Tons of information- Active Properties, REO - Short Sale are separated out in listings...check it out let me know what you think,  Have we a turn in our Market?   Active Properties as of 12/7/08 – Non –Short Sale – either REO (Real Estate Owned – by Bank) or Equity Sellers 316  Pending: 0  Sold: 0  Other: 0  Total: 316      Bedrooms  Bathrooms  Square Feet  List Price  Selling Price  DOM/CDOM  Minimum  1   0.00   502   $64,900      1/1   Average  3   0.00   1,850   $251,057   $0   73/103   Median  3   3.00   1,729   $230,000   $0    47/56   Maximum  6   0.00   4,472   $1,102,939   $0   1,022/1,022   Total Dollar Value           $0      Short Sale Properties as of 12/7/08 – Short Sale  269  Pending: 0  Sold: 0  Other: 0  Total: 269      Bedrooms  Bathrooms  Square Feet  List Price  Sel... 12/08/2008

Do you have shiney penny syndrom (SPS), I do.   I start to read Active Rain, or almost anything on a social network and next thing I know - I'm bouncing around to 50 different places, thinking "Oh I need to add that to my profile, blog, web site, email, etc."   Where does it stop?  Where and what are the most effective tools IF you actually use them consistently? I know Active Rain works, I've got proof.  Do making badges and widgets really help?  Does twittering daily movements make a difference or am just watching for that Shiney Penny. Someone help-- I'm thinking therapy may be the answer.     12/05/2008

It's not a pretty story.... and it is so bizarre that it has captured National Attention, from Nancy Grace to the New York Times. Read the story here:  Child held captive, escapes runs into InShape Club for protection. The story gets weirder and weirder.... so what does that do for the reputation for this "normal" town that is already reeling from the Foreclosure market.  Will people think this is not a place to live and to raise kids. I hope not.  I've lived here for almost 15 years, and as bizarre as this story is, it does not make me feel less safe in this community. I'm sadden that such strange and bizarre people can live in a community neighborhood and were able to conceal this dark secret.  I'm sadden that some will worry more now about the safety of thier own children.  I'm sadde... 12/03/2008

The proverbial 2 x 4 smacked me right upside the head Thanksgiving Day. First, - Cousin is moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa-  this means selling home in Huntiington Beach, and buying a home in Cedar Rapid and in San Diego area. UH - Hello -- did anyone call me so I could refer them an agent -- NOPE.  Well for one part of the transaction they DO have to use a RElO - Company, but still. THEN - other cousins DAUGHTER is buying a home in Santa Rosa -- this is a bit far for me, but I could have found them a great agent to refer them to. At one point, someone said, "you've been selling Real Estate for how long?"  4 YEARS!  4 YEARS!  I do realize we only see each other once a year -- but -- SMACK!  2 x 4 - I've done a lousy job at explaining to others not only WHAT I do but HOW I get PAID! Lesson... 12/01/2008

Thanksgiving has been here and is gone--- so there is NOTHING STOPPING CHRISTMAS FROM ARRIVING NOW! I like to have a "Birthday Month", so I've decided to make December "Christmas MONTH".  Although every day should be about giving - not every day is. So for the month of December it's going to be all about OTHERS!  All about YOU!  (This is usually my goal, no excuses this month.) How about you -- if we all make December "Christmas month" it will be a habit of giving by January! Where to start........ 11/28/2008

Do you have a Wachovia Mortgage?  Are you upside down?  Do you want to keep your house?  Do you want to short sale your house?  Well, if your loan is with Wachovia you have a great opportunity to make any of the above options happen. I was speaking with a Wachovia rep the the other day, and this is one bank that is being very pro-active. Call today - they even have LOCAL FIELD REPS to handle the short sale or the loan modifications with minimal paper work. If you are in the Northern California - call me directly, I'd love to help you. Susan 11/28/2008

As I read Seth Godin's Blog this morning on Thanksgiving I realised how right he is. Thankgsiving is about just that THANKS.  How often do we think it's about FOOD?  Yes, we all eat far more than we should, and shouldn't we be thankful that we have more than enough to eat?    I especially thankful that Thanksgiving is in November and not in May - 4 weeks before bikini season! Yes, most of us spend this day with family and friends, do we really think about being thankful that we have family and friends to be WITH? I personally need to STOP and really think about everything I have to be thankful for this year. I know I have taken for granted the fact that I have my health (there was a scare that really brought this home.)  I'm thankful for a Husband that loves me and thinks I'm the only ... 11/27/2008

