Avoid Email When It Matters

The age of non-communicating communication began many years ago with the introduction of the answering machine. We all placed calls we didn't want to and prayed for the machine to pick up so we wouldn't actually have to talk to the person. To this day we still "screen our calls". If you call my home in the evening chances are you'll get the machine.

The introduction of email was a blessing and a curse. You never have to actually speak with anyone anymore if you don't want to. Email, instant messaging, texting, Twittering, Blogging and online social pages (Facebook, Myspace, etc) have completely taken over. Who really ever uses their cell phones anymore to TALK???

Unfortunately, all of this instant and hassle free communication comes with a price. We lose touch with the personal side of friendships so easily. And the worst thing that happens; you send an email intended to be friendly, the recipient misunderstands your intention, and the #%$@ hits the fan.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE EMAIL. I love instant messaging. I love Facebook. I appreciate the fact that I can take my time, gathering my thoughts, typing in just the right words to get my point across, perhaps saving the draft to re-read before I actually send it or post it. However, when it is all "typed and done" the recipient cannot possibly hear the "tone behind the words".

Has this ever happened to you? You send an email to a friend, relative or acquaintance intended to be friendly. The email is received and completely misunderstood. Your friend interprets your email as a written attack instead of what it was intended to be: a simple statement of the facts. Maybe they are having a bad day, perhaps just had a fight with their significant other or boss. Whatever the reason, the damage is done. Had your communication taken place over the phone your friend would have heard the warm tone of your voice, the giggles and laughter underneath. Now that it is "typed and done" the damage is irreversible. The result, a scarred friendship that may never recover.

So, if you are communicating with someone who matters, do yourself a favor. Take a few of your valuable minutes and pick up the phone. Just hope that the person you are calling isn't "screening".

CENTURY 21 Ditton Realty Named in Top 10

CENTURY 21 Ditton Realty has been ranked in the top 10 real estate offices in the Sierra Nevada by CENTURY 21. Scott Runtzel and Julie Gerken have been named in the top 100 agents in the Sierra Nevada for their outstanding sales performance in May.

Other honorable mentions for their sales productivity in May include: Laurie Humphries, Alan Murray, Melissa Buller, Jessica Rubottom, Kandi Papike, Jacque Hohweiler, Janet Wheeler, Bob Watt and Theresa Williams.

Way to go!!

Free Household Hazardous Waste Event

California Integrated Waste Management will be holding a free hazardous waste event June 20th at Yosemite High School in Oakhurst from 9am to 1pm. This event is FREE for residents of Madera County.

Allowable items include: motor oil and filters, antifreeze, brake flued, battery grease, flourescent lamps and tubing, insect spray, weed killer, pool chemicals, pesticides, ammonia based cleaners, drain cleaners, aerosol cans, oven cleaners, spot removers, household batteries, wood preservatives, solvents, art supplies, paint remover, photographic chemicals, televisions, VCR's, computers and monitors, sharps and needles.

Quantities are limited to 15 gallons of liquids of 125 lbs of solids.

For more information on this free event contact (559) 675-7817.

Be Wary of Reverse Mortgages

Article courtesy of CNNMoney.com

U.S. regulator: Be wary of reverse mortgages

OCC's John Dugan says the loans aimed at older homeowners could target a vulnerable segment.
June 8, 2009: 1:27 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Reverse mortgages could be the next subprime mortgage product to experience rapid growth while taking advantage of a vulnerable segment of the population, top U.S. bank regulator John Dugan said Monday.

Dugan, who heads the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and supervises some of the nation's largest banks, said regulators are crafting guidelines to ensure that robust consumer protections are in place for reverse mortgages.

"While reverse mortgages can provide real benefits, they also have some of the same characteristics as the riskiest types of subprime mortgages -- and that should set off alarm bells," Dugan said in prepared remarks to an American Bankers Association conference.
Reverse mortgages are complicated loans targeted at homeowners who are at least 62 years old, and allow older Americans to live off the equity in their homes as they age.

