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Don Meidinger, assistant supervisor for San Joaquin Northern Region Mosquito Vector Control, gets ready to dump about 50 mosquito fish into a "green" abandoned pool Friday at a riverfront property in north Lodi. The house, in foreclosure, is prime mosquito habitat. Meidinger has applied some chemicals and is maintaining the pool with the tiny fish. Also known by their scientific name, gambusia, the mosquito fish reach lengths of 2.5 inches and are reared at White Slough, west of Interstate 5. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

County helps fish out Lodi's 'green' pools

By Chris Nichols
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Saturday, August 11, 2007 7:29 AM PDT

Comments (104 comment(s))

Ron Meidinger and his mosquito fish are busy these days. And the veteran mosquito hunter — and his fish — aren't just touring the area's bug-infested sloughs or ponds.

They're visiting your neighborhood, and perhaps the abandoned, slimed-over pool next door.

"This place is really clean," said Meidinger on Friday morning after dumping about 50 mosquito fish into a murky, lime-green swimming pool in north Lodi.

"I've seen places trashed, with windows knocked out," noted the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District employee, who treats pools, ponds and anything infested with mosquitoes in the Lodi area.

Meidinger is busy because the housing market is still slumping. More and more homes in the city and across the county have been abandoned through foreclosure, leaving mosquitoes to breed by the million in pools of water near you.

The mosquito fish — a silver species that grows just a few inches long — is a powerful tool in the fight against mosquitoes and West Nile virus.

They can eat up to 100 mosquito larvae each, per day.

The fish won't make the pool look clear again, but they will eliminate nearly all of the larvae.

Ridding the area of mosquitoes is critical to keeping West Nile Virus down.


Don Meidinger holds a plump female mosquito fish while he maintains a river-front property in north Lodi at a "green" pool Friday. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Three county residents have been infected with the potentially deadly virus this year.

An 86-year-old man died after contracting it last month. Friday, the district reported the third infection: a 44-year-old woman from the central part of the county.

District officials did not have an exact count for how many pools in the county or the Lodi area are infested.

But from the number of phone calls they've gotten this summer about dirty or "green" pools, one can surmise it's a lot.

In June, the district received 101 calls countywide. Last month it was 206, and this month they've gotten 60 so far, said Aaron Devencenzi, a district spokesman.

The district responds to the calls, and attempts to contact the owners of abandoned homes before entering a property.

If there's no response and the situation is deemed a hazard, district staff go in.

And they bring their fish.

Fight mosquitoes, West Nile

• Avoid mosquito bites.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when you're outside after sunset. (Mosquitoes bite the most two hours after sunset).
• Use insect repellent DEET.
• Get rid of standing water around your home.
• Empty water out of buckets, old tires, flower pots and toys.
• Change water every few days from pet bowls and bird baths.
• Keep good screens on your windows and doors.

Source: San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District

How to report dirty swimming pools

To report dirty or "green" swimming pools in San Joaquin County, contact the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District at (800) 300-4675 or (209) 982-4675.

For more information about West Nile Virus, or to report a dead bird, go to http://www.westnile.ca.gov or call (877) WNV-BIRD ((877) 968-2473).

"They eat anything they can get their mouth around," Devencenzi said, standing next to Meidinger at the lime-green pool on Friday.

"They'll control this," Meidinger added.

Meidinger noted that he is responding to as many as five new "green" pools or ponds a week lately. He said he sees at least two new ones a week.

The city of Lodi also responds to dirty pools. It sends notices to owners to clean them up.

If there's no response, the city will hire a contractor to drain a dirty pool, said Joseph Wood, the city's top code enforcement officer.


A mosquito fish surfaces in a "green," abandoned pool on Friday morning at a riverfront property in north Lodi. The house, in foreclosure, has been a prime mosquito habitat. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Officials from the city and county mosquito district said they don't go after pools that just have a few leaves in them.

They're looking for those that have been abandoned or are no longer being maintained — likely with thick layers of algae and mosquito larvae on top.

"We're talking about a pool that looks like a swamp," Devencenzi said.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

sam wrote on Aug 19, 2007 7:54 AM:

" the "S" on the word "thousands" in my post was omitted. "

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Lost our home too wrote on Aug 18, 2007 4:39 PM:

" I suggest that everyone see the movie SICKO. What they say is true. Wait until its your turn and you find you are sick and the HMO's don't care about anything but money. "

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We lost or home wrote on Aug 18, 2007 4:38 PM:

" Our home inspection person recommended by our Realtor said "everything was good", until we moved in. We are "taking our medicine" because of OUR mistake. My wife is taking hers now. Everyone in real estate is so positive, but what happens when reality knocks on your door? Its our fault for not listening to our friends. They warned us about salesmen. But we listened and made a terrible decision. Some of these old Lodi houses are not fit to live in. "

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We lost our home III wrote on Aug 18, 2007 4:36 PM:

" We had to let the house go to foreclosure. My wifes chemotherapy is more important than an old house. The house is still sitting empty. We moved to Stockton and rented a place on Kelly Drive. Our income is down to $110k /year since my wife had to go on disability which ran out. I imagine the house wasn't worth the 399K we paid for it. I really don't think its worth more than $50,000. It had many unfixable problems. "