Step by step instructions... Go to this website:  http://www.sjgov.org/treasurer/OnlinePay.htm It looks like it is for paying your taxes but it actually will give you the specific property tax bill for any house in San Joaquin County including Tracy.  You have to click on the "Don't know your parcel number? CLICK HERE to look it up by address".  Then after you know the parcel number of the property address you want to look up, click on the 'I have read and agree with the above disclaimer".  Type in the parcel number in the search criteria box & press submit.  There you go, it should pop up & gives you so much information.  How you can calculate what your future taxes are on this property, would be to take the "prop 13 tax amount" and take your future purchase price & it will be 1% for o... 11/23/2008

I'm hope I'm not the only one who has done something really stupid -- today took the cake!  Someone please top this! 3rd time out with these buyers-- thank goodness... we're on house 8 of 15.   We go outside, I lock the front door,  I put the key in the bottom of the lockbox and push the key thingy back up into the electronic box.  That is the exact second I realize that MY CAR key and my electonic lock box key are BOTH inside the house on the railing. Now I do have my phone, so I call the agent.  This is an REO property so there is a combination lock... no answer.... ok next call agent's office... whew there actually is a person who answers the phone and they were able to give me the combination to the lock box. Crisis averted, key and electronic lock box safely back in my possession.  10/26/2008

Are you are first time home buyer?  Here are some answers to the questions I hear frequently... First thing you should do -- contact a great Realtor and they should put you in touch with an equally GREAT lender.  Why?  So you know exactly how  much you can afford to purchase. In today's REO - Foreclosure ridden housing market you should also be prepared to get a pre-approval from several lenders depending on how many homes you decide to write offers on .  Why is this necessary? Most large institution banks (Countrywide, Chase, Wells Fargo, Indymac, etc) will require a pre-approval from their bank.  The reason for this is 2 fold.  1) They want to be certain the buyer is viable to purchase the asset they just acquired.  2) The bank would love to recover some of their loss by suppling the ... 10/13/2008

Here is what I see in the Tracy and Mountain House, CA housing market. We have 90% of the homes for sale in our market are distressed, either short sale or foreclosed homes.  In order to capture the buyers homes are coming on the market priced lower and lower every day. Once the property is on the market, the home gets multiple offers and sells for over asking. Then for the appraisal -- the home doesn't appraise, because everything else is priced lower. Example: Home Priced at $210,000 Price accepted  $221,000 Appraised at     $208,000 -- the bank sells the property for $208,000. We are now in a situation when short sale clients are calling appraisers hoping for a property to appraise as low as possible, and REO properties not being able to appraise any higer than the list price. So whe... 10/13/2008

Here you go stat people- you tell me.  There are 645 homes on the market as of October 1. There are 487 pending -- yes I got that right--- we have a 1.5 month supply of houses. Is there competition for these homes, you bet. Can I under bid to get a home, I mean I've heard the news, housing prices are dropping.... is it true? The answer is simple - yes and no.  Prices have dropped and now people have to bid over asking to get the house they want.  I'll bet you didn't hear that on the news. So how do you get a home.  Hire a great REALTOR that will work for you.  Most homes are being "pre-sold" agents know they are coming and they are snatched up the day they go on the market. Don't miss this opportunity to grow you wealth.   10/01/2008

The easy answer is "Yes of course it matters."  The bigger question is how many of us have it.  True Character. My definition of Character - is "what do you do when NO ONE IS WATCHING?"  Do you take the high road or cut corners? I've defined character over the years for my children with a family motto... perhaps the Real Estate community should adopt it. It goes like this, "You can't always be perfect, you CAN always be HONORABLE." Do what's your definition of Character? 08/01/2008

