Sebastopol Community

WELCOME TO SEBASTOPOL, CA

Just 15 minutes west of Santa Rosa, the large town of Sebastopol is situated in Central Sonoma County. The liberal and laid-back community was originally an orchard town, planted with groves of apples and plums when the region was settled in the 1800's. Today, Sebastopol is primarily a grape-growing region, although the original claim to fame, the Gravenstein apple, can still be found in town and is still celebrated with an annual Gravenstein Apple Fair. The new wineries, tasting rooms, and restaurants in the area have made Sebastopol into the sophisticated wine country destination that it is today.

Founded by hippies during the 1960's, a sign declaring Sebastopol a "Nuclear Free Zone" still stands downtown. Although there are new tasting rooms and farm-to-table eateries opening up in town, the area is still home to quirky shops and multiple vintage clothing stores. For visitors looking to enjoy the wilds of the region, the 254 square miles of freshwater wetlands in the Laguna Wetlands Preserve offer hiking trails and ample birdwatching opportunity.

Looking for a spot to taste some good wines? Be sure to stop for a flight of the small-batch MacPhail Family Wines poured at the MacPhail Tasting Loungeat the Barlow. Then explore the natural beauty of Ragle Ranch Regional Park, a park covering 157 acres and offering hiking trails, equestrian trails, and picnic areas.

Sebastopol is a city in Sonoma County, in California. The population was 7,379 at the 2010 U.S. Census, but its businesses also serve surrounding rural portions of Sonoma County, a region known as West County, which has a population of up to 50,000 residents.

It is about a 20-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean, between Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay, and is known for its liberal politics and small-town charm. It was once primarily a plum- and apple-growing region; wine grapes, however, are now predominant, and nearly all lands once used for orchards are now vineyards. World-famous horticulturist Luther Burbank had gardens in this fertile region. The city hosts an annual Apple Blossom Festival and Gravenstein Apple Fair.

I see home as more than a house, so I approach real estate as more than a transaction. It's how I build relationships - by making people feel happy and confident about the biggest investment of their lives. This is more than my profession; it's my passion because my family never forgets how much home truly means to you and your family. So when you're ready for your next moment or your next adventure, call me, Michael Schmidt. I'll help you get there.

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE ↴

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OUR BUYING PROCESS

✓ DECIDING TO BUY

Purchasing a property is most likely the biggest financial decision you will ever make. Whether this is your first purchase or you are an experienced buyer, this decision must be made carefully.

Why Do You Want To Buy?

Are you tired of paying rent? Have you decided to pay your own mortgage and not your landlord's? Have you outgrown your current home? Are you looking for an investment portfolio? Are you looking for a rental property? Would you like a larger yard? Would you rather live in a different area? Do you want to shorten your commute? Having a clear sense of your reasons for buying will help you choose the right property.

Has Your Income Grown?

Property ownership is an excellent investment; whether you are looking for your dream home, a rental property, or to expand your investment portfolio. Owning real estate is one of the least risky ways to build equity or to obtain a greater return on your initial investment.

✓ PREPARING TO BUY

Before you start shopping for your property, it is a good idea to make some preparations.

Build Your Green File

A green file contains all your important financial documents. You will need it to secure financing for your property. The typical green file should contain:

✓ Financial statements

✓ Bank accounts

✓ Investments

✓ Credit cards

✓ Auto loans

✓ Recent pay stubs

✓ Tax returns for two years

✓ Copies of leases for investment properties

✓ 401K statements, life insurance, stocks, bonds, and mutual account information.

Check Your Credit Rating

Your credit score will have a huge impact on what type of property you can buy, and at what price. It is recommended to first check your credit rating with an experienced lending institution so that we can determine what you can afford. The lender will research your credit ratings from the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. We will be happy to recommend experienced, knowledgeable lenders in the residential, construction, commercial and investment real estate fields.

Be Careful With Your Finances

Now is not a good time to make sudden career changes or large purchases. You want to approach your property purchase from a position of financial stability.

