The Termite Report
One of the inspections you will most likely get when purchasing a home is a Termite Report. Also called a Wood Destroying Pests and Organisms Report. This report is designed to tell you if the home you are about to purchase has termites or other pests; such as beetles; that may damage the structure.
What are termites?
Termites are small, ant-like insects that feed off of the cellulose in wood. These little pests will burrow and tunnel through wood, eating their way through your home. If they go untreated, they can cause complete destruction of the wooden structure. Not good news.
There are different types of termites. Subterranean Termites which live and move in the ground. Any earth to wood contact provides the perfect setting for the termites to make a buffet of your home. There are also Dry Wood Termiteswhich will colonize in non decayed wood which has a very low moisture content. They will obtain entry to the wood, the queen will lay the eggs and the damage begins. There are also Damp-wood Termites and Powder-post Termites but the most common in California are the Subterranean and Dry Wood Termites.
How are they treated?
There are different types of treatment for each of the different types of termites. The treatment will also depend on the seriousness of the infestation. There are both chemical and non chemical treatments for termites. Fumigation is the most common and effective way to eradicate Dry Wood Termites, although 
microwave and heat are also effective as non chemical treatment.
Subterranean Termites are treated with a soil treatment that requires application directly to the soil in, under and around the structure. Often times the soil treatment may only be applied where the infestation is found and not around the entire building. You may want to get clarification on which procedure is being used to treat the Subterranean Termites found in the report.
Understanding the Report
The scope of the termite report is to identify for the client any condition or damage which is related to termite infestation, wood destroying beetle infestation and fungus infection. Fungus infection is also known as Dry Rot and is caused when the moisture content of the wood exceeds 20 or 30%. This creates a 
fungi that feeds off the cells of the wood. Fungiis treated with borates which are injected into the wood. This treatment will kill the fungi, however, it does not add strength to damaged wood. Most often time the Termite Company will recommend replacement of wood infected with Dry Rot.
Any items found with damage will be identified as either Section 1 items or Section 2 items. Section 1 items are any conditions existing from termite damage, water damage, Dry Rot or active termite infestation. Section 2 items are identified to alert the client of a situation that could lead to future 
damage. Most lenders will require any Section 1 item to be corrected prior to the close of escrow. VA loans will require clearance of both Section 1 AND Section 2 items.
Once the problem has been identified as either Section 1 or Section 2, the company that has prepared the report will usually recommend the proper work necessary to remedy the problem right under the item found. The remedies may include fumigation, localized treatment, wood replacement and further inspection.
Once you have received the termite report, be sure and take the time to review and understand the process necessary to correct the problem. If you have any questions, please be sure and speak to your REALTOR® to help you understand the work being performed. Depending upon how the purchase contract has been written will determine who is responsible for paying for what work to be done. Most times the seller will agree to correct Section 1 items and the buyer would then be responsible for any Section 2 items 
they would like corrected. Prior to the work being completed, make sure all parties understand which items are going to be repaired. If you have determined that you would like the Section 2items completed, make sure that is communicated prior to the work being ordered complete.
After the work has been performed, the Termite Company will go back out to the property and inspect the work that has been completed properly and issue a Termite Clearance.
The Termite Report is an important part of your inspection process. Understand the treatments, the necessary repairs and the type of warranty offered after any work has been completed. Your investment is worth it! Get a Termite Report!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Homes For Sale Santee CA ~ Mission View
Mission View is a new home development located on the West end of Santee. 31 homes nestled among 
the hills provide spectacular views while offering beautiful Tuscan and Spanish architectural design. Each of the homes have been have designer selected exterior color schemes with concrete tile roofs.
Mission View offers three different floor plans offer up to 6 bedrooms with square footage from 2630 to 3355. Optional studies, bonus rooms and lofts. 3 bathrooms in each along with a 3 bay garage. Bullnose corners, woodburning fireplace, and gourmet kitchen with Whirlpool Stainless Steel appliances will provide the perfect setting for family gatherings or entertaining. Backyards are fenced with a gas stub and waterproof electrical outlet for your backyard kitchen. RG-6 quad shield cable outlest and CAT5E phone outlets will provide you with technology throughout your new home.
Located just off of Mission Gorge in Santee you will have easy access to both the 52 and 125 freeways for your easy commute. Walk to Mission Trails Regional Park and Carlton Hills Golf Course. Minutes from Santee Towne Center where shopping at Costco, Target, WalMart, Lowes, and Khols will provide you with everything you could need to set up your new home.
Prices of the homes in Mission View start in the low $500,000′s with amazing amenities built in to the base price. Energy Efficient features standard on every home including dual glaed vinyl windows, 75 gallon EE water heater, insulated water circulation system and gas forced-air heating with setback thermostat. There is also optional solar panels available.
