June 17, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

A HIGHWAY PATROLMAN pulls over a motorist and asks, “May I see your real estate license, please?”
“Don’t you mean to ask for my driver’s license?” the motorist replies.
“Well, ma’am, not everyone in California HAS a driver’s license.”

MILESTONE: I heard California Real Estate Commissioner Jeff Davi speak at last week’s California Association of Realtors meetings in Sacramento. He reported that for the first time in history, the number of real estate licensees in the state has topped the half-million mark. Actually, it’s over 501,000. This means that one out of every fifty-two adult Californians has a real estate license! Scary. The only group that surpasses this is trial lawyers: One out of every THIRTY-FOUR California adults is a trial lawyer, if I have my facts right. Surprised? No?

ANOTHER FACT that bears repeating: Although over 501,000 Californians have obtained a license to practice real estate in this state, only a little more than 260,000 have made the commitment to become Realtors. The Realtor designation means that a licensee is a member in good standing of the National Association of Realtors (AND the California Association of Realtors AND their local Association). Licensees with the Realtor designation are bound by the Realtor Code of Ethics. They’re generally better-equipped to practice this ever-changing profession. For most folks, a real estate transaction is the biggest financial transaction of their life. Entrust your transaction to a Realtor. Me, f’rinstance!

JUST LISTED! These folks are headed to Idaho! (I seem to be helping an awful lot of people LEAVE this fair state. I wonder why. Could it be all those trial lawyers?) 688 Cardoso Court is a very sharp home in a great Galt location! Tucked away in a cul-de-sac, this 3-bedrrom 2-bath home says “comfort” from the moment you pull up in front. Tasteful landscaping front and back! Oversized lot! THREE-car garage with a special feature: DRIVE THROUGH the rear garage door to a spacious concrete slab! Perfect for the boat- or hot rod-lover. Laundry Room! Great Room with fireplace and vaulted ceilings! There’s more. Come see for yourself! Call me for a private showing. At $389,950, I think this home will SELL quickly.

ANOTHER SOBERING STAT: Historically, the number of real estate licensees continues to climb for around two years after the real estate market takes a downturn (as it has). Then new licensees begin to fall away (The average time “in the business” for new licensees is about eighteen months). After new licensees have done all the “DNA transactions” they can do (Mama and Papa, Sistah, Bruddah, Uncle), about 80 percent leave the biz. The other 20 percent stick with it and make it a career. Interesting how that happens. Making it in the real estate profession is a lot like real work! Somebody said that this profession is the highest paid HARD work and the lowest paid EASY work you can get. You get out of it what you put into it…and it takes time to build a successful business.

ANOTHER NEW LISTING! 2818 Battleview Place (Near Stanfield off of Thornton Road in the Beck subdivision) is priced right at $369,950 for just under 1700 square feet. Three bedrooms, two baths, Laundry Room, Living Room, Family Room with wet bar, newer carpet and lino, five-year-old comp roof, new dishwasher, and more! Call me for a private viewing.

LAST NOT LEAST DEPT…I am SO excited about my listing at 1818 Mimosa Drive in the desirable Whispering Oaks neighborhood. This charming two-story home was a good deal at $449,500. Now, at $439,500, it’s unbeatable! Near-new 50-year comp roof! Custom shutters! Alarm system! Refrigerator and water softener included, too. Two stories of comfort! Call me to see this fine home.

MORE GREAT LISTINGS ON THE WAY! 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

June 10, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

“SUPPOSE YOU WERE AN IDIOT. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.” Mark Twain’s hundred-thirty-year-old line still brings a chuckle, especially around election time. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

I ran across a treasure trove of political quotes and thought I’d sprinkle a few through this column.

George Bernard Shaw observed, “A nation which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”

TWENTY HOMES on last Tuesday’s Broker Tour. This compares with one or two listings on an average Tuesday one short year ago. The real estate climate has changed. What a great time to be a Buyer! Sellers are increasingly aware that they need to stand out from the crowd if they hope to earn the attention of today’s serious homebuyers. (How to stand out? That’s right. The “P-Word”. PRICE it right and it’ll sell!).

AT YOUR SERVICE! If you’re looking for straight answers, feel free to call me! Be ye Buyer or Seller, you need to understand the rules of the real estate road to make good decisions. I specialize in the truth.

“A GOVERNMENT BIG ENOUGH to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” That was Thomas Jefferson.

MY SELLERS at 2025 Mammoth Way are movin’ to Texas after pouring a ton of time and money into this beautiful home. Their loss, your gain! As I mentioned last week, this is one sharp two-story home. Priced well below market evaluation at $799,950, this 3210-square-foot home has FOUR bedrooms, FOUR full baths, a THREE-car tandem garage, play pool, cabana, and more all on a .26-acre pie-shaped lot. Call me for a private showing!

“THE GOVERNMENT is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.” (Ronald Reagan)

MOTIVATED SELLERS! The owners of 1705 Cape Cod Circle are also moving from Lodi, and also eager to sell. My instructions are to invite you to make an offer! (Although at $499,950 for a two-story 2315-square-foot three-bedroom 2.5-bath home, it’s already a good deal!).

BANGS RANCH BEAUTY: The folks at 253 Hartford Drive in Lodi plan to downsize. This means YOU could be the happy new owners of this charming Grandma’s House! Price? $419,950. Call me for details or for a private showing!

