May 20, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

THE BEST YET: I just returned from the annual Peak Performers conference put on by Brian Buffini and Company. Each year, about four hundred Realtors, real estate brokers and lenders gather for a few days of training, evaluation and reflection. The group is kept small by design (Most Buffini gatherings run 1500 people or more). Brian holds these special sessions in some fairly nice locales, which adds to the experience. The only hard part is to stay inside and focus when the outdoor fun is calling your name.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN THIS WEEK to Corky and Susie Veit on the successful purchase of their westside Lodi home! After all those years in the country, they’re now in town! Corky’s excited because now he lives across the street from his cousin Roger Stafford and his wife Velma. Cork mentioned something about getting Roger to mow his lawn, but I’m not getting involved in that one. Statesman Realtor John Manguso did the legwork and helped the Veits locate the in-town home of their dreams. I negotiated the offer for them. My right-hand Realtor Greg Adams nursed the escrow to a happy conclusion. The three of us had our fingerprints all over this transaction. Thanks also to Lodi Realtor Kerry Suess, who represented the Sellers in this adventure. The move is going on as we speak. Feeling strong? Drop by the Veit place and lend a hand.

PEAK PERFORMERS, CONT’D…For the past three years, I’ve led a Synergy Group of eight to ten people at each event. This year our group included folks from Texas, Colorado and California. Hanging out with so many positive people is a tonic when you work in a profession that can drain you if you’re not careful. The Buffini events keep me sharp and tuned up for you, my clients!

DUPLEX UPDATE: The duplex at 2347 Arvilla Court features one 3-bedroom 1-bath unit and one 2-bedroom unit with central heat and air for the reduced price of $439,950 including a new roof! Located at the end of a nice Westside cul-de-sac, it’s easy to view. Just call me for a private showing. The Seller desires a quick sale on this rental property, AND on 301 Sterling in Woodbridge! Two 3-bedroom 1-bath units which need a bit of TLC, but if you buy them right, it works! Reduced price: $429,000. TWOFER OPTION: Buy them both! Call me for suggestions.

IT WASN’T ALL work at Peak Performers. Ya gotta play, too! Blow out the carbon a little. Jet-ski across the waters of Bermuda Bay. SCUBA dive a fish-filled reef. Swim around a submerged shipwreck in the waters of the Bermuda Triangle. Add a little American blues-harmonica edge to the Calypso sounds of a Bermudian band. Celebrate with the locals on a Sunday afternoon at Tobacco Bay. Take a quiet walk along the seaside road near the battlements of Fort St. Catherine near St. George. I recommend it. I work better when I’ve played hard. How about you?

HAVE I MENTIONED 1818 Mimosa Drive lately? This charming two-story shows like a model. Nearly-new composition ROOF with 50-year warranty! Three bedrooms, two baths, covered patio, and more! Lots of fresh interior paint! New custom blinds and shutters! At $449,950, this is one you don’t want to miss.

LISTING APPOINTMENTS (TWO)! Gotta go. If you know a friend or family member who needs a dedicated professional, please call me with their name and number! I promise to serve them well. Thanx in advance. See you next Sat!

Statesman Realty Lodi, CA

(209)333-2380

1-800-407-SOLD(7653)

www.LarrySellsLodi.com

www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com

May 13, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

MOTHER’S DAY ALERT: Tomorrow, guys. Got that? If this public-service message is a SHOCK to you as you sit across the breakfast table from your bride, just play it cool. No sudden movements. Just lay the paper on the table, ease out of your chair, and mumble something about the hardware store. After safely leaving the house, RACE to your nearest florist or gift shop and get the thing DONE. If you snooze on this, you may lose for some time to come.

DON’T WAIT until the only gift left is a fake rose from the corner gas station.

MOMS AND WIVES are a civilizing influence in the lives of the men they love. I know a very successful medical-supply salesman who jokes, “If it wasn’t for my wife, I’d be a beach bum!” He and I both know it ain’t just a joke. So give the ladies in your life the accolades they deserve tomorrow, fellers! (Footnote: It’s okay to let ‘em know they’re loved and appreciated EVERY day).

PRICE REDUCED: 1705 Cape Cod Circle has a lot to offer! This 2315-square-foot two-story home features three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and a GREAT location (corner of Lakeshore and Cape Cod Circle). 2315 square feet for $499,950? Yes. At just under $216.00 per square foot, this home is the best value in this price range! My Sellers are motivated and ready for a quick sale. Call for a private showing.

CONGRATULATIONS to my friends and clients Corky and Susie Veit on the successful SALE of their long-time country home. Our adventure together was a true white-water rafting trip, but also a lot of fun (because THEY’RE a lot of fun!). Now that the first leg of the journey is complete, we’re fixing our gaze on the finish: the close of escrow on their in-town home, scheduled for a few weeks out. By the way, I want to thank Statesman Realty’s own John Manguso for bringing the Buyers to this transaction. Another great job, John! (And yes, John is once again Biloxi-bound…an inside joke known only to regular column-readers).

