I have spent much of my life in the world of Consumer Electronics. What started as a personal passion for stereo equipment, turned into a great career, first in retail and then working for major well known Japanese electronics giant. I was in the business so long and learned things that after a while seemed like simple common knowledge. I was always surprised that some of these things were such a mystery to people outside the industry. The same thing is now true for me and other Real Estate professionals. A small item in our newspaper today mentioned a man who had been defrauded out of $500.00 while trying to lease a home that had been advertised on Craig's List. The ad stated that the home was move in ready and if you sent $500.00 to an address in Nigeria the keys to the property would... 03/23/2012

I did not receive notification in the mail. No registered letter, nothing. Didn't get an email, text message on my cell, again, NOTHING! My notification came at the mall of all places. Caught me by complete surprise. I'm walking along when suddenly I notice this older guy walking beside me, in perfect pace. He didn't say anything just walked along. He had a gray beard, gut a little over the belt, glasses attached to his sweatshirt. Then suddenly he disappeared! Just as suddenly he was back again. Then the realization, it was me, my reflection in the large glass windows. I had been notified. I was old, looked old and dressed old. Doesn't seem fair. Should get notice at thirty that middle age is fast approaching. Should get something at forty to say, you have reached middle age. At fifty ... 03/21/2012

For most of the worlds population the New Year began at midnight on January 1st. For others, the Year of the Dragon, the Chinese New Year began at midnight on January 23. For many of us the 2012 New Year starts on March 28 at the Tokyo Dome where the Seattle Mariners will take on the Oakland Athletics in the first game of the 2012 MLB season. When the new baseball season begins so does the New Year. That's just me. MLB actually considers the "official" opening day to be April 5th when most major league teams begin play here in America. Major League Baseball officially began on April 22, 1876 at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. For me the history of the world began with the founding of the Cleveland Indians, who began play at Old League Park (a stadium built of wood) in 1901... 03/18/2012

A short time ago I wrote a blog called "War Has Been Declared". It was about a young couple that was divorcing and the struggle I was having getting their property on the market and beginning the short sale process. I am not telling you the Hatfields and McCoys have apologized to each other or that the Yankees and Red Sox are exchanging Christmas cards, but I will tell you there is peace in the valley (that's the Central Valley here in California) or at least a temporary truce. I explained to each side that not getting the short sale completed would have a devastating effect on their credit as not selling would result in a foreclosure(I tried to sound threatening). I told them you don't have to like each to do business with each other and this is a business agreement. It worked. We sat ... 03/09/2012

It was just Christmas. It was just New Years. It was just President's Holiday. It was just Valentine's Day. It is ALMOST 2:00 a.m. March 11th SPRING FORWARD! Did you remember? 03/08/2012

I love taking photos of flags flapping in the wind.   I always stop, pause and give thanks that I'm an American. That there are those fighting every day to keep our contry free. This was taken at the University of Texas, Pan American  at my son's FIRST collegiate D1 Baseball game. 03/07/2012

I know MANY people hate dandelions in their yard. Look at the park near my house, the tiny knoll is covered with blooming dandelions.  They look so pretty.  I'm sure the City of Tracy will send the landscaping crew to mow these down before they become a garden of wishes.... (You remember being little, pulling the dandelion puff and making a wish by blowing the seeds everywhere?)   03/07/2012

Supply and Demand Market Report for 3/7/2012 Not much has changed.... there is still much more demand than there is supply in Tracy, CA. This shoud push prices upward, however we have not seen price increases YET. Are you ready to buy?  What are you waiting for?  Spring is when more buyers decide to buy.... start now, get ahead of the curve. 03/07/2012

A photo (or Graph) is worth a THOUSAND words. WOW - look at how many houses were for sale in 11/10- 320 In 11/11 there were 178 homes on the market - almost half. When we as Tracy REALTORS' state, we have a very limited inventory, this is proof is that our inventory is very depleted. Notice that in 1/12 there are 182 homes PENDING and only 151 for sale.  WHY, SHORT SALES!  Short Sales are pending once the seller accepts an offer and is waiting for the bank's approval. If you are looking to buy in Tracy or Mountain House, CA call a REALTOR, homes come and go FAST!  Be patient, listed to your REALTOR. 03/05/2012

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Tenacity _ Wait and see... As I promised then, here is the result. This is DRY soil, it only gets watered when it rains.   It is hard as cement.  I have no idea how long these little guys have been blooming here. But it gives new meaning to BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED. When there is a will there is always a way....   03/05/2012

Do you see what I see..... look close right UNDER the STOP sign. I was headed home today, just turned into my neighborhood.  I followed Mr. Officer into the neighborhood, watched him do a u-turn, and PARK and get Radar ready. If you are driving on South on Sycamore, towards Wanda Hirsch Elementary School and you are speeding, be prepared to meet Mr. Officer.   I'm happy to see Mr. Officer there, as people drive SUPER FAST down this neighborhood street. 03/05/2012

Why aren't home prices going up? I recently posted about the current market conditions in Tracy, CA as of 3/1/2012   One of the KEY findings is that demand is suprassing supply. Basic economics state DEMAND goes UP, supply goes DOWN, Prices go UP. However, we are seeing NO price increases in Tracy, CA, in fact prices have been FLAT for months. The question is why?  Why aren't we seeing a price increase? I think there are 2 reasons. 1) Appraisers.  Despite multiple offers, over asking, appraisers are not appraising at asking price.  Appraisal comes in low, buyer requestes seller (usually a bank) to match the appraiser's price.  The majority of the time the seller does make this change.  This is especially true if this an FHA appraisal that now "sticks" with the property for 6 months. 2) ... 03/03/2012

