Michael I. Pulskamp's Amador County, CA. Real Estate Blog

Lake Camanche Village, CA. 95640 Real Estate Market Report for November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:44:03 -0600

Today Lake Camanche Village has 16 active residential real estate listings. The average listing price in Lake Camanche Village is $ 242,606.

The average number of days that properties have been on the market in the area today is 200. In the last month in Lake Camanche Village has had 6 new listings and 3 listings have sold.

This month the median priced listing in Lake Camanche Village is a 3/2 Short Sale in the “Back Village”. It has 2138 square feet and a three car garage on a .50 acre lot. This home is offered at $ 220,000.

Lake Camanche Village’s lowest priced home right now is a 1056 square foot manufactured home in Camanche Park North. This home is offered at $80,000. The .15 acre lot is included.

This month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the three bedroom two bath 2385 square foot custom with great custom additions throughout. It is offered at $ 399,900.

Keep two things in mind, in a market segment this small, just a few sales can make huge differences, and often homes in this area, bordering the MetroList area, are listed in that MLS and not the Amador County Association of REALTORS® MLS. Lake Camanche Village has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Lake Camanche Village Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Jackson, CA. 95642 Real Estate Market Report for November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:57:30 -0600

Right now Jackson has 72 current residential Real Estate listings, with an average price of $ 309,264 up over five thousand dollars from October’s $ 303,883 average. In the last month 9 homes have sold but 11 have been newly listed. Jackson’s listings have been on the market for an average of 238 days.

Jackson’s median price listing today is a 1800 square foot (approx) 3/2 on 1.81 acres. It is on Upper Previtali Road, has hardwood and new tile, a big basement workshop and is offered at $ 249,000.

The lowest priced home in Jackson as of today is still the 1248 square foot manufactured 2/2 in Jackson Highlands estates. It is offered at $ 38,500 without land.

The highest priced home in Jackson is still the 4134 square foot 4 bedroom 4 bath Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Arts & Crafts Style Executive Home on 2 acres. This home is offered at $1,395,000.

With nine months of inventory (at last month's rate) Jackson has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Jackson Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Pine Grove/Pioneer, Ca. 95665, 95666 Real Estate Market Report for November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:39:45 -0600

The Pine Grove and Pioneer areas of Amador County have 144 current residential real estate listings for sale. Down 12 from last month. Right now the average asking price in the area is $ 281,255 down from last month’s $ 283,191 average. So, still dropping slightly. The average time it is taking to sell a home is 218 days. Up a bit from last month’s 193 days. In the last month 15 houses have been listed and 8 have sold. The average price of the houses that sold was $ 207,925 with an avg. list price for sold’s of $ 219,237 showing a sale to list price ratio of 94.84%.

Three properties tie for this month’s median price listing. All three are in Pioneer and they are offered at $ 249,000. The first (in no order) is a 1490 square foot 2/2 on just under a half acre. The second is a two story 3/2 on .30 acre with 1246 square feet. Third is a 1232 square foot 3/2 on .50 acre. None of these are Short sales or REO (bank owned) just old-fashioned sales!

Again this month a manufactured two bedroom two bath in Meadow Pines is the least expensive home listed in the area, asking $28,000 with $490/month space rent. Lots of storage and a nice yard.

The priciest listing in the Pine Grove/Pioneer area continues to be the 3-bedroom four-bath 4200 square-foot beauty with great views and all that upcountry charm. On 11.38 acres it is offered at $1,875,000.

But if you are looking for an amazing up country dream, just a bit farther up hill, Kirkwood has a log and timber 7500 square foot 5/6 wonder retreat with a private pond and extra bunk house. It is offered at $ 3,595,000. Stunning!

For more info on Amador County Real Estate click over to Mainstreet Brokers website or drop me an email.

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Ione CA. 95640 Real Estate Market Report for November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:27:53 -0600

This month Ione has 57 active residential real estate listings, down 5 from last month’s 62 listings.

The average listing price in Ione is $ 321,222 down about $11,000 from last month’s $ 331,505.

The number of days that properties have been on the market has risen from an average of 149 days on October 1st to 179 today.

In the last month Ione has had 5 new listings and eleven listings have sold.

This month the median priced listing in Ione is a new 3/2 built by JTS in Castle Oaks. It has 1638 square feet and a two car garage on a .15 acre lot. This home is offered at $ 255,990. It is listed as a green home because it is built to “Title 24” code.

