Ans.  Keep in mind that in any real estate transaction, everything is negotiable.  That said, the usual costs in Napa are split like this:

Seller Pays:  real estate commission, transfer tax, homeowners dues to close of escrow, property tax to close of escrow, notary fees, repairs required by inspections (according to contract) and Home Warranty Insurance (according to contract), and Natural Hazards Report (according to contract).

Buyer Pays: escrow fee, costs of new loan, title insurance, termite inspection, roof inspection, home inspection, (all according to contract), tax prorations from close of escrow, homeowners insurance.

2.  What are the property taxes like in Napa County?  Are there special tax districts? 
     Do seniors get a special rate?

Ans.  Property taxes are calculated at the rate of $1.10 per $1000 of home value--usually taken to be the sales price of the home, although in some down markets the tax assessor will adjust the value if the overall value of property has declined.

Napa County complies with Prop. 60 of the California code which allows a couple over the age of 55 to apply their original Proposition 13 base year value to their replacement home, so long as the home is still in Napa County.  The tax assessor has an article that explains it here.  There is no other special tax rate for seniors.

3.  Are there special regulations or restrictions on property ownership in Napa Valley?
     What do I need to consider when buying?

 Ans.  The Napa County General plan protects agriculture and agricultural, watershed, and open space lands by maintaining 40- and 160-acre minimum parcel sizes, limiting uses allowed in agricultural areas, and designating agriculture as our primary land use.   In addition, in the county areas there are viewshed and watershed considerations.

As stated in the Planning and Conservation department's website, "Napa County has long been on the forefront of planning for the preservation of agricultural lands and intends to remain in a leadership position with regard to planning for a sustainable future. Napa County has managed to retain its prime vineyard lands in production while vast tracts of farmland in other parts of the Bay Area have been urbanized. The County established the first Agricultural Preserve in California in 1968, and the urban-centered growth (homes and businesses concentrated in incorporated areas to preserve farmland) which has characterized the Napa Valley since well before the turn of the century foreshadowed by decades the “smart growth” movement."

If you are considering property in Napa County, please consult with me regarding your needs.  Because of the various regulations put into place to protect the agricultural base, you need to be aware of these items before placing an offer on any property.

4.  How do I know if I am getting a good deal?

Ans.  One of the primary duties I have as your Realtor® is to ensure that I look out for your fiduciary interest.  Simply put, it is my responsibility to make sure that you have all the information needed to make informed choices for your situation.  When you are buying, I will make sure to show you other, comparable properties within the same price range, and as the situation warrants, I will prepare a CMA (comparative market analysis) on the home you are thinking about buying. 

Most often, there will be many factors to weigh, not only the price of the home.  The condition, location, amenities all will play a part in your decision.

5.  How do I choose which neighborhood to buy in? 

Ans.  The neighborhood you choose depends on many different things, not only just the price.  If you have school-aged children, then proximity to a school may be important.  Nearby shopping, ease of commute, types of homes in the neighborhood and many other factors may influence your choice.

Also, the style of the neighborhood may make a difference to you.  The western Browns Valley subdivisions are substantially different from the Queen Anne and Victorian style homes of downtown Napa.  Silverado Country Club has a mix of architectural styles, but homes in that area tend to be executive style in size and amenities--plus of course, the golf club membership.

6.  Where do I find information I need when I move in--utilities, services,
      my government representatives, etc?

Ans.  Here is a list of the utilities and services for the City of Napa, St. Helena area and American Canyon.

Additional information can be found on the Napa County website, on on the local directory.

7.  With all the financial changes going on, how do I know if I can get a new
     mortgage, and how much is it going to cost me?

Ans.  There is no doubt that right now is an exceptionally challenging time if you are looking to purchase a home.  However, despite all the bad news you may hear on the media, it is not impossible to buy.  As a matter of fact, home mortgage rates are at almost a historic low, so if you have a down payment and a good credit rating, this can be a terrific time to take advantage of the lower prices on homes generally.  When the market comes back up (and it will), you will be in a very good position to take advantage of the price appreciation.

If you do not have a local mortgage broker to work with, please let me know and I can give you several names of people that I have had good experience with in the past.

8.  I need to sell quickly.  What do I do?

Ans.  Here is where you really need to work with an experienced agent.  In my 20+ years of real estate, I have see both great markets and very slow ones.  The most important factor is how well you price your home in relation to the competing homes on the market.  There are also many strategies we can use to make you home appealing, focus the attention of the agent community on it and promote it effectively to move it as soon as possible.

Right now the average days on market are about 107. 

9.  I don't care about selling quickly, but I want my price.  What will you do to help me get it?

Ans.  Sometimes the best strategy is not to enter the market at all--yet!  Given fewer numbers of buyers, and the overall financial environment, you may want to hold off for a bit until things settle down.  On the other hand, if you have a unique property that will support a top price, then we can work together to create a selling strategy to attract the kind of buyers your property deserves.

10.  Isn't this a terrible time to try to sell my property?  What are my options?

Ans.  Again, it depends on your needs and your own situation.  If you have to move, then pricing the property correctly and giving it the benefit of my company's wide exposure in the marketplace will help.  My selling strategies include a mix of broad advertising on the Internet, local ads, promotion to the local Realtor community, open houses, direct mailing and other marketing pieces as dictated by the situation.