LARRY UNDERHILL

I’M WALKIN’…PregnancyResource Center of Lodi’s annual Walk For Life is TODAY! Registration begins at 9:00 this morning at the Ron Williamson Youth Center (next to the dog park on the back side of Lodi Lake).  At 10:00, we’ll walk the Nature Trail and raise funds for the Center.

SPONSOR ME? Sure! The more the merrier. Or sponsor yourself and enjoy a nice walk with a jolly group of people. This is PRC’s major fundraiser of the year. Believe me, the money is put to good use. Last year, the Center had 2237 client visits. 337 pregnancy tests were administered. Of the 178 positives, 138 women chose to keep their babies. This outfit is saving lives!

CONGRATULATIONS to Marc and Robin Boriack on the successful SALE of their Lodi home! Another happy ending/beginning. This transaction was one for the record books…lucky for you I don’t have space to roll out the whole yarn…but all’s well that ends well.

PRICE REDUCED! Last week I mentioned my new listing at

ANOTHER DRAMATIC PRICE REDUCTION!

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO to Statesman Realty’s Mark Edwards for yet another successfully closed escrow! This guy is ROCKIN’! Mark has SIX more transactions currently in escrow and he’s working on several more offers as I write. NOTE: Mark asked me to tell you: “I’m never too busy to take good care of you and your referrals.” Good man.

BIKER CHILI…Our little band has played a couple of biker rallies in the past month. There are several local strong Christian motorcycle groups that host “Blessing of the Bikes” events every spring. Last week we were in Vacaville. A few weeks ago it was Morada, where two hundred motorcycles made a joyful noise.

OUTLAW biker clubs are often represented at these gatherings; everybody wants to get their bike prayed over! Since the purpose of the events is to honor Jesus Christ, every attendee is welcomed. Every rally I’ve played has been friendly and without incident…unless you call “opening it up” a little in the parking lot an incident. Noisy, but harmless.

The CHILI, on the other hand, has been known to cause lasting damage. Actually, I’m just kidding. These guys like their chili experience to be memorable and full of character, but it’s tasty. In fact, you remember it for hours…sometimes for days.  

Enough said. On to real estate! Tuesday I hosted a Realtor Open House at my listing located at

THREE-BEDROOM GUEST HOUSE, large solar-heated POOL, shop buildings, garages for four cars and a long RV, family orchard, room for animals, and much more. This

JUST LISTED!

BEST BUY in its price range: 10709 Twin Cities Road features an older remodeled 2616 square foot home AND 4800 square foot shop building all on over three acres just half a mile from Raley’s in Galt. This motivated Seller has priced the place right at $469,950!

LEATHERS, TATTOOS…the attendees at the aforementioned rallies are a rough-looking bunch. But think about it: If you met two or three of these guys in a dark alley, wouldn’t it comfort you to know they were coming home from a Bible study?

LASTLY…HOW DO YOU SPOT a happy biker? You can tell him by the bugs in his teeth.

Sorry. Have a great week! See you next Sat.

DUCKS IN THE POOL…Spring is here again. Pokey T. Dog is at a loss for words when Mr. and Mrs. Mallard show up for their annual spring tonic. They splash, and he watches nervously. Not even a bark, which is unusual for this high-strung rat terrier. Any other time, if you clear your throat in the next room he goes into a frenzy of heroic yaps, defending the family homestead from the unknown noise.

CONGRATULATIONS to two more Mystery Clients on the successful purchase of their new home! They’re excited, and I’m excited for them. This place is a former model home and it’s in mint condition. Better yet, the Sellers were LIVE PEOPLE instead of some bank! SO much easier to deal with.

A THANK YOU to Realtor Mike Nashick, Seller’s representative, for his good work. THANK YOU also to my darling daughter (and licensed Broker)  Angie Wieland, who carried the ball on my end of the deal. Good job! Happy endings/beginnings all around. By the time this paper hits your flower bed, the Sellers will be in Idaho! (It’s a trend).

DRAMATIC PRICE REDUCTION on my new listing at

ANOTHER THING about 116 West Lockeford Street: It’s zoned C-2. This property could be utilized for something other than residential. One local Realtor has a possible Buyer who needs a location for his insurance office. Know anyone who this property might fit? Please give me a call.