Ione’s lowest priced home right now is a 1248 square foot manufactured home in The Oaks park. This home is offered at $50,000. Again this month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the three bedroom three bath 5100 square foot custom with three master suites, huge pool, gym, unbelievable landscaping, a caretakers home (3/2) and a 900 square foot guest/pool house. All on 97+ acres. The asking price for this one is $3,500,000.

One way that the National Association of Realtors defines markets is by months of inventory. If a market has less than six month’s of inventory it is often called a sellers market because the supply is low for the level of demand. Right now Ione has less than six months of inventory at the level of sales last month. So using that rule of thumb the Ione market is doing well. Now if we see that continue and prices start to rise…

Ione has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Ione Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Plymouth, CA. 95669 Real Estate Market Report for November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:06:37 -0600

This month Plymouth, CA. has 18 active residential real estate listings, down just one from last month’s 19 listings. The average listing price in Ione is $604,350, up a good bit from last month’s $ 573,489 but that is just the way statistics change in this kind of small market. Houses have set on the market for an average of 176 days. In the last month Plymouth has had 1 new listing. One listing has sold.

Plymouth’s median price listing offered at $ 495,000 has two stories, 4 bedrooms and three baths, an attached garage and sits on 5 acres. This home has 3674 square feet, a pool great views and trees.

This month Plymouth’s least expensive listing is a 3 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home in Plymouth Mobile Home Park offered at $58,000 and $ 260 per month space rent.

This month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the two bedroom two bath 1900 square foot home on 12.5 acres, 6 acres in grapes many olive trees and a great garden with a Patanque court. The asking price for this one is $1,750,000.

Remember, you can search Ione Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more real estate market reports.

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Amador County, CA. Real Estate Market Report for November 1, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:44:08 -0600

Inventory is slightly down…   Today, November 1, 2009 the Amador County Association of REALTORS® MLS shows a total of 394 active residential listings in Amador County, down 32 from last month.

These listings have a $ 361,509.00 average listing price, up over a thousand dollars from last month’s average. Maybe we are seeing prices stabilizing a bit...

The average number of days on market for these listings is 213 days, up 19 days, from October first’s 194 day average. This could be due to the rush for that $8,000 tax credit.

In the last month Amador County has had 48 new listings and 39 listings have sold.

Today the lowest priced listing is a 960 square foot manufactured home on a large .30 acre lot in Meadow Pines (Pioneer) It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, new carpet, vinyl, paint, and fixtures and even a pellet stove in the living room. This home is listed at $28,000 without the land. Space rent is $490 per month. Water is $34.96 per month Septic is $18.50 per month. This park DOES include children.

The highest priced listing is a big operating vineyard on over 137 acres in “The Valley.” It is offered for $5.1 million.

This month the same three new houses in Castle Oaks, Ione are in a tie for the median priced listing. These houses are listed as “green” as they are new homes and built to Title 24 code. They are each offered at $ 269,990.

At the rate of sales last month, it would take about 10 months to deplete the current Amador County Real Estate inventory. This is often looked at to decide basic market trends. This number is down from last month’s 15 month’s inventory. Showing a good trend that the market might actually be recovering, a little… But we still have a long way to go.

The National Association of Realtors sometimes defines a market with over six months of inventory as a “buyers market”. Up here in the foothills inventory is often somewhat slower to move. Nonetheless, with almost a year of inventory, buyers that are ready, willing, and able, should have their pick. Amador County Real Estate awaits you.

P.S. The turkey is no reference to any real estate, just November!

Just click over if you would like to Search Amador County listings.

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Jackson, CA. 95642 Real Estate Market Report for October 1, 2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:56:14 -0500

Right now Jackson has 72 current residential Real Estate listings, with an average price of $ 303,883 down forty five thousand from September’s $ 349,272 average. In the last month only 3 homes have sold but 11 have been newly listed. Jackson’s listings have been on the market for an average of 226 days.

Jackson’s median price listing today is a 1290 square foot 3/2. It is on Hoffman Street and is offered at $ 246,050.

The lowest priced home in Jackson as of today is a 1248 square foot manufactured 2/2 in Jackson Highlands estates. It is offered at $ 38,500 without land.

The highest priced home in Jackson is still the 4134 square foot 4 bedroom 4 bath Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Arts & Crafts Style Executive Home on 2 acres. This home is offered at $1,395,000.

Jackson has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Jackson Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Pine Grove/Poineer 95666, 95665 Real Estate Market Report for October 1, 2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:50:50 -0500

The Pine Grove and Pioneer areas of Amador County have 160 current residential real estate listings for sale. Right now the average asking price in the area is $ 283,191 down from last month’s $ 303,541 average. The average time it is taking to sell a home is 193 days. In the last month 27 houses have been listed and 10 have sold. The average price of the houses that sold was $ 143,820.

