Blue Pear Blog

Everybody asks me when I think the market will “bottom out”? The decline in home prices continues to make many buyers want to wait for lower prices before the jump in.

 In an effort to provide answers to this mystery, I have spent many hours researching.  I believe I have the answer!

On January 27th, 2009, the market will stop declining at 5 pm,  Pacific Time. Of course, this will only happen in Northern California with the exception of the town of Hemmit. The market will level off and begin a long quite period with no increase or decrease in values.  Since this will be the case, there is no reason to rush into my office and write offers on that date. You can relax and take your time to purchase over the next several years.

I’m sure you are wondering why January 27th? Well, after some interesting discoveries, I believe it is going to be directly related to the after Christmas sales. Once people have returned the stupid stuff they got for Christmas and purchased bargains in January, they will decide it’s time to focus on real estate. Experts at Macy’s and Bloomingdales shared inside information with me and my staff and January 27th is the date all this will happen.

 Now you know and you can focus on more important things like what Paris Hilton will be doing next and why beagles are becoming such a popular dog these days.

Newcomers to Ukiah are always amazed when they discover the Sun House and Grace Hudson Museum on S. Main St. The home of world renowed painter, Grace Hudson; this is also a classic example of Craftsman (Arts & Crafts) style architecture. The home was built about 1915 and is completely original and includes much of the original furniture. It is open for tours. Adjoining the home is a the Sun House Museum housing a fantastic collection of paintings by Grace Hudson. The local Pomo Indian Tribe was the subject of most of Hudson’s paintings and they provide a unique window into Mendocino County history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Located in the Ukiah Valley’s eastern foothills, Deerwood Park is a unique and wonderful neighborhood. Many mature oak and madrone trees creat a feeling of privacy and seclusion for homes situated on one to two acre lots.

This subdivision was developed in the 1960’s so many of the early homes are typical California Ranch style. There are also homes built in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s of various styles. The square footage ranges from 1500 to 3000 with most in the 1800 to 2400 range.

Deer and wild turkeys roam throught the neighborhood regularly creating a visual feast for us while chomping on the homeowners landscaping.

One of my favorite memories of meeting with buyers to write an offer happened several years ago. I received an call on one of my ads in the paper. The buyer said her name was Mrs. Green. After discussing the property, she made an appointment to see it with her husband.  They really liked the house and we went back to the home they were renting to write an offer. She forgot she had told me her name was “Green”. When  I started to write the offer, she had to admit she told me a phony name to because she didn’t want me to “bug” her about buying a house. We had a good laugh. When we closed escrow I had a large keychain made for them with “GREEN” in big letters with the keys to their new home. We have become good friends and I still call her Mrs. Green after 20 years.

Another fun memory of that day writing the offer was their 2 year old son running around the house naked while we were writing at the dining table. At one point he just climbed up on the table and came over and sat down on top of my briefcase and folded his arms like he was part of the group. Telling him about it years later as a teenager was fun.

Denise Shanahan has a funny story to tell about something that happened to her on her way to an open house.

 Tony Stafford has another great story about and open house event

Steve Bianchi has a good one about an open house too. Check it out.

Although there are many wonderful streets and areas in Ukiah’s beautiful Westside, my favorite is Oak Park Blvd. This two block long street between W. Clay and Jones is like nowhere else in town. The huge mature oaks and other trees create a canopy the is unique and magical. The variety of homes range from vintage craftsman style to mid-century modern. Mrs. Golden’s huge lot in the center is a wonderful and mysterious like a private park.

One of my pet peaves is the lack of personal responsibility so often seen in real estate transactions. I realize “buyer beware” is a term from the past and “consumer protection” is the term of the day…but…

Some of the stories you hear in this business! The one about the buyer who wanted a house with a pool or a place to put one. He buys a house and then sues his agent because he couldn’t get the backhoe down beside the house to the back yard to dig the hole for the pool!

 Another buyer tells his agent he wants room for his pool table in the family room. He buys a house and sues the agent because he doesn’t have regulation space around the pool table.

