When looking for Napa Homes for Sale, one of the most important things you should consider is the condition of the home. If you know what to look for you will avoid the temptation of falling in love with a home without taking into consideration the home’s condition.

Here are some things to consider.

What is the overall condition as you first walk around the home? Does it show pride of ownership? Is it clean and doe it appear to be in good condition. Is the yard in good condition? If you start noticing problems right away that is often an indication that there are many more problems you’ll discover when you make a more thorough inspection.

What is the overall condition of the interior? Does it seem to be well kept and clean? If not, this could mean there are many problems that are hidden that could cause you problems later.

What is the overall condition of the paint? Is it peeling or cracked, are there any signs of bubbling, or signs of mildew or mold. Most peeling or cracking can be fixed with a coat of paint, but mildew or mold can be assigned a bigger problems.

Be sure to let your real estate professional know whether you are looking for a fixer-upper or a home in move-in condition so they can show you homes that meet your criteria. Of course no matter how much you trust your agent; you should always have a professional home inspector do a thorough inspection to avoid any hidden surprises.

The number of Napa Homes for Sale dropped almost 25% in the second quarter of 2011 compared with 2010. Although it’s too soon to tell this may mean the the market has finally bottomed out. But with stock market and other signs that the economy is weak it’s difficult to see the 3rd quarter Napa Real Estate Market being very strong.

There are still a number of distressed Napa Homes for Sale that are holding prices down.

There are a lot of potential buyers who are looking for Napa Real Estate who are attracted by low interest rates and low prices, but many are still holding back because they are uncertain about the economy and where prices will go.

Napa real estate numbers for November 2010 show a 30% increase in the number of Napa Homes for Sale, compared with one year ago. The number of homes that were sold increased only slightly with the median price of Napa homes dropping substantially to around $320,000.

Overall California real estate struggles with the national trend showing an increase in home sales in November 2010 with California showing a decrease.

There is optimism that 2011 will be a year of recovery for the Napa real estate market.

The Napa Planning commission endorsed a new 18 home subdivision proposed by Napa Real Estate broker, Randy Gularte of Heritage Southeby’s International Realty. The proposed subdivision is called Mayacamas Vista Estates and is located on 7 acres.

The number of proposed subdivisions have dropped to a trickle during the current economic slowdown. This possible subdivision could be a sign of more optimism about the future Napa real estate market.

There is some opposition to the project by residents who live in the vicinity. Next the project will sent to the Napa City Council where they will consider the project.

30-year fixed mortgages moved up slightly this week to an average of 4.24 percent, but the rates remain lower than we’ve seen since the early 1970’s. 15-year fixed loans fell to 3.63 percent this week from 3.66 percent a week earlier.

Rates have been at or near historic lows since April. These low rates continue to make it very attractive to purchase Napa Real Estate before interest rates rise as the economy still struggles to picks up steam.

According to a recent article in the Napa Register, both home prices and home sales rose slightly. This is contrary to most Bay Area home homes sales that decreased 10% in August compared to last year.

Although the increase slight local real estate professionals are hoping this is sign of more improvement and there will also be an increase in Napa Homes for Sale.

MDA DataQuick, reports between August 2010 and August, 2009, the number of Napa County homes sales increased from 120 to 121, while the median price increased from $350,000 to $354,000.

Despite national news stories about a surge in foreclosures of wineries and vineyards, Napa wine leaders think it doesn’t give the true picture.

 Bloomberg News reported that there will be as many as 10 wineries and vineyards in the Napa that will be sold because of foreclosure or distressed sales in 2010 and possibly next year.

 According to a recent article in the Napa Valley Register local leaders say that loans are still being made, the industry is on the upturn and there are many good indicators such as stable grape prices. They also say that considering there are more than 500 wineries and 1,000 vineyard properties the number in distress is a quite small.

Earlier this year The Napa Register held an economic summit. Although there were some positive signs, most agreed that overall conditions were worse since the previous one summit held approx 6 months earlier. Attendees included local business people, real estate agents, lenders and others in the wine industry.

In summary the wine industry ended 2009 on a positive note. However other news was not as positive. The number of Napa Homes for Sale show the Napa Real Estate market is still soft. Foreclosures and falling home prices have spread through middle class neighborhoods. New home construction is at a stand still.  Since lenders are still reluctant to lend, there most likely will not be a significant improvement this year.  

Although most attending agree that the worst is probably behind, no one looks for a quick recovery.

You can read more about the Napa Economic Summit.

If you are looking for a Napa Home for Sale, contact one of the local Napa Real Estate Experts who help sponsor this website.

When looking for homes for sale in Napa, it’s important to due your due diligence.  The condition of the home is one of the most factors in your decision. Purchasing a home with hidden problems can quickly turn your dream into a nightmare. Although getting a professional inspection is a must before you buy your home, there are still a number of things you can look at yourself even if you just know some basics.  

However there are still a number of places inside the home that you should check yourself before hiring an inspector. This will help you eliminate homes with obvious problems so you can save the official inspection for the best properties. 

Here are a few things to look for.

What is the overall condition of the interior? Does it seem to be well kept and clean? If not, this could mean there are many problems that are hidden that could cause you problems later.   

What is the overall condition of the paint? Is it peeling or cracked, are there any signs of bubbling, or signs of mildew or mold. Most peeling or cracking can be fixed with a coat of paint, but mildew or mold can be assigned a bigger problems.

Examine ceilings and walls for sagging, bulges, or stains. Excessive mildew can be a sign of a leak or poor ventilation. Look at the floor. Is the carpet in good shape? Does it look like it needs to be cleaned? Are there areas that have been patched? If the home has hardwood floors, check for scratches and grooves in the wood. Are there squeaks or sagging when you walk on it?

Test the light switches and power outlets. Check to make sure they all work and that none of the switches or outlets are loose. Although these are easy to replace, any problems could indicate problems with the wiring which can be very costly.

Inspect the plumbing by turning on all faucets to test the pressure and hot water. Flush toilets and make sure they are flushing properly.  Look under sinks and around faucets and bathtubs for any signs of leaks or water damage. Examine the base of faucets, bathtubs and under sinks for signs of water damage.

There are a great number of homes for sale in Napa. Although this quick inspection isn’t meant to replace an official inspection, it can save you money by helping you find obvious problems which will give you a much better idea of the condition of any home you are looking at before you call in the experts.