The median price right now in the Pine Grove/Pioneer area is $ 249,000, only down $900 from last month’s median.
Three properties are offered at the median price right now. A two story, three bedroom two bath 1246 square foot home on .3 acre. A 1722 square foot, 3/3 Short Sale on 2.64 acres. And a one story 1232 square foot three bedroom two bath on .50 acre.

Again this month a manufactured two bedroom two bath in Meadow Pines is the least expensive home listed in the area, asking $28,000 with $490/month space rent. Lots of storage and a nice yard.

The priciest listing in the Pine Grove/Pioneer area continues to be the 3-bedroom four-bath 4200 square-foot beauty with great views and all that upcountry charm. On 11.38 acres it is offered at $1,875,000.

For more info on Amador County Real Estate click over to Mainstreet Brokers website or drop me an email.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Ione, CA. 95640 Real Estate Market Report for October 1, 2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:46:30 -0500

This month Ione has 62 active residential real estate listings, down 5 from last month’s 67 listings. The average listing price in Ione is $ 331,505 up a good bit from last month’s $ 311,172. The number of days that properties have been on the market has dropped from an average of 153 days on September 1st to 149 today. In the last month Ione has had 7 new listings. And seven listings have sold.

Three new houses in Castle Oaks, Ione are in a tie for this month’s median priced listing. These houses are listed as “green” as they are new homes and built to title 24 code. They are each offered at $ 249,990.

This month, Ione’s (and Amador County’s) least expensive home listing is a 3 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home in “The Oaks” park offered at $25,000 including land. Most of the value is the land unless you are very handy, and want a fixer.

Again this month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the three bedroom three bath 5100 square foot custom with three master suites, huge pool, gym, unbelievable landscaping, a caretakers home (3/2) and a 900 square foot guest/pool house. All on 97+ acres. The asking price for this one is $3,500,000.

Ione has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Ione Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more real estate market reports.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Sutter Creek, CA. 95685 Real Estate Market Report for October 1, 2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:33:11 -0500

Right now Sutter Creek has 48 currant residential listings, with an average price of $ 516,037 down a few thousand from September’s $ 520,650 average. In the last month only 3 homes have sold but 8 have been newly listed. Sutter Creek’s listings have been on the market for an average of 194 days down from 236 days average last month.

Sutter Creek’s $399,500 median price listing today is a 2600 square foot 4/3 on almost a half-acre, with marble and granite!

The lowest priced home in Sutter Creek as of today is still the manufactured 2/2 in Sutter Terrace Estates. It is offered at $ 57,500 and $77 /month rent.

Again this month, the highest price home for sale in the area is NOT YET BUILT!
It will be a top of the line custom with all the bells and whistles, 4000+ square feet, built-in Wolf range, Kohler fixtures, granite counters…
It is on just over five acres, and is offered at $ 1,800,000 with a price drop from last month of $ 300,000.

As you see, Sutter Creek has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Sutter Creek Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Amador County, CA. Real Estate Market Report for October 1, 2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:08:36 -0500

Today October 1, 2009 the Amador County Association of REALTORS® MLS shows a total of 426 active residential listings, down 25 from last month.

These listings have a $ 360,301.00 average listing price, down over ten thousand dollars from last month’s average. Prices are still dropping… Mine too.

The average number of days on market for these listings is 194 days, down a statistically meaningless 7 days, from September first’s 201 day average.

In the last month Amador County has had 67 new listings and 28 listings have sold.

Today the lowest priced listing is a twenty year old, 3/2 manufactured home on .12 acres in The Oaks Park in Ione. This one’s value is mostly in the land but still looks like a good deal to me.

The highest priced listing is a big operating vineyard on over 137 acres in “The Valley.” It is offered for $5.1 million.

Three new houses in Castle Oaks, Ione are in a tie for this month’s median priced listing. These houses are listed as “green” as they are new homes and built to title 24 code. They are each offered at $ 269,990.

At the rate of sales last month, it would take a bit more than 15 months to deplete the current Amador County Real Estate inventory. This is often looked at to decide basic market trends. This number is down almost 2 months. Meaning that the market might actually be recovering, a little…

The National Association of Realtors sometimes defines a market with over six months of inventory as a “buyers market”. Up here in the foothills inventory is often somewhat slower to move. Nonetheless, with almost a year and a half of inventory, buyers that are ready, willing, and able, should have their pick.
Amador County Real Estate awaits you.