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We Lost our home too II wrote on Aug 18, 2007 4:33 PM:

" The money to keep her alive has to come from some source. We both have popular and well known HMO health plans. In order to make the medical payments, I had to get a second job. The bills exceed out ability to pay, so the mortgage company was notified. The house is now worth less than $300,000 and we owe $320k. We listed it for what we owe, and no interest. "

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We lost our home too wrote on Aug 18, 2007 4:32 PM:

" We just lost our house. The details: We have a documented income of $155k/year and put $85,000 down with a conventional loan at 30 years on a small starter house with comps selling at 399K. We never refied and have no HELOCS or other loans, liens or debts. We bought in 2004 before the peak. My wife was later diagnosed with breast cancer, and the HMO refused to pay for her treatment. "

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To Sam wrote on Aug 18, 2007 2:05 PM:

" Only a thousand? Buy low sell high! 5% of 1,000 is $50. If you want to make money you need to spend money. Your broker fee wil eat $50 up. Try increments of $20K bracketed every few points. Bulls win and Bear win but PIGS die in the market. "

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Just the Facts wrote on Aug 18, 2007 9:38 AM:

" The citizens of Lodi voted overwhelmingly to pass the "Greenbelt Initiative" around 1980. A group of local builders sued the City, citing the initiative was unconstitutional and prevailed in court. In the mid 1980's the City Council formed a committee of "no" "pro" and neutral growth proponents. The 2% cap was unanimously voted into law by the City Council. A City Council could certainly add, delete or modify the initiative. Just the facts! "

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sam wrote on Aug 17, 2007 8:37 PM:

" to Wow :I love when the market is going great, but I also love crashes like this...great time to buy. I put thousand today into the stock market. Buy low and sit... and be patient. It pays off. "

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Longtime Investor wrote on Aug 17, 2007 6:31 PM:

" The Lodi CC limits growth because WE the People VOTED for it. I get the feeling you haven't been in this area very long. Do your homework. The 2% growth was voted and passed in the late 80's with a huge majority! People in Lodi did not want the town to grow too rapidly (and still don't), THAT is why there is a 2% growth limit. It has nothing to do with the "Good Ole Boys" as you put it. "

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Longtime Investor wrote on Aug 17, 2007 6:27 PM:

" You forgot the price of the lot, the blueprints, the permits, the utility hookups, or well and septic (in rural areas), you forgot the cost to subdivide land, the cost to put in streets, curbs, sidewalks and lights, you forgot the finish work (I.e. landscaping, window coverings, appliances, etc). There are NO decent builders in this area that are $85 s.f. They are more like 185 for a decent house and that's AFTER they pay their people. Did you just arrive in California from the deep south where prices are less? "

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To Longtime Investor wrote on Aug 17, 2007 3:57 PM:

" How many NEW houses are selling at this price? None! So deduct this from the asking and you see what the REAL PROFIT HAS BEEN DOING. BIG DIFFERENCE! THE GOB whine but don't want you to know the real costs---and profits of building ahouse. Two story houses are cheaper yet, smaller lots, lower real square footage. Thats why the Lodi CC limits the annual growth of housing in Lodi. This goal artificially keeps housing prices high. "

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To Longtime Investor wrote on Aug 17, 2007 3:56 PM:

" Another way to evaluate perceived value in a house uses the ACTUAL cost of building the box. Shoddy construction not included, you can easily build for $85/sq ft. Thats KB Homes cost. That means a new 3/2/2 stick built single story ranch at 2,000 sq ft costs only $170,000 to build. Add a 25 % mark up for profit and one year service contracts and you get $217,500. Add sellers commissions and you get $238,500. "

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Wow wrote on Aug 17, 2007 2:37 PM:

" And Sam, you're right on. Cash is king right now. I'm currently looking for deals and about ready to make a couple of purchases. "

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Wow wrote on Aug 17, 2007 2:35 PM:

" If more people would be honest like "we lost our home", this world would be a lot better off. I admire your honesty and forthrightness. "

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we lost our home wrote on Aug 17, 2007 11:02 AM:

" As much as I want to blame the realtor and finance company, I have to say the fault is ours. We had a pick a payment loan because we felt we'd make the minimum payments until we earned more money. It didn't work and the payments went up. We ended up owing more than we borrowed and couldn't keep it so we walked away. Believe me we learned our lesson and the next time we buy a house it will be after we come in with a down payment and can afford paymets on a fixed rate with impounds. "

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Lodi Realtor wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:54 AM:

" You wrote " Sellers "think" they are paying the 6% realtor tax", umm.... it's not a 6% realtor tax. In fact it's not a "tax" at all, and yes, the seller pays it out of his proceeds, not the buyer. The buyer is bring money to the table because the seller is bringing property to the table. The seller is the one who is debted the commission, NOT the buyer. The commission is generally split 50/50 between the listing agent and the selling agent. "

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Debt Free wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:46 AM:

" Since when did your home become an ATM machine? In my day you wanted to pay down the mortgage to build equity, not flip it in one month. We saved for our down payments, made our paymets on time and added anything extra to the principal to pay our homes off. This attitude of buying a home and "flipping" it overnight to make a fortune is what has caused this mess, not the Realtors, Appraisers, Lenders, etc. It's the greedy consumer's fault. "

