OK I think we've now heard everything!  I was reading Sunday's NY Times and saw an article labeled "Is an Ugly House Grounds to Sue" ??  In North Carolina, neighbors are having a confrontation over how a neighborhood should "look"......now I know we have folks in Land Park who raise their eyebrows on occasion when they see plastic lawn chairs on someone's porch....or someone who leaves their garbage cans out too early or too long....but suing over whether you think a neighbor's home is ugly or not, just about takes the cake, in my opinion.

It seems a homeowner had already received his building permits and all the necessary approvals and the home was 85% completed when the neighbor across the street filed appeals and stopped the construction.  Seems the neighborhood features a variety of styles but this neighbor felt the home violated the neighborhood's "historical character" and that it's completion "posed a threat to the community".  Oh  goodness! In areas like historical neighborhoods and gated communities of course there are specific guidelines for building,  but in an already-established neighborhood, if the homeowner has gone through the necessary channels for permits and approvals, one would think that would be adequate to begin the remodel or building.  (Provided of course that the plans follow the CCR guidelines of that community too.)  Evidently that isn't the case.

This case is still pending and not resolved yet....but I had to laugh at the builder's comments about the home the protester lives in across the street.  He said his home would probably have a positive effect on the neighborhood, whereas the "protester's" home is two-thirds bungalow and one third Victorian cottage...."like putting strawberries and broccoil in a blender together"...He said he loves strawberries and he loves broccoli,  but surely not together.  Let's see how this turns out......we'll follow up in the future.  My goodness,  just about the time you think you've heard it all.

Hey,  no real estate news today...... California Chrome hits the finish line!!!  Hurray hurray!! Go California Chrome!!  What a fabulous horse!

Now here's something we probably thought we'd never hear........Drone's are now being used to take videos and photographs for marketing homes in the Bay Area!  Say what?!!  SF Chronicle has an article today talking about some Bay Area Realtors who are now using Drone's to take expansive videos of some of their properties that may otherwise be overlooked by prospective buyers who are looking for particular "scapes".....like views of water,  parks, lights of the city.   Who would have thought,  right?   Now before we all jump on to the bandwagon to get these special videos and photographs,  the article also mentions involvement by the FAA regarding certain regulations which may or may not crack down on the commercial use of drones.  It seems there's still some ambiguity as to whether you need authorization by the FAA in order to operate these drones for commercial use.
The article goes on to state that the FAA "rarely goes after commercial drone operators" .... unless it's with a "warning call", "warning letter" or "cease and desist order".......   After reading the article,  it sounds alot like an advertisement for the company currently doing these videos, even going so far as to mention exactly how much they charge for doing the photos or videos.....  I'm not sure how you feel about it,  but as someone who has been a professional, ethical Realtor for over 35 years,   even though we always strive to keep up with all the current technology and gadgets that will help get our listings sold,  I think I'm going to pass on doing "drone videos" until there's clarification on the legality of it.
I'm sure most of the big real estate companies will have their own "policy" out on use of drone's sooner rather than later too. It sounds kind of "gimicky" to me......if there's such a word.

OK what's the deal with what's happening with some of these "under $200K"  sales??  I was having a discussion with several agents in my office about the challenges we've been thrown trying to get these "under $200K" sales closed.  I thought I was the only one having difficulty with some buyers, but I'm now learning that there's a common thread running through sales in this price range.

I have a darling home in the Fruitridge area that is only $156,000 and appraised at $156,000 and we had what we thought we very good buyers for $156,000.   A week before closing, lender does their last minute checks and low and behold, they learned one of the buyers was still married and didn't bother to mention it to anyone (he wasn't buying the house with his spouse) because he didn't think "it mattered" ???   Well, it did, being California is a Community Property State and after trying to work it out with the lender, the deal died.

Then another agent brought a good buyer who was putting 20% down on an owner-occupied loan and was made aware that the property had already appraised for the $156,000 selling price and we were mid-escrow closing when the buyer asked for a pest clearance not only on the house BUT ON A DETACHED SHED as well.  The property had always been listed as a Trust with the sale to be "as is" and the sellers had already agreed with the first buyers to complete some relatively minor repairs they'd asked for.....now when we got the new buyer and he received copies of not only the appraisal but the home inspection as well,  he decided to get a pest inspection (which was absolutely his right)....after which he then asked for a pest clearance on not only the house but the detached storage shed as well.
The home inspection had noted that there was some termite damage in the shed, but didn't think there was any in the house.  The pest inspection concurred that indeed there were no termites or termite damage in the main house structure.  The sellers did though, then agree to an additional $1500 worth of work called for on the house (ie some dry rot,  side garage door, etc).....so they went beyond what they had originally agreed to do and were now doing a full pest clearance on the house as well as some miscellaneous other repairs.  Shed was to remain as is.  Afterall,  it was a SHED for storage, not a dwelling.

Buyer is now cancelling the contract because the seller wouldn't make the repairs to the detached shed.
So this is the second deal falling apart on a super, darling, well cared for home in a great little neighborhood in Fruitridge.

After fretting and discussing this with a couple agents in my office,  I found out that we were not the only ones having challenges in this price range.  So what's causing this?  Are buyers thinking prices are falling? (which they're not).....are their agents getting their own egos in the way and causing roadblocks?......are buyers nervous?   Let's get to the root of this problem and get it solved.  There are some excellent properties out there in very affordable price ranges.  This is a golden opportunity for buyers to find good little homes in wonderful neighborhoods for very very affordable prices!!