Crescent City Real Estate News: December 2009

Here are the stats for how consumers came to my website for 2009. 

Several AR members have emailed and asked how I drive consumers to my website and what about realtor.com. 

If you have been reading my posts for awhile, you know I do not pay for realtor.com enhancements and this graph shows why.

To be fair I did pay for realtor.com enhancements until July 1, 2009, so if I continued to receive click throughs from realtor.com at the rate of 10-11 a month, let's be gracious and call that 130 for the entire year, (I paid about $600 last year for realtor.com), that was $4.61 per click through.  Pretty steep don't you think?

Now, take a look at the number one referrer that drives traffic to my website.  It's free.  Yippee!  There are 89 domains that referred traffic to my website in 2009 and number one is Active Rain.  AR works. 

Now, how or why does it work?  I have checked out the stats on many of my posts and there is a direct correlation between a good, relevant post and an increase in traffic to my website for a few days following that post.  Hence, when you read that bloggers should post about 3 times a week, that is why. 

Most of the posts that have a lot of views and clicks (click on your home link and then statistics on the left hand side--scroll down a bit) are posts I wrote about my community such as my post on the Lake Earl Wildlife refuge, which comes up #1 in a google search for that name. 

Another way clients find me is through my market reports.  Two of my biggest sales in 2009 are attributable to consumers checking out my market reports on my blog. 

If you aren't using your blog as a marketing tool, 2010 might be a good time to start.

Thank you for checking out my blog.

UPDATE: www.pelicanbaystateprison.net is a website I set-up to assist people inquiring about employment at Del Norte County's largest employer.  I did get hits to my website from that URL, but nothing that ever converted to a sale or even led to a credible lead.  I cancelled the website and put my money elsewhere.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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What a wonderful Christmas. Several of our 5 children came home, we had a great time opening gifts, a huge, delicious breakfast, then everyone took a nap. Well almost everyone.

My husband Garry, thought it was the perfect time to head into the garage and put furniture stripper on a sofa table we are refinishing.  Don't ask me why, but he decided it was also a good time to have a beer and some snack food.

Not realizing he had furniture stripper on the end of his fingers, he reached into the box of Cheez Its and popped a few into his mouth. It only took him a second to realize eating and stripping furniture was a huge mistake. He woke me from my nap with the noise he made running into the house from the garage and then rinsing his mouth at the sink (which went on forever) kept me awake for another 5 minutes. After what seemed like an hour, Garry went back into the garage.  I finally fell back to sleep, thankfully.  When I awoke an hour later, I went to the pantry for the box of Cheez Its--napping takes a lot of energy and I was hungry--the box was gone. 

I went into the garage to find out where the Cheez Its disappeared to and that's when I heard the story, although my husband had a little trouble talking. The end of his tongue is burned off and he has some blisters.  Ouch. 

Don't eat when you are stripping furniture!

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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Our troops sacrifice so much. Take a look at this post via Teri Ellis.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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As we countdown to a new year and new decade I am reflecting on what has been effective in my business for the past year.  I want to continue to do what works and gives me proven results and dump the rest.

Thankfully when it comes to my business, it is pretty easy to track what works and likewise, what doesn't.

My blogging efforts have had a huge return on investment in 2009 in many ways.  My blogging efforts have established me as a local expert in my market, my market reports are widely read, I have been interviewed by my local newspaper, I have gained many clients through blogging and had three of my largest closings in 2009 directly attributed to my blog on Active Rain, so my AR blog gets to stay in my repertoire.

Reading AR posts has given me so many new ideas to try; some have worked out really well.

Here's a few that gave me good results:

• RealEstateShows.com virtual tours where I can post an unlimited amount of pictures
• Single listing websites
• youmail.com voicemail (if I forget my phone at home, I can listen to my voicemail's on my computer at work!)
• Using Twitter
• Using Facebook
• Learning SEO (search engine optimization) 
• Adding postlets to my sidebar on my blog
• How to beef up my AR profile

2009 was my first complete year at my new office, RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods.  This move has proven to be extremely cost effective. I left a large, thriving office to go with a start up RE/MAX office.  The owner at RE/MAX loves all the new marketing efforts that I learn about and is willing to invest with me in them.  My office is, in my humble opinion, on the cutting edge of internet marketing in comparison to our competitors.  I believe much of that has to do with what I learn from my fellow bloggers on Active Rain. 