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Someone who has been there wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:43 AM:

" I'll take the green aliigators because I know I'll be knee deep in cold hard cash when it goes back up. Do you seriously think that NO ONE is ever going to buy property in California again? "

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Longtime Investor wrote on Aug 17, 2007 10:41 AM:

" I have been following this and want to add my 2 cents worth. Sam and Someone are right on the money. So what if a 350k investment drops to 250k? When it goes back up thats when the wise investor sells. You only lose money IF you sell. Buying properties right now is a longterm investment that will appreciate within 10 years, so just make sure you can afford the paymetns. In 1973 the median home in Lodi was 75k,1983 it was 108K, 1993 it was 135K and in 2003 it was 450k. Right now it is 300k. "

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Mini Me wrote on Aug 16, 2007 11:42 PM:

" Getting ready for the opening bell. The Nikkei is down 5%, China is at its lowest since 1998, and Counytwide has obligated ALL its new 11 billion dollar bank guarantee. Who is runnung opereations? I hope people start sending them some mortgage checks, or it will be the time to sing the BK blues. "

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To Sam and Someone wrote on Aug 16, 2007 11:38 PM:

" Please, by all means buy everything so we can get this 24 months of housing inventory moving again. But what going to happen when that $350k house drops to $250 K over the next year? You will be knee deep in green alligators munching on your shorts and won't have any way to stop them. Good luck, I'll throw you a life preserver but I hope the green alligators don't eat it first. "

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Just the Fact wrote on Aug 16, 2007 10:38 PM:

" Could you please disclose the names of the realtors who were doing "backroom mortgage financing". I'd like to report them to the Department of Real Estate. "

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To Sam and SOmeone who wrote on Aug 16, 2007 9:24 PM:

" I made a fortune in 2004 when the market crested, because in the early 90's when the market "was never going to recover" I bought up as many rentals as I possibly could. I never lied to get loans, but I did get some great deals off the foreclosure market. My original portfolio was about 600k, in 2004 I turned it over and made several million. I am now buying all the rentals that I can find. I've used the same agent since the early 80's and we've made an honest living together. "

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sam wrote on Aug 16, 2007 4:24 PM:

" to someone: Me too. It is a grat time to buy. Tons of deals out there. "

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Someone who has been there wrote on Aug 16, 2007 3:06 PM:

" I've been through this market in 1973 with the same scenerio (remember what OPEC did to the housing market then?), then again in 1990 when Clinton closed bases and people RAN out of California (regualtions, etc.) remember the 21% prime? I do. This market is NOT new, it's History repeating itself. I'll bet in 08 the market will be well on it's way back up again. As for me, I'm buying as much real estate NOW as I can afford. "

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To Longtime Realtor wrote on Aug 16, 2007 1:47 PM:

" What about the Local Realtors who do backroom mortgage financing. I have seen the websites. The law should never allow a salesman (Realtor) to be involved in any part of a loan. Its like trsting the Wolf to guard the chicken coop. The same goes for the relationship of the appraiser to either the broker or the mortgage company. The existing relationship only encourages and promotes illegal activities. "

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To History Lesson Contd wrote on Aug 16, 2007 1:43 PM:

" Sellers "think" they are paying the 6% realtor tax, but it comes from the buyer. He is the only person at the table with money. How can a destitute seller who has missed three mortgage payments and 5 car payments going to come up with $ 30,000 for realtor commissions? By lowering the price on the house, so a buyer with MONEY can pay. The seller can be in debt tens of thousands of dollars and still sell a house. It comes off the top of the agreed to price, PAID BY THE BUYER. "

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To History Lessons II wrote on Aug 16, 2007 1:40 PM:

" SAVE don't spend. DEBT is NOT wealth: New cars, houses, electronic gadgets. Wait 6 months until they give them away. How many of us work paycheck to paycheck and use plastic credit cards to buy milk? Don't include home equity because its converted to money ONLY if you sell it. Many existing offers will fail due to lack of mortgage financing. Jumbo loans start at 417K and are at high interest rates. This will exert a downward price and sales pressuere on existing prime mortgage holders and their houses. "

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To History lessons wrote on Aug 16, 2007 1:36 PM:

" I agree. I was looking at an "as is" crackerbox" on the East side that was built in 1918. Thats was right after World war One. They want 300K for this termite ridden dump. It probaly sold for about $500 when it was new. LOL. "

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Longtime Realtor wrote on Aug 16, 2007 9:40 AM:

" I have absolutely no sympathy for the mortgage companies. They were handing out money like it was candy. If your heart was beating they would loan you the money. The problem is that not only are they paying the price, so is the American economy. And don't blame the local guys, all they were doing is offering the products that were being given to them. This is no different that what they've done with credit cards and equity loans. Just on a much larger scale. "

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Metric Time System wrote on Aug 16, 2007 7:49 AM:

" Shady Realtor is right. The blame falls on the people accepting the terms of the loan. The applicants blatantly lie on the loan apps. thinking they'll be able to afford the home or re-fi later, assuming the good times are here to stay. The blame is on them and they alone must suffer the consequences of their actions. "

