July 1, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET! Often over 100 degrees, in fact.

Hope your summer is going swimmingly (pun intended). This is a good day to go out and make a splash! And the mention of splashing is all I need to launch into a reminiscence about the enchanting pastel island of Bermuda! I spent some time there in May, suffering for the cause of Real Estate, of course, but I did manage to get a little swim time in. I’ll bore you with a detail here and there through this morning’s ramble.

JUST LISTED! 219 Cedarwood Court was built in 2004. My Sellers have made this one of the prettiest homes you’ll find, especially at the price of $499,950! Just listen to these features: 2242 square feet. Two stories with all four bedrooms and two full baths upstairs, and a half-bath downstairs next to the Laundry Room. Separate Living Room and Family Room! Roomy Kitchen with large walk-in Pantry! Possible RV parking! Nicely landscaped front and back with separate timed sprinkler systems for front and back yards! Loads of storage, too. My Sellers paid FIVE THOUSAND BUCKS extra for this premium cul-de-sac lot! Call me for a private showing! This one’s a value.

SCUBA: I love to snorkel, but I had never SCUBA dived before. After the initial eerie feeling of finding myself 35 feet underwater (Great for your prayer life: It’s just you, the air tank, and God!), it was an unforgettable experience. Our dive boat anchored just off a reef near the south end of Bermuda. Our divemaster told us it was the same reef used in the filming of The Deep (Jacqueline Bisset). Beautiful coral (fan coral swaying in the current, brain coral that looks just like…you guessed it). Colorful fish. No sharks. (The divemaster had given us special instructions about what to do if we sighted sharks: “Form a circle and hold hands. Now put me in the center of the circle…” What a kidder.).

REDUCED! BANGS RANCH BEAUTY: 253 Hartford Drive was a good value before. Now, at $409,950 for over 1500 square feet of semi-custom single-story home, it’s even better! This is the Grandma’s House I spoke of a couple of columns back. Spacious covered patio that runs the entire length of the home! Flowing floor plan with Great Room, fireplace, indoor laundry area, and much more! Call me for details or for a private showing.

JET SKI: Our guide was a 23-year-old student named Sara. She was a native Bermudian (or “Onion” as they like to call themselves). Sara was tall, blonde, athletic and gutsy. When she led our little band of middle-aged Realtors out into the open waters of Bermuda Bay and opened ‘er up, it took everything I had to keep up! Merced Realtor Russ Hansen and I were the only ones who could catch her. We flew across the bay, catching air almost every time we slapped a wave. On the other side of the Bay, we motored under The World’s Smallest Drawbridge. It’s located in the tiny hamlet of Somerset, and it connects the Bay with the open sea on the other (Bermuda Triangle) side. Picture a teeny plank bridge. Now picture a sailboat pulling up and someone jumping from the boat, scrambling up the side of the hill, stopping traffic, and lifting a single plank from the bridge! The gap from the missing plank is just wide enough for the sailboat’s mast. Fun to watch! Gotta go…another listing appointment! I’ll tell you about two or three new listings next week. Stay cool (preferably WET!).

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