Ray's Ramblings

Lake County Real Estate Outlook: Sales Picking Up Tempo

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:17:35 -0600

Real Estate Outlook: Sales Picking Up Tempo

Here's an important question about the current market: To figure out where we are in the current real estate market, do you look at home prices or do you focus on sales?

In a real estate market where an estimated 35 to 40 percent of all home sales are foreclosures or short sales - in other words, distressed properties-- prices don't tell you much more than the obvious that we are still "correcting" the excesses of the boom years, still peeling back those wild and unsustainable hyperinflationary price run ups.

So it's no surprise that median prices are down, year to year, in Lake County and other areas across the nation.

Sales statistics, on the other hand, tell you how fast buyers are responding to those lower prices -- and greatly improved affordability.

Right now, in Lake County sales are definitely increasing. According to information gathered from the Lake County Multiple Listing Service (MLS), fourth quarter sales are 55 percent higher than a year ago.

In a recent report from the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) sales are way up in most areas of California. This is great news, and we're in a recession. .

No question that a high proportion of these sales are distressed properties.

A total of 3,157,806 foreclosure filings, including default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions, were reported on 2,330,483 U.S. properties during the year, an 81 percent increase in total properties from 2007 and a 225 percent increase in total properties from 2006, according to RealtyTrac®'s 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report^TM. According to the report, 1.84 percent of all U.S. housing units (one in 54) received at least one foreclosure filing during the year, up from 1.03 percent in 2007.

But that's what the bottom of a real estate cycle looks like: Value-savvy buyers see the opportunities, move in and mop up the mess left over after the big party.

Happily, in this cycle, they're getting real help from the capital markets: Mortgage money is at historically-attractive low levels, and is readily available to anyone with a down payment and reasonable credit.

Rates fell again last week to an average 5.12percent for 30-year fixed loans, according to Reality Times Interest Rate Watch, and to 4.80 percent on average for 15 year loans.

If you can spot the opportunities -- and have the resources -- it's not a bad time to be a buyer.

For more information contact Ray Perry at Ray@RayPerry.com or http://RayPerry.com

Lake County Home Sales Increase, Values Drop.

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:57:13 -0600

LAKE COUNTY- Home sales increased 19.2 percent in December in Lake County compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of a home fell 37.4 percent according to information gathered from the Lake County Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

Closed escrow sales of homes in Lake County totaled 45 in December according to the MLS. The median price of a home in Lake County during December 2008 was $150,000, a 37.4 percent decrease from the $239,500 median for December 2007 according to the MLS. The December 2008 median price fell 18.9 percent compared with November's $185,000 median price. The countywide median dropped below $150,000 for the first time since early 2002.

The median price can be a bit deceiving because of the low numbers however the quarterly figures reflect the same picture.

Inventory has been steadily declining since May and along with the increased number of sales shows that many buyers are taking advantage of the low prices. Historically sales drop off in December through February and reach their peak in May.

Highlights of Lake County's housing figures for November 2008:

Lake County's Unsold Inventory Index for homes in December 2008 was 14.5 months, compared with 17.2 months for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.

Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.14 percent during December 2008, compared with 6.21 percent in December 2007, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.95 percent in December 2008, compared with 5.48 percent in December 2007.

The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 177 days in December 2008, compared with 199 days (revised) for the same period a year ago.

What does this all mean?

Prices are at their lowest in years along with interest rates. January has historically been one of the months when homes sell at their lowest prices. Investors and savvy buyers are snapping up many of the bargains as reflected in the lower inventories and higher sales numbers. Now would be the time to buy a home if you have good credit scores and down payment money. Some sellers are working with buyers by helping out with down payments. If you are considering buying or selling property, call Ray Perry at 277-9255 Ext 101 or email Ray@RayPerry.com for more information. http://rayperry.com

Home Sales Increased In Value In Lake County CA

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:02:09 -0500

By Ray Perry

LAKE COUNTY, CA-Home sales increased 15.8 percent in July in Lake County compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 25.9 percent, the Lake County Multiple Listing Serves (MLS) reported.

"Sales improved significantly in July 2008," said California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) President William E. Brown. "Deeply discounted, distressed sales continue to drive volume in many regions of the state.

"Year-to-year increases in the number of transactions ranged from a 6.7 percent increase in the San Francisco Bay Area to a 176.5 percent increase in the Riverside/San Bernardino region," he said. "In general, greater percentage gains occurred in lower-priced areas that had been most adversely affected by the market downturn since late 2005 and that are concurrently experiencing the biggest declines in prices."

Closed escrow sales of homes in Lake County totaled 88 in July according to information collected from the MLS. Countywide home sale activity increased 15.8 percent from the revised 76 sales pace recorded in July 2007. Sales in July 2008 increased 41.9 percent compared with the previous month.

The median price of a home in Lake County during July 2008 was $200,000, a 25.9 percent decrease from the revised $270,000 median for July 2007, the MLS reported. The July 2008 median price fell 8.9 percent compared with June's revised $219,450 median price.

"Once again, the 40.3 percent year-to-year decrease in the median price of a home was an all-time record, surpassing the previous record set in June with a 37.9 percent decrease," said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. "Since the statewide median remained in the $585,000 - $595,000 range through August of last year, the market will continue to experience significant year-to-year adjustments through August even if the median price holds steady over the next few months," she said. "The statewide median was last in the $350,000 range in early 2003."

The Lake County market as well as the rest of the country is being driven by the large volume of foreclosures at this time. Sellers who are not in foreclosure have to compete in the existing market. This is not a problem if they have some equity in their home and are planning to buy right away, their next home may also be selling at a reduced price so it is relative to the situation. As volume of sales increase eventually so will the prices. We may see a slight drop in volume over the next few months as the foreclosure market gets snapped up but it appears that we are at or close to the bottom of the market. The savvy buyer should take advantage of the low prices while they can.

Highlights of Lake County's Housing Figures for July 2008:

• Lake County's Unsold Inventory Index for homes in July 2008 was 13.7 months, compared with 18.5 months for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.

• Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 6.47 percent during July 2008, compared with 6.70 percent in July 2007, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable mortgage interest rates averaged 5.24 percent in July 2008, compared with 5.71 percent in July 2007.

• The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 148 days in July 2008, compared with 134 days (revised) for the same period a year ago.

To find what your home is worth, call Ray Perry.

Ray Perry is a Realtor® with CPS Country Air Properties and can be reached at 707-277-8000 Ext 101 or email http://www.move2lakecounty.com/content/contact.html

In Lake County California Property Values What Does The Government Takeover Mean to You?

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:35:02 -0500

On Sunday September 7, 2008 at 11:00 AM the Treasury Secretary of the United States announced that the government will be taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship.

The first thing to understand is that conservatorship simply means control. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, also known as agencies, are the backbone of the real estate and mortgage financing markets. These agencies are responsible for making sure that there is always adequate funding for consumers to obtain mortgage financing for real estate.

Fannie and Freddie are government sponsored agencies, which means that the government created them. However, up until Sunday, the government did not control them. Fannie and Freddie are public corporations.

