Mother & Daughter Blog: January 2008

Since property values have declined in many cases - especially in the San Joaquin County CA, Stockton, CA area due to the sub-prime mortgage foreclosure rise, this might be a good time to order an appraisal for your home.   If the value has declined, you may be able to request lower property taxes with the county.

This is something you may want to look into doing.  First.... I would suggest you ask an agent to do a property comparison on similar propertiesin size and location and of course - recent sales in that match your property - for you and they will let you know if your property value has gone done in a large amount.  If yes, you just may be able to get a lower property tax bill.  Of course, you would incur an appraisal fee.  That is why I suggested the property comparable first.

UPDATE*********** 1-30-08 pm

I called the San Joaquin County Tax Assessor's Office and asked if this is a possibly or is it just a wish?

I was told that they are in the process of taking a look at each sale and going back over the last 2/3 years to evaluate if the property is decreasing in value, if they will adjust accordingly.  And they are taking requests  from individuals that feel that their property has declined in value!!! They ask that you call them and they will tell you the forms to fill out and what steps you will need to take.  Please call 209-468-2658.   

I would get the comparable for the last 3 years myself and send that in with my request.  Let them know you know what your property is valued at compared to other similar properties in your area.

Need a FREE property comparable?  Call us at 866-750-8282

Need a Short Sale Specialist?  Want to purchase a REO property? Need information on the foreclosure process?

Give us a call today!  866-750-8282

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog and D'Adrea's Mother and Daughter Blog  - for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-line listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas give us a call.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at 866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

Can I have a minute... to recap 60 minutes from the Foreclosure Capital of America or Ground Zero  - Stockton, CA.

Stockton is located 80 miles East of San Francisco and 80 miles North of San Jose. Stockton, CA has a population of over 290,000 people.  A large amount of that population moved into Stockton starting back in with the real estate bubble in 2003, coming from the Bay Area and the Silicon Valley.  The median house was sold at $230,000 (4 Bedroom single family home).  By 2005, that same house had a value of $400,000.  And now in 2008, same house is probably selling for 70% or less.

During the 2003 to 2005 yearsthe sub-prime loans really became the loans for those with low to mid credit scores, that were financially strapped and those that used the stated income to obtained loans.  As a result of these sub-prime loans many are now facing adjustable increases that are leading to an out of control number of foreclosures in Stockton - and all over California.  The heart of the problem of so many foreclosures is the sub-prime mortgage crisis.  The worst part of the sub-prime issue began last summer and is still continue to reck the economy. 

Couldn't anyone with a "big eye or big vision" seethat we were headed for foreclosure disaster?  Where were the forecasters, the predictors, the "know it alls" BEFORE this got out of hand??? And where are they now? Remember back to 2004-2005 when... and I quote,  "you had to apply NOT to get a loan".  You could borrow more than what the home was valued at and most loans issued in Stockton, CA were sub-prime loans. They say people were putting money in their pockets at close of escrow.  Now over ½ are in default or foreclosure.  Never mind the people that have already lost their home.

During the last months (actually most of 2007), America has seen a decrease in the worth of investments, real estate decrease and our country getting closer and closer to a recession. Banks loaned money to hundred of billion of home-buyers that now can't pay them back! Interest rates on the sub-prime loans have jumped up 10-11% and people cannot afford that jump. The word "upside-down" has become a household word with homeowners, real estate agents, buyers, investors and others. 

This started off being a ‘backyard" problem but it is not national news that it is affecting not only the homeowners but Wall Street - who took the risky debt and packaged it as a fancy securities and sold them around the world as safe investments.  Right now no one is feeling these are safe.

Who got paid???  (Some)Borrowers, Brokers, Lenders, Wall Street, Giant Mortgage Companies, NY Investment Houses, High Yield Mortgage Companies, Rating Agencies and fired CEOs (City Group - Charles Prince = $29 Million; Merrill Lynch - Stan O'Neal = $161 Million) - just to name a couple.  Never mind the 120+ millions in write-off loss.