Well the Bill has been signed, the new era of mortgage lending is continuing.  Will it help or will it hurt?  Will it make a difference?  Will it really be useful?  click HERE to read the article by Inman News, I'm not sure, I can tell you that I hope I qualify to refinance my home at today's value of 1/3 what my current mortgage amount is.  Wouldnt' that be nifty.  I could continue to make the same payment and pay twice as much on my loan. Tell me what you think -- I'd love to hear it. 07/30/2008

Might be boring, might peak your interest, but here they are, unveiled for the first time TODAY! The City of Tracy: Homes for Sale:      684  of this 684 homes 389 are Short Sales Pending Homes:      427  WOW more than half the number of homes for sale SOLD since 6/27/08 135 homes  Average:    $277,311 with 2062 square feet average days on market 49 Median:      $264.900 with 1950 square feet average days on market 21 Highest Sold  $693,000 with 417 days on market Lowest Sold   $99,000 with 0 days on market Interrupting the stats, homes are selling in the $250,000 - $400,000 price range and are selling quickly.  The Higher priced homes, the move up home, non - conforming homes, are taking a while to sell.  If you're looking for the best bargain - and you can afford it - over $500,000 is... 07/27/2008

I thought Josh Hamilton was the story of the Game -- not after tonight.  It's good baseball. Why aren't they playing International Soft Ball rules (don't tell me it's BASEBALL I KNOW THAT) Start putting runners on base?  A tie and extra innings happened once before why is there not tie breaker after so many innings? You have to end the game for home field advantage --- WOW - I'm glad I'm not Bud Selig!   07/15/2008

Do you love youth sports -- I do.  So if you're looking for some free entertainment, head out the Tracy Little League fields and watch the All Stars play ball.  Tracy American and National Little League will be hosting the Section 3 9/10 and  Major tournament.  This tournament will start next week.  Teams from all over the Bay Area will be arriving in Tracy for the priveledge of representing thier league, city and section in the Regional Tourmament. Tonights game Manteca vs Salida - 9/10's== Manteca was winning 9 - 0 after 4 innings one more run and they win the game.  5th inning Salida scores 14 runs, 18 batters batter.  Salida won 18 - 9 in 6th innings.  WOW - what a game to keep score forl Nothing like kids playing ball on a hot summer evening. 07/10/2008

We all know what happened in the real estate business 4 - 6 years ago.  If you could sneeze you could sell a house.  Airports were asking to see your real estate license, it was easier to get than a drivers license in California.  So is this a BAD Market?  Nope, the market is the market.  It's either a Buyer's market or a Seller's market, neither are good or bad, they just are.  First I get confused so here is the simple version Seller's Market -- houses are selling Quick, Usually multiple offers, over asking, buyers are paying seller fees as concesseions, seller's are in the driver's seat.  MOST buyer's BUY in a SELLER'S MARKET. Buyer's Market --- Houses are taking longer to sell, amazingly rare for CA until 18 months ago.  Buyers are asking for concessions, buyers are getting closing ... 07/09/2008

WOW - it's hot outside in Tracy, CA today.  The windmills are not even moving on the hills just beyond Mountain House.  There are fires everywhere in California and it's HOT HOT HOT!  The news is requesting all outdoor youth activities to be cancelled -- this won't happen it's All Stars in Little League right now. SO my question still remains -- HOW do you SHOW homes in Arizona when it's at least 108 like it is in Tracy today on a regular basis.  I now know what the word "Sweathog" means.  It was me at 9:30 a.m. showing houses.  Please I want my 90 degree days back.... I'm tired of the air conditioner running non-stop.  Yes I'm very thankful I have air conditioning but still....... 07/09/2008

Here are the top 5 questions that home sellers in my community are asking about short sales.. 1) How much will it cost me to have you sell my home?  Answer -- you don't pay me.  The bank when it accepts the short sale will pay the commission for myself and the buyer's agent.  There are some agents who will ask for a fee upfront, or a fee to pay for a 3rd party, this is not the norm. 2) What if the bank won't talk to me about a short sale?  I hear this frequently.  The homeowner has called the bank, trying to be proactive, sometimes they are not late on their payments, YET.  Most banks will work with a homeowner once they realize that the homeowner is serious, and in real financial trouble. 3) What are the financial consequences?  We've all heard that homeowners won't be sent a 1099 -- t... 06/28/2008