My office is ringing in the new decade with a bang with our first annual client appreciation event.  It is going to be RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods way of showing our clients and the vendors and other professionals that we work with, how much we appreciate their efforts.  I believe this is also a cutting edge effort as I am not aware of any other office in my market, including the office I worked at before RE/MAX, that does anything similar. 

I expect 2010 to be an even better year than 2009 for me and my office.  We are experimenting with signage and other new marketing efforts that will clearly show RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods is ahead of the competition.  I will share these new efforts throughout the year and of course, give you feedback on what gives proven results.

As I continue to contemplate business practices that gave a good ROI for 2009 and where I would like to put my marketing dollars for the coming year and where I would like to expend my valuable time I allot to my business, I know this for sure, Active Rain has proven it gives back more than I give.

I would like to thank the Active Rain staff and some Active Rain members who have helped me in so many ways either directly or by providing consistently informative posts:

Active Brad
Broker Bryant
Missy Caulk
Marti Garaughty
Lenn Harley

God Bless all AR members in the coming year,

Fran

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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I was made aware of the following post because the group, Californian's for Alternatives to Toxics, called to ask me if they could use the picture in this article from one of my many postson Tolowa Dunes State Park.  If you have never been to Del Norte County, it is comprised of many state, national and county parks, and land protected by Fish and Game. 

Tolowa Duneshas got to be one of the most beautiful locations in California, where Lake Tolowa meets the Pacific Ocean.  It breaches itself, or is breached by man, several times a year and creates quite the lovely spectacle as the fresh water lake empties into the sea. 

My husband and I routinely see pelicans, sea gulls, sea lions, geese, ducks, osprey, and so much more.  It is a little difficult to find Lake Tolowa, so we are usually the only people there.  If you haven't been there and you live in Del Norte County, you need to go.

Here is the Californian's for Alternatives to Toxics poston what is going on at Tolowa Dunes State Park.  Please check out their website if this interests you to see how you can help.

Thank you,

Fran

Defying Court Ruling, State Parks Aims Hazardous Sprays At Coastal Wildlands

Despite being trounced by CATs in the Court of Appeal for a similar project, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) is trying to slip another terrible herbicide spray plan past the public- adding to the mounting evidence that the agency considers itself above state law.

Avoiding a full environmental analysis, the state agency plans to kill invasive plants with broad-spectrum, non-selective herbicides at two Del Norte County sites: the sensitive dune ecosystem at Tolowa Dunes State Park and the Fish & Game-managed wetlands of the Lake Earl Wildlife Area.

Only months ago, CDPR lost in court to CATs for similarly failing to do a thorough examination of its plans to spray the invasive purple loosestrife weed along the Eel River. These plans are on a growing list of CDPR projects undertaken without adequate analysis and public notice.

- Incessant Spraying -

Its current proposal at Tolowa Dunes includes the use of two herbicides, imazapyr-also proposed on the Eel River--and glyphosate.

Imazapyr remains toxic and mobilein soil for up to a year and a half; repeat applications are likely to compound this toxicity. Glyphosate adversely alters soil ecosystems and recently has been linked to reproductive damagein mammals. But CDPR wants to do multiple spray applications to 323 acres for a minimum of three years--and up to an undetermined length of time.

CATs believes the Tolowa Dunes project is in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it fails to analyze how the toxic herbicides could affect the 61 special status plants and the 37 special status animals there, along with soil organisms and wetland water quality (see CATs' critique of the Tolowa Negative Declaration).

In an apparent surreptitious move, the spray plan was issued as part of a Mitigated Negative Declaration in mid-September for public comment, but was never posted on the CDPR webpage. CATs was not notified as an interested party.

While the lack of transparency is disturbing, it came as no surprise considering CDPR's track record statewide - which includes a rise in the use of Notice of Exemptions, Negative Declarations and Mitigated Negative Declarations in place of full environmental analysis and complete public participation.

- Why Use Killer Chemicals? -

It was such tactics that prompted the Court of Appeal to rule in favor of CATs and its assertion that CDPR failed to do adequate environmental analysis for the purple loosestrife project on the Eel. There, just as at Tolowa Dunes, CDPR planned to spray the invasive plant with imazapyr as the primary treatment without adequate consideration of non-chemical, environmentally appropriate alternatives.