As of last week there were 4,200 homes in default or foreclosure in Stockton, CA.  The report covered the subdivision of Weston Ranch in Stockton, CA.  In this area, the FOR SALE signs are everywhere, every corner, and every block.  2 out of 3 For Sale sign is probably a foreclosure or distressed property. And some homeowners are doing nothing so there will be no sign in the yard, no agent and no attempt to hold on. There are properties that are under 70% cheaper priced than a few months ago.

According to the report: Things are getting worse, at least for a while.  We're not even 40% of the way into this crisis situation.  We have a long way to go... Home prices are going to go down even more.  Right now Stockton's foreclosures are leading the way to recession.

Click on these posts to find all the information you ever needed to know about the foreclosure process

Sad to say but the report was pretty close to reality here in Stockton, CA.

Need a Short Sale Specialist?  Want to purchase a REO property? Need information on the foreclosure process?

Give us a call today!  866-750-8282

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog and D'Adrea's Mother and Daughter Blog  - for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-line listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas give us a call.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at 866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

 This is Part II.  See I live in Stockton, CA (San Joaquin County)- Is a Short Sale right for me? Part I

The answer to this question is YES! You can still do a short sale even if your property is in rough shape and needs work done to it.  The lenders will probably be more motivated to do a short sale on a property that needs work than on a property that is in great shape.  Look at it like this... if the property is well kept and comparable to the high end of the comps, the lender knows that they can get more money out of the house if they should have to take it and sell it as a REO. 

However, if the property is needing work... that's extra money they will have to put into the property to make a buyer be interested in purchasing the home.  And by taking a risk of losing more money on the property is not a good deal for the lender.  A property that is foreclosed on and it needs work is a double wammy for a lender.

In addition to the expense of completing the work, lenders are simply not set up to get the work done.  They are in the loan business, not the fix and flip business!

Need a Short Sale Specialist?  Want to purchase a REO property? Need information on the foreclosure process?

Give us a call today!  866-750-8282

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog and D'Adrea's Mother and Daughter Blog  - for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-line listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas give us a call.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at 866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

If you are current on your mortgage, will your lender consider a Short Sale?

The answer is maybe.  Some lenders will accept a Short Sale file for approval on loans that are not delinquent.  Not that many are documented. Other lenders will not accept the file until the loan is delinquent.   The best way to find out is to put together your short sale package (do it right away) and see if the lender will approve it with it being current. 

Keeping in mind that being in default is on the list of things that a lender looks at to consider a short sale. But...I would never say NEVER. 

And as the old saying goes, it never hurts to ask. Just be sure you have all the documents that they require: Financial, hardship, comparables and a reasonable offer.  If you do not feel comfortable doing this ask a real estate agent for help with the negotiation with the lender.

Each lender is different and it is hard to say what they will or will not do --- since they are not be upfront with us on what they definitely will not approve.  Just be prepared to get turned down, but be hopeful that they will consider your request and approve it. 

Need a Short Sale Specialist? 

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at  866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

Taking a look at the MLS listings using a small sample of 80 homes and comparing the Bank Owned vs. the Short Sales vs. the Regular sales.  Here is what I found for Stockton, Modesto and Sacrament, California

Here is what I found from 80 single family listings in Stockton, CA:

• 49 are Bank Owned listings
• 23 are Short Sale listings
•  8 are regular listings

 Here is what I found from 80 single family listings in Modesto, CA:

• 25 are Bank Owned listings
• 19 are Short Sale listings
• 35 are regular listings

Here is what I found from 80 single family listings in Sacramento, CA:

• 47 are Bank Owned listings
• 27 are Short Sale listings
•  8 are Regular listings

Just looking at this small comparison:  I'd say people are getting their homes taken from them instead of getting them sold through the short sale process.  This tally is from one area of each of the cities, so you can just imagine how the neighborhoods are looking with all the foreclosed homes.  The good thing about short sale listings is that the property is usually occupied until after closing.  Most all the bank owned homes are vacant, which invites vandalism and that UN"kept" look.   With so many homes foreclosed on, the values of the other homes are falling just from what it is doing to the neighborhood.  Lenders are still not catching on or trying to help the homeowners with short sales. 

When should a homeowner start their short sale?   It is best to begin a short sale when the homeowner realizes they can no longer afford the mortgage, so that the property can be marketed properly and they can receive a high offer.