STATESMAN REALTY’S Richard Mahoney has done it again! Another successfully closed escrow. Another set of happy clients. Way to go, Richard! Your year is shaping up nicely…

…AS IT IS for the rest of my little band of brothers! These guys are working into the night to serve their clients well. In this challenging market, you work harder on every transaction, but them that works hard gets PAID! 2008 promises to be a rewarding year, thanks to the diligence of my Realtors (not to mention my OWN hard work…it’s payin’ off!).

MY TASK is to “model success” for them by staying out in front! They’re giving me a run for my money…which is very satisfying. It’s a thrill to see my training paying off in their careers.

COMING SOON: An “Old Lodi” fixer that should be priced right (We shall see) and a super-sharp Westside three-bedroom two-bath! Watch this space for details…unless they SELL before they make the column. It happens! Call me for details.

QUESTIONS ON TODAY’S MARKET? FORECLOSURES? BANK-OWNED HOMES? Give me a call at 401-5446. I specialize in straight answers with zero pressure. I’m helping first-time homebuyers, investors, and move-up Buyers find and secure the very best opportunities in today’s market. The more knowledge I can impart to YOU, my client, the better decisions you can make.

THINKING OF SELLING? This is a GREAT move-up market. I’m helping several people make the move to bigger/nicer homes. Sure, you have to sell for less in today’s market…but when you go to BUY, LOOK OUT! It’s a wonderful thing. Interest rates remain very attractive, making this an even better time to seize the moment.

ON THE JOB TODAY if you have real estate needs. My little band plays at a “Blessing of the Bikes” Christian motorcycle rally in mid-day. Then it’s back to work! Call me at 401-5446 if you need me. And have a great week!

CONGRATULATIONS to Curtis and Melanie Sakatani on the successful purchase of their very first home! It’s always a thrill for me. The kids are excited about the tree-shrouded park located a half-block away. Mom and Dad are rejoicing at their excellent loan (thanks to Wes Rice of First Horizon Home Loan…610-9766). They made a great purchase too; another cause for rejoicing.

MORE GOOD NEWS…This was a purchase from real living breathing Sellers, not a bank! Homeowners are generally much easier to work with than some out-of-state corporation. And to top it off, the listing agent on this transaction was veteran Lodi Broker Denise Arbios! It’s such a breath of fresh air to deal with an experienced professional. Thanks, Denise! With reasonable people all around, this transaction went very smoothly.

BACK ON THE MARKET! Just days after my Seller ordered a SEVENTY-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRICE REDUCTION, this home SOLD! Unfortunately for the Buyer but perhaps fortunately for you, the Buyer couldn’t complete the purchase. Their loss, your gain? Here’s a 2400-plus-square-foot single-story semi-custom home with RIVER ACCESS! Mokelumne Village’s charming riverside park is a great bonus feature for this fine home.  New energy-efficient central heat and air! Three-year-old treated-shake roof with 50-year warranty! SIX SolaTubes, special skylights for added (and free) natural light! Warm, rich natural-wood trim and doors and crown molding. Three large bedrooms, two and a half baths, Living Room, Family Room, spacious kitchen with dining nook, Formal Dining Room, more! At $399,950, I’d suggest you hurry. Going, going…

MY CLOSE-IN LISTING AT

QUESTIONS ON TODAY’S MARKET? FORECLOSURES? BANK-OWNED HOMES? Give me a call at 401-5446. I specialize in the truth. Let me help you separate the hype from the facts. FACT: It’s a great time to be a Buyer!

 THIS OFFICE IS JUMPIN’! THANK YOU to all my faithful friends who continue to send friends and family my way. You’re the reason for my success. Thanks.

BUSY HANDS ARE HAPPY HANDS…and We’re BUSY!

CONGRATULATIONS to another of my Mystery Clients (Not everyone wants to see their name in print…Your secret’s safe with me, Tiger!).  Another successful purchase of a bank-owned home. My investor clients got a STEAL OF A DEAL!

Helping my Buyers purchase REO properties (bank-owned foreclosure homes) has a special set of challenges, but my Realtors and I do it all the time! Call me if you’re interested in getting a great buy. They’re out there…but to be successful, you need to be represented by someone who has your best interests at heart. Not everything that glitters is gold.

THANK YOU to Realtor Becky Reeves for her help as Seller’s representative in this transaction. In spite of the frustrations that come when working with a bank, she helped me get the job done! Thanx, Becky.

JUST LISTED!

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO to Statesman Realty’s own Richard Mahoney on yet another successfully closed escrow. This boy’s having a GREAT YEAR! Someone should inform him that the market is bad. He just doesn’t know any better than to make sales! His clients are glad for that.

