WHO YOU WORK WITH MATTERS

OPEN EL DORADO COUNTY

Let Us Find Your Happy Place

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 Northern 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 us than a Meritage blend of real estate expertise, professional service, creativity, and a passion for achieving your goals. 

OPEN HOUSE

OPEN HOUSE
Full Online Directory Of All Open Homes

Everyday open homes come on and off the market. It’s not just weekends. We have an exclusive online list fo all the homes open. This directory includes dates, times, photos and complete property details. The directory is updated 24/7 live all the time so you are sure to gain the most accurate directory of all the open homes. Use the links above to find your next dream home. IT COULD BE OPEN TODAY!

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Connecting with thousands of real estate practitioners around the globe affords us lots of off-market opportunities. There is no fee to become and insider. Just use the form to the right and sign up. 

Community

Explore The Many Communities We Serve

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: country settings and small-town communities; enthralling agricultural beauty, and true farm to fork lifestyle, If Sacramento and the Tri-County are your real estate destination, you’ve arrived at the right spot. 

Why The Baltar Group

PERSONAL

ATTENTION

Buying a home is probably one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make in your lifetime. Having a Realtor® you feel comfortable with by your side, from the start of your home search to closing day, will make the process so much easier. When you choose one of us as your Buyer Broker, our sole purpose is to look out for your best interest. Instead of hearing what you want in a house,  we will listen to what you need in order to make a house your home. Making your dream a reality is what we do.

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: country settings and small-town communities; enthralling agricultural beauty, and true farm to fork lifestyle, If Sacramento and the Tri-County are your real estate destination, you’ve arrived at the right spot. 

BG Logo in blue square (1)

WHO YOU WORK WITH MATTERS

Happy Client's

LET US TELL YOUR STORY...

Every home has a unique story and The Baltar Group would love to tell yours. We understand real estate in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Granite Bay and have the numbers to prove it. Our primary objective in partnering with you — achieve the highest net proceeds as quickly as possible. We expect that you are asking, “Why The Baltar Group?” And here are some relevant answers.

We exceed the competition and achieve the most for you, our future client. And we deliver groundbreaking marketing that demands more than market mediocrity. Welcome to our online home, take a scroll. Relationships are about connecting. Please feel free to explore our unique selling proposal, and meet our talented team.

