Voices for civility

Last week, Amador Ledger Dispatch Publisher Jack Mitchell published an opinion piece that was anything but civil. Mitchell fell back into an ugly, old habit I keep hoping he will outgrow: calling people names and demonizing individuals and groups with whom he disagrees.

In this week’s paper, the defamed citizens — and several others — responded. But not in kind. They called Mitchell on his bad behavior. But they also called out for respectful, civil discourse.

One letter-writer even pointed out that Mitchell had engaged in exactly that on his front porch when she knocked on his door to ask him to sign the referendum petition challenging the Gold Rush Ranch approval.

Good people can disagree without being disagreeable, juvenile, disrespectful, and hateful. They can, in the words of the famed negotiating book Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, “Be hard on the problem and soft on the people.”

That’s important everywhere. In small communities like ours, it’s critical. No matter what happens with an issue that causes us to disagree today, tomorrow there will still be neighbors to help, causes to support, and community needs to address. We must build and nurture the relationships that allow us to work together, not allow our differences to tear us apart.

I’m so proud of the good people in this county who realize that and put it into practice every day. They — not the folks who resort to personal attack when they don’t get their way — are our true local leaders. And they are the ones who will help us find a path to a prosperous and sustainable future while preserving the small town and rural values we all hold dear.

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Gold Country : St. Piran’s Day Celebration :

Celebration At the corner of Main and Auburn Streets Grass Valley will celebrate its 5th Annual…

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Gold Country : Singles Night at the Winery :

Celebration Single Do you enjoy wine Then this could be the perfect opportunity to meet that…

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Some old but still good random thoughts

This morning, I was looking for an old op-ed piece I’d written in response to one of Amador Ledger Dispatch Publisher Jack Mitchell’s attack pieces (Jack’s been stuck in attack mode for as long as I can remember). I couldn’t find what I was looking for, but did find another commentary I never finished. It seems relevant today, so I thought I’d share an edited excerpt:

Elected officials ignore new ways of thinking at our county’s expense. If they only listen to the people who think like them, they’ll never be challenged to broaden their thinking, find creative solutions, or move beyond the ordinary to the exceptional. They’ll also motivate those who opposed them in the last election to organize for the next one. Power politics begets more power politics—it’s self-perpetuating.

So it’ll be interesting to see whether our elected officials actually work to represent everyone or only their supporters. It’ll say a lot about them as people. And it will give us some sense of where our county is headed: to a positive future focused on problem-solving and common ground, or one bogged down in infighting and dysfunction.

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Plymouth CA. 95669 Real Estate Market Report February 3, 2010

This month Plymouth, CA. has 21 active residential real estate listings, up a few from last month’s 18 listings. The average listing price in Plymouth is $ 847,080, up a bunch from last month’s $ 643,155 but that is just the way statistics change in this kind of small market. Houses in Plymouth have set on the market for an average of 167 days. In the last month Plymouth has had 7 new listings and no reported sales.

Grape vine leavesPlymouth’s median price listing for today is a two-story home on 2.16 acres, offered at $ 499,000. It has 4 bedrooms and 3-1/2 baths, and an attached garage. This home has 3170 square feet of living space. This beauty, and If you like nice woodwork you will know what I mean by beauty, is WAY DOWN from its original price of $729,000. OUCH! This one is out in the country with wonderful oaks and rolling hills.

This month Plymouth’s least expensive listing is a 1026 square foot 3 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home in Plymouth Mobile Manor offered at $55,900 and $ 280 per month space rent.

This month the “highest priced listing” in the area is a special case. A well known running and turn key winery! The two bedroom two bath 1620 square foot home on 32.43 acres, and thousands of cases of wine are all part of the deal. The asking price for this one is $3,250,000.

Remember, you can search Plymouth Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

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This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

 

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Sutter Creek, CA. 95685 Real Estate Market Report February 3, 2010

Sorry I’m a couple of days late with this one, I’ve been fighting a bad cold,  Sutter Creek has 39 currant residential Real Estate listings, with an average price of $ 489,576. In the last month only 1 home has sold but 8 have been newly listed. Sutter Creek’s listings have been on the market for an average of 220 days, down from last month’s 239 day average.