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WY wrote on Aug 15, 2007 9:08 PM:

" To,to to to lodian. isn't the buyer giving up REAL money for REAL property? "

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History Lessons wrote on Aug 15, 2007 8:35 PM:

" Mortgages have only been around for the last 30-40 years (maybe a tad bit longer for G.I.'s) It amazes me that when people used to pay CASH for their homes there was no rocky market... unfortunately, people live on credit for everything now and NOTHING is paid for anymore via cash transactions. Maybe if everyone cut up their credit cards and started living within their means, we wouldn't have an economy ready to implode from all the excess buying!If you can't save up for it and pay for it with cold hard cash, here's a thought DON'T BUY IT! "

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Local Slimy Realtor wrote on Aug 15, 2007 8:30 PM:

" Ya'll are cracking me up with all this Realtor bashing! I heard the same thing a few years ago when buyers were priced OUT of the market, now the sellers are crying because they are priced OUT of the market. Seems the only ones happy with this market are the wise investors and the first time home buyers! Why not put all your money in mason jars in the backyard??? "

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TO:To to to Lodian wrote on Aug 15, 2007 8:27 PM:

" Sorry to dissapoint you, but the SELLER pays the commission, NOT the buyer. You should really know what you are talking about before you go making statements like that. The buyer is not "forced" to over buy a property, and the ones that do deserve to lose their properties. I'm sure you are one of the people that were crying when it was a sellers market. I'll bet you don't even own any property to begin with (otherwise you might know what is on a contract). "

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Lodi Realtor wrote on Aug 15, 2007 8:23 PM:

" Like I said, if you know how to manage your money correctly, there are some steals on the market. I sold a duplex recently with a conventional 30 year loan at a fixed rate with a monthly payment (including impounds) of 2250. The income of the place is 3000. The buyers put down 20% (cashed OUT of the Dow) and are very comfortable with this place. It's a safe place to park money, great write offs and it will go up in a few years. In the meantime, they're happy as can be, as is the seller. "

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Shady Realtor wrote on Aug 15, 2007 5:01 PM:

" Its not my fault that buyers misrepresent their ability to pay a mortgage. All the warnngs are in the sales contract that they must sign. It takes two to embellish the documents. I just write down what the seller says they make. If they say they make $200,000 on an ALT-A loan. Its not my problem, if they work two fast food jobs, they could make a big income. I don't really know how much an assistant manager at a burger joint makes. I have to write down what they tell me. "

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To T&C II wrote on Aug 15, 2007 1:16 PM:

" Okay Realtors and GOB, lets all buy more overpriced houses! But wait!! none of the mortgage companies has any money to loan. That means one HUGE mosquito party. In exactly 30 days (Sept 15) all those with ARM loans will see new mortgage payments 50% higher per month. Looks like there will be many more houses for sale or walk-aways! That means more pools and more mosquitoes. We will all be on overtime spraying for bugs. "

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To T&C wrote on Aug 15, 2007 1:14 PM:

" Wow the NYSE dropped ober 850 points in 5 days. All because of the GOB and their appraiser buddies. Today the DOW dropped over 192 and finsihed down 175points, to 12860 from a high of over 14,000 within the past month. The FED injected another 6 Billion to keep the market from dropping even more. Countrywide the largest US mortgage company has lost 20 ^ in one day. They are now seriously considering filing bankruptcy. "

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To T&C wrote on Aug 15, 2007 12:26 PM:

" You were correct again. The Realtor caused mortgage problems kicked the DOW down over 100 points on Tuesday and another slug in the gut on Wednesday and its still dropping. Now is not the time to buy. If you want to grab some equity and you OWN your house, sell it now as low as you can afford to get your money. Any more waiting and you lose even more money. "

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Laughable wrote on Aug 15, 2007 12:26 PM:

" One problem......I'm not a licensed realtor. I only purchase and sell for myself and I am very familiar with the costs of owning property. Done pretty well so far. Just keep paying those attorney fees. They can give you real good advice on property investments. "

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To laughable wrote on Aug 15, 2007 11:41 AM:

" It sounds like you really like to rip off sellers. I hope that everyone who smells a "laughable" sniffing around to buy your house, jack up the price and make him pay full price. "

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To Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2007 11:39 AM:

" I agree wholeheartedly. Another factor that the Realtrors don't like to talk about---County property taxes. Under the old Prop 13, property taxes will skyrocket even with the homeowners exemtion. you want more? the costs of upkeep and repairs, new paint, new roof, problems that develop. More? The loss of the interest of the mortgage. You have a NEGATIVE of 6.5+ % plus of the money you pay but will never get back when thew house is sold---if ever. "

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To Lodi Realtor IV wrote on Aug 15, 2007 11:34 AM:

" I will easily be able to RECEIVE 6-7 % per year in any prudent investment---NOT SFR real estate. The bubble is over. If you see a REAL deal, you will buy it first anyway. "

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To Lodi Realtor III wrote on Aug 15, 2007 11:33 AM:

