In preparation for the annual Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival, June 13 – 16, the Nevada County Fairgrounds will be closed to walkers and bicyclists beginning June 12. The Fairgrounds will re-open its gates to walkers and bicyclists as usual on Monday, June 17. This closure does not affect the Main Office, which is open during its normal business hours of Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
The RV Park at the Fairgrounds will also be closed to the public from June 10 – 17.
At various times throughout the year the grounds are rented by organizations for large, community events like the Bluegrass Festival, the KVMR Celtic Festival, and The California WorldFest. During these times, it becomes necessary to close the grounds to pedestrians in preparation for these various events.
If you are interested in attending the festival, please visit www.cbaontheweb.org or call (209) 588-9214 or (530) 272-7553 during the week of the festival. For more information about the Nevada County Fairgrounds, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.
Facebook: Nevada County Fairgrounds
Nevada County Fair August 7 – 11, 2013
Draft Horse Classic September 19 – 22, 2013
Halloween at the Fairgrounds October 26, 2013
Country Christmas Faire November 29 – December 1, 2013
Please help out to keep this blog going
Call or email me for all of your real estate needs
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091 Email John
Pending home sales improved slightly in April and continue to be well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Gains in the Northeast and Midwest were offset largely by declines in the West and South. The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 0.3 percent to 106.0 in April from 105.7 in March, and is 10.3 percent above April 2012 when it was 96.1; the data reflect contracts but not closings.
Home contract activity is at the highest level since the index hit 110.9 in April 2010, immediately before the deadline for the home buyer tax credit. Pending sales have been above year-ago levels for the past 24 months.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said a familiar pattern has developed. “The housing market continues to squeak out gains from already very positive conditions. Pending contracts so far this year easily correspond to higher closed home sales in 2013,” he said. Total existing-home sales are expected to rise just over 7 percent to about 5 million this year.
Home for sale cheap, might need a little paint. Photo credit: http://funnychill.com/
Foreclosures have been falling in recent months, but two government watchdogs warn that the foreclosure crisis isn’t over yet. About 1.7 million borrowers have missed more than one payment on their government-backed mortgages, according to a newly released report by the inspectors general of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The shadow inventory is made up of loans that have been delinquent for at least 90 days. If these delinquent loans become foreclosures, they could pose significant financial challenges to mortgage giants Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or other federal housing agencies, the report notes.
“Not only are current REO inventory levels elevated … they may rise over the next several years depending on the number of shadow inventory properties that are ultimately foreclosed on,” the report stated.
According to the report, the shadow inventory is more than seven times the inventory of REOs that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD currently own.
“Even a fraction of the shadow inventory falling into foreclosure could considerably swell … inventories of REO properties,” the report notes.
Skyrocketing home prices in a few markets have some analysts concerned that prices are on the rise too fast and could ultimately hamper the housing recovery.
“In many markets, fundamentals are improving as unemployment rates continue declining, while low prices and low interest rates have affordability high,” according to analysts for Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency. “However, especially in cities that never fully unwound the mid-2000s bubble, rapidly increasing price levels are a potential cause for concern.”
Many of the areas of concern are in California, where home prices have posted gains of 13 percent in the past year alone, according to analysts.
Limited housing inventories of for-sale homes mixed with rising buyer demand are mostly behind the rising home prices.
“We believe this level of housing demand is likely to abate once the pent-up demand is satisfied,” Fitch analysts said. “The supply is also artificially low, as recent regulations have limited the pace of foreclosure sales and the large percentage of underwater borrowers continues to hope for future price increases to be able to sell their homes at a profit.”
Effective Saturday, June 1, 2013, residential burn permits will be suspended for Nevada, Placer, and Yuba Counties and fire restrictions will go into effect in the Tahoe National Forest announced both Brad Harris, CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit Chief and Tom Quinn, Tahoe National Forest Supervisor. “Despite the recent, light rain, conditions in the foothills and the high country remain unseasonably dry for this time of year. Warming temperatures, dry winds, and very dry fuel moisture levels have prompted this early fire season response,” stated Quinn. “We have already seen fire activity that is not normally observed until late July or August. The unusual lack of rain this past winter and spring, prompted the early burn ban and fire restrictions,” said Chief Harris.
Beginning June 1, the burn permit suspension applies to areas in Nevada, Yuba and Placer counties that fall within state responsibility area and local jurisdiction under contract with CAL FIRE. Anyone who burns in violation of the suspension will be subject to appropriate civil or criminal action and could face cost recovery charges for the fire suppression response. All fires or smoke reported will be considered a wildfire and a full suppression response will be dispatched to the scene.
