New Catch Phrases

Price Reduced...

And Improved!

Builders are also offering $20,000 toward your down payment, and it really isn't working. These houses have not sold in the several months that we've lived here. A few people are buying, but very few. One person I know recently bought a new house had his moving expenses paid by the builder.

Banks are not handing out loans like they used to, so people aren't able to buy. Very few people in this area have the income or down payment to qualify at this time.

Very sad all around.

I feel bad for the real people this is affecting. Not the greedy investor types.

Time for a Rest

They're tired!

They worked hard all season.

Someone I know had their reindeer rearranged by neighborhood kids to look like one was humping the other, and I didn't get a picture of it. So disappointing.

A Friendly Reminder

Christmas IS OVER....WHOOOHOOOO!!!!
Or HOLIDAYS for you PC jackballs.
Now, let us commence with life as usual.
Everyone, please crawl back into the hole you came out of to do your shopping.
And, for the love of God, please take down your Christmas decorations before July.

Downright Offensive

My wife was at a Starbucks today, and was having a difficult time deciding between the Christmas Blend and the Holiday Blend. They both sounded good to her, and in order to make up her mind she asked the barista which one she recommended. "Oh," chirped the girl, "they're both the same blend, but one is to be politically correct." You can guess which one that was. My wife dropped the Holiday blend like it was a scorpion, and hissed, and rolled her eyes. To hell with political correctness! She was OFFENDED...which is the worst possible thing we can do to anyone these days. Quite possibly even worse than murdering puppies!!! What kind of monster would do that? The same one who would OFFEND another human being with their OPINIONS and beliefs.

But my wife got over it...just like everyone should. People need to get off their high horses and worry about things that matter. Like housing bubbles. Heh. If you ask me, we need to start doing a little more OFFENDING in this country. But that is just my opinion. It's still legal to have one. Right?

Secret Agent Man

Hmmm. Who do I call? Secret [Real Estate] Agent Man?

Nothing To Do With Real Estate

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

More Real Estate Advice From Howard

Looks perfectly normal...way over-priced house that will not likely sell in the near future. Typical.

But, if you will, notice the big speaker in the window that just happened to be blaring muzak at the time I was driving by...must be some kinfolk of the cheerleaders.

Howard does not like gangsta rap. He does not recommend buying that house for $300,000 either. In fact, he says that he wouldn't even pay $150,000 for that house. He says that you would regret it at any price. Just do not bother. He is experienced in real estate matters, better than most realtors in fact and won't even charge you a commission for his sage advice. He'd like it to be mentioned, however, that he does accept treats. Especially the chicken flavored variety.

No Wonder There is a Problem-O

According to the US Dept of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average annual income by each California county.

Released April 26, 2007

Average Annual Salary
06085 Santa Clara $71,774
06075 San Francisco 66,398
06081 San Mateo 65,525
06001 Alameda 52,783
06041 Marin 51,595
06013 Contra Costa 51,416
06059 Orange 46,872
06037 Los Angeles 46,228
06067 Sacramento 44,603
06111 Ventura 44,557
06073 San Diego 43,419
06055 Napa 40,102
06061 Placer 39,956
06097 Sonoma 39,870
06113 Yolo 39,725
06083 Santa Barbara 39,061
06095 Solano 38,849
06087 Santa Cruz 37,983
06053 Monterey 37,246
06115 Yuba 37,130
06071 San Bernardino 35,918
06077 San Joaquin 35,458
06017 El Dorado 35,225
06029 Kern 35,154
06069 San Benito 34,793
06065 Riverside 34,697
06099 Stanislaus 34,560
06051 Mono 34,288
06079 San Luis Obispo 33,660
06057 Nevada 33,542
06035 Lassen 33,470
06031 Kings 33,214
06019 Fresno 32,822
06005 Amador 32,801
06089 Shasta 32,189
06063 Plumas 32,131
06109 Tuolumne 31,902
06047 Merced 30,787
06101 Sutter 30,688
06025 Imperial 30,599
06039 Madera 30,168
06103 Tehama 30,069
06007 Butte 29,989
06011 Colusa 29,642
06033 Lake 29,633
06027 Inyo 29,623
06023 Humboldt 29,562
06015 Del Norte 29,402
06107 Tulare 29,101
06045 Mendocino 28,993
06009 Calaveras 28,929
06091 Sierra 28,847
06021 Glenn 28,784
06043 Mariposa 28,242
06093 Siskiyou 27,772
06105 Trinity 27,599
06049 Modoc 26,726
06003 Alpine 26,392

This is per person, not family, but still...not enough to support a family and make a mortgage payment, car payments, insurance, gas, utilities, clothes, shoes, and school supplies for the kids, food, save for retirement and college, entertainment, and let us not forget TAXES. That is why I think California housing prices will come down considerably more. Am I wrong??? Now that people actually have to qualify for a loan with a verifiable income, I don't think as many McMansions will be flying off the shelf.

Why?

The only thing worse than furniture out front...

Is graffiti.

Even if it is cleaned...it will be right back up the next day.

A Real Estate Gamble That Paid Off

The London Bridge
Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Lake Havasu City was established in 1964 by Robert P. McCulloch (of McCulloch Chainsaws) as a planned community. McCulloch had purchased 3,500 acres (14 km²) of property on the east side of Lake Havasu along Pittsburgh Point, the peninsula that eventually would be transformed into "the island". The city was incorporated in 1978. The present city grew around an old mining town established in the early 20th Century.