As you have been hearing reported for the last few months, both of these agencies have been suffering financial losses in the billions of dollars. These losses are directly related to the national housing and financing crises that exists.

The record number of foreclosures, mortgage delinquencies and personal bankruptcies are destroying the value of the mortgage securities that Fannie and Freddie hold in their portfolios. Simply put, mortgage securities that are held by these tow agencies are backed by the consumers ability to pay their mortgages on time. When consumers are not able to pay their mortgages, and the value of real estate declines, the securities that these agencies hold, loose value. This results in the agencies inability to operate and ensure that additional funding will be available for future lending. In the end, they cannot survive without help.

The bottom line is that the current credit crisis has reached epidemic proportions and that the survival of Fannie and Freddie is a must. The government stepped in to take control was the only solution to ensure that funding will be available for mortgages and to provide stability to the housing market.

What does this mean in general?

Below are bullet points that explain the major aspects of the government takeover and how it will affect the market.

The United States Treasury now has the ability to provide an unlimited amount of funding to purchase mortgage backed securities from these agencies. The ability for Fannie and Freddie to sell their securities that money will remain available for lending.

The government control means that these companies are now backed and controlled by the government. This will almost immediately begin to create stability within the financial markets. The stabilization of the financial markets is one of the first steps to creating an economic recovery.

The bailout of these agencies will be paid for by the taxpayers, however unlike the Bear Stearns bailout, the stockholders in Fannie and Freddie will not be rewarded. Treasury Secretary Paulson has made it very clear that prior to any stockholder receiving any dividends from either Fannie or Freddie; the taxpayers must be paid back first.

At the present time there is no estimate as to how much the bailout will cost the taxpayers. A major factor in determining the total cost will be determined by how quickly the financial and real estate markets stabilize.

Interest rates are expected to remain stable for mortgage financing over the next few months. Rates are significantly lower since the announcement making financing more affordable. As of Tuesday morning Jacie Casteel from Sterling Mortgage in Lakeport reported that rates have dropped to 5.875 with zero points for a 30 year fixed Mortgage.

What opportunities exist for homeowners and homebuyers?

With the stabilization of the markets, the decline in property values is expected to slow down. If you have been waiting for values to drop further, it is possible that the bottom is very near and sitting on the sidelines much longer may cause your cost of homeownership to increase. The time to act is NOW.

Lending guidelines may get a little tougher with new government control. This potentially means that accessing funds for mortgage lending may become a little more challenging and make it harder for borrowers to qualify. Once again, if you have been waiting to purchase or refinance your home, now may be one of the most affordable times to do so.

There are many unknowns pertaining to the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. However, the takeover was a must and the actions of the government will eventually bring badly needed stability to the markets helping to reinvigorate the battered housing market in the U.S.

To find out how this effects your property value go to http://rayperry.com

Home Owner Association Under Fire

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:00:11 -0600

by Ray Perry

Lately there has been a lot of interest in the Clear Lake Riviera Homeowners Association. Some have expressed concern about the way meetings are conducted, the tactics used for enforcing the Covenants, Conditions & Regulations (CC&R's), questioning what the association dues are paying for or how the money is spent, or even if there is a need for an association.

Let's face it, when we moved here we knew there was an association and what the rules were. If we didn't like them we could have selected another location. There are plenty of subdivisions around the lake that were created without CC&R's, many choose to live or not to live in those areas because there is no conformity or little enforcement of the county regulations unless there is a complaint. This can be readily seen by driving around the county through various neighborhoods.

Because Lake County is mostly rural the county government is responsible for enforcing the county ordinances. Those departments are underfunded and understaffed so policing the county for violations is a monumental task depending on the complaints of neighbors to blow the whistle on violations before they enforce the ordinance. The same goes for the Forest Service. There is not enough staff to police each and every violation of weed and brush abatement that occurs.

As a result, neighborhoods are formed with their own CC&R's for the benefit of the residents to help police themselves. Rules and regulations are agreed upon to help keep some conformity to the community and keep property values up.

Disbanding the association because of not agreeing with the way its run is like throwing the baby out with the bath water. If the members of the association don't like the policies they can change them. If they don't like the way things are run, they can get involved. If they don't like the board members they can nominate someone they like and vote them in. Currently the association is accepting nominations to fill two board positions. The deadline is April 15, 2008. As adults we realize that Santa's elves won't be the ones at 2:00 a.m. still trying to put the bicycle together and the Tooth Fairy doesn't pay the $3,000 orthodontist bills. Someone has to make it work.

As a non-profit corporation, the association is a major corporation with a catch-the board members and committee members aren't paid with salaries, benefits and luxury cars. They are paid with a rekindled sense of community pride and enthusiasm. Their accomplishments are their rewards.

Unfortunately many complain about the association but few get involved. The board would love for the membership to help with the operations, special events and long range goals of the community association. They handle all of the day-to-day operations and all aspects of the financial and administrative responsibilities. They also do long range planning, conduct monthly meetings work on CC&R revisions along with attempting to personally man and keep active 8 plus committees.

As association members you can and should get involved. They are looking for homemakers, professionals, retirees & students to volunteer and serve on one of the following committees.

Social Committee
Purpose: Coordinate events that attract the membership and increases community spirit and public awareness. (Yard Sale - Annual Meeting - Halloween party - Xmas Party)
Rivieran Newsletter Committee

Purpose: To meet Federal and State disclosure requirements as outlined in the Davis-Sterling Act, Civil Code and Corporate Code. To update the membership on upcoming events, rules and regulation changes, etc.

ACP Committee

Purpose: To inspect/patrol, to in-process applications, for the purpose of ensuring compliance with governing documents and the building guidelines. To ensure the aesthetics of the community, and preserve property values.

Nominating Committee

Purpose: To promote and encourage member's participation on the board of director, to meet election/nominating deadlines as per governing documents, to conduct candidate orientations in May, host ballot counting in June and host social in July.

Audit Committee

Purpose: To assist the manager and treasurer in the compilation of reports, put cancelled checks in numeric order, box up records, drop off materials, etc., for the auditor's annual review.

Community Projects Committee

Purpose: To assist the board in large scale projects that affect the entire community - neighborhood watch programs, etc. To assist with research, fact finding, costing, etc.

Budget Committee

Purpose: To work with the Treasurer and property manager to compile a budget proposal for the Board of Directors. ■

This is just a few of the committees that are available. If you want to know more about committees or are willing to volunteer, stop in at the Riviera association office or call 277-7281.
Ray Perry is a realtor working in the Kelseyville area. He can be reached at 707-277-9255 ext 101. MailTo:Ray@RayPerry.com http://move2lakecounty.com

Lake County California Market Report

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:11:48 -0600

Lake County California Market Report
By Ray Perry
BUYERS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT IN CHANGING MARKET
"These Are The Good Old Days"

LAKE COUNTY- With continuing pressure on sellers to be more realistic in their pricing, and lower interest rates, Lake County home buyers are in a situation that few would have even dreamed of just a year ago.

"These are the good old days that buyers will be talking about for years to come," said Phil Smoley, broker owner of CPS Country Air Properties.

