In recent months I have been saying that Sacramento is stabilizing...we are done with about 80% of our foreclosures, our sales have doubled since last year at this time and it appears that the decline in market values is creeping rather than racing down the speedway.
On April 28th, an article came out on the Wall Street Journal with the headline "First Housing Markets to Heal? Analyst Bets on Sacramento, Washington". Whoohoo! The analyst is John Burns. According to Mr. Burns, the fact that Sacramento's new home supply has shrunk more than other markets he tracks, along with very affordable housing and the ability to get loans improving is evidence that Sacramento has early recovery potential. He cites that employment could be a deterrent in this recovery. Personally, I am going to continue to believe that we are on our way!
Washington DC is also poised for an early recovery. While jobs are not the issue that Sacramento has, he felt that the housing market might fall an additional 5%-10%.
There are a few cities he cited as taking the longest to recover, but I want this post to be positive, so I am going to leave it here...life is getting better by the day!
It was a beautiful morning (albeit early for a weekend) at 8AM. There were more trucks parked on the 
street than for a rodeo. The activity around the "chosen" house would put a beehive to shame. The Sacramento Association of Realtors, along with other wonderful volunteers had committed themselves to giving back to their community by helping a homeowner in need. Rebuilding Together had given us this opportunity to give back...and there were a lot that were happy to be there.
It was hard to believe that we would actually use all of the tools that were spread out like a picnic on the front yard grass. The talented and knowledgeable brought their manly power tools. Volunteers such as ourselves were relegated to the more harmless paint brushes and rollers...after all, it would take a lot to hurt ourselves or others with these!
In our morning shift, I saw a water heater being carried out of the house, a new shower surround being carried in, windows being completely replaced, fences being mended, dry rot being removed and good wood being installed...and of course there were 7 gallons of exterior paint with 3 gallons of trim that we were charged with. The house was completely painted inside and outside, including the driveway and 3 covered porches.
The best part? Maybe it was the homeowner, who sat in her front yard in total awe of the amount of tasks being accomplished in one day. Maybe it was the number of really talented artisans who put their specialties to good stead for this nice lady. For me, it was the camaraderie of fellow Realtors and Sacramento Association of Realtors staff that made me proud to be in our industry. I was proud to be a part of it!
My camera batteries died, so I couldn't take a picture...however this one in Texas looked about the same, so I borrowed it from Flickr by wordjunky.
It was an interesting night. It was also an impressive night. At the front of the room at Eskaton in Land
Park sat 19 candidates hoping to be elected into the Land Park Community Association board. They represented every demographic in the neighborhood. One gentleman was raised in Land Park. Another was raising his young family in the area. We had proffesionals knowledgeable about land use, events coordination, politics, construction, architecture and urban planning, business management and so much more. It is a wonderful slate of candidates and we should be proud to vote in any 14 of them.
There was a common theme...to promote and support the very best that Land Park has to offer. There are plenty of challenges...the ongoing discussion regarding a bridge over the Sacramento River connecting West Sacramento to Sacramento at Broadway, traffic and all of the issues that it brings, commercial revitalization, and cuts to William Land Parks budget, to name just a few.
The rest of the room was filled with those who care and are concerned about the future of Land Park. They sat attentively as each candidate had 3 minutes to share with the attendees their agendas and qualifications.
One complaint was that there wasn't enough specific information on how each candidate stood on important issues...and it was a valid point. Hopefully next year that opportunity will be given.
Finally, it was a night we should all be proud of...it is a new beginning!
I was chatting with my favorite (and personal) home insurance representative. I asked him how busy he was staying. His response intrigued me. He said, contrary to his company's opinion of the market, he was busy. He had just returned from a company wide meeting. The theme seemed to be how to get through this slow-down in the business. He said that they had totally bought into the media hype without realizing one major factor...insurance, just like real estate is local. In our region, sales have doubled from last year. Even though home values have gone down, the number of home owners needing home insurance was better than it had been in a very long time. He was having a robust year...with no end in sight! The lesson is...don't buy into the hype, because it is usually national news. Listen and pay attention to the local industry, because that is where your business is!
I know...you are thinking that Land Park residents have heard this rumor before. That was my first
reaction. This is just the same old rumor being reborn...except maybe not!
Land Park has longed for a Trader Joe's ever since the first time we heard of the possibility of it becoming a Land Park neighbor. It isn't that we don't have some great stores in the neighborhood. Raley's has been here for 30+ years. I have already told you about Taylor's Market. A Trader Joe's would round out our choices nicely with it's off-branding and continual offerings of well priced goods.