Just click over if you would like to Search Amador County listings.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

What a great preview app for my iphone

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:28:40 -0500

While looking around the Apple iTunes store for the just right mileage recorder, that I still haven’t found, I did stumble across an awesome app.

In my market many buyers are coming from a few hours away and would like to get a good look at a few properties before making the trip out. I was actually written up in the CAR magazine for using flickr.com to preview properties for clients. And now I have an even better tool. Say It & Mail It lets me email a voice message and picture quickly right to my client’s email. What a cool little app. That can really show (and tell) what you need to get across.

So far I really like this one. I’ve only had it since the other night, but I am sure that this will come in handy!

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Volcano, CA. 95689 Real Estate Market Report for September 1st. 2009

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:23:53 -0500

The Volcano area of Amador County has only 8 current residential real estate listings for sale. Right now the average asking price in the area is $ 649,862 and the average time it is taking to sell a home is 271 days. In the last month one house has been listed and none have sold.

The median price right now in the Volcano area is $ 500,000. The median priced property is a wonderful estate with a 2/2.5 main house and a smaller 2/1 plus a shop and out buildings. This almost 42 acre parcel might be split into as small as 5 acres, and has a beautiful pond.

A short sale three bedroom two and a half bath 1573 square foot home, on just over an acre, is the least expensive sale listed in the area, asking $219,900.

The priciest listing in the Volcano, CA. area is a three bedroom two and a half bath contemporary on 4.85 acres. It has 3063 square feet and is offered at $695,000, down from an original asking price of $790,000.

For more info on Amador County Real Estate click over to Mainstreet Brokers website or drop me an email.

Reas More Amador County Market Reports.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Pine Grove/Pioneer, CA. 95665 95666 Real Estate Market Report for September 1, 2009

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:45:47 -0500

The Pine Grove and Pioneer areas of Amador County have 155 current residential real estate listings for sale. Right now the average asking price in the area is $ 303,541 and the average time it is taking to sell a home is 192 days. In the last month 20 houses have been listed and 11 have sold. The average price of the houses that sold was $ 184,708.

The median price right now in the Pine Grove/Pioneer area is $ 249,900, down from last month’s median of $269,000.
Two properties are offered at the median price right now. One is a three bedroom two and a half bath 1938 square foot “bank owned” on .32 acre. The other is a 1176 square foot two bedroom three bath In the pine trees.

A manufactured two bedroom two bath in Meadow Pines is the least expensive home listed in the area, asking $28,000 with $490/month space rent. Lots of storage and a nice yard.

The priciest listing in the Pine Grove/Pioneer area continues to be the 3-bedroom four-bath 4200 square-foot beauty with great views and all that upcountry charm. offered at $1,875,000.

For more info on Amador County Real Estate click over to Mainstreet Brokers website or drop me an email.

More Amador County Market info.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Ione, CA. 95640 Real Estate Market Report for September 1st. 2009

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:43:08 -0500

This month Ione has 67 active residential real estate listings, up four from last month’s 63 listings. The average listing price in Ione is $311,172, down a good bit from last month’s $ 319,715 but still up from July’s $278,902. Houses have set on the market for an average of 153 days. In the last month Ione has had 14 new listings. Four listings have sold. Half as many as last month. That is just the way the numbers work in a small area like Ione; 4 closings can double the sales stats.

Ione’s median price listing offered at $239,000 has two bedrooms and two baths, an attached garage and sits on .15 acres. This short sale home in Castle Oaks has 1239 square feet.

This month, again, Ione’s least expensive home listing is still a 2 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home in “The Oaks” park offered at $50,000 including land.

This month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the three bedroom three bath 5100 square foot custom with three master suites, huge pool, gym, unbelievable landscaping, a caretakers home (3/2) and a 900 square foot guest/pool house. All on 97+ acres. The asking price for this one is $3,500,000.

Ione has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Ione Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more real estate market reports.

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Jackson, CA. 95642 Real Estate Market Report for September 1st 2009

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:34:40 -0500

Right now Jackson has 87 currant residential listings, with an average price of $ 349,272 down twenty two thousand from August’s $ 327,202 average. In the last month only 3 homes have sold but 8 have been newly listed. Jackson’s listings have been on the market for an average of 239 days. Some quick sales have brought that average down from last month’s 344 days.

Two homes tie for Jackson’s $299,000 median price listing today. One is a 1659 square foot 3 bedroom 2 bath contemporary with a xeriscaped yard, 2-car garage, and a great view overlooking Jackson from the deck. The other is a 1250 square foot 3 bedroom 2 bath on Peak Hill, also with a nice view of town.