Increased inventory and more motivated sellers have created a bargain rich environment for buyers, yet many are still sitting on the sidelines.

Home sales decreased 14.9 percent in January in Lake County compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 22 percent according to information gathered from the Lake County Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

"Financing issues have dogged entry-level buyers since early 2007, but they spilled over into the middle and upper-tier markets in the last few months," said California Association Of Realtors® (C.A.R.) President William E. Brown. "The decline in sales at the upper end of the market contributed to a significant decline in the statewide median price as even well-qualified borrowers had difficulty securing financing. While it is normal for sales to decline at this time of year, regional sales fell more steeply than usual because of the ongoing liquidity crunch and tighter underwriting standards," he concluded.

Closed escrow sales of homes in Lake County totaled 40 in January according to information gathered from the MLS. This is a loss of 23 percent from December's 52 closed escrow sales; however home sales decreased 14.89 percent from the 47 sales pace recorded in January 2006.

The median price of an existing, single-family home in Lake County during January 2008 was $195,000, a 22 percent decrease from the $250,000 median for January 2007, the MLS reported. The January 2008 median price decreased 18,58 percent from December's $239,500 median price and 15.58 percent from November's $231,000.

"While the number of sales is down, prices seem to be stabilizing, which could mark the beginning of a return to a more balance market. November and December actually showed a rise in the median price over October in Lake County. However, the rest of the state is not doing so well. Home sales decreased 33.4 percent in January in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 16.5 percent, according to C.A.R.," said Smoley.

"We expect further weakness in sales over the next few months as the liquidity crisis plays out," said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. "Both the state and national economies remain fundamentally sound at this time, despite recent developments in the housing market. While there have been mixed signals in recent months, economic growth is expected to continue into 2008. "It will take some time for the Federal Reserve Bank's recent reduction of the federal funds rate to have an effect on the housing market, but should result in more favorable real estate finance rates as we move through the year,""

Highlights Lake County's housing figures for January 2008:

Lake County's Unsold Inventory Index for homes in January 2008 was 24 months, compared with 21 months for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.
Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 6.10 percent during January 2008, compared with 6.14 percent in January 2007, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.50 percent in January 2008 compared with 5.45 percent in January 2007.
The average number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 207 days in January 2008, compared with 176 days for the same period a year ago.
Thus while it appears that it will continue to be a buyers market for the coming months, there are signs of stability and increased buyer interest, which bodes well for sellers. "Spring will be a tell tale measure of whether the honeymoon for buyers is over or not. But for now, it's a buyer's bonanza, and it's silly to be watching on the sidelines while so many bargains are available at great rates," Smoley concluded.

Ray Perry is a Realtor with CPS Country Air Properties. He can be reached at (707) 277-9255 or at ray@rayperry.com . http://move2lakecounty.com

30,000 Points And Counting

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:57:54 -0600

Well, it didn't seem like I was ever going to get here but I did make it. No fanfare, just enjoying the experience. Points are fun, but not everything. It does mark the progress made, like the mileage on a new car.

The exchange of ideas as well as the camaraderie that AC has provided is very rewarding and I am looking forward to many years of being active on Active Rain.

Real Estate Continue To Improve For Lake County Buyers

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:10:34 -0600

Home sales decreased 56 percent in October in Lake County compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home fell 21.6 percent according to information gathered from the Lake County Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

"While it is typical for the median price to dip seasonally, this decline, which was both the largest month-to-month percentage decline on record and the first year-to-year decline in more than 10 years, was mainly the result of the credit or liquidity crunch, which also drove sales below the 300,000 mark," said CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) President Colleen Badagliacco.

"California's sales fell more steeply than those of the U.S. as a whole because of its heavy reliance on jumbo loans, those above the conforming loan limit of $417,000," she said. "This speaks to the need to raise the conforming loan limit in higher-cost states like California to more accurately reflect the cost of housing."

CPS Country Air Properties Broker Phil Smoley reported that many sellers are taking their properties off the market to wait things out. "In October 2005, MLS reported over $100 million in real estate sales. This October the number was just over $26 million," Smoley stated. "For the sellers who remain on the market, many are aggressively pricing their homes, and buyers are taking advantage of it. This is not a good time for buyers to be sitting on the sidelines. Reduced prices plus low interest rates make this the best time for buyer's in nearly a decade. What's bad for sellers is great for buyers."

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in Lake County totaled 40 in October according to the MLS. This is a decrease of 56 percent according to the MLS. Statewide home sales decreased 38.9 percent from the 444,780 sales pace recorded in September 2006 according to C.A.R.

The median price of a home during October 2007 was $215,500, a 21.6 percent decrease over the revised $275.000 median for October 2006, the MLS reported. The October 2007 median price fell 18.2 percent compared with September's $263,500 median price.

"The impact of the credit crunch spread throughout all tiers of the market," said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. "While the entry-level portion of the market has been adversely affected by the subprime situation and tighter underwriting standards for much of this year, the high end of the market also saw a decline in sales, as even well-qualified buyers were affected by the lack of funds available for jumbo loans."

Highlights of Lake County's resale housing figures for October 2007:

Lake County's Unsold Inventory Index for homes in October 2007 was 29 months, compared with 13 months (revised) for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.
Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 6.38 percent during October 2007, compared with 6.40 percent in October 2006, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.66 percent in October 2007 compared with 5.56 percent in October 2006.
The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 144 days in October 2007, compared with 155 days for the same period a year ago.

Smoley thinks that unless a seller prices aggressively to sell, it is not wise to put their home on the market. "Bottom line is that for anyone who needs to sell in the next six months, they better come in about 3-5% below of what the comps show. Otherwise, they will just sit without selling, adding to the impression of a depressed market."

	No. of Listings	Median List Price	Average DOM	No. of Sales	Median Selling Price	Average DOM to Sell
ANDERSON SPRINGS	4	$297,000	148	0	0	0
BLUE LAKES	0	0	0	0	0	0
BUCKINGHAM	16	$529,000	129	0	0	0
C.L. OAKS	29	$219,000	128	1	$179,000	121
CLEARLAKE EAST	67	$215,000	156	4	$118,000	114
CLEARLAKE KEYS	30	$339,000	133	1	$290,000	170
CLEARLAKE N/NW	66	$189,000	124	3	$125,000	141
CLEARLAKE PARK	41	$262,000	140	3	$239,000	141
CLEARLAKE S/SW	58	$239,500	166	0	0	0
CLR LK RIVIERA	87	$319,950	122	0	0	0
COBB	38	$314,450	161	6	$247,750	115
FINLEY	1	$215,000	90	0	0	0
GLENHAVEN	1	$739,000	75	0	0	0
HIDDEN VALLEY	169	$355,000	155	5	$223,000	143
JAGO BAY	2	$1,067,000	72	1	$824,500	118
KELSEYVILLE	25	$349,500	151	1	$285,000	92
KONO TAYEE	2	$557,500	100	0	0	0
KONOCTI BAY	1	$799,900	306	0	0	0
LAKEPORT NORTH	78	$477,000	216	1	$375,000	63
LAKEPORT SOUTH	29	$399,000	132	1	$177,000	71
LOCH LOMOND	4	$249,000	90	0	0	0
LOWER LAKE	15	$439,000	119	2	$300,000	191
LUCERNE	38	$248,500	111	6	$183,000	144
MIDDLETOWN	23	$485,500	148	1	$222,500	124
NICE	19	$275,000	142	1	$250,000	180
PARADISE COVE	3	$684,999	210	0	0	0
PILLSBURY	3	$199,000	79	1	$215,000	339
RIVIERA HEIGHTS	16	$369,500	162	1	$220,000	445
RIVIERA WEST	11	$429,000	182	0	0	0
SCOTT VALLEY	1	$769,000	115	0	0	0
SODA BAY	6	$837,500	72	0	0	0
SPRING VALLEY	18	$302,000	151	0	0	0
TWIN LAKES	3	$357,500	64	0	0	0
UPPER LAKE	14	$336,450	129	0	0	0
WINDFLOWER POINT	2	1,850,000	737	1	$906,500	74