OFFICE CULTURE: Every real estate office, like every other type of business, has a “culture”. The pervasive attitude in our little corner of the real estate world is one of enthusiasm and optimism! The nationwide projections for 2008 show an anticipated 5.7 million homes will be SOLD this year. We don’t need ‘em all, but we’re working hard for our clients to get our fair share. The future is bright!

MY LITTLE WINNIE is making toddler noises in her “office” next to mine. Grandma Julie is playing with her while daughter Angie conducts a walk-through for another pair of soon-to-be-homeowner clients.

Whoops! As I wrote the last sentence, the little critter slipped in here and climbed up on my lap. I’m a much-blessed man!

NEW LISTING at

THE TWO-STORY GUEST HOUSE features three bedrooms and two baths, plus its own private covered patio. Toward the rear of this 1.4-acre property, you’ll find OUTBUILDINGS with parking for at least four cars PLUS a long RV garage PLUS workshop area and additional storage.  A family orchard graces the extreme rear of the property. Over the decades, the owners have enjoyed horses and other animals here.

THIS PROPERTY was on the market for $1.3 million. Today’s price? $899,950. It’s already receiving a lot of interest.

Easter. Just a day for dressing up and Easter baskets and bunnies?

I’ve been reading a very interesting book by a young man named Mark Cahill (Check out MarkCahill.org…NOT dot-com, dot-org!). It’s called “One Heartbeat Away”.

THE RED SILVER DOLLAR: In his book, Cahill talks about something called compound probability. He writes, “When we consider having a great many requirements fulfilled by the same person, the likelihood of finding such a person decreases with every requirement. And the more unusual the requirement, the less likely we are to find such a person.”

There’s only one book in the entire world that contains hundreds of very detailed prophesies and records of the fulfillment of those prophesies. Maybe that’s why it’s the all-time world’s best-selling Book…The Bible.

CAHILL invites us to consider this: “Jesus Christ fulfilled more than 300 Biblical prophesies in His life. If only eight of those 300 prophesies came true in any one person, it would be comparable to this:

• Build a small fence around the state of Texas
• Fill it two feet deep in silver dollars
• Paint one of them red
• Mix them all up
• Then: Starting at the Louisiana border, walk blindfolded as far into Texas as you want to go,
• Lean over, still blindfolded,
• And pick up the red silver dollar.

Not too likely.

Mark Twain said it wasn’t the parts of the Bible that he didn’t understand that troubled him most; it was the parts he DID understand! That’s quite an admission. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). When we look at the Ten Commandments, it’s troubling to admit that if we’ve broken even one of them, it’s just as if we’ve broken them all.

What does the Bible say about Resurrection Day (Easter)?

Romans 6: 23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. “ According to the Bible, we’re all candidates for hell. Not a very hip observation in this ultra-cool age. The truth isn’t always sexy.

Jesus came to Earth for the express purpose of giving His life as a sacrifice for everyone who follows Him. His own words, from Matthew 20:28:  “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

As a brash young man, riding the hurricane of the late sixties and early seventies, I scoffed at the idea of needing to be “ransomed”. Then I got knocked off of my high horse. I encountered the spirit the Bible calls the “Liar and father of all lies”: Satan. It was the best thing that ever happened to me in my entire life…because it made me aware of my own spiritual bankruptcy. All of a sudden, I was VERY much aware of my need to be rescued! If it wasn’t for Jesus Christ, I wouldn’t be alive to tell this story.

Check out the Resurrection Story, the story of Jesus and the price He paid for your eternal salvation. Just religious words? Not to me. Not since December of 1971. See you next week. 

MY GRANDPA asked me to write this week’s column. He’s helping me because my one-year-old fingers are still learning how to use the keyboard. I like to swat the keyboard with my hand, but when I do, the words look like oik N”efrb sdsretnrymun…so Grandpa helps me.

Come to think of it, a lot of my words sound like lsirnaudncx, too. I DO say “Daddy” and Mama” and a multi-purpose word that could be “Grandpa” or “Grandma”. My mind is sharp, but my speech and my typing haven’t caught up yet. Hey, I just turned one year old a couple of weeks ago!

HI. That’s another word I like a lot. Hi… Hi…Hi. I’m a friendly kid. After the ninth “Hi” some people look at me funny. Why is that? Hi.

