Oakhurst Real Estate for Sale

Homes, Land, Real Estate for Sale in Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Mariposa, Ahwahnee, and Yosemite

NEWSLETTER

“Yosemite Gateway Properties and Lifestyles”

See also: http://www.realtydirect.net/news/?PUB=13067

A Locally Focused Newsletter for Property Owners, Residents, Visitors, Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Realtors®, Owners with 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

July 2007

OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE OAKHURST REAL ESTATE COARSEGOLD MARIPOSA NORTH FORK YOSEMITE AHWAHNEE BASS LAKE REAL ESTATE

Features

• Ed Note
• Some Sound Home Advice
• Sell That Home
• An Oakhurst Area Mountain Treasure
• Oakhurst Area Business Opportunities Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Mariposa Area Real Estate Market Update
• Some Best Buys
• Home for Sale of the Month
• Oakhurst Area Places of Worship
• Art in the Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Mariposa Mountains
• Did You Know?
• What’s Happening
• Share with Us
• Yosemite Gateway Links

Ed Note

Kevin Christiansen

(From the Fresno Bee – June 4, 2007)

Real(ty) big expansion

Real estate broker Kevin Christiansen has taken advantage of the slow market to expand. "The time to do it is when the market is down," he explained. "When it's up, everyone thinks they have million-dollar companies."

Christiansen, owner of Century 21 Sierra Realtors, has expanded his three-office company to 13. He did it by acquiring the five offices of Century 21 Ditton Realty in Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Yosemite Lakes Park, Bass Lake and North Fork; four Century 21 offices in Santa Cruz County and one in Mariposa.

The result: the number of real estate agents working at his Century 21 offices has almost quadrupled to about 200.

With the increase in agents came a need for more support staff. So, Christiansen teamed up with George Murphy of Coldwell Banker Premier Real Estate to form Mid Cal Escrow, which services Christiansen's 13 offices and Murphy's 10.

"Now I'm going to stop [expanding]," Christiansen said. "I'm going to get the systems in place."

He's doing that in part by giving Brad Ditton, the former owner of the Ditton Realty offices, some ownership of the newly formed company.

Ditto for Kenny Buller, Ditton's former general manager, and Lary  Pamplin, his own g.m. "I did that so I can retain a strong management team," Christiansen said, adding that he's keeping the "Ditton" name in some of the offices because it is so well known in the Oakhurst area.

Other realty companies also have gotten larger in recent months. London Properties and Guarantee Real Estate acquired competitors, and Murphy bought out his partner.

Christiansen, 52, said he wanted to expand so that he could sell it when it comes time to retire. His business, he surmised, was too big to be bought by a smaller broker, but too small to appeal to a larger one. "I'm building a company I can sell," he said.

He's also building a more technologically advanced firm. For instance, he has installed a Web site that enables a customer who clicks on any listing to reach the cell phone of that agent within seconds.

"The average time for Realtors in the U.S. to get back to customers from a Web site is 54 hours. We can call them within a few minutes," he said.

(Note: The former Century 21 Sierra Gold Real Estate in Mariposa is now Century 21 Sierra REALTORS® and is a part of the company)

Our Yosemite Gateway Area Real Estate Market Update

Mountain Area Single Family Home Sales

Six Month Period Ending June 30, 2007 with Month-to-Month and Year-to-Year Comparisons

(Compiled from MLS Records* by Ed Bailey, Editor)  

Although unit sales for the first half of 2007 were down by 18 percent, the median purchase price was down only 1 percent, and is 7.9% higher than the first half the banner year 2005.  With an inventory of 534 single family homes on the market in our mountain area, and with fewer buyers, we may see the median purchase price dropping further in the coming months.

Many, far too many, of the homes on the market today are priced above what buyers are willing to pay for them.  Buyers, along with their agents are shopping for value, and only those homes priced at of below current market value are selling.  The good news for buyers is, the selection is great, interest rates are great, and prices are good.

Home of the Month

Custom Built Home on Yosemite Springs Parkway in Yosemite Lakes Park

Beautiful & spacious open floor plan with great view! Custom built 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home on raised foundation. 14x26 unfinished room could be a 4th bedroom with bath & separate entrance, or in-law quarters – Making this a four bedroom, two and one half bath home, with 2200 plus square feet of living space.

Some Sound Home Advice (From REALTOR.com)

Maximizing exterior and curb appeal
Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal. Tips to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal:

• Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly.
• Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly.
• Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling.
• Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint.
• Clean and align gutters.
• Inspect and clean the chimney.
• Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
• Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
• In Northern winters, keep walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.
• During spring and summer months consider adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance.
• Re-seal an asphalt driveway.
• Keep your garage door closed.
• Store RVs or old and beaten up cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.
• Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.

