October 21, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

BY THE TIME this paper hits your roof, the California Association of Realtors Director’s Meetings in Long Beach will be winding down (grinding down?). Much good comes from these meetings. As one of the Lodi Association’s Directors and next year’s LAR Prez, I enjoy learning all the latest market trends and hot topics. It’s a long time to spend in a large concrete building (Convention Centers are NOT my idea of a good time), but it’s suffering for a good cause.

After each statewide session, Lodi’s Directors (led this year by President Paul Mertz) bring information back to our local Association. Practicing real estate in California isn’t a walk in the park. There’s plenty to know and always more to learn. We arm our Realtor members with the knowledge they need to stay abreast of legal and other developments…and to keep themselves and their clients out of court.

JUST LISTED: Charming Westside three-bedroom two-bath home at $319,950! Central heat and air! Newer garage door with opener! Raised foundation! New carpet! Walk to schools, park, shopping! The large back yard has inground sprinklers and NO rear neighbors (it backs up to school property). My prediction is that 908 Downing Drive will sell quickly at this price. All we need now is a Buyer who agrees with me! (At this price, there may be several).

MILLION-DOLLAR Lake Camanche VIEW! 3 Willet Court, on the corner of Willet and Goshawk in desirable Wallace Lake Estates, offers the charm of the country only minutes from Lodi! 1876 square feet on a third of an acre. Enjoy the Lake view from your own hilltop home! Master Suite downstairs! Three bedrooms, two and a half baths. New built-in spa! More! Come see. Only twenty minutes from Lodi $469,950!

WHEN MY SELLERS at 1516 Mimosa dropped their price to $289,950 last week, I anticipated a speedy sale. Sure enough: Multiple offers leading to a SALE! Price ‘em right and they SELL! Works every time.

REALTORS AT PLAY: After a grueling Director’s session in assorted concrete rooms, You MUST get out in the sunshine at least for a short time. You get tired of breathing conditioned air after awhile. Paul Mertz will don his Presidential swim trunks and join me for a little body surfing after the meetings. Later, I hope to rent a sailboat or kayak or runabout and putter around Balboa a bit. Then Sunday church with my southern California fambly, and home again.

LAST TIME I did the Presidential Shuffle, back in 1998, I was out on the bay in a rented sailboat as I watched the rest of the Lodi contingent pass overhead on their way back to Livable Lovable after another of these Director’s Meetings. It was a gorgeous sunny afternoon. The birds soared overhead in the deep blue sky. Sea lions barked and basked close to shore. The wind…ah, there’s the rub. The wind, which had been no more than a breeze at best, died completely. I suffered the humiliation of a TOW back to the harbor. No power in those rental sailboats. I raced to the airport and barely caught my plane home. Now YOU tell one!

See you next Sat. Have a great week!

October 14, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

THE WOW FACTOR: Raise your hand if you’ve ever visited the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Pretty impressive place, right? How would you like to have an Exploratorium-like facility right here in downtown Lodi, less than an hour drive from half a million children throughout our Valley? Hands-on exhibits, a family-oriented destination, professionally-taught classroom sessions, a great opportunity for science field trips…what a vision!

I’m talking about the World Of Wonders Science Museum, still in the planning stages but fast becoming a reality…depending on the level of support received. Check it out at http://www.wowsciencemuseum.org/ and consider lending your support to this worthy endeavor. You can also call 209-327-6369 for information.

PRICE REDUCED! 515 Sandpiper Circle was a good value before. At the new price of $339,950 for over 1400 square feet of three-bedroom two-bath home, it’s a GREAT value! These Sellers are motivated and desire a quick sale. Interested? Call me to see this home.

ALSO REDUCED! 1516 Mariposa won’t last long at the new price of $289,950. When I announced the price reduction at the Lodi Association of Realtors’ meeting this past week, I told them that if it doesn’t sell soon I may buy it myself! It’s a great little home. 1160 square feet of well-cared-for Grandma’s House. Two bedrooms, two full baths. Large covered patio area with built-in barbecue. Well-manicured front and back yards. Nice neighborhood! Perfect for a starter home, a downsizing-home, or for use as a rental home (Top-shelf tenants would be attracted to this above-average neighborhood!). Call me for a private viewing.

SCIENCE, CONT’D: I’m something of an expert when it comes to the study of science. I loved the subject so much in high school that I took Chemistry twice and almost got to repeat Biology. (I worked hard to keep schoolwork from interfering with my social life). Even though I’m science-challenged, I DO enjoy the Exploratorium and I think the idea of hundreds of schoolkids making the daily bus ride to the WOW Science Museum is wonderful. Field trips: Now THERE’s a subject I excelled at in school!

WHAT A VALUE! 9225 Little Creek Circle is a charming two-story home on a secluded North Stockton circle. Four bedrooms, three full baths, three-car garage (Artist’s studio currently occupies one bay of the three-car garage). This 2064-square-foot home is a delight. Marble tile entry! Bruce real-wood flooring! Tasteful decorating throughout! NOW REDUCED to $429,950. Don’t snooze on this one…

PRICE REDUCED! 1818 Mimosa Drive is now $399,950 for almost 1800 square feet of two-story charm! Near-new 50-year composition ROOF! Upgraded window treatments! More! Nothing left to do here. This is a clean, sharp home. Call me for a private showing.

TWO MORE LISTINGS into escrow last week! Both sales took place within three days after their most-recent price reduction. Funny how that happens. In this market, you feel your way down the price staircase until you hit the right price. How do you know when you’ve hit the right price? The Buyer shows up.