" You will lose every time, because you know the market is diving into a garbage heap, and it will take at least ten years just to get back your 6% fee. This house price can not appreciate ONE DIME in three years, and thats why you don't want the deal. Also, jumbo loans over 417k are at a much higher interest rate. What about the time value of money? What about the opportunity costs of the monsy? "

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To Lodi Realtor II wrote on Aug 15, 2007 11:31 AM:

" The price I am ready to pay is $650,000....cash. I give you a target date of October 2010, to sell it for the price plus your 6% = 689,000. I will give you the listing, but if you can't sell it in 30 days, YOU have to buy it, without any second from me for $689,000. Okay? You won't take the bait, because its a no brainer. "

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To Lodi Realtor wrote on Aug 15, 2007 11:26 AM:

" I told my REAL ESTATE attorney and investment advisor what you said and they are still laughing. The SFR market has a few years to go before it bottoms out. Any purchase during this period of time is extremely risky. If you are so positive, I have a way to flush the truth out of you. Lets say I hire you as my buyers agent. YOU pick the best house with all of your wisdom of the market. "

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To to to Lodian wrote on Aug 15, 2007 10:45 AM:

" I think its time for you to retake a real estate course snd maybe the licensing exam! The ONLY person who brings money to the closing table is the BUYER. The seller is trading the perceived value of his house and a grant deed for MONEY. The buyer is giving up his REAL money for a perceived value in a house. "

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Laughable wrote on Aug 15, 2007 6:29 AM:

" I don't compete with anyone. I do my own thing. One of the "things" I like to do is buy a piece of property at a depressed or low value, hang on to it for a few years and then sell it at a profit. Look, people were saying the exact same thing in the early 90's. I wish I still had the property that bottomed out back then. Anybody remember the 18% mortgage rates as well. "

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Chuck wrote on Aug 14, 2007 11:04 PM:

" again, real estate is NEVER in investment anymore, unload all that you can.... "

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Lodi Realtor wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:16 PM:

" There are some awesome buys on the market right now. IF you can manage your money and afford the payments, you can pick up investment property fairly cheap. Real Estate is a limited commodity, and the market WILL turn around again (like it always does), then people will be off on a boom again and the ones that bought right now will make some serious cash. "

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To To Lodian wrote on Aug 14, 2007 9:12 PM:

" You have an abundance of ignorance in how Realtors are paid. First of all, buyers DO NOT pay the "huge" 6% fee, sellers do. When a SELLER decides to SELL their home. And! Only the buyers agent generally gets 1/2 of 6% (that's 3% in case your scratching your head), thenout of that there are broker fees, mls fees, sign fees, E & O Insurance, tech fees, and then the Realtor gets about 50% of WHAT IS LEFT. "

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To laughable wrote on Aug 14, 2007 4:05 PM:

" You sound worried. You can compete with over one hundred Lodi Realtors for 20 sales a month. I hear their are some real jobs at many fast food establishments. Don't forget to ask "do you want fries with that?" with each of your customers. "

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To laughable II wrote on Aug 14, 2007 4:03 PM:

" You are literally flushing your mortgage payments down the drain. Its all interest on an overpriced house. Will YOU volunteer to buy my house that you just sucked down for 6% if I can't unload it in 5 years? You won't because you only want your huge 6% fee, and then you are gone. We know the game, squeeze the buyer into a 6% fee when they DON'T want you to get a dime. This realtor scam was agreed to by a chump seller. "

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To laughable wrote on Aug 14, 2007 4:00 PM:

" 1) I'll give you fifty recent buyers. Do you want to hear what THEY have to say? How many Lodians can afford to lose 110K per year? This will happen if you buy today. If I buy a house today, how many YEARS will it be before I can break even? If you buy today, you will be paying interest on a mortgage that is losing value EVERY DAY. THATS WHY THE MARKET IS IN A TAILSPIN. You would be throwing money away since almost NONE of your payments go to reduce the principle balance. "

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T & C wrote on Aug 14, 2007 3:21 PM:

" laughable, you must be one of the proud owners of DGP. Buy property? In two more years it'll be worth 30% less than it is now. Maybe some of these land thieves will go broke and learn their lesson, too. "

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to Larry Hamilton wrote on Aug 14, 2007 12:05 PM:

" I want to buy river front property, where is this home located?? "

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Metric Time System wrote on Aug 14, 2007 12:03 PM:

" These newly created "wetlands" are now home to a variety of species. It's probably not a good idea to destroy them or their habitat. If the 250 foot buffer exists around these sensitive areas, the existing homes must never be occupied and some forced evacuations must occur to neighboring homes. "

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Laughable wrote on Aug 14, 2007 10:00 AM:

" 100 point gains and losses in a day are nothing unusual these days. Even when the market drops 300-400 points it seems to recover within a couple of weeks. The market is higher today than it was a year ago. Even with the current miserable real estate market. Just relax. The market will turn around. It always does. What a great time to buy property! "

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To laughable wrote on Aug 14, 2007 8:29 AM:

" The Dow is plunging down 150 already this morning- Tuesday. So I was a day early. Better early and safe than late and sorry. "

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Mosquito party wrote on Aug 14, 2007 8:25 AM:

