Martha Bernauer, Realtor DRE #01273735

Martha Bernauer, Realtor DRE #01273735 Martha specializes in Residential real estate in the Yolo County area of northern California. This is what she does because this is who Martha is.

Martha's parents moved to Davis when she was a toddler from Ch*****ne, Illinois, where she was born. She attended Davis public schools and chose to stay in Davis and raise her own family here. Martha knows that the Davis/Yolo County area is a great place to live, and she loves working in the local real estate market. She takes the needs of her clients very personally; and because she is a hard-working, tenacious, detail-oriented person, she spares no effort to secure the best for the people she represents. One of the reasons Martha enjoys working in real estate is that this profession allows her to serve and help people. Her involvement in volunteering and service organizations began before her real estate career and continues to the present day. For example, for ten years she hosted a fundraising barbecue and b**r garden for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society on Picnic Day in downtown Davis. She is currently the co-president of Friends of the Yolo County Crisis Nursery, and that worthy organization was the recipient of her 2015 Picnic Day fundraiser.

Fall is here and your home just handed you a to-do list. 🍂 Here are the five things I tell every Davis homeowner to chec...
09/24/2026

Fall is here and your home just handed you a to-do list. 🍂 Here are the five things I tell every Davis homeowner to check right now. 💛

I know. The last thing you want to do on a beautiful Fall day in Davis is think about home maintenance. 😄

But here is the thing — The small stuff you handle in October is the expensive stuff you avoid in December. And trust me — a little bit of prevention goes a long way. 💛

Here is your Fall home checklist 👇

🔧 HVAC filter
Change it before you actually need the heat. A clean filter means better air quality, lower energy bills, and a system that is not working harder than it needs to all winter. Takes five minutes. Worth every one of them.

🌿 Gutters
Davis trees are beautiful. 🌳 Their leaves in your gutters? Less so. Clear them out before the first rain hits so water flows the way it is supposed to and not into places it absolutely should not be.

🚪 Weatherstripping
Check the seals around your doors and windows. If you can feel a draft — you are paying for it every single month on your energy bill. An easy fix now saves real money all winter long.

💧 Outdoor faucets
Winterize them before the temperature drops. A frozen pipe is one of those surprises nobody wants to deal with and it is almost entirely preventable. 💛

🔍 Roof
You do not need to get up there. Just take a look from the ground. Missing shingles. Visible wear. Anything that looks different than it did last year. Catching something small now costs a fraction of what it costs to deal with later.

A well maintained home is not just more comfortable to live in. It is worth more when it is time to sell.

Save this post and check it off this weekend. Your future self will thank you. 😊

📩 DM me CHECKLIST for my full Fall Home Maintenance Guide — free and yours instantly.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

09/24/2026

Some real estate advice that made sense once — and really does not anymore. 😊💛

I hear these all the time. And I understand why — some of them used to be true.

But the market has changed 💛

“Wait until spring to buy.” 🌸
Spring means more competition and more buyers fighting over the same homes. Serious buyers who shop in the fall and winter often find better deals with less stress. The perfect home does not wait for a season.

“Always offer below asking.” 💰
In some markets sure. In Davis? A well priced home still generates real interest. Coming in too low without strategy does not save you money — it just loses you the home. 😊

“Never sell in the winter.” ❄️
Winter buyers are serious buyers. They are not casually browsing. They need a home and they are ready to move. Some of the smoothest transactions I have ever been part of happened in December and January. 🔑

“You need 20% down.” 🏦
This one stops so many buyers before they even start. There are loan programs available with significantly less than 20% down. Do not let this number keep you on the sidelines — talk to a lender first. 💛

“Your first offer should always be your strongest.” 📋
Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. It completely depends on the home, the market, the seller’s situation, and about a dozen other factors. This is exactly why strategy matters more than rules. 😊

Here is the truth —

Real estate is not one size fits all. What worked ten years ago does not always apply today. And what works in one market does not always apply in Davis.

📩 DM me or call me — let’s talk about what actually applies to YOUR situation right now.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

Renovate the home you have or find a new one? This is one of my favorite questions to help people think through. 💛And th...
09/23/2026

Renovate the home you have or find a new one? This is one of my favorite questions to help people think through. 💛

And the honest answer is — it depends. 😊

Not on what the market is doing. Not on what your neighbor did. But on YOUR life and where you want it to go from here.

So let me break it down the way I do with my Davis clients 👇

🔨 Renovating might be your answer if:
You love your neighborhood and cannot imagine leaving it. You just need more function, better flow, or a refresh that makes the home actually work for how you live today. The bones are good — it just needs some love. And your budget makes more sense invested here than in a move.

📦 Moving might be your answer if:
The house has simply stopped fitting your life. Maybe you need more space. Maybe you need less. Maybe the commute does not work anymore or the neighborhood no longer feels like the right fit. Sometimes the most honest thing I can tell a client is — this home served you well and it is time for the next one. 💛

Neither answer is right or wrong.

