Maggie's Blog

Silicon Valley meets Sonoma!

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:21:28 -0500

Sorry I've neglected this blog so long. With my lack of attention here, you'd think I was busy just raking in the dough...well, not quite. I've been busy all right...lots of people looking, no one ready to commit. This is confusing to me since our Sonoma home prices have been dropping like stones, houses have been coming off the MLS because they are going into foreclosure (nevertheless, reducing inventory) and interest rates still low.

Now if someone could please tell Alan Greenspan to be quiet because it is no longer his job to comment on the future housing market - that's now someone else's job!

It is the spector of future price drops that seem to be in our way. I'm not in the financing part of our market so I'll just make the next comment based on my own personal experience: Buyer to lender: "What if I could purchase this place for just $25K less? Maybe I should wait." Experienced lender: "Well, let's just look at what difference that would make in your monthly payment. OK, looks like it would be about $33.19/month less - is it worth waiting to buy?"

I wish someone could do that for the buyers who are deciding that waiting is better now to watch these same houses drop $25,000. - maybe they'd act!

Recently, a fellow realtor and I took our Sonoma Real Estate show "on the road" and decided to participate in a Silicon Valley Real Estate EXPO. It was a one day conference and the first of its kind in that area. Silicon Valley, remember, is the home of the Google and Yahoo children - you know the ones with money to burn! Silicon Valley, the home of the high tech industry, is almost 2 hours from Sonoma, barring any of the normally horrible traffic down that way. Our traffic around Sonoma is nothing compared to their concrete jungle. We met some investors there and we were asked to speak to their club soon. It made us feel that at least we were doing something positive!

I'm interested in any ideas others have about your own "good ideas" to get your real estate story out. Have you done something unusual you are willing to share with us? Is anyone doing anything to take advantage of the currency exchange rate to attract buyers from out of our country?

It's a great time to be in California Wine Country - they are smashing the grapes now, having plucked them from the vines. You know what comes next!

Come visit Sonoma! Buy a house!

HELP! Flaky buyers? Rude? What's up with these folks?

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:01:55 -0500

Long ago when I was young(er) and (more) foolish and was then, as I have always been, hopeful and optimistic about just almost everything, I remember stopping into a real estate office in a town in the south Bay known for very expensive homes. I saw a brochure about a house in the window that I liked (of course there was no price on it) and I strode confidently into the office. I did not know then that agents had "floor time" or, in fact, anything about real estate organizations and how they work. I only knew that I had seen something that I liked, and hoped I could afford, and went in to learn more. I also remember that the company name was one I knew and thought well of...but not after this visit.

Now, granted, I couldn't afford the home I had chosen and I was not sophisticated about real estate things I perhaps should have known. I needed to be educated but when I think of where my earning potential went from that day, I was a great prospect! Instead, I was looked down upon, not to mention talked down to - barely talked to at all, as I recall.

Since that day, I've bought 11 homes - 10 in the Bay Area totaling over $10 mil. (that may seem big to you, but it's Calif. after all) The only home I didn't sell for a nice profit, regardless of how long I owned it, was the one in MA.

All the above is just to say that, I too, have been a "potential client" standing in a real estate company somewhere wondering what I could afford.

That knowledge to this day informs and guides the way I treat people who come into our office. Often our walk-ins are visitors from other states and towns. They are always shocked (the out of CA people) by our prices for what you get. A part of my role as the person on floor duty is to educate. If they are still laughing about the prices after a few minutes, I know they'll not be moving to this area. (Frankly, I don't know how people from other areas ever get to move to CA unless they are independently wealthy of their company is helping.)

So here is my question...with all the empathy and understand of how things are expressed in my previous 4 paragraphs - and I am REALLY a nice person, a well-educated real estate professional and someone who is willing to provide service beyond what might be normally available...Right! So the question: Why, after several great phone conversations, or face to face conversations in which everyone is seeming to "get along" and feel comfortable with one another discussing needs and wants and abilities, do the potential clients just disappear?

By "disappear" I mean that they (suddenly) just don't reply to new emails, don't reply to phone voice messages, etc. What happens? I don't get it. They can't not like me yet, we've not even met! I have, in the meantime, made appointments for the homes they want to see on the day they want to see them, googled them, created packages of local information, put gas in my car and discussed their upcoming visit with my Brokers. But they don't show...and don't call and don't reply. I think it's rude. Unless someone is violently ill - or dead - and even then, just leave a message!

