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Real Talk by Charles Bogue
Charles Bogue is a broker with Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, 1775 Lincoln Ave., Napa CA 94558. He can be reached at 258-5221 or e-cbogue@cbnapavalley.com.
November 7th, 2009
Usual suspectsThere seems to be a distant, but appropriate, connection between Casablanca and Washington as Congress and the Obama administration give near lip service to the issue of corporate compensation reform.
October 31st, 2009
Extension or extinction?Is it jobs, then spending, or spending, then jobs? The nation looks for each newsflash or business report indicating an end to economic decline and a return to prosperity.
October 24th, 2009
Planning partnerThe historic role of the city planning department as a utopian visionary is being redefined by current economic reality as a business partner faster than its cumbersome structure is able to adjust.
October 17th, 2009
Staying homeSome of the more fortunate may have escaped unscathed from this deep and painful recession, but for everyone else there is no area of our lives that has not been affected.
October 10th, 2009
Identity 'gift'With all the talk about identity theft, it seems odd to me that no one has brought forth the concept of identity gift.
October 3rd, 2009
Need a lawyer?With prices down and record low interest rates, many are making the commitment to become Napa Valley home owners. One question that comes up in the process is whether they should use an attorney in the purchasing process.
September 30th, 2009
Condo confusionTo find a buyer for your condominium in today’s real estate market is a challenge in and of itself. It is only the beginning of what has become a tedious and complicated process to complete the sale.
September 26th, 2009
Credit countdownAs home sales increase in Napa and across the country, the number of days for first time homebuyers to take advantage of the $8,000 government credit is decreasing.
September 12th, 2009
Follow the moneyEven the likes of Magnum, P.I. would find it impossible to trace the money that flows between the federal government, the banks and the financial institutions that generate capital. Over the past two years, the gray shades of overlap between these entities have lead them to be inseparable.
September 5th, 2009
Pretend and extendFrom the smallest household to the largest corporation, the financial mantra of the day is the same: pretend and extend. In an age where property values are dropping and cash is king, lenders and spenders look to the promise of a better tomorrow allowing them to turn their focus away from the less attractive realities of today.
August 29th, 2009
Costly dangerScorching summer temperatures finally arrived in a summer that has proven to be one of the coolest on record in the Napa Valley.
August 22nd, 2009
Zero costThis past week, I was inspired to expand my ukulele knowledge beyond my limited repertoire of three basic cords. My first thought was to search contacts for a local teacher and sign up for some lessons and the second was to go to YouTube. To my pleasure, up came access to a number of audiovisual instructors.
August 15th, 2009
Welcome, neighborOpening the local newspaper this week, I thought by mistake this must be a back issue from the late 1990s. A double take was required as the lead story read “Lining Up For Work” with 200 positions to be filled by a new department store.
August 8th, 2009
Affordability indexOne statistical index that is watched with care by the real estate and lending community is the California Association of Realtors “Affordability Index.”
August 1st, 2009
Financial reformSince the New York Stock Exchange broke the 9,000 mark 10 days ago, the media has been displaying evidence that the economic bottom has been reached. Hardly a time for euphoria, but a welcome sign of more good news than bad. As most eyes focus on economic recovery, it is equally important that the focus remain on reforming lending practices and disclosures with regard to financial products.
July 15th, 2009
What's the price?Is there anything offered for sale these days that is not on sale? Clearly, the consumer of all products and services has gone from wanting a deal to expecting one.
July 11th, 2009
What's the price?Is there anything offered for sale these days that is not on sale? Clearly, the consumer of all products and services has gone from wanting a deal to expecting one. Born from a shrinking economy and a lingering crisis of confidence, the temptation and reality of dropping price is on the table regardless of product or service.
July 4th, 2009
Coming homeAs it should be, the grand marshals and leaders of this morning’s Napa Fourth of July Parade are our returning military men of the privately funded Pathway Home Program at the Yountville Veterans Home.
June 27th, 2009
Why wait?The current whispers of economic recovery may entice the small business owner, or an entrepreneur within a larger company, to rest their fate in the changing winds of the external world. Somehow, someone or something out there is going to bring success.
June 20th, 2009
Funny moneyWhen I was young, I heard stories of inflation in South America so high that locals would show up with a wheelbarrow full of money to make a modest purchase of food or clothing. We sometimes called it funny money.
June 13th, 2009
A happiness planAn e-mail from a fellow associate this past week seemed to make a lot of common sense in a time when it could appear least appropriate. With national unemployment nearing 10 percent and an economy struggling to emerge from recession, the focus on survival leaves little room to consider the role that happiness might play in your personal or company business plan.
May 30th, 2009
Anatomy of a distressed saleIn a distressed sale each homeowner takes a different path, depending on the financial status of the property and the owner’s personal situation.
May 23rd, 2009
Short sale ordainedMost real estate techniques that become standard practice are born not by a lawyer in a big building, but by individual Realtors working with buyers and sellers in the field. The short sale is no exception.
May 16th, 2009
Touching bottomWhen sailing a boat, touching bottom is not a good sign. When the real estate market is plagued by a seemingly endless decline, touching bottom comes as a welcome indicator that things are soon to get better.
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