It would replace the now rarely used Prime Market on the corner of Land Park Drive and Sutterville Road. It would certainly be a turn-around for this shopping site. Land Park Pharmacy closing it's doors was a tragic loss. Thankfully, a pharmacy is coming back along with a few new offerings. It is my hope, and I am sure the neighborhoods as well, that along with Trader Joe's will be an improvement to the shopping center's appearance.
So, is it coming to Land Park? Well, I have heard this from people who I respect and who should be "in the know" more than most anyone I know. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!
Photo from Flickr by voxefx
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I've been selling in established classic Sacramento neighborhoods (Land Park, South Land Park, East Sacramento & Curtis Park)since 1995.It would be my pleasure to help you with your real estate needs.
Paula is a native Sacramentan, born and raised in South Land Park. She attended Sutterville Elementary School, Sam Brannan Middle School, C.K. McClatchy High School and received her Bachelor of Science degree at Oregon State University in 1974. She worked as a buyer of childrens wear at Lawrences, a local department store, for nine years and as the manager of a family owned ski rack company for another 9 years. She and her husband Richard moved into Land Park in 1979 and loved raising their three children there. Their children now own their own homes in the Land Park area.
In 1995 Paula earned both her real estate license and brokers license. She is priviledged to be a member of the Sacramento Association of Realtors Master's Club, selling more than 3 million dollars worth of property each year since 1996. Paula enjoys being the Chairperson of the Grievance Commitee for the Sa
cramento Association of Realtors.
When Paula is not working with clients, she enjoys walking her two unruly English Springer Spaniels, working in her yard or the latest home project or playing with her granddaughters.
Her most recent rediscovery is my love of art. She was an art major in college and in 2006, had an opportunity to start creating again. Paula sculpts bronze animals in the lost wax method. Her subjects are animals and birds, both domestic such as dogs and cats and wild, such as meerkats, flamingos and penguins. It is a great joy Paula works with in her spare time.
Paula is fortunate to live and work in the area in which Ishe specializes - Land Park. She also 
specializes in the older neighborhoods of East Sacramento and Curtis Park. Paula is drawn to the character and the unique architecture of each home. The tree-canopied neighborhoods feature beautiful parks. Growing up in South Land Park, she also has experience in selling homes in this wonderful established neighborhood.
Be sure to check her blog (Land Park Blog) for current issues facing these fine older neighborhoods.
LAND PARK
I receive a delightful gift for the outstanding job you did? How fair is that? You do such a thorough and dedicated job so cheerfully for your clients. I thank you once again for all your efforts and for your generous gift. - Dorothy
LAND PARK
Thanks so much, again, for the quick sell! We much appreciated your assistance. - Jolie & Greg
LAND PARK
I would like to thank you very much for all the "extras" you put into the sale of our house. You made the going smooth - every step of the way. Thank you for making the difference. - Susan
LAND PARK
I just wanted to write you a quick note to thank you for all your help and hard work in selling my mom's house. Thanks for hanging in there and giving my mom someone to "lean" on as she went through this stressful time. Your patience and compassion are commendable. - Craig
LAND PARK
Thanks so much for your enormous generosity of time and effort in helping us with our entire move. We are extremely grateful! - Kathy & Sharon
LAND PARK
How can we ever thank you for all you've done for our family? You are an outstanding real estate agent and a wonderful person. You made both transactions flow so smoothly. - Mark & Rochelle
LAND PARK
Thank you for all of your help with purchasing our new home! We couldn't be happier! We really enjoyed working with you and always felt assured that we were well represented. - Kristen & Mike
SOUTH LAND PARK
Just a note to thank you so much for all your help with my home. I appreciate your business style - professional, yet so personable. I always knew I was in great hands! - Lisa
SOUTH LAND PARK
Thank you so much for all you have done to help me buy "my house". You have been such a steady friend over the past months and bringing this to a close is so exciting for me! - Ann
SOUTH LAND PARK
I want to thank you so much for all your help and hard work finding me a home. I would not have been able to achieve this goal without your knowledge, dedication and endless patience. - Kahn
SOUTH LAND PARK
Thank you for all the help with selling my mother's house. The phone calls keeping us abreast of the progress were appreciated and the $50 check was especially nice as you were an innocent party also.
- Lois
SOUTH LAND PARK
We can't thank you enough for all of your help and support with the "sale" and the "buy". I'm not sure when we would have gotten here had it not been for your tactful and gracious approach to the overall transaction. - Karen & Jeff
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