✓ CHOOSE A REAL ESTATE AGENT

Buying a property requires many important financial decisions, understanding complex issues and completing a lot of paperwork. It helps to have an expert in your corner when undertaking such a large purchase. We can guide you through this process, and also provide you with access to property listings before they hit the general market.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing your real estate professional:

- Look for a full-time agent - one who has experience completing transactions similar to yours.

- Interview a few agents: Are they familiar with the area in which you are interested?

- Ask how much time the agent will have for you, and if they are available at night and on weekends.

- Ask about their credentials and education: A good agent will continually strive to improve and gain knowledge of the latest real estate trends and hold the highest designations in their respective fields of expertise.

- Does the agent return your calls promptly? Time is money when attempting to buy a property.

- Ask for a list of properties they have sold or a list of references.

- Choose an agent who listens attentively to your needs and concerns. Pick an agent, with whom you feel comfortable.

✓ TIME TO GO SHOPPING

Once those preparations are out of the way, it is time to find the right property for you.

Take a Drive

Get to know the neighborhoods, complexes, or subdivisions that interest you. Drive around and get a feel for what it would be like to own a property in the area. Start getting a sense of the properties available in those areas.

Narrow Your Search

Select a few properties that interest you the most and have your real estate agent make appointments to visit them. Ask your real estate agent about the potential long term resale value of the properties you are considering.

Time to Buy

Once you have picked out the property you want to purchase, your real estate agent can help you make an offer that the seller will accept. A good agent will investigate the potential costs and expenses associated with the new property. An agent can also help you draft your offer in a way that gives you the advantage over another offer.

✓ ESCROW INSPECTIONS & APPRAISALS

The Process, Step-by-Step

The Initial Agreement and Deposit

An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property's seller.

Some important tips to keep in mind to streamline the process:

- Keep written records of everything. For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements including counter-offers and addendums and to convert them into written agreements to be signed by both parties. We will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your purchase and make sure that you have copies of everything.

- Stick to the schedule. Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the seller will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations so that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the process we will keep you constantly updated, so you will always be prepared for the next step.

The Closing Agent

Either a title company or an attorney will be selected as a closing agent. The closing agent will hold the deposit in escrow and will research the complete recorded history of the property to ensure that the title is free and clear of encumbrances by the date of closing and that all new encumbrances are properly added to the title. Some properties are subject to restrictions which limit various activities such as building or parking restrictions. There may be recorded easements and encroachments, which limit the rights to use your property.

How to Hold Title

You may wish to consult an attorney or tax advisor on the best way to hold title. Different methods of holding title have different legal, estate and tax implications, especially when selling or upon death of the title holder.

Inspections

Once your offer is accepted by the seller, you will need to have a licensed property inspector inspect the property within the time frame that was agreed upon in the effective contract to purchase. You may elect to have different inspectors inspect the property, if you wish to obtain professional opinions from inspectors who specialize in a specific area (eg. roof, HVAC, structure). If you are purchasing a commercial property, then you will need to have an environmental audit done on the site for the lending institution. We can recommend several different inspectors.

Depending on the outcome of these inspections, one of two things may happen:

1. Either each milestone is successfully closed and the contingencies will be removed, bringing you one step closer to the close, or

2. The buyer, after reviewing the property and the papers, requests a renegotiation of the terms of contract (usually the price).

Appraisal and Lending

It is imperative that you keep in close communication with your lender, who will let you know when additional documents are needed to approve your loan application and fund your loan. If the agreement is conditional upon financing, then the property will be appraised by a licensed appraiser to determine the value for the lending institution, via a third party. This is done so that the lending institution can confirm their investment in your property is accurate. Appraisers are specialists in determining the value of properties, based on a combination of square footage measurements, building costs, recent sales of comparable properties, operating income, etc. When you are within two weeks of closing, double check with your lender to be sure the loan will go through smoothly and on time.

Association Approval

If the property that you are purchasing is conditional upon an association approval, request the rules, regulations, and other important documents from the seller as soon as you have an effective agreement to purchase. Make sure that the application documents and processing fees are submitted to the appropriate person at the association by the required time. Fill out all of the information completely and legibly so there is no delay in processing the application. If you are required to meet with the association for your approval, make an appointment as soon as possible for the interview. Most associations require a certificate of approval before move-in. Your closing agent will request that the original copy of this approval letter be brought to the closing, so that it can be recorded with the deed in the county public records.

