Having the right music can "make or break" any social gathering, but it's especially important at your wedding.

As a professional musician and music contractor for more than 20 years, I've played, literally, thousands of weddings. And since I am one of a handful of wedding services vendors on Yosemite National Park's referral list for the hundreds of weddings there each year, I know how to make the musical part of your wedding uniquely memorable. It's your day, and it's my pleasure to make it personalized specifically to your tastes and wants.

The term "DJ" sometimes conjures up negative impressions, bringing to mind loudmouth stand-up comic wannabes who seem mostly interested in hearing themselves speak. That's not our style. At Yosemite Entertainment, it's your mood, your tone, your memories-in-the-making we will create - whether you prefer quiet elegance, boisterous fun, or anything in between. Want solo guitar or harp for your processional? Think a string quartet will set just the right tone for your pre-reception cocktail hour? Is a sophisticated jazz pianist what you've always dreamed of listening during the dinner? Or is your idea of a great wedding reception one that rocks out to energetic dance tunes that get all generations out onto the floor? Can't afford a live band, but still want all the various musical moods? Whichever you want — that's what I'm there for

Larkspur

It's my policy whenever possible to spend time with my brides and grooms beforehand, so we can mutually plan which musical styles to convey during specific stages of their celebrations. Whether using live musicians or "spinning" recorded favorites, we tailor the mood and texture to individual tastes. Let's work together to plan your personalized wedding music experience. We'll make it something that you will remember for a lifetime.

To learn more about our services and to create your own customized song list, visit us at:

yosemite-entertainment.com
Yosemite Entertainment Home of Spin City
DJ Services and Larkspur (Live Music)
(559)642-3368
kirkmoulin@yahoo.com

Oakhurst Area Housing Market Information

     Mountain Area Market Report

If you’re planning to buy or sell a home in our mountain area,

you won’t want to make a pricing decision until you have read this report.

Mountain Area Single Family Home Sales

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

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

Sales for the 6 month period in 2007 were down by 8 percent. The median purchase price was down 3 percent, but still 2 percent higher than the same period in the banner year 2005.

Many of the homes on the market today are priced above what buyers are willing to pay for them. The median asking price of homes in our market today is $450,000, or 18 percent above the median purchase price over the past six months.  As of September 1, our inventory of single family homes on the market stood at 545; down 3 percent from the August 1 figure. Our average number of sales per month is up by 11 percent from 28 to 31, giving us a 17 months supply, compared to a 19 months supply on August 1.  Economic theory tells us that with supply decreasing and demand increasing, as these figures tend to show, that we may see purchase prices start to rise again soon.  If that is true, this may be the ideal time to buy.

Buyers, with the help of their agents, are always shopping for value, and only those homes priced in the current market value range are selling.  The good news for buyers is, the selection is wonderful, interest rates are near record lows, and prices are good.  It is a buyer’s market!!!!

Some Sound Home Advice

Troubled borrowers find temporary mortgage relief
Payment programs aim to reduce foreclosure rate
By Tom Kelly

I once asked an accountant why a homeowner had to face a surprising penalty from the Internal Revenue Service after losing his job and his home because of a downtown in the economy.

When the homeowner had to sell his home for less than its purchase price (known as a short sale), the bank also forgave a portion of the mortgage. The amount forgiven, $15,000, showed up as taxable income on the homeowner's tax return.

According to the accountant, the initial intent of the law was not to further penalize distressed borrowers. The initial idea was to find a way to account for parents and friends who provide seller financing for their children and associates and then simply forgive the debt once the kids have settled in to the new home.

Regardless of the roots of mortgage forgiveness penalties, many borrowers today are facing higher payments and possible default and foreclosure resulting from the upward adjustment of an adjustable-rate mortgage. Whether it is a conventional ARM leaping from 4.5 percent to 6.5 percent or a sub prime loan tied to a high-interest-rate second mortgage and a prepayment penalty, the possibility of a home-sale loss or short sale is higher now than in nearly a decade.

While there is a move afoot in the nation's capital to keep a lender's mortgage forgiveness from being classified as income, there is no federal income tax deduction for losses accrued on the sale of a primary or secondary residence. The principal residence has always been viewed as a personal asset. The gain on the sale of a principal residence has been taxable as a capital gain (after the $500,000 exclusion for married couples and $250,000 for single persons), but losses have never been allowed. Although the capital gain thresholds have been increased in the past 10 years, previous proposals to address capital losses have been defeated.

Given the occurrences of the past few months, most lenders will bend over backwards to help borrowers who are behind. Many have longstanding, alternative loan payment programs available, while others have installed new packages -- especially for genuine sub-prime victims.

Alternative programs for mortgage payments are typically lumped into one category called "forbearance." Forbearance is not free, nor does it mean forgiveness. It usually is a short-term agreement between borrower and lender permitting partial payments until normal payments can be resumed. Typically, forbearance agreements run three to six months.