The lowest priced home in Jackson as of today is a manufactured 2/2 in Rollingwood estates. It is offered at $ 44,500

The highest priced home in Jackson is once again the 4134 square foot 4 bedroom 4 bath Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Arts & Crafts Style Executive Home on 2 acres. This home is offered at $1,395,000.

Jackson has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Jackson Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more Market Reports.

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Sutter Creek, CA. 95685 Real Estate Market Report for September 1st. 2009

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:24:46 -0500

Right now Sutter Creek has 53 currant residential listings, with an average price of $ 520,650 up about eleven thousand from August’s $ 509,027 average. In the last month only 1 home has sold but 8 have been newly listed. Sutter Creek’s listings have been on the market for an average of 236 days.

Sutter Creek’s $424,000 median price listing today is a 2-bedroom 2-bath 1162 square foot contemporary custom mountain retreat. The 10+ acres give room to ad and the views are breathtaking.

The lowest priced home in Sutter Creek as of today is a manufactured 2/2 in Sutter Terrace Estates. It is offered at $ 57,500 and $77 /month rent.

The highest price home for sale in the area is NOT YET BUILT!
It will be a top of the line custom with all the bells and whistles, 4000+ square feet, built-in Wolf range, Kohler fixtures, granite counters…
It is on just over five acres, and is offered at $ 2,100,000.

As you see, Sutter Creek has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Sutter Creek Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Read more Market reports.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Amador County, CA. Real estate market report for September 1st 2009

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:13:58 -0500

Looking at today, September 1, 2009, Amador County has 451 current active residential listings of homes for sale, forty-eight less than the 489 on August 1 and thirty-eight less than the 479 on the first of July.

These listings have an average asking price of $ 370,218 down about eight thousand dollars from the $378,356 on August 1st, and about seven thousand down from the July first average of $367,624.

The average number of days on market for these listings is 201 days, down 21 days from August first’s 222 day average

In the last month Amador County has had 61 new listings and 27 listings have sold.

Five Listings tie for the median priced house for sale in Amador County. Three in Pioneer, one in Sutter Creek and one in Ione. Each is offered for $ 279,000. That median price is down $20,000 from last month.

The lowest priced home for sale in Amador County is a 2/2 manufactured home in Meadow Pines Park, Pioneer. This home is on almost a third of an acre, with storage buildings and room to garden. Space rent is $490 /month Water is $34.96 and septic is $18.50. This park allows children.

The highest price home in the area remains this month, the “turnkey operation”-producing producing vineyard in Fiddletown, on over 137 acres with a 3250 square foot 5/2.5, with an asking price of $5,100,000.

At the rate of sales last month, it would take 17 months to deplete the current Amador County Real Estate inventory. This is often looked at to decide basic market trends. The National Association of Realtors sometimes define a market with over six months of inventory as a “buyers market”. Up here in the foothills inventory is often somewhat slower to move. Nonetheless, with almost a year and a half of inventory, buyers that are ready, willing, and able, should have their pick.
Amador County Real Estate awaits you.

If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to zap me an email or drop me a line.

Please send you good thoughts along for my friend John Michael O'Sullivan

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:02:15 -0500

On Sunday evening my friend John "Scully" O'Sullivan was killed in rural Amador County. This was the first violent death in the county this year. but Even one is way to many, and John was a friend.

John and his wife and business partner Krista Clem, are area real estate developers, and we all know that right now developers are at best "looking forward to better times..."

Well I have put up a little site for John, and if you have the chance to drop by please do. If you are in a place to help get him "home to Ireland" I have added a paypal button for donations.

Thanks

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

The Next Green Step, some more things to understand

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:26:27 -0500

Ok, We took the little steps towards some “GREEN” for Amador County Real Estate in the last post. Now we can look at some bigger steps. These certainly will not be for everyone, but information can only help, so don’t feel bad if these opportunities are a bit out of reach, just do what you can and try to think about what you are doing…

The biggies, or” How dark is your green?” But first some background...

In the last post we talked about turning off the stuff you aren’t using and CFL’s now lets talk about making your own energy. In case you didn’t know it, energy generation is a misnomer. You can’t actually “generate” energy. You can only change its form into one that you can more easily utilize. And all of the energy on this planet comes from only three real sources: atomic, kinetic, and solar. So you might say atomic and kinetic, but I think the local atomic (here on earth) and atomic from that big star we see everyday rate their own mention. The kinetic friction is the stuff that gives us geothermal heating and volcanoes, it has some affect on the planet’s temperature but it is a very stable affect in the big picture. We use atomic energy to heat water into steam to run turbines to turn generators to give us electricity. Only a small percent of our energy gets to us this way, it is rather dangerous in many people’s eyes, and the left-overs are going to be a real challenge.