In a reverse mortgage, the homeowner receives money from the lender, which does not have to be repaid as long as the borrower lives in the home.

Fannie Mae (FNM, Fortune 500), the largest provider of U.S. home mortgage funding, had about a 90% share of the reverse mortgage market at the end of 2008. Many large banks such as Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) and Wells Fargo (WFC, Fortune 500) are big providers of reverse mortgages.

The great majority of reverse mortgages are insured by the Federal Housing Administration and pose limited credit risk. But Dugan said a different class of reverse mortgages -- "proprietary" products -- offer less consumer protections.

Dugan said that as the elderly American population grows, there could be a significant pickup in demand for proprietary reverse mortgages, which he said bear significant similarities to the type of subprime products that helped fuel the housing boom and bust, resulting in a widespread credit crisis and recession.

"I believe the critical lesson here is the need to act early, before problems escalate," Dugan said.
He said regulators need to set more standards for proprietary reverse mortgages. Regulators also need to be vigilant about misleading marketing and need to crack down on any lenders who try to bundle a reverse mortgage with other financial products, such as an annuity or life insurance product, Dugan said.

If those actions are not enough, Dugan said "more definitive regulatory standards may need to be adopted, and the OCC is prepared to do that."

Stay the Course

Stay The Course by BJ Gallagher

Our journey of life is about progress, not perfection. It's not about doing one thing 100% better -it's a matter of doing 100 things, 1% better each day. Progress is evolutionary not revolutionary, and most days we measure our progress in inches, not miles. What matters most is showing up for your life whether you feel like it or not. Ask yourself, "What two or three little things can I do today that would move me forward?" You'll be amazed at how much distance you can cover by taking it in increments. The little things add up; the inches turn to miles; and we string together our efforts like so many pearls. Before long, look what you have -a whole strand!

Cooler Weather For Remainder of Week

The National Weather Service is calling for high temperatures in the low to mid 70's and lows in the 40's for the rest of the week due to a low pressure system moving through California. This system will bring us more rain and thunder storms with snow levels dropping to approximately 8,000 feet by Saturday.

If you are planning on visiting the high country over the next week take plenty of warm clothing and be prepared for any and all types of weather.

Credit Card Users Beware of Gottschalks???

I am pasting a copy of an email received a few moments ago into this article. The email is regarding using a credit card at the local Gottschalks location in Oakhurst.

"I am sending this out as a general precaution. Monday I used a credit card at Gottschalks that was declined a few moments later at Raleys. Since then my card, although I still have it in my possession, has been used at a gas station in Coarsegold, Taco Bell in Oakhusrt, and a WalMart (not sure where) as well as a couple other places. I don't understand how this could happen, but it did--so maybe beware of using a card at Gottschalks? "

This could be the result of a disgruntled employee angry at the Liquidator's or just some dishonest person. In any event, it would probably be a wise idea to use cash if you are going to shop the Gottschalks liquidation sales.

Stormy Spring Weather Brings Much Needed Rain

More thunder storms will bring heavy rain and winds to the area today as a trough of warm, moist air hangs over the Sierra Nevada's. The US Forest Service is on alert for wild fires started by down strikes.

Take Time to Smell the Roses

My husband and I lead a very busy life and I have found that I lose track of the days as they speed by at 200 MPH. We have been wanting to get out of town for a few days but our current work load isn't accommodating that little pipe dream. Soooo, this last holiday weekend we hunkered down at home. Our computer was on the fritz so there was no email to answer. We let our anwering machine screen our calls and we let our cell phones go to voice mail.

We enjoyed two days together putzing around the yard, sharing home-cooked meals instead of take out, watching the Indy 500 and sleeping in. We spent countless hours watching Bella play in the pool and chase her toys. All in all, we had a wonderful staycation.