“SEVENTY-THOUSAND DOLLAR PRICE REDUCTION! Here’s a 2400-plus-square-foot single-story semi-custom home with RIVER ACCESS! Take your granddaughter or any other kid of your choice out on the Mokie for a float down the Lazy River! No better way to spend a summer afternoon.  Mokelumne Village’s charming riverside park is a great bonus feature for this fine home.  New energy-efficient central heat and air! Three-year-old treated-shake roof with 50-year warranty! SIX SolaTubes, special skylights for added (and free) natural light! Warm, rich natural-wood trim and doors and crown molding. Three large bedrooms, two and a half baths, Living Room, Family Room, spacious kitchen with dining nook, Formal Dining Room, more! I thought this home was priced aggressively at $469,950…but my motivated Seller just instructed me to drop the price to $399,950! Is this the home you’ve been searching for? A whole lotta home for the money! Back to Winnie.”

He calls me Winnie. My Mommy and Daddy call me Freddie. I only just learned to walk and I already have an identity crisis! It’s no big deal. I can answer to or ignore either name.

I’m learning a lot about the word “NO.” I hear this word a lot! Sometimes I cry when I’m told No. The grownups say it’s for my own good, but like every kid I have to test the limits. Gotta keep the old folks on their toes!

ANOTHER WORD from my Grandpa:

“ANOTHER PRICE REDUCTION!

TODAY I DISCOVERED GRASS. I already wobble when I walk, but boy, you should see me try to walk on Grandpa’s lawn! I like to sit and pull tufts of grass out of the lawn. At my age, simple pleasures are the best.

LAST WEEK I got to play in the sand at the beach. I learned two things: Sand is NOT good to eat. Also, when you sit in sand, try to keep it out of your pants.

HOME OF THE WEEK: Check the front page of thie real estate tabloid you hold in your hand. You’ll see 18376 Ironstone in Woodbridge! From 11:00 to 1:00 today and tomorrow, Statesman Realty’s John Manguso will host an OPEN HOUSE at this great home. Here you’ll enjoy room for the entire family. Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, on over a quarter-acre landscaped lot with TAHOE BLUE POOL (Summer IS coming!). Room for RV or boat, too! NEW PRICE: $649,913.

MY REALTORS are wearing happy smiles. Why? Case in point:

CONGRATULATIONS to John Manguso again this week on another successfully closed escrow! My agents and I are enjoying the current busy real estate market. It’s different than a few years ago, but there’s plenty of Buyer activity on well-priced homes. Don’t believe everything you read in the papers. Like everything else in life, there’s the “bad news” side of the coin AND the “good news” side.  Guess which side the media portrays most?

BEST POOL GUY DEPT…I’ve been really impressed with the performance of David Rogers, owner of Complete Pool Care. I’ve never seen anyone pamper my pool the way he does. David was referred to me by my friend and frequent-flyer client Tammy Jenks. Praise from Tammy is high praise indeed! As usual, she was right! Need a great pool guy? Call David at 712-5151 and tell him I sentcha.

REALTOR BE NIMBLE…This crazy real estate market requires flexibility and a certain lightness on your feet. Seasoned Realtors have been here before. You learn to adapt to the changing market to serve your clients well.

QUESTIONS about FORECLOSURES? BANK-OWNED PROPERTIES? REO’S (Same thing)? SHORT SALES? PRE-FORECLOSURES? How about ways to get into a property with ZERO DOWN and an FHA loan with a great fixed interest rate? Remember, as long as you’re comfortable with your payment and you’re buying for the long haul, this market is nothing to fear. These current low home prices are only for the short term. Why do you think investors are out in force right now? They know a sale when they see one.

I HAVE the answers. Feel free to call me at 209-401-5446.

ONE OFFER IN and several other interested Buyers: My close-in country listing at

SPRING AHEAD TONIGHT…or you’ll look funny when you show up an hour late for church tomorrow! If you forget, don’t worry. You won’t be alone. (At my church, Horizon in Galt, we have services at 8 a.m., 9:45, and 11:30. If you’re late for one, you’re just early for the next one!). Have a great week! See you next Sat.

STANDING TOGETHER…The conference kicks off at 9:00 this morning at Century Assembly Church in Lodi. I’m excited about participating in this gathering of men from all over the San Joaquin Valley! The Standing Together Men’s Conference is an annual event  that draws guys of all ages (15 years and up) and many denominations…and plenty of men who are just interested but not plugged in anywhere.

CHILI AND BEANS AND TRI-TIP will once again be among the stars of the program (We always eat well at these events, although the sessions after lunch feature “blazing pews”). Many men will display their custom cars and motorcycles. I walk along the line of beautiful bikes reciting the Bible verse, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s Harley”.