Mining tools Sutter Creek CA oar cart and monitorSutter Creek’s $399,000 median price is now a three way tie. The three listings today are a 2686 square foot 3/2-1/2 on over a half-acre, inSutter Crest Estates, the other its neighbor is a 5/4, 3248 square foot home with tons of room and great views of the valley. And the new listing at this price is a 2660 square foot two story, 3/2.5 Short Sale on .68 acre. All three are close to each other inSutter Crest Estates.

The lowest priced home in Sutter Creek as of today is a 960 square foot manufactured 2/2 in Sutter Terrace Estates. It is offered at $ 85,000 and this one comes with the .08-acre lot.


As of February 3 the highest price home in Sutter Creek is again the three story 5 bedroom 3 bath custom, with rock and log construction. On over 49 acres with guesthouse barn and only 4 miles from town, and with creek frontage, this is really something! Offered at $ 1,450,000.


With the spread of real estate offerings in Sutter Creek the range of prices per square foot is also very wide. Staring at only $ 61.85 for a manufactured home in Sutter Terrace, and going up to $ 537.04 for this month’s top priced home on almost 50 acres.


Notice how things just don’t change that fast here in the hills? Much of these stats are the same or very close to last month’s.


As you see, Sutter Creek has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Sutter Creek Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

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Pine Grove/Pioneer CA. 95665/95666 Real Estate Market Report February 2, 2010

The Pine Grove and Pioneer areas of Amador County have 118 current residential real estate listings for sale. Right now the average asking price in the area is $ 276,138. The average time it is taking to sell a home is 232 days. In the last month 21 houses have been listed and 13 have sold. The average price of the houses that sold was $ 149,450 with an avg. list price for sold’s of $ 158,269 showing a sale to list price ratio of 94.43%.

Road in the pine trees, Pine GroveThis month’s Pine Grove and Pioneer area’s median price listing is a 2/1 with 1057 square feet, on .56 acre. This is a rented Short Sale, offered at $ 227,000.

Again this month a manufactured two bedroom two bath in Meadow Pines is the least expensive home listed in the area. Asking just $ 9,950 with $490/month space rent. Lots of storage and a nice yard.

The priciest listing in the Pine Grove/Pioneer area continues to be the 3-bedroom four-bath 4200 square-foot beauty with great views and all that upcountry charm. On 11.38 acres it is offered at $1,875,000.

When looking at price per square foot the range is very wide going from $10.36 /sq.ft. for the manufactured home without land, up to $583.98 for a small 1/1 on five desirable acres. With an area median of $132.39/square foot.

With inventory that would be depleted in just over nine months at last months rate (with no new listings) the area is in a rather strong buyers market. At least if you go by the six month rule of thumb.

For more info on Amador County Real Estate click over to Mainstreet Brokers website or drop me an email.

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

 

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Jackson, CA. 95642 Real Estate Market Report February 2, 2010

Right now Jackson, CA. has 74 current residential Real Estate listings , with an average price of $ 301,509 up about a thousand dollars from January’s $ 299,752 average. In the last month 1 home has sold but 10 have been newly listed. Jackson’s listings have been on the market for an average of 228 days a little bit up from last month’s 216 days.

Main Street Jackson buildings Today three listings tie for Jackson’s median price, offered at $ 250,000.A 1498 square foot, three bedroom one and a half bath log home on over ¾ acre, just off of highway 88. A short Sale 3/2 with great views new carpet and paint near the high school. And a 1201 square foot 3/2 not a short sale, with a great patio area in the back overlooking pastures.

The lowest priced home in Jackson as of today is still the 1248 square foot manufactured 2/2 in Jackson Highlands estates. It is offered at $ 38,500 without land.

The highest priced home in Jackson is still the 4134 square foot 4 bedroom 4 bath Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Arts & Crafts Style Executive Home on 2 acres. This home is offered at $1,395,000.

In Jackson the price per square foot ranges from a low of $29.30/ sq.ft. for a manufactured home without land to $106.46 for the lowest price per square foot with land, on up to $715.91 for a special place with 135 acres. As you can see, this is yet another statistic that needs to be looked into on an individual basis. Please feeel free to contact me for details that fit your needs.