I’M NOT a political animal, but I enjoyed the above quotes (and a few others I’ll save for later). As Will Rogers said, “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” 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

June 3, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

DANCIN’ IN THE DARK…Last Saturday’s Art and Wine Stroll was a huge success, judging from the crowds who wandered along School Street munching goodies and tasting the local fruit of the vine. Our little band had a fine time playing on the corner of Oak and School as the afternoon sun sank behind the Lodi Beer Company. The crowd grew as the evening wore on. By quitting time at nine, we had nearly thirty dancing couples (including a few Wall Dogs) wearing out the pavement on our little corner. A jolly evening in Old Lodi. The crowd wouldn’t let us stop! We played ‘til 9:15 or so…

DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS! I’m being careful not to overstate things here. My new listing at 2025 Mammoth Court is all that and more. Built in 2003, this 3210-square-foot home is located on a HUGE (.26 acre) lot with a large pool, cabana, lots of stamped-concrete deck area, a large expanse of lawn, AND possible space for a small RV or boat! Back to the pool: It’s a wrought-iron-fenced in-ground “Play Pool”, about five and a half feet deep in the middle, tapering off to around three feet on each end (sez my Seller). It also features a classy waterfall that delivers a sheet of water into the deepest area of the pool. The current owners enjoy family gatherings with their four children and spouses AND eleven grandkids…and there’s plenty of room for all. An entertainer’s dream house! Your private resort!

I could go on and on…so I will! Granite kitchen counters. Rich wooden cabinetry (Cherrywood? I think so.). Wide-tile floors. Wet bar with wine chiller and separate wine rack. A FOURTH full bathroom off of the Laundry Room with a door to the back yard (great for those little pool people). An upstairs Master Suite that’ll knock your eyes out. This home has been lovingly maintained and improved. Zillow.com puts its value at $825,000. But for you? Such a deal. $799,950.

FEELING PARANOID? Check out zillow.com. Type in your address and then watch and wonder. They’ve got your number. (AND a zoomable satellite photo of your little corner of the world! Big Brother is alive and well! Good information on current home values, however. Not always bang on the mark, but who is?

CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. Wanda Kernutt on the successful sale of her Westside Lodi home! Mrs. Kernutt was referred my way by a friend. It’s always a blessing when someone entrusts friends and family to me. THANK YOU! I seem to end up with more than my share of widows, single Moms, and others who need protection from the hardball side of this bizness. It’s a pleasure.

THANKS ALSO to Realtor Peter Boysen, who brought the (Bay Area) Buyers to this transaction. Their offer was contingent upon the sale of a Peninsula condo, but the condo sold and we got this sale closed right behind it. Good job, Peter!

MUSIC, CONT’D…..Today’s a work day for me, but this afternoon from four to six our little band of brothers (and a sister or two) plays at Lodi’s annual Art on the Square. Come on out and enjoy this free event, which continues all day tomorrow. Check lodichamber.com for details.

PAST DEADLINE…AGAIN! (Thanx for your grace, Lodi News Sentinel!). Have a great week! See you next Sat (or maybe this afternoon…).

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

May 27, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

WALLDOG WALK: As Pokey T. Dawg will tell you, the age-old practice of dogwalking is beneficial for dog and dog lover. This evening in downtown Lodi, you can experience a dogwalk of a different sort. The WINE AND ART STROLL is designed to allow people to admire the ongoing Walldogs wall-mural painting project while enjoying Lodi’s downtown ambiance. (Sorry, Pokey. Dogs of the four-legged variety are not invited). Tonight’s event is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

MUSIC-WISE, I don’t know what the whole program looks like, but I know the little band I play with, Semper Fi, will play a set or two. Garydon Ricks, our fearless leader, sez other musicians may drop by to sit in from time to time. Should be a fun evening. Garydon tells me we’ll be at the corner of School and Oak.

NEW PRICE on 1818 Mimosa Drive! It’s now listed at $449,500! This is a Dennis Bennett-built home in the desirable Whispering Oaks neighborhood. It shows like a model. Nearly-new composition ROOF with 50-year warranty! Alarm system! Three bedrooms, two and a half baths, covered patio, and more! Lots of fresh interior paint! New custom blinds and shutters! Another thing I forgot to mention in past columns: This price includes refrigerator and water softener!

CONGRATULATION to Dan and Pam Mariani on the successful SALE of their Lodi home! This sale was a classic example of how this current market works. We listed their place at what we thought was a fair price. I did the things I do to get my listings SOLD. After a reasonable length of time, since the Buyers had “voted with their feet” by NOT making an offer, we dropped the price…and an offer showed up! Funny how that works. You know you’ve found the right price when somebody BUYS the home.

NOW Dan and Pam can ride their Harleys into the sunset with no home-selling worries. Another happy ending/beginning. THANK YOU to Realtor Gloria Diaz Castelano for a good job representing the Buyer in this transaction.

THE ORIGINAL OWNERS of 253 Hartford Drive in Lodi’s charming Bang’s Ranch subdivision have given this nearly-1500-square-foot home lots of loving care. They’ve spent time and money making this a special place…and now they’re moving! Spacious covered patio with a tastefully-landscaped back yard! $8,000 of laminate flooring! Custom window coverings! The price ($419,950) includes refrigerator, washer, dryer, and freezer if you want ‘em. Such a deal!

WHILE WE’RE TALKING about great home values, let me mention 1705 Cape Cod Circle (corner of Lakeshore and Cape Cod). At the recently-reduced price of $499,950, this 2315-square-footer is a real value! Two stories. Three bedrooms, two and a half baths. At less than $216.00 per square foot, what’s not to like? Call me for a private showing.

Have a great week! Hope to see you downtown tonight. The Walls of Lodi will never be the same again!

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