A COMEDIAN named Nazareth will provide belly-laughs. We’ll have a panel of local pastors who tackle the tough questions…the discussion gets pretty lively at times! My pastor, Tim Stevenson, never known to mince words, will be a part of this year’s panel. Nationally-known speaker Mark Cahill will challenge and inspire attendees to “grow up” in their faith. And once again Bishop S. C. Carthen, Chaplain for the Sacramento Kings, will wrap up the day and send us out on a high note.

DID I MENTION the music? This year, I’m part of the worship band comprised of musicians from a handful of local churches. I’ll add some blues harmonica to the mix. We’ve had fun practicing for today. This band can rip it up! The sound of hundreds of men singing praises to God is unforgettable. The walls are gonna shake again this year!

YOU’RE INVITED! (If you’re of the male persuasion). There’s always a good representation of ladies present too, volunteering to help make the event happen. Wives and daughters of attendees and other women who are excited about any event that helps men to become better Dads and husbands.  

It’s $35 at the door or $30.00 online. We hold it at a different church each year so the event isn’t associated with any one particular flavor of Christianity. I’m always pleased at the diversity of the crowd at these events. I like to joke that you’ll see everything from Suits For Christ to Thugs For Christ…button-down believers to tattoos and boots. This is a come-as-you-are party…which coincidentally is what becoming a Christian is all about: Come as you are.  Century Assembly is at the corner of Hutchins and Century. I’ll be lookin’ for you!

NEW LISTING on the way! In fact, it may be in the MLS by the time you fish this paper from your flower bed. Speaking of fish, this semi-custom 2400-plus-square-foot single-story home has RIVER ACCESS! Enjoy the Mokelumne River and Mokelumne Village’s charming riverside park. This home has more special features than I can name in this space. My Seller tells me this home has: New energy-efficient central heat and air! Three-year-old carpet! Three-year-old treated-shake roof with 50-year warranty! SIX SolaTubes (special skylights for added (and free) natural light! I appreciate the natural-wood trim and doors and crown molding. Three large bedrooms, two and a half baths, Living Room, Family Room, spacious kitchen with dining nook, Formal Dining Room, more! Price? $499,950. I’d give you the address, but as I write this the listing isn’t yet inked! Call me or watch this space for more info!

ALL OFFERS CONSIDERED for this prime close-in homesite! Two level acres with easement from

MY FRIEND Roy Reimche touched a lot of people in the course of his lifetime. His Homegoing service at Vinewood Community Church was well-attended. His friends from the Salvation Army were out in force (Roy was a huge help to the Army in their purchase of the property for their new Shelter, as well as other projects).

THE REAL ESTATE community also came out en masse to pay their respects to a beloved member of our ranks. Realtors, lenders, title people…business people of all stripes gathered to celebrate the life of a great guy.

Roy was active in real estate right up to the end of his life. Lieutenant Dan Williams of the Salvation Army told of Roy negotiating on behalf of the Army from his bed during one of his numerous hospital stays. Roy had many loyal clients whom he loved to serve. He epitomized the saying, “When you find something you love to do, you’ll never work another day in your life!”

You’ll be missed, Roy! Until we meet again.

REDUCED AND OPEN TODAY 11 to 1 p.m.! 18376 Ironstone in the desirable Wine Country subdivision is a great value at $698,000! Listing agent John Manguso calls this one “Recreation Headquarters”. 2546 square feet of 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home on  a .26-acre lot! TAHOE BLUE POOL with custom-built SLIDE! Room for RV or boat. Drop by and say Hello to John.

JOHN PLANNED to host my listing at

REDUCED FORTY THOUSAND BUCKS! My motivated Seller says he will consider all offers on this prime close-in homesite! Two level acres with easement from

“THIRTY PERCENT OFF ALL ITEMS IN STOCK! Offer is good for a limited time”…If Dillard’s or Macy’s ran a sale like this, the crowds would be huge! When the Real Estate Market has a thirty-percent-off sale, people have to be coaxed in the door! Weird, huh? All that is CHANGING FAST as Buyers figger the thang out and get shopping. And trust me, this offer IS only good for a limited time. Just watch.

OPEN TODAY 1:30 TO 3:30! (John Manguso, Host). BACK ON MARKET: SALE OR LEASE-OPTION! My listing at

DEADLINE! Have a great week! See you next Sat.