If you are looking for homes for sale in Santee, check out Mission View. You will not be disappointed!
Mission View not for you? There are many beautiful homes for sale in Santee. Take a look around Let me make the home of your dreams a reality.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
One of the first steps in the home buying process is chosing a lender and getting prequalified for a motgage loan. The lender will ask you for your family income, the money you have available for a down payment, closing costs and cash after closing. They will review your credit report and any outstanding debts you may have and they will help you determine the amount you can afford for a monthly payment of principal and interest along with taxes, insurance, and possibly mortgage insurance. By determining this upfront, you will be in a better position to chose the home of your dreams.
There are many options to consider when choosing a lender and choosing a loan.
It is important to chose a lender that understands your needs, will listen to your concerns and treat your money as you would. You have worked long and hard to get to this important time in your life and your lender must respect and honor your hard work and dedication in achieving your goals. With the recent turmoil in the housing market, it may seem as though there is no one left, or no one to trust. Not so! So where do you start? I can provide you with many referrals as well may your friends and family. You may also want to consider where you have your checking or savings accounts; which may be a bank or credit union.
There are a few different options you have available to you in the way of financing. There are low down payment loans, no down payment loans and loans that will require you to put money down. Chosing a lender to advise you as to the best loan available for your situation will start you on the road to your new home!
Chosing a lender is an important part of the home buying process. Take a look at my post on The Importance of A Good Lender to help you in making an informed decision. Make the Home of Your Dreams a Reality today! Chosing a lender is good first step!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Down Payment Options. Yes, there are options! Saving money for a down payment may seem like an impossible feat. You have bills to pay, the car breaks down at the most inopportune time, life happens! But I bet there are some options available for a down payment and closing costs that you may not be aware of!
Gift Funds~ Is there a relative that you can ask to help get you into your first home? Lenders will allow gift funds from a relative to cover both a down payment and closing costs! Depending upon the program you choose, all of the down payment and closing costs may be gift funds! The catch is the donor must be relatd. The relative must be able to show the ability to give the gift and the transfer of funds must be documented. You may also receive gift funds from a domestic partner or a non profit like your church. If you are considering getting a gift for down payment and closing costs, be sure and speak to your lender or agent to make sure the transfer is done in a way that will be acceptable to the lender.
Sell your stuff~ You may have items that haven’t been used for a long time like
your wave runner, boat or dirt bike. These items may bring in a decent amount of cash to help pay a down payment. This too will need to be documented correctly. Proof that you owned the item, fair market value of the item and evidence of the sale. Be sure you make copies of the title and bill of sale. Talk to your lender or agent to make sure it is done properly. You may have antiques or high priced items to sell. These are a little trickier to document. Talk about it with a professional prior to selling these types of items to make sure they are able to be documented properly.
401(k)~ Many 401(k) programs will allow you to borrow against them with no penalty in order to purchase a home. Check with your 401(k) holder to find out the requirements.
Pay off Debt~ Maybe you have some debt that if you were not making payments on it would create instant savings for a down payment. The money you would save in interest payments to a credit card is money in your pocket!
Bond/Grant Programs~ There are bond programs available that are set up specifically to assist first time home buyers with down payment and closing cost assistance. Your city may have one available. FHA has a 
program in California called CHF Access that is a second trust deed specifically for down payment and closing costs. There are specific lender requirements for this program, so be sure to speak with your loan officer or agent to find out more.
These are some great options for you if you have been unable to save money for a down payment. Combine any or all of these! Throw in a credit from the seller for closing costs and you are on your way to owning the home of your dreams! Now is a great time to buy a home with interest rates being at all time lows and housing prices at an affordable level. Don’t let a little thing like a down payment stand in the way of your owning your own home! Let’s figure out how to get you there!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
You have found the home of your dreams! You have made an offer, written your deposit check and the 
offer has been accepted! You are on your way to owning your new home! Everyone is telling you the things you need to do, get a loan, get an inspection, find an insurance company….but when buying your home, has anyone told you what NOT to do when buying a home?
Yes, there are things you should NOT do when buying a home!
the lender in order to make this change. It is possible to make this happen while obtaining a loan, but you do not want to make any changes without finding out the ramifications. Even if you think you are days from closing and it won’t make a difference-most lenders verify employment on the day of closing. Don’t jeopardize your new home if you can wait to make the change after you close.Along with the many things you NEED to do while buying your home, don’t forget these things NOT to do while buying your home! You will have plenty of time to get your new furniture and barbecue! Make sure you avoid anything to cause you jeopardize your purchase in any way. If you have any question, make sure and consult with your loan officer or agent!