Many in this industry tell me the answer to all this is "NEXT!" Sure, that is possible for me to just move on to the next client, but I sure don't get it. The other thing that "other" realtors say is that "buyers are liars" and you just have to get used to it. I don't think I can work in an industry where that is really the norm. I just don't believe it, I've met too many great potential clients. It does, however, leave me with the previous question...WHY?

Any ideas about this? I always want to do my part better, so I'm really open to anything I'm doing wrong, but how can such a non-pressure, non-offensive, kind person like me have such seemingly strange experiences with potentially wonderful buyers?

Signed: Puzzled

So many activities -- so little blogging time!

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:06:16 -0500

I simply cannot keep up with all the fun things that are going on in my life here in Sonoma. If you lived here, I'm sure it would be the same for you! (I know a great Realtor who can sell you a house!)

I'm dying to tell you about last weekend's fund-raiser, even as it passes quickly into obsolescence. I'm going to try hard to get that done because it was so fun and we raised $1.2 mil for local non-profits - in three days! There are two things about this group of events you simply wouldn't believe - the amazing raffle items (one lot included a Prius) and what huge amounts of money participants were willing to part with to buy them! The generosity of the attendees was as great as the pourings of wine! Hmmm...maybe those two are related! I know a lot of you are interested in non-profit work and giving back to the community, because you told me, so I'll get on it right away!

Today about 35 of the real estate agents here in Sonoma accepted the generous offer of Chris Oscar of the Sonoma Index Tribune newspaper and boarded the bus he had arranged to take us about 20 miles north to Santa Rosa. On the way, we watched The Secret on screens in the bus - felt like we were in an airplane! Once there, we attended a truly amazing 3 1/2 hours session with Matthew Ferry. He is the son of Mike Ferry whom I don't know, but many of the people attending knew from the past. Matthew was very uplifting and positive in his remarks which were given in a practical and informative way.

His topic today and the main points below concerned how to Market-proof your business. (and boy! were we all thirsty for an affirming positive approach to that!)

1. Clarity - what are you committed to? You have to be all in, or you're dead in this business in this market!

2. Feeling good is the highest goal - how do you set your life up so success is natural?

3. Stop trying to make the sale and start making a difference. He calls this part the "contribution game" and I certainly agree with every word he said. Stop trying to convince everyone of how fabulous you are and give them something that helps them be successful.

4. Start connecting deeply with everyone you come into contact with - become opportunity conscious.

5. Stop protecting yourself and dig in, start honoring where others are coming from.

From Matthew Ferry. (www.matthewferry.com) Yea!

Then we took the bus back to Sonoma and enjoyed a delightful lunch, also furnished by Chris and the newspaper. It was great to sit with agents from other companies and learn about them and their backgrounds - especially with our new sense of enlightenment. Great day!

If you read this far here's a question - When you have your weekly tour meetings, do all the agents from each company sit together in little defined bunches, or do you all spread out with one another regardless of where each of you works.

FAT Grapes - why can't I upload my photos?

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:34:44 -0500

I keep getting the message "wrong format". I hate this, when I have such wonderful pictures!

I've been blogging to you about the grape harvest. the other day, smack in the middle of a vast vineyard, it occurred to me that many of you have no idea how many acres are involved in the grape planting. I hope to share some photographs with you that show FAT grapes as well as hillsides completely covered with the vines.

For those of you, like me, who have zucchini plants in your veggie garden, or multiple tomato plants, the vines are like that - hyper-productive! Anyway, enjoy! This is one of the many, many reasons we live here - or visit here!

I'll try again, but for now, you just have to imagine acres and acres - for as far as you can see - grape vines, laden with bunches of big fat grapes!

GRI - what's the value?

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:11:55 -0500

Hello again,

I'm about 3/4 of the way through my GRI. I'd love to hear some practical reasons from other GRI folks about how they have used the GRI designation to benefit their business. I love the classes, and always feel pumped up and enthusiastic after I leave, but want to consider the practical implications of this course of study. How do you talk with clients about your investment in this program?

Maggie

Paying down points

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:50 -0500

Just one more thing for tonight before I fall out asleep!

