It was just over a week until Christmas (last Friday). And as I was leaving work, a coworker of mine said, "Mike, where are the decorations? You're usually the one that motivates us." It was true. The "motivator" part, but moreso, no decorations in the office this year (except for my manger scene at my desk). You must know the full context for impact. My industry is in the dumps. How it's gotten there is besides the point. The fact is everybody isn't really in the mood for celebrating. And so I didn't put up the decorations (or motivate everyone else to). That is, until my coworker said what she said. It was like the Grinch's heart growing three sizes. The next morning I mentioned it to my wife and three kids that I was thinking we should go over to the office and decorate. My wife (wh... 12/22/2011

(click image to enlarge) 12/20/2011

They cooked the books(?). And not only that, they were caught(?). The "they" I'm referring to is the National Association of Realtors. In a statement to Reuters, NAR's spokesman Walter Malony comes out and says it... "All the sales and inventory data that have been reported since January 2007 are being downwardly revised. Sales were weaker than people thought." Huh? As challenging as the real estate market's been, it's even worse? Add to that, we wouldn't have even known about it except a real estate analysis firm called the NAR out(?). The Reuters article goes on... Early this year, the Realtors group was accused of overcounting existing homes sales, with California-based real estate analysis firm CoreLogic claiming sales could have been overstated by as much as 20 percent. At the tim... 12/15/2011

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 38 single family Sonora CA Homes listed for sale this week have been on the market an average of 193 days with an average list price of $256,979.18 houses in the Sonora area are in escrow with an average price of$225,901 and an average market time of 92 daysHouses in Escrow 12-14-2011Real Estate Sold in the Sonora Area this WeekAddress                                                        Asking           Sold           %      DOM21176 Jamestown Road                      $210,000     $116,000    55%   64221033 Stott... 12/14/2011

(click image to enlarge) Source: Real Estate Almanac - History by Year 12/14/2011

"The more things change, the more things stay the same." If you've come here expecting a surprise (like the title of this post was meant to hook you in), you're gonna be disappointed. Or maybe you won't be? In any profession it's the "basics" that are most important. And if there's a problem in an organization, you probably don't have to look much further than the "basics" being out of kilter to pinpoint the issue: Lack of communication, not following protocol, running over budget, etc. And so it is with blogging. When the clock strikes twelve on January 1st, 2012, nothing in blogging will have changed. It'll be the same as it was in 2011. How will it be the same? The following list of "basics" offers some answers... 12 Things Bloggers Should Expect in 2012 (plus 1 bonus): 1. Expect to... 12/12/2011

I was a Catholic school boy in 4th grade. (I was a good boy, too, my mom always says.) That's when it happened. I heard my classmates talking about how Santa wasn't real. "No," I thought. "It couldn't be?" I was devastated. I didn't say a word until I got home. That's when my mom took me in my bedroom, shut the door and began to explain. I was sad. But I got over it. And I was thinking the other day about my mom and how hard that conversation must have been. I'll bet she wished she could have said the opposite, that the kids on the playground were wrong. And I would have believed her. I would have believed my mom if she said, "Michael, Santa is real." And would it really be so bad if he was? And wouldn't it mean more happiness and goodness and giving and faith and love and sacrifice an... 12/07/2011

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 November 2011 compared to November 2010. CLICK HERE to view January-November 2011 compared to January-November 2010. You'll also want to notice the graphs including the Mother Lode Residential Unit Sales through November 2011 graph versus the previous five years (clickable picture 1 on 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 Listi... 12/05/2011

Test Your Knowledge of the Mother Lode Series 12/01/2011

If there's anything cool about Christmas time, it's the holiday shows. Do you have a favorite? Frosty? The Grinch? It's a Wonderful Life? A Charlie Brown Christmas? That last one is among the most famous of all. And did you know it was done on a shoestring budget and the network predicted it would flop prior to release? (So much for executives.) There's a part in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" where Charlie Brown walks by Snoopy's dog house. (Do you remember that?) Snoopy's trying to win the neighborhood light and decoration contest. And so his dog house is decorated to the hilt as Snoopy hands Charlie Brown a flyer explaining the contest. It's the last straw for Charlie Brown. He cries out, "Oh no, my own dog has gone commercial. I can't stand it!" And I wonder if some people's lives are... 11/28/2011