Lets break those three sources down a bit

There is a little bit of tidal power being tested but so far only on small scale. That would be kinetic… The moon draws tides that in one way or another spin generators, or in some cases “pull” generators… don’t ask… How ‘bout hydroelectric? Well that is really solar. The sun evaporates water into clouds that move by wind (we will get to that next) up mountains where they cool and the rain/snow falls out, eventually ending up above a dam or water wheel that turns a generator…
But what about wind? Yep, that is solar too, the reason that wind happens, is changes in temperature of air over different parts of the planet’s surface, the changes in temperature are due to the sun heating some areas more than others. Hot air rises and is less dense than cool air. The changes move air around that in turn can spin blades… you guessed it, that turn generators. And of course there is that sexy Photo-Voltaic, This is a more direct conversion for photons to electrons due to exciting stuff in thin panels of layered silica and assorted metals, (Ok, it is magic) By the way Gas, diesel, oil, coal, wood, bio diesel, alcohol, are all solar, just stored in other forms.

I could go on… but I bet you see where I’m going. But how does this fit in to Real estate?

I’m glad you asked…

If you play your cards just right you can take advantage of at least one of the three energy sources we have, in and around your own home. We ought to leave that tricky atomic stuff out. It is rather dangerous. And Geothermal heating is also rather large scale for all but the very luckiest of us, unlike geothermal cooling witch is different. But you can reasonably think about solar in its different forms.

Most of us think of big black panels up on roofs when we hear solar and that is because that is the most popular alternative power system for individual homes these days at least here in the USA. Those panels are Photo-Voltaic (Light-Electricity).

You also see Solar-Thermal (that is sunlight to heat) often on residential roofs. Solar-Thermal is a great way to cut heating bills, these systems coupled with on demand water heaters, and radiant floors or even pool heaters, all make great sense. But we really think most about PV. These days, systems are being sponsored by government at all levels, from Federal down to City. Programs abound, and many of us can actually finance these systems to the point that the monthly savings on electric bills can counter the monthly cost or the systems. Break-even dates are ever closing with the cost of systems dropping and the cost of electricity on the rise. These days it is common to see systems pay for themselves in five to seven years. That is about the historic amount of time between average house re-sales here in California. Now remember that these systems often have 25 year warranties and tests show very little degradation even at the 50 year mark. So if they pay off in five years, that means FREE POWER for the next twenty years minimum.

Look at your last bill, what could you get with that much cash each month? Installing a PV solar system could easily get you that savings in a few short years.

Don’t forget how that cost savings could affect the ability of more buyers to purchase a given house… If the system saves $100.00 per month that means around $16,000 more house (assuming 6%, 30 year fixed) The ability to convince appraisers and banks of this simple math is growing but the average buyer can understand it already.

Programs to bundle improvements like this into purchase loans have been in the market for decades, but they are really just catching on now.

PV is a great answer for many of us, but it’s not the only answer. Wind is getting more and more popular, It has its problems sound, sight, safety, and vertical space issues, Not to mention the long term /big environmental issues with slowing down the wind ( I will come back to that in some other post), but it is something to think about and if you are lucky enough to have a stream on your property, micro-hydro-electric is a fast growing technology.

Very few of us in the US have the opportunity to plumb into geothermal heat sources, that tech is growing fast in other parts of the world, but it may never get to the point of individual homes being powered that way, but towns or neighborhoods maybe… I will talk more later about geothermal cooling, that is much more available to the average person, although not cheap to ad on, but with the cost of energy going up, I expect to see more and more of this wonderfully sensible technology.

For most of us this stuff in just background, or things to think about. If you would like to talk about ways that these things can help you in you real estate endeavors, feel free to give me a call (209) 257-4590 email me, or click over to Mainstreet Brokers' website. In the next post we can talk about some Building technology to help put some of these things together

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

A Few Green Steps in Amador County Real Estate

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:58:33 -0500

A Few Green Steps in Amador County Real Estate

As Amador County’s First EcoBroker certified® REALTOR® and GREEN designee, I obviously have a thing for “GREEN,” I love to share and discus opportunities and choices in energy efficiency, sustainability, and the triple bottom line in Real Estate. In these next few posts I aim to share a few ideas on ways to save you money as you save energy, water, and other resources. Making good green choices is not about suffering for savings, but just the opposite, living a comfortable life with less waste.