Today our team heard a presentation about "Paying down points" from our local Countrywide VP. He is a highly respected member of the financial community here (not to mention all he does for non-profits) and his presentation was about two things: #1 the great benefits of counseling your seller to buy down points for the buyer instead of lowering the asking price and #2 assisting your buyers in having a financial back-up plan to help them (and you) close the deal - just in case the first arrangement doesn't work. And here, they often don't work!

Are any of you doing this now? Would you advise your clients to do either of these? If you have a favorite lender for your clients, do you have a 2nd favorite?

New home? What do you HAVE to know?

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:38:48 -0500

Today someone asked me: "when you move into a new town, how do you figure out all the important things to know?" I said, "like what"? She said, "exactly! what are the most important things to know?" After an appropriate pause, I said "to me there are two things - a haircutter you can trust and a dentist who won't hurt you but can still take care of your teeth"

It did occur to me that people in different stages of life, might want to know different things - like how to find a babysitter you can trust? Where is a great bar to meet people? When I moved to Mass., my mother's most important questions was "how near are you to the hospital?" Of course, she was in her 80's and in a small town and I was 40ish and in Boston.

What questions do you think are the most important to someone new to a community? Do you have a special way, or setting, in which you propose answers to these questions?

How do you hang onto new potential clients?

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:27:24 -0500

I'm dying to share all the information about this last weekend's fabulously huge benefit weekend for our non-profits, but tonight, this question is more important than my reporting on something I love.

I'm actually really good at customer follow-up. I write grammatically correct and interesting emails (and yes, I do spell check them!). I ask for the potential clients' goals and heartfelt desires. I handle early objections and explain how Realtors work and how the commissions are really structured. I listen. I send hand-written and addressed thank you notes on wine-country correct Crane notes. I google the potential clients. If they are in CA, I check tax records to see what they really own. I research the "property history" on each listing I send.

So...why do some interesting, active, qualified, exciting potential clients just wander off?

I'm so curious about what any of you do to hang onto people long enough to really help them.

And if you are a consumer/potential buyer/perfect customer reading this...what can we do better to retain your loyalty?

Two agents/one client

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 10:25:36 -0500

How local do you have to be?

I have had several experiences as a Realtor in the last 6 months where I am one of two agents trying to help buyers frind a home. It seems to have more to do with where the buyer wants to find a home, and their indecision about that (usually related to what they can afford, or think they can afford) than wanting to have two agents. In all cases, there has been no deception, which I really appreciate --- the buyers have been really upfront, both with their needs and where else they are looking concurrent to our search.

It is important, I think, to have a "local" agent. How local is my question. I have decided that the best way to serve my clients' needs is to sell in the areas that I really know, and where I have made serious efforts to educated myself, and refer in other areas that I know less well, even if they are just 25 miles 'up the road'. I want to be able to offer advice with confidence about the schools, the flavor of the neighborhood, city government, what fun things happen there and on and on.

Do any of you have thoughts or suggestions about this topic? How do you handle clients' requests that you represent them in your area if you know there is another agent somewhere else? (I'm not talking about Denver vs. St. Louis, I mean one town vs. a near by middle sized city).

Virtual Assistant

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:26:11 -0500

Would love to collect some comments about how any of you use virtual (or non-virtual) assistants. I think I could use one, but don't understand the scope of their work. for instance, do they generally work in the actual office you occupy? Do the brokers in your office have to agree? Is there insurance involved? What is a typical hourly rate? (in Calif. would be most useful). Are there any great stories about how VA's are utilized in a powerful way?

SHORT SALE AGONY

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:11:52 -0500

I've been working with some clients who now find themselves in the unenviable, but not rare, position of being in a short sale situation. We hear a lot about this in the news, and we know the reality of what it means...when the house sells, there will not be enough money to cover all the encumberances on the property. So what do people do?

If they are smart, they seek guidance from professionals like tax and bankruptcy attorneys, perhaps CPA's and definitely tax advisors - and they try hard to get enough sleep. Constant worry has a direct impact on health and on our ability to concentrate - even when we are doing really important things - like construction work on roofs. It can also make us speak harshly to our spouses and our children. There are moments when we simply draw a blank when someone asks us a question. It is hard to lose so much when you thought you were living the American Dream just a few months ago...the months before the illness in your family that made it difficult to focus on getting new work for your small business; before the down-turn in your work in home-related construction, before you lost control of your small business accounting system because there was simply not enough time in each day.

