" t&c wrote, 'I do admire those who made great investments, but detest those who that same money and more by misleading or flat out cheating and lying. They're in every city and the business community knows who they are, as do the citizens, and will never be trusted again and always walk with the fear of someone knocking on their door with that indictment.'

And those who misled, cheated or lied to their clients are the ones who should be made an example of. (Wow! I hate ending any sentence with a preposition.)

Their prison sentences should be long and harsh - no probation, no parole, no community service and no conjugal visits. "

" Very good points, Girard. With the housing industry in shambles, now is not the time to buy a property for rental or investment unless you're in it for the long term. My home has been free and clear since 1994 and I'm still locked in at $440 a year property taxes. I, too had many chances and the cash to purchase, but opted instead to save for an early retirement at 57. I do regret missing out on those home investment returns but instead concentrated on paying my own mortgage 100%. I do admire those who made great investments, but detest those who that same money and more by misleading or flat out cheating and lying. They're in every city and the business community knows who they are, as do the citizens, and will never be trusted again and always walk with the fear of someone knocking on their door with that indictment. "

" T&C stated, 'Some of your local realtors here are still smacking their lips going to the bank to sell that same home for yet another commission on a foreclosure they bought themselves before it hit the listings or on a short sale? And some even selling the same homes for a second time!'

For those realtors who are honest and have done their best to assist those who desired to own their own homes during the housing 'bubble,' what would you have them do now that the tide has shifted? Walk away from potential income that they require to pay their bills and feed their families?

Those folks who are losing their homes as a result of unscrupulous realtors and/or lenders should get the relief they deserve through all legal means at their disposal. The others who either could not or would not read ALL of the words in their contracts only to find themselves with an ARM such as mine and did nothing to protect themselves, then they are simply where they should be. It's time to suck it in, regroup and start over. At least in this country nearly everyone can do that. "

" T&C asked, 'But how about those who were not so lucky?'

What about them? Had it not been for a severe medical problem that rendered me disabled I would not have been lucky at all. My loan, which started at around 6.5% (which was not all that low for that time) would have increased to 14% in two short years. Had I also taken advantage of the nearly exponential increase in value of my home and taken out a second (or perhaps a third) to fix the place up, take a vacation or buy that tempting RV I would have found myself in terrible shape. And I would have had no one to blame but myself - not my realtor; not the mortgage holder; and not the government. And I certainly would not have expected anyone to bail me out when I finally discovered that I should have never had those loans in the first place.

We're guaranteed only 'life, liberty and the "pursuit" of happiness.' The rest is on us to achieve within a nation where we are limited only by our own deficiencies and lack of common sense. "

" Great move Girard. You're one of the lucky ones that got out and were rewarded with their nifty profits. But how about those who were not so lucky? Some of your local realtors here are still smacking their lips going to the bank to sell that same home for yet another commission on a foreclosure they bought themselves before it hit the listings or on a short sale? And some even selling the same homes for a second time! "

" I bought a home in 2003 for around $130,000 here in Lodi. Exactly two years later I sold my home for nearly $250,000. While I happily took the money and carried on with my life, I fully understood that my little two-bedroom home was never truly 'worth' anywhere near that amount of money. I was simply lucky - nothing more; nothing less.

Now that same little house is worth not that much more than what I paid for it and will likely never again be worth what the buyers paid for it.

Home buying has turned into a real gambling proposition, especially in California. Even if I was in a position to purchase another home, there is no way I would assume the risk that so many continue to take after witnessing just how volatile the housing market really is. If I was in Rhodie's position I would be very worried about what may or may not occur during the next few years. Frankly, I am relieved to be rid of the stress and headaches that invariably accompanies the 'joy' of home ownership. "

" And, Rhodie, have you asked your realtor why your house had dropped $80 in just 1 year alone? This is the realtor I'd be questioning that'd seem to know that the market was collapsing and was playing the pyramid for all it was worth. It'd be interesting to know who that realtor was. Could you drop a hint? "

" Rhodie, how do you hope your home doesn't lose an additional 15-30% in the next 2-3 years as many economists predict. I see that same realtor in the RE section of the paper still saying, buy, buy, buy. And Ms. Bush is writing an article on how to protect yourself from foreclosure. If it's such a great time to buy, why are there price reductions on these same homes week after week? The day of the eastside $350K home is gone, boys. Roll over now and go back to sleep. "

" Our house dropped nearly 80K in the year we've had it. Fortunatly we were able to put enough down from our other house sale that we're still not upside down and, unless the market plummets this next year we shouldn't ever be. Of course we're looking long run, at least until the kids are out of school so we're talking 12 years. But with our current financial plan the house will be paid off before that. "

" To TC: I know who you are talking about - "Mr Smiley- I am just like everyone else". "Hows the family?" and all that BS. Never forget: Its ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!

