So when was your last real good laugh? We've all done it. Something cracks us up and we just can't stop laughing. Right? And it's usually in somebody's company that it happens (that we "lose it.") And just when you think you've regained your composure, that's when you look at them and you begin laughing again (uncontrollably). Isn't it true? It's good to laugh. And just in case you don't believe it (only Scrooges wouldn't), a University of Maryland Medical Center study offers proof. In it they measured the "humor responses" of 300 individuals. Half "had either suffered a heart attack or undergone coronary artery bypass surgery." The other half "did not have heart disease." The article continues... One questionnaire had a series of multiple-choice answers to find out how much or how lit... 08/22/2011

(If you can't see this video, click here.) 08/19/2011

All of the information on this page has been  compiled from the Tuolumne County Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS). These updates represent not only my listings but the listings the other cooperating Brokers of our Board.Sonora Real Estate Multiple ListingsThe 45 single family Sonora CA Homes listed for sale this week have been on the market an average of 147 days with an average list price of $279,044.21 houses in the Sonora area are in escrow with an average price of$187,054 and an average market time of 93 daysHouses in Escrow 08-17-2011Real Estate Sold in the Sonora Area this WeekAddress                                                        Asking           Sold           %      DOM580  Arbona Circle N                            $194,900    $200,000   103%   143This I... 08/18/2011

We're lied to all the time. (You're shaking your head, "Yes"?) Sometimes the lies we're told ~ we begin to believe them (if we're not careful). We must refuse to believe the lies. We must adamantly refuse to believe the lies. We must vehemently refuse to believe the lies. What do the "liars" know anyway? Hmm? Do they even know us? Have they even taken the time to care enough to find out our story? ~ what we've been through, what we've faced and overcome ~ and against all odds (many of us)? They don't have enough information to make a judgment. They're just going on subjective (emotional) evidence ~ how they feel, with all their pre-conceived notions and opinions mixed in (bias, prejudice) ~ aside from the facts, aside from the truth about who we really are. They would think differently... 08/17/2011

These are still good things to remember as an adult (what might you add?)... 60 Things Your Mother Said To You (That You May Have Forgotten?): 1. Say, "Please," and "Thank you" 2. Brush your teeth (after every meal) 3. Make your bed 4. Be polite 5. Share 6. Let others go first 7. Comb your hair 8. Be a good sport 9. Be nice to your sister 10. Take out the garbage 11. Clean your room 12. Finish your homework 13. Don't hold a grudge 14. Say you're sorry 15. Tell the truth 16. Be honest 17. Don't lie 18. Eat all your vegetables 19. Don't stay out too late 20. Stand up straight 21. Don't cut in line 22. Don't cheat 23. Be careful 24. Turn off the TV 25. Don't talk while you're eating 26. Chew before you swallow 27. Don't look at me like that 28. Be home on time 29. Tie your shoes 30. Say y... 08/15/2011

(If you can't see this video, click here.) 08/12/2011

Remember when you were growing up and your dad would talk to you about something and it would go in one ear and out the other? (Well, that's what happened with me any way.) It's kind of the thinking behind the question (title) that came to my mind recently when I was watching my Twitter timeline and noticed a random tweet of an individual. I won't give the name, but they are known to speak at real estate conferences. (I am using the "plural" to hide the fact of a he or a she.) And I guess my thought was they were tweeting as if they were speaking at a conference before a captive audience(?) And so was anybody really listening to them (other than me)? The proverbial: If a tree falls in a forest with nobody around, does it make a sound? Is that what much of social media has become? (Did ... 08/10/2011

(I use a bad word in this one. You've been warned.) Most of us know the "golden rule." I gave you the first part of it in the title and thought about giving you time to remember the rest of it on your own. (Clock ticking.) Got it? If you thought, "Do unto others ... as you would have them do unto you," you're right. And if you didn't think it, well, next time you'll know. And isn't it true that there are some in the world (and it really doesn't matter what the career) who want everybody else to treat them just right (with kid gloves?) while they treat people like (bad word coming): BEEP. I just couldn't do it (though it would have gone far to emphasize the point I'm making that's so often true). What I mean is there are those who want people to pay up on time (but they don't pay up on ... 08/08/2011

(click pictures to enlarge) 08/05/2011

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 July 2011 compared to July 2010. CLICK HERE to view January-July 2011 compared to January-July 2010. You'll also want to notice the graphs including the Mother Lode Residential Unit Sales through July 2011 graph versus the previous five years (clickable picture 1on 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... 08/03/2011