A popular tourist attraction in Lake Havasu City is the London Bridge, which crosses an 8ft (2.4m) deep man-made canal that leads from Lake Havasu (on the Colorado River) to Thompson Bay. It was bought for US$2.5 million from the City of London when the bridge was replaced in 1968. The bridge was disassembled, and the marked stones were shipped to Lake Havasu City and reassembled for another US $7 million. (Information from Wikipedia)

The London Bridge in Arizona must wonder what the heck happened to it. It went from a foggy, damp environment to weather that can scorch the skin off of the meanest snake, or the latest drunk boater on holiday weekends. Can you imagine the people of London, in the 1800's (when the London Bridge now located in Lake Havasu, AZ, was built) being told their bridge was going to end up in a hot desert in the middle of nowhere America? Bwwaaahhaaahhaaaahhaaaa!!!!!

Establishing Lake Havasu City, and hauling in the London Bridge stone-by-stone was a gamble that paid off for Mr. McCulloch, because Lake Havasu has seen a boom in building and real estate that he probably would have never imagined. The current population being around 50,000. The housing bubble added greatly to their population. Lake Havasu used to average 160 new building permits per month...that was last year. This year, in November, the City issued 3 new building permits. That is the lowest since they started keeping track in 1980.

To visit the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, AZ, take your bottle of lotion/sunscreen and lots of water. To visit the London Bridge in Jolly Old England, check out this website for great deals on hotels.

Do it. Now. Maybe they'll sell YOU one of their national landmarks.

Today's Real Estate Quiz

Why are these two grocery carts in front of this house?

a. The homeonwner's loan just reset and this is his back-up plan.
b. The homeowner panhandles on the street corner during the day to pay his mortgage.
c. The homeowner refurbishes grocery carts.

A New Trend

It's the new thing to do...

Display your old furniture and appliances out front.
Who needs flowers and trees?

What a Huge Drop

This house is still new according to the MLS sheet in the window. No sign out front. I did a zillow search on it, and the amazing thing is that it shows it's worth $495,777. I dont think so!!! Its worth more like $199,777, if even that much. Right down the road there are new ones listed at $199,000.

FROM ZILLOW:

ZESTIMATE™: $495,777 What's this?

Zestimate

A Zestimate home valuation is Zillow's estimated market value. It is not an appraisal. Use it as a starting point to determine a home's value.
Learn more

The Value Range is the high and low estimated market value for which Zillow values a home. The more information, the smaller the range, and the more accurate the Zestimate. See data coverage and accuracy table

• Value Range: $456,115 - $639,552
• 30-day change: $44,352
• Zestimate updated: 11/27/2007

Close

Tax Assessor's Value

Depending on the jurisdiction where you live, this value could be the tax assessed, tax appraised, or market assessed value. This value comes from the taxing authority of the city, county or state where you live; this is not Zillow's value.

Note: Tax assessor's values differ from Zillow's Zestimate, which is computed by entering numerous data points into a proprietary formula, often resulting in a more accurate value estimate.

Last sale and tax info

Sold 12/19/2006:

$495,000

2007 Property Tax:

$5,860 (This doesn't go away in foreclosure -- Mr. Banker still has to pay it.)

This is listed at $285,000 so it has lost $210,000 in one year??? Is this the bottom? Nope not even close. I bet it will lose another $100,000 over the next year.

Mr. Pipe Dream, Realtor: "Ah, well, the housing market is great. It's on its way up. You had better buy soon if you're lookin' to buy. Look how much houses have come down...it isn't going to keep going down you know. Here, let me pour you another glass of Kool-Aid? You look thirsty."

The Olive Green Fridge

It's always a good thing to have an olive green fridge in front of your house when you are trying to sell it. Curb appeal is EVERYTHING. If you can click on the picture, you might even be able to see the magnets on it. I guess I shouldn't judge, maybe they are just trying to save on electricity since it is winter and all. It has been there for three weeks and counting...

Buildin' Buildin' Buildin'

Pepe the Parrot says, "Braaack...it's a buyer's market!"

I bet the subs are crossing their fingers and toes that they'll get paid.

To the tune of Rawhide:

Buildin', Buildin', Buildin'.
Buildin', Buildin', Buildin'.
Buildin', Buildin', Buildin'.
Buildin', Buildin', Buildin'.
Bathides!
Hah! Hah!

Keep Buildin', Buildin', Buildin',
Though the subdivisions are dwindlin',
Keep them subies buildin', McMansions never endin'.
Through rain and wind and weather,
Hell bent for buyers,
Wishin' my banker was on my side.
All the things I'm missin',
Good vittles, love, and kissin',
Are waiting at the end of my rope.

Move 'em in, Move 'em out,
Move 'em out, move 'em in.
Move 'em in, Move 'em out:
Bathides.
Hah! Hah!

Movin', movin', movin',
Though the banks are disapprovin',
Keep them subies buildin', McMansions never endin'.
Don't try to understand 'em,
Just build an' sell an' foreclose 'em.
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
My heart's calculatin',
My true love will be waitin':
Waitin' at the end of my rope.

I'm Dreaming of Hot Christmas in July

Tigger will look GREAT in July...you know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Dear-oh-Deer

Dear oh Deer, They went off and left you...never to return. Yet, you stand just as proudly as the day they hauled you home from the garage sale. Nothing can tarnish the brave front that you put on day after lonely day. It's okay that you have a missing antler...we still love you.

Guido's Mortgage Co.

When will banks...

ever learn?

Where are these loans coming from? Guido's Mortgage Company?

Guido's Motto:
"No foreclosures ever...we'll break your legs, and if that doesn't work, we'll break your wife's legs, and if that doesn't work, we'll break your kids legs, on down to the dog and the cat. If that doesn't work, we'll kill you."