Yesterday, I went with this client to support him as he talked to his "local" bank which holds the 2nd on his home. What a great experience. In contrast to the huge financial institution holding the first, which is in a constant state of disarray right now anyway, this banker really wanted to know how she could help. She was kind, she listened and she took ideas forward to people who had to decide and, in the end, came back with a response that made it clear that they intended to find a way to help.

I intend to move my banking business over to this bank as soon as they open on Tues. I was impressed with a whole new understanding of what "local banking" means.

The Bay Bridge is Down!

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:01:53 -0500

Any of you who have come to our beautiful San Francisco Bay Area know that San Francisco connects to the East Bay (Berkeley, Oakland, Walnut Creek, etc.) via the Bay Bridge. Of course, its even more famous sister, The Golden Gate, (actually orange) takes people out of San Francisco north to Marin County (long ago described as the land of hot tubs and peacock feathers...I guess you had to be there!). So, this weekend the Bay Bridge is closed for earthquake retrofitting. [If retrofitting is not familiar to you, then you were likely born after 1989 when the Bay Bridge actually broke in two as that earthquake changed our lives for months)

Think of it. This weekend (ALL weekend) a gizillian ton hunk of concrete will first be 'sawed' away from the (hopefully now closed) bridge and freed to go live somewhere else. (sure hope they don't "drop" it, the Bay Area Rapid Transit BART is running just beneath the Bay) In its place, an equally godzilla-sized piece of concrete will be moved in by barge and set in place. Monday morning - POW! thousands of cars will go over this structure and not think another thing about it. Amazing. (I heard there are 7 backup plans for this transition)

I wonder how many of us have clients who know that we thought this carefully about their transaction and how confident they will feel about the way we took care of them after all the inconvenience of buying or selling their home is over. Customer care is a constant in our lives in real estate. Sometimes we forget that we are making it possible for them to drive over their own bridge as they settle into their new communities.

Here's a toast to the reminder. Stay tuned.

PS: Either of these bridges will point you in the direction of CA wine country and Sonoma. Come visit! Buy a house!

Time to harvest those grapes!

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:52:17 -0500

After the doom and gloom of my last blog, I thought it appropriate to remember one more great reason we live here...The Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction Weekend - Aug. 31st through Sept. 2nd. There are still tickets!!! Go to this website: www.sonomavalleywine.com to get tickets and see the details of this very fun, 3-day event.

Think about this...at the time the brochure was printed , 8 of the 10 fabulous winemaker dinners are SOLD OUT! Makes you think you might want to put this in your Palm for next year.

The first evening, Aug. 31st, is an event labeled "Palate" from 5:30 - 11 p.m. at the Fairmont SONOMA MISSION INN & SPA. (www.fairmont.com) This year, the entire event (not just this dinner) has a western theme, so here's how this dinner is described: "Sit down to dinner with a super posse of 13 vintners and 6 chefs. They'll be trottin out their thoroughbreds: 13 vineyard-designate wines paired with 6 amazin' courses!" (credit to the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Foundation '07 brochure)

The first event on Sat., Sept. 1 is dubbed "Taste of Sonoma Valley". Again described in the brochure as "...35 wineries, pouring over 100 wines and grub from over 30 of the Valley's bang-up restaurants." On this evening are the various 'winemaker dinners' I described first.

Sunday, Sept. 2nd is the namesake for the weekend - The Harvest Wine Auction. This event starts at 11:30 and ends at 7 p.m. "An outrageously entertaining rip-snorter of fun and frivolity, the 15th Annual Harvest Wine Auction is one of the top charity wine events in the country." (again from the brochure).

Charities - Since 1993, this group of weekend events has raised over $5,000,000.00 for local Sonoma charities. WOW! When you go to the website, you can see them all. (www.sonomavalleywine.com)

COME SEE US IN SONOMA AND BUY A HOUSE!

Second Home and First time buyers --- ponderings

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:40:58 -0500

I've never (yet) been in a position to own a second home - I do live in CA after all, and have had 10 homes here that I've lived in - but I'm curious about other areas of the country that are considered large 2nd home markets.