ALSO HEADED to Biloxi or some similarly exotic location is Statesman’s Don Brandt. Congratulations on your closed escrow, Don! My Realtors are burning through these trip prizes like crazy! It’s what I call a happy problem.

THIS NEW LISTING is a charmer! 253 Hartford Drive in Lodi’s desirable Bang’s Ranch is a true Grandma’s House. I helped these folks buy the place new in 2000, and they’ve poured love and money into it ever since. $8,000 worth of laminate flooring! Custom window coverings! Spacious covered patio looking out on a nicely-landscaped back yard! Price includes refrigerator with icemaker and water dispenser plus washer, dryer, and freezer. At $419,950 this place is a value!

DUPLEX DEALS: These two duplexes are getting a LOT of attention, but as of this writing they’re both still very much for sale. 2347 Arvilla Court features one 3-bedroom 1-bath unit and one 2-bedroom unit with central heat and air for the newly-reduced price of $439,950 including a new roof! 301 Sterling in Woodbridge features two 3-bedrrom 1-bath units for the reduced price of $329,000! Motivated Seller desires quick sale on both of these investment properties.

TO ALL MOMS: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Without you, the rest of us wouldn’t be here (A self-evident utterance if ever I uttered one). See you next Sat! Have a happy week.

Statesman Realty Lodi, CA

(209) 333-2380

1-800-407-SOLD(7653)

www.LarrySellsLodi.com

www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com

May 6, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

TODAY’S THE DAY! Lodi’s Pregnancy Resource Center’s annual Walk For Life is this morning! Registration (and some tasty breakfast goodies) from 8:00 this morning. We begin the Walk at nine sharp.

THE WALK is one of PRC’s main fundraising events of the year. It’s also a lot of fun! Munching good food, listening to a live worship band, visiting with friends…and then a leisurely stroll through some of Old Lodi’s prettiest boulevards! The Walk ends up back where it started: Hutchins Street Square Park (Corner of Rose and Oak).

It’s not too late to ask friends and family to sponsor you. Idea: Call them as you drive down to register this morning! Can’t make the walk? No problem. Sponsor someone else (ME, f’rinstance!). Local businesspeople have promised to MATCH the first $6,000 in donations! That means your gift is worth TWICE as much.

I APPRECIATE the work of the Pregnancy Resource Center because it has helped so many people. Young women and girls receive loving counsel and support. Young fathers, sometimes clueless about what it means to be a Dad, get training in parenting skills. Equally important is the work the Center does in the area of post-abortive counseling: Non-judgemental help for women who suffer with the pain from an event that may have occurred decades ago. Dedicated volunteers give tirelessly of their time and talents (AND their bucks) to meet these very real needs.

DID I MENTION THE BABIES? When you bounce one of these precious little critters on your knee, you REALLY grasp the value of this ministry. Some of the babies rescued from abortion back when the Center first opened are now young adults. You can bet that THEY are grateful for the Center’s work.

JUST LISTED! Charming two-story home! 1818 Mimosa Drive shows like a model. These original owners have cared for it lovingly! Near-new (2004) composition ROOF with 50-year warranty and special insulated sheathing! Three bedrooms, two baths, covered patio, and more! A lot of fresh interior paint! New custom blinds and shutters! There are other special features. Call me for details! Price? At $449,950, this home is a value.

PRICE REDUCED! The duplex at 301 Sterling Way in Woodbridge is now priced at $429,000! Two three-bedroom one-bath units. Value! Live in one side and rent the other side to reduce your monthly payment! Great opportunity for investors, too.

ALSO REDUCED: The duplex at 2347 Arvilla Court is now $439,950. This newly reduced price STILL includes a new composition roof (estimates are running in the $11,000 range). Each side features central heat and air. One side has three bedrooms, one side is a two-bedroom. Great Westside location!

GOTTA GO. See you this morning at the Walk For Life? Hope so. Have a great week!

Statesman Realty
Lodi, CA
(209) 333-2380
1-800-407-SOLD(7653)
www.LarrySellsLodi.com
www.larryunderhill.com
Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com

April 29, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

POINT OF CLARIFICATION: Last week I observed that the local real estate market is still flourishing, although the market has changed dramatically from the way it was one short year ago. Today, I want to make sure I haven’t left you with the wrong impression: This is a PRICE-DRIVEN MARKET. Translation: If your listed property is overpriced, you’re just helping the other guy’s property to sell.

IT’S TRUE that homes are still selling well, but only if they’re PRICED well. Inventory of listed homes and condos for Lodi alone just edged over the 300 mark again (Inventory was hovering in the 85- to 90-range a year ago). Buyers are overwhelmed with choices. If you want to stand out from the crowd, the best way to do it is by pricing your property aggressively.

