Recreational Property - Estate Property - Joe White Real Estate Broker

November 1, 2002

Country Properties Recap

Dear Web Site Visitor:
On September 30, 2002, a letter was sent to me by BAREIS/MLS telling me I could not publish this report. I had felt the report I created here was a property evaluation. They felt it was an advertisement for the 200 properties I have seen and am tracking. The MLS by-laws expressly prohibit advertising another agent's listings on the internet without written permission from the listing agent. There is not a prayer of getting permission since many times it is a negative report. I have had other agents take my entire listing brochure from my site and put it up on their web site as if it was their work, so I can see their logic.

The problem came about because an agent was unhappy when I said in this report that I thought his listing was worth about 2/3 of his asking price. It also said it had been on the market for 2 1/2 years. He complained, and so what you see here is the format.

If you are seriously looking, contact me and I can mail the report to you.

This an example of what the report looks like.
See the table below.

This is a recap of virtually everything country in northwestern Sonoma County and southern Mendocino. Most are not my listings. I am very familiar with this area and have seen all of these. We have been involved with over 60% of the sales in northern Sonoma County of properties over 100 acres, by representing the buyer, seller or both. We live at 5 A on 305 acres, adjacent to Lake Sonoma.

Some agents negotiate commissions that are as much as 60% under what others feel is realistic to do the job and continue in business. Unfortunately, the same quality of work still must be provided to the Buyers. Compounding the problem is the listing agent is often inexperienced in country problems and also sometimes has an attitude that since they are taking a reduced commission, they should do less work. Houses are commonly 6%, land is 10% and if a property is land heavy, it can be a blend of the 2 or 8%. Commissions are split 50/50 between listing and selling agents. Properties with an * in the last column are offered at a reduced commission. This can work to your advantage as most agents will avoid them. If that property interests you, we will talk about how you can help make it a fair transaction to us.

The code is very simple: the first column is the map code for the general area. I am adding the specific Thomas Bros. Map page as I update it. Having a Napa/Sonoma County Thomas Bros. Street Guide is very helpful. W = well, S = spring, C = creek, 0 = ok, - = negative or overpriced, + = good, (more than one + or - means better or worse). Distance is hr. and min. to Healdsburg or Hwy 101. Under “asking price”, is structure, if there is any. Electricity = E, Percolation = P. Wildlife is deer, pigs, quail and turkeys. Under “value”, -350 means I think it is worth $350,000 even if the asking price is $485,000.

MAP	PRICE	ACRES	WATER	HUNT	RES.	PRIVACY	ROAD	DIST.	VALUE	AMBIANCE
	BLDGS.	VINE-	ELECT.	DPQT	POT.	ASPHALT	NEAREST	Time	+ -	AVAIL.
		YARD	PERK			GRAVEL	TOWN	HR./MIN.	0=ok	SINCE
		POT.				CAP A & G
1 C	$147,649	38	S-P	----	Res.	ok G 25m	#6 Hwy 128, Yorkville	1hr. Clov.	+	+ 4/00
5 A	$1,518,374	305	SES	++++	+	+ A	12805 Old Skaggs Springs	37 min.	ok	+ 8/02
	2 res	10VP						101/HB
	2 barns
421 A2	$523,847	18.38	WEP	----	++	+	18690 Fitzpatrick Lane	8min.	+	+ 8/02
		10VP					Occidental	Occ.
421 A2	$1,126,473	20.47	WES	----	++	+	18700 Fitzpatrick Lane	8min.	+	+ 8/02
	2735' 4/2	10VP					Occidental	Occ.

* Some agents negotiate commissions that are as much as 60% under what others feel is realistic to do the job and continue in business. Unfortunately, the same quality of work still must be provided to the Buyers. Our compensation is typically 1/2 of the commission the listing agent has agreed to. In these cases, we need to talk about what is fair to you and to us.