To Realtors: If you don't close, you don't get paid. Your most important client is NOT the seller or the buyer but Numero Uno. Show and sell! LOL!

"...and now here is the kitchen with cabinets that open and close. Oh and here is the bathroom and there is the bathtub. Imagine a large chandelier in the "family" room and a swimming pool in the backyard." LOL But they don't make swimming pools that small...just like "I hear they don't make land anymore" . How about this one? "This is such a GREAT opportunity to invest in your future, it will only need a few gallons of paint--- AND and a bulldozer for the BS. "

" Just how many of you actually own your own home? How many of you are upside down with the 40% or so lower home assessment? Thanks to your local realtors and lenders, with the help of those "retired" real estate appraisers who overvalued these homes, some by twice what they were worth, I doubt many of you could claim you own much of anything except your SUV's and boats. These are many of the homes spoken about in this article with renters that don't really care about the lawn or the neighborhood, but merely a place to live they don't have to care for if they don't want to. Who's going to kick them out? With all these rentals on the market, not even a gob would take that chance. And then you read Saturday's real estate section and see the same local realtor who's buying up these foreclosures saying how great the market is. I do, however, like MS Bush and her weekly assessment of the industry and she's very realistic and truthful unlike her predecessor, who is still saying buy, buy, buy in his weekly ads. "

" Re-reading Patricia's letter, I wondered how she knew the sloppy people were renters. Believe it, or not, there are homeowners who are slobs, too! LOL! Just look at all the foreclosed homes. Those homes are an abomination and have gotten into that condition by their owners; whether it be people being foreclosed on or the banks - either way, the yards go to the dogs. "

" alum95 wrote, 'Well, their renters for a reason.'

And just what might that 'reason' be, pray tell? "

" Well, their renters for a reason. "

" I am puzzled as to why some renters are so casual about the way they take care of the home they are living in.

The bottom line is: it's not theirs. they are renting the place for the moment. it's just like borrowing a car. would you just drive the car or have it detailed before returning the car. It also has to do with how people live in their places. some keep things clean and organized. most keep things like a mess. It all depend how you want to live. "

" Eileen - Yes, Many people today have an attitude of entitlement. Rules don't apply to them, they don't have to put out effort, they expect government to provide everything for them and if there are problems in their lives, it is not their own fault. They can blame it on some mental disorder, a drug dependancy problem, a race issue or the government. It makes sense now that our schools have a 24 percent drop out rate. When government gives out freebies and then excuses for bad conduct it destroys one's incentive for personal effort and personal accountability. It started with Affirmative Action but people refused to see the negative impact which it had but today it is crystal clear. "

" Good comments from the rental owner and the renter. I am a rental owner as well as a property manager. I have marvelous rental residents and I have a few that must have a babysitter (me).The complaints are the reason I do not do a lease. Thirty day notices work wonders.
Three day notices work even better.
This business is challenged by the ones who feel the rules do not pertain to them. "

" I live in an apartment complex on the northeast side of Lodi. When I moved here over three years ago it was a pleasant place to live. While we have a couple of swimming pools and spas, this is really not a community for children under the age of 14 as young children are not permitted to use these facilities without parental supervision. There are no playgrounds.

In the past year the attitudes and actions of many of the tenants have become deplorable. The adults have no concept of 'quiet enjoyment' as clearly stated in our leases; children are permitted to run free at all hours of the day and night disturbing the peace as well as vandalizing apartment complex property, including the shrubbery and trees that help to make living here enjoyable.

Perhaps the change here and what the author writes of is related to the mortgage crisis. With people losing their homes (for whatever reason) they are now forced to rent property in which to live; something they obviously do not now enjoy.

At some point, however people need to accept their lot in life and behave as responsible citizens. "

" Ms. Freeman, I couldn't agree with you more! I own rental property in the country just outside of Lodi city limits. My Tenants are well-educated and have well paying jobs. They have nice cars, dress well........yet they have the exact casual attitude you have described. The grass goes uncut and unwatered to the point that we have to step in and water the lawn ourselves. They insist on keeping their puppy on th lawn instead of the kennel. The lawn is now full of holes and yellow spots. Trasn cans are full to overflowing. Litter in the yard. They took it upon themselves to paint the interior of the house.....let's just put it this way, in one room you need to wear sunglasses least you lose your eyesight. In the other, you feel as if you have stepped into a dark cave! These tenants take such care of their personal hygiene and their personal property yet they show no respect at all for the home they rent. "