But the clarity that comes from talking it through with someone who knows the market and knows your options?

That changes everything. 🔑

So tell me — if you had to choose today would you renovate or move?

Drop your answer in the comments — I genuinely love hearing how people think about this one. 👇😊

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. 💛It is where you bring your baby home for the first time. 🍼Where your...
09/22/2026

A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. 💛

It is where you bring your baby home for the first time. 🍼
Where your kids wake up on Christmas morning.
Where the family gathers around a table that somehow never feels big enough. 😄
Where you sit quietly one evening and realize — this place holds everything. 💛

That is what a home actually is. Not a transaction. Not a price per square foot.

A foundation for everything that matters most. 🔑

Whether you are buying your first home, upgrading for a growing family, or starting fresh after life changed course —

The right home changes everything.

And finding it deserves someone who understands that this is about your life — not just the market. 💛

I would be honored to help you find it. 😊

📩 DM me or call me directly.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

A question I ask every homeowner I sit down with who is 55 and older — what are your long term plans for this home? 💛And...
09/21/2026

A question I ask every homeowner I sit down with who is 55 and older — what are your long term plans for this home? 💛

And honestly? Most people have never really thought about it. 😊

Not because they do not care. But because nobody has ever sat down with them and asked the question honestly — without an agenda attached to it.

Are you planning to stay? Or is part of you starting to wonder if this home still fits the life you are living today? 💛

Because here is what I have learned after years of working with homeowners 55 and older as a Senior Real Estate Specialist —

There is no right or wrong answer.

There is only YOUR answer. 😊

Staying makes sense if 💛
The home still fits your lifestyle and your body. The maintenance feels manageable. You are close to the people and places that matter most. And the thought of leaving feels like more than you want to take on right now.

Moving makes sense if 🔑
The upkeep is starting to feel like a burden. The space is more than you need. You are craving something different — a community, a location, a lifestyle that fits who you are right now rather than who you were twenty years ago.

Here is what I want you to know —

Whatever you decide you do not have to figure it out alone. 💛

As a Senior Real Estate Specialist I work specifically with homeowners 55 and older who are navigating exactly this question. No pressure. No rush. Just an honest conversation about your situation your goals and what your options actually look like in today's Davis market.

Sometimes that conversation confirms you are exactly where you should be.

And sometimes it opens a door you did not even know was there. 😊

Either way — you deserve clarity. And that starts with one conversation.

📩 DM me or call me directly — let's talk about what makes the most sense for YOU.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

Thinking about buying a home in Davis next year? Fall is actually the perfect time to start getting ready. 💛I know next ...
09/17/2026

Thinking about buying a home in Davis next year? Fall is actually the perfect time to start getting ready. 💛

I know next year feels far away.

It is not. 😊

The buyers who walk into the Davis market confident and prepared in the spring are almost always the ones who started doing this work in the fall.

And the good news is — none of it is complicated. It is just a matter of starting. 💛

Here is what I tell every future Davis buyer to focus on this fall 👇

💰 Start building your down payment fund now
Set a realistic savings goal and treat it like a bill you pay yourself every month. Small consistent deposits add up faster than you think. And knowing your number gives you something real to work toward.

📈 Give your credit some attention
Pay every bill on time. Chip away at outstanding balances. Stay away from unnecessary new debt. Your credit score between now and your offer date matters more than most buyers realize — and fall gives you time to move the needle before it counts. 🔑

📋 Get honest about your monthly budget
Not just what the bank will approve you for — what you can actually afford and still feel good about six months after closing. That number is different for everyone and it is worth figuring out now.

🏘️ Start exploring Davis neighborhoods
Drive them on a Saturday morning. Walk them on a Tuesday evening. Think about what your day to day life actually looks like and which neighborhoods fit it best. This part is fun — enjoy it. 😊

🤝 Talk to an agent before you think you need to
This one surprises people. But an early conversation costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of what the Davis market looks like right now, what you need to do to be ready, and what your timeline actually looks like.

Here is the truth —

A little preparation this fall means a lot less stress next spring.

And I would love to be the person who helps you get there. 😊

📩 DM me and let's map out YOUR personal home buying timeline together — no pressure, no commitment, just clarity.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

Fall is here Davis and your home is ready for a refresh. The best part? You do not have to change a thing about the layo...
09/17/2026

Fall is here Davis and your home is ready for a refresh. The best part? You do not have to change a thing about the layout. 🍂💛

A few simple swaps and your space can feel completely different by the weekend. 😊

Here is what I am loving for fall right now 👇

🍁 Warm up your colors
Rust. Caramel. Olive. Deep neutrals. Swap out a few pillows and throws and watch the whole room shift. It is amazing what a little color can do.