Lake County Wines Increase in Popularity

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:31:53 -0500

Welcome to the North Coast wine country's best kept secret: Lake County, California. One of the most exciting grape growing regions today, Lake County is once again thriving as grape growers and vintners alike discover the superb quality of Lake County grapes. With a history as rich as its soil, Lake County is once again producing grapes used in some of the finest wines in the world. The first Lake County vineyards were planted in the 1870s. By 1900 Lake County wines were winning awards in international competition, and the region was earning a reputation for producing some of the world's greatest wines. However, in 1920, Prohibition forced an end to Lake County wine production. Most of the vineyards were eventually ripped out and planted with other crops.

Lake County's re-emergence in the wine industry began in the 1960s when a few visionary growers discovered the area's winegrape potential and began planting new vineyards. From less than 100 acres in 1965, vineyard acreage has grown to over 8,800 acres today and is expected to double in the next ten years.

With the growing popularity of Lake County wines, Lake County's grape and wine industry continues to expand. Existing wineries are growing, and new vintners are moving into the region. Today the county has 18 wineries. Several out-of-county wineries, including Beringer, Kendall-Jackson, and Sutter Home, own Lake County vineyards. Some of the most prestigious wineries purchase Lake County winegrapes including: Beringer, Fetzer's Vineyards, Guenoc Winery, Kendall-Jackson, Parducci, and Wildhurst as well as over 50 Napa-Sonoma wineries that purchase Lake County winegrapes from independent growers.

Included in California's prestigious North Coast American Viticultural Area, Lake County is a region whose quality can stand on its own. Unique geographical factors such as the microclimates, soil types, and Clear Lake, all contribute to the growing of outstanding winegrapes. Our fine wines and quality fruit are rapidly re-establishing Lake County's reputation for producing excellent wines. Lake County wines are consistent award winners at major wine competitions and have been enjoyed at the White House.

Lake County is part of the prestigious North Coast winegrape growing region - along with Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino. Lake County winegrape growers produce premium and ultra premium varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Barbera, and Zinfandel.

Lake County winegrapes are the largest agricultural crop in Lake County, with annual sales of $40 million dollars. Approximately 35,000 tons of winegrapes will be harvested in 2007, which began the last week of August. Almost all of those grapes will be crushed and made into premium and ultra premium wines - wines that cost from $14.00 per bottle on up.

About the Lake County Winegrape Commission

The Lake County Winegrape Commission has also contributed to the success enjoyed by Lake County winegrape growers. Being one of only two winegrape commissions in the state of California, Lake County growers are committed to the success of their product - from the vineyards, to the wineries, and in the marketplace. Established in 1991, the commission supports and manages the marketing efforts of winegrape growers in Lake County. The Lake County Winegrape Commission is a state marketing order operating under the California Department of Food and Agriculture and voted in by Lake County winegrape growers. Growers assess themselves 1% of their total sales volume each year, for marketing, research and education programs. The Commission's programs are managed by seven board members who are voted in by the growers each year.

How Do You Make It In A Slow Market?

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:21:50 -0500

I don't know about you but its getting tough hanging on in real estate. I'm used to doing seven to eight million in business per year, this year I'm lucky if I'm going to do four million. I have cut back on just about everything I can by streamlining my marketing and not doing any more print adds. I publish a newsletter that goes out to over five thousand and it has generated most of my listings. This is self supporting, in fact I make a little on it because of the advertising.

I have 49 listings at this time. I am constantly working with them to keep lowering prices and as a result I am doing about 25 percent of the business in my area. Still my expenses are way over my income. I'm debating lying off my assistant who maintains all the listings which means that I will be doing all her work as well as mine.

We are going into the slow season, NAR and California Association of Realtors (CAR) both say that it's going to get worse before it gets better. I have never seen a real slow down in real estate as I started in 98. The question is, how long can this go on?

I know some of you have been at this for a long time. What did you do to survive the down times?

Property Owners' Plans

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:11:51 -0500

The following is a message from Daniel Krause, President Riviera-West Property Owners Board

It's the time of year when things start to slow down and our efforts turn toward cleaning common areas up. The water plant / marina area is in need of repairs and the Board will be starting to clean and make repairs, where necessary. We are looking into replacing the entry gate with a heavy duty motor that we hope will not continually break down. We also plan to work with the Water Board in cleaning up the Water Plant. The replacing of existing docks will take some time in planning and raising funds. We would like to thank Richard Apfel for removing the submerged dock that collapsed this past summer. We appreciate your willingness to help out your fellow property owners.

Now that the pool is closed for the winter, we are looking into replacing the old pump with a more modern pump that will reduce maintenance time. The building moratorium has been lifted, effective November 1st, and we should again start to see growth in our community. This means we will see more construction equipment on our new and beautiful streets. We would appreciate the reporting of violations on our roads in order to quickly respond and maintain them.

Just a little reminder: Winter is right around the corner and it is the time of year to check around your property for dead trees. Remember, we lost several trees to winds and water last year.

Building Moratorium Lifted in the Riviera-West

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:05:20 -0500

After two years of a self imposed moratorium the Riviera West Mutual Water Company board unanimously voted in their September 23^rd meeting to allow water hookups effective November 1^st in the Riviera West Subdivision. Originally scheduled to end in January 2007 the board lifted the ban because "the system has the capability to supply the existing homes and new growth," said Water Company president Jim Snodgrass. "However, our water supply concerns are not over and conservation is still vital. Responsible water use, monitoring of growth, increasing efficiency of the facility are a few of the factors that the Board will continue to address." Snodgrass continued.

All new building construction was stopped in September 2005 because the water company stopped issuing permits for water hookups. The original reason given was; "This temporary emergency moratorium is necessary to protect existing households in case of fire and until the Water Company can complete necessary improvements to the water plant," as stated in a letter to the home owners written on September 6, 2005.

Local builder Doug Bridges was very pleased by this action saying, "There never was a state mandate for a moratorium but it was something that the water company felt that they had to do." Bridges owns several lots in Riviera West and is known to build high end quality homes.