I have come to the realization over the last couple of months that it becomes easy to take the good things in life for granted: a wonderful, loving husband, a great dog, a beautiful home, a happy family. As we have witnessed on the evening news over and over and over, these things can disappear in the blink of an eye. I have made a pact with myself to take a few moments everyday and "smell the roses".

We all have "roses" in our life. Your roses could be a loving spouse or partner, a supportive family, good health, a stable job, etc. Don't let yourself get so caught up in the thorns of your daily grind that you ignore the beauty and fragrance of the blooms that surround you.

New Link Exchange

CENTURY 21 Ditton Realty has instituted a link exchange on their website www.Century21DittonRealty.com. The link exchange is open to all local, national and international businesses who wish to drive more traffic to their websites. For more information on the link exchange email Belinda Ditton at bk.ditton@c21ditton.com or use the link below:

http://www.century21dittonrealty.com/p/31975/Yosemite-Real-Estate---Link-Exchange.aspx

Bass Lake Volunteer Fire Dept. BBQ Sunday

The Bass Lake Volunteer Fire Department annual Memorial Day BBQ is this Sunday, May 24th, at the Bass Lake Fire Department on Road 274 (next to the Government Center). Stop by from 11 am to 3pm for great food and drink. All proceeds from food sales benefit the volunteer fire department.

Annual Memorial Day Breakfast May 23rd

Joing the Amvets Post 1997 for their Annual Memorial Day Breakfast, Saturday morning at the Ole Kettle Restaurant beginning at 10am. Guest speakers and souvenirs. Space is limited so reserve your seats now!! Call Dave Wolin at 559-658-2281.

Coarsegold Peddler's Fair Begins Today

The Coarsegold Antique and Collectible Show begins today, going through the weekend and wrapping up Monday, May 25th. Take advantage of free admission and great on-site parking. Browse arts & crafts, collectibles and antiques. Lots of great food and refreshements. The Coarsegold Peddler's Fair is fun for the entire family!! Don't miss it!!

Remember Them This Weekend

As the weather gradually grows warmer and another Memorial Day swiftly approaches, thoughts of barbecues and picnics begin to surface in our minds.

Many of us look forward with anticipation to the three-day weekend, taking advantage of the extra day off to do some traveling, or simply to catch up on some much needed relaxation. But more often than not, we forget what Memorial Day really means, and very rarely do we ask ourselves why we celebrate Memorial Day. Of course, those of you who have served in the armed forces or have family members who have done so are well aware of the history and meaning of Memorial Day, some of you painfully so. The media often makes a small comment in regards to why we celebrate Memorial Day, and newspapers often publish a small article, but otherwise the general consensus is that Memorial Day is a time for warm-weather fun and happy celebrations.

This is simply to remind those of you who need reminding that Memorial Day was originally not so much a celebration as it was a day of solemnity, a day of respect and remembrance for those who have served their country and have died doing so. Regardless of whether you support the current war or not, or even the previous wars throughout history, the fact remains that hundreds of thousands of soldiers went to war for the United States of America. They fought hard and they fought well, and they fought for reasons that may or may not have been righteous. But they pledged themselves to the cause, because they believed in the United States, and they believed in themselves as a soldier.

And they died for it.

Memorial Day was first established in 1868 in order to honor the soldiers who had fallen during the Civil War. It was initially only recognized by first New York and then the remainder of the northern states, and wasn't followed by the south until after World War I. While many states at that time typically had their own specific days of remembrance, (and some still do), Memorial Day became has become the national standard.

Unfortunately, over the years, many Americans, especially those who have been untouched by war and the strife it causes, have forgotten what Memorial Day truly means, despite the fact that "memorial" being the very title of the holiday is a pretty significant clue.

