"I'd like to thank my clients for taking the time to cast a vote in my name in this extremely competitive category and congratulations to all of my fellow winning business men and women here in town."
"As 2009 President of the Petaluma Chapter of Realtors, I'm proud to work with such an extraordinary group of outstanding colleagues," says Timo.
Long, gated driveway is ideal for tricycle toting tots to ball playing teens or empty nesting individuals seeking privacy in a pleasant Petaluma neighborhood.
Porching is all the rage again these days as we take time to savor our surrounds, kick back with a book and a glass of wine, host the neighbors without having to open up the house or hang out with the kids on a summer's evening. Come on in and take a tour!
"Keep Your Home, Know Your Loan" is the catchy name of a great new campaign launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The department is launching the campaign to be of help to customers who are in the preliminary stages of financial crisis and to combat the unprecedented volume of "pay to play" loan modification scams emerging in this current credit crunch.
Concerned loan consumers should call HUD's toll-free counseling hot line right away at 877-HUD-1515 to arrange a free, face-to-face meeting with a counselor nearby.
Despite the establishment of last September's California State Law SB 1137, in which lenders have been blocked from starting foreclosure proceedings until 30 days after contacting or reasonably attempting to contact the borrower, thousands and thousands of people are still trying to figure out how to obtain the financial relief they need to keep hold of their homes.
"Although not every lender is willing to negotiate a recasting deal, many are prepared to make mortgage modifications as the existing lender for reduced payments recalculated on the original interest rate with a new maturity date," says Timo. To find out more about these tax obligations see www.irs.gov.
"Otherwise, homeowners who are struggling may be looking at a short sale, or a payoff coming in at a lower amount than what was originally negotiated on the loan. This option avoids foreclosure, but here in California, it most likely will trigger off additional tax obligations on debt forgiveness, which is seen as a taxable income."
The final option for distressed homeowners is Foreclosure, the ultimate loss of homeowner rights so that the bank may sell the property to cover the debt. This can also lead to tax obligations, is detrimental to credit rating and can impact your ability to rent or purchase another property.
"Anyone considering foreclosure should take the time to consult with an experienced accountant and/or tax attorney," says Timo. "To avoid finding yourself in this position, start the ball rolling by calling the HUD hotline at the first sign of financial distress."
Flashback to 1986 and Timo was living life in his hectic late twenties in the fast-paced London music business as manager of chart-topping British boy band Curiosity Killed the Cat.
A chance encounter with king of pop art, Andy Warhol's artistic entourage led to Timo and the band hopping on a plane and flying over to New York to film Curiosity's new single, Misfit, in a music video at the famed Factory.
It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that could be put down to boundless, youthful tenacity and being in the right place at the right time. For Warhol, this was his last music video production before he passed on to the great and unlimited canvas above.
Amongst a handful of signed memorabilia from this brief time at the Factory, Timo held on to a Warhol signed, folded ten pound note, tucked into his wallet for almost two decades. He finally agreed to let me frame it and hang it in the downstairs loo after admitting the secret content of his wallet to a Warhol art collector!
Not one to dwell too much on the past, and partly because life took him on a far different course from the music world of the eighties, a visit to the new Warhol Live exhibit at the stunning De Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park was more out of curiosity to see if the band of the same name had, in fact, made a mark within the great display of Warhol's work within the music industry.
The exhibition is striking in that Warhol's legacy is every bit as astonishing today as it was in the mid to latter decades of the last century. And if you hurry on down to the De Young before April 5, you can also catch the equally gorgeous sight of the extraordinary gowns of the late and great Yves Saint Laurent.
The De Young is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Fridays until 8:45 p.m. Add a $10 special exhibition fee (good for both the Warhol & Yves Saint Laurent shows) to the following admission prices: Adults $10, Seniors 65 and over $7, Youths 13-17 $6, College Students with ID $6, Children 12 and under FREE. Admission tickets to the de Young may be used on the same day for free entrance to the Legion of Honor. First Tuesday of each month is FREE. Though special exhibition fees still apply.
In the hopes of revitalizing the housing industry, the US Senate has voted to give a tax break of up to $15,000 for homebuyers. The tax break was approved without dissent, reaching across party lines to kick start the economy and provide additional relief for homebuyers receiving credit for 10% of their homes value, up to a $15,000 limit.
This doubles the current credit, which has been available only to first-time buyers and it will be extended to everyone. Thinking of taking the plunge into the Petaluma housing market, there's no time like the present if you have sufficient funds to make the move. Email timo at timo@timorivetti.com to talk about how this new homebuyer tax cut can help you afford your move in 2009.
During the late 1800s and early 1990s Petaluma's leading builders mingled elaborate Victorian ideas with colonial building practices, creating an elegant, though understated style known as Colonial Revival. Typically painted white with dark green or black shutters, Colonial Revival homes were and still are, widely sought after for their graceful symmetry and elegant center entry hall.
The opportunity to own a piece of Petaluma's history with this turn-key, fully restored heritage Colonial home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for lovers of fine architecture and gracious living.
Not on the market until Wednesday, February 11th, this large and extraordinarily lovely home awaits a discerning buyer. For more info email timo@timorivetti.com.
Built in 1900 for the Behren Family at a cost $2,500, the state of the art home had an original unpainted wooden exterior. Back in those days, Petaluma was the nation's largest shipping point for dairy produce and a bustling agricultural community would have held the Sixth Street address as one of the most prestigious in town. Although commerce, industry and agricultural practices have altered dramatically over the past century and the city's population has grown tenfold, one thing is for sure, the Behren home is every bit as beautiful today in its premier heritage home district position as it was back in the day!
There's no time like the present and no time to be wasting on checking out the current crop of newly released real estate deals hitting the Southern Sonoma County Market this Spring.
As 2009 President of the Petaluma Chapter of Realtors, Timo considers himself in the hot seat for scoping out the market. "There are some tremendous opportunities out there in West and East Petaluma, this Spring," says Timo, who also has a finger on the pulse of Petaluma country properties, commercial real estate, plus Penngrove, Cotati and Rohnert Park deals of the decade.
To discuss all of your real estate needs, call Timo at 707 769 4272 today or email timo@timorivetti.com.
"Check back for several exciting new listings set to hit the market by mid-February," says Timo.
Average rates on 30-year fixed mortgages dropped to a record 5.01% this week, down from last week's record of 5.1%.
The average rate on a 15-year fixed is currently 4.62%, which is the lowest rate recorded since summer 2003.
Although these rates do not include add-on fees known as points, it's undeniably an attractive time in mortgage history to make a move if you have the means. To take advantage of these rates today, call Timo at 707 769 4272.
Not often that dream addresses come on the market along Petaluma's historic, tree-lined D Street, home to the riverfront city's most quintessentially classic heritage homes.
But here it is, the gorgeous, graceful, picture-book Victorian home of many a dream, complete with separate carriage house as fully-equipped second unit or splendid home office.
815 D Street, Petaluma quietly boasts a beautiful English garden, enchanting veranda, classic window seat, fireplace, fine lines of original woodwork and a refreshingly simple decor. Check it out on-line today for a virtual tour.
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Team Rivetti said:
Oh, thanks Ettamarie, I'd be more than happy to replace the photo if you have a good one of a... read more
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[this is good]Next time you need a photo of a bee let me know. You posted a bumble bee and referred to... read more
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Are you kidding me. Who is pushing this,maybe the federal government,the same people who wanted everyone to own a house.... read more
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