Property Insurance

If you are obtaining a loan, you will be required by your lender to purchase a certain amount of insurance on the property. The value will depend on the lending institution and the purchase price of the property. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars a year on homeowners insurance by shopping around for insurance. You can also save money with these tips.

- Consider a higher deductible. Increasing your deductible by just a few hundred dollars can make a big difference in your premium.

- Ask your insurance agent about discounts. You may be able get a lower premium if your home has safety features such as dead-bolt locks, smoke detectors, an alarm system, storm shutters or fire-retardant roofing materials. Persons over 55 years of age or long-term customers may also be offered discounts.

- Insure your house NOT the land under it. After a disaster, the land is still there. If you do not subtract the value of the land when deciding how much homeowner's insurance to buy, you will pay more than you should.

We will be happy to recommend experienced knowledgeable insurance agents for every property type.

✓ MOVING IN

Closing Day

If you have come this far, then this means that it is almost time for a congratulations, but not yet. Do not forget to tie up these loose ends:

Final Walk-Through Inspection

More of a formality than anything else, the final inspection takes place a day before, or the day of the closing. You will visit the property to verify that all is in working order, everything is the same as when you last viewed the property, that there are no extra items left behind, and that everything included in your purchase is still at the property.

Home Services and Utilities

We will provide a list of useful numbers for the activation of home services and utilities after the closing occurs.

Be Prepared

We are ready to assist you should an unforeseen glitch pop up, even at this last stage. Something at the property breaks down, or some other minor detail - no need to worry. We have encountered these problems before so we know how to handle them efficiently and in a stress-free manner.

Closing

The closing agent will furnish all parties involved with a settlement statement, which summarizes and details the financial transactions enacted in the process. You and the seller(s) will sign this statement, as well as the closing agent, certifying its accuracy. If you are obtaining financing, you will have to sign all pertinent documentation required by the lending institution. If you are unable to attend the scheduled closing, arrangements can be made depending on the circumstances and the notice that we receive. If you are bringing funds to the transaction, you can elect to either have the funds wired electronically into the closing agent's escrow account, or bring a certified bank check to the closing in the amount specified on the settlement statement. The seller should arrange to have all property keys and any other important information for you at the closing so that you may receive these items at this time.

I believe my business has a responsibility to serve, connect, grow and protect the communities I operate in.

If you live here already, you know how blessed we are. If you’re considering living or investing here, you’ve probably experienced some of the area’s extraordinary possibilities: City living with country settings and small-town communities; enthralling agricultural beauty, and true farm to fork lifestyle, If Sonoma County, California is your real estate destination, you’ve arrived at the right spot. Whether you’re looking to buy your first home – or to sell an estate – expect nothing less from me than a Meritage blend of real estate expertise, professional service, creativity, and a passion for achieving your goals.

Michael is a responsive, knowledgeable agent that has expertise in all aspects of the real estate business. I’ve done both personal and business purchases with Michael and have been very happy with results. Highly recommended!

-Matthew Hamilton

Michael is outstanding. He handle the sale of our house and the buying of our new property and we couldn't have been happier with the whole process. The property we were buying was a complicated transaction and he was right there with us the whole way. His knowledge of land use laws and ability to get us in touch with all the right people was so helpful. I will continue to recommend Michael to all my friends and family!!

--Daniel and Lori Stewart

I have been fortunate to work with Michael on multiple transactions over the past several years as both a buyer and seller. Michael is everything you would hope for in a realtor- always reliable, diligent, trustworthy, communicative, and truly an expert in the field. Michael has consistently gone above and beyond to make the sometimes complex and tricky world of real estate smooth sailing. His added expertise as a contractor, has also been reassuring in navigating decision making and negotiations. His strong connections to the community and local contractors, have come in handy on multiple occasions for repairs and improvements. If you are on the hunt for a realtor, look no further!

-Bethany Longsman