These are challenging times and many folks are facing difficult financial choices.  Do they qualify for a loan modification, or should they do a short sale, or simply allow the lender to foreclose?

There is hope.

You can read more specifics in our current newsletter and also view two short videos by clicking on the link www.DonNelsonTeam.com in the newsletter.

Please tell your friends or family members.

In our January newsletter, I said the media tends to paint all the housing markets across the country with one brush stroke. But Ventura County doesn’t fit areas like the Inland Empire or the Stockton area with severe  falling home prices and numerous foreclosures. Yes, we’ve been impacted to some degree, but see for yourself our data tracking for 2010. The newsletter has 2 important charts showing quarterly trends in sales and prices, but you can see those trend charts directly here for sales numbers and here for sold prices.

Check out our November newsletter!

Find out what’s happening in real estate plus Don and Leslie’s trip to Florida to see the space shuttle launch!

Summer time! In our July – August newsletter, read all about the 4th of July at the Hollywood Bowl, record breaking interest rates, and charts to quickly see at a glance the housing market trends and foreclosure stats . On the 2nd page see pics of Don showing a bunch of kids on a field trip at the Camarillo airport how a plane is built. They loved sqeezing the numerous clamps and were surprised at how light the aileron is!

In our June newsletter we talk about the U.S. Treasury’s new HAFA program designed to streamline short sales for sellers and the incentives for the sellers. On our website you can listen to two short videos we’ve put together – one is a brief intro to the HAFA program and the second is more nuts and bolts.

Do you know anyone who could benefit from this new program?

I finished reading a wildly popular book I bought at Costco called “The Big Short” which details the multi-billion dollar bets hedge funds made against the housing market. I also finished a University of Arizona professor’s study whether “underwater” homeowners should make a business decision to walk away from their homes (a “strategic default”).  If Morgan Stanley can walk away from 5 office buildings it bought in San Francisco at the height of the market, why can’t Joe and Mary Homeowner do the same thing? Read more in my newsletter.

In our March newsletter, Don shares the progress he’s making as he’s building a Tiger Moth – a 1930s era-biplane. This is a “wind in your hair, bugs in your teeth” type plane! He’s currently working on the aileron – see the pictures – he loves doing this!

In our February newsletter, I muse about the stark contrast I’ve seen this past year in real estate between worry – and hope.  Easy to write about, but so profound to understand!

In our September newsletter, read about where the real estate market is now for entry level buyers, the low inventory levels, and home prices seem to be bottomed out and are headed up. Plus, compare the low interest rate trends for one year and five years.

In our August newsletter, read about a weekend with our Marines and the Camarillo Air Show!

Don and I were privileged to see several recruits, Jordan and Ondrej, graduate as recruits from Marine Corp boot camp, to full fledged United States Marines. Oorah!

Also, Don had a blast showing lots of people at the Camarillo Air Show the progress he’s making on building his Tiger Moth.