Sell That Home Faster - for More Money

It takes “more” than just listing a home to get it sold

As your agent “more” is what I do for you, including all the following:

1. Feature it in my two monthly Newsletters: “Yosemite Gateway Properties and Lifestyles.” at:  www.EdBaileyRealtor.com/news.html and “Oakhurst Area Homeowner’s Guide,” at http://clientdirect.net/news/?Pub=13067
2. Sign our Exclusive Century 21 Seller’s Pledge Agreement, holding me and my company accountable by offering you the opportunity to be released from your listing agreement if we do not live up to the pledge.
3. Post it with  both Yosemite Gateway, and Fresno Area Multiple Listing Services, as well as Century 21 worldwide listings
4. Create a dynamic Slide Show to give your home superior exposure on the internet.  You will be able to e-mail it to your friends.
5. Advertise it in the Yosemite Gateway Buyer’s Guide
6. Advertise it through direct mail and posted flyers
7. Do “on screen” presentations at meetings of Yosemite Gateway Association of REALTORS® Send letters to all nearby property owners inviting them to help choose their new neighbors
8. Arrange a “caravan” viewing by Century 21 Ditton Sierra REALTORS® Agents
9. Arrange a “caravan” viewing by Yosemite Gateway Assoc. of REALTORS® Agents
10. Expose your property to my prospective buyers list and incoming transferees referred through our worldwide Century 21 referral system
11. Hold “Open House” presentations
12. Help your buyer arrange financing

I will also:

1. Order a preliminary title report immediately (no cost to you), and address any questions or potential problems early in the process.
2. Gather data for your required disclosure process before – not after - we get an offer.
3. Provide you with regular progress reports and be available to you on your schedule

Let’s Put Marketing Strategies that Work, to Work for You.  Let’s Talk

An Oakhurst Area Mountain Treasure

Gallery Row

   California

National Parks Art by Mark Gudmundsen
Spectacular paintings of Yosemite and other National Parks by Yosemite's most acclaimed living artist: Mark Gudmundsen   http://www.nationalparksart.com/index.html

Click Here to View

Oakhurst Area Business Opportunities

Want to be in Business in our Mountains?  We Have Eleven Businesses for Sale in our Mountain Area

Click Here to View Listings 

Some Best Buys in Mountain Area Homes

These homes have three bedrooms, two baths, have 1600 – 1800 square feet of living space, are on 1 – acres, have been on the market less than 100 days, and are priced under $200.00 per square foot..

Click Here to View Listings

These are Lakefront Homes

.                                          Click Here  to View Listings 

View My Listings

For Thumbnail Views

Click Here

Fore more photos and more detailed information

Click Here to View Photos and More Detailed Information

Note:  Multiple Listing Service information is presumed to be accurate but nor guaranteed

Art in the Mountains

By Joan Brumley

I just got a "friendly reminder" from my boss, Ed Bailey.  So I guess I better get on it, and give you my monthly column on Art in the Mountains.  We have been traveling and I have been remiss.

My husband and I went to Williams Arizona for a special wedding.   Williams is the entrance to the Grand Canyon, and on old route 66. For you, who remember her, Donna (Cochran) Eastman got married.  She is the president and director of the Chamber of Commerce in Williams, and married a great man form Phoenix, Dean Liddle.  This weekend was the "rumble route 66" in Arizona, and the town was full of motorcycles.  I took lots of pictures, and you may see some cycle paintings from me (but don't count on it.)  They were married in the town square, and then went on a motorcycle parade through the town.  As the "mother of the bride,” I was invited to ride on a cycle--can you picture me on a Harley?  The closest I get to that is being the (very) proud owner of some Harley stock.  Donna's mom lives in Maine, and is not well, so I got to stand in for her.

 Now -- for the Art part. -- I also took some wonderful pictures of two road runners on our front deck.  And I will definitely paint them.  Right now, I am working on several new things, which you will see at the Bass Lake gallery, soon.   I am also painting at the North Fork gallery for Art Hop. once in a while.  Anyone who is interested, can call me or e-mail me and you are welcome to stop by my studio and gallery.

I am also working on a painting of a Bass Lake home, for the new homeowners.  It is a closing gift from one of the local Realtors.  I think that every time I do one of these for a real estate sale, the people are so delighted, they call me and rave.  I have received several Christmas cards with my painting on them, which the  owners have had printed to show off their new home to their friends and former neighbors.  One couple told me this was by far the nicest gift they had ever received from their realtor.  So you might consider asking an artist to do a rendering of a home you are selling, or are trying to sell.  I have also had people who heard of the closing gift, call me and ask me who the salesperson was.

