How many of you out there have a website? I see that hand. I see that hand. I see that hand. Okay, hands down. Next question. How many of you think your website is getting a lot of traffic/visitors/viewership? A few hands? Maybe? The truth is, when it comes to the question of visits to one's website, probably more people than not don't know how much traffic they're getting (unless they're a computer geek like me). So let me fill you in. And this is the tough love part of this post. You're likely not getting very much traffic/many visitors to your website at all - and especially if you're not investing any time or hard work (underline those last two words) in the promotion of your website (especially online). It's kind of like listing a mansion in Big Hill. (For those of you from out of... 05/01/2009

The dictionary defines "appreciation" in a couple of ways. (To see Webster's definition: CLICK HERE.) Of course, in the real estate business, "appreciation" has to do with a home or property gaining in value over a period of time. But that's not the kind of appreciation this post is about. Instead, it's the appreciation that human beings can offer one another that I want to talk about. And this type of appreciation can and does at times go beyond words and can be conveyed without the use of words at all. But it's verbal appreciation (aside from this) that carries a whole lot of power (in my mind). When was the last time you heard somebody say, "I appreciate you," "I appreciate your work ethic," "I appreciate having you around," "I appreciate your friendship"? How did it make you feel? ... 04/29/2009

Cute older home on a corner lot. 2 bedrooms. 913 sq. ft. Patio. 1 car detached garage. Two areas to park. $129,900 Call Val Ogletree at 209-559-5725 for more information or email Sugar Pine Realty. Listed by Sugar Pine Realty. In Tuolumne and Calaveras County Real Estate sales & service for over 30 years & still growing. We're located in the Sonora Twain Harte Mother Lode area of California, approximately 70 miles west of Yosemite. We are here to serve you! Visit the Sugar Pine Realty website: CLICK HERE. Need a home loan? In the Mother Lode, visit: financialaccessinc.net. 04/29/2009

This report shows the homes sold in Sonora CA for the previous week.This includes Sonora Proper and the surrounding Real Estate in Area 3.Use the link to view further details about the property.Address                            Asking           Sold       Chg%       DOM      464  N Stewart Street      $510,000     $450,000      88%      218       17891  Good Shepherd     $109,900      $70,000      64%      80     This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.If you are really interested in buyingA Home in Sonora CAUse the link above for more informationClick here for immediate access toSonora Real Estate Listings www.sonora-ca-real-estate.us 04/29/2009

Each week in this Real Estate report you will find a link to search a list of Sonora CA Homes that have either been significantly reduced or come on to the market over the last 7 days. They are 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.These updates are brought to you at my expense, with the hope that after we have made each others acquaintance, you will allow me to represent you as your Realtor.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------New links will be posted by Friday.Sonora CA Real Estate Listings for 04-29-09This link contains listings that have sold, are in escrow, new to the market or have been red... 04/29/2009

Here you will find weekly market statistics which are a compilation ofReal Estate activity in Sonora, California and the surrounding area.Hopefully this will be of help to those of you who are trying to gainsome sense of where our market is going.The cost of Homes in Sonora CA moved this week.The average price for a 3 bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 car garage remained the same at $263,175.Currently Sonora CA Real Estate*has an average market time of 174 days.If we take a look at the total picture and include Real Estate in SonoraCA of all shapes and sizes, inventory remained the same this week at 72 withmedian asking price of $354,450 and an average time of 190 days on themarket.When compared to the rest of the Northern Tuolumne County there are435 homes for sale with a median asking price of $329,... 04/29/2009

I've got a video for you to watch that I bet you'll get a kick out of and be challenged by at the same time. It's of Seth Godin making a presentation on broken things. (Thank you, Daniel Rothamel for posting this.) So what does a presentation about broken things have to do with real estate? Well, I think a lot. For one thing, there can be broken things in the real estate business itself, both in general and then even at a personal level I'm convinced. No matter where the broken things happen to be, the truth is we can tend to put up with the broken things and/or put off dealing with the broken things and in return we often get as a payment for doing so a whole lot of wasted energy, time and even money. Well, enough with what I have to say about broken things and on to what Seth Godin h... 04/27/2009

