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“Yosemite Gateway Properties and Lifestyles”

NEWSLETTER

August 2008

Edited and published by Ed Bailey, GRI, Broker Associate with Oakhurst Real Estate, Oakhurst, California, U. S. A.

Oakhurst Weather

http://www.city-data.com/forecast/w-Oakhurst-California.html

Oakhurst Area Real Estate

A Locally Focused Newsletter for Property Owners, Residents, Visitors, Home Buyers, Home Sellers, REALTORS®, Owners with Oakhurst Area Real Estate, Homes or Land, for Sale, and Others, Interested in Mountain Homes and Lifestyles in the Southern Yosemite Communities of Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, Mariposa, Midpines, Bootjack, North Fork, Spring Valley, Raymond, Yosemite Lakes Park, and Sierra Mountain and Lakes area living

Ed Note

Sellers Make More Money When They Use a Real Estate Professional.

The median for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) selling price in 2004 was 15.4 percent less than the median agent-assisted transaction price. It appears that sellers wanting to save money by not using an agent are losing money in lower sales prices. The median price of FSBO sales in 2004 was $163,800 compared with $189,000 for agent-assisted sales.

The vast majority of home sellers in today’s market rely on the expertise of a real estate professional to assist them when they sell their home, and there’s been a sustained decline in the percentage of people selling on their own.

Even with the housing market setting four consecutive record years for home sales from 2001 though 2004, the level of FSBOs has shown a sustained decline – holding at 14 percent of the market in both 2003 and 2004, according to The 2004 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. The trend is clear.

Thirty-two percent of people who bought directly from sellers knew them in advance of the transaction, meaning that about one-third of FSBO transactions are not placed on the open market.

Several factors appear to account for the decline in for-sale-by-owners: the increasing complexity of the transaction process, with more disclosures and legal requirement than ever before; the amount of time required to market and show property; and security concerns about the motivation of strangers dealing directly with owners and walking through their homes.

In 1997, 18 percent of owners sold on their own. That was a record year for home sales and reflected a historically high level of FSBOs, but it was the last time that trend was seen.

Since FSBOs don’t use a real estate professional, they have to do their own marketing, and are able to attract only a very few potential buyers.

The biggest problem areas for FSBOs are in getting the right price, preparing a home for sale, and understanding and completing the all too complicated paperwork.

But FSBOs have no access to fundamental marketing services, such as Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and cannot list their homes there. They also have no access to other marketing avenues such and REALTOR.com, Virtual Office Web sites and the Internet Data-Exchange.

Real estate professionals are experts in marketing who can sell a home for more money (that is, more net return to the seller) in a shorter period of time.

Real estate professionals assist both sellers and buyers with a variety of the details surrounding a real estate transaction. Real estate pros can help a seller set a realistic price and ensure the proper paperwork and various disclosures and inspections are handled correctly.

In addition, real estate professionals are experts in attracting qualified buyers. A broker or sales associate also can show a home more objectively than can a seller who may be emotionally attached to the home, and who might become unnerved by prospective buyers’ critical comments. The real estate professional also checks the financial capability and bona fides of prospective buyers before allowing them onto a seller’s property.

Monthly Ballroom Dances on the Fourth Sunday of Each Month

HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED!!

Mountain Housing Market Report

To Get the FREE Mountain Area MARKETWATCH Report

Send your e-mail address to EdBailey@sti.net,

If You're Thinking of Buying or Selling a Home in our mountain area, this is a valuable report you should see. It summarizes all sales and median selling prices through the local MLS for the most recent 6 months, and the most recent 2 months. It also shows monthly sales figures and median purchase prices compared to the same months last year. It also tracks month to month sales showing the trends. The report is updated on the first of each month. Whether considering an asking price, or an offering price, get it right with the latest market information. It's FREE.

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Featured Homes for Sale - Courtesy Oakhurst Real Estate

Clean two bedroom, two bath manufactured home in Wishon

Priced for a quick sale at just $182,000

Click Here to View Listings

Clean and ready to occupy. Two bed, two bath Manufactured home on 2.09 beautiful acres. Two decks (one covered) Has shop, barn and tack room. Easy commute to Yosemite, Sierra National Park, Bass Lake, and convenient shopping in Oakhurst.

Cozy 2 bedroom 2 bath home in Sierra Sky Ranch area

Click Here to View Listings

What a great get-away, second home or residence

At just $235.000

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ALSO

Large, Beautiful, Mountain Home in Fish Camp’s Alpine Village – Two Miles From Yosemite National Park – 20 minutes from Bass Lake

Asking Price has been reduced by $100,000!!! To $659,000!!!

Must see to appreciate.

Home has 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, decks on 3 levels, a wet bar loft, year around stream, and lot’s of great features

An 11’ X 11’ entrance room
could be easily made into a third bathroom as a part of a master suite

Click here to see Visual Tour

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ALSO

Great Horse Property on Grub Gulch Road 600 – Near Raymond

$599,500

Click Here to View Listings

This beautiful 1700+ square home of rich wood, wood, and more wood inside and out, is atop a gentle knoll with views, views, and more views. It is on 47+ beautiful acres of great horse property with plenty of stalls and cross fencing, plus lots of storage, a large workshop and 2 wells.