Also, a good selling point for people who move to this area, is the very large numbers of artist and art related happenings in this community.  The amount is a much higher percentage that in most communities.  The resort, ECCO, hosts many art workshops and Elderhostel.    The annual Sierra Art Trails, the Golden Chain theater, the many galleries, and many other "happenings" in our area are a great draw. (no pun intended).  I teach classes in painting and drawing, and there are many other artists who are teaching.   And you might ask a local artist to speak or demonstrate at your church or service organization.

Please feel free to e-mail me at jbart@sti.net, if you have any questions or any request for subjects for this column.

An Oakhurst Area Place of Worship

New Community United Methodist Church
Jim Luther, Pastor
49223 Road 426, Oakhurst, CA 93644
Phone: 559-683-2652
E-mail: newcommunity@sti.net   
web site: www.newcommunityumc.net/

Open Hearts

Open Mind - Open Doors

The church sits on the knoll above the “Seasons of Life” Wall Mural

On Crane Valley Road, in the heart of Oakhurst, California

Real about the “Seasons of Life” Mural at:

http://www.visionacademy.org/wall.htm

For information on other mountain area places of worship, go to: http://www.emccc.net/resultsMemberCat.php?catName=Churches&Submit2=Find+by+Category

Did You Know? 

The Golden Chain Theatre’s 2007 Season is Underway

www.goldenchaintheatre.org 

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

You can receive an e-mail, whenever you wish, with a list of homes that have been listed in Yosemite Gateway MLS in the last seven days, along with a link to pictures and detailed information about each of them.  Just send me an e-mail or call me.   It’s FREE!

You can download a copy of the most recent Yosemite Gateway Real Estate Buyer’s Guide?  Read about lots of homes and other properties for sale in our Oakhurst, Bass Lake, North Fork, Mariposa, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Yosemite area!  Just click on: 

Yosemite Gateway Real Estate Guide Volume 13 Number 4

You can get the Oakhurst Area Homeowners Guide Newsletter sent to you each month free. It has lots of helpful information for homeowners.  Just send me your e-mail address and you're in.  It will arrive in your in-box on the first Monday of each month.

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 (without giving your life story to some internet “lead generator” listing company) on the current market FREE.  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 which listings 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

Dining out in the Mountains

You can read customers’ Reviews and Ratings of Oakhurst area restaurants at: http://oakhurstrestaurants.com/

You can get FREE help with your “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO).  I’ll mail you a copy of the “For Sale by Owner Manual,”   It will give you helpful pointers on how to go about preparing and selling your home.  I will also be happy to provide you with suggestions for an open house, comparable sales information,  and help you arrive at the right asking price. 

Better yet, let me list your home for you, for a faster sale and a better bottom line outcome.  Research by the National Association of REALTORS®, shows that the average difference between asking price and purchase price, for homes sold by owner is 13%.  That is about twice what the customary real estate commission would be.

What’s Happening

Over the past five years, Sierra Art Trails has grown to become the largest and most anticipated annual arts event in the Yosemite Foothills!  The show is focused on the communities of Eastern Madera and Mariposa counties.  In 2006 the show featured 116 artists and ...

http://www.sierraarttrails.org/   

Mark it on your calendar – September 15 and 16, 2007

View the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce Calendar of Events

http://www.oakhurstchamber.com/events.php

Here’s Something Special!

Honorary Mayor Candidates Emma & J. Carol Graham Paw Hop
6pm • Paw Hop at Elk's Lodge in Oakhurst. 50s live music, auction, dinner & dancing. Poodle skirts or rolled up jeans-50s look. No host bar. Tickets available from 5-14 contact J. Carol Graham at 559-658-2486. Raffle winner announced that night.

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: edBailey@sti.net. You may call us at 559-683-5193 or toll free at 888-683-5193.

Yosemite Gateway Links:

www.EdBaileyRealtor.com

www.OakhurstChamber.com

www.sierratel.com/timberline

www.EdBaileyRealtor.com/news.html  

Ed Bailey Realtor

 Broker Associate - Century 21 Ditton Sierra Realtors

A Higher Level of Professionalism

Knowledge and Experience Make the Difference

Yosemite Gateway Links:

http://edbaileyrealtor.com/

http://www.oakhurstchamber.com/

www.sierratel.com/timberline

http://www.yosemitethisyear.com/

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