So lets go!

Low Hanging Fruit.

Lighting and electrical use…

This is free, and rather obvious; turn it off if you aren’t using it. This goes for almost anything, and this is getting easier and easier all the time. Now you can even have smart systems installed to do the more difficult part of this for you. They can even be set up to automatically power down the things you really can’t use while you are away. This type of system knows when you leave and shuts down power for things like your TV, PC and wall warts. All of the little electrical draws do really ad up to a big difference in your bill and in the need to “fire up” power plants and even build new ones. Standard size wall switches are even avalible that will turn themselves off if they do not detect motion for a preset time. Areal "no bainer."

And how about the lights themselves? Those old off color, slow to warm up, and costly, Compact Fluorescent Lamps are just about a thing of the past, These days CFL’s are mostly instant on and many are even dimmable and color temperatures have improved greatly as well. As for the neysayers who ballyhoo about mercury in the lamps, of course, it is contained unless you break the lamp, and even then it is a very small amount. So that you have an idea what to do when this happens, here is what the EPA says to do with broken CFL’s.

Old CFL’s should always get recycled. Here in California we have the “Take It Back” program at many hardware and home stores (take old household batteries there also).

Spring and fall are great times to walk around the house and look for things like weather-stripping that needs to be replaced or upgraded. This inexpensive little fix can save hundreds of dollars in energy bills and make you more comfortable at the same time. If you are thinking of moving in the future, or just want to doing the best job of sealing those leaks you can, you might think about having a home energy rating done. This will tell you ware the biggest bang for your bucks will be, and often you can do “before and after” tests to show real improvements. You want to do these fixes as early as you can to be able to show good data to buyers. Keep in mind, and be sure that those prospective buyers are informed that these savings are real dollars that can let them more comfortably buy (Their) your house. If the question is between your house and an other similar house, if you can show that your energy bill is one or two hundred dollars (or more) less that the norm, that can make a big deal to a buyer who is already stretching every penny to buy.

Other things to keep in mind are passive solar opportunities. Don’t think that this is all just about site selection, and that your home is already where it is so you can’t fix this. Go out and take a good look at what you have, figure out those solar angles, and think about planting some shade trees on the sun side of your home. Maybe a canopy or some drop down shades? You will be surprised at the difference these changes can make.

These are a few cheep and easy things to think about doing, whether you are just starting to look, moving in, thinking about selling or looking for the little thing that will make your listing stand out from the crowd. In my next post I will up the ante a bit, we can look at some of the bigger things…

By the way if you are looking for a great easy way to shop for green products, Let me invite you to look at New Leaf America, I will vouch for them, I have met and talked with the owner, Chris Prelitz and he is very “dark green” and very well informed.

As always I would love to talk to you about these things and Amador County Real Estate.
Leave a comment, Email me, Give me a call (209) 257-4590 or visit Mainstreet Brokers’ Website.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Finally, Ione has its own Pet Store!

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:34:20 -0500

I remember the first day I met Pam, She and her parents were checking out Lake Amador where I was working, looking at the possibility of moving into the park. You got the feeling right away that these were just nice people. And the feeling was right.

Fast-forward many years. Pam and her family did make the move and I guess Amador County stuck. Pam, her husband, and their kids now run Pets N Stuff in Ione. Although the Shop has been in business since the 1970's Pam and her familly have not been in charge all that time but they had run it for years. After a stint in Jackson the shop made the move to Ione about a year ago, and from what I see they are thriving as well as can be expected in this economy. These folks are all about the area, The kids go to school here and here oldes actually drives the shop's sponsered demolition derby car.

The personal and expert care that we need from the people who help us with our animal friends can be found at Pets N Stuff. They carry the best in pet food, supplements, and supplies. You can even purchase fish and small pets at the shop. Always willing to do special orders if what you want is not in stock, Ione finally has a pet shop of its own. So if you would rather save the gas and time or even more importantly these days keep your money in the county as opposed to going to some big box, corporate, pet company, check out Pets N Stuff.

When you make the Real Estaste jump don't forget the rest of the familly, They need to be part of the move as well. Click over to Mainstreet Brokers website to learn more about how I can help you here in Amador County.

Pets N Stuff

217 W Jackson St

Ione, CA 95640-9599
(209) 274-4324

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

If you are an Amador vegetarian or vegan, STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE!