ILLUSION NUMBER ONE: “I want to keep the price high and invite people to bring me an offer.” In this market, that’s the kiss of death. While you’re waiting for that rare person who is willing to go to the effort to make a lower offer, your properly-priced competition is negotiating with serious Buyers. On top of that, the price platform is falling away under your feet. Prices are headed down, not at free-fall speed, but in a slow steady slide.

ILLUSION NUMBER TWO: “If I price my property aggressively, people will still try to grind me down on price.” Reality: If you’re priced aggressively, you’re in a STRONGER position because you’re likely to attract the serious Buyers quickly (possibly even multiple Buyers if you’re priced right). If somebody does try to ‘steal” your home, at least you have an offer to look at! You can always make a counter offer (or reject the offer outright if it’s exceedingly stupid). Better than twisting in the wind week after week waiting for someone to “make an offer”.

ILLUSION NUMBER THREE: “My (overpriced) home would sell if I had (Fill in the blank: Fancier ads, more Open Houses, etc.). Reality: Refer to Paragraph One. It’s a PRICE-DRIVEN MARKET. If you’re in the Multiple Listing System, you’re exposed to over 25,000 Realtors from Sacramento to Tracy to Pleasanton to Turlock. If your property isn’t selling, it’s NOT due to lack of exposure. It’s the “P-Word”.

THANKS for indulging me. That little rant was refreshing. One thing I promise every client is the truth. You can find someone who will tell you whatever you want to hear (In the business we call this “buying a listing”), but I specialize in the truth.

JUST LISTED: 253 Hartford Drive in Lodi! Nearly 1500 square feet of charm. Built in 2000. These original owners have poured a ton of money into this home! Laminate flooring throughout the common areas! Spacious covered backyard patio running the entire length of the house! Tasteful landscaping front and back with a variety of fruit trees (nice roses, too!). All this and more for $419,950! Call me for a private showing.

ASK ME about the NEW ROOF (with full-price offer) coming soon to my duplex listing at 2347 Arvilla Court in Lodi! Gotta go. Another listing appointment. Have a great week! See you next Sat.

Statesman Realty, Lodi, CA

(209) 333-2380

1-800-407-SOLD (7653)

www.LarrySellsLodi.com

www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com

April 22, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhil

NINE YEARS OR TEN? I know the first Saturday in March marked either the ninth or tenth anniversary of the beginning of this little column, but I’m not certain which it is! According to my records this is column number 489, but my numbering system took a hit or two over the years (computer crashes, operator error, etc.). Anyway, it’s been a good run and I hope to continue for a long time to come.

HAVE YOU READ the recent news stories about the rebounding local real estate market? Hey: Maybe the sky isn’t falling after all! This current market IS more subdued and less crazy than the market of the past few years, but Buyers are buying and Sellers are still selling! Interest rates remain reasonable, and it even looks like the Fed plans to end rate increases for the time being. On top of that, the SUN is making an appearance, which is great for everyone’s mood!

JUST LISTED: TWO DUPLEXES, both in good locations, both priced at $444,950. Or, as the supermarkets say, two for $889,900! Check these out:

2347 and 2349 Arvilla Court: Close to schools and shopping (Off Rutledge near Turner). One 3 bedroom 1 bath and one 2 bedroom 1 bath. Nice cul-de-sac! Call for a private showing.

301 Sterling and 19005 Triolo, Woodbridge: Two 3 bedroom 1 bath units on large corner lot. Comfortable neighborhood! Call for a private showing.

We’re already getting calls on these properties. Whether you’re an investor looking for a solid opportunity or a homebuyer considering living in one side and renting the other, these duplexes may work for you! I don’t expect them to last long (They’re the best duplex values out there!).

ANOTHER VALUE: 303 Rainier Drive is still 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 (sometimes called a Release Clause) in the accepted contract, which means this place can still be bought! 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! $429,950.

1705 Cape Cod Circle has a lot to offer! This 2315-square-foot two-story home features three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a GREAT corner location (corner of Lakeshore and Cape Cod Circle). At $519,950, the price per square foot makes it the best value in this price range! Call for a private showing.

LASTLY: 700 McCoy Court #46 has some features you normally DON’T see in a condo. First, there’s the fact that you can enter your condo from the garage like most newer single-family homes. That’s HUGE for people who are currently looking at condos where the garage is a quarter-mile across the complex from your unit! Then there’s the PRICE: REDUCED to $194,950!

THANKS AGAIN for the past nine (or ten?) years! See you next Sat.

Statesman Realty, Lodi, CA
(209) 333-2380
1-800-407-SOLD (7653)
www.LarrySellsLodi.com
www.larryunderhill.com
Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com