April 15, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

TOMORROW’S THE DAY! Tomorrow a large part of the world’s population will enjoy their biggest and most important celebration of the year: The celebration of the day Jesus Christ returned to life after being killed on a cross.

If you’re not a Christian, the whole idea of Christianity may make little sense to you. I know it was that way for me. Let me invite you to look deeper.

I WAS TALKING with my friend John Rodriguez this morning. He observed that while John 3:16 is the Bible verse most people recognize, John 3:17 is just as important. John 3:16 is the familiar, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The next verse (verse 17) says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Save the world? From what?

“SAVED”: I remember when that “Christianese” word was a totally unfamiliar concept to me, as it may be to you as you read this. As I hitchhiked around the nation in the late sixties and early seventies, well-meaning people seemed to be forever asking me if I was “saved”. I didn’t resent the question, because these were very nice people who obviously cared about me (at least enough to give me a ride or a place to crash!). I know now that God used those folks and others to begin to get my attention.

LATER, when I had encountered another Biblical personality, namely Satan, I became very much aware of my need to be saved…rescued…from the life I was living. That’s the one great advantage of having come face to face with one’s own spiritual bankruptcy: I have no illusions about my own “goodness” or “worthiness”. I know I’ve been SAVED, rescued by Jesus, not based on my own virtue but because of His unconditional love.

UNCONDITIONAL: I went to Dictionary.com for some definitions: “Without conditions or limitations. Absolute. Not modified or restricted by reservations. Unqualified.” Jesus puts no conditions on His love for us. As the Apostle Paul notes in the book of Romans, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Christianity is a “come as you are party”. John 3:17 says that Jesus didn’t come to condemn us, but to save us (rescue us). In John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” I’m SO glad to be counted among His friends.

QUESTIONS? This Jesus thang is worthy of your consideration. I can tell you that choosing to follow Him has made all the difference in my life. Check out any of the many Easter celebrations that will take place tomorrow. My church, Horizon, will hold two resurrection parties tomorrow at the Galt High School gym, one at nine and one at eleven for the sleepyheads. You’re invited.

Statesman RealtyLodi, CA

(209) 333-2380

1-800-407-SOLD (7653)

www.LarrySellsLodi.com

www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com

April 8, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

MY APRIL FOOLS DAY COLUMN was a huge success. The phone rang off the hook with people who wanted to buy that $139,950 Sun West home! I tried my best to make each paragraph as ludicrous as possible, but some folks still took me seriously. I guess when you’re skimming the paper for good deals, subtle humor doesn’t always register. When you see something that looks good, you pounce!

ONE GUY called and left his name and number on voicemail, only to call back a minute later to say, “It’s me again. Ya got me.” Another lady called and continued to read the column as she was leaving her message. When she reached the “Happy April Fool’s Day” part at the bottom of the piece, she read it out loud and said, “Oh. Happy April Fool’s Day. Never mind. Well, have a nice day anyway!” Classy lady.

I decided NOT to embarrass the folks who left messages by returning their calls, since they probably realized their error soon after they left the message. One thing about voicemail: You can’t retract the message once you’ve left it! All names and messages have been erased. Your secret is safe with me. That was the first time in nine years of writing this rag that April Fools Day fell on a Saturday, and I just HAD to enjoy it a little.

PRICE REDUCED! 600 Daisy Avenue was a good deal BEFORE this $10,000 price reduction. Now, it’s a GREAT opportunity for a first-time homebuyer or investor. Three bedrooms! Nicely remodeled kitchen! NEW COMP ROOF INCLUDED in this price! (Pick your color if you hurry). Large two-car garage! Nice back yard with lawn and patio. At $334,950 this one won’t last long! Come and see.

ANOTHER VALUE: 303 Rainier Drive is very much for sale! We have an accepted full-price offer, but it’s contingent upon the sale of a Bay Area home that has not yet sold! There’s a 72-hour clause in the accepted contract, which means you still have a shot! Great Westside value: 1814 square feet of comfortable home. Separate Living Room and Family Room! Tile roof! Large Laundry Room with deep sink, lots of cabinets, and a door to the back yard! There’s more to see. At $429,950, it’s no wonder it’s receiving such a lot of interest.