What are your neighborhoods looking like? 

Need a Short Sale Specialist? 

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at  866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

• I live in Stockton, CA is a Short Sale right for me?
• What are my chances of getting a short sale approved. 

This is a series of post regarding short sale, starting with Stockton, CA but really the information is for any short sale (keep in mind that each state has its own foreclosure laws that must be followed).

These are two common questions that people in Stockton, CA are asking as I am sure these questions are being asked all over the major foreclosure hitted cities of California and other parts of the US. Here are some foreclosure statistics for California:  California Notice of Default results for 2007 are in!

As many of you know Stockton, CA has held the #1 spot in the number of Notice of Defaults being filed.  The number recorded defaults are in recorded breaking numbers.  please read: So where does Stockton, CA fit into Home Sales results?

Things you should know about a Short Sale: 

Click here to read about: The Raw Facts on Default, Pre-Foreclosure, Short Sale and Foreclosure

• Must be lender approved - includes: Commissions, Expense, Terms, Conditions and Price 
• The homeowner avoids foreclosure and the heavy decrease in your credit score - however, there are some credit damages associated with a short sale - you do not get off free of credit damage (80-100 FICO points drop). Estimated up 18 months before you will be able to purchase another home after doing a short sale. 
• The homeowner has control over the timing of the transaction and their move from the property.
• The homeowner gets a full release from the lender and is not financially responsible to repay the loss the lender takes. IRS has added in the forgiven debt act for the next few years. This forgiveness does not include HELOC. This tax break applies to debts discharged from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. Qualified principal residence indebtedness is debt incurred in acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving the residence (up to $2 million for refinances).
• Homeowner gets not proceeds from the sale and the transaction can be completed at no cost to the homeowner. The sales costs: commissions, title and escrow fees and most repair costs - are all paid by the lender.
• An workable solution to a difficult problem. The homeowner's win by getting the home sold, getting the loan paid off and having the ability to move forward without a foreclosure on their credit. The lender wins by saving the added expense of the foreclosure process.
• Can't stress it enough: Short sale approval is not AUTOMATIC!

Some other questions you may ask:

• How willing are Mortgage lenders to work with borrowers faced with a financial hardship to accept a discounted payoff on a mortgage?   
• Are you faced with a hardship that makes it likely you will be unable to meet your obligation on your mortgage, your lender would prefer to settle the matter with you as opposed to taking the property through foreclosure? 

As you consider the option of pursuing a Short Sale, remember your lender is looking to limit any potential loss on your loan.  By completing a Short Sale, your lender has arrived at a solution that is, for them, much better than a foreclosure.

Bottom line, your lender wants to or should want to work with you.

Here's another question that you  know the answer to:

• Do Lenders approval all Short Sales? 

In a word NOPE, NAW, Wish they did, and simply NO.  That is why it is critical to work with someone that has extensive experience at getting Short Sales approved.  A short sale is not automatic as mentioned above, the lender requires certain documents, letters, and forms filled out.  A lender that receives a full short sale package, with a reasonable offer to purchase (presentation of the property, the conditon, comparables of solds and MLS listed properties) all presented to the Loss Mitigations Department and you have an agent that knows how to push forward in negotiations is more likely to receive an approval. In other words, you will probably need a professional that knows how to jump through hoops to get your property short sale approved in the given time frame of the foreclosure process.

see part II:  I live in Stockton, CA (San Joaquin County) -- My property needs work, can I still do a short sale? Part II

Need a Short Sale Specialist? Call 866-750-8282 

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at 866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

Suggestions and information that is floating around California's News:

Below are some of the news flashes that are going on here in California to try and resolve the foreclosure issues that we are facing here.  I am sure as time goes on there will be more and more news flashes, suggestions and just plain speculations of what has and what should happen to cut down on the foreclosure problem and hopefully help people save their homes.

Need a Short Sale Specialist?  Call 866-750-8282

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at  866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

Most of the Q4 numbers are in.  The prediction is that we will see a rise in Foreclosures before the numbers start to decrease.  What are the numbers in your area?