" Well we are having a mosquito party next door. BTW The Dow is down 150 pts and dropping, the FTSE is in the hole, and no bottom is in sight. It looks like this could be the start of the "big one". Thanks realtors and no credit buyers. If you don't have the discipline to save for 20% down, you shouldn't own a house. his should stop the Repos, RELOS, and REO's that are caused by the housing crash. Stop the skeeters, drain your pools. "

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To Laughable wrote on Aug 13, 2007 5:40 PM:

" Your correct. But only because the central banks of Australia, Japan, South Korea, the European central bank, and the Fed dumped more billions in the markets last night to keep liquidity. They can't keep doing that for 18 more months. The Fed sent a letter to a few of the markets advising them that the Federal Reserve is closely monitoring and may drop interest rates BEFORE September! We aren't out of the woods yet. I would hate to see another depression, but all the indicators show that we are in a deflationary process. "

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Metric Time System wrote on Aug 13, 2007 8:28 AM:

" They should be billing the banks that now own the foreclosed homes. Taxpayers must be reimbursed. "

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Laughable wrote on Aug 13, 2007 8:04 AM:

" I know it can change quickly but at 8:12 am (PST) the Dow is up 42 points. So much for your prediction that the markets would bottom out at the opening bell Monday morning. "

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Lodian wrote on Aug 13, 2007 12:01 AM:

" SK8head: I have a great idea. How about paying the skaters/kids to drain the pools around town. The pools get drained and the kids get a part time job. "

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representing wrote on Aug 12, 2007 11:04 PM:

" I am sure that when these "homeowners" went to sign their paperwok they saw how much their payments were and what they were going to be. they could have backed out, plus not all foreclosures are due to bad loans, some people had life changing events that made it impossible to keep their homes ie divorce, loss of job, sickness, death. Think about that before bad mounthing lenders and real estate agents, you signed the paperwork not them. if you knew you couldn't keep it dont buy it! "

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SK8head wrote on Aug 12, 2007 8:37 PM:

" Can I get the addresses of the drained pools in town? Me and my buds can't afford the entrance fee to the new skateboard park. Drained pools are totally awesome skatebowls!! "

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not laughing wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:37 PM:

" The few hundred billion dollars that the Central banks have been throwing at this mess (hedge funds with NON rated -toxic waste- securitized mortgages) has not stopped it yet. Once the machine starts to dive it will be very difficult to stop. Computers are running this market. The FED better be fast to halt trading when it dives. "

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no Laugh wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:37 PM:

" The basic math models these markets were based on relied on two non-truths: 1) Housing prices increase, and 2)Buyers will obey their mortgage obligations. Both if these are not true when prices are in a tailspin. Why pay more than you earn on a mortgage for a house that is worth less each day. "

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Laugh guy wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:36 PM:

" Not laughing here. What do they teach at LUSD anyway? Don't they teach economics 101 anymore? I guess its okay as long as the kids get new lockers and I pods? Lets all "play stupid" and not ask questions, maybe if we don't think about it, there won't be a depression? Over ten trillion in mortgage loans is floating in the future. the assets are all based on "hope" and "wishful thinking". "

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More for laugh guy wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:36 PM:

" Today is Sunday local, and lots of money (and fortunes) is bleeding because of the lack of liquidity = deflation. This usually occurs parallel to an economic depression, thats why all the major international banks and US hedge funds are freaking out. Hopefully, we can carefully "tip toe" through this mess for the next 24 months to avoid another 1929 style crash. Deflation indicators are present and Banks don't have the money to cover their loans. So when you hear the words "lack of liquidity" or "illiquid" watch out! "

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To Laughing guy wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:27 PM:

" All you have to do is READ more then the comics pages. The European markets will set the tone for the NYSE tomorrow at the 6:00 am bell. Of course you know that Deutsche bank, BNP and Commerzbank are throwing more money at Homebanc to try to stop the plunge in liquidity because of the "good ol USA realty boyz" who were selling McMansions to the homeless. "

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To Laughing wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:20 PM:

" Please sit tight all next week for round One on the NYSE deflation gambit. Australian markets are hanging by their finger tips on Mon morning, and two Asian markets are in the red, We are watching the Nikkei and HANG SENGa and are waiting for the European markets to open later tonight. We expect the "big news" with France, Spain and Germany tonight. "

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To Lodi Slimy Realtor wrote on Aug 12, 2007 6:15 PM:

" You make me laugh! You are 100% RIGHT! We watched friends go through a few houses in the past couple of years while they were "moving up" (we started out living in similar homes with similar mortgages). Now they've spent way more thinking this last house was going to pay them off big, they are headed for bankruptcy, renting a house inferior to ours (identicle to their original) and crying all about how the Realtors and Lenders screwed them over, of course 3 years ago they were laughing at us for staying put and not borrowing our equity. "

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informer wrote on Aug 12, 2007 4:13 PM:

" local slimy realtor, you're the same slimy caca realtor that lied about your clients' annual income to qualify them for those $400,000 homes on a $25,000 annual income. And the one that sent them to your brother or friend for one of those "straightup" loans. You're the one who got turned down for a job recently at Walmart, too. Looks like you even outsmarted yourself. "