Learning of CATs' Purple loosestrife lawsuit, people throughout California have contacted CATs about similar projects revealing an apparent pattern of the state agency's abuse of CEQA.

Examples include a Notice of Exemption in Mendocino County that allowed a bluff overlooking the ocean in Jug Handle State Park to be scraped down to bare soil and then sprayed to remove gorse and broom. Such scorched-earth practices also threaten Southern California parks, such as the removal of 100-year-old orange and lemon groves at Citrus State Historic Park so the soil could be graded and fumigated with an extremely toxic pesticide.

Neither of these activities was posted on the CEQA clearinghouse website for the public or environmental organizations to review because each was deemed non-significant by CDPR.

Though CDPR may claim to use herbicides sparingly, these projects highlight the agency's chemical habit and likelihood to jump on the herbicide treadmill for invasive weed management in other state parks.

CATs will remain diligent in its mission to watchdog the activities of government agencies and bring information about projects that include pesticide use to its members and the public.

- What You Can Do -

--Familiarize yourself with the CEQA process (http://www.ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/more/faq.html)

--Visit the California Clearinghouse to find proposed projects in parks near you (http://www.opr.ca.gov/index.php?a=sch/sch.html)

--see CATs' analysis of the Tolowa Negative Declaration(212 kb pdf file)

--Go to the State Parks website (http://www.parks.ca.gov/) or visit your local headquarters and ask about management practices that include pesticides. It's public information.

(* photo by Fran Gatti)  (CAT used my picture, gave me this credit and linked back to my post)!

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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This is the first time I have heard about Chinese Drywall and the problems it is causing in homes built with this material.  If you notice a rotten-egg smell in your home that was constructed between 2001 and 2007, please read this post and click on this link for more information.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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Chere's Boutique
933 3rd Street
Crescent City, CA
707-464-9662
cheresboutique@charterinternet.com
Owner: Rich and Chere Wier

If you haven't been to Chere's you need to go.  Specializing in Fine fashions and Accessories, Chere's is the place to find that new outfit for your special occasion or something new for work or play. 

I purchased a pair of leisure pants (nice way of saying sweats) made out of a soy material that are the softest, most comfortable pants ever.  I put them on the second I get home from work; they make me happy.

I shop at Chere's Boutique A LOT.  I am tall, 5'9" and Chere's is THE ONLY place I have been able to find pants that are long enough for me.  It is now the only place I purchase pants.  I especially like the Tribal brand that Chere carries.

Situated in the middle of the Crescent City downtown area that is being revitalized by businesses like Chere's, Johnston's Gifts, The Enchanted Florist, Tomasini's Enoteca and others, these local businesses have excellent products at reasonable prices and are worth checking out.

Chere's Boutique has fashion shows throughout the year as well as other events such as Ladie's Night Out. 

Chere's  Boutique in the heart of Crescent City's revitalized downtown area, come take a look and let Chere know you found her business on Fran's blog - Shop Local Series.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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Welcome to Redwood West subdivision in Crescent City, CA

(View Map)
Lot Size: .5-1.5 acres
Price: $119,000-$225,000

Homes Priced: $269,000 to $349,000

Get your pick of the Lots! Redwood West is a planned residential development in the Northern California redwoods just north of Crescent City near the south bank of the prestigious Smith River known for it's excellent salmon and steelhead fishing. Thirty-four lots vary in size from .5 to 1.5 acres with city water, utilities, septic and paved roads.

Featured listing:

210 Skookum Lane
Crescent City, CA 95531
Priced at $269,000

Listed by RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods.

Featuring: New Construction, situated in a desirable Redwood setting. Beautiful area to call "Home". Comfortable floor-plan ideally designed w/Great Room effect. Kitchen is lovely, Cherry-tone Maple cabinets, granite counters & tile floors. Vaulted ceilings. Recessed lighting. Large windows. Lovely views.

Master -Suite w/Walk-in closet. Large 3-car garage. Covered front entry. Beveled glass front door. Big open back deck. Landscaped yard area. Old Growth Redwood stump enhances the lovely Curb Appeal.

Please call or email me with your questions, for maps, copies of CC&R's, or driving directions to Redwood West.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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Crescent City/Del Norte County real estate market report for November - Looking good!

There were 18 residential sales closed in the Crescent City/Del Norte County for November according to the CC Board of REALTORs MLS, which is 45% better than November 2008.