I get this report weekly, this is just part of the report. Of the the things to note is the 91 days on market in Tracy, CA.  It's very important to note that this 91 days include short sales.  Tracy Short Sale homes are on the market longer than the most while waiting for the bank to approve the short sale.  This date does not reflect days until accepted offer. Also note supply and demand.  Tracy Home sales are exceeding new inventory.  What that means, more homes are selling than are coming on the market. 02/28/2012

I might be wrong about this but our industry seems almost void of young people. What I mean is the young people walking off the college campus and directly into a Real Estate career. My office, at Crown Key Realty has an average age of about fifty (50). I say about as some of the members would not respond politely when I ask their age. The young people (18 -30 as a start) that I know in the industry are here because their parents own a brokerage and they have been exposed to Real Estate their entire life. As an industry are we making an effort to recruit young people? Do we shout out loud the benefits of a career in Real Estate? Do we tell young people about the unlimited income potential that is offered or are we to cynical to tell young people that Real Estate is a great way to make a... 02/21/2012

That's a great question, and one I get asked frequently.   There are so many factors that contribute to the appropriate answer for YOU and your short sale situation. I know that most home owners in Tracy and Mountain House, CA who purchased their homes prior to 2005 are upside down.  Making the decision to stay or go is not easy.   What I do know is that NO ONE can make that decision for you.  What I do know is that short sales have become very common, and appear easy way to "start over" financially. Here are a few tips. 1) Talk to your accountant and an attorney 2) Determine what your hardship it, being upside down in your mortgage may not be a good enough reason for the investor that holds you loan. 3) If you want to stay in your property do a loan modification FIRST. There is a lot t... 02/18/2012

My Broker and I have a great relationship and I have blogged about her in the past. Recently another side of her personality reared its head. The competitive side. I should have known, her husband is a baseball coach and all of her boys are skilled athletes. Susan, has been blogging longer and far more often than I and is an ActiveRain Ambassador. As 2012 rolled around we set goals for me to reach this year. One of the goals is to blog regularly and let ActiveRain enhance my business. I have tried to do so and this is how the competitive side of Susan popped out. A few weeks ago I posted a blog called Red Flag http://actvra.in/t9m which quickly became a featured post. As Susan and I talked that afternoon my smart phone continuously bleeped and each bleep was a new comment on Red Flag. I... 02/17/2012

I received a call from a friend asking for help selling their condo. It is a short sale and the hardship is DIVORCE! Shouldn't have answered the phone. Both husband and wife want to sell, but they have declared war on anything that is mutual. They won't sit down together or apart to sign documents. She is friendly enough and will sign docs but refuses to do a financial unless he does first. He will sign docs separate from her, but only if I (yes me) pay his divorce lawyer to be present. Shouldn't have answered the phone, but I am sure one of you have been able to overcome a situation like this before. HELP, Suggestion Box is open and waiting! My name is Dale Bledsoe with Crown Key Realty and as always I may be reached at 209-48106031. You may also visit me on the web at www.dalebledsoe.com 02/13/2012

This is right outside the Crown Key Realty office front door.  The dirt is BRICk hard, there is no water. Yet year after year these little potential beauties pop thier heads up through the dirt. Photo when blooming to follow. Dandelions excude Tenacity, they never give up.  They should not succeed, yet year after year they are successful in bringing beauty into my life. These guys are as Stubborn As I am..... when it comes to working short sales. 02/12/2012

West Valley Mall in Tracy opened  years ago.   I was one of the silly people waiting outside with child in stroller to be the first in the door to see how the City of Tracy was expanding our shopping experience. The anchor stores when the mall opened were Target, JC Penny's, Sears and Gottschaulks. The real attraction for THIS Mother of 5 at the time was the Merry Go Round in the middle of the food court, the FUN Factory and the Children's inside play area. The Merry Go Round and the Fun Factory were treats my kids earned.  Since I had 5 kids at the time ranging in age for 1 - 13 it got expensive.  The inside play area with soft sided slides, climby things was a great way for them to blow off energy when it was too cold, hot, rainy outside. So Imagine my surprise when I got to the Mall ... 02/10/2012

Rental Properties& Property Management in Tracy CA  Tracy does not have a central data base of properties that are for rent.  Therefore contacting individual property management companies is critical. Below is a list of Property Management Companies that I know that work in Tracy and the surrounding areas.  Let them know I sent you there way. If you know of other companies who’d like to be included in this list, just let me know. Bernetta & Kevin Weisswww.TeamWess.comKevin :209.346.6536Bernetta: 209-346-6535 Dave KoneskyKonesky Property Management 209-832-5300DaveKonesky@yahoo.com  Liz Tan Renaissance Property Management 209-658-3926 ltan97@yahoo.com Mary Matrikis Mary@Mitracos.com Tony Martin 209-610-3431 info@Tony4GreatHomes.com Bernadette Whisman 800-201-3894 x#3048 Bernadette@Bernad... 02/10/2012