I never have heard the real story about what led to the “Errant Golf Ball” disclosure in the TEN PAGE Statewide Buyer & Seller Advisory. Obviously, some idiot bought a house on a golf course and sued the agent when a ball came flying through his window knocking his aunt Mildred out cold.

I’m afraid this pattern will get worse before it gets better.

John Bogner

So much focus it placed on price in the real estate business…sometimes we forget there are other things that effect the saleability of a home.

It didn’t sell…so let’s lower the price….again. Of course price is one of the most important factors in the collection of reasons a house sells or doesn’t. And, yes, you can make up for any weakness a property has by adjusting the price… however, there may be better ways to get to the goal we are looking for…SOLD!

I’ve seen many homes that needed a face-lift with exterior paint, landscaping…a new front door. Sure you could reduce the price by $20,000 or $50,000 but maybe spending $5,000 or $10,000 would bring a quicker result and put more money in your pocket in the end.

 Consider helping your buyer with closing costs instead of a price reduction. That may make yours the most attractive house from a financial view compared to the others in your price range to the buyer with limited cash.

 House next looking bad? I once suggested my seller contact his neighbor and offer to hire a gardener and painter to fix up their house. Sounds crazy to spend money on someone else’s property? My seller spent about $6,000 and removed the biggest obstacle to selling his home! We sold the house for full price within 2 weeks after the work was done next door! (Not everyone’s neighbor would be receptive to this idea, of course)

 Price may be the easiest way to find a buyer quicker but there may be better ways.

 John Bogner

After almost 30 years in this business, nothing should surprise me…but…

When they added a disclosure about Errant Golf Balls, I didn’t believe it at first. Another agent in our office mentioned it at a staff meeting and I thought they were kidding. No…it’s true. Among the dozens of disclosures in the 10 page Statewide Buyer and Seller Advisory, …yes…you will find a paragraph advising the buyer they may be hit by flying golf balls if they buy a house near a golf course!

 Really? No kidding. You may get wet if you buy a home with sky above. You may may receive junk mail if you buy a home with a mailbox. Give me a break! This is ridiculous. When did we leave the world of reasonable personal responsibility and common sense? Do we really need to be told about the hazard of being hit by a golf ball?  Maybe I’m missing something here.

Next time you go to the supermarket, you may receive a disclosure telling you about the hazards of being exposed to fattening foods that may be difficult to resist purchasing!

John Bogner

Advice is available everywhere on how to get your house sold. I thought I might give you some advice on how NOT to sell!

1. Paint your house black with orange trim.
2. Ask your neighbor to sit on their front porch in the nude.
3. Get a pit bull for the back yard.
4. Cook fish just before each showing.
5. Get your kids to play video games in the livingroom during showings.
6. Only allow showings on Wednesdays by appt.
7. Don’t return your Realtor’s calls.
8. Add 20% to what the market analysis says your home is worth.
9. Tell buyers you are not really sure if someone is buried in the back yard.
10. Start a cat rescue center in your home.

The Westside of Ukiah is my favorite part of the valley. Drive up Perkins or Clay to Dora and you quickly decompress from the feeling of traffic and activity on State St. The mature trees and that mix of Victorian,  craftsman, 20’s and 30’s cottages as well every other style and age of home create a visual feast.

Some of the homes have been there since the 1880’s. They stand proudly with their adjoining towering oaks while traffic on the streets around them have gone from horse drawn carriages to hybrid autos.

The eclectic mix of homes is no greater than the people inside. The front yards reflect the wide range of occupants. From “Question the War” signs and front yard vegetable gardens to manicured lawns and perfectly trimmed shrubs.

Going for walks in the Westside is a treat. You notice so much more than from the window of a car. The unique trees and shrubs. The architecture…the unique trees and shrubs.  Many parts of the Westside are within walking distance of Downtown. I enjoy walking down to Patrona for dinner or to the movie theater. Many Westsiders make a habit of walking to Schat’s for coffee or a latte in the morning.

 Ukiah’s Westside is a great place to live.  Ask anyone who lives there!

John Bogner