I work both El Dorado County and Los Angeles County in California, so I drive between Northern California and Southern California . It is interesting to watch these real estate markets. In the the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles homes sales are up and prices are up a little also. Usually Northern California follows behind by 6 or so months ,first hitting Sacramento and working its way up the foothills. Although there are still many bank owned homes up North at least they are starting to sell also. Many multiple offers. Not saying we have a great turn for the best but things are moving. I tell my clients not to wait for the media to tell them to buy - by then its already too late. Now is the time of our lives and we will remember these times for many years.

Andy and Diane Hall have opened a new real estate office in the town of Ione, in Amador County. Andy Hall and his partner Diane have actually been in the real estate industry since 1990. Andy Hall, owner broker, has another office in Placerville, on Pleasant Valley Road. Andy and Diane specialize in country properties including horse ranches, estates, and vineyard properties in El Dorado and Amador Counties. Andy recently moved to in the little house at 121 South Sacramento Street,  in Ione and decided to make it his home office, offering the people of Ione an easy place to come for real estate advice, sales or service. Andy welcomes visits and enjoys helping people find their dream homes. Now is a great time to buy and Andy and Diane have helped many people with residential homes or investment properties. Service is their motto. Please visit their web sites --- http://www.Premiervalleyrealestate.com-www.RanchesHomesandLand.com.----www.RanchandVines.com-- or call for an apt. 209-217-7707-209-680-4033

  With the new rule on flipping homes extended--we should at least see the home comparables adjust,  if, investors buy homes at a low price and resell at a higher price within a short period  time. I hope the appraisers will consider this .I think one of the biggest problems is the appraisals, since some of these homes are selling below a decent market value. Hopefully the extended ruling will spur buyers to invest and flip. Maybe a spike in home sales?-----I wish I had the money right now----

There is lots of work to be done this year fellow agents. Laying a good foundation before the market starts to turn is very important and we are being given a great opportunity to do so.. Get your marketing in place, make sure your clientelle knows who you are, you will be to busy to do that later . People are reading and looking now and will come around when they are told by the media to do so. So be ready and let them know who is always busy and motivated.

I hear many agents complain about how bad the market is. If you were to talk to Donald Trump , billionaire real estate entropeneur---he will tell you this is the best market in over 30 years. It is all in your attitude. I believe there is more real estate available right now at the best prices and lowest interest rates I have seen in 30 years. My attitude is, we have to shift as the market shifts. Help the buyers invest now and lay a ground work for the sales to follow. Do your marketing now as sellers will be looking for agents later when the time to sell comes. Many people are getting great deals and the market will shift as the pendulum swings. Get in place and be ready for the sellers and right now help the buyers. Always market no matter how low you budget goes. Eat bread but keep marketing. For great buys visit my web site  http://www.ranchandvines.com----    ---PremierValleyRealEstate.com

   January 2010 will mark a new relationship between Diane Hall and Keller Williams Real Estate in Marina Del Rey. Diane has been in real estate for over 30 years and moved to Marina Del Rey in 2009. Diane hopes to make this charming community her new client base. Diane previously owned her own  Remax Gold real estate office in Northern California Placerville area ,selling horse ranches and vineyards. She is a member of Remax Hall of Fame and Platinum Club. She has been a consistant top achiever  in real estate since 1990. Diane still owns a ranch in Somerset Calif. and still works the area on a referral basis.Her partner Patti Babish, is also her escrow coordinator.Her other partner Andy Hall ,( Hall and Associates) ownes his own real estate office in the Placerville and works with Diane taking care of clients looking for horse properties in the foothills. Diane has  extensive real estate web sites in both Southern and Northern Calif. PLease visit www.RanchandVines.com----wwwPremierValleyRealEstate.com  and   www.ThinkDiane.net   to find the best service and knowledge available in  real estate. Diane's years in real estate bring to the  table a friendly caring lady who has learned to listen to her clients needs. You can be one of them--call Diane or e-mail---Diane@ThinkDiane.net

Diane is hoping to introduce the people of Southern California to the great buys in the Northern California Foothills around Placerville Calif.  Coming from Southern California and building a ranch in the foothills, plus 30+ years of selling vacation and horse properties,  she feels her knowledge of--- how to do it, will help transition clients from both North to South and South to North.

Hello All,

RealEstate is so very strange right now. Repo's are selling so quick I can not get my clients in. It seems thats agents are listing properties soooooooooo low that multiple offers come in and nobody but the inside guy knows how to make an offer. It is more like gambling than real estate. My clients do not have a lot of confidence is the process---a short sale is too long and a repo is a highest bidder----be glad when we get back to real estate 1A again---In the mean time I have a new web site that handles the Amador and San Joaquin area really well I think with a new search type---PremierValleyRealEstate.com

  Sales of existing homes fell in March

The national housing downturn continued in March as single-family home sales fell 2 percent in March - the seventh decline in the past eight months, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® (NAR) reported Tuesday.  The NAR said the median price of a home fell from $217,400 a year ago to $200,700 this March, a 7.7 percent decline.  The inventory of homes for sale increased by 40,000 units to 4.06 million homes.  At the March rate of sales, it would take 9.9 months to deplete the inventory, up from 9.6 months in February.

Bargain hunters boost home sales in some markets

With prices falling in many parts of the country and the number of foreclosures rising, a small yet growing number of bargain-hunting buyers are seeing an upside to the real estate market-I am actually seeing multiple offers on bank owned homes---first time home buyers with good credit can buy a home and have a payment equal to monthly rents.

The key is keeping your credit good---all parents should educate their children as young adults the value of good credit. First time buyers have a great opportunity to purchase a home now and start a solid real estate future.

Where to Price a New Short Sale

In this new short sale market I am concerned about where to start pricing a short sale for my clients. The current comps. are so varied. Any advice from you seasoned short sale agents. I work in a rural area, dealing mostly with homes on acreage, no residential subdivisions where comps. might be easier. What will the banks look at as an average short sale price???