There once was a man who lived in an unusual time. Uncertainty and struggling and turmoil ~ you name it ~ it was all around. It was pressing in. It was affecting his community. It was affecting his peers. It was trying to lay hold of him. "But I'm just not gonna give in to it," the man said. "I'm just not gonna let it control me." "I'm just not gonna let it take over. I'm just not gonna let it dictate." "I'm just not gonna become frustrated. I'm just not gonna play the blame game / look for a scapegoat. I'm just not gonna become angry. I'm just not gonna become depressed, distraught, disillusioned." "Instead, I'm just gonna keep working hard like I've always worked hard." "I'm just gonna keep being faithful like I've always been faithful." "I'm just gonna keep lending a helping hand li... 08/01/2011

(click picture to enlarge) 07/29/2011

All of the information on this page has been  compiled from the Tuolumne County Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS). These updates represent not only my listings but the listings the other cooperating Brokers of our Board.Sonora Real Estate Multiple ListingsThe 50 single family Sonora CA Homes listed for sale this week have been on the market an average of 160 days with an average list price of $270,281.22 houses in the Sonora area are in escrow with an average price of$236,566 and an average market time of 83 daysHouses in Escrow 07-27-2011Real Estate Sold in the Sonora Area this WeekAddress                                                        Asking           Sold           %      DOM20530 W Walnut                                  $199,900    $204,000   102%    5621161 ... 07/28/2011

This blog post is the next in a continuing monthly series where I'll pass on some information of interest that you may not get the opportunity to see otherwise. It won't take long for you to check out the following four articles covering the subjects of real estate and technology. Realtor.com's App Rocks – So Say I and my Clients by Jim Duncan on RealCentralVA.com. 6 Daily Habits for Facebook Marketing Success by Amy Porterfield on socialmediaexaminer.com. California versus Texas - A tale best through fishing parable by Jeff Brown on agentgenius.com. 6.5 million Americans are over thirty days late on their mortgage paymeent by Tara Steele on agentgenius.com. (The author of the Sugar Pine Realty blog does not necessarily endorse or disapprove of the thoughts included via the above links.) 07/28/2011

"Help, I need somebody, Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone, Help!" Thus starts the famous Beatles' song from the 1960s. (Video below.) And we don't like to ask for help. (Some of us don't.) I mean, it's a sign of weakness. (Some think it is.) It's a sign of dependence. (And we're supposed to be independent, rugged individualists. It's the American way after all.) And there are other reasons why we don't ask for help. We may be in denial. And to admit we need help would be an admission of a problem we're not wanting to face ~ that we've been trying hard to convince ourselves doesn't exist. Another reason we don't ask for help is it would mean we'd be seen for who we really are. And we've been keeping up appearances, you see ~ of having it all together ~ of being bette... 07/25/2011

All of the information on this page has been  compiled from the Tuolumne County Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS). These updates represent not only my listings but the listings the other cooperating Brokers of our Board.Sonora Real Estate Multiple ListingsThe 47 single family Sonora CA Homes listed for sale this week have been on the market an average of 162 days with an average list price of $285,156.24 houses in the Sonora area are in escrow with an average price of$220,195 and an average market time of 72 daysHouses in Escrow 07-20-2011Real Estate Sold in the Sonora Area this WeekAddress                                   Asking           Sold           %      DOM253 Arbona Circle                     $199,000     $172,000      86%  131247 Hospital Road                  ... 07/20/2011

20% further drop in home prices in 2012? Agree or disagree? (If you can't see this video, click here.) 07/20/2011

"I didn't think doing real estate would be so hard." Have you ever heard anyone say that? (Was it you?) The fact is doing real estate is hard. And it's not just unique to our day. The average failure rate in the first year of people who go into real estate according to a study in the 1990s was just shy of 9 out of every 10. (Are you surprised?) I want to drill down a little bit further in this 9 out of every 10 failing at real estate number for a moment to get you thinking. Of course, we're talking about newbies. Right? And so the 10% or so that make it through the first year (versus the 90% who fail), odds are they make it through the second year, too. (Ya think?) And the third year. And so on and so forth. They may even still be in the business today having been "baptized by fire" at... 07/18/2011

Zapd in 60 Seconds from rocketvox on Vimeo. 07/15/2011

Lightning fast post meant to make you think... 10 Mistakes People Make with Facebook: (what might you add to the list?) 1. Use it as another static website. 2. Neglect "Liking" others (business pages) and commenting. 3. Do business promotion on their Friend page. 4. Cuss a lot (to impress? / be accepted?). 5. Post status updates every time they breath. 6. Spend too much time and neglect offline relationships. 7. Broadcast when they're out of town. 8. Publish their scores on games. 9. Want their business page to be an overnight success (money-maker). 10. Forget to offer incentives (free eBook, exclusive content, surprise drawing, etc) to gain "Likes" (on business page). BONUS: Don't pause to think twice before posting. (Are you really sure you want everybody to see that?) You might also... 07/13/2011