What buying criteria do your 2nd home buyers use? Is there a relationship between what they paid for their primary home and what they are willing to pay for the 2nd one? What is an average 2nd home price? Would you consider these buyers rich? or just comfortable? What is your biggest selling point when you discuss buying in your market? Do you find that they want to know about recreational areas, museums? Do they have, or want to have a (smaller than their original) job?

I'm also curious about buyers who have more than one home in which they live at different times of the year. What are some of the factors that you think make up their buying decisions when they are deciding on home 2, 3 o4 4?

Other than wineries, financial institutions, a hospital, one hardware store and REAL ESTATE AGENTS! (lots of these!), Sonoma doesn't have what I'd call an employment base. We do have a lot of people who mostly spend their weekends here, but work in San Francisco or other larger towns during the week. It can be difficult for first time buyers to find homes they can afford and now that issue is made more difficult by the lack of financing.

I showed homes this week to a highly qualified young couple (first time buyers), both fully employed, who found the house they wanted after looking for a whole year. That house was about to go into foreclosure, so it was a bargain - and a short-sale. It was offered "as-is". Pre-approved and ready to make an offer, I suggested that they call their lending institution again and confirm that their loan was still available. It wasn't. They are going to receive an inheritance in a couple of months and their financial resource suggested that they wait until that was in hand and use it to increase the down payment. This is after they had been told they were pre-approved.

Juding my my television, this is happening all over. It is disappointing and has at least 2 bad effects: they can't buy the house they love and the house they love will now slip into foreclosure. Love to hear any creative ideas you have about anything we can do to help stir up this market other than staying positive. I know you're a creative bunch! I look forward to your feedback.

Dinner in the vineyards!

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:07:40 -0500

Decided to give up on the photography problem for this blog and just comment on a few things that are happening here in Sonoma.

Sunday night I attended a wonderful evening and a fabulous dinner at the Atwood Ranch. They were celebrating, and announcing, a new endowment for Giant Steps. Several other non-profit folks were invited to celebrate with them, (about 80) and thankfully, that included me! What a beautiful evening! We met in a horse barn, the whole bunch of us. (I was really wishing, for the first time, I owned some cowboy boots! Gave up on the cowgirl jeans a long time ago, but boots might work!) There was a great jazz band and wonderful food and drink. (we always seem to have those last two things, but this wine was exceptionally good).

I did not know much about Giant Steps until I arrived that night and I had never been to Atwood Ranch. We parked the car and the jitney made the quick journey to the party barn. As we stepped off the jitney, there was a beautiful blond just standing there looking sleek and not at all horse-like, although that's exactly what it (she, I think) was! This organization uses horses to help kids with disabilities. Apparently, one of the kids who comes to the WillMar Center for Bereaved Children (www.willmar.org) is also involved with this organization, thus the invitation to attend this function. To learn a bit more about Giant Steps, see this article I found on-line. All source credits are with the article.

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/12.05.02/giantsteps-0249.html

I've haven't been around horses much to speak of, but I do remember one disaster at a Dude Ranch in Arizona. Some kind of award trip as I recall. We stayed in a fabulous hotel and one day was dedicated to riding horses. (you know, it was a "dude" ranch, after all) For me, that whole day turned into a week of misery. So painful!!! No one told me you were supposed to squeeze the horse with your knees, so instead, I just bounced up and down over and over as we rode along the trail, trying hard to just hang on to the leather reins as the guide went on and on about what kind of cacti we were seeing. Cactus! Who cares about cactus? My body, or rather my bottom, is getting bruised! I felt I'd been sitting on one of those cacti! Bruises, bruises! I think I was 28 then and...well, that's been a while and this "blond" was the first horse I'd seen up close and personal since then. Fortunately, no one asked me to ride.

Since I am in real estate, I thought I'd ask for your help with a home I've listed. It is now the bargain of the decade! My clients are really ready to move on and let their two adorable boys get started in a new school in a county north of Sonoma. So please --- take a look at one of the many, many websites that support the real estate industry on-line (http://www.coldwellbanker.com/ is a good one) now and look at this beautiful home. The address is 1381 Lubeck St., Sonoma, CA 95476. The price is now $620,000., which may seem high to you if you are not living in CA, but is very reasonable for those "in the know" here! You will see this beauty, which is in a wonderful neighborhood of similar homes, close enough to walk to the Plaza, great commute location to San Francisco or Marin. One of the best things is that the dad in this family is a licensed contractor, so everything is in tip-top shape. The other "best thing", if there can be two, is the elementary school associated with this area...Prestwood.