Credit reports will show delinquent payments when full payments are not received. So, if you make partial forbearance payments for a short period, it's best to petition credit bureaus to remove any "black marks" after full payment has been made. Explain the circumstances to the credit bureau in a letter to protect your future credit.

Forbearance does delay foreclosure, the process by which a homeowner who has not made timely payments of principal and interest on a mortgage loses title to the home. The foreclosure clock starts ticking once the borrower is in default. A borrower technically is in default one day after a payment is due. However, most lenders do not mail the borrower a Notice of Default until two to three payments are missed.

Most mortgage bankers do not eagerly await a default on the family home. Bankers are in the business of loaning money and they do not wish to have your home back. It takes considerable time and money (about $100 a day) to manage and maintain foreclosures. Lenders would prefer to spend their energies on processing applications and recruiting customers.

If you have little or no equity in your home and wish to stay there, the lender probably will be more agreeable to adjusting your mortgage contract if you can show that you will be able to repay the debt with a lower-paying job.

However, remember that while a lender will help solve temporary financial problems, a permanent financial setback could result in having to sell the home -- especially if you have significant equity. The lender is out to avoid, or cut, his losses, and your equity will provide that assurance. If you must sell, you will avoid delinquencies, keep your credit rating, and retain the equity in your home.

If you are facing mortgage problems, conduct a genuine assessment of your future possibilities. Perhaps you can dip into savings to get you over the hump. Then, talk to your lender and explore all options. If you don't ask, you'll never know what's possible

If you have $2 million or more to spend on a home - The link below will take you to ten listings of homes for sale in our mountain area with asking prices over $2,000,000.00.  Click on the link below and have a look.  We can all dream, can’t we?

There are four areas of Destiny Training Center’s mission.

Gathering: God is calling us in to fellowship with one another

Worshipping: God is calling us in to fellowship with Him

Equipping: God is calling us to sharpen our swords for the work of the kingdom

Sending: God is calling us to take His word and His power to the nations

We believe that God is equipping, imparting and activating the individual to walk the message out in their cities and nations.

Destiny Training Center is located in Oakhurst, California, a beautiful mountain community nestled in the Western Sierra Mountains near Yosemite National Park.

http://www.destinytc.com/about.html

Art in the Mountains 

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/

Sierra Art Trails Catalogs are available now at the following locations:

Bass Lake:

The Village Corner, Bass Lake (559) 642-3808

Coarsegold:

Inanna's Gift Studio / Gallery 35463 Hwy 41 (559) 683-7529

Clovis:

Mullins Studio Gallery, 525 4th Street, (559) 322-0395

Fresno:

Blue Moon Gallery, 1756 W Bullard (559) 449-9818

Chris Sorensen Studio, 2205 S Van Ness (559) 237-4934

Madera:

Madera Co. Arts Council / Circle Gallery, 1653 N Schnoor Ave, Suite 113, (559) 661-7005

Mariposa:

Mariposa Co. Visitors Bureau, Hwy 49 & 140 (209) 966-7081

Mariposa Co. Arts Council, 5009 Lower 5th St. (209) 966-3155 or (800) 903-9936

Odella's Antiques, Lower 5th St. (209) 742-5522

Shockley Designs Un-Ltd., 5025 Hwy 140, (209) 966-3122

North Fork:

Stage Stop Antiques, 32926 Road 222, (559) 877-2448

North Fork Community Art Gallery, 57839 Mammoth Pool Rd ( Old Mill Site ) (559) 877-2487

Oakhurst:

Artifacts, 40671 Hwy 41, Ste E, (559) 658-6300

Stavast Studio Gallery, 40982 Hwy 41, Ste. 2  (559) 683-0611

Stellar Gallery, 40982 Hwy 41, Ste. 1 (559) 658-8844, admin@stellargallery.com

Timberline Gallery, 40982 Hwy 41, (559) 683-3345

Vetter Picture Framing, 40761 Hwy 41 #2, (559) 683-8155

Williams Gallery West, 40680 Hwy 41, (559) 683-5551

Yosemite Art Center, 40359 Hwy 41, Ste 1, (559) 658-7444

                                                   Or

Order Now!  and receive your 2007 catalog by mail.

To order send 15.00 plus 2.00 shipping and handling per catalog to:

Sierra Art Trails

PO Box 3045

Oakhurst, CA 93644

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

Did You Know?

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 to edbailey@sti.net  and you're in.  It will arrive in your in-box on the first Monday of each month.

                                            Real Property & Business Related Work Experience

Sierra Telephone

• Real Property  Right-of-Way Agent – 24 years

      Property Acquisitions by Deed, Lease, Easement,        and Permit

Antelope Broadcasting, Lancaster, CA

• Radio Advertising Account Executive -- 2 years

State Center Community Coll