LAST WEEK’S COLUMN CONT’D: Another lady called regarding the Sun West “steal of a deal”: She got it. She said, “I’ll take THREE of ‘em! And it serves that rascal right!” She was referring, of course, to the yarn I had spun about the Seller’s husband running off with his secretary and emailing his wife to “sell the house and send me the money.” Folks, if I ever HAD a situation like that (I never have, though some have been close) I’d NEVER trumpet it abroad in the newspaper!

FUNNY how nobody called me with an offer to buy the one-bedroom one-bath (no garage) eastside alley house (“Don’t mind the slight pet odor…”) for $949,950. Thanks for humoring me. I promise not to zing you again for at least a week. See you next Sat!

Statesman Realty

(209) 333 2380
1-800-407-SOLD (7653)

Website: www.larrysellslodi.com
Website: www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com

April 1, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

BIG NEWS! New listing! Eastside alley house! One bedroom, one bath, no garage. Listed at $949,950. This place is cute! Don’t mind the slight pet odor; the carpets will be cleaned this week. At first I thought the price was a little optimistic, but my Seller explained that he has added extra insulation to the attic AND he has obtained a two-year roof certification. Better hurry on this one! Call me for details*.

ANOTHER NEW LISTING, this one in prestigious Sun West! Spacious home with loads of appeal. Custom floor coverings! Upgrades galore! Price? $139,950 will pay off the loan and closing costs and leave the Seller about $400.00. Why so low, you ask? My Seller says her spouse, who recently ran off with his secretary, emailed her with instructions to sell the house and send him the money. Call me for details*.

IN OTHER NEWS, have you heard of the “Yellow House” phenomenon? Experts from Market Research Group in Omaha have conducted a study of real estate markets nationwide. They’ve discovered that homes that are painted yellow SELL twice as fast as homes of other shades. Furthermore, their findings indicate that homes that have languished on the market without selling can be made more marketable with a simple coat of yellow paint (brighter hues seem to work best). “We think it has something to do with attraction to color, similar to the way bees are attracted to flowers,” observed Dr. Whit Mensa. The breakthough study dispels the longstanding myth that asking price is an important factor in how quickly a home sells. “Color is the thing,” says Dr. Mensa*.

I HAVE BUYERS who are seeking a home in the $500,000 range. I haven’t gotten them in front of a lender to determine what they’re qualified to buy, but I’ve shown them thirty homes over the past three months. They say they’re very well qualified because they’ve purchased over 100 lottery tickets and they plan to pay CASH for their new home when they win. Do you have a home you’d like to show these fine folks?* Incidentally, they’ve also expressed interest in the purchase of the Antioch Bridge if it ever comes on the market.

ZERO DOWN! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT FINANCING! NO QUALIFYING! Clive Slick, loan professional with Absolute Integrity Home Loans, is pleased to announce a new loan product tailor-made for those hard-to-qualify folks who need “special” financing. Although relatively new to the home loan business, Clive spent years studying the subject by correspondence. Now that he has been released, Clive says he’s eager to make a name for himself. Clive’s motto is, “If you have a pulse, you qualify!”*

LAST BUT NOT LEAST DEPT. Another new listing! Split-level three bedroom home in Stockton! This home was not originally a split-level, but recent ground movement has created a unique opportunity for the right Buyer. As you may know, some Stockton neighborhoods are built on former marshland, which has the tendency to shift. Step-down Living Room! Newly detached garage! This home is one of a kind. Is this the place you’ve been searching for? Call me for details, or read the last line of this column.

*Have a Happy April Fool’s Day! See you next Sat.

Statesman Realty
(209) 333 2380

1800-407-SOLD (7653)
Website: www.larrysellslodi.com

Website: http://www.larryunderhill.com/
Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com