francie bishop
October 26, 2022
The Baltar Group was extremely professional and helpful. I never have bought or sold a home and had no clue on what steps to take to help my mom sell her house. Dawn and her team made the whole experience seem effortless and easy. Also, they staged the house beautifully, and I felt it really helped the success of the sale. We received several great offers, and she did a great job explaining each one. Dawn worked magic, and she made it seem like we breezed through all the inspections. She constantly kept me well informed every step of the way. Dawn is excellent negotiator and made sure we received top dollar for the house. I highly recommend the Baltar Group for your real estate needs.
Kee Sup Kim
October 19, 2022
• Advantages ○ Great marketing, network, open houses ○ Great team, works like a clockwork ○ Exquisite People management • Results ○ Sold in 1 month § First offer in 2 weeks, sold in 1 month, § 15% higher than what I think are comparable home A similar house on the block sitting for 90 days and counting ○ Made the home close despite BoA: Saved us from 2 week delay in closing • How they compare ○ As best as they come, in any field ○ If everyone else is five stars, she deserves 7 stars Details Marketing, network & open houses We met Dawn & the team (Jill and Ciera) at the open house for the home that we recently purchased. The home popped up on top of our search and the house on the website appeared 1.5X bigger than it really is. She has extensive talented network and they can fix anything that goes wrong promptly. Fixing pool pumps, taking out trash, staging home, everything was done well and promptly. They held open houses almost every weekend and followed up with the leads diligently. Team, Clockwork After we moved out of our house on Monday, the cleaning crew came that night to start cleaning, the staging crew came the day after, photographer came on Wednesday and we were on the market on Thursday and had realtors open house on Friday and Open house on Saturday & Sunday of that weekend. Our house looked better than model houses. The traffic on our website appears to be about 3X higher than neighboring homes on the same street. Exquisite People Management Dawn really knows how to manage people. Not just her crew but her customers (both sellers and buyers) and other stakeholders. When there were questions, she was prompt in response and knew when phone calls are needed and when texting is enough. Every encounter I had with her and her team re-assured me that we made the right decision in hiring her team. Results Feds were raising interest rates and the housing market was cooling rapidly. We felt that we really need to move fast before the market really goes south. Dawn and her team really moved fast and we got our first offer in 2 weeks. That offer didn't go through but we had two more offers after slight price adjustment. In the end, I feel that we got about 15% higher than comparable homes in the neighborhood. We have a similar home on our street sitting on the market for 90 days and they have lowered their asking price by 200K over that period. The week before closing, I made the mistake of closing the home equity line of credit account. BoA said everything will close in 3 days. The account closed in 2 days but it took them 2 weeks to send me the letter that says the account is closed. Without the letter, title company wouldn't issue title insurance. It could have delayed the closing for 2 weeks but Dawn was able to do her magic and have the title insurance issued and we closed without the 2 week delay. How They Compare In my day job, I was in charge of closing some big business deals for few years. Many of the deals were in 9 figures and the biggest one was in 10 figures. I have seen some great presenters and marketing/sales teams. Dawn's team would fit right in this league. We had a few realtor interviews lined up and Dawn's team was the first to present. 10 minutes into the presentation, I felt that we can't do any better than Dawn's team. I canceled subsequent interviews and hired her team the same day. Coming from a country where realtor commission is 1% of the sale, I always thought realtor commissions are too high in US. Dawn's team earned every last bit and deserves bonus. They are couple of classes above the others, fully deserve 7 stars.
Bob Last
July 15, 2022
Fantastic experience from start to finish!!! Dawn and her team were very motivated and dedicated to the sale of our house, providing detail on the process. Marketing was exceptional and she negotiated an amazing price. Then, with our subsequent search, she was attentive to our needs and provided opinion rather than simply being a 'yes' person. Dawn's team took the time to listen to us and we felt part of a team. Cannot recommend more......
Kacie Young
June 13, 2022
Best Realtors! This was my first time buying a home and Dawn & Andy made the experience seamless. They tracked down homes we loved, showed up to every open house with us, had great relationships with selling Realtors. They were always encouraging, always had a great attitude, would keep constant communication and walked me thru the process with ease. These ladies are true professionals with spunk! I adore them! Thank you for finding our dream home!
Cristine Williams
December 19, 2021
The Ballard Group was such a pleasure to work with. Ande was responsive to all are questions and needs . Dawn has such a great team. There was no way I felt I could get this done without having such a power team to help us though the selling process. Definitely no sell to small or large this team can do it all. I would highly recommend them as your realtor behind you.
Tim Geriak
May 21, 2021
Dawn and her team were extremely responsive and able to meet a very tight timeline to close on our new home. They were professional and super friendly to work with as well! Having bought and sold many homes over the past 25 years, we've never had a better real estate experience than we have had with Dawn. The next time we buy or sell a home, she will be the first person we contact. THANK YOU DAWN!
Cindy Peart
November 18, 2020
We recently purchased and sold a home with Dawn. It was a whirlwind 30 days and Dawn helped us through every step! She not only was there for us every single day, available anytime for any questions or concerns, but she has an amazing Team and network that helped us with repairs and other services. She made us feel like we were her only clients! Dawn is the perfect blend of professionalism and down to earth. We would recommend Dawn without hesitation!
Brian Cyphert
November 5, 2020
Dawn Baltar and her team did a fantastic job throughout our entire selling experience. Our family had already relocated out of state but Dawn made sure every "i" was dotted and "t" was crossed on all of the items we needed to complete to get the house sold. She did an excellent job of staging and advertising the property and she hosted 32 showings in one weekend, resulting in offers over the asking price. She continued to work closely with all inspectors, contractors and the buyer's agent to ensure we met every milestone and deadline, enabling us to close in under 30 days. Throughout the entire process she proactively kept us up to date and apprised of every detail and situation. I cannot adequately express how delighted we were with the whole experience. Dawn and her team have our highest possible recommendation.

Buyer Resources

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 first recommended to 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 Trans Union. We will be happy to recommend experienced, knowledgeable lenders in the residential, construction, and 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 making 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, which 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 manor.

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.

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.

BG Buyers Page - Market Reports

MARKETING TRENDS

& REPORTS

The real estate market can quickly change, as evidenced over the past few years. Home values, inventory, mortgage rates, and other factors all have an effect. We will help explain the current market and how it affects you as a customer as you search for a property. To request a local market report for your neighborhood or one you are interested in click the link below

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