Sorta by mistake, my husband and I ended up in Ione, CA, yesterday. Unlike many of the tourists who probably frequent Ione and support its 3 restaurants, we weren't there to visit loved ones in residence at Mule Creek Prison. The photo to the left is of Iron Ivan, a steam locomotive that was in operation from 1937 to 1956, a 12-mile stretch between Ione and Martell.
Ione is a small town, smaller than 5 square miles, in the Central Valley in Amador County. It's about an hour from Sacramento. During the Gold Rush, it was a supply center where the railroad ran through and horse-drawn stagecoaches stopped along the main road to the Mother Lode.
The first time I heard of the town of Ione was when a former client moved there. She and her husband had hired me to sell their short sale in Sacramento. I sold it, and their lender approved the short sale, providing the sellers contributed in the lender's loss. The sellers had the money but they refused. It was a small percentage of their difference. Nevertheless, I reluctantly canceled the purchase contract for them and canceled the listing.
I was very sad that they had chosen foreclosure; however, I respected their decision. This particular lender wasn't willing to bend. The stipulation for a contribution was in its guidelines. There was nothing else I could do for these sellers, which was painful for me.
After a few months, I guess they had a change of heart and decided to pay the amount the lender demanded after all. Instead of calling me, though, for some unknown reason, they hired another agent, who then proceeded to swipe all of my photos from MLS.
Not everybody appreciates the job of a Sacramento short sale agent.
Here are my photos of Ione, California:
Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub
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