My mother always told me, patience is a virtue!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
You have come this far, you have determined it is the right time for you to buy a home. As a potential First Time Home Buyer, here is a short list of things to think about while creating the vision of your new dream home:
1) Decide on a community. Determine which neighborhood will best fit your needs for your family, for your commute and for your sanity! As your Agent of Possibility you can come to me for info on local school districts, community resources, affordability and tax liability.
2) What to think about when looking at homes. Is the home big enough for your present and future needs? Does it have enough bedrooms and bathrooms? How is the floor plan? Does your furniture fit? Is the yard big enough for the dog, the kids AND the new pool? Is the home structurally sound? What are the maintenance costs and will there be anything you need to replace in the near future? You may want to keep a list or copies of the MLS listings on the homes you have looked at so you can go back and review your comments about the home.
3) You found your home! How do you make an offer? As your Agent of Possibility you and I will put together an offer. We will discuss what you need to know about an earnest money deposit, the legal description of the property, how much to offer, how long the offer is good for and the proposed move in date. We will determine your financing needs and can also assist you in picking a lender. It is best for you to submit a pre-qualification letter with your offer. You will also need an insurance agent for homeowners insurance. Consider using the agent you have your cars insured through, as many times this will provide discounts for both home and vehicles!
4) Now what? As your Agent of Possibility will help you in the next phases of the transaction. You will want to schedule a home inspection. Please check out my post on the Importance of a Home Inspection. An Inspector is hired to check the safety and soundness of your Dream Home. The inspector will take a look at the plumbing, electrical, heating and air, windows, doors, structure, water heater and roof. They will provide you a report with all of their findings. Be sure and hire an experienced and qualified home inspector. It is a good idea that you are there for the inspection, as you may have questions answered at this time. This may not be a job for Grandpa Joe, unless he is a building inspector! Referrals are available, just ask! There will also be a termite inspection done on the property. This inspection is usually paid for by the seller and provided to the buyer and buyers agent once complete. If there is any work that needs to be completed, your Agent of Possibility will be able to assist you in asking for the repairs to be completed.
5) Loan Processing. Since you received a pre-qualification letter, your lender should have most of the things needed to get your loan approved. The loan officer will work with you and the loan processor to complete the package to submit for approval. The lender will need to order an appraisal on the property; this is not something you need to be present for. Once this is received and all escrow and title documentation has been provided to the lender, they should be able to provide final loan approval! One step closer to closing!
6) The final walk through! Once you have reached this point, you are days away from owning your Dream Home! This step is for you to walk through the home one final time to ensure all is as remembered and that all the appliances or doors have not walked out since your last visit! Be sure and mention any concerns to your Agent of Possibility to have them resolved prior to closing.
7) Signing of documents. Once you have final loan approval, the lender will send the closing documents to the escrow company for your signatures. These documents are important, as they spell out the terms and conditions of your new loan. It is important you read and understand these documents, as you are making a commitment to make payments on a property for 30 years! Your Agent of Possibility will accompany you to the signing, and will be there to answer any questions you may have. Be sure and get copies of all documents you have signed, most importantly the note, deed of trust, truth in lending and HUD I Settlement Statement. If you have any questions or concerns, now is the time to address them!
Closing Day! Once the documents are signed, they are returned to the lender for their review and once the lender has approved the Settlement Statement, verified signatures and confirm the property is insured, they will determine the day they will wire the funds to the title company. The day the money is wired, the Deed of Trust will be sent down to the county recorders office for recording with public record. Most times the document will record the same day, but there are instances that it may be the day following the funds being wired. Once the escrow company has confirmation of recording, they will notify your Agent of Possibility, cut checks to the seller and the keys to your new home are on the way to your key ring!
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF YOUR DREAM HOME! 
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
With all of the external opinions, information and statistics you may wonder when is the right time to buy 
or when is the right time to sell.
Here are a few things to consider when looking to buy or sell a home:
Real Estate news generally tells you two things: market trends and market prices. It does not tell you how the unique circumstances of one person or one family has created a sale, one home at a time.
Let’s break that down.
Where you are in your life may be one of those factors. Financially are you in a position to buy a home today? Or do you need time to save money? Have you been preapproved for a loan? How does a house 
payment fit into the family budget?
Are you in a situation you must sell your home today? Or can you afford to wait? Will you benefit from the sale? Or have circumstances presented themselves where you may not have another option?
Are there personal life changes, where your household is growing due to the addition of kids, pets or elder parents? Perhaps kids are going off to college and it is time to downsize.
A knowledgeable and competent Real Estate Agent will always be able to tell you market trends and market prices, but they can’t tell you where you are financially or what personal life changes that determine your 
needs.
YOU and only YOU will know when it is the right time to buy or sell a home.
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Stephanie Reynolds 
Colleen Mitchell 