Take a look, recommend it to your West Coast friends, or someone moving here. It's a great place to live and I promise - you do not have to ride a horse!

Technology! Bah! Humbug!

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:54:18 -0500

So...I'm having a bit of trouble with my interconnecting technology. So it's either "only words" - very boring - or "old photographs" - not so boring, but just don't think that's all I have to offer!

We do have an upcoming event here (I know because my mail box is getting filled up every day with instructions on where to meet and what to do as a volunteer) for Labor Day weekend that I participated in last year, so I can give you a few of those photos. This entire event is organized, coordinated and presented (with many volunteers) by the Sonoma Valley Vinters and Growers Association (those kind folks who grow our favorite beverages!) to benefit a group of non-profits. They (the V&G) own more wine glasses that anyone you might know! We borrowed (thank you!) 200 for another event recently and it didn't even make a dent in the stash in the warehouse. They are very generous.

Doesn't this look like fun? It's in a big park, just north of the Plaza. Food tasting, wine tasting (or maybe drinking, and certainly bidding on). This is the same area that, on another day, by another organization,(under a huge tent) presented Tony Bennett and my favorite, Smokey Robinson. That was the Sonoma Jazz fest several months ago. What a great evening! Before I knew I could volunteer (and attend for free), I bought several tickets at close to $100.00 each. Now I say right away "is there a chance to volunteer"? before I buy tickets!

Just to remind you that we are on the fabulous Pacific Coast (50 min. from the town of Sonoma) - here's one more view of this most beautiful ocean which laps upon Calfornia tonight, even as we speak! (Japan, China - and the olympics, beginning one year from today - are across this vast band of aqur marine water. Too far to walk...even if you could walk on the water!) Should you ever want to live right on this coast for a week or more, look up "Sea Ranch". This is a community of wonderful, weathered, multi-windowed, mostly weekend homes with entire wall views of this ocean. Don't bring your swimsuits, however, the Pacific currents feed down from Alaska so, you probably guessed it - the water is cold! in contrast to So. CA, were the water is warm.

On a real estate note, today I spent the entire day at our Plaza office...on-duty! So many visitors today. I have no idea why, but people from all over stopped in - most wanted our free map, couple wanted to use the "facilities" and one man, an investor, wanted to buy a $2mil house on 5 acres....with vineyards! He really needed to go up to $3mil, but I didn't tell him that - yet! He'll be back in 2 weeks! What a lead? Right?

I'm looking forward to having my photographic technology straightened out, but, in the meantime - these are not too bad! (again, my images, so no additional credits needed)

Thanks for all your comments on my first blog. This is really fun (and distracting from the slow pace of our current market)

Maggie

My first "ExperienceSonoma" blog

Maggie Bafalon, e-Pro, CHMS, CNS (Frank Howard Allen Realtors) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:58:10 -0500

Well...I tried this a few days ago, and somehow my (very exciting) first blog was lost in the ether. I'm trying again to share some of the wonders of Sonoma, CA with all of you. For now, my associate, Jane Hansen, has written about it on Active Rain and provided some great pictures. For my part, I'm going to show you a little bit in pictures about exactly where we are in Sonoma!

First - how far are we from the Pacific?...the answer is about 50 minutes. Here's what to expect when you rise over that last hill and see what brought so many of us to California and to the western edge of mainland America .....

This next photo is what you will travel through to get from there to the town of Sonoma (headed east). Have you seen those commercials on TV about contented California cows??? This is where they live - and eat - and start the process to produce cheese that we all enjoy. (I don't think they really talk to one another, however!) Well...maybe...it is CA after all.

Zooming past the quaint, but modernizing town of Petaluma, (the Egg and Cheese capital of the world, they say)not too far from the town of Sonoma, is one of our fabulous wineries - Mantanzas Creek. Not only do they make wonderful wine here, but they also grow lavender. If you are visiting at the right time, the scent of this crop is wonderfully overpowering!

Finally for today, only one photo from the festival this weekend...Our next BIG event is Labor Day weekend, though every weekend from here to then (and every weekend thereafter), will have something going on....That's the way it is in the Sonoma Experience. Come visit! Come buy a home! (I know a great Realtor (R))

Maggie (all photos are mine, so I guess I get all the credit!)