Many of my relatives served in WWII but I really never could comprehend or understand the sacrifices that they made until my husband and I attended the WWII Memorial Dedication in Washington DC. Thousands of veterans and their families flew to DC to attend the ceremony. We were honored enough to meet a Medal of Honor recipient on our flight from Denver to DC. It was truly awe inspiring to witness the respect, admiration and generosity bestowed upon these people throughout the week-long festivities. I can remember watching the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and crying my eyes out along with the hundreds of other people in attendance. The day of the actual dedication ceremony we sat among thousands of veterans and their families and the feeling of unity and patriotism was overwelming. It made my heart swell with joy and pride that I was blessed enough to attend such a historic event.

So, this weekend, take a few moments to remember why we celebrate Memorial Day. If you have a veteran in your family give him or her a call and thank them for everything that they have done for our country.

What Type of Hummingbird Are You?

What Type of Hummingbird Are You? Seem like an odd question to ask? Bear with me.

Yesterday was a day of relaxation. My husand and I spent some time splashing around the pool and lounging in the sun, enjoying the peace and quiet of the day. There was a pleasant breeze and I could smell the roses. Bella (my lab) joined in the fun by taking a dip in the pool and then commandeering a lounge chair for herself to dry off.

While soaking in some sun I became fascinated by the frantic activity of the hummingbirds at their feeders and I began to make some mental notes on their behavior. We have two feeders hanging from a large oak tree, with about 20 to 30 hummingbirds all fighting over who gets them. (The fact that they fight at all is hilarious. One or two hummingbirds consuming an entire feeder of nectar would be like my husband and I drinking the swimming pool!!) There is plenty for all but yet they quarrel and chase one another around, exerting so much energy that they have to fly up to a branch to take a rest from time to time.

I came to the conclusion that the hummingbirds fit into three categories.

The first category is the Alphas. The Alphas sit on a branch above the feeders and chase away any other birds that come near, including other species of birds who are simply flying through and minding their own business. They spend so much time fighting and quarreling with other birds that they have no time to take advantage of the nectar that is available to them.

The second category is the Conspirators. The Conspirators get together in a group and send one volunteer to divert the Alpha's attention. While the Alphas are busy chasing the diverters the other Conspirators feed frantically until the Alpha returns to her post.

The third category are the Producer's. The Producer's don't bother getting involved with all of the fighting and quarreling going on around them and they show very little interest in the feeders. Instead, they fly calmly from flower to flower in the yard (roses, petunias, jasmine, gardenia, sunflowers, daisies, lavendar, etc), taking their time and getting much more out of their actions than all of the Alpha's and Conspirators combined. They don't become focused on one flower; they tap all resources provided to them in their environment to fill their needs.

Simple and effective and no drama involved.

I jokingly told my husband that their behavior reminded me of working in Real Estate. People working on commission based income can generally be placed into one of the above categories. Of course, this is not limited to Real Estate. This behavior is being played out in sales offices around the world even as I write this article.

Every office has someone who wants all the business for themselves and will not hesitate to step on a co-worker to get it. Every office has a group of Conspirator's or pot stirrers as I like to call them. They are so busy forming cliches, conspiring amongst themselves, worrying about what everyone else in the office is doing and trying to figure out how to get more of the nectar that they ignore all of the resources around them. And then there are the Producers, the people that don't involve themselves in the office drama and gossip. They use their time and resources to make productive phone calls, emails and contacts all day. The producers are generally the one's that show up early, leave late and are always working on another project or deal.

I tend to think of myself as a Producer but I must admit that at times I have been sucked into the Conspirator's web. Once you are there it is difficult to extricate yourself without ticking someone off or hurting someones feelings.

I have made a point to avoid Alpha's. There is simply no good that ever comes from a relationship with an Alpha . Everything always is in the Alpha's favor and if it isn't, YOU end up being the bad guy. When I find myself in an Alpha's territory I smile and remain friendly, but always remember to watch my back.

So, what type of hummingbird are you? Not such a silly question after all, is it?

