Sonora, CA

I've got the latest Lake Tulloch / Copperopolis area residential sales statistics for you to see in four clickable graphs. As usual, the first three graphs cover three years including 2008, 2009 and 2010. The first graph spells out the Residential Unit Sales. The second graph highlights Residential Sales Volume. And the third graph shows Residential Average Sales Price. And finally, the fourth graph focuses on the price range breakdown of Residential Units Sold through February 5, 2010. Before you click on the graphs, here are some of the numbers in simple black and white...

I just read an article by Al Lewis entitled: "Cut foreclosures by slicing real estate fees." (You can read the entire article by clicking HERE.) And if you'd be so kind as to allow me to blow off some steam at the get-go (I'd appreciate it): What is it about folks that have a problem with Real Estate brokers and agents receiving remuneration for their services? It's the underlying theme/point/agenda of Lewis' article quite frankly. As he sees it 6 percent commissions are responsible for the foreclosure mess (not government intervention~no) and by doing away with these "hidden" charges the market will see a turnaround and the consumer will be better served. I have a few questions for Mr. Lewis. (Click HERE to read the rest of my response.)

I've got the latest Mother Lode market numbers for you to look at today. To begin with, you'll notice the overall sales picture including all sales classes. CLICK HERE to view January 2010 compared to January 2009. You'll also want to notice the graphs including the Mother Lode Residential Unit Sales through January 2010 graph versus the previous five years (clickable picture 1 on the above left) along with the Mother Lode Residential Volume Sales graph versus the previous five years (clickable picture 2 on the right) and the Mother Lode Residential Average Sales Price graph versus the previous five years (clickable picture 3 on the left below), respectively. (The data used comes from the Tuolumne Multiple Listing Service and is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.) As usual, I also have some of the numbers in black and white here:

UNIT SALES: Jan 10 = 20; Jan 09 = 25; -20%

VOL SALES: Jan 10 = $4,406,252; Jan 09 = $6,834,950; -36%

AVG SALES PRICE: Jan 10 = $220,312; Jan 09 = $273,398; -19%

Watch for the Calaveras MLS stats to be posted soon.

You've got a Facebook page. You're tweeting on Twitter. You're establishing business connections on LinkedIn. (Right?) There's only one more thing you need to do: Become Mayor of your hometown?! I'm not kidding. Among the newest social media kids on the block (that I want to highlight today) is Foursquare. This internet application allows you to explore and document the places you go in your neighborhood (and beyond) in a different and fun way. "Check-in" with Foursquare to tell where you are. Leave tips about your favorite places for your friends (and others) to read about later. Earn points and unlock badges depending on the amount of times you visit a particular place (let's say a restaurant, movie theater, library, swimming pool, etc.). Foursquare will even designate you as Mayor of the places you've been to more than anyone else. Beyond these social uses of Foursquare are the potentials for promoting your business and brand. Read Tony Felice's 6 marketing opportunities for Foursquare to find out more. Then sign up for Foursquare today.

Real estate is all about people and helping people (as it is with any career). There are all kinds of people that a real estate professional can work with. There are short people and tall people, young people and old people, skinny people and not so skinny people (is that politically correct to say?), people with tatooes and people without tattooes, people who wear rings on their fingers and people who wear rings on their toes (do you know anyone who does?). There are just so many different people. And then there are just so many different types of personalities that people can have. One way of classifying personalities is through the use of the characters of Winnie the Pooh. Whether you've done it before or not, it's kind of fun to find out which character you're most like and to think about the people you know, work with and/or serve in similar fashion. (Read full post by clicking HERE.)