"One of the responsibilities of the Board is to deliver quality water at the lowest possible cost, while keeping a responsible eye to the future," said Snodgrass. "The expenses of the Water Company have been exceeding its income. For the first two months of the fiscal year, expenses were $6,828.61 higher than income. This trend is unacceptable and cannot be sustained. Certain improvements have been made, due to absolute necessity, and have been paid for using funds from our bank balance. This will decrease as standby fees are paid. There are now plans for an Assistant Operator for the Water Company and a provision for capital improvements. These actions are mandated by the State and are good business practices. Other issues are being addressed with the rate change. This Board is committed to moving forward to protect the investments of all shareholders and creating a stable financial position is imperative. Continued vigorous monitoring of expenses is paramount," continued Snodgrass.

"We are all concerned about the time it has taken processing our application for the State loan for the plant upgrade. We have received communication from the State that we have done everything to complete the application and are simply awaiting the Department of Water Resources to issue the Notice of Application Acceptance," concluded Snodgrass.

The next board meetings will be held on November 16, 2007 at 5 PM for property owners and 6 PM for the water company.

Market Condition Improves For Buyers

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:30:17 -0500

Home sales decreased 36.71 percent in September in Lake County compared with the same period a year ago, and the median price of a home decreased 4.2 percent, the Lake County Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reported.

Closed escrow sales of homes in Lake County totaled 50 in September, according to information collected from the MLS, a decrease of 36.7percent from the 79 sales pace recorded in September 2006.

The median price of a home in Lake County during September 2007 was $263,500, a 4.2 percent decrease from the $275,000 median for September 2006, the MLS reported. The September 2007 median price increased 12.8 percent compared with August's $235,000 median price.

"There is a disparity between the lower-priced or entry-level markets where prices generally are soft at best and sales have declined sharply, and some higher priced markets that continue to experience price appreciation along with somewhat smaller decreases in sales." said CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) President Colleen Badagliacco. This may explain why in the short term median price has increased.

The third quarter 2007 median price was $260,000 a 11.6 percent decrease from the $294,000 median price reported for the same period last year. This is the lowest prices have been since the first quarter 2005.

"While low affordability, tighter underwriting standards and expectations of lower prices continue to pose challenges for the market, the decline in sales accelerated in September as a result of the so-called credit or liquidity crunch that began in July.," said C.A.R.'s Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. "The credit crunch emerged as uncertainty about the extent of the subprime problem drove investors across the globe to turn off the tap of funds to lenders in mortgage and other credit market segments. With credit drying up, even qualified buyers were unable to receive funding for home purchases."

"We expect the impact of the credit crunch to play out over the next several months, and that it will continue to negatively impact sales," she said.

Phil Smoley, broker of CPS Country Air Properties, sees the situation as a bonanza for buyers. "With interest rates so low, sellers who are willing to negotiate way down and so much inventory to choose from, prudent buyers are snapping up deals. For those who wait until it gets better for sellers, it will be too late. This buyers' market will not last forever."

Highlights of Lake County's resale housing figures for September 2007:

Lake County's Unsold Inventory Index for homes in September 2007 was 25.8 months, compared with 16.1 months for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.

Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 6.42 percent during September 2007, compared with 6.52 percent in September 2006, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.6 percent in September 2007 compared with 5.64 percent in September 2006.

The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 164 days in September 2007, compared with 150 days for the same period a year ago.

	No. of Listings	Median List Price	Average DOM	No. of Sales	Median Selling Price	Average DOM to Sell
ANDERSON SPRINGS	6	$352,000	101	2	$264,500	106
BLUE LAKES	1	$475,000	147	0	0	0
BUCKINGHAM	16	$608,750	122	0	0	0
C.L. OAKS	37	$229,000	122	3	$87,500	103
CLEARLAKE EAST	70	$224,250	166	4	$262,000	153
CLEARLAKE KEYS	30	$349,950	133	1	$350,000	429
CLEARLAKE N/NW	65	$199,000	114	1	$100,000	503
CLEARLAKE PARK	46	$258,500	150	1	$150,000	72
CLEARLAKE S/SW	57	$239,000	168	5	$175,000	193
CLR LK RIVIERA	94	$324,900	125	1	$260,000	436
COBB	46	$329,000	142	5	$285,000	96
FINLEY	2	$327,000	151	0	0	0
GLENHAVEN	3	$595,000	209	0	0	0
HIDDEN VALLEY	191	$369,000	147	4	$283,500	255
JAGO BAY	4	$614,000	67	0	0	0
KELSEYVILLE	36	$320,750	147	1	$295,000	281
KONO TAYEE	3	$375,000	151	0	0	0
KONOCTI BAY	2	$599,450	197	0	0	0
LAKEPORT NORTH	82	$490,000	197	6	$407,500	198
LAKEPORT SOUTH	34	$400,250	112	1	$335,000	88
LOCH LOMOND	5	$219,000	75	4	$199,500	108
LOWER LAKE	17	$425,000	121	0	0	0
LUCERNE	43	$259,900	115	4	$182,450	252
MIDDLETOWN	21	$515,500	129	2	$559,000	175
NICE	19	$275,000	142	0	0	0
PARADISE COVE	4	$689,999	163	0	0	0
PILLSBURY	4	$213,500	105	0	0	0
RIVIERA HEIGHTS	21	$348,500	192	1	$675,000	76
RIVIERA WEST	14	$394,500	204	1	$390,000	183
SCOTT VALLEY	1	$799,000	82	0	0	0
SODA BAY	5	$1,100,000	48	1	$187,000	191
SPRING VALLEY	18	$304,450	120	1	$215,000	72
TWIN LAKES	3	$357,500	31	0	0	0
UPPER LAKE	15	$324,000	94	1	$625,000	173
WINDFLOWER POINT	3	1,029,000	494	0	0	0

Community Involvement

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:45:04 -0500

We need to relax and do more than real estate. Being involved with your local community is part of being in business as well as just living life.

Photo by Elizabeth Larson

Saturday we celebrated our annual Pear Festival here in Kelseyville California. For more than a century the Bartlett pear has been an important engine in Lake County's economy, though in recent years the pear industry has found itself ranked No. 2 behind the growing local wine industry.

We started the day off with a parade through Main Street with floats, horses, old cars and tractors. My wife and I drove our 52 Chevy in it and got a lot of thumbs up from the crowd.

Photo by Ray Perry

There was music, shopping and fun for all ages. For the kids there was a kids fun spot over at the Presbyterian Church, including a slide, a jump house, with a petting zoo just down the road.

Down at one end of town there was the quilt show, dozens of old tractors, a car show plus an exhibition of antique engines supplied by the Early Days Gas Engine and Tractor Association, Branch No. 31. There, Wayne Sanders of Santa Rosa showed visitors how to use a 1901-vintage rope-making machine to twist strands of jute fiber into a usable rope.

Photo by Elizabeth Larson

One of the Pear Festival's great draws is its food - pear milkshakes and desserts at the Presbyterian Church, pear tasting at the University of California Cooperative Extension booth in the Pear Pavilion, even pear ice cream.