For information and/or an appointment to see this ranching area treasure, call Ed Bailey, Broker Associate, Oakhurst Real Estate. (559)676-2424, (888)683-5193 - or send e-mail to Ed@EdBaileyRealtor.com

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ALSO

Charming Rustic Mountain Home in Historic Sugar Pine

Reduced to $199,999!!!!

Click Here to View Listings

Virtual Tour http://www.tourfactory.com/s385335

Peaceful tri-level home in historic Sugar Pine. Originally built in 1920s, since then, many improvements have been made. Wonderful deck to enjoy the mountain air and scenery. Backyard has water feature and outdoor fireplace for roasting marshmallows, tri-tips, or for intimate social gatherings. Third bedroom/bath (studio apartment) addition not permitted but built by local contractor. “Secret room” could be used as fourth bedroom perhaps or for storage or an office. (Both apartment and secret room not included in square footage.) Submit all offers.

Lakeview Homes

We currently have 33 Lakeview homes on the market

Click Here to View Listings

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Business Opportunities

Want to be in business in our mountain area?

Click Here to View Listings of six mountain area businesses for sale

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Save on Distress Sale Homes

Save big $$$$ by shopping “Distress Sales” (Bank Owned, Foreclosures, Short Sales, etc.) Send e-mail address to: edbailey@sti.net for complete mountain area list

Note: To search ALL active listings in Yosemite Gateway MLS, ***WITHOUT HAVING TO REGISTER*** go to:

http://www.idxlisting.net/ygaor/edbaileyrealtor/search.asp

A Mountain Treasure

http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/

http://www.visionacademy.org/ http://www.visionacademy.org/ http://www.visionacademy.org://www.visionacad Come Enjoy The 2008 Season!

Celebrating 40 Years of Great Performances

‘’’’’’’’’.goldenchaintheatre.org/http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/henchaintheatre.org/http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/http://www.goldenchaintheatre.org/

.org/ http://www.visionacademy.org/of art in our Sierra Mountain community

Did You Know?

You Can Read the Chamber of Commerce Calendar of Events at:

http://www.oakhurstchamber.com/index.php?src=events&srctype=calendar&m=11&y=2007

You can read reviews of Mountain area restaurants, and even rate them yourself. Just go to http://oakhurstrestaurants.com/ You can also click here to

Download Mountain Menus!

You can get top quality Voice Lessons or Beginning Piano Lessons in Oakhurst. UCLA educated teacher, 25 years experience, with great references. Call Sheila at 642-4329

Just Listed - You can receive the last seven days of new home listings, whenever you wish, showing all homes that have been listed in Yosemite Gateway MLS in the last week, along with a link to pictures and detailed information about each of them. Just send your e-mail address to EdBailey@sti.net or call me at (559)676-2424. It’s FREE!

You can receive list of all homes sold through our local MLS during the previous calendar month showing addresses and purchase prices. Just send me an e-mail address. It’s FREE!

If a move is in your near future let me make it a little less stressful for you. I will be happy to send you a free 39 item checklist of smart things to do; (1) before the move, (2) on moving day, and (3) after the move. Just give me a telephone call at 559-313-1081 or send an e-mail request to: edb@EdBaileyRealtor.com

You can find out how much your home is worth, for FREE (without giving your life story to an internet based “lead generator” company) Get a local Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) with no obligation or commitment on your part. Find out what homes similar to yours have recently sold for, what sellers are asking for similar homes on the current market, and asking prices for listings that have expired without selling. Just go to: http://www.edbaileyrealtor.com/sellers.html and fill in information.

Are you or Your Friends Looking for a “Home for Sale” in the Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, North Fork, Raymond, or Mariposa area? Refer them to a listing of all real estate, land and homes for sale in our mountain area. Just go to: http://www.edbaileyrealtor.com/search.asp

Share with Us

Do you have a question about our Oakhurst area? Do you have a real estate question?

Do you have a suggestion for additional features in this newsletter? Send me your thoughts and your ideas.

Also tell us, in 50 words or less, what you consider the most interesting of our Mountain Treasures, and why. Examples of Mountain Treasures: Timberline Gallery; Sierra Mono Museum; Mariposa County Courthouse; the Wild, Wonderful, King Museum (vintage clothing); the Children's Museum of the Sierra; Fresno Flats Historical Park; the California State Mining and Minerals Museum in Mariposa; Sierra Scenic Bypass; the Little Church on the Hill; the Talking Bear; Sierra Art Trails; the Elegant Auction; Heritage Days; the Fall Arts and Music Festival; the Loggers Jamboree; the Coarsegold Rodeo; the Christmas Tree Auction; the Honorary Mayor Contest; the Wild, Wonderful Chocolate Festival; Jazz on the Lake; the Bass Lake Fishing Derby; the Mountain Bear "Angels Amongst Us" Annual Awards Dinner; The Wall of Heroes Annual Awards Dinner; or name your own Mountain Treasure. E-mail it to: Ed@EdBaileyRealtor.comt. You may call us at 559-683-5193 or toll free at 888-683-5193

Yosemite Gateway Links:

http://oakhurstrealestate.info

http://oakhurstrealestate.us

Http://oakhurstrealestate.org

http://edbaileyrealtor.com/

http://www.oakhurstchamber.com/

www.sierratel.com/timberline

http://www.yosemitethisyear.com/

http://www.oakhurstrealestate.net

http://www.oakhurstrealestate.us

http://www.oakhurstrealestate.org

http://www.oakhurstrealestate.info