Possible Thunderstorms This Afternoon

With moisture streaming across California this morning we may get some thunderstorm activity this afternoon. Believe it or not, heavy downpours are expected with the storm activity. Forestry and CDF will be on alert for any brush fires caused by lightning.

Thoughts From A Frog......

People come and people go, but one thing remains the same. You can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand. In the Real Estate business it may be even fewer than that. The longer I am around Real Estate the less I find that people are able to surprise me.


Remember the story about the scorpion and the frog? No? In brief, a scorpion approaches a frog sitting by a stream one day and asks him to take him to the other side. The frog declines, expressing his concern about being stung. The scorpion promises the frog that he will not sting him and promises to protect the frog from the dangers awaiting him on the other side of the stream. Against his better judgement the frog agrees. Halfway across the stream the scorpion stings the frog. As his body becomes numb from the poison the frog asks the scorpion why he would do such a thing? The scorpion replies, "I'm a scorpion. It's what I do. I can't change what I am".

They both drown.

The moral of the story? Don't ignore your instincts. You have them for a reason-survival. Had the frog listened to his instincts he wouldn't have drowned in the middle of the stream.

Beware the scorpions who you will encounter throughout life. It is simply impossible to avoid them altogether. They come in many shapes and sizes and speak with a velvet tongue. They are not happy unless they are causing another pain and misfortune. Some people (scorpions) will sacrifice anything and everything to bring another (frog) down, even their own well-being. Scorpions may know the consequences, and not care, like the one mentioned above, or may, through vanity and denial, refuse to see the consequences.


In any event, the effect is the same: something--a life, a partnership, a friendship--ends as a result.

To all of the frogs reading this article, listen to your instincts. They will keep you from harm.

To all the scorpions, your day will come. You will eventually sting a frog that will take you down with him.

Busy (and HOT!!) Weekend Ahead

There is so much going on in Eastern Madera County this weekend it's going to be tough to fit it all in!! Here's the lineup:

Saturday:
-27th Annual Flea Market and Rummage Sale at the Oakhurst Community Center 9am to 3pm
-Sierra Mountain Quilters Quilt Show at Yosemite High School

-Paso Robles Wine Festival Road Trip
-American Cancer Society Relay for Life at the Wasuma School in Ahwahnee
-Oakhurst Home and Garden Show in the Oakhurst Community Park
-Spring Wine Trail Adventure-Madera Wine Trail
-Rummage Sale-Sierra Star Parking Lot, Oakhurst. Benefits the Harry H. Baker Boys & Girls Club

Sunday:
-Sierra Mountain Quilters Quilt Show Continued
-Relay for Life continued at Wasuma School in Ahwahnee
-Oakhurst Home and Garden Show continued in the Oakhurst Community Park
-Blood Drive, Yosemite New Life Church of the Nazarene, Junction Drive, Oakhurst

Here's to a wonderful weekend!!

Record High Temps Expected This Weekend

A strong high pressure system will build over California this weekend. Temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley and for us in the foothills will reach triple digits. Near record temps of 102 to 110 are expected both days.

If you have outdoor plans this weekend remember that mountain streams and rivers, although appearing cool and inviting, will be flowing swift and cold from snow melt. Outdoor enthusiasts are advised to use extreme caution near streams and rivers.

Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Whenever possible stay in the shade or in an airconditioned room. Wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids.

Keep an eye on your children and pets. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED IN YOUR VEHICLE. Make sure your pets have access to plenty of shade and water.

Notices of Default Drop

Foreclosure Radar reports in their April foreclosure report that Notices of Default dropped 18.2% in April from the record level in March. Notices of Trusee Sale also dropped by 8.5%. Properties taken to auction rose 35%, representing over $6 billion in loan value.

The number of foreclosures sold to third parties increased in April to 1,634, a 52.3% increase over March. This figure represents only 12% of the total, with 88% of foreclosed homes going back to the lenders.