Photo by Elizabeth Larson

The weather this year also was perfect - warm but not as hot as in recent years, with just the hint of an early fall in the air.

It's great living in a small town and it's even better when you are involved with the local community.

Your House As Seen By......

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:46:31 -0500

Ever wondered how your house is perceived? I ran across this today, however many of you may have seen it before. There is a lot of truth it it, Let me know what you think.

Your House As Viewed By

Yourself

Your Buyer

Your Lender

Your Appraiser

Your Tax Assessor

At least this is good for a laugh. Perhaps any of you can add photos or categories.

Federal Reserve Cut Interest Rates 1/2 point!

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:39:54 -0500

Fresh from the Washington Post:

The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate today, aiming to prevent turbulence in the housing and credit markets from slowing the U.S. economy.

The Fed's policymaking committee slashed the federal funds rate, the rate that banks charge each other to borrow money, by half a percentage point to 4.75 percent. It was the first rate cut since 2003.

For more information go to http://www.washingtonpost.com

This may help the housing slump with a fresh influx of money. Let's hope that the buyers take notice and get off the fence.

Open houses are a waste of time! Or are they?

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:56:16 -0500

This weekend our company had an open house extravaganza where we had over 120 open houses in a single weekend. http://activerain.com/blogsview/182828/1-Plus-Homes-To

I hosted 20 on Sunday with the help of other agents and the homeowners. We had a drawing for 5 $100 gift certificates for those who filled out the registration cards. We advertised it in the local paper, on the local radio stations, on the web sites, had a big banner on our office for the week and called all of our owners to get everyone involved. On the day of the event, we put up the signs, filled dozens of balloons, passed out cold water with our company logo, gave out maps of the open houses and the times they were open and I used up a tank of gas.

The results are still coming in. On many of the homes, no one showed up, some had a few couples, a lender and a home inspector passing out business cards. We noticed that five other companies had open houses in the same area, piggybacking on our marketing. On the face of it, it seemed a complete waste of time until I analyze the outcome. Personally, setting this up, I got five price reductions, two listings from people who wanted to be in on the program, and a buyer lead. Several of the agents who worked my listings got buyer leads and one got an appointment to do a CMA. I made contact with all my improved listings at least twice this week and now they know that I'm working hard to sell their property. I'm still haven't heard from the other agents from our company but I'm sure that even with a sparse attendance there were similar results.

So do open houses work? It didn't work to sell a house that day, we had no offers, but it did generate some business.

Ray Perry
I Sell Lake County

MailTo:Ray@RayPerry.com
http://rayperry.com/

Pre-approval Means More Than Just a Lender Letter

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:17:13 -0500

One of the most problematic pieces of the property-buying process these days is the financing contingency. Basically, this contingency says to the seller the buyer will buy his house contingent on the purchasers' ability to get a loan to finance it.

The financing contingency paragraph may give 7 to 14 days for the buyer to remove the contingency. If the buyer is successful, then the transaction moves toward closing. If not, the seller could have a null and void contract or he could be looking at a buyer in default.

The financing contingency paragraph (FCP) is very important. It's fraught with deadlines and I've seen a lot of agents get buyers and sellers wrapped around the axle on this one by mistake and cause some to lose money and others file lawsuits. It can be used as a means to hold the buyer to the contract, but it can also be used as a means by which the buyer can get out of a contract.

The FCP involves the buyer, seller and loan officer -- and possibly more parties depending on what type mortgage product you're looking over. If the house being sold is involved in a short-sale or foreclosure, the FCP may need to be accepted by a third party, not just the seller, before the contract is ratified.

In most contracts, the buyer puts up an earnest money deposit -- usually about 1 percent of the sales price of the house, but it could be more or less depending on the customary amount in your area. Nevertheless, if the buyer defaults on the contract (which could happen in various ways), the seller may have a right to keep the earnest money deposit. Again, this could be thousands of dollars.

One way the default could happen is through the FCP. So here are a few steps to keep in mind in removing this contingency and keeping your deposit safe and the transaction on track.

Apply for and get pre-approval for a mortgage before making an offer. This is so important in today's market. Even though you may have been watching home prices drop in the last few months, the price of money has not. It's been getting more expensive. Thus, if you apply for your mortgage before you've even gotten into the contract-writing process, then you'll already know your buying power, the lender will have already looked at the blemishes on your credit and verified your income and assets.

Name it and Claim it. Many contracts require the buyer to stipulate up front what type of loan will be used to purchase the house. This is so the seller can determine if the buyer is high risk or not and if they have generally good credit. Unless the property is being purchased with all cash, this part of the contract will most likely be filled out. It may stipulate if the loan is a conventional (or conforming) mortgage, or if it's a special type program such as FHA or VA (government-financed programs). Since you have to name the loan type of front -- be sure to carry out step 1 above.

Be honest about your credit history, your income and your assets. If you make $45,000 a year and UP TO $10,000 in bonuses -- that doesn't necessarily add up to a $55,000 income. If the lender writes your letter based on your stated income of $55,000, then only $46,000 can be verified once you've written your contract, then you may not be able to get the preferred lending rate and terms -- ergo, you may not qualify. While you may not be in default, it means you have to start all over again.

If your application starts going south, let the seller's agent know about it as soon as possible. The facts are the facts. If the lender starts letting you know you may not get your loan approved, don't keep it a secret. The seller needs to know so he can decide on whether or not to give the buyer more time or to cut bait and get back on the market.

In essence, get the money part of your home-buying process wrapped up early. If you know what you qualify for in the beginning and you know what credit problems you have, these won't be a surprise on the back side, leaving you with few options and possibly less money.

Written by M. Anthony Carr Reprinted with permission.

For more information contact Ray Perry http://RayPerry.com

Homeownership Is Good For You

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:11:28 -0500

Buying a home has gotten tougher in recent years, and finding affordable housing is an even greater endeavor, but the struggle is worth the effort.

The National Housing Conference's Center For Housing Policy and Enterprise Community Partners, two housing advocacy groups, say more than just a roof over your head, homeownership with solid neighborhoods in the mix can enhance the lives of families and their children and improve their futures.

A group of reports, "Vital Links: Housing's Contributions to the Nation's Health and Education Objectives," makes the case for affordable housing by revealing its benefits.

In short, the reports say, homeownership is good for you in a number of ways, including:

Affordable housing is good for your health because it frees up family resources for nutritious food and health care expenditures. Families paying a large share of their income for housing are left with insufficient funds to meet other essential needs, including nutritious food and health care.

Residential stability provided by affordable housing reduces stress and related adverse health conditions. Homeless children are more vulnerable to mental health problems, developmental delays and depression than children who are housed. Frequent moves, living in doubled-up housing, eviction and foreclosure are also related to elevated stress levels, depression and hopelessness.

Homeownership also contributes to health improvements by fostering self-esteem, better physical and mental health, lower blood pressure and lower levels of depression and alcohol abuse.

Green building and transit-oriented development strategies can lower exposure to pollutants by improving the energy efficiency of homes and reducing reliance on personal vehicles. Forty percent of the nation's energy use is consumed in households and private transportation.

