About Madera County, CA

Ten Top Reasons Why Ed Bailey Should be your Mountain Area Real Estate Agent

• Area Resident Since 1972 - extensive knowledge of the mountain area.
• More than a quarter century Real Estate experience, including more than 20 years as a Real Property Right-of-Way Agent with Sierra Telephone.
• Real Estate Broker's License - Experience and education well beyond requirements for the Salesperson license.
• Real Estate Instructor at State Center Community College.
• Graduate University Degree (Master of Science).
• Graduate REALTORS® Institute (GRI) Professional Designation.
• Recipient of the "Angels Amongst Us" award for more. than 30 years service to the community.
• Editor of the local monthly NEWSLETTER, "Yosemite. Gateway Properties and Lifestyles," published at www.EdBaileyRealtor.com/news.html.
• Editor of Oakhurst Homeowner's Guide, published at: www.realtydirect.net/news/?PUB=13067.
• Well known and respected throughout mountain area.

***Knowledge and Experience Make the Difference***

Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors®
Giving Back to Our Communities

• Map to Sale
• YGAOR
• Volunteers
• Applicants

Saturday, September 27, 8-5
Sunday, September 28, 8-3
40080 Hwy 49 Oakhurst

Since 2001 Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors® has held an annual Monster Rummage Sale to benefit local charities.

This is a huge "Monster" event and whatever you may be looking for might be located in our huge 11,000+ sq. ft. sale area. This year we will be in the "Old True Value" building for your shopping comfort. We will also be offering food, beverages, and a place to sit down to enjoy musical entertainment, so make a day of it!

Departments include; Housewares, Collectibles, Boutique, Clothing, Toys, Books, Art, Computers, Sporting Goods, Outdoor Items, Appliances, Linens, Furniture, Crafts and Holiday Items. Something for everyone!

Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors is pleased to announce that the 2008 charity recipient is:

Manna House

The Manna House was established more than 20 years ago to supplement other emergency assistance programs to the needy in the mountain area. They supply needs as the funds are available with the major focus being distribution of food and clothing. They currently operate out of their facilities at 50407 Hangtree Lane in Oakhurst between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Their telephone number is (559) 683-6262 and they have call forwarding for emergency needs after hours. The Manna House staff is composed of about 30 volunteers, many of whom have volunteered for many years. As their work has become known throughout the community more business people and individuals have joined in supporting these efforts through donations of money, food, clothing or discounts for which they are most grateful. Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors® is proud to help support Manna House as our charity recipient this year.

Read "Yosemite Gateway Properties and Lifestyles" Newsletter at www.OakhurstRealEstate.org/news.html

Often I hear agents say " it's vacant and easy to show". I wonder if they seriously, think that vacant and empty is a good thing? Visualizing what a room can be may be easy for them but for the majority of people it is not.

How do these spaces INSPIRE or make potential buyers want to purchase ? (see after photos below)

* Empty rooms leave potential buyers with an empty feeling.

* Empty rooms feel cold, and uninspiring.

* Empty rooms give off negative energy.

* Empty rooms usually feel smaller than rooms that are

professionally staged.

* Empty rooms often sound hollow and unappealing.

* Empty rooms do NOT photograph well and shown online there is

NO appeal and there's confusion about what room it is.

* Empty houses have no drama to grab the potential buyers

attention and make them want to live in that house.

Here are the only good things that I can say about an empty room:

* Traffic flow is might be easier when the room is completely empty, not better but easier.

* Empty is better if there was too much clutter in the house and the sellers will not do anything about it.

* Empty is better if the house's condition is not tip-top because staging is not meant to hide flaws and

defects in condition.

In this market every house needs to be the best that it can be AND home staging can help make that happen. Please REMEMBER, home staging is not just adding décor and the pretty stuff. It includes:

*Decluttering

*Neutralizing /Depersonalizing

*Repairing

*Updating

*Cleaning

*Dramatizing

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE MASTER BEDROOM AFTER

The dramatic décor is an important element but the others are also crucial. Call me. I can help your sellers get their house properly and professionally staged...ready to SELL.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is the premier professional redesign & home staging company in the Oakhurst, California area. Serving the Sierra Mountain communities of North Fork, Fish Camp, Bass Lake, Ahwahnee, Wawona, Coarsegold, Mariposa and Oakhurst. Visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com. Call or email for more information 559-877-2442.

HERE are the STAGED rooms from the first two vacant photos.

Milestones

This week my husband (DJ) and I celebrated two of our daughters graduating with honors from their respective schools. Many days were spent rehearsing the ceremony, getting hair styled and make-up just right before dressing in the silky blue cap and gown.

Our middle daughter Kelsey graduated June 10th from Oak Creek Intermediate school located in Oakhurst, California. She achieved the Presidential Physical Fitness award as well as an academic achievement award. With diploma and new cell phone in hand she will follow in her big sister's footsteps and enter Yosemite High School (also located in Oakhurst), this coming August.

Kelsey

The following evening our eldest daughter, Apsen, received her diploma at a sunset ceremony from Yosemite High School, the same location I graduated from in 1987. We sat among friends and families as we watched our "babies" walk across the stage and receive their wings to fly into adulthood. Aspen worked very hard this year and was able to earn a 4.0 grade point average with many of those classes being honors level.

Juli, Evan & Aspen!

As I ponder the ups and downs of the high school years I can't help but compare them to the real estate market. The highs and lows, the challenges and finally success. I look forward to the next four years with a little fear of the unknown both with another child in high school and the real estate market. I figure with each of them, by working hard and staying positive, success will be achieved.

CONGRATULATIONS 2008 GRADUATES!