Stockton, CA sold almost half the # of homes as the entire San Joaquin County.  Tracy, CA came in second.  San Joaquin County has experienced a population boom in the past decade. Stockton is housing the largest number of that boom.  This boom is mainly because of the high cost of living in the SF Bay Area.  Stockton is 80 miles from San Francisco. 

Numbers are figured up to December 27, 2007

Stockton, CA is the seat of San Joaquin County  (which is the 5th largest agricultural county in the United States). According to 2007 estimates by the California Department of Finance, Stockton has a population of 325,308 (689,689 MSA) and is the 13th largest city in California far as in population.

Need a Short Sale Specialist? 

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at  866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

Rosemary Brooks

So where does San Joaquin County, CA fit ?

San Joaquin County is the 5^th highest in % of change in Notice of Default recording for Q4.  In order of % change: San Benito is #1 (314.3%); Monterey is #2 (260.1%); Merced is #3 (203.2%); Sonoma is #4 (199.7%) and San Joaquin County is #5 (189.7%).

For most of the 2007 year, Stockton, CA which is one of the major cities in San Joaquin County lead the foreclosure ranks by holding first place in the State of California and then taking the lead in the nation.  Stockton homeowners default results were as high as 1 in every 31 homes in the Stockton was in pre-foreclosure in Q3. (I will update with Q4 numbers when they are available)

Stockton has experienced a population boom in the past decade.  This boom is mainly because of the high cost of living in the SF Bay Area.  Stockton is 80 miles from San Francisco.  Stockton, CA is the seat of San Joaquin County  (which is the 5th largest agricultural county in the United States). According to 2007 estimates by the California Department of Finance, Stockton has a population of 325,308 (689,689 MSA) and is the 13th largest city in California far as in population.

Take a look at some of the biggest hit with defaults in Northern California:

San Joaquin County - Notice of Defaults Recorded (Houses and Condos)

Let's compare ...

Sacramento County - Notice of Defaults Recorded (Houses and Condos)

Contra Costa County - Notice of Defaults Recorded (Houses and Condos)

Stanislaus County - Notice of Defaults Recorded (Houses and Condos)

Alameda County - Notice of Defaults Recorded (Houses and Condos)

Leading California Cities - #  Notice of Default filings for December 2007

(up to December 27, 2007)

* State of California:  Recorded 81,550 for December 2007; compared to 37,994 for 2006 Q4; and compared to November filings = 39,992.

Need a Short Sale Specialist? 

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at  866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com

Rosemary Brooks

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr.    ~~~ We Love you! 

Thank you Dr. King for your courage and dedication to FREEDOM for everyone.

Today is a special day in observance of Martin Luther King (January 15, 1929 to April 4, 1968).  I would like to take this time to show my appreciation for Dr. King's Dream and the courage to follow through with all the struggles that he went through, for all different sectors of mankind.  I honor Dr. King for giving up his life so others would able to get a little taste of the Freedom that he marched and fought for.   

As we all know to some degree - Life is a struggle that we all face in our everyday activities.  We struggle with our Faith, our inner self, we struggle with our families from time to time, we struggle in love, we struggle with our diets, weigh and appearance, we struggle with our worth in the work place, in a conversation, and as a whole in this world.  Luckily not all of us end up losing our life over our struggles but some do.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one that fought and lost his life for his dream ~ for our dream.

This year is especially monumental to those of us that are King followers and/or dreamers --as we have a black man running for President.  Not only that, in this year election year.... we have a woman running! Just like the marching and sit-ins, this too is history! This is a part of MLK's dream... and This is special.  I wish Dr. King was here to witness this. Regardless to what your party is... this is a dream come true --- regardless to the outcome.

A little History of MLK:  Martin Luther King was born in 1929 in Atlanta, GA.  He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and was admitted to Morehouse College at the age of 15 (1944).  He graduated in 1948 from Morehouse and Crozer Theological Seminary.  He entered Boston University for graduate studies.  In 1953 he marries Coretta Scott and moves to Montgomery AL.  From 1955 to 1968 - Dr. King organized marches for civil rights and ended up being jailed on several occasions - almost every march! Trumped up charges and alligations.   November 22,1963 - was a sad year - President Kennedy was assassinated.  August 28, 1963 Dr. King's "I have a dream"speech was delivered. This speech is priceless....  July 2, 1964 the civil Rights Act was signed and on December 10, 1964 Dr King received the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35 - the youngest to received this prize at that time.

