Davis, CA

Horses, the new face of homelessness on the outskirts of Davis, California

I have had my blinders on, mostly for my own protection during this economic downturn. I haven't felt the pain the way most people have, I have continued to work hard for my clients' highest and best good, knowing that there will always be homes to sell in all conditions - good and bad. I'm always 'chomping at the bit' to list or sell a home, always doing my best.

But today I heard some startling news from a local resident of Davis, California... a university town, in the middle of Yolo County along Interstate 80 between Sacramento and San Francisco. University of California, Davis was originally built as the Agriculture College for University of California, Berkeley and it has grown into its own. It has a huge vet school, farm sciences, ecology and vita culture studies among others of a less agrarian nature.

Davis, a quaint college town, with a small town feel and a happy air to it, nestled in vast expanses of farms and tracts of land, large and small. but today in Davis, California, I heard one of the most startling things I have ever heard.

While talking to a fellow Davis resident, we shared our work experiences, mine in selling homes in Davis and his as a horse trainer. I asked him how much land would be enough to house and enjoy a horse... a girlhood dream of mine... After we agreed upon what would be enough land. I mentioned that I had heard stories of people giving away their horses for free because they couldn't afford to feed them anymore and that grazing couldn't sustain a horse or two on an acre.

He then proceeded to tell me that people are so desperate in this economy, with loss of job, loss of home and no resource to take a horse that they can't keep anymore that people are turning their horses loose and letting them roam the county roads fending for themselves.

I am shocked, appalled and saddened to tears to hear of these domesticated horses (not a wild one in the bunch, I'm sure) left out in the cold, no homes, no care, often involved in horse/auto accidents.

So it appears that there may be more to the suffering caused by the current world economic crisis... even at the level of our pets.

Horses, the new face of homelessness on the outskirts of Davis, California...

Open House, Rain, Shine or Both in Central Davis, California

It is Saturday, January 23, 2010 (that still sounds weird!) and I have been in the Real Estate business for going on 6 years and yet, I'm going to do an open house today in Central Davis, California as though it were my first time. I'm getting that feeling I used to get preparing for a first date with someone hot! I promise this is a "G" rated blog....

So here's my point, and I do have one. I am one of those Realtors that has it good. I can convert a sign call into a listing or buyer and then give it away as a referral to an agent who is not as busy as I am, I can take a "walk-in" on the floor and within 2 hours list the property (which just happened and I then put their Central Davis, Californiahome in escrow on day 14 of the listing) , I can door knock and get a buyer who buys a house around the corner in a Realtor dense neighborhood... all this in a"tough" market... not because I'm some "Movie Star" Realtor.... honestly, I think it is because I have figured out we're in the people business and selling homes is the physical matter that we transact).... and I have a great attitude!

But here's the real reason for my excitement: I am no longer going to rely on my "natural ability" of just showing up. I can do better than that. I owe it to you, my fellow professional Realtors, I owe it to my clients who have entrusted me with one of the largest financial transactions of their lives, I owe it to my broker who keeps the lights on and keeps me in the state-of-the-art technologyand information, but most importantly, I owe it to myself! If Im going to do something from now on, I'm going to going to do it all the way.... with all the professionalism, knowledge, care, enthusiasm, best information, skills and focus I can muster.

So maybe I'll see you today at the Central Davis, California open house on the corner of Shepherd's Lane and B Street. 230 Shepherds Lane Davis, California from 1-4.... at the Open House, Rain, Shine or Both in Central Davis, California

Sandra DeAmicis (916) 752-8765

One of the disadvantages of being an agent with Coldwell Banker Doug Arnold in Davis is just how much we dominate the Davis market. Last year 60% of the transactions in Davis, both in dollars and numbers of transactions, were done by our company. Why is this bad? Because when I talk to potential clients it's amazing how many say they bought their current house from an agent with our company - and that they of course have to use that agent again because they did such a good job!

But the good outweighs the bad. On any given weekend most of the open house signs in Davis will be from an agent with the company, reinforcing the perception that we are the company that knows the Davis market. When I tell people which company I'm with newcomers to town recognize the name, old timers may have done business with the company founder a generation back. And the numerous multigenerational teams of agents here - where children have joined their parents in the business - show we are stable company and a good company to work for.

The numbers? 429 out of 720 transactions, $213 million out of $350 million. We know Davis.

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Coldwell Banker Doug Arnold Real Estate

Open Houses in Davis, California

Saturday, January 09, 2010

North Davis

1347

Cassel Lane

$999,000

12-2

2909

Rockwell Court

$1,095,000

12-2

South Davis

1242

Evans Court

$444,000

11-12:30

3156

Albany Circle

$399,000

1-3

44710

Garden Court

$549,000

1-3

East Davis

1600

Cypress Lane

$329,000

11-1

1307

Estaban Court

$529,000

12-2

1307

Estaban Court

$529,000

2-4

2403

Bates

$319,000

3-4:30

West Davis

3467

Oyster Bay Avenue

$438,000

1-2:30

Sunday, January 10, 2010

South Davis

5228

Glide Drive

$399,000

11-1

44015

South El Macero Drive

$620,000

12:30-2:30

East Davis

1313

Colgate Drive

$299,900

12-1:30

1307

Estaban Court

$529,000

12-4

1600

Cypress Lane

$329,000

1:30-3:30

West Davis

2716

Rubicon Avenue

$325,000

1:30-4

Presented by Gordon Lane, Realtor

DRE Lic. #01873017

530-763-2378

gordon.lane@gmail.com

Davis is a unique community in many ways but what really stands out are housing prices compared to the neighboring communities. Woodland, Dixon and West Sacramento are only 10 miles from Davis but home prices in Davis are just about double of those in the neighboring cities.

The demand for homes in Davis has three main factors driving it - the amenities of a university town, the quality of the local school system, and the resolute no growth attitude of the citizens which prevents the construction of many new homes.

Net result - much higher home prices. Add in an out of town appraiser and you've got a recipe for disaster. Friends of mine recently had their home in East Davis appraised. They thought it might be worth as much as $500,000. OK, so I think they are kind of optomistic, but if put on the market at $400,000 I'd have multiple offers on it within days.

The appraiser - from out of town and unwilling to either admit his ignorance or be educated - valued their home at $200,000. Unreal - in Woodland or Dixon their house would be worth more than that. In Davis that is less than half the true value.

So what do we do as agents when an appraiser displays such incompetence and arrogance and complete unfamiliarity with a local market? Why is such a person allowed to stay in the business?