Some affordable housing strategies help families move to communities with stronger school systems and more education-supported environments. While frequent moves appear to have a negative impact on educational achievement, moves to better school systems (or to communities that offer stronger support for education) may have an independent positive impact on educational achievement.

Children who experience homelessness face numerous educational barriers, including difficulties accessing preschool and Head Start programs, as well as after school care and obtaining personal records necessary for enrollment. Homeless children are more likely than their low-income peers to drop out of school, repeat a grade, perform poorly on tests and in the classroom and suffer from learning disabilities and behavior problems.

Children of homeowners do better in school, up to 9 percent better in math scores, 7 percent better in reading achievement and 1 to 3 percent lower in behavioral problems, than those who live in rented homes. Children of homeowners also stay in school longer and have higher high school graduation rates than similarly aged children living in rented homes, the studies reveal.

Written by Broderick Perkins Reprinted with permission

Selling Your Home in a Slumping Market

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:58:24 -0500

When your local housing market is down and you have to sell, what do you do? You want top dollar, you may also need to sell in a hurry -- especially if moving day is right around the corner.

In a tight housing market, remember that you are competing with all of the other homes for sale in your neighborhood. The key to success is to make your home and the deal itself more attractive than what the competition is offering without giving away too much.

If you find yourself having to sell into a slow market, here are some tips to help you make your home more attractive and sweeten the deal to generate more interest in your home:

Price it to the market, don't be greedy. Most sellers tend to set the price too high, thinking their home is worth more than it really is. Check the sales prices of comparable homes that recently sold and the asking prices of comparable homes that are currently for sale in your neighborhood.

Obtain an appraisal in advance, so you know what the house is officially worth (based on the appraiser's professional opinion).

Use a seasoned Realtor. Your Realtor has already experienced price wars in the housing market. According to the National Association of Realtors®, a home sells on average for 16-percent more when the seller uses as certified Realtor.

Have your home professionally inspected before showing it. Get everything repaired so lookers won't have an excuse not to buy.

Have your home professionally staged. A professional stager can transform an empty or overly cluttered house into a warm and welcoming home.

Don't move out before it sells, or if you have to move out, make sure you leave the home staged, so it looks lived-in. Vacant houses feel more like uninhabited caves than homes.

Be willing to pay closing costs for the purchaser, up to 6 percent. A slow market is usually that way due to a slow economy. Buyers are strapped for cash and may need you to help in some way with the financing.

Give your Realtor copies of all improvements to the home and any guarantees for anything like a new roof, furnace, or hot water tank.

Realtor commissions are negotiable. Consider offering a higher commission to your Realtor as an added incentive.

Keep your home in ready-to-show condition at all times. Do not require a 24-hour notice.

Focus on curb appeal and making a good first impression. You do not get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Be open to negotiating on things like leaving furniture or appliances behind.

Although you may be tempted to take the first offer that comes along, be careful. Not all offers are created equal. Here are some warning signs to watch out for:

Someone tells you to take your house off the market for a period of time, and in exchange, the person will pay you more than the asking price later. This is usually a sign that the person plans on using your home as part of a mortgage fraud scheme in which he obtains a loan for more than the house is worth, pays you a little more than what you were asking, and pockets the excess proceeds.

A cash back at closing deal in which the person offers you more than the home is worth if you agree to kick back the extra money at closing.

The buyer is not pre-approved for a mortgage loan. This person can tie up your home, preventing you from considering better offers.

The person is offering no or very little Earnest Money Deposit. The lower the deposit, the more likely the deal will fall through.

The prospective buyers make the purchase agreement contingent upon their home selling, and for that to happen, several other transactions must occur first. This is known as the domino effect, and you should avoid it, if possible.

You can successfully sell a home in a declining market, and even profit from the sale, if you set realistic goals and work a little harder at it than your competitors. Just remember to work hard, stick to it, and avoid some of the common pitfalls described in this article.

Written by Ralph Roberts Reprinted with permission.

Caltrans roadwork for Sept. 14-20

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:12:07 -0500

LAKE COUNTY

Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Highway 20

- P G & E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance between Mendenhall Avenue and Main Street. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.

- A roadway realignment project from 1.4 miles east of the North Fork Cache Creek Bridge to 1.6 miles west of Walker Ridge Road will continue. Work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor - Argonaut Constructors of Santa Rosa.

Highway 29

- A shoulder widening project from 2 miles north of Middletown to 0.2 miles north of Bar X Ranch will continue. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor - Ghilotti Construction of Santa Rosa.

- Epidendio Construction of Lower Lake has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to reconstruct a driveway 0.7 miles south of Konocti Forestry Camp. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

- A signalization project at the junction of Route 29/281 (Kits Corner) will continue. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor - Steiny and Co. Inc. of Vallejo.

- A project to install a right turn pocket at Live Oak Drive will begin Monday, Sept. 17. Work hours are 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., weekdays. A shoulder closure will be in effect. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor - Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 53

- Pavement work from 0.1 miles south of 18th Street to 0.2 miles north of 40th avenue will continue. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., weekdays. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction of travel. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns. Contractor - Mercer-Fraser Co. of Eureka.

Highway 281

Fire claims historic resort gazebo

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:47:22 -0500

Firefighters quickly contained a 50-acre wildland fire on the Mendocino National Forest Tuesday. U.S. Forest Service photo by Wolfgang Liebe.

BARTLETT SPRINGS - In yet another blow to Lake County's historical buildings, a Tuesday fire claimed the Bartlett Springs Resort gazebo and another building on the remote site of the once-famed resort.

Mendocino National Forest officials reported Wednesday that the buildings were destroyed in a 50-acre wildland fire that broke out on private property.

Forest spokesperson Phebe Brown reported that the fire was located on Forest Service Road M-16/Bartlett Springs Road, about 15 miles north of Highway 20 and six miles east of Clearlake by air.

Brown said firefighters worked quickly on the fire, containing it in about six hours.

Smoke was first reported about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, said Brown. Air and ground firefighting resources from the Forest Service and Cal Fire quickly began suppression actions, with air tankers and helicopters dropping water and retardant, and ground crews and equipment fighting the fire directly.

Firefighters contained the fire at 10:30 p.m., Brown reported.

The gazebo and a shop building that burned were located on the 1,990-acre property owned by Nestle. Brown said firefighters saved a house and five other structures, also on private property that the fire threatened.

The fire, according to Brown's report, began on private land and spread to the National Forest lands.

She added that the fire is believed to be human caused, and is still under investigation.

On Wednesday firefighters continued mopping up smoldering debris, reinforcing the existing fire line and looking for areas where the fire could flare up again.

This is the second time in less than two months that fire has destroyed buildings with ties to the historic Bartlett Springs Resort, founded in the 1870s, as Lake County News previously reported.

On July 28 a fire attributed to arson burned the lodge that resort caretaker Zane Gray had completely rebuilt in 1989, after the second lodge building to be located on the site was knocked down in a windstorm the previous year.

In the July fire, Gray said he found what he believed to be an ignition device in the lodge remains, which had been extensively vandalized in recent years despite his efforts to protect the buildings.

