Dorothy White Takes One for Keller Williams Team, Breaks Ribs

At a recent weekend open house, Dorothy White of Keller Williams in La Mesa slipped, fell and crashed into her client’s car while rushing to give a prospective buyer a property information sheet, breaking ribs and tearing an internal muscle that most likely will require some surgery. 

After seeing how hard Dorothy had been trying to sell their house without success, the sellers realize the current market conditions have to be accepted and  have agreed to a hefty price reduction.  

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN: Eddie Reitz is happy to be back working in East County after at least five years behind a desk at First American Title and Escrow. 

Now a sales executive with Granite Escrow Services, he made his first appearance at Rally and Ride on Thursday.  Welcome back, Eddie. We have missed you.

DE-STRESSING THIS SUMMER: The East County Association of Realtors has several fun activities planned.  The recent Bingo Night was a success, and the ongoing Realtors Night Out on the third Thursday of the month is still going strong and gaining in popularity. 

The annual Day at the Races is Wednesday, Aug. 3, and is always a winner with everyone who attends.  Cost for Realtors and guests is $60 for a round-trip bus to Del Mar,  Skyroom admission, exclusive mutuel clerk, official program and buffet lunch. (It’s $65 for non-Realtors and RSVPs received after July 18.) 

The annual golf tournament is in the planning stage. A well-rounded life is the objective especially in the stressful climate of short sales and bank-owned properties.

UNDERWATER ON SECONDS: A study done by The Wall Street Journal found that almost 40 percent of homeowners who took out second mortgages (extracting cash from their residences to cover everything from vacations to medical bills) are underwater on their loans, more than twice the rate of owners who didn’t take out such loans.

 This Week in La Mesa Real Estate

Eight new condo listings appeared on the MLS and 18 new single-family listings.

A new listing in The Village within walking distance of the shops is always good to see, and this week an interesting 1925 house and a second house built in the 1950s on one lot with a 2-car carport and additional parking in the paved back yard at 4854 Palm came on the market. 

Another one—completely different—was on the weekly caravan this week for the first time. It is a remodeled 4-bedroom,  4-bath on Madison.

Five condos found new owners and opened escrow and 12 single-family detached homes were sold.  One of my personal favorites—a big roomy condo on the second floor of Rosehedge Manor sold.  7200 Melody Lane, No. 26, also sold last week, but another one in the complex came on the market—7200 Melody Lane, No. 65

And 5495 Marengo Ave. No. 3 closed escrow.