Jackson has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Jackson Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

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Ione, CA. 95640 Real Estate Market Report February 2, 2010

Today Ione has 58 active residential real estate listings, up 12 from last month’s 46 listings.

Rainbow to Clarks Corner and FlagThe average listing price in Ione is $ 249,737 down about $11k from last month’s $ 260,816.

The average number of days that properties have been on the market is 178 days, up a bit from last month at 166 days.

In the last month Ione has had 16 new listings and 2 listings have sold.
This month two homes share the median price in Ione. They are both new JTS homes in Castle Oaks. They each are 1302 square feet and have a two car garages. These homes are offered at $ 239,990. They are listed as a green homes because they are built to “Title 24” code.

Ione’s lowest priced home right now is a 1248 square foot manufactured home in The Oaks Park. This home is offered at $50,000.

Again this month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the three bedroom three bath 5100 square foot custom with three master suites, huge pool, gym, unbelievable landscaping, a caretakers home (3/2) and a 900 square foot guest/pool house. All on 97+ acres. The asking price for this one is $3,500,000.

One way that the National Association of Realtors defines markets is by months of inventory. If a market has less than six month’s of inventory it is often called a sellers market because the supply is low for the level of demand. Right now Ione has over two years of inventory at the level of sales last month. So using that rule of thumb the Ione market is in a strong buyers market. But that stat is so strongly affected by just a few sales in a market segment as small as Ione. It is only worth paying attention to over time.

Ione has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Ione Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

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Amador County CA. Real Estate Market Report February 1, 2010

Amador County Real Estate inventory is a little up this month Probably looking forward to spring! Today, February 1, 2010 the Amador County Association of REALTORS® MLS shows a total of 368 active residential listings in Amador County, up 41 from last month’s 327.

Kennedy mine water wheel These listings have a $ 364,182 average listing price, down about a thousand dollars from last month’s average of $365,571. Not really any change to speak of.

The average number of days on market for these listings is 208 days, Not much change from last month’s 207 days.

In the last month Amador County has had 74 new listings and 21 listings have sold.

Today the lowest priced listing is The same 960 square foot manufactured home on a large .30 acre lot in Meadow Pines (Pioneer) It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, new carpet, vinyl, paint, and fixtures and even a pellet stove in the living room. This home was listed at $28,000, it has dropped to just $9,950 without the land. Space rent is $490 per month. Water is $34.96 per month Septic is $18.50 per month. This park DOES include children.

Because the lowest priced listing is the same as last month, I thought you might like to know about the second lowest priced residential listing, a real piece of history, a cabin that is reported to be over 200 years old and that was used as a stop for the Pony Express! Now it is rough, but it is listed at only $ 32,000. Under 500 square feet and without hook-ups (although they are reported to be available) If you are interested in a piece of California Real Estate history this River Pines cabin is something you should see.

The highest priced listing is a big operating vineyard on over 137 acres in “The Valley.” It is offered for $5.1 million. This one has not dropped.

This month five properties are in a tie for the median priced listing. One a triple wide manufactured, 1900 square foot, 3/2 in Plymouth on .35 acre ($ 136.32/sqft). One a Short Sale 2620 square foot two story 3/2.5 on 1.22 acres in Pine Grove ($ 98.85/sqft). One a multi house property on Highway 88 with 1.39 acres 4 bedrooms and 4 baths ($ 103.60/sqft). The other two homes are both very close to the Castle Oaks Golf Course in Ione. A 1479 square foot 2/2 ($ 175.12/ sqft.) and a 1588 square foot 3/2 ($ 163.10/ sqft). All five of these properties are offered at $ 259,000.

At the rate of sales last month, it would take more than 17 months to deplete the current Amador County Real Estate inventory (if no new listings were made). This is often looked at to decide basic market trends. This number is up a bunch from last month’s 11 month’s inventory. Not moving the direction I would like to see. This is also more than likely due to the upcoming season, so don’t let it get you down.

The National Association of Realtors sometimes defines a market with over six months of inventory as a “buyers market”. Up here in the foothills inventory is often somewhat slower to move. Nonetheless, with over a year of inventory, buyers that are ready, willing, and able, should have their pick.

Amador County Real Estate awaits you.

Just click over if you would like to Search Amador County listings.

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

 

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