In the Tahoe National Forest, beginning June 1, campfires are not permitted in the backcountry but only in developed campgrounds and other designated sites (in the metal rings/grills provided). Portable stoves, including those that use gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are permitted in backcountry areas with a valid campfire permit. Propane-type Bar-B-Q’s can be used outside designated sites where camping is permitted, but charcoal Bar-B-Q’s can only be used in designated campgrounds. Smoking is only permitted in an enclosed vehicle or developed recreation site. Internal combustion engines, including off highway vehicles (OHV’s) can continue to be operated on roads or motorized trails and within the Prosser Pits OHV area. The personal wood cutting program will continue to operate, as long as individuals have a valid woodcutting permit and follow the conditions on the permit. Campfire permits are free and are available at all Forest Service, BLM, or CAL FIRE offices.
Having just got back from San Francisco, it’s amazing how time has changed the city and the way we live. I thought this film would really illustrate the major changes that’s happened in slightly over a hundred years.
This film was “lost” for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever that has come to light. It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car as it`s traveling down the street. You feel as if your re al ly there, standing at the front looking down the street, amazing piece of historic film.
The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there. … How many “street cleaning” people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!
This film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).. It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of April 18th 1906 and shipped by train to NY for processing. Amazing, but true!
No wonder there had to be laws created to regulate driving habits. This is insane. Good thing they couldn’t go very fast. Cross walks had ‘nt been invented yet !
This is a fascinating movie. A camera on the front of a street car 104 years ago. I watched it a couple of times. Look at the hats the ladies were wearing and the long dresses. Some of the cars had the steering wheels on the right side, I wonder when they standardized on the left? Sure was still a lot of horse drawn vehicles in use. Mass transit lookedlike the way to get around. Looks like everybody had the right of way.
Perhaps the oldest “home movie” that you will ever see!
Photo Credit: Crazy House http://www.house-crazy.com/well-said-funny-real-estate-listing-blurbs/
Many retirees have been struggling to qualify for a mortgage, finding their post-retirement monthly incomes aren’t sufficient enough to get a loan under today’s tough underwriting standards. The problem was particularly pronounced for retirees who were still making payments on car loans, credit cards, or home equity lines of credit and who found they were unable to qualify under today’s low “debt-to-income” standards.
But mortgage giant Freddie Mac is now allowing retirees—and others—to use income from their 401(k), IRA, and other retirement assets to qualify for a loan.
“That, in turn, might open the door to a money-saving refinancing to a lower-rate loan or a downsizing purchase of a new house or condo,” The Washington Post reports.
The retirement account balances can be used to supplement their incomes for underwriting purposes, but the borrower does not actually have to draw from those balances in order to get the mortgage.
Judy and I went to the 2013 WineMaker Magazine’s International Home Winemaking Conference held in Monterey, California, May 17th and 18th to hear the results of the wine judging. Judy is twice past president and has been on the Executive Board of the Sacramento Home Winemakers Club for many years.
It was an exciting time for the club, since they were the club winners last year and were hoping to be a winner again this year. It is such a stiff competition that some winemaker clubs were subsidizing their members by paying entry and shipping fees to their members. The Sacramento Home Winemakers Club did not do that for their members.
This was no small feat, since the judging was held from April 19-21, 2013, with a record total of 4,564 different wines at the Burlington Hilton in Burlington, Vermont. This year’s competition was the largest in the 11-year history and is again the largest wine competition of its kind in the world. The 4,564 entries arrived from hobby winemakers throughout North America in all 50 American states and 8 Canadian provinces and as far away as Italy and Australia. It was the single largest and most diverse collection of hobby wines ever assembled under one roof.
Over the course of three days, experienced judging panels worked through 923 flights, examining each wine using the UC-Davis 20-point wine scale evaluating appearance, aroma, taste, aftertaste and overall impression. The wines were entered in 50 different categories and included an astonishing array of varietals and wine styles. Kit wines competed alongside fresh-grape entries in this blind tasting.
Entries were awarded gold, silver, bronze and best of show medals based on the average score given by the judging panel. The Grand Champion wine medal was the top overall scoring wine across all categories. The Club of the Year was given to the club whose members won the most medals and the Retailer of the Year and U-Vint of the Year awards were given to the winemaking supply stores whose customers outperformed other similar shops.
