My Qualifications

Buying or selling real estate can be a trying experience for many people and posssibly just as trying is the process of selecting the right real estate agent to assist you. I am confident that I will be able to do for you what I have done for scores of other clients, by putting my qualifications to work for you.

Local Knowledge

This beautiful area has been my home for more than 25 years. My three children attended local schools and I have enjoyed the spectrum of recreational opportunities - from water skiing in the summer, to trail riding and camping in the spring and fall, to snow skiing in the winter.

Naturally, that means I know the area's neighborhoods and their relative merits. But it also means I can share a sense of the area's history. For instance, A&W was Oakhurst's first fast food chain, Sierra Meadows was the name of the nursing home and the local Pediatrician's office was a single wide trailer behind where Rite Aid now sits. My friends, in fact, tease me because I occasionally lapse into calling different places by their old "1980's" names.

I know which restaurants serve a great hamburger and fries, and which are perfect for a romantic dinner. I can tell you where to find nightlife during the high season, and where to find solitude in a natural setting. I know the physicians and dentists, accountants and attorneys, beauticians and barbers, and the electricians and plumbers. I even know the best short cuts - and the time of year to use them!

Experience

Sale and Escrow

When I began my real estate career in 1978, purchase agreements were three pages long. Today, they run eight pages or longer. My motto in helping you navigate the paper maze is, "No surprises." I believe it is important for you to know and understand what you are buying before escrow closes.

Where are your legal property boundaries?
Do you have sufficient water and is it safe to drink?
Where is your septic system and is it in working condition?
Can you obtain a high-speed internet connection?
Does your water contain uranium?
What do the easements across your property mean to you?

Your contract and escrow are your opportunities to make sure the home you are buying is what you expect; my job is to make sure you receive and fully understand the answers to the above questions plus others that arise.

Marketing

If you and I reach an agreement to work together to sell your home, I will use my knowledge of the market and expertise in marketing to make sure your home is seen by qualified buyers. At a minimum, your marketing campaign will include:

Internet exposure through the major search engines, including high-quality photos of both the interior and exterior of your home.
A description and picture in Homes & Land Magazine, which is distributed along the Highway 99 corridor.
A description and picture in the local Real Estate Guide, which is distributed in local restaurants, hotels and grocery stores.
A description in the classified sections of The Sierra Star and Fresno Bee.
Highlights at our weekly Realtor's meeting and a caravan tour by other local Realtors.
A Virtual Photo Tour displayed in the front windows of both our Bass Lake and Coarsegold offices.
In each case, potential buyers will be given information on how to reach me via email or my private toll-free telephone number.

1031 Exchanges

Do you have equity in investment homes, land or commercial property you want to sell but preserve your profit from taxes by using a 1031 Exchange?

I have experience in 1031 Exchanges going back to 1980 when I was the President of Fresno Area Marketing Exchange Group. That experience continues today: Approximately one-third of my escrows are 1031 exchanges. I can assist you in finding a qualified intermediary and ensure the listing and/or purchase agreements follow the guidelines that protect your investments. If any questions arise, I will help you find an expert who will advise you on the best course to follow.

Buyer's Broker

In a competitive market, many people often find the perfect home only to learn that someone else has already written an offer that has been accepted. The truth is, however, that there likely are many perfect homes - including some that are for sale by owner and some that aren't for sale at all! Perhaps you should consider a Buyer's Broker agreement. Through such an agreement, you give me written authorization to contact For Sale By Owner listings as well as other property owners who might be willing to sell. The agreement spells out exactly what you are looking for, and what you want to pay. You pay my time and costs ONLY at the conclusion of a successful escrow.

Integrity

I have a very simple goal in serving your real estate needs. Once you have moved into your new home or completed the sale of your property, you will feel you were treated with the highest level of integrity.

Let me give you one example of what I mean: If a buyer I am working with decides to purchase a home for which I am the listing agent, I refer my buyer to another agent who will write the offer and give them their 100% allegiance during the negotiations and escrow. I will never represent both the buyer and the seller in a single sale. My experience has shown me that no agent can impartially represent both the buyer and the seller of a home without encountering choices that favor one or the other. I will not compromise my integrity by entering into this situation.

If this describes what you are looking for in a Realtor, please call or stop by so we can meet and find out if I am the right person to help you.

Some extremely helpful tips for buyers and sellers are offered up in the California Association of REALTORS® Real Estate Tips newsletter.