Wintertime in Yosemite Park

If you've never experienced the beauty and serenity of Yosemite National Park in the winter, now's the perfect time! The roads in and out are always plowed, but the beauty of the snow in the high country as well as the valley floor is just breathtaking. Take advantage of this time of year--take a picnic lunch, or dine at the Awahnee Hotel, which is always delightful. The park service provides information on many winter activities, such as special snowshoeing excursions, and you can always explore on your own. You might experience some travel delays coming from Tuolumne County due to road construction in the valley, but the wait is worth it. Enjoy!

Woody Guthrie's American Song

"This Land is Your Land" ~ Woody Guthrie. Wow! If you didn't already know it, live theatre is alive and well in Tuolumne County! The play "Woody Guthrie's American Song" premiered last week at Sonora's Stage 3 Theatre, and this is one you don't want to miss! This is truly an American celebration of America as seen through the eyes of its great folksinger. The play takes us through Woody's life during the Great Depression and his travels from the south to the west and to the east. His writings and songs paint quite a picture of the times and struggles of his time, but still have many meanings for today. Songs and writings by Woody Guthrie, conceived and adapted by Peter Glazer. Woody is portrayed by Jeff Cooper (The Searcher), Hoyt Cory (The Folksinger) and Richard Scholer (The Writer). All three performances are strong and inspiring, and the other members of the cast, Lillian McLeod (Woman), and Christy Nava (Young Woman) add even more depth to an already talented group. Backup instruments are provided by Rick Barlow and Ron Cotnam. You won't want to miss this one, and you'll surely remember many of the songs, such as "Hard Travelin'", "Bound for Glory", "The Reuben James", "Nine Hundred Miles", and of course "This Land is Your Land". The play runs through March 23, and you can call the box office at 209.536.1778 for your tickets.

Strategies for Selling a Vacant Home

As the real estate market in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties continues to stabilize, sellers may find that their property remains on the market significantly longer than the days of “list today, sold tomorrow.” There is also more competition for buyers. So, it can be frustrating to put your home on the market, expecting a fast sale, only to find that after six months you’re still waiting for an offer. This is especially true if you need to move quickly and leave your unsold home vacant.
Besides creating a marketing challenge, a vacant home can also be a target for vandalism. Here are strategies you can use to hasten a sale and protect your property during the process.
· Instead of producing a spacious appearance, an empty room tends to look smaller than a furnished room. So, leave behind a few select pieces of furniture and keep the window treatments in place. A chair or lamp on a small table will confer a sense of scale and help potential buyers gauge whether their furniture will fit the space.
· If you decide to remove the furniture, have the house cleaned and painted. Furniture, rugs and decorations tend to hide or minimize imperfections. When furniture and artwork have been removed, every blemish and bruise becomes accentuated, faded paint and wallpaper become more noticeable and scratches and nicks stand out.
· Repaint brightly and boldly colored rooms to a neutral tone. What was an eye-popping room when fully-furnished may appear stark and small when empty.
· To thwart unwelcome visits, give the house a lived-in look. Set a couple of lamps on timers, and ask a neighbor or friend check on the house daily to collect mail, park a car in the driveway, and close and open drapes and windows. Continue using a gardening service or hire someone to cut the grass regularly. During the winter months, arrange to have snow shoveled from the walks and driveway.
· If available, consider employing a home manager or house sitter. At little or no cost to homeowners, the house is furnished and decorated for show-to-sell condition. Most companies require home managers to mow the lawn, shovel snow, even pay pool maintenance and utilities. Having someone living on site discourages vandalism, protects against deterioration and weather hazards and may even reduce insurance costs. (Check with your insurance carrier.)
· Leave the utilities connected. Depending on the season, make sure the thermostat in the house is set at a comfortable level. You don't want a potential buyer to run through the home because it is too hot or cold.
· Review your homeowner's insurance policy with your insurance agent to find out what the stipulations and coverage pertain to your vacant home.
· Find a real estate professional with experience selling vacant houses. Often, these sales professionals specialize in relocation. You want to make sure that you are comfortable with your lines of communication. If you will be residing in another town, come up with an agreement on how often your representative will check on the home and what should be done if a problem develops.
Although a vacant house presents certain challenges, it does not need to be difficult to sell.

2007 Awards

Prudential California Realty in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties is proud to announce that the 2007 Sales awards were presented recently. The Top Producers for each office are: Kym Flaigg, Angels Camp office; Renee Carter, Arnold office; Linda Olson, Sonora office; Don Sherburne, East Sonora office and Ken & Judy Crabtree for the Twain Harte office. In addition, Diane Olsen of the Arnold office received the Most Improved Agent award and Ed Pelfrey, of the East Sonora office received the Rookie of the Year award. We congratulate all of the winners and wish them continued success. Submitted by Stan Nelsen, Sales Manager, Tuolumne County.

Sonora Hills

Sonora Hills…LIVE WHERE OTHERS ONLY VACATION…an upscale, active adult community that combines the best of California living with one of the most beautiful settings in California, located in historic Sonora, in the heart of the Central Sierras.

Sonora Hills is a gated, planned development with approximately 235 homes for adults 55 and over. The 44 acres include beautiful tree-lined streets. Each home has a two car garage and enjoys a fenced lot. The front yard is fully landscaped and maintained for each residence. There is a beautiful Clubhouse with many activities and the perfect place for entertaining family a friends. The community also has a large pool, patio area and spa. Additionally, there is RV storage available for community residents.

The homes range from one to three bedrooms (1080 – 18884 sq. ft.). Some have vaulted ceilings, solid oak cabinets, bay windows, laundry rooms, and many more features.

Within walking distance, you’ll find the convenience of full-service shopping, as well as banking, county library, health services and public transportation.

Should you want to take a stroll through the private walking trails, enjoy the beautiful setting or view some of the available homes, please contract me, Sharon Burs’key’….your KEY to Real Estate Needs 209-532-3600, sharon@pcr1.com.