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:03:37 -0500

Amador County has many stories of discovered treasure and fortunes made, but lots of them date back to the late 1800’s this “Mother Load” score only dates back to 1945 when What would become Swingles Meats was little more than a cold storage facility for the many locals who had not yet purchased those “new fangled” fridges and freezers we all take for granted these days. Soon a curing house and then an old style smokehouse were added and butchering was offered. The rest is history…

These days Jay runs the place, after years working for the first and second generation of “Swingles” He still holds up the extremely high standards they set back in the good old days. With so many product choices, well into the hundreds, Jay has actually lost count.
Swingles Meats is known far and wide. Hundreds of people come from as far as the bay area to get the famous cuts and cures only available here and when locals want the best this is the spot.

Often local 4H kids grow right into a job working the next step in the food process, at Swingles. Right now Swingles employs over a dozen people and with the level of quality here and many peoples’ move to staying home for nice dinners, thanks to the economy, business is brisk and most of the employees work well over 40 hrs. per week.

After you try Swingles Meats you will be hooked. The only question will be which marinade and what cut. I have only had great service and great quality meats here. Extra services like game processing (obvious by the décor) and butchering of local stock are always welcome. My wife and I have even gone in on underwriting an organic local hog, processed by Swingles, THE BEST! I can’t even tell you how good the bacon and hams turned out.

If you come to the Northern intersection of highway 49 and highway 88 just befor you drop into Jackson, you will see the big cow over Swingles Meats. Come in six days a week and get a meat treat! This old style butcher is a rare find, trust me…

I really love to introduce my carnivorous Amador County Real Estate Clients to Swingles Meats and if you are a vegetarian or vegan, STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE!
Let me show you around the Amador County Farmers’ Market. I’ll set you up too!

Swingles Meats

12964 KENNEDY FLAT ROAD

Jackson, CA. 95642

209.223.0731

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Jackson Tire Service, My tire shop in Amador County

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:53:22 -0500

Jackson Tire Service is the place to go for tires here in Amador County, At least that’s where I go…

Patrick, one of the founders of the company says that Jackson Tire Service employs almost a dozen people at the two stores, one in Jackson, and for the last two years, one up the hill in Pine Grove.

A Local Company unlike so many tire shops these days, Jackson Tire doesn't bat an eye at my low profile rubber on my Scion, my wife's run on flats for her mini, or agriculture tires for my sister's tractor. Always doing a great business from what I see every time I come by, Jackson Tire Service caries most major brands. Now in their thirty-seventh year they go out of their way to help with community activities, sponsoring all sorts of local things like kids clubs and little league teams to the County Fair Demolition Derby! Pat is even on the City Council.

The shop does exhaust, breaks, alignments, suspension, and of course, Tires! So next time you need any of those services keep Patrick and Jackson Tire in mind…

And tell them I sent You!

Jackson Tire Service

801 S State Highway 49
Jackson, CA 95642-2699
(209) 223-3000

20084 State Highway 88
Pine Grove, CA 95665
(209) 296-8473

If you need any help with Real Estate or just want to learn about Amador County, Click over to Mainstreet Brokers Website.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate

Plymouth and Fiddletown, CA. Real Estate Market Report for August 3, 2009

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:24:00 -0500

This Real Estate Market Report will be covering both Plymouth and Fiddletown, California. The spread of properties offered in these areas differ from manufactured homes in rental parks to producing vineyards in wine country, so the numbers can easily confuse. Even though I'm reporting averages, this area really is much more than the numbers.

The Plymouth and Fiddletown areas of Amador County have 35 current residential real estate listings for sale. Right now the average asking price in the area is $699,794 and the average time it is taking to sell a home is 171 days. In the last month 6 houses have been listed and 2 have sold. The average price of the houses that sold was $111,125. You can see that a few big properties can really skew the numbers in small towns. Notice the spread from average list price to average sales price.

The median price right now in the Plymouth and Fiddletown area is $535,000.
The median priced home right now is 6.5 acre 3bedroom two and a half bath ranch, on Carbondale Road.

A manufactured three bedroom two bath in Plymouth Manor is the least expensive home listed in the area, asking $68,000 with $255/month space rent.

The highest price home in the area is a “turnkey operation” producing vineyard in Fiddletown, on over 137 acres with a 3250 square foot 5/2.5, with an asking price of $5,100,000.

For more info on Amador County Real Estate click over to Mainstreet Brokers website or drop me an email. Remember that you can search all of Amador County's listings for free.

This info is deemed correct but you should confirm.

Michael I. Pulskamp

Mainstreet Brokers

Amador County Real Estate