This report shows the homes sold in Sonora CA for the previous week.This includes Sonora Proper and the surrounding Real Estate in Area 3.Use the link to view further details about the property.Address                            Asking           Sold       Chg%       DOM      21593  Crystal Falls Dr      $117,900      $104,900      89%      57              This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.If you are really interested in buyingA Home in Sonora CAUse the link above for more informationClick here for immediate access toSonora Real Estate Listings 04/25/2009

Each week in this Real Estate report you will find a link to search a list of Sonora CA Homes that have either been significantly reduced or come on to the market over the last 7 days. They are 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.These updates are brought to you at my expense, with the hope that after we have made each others acquaintance, you will allow me to represent you as your Realtor.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------New links will be posted by Friday.Sonora CA Real Estate Listings for 04-22-09This link contains listings that have sold, are in escrow, new to the market or have been red... 04/25/2009

Here you will find weekly market statistics which are a compilation ofReal Estate activity in Sonora, California and the surrounding area.Hopefully this will be of help to those of you who are trying to gainsome sense of where our market is going.The cost of Homes in Sonora CA moved this week.The average price for a 3 bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 car garage fell slightly to $263,175.Currently Sonora CA Real Estate*has an average market time of 174 days.If we take a look at the total picture and include Real Estate in SonoraCA of all shapes and sizes, inventory remained the same this week at 72 withmedian asking price of $365,000 and an average time of 184 days on themarket.When compared to the rest of the Northern Tuolumne County there are427 homes for sale with a median asking price of $329,900 ... 04/25/2009

So if you could choose one word that sets apart a successful realtor from an unsuccessful one, what would it be? I actually tweeted (asked) this question on twitter to not only get some feedback, but also to see if anyone would even come close to the word I had in mind. Some of the answers that came in from twitter (and from the following tweeps) included: @genemundt: willing; @AmanBakshi: proactve; @Christy_LA: genuine; @PMZRealEstate: education; @ergoheat: charisma; @nwahlen: honesty; @afreshspace: organized; @spelletier: sales; @recr: effort; @toddwaller: focus; @1000wattmarc: sales; @agentPatGillen: perseverance; @ColleenLane: consistent. (And if you haven't followed any of these tweeple yet, why not? Links go directly to their tweet sites.) Of course, no one even came close to the... 04/21/2009

Have you got some Van Gogh's and Da Vinci's to hang? Well, even if they aren't quite that caliber, don't get nailed with extra holes in your walls and poorly arranged pictures. Consider these tips before hanging artwork. Arrangement matters If you have several smaller items or a large wall on which to showcase your artwork, an arrangement may work best. Artwork can be grouped by color, subject matter or by matching frames or mats. Consider varying the sizes and shapes of items to add interest to an arrangement. Orderly conduct To keep a grouping from looking disorderly, create a geometric shape with the outer edges and plan for at least one or two straight lines to run through the arrangement. You can achieve cohesiveness by hanging items relatively close together so they seem like a u... 04/16/2009

This report shows the homes sold in Sonora CA for the previous week.This includes Sonora Proper and the surrounding Real Estate in Area 3.Use the link to view further details about the property.Address                            Asking           Sold       Chg%       DOM      20979  Spanish Grant Dr      $379,000      $368,000       97%      48           23914  Hitching Post           $479,000      $450,000       94%      94          This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.If you are really interested in buyingA Home in Sonora CAUse the link above for more informationClick here for immediate access toSonora Real Estate Listings www.sonora-ca-real-estate.us   04/15/2009