🧺 Add natural texture
Woven baskets. Linen. Wood accents. Seasonal branches in a simple vase. These are the details that make a home feel intentional without feeling overdone. 💛

🕯️ Soften your lighting
As the evenings get darker earlier — lean into it. Lamps. Candles. Softer bulbs. There is something about warm light in a Davis home on a fall evening that just feels like everything is right. 😊

🌿 Bring the season inside
Dried florals. A few small pumpkins. Simple greenery from the yard. You do not need a lot. You just need a little something that says fall is here. 🍂

🛋️ Make your everyday spaces cozier
A throw on the sofa. A layered rug. A reading nook that actually invites you to sit down. The small stuff adds up fast. 💛

Here is something I have learned after 27 years of walking through Davis homes —

The homes that feel the most loved are not always the most renovated.

They are the most lived in. The most layered. The most intentional. 🔑

And a cozy well cared for home does not just feel better to live in.

It shows better too. 😊

Which fall detail would you bring in first? Drop it in the comments — I would love to know! 👇🍂

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

09/15/2026

Writing an offer is the exciting part. What you do BEFORE you write it is what actually wins the home. 💛

After more than 25 yers of helping Davis buyers I can tell you this with confidence —

The buyers who win are almost never the fastest. They are the most prepared. 😊

Before we write a single word of your offer here is what we look at together 👇

1. What similar homes actually sold for 🏡
Not Zillow. Not list price. What buyers in THIS Davis neighborhood actually paid. That number tells us everything.

2. Every line of the contract 📋
Contingencies. Timelines. Deadlines. You should never sign something you do not fully understand. With me — you never will.

3. Any available inspection reports 🔍
If information about the property exists before we write the offer — we look at it. No surprises after closing is always the goal.

4. Title and property restrictions 📌
Easements. Zoning. Details that get missed and matter most years after closing.

5. Your ceiling — before emotions get involved 💰
We decide your walk away number before you fall in love with the kitchen. That clarity protects you when things get competitive. 😊

A well prepared offer is not just about the number at the top of the page.

It is about knowing exactly what you are buying before you commit. 🔑

That is what I bring to every buyer I work with in Davis. 💛

📩 DM me and let's build your offer strategy together.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

09/14/2026

This is the stuff nobody talks about until it is too late. 😊

If buying a home is anywhere on your horizon — even if it is still a year away — what you do with your finances RIGHT NOW matters more than most people realize.

Here are the five things I tell every future buyer before they ever start looking at listings 👇

1. Pay your bills on time. Every single one. 💳
This sounds simple. It is simple. And it is the single most powerful thing you can do for your credit score. One missed payment can set you back further than you think. Set up autopay and forget about it.

2. Keep your revolving balances under control 💰
Credit cards carrying high balances relative to their limit hurt your score even if you pay them every month. Try to keep your balances below 30% of your available credit. Below 10% is even better.

3. Avoid unnecessary new credit 🚫
No new credit cards. No financing that new couch. No car loans if you can help it. Every new credit inquiry and new account can ding your score right when you need it to be at its strongest.

4. Check your credit reports for errors 📋
This one surprises people. Errors on credit reports are more common than you think — and they can cost you real money in the form of a higher interest rate. Check all three bureaus and dispute anything that does not look right.

5. Do not make major financial changes without talking to your lender first 🔑
Changing jobs. Moving money around. Making a large purchase. Any of these can affect your loan approval — sometimes at the worst possible moment. When in doubt call your lender before you do anything.

Here is the bottom line 💛

The buyers who are ready to move fast when the right Davis home comes up are the ones who did this work before they needed to.

Do not wait until you are ready to write an offer to start thinking about this. Start now. Future you will be so grateful. 😊

📩 DM me and I will connect you with a trusted local lender who can tell you exactly where you stand and what to work on.

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

Getting ready to buy a home in Davis? There is one thing you need to do before you look at a single listing. 💛Before you...
09/14/2026

Getting ready to buy a home in Davis? There is one thing you need to do before you look at a single listing. 💛

Before you fall in love with a home you need to know exactly where you stand financially.

Because the buyers who move with confidence in the Davis market are not the ones who found the perfect listing first.

They are the ones who did the prep work before the search even started. 🔑

Getting your mortgage in order before you start looking means 👇

✅ You know exactly what you can afford — no guessing
✅ Sellers take your offer seriously from day one
✅ You can move fast when the right home comes up
✅ No stressful surprises halfway through the process
✅ You walk into every showing with confidence not anxiety 💛

Sound like a plan? 😊

I put together a Mortgage Checklist that walks you through exactly what you need to gather and prepare before you talk to a lender.

It is simple. It is free. And it is going to save you a lot of confusion and stress down the road.

💬 Comment CHECKLIST below
or
📩 DM me the word CHECKLIST

And I will send it straight to you. 💛

Whether you are ready to buy next month or just starting to think about it — this is the right first step.

Let's get you ready. 😊

📞 530-304-4208
🌐 marthabernauer.com

Address

Davis, CA
95616

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