Have a happy 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

October 7, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

DON’T WE LIVE in a beautiful place? I was walking Pokey T. Dog at 5:30 this morning (It’s a new habit I’m learning. Pokey has mixed feelings about it.) when it occurred to me that of all the nice places I’ve visited in my life, Lodi ranks high on the A-list. Climate: One of the best in the world. Location: Two hours from San Francisco, two and a half from Half Moon Bay or the beaches across the Golden Gate, and two hours from the magnificent Sierras. Ambiance: Tree-lined streets, a charming downtown area that’s only getting better, Hutchins Street Square, loads of parks and playgrounds, and for cappers, Lodi Lake and the Wilderness Area. The local vino is great and can be found in fine restaurants around the world. Lodi could be a destination city! Don’t let the word get out.

MY SELLERS at 2818 Battleview Place in North Stockton (Recently reduced to $349,950) have instructed me to tell you that they will look at ALL OFFERS! These folks want to SELL…NOW! Three bedrooms, two baths, Living Room AND Family Room. Wet bar in Family Room! TWO shop rooms in oversized garage! Almost 1700 square feet with NEW carpet, NEW vinyl flooring, and NEW dishwasher! Sellers say composition roof is about five years old. Laundry Room! Great neighborhood, too. Call for details or to arrange a private showing. Don’t miss this opportunity!

THREE IN ONE SWOOP: Statesman’s John Manguso just did it again! Last week, John closed three “sides” (two listing sides and one selling side) at the end of a two-week escrow period. The back story: John received an offer on one of his listings. The offer called for a very short escrow period (the aforementioned two weeks). He and his Sellers scrambled to find a replacement property, and as it happens occasionally, things came together magically for all parties. The home his Sellers found was a FSBO (For Sale By Owner). John worked with the FSBO Seller and arranged a “Single Party Listing” (a listing that only applied if John’s clients bought the home). He then drafted an agreement between the FSBO Sellers and his original clients. A win-win-win! Happy clients all around.

FOOTNOTE: John’s former-FSBO client came into the office to drop off his keys. He made a point of letting me know what a great job John had done for him, and how smoothly the transaction had been handled. Made me feel like a proud Papa. (Like so many By Owners, he had THOUGHT he knew what he needed to know about selling his home himself until John came over with the thirty-plus pages of required disclosure forms and other paperwork that’s part of today’s California real estate transaction.).

SPEAKING OF MOTIVATED SELLERS, the Sellers at 515 Sandpiper Circle want to get this 1412-square-foot single-story home SOLD. Recently reduced to $349,950,, this home has much to offer. These motivated Sellers will consider offers!

‘MOST PEOPLE think of success and failure as opposites, but they are actually both products of the same process.” Roger von Oech said that, and I agree! I walk Pokey past a bumper sticker that sez, “FAIL FORWARD”. Good advice. 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

September 30, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

CONGRATULATIONS to Mike and Kristi Aberle (and their baby girl Ashlyn) on the successful purchase of their Lodi home! This is the first home purchase for this young couple, so it’s exciting and scary all at once! My job is to guide my clients through the white water of a real estate transaction. This job is easier when I’m working with exceedingly nice people! Mike and Kristi qualify as such, as do the rest of the clients I’ll be mentioning today. For example…

CONGRATS also to Mike and Diana Hines, the Sellers of Mike and Kristi’s new abode. Mike’s a cabinetmaker, and he rebuilt this Northside home from the ground up. It’s a beautiful home and a great place for the Aberles to settle down for the next few years. The Hines family is already relocated to Idaho where Mike is enjoying plenty of work and lower home prices.

Mike and Diana called me for pointers when they tried to sell their home By Owner. I was free with my suggestions, and we built a level of trust that ultimately led to me listing their home for sale. Then the Aberles showed up, and the rest is history. (Representing both Buyer and Seller generally makes for a smoother transaction. As you’ve heard me say, it’s easier to work with the other Realtor when you ARE the other Realtor!). I’m blessed with SO many great clients! Exhibit C:

CONGRATULATIONS to Hal and Betty Brister. I was happy to help them close escrow on their charming Bangs Ranch home this past week. This is the third transaction I’ve helped them complete over the past few years. Over 90 percent of my clients are either “repeaters” or they’re referred to me by friends or family. The wonderful thing about referrals is: What kind of people do nice people hang out with? OTHER nice people! My client list is filled with salt-of-the-earth-quality folks. Thanks also to Realtor Letty Escutia, who represented the Buyers on this transaction. Good job, Letty! (Working with great Realtors is a joy, too!).

PRICE REDUCED BY $25,000! These Sellers want to SELL! 1516 Mariposa Way was a good deal before at $325,000. Now, at $299,950, it’s unbeatable! Central heat and air! 1160 square feet! White vinyl-clad dual-pane windows! RV pad! Master Bedroom with bath! Possible third bedroom (If you replace the wall that was removed years ago. Otherwise, leave it as it is and enjoy a bigger Living Room and fireplace!). Great Westside location! Two bedrooms and two full baths! This is a value. Don’t snooze…

LAST CONGRATULATIONS OF THE DAY go to the sharpest 90-year-old I know, Mrs. Lillian Weber. I was privileged to represent her in the sale of her Lakewood-area home. I want to thank the family members who sent her my way for entrusting her to me. Another happy ending! Thanks go to Danville Realtor Jeff Carter for his service as Buyers’ agent in this adventure. Thanx, Jeff!

LAST THANKS go to Broker Associate and right-hand Realtor Greg Adams. This guy (along with Director of First Impressions Debbie Mason) provides the support I need to keep my listings selling! WHAT soft real estate market? 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