Here you will find weekly market statistics which are a compilation ofReal Estate activity in Sonora, California and the surrounding area.Hopefully this will be of help to those of you who are trying to gainsome sense of where our market is going.The cost of Homes in Sonora CA moved this week.The average price for a 3 bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 car garage rose slightly to $268,084.Currently Sonora CA Real Estate*has an average market time of 168 days.If we take a look at the total picture and include Real Estate in SonoraCA of all shapes and sizes, inventory slid this week to 72 withmedian asking price of $362,000 and an average time of 180 days on themarket.When compared to the rest of the Northern Tuolumne County there are428 homes for sale with a median asking price of $328,250 and anaverage... 04/15/2009

Each week in this Real Estate report you will find a link to search a list of Sonora CA Homes that have either been significantly reduced or come on to the market over the last 7 days. They are 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.These updates are brought to you at my expense, with the hope that after we have made each others acquaintance, you will allow me to represent you as your Realtor.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------New links will be posted by Friday.Sonora CA Real Estate Listings for 04-15-09This link contains listings that have sold, are in escrow, new to the market or have been red... 04/15/2009

Tax day. To hear those two words can send chills up some people’s spines. And there are just a whole lot of things to hate about Tax day (of course). But I was thinking, “There are some good things about Tax day, too.” So I came up with 10 things to love or hate about April 15/Tax day. See if you agree (and send me some of your own love/hate's if you think of any)… #10: It gives us another chance to pull our hair out. (hate) #9: It offers us a wonderful opportunity to review our math skills. (love) #8: Some people have to pay. (hate) #7: Some people get money back. (love) #6: Some politicians will be padding their wallets. (hate) #5: Many improvements in our way of life are funded. (love) #4: There is just a short year until we get to do this all over again. (hate) #3: There is a long,... 04/13/2009

This report shows the homes sold in Sonora CA for the previous week.This includes Sonora Proper and the surrounding Real Estate in Area 3.Use the link to view further details about the property.Address                          Asking           Sold       Chg%       DOM      20401 Nashua Rd.                  $259,750         $228,500        88%        14120696 Willow Spgs Dr. W      $269,900         $225,000        83%        246This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.If you are really interested in buyingA Home in Sonora CAUse the link above for more informationClick here for immediate access toSonora Real Estate Listingswww.sonora-ca-real-estate.us 04/08/2009

Each week in this Real Estate report you will find a link to search a list of Sonora CA Homes that have either been significantly reduced or come on to the market over the last 7 days. They are 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.These updates are brought to you at my expense, with the hope that after we have made each others acquaintance, you will allow me to represent you as your Realtor.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------New links will be posted by Friday.Sonora CA Real Estate Listings for 04-08-09This link contains listings that have sold, are in escrow, new to the market or have been red... 04/08/2009

Here you will find weekly market statistics which are a compilation ofReal Estate activity in Sonora, California and the surrounding area.Hopefully this will be of help to those of you who are trying to gainsome sense of where our market is going.The cost of Homes in Sonora CA moved this week.The average price for a 3 bedroom, 2 Bath, 2 car garage rose slightly to $271,747.Currently Sonora CA Real Estate*has an average market time of 170 days.If we take a look at the total picture and include Real Estate in SonoraCA of all shapes and sizes, inventory remained the same this week at 73 withmedian asking price of $339,000 and an average time of 191 days on themarket.When compared to the rest of the Northern Tuolumne County there are430 homes for sale with a median asking price of $320,000 ... 04/08/2009

The worst earthquake to hit Italy in almost 30 years struck yesterday (April 6, 2009). Updated information has 200+ dead and tens of thousands left homeless. (For more details, CLICK HERE.) And I can't help but feel for my fellow Italians (being Italian myself). Which got me to thinking. Each of them were just going about their daily activities: working, shopping, eating, playing soccer, whatever. And then all of a sudden: shaking. And their whole world was turned upside down. And it can happen in any area of our own lives in an instant as well. We can be minding our own business and then - whammo! Everything changes. And maybe it's not an earthquake (though we do expect one to take place soon in California). But maybe it's a job loss or a sudden decline in health or an unexpected pass... 04/07/2009