It's that time of the year again. The time where we are thankful and give (and receive) presents. It's also the time where we get around people we may not see throughout the year. That's where the trouble comes. Especially if the last time we saw somebody there was any kind of friction. (Been there? Done that?) I'd expect there are many just dreading the holiday get together. (Is it you?) We can do a lot to help ourselves (short of not showing up) to handle the pressure and dispel the tension that can accompany any gathering. The main thing is to prepare ahead of time. Know the relational mistakes and avoid them... 10 Boo Boos People Make at Holiday Get Togethers (plus 1 bonus): 1. Show up late 2. Worry about what others think 3. Talk too much 4. Talk about themselves 5. Try to change ... 11/23/2011

(This is for just in case someone forgot to tell you these things.) Thank you for working so hard. Thank you for holding on to your integrity. Thank you for being honest. Thank you for obeying instructions. Thank you for giving financially. Thank you for remaining loyal. Thank you for standing your ground. Thank you for providing for your kids. Thank you for loving your wife (husband). Thank you for going the extra mile.  Thank you for being there. Thank you for being you. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. :) You might also be interested in: Test Your Knowledge of the Turkey You Matter 11/21/2011

(If you can't see this video, click here.) 11/18/2011

While talking with my dad at a recent family gathering he commented how the new technology has been very helpful for my mom who has Parkinson's disease. (She had just purchased the newest iPhone. She already had an iPad.) It (the new technology) helps to keep my mom engaged and alert, he would go on. And then recently my wife and I were encouraged to hear how the iPad in particular has been seen as a benefit for children with autism (of which our son has been diagnosed). CBS 60 Minutes recently aired the segment: "Apps for Autism" which gave parents like us much hope when it said... It turns out that autistic children show a real interest in the iPad with its easy touch-and-swipe screens. With specially-designed applications, or apps, these computers are helping them communicate and un... 11/16/2011

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 October 2011 compared to October 2010. CLICK HERE to view January-October 2011 compared to January-October 2010. You'll also want to notice the graphs including the Mother Lode Residential Unit Sales through September 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 Volume Sales graph versus the previous five years (clickable picture 3 on the left below), respectively. (The data used comes from the Tuolumne Multiple Listing Serv... 11/14/2011

I offered the following comment the other day on the article: Facebook Marketing Ideas for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses. (And so this ends up being an example of turning a comment into a blog post as well.) My comment had to do with interaction on Facebook and what I've found has worked for us as a company. I spell it out on in the comment. This isn't rocket science. I'm sure someone else has described it somewhere else. But here goes. I'm convinced if you follow this pattern, you will surely increase your Facebook friend participation as well as keep your business in front of more eyes. Here's the comment: WHAT'S WORKED FOR US:  ASKING A QUESTION One of the best things that's worked for us is asking a question on our Facebook "like" (fan) page and offering poll choices along with it.... 11/09/2011

(If you can't see this video, click here.) 11/07/2011

We had a historic winter in the Mother Lode last season. Winter is knocking at the door again. There are just a few things you need to know if you're gonna fare well during the winter season in our area. First, it can snow at any elevation from Jamestown to Sonora on up (though it's a lot rarer the lower you go). Second, snow will melt pretty fast at the 3,000 foot elevation (see picture) and below. It'll stay awhile at 4,000 feet and above. And so you'll want to be ready with snow chains for your car unless you have four-wheel drive or studded tires (the kind with spikes). There are times when the snow gets bad enough that you need chains even if you have four-wheel drive. The main thing is to be safe. For the latest winter conditions, click here. 11/04/2011

Things are tight (for many of us). And the holidays are here! Combine holiday season with things being tight and what do you get? (Starts and ends with an "s".) Stress. Webster's defines stress as: "bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium." (In simpler terms, you're frazzled.) People deal with holiday stress in different ways. Some get angry. Some feel sorry for themselves. Some go on binges (drinking, shopping). Others get real busy. (Workaholics are a perfect example.) It could be just about anything that overtakes a person when they're stressed (insomnia, drug addiction ~ even suicide). There are things we can do / ways to deal with and minimize stress. I've put together a list of them below. This isn't scientific or anything. It's ... 11/02/2011

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 39 single family Sonora CA Homes listed for sale this week have been on the market an average of 170 days with an average list price of $282,638.17 houses in the Sonora area are in escrow with an average price of$164,101 and an average market time of 111 daysHouses in Escrow 11-02-2011Real Estate Sold in the Sonora Area this WeekAddress                                          Asking         Sold         %      DOM420 Barretta Street                        $259,000     $200,000    77%    197476 Morning Star Drive    ... 11/02/2011