The July fire burned right up to the gazebo and stopped, Gray said.

Gray also had rebuilt the gazebo in 1985 in order to restore it to its early 20^th-century look.

His efforts to care for the resort grounds saved all of the buildings during the 1996 Forks Fire, which destroyed numerous structures and burned 83,000 acres.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com

The historic Bartlett Springs Resort gazebo, restored in 1985 by caretaker Zane Gray, pictured on May 6, 2007. The gazebo was destroyed in a fire on Tuesday. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

Reprinted with permission from lakeconews.com

Bell rings after long wait.

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:33:22 -0500

LOWER LAKE - For the first time in more than a century, a bell rang from the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum's bell tower on Thursday afternoon.

Jane Weaver, whose dedication to restoring and preserving the schoolhouse over the past quarter-century is credited for saving the building, and County Administrator Kelly Cox, another staunch supporter of the building restoration, had the honors of officially ringing in the new Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum bell tower, completed earlier this summer.

The new tower is a replica of the 70-foot-tall bell tower that was part of the school's original construction, completed in 1877.

The original bell tower was badly damaged in the 1906 earthquake which left San Francisco in ruin and caused damage even as far north as Lake County, according to a museum history. In 1907 the damaged bell tower was removed, a thick coat of stucco was applied to the exterior and the straight French roof was changed to a mansard-style roof.

Three elementary grades were taught at the school between 1877 and 1935. After it closed as a grammar school it was sold to the Masonic Lodge, according to the history. It also later served as a grange building before the county regained ownership of the property in 1986 and a group formed to restore it. The work began in 1992.

The new bell tower was completed earlier this summer. Construction, museum officials reported, began in November 2006.

The occasion Thursday drew a crowd of more than 100 people, including Congressman Mike Thompson, Supervisors Ed Robey and Jeff Smith, and residents from around Lake County.

Clymire said the the turnout was "tremendous."

Calling the restored museum and new bell tower a "beautiful facility for Lake County," Clymire said once upon a time there was a question about whether the building should be demolished or saved.

Congressman Mike Thompson, taking his turn at the podium, said, "Thank you to the folks who were on the side of fixing it and not tearing it down."

Thompson shared the story that his district representative, Brad Onorato, had a family connection to the schoolhouse. During a stay in the county with her family, his mother, Carole, had attended kindergarten at the school.

Thompson said he's working to get federal funding to help complete the final piece in the building's restoration, the earthquake retrofit.

During his remarks, Supervisor Ed Robey noted, "Sometimes in government things take longer than you think."

He joked that it only took government 100 years to manage to replace the tower.

Once the earthquake retrofit is complete, said Robey, "We'll have something that will last a long, long time."

Cox told the crowd that he had always wanted to see the building's bell tower restored, and that the results were beyond what he had imagined.

"I can still hardly believe that this has happened after all these years," he said.

There was some question about whether or not the building could be saved, said Cox, because it was thought that it was too far gone.

"It's too difficult to describe what it was like," he said, adding that at the time he was ashamed that the county had let the building fall into such a condition.

Cox described going into the dilapidated building more than 20 years ago, with the stairs to the second floor missing, pigeons and bats were the only inhabitants. He said it was like being in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

He joined the effort to save the building, led by John and Jane Weaver, and said he spent many vacation and weekend days shoveling pigeon droppings out of the schoolhouse.

Cox credited many people for their efforts to restore the building, which he said has become a "truly outstanding museum." He also credited the Board of Supervisors for supporting the project.

His greatest praise, however, was reserved for Jane Weaver, the most energetic person Cox said he has ever met.

"Jane, there's your bell tower," he said.

Museum Curator Linda Lake, who marked her 10th anniversary at the museum Thursday, described first seeing the "haunted house on the hill," which she eventually would join the effort to restore.

"Sometimes it takes my breath away just to look at it," Lake said of the schoolhouse.

Weaver shared a history of the schoolhouse, which originally was called the Nichols Schoolhouse in honor of architect and trustee trustee of the schoolhouse, Leslie Phineas Nichols.

Nichols came to Lake County in 1866 to look for a way to use Clear Lake to supply water to San Francisco, said Weaver.

Eventually, he became involved with farming, including planting winegrapes to supply the area's growing number of wineries.

"He built this jewel for this area, but he never saw the children in the classroom," said Weaver.

That's because he drowned in Clear Lake on Sept. 12, 1877 - 130 years and a day before the Thursday ceremony. Weaver said he drowned while trying to retrieve a duck he shot from the water.

Clymire shared why he called Jane Weaver "Dream Weaver": She managed to get the building painted in a week's time in order to be ready for the Thursday ceremony.

"She works miracles," he said.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Reprinted with permission from Lakecontynews.com

Many people credited for making bell tower restoration possible

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:21:30 -0500

There were many people who proved integral to bringing the Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum's restoration to its current point. In addition to Jane Weaver and her late husband, John, Tom Malley, Les Parker and Scott Drew were thanked.

The museum's Preservation Committee members were lauded for their dedication to the project. Members include Jane Weaver, Arlene Carter, Mary Beth Alteneder, Sharon Von Haesler, Maxine Glimme, Judy Mullens, Jeanette Jablonski, Marc Giberson, Winkie Griffin, Barbara Parker, Tom and Vivian McFarling and Jackie Armstrong.

Public Services Director Kim Clymire also thanked Ron Trenary of B&C Construction, who built the bell tower; architect Jonathan Byer; Bud Boyce, responsible for the tower's finial fixture at the very top; Dwain Goforth, the museum's assistant curator; Jackie Armstrong, an analyst in the Public Services office; and the county's park maintenance staff.

Community Park News

Ray Perry; Realtor, CRS, GRI, e-PRO (CPS Country Air) — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:23:02 -0500

At long last a park in the Clear Lake Riviera is coming closer to reality. Supervisor Rob Brown has convinced the county to allocate another $100,000 towards the project.

The four acre parcel adjacent to the elementary school has been targeted for a community park. There has been several meetings to get community input on what we would like to see in the park design. Some of the ideas that are being considered would be baseball diamonds, soccer fields, picnic tables and playground equipment. The cost of such a project is currently up in the air until the community expresses what it wants in a park. "We have $400,000. to work with, obviously that won't be enough but we are not sure how much more we will need, it all depends on what the community wants in a park," said Supervisor Rob Brown. ‘The community can help by giving us as much input as early as possible as what they expect their community park to look like. I'm really excited about it. I know there are a lot of people in the Riviera that have expressed interest in this and I'm glad it is this much closer to being a reality. We've had a very god conversation with Superintendent of Kelseyville School District Boyce McClain as well as Riviera Elementary School Principle Enrico Frediani to develop a relationship with them in order to make this happen."

Presently the elementary school is being used after classes are out for recreation without the benefit of restroom facilities. The new park will create a new recreation area on property already owned by the county and provide much needed public restrooms. Currently after school a gate is placed across the road into the school to keep vehicles out. In the summer and in the evenings one can see several cars parked in the entrance while the occupants continue to the elementary school on foot.