Many online resources that allow you to search for foreclosed and bank owned homes require you to register or even pay to find out what houses are on their list. With PMZ Real Estate, you can now find these discount properties for free!

Just click here to visit: http://bankowned.pmz.com

There you can learn about what a bank owned or foreclosed property is, and you can browse these homes by price, or even run a custom search based on criteria that fits your needs. Search for bank owned and foreclosed properties throughout Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin and Calaveras Counties

It’s just another way that PMZ Real Estate is providing you access to more homes and information, for free.

You’re welcome!

According to recent report released by real estate economist Gary Watts, our economy is “extremely strong, profits are superb and the world economy is exploding.” He says that if history is any predictor of the future, there’s nothing but positive news ahead for the real estate industry. We’ve posted his 8-page assessment “The Real State of Real Estate” for you to download and read - it’s a breath of fresh air to many.

Not only is this report worth reading, but the author puts things into perspective in a way that makes sense. You can find a lot of facts, figures and comparisons that can help you during a listing presentation or while working with clients. In fact, you might even consider providing some of this information to your existing clients so they have something other than the inflammatory reports in the news media to rely on. He cites his sources, adding much validity to his claims.

Here’s some interesting findings from the report:

• Historically, housing downturns average 27 months. We are in the 23rd month of the current downturn, so once we are past this financial over-reaction, things should improve.
• California is home to 36.5 million residents with a population growing over 800,000 last year. However, by 2025 our population will explode (nearly doubling) to 60 million people. With our large diversified economy, Califomia will continue to prosper, the demand for housing will remain strong and as this housing downturn comes to an end, we will once again do very well!
• All you read and hear is that real estate is going down, yet last month, prices in the U.S. rose 3.4% from a year ago and Califomia is up almost 1%. The Bay Area prices have gained 4.1% over last year and southern California median price is up 3.7%.
• It may surprise you to how that sub-prime loans make up only 5% of the U.S. total loan market and Alt-A loans (those with credit better than sub-prime but less than prime) total only 8% of all loans in the U.S.!
• About foreclosures: The #1 reason they occurred was due to fraud. The # 2 reason was unethical lending, followed by #3 - loss of jobs, and finally #4 was medical reasons. By the way, the mortgage insurers are in a good position to cover losses at these (high) levels.

• The media will still report about massive delinquencies and huge foreclosures in the sub-prime market, but those reports will not be accurate because they don’t explain the difference between a delinquent payment, a notice of default or a foreclosure. They tell us, “Foreclosures At Record High!” but that is not accurate.

You can download the PDF Report by clicking here >> The Real State of Real Estate

PMZ would like to thank Phil Levin for contributing to our group blood plan at Delta Blood Bank for the month of August. If you are interested in donating blood, and would like to provide your fellow PMZers with blood vouchers in the event anything should happen to one of us, visit Delta Blood Bank and donate blood and tell Delta to credit the PMZ Group Blood Plan.

Thanks again Phil for donating!

If you’ve had concerns about protecting your “brand” or wondered about succession planning and the legal implications, then this might be for you.  There’s only about 15 spots left in a free legal seminar on Monday, September 24th in Modesto.  Attorney John Villines & JV Law are offering you a 90-minute legal update on these topics:

• Protecting your name, brand, and image (i.e., Trademark and Copyright).
• What happens to your business if something happens to you? The benefits of “Business Succession and Personal Estate Planning.”
• The need and security of converting your sole proprietorship orpartnership owned business to an LLC or a Corporation (even if you are a franchise).
• The consequences of missing or filing late Payroll Taxes (and your options to get out of hot water!).
• 15 minute Q&A session with Attorney John Villines.

For more information and how to register, call (209) 524-9903 or click here > jv_law_seminar_sept24.pdf for the registration form.

What: Live performance by contemporary Jazz Artist Steve Oliver

When: Saturday, September 22nd – 8 pm

Where: Special benefit event – The State Theatre in Modesto

Tickets: $22 to $35 – visit www.thestate.org or (209) 527-4697

Don’t miss this special performance – tickets are selling fast! You are personally invited by our very own Jon Zagaris, who has organized this benefit for the State Theatre. Great music and a very deserving cause – how could you pass this one up?

No matter where you hear his irresistibly melodic guitar lines and magnificently soulful voice-it suddenly becomes the happiest place on earth. Between the smooth, funky and cool, his wild and kinetic transformation into a human drum machine and percussion choir weakens the resistance of even the hardest core cynic of “vocalese.”

Steve Oliver is not only returning to Modesto’s historic State Theatre to do a fund-raiser for the theater, he will be doing a special videotaping for his latest DVD. This is an honor for the theater and great news for Steve’s local fans who have watched him become a superstar since he was named Best New Artist and Best Guitar Player in 2003 at the National Smooth Jazz Awards. With the 2006 release of “Radiant,” his fourth album, he established himself as one of the most listened to adult contemporary pop and smooth jazz musicians and vocalists in the world. Yes, his acoustic guitar melodies and vocals are that good!

Find out more about Steve Oliver at www.steveolivermusic.com

Special thanks to event supporters - Modesto Commerce Bank, Simile Construction, Apex Painting and Menghetti Construction

Just for fun!  Take a moment to watch this YouTube video of US Real Estate Home prices from 1890 to present adjusted for inflation and plotted as a roller coaster. Source data comes from the book, Irrational Exuberance: A History of Home Values, 2nd Edition by Robert Shiller.

Liberty Property Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Alves as Property Manager in the executive office of President Paula Zagaris. Alves joins the company after recently graduating from California State University, Chico with degrees in Business Administration – Finance and International Economics. He spent the past year gaining experience at UBS Financial Services and Atlantic Mortgage before joining the Liberty team.

“We have a unique opportunity to expand upon our business’s success with Jason joining our team,” said Zagaris. “Our clients are better served every time we add someone with new energy and talent, and they will find Jason to be exceptional to work with,” she said.

Alves will be working directly with Zagaris focusing on business development, market analysis, and outreach to the growing list of clients at Liberty Property Management. Despite the challenging real estate market, Liberty has experienced unprecedented gains in their portfolio of rental clients and homeowners association management contracts.

Originally from Hilmar, Alves has two brothers and two sisters – all of whom live in the Central Valley. He can be reached at (209) 548-4562 or jasonalves@pmz.com.

This is a handy tool for real estate investors looking towards the bay area for investment opportunities. Now anyone accross the United States can get a street level view of cities like San Francisco, New York, San Diego and other major metropolitan areas.

Have family in the city? Slam that there address into Google Maps and see if you can take a gander at their driveway.

Does this violate privacy laws? Probably not. But in any case, I’m sure the Google legal team can handle whatever lawsuit comes their way.

[Via NuWireInvestor.com]

This posting is somewhat self serving (I’m a hot minute away from getting an iPhone), but it’s also a chance to find out if anyone has taken advantage of their iPhone to assist them in conducting real estate business.

Has the Google Maps on the phone helped you out?  What about visual voice mail? Would you recommend this phone as a business phone?  Can it stand up to your Blackberry (crackberry) or Treo?