1968  Here's a few activities for that year (1968) prior to his assassination ~ on April 4th: On March 28, King lead a march that turns violent. Although there were incidents at the marches (name calling, spitting and throwing objects nothing life threatening).  This was the first time one of his events had turned violent. April 4, 1968:  I've Been to the Mountaintop speech was delivered - proved to be his last speech. At sunset on April 4, Martin Luther King, Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

After Dr. King's death - There are riots and disturbances in 130 American cities. There were twenty thousand arrests.  King's funeral on April 9 is an international event.  Within a week of the assassination, the Open Housing Act is passed by Congress. "We're all tied together in a single garment....."

1986 - November 2 - a National Holiday is declared in Dr. King's honor!!!  Now you see people taking off work, some companies are actually closed, you see streets named after Martin Luther King, and you have kids being taught what it means to have a dream..... ( a little history on this:  1994 the Martin Luther King Federal holiday act was signed into law.  1996- The Martin Luther King Federal holiday expired and remanded its program and activities to The King Center in Atlanta).  MLK Birthday is a day off for many. 

Here's to Dr. King and his movement, our movement ~~ his dream, our dream. Below are some links to the civil rights movement.  There are some great King supporters that are still fighting for what he stood for --- finishing the American Dream.  Of course, this is only a few of the events that have taken place in America in a struggle to let FREEDOM Ring and Live.

Click on the links below for more information on The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

• History of the Holiday
• Biography of Martin Luther King
• Timeline: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Civil Disobedience
• King Assassination Conspiracy Theories
• The March on Washington
• Excerpt from the "I Have a Dream" Speech
• Martin Luther King Speeches
• Quotes from Martin Luther King
• Martin Luther King Quiz (for kids)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Crossword

I am a product of the South and grew up with the things that MLK was marching to change, so I know first hand what he was strugging for and what his dream was really about. That dream is instilled in me. While I spent my younger years (up to 8 yrs.) in the South, we ended up coming to California but the memories are there for a lifetime.  I remember when the signs read "whites only" or " no colored allowed".  When we moved from Arkansas I silently told myself I would never move back. The last memory I have is on our move out of having to use those torn down, back door, nevered cleaned bathrooms with that sign on the door~ "colored". I remember being called everything but "black".  

Of course after getting to California, I went to intergrated schools and had to learn that I was not inferior to anyone but I still had to pretty much keep it to myself.  Has it changed much?  Yes, in some areas and depending on the person you are with and what the situation is about.  In other cases, not much! 

Is the dream light dim in real estate, YES.  There are some agents that feel they are superior to others, there are clients that don't want to deal with other races, there are those that say they understand but they really have no intentions of understanding, because they feel they are above all this dreaming..... 

And on the brighter side, there are some really good people in all walks of life.  What do I do to keep on going and do the best job that I can regardless?  I have my Faith and my Dream....

Here are some of the other posts that I read on ActiveRain.  Some are personal experiences and some are not, but all are excellent tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King:  If you would like to add your post or one that you read, please let me know.

                           ****Need a Short Sale Specialist? 

For a FREE MARKET EVALUATION of your home Call us or visit http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com/

Check out: Real Estate Terms/Definitions.  And take a look at Mother and Daughter Blog for other tips for Sellers and Buyers. I work with my daughter as the Mother and Daughter Real Estate Team at Perfect Financial Solutions and we also focus in Short Sales and the Pre-Foreclosure process.  Our consultations are free.  Our aggressive marketing plan includes on-listing advertising.  If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin County CA - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop) plus Stanislaus County CA - includes Modesto, Salida, Riverbank) & the East Bay (Alameda County CA - includes Hayward, Fremont, Newark, Union City & Oakland) and surrounding areas.  If you would like a FREE Home Seller or Home Buyer Handbook, please call us at  866-750-8282 or email at US.

Check us out on website: http://www.motheranddaughterrealty.com