMack, santarosa

Living in Wine Country: Sonoma County, California

Travelers currently visiting or about to return from a wine country trip often wonder, “what is it like to live here?”. In this article, learn more about what the California Wine Country offers.

 

Sonoma County provides diverse cultural and recreational opportunities with its breathtaking and vibrant natural scenery, lush vineyards, and warm weather. California has the perfect climate. The winters are mild, and the summers are sunny and dry; you may appreciate the attractions all year round.

 

Randy and I love being outside and taking advantage of the perks of living in wine country. We still enjoy the calming scenery more often than not, considering that we have lived here for over 30 years.

 

Sonoma County

 

Moreover, Sonoma County is also home to world-class wineries and local restaurants with the famous farm-to-table movement and Michelin-starred restaurants. These restaurants focus on growing or sourcing their produce and meats locally.

 

Additionally, due to the many different ethnic influences present, Sonoma County is known for its diverse culinary style.

 

Food
Photo by © Mariah Harkey | sonomacounty.com

 

Furthermore, Sonoma County is the place to be if you enjoy exploring the outdoors, with over 50 regional parks and trails with spectacular views and many outdoor activities like golfing, camping, biking, walking, swimming, hiking, and many more.

 

With this in mind, Sonoma County is also famed for its luxury hotels and resorts, historic architecture, and culture. With easy access to the mountains, forests, and coastal locals, Northern California is a paradise, no matter your idea of utopia.

 

Sonoma County Beach
Photo by © Spencer Spellman | sonomacounty.com

 

In all honesty, Randy and I consider ourselves blessed to live in Sonoma County. It has been our home for years, and we would not have it any other way. As a result, we remain appreciative of living in such a beautiful part of the world and grateful to the community with which we share it.

 

Nonetheless, living in a Wine Country is like living in a dream, and if you want to make that dream a reality, reach out and let us help you achieve your Sonoma County real estate goal.

Posted in: General Tagged: #artisansothebys, #buyersagent, #homeownership, #luxury, #luxuryhome, #luxuryrealestate, #mackfaulkner, #realestate, #realestateagent, #realtor, #sebastopolagent, #sebastopolrealesate, #sonomacounty, #sonomacountyrealestate, #winecountry, HeidiFaulkner, RandyMack

Sonoma County Real Estate from two wheels….

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My favorite pass time is touring on my Harley-Davidson Road King through Sonoma County and beyond. The abundance of back roads and diverse scenery make each ride special.  There is one route in particular through the Alexander Valley that my wife and I enjoy and we use it as an indicator for the changing seasons. There is a stretch of Highway 128 lined with ornamental flowering plum trees which have brilliant flowers and an intoxicating fragrance during Spring and covered with brilliant red leaves soaked in a waning light in Spring. What is your favorite ride Sonoma County ride?

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Posted in: General Tagged: #realestate, #sebastopol, #sonomacounty, #sothebysrealestate, Harley-Davidson, HeidiFaulkner, Motorcycle, RandyMack, RoadKing, sebastopole

How does your family celebrate the big day when their Realtor hands them their keys to their new home?

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One of our clients who just purchased a home in Sonoma County shared a story of how their family celebrates this special event and thought you might want to add this to your family tradition. First, it has to be a big surprise. The new home owner knows it’s coming, but doesn’t know when. Their family might even delay the celebration a few months after they moved in. This just adds to the element of surprise and the anticipation mounts for everyone! The big day arrives. Relatives, friends and new neighbors meet at a nearby parking lot with their cars and trucks loaded to the brim with all party supplies.

The food has to be great, no hot dogs, please, only great food along with drinks, tables, chairs, plates and napkins. Next, they caravan to the new home and about 1 block from the house they begin honking their horns to let everyone know the they are coming and the fun is about to begin. They continue honking up the driveway. By now the new homeowner knows they have not been forgotten and the day is finally here. The tables are set up , the food displayed and the drinks are flowing. They have a great time celebrating, showing off their new home and re-telling how they fell in love with it. The party lasts about 2 hours. All the party happenings are cleaned up, put back into the vehicles and the home is left spotless. Do you have a story to share?

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Posted in: Home Buying Tagged: #sonomacounty, blog, HeidiFaukner, newhome, parties, partyideas, RandyMack, Sothebys, storysharing

Check out farmers markets in Sonoma County

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Come to Sonoma county and enjoy great farmers markets!
How about owning a piece of Sonoma county real estate! On the weekends gather up some friends and family and head to the countryside of  Sonoma, from Santa Rosa to the Russian River.  Thinking of packing a picnic and getting a bottle of wine but why bother, when you can just join the locals at a festive weekend Farmer’s market, it feels more like a festival than a produce market! The real estate in Sebastopol leads to a great lifestyle.
Find your usual fare of local artists and farmers showing off their wares.  Let the music wafting in the air mix with food carts (bbq, pizza, Indian, Mexican) under the warm Sonoma sun. Yes, farmer’s markets are nothing new or special, but I loved the festive atmosphere and the luxurious abandon with which visitors seemed to be lounging and enjoying the ambiance. They’re small plazas though many in variety- a small knock.

Make an appointment with us we would love to help you find a house here in Sonoma County!

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Posted in: General Tagged: #realestate, #sebastopol, #sonomacounty, farmersmarket, food, HeidiFaulkner, indianfood, mexicanfood, RandyMack, Russianriver, santarosa, Sothebys

Some Fresh Paint Goes A Long Way!

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New paint makes the entire home smell clean and neat, and can bring sellers top dollar. If your home has chipped paint, exposed wood, or surfaces that looks faded, it’s time for new paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated, or an unusual color or style, you might consider replacing it.

Many houses do not sell because of these problems. Even in Sonoma county don’t think that buyers have more money than you to freshen up a home. They typically don’t. They will simply look elsewhere for a home that needs less work.
Please contact us Heidi Faulkner and Randy Mack and let us know when you are ready to sell and we can help you prepare your home for today’s market.

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Posted in: Home Selling Tagged: #realestate, advice, County, HeidiFaulkner, Homeselling, Paint, RandyMack, Sonoma, Sothebys, Tips

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Contact Information

Randy Mack and Heidi Faulkner
Artisan Sotheby's International Realty
6984 McKinley Street
Sebastopol CA 95472
(707) 696-6272
(707) 480-4098
Fax: (707) 824-0587
Send an Email
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About Us

We are proud to have aligned ourselves with Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty an inspirational brand based on heritage, tradition and expertise. We are setting new standards by refining the art of residential brokerage with a practiced eye of identifying the unique value of a property. We offer a deep commitment to excellent service and have a passion for unparalleled quality. Unique homes require skillful marketing through our local expertise and Sotheby’s International Realty interconnected global network of offices that are dedicated to the extraordinary.

Testimonials

I wish to express my satisfaction and confidence in your ability to find an ideal home for anyone that I would refer to you. My own experience in purchasing and selling a home with you allowed me to witness the fact that you are truly an expert in your field, handling all aspects of residential real estate transactions. From the beginning, your market analysis to the final stages of negotiations, your calm manner and clear explanation kept me knowing I was in the best of hands.

Mr. Mitchler
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Contact Us

Randy Mack - Realtor CA BRE#01252462
randy@mack-faulkner.com

(707) 696-6272
6984 McKinley Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472



Heidi Faulkner - Realtor CA BRE#01227446
Heidi@mack-faulkner.com

(707) 480-4098
6984 McKinley Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472



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© MMVI Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each office is independently owned and operated, except offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated. All information herein is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
 

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