The increase in REO sales, low interest rates and the first time home buyer tax credit has spurred on the flurry of buying that I anticipate to continue, however it is homes priced $200,000 and under that have been selling like hotcakes pretty much all year.  The reason, pent-up low to moderate income buyers that finally have homes priced in their price range along with the tax credit are snapping up homes.

According to C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young, our current market is the new "normal."  C.A.R. projects one-third of all sales in 2010 will be distressed properties (short sales, REO's, bankruptcy) and the state's median price will drop to $280,000.  In addition, she noted, "Sales for 2010 are projected to decrease 2.3 percent." 

The low-end market is going to continue to attract first-time buyers and investors, which will more than likely result in low inventory in the low-end price range, however seller's in high-end homes will continue to be challenged by buyers struggling to secure financing from banks that are tightening lending standards. 

What does it all mean?  Del Norte County's median price for November was $180,000, up from October's $160,000.  The median price has been below $200,000 for most of 2009 and I project this trend to continue.  Although the $200,000 and under price range is 40% of active listings it comprised 67% of November sales! 44% of all November sales were foreclosed properties.  That price range is really hopping.

We have quite a bit of new construction going on in the Crescent City/Del Norte County real estate market with new homes in the Bay Meadows and Redwood West subdivisions as well as a new home priced at $199,000 (my listing).  The move-up buyer tax credit of $6500 as well as FHA and USDA GRH financing (good interest rates) should help to spur on buyers in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range.  We have many brand new homes for under $300,000.  Call me and I'll be happy to show them to you.

C.A.R. also pointed out that although banks seem to be monitoring their foreclosed homes inventory, a lot of experts agree there may be a backlog of REO's building up and if the flow of distressed properties onto the market becomes too great, downward pressure on home prices may be heavier than expected in 2010. In plain English, prices will fall more than projected; therefore, if you need to sell your home and you are in the lower end price range, sooner is probably better than later.  This actually holds true for upper-end homes as well since declining prices affect the market overall.

Please give me a call if you would like to discuss the Crescent City/Del Norte County real estate market in more detail and for all your local real estate needs.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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Wright's Custom Framing
1072 3rd Street (inside Ben Franklin)
Crescent City, CA
707-465-5777

Crescent City/Del Norte County may be small, but we are mighty with a lot of local business's that do a fabulous job, give excellent customer service and have reasonable prices that rival larger metropolitan areas.

Wright's Custom Framing is one of those business's. 

The owner's, Dennis and Suzie Wright, offer same day framing, custom framing, fine art, prints made of your art, local photography and more. 

Wright's Custom Framing has a large inventory of ready made frames and an exhaustive selection of custom frames and matting.  If you don't have an eye for this stuff, don't worry because Dennis and Suzie do and they will make sure your art looks its best.

My husband and I have had A LOT of art framed in the last few months because we just finished building our house and are actually decorating! 

My daughter drew this picture in her college art class.  We loved it so much we had it framed at Wright's.  They did a lovely job and the picture looks just like I had it envisioned. 

Garry and I purchased this picture in Ashland two years ago from sidewalk vendor, Pat Moore.  We had it framed last month.  We argued in the frame shop about mat colors and the frame and could not agree on which way to go.  Thankfully, Dennis stepped in and we worked it out. 

We love this picture and even more so now that it is framed.

I like to spotlight local business that meets my requirements for referral to my clients. Those requirements are (in order of importance):

1. Excellent Customer Service, which means a friendly and helpful business owner and employees.  To me this is the most important aspect of small business, or any business.  I would rather pay more and be smiled at then save money and deal with a grump.

Good product. I want to get my money's worth, so the products or services I refer my clients to have to be worth the money.

Prompt, courteous service.  Now, living in a small town, you sometimes go to a business and there will be a sign on the door, "Gone hunting, will be back next week."  I couldn't believe it when I first moved to Crescent City that small business owner's do that, but after 20 years, I realize the importance of hunting and fishing to the people in our small county and therefore make allowances for this practice. Just know during hunting season, this could happen with some local businesses. However, short of that allowance, a business should be opened during their posted hours of operation.

I will be referring more local businesses in the next couple of weeks.  Please do your best to purchase local this holiday season so our small businesses can thrive and flourish and put money back into our local economy.

 

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Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!

 

Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  No one works harder for you!  Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: frangatti@remax.net Website: FranGatti.com My Blog: Fran's Blog RDCPro®, CDPE® CA lic 01723796

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