TENT CONSPIRACY

Okay...the world is entirely too serious right now. So, to lighten things up a bit, I want to propose a conspiracy. I believe that the manufacturers of tents are the instigators of all that is crazy with the world. You laugh, but think about it!
Occupy Wall Street, aka Occupy Oakland, aka Occupy Whatever....they are making statements by pitching their tents for a long-term stay. As quickly as they pitch them, the police come along and tear them down. So, to ensure that the protesters are making their point, they go out, buy more tents and pitch them again...and on it goes.
Now, we have a new group of tent pitchers...the Black Friday (misnomer since they are pitching now) enthusiasts are pitching their tents outside their favorite store so they can trample each other come midnight Thursday.
I would hazard a guess that there may be a shortage of tents. As a result, and true to our supply and demand capitalism, the prices will go up. Now the tent manufacturers will make masses of money. The Occupy people will probably protest them for being too rich...
and on it goes. I'm just sayin'....

GREAT NEWS...MY CLIENTS DON'T NEED ME RIGHT NOW!

These times can test ones priorities. Are we here for our clients or for ourselves?
I don't think, in the 16 years I have been a Realtor, I have ever had such an on again-off again year. I would feel really awful if it was due to some action I took, but it wasn't. It was because my clients had good news that prevented them from completing their real estate transaction.
They were remodeling the home of their dreams. It was going to be their last house...their retirement home. It had acreage to grow grapes. It had space to continue their daycare business. And then, health issues arose and the dream became a logistical nightmare. It was time to fish or cut bait, and they decided the best move was to cut bait. We put the property on the market and had lots of interest, but no offers. A month goes by and the health issues start to be resolved. There is light at the end of the tunnel. They don't want to sell their dream anymore and feel terrible about pulling it off the market. I am thrilled for them...they get to keep their dream! Great news!
She is about to have a baby and wants to purchase a home before the blessed event. She also wants to be a nurse and has had an application in to a highly thought of program for a long time. We found their perfect property and were in contract. We had completed the home inspection and resolved most of the issues. Then, she gets a letter....she has been accepted into the nursing program. However, she can't work, have a newborn and go to nursing school. She has to quit work and can no longer qualify for the loan. The good news is that she has been given the opportunity to follow her dream. The bad news is that we have to cancel the escrow. I am thrilled for her being able to follow her dream (and she had her baby on 11/11/11)!
Her father passed away and left a very nice duplex in a high-end neighborhood in Sacramento. They really don't want to be property managers and so we put the property on the market. It is truly an owner-occupied type of duplex so there is a limited number of buyers. After several months, they get the chance to have both sides rented, but the new tenants don't want to move in with the chance that they will be evicted soon after. I agree that their best option is to take it off the market until next year, so it is withdrawn. They own it outright, so it is great that they will be able to have an additional income.
She turned the single family home that I had sold her into a legal duplex, and did it well. Now she wants to get out from under a student loan and selling the home would make a good dent in her debt. I list the property and get ready to put it on the market. However, there is a chance that one of the tenants might want to purchase it and she discovers work that the property needs before selling it. We decide that now is not the time and to revisit selling it in the spring. She is happy to have the reprieve until she has more time to deal with it.
Often, our own interests come into conflict with what is best for our clients. We need to know that what is most important is what is right for the people we represent. Their lives are changed by events like what I have described. We just get a little less income. Priorities are pretty easy to assign when looking at it from the perspective of our clients. I am thrilled that, ultimately, it was better for my clients to not need me right now.

DESTINATION: SACRAMENTO

Saying "Sacramento is a destination" may not be what travelers may have heard. What is more commonly heard is "Sacramento is a great place to start from". Even native Sacramentans may have come to believe this...we hear it quite often.
I beg to differ. I defy anyone to identify a city that has more to offer than Sacramento.

• We are at the convergence of 2 beautiful rivers: the Sacramento River and the American River. Some may dispute the Sacramento River as being beautiful since it contains a heavy dose of run-off from farmlands north of it. However, navigating the Sacramento Delta will prove its scenic qualities. The American River is popular for rafting and fishing.
• Sacramento is the City of Trees, boasting more trees per capita than any other city in the world.
• Sacramento is enjoying a growing industry...the wine industry. Just across the Sacramento River is a multitude of wonderful, award winning wineries. Travel into the foothills to enjoy wonderful family-owned wineries galore.
• Besides the obvious offering of professional sports like the Sacramento Kings and the minor league RiverCats, Sacramento offers a plethora of recreational sports such as softball, baseball, soccer, swimming, basketball and more.
• Sacramento is just a little over an hour from the world-renowned city of San Francisco for those who wish to visit or shop.
• For the skiing enthusiasts, travel up Highway 50 or Interstate 80 for an hour and a half to have world-class slopes of Heavenly Valley, Squaw, Boreal, Sugarbowl, Kirkwood, North Star and more to enjoy.
• Ocean lovers can bask in the sun after traveling just an hour from Sacramento.
• Jazz enthusiasts from all over the world converge on Sacramento in May for the Sacramento Jazz Festival.
• Boating enthusiasts can travel 45 minutes to Folsom Lake, just a few minutes to the Sacramento River or American River or, if they like a chill in the water, to Lake Tahoe.
• World-class restaurants have sprouted up in the past few years to offer those who enjoy a comfortable evening out an memorable experience.
• Sacramento has a strong artistic flair. The Crocker Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the West and just finished a beautiful, state of the art addition. Every new construction is required to contain funding for art within its venue. There are several offerings for the performing arts, many of them offered throught the California Community Theater.

I could go on forever, but it would become overwhelming for the reader to take it all in. Come visit us!