Finally the Winemaker of the Year award was given to the individual entrant who has the highest average score across their top 5 scoring wines in the competition.
Winemakers of the Year & Best of Show Dessert Wine
Rex Johnston and Barbara Bentley
Front: Barbara Bentley, Rex Johnston – Photo credit: Sacramento Home Winemakers
In all, SHW won 13 golds, 10 silvers and 12 bronzes for a total of 35 medals.
For all your real estate needs:
Call or email now:
John J. O’Dell, Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091 Email John
Hard to find comparable sales on this home. Photo credit: http://hekk-m.com/post180818332/
In recent months, real estate professionals have had to hold their breath as they waited for an appraisal on a property to come back. Would it be lower than the agreed-upon selling price — and by how much?
Many real estate professionals have blamed a high number of derailed transactions on low-ball appraisals.
But now the industry is noticing a change in appraised values: Appraisals are getting more in line with the agreed upon selling price, CNNMoney reports.
Appraisers are valuing homes at or above their selling prices as home prices nationwide climb and inventories of homes decrease, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®.
For example, in Wallingford, Wash., real estate pro Michael Ackerman told CNNMoney that he was concerned a transaction would fall apart when a buyer agreed to pay $755,000 for a home since other comparable homes in the area had sold for $690,000.
“Everybody’s jaws dropped” when the appraised value came in at the full, agreed-upon selling price,” says Ackerman.
In some cases, appraisals are even coming in higher — which was practically unheard of just a few months ago. For example, real estate pro Cara Ameer in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., says with home prices in the area rising 15 percent over the past year, she was concerned the appraisal on a two-bedroom townhouse wouldn’t reflect the current rise. A buyer offered to pay $5,000 above the $189,000 asking price. The appraisal came in above the selling price, Ameer says.
San Joaquin Yacht Club at Bethel Island Photo Credit: Bill Wells
By Bill Wells
Every year in the spring when the weather turns warmer and the rains subside, thoughts turn to boating in the Delta. Certainly there are many diehard boaters about in the winter months too, but the advent of spring brings them out in force. Most resorts and restaurants that close for a winter vacation reopen in mid – April and opening day of yachting parades are scheduled all around the Delta and San Francisco Bay area.
The term “opening day” was coined in 1903 when the drawbridge in Belvedere was opened to let the “arcs” or houseboats travel from Belvedere Lagoon to their summer location in Belvedere Cove. Since then the various yacht clubs have called the beginning of yachting season in the area “opening day.”
Korths Pirates Lair & Delta Loop Photo Credit: Bill Wells
Opening day parades are held all over the Delta during April with major parades sponsored by the Stockton Yacht Club, Sacramento Yacht Club and the San Joaquin Yacht Club. You don?t need to be a club member to participate in a parade with your boat. You contact the sponsoring club to register beforehand and generally there is a small fee to cover administrative expenses.
No boat? No problem! There are many shore side venues where you can watch the parades as they pass by.After the opening day celebrations, boating season begins in earnest. By mid-May the weather is generally consistently warm and there are parties and events all over the Delta every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Barron Hilton has been sponsoring a fireworks display at Venice Island on the San Joaquin River for more than 50 years. Hilton explains that he originally started setting off fireworks for his children at his duck club. “I began shooting rockets and fountains on the levee for the benefit of my eight children,” he said. “I noticed that four or five boats stopped by to watch, then a dozen the next year, and about three times that number the third year. From there, it just seemed to grow like an amoeba.”
Today, Hilton produces a 30 minute show, choreographed to patriotic music, and fired by professional technicians from Pyro Spectaculars.
Bill Dutra of the Dutra Group provides a barge that serves as a floating launching pad for the fireworks. Even though the fireworks show itself only lasts a half hour, the boats start arriving for the event weeks beforehand. Many people anchor their yacht near the island and use their shore boats to commute to work at their area jobs. The thousands of boats are grouped so that there are pathways to travel between boats and many groups secure the same space year after year.
Later in July local folk head to Village West Marina in Stockton for the annual “Taste of the Delta” event. This is a strolling wine and food tasting showcasing Delta area wineries and restaurants. It is accessible by boat (or car) and is a very popular event, one of the many available to boaters in the Delta. With almost 60,000 acres of water and 1,000 miles of waterways, the Delta fun never ends.
Written by Bill Wells, Executive Director, California Delta Chambers & Visitor’s Bureau
