1601 Hidden Bridge Road, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

Situated on over 4.2 acres in the prestigious, Zee Estates is this sprawling contemporary residence. You’re welcomed by the tree-lined entry that leads to the circular driveway. Enter into the open foyer, which overlooks the dining room and family room. The great room presents vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, a double ceiling fan, and picturesque windows. The gourmet kitchen includes a five-burner gas range, stainless appliances, a farmhouse sink, an island, dining bar, dining nook, and a walk-in pantry. A half bathroom is located down the hall from the kitchen and formal dining room.

The luxurious master suite showcases a sliding glass door with backyard access and a spa-like bathroom. Amenities include dual sinks, a soaking tub, shower stall, and a spacious walk-in closet. The laundry room is conveniently located near the master and offers a sink, abundant cabinetry, a storage closet and access to the meticulous 3-car attached garage.  An office with a closet, two additional bedrooms, and a full bathroom are located on the West Wing of the home. 

Expansive park-like grounds feature gorgeous palapas, a swimming pool, hot tub, bar, built-in BBQ, lush landscaping and an expansive California room. 

Vehicle enthusiasts rejoice in the ample parking provided throughout the property. The main, 3-car attached garage is lined with cabinetry and features epoxy floors, overhead storage and built-in speakers. The road on the left side of the property leads to the oversized two-car garage with a tall garage door that can accommodate a boat. There is ample space on both sides of the detached garage for full-sized RVs, numerous toys or equestrian amenities.

Listed at $1,050,000

How to Stage the Perfect Family Room

Your family room is one of the busiest places in your home. It’s where everyone hangs out (hence the name family room), whether it’s kids playing video games and binge-watching shows, parents taking a break to read or everyone in the household getting together for some quality time.

If your home is for sale, potential buyers will want to see a place where they can envision their family making years of memories together. That’s why it’s important to maximize your family room’s appeal with these tips.

Clean Everything 
These are basic but important steps. Start by dusting everything in the room. Clear the shelves of books, toys, collectibles and souvenirs from vacations, then start dusting. Vacuum the floor and clean the walls. If your paint job is looking a little worse for wear, consider giving the room a fresh coat.

Organize the Space 
It’s tough to keep a busy space like the family room neat and organized because so many people spend time there, but keeping it orderly is important when your home is on the market. Get rid of stuff you don’t need, like old toys and games and DVDs you no longer watch, to cut down on the clutter.

Keep Floors and Surfaces Clear 
If you have young kids, they may leave toys, crayons, books and even plates from their snacks on the floor. This isn’t acceptable when guests tour your for-sale home, so be vigilant about keeping the room clean. Buy stylish storage bins for toys and make sure the littles ones put back their playthings when they’re done using them.

Make It Cozy 
Staging the family room couch with some pillows and blankets is an easy and affordable way to add some color and style. It also sends the signal that this room is a great place where everyone in the household gets together to watch the big game on Sunday or during Saturday movie nights.

With your family room looking so inviting, it’s sure to help people realize that your home is the home they want to buy.

Planning to Get a New Credit Card before Buying a House? Think Again...

Applying for a new credit card while looking for a house could hurt your chance of getting a mortgage with a competitive interest rate.

A credit card issuer would check your credit report in a hard inquiry. A new card would lower the average age of your accounts. Both could hurt your credit score.

Even a small drop in your credit score could affect your interest rate and add thousands to the overall cost of the loan. The mortgage lender could deny your application altogether.

Apply for a new credit card at least three to six months before applying for a mortgage or, ideally, after you close on a house.

1780 Langholm Way, Folsom, CA 95630

Located on the 7th green of the prestigious Empire Ranch Golf Course, this elegant residence was built by Lennar in 2003. Offering 2,942 square feet, the 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom residence showcases tall ceilings in the open and bright great room. Step into the dramatic foyer that overlooks the formal living and dining room with stunning chandeliers. The gourmet kitchen amenities include double ovens, an island, a built-in desk area, and a pantry closet. The family room is spacious and inviting, boasting a cozy fireplace and double doors that lead to the private backyard. The main level bedroom is ideal for guests; it is situated at the front of the home near the full bathroom and features a large walk-in closet. Upstairs, the master suite presents two walk-in closets, a spa-like soaking tub, shower stall, dual sinks, and a seated vanity space. The remaining two bedrooms both feature balconies and are located down the hall near the jack-and-jill bathroom. There is abundant parking with the double and single-car garages.

Entertainers will delight in the resort-style backyard with an expansive patio that overlooks the golf course while the lush greenery keeps the backyard private.

The Renaissance community in Empire Ranch amenities include a private residents-only clubhouse, swimming pool, spa, fitness center, jogging paths, nature preserves, and front yard landscape maintenance.

Listed at $699,995

Seal the Deal With a Letter

After all the house hunting, after applying for a mortgage, and after figuring out how much you want to spend on a house, you know what can make the difference and convince the current owners to accept your bid?

A letter.

That’s right. Even in this age of high-tech, a hand-written letter explaining why you want to live in a home can actually convince people to sell to you as opposed to someone else; even if the other person’s bid is slightly higher. So here’s how to put pen to paper and write a perfect note to the people who are selling the house you want to live in.

Make it Personal 
Tell the current owners a little about yourself. If you’re a young couple starting out, write about how this house is the perfect place for you to start your life together. If you have kids, tell them how much you love the neighborhood and school district. And if you’re a retiree, write about how you look forward to spending special time with your grandchildren there.

Mention the House Itself 
Think about the things in the home that you truly love, the aspects that made you say, “I want this house.” Maybe the kitchen window leads to a beautiful view you want to enjoy as you drink your morning coffee. Or perhaps there’s a swing set or pool you picture your kids playing in. If the home has a beautiful garden, tell them you look forward to keeping it beautiful and thriving, they’ll appreciate knowing that their years of hard work will be built upon.

Praise the Neighborhood 
While looking for your dream home, you’ve done your research into the neighborhood. Tell the current owners how much you love their town and mention specific parks, shops, or attractions. Perhaps they suggested a restaurant to you. If you went there, tell them how much you liked it and look forward to enjoying many meals there.

Most importantly, be sincere. The more honest and heartfelt your letter is, the more effective it will be.

3 Reasons to Update BEFORE Selling