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Laughable wrote on Aug 12, 2007 1:44 PM:

" I've never seen so many ignorant statements made on a subject in my life. You all must be really wealthy people because since you're able to predict the future. No one seemed to be upset when they were purchasing and selling property six months later at a profit. Honestly, this is really funny. "

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informer wrote on Aug 12, 2007 1:10 PM:

" I see the realtors playing liar's poker at the local coffee house with $1 bills, when last year they were using one hundred dollar bills. Funny, huh? "

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well informed DA wrote on Aug 12, 2007 12:46 PM:

" Today's business section says the FBI stats show that 80% of the reported fraud in the secondary market involves collaboration or collusion by real estate, title or lender insiders. These schemes generally contain misrepresentation or omission of facts along with realtor driven property flipping for a quick profit. Look out realtors and retired appraisers, your time is coming along with employers who employ and exploit illegal workers here in the Lodi area. "

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Local Slimy Realtor wrote on Aug 12, 2007 11:19 AM:

" Seems to me a few years ago, all of your sellers were more than equipped to sell your homes without me (FISBO), and now that SELLERS have made a mess of the market (Thats right, it's the GREEDY sellers who profited the most, a lot of them were selling without Realtors) you want to blame me because there is a contaminated pool in your backyard because YOU can not take care of it. So naturally I am suppose to volunteer my time to keep it clear for you??? Yup, it's my fault. "

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Local Slimy Realtor wrote on Aug 12, 2007 11:16 AM:

" Yep, I am the reason those luxury homes with pools are all sitting there empty. I held a gun to your head and MADE you buy something you could no more afford, but YOU had to keep ahead of the Jones' and start churning out those loans on your home like it was your own private ATM machine. Yes, I am the reason you are in the pathetic mess you are in, driving your new car and hauling your new boat with ZERO equity in your home "

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Local Slimy Realtor wrote on Aug 12, 2007 11:13 AM:

" Yup, that's me. I am your local slimy realtor who you didn't want to listen to a few years ago when you decided I didn't work to earn my commission and you decided to sell your house yourself. Yep, YOU decided that since your neighbor's house sold for 300k, yours was easily worth 400k and fired me to do it alone! Then when YOu in turn went out and paid 500k for your next house, you blamed me for YOUR value dropping. "

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Mosquito problems linked wrote on Aug 12, 2007 9:01 AM:

" Mosquito problems linked to abandoned houses do to mortgage problems which caused the foreclosures: Brokers, will pay hundreds of millions in fines, settlements and judgements. Lawsuits are being filed that mortgage brokers fraudulently colluded with filng loan applications which were deliberately falsified with their knowledge, collusion or negligence. Builders have millions of dollars of liabilities for colluding with mortgage brokers, and appraisers. It's not just going to be the wronged homeowners who sue; it will also be the states' attorneys general, on behalf of the people, in class actions. "

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Mosquito problems wrote on Aug 12, 2007 8:55 AM:

" These problems are directly liked to foreclosures which are linked to inflated house prices and mortgages. Mortgage brokers have an ethical and legal responsibility for "suitability," similar to securities brokers. If they don't try to verify that a mortgage applicant is telling the truth on applications and has capacity to repay, brokers are violating ethics and regulations. "

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I agree II wrote on Aug 11, 2007 10:40 PM:

" result: My neighbor is working for FREE! It would be cheaper for him to walk from his mortgage and start breathing again. I told him if he wanted to walk, I would help with the upkeep until someone buys it at a lower price. Thats an idea! What would happen if a person who is in this situation, has their wifes name removed from the deed, and starts saving monthly payments instead of making them. They could have the house foreclosed and the wife could buy it back at a lower price? "

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I agree wrote on Aug 11, 2007 10:31 PM:

" Good attitude Mr. Meidinger. Its a tough job. Yesterday, I saw my realtor serving up burgers in a fast food joint. Yup, I guess the housing boom has turned into the housing panic. Let me out of here! Life is too short to spend all your working life paying interest to a bank on a house thats dropping value every day. My next door neighbor figured that the monthly loss in equity in his house is more than he makes as gross income. "

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To T & C last wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:15 PM:

" The "GOB" surround themselves with other "GOB" at a higher level who are ripping THEM off. Bigger fish eat smaller fish. The bigger fish will lose if the GOB cash out of the market. Te little fish GOB (our local yokels) will get hit hard on their stock and bond investments by 50% or more. We will watch and smile. There is nothing for you or I to lose in this mess. If I am wrong - The most I lose is a few months of interest (non I bond) in a normal market. "

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To T&C more wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:11 PM:

" You will see Notice of Defaults raining on us by December when the next round of ARMS resets or explodes. This will be piled on tens of billions $$ more of debt hiding in the tranches of securitized mortgages including CDO's (Collateralized Debt Obligations). Watch the fireworks. Everone will get hurt, BUT the people who went to CASH and OWN THEIR OWN HOUSES. I am hiding mine in FDIC insured accounts or in I bonds which are backed by uncle sam (limited to 60K per year/person). I cashed out and am waiting for the big implosion. "

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To T & C wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:06 PM:

" If you have money in a 401K get it out of the market(stocks and bonds) and put it into cash reserves until the market completes its boiling. Wait until the Dow drops to 7- 8,000 before you go back in the market. On Sept 15 millions of mortgage ARM notices will go out to identify the new higher mortgage payments on 2/28 loans. These will be due on October 1 with a grace no more than Oct 20. "

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To Niki iV wrote on Aug 11, 2007 6:35 PM:

" Mosquito talk contd Why would you buy a house Knowing it will drop in real value for the next 5 years? LIKE THROWING YOUR MONEY INTO A HOLE. I am not even considering the big hit from the realtors 6% vigorish. More disruption, misery, foreclosures, bankruptcies and empty houses to breed more mosquitoes and diseases. "

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To Niki III wrote on Aug 11, 2007 6:33 PM:

" I don't see rash decreases in interest like the past 4 years. The FED will have to try a new strategy. They should link their solution to concomitant health issues like mosquito abatement. Look at the panic the counties will be in when a listed and foreclosed house doesn't contribute to county taxes? I hope they put a lien on the properties to make the houses harder to unload, forcing the prices to come back to planet earth. Anyone who buys a house today has a mental problem. "

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To Niki II wrote on Aug 11, 2007 6:32 PM:

" Mosquito chat: This fed trying to feed the CDO market will continue until the others involved get upset about all the "free money" from the fed going to the securitized mortgage morons who started this mess. I call for a depreciation of housing in SALES prices of 25% through April 08, followed by a sales panic of prime borrows with HELOCs and owners who want to try to get any equity they have left in their properties. "

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To Nikl wrote on Aug 11, 2007 6:30 PM:

" If you have been closely watching the Dow the past month, you know that ALL of the stock problems stem from Realtors, mortgage brokers,RE appraisers and the mortgage companies themselves. We have been in a deflationary economy for several moths yet, but the market really hasn't caught on until lately. I predict another run on the DOW on Monday and another bailout by the FED. "

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Responsibility wrote on Aug 11, 2007 5:46 PM:

" It's always someone else's fault. The devil made me do it. Why don't you guys suck it up and accept some responsibility for your own actions rather than blaming it on somebody else. I guess it's just too easy to blame others. It's the government's fault, my teacher's fault, my parent's fault, my dog's fault or my church's fault. You're pathetic. "

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nikl wrote on Aug 11, 2007 1:04 PM:

" But according to the LAR the lodi housing market is immune to this downswing. Take a look at their website. If the lowest sales in 10+years aren't an indicator of things to come I don't know what is. Things will continue to get worse this year and next with a recovery in the works sometime next decade. Wonder what the city is going to do for revenue? "

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T & C wrote on Aug 11, 2007 12:45 PM:

" i hear the extermination company is heading for this area soon for a thorough cleanup of the "pool" owners! Beware good old boys! "

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HUNH? wrote on Aug 11, 2007 11:51 AM:

" You mean my pool isn't supposed to be green??? I've got some work to do this weekend… "

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Stop the bugs wrote on Aug 11, 2007 10:01 AM:

" You are doing a difficult and messy job. I would like to see some of the "suits" that caused this helth problem out there scraping the muck out of the pools and houses that they sold to anyoine who could sign on the dotted line. Selling a $700,000 to a fast food french fry worker with no prospects of paying a $4,000 month mortgage is a cause of this health disaster. We need to get the realtors out of their Hummers and into these houses with a scrub brush and pail. "

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larry hamilton wrote on Aug 11, 2007 9:40 AM:

" The picture of the pool the house belong to a young man who died of a heart attack not some guy with a house he couldn't afford. "

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Thank You II wrote on Aug 11, 2007 8:25 AM:

" Buyers didn't need a down payment, a job, or even a Social Security Number. realtors will get you into the "house of your dreams" only until the first payment is due. These licensees were paid handsomely for their game but we have to pick up the pieces. I think they are planning to blame the banks for letting them get away with it, or the homeless buyers who couldn't read the contracts. In either case they got their money out of the deal and we got the gift of blight and mosquitoes. "

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Thank You wrote on Aug 11, 2007 8:24 AM:

" Thanks for working so hard to keep our city safe from mosquites caused by the housing blight of recent years. I read that the Governor is preparing a list of abandoned houses that are contributing to this problem. He wants to know why the state had to declare a 3 county emergency because of irresponsible "homeowners". All the people involved in the housing scheme are ironically licensed by the state. Real estate appraisers, mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders were scouring the region looking for "warm bodies" to take out a home mortgage. "

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T & C wrote on Aug 11, 2007 8:22 AM:

" How about the cockroaches in city hall next? "

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Great job wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:38 AM:

" I Sacramento county, they have requested all the realtors and brokers who are no longer working to volunteer and opitch in to help drain the pools and clean up the mess that they inspired. Twisting the arm of a vagrant to buy a $400,000 house with no money down is just so they can "earn" their quick 6% ($24k) is not a way to be a good citizen. "

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Richard wrote on Aug 11, 2007 7:25 AM:

" The article says the city hires a contractor to drain abandoned pools. I'd think that would be the best solution in all cases. Why bother with minnows when draining the pool would solve the problem as well as get rid of a potential drowning hazard? "

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